US 11,753,284 B2
Lifting crane with a system for automated determination of the reeving
Bruno Roni-Damond, Lyons (FR); François Lemire, Soucieu en Jarrest (FR); and Olivier Gollion, Caluire et Cuire (FR)
Assigned to MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE, Dardilly (FR)
Filed by MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE, Dardilly (FR)
Filed on Nov. 25, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/104,643.
Claims priority of application No. 19/13446 (FR), filed on Nov. 29, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0188599 A1, Jun. 24, 2021
Int. Cl. B66D 3/04 (2006.01); B66C 13/16 (2006.01); B66C 23/02 (2006.01)
CPC B66D 3/043 (2013.01) [B66C 13/16 (2013.01); B66C 23/022 (2013.01)] 15 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A lifting crane comprising:
a jib;
a lifting device with double reeving configured to distribute and lift a load along the jib, wherein the lifting device is reversibly configurable between two reeving configurations including a single reeving configuration with two lifting strands and a double reeving configuration with four lifting strands, the lifting device comprising a reeving change system for performing a reeving change between the single reeving configuration and the double reeving configuration, and vice versa; and
a system for automated determination of the reeving configured to automatically determine the reeving configuration between the single reeving configuration and the double reeving configuration,
wherein the lifting device further comprises a distributing trolley comprising a structure suspended on the jib and connected to a distribution system configured for displacing the distributing trolley along the jib in a forward direction and a rearward direction which are opposite to each other, and a main block suspended from the suspended structure by a lifting cable,
wherein the reeving change system comprises a secondary block and a locking/unlocking mechanism cooperating with the main block and the secondary block to pass from the single reeving configuration to the double reeving configuration or vice versa, and
wherein the system for automated determination of the reeving comprises at least:
a system for detecting the presence of the secondary block configured to detect a presence and/or absence of the secondary block at a predetermined reference location occupied by the secondary block in either of the reeving configurations; and
a monitoring/control unit connected to the system for detecting the presence of the secondary block and configured to automatically determine the reeving configuration depending on the detection of the absence and/or presence of the secondary block at the reference location,
wherein the reeving change system passes the lifting device from the single reeving configuration to the double reeving configuration, and vice versa, by displacing the distributing trolley with the main block thereof, and the monitoring/control unit is connected to the distribution system to drive the displacement of the distributing trolley according to:
a first automated sequence passing the lifting device from the single reeving configuration to the double reeving configuration, and vice versa; and
a second automated sequence passing the lifting device from the double reeving configuration to the single reeving configuration,
depending on the reeving configuration which is automatically determined by the monitoring/control unit, and
wherein the lifting crane further comprises a lifting winch provided with a lifting drum cooperating with the lifting cable to displace the load upward and downward, the lifting winch equipped with an unwinding sensor for measuring an unwound length of the lifting cable, wherein the monitoring/control unit is configured to compare the unwound lengths of the lifting cable at the beginning of the first automated sequence and at the beginning of the second automated sequence which follows or precedes the first automated sequence.