US 11,919,747 B2
Hoisting block for a crane
Dieter Wim Jan Rabaut, Ghent (BE); Kenneth Gerard Vannieuwenhuyse, Sint-Amandsberg (BE); and Jan Maria Koen Michielsen, Antwerp (BE)
Assigned to DEME Offshore BE NV, Zwijndrecht (BE)
Appl. No. 17/263,198
Filed by DEME Offshore BE NV, Zwijndrecht (BE)
PCT Filed Jul. 18, 2019, PCT No. PCT/EP2019/069385
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jan. 26, 2021,
PCT Pub. No. WO2020/020744, PCT Pub. Date Jan. 30, 2020.
Claims priority of application No. 2018/5544 (BE), filed on Jul. 27, 2018.
Prior Publication US 2021/0139290 A1, May 13, 2021
Int. Cl. B66C 1/36 (2006.01); B66D 3/06 (2006.01); F03D 13/10 (2016.01)
CPC B66C 1/36 (2013.01) [B66D 3/06 (2013.01); F03D 13/10 (2016.05); F05B 2230/61 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A method for carrying a lifting tool, comprising a sling, to an engaging element and coupling it to a load-bearing means, the method comprising the steps of:
providing a lifting crane having a hoisting block on a support structure comprising a work deck of a vessel, the hoisting block comprising:
two supports, placed at a distance from each other, in which are received pulleys rotatable around a horizontal rotation axis, the pulleys being suspended in a plurality of hoisting cables which lead to a boom of the lifting crane, the supports being connected by means of rotation shafts to a central carrier on which an engaging element in the form of the load hook is arranged on an underside; and
two winches, each with an outgoing winch cable, wherein the winches are driven with an electric motor which, just as the winches, is attached on an upper side to the carrier, wherein further the outgoing winch cable of each winch is configured to carry the sling of the lifting tool to the engaging element and couple it to the engaging element;
coupling the outgoing winch cables of the hoisting block to the sling;
drawing in the outgoing winch cable with at least one winch in order to carry the sling and couple the sling to the load-bearing means;
coupling the outgoing winch cable of the hoisting block to the sling whereto a cable connected to a hook of the load hook is pulled with its free outer end through the sling and then attached with the free outer end to a fastening eye of the outgoing winch cable;
drawing in the outgoing winch cable with at least one winch;
carrying the sling along in the direction of the load hook with the shortened winch cable;
carrying the sling in the direction of the load hook; and
coupling the sling to a hook of the load hook.