Pick and carry crane suspension
AssigneeTerex Australia Pty Ltd
InventorClayton McPherson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crane, in particular a pick and carry crane, may have a front chassis with front wheels and a back chassis with back wheels, the front chassis being articulated relative to the back chassis so that the crane can travel whilst carrying a load suspended from a boom. The back and front wheels have independent suspensions which are capable of connection to one another so that movement of a left wheel influences movement of a right wheel, thereby improving the handing of the crane, particularly over rough terrain.
Claims21
A pick and carry crane comprising a front chassis connected to at least two front wheels by a front suspension system and a rear chassis connected to at least two rear wheels by a rear suspension system, wherein the front chassis is connected to the rear chassis to allow articulation between the front chassis and the rear chassis, wherein
- the front suspension system includes hydraulic dampers configured to act between respective front wheels and the front chassis;
- the rear suspension system includes hydraulic dampers configured to act between respective rear wheels and the rear chassis;
- and wherein
- the pick and carry crane further comprises at least one controller for selectively connecting the dampers of the front suspension system to one another and the dampers of the rear suspension system to one another;
- wherein the at least two front wheels comprise two front wheels that are connected by a front axle and the at least two rear wheels comprise a first set of rear wheels, which are connected by a rear axle, and a second set of rear wheels, and wherein the crane further comprises a third axle located rearward of the rear axle, the third axle carrying the second set of rear wheels;
- wherein the third axle is moveable between a crane mode position where the second set of rear wheels is engageable with a travelling surface and a travel mode position where the second set of rear wheels is lifted away from the travelling surface;
- wherein the at least one controller is adapted to control the dampers to alternate between two or more of the following modes:
- (i) all dampers fully extended;
- (ii) all dampers fully retracted;
- (iii) all dampers acting independently;
- and
- (iv) the dampers of the front suspension system being connected to one another and the dampers of the rear suspension system for rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on one side of the crane being connected to both of the dampers for the rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on another side of the crane;
- and
- wherein the at least one controller is switchable between a travel mode and a crane mode, and when in the travel mode, the controller engages the mode in which the dampers of the front suspension system are connected to one another and the dampers of the rear suspension system for rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on one side of the crane are connected to both of the dampers for the rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on another side of the crane, and when in the crane mode, the at least one controller engages the mode in which all dampers act independently.
A method of controlling a suspension for a pick and carry crane, the pick and carry crane including a front chassis connected to two front wheels by a front suspension system, the two front wheels connected by a front axle, and a rear chassis connected to at least two rear wheels by a rear suspension system, the at least two rear wheels comprise a first set of rear wheels connected by a rear axle, and a second set of rear wheels connected by a third axle located rearward of the rear axle, wherein the front chassis is connected to the rear chassis to allow articulation between the front chassis and the rear chassis, the front suspension system includes hydraulic dampers configured to act between respective front wheels and the front chassis, the rear suspension system includes hydraulic dampers configured to act between respective rear wheels and the rear chassis, and wherein the method comprises:
- connecting the dampers of the front suspension system to one another and the dampers of the rear suspension system to one another;
- moving the third axle between a travel mode position where the second set of rear wheels engage a travelling surface and a crane mode position where the second set of rear wheels are lifted away from the travelling surface;
- alternating between two or more of the following modes:
- (i) all dampers fully extended;
- (ii) all dampers fully retracted;
- (iii) all dampers acting independently;
- and
- (iv) the dampers of the front suspension system being connected to one another and the dampers of the rear suspension system for rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on one side of the crane being connected to both of the dampers for the rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on the other side of the crane;
- and
- switching between a travel mode and a crane mode, wherein in the travel mode, the dampers of the front suspension system are connected to one another and the dampers for rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on one side of the crane are connected to both of the dampers for the rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on the other side of the crane, and in the crane mode, all dampers act independently.
A crane comprising a front chassis connected to at least two front wheels by a front hydraulic suspension system and a rear chassis connected to a first set of rear wheels and a second set of rear wheels by a rear hydraulic suspension system, the first set of rear wheels connected by a rear axle, and the second set of rear wheels connected by a third axle rearward of the rear axle, wherein
- the front hydraulic suspension system includes hydraulic dampers configured to act between respective front wheels and the front chassis;
- the rear hydraulic suspension system includes hydraulic dampers configured to act between respective rear wheels and the rear chassis;
- and wherein
- the crane further comprises at least one controller for selectively connecting the dampers of the front hydraulic suspension system to one another and the dampers of the rear hydraulic suspension system to one another;
- and
- wherein the controller is adapted to control the dampers such that (i) all act independently, and (ii) the dampers of the front suspension system are connected to one another and the dampers of the rear suspension system for rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on one side of the crane are connected to both of the dampers for the rear wheels of the first and second sets of rear wheels on another side of the crane.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.