Support structure for crane, crane comprising said support structure, vessel comprising such crane

2:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein below each one of the boom hinge connections and/or the support frame connections a box structure is provided to enable load transmission from the associated connection to the outer side and/or the lower end.

3:

• The support structure according to claim 2, wherein at least the box structures of a pair of boom hinge connections are joined to each other forming a joined box structure and/or of a pair of support frame connections are joined to each other forming a joined box structure.

4:

• The support structure according to claim wherein the box structures of a boom hinge connection and a support frame connection are joined to each other forming a joined box structure.

5:

• The support structure according to claim 3, wherein the joined box structure defines at least a part of the polygonal shape of the upper end of the support structure.

6:

• The support structure according to claim 3, wherein, when the box structures of the boom hinge connections and of the support frame connections are joined to each other, the said joined box structure provides for a polygonal box structure defining the polygonal shape of the upper end of the support structure.

7:

• The support structure according to claim 6, wherein the joined box structure forms an outer edge structure of the upper end.

8:

• The support structure according to claim 7, wherein the joined box structure forming the outer edge structure of the upper end is a circumferential outer edge structure having a central opening.

9:

• The support structure according to claim 2, wherein an upper side of the box structure provides a deck surface for mounting a boom hinge connection and/or a support frame connection thereto.

10:

• The support structure according to claim 2, wherein a box structure height of the box structure is larger at the boom hinge connections compared to at support frame connections spaced apart from the boom hinge connections.

11:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the entire outer side is closed with plate parts forming a wall connecting the circular shaped lower end and the polygonal shaped upper end.

12:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein at least one boom hinge connection and/or at least one support frame connection is provided on a corner of the polygonal shape.

13:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein an inside of the outer side is provided with at least one circumferential ring structure.

14:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein an inside of the outer side is provided with a plurality of stiffeners extending in an upward direction.

15:

• The support structure according to claim 13, wherein the ring structure is provided with openings to allow a stiffener to pass through.

16:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the polygonal shape of the upper end is hexagonal, septagonal or octagonal.

17:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the upper end has a central opening for receiving further objects.

18:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the pair of boom hinge connections and the at least one pair of support frame hinge connections are directly mounted to a deck surface of the upper end.

19:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein the polygonal shape has rounded-off corners at at least some of its vertices where boom hinge connections and/or support frame connections are arranged.

20:

• The support structure according to claim 1, wherein flat plate parts and curved plate parts are arranged adjacent to each other.

21:

• The support structure according to claim 20, wherein a flat plate part and an adjacent curved plate part alternate with each other when seen in a circumferential direction.

22:

• A crane comprising a base structure for mounting to a vessel or a barge or a jack-up, and the support structure according to claim 1, with a slewing bearing between the base structure and the support structure.

23:

• A vessel or barge or jack-up provided with the crane according to claim 22.