US 4,286,722 AGranted

Container loading crane with rotatable hoisting frame

AssigneeHans Tax

InventorsHans Tax, Klaus Hosler

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Abstract

The four hoisting cables of a container loading crane which depend from the free end of the crane boom pass axially through a central opening of a turntable mechanism. The upper turntable portion is mounted on the boom and may tilt about a horizontal axis. The lower turntable portion may be moved relative to the upper portion about a vertical axis. The free ends of the hoisting cables extend between two pairs of engaging elements on the lower turntable portion and corresponding two pairs of engaging elements on a container hoisting frame. The pairs of engagement elements at least on the frame are spaced farther apart in the direction of frame elongation than the frame is wide. One engagement element associated with each tension member is a pulley over which the tension member is trained.

In a container loading crane including a a base frame, a boom extending from said base frame and having a free end spaced outwardly from said base frame, a plurality of elongated tension members depending from the free end of said boom, winch means mounted on said base frame and said tension members connected to said winch means and extending therefrom to the free end of said boom for varying the effective depending lengths of said tension members, a horizontally extending, elongated container hoisting frame carrying connector means for rigidly fastening a shipping container to said container hoisting frame, each of said tension members being secured to said container hoisting frame for raising and lowering the frame in response to the varying dependent lengths of the tension member, and turning means for turning said container hoisting frame about a vertically extending axis, the improvement in said turning means which comprises:

(a) a first turntable assembly pivotally mounted about a horizontal pivot axis on the free end of said boom and secured thereto against rotation about the vertically extending axis;
(b) a second turntable assembly mounted on said first turntable assembly for rotation about the vertical extending axis assembly;
(c) drive means for turning said second turntable assembly relative to said first turntable assembly and the free end of said boom about said vertically extending axis,
(1) said turntable assemblies defining respective portions of a vertical passage therethrough,
(2) said tension members extending through said passage;
(d) first securing means on said second turntable assembly and second securing means on said hoisting frame associated with each of said tension members and securing respective, longitudinal parts of the associated tension member to said second turntable assembly and to said hoisting frame;
(e) said first and second turntable assemblies being fixed in the vertical direction with respect to said horizontal pivot axis;
and
(f) said plurality of tension members being twisted about said vertically extending axis when said second turntable assembly is rotated with respect to said first turntable assembly.

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Abstract

Claims14