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CN-113023594-B - Folding arm type crane for offshore application

CN113023594BCN 113023594 BCN113023594 BCN 113023594BCN-113023594-B

Abstract

The invention relates to a folding arm crane for offshore applications, wherein the crane comprises a folding arm (3) carried by a support structure (2) and provided with a handling mechanism (5). The folding arm (3) comprises a main arm (31) and a terminal arm (32). The actuating mechanism (5) of the folding arm (3) comprises at least one downstream linear actuator (52) arranged between the main arm (31) and the terminal arm (32) for the rotational operation of the terminal arm (32) about a downstream articulation axis (36'). And, the at least one downstream linear actuator (52) is secured to one of the sides (311) of the main arm (31) and one of the sides (321) of the end arm (32) to provide an improved lever arm between the main arm (31) and the end arm (32).

Inventors

  • K. Conat
  • J-m. erdimeria

Assignees

  • 雷埃尔公司

Dates

Publication Date
20260508
Application Date
20201223
Priority Date
20191224

Claims (7)

  1. 1. A folding arm crane for offshore applications, wherein the crane comprises: -a support structure (2); -a folding arm (3) carried by the support structure (2) and equipped with a handling mechanism (5); a winch drum (7) associated with the rotation mechanism (8) and intended to receive an elongated lifting member (L), Wherein the folding arm (3) comprises a main arm (31) and an end arm (32) connected in series, each of the main arm and the end arm comprising: -two sides (311, 321); -an upstream end (312, 322) located on one side of the support structure (2), and A downstream end (313, 323) remote from the support structure (2), Wherein the support structure (2) cooperates with an upstream end (312) of the main arm (31) by means of an upstream articulation (35) defining an upstream articulation axis (35'), Wherein the downstream end (313) of the main arm (31) cooperates with the upstream end (322) of the terminal arm (32) by means of a downstream articulation (36) defining a downstream articulation axis (36'), The actuating mechanism (5) of the folding arm (3) comprises: -at least one upstream linear actuator (51) arranged between the support structure (2) and the main arm (31) for rotational operation of the main arm (31) about the upstream articulation axis (35'), and At least one downstream linear actuator (52) arranged between the main arm (31) and the terminal arm (32) for rotational operation of the terminal arm (32) about the downstream articulation axis (36'), Characterized in that said at least one downstream linear actuator (52): -fastened to one of the sides (311) of the main arm (31) by an upstream assembly mechanism (10) in the form of a universal joint, and -Fastened to one of the sides (321) of the end arm (32) by a downstream assembly mechanism (11) in the form of a ball joint; The upstream assembly mechanism (10) includes: -a star joint (101) carrying said at least one downstream linear actuator (52), and -At least one yoke (102) carrying the star-shaped joint (101) and assembled to a side (311) of the main arm (31); Wherein the at least one linear actuator (51, 52) comprises a cylinder (511, 521) and a rod (512, 522), the cylinder (511, 521) comprising an upstream end (511 a, 521 a) remote from the rod (512, 522) and a downstream end (511 b, 521 b) located on one side of the rod (512, 522), Wherein the at least one downstream linear actuator (52): -fastened to one of the sides (311) of the main arm (31) by an upstream assembly mechanism (10), and Secured to one of the sides (321) of the end arm (32) by a downstream assembly mechanism (11), Wherein the upstream assembly means (10) is fastened to the cylinder (521) away from the upstream end (521 a), Wherein the upstream assembly mechanism (10) is secured to the cylinder (521) at the downstream end (521 b) away from the upstream end (521 a), Wherein the downstream assembly mechanism (11) is fixed to a free end (522 b) of the rod (522).
  2. 2. The folding arm crane according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one downstream linear actuator (52) is inscribed in a cylinder body (E52), Wherein the main arm (31) and the terminal arm (32) are inscribed respectively in a transversal body (E31, E32) defined by a vertical plane (P311, P321) passing through the sides (311, 321), The cylinder body (E52) of the at least one downstream linear actuator (52) extends outside the transverse bodies (E31, E32) of the main arm (31) and end arm (32).
  3. 3. The folding-arm crane according to claim 1, characterized in that the handling mechanism (5) comprises two downstream linear actuators (52) which are identical and coplanar to each other and are placed on both sides of the main arm (31) and of the end arm (32).
  4. 4. The folding arm crane according to claim 1, characterized in that the upstream assembly mechanism (10) is fastened to a retainer ring of a cylinder (521) of the downstream linear actuator (52).
  5. 5. The folding arm crane according to claim 1, characterized in that the cylinder (521) of the downstream linear actuator (52) extends completely protruding with respect to the upstream assembly mechanism (10).
  6. 6. Folding-arm crane according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one linear actuator (51, 52) is constituted by a hydraulic jack or an electric jack.
  7. 7. Vessel for offshore applications, equipped with a folding arm crane (1) according to claim 1.

Description

Folding arm type crane for offshore application Technical Field The invention relates to the technical field of offshore cranes, in particular to the technical field of folding arm cranes for offshore applications. Background In the offshore field, the vessels used are often equipped with a folding arm crane. The use of such folding-arm cranes is of particular interest in the offshore field, in particular in terms of their range of action and maximum load. For this purpose, such folding arms generally comprise two successive arms, a support arm and a terminal arm. The support arm (often referred to as the "main arm") is typically hinged to the support structure. The end arm (often referred to as a "cantilever") is typically hinged to the support arm. The operation of these two steering fold arm members is typically performed using hydraulic jacks: A first jack is interposed between the support structure and the support arm for the operation of the support arm, and A second jack is interposed between the portions of the folding arm for the operation of the terminal arm. Defining the stroke and connection points of the jacks optimizes the working radius and productivity of the system. Here, the second jack is typically placed between the opposite faces of the two parts of the folding arm, the upstream end of the cylinder being fixed to the main arm and the downstream end of the rod being fixed to the folding arm. The existing construction of the folding arms has inherent limitations in two ways: the angle of articulation between the parts of the folding arm is generally about 120 DEG, and The ability of the folding arm to support a load in a given position, in particular when the jack is fully retracted or fully extended. Disclosure of Invention In order to remedy the above-mentioned drawbacks of the prior art, the present invention proposes a folding arm crane for offshore applications, wherein the crane comprises: the support structure is a structure of a support, A folding arm carried by the support structure and provided with a handling mechanism, A winch drum associated with the rotation mechanism and intended to receive an elongated lifting member (for example a cable, advantageously a metal cable or a composite cable). The folding arm comprises a main arm and a terminal arm which are connected in sequence, and each of the main arm and the terminal arm comprises: -a pair of side faces, An upstream end located on one side of the support structure, and -A downstream end remote from the support structure. The support structure cooperates with the upstream end of the main arm through an upstream hinge mechanism defining an upstream hinge axis. The downstream end of the main arm cooperates with the upstream end of the tip arm by a downstream hinge mechanism defining a downstream hinge axis. The upstream hinge axis and the downstream hinge axis advantageously extend parallel to each other. The operating mechanism for operating the folding arm includes: -at least one upstream linear actuator arranged between the support structure and the main arm for rotational operation of the main arm about the upstream articulation axis, and -At least one downstream linear actuator arranged between the main arm and the end arm for rotational operation of the end arm about the downstream articulation axis. And, according to the invention, said at least one downstream linear actuator is fixed on the one hand to one of the sides of the support arm and on the other hand to one of the sides of said terminal arm. This configuration is of particular interest in providing an improved lever arm between the main arm and the terminal arm. This new design also allows to increase the hinge angle between the parts of the folding arm. Also, this arrangement of the downstream linear actuator may also improve the ability of the folding arm to support a load at a given location, particularly when the downstream linear actuator is fully retracted or fully extended. The following are other non-limiting and advantageous features of the system according to the invention, taken alone or according to all technically possible combinations: -the at least one downstream linear actuator is inscribed in a cylinder body and the main and end arms are each inscribed in a transverse body defined by a vertical plane passing through the side faces, and the cylinder body of the at least one downstream linear actuator extends outside the transverse body of the main and end arms; -the steering mechanism comprises two downstream linear actuators identical and coplanar to each other, placed on either side of said main arm and said terminal arm, respectively; The at least one downstream linear actuator is fastened to one of the sides of the main arm by an upstream assembly mechanism in the form of a universal joint (also called universal joint, huo Kejie or U-joint) and to one of the sides of the end arm by a downstream assembly mechanism in the form of a ball joi