초록 ▼

A gantry crane (10) is configured in a panel turner application. The gantry crane (10) generally includes a gantry crane structure (14) having a first cross-beam (28) and a second cross-beam (30). A first main hoist mechanism (40) and a first auxiliary hoist mechanism (42) are coupled to the first c

A gantry crane (10) is configured in a panel turner application. The gantry crane (10) generally includes a gantry crane structure (14) having a first cross-beam (28) and a second cross-beam (30). A first main hoist mechanism (40) and a first auxiliary hoist mechanism (42) are coupled to the first cross-beam (28), and a second main hoist mechanism (44) and a second auxiliary hoist mechanism (46) are coupled to the second cross-beam (30). The crane (10) includes a hydraulic system configured to reduce the lift capacity of the first and/or second main hoist mechanism (40, 44), and to equalize the hoist capacity between the first and second main hoist mechanisms (40, 44) or the first and second auxiliary hoist mechanisms (42, 46) in certain applications. The auxiliary hoist mechanism (42, 46) are configured for powered movement along the respective cross-beams (28, 30).

대표청구항 ▼

1. A load lifting assembly with a controlled auxiliary hoist mechanism positioning comprising: a load lifting support structure having a first side support, a second side support spaced from the first side support, a first cross-beam extending between the first and second side supports, and a second

1. A load lifting assembly with a controlled auxiliary hoist mechanism positioning comprising: a load lifting support structure having a first side support, a second side support spaced from the first side support, a first cross-beam extending between the first and second side supports, and a second cross-beam spaced from the first cross-beam and extending between the first and second side supports;a first main hoist mechanism comprising a first main trolley coupled to the first cross-beam and configured for movement along the first cross-beam, a first main lift mechanism connected to the first main trolley, and a first main load engagement member connected to the first main trolley and depending from the first main trolley, wherein the first main lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the first main load engagement member with respect to the first main trolley;a first auxiliary hoist mechanism comprising a first auxiliary trolley coupled to the first cross-beam and configured for movement along the first cross-beam, a first auxiliary lift mechanism connected to the first auxiliary trolley, and a first auxiliary load engagement member connected to the first auxiliary trolley and depending from the first auxiliary trolley, wherein the first auxiliary lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the first auxiliary load engagement member with respect to the first auxiliary trolley;a first hydraulic cylinder coupled to both the first main trolley and the first auxiliary trolley to facilitate movement of the first auxiliary trolley along the first cross-beam relative to the first main trolley;a second main hoist mechanism comprising a second main trolley coupled to the second cross-beam and configured for movement along the second cross-beam, a second main lift mechanism connected to the second main trolley, and a second main load engagement member connected to the second main trolley and depending from the second main trolley, wherein the second main lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the second main load engagement member with respect to the second main trolley;a second auxiliary hoist mechanism comprising a second auxiliary trolley coupled to the second cross-beam and configured for movement along the second cross-beam, a second auxiliary lift mechanism connected to the second auxiliary trolley, and a second auxiliary load engagement member connected to the second auxiliary trolley and depending from the second auxiliary trolley, wherein the second auxiliary lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the second auxiliary load engagement member with respect to the second auxiliary trolley; anda second hydraulic cylinder coupled to both the second main trolley and the second auxiliary trolley to facilitate movement of the second auxiliary trolley along the second cross-beam relative to the second main trolley. 2. The load lifting assembly of claim 1 wherein the first and second cross-beams are fixed in position with respect to each other. 3. The load lifting assembly of claim 1 wherein the support structure is a gantry crane structure. 4. The load lifting assembly of claim 1 wherein the load engagement members are in the form of hooks. 5. The load lifting assembly of claim 1 wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is directly coupled to the first main hoist mechanism and the first auxiliary hoist mechanism, and the second hydraulic cylinder is directly coupled to the second main hoist mechanism and the second auxiliary hoist mechanism. 6. A gantry crane configured for lifting a load comprising: a support structure including a first side support, a second side support spaced from the first side support, a first horizontal beam extending between the first and second side supports, and a second horizontal beam spaced apart from the first horizontal beam and extending between the first and second side supports;a first main hoist mechanism capable of raising and lowering a load, the first main hoist mechanism comprising a first main trolley mounted for lateral movement along the first horizontal beam, a first main lift mechanism connected to the first main trolley, and a first main load engagement member connected to the first main trolley and depending from the first main trolley, wherein the first main lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the first main load engagement member with respect to the first main trolley;a second main hoist mechanism capable of raising and lowering a load, the second main hoist mechanism comprising a second main trolley mounted for lateral movement along the second horizontal beam, a second main lift mechanism connected to the second main trolley, and a second main load engagement member connected to the second main trolley and depending from the second main trolley, wherein the second main lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the second main load engagement member with respect to the second main trolley;a first powered auxiliary hoist mechanism capable of raising and lowering a load, the first auxiliary hoist mechanism comprising a first auxiliary trolley mounted for lateral movement along the first horizontal beam, a first auxiliary lift mechanism connected to the first auxiliary trolley, and a first auxiliary load engagement member connected to the first auxiliary trolley and depending from the first auxiliary trolley, wherein the first auxiliary lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the first auxiliary load engagement member with respect to the first auxiliary trolley;a second auxiliary hoist mechanism capable of raising and lowering a load, the second auxiliary hoist mechanism comprising a second auxiliary trolley mounted for lateral movement along the second horizontal beam, a second auxiliary lift mechanism connected to the second auxiliary trolley, and a second auxiliary load engagement member connected to the second auxiliary trolley and depending from the second auxiliary trolley, wherein the second auxiliary lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the second auxiliary load engagement member with respect to the second auxiliary trolley;a first hydraulic cylinder coupled to both the first main trolley and the first auxiliary trolley to effect spacing of the first auxiliary trolley relative to the first trolley along the first horizontal beam; anda second hydraulic cylinder coupled to both the second main trolley and the second auxiliary trolley to effect spacing of the second auxiliary trolley relative to the second main trolley along the second horizontal beam. 7. The gantry crane of claim 6 wherein the first and second horizontal beams are fixed in position with respect to each other. 8. The gantry crane of claim 6 wherein the load engagement members are in the form of hooks. 9. The gantry crane of claim 6 wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is directly coupled to the first main hoist mechanism and the first auxiliary hoist mechanism, and the second hydraulic cylinder is directly coupled to the second main hoist mechanism and the second auxiliary hoist mechanism. 10. A gantry crane comprising: a first side support frame;a second side support frame spaced from the first side support frame;a first cross-beam having a first end connected to the first side support frame and a second end connected to the second side support frame;a second cross-beam having a first end connected to the first side support frame and a second end connected to the second side support frame, the second cross-beam being spaced from the first cross-beam;a first hoist mechanism on the first cross-beam, the first hoist mechanism having a first main hoist mechanism and a first auxiliary hoist mechanism and a first drive assembly operably coupled to the first main hoist mechanism and the first auxiliary hoist mechanism, wherein the first main hoist mechanism comprises a first main trolley mounted for lateral movement along the first cross-beam, a first main lift mechanism connected to the first main trolley, and a first main load engagement member connected to the first main trolley and depending from the first main trolley, wherein the first main lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the first main load engagement member with respect to the first main trolley, and the first auxiliary hoist mechanism comprises a first auxiliary trolley coupled to the first cross-beam and configured for movement along the first cross-beam, a first auxiliary lift mechanism connected to the first auxiliary trolley, and a first auxiliary load engagement member connected to the first auxiliary trolley and depending from the first auxiliary trolley, wherein the first auxiliary lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the first auxiliary load engagement member with respect to the first auxiliary trolley, wherein the first main trolley and the first auxiliary trolley are driven along the first cross-beam by the first drive assembly, wherein the first drive assembly comprises a first hydraulic cylinder coupled to both the first main trolley and the first auxiliary trolley to effect spacing of the first auxiliary trolley relative to the first main trolley along the first cross-beam, the first hoist mechanism being capable of raising and lowering a load; anda second hoist mechanism on the second cross-beam, the second hoist mechanism having a second main hoist mechanism and a second auxiliary hoist mechanism and a second drive assembly operably coupled to the second main hoist mechanism and the second auxiliary hoist mechanism, wherein the second main hoist mechanism comprises a second main trolley mounted for lateral movement along the second cross-beam, a second main lift mechanism connected to the second main trolley, and a second main load engagement member connected to the second main trolley and depending from the second main trolley, wherein the second main lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the second main load engagement member with respect to the second main trolley, and the second auxiliary hoist mechanism comprises a second auxiliary trolley coupled to the second cross-beam and configured for movement along the second cross-beam, a second auxiliary lift mechanism connected to the second auxiliary trolley, and a second auxiliary load engagement member connected to the second auxiliary trolley and depending from the second auxiliary trolley, wherein the second auxiliary lift mechanism is configured to raise and lower the second auxiliary load engagement member with respect to the second auxiliary trolley, wherein the second main trolley and the second auxiliary trolley are driven along the second cross-beam by the second drive assembly, wherein the second drive assembly comprises a second hydraulic cylinder coupled to both the second main trolley and the second auxiliary trolley to effect spacing of the second auxiliary trolley relative to the second main trolley along the second cross-beam, the second hoist mechanism being capable of raising and lowering the load. 11. The gantry crane of claim 10 wherein the first and second cross-beams are fixed in position with respect to each other. 12. The gantry crane of claim 10 wherein the load engagement members are in the form of hooks. 13. The gantry crane of claim 10 wherein the first hydraulic cylinder is directly coupled to the first main hoist mechanism and the first auxiliary hoist mechanism, and the second hydraulic cylinder is directly coupled to the second main hoist mechanism and the second auxiliary hoist mechanism.