[001] The present invention relates to a mobile crane. More particularly, the present invention
relates to an articulated mobile crane with rotatable man basket and tiltable jib.
5
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[002] An articulated mobile crane is an all-wheel drive crane that can travel on both highways
and gravel roads to get the crane into position for the lift. With the new engineering advancements
10 in crane set up, these cranes are now ideal for lifting and moving loads on remote job site
locations.
[003] The articulated mobile cranes are primarily designed to be used on firm, flat, level ground.
For each crane, rated capacity manuals are produced that provide load chart tables defining the
15 capacity of the crane in a particular configuration.
[004] A pick and carry crane is similar to a mobile crane, which can move with a load suspended
to a boom. Said cranes are particularly designed to move while carrying load at high speed on
the driveways, do not have outriggers and are designed to lift the load from one place to another
20 within a small radius.
[005] Generally, the mobile cranes have leaf springs fitted to both ends of the rear axle of the
crane which enables a crane to absorb the shock at bumps along a given terrain. Such shock is of
a much higher magnitude for a load carrying crane. Thus, such setups of leaf spring do not work
25 fairly when it comes to suspension tuning. There is a lack of adjustability in leaf setups, as in this
setup ends of the leaf springs are attached to the chassis, which leaves a very little scope for
shortening or lengthening of the leafs. Further, leaf springs are firmly clamped together and
bolted to the chassis as well as clipped to the axle, thus giving little to no scope for any other
direction of motion, which can lead to heavy wear on the joints and connections holding the setup
30 together. Also, the ride comfort is not achievable in vehicles using leaf spring setup.
3
[006] Further, boom assembly of a mobile crane consists of a pin connected structural members
to extend or retract loads using power from hydraulic cylinders. This allows an operator to gain
access to work areas over obstacles and barriers. Therefore, such cranes are perfect for tight
access and hard-to-reach areas.
5
[007] Aerial Work Platform (AWP) and Mobile Elevating Work Platform (MEWP) are also
used when a construction worker or operator has to perform a work on an elevated position or a
height. Thus, AWP and MEWP provide temporary access for workers or operators to reach
inaccessible areas, usually at a certain height. However, the main drawback of such AWP or
10 MEWP is that it lifts and carries people and/or small equipment along with the operator, but not
heavy load.
[008] Therefore, keeping in view the problems associated with the prior art, an articulated crane
which can carry the heavy load and yet provides a smooth movement over bumps is required.
15
OBJECTIVE OF THE INVENTION
[009] The main object of the present invention is to provide an articulated mobile crane that
lifts and carries heavy load along with operators to desired heights, while ensuring highest
20 standard of safety.
[0010] Another object of the present invention is to provide an articulated mobile crane, which
efficiently tilt over the bumps without leaf suspension.
25 [0011] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an articulated mobile crane
having an operational workability while lifting people and/or load at desired height.
[0012] Another object of the present invention is to provide an articulated mobile crane that
carries people and/or heavy load in any direction or location at any height.
30
4
[0013] Yet another object of the present invention is to provide an articulated mobile crane that
is simple in design and cost effective in construction.
[0014] Other objects and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the
5 following description, wherein, the aspects of the present invention are disclosed.
SUMMARY OF INVENTION
[0015] The present invention discloses an articulated mobile crane comprising a main frame and
10 chassis connected via cradle and yoke assembly. The main frame comprises a boom, an
articulated and tiltable jib, rotatable man basket, and plurality of hooks to lift and carry people
and/or load at desired height and location. The articulated mobile as per the present invention is
designed to provide smooth tilting up over bumps without leaf spring/suspension, thereby
enabling the crane to work efficiently on a rough terrain.
15
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The present invention will be better understood after reading the following detailed
description of presently preferred aspects thereof with reference to the appended drawing,
20 wherein:
[0017] Fig. 1 illustrates a perspective view of the articulated mobile crane as per the present
invention.
25 DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0018] The following description describes various features and functions of the disclosed
system and method with reference to the accompanying figure. In the figure, similar symbols
identify similar components, unless context dictates otherwise. The illustrative aspects described
30 herein are not meant to be limiting. It may be readily understood that certain aspects of the
5
disclosed system and method can be arranged and combined in a wide variety of different
configurations, all of which are contemplated herein.
[0019] These and other features, including the advantages of the present invention may be
5 incorporated into certain embodiments of the invention and will become more fully apparent
from the following description, or may be learned by the practice of the invention as set forth
hereinafter.
[0020] Accordingly, those of ordinary skill in the art will recognize that various changes and
10 modifications of the embodiments described herein can be made without departing from the
scope of the invention. In addition, descriptions of well-known functions and constructions are
omitted for clarity and conciseness.
[0021] Features that are described and/or illustrated with respect to one embodiment may be used
15 in the same way or in a similar way in one or more other embodiments and/or in combination
with or instead of the features of the other embodiments.
[0022] The terms and words used in the following description and claims are not limited to the
bibliographical meanings but are merely used to enable a clear and consistent understanding of
20 the invention. Accordingly, it should be apparent to those skilled in the art that the following
description of exemplary embodiments of the present invention are provided for illustration
purpose only and not for the purpose of limiting the invention.
[0023] It is to be understood that the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents
25 unless the context clearly dictates otherwise.
[0024] It should be emphasized that the term “comprises/comprising” when used in this
specification is taken to specify the presence of stated features, integers, steps or components but
does not preclude the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps,
30 components or groups thereof. The equations used in the specification are only for computation
purpose.
6
[0025] In accordance with the present invention, figure 1 illustrates a schematic representation
of the articulated mobile crane as per the present invention. The crane comprises a main frame
(8) and a chassis (5), coupled to each other through cradle (4) & yoke (3) assembly.
5
[0026] The main frame (8) and the chassis (5) of the crane are coupled with each other through
cradle (4) and yoke (3) assembly which is in a pin joint architecture and are used for articulation
of the crane through Hydraulic steering cylinders (6), wherein the said cradle & yoke assembly
is fitted on chassis (5) & A-frame (7).
10
[0027] The main frame (8) of the crane comprises, but is not limited to, a boom assembly, front
tires, A-frame (7), jack guard(17), and a bumper (16).Said jack guard (17) is used to provide the
protection to luff cylinders (13) and the bumper (16) is used to provide protection to the front
tyres.
15
[0028] Further, said boom assembly also comprises, but not limited to, a telescopic boom
comprising a plurality of boom sections, a jib (14), a jib cylinder (13), a rotatable man basket
(15), a plurality of hydraulic compensation cylinders (9, 12), a drag chain (11), rotary
actuators/slew drive, a pipe set, a basket mounting fabrication. The boom assembly is fixed on
20 the main frame of the crane through a pin joint assembly. The plurality of boom sections can be
extended or retracted through a boom extension cylinder (10) to exhibit the telescopic
characteristics of boom. The extension cylinder (10) is connected between the plurality of boom
sections, which extends and retracts the telescopic boom. The luff cylinders (13) are connected
to the boom so as to maneuver the boom up and down.
25
[0029] Other than the boom sections, the boom is also mounted with, but not limited to, winch,
snatch block and plurality of hooks. The said winch is mounted on top of the boom includes a
drum on which rope is wound, and a hydraulic winch motor to rotate the drum in forward and
reverse direction.
30
7
[0030] The winch motor is driven through the power of hydraulic pump. The winch motor rotates
the winch drum so that the snatch block that is coupled with front end of the rope on wire drum
moves up and down. The plurality of hook points and hook blocks are provided to hang weight
load/loads.
5
[0031] The boom assembly in the front side of crane further comprises an assembly including
but not limited to a plurality of hydraulic compensation cylinders(12), a jib cylinder (13), a jib
(14), a man basket (15), a drag chain, slew drive/rotary actuators, a pipe set and a basket mounting
fabrication.
10
[0032] The rotatable man basket (15) is mounted on the jib (14) of boom assembly by means of
basket mounting fabrication. The jib (14) is connected with the boom assembly through jib
mounting fabrication. The man basket (15) and jib (14), mounted with the boom assembly, are
designed to be rotatable by the operation of rotary actuators/slew drives in the front side of crane.
15 The man basket (15) is operably connected to a first kind of rotary actuator/slew drive and the
first kind of slew drive/rotary actuator; rotates the man basket. The jib (14) is operably connected
to a second kind of rotary actuator/slew drive and the second kind of slew drive/rotary actuator
rotates the jib. The jib cylinder (13) is connected to the jib to maneuver the jib (14) up and down.
Said man basket (15) and the jib (14) mounted on the boom assembly are designed to be rotatable
20 by the operation of said slew drive/rotary actuator in the front side of crane.
[0033] The jib (14) mounted on the boom assembly is designed to be tiltable at specific angles,
so that the rotatable man basket (15) is lifted or lowered to desired height at desired angles. The
jib (14) is designed to be operable in an angular range of 170 degree through a set of control
25 valves. In an exemplary embodiment of the present invention, the angular range is between +85
degrees and -85 degrees.
[0034] The rotatable man basket (15) in the present invention is also designed to be operable in
an angular range of 170 degrees through another spool of control valves. As per a specific
30 embodiment of the present invention, the angular range is between +85 degrees and -85 degrees.
8
[0035] The rotatable man basket (15) along with the hook blocks or snatch block mounted on the
boom assembly in front side of the crane enables operators and other people to be lifted and
lowered at desired heights and locations, along with heavy load.
5 [0036] Further, the said rotatable man basket (15) carries the user such as an operator or a
technician, to desired height. The plurality of compensation cylinders (12) function to make sure
that the rotatable man basket (15) is balanced and is always maintained in a horizontal direction,
which is an improved mechanism than hanging man basket through rope mechanism.
10 [0037] The cradle (4) and yoke (3) assembly connecting main frame (8) and chassis (5)is a pin
joint, which is used for articulation of the crane through hydraulic steering cylinders (6), fitted
on chassis (5) and A-frame (7).The cradle (4) and yoke (3) assembly helps in articulation as well
in oscillation, thereby assisting the cranes in efficient tilting on bumps. The vehicle does not
require leaf spring/suspension provided and vehicle can work on rough terrain efficiently without
15 using the leaf spring/suspension. The cradle and yoke assembly, attached with the chassis and
main body, provides a wide scope for direction of motion and better stability, with vehicle
moving in rough terrains and carrying a load.
[0038] Further, the chassis (5) of crane comprises, but not limited to, an engine, a transmission
20 or gearbox, a rear axle with tires, plurality of fuel tank and hydraulic tank, cabin (1),counterweight (2) and coverings for various parts of the crane such as engine, pump etc.
[0039] The engine with gearbox/transmission mounted on the chassis (5) provide power to the
crane for movement on and off the road, and for maneuvering heavy load and operator at desired
25 heights. The power from the engine to drive axle fitted on the chassis for movement of crane.
The power generated from the engine to drive axle fitted on the chassis (5) for movement of crane
is transmitted through the propeller shaft.
[0040] The cabin (1) is provided on the chassis (5) of crane having a seat and controls such as
30 levers, handles. The operator/driver maneuvers the crane using the said controls.
9
The counter-weight (2) mounted on the rear of the chassis (5) of crane provides stability to the
crane when heavy load and/or people are lifted and maneuvered towards high locations through
hooks, snatch blocks and rotatable man basket (15).
5 [0041] While the present invention has been described with reference to one or more preferred
aspects, which aspects have been set forth in considerable detail for the purposes of making a
complete disclosure of the invention, such aspects are merely exemplary and are not intended to
be limiting or represent an exhaustive enumeration of all aspects of the invention. The scope of
the invention, therefore, shall be defined solely by the following claims. Further, it will be
10 apparent to those of skill in the art that numerous changes may be made in such details without
departing from the spirit and the principles of the invention.

WE CLAIM:

1) An articulated mobile crane with tilt able jib (14) and rotatable man basket (15),
comprising:
5 a main frame (8);
a chassis (5); and
a cradle (4) and yolk (3) assembly;
wherein
the main frame (8) is coupled to chassis (5) through cradle and yoke assembly and
10 steered through a plurality of hydraulic steering cylinders (6), which are fitted on
chassis (5) and A-frame (7).
2) The articulated mobile crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the main frame (8) comprises:
a boom assembly;
15 a rotatable man basket (15);
a jib (14); and
a rotary actuator/slew drive;
wherein
the boom assembly is fixed on the main frame (8) through a pin joint assembly;
20 the rotatable man basket (15) is operably connected with the jib (14); and
the jib (14) is mounted with boom assembly through jib mounting fabrication
and is tiltable at specific angles.
the man basket (15) is operably connected to a first kind of rotary actuator/slew
drive;
25 the jib (14) is operably connected to the boom; and
the jib (14) is operably connected to a second kind of rotary actuator/slew drive
3) The articulated mobile crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the chassis(5) comprises:
an engine with a gearbox;
11
a cabin (1);and
a counterweight (2);
wherein the counter weight (2) is mounted on the rear body of the chassis (5).
4) The mobile crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the rotatable man basket (15) is operable
5 in angular range of 170 degrees.
5) The mobile crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the jib (14) is operable in angular range
of 170 degrees.
10 6) The mobile crane as claimed in claim 2, wherein the boom assembly comprises a plurality
of compensation cylinders (12) to balance the rotatable man basket (15) in a horizontal
direction.
7) The mobile crane as claimed in claim 2, wherein the first kind of slew drive/rotary actuator
15 rotates the man basket.
8) The mobile crane as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second kind of slew drive/rotary
actuator, rotates the jib.