Key information

Title
An A-frame crane device
Application number
20230738
Case type
National
Status
17.11.2025 Patent meddelt (B1)
Filed
30.06.2023
Effective date
30.06.2023
Publicly available
31.12.2024
Next annual fee due
30.06.2027
Applicant
SEAONICS AS (NO)
Owner
SEAONICS AS (NO)
Inventor
Jarle Sigurd Ødegård (NO)
Agent
ZACCO NORWAY AS (NO)
Granted
17.11.2025
Patent number
349257
Expiry date
30.06.2043

Abstract and drawing

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content.
An A-frame crane (1) comprises at least a pair of crane legs (1a, 1b) interconnected at respective first ends (13) and having respective free ends (12) opposite of the first ends. Each crane leg is pivotally connected to a respective foundation (2) at a fulcrum (3), and the fulcrum (3) is located at a first distance (d1) from the crane leg free end (12), whereby the crane leg comprises a lower leg portion (14a) below the fulcrum and an upper leg portion (14b) above the fulcrum, and a first control device (5, 6) is operatively connected to the lower leg portion (14a) and a second control device (9, 10) is operatively connected to the upper leg portion (14b), and the control devices are controllable and operable to pivot the crane legs about the respective fulcrum. The first control device (5, 6) may comprise a first winch (6) and a first wire rope (5) extending between the first winch and the lower leg portion, and the second control device (9, 10) may comprise a second winch (10) and a second wire rope (9) extending between the second winch and the upper leg portion, wherein the first and second winches are controllable and operable to selectively reel in or pay out wire rope in order to control a pivoting motion of the crane legs. The first and second winches (6, 10) are preferably powered by respective electric motors (6a, 10a).

Publications

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Documents

 Expand Download files (18)
Date
 Date Doc. No. Process Case number In/Out Journal description To/from
 19.11.2025 09-01 Saksbehandling 20230738(349257) UT PT Registreringsbrev nasjonal patent (15) (PT20230738)
24.09.2025 08-01 Saksbehandling 20230738 UT PT Meddelelse om patent ZACCO NORWAY AS
 02.05.2025 07-01 Saksbehandling 20230738 UT PT Varsel om betaling av første årsavgift (3317) (PT20230738) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 04.04.2025 06-05 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Response to Office Action ZACCO NORWAY AS
 04.04.2025 06-04 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Norwegian Translation of Claims ZACCO NORWAY AS
 04.04.2025 06-03 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Description and claims prepared for grant of patent (clean copy) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 04.04.2025 06-02 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Description and claims prepared for grant of patent (annotated copy) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 04.04.2025 06-01 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 07.01.2025 05-01 Saksbehandling 20230738 UT Substantive Examination ZACCO NORWAY AS
 17.04.2024 04-02 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Response to 1st OA ZACCO NORWAY AS
 17.04.2024 04-01 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Korrespondanse (Hovedbrev inn) ZACCO NORWAY AS
 27.10.2023 03-02 Saksbehandling 20230738 UT PT report 11:26:38
27.10.2023 03-01 Saksbehandling 20230738 UT 20230738_1771718_PT 08 Eng ZACCO NORWAY AS
 03.07.2023 02-01 Saksbehandling 20230738 UT Infobrev til oppfinner ZACCO NORWAY AS
 30.06.2023 01-04 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Specification and claims ZACCO NORWAY AS
 30.06.2023 01-03 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Seaonics AS_General Power of Attorney Norway.pdf_11350674 ZACCO NORWAY AS
 30.06.2023 01-02 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Figures ZACCO NORWAY AS
 30.06.2023 01-01 Saksbehandling 20230738 INN Søknadsskjema Patent ZACCO NORWAY AS

Description, claims and drawings

Disclaimer: This text has been machine-scanned and may contain errors – please refer to "Publications" for legally binding content. Description
3492571Technical field of the inventionThe invention concerns a lifting device as set out by the preamble of claim 1 Background of the inventionThe so-called "A-frame" crane concept is well known. This crane type comprises a structural frame generally in the shape of the letter A, with two legs arranged at an acute angle and interconnected at one end, or with two legs arranged in parallel and interconnected at one end by a beam. The legs are pivotally connected to a foundation at their respective free ends. The foundation may be on the deck of a ship, barge, or other seagoing vessel. The frame is typically moved (pivoted) by one or more hydraulic cylinders. An example of such crane is described in EP 2054335 Bl.The prior art also includes US 6082947, which describes an A-frame crane having a range of motion from about 45 degrees inboard to 45 degrees outboard. This pivoting motion is typically provided and controlled by hydraulic cylinders. A turning sheave is fitted at the intersection of the proximal ends of the A-frame legs, which in one embodiment, when the legs are in parallel relationship, may be bridged by a beam connecting the top of the A-frame's two legs. A lifting cable is passed over the sheave and connected to a load at one end and to a main lifting winch or similar device at the inboard. In use, the load is typically hoisted from the deck with the A-frame positioned inboard, the A-frame is slewed outboard, and the load is lowered over the side or over the stem of the vessel using the winch.The prior art also includes US 4324393, which describes a radiator repair bench and an attached hoist mechanism including a test and repair bench with a radiator support gantry having spaced support legs pivotally attached to the top of the bench. A powered gantry support bracket pivots the gantry hoist mechanism into position over the bench or adjacent one side of the bench in order to permit gripping and subsequent movement of a radiator. In this manner, a radiator resting on the floor of a shop may be gripped by a radiator clamping assembly suspended from the gantry, raised by the gantry over the workbench and deposited on the workbench for repair and testing. 3492572There is a need for a crane of the above-mentioned type that is easier to maintain and service, is more compact in the stored (inactive) state, and is more responsive to control inputs that the prior art cranes.Summary of the inventionThe invention is set forth and characterized in the main claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention.It is thus provided an A-frame crane comprising at least a pair of crane legs interconnected at respective first ends and having respective free ends opposite of the first ends, characterized in that each crane leg is pivotally connected to a respective foundation at a fulcrum, and the fulcrum is located at a first distance from the crane leg free end, whereby the crane leg comprises a lower leg portion below the fulcrum and an upper leg portion above the fulcrum, and a first control device is operatively connected to the lower leg portion and a second control device is operatively connected to the upper leg portion, and the control devices are controllable and operable to pivot the crane legs about the respective fulcrum.In one embodiment, the first control device comprises a first winch and a first wire rope extending between the first winch and the lower leg portion, and the second control device comprises a second winch and a second wire rope extending between the second winch and the upper leg portion, wherein the first and second winches are controllable and operable to selectively reel in or pay out wire rope in order to control a pivoting motion of the crane legs.In one embodiment, the first wire rope extends between the first winch and the leg free end, and the second wire rope extends between the second winch and a second attachment point on the upper leg portion. In one embodiment, the first wire rope runs over a sheave in the region of the leg free end and is connected to a first attachment point on the foundation. The first attachment point may be arranged above the first winch, and the first and second winches may be placed on and connected to the foundation. In one embodiment, the first and second winches are powered by respective electric motors. 3492573Brief description of the drawingsThese and other characteristics of the invention will become clear from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given as a non-restrictive example, with reference to the attached schematic drawings, wherein:Figure 1 is a front view of an embodiment of the crane according to the invention;Figure 2 is a side view of the crane illustrated in figure 1, showing three different operational positions; andFigure 3 is a side view of the crane illustrated in figure 1, in an inactive position. Equipment and devices to operate the crane (e.g. power cables, sensors, etc.) have not been illustrated as these are well known in the art and not part of the invention.Detailed description of embodiments of the inventionThe following description may use terms such as “horizontal”, “vertical”, “lateral”, “back and forth”, “up and down”, "upper”, “lower”, “inner”, “outer”, “forward”, “rear”, etc. These terms generally refer to the views and orientations as shown in the drawings and that are associated with a normal use of the invention. The terms are used for the reader’s convenience only and shall not be limiting.The invention comprises an A-frame crane, i.e. a crane type comprising a structural frame generally in the shape of the letter "A". In the embodiment illustrated in the drawings, the A-frame crane 1 comprises two legs la, lb arranged in parallel and interconnected at one end by a beam lc. However, the invention shall not be limited to this configuration, but may comprise other designs, for example an A-frame crane comprising two interconnected legs arranged at an acute angle.One or more lifting sheaves 4a are connected to the top of the A-frame, in the illustrated embodiment via attachment devices 4a on the beam lc. This is a conventional configuration, also comprising lifting wires running over the lifting sheaves, hooks, and lifting winches (not illustrated). 3492574Reference number 2 denotes respective foundations. The foundation may be placed on the deck of a ship, barge, or other seagoing vessel, or on a land facility.Each crane leg la, lb is pivotally connected to a respective foundation 2 at a respective fulcrum 3, dividing the leg into a first (lower) leg portion 14a and a second (upper) leg portion 14b. The fulcrum 3 may comprise a bolt or pin arrangement, or any other pivoting arrangement known in the art. Each fulcrum, and thus the crane legs’ connection to the foundations, is located at a first distance di from the respective leg’s free end 12 (see figure 2). The first distance di (i.e. the length of the lower leg portion 14a) is dimensioned based on specific operational requirements, but is always less than the length of the upper leg portion 14b (i.e. the second distance d2 between the fulcrum and the legs’ upper end 13). In the illustrated embodiment, the ratio between the first and second distances is approximately 1/3.The A-frame crane’s pivoting motion about the fulcrums 3 is thus controlled by applying forces to the lower and upper leg portions 14a, 14b. In general, this is achieved by a first control device connected to the lower leg portion and a second control device connected to the upper leg portion. In the illustrated embodiment, the first control device comprises a first winch and a first wire rope extending between the first winch and the lower leg portion, and the second control device comprises a second winch and a second wire rope extending between the second winch and the upper leg portion. The first and second winches are controllable and operable to selectively reel in or pay out wire rope in order to control the pivoting motion.One embodiment of this principle is illustrated in figure 2, where for each foundation and corresponding crane leg, a first wire rope 5 extends between a first winch 6 and the leg free end 12 (on the lower leg portion 14a), and a second wire rope 9 extends between a second winch 10 and an attachment point 11 on the upper leg portion 14b. Figure 2 illustrates that the first wire rope 5 runs over a sheave 8 in the region of the leg free end 12 and is connected to a first attachment point 7 on the foundation 2, but the invention shall not be limited to this specific configuration. In the illustrated embodiment, the first attachment point 7 is arranged above the first winch 6. The location of the second attachment point 11 is determined based on operational 3492575requirements. The first 6 and second 10 winches are preferably placed on and connected to the foundation 2, and preferably are powered by respective electric motors 6a, 10a.Operating the first 6 and second 10 winches will therefore move the A-frame as indicated by the arrow "M" in figure 2. Reference letters "A" and "C" denote forward and aft crane positions, while reference letter "B" denotes a vertical position. The above-mentioned first 5 and second 9 wire ropes are only shown on the crane in position B.In operation, therefore, paying out on the first wire rope 5 from the first 6 winch and reeling in the second wire rope 9 on the second winch 10, will rotate the A-frame to position A, while an opposite winch operation will rotate the A-frame to position C. The A-frame crane pivoting movement M about the fulcrum 3 is thus controlled by manipulation of the winches 6, 10. As the winches are powered by electric motors, the control response is virtually instantaneous.Figure 3 shows the A-frame crane according to the invention in an inactive position. In this position the crane occupies little space compared to the known A-Frame cranes. The upper part 13 of the A-frame, where a crane sheave arrangement (4) is located, is also very close to the deck, whereby service, repair or refurbishment may be performed without additional lifting equipment.
Claims
3492576Claims1. An A-frame crane (1) comprising at least a pair of crane legs (la, lb) interconnected at respective first ends (13) and having respective free ends (12) opposite of the first ends, characterized in thateach crane leg is pivotally connected to a respective foundation (2) at a fulcrum (3), and the fulcrum (3) is located at a first distance (di) from the crane leg free end (12), whereby the crane leg comprises a lower leg portion (14a) below the fulcrum and an upper leg portion (14b) above the fulcrum, and a first control device (5, 6) is operatively connected to the lower leg portion (14a) and a second control device (9, 10) is operatively connected to the upper leg portion (14b), and the control devices are controllable and operable to pivot the crane legs about the respective fulcrum.2. The A-frame crane of claim 1, wherein the first control device (5, 6) comprises a first winch (6) and a first wire rope (5) extending between the first winch and the lower leg portion, and the second control device (9, 10) comprises a second winch (10) and a second wire rope (9) extending between the second winch and the upper leg portion, wherein the first and second winches are controllable and operable to selectively reel in or pay out wire rope in order to control a pivoting motion of the crane legs.3. The A-frame crane of claim 2, wherein the first wire rope (5) extends between the first winch (6) and the leg free end (12), and the second wire rope (9) extends between the second winch (10) and a second attachment point (11) on the upper leg portion (14b).4. The A-frame crane of claim 2 or claim 3, wherein the first wire rope (5) runs over a sheave (8) in the region of the leg free end (12) and is connected to a first attachment point (7) on the foundation (2).5. The A-frame crane of claim 4, wherein the first attachment point (7) is arranged above the first winch (6).6. The A-frame crane of any one of claims 2-5, wherein the first and second winches (6, 10) are placed on and connected to the foundation (2).34925777. The A-frame crane of any one of claims 2-6, wherein the first and second winches (6, 10) are powered by respective electric motors (6a, 10a).3492578Patentkrav1. En A-rammekran (1) som omfatter minst et par med kranben (la, lb) som er sammenkoblet ved første respektive ender (13) og som har respektive frie ender (12) på motsatt side av de første endene, karakterisert vedat hvert kranben er svingbart festet til en respektiv forankring (2) i et vippepunkt (3), og at vippepunktet (3) er lokalisert på en første distanse (di) fra kranbenets frie ende (12), hvor kranbenet omfatter en nedre benseksjon (14a) under vippepunktet og en øvre benseksjon (14b) over vippepunktet, og et første kontrollorgan (5,6) er operativt koblet til den nedre benseksjonen (14a) og et andre kontrollorgan (9,10) er operativt koblet til den øvre benseksjonen (14b), og at kontrollorganene er kontrollerbare og kan opereres for å svinge kranbenene om det respektive vippepunktet.2. En A-rammekran ifølge krav 1, hvor det første kontrollorganet (5, 6) omfatter en første vinsj (6) og en første vaier (5) som strekker seg mellom den første vinsjen og den nedre benseksjonen, og et andre kontrollorgan (9, 10) som omfatter en andre vinsj (10) og en andre vaier (9) som strekker seg mellom den andre vinsjen og den øvre benseksjonen, hvor den første og den andre vinsjen er kontrollerbare og kan opereres til og selektivt spole inn og ut vaier for å kontrollere vippebevegelsen til kranbenene.3. En A-rammekran ifølge krav 2, hvor den første vaieren (5) strekker seg mellom den første vinsjen (6) og den frie enden av kranbenet (12), og en andre vaier (9) som strekker seg mellom den andre vinsjen (10) og et andre festepunkt (11) på den øvre benseksjonen (14b).4. En A-rammekran ifølge krav 2 eller krav 3, hvor den første vaieren (5) går over en skive (8) i området rundt den frie enden av kranbenet (12) og er koblet til et første festepunkt (7) på forankringen (2).5. En A-rammekran ifølge krav 4, hvor et første festepunkt (7) er plassert over den først vinsjen (6).6. En A-rammekran ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 2-5, hvor den første og den andre vinsjen (6, 10) er plassert på og koblet til forankringen (2).34925797. En A-rammekran ifølge et hvilket som helst av kravene 2-6, hvor den første og den andre vinsjen (6, 10) er drevet av respektive elektriske motorer (6a, 10a).
Drawings

Priority

No priority

Patent classes

IPC classesB66C 13/00B66C 13/02B63B 27/12CPC classesB66C 13/00B66C 13/02B63B 27/12

Citations

US 4324393 A (A)KR 20210012180 A (A)

Applicants, owners and inventors

Owners
SEAONICS AS
Postboks 144 6001 ÅLESUND NO (ÅLESUND Municipality, Møre og Romsdal county)Org. number: 997012461Inventors
Jarle Sigurd Ødegård
Solstrandvegen 119 6264 TENNFJORD NO (HARAM Municipality, Møre og Romsdal county)

Agent

ZACCO NORWAY AS
ZACCO NORWAY AS

Org. number: 982702887

Name and address are automatically synchronized with the Brønnøysund Register Centre.

Open in The Brønnøysund Register Centre
Postboks 488 0213 OSLO NO (OSLO Municipality, Oslo county)
Org. number: 982702887
Reference: P455791NO00

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