Tracked crane

[Zerobricks]

Trying to build an unique crane can be quite a challenge, but I managed to think of something which I think is unique enough. This crane is a mix of a crawler and mobile crane, as it uses the tracks and multible booms from a crawler crane with a combo of extendable booms from a mobile crane. The two booms are places on top of each other. The first one is lifted with two LA's, while the second one uses worm gears and a 40 tooth gear for lifting up. Also the second boom can be extended to maximise the reach of the crane. When folded the model emasures 28x19,5x13 centimeters, but when fully lifted it reaches 67 cm height. The lifting functions are powered by 4 M motors hidden in the body, while the drive is powered by 2 Xl motors.

The tracks have bogies for flexibility:

Start of the lift:

Half way lifted crane from side:

Maximum lifted and extended booms:

Various gear details: The model uses 48 gears

Cabine uses the so 90's popular city truck grill for roof:

Crane close to its max lift capability:

And a video:

What you guys think?

Edited August 11, 2010 by Zblj

[Marckeyh]

I really like that! It's very original and looks nice as well.

+1 for using the challenge logo

[roamingstop]

Nice idea. Actually when I first saw it I thought of some tracked mobile cranes we have here. I.e. take the jib and extendable boom part of a mobile crane (on a lorry) and add it onto a crawler crane base; with crawler supports. Somehow it is a heavy duty mobile all terrain crane.

But nice idea with the extra lift...

[rgbrown]

Certainly very quirky! I like all the tricks that it can do.

Two little comments:

* You could free up one motor by using a Cherry-picker style boom unfolding technique, which would also avoid the issue of the thing waving around like crazy as it unfolds

* Is there any way you could make the lower boom section more visually substantial? Currently it makes the boom look a bit top-heavy...

Don't get me wrong though, it's a very fun model!

p.s. White-wedding in midi?

[Zerobricks]

Certainly very quirky! I like all the tricks that it can do.

Two little comments:

* You could free up one motor by using a Cherry-picker style boom unfolding technique, which would also avoid the issue of the thing waving around like crazy as it unfolds

* Is there any way you could make the lower boom section more visually substantial? Currently it makes the boom look a bit top-heavy...

Don't get me wrong though, it's a very fun model!

p.s. White-wedding in midi?

I used both functions independent on purpose, because this allows you to put the second arm in horisontal position, while the main one acts like a pillar, which allows you to reach some 50 cm from crane's base. Yeah the second boom is bigger, but it also has the extension part inside. I dont know if there is room to add more stuff on first boom, because it needs to fold back too.

Yes its white wedding day instrumental

[eMHa]

Great idea! I've never seen such a crane before, so I think this is really unique.

[efferman]

very unique idea. the first boom section looks a little bit to light for me.

[Jurgen Krooshoop]

Good to see a different crane. You certainly succeded in makinga it unique. And the Lego-challenge logo is a nice touch.

[Countdown]

Very nice!

For sure, very unique design; it really stands out of the traditionnal crane types.

I sure would have appreciate to have a real one similar to this on my site a couple years ago... We were building high voltage lines in remote areas in northern Quebec. We had tradionnal crawler cranes (i.e. Link-Belt LS-78a) and the weight distribution and center of gravity of the machine made it very difficult to go over difficult terrain.

Now, just suggest this to one of the crane manufacturers and you'll be rich!!!

-Nick

[Zerobricks]

Very nice!

For sure, very unique design; it really stands out of the traditionnal crane types.

I sure would have appreciate to have a real one similar to this on my site a couple years ago... We were building high voltage lines in remote areas in northern Quebec. We had tradionnal crawler cranes (i.e. Link-Belt LS-78a) and the weight distribution and center of gravity of the machine made it very difficult to go over difficult terrain.

Now, just suggest this to one of the crane manufacturers and you'll be rich!!!

-Nick

Thanks for the praise, you really think this could be a real crane design?

[Countdown]

Thanks for the praise, you really think this could be a real crane design?

I think so, but with some tweeking and LOTS of stability calculations, espsecially lateral stabilility. I'd suggest that the first boom section be either completly deployed (from 90deg to 135deg, 0deg being the closed position) and moved to the center of the carrier structure (for better weight distribution) with cables/winch attached to the back of the carrier. Crane design is really complicated and i'm just a construction civil eng; not a mechanical design engineer.

-Nick

Edited August 12, 2010 by Countdown

[roamingstop]

People should also look at the Fluck truck cranes for inspiration of things which lift strangely...

http://www.flueck.ag/logistikambau.html

Some Pal Finger / Truck types

http://www.flueck.ag/grosslkwkrane.html

Mobile mini-tower cranes

http://www.flueck.ag/mobilbaukrane.html

These all feature extendable booms on the first section; with more traditional open crane formats on the jib.

Now you know where to send the Zblj designs!.

[grohl]

I especially love the way you dealt with the boom. And again the LTC logo is a great idea.

[shimon]

I love it.

im surprised how it lifted the logo

only why did you put the blue beams?

still very good, you have a great chance

[Fyredog]

Cool Crane - I was thinking about possibly taking the 8043 body and adding a crane to it.

Great job!

[Burf2000]

Great model, so small as well