Crane accessories-small lock for crane outriggers is a key component to ensure the safety and stability of crane operation. Its core function is to lock the outrigger position to prevent the crane from moving under load or external factors. The working principle is based on mechanical, hydraulic or electrical technical means, and the outrigger is reliably fixed by applying resistance or limiting the freedom of moving parts. When the crane is operating, the outrigger needs to withstand huge vertical pressure and horizontal force. The small lock must have sufficient locking force to ensure that the outrigger will not retract or move due to force, thereby maintaining the overall stability of the crane and avoiding tipping accidents.
Mechanical lock is one of the most common types of crane accessories-small lock for crane outriggers, usually with a latch or wedge structure. The latch-type mechanical lock limits the telescopic movement of the outrigger by inserting the latch into the pin hole on the outrigger. When the outrigger is extended to the right position, the operator inserts the latch into the corresponding pin hole manually or with the help of a tool, and relies on the close fit between the latch and the pin hole to achieve locking. The wedge-type mechanical lock uses the principle of the inclined surface of the wedge to wedge the wedge into the gap between the outrigger and the frame through external force, generating friction to lock the outrigger. The mechanical lock has a simple structure and high reliability, and does not require a complex power system, but the operation is relatively cumbersome, and the locking force may decrease due to component wear after long-term use.
The hydraulic lock achieves outrigger locking based on the pressure control of the hydraulic system, and has the characteristics of high degree of automation and large locking force. Its working principle is that after the outrigger is extended in place, the hydraulic system delivers high-pressure oil to the cylinder of the hydraulic lock, pushing the piston to generate locking force to fix the outrigger. The hydraulic lock is usually equipped with a one-way valve to ensure that the pressure in the cylinder will not leak due to changes in external pressure, thereby maintaining the locked state. When unlocking is required, the pressure in the cylinder is released by controlling the hydraulic oil circuit, the piston is reset, and the outrigger can be freely extended and retracted. Hydraulic locks are widely used in large cranes, which can quickly and reliably lock the outriggers, and can adapt to the locking requirements under different working conditions through the pressure adjustment of the hydraulic system.
The electric lock uses an electric motor to lock and unlock the outriggers, combining the advantages of automated control and precise operation. The electric lock is equipped with a transmission mechanism, such as a screw-nut pair or a gear rack mechanism. When receiving a control signal, the motor drives the transmission mechanism to move, converts the rotary motion into linear motion, and pushes the locking component to move. For example, the screw-nut type electric lock drives the nut to move linearly through the rotation of the screw, so that the lock tongue is inserted into or pulled out of the lock hole to complete the locking and unlocking operations. The electric lock can be integrated with the crane's electrical control system to achieve remote control and automated operation, improve operating efficiency, and can also be equipped with sensors to monitor the locking status in real time and enhance safety.
In order to meet complex working conditions and higher safety requirements, some cranes use combined outrigger locks that combine multiple locking methods such as mechanical, hydraulic or electric. For example, the hydraulic-mechanical combination lock adds a mechanical latch as a backup locking device on the basis of the hydraulic lock providing the main locking force. When the hydraulic system fails, the mechanical latch can be manually activated to ensure that the outrigger does not move accidentally. This combined structure gives full play to the advantages of different locking methods, improves the reliability and safety of the system, and can ensure the stable locking of the outrigger even when a certain locking method fails.
With the development of the Internet of Things and sensor technology, smart outrigger small locks are gradually used in the field of cranes. Smart locks integrate multiple sensors such as pressure sensors, displacement sensors, and inclination sensors, which can monitor the force, displacement, angle and other parameters of the outriggers in real time. The data is analyzed and processed by the built-in microprocessor. When abnormal conditions are detected, such as uneven force on the outriggers and displacement exceeding the threshold, the smart lock will automatically sound an alarm and perform emergency treatment according to the preset program, such as starting the backup locking device or restricting the operation of the crane. In addition, the smart lock can also transmit data to the remote monitoring platform through the wireless communication module to realize remote real-time monitoring and management of the crane outrigger status.
Crane accessories-small lock for crane outriggers of different structural types are suitable for different application scenarios. Mechanical locks are often used in small cranes or cranes with low automation requirements due to their simple structure and low cost; hydraulic locks are suitable for large and heavy cranes and can meet the locking requirements under high-load conditions; electric locks are advantageous in situations where high operating efficiency and automation are required; combination locks and smart locks are mostly used in special conditions with extremely high safety and reliability requirements, such as high-rise building hoisting and bridge construction. When choosing a small outrigger lock, it is necessary to comprehensively consider factors such as the type of crane, operating environment, load size, operating requirements, and cost to ensure that the selected small lock can reliably ensure the safe and stable operation of the crane.
