Braking device for an overhead crane traveling on rails

Abstract

A braking device for limiting the travel of an overhead crane traveling over rails temporarily increases its traveling resistance until it stops. The braking device includes at least one brake shoe which is mounted on the overhead crane and can be pressed against the rails with a force up to a level equivalent to the weight of the overhead crane. The brake shoe can be forcibly caused to move from a resting position a certain distance away from the rail into a braking position, in which the side of the brake shoe or shoes facing the rail can be pressed against the rail.

We claim:  
     
         1 . A braking device for limiting the travel of an overhead crane traveling on rails by temporarily increasing its traveling resistance until it stops, said braking device comprising 
 a brake shoe mounted on the overhead crane over one of said rails, and    moving means for moving said brake shoe from a resting position remote from said rail into a braking position in which said brake shoe is pressed against the rail.    
     
     
         2 . A braking device as in    claim 1    wherein said crane comprises a traveling gear frame over said rail, said brake shoe being guided for vertical movement in said traveling gear frame.  
     
     
         3 . A braking device as in    claim 2    wherein said moving means comprises a toggle lever connected to said traveling gear frame for pivoting movement with respect to said traveling gear frame.  
     
     
         4 . A braking device as in    claim 3    wherein said moving means further comprises a pressure medium cylinder which acts on said toggle lever to move said brake shoe vertically.  
     
     
         5 . A braking device as in    claim 4    further comprising actuating means for actuating said pressure medium cylinder, said actuating means comprising one of a stop and a contact provided along the route traveled by the overhead crane.  
     
     
         6 . A braking device as in    claim 3    further comprising a stop fixed to said traveling gear frame for limiting the travel of said toggle lever.