After 3 years of work HWS has finished the demonstrator of the self-climbing AirCRANE, a 30 t net-lifting capacity unit. Once the technology/concept has been tested and validated, HWS is confident in scaling it up to 250 t or down to 5-10 t (for construction).
In this type of cranes two concept should be distinguished:
- How it climbs.
- How it anchors to the structure.
In the case of the AirCRANE:
➜ The climbing process is mechanical, based on three innovative devices which moves along the main girder. This innovative concept introduces the possibility to climb along vertical surfaces with trunk transitions, irregularities, inclined walls, etc.
➜ The anchoring system is conducted by means of a pair of spikes that are inserted into some cavities left in the tower. A reliable anchoring can be assured relying mainly in gravity force.
In all climbing systems, both processes are innovative, and hence, patented. In AirCRANE: WO2019002654 and ES201930707.
Find more information in this self-explanatory video:
This project (from March 1st, 2018,to October 31st, 2020) has been developed with the support of the European Commission under the grant program “Horizon 2020-SME-Instrument Phase 2, no. 804858” (https://cordis.europa.eu/project/id/804858).
The first AirCRANE unit has been manufactured in KEYTECH (AMOND GROUP) (https://www.keytech.es/) (http://amond-group.com) facility, located in Lecumberri, SPAIN.
We would be happy to show it to interested professionals of the wind energy sector.