Brevini Power Transmission

The crane has two jobs: it lifts the load and distributes it horizontally while rotating and extending. Initially. The basic structure of the crane has not changed in recent years but engineers and manufacturers have focused on making cranes safer and easier to use, and now producers also handle crane transport, assembly, start up and repairs. Thanks to a careful redefinition of components, today’s cranes can be erected in much less time: in just one or two days, as opposed to the seven days needed a few years ago.

Using planetary gear units that can withstand very high torque values despite their reduced dimensions was one of the most important factors that improved crane design through a reduction in the number of pieces and volumes needed for its construction.

There are three types of cranes: tower cranes, self-erecting cranes, and luffing jib tower cranes.

Tower crane. This crane, which is mounted using a crane truck, comes in two versions: one for general use, and the other (the “City” series) that is particularly suitable for urban areas. The strong points of the “City crane” are its compact size during transport and easy assembly through new mechanical systems.

The characteristics of this category are:

Load at jib nose: up to 3,000 kg (up to 1,850 for the “City” version)

Height: up to 92 m (66 m for the “City” version)

Maximum load: up to 32,000 kg (up to 10,000 for the “City” version)

Self-erecting crane. This machine is provided with all of the mechanisms to be able to go from the transport position to the working position without the need for a crane truck. The compact footprint of the base allows it to be erected in cramped quarters. Thanks to the aerial opening of the arm powered by hydraulic pistons, assembly is faster and safer.

The general characteristics of this category are:

Load at jib nose: up to 1,100 kg

Height: up to 23 m

Maximum load: up to 4,000 kg

Luffing jib tower crane. This crane was designed for use in crowded urban areas. It offers considerable range and reduced dimensions during slewing. The luffing jib tower crane was created to solve the problems of construction sites in crowded places, town centers or areas with many obstacles such as factories, towers and so on. Thanks to its special design, it is not suspended over public areas outside the construction site, which ensures the safety of the inhabited zones.

The general characteristics of these cranes are:

Load at jib nose: up to 9,000 kg

Height: up to 72 m

Maximum load: up to 32,000 kg

Brevini planetary gear units, which have always been the stars of the production by the company from Reggio Emilia, are used to slew the crane arm and to drive the load lifting and trolley winches.

The torque needed to slew the arm is basically determined by the wind’s effect upon the crane. Crane design must therefore take into account two factors: the maximum wind force during working conditions and the wind that the crane must endure in non-operative conditions. Special F.E.M. formulas calculate the overturning moment and the work torque value in connection with the wind force. Other elements that come into play when determining the torque value are the arm dimensions and the counterweight (besides the load, of course). Depending on the size of the crane, between one and four two- or three-stage gear units are normally used to control slewing (the TCS series). Integral and inserted pinion gears are used on the output shaft.

For lifting winch there are two options: complete winch (EGO series) or planetary reduction gear unit with a rotating outer casing that is used to control lifting winch drum rotation (PWD series). Created to fit inside the winch drum, these unit is especially designed for this type of application.

The construction machinery market is now “mature”, but the crane is far from obsolete and its future is still bright because there are no construction systems able to replace it in the near future.

TOWER CRANE SLEWING DRIVES (TCS SERIES)

The design of this complete range of planetary gear units is based upon a system of pinion gears and slewing rings. Engineered to withstand the strong radial loads that are generated in this application, these units either have a pinion gear inserted on the output shaft or a pinion gear that is integrated on the shaft.

Multi-disc failsafe brakes on the input side and a flange system for mounting hydraulic or electric motors are just some of the accessories that complete this series of planetary gear units.

Easy to install, reliable and very versatile, these gear units are ideal for a wide range of uses: construction cranes, radar, tumbling barrels for the tanning industry, carousels, stackers, excavator turret rotation, davits, truck cranes and ship engines.

In ports and naval shipyards and on wharves and docks around the globe, slewing drives load and unload large ships, supplying cranes with smooth, accurate movements at all times: at full load and at any temperature and weather condition.

Thanks to their reduced size and weight, durability and reliability, which are important requisites for construction site machinery, Brevini planetary gear units are an excellent solution for crane construction.

Technical data

Torque (T2max) Nm: up to 140,000 Nm

Transmission ratio: up to 5,000

WINCH DRIVES (PWD SERIES)

These planetary reduction gear units, with rotating outer casing, were designed to be fitted into the winch drum.

Their flange system was specifically engineered for installation on winch support frames. The drum and frame can have any configuration or size, which guarantees flexibility of use in a wide range of applications.

Thanks to Brevini’s universal flange system, both electrical and hydraulic motors can be fitted on the input side.

Technical data

Torque: up to 60,000 Nm

Transmission ratio: up to 180 iN

HOISTING WINCHES (EGO SERIES)

Excellent performance and compact size made possible by the special design in which all mechanical and hydraulic parts are inside the winch drum.

All winches have hydraulic motor with integrated balancing valve unit for controlling the load and are available with square or round winch frames.

A wide range of accessories is available: pressure rollers, extensometric load cells with electronic box to determine the overload limit of the winch, rev counter, marine seals, ropes, hooks and pulleys.

Technical data

Line pull from 1.000 to 7.500 kg

Brevini Power Transmission

This division of Brevini Group, which focuses on the engineering, production, and distribution of mechanical power transmissions, offers a complete range — through its product lines Brevini Riduttori, PIV Drives, Brevini Winches and Piv Posiplan– that includes everything from planetary gear units to in-line and right-angle gearboxes, gear units for extruders, and winches.

The line of planetary gear units Brevini Riduttori was established in 1960 and is now one of Europe’s leading line in its sector.

PIV Drives, which was acquired in 2002 and has a production unit that covers 60,000 square meters near Frankfurt, ensures a strategic presence on the market.

The product line Brevini Winches, hoisting and pulling winches, has doubled its market shares over the past three years.

Piv Posiplan is in charge for innovative power transmission system.

Overall, the companies of the Brevini Power Transmission division closed 2006 with a turnover of 242 million euros, which increased compared to the previous year.


Brevini Power Transmission Brevini Power Transmission