Patents Assigned to Konecranes PLC
  • Publication number: 20130041500
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for crane control and stock management, the method includes attaching to the goods to be stored an identifier associated with a code, such as number or name, given to the goods in stock accounting or the like; reading the identifier with a reader, when the goods are being transferred by a crane; transmitting the identifier information from the reader to the memory of the crane control; transferring the goods with the crane to a selected location in the warehouse; and storing the coordinates of the goods to the memory of the crane control so that they are associated with the identifier; and when the goods are removed from the warehouse, reading with the reader from a work order or the like the identifier information associated with the goods; and transmitting the identifier information from the reader to the memory of the crane control; and activating the crane control with the identifier information, whereby the crane moves to the location of the earlier stored goods.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 19, 2011
    Publication date: February 14, 2013
    Applicant: KONECRANES PLC
    Inventor: Justus Dahlén
  • Patent number: 8317041
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for controlling a crane, the method comprising comparing velocity requests (Vref) given by a crane control system with a previous velocity request and, if the velocity request is changed, forming and storing an acceleration sequence for the corresponding velocity change, summing the velocity changes defined by the stored acceleration sequences at a particular time and adding the obtained sum (dV) to the previous velocity request to achieve a new velocity request (Vref2), which is set as a new control and velocity request for the crane drives (11, 12), and performing some of the velocity changes defined by the summed acceleration sequences at the definition time of each selected sequence on each program round, i.e. control step, and performing the rest of them as delayed in such a manner that the stored sequence parts to be performed as delayed are read and summed on a plurality of program rounds.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 16, 2004
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: KCI Konecranes PLC
    Inventors: Mikko Porma, Kimmo Hytönen
  • Publication number: 20120229062
    Abstract: A motor control system for a hoist drive having an electric motor operationally connected to a hoisting member for hoisting a load, the motor control system being adapted to generate a final angular frequency reference (?*s) for control of the electric motor, the motor control system comprising a power limiter means adapted to generate a correction term (?s,cor) for angular frequency reference. The power limiter means comprises an integrating controller means, the power limiter means being adapted to generate the correction term (?s,cor) for angular frequency reference using output signal IP of the integrating controller means, initial data of the integrating controller means including information relating to actual value of the power of the electric motor and a power related limit value of the electric motor.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 30, 2010
    Publication date: September 13, 2012
    Applicant: KONECRANES PLC
    Inventors: Janne Salomäki, Mikko Porma
  • Publication number: 20120224056
    Abstract: A measuring system comprising a fixed measurement unit (101), a data processing unit (130) and a mobile unit (120). The mobile unit comprises a planar base (111), a reflector (118), an elevation element (119) fixed to the base and the reflector, and attaching the reflector to a fixed position in respect of the base. The mobile unit comprises also mobility means (112) for moving the base along a surface (113) such that the spatial orientation of the base (114) substantially corresponds with the spatial orientation of the currently underlying part of the surface. In addition the mobile unit comprises tilt measuring means (123) for determining a deviation between the spatial orientation of the base and a plane perpendicular to the ambient gravitational force, and tilt elimination means for eliminating the effect of the determined deviation. Measurement results are thus more accurate.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2009
    Publication date: September 6, 2012
    Applicant: KONECRANES PLC
    Inventors: Juha Sunio, Jonna Nousiainen, Matti Pekkarinen
  • Patent number: 8226137
    Abstract: A dual chain hoist having a lifting beam that can be telescopically extended and contracted, wherein load chains respectively extend to hook blocks suspended beneath the lifting beam in the vicinity of the ends of two telescoping sections that form the lifting beam. The distance between the telescoping sections can be varied with another chain. The chain for varying the length of the lifting beam extends over a chain wheel that is connected without rotational play to another chain wheel from which the load chain of the hook block of the respective telescoping lifting beam section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 20, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 24, 2012
    Assignee: Konecranes Plc
    Inventors: Jürgen Kasper, Peter Kittsteiner
  • Patent number: 8203291
    Abstract: A generator assembly including generator means and a first converter member (11), the generator means being arranged to convert mechanical power to electric power and comprising an AC generator (2), a voltage regulator (4) and an AC coupling, the voltage regulator (4) being arranged to regulate magnetization of the AC generator (2) on the basis of data associated with the voltage of the AC coupling of the generator means, the AC coupling being arranged to supply electric power from the AC generator (2) to the first converter member (11), and the first converter member (11) being arranged to rectify the voltage applied through the AC coupling into DC voltage. The first converter member (11) is arranged to adjust the power of the AC generator (2) by changing the component (I q) associated with the torque of the current passing through the AC coupling so as to provide the power of desired magnitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 19, 2012
    Assignee: Konecranes PLC
    Inventors: Pekka Vainonen, Mikko Porma, Juha Santala
  • Publication number: 20120092643
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system capable of determining in which lane a container handling machine is present below a quay crane or the like crane and/or capable of determining the correct location of a container handling machine in its driving direction (y) with respect to a quay crane or the like crane as containers are delivered to the crane or containers are retrieved from the crane by the container handling machine. The crane is fitted with at least one scanning laser distance sensor or the like range finder, and the container handling machines are fitted with one or more reflectors whose height profile is used for the determination of a correct location and/or for the identification of a container handling machine and for the distinction thereof from other container handling machines.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 14, 2010
    Publication date: April 19, 2012
    Applicant: KONECRANES Plc
    Inventors: Kari Rintanen, Mikko Sampo
  • Patent number: 8157246
    Abstract: A deflecting roller for link chains, for example, round link chains or profiled steel chains, presents, on the periphery, chain pockets for lying chain links. Furthermore, chain pockets for standing chain links are provided. The chain pockets for the standing chain links are separated from each other by teeth. The tooth flank surfaces of the teeth, against which a standing chain link bears under the action of a load, are dimensioned and profiled in a specific way. The dimensioning is carried out so that, up to a certain chain loading, the standing chain link does not bear with its nose against the tooth flank. A contact between the tooth flank surface and the nose of the standing chain link concerned occurs only starting at a certain chain loading.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2012
    Assignee: Konecranes Plc
    Inventor: Jurgen Weingartner
  • Patent number: 8146507
    Abstract: Disclosed is a crane rail made from a roll-formed steel sheet strip. Said crane rail altogether comprises a top flange and a bottom flange. A support flange that has a triangular cross-section is additionally embodied on the top flange. The edges of the steel strip are laser-welded to the web.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 8, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2012
    Assignee: Konecranes Plc
    Inventor: Wilfried Hess
  • Patent number: 8096528
    Abstract: A chain sprocket for link chains, for example, round link chains or profiled steel chains, has chain pockets for horizontal chain links. Chain pockets for vertical chain links are also provided. The chain pockets for the vertical chain links are separated from one another by teeth. The tooth flank surface of the tooth that a vertical chain link contacts under the effect of a load is dimensioned and profiled in a special manner. The dimensioning is such that up to a defined chain load the vertical chain link does not contact the tooth flank with its nose. A contact between the tooth flank surface and the nose of the respective chain link occurs only above a defined chain load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 25, 2007
    Date of Patent: January 17, 2012
    Assignee: Konecranes Plc
    Inventors: Jurgen Weingartner, Manfred Finzel, Volker Dietrich
  • Patent number: 7997634
    Abstract: A lifting hook is arranged to grab an object to be lifted by a cylindrical lifting surface formed thereto, the lifting hook having a hook shank, a hook part joining the hook shank and a locking device arranged to lock the lifting hook to the object to be lifted. To allow the lifting hook to be reliably attached to the piece to be lifted, a mechanical control device is mounted above the hook part to co-operate with the upper surface of the lifting surface for guiding the hook part to a lifting position onto the lower surface of the lifting surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 16, 2011
    Assignee: Konecranes PLC
    Inventors: Hannu Piispanen, Ari Lehtinen, Jarmo Nikkola, Kimmo Hytönen
  • Publication number: 20110130863
    Abstract: A method for controlling a crane includes controlling a rope part connected to a hook of the crane with a friction-operated driving wheel, extra rope being coiled into a plurality of layers onto a storage reel. In the method, two machineries are used, of which the first is intended for the driving wheel and the other for the storage reel, one machinery being controlled with a speed instruction and the other machinery with a torque instruction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 21, 2008
    Publication date: June 2, 2011
    Applicant: KONECRANES PLC
    Inventors: Mikko Porma, Jarno Hoffrén
  • Publication number: 20110089129
    Abstract: A hoist combination includes a hoist, a trolley that is arranged to move along a beam provided with side flanges, whereby the trolley includes two trolley flanges arranged on opposite sides of the beam and provided with wheels, by which the trolley moves along the side flanges of the beam; and a securing and adjusting device for securing the hoist to the trolley flanges beneath the beam and for adjusting the mutual distance between the trolley flanges, the securing and adjusting device including supporting slide coupling between the hoist and the trolley flanges and an adjustment bar connected between the trolley flanges, the sliding direction of the adjustment bar and the slide coupling being transverse to the beam.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 24, 2009
    Publication date: April 21, 2011
    Applicant: KONECRANES PLC
    Inventors: Jérôme Gouault, Patrick Gaudin
  • Publication number: 20100213324
    Abstract: The invention relates to an arrangement for installing cables on outer surfaces of crane structures (1), the arrangement comprising means (9) for routing and fastening cables to said surfaces. These means consist of T profiles (9) fastened at the stem part (10) of the T profile to the outer surface (1) of the crane structure, the upper part (11) of the T profile on top of and transverse to the stem part of the T profile being at a distance from the surface of the crane and substantially parallel to this surface, whereby the T profile together with the surface of the crane provide cable conduits (12) for the cables, which are open from the sides.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2008
    Publication date: August 26, 2010
    Applicant: KONECRANES PLC
    Inventors: Arto Holopainen, Mirko Nowak, Petri Salminen
  • Publication number: 20100187844
    Abstract: A lifting hook is arranged to grab an object to be lifted by a cylindrical lifting surface formed thereto, the lifting hook having a hook shank, a hook part joining the hook shank and a locking device arranged to lock the lifting hook to the object to be lifted. To allow the lifting hook to be reliably attached to the piece to be lifted, a mechanical control device is mounted above the hook part to co-operate with the upper surface of the lifting surface for guiding the hook part to a lifting position onto the lower surface of the lifting surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2008
    Publication date: July 29, 2010
    Applicant: Konecranes Plc
    Inventors: Hannu Piinspanen, Ari Lehtinen, Jarmo Nikkola, Kimmo Hytönen
  • Patent number: 7743870
    Abstract: The invention relates to a crane comprising bogie structures (3) in the corners of the crane, a tandem drive wheel and idle wheel (8, 9) arranged in each bogie structure and provided to turn in the bogie structure offset from their vertical axes, and a turning device arrangement (15, 16) provided between each wheel pair for turning the wheel pair in cooperation to a selected position, the turning device arrangement comprising at least two turning rods (15, 16) connecting the wheels, which turning rods are connected to counterparts (17, 18, 19, 20) provided for each turning position or function in load-bearing structures (10, 11) of the wheels (8, 9) and turning along therewith, whereby at one wheel the position of the turning rods or the counterparts in the load-bearing structure is slidable around the load-bearing structure, yet the one of the counterparts or turning rods that corresponds to the selected turning position may be locked with a locking mechanism (21, 22, 23, 24) immobile with respect to the loa
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2010
    Assignee: KCI Konecranes PLC
    Inventor: Hannu Oja
  • Patent number: D650816
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2011
    Assignee: Konecranes Plc
    Inventors: Sami Olavi Koponen, Johannes Antton Tarkiainen
  • Patent number: D662478
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2012
    Assignee: Konecranes Plc
    Inventors: Kimmo Rantala, Jaakko Haggren, Johannes Tarkiainen
  • Patent number: D674163
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 8, 2013
    Assignee: Konecranes PLC
    Inventors: Johannes Tarkiainen, Jerome Gouault
  • Patent number: D677853
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 12, 2013
    Assignee: Konecranes PLC
    Inventors: Oliver Gans, Patrick Gaudin