Resilient Suspension Means (e.g., Spring Or Fluid) Patents (Class 294/82.16)
  • Patent number: 11932516
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a lifting device for a crane which comprises a lifting cable winch, a lifting cable and a load-receiving means (10), the load-receiving means (10) being connected to the lifting cable and being movable by means of the lifting cable winch, in particular vertically movable. According to the invention the lifting device has at least one spring mounting (12) so that on the whole the load to be lifted and received by the load-receiving means (10) is mounted in a sprung manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-WERK BIBERACH GMBH
    Inventor: Andreas Hänsler
  • Patent number: 11767199
    Abstract: A crane hook rotation-limiting device includes a mounting base and a plunger extending through a hole formed in the mounting base so as to be movable with respect to the mounting base. A spring first bearing portion is connected to the plunger so as to be movable with the plunger. A spring second bearing portion is positioned opposite the spring first bearing portion so as to be fixed with respect to the plunger during movement of the plunger. A spring member extends between the spring first bearing portion and the spring second bearing portion. A pair of crane hook rotation-limiting devices as described herein may be mounted to a crane hook assembly to control rotation of the crane hook during movement of the hook when the hook supports a sling spreader or a sling spreader and a die (or other item of tooling).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: Toyota Motor Engineering & Manufacturing North America, Inc.
    Inventors: Troy A. O'Handley, George P. Rachfalowski
  • Patent number: 11668141
    Abstract: Aspects of the present disclosure relates to disruptive coupling systems and methods, and apparatus thereof, for subsea systems. The subsea systems may be subsea oil and gas systems. In one implementation, a subsea system includes a subsea component disposed in seawater, and a disruptive coupling device coupled to the subsea structure and/or surrounding fluid.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Assignee: J. Ray McDermott, S.A.
    Inventors: Mathieu Boisne, Julie Ingram
  • Patent number: 11427444
    Abstract: A cable rotation blocking system (CRBS) (300) is described herein. The CRBS extends along an axis X between a first end (305) and a second end (303), and comprises a first section provided at the first end (305), the first section being configured to be connectable to a cable (100). The CRBS further comprises a second section provided at the second end (303), the second section being configured to be attachable to a load. With the CRBS described herein, when no load, or a load up to an upper load threshold is attached to the second section, the second section is rotatable about the axis X, relative to the first section, however, when a load higher than the upper load threshold is attached to the second section, the second section is prevented from rotation about the axis relative to the first section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 30, 2022
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Adrien Michel
  • Patent number: 11041519
    Abstract: A hook latch is provided for use with a tail chain hook, said hook having a curved outer spine, an inner surface, a hook end and an opening defined between the inner surface and the hook end through which a load can be hooked. The hook latch has a band for engagement about the outer spine of the hook and a plug positionable between the hook end and the inner surface of the hook and releasably engagable with the band to block the opening of the hook.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2018
    Date of Patent: June 22, 2021
    Inventor: Antoine Paul Jacob Gagnon
  • Patent number: 10954107
    Abstract: A gripper a fuel element, comprises a housing, an inner part arranged inside the housing, the inner part and the housing being displaceable relative to one another in an axial direction, with the inner part movable between a first end position and a second end position, a catch member movable between a gripping position and a release position, a gripper spring between the housing inner part counteracting movement of the inner part from the second end position, or an intermediate position (Z) between the first and second end position, to the first end position, and a damping system comprising a first and second connecting member for connecting the damping system to the housing, inner part and/or the fuel element loading machine, and a spring member arranged on the first and/or the second connecting member counteracting movement of the inner part from an intermediate position (Z) to the second end position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 23, 2021
    Assignee: FRAMATOME GMBH
    Inventors: Peter Forster, Christian Gratz, Stefan Stark
  • Patent number: 10189682
    Abstract: A hook assembly can include a bumper assembly and a hook attached to the bumper. The bumper assembly includes a top plate, a bottom plate, and a bumper extending between and connecting the top plate and the bottom plate. A lighting element can be disposed on the top plate, the bottom plate, and the bumper to provide a visual indicator for the bumper assembly. The lighting element can be an electroluminescent device, and can be disposed on an exterior surface of the bumper assembly or in a recess extending into the bumper assembly. A power source and other electrical components can be stored in a compartment in the top plate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Robert Humble
  • Patent number: 8562047
    Abstract: A lifting hook for lifting open-frame steel joists comprises a casing having a shaft passing through it. The shaft has a lifting eye at one end and a hook member at the other end. The hook member comprises a U-shaped body having a transverse width selected to be less than the gap between the angles that form the upper flange of the open-frame joist. The hook member has a throat that is larger than the width of the flange. The shaft is spring-loaded so that the hook member is pulled toward the lower bearing surface of the casing so that once the hook member has been inserted into the joist, it is keyed to the flange and will not come loose.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 8, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2013
    Inventor: James R. Parker
  • Patent number: 8439326
    Abstract: A safety tether is provided for securing a heavy work tool. The safety tether includes one or more springs that serve to carry some of the weight of the work tool. A safety chain is provided in parallel connection with the springs. The length of the chain is less than the extended length of a spring at its maximum rated load, thus precluding extension of the springs to that link, greatly reducing any likelihood that the springs will break. In the event of spring breakage, the chain serves as a safety chain, stopping the tool from falling.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 29, 2011
    Date of Patent: May 14, 2013
    Assignee: ESCO Tool
    Inventor: James A. Moruzzi
  • Patent number: 8413923
    Abstract: For damping vertical oscillations in a helicopter having a rotor drive-unit and an airframe and carrying an external payload suspended via a lifting gear from a load attachment point on the airframe, oscillation sensors are arranged on the helicopter, and an actively operated linear actuator is provided between the load attachment point and the lifting gear. With the oscillation sensors excitations of a first mode of the vertical oscillations, in which the external load and the rotor drive-unit oscillate together relative to the load attachment point, and of a second mode of the vertical oscillations, in which the load attachment point oscillates relative to the external load and the rotor drive-unit, are sensed, and forces opposed to the vertical oscillations are applied with the actuator between the load attachment point and the lifting gear as a function of the phase and of the amplitude of the sensed excitations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 23, 2010
    Date of Patent: April 9, 2013
    Assignee: Deutsches Zentrum für Luft- und Raumfahrt e.V.
    Inventors: Hanno Brenner, Mario Hamers
  • Patent number: 8272672
    Abstract: A suspension device for receiving a load includes a U-shaped lifting arm, a mounting plate for receiving a load and provided on the lifting arm, a guide rod extending between the legs of the U-shaped lifting arm, a suspending fishplate displaceable along the guide rod for suspending the suspension device from a lifting/support unit, and a damping member arranged between one of the legs of the U-shaped arm and the suspending fishplate, with a stiffness of the damping member being selected to a predetermined angle to a horizontal.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: September 25, 2012
    Assignee: SMS Siemens AG
    Inventors: Rolf Huecker, Kurt Scheffe
  • Patent number: 7980610
    Abstract: A slinging device for a piece includes a sling with a nonextensible part and a section with a spring device, enabling an elastic lengthening or shortening of the sling under load by a limited amplitude in response to a limited change in the load on the piece, the device including a frame and a floating support, the spring device holding the floating support in the absence of application of force to the piece along a vertical axis, in a position of equilibrium centered vertically with respect to the frame under the weight of the piece, and a way for regulating and adapting the position of equilibrium of the floating support depending on the weight of the piece.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 27, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 19, 2011
    Assignee: Airbus France
    Inventors: Pascal Claraz, Jean-Marc Datas
  • Patent number: 7108057
    Abstract: A method for controlling the ascent and descent of a tubular member passing through a pipe or casing slip into a well bore. A float control member is affixed beneath the top surface of the pipe or casing slip. The control member is activated to control the raising or lowering of the tubular member. A piston within a cylinder housing is positioned below the top surface of the slip. As the tubular member is lowered, but before there is significant weight on the supporting structure, the piston is moved to its maximum height extension. Once the slips are set and the weight of the tubular member is applied to the slips, the piston begins to descend in the cylinder housing floating the final descent of the string. The string may be raised by activating a pump to force fluid within the housing chamber, raising the piston and thereby raising or lifting the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 17, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 19, 2006
    Assignee: Shamrock Research & Development, Inc.
    Inventor: Jeffery D. Baird
  • Patent number: 6997251
    Abstract: A method for controlling the ascent and descent of a tubular member passing through a pipe or casing slip into a well bore. A float control member is affixed beneath the top surface of the pipe or casing slip. The control member is activated to control the raising or lowering of the tubular member. A piston within a cylinder housing is positioned below the top surface of the slip. As the tubular member is lowered, but before there is significant weight on the supporting structure, the piston is moved to its maximum height extension. Once the slips are set and the weight of the tubular member is applied to the slips, the piston begins to descend in the cylinder housing floating the final descent of the string. The string may be raised by activating a pump to force fluid within the housing chamber, raising the piston and thereby raising or lifting the string.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 2003
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2006
    Inventor: Jeffery D. Baird