Patents Assigned to Crane Co.
  • Patent number: 10189292
    Abstract: A method for applying a security device (e.g., a micro-optic security thread) to a fibrous web during manufacture is provided. By way of the inventive method, the security device is preferably applied onto the fibrous web at or near a couch roll or similar tool of a paper machine when the fibrous web constitutes a sufficiently consolidated, fully formed wet web. Papers made in accordance with the inventive method, when subjected to the Circulation Simulation Test, showed minimal damage at the paper/security device interface. Moreover, the surface-applied security devices showed acceptable levels of intaglio ink adhesion, and the papers had higher cross-direction (CD) tensile strength and much less show-through on opposing sides thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 11, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 29, 2019
    Assignee: Crane & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Giles D. Prett, Manish Jain, Kraig M. Brigham
  • Patent number: 10150657
    Abstract: The crane includes a swing brake device installed between a hydraulic motor and a control valve and having a flow restrictor; a first backpressure detector detecting a motor backpressure between the flow restrictor and one of ports of the hydraulic motor; a second backpressure detector detecting a motor backpressure between the flow restrictor and the other port of the hydraulic motor; and a control device. The control device has an external-force direction estimation unit that estimates a swing direction of an upperstructure under an external force acting on the upperstructure on the basis of a motor backpressure detected by the first backpuressure detector and a motor backpressure detected by the second backpressure during an operating state of the swing brake device. The control device has a notification control unit that causes the notification device to provide notification of the estimated swing direction of the upperstructure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 2, 2017
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kota Miyoshi
  • Patent number: 10099905
    Abstract: A crane includes: a boom; a jib; a front post that is swingably attached to a tip end side of the boom; a rear post that is swingably attached to the tip end side of the boom; a post-side pendant member, with one end of the post-side pendant member being attached to a tip end of the rear post; a boom-side pendant member, with one end of the boom-side pendant member being attached to another end of the post-side pendant member, and another end of the boom-side pendant member being attached to the boom; and a post driving device having a link mechanism that rotates the rear post in a range including a position at which the rear post is swung down to the front post side and a position at which the rear post is swung down to the boom side, while the boom is held down in a horizontal position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 26, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 16, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Kuninaga, Akira Hanahara
  • Publication number: 20180272788
    Abstract: An optical security device suitable for securing or authenticating high security or high value articles of manufacture when affixed thereto, is provided. The inventive security device produces optically variable effects when viewed from varying points of view and is made up of a microstructured layer having image icon elements that have at least one pigmented material. The microstructured layer is arranged relative to an arrangement of focusing elements such that at least portions of the image icon elements are observable through at least portions of the arrangement of focusing elements, thereby providing at least one synthetic image that demonstrates a color-transition effect as points of view from which the optical security device is viewed are changed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 30, 2018
    Publication date: September 27, 2018
    Applicant: Crane & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Benjamin E. Bleiman, Samuel M. Cape, Paul F. Cote, Jonathan D. Gosnell, Gregory R. Jordan, Scott K. Palm
  • Publication number: 20180258588
    Abstract: A paper including one or more multi-tonal watermarks having full tonality (depth), and an improved watermarking tool for manufacturing such paper, is provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 26, 2018
    Publication date: September 13, 2018
    Applicant: Crane & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Nicholas G. Pearson, Giles D. Prett
  • Publication number: 20180247170
    Abstract: A security feature, which is made up of a security device that is coupled to machine detectable indicia, is provided. The security feature may be used with a banknote, with the security feature serving to authenticate the banknote. Harvesting the security device will disturb the machine readable effect or signal generated by the machine detectable indicia, thereby allowing detection of the harvesting.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 12, 2018
    Publication date: August 30, 2018
    Applicant: Crane & Co., Inc.
    Inventor: Eric M Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20180229536
    Abstract: An IR and/or UV machine-readable optical security device (e.g., micro-optic security thread) that is made up of at least one IR-absorbing component with a characteristic IR signature detectable at two or more IR-wavelengths, at least one UV-absorbing component with a characteristic UV signature detectable at two or more UV-wavelengths, at least one IR-absorbing component that absorbs IR light and emits light at a different invisible wavelength, at least one UV-absorbing component that absorbs UV light and emits light at a different invisible wavelength, or a combination thereof, is provided. The IR and UV machine-readable features do not interfere with the optical effects projected by the optical material.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 11, 2018
    Publication date: August 16, 2018
    Applicant: Crane & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Nancy J. Gettens, Nicholas G. Pearson, Eric M. Ziegler
  • Publication number: 20180126771
    Abstract: The present invention provides a security device having layers or material stacked over each other to provide a color-shifting effect, an indicia effect, optional detection effect, fracking effect and a forensic feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 2, 2017
    Publication date: May 10, 2018
    Applicant: Crane & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Pearl N. Dickerson, Nancy J. Gettens, Gerald Nkwantah, David L. Peters
  • Publication number: 20180104976
    Abstract: A sheet material having a security device applied over a paper machine made or ‘soft-edged’ through-hole and a method for preparing such a sheet material is provided. By way of the inventive method, the through-hole(s) is formed in a forming fibrous web before it becomes sufficiently consolidated and then the security device is applied onto the fibrous web and preferably over the through-hole(s) at or near a couch roll or similar tool of a paper machine when the fibrous web constitutes a sufficiently consolidated, fully formed wet web. Applying the security device and then further consolidating the region underlying the device at this stage of paper manufacture when the fibers would not be displaced, greatly reduces (if not eliminates) the possibility of the through-hole(s) becoming occluded or blocked. Moreover, papers made in accordance with the inventive method, when subjected to the Circulation Simulation Test, showed minimal damage at the paper/security device interface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 14, 2017
    Publication date: April 19, 2018
    Applicant: Crane & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Giles D. Prett, Manish Jain, Kraig M. Brigham
  • Patent number: 9944502
    Abstract: A cylinder retraction system causes a crawler side frame hoisting hydraulic cylinder, swingably suspended on a ventral surface side of a lower boom, to swing between a retracted attitude, in which the hydraulic cylinder is set along a ventral surface of the lower boom, and an operating attitude, in which the hydraulic cylinder is oriented along a vertical direction. As the rod of the hydraulic cylinder, currently having the operating attitude, is contracted by a predetermined extent, the rod front end of the hydraulic cylinder is guided by the guiding portion until the hydraulic cylinder takes on the retracted attitude. As the hydraulic cylinder, currently having the retracted attitude, is extended by a predetermined extent, engagement between the rod front end of the hydraulic cylinder and the guiding portion is released so as to allow the hydraulic cylinder to take on the operating attitude.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 25, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2018
    Assignee: Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Tomoaki Yamashita
  • Publication number: 20180093519
    Abstract: Presented herein are layered systems, security devices formed from the layered systems and methods of manufacturing those layered systems and security devices. The security devices provide several effects including, but not limited to, (1) color-shifting effects that are observable as the points of view of the observant changes and (2) customizable micro-text formed in the security device by demetallization of a metallic layer provided on or within the security device. The method of manufacturing the security devices includes manufacturing a layered system that is used to form the security devices.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 29, 2017
    Publication date: April 5, 2018
    Applicant: Crane & Co., Inc.
    Inventors: Pearl N. Dickerson, Nancy J. Gettens, David L. Peters
  • Patent number: 9796564
    Abstract: A crane includes an overload safety device and a identifying unit. The overload safety device includes a maximum-load calculating unit configured to calculate a maximum load that a winch drum is capable of winding up with driving torques output from the remaining electric motors other than a failed electric motor identified by the identifying unit, an updating unit configured to update a set hoisting ability value stored in a storing unit to a value equal to the maximum load, and a control unit configured to cause the remaining electric motors to operate when a value of a load derived by a load deriving unit is equal to or smaller than a latest set hoisting ability value stored in the storing unit and stop the operation of the plurality of electric motors when the value of the load derived by the load deriving unit exceeds the latest set hoisting ability value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2017
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., KOBELCO CRANES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki Kawai, Takashi Hiekata, Koji Inoue, Shintaro Sasai, Toshiro Yamashita, Koichi Shimomura, Tetsuya Ogawa
  • Patent number: 9759146
    Abstract: An exhaust gas purification control device includes an engine, an actuator using the engine as a driving source, an operation unit used by an operator to operate the actuator or the engine, an operation detector detecting whether or not the operation unit is being operated, a purification device for capturing soot in exhaust gas of the engine, an accumulation amount detector detecting an accumulation amount of the soot captured by the purification device, a regeneration unit for performing an regenerating operation of regenerating the purification device by burning the soot captured by the purification device, and a controller controlling the regenerating operation. The controller switches a control from a control of prioritizing an operation by the operation unit to a control of prioritizing the regenerating operation in a stepwise manner as the accumulation amount of the soot detected by the accumulation amount detector increases.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2017
    Assignee: KOBELCO CRANES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiki Tsurumi, Shintaro Sasai, Koichi Shimomura, Takahiro Hanamoto, Hitoshi Sakurai
  • Patent number: 9708773
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks. In one exemplary embodiment, the inventive security sheet or document is a single-ply paper that is made up of a paper layer including one or more watermarks, and a micro-optic security device (e.g., a patch or thread) that at least partially covers an upper or face portion of the watermark(s). The overlying patch or thread increases the durability of the watermark(s), thereby allowing for the watermark(s) as well as reduced fiber density areas therein to be made larger, and further allowing for the reduced fiber density areas to be made thinner. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device projects one or more synthetic images that coordinate or link in with the watermark design(s). In a more preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device offers a machine detectable/readable feature in the form of enhanced IR-brightness, especially when measured in transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 2, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 18, 2017
    Assignees: Crane & Co., Inc., Crane Security Technologies, Inc., Crane AB
    Inventors: William Blake, Jeffrey Boody, Kraig M. Brigham, James Callahan, Paul F. Cote, Michael Darroch, Manish Jain, Karin Mörck Hamilton, Giles D. Prett
  • Patent number: 9650232
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic drive apparatus for working machine capable of preventing an excessive pressure reduction on a meter-in side and moving a load in a lowering direction at a stable speed requiring no counter balance valve. The apparatus includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic actuator for lowering the load, an operating device, a hydraulic circuit including a meter-in flow passage, a meter-out flow passage and a regeneration flow passage, a control valve, a meter-in-flow-rate controller for controlling a meter-in flow rate, a meter-out-flow-rate controller for controlling a meter-out flow rate to one not lower than the meter-in flow rate, a back pressure generator located downstream of the regeneration flow passage in the meter-out flow passage, and a meter-out-flow-rate limiter. The meter-out-flow-rate limiter minimizes a flow passage area of the meter-out orifice when a pressure in the meter-in flow passage falls to or below a permissible pressure.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2017
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., KOBELCO CRANES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Sugano, Naoto Hori, Takaharu Michida
  • Publication number: 20170121910
    Abstract: The invention generally relates to a security sheet or document having one or more enhanced watermarks. In one exemplary embodiment, the inventive security sheet or document is a single-ply paper that is made up of a paper layer including one or more watermarks, and a micro-optic security device (e.g., a patch or thread) that at least partially covers an upper or face portion of the watermark(s). The overlying patch or thread increases the durability of the watermark(s), thereby allowing for the watermark(s) as well as reduced fiber density areas therein to be made larger, and further allowing for the reduced fiber density areas to be made thinner. In a preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device projects one or more synthetic images that coordinate or link in with the watermark design(s). In a more preferred embodiment, the micro-optic security device offers a machine detectable/readable feature in the form of enhanced IR-brightness, especially when measured in transmission.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 17, 2017
    Publication date: May 4, 2017
    Applicants: Crane & Co., Inc., Crane Security Technologies, Inc., Crane AB
    Inventors: William Blake, Jeffrey Boody, Kraig M. Brigham, James Callahan, Paul F. Cote, Michael Darroch, Manish Jain, Karin Mörck Hamilton, Giles D. Prett
  • Patent number: 9528531
    Abstract: Provided is a hydraulic drive apparatus for working machine capable of preventing an excessive pressure drop on a meter-in side and moving a load in a lowering direction at a stable speed requiring no counter balance valve, including a hydraulic pump, a first hydraulic actuator lowering a first load, an operating device, a first hydraulic circuit including meter-in and meter-out flow passages, a control valve, a meter-in-flow-rate controller, a meter-out-flow-rate controller making a meter-out flow rate not lower than a meter-in flow rate, a second hydraulic actuator, a second hydraulic circuit between the first hydraulic circuit and a tank and for the second hydraulic actuator, a back pressure valve between the second hydraulic circuit and the tank, a regeneration line leading a part of hydraulic fluid from between the second hydraulic circuit and the back pressure valve to the meter-in flow passage, and a check valve in the regeneration line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2016
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., KOBELCO CRANES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Naoki Sugano, Naoto Hori, Takaharu Michida
  • Patent number: 9522812
    Abstract: Provided are a raisable-lowerable member capable of shortening a time required for assembling and disassembling of a crane, and a crane comprising the raisable-lowerable member. The raisable-lowerable member comprises: a boom attachable to an upper slewing body of the crane turnably about a boom-pivot-turn-axis in a raising-lowering direction; and a mast to be driven so as to be turned about a mast pivot-turn-axis parallel to the boom-pivot-turn-axis. The boom includes a boom body, a boom foot joined to a basal end of the boom body and adapted to be attached to the upper slewing body turnably about the boom-pivot-turn-axis, and a mast mounting portion joined to the basal end of the boom body. The mast has a basal end which includes a mast foot to be attached to the mast mounting portion turnably about the mast pivot-turn-axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2016
    Assignee: KOBELCO CRANES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Otsuka
  • Publication number: 20160257534
    Abstract: A crane includes an overload safety device and a identifying unit. The overload safety device includes a maximum-load calculating unit configured to calculate a maximum load that a winch drum is capable of winding up with driving torques output from the remaining electric motors other than a failed electric motor identified by the identifying unit, an updating unit configured to update a set hoisting ability value stored in a storing unit to a value equal to the maximum load, and a control unit configured to cause the remaining electric motors to operate when a value of a load derived by a load deriving unit is equal to or smaller than a latest set hoisting ability value stored in the storing unit and stop the operation of the plurality of electric motors when the value of the load derived by the load deriving unit exceeds the latest set hoisting ability value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 29, 2016
    Publication date: September 8, 2016
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), KOBELCO CRANES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Hiroaki KAWAI, Takashi HIEKATA, Koji INOUE, Shintaro SASAI, Toshiro YAMASHITA, Koichi SHIMOMURA, Tetsuya OGAWA
  • Patent number: 9422058
    Abstract: A seat actuation control system includes at least one seat having a plurality of seat devices and a plurality of control modules interconnected over a communication bus. Each module is associated with a corresponding seat control device and is configured to control its corresponding seat device. Each module includes a processor and a memory coupled to the processor and storing program instructions therein which include receiving a status packet from each of the other control modules over the communication bus, processing the status packet for updating the overall system status, and actuating the seat device based on the overall system status. The program instructions further include determining status of the corresponding seat device, generating a status packet including the status information, and broadcasting the status packet to the other modules over the communication bus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: CRANE CO.
    Inventors: Brian Fischer, Ary Geuvdjelian, Pan Kwok, Nicholas Flores