Patents Assigned to Crane Co.
  • Publication number: 20110276223
    Abstract: A wheel speed transducer including a magnetic device associated with a wheel and a sensor device associated with the axle of the wheel provides data indicative of the velocity of the wheel. A processor located at the axle receives the wheel speed data and processes it to perform antiskid control functions. The velocity data is stored in a data concentrator also associated with the axle. A tire pressure sensor, a brake temperature sensor and a brake torque sensor, each associated with the wheel, send data to the processor at the axle, for storage in the data concentrator. A transmitting antenna associated with the axle and in communication with the data concentrator transmits stored data to a receiving antenna associated with the wheel. A data port at the wheel and in communication with the receiving antenna provides an interface to an external device for receiving the data.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 28, 2011
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: HYDRO-AIRE, INC. A SUBSIDIARY OF CRANE CO.
    Inventors: John Gowan, Gary DeVlieg
  • Publication number: 20110276261
    Abstract: A crane operation evaluation device for evaluating an operation status of an operator of a crane performing a crane work by using drive power of an engine. The crane operation evaluation device includes: a display device provided at a position of the crane that is visible to the operator and serving to display predetermined data; a detector for detecting a state of a given part of the crane; and a data control unit that, after a stopping operation of the engine, derives a first fuel consumption index for analyzing a fuel consumption efficiency of the crane work performed between the most recent start of the engine and the stop of the engine by the stopping operation and a first work index for analyzing content of such crane work, on the basis of detection data of the detector, and causes the display device to display the derived first fuel consumption index and first work index.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 24, 2009
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Applicant: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Motohiko Mizutani
  • Publication number: 20110213536
    Abstract: The method for reducing aircraft carbon brake wear involves monitoring the commanded initiation of braking, and setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force, which is maintained following the commanded initiation of braking to prevent release of braking during taxiing of the aircraft. The minimum residual brake clamping force is applied despite a commanded release of braking until at least one predetermined control logic condition occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 10, 2011
    Publication date: September 1, 2011
    Applicant: HYDRO-AIRE, INC., A SUBSIDIARY OF CRANE CO.
    Inventors: Gary DeVlieg, John Gowan
  • Publication number: 20110192815
    Abstract: Provided is a mobile crane capable of adjusting a counterweight height with no use of a costly hydraulic cylinder. The mobile crane comprises a lower propelling body, a upper slewing body, a boom pivotably attached to the upper slewing body, a mast which is at the rear of the boom and adapted to be raised and lowered so as to raise and lower the boom, a counterweight which is at the rear of the upper slewing body and hung from the mast through a guy line, and a counterweight-lifting cylinder attached to the counterweight so as to be extended to vertically push up the counterweight with respect to a ground surface. The counterweight-lifting cylinder has a cylinder body, a piston partitioning an internal space of the cylinder body into an upper head-side cylinder chamber and a lower rod-side cylinder chamber, and a rod extending from the piston downwardly beyond an lower end of the cylinder body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 7, 2011
    Publication date: August 11, 2011
    Applicant: KOBELCO CRANES CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Hitoshi KUROTSU
  • Patent number: 7992660
    Abstract: In a crawler vehicle, at the time of crane operation at a place where a grounding space of crawlers is limited, a land leveling preparation is suppressed as little as possible so as to improve efficiency of the operation. The crawler vehicle is provided with left and right crawler frames on the both left and right sides of a track frame. The crawler frames can be moved between an expansion position for maximizing a distance between centers of the crawlers and a contraction position for minimizing the distance. Further, the crawler vehicle can position the crawler frames to the track frame at an intermediate position in the middle of the expansion position and the contraction position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2008
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2011
    Assignee: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Toyokichi Ishii
  • Patent number: 7988242
    Abstract: The method for reducing aircraft carbon brake wear involves monitoring the commanded initiation of braking, and setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force, which is maintained following the commanded initiation of braking to prevent release of braking during taxiing of the aircraft. The minimum residual brake clamping force is applied despite a commanded release of braking until at least one predetermined control logic condition occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Date of Patent: August 2, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc., Subsidiary of Crane Co.
    Inventors: Gary DeVlieg, John Gowan
  • Publication number: 20110155681
    Abstract: A counterweight suspension device includes: a pair of suspension cylinders that suspends a counterweight, and that are hung from a first and a second hanging points provided separately in a left and right direction at a top end of a rear mast; a coupling member that couples cylinder rod ends of the pair of suspension cylinders with each other; a lifting member for lifting the counterweight, that connects a first and a second connection points of the counterweight with each of the cylinder rod ends of the pair of suspension cylinders, with the first and the second connection points provided separately in the left and right direction on the counterweight for attaching the lifting member to the counterweight; a first communication circuit through which rod chambers of the pair of suspension cylinders communicate with each other; and a second communication circuit through which bottom chambers of the pair of suspension cylinders communicate with each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 28, 2010
    Publication date: June 30, 2011
    Applicant: Hitachi Sumitomo Heavy Industries Construction Crane Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Akira HANAHARA
  • Patent number: 7954910
    Abstract: The method for reducing aircraft carbon brake wear involves monitoring the commanded initiation of braking, and setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force, which is maintained following the commanded initiation of braking to prevent release of braking during taxiing of the aircraft. The minimum residual brake clamping force is applied despite a commanded release of braking until at least one predetermined control logic condition occurs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2011
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc., Subsidiary of Crane Co.
    Inventors: Gary DeVlieg, John Gowan
  • Publication number: 20100280727
    Abstract: An anti-skid brake control system for a multi-wheeled vehicle includes both a paired function and an individual function. The paired function controls the wheels of the vehicle in unison. The individual function controls the wheels of the vehicle individually. A paired/individual logic circuit alternatively activates and deactivates the paired function and the individual function. A method for controlling the skid of a vehicle utilizing a paired function and a individual function is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 7, 2010
    Publication date: November 4, 2010
    Applicant: HYDRO-AIRE, INC., SUBSIDIARY OF CRANE CO.
    Inventors: Harris K. Butler, III, Scott A. Brittian
  • Publication number: 20100263364
    Abstract: Provided is a braking control apparatus for a slewing type working machine capable of giving a braking operation easily intuitively grasped.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 8, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel, Ltd.), Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Akira Tsutsui, Hiroaki Kawai, Takahiro Kobayashi, Koichi Shimomura
  • Publication number: 20100264106
    Abstract: This invention provides a slewing stop control apparatus and method, capable of executing, while performing the control of determining the target slewing velocity based on a remaining slewing angle from the actual slewing motion position up to the slewing stop angular position, an automatic control of re-slewing the slewing structure having been stopped before the slewing stop angular position due to disturbance to move it to the slewing stop angular position without inconvenience. The apparatus executes slewing angular velocity control for deciding the slewing braking start timing to stop the slewing structure at a slewing stop angular position in accordance with a predetermined slewing deceleration and the subsequent target slewing angular velocity, based on the remaining slewing angle of the slewing structure.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Publication date: October 21, 2010
    Applicants: Kabushiki Kaisha Kobe Seiko Sho (Kobe Steel Ltd.), Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroaki KAWAI, Akira TSUTSUI, Koichi SHIMOMURA
  • Publication number: 20100258987
    Abstract: The shock and vibration isolation system for hard mounting of a manifold of a brake control valve protects the brake control valve manifold from shock and vibration by incorporation of shock and vibration isolators in mounting feet of the manifold. The shock and vibration isolators have a pre-selected natural frequency chosen to protect components of the brake control valve damaging shock and vibration. The shock and vibration isolators each include a silicone rubber insert portion, a first outer sheath secured about a first end of the silicone rubber insert portion, a second outer sheath member secured about a second end of the silicone rubber insert portion, with a gap between the first and second outer sheaths.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: Hydro-Aire, Inc., a subsidiary of Crane Co.
    Inventor: Ernest Blazic
  • Publication number: 20100258989
    Abstract: The shock and vibration isolation system for hard mounting of a manifold of a brake control valve includes shock and vibration isolators that can be assembled in the mounting feet of the manifold of the brake control valve. The shock and vibration isolators have a pre-selected, predetermined natural frequency operative to protect components of the brake control valve from shock and vibration. Each of the shock and vibration isolators includes a radially inner generally spool shaped rigid insert portion and a radially outer generally spool shaped vibration insulating sheath portion.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 1, 2009
    Publication date: October 14, 2010
    Applicant: HYDRO-AIRE, INC. A SUBSIDIARY OF CRANE CO.
    Inventor: Ernest Blazic
  • Patent number: 7810659
    Abstract: A boom component display apparatus 1 of the present invention is provided with processing units 4, connector assemblies 6 and a display unit 5. The processing units 4 are installed on each of a plurality of unit booms 11a thru 11g that compose a boom assembly 3 of a crane 100 and outputs identification information of each unit boom. The connector assemblies 6 transmits the identification information outputted from the processing units 4. The display unit 5 displays a connecting sequence information to show the relation between the connecting sequence of a plurality of unit booms 11a thru 11g and the identification information of a plurality of unit booms 11a thru 11g, basing on the identification information sent from the processing units 4 through the connector assemblies 6. By depending upon the boom component display apparatus of the present invention, it is possible to prevent the unit booms from being assembled in the wrong connecting sequences.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 5, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2010
    Assignee: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hideaki Ishihara
  • Publication number: 20100250027
    Abstract: The method for reducing aircraft carbon brake wear involves monitoring the commanded initiation of braking, and setting a residual brake clamping force to a predetermined minimum residual brake clamping force, which is maintained following the commanded initiation of braking to prevent release of braking during taxiing of the aircraft. The minimum residual brake clamping force is applied despite a commanded release of braking until at least one predetermined control logic condition occurs.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 2, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Applicant: HYDRO-AIRE, INC., SUBSIDIARY OF CRANE CO.
    Inventors: Gary DeVlieg, John Gowan
  • Patent number: 7805233
    Abstract: A wheel speed transducer including a magnetic device associated with a wheel and a sensor device associated with the axle of the wheel provides data indicative of the velocity of the wheel. A processor located at the axle receives the wheel speed data and processes it to perform antiskid control functions. The velocity data is stored in a data concentrator also associated with the axle. A tire pressure sensor, a brake temperature sensor and a brake torque sensor, each associated with the wheel, send data to the processor at the axle, for storage in the data concentrator. A transmitting antenna associated with the axle and in communication with the data concentrator transmits stored data to a receiving antenna associated with the wheel. A data port at the wheel and in communication with the receiving antenna provides an interface to an external device for receiving the data.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Hydro-Aire, Inc., Subsidiary of Crane Co.
    Inventors: John Gowan, Garrett H. DeVlieg
  • Publication number: 20100228390
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a satellite vend operation. A first (parent) vending machine is operable to dispense a product from a product storage display area located in a second (child) vending machine. The first (parent) vending machine can control or interact with the functions of the second (child) vending machine. A programming menu on the first (parent) vending machine is automatically configured for a satellite vend operation when the first (parent) vending machine pairs with the second (child) vending machine. An operator is provided, in the programming menu located on the parent vending machine, relevant information associated with the child vending machine and relevant information associated with the parent vending machine.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: Crane Co.
    Inventor: Scott Hudis
  • Publication number: 20100228391
    Abstract: A system and method for providing a combination vend operation. The system and method include a first (parent) vending machine operable to discount a product when an associated product is selected. The combination vend operation may be performed when the discounted product and the associated product are in different vending machines. The same of first (parent) vending machine directs a second (child) vending machine to dispense the discounted product during the combo vend operation. A consumer may purchase the discounted product at the discounted price after or while purchasing the associated product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 5, 2009
    Publication date: September 9, 2010
    Applicant: CRANE CO.
    Inventor: Scott Hudis
  • Patent number: 7789253
    Abstract: A combination crane A is formed by connecting two crawler cranes 1L and 1R. Each crawler crane is provided with at least a lower propelling body 3 which can be propelled by crawlers 2, an upper revolving body 5 rotatably mounted on the lower propelling body 3 by a swing unit 4 provided between them, a boom 6 whose base section is tiltably supported on the upper revolving body, a tilting mechanism 10 that raises and lowers the boom and a hoist mechanism that hoists and lowers the lifting members 12 hung by a hoist rope 11 from the top of the boom. Both upper swing bodies of two cranes are connected together with a connecting beam 20. Swing motion is performed by driving the one crawler crane to move around the other crawler crane which is free to rotate and is locked against propulsion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 3, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 7, 2010
    Assignee: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hirotsugu Sawai, Mamoru Uejima, Satoshi Mimura
  • Patent number: D629429
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: December 21, 2010
    Assignee: Kobelco Cranes Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Kunio Wakamatsu