Abstract: A telescoping camera crane has mechanical drive and camera platform leveling systems, allowing for water resistant or submerged operation. Telescoping sections of the crane arm are driven by a hydraulic system, for smooth and near silent extension and retraction movement. The telescoping sections of the crane arm have a slight upward curvature, to compensate for deflection the arm, thereby improving performance. Electronic and mechanical stopping systems allow the camera platform to be smoothly, accurately, and reliably positioned. Camera platform levelling and stabilizing systems keep the camera level.

Abstract: A remote camera head has a tilt frame attachable to a pan frame at multiple positions. A roll frame is attachable to the tilt frame at multiple positions. The camera head can be expanded or reduced in size as needed based on the space requirements of the camera and camera accessories mounted on the camera head. Waterproof or sealed slip ring assemblies and connectors allow the camera head to operate in wet environments, or even when submerged in water. The camera head can be quickly installed, set up, balanced, or reconfigured.

Abstract: A flashlight has a lens moveable relative to an LED. The beam of light provided by the LED can be focused and provides a uniform light pattern across the range of focus. The lens is supported on a front housing section and the LED is supported on a back housing section threaded onto the front housing section. Twisting the front housing section closes a switch providing power to the LED, to turn the flashlight on. Twisting the front housing section also adjusts the focus of the beam. A timer circuit within the flashlight turns the flashlight off after a selected time interval, to preserve battery life.

Abstract: A shock and vibration isolator for a movie or video camera has a vertical axis system including a base, an arm pivotably attached to the base, and at least one spring connected to the base and to the arm. One or more dampeners are connected to the base and to the arm. A horizontal axis system is supported by the vertical axis system. A leveling linkage connects the vertical and horizontal axis systems. The leveling linkage has adjustment features that allow for compensation of camera lens angulation caused by movement of the camera supported on a vehicle rolling over rough or uneven ground. A camera or camera head is suspended, like a dampened pendulum, on the horizontal axis system.

Abstract: A telescoping camera crane has mechanical drive and camera platform leveling systems, allowing for water resistant or submerged operation. Telescoping sections of the crane arm are driven by a hydraulic system, for smooth and near silent extension and retraction movement. The telescoping sections of the crane arm have a slight upward curvature, to compensate for deflection the arm, thereby improving performance. Electronic and mechanical stopping systems allow the camera platform to be smoothly, accurately, and reliably positioned. Camera platform levelling and stabilizing systems keep the camera level.

Abstract: A telescoping camera crane has mechanical drive and camera platform leveling systems, allowing for water resistant or submerged operation. Telescoping sections of the crane arm are driven by a hydraulic system, for smooth and near silent extension and retraction movement. The telescoping sections of the crane arm have a slight upward curvature, to compensate for deflection the arm, thereby improving performance. A riser section on the arm increases the effective length or reach of the arm. The extender section may also be pivotably mounted on the arm, so that it can quickly be moved into upright, inverted, or side positions.

Abstract: A camera crane has a boom arm pivotably connected to a post assembly. A track section is pivotably attached to the front end of the boom arm, and is leveled via leveling rods. The boom arm has a joggled section to provide clearance for a camera operator. A camera frame carrying a camera is linearly moveable along the track section. Pivot joints provide for adjustable drag on pivoting movement, without backlash or slip/stick movement.

Abstract: A flashlight has a lens moveable relative to an LED. The beam of light provided by the LED can be focused and provides a uniform light pattern across the range of focus. The lens is supported on a front housing section and the LED is supported on a back housing section threaded onto the front housing section. Twisting the front housing section closes a switch providing power to the LED, to turn the flashlight on. Twisting the front housing section also adjusts the focus of the beam. A timer circuit within the flashlight turns the flashlight off after a selected time interval, to preserve battery life.

Abstract: A sideboard assembly for a camera dolly includes a base attached to the dolly chassis via threaded posts. A platform is slidably attached to the base. A platform brake can be released to allow the platform to slide forward or back on the base, so that the platform is positioned as needed relative to the camera dolly. The platform brake is tightened or engaged to lock the platform into a desired position. An end board assembly can be slidably positioned on end posts threaded into the front end of the camera dolly, to provide increased positioning flexibility. A fixed tab and a pivot tab on the platform allow the platform to be flipped over, so that it can be used interchangeably on the left and right sides of the camera dolly.

Abstract: In an improved track wheel system for a camera dolly, a kingpin is pivotably attached to the dolly chassis and an axle is attached to the kingpin. A bushing is placed on a first section of the axle, a wheel bearing is attached to the bushing, and a first track wheel is attached to the wheel bearing. A spacer is placed on a second section of the axle and a stop is attached to the end of the axle. The stop preferably comprises a quick release clip which can be easily removed and replaced to remove the spacer from the axle. With the spacer removed, the first track wheel is free to shift laterally on the axle. A second track wheel of the same construction is attached to an opposite side of the kingpin.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic valve for a camera dolly includes a valve pin having an extension within a valve housing to reduce vibration and noise and to reduce hydraulic closing forces. The valve pin is resiliently supported by e.g., rubber o-rings at both ends. Valve performance is improved as reducing hydraulic forces on the valve pin results in smooth valve operation, especially when opening the valve under heavy loading.

Abstract: A camera crane has a boom arm pivotably connected to a post assembly. The boom arm is extendible via an extension accessory kit. A track section is pivotably attached to the front end of the boom arm, and is leveled via leveling rods. The boom arm has a joggled section to provide clearance for a camera operator. A camera frame carrying a camera is linearly moveable along the track section. Pivot joints provide for adjustable drag on pivoting movement, without backlash or slip/stick movement. The track section is provided with a track frame and a slide head, so that the track section can be used apart from the crane.

Abstract: A camera pedestal has a column attachable to a base. The base includes a base plate, side plates and a cover. The base and side plates are flat and are bolted together to facilitate manufacture. A cable guard system on the base has separate guard plates which can be independently shifted up and down quickly and easily by hand. A drag assembly sets a holding force on the guard plates. The guard plates have greater ground clearance at the ends away from the corners of the pedestal, to avoid contact with high points on an undulating or uneven ground surface.

Abstract: A camera dolly has a steering unit which provides conventional, crab, and round steering modes, selected by the operator via use of a single steering/shifting handle. The steering unit includes first and second transmissions and a differential. Chains link sprockets on the transmissions and differential, to steer the wheels of the camera dolly to appropriate angles, so that the dolly can roll easily and without wheel scrubbing. A dolly leg position compensator adjusts the amount of steering angle correction provided by the differential, to compensate for changes in the dolly wheelbase/tread dimensions. Sprockets in the differential are locked into offset positions, during conventional and round steering, to maintain proper steering angle correction, even under heavy loads. Active idlers are mechanically linked within the steering unit to automatically maintain appropriate chain tension, in all steering modes.

Abstract: A camera crane has a boom arm pivotably connected to a post assembly. A track section is pivotably attached to the front end of the boom arm, and is leveled via leveling rods. A camera frame carrying a camera is linearly moveable along the track section. Pivot joints provide for adjustable drag on pivoting movement, without backlash or slip/stick movement. A remote control accessory is attached to the crane to provide remote movement of the camera platform using joystick controllers.

Abstract: A shipping container or crate for a camera crane has a base including a cutout. Sidewalls of the crate have platforms for holding front and rear sections of the boom arm of the crane. The post section of the crane is suspended within the crate. The cutout allows a camera dolly to move directly underneath the crane arm, to lift the crane arm up and out of the crate. The need to lift the crane arm by hand is avoided.

Abstract: A camera crane has a boom arm pivotably connected to a post assembly. A track section is pivotably attached to the front end of the boom arm, and is leveled via leveling rods. The boom arm has a joggled section to provide clearance for a camera operator. A camera frame carrying a camera is linearly moveable along the track section. Pivot joints provide for adjustable drag on pivoting movement, without backlash or slip/stick movement.

Abstract: A fast wheel changeover system for a camera dolly includes a cap on the end of each wheel axle. The cap has an annular shoulder and a shaft section. A quick release clip has a spring with a bridge section which fits over the cap. A wheel can be quickly changed over by lifting the bridge section over the annular shoulder, by hand and without tools, and then sliding the clip off of the axle. Wedges provided with the dolly allow wheels to be easily lifted off of the ground, for wheel changeover.

Abstract: A camera crane has a spring balancing system for better maintaining the crane arm in balance as the crane arm is raised and lowered a spring link is pivotally attached to a support frame on a pivot access. Spring posts are attached to the crane arm section. Springs extend from the spring link to the spring posts. As the crane arm is raised, the springs exert a counterbalancing force. The spring balancing system can be disengaged by removing a pin extending through the spring link into the support.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic valve for a camera dolly includes Teflon inserts around a valve pin to reduce vibration and noise. The ratio of movement between the boom control, which controls the up and down movement of the arm on the camera dolly, and opening and closing of the hydraulic valve, is increased to reduce the sensitivity of the valve to boom control movement. The boom control includes ready up and ready down detents which provide the user a tactile indication of where to position the boom control for immediate up or down movement.