Abstract: A camera crane arm has a frame pivotally supporting a central beam section. Outer beam sections are attached to and spaced apart from the central beam section. A leveling system is externally attached to the frame and pivotally linked to a camera platform, to maintain the platform in a level orientation, as the crane arm is pivoted up and down, to adjust camera lens height. The crane arm is formed of sections having vertically offset ends, to reduce sagging. The sections have a high moment of inertia but low weight, and can be assembled without force.

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 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 leveling head for a camera has four jacking screws attached to a base plate. A ring is pivotably attached to a hub on the base plate. A top plate is pivotably attached to the ring and supported on the jacking screws. The top plate can pivot along two perpendicular axes relative to the base plate, to provide a level mounting surface for a camera. A spring on the base plate pushes the top plate upwardly, to partially counterbalance the weight of the camera, to reduce the turning force needed on the jacking screws.

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.

Abstract: A camera dolly has an upper arm pivotable on a lower arm. Chains and sprockets within the lower arm raise the upper arm when the lower arm is raised by a hydraulic actuator. Leveling rods maintain a camera platform in a level position as the arm is raised and lowered. A center plate in the lower arm and a brace plate in the upper arm increase the strength and stiffness of the arm. The ratio between the lower sprocket and upper sprocket within the lower arm is greater than 2:1, providing additional arm travel. A structural tube in the upper arm section provides a secure attachment point for a leveling head.

Abstract: A camera crane arm has a frame pivotally supporting a central beam section. Outer beam sections are attached to and spaced apart from the central beam section. A leveling system is externally attached to the frame and pivotally linked to a camera platform, to maintain the platform in a level orientation, as the crane arm is pivoted up and down, to adjust camera lens height. The crane arm is formed of sections having vertically offset ends, to reduce sagging. The sections have a high moment of inertia but low weight, and can be assembled without force.

Abstract: A camera pedestal has a cylinder with a tapering cross-section for providing a uniform counterbalancing force using a compressed gas. Telescoping column sections which make up a column assembly have inner relief channels and outer slots for hardened roller strips. A column drive system has a hydraulic actuator to remotely raise the column assembly, and to lock the column assembly into any selected position. The column assembly is eccentrically positioned on its base tank. The pedestal is engageable to a receptacle on a camera dolly with a telescoping steering drive tube interconnecting a steering assembly on the pedestal with a steering system in the dolly.

Abstract: A universal hydraulic stop valve has housing having check valves in a check valve bore. A needle in needle bore has spaced apart seals which may alternately seal against valve seats on adjustable knobs, with movement of the needle, which may be mechanically linked to a machine element moved by a hydraulic actuator. The universal hydraulic valve sets accurate starting and stopping positions, and also provides for gradual feathered stops.

Abstract: An attachment for a camera dolly arm includes an attitude control system for maintaining a camera platform at a uniform attitude as the arm is raised and lowered. The attitude control system advantageously includes a lower disk joined to an upper disk by leveling rods. A head is pivotally mounted on a frame between two support plates which attach to the upper end of the dolly arm. The attachment may be used as a riser to elevate the camera platform. The attachment may also be used as an extension of the camera dolly arm, to increase the range of arm travel.

Abstract: In a camera pedestal having a pedestal chassis supported on wheels and a separable pedestal column supported in an opening in the pedestal chassis, a camera riser is provided in between the column and chassis, to increase camera lens height without increasing the load and stress on the telescoping column. The camera riser has an upper end adapted to receive the lower end of the pedestal, and a lower end adapted to attach into or onto the chassis, in the same manner as the pedestal column attaches to the chassis, when the riser is not in use.

Abstract: A camera crane arm has a frame pivotally supporting a central beam section. Outer beam sections are attached to and spaced apart from the central beam section. A leveling system is externally attached to the frame and pivotally linked to a camera platform, to maintain the platform in a level orientation, as the crane arm is pivoted up and down, to adjust camera lens height. The crane arm is formed of sections having vertically offset ends, to reduce sagging. The sections have a high moment of inertia but low weight, and can be assembled without force.

Abstract: A push/steering bar accessory for a camera pedestal has upper and lower elongate plates forming a straight bar. Sprockets within the bar are linked by a belt. The outer sprocket is joined to a tube for receiving the pushing/steering handle. The inner sprocket is attached to a kingpin on the pedestal. A positioning pin may be adjusted to change the angle of the bar relative to the pedestal. The pedestal accordingly may be pushed and steered from different positions on the side and behind the pedestal.

Abstract: A mobile base for supporting a camera crane arm includes a chassis having front and rear pairs of wheels. Front and rear steering angle compensators are linked respectively to the front and rear wheel pairs. The compensators are pivotally mounted to the chassis. Ground wheels and bogey track wheels are mounted on a kingpin/axle housing at each corner of the mobile base. Kingpins threaded into the kingpins/axle housings act as jacking posts. The mobile base may be steered by one or two operators in various steering modes.

Abstract: A camera crane for use in motion picture and television productions, has a mast on a wheeled chassis. A weight bucket on the chassis around the mast securely holds counterweights used to balance arm. The steering section of the mobile base can be pivoted into a low position, to allow the arm to swing around the mobile base, without interference. A leveling system on the mast levels the mast, regardless of the orientation of the chassis. Outriggers are provided as an accessory to help stabilize the mobile base. Stiffening tubes on the arm stiffen the arm and protect the arm core.

Abstract: A camera dolly has a track wheel system including a kingpin pivotally supported on a dolly chassis. A kingpin tube extends laterally from the kingpin. An axle is pivotally supported within the tube on pins. A track wheel around a bearing is supported on a bushing on the axle. A knob unit threaded into the axle may be turned into a locked position wherein the track wheel is supported as in a conventional axle. For use on curved track, the knob unit is released or backed out, allowing the track wheel to shift laterally, to accommodate moving on curved dolly track, and to allow the wheel to steer on the track at a proper steering angle, by pivoting on the pins.