Abstract: A self-maintaining crane system including a bridge, a trolley, a hoist, and sensors for use within a hostile environment, such as a wastewater treatment facility, is presented. The bridge is movable along a pair of runway rails within the hostile environment. The trolley is movable between the runway rails. The hoist with extendable-retractable cable is movable with the trolley. Bridge sensors separately determine whether the bridge has engaged a bridge home position and a bridge end position. The bridge is movable away from the bridge home position and back toward the bridge end position. Trolley sensors separately determine whether the trolley has engaged a trolley home position and a trolley end position. The trolley is movable away from the trolley home position and back toward the trolley end position. Hoist sensors separately determine whether the cable has engaged a hoist home position and a hoist end position.

Abstract: A transport vehicle includes a body; a lift platform that includes a holder to hold an article, the lift platform being ascendable and descendable with respect to the body; a lift driver that raises or lowers the lift platform by feeding out or taking up a flexible suspension support; a sensor provided in the lift driver and emits a detection wave having directivity toward a certain lower position; a lateral extender that causes the lift driver to project laterally from the body while providing cantilever support for the lift driver; and a corrector that corrects a shift in an emission direction of the detection wave that arises from bending of the lateral extender in a state in which the lift driver is caused to project laterally from the body by the lateral extender.

Abstract: A crane, a method for assembly of a crane and a method for disassembly of a crane are disclosed. In accordance with the method, a first mast is fixed in a vertical position. A top mast section of a second mast is positioned adjacent to and outside of the first mast. The top mast section is moved vertically upwards, and this movement is guided by a guide system. Then, the top mast section is fixed relative to the first mast at a position which is at a larger vertical distance from the crane base. Then, a first intermediate mast section of the second mast is fixed to a lower end of the top mast section to build up the second mast. Then, the first intermediate mast section is connected to a pivot, and the second mast is pivoted away from the first mast.

Abstract: A crane support system includes two spaced apart longitudinal members couplable with a vehicle frame. Two spaced apart groups of tubes are coupled with and extend between the longitudinal members and outboard relative to one member to define an outboard subassembly portion. A tower frame is mounted atop the outboard subassembly portion. A first brace extends angularly between the groups of tubes, the brace extending from a one of the groups forward relative to the vehicle frame toward the other group aft relative to the vehicle frame and toward the tower frame. A horizontal arm extends transversely beneath the outboard subassembly portion. A vertical support has a top end coupled with the arm and a bottom end couplable with an outrigger. A second brace extends angularly between the vertical support and the arm for transferring bending moment and/or shear from the cantilever to the outrigger via the vertical support.

Abstract: A crawler crane includes: a seating switch that detects whether an operator is in a driver seat; a turn angle potentiometer that detects the turn position of a boom; and a controller. The controller is provided with a boom turn restriction control unit for performing a boom turn-restricting control whereby the boom is not allowed to turn within a predetermined angular range above the driver seat on the basis of the output from the turn angle potentiometer. The boom turn restriction control unit includes a restriction-canceling unit that cancels the boom turn-restricting control performed by a turn-restricting unit if a preset restriction-canceling condition is met. The boom turn restriction control unit cancels the boom turn-restricting control if the seating switch does not detect an operator. Ease of operation and work can thus be improved in a remote operation mode and the like.

Abstract: A crane housing having a substantially cylinder-shaped circumferential wall with a lower section and lower end mounted to a slew bearing of substantially the same diameter includes a boom support structure to support an inner end of a pivotal boom arranged at a front side of the crane housing. The boom support structure includes at least two box elements of each of which an end portion overlaps with and is integrated with the upper section of the circumferential wall. Oblique strengthening ribs are mounted onto and integrated with a side of the circumferential wall and extend from a respective box element end portion in an oblique downwards direction towards the lower end of the wall.

Abstract: A bicycle rear sprocket adapter comprises a plurality of external spline teeth and a plurality of internal spline teeth. The plurality of external spline teeth is configured to engage with a bicycle rear sprocket assembly. The plurality of internal spline teeth is configured to engage with a bicycle hub assembly. At least two internal spline teeth of the plurality of internal spline teeth are circumferentially arranged at a first internal pitch angle with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle hub assembly. The first internal pitch angle ranges from 10 degrees to 20 degrees.

Abstract: A low-construction trolley for a wire rope hoist is arranged to travel along a lower flange of a horizontal rail, on both longitudinal edges thereof. The trolley includes a trolley frame; bearing wheels that are attached to the trolley frame and arranged to travel on an upper surface of the lower flange of the rail; a hoisting mechanism including a rope drum for a hoisting rope, a hoisting member in cooperation with the hoisting rope for hoisting a load, a hoisting motor for driving the rope drum, and a gear to interconnect the hoisting motor and the rope drum; whereby the rope drum is supported to one side of the trolley frame and the hoisting member is arranged to travel under the rail in a vertical plane (A) passing substantially through the middle of the beam.

Abstract: An improved automated material handling system that allows an overhead hoist supported by a suspended track to access Work-In-Process (WIP) parts from storage locations beside the track. The automated material handling system includes an overhead hoist transport vehicle for transporting an overhead hoist on a suspended track, and one or more storage bins for storing WIP parts located beside the track. Each storage bin is either a movable shelf or a fixed shelf. To access a WIP part from a selected shelf, the overhead hoist transport vehicle moves along the suspended track to a position at the side of the shelf. Next, the movable shelf moves to a position underneath the overhead hoist. Alternatively, overhead hoist moves to a position above the fixed shelf. The overhead hoist is then operated to pick a desired WIP part directly from the shelf, or to place one or more WIP parts directly to the shelf.

Abstract: A lifter assembly includes a base having a top and a bottom surface. Connectors are attached to the base extending outwardly from the bottom surface. Each of the connectors includes at least one rail wheel rotatably attached thereto. The base includes traveling wheels rotatably attached thereto. A post is attached to the base extending outwardly from the top surface to a distal end. An arm is disposed on the distal end, rotatably attached to the post, extending outwardly to a terminal end. A support is movably attached to the arm and extends outwardly to a support end. A trolley is slidably disposed on the arm and movable along the arm between the terminal end and the post. Each of the traveling wheels includes a leg pivotably attached to the base connecting the traveling wheel to the base and move the traveling wheel between a transport and a storage position.

Abstract: A bottom block assembly includes a bottom block defining a cavity and at least one opening passing through a portion of the bottom block. The assembly further includes a plurality of sheaves disposed at least partially within the cavity, each sheave having a central opening. The assembly further includes a sheave pin passing through the at least one opening in the bottom block and the central openings in the sheaves to rotatably couple the plurality of sheaves to the bottom block. The assembly further includes a plurality of captivating frame assemblies to be coupled to the plurality of sheaves, each of the plurality of captivating frame assemblies including a housing and a plurality of rollers rotatably mounted to the housing. Each captivating frame assembly is associated with a corresponding one of the sheaves. The assembly further includes a plurality of wires for coupling the plurality of captivating frame assemblies to the plurality of sheaves.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus, including a support carriage movable along a track, a lifting element for holding a load, a lifting device for raising and lowering the lifting element vertically relative to the support carriage. The lifting device includes at least two tension elements, wherein each tension element can be wound onto the supporting carriage by a winding apparatus. A first drive is provided for driving a first winding apparatus and a second drive is provided for driving a second winding apparatus. The first drive has a drive motor which drives a shaft by a conical gear mechanism, the shaft drives a roller of the first winding apparatus by a gear mechanism element and the second drive has a drive motor which drives a roller of the second winding apparatus by a spur gear, parallel-shaft gear or planetary gear mechanism.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a tower crane, in particular a revolving tower crane, comprising a crane tower composed of a plurality of tower pieces, a main boom arranged at the tower tip, and a counter-boom, wherein at least one main hoist rope is guided over the main boom to take up the load and at least one counter-boom hoist rope is guided over the counter-boom to take up a balance weight.

Abstract: A cable winch arrangement (1) which includes at least one cable drum (2), which is mounted rotatably about a drum axis (3), for winding up and/or unwinding at least one cable (30-37), and a supporting structure (20), and a spindle drive (14) for displacing the cable drum (2) relative to the supporting structure (20), wherein the spindle drive (14) has a spindle (16) extending along a spindle axis (15), and a cable run-off point (6) of the at least one cable (30-37), at which the cable (30-37) runs tangentially onto and/or out from the cable drum (2), is at least substantially positionally fixed with respect to the supporting structure (20), and the spindle axis (15) is arranged coaxially with respect to the drum axis (3) of the cable drum (2).

Abstract: A hydraulic circuit for use on a construction machine includes a first valve, a second valve, and at least a third valve. The second and third valve each includes at least one inlet port connected to a first outlet port of the first valve. The first outlet port of each of the second and third valves are configured to reduce a first pressure to a second pressure and/or a third pressure downstream of the second valve and the third valve, respectively. The second valve and the third valve also include at least a second outlet port connected to a reservoir tank. A hydraulic motor is connected to the first outlet port of the second valve, which operates the hydraulic motor in a first direction. The hydraulic motor also is connected to the first outlet port of the third valve, which operates the hydraulic motor in a second direction.

Abstract: A method for up-ending a longitudinal structure, being one of a foundation of an offshore wind turbine or a wind turbine tower to be installed on top of a previously installed foundation, wherein use is made of a crane The method includes providing a longitudinal structure with an upper end and a lower end in a substantially horizontal orientation; connecting the middle hoisting block of three main hoisting systems and one outer hoisting block of the three main hoisting systems to the upper end of the longitudinal structure; connecting another other outer hoisting block of the three main hoisting systems to the lower end of the longitudinal structure; and operating respective winches of the three main hoisting systems until the longitudinal structure is in a substantially vertical orientation with the upper end above the lower end.

Abstract: Example embodiments relate to a lightweight crane. In one nonlimiting embodiment the crane is comprised of a telescoping boom having a first boom nested in a second boom which in turn is nested in a third boom. The first, second, and third booms may be made from aluminum to reduce the weight of the crane. The first boom may have a first open section and a second closed section wherein the open section is configured to accommodate a structural member to which an actuator is attached. The first and second booms have lower surfaces with inclined surfaces so that the first boom self-aligns with the second boom and the second boom self-aligns with the third boom.

Abstract: A load crane main boom of the telescopic type having cylinder-piston groups located inside the main boom tubular sections with reduced dimensions. The load crane main boom minimizes the main boom section thanks to a particular arrangement of the cylinder-piston groups. Each cylinder of each piston-cylinder group is connected to a respective boom section through at least one reinforcing rod extending perpendicular to the main boom axial direction and connected to respective section walls of the main boom. At least first and the second cylinder-piston group rods are further supported by a respective reinforcing plate, which is in turn connected to the respective boom section.

Abstract: A marine vessel and a method of operation of such a marine vessel include a crane with a boom including a main boom section and a jib section and a variable length stay mechanism. The lattice boom is movable from a hoisting position into a parking position by a routine including operating the variable length stay mechanism allowing the jib section to fold towards the main boom section. The crane is provided with a fixation device adapted to establish fixation of the jib section relative to the main boom section in a folded position. A boom rest is mounted on the hull. The routine further includes operating the luffing assembly to position the jib member of the folded jib section, fixated to the main boom section, in the parking position onto the boom rest.

Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile crane having an undercarriage and a superstructure rotatable with respect to the undercarriage about an axis of rotation and having a ballast receiving apparatus arranged at the superstructure and having at least one ballasting cylinder for receiving ballast. In accordance with the invention, the position of the ballasting cylinders receiving the ballast is varied in the ballast receiving apparatus such that the ballast can be received in positions of different distances from the axis of rotation of the superstructure.