Patents Examined by Juan J Campos
  • Patent number: 11724922
    Abstract: The focus of the present disclosure is on portable cranes and cantilevered base systems. In particular, portable cranes and cantilevered base systems which are lightweight, easy-to-operate, safe, inexpensive, and have extended reaches with high-load capacities would be advantageous for a variety of applications. A cantilevered support to a pivotable arm that is provided by the present disclosure provides advantages when compared to other portable cranes, such as the ability to: 1) extend an arm and reach of a crane, 2) increase a load that can be lifted or lowered, 3) operate a portable crane and cantilevered base system freestanding without attaching a base to a floor, surface, or bed of a vehicle, and 4) augment the structural capacity of a portable crane and cantilevered base with mechanical devices to support a variety of applications.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2023
    Assignee: Ai-Structural Products, LLC
    Inventor: W. Joseph Alexander
  • Patent number: 11718369
    Abstract: A bicycle sprocket comprises a sprocket body, a plurality of sprocket teeth, and a torque transmitting profile. The sprocket body has an outer periphery and an inner periphery positioned radially inwardly from the outer periphery with respect to a rotational center axis of the bicycle sprocket. The plurality of sprocket teeth is disposed on the outer periphery of the sprocket body. The torque transmitting profile is positioned around the inner periphery of the sprocket body. The torque transmitting profile includes at least ten internal spline teeth. The at least ten internal spline-teeth include at least one first internal spline-tooth, at least one second internal spline-tooth and at least one third internal spline-tooth. The at least one internal first spline-tooth, the at least one second internal spline-tooth and the at least one third internal spline-tooth are different in shape from each other.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: SHIMANO INC.
    Inventors: Yasufumi Fukunaga, Shota Suyama
  • Patent number: 11718511
    Abstract: A pivot-forming crane element for a rotating portion of an element-mounted crane includes a framework on which a motor-driven orienting system, a hoisting winch and a dispensing winch are mounted. The motor-driven orienting system includes a pivot mechanism about an orienting axis and at least one orienting electric motor cooperating with the pivot mechanism to make the framework pivot about the orienting axis. The hoisting winch is provided with a hoisting electric motor cooperating with a hoisting drum around which a hoisting rope is wound. The dispensing winch is provided with a dispensing electric motor cooperating with a dispensing drum around which a dispensing rope is wound.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2021
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE
    Inventors: Grégory Alamome, Cédric Fourier, Fabian Verguet
  • Patent number: 11718510
    Abstract: The invention addresses the problem of providing a crane and a crane control method that can suppress load swaying when controlling an actuator on the basis of the load.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2019
    Date of Patent: August 8, 2023
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Minami
  • Patent number: 11713222
    Abstract: A crane includes a carrier unit having a chassis, tires connected to the chassis, a carrier deck and outriggers. A superstructure is mounted on the carrier unit, the superstructure includes a telescoping boom. A slope sensor is operably connected to the carrier unit and configured to detect a pitch and/or a roll of the carrier unit during a lift operation. The crane further includes a system for monitoring a load lifted by the telescoping boom. The system is configured to determine the current load lifted by the telescoping boom, receive pitch and/or roll information of the carrier unit from the slope sensor, adjust coordinates of the crane in a coordinate system based on the pitch and/or roll information, determine a transformed operating radius using the adjusted coordinates; and compare the load lifted to a rated capacity at the transformed operating radius.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2020
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2023
    Assignee: Manitowoc Crane Companies, LLC
    Inventors: Stephen J. Schoonmaker, John F. Benton, Michael Stake
  • Patent number: 11708249
    Abstract: A crane, in particular a mobile crane, includes a crane jib which can be moved about a substantially horizontal luffing axis, and a tensioning device for the crane jib. The tensioning device includes two pendants which run from the jib tip to the jib base of the crane jib and tensioning posts each tensioning a respective one of the pendants relative to the crane jib in a triangular configuration. In order to operate the crane, a luffing angle of the crane jib about the luffing axis is measured or recorded, and a spread angle between the tensioning posts while the crane jib is being used is modified depending on the luffing angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2021
    Date of Patent: July 25, 2023
    Assignee: TADANO FAUN GmbH
    Inventors: David Keilhauer, Tobias Ebinger, Dennis Skudlarek
  • Patent number: 11691855
    Abstract: A crane is provided. A slewing base camera detects a load W that is suspended by a wire rope, the current coordinate location of the load is calculated from the location of the detected load, the current coordinate location of a tip end of a boom is calculated from the position of a crane, a target velocity signal that was inputted from a manipulation tool is converted into a target coordinate location of the load, a wire rope direction vector is calculated from the current coordinate location of the load and the target coordinate location of the load, a target location of the tip end of the boom for the target coordinate location of the load is calculated from a wire rope reel-out amount and the wire rope direction vector, and an actuator operation signal is generated.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 3, 2019
    Date of Patent: July 4, 2023
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventor: Yoshimasa Minami
  • Patent number: 11679963
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides for a portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus for improved vehicle hardtop removal and replacement features in order to efficiently remove and replace hardtops of many types of vehicles, in a safe and convenient manner, for people's enjoyment. The portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus comprises a upstanding support member removably connected to an upstanding swivel member that is fixed to the horizontal support arm. A lift boom extends from the upstanding support member, and a hoist line extends along the upstanding support member and the lift boom. An elongated spreader tube is connected to a distal end of the hoist line, and a plurality of straps removably connect the elongated spreader tube to a vehicle hardtop for its removal. The lift boom is positionable from a lifting position to a collapsed or folded transport position for efficient transportation of the portable vehicle hardtop removal apparatus to any destination.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 21, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 20, 2023
    Inventor: Michael B Moutz, Jr.
  • Patent number: 11673775
    Abstract: A vehicle crane comprising a jib that is raised and lowered by at least one main tensile connector, and a counter jib, where the main tensile connector extends between a first connecting point in the region of a jib head and a second connecting point in the region of a counter jib head. To reduce loading on the jib, in particular during raising and lowering and increase its bearing load overall, the jib has a third connecting point between the first connecting point and its foot opposite the head, and a secondary tensile connector extends between the third connecting point and a fourth connecting point in the region of the head of the counter jib, or the secondary tensile connector extends between the third connecting point via a seventh connecting point on the main tensile connector and a fourth connecting point in the region of the main jib foot.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2021
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Tadano Demag GmbH
    Inventor: Walter Zimmer
  • Patent number: 11673776
    Abstract: A tower crane includes a tower on which is pivotally mounted a boom displaceable between a lowered position and a raised position. The crane is configurable between a service configuration in which the boom is controlled in rotation and a weather vane configuration in which the boom is in the raised position and is released in rotation on the tower to allow orientation in the direction of the wind. A wind load system is mounted on the boom and is adjustable between a retracted shape in the service configuration providing a reduced surface exposed to the wind, and a deployed shape in the weather vane configuration providing an extended surface exposed to the wind. The wind load system is configured to move from the retracted shape to the deployed shape under the effect of its own weight alone (i.e., under gravity) when the boom is raised.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE
    Inventors: Pierre-Jean Chapuis, Grégory Alamome, Lotfi Bouskine, Vincent Veillerot, Jérémy Blasiak
  • Patent number: 11649143
    Abstract: The resonant frequency ?x(n) of horizontal shaking of a suspended load W suspended from the distal end of a telescopic boom 9 via wire ropes 14·16 is calculated on the basis of the suspension length Lm(n)·Ls(n) of the wire ropes 14·16; the characteristic frequency ?y(n) in the raising and lowering direction of the telescopic boom 9 is calculated; and, in accordance with an operation for raising and lowering the telescopic boom 9, the filtering control signal Cd(n) of an actuator is generated in which a frequency component in a discretionary frequency range is attenuated at a discretionary ratio with reference to the resonant frequency ?x(n) of the suspended load W, and in which a frequency component in a discretionary frequency range is attenuated at a discretionary ratio with reference to the characteristic frequency ?y(n) in the raising and lowering direction of the telescopic boom 9.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventors: Shinsuke Kanda, Kazuma Mizuki
  • Patent number: 11649144
    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.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 6, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: David R. Cordell & Associates, Inc.
    Inventor: Steven R. Cordell
  • Patent number: 11629035
    Abstract: There is provided a crane including: a telescopic boom having an inner boom element and an outer boom element; a telescoping actuator that displaces the inner boom element or the outer boom element in the telescoping direction; a first coupling member that releasably couples the telescoping actuator to one of the boom elements; a second coupling member that releasably couples the pair of boom elements to each other; an electric drive source provided at the telescoping actuator; a first coupling mechanism that displaces the first coupling member or the second coupling member on the basis of motive power of the electric drive source, thereby switching a coupled state and a non-coupled state of the members that are releasably coupled by one of the coupling members; and a position information detection device that detects information relating to the position of one of the coupling members on the basis of output from the electric drive source.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 18, 2023
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventors: Masahide Zushi, Kazu Nagahama
  • Patent number: 11618531
    Abstract: A sprocket assembly (1) to be mounted on a driver body (4) of a bicycle wheel with a truncated cone shell (2) having a first opening (21) in its small base and a second opening (22) in its large base, both openings being coaxial with the central axis (10) of said shell; a plurality of toothed sprockets (20) having different numbers of teeth for engagement with a chain; an axial fixing member (23), a radial load transmission profile (24) and a toothed torque transmission profile (25); wherein the truncated cone shell (2), the toothed sprockets (20), the axial fixing member (23), the radial load transmission profile (24) and the toothed torque transmission profile (25) are configured in a single piece; being the axial fixing member (23), the radial load transmission profile (24) and the toothed torque transmission profile (25) all disposed towards the inside of the truncated cone shell (2).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2017
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: Rotor Componentes Tecnologicos, S.L.
    Inventor: Pablo Carrasco Vergara
  • Patent number: 11618656
    Abstract: The disclosure relates to a mobile crane, such as a crawler crane, comprising an undercarriage having a traveling gear, a superstructure rotatably supported about a vertical axle on the undercarriage, a boom connected in an articulated manner to the superstructure pivotable about a horizontal axle, an A frame connected to the boom via a guying means, and a retraction mechanism by means of which the A frame is pivotable. In accordance with the disclosure, the A frame is separable and comprises a pole connected in an articulated manner to the superstructure and a folding pole releasably connected to the pole.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 2021
    Date of Patent: April 4, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-WERK NENZING GMBH
    Inventors: Richard Torghele, Manuel Torghele
  • Patent number: 11613449
    Abstract: Provided is an auxiliary sheave device with a simple and lightweight structure and a crane including the same. The auxiliary sheave device, provided in the crane including a derrick member guy line, includes an auxiliary sheave frame and an auxiliary sheave guy line supporting the auxiliary sheave. The derrick member guy line is connected to the distal end portion of the derrick member. The auxiliary sheave frame is attached to the distal end portion of the derrick member so as to be capable of making rotational movement and taking a projecting posture of projecting in the distal end direction from the distal end portion of the derrick member. The auxiliary sheave guy line is connected to the distal end portion of the auxiliary sheave frame and a guy line connection portion of the derrick member so as to keep the auxiliary sheave frame in the projecting posture.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 9, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Akira Koyahata
  • Patent number: 11613448
    Abstract: A method for handling of an offshore wind turbine component includes using a vessel having a hull on which a motion compensating crane is mounted. The crane includes a main boom; a main boom luffing assembly; a mobile hoist cable suspension member; and a hoist winch and a hoist cable driven by the hoist winch. An object suspension device is suspended from the hoist cable. The mobile hoist cable suspension member is supported by a motion compensating support device that is fitted to the tip end of the main boom, the motion compensating support device including one or more motor powered motion displacement actuator assemblies and a motion compensating support device controller. The method includes connecting the offshore wind turbine component to the object suspension device; and operating the motion compensating support device to provide motion compensation in at least one direction of the object suspension device and the connected offshore wind turbine component.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 25, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 28, 2023
    Assignee: ITREC B.V.
    Inventors: Cornelis Martinus Van Veluw, Joop Roodenburg
  • Patent number: 11597636
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile crane with a two-part jib and to a method for aligning the boom system of such a mobile crane. The invention relates to a mobile crane with a multi-part flight boom, wherein a first jib part is hinged to the main boom in a rockable manner, and at least one second jib part is secured to the first jib part in an articulated manner. A bracing which is guided from the upper chassis to the jib is provided for aligning the jib, said bracing running over at least one intermediate bracing support mounted on the first jib part to the at least one second jib part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-WERK EHINGEN GMBH
    Inventor: Stefan Peters
  • Patent number: 11591190
    Abstract: A hydraulic crane comprising: —a rotatable column (7); —a crane boom system (10) comprising two or more liftable and lowerable crane booms (11, 13); and —an electronic control device (25), which is configured to prevent an execution of crane boom movements that would make the lifting moment of the crane exceed the maximum allowed lifting moment of the crane, and to continuously establish position information as to the prevailing position of the load suspension point (P) of the crane boom system. When the lifting moment of the crane has reached a limit value at a given level below the maximum allowed lifting moment, the electronic control device is configured to prevent the execution of any combination of crane boom movements that would increase the horizontal distance between the load suspension point and said vertical axis of rotation and at the same time allow the execution of any combination of crane boom movements that keeps said horizontal distance unchanged or reduces said horizontal distance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 2017
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2023
    Assignee: Hiab AB
    Inventors: Sten Sirén, Per Gustafsson, Lars Rydahl
  • Patent number: 11577943
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crane, in particular a deck crane, which comprises a boom which is erectable in its height about an axis of rotation, and an erecting trestle for deflecting a rope of a retracting mechanism in order to erect the boom. The invention is characterized in that the erecting trestle is erectable in its height, and the erecting trestle comprises a pull bar which includes a rotary joint in order to rotate a first portion of the pull bar with respect to a second portion of the pull bar.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 19, 2020
    Date of Patent: February 14, 2023
    Assignee: Liebherr-MCCtec Rostock GmbH
    Inventors: Stephan Koertge, Fischer Helmut, Christian Matt