Patents Examined by Nathaniel L Adams
  • Patent number: 10703614
    Abstract: A gantry for a construction machine. The gantry includes a front leg, an upper rear leg, a lower rear leg, and a connection member. The connection member connects an interconnection section for interconnecting the front leg and the upper rear leg to a base. The connection member includes an upper end portion rotatably connected to the interconnection section. The connection member includes a shaft section and the upper rear leg includes a shaft holding portion for holding the shaft section. The shaft holding portion includes a shaft holding surface for holding a lower end portion of the shaft section, a dislodgement prevention portion, and a guide portion inclined downward forward to guide the shaft section to the shaft holding surface. The shaft section climbs over the dislodgement prevention portion through relative displacement to the connection member in a rotation radial direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 31, 2017
    Date of Patent: July 7, 2020
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventor: Yasuhiko Murayama
  • Patent number: 10697435
    Abstract: An anti-swing device for offshore wind turbine tower installation which reduces pendular motion of the tower component during mating process. Subsystems are at the transition piece, tower, and bridge. Winches are arranged on and fixed to the tower's inner wall and connected through cables. A remote signal transceiver and acquisition controller are arranged and fixed to the tower's inner wall. The transceiver controls the connector at the tower end and servo winch motors which control the cables to adjust the position of the suspended tower component. The controller acquires tension signals on the cables from the tower and transmits signals to the transceiver. Acceleration sensors are included in the acquisition controller. Several connector are included in the tower end and fixed at the bottom of the tower component. The number of connectors is the same as winches at the transition piece and their positions correspond.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 30, 2020
    Assignee: DALIAN UNIVERSITY OF TECHNOLOGY
    Inventors: Zhengru Ren, Zhiyu Jiang, Wei Shi, Dezhi Ning
  • Patent number: 10683196
    Abstract: A portable, lightweight, and low relief profile turntable is equipped for the universal mounting of different winches and winch-type apparatus suitable for use on the deck of a ship or other surface. The turntable is capable of mounting to an increased number of potential locations on deck where it may be easily manipulated to achieve a useful direction and an optical fleet angle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2020
    Assignee: Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution
    Inventors: Joshua A. Eaton, James A. Haley
  • Patent number: 10669134
    Abstract: A boom truck includes a truck chassis having a frame, a boom assembly connected to the frame, and a boom counter weight assembly rotatably connected to the boom assembly. The boom counter weight assembly is configured to be disposed between a first position to extend a wheel base of the boom truck and a second position to define a counterweight relative to the boom assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Inventor: John Shaughnessy
  • Patent number: 10669131
    Abstract: Provided is a construction machine capable of suppressing deformation of a boom in a simple configuration and at low costs. The construction machine includes a pair of backstops having respective hydraulic cylinders; a supply device which supplies the hydraulic cylinders with hydraulic fluid; a deformation sensing device which senses deformation of the boom; and a control device which controls the supply device so as to make a thrust of the hydraulic cylinder of one backstop having a larger pressing force, out of the pair of backstops, be larger than a thrust of the hydraulic cylinder of the other backstop, the pressing force being applied due to the deformation of the boom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 6, 2017
    Date of Patent: June 2, 2020
    Assignee: KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Takahiro Oka, Hiroyuki Otsuka, Shoji Watanabe, Daisuke Takaoka, Tetsuya Kobatake, Shingo Kurihara
  • Patent number: 10662039
    Abstract: The present disclosure discloses a winch for a vehicle including a base, a winding drum fixed on the base for winding a traction rope, a support fixed on the base, a transmission component, and a reciprocating component for driving the traction rope to reciprocate along an axial direction of the winding drum when the traction rope is wound onto or released from the winding drum. The disclosed winch enables an orderly arrangement of the traction rope when the traction rope is wound on or released from the winding drum.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 14, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Inventor: Xiaojun Cui
  • Patent number: 10662034
    Abstract: The invention relates to a climbing system (1) for a crane. The system comprises a climbing apparatus (2) for inserting a mast section (3) or for removing a mast section (3) from a tower structure (4) of a crane, and a control unit (5) for controlling the climbing apparatus (2). The system is furthermore characterized in that the system comprises a first sensor (51) for monitoring a state of a connection means of the climbing apparatus (2) and/or the tower structure (4), wherein the first sensor (51) is connected to the control unit (5). A climbing process of a crane can thus be simplified and the safety of the climbing process can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hofmeister, Andreas Hussong
  • Patent number: 10647557
    Abstract: A control device configured to control a winch assembly having a supporting structure has a guide, which engages a cable extending along a path in a sliding manner, and is configured to follow the movements of the cable crosswise to the path; a first control chain activated by movements of the guide in a first direction crosswise to the path; and a second control chain activated by movements of the guide in a second direction crosswise to the first direction and the path.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: PRINOTH S.p.A.
    Inventors: Mirko Insam, Martin Runggaldier
  • Patent number: 10647555
    Abstract: A lift crane includes a carbody and movable ground engaging members mounted on the carbody. A rotating bed is rotatably connected to the carbody and includes a counterweight support frame including a rack coupled directly to a lower surface of the rotating bed. A boom is pivotally mounted to the rotating bed. A counterweight unit includes a trolley, the counterweight unit being in a movable relationship with respect to the rotating bed. A counterweight unit movement device is configured to move the counterweight unit toward and away from the boom. Other embodiments include a counterweight support beam movably connected to the rotating bed, the counterweight support beam including another rack coupled to a lower surface of the counterweight support beam. A counterweight support beam movement device is connected between the counterweight support beam and the counterweight support frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE COMPANIES, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Pech, Joseph R. Rucinski, Joel D. Zick, Bronson E. Foust, Charles E. Wernecke
  • Patent number: 10647556
    Abstract: A hoist includes a cable deployment sensor to sense the length of a cable that is deployed from a cable drum of the hoist. The cable deployment sensor includes a stationary ring and a rotatable ring disposed coaxially on the cable drum axis. A cluster assembly is mounted to rotate about the cable drum axis simultaneously with the cable drum. The cluster assembly includes a cluster gear with a first gear engaging the stationary ring and a second gear engaging the rotatable ring. The second gear drives the rotatable ring about the cable drum axis, and the rotatable ring drives rotation of an input gear for a sensor assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 2, 2018
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Assignee: Goodrich Corporation
    Inventor: Bejan Maghsoodi
  • Patent number: 10640337
    Abstract: This invention relates to a crane comprising an undercarriage and a turntable rotatable with respect to the undercarriage with a counterweight and a mounting point for the attachment of a winch, wherein the counterweight includes at least one winch pick-up means for the temporary attachment of a winch to be mounted on the turntable, wherein the winch can be attached to the winch pick-up means such that the winch can be pivoted about a vertical axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 5, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 5, 2020
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH
    Inventors: Lars Eberhardt, Peter Scheffold
  • Patent number: 10625996
    Abstract: A windlass system and method in which an inertial force resulting from an abrupt removal of primary operating power from a primary source of power during a lifting operation being carried out by a windlass of the windlass system is attenuated to reduce load forces generated by the inertial force.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2019
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2020
    Inventor: Frederick L. Smith
  • Patent number: 10611610
    Abstract: Described is an offshore lifting crane, as for a vessel or platform, that includes a support structure, a crane boom connected to the support structure, a winch drum rotatable around its longitudinal axis, a winch drum drive means, and an elongated hoisting member. The hoisting member includes a first end connected to the winch drum and a second end connectable to a load. The hoisting member extends over at least a part of the crane boom, and the winch drum is arranged such that its longitudinal axis is substantially vertical.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 16, 2016
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2020
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco Norway AS
    Inventors: Yngvar Borøy, Ricardo Correia, Hugo Lacerda, Thor Strand
  • Patent number: 10604386
    Abstract: An expansion/contraction mechanism includes a telescopic cylinder, boom fixing means, cylinder-boom connecting means, and a hydraulic-pressure supply unit, and telescopes a plurality of booms except a base boom by telescoping the telescopic cylinder. The hydraulic-pressure supply unit includes a pneumatic-pressure source, a selector valve which selects a destination of air provided from the pneumatic-pressure source, a first pneumatic path through which first air sent from the selector valve circulates, a second pneumatic path through which second air sent from the selector valve circulates, a first pneumatic-to-hydraulic conversion unit which converts a pneumatic pressure provided by the first air to a hydraulic pressure and supplies the hydraulic pressure to a first hydraulic cylinder, and a second pneumatic-to-hydraulic conversion unit which converts a pneumatic pressure provided by the second air to a hydraulic pressure and supplies the hydraulic pressure to a second hydraulic cylinder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 3, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: TADANO LTD.
    Inventors: Naoto Kawabuchi, Takashi Kawano
  • Patent number: 10602724
    Abstract: An egg processing apparatus is provided. Such an apparatus includes a frame and a lift assembly operably engaged with the frame. The lift assembly has a pulley system. An egg processing head is operably engaged with the pulley system. A plurality of egg processing devices is operably engaged with the egg processing head. The pulley system is configured to move the egg processing head such that the egg processing devices are capable of interacting with eggs provided proximate thereto. An associated method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Zoetis Services LLC
    Inventor: Daniel Scott Rees
  • Patent number: 10604383
    Abstract: A crane, such as a bridge crane or gantry crane, having at least one horizontally extending crane girder, which is designed as a lattice girder having a plurality of braces and on which a crane trolley having a lifting device can be moved. At least some of the braces are planiform, and each of the planiform braces has a flat main surface, which extends transversely to a longitudinal direction of the crane girder. A first brace and a second brace form a brace pair and are arranged in an X-shape in relation to each other as viewed transversely to the longitudinal direction of the crane girder.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 5, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2020
    Assignee: Konecranes Global Corporation
    Inventors: Christoph Passmann, Richard Kreisner, Thomas Schlierbach-Knobloch, Stefan Noll
  • Patent number: 10589968
    Abstract: A method for operating a winch and a winch comprising a winch drum for spooling a spoolable medium for mooring a vessel, and a winch drive configured to drive the winch drum, wherein, during the driving of the winch drum, at least when a monitored tension of the spoolable medium is between a second upper tension threshold and a second lower tension threshold, an absolute value of the driving speed of the winch drum is configured to have a value that is proportional to an absolute value of a difference between the monitored tension of the spoolable medium and a predetermined tension set point.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 13, 2017
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: ABB Schweiz AG
    Inventors: Mikael Holmberg, Risto Tiihonen, Michael Rodas
  • Patent number: 10589956
    Abstract: A tether line is mounted in a retriever and, when a water vessel is launched into the water, the retriever applies a tension force to the tether line. After the water vessel is launched, the tension on the tether line pulls the water vessel from its launched floating position towards the stationary object. The retriever is rotatably mounted on the water vessel or the stationary object such that it will pivot around a vertical axis and point in a direction towards and along the tether line. A spool mounted on the structural unit holds the tether line, and an electrical or mechanical motor, such as a spring B-motor, places a torque on the spool and a tension on the tether line. After the water vessel is launched, the tension force from the motor pulls the water vessel from a launched position to the stationary object.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 2, 2016
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2020
    Assignee: 51 Enterprises, LLC
    Inventors: Guille Cruze, Jim Griffith, Benjamin D. Nibali, Kristopher C. Hall, Lukas R. Bearden, Gary Mitchell
  • Patent number: 10577231
    Abstract: A compact and efficient block-and-tackle apparatus.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 3, 2020
    Inventor: Albert Peel
  • Patent number: 10562736
    Abstract: This invention modifies and redesigns a spring-loaded, retractable supply hose mechanisms used to pan out, retract, and store hoses used for gases (e.g., oxygen), treatments, or fluids, specifically this inventor's prior art, the Retractable Oxygen Supply Hose Mechanism, U.S. Pat. No. 6,065,490. This invention incorporates an “Adaptor Cap” or “Removable Cap” to prevent slippage of the Swivel connector, incorporates a “Removable Cap” into the upper disc or flange of the supply-hose reel and/or into the mechanism housing cover that acts as an “anti-rotational” device, and features bearing surfaces to prevent reel slippage. This internal ratchet system better prevents binding and kinking of the patient's supply, thereby facilitating the storage and the quick-controlled release of the desired amount of oxygen supply hose for patient's Medical Oxygen and other gases delivery, therapy, or treatments.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2019
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Assignee: BIG E-Z REEL, LLC
    Inventors: James Jack Davis, Jr., Antonino F. Anzalone, Vincent F. Falcone, Jr.