Patents Examined by Nathaniel L Adams
  • Patent number: 10561076
    Abstract: A grapple mounted rope controller and rope anchor rigging device includes a cylindrical barrel friction surface mounted to a jaw of a grapple to control a rope used in an arborist's rigging procedure. A rope attached to a load is wrapped around the rope controller to control the raising and lowering of loads. The device also includes a cylindrical barrel friction surface mounted to a fork of a grapple that has a cleat permanently affixed to hold fast a load-bearing rope for a time. The rigging tool utilizes the mobility and mass of a skid steer to provide a flexible location for rigging and a fixed mass with which to support rigging of heavy objects such as tree limbs, trunks and other weights.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 18, 2020
    Inventor: Wayne J. Smith
  • Patent number: 10557540
    Abstract: A sheave may include a body portion with a circular circumference and defining a center plane, a bore extending through the body portion and configured for receiving a shaft and allowing the body portion to rotate in the center plane, and a rope groove arranged on the circular circumference including a radiused bottom with a first end and a second end and a pair of opposing sidewalls each extending directly and tangentially from one of the first and second end and having a curved profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 14, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 11, 2020
    Assignee: National Oilwell Varco, L.P.
    Inventor: Howard Ervin
  • Patent number: 10549962
    Abstract: An upper body includes a bearing seat surface that is fixed by a bearing bolt to the upper surface of a swing bearing, a swing frame that includes an intersecting side plate intersecting the bearing seat surface and is fixed to the bearing seat surface, and a force dispersing member. The force dispersing member includes at least one vertical plate extending in the up-down direction. The at least one vertical plate is fixed to a region of the bearing seat surface other than a force dispersion target region.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 14, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignees: Kobe Steel, Ltd., KOBELCO CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Nakashima, Shinji Sato, Tomokazu Nakagawa, Yasuto Kataoka, Takanobu Yamagami
  • Patent number: 10550649
    Abstract: A drilling apparatus is provided. The drilling apparatus according to one aspect of the present invention comprises: first and second moving modules; first to third drawworks for vertically moving the first and second moving modules; a wire for successively connecting the first drawwork, the first moving module, the second drawwork, the second moving module and the third drawwork; a first fixing drum positioned between the first drawwork and the first moving module so as to support the wire; and a second fixing drum positioned between the second moving module and the third drawwork so as to support the wire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: SAMSUNG HEAVY INDUSTRIES CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Young Youl Ha, Dong Gun Lee, Hyun Goo Kim, Sung June Bae
  • Patent number: 10549964
    Abstract: A system for automatically switching between a high speed and a low speed state for rotating the drive shaft of a manual hoist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 18, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 4, 2020
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas Thelen, Brent Pope
  • Patent number: 10544633
    Abstract: A hoisting system is disclosed including a moveable sheave coupled to a well support structure, the moveable sheave slideable along the well support structure and relative to a fixed sheave to laterally move a hoisting line relative to a well center. The hoisting system may include a second moveable sheave such that a second hoisting line may be laterally moved to various locations including a second well center or the same well center as the first hoisting line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2020
    Assignee: CAMERON INTERNATIONAL CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jean-Philippe Huchon
  • Patent number: 10541160
    Abstract: A substrate case includes a shaft portion around which a sheet-shaped substrate having a circuit area in which a circuit manufacturing process is performed is wound; and a cover portion that accommodates the substrate in the state of being wound around the shaft portion, the shaft portion having a holding portion that holds an area different from the circuit area at a winding start portion of the substrate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2020
    Assignee: Nikon Corporation
    Inventors: Hideo Mizutani, Tohru Kiuchi, Toru Kawaguchi, Takashi Masukawa
  • Patent number: 10532917
    Abstract: A winch mechanism is described that includes a motor, a drum mechanism, a winch line, and a hammer and anvil mechanism. The drum mechanism is connected to the motor, and the winch line is connected to the drum. The hammer and anvil mechanism is connected to the motor and the drum mechanism within the drum mechanism. The motor activates the hammer and anvil mechanism, and the hammer and anvil mechanism applies a percussive force to the drum mechanism as the drum winds up the winch line. In an alternative embodiment, the hammer and anvil mechanism is disposed around at least a portion of the drum mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: January 14, 2020
    Assignee: Hall Labs LLC
    Inventors: David R. Hall, Jerome Miles, Daniel Madsen, Benjamin Taylor, Joe Fox, Jedediah Knight, Joseph Duncan
  • Patent number: 10518116
    Abstract: An evacuation hauling system for transporting evacuation litters during an emergency. The hauling system includes a drive line forming a pathway between a first station and a second station, and a drive system operable by a drive prime mover to move the drive line between the first and second stations. An evacuation litter is detachably coupled to the drive line and is moveable along the pathway between the first and second stations as the drive line is moved. The hauling system may include a pulley supporting the drive line to maintain a separation between a transport leg of the pathway from the first station to the second station, and a return leg of the pathway from the second station to the first station.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 31, 2019
    Assignee: SKEDCO, INC.
    Inventor: Carston R. Calkin
  • Patent number: 10508002
    Abstract: A rope lifting tool for belt-shaped ropes comprises a first guide for guiding the rope lifting tool along a first guide rail; a second guide for guiding the rope lifting tool along a second guide rail; an upright plate, and an inclined plate at an acute angle relative to the upright plate. The upright plate and the inclined plate have a wedge shaped space between them. A plurality of wedge members are placed adjacent each other inside the wedge-shaped space. A rope gap for receiving an end of a belt-shaped rope is formed between each wedge member and the upright plate, which rope gap is narrowable by wedging of the wedge member in the wedge shaped space. A rope lifting arrangement includes the rope lifting tool.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2019
    Assignee: KONE CORPORATION
    Inventors: Hannu Lehtinen, Antti Koskinen, Pekka Hallikainen, Toma Cornea, Teemu Majasalmi
  • Patent number: 10501291
    Abstract: A mobile winching system is provided, whereby a preferred embodiment describes a motorized winch and power source mounted on a small frame that includes wheels, a handle, and a means for securing the winch system during operation. This mobile winch system provides a way to transport and operate a winch in areas that are otherwise inaccessible by traditional vehicle mounted winches.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 16, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Inventor: John Azzarelli
  • Patent number: 10502362
    Abstract: Disclosed is a lifting apparatus for highly mounted equipment, which includes a main body installed at a predetermined height and having a hollow drum around which a wire rope is wound and a driving motor installed to give a rotation force to the drum; a moving body suspended from the wire rope and having an equipment coupling unit provided at a lower end thereof; a coupling unit located at a lower portion of the main body and having an accommodation structure with an open lower portion to be coupled to the moving body and a stopper installed at the accommodation structure to fix a coupled state of the moving body; and an upper contact portion and a lower contact portion respectively installed at the main body and the moving body to contact each other when the moving body ascends and is coupled to the main body by winding the wire rope, wherein the drum is disposed to lie down in the main body, wherein the wire rope unwound from the drum passes through the hollow of the drum and is connected to the moving bod
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 2016
    Date of Patent: December 10, 2019
    Assignee: REEL TECH CO., LTD
    Inventor: Jeong Hoon Shin
  • Patent number: 10494233
    Abstract: A method and apparatus is provided for at least holding an object with a crane having a bridge spanning between and movable on the spaced apart rails, an upper platform movable longitudinally on the bridge, and a hoist mounted to the platform, the hoist having a rope and a lifting member disposed at a remote end of the rope. The method includes engaging and moving a positioner to a selected location on the bridge or the upper platform using the hoist; securing the positioner to the bridge at the selected location or the upper platform; securing the positioner to an object; holding the object with the positioner; releasing the object from the positioner; releasing the positioner from the bridge or the upper platform; and engaging and moving the positioner away from the selected location on the bridge or the upper platform using the hoist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: PaR Systems, LLC
    Inventor: Albert J. Sturm, Jr.
  • Patent number: 10494237
    Abstract: A crane includes an under carriage, an upper carriage, a rotary connection, by means of which the upper carriage is connected with the under carriage to rotate around an axis of rotation, a jib to be connected with the crane and erected around a jib axis, and a device connecting the upper carriage with the under carriage with at least one force-transmitting element. The at least one force-transmitting element is designed passively in such a way that it transmits forces between the upper carriage and the under carriage when a pre-determined load condition of the rotary connection is reached.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 13, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: TEREX GLOBAL GMBH
    Inventors: Fritz-Botho Köster, Benjamin Schaal, Alfons Weckbecker, Frank Schnittker
  • Patent number: 10497395
    Abstract: An assembly comprises a substantially cylindrical tape winding surface and first and second flanges co-formed with the winding surface to form a unitary hub structure. The tape winding surface extends along an axis from a first end to a second end, and the first and second flanges extend radially from the first and second ends of the tape winding surface, respectively. The tape winding surface and the first and second flanges are co-formed of a unitary hub material having a Young's modulus of at least about one million psi.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: December 3, 2019
    Assignee: Sony Corporation
    Inventor: Jason E. Moses
  • Patent number: 10479660
    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: December 28, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Inventor: Frederick L. Smith
  • Patent number: 10479654
    Abstract: Crane girder (1) for a crane (3), wherein the crane girder (1) includes a hollow profile (4) having an outer wall (6) enclosing a cavity (5) and extends longitudinally, and the outer wall (6) of the crane girder (1), as seen in a cross-section through the crane girder (1), has a shape which bulges outwards at least in some regions in order to reduce aerodynamic drag, wherein the outer wall (6), as seen in the cross-section through the crane girder (1), has two sections (10, 11) facing one another with an outwards bulging shape, which are joined together by two straight wall sections (12) of the outer wall (6), these straight wall sections face one another, and the crane girder (1) has at least one running surface (13) for at least one running wheel (14) of a trolley (15) of a lifting tool of the crane (3), wherein the sections (10, 11) facing one another with an outwards bulging shape point upwards and downwards in an operating position of the crane girder and the straight wall sections (12) delimit the crane
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: Hans Künz GmbH
    Inventor: Georg Klapper
  • Patent number: 10471306
    Abstract: There is provided a safety device for climbing activities usable with a rope. The device comprises a first pulley mounted to a base plate, the first pulley being configured to engage a first portion of the rope; a second pulley mounted to the base plate, the second pulley being configured to engage a second portion of the rope, the second portion of the rope being downstream of the first portion; and a third pulley mounted to the base plate, the third pulley being configured to guide a third portion of the rope, the third portion being between the first portion and the second portion. It is advantageous that a position of at least one of the first, the second and the third pulley at the base plate can be varied. A corresponding method is also provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 12, 2019
    Assignee: CLIMB ASIA PTE LTD
    Inventor: Mohammad Halil Bin Ngah
  • Patent number: 10464780
    Abstract: A retractor for an anti-theft display includes a rotatable locking member that may hold the retractor's spool in fixed position against further rotation. The retractor's spool carries an anti-theft tether that normally extends or retracts as a tethered product is lifted to and from a retail display. The locking member holds the tether in fixed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 8, 2015
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Assignee: MOBILE TECH, INC.
    Inventors: Wade Wheeler, Eric Charlesworth
  • Patent number: 10457530
    Abstract: A lift crane includes a carbody; moveable ground engaging members; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody; and a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed. The crane is configured for assembly in at least two configurations. In the first configuration, the crane further includes a live mast; a first counterweight support frame; and a first movable counterweight unit moveably connected to and supported by the first counterweight support frame. In the second configuration, the crane further includes a lattice mast; a second counterweight support frame; a moveable counterweight support beam coupled to the second counterweight support frame and operable to move relative to the second counterweight support frame; and a second moveable counterweight unit moveably connected to the moveable counterweight support beam.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 12, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 29, 2019
    Assignee: Manitowoc Cranes, LLC
    Inventors: David J. Pech, Joseph R. Rucinski