Abstract: In a stacker crane having a trolley comprising a turntable rotatable about a vertical axis, a mast projecting down from the turntable for rotation and horizontal motion with it, and a load supporting device vertically positionable along the mast, the mast comprises two mast elements spaced to opposite sides of said axis, and said device comprises an inverted U-shaped carriage member having its legs engaged along the inner sides of the mast elements and a shuttle member comprising load supporting tongues projecting forward from a frame. Rollers on the shuttle member frame engage fore-and-aft extending tracks on the legs of the carriage member to confine the shuttle member to horizontal motion relative to the carriage member between an extended position wherein said frame is spaced forward from said axis and a retracted position wherein said axis extends through the shuttle member.

Abstract: A rescue vehicle has a crane boom, hoist winch and rescue winch mounted on a crane turret that is rotatable about a vertical axis. A cable from the respective winches are extended along the crane boom to an associated block that is mounted near the outer end of the boom. Another block is mounted on the bumper of the vehicle to receive the cable from the rescue winch. The rescue winch is ten to twenty times more powerful than the hoist winch. During a vehicle retrieval operation the rescue winch is used to provide the horizontal pulling power while the hoist winch is used to provide the vertical pulling power. A Y-shaped stay bar is mounted on the block on the bumper and is used to support the crane boom at its outer end.

Abstract: A commodity retrieval and storage arrangement which includes shelves for storing a plurality of like configured commodities. A movable carriage is vertically and horizontally displaceable along the shelves and carries apparatus for engagement with the commodity selected, apparatus for transferring the selected commodity to the carriage and apparatus for securely holding the selected commodity to the carriage. After transfer of the commodity to the carriage, the carriage may be moved to a commodity processing area.

Abstract: A jib crane system comprising a horizontally extending load beam rigidly attached to the upper end of a vertically extending mast. The lower of the mast extends inside a hollow pipe and is rotatably associated with a base plate assembly or rotatably secured in the foundation at the site of the crane. Roller bearings are rigidly secured to the mast and positioned in frictional contact with the pipe. The roller bearing revolves around the circumference of the pipe as the mast and load beam rotate around the central axis of the mast. The roller bearings are adjustable for varying the frictional contact of the rollers with the pipe.

Abstract: A Compact Heavy Duty Lifting Crane (CHDLC) for removing and installing heavy objects such as engines and transmission from vehicles. The CHDLC incorporates a feature that allows the vertical lifting angle of the telescoping boom (40) to remain constant as the telescoping pylon cylinder (18) is raised. This feature is particularly useful for removing engines located in limited-space engine compartments such as those encountered in vans and buses. The CHDLC consists of two major assemblies: a base assembly and a portable lifting crane. When the CHDLC is used as a standard utility crane in a repair shop the crane is mounted to the base assembly. When the CHDLC is required to be mounted on a truck bed the crane is removed from the base assembly and installed on a truck pylon plate (14a) that is permanently mounted to the bed of the truck. Additionally, the CHDLC may be placed in its storage configuration. In this configuration the CHDLC occupies a horizontal area of only four square feet.

Abstract: Supplementary equipment for use with a self-propelled crane with a telescopic jib to increase the possibilities of use of the crane on the ground comprising a support having a structure connected to the head of the jib and pivotally mounted on a platform of the crane, and an auxiliary jib articulated on the head of the jib. A strut is articulated at one end to the foot of the auxiliary jib and connected at its outer end to reeving articulated on the crane and controlled by a first winch and by a cable to the head of the auxiliary jib. A lifting hook is suspended by reeving from pulleys at the head of the jib and controlled by a cable connected to a second winch on the crane. The inclination and height of the auxiliary jib are controlled by the reeving and the first winch connected thereto, and angular movement of the jib about the vertical axis or pivotal movement of the structure on the platform is controlled by movement of the crane about that vertical axis.

Abstract: A method of handling slabs by an overhead traveling crane having a slab grip lifter comprises disengaging a brake for a lifter swinging motor and a brake for a crab moving motor in the beginning, causing the position of the lifter to be adjusted by a reaction force from a slab when the lifter grips the slab, and causing the lifter to return to its original position after it has gripped the slab.

Abstract: An attachment jib for supporting various working devices, such as a pipe manipulator, includes a support base which can be rigidly coupled removably with existing elements on the nose block of a telescopic crane boom. The jib includes telescopic sections and its base section is pivotally mounted on the support base and is luffed by power cylinders on such base through a wide angle. The jib contains another power cylinder to control extension and retraction of its fly section carrying the working device. An optional work support platform pivotally connected to the support base may be used either with or without the jib.

Abstract: A coupling and latching mechanism for a multisection extensible boom that includes a manual section and is operable from a remote location such as the cab of a crane. The mechanism includes pairs of spaced jaw type couplings secured to adjacent boom sections and adapted to be selectively coupled to the piston rod or the like of an extensible power means for operating the boom either with the manual section extended or retracted. Remotely controlled latch means are provided to latch the manual section in a plurality of extended positions, or in a retracted position.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for maintaining a predetermined mast-boom working angle of a pendant supported boom substantially constant during extension and retraction of the boom. One embodiment of the invention includes control means connected between the boom and the mast for detecting slight angular changes and actuating power means for paying out or drawing in sufficient pendant to return the mast-boom angle to a predetermined angle. Another embodiment utilizes electrical controls having a first potentiometer capable of detecting linear changes in the effective boom supporting length of the pendant and another potentiometer for detecting linear changes in the length of the boom, said potentiometer sending output signal ratios which vary from a predetermined output signal ratio for actuating power means that takes up or pays out sufficient pendant to return the boom to the predetermined mast-boom working angle and returns the output signal ratio to said predetermined ratio.

Abstract: A telescopic boom is disclosed which is pivotally supported by its base section for movement about a horizontal axis. The boom is supported by a live mast through multi-part pendant lines, which pendant lines are each reeved over sheaves attached to the boom at the forward end of the base section and at the forward end of another boom section to support the boom at a plurality of points forwardly of the live mast. The forward end of each pendant is preferably received within the boom over sheaves journaled on the cylinder case of a boom extending ram and on selected sections of the boom. The multi-part pendant supported boom reduces boom droop caused by extension of the boom approximately 50% of that of a boom supported at a single point by each pendant line.

Abstract: A bottom unit for a material transportation car hopper includes a planar membrane which is oriented at an angle with respect to horizontal and slopes toward a hopper discharge pipe. The bottom unit is separate from the discharge pipe. The bottom unit includes a vibrator for vibrating the membrane, and projections on the membrane for agitating the material adjacent the membrane.

Abstract: A crane structure mounted on a transport vehicle, preferably a marine vessel, is disclosed. The crane structure includes a gantry structure mounted on a vertical tower structure and having boom portions protruding from the tower structure. Preferably, the boom portions may be pivotally lowered from their operating positions and the tower structure may be rotated in a horizontal plane, thereby reducing the overall dimensions of the crane structure to allow transport under overhead obstructions and through narrow passageways.

Abstract: A mobile crane or aerial lift platform vehicle wherein the chassis comprises a horizontally disposed solid metal slab carrying axle/outrigger mountings and on which the boom or jib turntable is mounted. This has the advantage both of providing stability because of the weight of the solid chassis and of cheaper fabrication and assembly.

Abstract: A remote controlled slack pulling log skidding carriage is provided for feeding a slack drag line toward a log to be skidded. A drive sheave rotatably mounted in the carriage is operated by a hydraulic motor. The fluid to operate the motor is stored in one or more accumulators, and a radio controlled valve starts and stops the flow of fluid to the motor. A mechanically operated hydraulic pump also is provided to recharge the accumulators during a skidding operation. A reciprocating locking assembly is provided to alternately lock the carriage to the skyline or to the slack line.

Abstract: A remote controlled slack pulling log skidding carriage is provided for feeding a slack drag line toward a log to be skidded. A drive sheave rotatably mounted in the carriage is operated by a hydraulic motor. The fluid to operate the hydraulic motor is stored in one or more accumulators, and a radio controlled valve starts and stops the flow of fluid to the motor. A mechanically operated hydraulic pump also is provided to recharge the accumulators during a skidding operation.

Abstract: A mechanical locking outrigger hydraulic jack for an outrigger assembly for use with cranes and the like includes vertically disposed cylindrical fixed and movable members, the fixed member being secured to a vertically disposed external sleeve. A variable extension chamber is defined by the interiors of the fixed and movable members. A variable retraction chamber is defined exteriorly of the fixed member and interiorly of the movable member. Valve means permit selective raising and lowering of the movable member. A locking nut threadedly engages the threaded exterior of the movable member and is engagable with an external surface of the locking sleeve to mechanically lock the movable member in an extended, lowered position.

Abstract: A rotary crane having a telescopic mast with a liftable upper portion and a boom pivotally mounted at the end of that portion. The boom includes an end hinged element, a hinged tip and an intermediate member between the end element and the tip. Each portion of the boom is of a triangular shape and has two lower chords and one upper chord interconnected by rods. The boom is foldable and expandable by a rope system which includes boom supporting ropes and a boom folding rope. The end hinged element is connected to the intermediate member by a shackle having an oblong opening into which a pin is inserted to pivotally connect the end element to the intermediate member.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for controlling the horizontal motion of a double articulated crane comprises determining the angle about a common axis between a base member pivotally mounted on a crane post and a head member carrying a load application point on an outer end thereof. The angle can vary from 0.degree. to 360.degree.. A desired movement direction value is then set on a direction selector movable on a direction indicator. The value corresponds to a target position for the load application point. The desired movement direction value is adjusted by small increments to reach the target however. The desired movement direction value is broken up into two components, one aligned with the axis of the head and the other aligned with a perpendicular axis. The values of these two compartments are calculated as a function of the sin or cos of an angle of misalignment between the longitudinal axis and the direction of the selector.

Abstract: A hydraulic control system which is of an open center parallel circuit arrangement for aerial boom devices with two return lines, said system having control valves for upper and lower boom arms, wherein the lower boom control valve overrides the upper boom control valve. The system includes a valve connected to a pump actuating engine and responsive to hydraulic pressure to increase the speed of the fluid pump when the flow or pressure in one return line is reduced due to diversion of fluid within the system into the second return line. The system also includes a normally open relief valve carried by the boom supporting turntable adjacent its pivotal connection to the lower boom and operable to control a winch actuator and to deactivate said winch actuator when the boom is in an unstable position.