Abstract: A balancer hoist has an electric servomotor driving irreversible gearing in turn driving a hoist chain drive. A float mode and a manual mode are provided using two independent load sensors for sensing the load weight and force applied to a control grip. A traversing control is produced by a tractor carriage rolling on an overhead rail connected to a trolley also traveling on the rail and supported on upper hoist assembly. A load sensor interconnects the tractor carriage and upon hoist assembly to sense forces created by an operator pulling on the chain, which are used to control an electric motor on the tractor carriage driving a pinion gear engaged with a gear rack on the overhead rail to positively drive the carriage, trolley and upper hoist assembly along the rail. A stationary dual hoist system is also described in which two hoist assemblies are interconnected by a chain and sprockets to provide synchronized operation.

Abstract: A hoisting device can be small-sized and energy can be saved. A hoisting device 10 according to the present invention has a hoist 30 and a control unit 32. The hoist 30 rotates a drum 12 having a wire 14 wound thereon by an oil pressure motor 42 rotatable in normal and reverse directions. To the oil pressure motor 42, operating oil is supplied from an oil pressure pump 44. The oil pressure pump 44 is a two-way discharge fixed capacity type, and rotated by a servomotor 46. An acceleration/displacement transducer 34 in the control unit 32 finds a moving direction and a moving speed of a wire hanging point in the vertical direction from an output signal of an acceleration sensor 24.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a rope winding system (1) for winding and unwinding a steel rope (4) of a crane (7). A rope winding system (1) according to the present invention has a rope drum (6), onto which the steel rope (4) can be wound in a plurality of layers, and a magnetic system (7) which is configured to generate a magnetic field over a section of the steel rope (4) with its magnetic flux being deflected by a movement of the steel rope (4) in such a way that the steel rope (4) is braked. A crane (7) is also discloses which is equipped with such a rope winding system (1) for winding and unwinding a steel rope (4).

Abstract: A mobile lift crane includes a central crane unit, a boom unit and a counterweight unit. The central crane unit has a carbody, moveable ground engaging members and a rotating bed mounted to the ground engaging members with a rotatable connection such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members. The boom unit has a support member, at least one moveable ground engaging member, and a boom pivotally mounted on the support member. The counterweight unit has counterweight on a support member. Rigging connects the boom and counterweight unit such that a load lifted by the boom can be counterbalanced by the counterweight. The boom unit and counterweight unit are connected to the central crane unit by structural members that carry compressive loads and maintain the boom unit, the rotating bed and the counterweight unit in lateral alignment with each other, but allow relative vertical movement between the boom unit, the rotating bed and the counterweight unit.

Abstract: An elevator has at least two elevator cars, which are disposed one above the other in a shaft, which cars are vertically movable and which each have a drive, a counterweight and a traction device, wherein one drive is fixed at a first shaft wall and a second drive is fixed at an opposite second shaft wall and each drive has at least one drive pulley. At least one first deflecting roller is associated with each drive and is positioned the shaft wall that is opposite the drive and above the counterweight associated with the drive. The traction device is led from the counterweight over the deflecting roller to the drive pulley and from there to the elevator car.

Abstract: A storage apparatus (1) stores a transported object (220) from a transporting carriage (110), which travels along a track (120) installed on or near a ceiling (210) while gripping the transported object. The storage apparatus is provided with a rack portion (30), on which the transported object is put; and a support member (10), whose upper end is supported by the track or ceiling and whose lower end supports the rack portion. The support member selectively has one of first and second shapes. The first shape allows the transporting carriage to put the transported object onto the rack portion at the predetermined position. The second shape allows the rack portion to move away from a position below the track.

Abstract: A mobile lift crane includes a carbody having moveable ground engaging members; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members; a boom pivotally mounted on a front portion of the rotating bed and a mast mounted at its first end on the rotating bed and having a second end; and at least one hydraulic cylinder pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed. The hydraulic cylinder is positioned and configured so as to be able to raise the second end of the mast from the mast being in a near horizontal position to a position where the mast is used during crane pick, move and set operations. In a preferred embodiment, at least one arm is pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed and at a second end to the hydraulic cylinder. The arm and cylinder are connected together such that extension and retraction of a piston within the hydraulic cylinder causes the second end of the arm to raise and lower.

Abstract: A movable independent crane system for moving or replacing components during maintenance operations and for mounting wind generators, including an auxiliary portal crane providing a portal structure designed to be movable around a pod about a rotation shaft. The mobile independent crane system includes raising devices being part of the crane system and designed to allow self-raising of the crane system because the mobile independent crane system is anchored to the pod through an anchoring unit and because the mobile independent crane system is designed to operate over the pod and outside the pod sides.

Abstract: A crane having an upper block, a lower block, a drum, and two ropes. The upper block includes an equalizer having a yoke to which the ropes are connected. The connections between the ropes and the yoke include load cells that measure the forces carried by each of the ropes. The upper block includes a fail-safe system that prevents failure of the upper block in overload conditions.

Abstract: In a crawler crane of the present invention, a plurality of winches 11-14 for winding wire ropes are disposed on a rotating frame 6 of an upper rotating body 3 in a row in a plane view. A cabin 17 and a power unit 18 are disposed on the front and rear portions of either a right side or a left side of the rotating frame 6 of the upper rotating body 3. A working oil tank 36 of the power unit 18 is disposed between the cabin 17 and a driving section 31-34 of the power unit and in close proximity to a rear surface of the cabin 17. The working oil tank 36 is formed in a size which covers the substantially whole area of the rear surface of the cabin 17. In the crawler crane of the present invention, it is possible to take an anti-sound measure for the cabin to a satisfactory extent without causing cost increase. In the crawler crane of the present invention, moreover, it is possible to improve the transportability because the width of the upper rotating body can be shortened.

Abstract: A gantry stacker for transporting and stacking freight containers consists of two chassis beams with steerable wheels, supports, a hoist, an overhead frame, a lifting beam a driver's cab and engines. There are at least two spreaders that are movable in a horizontal direction independent of each other and are disposed in a side-by-side relationship on a lifting beam. Containers deposited directly side-by-side with no gap there between may be gripped, transported and separated or that spaced-apart containers with an alley may be gripped, transported and moved toward each other so that they may be readily transported further, using multispreader systems. Containers of different heights may be gripped and transported. The lifting height allows for straddling containers standing on the floor with attached and lifted containers.

Abstract: A slewing crane is assembled and installed at the end of a shipping and stowage container having block-shaped corner fittings. Left and right rotatable mounts engage top corner fittings on the container, and a cross piece section engages the rotatable mounts. A boom section has upper and lower hinges rotatably mounting it on the cross piece section via the hinges' axially aligned pins to extend outwardly from the cross piece section. A hoist on the boom section lifts and moves loads, and first and second displacement mechanisms connected to the boom section linearly displace the hoist and angularly displace the hoist and boom section in a slewing motion around the axis of the axially aligned pins. An element connected between the cross piece section and a corner fitting is tensioned by a turnbuckle to securely engage both rotatable mounts and hold the slewing crane on the container.

Abstract: A height control mechanism for a lift device includes an elongated rail and an actuator slidingly mounted thereto. The actuator is biased toward a first end of the rail, and a proximity sensor is mounted proximate the second end of the rail. A cable pulls the actuator toward the second end of the rail as the lift device is elevated. When the proximity sensor detects the presence of the actuator, a signal is generated to halt further elevation. The position of the proximity sensor along the rail can be adjusted to set the maximum height of the lift device. A second proximity sensor, responsive to the presence of the actuator, can also be secured to the rail to generate a signal indicating that the lift device has been elevated off of the ground by a short distance.

Abstract: In a preferred embodiment, an apparatus, comprising: a column (42) normally generally vertical when a device (30) of which the column (42) is a part is in an operating position; and a platform (62) operatively connected at one end to the column (42) and normally generally horizontal when the device (30) is in an operating position, the platform (62) being selectively raised or lowered to raise or lower a load placed on the platform (62).

Abstract: A lifting device adjusts the height of a top part relative to a base part for a patient couch. The lifting device includes an elevator mechanism and a drive unit for height adjustment. The elevator mechanism has a scissor mechanism with two scissor arms, which are pivotably connected together via a scissor pivot joint. The elevator mechanism further includes an elbow mechanism having two elbow arms, which are pivotably connected together via an elbow pivot joint. Each of the elbow arms is linked to a scissor arm via a linking pivot joint.

Abstract: The platform of a stairlift is moved along a rail in a stairwell. During the movement, the platform is automatically rotated relative to the rail about a vertical shaft, at angles depending on a position of the platform along the rail. The stairway contains, for instance, a virtually straight part and a bend, wherein the platform is rotated, at positions in the bend, at an orientation or orientations which make a smaller angle with a part of the rail going downstairs than an orientation of the platform in the straight part. In a stairwell with a wider part and a narrower part, wherein the stairwell is insufficiently wide to let the platform rotate through, at a position preceding the entering of the narrower part, the platform is rotated at an angle from which the platform can be rotated to a position for getting on and off in the narrower part without obstruction from walls of the stairwell.

Abstract: This invention relates to a lattice piece for a large mobile crane, comprising four corner posts and null bars and diagonal bars connecting the same. In accordance with the invention, the lattice piece each is divided in two such that one part of the null and diagonal bars each is foldably hinged at two corner posts connected with each other. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for erecting such lattice piece.

Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a telescopable sliding beam comprising a sliding beam box and at least one first and one second sliding beam, which are telescopable into each other, the first sliding beam being mounted in the sliding beam box such that it can be telescoped out, where at first the first sliding beam can be telescoped out, and after the same has telescoped out to a desired point, the second sliding beam can be telescoped out, whereas during backward retraction, the second sliding beam can first be retracted to a desired point and subsequently the first sliding beam can be retracted.

Abstract: A friction management system for a traveling crane applies a liquid or solid friction modifier (FM) in precisely controlled quantities to the crane wheels or rail to improve performance and safety during movement of the crane. The friction modifier is applied by a nozzle mounted on a crane truck, which nozzle is opened and closed by a valve. The duration of the valve opening per second, which controls the friction modifier application rate, is approximately proportional to the average current draw, which is detected by current sensors connected to the truck motors.

Abstract: An inventory storage and retrieval system and method are provided for a shipping or storage facility. In an embodiment, the system includes: (a) a mobile computer and radio on a load-handing vehicle; (b) sensors on the vehicle to determine the ground location and orientation of the vehicle; (c) encoders that determine the position of a lifting mechanism relative to a chassis of the vehicle; and (d) a base computer and radio that communicates with the vehicle. The system maintains an inventory database of items and their respective storage locations in three dimensions as a result of the loading activity of the vehicle. The data can be used to guide the vehicle for ground movement generally to a storage location, appropriately orient the vehicle, and then to move the lifting mechanism of the vehicle to deposit or retrieve the item at a particular storage location.