Patents by Inventor Frank C. Schnittker

Frank C. Schnittker has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 11919359
    Abstract: A mobile crane drive assembly axle includes mutually independent suspensions of wheel carriers arranged on both sides of the drive assembly frame of the mobile crane. The suspensions each include at least one transverse control arm which couples the wheel carrier onto the drive assembly frame and is connected to the drive assembly frame such that it can be rotated about an axis which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive assembly frame.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE SAS
    Inventors: Bernd Backes, Dieter Stuhrwoldt, Frank C. Schnittker
  • Patent number: 11186467
    Abstract: A crane includes a jib which is mounted on the crane structure so as to be rotatable about a bearing point, a counterweight arrangement which can be positioned variably in relation to the bearing point, and a hoisting cable which runs out from a hoisting winch and is guided via the jib. A counterweight adjustment device, which is coupled to the counterweight arrangement, includes a lever element mounted rotatably about a pivot point, a hoisting cable guide arranged in the course of the hoisting cable between the hoisting winch and an upper jib section, with a first deflecting pulley arrangement mounted on the jib and a second deflecting pulley arrangement mounted on the lever element, wherein the hoisting cable is guided in an alternating manner via the first and the second deflecting pulley arrangement, and a coupling element acting on the lever element and connected to the counterweight arrangement.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 30, 2021
    Assignee: MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE SAS
    Inventors: Bernd Backes, Frank C. Schnittker
  • Patent number: 11161721
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining the load capacity of a functional element of a crane, the load capacity of a sub-assembly of a crane or the load capacity of a crane, wherein: a maximum bearing load is calculated for a specifically occurring configuration and/or specifically occurring state parameters and/or specifically occurring operating parameters on the basis of a predetermined formula; and the calculation is verified on the basis of stored bearing load values.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 2, 2021
    Assignee: Manitowoc Crane Group France SAS
    Inventors: Christoph Edeler, Frank Richter, Frank C. Schnittker
  • Publication number: 20200290419
    Abstract: The invention relates to a mobile crane travel gear axle with suspensions, which are independent of one another, of the wheel carriers arranged on both sides of the travel gear frame of the mobile crane, wherein the suspensions each have at least one transverse link which couples the wheel carrier to the travel gear frame and which is connected to the travel gear frame so as to be rotatable about an axis extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the travel gear frame.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 7, 2018
    Publication date: September 17, 2020
    Inventors: Bernd Backes, Dieter Stuhrwoldt, Frank C. Schnittker
  • Publication number: 20200140239
    Abstract: A crane includes a lower works having one or more ground engaging elements, an upper works connected to the lower works, the upper works having a boom, and a system for determining a crane status. The system includes a sensor assembly positioned to have a line of sight along at least a portion of a length of the boom or the lower works. The sensor assembly configured to detect light transmission and output sensor information. The system further includes a computer configured to receive the sensor information and determine the crane status based on the sensor information. A method of determining the crane status is also provided.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 6, 2019
    Publication date: May 7, 2020
    Inventors: Stephen J. Schoonmaker, Matthew T. Oswald, Melisa Lavery, Frank C. Schnittker, John R. Rudy, Jared Yorke
  • Publication number: 20190367339
    Abstract: A crane includes a jib which is mounted on the crane structure so as to be rotatable about a bearing point, a counterweight arrangement which can be positioned variably in relation to the bearing point, and a hoisting cable which runs out from a hoisting winch and is guided via the jib. A counterweight adjustment device, which is coupled to the counterweight arrangement, includes a lever element mounted rotatably about a pivot point, a hoisting cable guide arranged in the course of the hoisting cable between the hoisting winch and an upper jib section, with a first deflecting pulley arrangement mounted on the jib and a second deflecting pulley arrangement mounted on the lever element, wherein the hoisting cable is guided in an alternating manner via the first and the second deflecting pulley arrangement, and a coupling element acting on the lever element and connected to the counterweight arrangement.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2017
    Publication date: December 5, 2019
    Applicant: MANITOWOC CRANE GROUP FRANCE SAS
    Inventors: Bernd BACKES, Frank C. SCHNITTKER
  • Publication number: 20170260029
    Abstract: A method for ascertaining the load capacity of a functional element of a crane, the load capacity of a sub-assembly of a crane or the load capacity of a crane, wherein: a maximum bearing load is calculated for a specifically occurring configuration and/or specifically occurring state parameters and/or specifically occurring operating parameters on the basis of a predetermined formula; and the calculation is verified on the basis of stored bearing load values.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 9, 2017
    Publication date: September 14, 2017
    Inventors: Christoph Edeler, Frank Richter, Frank C. Schnittker