Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for counterbalancing a load carried by a crane by a counterweight suspended from the mast of the crane. A counterweight height control system is provided for maintaining the counterweight a few inches above the ground during operation, which system may be manually overridden by operator actuated controls. A pair of spaced counterweight positioning winches on opposite sides of the longitudinal axis of the crane's upper works move the counterweight toward or away from the vertical axis of rotation of the upper works in response to operator actuated controls and also provides side forces on the counterweight for minimizing swinging of the counterweight.

Abstract: A heavy lift transi-crane supported on a substantially flat surface is disclosed which includes a boom supporting unit having a rigid annular foot, with the boom supporting unit being connected to a propelling unit by an elongated rigid connecting link. A substantial portion of the weight acting on the boom supporting unit is carried by fluid under pressure contacting a large area of the flat surface within the rigid annular foot but with the force being insufficient to raise the annular foot from the surface thereby greatly reducing frictional forces between the foot and the surface and the power requirements to move the transi-crane. The propelling unit is preferably a multi-directional walking beam vehicle which is capable of moving the transi-crane along a linear path or around a vertical pivot axis of the boom supporting unit.

Abstract: A walking beam vehicle is disclosed for supporting a crane or the like which reduces power requirements relative to prior art vehicles. A bi-functional swing drive system is provided for either pivoting the walking beams and a lower frame relative to an upper frame and the ground, or pivoting the upper frame relative to the walking beams and the ground. A power operated lift pad is provided for alternately raising the lift pad and walking beam from the ground. When the vehicle is used as a crane or the like, the walking beams may be extended toward a heavy load to be lifted in order to minimize rollover tendencies of the crane.