Abstract: For the positional correction of a load carrier (34) suspended on a trolley (22) a cable member (50′) of the lifting cable system interposed between the trolley (22) and the load carrier (34) is displaced in a horizontal direction at a location near the trolley (22) relative to the trolley (22) by imparting a movement onto a cable course influencing member (56) which is adjustably guided on the trolley in a horizontal direction and is subjected to the action of movement means (60) which again are supported on the trolley (22).

Abstract: A target-detection device (64) is used for the target-path correction of a container (36) that is being moved by a crane or a traveling hoist to a destination. The device includes a directional beam-emitting unit having a plurality of laser-beam emitters (76). The orientation of the emitters (76) relative to one another is varied to increase and reduce the size of the detection region.

Abstract: A freight loading/unloading crane (10) comprises a crane bridge (16) with two lifting units (26, 28) displaceable in their longitudinal direction with a lifting system (26b, 28b) and associated load receiving device (26c, 28c) and a transfer unit (32) with at least one load receiving region (32o, 32u). To prepare for a load exchange with one of the lifting units (26, 28), the transfer unit (32) is stopped adjacent to the lifting unit in question, so that this can continue to raise or lower its lifting system (26b or 28b) independently of the position of the transfer unit (32). The actual load exchange takes place by means of an operating device (36o, 36u), without further movement of the transfer unit (32).

Abstract: A cargo loading crane (10) comprises a crane bridge (16) having two hoist units (26, 28) with hoisting gear (26b, 28b) and assigned cargo pick-up devices (26c, 28c), a transfer unit (32) with at least one cargo pick-up region (32o, 32u) and a conveyor unit (64). Division of the horizontal transport path between the transfer unit (32) on the one hand and the conveyor unit (64) on the other shortens the duration of the operating cycle for loading and unloading a cargo carrier (18).

Abstract: In a container crane installation, swinging movements during the lowering of the spreader are suppressed in that the spreader, after the reaching of the ideal position of the hoist cable carrier in each case, is brought into swing-damping contact with the crane carriage. According to a further form of embodiment the position of the spreader in relation to the standing position to be approached is ascertained by a remote recognition system fitted on the spreader.

Abstract: In a container crane installation, swinging movements during the lowering of the spreader are suppressed in that the spreader, after the reaching of the ideal position of the hoist cable carrier in each case, is brought into swing-damping contact with the crane carriage. According to a further form of embodiment the position of the spreader in relation to the standing position to be approached is ascertained by a remote recognition system fitted on the spreader.

Abstract: An apparatus for loading containers onto and unloading containers from ships, in which the ships receive the containers at locations of varying height, comprises a quayside carrier framework and a travelling carrier system fitted on the carrier framework, with a horizontal track on which at least one container-receiving crane trolley may travel. The travelling carrier system is mounted on the carrier framework for variation in height, with at least one power appliance being provided for the height displacement of the travelling carrier system. The travelling carrier system is supported by a rigid support member which is connected to the carrier framework by a lower link rod system and an upper link rod system. The link rod systems define a parallelogram linkage which is deformable by the power appliance provided, to enable the lifting and lowering of the rigid support member while maintaining the predetermined orientation of the rigid support member in space during its lifting and lowering.

Abstract: A system for loading liquids, particularly useful with water-borne oil tankers, which is basically constructed of liquid conduits articulated in the form of lazy tongs and vertically suspended from a cantilevered boom to enable oil to be loaded from a drilling platform onto a vessel. The lazy tongs system is formed with at least two vertically displaced articulated joints to enable the lower end of the system to move vertically for attachment to or during loading of a vessel. A block and tackle is provided for vertical actuation of the lazy tongs system.

Abstract: The four hoisting cables of a container loading crane which depend from the free end of the crane boom pass axially through a central opening of a turntable mechanism. The upper turntable portion is mounted on the boom and may tilt about a horizontal axis. The lower turntable portion may be moved relative to the upper portion about a vertical axis. The free ends of the hoisting cables extend between two pairs of engaging elements on the lower turntable portion and corresponding two pairs of engaging elements on a container hoisting frame. The pairs of engagement elements at least on the frame are spaced farther apart in the direction of frame elongation than the frame is wide. One engagement element associated with each tension member is a pulley over which the tension member is trained.

Abstract: A system or structure for supporting a construction rig, such as a crane or the like, is formed with four bearing members each of which is maintained in contact with a ground formation over which the rig is to be moved by deflective action of the support structure. In the operation of the device, when a first bearing member is deflected relative to a reference plane, a second bearing member located diagonally opposite the first bearing member is deflected relative to the reference plane in the same direction by approximately the same distance. At the same time, a third and fourth support bearing member of the support system are each deflected relative to the reference plane in a direction opposite to the direction in which the first and second support bearing members are moved by approximately the same distance as the first two support bearing members.

Abstract: The winches of a luffing crane having two individually operated hoisting cables depending from different longitudinal sections of the boom are deenergized by an overload protection mechanism when the torque exerted during luffing by a single load suspended from both cables exceeds a value consistent with the stability of the crane. The mechanism which employs only mechanical elements derives signals from the stresses transmitted by the loaded cables to the two winches, weights the signals in accordance with the different spacing of the dependent cable ends, adds the weighted signals, and compares the sum so obtained with a signal derived from the angular boom position and a curve of maximum permissible loads arrived at from design parameters of the crane and the spacing of the cable ends.

Abstract: A tower crane is erected from a boom assembly, first and second tower sections of different cross section, and a base in a sequence of steps in which the boom assembly is mounted on a hollow climbing section dimensioned to be received in each of the larger second tower sections and defining a cavity dimensioned to receive each of the first tower sections. One of the latter is secured on a base in upright position, and the upright section is received in the cavity of the climbing section which is then raised relative to the first section and enveloped by one of the second sections. The enveloping section is secured to the base and the raised climbing section for supporting the climbing section whereupon the first tower section may be rleased from the base, raised, and secured to the second tower section.

Abstract: The weight of a pivotally mounted boom in a crane is compensated for in part by a counterweight which is suspended from one end of a compensating cable trained over a deflecting pulley at the top of the supporting crane structure. The other end of the cable is connected to a first fastener near the pivot axis of the boom by a rod and to another fastener on the boom remote from the pivot axis by a flexible chain. The rod is shorter than the distance between the first fastener and the deflecting pulley so that the compensating cable and the rod are longitudinally aligned before the boom reaches its steepest position, the boom thereby being relieved from the then unnecessary action of the counterweight.

Abstract: In a crane having two crabs or trolleys on an approximately horizontal beam of the crane, the trolleys are moved along the beam by two cables whose ends are wound on a common, motor-driven drum, and which are trained over pulleys on the beam and on the trolleys in such a manner that both trolleys are moved jointly at one half of the circumferential drum speed or one trolley is moved at the full drum speed when the other trolley is arrested.