Abstract: A lightweight camera crane has an outer arm pivotally attached to a base. A moving counterweight carriage is supported on carriage rollers on top of the outer arm. An inner arm is supported on arm rollers within the outer arm. An electric extension motor drives telescoping extension and retraction movement of the inner arm via chains, belts or cables connected to the counterweight carriage and the inner arm. An electrical power unit is supported at a back end of the outer arm. The electrical power unit includes a rechargeable battery for powering the electric extension motor.

Abstract: A vehicle for carrying a camera crane has wheels or treads on a chassis. A battery pack assembly on the chassis, includes an AC to DC converter and plurality of batteries wired to a battery charger within a housing. The batteries collectively may have an output voltage of 30 to 36 VDC when fully charged. At least one input connector on the housing is wired to the AC to DC converter for charging the batteries. The battery pack assembly replaces and is used instead of a camera-equipment-generator.

Abstract: A camera crane mobile base for carrying a camera crane includes a first powered remotely controllable steering system having first and second axle assemblies at a first end of a chassis. A second steering system including third and fourth axle assemblies is provided at a second end of the chassis. A first electrically powered remotely controllable propulsion system includes an electric propulsion motor connected to first and second axles in the first and second axle assemblies. A telescoping center post is pivotally attached to the chassis. An on-board hydraulic system may power the first steering system and the telescoping center post.

Abstract: A camera crane cart may include a frame supported on wheels and a frame deck on the frame. A riser may be provided on the frame extending above the frame deck. A top plate at the top of the riser is adapted for supporting a camera crane. The crane cart may have a handle attached to a front of the frame. Each of the frame, the frame deck, the riser and the top plate has an opening to allow a camera dolly arm to move into a central location of the camera crane cart for loading or unloading a camera crane from the camera dolly onto or off of the crane cart.

Abstract: A lightweight camera crane has an outer arm pivotally attached to a base. A moving counterweight carriage is supported on carriage rollers on top of the outer arm. An inner arm is supported on arm rollers within the outer arm. An electric extension motor drives telescoping extension and retraction movement of the inner arm via chains, belts or cables connected to the counterweight carriage and the inner arm. An electrical power unit is supported at a back end of the outer arm. The electrical power unit includes a rechargeable battery for powering the electric extension motor.

Abstract: A camera dolly includes a folding arm having a lower end of a first arm section pivotally attached to the chassis, and a lower end of a second arm section pivotally attached to an upper end of the first arm section. A hydraulic system includes a pump, an accumulator and a hydraulic cylinder connected to the first arm section. An arm drive system in the first arm section rotates the second arm section relative to the first arm section. The arm drive system may use chains and sprockets. An electrical system includes a battery contained within a lower rear opening of the chassis. The motor and an AC to DC converter are electrically connected to a motor mechanically connected to the pump. The pump is operated by the motor, and the motor is electrically powered by the battery and/or the AC to DC converter.

Abstract: A vehicle for carrying a camera crane has wheels or treads on a chassis. A battery pack assembly on the chassis, includes an AC to DC converter and plurality of batteries wired to a battery charger within a housing. The batteries collectively may have an output voltage of 30 to 36 VDC when fully charged. At least one input connector on the housing is wired to the AC to DC converter for charging the batteries. The battery pack assembly replaces and is used instead of a camera-equipment-generator.

Abstract: A camera dolly includes an electrical system for powering a hydraulic system for raising and lowering the camera dolly arm or pedestal. The electrical system has an on-board or in-board battery, such as a lithium battery, contained within the dolly chassis. The dimensions and mechanical configuration of the dolly may optionally remain unchanged by the addition of the electrical system and lithium battery. As a result, existing camera dollies may be retrofitted with the present electrical system. The present electrical system provides a camera dolly with on-board electrical power for charging the hydraulic system. The camera dolly consequently can operate for long periods of time without access to wall current, and without using a manual pump for the hydraulic system.

Abstract: A camera dolly includes a folding arm having a lower end of a first arm section pivotally attached to the chassis, and a lower end of a second arm section pivotally attached to an upper end of the first arm section. A hydraulic system includes a pump, an accumulator and a hydraulic cylinder connected to the first arm section. An arm drive system in the first arm section rotates the second arm section relative to the first arm section. The arm drive system may use chains and sprockets. An electrical system includes a battery contained within a lower rear opening of the chassis. The motor and an AC to DC converter are electrically connected to a motor mechanically connected to the pump. The pump is operated by the motor, and the motor is electrically powered by the battery and/or the AC to DC converter.

Abstract: A remotely controlled camera head has a pan frame including a first rectangular section. An upper end of a second rectangular section is joined to the left side of the first rectangular section. A pan motor in the first rectangular section of the pan frame rotates the pan frame about a pan axis co-axial with a hub when the pan motor is on. A tilt frame is rotatably attached to the lower end of the second rectangular section and movable about a tilt axis. In a two axis mode, a camera platform is attached to the tilt frame. A slide out may be used to change the length of the tilt frame. A tilt motor within the second rectangular section is connected to the tilt frame for rotating the tilt frame about a tilt axis when the tilt motor is on.

Abstract: A remotely controlled camera head has a pan frame including a first rectangular section. An upper end of a second rectangular section is joined to the left side of the first rectangular section. A pan motor in the first rectangular section of the pan frame rotates the pan frame about a pan axis co-axial with a hub when the pan motor is on. A tilt frame is rotatably attached to the lower end of the second rectangular section and movable about a tilt axis. In a two axis mode, a camera platform is attached to the tilt frame. A slide out may be used to change the length of the tilt frame. A tilt motor within the second rectangular section is connected to the tilt frame for rotating the tilt frame about a tilt axis when the tilt motor is on.

Abstract: A camera crane mobile base for carrying a camera crane includes a first powered remotely controllable steering system having first and second axle assemblies at a first end of a chassis. A second steering system including third and fourth axle assemblies is provided at a second end of the chassis. A first electrically powered remotely controllable propulsion system includes an electric propulsion motor connected to first and second axles in the first and second axle assemblies. A telescoping center post is pivotally attached to the chassis. An on-board hydraulic system may power the first steering system and the telescoping center post.

Abstract: A camera slider has a base and a tubular hollow arm pivotally attached to the base. A counterweight carriage is supported on the arm on carriage rollers. An electric drive motor moves the counterweight carriage linearly on top of the arm. A slider counterweight is movable from a first position, wherein the counterweight carriage is at or adjacent to a first end of the arm and the slider counterweight is at or adjacent to a second end of the arm, and a second position wherein the counterweight carriage is at the second end of the arm, opposite from the first end, and the slider counterweight is at or adjacent to the first end of the arm.

Abstract: A camera slider has a base and a tubular hollow arm pivotally attached to the base. A counterweight carriage is supported on the arm on carriage rollers. An electric drive motor moves the counterweight carriage linearly on top of the arm. A slider counterweight is movable between ends of the arm to maintain the arm in balance. A telescoping locking strut allows the arm to be held at a wide range of elevation angles.

Abstract: A camera crane tractor includes first and second spaced apart and parallel wheel decks on a chassis. The tractor has left and right side treads supported on tread rollers on the chassis, and a motor for driving the treads. One or more angled wheel guide strips may be provided on each of the wheel decks, to guide the wheels of a mobile base rolling onto the wheel decks. The wheel guide strips may have an angle complimentary to an angled sidewall of the wheels of the mobile base. Wheels stops are positioned at the ends of the wheel decks to prevent longitudinal movement of the mobile base after it is loaded onto the tractor. Threaded holes may be provided in the chassis between the wheel decks to allow the mobile base to be clamped down onto the tractor.

Abstract: A camera slider has a base and a tubular hollow arm pivotally attached to the base. A counterweight carriage is supported on the arm on carriage rollers. An electric drive motor moves the counterweight carriage linearly on top of the arm. A slider counterweight is movable between ends of the arm to maintain the arm in balance. A telescoping locking strut allows the arm to be held at a wide range of elevation angles.

Abstract: A camera crane tractor includes first and second spaced apart and parallel wheel decks on a chassis. The tractor has left and right side treads supported on tread rollers on the chassis, and a motor for driving the treads. One or more angled wheel guide strips may be provided on each of the wheel decks, to guide the wheels of a mobile base rolling onto the wheel decks. The wheel guide strips may have an angle complimentary to an angled sidewall of the wheels of the mobile base. Wheels stops are positioned at the ends of the wheel decks to prevent longitudinal movement of the mobile base after it is loaded onto the tractor. Threaded holes may be provided in the chassis between the wheel decks to allow the mobile base to be clamped down onto the tractor.

Abstract: A camera crane mobile base has a chassis including a front and rear wheel frames joined to a frame body via front and rear frame arms. Axle assemblies are pivotally attached at opposite ends of the wheel frames. A wheel is mounted onto each axle assembly. Front and rear steering systems have linkages pivotally attached to the axle assemblies and to upper and lower steering arms. A post frame is pivotally attached to a frame body with a center post pivotally attached to the post frame.

Abstract: A camera crane mobile base has a chassis including a front and rear wheel frames joined to a frame body via front and rear frame arms. Axle assemblies are pivotally attached at opposite ends of the wheel frames. A wheel is mounted onto each axle assembly. Front and rear steering systems have linkages pivotally attached to the axle assemblies and to upper and lower steering arms. A post frame is pivotally attached to a frame body with a center post pivotally attached to the post frame.

Abstract: A camera slider has a base and a tubular hollow arm pivotally attached to the base. A counterweight carriage is supported on the arm on carriage rollers. An electric drive motor moves the counterweight carriage linearly on top of the arm. A slider counterweight is movable from a first position, wherein the counterweight carriage is at or adjacent to a first end of the arm and the slider counterweight is at or adjacent to a second end of the arm, and a second position wherein the counterweight carriage is at the second end of the arm, opposite from the first end, and the slider counterweight is at or adjacent to the first end of the arm.