Patents by Inventor Markus Hofmeister

Markus Hofmeister 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: 11932517
    Abstract: The invention relates to a crane, in particular a rotary tower crane (1), comprising a crane boom (3), from which runs a hoisting cable (6) connected to the load hook (7), as well as comprising a load hook positioning device (8) for determining the load hook position, wherein the load hook positioning device (8) has at least three electromagnetic radio modules (9) exchanging radio signals with one another, of which at least one radio module is attached to the load hook and at least two further radio modules are attached to the crane structure and/or in the environment of the crane in a spaced apart manner, as well as an electronic evaluation device for evaluating the radio signals and determining the position of the load hook from the radio signals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2024
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hofmeister, Tobias Englert
  • Patent number: 11787671
    Abstract: A control stand is disclosed for controlling a crane, an excavator, a crawler, or a similar construction machine having a seat, control elements actuable from the seat for inputting control commands, a display apparatus for displaying information, and a control unit for generating adjustment signals in dependence on input control commands and/or for providing information to the display apparatus. A crane is disclosed having such a control stand that can be configured in the form of a crane operator's cabin. The control elements and/or the display apparatus of the control stand and various further auxiliary units can be individually configurable. Personal pre-settings can be saved and can be reinvoked when the control stand or the crane is to be controlled by a certain machine operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Date of Patent: October 17, 2023
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hofmeister, Günter Trieloff, Hermann Schilling
  • Patent number: 11753281
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for central control of one or more cranes including at least one crane and at least one central control station, wherein the crane includes one or multiple image sensors observing a picked-up load, at least part of the crane surroundings and at least part of the crane structure, the crane is connected with the control station for the transmission of the image sensor data via at least one bidirectional communication link, and wherein the control station comprises at least one display element for the visual representation of the received sensor data as well as provides at least one input device for inputting control commands, and the control commands can be transmitted, via the communication link, to one or more crane actuators and/or the crane control for performing crane movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 12, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-WERK BIBERACH GMBH
    Inventors: Hermann Schilling, Markus Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 11643305
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for crane configuration and crane assembly on the basis of an online portal, which holds at least one database with a plurality of standard crane configurations or is connected to the same, with an interface for the user access to the online portal, wherein a crane user virtually composes their individual crane configuration from a plurality of standard configurations and the individual crane configuration is stored on the online portal, wherein at least one further database of the online portal, or an externally connected database, holds assembly information about the stored individual crane configuration, the online portal filters the assembly information relevant in relation to the stored crane configuration and provides it for retrieval by an assembly team.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2023
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-WERK BIBERACH GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Hofmeister, Herrmann Schilling
  • Publication number: 20220388816
    Abstract: A control stand is disclosed for controlling a crane, an excavator, a crawler, or a similar construction machine having a seat, control elements actuable from the seat for inputting control commands, a display apparatus for displaying information, and a control unit for generating adjustment signals in dependence on input control commands and/or for providing information to the display apparatus. A crane is disclosed having such a control stand that can be configured in the form of a crane operator's cabin. The control elements and/or the display apparatus of the control stand and various further auxiliary units can be individually configurable. Personal pre-settings can be saved and can be reinvoked when the control stand or the crane is to be controlled by a certain machine operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2022
    Publication date: December 8, 2022
    Applicant: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Markus HOFMEISTER, Günter TRIELOFF, Hermann SCHILLING
  • Publication number: 20220162044
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a method and a device for detecting the set-up state of a construction and/or material-handling machine, in particular a crane, and/or the location of individual set-up elements of the construction and/or material-handling machine, with electronic identification elements which are attached to the set-up elements of the construction and/or material-handling machine, and an electronic evaluation unit for determining the set-up state and/or location of the set-up elements based on information received from the identification elements. The invention further also relates to such a construction and/or material-handling machine, in particular in the form of a crane. According to the invention the identification elements attached to the set-up elements are provided with energy-generating means for generating electrical energy from environmental influences, as well as an energy accumulator for storing the generated energy and supplying the identification elements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 8, 2022
    Publication date: May 26, 2022
    Inventors: Markus HOFMEISTER, Tobias ENGLERT
  • Patent number: 11339036
    Abstract: A control stand is disclosed for controlling a crane, an excavator, a crawler, or a similar construction machine having a seat, control elements actuable from the seat for inputting control commands, a display apparatus for displaying information, and a control unit for generating adjustment signals in dependence on input control commands and/or for providing information to the display apparatus. A crane is disclosed having such a control stand that can be configured in the form of a crane operator's cabin. The control elements and/or the display apparatus of the control stand and various further auxiliary units can be individually configurable. Personal pre-settings can be saved and can be reinvoked when the control stand or the crane is to be controlled by a certain machine operator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Date of Patent: May 24, 2022
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hofmeister, Günter Trieloff, Hermann Schilling
  • Publication number: 20220119233
    Abstract: A method for controlling a materials handling and/or construction machine, such as a crane or cable excavator, wherein different control functions are selected on a screen of a controller with a touchscreen function by touching a control function symbol, and respective functional parameters of the selected control function are set. A working region boundary of a working region delimiting function for automatically deactivating and/or slowing down at least one actuator is displayed on the screen together with a display of the materials handling and/or construction machine and/or the work surroundings in the form of a touchscreen display element when the working region boundary is reached and is adjusted by touching and moving the working region boundary on the screen relative to the display of the materials handling and/or construction machine and/or the work surroundings thereof.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2021
    Publication date: April 21, 2022
    Inventors: Stefan BRENNER, Markus HOFMEISTER
  • Publication number: 20220055868
    Abstract: The invention relates to a crane, in particular a rotary tower crane (1), comprising a crane boom (3), from which runs a hoisting cable (6) connected to the load hook (7), as well as comprising a load hook positioning device (8) for determining the load hook position, wherein the load hook positioning device (8) has at least three electromagnetic radio modules (9) exchanging radio signals with one another, of which at least one radio module is attached to the load hook and at least two further radio modules are attached to the crane structure and/or in the environment of the crane in a spaced apart manner, as well as an electronic evaluation device for evaluating the radio signals and determining the position of the load hook from the radio signals.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 8, 2021
    Publication date: February 24, 2022
    Inventors: Markus HOFMEISTER, Tobias ENGLERT
  • Publication number: 20210403295
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for crane configuration and crane assembly on the basis of an online portal, which holds at least one database with a plurality of standard crane configurations or is connected to the same, with an interface for the user access to the online portal, wherein a crane user virtually composes their individual crane configuration from a plurality of standard configurations and the individual crane configuration is stored on the online portal, wherein at least one further database of the online portal, or an externally connected database, holds assembly information about the stored individual crane configuration, the online portal filters the assembly information relevant in relation to the stored crane configuration and provides it for retrieval by an assembly team.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2021
    Publication date: December 30, 2021
    Inventors: Markus HOFMEISTER, Herrmann SCHILLING
  • Patent number: 11142435
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for crane configuration and crane assembly on the basis of an online portal, which holds at least one database with a plurality of standard crane configurations or is connected to the same, with an interface for the user access to the online portal, wherein a crane user virtually composes their individual crane configuration from a plurality of standard configurations and the individual crane configuration is stored on the online portal, wherein at least one further database of the online portal, or an externally connected database, holds assembly information about the stored individual crane configuration, the online portal filters the assembly information relevant in relation to the stored crane configuration and provides it for retrieval by an assembly team.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Date of Patent: October 12, 2021
    Assignee: LIEBHERR-WERK BIBERACH GMBH
    Inventors: Markus Hofmeister, Herrmann Schilling
  • Publication number: 20210114847
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for central control of one or more cranes including at least one crane and at least one central control station, wherein the crane includes one or multiple image sensors observing a picked-up load, at least part of the crane surroundings and at least part of the crane structure, the crane is connected with the control station for the transmission of the image sensor data via at least one bidirectional communication link, and wherein the control station comprises at least one display element for the visual representation of the received sensor data as well as provides at least one input device for inputting control commands, and the control commands can be transmitted, via the communication link, to one or more crane actuators and/or the crane control for performing crane movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 29, 2020
    Publication date: April 22, 2021
    Inventors: Hermann SCHILLING, Markus HOFMEISTER
  • Patent number: 10906784
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for central control of one or more cranes including at least one crane and at least one central control station, wherein the crane includes one or multiple image sensors observing a picked-up load, at least part of the crane surroundings and at least part of the crane structure, the crane is connected with the control station for the transmission of the image sensor data via at least one bidirectional communication link, and wherein the control station comprises at least one display element for the visual representation of the received sensor data as well as provides at least one input device for inputting control commands, and the control commands can be transmitted, via the communication link, to one or more crane actuators and/or the crane control for performing crane movements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2021
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Hermann Schilling, Markus Hofmeister
  • Patent number: 10662034
    Abstract: The invention relates to a climbing system (1) for a crane. The system comprises a climbing apparatus (2) for inserting a mast section (3) or for removing a mast section (3) from a tower structure (4) of a crane, and a control unit (5) for controlling the climbing apparatus (2). The system is furthermore characterized in that the system comprises a first sensor (51) for monitoring a state of a connection means of the climbing apparatus (2) and/or the tower structure (4), wherein the first sensor (51) is connected to the control unit (5). A climbing process of a crane can thus be simplified and the safety of the climbing process can be increased.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Date of Patent: May 26, 2020
    Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Markus Hofmeister, Andreas Hussong
  • Publication number: 20190276281
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a control stand for controlling a crane, an excavator, a crawler, or a similar construction machine having a seat, a plurality of control element actuable from the seat for inputting control commands, at least one display apparatus for displaying information, and a control unit for generating adjustment signals in dependence on input control commands and/or for providing information to the display apparatus. The invention further relates to a crane having such a control stand that can in particular be configured in the form of a crane operator's cabin. It is proposed in accordance with a first aspect of the invention to configure the control elements and/or the display apparatus of the control stand and various further auxiliary units as individually configurable and to save and to reinvoke personal pre-settings when the control stand or the crane is to be controlled by a certain machine operator.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 20, 2019
    Publication date: September 12, 2019
    Applicant: Liebherr-Werk Biberach GmbH
    Inventors: Markus HOFMEISTER, Günter TRIELOFF, Hermann SCHILLING
  • Publication number: 20190100414
    Abstract: The invention relates to a system for central control of one or more cranes including at least one crane and at least one central control station, wherein the crane includes one or multiple image sensors observing a picked-up load, at least part of the crane surroundings and at least part of the crane structure, the crane is connected with the control station for the transmission of the image sensor data via at least one bidirectional communication link, and wherein the control station comprises at least one display element for the visual representation of the received sensor data as well as provides at least one input device for inputting control commands, and the control commands can be transmitted, via the communication link, to one or more crane actuators and/or the crane control for performing crane movements.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 23, 2016
    Publication date: April 4, 2019
    Inventors: Hermann SCHILLING, Markus HOFMEISTER
  • Publication number: 20190077639
    Abstract: The invention relates to a method for crane configuration and crane assembly on the basis of an online portal, which holds at least one database with a plurality of standard crane configurations or is connected to the same, with an interface for the user access to the online portal, wherein a crane user virtually composes their individual crane configuration from a plurality of standard configurations and the individual crane configuration is stored on the online portal, wherein at least one further database of the online portal, or an externally connected database, holds assembly information about the stored individual crane configuration, the online portal filters the assembly information relevant in relation to the stored crane configuration and provides it for retrieval by an assembly team.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 22, 2016
    Publication date: March 14, 2019
    Inventors: Markus HOFMEISTER, Herrmann SCHILLING
  • Publication number: 20180155161
    Abstract: The invention relates to a climbing system (1) for a crane. The system comprises a climbing apparatus (2) for inserting a mast section (3) or for removing a mast section (3) from a tower structure (4) of a crane, and a control unit (5) for controlling the climbing apparatus (2). The system is furthermore characterized in that the system comprises a first sensor (51) for monitoring a state of a connection means of the climbing apparatus (2) and/or the tower structure (4), wherein the first sensor (51) is connected to the control unit (5). A climbing process of a crane can thus be simplified and the safety of the climbing process can be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 19, 2016
    Publication date: June 7, 2018
    Inventors: Markus Hofmeister, Andreas Hussong