Abstract: A portal gantry crane including: two parallel main girders running side by side on respective sides of a midplane, two legs each positioned in the midplane, two couples of trolleys, each couple of trolleys operating on a corresponding girder, each trolley carrying a hoist.

Abstract: A gantry assembly includes a main beam extending between a first and a second end. A plurality of legs including a pair of first legs and a pair of second legs attached to the main beam. A pair of first trolleys is slidably attached to the main beam. A first girder is attached to each one of the first trolleys and extends outwardly from the first trolleys for movement with the first trolleys. The first girder includes a pair of posts having a first and a second post disposed spaced from one another. The first post is attached to the first girder and extends downwardly from the first girder. The second post is slidably attached to the first girder and is movable along the first girder toward and away from the main beam allowing the gantry assembly to have different widths to accommodate for a single or double railway bridge.

Abstract: Provided is a crane which can suppress deformation and vibration of a crane structure in travel and stop of the crane. Inverters are installed respectively in travel devices which are arranged on the opposite sides with a gap in a transverse direction. Each of the inverters independently measures a torque generated in a motors to which the inverter is connected and reduces the rotation speed in the command from a controller to the motor such that the greater the measured torque is, the greater a ratio of reduction is.

Abstract: A method of transferring a load is disclosed. The method includes the steps of enabling synchronization of first and second hoists and first and second trolleys and choosing a hoist function or a trolley function. The first and second hoists are a first mover and second mover, if the hoist function is selected. The first and second trolleys are the first and second movers, if the trolley function is selected. The method includes the steps of commanding one of the first mover and second mover to be the master and the other to be the slave and actuating a master control associated with the master. The method further includes the step of outputting signals to the first and second actuators such that the master and the slave are moved in a direction indicated by the master control.

Abstract: A carriage is intended to be disposed transversely between essentially-parallel lateral girders. The carriage comprises stirrups that are disposed at the lateral ends and which each cooperate with a lateral girder in order to enable the movement of the carriage along the longitudinal axis (x) of the lateral girders; a central girder which is placed between the stirrups; first connectors which are provided between a first lateral end of the central girder and the first stirrup, and second connectors which are provided between a second lateral end of the central girder and the second stirrup. The aforementioned first and second connectors are arranged such as to enable the movement of one stirrup in relation to the other with six degrees of freedom and a limited amplitude.

Abstract: A dual use roadway or railroad travel vehicle such as a railcar mover (10) which includes an inner set (24) of wheel assemblies (28, 30) designed for alternate roadway or rail travel, together with fore and aft rail wheel assemblies (32, 34) which may be alternately retracted for roadway travel or lowered for rail travel. The wheel assemblies (32, 34) each have a pair of rail wheels (36, 38) mounted spindles (48) so that the rotational axes A of the wheels (36, 38) are oriented at an oblique angle &agr; of less than 6° relative to the horizontal H; this wheel orientation, together with a rail wheel geometry including a rim surface (40, 42) parallel with the associated rotational axis A and a reduced radius of curvature R between the rim surface (40, 42) and the flange (44, 46), significantly decreases the problem of rail wheel climb encountered with conventional movers (10), while also reducing flange wear.

Abstract: A coke oven buckstay moving device and method which can be used to quickly, reliably, and smoothly repair buckstays compared to conventional methods and devices. The coke oven buckstay moving means includes a main car, a subcar, a frame, and securing means. The main car is used when repairing pillered buckstays that support oven walls of the coke oven, and moves on a coke side platform or a machine side platform. The subcar is placed on the main car, and can freely move forward and backward in a direction of a lengthwise direction of the coke oven. The frame is provided in a standing manner on the subcar. The securing members are mounted to the frame and are used to grasp and secure the buckstays. According to the method, a damaged portion of the buckstay is secured to the subcar, cut, and then removed. Reversing the steps, a replacement buckstay is secured to the subcar, moved into position, and welded into place. The subcar is detached, and the oven repaired.

Abstract: A mobile carriage system includes a pair of spaced, parallel end rails fixed to a support surface, often with one or more intermediate rails fixed to the support surface and located parallel to and between the pair of end rails. At least one carriage is supported for movement on the end and intermediate rails. The carriage includes an elongated frame that spans all of the rails. At least two drive units, each including a pair of wheels and supporting the carriage on a different one of the rails are provided. The drive units are operatively connected to a drive shaft which extends across a plurality of the rails. The drive shaft and each of the drive units are coupled by a drive gear on the shaft which has a first effective diameter and a driven gear on the drive unit, which has a second effective diameter substantially greater than the first effective diameter. Thus, the drive units minimize torsion twisting of the drive shaft during use.

Abstract: A diagnostic system for determining the existence of bridge tracking problems related to a relative difference of drive speeds of independent bridge drive motors on a crane. The diagnostic system includes at least one drive speed measurement unit (e.g., tachometer) that is utilized to measure the drive speed of each of the independent bridge drive motors on the crane. Generally, each drive speed is measured from the drive shaft and/or the drive wheel. The measured drive speeds are compared to determine if the relative difference is great enough to cause bridge tracking problems. The diagnostic system is portable and therefore usable on a plurality of cranes.

Abstract: A mobile carriage system includes a pair of spaced, parallel end rails fixed to a support surface, often with one or more intermediate rails fixed to the support surface and located parallel to and between the pair of end rails. At least one carriage is supported for movement on the end and intermediate rails. The carriage includes an elongated frame that spans all of the rails. At least two drive units, each including a pair of wheels and supporting the carriage on a different one of the rails are provided. The drive units are operatively connected to a drive shaft which extends across a plurality of the rails. The drive shaft and each of the drive units are coupled by a drive gear on the shaft which has a first effective diameter and a driven gear on the drive unit, which has a second effective diameter substantially greater than the first effective diameter. Thus, the drive units minimize torsion twisting of the drive shaft during use.