Abstract: A machine includes a frame, ground-engaging elements coupled to the frame, and a hoisting system having a sideboom and a fairlead. The hoisting system also includes a hook pulley block and a hoisting cable extending through the fairlead and the hook pulley block and held in tension such that the hoisting cable couples pivoting of the fairlead to pivoting of the sideboom. The pivotable fairlead may be instrumented with position, cable loading, and cable feed sensors.

Abstract: A hoisting system for a machine includes a winch assembly, and a boom such as a sideboom that is pivotable. The hoisting system further includes a fairlead supported at a fixed orientation such that a feed angle of a hoisting cable extending through the fairlead varies in response to pivoting of the boom. A hoisting control system for the machine includes a cable state sensing mechanism resident on the fairlead and structured to produce cable monitoring data indicative of at least one of a cable feed length, a cable feed angle, or a cable load, and an electronic control unit structured to output an alert based on the cable monitoring data.

Abstract: An apparatus for providing a user with a lifting capacity of a lifting machine includes a graphical display displaying a spectrum of lifting capacity across a continuous range of boom height and boom radii. Related methods are disclosed.

Abstract: A lifting apparatus for a lift system is disclosed. The apparatus includes a) a motor adapted for providing a lifting force, b) at least one connector operatively connected to the motor, the connector adapted for connecting a load-bearing component to the motor, c) an information receiver for receiving a load limit information about the load-bearing component, d) a motor controller electrically coupled to the motor and the information receiver, wherein the motor controller is adapted to limit the lifting force of the motor based on the load limit information received by the information receiver.

Abstract: An apparatus orients to a vertical position a precast wall panel formed in a horizontal position. The panel has holes formed in opposite sides thereof. The apparatus includes an overhead crane having a pair of suspended hooks and a lifting beam assembly suspended from the crane hooks. The lifting beam assembly includes a pair of oppositely facing pin carriages each having a pin adapted to be received in one of the panel holes. The lifting beam assembly further includes a motorized drive mechanism for displacing the pin carriages toward and away from each other along the length of the lifting beam. Displacing the pin carriages toward each other along the length of the lifting beam allows the pins to align with and engage the panel holes. Raising the crane hooks orients the wall panel in a vertical position.

Abstract: A forward-control counterweight fork-lift truck has a liftable and tiltable load-lifting device (1), a traction drive and operating drives for the movement of the load-lifting device (1). A calculation model (D) is stored in a control device (SE), to which directly or indirectly acting sensors (S) are connected for detecting the lifting load (L), the lifting height (H), the tilting angle (WM), the load torque (M), the direction of travel (R), the driving speed (V), and the steering angle (WL). The control device (SE) is designed to determine a driving and load state (Z) based on the detected physical variables (L, H, WM, M, R, V, WL) and the stored calculation model (D) and is operatively connected to the traction drive and the operating drives. Depending on the driving and load state (Z) determined, the operating speed, starting and braking acceleration, and driving speed are each reduced.

Abstract: An integrated hoisting system includes a base structural component (BSC) assembled on a structural aperture and containing an opening compatible with a structural aperture. The integrated hoisting system further includes a plurality of primary hoisting components affixed to the BSC, wherein each primary hoisting component is disposed in an opposite diagonal corner on said BSC, and further includes a winch drum and at least one lead sheave and a plurality of load path assemblies, each containing a plurality of sheaves. The system further includes a plurality of hoisting lines, a plurality of termination components affixed to said BSC, each termination component including a monitoring unit and a load cell assembly for terminating the hoisting line, and a device configured to control the operation of the integrated hoisting system.

Abstract: The invention relates to a device for determining a load on a hoist of a crane for handling a container, including rope drum, drive motor as well as hoist transmission disposed between drive motor and rope drum and having a hoist transmission case which is swingably supported about an axis in parallel relationship to the rope drum axis and can be supported on its opposite end on at least one torque support, which a device for indirect determination of the load, suspended from the ropes, is assigned to.

Abstract: An electromechanical, remotely operated Auxiliary Hoist Control and Precision Load Positioner system and device is disclosed utilizing a Radio Frequency Hand Controller transceiver Unit distal to a Radio Frequency Hoist Controller Transceiver Unit for raising and lowering a large, heavy, bulky, fragile, or expensive piece of equipment by very gradual means to avoid hang ups that might otherwise destroy or seriously damage the equipment.

Abstract: A safety scale having(i) an upper section for connection to the rigging of a weight lifting device above the safety scale, which upper section has a lower extension, (ii) a lower section for connection to a weight or the rigging of a weight lifting device below the safety scale, which lower section has an upper extension, with (iii) the aforesaid sections and extensions being disposed in such a manner that the movement of the upper section away from the lower section causes the lower extension to move towards the upper extension; and (iv) force measurement means disposed between the upper extension and the lower extension such that the force, in pounds (or metric measure), exerted can be measured.

Abstract: An electromechanical, remotely operated Auxiliary Hoist Control and Precision Load Positioner system and device is disclosed utilizing a Radio Frequency Hand Controller transceiver Unit distal to a Radio Frequency Hoist Controller Transceiver Unit for raising and lowering a large, heavy, bulky, fragile, or expensive piece of equipment by very gradual means to avoid hang ups that might otherwise destroy or seriously damage the equipment.

Abstract: A mechanical apparatus and method for a high performance hoist for raising and lowering a load, and control apparatus and method for controlling the hoist such that its operation is responsive and intuitive for a human operator. The mechanical apparatus provides a reel for winding a cable, a ball-screw for translating the reel, and an encoder on the reel with which the height of the payload may be monitored. Also disclosed is an operator's handle comprising a movable sleeve with a damper as well as a spring to return it to its null position. The control apparatus and method provides for a handle-nulling mode in which the payload height is servo-controlled to follow the displacement of the operator's hand grasping the handle. The control apparatus further provides a float-mode in which the payload height is responsive to the operator's forces applied directly to the payload.

Abstract: A load measuring device for an aerial machine having a boom or jib which handles loads. A load bearing sheave has a winch line passed over it to raise and lower the load. A guide sheave maintains the winch line at a constant entry angle to the load bearing sheave. A dual axis load pin on which the load bearing sheave is mounted measures the force components of the load along two mutually perpendicular axes. Because the entry angle is constant, the load is dependent only on the two measurable force components and can be calculated and displayed. An overcenter machine has two load bearing sheave which are used alternately depending on whether the machine is overcenter or not. Each sheave in this case is mounted on a dual axis load pin.

Abstract: A lifting device makes it possible to manipulate loads within a tight enclosure with an operator remaining outside the enclosure. The device includes a main arm fitted so as to slide in an opening of a wall surrounding the enclosure, by way of a hose or sleeve. An articulated beam is mounted so as to pivot at the end of the main arm. This pivoting action can be controlled by two parallel rods mounted within the arm. The device is applicable to, for example, the handling of heavy loads within tight enclosures in the nuclear field.