Abstract: Systems and processes for thermoforming an article and for preparing an article for thermoforming are disclosed. The system for thermoforming can include one or more heating stations and a cooling station. The system for thermoforming can further include an article movement mechanism that can couple to an article and rotate the article inside a heating chamber, inside a cooling chamber, or both. The system for preparing an article for thermoforming can include a vessel that comprises a port, and a negative pressure generation system coupled to the port. The system for preparing an article for thermoforming can further include a compression material that forms an interior portion for receiving an article. The negative pressure generation system can cause the compression material to expand to allow for insertion of the article into the interior portion of the compression material.

Abstract: The invention relates to a crane, in particular a rotary tower crane, comprising a crane boom, from which a load hook can be raised and lowered via a hoist cable, and an electric power supply on the load hook and/or an optionally provided trolley which can be moved on the crane boom. According to the invention, the electric power is directly generated at the location where it is required, and in the process kinetic energy present at said location is converted into power. According to the invention, the electric power supply comprises a generator which is arranged on the load hook and/or on the trolley and which can be driven by a deflecting and/or running pulley and/or a cable running around the deflecting pulley.

Abstract: Disclosed are various embodiments for stabilizing a hoisted object. A hoisted object such as a litter can have a tendency spin while being retrieved on a lift line. A device may be connected to the hoisted object to reduce a spin or other angular velocity of the hoisted object. The device may monitor stability of the hoisted object and determine that the hoisted object is unstable. The device may be configured to rotate at least one flywheel to apply torque to an enclosure of the device.

Abstract: Systems, apparatuses, and methods for a load control system for use on or with respect to a main load bearing line, carrier hook, and or head block of a crane, wherein the load control system may maintain tension on the load via a winch control line and a winch, wherein the tension may allow improved control over the load by the load control system.

Abstract: The present invention discloses a super large tonnage detachable hook. The hook comprises: a hook rod, a hook shaft, a hook body, a spherical roller bearing, and a thrust spherical roller bearing. The hook also contains a connection component which connects the hook rod to the hook body. The split-type self-locking sleeve is integrally connected to the hook rod via the hook hoop holder. Meshing of the sleeve with the toothed sleeve of the hook rod is adopted to transmit the load, and the bearing capacity is greatly improved compared with the traditional screw connection. The hook of the present invention can withstand the downward and upward bi-directional load, which solves the problem that the traditional hook is prone to damage once it hits the ground. The hook is forged with 30CrNiMo8, which can lift an extremely large weight of more than 5,000 tons.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a swivel for the reduction of twist of a rope, having two swivel parts which are rotatable with respect to one another in the longitudinal direction of the rope, wherein a rotary drive is provided for the forced rotation of the two parts with respect to one another. In accordance with the invention, at least one direction of rotation measurement unit is provided at the swivel for the detection of the direction of twist of the rope with respect to the swivel, wherein the rotary drive can be controlled by a control apparatus in dependence on the determined direction of twist such that the swivel part connected to the rope is rotated in the direction of the detected direction of twist.

Abstract: An apparatus for collecting energy in connection with a sheave system in a hoisting apparatus provided with a sheave system. The apparatus includes at least one generator including a rotor and at least one stator. The rotor is connected rigidly to a sheave of the sheave system, and the at least one stator is connected rigidly to the sheave system such that when the load of the hoisting apparatus is rising or lowering, said at least one sheave rotates, whereby the rotor rotates simultaneously but the stator does not rotate, whereby electric energy is induced in the stator. The apparatus further includes electric energy storage, a device for modifying induced electric energy and storing it in energy storage; and a device for supplying energy from the energy storage to at least one consumption device. The consumption device may be, for example, a working lamp, sensor, measuring device, communications device, signal device, charging plug or a combination of these mounted in connection with the sheave system.

Abstract: A hook assembly made up of a hook subassembly with a hook having a first axis, a support subassembly, and an indexing mechanism. The indexing mechanism: a) releasably biasably maintains the hook and support subassemblies in a first operative relationship wherein the hook has a first angular orientation around the first axis; and b) permits the hook and support subassemblies to be changed from the first operative relationship to be releasably maintained in a second operative relationship, wherein the hook has a second angular orientation around the first axis.

Abstract: The invention relates to a rotator (10) for jib-carried tools (1), for example tree working units, wherein the rotator (10) includes a stator (20) and a rotor (30), wherein the rotator (10) is connected to a tip (2) of the jib or arm (3) and to the tool (1). The rotator (10) has or includes in its surroundings means (70, 71) for determining the relative position of rotation between rotor (30) and stator (20). The means for determining the relative position of rotation comprises a pulse emitter (70) and a number of pulse generating elements (71), such as grooves or teeth. Limitation of the angle through which the rotator (10) can turn and control of the direction of rotation prevents, for instance, hoses and/or cables (7) from twisting or rotating away from their respective connections, while enhancing the extent to which automation can be achieved at the same time.

Abstract: A hook assembly made up of a hook subassembly with a hook having a first axis, a support subassembly, and an indexing mechanism. The indexing mechanism: a) releasably biasably maintains the hook and support subassemblies in a first operative relationship wherein the hook has a first angular orientation around the first axis; and b) permits the hook and support subassemblies to be changed from the first operative relationship to be releasably maintained in a second operative relationship, wherein the hook has a second angular orientation around the first axis.

Abstract: A lifting hook device includes a fixed hook for lifting disposed at a head section of a hollow body having an inside maintained airtight, and a rotatable hook for suspending a load, the rotatable hook has a shaft section rotatably supported in the body and vertically suspended from a bottom section, a motor for rotating the shaft section of the rotatable book about the axis of the shaft section through a rotating mechanism, an azimuth sensor mounted to the rotatable hook and detecting the rotational azimuth of the rotatable hook, and a control section for controlling rotation of the motor to restrict the orientation of the rotatable hook to a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A rotating post obstruct structure for bearing block includes a bearing block, a connection head, a rotating post and a manually rotatable block. The connection head is disposed on the bearing block. The manually rotatable block has a longitudinal axis. The rotating post is rotatable in the connection head about the longitudinal axis. The rotating post has at least one plane face. The manually rotatable block is pivotally connected with the connection head. The manually rotatable block has a radially outward extending bulge section having an outer circumference formed with an arcuate face. The manually rotatable block can be rotated to make the outer circumference of the bulge section abut against the plane face of the rotating post to prevent rotation thereof or to make the outer circumference of the bulge section leave the plane face of the rotating post to allow rotation thereof.

Abstract: A lifting hook device which can, irrespective of the height of lifting, stably and quickly lift up a load with the load constantly oriented to a certain direction. A lifting hook device comprises a fixed hook (3) for lifting provided to a head section (2a) of a hollow body (2) having an inside maintained airtight, a rotatable hook (5) for suspending a load, the rotatable hook (5) having a shaft section (5a) rotatably supported supported in the body and vertically suspended from a bottom section (2c), a motor (8) for rotating the shaft section (5a) of the rotatable book about the axis of the shaft section through a rotating mechanism (7), an azimuth sensor (10) mounted to the rotatable hook and detecting the rotational azimuth of the rotatable hook, and a control section (11) for controlling rotation of the motor to restrict the orientation of the rotatable hook to a predetermined direction.

Abstract: A load lifting device is provided. The load lifting device has a housing, a load lifting hook assembly mounted with the housing, a freely rotatable swivel mounted with the housing opposite the load lifting hook assembly, wherein the freely rotatable swivel can rotate around a vertical axis, and a rotational driving device located within the housing, wherein the rotational driving device interacts with the load lifting hook assembly and controls movement of the load lifting hook assembly along a vertical axis. The rotational driving device controls movement of the load lifting device remotely through a power source, remote processing unit, motor, and remote control. The load lifting device is built to be attached to a hoist line of a crane and be used by riggers or other workers to move material and equipment.

Abstract: This pivoting hook system is designed to give the operator or the spotter on the building control over the swing of material being lifted. It provides a safer distance from under the load, as workers are in potential danger at times when handling tether ropes attached to beams, trusses, etc. as they guide them into place. This device provides a safer alternative to tying a rope to loads for positioning.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bottom hook block system for a given maximum load, for providing differently portative bottom hook blocks for a crane, especially for a heavy lift crane. The bottom hook block system comprises four individual roller blocks (1a–d) with a plurality of pulley blocks, two load hooks (2a, b) and two intermediate links (3a, b) by means of which two individual roller blocks (1a, b or 1c, d) can be combined to a double roller block (4). An equalizing link unit (5) consists of two equalizing links (6, 7) that are interlinked via a joint support (8) with a vertical and at least one horizontal rotational axis. One of the equalizing links (6) is linked via a first horizontal hinge (10a, b) with the two intermediate links (3a, b). The other equalizing link (7) is linked via at least one bearing block (11a, b) with a second horizontal hinge (12a, b) with the two load hooks (2a, b). The load hooks (2a, b) can be swiveled about a vertical rotational axis in the respective bearing block (11a, b).

Abstract: The invention concerns a suspension for load hooks, especially for lower blocks of cable controls, with a shaft mounted in a recess of a carrier body and able to turn about a vertical axis, which is mounted in a continuous bore of a support element and thrusts against the carrier body by means of at least one axial bearing. In order to create a short and simple construction of a suspension for a load hook, the invention proposes that the shaft of the load hook is mounted in the carrier body by a bearing arrangement consisting of the support element, at least one axial bearing, and the retaining ring surrounding the shaft, and the bearing arrangement is secured by a fastening element, especially a snap-ring, in the carrier body.

Abstract: The invention relates to a bottom hook block system for a given maximum load, for providing differently portative bottom hook blocks for a crane, especially for a heavy lift crane. The bottom hook block system comprises four individual roller blocks (1a-d) with a plurality of pulley blocks, two load hooks (2a, b) and two intermediate links (3a, b) by means of which two individual roller blocks (1a, b or 1c, d) can be combined to a double roller block (4). An equalizing link unit (5) consists of two equalizing links (6, 7) that are interlinked via a joint support (8) with a vertical and at least one horizontal rotational axis. One of the equalizing links (6) is linked via a first horizontal hinge (10a, b) with the two intermediate links (3a, b). The other equalizing link (7) is linked via at least one bearing block (11a, b) with a second horizontal hinge (12a, b) with the two load hooks (2a, b). The load hooks (2a, b) can be swiveled about a vertical rotational axis in the respective bearing block (11a, b).

Abstract: A device for remotely controlled pick-up, connection and disconnection of for example a coupling ring (52) of a lifting straddle (50) to a lifting hook (6) of a lifting device (2), wherein a positioning/pick-up device (1) is connected to a lifting wire (4) of the lifting device (2).

Abstract: A unit (10) having a boom (12) and rotary device (14). The rotary device includes a first bracket (22), a second bracket (24) movably mounted to the first bracket and a third bracket (54) connected to the second bracket by a driven shaft (34). A motor (40) is mounted on a motor bracket (38) mounted to the second bracket. A drive gear (46) is mounted on the motor and engages a driven gear (48) mounted on the driven shaft. A friction plate (56) is located on the driven shaft adjacent the third bracket. When a load (102) is connected to the third bracket, the weight of the load pulls the third bracket downward into contact with the friction plate. The frictional contact between the third bracket and the friction plate causes the third bracket and the load to rotate when the drive shaft is rotated.

Abstract: The invention concerns a process for the orientation of the load in cranes, in which the load hung from cables is rotated by a predetermined absolute angle using rotating gear between cable and load. Under the invention, here a regulating device is provided for the rotating gear with which torsion oscillations of the load are suppressed, where, as input values, the absolute rotating angular speed and the angular position of the rotating gear are measured and fed back to the setting input.