world news Winding mandrel for vasoocclusive coils By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The winding mandrel includes a pair of generally rounded-cube shaped or orthogonally flat-sided spherical main bodies connected together and having a plurality of cylindrical posts for forming vasoocclusive coils. The main bodies are connected together by a transition post, and the posts of the two main bodies are typically offset. A front end post and back end post are disposed on the front and rear ends of the mandrel. A short winding post member may be added between the connections of the two main bodies to provide additional winding posts. Full Article
world news Wire feed pressure lock system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A pressure lock system passes a wire along a wire path from a wire source at a high pressure first region to a destination at a low pressure second region. The pressure lock system includes a pressure lock chamber. A first conduit has an interior positioned to pass the wire along the path and is mounted for rotation. A second conduit has an interior positioned to pass the wire from the pressure lock chamber and is also mounted for rotation. A motor may drive rotation of the first conduit and the second conduit. Pumps may maintain a pressure of the pressure lock chamber lower than a pressure of the first region. Full Article
world news Wire coloring apparatus includng a roller By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A wire coloring apparatus including a roller is provided to prevent drag of a colorant, which is jetted on an electric wire and not dried yet, the guide roller is arranged at a downstream side of a coloring nozzle, which jets a colorant toward a highest point of an outer surface of the electric wire moving along a lengthwise direction thereof, in a moving direction of the electric wire. The guide roller is formed with a pair of tapered surfaces catching and supporting the electric wire and approaching to each other in accordance with nearing to a rotating axis. When a radius REW of the electric wire 3 is 1.2 mm, an angle θT formed by the pair of tapered surfaces is designed at least 60 degrees and not more than θX degrees. Full Article
world news Fence stay drill bit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention is a fence stay drill bit used along with a drill to install and uninstall fence stays more efficiently. The present invention further encompasses a method of installing and uninstalling fence stays using the present invention. The present invention has a drill bit extrusion and an elongated body which houses a slot and a recess. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated body has a cylindrical body which is a safety feature in preventing the present invention from accidentally attaching itself onto objects in the surrounding during use. The elongated body is also attached to a large fillet and a stay receiving lip. Both the recess and the stay receiving lip help guide a tip of a fence stay into the slot therein. The slot has a cavity which traps and stabilizes the tip of fence stay while the present invention is rotated by the drill. Full Article
world news Power tool for stainless steel metal locking ties By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A power tool for installing a metal locking tie is disclosed. The power tool includes a body and a power chassis. The body of the tool includes a gear carrier, a tensioning mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The gear carrier is positioned in the tool body and the tensioning mechanism is mounted in the gear carrier. The cutting mechanism engages the gear carrier. As the tie is tensioned, the gear carrier moves linearly in the tool body to cut the tensioned tie. Full Article
world news Apparatus and methods for filament crimping and manufacturing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Apparatus and methods for filament crimping. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a body and a filament crimp element. The filament crimp element comprises a first set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a first set of features and a second set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a second set of features. The first and second set cavities are substantially opposite one another. The first set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the second set of cavities and the second set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the first set of cavities. Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of the device are also disclosed. In addition, methods for automated placement and manufacture of assemblies using the crimp elements are also disclosed. Full Article
world news Device for internal flaw magnification during wire drawing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A device for use as an adjunct in assuring that a manufactured wire is substantially free of internal flaws. A plurality of successively adjacent wire bending stations are provided, where each station includes means for bending the wire into bending planes which are different for each of the stations. The wire is passed through the successive stations, whereby the different bending planes at each station subject the wire at each station to tensile bending strain at portions of the wire cross-section which are different for each station. As a result the probability is increased that a given internal flaw in the wire will be exposed to the tensile bending strain condition as the wire passes through the successive stations, increasing likelihood of breakage of the wire at the flaw or of flaw magnification to improve detection of the flaw during subsequent wire inspections. Full Article
world news Cable tie tensioning and cut-off tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A hand held tool for the tensioning and severing of cable ties, including reciprocating means for tensioning the cable tie tail, locking means to prevent further tensioning upon the attainment of a preselected tension level in the tie tail, and severing means to sever the tie tail from the cable tie head. Full Article
world news Twisted ribbon wire guidewire coil By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A medical guidewire having distal tip coil that includes a twisted ribbon wire construction. The distal tip coil is mounted to the distal end of the distal core section of the guidewire. The coil is made from a flat ribbon wire with a polygonal, preferably rectangular, cross-section that is twisted along the length of the wire. The twisted, flat ribbon wire creates a tip coil that has a roughened, undulating surface at the outer circumference that, whether coated or bare, is perceptible to the physician or cardiologist when pushing or torquing the guidewire in an interventional procedure. Full Article
world news Cable tie tensioning and cut-off tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A hand held tool for the tensioning and severing of cable ties, including reciprocating means for tensioning the cable tie tail, locking means to prevent further tensioning upon the attainment of a preselected tension level in the tie tail, and severing means to sever the tie tail from the cable tie head. Full Article
world news Wire straightening apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A straightening apparatus for straightening wires comprises an entry-side roll arrangement and an exit-side roll arrangement, which are arranged so that a wire that is to be straightened, viewed in a transport direction, arrives between rolls of the entry-side roll arrangement in the straightening apparatus and, after passing between rolls of the exit-side roll arrangement, leaves the straightening apparatus, a distance between two rolls of the exit-side roll arrangement being settable. Furthermore, a pre-definable force F acts on the wire perpendicular to the transport direction between two rolls of the entry-side roll arrangement. Full Article
world news Reinforcing bar binding machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with a device for detecting a power supply voltage during a binding wire twisting step subjected to the heaviest load and comparing the power supply voltage with a predetermined CPU operation voltage, and a control device for driving a motor in a reverse direction when the voltage has dropped below the predetermined CPU operation voltage. The power supply voltage during operation is monitored, and twisting operation is suspended before the voltage drops below the CPU operation voltage, whereby the binding wire twisting mechanism is returned to the initial position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the binding wire twisting mechanism from being stopped while grasping the binding wire, when the CPU stops. Full Article
world news Protective metal netting with interwoven wires, and a machine and a method for its manufacture By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A protective metal netting comprises a plurality of longitudinal metal wires or cables (10) side by side, each interwoven with at least one adjacent longitudinal wire or cable (10) in an interweave portion (24), in which at least one of the metal wires or cables (20) has an almost rectilinear development, or in any case with loops that are less pronounced than the lower-strength neighboring cables. A machine for manufacturing interwoven metal nettings comprises a cylindrical drum (50), on the outer surface of which a plurality of pins (52) protruding radially and arranged in axial rows at equal angular intervals is fixed, with an equal pitch in all the rows. Some pins (54) present on the cylindrical drum (50) are fitted out-of-alignment with respect to the above-mentioned pitch. Full Article
world news Guide wire By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A guide wire includes a wire body having a first wire disposed at a distal end and a second wire joined to a proximal end of the first wire at a joint by welding. The joint is curved. In the joint, at least one component (e.g., Ti) of the material of the first wire decreases toward the proximal end and at least one component (e.g., Fe) of the material of the second wire decreases toward the distal end. When a tensile test is conducted on a region of the wire body including the joint, the region of the wire body has, in a tensile load and elongation diagram, an elastic section extending substantially straight upwardly to the right, a yield section extending substantially horizontally or upwardly to the right from the elastic section, and a substantially straight section extending upwardly to the right from the yield section. Full Article
world news Drilling rig mast lift systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Systems and methods for rig assembly and for erecting a mast of a rig and such systems with roller apparatus to facilitate movement of a mast section from a mover. In a first embodiment, the method includes erecting a rig mast section on a substructure, the substructure including a first substructure box spaced-apart from a second substructure box, the first substructure box comprising a first upper box above a first lower box and the second substructure box comprising a second upper box above a second lower box. Full Article
world news Vehicle crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A vehicle crane—in particular an articulated-arm crane—includes a lifting arm and one or more articulated arms, and the geometry of the crane arms can be changed with respect to one another. A load cable can be guided or is guided on the crane arms. A compensation device allows the tension in the load cable to be controlled or regulated upon a change in the geometry of the crane arms with respect to one another. Full Article
world news Hoisting systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to hoisting methods for vehicles, such as UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (“Black Hawks”). An external hoist arm system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to be temporarily mounted to the outside of a vehicle. The hoist arm system is further configured to support a hoist and position the hoist above an external door of the vehicle. A rotatable adjustment member is used to adjust an angular position of the hoist relative to the vehicle. Full Article
world news System for measuring length of a beam extension and detecting support By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST An extendable beam measurement system includes a support; a beam mounted on the support and movable with respect to the support along an axis of movement; a series of sensory points mounted along either the beam or the support in an orientation that is not parallel to the axis of movement of the beam; and a sensor attached to the other of the beam or the support in a direction that crosses the series of sensory points at different positions during movement of the beam along said axis. The sensor generates a first signal varying as the beam is moved along the axis to thereby provide a signal indicating the position of the beam with respect to the support. The system is useful on an outrigger for supporting a crane. Optionally the system can provide a second signal indicative of whether a jack on the outrigger is contacting a support surface and supporting the crane. Alternatively, the system used to optionally generate the second signal can be used by itself to indicate whether a jack is supporting the crane, even if the beam extension is not measured. Full Article
world news Method and device for hoisting an item by means of a crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A method and a device for hoisting an item at sea with a hoisting device comprises moving the item between a plurality of different height levels. In addition, the method comprises alternately supporting the load of the item with a first hoisting rope and a second hoisting rope while moving the item between the plurality of different height levels. Further, the method comprises arranging the first hoisting rope and the second hoisting rope to extend in parallel along at least part of the distance between the item and the hoisting device. Still further, the method comprises releasably connecting the first hoisting rope to the second hoisting rope. Moreover, the method comprises suspending the second hoisting rope from a hanger when the second hoisting rope is supporting the load of the item. The method also comprises connecting the hanger to an arm of the hoisting device. Full Article
world news Counterweight suspension device and mobile crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A counterweight suspension device includes a pair of suspension cylinders that suspends a counterweight and that are hung from first and second hanging points provided separately in a left and right direction at a top end of a rear mast. A coupling member couples cylinder rod ends of the pair with each other. A lifting member lifts the counterweight. First and second connection points of the counterweight are connected with each of the cylinder rod ends, with the first and the second connection points provided separately in the left and right direction on the counterweight for attaching the lifting member to the counterweight. A first communication circuit is provided through which rod chambers of the suspension cylinders communicate with each other. A second communication circuit is provided through which bottom chambers of the suspension cylinders communicate with each other. Full Article
world news Crane with automatic counterweight balancing device and method of arranging counterweight thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides a crane with an automatic counterweight balancing device and a method of arranging counterweight thereof. The crane includes a main body and a counterweight device mounted to the main body. The counterweight device includes first and second magnetic field generators and first and second permanent magnetic counterweight blocks. The crane uses a combined arrangement of the magnetic field generators, the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks, an electrical control device, and a transducer device to detect, in a real time manner, output torques of servo motors, whereby when the output torques are not equal to rating torques, magnetic field intensities are varied to change downward magnetic forces acting on the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks thereby regulating loading of the servo motors and thus regulating the output torques of the servo motors to effect automatic balancing of counterweight and improve stability of the crane during a conveyance process. Full Article
world news Telescoping system for crane jib and auxiliary jib By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A crane jib system having a main jib, an auxiliary jib, and a telescoping cylinder. The main jib is comprised of main telescoping portions and the auxiliary jib is attached to the main jib and comprises auxiliary telescoping portions. The telescoping cylinder has a first telescopic part locking unit disposed on a base portion of the telescoping cylinder. The first telescopic locking unit is adapted to selectively engage the main telescoping portions. A second telescopic part locking unit is disposed on the telescoping cylinder above the first telescopic part locking unit. The second telescopic part locking unit is adapted to selectively engage the auxiliary telescoping portions. Full Article
world news Portable winch By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A portable winch and method of use is shown. One advantage of winches shown includes an ability to lower a boom or boom sections into limited access exit pit for winching operations such as pipe bursting. Sectional boom designs shown provide the ability to easily raise and lower a boom large distances without the need for a single long boom. Selected winch designs shown include flexible inserts between the boom and the winch frame that help resist damage from unforeseen shifting of the device during operation. Designs and methods shown also include multiple pulleys on a boom end unit. Fasteners are shown that reduce build up of debris. Full Article
world news Boom truck for handling loads above and below ground level By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A boom truck includes a telescopic lifting boom with a lifting unit and a support structure having a first support arranged on the chassis of the boom truck. A second support in the form of an elongated bearing and support beam body extends in the longitudinal direction of the boom truck. The beam body is pivotally mounted to the first support about a rear bearing axis, whereas the lifting boom is pivotally mounted to beam body about a front bearing axis. Actuators act on the beam body and the lifting boom as a unit and act to pivot the lifting boom about the front bearing axis. Full Article
world news Power and control for wireless anti-two block system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A power generator is associated with a crane boom at or near the tip of the boom. The generator responds to movement of the lifting cable to initiate the transmission of a signal to a crane controller. The signal serves as a start-up or a wake-up signal to the crane controller which may then immediately analyze operation of, for example, an anti-two block device associated with the boom tip. The crane controller may then control the operation of the crane in accordance with signals received from the anti-two block device or immediately identify malfunctions of the anti-two block device and control the crane operations accordingly. Full Article
world news Hoisting assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A hoisting assembly for lifting or lowering a heavy object includes an upper fixed block, an upper movable block being suspended from the upper fixed block by at least one first rope which is reeved into one or more first rope lengths between the upper fixed block and the upper movable block, a lower movable block being connected to the upper movable block by at least one second rope which is reeved into one or more second rope lengths between the upper fixed block and the upper movable block. The first and second ropes are reeved in such a way that in use the upper movable block can be positioned at a distance greater than zero from the upper fixed block and at a distance greater than zero from the lower movable block by controlling the lengths of the first and second ropes. Full Article
world news Alignment apparatus and method for a boom of a pipe handling system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A pipe handling apparatus has a frame, a boom pivotally connected to the frame so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, an arm extending outwardly of the boom when the boom is in the second position, a gripper affixed to the end of the arm opposite the boom, a first line having a first end affixed to the boom, a second line interconnected to an opposite end of the first line and connected to the frame, and an actuator interconnected to the first and second lines. The actuator changes an angular relationship of the first and second lines so as to selectively tension the lines. The second line includes a first cable offset from linear alignment with the first line and a second cable extending in angular relationship with the first cable. Full Article
world news Cable-driven trailer loading system for liner By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A cable-driven liner loading system for loading of an invertible liner onto a trailer bed and unloading the invertible liner from the trailer bed. A movable trolley is supported between a pair of tracks defined by C-shaped members. The movable trolley is actuated by a cable system that is driven by a winch and a set of pulleys, permitting the movable trolley to move along an axis of the trailer bed to facilitate loading of the invertible liner in a serpentine-like manner. Full Article
world news Lift apparatus and system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST 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. Full Article
world news Service apparatus for turbomachine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Various embodiments include a service apparatus for a turbomachine. The service apparatus can include: a frame for coupling to an opening in the turbomachine; a bridge member operably coupled to the frame and spanning a width of the frame, the bridge member being substantially movable along a length of the frame; and a crane member operably coupled to the bridge member, the crane member being substantially movable along the width of the frame, wherein the crane member includes at least one attachment device for attaching to an object within the turbomachine. Full Article
world news Tower structure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Embodiments of the invention generally relate a method and apparatus for a tower structure. In one embodiment, the tower structure comprises a first base plate comprising a first hinge device, a first structural section having a first side and a second side, the first structural section coupled to a second base plate comprising a second hinge device, a second structural section coupled to the first structural section, and an aerial component coupled to the second structural section, wherein the first structural section is rotatable relative to the first base plate in a first rotational axis, the second structural section is rotatable relative to the first structural section in a second rotational axis, and at least a portion of the second structural section is received in a channel formed in the first side of the first structural section when the first structural section and the second structural section are substantially parallel. Full Article
world news Method for controlling a hoisting or paying out movement and hoisting frame having tiltable cable shreave for use therein By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A method for controlling a hoisting or lowering movement of a load, which is suspended from a hoisting mechanism of a crane by means of at least two hoisting cables trained round cable sheaves on the load, by monitoring the position of the load and braking and/or stopping the hoisting mechanism upon detection of an undesirable position, wherein the cable sheaves are each connected to the load for pivoting about a horizontal axis, and the position of the load is monitored by detecting a pivoting movement of at least one of the cable sheaves. Full Article
world news Compressible stop member for use on a crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A compressible stop member for use on a crane includes: a housing having a first sealed end, a second end, a first cylindrical surface and a second cylindrical surface; a free piston slidably contained within the housing in a sealing engagement with the first cylindrical surface; a compressed gas chamber in the housing between the free piston and the first sealed end; and a rod comprising a cylindrical portion with a diameter less than the diameter of the second cylindrical surface and a rod support portion that separates a first liquid chamber comprising the volume inside the housing between the free piston and the rod support portion from a second liquid chamber comprising the volume between the rod support portion and the second end of the housing. Also, the rod support portion includes at least one flow channel allowing liquid to flow between the first and second liquid chambers. Full Article
world news Hoisting crane with hybrid portions By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST Hoisting crane (20), comprising a substantially hollow jib (24,-124; 324) having a longitudinal axis, and comprising one or more hoisting cable guides (47, 48, 49; 147; 347). The jib comprises at least one jib leg (29; 129; 329) extending between a jib connection member (26) and a jib hoisting end (27; 127; 327), wherein the at least one jib leg comprises one or more hybrid portions (160; 360) comprising two elongated hollow casings (170; 370) substantially parallel to each other and substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the jib, and wherein between the two casings a truss (171 371) is provided to rigidly connect the two castings. Full Article
world news Ballast assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 06 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A ballast assembly for a work vehicle includes a ballast weight having a central groove. Two pairs of coupling pins extend across the central groove. A pair of support rods are attached to an underside of a frame part of the vehicle. The assembly also includes a pair of ballast bracket, each of which is releasably coupled to a corresponding pair of the coupling pins. The assembly also includes a pair of links, each having an end pivotally coupled to a corresponding ballast bracket, and having a body with a slot which slidably receives a corresponding support rod. A hydraulic cylinder has a first end pivotally coupled to one of the links and a second end pivotally coupled to the frame part. Each ballast bracket includes a latch member which releasably holds the ballast bracket to the corresponding pair of coupling pins. Full Article
world news Crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A crane includes a limiting device to limit a raising/lowering angle of the mast during suspending work to be equal to or less than an upper limit angle which is less than a value of the raising/lowering angle when the mast extends vertically; a release device into which a release instruction for causing the limiting device to release the limitation on the raising/lowering angle of the mast is input; and a first detection section adapted to detect that the mast support device is at an overhanging position where the mast support device pushes up and sets the mast in the work posture. The limiting device is operable whenever the first detection section does not detect that the mast support device is at the overhanging position, even if the release instruction is input into the release device, to prohibit the mast from being tilted rearward beyond the upper limit angle. Full Article
world news Ballast carriage for a crawler crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The present disclosure relates to a crane with a travelling undercarriage, an uppercarriage rotatably mounted on the same with a luffing boom and derrick boom arranged on the same, and a ballast carriage connectable with the uppercarriage via a coupling element, wherein the ballast carriage is a standardized heavy-duty transport device with separate drive and separate drive controller, and wherein this drive controller can be influenced as a result of the movement of the crane. Full Article
world news Method for handling and/or servicing components of a wind turbine and a gripping apparatus for performing the method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A method and an apparatus for handling and/or servicing components of a wind turbine, such as installing and/or dismantling components into or from a wind turbine nacelle or such as servicing exterior components such as blades, hub, tower and nacelle of the wind turbine are disclosed. The gripping apparatus comprising at least one arm for gripping around the wind turbine tower, the at least one arm capable of forming a gap between gripping elements of the gripping apparatus. The at least one arm extends around the entire outer circumference, seen perpendicular to a horizontal plane, of the wind turbine tower. Full Article
world news Load hook control device for a crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A crane, in particular a lattice mast crane, having a bottom hook block with a load suspension means, in particular a load hook, wherein the bottom hook block has at least one winch whose outgoing control rope is connected or connectable to the crane boom for securing and/or aligning the load position or bottom hook block position. Full Article
world news Lift and mount apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides devices, apparatuses, and systems for lifting and mounting of clinical- and research-related equipment. In particular, the present invention provides a lift and mount system for mass spectrometers (e.g., for time of flight (TOF) mass spectrometers (MS)). Full Article
world news Monitoring and alarm device for construction machinery By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 10 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The invention relates to a monitoring and alarm device for construction machinery having long and heavy booms, such as cranes, in particular mobile cranes, is characterized in that a monitor system is provided, which monitors parameters that may change in case of an undesired lowering of the boom or of boom sections in a non-operating condition, and triggers an optical and/acoustic and/or wireless alarm system if the parameters change. Full Article
world news Method of swing stopping control and system of swing stopping control of suspended load of crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A method of swing stopping control of a suspended load of a crane including a hoist and a trolley solves an equation of motion, given as an equation with respect to the deviation angle of a suspended load from the vertical direction when the trolley travels, for the trolley acceleration to thereby obtain the value of the acceleration or deceleration of the trolley, obtains speed patterns corresponding to the values of the acceleration or deceleration, drives the trolley according to the obtained speed patterns, and carries out control so that the deviation angle of the suspended load from the vertical direction becomes zero at the time when the acceleration or deceleration of the trolley is ended. Thus, even if the length of a rope holding the suspended load up is changed, a required speed pattern is produced to permit highly accurate positioning. Full Article
world news Luffing-jib tower crane with jib angle error control By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A luffing-jib tower crane, comprising a tower and a jib which is connected to the tower via a joint and is held by a luffing cable, wherein the length of the luffing cable can be changed by a drawing-in unit, by the luffing cable being wound onto or unwound from a cable drum of the drawing-in unit, wherein the angle of the jib with respect to the horizontal plane is measured by a first sensor winch is attached to the jib (first angular value), wherein a measuring device measures the length of the unwound part of the luffing cable, from which length the minimum angle of the jib with respect to the horizontal plane (second angular value) can be calculated, and the first angular value can be compared with the second angular value. Full Article
world news Slant-truss crane rail By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST In one aspect, the invention is directed to an overhead crane with one or more bridge rails, that incorporates a reinforcement truss into its one or more bridge rails so as to reduce the overall mass of the one or more bridge rails. This facilitates movement of a load carried by the bridge by an operator to a destination point, particularly in embodiments wherein the one or more bridge rails do not have any bridge drive motors thereon. Reducing the mass of the bridge can increase the amount of lifted load that can comfortably be maneuvered by an operator, particularly when the bridge is manually moved along the runway. Additionally, reducing the mass of the bridge reduces the momentum associated with the bridge, which can increase the amount of control that the operator has when it is desired to stop the bridge when the load has been maneuvered to its desired destination point. The second reinforcement members may have first and second ends that are inserted into receiving apertures in the first reinforcement member and in a bracket that mounts to the bridge rail respectively. In embodiments wherein the bridge includes two rails and is capable of supporting a load in such a way as to generate a downward force that is offset from the bridge axis, the second reinforcement members may be connected to the first reinforcement member and to brackets in such a way as to prevent the withdrawal of the second reinforcement members from the receiving apertures. Full Article
world news Counterweight block and assemblies for cranes By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A counterweight block apparatus includes a pair of interconnecting counterweight blocks having top and bottom surfaces, the counterweight blocks forming a plane of interconnection along adjacent sides thereof; and a shear bar releasably secured between the adjacent sides of the interconnecting counterweight blocks, generally perpendicular to the plane of interconnection, to provide resistance to relative vertical movement of the interconnecting counterweight blocks along the plane of interconnection. In another aspect, each counterweight block includes in at least one side thereof an indentation from a top of the counterweight block to a depth more shallow than the thickness of the counterweight block, the indentation defining a lip for hand grabbing. An aperture may be formed through the rest of the thickness of the counterweigh block at each indentation, wherein a securing strap can be run through each aperture of a stacked plurality of counterweight blocks to secure them to each other. Full Article
world news Crane equipped with travelable counterweight unit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST Disclosed is a crane comprising: a lower body; an upper slewing body; a counterweight unit including a plurality of wheels to travel on the ground in a turning direction equal to a slewing direction of the upper slewing body while being suspended from the upper slewing body; a steering actuator for rotating each of the wheels around a steering-rotation center axis to change the steering angle; and a steering control device for controlling the steering actuator. The steering control device includes: a slewing-identification-signal receiving section which receives a slewing identification signal for identification of the slewing direction of the upper slewing body; and an actuator operating section operates the steering actuator to orient each of the wheels to the inside of a tangent line to an orbit of the wheel at the steering-rotation center axis, based on the identified slewing direction identified from the slewing identification signal. Full Article
world news Controlling method, system and device for hook deviation By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A controlling method for a hook deviation to regulate the deviation angle of a telescopic crane hook, involves following steps: A. Detecting the deviation angle and deviation direction of a rope, which is linked to the hook, in the horizontal plane relative to the direction of gravitational force; B. Judging whether the deviation angle is more than the predetermined value, if the deviation angle is more than the predetermined value, then turning to step C, and if the deviation angle is less than the predetermined value, then turning to step A; C. Compensatively controlling the deviation angle of the hook according to the deviation angle and direction. And a controlling system for the hook deviation and a controlling device for the hook deviation are provided. The method or system or device enables the detection of the deviation angle and direction of the hook in a quick and precise manner, and the compensatory control of the deviation angle of the hook is performed according to the detected deviation angle and direction, thus it avoids overdependence on human factor and reduces potential safety risks. Full Article
world news Hydraulic braking apparatus for a crane drive and crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST The present disclosure relates to a hydraulic braking apparatus for a crane drive for carrying out crane work, in particular a slewing gear, having at least one hydraulic stopping brake for braking the drive movement of the crane drive in an emergency situation, wherein at least one pressure regulation valve is provided for controlling at least one stopping brake to ensure a time-delayed braking torque build-up. Full Article
world news Method for mounting wind turbine blades to a wind turbine hub By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST A method for mounting a wind turbine blade to a wind turbine hub by use of a crane boom is provided. An orientation of the blade is kept substantially horizontal when the blade is lifted off the ground and mounted to the rotor hub. Control wires, which connect the blade via the crane boom to a winch arrangement, are used for keeping the blade orientation substantially horizontal in addition to at least one bearing wire for bearing the blade weight. Full Article
world news Hoist apparatus and hoist transporting system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EST Disclosed is a hoist apparatus having an improved structure to load an object to be transported in a horizontal direction. The hoist apparatus includes a travel unit to travel along a rail, a carrier unit coupled to the travel unit so as to move in a first direction, and a cart unit coupled to the carrier unit so as to move in a second direction different from the first direction, wherein the cart unit includes a body portion, in which an object to be transferred is located, and a drive portion to drive the body portion in the second direction. Full Article