Building crane

Claim 2

A building crane comprising: means providing a mounting base for said crane; boom platform means rotatably supported on said base; boom means having a base end; support means pivotally connected with the base end of said boom means and movable along a line on said boom platform means for supporting and selectively positioning said base end of said boom means at a plurality of load handling positions on said boom platform means; and means for supporting said boom means at a desired angular position relative to said boom platform means and for moving said boom means between angular positions on said boom platform means for manipulating a load supported from the upper free end of said boom means.

Claim 3

A building crane in accordance with claim 1 including well means positioned substantially at the center of said mounting base for passage of boom control and load handling lines from a hoist to said boom.

Claim 4

A building crane in accordance with claim 2 including drive means operatively connected between said boom platform means and said mounting base for rotating said boom platform means on said mounting base.

Claim 5

A building crane in accordance with claim 3 including a climbing support structure secured with said mounting base for supporting said mounting base and adapted to move along a building erected by said crane for supporting said crane at selected heights along said building as said building is erected by said crane.

Claim 6

A building crane in accordance with claim 4 wherein said climbing support structure is movable along guide columns secured with said building being erected by said crane.

Claim 7

A building crane in accordance with claim 5 wherein said climbing structure comprises an open network of interconnected structural members for supporting said mounting base and having securing means for removably connecting a portion of said structural members with said guide columns for selectively positioning said climbing structure on said guide columns for supporting said crane at selected heights along said building being erected by said crane.

Claim 8

A building crane adapted for movement along members of a parent structure being erected by said crane comprising: a carrier ring including an annular bearing surface adapted to be mounted on a suitable base; a plurality of bearing units secured on said carrier ring for movement around said bearing surface of said ring; a boom platform mounted on said bearing units for supporting a boom for rotation on said carrier ring including a linear bearing surface for a boom base plate; drive means operatively connected between said platform and said carrier ring for rotating said platform on said carrier ring; a boom base plate movably secured on said platform and adapted to be positioned at and secured with said platform along said linear bearing surface at a plurality of selected locations along said platform across said carrier ring; bearing means on said boom base plate; a boom secured at a base end thereof with said bearing means on said boom base plate pivotally supporting said base end of said boom on said base plate whereby said base end of said boom is movable across said ring on said platform and said boom is adapted to be pivoted to any selected angular position between vertical and substantially horizontal positions; well means secured at the center of said carrier ring for passage of boom control and load handling lines from said boom to a hoist; sheave means carried by said platform for guiding said boom control and load handling lines from said boom into said well of said carrier ring; a gantry assembly carried by said platform for supporting and moving said boom To selected positions on said platform; line handling sheave means connected with said gantry assembly; and boom control and support lines running over said sheave means of said platform and said sheave means of said gantry assembly for positioning said boom at and holding said boom in selected positions relative to said boom base plate.

Claim 9

A building crane adapted for movement along members of a parent structure being erected by said crane comprising: a carrier ring including an annular bearing surface adapted to be mounted on a suitable base; a plurality of bearing units secured on said carrier ring for movement around said bearing surface of said ring; a boom platform mounted on said bearing units for supporting a boom for rotation on said carrier ring including a linear bearing surface for a boom base plate; drive means operatively connected between said platform and said carrier ring for rotating said platform on said carrier ring; a boom base plate movably secured on said platform and adapted to be positioned at and secured with said platform along said linear bearing surface at a plurality of selected locations along said platform across said carrier ring; bearing means on said boom base plate; a boom secured at a base end thereof with said bearing means on said boom base plate pivotally supporting said base end of said boom on said base plate whereby said base end of said boom is movable across said ring on said platform and said boom is adapted to be pivoted to any selected angular position between vertical and substantially horizontal positions; well means secured at the center of said carrier ring for passage of boom control and load handling lines from said boom to a hoist; sheave means carried by said platform for guiding said boom control and load handling lines from said boom into said well of said carrier ring; a gantry assembly carried by said platform for supporting and moving said boom To selected positions on said platform; line handling sheave means connected with said gantry assembly; and boom control and support lines running over said sheave means of said platform and said sheave means of said gantry assembly for positioning said boom at and holding said boom in selected positions relative to said boom base plate.

Claim 10

A building crane in accordance with claim 7 wherein said boom base platform extends at one end substantially beyond said carrier ring, and a portion of said gantry assembly is connected with the extended end of said platform.

Claim 11

A building crane in accordance with claim 8 wherein said sheave means carried by said boom base platform comprises a first sheave assembly supported over said well means of said carrier ring and a second sheave assembly spaced from said first sheave assembly and secured at a location along the extension of said platform from said carrier ring for directing said boom control and support lines and said load handling lines from said gantry assembly and from the upper end of said boom into said well means toward a hoist.

Claim 12

A building crane in accordance with claim 9 including a foldable platform extension secured pivotally to the extended outward end of said boom platform for movement between a substantially vertical position and an extended horizontal position for supporting a counterweight at said horizontal position for use under predetermined substantial load conditions imposed on said boom.

Claim 13

A building crane in accordance with claim 8 in combination with a climbing support structure providing a movable mounting for said carrier ring, said climbing structure being releasably connectible with members of a building being erected by said crane for supporting said crane and moving said crane to selected heights along said building as said building is erected with said crane.

Claim 14

A building crane in accordance with claim 11 wherein said climbing structure includes members forming a base for mounting said carrier ring of said crane and members having releasable securing and guide means for connection with guide columns secured along said building whereby said climbing structure is movable along and securable at desired elevations along said guide columns.

Claim 15

A building crane in accordance with claim 12 wherein said climbing structure comprises an open network of vertical column and horizontal beam members interconnected to form said base for said carrier ring and including securing and guide brackets having flange means engageable with a flange on guide column means connected with said building for guiding said climbing structure and securing said structure along said flange means of said guide columns during movement of said climbing structure and said crane along said guide columns on said building.

Claim 16

A building crane adapted to be raised with and supported by a building being erected by said crane comprising: a climbing support structure adapted for movable connection with and along a building erected by means of said crane; a crane base supported on said climbing support structure for rotatably supporting a boom; a boom base plate supported on said crane base for longitudinal movement along a line across said base; a boom pivotally secured at a base end to said base plate for longitudinal movement at said base end across said crane base and angular movement relative to said crane base; a gantry assembly connected between said crane base and said boom for supporting said boom at desired work angles; work handling and boom control lines connected between said boom, said gantry assembly, and said rotatable crane base; and means for rotating said crane base on said climbing support structure.

Claim 17

A building crane adapted to be raised with and supported by a building being erected by said crane comprising: a climbing support structure adapted for movable connection with and along a building erected by means of said crane; a crane base supported on said climbing support structure for rotatably supporting a boom; a boom base plate supported on said crane base for longitudinal movement along a line across said base; a boom pivotally secured at a base end to said base plate for longitudinal movement at said base end across said crane base and angular movement relative to said crane base; a gantry assembly connected between said crane base and said boom for supporting said boom at desired work angles; work handling and boom control lines connected between said boom, said gantry assembly, and said rotatable crane base; and means for rotating said crane base on said climbing support structure.