US4168781A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Crane
Assignee: PYRAMID Manufacturing Co
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Filing: 1978-08-16
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Granted: 1979-09-25
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Expires: 1998-08-16
Abstract
Abstract The specification discloses a crane including a base having a boom pivotally supported at one end from the base. The opposite end of the boom is adapted for receiving the load to be carried by the crane. A mast and upper tension member system are affixed to the top surface of the boom, supporting the load receiving end of the boom so that the boom structure is relieved of bending moments. Hydraulic cylinders are connected between the base and the boom for elevating and lowering the boom. In one embodiment the upper tension member system includes a spring and dampener which serves to cushion dynamic overloads during operation of the crane. In another embodiment a counterweight is hingedly attached to the end of the boom supported from the base. The weight of the counterweight is borne by a cable which joins into the upper tension member system. In yet another embodiment the tension member system supporting the load receiving end of the boom includes diagonally arrayed cables which serve to counteract loads imposed on the boom by operation in out of level conditions such as attendant to rough terrain or marine applications. When the counterweight is aligned with the boom, it may be selectively moved from an extended to a retracted position along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom. The crane is adapted with structure for maintaining the hingeable counterweight horizontal as the boom is rotated on the base.
Inventors
- 👤 John F. Bryan, Jr.
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-29 10:46
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66C; B66C23/00; B66C23/62; B66C23/72
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 33
Claim 1
Independent Claim
172 words
A crane comprising: a base structure; a boom pivotally supported from the base structure, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counter weight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom at a hinge support, said counterweight having a longitudinal arm hingedly attached to the second end of the boom in the vertical plane of the boom and a weight unit fixed at the end of the longitudinal are remote from the boom; and means for maintaining the counterweight arm substantially level as the boom is pivoted on the base structure, said means comprising: a cable system interconnected between the boom and the counterweight such that pivoting of the boom actuates the cable system and hinges the counterweight at its point of connection to the boom to maintain the counterweight substantially horizontal as the boom is pivoted; and the sole support for the counterweight being said cable system and said hinge support.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
172 words
A crane comprising: a base structure; a boom pivotally supported from the base structure, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counter weight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom at a hinge support, said counterweight having a longitudinal arm hingedly attached to the second end of the boom in the vertical plane of the boom and a weight unit fixed at the end of the longitudinal are remote from the boom; and means for maintaining the counterweight arm substantially level as the boom is pivoted on the base structure, said means comprising: a cable system interconnected between the boom and the counterweight such that pivoting of the boom actuates the cable system and hinges the counterweight at its point of connection to the boom to maintain the counterweight substantially horizontal as the boom is pivoted; and the sole support for the counterweight being said cable system and said hinge support.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
194 words
A crane comprising: a base structure; a boom pivotally supported from the base for pivoting in a vertical plane structure, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counterweight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom, said counterweight having a longitudinal arm hingedly attached to the second end of the boom in the vertical plane of the boom and a weight unit fixed at the end of the longitudinal arm remote from the boom; and means for maintaining the counterweight arm substantially level as the boom is pivoted on the base structure, said means comprising: a mast extending from the boom; a first pulley system attached to the end of the mast remote from the boom: a second pulley system attached to the base structure; entrained about the first pulley system and the second pulley system and attached to the boom whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight and first pulley system to maintain the counterweight substantially level as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
194 words
A crane comprising: a base structure; a boom pivotally supported from the base for pivoting in a vertical plane structure, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counterweight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom, said counterweight having a longitudinal arm hingedly attached to the second end of the boom in the vertical plane of the boom and a weight unit fixed at the end of the longitudinal arm remote from the boom; and means for maintaining the counterweight arm substantially level as the boom is pivoted on the base structure, said means comprising: a mast extending from the boom; a first pulley system attached to the end of the mast remote from the boom: a second pulley system attached to the base structure; entrained about the first pulley system and the second pulley system and attached to the boom whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight and first pulley system to maintain the counterweight substantially level as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
83 words
The crane according to claim 2 further characterized by: a third pulley system attached to the boom; cable means extending from the counterweight entrained around the first pulley system and multiply wrapped about the second and third pulley systems whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight and first pulley system to compensate for the pivoting of the mast with the boom to maintain the counterweight substantially level as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
61 words
The crane according to claim 3 wherein the third pulley system is characterized by: a triangular structure having one corner rotatably attached to the underside of the boom, at least one pulley attached to a second corner thereof and a bearing surface on the third corner thereof for bearing against the underside of the boom as the boom is pivoted upwardly.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
124 words
A crane comprising: a base; a boom pivotally supported from the base for pivoting in a vertical plane, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counterweight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom; and means for rotating the counterweight relative to the boom such that the counterweight remains horizontal as the boom is pivoted on the base, said means comprising: a cable system interconnected between the boom and the counterweight such that pivoting of the boom actuates the cable system and hinges the counterweight at its point of connection to the boom to maintain the counterweight substantially horizontal as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
124 words
A crane comprising: a base; a boom pivotally supported from the base for pivoting in a vertical plane, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counterweight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom; and means for rotating the counterweight relative to the boom such that the counterweight remains horizontal as the boom is pivoted on the base, said means comprising: a cable system interconnected between the boom and the counterweight such that pivoting of the boom actuates the cable system and hinges the counterweight at its point of connection to the boom to maintain the counterweight substantially horizontal as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
165 words
A crane comprising: a base; a boom pivotally supported from the base for pivoting in a vertical plane, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counterweight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom; and means for rotating the counterweight relative to the boom such that the counterweight remains horizontal as the boom is pivoted on the base, said means comprising: a mast extending from the boom; a first pulley system attached to the end of the mast remote from the boom; a second pulley system attached to the base; cable means extending from the counterweight and entrained about the first pulley system and the second pulley system and attached to the boom whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight and first pulley system to maintain the counterweight level as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
165 words
A crane comprising: a base; a boom pivotally supported from the base for pivoting in a vertical plane, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counterweight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom; and means for rotating the counterweight relative to the boom such that the counterweight remains horizontal as the boom is pivoted on the base, said means comprising: a mast extending from the boom; a first pulley system attached to the end of the mast remote from the boom; a second pulley system attached to the base; cable means extending from the counterweight and entrained about the first pulley system and the second pulley system and attached to the boom whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight and first pulley system to maintain the counterweight level as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
82 words
The crane according to claim 6 further characterized by: a third pulley system attached to the boom; cable means extending from the counterweight entrained around the first pulley system and multiply wrapped about the second and third pulley systems whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight and first pulley system to compensate for the pivoting of the mast with the boom to maintain the counterweight level as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
The crane according to claim 7 wherein the third pulley system is characterized by: a triangular structure having one corner rotatably attached to the underside of the boom, at least one pulley attached to a second corner thereof and a bearing surface on the third corner thereof for bearing against the underside of the boom as the boom is pivoted upwardly.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
112 words
A crane comprising: a base; a boom pivotally supported from the base for pivoting in a vertical plane, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counterweight hingedly attached by a hinge connection to the second end of the boom; means for selectively moving the counterweight from an horizontal extended to a retracted position along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom and means for maintaining the counterweight horizontal whereby in the extended horizontal position of said counterweight, the counterweight remains horizontal as the boom pivots in said vertical plane.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
112 words
A crane comprising: a base; a boom pivotally supported from the base for pivoting in a vertical plane, the boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and attached to the base near the second end opposite the first end; a counterweight hingedly attached by a hinge connection to the second end of the boom; means for selectively moving the counterweight from an horizontal extended to a retracted position along a path substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the boom and means for maintaining the counterweight horizontal whereby in the extended horizontal position of said counterweight, the counterweight remains horizontal as the boom pivots in said vertical plane.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
27 words
The crane according to claim 9 wherein the boom is characterized by a frame structure which permits the counterweight to be retracted within the boom frame structure.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
27 words
The crane according to claim 9 wherein the boom is characterized by a frame structure which permits the counterweight to be retracted within the boom frame structure.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
27 words
The crane according to claim 9 further characterized by: means for prohibiting the crane from operating when the counterweight is intermediate of the extended and retracted positions.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
47 words
The crane according to claim 9 wherein the counterweight is characterized by: a longitudinal arm hingedly attached to the second end of the boom in the vertical plane of the boom; and a weight unit fixed at the end of the longitudinal arm remote from the boom.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
58 words
The crane according to claim 13 wherein the means for maintaining the counterweight horizontal comprises: a cable system interconnected between the boom and the counterweight such that pivoting of the boom actuates the cable sytem and hinges the counterweight at its point of connection to the boom to maintain the counterweight substantially horizontal as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
92 words
The crane according to claim 13 wherein the means for maintaining the counterweight horizontal incoudes: a mast extending from the boom; a first pulley system attached to the end of the mast remote from the boom; a second pulley system attached to the base; cable means extending from the counterweight and entrained about the first pulley system and the second pulley system and attached to the boom whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight substantially level as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
83 words
The crane according to claim 15 further characterized by: a third pulley system attached to the boom; cable means extending from the counterweight entrained around the first pulley system and multiply wrapped about the second and third pulley systems whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight and first pulley system to compensate for the pivoting of the mast with the boom to maintain the counterweight substantially level as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
61 words
The crane according to claim 16 wherein the third pulley system is characterized by: a triangular structure having one corner rotatably attached to the underside of the boom, at least one pulley attached to a second corner thereof and a bearing surface on the third corner thereof for bearing against the underside of the boom as the boom is pivoted upwardly.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
155 words
A crane for use on a base structure comprising: a boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and a second end pivotally attached to the base for supporting the boom therefrom; a mast extending upwardly from the boom intermediate the first and second ends of the boom and fixed relative to said boom; a counterweight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom; means for pivoting the boom upwardly and downwardly; first cable means extending from the mast to the boom for transmitting loads from the first end of the boom to the mast; second cable means extending from the counterweight to the mast for counter balancing loads exerted on the mast under the loading from the boom and means for varying the length of the second cable means in response to pivotal movement of the boom whereby the counterweight is maintained substantially level throughout the movement of the boom.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
155 words
A crane for use on a base structure comprising: a boom having a first end adapted for securing a load thereto and a second end pivotally attached to the base for supporting the boom therefrom; a mast extending upwardly from the boom intermediate the first and second ends of the boom and fixed relative to said boom; a counterweight hingedly attached to the second end of the boom; means for pivoting the boom upwardly and downwardly; first cable means extending from the mast to the boom for transmitting loads from the first end of the boom to the mast; second cable means extending from the counterweight to the mast for counter balancing loads exerted on the mast under the loading from the boom and means for varying the length of the second cable means in response to pivotal movement of the boom whereby the counterweight is maintained substantially level throughout the movement of the boom.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
36 words
The crane in accordance with claim 18 with the first cable means further characterized by at least two of the cable parts from the boom to the mast being diagonally inclined so that their paths cross.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
36 words
The crane in accordance with claim 18 with the first cable means further characterized by at least two of the cable parts from the boom to the mast being diagonally inclined so that their paths cross.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
46 words
The crane according to claim 18 wherein the counterweight comprises: a longitudinal arm hingedly attached to the second end of the boom in the vertical plane of the boom; and a weight unit fixed at the free end of the longitudinal arm remote from the boom.
Claim 28
Dependent Claim
92 words
The crane according to claim 18 wherein the means for varying the length of the second cable means includes: a first pulley system attached to the end of the mast remote from the boom; a second pulley system attached to the base structure third cable means for attaching the second cable to the boom and entrained about the first pulley system and the second pulley system to vary the length of the second cable means between the counterweight and the mast to maintain the counterweight substantially horizontal as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 29
Dependent Claim
84 words
The crane according to claim 22 further characterized by: a third pulley system attached to the boom, cable means extending from the counterweight entrained around the first pulley system and multiply wrapped between the second and third pulley systems whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the section of the cable means between the counterweight and the first pulley system to compensate for the pivoting of the mast with the boom to maintain the counterweight substantially horizontal as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
119 words
The crane according to claim 18 wherein the means for varying the length of the second cable means include a first pulley system attached to the end of the mast remote from the boom; a second pulley system attached to the base structure a third pulley system attached to the boom; third cable means extending from the second cable means about the first pulley system and multiply wrapped between the second and third pulley systems whereby pivoting of the boom varies the length of the second cable means between the counterweight and the first pulley system to compensate for the pivoting of the mast with the boom to maintain the counter weight substantially horizontal as the boom is pivoted.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
55 words
The crane according to claim 24 wherein the third pulley system is characterized by: a triangular structure having one corner pivotally attached to the boom; at least two pulleys attached to a second corner thereof and a bearing surface on the third corner thereof for bearing against the boom as the boom is pivoted upwardly.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
34 words
The crane according to claim 18 wherein the counterweight may be selectively moved along its longitudinal axis relative to the longitudinal axis of the boom from a fully extended to a fully retracted position.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
29 words
The crane according to claim 26 further characterized by: means for preventing operation of the crane when the counterweight is intermediate of the fully extended and fully retracted positions.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1982-09-24 | 1983-03-26 | 1983-09-25 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1986-09-24 | 1987-03-26 | 1987-09-25 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1990-09-24 | 1991-03-26 | 1991-09-25 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |