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US 12,466,703 B2Granted
Dynamic counterbalance adjustment for telescoping cranes
AssigneeChapman/Leonard Studio Equipment, Inc.
InventorsGraham Baskett, Charles L. Huenergardt
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A telescoping crane has an adjustable, pivoting payload, and a counterbalance mechanism that automatically compensates for the position of the telescoping crane and movement of the payload relative to the crane.
Claims22
A telescoping crane arm, comprising:
- a telescoping crane arm having an outer section and one or more telescoping inner sections;
- a counterweight carrier movable on the outer section, the counterweight carrier linked to at least one of the telescoping inner sections;
- an actuator for simultaneously moving at least one of the counterweight carrier and at least one of the telescoping inner sections in opposite directions;
- a payload at a first end of the crane arm;
- at least one sensor for sensing a position of the payload;
- an electric motor configured to apply torque to the outer section;
- and
- a computer controller electrically connected to the at least one sensor and to the electric motor, the computer controller controlling the electric motor to compensate for an imbalance due to movement of the payload.
5 more elements
A telescoping crane arm, comprising:
- an outer section and one or more telescoping inner sections;
- a primary counterweight linked to one of the inner sections, the primary counterweight movable on the outer section;
- a first actuator linked to the primary counterweight;
- a second actuator linked to a secondary counterweight;
- a payload at a first end of the crane arm;
- at least one sensor having an output used for sensing a position of the payload;
- and
- a computer controller electrically connected to the at least one sensor and to the second actuator, the computer controller configured to control the second actuator to apply torque to the outer section by moving the secondary counterweight, to compensate for an imbalance due to a change in position of a local center of mass of the payload.
5 more elements
A telescoping crane, comprising:
- a base;
- a telescoping crane arm pivotally attached to the base, the crane arm having an outer section and one or more telescoping inner sections;
- a payload at a first end of the telescoping crane arm;
- at least one sensor having an output used for sensing a position of the payload;
- an electric motor configured to apply torque to the outer section;
- and
- a computer controller electrically connected to the at least one sensor and to the electric motor, the computer controller controlling the electric motor to compensate for an imbalance due to movement of the payload.
4 more elements
A camera crane, comprising:
- a counterweight movable on a crane arm;
- an actuator for moving the counterweight;
- a payload at a first end of the crane arm;
- at least one sensor having an output used for sensing a position of the payload;
- an electric motor configured to apply torque to the crane arm;
- and
- a computer controller electrically connected to the at least one sensor and to the electric motor, the computer controller controlling the electric motor to compensate for an imbalance due to movement of the payload.
4 more elements
A telescoping crane arm, comprising:
- a base;
- a telescoping crane arm pivotally attached to the base, the crane arm having an outer section and one or more telescoping inner sections;
- a counterweight movable on the outer section;
- an actuator linked to the counterweight;
- a payload at a first end of the telescoping crane arm;
- a first sensor for measuring a weight of the payload;
- a second sensor for measuring an angle of the payload;
- and
- a computer controller electrically connected to the first sensor and to the second sensor, and to the actuator, the computer controller controlling the actuator to compensate for an imbalance due to movement of a local center of mass of the payload.
6 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.