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US 12,486,144 B2Granted
Method and apparatus for controlling the location of a moveable crane
AssigneeMorgan Engineering Systems, Inc.
InventorsMark L Fedor, Steve D. Herron
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A laser positioning system is used in association with a crane within a manufacturing facility. The laser positioning system includes a laser source that is mounted on an immovable or non-moving wall or surface in the manufacturing facility. The laser source on the wall or surface ensures that the laser beam does not skew out of square relative to the movement of the crane to various locations in the facility.
Claims17
A system comprising:
- a structure having a fixed and non-moving wall or surface;
- rails installed within the structure;
- a crane within the structure that moves in a first direction above and parallel to at least a portion of the rails, and a hoist on the crane that moves in a vertical direction and the hoist is adapted to lift an object;
- a laser positioning system including a first laser source coupled to the fixed and non-moving wall or surface, and wherein the first laser source generates a first laser beam to determine a first distance between the first laser source and a first point on the crane;
- and
- anti-skew control logic that sends executable instructions to a processor for controlling one or more motors on the crane to cause at least one end of the crane to move in the first direction based on the first distance between the first laser source and the first point on the crane.
3 more elements
A system comprising:
- a structure having a fixed and non-moving wall or surface;
- a crane having a first end and a second end, wherein the crane is within the structure and is moveable in at least a first direction, and a hoist on the crane that moves in a vertical direction and the hoist is adapted to lift an object;
- and
- a laser positioning system including:
- a first laser source mounted to the fixed and non-moving wall or surface, wherein the first laser source generates a first laser beam to determine a first distance between the first laser source and the first end of the crane;
- a second laser source mounted to the fixed and non-moving wall or surface, wherein the second laser source generates a second laser beam to determine a second distance between the second laser source and the second end of the crane;
- anti-skew control logic to determine whether the first distance equals the second distance, wherein if it is determined that the first distance equals the second distance then the crane is classified as square and no action is taken, and if it determined that the first distance differs from the second distance then the crane is classified as skewed and a corrective action is taken to return the crane to square;
- wherein the corrective action includes a signal generated by the anti-skew control logic to initiate at least one motor on the crane to move one of the first end and the second end of the crane until the first distance equals the second distance.
5 more elements
A method comprising:
- generating a first laser beam in a first laser source coupled to a non-moving wall in a structure;
- directing the first laser beam to a first end of a bridge or crane inside the structure;
- determining with the first laser beam a first distance between the bridge or crane and a first point;
- generating a second laser beam in a second laser source coupled to the non-moving wall in the structure;
- directing the second laser beam to a second end of the bridge or crane inside the structure;
- determining with the second laser beam a second distance between the bridge or crane and a second point;
- determining whether the bridge or crane is square or skewed based on a relationship of the first distance and the second distance.
4 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.