Upper block
AssigneeMorris Material Handling, Inc.
InventorSteven Waisanen
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A crane having an upper block, a lower block, a drum, and two ropes. The upper block includes an equalizer having a yoke to which the ropes are connected. The connections between the ropes and the yoke include load cells that measure the forces carried by each of the ropes. The upper block includes a fail-safe system that prevents failure of the upper block in overload conditions.
Claims16
A crane having a drum, an upper block, a lower block, and at least two rope ends, the upper block comprising:
- an equalizer yoke pivotally mounted to a support wall of the upper block and having two load pins, each rope end being coupled to one of the load pins, and wherein the rope ends are substantially parallel to one another in a direction substantially perpendicular to a line running through the two load pins.
An equalizer for a crane having a drum, a lower block, an upper block, and at least two rope ends, the equalizer comprising:
- a support wall;
- and
- an equalizer yoke pivotally coupled to the support wall and including two load pins, each rope end being coupled to one of the load pins through a connection bracket, the connection bracket including a frame substantially surrounding and movable relative to the load pin and an adjustment screw threaded through a top wall of the frame, the adjustment screw having an end in engagement with the load pin, wherein rotation of the adjustment screw moves the frame relative to the load pin.
An equalizer for a crane having a drum, a lower block, an upper block, and at least two rope ends, the equalizer comprising:
- a support wall;
- an equalizer yoke pivotally coupled to the support wall and including two load pins, each rope end being coupled to one of the load pins;
- and
- a third pin mounted to the equalizer yoke and extending through a tapered slot in the support wall, the third pin being wedged in a tapered end of the tapered slot when the yoke pivots.
An upper block for an overhead crane, the upper block comprising:
- a guide frame;
- a support wall movably positioned within the guide frame;
- a hydraulic cylinder positioned between the guide frame and support wall;
- and
- a pressure relief valve connected to the hydraulic cylinder, the pressure relief valve opening if the fluid in the hydraulic cylinder exceeds a predetermined pressure value.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.