Floating crane apparatus
OwnerJames T. Triplettinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A floating crane apparatus is disclosed as including an annular float assembly comprising individual pontoon members detachably connected and interconnecting frame means which includes a bridge spanning a central opening in the annular float assembly by which a boom is operatively carried wherein the frame means includes foldable arms which may be folded with the pontoon members detached and nested beneath the bridge means to provide a configuration in which the floating crane apparatus may be transported. Propulsion means rotates the annular float assembly in a self-leveling manner to swing the boom laterally with reduced side loading.
Claims12
Floating crane apparatus comprising:
- an annular float assembly supporting said crane apparatus including pontoon means having a generally annular configuration which includes a medial opening;
- frame means carried by said pontoon means in said annular configuration;
- bridge means included in said frame means extending generally across said annular float assembly spanning said medial opening;
- boom means operatively carried by said bridge means and said float assembly for movement in a generally vertical plane;
- and
- propulsion means carried by said float assembly for rotating said float assembly thereby moving said hoist boom means laterally in a unitary manner;
- whereby a load may be laterally moved by said crane apparatus in a generally self-leveling manner with reduced side loading of said hoist boom means.
Floating crane apparatus for supporting and moving loads comprising:
- a plurality of pontoon members having detachable connection with one another;
- frame means interconnecting said pontoon member in an annular configuration to define a generally annular float assembly having a medial opening;
- bridge means included in said frame means extending generally between forward and aft pontoon members spanning said medial opening;
- boom means carried by said annular float assembly operatively connected to said bridge means for vertical pivotal movement;
- anchor pivot means carried by said float assembly adjacent said medial opening providing a pivot about which said annular float assembly turns;
- propulsion means carried by said annular float assembly for producing a rotational thrust and rotating said float assembly about said anchor means, thereby moving said float assembly and boom means in a unitary manner to swing said boom means laterally;
- and
- said frame means including movable arm members having a first position connected to said pontoon members in said annular configuration and a second position in which a number of said pontoon members are nested between said forward and aft pontoon members facilitating transportation of said floating crane apparatus;
- whereby a stable floating crane platform is provided affording reduced side loading of said boom means when loaded during lateral movement and which may be readily altered in configuration to facilitate transportation.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.