Rotary tower crane with vertically extendable and retractable load maneuvering boom
AssigneeRokenbok Toy Company
InventorsJeffrey A. Mammano, Daniel J. Aldred
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A slewing unit mounted to the upper end of a tower rotates a combination jib and counterjib which extends in a horizontal direction about a vertical axis. A first electrical drive unit powers the slewing unit to rotate the jib to a selected angular position relative to the tower. A trolley is movable longitudinally along the jib. A second electrical drive unit moves the trolley to a selected longitudinal position along the jib. A third electrical drive unit mounted on the trolley extends and retracts a rigid elongate load lifting boom in a vertical direction. A load handler, such as a hook, clam-shell bucket or load lifting platform, is connected to the lower end of the boom.
Claims21
A tower crane, comprising:
- a tower extending in a vertical direction;
- a jib extending in a horizontal direction;
- a counterjib extending in the horizontal direction;
- a slewing unit mounted to an upper end of the tower for powered rotation of the jib and the counterjib about a vertical axis;
- a first electrical drive unit for powering the slewing unit to rotate the jib to a selected angular position relative to the tower;
- a trolley movable longitudinally along the jib;
- a second electrical drive unit for moving the trolley to a selected longitudinal position along the jib;
- a load lifting boom;
- a third electrical drive unit mounted on the trolley for extending and retracting the boom in the vertical direction;
- and
- a load handler mounted to a lower end of the boom.
A radio-controlled toy rotary tower crane, comprising:
- a tower extending in a vertical direction;
- a jib extending in a horizontal direction;
- a counterjib having an inner end connected to an inner end of the jib and extending in the horizontal direction;
- a trolley movable along the jib;
- a slewing unit mounted to an upper end of the tower for powered rotation of the jib and the counterjib about the vertical axis;
- a first electrical drive unit for powering the slewing unit to rotate the jib and the counterjib to a selected angular position relative to the tower;
- a second electrical drive unit for moving the trolley to a selected longitudinal position along the jib;
- an elongate rigid load maneuvering boom configured with a plurality of equally longitudinally spaced openings;
- a third electrical drive unit mounted on the trolley for extending and retracting the load maneuvering boom in a vertical direction;
- a control circuit having an RF receiver for receiving commands for independently energizing the first, second and third electrical drive units, the control circuit including a plurality of batteries for selectively energizing the first, second and third electrical drive units, the batteries being mounted in the counterjib to provide a counterweight to a load lifted by the load maneuvering boom;
- a key socket connected to the control circuit for receiving a key to allow the control circuit to be selected and thereafter commanded via a hand-held control pad that causes a central station to send predetermined selection and control commands;
- and
- a load handler mounted to a lower end of the load maneuvering boom, the load handler being selected from the group consisting of a clam-shell bucket, a load lifting platform and a claw trap.
A crane, comprising:
- a jib extending in a horizontal direction;
- a trolley movable along the jib in a longitudinal direction;
- a first drive unit for moving the trolley to a selected longitudinal position along the jib;
- an elongate rigid load maneuvering boom;
- a second drive unit mounted on the trolley for extending and retracting the boom in a vertical direction;
- and
- a load handler mounted to a lower end of the boom.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.