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US 6,549,139 B2Granted
Crane safety device and methods
OwnerJack B. Shaw, Jr.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An improved crane warning system which includes acceleration sensors, motion sensors, hydraulic sensors, remote communications and/or a camera. The crane warning system may include a crane warning device integrated into the ball of the crane.
Claims102
A crane warning system, comprising:
- a crane warning device for producing a perceptible warning signal;
- and
- a sensor coupled to an electro-mechanical component for moving the ball of the crane, such that the senor
- detects when the electro-mechanical component is actuated to move the ball of the crane, and
- activates the perceptible warning signal in response to detecting when the electro-mechanical component is actuated to move the ball of the crane.
2 more elements
A crane warning system, comprising:
- a crane warning device for producing a perceptible warning signal;
- and
- a sensor coupled to an electro-mechanical component for moving the ball of the crane, such that the sensor
- detects when the electro-mechanical component is actuated to move the ball of the crane, and
- activates the perceptible warning signal in response to detecting when the electro-mechanical component is actuated to move the ball of the crane, wherein the sensor activates the perceptible warning signal by wirelessly transmitting an electromagnetic signal to the crane warning device.
2 more elements
A crane warning system, comprising:
- a crane warning device for producing a perceptible warning signal;
- and
- one or more ultrasonic or laser ranging sensors positioned to detect movement of the ball of the crane, such that the one or more sensors
- detects when the ball of the crane is moving, and
- activates the perceptible warning signal of the crane warning device in response to detecting movement of the ball of the crane.
2 more elements
A crane warning device, comprising:
- a casing configured for attachment to a crane;
- a receiver for receiving an electromagnetic signal indicating that an electro-mechanical component of a crane has been actuated to move a ball of the crane, the receiver being contained within the casing;
- and
- a warning signal generator for generating a perceptible warning signal in response to the receiver receiving the electromagnetic signal indicating that an electro-mechanical component of the crane has been actuated to move the ball of the crane, the warning signal generator being contained within the casing.
1 more element
A crane warning device, comprising:
- a casing configured for attachment to a crane;
- a receiver for receiving an electromagnetic signal indicating that an electro-mechanical component of a crane has been actuated to move a ball of the crane, the receiver being contained within the casing;
- and
- a warning signal generator for generating a perceptible warning signal in response to the receiver receiving the electromagnetic signal indicating that an electro-mechanical component of the crane has been actuated to move the ball of the crane, the warning signal generator being contained within the casing,
- wherein the receiver receives a wireless electromagnetic signal indicating that an electro-mechanical component of a crane has been actuated to move a ball of the crane.
2 more elements
A crane, comprising:
- a ball,
- an electro-mechanical system for moving the ball;
- a sensor coupled to the electro-mechanical system for producing an activation signal when the electro-mechanical system is activated to move the ball;
- and
- a crane warning device for producing a perceptible warning signal in response to the sensor producing the activation signal.
2 more elements
A crane warning system, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each sensor being coupled to a different component of a hydraulic system of a crane and producing an activation signal when the coupled component of the hydraulic system is actuated to move a ball of the crane;
- and
- a crane warning device for producing a perceptible warning signal in response to one of the plurality of sensors producing an activation signal.
A crane warning system, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each sensor being coupled to a different component of a hydraulic system of a crane and producing an activation signal when the coupled component of the hydraulic system is actuated to move a ball of the crane;
- and
- a crane warning device for producing a perceptible warning signal in response to one of the plurality of sensors producing an activation signal,
- wherein at least one of the plurality of sensors wirelessly transmits the activation signal to the crane warning device.
1 more element
A crane warning system, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each sensor being coupled to a different component of a hydraulic system of a crane and producing an activation signal when the coupled component of the hydraulic system is actuated to move a ball of the crane;
- a crane warning device for producing a perceptible warning signal in response to one of the plurality of sensors producing an activation signal;
- and
- a crane warning device status monitor positioned in a cabin of the crane.
1 more element
A crane warning system, comprising:
- a plurality of sensors, each sensor being coupled to a different component of a hydraulic system of a crane and producing an activation signal when the coupled component of the hydraulic system is actuated to move a ball of the crane;
- and
- a crane warning device for producing a perceptible warning signal in response to one of the plurality of sensors producing an activation signal, wherein
- at least one of the plurality of sensors further detects a direction of motion of the ball of the crane;
- and
- the crane warning device produces a first perceptible warning signal in response to the at least one of the plurality of sensors detecting motion of the ball in a first direction, and produces a second perceptible warning signal different from the first perceptible warning signal in response to the at least one of the plurality of sensors detecting motion of the ball in a second direction.
3 more elements
A crane warning system, comprising:
- one or more sensors, each sensor being coupled to an electro-mechanical component for moving a ball of the crane, such that each of the one or more sensors
- detects when the coupled electro-mechanical component is actuated to move the ball of the crane, and
- generates an activation signal when the coupled electro-mechanical component is actuated to move the ball of the crane;
- one or more crane warning devices that generate a perceptible warning signal;
- and
- a central control device that activates the one or more warning devices to generate the perceptible warning signal in response to receiving an activation signal from the one or more sensors.
3 more elements
A method of warning of movement of a ball of a crane, comprising:
- receiving an activation signal indicating actuation of an electromechanical component for moving a ball of a crane;
- and
- in response to receiving the activation signal, generating a perceptible warning signal.
A method of warning of movement of a ball of a crane, comprising:
- receiving an activation signal indicating actuation of an electromechanical component for moving a ball of a crane;
- and
- if the activation signal further indicates actuation of an electromechanical component for moving a boom of a crane or a cable supporting a ball of the crane, then generating a first perceptible signal;
- and
- if the activation signal further indicates actuation of an electromechanical component for moving a cab of a crane, the generating a second perceptible signal different from the first perceptible signal.
2 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.