# US 7,743,870 B2 · Crane > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 7,743,870 B2 - Document ID: US7743870B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 11/527,671 - Filed: 2006-09-27 - Published: 2007-05-17 - Granted: 2010-06-29 - Earliest claimed: 2005-09-28 - Assignees: KCI Konecranes PLC - Inventors: Hannu Oja - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US7743870B2 ## CPC - B62D 7/1509: {with different steering modes, e.g. crab-steering, or steering specially adapted for reversing of the vehicle} - B62D 7/026: {characterised by comprising more than one bogie, e.g. situated in more than one plane transversal to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle} - B66C 9/04: to facilitate negotiation of curves - B66C 19/005: {Straddle carriers (B66C19/007 takes precedence)} - B66C 19/007: {for containers} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) ## Abstract The invention relates to a crane comprising bogie structures (3) in the corners of the crane, a tandem drive wheel and idle wheel (8, 9) arranged in each bogie structure and provided to turn in the bogie structure offset from their vertical axes, and a turning device arrangement (15, 16) provided between each wheel pair for turning the wheel pair in cooperation to a selected position, the turning device arrangement comprising at least two turning rods (15, 16) connecting the wheels, which turning rods are connected to counterparts (17, 18, 19, 20) provided for each turning position or function in load-bearing structures (10, 11) of the wheels (8, 9) and turning along therewith, whereby at one wheel the position of the turning rods or the counterparts in the load-bearing structure is slidable around the load-bearing structure, yet the one of the counterparts or turning rods that corresponds to the selected turning position may be locked with a locking mechanism (21, 22, 23, 24) immobile with respect to the load-bearing structure for enabling wheel turning. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A crane comprising: bogie structures in the corners of the crane, two wheels arranged in tandem in each bogie structure, each of the wheels being arranged in the bogie structure to be turnable about its own vertical axis, and being offset from its own vertical axis, and one wheel being a drive wheel and another being an idle wheel, a mechanism that drives and turns each drive wheel, and a turning device arrangement provided between each wheel pair for turning the wheel pair in co-operation to a selected position, wherein the turning device arrangement comprises at least two turning rods connecting the wheels, which turning rods are connected to counterparts provided for each turning position in load-bearing structures of the wheels and turning along therewith, wherein one of the turning rods is arranged to turn the wheels in the same direction and another of the turning rods is arranged to turn the wheels in opposite directions, whereby at one wheel the position of one of the turning rods and the counterparts in the wheel's load-bearing structure is slidable around the load-bearing structure, yet the one of the counterparts and turning rods that corresponds to the selected turning position may be locked with a locking mechanism immobile with respect to the load-bearing structure for enabling wheel turning, wherein the turning rods are secured to fastenings in the load-bearing structures of the wheels, which fastenings are able to slide or rotate at one wheel about the load-bearing structure thereof, yet the one of the fastenings that corresponds to the selected turning position may be locked with a locking mechanism immobile to the load-bearing structure for enabling wheel turning. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The crane of claim 1, wherein the crane comprises a frame structure whose lower part includes two parallel lower girders at the opposite ends thereof and that the bogie structures are arranged at both ends of either lower girder. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The crane of claim 1, wherein the lockable fastenings are plates arranged in superposition around the load-bearing structures and that the locking mechanism comprises a protrusion arranged in the load-bearing structure between the plates and including a locking pin that moves vertically therethrough and fits in holes in the plates, for locking optionally one or other of the plates to the protrusion. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The crane of claim 1, wherein the turning rod lockings, which allow selection of different turning positions, are implemented in idle wheels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The crane of claim 1, wherein the turning rod lockings, which allow selection of different turning positions, are implemented in drive wheels.