Patent · US Expired

Method and apparatus for controlling and operating a container crane or other similar cranes

US5909817A · kind A · utility

17Cited by
13References
12Claims
0Family size

Assignee

Inventors

Key dates

Filing dateOct 30, 1997
Grant dateJun 8, 1999
Priority date
Expiry dateOct 30, 2017

Classification

  • Technology area (CPC B)Performing Operations; Transporting
  • CPC primaryB66C13/063
  • WIPO fieldHandling
  • WIPO sectorMechanical engineering

Abstract

The crane comprises a generally horizontal boom or other supporting structure having at least one rail thereon, a trolley having a reversible drive for moving the trolley in either direction along the rail, a wire rope hoist suspended from the trolley, and a load carrying device suspended from the hoist for selectively grasping and releasing a freight container or some other load. The crane has a control system which causes the trolley drive to stop the trolley momentarily at a first stopping position. Due to the control system, the drive then restarts the trolley and stops it at a second stopping position directly over a transfer position where the load is to be delivered and released. If the load is a freight container, the transfer position may be directly over a cell of a container ship. The control system includes an encoder for determining the length of the pendulum comprising the trolley, the hoist, the load carrying device and the load. The stopping of the trolley at the first stopping position causes the load to swing forwardly into the first quarter of a pendulum swinging cycle. The control system includes means for adjusting the distance between the first and second stop…

Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.