Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc.

Bronson E Foust

David J Pech

Joseph R Rucinski

Joel David Zick

Charles E Wernecke

Kenneth J Porubcansky

Pech David J J

A lift crane includes a carbody and movable ground engaging members mounted on the carbody. A rotating bed is rotatably connected to the carbody and includes a counterweight support frame including a rack coupled directly to a lower surface of the rotating bed. A boom is pivotally mounted to the rotating bed. A counterweight unit includes a trolley, the counterweight unit being in a movable relationship with respect to the rotating bed. A counterweight unit movement device is configured to move the counterweight unit toward and away from the boom. Other embodiments include a counterweight support beam movably connected to the rotating bed, the counterweight support beam including another rack coupled to a lower surface of the counterweight support beam. A counterweight support beam movement device is connected between the counterweight support beam and the counterweight support frame.

Lift crane with improved movable counterweight

A pin puller is mounted between first and second connectors, preferably connectors on a lift crane, each of the connectors having a hole there though. The pin puller includes: a) first and second support frame members; b) a first pin with a first end located in the hole of the first connector and a second end inside the first support frame member; c) a second pin with a first end located in the hole of the second connector and a second end inside the second support frame member; d) at least one linear actuator connected to the first and second pins; and e) a length adjustment device between the first and second support frame members, with its length adjusted so as to force the first support frame member into contact with the first connector and the second support frame member into contact with the second connector.

Pin puller for crane connections

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody made from two side members and two end cross members connected to each other with a carbody connection that can be disconnected such that the side members and end cross members can be individually transported between job sites and reassembled at a new job site. Preferably the two side members are interchangeable with each other when making the carbody, and the two end cross members are also interchangeable with each other. Further, each of the side members and end cross members preferably has a section of a roller path and section of a ring gear attached to them while being transported and assembled.

Carbody connection system and crane using same

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody and at least four crawlers attached to the carbody, each crawler having a crawler frame attached to the carbody by a trunnion having an axis. The crawler frame is attached to the carbody so as to be able to pivot with respect to the carbody about the axis of the trunnion. The crane also includes a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the crawlers and a boom pivotally mounted on a front portion of the rotating bed. A linear actuator is connected between the crawler frame and the carbody and extends through the trunnion. The linear actuator is part of a self attachment mechanism. The trunnion includes a tubular member with a longitudinal axis, a first end configured for connection to the crane carbody and a second end configured for connection to the crawler frame. At least one of the ends is configured to allow rotational movement of the crawler frame relative to the carbody about the longitudinal axis. The linear actuator is mounted within the hollow central tubular member. The linear actuator is preferably a hydraulic cylinder. A carbody connector is attached to one end of the hydraulic cylinder, and a crawler frame connector is attached to the other end of the hydraulic cylinder.

Growing community of inventors

Manitowoc, WI, United States of America

Bronson E Foust