The Manitowoc Company, Inc.

Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc.

Manitowoc Crane Group, LLC

Manitowoc Cranes, LLC

Grove US LLC

Manitowoc Engineering Company

David J Pech

James G Morrow, Sr

Kenneth J Porubcansky

Joseph R Rucinski

Joel David Zick

Robert J Walker

Arthur G Zuehlke

Bronson E Foust

Alan E Pleuss

Charles E Wernecke

Michael J Wanek

Daniel E Beduhn

Charles R Wernecke

Terry W Kleppe

John M Lanning

Charles A Hunter, Ii

Norman J Kutz

William J O'Neil

Percy R Helm

Terry L Petzold

Wayne W Beebe

Jeff J Jeske

Larry Schweigl

Jay Borstad

John Lanning

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody, moveable ground engaging members, a rotating bed, a boom, a mast, and a backhitch. A linear actuation device is pivotally connected to the rotating bed and a moveable counterweight unit is coupled to the linear actuation device. A tension member is coupled to the mast and to one of the linear actuation device and the moveable counterweight unit. The linear actuation device is operable to move the moveable counterweight unit toward and away from the rotating bed during a pick, move, and set operation by extending the linear actuation device. The mobile lift crane is configured such that the moveable counterweight unit is never supported by the ground other than indirectly by the moveable ground engaging members on the carbody throughout all pick, move, and set operations.

Mobile lift crane with variable position counterweight

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody, movable ground engaging members, a rotating bed, and a boom. A first structure is pivotally coupled to the rotating bed. A second structure is pivotally coupled to the first structure at a first end of the second structure. A moveable counterweight unit is coupled to a second end of the second structure. A linear actuation device moves the moveable counterweight unit toward and away from the rotating bed during a pick, move, and set operation by retracting and extending the linear actuation device, respectively. The moveable counterweight unit is never supported by the ground other than indirectly by the moveable ground engaging members. The linear actuation device moves the movable counterweight unit a greater horizontal distance from the rotating bed than a distance of a stroke of the linear actuation device that causes the moveable counterweight unit to move.

A lift crane includes a carbody; a rotating bed comprising a counterweight support frame; a boom; a counterweight unit supported on the counterweight support frame in a moveable relationship with respect to the counterweight support frame; and a counterweight unit movement device connected between the rotating bed and the counterweight unit to move the counterweight unit toward and away from the boom. The crane is configured such that during crane operation, the moment generated by the counterweight unit acts on the rotating bed predominantly through the counterweight support frame. Alternatively, the crane can include a mast. In some embodiments the same basic crane is configured to be set-up with two different counterweight options, i) a counterweight unit directly supported on the counterweight support frame and ii) a counterweight support beam moveably connected to the remainder of the rotating bed and a counterweight unit supported on the counterweight support beam.

Lift crane with moveable counterweight

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 mobile lift crane includes a carbody; a rotating bed; a boom; a moveable counterweight unit; at least one linear actuation device; and at least one arm pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed and at a second end to the linear actuation device. The arm and linear actuation device are connected between the rotating bed and the counterweight unit such that extension and retraction of the linear actuation device changes the position of the counterweight unit compared to the rotating bed. In one method of operation, the counterweight unit is never supported by the ground during crane pick, move and set operations other than indirectly by the ground engaging members on the carbody.

A lift crane includes a carbody; moveable ground engaging members; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody; and a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed. The crane is configured for assembly in at least two configurations. In the first configuration, the crane further includes a live mast; a first counterweight support frame; and a first movable counterweight unit moveably connected to and supported by the first counterweight support frame. In the second configuration, the crane further includes a lattice mast; a second counterweight support frame; a moveable counterweight support beam coupled to the second counterweight support frame and operable to move relative to the second counterweight support frame; and a second moveable counterweight unit moveably connected to the moveable counterweight support beam.

A method of connecting sections of a crane suspension assembly together includes attaching a frame to a member of a first section; connecting a tension member between the frame and a connector used in the assembly; moving the tension member so that the connector pivots about a pin to a position where a second hole in the connector is in alignment with a hole in a second section member; putting a second pin through the hole in the connector and the hole through the second section member; and disconnecting the tension member from the connector. The method may also include attaching a frame with a winch to a section of the crane suspension assembly; connecting a line from the winch to the connector; activating the winch to move the connector so that it pivots about a pivot axis; and securing the connector in its second position.

Method of connecting crane suspension assembly sections together and frame mounted assembly used therefore

A connector for a column segment, such as a boom segment, of a crane includes n extensions, where n is a positive integer. Each extension has a first base and an aperture extends through the extension from a first side to a second side. The first connector also includes at least (n+y) plates, where y is selected from the group consisting of (&#x2212;1, +1) such that the sum of (n+y) is a positive integer. The plate or plates are positioned in and coupled to the extensions in an alternating arrangement. Each plate includes a plate base aligned substantially in a plane with the first base of the extension to form a first connector mounting surface. A plurality of welds couple the plates to the extensions and the fabricated connector is then welded to the column segment. At least one extension is formed of steel having a grain structure elongated in a direction of rolling that is substantially perpendicular to the first base.

Column connector system

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody; a rotating bed; a boom; and a moveable counterweight unit. The crane is configured such that the counterweight unit is never supported by the ground other than indirectly by moveable ground engaging members on the carbody throughout a pick, move and set operation. In a first aspect, the crane is operable to move the counterweight unit to at least a first position in front of a fixed rearmost portion of the rotating bed and a second position behind the fixed rearmost portion of the rotating bed. In a second aspect, the crane also includes a first linear actuation device operable to move the counterweight unit toward and away from the front portion of the rotating bed by extending and retracting the linear actuation device. The counterweight unit may be moved a greater distance than a stroke of the first linear actuation device.

A lift crane includes a carbody; ground engaging members elevating the carbody off the ground; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody; a boom pivotally mounted at a first end to the rotating bed with a load hoist line extending adjacent a second end of the boom; a boom hoist mechanism that can be used to change the angle of the boom relative to the rotating bed during crane operation; and a boom raising assist structure connected to the boom. The boom raising assist structure preferably includes at least one ground engaging member in contact with the ground; and a boom elevating member extending between the assist structure ground engaging member and the boom. The boom elevating member supports at least a part of the weight of the boom.

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Manitowoc, WI, United States of America

David J Pech