Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc.

Nathan P Holly

Robert J Walker

Michael J Wanek

Feng Pan

A system and method for retaining a linear actuator on a crane component such as a mast is disclosed. In the system a retaining mechanism is mounted on either a body of the linear actuator or the crane component and a catch is mounted to the other of the body or the crane component. Retraction of a rod of the linear actuator causes a cap on the rod to contact the retaining mechanism, which causes the retaining mechanism to move into a latched configuration securing the linear actuator.

Cylinder retention device

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody having movable ground engaging members; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody; a boom pivotally mounted on the rotating bed; a first hoist drum mounted in a first frame connected to the rotating bed; a second hoist drum mounted in a second frame connected to the rotating bed. Connectors used to connect the load hoist drum frames to the rotating bed include engagement members and alignment surfaces such that as the two crane components are brought close to their operational position during an assembly operation, the engagement member and the alignment surface of the connectors come into contact with one another to guide the crane components into their operational orientation so that a main pin can be placed through the through-holes of the extensions of the connectors.

Connection system for crane components

A crane column segment connection system includes first and second column segments with a connector on the second end of the first segment mating with a connector on the first end of the second segment. The connectors each include at least one extension having a through-hole. The through-holes have an axis and are positioned in the extensions such that all through-holes of mating connectors are aligned when the column segments are aligned. In one aspect, the connectors include alignment surfaces cooperating such that when the first and second connectors are being brought together during column assembly, the alignment surfaces guide the column segments in two dimensions within a plane transverse to the axis of the through-holes into a relative position such that the through-holes through the extensions in the connectors are aligned.

Connection system for crane boom segments

The boom includes at least a first and second boom segment each with a longitudinal axis and a first and second end, the second end of the first segment being coupled to the first end of the second segment, and at least one first connector on the second end of the first segment respectively mating with at least one second connector on the first end of the second segment. The first connector includes a first alignment surface and the second connector includes a second alignment surface that engages with the first alignment surface such that when the first and second alignment surfaces are fully engaged, the apertures through the extensions in the connectors are aligned such that a main pin can be inserted through the apertures of all extensions in the first and second mating connectors even if the boom segments are not axially aligned. In another aspect of the invention, the connectors include stop surfaces, and the placement of the stop surfaces on the connectors is such that, when identical boom segments are positioned such that a main pin can be inserted through the apertures in the extensions of the connectors on some chords of the boom segments, the stop surfaces cooperate to align the apertures in the extensions of the connectors on other chords when the stop surfaces contact one another.

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New Franken, WI, United States of America

Nathan P Holly