Kidde, Inc.

Kiddie, Inc.

Russell L Sterner

Reginald P Whittingham

An attachment jib for supporting various working devices, such as a pipe manipulator, includes a support base which can be rigidly coupled removably with existing elements on the nose block of a telescopic crane boom. The jib includes telescopic sections and its base section is pivotally mounted on the support base and is luffed by power cylinders on such base through a wide angle. The jib contains another power cylinder to control extension and retraction of its fly section carrying the working device. An optional work support platform pivotally connected to the support base may be used either with or without the jib.

Attachment jib for cranes

A massive crane luffing jib is held and loaded under compression atop the main crane boom such as a hydraulically extensible and retractable telescopic boom whose sections may be locked for safety. The luffing jib is pivoted to an adapter atop the boom to enable swinging the jib to a stowed position close to and along the front side of the boom. First, second and third masts are pivotally attached to the jib base section. The second and third masts are connected by foldable tension links. An upper foldable ladder in the pendant line between the point of the jib and bridle assembly forms a hard connection between the first and second masts. A lower foldable ladder including a gooseneck forms a hard connection between the second and third masts following automatic coupling of the gooseneck with the third mast after the tension link becomes fully extended. A safety backstop or stay connected between the luffing jib and the adapter on which it is mounted prevents rearward tipping over of the jib and activates a safety control switch operating mechanism. The several masts, tension links, folding ladders and backstays fold compactly onto the base section of the luffing jib for easy storage and transport without separation and misarrangement of parts. A bridle storage and lifting arrangement is also disclosed.

Luffing jib for construction crane

A self-contained power-operated manipulator for piping and the like is capable of coordinated movements which approximate those of the human arm and hand. Spaced pairs of cooperative opposing fixed and movable jaws on a common carrier structure can rotate in two directions around the axis of a main support to which the carrier structure is pivoted on crossing relationship. The carrier structure, with the attached pairs of jaws, can be swung in two directions through large angles around the pivot axis of the carrier structure. The pairs of jaws on the carrier structure can be rotated in unison around the axis of the carrier structure and the movable jaws of the opposing pairs can be rotated relative to the fixed jaws around the axis of the carrier structure. Separate power units are utilized for producing the several movements of the manipulator in a coordinated manner. The pipe manipulator can be attached to a crane boom jib or other support.

Pipe manipulator

To reduce the weight and increase the lifting capacity of a multi-section telescopic crane boom, a single hydraulic cylinder for the full extension and retraction of individual boom sections is anchored in the relatively stationary boom base section. A sled structure surrounding the single cylinder and moving therewith has guided engagement through plates fixed to the movable boom sections at or near their rear ends. Driving finger mechanisms on opposite sides of the sled are biased toward driving engagement with the plates of the movable boom sections and are retractable into chambers of the sled. A cooperative locking pin operating assembly for the movable boom sections is fixed on the forward end of the boom base section and includes power retracting devices which operate mating retracting cranks and locking pin sets individual to the movable boom sections when the retracting cranks are aligned beneath the power retracting devices. The movable boom sections are equipped near their outer and inner ends with locking receivers for said locking pins.

Growing community of inventors

Greencastle, PA, United States of America

Russell L Sterner