The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Mar. 21, 2000
Filed:
Jan. 14, 1999
Steven F Naud, Lynn Haven, FL (US);
Max D Weber, Panama City Beach, FL (US);
Lei Lani Lucero, Hampton, VA (US);
J Dexter Bird, III, Hampton, VA (US);
Martin D Fink, Bethesda, MD (US);
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
A method is provided to automatically control a cranes's rider block lifte and taglines. Current position of the crane's rider block is determined in terms of its horizontal and vertical coordinates, as well as in terms of the inhaul angle of the liftline. A matrix is then generated that defines i) incremental change in the rider block's horizontal coordinate with respect to incremental change in each of the boom angle, a length of the liftline and a length of the taglines, ii) incremental change in the vertical coordinate with respect to incremental change in each of the boom angle and lengths of the liftline and taglines, and iii) incremental change in the sine of the inhaul angle with respect to incremental change in each of the boom angle and lengths of the liftline and taglines. A vector defining velocity criteria for the rider block is provided. The velocity criteria is defined in terms of horizontal motion of the rider block, vertical motion of the rider block and rate of change of the inhaul angle. The velocity criteria vector is multiplied by an inversion of the matrix to generate a control matrix that defines speed and direction of travel for the liftline and taglines. Movement of the liftline and taglines is controlled using the control matrix.