i Reusable cable tie By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT The invention relates to a tie and a method for tying at least one object. More particularly, the tie has a strip, which includes a tip, a connecting end opposite the tip and a plurality of teeth arranged on the strip between the tip and the connecting end, and a plurality of locking members, which are connected to the connecting end of the strip. Each of the locking members includes an opening for passage of the strip therethrough and a locking tab for engaging at least one of the teeth so as to allow the strip to move through the opening of a corresponding one of the locking members only in one direction. The method includes the steps of placing the tie around at least one object; passing the strip through the opening of a first one of the locking members in the one direction such that the tie wraps around the at least one object; and disconnecting the first one of the locking members from the connecting end of the strip while leaving at least another one of the locking members connected to the connecting end such that the tie can be reused for tying another object. Full Article
i Electrical connector crimping plier tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A plier tool for crimping electrical connectors to wires includes two plier handles that are pivotally connected together by a pivotal coupling that allows for rotation of the handles, towards and away from one another. The two plier handles each have gripping portions that are graspable by a user to rotate the plier handles about the axis of rotation. A crimping die is located on each plier handle, at an end opposite of the gripping portion thereof, and rotation of the plier handles causes the crimping dies to be moved towards and away from one another between engaging and non-engaging positions. The crimping die, together, define an opening that is configured to receive an electrical connector in a manner that positions the electrical connector in an endwise direction that is generally perpendicular to the axis of rotation. Full Article
i Cable preparation tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present disclosure describes various embodiments of devices for preparing cables, such as devices for pulling back the shield on an end portion of a coaxial cable to prepare the end portion for attachment to a connector. A coaxial cable, with an exposed central conductor, a dielectric insulator, and a shield (e.g., a metallic shield) can be inserted into a bore of a shield pull-back device configured in accordance with the present disclosure. As the cable is inserted into the bore, one or more gripping members can engage the cable shield and pull it back evenly without damaging the central conductor or the dielectric insulator. Full Article
i Machine for tying plants, in particular the branches of vines By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A machine (1) for tying vegetation, in particular vine, raspberry or similar branches, including a unit (4) for lifting up the branches, an element (5) for supplying tying-up wires (50) and members (7, 8) for binding the tying-up wires. These binding members include two pivoting arms (7, 8) that are mounted to pivot around vertical axes (A) and be moved by jacks. One of the arms (7) comprises an on-board tie magazine (71) that is arranged in the extension of a tying head (72), and the other arm (8) includes an insertion head (82) cooperating with the tying head (72) when the arms (7, 8) are in a working position in order to fit the tie (60) on the tying-up wires (50). Full Article
i Reinforcing bar binding machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Jun 2014 08:00:00 EDT A reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with a cutting die having a wire through hole which penetrates through the die along a direction in which a wire is fed out, a blade portion adapted to move along an open plane of an opening at one end of the wire through hole to cut a terminating end portion of the wire which has passed through the wire through hole and an engagement portion adapted to be brought into engagement with a portion of the wire which lies in the vicinity of the terminating end portion thereof when the blade portion is rotated so as to bend to hold the portion lying in the vicinity of the terminating end portion. Full Article
i Servo-controlled three axis wire straightening device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 01 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A wire straightener comprises a wire feed path, a first set of rollers disposed in a first plane along the wire feed path, a second set of rollers disposed in a second plane along the wire feed path, the first and second planes being substantially perpendicular to one another, a first motor operable to adjust a position of at least one of the rollers of the first set of rollers when actuated, and a second motor operable to adjust a position of at least one of the rollers of the second set of rollers when actuated. Full Article
i System for preparing pre-assembled hanger supports By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 22 Jul 2014 08:00:00 EDT A system for preparing a pre-assembled hanger support. The system includes a bending tool operable to form a bight in the distal end of a structural wire, the bight having a transverse tail extending away from the shaft of the structural wire. The system also includes a wrapping tool having a drive rotor with a clip attachment interface that removably supports a hanger clip and provides selective rotation of the hanger clip and the structural wire, a wire support brace that supports the shaft of the structural wire in substantial alignment with the axis of rotation of the drive rotor, and a tail stop positioned to restrain the rotation of the transverse tail. The hanger clip is supported about the structural wire and positioned within the bight, and together the hanger clip and structural wire are installed onto the clip attachment interface, so that selective rotation of the drive rotor rotates the hanger clip and shaft of the structural wire causing the restrained transverse tail to wrap around the shaft and secure the hanger clip within an eyelet formed in the structural wire, thereby forming the pre-assembled hanger support. Full Article
i Lead pin correction device and lead pin correction method By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT A lead pin correction device includes a holding unit holding an electronic device having lead pins; a pressing unit pressing the electronic device held by the holding unit in an extending direction of the lead pins; and a correction fixture including holes having a shape corresponding to a shape of the lead pins after correction. Further, the shape of the lead pins is corrected so as to fit the shape of the holes by inserting the lead pins into the holes by pressing the electronic device with the pressing unit while distal ends of the lead pins are inserted into the holes, the electronic device being held by the holding unit. Full Article
i Manufacture of coil springs By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus is disclosed for the manufacture of a coil spring from a wire. The apparatus comprises first and second tools for contacting the wire prior to, and/or during, deformation of the wire into a coil spring. The apparatus includes means for applying an electrical potential difference between the first and second tools such that an electric current is caused to flow through at least part of the wire during use. Full Article
i Rectifying device of vehicle alternator By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 12 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT A highly reliable rectifying device of a vehicle alternator capable of improving the vibration resistance of a diode. A connection lead 33d of a diode 33 included in a rectifying device includes a linear part 33f extended in parallel from a metallic base 33b, and a bent part 33g bent 90° or more substantially like an arc from the linear part 33f. The bending radius R of the bent part 33g is set to a value larger than a separation distance w in a horizontal direction between the terminal of the linear part 33f and the distal part of the connection lead 33d. Full Article
i Assembly for assisting the removal from storage and transfer of wire By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 26 Aug 2014 08:00:00 EDT An assembly for moving wire from one point to a second point distant from the first point. The assembly comprises a first unit comprising a wire straightener and a second unit that moves the wire through the assembly. Full Article
i Method and apparatus for manufacturing stator coil for electric rotating machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A method of manufacturing a stator coil for an electric rotating machine includes the steps of: (1) forming substantially planar electric wires each of which includes in-slot portions to be received in slots of a stator core and turn portions to be located outside the slots to connect adjacent pairs of the in-slot portions; (2) rolling each of the planar electric wires through plastic deformation into a spiral or circular-arc shape; and (3) assembling the rolled electric wires together to form the stator coil. Further, in the rolling step, each of the planar electric wires is rolled by deforming each of the turn portions of the electric wire while restricting movement of at least one of the in-slot portions of the electric wire which is located closer to a rolling start end of the electric wire than the turn portion is. Full Article
i Apparatus and method for forming wire By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT An apparatus and method for forming a single strand wire with improved flexibility and a stranded cable from a single strand wire. In one embodiment, the flexible single strand wire has a solid, single strand wire body and at least one helical groove formed on an outer circumferential surface of the wire body. The stranded cable includes a plurality of strands. In one embodiment, one of the strands has a planar surface that extends along a longitudinal axis of the cable body. Full Article
i Hand-strung jewelry construction board By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A hand-strung jewelry construction board. A plurality of holes is drilled into the board. One or more pins are inserted into the holes. Also, one or more clamps are inserted into the holes. A jewelry string is looped around the pins and clamped in position by the clamps. In a preferred embodiment, second and third strings are wrapped around the jewelry string adjacent the pins at each end of the jewelry string. The second and third wrapped strings are glued into place. When the jewelry string is removed from the jewelry construction board, permanent loops are formed into the jewelry string. Full Article
i Tissue fastner production method and tissue fastener By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A tissue fastener production method of clamping two living tissues together by bringing the two living tissues into close contact includes the following steps: fixing one end of a wire material made of a metal to a shaft body, and winding the wire material around an outer periphery of the shaft body while twisting the wire material round an axis of the wire material, thereby forming a coil on which a predetermined force is exerted in the winding direction; heat treating the wire material to impart superelasticity thereto; and deforming the wire material to which the superelasticity is imparted in a range in which the wire material is elastically deformable, and reversing the winding direction of the coil in a direction reverse to the winding direction of the coil wound in the step of forming the coil so as to obtain an initial tension corresponding to the predetermined force. Full Article
i Windable steel net reinforcement structure By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT The present invention relates to a steel net reinforcement structure which is used for a conveyer belt or a shutter screen. The steel net reinforcement structure comprises: a steel net including hooks projecting from both sides thereof; a reinforcement including a slit cut open along a diagonal direction on both sides thereof; and a steel core which can lock the hooks which are inserted on both inner sides of the reinforcement. The steel net reinforcement structure can be wound conveniently and flexibly while reinforcing strength of the steel net. Full Article
i Bead wire winding and forming device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 23 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT In a bead wire winding and forming device, a guide mechanism guiding a bead wire to a former is supported to be movable in a tangential direction of the former and includes a movable body capable of clamping and unclamping the bead wire, a guide body supported on the movable body to be swingable in a plane parallel to a rotational axis of the former and having a guide portion for guiding the bead wire in the tangential direction of the former, and a restriction member for allowing the swing motion of the guide body when the movable body is at a retracted position but for restricting the swing motion of the guide body when the movable body is at an advanced position. Full Article
i Machine for binding reinforcement bars By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Sep 2014 08:00:00 EDT A machine for forming a two-stage wire tie around a pair of bars to bind the bars together. The machine comprises an arrangement for passing the wire in a loop around the bars and a twisting head for twisting the ends of the loop together. The twisting head comprises an arrangement for gripping the ends of the wire and a tie plate through which the ends of the wire pass, and the head is resiliently mounted relative to the bars so as to allow the tie plate to move through a predetermined amount of travel towards the bars, to thereby define the length of a first stage of the tie. The machine is adapted thereafter to release the ends of the wire and continue twisting these to form a second stage of the tie. Full Article
i Method and apparatus for rolling electric wire for stator coil of electric rotating machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT Disclosed is an apparatus for rolling a substantially planar electric wire by more than one turn into a spiral shape. The apparatus includes an inner pressing member having an outer surface, an intermediate pressing member having radially inner and outer surfaces, and an outer pressing member having an inner surface. The inner and intermediate pressing members together press a first part of the electric wire between the outer surface of the inner pressing member and the inner surface of the intermediate pressing member, thereby plastically deforming the first part to extend along the outer surface of the inner pressing member. The intermediate and outer pressing members together press a second part of the electric wire between the outer surface of the intermediate pressing member and the inner surface of the outer pressing member, thereby plastically deforming the second part to extend along the outer surface of the intermediate pressing member. Full Article
i Electric wire or cable By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT There is provided an aluminum-alloy material having sufficient electric conductivity and tensile strength as a wiring material and excellent in wire-drawing property, and an electric wire or cable using the same. An electric wire or cable includes an aluminum-alloy strand formed of an aluminum-alloy including Fe: 0.1% by mass or more to less than 1.0% by mass, Zr: 0 to 0.08% by mass, Si: 0.02 to 2.8% by mass, at least one of Cu: 0.05 to 0.63% by mass and Mg: 0.04 to 0.45% by mass, and the remainder being aluminum and unavoidable impurities. Full Article
i Wire loading magazine for twist attachment device By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 07 Oct 2014 08:00:00 EDT A wire loading magazine for a twist attachment device includes a magazine assembly adapted to carry a supply of attachment wire segments and a wire loading assembly carried by the magazine assembly and adapted to individually and sequentially load the attachment wire segments from the magazine assembly into the twist attachment device. Full Article
i Plain woven stents By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Methods for treating femoro-popliteal artery of a patient include delivering a self-expanding, woven stent from a delivery system. The methods may include delivering a guidewire to a lesion in the femoro-popliteal artery stem over the guidewire. Full Article
i Device for producing a loop on one end of a coil spring By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A device for producing a loop at the end of a coil spring has a gripping unit with gripper jaws for retaining the spring in a processing position. The gripping unit is movable to and from the processing position and at least one section of an end turn of the spring protrudes over the gripper jaws. A first slewing gear unit has an output shaft and a coupling section for detachable coupling of a tool for the forming of a loop on the spring through upward bending of the end turn section protruding over the gripper jaws. A counter block attached laterally to the travel direction of the gripping unit is movable over the section of the end turn of the spring protruding over the gripper jaws and has a bending edge as a bending form for producing a loop with the tool. Full Article
i Winding mandrel for vasoocclusive coils By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 16 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST The winding mandrel includes a pair of generally rounded-cube shaped or orthogonally flat-sided spherical main bodies connected together and having a plurality of cylindrical posts for forming vasoocclusive coils. The main bodies are connected together by a transition post, and the posts of the two main bodies are typically offset. A front end post and back end post are disposed on the front and rear ends of the mandrel. A short winding post member may be added between the connections of the two main bodies to provide additional winding posts. Full Article
i Wire feed pressure lock system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 30 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A pressure lock system passes a wire along a wire path from a wire source at a high pressure first region to a destination at a low pressure second region. The pressure lock system includes a pressure lock chamber. A first conduit has an interior positioned to pass the wire along the path and is mounted for rotation. A second conduit has an interior positioned to pass the wire from the pressure lock chamber and is also mounted for rotation. A motor may drive rotation of the first conduit and the second conduit. Pumps may maintain a pressure of the pressure lock chamber lower than a pressure of the first region. Full Article
i Wire coloring apparatus includng a roller By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A wire coloring apparatus including a roller is provided to prevent drag of a colorant, which is jetted on an electric wire and not dried yet, the guide roller is arranged at a downstream side of a coloring nozzle, which jets a colorant toward a highest point of an outer surface of the electric wire moving along a lengthwise direction thereof, in a moving direction of the electric wire. The guide roller is formed with a pair of tapered surfaces catching and supporting the electric wire and approaching to each other in accordance with nearing to a rotating axis. When a radius REW of the electric wire 3 is 1.2 mm, an angle θT formed by the pair of tapered surfaces is designed at least 60 degrees and not more than θX degrees. Full Article
i Fence stay drill bit By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 13 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST The present invention is a fence stay drill bit used along with a drill to install and uninstall fence stays more efficiently. The present invention further encompasses a method of installing and uninstalling fence stays using the present invention. The present invention has a drill bit extrusion and an elongated body which houses a slot and a recess. In the preferred embodiment, the elongated body has a cylindrical body which is a safety feature in preventing the present invention from accidentally attaching itself onto objects in the surrounding during use. The elongated body is also attached to a large fillet and a stay receiving lip. Both the recess and the stay receiving lip help guide a tip of a fence stay into the slot therein. The slot has a cavity which traps and stabilizes the tip of fence stay while the present invention is rotated by the drill. Full Article
i Power tool for stainless steel metal locking ties By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 20 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST A power tool for installing a metal locking tie is disclosed. The power tool includes a body and a power chassis. The body of the tool includes a gear carrier, a tensioning mechanism and a cutting mechanism. The gear carrier is positioned in the tool body and the tensioning mechanism is mounted in the gear carrier. The cutting mechanism engages the gear carrier. As the tie is tensioned, the gear carrier moves linearly in the tool body to cut the tensioned tie. Full Article
i Apparatus and methods for filament crimping and manufacturing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 27 Jan 2015 08:00:00 EST Apparatus and methods for filament crimping. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a body and a filament crimp element. The filament crimp element comprises a first set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a first set of features and a second set of cavities disposed at a spacing which creates a second set of features. The first and second set cavities are substantially opposite one another. The first set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the second set of cavities and the second set of features are adapted to be placed at least partially within the first set of cavities. Methods and apparatus for the manufacture of the device are also disclosed. In addition, methods for automated placement and manufacture of assemblies using the crimp elements are also disclosed. Full Article
i Device for internal flaw magnification during wire drawing By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 03 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A device for use as an adjunct in assuring that a manufactured wire is substantially free of internal flaws. A plurality of successively adjacent wire bending stations are provided, where each station includes means for bending the wire into bending planes which are different for each of the stations. The wire is passed through the successive stations, whereby the different bending planes at each station subject the wire at each station to tensile bending strain at portions of the wire cross-section which are different for each station. As a result the probability is increased that a given internal flaw in the wire will be exposed to the tensile bending strain condition as the wire passes through the successive stations, increasing likelihood of breakage of the wire at the flaw or of flaw magnification to improve detection of the flaw during subsequent wire inspections. Full Article
i Cable tie tensioning and cut-off tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A hand held tool for the tensioning and severing of cable ties, including reciprocating means for tensioning the cable tie tail, locking means to prevent further tensioning upon the attainment of a preselected tension level in the tie tail, and severing means to sever the tie tail from the cable tie head. Full Article
i Twisted ribbon wire guidewire coil By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A medical guidewire having distal tip coil that includes a twisted ribbon wire construction. The distal tip coil is mounted to the distal end of the distal core section of the guidewire. The coil is made from a flat ribbon wire with a polygonal, preferably rectangular, cross-section that is twisted along the length of the wire. The twisted, flat ribbon wire creates a tip coil that has a roughened, undulating surface at the outer circumference that, whether coated or bare, is perceptible to the physician or cardiologist when pushing or torquing the guidewire in an interventional procedure. Full Article
i Cable tie tensioning and cut-off tool By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 24 Feb 2015 08:00:00 EST A hand held tool for the tensioning and severing of cable ties, including reciprocating means for tensioning the cable tie tail, locking means to prevent further tensioning upon the attainment of a preselected tension level in the tie tail, and severing means to sever the tie tail from the cable tie head. Full Article
i Wire straightening apparatus By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 17 Mar 2015 08:00:00 EDT A straightening apparatus for straightening wires comprises an entry-side roll arrangement and an exit-side roll arrangement, which are arranged so that a wire that is to be straightened, viewed in a transport direction, arrives between rolls of the entry-side roll arrangement in the straightening apparatus and, after passing between rolls of the exit-side roll arrangement, leaves the straightening apparatus, a distance between two rolls of the exit-side roll arrangement being settable. Furthermore, a pre-definable force F acts on the wire perpendicular to the transport direction between two rolls of the entry-side roll arrangement. Full Article
i Reinforcing bar binding machine By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 14 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A reinforcing bar binding machine is provided with a device for detecting a power supply voltage during a binding wire twisting step subjected to the heaviest load and comparing the power supply voltage with a predetermined CPU operation voltage, and a control device for driving a motor in a reverse direction when the voltage has dropped below the predetermined CPU operation voltage. The power supply voltage during operation is monitored, and twisting operation is suspended before the voltage drops below the CPU operation voltage, whereby the binding wire twisting mechanism is returned to the initial position. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the binding wire twisting mechanism from being stopped while grasping the binding wire, when the CPU stops. Full Article
i Protective metal netting with interwoven wires, and a machine and a method for its manufacture By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 28 Apr 2015 08:00:00 EDT A protective metal netting comprises a plurality of longitudinal metal wires or cables (10) side by side, each interwoven with at least one adjacent longitudinal wire or cable (10) in an interweave portion (24), in which at least one of the metal wires or cables (20) has an almost rectilinear development, or in any case with loops that are less pronounced than the lower-strength neighboring cables. A machine for manufacturing interwoven metal nettings comprises a cylindrical drum (50), on the outer surface of which a plurality of pins (52) protruding radially and arranged in axial rows at equal angular intervals is fixed, with an equal pitch in all the rows. Some pins (54) present on the cylindrical drum (50) are fitted out-of-alignment with respect to the above-mentioned pitch. Full Article
i Guide wire By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 19 May 2015 08:00:00 EDT A guide wire includes a wire body having a first wire disposed at a distal end and a second wire joined to a proximal end of the first wire at a joint by welding. The joint is curved. In the joint, at least one component (e.g., Ti) of the material of the first wire decreases toward the proximal end and at least one component (e.g., Fe) of the material of the second wire decreases toward the distal end. When a tensile test is conducted on a region of the wire body including the joint, the region of the wire body has, in a tensile load and elongation diagram, an elastic section extending substantially straight upwardly to the right, a yield section extending substantially horizontally or upwardly to the right from the elastic section, and a substantially straight section extending upwardly to the right from the yield section. Full Article
i Drilling rig mast lift systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Systems and methods for rig assembly and for erecting a mast of a rig and such systems with roller apparatus to facilitate movement of a mast section from a mover. In a first embodiment, the method includes erecting a rig mast section on a substructure, the substructure including a first substructure box spaced-apart from a second substructure box, the first substructure box comprising a first upper box above a first lower box and the second substructure box comprising a second upper box above a second lower box. Full Article
i Vehicle crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A vehicle crane—in particular an articulated-arm crane—includes a lifting arm and one or more articulated arms, and the geometry of the crane arms can be changed with respect to one another. A load cable can be guided or is guided on the crane arms. A compensation device allows the tension in the load cable to be controlled or regulated upon a change in the geometry of the crane arms with respect to one another. Full Article
i Hoisting systems and methods By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 04 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST Embodiments of the present disclosure generally pertain to hoisting methods for vehicles, such as UH-60 Black Hawk helicopters (“Black Hawks”). An external hoist arm system in accordance with an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure is configured to be temporarily mounted to the outside of a vehicle. The hoist arm system is further configured to support a hoist and position the hoist above an external door of the vehicle. A rotatable adjustment member is used to adjust an angular position of the hoist relative to the vehicle. Full Article
i System for measuring length of a beam extension and detecting support By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST An extendable beam measurement system includes a support; a beam mounted on the support and movable with respect to the support along an axis of movement; a series of sensory points mounted along either the beam or the support in an orientation that is not parallel to the axis of movement of the beam; and a sensor attached to the other of the beam or the support in a direction that crosses the series of sensory points at different positions during movement of the beam along said axis. The sensor generates a first signal varying as the beam is moved along the axis to thereby provide a signal indicating the position of the beam with respect to the support. The system is useful on an outrigger for supporting a crane. Optionally the system can provide a second signal indicative of whether a jack on the outrigger is contacting a support surface and supporting the crane. Alternatively, the system used to optionally generate the second signal can be used by itself to indicate whether a jack is supporting the crane, even if the beam extension is not measured. Full Article
i Method and device for hoisting an item by means of a crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 11 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A method and a device for hoisting an item at sea with a hoisting device comprises moving the item between a plurality of different height levels. In addition, the method comprises alternately supporting the load of the item with a first hoisting rope and a second hoisting rope while moving the item between the plurality of different height levels. Further, the method comprises arranging the first hoisting rope and the second hoisting rope to extend in parallel along at least part of the distance between the item and the hoisting device. Still further, the method comprises releasably connecting the first hoisting rope to the second hoisting rope. Moreover, the method comprises suspending the second hoisting rope from a hanger when the second hoisting rope is supporting the load of the item. The method also comprises connecting the hanger to an arm of the hoisting device. Full Article
i Counterweight suspension device and mobile crane By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 18 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A counterweight suspension device includes a pair of suspension cylinders that suspends a counterweight and that are hung from first and second hanging points provided separately in a left and right direction at a top end of a rear mast. A coupling member couples cylinder rod ends of the pair with each other. A lifting member lifts the counterweight. First and second connection points of the counterweight are connected with each of the cylinder rod ends, with the first and the second connection points provided separately in the left and right direction on the counterweight for attaching the lifting member to the counterweight. A first communication circuit is provided through which rod chambers of the suspension cylinders communicate with each other. A second communication circuit is provided through which bottom chambers of the suspension cylinders communicate with each other. Full Article
i Crane with automatic counterweight balancing device and method of arranging counterweight thereof By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST The present invention provides a crane with an automatic counterweight balancing device and a method of arranging counterweight thereof. The crane includes a main body and a counterweight device mounted to the main body. The counterweight device includes first and second magnetic field generators and first and second permanent magnetic counterweight blocks. The crane uses a combined arrangement of the magnetic field generators, the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks, an electrical control device, and a transducer device to detect, in a real time manner, output torques of servo motors, whereby when the output torques are not equal to rating torques, magnetic field intensities are varied to change downward magnetic forces acting on the permanent magnetic counterweight blocks thereby regulating loading of the servo motors and thus regulating the output torques of the servo motors to effect automatic balancing of counterweight and improve stability of the crane during a conveyance process. Full Article
i Telescoping system for crane jib and auxiliary jib By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 25 Nov 2014 08:00:00 EST A crane jib system having a main jib, an auxiliary jib, and a telescoping cylinder. The main jib is comprised of main telescoping portions and the auxiliary jib is attached to the main jib and comprises auxiliary telescoping portions. The telescoping cylinder has a first telescopic part locking unit disposed on a base portion of the telescoping cylinder. The first telescopic locking unit is adapted to selectively engage the main telescoping portions. A second telescopic part locking unit is disposed on the telescoping cylinder above the first telescopic part locking unit. The second telescopic part locking unit is adapted to selectively engage the auxiliary telescoping portions. Full Article
i Portable winch By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A portable winch and method of use is shown. One advantage of winches shown includes an ability to lower a boom or boom sections into limited access exit pit for winching operations such as pipe bursting. Sectional boom designs shown provide the ability to easily raise and lower a boom large distances without the need for a single long boom. Selected winch designs shown include flexible inserts between the boom and the winch frame that help resist damage from unforeseen shifting of the device during operation. Designs and methods shown also include multiple pulleys on a boom end unit. Fasteners are shown that reduce build up of debris. Full Article
i Boom truck for handling loads above and below ground level By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 02 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A boom truck includes a telescopic lifting boom with a lifting unit and a support structure having a first support arranged on the chassis of the boom truck. A second support in the form of an elongated bearing and support beam body extends in the longitudinal direction of the boom truck. The beam body is pivotally mounted to the first support about a rear bearing axis, whereas the lifting boom is pivotally mounted to beam body about a front bearing axis. Actuators act on the beam body and the lifting boom as a unit and act to pivot the lifting boom about the front bearing axis. Full Article
i Power and control for wireless anti-two block system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A power generator is associated with a crane boom at or near the tip of the boom. The generator responds to movement of the lifting cable to initiate the transmission of a signal to a crane controller. The signal serves as a start-up or a wake-up signal to the crane controller which may then immediately analyze operation of, for example, an anti-two block device associated with the boom tip. The crane controller may then control the operation of the crane in accordance with signals received from the anti-two block device or immediately identify malfunctions of the anti-two block device and control the crane operations accordingly. Full Article
i Hoisting assembly By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A hoisting assembly for lifting or lowering a heavy object includes an upper fixed block, an upper movable block being suspended from the upper fixed block by at least one first rope which is reeved into one or more first rope lengths between the upper fixed block and the upper movable block, a lower movable block being connected to the upper movable block by at least one second rope which is reeved into one or more second rope lengths between the upper fixed block and the upper movable block. The first and second ropes are reeved in such a way that in use the upper movable block can be positioned at a distance greater than zero from the upper fixed block and at a distance greater than zero from the lower movable block by controlling the lengths of the first and second ropes. Full Article
i Alignment apparatus and method for a boom of a pipe handling system By www.freepatentsonline.com Published On :: Tue, 09 Dec 2014 08:00:00 EST A pipe handling apparatus has a frame, a boom pivotally connected to the frame so as to be movable between a first position and a second position, an arm extending outwardly of the boom when the boom is in the second position, a gripper affixed to the end of the arm opposite the boom, a first line having a first end affixed to the boom, a second line interconnected to an opposite end of the first line and connected to the frame, and an actuator interconnected to the first and second lines. The actuator changes an angular relationship of the first and second lines so as to selectively tension the lines. The second line includes a first cable offset from linear alignment with the first line and a second cable extending in angular relationship with the first cable. Full Article