Accordingly, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of coordinated safety interlocking systems and methods of coordinating safety interlocking. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for providing coordinated safety interlocking between a plurality of machines is disclosed. The system generally includes a plurality of machine control units each configured to control at least one of the plurality of machines. The system also includes at least one operator control unit configured to define a dynamic cluster including a subset of the plurality of machine control units. The at least one operator control unit is configured to control safety interlocking between each machine control unit in the dynamic cluster. The system may be used to provide coordinated safety interlocking between various elements and/or machines, such as crane bridges and crane hoists, etc.

Accordingly, exemplary embodiments are disclosed of coordinated safety interlocking systems and methods of coordinating safety interlocking. In an exemplary embodiment, a system for providing coordinated safety interlocking between a plurality of machines is disclosed. The system generally includes a plurality of machine control units each configured to control at least one of the plurality of machines. The system also includes at least one operator control unit configured to define a dynamic cluster including a subset of the plurality of machine control units. The at least one operator control unit is configured to control safety interlocking between each machine control unit in the dynamic cluster. The system may be used to provide coordinated safety interlocking between various elements and/or machines, such as crane bridges and crane hoists, etc.

A portable gantry crane formed of composite members includes a composite material I-beam. Two or more support members are formed of a composite material and each support member supports the I-beam when the portable gantry crane is in an upright position. Two or more end housings are included, each end housing enclosing a top end of one of the two or more support members and coupled thereto using adhesive. A plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure including a latch, and each end housing having a latch receiver, each latch in combination with a latch receiver allowing one of the latch structures to be releasably fixedly coupled with an end housing. In implementations a plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure having a latch structure enclosure and each latch structure enclosure at least partially enclosing one of the end housings.

A portable gantry crane formed of composite members includes a composite material I-beam. Two or more support members are formed of a composite material and each support member supports the I-beam when the portable gantry crane is in an upright position. Two or more end housings are included, each end housing enclosing a top end of one of the two or more support members and coupled thereto using adhesive. A plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure including a latch, and each end housing having a latch receiver, each latch in combination with a latch receiver allowing one of the latch structures to be releasably fixedly coupled with an end housing. In implementations a plurality of latch structures are coupled with the I-beam, each latch structure having a latch structure enclosure and each latch structure enclosure at least partially enclosing one of the end housings.

A load-handling crane, and a system and method are provided for operating the load-handling crane having a hoist movable by means of a drive of the crane and a handling device for operating the crane. The handling device is fastened to a liftable and lowerable suspension element of the hoist and having a sensor system for determining an orientation of the suspension element, or of a part fastened to the suspension element, or of the handling device, or of a load-handling attachment. The system further has an operating element that cooperates with the sensor system such that, when the operating element is actuated, a control command for activating the drive is able to be triggered, resulting in the hoist being movable by means of the drive in a direction of travel, with the direction of travel being dependent on an orientation determined by means of the sensor system.

A load-handling crane, and a system and method are provided for operating the load-handling crane having a hoist movable by means of a drive of the crane and a handling device for operating the crane. The handling device is fastened to a liftable and lowerable suspension element of the hoist and having a sensor system for determining an orientation of the suspension element, or of a part fastened to the suspension element, or of the handling device, or of a load-handling attachment. The system further has an operating element that cooperates with the sensor system such that, when the operating element is actuated, a control command for activating the drive is able to be triggered, resulting in the hoist being movable by means of the drive in a direction of travel, with the direction of travel being dependent on an orientation determined by means of the sensor system.

The invention provides a crane assembly for lifting a load comprising: a pair of guides (2) positioned parallel to one another; a carriage (4,40) associated with each guide (2) and movable along each guide (2); a bridge (1) having an attachment point (8) for attaching the load, the bridge (1) being attached between the carriages (4,40) through connector arms (3), each connector arm (3) being attached through a lower end (31) to the bridge (1) and pivotable (5) at least about an axis perpendicular to the bridge, each connector arm (3) being attached at an upper end (32) to the corresponding carriage (4,40) through a multi-axis joint (33,35); wherein each multiaxis joint (33,35) is connected to the corresponding carriage (4,40) through a low friction thrust bearing (6) configured to rotate with initial movement of the corresponding carriage (4,40).

The invention provides a crane assembly for lifting a load comprising: a pair of guides (2) positioned parallel to one another; a carriage (4,40) associated with each guide (2) and movable along each guide (2); a bridge (1) having an attachment point (8) for attaching the load, the bridge (1) being attached between the carriages (4,40) through connector arms (3), each connector arm (3) being attached through a lower end (31) to the bridge (1) and pivotable (5) at least about an axis perpendicular to the bridge, each connector arm (3) being attached at an upper end (32) to the corresponding carriage (4,40) through a multi-axis joint (33,35); wherein each multiaxis joint (33,35) is connected to the corresponding carriage (4,40) through a low friction thrust bearing (6) configured to rotate with initial movement of the corresponding carriage (4,40).

A transmission module for transmitting torques having a base, a first drive shaft, a second drive shaft parallel thereto, a first output shaft and a second output shaft, both rotatable about a common axis, the axes of the drive shafts are arranged parallel to the axis of the output shafts, a gear unit, where the two drive shafts, the gear unit and the first output shaft are rotatably supported in the base, and the second output shaft is rotatably supported in the first output shaft and the gear unit is designed in such a way that a synchronous rotary movement of the two output shafts can be effected by a rotary movement of the first drive shaft and a relative rotary movement of the two output shafts can be effected by a rotary movement of the second drive shaft.

A transmission module for transmitting torques having a base, a first drive shaft, a second drive shaft parallel thereto, a first output shaft and a second output shaft, both rotatable about a common axis, the axes of the drive shafts are arranged parallel to the axis of the output shafts, a gear unit, where the two drive shafts, the gear unit and the first output shaft are rotatably supported in the base, and the second output shaft is rotatably supported in the first output shaft and the gear unit is designed in such a way that a synchronous rotary movement of the two output shafts can be effected by a rotary movement of the first drive shaft and a relative rotary movement of the two output shafts can be effected by a rotary movement of the second drive shaft.