A mobile crane drive assembly axle includes mutually independent suspensions of wheel carriers arranged on both sides of the drive assembly frame of the mobile crane. The suspensions each include at least one transverse control arm which couples the wheel carrier onto the drive assembly frame and is connected to the drive assembly frame such that it can be rotated about an axis which extends substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the drive assembly frame.

A transport vehicle includes a base, wheels connected to the base, and load receiving elements. At least two of the wheels have a track width therebetween in each of a transverse drive and in a longitudinal drive. The track width in the longitudinal drive and the track width in the transverse drive are each variable. The transport vehicle is transports a load having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction between the wheels. The transport vehicle is drivable both in the transverse drive and in the longitudinal drive.

A transport vehicle includes a base, wheels connected to the base, and load receiving elements. At least two of the wheels have a track width therebetween in each of a transverse drive and in a longitudinal drive. The track width in the longitudinal drive and the track width in the transverse drive are each variable. The transport vehicle is transports a load having a longitudinal direction and a transverse direction between the wheels. The transport vehicle is drivable both in the transverse drive and in the longitudinal drive.

A gap jumping overhead crane for use with two parallel runways each having a first and second end and a gap between their first and second ends. The crane has a hoist mounted on a bridge having opposing ends that extends between the two parallel runways. The bridge is slidably mountable to the two parallel runways at each of its ends by an end truck. Each end truck has two ends and at least three load wheels attached to the end truck. At least two of the load wheels are separated by a distance greater than the size of the gap to permit the crane to cross the gap in the runways.

A gap jumping overhead crane for use with two parallel runways each having a first and second end and a gap between their first and second ends. The crane has a hoist mounted on a bridge having opposing ends that extends between the two parallel runways. The bridge is slidably mountable to the two parallel runways at each of its ends by an end truck. Each end truck has two ends and at least three load wheels attached to the end truck. At least two of the load wheels are separated by a distance greater than the size of the gap to permit the crane to cross the gap in the runways.

A transport system includes a plurality of transport vehicles. Each transport vehicle includes: a distance detecting portion configured to detect a distance to a preceding transport vehicle, which is another transport vehicle traveling in front of the corresponding transport vehicle; a signal transmitting portion for transmitting a start signal to a subsequent transport vehicle, which is another transport vehicle traveling behind the corresponding transport vehicle; and a signal receiving portion for receiving the start signal that is transmitted from the preceding transport vehicle. Each transport vehicle is configured to transmit, when starting to travel, the start signal using the signal transmitting portion, to start to travel upon receiving the start signal from the preceding transport vehicle using the signal receiving portion, and to stop when the distance to the preceding transport vehicle that is detected by the distance detecting portion is equal to or smaller than a set distance.

A transport system includes a plurality of transport vehicles. Each transport vehicle includes: a distance detecting portion configured to detect a distance to a preceding transport vehicle, which is another transport vehicle traveling in front of the corresponding transport vehicle; a signal transmitting portion for transmitting a start signal to a subsequent transport vehicle, which is another transport vehicle traveling behind the corresponding transport vehicle; and a signal receiving portion for receiving the start signal that is transmitted from the preceding transport vehicle. Each transport vehicle is configured to transmit, when starting to travel, the start signal using the signal transmitting portion, to start to travel upon receiving the start signal from the preceding transport vehicle using the signal receiving portion, and to stop when the distance to the preceding transport vehicle that is detected by the distance detecting portion is equal to or smaller than a set distance.

A hoisting machinery comprises a steering wheel and wheels, wherein the active steering system comprises an active steering device, a hydraulic power steering gear and a hydraulic power steering system, the active steering device is arranged between the steering wheel and a pitman arm of the hoisting machinery, so as to adjust a steering ratio of the steering wheel to the pitman arm according to a driving cycle of the hoisting machinery, and the hydraulic power steering gear is arranged between the steering wheel and the pitman arm, so as to control the hydraulic power steering system to drive steering of the wheels. In the active steering system of the present invention, a hydraulic power steering system is adopted to drive steering of wheels, which can improve capability of overcoming steering resistance and can be applicable to multiple chassis of cranes, thereby enlarging application ranges of the active steering system.

An overhead travelling crane having a horizontally extending crane girder, which can be displaced in a railbound manner along a craneway, and having a crane trolley, which can be displaced along the crane girder and carries a lifting gear for raising and lowering a load. The lifting gear has a suspension structure formed as a cable or chain and the overhead travelling crane has electric drives for movements of the overhead travelling crane. The overhead travelling crane has an energy store connected to the drives to supply the drives with energy.

The invention provides a positioning system for a lifting apparatus. The positioning system comprises a movable support having a longitudinal axis. The system comprises a first positioning member movably mounted to the support, wherein the first positioning member comprises a first axis and a second axis and is configured to move along the longitudinal axis of the support with the first axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the support. The system also comprises a second positioning member mounted to the first positioning member and configured to move transversely to the first axis of the first positioning member.