Aspects of the disclosure include apparatus for and methods of facilitating transfer of objects using a crane. Disclosed apparatuses include a target tracking device mounted on or near a crane at a first location, and a target located near a landing location for the object. The target tracking device and the target facilitate real time determination of relative motion between the two locations. Methods of using the same are also disclosed.

Aspects of the disclosure include apparatus for and methods of facilitating transfer of objects using a crane. Disclosed apparatuses include a target tracking device mounted on or near a crane at a first location, and a target located near a landing location for the object. The target tracking device and the target facilitate real time determination of relative motion between the two locations. Methods of using the same are also disclosed.

An STS crane (Ship-to Shore) includes a portal frame structure; a boom which has a portion extending on a ship's side as well as a portion extending on a quay side; a trolley moving along the boom; a hoisting mechanism which has a rope drum for hoisting ropes, whereby the hoisting ropes are routed from the rope drum through boom ends to the trolley; auxiliary trolleys which move along the boom on both sides of the trolley to support and/or tighten the hoisting ropes; and a folding joint on the boom portion extending on the ship's side for folding up the folding portion of the boom extending to the direction of the ship from the folding joint; whereby there are auxiliary trolley rails arranged for the auxiliary trolleys, these auxiliary trolley rails being separate from the trolley rails; and whereby the drive roping of the auxiliary trolleys is divided into two separate and independent drive ropings which have separate and independent drive mechanisms and which are on different sides of the folding joint on the boom.

An STS crane (Ship-to Shore) includes a portal frame structure; a boom which has a portion extending on a ship's side as well as a portion extending on a quay side; a trolley moving along the boom; a hoisting mechanism which has a rope drum for hoisting ropes, whereby the hoisting ropes are routed from the rope drum through boom ends to the trolley; auxiliary trolleys which move along the boom on both sides of the trolley to support and/or tighten the hoisting ropes; and a folding joint on the boom portion extending on the ship's side for folding up the folding portion of the boom extending to the direction of the ship from the folding joint; whereby there are auxiliary trolley rails arranged for the auxiliary trolleys, these auxiliary trolley rails being separate from the trolley rails; and whereby the drive roping of the auxiliary trolleys is divided into two separate and independent drive ropings which have separate and independent drive mechanisms and which are on different sides of the folding joint on the boom.

The invention relates to a predictive maintenance of hoisting equipment (102), particularly cranes. A maintenance center (106) automatically collects diagnostic data relating to least one component of the remote hoisting equipment and optionally sensor data relating the operational environment of the remote hoisting equipment (102). The maintenance center (106) has an access to configuration data of the remote hoisting equipment and the reliability data on the at least one component of the remote hoisting equipment (102). The maintenance center (106) is then able to generate a maintenance plan optimizing the cost of maintenance and reliability of the hoisting equipment over a life cycle of the hoisting equipment.

A crane extension and installation device includes an extension device, a winch, a pulley and a cable. A main arm includes a vertical slide rail, the main arm is inclined relative to vertical, and three second pulleys at different heights of the slide rail are installed in the vertical direction of the slide rail, and the second pulley can slide vertically along the slide rail and can be fixed at a certain position of the slide rail. The extension device includes a number of cantilever beams connected end to end. The front end of the extension device is a cantilever beam, and a fixed pulley is installed on the lower peripheral surface of the extension device. The end face of the cantilever beam is equipped with a vertical lower arm through a joint, and the bottom end of the lower arm has a first pulley fixed by the joint.

A light-based measurement system is capable of directing a light beam to a cooperative target used in conjunction with an aerial robot to accurately control the position of the end effector within a large volume working environment defined by a single coordinate system. By measuring the end effector while the device is in operation, the aerial robot control system can be adjusted in real time to correct for errors that are introduced through the design of the robot itself providing accuracy in the tens or hundreds of micron range. A separate coordination computer runs control software that communicates with both the laser tracker and the aerial robot. An action plan file is loaded by the software that defines the coordinate system of the working volume, the locations where actions need to be performed by the aerial robot, and the actions to be taken.

A rotator apparatus (10, 100, 200) for rotationally positioning a suspended load (16). A flywheel (44, 144) can be directly or indirectly driven by a motor (40, 140). Vanes (50, 150) on a fan (45) or on the flywheel can be used to provide additional rotational control through air resistance/braking. A controller (20, 24, 120, 124) can provide wired or wireless control. Thrusters (52) can provide additional rotational impetus or resistance. One or more load cells (54, 232, 234) can provide load sensing. Cameras (28) can be used to visualise the load and can record load moving operations and details of the load for logistics tracking and safety. The attachment part (202) and/or the load support (216) can be connected to the body via a respective pivot (204, 214). The apparatus can include replaceable or rechargeable batteries (206, 210), such as within in a removable container (230), preferably supported by at least one drawer (231), which drawer may be mounted on telescopic drawer slides (212). The replaceable or rechargeable batteries (206, 210) can be provided as a cassette arrangement whereby the batteries plug in and are removable as a unit. At least one hook (157) for suspending a load from the rotator can include a groove or recess (158) to restrict or prevent load rotation.

A rotator apparatus (10, 100, 200) for rotationally positioning a suspended load (16). A flywheel (44, 144) can be directly or indirectly driven by a motor (40, 140). Vanes (50, 150) on a fan (45) or on the flywheel can be used to provide additional rotational control through air resistance/braking. A controller (20, 24, 120, 124) can provide wired or wireless control. Thrusters (52) can provide additional rotational impetus or resistance. One or more load cells (54, 232, 234) can provide load sensing. Cameras (28) can be used to visualise the load and can record load moving operations and details of the load for logistics tracking and safety. The attachment part (202) and/or the load support (216) can be connected to the body via a respective pivot (204, 214). The apparatus can include replaceable or rechargeable batteries (206, 210), such as within in a removable container (230), preferably supported by at least one drawer (231), which drawer may be mounted on telescopic drawer slides (212). The replaceable or rechargeable batteries (206, 210) can be provided as a cassette arrangement whereby the batteries plug in and are removable as a unit. At least one hook (157) for suspending a load from the rotator can include a groove or recess (158) to restrict or prevent load rotation.

Aspects of the disclosure include apparatus for and methods of facilitating transfer of objects using a crane. Disclosed apparatuses include a target tracking device mounted on or near a crane at a first location, and a target located near a landing location for the object. The target tracking device and the target facilitate real time determination of relative motion between the two locations. Methods of using the same are also disclosed.