A lifting machine with a counterweight includes a sensing system for assisting in ensuring proper operating conditions are reliably achieved. The machine includes a lifter for moving the counterweight from a lowered position to a raised position. A first sensor is associated with the lifter for sensing a parameter corresponding to an amount of the counterweight (such as a pressure value associated with the rod end of a lifting cylinder), and a second sensor is provided for sensing a condition of the lifter (such as the position or extended length of the lifting cylinder). The amount of counterweight present may be determined by the output of the first sensor when the lifter is in a pre-determined (e.g., midpoint) position. The operator may be polled to verify the amount of counterweight present, thus providing a check against unintended operating conditions and ensure that reliable operation of the lifting machine is achieved.

A self-erecting crane including a mast mounted on a rotating platform and supporting a boom is configurable between a transport configuration and a working configuration. The mast supports a hitch element suitable for being coupled on a fifth wheel provided on a rear platform of a tractor truck, the hitch element being located in a front hitch area of the mast which is dimensioned to come above the rear platform. The self-erecting crane also includes a mooring system located on the front hitch area and a removable ballasting element. In the transport configuration, the removable ballasting element is configured to be temporarily moored on the mast by the mooring system so that the removable ballasting element is located under the mast in the front hitch area. In the working configuration, the removable ballasting element is mounted on the rotating platform.

A self-erecting crane including a mast mounted on a rotating platform and supporting a boom is configurable between a transport configuration and a working configuration. The mast supports a hitch element suitable for being coupled on a fifth wheel provided on a rear platform of a tractor truck, the hitch element being located in a front hitch area of the mast which is dimensioned to come above the rear platform. The self-erecting crane also includes a mooring system located on the front hitch area and a removable ballasting element. In the transport configuration, the removable ballasting element is configured to be temporarily moored on the mast by the mooring system so that the removable ballasting element is located under the mast in the front hitch area. In the working configuration, the removable ballasting element is mounted on the rotating platform.

To suppress rotation of a cylinder rod relative to a cylinder body while avoiding interference of a weight cylinder connecting a distal end of a mast to a weight guy line with other members in assembling and disassembling. The crane includes a pair of right and left weight cylinders having a cylinder body and a cylinder rod, and a pair of right and left mast cylinder connecting portions. The pair of right and left mast cylinder connecting portions regulate the rotation of the cylinder rod and connect the right and left both side parts of the mast and the pair of right and left cylinder rods to each other.

To suppress rotation of a cylinder rod relative to a cylinder body while avoiding interference of a weight cylinder connecting a distal end of a mast to a weight guy line with other members in assembling and disassembling. The crane includes a pair of right and left weight cylinders having a cylinder body and a cylinder rod, and a pair of right and left mast cylinder connecting portions. The pair of right and left mast cylinder connecting portions regulate the rotation of the cylinder rod and connect the right and left both side parts of the mast and the pair of right and left cylinder rods to each other.

A counterweight mounting device, which is installed on a frame supporting a counterweight according to an aspect of the present invention, includes a first link of which a lower end is coupled to the frame so that the first link is rotatable about a first hinge shaft, a second link including a slot guide into which a second hinge shaft coupled to an upper end of the first link is inserted and in which the second hinge shaft slides, a hydraulic cylinder of which a lower end is coupled to the frame so that the hydraulic cylinder is rotatable about a cylinder rotation shaft and an upper end is coupled to the second hinge shaft and rotates the first link, and a connection member installed on an upper end of the second link and connected to the counterweight.

A pipelayer includes a frame, a plurality of ground engaging members movably supporting the frame, a prime mover, and a boom assembly and a counterbalance assembly supported on the frame. The boom assembly includes a boom. The counterbalance assembly including a counterweight, the counterweight being movably supported on the frame to counterbalance the boom assembly. The counterweight includes a battery box including at least one battery. A control strategy is also disclosed.

A pipelayer includes a frame, a plurality of ground engaging members movably supporting the frame, a prime mover, and a boom assembly and a counterbalance assembly supported on the frame. The boom assembly includes a boom. The counterbalance assembly including a counterweight, the counterweight being movably supported on the frame to counterbalance the boom assembly. The counterweight includes a battery box including at least one battery. A control strategy is also disclosed.

A height adjustment assistance device includes an initial state determination part for determining whether a suspended cargo has been lifted from a ground at a start of lifting work, a height detection part for detecting a height of a counterweight from the ground, a storage part for storing an initial height, a calculation part for calculating a target value for correcting the height of the counterweight from the ground based on the initial height and a post-work height, a notification part for notifying an operator of information regarding the target value, and a length adjustment device for adjusting a length of a hanging member by operating in a manner to change the length of the hanging member extending from a tip of a mast to the counterweight.

A height adjustment assistance device includes an initial state determination part for determining whether a suspended cargo has been lifted from a ground at a start of lifting work, a height detection part for detecting a height of a counterweight from the ground, a storage part for storing an initial height, a calculation part for calculating a target value for correcting the height of the counterweight from the ground based on the initial height and a post-work height, a notification part for notifying an operator of information regarding the target value, and a length adjustment device for adjusting a length of a hanging member by operating in a manner to change the length of the hanging member extending from a tip of a mast to the counterweight.