A slurry wall grab has a hybrid drive in turn having at least one pulley block, at least one hydraulic actuator, and at least one energy store. The hydraulic actuator and the pulley block open and/or close a grab jaw of the slurry wall grab. The energy store can be charged by actuating the pulley block.

A crop bucket having an aux-bail release mechanism wherein movement of the chains is restrained such that an auxiliary hook actuating the release mechanism can do so in a smooth and controlled manner from a variety of angles and positions, while reducing or eliminating bucket roll from offset pulling. The release mechanism can include a carriage configured to translate along at least a portion of a mast and operatively connected to first and second clamshell portions such that movement of the carriage away results in rotation of the clamshell portions toward the open position.

A material handling device for the loosening of forage, in particular silage from a silo. The material handling device is provided with a grab device provided with grab device members of which the edges facing towards each other are provided with cutting elements. The grab device members are movable between a closed position and an opened position, wherein the cutting elements are positioned at an angle with the vertical. This angle is in the range of 25 to 25 degrees, preferably 15 to 15 degrees with the vertical.

A method for filling a gripper for bulk material, with the gripper being suspended on holding cables, raised and lowered by a crane via a controller, and acting on the bulk material with the gripper weight during the closing and filling process. By reducing the effect of the weight of the gripper on the bulk material, a fill degree of the gripper is influenced via the controller in that a tensile force acting on the holding cables is influenced in order to optimally fill the gripper. A tensile force TARGET value is determined for the holding cables via the controller and is output to a tensile force controller as an input variable. An electric motor for lifting and lowering the gripper is controlled by the tensile force controller, and an ascertained tensile force ACTUAL value of the holding cables is supplied to the tensile force controller as an input variable.

A hoisting apparatus that is operable to lift objects from a transport vehicle and further provide positioning thereof in alternate location wherein the present invention provides load leveling and balancing of the object while suspended. The present invention includes a housing that is suspendedly mounted to a crane lifting block. The housing includes an exterior wall having a top and a bottom and further including an interior volume with an opening at the bottom substantially the diameter of the housing. The housing has mounted therein four winches wherein each of the four winches is independently operated so as to separately control the length thereof. A center attachment member is present that is configured to secure the hoisting apparatus to the lifting block of a crane. Securing members are operably coupled to the center attachment member and are equidistantly distributed around the circumference of the housing.

The invention relates to a slurry wall grab having a hybrid drive comprising at least one pulley block, at least one hydraulic actuator, and at least one energy store, wherein the hydraulic actuator and the pulley block are configured to open and/or close a grab jaw of the slurry wall grab, and wherein the energy store can be charged by actuating the pulley block.

A crop bucket having an aux-bail release mechanism wherein movement of the chains is restrained such that an auxiliary hook actuating the release mechanism can do so in a smooth and controlled manner from a variety of angles and positions, while reducing or eliminating bucket roll from offset pulling. The release mechanism can include a carriage configured to translate along at least a portion of a mast and operatively connected to first and second clamshell portions such that movement of the carriage away results in rotation of the clamshell portions toward the open position.

A method for filling a gripper for bulk material, with the gripper being suspended on holding cables, raised and lowered by a crane via a controller, and acting on the bulk material with the gripper weight during the closing and filling process. By reducing the effect of the weight of the gripper on the bulk material, a fill degree of the gripper is influenced via the controller in that a tensile force acting on the holding cables is influenced in order to optimally fill the gripper. A tensile force TARGET value is determined for the holding cables via the controller and is output to a tensile force controller as an input variable. An electric motor for lifting and lowering the gripper is controlled by the tensile force controller, and an ascertained tensile force ACTUAL value of the holding cables is supplied to the tensile force controller as an input variable.

A control system for a bucket hoist includes a two-axis master switch configured to generate a first and a second command signal responsive to motion along each axis. Each command signal is provided to one of a pair of motor controllers configured to control one of a pair of motors. The two motors are controlled to raise/lower and open/close the load handling member. When the two-axis master switch is moved to the close position, the closing motor controller is commanded to control its respective motor to begin closing the load handling member. The holding motor controller is configured to generate a current to its respective motor to generate torque at a predefined level. The predefined level of torque is selected such that the load handling member lowers into the material in which it is digging as it is being closed.