Patent ID: 11884522
Assignee: GROVE U.S. L.L.C.
Field: Handling (Mechanical engineering)
Classification: CPC B | IPC B

Claim 16:
17. A mobile lift crane comprising:
a carbody including moveable ground engaging members;
a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members;
a boom pivotally mounted on a front portion of the rotating bed;
a mast mounted on the rotating bed at a first end of the mast;
a first structure pivotally coupled to the rotating bed at a first end of the first structure;
a second structure pivotally coupled to the first structure at a second end of the first structure and at a first end of the second structure;
a linear actuation device;
a moveable counterweight unit coupled to the second end of the second structure;
a tension member coupled adjacent a second end of the mast and wherein the mast helps to support the moveable counterweight unit utilizing the tension member;
wherein the linear actuation device is operable to move the moveable counterweight unit away from the rotating bed during a pick, move, and set operation by extending the linear actuation device;
wherein the linear actuation device is operable to move the moveable counterweight unit toward the rotating bed during a pick, move, and set operation by retracting the linear actuation device comprising at least one hydraulic cylinder;
wherein the crane is configured such that the moveable counterweight unit is never supported by the ground other than indirectly by the moveable ground engaging members on the carbody throughout all pick, move, and set operations; and
wherein the linear actuation device is operable to move the moveable counterweight unit a greater horizontal distance from the rotating bed than a distance of a stroke of the linear actuation device that causes the moveable counterweight unit to move.