Patent ID: 7793593
Filing Date: 2010-09-14
Classification: B66C

Abstract:
1. A gantry crane, comprising: a longitudinal bridge having a top surface and a bottom surface and a proximal end and a distal end and a longitudinal axis; a first shoulder joint removably attached at the proximal end of the bridge, the first shoulder joint having a first end and a second end and longitudinal axis, a second shoulder joint removably attached on the bridge and distal to the first shoulder joint, the second shoulder joint having a first end and a second end a longitudinal axis, a third shoulder joint removably attached on the bridge and distal to the second shoulder joint, the third shoulder joint having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis, a fourth shoulder joint removably attached at the distal end of the bridge, the fourth shoulder joint having a first end and a second end and a longitudinal axis, a first cross joint hingedly connected to the first end of the first shoulder joint, the first cross joint movable in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; a second cross joint hingedly connected to the second end of the first shoulder joint, the second cross joint movable in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; a third cross joint hingedly connected to the first end of the second shoulder joint, the third cross joint movable in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; a fourth cross joint hingedly connected to the second end of the second shoulder joint, the fourth cross joint movable in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; a fifth cross joint hingedly connected to the first end of the third shoulder joint, the fifth cross joint movable in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; a sixth cross joint hingedly connected to the second end of the third shoulder joint, the sixth cross joint movable in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; a seventh cross joint hingedly connected to the first end of the fourth shoulder joint, the seventh cross joint movable in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; an eighth cross joint hingedly connected to the second end of the fourth shoulder joint, the eighth cross joint movable in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also movable in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; a first main column, having a first end and a second end, the first end removably connected to the first cross joint; a second main column having a first end and a second end, the first end removably connected to the second cross joint; a third main column having a first end and a second end, the first end removably connected to the seventh cross joint; a fourth main column having a first end and a second end, the first end removably connected to the eighth cross joint; a first supporting column having a first end and a second end, the first end removably connected to the third cross joint and the second end removably connected to the first main column; a second supporting column having a first end and a second end, the first end removably connected to the fourth cross joint and the second end removably connected to the second main column; a third supporting column having a first end and a second end, the first end removably connected to the fifth cross joint and the second end removably connected to the third main column; a fourth supporting column having a first end and a second end, the first end removably connected to the sixth cross joint and the second end removably connected to the fourth main column; a first base column having a first end and a second end, the first end of the first base column removably connected to the second end of the first main column, and the second end of the first base column removably connected to the second end of the second main column; and a second base column having a first end and a second end, the first end of the second base column removably connected to the second end of the third main column, and the second end of the second base column removably connected to the second end of the fourth main column; wherein, prior to the attachment of the second ends of the supporting columns to the main columns, the cross joints allow the supporting columns and the main columns to move in a first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and also to move in a second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge; and wherein, after the attachment of the second ends of the supporting columns to the main columns, the cross joints do not allow the supporting columns and the main columns to move in the first direction substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge and do allow the supporting columns and the main columns to move in the second direction substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the longitudinal bridge.