Crane load centering assembly

A crane load centering assembly includes a crane that has a boom, a sheave that is rotatably coupled to the boom and a load block. A transmitting unit is coupled to the sheave having the transmitting unit being directed downwardly from the sheave. The transmitting unit transmits an alignment signal along a line that is vertically oriented. In this way the alignment signal can travel in the direction of the force of gravity with respect to the boom. A plurality of sensors is provided and each of the sensors is coupled to the load block such that each of the sensors is positioned below and is aligned with the transmitting unit. One of the sensors receives the alignment signal when the crane lifts a load and the load deflects from beneath the sheave. A plurality of light emitters is provided and each of the light emitters is coupled to the load block. Each of the light emitters is in electrical communication with a respective one of the sensors and each of the light emitters has one of the sensors associated therewith. Each of the light emitters is turned on when the associated sensor receives the alignment signal to communicate a visual alert for the deflection of the load.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

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THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

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BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

(1) Field of the Invention

The disclosure and prior art relates to centering devices and more particularly pertains to a new centering device for PURPOSE.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

An embodiment of the disclosure meets the needs presented above by generally comprising a crane that has a boom, a sheave that is rotatably coupled to the boom and a load block. A transmitting unit is coupled to the sheave having the transmitting unit being directed downwardly from the sheave. The transmitting unit transmits an alignment signal along a line that is vertically oriented. In this way the alignment signal can travel in the direction of the force of gravity with respect to the boom. A plurality of sensors is provided and each of the sensors is coupled to the load block such that each of the sensors is positioned below and is aligned with the transmitting unit. One of the sensors receives the alignment signal when the crane lifts a load and the load deflects from beneath the sheave. A plurality of light emitters is provided and each of the light emitters is coupled to the load block. Each of the light emitters is in electrical communication with a respective one of the sensors and each of the light emitters has one of the sensors associated therewith. Each of the light emitters is turned on when the associated sensor receives the alignment signal to communicate a visual alert for the deflection of the load.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

As best illustrated inFIGS. 1 through 6, the crane load centering assembly10generally comprises a crane12that has a boom14, a sheave16that is rotatably coupled to the boom14and a load block18. A monitor20is positioned in a cab22of the crane12such that the monitor20is visible to a crane operator and a power button23is positioned in the cab22of the crane12. The monitor20may be an electronic display, such as an LED display or the like. Additionally, the crane12may be a boom crane of any conventional design, including but not being limited to, mobile cranes and stationary cranes.

A transmitting unit24is coupled to the sheave16and the transmitting unit24is directed downwardly from the sheave16. The transmitting unit24transmits an alignment signal along a line that is vertically oriented. Thus, the alignment signal travel in the direction of the force of gravity with respect to the sheave16. The transmitting unit24comprises a bearing26that is rotatably positioned around the sheave16. The bearing26may be a needle bearing or other ring bearing that has a stationary outer surface.

A strap28is provided that has a first end30and a second end32, and the strap28has a bend34that is centrally positioned between the first30and second32ends. Thus, the first end30is spaced from the second end32giving the strap28a U-shape. The strap28is positioned on the bearing26has the bend34conforming to a curvature of the bearing26and having each of the first30and second32ends being directed downwardly. The bearing26inhibits the strap28from mechanically communicating with the sheave16when the sheave16is rotated.

A boom housing36is provided that has a first lateral wall38, a second lateral wall40, a top wall42and a bottom wall44. The first lateral wall38has a first slot46therein extending from the top wall42toward the bottom wall44and the second lateral wall40has a second slot48therein extending from the top wall42toward the bottom wall44. Each of the first46and second48slots insertably receives a respective one of the first30and second32ends of the strap28. Moreover, each of the first46and second48slots restrains the boom housing36on the strap28by restricting the boom housing36from pivoting on the strap28. A pin50is extendable through the boom housing36and engages the strap28to releasably retain the boom housing36on the strap28.

A boom control circuit52is positioned within the boom housing36and the boom control circuit52is electrically coupled to a power source54comprising an electrical system of the crane12. Additionally, the boom control circuit52is in electrical communication with the monitor20and the power button23in the cab22. The electrical communication between the boom control circuit52, the power source, the monitor20and the power button23may be accomplished with a wire harness that is releasably coupled between the boom housing36and the crane12.

A boom light emitter54is coupled to the bottom wall44of the boom housing36. The boom light emitter54emits a beam of light comprising the alignment signal downwardly from the bottom wall44of the boom housing36. The boom light emitter54is electrically coupled to the boom control circuit52and the boom light emitter54may comprise a laser light emitter or the like. A video camera56is coupled to the bottom wall44of the boom housing36for capturing video images from a perspective looking downwardly from the sheave16. The video camera56is electrically coupled to the boom control circuit52such that the monitor20displays the video images for the crane operator and the video camera56may be an electronic video camera56of any conventional design.

A plurality of sensors58is each coupled to the load block18such that each of the sensors58is positioned below and is aligned with the transmitting unit24. One of the sensors58receives the alignment signal when the crane12lifts a load corresponding to a deflection of the load from the sheave16. Moreover, the sensors58are arranged in a line that is oriented collinear with a direction in which the boom14extends from the cab22of the crane12. In this way the sensors58can measure a degree to which the load deflects from the sheave16. Each of the sensors58may comprise an electronic light sensor of any conventional design.

An alignment housing60is coupled to an outwardly facing surface62of the load block18. The alignment housing60has a top surface64and a front surface66, and the top surface64is directed toward the transmitting unit24. An alignment control circuit68is positioned within the alignment housing60. The plurality of sensors58includes an alignment sensor70that is coupled to the top surface64of the alignment housing60such that the alignment sensor70is positioned below and aligned with the boom light emitter54. The alignment sensor70receives the alignment signal when the crane12lifts the load and the load is centered beneath the sheave16. The alignment sensor70is electrically coupled to the alignment control circuit68and the alignment control circuit68receives an alignment input when the alignment sensor70receives the alignment signal.

The plurality of sensors58includes a pair of warning sensors72. Each of the warning sensors72is coupled to the top surface64of the alignment housing60such that each of the warning sensors72is positioned below the boom light emitter54. Each of the warning sensors72is positioned on a respective one of opposite sides of the alignment sensor70. One of the warning sensors72receives the alignment signal when the crane12lifts the load and the load deviates a warning distance from beneath the sheave16toward the cab22of the crane12thereby communicating a first warning input to the alignment control circuit68. Moreover, one of the warning sensors72receives the alignment signal when the crane12lifts the load and the load deviates a warning distance from beneath the sheave16away from the cab22thereby communicating a second warning input to the alignment control circuit68.

The plurality of sensors58includes a pair of alarm sensors74. Each of the alarm sensors74is coupled to the top surface64of the alignment housing60such that each of the alarm sensors74is positioned below the boom light emitter54. Each of the alarm sensors74is positioned adjacent to a respective one of the warning sensors72such that each of the alarm sensors74, each of the warning sensors72and the alignment sensor70forms a straight line. One the alarm sensors74receives the alignment signal when the crane12lifts the load and the load deviates an alarm distance from beneath the sheave16toward the cab22thereby communicating a first alarm input to the alignment control circuit68. Additionally, one of the alarm sensors74receives the alignment signal when the crane12lifts the load and the load deviates an alarm distance from beneath the sheave16away from the cab22thereby communicating a second alarm input to the alignment control circuit68.

A plurality of light emitters76is provided and each of the light emitters76is coupled to the load block18. Each of the light emitters76is in electrical communication with a respective one of the sensors58and each of the light emitters76has one of the sensors58associated therewith. Moreover, each of the light emitters76is turned on when the associated sensor58receives the alignment signal. In this way the light emitters76communicate a visual alert for the deflection of the load. Each of the light emitters76may be an LED or the like.

The plurality of light emitters76includes an alignment light emitter78that is coupled to the front surface66of the alignment housing60. The alignment light emitter78is electrically coupled to the alignment control circuit68and the alignment light emitter78is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the alignment input. Additionally, the alignment light emitter78may emit green light when the alignment light emitter78is turned on. A first warning light emitter80is coupled to the front surface66of the alignment housing60and the first warning light emitter80is electrically coupled to the alignment control circuit68. The first warning light emitter80is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the first warning input.

A second warning light emitter82is coupled to the front surface66of the alignment housing60and the second warning light emitter82is electrically coupled to the alignment control circuit68. The second warning light emitter82is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the second warning input. Each of the first80and second82warning light emitters may emit yellow colored light. A first alarm light emitter84is coupled to the front surface66of the alignment housing60. The first alarm light emitter84is electrically coupled to the alignment control circuit68and the first alarm light emitter84is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the first alarm input.

A second alarm light emitter86is coupled to the load block18and the second alarm light emitter86is electrically coupled to the alignment control circuit68. The second alarm light emitter86is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the second alarm input. Each of the first84and second86alarm light emitters may emit red light. A switch88is coupled to the load block18, the switch88is electrically coupled to the alignment control circuit68and the switch88turning the alignment control circuit68on and off. A power supply90is coupled to the load block18, the power supply90is electrically coupled to the alignment control circuit68and the power supply90comprises at least one battery.

In use, the power button23is manipulated to turn the boom light emitter54on when the crane12is lifting a load. Thus, the boom light emitter54emits the beam of light downwardly in the direction of gravity with respect to the sheave16. The alignment light emitter78is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the alignment input. Thus, a spotter working with the crane operator is notified that the load is properly centered beneath the sheave16for lifting. The first warning light emitter80is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the first warning input. Thus, the spotter is notified that the load will deflect the warning distance toward the cab22when the load is lifted. The first alarm light emitter84is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the first alarm input. Thus, the spotter is notified that the load will deflect the alarm distance toward the cab22when the load is lifted thereby facilitating the crane operator to adjust the boom14to properly center the load.

The second warning light emitter82is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the second warning input. Thus, the spotter is notified that the load will deflect the warning distance away from the cab22when the load is lifted. The second alarm light emitter86is turned on when the alignment control circuit68receives the second alarm input. Thus, the spotter is notified that the load will deflect the alarm distance away the cab22when the load is lifted thereby facilitating the crane operator to adjust the boom14to properly center the load.