Patent ID: 7828163

Claim:
A lattice boom crane, comprising: a first individual lattice boom crane having a first undercarriage, a first slewing platform, a first lattice boom and a first luffing mechanism for luffing the first lattice boom, wherein the first slewing platform is affixed on the first undercarriage and the first luffing lattice boom is disposed on the first slewing platform and wherein the luffing angle of the first lattice boom is adjustable by the first luffing mechanism; and, at least one second individual lattice boom crane having a second undercarriage, a second slewing platform, a second lattice boom and a second luffing mechanism for luffing the second lattice boom, wherein the second slewing platform is affixed on the second undercarriage and the second luffing lattice boom is disposed on the second slewing platform and wherein the luffing angle of the second lattice boom is adjustable by the second luffing mechanism; wherein adjacent respective lattice booms of the first and at least one second individual lattice boom cranes are oriented in parallel and rigidly connected with each other using a respective connection support such that a substantially fixed angle is maintained between the respective connection support and the adjacent respective lattice booms, wherein respective luffing mechanisms of the first and the at least one second lattice boom cranes are synchronously operated such that the first and the at least one second lattice booms can synchronously be luffed, wherein the first lattice boom crane includes a first pair of crawlers, wherein each lattice boom crane among the at least one second lattice boom crane includes a respective second pair of crawlers, wherein respective undercarriages of the first and at least one second lattice boom cranes are oriented in parallel in a first direction and adjacent to each other, wherein the first pair of crawlers is disposed in series with the respective second pair of crawlers in a second direction substantially orthogonal to the first direction, wherein the first pair of crawlers includes first and second individual crawlers, wherein the respective second pair of crawlers includes third and fourth individual crawlers, and wherein the first and third individual crawlers are combined into a first common crawler and the second and fourth individual crawlers are combined into a second common crawler.