Rubber-tire gantry crane with shore power
First Claim
1. An apparatus for coupling power from a high voltage electrical network to a low voltage power input on a mobile crane, comprising:
- a trolley;
a guiding apparatus attached to said trolley;
a transformer attached to said trolley, comprising;
a high voltage input; and
a low voltage output having a value selected for powering the crane;
a power input coupler adapted to receive power from the high voltage electrical network, said power input coupler connected to said high voltage input of said transformer;
a rubber tire gantry crane having a low voltage input connected to said low voltage output;
a flexible signal cable connecting said trolley to said rubber tire gantry crane;
a position signal representative of a position of said trolley; and
a position of said rubber tire gantry crane, wherein said rubber tire gantry crane is adapted to modify said position of said rubber tire gantry crane in response to said position signal.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An apparatus for coupling power from shore power to a rubber tire gantry (RTG) crane comprises a power junction trolley and optionally an RTG crane. The power junction trolley receives power through a high voltage cable or alternatively through an inductive power coupling and alternatively outputs a low AC or a low DC voltage through a flexible power cable for connection to an RTG crane. A guiding apparatus directs the power junction trolley along a selected path so as to reduce a control accuracy requirement for the RTG crane. The RTG crane may move from a selected path to another selected path without interrupting a high voltage connection. The power junction trolley optionally determines its position relative to a selected path comprising a guide rail in some embodiments and a guide wire in others. Embodiments of the power junction trolley are alternately self-propelled or towed by the RTG crane.
11 Citations
19 Claims
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1. An apparatus for coupling power from a high voltage electrical network to a low voltage power input on a mobile crane, comprising:
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a trolley; a guiding apparatus attached to said trolley; a transformer attached to said trolley, comprising; a high voltage input; and a low voltage output having a value selected for powering the crane; a power input coupler adapted to receive power from the high voltage electrical network, said power input coupler connected to said high voltage input of said transformer; a rubber tire gantry crane having a low voltage input connected to said low voltage output; a flexible signal cable connecting said trolley to said rubber tire gantry crane; a position signal representative of a position of said trolley; and a position of said rubber tire gantry crane, wherein said rubber tire gantry crane is adapted to modify said position of said rubber tire gantry crane in response to said position signal. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
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14. A method for connecting shore power to a rubber tire gantry crane, comprising:
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connecting a shore power cable to a high voltage power input on a power junction trolley; connecting a flexible power cable from a low voltage power output on the power junction trolley to a low voltage power input on the rubber tire gantry crane; disconnecting the rubber tire gantry crane from the flexible power cable; and connecting the rubber tire gantry crane to a second flexible power cable from a second power junction trolley, without disconnecting a shore power connection. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16)
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17. A rubber tire gantry crane powered from an external electrical power source comprising:
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a power junction trolley comprising; a high voltage input terminal; a low voltage output terminal; and a transformer comprising; a high voltage input connected to said high voltage input terminal on said power junction trolley; and a low voltage output connected to said low voltage output terminal on said power junction trolley; a low voltage input terminal on the rubber tire gantry crane; a flexible power connection from said low voltage output terminal on said power junction trolley to said low voltage input terminal on the rubber tire gantry crane; and a power conversion circuit having an alternating current (AC) input and a direct current (DC) output, wherein said power conversion circuit is inserted in series between said low voltage output of said transformer and said low voltage input terminal, said rubber tire gantry crane is adapted to operate from a DC current, and disconnecting the rubber tire gantry crane from the external power source does not interrupt a high voltage connection. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19)
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Specification