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Crane level indicator device

  • US 5,673,491 A
  • Filed: 10/20/1995
  • Issued: 10/07/1997
  • Est. Priority Date: 10/20/1995
  • Status: Expired due to Fees
First Claim
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1. A level indicator device for a crane, of the type which is positionable on an operating surface and which has a frame, an operator station, and leveling controls for adjusting the gravitational level of the crane, the level indicator device comprising:

  • a) a remote sensor sending unit positionable on the crane, and a receiving indicator unit placeable at the operator station, the remote sensor unit comprising;

    1) a housing, the housing anchorable to the crane frame;

    2) a planar sensing region fixed to the housing and comprising an in-level sensor portion and a plurality of out-of-level sensor portions;

    3) a pendulum suspended in the housing and confronting the sensing region, the pendulum swingable in two axis, the pendulum having a contact member for contacting and making electrical contact with the individual sensor portions, the pendulum having an axis with the contact member axially positioned and axially moveable with a bias toward the sensing region, whereby the contact member maintains contact with the sensing region as the pendulum swings in an arc, the pendulum and sensing region configured such that the contact member activates the in-level sensor portion when the crane is level and the out-of-level sensor portions when the crane is out-of-level; and

    4) sensor unit circuitry including a radio frequency transmitter portion, the circuitry connected to each sensor portion, the circuitry configured to generate and transmit signals indicative of the particular sensor portion activated by the sensor activator;

    b) the receiving indicator unit comprising;

    1) a display panel having a plurality of visual indicators, the visual indicators each corresponding to a particular sensor portion;

    2) circuitry for receiving and processing the rf signals indicative of the sensor portion being activated, the circuitry connected to the visual indicators and configured to convert said signals into activation signals for activating the visual indicators corresponding to the activated sensor portion; and

    3) a power source connected to the processing circuitry for powering said circuitry.

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