Crane hook and trolley camera system

• US 7,656,459 B2
• Filed: 04/20/2006
• Issued: 02/02/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 04/20/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: HookCam, LLC
• Original Assignee: Pacific Systems Solutions, LLC
• Inventors: Catanzaro, Chris
• Primary Examiner(s): Tran; Sinh
• Assistant Examiner(s): Bemben; Richard M
• Application Number:
  US11/379,539
• Publication Number:
  US 20070235404A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,384 Days
• Field of Search: 348/143, 348/144, 348/211.2, 348/211.11, 348/372, 348/373, 212/96, 212/104, 212/105
• US Class Current: 348/372
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/44 Electrical transmitters
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/46 Position indicators for suspended loads or for crane elements

Abstract

A crane camera system employs a hook camera transmitter to send wireless signals vertically upward to a trolley receiver, which are then relayed by a trolley transmitter to the operator cabin. This allows line-of-sight wireless transmission of signals from the hook to the cabin to take place reliably without interference from obstructions on the work site. It is especially suitable for a tower-type overhead or boom-type crane. A trolley camera may also be provided for taking look-down images of the hook and transmitting them to the cabin in tandem with the hook camera signals. The hook and trolley camera images allows the operator to see more precisely the positioning of the hook relative to the ground, thereby greatly reducing the possibility of accidents or damaging collisions with persons or objects on the ground. A hook assembly mounting the hook camera on the hook has a longitudinal frame fastened with vibration-dampeners to two lateral hook spindles in the hook to avoid reducing the integrity of the hook or contact with moving parts of the hook.

Claims

1. A crane camera system having a trolley camera system adapted to be mounted on a trolley of a crane comprising:

a hook camera system mounted on a hook device including a hook camera;

a trolley signal receiver for receiving hook camera image signals transmitted from a hook camera image signal transmitter on a hook device suspended by cables from the trolley, and

a trolley signal transmitter for wirelessly transmitting the received hook camera image signals in a direction along a boom, the trolley is mounted on toward an operator cabin located at a proximal part of the boom,

wherein the trolley camera system is supplied with power from an ambient energy generator that draws enemy from the spin of the trolley pulleys in a magnetic field.

2. A crane camera system according to claim 1, further comprising:

a cabin visual display system having a cabin receiver for receiving the hook camera image signals relayed by the trolley transmitter on the line-of-sight along the boom from the trolley, and a display unit for converting the received hook camera image signals into a visual display for an operator in the cabin of conditions in the vicinity of the hook device.

3. A crane camera system according to claim 2, wherein the trolley camera system includes a trolley camera for taking look-down visual images of the hook device from the trolley, and a second trolley transmitter for transmitting trolley camera image signals on the line-of-sight toward the operator cabin in tandem with the relayed hook camera image signals for a second visual display for the operator in the cabin of look-down images of the hook device from the trolley.

4. A crane camera system according to claim 2, wherein the hook camera system employs a different band of wireless transmission frequency from the trolley camera system.

5. A crane camera system according to claim 4, wherein the hook camera system employs a 2.4 GHz transmission band.

6. A crane camera system according to claim 4, wherein the trolley camera system employs a 900 MHz transmission band.

7. A crane camera system according to claim 1, wherein the trolley camera system further comprises a trolley camera for taking look-down visual images of the hook device from the trolley, and a second trolley transmitter for transmitting trolley camera image signals toward the operator cabin in tandem with the relayed hook camera image signals.

8. A crane camera system according to claim 1, wherein the transmission of camera image signals is obtained by wireless line-of-sight transmission.

9. A crane camera system according to claim 1, wherein the trolley camera system employs a different band of wireless transmission frequency from the hook camera image signal transmitter.

10. A crane camera system according to claim 1, wherein the trolley signal receiver and trolley signal transmitter are used to transmit other types of data signals sent from the hook camera image signal transmitter to be relayed to the operator cabin.

11. A crane camera system according to claim 1, wherein the trolley camera system is adapted to be mounted on an outboard maintenance basket on the trolley.