David J Pech, Age 82Manitowoc, WI

6481202, Nov 19, 2002

Oct 19, 1998

09/175065

Arthur G. Zuehlke - Manitowoc WI
Charles R. Wernecke - Manitowoc WI
David J. Pech - Manitowoc WI

Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc. - Reno NV

F16D 3102

60464, 60475, 91461, 212299

A crane having an upper works rotatably mounted on a lower works and a boom pivotally mounted on the upper works includes a hydraulic boom hoist cylinder and a hydraulic circuit for controlling the hydraulic boom hoist cylinder. The hydraulic cylinder is pivotally connected to a mast on the upper works and pendently connected to the boom. The boom hoist cylinder preferably comprises two double-acting hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic circuit includes a closed loop pump and a hydraulic controller connecting the closed loop pump and the double-acting cylinders such that fluid from the pump can be directed either to extend or retract the cylinders, with the hydraulic fluid exiting the cylinders being directed to return to the pump.

6588521, Jul 8, 2003

Mar 26, 1999

09/277364

Kenneth J. Porubcansky - Whitelaw WI
David J. Pech - Manitowoc WI
Alan E. Pleuss - Manitowoc WI

Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc. - Reno NV

B66C 2336

180 91, 180 944, 212175, 212180

A crawler that includes a first crawler assembly and a second crawler assembly attached to the first crawler assembly so that the first crawler assembly is aligned with the direction of travel of the second crawler assembly.

6758356, Jul 6, 2004

Nov 14, 1996

08/748986

Arthur G. Zuehlke - Manitowoc WI
David J. Pech - Manitowoc WI

Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc. - Reno NV

B66D 126

212270

An improved method and system for a liftcrane in which a load is lifted through the combined action of first and second hoist drums. The method and system use a first rope wound on one hoist drum and a second rope wound on the second hoist drum. The ends of the ropes opposite the hoist drums are linked together to transmit tension between them. The load is coupled to the ropes. If the take up speed of one of the ropes exceeds the take up speed of the other, the linked ends of the ropes will shift. This condition is detected and the operation of at least one of the first and second hoist drums is modified to bring the take up rates into balance. This system is advantageously used with a hoist block sheave arrangement. This system can also be used with a single rope in which each of the ends of the single rope are wound on a separate one of the hoist drums and the load is coupled to the middle of the rope.

7546928, Jun 16, 2009

Apr 9, 2007

11/733104

David J. Pech - Manitowoc WI, US
Kenneth J. Porubcansky - Whitelaw WI, US

Manitowoc Crane Companies, Inc. - Reno NV

B66C 23/76

212270, 212196

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody having moveable ground engaging members; a rotating bed rotatably connected to the carbody such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members; a boom pivotally mounted on a front portion of the rotating bed; a mast mounted at its first end on the rotating bed; a backhitch connected between the mast and a rear portion of the rotating bed; a moveable counterweight unit; at least one hydraulic cylinder; and at least one arm pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed and at a second end to the hydraulic cylinder. The arm and hydraulic cylinder are connected between the rotating bed and the counterweight unit such that extension and retraction of the hydraulic cylinder changes the position of the counterweight unit compared to the rotating bed. In one method of operation, the counterweight is positioned forward of a point directly below the top of the mast when no load is on a load hoist line suspended from the boom; and positioned reward of the top of the mast when the hoist line supports a load; and the moveable counterweight is never supported by the ground during crane pick, move and set operations other than indirectly by the ground engaging members on the carbody. In another method the crane is used to perform a pick, move and set operation with a load wherein the move able counterweight is moved toward and away from the front portion of the rotating bed by extending and retracting the hydraulic cylinder during the pick, move and set operation to help counterbalance the load, but the counterweight is never supported by the ground other than indirectly by the ground engaging members on the carbody.

7766176, Aug 3, 2010

Nov 11, 2008

12/268868

David J. Pech - Manitowoc WI, US

Manitowoc Crane Companies, LLC - Manitowoc WI

B66C 23/76

212196, 212301

A mobile lift crane includes a central crane unit, a boom unit and a counterweight unit. The central crane unit has a carbody, moveable ground engaging members and a rotating bed mounted to the ground engaging members with a rotatable connection such that the rotating bed can swing with respect to the ground engaging members. The boom unit has a support member, at least one moveable ground engaging member, and a boom pivotally mounted on the support member. The counterweight unit has counterweight on a support member. Rigging connects the boom and counterweight unit such that a load lifted by the boom can be counterbalanced by the counterweight. The boom unit and counterweight unit are connected to the central crane unit by structural members that carry compressive loads and maintain the boom unit, the rotating bed and the counterweight unit in lateral alignment with each other, but allow relative vertical movement between the boom unit, the rotating bed and the counterweight unit. A main mast is pivotally mounted on the combination of the central crane unit, the boom unit and the structural member between the central crane unit and the boom unit. In another embodiment, a counterweight unit with a swing axis and boom unit are connected directly together with a structural member.

7967158, Jun 28, 2011

Jan 31, 2008

12/023902

David J. Pech - Manitowoc WI, US
Kenneth J. Porubcansky - Whitelaw WI, US
Alan E. Pleuss - Manitowoc WI, US
John M. Lanning - Reedsville WI, US

Manitowoc Crane Companies, LLC - Manitowoc WI

B66C 23/76

212296, 212178, 212270

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody, a rotating bed, a boom, a moveable counterweight unit, at least one linear actuation device and at least one arm pivotally connected at a first end to the rotating bed and at a second end to the linear actuation device. The arm and linear actuation device are connected between the rotating bed and the counterweight unit such that extension and retraction of the linear actuation device changes the position of the counterweight unit. In one method of operation, the counterweight is never supported by the ground during crane pick, move and set operations other than indirectly by the ground engaging members on the carbody. One embodiment includes a counterweight movement structure having a rectangular rack with at least first and third pinion gears engaged with teeth on one side and second and fourth pinion gears engaged with teeth on the opposing side.

8075069, Dec 13, 2011

Feb 9, 2009

12/368143

David J. Pech - Manitowoc WI, US
Joel D. Zick - Newton WI, US

Manitowoc Crane Companies, LLC - Manitowoc WI

B62D 55/12

305195, 305199

A combination of a drive tumbler and a track includes a track made of a plurality of connected track shoes and a plurality of driven surfaces. The track is wrapped around the drive tumbler so that a plurality of the shoes are in contact with the drive tumbler. The drive tumbler has a plurality of drive surfaces and a circumferential rim surface that includes a plurality of shoe contact surfaces that each contact the inside surface of one of the track shoes that are in contact with the tumbler. The shoe contact surface has a shape such that a line normal to the tangent of the shoe contact surface does not pass through the axis of rotation of the drive tumbler, thereby allowing the shoe contact surfaces on the rim of the drive tumbler to transmit a tractive force to the track. A preferred drive tumbler comprises a center hub and a plurality of individual tooth members connected to the center hub by welds.

8348073, Jan 8, 2013

Sep 16, 2009

12/561103

Bronson E. Foust - Mishicot WI, US
David J. Pech - Manitowoc WI, US

Manitowoc Crane Companies, LLC - Manitowoc WI

B66C 23/44

212180, 212175, 280785, 280799, 29619304

A mobile lift crane includes a carbody made from two side members and two end cross members connected to each other with a carbody connection that can be disconnected such that the side members and end cross members can be individually transported between job sites and reassembled at a new job site. Preferably the two side members are interchangeable with each other when making the carbody, and the two end cross members are also interchangeable with each other. Further, each of the side members and end cross members preferably has a section of a roller path and section of a ring gear attached to them while being transported and assembled.