Did You Know...
...that the video game, Pong, was invented by a guy who graduated at the bottom of his engineering class? Nolan Bushnell spent more time running the games at a local amusement park than he did on his studies at the University of Utah. His dreams of working for Disney's amusement empire were dashed when the company wouldn't hire him. Taking a boring job, Nolan daydreamed about electronic versions of popular games. He invented Pong, the first video game, and went on to found Atari Co.
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| Number | Title | Issue Date |
| 8157113 | Hoisting device with extended load range A hoisting device or crane can be operated with at least two different maximum loads. The maximum load that can be hoisted in each case is correlated with the hoisting speed in order to prevent the dynamically developed peak load from exceeding the predetermined all... | 04/17/2012 |
| 7350247 | Hoisting device The present invention concerns a hoisting device including a hoisting module which is replaceably connected with a coupling arrangement for a trolley which is mounted in a ceiling-mounted rail arrangement, where the coupling arrangement is provided in two sections, ... | 04/01/2008 |
| 7303049 | System for people with limited mobility or with elevated risk of falling A system for people with limited mobility or with elevated risk of falling. Embodiments of the invention include internal walls that do not extend to the ceiling, a track system, a joist which is able to move on the track system, a carriage which is able to move on ... | 12/04/2007 |
| 7299589 | Telescoping boom actuation mechanism formed of concentrically nested tubular boom sections mutually engaged by roller assemblies riding on helical tracks A telescoping boom mechanism for deploying an expandable structure, such a hoop-supported antenna, comprises a plurality of concentrically nestable tubular boom sections, that are mutually engageable with one another by way of roller assemblies and helical tracks fo... | 11/27/2007 |
| 7293952 | Lift apparatus for vehicle for the handicapped The lift apparatus includes a forward and rearward moving rail member mounted to a roof panel within a vehicle body to extend rearward from a position of a driver's seat by a predetermined distance. A leftward and rightward moving rail member is mounted to the roof ... | 11/13/2007 |
| 7237491 | Variable function person transportation system(s) A winch assembly comprising a) a person lowering and raising winch component attached to a carriage component, the carriage component being configured for coupling to a carriage track of an overhead support for displacement thereof along the carriage track | 07/03/2007 |
| 7159821 | Integrated transport system for overhead stowage One advantageous embodiment of the present invention is an integrated transport system (14) for moving an object (20) in an aircraft (10) between a main cabin (16) and an overhead cabin (18) via a shaft (24) in connection th... | 01/09/2007 |
| 7134563 | Crane with manual input devices The invention relates to a crane that comprises an electronic control for actuating drives for at least one lifting gear and for crane movements, which can be operated by an operator via manual input devices. Said manual input devices can be adjusted as regards thei... | 11/14/2006 |
| 7043337 | Methods and apparatus for eliminating instability in intelligent assist devices Methods and apparatus for eliminating instability in intelligent assist devices are disclosed. The intelligent assist device includes an overhead motorized moveable trolley, a support that extends downwardly from the trolley to a payload, and a sensor operatively co... | 05/09/2006 |
| 7026780 | Method for stabilizing the movement of an articulated chain of a chain block, especially to prevent the formation of a resonance oscillation of the chain, and a chain block apparatus The invention concerns a method for stabilizing the motion of an articulated chain of a chain block, especially to prevent the formation of resonance oscillation of the chain, in which an articulated chain is led across a polygonal chain wheel with non-uniform pitch... | 04/11/2006 |
| 7004454 | Motorcycle and small vehicle lift A lift apparatus includes a base frame having a pair of ground engaging caster assemblies and a pair of horizontally extending divergent legs each having an inner end attached to the base frame and an outer end with a roller attached thereto, the casters and the rol... | 02/28/2006 |
| 6974044 | System and device for controlling a load lifting device The invention relates to a system for controlling a load lifting device (1) with a controllable drive (2) and a lifting element (5) which is linked with the drive (2) and which is—at least in a non-operational position due to the gravit... | 12/13/2005 |
| 6962091 | System and method for measuring a horizontal deviation of a load receiving element The aim of the invention is to provide a system and a method which surmounts the problems of prior art. According to the inventive system and method for measuring horizontal deviation of a load receiving element in relation to a position of a hoist traveling trolley... | 11/08/2005 |
| 6862509 | Device for operating the articulated mast of a large manipulator A device for operating an articulated arm of a large manipulator connected to a boom base. The large manipulator comprises an articulated boom (22), composed of three boom arms (23 to 27), the boom arms of which may each be pivoted around mutual... | 03/01/2005 |
| 6343703 | Anti-two block device using non-contract measuring and detecting devices In the anti-two block device, a non-contact measuring device detects in one form or another the distance between a boom nose and a load-bearing member supported thereby. If the distance detected is less than a predetermined threshold value, the device tri... | 02/05/2002 |
| 6325749 | Robot vehicle for hot-line job A robot vehicle for hot-line job for transmission and distribution lines which comprises an insulating boom formed of an insulating material at a tip end stage of multiple stage booms, a base end of which is supported on an elevated work vehicle to be cap... | 12/04/2001 |
| 6256553 | Method and device to pick up, transport and put down a load A crane control based on quoted location data and observed ambient data provided by at least one identifier, the goods to be conveyed by the crane can be controlled to the location site. The identifier takes pictures of at least two difference areas, whic... | 07/03/2001 |
| 6092789 | Methods and apparatus for boom hoist systems A boom hoist system for supporting and adjusting the position of a lifting crane gantry is provided including a drum, a drive system, and first and second braking systems for selectively stopping rotation of the drum. The boom hoist system operates indepe... | 07/25/2000 |
| 6056500 | Vacuum hoisting device having a vertically suspended lifting tube The invention relates to a vacuum hoisting device of the kind having a vertically suspended lifting tube (4), which is extensible and contractible depending upon the air pressure in the lifting tube, and which at its lowest part is provided with a suction... | 05/02/2000 |
| 6039193 | Integrated and automated control of a crane's rider block tagline system A method is provided to automatically control a cranes's rider block lifte and taglines. Current position of the crane's rider block is determined in terms of its horizontal and vertical coordinates, as well as in terms of the inhaul angle of the liftlin... | 03/21/2000 |
| 5917300 | Method and apparatus for the control of gantry machines Control system for controlling a dynamic physical system. New, substantially decoupled axes are derived from physical axes of a dynamic system. Closed-loop controllers operate on signals representing the new or synthesized axes to control the coordinate p... | 06/29/1999 |
| 5790407 | Time-based control system A time-based control system (10) for controlling a process incorporating external devices using a predefined response profile (13). The response profile (13) is continuously compared to the actual response of the controlled device (11). A plurality of sen... | 08/04/1998 |
| 5725113 | Method for deactivating swing control on a crane A method of deactivating an electronic load oscillation dampener on a crane when the crane is reverse plugged is present. Thus allowing the crane to stop faster in emergency situations.... | 03/10/1998 |
| 5713478 | Method for deactivating swing control with a timer A method of automatically deactivating an electronic load oscillation dampener on a crane is presented. In the method, an inching time interval K is determined. In response to motion commands from the crane operator, carriage motion is initiated under the... | 02/03/1998 |
| 5350075 | Arrangement for controlling the direction of movement of a load hoist trolley The present invention relates to an arrangement for a load hoist comprising a load device supported by a lifting cable and a driver for driving the load device in a horizontal direction. The driver is arranged to be actuated by the movement of the lifting... | 09/27/1994 |
| 4838438 | Crane and driving system therefor A crane provided with traveling wheels disposed under a crane frame. The crane includes a hoisting accessory which is adapted to be hoisted by a hoist apparatus. AC motors are provided as travel motors for driving the traveling wheels as well as hoist mot... | 06/13/1989 |
| 4812725 | Positioning device with dual linear motor A linear motor system includes first and second linear motors driving a load along spaced-apart supports. A positioning table, or a portion of a machine tool, supported between the first and second linear motors includes a device for varying the position ... | 03/14/1989 |
| 4807767 | Self balancing electric hoist The specification discloses a self-blancing screw jack that is responsive to small manually applied "upset" loads to move the load in the desired direction. A strain gauge measure the total load and is used to establish a null signal representative of the... | 02/28/1989 |
| 4792052 | Apparatus for controlling the number of revolutions of an engine An apparatus including a grip sensor for controlling the number of revolutions of an engine. The grip sensor detects whether or not fingers of an operator approach toward the grip sensor or the former come in contact with the latter. Usually, the grip sen... | 12/20/1988 |
| 4782961 | Crane A crane is provided which comprises a hoisting mechanism, which comprises a hoisting rope and a hoisting rope winch. A winch drive for the hoisting rope or a torque-limiting coupling connected between said winch drive and said winch is so controlled that ... | 11/08/1988 |
| 4706570 | Crane with anti-skewing device A crane with an anti-skewing device comprising a platform suspended under a bridge deck by two end truck assemblies supported by runways on a bridge. Each end truck assembly includes two sets of trolleys and an upper load bar interconnects the two sets of... | 11/17/1987 |
| 4658971 | Self balancing electric hoist A self-balancing screw jack that is responsive to small manually applied "upset" loads to move the load in the desired direction. A strain gauge measure the total load and is used to establish a null signal representative of the load at rest. This nulled ... | 04/21/1987 |
| 4653653 | Hoisting systems A safety system for overhead hoisting cranes is provided which incorporates a overload release coupling in the high speed drive shaft between the prime mover and the gear reducers driving one or more hoist drums with a dual reeving and a safety brake acti... | 03/31/1987 |
| 4598829 | Hydraulic circuit for crane A hydraulic circuit for a crane having both lift and boom hoist pumps driven by the same engine with appropriate control valves to independently control the lift hooks and the boom angle. An unloading valve is interposed in the boom hoise circuit and dump... | 07/08/1986 |
| 4597497 | Hoist with redundant safety features A hoist 10 with redundant safety features comprising: a hoist support frame; a lifting drum 14 mounted on the hoist support frame; a load block assembly 28; an equalizer assembly 24 mounted on the hoist support frame; the load block assembly 28 being susp... | 07/01/1986 |
| 4430041 | Crane and manipulator integration An installation for handling a workpiece, particularly a workpiece to be forged includes a manipulator and an overhead crane, the controls of the manipulator and the crane form part of an integrated system so that movement of the crane and the manipulator... | 02/07/1984 |
| 4344497 | Override control for axle locking apparatus of mobile crane A pair of hydraulic locking cylinders for a vertically oscillatable wheel axle on the carrier frame of a mobile crane are interconnected and controlled by a hydraulic double-locking valve which is responsive to the centered or off-centered rotary position... | 08/17/1982 |
| 4243147 | Three-dimensional lift A three-dimensional lift intended for use by a handicapped person, providing him with three dimensions of mobility within a room or rooms. The invention consists of uniform channels or rails secured in parallel configuration adjacent to or on a room ceili... | 01/06/1981 |
