US 11,772,688 B2
Mobile crane systems and methods
Paul Markelz, Cary, IL (US); and William Kenneth Quast, Cary, IL (US)
Assigned to Bridge and Track Crane LLC, Cary, IL (US)
Filed by Bridge and Track Crane LLC, Cary, IL (US)
Filed on Dec. 3, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/542,077.
Application 17/542,077 is a continuation of application No. 16/477,760, granted, now 11,208,120, previously published as PCT/US2018/013880, filed on Jan. 16, 2018.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/447,766, filed on Jan. 18, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/445,968, filed on Jan. 13, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/529,899, filed on Jul. 7, 2017.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/583,658, filed on Nov. 9, 2017.
Prior Publication US 2022/0089197 A1, Mar. 24, 2022
Int. Cl. B61D 15/00 (2006.01); B66C 5/04 (2006.01); B66C 19/00 (2006.01); B66C 1/22 (2006.01); E01B 29/02 (2006.01)
CPC B61D 15/00 (2013.01) [B66C 5/04 (2013.01); B66C 19/00 (2013.01); B66C 1/22 (2013.01); E01B 29/02 (2013.01)] 23 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A crane apparatus comprising:
a first truss assembly comprising a first main truss having a longitudinal axis, the first main truss being coupled to a first rail car end assembly;
a second truss assembly comprising a second main truss spaced apart from and extending approximately parallel to the longitudinal axis, the second main truss being coupled to the first rail car end assembly, the first main truss and the second main truss spaced apart from one another to define an interior space; and
an upper gantry assembly rotatably coupled to a first upper support beam of the first truss assembly and to a second upper support beam of the second truss assembly, the upper gantry assembly having a first bridge beam and a second bridge beam spaced apart from one another and extending across the interior space between the first truss assembly and the second truss assembly, the first bridge beam and second bridge beam being slidable parallel to the longitudinal axis within a guide track formed in the first upper support beam of the first truss assembly and a guide track formed in the second upper support beam of the second truss assembly;
wherein a first truss extension is rotationally coupled to a first end of the first main truss and a second truss extension is rotationally coupled to a second end of the first main truss.