EP1701907A1

EP1701907A1 - Camera crane

Info

Publication number: EP1701907A1
Application number: EP04819654A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Walter Tiefenbrunn
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2003-12-05
Filing date: 2004-12-03
Publication date: 2006-09-20
Also published as: DE10356982B3; WO2005054112A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a camera crane (2) comprising a stand (4) and a camera jack (6) which is connected to a pivotable axis (8), said camera jack being provided with a camera jib (10) which is arranged on one side of the pivotable axis (20) and a counterweight jib (12) which is arranged on the other side of the pivotable axis (20). The invention is characterised in that an operating service stand is connected to the counterweight jib (12) as a counterweight.

Description

CAMERA CRANE

The present invention relates to a camera crane, comprising a frame and a camera rocker connected to it on a pivot axis with a camera boom on one side of the pivot axis and a counterweight boom on the other side of the pivot axis.

Such camera cranes are known for example from EP 0 478 916 A1, DE 10 147 602 A1 and DE 3 815 342 C1. In contrast to the documents mentioned, the present invention is primarily aimed at light, dismantled, portable camera cranes that can also be easily brought into buildings or can be easily carried to and from the location for shooting outdoors, for example during expeditions can be built. Corresponding light cranes are commercially available. As a frame, such light cranes often have a tripod, which is constructed similarly to a conventional camera tripod, and the counterweight is attached to the counterweight boom. The operator typically stands next to the tripod and attacks the camera rocker for operation. The maximum height of the frame is therefore dependent on the height of the operator and limited to approximately 1.60 m. In many applications, however, it is desirable to have a significantly higher frame, for example to be able to pivot over a wall or to position the camera boom essentially parallel to the ceiling above a stage. Conventional light cranes must be mounted on a separate platform for this purpose. Another disadvantage is that the operator needs a hand to operate the camera crane. But it is advantageous if the operator has both hands, e.g. B. for operating the camera, has free.

Another problem with such light cranes arises from the required counterweight. Normal cranes need a camera weight of approx. 10 kg plus a weight of 4 kg for the camera swivel device (remote head) with a crane length of approx. 7 m, a counterweight of approx. 80 kg. This weight adds to the normal crane weight of around 25 to 30 kg and must be carried to the location, which can mean a considerable amount of transport, especially if the location is only accessible on foot.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to make camera cranes of the type described much easier and easier to transport.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by using the operator as a counterweight. In particular, this object is achieved in that an operating station is connected to the counterweight boom as a counterweight.

In the context of the present invention, the term “control station” denotes any type of platform, seat, etc. on which a person can stand, sit or lie.

The control station can be connected directly to the counterweight boom, but it can also be connected to the counterweight boom via a connection, for example a suspension, etc. In this way, substantial weight minimization can be achieved, since obviously no separate counterweight has to be transported. The weight of the camera crane can thus be substantially reduced to the weight of the structure of the camera crane.

The control station is preferably a seat. The seat can be designed such that the operator stands on the floor with his feet, so that he can move the camera crane with his legs in a muscular manner. Then the operator has both hands free to operate the camera.

The control station is preferably provided on a swivel arm, which on the frame below the camera rocker about a swivel arm axis is pivotally arranged. In this context, it should be pointed out that, in the present application, general directional information, such as above, below, but also horizontal axis, etc., relates to a camera crane built on a flat underground. The swivel arm can serve as a lever arm in order to implement a suitable weight reduction or translation for providing the required counterweight by a suitable choice of the lever arm lengths.

The control station is preferably slidably arranged on the swivel arm. The displaceable arrangement allows the lever arm ratios to be selected appropriately and, if necessary, also allows adaptation to favorable ergonomic ratios for the operator. The control station can be arranged on the swivel arm in such a way that it can be fixed in a desired position, for example by jamming or locking.

The camera rocker and the swivel arm are preferably arranged essentially in one plane, in particular in a plane which is essentially defined by the perpendicular to the contact surface and the extent of the camera rocker, and preferably a connecting element is provided for attaching the swivel arm to the counterweight boom. The provision of the separate counterweight boom, in particular with the connecting element to the camera rocker, makes it possible to decouple the height of the camera rocker from the position of the operator, i.e. unlike the prior art, the height of the camera rocker above the floor does not depend on the size of the operator.

In the simplest case, the connecting element can be a rope-like connecting element; a rigid connector, e.g. a connecting rod can be favorable to transmit the operator movements from the swivel arm to the camera rocker.

It may be favorable to attach the fastening element to the swivel arm and / or to the counterweight arm in different positions. provision points to provide an adjustment of the counterweight in this way too.

105 The swivel arm axis is preferably provided on a mounting bracket which projects from the frame, preferably essentially parallel to the camera boom. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the operator is to stand on the floor with his feet during operation and thus controls the camera crane. It is obvious,

110 that with such an operation only a certain movement stroke can be made by the operator's legs. Furthermore, this movement stroke for long film sequences or long recording times is impaired by the fact that particularly deep positions, which correspond to high camera positions, cannot be held muscularly for a longer period of time. With a

115 long swivel arm and a control stand attached to the end of the swivel arm, a favorable lifting ratio can be achieved with an acceptable range of motion. Basically, you could also imagine providing a long arm without a boom. Such a swivel arm would, however, protrude relatively far from the frame

120 and thus unnecessarily enlarge the space required for the camera crane. The mounting bracket cleverly uses the space available through the footprint of the frame in order to be able to implement a sufficiently long swivel arm.

125 The frame preferably has a foot and a mast. In principle, it is favorable to design the frame in the form of a tube or in the manner of a mast. On the one hand, this enables the required strength to be achieved. On the other hand, such a mast or a tube of this type can be produced inexpensively and with a relatively low weight. Basically there is a certain footprint

130 required at the foot of the mast. For example, a tripod or other multi-legged support can be provided. For sufficiently smooth substrates, it can also be provided that the mast base is placed on rollers so that it is possible to move the camera crane. It is particularly favorable if the support elements, for example rollers, etc., are interchangeable, so 135 that the right insurgent can be used for every surface.

The camera rocker is preferably connected to the frame so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. This means that not only can the camera be swiveled upwards and 140 downwards, but also the camera can be rotated around the vertical axis of the frame.

The mast is preferably rotatably mounted in the foot about the vertical axis. For example, a suitable bearing can be arranged in the foot. This

145 Forming the bearing in the foot has the advantage that the swivel arm, which is preferably attached to the mast, can be rotated together with the rocker about the vertical axis. This means that a rotary movement does not have to be transmitted via the connecting element between the swivel arm and the counterweight boom. Rather, a rotation of the swivel arm is enough to also

150 rocker to rotate, and the connecting element is used only for the purpose of transmitting vertical forces. Another advantage is that the mast itself can be made relatively simple. This is cheap for manufacturing reasons.

155 The mast preferably has tubular pieces which can be pushed into one another and which can particularly preferably be locked to one another in the extended state by means of a locking connection. Instead of a positive locking connection, a non-positive locking connection or a combination of locking and locking connection can also be provided. In this way

160 the mast can be designed in the manner of a telescope. This is particularly advantageous for transport reasons. Preferably, a rail is provided on the camera boom, along which a camera holder, e.g. a remote head that is arranged to be movable. The rail does not necessarily have to be limited to the camera boom, it can also extend over the pivot axis of the

165 extend the camera rocker into the counterbalance boom. In this case, the camera boom serves as a counterweight for the camera. In this way, the camera can be moved along the camera arm or along partial areas or along the entire camera rocker. For weight To compensate, the operator can either support more or less of his body weight via his feet or he can move the seat along the swivel arm. The displacement of the seat along the swivel arm can, for example, be effected muscularly by the operator, or it can be effected by a drive, preferably an automatically controlled drive.

175 A cable drive for moving the camera holder is preferably provided, the cable drive preferably having a cable supply spool, a take-up spool connected to it and a deflection roller at one end of the rail. A rope is wound on the rope supply spool, and that

180 free end of the rope is passed over the deflection pulley and connected to the take-up reel. The cable drive or the cable is also connected to the camera holder in order to move it along the rail. Preferably, a driver is provided on the rope, which can be attached to the camera holder or can be simply attached. Furthermore, at the end of the

185 rope preferably provided a fastener with which it can be easily attached to the take-up reel. The construction with rope supply spool and take-up spool enables the camera crane to be dismantled and assembled particularly easily, especially when the camera seesaw is made up of individual segments to form different overall lengths.

190 can be set. Then there is basically the problem that the rope of the rope drive must be adapted to the corresponding length of the camera rocker. With the selected construction, as much rope is simply pulled off the take-up spool as is required. The rope is then hung on the camera holder, which is preferably all the way to the end of the rope

195 winding spool of the rail is shifted. In the further course, the rope is passed over the deflection roller at the end of the rail, and finally the free end is attached to the take-up reel, taking care that the rope is essentially taut. If you now operate the rope drive in such a way that the rope is wound onto the take-up reel, rope becomes the same amount

200 unwound from the supply reel and wound on the take-up reel. The camera holder is moved along the rail and the rope remains taut. The expert recognizes that two pulleys on the two Ends of the rail can be provided and the cable drive with the cable supply spool and the take-up spool can be arranged 205 anywhere along the rail.

The camera rocker is preferably formed from a plurality of individual segregations. Furthermore, preferably at least some of the individual segments have stiffening struts pivotally connected thereto, which preferably

210 are arranged pivotably on the upper side thereof, tensioning elements, for example ropes etc., being provided on the stiffening struts, which can be connected to adjacent individual segments and / or stiffening struts. Furthermore, a covering device is preferably provided, for example in the manner of a turnbuckle, by means of which the

215 tensioning elements can be tensioned. The individual segments are preferably designed to be pluggable. The rail for the camera holder is preferably also arranged on the individual segments. It is particularly preferred to provide a base segment which is pivotally connected to the upper end of the frame or the mast and which

220 weight brackets with covers. It can also be advantageous to provide the drive, in particular the cable drive, for the camera holder on the base segment. It is further preferred to provide an end segment which forms the free end of the camera boom. The deflection roller for the cable drive can, for example, be arranged on this end segment. Furthermore, must

225 the end segment does not necessarily have a stiffening strut. One or more intermediate segments are preferably provided between the base segment and the end segment in order to implement different lengths for the camera rocker as required. It is preferred to design the intermediate segments to be essentially the same, which is from a manufacturing point of view

230 is preferred. The tensioning device can, for example, be provided on the base segment. The invention and refinements of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to 235 exemplary embodiments. Show it:

1 shows a first embodiment of a camera crane according to the present invention in a first position;

240 FIG. 2 shows a camera crane according to FIG. 1 in a second position;

3 shows a camera crane according to a second embodiment in a first configuration;

FIG. 4 shows a camera crane according to FIG. 3 in a second configuration;

5 shows a detailed view of a cable drive of a camera crane;

6 shows a detailed view of a foot of a camera crane in a first configuration; and

Fig. 7 is a detailed view of a foot in a second configuration.

1 and 2, a camera crane 2 can be seen, comprising a frame 255 4 and a camera rocker 6. The camera rocker 6 is connected to the frame 4 so that it can pivot about a pivot axis 8. It can also be seen that the camera rocker 6 has a camera boom 10 and a counterweight boom 12. The camera crane 2 stands with the frame 4 on a base 14. One can also see an operating station 16, which is designed in the form of a seat 18 260. The control station 16 is connected to the counterweight boom 12 via a connecting element 20.

While the camera rocker 6 with the camera boom 10 is shown pivoted all the way up in FIG. 1, the opposite position 265 is shown in FIG. 2, in which the end of the camera boom 10 is almost on the ground. A camera 24 arranged by means of a camera holder 22 can also be seen in the figures. It should be noted that the position shown in FIG. 2 the extreme position of the camera rocker 6 does not necessarily have to be. Rather, it is possible, for example when shooting on a slope or from a roof terrace, 270 to pivot the camera or the free end of the camera boom 10 below the level shown with the reference numeral 14. If appropriate, it may be advantageous to extend the connecting element 20 in relation to FIGS. 1 and 2 or to use a longer connecting element 20 in order to be able to pivot further downward.

275 It can be seen that the frame 4 stands on the base 14 with rollers 26. At least part of the rollers 26 is preferably provided with a brake in order to firmly position the frame or the camera crane 2 on the base 14. The wheels 26 can be arranged on the frame 4 in an adjustable manner

280 to compensate for height differences or uneven ground 14. Alternatively, individual feet (not shown) can be provided on the frame 4 instead of individual wheels or all wheels 26. These can also be designed to be height-adjustable. It may be convenient for off-road work to use other riot equipment, such as skis, runners, gliders, or large ones

285 plate-like elements, the latter to avoid sinking into soft ground.

The frame 4 has a foot 28 and a mast 30. The camera rocker 6 is connected to the frame 4 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis; in particular, in the embodiment shown, the mast 30 is rotatably mounted in the foot 28.

It can also be seen that the mast 30 in the embodiment shown is formed from a plurality of pipe pieces 32, 34 which can be pushed into one another. The pivot axis 8 for the camera rocker 6 can thus be arranged 295 relatively high. More than the two telescoping pipe pieces 32, 34 shown can be provided. The person skilled in the art recognizes relatively easily that, in the embodiment shown, the pivot axis 8 can also be arranged higher, provided that the connecting element 20 is of sufficient length.

300 It can also be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2 that a plurality of connection points 36 are provided for the connecting element. It can thus be adapted to the weight of the operator or to the camera equipment used.

305 Furthermore, it can be seen that the foot 28 has a plurality of struts 38 projecting laterally away, on which the actual uprising means, e.g. the wheels 26 are connected. As will be explained below, the struts 38 are hingedly connected to the foot 28. A line 40 310 for the struts 38 is indicated by a line.

It can also be seen that the seat 18 is mounted on a swivel arm 42 on a slide 44 so as to be displaceable in the longitudinal direction of the swivel arm 42. It can also be seen from the comparison of FIGS. 1 and 2 that the seat can be rotated

315 is mounted so that the operator can essentially always be positioned horizontally on the seat. Swivel arm 42 and camera rocker 6 are arranged essentially in one plane. This embodiment is preferred because, on the one hand, the operator can follow the movement of the camera and, on the other hand, the swivel arm 42 can be coupled to the camera rocker 46 without any problems

320 can. The pivot arm 42 itself is pivotally connected to a mounting bracket 48 about a pivot arm axis 46. The lever ratio between the length between the operator's center of gravity and the swivel arm axis 46 and the length between the connection point for the connecting element 20 and the swivel arm axis 46 defines a force reduction or reduction.

325 A similar force step-up or step-down also results from the choice of the corresponding fastening point 36 for the connecting element 20 on the counterweight arm 12.

The swivel arm 42 is preferably connected to the mast 30 - not to the foot 28. The swivel arm 42 is thus rotatably fastened together with the mast 30 and the camera rocker 6.

The operator ^'can sit on the seat 18 and the camera crane 2 to move by stepping with the feet on the ground and by stretching or flexing 335 of the legs control the rotation of the camera rocker 6 about the pivot axis. On the other hand, he can turn the seat and thus the camera rocker 6 about the vertical axis or the mast 30 by corresponding walking movements to the side.

Alternatively, footrests can be provided. The operator then has the 340 option of changing the counterweight applied to the counterweight arm 12 by displacing the seat 18 on the slide 44 and thus changing the inclination of the camera rocker 6. This weight adjustment can also be done electronically or with a drive device. Likewise, with a fixed counterweight, a drive (see reference number 50) can be provided which changes the inclination of the swivel arm and thus the inclination of the camera rocker 6. Similarly, a drive can be provided for seat adjustment (see reference number 52) and a drive (reference number 54) can be provided for rotating around masts 30.

350 The camera crane 2 and / or the drives 50, 52, 54, 58 and possibly further drives can be controlled from a control panel (not shown) which is arranged in the operator's work area. The camera holder itself is equipped with a cable drive 58 (described in more detail below)

355 movable along a rail 60. It is possible to design the camera crane to be driven around all axes of movement. It is also possible to provide one or more of the rollers 26 in a driven and / or steerable manner. A controller can be provided that coordinates the movements and / or automatically counterbalances. It is also

360 possible to provide program memory in order to allow predetermined movement sequences of individual or all drives 50, 52, 54, 58 of the camera crane 2 to run. The operator can then concentrate on operating the camera. The camera holder itself can be designed to be rotatable or pivotable about several axes in the usual manner and also by the operator

365 can be controlled. Since the balance states change significantly in a method of the camera holder 22 along the rail 60, a counterweight adjustment in the manner described above can take place either actively by the operator or automatically controlled. 370 It can also be seen that the camera rocker is made up of several individual segments. These can be attached to each other, for example locked or jammed. In particular, the camera rocker 6 has a base segment 62, a plurality of intermediate segments 64 and an end segment 66. It can be seen that the intermediate segments 64 are essentially identical. One recognises

375 further that the cable drive 58 is attached to the base segment 62 and a deflection roller 68 for the cable drive 58 is arranged on the end segment 66. , It can also be seen that some of the individual segments 62, 64 of the camera rocker 6 have stiffening struts 70 pivotally connected to them, which have a plurality of tensioning elements 72, 74 with adjacent stiffening struts

380 70 or adjacent individual segments 62, 64, 66 are connected and in this way form a stable framework. A tensioner 76 is also provided to tighten and tension the assembly. The tensioning device 76 can be a turnbuckle, for example.

385 It can be seen that the camera rocker 6 can be assembled from the individual segments 62, 64, 66. For example, the individual segments 62, 64, 66 can be designed such that they can be inserted into one another. Due to the foldable stiffening struts 70, the individual segments 62, 64, 66 essentially have a very slim shape and can thus be easily combined in one

390 transport bag can be accommodated. After the individual segments 62, 64, 66 have been put together, the stiffening struts 70 are erected and the bracing elements 72, 74 connected to the stiffening struts are connected to adjacent stiffening struts 70 or to adjacent individual segments 62, 64, 66. The individual bracing elements 72,

395 74 do not have to be provided firmly on the stiffening struts 70. It is also possible to mount the individual bracing elements 72, 74 either at their respective other ends, e.g. to be provided on a single segment 62, 64, 66 or as separate parts for transport and only to be connected during assembly. The connection can be done, for example, by simply hanging it up

400 in a hook-and-eye connection or by clamping, etc. As soon as the individual stiffening struts 70 are set up and the tensioning elements 72, 74 are connected accordingly, the tensioning direction 76, the arrangement can be braced so that the individual bracing elements 72, 74 are prestressed. The overall arrangement is thus 405 constructed in the manner of a truss and is able to transmit forces which are substantially greater than the individual longitudinal elements of the individual segments 62, 64, 66 could. In other words, this construction enables an extremely lightweight construction of the arrangement, which additionally improves the portability.

410 The individual tensioning elements are preferably rope-like elements, for example steel ropes or plastic ropes.

It has already been mentioned that the mast 30 can be constructed 415 telescopically. For example, a clamp connection and / or a latching connection can be provided in order to firmly position the mast at a predetermined height. A latching positive connection is particularly preferred, since with such a construction a good fixing of the mast parts relative to one another is ensured. This can be a snap-in device 420 in which a spring-loaded button snaps into an outer tube piece through an opening. After pushing in this spring-loaded button, it is possible to move the pipe sections to each other. It is expedient to provide a series of openings along the extension of the tube or tubes, for example with the same distance from one another or preferred height positions, in order to enable flexible height adjustment. It should be pointed out that the tube pieces 32, 34 of the mast 30 which can be pushed into one another do not necessarily have to be round tubes. Rather, other cross-sectional shapes, e.g. square, rectangular, oval, etc., may be provided.

430 The camera rocker 6 or the base segment 62 is detachably connected, for example with a pivot pin, to the pivot bearing 8 on the mast 30 or the frame 4, so that these parts can be transported separately from one another. The swivel arm 435 42 with the seat 18 is also detachably connected to the frame 4. Furthermore, the swivel arm 42 can also be formed from a plurality of telescopic elements which can be pushed into one another. So leave all relatively large segments of the camera crane 2 can be removed from the foot 28 relatively easily. As will be explained in the following, the struts 38 can also be folded up, so that the camera crane can be transported in a large transport bag relatively easily.

The transport bag preferably has a half-shell on one side in its longitudinal direction, which gives the transport bag a certain stiffening. The half shell can e.g. be made of stable plastic material and on her

445 have lower end rollers or be designed such that the rollers 26 serve as corresponding rollers. In this configuration, the transport bag can be pushed with suitable handles like a wheelbarrow or a hand truck. Alternatively, the transport bag can be provided with a carrying strap so that it can be carried on the back like a backpack. In another

450 preferred embodiment, the transport bag has connection options or receptacles, bags, straps, etc., on which, for example, the camera equipment etc. can be stowed. By dispensing with a separate counterweight or by skillfully using the operator's weight as a counterweight, it is possible to provide a camera crane 2,

455 which can easily be carried by one person with a weight of approx. 30 kg.

FIGS. 3 and 4 show a second embodiment of a camera crane 2 or a modification of the camera crane of FIGS. 1 and 2. It was on it

460 pointed out that in the individual views the same or corresponding components or elements are denoted by the same reference symbols. Furthermore, the individual embodiments of the figures correspond to one another, so that, unless differences are described in detail or those resulting from the drawings, the corresponding others are described

465 embodiments can be referenced.

The embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4 differs from the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2 in particular in that only one intermediate segment 64 is provided. This is intended to indicate that, depending on the 470 special application spectrum, one or more intermediate segments 64 are provided. can be hen. The embodiment also differs in that the lower end of the connecting element 20 is mounted displaceably along part of the swivel arm 42. In particular, in the embodiment shown, a drive 78 is provided which accomplishes this shift. This shift allows the counterweight acting on the counterweight arm 12 of the camera rocker 6 to be controlled. The further the lower end of the connecting element 20 is moved in the direction of the swivel arm axis 46, the greater the force amplification. If, on the other hand, the lower end of the connecting element 20 is positioned behind the seat 18 as in the embodiment of FIGS. 1 and 2, a reduction in force takes place.

The fastening for the seat 18 and the lower end of the connecting element 20 can be designed in such a way that the seat 18 and connecting element 20 can be exchanged, i. H. one of the two can optionally be connected to each of the fastenings. The drive 52 can then correspond to the drive 78. However, both, e.g. B. with a drive, independently relocatable, d. H. a separate drive 52, 78 can be provided for each.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 3 and 4, the various drives for the up and down movement of the swivel arm 42 or the camera rocker 6, etc. can be seen even more clearly than in that of FIGS. 1 and 2. In this embodiment, there is also a small one Drive motor is provided, on which a coil 80 is provided, on which a rope-like connecting element is wound, which is fastened to the mounting bracket 48. Provided that the counterweight acting on the counterweight arm 42 is always somewhat less than the counterweight required for the balance, a displacement can take place by winding and unwinding the rope-like connecting element onto the spool 80.

The drive 78 and also the cable drive 58 are designed in a similar manner. It should be noted that other types of drive can also be used. 505 Furthermore, it can be seen that in FIG. 3, compared to FIGS. 1, 2 and 4, the camera has been moved completely inwards in the direction of the frame 4, and the cable 82, which is provided on the cable drive 58, can also be seen and is guided around the deflection roller 68.

510 A detail of the cable drive is shown in FIG. In particular, the cable drive 58, the cable 82 and the deflection roller 68 can be seen. Furthermore, a cable supply spool 84 and a winding spool 86, which are arranged on a common shaft, can be seen. As already described above, allowed

515 this construction is a design of the cable drive 58, in which the cable 82 is essentially always tensioned and thus enables a defined camera position, regardless of whether one or more intermediate segments 64 are provided. It should also be pointed out that an intermediate segment 64 is not necessarily present on the camera rocker 6

520 must. Rather, the base segment 62 can be connected directly to the end segment 64.

Coming back to the cable drive 58, it can be favorable to arrange the deflection roller 68 spring-loaded in a direction away from the coils 84, 86, 525 in order to compensate for the small changes in diameter when winding and unwinding the cable 82 and to keep the cable 82 taut.

An arrangement of a strut 38 is shown more clearly in FIG. 6. It can be seen in particular that such a strut 38 consists of two individual struts 88, 90

530 stands, which are each rotatably connected to the foot 28 or to the wheel connection 92, so that they can be folded up into the position shown in FIG. 7. For locking in the extended state, a fixing 40 is provided, which in the embodiment shown is formed from tubes 94, 96 which can be pushed into one another. A clamp 98

535 is used to clamp the pipes relative to each other when extended and possibly also when retracted. The clamping device 98, like all other clamping devices in the camera crane 2, can be designed similar to a quick-release device in bicycles. It can however, a different clamping device or another fixing device may also be provided.

The foot 28 advantageously has a star-shaped shape in the view in the direction of the arrow 100 in FIG. 6, with three webs 102 going outwards from a center. The individual struts 545 88, 90 are connected to these webs 102. In FIG. 7 it can be seen that a cylindrical bearing holder 104 is provided above this star-shaped configuration, in which the bearing or bearings with which the mast 30 is rotatable is / are provided is stored.

It should be noted that the combination of foot 28 and mast 30 with a slightly modified attachment 550 can be used as a tripod for the camera 24. The described embodiment is advantageous in that it is extremely stable in the assembled state and thus guarantees camera support without jerking and wobbling. Such a multiple use as part of a camera crane 2 or as part of a tripod is particularly advantageous in locations that are difficult to reach.

It should also be pointed out that the individual parts of the camera crane 2 which are connected to one another can preferably be fastened to one another by means of quick connections or conventionally by means of barriers, etc. Thus, the clamping and snap-in connections described in certain contexts are basically suitable for fastening all parts that belong together.

Claims

570 1. Camera crane (2) comprising a frame (4) and a camera rocker (6) connected to it on a swivel axis (8) with a camera boom (10) on one side of the swivel axis (8) and a counterweight boom (12) on the other Side of the pivot axis (8),

575 characterized in that an operating station (16) is connected as a counterweight to the counterweight boom (12).

2. Camera crane (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that the operating station 580 (16) is a seat (18).

3. Camera crane (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the control station (16) is provided on a swivel arm (42) which on the frame (4) below the camera rocker (6) about a swivel arm axis (46)

585 is pivotally arranged.

4. camera crane (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that the control station (16) on the swivel arm (42) is arranged displaceably.

590 5. Camera crane (2) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the camera rocker (6) and the swivel arm (42) are arranged essentially in one plane and that a connecting element (20) for attaching the swivel arm (42) the counterweight boom (12) is provided.

595 6. Camera crane (2) according to claim 5, characterized in that the swivel arm axis (46) is provided on a mounting bracket (48) projecting from the frame (4) substantially parallel to the camera bracket (10).

600 7. Camera crane (2) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the frame (4) has a foot (28) and a mast (30).

8. camera crane (2) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the camera rocker (6) rotatable about a vertical axis on the frame

605 (4) is connected.

9. camera crane (2) according to claim 8, characterized in that the mast (30) in the foot (28) is rotatably mounted about the vertical axis.

610 10. Camera crane (2) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the mast (30) has a plurality of tube pieces (32, 34) which can be pushed into one another and which can be latched to one another by means of a latching connection in the extended state.

615 1 1. Camera crane (2) according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that a rail (60) is provided on the camera boom (10), along which a camera holder (22) is arranged to be movable.

12. Camera crane (2) according to claim 1 1, characterized in that a 620 cable drive (58) for moving the camera holder (22) is provided, the cable drive (58) a cable supply spool (84), a winding spool connected to this (86 ) and a deflection roller (68) at one end of the rail (60), a rope (82) being wound on the rope supply spool (84) and the free end of the rope (82) being guided over the deflection roller (68) 625 and on the take-up spool (86) is connected.

630

13. Camera crane (2) according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the camera rocker (6) is formed from a plurality of individual segments (62, 64, 635 66), at least some of the individual segments (62, 64) being pivotable thereon has connected stiffening struts (70), on which bracing elements (72, 74) are provided, which can be connected to adjacent individual segments (62, 64, 66) and / or stiffening struts (70), and furthermore a tensioning device (76) 640 is provided is, by means of which the Verspannungseiemente (72, 74) tensioned can ^• be.