US2471295A

US2471295A - Crane cab

Info

Publication number: US2471295A
Application number: US562234A
Authority: US
Inventors: William G Wehr
Original assignee: Cleveland Crane and Engineering Co
Current assignee: Cleveland Crane and Engineering Co
Priority date: 1944-11-06
Filing date: 1944-11-06
Publication date: 1949-05-24
Anticipated expiration: 1966-05-24

Description

May 24, 1949. w, w Y 2,471,295

CRANE CAB Filed Nov. 6, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 F Z INYENTOR. 5a Mum/-16. VVEH? y 1949. w. G. WEHR 2,471,295

CRANE CAB Filed Nov. 6, 1944 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 5 INVENTOR.

MAL/19M W524? BY M ww w yd/m W. G. WEHR May 24, 1949.

CRANE CAB 4 Sheets-Sheet 5 Filed Nov. 6, 1944 W IN V EN TOR. ILL MM G, 14 5 9 fiat ya fi m/14 ATTORNEY! BY 31% W 156.5

W. G. WEHR May 24, 1949.

CRANE GAB 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 Filed Nov. 6, 1944 INVENTOR. Mum/ 1 6. Way/2 Patented May 24, 1949 CRANE CAB William G. Weh North Madison, Ohio, assignor to The Cleveland Crane & Engineering Company, Wickliffe, Ohio, a corporation of Ohio Application.v November 6, 1944-, Serial No. 562,234

17 Claims; i

they are exposed to extremes of heat and cold, and to all sorts of gases,smoke, fumes, etc., some.

of which may be very injurious to their health, and the principal object of the present invention is the provision of a novel and improved operators enclosure or cab for an overhead traveling crane within which it will be safer and more comfortable for the operator to work.

Other objects of the. invention are the provi sion of a novel and improved operators enclosure or cab for an overhead traveling crane which will enclose the operator without unduly ob.- structing his vision, thus providing him with a safe, comfortable and convenient place within whichto work.

Another object of the inventionisthe provision of a novel and improved operators enclosure orv cab of the character referred to having a large portion of the side walls composed of. transparent, material, and so constructed and arranged that the transparent side wall sections can be readily cleaned both inside and. outside.

Another object of the inventionis the provision of a novel, and improved overhead operatonsenclosure or cab of the character referred to, which is generally cylindricalin shape, has a largeproe portion of the sidewalls composed of transparent material, and comprises a rotatable platform for facilitating the-cleaning of the outside of the transparent side Wall sections.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel and improved operators enclosure or cab for an overhead traveling crane which is small. enough to be readily cooled or otherwise air conditioned.

Another object of the invention is the" provision of a novel and improved generally cylindrical' operators enclosure or cab for an over.- head traveling crane, the side walls ofwhich are composed largely of transparent, materiah and which comprises an operatorsseat-having the bridge, trolley and hoist controls arranged thereabout withineasy reach of an operator seated therein.

Another object of the invention is the, provision of a novel andimprovedoverhead travelin crane and the'like comprising an operatorscab or enclosure of the character aforesaid.

The invention, resides in certain constructions and combinations andarrangements of parts and further objects and advantages will be apparent tothose skilled in the art to which it relates from the following description of the preferred embodiment described with reference to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification in which similar reference characters designate corresponding parts, and in which Fig. 1 is a fragmentary perspective view of an overhead traveling crane embodying the present invention;

Fig. 2 is a sectional view approximately on the line 22 of Fig. 1;

, Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the crane shown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 4 is a section approximately on the line 5-4 of Fig. 5;

Fig. 5 is a sectional view approximately on the line 5-5 of Fig. 4, with portions in elevation and other portions omitted for clearness;

Fig. 6 is a plan view of the cab proper; and

Fig. '7 is an enlarged sectional view approximately on the line 'l-'l of Fig. 6, with portions omitted for clearness.

An overhead crane operators work is very exacting, requires constant attention and an unobstructed view of a large portion of the factory or space within which the crane operates. On the other hand, the operators location, generally adjacent to the roof of a factory building where he is subject to all conditions of heat, smoke, gases, fumes, etc, is not conducive to comfort, etc, and prior attempts to enclose the operator and thus make him more comfortable have proved unsuccessful for various reasons, suchas, the operators view was unduly obstructed; it was impracticable, if not impossible, to keep the outside of the transparent wall sections of the enclosure clean; the enclosure was too large to permit air conditioning, including cooling or heating, as the case might be, since the air conditioning unit must be carried on. the crane which is normally located either inside a building near the roof where the temperatureis high, or outside where it is subject to extreme temperatures both hot and cold; etc. Without further discussion, it will be seen that in the devising of a satisfactory overhead operators enclosure or cab and particularly one intended to be used with an overhead traveling crane, the inventor is confronted with numerous problems, many of which are not apparent uponcursory consideration of the matter.

Although the present invention is susceptible of numerous embodiments, it is particularly applicable to overhead traveling cranes and is herein shown and described as embodied in an overhead traveling crane. The construction of the crane, aside from the cab, may be that of any wellknown commercial overhead crane and the showing thereof in the drawings is more or less diagrammatic. Only those parts are shown and described which are necessary to an understanding of the present invention.

Referring to the drawings, the crane shown therein comprises a crane trolley A movable along a crane bridge B, which bridge is, in turn, movable along crane runways comprising rails l located at opposite ends of the bridge and fixed to the building or structure C within which the crane is housed. The crane trolley A is supported by wheels upon rails I2 on the bridge B and is adapted to be moved in opposite directions along the bridge B by a reversible electric trolley travel motor l3 located on the trolley and connected to one or more of the wheels The bridge Bis adapted to be moved in opposite directions along the crane runway by a reversible electric bridge travel motor ill located on the bridge and connected by mechanism, including a shaft I 5, to a plurality of the wheels It of the end trucks H, which wheels support the bridge on the rails In of the crane runway. In addition to the trolley travel motor l3, the trolley comprises a reversible hoist motor operatively connected to the cable drum 2! and adapted to rotate the same in opposite directions to take up or let out the load cable 22 and, in turn, raise or lower the crane hook 23 supported thereby.

The crane bridge comprises two spaced

girders

24, 25, opposite ends of which are supported on the end trucks IT, and the construction of the hoist mechanism is such that the load cable 22 extends downwardly between the girders. As is also usually the case with cranes of the character referred to, the bridge is provided with a walkway along one side for the purpose of facilitating inspection and maintenance of the equipment thereon. As shown, the walkway comprises a floor 26 supported upon a plurality of projecting T-irons 27 welded to the outside of the lefthand girder, as viewed in Fig. 2, and a hand rail 28 spaced from the girder. The bridge travel motor I4 is also preferably provided with a hydraulic brake 30 or some similar device for helping to control the movement of the bridge. tion thus far described is well known in the art and per se forms no part of the present invention.

The actuation of the trolley travel motor I3, the bridge travel motor Hi, the hoist motor 25, and the application and release of the hydraulic brake 30 are manually controlled from an operators cab D, which cab is an air conditioned, generally cylindrical enclosure or housing having transparent side walls suspended from one end of the bridge and o-ifset from the centerline thereof so as to allow the load cable and crane hook to pass thereby. The electrical connections between the manually operated control devices 3|, 32 which control the actuation of the trolley travel motor l3 and the hoist motor 20, respectively, include the trolley and

trolley collectors

33, 34 and are made in a manner well known in the art. Th operation of the bridge travel motor [4 is controlled by the foot-operated controller 35.

The cab proper is preferably approximately four feet in diameter and is suspended from the crane bridge with its longitudinal axis extending vertically by a plurality of brackets 36 welded thereto and to a convenient part of the bridge B. As previously stated, the side walls of the cab are largely formed of transparent material so that the The constructo the ceilin plate 55.

4 operator has substantially an unobstructed view of the area within which the crane operates. As shown, the frame of the cab is made of weldedup structural steel members and steel plates and the floor comprises a disk-like steel plate 3'! resting upon and welded to the upper side of a substantially cylindrical U-shaped channel member 38, the opposite ends of which are welded to horizontal U-shaped channel members ll extending parallel with the center line of the crane bridge. The forward ends of the

members

55, 5| are welded to

radial ribs

52, 53 located underneath the floor 3i, which ribs are, in turn, welded thereto and to the circular member 58 and to a cylindrical boss 55 located below the fioor 3'5 and positioned coaxially with the longitudinal axis of the cab proper. The floor 3? is further reinforced by a plurality of radially extending

ribs

55, 55

connected thereto and to the channel 35 and thetubular member 55 in a manner similar to that in which the

ribs

52, 43 are connected thereto. In addition to the foregoing, the rear part of the floor 3'! is supported by a U-shaped channel member 47 extending between the members 5| and connected thereto approximately midway between their ends. From the channel member ll, the members 55, (ll extend to the rear of the cab proper and form a combination closure and support for a ladder assembly, designated generally as E, and a cabinet, designated generally as F. The assembly E afiords access to the walkway 26 and the cabinet houses the air conditioning equipment, etc.

The roof of the cab proper comprises a generally disk-like plate 50 welded to the upper edge of a substantially cylindrical steel plate 5|, a portion of which is cut out as at 52, to help form the doorway leading into the cab. The floor 31 of the cab, including the

channel members

38, 40, 4|, etc., is suspended from or connected to the steel plate 5| at the top of the cab by

crossshaped rods

53, 54, 55, 55, the upper ends of which are welded to the member 5| while the lower ends are welded to the floor plate 3! and. the channel member 38. Opposite ends of the member 5| are welded to the inside webs of vertically positioned channel-shaped

members

51 and 58, the upper ends of which are also welded The lower ends of the

members

51, 58 rest upon the horizontal channel member 45, 5|, respectively, are welded thereto, and assist in connecting the top and bottom frame portions of the cab together. The

rods

53, 54, 55, 58 are equally spaced with respect to each other and the members 5?, 58 and the side wall sections or panels 60, 6|, B2, 63, 64 intermediate said members and rods are formed of curved transparent material, such as, glass or the like, the curvature of which conforms to the diameter of the cab proper, thus forming a substantially cylindrical cab.

The cross-shaped rods 53 to 55 extend to the roof of the cab and the external flanges at the top are cut away to accommodate the member 5|]. The vertical edges of the transparent wall sections 6|, 62, 63 lie in the angle formed by the external flanges of the rods 53 to 5B and are held in assembled relation therewith by metal glazing clips 65 secured to the external flanges of the rods. The rear vertical edge of the transparent panel 6 5 is secured to the member 58 by a strip 66 carried thereby and having a portion overlying the edge of the panel. The upper edges of the transparent panel abut the lower edge of the member 5| and the lower ends of the panels rest upon the channel member 38 between the floor plate 31 and the member 61 encircling the lower edges of the panels 68' to 64 and welded to the top of the member 38 and to the lower ends of the

members

54', 55, 55, 58. The overall height of the cab shown is approximately six feet and the transparent wall sections are approximately five feet high and extend entirely around the cab except for the portion thereof intermediate the vertical members 5?, 58, which members are preferably spaced about a foot and a half or two feet apart.

The disk-shaped steel plate 50 which forms the roof of the cab is reinforced by a plurality of radially extending webs I welded thereto and to a tubular member 'I'I located in an aperture formed in the center of the plate 55]. The top of the cab is further reinforced by a frusto-conical shaped plate 12 having a plurality of apertures. I3 therein, which plate i welded to the inside of the member 5% and to the underside of. the roof plate 5|]. The construction is such that a duct 14 is formed around the top of the cab, which duct is employed to admit air to the interior of the cab in a manner hereinafter more specificall described.

The transparent section or panel 60 remote from the bridge B and towards the rear of the cab proper is preferably so constructed and supported that it constitutes a door for closin the doorway. For this purpose it i suspended from the top of the cab proper by a sector-like bracket 16 pivotally supported by the sleeve II by means of a bolt 11 projecting through the radial inner end of the bracket and rotatably supported in the sleeve. The lower end of the transparent wall section or door 60 engages within a groove formed. in the upper side of an arcuate-shaped member 8| fixed to the floor plate 31. Resilient members or gaskets 82 are provided along opposite sides of the doorway so as to make the opening substantially air-tight when the door 60 is closed. Inside and outside handles 83, 84 are provided for facilitating opening and closing of the door.

The provision of the door 6!] allow the op: erator to go back and forth between the interior, of the cab proper and a platform G located outside of the cylindrical enclosure. The platform G comprises a steel plate 85 welded to the top of the outer end of a U-shaped channel member 86, the inner end of which is offset downwardly with respect to the outer end and is pivotally connected to the member 44. by a bolt or pin 81, the shank of which projects upwardly into the tubular member. The platform issupported by apair of tapered rollers 88 rotatably supported on the inner ends of radially extending shafts Sllfixed in members 9| secured to a vertical plate 92 interposed between the radial inner edge of the plate 85 which is arcuate-shaped to conform to the curvature of the cab proper and the channel member 86. The rollers 88 engage within the groove of the circular U-shaped channel member 38 which forms a trackway for the rollers.

Without further description, it will be apparent that the platform G can be moved or rotated about the longitudinal axis of the cab proper to any position, exteriorly of the transparent wall sections or panels and the outside thereof readily cleaned. As shown, the platform is generally rectangular in shape except for the part which is cut out to accommodate the cab proper and the open sides thereof are provided with a guard rail 93, one section 94 of which is in the form of a gate so that the operator can enter the cab by way of the platform G from a stationary loading platform H located at one end of the crane runway and fixed to the structure C within which the crane is housed. The platform G is normally retained in the position in front of the door 68 by a hook connected to the guard rail 93 and to the member 51.

The space between the channel-shaped

uprights

51, 58, previously referred to, is normally closed by the assembly E by means of which the operator can go directly from the interior of the cab to the crane walkway and vice versa. The assembly E is formed by a flanged channel-shaped member 503 closed at both ends and provided with a plurality of steps in the form of rods or rungs Illl extending across the front. The lower end of the member Iilil is pivo-tally connected by a rod m2 and brackets I03 to the lower ends of the

members

57, 58 and when in the position shown Figs. 4, 5 and 6, forms a substantially air-tight closure for the opening in the cab intermediate the

members

51, 58. A suitable gasket can be employed, if desired. The member I00 is located underneath an opening I04 in the floor 26 of the walkway and when the member Il'IQ is moved from the vertical position shown in Fig. 5 to the inclined position shown in dot-dash lines in the same figure, the operator can readily go from the cab to the crane walkway or vice versa.

Any suitable means may be employed to hold the member I86 in vertical position, such as, the hook I65 shown, which hook is pivotally connected to the member 58 and adapted to engage over one of the rungs Iill. Rotation of the assembly E in a counter-clockwise direction, as viewed in Fig. 5, is limited by a horizontal angle iron I86 extending across the back of the cabinet F and behind the member I00 where it is connected to the upper end of a vertical angle iron I87, the lower end of which is welded to the member iii. The upper end of the member Ifl'l is connected by an angle iron I88 to the member 5| adjacent to the member 58. An angle iron I09, extending diagonally between the members I01 and ii helps to brace the frame, and a plurality of horizontal bars H0 and III connected to the brace m9 and to the member 58, eliminate any possibility of the operator falling out of the cab when the assembly E is in its inclined position.

The cabinet F is supported upon two horizontal channel members H2 and H3 resting upon and secured to the rear ends of the members 48, 4|. The cabinet is preferably made of sheet metal and may be of any desired form or size. As shown, it is divided in two compartments by a horizontal partition I I4, which compartments are accessible through suitable doors.

As previously stated, provision is made for air conditioning the cab. Preferably, air which has been cleaned, humidified and cooled is admitted to the top of the cab through the apertures 13 in the plate 1'2 and a slight pressure is maintained in the cab so as to prevent the entrance of unconditioned air around the door 50, etc. Any desired arrangement of apertures may be employed. Preferably, the arrangement is such that air is admitted into the cab without subjecting the operator to undesirable drafts, etc. The air conditioning apparatus is preferably housed within the cabinet F, previously referred to, and located to the opposite side of the assembly E from the crane bridge and behind the platform G when in its normal position. Any commercial air conditionin equipment, designated generally as H5, may. be employed and, in the embodiment shown, the conditioned air is conducted from the exit of the air conditioning equipment to the duct 14 formed by the plate 12 by a conduit H6 communicating with the upper near front corner of the cabinet F and the end of the duct M adjacent to the door 60.

Alternatively, suitable means other than that shown in the drawings may be employed for conducting the conditioned air from the air conditioning equipment to the interior of the cab. In the embodiment shown, no air return is employed between the cab and the air conditioning equipment, however, a return air duct may be supplied, if desired. Because the cab is usually located adjacent to the roof of the factory building where the temperature is ordinarily above normal, the eificiency of the air conditioning equipment is low, but the fact that the volume of the cab is small, makes it possible to air condition the same.

The cab is preferably suspended from the crane bridge in the relative position shown in the drawings, with the rear side of the cabinet F just clearing the side of the crane runway supporting structure adjacent thereto, and with a line connecting the longitudinal axis of the cab proper and the center of the ladder extending parallel with the length of the crane bridge. The cab is also offset to one side of the centerline of the bridge so that the load cable and crane hook can pass beside the cab.

The opera-tor sits in a stationary chair or seat I20, the center of which is slightly behind and to the bridge side of the center of the cab proper and, when seated in this position, has a substantially unobstructed view of the area over which the crane operates and of other cranes which may be operating on the same crane runway or in the same area. By leaning backwards and turning his head slightly, the operator can see the crane hook even though it is behind him. Any desired controls may be located in the cab other than the controls shown which, in addition to the handoperated reversing controllers 3!, 32 located at opposite sides of the operators seat I20 for controlling the trolley travel and hoist motors, respectively, and the foot-operated controller for the bridge travel motor, comprise a foot-operated hydraulic brake master cylinder unit I21, including the foot pedal I22, for the brake 30. In view r of the fact that the operator is required to use both hands and both feet, the seat is preferably made stationary, as previously mentioned. If different control mechanism is employed, it may be desirable to have the operators seat movable. If the operator is of normal height, his eyes will be about 4' or 4 /2 above the floor 3! and since the diameter of the cab proper is preferably approximately 4, it will be apparent that with little, if any, movement on his part, he can look down at any angle of from 15 to 20 with the vertical.

While the preferred embodiment of the invention has been described with considerable detail, it will be apparent that the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown, however, it will be apparent that the objects heretofore enumerated and others have been accomplished and that there has been provided a novel and improved overhead operators enclosure or cab and particularly an overhead traveling crane cab in which the operator, although comfortably seated and wholly enclosed, has a substantially unobstructed view of the entire working area. In addition, the cab includes means for conveniently cleaning the outside of the transparent wall sections. This feature of the present construction is particularly important because unless the transparent wall sections or panels are maintained clean, the operators view will be unduly restricted and unless provision is made for readily cleaning the outside of the transparent Wall sections, they will not be cleaned as needed.

As previously stated, the invention is not limited to the particular construction shown and it is my intention to hereby cover all adaptations, modifications and. uses thereof which come within the practice of those skilled in the art to which the invention relates and within the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim is:

1. An overhead operators cab comprising a generally cylindrical tubular member having the side walls thereof composed largely of transparent material, means for supporting said member with the longitudinal aXis thereof extending vertically, and a platform movably connected to said member for rotation about the exterior thereof.

2. An overhead operators cab comprising a generally cylindrical tubular member having the side wall thereof composed largely of transparent material, means for supporting said member with the longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically, a platform movably connected to said member for rotation about the lower end thereof, and a door in the side wall of said member providing access to said platform.

3. An overhead operators cab comprising a substantially air-tight generally cylindrical tubular member having sides thereof composed largely of transparent material, means for supporting said member with the longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically, a platform movably connected to said member for rotation about the lower end thereof, a substantially air-tight door in one side of said member for permitting access to said platform, and an operators seat within said member.

4. In a multimotored, electrically operated, overhead traveling crane, the combination of: a movable bridge; a trolley movably supported on said bridge; hoisting mechanism including a load cable carried by said trolley; individual electric motors for moving said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms; an operators cab comprising a generally cylindrical tubular member closed at both ends and having the side walls thereof composed largely of transparent material; means for suspending said cab from said bridge adjacent to one end thereof with the longitudinal axis of said tubular member extending vertically and said cab offset with respect to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said bridge so that the load cable of the hoisting mechanism can pass thereby; an operators seat located in said tubular member slightly to the rear of the center thereof and offset from the center toward the side adjacent to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said bridge; and manual control devices adapted to control said electric motors for eifecting a variety of movements of said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms,- said manual control devices being located in said tubular member within easy reach of an operator seated in said seat.

5. In a multimotored, electrically operated, overhead traveling crane, the combination of: a movable bridge; a trolley movably supported on said bridge; hoisting mechanism including a load cable carried by said trolley; individual electriemotors for moving. said bridge, trolley and hoisting. mechanisms in opposite directions; an operators cabcomprising a generally cylindrical tubular member closed at both ends and having theside walls thereof composed largely of transparent material; means for suspending said cab from said bridge adjacent to one end thereof with the longitudinal axis of said tubular member extending vertically and said cab offset with respect to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said bridge so that the load cable of the hoisting mechanism can pass thereby; a stationary operators seat located in said tubular member slightly to the rear of the center thereof and offset from the center toward the side adjacent to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said bridge; manual control devices located within easy reach of an operator seated in said seat for controlling said electric motors to effect a variety of movements of said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms; a platform movably connected to said tubular member for rotation about the lower end thereof; and a door in the side wall of said. tubular member providing access to said platform.

6. In a multimotored, electrically operated, overhead traveling. crane, the combination of: a. movable bridge;.a trolley movably supported on said bridge; hoisting mechanism including a load cable carried by said trolley; individual electric motors for moving said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms in opposite. directions; an operators. cab comprising a substantially airtight generally cylindrical tubular member closed at. both ends and having theside walls thereof composed largely of transparent material; means for suspending said cab from said bridge adjacent to one end thereof with the longitudinal axis of said tubular member extending vertically and said cab offset with respect to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said bridge so that the load cable of the hoisting. mechanism can pass thereby; a stationary operators seat located in said tubular member slightly to the rear of the center thereof and offset from the center toward the side adjacent to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said bridge; manual control devices located within easy reach of an operator seated in said seat for controlling said. electric motors to effect a variety of movements of said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms; a platform movably connected to said tubular member for" rotation about the lower end thereof; a door in the side wall of said tubular member providing access to said platform; means located outside of said tubular member for air conditioning the interior thereof; and means for connecting said last-named means with the interior of said member.

'7. In a multimotored, electrically operated, overhead traveling crane, the combination of: a movable bridge; a trolley movably supported. on said bridge; hoisting mechanism including a load cable carried by said trolley; individual electric motors for moving said bridge, trolley and hoisti-ng mechanisms in opposite directions; an operators cab: comprising a substantially air-tight generally cylindrical tubular member closed at both ends and having the side walls thereof composed largely of transparent material; means for suspending said cab from said bridge adjacent to one end thereof with the longitudinalaxis of said tubular member extending vertically and said cab ofiset with" respect to the vertical longitudinal centerplane. of said bridge so that the load: cable of the hoisting mechanism can pass thereby; a

stationary operator's seat located in said tubular member slightly to the rear of the center thereof and. oifset from the center toward the side adjacent to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said; bridge; manual. control devices located within. easy reach. of an operator seated in. said, seat for controlling said. electric motors to efiect a variety of movements of said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms; a platform movably con.- nected to said tubular member for rotation. about the-lower end. thereof; a. door in the side wall of saidtubular member providing access to-said plat.- form; means. located outside of and. to the rear of said tubular member for air conditioning the interior thereof; a walkway on said bridge above said tubular member; said tubular member having. an. aperture in the side thereof behind said operators seat; a ladder extending between the lower end of said tubular member andsaid walk,- Way accessible through said aperture; and movable means for closing said aperture.

8. In a multimotored, electrically operated, overhead. traveling. crane, the combination. of; a movable bridge; a trolley movably supported on said bridge; hoisting. mechanism including. a load cable. carried by said. trolley; individual. electric motors. for, moving. said bridge, trolley and hoist-.- ing mechanisms in opposite. directions; a brakefor said. bridge; an operators cab comprising a. gen.- erally cylindrical tubular member closed at both ends andhaying the side wall'sthereof composed largely of transparent material means for suspending said cab. from. said bridge adjacent to one end thereof. with the longitudinal; axis of said tubular member extending. vertically and said caboffset with respect to. the vertical longitudinal centerplane. of said bridge. so. that. the load. cable of the. hoisting mechanism. can. pass. thereby; a stationary operators seat located in said tubular member slightly to. the-rear of the. center. thereof and offset from the center toward the side. adjacent to the vertical longitudinally centerplane of saidbri'd'ge; manual control devices located within. easy reach. of an. operator seated in said seat for controllingsaid electric motors and sai'dbrake to effect, a variety of movements of, said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanism; said control devices consisting, of'two hand controls one. at either side of said seat and two pedals in front of the operators seat one of which controls the application of the. bridge brake; a platform. movably connected to said tubular member for rotation about the lower end thereof; and a door in. the side wall of said tubular member providing access to said platform.

9, In a multimotored', electrically operated, overhead traveling crane, the. combination of: a movable bridge; a trolley movably supported. on said bridge; hoisting. mechanism including a. load cable. carried by said trolley; individual electric motors for moving said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms in opposite directions; a brake for said bridge; an operators cab comprising a generally cylindrical tubular member closed at both ends and having the side walls thereof composed largely of transparent material; means for suspending said cab from said bridge adjacent to one end thereofwith the longitudinal axis of said tubul'armember extending vertically andsaid cab offset with respect to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of" said bridge so that the load cable of the hoisting mechanism can pass thereby; a stationary operators seat located in said tubular member" slightly to the rearof the center thereof and offset from the center toward the side adjacent: tor the: vertical longitudinali centerplane of said bridge; manual control devices lecated within easy reach of an operator seated in said seat for controlling said electric motors and said brake to effect a variety of movements of said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms; said control devices consisting of two hand controls one at either side of said seat and two pedals in front of the operators seat One of which controls the application of the bridge brake; a platform movably connected to said tubular member for rotation about the lower end thereof; a door in the side wall of said tubular member providing access to said platform; means located outside of said tubular member for air conditioning the interior thereof; a walkway on said bridge above said tubular member; said tubular member having an aperture in the side thereof behind said operators seat; a ladder extending between the lower end of said tubular member and said wialkway accessible through said aperture; and movable means for closing said aperture.

10. In a multimotored, electrically operated, overhead traveling crane, the combination of: a movable bridge; a trolley movably supported on said bridge; hoisting mechanism including a load cable carried by said trolley; power means for moving said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanisms in opposite directions; an operators cab comprising a generally cylindrical tubular housing closed at both ends and having the side walls thereof composed largely of transparent material; means for suspending said cab from said bridge with the longitudinal axis of said tubular housing extending vertically and said cab offset with respect to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said bridge so that the load cable of the hoisting mechanism can pass thereby: a platform movably connected to said tubular housing for rotation about the lower end thereof; and a door in the side wall of said tubular housing providing access to said platform.

11. In an operators cab for an overhead material handling device, a generally cylindrical tubular member having its longitudinal axis extending vertically and its side walls composed largely of transparent material, said member having an aperture permitting access by an operator to the interior thereof, means for closing said aperture, a platform connected to said member and movable about the lower end thereof, an

control devices being fixed with respect to said seat and located within easy reach of an operator seated in said seat.

1.An operators cab comprising a substantially air-tight generally cylindrical tubular member closed at both ends and having the sides thereof composed largely of transparent material, said member being adapted to be suspended from an overhead movable material handling device with the longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically, said tubular member having an aperture in a side thereof, and means connected to said member and constituting a ladder extending from adjacent to the bottom of said member to the top thereof for closing said aperture.

13. An operators cab comprising a substantially closed generally cylindrical tubular member having the sides thereof composed largely of transparent material, said member being adapted to be suspended from an overhead movable material handling device with thelongitudinal axis thereof extending vertically, said tubular member having an aperture in a side thereof, a substantially channel-shaped member for closing said aperture, and means for pivotally connecting the lower end of said channel-shaped member to said tubular member, said channel-shaped member being open along the side thereof facing said member and having steps therein.

14. In an operators cab for a multimotored, electrically operated, overhead traveling crane of the character described including a bridge provided with a walkway, the combination of a substantially closed generally cylindrical tubular member having sides thereof composed largely of transparent material, means for suspending said member from the bridge of the crane with the longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically, a platform movably connected to said member for rotation about the lower end thereof, a door in one side of said member for permitting access to said platform, an operators seat within said member located slightly to the rear and to one side of the longitudinal centerline thereof, manual control devices for controlling the operation of the motors of the crane located in said member within easy reach of an operator seated in said seat, said member having an aperture in a side thereof and to the rear of said operators seat, movable means connected to said member for closing said aperture, a ladder connected to said member and accessible through said aperture and adapted to permit communication by an operator between said member and the walkway of the crane.

15. An operators cab for a movable overhead material handling apparatus comprising a substantially air-tight tubular member having its side wall structure composed largely of transparent material, means for supporting said member with the longitudinal axis thereof extending vertically, a platform movably connected to said member for rotation about the lower end thereof, a door in the side wall structure providing access for the operator between the interior of the tubular member and said platform, and sealing means cooperating with said member and door to provide a substantially air-tight seal about the door when the latter is closed.

16. An operators cab for a movable overhead material handling device comprising a substantially air-tight generally cylindrical tubular member closed at both ends and having its longitudinally axis extending vertically and its side wall structure composed largely of transparent material, a platform movably supported by said tubular member for rotation about the exterior thereof, the said tubular member having an aperture providing access for an operator from said platform to the interior of said member, a movable member for closing said aperture, and air conditioning means supported exteriorly of said tubular member and communicating with the interior of said tubular member.

17. In a multi-motored, electrically operated, overhead traveling, material handling apparatus of the character described, a combination of: a movable bridge; a trolley movably supported on said bridge; hoisting mechanism including a load cable carried by said trolley; power means carried by said bridge for moving said bridge; power means carried by said trolley for moving said trolley; power means carried by said trolley for moving said hoisting mechanism; an operators cab comprising a substantially air-tight generally cylindrical tubular housing closed at 13 both ends and having the side wall thereof composed largely of transparent material; means suspending said cab from said bridge with the longitudinal aXis of said tubular housing extending vertically and said cab offset with respect to the vertical longitudinal centerplane of said bridge 5 so that the load cable of the hoisting mechanism can pass thereby; an operators seat located in said tubular housing; manually operable controls located in said housing within easy reach of an operator in said seat and fixed with respect to said seat, the said controls being respectively operatively connected with the said power means for moving said bridge, trolley and hoisting mechanism to govern th operations thereof; means providing access between the said bridge and the interior of said housing; and air conditioning means operatively connected with said housing for air conditioning the interior of th latter. WILLIAM G. WEHR.

14 REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

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