STABILIZING MECHANISM FOR OVERHEAD CRANE HOIST

摘要

An overhead crane apparatus including a hoist supported on a trolley. The hoist includes a bottom block with a pair of horizontally extending first and second trunnions. The overhead crane apparatus also includes an automatic mechanism for releasably securing the bottom block to the trolley. The mechanism includes first and second bottom block support plates having therein respective first and second downwardly opening notches. The mechanism also includes first and second hooks and fluid actuated cylinder/piston assemblies for biasing the hooks toward latched positions wherein the hooks overlap the first and second notches, respectively. When the bottom block is raised the first and second trunnions enter the associated first and second notches and cam the hooks to unlatched positions responsive to movement of the bottom block to a secured position. The hooks then return to their latched positions to prevent the trunnions from moving downwardly out of the notches to thereby secure the bottom block.