According to the US Patent & Trademark Office: “The gantry crane generally includes a support structure having a first front wheel and a second opposing front wheel connected proximate a front portion of the crane, and a first rear wheel and a second opposing rear wheel connected proximate a rear portion of the crane.”
An abstract of the invention, released by the Patent Office, said: “A control system connected to the crane includes a user interface electronically coupled to a command potentiometer and a programmable controller responsive to the command potentiometer for controlling the angular position of each of the first front wheel, the second front wheel, the first rear wheel and the second rear wheel to effect a steering mode selected through the user interface.”
The inventors were issued US Patent Number 7,168,724 on January 30 2007.
The patent has been assigned to Marine Travelift Inc., Sturgeon Bay.
The original application was filed on February 15 2005.