Methods for Improving the Knuckle Boom Capacity in Truck-Mounted Cranes

Abstract

Presented herein are two different concepts for improving the knuckle boom capacity of truck-mounted cranes. The first concept deals with an improved Planar four-bar linkage using the two-position synthesis, as well as with recommendations for optimizing the linkage. The linkage design employing the two-position synthesis was built as hardware with fairly close agreement between calculated and test data. The second concept is concerned with a constant moment-arm mechanism using a rack and pinion arrangement.