Camera crane tractor

{
  "publication_number": "US9915395B2",
  "country": "US",
  "kind": "B2",
  "title": "Camera crane tractor",
  "abstract": "A camera crane tractor includes first and second spaced apart and parallel wheel decks on a chassis. The tractor has left and right side treads supported on tread rollers on the chassis, and a motor for driving the treads. One or more angled wheel guide strips may be provided on each of the wheel decks, to guide the wheels of a mobile base rolling onto the wheel decks. The wheel guide strips may have an angle complimentary to an angled sidewall of the wheels of the mobile base. Wheels stops are positioned at the ends of the wheel decks to prevent longitudinal movement of the mobile base after it is loaded onto the tractor. Threaded holes may be provided in the chassis between the wheel decks to allow the mobile base to be clamped down onto the tractor.",
  "claims": [
    "1. A camera crane tractor, comprising: a chassis; first and second spaced apart and parallel wheel decks on the chassis; first and second treads supported on tread rollers on the chassis; a motor for driving the first and second treads; at least one angled wheel guide strip on each of the wheel decks; and first and second front wheel stops pivotally or removably attached at front ends of the first and second wheel decks, respectively; a first rear wheel stop at a rear end of the first wheel deck; and a second rear wheel stop at a rear end of the second wheel deck.",
    "2. The camera crane tractor of claim 1 further including first, second, third and fourth threaded holes in the chassis between the first and second wheel decks.",
    "3. The camera crane tractor of claim 2 further including at least one jack on the chassis between the first and second wheel decks.",
    "4. The camera crane tractor of claim 3 further including first, second, third and fourth jack platforms on the chassis, adjacent to the first, second, third and fourth threaded holes, respectively.",
    "5. The camera crane tractor of claim 2 further including first, second, third and fourth clamps, with each clamp having an upper arm and a lower arm attached to a post, and a clamp bolt extending through the upper arm and through the lower arm, and with the clamp bolt of the first, second, third and fourth clamps threaded into the first, second, third and fourth threaded holes, respectively.",
    "6. The camera crane tractor of claim 5 with the upper arm attached to the post via one or more bolts extending through counter bores in the upper arm to allow the upper arm to move vertically relative to the one or more bolts."
  ],
  "description_excerpt": "In the production of motion picture, television and video recordings, the camera must often be supported at a fixed position or moved in a precise trajectory to follow actors or other subjects. The camera movements may require a change in camera position, camera angle, or camera elevation. The camera movement must be performed smoothly, as even small amounts of shock and vibration of the camera can result in unsatisfactory filming, due to shaky or erratic recorded images. Various camera cranes have been used for this purpose. Typically, a fixed length or telescoping camera crane arm is mounted on a mobile base or other similar vehicle having wheels. The mobile base may be manually pushed and steered by the camera crew, or the mobile base may be self-propelled via one or more electric motors. While these known designs have met with varying degrees of success, existing mobile bases tend to perform poorly on soft surfaces, such as sand or mud. They are also limited to use on relatively flat or only gradually inclined surfaces. Accordingly, engineering challenges remain in providing camera cranes and equipment suitable for use on wide ranges of surfaces, including soft surfaces and steeply inclined surfaces.\n\nOther objects, features and advantages will become apparent from the following detailed description.\n\nA camera crane tractor includes first and second spaced apart and parallel wheel decks on a chassis. The tractor has left and right side treads supported on tread rollers on the chassis, and a motor for driving the treads.",
  "cpc": [
    "F16M 11/42",
    "B60P 3/062",
    "B60P 3/073",
    "B60P 7/08",
    "B62D 55/06",
    "B65G 67/04",
    "B66F 11/048"
  ],
  "ipc": [
    "B60P 3/06",
    "B60P 3/073",
    "B60P 7/08",
    "B62D 55/06",
    "B65G 67/04",
    "B66F 11/04",
    "F16M 11/42"
  ],
  "assignees": [
    "CHAPMAN/LEONARD STUDIO EQUIPMENT INC"
  ],
  "inventors": [
    "CHAPMAN LEONARD T"
  ],
  "filing_date": "2015-12-28",
  "publication_date": "2018-03-13",
  "grant_date": "2018-03-13",
  "priority_date": "2015-12-28",
  "application_number": "US-201514981724-A",
  "family_id": "57590365",
  "citations": [
    "EP1721213A1",
    "FR2693280A1",
    "US2013322996A1",
    "US2058891A",
    "US6113326A",
    "US6688819B1"
  ]
}