Articulated Filming Head Mount for Overhead and Under-Crane Shots

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional telescopic filming cranes face limitations in achieving high-angle and low-angle shots due to fixed camera head positions and difficulties in balancing and rotating the crane tip, requiring time-consuming and resource-intensive adjustments to adapt for overhead or inverted shots.

Innovation Solution

An articulated device linking the filming head to the crane with a dual-joint system, featuring a manually pivoted joint at the crane end and a motorized, harmonically driven joint with the head, allowing for easy adjustment and rotation of the filming head to various positions, including zenithal views, without the need to dismantle or reassemble the crane tip.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the crane tip is dismantled and reassembled inverted to achieve overhead shots, then high-angle shots become possible, but the setup time and operational complexity increase significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshooting angle rangeVSAvoidsetup time
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSLoss of time

Solution Approach 1:

The patent applies the dynamics principle by replacing the fixed, static crane tip configuration with a dynamic articulated device featuring two rotation axes. The first axis allows rotation of the device relative to the crane arm, while the second axis enables rotation of the filming head relative to the device. This dynamic configuration allows continuous adjustment between overhead, horizontal, and under-crane positions without dismantling, directly resolving the contradiction between adaptability and setup time.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The articulated device is segmented into multiple rotatable components: the device body, the filming head, and the connection interfaces. This segmentation allows independent rotation of each component around its respective axis, enabling flexible positioning for various shooting angles while maintaining a unified, non-dismantlable structure that eliminates time-consuming reassembly operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Adaptability or versatility

If the crane tip is dismantled and reassembled inverted to achieve overhead shots, then high-angle shots become possible, but the operational complexity and resource consumption increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshooting angle rangeVSAvoidadjustment complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The dynamics principle transforms the complex dismantling and reassembling operation into simple rotational movements. The two rotation axes provide intuitive, continuous adjustment mechanisms that reduce operational complexity while expanding shooting angle capabilities. Operators can smoothly transition between positions without complex mechanical interventions.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The articulated device serves multiple functions: it enables overhead shots, horizontal shots, and under-crane shots with a single unified structure. This multi-functionality eliminates the need for different configurations or specialized setups for different shooting angles, thereby reducing operational complexity while maintaining high adaptability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Adaptability or versatility

If conventional crane construction is used with fixed head positions, then structural simplicity is maintained, but high-angle and low-angle shots become impossible

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveshooting angle rangeVSAvoidcrane structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention introduces dynamic rotation capabilities with two independent axes into the crane structure. The first axis enables the articulated device to rotate relative to the crane arm, and the second axis allows the filming head to rotate relative to the device. This dynamic structure achieves full adaptability for various shooting angles while maintaining reasonable structural complexity through modular design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The crane structure is segmented into the main crane arm, the articulated device, and the filming head, with clear functional boundaries. Each segment has its own rotation capability, allowing independent adjustment. This segmentation enables high adaptability while keeping each component's design relatively simple and manageable.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4464647A1Articulated device for attaching a filming head to the end of a filming crane and a filming crane incorporating such a device
Publication Date: 2024.11.20 VALLES NAVARRO ALFREDO
  • EP4464647A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4464647A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4464647A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The present invention describes an articulated device linking the filming head and a filming crane, as well as the filming crane incorporating said device, a filming crane of the type which is telescopic and extends or retracts its sections, with the particularity that it has digitalised control of its balance positions which control the position of its mobile counterweight and in which said filming head can adopt positions ranging from one above to one below that corresponding to the horizontal position of the telescopic arm of the crane, the said device also having a second joint axis which allows the filming head to rotate in relation to each position, upper, lower or central, of the aforementioned crane arm, making it possible to easily obtain shots that were previously impossible or very difficult to obtain with this type of crane using the prior art.