# US 10,118,808 B2 · Load-compensating rope sheave arrangement > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,118,808 B2 - Document ID: US10118808B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/898,577 - Filed: 2014-06-13 - Published: 2016-04-28 - Granted: 2018-11-06 - Earliest claimed: 2013-06-18 - Assignees: SIEMAG TECBERG GmbH - Applicants: SIEMAG TECBERG GmbH - Inventors: Hubert Sunderhaus; Marc Roman Buedenbender; Peter Boerner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10118808B2 ## CPC - B66D 1/58: responsive to excess of load - B66B 7/10: for equalising rope or cable tension - B66C 13/04: Auxiliary devices for controlling movements of suspended loads, or preventing cable slack - B66D 1/36: Guiding, or otherwise ensuring winding in an orderly manner, of ropes, cables, or chains - B66D 1/50: for maintaining predetermined rope, cable, or chain tension, e.g. in ropes or cables for towing craft, in chains for anchors; Warping or mooring winch-cable tension control - B66D 5/02: Crane, lift hoist, or winch brakes operating on drums, barrels, or ropes - B66D: CAPSTANS; WINCHES; TACKLES, e.g. PULLEY BLOCKS; HOISTS (winding or unwinding ropes or cables for feeding or storage purposes B65H; rope or cable winding or unwinding mechanisms for lifts B66B) - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) - B66C: CRANES; LOAD-ENGAGING ELEMENTS OR DEVICES FOR CRANES, CAPSTANS, WINCHES, OR TACKLES ({specially adapted for lifting invalids A61G7/10;} rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms, braking or detent devices therefor B66D; specially adapted for nuclear reactors G21) ## Abstract The invention relates to a load-compensating rope sheave arrangement for drum winders, comprising at least two rope sheaves which are vertically guided in sliding frames and mounted on hydraulically short-circuited cylinders. Multiply redundant monitoring of the different sheave loads acting upon the rope sheaves is carried out via the hydraulic cylinders which are connected to the system control of the drum winder for communication. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A compensation sheave arrangement for a drum winder comprising: at least two sheaves that are vertically guided in slide frames and mounted on hydraulically short-circuited cylinders, wherein a multiply redundant monitoring of the varying rope loads acting on the sheaves is provided via the hydraulic cylinders, said monitoring being communicatively connected to a system control of the drum winder. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The compensation sheave arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the multiply redundant monitoring via the hydraulic cylinders of the varying rope loads acting on the sheaves comprises at least one linear displacement transducer, at least one limit switch and at least one cylinder pressure monitoring means. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The compensation sheave arrangement according to claim 1, wherein in each case a mechanical stop is provided above a lower end point of the respective cylinder for safe lowering of the slide frames in the event of an overload in the respective hydraulic short-circuit and for avoiding mechanical damage to the respective cylinder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The compensation sheave arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulically short-circuited cylinders are arranged on a mechanical load balancing rocker having two sides with a mechanical stop on each sides for receiving the loads of the sheaves, said load balancing rocker being in balance when the loads on the sheaves are equal. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The compensation sheave arrangement according to claim 4, wherein the load balancing rocker is provided on both sides with a respective spring assembly permitting a tolerance value for the seesawing. ### Claim 6 (depends on 4) The compensation sheave arrangement according to claim 4, wherein on both sides of the rocker, a linear displacement transducer is respectively attached for measuring seesawing of the rocker, wherein a difference between paths of the linear displacement transducers is continuously monitored by the system control of the drum winder. ### Claim 7 A method for operating a compensation sheave arrangement for a drum winder with at least two sheaves that are vertically guided in slide frames and mounted on hydraulically short-circuited cylinders, comprising: monitoring via the hydraulically short-circuited cylinders of the varying rope loads acting on the sheaves, said monitoring being multiply redundant and communicatively connected to a system control of the drum winder. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the multiply redundant monitoring comprises the following steps of: a. continuously monitoring positions of the cylinders by a distance measuring system; b. monitoring positions of the cylinders by the provision of limit switches at transition points of operating ranges of the cylinders; c. continuously monitoring pressure in the cylinders and discharging oil from a cylinder into a tank upon a cylinder pressure exceeding a defined value, as well as lowering the slide frames on mechanical stops above the lower end points of the cylinders. ### Claim 9 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein for monitoring a malfunction of a hydraulical operating system, a mechanical load balancing rocker is provided which has a bilateral, mechanical stop for receiving loads of the sheaves and is in balance when the loads on the sheaves are equal. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The method of claim 9, wherein in order to prevent the indication of very small load differences and to counteract a continuous tipping of the load balancing rocker, spring assemblies are provided between the cylinders and the load balancing rocker, said spring assemblies permitting a tolerance value for seesawing of the rocker, wherein, when the tolerance value is exceeded, the rocker rests on one side and a damage to the system is prevented by a corresponding signal to the system control of the drum winder. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The method according to claim 9, wherein further on both sides of the load balancing rocker one respective linear displacement transducer is provided, wherein a difference in paths of the linear displacement transducers is continuously monitored by the system control of the drum winder, and if the difference exceeds the tolerance value, a malfunction of the system is detected and a safety braking of drum winder is triggered. ### Claim 12 (depends on 7) The method according to claim 7, wherein the hydraulically short-circuited cylinders are configured such that for maintenance purposes the cylinders can be lifted and lowered jointly or separately. ### Claim 13 A compensation sheave system for a drum winder comprising: first and second slide frames; a first guide rail mounted on said first slide frame; a second guide rail mounted on said second slide frame; a first hydraulic cylinder; a second hydraulic cylinder; a first sheave mounted on said first hydraulic cylinder and vertically guided in said first slide frame by said first guide rail; a second sheave mounted on said second hydraulic cylinder and vertically guided in said second slide frame by said second guide rail; and a plurality of sensors for monitoring of varying rope loads acting on the sheaves, said monitoring being communicatively connected to a system control of a drum winder. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A compensation sheave system according to claim 13, wherein said plurality of sensors comprise: a linear displacement transducer; a limit switch; and a cylinder pressure monitoring means. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) A compensation sheave system according to claim 13, further comprising: a mechanical stop on said first frame above a lower end point of said first hydraulic cylinder for safe lowering of said first slide frame in the event of an overload in the first hydraulic cylinder and for avoiding mechanical damage to the first hydraulic cylinder. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) A compensation sheave system according to claim 13, further comprising: a mechanical load balancing rocker having first and second sides with a mechanical stop on each of said first and second sides, wherein said mechanical load balancing rocker receives a load of said first sheave on said first side and a load of said second sheave on said second side, said mechanical load balancing rocker being in balance when loads on the first and second sheaves are equal.