Lift assembly systems and methods
AssigneeElectronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
InventorDonald A. Hoffend, III
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A lift system comprises a drum that rotates about an axis, an elongate member that winds around the drum when the drum rotates in a first direction and that unwinds from the drum when the drum rotates in a second direction, a drive mechanism operable to rotate the drum, and a braking mechanism adapted to inhibit rotation of the drum. The braking mechanism includes a brake disk rotatable with the drum, a movable brake pad, and a ramp that guides movement of the movable brake pad. A method of operating the lift system comprises rotating the drum in a first direction to wind the elongate member onto the drum, rotating the drum in a second direction to unwind the elongate member from the drum, and moving the brake shoe along the ramp to thereby cause the movable brake pad to be compressed against the brake disk.
Claims12
A lift system configured to lift an article, the lift system comprising:
- a drum that rotates about an axis;
- an elongate member that winds around the drum when the drum rotates about the axis in a first direction to raise the article and that unwinds from the drum when the drum rotates about the axis in a second direction to lower the article;
- a drive mechanism operable to rotate the drum about the axis;
- and
- a braking mechanism adapted to inhibit rotation of the drum, the braking mechanism including:
- a brake disk rotatable with the drum;
- a movable brake pad;
- and
- a ramp that guides movement of the movable brake pad relative to the brake disk.
A method of operating a lift system configured to lift an article, the lift system including a drum, an elongate member wound around the drum, and a braking mechanism having a brake disk rotatable with the drum, a movable brake pad, a brake shoe attached to the movable brake pad, and a ramp that guides movement of the movable brake pad, the method comprising:
- rotating the drum in a first direction to wind the elongate member onto the drum and lift the article;
- rotating the drum in a second direction to unwind the elongate member from the drum and lower the article;
- and
- moving the brake shoe along the ramp to thereby cause the movable brake pad to be compressed against the brake disk to thereby substantially inhibit rotation of the drum.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.