# US 10,765,581 B2 · Spool for winch actuator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,765,581 B2 - Document ID: US10765581B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 16/365,079 - Filed: 2019-03-26 - Published: 2019-10-03 - Granted: 2020-09-08 - Earliest claimed: 2018-03-27 - Assignees: Dephy, Inc. - Applicants: Dephy, Inc. - Inventors: Luke Mooney; Jean-Francois Duval; William Marvin - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10765581B2 ## CPC - A61H 1/0237: {for the lower limbs} - A61H 3/00: Appliances for aiding patients or disabled persons to walk about (apparatus for helping babies to walk A47D13/04 {; applying electrical currents by contact electrodes for stimulating motor muscles, e.g. walking assistance A61N1/36003}) - B25J 9/0006: {Exoskeletons, i.e. resembling a human figure} - A61H 2003/007: {secured to the patient, e.g. with belts} - A61H 2201/0192: Specific means for adjusting dimensions - A61H 2201/164: Feet or leg, e.g. pedal - A61H 2201/165: Wearable interfaces - A61H 2205/10: Leg - A61H 2205/106: for the lower legs - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) - B25J: MANIPULATORS; CHAMBERS PROVIDED WITH MANIPULATION DEVICES ({manipulators specially adapted for use in surgery A61B34/70; manipulators used in cleaning hollow articles B08B9/04}; manipulators associated with rolling mills B21B39/20; manipulators associated with forging machines B21J13/10; {manipulators associated with picking-up and placing mechanisms B23P19/007}; means for holding wheels or parts thereof B60B30/00; {vehicles with ground-engaging propulsion means, e.g. walking members B62D57/02, B62D57/032; devices for picking-up and depositing articles or materials between conveyors B65G47/90, B65G47/91; manipulators with gripping or holding means for transferring packages B65H67/065}; cranes B66C; {manipulators used in the protection or supervision of pipe-line installations F17D5/00; walking equipment adapted for nuclear steam-generators F22B37/006}; manipulators specially adapted for, or associated with, nuclear reactors G21C; {apparatus used for handling wafers during manufacture or treatment of semiconductor H10P72/50}) ## Abstract A spool assembly and method of use is disclosed having generally a first and a second mating portions which can mate along a longitudinal axis of the spool to retain a belt therein. The mating surfaces of the first and second mating portions can take a variety of geometries or splines which can efficiently retain the belt while maintaining a suitable transmission ratio. In an exemplary embodiment, the spool exit curve for the retained belt can be radially inward of a majority of the spool to reduce the overall diameter of the spool. In some exemplary embodiments, the spool can be mounted within a motor and rotated thereby to spool and unspool the belt. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A spool assembly for a winch actuator, the spool assembly including, a spool extending along a central axis, the spool including a first spool part extending along the central axis having a first clamping face and a first exit curve defining an end of the first clamping face; and a second spool part extending along the central axis, the second spool part having a second clamping face and a second exit curve defining an end of the second clamping face; and a belt disposed between the first spool part and the second spool part, wherein the first clamping face and the second clamping face are offset from one another to define a clamping gap for the belt, and wherein the first exit curve is disposed a first distance from the central axis and the second exit curve is disposed a second distance from the central axis, the first distance being smaller than the second distance. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The spool assembly of claim 1, wherein the first exit curve and the second exit curve are disposed on opposite sides of the belt, at a same length of the belt. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The spool assembly of claim 1, wherein the first clamping face has a generally concave portion and the second clamping face has a generally convex portion, wherein the generally concave portion of the first clamping face at least partially receives the generally convex portion of the second clamping face. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The spool assembly of claim 1, wherein the spool is configured to resist unclamping of the belt when the belt is unwound from the spool. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The spool assembly of claim 1, wherein the belt is a low friction belt. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The spool assembly of claim 1, wherein the gap between the first clamping face and the second clamping face can be a third distance along a majority of the gap and a fourth distance along a minority of the gap. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The spool assembly of claim 6, wherein the fourth distance is smaller than the third distance. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The spool assembly of claim 6, wherein the belt is compressed when retained in the third distance. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The spool assembly of claim 8, wherein the belt is compressed at a first end of the belt, the belt can wind through the remainder of the gap to exit at the first and second exit curve from the spool. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The spool assembly of claim 1, wherein the first spool part and the second spool part are made of the same material. ### Claim 11 A spool assembly for a winch actuator, the spool assembly including, a spool extending along a central axis, the spool including a first spool part extending along the central axis having a first clamping face and a first exit curve; and a second spool part extending along the central axis, the second spool part having a second clamping face and a second exit curve; a belt disposed between the first spool part and the second spool part, and a bearing disposed on a first end of the spool and a mating structure disposed on a second end of the spool, wherein the first clamping face and the second clamping face are offset from one another to define a clamping gap for the belt, and wherein the first exit curve is disposed a first distance from the central axis and the second exit curve is disposed a second distance from the central axis, the first distance being smaller than the second distance. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The spool assembly of claim 11, further comprising a fastener retaining the first and second spool parts together. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The spool assembly of claim 12, wherein the fastener is a threaded screw received perpendicular to the central axis in the second end of the spool. ### Claim 14 A spool assembly for a winch actuator, the spool assembly including, a spool extending along a central axis, the spool including a first spool part extending along the central axis having a first clamping face and a first exit curve; and a second spool part extending along the central axis, the second spool part having a second clamping face and a second exit curve; and a belt disposed between the first spool part and the second spool part, wherein the first clamping face and the second clamping face are offset from one another to define a clamping gap for the belt, wherein the first exit curve is disposed a first distance from the central axis and the second exit curve is disposed a second distance from the central axis, the first distance being smaller than the second distance, wherein the first spool part has a first outer winding surface having a non-constant diameter, and wherein the second spool part as a second outer winding surface having a constant diameter. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The spool assembly of claim 14, wherein in a first wound configuration, the belt is wrapped 360 degrees around the belt such that the belt, at the first and second exit curves, is disposed at the same distance from the central axis as the second outer winding surface.