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US 11,148,912 B2Granted
Auto lock cable lifter
OwnerNhon Hoa Nguyeninventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A clamping device includes a rotatable element disposed between a jaw and a jaw support. The rotatable element has a slanting surface, interfacing a roller, and thus is configured to push the jaw toward an opposite jaw of the clamping device when rolling in a clamping direction. An auto lock mechanism is included in the clamping device, which can secure the rotating element for keeping the jaws separated. The auto lock mechanism can be activated or deactivated when the jaws are separated at a maximum or near maximum separation.
Claims20
An automatic locking mechanism for a clamping device comprising a rotatable element rotatably coupled to a body, the automatic locking mechanism comprising
- a lockable element;
- and
- a receptacle comprising a path configured to confine a portion of the lockable element for running along the path,
- wherein one selected from a group consisting of the lockable element and the receptacle is coupled to the rotatable element, and the other selected from the group consisting of the lockable element and the receptacle is coupled to the body,
- wherein the path comprises at least two turns,
- wherein a first turn of the at least two turns is configured to prevent the lockable element, when moving in the path, relative to the receptacle, toward the first turn in a first direction, from continuing moving in the same first direction,
- wherein when the lockable element is prevented from moving in the first direction, the rotatable element is configured to be not rotatable when the clamping device is lifted up,
- wherein a second turn of the at least two turns is configured to prevent the lockable element, when moving in the path, relative to the receptacle, from the first turn toward the second turn in a second direction different from the first direction, from continuing moving in the same second direction.
5 more elements
A clamping device comprising
- a first jaw;
- a second jaw facing the first jaw;
- a first mechanism coupled to the second jaw,
- wherein the first mechanism comprises a rotatable element configured to be rotatable around a center of rotation,
- wherein the first mechanism is configured for moving the second jaw toward the first jaw when the rotatable element rotates in a first direction;
- a cable,
- wherein the cable comprises a first end,
- wherein the cable comprises a second end coupled to the first mechanism,
- wherein the cable is configured to rotate the rotatable element in the first direction when the first end moves away from the rotatable element;
- an automatic locking mechanism coupling between a body of the clamping device and the rotatable element,
- wherein the automatic locking mechanism configured to toggle the rotatable element between a rotatable configuration and a non-rotatable configuration,
- wherein in the rotatable configuration, the rotatable element is free to rotate,
- wherein in the non-rotatable configuration, the rotatable element is prevented from being rotatable in a direction to move the second jaw toward the first jaw.
10 more elements
A method for automatic clamping of a clamping device,
- wherein the clamping device comprises two jaws configured to clamp on an object,
- wherein the clamping device comprises a rotatable element coupled to a jaw of the two jaws for moving the jaw toward or away from the other jaw,
- wherein the clamping device comprises a cable with one end coupled to the rotatable element,
- wherein the clamping device comprises an automatic locking mechanism configured to toggle the rotatable element between a rotatable configuration and a non-rotatable configuration,
- wherein in the rotatable configuration, the rotatable element is free to rotate,
- wherein in the non-rotatable configuration, the rotatable element is prevented from moving in a first direction to move the jaw toward the other jaw,
- the method comprising
- lowering the cable to a ground, wherein the clamping device clamps on an object,
- after the object touches the ground, lowering the cable further until the automatic locking mechanism coupled to the clamping device is partially activated, wherein a spring mechanism coupled to the rotatable element acts to rotate the rotatable element in a second direction opposite to the first direction to separate the two jaws to loosen a grip on the object,
- raising the cable up to rotate the rotatable element in the first direction to complete the activation of the automatic locking mechanism, wherein the activation of the automatic locking mechanism prevents the rotatable element from rotating further in the first direction,
- continuing raising the cable up to raise the clamping device, wherein the jaws of the clamping device remain open due to the non-rotatable configuration of the rotatable element, leaving the object on the ground.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.