Cable tensioning systems
AssigneesGeneral Electric Company, Oliver Crispin Robotics Limited
InventorsMark John Zajkowski, Huseyin Kandir, Todd William Danko, Don Mark Lipkin, Wayne Ray Grady, Andrew Crispin Graham, Trevor Owen Hawke
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A cable tensioning system including: a body defining a balance point; a cable receiving area having gripping elements configured to grip and bias a cable relative to the cable tensioning system; and a sensor configured to sense changes to a balance of the body about the balance point, wherein the cable tensioning system is configured to maintain the cable within a preset range of tensions.
Claims15
A cable tensioning system comprising:
- a body defining a balance point;
- wherein the body includes a cable receiving area having gripping elements configured to grip a cable relative to the cable tensioning system;
- and
- wherein the balance point comprises a pivot axis about which the body is configured to pivot;
- a sensor configured to sense changes to a balance of the body about the balance point,
- wherein the cable tensioning system is configured to maintain the cable within a preset range of tensions.
A cable tensioning system comprising:
- a body defining a balance point;
- wherein the body includes a plurality of gripping elements configured to grip a cable relative to the cable tensioning system;
- and
- wherein the balance point comprises a pivot axis about which the body is configured to pivot;
- a sensor configured to sense changing tension of the cable;
- a logic element configured to receive the sensed change in tension of the cable and provide corrective instructions to maintain the cable within a preset range of tensions;
- and
- a motor coupled to at least one of the gripping elements and configured to rotatably control the at least one gripping element in response to the corrective instructions from the logic element,
- wherein the preset range of tensions is adjustable.
A method of maintaining tension of a cable, the method comprising:
- inserting the cable into a body including a cable receiving area of a cable tensioning system, the body defining a balance point, the balance point comprising a pivot axis about which the body is configured to pivot, the cable receiving area comprising a plurality of gripping elements;
- sensing changes to a balance of the body of the cable tensioning system about the balance point of the body of the cable tensioning system;
- and
- biasing the gripping elements relative to the cable in response to the sensed balance change.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.