Modular lift assembly
OwnerDonald A. Hoffend JR.inventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift assembly having a drum rotatably mounted to a frame and linearly translatable with respect to the frame. A plurality of head blocks are connected to the frame along a helical mounting path, wherein linear translation of the drum during takeoff or take-up maintains a predetermined fleet angle between a take off point from the drum and the head block.
Claims10
A system for selectively vertically translating a plurality of loads relative to a structure, comprising:
- (a) a plurality of lift assemblies connected to the structure, each lift assembly including a rotatable drum, at least one cable extending from the drum, a drive motor connected to the drum and a controller connected to the drive motor for selectively regulating rotation of the drum, the controller in communication with a corresponding controller in each remaining lift assembly and configured to control at least two of (i) a rotational velocity of the drum in a first rotational direction;
- (ii) a second rotational velocity of the drum in a different second rotational direction;
- (iii) an acceleration of drum rotation in the first rotational direction, (iv) a second acceleration of the drum in the second rotational direction, (v) a first amount of drum rotation in the first rotational direction, (vi) a second amount of drum rotation in the second rotational direction, and (vii) drum rotation corresponding to a drum rotation in another lift assembly.
A method for controlling a plurality of lift assemblies, comprising:
- (a) locating a control processor within each of the plurality of lift assemblies, the control processor configured to generate at least two of (i) a rotational velocity of the drum in a first rotational direction;
- (ii) a second rotational velocity of the drum in a different second rotational direction;
- (iii) an acceleration of drum rotation in the first rotational direction, (iv) a second acceleration of the drum in the second rotational direction, (v) an amount of drum rotation in the first rotational direction, (vi) a second amount of drum rotation in the second rotational direction, and (vii) drum rotation corresponding to a drum rotation in another lift assembly, in response to an external demand instruction;
- and
- (b) operably connecting each of the plurality of lift assemblies to a master control;
- (c) generating a demand instruction at the master control for selected lift assemblies;
- and
- (d) communicating the demand instruction to the selected lift assemblies.
A drum for retaining a length of cable in a lift assembly, comprising:
- (a) a core for rotation about an axis;
- (b) a plurality of winding sections;
- (c) at least one overload spring and one slack spring coupling each winding section to the core.
A batten assembly for interconnecting a lift line to a load, the batten assembly comprising:
- (a) an elongate truss, the truss having a cross sectional profile defining a trim track and a carriage track;
- (b) at lease one trim slide in the trim track, the trim slide moveable between an extended and a retracted position.
A hoist assembly, comprising:
- (a) a monolithic backbone having U shaped cross sectional, and a plurality of T shape channels extending along a length of the backbone.
- (b) a rotatable drum connected to the backbone for rotation about an axis relative to the backbone and translation along the axis;
- and
- (c) a drive connected to the backbone and the drum for selectively rotating the drum.
A lift assembly for selectively translating a load in a vertical direction comprising:
- (a) a frame;
- (b) a rotatable drum connected to the frame for rotation about an axis;
- (c) a motor connected to the frame and the drum to rotate the drum about the axis;
- (d) a loft block connected to the frame to at least partially define a cable path extending from the drum, about the loft block to vertically intersect the load;
- and
- (e) a housing connected to the frame to enclose the drum, the motor and the loft block, the housing including a port for passage of the cable path.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.