Loft block with aligned sheaves
AssigneeElectronic Theatre Controls, Inc.
InventorDonald A. Hoffend, III
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A lift system configured to lift an article (e.g., a batten). The lift system includes a first cable configured to be coupled to the article, a second cable configured to be coupled to the article, a drive mechanism coupled to the first cable and the second cable and operable to raise and lower the article, a first loft block including a first loft sheave to redirect the first cable from a first substantially horizontal axis to a first substantially vertical axis, and a guide member to direct the second cable along a second substantially horizontal axis. The lift system further includes a second loft block including a second loft sheave to redirect the second cable from the second substantially horizontal axis block to a second substantially vertical axis.
Claims20
A lift system configured to lift an article, the lift system comprising:
- a first cable configured to be coupled to the article;
- a second cable configured to be coupled to the article;
- a drive mechanism coupled to the first cable and the second cable and operable to raise and lower the article;
- a first loft block including a first loft sheave to redirect the first cable from a first substantially horizontal axis to a first substantially vertical axis, and a guide member that directs the second cable along a second substantially horizontal axis;
- and
- a second loft block including a second loft sheave to redirect the second cable from the second substantially horizontal axis to a second substantially vertical axis,
- wherein the guide member of the first loft block is located at least partially above the first horizontal axis, and
- wherein the first vertical axis extends through the guide member such that at least a portion of the guide member vertically overlaps with the first loft sheave.
The lift system of claim 4, wherein the guide member is centered on the loft plane.
The lift system of claim 6, wherein the guide member is mounted for rotation about a guide member axis, and wherein the guide member axis is parallel to the loft axis.
A lift system configured to lift an article, the lift system comprising:
- a first cable configured to be coupled to the article;
- a second cable configured to be coupled to the article;
- a drive mechanism coupled to the first cable and the second cable and operable to raise and lower the article;
- a first loft block including a first loft sheave to redirect the first cable from a first substantially horizontal axis to a first substantially vertical axis, and a guide member that directs the second cable along a second substantially horizontal axis;
- and
- a second loft block including a second loft sheave to redirect the second cable from the second substantially horizontal axis to a second substantially vertical axis,
- wherein the guide member of the first loft block is located at least partially above the first horizontal axis and the first horizontal axis extends through the guide member.
A loft block assembly comprising:
- a hanger configured to be secured to a structural member;
- a loft sheave coupled to the hanger and configured to redirect a first cable from a first substantially horizontal axis to a substantially vertical axis;
- and
- a guide member coupled to the hanger and configured to direct a second cable along a second substantially horizontal axis,
- wherein the guide member is located at least partially above the first horizontal axis and the substantially vertical axis extends through the guide member such that at least a portion of the guide member vertically overlaps the loft sheave.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.