Tension sensing device
AssigneePlatforms and Power, Inc.
InventorRichard E. Crudele
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tension sensing device for scaffolds suspended by at least one hoist cable is described. The tension sensing device generally comprises a support structure adapted to be secured to the scaffold and having guide means for directing the hoist cable through the device, lever arm means for sensing the tension on the hoist cable, and switch means for detecting a slack cable or a strained cable condition. The support structure includes a cover plate assembly with at least one section of the cover plate assembly constructed from a transparent material so that the tension on the hoist cable may also be visually observed.
Claims13
In a scaffold suspended by at least one hoist cable, a tension sensing device for detecting an under or over-tensioned cable condition, comprising:
- a support structure adapted to be secured to said scaffold and having guide means for directing said hoist cable through said device;
- lever arm means for sensing the tension on said hoist cable, including a generally vertically disposed lever arm member pivotally mounted to said support structure for pivotal movement in response to a variation in the tension of said hoist cable, a sheave rotatably mounted to said lever arm member, and spring means for biasing said sheave into engagement with said hoist cable;
- and
- switch means for detecting said under-tensioned cable condition in response to a first predetermined pivotal movement of said lever arm member and for detecting said over-tensioned cable condition in response to a second predetermined pivotal movement of said lever arm member in the opposite direction of said first predetermined pivotal movement.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.