Hydraulically-operated actuator for drawworks
OwnerGerald Leskoinventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulically-operated actuator for a braking mechanism on a cable drawworks is provided. The actuator can have an enclosed tubular main body capable of being connected to an external hydraulic system. The main body can further contain a spring-opposed hydraulic piston connected to an actuator rod. The actuator rod can extend out of the main body and can connect to a braking system for the drawworks. In operation, the springs can push on the hydraulic piston and hold the actuator rod in a fully extended position to engage the braking system. When pressure from the external hydraulic system is applied to the hydraulic piston, the hydraulic piston can compress the springs and retract the actuator rod into the main body, which can disengage the braking system.
Claims20
A hydraulically-operated actuator, the actuator comprising:
- a) a tubular main body, the main body comprising a first end and a second end thereby defining a chamber therebetween, the main body further comprising a first end cap disposed at the first end and a second end cap disposed at the second end, thereby enclosing the chamber, the second end cap further comprising a first aperture for injecting pressurized hydraulic fluid into the chamber and a second aperture for releasing the hydraulic fluid from the chamber;
- b) a fixed piston comprising first and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the first end cap within the chamber, thereby defining an annular space about the fixed piston within the chamber;
- c) a piston cylinder slidably disposed in the chamber, the piston cylinder configured for slidably receiving the second end of the fixed piston;
- d) at least one spring disposed in the annular space between the first end cap and the piston cylinder, the at least one spring configured to resist the motion of the piston cylinder towards the first end cap;
- and
- e) an actuating rod operatively coupled to the piston cylinder, the actuating rod comprising first and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the head of the piston cylinder, wherein the second end extends from the head of the piston cylinder and through a third aperture disposed through the second end cap.
An improved drawworks comprising a cable drum, at least one brake drum, at least one brake band disposed about the at least one brake drum, and a braking mechanism for operating the at least one brake band, the improvement comprising a hydraulically-operated actuator disposed in the braking mechanism, the actuator comprising:
- a) a tubular main body, the main body comprising a first end and a second end thereby defining a chamber therebetween, the main body further comprising a first end cap disposed at the first end and a second end cap disposed at the second end, thereby enclosing the chamber, the second end cap further comprising a first aperture for injecting pressurized hydraulic fluid into the chamber and a second aperture for releasing the hydraulic fluid from the chamber;
- b) a fixed piston comprising first and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the first end cap within the chamber, thereby defining an annular space about the fixed piston within the chamber;
- c) a piston cylinder slidably disposed in the chamber, the piston cylinder configured for slidably receiving the second end of the fixed piston;
- d) at least one spring disposed in the annular space between the first end cap and the piston cylinder, the at least one spring configured to resist the motion of the piston cylinder towards the first end cap;
- and
- e) an actuating rod operatively coupled to the piston cylinder, the actuating rod comprising first and second ends, the first end operatively coupled to the head of the piston cylinder, wherein the second end extends from the head of the piston cylinder and through a third aperture disposed through the second end cap.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.