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US 9,908,750 B2Granted
Tensile truss mast
AssigneePaR Systems, Inc.
InventorsAlbert J. Sturm, Jr., Michael Hennessey, Mark Guterman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Hoist systems are provided. In one embodiment, a hoist system includes a lower platform, an upper platform, a plurality of flexible members, and a plurality of hoists. The upper platform has a plurality of rotatable support arms. The flexible members connect the rotatable support arms to the lower platform and can be extended and retracted using the plurality of hoists. If desired, the upper platform includes a plurality adjustable length support arms, and actuators may be used to extend and retract the support arms.
Claims21
A hoist system comprising:
- a support structure;
- a lower platform having a lower reference axis;
- an upper platform mounted to the support structure for at least partial rotation about an axis;
- a drive connected to the upper platform configured to rotate the upper platform;
- a plurality of at least three support arms extending radially from the axis and mounted to the upper platform to rotate about the axis therewith, wherein remote ends of the support arms are spaced apart from each other at equal angular intervals about the axis;
- a plurality of at least six flexible members that connects the plurality of at least three support arms to the lower platform, wherein two flexible members of the plurality of at least six flexible member comprise a pair of flexible members extends over a remote end of each support arm downwardly to the lower platform and also toward the axis, wherein the flexible members are joined to the lower platform at locations spaced apart from each other, wherein, when the axis is aligned with the lower reference axis, the flexible members are arranged in a first group and a second group, each group comprising at least three flexible members spaced apart from each other about the axis at equal angular intervals and each flexible member of each group extending between the upper platform and the lower platform at a same angle with respect to the axis as each other flexible member in the same associated group when the axis is aligned with the lower reference axis;
- a plurality of at least six hoists that extends and retracts the plurality of at least six flexible members, each of the at least six flexible members operably coupled to, and extended and retracted by, a different one of the at least six hoists in order to move the lower platform vertically and laterally within a work envelope, and wherein each hoist is configured to extend and retract the associated flexible member connected thereto independently from the other plurality of five other hoists, and wherein the plurality of at least six hoists are mounted in pairs to each of the at least three support arms;
- and
- a controller operably connected to the drive to selectively rotate the upper platform and connected to each hoist to operate each hoist independently from the other hoists to move the lower platform vertically, laterally and with angular movements comprising pitch and roll with respect to the axis within the work envelope, wherein lateral movement includes extension of the flexible members at different lengths to move the lower platform laterally with respect to the axis.
6 more elements
A hoist system comprising:
- a support structure;
- a lower platform;
- a set of pulleys having a pulley thereof mounted to the lower platform at each of three locations spaced apart from each other about a lower reference axis at equal angular intervals;
- an upper platform mounted to the support structure;
- a plurality of adjustable length support arms extending radially from a center axis, the support arms being mounted to the upper platform to move therewith, wherein remote ends of the support arms are symmetrically spaced apart from each other and about the center axis, and wherein each support arm is independently adjustable in length;
- a plurality of three flexible members that connects the plurality of adjustable length support arms to the lower platform, each of the flexible members extending downwardly to the lower platform and also toward the center axis;
- wherein each flexible member engages one of the pulleys on the lower platform, wherein each flexible member has a first portion extending from one of the support arms to one of the pulleys on the lower platform and a second portion extending from said one of the pulleys on the lower platform to the support arm having a remote end fixed to the upper platform at each of three locations that are spaced apart from each other about the center axis at equal angular intervals, and wherein when the center axis is aligned with the lower reference axis, the first portions are spaced apart at equal angular intervals about the center axis and have a same angle with respect to the center axis as each other first portion;
- and the second portions are spaced apart at equal angular intervals about the center axis and have a same angle with respect to the center axis as each other second portion;
- and
- a plurality of hoists that extends and retracts the plurality of flexible members, wherein a hoist thereof is mounted to one of the support arms;
- and
- a controller operably coupled to each support arm to selectively adjust a length thereof and operably coupled to each of the hoists, wherein the controller is configured to operate each hoist of the plurality of hoists independently from the other hoists to move the lower platform vertically, laterally and with angular movements comprising pitch and roll with respect to the center axis within a work envelope.
9 more elements
A hoist system comprising
- a lower platform having a lower reference axis;
- a first set of pulleys having a pulley thereof mounted to the lower platform at each of three locations spaced apart from each other about a lower reference axis at equal angular intervals;
- a second set of pulleys having a pulley thereof mounted to the lower platform at each of three locations spaced apart from each other about the lower reference axis at equal angular intervals;
- an upper platform having a rotational axis and a plurality of support arms;
- a drive connected to the upper platform configured to rotate the upper platform about the rotational axis;
- a plurality of extendable and retractable flexible members, each flexible member being guided by one of the first set of pulleys and one of the second set of pulleys so as to form a couple when the corresponding flexible member is in tension and having a remote end joined to the upper platform, wherein each flexible member has a first portion extending from one of the support arms to one of the pulleys of the first set on the lower platform and a second portion extending from one of the pulleys of the second set on the lower platform, and wherein when the rotational axis is aligned with the lower reference axis, the first portions are spaced apart at equal angular intervals about the rotational axis and have a same angle with respect to the rotational axis as each other first portion;
- and the second portions are spaced apart at equal angular intervals about the rotational axis and have a same angle with respect to the rotational axis as each other second portion;
- a plurality of hoists, each hoist extending and retracting one of the plurality of flexible members to move the lower platform vertically and laterally and with angular movements comprising pitch, yaw and roll within a work envelope with respect to the rotational axis;
- and
- a controller operably connected to the drive to selectively rotate the upper platform and connected to each hoist to operate each hoist independently from the other hoists to move the lower platform vertically, laterally and with angular movements comprising pitch and roll with respect to the rotational axis within the work envelope, wherein lateral movement includes extension of the flexible members at different lengths to move the lower platform laterally with respect to the axis.
7 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.