Radio Controlled Pulley

Abstract

The Radio Controlled Pulley includes a support line, a platform suspended from the support line, a propulsion system configured to cause the platform to move along the support line the propulsion system affixed to said platform, and having an optional control system for commanding said propulsion system.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

The applications cited below is the only application related to this application. This application is a continuation-in-part of Utility patent application Ser. No. 14/336,478 filed on Jul. 21, 2014 which is itself a continuation in Part of Utility patent application Ser. No. 13/490,432 filed on Jun. 7, 2012.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

No invention claimed in this application was made under Federally sponsored research or development.

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

REFERENCE TO A SEQUENCE LISTING

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

1. Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to suspended remote controlled transport systems, including but not limited to systems used for transporting materials

2. Description of Related Art

Remotely controlled stationary animal feed dispensers are known in the art. US Published Patent Application 20090020074 by Harmon, U.S. Pat. No. 5,868,101 to Marshall, U.S. Pat. No. 5,297,503 to Hibbard, U.S. Pat. No. 5,438,956 to Thigpen, U.S. Pat. No. 5,392,732 to Fry, and U.S. Pat. No. 5,370,080 to Koepp exemplify such stationary remotely controlled feed dispensers.

Mobile animal feed dispensers are also known in the art. U.S. Pat. No. 2,316,463 to Skulina is typical of this class of feed dispenser.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a mobile and remotely controlled material transport.

BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The Radio Controlled Pulley comprises; a support line, a platform or support means, such as a hook, suspended from said support line, a propulsion system, said propulsion system configured to cause the platform to move along said support line and said propulsion system affixed to said platform, and an optional control system for commanding said propulsion system. The control system may be of a type which permits an operator to operate the Radio Controlled Pulley from a point remote from the Radio Controlled Pulley.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the Radio Controlled Pulley.

FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a second embodiment of the invention.

FIG. 3 is a perspective view of a third embodiment.

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a fourth embodiment.

FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a fifth embodiment.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment with a tool belt.

FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment with a bucket.

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of a sixth embodiment with sheet material.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

The Radio Controlled Pulley 1 comprises; a support Line 2, a Platform 3 suspended from said support Line 2, a propulsion system, said propulsion system 5 configured to cause the Platform 3 to move along said support Line 2 with said propulsion system 5 affixed to said Platform 3, and a control system 4 for commanding said propulsion system 5.

The support Line 2 may be of any material capable of flexibly stretching between at least two support points 6 and supporting the weight of the Platform 3 and the components placed on the Platform 3.

The Platform 3 may be of any suitable shape and size required to accommodate a propulsion system 5 and a control system 4 for the Radio Controlled Pulley 1. To serve as a Radio Controlled Pulley 1 the Platform 3 must also accommodate a connection 22 to a general purpose carrier such as a tray 7 or for attaching items for transport 23. Items for transport 23 may be any item or items which may be attached to the connection 22. Items for transport 23 include, but are not limited to tool belts, buckets, and sheet materials.

The Radio Controlled Pulley 1 may be further equipped with any number of devices including, but not limited to: television cameras, infrared detectors, radiation detectors, sound detectors, and vibration detectors.

The propulsion system 5 comprises a motor 9, an energy storage system 10, a transmission system 11, and optionally a power supply 12. The motor 9 may be an internal combustion engine using a liquid or gaseous fuel such as gasoline, diesel fuel, propane or any fuel suitable to operate an internal combustion engine. The motor 9 may be an alternating current or direct current electric motor. The energy storage system 10 may be an electrical battery 13, or a tank 14 of an appropriate type for storing the liquid or gaseous fuel. In yet another embodiment the energy storage system 10 may be a wound spring 15. In short the motor 9 is any device which converts the energy stored in the energy storage system 10 to mechanical work used to propel the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 along its support Line 2.

The control system 20 may be independent of or integrated with the propulsion system. The control system 20 is controlled remotely, and may use a position sensing mechanism such as markings 21 on the support Line 2, light sensors, acoustic sensors, or any other means suitable to the particular application.

The transmission is any mechanism which transmits mechanical energy from the motor 9 to the support Line 2 to cause the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 to move along the support Line 2. In one embodiment the transmission system 11 would consist of a wheel 16 resting on the support Line 2, connected by a drive belt 17 to a pulley 18 attached to and turned by the motor 9. In another embodiment the drive belt 17 belt and pulley 18 assembly would be replaced by a gear train 19. It will be recognized that there are a large number of ways by which the motor 9 can be connected to a drive wheel 16, or multiple drive wheels, to cause the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 to move along the support Line 2.

One or more tensioning wheels 8 may be included on the side of the support line 2 to increase the friction between the drive wheels and the support line 2. One or more of the drive wheels and tensioning wheels 8 may be provided with treads to increase their grip on the support line 2.

The optional power supply 12 is anything which captures or produces energy and supplies that energy to the energy storage system 10. In one embodiment this optional power supply 12 is a set of photovoltaic cells which supply energy to the electrical battery 13. In another embodiment the optional power supply 12 is an electrical battery charger which can be plugged into a convenient power source placed anywhere along the and sufficiently near the support Line 2. It will be appreciated that this optional power supply 12 may take on many forms and can be envisioned for any of the energy storage systems 10 contemplated. This optional power supply 12 can be as simple as a slot to accommodate a winding key for the spring 15, as complex as photovoltaic cells to charge the electrical batteries, or anything in between.

The control system 4 may be of a preprogrammed type or of a type which can be managed while the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 is remote from the operator. In both cases the control system 4 interacts with the motor 9, transmission system 11 or both to determine the direction and speed at which the motor 9 causes the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 to move along the support Line 2. The preprogrammed type provides a means for the operator to provide control instructions while the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 is close at hand and the control system 4 then executes the instructions provided by the operator. The preprogrammed control system 4 may be as simple as an on-off switch, as complex as a programmable computer, or any level of complexity in-between. The remote control system 4 allows the operator to control the Radio Controlled Pulley 1 via electromagnetic or acoustic waves. Remote control systems 4 are currently available and are available in digital and analogue types and are readily available in modular packages.

The Spektrum Dx5e™ is a 5-channel proportional Radio Controlled System is one example, of the many radio control systems currently available.

Claims

1) A Radio Controlled Pulley comprising:

a) A support line;

b) A Connection; and

c) A propulsion system, said propulsion system configured to cause the Radio Controlled Pulley to move along said support line and said propulsion system affixed to said Radio Controlled Pulley.

2) The Radio Controlled Pulley of claim 1 further comprising a control system for commanding said propulsion system.

3) Radio Controlled Pulley of claim 2 wherein said control system permits operation of said propulsion system under control of an operator, said operator being located at a location remote from the propulsion system.

4) The Radio Controlled Pulley of claim 2 further comprising one or more devices in addition to said propulsion system.