Including Rotatable, Cable Contacting, Pulley Wheel Element Patents (Class 254/390)
  • Patent number: 11820628
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a car and/or a counterweight connected to a belt having a plurality of ribs. The elevator system further has at least two deflecting elements over which the belt is guided and which each have a plurality of grooves. The grooves of at least one of the deflecting elements are configured with geometries that differ from the grooves of another of the deflecting elements. The belt has longitudinal ribs that cooperate with the grooves.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 21, 2023
    Assignee: INVENTIO AG
    Inventors: Oliver Berner, Florian Dold
  • Patent number: 11745770
    Abstract: Device for supporting and guiding a hauling cable of a vehicle transportation installation by cable, including a sheave configured for supporting and guiding the hauling cable, a first girder provided with a main axis, a second girder supporting the sheave and mounted pivotally movable around the main axis, at least one recovery element mounted on the first girder, and at least one cooperating element mounted on the second girder at a distance from said at least one recovery element in a normal operating state where the second girder swivels around the main axis, and configured to be in contact with said at least one recovery element in an abnormal operating state corresponding to failure of the main axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2020
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: POMA
    Inventors: Salah Messaoud, Sylvain Valayer, Stéphane Coudurier
  • Patent number: 11666796
    Abstract: A pulley in a housing designed for use with a flexible flat strap in which low friction movable guides in the pulley housing allow the flexible flat strap to enter, pass through and exit the housing through windows in the housing without the flexible flat strap jamming the pulley or being worn by contact with an edge of a housing window.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 17, 2020
    Date of Patent: June 6, 2023
    Inventor: Wolfgang Ott
  • Patent number: 11530113
    Abstract: A drive shaft for an elevator system, includes a support shaft and a traction sheave with at least one traction face for driving a traction mechanism, for example a drive belt, of the elevator system. A connection is provided for the transmission of a drive torque from the support shaft to the traction sheave, the traction sheave being of separate configuration from the support shaft. The traction sheave is held with an inner guide face on an outer guide face of the support shaft. The connection includes at least one axially projecting traction sheave-side circumferential stop which is in positively locking engagement with a support shaft-side circumferential stop.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 20, 2022
    Assignee: TK Elevator Innovation and Operations GmbH
    Inventor: Jakub Rosenthal
  • Patent number: 11492230
    Abstract: An illustrative example embodiment of an elevator sheave liner includes a liner body having a first surface configured to engage an elevator load bearing member and an oppositely facing second surface. The liner body includes a plurality of blind holes in the second surface including at least a first blind hole and a second blind hole. The first blind hole has a first depth and the second blind hole has a second, different depth. A material of the liner body has a first thickness between the first blind hole and the first surface and a second, different thickness between the second blind hole and the first surface.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 20, 2018
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2022
    Assignee: OTIS ELEVATOR COMPANY
    Inventor: James L. Hubbard
  • Patent number: 11267300
    Abstract: A hitch mechanism for a work vehicle configured for operation on slopes. The hitch mechanism couplable to a tether fixed in position up the slope. An arm extends outwardly and upwardly from the work vehicle frame and supports a tether engaging structure couplable to the tether. The arm is mounted to the frame structure beneath the body portion of the work vehicle and extends rearwardly from the frame to support the tether engaging structure rearwardly of the body portion and rearwardly of the ground engaging drive mechanism. The hitch includes a pivot structure coupling the arm to the frame that allows the arm to pivot about a horizontal axis such that the arm is shiftable vertically. A controller receives inputs corresponding to at least one vehicle parameter and is operatively coupled to an actuator for causing the arm to shift in response to changes in the vehicle parameter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2019
    Date of Patent: March 8, 2022
    Assignee: Deere & Company
    Inventors: Richard J. Lawler, Harshal Deore, Syed Gouse Moiddin, Bryon P. Neumann, Akshay Kumar
  • Patent number: 10648139
    Abstract: A drilling machine for boring holes in a slab having a hole formed therein includes a main frame to which a drill gang assembly is rotatably and telescopingly mounted. The drill gang assembly includes a drill support frame supporting a plurality of drills in parallel spaced alignment. The drill gang assembly is mounted on a mast which may be rotated three hundred and sixty degrees relative to the main frame about a vertical axis up to at least one hundred and eighty degrees. The mast slides laterally relative to the main frame and the wheels supporting the main frame telescope laterally so the wheels can be supported on an adjacent lane or shoulder when the drill gang assembly is supported over a hole extending the width of a lane of a road forming by the slab.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2020
    Inventor: Ronald A. Knapp
  • Patent number: 10328987
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a swing vehicle technical fields, and more particularly to a self-balance vehicle. It includes a main body of the self-balance vehicle, a first wheel and a second wheel, the first wheel and the second wheel is respectively installed at both sides of the main body of the self-balance vehicle, the outside of the first wheel is installed a folding first foot petal, the outside of the second wheel is installed a folding second foot petal. Compared with the prior art, in the self-balance vehicle of the present invention the first foot petal and the second foot petal can be overlapped, its volume is compact after folding, it is convenience for carry, its appearance is small and beautiful.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 24, 2016
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2019
    Inventor: Xiong Dai
  • Patent number: 9580275
    Abstract: An elevator system includes a safety device by which a rotation and/or translation of a fixed bearing part of a rotary bearing of a deflection roller, which is associated with a counterweight, can be detected. An alarm signal is generated by the safety device when the position of the bearing part deviates from a predeterminable value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 11, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: Inventio AG
    Inventor: Christof Moser
  • Patent number: 9578926
    Abstract: Described is a tightening device for automatically tightening a lace. The tightening device includes a housing with a power source and a pair of motors. A pair of planetary gear boxes are connected with the motors. A pair of spools are connected with the gear boxes. Laces are wound around the spools such that activation of the motors causes rotation of the spools. The housing can be attached with or otherwise incorporated into the tongue of a shoe, such that the laces are operable as shoe laces. Thus, when a user activates the motors, the laces are wound around the spools to automatically tighten the shoe laces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 21, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: VIBRALABS INCORPORATED
    Inventors: Jepthah Alt, Jesse Kimball
  • Patent number: 9272886
    Abstract: A ratchet for use with a cord includes a pair of opposed tear drop shaped members defining a one piece housing for rotatably supporting a one piece ratchet spool, for supporting a pivotally mounted thumb release and for supporting an angularly displacable hook. Opposed circular cavities are disposed within the members to rotatably support corresponding bosses extending from opposed sides of the spool. A plurality of opposed interleaved non-radial ribs extend from opposed surfaces of the spool to frictionally grip a cord partially extending about the spool. A pair of wheels forming the spool are interlocked with and secured to one another through a key and keyway.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 17, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 1, 2016
    Inventor: Kenneth G. Kingery
  • Publication number: 20150129366
    Abstract: A method for constructing an interface between a sheave and a coated belt or rope of an elevator system, includes determining the surface energy of a surface of a coated belt or rope; and selecting a sheave such that the sheave has a work of adhesion between the coated belt or rope and the sheave, the work of adhesion meeting a defined relationship with a work of adhesion threshold.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 16, 2012
    Publication date: May 14, 2015
    Inventors: John P. Wesson, Xiaomei Yu, David R. Polak
  • Patent number: 9010495
    Abstract: An elevator sheave (20) includes a belt guiding surface (26) having a surface profile along at least a portion of the belt guiding surface. The surface profile preferably is defined by an nth order polynomial equation where n is a number greater than 2. In one example, the reference point (40) is a central point along the width of the belt guiding surface (26). In one example, a central portion (42) of the surface profile preferably is aligned to be generally parallel with the central axis (34) of the sheave body. Some examples have curvilinear side portions (44,46) between the central portion (42) and the edges (28,30) of the sheave. Other examples also include second side portions (48,50) that have linear profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Otis Elevator Company
    Inventors: Dilip Prasad, Brice N. Cassenti, Pedro S. Baranda, William Veronesi, William C. Perron, Ary O. Mello, Jr., Paul A. Stucky, John T. Pitts, John P. Wesson, Mark S. Thompson
  • Patent number: 8863906
    Abstract: A counterweight and an elevator car are suspended on a set of hoisting ropes. The elevator comprises one or more rope pulleys provided with rope grooves, one of said pulleys being a traction sheave driven by a drive machine and moving the set of hoisting ropes. At least one of the rope pulleys has against the hoisting rope a coating adhesively bonded to the rope pulley and containing the rope grooves, said coating having an elasticity that is greater in the edge portions of the rope groove than at the bottom of the rope groove. In a preferred solution, the traction sheave is a rope pulley like this.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 21, 2014
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Publication number: 20140299411
    Abstract: A descent device according to embodiments of the present invention includes a housing; an inlet capstan; a drive wheel coupled to a centrifugal brake, the drive wheel rotatable with respect to the housing about an axis, the drive wheel including a groove formed along its outer perimeter, the groove having a first inner side wall, a second inner side wall, and a bottom, a distance between the first and second inner side walls decreases from the outer perimeter to the bottom in a direction toward the axis, wherein at least a portion of a radial extent of the inner side walls includes a pattern of protrusions positioned between inner side walls to form an irregular rope path along the groove; an outlet capstan; and a rope extending through the rope inlet, around the inlet capstan, around the drive wheel, around the outlet capstan, and through the rope outlet.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 6, 2010
    Publication date: October 9, 2014
    Inventors: Jeffrey Kent Aldred, Alexis Stuart Foreman, Palmer Hubbard Beam, James E. Fay
  • Publication number: 20140264213
    Abstract: A telescoping boom hoist system is a tree mounted system that provides a hunter with a facilitated means of raising and installing a tree stand. The telescoping boom hoist system is provided with a collapsible design that allows for facilitated transport and handling. The apparatus utilizes a telescopic boom and a frame assembly. The frame assembly provides a stable base for the apparatus. The telescopic boom is coupled to an axle member of the frame assembly, permitting the telescopic boom to pivot. The telescopic boom utilizes a plurality of guide rings that function as pulley or hoist anchor points. The telescoping boom extends the positioning of the guide rings in order to prevent interference while hoisting a tree stand. After installing the tree stand, the telescoping boom hoist system provides a means of safely raising a plurality of hunting equipment to the mounted tree stand.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: September 18, 2014
    Inventor: Jerry Lynn NIPPER
  • Patent number: 8763993
    Abstract: A crane hook assembly having a hook weight arrangement serves for applying a tension load to a rope (2). The rope can be wound onto or off a rope drum on a crane and lifts or lowers the crane hook (4). The hook weight arrangement (1*) includes a hook weight body (3) connected to the rope (2) and an additional weight (26) which is attachable thereto. The rope (2) is guided through an opening (10, 6) in the hook weight body (3, 3*), and the crane hook (4) is attached on the bottom end (20) of the hook weight body (3, 3*).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 1, 2014
    Assignee: Rotzler GmbH + Co. KG
    Inventor: Stefan Böhler
  • Publication number: 20140175353
    Abstract: A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like in a performance environment. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overload sensor and/or a slack line detector. The system may be provided in the form of a point hoist. The compact system is highly scalable to a variety of spaces and applications, including school and public theaters and concert halls, as well as some homes, private business, etc. Additional features include various cable management systems and trim adjustment mechanisms for use with the hoist system.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 19, 2013
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventors: Donald Aloysius Hoffend, Jr., Donald Aloysius Hoffend, III
  • Publication number: 20140174727
    Abstract: A wireline apparatus comprises a sheave for accommodating a wireline and a sheave mounting configured for coupling to a wireline stuffing box. The apparatus includes a sensor for measuring at least one of wireline tension and deployed wireline length at the sheave.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 24, 2012
    Publication date: June 26, 2014
    Inventor: Jan Arie Aldo Huizer
  • Publication number: 20140027691
    Abstract: The present invention relates generally to rope drives working with high-strength fiber ropes such as crane hoists, boom adjustment gear, trolley traveling gear. etc. The invention in this respect in particular applies to hoist drums for the rope hoist winch of such a fiber rope drive having a drum jacket body which is provided with grooving at the peripheral side and having two guard plates adjacent to the drum jacket body at the end sides. The invention further relates to a rope pulley for such a fiber rope drive having a rotatably supported pulley body whose jacket surface has at least one rope groove. In accordance with the invention, the rope grooves have a flat-pressed, round groove contour which differs from the circular and which has a larger radius of curvature in the region of the groove base than in the region of the groove flanks adjacent thereto.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 24, 2013
    Publication date: January 30, 2014
    Applicant: LIEBHERR-COMPONENTS BIBERACH GMBH
    Inventors: Mupende ILAKA, Horst ZERZA
  • Patent number: 8631607
    Abstract: In an aspect, the invention is directed to a combination of a carrier and a pulley assembly. The pulley assembly includes a pulley having an associated pulley rotation axis, a pulley bearing member and a pulley fastener. The pulley fastener connects the pulley assembly to the carrier. The pulley bearing member includes a pulley assembly bending load bearing surface. The carrier is mountable to a vehicle and includes a pulley fastener mount for receiving the pulley fastener. The carrier further includes a carrier bending load bearing surface that engages the pulley bending load bearing surface. The pulley assembly bending load bearing surface is generally conical about the pulley rotation axis and tapers outwardly in a direction axially towards the pulley. The carrier bending load bearing surface is generally inner-conical about the pulley rotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 9, 2008
    Date of Patent: January 21, 2014
    Assignee: Magna Closures Inc.
    Inventors: Douglas G. Broadhead, Raymond Edward Fortin, Traian Miu, Thomas Mellary, James J. Ferri, Donald Harry Smith
  • Publication number: 20130302131
    Abstract: A portable hoist apparatus that can be quickly, easily and recurrently mounted on a tree or other pillar-like structure, which causes very little or no damage to the pillar-like structure, includes a hoist member having a base, a boom projecting from the base, and a support flange; and an adjustably tensionable strap for engaging the support flange and attaching the hoist member to the pillar-like structure. The portable hoist apparatus may be used by hunters to easily lift a tree stand to a desired position on a tree, or by utility workers to easily raise tools or other heavy or awkward objects up along a utility pole.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 15, 2013
    Publication date: November 14, 2013
    Inventors: Thomas J. Nessner, Kristi J. Nessner
  • Publication number: 20130292211
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to an elevator system. The elevator system comprises a car, a counterweight, at least one belt connecting the car and counterweight, and at least one sheave having a surface that engages with the belt. At least part of the surface of the sheave that interfaces with the belt has a plurality of features for reducing unwanted noise created due to the interaction between the belt and the sheave surface.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 21, 2011
    Publication date: November 7, 2013
    Inventors: David R. Polak, Christopher T. Chipman, Charles C. Coffin, Arthur Blanc, John P. Wesson, Yan Chen, Daniel G. Opoku, Sergei F. Burlatsky
  • Patent number: 8556041
    Abstract: An elevator includes a set of hoisting ropes supporting a counterweight and an elevator car moving on respective tracks, each hoisting rope having a substantially round cross-section, and a hoisting machine engaging the set of hoisting ropes via a traction sheave. The traction sheave has a plurality of rope grooves. Each of the plurality of rope grooves generally conforms to a substantially circular shape. Each of the plurality of rope grooves has an opening for receiving a hoisting rope from among the set of hoisting ropes. A coating is adhesively bonded to each of the plurality of rope grooves. Each hoisting rope has a diameter below 8 mm. Each hoisting rope is composed of steel wires having a strength exceeding 2000 N/mm2. A contact angle between the set of hoisting ropes and the traction sheave is greater than about 180 degrees.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 2010
    Date of Patent: October 15, 2013
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Jorma Mustalahti, Esko Aulanko
  • Patent number: 8480060
    Abstract: A crane cable roller assembly is disclosed. The assembly may be attached to an anchoring structure above an existing lower floor. When objects are located interiorly on the existing lower floor, a cable of a crane can be lowered and laid against a roller of the assembly and attached to the object. Lifting of the cable vertically also pulls the object toward the outer peripheral area and toward the edge of the floor so that the cable of the crane can be attached to the object and be vertically lifted to reposition the object as desired.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Date of Patent: July 9, 2013
    Assignee: T.B. Penick & Sons, Inc.
    Inventor: Gregory Clifford Lee
  • Publication number: 20130048930
    Abstract: An improved riveted structure for a pulley seat is provided. The riveted structure essentially includes a panel and a base. The bottom surface of the panel is bilaterally provided with hot-forged rivets, and the base is bilaterally provided with through holes corresponding in position to the rivets. The riveted structure is characterized in that the through holes of the base are elliptical to facilitate insertion of the rivets. In addition, a washer is mounted around each rivet before the rivets are stamped. Thus, once the rivets are stamped to connect the panel to the base, the stamped rivets leave no traces on the surface of the panel. Also, production efficiency and the riveting effect can both be increased.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 31, 2011
    Publication date: February 28, 2013
    Inventor: Wan-Lai Liau
  • Patent number: 8371558
    Abstract: A screwable hoisting apparatus to aid in elevating objects is described. The apparatus is embedded into a tree with one hand while the tree climber is free to use his other hand to secure himself to the tree. A method for using the same is disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 12, 2013
    Inventors: Joseph Scott Engleman, Wesley Darrel Engleman
  • Publication number: 20130001491
    Abstract: A wire pulling grip easy and reliably grips wire for pulling the same through a conduit or the like. The grip has cams which maintain contact with the wire even when tension is not applied and regardless of the orientation of the grip, significantly reducing the likelihood that the connection with the wire is lost. The cams are selectively releasable to allow the wire to be easily removed from the grip.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 10, 2012
    Publication date: January 3, 2013
    Inventors: David Jordan, Michael Jordan
  • Publication number: 20120305870
    Abstract: The present disclosure relates to a cable pulley with a circumferentially extending groove for guiding a cable, wherein the cable pulley has a modular design and includes a wheel-shaped carrier body and a ring-shaped groove body, wherein the carrier body is at least partly made of a composite material, optionally a fiber-reinforced plastic material, and wherein the groove body circumferentially surrounds the carrier body and includes the groove.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 23, 2012
    Publication date: December 6, 2012
    Applicant: LIEBHERR-WERK NENZING GMBH
    Inventors: Patricia Ruef, Holger Streitz
  • Publication number: 20120298939
    Abstract: An apparatus for rescuing persons and objects from a grain storage bin or similar structures. The apparatus is made up of a bottom frame, a hoisting frame, and at least one rear bracing member. The hoisting frame has a top horizontal member with at least one attachment location supporting a safety mechanism and a plurality of legs attached to the top horizontal member. The plurality of legs are rotatably attached to the bottom frame. The apparatus has at least one rear bracing member rotatably attached to the bottom frame and securably attached to an anchoring feature.
    Type: Application
    Filed: September 27, 2011
    Publication date: November 29, 2012
    Inventor: Jess Paul Andrews
  • Patent number: 8317160
    Abstract: A restraint device is disclosed that limits the movement of the cable or rope relative to the traction, thus reducing or eliminating the popping noise associated with the cable or rope snapping back against the traction sheave. In one embodiment, the restraint device comprises a molded component that is fitted to encompass the region of the sheave where separation of the wire rope from the sheave is most likely to occur. The restraint device may be mounted so that it is removable and replaceable with minimal dismantling of the hoist containing the sheave. The restraint device may be reversible so that one restraint device may by used for at least two cycles before being replaced. Indication of the need for replacement may be provided by including a second color material at the depth where wear reaches the allowable limit, thereby providing a visual signal to initiate replacement as seen during service.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 12, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2012
    Assignee: Safeworks, LLC
    Inventors: David Arevalo Romo, Christopher Gavin Brickell, John Jerome Haigh
  • Publication number: 20120292583
    Abstract: A block including first and second generally identical side plates that engage one another and rotatably capture a sheave between them. The side plates may includes interlocking tabs to secure the engagement between the side plates or a separate clip may be used to engage elements of the side plates to secure the plates to each other.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 14, 2011
    Publication date: November 22, 2012
    Inventors: Charles J. Lob, Kenneth E. Lange
  • Publication number: 20120195728
    Abstract: A sheave includes a hub defining an axis, a rim defining at least one circumferentially extending groove, and two plates oriented substantially perpendicular to the axis. Each plate is connected to the hub and to the rim, and a plurality of reinforcing tubular members extend between the plates.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 31, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Inventors: Glenn H. Stalker, William R. Powers
  • Publication number: 20120195733
    Abstract: A cable contains filaments containing carbon, surrounded by a sizing. The filaments surrounded by the sizing are covered by a matrix which is composed of a material containing at least one elastomer and/or at least one thermoplastic elastomer. The cable can be used, in particular for pulling a load, for example in a goods lift.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 12, 2012
    Publication date: August 2, 2012
    Applicant: SGL CARBON SE
    Inventors: CHRISTIAN BRUCH, FLORIAN GOJNY
  • Publication number: 20120125875
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a crane having a load hook directly/indirectly fastened to the crane hoist rope and having a frame suspended at the load hook for taking up a special load, in particular for taking up a rotor blade of a wind turbine, wherein the control element(s) of a frame suspended at the load hook is/are guided along a guider rope region of the crane hoist rope.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 18, 2011
    Publication date: May 24, 2012
    Applicant: Liebherr-Werk Ehingen GmbH
    Inventor: Yggve Richter
  • Publication number: 20120018690
    Abstract: A carabineer assembly is provided. The carabineer assembly includes a wheel having a central bore. The carabineer assembly includes a carabineer having a frame, wherein a portion of the frame forms a wheel axle that extends through the central bore. In some cases, the wheel comprises a first wheel half and a second wheel half, wherein the first wheel half and the second wheel half are configured to mate together to form a wheel having a central bore.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 25, 2011
    Publication date: January 26, 2012
    Applicant: TIE BOSS LLC
    Inventors: Paul R. Maire, Michael H. Miller
  • Patent number: 8091629
    Abstract: A stuffing box assembly for a wellhead intervention has a stuffing box and an adjustable sheave. The stuffing box has a body with a collar for connecting to a wellhead and with a passage for running wireline therethrough. A frame connected to the body has side plates and has a hub assembly with hubs rotatable about a first rotational axis. An axle interconnects the two hubs and supports them between the side plates. The sheave can rotate about the second rotational axis of the axel to run the wireline into and out of the stuffing box. The hub assembly can be rotated about its axis of rotation to adjust the location of the axle's axis of rotation. This can move the sheave away from a fixed guard, can change how the sheave lines up with the stuffing box, and can move the sheave away from the stuffing box.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 10, 2012
    Assignee: Weatherford/Lamb, Inc.
    Inventors: James Fogg, Jeremy Ward
  • Patent number: 8087372
    Abstract: A handling system with an improved fairlead is provided for protecting a tow cable wherein the cable breaking strength exceeds the system-rated tension load; the fairlead being positioned collinearly between the system bellmouth and winch. A guide slot passes through the fairlead positioning the cable higher than the winch release point and bellmouth entry point, maintaining the cable down-slope as the cable exits the fairlead. The slot has a hemispherical portion tapering inward to a groove extending downward. Near the groove bottom, at the fairlead end nearest the bellmouth, is a cutting device. Under tension, the cable rides in the hemispherical portion of the groove. If tension suddenly increases from a snag, the resulting force drives the cable down into the groove where the cable is cut by the device, separating before the force damages the system. The constrained cable end is securely held in place by the taper.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Navy
    Inventor: Anthony A. Ruffa
  • Patent number: 8069955
    Abstract: An elevator may include an elevator car, a counterweight, a set of hoisting ropes, and one or more rope pulleys. The car and counterweight may be suspended on the hoisting ropes. At least one rope pulley may include a solid surface including a plurality of rope grooves configured to receive at least one hoisting rope. Each rope groove may generally conform to a semi-circular shape and may include a groove bottom and sides. The at least one rope pulley may include a coating adhesively bonded to it. The coating may directly contact the at least one hoisting rope. A coating thickness may be less than or equal to about 3 mm. At the groove bottom of each rope groove, the coating thickness may be substantially less than half a thickness of the at least one hoisting rope. The coating may cover the groove bottom and sides of each rope groove.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2011
    Assignee: Kone Corporation
    Inventors: Esko Aulanko, Jorma Mustalahti, Pekka Rantanen, Simo Makimattila
  • Publication number: 20110272655
    Abstract: A screwable hoisting apparatus to aid in elevating objects is described. The apparatus is embedded into a tree with one hand while the tree climber is free to use his other hand to secure himself to the tree. A method for using the same is disclosed.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 5, 2010
    Publication date: November 10, 2011
    Inventors: Joseph Scott Engleman, Wesley Darrel Engleman
  • Patent number: 8002244
    Abstract: A high load lightweight block assembly (1) with a reduced mass hollow central shaft (2) through which a continuous or discontinuous rope loop (10) can be passed, which rope loop (10) carries the tensile operating loads within the block (1) thereby minimizing the weight of the assembly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2011
    Inventor: Donald Butler Curchod
  • Publication number: 20110176902
    Abstract: A crane cable roller assembly is disclosed. The assembly may be attached to an anchoring structure above an existing lower floor. When objects are located interiorly on the existing lower floor, a cable of a crane can be lowered and laid against a roller of the assembly and attached to the object. Lifting of the cable vertically also pulls the object toward the outer peripheral area and toward the edge of the floor so that the cable of the crane can be attached to the object and be vertically lifted to reposition the object as desired.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 15, 2010
    Publication date: July 21, 2011
    Inventor: Gregory Clifford Lee
  • Publication number: 20110114908
    Abstract: An exemplary method of making a first component for contacting another component includes applying a wear and corrosion resistant material layer onto a surface of the first component. The wear and corrosion resistant material layer is then roughened subsequent to having been applied to the surface. A component comprises an exemplary elevator sheave that includes a metallic body having a sheave surface that is adapted to contact an elevator tension member. A corrosion resistant material layer on the sheave surface has a thickness that is greater than about 5 microns.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 3, 2008
    Publication date: May 19, 2011
    Inventors: Richard N. Fargo, Kathryn Rauss Sherrick, David Wayne Mckee, Jon George Demos
  • Publication number: 20110108787
    Abstract: A hoist system may comprise a collapsible frame, a mounting mechanism, and a pulley mechanism. The mounting mechanism may secure the collapsible frame onto a tree. The pulley mechanism may be operably coupled to the collapsible frame to help pull a load up the tree.
    Type: Application
    Filed: November 10, 2010
    Publication date: May 12, 2011
    Inventors: DONALD A. THOMAS, Dennis O'Donnell
  • Publication number: 20110095148
    Abstract: An apparatus comprising a receptacle defining therethrough a central bore and a pair of opposed slots extending from the central bore. The apparatus has a support surface surrounding in part the central bore and slots. The appartus further has a stud assembly comprising a stud and an engagement pin extending orthogonally to the stud. The stud is removably inserted into the central bore and raised such that the pin passes through the slots. The stud is then rotated such that the pin rests on the support surface. The apparatus also has a pulley assembly attached to the stud assembly.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 28, 2009
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: MIRION TECHNOLOGIES,INC
    Inventor: James E. Lynch
  • Publication number: 20110095248
    Abstract: The present invention is directed to a mounting member for use in a pulley assembly that is generally U-shaped and includes: (i) a side wall portion; (ii) a base portion; and (iii) a stiffness enhancement portion. The side wall portion is one vertical arm of the U-shape and serves to rotationally mount the pulley. The base portion is the bottom of the U-shape and is generally used to mount the to a structure (for example, a beam in a theatre). The stiffness enhancement portion is the other vertical arm of the U-shape and serves at least to enhance stiffness so that higher capacity pulley assemblies with unitary side plate/base plate members may be achieved.
    Type: Application
    Filed: October 28, 2010
    Publication date: April 28, 2011
    Applicant: J. R. CLANCY, INC.
    Inventors: Thomas S. Young, Rodney F. Kaiser
  • Patent number: 7931178
    Abstract: A suspended-load backpack designed to permit the load to move relative to the wearer during walking and running so that the large movements between the load and the wearer of the backpack reduce the fluctuations of vertical motion of the load with respect to ground. Because the hip (and thus the pack body) goes up a down a good deal during walking, a large relative movement between the wearer and the load reduces the absolute excursion of the load. This movement may be, in turn, transferred to a motor through, for example, a rack and pinion gear, to convert the mechanical movement to electrical or mechanical energy. Such movement of the suspended-load relative to the wearer also reduces the forces on the wearer's body while walking or running, thus reducing the likelihood of orthopedic injury.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2007
    Date of Patent: April 26, 2011
    Assignee: Lighting Packs, LLC
    Inventors: Lawrence C Rome, Andy L Ruina
  • Publication number: 20100314099
    Abstract: A stuffing box assembly for a wellhead intervention has a stuffing box and an adjustable sheave assembly. The stuffing box has a body with a collar for connecting to a wellhead and with a passage for running wireline therethrough. A frame connected to the body has first and second side plates. A hub assembly disposed on the frame has first and second hubs that are rotatable about a first axis of rotation on the side plates. An axle interconnects the two hubs and supports the axle between the side plates. The sheave can rotate about the second axis of rotation of the axel to run the wireline into and out of the stuffing box. The hub assembly can be rotated about its axis of rotation and can thereby adjust the location of the axle's axis of rotation.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 16, 2009
    Publication date: December 16, 2010
    Applicant: WEATHERFORD/LAMB, INC.
    Inventors: James Fogg, Jeremy Ward
  • Publication number: 20100243377
    Abstract: A device to change the direction or point of application of a force comprises a body having an axis, a groove formed within the body so that the groove has a helical shape along at least a portion of the axis, the groove adapted to receive a cable, wherein a helical angle of the groove varies so that a tangent of the helical angle along the groove substantially intersects a single point remote from the body.
    Type: Application
    Filed: January 22, 2010
    Publication date: September 30, 2010
    Inventor: Eugene F. Duval
  • Publication number: 20100032632
    Abstract: Embodiments of the present invention provide pulley apparatuses that can be easily incorporated into block-and-tackle configurations. In some embodiments, a rope can be easily dropped into place and removed, rather than having to be threaded in. For example, the pulley housing can include a rope channeling structure near the end opposite the aperture, and the rope channeling structure can facilitate introducing the rope into engagement with the wheel and/or removing the rope from engagement with the wheel. In some embodiments, the rope channeling structure can prevent the rope from inadvertently becoming removed from the pulley. Some pulley apparatuses can comprise a minimal number of parts, which can significantly simplify the manufacturing process and provide for a more consistent final product.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 6, 2009
    Publication date: February 11, 2010
    Inventor: Paul R. Maire