Abstract: A segmented elevator sheave assembly has independently variable shoulder and crowning elements for use with flexible flat ropes in an elevator system. This enables selection of high-traction surface finish and crowning for the sheave groove that contacts a belt, and of low-traction, smooth sheave groove shoulders having a low friction coefficient that may inadvertently contact the belt side surfaces. This configuration is more forgiving to angular misalignment of the sheave and reduces the likelihood of premature degradation of a flat flexible rope due side-surface scuffing along sheave groove shoulders.

Abstract: A tension member for an elevator system has an aspect ratio of greater than one, where aspect ratio is defined as the ratio of tension member width w to thickness t (w/t). The increase in aspect ratio results in a reduction in the maximum rope pressure and an increased flexibility as compared to conventional elevator ropes. As a result, smaller sheaves may be used with this type of tension member. In a particular embodiment, the tension member includes a plurality of individual load carrying ropes encased within a common layer of coating. The coating layer separates the individual ropes and defines an engagement surface for engaging a traction sheave.

Abstract: A sheave block for use with a wireline includes first and second opposing walls and a shaft extending therebetween. At least one grooved sheave is disposed on the shaft, each sheave being engageable with the wireline. At least one retractable sheave guard is movably connected to the first and second opposing walls and is moveable between open and closed positions, the open position allowing the wireline to be rereeved around at least one of the grooved sheaves without entirely removing the wireline from the sheave block.

Abstract: A cable deflection pulley pertaining to a window lifter comprising a drive unit, a guide rail for a driver which is connected to the window and to the cable, and cable deflection pulleys with a guide or bearing groove for the cable. The device has an axially directed assembly groove in the proximity of the bearing groove to facilitate and accelerate assembly and to reduce the amount of cable required. The assembly groove contains an area adjacent to the axis of the cable deflection pulley, and an area adjacent to the bearing groove, through which the cable is pulled from the assembly groove into the bearing groove.

Abstract: A load-handling device comprising a pair of pulley assemblies each having a body, at least one pulley supported by the body, and having a peripheral outer surface, a rope secured at one end to a support structure and entrained about each of the outer surfaces to interconnect the pulleys in a load-handling arrangement. Each of the pulley assemblies include a one way clutch acting between the body and the pulley to inhibit rotation relative to the body in one direction. The surfaces of the pulleys thereby providing frictional engagement for the rope in the one direction to facilitate handling of the load.

Abstract: A compound bow carries eccentrics, each of which has a non-circular string groove with a geometric center removed from the axis of the eccentric and a take-up groove which is out of registration with the string groove about substantially the entire peripheries of the grooves. The two grooves are carried by respective sheaves rotatably joined through a hub which is itself rotatably connected to one of the sheaves. Other aspects of the present invention relate to a unique idler used in combination with a single-cam embodiment of the present invention.

Abstract: An apparatus for selectively raising, storing, and lowering a recreational water craft that includes a first cable. The first cable is attached at one end to a winch for selectively shortening or lengthening the first cable. The first cable is attached at the other end to a ring and the first cable passes through a first pulley. A proximal strap is releasably and adjustably attached to the boat and is connected to a second cable. The second cable is connected at one end to the proximal strap and at the other end to the ring. A distal strap is releasably and adjustably attached to the boat. The distal strap is connected to a third cable, with the third cable being attached at one end to the distal strap and at the other end to a size adjustment assembly. The size adjustment assembly is connected to the ring.

Abstract: Pulleys of a block and tackle window balance include hub steps that interact with other components to reduce the introduction of dirt and dust particles into areas vulnerable to wear. The hub steps of some of the pulleys are recesses formed about the axial bores of the pulleys that mate with protrusions on an axle and a washer. The hub steps of other pulleys are protrusions that abut a support plate and heads of rivets that act as axles. The hub steps allow inverse mounting of the window balance so that the balance can be mounted in a shoe channel for movement with a sash of the window, attached to the sash shoe, and the cord can be attached to the jamb or frame, thus increasing sash travel.

Abstract: In a theatrical rigging system, a number of motors can be placed on platforms which can move upon rails to be connected to different theatrical rigging elements. The motors can be randomly attached to operate different overhead hanging devices.

Abstract: A sheave liner for an elevator system sheave that supports a hoist rope with an elevator car suspended therefrom is replaced without having to remove the hoist ropes and without having to hang the elevator car by means other than the hoist ropes. The existing liner is cut and removed while the elevator car is suspended from the hoist ropes resting on the sheave. The new liner is rotated into its position and two ends of the liner are joined by either a mechanical bond or by a room temperature adhesive bond.

Abstract: A safety device for cable sheave installations, which provides cable guide assemblies which block hands and the like from being drawn in to be injured between moving cables and sheave wheels. The cable guide assemblies are pivotally attached to the outside ends of arms in turn pivoted at their inside ends from the sheave wheel support structure. The cable guides also prevent injury and property damage from cable jump, by guiding cables with large approaching fleet angles directly onto the wheels.

Abstract: An elongated track receives and supports a movable wiper arm carriage having a windshield wiper extending therefrom. A plurality of pulleys couple the wiper arm carriage to an oscillatory drive mechanism having a reciprocating carriage. The pulley and cable system provides a distance multiplication in which the wiper arm carriage moves a substantially greater distance in response to motion of the oscillatory system carriage. A single direction drive motor is coupled to the oscillatory drive which includes a rotating arm together with a pivotally supported connecting arm and slider coupled to a guide bar supported upon and coupled to the oscillatory system carriage.

Abstract: An elevator is provided having a car, with a ceiling defined by a width and a depth, a counterweight, a plurality of ropes, a pair of first sheaves, a pair of second sheaves, and a pair of third sheaves. The car and the counterweight are connected by a plurality of ropes extending from the car to the first sheave, and then to the second sheave, then to the third sheave, and finally to the counterweight. The sheaves are positioned inside the hoistway, outside of the projected horizontal area of the ceiling of the car and therefore not directly above the ceiling in the hoistway.

Abstract: A high strength, low friction, corrosion free block for marine environments includes a fixed or swivel head, shackle and a ground and polished axle all composed of 17-4 ph stainless steel sandwiched between titanium/titanium alloy side cheeks. One or more aluminum sheaves each having a filament wound epoxy glass radial bushing with a Teflon liner are journaled around the axle. Oven cured Teflon filled thrust washers bonded to the sides of the sheave(s) turn against polished inner surfaces of the side cheeks. The blocks may include titanium/titanium alloy straps exterior the side cheeks supporting the axle to provide increased functional load bearing capacities ranging up to and exceeding 50,000 lbs.

Abstract: A boom point construction connects the for and aft mountings of a sheave swivel to the major structural elements of a boom. The boom point includes a framework of elongated members joined together to form a truss. The framework includes assemblies of at least three members joined together at one common point and extending in different directions from the point to define three different planes. Two of the assemblies extend from opposite sides of the front swivel support and another of the assemblies extends from the rear swivel support. A member of the assemblies from the front swivel support is connected to members of the assembly extending from the rear swivel support. The boom point is shown connecting the swivel to a boom having either three or four major longitudinal structural elements.

Abstract: An ether-based polyurethane article comprises a toluene diisocyanate-terminated polyether polyol prepolymer cured with a blended polyester polyol/diamine curative. The article may be made by mixing a toluene diisocyanate-terminated polyether polyol prepolymer with a blended polyester polyol/diamine curative to form a reaction mixture. A suitably shaped mold is preheated and filled with the reaction mixture with sufficient pressure to displace air in the mold. The reaction mixture is held in the preheated mold to cure the reaction mixture and form the article. The cast article is removed from the mold and post-cured to complete the chemical cross-linking reaction.

Abstract: Apparatus for and a method of using a temporary transmission hot line crossarm to replace or repair an existing transmission hot line crossarm. The apparatus includes parts to support energized transmission line conductors and parts which support the apparatus. A boom with insulators and hooks attached supplies the mechanism to support the conductors and a lifting ring and sling supply support for the boom. The temporary transmission hot line crossarm enables repair work to be done without deenergizing the transmission lines.

Abstract: A robotic arm and control system comprising a multi-axis, open-loop system of coupled structural members, wherein each structural member is pivotably coupled to one another to form a number of joints, wherein position calibration is provided by way of position sensors disposed at each joint, and controls for manipulating each joint in a predetermined manner and for monitoring the output of each position sensor, the controls first causing all structural members to move with respect to one another so that each position sensor outputs a home signal, the controls then manipulating each structural member in a predetermined sequence until each structural member is caused to be within a predetermined distance from its home position.

Abstract: A cable drive system for driving a cable includes a rotatable inflatable member. Sets of guide rollers are positioned about the periphery of the inflatable member, and each of the sets of rollers includes at least two rollers for guiding the cable to maintain the cable substantially in contact with the inflatable member, and to cause the cable to be wound helically about the inflatable member. A fluid supply is used to inflate or deflate the inflatable member to vary the normal force applied to the cable. The inflatable member may be similar to an automobile tire and supported on a wheel through which the inflatable member is rotatably driven. During deployment or retrieval of the cable, the frictional drive force on the cable can be controllably varied by inflating or deflating the inflatable member to vary the normal force applied to the cable.

Abstract: A handy, compact and easily transportable apparatus for relief of intervertebral discs and for stretching of the vertebrae and the hip joints by means of gravity, having a support element suspendable on a door, a wall or the like, and a suspension device connected with this for the feet, in such manner that even unpracticed and awkward persons without support by a helper, i.e. completely alone, can achieve the suspended position. The suspension device is connected via a cable line with the support element and provided with a coupling device for suspension gaiters.

Abstract: A hoist cage is supported by a loop of rope extending around a drive sheave and an idler sheave respectively positioned at the ends of the hoist cage path and attached to the hoist cage by attachment of separate ends of the loop to separate drums rotatably attached to the hoist cage. The drums are coupled to rotate together to take up and pay out rope at different rates and in opposite senses with the rate being higher for the drum from which the rope extends downwardly.

Abstract: A support block for stringing one or two cables simultaneously which is hung from an existing cable suspended laterally overhead, in which the cable-to-be-strung can be rapidly inserted, and on which the cable-to-be-strung rests prior to its being lashed to a utility pole. The temporary support block is raised to the existing cable by means of a layup stick or similar hand-held installation pole by a worker standing on the ground. More than one support block can be hung and cable suspended therefrom before the cable is pulled between one or more utility poles. The method of using several support blocks reduces the frequency with which workers must put tension on a cable in order to string it and enables the workers to keep greater lengths of cable suspended above potentially-damaging ground traffic and obstacles.

Abstract: In a machine having a boom, a sheave swivably mounted on the boom and a line reeved over and around the sheave, an assembly for returning the sheave to a predetermined position relative to the boom upon the sheave being rotatably displaced about its swivel axis by forces applied by the line, consisting of a righting arm operatively connected to the sheave for rotatable movement therewith about the swivel axis and means operatively engageable with the righting arm for rotatably biasing the righting arm and correspondingly the sheave about the swivel axis toward the predetermined position.

Abstract: An improved bundle conductor stringing block having a main frame constructed essentially of structural steel components and including a cantilever suspension yoke positioned to form a tow-line receiving passage through which a helicopter can dispense a conductor tow-line onto a central one of multiple sheaves. Guide members pivoted to the opposite sides of the tow-line passage guide the tow-line onto the central sheave and include toggle spring device engageable by a running board at the trailing end of the tow-line to engage these members and pivot them in either direction to retracted positions along the block side frame.

Abstract: A seal assembly and a sheave block utilizing said assembly in which a housing (H) mounts a central shaft (12) on which a plurality of sheaves (40-43) are rotatably mounted. A free-floating spacer ring (60) is positioned on the central shaft between each of the sheaves and between a sheave and the housing and has a hard wearing smooth surface as provided by chrome-plating, and a pair of lip seals (62,63) of elastic material are positionable, one on each face of a sheave and an adjacent surface of the housing, with each having a part (64,65) thereof defining a hard wearing low friction bearing surface for sealing engagement with the surface of the spacer ring.