Patents Assigned to Liftwave, Inc.
  • Patent number: 11920659
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and components for the design of a flat belt based block and tackle design that is theoretically free of fleet angles. A mapping technique forms a set of planar positions for the centerlines of the free spans that provides a plurality of sheave geometries, which reside on a common axis and spans that are free of fleet angles at the sheave engagement interfaces. This permits the use of high-performing flat belts in high-reduction block and tackle topologies, with the principal benefits of an extended service life, high power transmission efficiency, more effective traction power transfer, and a compact machine design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 27, 2021
    Date of Patent: March 5, 2024
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Sessions
  • Patent number: 11835132
    Abstract: This disclosure relates to methods and apparatuses of employing belts for an angular drive. A twisted geometry is applied to a first free span of the belt. A sheave supports the first free span of the belt at a first extremity of the first free span and sheave is at least one of positioning and orienting the rotating sheave or the driven sheave so as to misalign a geometric centerline of the first free span of belt at a given fleet angle with respect to a second extremity of the first free span.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: December 5, 2023
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Sessions
  • Patent number: 11746860
    Abstract: A belt drive mechanism which can be used to pay out or draw belt to or from a belt actuated system (or belt driven system). The mechanism features a self-winding spool which can automatically wind or unwind portions of the belt as they are withdrawn from, or fed to the belt actuated system. A second rotational axle (idler shaft), with one or more sheaves (e.g., pulley's or rollers) can be rotationally coupled to a capstan via a belt, and can be utilized to drive additional mechanisms in the belt drive mechanism, such as a winding mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2023
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventors: Blake Sessions, Toomas Sepp
  • Patent number: 11654816
    Abstract: The disclosure provides apparatuses, systems, and methods for enabling lift cylinders within rail-type liftgates to perform both lifting and closing motions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 30, 2020
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2023
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Sessions
  • Patent number: 11535498
    Abstract: Flat belt apparatuses and methods are provided where one or more cords in the flat belt are tensioned or pre-tensioned to extend the service life of the flat belt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 17, 2019
    Date of Patent: December 27, 2022
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Sessions
  • Patent number: 11255416
    Abstract: Disclosed herein are methods, systems, and components for the design of a flat belt based block and tackle design that is theoretically free of fleet angles. A mapping technique forms a set of planar positions for the centerlines of the free spans that provides a plurality of sheave geometries, which reside on a common axis and spans that are free of fleet angles at the sheave engagement interfaces. This permits the use of high-performing flat belts in high-reduction (e.g., 6:1 or greater) block and tackle topologies, with the principal benefits of an extended service life, high power transmission efficiency, more effective traction power transfer, and a compact machine design.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2018
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2022
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Sessions
  • Patent number: 9982762
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides differential drive assemblies and methods of making and operating differential drive assemblies. The differential drive assembly includes a rotor having a rotor axis about which the rotor is configured to rotate. The rotor has a peripheral wall portion encircling the rotor axis that is positioned a varying distance radially outward from the rotor axis. The differential drive assembly also includes a base coupled to the rotor. That includes a first plurality of pulleys and a carriage movably coupled to the base that includes a second plurality of pulleys and is movable with respect to the base. The differential drive assembly includes a rope wound about the rotor. The rope extends from the peripheral wall portion of the rotor to the second plurality of pulleys. The rope extends from the second plurality of pulleys to the first plurality of pulleys to form a continuous rope circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 31, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2018
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Sessions
  • Patent number: 9121481
    Abstract: The present disclosure provides differential drive assemblies and methods of making and operating differential drive assemblies. The differential drive assembly includes a rotor having a rotor axis about which the rotor is configured to rotate. The rotor has a peripheral wall portion encircling the rotor axis that is positioned a varying distance radially outward from the rotor axis. The differential drive assembly also includes a base coupled to the rotor. That includes a first plurality of pulleys and a carriage movably coupled to the base that includes a second plurality of pulleys and is movable with respect to the base. The differential drive assembly includes a rope wound about the rotor. The rope extends from the peripheral wall portion of the rotor to the second plurality of pulleys. The rope extends from the second plurality of pulleys to the first plurality of pulleys to form a continuous rope circuit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 24, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 1, 2015
    Assignee: Liftwave, Inc.
    Inventor: Blake Sessions