With Projections Or Apertures On Drum For Engagement With Complementary Structural Formations On Cable Patents (Class 254/372)
  • Patent number: 6450482
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting device for raising, lowering and pulling loads. The lifting device includes a hand chain wheel which can be turned in both directions by a hand chain. The hand chain wheel is coupled to a load wheel, which moves a load chain and a load suspended thereon. The hand chain wheel is covered by a rotatably supported cover with chain guide openings. The cover is rotatably secured by a supporting metal sheet which is located on a side plate of the housing that accommodates the load chain wheel. A radially outwardly oriented guide disposed on the cover engages with a slide ring of the supporting metal sheet. The slide ring has a central recess for the cover.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Date of Patent: September 17, 2002
    Assignee: Yale Industrial Products GmbH
    Inventor: Detlef Struck
  • Publication number: 20020121633
    Abstract: A lifting gear, which is provided with a load-sheave that shifts a sinuate body in the longitudinal direction thereof and a rotary body that rotates the load-sheave, and in which the rotary body include a power connecting section that can be coupled to an electric driver, wherein the load-sheave is driven by the electric driver that is not incorporated in the lifting gear.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 2, 2002
    Publication date: September 5, 2002
    Inventor: Masaru Fujikawa
  • Patent number: 6427982
    Abstract: The hoist apparatus includes a chain for raising or lowering an object; an upper hook member; a hoist body member suspended by the upper hook member; a lower hook member for hoisting the object mounted to the hoist body member at a bottom end thereof for hoisting the object; a pneumatic motor disposed in the hoist body member for winding the chain up or down; and a control unit for driving or suspending the hoist body member; wherein a distance of the chain between the control unit and the lower hook member is set to be variable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 10, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2002
    Assignee: Toku Pneumatic Tool Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Sugimachi
  • Publication number: 20020084449
    Abstract: A device for heaving in and paying out a chain by means of a hydraulic cylinder (5) which by means of gripping devices (2) engages the chain (11, 12) and lifts or lowers the chain a given distance while the locking device (10) is deactivated. The structure comprises a frame (8) provided with a lower locking device (10), a chain wheel (6) guiding the chain (11, 12), and an upper gripping device (2) mounted in a bracket (1) which is connected to the rod head of the hydraulic cylinder (5) and the central axle (7) of the chain wheel (6). The lower locking device is formed by two pawls (10) which are pivotally mounted on separate pins. These pawls (10) engage under a chain link (12) and hold it securely. The upper gripping device is formed by at least one pawl (2) which, together with a chain wheel (6) having pockets for the chain (11,12), engages under a vertical chain link (11) .
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2001
    Publication date: July 4, 2002
    Inventors: Jon Hovik, Knut T. Siring
  • Publication number: 20020030182
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting device for raising, lowering and pulling loads. The lifting device includes a hand chain wheel which can be turned in both directions by a hand chain. The hand chain wheel is coupled to a load wheel, which moves a load chain and a load suspended thereon. The hand chain wheel is covered by a rotatably supported cover with chain guide openings. The cover is rotatably secured by a supporting metal sheet which is located on a side plate of the housing that accommodates the load chain wheel. A radially outwardly oriented guide disposed on the cover engages with a slide ring of the supporting metal sheet. The slide ring has a central recess for the cover.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 14, 2002
    Inventor: Detlef Struck
  • Publication number: 20020027222
    Abstract: The invention relates to a lifting device with a housing having a drive wheel, a friction disk brake, a load wheel and a gear arranged sequentially in an axial direction inside the housing. The drive shaft extends through the friction disk brake and the load wheel. A torque is transmitted from the drive wheel to the load wheel. The drive wheel cannot move axially on the drive shaft, but can rotate over a limited range relative to the drive shaft. The drive wheel can rotate in a limited fashion relative to a brake disk, which is axially moveable on a threaded section of the drive shaft and can be pressed with the help of a friction disk against a pressure disk that is attached to the housing. The drive wheel forms a component of the friction disk brake.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 13, 2001
    Publication date: March 7, 2002
    Inventor: Detlef Struck
  • Patent number: 6286816
    Abstract: A chain hoist, includes a chain which is trained over first and second sprockets defining a movement path for the chain, with the first sprocket being connected to a load-bearing member, and with the second sprocket being part of a drive unit for operating the chain. In order to effectively prevent chain vibrations caused by the so-called polygon effect, the chain hoist includes a damping unit which is positioned in the movement path of the chain for damping vibration.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 1999
    Date of Patent: September 11, 2001
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventors: Karl Liebig, Oliver Moll, Michael Schubert
  • Patent number: 6224039
    Abstract: A chain block which can ensure free rotation of a hand wheel when the hand wheel is rotated in a hoisting direction in the state in which an overload protection mechanism is in operation and also can ensure the lowering of a load when the hand wheel is rotated in a lowering direction. The chain block includes an one-way mechanism that permits the hand wheel to freely rotate in the hoisting direction with respect to the first hub of the hand wheel and restricts the hand wheel freely rotating in the lowering direction. The one-way mechanism is composed of a spring and a pin received in a recess and a receiving portion formed in the inner periphery of the boss of the hand wheel and forming therein a slanted surface for guiding the pin received in the receiving portion to the inner periphery of the boss when the hand wheel is rotated in the hoisting direction and a retaining surface for retaining the pin in the inside of the receiving portion when the hand wheel is rotated in the lowering direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 19, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 1, 2001
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosiaki Okamoto, Takasi Uesugi
  • Patent number: 6209852
    Abstract: A chain hoist having a casing into which and with respect to which a chain travels is provided with an externally mounted position encoder assembly. A releasable connector, such as a ratchet strap, is employed to firmly but removably couple the position encoder assembly housing externally on the chain hoist casing. The releasable connector holds the position encoder assembly housing in a fixed position relative to the chain hoist casing. The position encoder assembly has a chain gear that is rotatably mounted relative to the position encoder assembly housing proximate to the chain access opening in the chain hoist casing. The precision encoder assembly chain gear engages the portion of the chain that is maintained under tension at a location externally of the chain hoist casing and rotates as the chain travels relative to the chain hoist casing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 24, 1999
    Date of Patent: April 3, 2001
    Assignee: George & Goldberg Design Assoc.
    Inventors: David W. George, Christopher E. Guth, Ivan J. Morgan, Glenn R. Bracegirdle, Thomas G. Booth, Richard J. Romano, Robert A. Fry
  • Patent number: 6199830
    Abstract: The invention relates to a chain elevator comprising an elevating chain (1) made up of links (2) attached to each other, whereby the planes formed by adjacent links are primarily at a 90° angle in relation to each other; an elevating element (3) having a driven chain gear (7) arranged to it, the elevating chain (1) being led to couple with the driven chain gear from the fixing point (9) of the fixed end (8) of the elevating chain located above the driven chain gear (7); and a driving chain gear (100) located above the driven chain gear (7), the elevating chain being led to couple with the driving chain gear from the driven chain gear (7).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 24, 2000
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2001
    Assignee: KCI Konecranes International PLC
    Inventor: Tapani Kiiski
  • Patent number: 6062543
    Abstract: A hand operated chain block which is capable of fixing an end of a load chain of unloading side and also ensuring smooth wind up and down operation of the load chain, while reducing the size of chain block. In the hand operated chain block, the fixing pin is located at a position in a marginal portion around each side plate such that an interval between a chain split and a rotation trail of a tip of an end portion on the loading side of the first link of the load chain rotatably supported by the fixing pin can be made larger than a width of a link of the load chain, and also that when a full length of the load chain of loading side is wound down, an end portion on the loading side of the second link next to the first link can abut with the end portion on the unloading side of the chain guide.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2000
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eikiti Kobayasi, Takasi Uesugi
  • Patent number: 6032928
    Abstract: To provide a hand operated chain block capable of being downsized while enabling a hand chain to be easily wound over a hand wheel without disassembling the hand wheel from a chain block body when the hand chain is seated in the hand wheel, a hooking groove for the hand chain to be hooked is formed in an outer plate of the hand wheel having an inner plate and the outer plate between which the hand chain is fitted. For winding the hand chain over the hand wheel, it is only necessary that after the hand chain is hooked by the hooking groove, the hand wheel is turned.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 7, 2000
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosiaki Okamoto, Takasi Uesugi, Eikiti Kobayasi
  • Patent number: 6007054
    Abstract: To provide a hand operated chain block capable of facilitating the fitting of the brake cover to the related side plate without worsening the appearance of the chain block, a brake cover is provided, at a marginal portion therearound, with a flange portion extending outwardly in the same direction as one side plate to abut with the one side plate, and the flange portion is provided, at a marginal portion therearound, with recesses fittable to the stay bolts. The recesses are brought into engagement with the related stay bolts by fitting the recesses to the related stay bolts, thus enabling the brake cover to be easily fixed in place and also be prevented from being disengaged from the one side plate accidentally.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 4, 1998
    Date of Patent: December 28, 1999
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Eikiti Kobayasi, Yosiaki Okamoto
  • Patent number: 5975203
    Abstract: Apparatus and method for pulling or inserting jointed pipe sections (18) having upset ends (20) within a well utilizing a coiled tubing injector (26). The coiled tubing injector (26) has a pair of opposed endless chains (50, 52) including gripper blocks (58) for gripping the pipe sections (18). An axial gap (G) is provided in chains (50, 52) between adjacent gripper blocks (58) to receive the upset ends (20). To align accurately upset ends (20) with gap (G), a sensing mechanism (100, FIGS. 11 and 12) is provided to sense the location of upset end (20) and a sensing mechanism (110, 112, FIGS. 13 and 14) is provided to sense the location of gap (G). An operator in response to signals from the sensors accurately aligns upset ends (20) with gap (G).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 1998
    Date of Patent: November 2, 1999
    Assignee: Schlumberger Technology Corporation
    Inventors: Bryan K. Payne, L. Michael McKee, Michael L. Smith
  • Patent number: 5971364
    Abstract: In order that an operating lever for a hoist and traction apparatus is combined as a unit to ensure the smooth operations so as to provide an improved workability with achieving a downsizing, a driving member of the hoist and traction apparatus is provided with a non-circular configured part, while also the operating lever is provided with a ratchet wheel having a non-circular fitting hole engageable with the non-circular configured part to be non-rotatable relative thereto and a transmission tooth around its outer periphery; a feed pawl engageable with the ratchet wheel; and a switching mechanism for selectively switching the feed pawl to a normal engagement position, a reverse engagement position, and a free rotation position at which the feed pawl is not engaged with the ratchet wheel in either of the normal and reverse directions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 1998
    Date of Patent: October 26, 1999
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yosio Ueno, Eikiti Kobayasi
  • Patent number: 5899441
    Abstract: In an electric chain hoist, there is a slipping clutch in the drive line which connects the electric motor to the chain sprocket, the slipping clutch acting as an overload safeguard. A holding brake is also provided to hold the drive line in the braked state when the motor is switched off. The brake exerts its braking action primarily on that part of the drive line which lies between the slipping clutch and the chain sprocket. To prevent the slipping clutch from entering the slipping state when the motor is switched on before the brake has been released to a sufficient extent, the brake is designed in such a way that it acts on both parts of the drive line.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: May 4, 1999
    Assignees: R. Stahl Fordertechnik GmbH, KCI Konecranes International PLC
    Inventors: Ismo Kuivamaki, Helmut Noller
  • Patent number: 5853165
    Abstract: A chain hoist contains a slipping overload clutch in the drive line which connects the electric motor to the chain sprocket. This slipping clutch has two clutch halves which are in frictional engagement with one another and are preloaded into frictional engagement with one another by a spring. A holding brake is furthermore provided and this holding brake acts against the clutch disks so as to increase the frictional grip between the clutch disks in the applied state. This ensures that when the hoist is started and the disengagement of the brake is delayed, the slipping clutch does not enter the slipping state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 27, 1996
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1998
    Assignees: R. Stahl Fordertechnik GmbH, KCI Konecranes International PLC
    Inventor: Ismo Kuivamaki
  • Patent number: 5647576
    Abstract: The most commonly used spring type chain lever hoists suffer from a major drawback in that, if the chain is drawn quickly over the load sheave while it is set for free running operation, the brake will automatically be applied and the free running movement terminated. Similarly, if a light load is suspended from the chain, the weight of the load may be insufficient to activate the brake with the result that the load will be wound down dangerously quickly, leading on occasion to accidents. The present invention is designed to resolve these potentially fatal flaws by enabling a hub, which screws freely onto a spindle in the conventional manner, to be rotated through a few degrees into a prescribed lock position relative to the spindle and then locked there either temporarily or permanently as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 18, 1996
    Date of Patent: July 15, 1997
    Assignee: H.H.H. Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Iwao Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5641151
    Abstract: The free-running operation of a load sheave of a chain lever hoist is assured by an assist mechanism that keeps the relative position between a hub and a spindle of the hoist at a brake inactive position, when the screwing control position of the hub relative to the spindle has been shifted from a winding operation position to a free-running operation position. operator can easily switch the hoist to the free-running operation made by slightly turning a hub knob and a spindle knob by hand. Such an operation eliminates steps such as holding the chain by hand, or turning the spindle while the hoist lever is engaged with the hub. The above operation frees an operator from getting his hands dirty with the chain, and permits an immediate switching to the free-running operation. The use of indicators allows the operator to recognize the free-running operation setting at a glance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 3, 1995
    Date of Patent: June 24, 1997
    Assignee: H.H.H. Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Kozo Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5586752
    Abstract: A manual chain block having a hand wheel and hand chain on one axial end and a load wheel and load chain on the other axial end. A no-load side chain guide (44) of the load chain guides (43, 44)is provided with an anchoring portion (45) for anchoring a no-load end portion of a load chain (4). An anchoring portion (45) is provided with a load receiving portion (46) for receiving a load acting on the no-load side end portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 5, 1994
    Date of Patent: December 24, 1996
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Company Limited
    Inventors: Yasuo Wada, Yoshio Ueno
  • Patent number: 5566925
    Abstract: In a manual chain block with a driving shaft a wheel cover 15 is provided with a radial bearing 18 for supporting the driving shaft 7 at one axial end portion. The driving shaft 7 has an actuating mechanism side shaft portion for supporting an actuating mechanism 20 extended so as to be supported by the radial bearing 18, so that shaft deflection can be decreased at the time of actuating operation of the actuating mechanism 20.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: October 22, 1996
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Company Limited
    Inventors: Yasuo Wada, Yoshio Ueno, Munenobu Honda
  • Patent number: 5556077
    Abstract: An air lifting and balancing unit including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a ball screw affixed to the piston, a ball nut mounted for rotation on the ball screw, a drum mounted on the ball nut, a chain driven by the drum, and centrifugally actuated brakes mounted on the drum for stopping rotation of the drum when the drum exceeds a predetermined acceleration either due to a loss of load or to a loss of air pressure applied to the piston, and a pneumatic circuit in communication with the cylinder for providing air pressure thereto which applies a force on the piston which is at a substantially constant incremental value in opposition to the force exerted by the load applied to the piston through the chain and the drum and the ball screw regardless of variations in said air pressure to thereby cause the speed of the chain to remain substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 20, 1995
    Date of Patent: September 17, 1996
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Robert O. Braesch, Peter L. Hong, Thomas A. Mefferd, Michael D. Olson
  • Patent number: 5544863
    Abstract: In a manual chain block having a load sheave and an actuating mechanism with a cover 15 thereover there is provided a cover holding member 50 having side surfaces 51, 52 which define lower opening edges of introducing openings 15b, 15c for a hand chain 40 and a cover receiving portion 55 which is located between the introducing openings 15b, 15c to receive the wheel cover 15. The cover holding member 50 is tightened by stay bolts 12 onto a side plate 1 of the hoist together with the wheel cover 15.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: August 13, 1996
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshio Ueno, Yasuo Wada
  • Patent number: 5538222
    Abstract: The most commonly used spring type chain lever hoists suffer from a major drawback in that, if the chain is drawn quickly over the load sheave while it is set for free running operation, the brake will automatically be applied and the free running movement terminated. Similarly, if a light load is suspended from the chain, the weight of the load may be insufficient to activate the brake with the result that the load will be wound down dangerously quickly, leading on occasion to accidents. The present invention is designed to resolve these potentially fatal flaws by enabling a hub, which screws freely onto a spindle in the conventional manner, to be rotated through a few degrees into a prescribed lock position relative to the spindle and then locked there either temporarily or permanently as required.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 1995
    Date of Patent: July 23, 1996
    Assignee: H.H.H. Manufacturing Co.
    Inventor: Iwao Kataoka
  • Patent number: 5535988
    Abstract: If the load applied on the load sheave is small, the pressing drive member contacts tightly with the friction members to make secure the braking of rotation of the drive shaft, so that the small load is prevented from moving downward by its own gravity, and moreover the operation wheel is engaged with and held in the rotation limiting member spline-coupled with the drive shaft so as to be free to idle even in a no-load state, and a spring for pressing the operation wheel to the rotation limiting member is inserted between the outer end surface of the operation wheel and the spring retainer held on the drive shaft projecting from the rotation limiting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 27, 1994
    Date of Patent: July 16, 1996
    Assignee: Vital Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5520368
    Abstract: An air lifting and balancing unit including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a ball screw affixed to the piston, a ball nut mounted for rotation on the ball screw, a drum mounted on the ball nut, a chain driven by the drum, and centrifugally actuated brakes mounted on the drum for stopping rotation of the drum when the drum exceeds a predetermined acceleration either due to a loss of load or to a loss of air pressure applied to the piston, and a pneumatic circuit in communication with the cylinder for providing air pressure thereto which applies a force on the piston which is at a substantially constant incremental value in opposition to the force exerted by the load applied to the piston through the chain and the drum and the ball screw regardless of variations in said air pressure to thereby cause the speed of the chain to remain substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 13, 1995
    Date of Patent: May 28, 1996
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Robert O. Braesch, Thomas A. Mefferd, Michael D. Olson
  • Patent number: 5439200
    Abstract: An air lifting and balancing unit including a cylinder, a piston in the cylinder, a ball screw affixed to the piston, a ball nut mounted for rotation on the ball screw, a drum mounted on the ball nut, a chain driven by the drum, and centrifugally actuated brakes mounted on the drum for stopping rotation of the drum when the drum exceeds a predetermined acceleration either due to a loss of load or to a loss of air pressure applied to the piston, and a pneumatic circuit in communication with the cylinder for providing air pressure thereto which applies a force on the piston which is at a substantially constant incremental value in opposition to the force exerted by the load applied to the piston through the chain and the drum and the ball screw regardless of variations in said air pressure to thereby cause the speed of the chain to remain substantially constant.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 10, 1993
    Date of Patent: August 8, 1995
    Assignee: Columbus McKinnon Corporation
    Inventors: Robert O. Braesch, Peter L. Hong, Thomas A. Mefferd, Michael D. Olson
  • Patent number: 5402985
    Abstract: A single sheave 4 rope winch 1 particularly suitable for use with an anchor warp 2. The sheave 4 is fixed on a shaft 5 rotatably mounted in a base 3 adapted for mounting on a deck of a vessel. An electric motor 6 operates through a gear-drive 7 to rotate the sheave 4 about a vertical axis. Warp feed-in and feed-out means 8 and 9 direct a warp 2 to and from the sheave 4. Warp guide means 19 control a warp 2 during its tracking about with or through the sheave 4, the guide means 19 including a fixed and shorter section 19a and a longer articulated arm 27 section 19b. The arm 27 is arcuately shaped to extend about a sector of the sheave 4 and is biased by spring 26 radially inward such that an inner face 24 thereof impinges onto a warp 4 tracking in that sector of the sheave 4. In a preferred embodiment the inner impinging face 24 of the arm 27 incorporates a compound curvature, the radius of curvature increasing toward a free end of the arm 27.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 23, 1993
    Date of Patent: April 4, 1995
    Assignee: Maxwell Winches Limited
    Inventors: Peter L. Owens, David J. Ironside, Graham J. Marsh
  • Patent number: 5316267
    Abstract: A lever type traction machine including a pair of chain holders for holding a chain entering, between side plates, towards the load sheave. Each of the chain holders is provided with a chain-swelling (slacking) restraint portion for preventing the drain from slacking at the rear of the chain holders. The machine is especially advantageous in that the chain will not become entangled or slackened, even if the traction machine is operated up-side down or on its side.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 9, 1992
    Date of Patent: May 31, 1994
    Assignee: Elephant Chain Block Company Limited
    Inventors: Yoshio Nishi, Haruo Kubota, Yoshio Ueno
  • Patent number: 5314166
    Abstract: A which winch can permit free-fall is disclosed, which includes a shaft adapted to be driven by a source of power, a first cone connected about the shaft to be driven therewith, and a second cone co-axial with the first cone and movable axially relative thereto. The second cone can be caused to assume one of two axial positions relative to the first cone, the arrangement being such that a rope or chain passing between the two cones can be driven by the winch when the second cone is in one of its two positions and can free-fall when the second cone is in the other of its two positions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 1993
    Date of Patent: May 24, 1994
    Assignee: Muir Engineering Pty. Limited
    Inventor: Robert J. Muir
  • Patent number: 5275379
    Abstract: A wildcat chain hoist for lifting anchor chain where the chain length may have different size chain links. The wildcat chain hoist continuously lifts the chain regardless of the different link sizes by engaging alternate chain links defined as horizontal links and applying a pulling force to them. The wildcat chain hoist includes a drum constructed of two identical halves having whelps for guiding the vertical links. The halves are joined together to provide a v-shaped cross section. There are pockets extending from the drum hub up to the perimeter with the pockets increasing in size toward the perimeter to gage and guide the chain links into the proper pocket size. Each wildcat chain drum half has a flange rim which moves or adjusts to close the pockets on the chain links to pull on the chain, and to open to release the chain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 14, 1992
    Date of Patent: January 4, 1994
    Inventor: Roger W. McAleer
  • Patent number: 5271608
    Abstract: A ship mounted winch is used to retrieve a continuous member for the retrieval of an anchor, a fishing net or the like. The continuous member is handled equally well whether it is a rope, a chain, a cable, or the like, even if the continuous member comprises sequential sections, for example, of rope, chain and cable connected by knots and other irregularities. This is accomplished by an annular series of notches on the central periphery of the winch drum and a central groove that transects them. Further, a detecting device detects markers attached to the continuous member that mark the end of the portion of the continuous member to be retrieved and stop the winch automatically at that point. Also, a stopping device prevents the winch drum from being pulled backwards by the weight of the retrieved object when the winch is stopped.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 4, 1991
    Date of Patent: December 21, 1993
    Assignee: Nikko Kizai Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Shigeru Kubono
  • Patent number: 5263688
    Abstract: A differential lift hoist apparatus includes an endless roller-and-link chain and upper and lower rotatably mounted spaced sprockets. The chain includes a pair of vertically-extending side-by-side loop sections. Each loop section has outer and inner leg portions and a lower bight portion interconnecting them. The chain also includes an upper bight section which interconnects the outer leg portions and a lower bight section which interconnects the inner leg portions. A group of the upper sprockets entrain and support the upper bight section, whereas a single upper sprocket spaced below the group of upper sprockets entrains and supports the lower bight section. The lower sprockets entrain and are supported by the respective lower bight portions of the chain loop sections.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 29, 1992
    Date of Patent: November 23, 1993
    Inventor: Leonard D. Krueger
  • Patent number: 5238226
    Abstract: In an unloaded state, by pulling the pressing drive member apart from the pressure bearing member by moving to the operation wheel side, the load sheave is allowed to rotate freely without disengaging the pinion of the drive shaft and the load sheave. In this lever operated hoist, at this time, since the conical friction member to be engaged with the pressing drive member in the rotating direction, and the intermediate member spline-coupled on the drive shaft adjacently to this conical friction member respectively have engaging parts to be engaged with each other in the rotating direction, disposed at their confronting ends, these engaging parts are engaged with each other when the load sheave rotates freely, and the contact of the torque transmitting member and other constituent members is effectively prevented, so that the load sheave is permitted to idle continously and smoothly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 14, 1991
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Assignee: Vital Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5238227
    Abstract: A clamp on combination chain and rope hauler wheel formed from two semi-circles half wheels having an outer periphery adaptable for gripping the links of a chain and a rope which are removably clamp together and gripping clamp around a drum. The gripping connection to the drum is adjustable to grip a range of different drum diameters of a drum winch.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 1992
    Date of Patent: August 24, 1993
    Inventor: Jack V. White
  • Patent number: 5156377
    Abstract: A lever-operated hoist having a structure for continuously lowering the lower hook side chain and end side chain of load chains in no-load state comprising a pressure drive member movably screwed in the axial direction on a drive shaft, a rotation limiting member spline-fitted on the drive shaft adjacently to the pressure drive member, and an operation wheel rotatably disposed on the rotation limiting member, a first projection and a second projection extending in the radial direction are disposed at specified intervals in the circumferential direction at the outer end face in the axial direction of the pressure driving member, two circumferential spaces are divided and formed by them, and the rotation limiting protuberance of the rotating limiting member and the pressure release protuberance of the operating wheel are projecting into these two spaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1992
    Assignee: Vital Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5149058
    Abstract: A lever-operated hoist with an operation lever support structure capable of operating smoothly, especially in the horizontal position. The operation lever has an inner tubular part which is slidably and rotatably supported in or on the a tubular part of the brake cover. A tubular assembly member is radially inward of the innermost of these tubular parts and has flanges at the ends to arrest and hold the tubular parts against movement in the axial direction of a drive shaft of the hoist.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 20, 1990
    Date of Patent: September 22, 1992
    Assignee: Vital Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5125629
    Abstract: A hand-operated chain block which is lightweight and simplified in the structure of the hand chain wheel portion, and safe and smooth in the hand chain operation is provided with a hand chain wheel cover for covering the upper, lower and front parts of the hand chain wheel, and a hand chain guide cover for covering the sides of the hand chain wheel such that the entire circumference of the hand chain wheel is covered. The hand chain guide cover is a one-piece body folded and formed from one metal plate, comprising drooping parts for guiding the UP side and DOWN side of the hand chain, and a bottom part for coupling the lower ends of the drooping parts. Upper support parts are formed in the upper end portions of the drooping parts and are inserted and supported on the upper stays, and a lower support part formed in the middle of the bottom part of the hand chain guide cover is positioned and supported on the lower stay.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 29, 1990
    Date of Patent: June 30, 1992
    Assignee: Vital Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5088694
    Abstract: A lever type hoist the lower hook of which can be positionally adjusted with a continuous lowering of the load chain on the end side under the no-load condition.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 18, 1992
    Assignee: Vital Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 5007617
    Abstract: A hand-operated chain block having a hand chain wheel portion light in weight and simplified in construction and which permits safe and smooth hand chain operation. A hand chain wheel cover is mounted on a plurality of stays disposed on side plates of a chain block body in such a manner as to cover the upper, lower and front portions of the hand chain wheel, and a pair of hand chain guide plates are mounted on an upper pair of stays to cover the side portions of the hand chain wheel, thereby covering substantially the entire periphery of the hand chain wheel. Each of the hand chain guide plates is formed of one metal plate in a folded pattern, and the pivotal support portion at its upper end part is inserted into the upper stay, and the hand chain guide plate is oscillatably suspended and supported, while a hand chain wound around the hand chain wheel is inserted through a hand chain guide portion formed at the lower end portion so as to be guided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 1989
    Date of Patent: April 16, 1991
    Assignee: Vital Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yosaku Nishimura, Glenn S. Smith
  • Patent number: 4948098
    Abstract: A lever-operated hoist chain equipped with a cargo chain slip-out preventive mechanism. A slip-out preventive member linked to the unloaded side end part of a link chain in a hoist chain is made of a metal block excelling in impact resistance, and has a width greater than the interval between both side plates of the main body frame. Therefore, whether the load applied on the cargo lifting hook is large or small, if the let-off of the link chain unexpectedly exceeds the limit and the free end part side is excessively drawn out to the load side having the hook, the slip-out preventive member abuts against the outer circumference of the both side plates of the main body frame, and securely blocks the slip-out of the link chain free end part, so that the safety of the work is guaranteed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 7, 1990
    Date of Patent: August 14, 1990
    Assignee: Vital Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yosaku Nishimura
  • Patent number: 4915357
    Abstract: A device in connection with an anchor winch for pleasure craft, said winch comprising a drive pulley (5) for an anchor cable (4). In said device part of the circumference of the drive pulley (5) is spanned by lifting member (21) which is rotatable about the axis of said drive pulley and is slip coupled (17-19) with said pulley (5). Stops (22-24) are provided to limit the rotational movement of lifting member (21) between a position outside the sector of engagement of the cable on the drive pulley, and a positive with the lifting member (21) in the sector of engagement and lifting the cable out of drive cooperation with the drive pulley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 18, 1988
    Date of Patent: April 10, 1990
    Assignee: Industri Lambertseter A/S
    Inventor: John Valentinsen
  • Patent number: 4862821
    Abstract: In an anchoring system for a floating vessel which includes an anchor line comprising chain cable, a chain locker and a windlass having a chain wheel that conveys the chain cable during paying out from the chain locker, a mechanism is positioned between the chain locker and chain wheel to back-tension the chain during paying out. The mechanism has an axis along which the chain is passed with every second links oriented in a given plane. Paired brake shoes are positioned to either side of the plane and define braking surfaces of sufficient extent along the axis of chain movement that a given chain link and an immediately succeeding link of similar orientation can be simultaneously engaged during their movement to provide a continuous retarding effect. One pair of braking shoes is pivotally mounted on an appropriate support structure and urged with hydraulic cylinders towards the other pair thereby causing the brake shoes to engage the opposing faces chain link.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 1988
    Date of Patent: September 5, 1989
    Assignee: John T. Hepburn, Limited
    Inventor: Ronald Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 4841898
    Abstract: An anchoring system for a floating structure is described. The anchoring system is of the type which employs a combination anchor line consisting of a lower length of chain cable connected to an anchor and an upper length of wire rope and which involves disconnection of the wire rope from the chain cable during paying out and retrieval of the anchor line. A winch and windlass mounted on the floating structure serve to separately haul in and pay out the wire rope and chain cable, respectively. The windlass has a length of lead chain which can be used to lead the chain cable over a chain wheel to the chain locker. An overwide chain link terminates the chain cable, and together with a pair of detachable links permits the load of the chain cable to be transferred directly from the winch to the windlass, during paying out and retrieval, without the requirement for an intermediate chain hanger.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 8, 1986
    Date of Patent: June 27, 1989
    Assignee: John T. Hepburn, Limited
    Inventor: Ronald Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 4834341
    Abstract: A hoisting means comprises a rotary member for winding on or interlockingly guiding weight suspension means like a cable, a chain or similar means, drive means for the rotary member, first brake means for indirectly inducing a braking action onto the rotary member for suppressing a movement of the rotary member in the winding-off direction under influence of the load, and further comprises second brake means directly acting upon the rotary member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 6, 1987
    Date of Patent: May 30, 1989
    Assignee: Putzer-Defries Winden- und Hebetechnik GmbH
    Inventor: Leo A. Baum
  • Patent number: 4792323
    Abstract: Chain guide for and in relation to a chain or sprocket wheel and being made of a pair of complimentary guide shells made as press parts and having when put together a pair of vertically extending cross shaped grooves; guide noses extend above the grooves and facing each other across a narrowing closable gap and above a shaft and groove bottom portion of the sprocket wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 21, 1987
    Date of Patent: December 20, 1988
    Assignee: Mannesmann AG
    Inventor: Heinz Flaig
  • Patent number: 4722293
    Abstract: An integrated winch and windlass for hauling in and paying out a mooring line which consists of wire rope serially connected to chain cable is described. The integrated system has a pair of traction winch drums for conveying the wire rope, and a chain wheel for conveying the chain cable. The chain wheel is coaxially mounted with one traction winch drum, and has a wire rope groove with a groove diameter substantially the same as that of the traction winch drums. A sheave directs wire rope between one of the drums and the chain wheel, and is so positioned that a wrap of wire rope is formed about the chain wheel whenever the system is operating on wire rope exclusively. A drive mechanism is provided for rotating the traction winch drums and chain wheel, including a common drive shaft, and a clutch mechanism which permits the traction winch drums and the chain wheel to be located simultaneously or separately.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 24, 1985
    Date of Patent: February 2, 1988
    Assignee: John T. Hepburn, Limited
    Inventors: Derek Foster, Ronald Ballantyne
  • Patent number: 4715583
    Abstract: A tensioning device for use with an endless traverse which is longitudinally adjustable in both directions responsive to a rotational drive. The rotational drive includes two driving gears which are each selectively coupled with a drive shaft so that when one of the driving gears is positively driven, the other driving gear is permitted to rotate freely. The traverse changes from one driving gear to the other by passing from between a pair of overlying side walls and over a flange. Elongation resulting from strain of the traverse is continuously led out of the system so that blocking or braking of the traverse is avoided. The tensioning device is especially suitable for the operation of strip curtains or conventional curtains, as well as for curtain systems with large and heavy traverses.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 8, 1985
    Date of Patent: December 29, 1987
    Assignee: K. Bratschi, Silent Gliss
    Inventor: Hans Grutzner
  • Patent number: 4646805
    Abstract: A chain winch 10 having a sprocket wheel 14 of polygonal cross-section with flat faces 32 dimensioned in dependence on the dimensions of a link chain to be used therewith and having pin formations 36 for engaging between or in chain links. The winch includes a self latching pawl 48 engageable with the chain links and a braking mechanism 16 for controlled unwinding when required in use. The winch is simple and inexpensive and the sprocket tolerant of chain dimensions so that it can be used with uncalibrated chain. This winch, amongst other things, has application for permanent fitting to a tire chain for tensioning it on to a tire.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 1984
    Date of Patent: March 3, 1987
    Inventor: Hans-Otto Dohmeier
  • Patent number: 4605111
    Abstract: A hoist includes a shaft driven by external force, a driving shaft connected to the shaft, a reduction gear train for transmitting rotation of the driving shaft to a load sheave, a mechanical brake assembly in the reduction gear train, and an overload safety device having a clutch mechanism capable of transmitting torque larger in driving said load sheave in a winding-off direction than that in a winding-up direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 19, 1983
    Date of Patent: August 12, 1986
    Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Kito
    Inventors: Masayuki Ohno, Kazuo Maeda