Compact hoist system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10183850-B2
Application number	US-201314133652-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 19, 2013
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	Jan 22, 2019
Grant date	Jan 22, 2019

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.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A cable management system for a hoist system, the hoist system configured to be supported by a fixed structural member via an elongate member, the hoist system configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the fixed structural member, the cable management system comprising:
a guide bar having an opening configured to slidably receive the elongate member;
a cable configured to be electrically coupled to the hoist system to provide electrical power to the hoist system; and
a first guide connected to a first end of the guide bar and rotatable with respect to the guide bar, the first guide being connected to the cable to inhibit movement of the cable relative to the first guide, the first guide directing the cable at least one half of a revolution around the elongate member.

2. The cable management system of claim 1 , further comprising:
a base for supporting a coiled collection of the cable, wherein a height of the coiled collection increases as the hoist system moves from the extended position to the retracted position, and wherein the first guide is adapted to guide a position of the cable to form a substantially cylindrical shape as the hoist system moves from the extended position to the retracted position.

3. The cable management system of claim 1 , wherein the hoist system is configured to move from the extended position to the retracted position when the elongate member is wound onto a drum of the hoist system.

4. The cable management system of claim 1 , wherein the cable is a first cable, the cable management system further comprising:
a second cable configured to be electrically coupled to the hoist system to provide electrical power to the hoist system; and
a second guide connected to a second end of the guide bar opposite the first end of the guide bar and rotatable with respect to the guide bar, the second guide being connected to the second cable, the first and second guides positioning the first and second cables in a substantially double-helical arrangement.

5. The cable management system of claim 1 , wherein the cable management system is configured to be coupled to a pair of elongate members, and wherein the hoist system is configured to be supported by the fixed structural member via the pair of elongate members, the cable management system further comprising:
a plurality of the guide bars spaced along the pair of elongate members, the guide bars being chained together to limit a maximum separation between adjacent guide bars during operation.

6. The cable management system of claim 5 , wherein the maximum separation between adjacent guide bars is limited to eighteen inches.

7. A cable manager for use with a cable, comprising:
a guide bar having an opening formed therein;
a first guide connected to a first end of the guide bar and rotatable with respect to the guide bar;
a second guide connected to a second end of the guide bar opposite the first end of the guide bar and rotatable with respect to the guide bar; and
sliders movable within an opening formed in each guide from a first position closer to a center point of the guide bar to which the first guide is connected to a second position more distant from the center point.

8. The cable manager of claim 7 , wherein the slider has formed therein an opening for supporting the cable.

9. The cable management system of claim 4 , wherein the first and second guides position the first and second cables in the substantially double-helical arrangement when the hoist system is in the extended position.

10. The cable management system of claim 9 , wherein the first and second guides position the first and second cables in a coiled collection when the hoist system is in the retracted position.

11. The cable management system of claim 1 , wherein the cable management system is configured to be coupled to a pair of elongate members, and wherein the hoist system is configured to be supported by the fixed structural member via the pair of elongate members, the cable management system further comprising:
a plurality of the guide bars spaced along the pair of elongate members, the plurality of guide bars configured to guide the first and second cables relative to the elongate member as the hoist system moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

12. A cable management system for a hoist system, the hoist system configured to be supported by a fixed structural member via an elongate member, the hoist system configured to move between an extended position and a retracted position relative to the fixed structural member, the cable management system comprising:
a guide bar having an opening configured to slidably receive the elongate member;
first and second cables configured to be electrically coupled to the hoist system to provide electrical power to the hoist system;
a first guide coupled to the guide bar and rotatable with respect to the guide bar, the first guide being connected to the first cable to inhibit movement of the first cable relative to the first guide; and
a second guide coupled to the guide bar and rotatable with respect to the guide bar, the second guide being connected to the second cable to inhibit movement of the second cable relative to the second guide, the first and second guides positioning the first and second cables in a substantially double-helical arrangement;
wherein the cable management system is configured to be coupled to a pair of elongate members, and wherein the hoist system is configured to be supported by the fixed structural member via the pair of elongate members, the cable management system further comprising:
a plurality of the guide bars spaced along the pair of elongate members, the plurality of guide bars configured to guide the first and second cables relative to the pair of elongate members as the hoist system moves between the extended position and the retracted position.

13. The cable management system of claim 12 , wherein the first and second guides position the first and second cables in the substantially double-helical arrangement when the hoist system is in the extended position.

14. The cable management system of claim 13 , wherein the first and second guides position the first and second cables in a coiled collection when the hoist system is in the retracted position.

15. The cable management system of claim 1 , wherein the guide bar is a first guide bar having a second end opposite the first end, and wherein the opening of the guide bar is a first opening, the cable management system further comprising:
a second guide bar having a first end, a second end opposite the first end, and a second opening configured to slidably receive the elongate member, the first ends of the first and second guide bars configured to be positioned on one side of the elongate member, the second ends of the first and second guide bars configured to be positioned on another side of the elongate member; and
a second guide connected to the second end of the second guide bar and rotatable with respect to the second guide bar, the second guide being connected to the cable to inhibit movement of the cable relative to the second guide;
wherein the cable extends from the first guide on the first side of the first guide bar to the second guide on the second side of the second guide bar.

16. The cable management system of claim 1 , wherein the guide bar is configured to be coupled to the elongate member such that the guide bar is inhibited from rotating about the elongate member.

Assignees

• Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Inventors

• Hoffend Jr Donald Aloysius
• Hoffend Iii Donald Aloysius

Classifications

• B66D1/39

  by means of axially-movable drums or barrels {(pivotably mounted drums or barrel B66D1/365)} · CPC title

• B66D1/56

  Adaptations of limit switches · CPC title

• B66D1/26

  having several drums or barrels · CPC title

• B66D5/16 Primary

  for action on ropes or cables · CPC title

• B66D1/28 Primary

  Other constructional details · CPC title