Lift assembly systems and methods

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10968085-B2
Application number	US-201916287069-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 27, 2019
Priority date	Nov 18, 2009
Publication date	Apr 6, 2021
Grant date	Apr 6, 2021

Abstract

A lift assembly includes an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position, a drive element coupled to the article, a power mechanism coupled to the drive element, and a power transfer mechanism coupled between the power mechanism and the drive element. The power transfer mechanism includes control electronics having a first upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a first upward height, and a second upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a second upward height higher than the first upward height.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A lift assembly comprising:
an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position;
a drive element coupled to the article;
a power mechanism coupled to the drive element; and
a power transfer mechanism coupled between the power mechanism and the drive element, the power transfer mechanism including control electronics comprising:
a first upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a first upward height; and
a first downward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lowered to a first downward height,

wherein the first upward limit switch and the first downward limit switch are disposed within a power head housing containing the power mechanism,
further comprising a first cam adjustment rod and a second cam adjustment rod partially extendable outside of the power head housing, wherein the first cam adjustment rod is coupled to a first rotatable cam and configured to adjust the first upward height, and the second adjustment rod is coupled to a second rotatable cam and configured to adjust the first downward height.

2. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power mechanism includes a motor and the power transfer mechanism includes a drum, wherein the motor is operable to move the drum about a drum axis, and wherein the drive element is wrapped around the drum in response to the drum moving about the drum axis.

3. The lift assembly of claim 2 , further comprising a guide roller engaging the drive element, wherein the guide roller rotates and translates about a guide axis in response to the drive element moving over the guide roller, wherein the first upward limit switch is adapted to deactivate the power mechanism in response to the guide roller moving into a first position, and wherein the first downward limit switch is adapted to deactivate the power mechanism in response to the guide roller moving into a second position.

4. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power transfer mechanism further comprises a first rotatable cam positioned to trip the first upward limit switch and a second rotatable cam positioned to trip the first downward limit switch.

5. The lift assembly of claim 4 , wherein the first and the second rotatable cams rotate less than 360 degrees as the power mechanism moves the article between the lowered position and the raised position.

6. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the power transfer mechanism further comprises a second upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a second upward height higher than the first upward height, and a second downward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lowered to a second downward height lower than the first downward height.

7. The lift assembly of claim 6 , wherein the power transfer mechanism further comprises a third rotatable cam positioned to trip the second upward limit switch and a fourth rotatable cam positioned to trip the second downward limit switch.

8. The lift assembly of claim 7 , wherein the third and the fourth rotatable cams rotate less than 360 degrees as the power mechanism moves the article between the lowered position and the raised position.

9. The lift assembly of claim 6 , further comprising a first rotatable cam positioned to trip the first upward limit switch, and a third rotatable cam positioned to trip the second upward limit switch, wherein the first rotatable cam is offset relative to the third rotatable cam such that the first rotatable cam trips the first upward limit switch before the third rotatable cam trips the second upward limit switch.

10. The lift assembly of claim 9 , wherein the first rotatable cam is adjustable relative to the third rotatable cam to adjust when the first rotatable cam trips the first upward limit switch relative to when and the third rotatable cam trips the second upward limit switch.

11. The lift assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first and the second cam adjustment rods are coupled to a limit indicator, and wherein the limit indicator is configured to indicate a threshold of one of the first upward height and the first downward height.

12. A lift assembly comprising:
an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position;
a drive element coupled to the article;
a power mechanism coupled to the drive element; and
a power transfer mechanism coupled between the power mechanism and the drive element, the power transfer mechanism including control electronics comprising:
a first upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a first upward height; and
a second upward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lifted to a second upward height higher than the first upward height.

13. The lift assembly of claim 12 , wherein the power mechanism includes a motor and the power transfer mechanism includes a drum, wherein the motor is operable to move the drum about a drum axis, and wherein the drive element is wrapped around the drum in response to the drum moving about the drum axis.

14. The lift assembly of claim 13 , further comprising a guide roller engaging the drive element, wherein the guide roller rotates and translates about a guide axis in response to the drive element moving over the guide roller, wherein the first upward limit switch is adapted to deactivate the power mechanism in response to the guide roller moving into a first position, and wherein the second upward limit switch is adapted to deactivate the power mechanism in response to the guide roller moving into a second position.

15. The lift assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the power transfer mechanism further comprises a first rotatable cam positioned to trip the first upward limit switch and a second rotatable cam positioned to trip the second upward limit switch.

16. The lift assembly as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the first and the second cams rotate less than 360 degree as the power mechanism moves the article between the lowered position and the raised position.

17. The lift assembly as claimed in claim 12 , wherein the power transfer mechanism further comprises a first downward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lowered to a first downward height, and a second downward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lowered to a second downward height lower than the first downward height.

18. A lift assembly comprising:
an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position;
a drive element coupled to the article;
a power mechanism coupled to the drive element; and
a power transfer mechanism coupled between the power mechanism and the drive element, the power transfer mechanism including control electronics comprising:
a first downward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lowered to a first downward height; and
a second downward limit switch adapted to deactivate the power mechanism when the article is lowered to a second downward height lower than the first downward height.

Assignees

• Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Inventors

• Hoffend Iii Donald A
• Florae William R
• Lichter Michael
• Bolz Edwin W

Classifications

• A63J1/028

  Means for moving hanging scenery · CPC title

• B66D5/16 Primary

  for action on ropes or cables · CPC title

• B66D1/38

  by means of guides movable relative to drum or barrel · CPC title

• G01L5/102

  using sensors located at a non-interrupted part of the flexible member · CPC title

• G01L5/107

  for measuring a reaction force applied on an element disposed between two supports, e.g. on a plurality of rollers or gliders · CPC title