Compact hoist accessories and combination systems

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11319198-B2
Application number	US-201916514045-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 17, 2019
Priority date	Dec 21, 2012
Publication date	May 3, 2022
Grant date	May 3, 2022

Abstract

A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like, often in a performance environment. 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. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overspeed detector, which may comprise a centrifugal detection mechanism coupled to an elongate member of the system; dampening means; a compact mechanism for trimming or adjusting an operative length of elongate member; stabilizing pipe shaft bearings; elongate member diverter pulley mechanisms load balancing termination points. Additional features include various alternative combination hoist implementations and orientations, and alternative incorporated attachment mechanisms for use with the hoist system.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trim mechanism for an elongate member, comprising:
a body having a first opening and a second opening formed therein, the first opening and the second opening being adapted to receive a first end of the elongate member;
a channel formed in the body substantially parallel to a length of the body and in physical communication with the first opening and the second opening, the channel being adapted to support a portion of the elongate member upon insertion of the elongate member through the first and second openings and into the channel;
a wedge formed in the body adjacent to the channel and at an angle with respect to the length of the body;
at least one jaw disposed within the body and in movable contact with the wedge, such that at least a portion of the at least one jaw is movable to within a portion of the channel upon application of a force to the jaw in a first direction substantially parallel to the length of the body;
wherein the at least one jaw is positioned such that the elongate member may be moved substantially freely through the channel in a second direction, and such that movement of the elongate member in the first direction is restricted by the at least one jaw.

2. The trim mechanism of claim 1 , further comprising:
a spring biasing the at least one jaw toward the first direction.

3. The trim mechanism of claim 1 , wherein the at least one jaw comprising a pair of two opposing jaws, a second of the two opposing jaws being biased toward the channel by a second spring.

4. A lift system configured to be coupled to a beam to move an article relative to the beam, the lift system comprising:
a drum rotatable about an axis;
a drive mechanism operable to rotate the drum about the axis;
an elongate member having a wound portion wound around the drum and a vertical portion, the drum rotatable by the drive mechanism to wind the elongate member around the drum such that the elongate member is configured to raise the article, the drum also rotatable by the drive mechanism to unwind the elongate member from the drum such that the elongate member is configured to lower the article; and
a trim mechanism including a jaw engageable with a trim portion of the elongate member inhibiting movement of the trim portion relative to the jaw in a first direction to maintain an operative length of the vertical portion of the elongate member, the trim mechanism operable to adjust the operative length of the vertical portion of the elongate member in response to the trim portion moving relative to the jaw in a second direction.

5. The lift system of claim 4 , wherein the elongate member is a first elongate member and the trim mechanism is a first trim mechanism, wherein the lift system further comprises a second elongate member coupled to the drum and configured to raise or lower the article, and wherein the second elongate member is coupled to a second trim mechanism operable to adjust an operative length of a vertical portion of the second elongate member.

6. The lift system of claim 5 , wherein the first trim mechanism is operable independently relative to the second trim mechanism.

7. The lift system of claim 6 , further comprising a batten configured to support the article, wherein the first and second trim mechanisms are coupled to the batten to move with the batten.

8. The lift system of claim 4 , further comprising a batten configured to support the article, wherein the trim mechanism is coupled to the batten to move with the batten.

9. The lift system of claim 8 , wherein the batten includes a longitudinal axis extending between opposing ends of the batten, wherein the trim mechanism includes a channel extending along the longitudinal axis of the batten, and wherein the channel receives the trim portion of the elongate member.

10. The lift system of claim 9 , wherein the batten includes an entry point of the channel and an exit point of the channel, and wherein an end of the elongate member adjacent the exit point is positioned outside the batten.

11. The lift system of claim 10 , wherein the end of the elongate member moves away from the exit point to decrease the operative length of the vertical portion of the elongate member.

12. The lift system of claim 8 , wherein the trim mechanism includes a spring, wherein the spring biases the jaw into engagement with the trim portion of the elongate member inhibiting movement of the trim portion relative to the batten in the first direction.

13. The lift system of claim 12 , wherein the trim mechanism includes a wedge, and wherein the spring biases the jaw along the wedge in the first direction.

14. The lift system of claim 13 , wherein the jaw is a first jaw, wherein the trim mechanism includes a second jaw, and wherein the spring biases the second jaw along the wedge into engagement with trim portion of the elongate member.

15. The lift system of claim 14 , wherein the trim mechanism includes a cam engageable with the first and second jaws to move the first and second jaws against the spring allowing movement of the trim portion relative to the first and second jaws in the first direction.

16. The lift system of claim 4 , wherein the trim mechanism includes a spring, and wherein the spring biases the jaw into engagement with the trim portion inhibiting movement of the trim portion in the first direction.

17. The lift system of claim 16 , wherein the trim mechanism includes a cam engageable with the jaw to move the jaw against the spring allowing movement of the trim portion in the first direction.

18. The lift system of claim 4 , wherein the trim mechanism includes a wedge engageable with the jaw, and wherein the jaw moves in the first direction relative to the wedge to inhibit movement of the trim portion in the first direction.

19. The lift system of claim 18 , wherein the jaw moves in the second direction in response to moving the elongate member in the second direction to decrease the operative length of the vertical portion of the elongate member.

20. The lift system of claim 19 , wherein the trim mechanism includes a cam engageable with the jaw to move the jaw in the second direction allowing movement of the elongate member in the first direction to increase the operative length of the vertical portion of the elongate member.

Assignees

• Electronic Theatre Controls Inc

Inventors

• Hoffend Donald
• Hoffend Iii Donald A

Classifications

• B66D1/28 Primary

  Other constructional details · CPC title

• A63J1/028

  Means for moving hanging scenery · CPC title

• F16G11/048

  by moving a surface into the cable · CPC title

• B66D1/56

  Adaptations of limit switches · CPC title

• B66D1/26

  having several drums or barrels · CPC title