Synchronized Motorized Lifting Devices for Lifting Shared Loads

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2015284225-A1
Application number	US-201414245132-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Apr 4, 2014
Priority date	Apr 4, 2014
Publication date	Oct 8, 2015
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system includes multiple lifting devices, where each lifting device includes a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto. A grouping module is provided to group the lifting devices for synchronized operation. A synchronization module monitors an amount of line that is drawn in or let out from each of the lifting devices and, based on the amount, adjusts operating parameters (e.g., position, speed, etc.) of one or more of the lifting devices in the group to substantially synchronize the amount of line drawn in or let out with other lifting devices in the group.

First claim

1 . A system comprising:
a plurality of lifting devices, each lifting device comprising a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto; a grouping module to group the plurality of lifting devices for synchronized operation in lifting a shared load; and a synchronization module to monitor operating parameters of the plurality of lifting devices in the group and, based on the operating parameters, adjust the operating parameters of at least one lifting device in the group to maintain synchronization between the motorized lifting devices.

2 . The system of claim 1 , wherein maintaining synchronization comprises synchronizing the lifting devices in the group to maintain a level shared load.

3 . The system of claim 1 , wherein maintaining synchronization comprises synchronizing the lifting devices in the group to tilt the shared load.

4 . The system of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the operating parameters comprises adjusting a speed of at least one lifting device in the group to more closely match a speed of at least one other lifting device in the group.

5 . The system of claim 1 , wherein adjusting the operating parameters comprises adjusting an amount of line let out from at least one lifting device in the group to more closely match an amount of line let out from at least one other lifting device in the group.

6 . The system of claim 1 , wherein monitoring operating parameters comprises identifying a slowest lifting device in the group.

7 . The system of claim 6 , wherein adjusting the operating parameters comprises adjusting a speed of the plurality of lifting devices to more closely match a speed of the slowest lifting device in the group.

8 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization module is configured to stop all the lifting devices in the group if communication is lost with at least one lifting device in the group.

9 . The system of claim 1 , wherein the synchronization module is configured to stop all the lifting devices in the group if at least one lifting device in the group has stopped.

10 . The system of claim 1 , wherein monitoring comprises monitoring by a remote control.

11 . The system of claim 1 , wherein monitoring comprises monitoring by a lifting device in the group.

12 . A method comprising:
grouping a plurality of lifting devices for synchronized operation in lifting a shared load, each lifting device comprising a drum to draw in or let out a line, and a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto; monitoring operating parameters of the plurality of lifting devices in the group and, based on the operating parameters, adjusting the operating parameters of at least one lifting device in the group to maintain synchronization between the motorized lifting devices.

13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein maintaining synchronization comprises synchronizing the lifting devices in the group to maintain a level shared load.

14 . The method of claim 12 , wherein maintaining synchronization comprises synchronizing the lifting devices in the group to tilt the shared load.

15 . The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the operating parameters comprises adjusting a speed of at least one lifting device in the group to more closely match a speed of at least one other lifting device in the group.

16 . The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the operating parameters comprises adjusting an amount of line let out from at least one lifting device in the group to more closely match an amount of line let out from at least one other lifting device in the group.

17 . The method of claim 12 , wherein monitoring operating parameters comprises identifying a slowest lifting device in the group.

18 . The method of claim 17 , wherein adjusting the operating parameters comprises adjusting a speed of the plurality of lifting devices to more closely match a speed of the slowest lifting device in the group.

19 . The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the operating parameters comprises stopping all the lifting devices in the group if communication is lost with at least one lifting device in the group.

20 . The method of claim 12 , wherein adjusting the operating parameters comprises stopping all the lifting devices in the group if at least one lifting device in the group has stopped.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Miles Jerome
• Hyer Davido
• Rees Kevin

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Miles Jerome
• Hyer Davido
• Rees Kevin

Classifications

• B66D1/22

  Planetary or differential gearings (for actuating grab buckets B66D1/70 ){, i.e. with planet gears having movable axes of rotation} · CPC title

• B66D1/38

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

• B66D1/485

  electrical · CPC title

• B66D1/26 Primary

  having several drums or barrels · CPC title

• B66D1/48 Primary

  automatic · CPC title