Motorized lifting device with isolated logistics and power electronics

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9873600-B2
Application number	US-201414245055-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 4, 2014
Priority date	Apr 4, 2014
Publication date	Jan 23, 2018
Grant date	Jan 23, 2018

Abstract

An apparatus 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. Logistics electronics are mounted proximate a first end of the drum and power electronics are mounted proximate a second end of the drum. In general, the logistics electronics include lower power electronics that enable data processing as well as data and commands to be communicated to the apparatus from an external location. By contrast, the power electronics may include higher power electronics needed to receive power and drive the motor.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a drum to draw in or let out a line, the drum comprising a helical groove encircling the drum multiple times formed in an outer surface thereof to accommodate an entire length of the line in a single course of the line, a bottom of the groove conforming to a curvature of the line;
a guide movably mounted on a slide that traverses the drum comprising a non-circular cross section, the guide comprising a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth extending into the groove immediately over the line in order to push the line into the bottom of the groove as the guide traverses the slide as the line is drawn in or let out;
the guide further comprising an elongate aperture communicating with a cutout in the teeth to control and tension the line and a set screw adjustment for adjusting the guide's grip on the line;
a motor and transmission located inside the drum and coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto, the motor powered by power electronics and controlled by logistics electronics;
the logistic electronics mounted proximate a first end of the drum, the logistics electronics including a wireless communication module, a microcontroller and non-volatile memory;
the power electronics mounted proximate a second end of the drum, the power electronics of the second end are separated by the motor and the transmission.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the logistics electronics are mounted to a first circuit board proximate the first end and the power electronics are mounted to a second circuit board proximate the second end.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a data cable to transport control signals from the logistics electronics to the power electronics.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a frame extending from the first end to the second end.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising transporting one of power and data signals between the first end and the second end by way of a cable routed along the frame.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the cable is a ribbon cable.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the wireless communications module is a Bluetooth module.

8. A method comprising:
providing a drum to draw in or let out a line, the drum comprising a helical groove formed in an outer surface thereof to accommodate the line, a bottom of the groove conforming to a curvature of the line;
providing a guide movably mounted on a slide that traverses the drum comprising a non-circular cross section, the guide comprising a plurality of teeth, the plurality of teeth extending into the groove immediately over the line in order to push the line into the bottom of the groove as the guide traverses the slide as the line is drawn in or let out;
the guide further comprising an elongate aperture communicating with a cutout in the teeth to control and tension the line and a set screw adjustment for adjusting the guide's grip on the line;
coupling a motor and transmission located inside of the drum to the drum to apply a torque thereto, the motor powered by power electronics and controlled by logistic electronics;
mounting the logistics electronics proximate the first end of the drum, the logistics electronics comprising a wireless communication module, a microcontroller, and non-volatile memory;
mounting the power electronics proximate a second end of the drum, the power electronics comprising a motor drive, a relay, a voltage sensor, a current sensor, and a temperature sensor; and
wherein the logistics electronics of the first end and the power electronics of the second end are separated by the motor and the transmission.

9. The method of claim 8 , further comprising transporting one of the power and data signals between the logistics electronics and the power electronics by way of a cable extending between the firs end and the second end.

10. The method of claim 9 , further comprising routing the cable along a frame extending between the first end and the second end.

Assignees

• Hall David R
• Miles Jerome
• Jones Chris
• Rees Kevin
• Taylor Ben

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Miles Jerome
• Jones Chris
• Rees Kevin
• Taylor Ben

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 Primary

  electrical · CPC title