Compact motorized lifting device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9975745-B2
Application number	US-201414244771-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 3, 2014
Priority date	Apr 3, 2014
Publication date	May 22, 2018
Grant date	May 22, 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. In certain embodiments, the motor and transmission are substantially entirely contained within the drum. In the same or other embodiments, a bearing may provide support for both the transmission and the drum.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. An apparatus comprising:
a drum to draw in or let out a line;
a motor and transmission coupled to the drum to apply a torque thereto, wherein the motor and transmission are contained within the drum;
a rotating transmission shaft directly coupled to the transmission; and
a locking mechanism contained within the drum comprising a solenoid actuator comprising a rectilinear shaft comprising a spring and a non-rotating rack portion disposed on the shaft;
when the solenoid actuator is actuated the non-rotating rack portion engages a plurality of teeth of a pinion, the pinion being coupled to the rotating transmission shaft, wherein
when the non-rotating rack portion engages the teeth of the pinion, the non-rotating rack portion prevents rotation of the transmission shaft, and when the solenoid actuator is deactivated, the spring causes the non-rotating rack portion to disengage the pinion and the rotating transmission shaft is allowed to rotate freely.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the transmission comprises at least one stage of planetary gears within the drum.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the transmission comprises a plurality of stages of planetary gears within the drum.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 , wherein each successive stage of planetary gears reduces the gear ratio of the motor relative to the drum.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein a planet carrier of the transmission directly drives the drum.

6. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a shared bearing to support both the drum and the transmission.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drum functions as an output shaft of the transmission.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the drum comprises:
a groove formed in an outer surface thereof to accommodate the line; and a roller tracking and extending into the groove immediately over the line in order to push the line into the groove.

Assignees

• Hall David R

Inventors

• Hall David R
• Miles Jerome
• Hall Michael
• Hyer Davido
• Jones Chris
• Rees Kevin
• Madsen Daniel
• Taylor Ben

Classifications

• B66D1/56

  Adaptations of limit switches · CPC title

• B66D1/38

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

• B66D5/02 Primary

  Crane, lift hoist, or winch brakes operating on drums, barrels, or ropes · CPC title

• B66D1/58

  responsive to excess of load · CPC title

• B66D1/22 Primary

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