LIFTING/PULLING DEVICE

BACKGROUND-

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001 ] This invention relates to hoists, winches, and other pulling and/or lifting devices,

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION ^'

[0002] Hoists and. winches axe used extensively to lift:, lower, or pull loads of various kinds. Such devices typically ineluds a line, such as a cable or chain, wrapped- around a spool To lift. lower* or poll "a load, the spool may he manually/ rotated or driven with a motor, -such as -an -electrical, hydraulic., or pneumatic motor. When rotation is not desired, a braking mechanism may be used to prevent the spool fronr tomtng. This ma maintain■tension in the line, keep a load suspended, or prevent the release or unspooling of the line. To keep the line fem bunchmg: on the spool, some hoists or winches ma include, guides or other nieehamsms to evenly wind the l ne around the ^* spool-

[0003] Although a wide variety of hoists and winches are available, many have; shortcomings that prevent or discourage their use in variou applications. For example, same hoists or winches are bulky or cumbersome^ which may prevent their Use in applications: where greater compactness is required or desired. Other hoists aud winches, may he economically infeaslbie for use n applications such as consumer or residential applications due to their complexity or expense,

[0004] The accuracy and precisi on of some hoists and winches may a lso he lacking in certain applications. For example, heeanse the line of a hoist or winch may be wound around itself in an iri¾gular or unpredictable manner, the effective diameter of the spool ma change for line that is drawn in or let out from the spool The result is that, for any given angle of rotation of the spool, an impredietabie atttaunt of line may fe drawn in or let out. This can m ke t e hoist or winch unsmiable f¾r applications here a h gh degree of precision is required, it can als make the witieh or hoist unsuitable for operations thai require a high degree of repeatability,

[00:03:] Some hoists arid winches m& als have shortcomings in terms of the control and information they ^■ provide. For example, current hoists and winches may lack mechanisms for determining.- certain parameters, during operation. For example, short of manually measuring or observing a hoist or winch, it may be difficult: or impossible to determine how much line is let out from the hoist or winch at any give time. Even i possible, it may not be possible to do so with a desired degree of precision, i other cases, the ability to determine a load on: the hoist or winch, or adjust the speed, of a hoist or winc (which may depend on the l ad) may be Sacking, hi yet other cases, an event such -as a power outage or reset ma cause a hoist o which to forget: or lose information regarding current perating parameters,

[0006] As with most fields of endeavor, improvements are constantly sought after by those of skill in the art, As it relates to hoists and winches, improvements are needed to address bulkiness, complexity, expense, precision, and control, as discussed herein. Ideally, such improvements: will create new applications for hoists or winches, or make hoists or winches more economically or practically feasible for existing applications. SUMMARY

[0007] The disclosed, invention: has n developed in r spon e to the prese t state of the art and, in particular, in response to the problems and needs iii the art that have not yet been fully, solved by currently available apparatus and methods. Accordingly, apparatus and. methods in accordance with the _: invention have been developed to provide: Improved spooling for motorized li ng po liag devices. The features and advantages of the invention will become more fully apparent, from the following, description and appended claims, or maybe learned, by practice of the . invention as set forth hereinafter.

[0008] Consistent with the f reg ing^ an apparatus for providing reliable spooling for hoists, \y inches* and other pulling -and/or lifting devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, such an apparatus includes a motor and a drum rotaied by the motor to dra in or let oirt a line from the drum. The drum includes a groove formed in an outer s rfece thereof to aceommodate the line, A roller i provided to place pressure on, the line against the dram. This roller may have grooves, indentations, and/or protrusions to assist the drum in spooling the line onto and off of the drum. .In certain embodiments, the roller comprises at least one indentation or groove on surface of the roller. In other embodiments, the roller comprises multiple indentations, groves and/or protrusions on a surface of a roller, A. corresponding etho is also disclosed and claimed herein.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE -DRAWINGS

[0009] In order that the ^■■ advanta es of the invention wil l foe readily und rs ood, a more particular description Of the invention briefly described above wili be rendered by reference to specific embodiments illustrated, in the. appended drawings. Understanding, that these drawings depict only typical emb iments of fee invention and are not tberefore to be" considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through use of the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0010] Figure 1 is a perspective view showing one embodiment of a motorized lifting device with line removed;

[001 1] Figure 2 is a perspective view of the mo torized lifting device of Figure 1 , with line on the dram;

[0012] Figure 3 is a perspective view of the motorized lifting device of Figure 1, with. ihe _: line and various components removed to show operation of the roller;

[0013] Figure 4 is a perspective view of the motorized lifting ^' device of Figure 3, ^■ with line on the drum;

[0014]

tracks the line on the drum, wherein, the roller extends over a single coil of the: line;

[0015] Figure 6 is a side view of one embo iment of a grooved drtsm and. roller that tracks the line on the drum, w herein the roller extends over multiple coils of the line;

[0 1¾] Figure 7 is a side view of o e embodiment of a grooved drum and rolle ,f hat extends much of the length of the drum;

[0017] Figure 8 is a side■ ^■■ view of one embodiment of a grooved dmm and.rdllerthat tracks the line, oii the drum, wherein the roller is driven by a wheel that makes contact with the drum; [0018] Figure 9 is a side view of one embodi ment of a grooved drum and roller thai extends the length of the dmm, wherein the roller itself is driven, by "the drum; and

[0019] Figures 10A through l OD sho var ious configurations of a roller and line for use with a motorized lifting device in accordance with the inventioo.

[0020] Figures 1 !A through M E sho various line ross s ctions in accordance ^' with the ^■ invention.

[002:1] Figures 12A. through 12G show various roller configurations in accordance with the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] it will be readily understood dial the components of the present- invention, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, may be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Tims, the following more detailed description of tlm embodiments of the invention,, as represented i n the Figures, i s not intended, to. limit the scope of the invention, as claimed, bat is merely representative of certain examples of presently contemplated embodiments in. accordance with the invention. The presently described embodiments will be best understood by reference to the drawings, wherein like parts are designated, by tike numerals throughout.

[0023) Referring to Figures 1 and 2, a perspective view showing one embodiment of a motorized lifting device 100 in accordance with the invention Is illustrated. Figure I ^■ is a perspective view of the motorized lifting device 100 without line 200 on the dram 104, Figure. .2 is a perspective view ¹ of the ni torixed lifting device 100; with a line .200 on the. drum 104, Although, the Motorized lilting device 100 is described herein, primaril as it relates to lifting objects, the device 100 may also be used to pirll loads in the manner of conventional winches. Thus, nothing in this disclosure should be interpreted. as indicating thai the motorized lifting device 10 is only suitable for lifting. Many of the features and. functions described, herein, related . lifting may be equally beneficial o prillin loads _*

[0024] The; -motorized lifting device 100 illustrated in. Figure 1 ma address a art, such as problems, with bulkiness, precision, and control. Such improvements- will ideally create new applications for hoists or winches, or make hoists or winches more economicall or practically feasible, lor existing -applications,. The illustrated motorized lifting device Ϊ00 is compact relative to other devices with similar capability and function, and lias features to provide improved precision nd eofctroL in some respects, the precision and control of the motorized lifting device: 100 is similar io _: the precision and control provided by modern-day compute numerical control (CMC) machine tools.. For example, the features a functions of the motorized lifting device 100 make it possible to know at ail times where the end of the line ;2Θ0 is, or position the end of the line 200 ¾t a desired: location. This capability ena¾le$ a wide variety of other features and functions,

[0025 ] Figure 1 provides an externa! view o f one emliodinient of a motor ized liftin device 100 in accordance with die invention. Various internal .features are hidden from view.

that follow. As show in Figure I,, the motorized lifting device 100 includes a frame 102 ₅ a dram. 1.04 for lettin out or drawing in a line 20 (a shown in. Figure 2), a housing 1.10, and a passive giiiding mechanism 106 for guiding the line 200 onto or off of the drum 1.04, In the illustrated embodiment, the drum 104 is grooved, Specifically, the. drum. 10 includes a eontmuous groove (e.g. a helical groove) around a cltenmferertce thereof. This allows the drum 104 to receiv and retain the line 200 i the groove, The groove ma receive the line 200 and prevent the line .200 .from winding over itself as the drum i.Q4 rotates. To fit within the groove,, the line 200 ma be equal to: or shorter than a lengt of the groove. Because the line 200 is si iuaied in the groove and the radius of this drum 104 is .known, the amou t of line 200 let out from .or drawn into the motorized lifting device 100 may be precisely calculated frorn the angular position and number of rotations of the . drum 104. Thus, the grooved drum 104 may enable precise calculations of how much line 200 is. draw in or iet ^' oattrom.theinoto'rized. ^' Mlfng devic 100 at any given time;

[0026] The grooved ^■ dram 1:04 may be .rotated by a motor and gearbox (not shown),: whic in the illustrated, embodiment i s substantially .entirely contained within the grooved drum 104, This makes the motorized lifting device 1.00 very compact and potentially expands a n amber of applications i r the device 10 .

[0027] in the illustrated embodiment, the frame 102 of the motorized lifting device 1 0 includes a pair of flanges- 108. The flanges 108 may enable the motorized lifting _. device 100 to he quickly and easily connecte to a bracke (riot shown) with pins _» bolts, or other fasteners. Such a bracket may be attached to a ceiling joist, wall stud, or othe structural member. The flanges 1.08 ma also: allow the motorized lifting device 100 to be quickly and easily renioved or attached to another bracket in a different location. Thus, the motorized lifting dev ce 100 may be configured, f r quick and easy attachment and removal from ceilings, walls, or the like.

[0028] Referring to Figures 3 and 4, to assist in spooling line 200 onto and off Of the- drum 104, a roller 300 may be included in the motorized liftin device 100 that presses the line 200 against the drum 104, The roller 300 may comprise at least one, indentation or groove 1205 which serves : as a rol ler guide for line 200, shown in Figure 12B.. Figure 3 is a perspective view of the motorized lifting device 100 of Figure 1 with the line 200 and various components removed to show the ..roller 300. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the motorized lifting device 100 of ^' Figure 3 with the line 200 on the drum 104,

[0029] In the illustrated, embodiment, the. roller 300 is rotated by a, shaft 302, which is in tarn c upled to a gear 304. The ends of the shaft 302 may be supported by the housing 1 10. In certain embodiments, the cross-sectional shape of the: shaft .30 is- keyed to engage a corresponding; shape in the roller 300 and/or gear 304. For example,: in the illustrated ^■ embodiment-,- the shaft 302 has a square cross-section that engages -corresponding shape in the roller 300 and gear 304, thereby allowing power to be transmitted from the gear 304 to the roller 300, Other cross-sectional shapes are possible and within the scope of the invention,:

[0030] As show , the gear 304 engages ; teetJi 40{rmeorpora&d into tte dmm 104, The si ¾e of the gear 30 may he selected to enable the roller 30 to rotate a desired speed. Ideally, an outer eireuni¾fe ice of the roller 300 will move at suhstarrtiaily the same speed as an oirter circiimference of the line 200 around the dmm 1:04, This will, preven binding and/or slipping that may occur as a result of raisroatched speeds. In general, to match the speeds, the outer diameter of the gear 304 will be roughly the same as the outer diameter of the roller 300,

[0031] As the dram 104 rotates, the roller 300 may be configured to track the line 200 as it spools onto or off of the dmm. 104, That is, the roller 3:00 may slide alon the shaft 302 so that the roller 300 stays: immediatel over the line 200 at the point where it spools onto or off of the drum 104. This trackin may be effectuated by the passive guiding mechanism 1 6 previously described. The roller may track: whi!e extendrngint he groove immediately oyer the line in order to push the line into the groove. In certain embodiments, the passive guiding mechanism 1 6 may track the helical groove in: the drum 104 to slide the roller 30 along the shaft 30:2, Stated otherwise, as the dam 104 turns; the passive guiding mechanism

in the drum 104 to move the roller 300 along the shaft 302. in this way, the roller 300 may stay positioned over the line 200 as theiine 200 spook onto: or off of the drum 104,

[0032] In order to effectively spool the li e 200 onto or off of the drum 104, the roller 300 may, in certain embodiments,: be pre-loaded to place a certain amount of pressure, oil. the line 200 against the drum 104, This allows the line 200 to be gripped between the: roller 300 and drum 104, In certain embodiments, the line 200 is fabricated from: synthetic material (e,.g>, ^■ piastre, nylon, polyyin lidene fluoride, polyethylene, etc,.) that can be compressed somewhat by the roller 300 against the drum 104, This may enable the line 200 to be more easily gripped and enable looser tolerances between the roller 300 and drum 1 4. Nevertheless, in other embodiments the line 200 may be made of metal or. metal alloys, such as: a steel, and may he hare or coate , with materials such as various plasties. The line 200 may be either monofilament or include multiple filaments, such as wit a braided line 200,

[0033] Irs certain embod ments', the .roller 300 may be spring-loaded, against the drum 104 so that excess space (due to variations in. the drum 104, rol ler 3B0, Sine 200, etc,) may be taken up by .the roller 300. This may assist in providing a desired amount of pressure against the, line 200 and allow tor greater tolerances in the roller 300, line 200, and/or drum 1 4, The roller 30 may also, in certain embodiments, be made or coated with a material to assist in gripping the line. 200, For example* the roller .300 may be made of or coated with a rubber, rubber-like, elastoraeric, tacky, textured, and er compressible material to more: effceiively grip the line 200.

[0034] Referring to Figure 5, a side view of a grooved drum 1 4 and roller; 300 that tracks the Erie 200 oft the dram 104,: is illustrated. In this ^■ embodiment,, the roller 300 extends over a single: coil of the line 200:. The roller 39 m es in directions 500 along the shaft 302 as the line 200 spook onto and off of the dram 1 4. The roller 300 places pressure on the line 200 against the drum 104 to keep the line 200 from unraveling: and prevent the introduction of slack into the line 200. A roller 300 extending; over a single eoii ma be advantageous in that all. the ^' pressor©: f the roller 300 may be focused on a single location oil. the line: 200. The roller may track and extend into, the groove immediately over the line in order to push the line into the groove. [0035] In. the iiiustrated eaibodiraeat, the roller 300 is driven by a pair of gears 304a, 304b located at each end of the shaft 302, These gears 304% 304b engage teeth 400a» 400b at each end of the dram 104, IVIuI iple gears 304a, 304b may provide redundancy aid reduce twisting and/or torque on th shaft 30:3. Nevertheless, multiple gears 304a, 304b may not be required or necessary. A. single gear 304 at one end of the. shaft 302 may b sufficient in certain embodiments.

[003:6] _; shown in Figure I, the drum 104 may be designed, such that the line 200 extends above the top edge of the. groove 502. That is, a depth of the groove 502 may be designed to be jess than a diameter of the line 200, hi certain embodiments, the depth of the groove 502 is approximately fifty percent of the dmmeter of the line 200, This- will, allow the r&iJer 300: to contact the line 200 ^■ without touching or placing pressure on the drum 104, which would likely relieve pressure on the line 200.

[0037] Referring to Figure _. 6, in _. certain, embodiments, the roller 300 may b designed to e tend over mul iple coils of the line 200. In. the illustrated embodiment, the roller 300 is configured to t ack the line 200 as it spools onto or off of the drum 104. Like the previous, example, the roller 300: is powered by . gears ^' 304a, 304b at each, end of the drum .104, although the roller 300 could also be powered by a single gear 304, The illustrated embodiment may be advantageous in "thai the roller 300 may have more leeway to track the line 200 (i.e., less accuracy is required). Because the roller 300 contacts multiple coils; of the l ne: 200, the roller .300 may be better at preventing unravelin or introduction of slack into the line 200.

[0038] Referring to Figure 7, ill certain embodiments, the roller 300 may b designed to extend over most or all coils of the line 200. I the illustrated embodiment, the roller 300 is powered by gear 304a, 304b at . each end Of the drum 104, although the roller 300 could also be powered b a single: gear 304. Because: the roller 300 extends over all coils of the line 200, the roller 300 may remain: stationary on the shaft 302. That is. the roller ^' 300 may not slide along the shaft 302 as in previous embodiments. This design may red uce complexity and eliminate the n eed- for -a passive guiding mechani sm 106.

[0039] The roller 300 may be made or coated with atty ^' saί¼W¾ l1aat©riaiia ^·; o)Π£ler ^' to ^: grip the line 200 and prevent slack in or unraveling of the Sine 200. Ideally, the roller 300 is made or coated: with a rubber, rubber-like, eiastoroerie, lae%y, _: tex ured, and or compressible that will grip, the line 200. The roller 300 may also be. designed with a desired level of firmness. Bor example, the roller 300 be more. firm to place more pressure on: the line .200, or less lin to conform to the lin 200. Similarly, the outer surface of the roller 300 may be substantially flat along th length, of the roller 300 or the toiler 300 may be shaped m a way that enables it to conform: to the Moe 200. For example, grooves: or indentations ma be formed in the roller 300 around its circumference that align, with the line 200 in. the groove. Such a configuration may, in certain embodiments, im ove: the grip of the roller 300 on the line 200 by providing more surface area to contact he line 200,

[0040] Other modifications or variations ate also possible tp improve performance of the roller 300. For example, in certain embodiments, the roller 300 May be designed with a taper such thai first end 7^^¾f&e _: roI1.ei.30 .: ^.a.§li^Uy large diameter than a second end 700b of the roller 300. The first end 700a may be positioned at or near the end of the drum 104 where the line 200 spools off first, and the: second end. 700b may be positioned at or near the end of the drum 104 where the line 200 spoo Is off last. This design ^• ii! ensure that the roller 300 places pressure on the line 20 where it is needed most,: namely where the line 200 is currently spooling onto or off of the .drum 104, For example, when all of the tine 200 is on the drum 1 C)4 _S meaning thai the groove 502 contains the tine 200 along substantially its entire length, the tapered roller 300 will place the most pressure on the line 200 at &t -where its. diameter largest, namely at the .first end 700a. However, as the line 200 spools off of the drum 1 4, this pressure will he relieved since no line 200 will be present to press against. Rather, the tapered design of the roller 300 mil oausemost of its pressure to be situated on the line 200 at the location where the line 200 is spoolin off of the drum 1 4. This may be true for any length of line 200 thai has been let out from, the dmm. 1 4» This eliect will als occu when the line 200 is spooled back onto the drum 104» namely that the tapered, roller 300 will cause most of its pressure -to be situated where the line 2.00 is spooling back: onto the drum..104-.

[0041) Referring to Figure 8, in certain embodiments, a roller 300 i accordance with the invention may be powered by one or more wheels 800a, 800b that are turned by the drum 104. These wheels 800a, 800b may be roogh!y the same diameter as the roller 300, thereby ensuring that a circumference of the roller 300-. moves; at substantially the. same, speed as a circumference of the line 200 around the drum. 104. In the Illustrated embodiment,, the -roller 300 is configured to track the .line 200 as it spools onto or off of the drum 104, In order to prevent slippage between, the wheels SOOa, 800b and the drum 104, the wheels 800a, SOOb ma be made of or coated with a rubber, rubber-like, eiasfomerie, tacky, textured, and/or compressible material. Alternatively.,, or additionally the druiti 1.04 itself may be made of or coated with a robber, rubber-like, elastomeric, tacky, textured, and/or compressible material along a circumference where the wheels 800% SOOb contact the dr um 104, Use of wheels 800a, 800b as opposed to gears 304a, 304b may reduce cost and complexity, a well as ensure thai a circumference of to . rolle 300 moves at substantially the same speed as a eircunifereiice of the l ine 200 around the drum 104. [0042] Referring to Figure 9, in certain embodiments, the- roller 300 may be designed to extend most or all of the length of the drum 104, This ma -allow tlie roller 30 to be directly driven b the dram 104, Thai is, ends 900a, 900b of the roller 300 may be directly driven by the drum 104, while a middle portio of the roller 300 ma be used t spool the line 200 onto and off of the d um 104: In order to prevent slippage between th ■ .to Her 300 and the drum 104, as well as enable fee roller 300 to grip fee line 200, the rolle 300 may be made of or coated wife a rubber, robber-like, .ekstommc _* tacky, texnjred, and/or compressible material. Alternatively, or: additionally, the druni 104 may be mad of or coated with a rubber, rubber-like, el stomericj tacky, textured, and/or compressible material where the roller 300 contacts the drum 104. The design il lustrated in Figure 9 ma reduce ^■■ complexity and cost compared to other designs.

0043] Inferring to Figures 1 OA through 100, the roller 300 previously described may contact and/or grip the line 200 in different ways. .Although the roller 300 illustrate in Figtires I OA through 10D has a width that extends over a: single coil of the line.200, fee same siraetures and techniques- -ftjay he applied to rollers 300 feat s an multiple coils of line 200 or the entire drum. 104, as shown in Figures 5 through 9. Figure 1 OA shows a roller 300 with a substantially flat surface to contact the line 300. figure 108 shows one embodim n of a roller 300 ^"' wit groov 1000 or Indentation 1000 feat is: designe to: match or more closely conform, to a contour of the line 200. Such an embodiment may increase surface contact between the roller 300 and the line 200, potentially increasing th grip thereon.

[0044] hi. Figures OA though I-2G variou embodiments of traetioo enhanced rollers ar shown. Figures 12A and: 1. D show rollers with multiple indentations and/or p otrusions at 1201 and I 204. Figures I B and 12 F show multiple indentations or multiple protrusions within a single indentation on a surface of a roller at 1202 and 1206. Figure 1 C shows multiple indentations or multi le: protrusions withi a single indentation on a Surface of the roller which are formed angles with respeet t the single indentation. Figure 12E shows at least one indentation n surface of a toiler at 1265. Figure 12G shows an interface betwee a line with, a sleeve and a roller with: multiple indentations or multiple protrusions withi a single indentation on a surface of the roller. ^' The embodiments shown in Figures I A-12G rosy be use alone or in combination. The rolle may be made of plastic, rubber, nylon, polyvinylidene fltromfc, polyethylene, metal, metal alloy, or any combination thereof. The indentations arid/or protrusions ma he an shape such as rounding, square, triangle, straight, or any combinatio thereof The angles ofthe indentations and/or protrusions may be formed any angle or direction or combination of differing ^' angles.

[0045] Figure I OC shows one embodiment of a line 200 that may be compressed by the roller 300, s Of s uch a line 200 may improve the grip betwee the miter 300 and the line 200, a well as enable looser tolerances t be present between the roller 300 and drum 104, ^" To enable such compression, the line 200 ma , _, in certai embodiments, be fabricated from a synthetic material, suc as plastic, nylon, polyvraylidene fluoride, polyethylene, or the like. The line 200 may: be either monofilament or include multiple filaments, sueh as with a braided line 200. Figure 1.0D shows one embodiment of a roller 300 that is fabricated irom or coated, with a material that is abl to conform to the line 200, For example, the roller 300 may be made or coated with a rubber, rubber-like, elastorneric, and/or compressible material that is able to conform to the lino 200 when pressure is pl aced thereagainst, This may mertase the amoun of surftce contact between the roller 300 and. line 200 to improve the gri therebetween. Stseh a roller 300 may be used in conjunction with a compressible or noft-compre.ssibSe line. 200.

[0046] in Figures TfA through HE, additional embotiinieitts of a line are showtf A line 1 100 may be used without a sleeve 1101. The lin core 1 100 may be compressible or non-qornpressibie. The material of line core may be made of plastic, rubber,, nylon, polyvinyiidene fluoride, polyethylene, metal, a metal alloy, or any combination thereof, hi Figure I IS, a line is shown: which includes a sleeve 1101. The sleeve 1101 may e made of plastic, rubber, nylon, polyvinyiidene fluoride, polyethylene, metal, a metal alloy, or any combination thereof. The sleeve material 110! may be c mpressive or non-compressible. Irs. Figure 1 1C, a compressible sleeve material is shown as used in eombinaiioR with the roller of Figure 12Ώ. Figure 1.1D, a compressible sleeve material 1103 is shown as used ^■ hi combination wi th the roller of Figure 12E, In ^' Figure I I E, a compressible sleeve materi al 1104 is shown as used in combination with the roller of Figure 12F.

[0047] The apparatus arid methods disclosed herein may b embodied in ^' other specific forms without departing from their spirit or essential characteristics. The- described ^' embodimeuis are to be considered in atl respects only as .illustrative and not restrictive. The scope of the invention is, therefore, indicate*! by the appended claims rather than by the t¾regoing escri tion. All changes which come within the meaning and range of equivalency of the claims are to be embraced within thei scope.