The present invention relates generally to brakes for theatrical rigging systems, and more specifically to a failsafe break that can be used with theatrical rigging systems that include a manually operated counterweight arbor or a motor-assisted counterweight.
Theatrical rigging systems provide a means for raising and lowering scenery, lights, curtains and other stage equipment necessary for a theatrical production. In counterweight rigging systems, the weight of the equipment hanging over the stage is balanced by an arbor hanging off stage that contains enough weight to partially or completely balance the load of the equipment. The system is actuated by means of a hand or drive line attached to the counterweight that can be pulled up or down to move the load in either direction. Counterweight systems can either be motorized, in which case a motorized winch is used to raise and lower the stage equipment, or manual, in which case manual power is applied to ropes to raise and/or lower the stage equipment.
Stage equipment can be extremely dangerous if it falls in an uncontrolled manner. Counterweight rigging systems, whether motorized or manual, typically include a brake to fix the hand or drive lines in position until the operator intentionally raises or lowers the stage equipment. Such brakes, however, do not protect against all types of uncontrolled descent. In the case of counterweight systems and motor assisted counterweight systems, it is possible for the counterweight arbor and the stage equipment load to be out of balance, but fixed in position by a hand or drive line or rope lock. In such case either the stage equipment or the counterweight arbor will fall in an uncontrolled manner when the brake is inadvertently released, or if the hand or drive line were to fail. What is needed for such systems is a failsafe brake that prevents the stage equipment load and the counterweight arbor from moving except when tension is applied to the hand line or drive line.
The present invention provides a failsafe brake for a motor assisted or manual counterweight rigging system. According to the present invention, a counterweight arbor is provided, which engages and moves linearly relative to a counterweight arbor guide rail. The counterweight arbor includes a fixed backer plate and a brake shoe that is biased toward to the backer plate in such a way that the guide rail can be gripped between the brake shoe and the backer plate to prevent motion of the counterweight arbor relative to the counterweight arbor guide rail. When the operator of the rigging system applies tension to a hand line or drive line connected to the counterweight arbor, the brake shoe disengages from the guide rail and allows the counterweight arbor to move relative to the guide rail. In this fashion, the counterweight arbor is allowed to move only when tension is being applied to the hand line or drive line.
In one aspect, the present invention provides a brake assembly for a theatrical rigging system that includes a counterweight arbor, a guide rail, and a line operable between neutral and actuated states and for effecting movement of the arbor along the guide rail when in the actuated state, wherein the brake assembly comprises a braking element connected to the line and movable between engaged and disengaged relation to the guide rail, a bias element operably associated with the braking element, and wherein the braking element is in engaged relation to the guide rail when the line is in its neutral state and in disengaged relation to the guide rail when the line is in its actuated state.
In one embodiment, the brake element generally comprises a cam eccentrically rotatable relative to the guide rail. In this embodiment, the brake assembly further comprises an axle on which the cam is mounted and a yoke rotatably mounted on the axle, wherein the bias element comprises a torsion spring mounted on the axle and connected at one end to the cam and at its opposite end to the yoke.
In a second embodiment, the brake element comprises a shoe attached to the line and movable between engaged and disengaged relation to the guide rail, and a pair of linkage arm that pivotally interconnect said shoe to the arbor. The shoe is adapted to move laterally between the guide rail and the arbor.
The present invention will be more fully understood and appreciated by reading the following Detailed Description in conjunction with the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the drawings, wherein like reference numbers refer to like parts throughout, there is seen in
Referring now to
In operation, when counterweight arbor 10 is in an elevated position and begins an uncontrolled descent, cam 22 biases against guide rail 12. Vertical movement of counterweight arbor 10 relative to guide rail 12 and friction between cam 22 and guide rail 12 causes further rotation of cam 22 against guide rail 12, pulling backer plate 20 toward the back surface of guide rail 12 and increasing the pressure exerted on guide rail 12 between cam 22 and backer plate 20. The pressure exerted by cam 22 and backer plate 20 is sufficient to brake the vertical movement of counterweight arbor 10.
Referring now to
According to another embodiment of the present invention, shown in
Typically, a counterweight arbor 10 engages two guide rails 12 that are laterally separated as shown in
Preferably, counterweight arbor 10 includes two failsafe brakes according to the present invention. A first brake would be positioned on counterweight arbor 10 to prevent movement of the counterweight arbor 10 relative to the guide rail 12 in a first direction and a second failsafe brake would be positioned on the counterweight arbor 10 to prevent movement of the counterweight arbor 10 relative to the guide rail 12 in a second direction.
While there has been illustrated and described what are at present considered to be preferred and alternate embodiments of the present invention, it should be understood and appreciated that modifications may be made by those skilled in the art and that the appended claims encompass all such modifications that fall within the full spirit and scope of the present invention.
The present application claims priority to U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 60/774,368, filed Feb. 17, 2006, the entirety of which is hereby incorporated by reference.
Number | Date | Country | |
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60774368 | Feb 2006 | US |