Patent Application
20200299113
The present invention relates to hoist fleet systems and assemblies. In particular, the present invention relates to fleet guiding systems for use with a hoist drive system.
Hoists, battens, and trusses are a critical element of performance venues such as theaters, concert halls, and auditoriums to move, elevate, or lower scenery, lighting, and other equipment around the venue. Modern venues use motorized hoist systems to manipulate scenery, lighting, and other equipment around a stage area of a venue. A venue will generally have a series of motorized hoist systems mounted to joists, beams, or other structural members around a stage area. Each motorized hoist system generally facilitates an array of lift lines for each piece of equipment. For example, a scenery background hung from a batten may require seven lift lines in order to smoothly and safely manipulate the batten. Depending on the height of the stage, the batten may need to raise or lower up to ninety feet.
A hoist system conventionally includes a motorized drive drum configured to spool the plurality of lift lines. A hoist system, including seven lift lines travelling ninety feet, requires a drive drum that includes seven separate spooling grooves for each lift line. A minimum spacing between each lift line is required to safely spool the lift lines in a raised position. Often, the spacing between each lift line is five to ten times the diameter of the lift line. For example, a 0.1875-inch wire rope lift line would require spool spacing greater than 1.25 inches measured from centerline-to-centerline. Prior to the lift lines coupling to the batten, the array of lift lines travels through a loft block. The loft block includes an array of grooved sheaves configured to space the lift lines for coupling to the batten. The centerline-to-centerline spacing of the grooved sheaves in the loft block can be as little as 1.25 to 3 times the diameter of each lift line. Using the same 0.1875-inch wire rope lift line, the spacing between lift lines at the loft block can be as little as 0.23 inches. The change in lift line spacing between the drive drum and the loft block creates an issue with respect to acceptable fleet angles.
The fleet angle is the maximum angle the wire rope can have with respect to the plane of rotation of a sheave or drum. Fleet angle is an important metric for determining wire rope wear and, consequently, safety. The maximum fleet angle for grooved sheaves and drums is generally 1.5 degrees for wire rope. In order for a hoist system, such as the aforementioned system, to operate with lift line fleet angles less that 1.5 degrees, the motorized drive drum needs to be mounted at large distances from the loft block and batten.
The space and infrastructure needed to facilitate multiple lift line hoist systems that have fleet angles that do not exceed 1.5 degrees is often significant. The space requirements often become limiting for smaller venues, especially when more than one hoist systems are being used.
The hoist fleet system incorporates a head block using numerous sheave diameters to create a multi-layered lift line path design wherein each layer utilizes fleet angle transitions to which layering occurs and for accurate positioning of individual lines. Multiple planes of lift lines are achieved by combining a series of varied diameter sheaves through the head block, at a defined spacing, to maximize the fleet transitions from the drum assembly within the hoist system. The lift lines exit the head block and transition into a series of individual sheaves on multiple planes which are at 90-degree groove angle to the head block sheaves. The lift lines are then routed through a loft block at the exit of the hoist fleet system. The hoist fleet system transitions the lift lines from the drum spacing down into a spacing matching the exit sheave or standard industry loft blocks spacing in a condensed space while maintaining a maximum fleet angle of 1.5 degrees.
One embodiment includes a hoist fleet system including a head block and a guide fleet assembly. The head block includes a plurality sheaves having more than one diameter. The guide fleet assembly can be arranged proximate the head block such that an array of lift lines can be routed through the plurality of sheaves of the head block into the guide fleet assembly. The guide fleet assembly further includes a plurality of guide sheaves and a plurality of plates. The plurality of plates is configured to house the plurality of guide sheaves. The plurality of guide sheaves is positioned substantially orthogonal to the head block. The plurality of plates is further arranged such that the plurality of guide sheaves is arranged on more than one plane. The plurality of guide sheaves is configured to reduce the spacing of the lift lines.
In an alternative embodiment, a hoist system comprising a hoist housing is disclosed. The hoist system also includes a hoist drive assembly including a motorized drive drum. The hoist drive system can be housed by the hoist housing. The hoist system further included a hoist fleet system coupled to the hoist housing. The hoist fleet system including a head block and a guide fleet assembly. The head block includes a plurality sheaves having more than one diameter. The guide fleet assembly can be arranged proximate the head block such that an array of lift lines can be routed through the plurality of sheaves of the head block into the guide fleet assembly. The guide fleet assembly further includes a plurality of guide sheaves and a plurality of plates. The plurality of plates is configured to house the plurality of guide sheaves. The plurality of guide sheaves is positioned substantially orthogonal to the head block. The plurality of plates is further arranged such that the plurality of guide sheaves is arranged on more than one plane. The plurality of guide sheaves is configured to reduce the spacing of the lift lines.
In an alternative embodiment, a hoist fleet system includes a head block, a guide fleet assembly and a loft block. The head block includes a plurality sheaves having more than one diameter. The guide fleet assembly can be arranged, at a first end, proximate the head block such that an array of lift lines can be routed through the plurality of sheaves of the head block into the guide fleet assembly. The guide fleet assembly further includes a plurality of guide sheaves and a plurality of plates. The plurality of plates is configured to house the plurality of guide sheaves. The plurality of guide sheaves is positioned substantially orthogonal to the head block. The plurality of plates is further arranged such that the plurality of guide sheaves is arranged on more than one plane. The plurality of guide sheaves is configured to reduce the spacing of the lift lines. The loft block can be arranged proximate a second end of the guide fleet assembly. The loft block includes a sheave block wherein the sheave block is configured to route the lift lines exiting the second end of the guide fleet assembly.
The above summary is not intended to describe each illustrated embodiment or every implementation of the subject matter hereof. The figures and the detailed description that follow more particularly exemplify various embodiments.
Subject matter hereof may be more completely understood in consideration of the following detailed description of various embodiments in connection with the accompanying figures, in which:
While various embodiments are amenable to various modifications and alternative forms, specifics thereof have been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail. It should be understood, however, that the intention is not to limit the claimed inventions to the particular embodiments described. On the contrary, the intention is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the spirit and scope of the subject matter as defined by the claims.
Disclosed herein is are embodiments of a hoist fleet system configured to guide a set of lift lines from a motorized drive drum to a standard loft block without exceeding a 1.5 degree fleet angle on any lift line. The hoist fleet system includes a head block, a loft block, and a guide fleet assembly wherein the guide fleet assembly is arranged between the head block and the loft block. The guide fleet assembly includes a plurality of sheaves, arranged orthogonal to the head block, and arranged such that the lift line spacing is reduced without exceeding a fleet angle of 1.5 degrees.
As depicted in
Unless otherwise indicated, hoist fleet system 100 includes structural and hardware components made of steel or other suitable material. Sheaves, and other lift line engaging surfaces can be made of glass-filled nylon 6-6, such as Nylatron GS™, or other suitable materials. Plain bearing materials can be made of bronze or other suitable bearing material. Roller bearings can be made of ceramic, steel, or other suitable material.
Referring now to
In embodiments, side plates 116 are arranged at a first end, into slots or grooves of one or more plate brackets 120. At a second end, side plates 116 are coupled using a threaded nut and elongated bolt with spacers 118 disposed between each side plate 116. Side plate 116 further includes an aperture, arranged proximate the second end, configured to receive a mounting shaft 126. Mounting shaft 126 is configured to support head block 104 at the second end. Head block 104 further includes a mounting strap 128 and a mounting bracket 130 arranged at each end of mounting shaft 126. Mounting bracket 130 and mounting strap 128 are configured to couple together such that mounting shaft 126 is retained between mounting bracket 130 and mounting strap 128. Mounting bracket 130 is configured to couple to the housing of the hoist drive system. Mounting bracket 130 and mounting strap 128 are arranged to allow mounting shaft 126 to rotate therein.
The one or more load cells 124 are communicatively coupled to a controller. Load cells 124 are configured to measure forces being applied to the array of sheaves 114. Because mounting bracket 130 and mounting strap 128 allow mounting shaft 126 to rotate freely, with the exception of minimal journal bearing friction, the forces placed on load cells 124 are resultant of forces placed on sheaves 114. Thus, load cells 124 can relay accurate load information to the controller such that safe operating loads can be maintained.
Referring now to
Sheaves 114 are rotatably coupled to a sheave shaft 140 via roller bearings 142. Sheave shaft 140 couples, at both ends, to side plates 116. Small sheaves 134, medium sheaves 136, and large sheaves 138 can vary in size such that lift lines exit head block 104 at different horizontal planes corresponding to the difference in diameters of the small sheaves 134, medium sheaves 136, and large sheaves 138. For example, lift lines guided by small sheaves 134 exit head block 104 on a lower horizontal plane than the lift lines guided by medium sheaves 136, and large sheaves 138. Likewise, lift lines guided by large sheaves 138 exit head block 104 on a higher horizontal plane than the lift lines guided by medium sheaves 136, and small sheaves 134. And finally, lift lines guided by medium sheaves 136 exit head block 104 on a mid-plane located between the upper plane of the large sheaves 138 and the lower plane of the small sheaves 134.
It is appreciated that any number of different sized sheaves, including small sheaves 134, medium sheaves 136, and large sheaves 138, and any other suitable sizes, can be combined in any quantity and combination to achieve any number of planes of lift lines.
Referring now to
In embodiments, first lower plate 164 couples to main plate 160 at a first portion of main plate 160 via threaded fasteners and a set of spacers 168. First lower plate 164 and main plate 160 are configured to house one or more lower sheaves 170 such that lower sheaves 170 are coupled to first lower plate 164 and main plate 160. Lower sheaves 170 rotate freely around a coupling axis via bearing. Second lower plate 166 couples to main plate 160 at a second portion of main plate 160 via threaded fasteners and spacers 168. Second lower plate 166 and main plate 160 are configured to house one or more lower sheaves 170 such that lower sheaves 170 are rotatably coupled to second lower plate 166 and main plate 160.
Top plate 162 couples to the second portion of main plate 160 opposite second lower plate 166 via threaded fasteners and spacers 168. Top plate 162 and main plate 160 are configured to house one or more mid-sheaves 172 and upper sheaves 174. In some configurations, mid-sheaves 172 and upper sheaves 174 can be stacked as well as arranged individually, as is depicted in
In one embodiment, and referring to
Referring now to
Referring now to
In use, and referring now to
In one embodiment as depicted in
With the aforementioned configuration of sizing of sheaves in the head block 104 and the arrangement of sheaves in the guide fleet assembly 106, lift lines 102 can be reduced from drive drum spacing to loft line spacing in a space of 20 inches given a 7-line configuration of 0.1875 inch wire rope lift lines and maintaining a maximum fleet angle of 1.5 degrees. In other embodiments, different head block 104 sheave sizing and arrangement of sheaves in the guide fleet assembly 106 can result in reduction from drive drum spacing to loft line spacing in a space of 10 inches given a 7-line configuration of 0.1875 inch wire rope lift lines and maintaining a maximum fleet angle of 1.5 degrees.
The hoist fleet system 100 is designed to provide a smooth multi-level transition mechanism of the lift line for a hoist (or any device it can be attached to) when conditions exist or occur which would be potentially hazardous to the system; hoist, arbor, building or nearby people and/or operators of the system.
To further enhance the preciseness of the design the head block features load sensing from which the system detects load forces on the complete system at predetermined values designed to protect against conditions arising or occurring which would be potentially hazardous to the system; hoist, arbor, building or nearby people and/or operators of the system.
Various embodiments of systems, devices, and methods have been described herein. These embodiments are given only by way of example and are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed inventions. It should be appreciated, moreover, that the various features of the embodiments that have been described may be combined in various ways to produce numerous additional embodiments. Moreover, while various materials, dimensions, shapes, configurations and locations, etc. have been described for use with disclosed embodiments, others besides those disclosed may be utilized without exceeding the scope of the claimed inventions.
Persons of ordinary skill in the relevant arts will recognize that the subject matter hereof may comprise fewer features than illustrated in any individual embodiment described above. The embodiments described herein are not meant to be an exhaustive presentation of the ways in which the various features of the subject matter hereof may be combined. Accordingly, the embodiments are not mutually exclusive combinations of features; rather, the various embodiments can comprise a combination of different individual features selected from different individual embodiments, as understood by persons of ordinary skill in the art. Moreover, elements described with respect to one embodiment can be implemented in other embodiments even when not described in such embodiments unless otherwise noted.
Although a dependent claim may refer in the claims to a specific combination with one or more other claims, other embodiments can also include a combination of the dependent claim with the subject matter of each other dependent claim or a combination of one or more features with other dependent or independent claims. Such combinations are proposed herein unless it is stated that a specific combination is not intended.
For purposes of interpreting the claims, it is expressly intended that the provisions of 35 U.S.C. § 112(f) are not to be invoked unless the specific terms “means for” or “step for” are recited in a claim.
The present application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application No. 62/819,791, filed Mar. 18, 2019, which is hereby incorporated herein in its entirety by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 62819791 | Mar 2019 | US |
