Patent Application
20190233257
The devices, systems, and methods described herein relate generally to winches. More particularly, the devices, systems, and methods described herein relate to load movement using multiple winches.
Movement of loads is important in every industry. Cranes, winches, elevators, and many other devices are used to lift and move loads from one point to another. Equipment movement can become difficult when done in spaces without room for large equipment, in areas where lateral movement is needed but the infrastructure isn't present, or in places where heavy equipment is not allowed for safety or aesthetics.
Moving loads in places with limited space, limited infrastructure, and restrictions on heavy equipment can be challenging. For example, construction of a playground in a park may necessitate lifting heavy parts into place. These parts may be too heavy or awkward to lift manually. Bringing a truck, crane, or other mobile equipment may be precluded by limited space for passage of the equipment, or the grounds may be fully developed and vehicle movement across the grounds would cause major damage to the park. In these instances, expensive solutions can solve the issue, such as renting an extremely large crane. Sometimes, dangerous solutions may be tried, such as perching precariously in unsafe locations or manually lifting the loads.
Devices, systems, and methods for a multi-winch lifting apparatus and load movement are disclosed. The lifting apparatus includes a mounting base. At least two lateral winches are attached to the mounting base. Each of these lateral winches includes its own lateral line. A lifting winch is also attached to the mounting base. The lifting winch also includes a lifting line.
Preferably, the lifting apparatus includes at least three lateral winches attached to three different sides of the mounting base and the lateral lines of the three lateral winches are each adapted to be attached to a separate elevated point such that the lifting winch can be held above an operating area. Preferably, the lifting apparatus also includes a controller adapted to operate each of the three lateral winches. The controller extends and retracts the lateral lines as appropriate to thereby move the lifting winch to different points above the operating area. Preferably, the controller is also adapted to control the lifting winch. As a result, the lifting apparatus is able to lift a load from one location on the operating area, move the lifted load laterally and then lower the load to a different location on the operating area.
Alternatively, the lifting apparatus includes only two lateral winches and a controller which extends and retracts the lines from the lateral winches so as to move the mounting base along a generally linear path.
Preferably, the lifting apparatus also includes a top winch attached to the mounting base. The top winch includes a top line, which can be attached to a point above the mounting base. Consequently, the top winch can be used to stabilize and control the vertical position of the mounting base.
Each of the three lateral winches and the lifting winch may have one or more motors. The motors may be located in an interior volume of their respective winch. The lifting apparatus may use one or more communication systems. These may include Bluetooth communication chips, Internet Wi-Fi transceivers, network transceivers, a Z-Wave network transceiver, or a combination thereof. The one or more communication systems may communicate with an external remote control device. The one or more communication systems may receive instructions from the external remote control device, generate signals instructing each of the one or motors to rotate at a speed and in a direction, receive signals from each of the one or more motors regarding motor statuses, and generate a signal informing the external remote control device of the motor statuses.
In some embodiments, the lifting apparatus may be powered by one or more batteries. In other embodiments, the lifting apparatus may be powered by an electrical power line.
In accordance with the method aspect of the invention, a method for moving loads, includes attaching at least two lateral lines from at least two lateral winches to at least two elevated points, the at least two lateral winches mounted to a mounting base. A lifting line of a lifting winch, which is itself attached to the mounting base, is also attached to a load. The load is lifted by the lifting winch, and then moved laterally by extending and retracting the lateral lines, as appropriate. The load is then lowered to the desired destination.
Further aspects and embodiments are provided in the foregoing drawings, detailed description and claims.
The following drawings are provided to illustrate certain embodiments described herein. The drawings are merely illustrative, and are not intended to limit the scope of claimed inventions and are not intended to show every potential feature or embodiment of the claimed inventions. The drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale; in some instances, certain elements of the drawing may be enlarged with respect to other elements of the drawing for purposes of illustration.
The following description recites various aspects and embodiments of the inventions disclosed herein. No particular embodiment is intended to define the scope of the invention. Rather, the embodiments provide non-limiting examples of various compositions, and methods that are included within the scope of the claimed inventions. The description is to be read from the perspective of one of ordinary skill in the art. Therefore, information that is well known to the ordinarily skilled artisan is not necessarily included.
The following terms and phrases have the meanings indicated below, unless otherwise provided herein. This disclosure may employ other terms and phrases not expressly defined herein. Such other terms and phrases shall have the meanings that they would possess within the context of this disclosure to those of ordinary skill in the art. In some instances, a term or phrase may be defined in the singular or plural. In such instances, it is understood that any term in the singular may include its plural counterpart and vice versa, unless expressly indicated to the contrary.
As used herein, the singular forms “a,” “an,” and “the” include plural referents unless the context clearly dictates otherwise. For example, reference to “a substituent” encompasses a single substituent as well as two or more substituents, and the like.
As used herein, “for example,” “for instance,” “such as,” or “including” are meant to introduce examples that further clarify more general subject matter. Unless otherwise expressly indicated, such examples are provided only as an aid for understanding embodiments illustrated in the present disclosure and are not meant to be limiting in any fashion. Nor do these phrases indicate any kind of preference for the disclosed embodiment.
As used herein, “winch” is meant to refer to a device consisting of a cable, rope or chain winding around a rotating drum, preferably turned by a motor.
As used herein, “lateral” when used to describe movement is meant to refer to movements in a generally horizontal direction.
It will be readily understood that the components of the described devices, systems, and methods, as generally described and illustrated in the Figures herein, could be arranged and designed in a wide variety of different configurations. Thus, the following more detailed description of the embodiments of the described devices, systems, and methods, as represented in the Figures, is not intended to limit the scope of the described devices, systems, and methods, as claimed, but is merely representative of certain examples of presently contemplated embodiments in accordance with the described devices, systems, and methods.
A lifting assembly is presented that utilizes multiple lateral winches mounted, preferably to the sides of a central mounting base and a lifting winch that is mounted, preferably to the bottom of the central mounting base. The lateral lines of each of the lateral winches are attached to elevated points around the area within which the load is located and the destination. In the example of the park, these may be nearby buildings, flagpoles, or trees. The lateral winches extend and pull back concurrently so that the lifting assembly travels around the area. The lifting winch is then attached to the parts, the parts are lifted, and the lifting assembly travels to the destination, elevating the load or lowering the load as needed.
The figures shown all utilize three lateral winches. However, in some embodiments, two lateral winches may be used for movement of loads in a single line. In other embodiments, more than three lateral winches may be used for greater stability or finer movement control.
Referring now to the Figures,
Lifting apparatus 104 also has a lifting winch 126, with a lifting line 128 ending in a hook 130 or like connection device. Each lateral line is attached to an elevated point 150, 152, and 154 by hooks 112, 118, and 124 or similar connection device, respectively. Lifting line 128 is attached to a load 140 at attachment point 156 by hook 130. Hook 124 and elevated point 154 are not shown, as they are blocked by a building. Lifting winch 126 is not shown, as it is blocked by the rest of lifting assembly 106.
Lifting winch 126 retracts lifting line 128, lifting load 140, as shown at 100. The lifting apparatus 104 then moves to the destination by extending and retracting lateral lines 108, 114, and 120, as shown at 101. The lifting winch 126 then extends lifting line 128, lowering load 140 to the destination, as shown at 102.
Preferably, the lifting apparatus includes a controller that controls the winding and unwinding of the lateral winches. More preferably the controller also controls the lifting winch. Most preferably, the controller also controls the top winch. In this way, the extension and retraction of the several lines is synchronously controlled, to thereby provide accurate control of the movement of the load.
In some embodiments, each lateral winch 108, 114, and 120 and the lifting winch 126 may each have the capacity to pull up to 2,000 lbs. It is appreciated that the 2,000 lbs. lifting capacity is exemplary only and different lifting capacities may similarly be used. In some embodiments, one or more of the winches (e.g., 108, 114, 120, and/or 126) may have the capacity to pull up to 4,000 lbs. or more (double or triple a steady state capacity, for example) for a very short amount of time (e.g., less than 5 seconds), by allowing one or more motors of the winch (e.g., 108, 114, 120, and/or 126) to draw substantially more current (in a short burst, for example), than is permitted in steady state (or typical) operation. In some cases, this burst of pulling power may enable the winch (e.g., 108, 114, 120, and/or 126) to overcome initial static friction of a heavy object while being able to overcome the moving friction using a pulling capacity that is less than the 2,000 lb pulling capacity. This may enable the winch (e.g., 108, 114, 120, and/or 126) and/or the lifting apparatus 104 as a whole to be able to accomplish certain tasks that would otherwise be unattainable with the limited steady state capacity of one or more of the winches (e.g., 108, 114, 120, 126). In some cases, this burst mode capacity may be enabled via a button or through an application (on a mobile device, for example).
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In these and other embodiments, each of the winches has one or more motors. In some embodiments, the motors are located in an interior volume of their respective winch, such as inside the spool assembly. In some embodiments, one or more of the winches may share a common motor with appropriate gearing.
In some embodiments, the lifting apparatus has one or more communication systems. These may include Bluetooth communication chips, Internet Wi-Fi transceivers, network transceivers, a Z-Wave network transceiver, or a combination thereof. In some embodiments, the one or more communication systems communicate with an external remote control device. In some embodiments, the one or more communication systems receive instructions from the external remote control device, generate signals instructing each of the one or motors to rotate at a speed and in a direction, receive signals from each of the one or more motors regarding motor statuses, and generate a signal informing the external remote control device of the motor statuses. Preferably, the remote control device is a smart phone or tablet, communicating with the controller by Bluetooth
In some embodiments, the lifting apparatus is powered by one or more batteries. In other embodiments, the lifting apparatus is powered by a power line.
The invention has been described with reference to various specific and preferred embodiments and techniques. Nevertheless, it understood that many variations and modifications may be made while remaining within the spirit and scope of the invention.
