A lift assembly including an article to be lifted between a lowered position and a raised position, a flexible drive element coupled to the article and defining a longitudinal axis, a power mechanism coupled to the flexible drive element, a drum powered by the power mechanism and dimensioned to facilitate winding of the flexible drive element onto the drum, and a cable keeper providing a force on the flexible drive element to bias the flexible drive element toward the drum.

A modular reel drive assembly comprises two reel drive tower modules (12, 14), a reel hub adapter (54) and a reel hub adapter support module (22, 24). The hub adapter support module (22, 24) comprises at least one support pin which is configured to be movable between a storage position in which the at least one support pin is not aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24) and an operational position in which the support pin is aligned with at least one aperture (38, 39, 40, 41) on the hub adapter support module (22, 24).

A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like, often in a performance environment. The compact system is highly scalable to a variety of spaces and applications, including school and public theaters and concert halls, as well as some homes, private business, etc. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overspeed detector, which may comprise a centrifugal detection mechanism coupled to an elongate member of the system; dampening means; a compact mechanism for trimming or adjusting an operative length of elongate member; stabilizing pipe shaft bearings; elongate member diverter pulley mechanisms load balancing termination points. Additional features include various alternative combination hoist implementations and orientations, and alternative incorporated attachment mechanisms for use with the hoist system.

A self-locking apparatus for a gear set permits forward-driving an input in clockwise or counterclockwise directions and substantially prevents an output from being driven in either or both of those directions. The device includes a gear set with planet gears arranged within a planet carrier within a fixed ring gear. Each of the planet gears is engaged with the planet carrier via a differentiating connector retained in an elongated slot in the planet carrier where it moves to the clockwise position when being forward driven in the clockwise direction and, when the planet carrier is back driven in the clockwise direction, the connector moves to the counter-clockwise position in the slot. This arrangement allows the gear set to be forward driven but not back driven. This differentiated action can engage/disengage with any form of unidirectional engage/disengage mechanism. The apparatus is useful in industrial applications requiring self-locking gear sets.

A clutch assembly for a hoist may comprise a first epicyclic gear train and a first set of friction disks rotationally coupled to the first epicyclic gear train. A second set of friction disks may be in operable communication with the first set of friction disks. Torque may be transferred between the first set of friction disks and the second set of friction disks by means of a friction coupling between the first set of friction disks and the second set of friction disks. A pinion may be rotationally coupled to the second set of friction disks. A splined portion of the pinion may form an output of the clutch assembly.

A telescopic column includes at least two telescopic elements movable with respect to one another between two end positions and at least one damper that is configured such that, prior to reaching at least one of the end positions, a force slowing the relative movement of the telescopic elements is exerted on at least one of the telescopic elements.

A spool may include a drum rotatably supported on an axle shaft and flanges integrally formed with opposite ends of the drum. The drum has a continuous groove on the outer surface of the drum to guide the movement of the safety wireline. Both of the flanges may include an opening, internal threads circumscribing the opening, and a plurality of mechanical brakes. Each of the mechanical brakes may include a rotor rotatably supported on the axle shaft of the spool and a pawl arranged within the opening. The pawl is pivotally linked to the rotor such that when the rotation of the axle shaft is in a direction and at a rotation speed that exceeds a threshold then the pawl is moved by centrifugal force and engages with the internal threads circumscribing the opening and does not permit the spool to rotate.

The invention relates to a motor-operated crane drive in which a more rapidly rotating motor (1) drives a more slowly rotating cable drum (3) via a transmission (3). A safety brake (5) is arranged on the more slowly rotating side of the transmission (2). A signal that is used for actuating the safety brake (5) is utilized for initiating an electrical deceleration of the motor (1).

The invention relates to a motor-operated crane drive in which a more rapidly rotating motor (1) drives a more slowly rotating cable drum (3) via a transmission (3). A safety brake (5) is arranged on the more slowly rotating side of the transmission (2). A signal that is used for actuating the safety brake (5) is utilized for initiating an electrical deceleration of the motor (1).

A drive train is provided for hoisting gears, and in particular for hazardous transports. The drive train includes a drive motor (1), a cable drum (6) connected thereto, a reduction transmission (5) arranged between the drive motor (1) and the cable drum (6), a service brake (4) provided between the drive motor (1) and the reduction transmission (5) and a safety brake (7). To prevent damage to the reduction transmission (5) in the event of an emergency stop braking an automatic overrun disconnect means can be provided between the drive motor (1) and the service brake (4). The overrun disconnect means is preferably in the form of a freewheel (2).