A hoist system having a drum primarily self-contained within a batten, for raising and lowering lighting, sound equipment, curtains and the like in a performance environment. The hoist system may be adapted with safety mechanisms including an overload sensor and/or a slack line detector. The system may be provided in the form of a point hoist. 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. Additional features include various cable management systems and trim adjustment mechanisms for use with the hoist system.

A cable winch arrangement (1) which includes at least one cable drum (2), which is mounted rotatably about a drum axis (3), for winding up and/or unwinding at least one cable (30-37), and a supporting structure (20), and a spindle drive (14) for displacing the cable drum (2) relative to the supporting structure (20), wherein the spindle drive (14) has a spindle (16) extending along a spindle axis (15), and a cable run-off point (6) of the at least one cable (30-37), at which the cable (30-37) runs tangentially onto and/or out from the cable drum (2), is at least substantially positionally fixed with respect to the supporting structure (20), and the spindle axis (15) is arranged coaxially with respect to the drum axis (3) of the cable drum (2).

A cable winch arrangement (1) which includes at least one cable drum (2), which is mounted rotatably about a drum axis (3), for winding up and/or unwinding at least one cable (30-37), and a supporting structure (20), and a spindle drive (14) for displacing the cable drum (2) relative to the supporting structure (20), wherein the spindle drive (14) has a spindle (16) extending along a spindle axis (15), and a cable run-off point (6) of the at least one cable (30-37), at which the cable (30-37) runs tangentially onto and/or out from the cable drum (2), is at least substantially positionally fixed with respect to the supporting structure (20), and the spindle axis (15) is arranged coaxially with respect to the drum axis (3) of the cable drum (2).

A system and a method for a swivel winch are described for rotating a winch about an axis such that friction is reduced when letting out or pulling in a line. The swivel winch includes a fairlead with an orifice and sensors which sense the pressure from the cable and send the retrieved data to a controller which generates commands for an actuator, causing the swivel mount coupled to the winch to swivel in a direction that will relieve pressure.

A system and a method for a swivel winch are described for rotating a winch about an axis such that friction is reduced when letting out or pulling in a line. The swivel winch includes a fairlead with an orifice and sensors which sense the pressure from the cable and send the retrieved data to a controller which generates commands for an actuator, causing the swivel mount coupled to the winch to swivel in a direction that will relieve pressure.

A rescue hoist includes a cable drum that translates along and rotates around a cable drum axis. The rescue hoist includes various components that are supported on the hoist frame and that extend at least partially through the cable drum. A first bellows is mounted to the frame and attached to a first end of the cable drum, and a second bellows is mounted to the frame and attached to the second end of the cable drum. The first bellows and the second bellows expand and collapse as the cable drum translates, such that the first bellows and the second bellows isolate the rescue hoist components from an operating environment as cable drum translates and rotates.

A rescue hoist includes a cable drum that translates along and rotates around a cable drum axis. The rescue hoist includes various components that are supported on the hoist frame and that extend at least partially through the cable drum. A first bellows is mounted to the frame and attached to a first end of the cable drum, and a second bellows is mounted to the frame and attached to the second end of the cable drum. The first bellows and the second bellows expand and collapse as the cable drum translates, such that the first bellows and the second bellows isolate the rescue hoist components from an operating environment as cable drum translates and rotates.

A level wind mechanism includes a first screw and a second screw extending through a block. A shoe is disposed within the block between the first screw and the second screw. The shoe includes a first follower for engaging with and being driven by a thread of the first screw and a second follower for engaging with and being driven by a thread of the second screw. Each thread includes cams at the terminal ends of the thread for causing the shoe to disengage from that thread and to shift to engaging the other thread. In this way, the first screw and the second screw cause the shoe, and thus the block, to translate relative to the first screw and the second screw.

A level wind mechanism includes a first screw and a second screw extending through a block. A shoe is disposed within the block between the first screw and the second screw. The shoe includes a first follower for engaging with and being driven by a thread of the first screw and a second follower for engaging with and being driven by a thread of the second screw. Each thread includes cams at the terminal ends of the thread for causing the shoe to disengage from that thread and to shift to engaging the other thread. In this way, the first screw and the second screw cause the shoe, and thus the block, to translate relative to the first screw and the second screw.

A cable drum assembly may comprise a shaft configured to rotate about an axis. A drum may be positioned radially outward from the shaft and configured to rotate about the axis. A ball spline may be in operable communication with the shaft and the drum, the ball spline disposed between the shaft and the drum and configured to orbit the axis.