ROPE HOIST

Abstract

A rope hoist, which comprises a rope drum for a hoisting rope to be winded thereon and a rope drum cover for partially surrounding the rope drum. Visually observable or readable means for detecting winding/unwinding positions of the hoisting rope on the rope drum are arranged on the rope drum cover, and to indicate lifting height of a load attached to the hoisting rope.

Claims

1-7. (canceled)

8. The rope hoist according to claim 10, wherein the hoisting rope is chosen from a group, which does not include metal ropes.

9. The rope hoist according to claim 8, wherein the hoisting rope is a synthetic rope.

10. A rope hoist, which comprises a rope drum for a hoisting rope to be winded thereon and a rope drum cover for partially surrounding the rope drum, the rope hoist is arranged to move along a main girder, the main girder is movable on rails, wherein the main girder is supported by said rails at its ends, wherein visually observable or readable means for detecting winding or unwinding positions of the hoisting rope on the rope drum are arranged on the rope drum cover, and to indicate lifting height of a load attached to the hoisting rope, the visually observable or readable means are arranged on the rope drum cover in axial direction of the rope drum and comprise a scale arranged on the rope drum cover, wherein the scale is a separate component, which is attached to an edge of the rope drum cover with a sticker, or the scale is formed directly at an edge of the rope drum cover with a distinct colour distinguishable from a colour of the rope drum cover, or the scale is formed of parallel openings arranged on the rope drum cover, or the scale is formed of parallel alternating toothed structure formed of substantially rectangular protrusions and recesses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0008] In the following the invention will be described in greater detail by means of preferred embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, in which

[0009] FIG. 1 illustrates an implementation according to the invention viewed substantially from below or angled from downwards of the rope hoist;

[0010] FIG. 2 illustrates another implementation according to the invention in the same angle of view as in FIG. 1;

[0011] FIG. 3 illustrates yet another implementation according to the invention also in the same angle of view as in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0012] Referring to FIGS. 1-3 illustrating a rope hoist 1 comprising a rope drum 2 for a hoisting rope 3 to be winded thereon and a rope drum cover 4 for partially surrounding the rope drum 2. The rope drum 2 has a single layer winding for the hoisting rope 3. For the hoisting rope 3, the rope drum 2 has an ascending rope groove, wherein in a longitudinal direction in mind, same position of the hoisting rope 3 settles in the rope groove at the same position in the ascending groove.

[0013] The rope hoist further comprises a motor 5 and a gearing 6 for operating the rope drum 2 and lifting means 7 connected to the hoisting rope 3 for lifting the load attached thereto. The rope hoist 1 moves along a main girder 8. The main girder 8 can move on rails (not shown in Figures) so that the main girder 8 is usually supported by said rails at its ends.

[0014] On the rope drum cover 4 has been arranged according to the invention visually observable or readable means 9 (FIG. 1); 91 (FIG. 2); 92 (FIG. 3) for detecting winding or unwinding positions of the hoisting rope 3 on the rope drum 2 and therefore, indicating the lifting height of the load attached to the hoisting rope 3. In all the solutions according to FIGS. 1-3, these visually observable or readable means 9; 91; 92 are arranged on the rope drum cover in an axial direction of the rope drum 2.

[0015] In the exemplary implementations illustrated in FIGS. 1-3 these visually observable or readable means comprise a scale 9; 91; 92 arranged on the rope drum cover.

[0016] In the implementation according to FIG. 1, said scale 9 can be a separate component, which is attached to the edge of the rope drum cover 4, for example with a sticker. The scale 9 can also be formed directly at the edge of the rope drum cover 4, for example with a distinct colour distinguishable from the colour of the rope drum cover 4.

[0017] In the solution according to FIG. 2, the scale 91 is formed of parallel openings 91a arranged on the rope drum cover.

[0018] In the implementation according to FIG. 3, the scale 92 is formed of parallel alternating toothed structure formed of substantially rectangular protrusions 92a and recesses 92b.

[0019] The measurement utilizes directly progressive or regressive front line of the hoisting rope 3 in the rope groove as indicator compared to the scale 9; 91; 92, where the scale is substantially perpendicular to the progressive or regressive front line. The progressive or regressive front line of the hoisting rope 3 is immediately alongside the scale 9; 91; 92.

[0020] Legibility of the scale 9; 91; 92 in the aforementioned embodiments can be improved by adding coarser measuring lines next to monotone measuring lines. With the two-tiered scale, the human eye detects and remembers the differences more clearly, and vertical height of the lifting can be better repeatable in sequential lifting processes. Utilizing different colours can also improve legibility between the adjacent steps or tiers of the scale.

[0021] Using the indicator according to the invention at a rough estimate is not necessary particularly precise but is very useful approximative indicator of the lifting height compared to a situation when the lifting height is not known at all. The scale is read so that the user of the device distinguishes uniform amount of the rope on the rope drum, and the front line of the edge of the rope in the rope groove indicates the amount of the rope on the rope drum. The user consequently compares the front line of the edge of the rope to the scale. For the sake of clarity, upper and lower limits of the lifting height can also be marked distinctly on the scale, for example with indicator stickers glued on the scale during the introduction of the hoist. This would be preferable especially in situations where heavy loads are lifted to high places in relation to the user of the hoist, for example on a truck platform or over tall obstacles. If the hoist further comprises a rope guide, a pointer could be installed on the rope guide to indicate the position of the rope.

[0022] The lifting height indicator according to the invention is adapted especially well to be utilized, when the hoisting rope 3 is chosen from a group, which does not include metal ropes. Typically, the hoisting rope 3 is synthetic material having a colour which is clearly distinct from dark or the colour of the rope hoist 2, for example orange. Synthetic hoisting rope is used without grease, also known as lubrication, so it does not change to black in use such as metal ropes which require lubrication. Neither will the grease spread disadvantageously down from the hoist.

[0023] The loads to be lifted can vary from light to heavy, in which case an elongation according to the magnitude of the load is directed towards the hoisting rope 3. The variation of elongation does not have remarkable significance in indicating the length in the height direction with the scale 9; 91; 92 according to the invention.

[0024] The aforementioned description of the invention is only meant to exemplify the basic idea according to the invention. A skilled person can, however, implement its details within the scope of the claims.