Block

Abstract

A block comprises low friction sheave with inner hole, a U-shaped frame having two holes on the curved section on the top of the frame, a continuous loop and a lock bone, wherein the sheave and U-shaped frame are connected non-rigidly by the continuous loop, which is inserted through the holes on the curved section on the top of the frame and through the inner hole of the sheave, and the continuous loop and the whole structure of the block are kept together and locked by the lock bone.

Claims

1. A block comprising: a sheave with an inner hole; a U-shaped frame having two holes on a curved section on top of the frame; a continuous loop; and a lock bone, wherein the sheave and the U-shaped frame are connected non-rigidly by the continuous loop, which is inserted through the holes on the curved section on the top of the frame and through the inner hole of the sheave, and wherein the lock bone holds together the sheave, the U-shaped frame and the continuous loop.

2. The block according to claim 1, wherein the sheave has a section of triangular rounded shape comprising an outer channel; longitudinal sections; negative curved inner section, and positive curved inner section, wherein between the longitudinal sections, negative curved inner section and positive curved inner section of sheave and continuous loop, cooling chambers are formed.

3. The block according to claim 1, wherein the inner hole of the sheave has a diameter two to three times greater than a diameter of the continuous loop.

4. The block according to claim 1, wherein the holes of the frame are located from each other at a distance which equals a width of the sheave.

5. The block according to claim 1, wherein the continuous loop circumscribes the sheave through the holes of the U-shaped frame and through the inner hole of the sheave by being in indirect contact with the sheave in a first point, in a second point and in a third point.

6. The block according to claim 1, wherein the lock bone has a parallel-pipe shape having concave edges on both of its shorter sides.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the following figures from which:

(2) FIG. 1 illustrates the block according to the present invention in perspective view with element (A) indicating the lock bone, shown in FIG. 2 in an enlarged view

(3) FIG. 2 shows the lock bone of FIG. 1, shown as (A), in an enlarged view.

(4) FIG. 3 is the block shown in FIG. 1 as a side view.

(5) FIG. 4 is a cross-section of the block shown in FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show the movement of the frame and sheave of the block shown in FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(7) The block according to the present invention comprises non-rigidly connected a triangular low-friction sheave 1 with an inner hole 1.1, a U-shaped frame 2 having two oval shaped holes 2.1 on the curved section 2.2 on top of the U-shaped frame 2, a continuous loop 3 extending through the holes 2.1 of the frame 2 and through the inner hole 1.1 of the sheave 1, and a lock bone 4 holding together the sheave 1, the U-shaped frame 2 and the continuous loop 3.

(8) The low friction sheave 1 has a section of triangular rounded shape, which comprises an outer channel 1.3, longitudinal sections 1.4, negative curved inner section 1.5 forming cooling chambers 6 between the sheave 1 and the continuous loop 3, and positive curved inner section 1.6. The diameter 1.2 of the inner hole 1.1 of the sheave 1 is about two to three, preferably 2.5 times greater than the diameter of the continuous loop 3 to give the stability and lowest friction for the spinning sheave. Negative curved inner sections 1.5 work as cooling chambers 6 for the continuous loop 3.

(9) The function of the U-shaped frame 2 is to prevent the rope 5 wearing off from the outer channel 1.3 of sheave 1 under low loading or in different loading directions. The U-shaped frame 2 moves flexibly with a direction of different loading angles 9.2.

(10) The U-shaped frame 2 has two oval shaped holes 2.1 which are situated on the curving section 2.2 on the top of the U-shaped frame 2. The inner distance 8 between the holes 2.1 is exact with the width 8 of the triangular low friction sheave 1. The lower part of the holes 2.1 is concave.

(11) The continuous loop 3 which is pushed together forms two parallel lines with the first loop end 3.1 and the second loop end 3.2 running through the holes 2.1 of the U-shaped frame 2, wherein the loop 3 and the frame 2 are in indirect contact with each other and the loop 3 is rounding the inner hole 1.1 of the sheave 1 and is indirect contact with the sheave 1 in the first point 7.1, in the second point 7.2 and in the third point 7.3 to gain the lowest friction possible when spinning under loading. As the friction generates heat for the continuous loop 3, the negative curved inner sections 1.5 of the sheave 1 work as cooling chambers 6 for the continuous loop 3.

(12) The continuous loop 3 forms a rounded shape over the object and is flexible giving free movement to each part of the block which is crucial under high loading in different directions and constant movement.

(13) The continuous loop is locked with the lock bone 4 which works as a compression lock giving the rope 5 free movement under loading.

(14) The lock bone 4 is the part which holds the whole flexible structure together. The continuous loop 3 runs through all the elements of the block. One end 3.1 of the loop goes through the other end 3.2 of the loop and over the lock bone 4. The lock bone 4 is not fixed to the loop because there is no loading discontinuity along the loop fiber directions. Also, the lock bone will find its best position under loading. The lock bone works under pressure under the load making the whole structure fixed. The lock bone 4 is a parallel-piped shape with concave edges 4.1 on both shorter sides. This particular shape allows flexible movement for the loop 3 and fixes all elements of the whole block structure even with low loadings when each element of the block is loosened. There is no fixed connection between each detail of the block and the structural steadiness is achieved under loading with the use of lock bone 4.

(15) The sheave 1 of the block moves three-dimensionally while spinning. The low friction spinning is achieved due that the rope axle has moved as close to the center of the sheave as possible, making the friction lowest possible. Due to this, the sheave 1 will always spin as the rope, which turns the sheave, has always a larger friction area.

(16) The movability of the sheave 1 is achieved by minimizing the rope axle friction lower than the friction of the rope which makes the sheave move/spin.

(17) The U-shaped frame 2 of the block is movable three-dimensionally: vertically as well as turning also on a horizontal level according to the movement of the sheave following the loading direction and angle.

(18) The movability of the U-shaped frame 2 is achieved by not fixing block elements between the loop and U-shaped frame. The frame moves vertically as the rope loop goes through the oval holes freely, leaving the frame free to slide up and down on the rope loop. The U-shaped frame fixes its best position only when the load is applied to the block. Still, the U-shaped frame can move minimally according to the stress and loading direction when under load in working conditions.

(19) The sheave 1 of the block and the U-shaped frame 2 of the block in a relation to each other are not fixed in loose conditions. The sheave can move three-dimensionally inside the U-shaped frame. The U-shaped frame can move up and down vertically in loose conditions. The U-shaped frame and the sheave will take the best fixed position only when load is applied. The U-shaped frame and the sheave can still move minimally according to the stress and loading directions when under maximum load.

(20) The movability of the sheave 1 of the block and the U-shaped frame 2 enables the block and its elements to be flexible in a loose situation and under loading. When the loading is applied the elements will take the best possible positions maximizing the durability of the block in different working situations under unexpected loading conditions. Due to these solutions the block according to the present invention is basically unbreakable as it does not have any rigid connections or details which could bend, deform or break to pieces. The block and its elements will always take the best possible position according to the load applied. With the present invention it is achieved that the block does not have any additional assembling parts, rigid axles, fixed cheeks and additional connections points. This solution makes the block the lightest, simplest and most flexible block compared to prior art.