Other

Exterior Elevator, LLC

Aquatec Gmbh

Power Climber Inc.

May, Marvin M.

Marvin M May

Mark W Hancock

Harry A Kendall

Jeffrey T Bayorgeon

Robert C Billings

Donn B Furlong

Various lifting systems are described that use one or more of the following features. A method for setting an adjustable height upper pulley on a tall structure; load transfer from a suspended load to a tall structure; fan-based stabilizer; stabilizer or horizontal load position control mechanism using a closed loop of cable and taction winch for a crane application; crane-based lifting system that uses a closed loop of lifting cable looped around a traction winch; and a stabilizer or horizontal load position control mechanism that does not need a closed loop of cable. Other embodiments are also described and claims. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

Lifting systems

A stabilizer cable has a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is coupled to a crane load. The stabilizer cable loops around a boom pulley that is attached to a crane boom, then runs through a traveler pulley, then loops around a floating pulley, then loops around a deflector pulley. The deflector pulley and the second end of the stabilizer cable are positioned such that an increase in tension of the stabilizer cable urges the suspended load toward the traveler pulley. Other embodiments are also described.

Stabilization and control of a crane load

Various lifting systems are described that use one or more of the following features. A method for setting an adjustable height upper pulley on a tall structure; load transfer from a suspended load to a tall structure; fan-based stabilizer; stabilizer or horizontal load position control mechanism using a closed loop of cable and traction winch for a crane application; crane-based lifting system that uses a closed loop of lifting cable looped around a traction winch; and a stabilizer or horizontal load position control mechanism that does not need a closed loop of cable. Other embodiments are also described and claims. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system having a pulley attached to a building. A length of cable is installed around the pulley. The cable is of sufficient length so as to reach, when deployed outside of the building, below the pulley to where emergency personnel gather in an area next to a base of the building (when responding to a disaster situation in the building). A winch around which the cable is to be operatively installed is located in the area next to the base.

Method and apparatus for reaching from outside an upper level of a tall structure

An embodiment of the invention is directed to a system having a pulley attached to a building. A closed loop of cable is installed around the pulley. The loop is of sufficient length so as to reach, when deployed outside of the building, below the pulley to where emergency personnel gather in an area next to a base of the building (when responding to a disaster situation in the building). A winch around which the loop is to be operatively installed is located in the area next to the base. Other embodiments are also described and claimed.

An improved cable hoist apparatus has a sheave movably connected relative to a frame to bias the cable in a circumferential groove in the sheave. A biasing means on the frame compresses the cable in the sheave groove with the amount of force depending upon the tension in the cable. In this regard, the sheave is positioned relative to the frame as a function of the cable tension such that the greater the cable tension, the greater the biasing force on the cable. However, the biasing means can include a plurality of rollers to regulate the biasing force. A reeving spring can be used in conjunction with the biasing means to allow reeving of the hoist when the cable is unloaded. The hoist apparatus optimally incorporates certain advantageous safety features. These include a cable brake activated and released depending upon the position of the sheave and a motor shutoff as a function of overload and/or underload.

Hoist apparatus

The improved method and apparatus for dispensing carbonated water from a supply of cooled water includes thermal coaction of carbonator apparatus with a reservoir of cooled water, and includes a control system to inhibit water-pumping operation into the carbonator apparatus after the reservoir of cooled water is depleted.

Drink dispenser and method of preparation

An improved carbonator and method is disclosed which delivers water under pressure to a carbonator from a pump driven by the carbonating gas under pressure, the exhaust from which is mixed with the water being carbonated. Alternative embodiments are disclosed which are configured in unitary, low-cost, compact configuration conducive to cooling within confined compartments. Low operating pressures permit convenient use of inexpensive plastic components for efficient operation.

Gas-driven carbonator and method

An improved method and means for carbonating water includes an inexpensive pressure vessel that operates at low fluid pressures, and that is selectively vented of accumulated atmospheric gases to maintain high carbonating efficiency. Supplemental gasification of the dispensed liquid and selective cooling techniques used on the inlet water and on the carbonator promote high-level carbonation on low volume usage of pressurized carbon dioxide gas. Post-mix apparatus and method produce flavored soft drinks with only minimum additional equipment.

Low pressure, high efficiency carbonator and method

This scaffold hoist uses a transmission mechanism whose output shafts are fastened to the hoist housing, and whose case rotates, carrying a sheave which impels the mechanism along the cable. The transmission mechanism is advantageously a quadrant drive for extremely high torque-to-weight ratio. The sheave has a peripheral groove, tapered and deep enough to seat a cable having any of three different diameters, at different depths in the groove. The cable wraps around three-fourths of the sheave. Around five-eighths of the sheave, a chain presses the cable into the groove. The chain rollers enter the groove deeply enough to engage even the smallest-diameter cables of interest, while clearing the sheave periphery. The chain side bars ride along the sides of the sheave, holding the chain and cable in position. A resettable overspeed brake uses a rotary cam that jams a cable of any of the three sizes, at correspondingly various cam angles. The cam is cocked out of contact with the cable, and immediately spring-driven against the cable when triggered by a centrifugal sensor. A backup block--which keeps the cable from retreating from the cam--slides away from the cable at an angle during resetting, to facilitate unjamming the cable by moderate force.

Efficient lightweight hoist with multiple-cable-size traction and safety

This scaffold hoist uses a transmission mechanism whose output shafts are fastened to the hoist housing, and whose case rotates, carrying a sheave which impels the mechanism along the cable. The transmission mechanism is advantageously a quadrant drive for extremely high torque-to-weight ratio. The sheave has a peripheral groove, tapered and deep enough to seat a cable having any of three different diameters, at different depths in the groove. The cable wraps around three-quarters of the sheave. Around five-eighths of the sheave, a chain presses the cable into the groove. The chain rollers enter the groove deeply enough to engage even the smallest-diameter cables of interest, while clearing the sheave periphery. The chain side bars ride along the sides of the sheave, holding the chain and cable in position. A resettable overspeed brake uses a rotary cam that jams a cable of any of the three sizes, at correspondingly various cam angles. The cam is cocked out of contact with the cable, and immediately spring-driven against the cable when triggered by a centrifugal sensor. A backup block--which keeps the cable from retreating from the cam--slides away from the cable at an angle during resetting, to facilitate unjamming the cable by moderate force.

In a power tool for binding concrete-reinforcing bars together with a wire tie, a predetermined length of wire is fed into a pair of jaws having loop-forming grooves therein. A rotatable inner mandrel carries a cutter bar while an outer mandrel is rotatably mounted on the inner mandrel. Radial flanges on the outer mandrel form openings with the cutter bar for the passage of the wire as it is formed into a loop by the jaws. Relative rotation of the inner mandrel relative to the outer mandrel cuts the wire and then twists the cut ends into a wire tie that binds the reinforcing bar. Controls are provided for properly positioning the openings for the passage of the wire upon each successive cycle of operation.

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Los Angeles, CA, United States of America

Marvin M May