Patent US3578605A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3836121A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Motor-driven hoist with protective braking system
Assignee: UNC NUCLEAR INDUSTRIES Inc A CORP OF
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Filing: 1972-06-23
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Granted: 1974-09-17
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Expires: 1992-06-23
Abstract
Abstract A motor driven hoist especially useful for moving nuclear reactor fuel is described. A principal feature is a positive locking system to prevent load dropping when a malfunction develops. The hoist includes a main drum-supporting cable for the load and which is directly driven by a main hoist motor. A worm wheel is coupled to the drum. A mating worm is in turn driven by an auxiliary motor which has insufficient power to carry the load. The drum cannot rotate unless both motors are operative. The auxiliary worm motor and worm gearing function as an automatic lock which opens to permit drum rotation only so long as the main motor is delivering power to the main drum. Additional features include directly driven auxiliary drums for simultaneously supplying electrical or air hoses to the load, and means for translating the drum while rotating same to maintain the drum cable aligned with the load.
Inventors
- 👤 C Jones
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-23 10:46
CPC Classifications
B; B66; B66D; B66D1/00; B66D1/02; B66D1/14; B66D5/00; B66D2700/00; B66D2700/03
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
111 words
Hoisting apparatus especially adapted for moving a load such as nuclear fuel, comprising a main drum, a load cable wound on the drum for coupling to the load, main drive means directly coupled to the main drum for driving same, substantially irreversible gearing separate from the main drive means, means for continuously engaging said irreversible gearing to the main drum, auxiliary drive means connected to the irreversible gearing for driving same in the same direction as that imparted to the irreversible gearing by the main drum when the latter is driven by the main drive means, and means for activating the auxiliary drive means whenever the main drive means is activated.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
111 words
Hoisting apparatus especially adapted for moving a load such as nuclear fuel, comprising a main drum, a load cable wound on the drum for coupling to the load, main drive means directly coupled to the main drum for driving same, substantially irreversible gearing separate from the main drive means, means for continuously engaging said irreversible gearing to the main drum, auxiliary drive means connected to the irreversible gearing for driving same in the same direction as that imparted to the irreversible gearing by the main drum when the latter is driven by the main drive means, and means for activating the auxiliary drive means whenever the main drive means is activated.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
52 words
Hoisting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the main drive means is an electrical motor capable of driving the main drum with the load cable coupled to the load, and the auxiliary drive means is a separate electrical motor incapable alone or driving the main drum with a loaded load cable.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
37 words
Hoisting apparatus as set forth in claim 2 wherein the irreversible gearing comprises a worm wheel directly coupled to the main drum and a worm mating with the worm wheel and directly coupled to the auxiliary motor.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
42 words
Hoisting apparatus as claimed in claim 3 and further comprising a support, a platform on said support and translatable relative thereto, said motors, drum and gearing being mounted on said platform, and means in response to drum rotation to translate said platform.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
52 words
Hoisting apparatus as set forth in claim 4 and further comprising a lead screw, threaded means in engagement with said lead screw, means coupling said platform to said threaded means, and means coupling said threaded means to said main drum for causing rotation of the threaded means in response to drum rotation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
42 words
Hoisting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 and further comprising at least one auxiliary drum, at least one hose or auxiliary cable wound on the auxiliary drum, and means for rotating the auxiliary drum in response to rotation of the main drum.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
33 words
Hoisting apparatus as claimed in claim 6 wherein the rotating means for the auxiliary drum includes a flexible coUpling in order to maintain taut the hose or auxiliary cable relative to the load.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
41 words
Hoisting apparatus as claimed in claim 1 wherein the irreversible gearing is a secondary brake, and further comprising a primary brake coupled to the main drum and adapted to support the load whenever power to the main drive means is interrupted.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
176 words
Hoisting apparatus especially adapted for moving a load such as nuclear fuel, comprising a main drum, a load cable wound on the drum for coupling to the load, high efficiency main drive means directly coupled to the main drum for driving same, substantially irreversible gearing separate from the main drive means and comprising a worm wheel directly coupled to the main drum and a worm mating with the worm wheel, separate auxiliary drive means directly coupled to the worm for driving the irreversible gearing in the same direction as that imparted to the irreversible gearing by the main drum when the latter is driven by the main drive means, means for activating the main drive means both to wind and unwind the load cable, and means for activating the auxiliary drive means whenever the main drive means is activated, said auxiliary drive means being incapable alone of driving the main drum with a loaded load cable but being capable of maintaining the irreversible gearing in an unlocked condition in the absence of malfunction within the apparatus.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
176 words
Hoisting apparatus especially adapted for moving a load such as nuclear fuel, comprising a main drum, a load cable wound on the drum for coupling to the load, high efficiency main drive means directly coupled to the main drum for driving same, substantially irreversible gearing separate from the main drive means and comprising a worm wheel directly coupled to the main drum and a worm mating with the worm wheel, separate auxiliary drive means directly coupled to the worm for driving the irreversible gearing in the same direction as that imparted to the irreversible gearing by the main drum when the latter is driven by the main drive means, means for activating the main drive means both to wind and unwind the load cable, and means for activating the auxiliary drive means whenever the main drive means is activated, said auxiliary drive means being incapable alone of driving the main drum with a loaded load cable but being capable of maintaining the irreversible gearing in an unlocked condition in the absence of malfunction within the apparatus.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
145 words
Hoisting apparatus especially adapted for moving a load such as nuclear fuel, comprising a main rotatable drum, a load cable wound on the drum for coupling to the load, main drive means directly coupled to the main drum for driving same, substantially irreversible gearing directly and continuously coupled to the main drum and tending to lock the drum and prevent drum rotation both during winding and unwinding of the load cable; and means for maintaining the irreversible gearing in an unlocked condition in the absence of an apparatus malfunction, said last-named means including auxiliary drive means connected to the irreversible gearing for driving same in the same direction as that imparted to the irreversible gearing by the main drum when the latter is driven by the main drive means, and means for activating the auxiliary drive means during winding and unwinding of the load cable.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
145 words
Hoisting apparatus especially adapted for moving a load such as nuclear fuel, comprising a main rotatable drum, a load cable wound on the drum for coupling to the load, main drive means directly coupled to the main drum for driving same, substantially irreversible gearing directly and continuously coupled to the main drum and tending to lock the drum and prevent drum rotation both during winding and unwinding of the load cable; and means for maintaining the irreversible gearing in an unlocked condition in the absence of an apparatus malfunction, said last-named means including auxiliary drive means connected to the irreversible gearing for driving same in the same direction as that imparted to the irreversible gearing by the main drum when the latter is driven by the main drive means, and means for activating the auxiliary drive means during winding and unwinding of the load cable.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
34 words
Hoisting apparatus as claimed in claim 10 and further comprising a separate braking system coupled to the main drum and adapted to support the load whenever power to the main drive means is interrupted.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1977-09-16 | 1978-03-18 | 1978-09-17 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1981-09-16 | 1982-03-18 | 1982-09-17 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1985-09-16 | 1986-03-18 | 1986-09-17 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |