Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force – Device or member for contacting and guiding moving cable – Including rotatable – cable contacting – pulley wheel element
Reexamination Certificate
1999-02-17
2001-06-26
Matecki, Katherine A. (Department: 3653)
Implements or apparatus for applying pushing or pulling force
Device or member for contacting and guiding moving cable
Including rotatable, cable contacting, pulley wheel element
C403S164000, C411S389000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06250608
ABSTRACT:
TECHINICAL FIELD
This invention relates to a rotatable hitch for securing a lift sheave to a frame element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
lift sheaves are pivotally connected to a frame element which may comprise car frame cross-head channels connected to a lift car or an overhead beam fixed in a lift well to facilitate movement of the lift car in the lift well. The rotatable hitch allows the lift sheave to be oriented into a desired orientation relative to the frame member during installation and also allows a very slight amount of rotation of the lift sheave relative to the frame elements during use, dependent upon the load applied by a cable as the cable is wound onto and wound off the lift sheave, particularly at the extremities of the movement of the lift car. This angle of movement may be as small as 1°. Some Government regulations also require the rotatable hitch to be secured at two locations to provide for failsafe connection in the event that one of the couplings of the sheave fails during use of the lift.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
The object of the present invention is to provide rotatable hitch which meets these objectives. The invention in a first aspect may be said to reside in a rotatable hitch for securing a lift sheave to a frame element, including: a hollow sleeve; first coupling means attached to the hollow sleeve for coupling the hollow sleeve to the lift sheave; second coupling means attached to the hollow sleeve for coupling the hollow sleeve to the frame element; a connecting rod arranged within the hollow sleeve; third coupling means attached to the connecting rod for coupling the connecting rod to the lift sheave; fourth coupling means attached to the connect rod for coupling the connecting rod to the frame element and the hollow sleeve being rotatable relative to the frame element and/or lift sheave when installed between the lift sheave and the frame element to enable rotation of the lift sheave relative to the frame element.
In one embodiment the first and second coupling means comprise nuts on the hollow sleeve for engaging an abutment member on the lift sheave and frame element respectively, the nuts engaging the abutment members and abutting the abutment members so as to secure the hitch to the lift sheave and the frame element.
In another embodiment, the first coupling means may comprise a screw-thread on the lift sheave or frame element and a cooperating screw-thread on the hollow sleeve for engaging the screw-thread on the lift sheave or frame element.
Preferably the third and fourth coupling means also comprise nuts on the connecting rod, the nuts engaging a retaining plate and sandwiching the retaining plate between the respective nut and respective ends of the hollow sleeve.
Preferably the retaining plates comprise washers. Preferably the lift sheave includes a pair of brackets which support a connecting plate, the connecting plate having a hole and the hollow sleeve passing through the hole to pivotally couple the lift sheave to the frame element.
The invention may also be said to reside in a lift system including: a lift sheave having a support member; a frame element having a support member; a hole in at least one of the support members of the lift sheave or frame element; a hollow sleeve extending through the hole in the support member so that a free end of the hollow sleeve project through the hole;
a first coupling member on the free end of the hollow sleeve for preventing the hollow sleeve from being withdrawn through the hole and for coupling the sleeve to the lift sheave or frame element which has the hole;
a second coupling member on the other free end of the hollow sleeve for coupling the sleeve to the other of the lift sheave or frame element;
the sleeve being rotatable in the hole so as to enable the lift sheave to rotate relative to the frame element;
a connecting rod within the hollow sleeve; third coupling means at one end of the connecting rod for coupling the connecting rod to the lift sheave; and fourth coupling means at the other end of the connecting rod for coupling the connecting rod to the frame element.
In one embodiment, the both of the support members of the lift sheave and frame element have a said hole and the hollow sleeve extends through each of the holes in the support members to that both free ends of the hollow sleeve project through the support members, the first and second coupling members comprise nuts on the hollow sleeve for engaging the support members on the lift sheave and frame element respectively, the nuts abutting the support members so as to connect the hitch to the lift sheave and the frame element.
In this embodiment of the invention, the support members comprise abutment plates against which the nuts abut to couple the hollow sleeve to the lift sheave and frame element.
In another embodiment of the invention, one free end of the hollow sleeve can be secured to the support member of the other of the lift sheave or frame element so as to be a substantially rigid connection.
In this arrangement, the substantially rigid connection can be formed by a screw-thread in a hole in the support member and a cooperating screw-thread on the free end of the hollow sleeve so that the hollow sleeve is screwed into the hole to couple the hollow sleeve to the support member and therefore the other of the lift sheave or frame element.
Preferably the third and fourth coupling members comprise nuts on the connecting rod, the nuts engaging respective retaining plates and locating the retaining plate between the respective nut and respective ends of the hollow sleeve.
Preferably the retaining plates comprise washers.
Preferably the lift sheave includes lift sheave brackets and the support member of the lift sheave comprises a connecting plate connected between the lift sheave brackets.
Preferably the support member of the frame element comprises a plate connected to the frame element.
Preferred embodiments of the invention will be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:
REFERENCES:
patent: 3046056 (1962-07-01), Greene et al.
patent: 3406605 (1968-10-01), Kviten
patent: 3786935 (1974-01-01), Vlazny, et al.
patent: 4403766 (1983-09-01), Schmeider
patent: 4889458 (1989-12-01), Taylor
patent: 5286130 (1994-02-01), Mueller
patent: 5564530 (1996-10-01), Iwakiri, et al.
patent: 5690456 (1997-11-01), Wedellsborg
patent: 0 639 526 A2 (1994-08-01), None
Matecki Katherine A.
Otis Elevator Company
LandOfFree
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