Rope pulley hoist with improved holding means

Abstract

A pulley member is rotatably mounted on a frame which is adapted for attachment to a fixed object. The pulley member has an annular groove to receive a rope line. The rope is pressed against the pulley member while it is rotating under a load. A rope stripping means is disposed a spaced distance around the periphery of the pulley member from the pressing means so that an unlimited length of rope may be used with the unit. The pressing means and the stripping means are disposed in fixed relationship with respect to each other and with respect to the pulley member. Ratchet teeth are carried by the pulley member so that it may be driven by a swingable operating lever pivotally mounted on the frame. A feeding pawl is pivoted to the operating lever and engages the ratchet teeth to rotate the pulley member when the operating lever is swung in one direction. A holding pawl is pivotally mounted and resiliently biased toward active engagement with the ratchet teeth.

Description

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

This invention relates to improvements in power units or pulling devices of the type in which pawl and ratchet mechanisms are used in conjunction with a rotatably mounted member. The pawl and ratchet mechanisms are operated by an oscillatory lever.

There are numerous types of power units or pulling unit devices of the type in which the improvement of the present invention is directed. The general construction of such a power unit is disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,359. A cable winding drum is used in which one end of the cable is attached to the drum and has an attaching member located at its end to effectuate the desired pulling operation.

This type of pulling device may be used as a hoist, a winch or a puller such as is used in shops, garages, loading docks, material yards, telephone lines, construction sites and the like. However, prior art power units have limitations. The length of the pull is limited by the amount of cable which may be stored on the cable winding drum. This, of course, limits the length of lift or pull with respect to the device. For example, a number of the available pulling devices are limited to a maximum of lifting a 20 foot pole about 20 feet. Once this has been accomplished, another device has to be attached and the lift continued again.

A further limitation exists where there is the possibility of electrical danger, such as in working on utility poles, high tension lines and the like. That is, the present prior art cable winding devices are conductors and therefore dangerous. Additionally, cable cannot be tied easily around, over or directly tied to objects because of its construction. Furthermore, the handling of cable is much more dangerous to the operator especially if the cable becomes frayed.

PURPOSE OF THE INVENTION

The primary object of this invention is to provide a rope pulling device or power unit which can be used with an unlimited length of rope so that long distances can be pulled with a single device.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rope pulling device or power unit which can be used safely on utility poles, high tension wires and the like.

A further object of this invention is to provide a rope pulling device or power unit which does not require a line storage operation such as found on prior art pulling devices or power units of the type being improved herein.

Another object of this invention is to overcome the disadvantages associated with the cable pulling units of the prior art.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These objects and other advantages are achieved through the use of the rope pulling device as disclosed herein. The power unit has a frame for attachment to a fixed object and includes a pulley member rotatably mounted on the frame and having an annular groove to receive a rope line. Means is provided for pressing a rope line against the pulley member while it is rotating under a load. Rope stripping means is disposed a spaced distance around the periphery of the pulley member from the pressing means so that an unlimited length of rope may be used with the unit. The pressing means and the stripping means are disposed in fixed relationship with respect to each other and the pulley member to accomplish the desired results.

A particular feature of this invention is directed to the pulley member which has a plurality of ribs and troughs disposed transversely to the circumference of the annular groove at regular intervals along the surface thereof. A further feature of the invention includes the construction of the pulley member having means disposed within the annular groove to enhance the gripping action on the rope used with the power unit.

A further feature of the invention is directed to a specific structure of a rope stripper member disposed adjacent the pulley member and extending into the annular groove to cause the rope to be disengaged from the annular groove of the pulley member after it has been pressed against the pulley member by the pressing means. The free end of the rope is left to be coiled at some point away from the power unit itself. That is, the rope is freely disposed within the annular groove where it is maintained during lowering and raising operations by a rope holding member or pressing means.

Another feature of the invention is directed to the use of a rope holding member fixedly disposed adjacent the pulley member to hold a rope in pressing contact with the annular groove of the pulley member. In a specific embodiment of this invention, the rope holding member includes a bar portion which extends in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the pulley member. The bar portion is located a fixed, effective distance from the periphery of the pulley member so that a rope disposed in the annular groove will be pressed into positive engagement with the pulley member when the power unit is loaded and in a pulling condition. Guide means is disposed on the rope holding member to direct the rope into the annular groove at a point located between the rope holding member and the annular groove.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

Other objects of this invention will appear in the following description and appended claims, reference being made to the accompanying drawings forming a part of the specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of a power unit made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view of the unit as shown in FIG. 1,

FIG. 3 is a plan view of a pulley member made in accordance with this invention,

FIG. 4 is a side elevational view of the pulley of FIG. 3,

FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view of the pulley along line V--V of FIG. 3,

FIG. 6 is a cross-sectional view along line VI--VI of FIG. 4,

FIG. 7 is a fragmentary perspective view of the unit of FIG. 1, and

FIG. 8 is another fragmentary perspective view of the unit of FIG. 1.

DESCRIPTION OF SPECIFIC EMBODIMENTS

The general construction of the power unit is disclosed in the prior U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,359. The basic improvement in this power unit is that it may now be used in conjunction with an unlimited length of rope rather than a cable which must be stored on a winding drum.

More specifically, referring to the drawings, the power unit, generally designated 10, includes a rigid frame or yoke 11 having spaced parallel arms 15 and 16. A hook mechanism 12 is fixedly attached to one end of the frame 11 by the fastening member 13.

A swingable operating handle or lever 17 includes spaced arm extensions 18 which are pivotally mounted at the longitudinal centers of the spaced parallel arms 15 and 16. The spaced arm extensions 18 are engaged inwardly of the frame sides 15 and 16 and are pivotally fixed by the tranverse bolt 19.

A pulley member, generally designated 14, is rotatably mounted between the spaced frame arms 15 and 16 on the transverse axis of the transverse bolt 19. The pulley member 14 includes ratchet teeth 20 which are disposed on one side thereof for coaction with feed pawl 21 and holding pawl 22. A guide element 23 is fixedly mounted on the frame 11 to direct the rope 25 into the pulley member 14 as shown in FIG. 1.

The driving or feed pawl 21 is pivotally mounted between the arm extension 18 and is positioned for coaction with the ratchet teeth 20 as shown. An activating mechanism, generally designated 24, is mounted on the frame 11 and is used to render the feed pawl 21 active and inactive with respect to the ratchet teeth 20. Further, the activating mechanism 24 is used to facilitate the coaction between the feed pawl 21 and holding pawl 22 during the step-by-step retrograde movement of the pulley member 14. The activating mechanism 24 includes an operating lever 27 and a coil spring 28 which operate in the same manner as the configuration disclosed in U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,359.

The holding pawl 22 is rotatably mounted between the parallel arms or sides 15 and 16 of the frame 11 and is positioned for coaction with the ratchet teeth 20 as shown. The holding pawl 22 is biased toward engagement with the ratchet teeth 20 by the torsional spring 29. The construction of the feed pawl 21 and the holding pawl 22 and the mechanisms associated therewith are fully described in the U.S. Pat. No. 3,003,359 and the teachings associated with that disclosure are incorporated by reference herewith.

The improvement associated with this specific type of power unit is in the combination of a specially constructed pulley member, pressing means and rope stripping means. The pulley member 14 is usable with the single strand of rope 25 which carries a hook 26 at its end. A generally U-shaped bracket member 30 is fixedly mounted on the parallel arms 15 and 16 of the frame 11. The bracket member 30 includes a bar portion that extends in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the pulley member 14. The bar portion of the bracket 30 is disposed a fixed, effective distance from the periphery of the pulley member 14 so that positive engagement of the rope 25 with the pulley member 14 is ensured as it moves past the bracket bar portion.

The pulley member 14 includes an annular groove 31 which has inclined lateral surfaces as shown. A plurality of ribs 32 and troughs 33 is disposed transversely to the circumference of the annular groove 31 and at regular intervals along the lateral surface thereof. A particular feature of this type of groove configuration is that the ribs and troughs mate with the braids of the rope 25 as shown in FIG. 2. Therefore, in this particular embodiment, the rope 25 is in a non-frictional engagement within the annular groove 31 of the pulley member 14. With the non-frictional engagement, the pulley member 14 acts alone to lift the load on rope 25. The configuration of the groove 31 constitutes means to enhance the gripping action on the rope 25 while the power unit 10 is in operation. In a frictional gripping action, the bracket or rope holding member 30 may be used to maintain positive engagement between the pulley member 14 and the rope 25 when the load is being pulled through the action of the handle 17.

Another feature of the invention includes the use of guide means 34 which are for directing the rope 25 into the annular groove 31 of the pulley member 14. The guide means 34 is an indentation outwardly along the edge of the bracket 30. Once the rope 25 engages the groove 31, positive engagement of the rope is insured by the rope holding member 30 which is fixedly disposed adjacent the pulley member 14. This positive engagement is especially useful when the load is being let down so that the rope 25 does not fly out of engagement with the pulley member 14. In other words, the rope line 25 is maintained in the annular groove 31 while having a load thereon when the pulley member 14 is rotating in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction.

While the power unit 10 is under load and the operating handle 17 is pulled in the direction shown by arrow A, the rope 25 becomes firmly embedded or tightly wedged in place between the lateral surfaces thereof. A wedge-shaped stripper member 35 is fixedly attached to the frame 11 by the bolt 36 and fixed rod 37 which is mounted between arms 15 and 16. The stripper member 35 constitutes the means for stripping the rope 25 which has been firmly wedged within the annular groove 31 while the power unit 10 is loaded. This function is shown in FIG. 1. The stripper member 35 is disposed a spaced distance around the periphery of the pulley member 14 from the pressing or holding member 30 so that an unlimited length of rope 25 may be used with the unit 10.

The rope stripper member 35 is disposed adjacent the pulley member 14 and extends into the annular groove 31 by an amount sufficient to cause the rope 25 to be disengaged from the annular groove 31 after it has been pressued against the pulley member 14 by the rope holding member 30. As shown, the pressing means 30 and the stripping means 35 are disposed in fixed relationship with respect to each other and the rotatably mounted pulley member 14.

The pulley member 14 is composed of two halves which are held together by bolts 38. The halves of the pulley member 14 are set in fixed relationship with each other by the pins 39. The ratchet teeth 20 are formed integrally as a one-piece unit on one-half of the pulley member 14 as shown.

ADVANTAGES OF THE INVENTION

The pulling device of the present invention does not get back-lash as is associated with the prior art cable pulling devices. This overcomes a basic problem associated with such cable pulling power units. Further, rope can be used on utility poles and high-tension lines and the like because it is a nonconductor. Rope can be easily tied to objects, over, around and the like while cable has to be hooked to something such as a fastening device. All of the basic advantages associated with the use of rope over cable are attendant the power unit of this invention which has been heretofore unavailable in the prior art. That is, rope is much better, easier to handle and more practical than cable in a myriad of applications. Long distances ca be pulled such as pulling wire from pole to pole, bringing a vehicle up an incline, such as a snowmobile, or out of the water, such as a boat, and many other uses.

While the power unit has been shown and described in detail, it is obvious that this invention is not to be considered as being limited to the exact form disclosed, and that changes in detail and construction may be made therein within the scope of the invention, without departing from the spirit thereof.

Claims

Having thus set forth and disclosed the nature of this invention, what is claimed is:

1. A power unit useful for pulling a load with a rope line, comprising:

a. a frame for attachment to a fixed object,

b. a pulley member rotatably mounted on said frame and having an annular groove to receive a single strand of rope line,

c. means for pressing said rope line in contact against the pulley member during rotation of the pulley member whereby the rope line is maintained in the annular groove while having a load thereon when the pulley member is rotating in either a clockwise or counter clockwise direction,

d. means for stripping said rope from the pulley member while the power unit is loaded,

e. said rope stripping means being disposed a spaced distance around the periphery of the pulley member from the pressing means so that an unlimited length of rope may be used with said unit,

f. said pressing means and said stripping means being disposed in a fixed relationship with respect to each other and the pulley member,

g. ratchet teeth carried by said pulley member for driving same,

h. a swingable operating lever pivotally mounted on the frame,

i. a feeding pawl pivoted to the operating lever and engageable with the ratchet teeth to rotate the pulley member when the operating lever is swung in one direction, and

j. a holding pawl pivotally mounted and resiliently biased toward active engagement with the ratchet teeth.

2. A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein

the pulley member has a plurality of ribs and troughs disposed transversely to the circumference of the annular groove and at regular intervals along the surface thereof.

3. A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein

the annular groove has inclined lateral surfaces and a plurality of ribs and troughs disposed transversely to the circumference of the annular groove and at regular intervals along said inclined lateral surfaces.

4. A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein

the pulley member includes means disposed within the annular groove to enhance the gripping action on the rope.

5. A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein

said stripping means includes a rope stripper member disposed adjacent the pulley member and extending into the annular groove by an amount sufficient to cause the rope to be disengaged from the annular groove after it has been pressed against the pulley member by said pressing means.

6. A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein

said stripping means includes a stripper member fixedly mounted on said frame and extending into the annular groove of the pulley member by an amount sufficient to cause the rope to be disengaged from the annular groove.

7. A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein

said pressing means includes a rope holding member fixedly disposed adjacent the pulley member to hold a rope in pressing contact with said annular groove.

8. A power unit as defined in claim 1 wherein

the pulley member has a plurality of ribs and troughs disposed transversely to the circumference of the annular groove and at regular intervals along the surface thereof,

said pressing means includes a rope holding member fixedly disposed adjacent the pulley member to hold a rope in pressing contact with said annular groove,

said stripping means includes a rope stripper member disposed adjacent the pulley member and extending into the annular groove by an amount sufficient to cause the rope to be disengaged from the annular groove after it has been pressed against the pulley member by said pressing means.

9. A power unit useful for pulling, comprising:

a. a frame for attachment to a fixed object,

b. a pulley member rotatably mounted on said frame and having an annular groove to receive a single strand of rope line,

c. means for pressing said rope line against the pulley member,

d. said pressing means including a bar portion which extends in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the pulley member,

e. said bar portion being disposed a fixed, effective distance from the periphery of the pulley member to press a rope into positive engagement with the annular groove as the pulley member rotates past said bar portion,

f. means for stripping said rope from the pulley member while the power unit is loaded,

g. said rope stripping means being disposed a spaced distance around the periphery of the pulley member from the pressing means so that an unlimited length of rope may be used with said unit,

h. said pressing means and said stripping means being disposed in a fixed relationship with respect to each other and the pulley member,

i. ratchet teeth carried by said pulley member for driving same,

j. a swingable operating lever pivotally mounted on the frame,

k. a feeding pawl pivoted to the operating lever and engageable with the ratchet teeth to rotate the pulley member when the operating lever is swung in one direction, and

l. the holding pawl pivotally mounted and resiliently biased toward active engagement with the ratchet teeth.

10. A power unit useful for pulling, comprising:

a. a frame for attachment to a fixed object,

b. a pulley member rotatably mounted on said frame and having an annular groove to receive a single strand of rope line,

c. means for pressing said rope line against the pulley member,

d. said pressing means including a generally U-shaped bracket member fixedly mounted on said frame and having a bar portion which extends in a direction parallel to the axis of rotation of the pulley member,

e. said bar portion being disposed a fixed, effective distance from the periphery of the pulley member to press a rope into positive engagement with the annular groove as the pulley member rotates past said bar portion,

f. means for stripping said rope from the pulley member while the power unit is loaded,

g. said rope stripping means being disposed a spaced distance around the periphery of the pulley member from the pressing means so that an unlimited length of rope may be used with said unit,

h. said pressing means and said stripping means being disposed in a fixed relationship with respect to each other and the pulley member,

i. ratchet teeth carried by said pulley member for driving same,

j. a swingable operating lever pivotally mounted on the frame,

k. a feeding pawl pivoted to the operating lever and engageable with the ratchet teeth to rotate the pulley member when the operating lever is swung in one direction, and

l. the holding pawl pivotally mounted and resiliently biased toward active engagement with the ratchet teeth.

11. A power unit as defined in claim 10 wherein

said bracket member includes guide means for directing a rope into the annular groove at a point located between said bar portion and said pulley member.