HOIST SYSTEMS

1 . A hoist system comprising:

a drive system,

a shaft in rotatable connection with the drive system,

a flexible first hoist member operatively connected to the shaft at a first longitudinal position thereon so that it can be wound around the shaft or unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the first hoist member extending from the shaft in a first direction;

at least a second flexible hoist member operatively connected to the shaft at the first longitudinal position so that it can be wound around the shaft or unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the second hoist member extending from the shaft in a second direction, different from the first direction, so that the first hoist member and the second hoist member are wound around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft in a forward direction and are unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft in a reverse direction; the first hoist member and the second hoist member being wound on top of each other when the shaft is rotated in the forward direction;

a first guide member spaced from the drive shaft on a first side of the drive shaft, the first hoist member passing around at least a portion of the first guide member and extending downward to be operatively connectible to an object to be hoisted; and

a second guide member spaced from the drive shaft on a second side of the drive shaft, the second side being different from the first side, the second hoist member passing around at least a portion of the second guide member and extending downward to be operatively connectible to an object to be hoisted.

2 . The hoist system of claim 1 wherein the first direction is generally opposite of the second direction.

3 . The hoist system of claim 2 wherein the first hoist member and the second hoist member are attached between flanges of a first drum that is attached to the shaft.

4 . The hoist system of claim 3 wherein the first longitudinal position, the first guide member and the second guide member are positioned to be generally coplanar.

5 . The hoist system of claim 1 further comprising:

a third flexible hoist member operatively connected to the shaft at a second longitudinal position on the shaft so that it can be wound around the shaft or unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the third hoist member extending from the shaft in the first direction, the second longitudinal position being spaced from the first longitudinal position;

at least a fourth flexible hoist member operatively connected to the shaft at the second longitudinal position so that it can be wound around the shaft or unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the fourth hoist member extending from the shaft in the second direction, so that the third hoist member and the fourth hoist member are wound around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft in a forward direction and are unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft in a reverse direction; the third hoist member and the fourth hoist member being wound on top of each other when the shaft is rotated in the forward direction;

a third guide member spaced from the drive shaft on the first side of the drive shaft, the third hoist member passing around at least a portion of the third guide member and extending downward to be operatively connectible to an object to be hoisted; and

a fourth guide member spaced from the drive shaft on the second side of the drive shaft, the fourth hoist member passing around at least a portion of the fourth guide member and extending downward to be operatively connectible to an object to be hoisted.

6 . The hoist system of claim 3 further comprising:

a third flexible hoist member operatively connected to the shaft at a second longitudinal position on the shaft so that it can be wound around the shaft or unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the third hoist member extending from the shaft in the first direction;

at least a fourth flexible hoist member operatively connected to the shaft at the second longitudinal position so that it can be wound around the shaft or unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the fourth hoist member extending from the shaft in the second direction, so that the third hoist member and the fourth hoist member are wound around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft in a forward direction and are unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft in a reverse direction; the third hoist member and the fourth hoist member being wound on top of each other when the shaft is rotated in the forward direction, the second longitudinal position being spaced from the first longitudinal position;

a third guide member spaced from the drive shaft on the first side of the drive shaft, the third hoist member passing around at least a portion of the third guide member and extending downward to be operatively connectible to an object to be hoisted; and

a fourth guide member spaced from the drive shaft on the second side of the drive shaft, the fourth hoist member passing around at least a portion of the fourth guide member and extending downward to be operatively connectible to an object to be hoisted.

7 . The hoist system of claim 6 wherein the third hoist member and the fourth hoist member are attached between flanges of a second drum that is attached to the shaft.

8 . The hoist system of claim 7 wherein the second longitudinal position, the third guide member and the fourth guide member are positioned to be generally coplanar.

9 . The hoist system of claim 7 wherein the first guide member, the second guide member and the first drum are attached to a first extending support member, and the third guide member, the fourth guide member and the second drum are attached to a second extending support member.

10 . The hoist system of claim 9 wherein the first guide member and the second guide member extend generally parallel to each other.

11 . The hoist system of claim 10 wherein the shaft extends between the first support member and the second support member, generally perpendicular to the first support member and the second support member.

12 . The hoist system of claim 11 wherein the first drum is slidable on the shaft, the second drum is slidable on the shaft, and the position of the first support member relative to the second support member is adjustable.

13 . The hoist system of claim 11 wherein a position of the first guide member on the first support member is adjustable, a position of the second guide member on the first support member is adjustable, a position of the third guide member on the second support member is adjustable, and a position of the fourth guide member on the second support member is adjustable.

14 . The hoist system of claim 6 wherein a distance between the first longitudinal position and the second longitudinal position is adjustable, a position of the first guide member is adjustable, a position of the second guide member is adjustable, a position of the third guide member is adjustable and a position of the fourth guide member is adjustable.

15 . The hoist system of claim 6 further comprising a first connector attached to the first hoist member, a second connector attached to the second hoist member, a third connector attached to the third hoist member and a fourth connector attached to the fourth hoist member.

16 . The hoist system of claim 15 wherein a height of the first connector is adjustable, a height of the second connector is adjustable, a height of the third connector is adjustable and a height of the fourth connector is adjustable.

17 . A hoist system for raising or lowering an object, comprising: four flexible extending hoist members and a frame system, each of the hoist members extending downward from the frame system in a pattern, each hoist member including a connector to connect to the object to be raised or lowered, each of the hoist members being in operative connection with a single drive system operable to raise or lower the ends of the hoist members, the pattern being adjustable in shape.

18 . A hoist system comprising:

a drive system,

a shaft in rotatable connection with the drive system,

a flexible first hoist member operatively connected to the shaft at a first longitudinal position thereon so that it can be wound around the shaft or unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the first hoist member extending from the shaft in a first direction;

at least a second flexible hoist member operatively connected to the shaft at the first longitudinal position so that it can be wound around the shaft or unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft, the second hoist member extending from the shaft in a second direction, different from the first direction, so that the first hoist member and the second hoist member are wound around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft in a forward direction and are unwound from around the shaft upon rotation of the shaft in a reverse direction;

a first guide member spaced from the drive shaft on a first side of the drive shaft, the first hoist member passing around at least a portion of the first guide member and extending downward to be operatively connectible to an object to be hoisted; and

a second guide member spaced from the drive shaft on a second side of the drive shaft, the second side being different from the first side, the second hoist member passing around at least a portion of the second guide member and extending downward to be operatively connectible to an object to be hoisted, a distance between the first guide member and the second guide member being adjustable.