Line traction for a motorized lifting/pulling device
View Patent ↗An apparatus for providing reliable line traction spooling for hoists, winches, and other pulling and/or lifting devices is disclosed. In one embodiment, such an apparatus includes a motor and a drum rotated by the motor to draw in or let out a line from the drum. The drum includes a groove formed in an outer surface thereof to accommodate the line. A roller is provided to place pressure on the line against the drum. A roller consists of at least one indentation or protrusion on an outer surface to assist the drum in spooling the line onto and off of the drum. In certain embodiments, the roller is patterned in order to improve line traction. In other embodiments, a line is compressible in order to improve line traction.
1. An apparatus comprising:
a motor;
a drum rotated by the motor to draw in or let out a line from the drum, the drum comprising a groove formed in an outer surface thereof to accommodate the line; and
a roller tracking and extending into the groove immediately over the line in order to push the line into the groove, wherein the roller comprises a concave indentation around a circumferential surface of the roller such that the line fits within the concave indentation and traction between the roller and the line is increased.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the line comprises a sleeve substantially surrounding a core material.
3. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve is elastically deformable by the roller or drum such that traction between the line and the roller or the line and the drum is increased.
4. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the core material is at least partially made of at least one of a plastic, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, metal, or a metal alloy.
5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein the sleeve material is at least partially made of at least one of a rubber, rubber-like, elastomeric, tacky, textured, and compressible material.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the roller comprises multiple indentations within the concave indentation on the circumferential surface of the roller.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the concave indentation comprises multiple protrusions within the concave indentation on the circumferential surface of the roller.
8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the multiple indentations within concave indentation on the surface of the roller are formed such that traction between the line and the roller is maximized.
9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the multiple indentations within the concave indentation on the surface of the roller are formed at angles with respect to the concave indentation.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the concave indentation comprises multiple protrusions within the concave indentation on the surface of the roller.
11. A method comprising:
rotating a drum to draw in or let out a line from the drum, the drum comprising a groove formed in an outer surface thereof to accommodate the line;
pushing the line into the groove with a roller tracking and extending into the groove immediately over the line, the roller comprising a concave indentation around a circumferential surface of the roller such that the line fits within the concave indentation and traction between the roller and the line is increased.
12. The method of claim 11 , wherein the line comprises a sleeve substantially surrounding a core material.
13. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sleeve is elastically deformable by the roller or drum such that traction between the line and the roller or the line and the drum is increased.
14. The method of claim 12 , wherein the core material is at least partially made of at least one of a plastic, nylon, polyvinylidene fluoride, polyethylene, metal, or a metal alloy.
15. The method of claim 12 , wherein the sleeve material is at least partially made of at least one of a rubber, rubber-like, elastomeric, tacky, textured, and compressible material.
16. The method of claim 11 , wherein the roller comprises multiple indentations within the concave indentation on the circumferential surface of the roller.
17. The method of claim 11 , wherein the concave indentation comprises multiple protrusions within the concave indentation on the circumferential surface of the roller.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the multiple indentations within concave indentation on the surface of the roller are formed such that traction between the line and the roller is maximized.
19. The method of claim 17 , wherein the multiple indentations within the concave indentation on the surface of the roller are formed at angles with respect to the concave indentation.
20. The method of claim 11 , wherein the concave indentation comprises multiple protrusions within the concave indentation on the surface of the roller.