Material Hoist Drive and Carriage With Spool-Based Track Motion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing systems lack a safe and efficient method for transporting heavy materials to elevated surfaces, as ladders require users to steady themselves and cannot carry loads simultaneously, and portable ladders are cumbersome for occasional use.
Innovation Solution
A motorized drive system with a spool and gearbox that winds and unwinds a flexible connecting element, coupled to a track, allowing a carriage to move along the track and automatically stop at thresholds, facilitating the transport of heavy loads to elevated surfaces.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a ladder is used to reach elevated surfaces, then access to elevated structures is enabled, but the user cannot simultaneously carry heavy loads and must steady themselves against the ladder
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a motorized drive system with a spool as an intermediary between the user and the load. The spool winds and unwinds a flexible connecting element to lift and transport materials along a track, allowing the user to operate the system from the ground without carrying heavy loads up a ladder, thus improving both safety and ease of operation
2Adaptability or versatility
If portable ladders are used for occasional maintenance, then temporary access is provided, but storage and transport of bulky equipment is difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The material hoist system is divided into separate modular components: a track that can be installed on the structure, a carriage that travels along the track, and a drive unit with motor and spool. This segmentation allows each component to be stored separately and assembled only when needed, reducing storage volume while maintaining the capability for temporary access and material transport
3Reliability
If a motorized drive system is used to transport heavy materials, then lifting capacity and safety are improved, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The motorized drive unit serves multiple functions: it propels the carriage along the track using the spool and flexible connecting element, it lifts and lowers the carriage, and it can be controlled remotely. By consolidating these functions into a single multi-functional drive unit, the system achieves high reliability for material transport while minimizing overall device complexity
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
Enables safe and efficient lifting of heavy materials up to 250 pounds at 2 feet per second, tested over 6,500 trips, with a maximum height of 44 feet, without dislodging the carriage from the track.
Implementation Method 1
a spool positioned inside the housing between the motor and the gearbox, the spool configured to: selectably wind and unwind a flexible connecting element coupled to the track; and drive movement of the drive along a longitudinal direction of the track
Implementation Method 2
a motor positioned inside the housing; a gearbox positioned inside the housing and coupled to the motor
Data Source
AI summary
A drive for a material hoist system can include a housing configured to be slidably coupled to a track of the system; a motor positioned inside the housing; a gearbox positioned inside the housing and coupled to the motor; and a spool positioned inside the housing between the motor and the gearbox, the spool configured to: selectably wind and unwind a flexible connecting element coupled to the track; and drive movement of the drive along a longitudinal direction of the track.