Ratcheted Lift Mechanism

Abstract

The present invention is related generally to hoists, and more particularly to a hoist system for safely raising, storing, and lowering loads.

1 . A hoist system comprising:
 a frame;   a drive shaft rotatably joined to the frame;   a ratchet gear fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and rotatable in a raising direction and in a lowering direction;   a drive gear joined to the drive shaft for rotation therewith;   a pawl pivotally joined to the frame and biased toward engagement with the ratchet gear to prevent rotation of the ratchet gear in the lowering direction;   a drive chain in engagement with the drive gear to rotate the the ratchet gear and the drive shaft, and the drive chain is directly engageable with the pawl for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet gear to permit the ratchet gear to rotate in the lowering direction;   a spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith;   a passive pulley joined to the drive shaft and spaced apart from the frame; and   a support cable having a first end portion joined to the spool and engaged with the passive pulley.   
     
     
         2 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a storage platform joined to a second end portion of the support cable.   
     
     
         3 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a strap joined to a second end portion of the support cable.   
     
     
         4 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a hook joined to a second end portion of the supporting cable.   
     
     
         5 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a second spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith.   
     
     
         6 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a second spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; and   a second support cable joined to the second spool.   
     
     
         7 . The hoist system of  claim 6 , and further comprising:
 a passive pulley engaged by a support cable.   
     
     
         8 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a second spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith;   a second support cable having a first end portion joined to the second spool;   a passive pulley engaged by the second support cable; and   a storage platform joined to a second end portion of the second support cable.   
     
     
         9 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a second spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith;   a second support cable having a first end portion joined to the second spool;   a passive pulley engaged by the second support cable; and   a strap joined to a second end portion of the second support cable.   
     
     
         10 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , and further comprising:
 a second spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith;   a second support cable having a first end portion joined to the second spool;   a passive pulley engaged by the second support cable; and   a hook joined to a second end portion of the second support cable.   
     
     
         11 . The hoist system of  claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft has a transverse cross-section that is square in shape. 
     
     
         12 . A hoist system comprising:
 a frame;   a drive shaft rotatably joined to the frame;   a ratchet gear fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith;   a drive gear joined to the drive shaft;   a pawl pivotally joined to the frame and biased toward engagement with the ratcheted gear;   a drive chain in engagement with the drive gear to rotate the drive shaft, the ratchet gear and the drive shaft, and the drive chain is directly engageable with the pawl for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet gear;   a support cable joined to the drive shaft; and   an attachment element joined to the support cable.   
     
     
         13 . A hoist system comprising:
 a drive shaft;   a frame rotatably joined to the drive shaft;   a ratchet gear fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith and rotatable in a raising direction and a lowering direction;   a drive gear joined to the drive shaft;   a pawl pivotally joined to the frame and biased toward engagement with the ratchet gear to prevent rotation of the ratchet gear in the lowering direction;   a drive chain in engagement with the drive gear to rotate the ratchet gear, and the drive shaft, and the drive chain is directly engageable with the pawl for disengaging the pawl from the ratchet gear to permit the ratchet gear to rotate in the lowering direction;   a plurality of passive hoists joined to the drive shaft and spaced apart from the frame; and   a plurality of support cables, each support cable engaged with a corresponding passive pulley.   
     
     
         14 . The hoist system of  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith.   
     
     
         15 . The hoist system of  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; and   at least one of the support cables is joined to the spool.   
     
     
         16 . The hoist system of  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a first spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; and   a second spool fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith.   
     
     
         17 . The hoist system of  claim 13 , and further comprising:
 a spool disposed adjacent to at least one of the passive hoists and fixed to the drive shaft for rotation therewith; and   at least one of the support cables is joined to the spool.