Spring counterbalance with failure detection
US8490953B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jun 30, 2008 |
| Grant date | Jul 23, 2013 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jun 15, 2031 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16F2230/24
- WIPO fieldMechanical elements
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A spring counterbalance mechanism balances a load with a spring. A cable has a protrusion fixed to the cable midway between two ends of the cable. The two free ends of the cable are fixedly coupled to one of the load or the spring, and a cable attachment is coupled to the remaining member. The cable passes through the cable attachment such that the protrusion is captive in the cable attachment and is movable between two stops in the cable attachment. The cable forms two segments each of which couples the spring to the load. The two segments of the cable pass over a pulley. A sensor coupled to the pulley senses rotation of the pulley allowing cable breakage to be detected by the anomalous rotation of the pulley.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.