LARGE SCREEN DISPLAY DRIVE MECHANISM AND TRUSS

• US 20130075518A1
• Filed: 09/04/2012
• Published: 03/28/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 09/22/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Tyler Truss LLC
• Original Assignee: Tyler Truss Systems, Inc.
• Inventors: Dodd, Mark C.
• Granted Patent: US 9,134,600 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 242/390
• CPC Class Codes: G03B 21/58 collapsible, e.g. foldable; of variable area

Abstract

A large screen display drive mechanism. A drum is rotatably mounted to a truss by an axle that extends centrally through the drum and mounted by bearings, in turn, mounted to the truss. A large screen display is wrapable on the drum and is electrically connected by a cable assembly extending through the drum and outwardly thereof through a sprocket fixedly mounted to an end of the drum. The cable assembly is wrapped around a portion of the axle extending outwardly of the drum. A motor with sprocket and chain drives the sprocket attached to the drum.

Claims

1. A large screen display drive mechanism comprising:

a frame;

a drum for wrapping a large screen display thereon with the drum rotatably mounted to said frame, said drum having a first end and a second end;

an axle having an longitudinal extending axis, said axle mounted to said drum and having a main axle portion extending between said first end and said second end with said axle having a first end portion extending outwardly of said first end of the drum and rotating in unison about said axis with said main axle portion;

a first drum sprocket fixedly mounted to said first end of said drum;

a cable assembly having an interior segment located within said drum between said first end and said second end and having an exterior segment located outwardly of said first end, said interior segment connectable to a large screen display wrapable on said drum, said cable assembly extending through said first drum sprocket and then spiraling around said first end portion of said longitudinal extending axis of said axle outwardly of said first end of said drum, said cable assembly having an outer end that is stationary while said drum and interior segment of said cable assembly rotate in unison together; and

,

a first motor having a first drive shaft with a first drive sprocket thereon to drive said first drum sprocket and rotate said drum by applying driving force to said drum outwardly of said axle limiting axle twisting and allowing said exterior segment of said cable assembly to wind and unwind on said first end portion outwardly of said drum with said interior segment of said cable assembly remaining stationary relative to said main axle portion within said drum.

2. The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

said frame is a truss having bearings through which said axle extends applying weight of the large screen display directed via said axle to said bearings and said truss.

3. The drive mechanism of claim 2 wherein said axle has a second end portion extending outwardly of said second end of the drum, and further comprising:

a second drum sprocket fixedly mounted to said second end of said drum; and

,

a second motor having a second drive shaft with a second drive sprocket thereon to drive said second drum sprocket and rotate said drum by applying driving force to said drum outwardly of said axle limiting axle twisting and allowing said cable assembly to wind and unwind on said first end portion while remaining stationary within said drum.

4. The drive mechanism of claim 3 wherein:

said truss has a first end plate and a second end plate secured thereto at opposite ends of said truss, said bearings are mounted on said first end plate and said second end plate through which said axle extends transferring load from said axle applied thereto by large screen display weight and said cable assembly to said truss via said bearings and first end plate and second end plate.

5. The drive mechanism of claim 4 wherein:

said truss includes a plurality of longitudinal extending members with ends attached to said first plate and said second plate and further includes a plurality of cross members extending between said longitudinal extending members, said truss opens downward through which a large screen display can extend.

6. The drive mechanism of claim 5 wherein:

said drum has a plurality of rings spaced along said axle axis and located radially outward therefrom upon which a large screen display can be wrapped.

7. The drive mechanism of claim 1 wherein:

said drive sprocket has a sprocket axis of rotation offset from said axis of said axle with said drive sprocket smaller in diameter than said drum sprocket; and

further comprising a continuous chain engaged with said drive sprocket and said drum sprocket to impart rotation to said axle.

8. A mechanism comprising:

a frame;

a drum for wrapping a large screen display thereon with the drum rotatably mounted to said frame, said drum having a first end and a second end;

axle means having an longitudinal extending axis, said axle means having an exterior segment and an interior segment, said interior segment mounted to said drum and extending between said first end and said second end, said exterior segment located outwardly of said first end of the drum;

a drum sprocket fixedly mounted to said first end of said drum;

a cable assembly connectable to a large screen display wrapable on said drum, said cable assembly extending from within said drum and through said drum sprocket and then wrapping around said exterior segment of said axle means and said longitudinal axis outwardly of said first end of said drum; and

,

a motor having a drive shaft with a drive sprocket thereon to drive said drum sprocket and rotate said drum by applying driving force to said drum allowing said cable assembly to wind and unwind on said exterior segment of said axle means outwardly of said drum while said interior segment remains stationary relative to said drum.

9. The mechanism of claim 8 wherein:

said frame is a truss having bearings receiving said axle means applying weight of the large screen display and said cable assembly directed via said axle means to said bearings and said truss.

10. The mechanism of claim 9 wherein:

said drive sprocket has a drive sprocket axis of rotation offset relative to said longitudinal axis of said axle means and further comprising a continuous chain extending around said drive sprocket and said drum sprocket for rotation of said drum.

11. The mechanism of claim 10 wherein said interior segment and said exterior segment of said axle means are integral.

12. A large screen display drive mechanism comprising:

a frame;

a drum for wrapping a large screen display thereon with the drum having an axis of rotation and rotatably mounted to said frame about said axis, said drum having a first end and a second end;

a drum sprocket fixedly mounted to said first end of said drum and rotatable therewith;

an elongated device located outwardly of said first end of the drum;

a cable assembly extending between said first end and said second end and being connectable to a large screen display wrapped on said drum, said cable assembly extending through said drum sprocket and then wrapping relative to said elongated device outwardly of said first end of said drum; and

,

a motor having a drive shaft with a drive sprocket thereon to drive said drum sprocket and rotate said drum by applying driving force to said drum allowing said cable assembly to wind and unwind on said elongated device outwardly of said drum while said cable assembly between said first end and said second end remains stationary relative to said drum.

13. The mechanism of claim 12 wherein:

said elongated device is an axle upon which said drum is mounted with said axle extending between said first end and said second end of said drum and through said drum sprocket.

14. The mechanism of claim 13 and further comprising:

guide rollers mounted to said frame and extending there beneath to guide said large screen display as it is extended and retracted by said drum.

15. The mechanism of claim 14 wherein:

said frame is a truss with a pair of plates mounted thereto adjacent said first end and said second end of said plates, said plates include bearings engaged with said axle to transfer large screen display and cable assembly weight via said axle to said plates and said truss.