System for stabilizing and controlling a hoisted load

• US 6,644,486 B2
• Filed: 02/28/2002
• Issued: 11/11/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1998
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
• Original Assignee: THE GOVERNMENT OF THE UNITED STATES OF AMERICA, AS REPRESENTED BY THE SECRETARY OF COMMERCE
• Inventors: Albus, James Sacra, Bostelman, Roger Vernon, Jacoff, Adam Stephan
• Primary Examiner(s): Ullis, Eileen D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): JOHNSON, RAYMOND B
• Application Number:
  US10/084,158
• Publication Number:
  US 20020144967A1
• Time in Patent Office: 621 Days
• Field of Search: 212/273, 212/274, 212/275, 414/733
• US Class Current: 212/274
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/06 for minimising or preventing longitudinal or transverse swinging of loads
• CPC Class Codes: B66C 13/08 for depositing loads in desired attitudes or positions

Abstract

A system which can both be adapted to existing single point lift mechanisms, and constrain a hoisted load in all six degrees of freedom, includes a suspension point, an assembly, a lateral tension lines member, and a control system. The assembly includes first and second platforms connected by a plurality of control cables which can precisely control the position, velocity, and force of a hoisted element in six degrees of freedom. The position or tension of the control lines can be controlled either manually, automatically by computer, or in various combinations of manual and automatic control. Advantages associated with the system include not only the ability to control the position, velocity, and force of the attached load, tool, and/or equipment in six degrees of freedom using position and tension feedback, but its ready adaptation to existing single point lift mechanisms and relatively light weight, and its flexibility, ease, and precision of operation.

Claims

1. A system for stabilizing and controlling in six degrees of freedom the movement of a hoisted load, said system comprising:

(a) a suspension point,

(b) an assembly,

(c) a lateral tension lines member, and

(d) a control system,

said assembly comprising

(i) a first platform for positioning said assembly,

(ii) a second platform disposed below said first platform,

(iii) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control lines having a first end and a second end, said control lines disposed between said first platform and said second platform,

(iv) an assembly hoist, said assembly hoist comprising first, second, and third assembly hoist lines in communication with a corresponding one of each of first, second, and third assembly hoist line length adjusters, and

(v) a load hoist, said load hoist comprising a load hoist line and a load hoist line connector, said load hoist line in communication with a load hoist line length adjuster,

said first platform comprising a first platform upper surface, a first platform lower surface, a first platform outer edge, load hoist line guides in slidable communication with said load hoist line, and a plurality of lateral tension line connectors for engaging a plurality of lateral tension lines for providing lateral tension to said first platform, said plurality of lateral tension lines in communication with a corresponding one of a plurality of lateral tension line length adjusters,

said first platform upper surface comprising first, second, and third assembly hoist line connectors for removably engaging a corresponding one of each of the first, second, and third assembly hoist lines,

said first platform lower surface comprising first, second, and third control line end connector pairs for removably engaging said first end of each of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control lines, said control line end connector pairs being arranged in a substantially triangular configuration on the first platform lower surface, said first control line end connector pair engaging said first and said sixth control lines, said second control line end connector pair engaging said second and said third control lines, and said third control line end connector pair engaging said fourth and said fifth control lines,

said second platform comprising a second platform upper surface, a second platform lower surface, and a second platform outer edge,

said second platform upper surface comprising

first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control line length adjusters for adjusting the length of each of said corresponding first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control lines, said control line length adjusters being arranged in first, second, and third control line length adjuster pairs in a substantially triangular configuration on the second platform upper surface and in communication with said second end of a corresponding one of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control lines, said first control line length adjuster pair comprising said first and said sixth control line length adjusters, said second control line length adjuster pair comprising said second and said third control line length adjusters, and said third control line length adjuster pair comprising said fourth and said fifth control line length adjusters, wherein said substantially triangular configuration of control line length adjuster pairs is oriented relative to said substantially triangular configuration of control line end connector pairs such that each vertex of the control line length adjuster pairs configuration is at a position diametrically opposed to a side of the control line length adjuster pairs configuration, and

a load hoist receiver for removably receiving said load hoist connector,

said second platform lower surface comprising a load connector for removably engaging said load.

2. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises:

(i) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control line position sensors in communication with a controller, each of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control line position sensors associated with a corresponding one of each of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control lines for determining a position of each of said control lines,

(ii) a plurality of lateral tension line position sensors in communication with said controller, each of said plurality of lateral tension line position sensors associated with a corresponding one of each of said plurality of lateral tension lines for determining a position of each of said lateral tension lines,

(iii) first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth tension sensors in communication with said controller, each of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth tension sensors associated with a corresponding one of each of said first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control lines for determining a tension of each of said control lines,

(iv) a plurality of lateral tension line tension sensors in communication with said controller, each of said plurality of lateral tension line tension sensors associated with a corresponding one of each of said plurality of lateral tension lines for determining a tension of each of said lateral tension lines,

(v) at least one motion sensor for sensing motion of the load, said motion sensor in communication with said controller, and

(vi) at least one proximity sensor for sensing the proximity of the assembly to an objective position, said proximity sensor in communication with said controller.

3. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 2, whereby said load is stabilized and controlled by adjusting the position of any one or more of the plurality of lateral tension lines and/or of any one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control lines.

4. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 2, whereby said load is stabilized and controlled by adjusting the tension in any one or more of the plurality of lateral tension lines and/or in any one or more of the first, second, third, fourth, fifth, and sixth control lines.

5. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 1, wherein said substantially triangular configuration of control line end connector pairs defines an equilateral triangle.

6. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 1, wherein said substantially triangular configuration of control line length adjuster pairs defines an equilateral triangle.

7. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 1, wherein said load connector is rotatable.

8. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises manual control.

9. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises automatic control.

10. A system for stabilizing and controlling according to claim 1, wherein said control system comprises a combination of manual and automatic control.