Patent ID: 9061861
Filing Date: 2015-06-23
Classification: B65H,B66D,F03B,F16H,Y02E

Abstract:
1. An apparatus for guiding a flexible member, the apparatus comprising: a drum mounted for rotation about a drum axis; and a first pulley mounted for rotation about a first pulley axis, the first pulley axis being spaced from and inclined relative to the drum axis in an arrangement in which the shortest imaginary line extending between the drum axis and the first pulley axis is perpendicular to each of the drum axis and the first pulley axis and lies substantially in a fixed first pulley diametric plane; wherein the apparatus defines a path for the flexible member, the flexible member path including in sequence a first drum wrap portion around a first part of the drum circumference on a first fixed drum diametric plane perpendicular to the drum axis, a first connecting portion between the drum and the first pulley, a pulley wrap portion around part of the first pulley circumference on the fixed first pulley diametric plane perpendicular to the first pulley axis, a second connecting portion between the first pulley and the drum, and a second drum wrap portion around a second part of the drum circumference on a second fixed drum diametric plane perpendicular to the drum axis and axially spaced from the first fixed drum diametric plane; wherein the apparatus is arranged so that the first and second connecting portions lie on the respective first and second fixed drum diametric planes and the first and second connecting portions both lie on the fixed first pulley diametric plane; wherein in use, as the drum and first pulley rotate about the respective drum and first pulley axes in contact with the flexible member, the relative arrangement of the drum and first pulley is such that the first and second drum wrap portions remain substantially on a respective fixed, axially spaced first and second fixed drum diametric planes, the first and second connecting portions remain substantially on the respective first and second fixed drum diametric planes and the fixed first pulley diametric plane, and the pulley wrap portion remains substantially on the fixed first pulley diametric plane.