Patent ID: 9004842
Filing Date: 2015-04-14
Classification: B60P

Abstract:
1. A hoist apparatus, comprising: a frame including a pair of substantially parallel rails, the frame having a front end and a rear end; a stationary sheave block mounted to the frame near the front end of the frame, the stationary sheave block including at least a first pulley and a second pulley mounted thereto, wherein each of the first and second pulleys include an axis and wherein the axis of the first pulley and the axis of the second pulley are coplanar and reside in a plane that extends through and is generally perpendicular to the substantially parallel rails of the frame, wherein the first pulley is mounted to the stationary sheave block at an angle of between approximately 0° to approximately 25° relative to a plane extending between and generally perpendicular to the pair of rails; a moveable sheave carrier mounted to the frame and adapted for movement along the length of the frame, wherein the moveable sheave carrier includes at least a third pulley and a fourth pulley; at least one powered winch mechanism attached to the moveable sheave carrier for moving the moveable sheave carrier along the length of the frame upon activation of the powered winch mechanism; and a cable including a first end detachably fixed to an article to be loaded onto a vehicle and a second end fixed to the hoist apparatus, the cable being adapted for travelling through the first pulley and the second pulley of the stationary sheave block and the third pulley and the fourth pulley of the moveable sheave carrier in a predetermined path; wherein each of the first pulley, the second pulley, the third pulley and the fourth pulley have a cable receiving ridge defined in an outer periphery thereof; wherein the cable is adapted to travel through the cable receiving ridge of each of the first pulley, the second pulley, the third pulley and the fourth pulley in the predetermined path; wherein the height of the cable exiting the cable receiving ridge of the second pulley relative to the frame when the frame is in a horizontal lowered position is adapted to substantially coincide with the height of the cable entering the cable receiving ridge of the third pulley relative to the frame when the frame is in a horizontal lowered position; wherein the height of the cable exiting the cable receiving ridge of the third pulley relative to the frame when the frame is in a horizontal lowered position is adapted to substantially coincide with the height of the cable entering the cable receiving ridge of the first pulley relative to the frame when the frame is in a horizontal lowered position; and wherein the height of the cable exiting the cable receiving ridge of the first pulley relative to the frame when the frame is in a horizontal lowered position is adapted to substantially coincide with the height of the cable entering the cable receiving ridge of the fourth pulley relative to the frame when the frame is in a horizontal lowered position; and wherein the third pulley is mounted to the moveable sheave carrier at a first location and the fourth pulley is mounted to the moveable sheave carrier at a second location, wherein the second location is either closer to the front end of the frame than the first location or farther from the front end of the frame than the first location.