Patent ID: 6044991
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B66C,B66F

Abstract:
An aerial apparatus which includes an angularly variable aerial structure which presents a longitudinal axis and terminates in a tip portion, means for varying the angle of said longitudinal axis relative to a horizontal orientation. a sheave on said tip portion, a winch, and a winch line passing over the sheave and operated by the winch to raise and lower a load carried on the winch line, wherein the improvement comprises:means for measuring, in two mutually perpendicular directions which are fixed relative to said longitudinal axis, the components of the force applied to said sheave by the load;winch line guide means for maintaining a portion of the winch line adjacent to the sheave at a known orientation relative to said longitudinal axis;means for calculating from said force components the magnitude of the load; andmeans for providing an indication of the magnitude of the load.