Abstract:
Embodiments of the present disclosure relate to providing a hoist system that raises and lowers a cable car on a hoist cable next to a mast. A monitoring device such as a microphone may be positioned on the cable car, and the hoist system raises the monitoring device on the cable car to an elevated position above a ground surface to better monitor the surrounding environment. An upper pulley assembly can be interconnected to the mast and serve as an upper terminus for the hoist cable. Several components of the present disclosure align the cable car with the upper pulley assembly. For example, an upper plate of the cable car may have one or more guide plates that channel the cable car toward the upper pulley assembly, and the cable car and the upper pulley assembly may have locating members to selectively interconnect to each other.

Description:
CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
       [0001]    The present application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/060,978, filed Oct. 7, 2014, the entire disclosure of which is hereby incorporated herein by reference. 
     
    
     FIELD 
       [0002]    Embodiments of the present disclosure are generally directed to a hoist system. More particularly, hoist systems suitable for raising microphones or other monitoring equipment on metrology masts or towers are provided. 
       BACKGROUND 
       [0003]    It is often desirable to raise environmental monitoring devices on metrology masts. For example, microphones and sound recording equipment can be raised on metrology masts to monitor bats. This elevated position allows microphones and sound recording equipment to better monitor bats as the bats fly through the air. The elevated position of monitoring devices is also advantageous in other fields. For example, meteorology equipment such as an anemometer provides more accurate readings at an elevated position compared to a position on the ground. 
         [0004]    However, previous systems for raising and lowering such equipment have been difficult to use, unreliable, and have not provided a secure mounting for the equipment when it is in a raised configuration. Cabling in previous systems often becomes loose or broken in high winds. Further, if the cabling becomes loose or free, then the cabling is prone to hitting or slapping the mast, which negatively affects the data being recorded by the monitoring devices. 
         [0005]    Another issue with previous systems for raising and lowering monitoring devices is that the systems are positioned next to a structure such as a mast. Incidental contact between a system and the mast can damage sensitive monitoring devices. Accordingly, previous systems reduce the effectiveness and longevity of monitoring devices. 
       SUMMARY 
       [0006]    In accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure, hoist systems are provided that are relatively easy to use, and that operate reliably and securely to raise and lower monitoring devices or other equipment. A hoist system as disclosed herein can include an upper pulley assembly, a hoist cable operably interconnected to the upper pulley assembly, and a cable car interconnected to the hoist cable. The cable car can be raised to selectively interconnect with the upper pulley assembly and maintain the cable car, and any monitoring devices attached thereto, at an elevated position above the ground surface. 
         [0007]    The hoist system may comprise one or more components to guide or channel the cable car toward the upper pulley assembly as the cable car is raised, and then selectively interconnect the cable car to the upper pulley assembly to hold the cable car at an elevated position above the ground. The cable car can have one or more guide plates on an upper plate of the cable car to guide the cable car toward the upper pulley assembly. The guide plates can extend away from the center of the cable car at an angle such that the area between the guide plates increases as the guide plates extend away from the cable car. Therefore, as the guide plates contact the lower plate of the upper pulley assembly, the cable car increasingly aligns with the upper pulley assembly. 
         [0008]    Once the cable car and the upper pulley assembly are within a threshold distance from each other, a locating member positioned on the upper plate of the cable car can selectively interconnect the cable car to the upper pulley assembly. In some embodiments, the locating member is a magnet or a magnetic area of the upper plate. In other embodiments where a second magnet is placed on the lower plate of the upper pulley assembly, the two magnets can have opposing polarities such that when the cable car is sufficiently close to the upper pulley assembly, the magnets attract to each other and selectively interconnect the cable car to the upper pulley assembly. 
         [0009]    The hoist system may comprise a particular aperture configuration on the cable car and the upper pulley assembly to accommodate the hoist cable and further align the cable car and the upper pulley assembly. For example, the upper plate of the cable car may comprise an aperture on either side of the locating member on the upper plate. A portion of the hoist cable passes through either aperture. Similarly, the lower plate of the upper pulley assembly can comprise two corresponding apertures. A portion of the hoist cable passes through either aperture in the lower plate and is positioned in at least one pulley in the upper pulley assembly. In this configuration, the hoist cable and the apertures align the cable car and the upper pulley assembly as the cable car is raised toward the upper pulley assembly. Further, the hoist cable and the apertures protect against torsional or twisting movements of the cable car relative to the upper pulley assembly. 
         [0010]    The hoist assembly may also comprise a bracing assembly to prevent incidental contact between the cable car and the structure that the hoist system is fixed to, such as a mast. The bracing assembly can comprise at least one pulley, and the hoist cable is positioned in the at least one pulley. The bracing assembly extends the at least one pulley and the hoist cable away from a longitudinal axis of the mast by a distance that, in some embodiments, is larger than the distance between the at least one pulley of the upper pulley assembly and the longitudinal axis of the mast. Thus, the cable car is positioned away from the mast as the cable car is raised and lowered to prevent incidental contact between the cable car and the mast. 
         [0011]    A hoist system as disclosed herein can also include a winch assembly and a winch line. The winch line can include a pulley or other interconnection to the hoist cable to which the cable car is fixed. A mounting plate or member can be provided as part of the cable car, to which monitoring equipment can be attached. 
         [0012]    Additional features and advantages of embodiments of the present disclosure will become more readily apparent from the following description, particularly when taken together with the accompanying drawings. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
         [0013]      FIG. 1  depicts a mast and an attached hoist system in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0014]      FIGS. 2A-2C  depict a cable car in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0015]      FIGS. 3A-3D  depict an upper pulley assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0016]      FIG. 4  depicts a hoist system with a cable car and an upper pulley assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0017]      FIG. 5  depicts a hoist system with a cable car and an upper pulley assembly in a raised configuration in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; 
           [0018]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict a winch assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure; and 
           [0019]      FIGS. 7A and 7B  depict a bracing assembly in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. 
       
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
       [0020]      FIG. 1  depicts a mast or tower  100  and an attached hoist system  104  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The hoist system  104  can include a hoist cable  108 , generally configured as a loop, a cable car  112  that is fixed to the hoist cable  108 , and an upper pulley assembly  116  that has at least one pulley in which the hoist cable  108  is positioned. Specifically, the top of the loop formed by the hoist cable  108  is positioned in the at least one pulley of the upper pulley assembly  116 . The hoist cable  108  is rotated or otherwise moved to raise or lower the cable car  112 . When the cable car  112  is in a raised position, the cable car  112  is selectively interconnected to the upper pulley assembly  116 , which may serve as an upper terminus for the cable car  112 . A monitoring device  120  or other system, including but not limited to a microphone, can be positioned on the cable car  112 , and thus maintained at an elevated position above a ground surface when the cable car  112  is selectively interconnected to the upper pulley assembly  116 . 
         [0021]    Although the hoist system  104  is described and is shown in various figures as being attached to a mast  100 , such as a metrology mast, it should be appreciated that the hoist system  104  can be used in connection with raising a monitoring device  120  or other system to a desired height along a lattice type tower, a building, or other manmade structure, or up a tree, cliff or other natural structure. 
         [0022]    In accordance with at least some embodiments, a winch cable  128  can be connected to the hoist cable  108  by a pulley  132  that allows the leg of the hoist cable to which the cable car  112  is attached to be raised or lowered, while the bottom of the loop formed by the hoist cable  108  is held by the winch cable  128 . By operating the winch assembly  124 , a user can apply tension to the hoist cable  108 , for example after the hoist cable  108  has been used to place the cable car  112  into a raised position in which it is in contact with the upper pulley assembly  116 . A user can also operate the winch assembly  124  so as to release tension from the hoist cable  108 , for example, when raising or lowering the cable car  112 . 
         [0023]    Alternatively, the bottom of the loop formed by the hoist cable  108  can be positioned in the winch assembly  124 , and the winch assembly  124  directly drives the rotation or movement of the hoist cable  108  to raise and lower the cable car  112 . In these embodiments, one or more tensioner pulleys may be incorporated to add tension to the hoist cable  108  to prevent the cable car  112  and the monitoring device  120  from contacting the mast  100 . 
         [0024]    A bracing assembly  136  can also be provided to the hoist system  104 . The bracing assembly  136  can assist in maintaining a desired spacing between the mast  100  and the hoist cable  108 , and can provide stability to the hoist cable  108  while the cable car  112  is being raised or lowered. The hoist cable  108  can be positioned in at least one pulley of the bracing assembly  136 , and the desired spacing between the mast  100  and the hoist cable  108  may be expressed in terms of distance between the at least one pulley of the bracing assembly  136  and a longitudinal axis of the mast  100 . This distance may be greater than, less than, or equal to the distance between the at least one pulley of the upper pulley assembly and the longitudinal axis of the mast  100 . The desired spacing provided by the bracing assembly  136  prevents incidental contact between the cable car  112  and the mast  100 , and thus damage to the monitoring device  120 . 
         [0025]      FIGS. 2A-2C  depict a cable car  112  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. The cable car  112  generally includes a cable mount or ear  204 , a mounting plate  208 , and a top plate  212 . The cable mount  204  can include provisions for fixing the cable car  112  to the hoist cable  108 . In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the two ends of the hoist cable  108  are joined to the cable car at the cable mount  204 , such that the hoist cable  108  forms a loop. Alternatively, the cable mount  204  may be an optional component of the hoist system  104 , and the hoist cable  108  is interconnected to another part of the cable car  112 , for example, the mounting plate  208  or the top plate  212 . 
         [0026]    The mounting plate  208  links the cable mount  204  and the top plate  212  and provides a surface to which a monitoring device  120  can be mounted. In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the mounting plate  208  can include mounting members, holes, or other provisions for facilitating attachment of one or more monitoring devices  120  to the cable car  112 . In addition, the mounting plate  208  can comprise characteristics that enhance the performance of the monitoring device  120  or devices. In some embodiments, the mounting plate  208  may comprise a material with acoustically reflective or acoustically absorptive properties. For example, wood, metal, and masonry are acoustically reflective while acoustically absorptive materials are generally pliable and porous such as foam or cloth. Further, the mounting plate  208  may have a geometric design or shape to enhance the performance of the monitoring device  120 . 
         [0027]    A set of guide plates  216  can align the cable car  112  with the upper pulley assembly  116  as the cable car  112  is raised. Specifically, the guide plates  216  align the lateral, or side-to-side, dimension of the cable car  112  with the lower plate of the upper pulley assembly. In this embodiment, the cable car  112  has four guide plates  216  that extend upwardly from a plane defined by an upper surface of the top plate  212 . In accordance with at least some embodiments of the present disclosure, the guide plates  216  may be angled so that they form a wider opening at the top of the guide plates  216  than at the bottom to assist in guiding the cable car  112  into alignment with the upper pulley assembly  116 . Specifically, the wider opening formed by the guide plates  216  provides a larger area to catch or receive a lower plate of the upper pulley assembly  116 . As the hoist cable  108  moves and the cable car  112  is raised, the guide plates  216  guide or channel the cable car  112  until the cable car  112  is aligned with the upper pulley assembly  116 . 
         [0028]    A plate angle  220  can define the angle that the guide plates  216  form with the upper surface of the top plate  212 . In some embodiments, the plate angle  220  may be between approximately  20  and  40  degrees. It should be appreciated that the plate angle  220  defines the angle that the guide plates  216  extend away from the sides of the top plate  212 . In other embodiments, a second plate angle can define the angle that the guide plates  216  extend away from the ends of the top plate  212 . In addition, one or more guide plates  216  may be positioned on the end or ends of the top plate  212  of the cable car  112 . It should be further appreciated that other embodiments of the cable car  112  may comprise fewer or greater than four guide plates  216 . Additionally, in other embodiments, one or more guide plates  216  can be oriented perpendicular to the upper surface of the top plate  212 , and the one or more guide plates  216  are received within corresponding recesses in the lower plate of the upper pulley assembly  116 . 
         [0029]    Alternatively or in addition, the cable car  112  can include a locating member  224  such as a magnet that selectively interconnects the cable car  112  to the upper pulley assembly  116 . The locating member  224  can mounted to the top plate  212  such that it is brought into contact with the lower plate of the upper pulley assembly  116  when the cable car  112  is in a raised position. The locating member  224  can thus provide a magnetic force that joins the cable car  112  to the upper pulley assembly  116  when the cable car  112  is raised. In some embodiments, the material of the upper pulley assembly  116  is magnetic, and the magnetic force between the locating member  224  and the upper pulley assembly  116  is sufficient to selectively interconnect the cable car  112  to the upper pulley assembly  116 . In other embodiments, another locating member is mounted on the lower plate of the upper pulley assembly  116 . When the locating members are magnets, the magnets may have opposing polarities such that there is an attractive magnetic force between the locating member on the cable car  112  and the locating member on the upper pulley assembly  116 . Other locating members can include mechanical systems such as a ratchet and pawl system. 
         [0030]    Apertures  228  can be positioned in the top plate  212  of the cable car  112  to permit the hoist cable  108  to pass through the cable car  112 . In the depicted embodiment, a first aperture  228   a  is positioned on one side of the locating member  224 , and a second aperture  228   b  is positioned on the other side of the locating member  224 . In operation, one leg of the hoist cable  108  is positioned in the first aperture  228   a,  and another leg of the hoist cable  108  is positioned in the second aperture  228   b.  The point at which the hoist cable  108  is interconnected to the cable mount  204  can be positioned directly below the second aperture  228   b  so that the leg of the hoist cable  108  positioned in the second aperture  228   b  remains substantially perpendicular to the top plate  212 . It should be appreciated that there can be a variety of aperture and locating member configurations. For example, in some embodiments, there is only one aperture in the top plate, and a locating member is positioned on either side of the single aperture. In this configuration, one leg of the hoist cable  108  is positioned in the single aperture, and the other leg of the hoist cable  108  is positioned outside of the cable car  112  altogether. 
         [0031]      FIGS. 3A-3D  depict an upper pulley assembly  116  in accordance with embodiments of the present disclosure. A mounting plate  304  is configured to abut a mast  100  or tower. One or more band clamp guides  308  can be interconnected to the mounting plate  304  to provide a location for band clamps to secure the upper pulley assembly  116  to the mast  100 . 
         [0032]    An upper pulley frame  312  extends from the mounting plate  304 . In this embodiment, the upper pulley frame  312  is perpendicular to the mounting plate  304 . A first pulley  316   a  and a second pulley  316   b  are mounted to the underside of the upper pulley frame  312 . The top of the loop formed by the hoist cable  108  is positioned in these pulleys  316   a,    316   b,  which allow for the movement of the hoist cable  108 . 
         [0033]    Next, a lower plate  320  extends from the mounting plate  304 . In this embodiment, the lower plate  320  is perpendicular to the mounting plate  304 . As described above, the lower plate  320  is the component of the upper pulley assembly  116  that the guide plates  216  of the cable car  112  are configured to contact. Also as described above, the lower plate  320  may be comprised of magnetic material so that a magnet on the cable car  112  may attract to the lower plate  320  and selectively interconnect the cable car  112  to the upper pulley assembly  116 . The lower plate  320  may optionally comprise a locating member such as a magnet with an opposing polarity to the magnet on the cable car  112  to promote the selective interconnection of the cable car  112  to the upper pulley assembly  116 . 
         [0034]    As shown in  FIG. 3A , a first aperture  324   a  and a second aperture  324   b  are positioned on the lower plate  320  to allow legs of hoist cable to pass through the lower plate  320 . In this embodiment, the apertures  324   a,    324   b  are spaced apart to correspond to the spacing of the apertures in the top plate  212  of the cable car  112 . Therefore, an optional second locating member or magnet can be positioned between the apertures  324   a,    324   b.  In addition, just as the apertures and locating members of the cable car may have various configurations, the apertures and locating members of the lower plate  320  may have corresponding configurations. However, it should be appreciated that it may be advantageous to have differing aperture and locating member configurations between the cable car and the upper pulley assembly. 
         [0035]    As shown in  FIG. 3D , the lower plate  320  can be associated with guide tubes  328   a,    328   b  where an adapter  332  positioned on a distal end of at least one of the guide tubes  328  is configured to receive a corresponding component mounted on the cable car  112 . 
         [0036]      FIG. 4  is a view of a cable car  112  approaching an upper pulley assembly  116  to selectively interconnect with the upper pulley assembly  116 . The top of the loop formed by the hoist cable  108  is depicted, and the cable car  112  is fixed to the hoist cable  108 . The hoist cable  108  is positioned in one aperture  228  in the top plate  212  of the cable car  112 , positioned in one aperture  324  in the bottom plate  320  of the upper pulley assembly  116 , positioned in the two pulleys  316  of the upper pulley assembly  116 , positioned in another aperture  324  in the bottom plate  320  of the upper pulley assembly  116 , and positioned in another aperture  228  in the top plate  212  of the cable car  112 . The position of the hoist cable  108  through the apertures  228 ,  324  promotes the alignment of the cable car  112  with the upper pulley assembly  116 , particularly in the longitudinal, or end-to-end, dimension of the cable car  112 . The position of the hoist cable  108  through the apertures  228 ,  324  also aligns the cable car  112  and the upper pulley assembly  116  with respect to a torsional or twisting motion of the cable car  112 , which can preserve the integrity of monitoring devices mounted on the cable car  112 . 
         [0037]    In operation, the guide plates  216  on the upper plate  212  of the cable car  112  align the cable car  112  with the upper pulley assembly  116  as the cable car  112  is raised. The guide plates  216  are configured to catch or receive the lower plate  320  of the upper pulley assembly  116 , then progressively align the cable car  112  with the upper pulley assembly  116  as the cable car  112  closes the distance with the upper pulley assembly  116 . The guide plates  216  in this embodiment are angled away from the sides of the upper plate  212 , and therefore, the guide plates  216  particularly align the cable car  112  with the upper pulley assembly  116  in the lateral, or side-to-side, dimension of the cable car  112 . 
         [0038]    While the cable car  112  in this embodiment is fixed to the hoist cable  108 , there can be many configurations of the cable car  112  and hoist cable  108 . For example, two ends of the hoist cable  108  can be fixed to the cable car  112  to form a loop instead of the cable car  112  being interconnected to a continuous loop of the hoist cable  108 . Next, the cable car  112  may interconnect to the hoist cable  108  at another point on the cable car  112 , or alternatively, one end of the hoist cable  108  may be attached to the top plate  212  and a second end of the hoist cable  108  may be attached to the cable mount  204 . Further, the cable mount  204  may extend to the other leg of the hoist cable  108  that is not fixed to the cable mount  204 , and the cable mount  204  may comprise an aperture in which the other leg of the hoist cable  108  is positioned. This provides additional alignment functionality in the longitudinal, or end-to-end, dimension of the cable car  112  as the cable car  112  is raised. 
         [0039]      FIG. 5  shows the cable car  112  in a raised position and selectively interconnected to the upper pulley assembly  116 . The cable-and-aperture configuration and the guide plates  216  aligned the cable car  112  with the upper pulley assembly  116 , and the locating member  224  provides a magnetic force that is sufficient to maintain the cable car  112  at an elevated position above a ground surface. 
         [0040]    Some embodiments of the hoist system  104  may comprise a second pulley assembly such that the cable car  112  can selectively interconnect to the second pulley assembly when the cable car  112  is in a lowered position. Monitoring devices mounted on a cable car in the raised position can be subjected to damage during turbulent environmental conditions, and a user may desire to secure the cable car in a lowered position where the cable car is selectively interconnected to the second pulley assembly. In some embodiments, the bottom of the loop formed by the hoist cable  108  may be positioned in at least one pulley in the second pulley assembly. In other embodiments, both legs of the hoist cable  108  pass completely through the second pulley assembly, and the bottom of the loop formed by the hoist cable  108  is positioned outside of the second pulley assembly. Thus, it is contemplated that a pulley assembly may be positioned at any point along the hoist cable  108 . 
         [0041]      FIGS. 6A and 6B  depict a winch assembly  124 . As shown in this example, the winch assembly  124  can include a handle  604  connected to a drum  608 , and a carrier  612  fixed to a winch mounting arm  616 . The winch mounting arm  616  can include a mounting plate  620  with one or more band clamp guides  624  to facilitate fixing the winch assembly  124  to the mast  100 , for example using band clamps or u-bolts that pass through the band clamp guides  624  and that loop around the mast  100 . As can be appreciated by one of skill in the art after consideration of the present disclosure, the winch cable  128  is carried by the drum  608 , and by turning the handle  604  and thus the drum  608  in the appropriate direction the hoist cable  108  can be selectively tensioned. As can be further appreciated, a winching assembly  124  may be utilized that directly manipulates the position of the hoist cable  108  to move the cable car  112  between a raised and lowered position. 
         [0042]    The bracing assembly  136 , illustrated in  FIGS. 7A and 7B , generally includes a pair of pulleys  704   a,    704   b  mounted along a common axis to a bracing arm  708 . The bracing arm  708  can incorporate or be connected to a mounting plate  712  with one or more band clamp guides  716  to facilitate fixing the bracing assembly to the mast  100 , for example using band clamps or u-bolts. Various embodiments of the hoist system  104  may include no bracing assembly  136  or more than one bracing assembly  136  to maintain a desired spacing between the hoist cable  108  and the mast  100 . 
         [0043]    The hoist system  104  may be applied to different masts and towers, and thus, the components of the hoist system  104  can have many different sizes. However, exemplary dimensions of the components of the hoist system  104  may help one skilled in the art appreciate the present disclosure. For example, the height of the mast  100  in  FIG. 1  can be approximately 80 m. The hoist cable  108  in  FIG. 1  can be  330  feet long and 3/16 inches in diameter. The length of the cable car  112  in  FIG. 2A  can be 8½ inches, and the width of the cable car  112  can be 2 inches. The length of the upper pulley assembly  116  in  FIG. 3A  can be 9½ inches, and the width of the upper pulley assembly  116  can be 2 inches. The length of the winch assembly  124  in  FIG. 6A  from the distal end of the carrier  612  to the mounting plate  620  can be 9 inches, and the width of the winch assembly measured at the mounting plate  620  can be 2 inches. The length of the bracing assembly  136  in  FIG. 7A  can be 24 inches, and the width of the bracing assembly  136  can be 2 inches. 
         [0044]    Accordingly, the present invention has been described with some degree of particularity directed to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention. It should be appreciated though that modifications or changes may be made to the exemplary embodiments of the present invention without departing from the inventive concepts contained herein. 
         [0045]    The foregoing discussion of the invention has been presented for purposes of illustration and description. Further, the description is not intended to limit the invention to the form disclosed herein. Consequently, variations and modifications commensurate with the above teachings, within the skill or knowledge of the relevant art, are within the scope of the present invention. The embodiments described hereinabove are further intended to explain the best mode presently known of practicing the invention and to enable others skilled in the art to utilize the invention in such or in other embodiments and with various modifications required by the particular application or use of the invention. It is intended that the appended claims be construed to include alternative embodiments to the extent permitted by the prior art.