Patent ID: 8403112

Claim:
A suspension work platform hoist system ( 10 ) for raising and lowering a work platform ( 100 ) on a rope ( 400 ), the suspension work platform hoist system ( 10 ) powered by a constant frequency input power source ( 800 ) via a suspended conductor system ( 810 ), comprising: a hoist ( 200 ) having a motor ( 210 ), a traction mechanism ( 220 ) designed to cooperate with the rope ( 400 ), and a gearbox ( 230 ) for transferring power from the motor ( 210 ) to the traction mechanism ( 220 ), wherein the hoist ( 200 ) is releasably attached to the work platform ( 100 ); a reactive power reducing input power system ( 1300 ) releasably attached to the work platform ( 100 ) and in electrical communication with the motor ( 210 ) and the constant frequency input power source ( 800 ), via a suspended conductor system ( 810 ), wherein the reactive power reducing input power system ( 1300 ) decreases the magnitude of the reactive power of the motor ( 210 ) producing a hoist system power factor of at least 0.95 when operating at a steady state full-load condition as the motor ( 210 ) raises the work platform ( 100 ) on the rope ( 400 ).