Patent ID: 7284743

Claim:
A hoist apparatus comprising: a frame; a hoist drum supported by said frame and rotatable about a hoist axis; a hoist driver supported by said frame and configured to rotate said hoist drum in opposite upward and downward directions about said hoist axis; a hoist line in engagement with said hoist drum such that said hoist line moves in said upward or downward direction in response to rotation of said hoist drum; at least one gear mechanically coupling said hoist driver and said hoist drum and configured to rotate about a gear axis; said gear having a face that rotates about said gear axis in a upward or downward direction in response to rotation of said hoist drum; a first proximity limit switch supported by said frame adjacent said rotating face such that said rotating face moves relative to said proximity switch; a second proximity limit switch supported by said frame adjacent said rotating face such that said rotating face moves relative to said second proximity switch; said first and second proximity switches configured to sense the presence or absence of said face and communicating with a controller; said first and second proximity switches, said controller and said hoist driver configured to prevent said hoist drum from rotating in said upward direction as a function of signals from said first and said second proximity switches and configured and arranged to prevent said hoist drum from rotating in said downward direction as a function of said signals from said first and said second proximity switches.