Patent ID: 7849971

Claim:
A powered controlled acceleration suspension work platform hoist system ( 10 ) for raising and lowering a work platform ( 100 ) on a rope ( 400 ) at a predetermined acceleration, 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 variable acceleration motor control system ( 600 ) releasably attached to the work platform ( 100 ) and in electrical communication with a constant frequency input power source and the motor ( 210 ), wherein the variable acceleration motor control system ( 600 ) controls the rate at which the motor ( 210 ) accelerates the traction mechanism ( 220 ) thereby controlling the acceleration of the work platform ( 100 ) as the work platform ( 100 ) is raised and lowered on the rope ( 400 ); and a platform control system ( 700 ) releasably attached to the work platform ( 100 ) and in electrical communication with the variable acceleration motor control system ( 600 ) and the motor ( 210 ), wherein the platform control system ( 700 ) has a user input device ( 710 ) designed to accept instructions to raise or lower the work platform ( 100 ).