Industry Patents

Patent: 9474988

Variable Speed System to Motorize Counterweight Line Sets

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Patent Number:	9474988
Title:	Variable Speed System to Motorize Counterweight Line Sets
Abstract:	A manual theatrical rigging system is motorized to achieve greater control of speed and accuracy, avoiding need to load counterweights, and without sacrifice of standard line-set spacing. Each line set has a wire-reinforced drive belt connected with the associated hand line, and is operated by a geared or gearless motorized winch. A winch support frame supports the motorized winches in a number of rows, with the winches in positions staggered from row to row. The counterweight arbor holds a fixed counterweight. A computerized control panel permits a single operator to manage the entire system of line sets. An overspeed safety brake brakes the line set if the movement exceeds a safe speed.
Country of Issue:	US
First Named Inventor:	Shatzkin, McArthur, Kaiser
Assignee:
Continuation or Divisional of:
International Classification:	A47H 1/10
US Classification:	A63J 1/028
Issue Date:	10-25-2016
Filing Date:	07-08-2015
Application :	14/794166
Notes:
Link to Patent at freepatentsonline.com:	9474988 at Freepatentsonline
Link to World Patent Family¹:	World Patent Family at European Patent Office
Link to Google Patents¹:	9474988 at Google Patents

1. The Google Patents and World Patent Family links will likely not work until a few weeks
after the patent has issued - they take a while to get new patents in their systems.

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