Overload regulator for lever hoists

Claim 1

In a hoist for drawing and releasing of loads having an output extension on which to receive a load, and input drive means responsive to a correlated directional input thereto for operably controlling the drawing and releasing of said output extension, a regulator for limiting load drawing capacity of the hoist and comprising: a. a first rotatable section connected to said input drive means for rotational movement therewith; b. a second rotatable section coaxially superposed to said first rotatable section and connected to said output extension for rotational movement therewith; c. said first and second sections being arranged coaxially interfit one within the other with at least an axial portion of an outside diametral surface of the inner section adapted to be in frictional engagement with at least an axial portion of the internal diametral surface of the outer section and with the inner of said sections including at least one radial slot of predetermined axial extent having locally tapered surfaces in opposite walls at an intermediate location defining a locally enlarged recess therewithin; d. substantially inelastic sphere means contained within said slot recess; and e. presettable screw adjustment means for effecting a rotational braking friction between said first and second rotatable sections to provide a predetermined degree of limited braking therebetween correlated to a value of load at which the hoist capacity is to be limited; f. said screw adjustment means including a screw threadedly supported in the wall of said inner section in axial alignment with the sphere means in said slot recess, the inward end of said screw being effective when operatively advanced in engagement against said sphere means for said sphere means to spread said slot increasing the outer diametral surface of said inner section against the inner diametral surface of said outer section.