Cable traction sheave

Claim 2

A cable traction sheave of the character described, said sheave comprising: a circular sheave body formed of rigid material and having a peripheral groove defined therein of larger cross-sectional area than the cable to be accommodated; a groove liner comprising a solid elastomeric material bonded in said peripheral groove, said liner having a U-shaped cable receiving groove defined therein; said liner comprising means, responsive to forces exerted on the bottom portion of said liner by a cable in said cable receiving groove, for causing said liner to increase lateral pressures on said cable; said means for causing said liner to increase lateral pressures on said cable comprising a plurality of spring elements embedded in said solid elastomeric material, each of said spring elements comprising an outwardly bowed bight portion, disposed in the bottom portion of said liner, and a pair of radially extending leg portions disposed in the side walls of said liner, whereby flattening of said bight portion causes said leg portions to urge said side walls of said liner toward one another and into gripping relation with a cable in said cable receiving groove.

Claim 3

A cable traction sheave as defined in claim 1, and further comprising: motor means including a shaft and a motor housing rotatable anout said shaft; said circular sheave body being annular and fixed in encircling relation to said housing for rotation therewith.

Claim 4

A cable traction sheave as defined in claim 2, and wherein: said peripheral groove is rectangular in cross-section; and said line has its inner portions bonded to said sheave body and the peripheral portions of said side walls of said liner being free with respect to the side walls of said peripheral groove.

Claim 5

A cable traction sheave as defined in claim 1, and wherein: said peripheral groove is rectangular in cross-section; and said liner has its inner portions bonded to said sheave body and the peripheral portions of said side walls of said liner being free with respect to the side walls of said peripheral groove.

Claim 6

A cable traction sheave device, of the character described, comprising: support arm means, for supporting sheave elements relative to other structure; motor means including a stator portion, supported by said support arm means, and a rotor portion rotatable with respect to said stator portion; an annular sheave body, formed of a rigid material, and connected to said rotor portion for rotation therewith, said sheave body being further characterized by a peripheral groove of rectangular cross-section and of greater width than the diameter of a cable to be used with said device; a liner disposed in said peripheral groove and comprising a solid elastomeric material bonded to said sheave body at least at the inner portions of said peripheral groove; said liner having a cable receiving, U-shaped groove therein and comprising pressure responsive means for causing said elastomeric material to grip the sides of a cable, when in said cable receiving groove, with a force dependent upon pressure of said cable on the bottom of said receiving groove; said pressure responsive means comprising a plurality of meal spring elements embedded in said solid elastomeric materials, said elements being distributed along said cable receiving groove therein; and each of said spring elements comprising an outwardly bowed bight portion interconnecting a pair of radially extending leg portions defined in said elastomeric materials so that deformation of said bowed portion will cause said leg portions to move toward one another and so cause said liner to grip said cable.

Claim 7

A cable traction sheave device, of the character described, comprising: support arm means, for supporting sheave elements relative to other structure; motor means including a stator portion, supported by said support arm means, and a rotor portion rotatable with respect to said stator portion; an annular sheave body, formed of a rigid material, and connected to said rotor portion for rotation therewith, said sheave body being further characterized by a peripheral groove of rectangular cross-section and of greater width than the diameter of a cable to be used with said device; a liner disposed in said peripheral groove and comprising a solid elastomeric material bonded to said sheave body at least at the inner portions of said peripheral groove; said liner having a cable receiving, U-shaped groove therein and comprising pressure responsive means for causing said elastomeric material to grip the sides of a cable, when in said cable receiving groove, with a force dependent upon pressure of said cable on the bottom of said receiving groove; said pressure responsive means comprising a plurality of meal spring elements embedded in said solid elastomeric materials, said elements being distributed along said cable receiving groove therein; and each of said spring elements comprising an outwardly bowed bight portion interconnecting a pair of radially extending leg portions defined in said elastomeric materials so that deformation of said bowed portion will cause said leg portions to move toward one another and so cause said liner to grip said cable.