Importance

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Abstract

A motorized assist device for raising and lowering a lifting lid, includes a supporting brace for mounting the lifting lid. The supporting bracket has a central bracing member, and a monorail mounting bracket positioned on the central bracing member. A monorail has a receiving bracket for receiving the monorail mounting bracket. An I-beam framework is positioned within the monorail and has a pair of U-shaped guides. A carriage has a pair of wheels and is mounted on the framework, such that each of the U-shaped guides receives one of the pair of the wheels. The carriage is secured to the receiving bracket. A counterweight assembly is used for raising and lowering the carriage along the monorail. The counterweight assembly includes a pulley mounted at a top portion of the framework, a counterweight movably mounted within in a pair of counterweight guides, and primary and secondary counterweight cables, the first ends of which are attached to the counterweight and the second ends of which are attached to the carriage. These counterweight cables are threaded through the pulley. An assist motor is mounted on a motor support bracket positioned above the counterweight and below the pulley. The motor includes a cable drum driven by the motor and a lifting cable, a drum end of which is attached to the cable drum and a carriage end of which is attached to the carriage. The motor is operable in opposite directions to wind and unwind the lifting cable on the cable drum to lower and raise the carriage, respectively.

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First Claim