# US 10,307,624 B2 · Active trolley support system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,307,624 B2 - Document ID: US10307624B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/434,671 - Filed: 2017-02-16 - Published: 2017-08-17 - Granted: 2019-06-04 - Earliest claimed: 2016-02-16 - Assignees: Gorbel, Inc. - Applicants: Gorbel, Inc. - Inventors: Benjamin A. Strohman - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10307624B2 ## CPC - A62B 35/0087: {Arrangements for bypassing lifeline supports without lanyard disconnection} - A62B 35/0056: {Horizontal lifelines} - A62B 35/0062: {Rail-form lifelines for permanent installation} - A62B 35/0081: {Equipment which can travel along the length of a lifeline, e.g. travelers} - A62B 35/0093: {Fall arrest reel devices} - A61H 3/008: {using suspension devices for supporting the body in an upright walking or standing position, e.g. harnesses} - A61H 2003/007: {secured to the patient, e.g. with belts} - A61H 2201/0176: By stopping operation - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) - A61H: PHYSICAL THERAPY APPARATUS, e.g. DEVICES FOR LOCATING OR STIMULATING REFLEX POINTS IN THE BODY; ARTIFICIAL RESPIRATION; MASSAGE; BATHING DEVICES FOR SPECIAL THERAPEUTIC OR HYGIENIC PURPOSES OR SPECIFIC PARTS OF THE BODY (electrotherapy, magnetotherapy, radiation therapy or ultrasound therapy A61N) ## Abstract A trolley for use with a fall arrest system, the trolley providing active control of both downward movement of a body attached to a rope or cable and horizontal position along a track. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fall arrest system, comprising: a track; a trolley operatively associated with, and traveling along, said track; a trolley braking mechanism, associated with said trolley, said braking mechanism including a brake member that is placed into frictional contact with said track in response to a braking signal; a drum for winding and unwinding a rope thereon; an energy storage assembly, operatively connected to the drum, for storing energy as the rope is unwound therefrom and releasing energy as the rope is rewound thereon; a drum rotation sensor, said rotation sensor sensing angular rotation of the drum about its axis and producing a drum rotation signal in response to such rotation; at least one rope angle sensor, said angle sensor sensing when the rope exceeds a predefined angle relative to vertical and producing an excess angle signal in response thereto; and a controller receiving as inputs of at least the excess angle signal and the drum rotation signal and controlling the operation of the fall arrest system, including: (a) initiating the trolley braking mechanism, by outputting the braking signal in response to at least the excess angle signal, and (b) stopping further drum rotation in response to at least the drum rotation signal. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The fall arrest system according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage assembly includes a transmission for transforming stored potential energy into kinetic energy to retract the rope. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The fall arrest system according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage assembly provides a generally fixed resistive force to the rope as it is raised and lowered. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The fall arrest system according to claim 3 wherein said rope is prevented from further unwinding from said drum in response to at least one of the following triggers: (a) reaching a predetermined travel limit, and (b) detection of a fall as determined by the drum rotation signal exceeding a predefined unwinding rate. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The fall arrest system according to claim 4 wherein unwinding rotation of the drum is prevented subsequent to one of said triggers until a reset is performed. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The fall arrest system according to claim 1, wherein braking modes for said trolley braking mechanism include: (a) free running; (b) locked; (c) drag; and (d) dynamic drag. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The fall arrest system according to claim 1, wherein said trolley is connected to a carriage having wheels that roll on an interior surface of said track to permit said carriage to travel therealong. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The fall arrest system according to claim 1, wherein the brake member includes at least one brake shoe pair operatively connected to a brake actuator, wherein the at least one brake shoe pair is placed into frictional contact with said track in response to the braking signal. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The fall arrest system according to claim 1, wherein said rope angle sensor outputs the excess angle signal in response to the rope angle exceeding thirty degrees, as measured relative to vertical beneath the trolley. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The fall arrest system according to claim 1, wherein said energy storage assembly for storing energy includes at least one constant force spring. ### Claim 11 A fall arrest system, comprising: a track; a trolley operatively associated with, and traveling along, said track; a trolley braking mechanism, associated with said trolley, said braking mechanism including a brake member that is placed into frictional contact with said track in response to a braking signal; a drum for winding and unwinding a rope thereon; an energy storage assembly, operatively connected to the drum, for storing energy as the rope is unwound therefrom and releasing energy as the rope is rewound thereon, wherein said energy storage assembly for storing energy includes at least one constant force spring and where the at least one constant force spring includes a gas spring; a drum rotation sensor, said rotation sensor sensing angular rotation of the drum about its axis and producing a drum rotation signal in response to such rotation; at least one rope angle sensor, said angle sensor sensing when the rope exceeds a predefined angle relative to vertical and producing an excess angle signal in response thereto; and a controller receiving as inputs of at least the excess angle signal and the drum rotation signal and controlling the operation of the fall arrest system, including: (a) initiating the trolley braking mechanism in response to at least an output of the rope angle sensor, and (b) stopping further drum rotation in response to at least the drum rotation signal. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The fall arrest system according to claim 11, wherein energy storage assembly includes a transmission for transforming stored potential energy into kinetic energy to retract the rope. ### Claim 13 (depends on 11) The fall arrest system according to claim 11, wherein the energy storage assembly provides a generally fixed resistive force to the rope as it is raised and lowered. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The fall arrest system according to claim 13 wherein said rope is prevented from further unwinding from said drum in response to at least one of the following triggers: (a) reaching a predetermined travel limit, and (b) detection of a fall as determined by the drum rotation signal exceeding a predefined unwinding rate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The fall arrest system according to claim 14 wherein unwinding rotation of the drum is prevented subsequent to one of said triggers until a reset is performed. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The fall arrest system according to claim 11, wherein braking modes for said trolley braking mechanism include: (a) free running; (b) locked; (c) drag; and (d) dynamic drag. ### Claim 17 (depends on 11) The fall arrest system according to claim 11, wherein said trolley is connected to a carriage having wheels that roll on an interior surface of said track to permit said carriage to travel therealong. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The fall arrest system according to claim 11, wherein the brake member includes at least one brake shoe pair operatively connected to a brake actuator, wherein the at least one brake shoe pair is placed into frictional contact with said track in response to the braking signal. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The fall arrest system according to claim 11, wherein said rope angle sensor outputs the excess angle signal in response to the rope angle exceeding thirty degrees, as measured relative to vertical beneath the trolley.