Back to results
US 10,413,761 B2Granted
Line retraction device having a damper assembly
AssigneeMSA Technology, LLC
InventorMitchell H. Hetrich
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A line retraction device includes a rotatable drum having a line associated therewith, with the line including a first end directly or indirectly attached to the drum and a second end opposite the first end, and at least one retraction member biasing the drum in a first rotational direction of the drum opposite a second rotational direction of the drum, where the drum is configured to: (i) retract the line when the drum moves in the first rotational direction; and (ii) payout the line when the drum moves in the second rotational direction. The device further including a damper assembly configured to provide rotational resistance to the drum in: (i) the first rotational direction of the drum as the line is being retracted; and (ii) the second rotational direction as the line is being paid out.
Claims11
A line retraction device, comprising:
- a rotatable drum having a line associated therewith, the line including a first end directly or indirectly attached to the drum and a second end opposite the first end;
- at least one retraction member biasing the drum in a first rotational direction of the drum opposite a second rotational direction of the drum, wherein the drum is configured to:
- (i) retract the line when the drum moves in the first rotational direction;
- and (ii) payout the line when the drum moves in the second rotational direction;
- a brake assembly configured to prevent rotation of the drum upon activation of the brake assembly;
- and
- a damper assembly having a damper housing with at least one fixed element and at least one moveable element movable in conjunction with the drum, the damper housing containing a fluid in fluid communication with at least a portion of the at least one fixed element and at least a portion of the at least one moveable element,
- wherein the at least one fixed element comprises a first set of arcuate-shaped vane segments radially spaced from a second set of arcuate-shaped vane segments, the vane segments of the first set and the second set circumferentially spaced apart from each other and arranged in a circular shape,
- wherein the at least one moveable element comprises a first annular vane radially spaced from a second annular vane, the first and second annular vanes of the at least one moveable element intermeshed with the first and second sets of vane segments of the at least one fixed element, and
- wherein a shearing resistance of the fluid between the at least one fixed element and the at least one movable element is configured to provide rotational resistance to the drum in:
- (i) the first rotational direction of the drum as the line is being retracted;
- and (ii) the second rotational direction as the line is being paid out.
9 more elements
A line retraction device, comprising:
- a housing;
- a rotatable drum received at least partially within the housing and having a line associated therewith, the line including a first end directly or indirectly attached to the drum and a second end opposite the first end;
- at least one retraction member biasing the drum in a first rotational direction of the drum opposite a second rotational direction of the drum, wherein the drum is configured to:
- (i) retract the line when the drum moves in the first rotational direction;
- and (ii) payout the line when the drum moves in the second rotational direction;
- a brake assembly configured to prevent rotation of the drum upon activation of the brake assembly;
- and
- a damper assembly having a damper housing with at least one fixed element and at least one moveable element movable in conjunction with the drum, the damper housing containing a fluid in fluid communication with at least a portion of the at least one fixed element and at least a portion of the at least one moveable element,
- wherein the at least one fixed element comprises a first set of arcuate-shaped vane segments radially spaced from a second set of arcuate-shaped vane segments, the vane segments of the first set and the second set circumferentially spaced apart from each other and arranged in a circular shape,
- wherein the at least one moveable element comprises a first annular vane radially spaced from a second annular vane, the first and second annular vanes of the at least one moveable element intermeshed with the first and second sets of vane segments of the at least one fixed element, and
- wherein a shearing resistance of the fluid between the at least one fixed element and the at least one movable element is configured to provide rotational resistance to the drum in:
- (i) the first rotational direction of the drum as the line is being retracted;
- and (ii) the second rotational direction as the line is being paid out.
10 more elements
A fall protection device, comprising:
- a rotatable drum having a line associated therewith, the line including a first end directly or indirectly attached to the drum and a second end opposite the first end;
- at least one retraction member biasing the drum in a first rotational direction of the drum opposite a second rotational direction of the drum, wherein the drum is configured to:
- (i) retract the line when the drum moves in the first rotational direction;
- and (ii) payout the line when the drum moves in the second rotational direction;
- a brake assembly having a speed-sensitive mechanism having a non-activated position and an-activated position configured to prevent rotation of the drum;
- and
- a damper assembly having a damper housing with at least one fixed element and at least one moveable element movable in conjunction with the drum, the damper housing containing a fluid in fluid communication with at least a portion of the at least one fixed element and at least a portion of the at least one moveable element,
- wherein the at least one fixed element comprises a first set of arcuate-shaped vane segments radially spaced from a second set of arcuate-shaped vane segments, the vane segments of the first set and the second set circumferentially spaced apart from each other and arranged in a circular shape,
- wherein the at least one moveable element comprises a first annular vane radially spaced from a second annular vane, the first and second annular vanes of the at least one moveable element intermeshed with the first and second sets of vane segments of the at least one fixed element, and
- wherein a shearing resistance of the fluid between the at least one fixed element and the at least one movable element is configured to provide rotational resistance to the drum in:
- (i) the first rotational direction of the drum as the line is being retracted;
- and (ii) the second rotational direction as the line is being paid out.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.