Sealed retractable fall arrest block

A retractable fall arrest block comprising:

• a structural center support wall;
• a bearing assembly mounted to said structural center support wall;
• a spindle rotatably supported by said bearing assembly;
• said spindle comprising a spring side portion extending from a spring side of said structural center support wall and a drum side portion extending from a drum side of said structural center support wall;
• a spring side housing member on a spring side of said structural center support wall and a spring side cover plate mounted to an end surface of said spring side housing member opposite said structural center support wall;
• said spring side housing member, said spring side plate, and said structural center support wall, in combination, defining a spring housing;
• a return spring mounted in said spring housing;
• said return spring being connected at a first end to said spindle and positionally fixed at a second end to said housing to cause rotation of said spindle in a winding direction after said spindle has been rotated in an unwinding direction;
• a drum side housing member on a drum side of said structural center support wall;
• a drum side cover plate mounted to an end surface of said drum side housing member opposite said structural center support wall;
• said drum side cover plate, said drum side housing member and said structural center support wall, in combination, defining a drum housing;
• said drum side portion of said spindle extending at least into said drum housing;
• a drum mounted to said spindle and rotatably fixed to said spindle, such that said drum and said spindle rotate together;
• said drum having a cable wound thereon;
• said drum being rotatable in an unwinding direction in which the cable can be unwound from said drum and a winding direction in which the cable is wound onto said drum;
• and
• a clutch assembly mounted to said spindle;
• said clutch assembly being operable to stop said drum from rotating in said unwinding direction;
• whereby neither said drum side cover nor said spring side cover include bearing assemblies that provide support for said spindle, such that substantially only said structural center support wall supports said spindle, and such that said central wall will bear substantially all the forces from the fall;
• and including a clutch housing separate from said drum housing and into which said spindle extends and in which said clutch assembly is contained;
• said clutch housing comprising said drum side cover plate and a clutch cover which is secured to said drum side cover plate;
• said retractable fall arrest further including a clutch housing sealed which separates said drum housing from said clutch housing to substantially prevent contaminants from entering said clutch housing from said drum housing.