Heat resistant descent controller
AssigneeTech Safety Lines, Inc.
InventorJohnny Dickson
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A load lowering descent controller having a fixed cylindrical body or capstan about which a rope or cable is turned. The descent controller allows for lowering of the load at a controlled rate by adjusting the amount of friction between the controller and the rope or cable as a function of rope or cable turning and relative contact with rope or cable engagement surfaces in the controller. The fixed cylindrical body or capstan is surrounded by a vented sleeve to prevent the rope from becoming heated and to prevent the user from being injured.
Claims23
An apparatus for descent control comprising:
- a housing comprising a longitudinal capstan portion, the longitudinal capstan portion defining a longitudinal counterbore therein;
- a plunger disposed within the longitudinal counterbore for movement between a rope releasing position and a rope braking position;
- a biasing member within the longitudinal counterbore for biasing the plunger toward the rope braking position;
- a protective sleeve partially enclosing the housing;
- and
- a vented sleeve enclosing the protective sleeve, wherein the vented sleeve and the protective sleeve comprise a plurality of vents configured to provide an air flow to the longitudinal capstan portion of the housing.
An apparatus for descent control comprising:
- a housing comprising a longitudinal capstan portion, the longitudinal capstan portion defining a longitudinal counterbore therein;
- a plunger disposed within the longitudinal counterbore for movement between a rope releasing position and a rope braking position;
- a biasing member within the longitudinal counterbore for biasing the plunger toward the rope braking position;
- a protective sleeve partially enclosing the housing;
- and
- a vented sleeve enclosing the protective sleeve, wherein the vented sleeve forms at least one air gap between the vented sleeve and the protective sleeve.
A vented sleeve for use with a rope operated device comprising:
- a cylindrical body comprised of a circumferential wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- at least two vents passing from the outer surface to the inner surface;
- a top at a first end of the vented sleeve, awl-the top defining a rope aperture;
- a second end opposing the first end, the second end being open to allow the rope operated device to be at least partially inserted within the vented sleeve;
- and
- a plurality of offset bridges formed along the inner surface of the cylindrical body;
- and
- at least one partial separation support between the at least two vents, wherein the at least one partial separation support has a depth less than that between the outer surface and the inner surface of the cylindrical body.
A vented sleeve for use with a rope operated device comprising:
- a cylindrical body comprised of a circumferential wall having an inner surface and an outer surface;
- at least one vent passing from the outer surface to the inner surface;
- a top at a first end of the vented sleeve, the top defining a rope aperture;
- a second end opposing the first end, the second end being open to allow the rope operated device to be at least partially inserted within the vented sleeve;
- and
- a plurality of offset bridges formed along the inner surface of the cylindrical body, wherein a height of the offset bridges extending from the circumferential wall is greater than a thickness of the circumferential wall.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.