Back to results
US 2007/0158139 A1Published application
Compact Gerotor Descent Unit
AssigneeDevicix, LLC
InventorsJon Moon, Thomas McPeak
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention enables controlled descent from a height to the ground. A gerotor compressor causes fluid to flow through a restriction which limits the rotational speed of a spool attached to the compressor shaft. As the spool rotates a line or cord wound on the spool is controllably released allowing a person or object attached to the compressor to descend at a safe rate.
Claims6
An controlled descent device comprising:
- a frame;
- a gerotor compressor comprising an outer gear ring mounted on the frame, an inner ring attached to a rotatable shaft, and an inlet and outlet for a working fluid;
- a first clip attached to an end of the frame;
- a spool attached to the shaft;
- a flexible, load-bearing line wound on the spool;
- a second clip attached to the free end of the line;
- a fluid circuit incorporating the gerotor compressor and a flow restriction in communication with the outlet of the gerotor compressor wherein the flow rate of the fluid flowing past the flow restriction from the outlet of the gerotor compressor controls the rotational rate of the spool.
4 more elements
A method of controlling descent comprising the steps of:
- providing a controlled descent device comprising a gerotor compressor attached to a frame, a first clip extending from the frame, and a second clip attached to a flexible line wound onto a spool, wherein the spool is attached to a rotatable shaft of the compressor;
- attaching the first clip to an object to be lowered;
- attaching the second clip to a fixed object;
- regulating the flow of a fluid through the compressor to control the rotation rate of the spool.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.