US 2008/0157042 A1 · POWERED PERSONNEL ASCENDER

Abstract

A powered rope ascender that supports a person or a load while ascending a vertical rope. The rope ascender has a motor driven capstan drum that engages the rope. A pinch roller grips the rope against the capstan drum. A load limiting assembly releases the grip by the pinch roller when the load supported by the ascender exceeds a predetermined amount. A centrifugal clutch reduces starting torque required by the motor and the outer drum of the centrifugal clutch interacts with a brake to hold position on the rope. For heavy loads a motion activated brake is used. Hand controls provide a freewheeling, a braking and an ascending mode of operation. A harmonic drive or planetary reduction gears provide speed reduction from the motor to the capstan drum. The powered rope ascender can be threaded on the rope without access to a rope end.

Claims42

Dependent claims

An apparatus for maneuvering on a rope while supporting a load comprising:

a base plate;
means for engaging a rope;
wherein said means for engaging a rope is coupled to said base plate;
wherein said means for engaging a rope is configured to grip the rope;
a motor coupled to base plate;
wherein said motor is adapted to propel said means for engaging a rope relative to the rope;
and
means for limiting load;
wherein said means for limiting load is coupled to said base plate;
wherein said means for limiting load is configured to be coupled to a load;
and
wherein said means for limiting load is configured to reduce the grip on the rope by said means for engaging a rope when the load coupled to said means for limiting load exceeds a predetermined amount.

9 more elements

An apparatus for maneuvering on a rope while supporting a load, comprising:

a base plate;
a motor coupled to said base plate;
a capstan drum coupled to said motor;
wherein said motor is adapted to rotate said capstan drum;
wherein said capstan drum is adapted to receive at least one wrap of rope;
an upper rope guide coupled to said base plate and adapted to guide a rope to said capstan drum;
a pinch roller coupled to said base plate;
wherein said pinch roller is configured to apply a gripping force against said at least one wrap of rope on said capstan drum;
and
means for limiting load;
said means for limiting load coupled to said base plate;
wherein said means for limiting load is further adapted to couple to the load;
wherein said means for limiting load is adapted to react with said pinch roller;
and
wherein said means for limiting load is configured to reduce the gripping force by said pinch roller on said at least one wrap of rope on said capstan drum when the load exceeds a predetermined amount.

12 more elements

An apparatus for ascending a rope while supporting a load, comprising:

a base plate;
a load bracket coupled to said base plate;
said load bracket adapted to support a load;
a motor coupled to said base plate;
a rotating yoke coupled to said motor;
wherein said motor is adapted to rotate said rotating yoke;
a motion activated brake coupled to said rotating yoke;
a capstan drum coupled to said motion activated brake;
wherein said motion activated brake has a drive state and a brake state;
wherein said motion activated brake is in said drive state and rotates said capstan drum when said rotating yoke is rotating;
wherein said motion activated brake is in said brake state and prevents said capstan drum from rotating when said rotating yoke is stationary;
a pinch roller coupled to said base plate;
wherein said pinch roller is positioned to contact said capstan drum;
and
wherein said pinch roller is configured to apply a gripping force against at least one wrap of rope on said capstan drum.

12 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Powered personnel ascender

Life of this patent

Powered personnel ascender

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims42