Controlled-speed descent device

A controlled-speed descent device for safely lowering a load on a cable, comprising:

• A. a rigid anchor frame, comprising a first side member and a second side member and rigidly attached interconnecting members therebetween and having a vertically disposed center into which an incoming portion of said cable feeds;
• B. a first bank of generally parallel friction-inducing arms which:
• 1. are inclined toward said incoming portion,
• 2. are pivotably attached to and extend from first side member toward said center,
• 3. have cable-retarding tips which comprise a friction-inducing composition and are generally disposed in parallel with said center, and
• 4. comprise a resiliency means for absorbing shocks and minimizing binding forces upon said cable;
• C. a second bank of generally parallel friction-inducing arms which:
• 1. are inclined toward said incoming portion,
• 2. are pivotably attached to and extend from said second side member toward said center,
• 3. have cable-retarding tips which comprise a friction-inducing composition and alternatively oppose said tips of first bank, and
• 4. comprise a resiliency means for absorbing shocks and minimizing binding forces upon said cable;
• and
• D. a groove means in said tips for defining a zigzag path for said cable passing therebetween approximately along said center and in parallel to said side members.

A descent device for lowering a load along a vertically disposed load-supporting cable at a selected regulated rate of descent, comprising:

• A. an anchor frame, which is capable of selectively withstanding transversely directed pressures generated by cable-retarding forces, and
• B. a weight-responsive friction-inducing means for restricting said cable to a selected zigzag path and for selectively tensioning said cable and thereby increasing cable-retarding friction in proportion to the weight of said load,
• said friction-inducing means comprising a pair of banks of parallel and alternatively opposed friction-inducing arms which:
• 1. are pivotable attached to said anchor frame and have cableretarding tips over which said cable passes in arcuate contact along said zigzag path,
• 2. are pivotable attached to tie rod which is disposed generally in parallel to said load-supporting cable, and
• 3. comprise a resiliency means for absorbing shocks and minimizing binding forces upon said cable.

A controlled-speed descent device for safely lowering a load on a cable, comprising:

• A. a rigid anchor frame, comprising a first side member and a second side member and rigidly attached interconnecting members therebetween and having a vertically disposed center into which an incoming portion of said cable feeds, said frame being attached to and suspended from a bracket which is attached to an elevated structure and said cable being stored on a reel attached to said bracket, passing through said anchor frame along a zigzag path, and emerging as an outgoing run supporting said load;
• B. a first bank of generally parallel friction-inducing arms which:
• 1. are inclined toward said incoming portion,
• 2. are pivotably attached to and extend from first side member toward said center,
• 3. have cable-retarding tips which are generally disposed in parallel with said center, and
• 4. are pivotably attached to a tie rod which is disposed substantially in parallel to said side members;
• C. a second bank of generally parallel friction-inducing arms which:
• 1. are inclined toward said incoming portion,
• 2. are pivotably attached to and extend from said second side member toward said center,
• 3. have cable-retarding tips which alternatively oppose said tips of first bank, and
• 4. are pivotably attached to a second tie rod;
• and
• D. a groove means in said tips for defining said zigzag path for said cable passing therebetween approximately along said center and in parallel to said side members, said outgoing run of said cable passing through a load block and returning to a fastening position on one of said tie rods.

A controlled-speed descent device for safely lowering a load on a cable, comprising:

• A. a rigid anchor frame, comprising a first side member and a second side member and rigidly attached interconnecting members therebetween and having a vertically disposed center into which an incoming portion of said cable feeds, said frame being attached to and suspended from a bracket which is attached to an elevated structure and said cable being stored on a reel attached to said bracket passing through said anchor frame along a zigzag path, and emerging as as outgoing run supporting said load;
• B. a first bank of generally parallel friction-inducing arms which:
• 1. are inclined toward said incoming portion,
• 2. are pivotably attached to and extend from first side member toward said center,
• 3. have cable-retarding tips which are generally disposed in parallel with said center, and
• 4. are pivotably attached to a tie rod which is disposed substantially in parallel to said side members;
• C. a second bank of generally parallel friction-inducing arms which:
• 1. are inclined toward said incoming portion,
• 2. are pivotably attached to and extend from said second side member toward said center,
• 3. have cable-retarding tips which alternatively oppose said tips of first bank, and
• 4. are pivotably attached to a second tie rod;
• and
• D. a groove means in said tips for defining said zigzag path for said cable passing therebetween approximately along said center and in parallel to said side members, said first tie rod and said second tie rod being rigidly interconnected to form a tie-rod frame and said outgoing run of said cable passing through a load block and returning to said descent device, being fastened to said tie-rod frame.

A passenger-carrying chair for safely lowering a passenger on a cable, comprising:

• A. a passenger-supporting bottom upon which said passenger sits;
• and
• B. a pair of passenger-retaining sides which are rigidly attached along their lower edges to said bottom along its opposite edges, each said side comprising a controlled-speed descent device which comprises:
• 1. a rigid anchor frame, comprising a first side member and a second side member and rigidly attached interconnecting members therebetween and having a vertically disposed center into which an incoming portion of said cable feeds;
• 2. a first bank of generally parallel friction-inducing arms which:
• a. are inclined toward said incoming portion,
• b. are pivotably attached to and extend from first side member toward said center, and
• c. have cable-retarding tips which are generally disposed in parallel with said center;
• 3. a second bank of generally parallel friction-inducing arms which:
• a. are inclined toward said incoming portion,
• b. are pivotably attached to and extend from said second side member toward said center, and
• c. have cable-retarding tips which alternatively oppose said tips of first bank;
• and
• 4. a groove means in said tips for defining a zigzag path for said cable passing therebetween approximately along said center and in parallel to said side members;
• said first and second banks having downwardly extending arms in one said passenger-retaining side of said chair and having upwardly extending arms in the other said passenger-retaining side thereof.

In a descent device for safely lowering passengers and materials from an elevated position to a lower position, a weight-responsive means for controlling speed of descent thereof along a load-supporting cable, comprising:

• A. an anchor frame which is capable of withstanding transversely directed pressures generated by cable-retarding forces;
• and
• B. a pair of banks of parallel and alternatively opposed friction-inducing arms which:
• 1. are inclined toward the incoming portion of said cable,
• 2. are pivotably attached to said anchor frame,
• 3. have tips which are in movable contact with said cable along an arc of contact of variable length and which guide said cable along a zigzag path, and
• 4. are pivotably attached to a tie rod disposed between said tips and said anchor frame and generally in parallel to said cable, whereby said arms in each said bank operate in unison whereby said arms are pivotably responsive to the weight of said load so that on each said arm a turning moment is generated in the direction of movement of said cable and whereby an axially directed force is generated which alters the frictional pressure between said cable and said tips in proportion to said load and which is transmitted to said anchor frame as a portion of said transversely directed pressure, said cable being passed downwardly from said device, through a load block, and upwardly to a fastening position on one of said tie rods.