US 4,538,703 A · Climbing aid and safety descent system

Abstract

A safety system which permits the free movement of the user, assists the ascent of the user and provides a reduced, controlled rate of descent in the event of an emergency descent or a fall, includes a cable attachable at one end to the user and secured at the other end to a moveable counterweight assembly. Intermediate its ends the cable passes over a pulley in a controlled descent device which also includes a centrifugally-actuated clutch coupling the pulley to a speed-multiplying gearing system and a centrifugally-operated braking assembly. Under normal-use conditions, the pulley is rotated at sufficiently low speeds to preclude engagement of the clutch, and the user has free movement, with a component of the counterweight assisting the ascent of the user. In the event of a rapid rate of descent, the increased rotational speed of the pulley is coupled to and actuates the braking assembly to reduce the rotation of the pulley and slow the descent to a lower, controlled rate. Descent may be vertically or at an angle with a spring pulley and an angled descent cable. The cable may be disposed on the pulley in different arrangements, and the pulley may be provided with alternate groove configurations. The pulley may be coupled to the braking assembly without an intervening clutch.

Claims53

Dependent claims

A climbing aid and safe descent system comprising:

(a) a cable having a first end portion adapted for removable connection to a user of the system and a second end portion attached to a counterweight;
(b) an elongated guide means secured at its ends and carraige means supporting said counterweight for movement along said guide means;
and
(c) a cable controller assembly including:
(i) a first pulley making rotatable contact with said cable;
(ii) centrifugally-actuated brake means;
and
(iii) means coupling said first pulley to said brake means, said coupling means in the cable controller assembly permitting free rotation of said first pulley and the concommitant free passage of said cable through said controller assembly at pulley rotational speeds below a predetermined value, and said coupling means coupling said first pulley to said brake means at pulley rotational speeds above said predetermined value, to restrict the pulley rotational speed and to restrict passage of said cable to a controlled rate.

5 more elements

A safety system which under normal-use conditions permits the free movement of the user and assists in the user's ascent between different elevations by counterbalancing a portion of the user's weight and which, under conditions of high descent rates, operates to restrict the descent rate to a lower, controlled rate, comprising, in combination:

(a) a cable having a first end portion adapted for removable connection to the user and a second end portion attached to a counterweight;
(b) carriage means supporting said counterweight for movement along an elongated guide member, said guide member being anchored at its ends, and said counterweight moving in a vertical direction substantially opposite to the vertical movement of the user, a component of said counterweight acting to counterbalance a portion of the user's weight;
and
(c) cable control means disposed intermediate the end portions of said cable, said cable control means comprising:
(i) a housing;
(ii) a first pulley rotatably disposed within said housing, said cable contacting the pulley in passing through said cable control means;
(iii) centrifugally-actuated brake means coaxially disposed relative to said first pulley and cooperating with said housing to provide a braking force;
and
(iv) means coupling said first pulley to said brake means and adapted to transmit rotation of said pulley to said brake means,
said coupling means adapted to permit free rotation of said first pulley and the free passage of said cable through said cable control means at pulley rotational speeds below a predetermined value, and said coupling means coupling said first pulley to said brake means at pulley rotational speeds above said predetermined value, to restrict the pulley rotational speed and to restrict passage of said cable to a controlled rate.

7 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Climbing aid and safety descent system

Life of this patent

Climbing aid and safety descent system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims53