Fall-arrest apparatus with constant winch braking

Fall-arrest apparatus for attachment to a fixed anchorage, which apparatus comprises a drum (1) for holding a cable or other extendable anchorage line (3), a drum brake (7-11,13-15) which functions automatically to brake the drum (1) if it exceeds a given unwinding speed, and a winch mechanism (16-20) incorporating a handle (16) which can be coupled to the drum to permit manual rotation of the drum in winding or unwinding mode for raising or lowering a load suspended from said anchorage line (3), said winch mechanism having associated braking means (21) for holding said load against descent under its own weight;

• characterised in that said winch braking means (21) comprises relatively rotatable brake elements (22 or 48,24,25), means (26) which permanently holds such elements in contact under pressure to maintain a predetermined frictional resistance to such relative rotation, and a one-way torque coupling (22,28, 31-33;
• 44,46,48) which whenever and for as long as the winch mechanism (16-20) is coupled to the drum (1), prevents unwinding motion of the drum otherwise than against the said resistance to relative rotation of said brake elements (22 or 48, 24,25).