Descent device

A descent device including a load carrier, a power operated winder unit with a coil of cable, said coil of cable having an end connected to and suspending said load carrier such that operation of said winder unit can lower or raise said load carrier, and a brake unit for retaining said load carrier at a stationary position when-braked;

• wherein the improvement comprises:
• said winder unit including a winder shaft and a common shaft parallel to said winder shaft, said coil of cable being wrapped around said winder shaft, and a power-operated driving shaft provided adjacent to said common shaft, said common shaft having a sleeve member sleeved rotatably thereon, said sleeve member having a first gear fixed thereon, a gear train interconnecting said winder shaft and said sleeve member, a ratchet mechanism interconnecting said sleeve member to said common shaft and permitting said common shaft to rotate in a first direction due to rotation of said sleeve member when said sleeve member is driven by said winder shaft in said first direction, said driving shaft having a driving gear meshing with said first gear of said sleeve member such that operation of said driving shaft causes rotation of said sleeve member in a direction opposite to said first direction and corresponding rotation of said winder shaft to raise said load carrier;
• said common shaft further having a retarding mechanism for impeding rotation of said common shaft so that said common shaft rotates at a lower speed to lower said load carrier when said common shaft is rotated in said first direction;
• and
• said brake unit being attached to said common shaft so as to retain said common shaft at a stationary condition when braked, said brake unit permitting said common shaft to rotate at said lower speed in said first direction upon release thereof.