# US 8,141,681 B2 · Tower climbing assist device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,141,681 B2 - Document ID: US8141681B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 12/324,114 - Filed: 2008-11-26 - Published: 2009-10-08 - Granted: 2012-03-27 - Earliest claimed: 2008-04-07 - Assignees: SafeWorks, LLC - Inventors: Christopher Gavin Brickell; John Jerome Haigh - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8141681B2 ## CPC - A62B 1/10: mechanically operated - A62B: DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING (valves specially adapted for medical use A61M39/00; life-saving devices, apparatus or methods specially adapted for use in water B63C9/00; divers' equipment B63C11/00; specially adopted for use with aircraft, e.g. parachutes, ejector seats, {B64D17/00, B64D25/10}; rescue devices peculiar to mining E21F11/00) ## Abstract A climb assist system is disclosed that dynamically adjust the rate and level of assist of a climber as the climber needs may change over the period of traverse of the ladder. A sensor detects the state of a person, such as the load exerted by the climber on a ladder exerts on an assist rope, to provided an upward support force on the climber to compensate the climber's weight. Additionally, a sender is provided to transmit the load data to a receiver and a receiver to receive the data from the sender. A controller interprets the received data and thereafter provides control through a controlled motor and drive to provide energy to the assist rope. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system for assisting the substantially vertical ascent or descent of a person, comprising: a continuous belt substantially vertically disposed around an upper and a lower sheave, the sheaves displaced along a substantially vertical ladder; an apparatus coupled to the belt, said apparatus adapted to translate rigging movement into an ascent or descent assistance of the person and including attachments for the person climbing the ladder; a sensor operable to detect a change in state of a person on the apparatus; and a control mechanism coupled to a power source and in electrical communication with the sensor to control power delivery to the belt based on a detected change in state of the person; wherein said attachments are coupled to the sensor, the sensor being configured to provide continuous feedback to said control mechanism so that the load supported by the belt is constantly maintained at a presettable value. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 1, wherein the apparatus is attachable to the person. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 1, comprising an overspeed governor to prevent an overspeed condition. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 1, comprising an unpowered descent mode that enables controlled movement of the belt independent of load. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 1 comprising a ladder that a person ascends or descends and wherein the belt is disposed proximate the ladder. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein said control power delivery is operable to adjust the amount of assistance to the person. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 1, wherein the control mechanism comprises: a processor; and computing memory communicatively coupled to the processor, the computing memory having stored therein computer executable instructions, said computing instructions when executed operate to cause a change in power as a function of changes in the load. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 7 wherein the change in power is also a function of the direction of a movement of the belt. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is coupled to the apparatus; the sensor detects a change in a load on the apparatus. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 9, comprising a strain gauge to generate an electric signal that is representative of the load. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 9, comprising a Hall Effect Device (HED) to generate an electric signal that is representative of the load. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The system for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 11, comprising a load reactive material is adapted to move the HED relative to a magnetic field. ### Claim 13 A method for assisting the substantially vertical ascent or descent of a person, comprising: receiving data from a sensor operable to detect a change in state of a person, the data being indicative of the change in state of the person; and controlling delivery of power from a power source based on the detected change in state of the person, the power being delivered to a continuous belt substantially vertically disposed around an upper and a lower sheave, the sheaves displaced along a substantially vertical ladder and coupled to an apparatus for translating the movement of the rigging into ascent or descent assistance of the person and including attachments for the person climbing the ladder, said controlling operable to adjust the amount of assistance to the person; wherein said attachments are coupled to the sensor, the sensor being configured to provide continuous feedback to a control mechanism so that the load supported by the belt is constantly maintained at a presettable value. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The method for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 13, wherein the electric signal is generated by measuring the change in electrical resistance using a strain gauge. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The method for assisting the vertical ascent of a person according to claim 13, comprising: preventing an overspeed condition with an overspeed governor. ### Claim 16 (depends on 13) The method for assisting the vertical ascent of a person according to claim 13, wherein the apparatus is attachable to the person. ### Claim 17 (depends on 13) The method for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 13, wherein the sensor is coupled to the apparatus; and the sensor generates an electric signal that is representative of a change in a load on the apparatus. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The method for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 17, wherein the electric signal is generated by displacing a magnet relative to a Hall Effect Device (HED). ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The method for assisting the vertical ascent or descent of a person according to claim 17, comprising: positioning a load reactive material between an outer shell and an inner shell, the outer shell and the inner shell are constrained to move relative to each other in response to the load. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The method for assisting the vertical ascent of a person according to claim 17, comprising: changing the amount of power as a function of a trend of the load on the apparatus. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The method for assisting the vertical ascent of a person according to claim 20, wherein the amount of power is increased or decreased as a function of a direction of travel of the rigging.