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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 a

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.

대표청구항 ▼

1. 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 counterw

1. 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. 2. The system of claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a gearing system rotatably interconnecting said first pulley and said brake means. 3. The system of claim 1, wherein said gearing system comprises an arrangement of gears to multiply the rotational speed of said first pulley as applied to said brake means. 4. The system of claim 1, wherein said coupling means includes a centrifugally-actuated clutch means rotatably interconnecting said first pulley and said brake means. 5. The system of claim 2, wherein said coupling means further includes a centrifugally-actuated clutch means disposed between said first pulley and said gearing system. 6. The system of claim 5, wherein said clutch means includes first coupling means disposed for rotation with said first pulley and second coupling means disposed for rotation with said gearing system. 7. The system of claim 6, wherein said first coupling means comprises a pawl-like element pivotally supported at a point spaced from its rotational center, and said second coupling means comprises an engagement surface adapted for contact by said pawl-like element. 8. The system of claim 7, wherein said pawl-like element includes: (a) a first portion having a surface adapted for contact with the engagement surface of said second coupling means; (b) a second portion having a contoured surface; and (c) means to bias said first portion out of engaging contact with said second coupling means, said bias means and the off-center pivotal support of the pawl-like element cooperating to prevent engagement between said first and said second coupling means of said clutch means at pulley rotational speeds below said predetermined value, and at pulley rotational speeds above said value, the centrifugal force on said pawl-like element overcomes the force of said bias means to permit said pawl-like element to pivot into a position of engagement between said first portion and said second coupling means, to transmit pulley rotation to said gearing system. 9. The system of claim 8, wherein said second coupling means comprises a disk-like member having a plurality of said engagement surfaces angularly disposed adjacent to its periphery. 10. The system of claim 1, wherein said cable is disposed to make contact with the complete periphery of said first pulley. 11. The system of claim 1, wherein said cable controller assembly includes first and second rotatable guide means positioned relative to said first pulley to cause said cable to make contact with less than the full circumference of said pulley. 12. The system of claim 11, wherein said rotatable guide means are disposed such that said cable passes in parallel therebetween and contacts the periphery of said first pulley. 13. The system of claim 1 wherein said first pulley has a peripheral V-shaped groove in cross section to receive said cable. 14. The system of claim 13, wherein said first pulley has a friction element disposed in said groove for contact with said cable, said friction element being of a material providing minimum slip between said cable and said pulley. 15. The system of claim 1, wherein said first pulley has a peripheral U-shaped groove in cross section to receive said cable. 16. The system of claim 15, wherein said first pulley has a friction element disposed in said groove for contact with said cable, said friction element being of a material providing minimum slip between said cable and said pulley. 17. The system of claim 1, wherein said counterweight has an adjustable mass. 18. The system of claim 1, wherein said brake means includes a rotatably-disposed retainer and a brake element disposed within said retainer and moveable substantially only radially of said retainer upon retainer rotation to engage a portion of said cable controller assembly to restrict rotation of said first pulley. 19. The system of claim 18, wherein said brake element includes a friction surface engageable with a portion of said cable controller assembly. 20. The system of claim 1, further comprising: (a) an elongated descent guide means anchored at its ends and disposed at an angle relative to the ground; and (b) guide pulley means adapted for attachment anywhere on said elongated descent guide means and moveable along the guide means after attachment, said first end portion of said cable having means for removable connection to the user and means for removable attachment to said guide pulley means. 21. The system of claim 20, wherein said guide pulley means comprises: (a) a guide pulley rotatably supported on support means; (b) gate means permitting placement of said guide pulley at any location along said descent guide means; and (c) adjustable attachment means for removably attaching said guide pulley means anywhere on said descent guide means. 22. The system of claim 21, wherein said support means includes a first plate upon which said guide pulley is rotatably supported, and said gate means includes a second plate disposed for rotation relative to said first plate and said guide pulley, said second plate rotatable from a first position to permit placement of said guide pulley on said descent guide means. 23. The system of claim 22, wherein: said gate means further includes means for selectively fixing said second plate in said first position in which said guide pulley means is non-detachably but slidably positioned on said descent guide means; and said adjustable attachment means includes a spring-biased plunger having an engagement portion adjustably positionable relative to said guide pulley to grip said guide pulley means onto said descent guide means to prevent movement of said guide pulley means along said descent guide means. 24. 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. 25. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said coupling means includes a gearing system rotatably interconnecting said first pulley and said brake means, said gearing system comprising an arrangement of gears to multiply the rotational speed of said first pulley as applied to said brake means. 26. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said coupling means includes a centrifugally-actuated clutch means coaxially disposed relative to said pulley and said brake means and rotatably interconnecting said first pulley and said brake means. 27. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said cable control means is removably mounted on a support means. 28. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said cable is wrapped once around the periphery of said first pulley. 29. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said cable control means includes first and second rotatable guide means positioned relative to said first pulley to cause said cable to make contact with less than the full circumference of said pulley. 30. The safety system of claim 29, wherein said rotatable guide means are positioned such that said cable passes in parallel therebetween and contacts less than the full circumference of said first pulley. 31. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said first pulley has a peripheral V-shaped groove in cross section to receive said cable. 32. The safety system of claim 31, wherein said first pulley has a friction element disposed in said groove for contact with said cable, said friction element being of a material providing minimum slip between said cable and said pulley. 33. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said first pulley has a peripheral U-shaped groove in cross section to receive said cable. 34. The safety system of claim 33, wherein said first pulley has a friction element disposed in said groove for contact with said cable, said friction element being of a material providing minimum slip between said cable and said pulley. 35. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said first pulley has a peripheral groove to receive said cable, said groove having straight sides and bottom. 36. The safety system of claim 35, wherein the bottom of said groove is provided with a friction element for contact with said cable, said friction element being of a material providing minimum slip between said cable and said pulley. 37. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said counterweight mass is adjustable, and may be adjusted to be less than, equal to, or greater than the weight of the system user. 38. The safety system of claim 24, wherein said brake means includes a rotatably-disposed retainer and a brake element disposed within said retainer and moveable substantially only radially of said retainer upon retainer rotation to engage said housing to restrict rotation of said first pulley. 39. The safety system of claim 25, wherein said coupling means further includes a centrifugally-actuated clutch means coaxially disposed between said first pulley and said gearing system. 40. The safety system of claim 39, wherein said clutch means includes: (a) first coupling means disposed for rotation with said first pulley, comprising a pawl-like member pivotally supported on said pulley, said member having a contact surface on a first portion; (b) second coupling means disposed coaxially relative to said first pulley and rotatable with said gearing system, comprising a disk-like member having a plurality of engagement surfaces angularly disposed adjacent to its periphery for contact by said pawl-like member; and (c) means on said first pulley to bias said first portion out of engaging contact with said second coupling means, said bias means operative to prevent engagement between said first and said second coupling means at pulley rotational speeds below said predetermined value, and at pulley rotational speeds above said value, the centrifugal force on said pawl-like member overcomes the force of said bias means to permit said pawl-like member to pivot into a position of engagement between said contact surface on said first portion and an engagement surface on said second coupling means, to transmit pulley rotation to said gearing system. 41. The safety system of claim 40, wherein said brake means includes a rotatably-disposed retainer and a brake element disposed within said retainer and moveable substantially only radially of said retainer upon retainer rotation to engage said housing to restrict rotation of said first pulley. 42. The safety system of claim 24, further comprising: (a) a descent guide cable anchored at its ends and disposed at an angle relative to the ground; and (b) a guide pulley assembly adapted for attachment anywhere on said descent guide cable and moveable along said guide cable after attachment; said first end portion of said cable having means for removable connection to the user and means for removable attachment to said guide pulley assembly, to permit the descent of the user along said descent guide cable, at a lower controlled rate and at an angle to the ground. 43. The safety system of claim 42, wherein said guide pulley assembly comprises: (a) a guide pulley rotatably disposed on support means; (b) gate means permitting placement of said guide pulley at any location along said descent guide cable; and (c) adjustable attachment means for removably attaching said guide pulley assembly anywhere on said descent guide cable. 44. The safety system of claim 43, wherein said support means includes a first plate upon which said guide pulley is rotatably supported, and said gate means includes a second plate disposed for rotation relative to said first plate and said guide pulley, said second plate rotatable from a first position to permit placement of said guide pulley on said descent guide cable. 45. The safety system of claim 44, wherein said gate means further includes means for selectively fixing said second plate in said first position in which said guide pulley assembly is non-detachably but slidably positioned on said descent guide cable, and said adjustable attachment means includes a spring-biased plunger having an engagement portion adjustably positionable relative to said guide pulley to grip said guide pulley assembly onto said descent guide cable to prevent movement of said guide pulley assembly along said descent guide cable. 46. The safety system of claim 45, wherein said second plate includes a circular portion disposed adjacent said guide pulley, said circular portion having a linear surface defined along a chord of the circle, such that when said second plate is rotated from said first position said linear surface permits entry of said descent guide cable into said guide pulley. 47. A pulley assembly adapted for placement on a cable anchored at its ends, comprising: (a) a first plate having a pulley rotatably disposed thereon; (b) a second plate disposed substantially parallel to said first plate and rotatable relative to said first plate and said pulley; (c) gate means cooperating with the rotation of second plate to permit placement of the pulley onto the cable at any location along the cable; and (d) adjustable attachment means for removably attaching the pulley assembly at any location along the cable. 48. The pulley assembly of claim 47, wherein said adjustable attachment means includes: (a) a spring-biased plunger; (b) means slidably supporting said plunger on said first plate; and (c) adjustment means for selectively positioning an end portion of said plunger relative to said pulley. 49. The pulley assembly of claim 48, wherein said second plate includes a circular portion disposed adjacent said pulley, said circular portion having a linear surface defined along a chord of the circle, and said second plate rotatable from a first position to a second position where at said linear surface permits receiving placement of said pulley on the cable. 50. The pulley assembly of claim 49, wherein said gate means comprises: (a) a first tab on said first plate, coplanar with said first plate, said plunger support means being disposed on said first tab; (b) a first lateral extension on said second plate, coplanar with said circular portion of the second plate and angularly spaced peripherally from the linear surface on said second plate; and (c) removable securing means for maintaining said first lateral extension on the second plate vertically aligned with said first tab on the first plate, thereby confining the cable on said pulley between said first and said second plates. 51. The pulley assembly of claim 50, wherein said first position of said second plate is defined by the vertical alignment of said first lateral extension on the second plate with said first tab on the first plate, said second position of said second plate is defined by said linear surface on the second plate being located substantially vertically above said first tab on the first plate, and said removably securing means includes removable means insertable in apertures in said first and said second plates, said apertures being vertically aligned with the second plate in said first position. 52. The pulley assembly of claim 51, further comprising: (a) a spacer disposed on the first tab of said first plate and adapted to vertically separate said first plate from said second plate, said plunger being slidably disposed on said spacer; and (b) abutment means adjustably supported on said plunger and cooperating with said spacer to maintain, against the force of the plunger-biasing spring, an end portion of said plunger at a selected position from said pulley, said abutment means being adjustable to permit said plunger to be adjusted into gripping contact with the cable on said pulley to position the pulley assembly at any location along the cable, said abutment means movable with said plunger away from said spacer to move said plunger end portion from said pulley. 53. The pulley assembly of claim 52, further comprising a second spacer angularly spaced from said spacer along the periphery of said pulley and disposed between said first and said second plates, said removable securing means receivable in a bore in said second spacer.