Safety device with fall arrest and descending modes
A safety device with fall arrest and descending modes includes a housing, a drum, a lifeline, first and second brake assemblies, and a control. The drum is rotatably operatively connected to the housing. The lifeline has an intermediate portion interconnecting a first end and a second end. The first end is operatively connected to the drum. The first and second assemblies are operatively connected to the drum. The control is operatively connected to the first and second brake assemblies and has a first position and a second position. The first position selectively engages the first brake assembly in a descending mode and the second position selectively engages the second brake assembly in a fall arrest mode.
1. A safety device having first and second operating modes, comprising:
a housing having a first cavity and a second cavity in fluid communication via a bore interconnecting the first and second cavities;
a drum rotatably operatively connected to the housing within the second cavity;
a lifeline having an intermediate portion interconnecting a first end and a second end, the first end being operatively connected to the drum;
a shaft operatively connected to the drum in the second cavity and extending through the bore and into the first cavity;
a first brake assembly operatively connected to the drum, the first brake assembly configured and arranged to frictionally control a payout of the lifeline, wherein the first brake assembly includes a first spur gear;
a second brake assembly operatively connected to the drum, the second brake assembly including a ratchet disk, at least one friction disk engaged with the ratchet disk, and a second spur gear engaged with the at least one friction disk;
at least one first pawl operatively connected to the drum and configured and arranged to engage the ratchet disk when the drum rotates at a predetermined rate of speed;
a pinion gear engaged with the second spur gear such that when the pinion gear rotates the second spur gear rotates and when the pinion gear does not rotate the second spur gear does not rotate; and
a control operatively connected to the first brake assembly and having a first position and a second position, the first position selectively engaging the first brake assembly and the second position selectively disengaging the first brake assembly, wherein the control is further operatively connected to the second brake assembly, the first position setting a controlled descending mode that activates the first brake assembly by allowing the pinion gear to rotate in relation to the housing, rotation of the pinion gear further causing at least a portion of the second brake assembly to not be activated since the second spur gear rotates with the pinion gear, the second position setting a fall arrest mode that activates the second brake assembly by locking the pinion gear in relation to the housing such that when the at least one first pawl engages the ratchet disk the first spur gear prevents the drum from rotating in relation to the housing since the second spur gear is engaged with the pinion gear.
2. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is sealed.
3. The safety device of claim 2 , further comprising a first seal member positioned between the shaft and the housing within the bore, the first seal member sealing the first cavity from the second cavity, and at least one second seal member between the control and the housing.
4. The safety device of claim 3 , further comprising a plate member configured and arranged to cover an opening in the housing providing access to the first cavity and a third seal positioned between the plate member and the housing.
5. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the first and second brake assemblies are operatively connected.
6. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the first brake assembly includes a rotor to which at least one second pawl having a friction pad is pivotally operatively connected, the friction pad contacting the housing when the rotor rotates to decrease a rotational rate of the rotor.
7. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the second brake assembly includes a gear assembly and the at least one first pawl, the at least one first pawl being configured and arranged to engage the gear assembly when the drum rotates at a predetermined speed.
8. The safety device of claim 7 , wherein the gear assembly includes the ratchet disk that is configured and arranged to engage the at least one first pawl and the first brake assembly.
9. The safety device of claim 8 , wherein the second spur gear interconnects the second brake assembly and the first brake assembly.
10. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the first brake assembly includes a rotor to which at least one second pawl having a friction pad is pivotally operatively connected, the rotor including a gear, the first spur gear having inner teeth and outer teeth, the inner teeth mating with the first teeth of a shaft connecting the first and second brake assemblies and the control and the outer teeth mating with the gear of the rotor to interconnect the shaft and the rotor, the friction pad contacting the housing when the rotor rotates to decrease a rotational rate of the rotor.
11. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the control is sealed.
12. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the housing is sealed.
13. The safety device of claim 1 , wherein the second brake assembly is configured and arranged to be used during a fall event.
14. The safety device of claim 13 , wherein the second position comprises selectively engaging the second brake assembly.