Heat resistant descent controller
A load lowering descent controller having a fixed cylindrical body or capstan about which a rope or cable is turned. The descent controller allows for lowering of the load at a controlled rate by adjusting the amount of friction between the controller and the rope or cable as a function of rope or cable turning and relative contact with rope or cable engagement surfaces in the controller. The fixed cylindrical body or capstan is surrounded by a vented sleeve to prevent the rope from becoming heated and to prevent the user from being injured.
1. An apparatus for descent control comprising:
a housing for providing a nonlinear rope path extending along an outer surface of the housing, the housing comprising a longitudinal capstan portion, the longitudinal capstan portion defining a longitudinal counterbore therein;
a plunger disposed within the longitudinal counterbore for movement between a rope releasing position and a rope braking position, the plunger including a transverse through aperture for selectively narrowing the nonlinear rope path;
a biasing member within the longitudinal counterbore for biasing the plunger toward the rope braking position, wherein the plunger is concentric with the housing; and
a vented sleeve partially enclosing the housing, wherein the vented sleeve further comprises an outer vented sleeve, and an inner vented sleeve.
2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer vented sleeve is manufactured from a plastic based composite material.
3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the inner vented sleeve is manufactured from a metallic based composite material.
4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vented sleeve further comprises at least one vent that is rectangular.
5. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vented sleeve further comprises at least one vent that is circular.
6. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vented sleeve further comprises at least one vent that is square.
7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vented sleeve has at least one rope aperture.
8. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vented sleeve has at least one securing aperture.
9. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the vented sleeve has at least one rope travel aperture.
10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the outer vented sleeve is formed from plastic, and the inner vented sleeve is formed from metal.
11. A controller for selectively gripping and releasing a rope comprising:
a housing having a longitudinal capstan portion to allow the rope to interface freely therewith, and defining a longitudinal counterbore therein;
a plunger including a bottom portion disposed within the longitudinal counterbore for movement between a first position wherein the rope is braked and a second position wherein the rope is released;
a biasing member disposed within the longitudinal counterbore for urging the plunger toward the first position, wherein a plunger bottom portion defines a downwardly narrowing tapered slot extending diametrically therethrough to receive the rope; and
a vented sleeve for receiving the plunger and a portion of the housing, wherein the vented sleeve further comprises an outer vented sleeve, and an inner vented sleeve.
12. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the vented sleeve allows for a release of heat resulting from the interfacing of the rope with the longitudinal capstan portion.
13. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the vented sleeve further comprises at least one vent.
14. The controller of claim 13 , wherein the at least one vent is arranged horizontally along a circumference of the vented sleeve.
15. The controller of claim 11 , further comprising a support system for the rope.
16. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the housing further comprises a means for receiving at least one coupling device.
17. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the housing has at least one rope opening for receiving the rope.
18. The controller of claim 11 , wherein the rope cannot traverse through the bottom portion unless the housing and the plunger are compressed to the second position.
19. A system for controlled rope descent comprising:
a rope of sufficient length to allow a user to descend a desired distance;
a descent controller being removably coupled to the rope, and having a vented sleeve,
wherein the vented sleeve further comprises an outer vented sleeve, and an inner vented sleeve;
wherein the descent controller further comprises a housing with a capstan portion that defines a counterbore that extends longitudinally through the housing, and the housing is partially received by the vented sleeve;
a plunger comprising a bottom portion with a tapered aperture extending latitudinally through the plunger for receiving a portion of the rope, the plunger also being engaged with the counterbore of the housing;
wherein the counterbore also houses a biasing member that causes the plunger to be returned to a first position, and when compressed allows for the plunger to be held in a second position; and
wherein the second position allows a rope aperture of the housing and the tapered aperture of the plunger to align to allow the rope to traverse the descent controller.
20. The system of claim 19 , wherein the outer vented sleeve is formed from plastic, and the inner vented sleeve is formed from metal.
21. A vented sleeve comprising:
a cylindrical body;
an opening at a first end of the cylindrical body;
a rope aperture at a second end of the cylindrical body;
a securing button aperture through the circumferential sidewall of the cylindrical body;
at least one vent through the circumferential side wall of the cylindrical body; and
a protective sleeve housed within the cylindrical body of the vented sleeve, the protective sleeve having at least one protective sleeve vent.
22. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the protective sleeve is a hollow cylindrical body with openings at both ends of the hollow cylindrical body.
23. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the at least one protective sleeve vent corresponds to the at least one vent of the vented sleeve.
24. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the at least one vent is rectangular.
25. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the at least one vent is oval.
26. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the at least one vent is circular.
27. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the at least one vent further comprises a set of vents arranged in vertical groups along a circumference of the cylindrical body.
28. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the at least one vent further comprises a set of vents arranged in horizontal groups along a circumference of the cylindrical body.
29. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the rope aperture is rectangular.
30. The vented sleeve of claim 21 , wherein the protective sleeve is formed from metal.