IP Library Granted Patent US 8,365,877
Granted Patent B2
US 8,365,877 · App. 12/144,856 · Granted Feb 5, 2013

Abseiling device

Inventor: Ulrich Kowatsch (Leonberg, DE)
Assignee: Suco Robert Scheuffele GmbH & Co. KG
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,365,877
App. No.
12/144,856
Granted
Feb 5, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An abseiling device for braking a load ( 16 ) that is suspended on a rope ( 14 ) and may be fastened to the abseiling device ( 10 ), with which the rope ( 14 ) passes through the abseiling device ( 10 ) and is frictionally guided along a section ( 22 ), at least one portion of the section ( 22 ) being guided by a part ( 25 ) of the abseiling device ( 10 ) that is movable out of an unloaded starting position relative to a housing ( 12 ) of the abseiling device; when a load is suspended, the part ( 25 ) generates a frictional force that is a function of the weight of the load ( 16 ).

Claims (15)

1. An abseiling device for braking a load ( 16 , 34 ) that is suspended on a rope ( 14 ) and is fastenable to the abseiling device ( 10 ), in which the rope ( 14 ) passes through the abseiling device ( 10 ) and is frictionally guided along a section ( 22 ), wherein at least one portion of the section ( 22 ) is guided by a part ( 25 ) that is movable out of an unloaded starting position relative to a housing ( 12 ) of the abseiling device ( 10 ), and—when a load is suspended—generates a frictional force that depends on a weight of the load ( 16 , 34 ) so that the load ( 16 , 34 ) is lowerable with a controlled speed dependent on the weight of the load ( 16 , 34 ), wherein the movable part ( 25 ) exerts a frictional force on the rope ( 14 ) by pressing the rope ( 14 ) against a relatively stable surface, and wherein said movable part ( 25 ) is swivelable from a central position in both directions and thereby exerts a load-dependent force on the rope ( 14 ) which presses the rope ( 14 ) against a brakable shaft ( 24 ) when swiveled in each of said both directions, wherein the relatively stable surface is a surface of the brakable shaft ( 24 ),

wherein a centrifugal brake ( 51 ) is provided in the abseiling device and is located on the brakable shaft ( 24 ), and

wherein the centrifugal brake ( 51 ) includes a brake drum ( 52 ) secured to the housing ( 12 ), centrifugal weight ( 53 ) connected with the brakable shaft ( 24 ) so as to rotate with the brakable shaft ( 24 ) and to move outward to bear on the brake drum ( 52 ) when a rotational speed threshold is exceeded, and a hand wheel ( 50 ) connectable with the centrifugal weight ( 53 ) to initiate braking independently of the rotational speed threshold.

2. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the unloaded starting position of the movable part ( 25 ) is a central position, in which no or only minimal frictional force is exertable on the rope ( 14 ) by the movable part ( 25 ).

3. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the frictionally guided section ( 22 ) is designed as a channel in the abseiling device ( 10 ), which has a smaller diameter than that of the rope ( 14 ) guided through the abseiling device.

4. The abseiling device as recited in claim 3 , wherein the rope is guided repeatedly over elements selected from the group consisting of rollers and bolts and an outer surface of the elements is roughened and has a higher coefficient of friction than does a rope material of the rope.

5. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the friction-guided section ( 22 ) is a three-dimensional section.

6. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the abseiling device ( 10 ) includes a rope reservoir.

7. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rope ( 14 ) is selected from the group consisting of a plastic rope, a steel rope, a fibrous composite rope with or without carbon fibers, and a rope ( 14 ) that includes another type of metal or fibrous composite material.

8. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the abseiling device ( 10 ) is useable in a reciprocating operation.

9. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein a hand crank is provided on the brakable shaft ( 24 ), via which the brakable shaft ( 24 ) is drivable.

10. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the brakable shaft ( 24 ) builds up a desired braking force over an interval of time, depending on the weight of the load.

11. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rope is deflected multiple times away from a weight-guided direction thereof via elements selected from the group consisting of rollers and bolts.

12. The abseiling device as recited in claim 1 , wherein the rope ( 14 ) is guided through a winding channel in a meandering or serpentine manner.

13. The abseiling device as recited in claim 11 , wherein said elements have an outer surface that has a higher coefficient of friction than that of a material of said rope deflected multiple times from said weight-guided direction.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 16, 2016
From: DEUS RESCUE, INC.
To: SKYLOTEC GMBH
Reel/Frame 039455/0455 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Aug 13, 2014
From: SPIDESCAPE PRODUCTS, INC.
To: DEUS RESCUE, INC.
Reel/Frame 033531/0970 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 27, 2013
From: SUCO ROBERT SCHEUFFELE GMBH & CO. KG
To: SPIDESCAPE PRODUCTS, INC.
Reel/Frame 029884/0871 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 1, 2008
From: KOWATSCH, ULRICH
To: SUCO ROBERT SCHEUFFELE GMBH & CO. KG
Reel/Frame 021326/0921 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2007 030 360 · Jun 29, 2007 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20090000879A1 · Jan 1, 2009