Lowering device
In one implementation, an electrically-actuated brake assembly is configured to control a rate of descent of an object to be lowered and includes: one or more rotatable surfaces coupled to the object to be lowered; one or more stationary surfaces configured to releasably engage the one or more rotatable surfaces; an electric actuator system configured to selectively disengage the one or more stationary surfaces from the one or more rotatable surfaces, thus allowing the one or more rotatable surfaces to rotate with respect to the one or more stationary surfaces and enable the object to be lowered; and a rechargeable power source electrically coupled to the electric actuator system and configured to provide electrical energy to the electric actuator system.
1. An electrically-actuated brake assembly configured to control a rate of descent of an object to be lowered, comprising:
one or more rotatable surfaces coupled to the object to be lowered;
one or more stationary surfaces configured to frictionally engage the one or more rotatable surfaces; and
an electric actuator system operable to adjust the frictional engagement of the one or more stationary surfaces with the one or more rotatable surfaces to control the rate at which the one or more rotatable surfaces rotate with respect to the one or more stationary surfaces to control the rate of descent of the object,
wherein the one or more rotatable surfaces are coupled to a rotatable spool.
2. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the object to be lowered is a rappel rope.
3. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the object to be lowered is a static load.
4. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the electric actuator system includes a solenoid operable to adjust the frictional engagement of the one or more stationary surfaces with the one or more rotatable surfaces.
5. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 1 further comprising a mechanical engagement system configured to urge the one or more rotatable surfaces into frictional engagement with the one or more stationary surfaces.
6. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 5 wherein the electric actuator system is operable to counter a mechanical bias of the mechanical engagement system to reduce the frictional engagement of the one or more stationary surfaces with the one or more rotatable surfaces.
7. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 5 wherein the mechanical engagement system is a spring-based mechanical engagement system.
8. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the electric actuator system is configured to receive an input signal and control the rate of descent of the object to be lowered based at least in part on the input signal.
9. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 1 wherein the object to be lowered is a casket into a grave.
10. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 1 further comprising a rechargeable power source electrically coupled to the electric actuator system and configured to provide electrical power to the electric actuator system.
11. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 10 wherein the rechargeable power source includes a detachable battery assembly.
12. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 1 further comprising a manual release assembly operable to frictionally disengage the one or more stationary surfaces from the one or more rotatable surfaces.
13. An electrically-actuated brake assembly configured to control a rate of descent of an object to be lowered, comprising:
one or more rotatable surfaces coupled to the object to be lowered;
one or more stationary surfaces configured to frictionally engage the one or more rotatable surfaces; and
an electric actuator system operable to adjust the frictional engagement of the one or more stationary surfaces with the one or more rotatable surfaces to control the rate at which the one or more rotatable surfaces rotate with respect to the one or more stationary surfaces to control the rate of descent of the object,
wherein the object to be lowered is a casket into a grave.
14. An electrically-actuated brake assembly configured to control a rate of descent of an object to be lowered, comprising:
one or more rotatable surfaces coupled to the object to be lowered;
one or more stationary surfaces configured to frictionally engage the one or more rotatable surfaces;
a mechanical engagement system configured to bias the one or more stationary surfaces into frictional engagement with the one or more rotatable surfaces; and
an electric actuator system operable to counter the bias of the mechanical engagement system to adjust the frictional engagement of the one or more stationary surfaces with the one or more rotatable surfaces to control the rate at which the one or more rotatable surfaces rotate with respect to the one or more stationary surfaces,
wherein the one or more rotatable surfaces are coupled to a rotatable spool.
15. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 14 wherein the object to be lowered is a casket into a grave.
16. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 14 further comprising a rechargeable power source electrically coupled to the electric actuator system and configured to provide electrical energy to the electric actuator system.
17. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 16 wherein the rechargeable power source includes a detachable battery assembly.
18. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 14 further comprising a manual release assembly operable to frictionally disengage the one or more stationary surfaces from the one or more rotatable surfaces.
19. An electrically-actuated brake assembly configured to control a rate of descent of an object to be lowered, comprising:
one or more rotatable surfaces coupled to the object to be lowered;
one or more stationary surfaces configured to frictionally engage the one or more rotatable surfaces;
a mechanical engagement system configured to bias the one or more stationary surfaces into frictional engagement with the one or more rotatable surfaces; and
an electric actuator system operable to counter the bias of the mechanical engagement system to adjust the frictional engagement of the one or more stationary surfaces with the one or more rotatable surfaces to control the rate at which the one or more rotatable surfaces rotate with respect to the one or more stationary surfaces,
wherein the object to be lowered is a casket into a grave.
20. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 14 wherein the object to be lowered is a rappel rope.
21. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 14 wherein the object to be lowered is a static load.
22. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 14 wherein the electric actuator system includes a solenoid operable to counter the bias of the mechanical engagement system.
23. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 14 wherein the mechanical engagement system is a spring-based mechanical engagement system.
24. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 14 wherein the electric actuator system is configured to receive an input signal and control the rate of descent of the object to be lowered based at least in part on the input signal.
25. An electrically-actuated brake assembly configured to control a rate of descent of a casket into a grave, comprising:
one or more rotatable surfaces coupled to a casket support system to support the casket to be lowered in the grave;
one or more stationary surfaces configured to frictionally engage the one or more rotatable surfaces, wherein the one or more rotatable surfaces and the one or more stationary surfaces are configured to be normally biased into engagement via a mechanical engagement system; and
an electric actuator system operable to counter the bias of the mechanical engagement system to adjust the frictional engagement of the one or more stationary surfaces with the one or more rotatable surfaces to control the rate at which the one or more rotatable surfaces rotate with respect to the one or more stationary surfaces.
26. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 25 wherein the electric actuator system includes a solenoid operable to counter the bias of the mechanical engagement system.
27. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 25 wherein the mechanical engagement system is a spring-based mechanical engagement system.
28. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 25 wherein the electric actuator system is configured to receive an input signal and control the rate of descent of the casket to be lowered in the grave based at least in part on the input signal.
29. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 25 further comprising a manual release assembly operable to frictionally disengage the one or more stationary surfaces from the one or more rotatable surfaces.
30. The electrically-actuated brake assembly of claim 25 further comprising a detachable battery assembly electrically coupled to the electric actuator system and configured to provide electrical power to the electric actuator system.