Tactical rope insertion assist device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10864387-B2
Application number	US-201815956906-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 19, 2018
Priority date	Apr 19, 2017
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

Disclosed is a hinged, two-wheeled device for improving the safety of an individual or object descending along a rope from an elevated position. The device includes a two-piece hinged framed held open by a torsion spring. Each part of the frame contains a wheel with a cut out/channel with a knurled surface to increase the friction between the rope and the device and to prevent the device from disengaging during use. The rope is placed between the two wheels and the handle is pulled down, clamping the device around the rope. The two wheels are connected to viscous rotary dampers that slow the speed of the wheels during descent, preventing the user/object from accelerating in a free-fall and controlling the descent rate to a relatively constant, safer speed.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A passive-assist descent device for lowering a person or object from an elevated position to a lower position using a rope fixed to the elevated surface, comprising:
an elongated handle connected to a two-piece frame, consisting of a top frame and a bottom frame;
where said top frame pivots around the point where the top frame is connected to the bottom frame;
where the bottom frame is attached to the top frame and the handle, wherein the bottom frame and handle are connected rigidly to one another, such that the top frame may rotate with respect to the bottom frame and handle when rotating around the point where the top frame is attached to the bottom frame;
a top wheel and shaft assembly comprising a top wheel and a top roller shaft configured to share the same axis, attached to the top frame such that the top roller shaft of the top wheel and shaft assembly goes through the top frame, allowing the top wheel and shaft assembly to rotate independent of the top frame;
a bottom wheel and shaft assembly, comprising a bottom wheel and a bottom roller shaft configured to share the same axis, attached to the bottom frame such that the bottom roller shaft of the bottom wheel and shaft assembly goes through the bottom frame, allowing the bottom wheel and shaft assembly to rotate independent of the bottom frame;
a top viscous rotary damper, attached to the top wheel and shaft assembly such that the top viscous rotary damper is connected to the top roller shaft on an end of the top roller shaft opposite to which the top wheel is connected, where said top viscous rotary damper is secured to the top frame on the side of the top frame opposite the top wheel such that the top viscous rotary damper is capable of providing a resisting torque to the top wheel and shaft assembly as it rotates;
a bottom viscous rotary damper, attached to the bottom wheel and shaft assembly such that the bottom viscous rotary damper is connected to the bottom roller shaft on an end of the bottom roller shaft opposite to which the bottom wheel is connected, where said bottom viscous rotary damper is secured to the bottom frame on the side of the bottom frame opposite the bottom wheel, such that the bottom viscous rotary damper is capable of providing a resisting torque to the bottom wheel and shaft assembly as it rotates.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the descent rate of the device is limited by the resisting torque which is applied to the top and bottom wheel and shaft assemblies of the device, wherein said resisting torque is provided by the viscous rotary dampers, where said resisting torque prevents each wheel from exceeding a certain rotational speed when a constant force is applied to the device, such that the device's acceleration decreases as the device's descent rate increases, where the device's descent reaches a constant, safe descent rate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein said top and bottom wheel are configured with a large groove in each wheel that acts as a guide for the fixed rope, where the top frame rotates such that the top wheel and bottom wheel clamp around the fixed rope, preventing the device from disengaging until the operator reaches the desired lower position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein a torsion spring keeps the top wheel and bottom wheel a set distance apart, until the device is placed around the rope and engaged by pulling the handle downward, such that the top wheel and bottom wheel are then capable of clamping the rope together, and wherein said torsion spring extends when the handle is no longer pulled downward, such that the top wheel and bottom wheel separate from their clamping position.

5. The apparatus of claim 2 , wherein said descent device is configured to be operated by placing said fixed rope between the top and bottom wheel, where said device is engaged by pulling the handle downwards, allowing the wheels to clamp the rope, where when a force or weight is placed on the device causing said device to descend along the rope, the acceleration of the device is limited by the resisting torque applied directly to said wheels via the viscous rotary dampers connected to the wheel and shaft assemblies, such that the device may passively descend along the rope without requiring any other limiting force.

Assignees

• Mackay Jake Travis
• Gilbert Brent
• Brost Logan
• Gilliland Richard
• Pelt Mark Morgan
• Clemons Caleb
• Martin Zachary
• Hunko Wesley S
• Univ Auburn

Inventors

• Mackay Jake Travis
• Gilbert Brent
• Brost Logan
• Gilliland Richard
• Pelt Mark Morgan
• Clemons Caleb
• Martin Zachary
• Hunko Wesley S

Classifications

• A62B1/12 Primary

  hydraulically operated · CPC title

• A62B1/14 Primary

  with brakes sliding on the rope · CPC title