Abstract: A safety device interacts with a holding rope passing over a deflection point. A housing has a holding rope connection for connecting the housing to one part of the holding rope. A clamping jaw is pivotally connected to the housing. The clamping jaw and housing form a clamp for clamping another part of the holding rope in a clamp position of the clamping jaw and for releasing the another part of the holding rope when the clamping jaw is in a release position. The deflection point is positioned between the one part and the another part of the holding rope. A secure rope is connected to the clamping jaw and extends radially around the clamping jaw and the housing. The secure rope moves the clamping jaw from the release position to the clamping position when a load is placed on the secure rope.

Abstract: A compact, lightweight, self-contained rappel apparatus by which a person such as a parachuting smoke jumper, aviator, or other person may safely descend a line or rope from a tree canopy or other high perch to the ground or a lower elevation. The invention is designed for one-handed use with a preferred figure 8 system of descent line reeving around and about the top pipe and bottom pipe of the descender that results in multiple frictional line-to-line contact points as the line crosses itself in each figure 8 wrap in the area between the top pipe and bottom pipe.

Abstract: A descender is disclosed which includes a base plate 10, including first and second sheaves (16, 18) and an arm defining a third sheave 28. The descender also includes means, for biasing the arm to rotate about the pivot away from the base, and stop means for preventing the arm from pivoting further than a predetermined angle away from the base. Further provided are second adjustable stop means for restricting the distance the arm can travel towards the base when the biasing means is overcome and the arm pivoted towards the base. In use, with a rope passing below the first sheave, above and around the third sheave and above the second sheave, the resistance force applied to the rope is a maximum when the arm is pivoted so that the third projection is closest to the longitudinal axis.

Abstract: A fall prevention device for a vertical cable includes a body with a gutter for guiding the cable. The body supports a pin on which is articulated a lever one end of which ends in a cam which can clamp the cable against the bottom of the gutter and the other end of which is fastened to a ring. The cam is spring-loaded against the cable. A knurled wheel cooperating at all times with the cable rotates on a pin above the articulation axis of the lever. The ring has lateral teeth and is mounted to pivot on the lever so that, when the ring is pushed, the teeth can be caused to engage with the knurled wheel.

Abstract: Device for preventing a fall on a vertical cable, with a channel for guiding the cable, two flanges supporting an axle on which a lever is pivotally mounted, one extremity of the lever including an opening for fixing a link and at the other extremity, a cam which co-operates with the cable in the event that the user falls to block the device along the cable. The flanges are connected via a hinge so that the flanges can be pivoted with respect to each other and moved apart from each other for positioning the device on the cable and closed together whereby the cable is inserted in the channel, and a safety structure is provided to oppose opening of the flanges when the lever does not occupy an angular rest position in which the cam is spaced from the cable.

Abstract: Jamming devices for rope comprise a casing (2) consisting of two pallely, one above the other situated flanges (3, 4) between which are perpendicularly mounted the first and the second pulleys (12, 13) as well as a jamming cleat (14). The second pivoting pulley (13) is fastened to the lever (11); the latter is pivoted eccentrically to centre of the pivoting pulley (13) and can be swayed to and fro within the limits determined by the design. The second pivoting pulley (13) is in functional relationship with the fixed pulley (15) and so the rope (10) can be wedged between the fixed pulley (15) and the second pivoting pulley (13) in the first jamming position. The lever (11) can be by means of the arc-adjuster (16) moved away from the fixed pulley (15). In functional relationship with the jamming cleat (14) is the press-boss (17); between the latter and the jamming cleat (14) the rope (10) can be wedged in the second jamming position.

Abstract: A fall arrest device for use on an elongate safety line or track. The device contains a body part having retaining means to retain the safety line or track; locking cam means and biasing means for urging the locking cam means into locking engagement with the safety line or track in response to a sudden change in load experienced by the device; attaching means for attaching personnel safety means to the device; and cover means to receive loading applied to the device in a direction generally towards the safety line or track. The cover means are pivotally or rockably connected to the body part and are in a force transmitting relationship with the locking cam means thereby urging the locking cam means into locking engagement with the safety line or track.

Abstract: A pulley system particularly useful for lifting or lowering an injured worker includes an upper pulley assembly adapted to be secured to a fixed structure and a lower pulley assembly adapted to be secured to the worker being lifted or lowered and further includes a rope having one end secured to one of the pulley assemblies. The rope is arranged in a substantially conventional manner around the pulleys whereby when a force is exerted on the free end of the rope, the worker can be raised and when a force is removed from the free end of the rope, the worker can be lowered. A pulley wheel forming part of one of the pulley assemblies has outwardly flared internal side walls. The lifting rope passes around the pulley wheel for only approximately 180.degree.. The dimensions of the rope and the pulley wheel are such that the rope engages the side walls of the pulley wheel.

Abstract: An integrated safety system (20) comprises a rope grab (100), a body engagement device such as a harness (200, 201) or waist belt to be worn by a person (22), a lanyard (104) and lowering device (300). The harness (200, 201), which also constitutes a part of the invention by itself, comprises a compartment (202) for the lowering device (300), and also a first connector (224), a second connector (220) and in one embodiment (201) additionally comprises a third connector (600). The lanyard (104) is securable to the first connector (224) of the harness (200, 201) and to the rope grab (100) to enable the person (22) to be suspended thereby in the event of a fall. The lowering device (300) is stored in the compartment (202) of the harness (200, 201) until needed and is arranged to be mounted on the safety line (28) by the person (22) while the person is suspended thereby after a fall.

Abstract: An abseil rescue system with a velocity control system, allowing a user to descend on a rope, comprising two holders, two brakes, two retarders, and a frame. The retarder and the brake grip the rope of the abseil rescue system simultaneously, allowing to control the velocity of descent accurately. The weight of the user helps to grip the rope, such that for a tight grip the user is not required to apply much force.

Abstract: A security device for detachably attaching a lanyard to a safety device. The device includes a main frame portion defining a U-shaped safety line channel for receiving a safety line, and a movable frame portion pivotally mounted to the main frame portion and carrying a cam portion for frictionally engaging the safety line. The cam portion is movable into engagement in response to a downward force from a lanyard attached to the movable frame portion. The cam portion is mounted on bushings aligned with apertures in the main frame portion and held in position by removable pin members. The pin members, in combination with the bushings provide a strong beam structure extending across the main frame portion to provide a rigid support structure for the cam portion for resisting deformation of the structure when a heavy load is applied.

Abstract: An abseil device including an integral main body (1) with two generally parallel main flanges (3, 4) joined together via a longitudinal connecting flange (6) and provided with two apertures (13, 14) engaged by a hook ring (2). The apertures (13, 14) include slanted edges (12) along which the hook ring (2) is slidable for wedging an intermediate portion (17) of a rope (5) and thereby locking the abseil device thereon. The device can be released by pivoting the main body (1). A self-locking abseil device suitable for mountaineering, caving, rock climbing or work in places high above the ground is thus provided.

Abstract: A device for lowering a load along a metal band (2) comprises a brake housing (4) accommodating a brake mechanism with at least one brake shoe (14, 16, 34, 36, 54, 56 74, 76) which acts on the metal band (2). The brake shoe (14, 16, 34, 36, 54, 56, 74, 76) is pressed against the metal band (2) by a force which depends on the mass or load. The load is suspended from a load wedge (17, 37, 57, 77) which, in the brake mechanism converts a pull substantially in the longitudinal direction of the metal band (2) to a pressure acting on the metal band (2) through said brake shoe (14, 16, 34, 36, 54, 56, 74, 76).

Abstract: The invention relates to an anti-fall device automatically lockable on a safety rope, wherein the two cheeks of the gutter comprise a blind notch in L form, opening out on the edge of the corresponding cheek, while the ends of the pivot pin of the two elements of the lever project laterally in order to engage in said notches. The free end of that element of the lever which does not bear the cam is mounted to rotate about a pin sliding in a slideway made on an extension of one of the cheeks of the gutter, this pin being elastically loaded in the direction opposite that of the notches. A pivoting lock borne by one of the cheeks of the gutter is maintained elastically in a position in which it closes the bottom of the notch of the corresponding cheek.

Abstract: A roofing safety system having several components that when installed in various combinations permits access to all locations on the roof's surface and allows roofing personnel to be continuously secured to the safety system from the time the roofer leaves the ground to do a roofing job until he descends back to the ground when the job is finished. Included is a one-way ascender having a substantially cylindrical body that has an interior surface and an exterior surface. The body also has two open ends, one opposite the other. The two open ends establish an entrance port and an exit port through which a safety rope is insertable through the body. There is a ratchet member for allowing the rope to pass in a direction from the insert port to the exit port and for restraining movement of the rope in an opposite direction from the exit port to the insert port. A rope conduit sized to accommodate a safety rope is formed within a substantially cylindrical interior space of the ascender body.

Abstract: The descender comprises a first flange for support of a pulley and a pad, and an auxiliary braking lever mounted with limited pivoting near the pulley between an inactive unlocking position for a first winding direction of the rope in the passage space, and an active locking position in which a jamming surface of the lever presses the rope against the pulley. Pivoting of the lever to the active position takes place automatically in case of incorrect winding of the rope according to a second direction opposite to the first direction, and in the presence of a tension on the rope when the descender is on load.

Abstract: A rescue system is provided which includes a hoist having a backplate and a rope drum mounted on said backplate, with the rope drum adapted to receive a rope wound at least one and one half times about a rope engaging surface on the drum. The drum is rotatable in one direction when a pulling force is exerted on a control end of the rope and blocked against rotation in an opposite direction when a pulling force is exerted on a load end of the rope, so that the rope drum provides a braking force on said rope when a force is exerted on the load end of the rope. The hoist includes an arcuate rope guide fixed to the backplate and extending at least 200.degree. about the drum, and the drum itself is provided with a rope engaging surface including a cylindrical portion and a tapered portion, with the tapered portion lying closest to said backplate. Additional system components for use in conjunction with the hoist include a centrifugal brake mechanism, a swivel pulley and a handled acsender.

Abstract: A safety device comprises a body delimiting a passage having a safety rope passed through it, a ring connected by a strap to a belt, a brake and a system for locking the device to the rope should the worker fall. The device comprises a transverse spindle on which a toothed wheel is a relatively tight fit to constitute said brake, a cam mounted on the spindle and having teeth to cooperate with the safety rope and a weight cooperating with a pawl held away from a toothed ring attached to the cam by a spring, the weight being mounted in such a way that if the toothed wheel rotates at a speed greater than a specific threshold it causes engagement of the pawl with the toothed ring so that the cam teeth lock the safety rope into the passage.

Abstract: A rope grab for protecting a worker at an elevated position from a fall. The rope grab is disposed on a vertically extending safety line and is connected to the worker by a lanyard. The rope grab includes housing having a pivotable actuator mounted thereon. The actuator includes an serrated extension for engaging the safety line. A rupturable capsule containing an indicating liquid is located in the housing. The actuator is connected to the lanyard to secure the worker to the rope grab and is pivotable upon a downward pull thereon to move the serrated extension from a first position to a second position. When the serrated extension is in the first position it engages the safety line slightly to permit the rope grab to be slid therealong.

Abstract: The invention provides an escape system that enables automatic and unmonitored lowering of a body from a building or other height. The system includes a frame portion installed in a building so that it can be placed in or moved to a window in an emergency, and includes a track or slide portion extendable through the window a short distance from the exterior surface of the building. A length of special fire-resistant cord or rope is fed from a supply reel on the frame, along the track, through the window, and to the ground below. A descent regulator device incorporating an escapement mechanism is attached to the rope, and the user is secured to the descent regulator by a harness. The user then steps (or is placed) out the window, and the descent regulator incrementally moves down the rope, serving to lower the user to the ground. Once on the ground, the descent regulator is disconnected from the rope, and the user is removed from the harness, making way for other users similarly descending the rope from above.

Abstract: The rope (1) is guided through the nip (24) of a pair of pulleys (6, 7) and is otherwise extended in an S-shape about the pulleys (6, 7) of this pair. Each of these pulleys (6, 7) is connected for rotation with two gear wheels (26, 27) meshing with each other in the zone of the nip (24). Thereby high static friction is ensured between the rope (1) and the pulleys (6, 7), and a slippage of the rope (1) on the pulleys (6, 7), which is life-endangering for the descending person, is reliably prevented. A speed-dependent brake (31) and a brake (33-37) stressed by the weight (G) of the downwardly roping person effect a rate of descent that is extensively independent of this weight.

Abstract: A safety device is provided for removably fastening to a safety line a rope grab which contains both inertia and positive locking features. A roller is provided in angled guide tracks to provide an inertia locking effect while a pivot arm can bear against the roller to provide positive locking as well.

Abstract: Escape device comprising a holder 1 in which is guided a flat belt 23 and which accommodates at least one brake shoe 12a on which a force is exerted depending upon the weight of the load and which is directed toward the belt 23.

Abstract: A personal lowering device having two lines, a housing through which the lines so move that the housing descends along the lines when the lines are suspended from an elevated position, a sheave assembly and two brakes disposed within the housing, and two pairs of cinching sheaves biased toward a position for reducing the flow of the lines into the housing. The brakes are so associated with the sheave assembly and the housing that a slight biasing force on the two pairs of cinching sheaves reduces the flow of line into the housing, forcing the sheave assembly into pivoting motion, thereby forcing the brakes against the housing and thus halting the descent of the housing along the lines. A control member is provided for moving the cinching sheave pairs away from the reducing position.

Abstract: A security device for providing a detachable and adjustable connection of a workman's safety belt lanyard to a safety line or the like. The device includes a pair of vertically spaced pivotally mounted cams having serrated cam faces directed into a vertical channel adapted to receive a safety line. The cams are joined by a link to maintain their parallel relation and are spring loaded toward a line engaging position. A pivoted eye connected to the link provides an attachment point for a lanyard. The frame of the device includes pivotally connected front and rear frame portions which may be opened to apply the device to or remove it from a safety line. A latch mechanism provides a secure locking of the frame portions in their closed line clamping position, but may be readily released to allow removal of the device from a line.

Abstract: A device enabling a person's fall to be braked and/or held comprising a body (2) bounding a channel (3) inside which a bearing surface (4) is formed and a swivelling component (6) comprising opposite arms (7, 8) fitted so as to swivel inside the channel (3) of the said body opposite the said bearing surface (4), with the said rope running between the bearing surface (4) and the swivelling component (6), the said rope, when it is stretched taut, making the swivelling component (6) swivel so that the cam-shaped outer profile (9) of its arm (7) moves towards the bearing surface (4) and presses the rope against this bearing surface (4).

Abstract: A rope grip which comprises a guide means and operator means defining a channel for receiving a rope. The guide means defining a first gripping surface and the operator means defines a second gripping surface. The two surfaces are in a facing spaced relationship. Between these two surfaces a restricting means is disposed. The restricting means is springingly connected to an operating arm which influences its position. The extremities of the gripping surfaces are at different distances from one another, which causes a rope of appropriate size to become jammed between a gripping surface and the restricting means, depending upon the position of the restricting means.

Abstract: An escape device for allowing an endangered person to be safely lowered from a drilling tower or other elevated structure includes an automatic brake which controls the descent of a trolley assembly downwardly along an escape cable extending from the elevated structure to a ground level anchor remote from the structure. The automatic brake includes a reel rotatably secured to the elevated structure and a brake cable wound about the reel and attached at one end to the trolley assembly. A fluid pump coupled to the reel causes the reel to rotate at a constant speed when the trolley assembly descends the escape cable. The effective diameter of the reel decreases as the brake cable is unwound therefrom, thereby slowing the rate of descent of the trolley assembly as it approaches the lower end of the escape cable. The escape device is adapted to be used with both the upper and lower stations of a derrick or similar elevated structure.

Abstract: A cable climber safety lock is provided that includes a sensing device. The safety lock is installed above and attached to a cable climber, and the safety lock can also be attached to other types of hoists. The safety lock gradually locks onto the cable as the climber accelerates beyond a predetermined speed down the cable and the unit also senses any climber movement on the cable after power is shut off.