Abstract: A self-retracting lifeline assembly (10) includes a housing (12), a shaft (14) fixed to the housing (12) against rotation, a drum (18) mounted for rotation on the shaft (14) and including a compartment (20) within the drum (18), a lifeline (22) wound on the drum (18), a brake module (24) carried on the shaft (14) and mounted within the compartment (20), and a pawl mechanism (26) mounted on the drum (18) for rotation therewith. The pawl mechanism (26) is mounted within the compartment (20) and configured to selectively engage the brake module (24).

Abstract: A personal descent system is provided. The personal descent system includes a support structure coupling assembly and a control descent device. The support structure coupling assembly is configured and arranged to be coupled to a descent lifeline. The support structure coupling assembly includes an adaptor connection member. The adaptor connection member is configured and arranged to couple different types of lifelines and lanyards to the support structure coupling assembly. The control descent device is selectively coupled to the support structure coupling assembly. The control descent device is configured and arranged to be coupled to a safety harness donned by a user. The control descent device is further configured to detach from the support structure coupling assembly during a descent operation while controlling a payout of the descent lifeline.

Abstract: There is provided height rescue apparatus comprising a casing which incorporates a bracket for attachment to a harness. The bracket can be releasably attached to a load element which is attached to a safety line which in turn can be attached to a secure anchorage. There is also a release means in the form of a pull cord for releasing the load element from the bracket after a fall and speed control means for controlling the rate of deployment of an elongate element stored within the casing and thus controlling the descent of a user.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a user interface for a portable power driven system, specifically in relation to an integrated user interface for controlling such an arrangement, and being applicable for example in relation to an ascender/descender arrangement. The invention also relates to a corresponding method and computer program product for operating such a portable power driven system.

Abstract: A harness system for harnessing a user to a suspension device. The harness comprises a strap system having a plurality of straps configured and operable to connect the suspension device to a back region of the harness, each strap having a back end portion at said back region and connectable to the suspension device, and a front end portion located in a front side of the harness. The straps extend from the back region to the front side of the harness and wrap around all sides of a torso of said user. A single connector assembly is used for quick connection of front end portions of at least some of the straps at the front side of the harness in a single interlocking operation, thereby to secure the harness to the user.

Abstract: A mobile winching system is provided, whereby a motorized winch, battery, and controller are mounted on a metal plate that is attached to and may be enclosed within a bag, wherein the metal plate has attachment points for coupling an anchor component to fix the winch system in position during a winching operation. The mobile winch in a bag system provides a way to transport and operate a winch in areas that are otherwise inaccessible by traditional vehicle mounted winches without the necessity of separately transporting the components of the system and with reduced setup of the components for use.

Abstract: There is provided height rescue apparatus comprising a casing which incorporates a bracket for attachment to a harness. The bracket can be releasably attached to a load element which is attached to a safety line which in turn can be attached to a secure anchorage. There is also a release means in the form of a pull cord for releasing the load element from the bracket after a fall and speed control means for controlling the rate of deployment of an elongate element stored within the casing and thus controlling the descent of a user.

Abstract: An apparatus is disclosed for safely lowering a user from a structure. The apparatus includes a frame; a spool including a cable rotatably mounted on the frame; a securing device attached to the cable and adapted to securely attached to the structure; a user support adapted to support the user and securely attached to the frame; and a pair of centrifugal hydraulic brake systems adapted to slow a rotation of the spool to cause the user support, spool and frame to descend at a safe rate for the user. In another embodiment, the apparatus includes a frame; a spool including a cable rotatably mounted on the frame; a securing device attached to the frame and adapted to securely attached to the structure; a user support adapted to support the user and attached to the cable; and a pair of centrifugal hydraulic brake systems adapted to slow a rotation of the spool to cause the user support to descend at a safe rate for the user.

Abstract: A personal, lightweight, high altitude rappel escape safety device is worn by an individual as a backpack and provides a safe means of lowering the individual from an elevated structure. The device comprises a structural body containing a mechanical device for slowly releasing a high strength cable. One end of the cable is secured to the structure prior to the user descending from the structure. The cable is released from a spool located inside the body and makes a circuitous path though a frictional structure. The structure contains baffles through which the cable extends. The friction caused by the pattern of release of the cable generates sufficient drag to safely lower a person from any altitude in a structure to the ground. The rate of descent may be adjusted via a braking mechanism.

Abstract: A single rope descending device, especially a portable descending device for use of a single person, comprises a receiving housing, a cap, an adjusting nut, and a rope windlass. The receiving housing is made up of a left and a right semi-circular hollow halves within which the rope windlass having a rope wound and raveled thereon is housed. Each half of the receiving housing is provided with a tapered protruding end wherein corresponding serrated clamping edges define the assembling part thereof to boost up the resistant force of the rope passed through the twist and turn formed thereby. The cap is screwed up to conic outer threads of the tapered protruding ends to clamp tight the tapered protruding ends against the rope.

Abstract: A personal portable life-saving device includes a housing, a reel set, at least a guide roller, a control disk, a braking unit, a metal strap and a body fastening means. In case a fire accident happens in a high building, the user may fasten the metal strap to any fixed object in the building, tie the body fastening means about his/her body and jump off the building by holding the housing. The user may adjust the dropping speed and land safely.

Abstract: A fire escaping apparatus being of a small bulk, requiring no energy source and capable of continuously transporting escaping persons is provided. The apparatus includes a housing attached to a place from where relevant persons can escape a fire, a hollow active shaft rotatably mounting therein a following shaft and securing thereon a driving member, an escaping loop rope positively circulating on the periphery of the driving member, a speed-increasing mechansim mounted between the active and following shafts, and a speed-limiting mechanism mounted on the following shaft so that the escaping person grasping on the rope can be rapidly and safely transported from the place to a ground surface.

Abstract: A load lowering or rescue device for lowering a load or person from an elevated location, has a drum rotatably mounted on a frame. One end of a rope or cable is secured at the elevated location. The other end of the rope or cable is secured to the drum and a portion of the rope or cable is wound around the drum. A spring biased drum brake cooperates with the drum for controlling the lowering speed or for stopping the drum rotation. First and second brake action control members permit controlling the brake action in opposite directions, for example, one control member permits reducing the brake force for accelerating the lowering speed, while the other control member permits selectively increasing the brake force and stopping the lowering.

Abstract: A self-braking apparatus is provided for cases of emergency in which a rapid descent of persons threatened by fire or danger is required on the outside of buildings or the like. The apparatus can be secured to a fixed point from which the descent is to be made and comprises a rotor on which a rope is wound which is mounted coaxially and inwardly of a drum. A heat-resistant handle and a brake which can be actuated by the user are secured to the drum by brackets. The rotor is provided with a plurality of radial holes each containing a spring urging a brake pad outwardly against the inner surface of the drum. The brake which can be actuated by the user is formed by a pair of levers pivotally connected to each other and acting with one of their ends on rods having an inclined plane in turn acting on brake pads urged against the lateral surface of the drum by the rods.

Abstract: A building safety survival rescue cable device includes a large pulley having two pulley halves which are biased toward each other for guiding the rescue device over a cable that is strung from a building. The inner surface of each pulley half is provided with a rough, file-like texture so as to increase friction between the pulley and the cable.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a new and improved design associated with the fabrication and construction of a portable escape device wherein a cable is wound around a drum physically encased therein, said drum being mechanically interrelated with two separate and distinct brake mechanisms through a series of interrelated gears, the brake mechanisms capable of being automatically and/or manually actuated independent of each other or in combination therewith so as to control the rate of movement of said drum and thus regulate the rate of release of said cable wound around said drum. Furthermore, one of the brake mechanisms is air cooled and operates upon centrifugal force principals to achieve braking.

Abstract: A fire escape descender capable of controlling the descending speed, thereby ensuring that the escaper can escape from the burning building at a desired speed, wherein the speed controlling is effected either manually or automatically.

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 life saving equipment for roping down persons along a rope has a rack with an inlet opening and an outlet opening for the rope so that the rope passes the rack when the person is roped down. A rope pulley is rotatably mounted within the rack and has on its circumference a groove for the rope. The rope is guided in the groove for a looping angle of more than 180.degree.. The rope pulley can be braked by at least one brake member, the braking force of which can be adjusted by a setting mechanism influenced by the weight of the person to be roped down. A monitoring means checks the presence of the rope within the rack and has a movable sensor member pressed again the rope, preferably by means of at least one spring. The sensor member acts on a rope clamping device for clamping the rope when a rope shortage occurs.

Abstract: An escape device for lowering an escapee trapped in the upper stories of a burning building, including a cylindrical casing in which is mounted a rotatable drum having a wire wound therearound with one end attached thereto. The casing is provided with an escapee-supporting member mounted externally thereto and a feed-through hole by which the other end of the wound wire exits the casing and can be secured to the building. The drum is provided with a gear on the inner peripheral surface thereof, which gear is in meshing engagement with a reduction gear unit also supported within the casing. One gear of the reduction gear unit is mounted on a shaft which also has mounted thereon a brake disc member.