An ascender includes a pulley, an input shaft, a support member, a transmission mechanism, a rope guide, a cam, an energizing member, an operating member, and a closing member. A rope is removably wound on the pulley. An output shaft of a rotary electric tool is removably connected to the input shaft. The transmission mechanism transmit a rotational force of the input shaft to the pulley. The cam moves toward the pulley to bite into the rope so as to prevent a movement of the rope when the rope is going to move in a descending direction. The cam moves away from the pulley to allow the movement of the rope when the rope is going to move in an ascending direction.

An ascender includes a pulley, an input shaft, a support member, a transmission mechanism, a rope guide, a cam, an energizing member, an operating member, and a closing member. A rope is removably wound on the pulley. An output shaft of a rotary electric tool is removably connected to the input shaft. The transmission mechanism transmit a rotational force of the input shaft to the pulley. The cam moves toward the pulley to bite into the rope so as to prevent a movement of the rope when the rope is going to move in a descending direction. The cam moves away from the pulley to allow the movement of the rope when the rope is going to move in an ascending direction.

A self-retracting lanyard system includes a self-retracting lanyard having a main body and a retractable line, a harness connected to the retractable line and wearable by the user of the self-retracting lanyard, and an electronic device disposable on the harness. The electronic device includes an accelerometer, a processor or programmable circuit, and a non-transitory program storage medium on which are stored instructions executable by the processor or programmable circuit to perform operations including receiving a measurement from the accelerometer, comparing the measurement to a threshold, detecting that the user of the self-retracting lanyard has fallen based on a result of the comparing, and instructing a wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal in response to the detection that the user has fallen.

A self-retracting lanyard system includes a self-retracting lanyard having a main body and a retractable line, a harness connected to the retractable line and wearable by the user of the self-retracting lanyard, and an electronic device disposable on the harness. The electronic device includes an accelerometer, a processor or programmable circuit, and a non-transitory program storage medium on which are stored instructions executable by the processor or programmable circuit to perform operations including receiving a measurement from the accelerometer, comparing the measurement to a threshold, detecting that the user of the self-retracting lanyard has fallen based on a result of the comparing, and instructing a wireless transmitter to transmit a wireless signal in response to the detection that the user has fallen.

A hoisting apparatus or PPE for use at a manhole comprises a structure mountable to a surface, the manhole and/or a structure present in the vicinity of the manhole. The hoisting apparatus comprises a multi-angle bearing assembly mounted at one end of the structure that is adapted to have a rope or alike attached or anchored to a point of the structure distant to the multi-head bearing assembly to guide the rope when the rope extends in one of an available range of directions. The multi-angle bearing assembly comprises a ring assembly defining an opening adapted for the rope to go through, and a plurality of spools mounted to the ring assembly adapted to guide the rope in a path distant from the edge of the ring assembly in any if the direction of the rope of the range of available directions.

A hoisting apparatus or PPE for use at a manhole comprises a structure mountable to a surface, the manhole and/or a structure present in the vicinity of the manhole. The hoisting apparatus comprises a multi-angle bearing assembly mounted at one end of the structure that is adapted to have a rope or alike attached or anchored to a point of the structure distant to the multi-head bearing assembly to guide the rope when the rope extends in one of an available range of directions. The multi-angle bearing assembly comprises a ring assembly defining an opening adapted for the rope to go through, and a plurality of spools mounted to the ring assembly adapted to guide the rope in a path distant from the edge of the ring assembly in any if the direction of the rope of the range of available directions.

Described herein is an assembly and methods of use thereof for controlling or governing the relative speed of motion between the assembly parts via eddy current formation. The assembly and methods also may minimize the number of parts required and may minimize the number of moving parts thereby increasing the mechanical durability of the assembly compared to art designs that may have more moving parts and greater part complexity.

A rope-climbing device has an upper assembly with planar side plates spaced apart by a roller, such that the side plates rotate relative to one another about a roller axis, a spine unit comprising planar links of common width each of half the plate spacing, the links pivoted at a central point, and a lower assembly comprising third and fourth side plates spaced apart by a clamp element such that the third and fourth side plates are enabled to rotate relative to one another about the clamp axis, and the clamp element is enabled to clamp a rope between the plates. The device may be opened by aligning pivot points, a rope inserted, and closed on the rope. Engaged on the rope, the device may be set to slide on the rope, or clamp to the rope by action of a user.

A rope-climbing device has an upper assembly with planar side plates spaced apart by a roller, such that the side plates rotate relative to one another about a roller axis, a spine unit comprising planar links of common width each of half the plate spacing, the links pivoted at a central point, and a lower assembly comprising third and fourth side plates spaced apart by a clamp element such that the third and fourth side plates are enabled to rotate relative to one another about the clamp axis, and the clamp element is enabled to clamp a rope between the plates. The device may be opened by aligning pivot points, a rope inserted, and closed on the rope. Engaged on the rope, the device may be set to slide on the rope, or clamp to the rope by action of a user.

A user-controllable braking system, including a descent tether connectable to a support and configurable for descending a user; a rigid body configured to be connectable between the descent tether and a user for enabling control of the descent by the user; a pulley rotatably positioned on the rigid body, the descent tether positionable around the pulley; a brake member yieldably positioned on the rigid body adjacent the pulley; a bias member operatively associated with the brake member to bias the brake member away from the pulley; and a lever pivotally connected to the rigid body and operable to bear against the brake member to controllably overcome the bias member and controllably bear the brake member against a portion of the descent tether. Operation of the lever by the user enables the user to controllably bear the brake member against the portion of the descent tether positioned around the pulley to provide a braking force.