The invention relates to a free fall winch comprising a drum, which can be rotationally driven by a winch drive, wherein a free fall brake is provided for braking the drum in free fall operation. According to the invention, a torque acting on the free fall winch, which depends on the free fall braking torque, is detected by means of a detection device, and a brake actuation force with which the free fall brake is actuated is controlled or adjusted by a control device according to the detected torque.

A velocity control device for controlling the velocity of a load on a flexible tension member can include a chassis with a portion of the chassis peripheral surface defining an exit aperture. The device can also include a capstan having a proximal face joined to the chassis and a distal face separated at a distance from the proximal face. A peripheral capstan surface can be tapered from a greatest diameter near the distal face to a smallest diameter near the proximal face. The device can include a throttle attached to the chassis having an interior surface defining an opening through which the tension member can pass. The interior surface is in at least partial contact with the tension member. Heat produced by kinetic energy in the flexible tension member is transferred to the throttle, and the change in system internal energy produces a drag force on the flexible tension member.

A velocity control device for controlling the velocity of a load on a flexible tension member can include a chassis with a portion of the chassis peripheral surface defining an exit aperture. The device can also include a capstan having a proximal face joined to the chassis and a distal face separated at a distance from the proximal face. A peripheral capstan surface can be tapered from a greatest diameter near the distal face to a smallest diameter near the proximal face. The device can include a throttle attached to the chassis having an interior surface defining an opening through which the tension member can pass. The interior surface is in at least partial contact with the tension member. Heat produced by kinetic energy in the flexible tension member is transferred to the throttle, and the change in system internal energy produces a drag force on the flexible tension member.

A velocity control device for controlling the velocity of a load on a flexible tension member. The device can include a chassis having a chassis peripheral surface, with a portion of the chassis peripheral surface defining an exit aperture. The device can also include a capstan, the capstan having a proximal face joined to the chassis and a distal face separated at a distance from the proximal face. A peripheral capstan surface can be tapered from a greatest diameter near the distal face to a smallest diameter near the proximal face. The device can include a throttle, the throttle being attached to the chassis. The throttle can an interior surface defining an opening through which the tension member can pass with the interior surface being in at least partial contact with the tension member. Heat produced by kinetic energy in the flexible tension member is transferred to the throttle, and the change in system internal energy produces work in the form of a drag force on the flexible tension member.

A velocity control device for controlling the velocity of a load on a flexible tension member. The device can include a chassis having a chassis peripheral surface, with a portion of the chassis peripheral surface defining an exit aperture. The device can also include a capstan, the capstan having a proximal face joined to the chassis and a distal face separated at a distance from the proximal face. A peripheral capstan surface can be tapered from a greatest diameter near the distal face to a smallest diameter near the proximal face. The device can include a throttle, the throttle being attached to the chassis. The throttle can an interior surface defining an opening through which the tension member can pass with the interior surface being in at least partial contact with the tension member. Heat produced by kinetic energy in the flexible tension member is transferred to the throttle, and the change in system internal energy produces work in the form of a drag force on the flexible tension member.

The present invention relates to a free-fall winch comprising a drum which can be rotatorily driven by a winch drive via a transmission and can be retained by a holding brake, wherein in addition to the holding brake a free-fall brake is provided for slowing down the drum in free-fall operation. According to the invention, the free-fall brake is arranged between winch drive and holding brake on the one hand and drum on the other hand such that when the free-fall brake is open, the drum is decoupled from the winch drive and from the holding brake and can be rotated at idle with respect to the winch drive and the holding brake.

A centrifugal brake mechanism for a controlled descent device, and a drum device employing it. The brake mechanism comprises a circular wheel configured and operable to rotate about an axis of rotation, an axle extending along and rotatable about the axis inside a central cavity of the wheel and having two or more parallel shaft rods extending inside the cavity substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, a gear system for transferring rotations of the wheel into counter-rotations of the axle, one or more brake elements each having two or more pass-through bores for slidably mounting over the two or more parallel shaft rods, two or more springs mounted over the parallel shaft rods between the brake element and the axle, and a friction enhancement mechanism for increasing friction forces between the brake elements and the inner wall the wheel responsive to increase in angular velocity of the wheel.

A centrifugal brake mechanism for a controlled descent device, and a drum device employing it. The brake mechanism comprises a circular wheel configured and operable to rotate about an axis of rotation, an axle extending along and rotatable about the axis inside a central cavity of the wheel and having two or more parallel shaft rods extending inside the cavity substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, a gear system for transferring rotations of the wheel into counter-rotations of the axle, one or more brake elements each having two or more pass-through bores for slidably mounting over the two or more parallel shaft rods, two or more springs mounted over the parallel shaft rods between the brake element and the axle, and a friction enhancement mechanism for increasing friction forces between the brake elements and the inner wall the wheel responsive to increase in angular velocity of the wheel.

The present invention relates to a free-fall winch comprising a drum which can be rotatorily driven by a winch drive via a transmission and can be retained by a holding brake, wherein in addition to the holding brake a free-fall brake is provided for slowing down the drum in free-fall operation. According to the invention, the free-fall brake is arranged between winch drive and holding brake on the one hand and drum on the other hand such that when the free-fall brake is open, the drum is decoupled from the winch drive and from the holding brake and can be rotated at idle with respect to the winch drive and the holding brake.

The invention relates to a free fall winch comprising a drum, which can be rotationally driven by a winch drive, wherein a free fall brake is provided for braking the drum in free fall operation. According to the invention, a torque acting on the free fall winch, which depends on the free fall braking torque, is detected by means of a detection device, and a brake actuation force with which the free fall brake is actuated is controlled or adjusted by a control device according to the detected torque.