A method and a safety brake for a lifting device, wherein a solenoid or another electromechanical actuator is used to actuate a pawl, where the position of the pawl is monitored via at least two switches or sensors, where the lowering motion of the load or the lifting device is monitored and the safety brake is triggered in the event of a fault via a safety-oriented controller and at least one sensor, where the solenoid or the pawl is arranged such that, via spring force and/or gravity, the pawl is brought into engagement when the actuator, for example, the solenoid, is deenergized such that it is possible to exactly define and monitor the limit speed and, by using the two sensors, it is also possible to monitor the function and the motion of the pawl and to detect undesired operating states.

A method and a safety brake for a lifting device, wherein a solenoid or another electromechanical actuator is used to actuate a pawl, where the position of the pawl is monitored via at least two switches or sensors, where the lowering motion of the load or the lifting device is monitored and the safety brake is triggered in the event of a fault via a safety-oriented controller and at least one sensor, where the solenoid or the pawl is arranged such that, via spring force and/or gravity, the pawl is brought into engagement when the actuator, for example, the solenoid, is deenergized such that it is possible to exactly define and monitor the limit speed and, by using the two sensors, it is also possible to monitor the function and the motion of the pawl and to detect undesired operating states.

A device for retrieving a stranded or drowning person can attach to a boat cleat and be used to draw the stranded person towards the boat. The device has a floatation portion that is thrown to the stranded person. The floatation portion has multiple latches for different sized persons. A winch portion pivots about a cleat adaptor, which attaches to the horns of a boat cleat using an aperture and a locking pin. The winch portion receives the cord that is attached to the floatation portion. An optional ice foot mates to the cleat adapter for retrieving a person who has fallen through ice.

A device for retrieving a stranded or drowning person can attach to a boat cleat and be used to draw the stranded person towards the boat. The device has a floatation portion that is thrown to the stranded person. The floatation portion has multiple latches for different sized persons. A winch portion pivots about a cleat adaptor, which attaches to the horns of a boat cleat using an aperture and a locking pin. The winch portion receives the cord that is attached to the floatation portion. An optional ice foot mates to the cleat adapter for retrieving a person who has fallen through ice.

A steel wire self-locking mechanism and a lifting device are provided. The steel wire self-locking mechanism includes a surrounding plate and a self-locking gear and a locking device arranged in the surrounding plate, and uses a friction force of a threaded sleeve to lock the lifting device. The lifting device includes a lifting assembly and a beam assembly. The steel wire self-locking mechanism is arranged in the beam assembly, and the locking of the lifting device is realized by the steel wire self-locking mechanism. The steel wire self-locking mechanism and the lifting device have good adaptability. Due to a smaller volume, the steel wire self-locking mechanism is applicable to lifting tables in various sizes.

A brake device comprising: a brake receiver pivotally supported in a non-rotatable manner on the drive shaft and including a flange part and a boss part; a female screw member pivotally supported in a rotatable manner on the drive shaft and screwed to a male screw part; a ratchet wheel including ratchet teeth provided on an outer peripheral side and configured to restrict a rotation direction to one direction; a brake plate arranged between the ratchet wheel and at least one of the flange part and the female screw member; and at least one pawl member engaging, on a tip side, with a valley part located between adjacent ratchet teeth, and meshing with the ratchet tooth, wherein the ratchet teeth include tall teeth and short teeth lower in projection height from a rotation center of the ratchet wheel than the tall teeth.

According to some embodiments, a winch tightening apparatus comprises a mounting plate; a first moment arm coupled to the mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate; and a pawl comprising a first end and a second end. The first end is pivotally coupled to the mounting plate such that the second end pivots to engage a ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in a first direction and pivots to disengage the ratchet gear when the mounting plate is rotated in a second direction opposite the first direction. Some embodiments include a second moment arm coupled to the mounting plate and configured to provide leverage for rotating the mounting plate. Some embodiments include a counterweight coupled to the mounting plate and positioned to rotate the mounting plate in the second direction

An overhead storage device or system may include a mechanism for hoisting the object to be stored (e.g., a bicycle) at an elevated height (e.g., above grade or floor level). In general, the present teachings may include a cable pulley engaged with a constant torque spring unit structurally configured to apply an approximately constant torque to the cable spool that promotes rotation of a spool thereof for winding of a lift cable about the spool to lift a load. Also disclosed are techniques for improving such a constant toque lifting unit such as an inertial brake structurally configured to slow down or stop an undesired, accelerated winding of a lift cable, a self-coiling device structurally configured to advantageously wind the lift cable a predetermined amount (e.g., for removal of same as a hinderance), and an attachment mechanism structurally configured to securely couple to a load.

A safety brake for a load lifting gear includes an actuator for a locking pawl, a brake-locking gear element connected to a lifting gear drive, pawl position monitoring sensors and a controller. The controller monitors the sensors and the lifting gear speed, and operates the lifting gear drive and the actuator to brake the lifting gear against excessive speed, by moving the actuator between energized and non-energized states and differentiating with sensor inputs among a detached state, a bearing state and a fully engaged state of the locking pawl with a pawl clearance of the brake-locking gear element.

A safety brake for a load lifting gear includes an actuator for a locking pawl, a brake-locking gear element connected to a lifting gear drive, pawl position monitoring sensors and a controller. The controller monitors the sensors and the lifting gear speed, and operates the lifting gear drive and the actuator to brake the lifting gear against excessive speed, by moving the actuator between energized and non-energized states and differentiating with sensor inputs among a detached state, a bearing state and a fully engaged state of the locking pawl with a pawl clearance of the brake-locking gear element.