PORTABLE POWER-DRIVEN SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a portable power-driven system, such as an ascender/descender arrangement, specifically in relation to means for ensuring that a rope used in relation to the portable power-driven system is securely handled when in the operational state.

Claims

1. A portable power-driven system for advancing a rope, the rope extending in a first main direction, the power-driven system comprising: a motor comprising a drive shaft; a rope grab connected to the drive shaft, the rope grab comprises a rope engaging face adapted to, when in an operational state, engage the rope along a first section of a circumference of the rope grab, and a main body for mounting the motor and further comprising an anchoring point adapted to receive an anchoring force, the anchoring force extending in a second direction being essentially opposite to the first main direction, wherein: the power-driven system further comprises a rope securing arrangement, the securing arrangement comprising an elongated lever at a first end having a hinged connection to the main body and at a second end configured to receive a first roller adapted to, when in the operational state, engage with the rope, and the rope securing arrangement is adapted to, by means of a second roller comprised with the elongated lever, exert a pressure to the rope for forcing the rope towards the rope grab at a portion of the first section where the rope, when in the operational state, is engaging the rope grab.

2. The system according to claim 1, the power-driven system further comprises a stopping arrangement configured to, when in the operational state, locking the elongated lever to the main body to minimizing a movement of the elongated lever in a direction parallel to the drive shaft.

3. The system according to claim 2, wherein the stopping arrangement is connected to the main body at a position adjacently to the rope grab, the stopping arrangement comprising a heel portion partly extending into the rope engaging face of the rope grab to ensure that the rope, when in the operational state, remains at the first section of the circumference of the rope grab.

4. The system according to claim 2, wherein the stopping arrangement is connected to the main body at a position adjacently to the rope grab, the stopping arrangement being adapted to limit the pressure to the rope towards the rope grab.

5. The system according to claim 3, wherein the stopping arrangement is arranged to ensure, when in the operational state, that the second roller remains at least at a predetermined distance from the rope grab.

6. The system according to claim 3, wherein the stopping arrangement is adapted to, when in the operational state, engage with a recess comprised with the elongated lever.

7. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a lid adapted to be arranged in one or an open and a closed state, wherein the lid in the closed state is adapted to cover the rope grab.

8. The system according to claim 7, wherein the lid is hinged connected to the main body.

9. The system according to claim 7, wherein the lid comprises a control stud adapted to engage with the stopping arrangement when in the closed state.

10. The system according to claim 1, wherein the stopping arrangement is arranged directly adjacently to the rope grab.

11. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rope engaging face is provided with a plurality of pins configured to contact the rope along the section of the circumference of the rope grab engaging the rope when in the operational state of the rope grab arrangement.

12. The system according to claim 11, wherein the pins are parallelly arranged in pairs along the circumference of the rope grab.

13. The system according to claim 11, wherein the rope grab and the pins are manufactured from a metal material.

14. The system according to claim 11, wherein the rope grab and the pins are manufactured as a single unit.

15. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rope securing arrangement further comprises a spring mechanism for forcing the second roller towards the rope.

16. The system according to claim 15, wherein the spring mechanism is arranged to ensure that the second roller is consistently, when in the operational state, forced with at least a predetermined minimum base force towards the rope.

17. The system according to claim 1, wherein the motor is at least one of an internal combustion engine or an electrical motor further comprising a rechargeable battery.

18. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a user interface for operating the motor for allowing rotation of the rope grab in a first and a second direction.

19. The system according to claim 1, further comprising a safety sling connected to the anchoring point, the safety sling arranged to receive at least one of a maillon, a carabiner, or a rigging plate.

20. The system according to claim 1, wherein the rope securing arrangement is adapted for, when in a non-operational state, allowing a loop of the rope to be inserted between the first and the second roller when engaging the rope with the rope grab.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] The various aspects of the invention, including its particular features and advantages, will be readily understood from the following detailed description and the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 shows a section of a portable power-driven system according to a currently preferred embodiment of the present disclosure;

[0035] FIGS. 2-4 shows detailed views of the power-driven when loading a rope, and

[0036] FIGS. 5A and 5B illustrates horizontal and vertical operations for the power-driven system as shown in FIGS. 1-4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] The present invention will now be described more fully hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which currently preferred embodiments of the invention are shown. This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee. Like reference characters refer to like elements throughout.

[0038] Referring now to the drawings and to FIGS. 1-2 in particular, there is depicted a portable power-driven system 100 according to a possible embodiment of the invention.

[0039] The power-driven system 100 comprises a motor (not shown) and a rope grab 202, the motor and the rope grab 202 being connected to each other by means of for example a drive shaft (possibly also including a gearbox or similar). The motor is in the shown embodiment an electrical motor further comprising a rechargeable battery (not shown), the rechargeable battery possibly being removably attached to the system 100. In the illustrated embodiment the motor, the battery and the drive shaft are enclosed in a main body 102 of the system 100.

[0040] The system 100 further comprises a lid 104 for, when in the operational state, covering the rope grab 202, the rope grab 202 being configured for receiving and advancing a rope 106 once the motor by means of the drive shaft rotates the rope grab 202. The rope 106 is arranged to extend in a first main direction 108.

[0041] Preferably, the portable power-driven system 100 is configured to be waterproof.

[0042] When in a non-operational state where the portable power-driven system 100 is prepared for subsequent operation, with further reference also to FIG. 3, a loop of the rope 106 is inserted to engage with a portion of the rope grab 202, typically being in contact with around half of the circumference of the rope grab 202. As exemplified in FIG. 3, the elongated lever 210 preferably comprises two side portions allowing the rope 106 to pass through within the elongated lever 210 and between the first 208 and the second roller 214. In FIG. 3 the rope grab 202 comprises a rope engaging face having a concave form, the concave form in some examples corresponding to a concave form of a capstan. However, the rope engaging face may have other forms depending on the implementation at hand, such as e.g. being essentially flat or essentially flat and provided with protrusions for engaging with the rope 106.

[0043] The rope 106 will as such engage and pass around a portion of a first roller 208. The first roller 208 is arranged at an elongated lever 210. The elongated lever 210 is in turned connected to the main body 102 using a hinge 212 at a first end of the elongated lever 210. The first roller 208 is arranged at an opposite second end of the elongated lever 210.

[0044] The elongated lever 210 is also provided with a second roller 214, arranged in between the first roller 208 and the hinge 212. The function of the second roller will be further discussed below.

[0045] Furthermore, a load will be connected to an anchoring point 110 of the portable power-driven system 100, in the illustration coinciding with a hinge 112 of the lid 104. The anchoring point 110 may be provided with for example a sling 114 in turn connected to a maillon 116 for connecting to a harness of a user. The user will accordingly place a loading force 118 to the portable power-driven system 100, where the loading force 118 will extend in an essentially opposite direction as compared to the main direction 108 of the rope 106. The rope 106 will additionally have an unloaded end 120 extending out in a vicinity of the second roller 214.

[0046] When applying the loading force 118 to the portable power-driven system 100, the rope 106 will force the elongated lever 210 to rotate in a direction D towards the rope grab 202 (at the hinge 212). As a result, as is further illustrated in FIG. 4, the second roller 214 will press a portion of the rope 106 towards the rope grab 202, such that the rope 106 is at least partly “clamped” between the second roller 214 and the rope grab 202. Clamping of the rope 106 between the second roller 214 and the rope grab 202 will increase a friction between the rope 106 and the rope grab 202. This will as a result allow for the use of a large variety of different types of ropes to be used with the portable power-driven system 100. In an embodiment, the second roller 214 may comprise a corresponding rope engaging face having e.g. one of a concave, a convex or a flat form.

[0047] Typically, a pressure inferred by the second roller 214 may be seen as proportional to the loading force 118. In some, but not all, embodiments it may be necessary to control this pressure. In the illustrations the system 100, this is achieved by further including a stopping arrangement 216, the stopping arrangement 216 being connected to the main body at a position adjacently to the rope grab 202. Preferably, a distance between the stopping arrangement 216 and the rope grab 202 is selected such that the rope 106 is not squashed between the second roller 214 and the rope engaging face of the rope grab 202.

[0048] Preferably, the stopping arrangement 216 further comprises a heel portion 218 partly extending into the rope engaging face of the rope grab 202 to ensure that the rope, when in the operational state is not allowed to re-circle the rope grab 202, a process that would result in an unwanted tangling of the rope 106 at the rope grab 202.

[0049] The stopping arrangement 216 may further be adapted to, when in the operational state of the system 100, engage with a recess 220 comprised with the elongated lever 210, the recess 220 arranged in a vicinity of the second end of the elongated lever 220. That is, once the recess 220 of the elongated lever 210 engages with the stopping arrangement 216, the elongated lever may be seen as given a second connection point in addition to the hinge 212, whereby the elongated lever 210 may be locked from any movement in the direction parallel to the drive shaft. Accordingly, the connection between the stopping arrangement 216 and the recess 220 of the elongated lever 210 ensures that no movement of the elongated lever 210 is allowed in a direction perpendicular to the regular direction D of moving the elongated lever 210 at the hinge 212. The means for securing the elongated lever 210 to the stopping arrangement 216 may be implemented using e.g. a disc 222.

[0050] Preferably, the lid 104 comprises a control stud 224 adapted to engage with an opening 226 of the stopping arrangement 216, when the lid 104 is in a closed state. The control stud 224 thereby ensures that a further connection point is provided, in the closed state, between the lid 104 and the main body 102, in addition to the hinge 112 of the lid 104. Accordingly, any unwanted movement in the hinge 112 (e.g. perpendicular to the direction for opening and closing the lid 104) may be reduced.

[0051] In addition, the system 100 may further comprise a user interface, in the illustrated embodiment implemented by means of a rotatable handle 122, for controlling the direction and rotational speed of the motor. Furthermore, the lid 104 may additionally comprise a locking/unlocking mechanism 124 for opening/closing the lid 104.

[0052] Still further, the system 100 may be equipped with a control unit (not shown) for controlling an operation of the motor, e.g. based on an input provided by the rotatable handle 122. The control unit may in some embodiments be connected to a sensor (not shown) provided for determine if the lid 104 is in the closed or an open state. Such a sensor may for example be a magnetic sensor. In some embodiments, the system 100 may not be allowed to be operated if the lid 104 is in the open state.

[0053] Turning now to FIGS. 5A and 5B, which illustrates exemplary horizontal and vertical operations, respectively, of the power-driven system 100. In the embodiment of FIG. 5A, the system 100 is arranged as a standalone winch mode, i.e. instead of the user connecting his/her safety harness directly to the anchoring point 110 and using the system 100 to ascend/descend along the rope 106, the system 100 is in this mode connected to a fixed structure 502 such as a wall or similarly available object at the operational site.

[0054] In the illustrated example, the rope 106 is configured to pass over e.g. a roller 504 for the purpose of allowing a user 506 to be transporter in a vertical manner without having to himself control the system 100. The system may instead (or also) be controlled by an operator 508 using the user interface 120, the operator 508 typically situated adjacently to the system 100. It may however be possible to configure the system 100 to additionally comprise means to be controlled from a distance, for example by means of a remote control (wired or wireless, not shown). Preferably, the control is wireless and in such an implementation the system 100 comprises wireless connection means to communicate wirelessly with the remote control.

[0055] In FIG. 5B, the typical vertical operation scenario for the power-driven system 100 is shown. In this scenario, the user 506 having a safety harness is typically connected to the sling 114. The rope 106 will in this case typically be arranged at a position above the user 506 (sometimes in relation to climbing denoted as “top rope”). In some possible scenarios of operation of the system 100, the fixed top rope position above the user 506 may be somewhat flexibly arranged, for example by means of a rope launcher, a pole or any type of tactical hooks.

[0056] In summary, the present invention relates to a portable power-driven system for advancing a rope, the rope extending in a first main direction, the power-driven system comprising a motor comprising a drive shaft, a rope grab connected to the drive shaft, the rope grab comprises a rope engaging face having a concave form adapted to, when in the operational state, engage the rope along a first section of a circumference of the rope grab, and a main body for mounting the motor and further comprising an anchoring point adapted to receive an anchoring force, the anchoring force extending in a second direction being essentially opposite to the first main direction, wherein the power-driven system further comprises a rope securing arrangement, the securing arrangement comprising an elongated lever at a first end having a hinged connection to the main body and at a second end configured to receive a first roller adapted to, when in the operational state, engage with the rope, and the rope securing arrangement is adapted to, by means of a second roller comprised with the elongated lever, exert a pressure to the rope for forcing the rope towards the rope grab at a portion of the first section where the rope, when in the operational state, is engaging the rope grab.

[0057] The invention is based on the understanding that the operation of the portable power-driven system may be simplified in comparison to prior art devices, since the solution as is defined above enables an increased number of different types of ropes, as well as different diameters of such ropes, to be used in conjunction with the system. This is in accordance to the present disclosure achieve by providing a rope securing arrangement, where the rope securing arrangement comprises a first and a second roller arranged to be comprised with an elongated lever, where the elongated lever in turn is hinged at a main body of the system.

[0058] Although the figures may show a specific order of method steps, the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure. Likewise, software implementations could be accomplished with standard programming techniques with rule-based logic and other logic to accomplish the various connection steps, processing steps, comparison steps and decision steps. Additionally, even though the invention has been described with reference to specific exemplifying embodiments thereof, many different alterations, modifications and the like will become apparent for those skilled in the art. Variations to the disclosed embodiments can be understood and effected by the skilled addressee in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. Furthermore, in the claims, the word “comprising” does not exclude other elements or steps, and the indefinite article “a” or “an” does not exclude a plurality.