Tactical rope insertion assist device

Abstract

Disclosed is a hinged, two-wheeled device for improving the safety of an individual or object descending along a rope from an elevated position. The device includes a two-piece hinged framed held open by a torsion spring. Each part of the frame contains a wheel with a cut out/channel with a knurled surface to increase the friction between the rope and the device and to prevent the device from disengaging during use. The rope is placed between the two wheels and the handle is pulled down, clamping the device around the rope. The two wheels are connected to viscous rotary dampers that slow the speed of the wheels during descent, preventing the user/object from accelerating in a free-fall and controlling the descent rate to a relatively constant, safer speed.

Claims

1. A passive-assist descent device for lowering a person or object from an elevated position to a lower position using a rope fixed to the elevated surface, comprising: an elongated handle connected to a two-piece frame, consisting of a top frame and a bottom frame; where said top frame pivots around the point where the top frame is connected to the bottom frame; where the bottom frame is attached to the top frame and the handle, wherein the bottom frame and handle are connected rigidly to one another, such that the top frame may rotate with respect to the bottom frame and handle when rotating around the point where the top frame is attached to the bottom frame; a top wheel and shaft assembly comprising a top wheel and a top roller shaft configured to share the same axis, attached to the top frame such that the top roller shaft of the top wheel and shaft assembly goes through the top frame, allowing the top wheel and shaft assembly to rotate independent of the top frame; a bottom wheel and shaft assembly, comprising a bottom wheel and a bottom roller shaft configured to share the same axis, attached to the bottom frame such that the bottom roller shaft of the bottom wheel and shaft assembly goes through the bottom frame, allowing the bottom wheel and shaft assembly to rotate independent of the bottom frame; a top viscous rotary damper, attached to the top wheel and shaft assembly such that the top viscous rotary damper is connected to the top roller shaft on an end of the top roller shaft opposite to which the top wheel is connected, where said top viscous rotary damper is secured to the top frame on the side of the top frame opposite the top wheel such that the top viscous rotary damper is capable of providing a resisting torque to the top wheel and shaft assembly as it rotates; a bottom viscous rotary damper, attached to the bottom wheel and shaft assembly such that the bottom viscous rotary damper is connected to the bottom roller shaft on an end of the bottom roller shaft opposite to which the bottom wheel is connected, where said bottom viscous rotary damper is secured to the bottom frame on the side of the bottom frame opposite the bottom wheel, such that the bottom viscous rotary damper is capable of providing a resisting torque to the bottom wheel and shaft assembly as it rotates.

2. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein the descent rate of the device is limited by the resisting torque which is applied to the top and bottom wheel and shaft assemblies of the device, wherein said resisting torque is provided by the viscous rotary dampers, where said resisting torque prevents each wheel from exceeding a certain rotational speed when a constant force is applied to the device, such that the device's acceleration decreases as the device's descent rate increases, where the device's descent reaches a constant, safe descent rate.

3. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein said top and bottom wheel are configured with a large groove in each wheel that acts as a guide for the fixed rope, where the top frame rotates such that the top wheel and bottom wheel clamp around the fixed rope, preventing the device from disengaging until the operator reaches the desired lower position.

4. The apparatus of claim 1, wherein a torsion spring keeps the top wheel and bottom wheel a set distance apart, until the device is placed around the rope and engaged by pulling the handle downward, such that the top wheel and bottom wheel are then capable of clamping the rope together, and wherein said torsion spring extends when the handle is no longer pulled downward, such that the top wheel and bottom wheel separate from their clamping position.

5. The apparatus of claim 2, wherein said descent device is configured to be operated by placing said fixed rope between the top and bottom wheel, where said device is engaged by pulling the handle downwards, allowing the wheels to clamp the rope, where when a force or weight is placed on the device causing said device to descend along the rope, the acceleration of the device is limited by the resisting torque applied directly to said wheels via the viscous rotary dampers connected to the wheel and shaft assemblies, such that the device may passively descend along the rope without requiring any other limiting force.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is, in right side elevation view, the tactical rope insertion assist device according to the present invention.

(2) FIG. 2 is, in front elevation view, the device of FIG. 1.

(3) FIG. 3 is, in front left elevation view, the device of FIG. 1.

(4) FIG. 4 is, in partially cut away right side elevation view, the device of FIG. 1, showing parts 6, 7, and 13.

(5) FIG. 5 is, in exploded right rear view, the device of FIG. 1.

(6) FIG. 6 is, in right side elevation, the device of FIG. 1 in the closed position in place around the fixed rope, numbered part 26.

(7) FIG. 7 is, in detailed front elevation view, a wheel, numbered part 5, and a connected roller shaft, numbered part 11, of the device of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(8) The device of the present invention combines the capabilities of, firstly, a passive assist descent control device usable for lowering a person or object from an elevated position to a lower position along a fixed rope, with, secondly, a viscous rotary damper connected to the wheel of the device to prevent the rotational speed from exceeding a safe descent rate, and, thirdly, a hinged frame design held open by a torsion spring to allow the device to be loaded and unloaded quickly without requiring the fixed rope to become detached from the elevated surface and without the operator needing to remove or alter anything on the device itself.

(9) As seen in the accompanying Figures wherein corresponding reference numerals denote corresponding parts in each view, a descent control device 28 for a rope 26 comprises a handle 1 connected to a top frame 6 and a bottom frame 7 by a bolt 3 and nut 16 at a pivot point 15, having a torsion spring 13 connected to the top frame 6 and bottom frame 7 around the pivot point 15, with a preferred embodiment consisting of the bolt 3 and nut 16 securing the handle 1, the bottom frame 7, the torsion spring 13, and the top frame 6 together in that order.

(10) The handle 1 consists of an elongated piece with pivot hole 1a at one end and an operator hole 2 at the other end of the handle 1, with the bolt 3 connecting the pivot hole 1a with the bottom frame 7 at the pivot point 15, and the operator hole 2 being used in a preferred embodiment to allow the operator or user to attach the device 28 to their body or to an object for passive or hands-free descent.

(11) The top frame 6 connects to the bottom frame 7 and the handle 1 at the pivot point 15 by the bolt 3 and a nut 16. The top frame 6 consists of a single body with a small hole at pivot point 15 on the bottom side through which the bolt 3 is placed, and a larger wheel hole 17 on the top side, through which the wheel 4 and roller shaft 11 are placed. Inside the wheel hole 17, a bearing 19 is used to allow the roller shaft 11 to rotate independent of the top frame 6. In a preferred embodiment, the top frame 6 contains a cut-out around the smaller hole at pivot point 15 inside which the torsion spring 13 is placed. The torsion spring 13 is sandwiched between the top frame 6 and the bottom frame 7.

(12) The bottom frame 7 connects to the top frame 6 and the handle 1 at the pivot point 15 by the bolt 3 and a nut 16. The bottom frame 7 consists of a single body with a small hole at pivot point 15 on the top side through which the bolt 3 is placed, and a larger wheel hole 18 on the bottom side, through which the wheel 5 and roller shaft 12 are placed. Inside the wheel hole 18, a bearing 20 is used to allow the roller shaft 12 to rotate independent of the bottom frame 7. In a preferred embodiment, the bottom frame 7 also contains a cut-out around the smaller hole at pivot point 15 inside which the torsion spring 13 is placed. The torsion spring 13 is sandwiched between the bottom frame 6 and the bottom frame 7.

(13) In a preferred embodiment, the top wheel 4 and the top roller shaft 11 are made out of one solid piece of material. The top wheel 4 has a shape similar to that of a sheave, consisting of a larger outer diameter 4b on both outer sides of the wheel, with a section in the middle having a smaller diameter than the outer sides 4b of the wheel. The wheel forms a conical shape 4a from each outer diameter 4b to the middle of the top wheel 4, with the surface of the conical shape 4a being knurled in a preferred embodiment to increase the friction between the wheel 4 and the rope 26 to ensure that there is no slipping. The top roller shaft 11 consists of an elongated circular piece with a diameter that fits snug into the top hole 17 of the top frame 6. The end of the top roller shaft 11 opposite of the top wheel 4 connects to the top viscous rotary damper 8, with a top bearing 19 fitted around the top roller shaft 11, with the top bearing 19 fitting into the circular channel cut out of the top frame 6 at the top hole 17.

(14) A top viscous rotary damper 8 is attached to the end of the top roller shaft 11 opposite the top wheel 4. The damper shaft 8a of the top viscous rotary damper 8 shall be attached to the top roller shaft 11, with the axis of both being aligned such that both axes are concentric. The top viscous rotary damper 8 will have the properties of a typical viscous rotary damper, with a preferred embodiment being similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,057 A, with the dampening being caused by a viscous fluid. The top viscous rotary damper 8 is attached to the top frame 6 by four identical top spacers 10a, being screwed into the top frame 6, and the top spacers 10a will be attached to the top viscous rotary damper 8 by screws 17a being placed through the frame of the top viscous rotary damper 8 and attaching to the top spacers 10a. The top spacers 10a shall attach to the top viscous rotary damper 8 such that the frame of the damper 8 shall not rotate, but the damper shaft 8a shall rotate along with the top roller shaft 11.

(15) In a preferred embodiment, the bottom wheel 5 and the bottom roller shaft 12 are made out of one solid piece of material. The bottom wheel 5 has a shape similar to that of a sheave, consisting of a larger outer diameter 5b on both outer sides of the wheel, with a section in the middle having a smaller diameter than the outer sides 5b of the wheel. The wheel forms a conical shape 5a from each outer diameter 5b to the middle of the bottom wheel 5, with the surface of the conical shape 5a being knurled in a preferred embodiment to increase the friction between the bottom wheel 5 and the rope 26 to ensure that there is no slipping. The bottom roller shaft 12 consists of an elongated circular piece with a diameter that fits snug into the bottom hole 18 of the bottom frame 7. The end of the bottom roller shaft 12 opposite of the bottom wheel 5 connects to the bottom viscous rotary damper 9, with a bottom bearing 20 fitted around the bottom roller shaft 12, with the bottom bearing 20 fitting into the circular channel cut out of the bottom frame 7 at the bottom hole 18.

(16) A bottom viscous rotary damper 9 is attached to the end of the bottom roller shaft 12 opposite the bottom wheel 5. The damper shaft 9a of the bottom viscous rotary damper 9 shall be attached to the bottom roller shaft 12, with the axis of both being aligned such that both axes are concentric. The bottom viscous rotary damper 9 will have the properties of a typical viscous rotary damper, with a preferred embodiment being similar to U.S. Pat. No. 5,984,057A, with the dampening being caused by a viscous fluid. The bottom viscous rotary damper 9 is attached to the bottom frame 7 by four identical bottom spacers 10b, being screwed into the bottom frame 7, and the bottom spacers 10b will be attached to the bottom viscous rotary damper 9 by screws 17b being placed through the frame of the bottom viscous rotary damper 9 and attaching to the bottom spacers 10b. The bottom spacers 10b shall attach to the bottom viscous rotary damper 9 such that the frame of the damper 9 shall not rotate, but the damper shaft 9a shall rotate along with the bottom roller shaft 12.

(17) A torsion spring 13 shall be placed in a channel 13a between the top frame 6 and the bottom frame 7. The torsion spring 13 is concentric with the pivot hole 1a, the pivot point 15, and the bolt 3. The torsion spring 13 will keep the top frame 6 and the bottom frame 7 open such that there is enough space between the top wheel 4 and the bottom wheel 5 to allow the rope 26 to be placed in between them. The torsion spring 13 should be strong enough to keep the tope wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5 apart, but the torsion spring should allow the top frame 6 and bottom frame 7 to rotate such that the top wheel 4 and the bottom wheel 5 clamp around the rope 26 during operation, shown in FIG. 6.

(18) For operation, the device 28 is held by the operator by the handle 1, and the device 28 is placed such that the top wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5 are on opposite sides of the rope 26, with the center of the rope 26 aligning with the smaller diameters of the top wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5, having the larger ends of the top wheel 4b and larger ends of the bottom wheel 5b on both sides of the rope 26, such that the rope 26 would fit into the sheave-like groove in top wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5. The bottom wheel 5 must be closer to the operator, with the top wheel 4 being on the side of the rope 26 away from the operator. The operator must pull the handle 1 towards himself and then downward, allowing the hinge design to pinch the top wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5 together around pivot point 15, with the sheave shape of the top wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5 encapsulating the rope 26 entirely to prevent the device from disengaging from the rope 26 until the descent is complete. The operator then must place his weight or the weight of the object fully on the device handle 1 in a downward direction. The top wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5 will grip the rope 26 without slipping, then the top wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5 will begin to roll downward along the rope 26, with the viscous rotary dampers 8 and 9 preventing the wheels 4 and 5, respectively, from accelerating to a speed greater than the safe descent speed. Once the desired lower elevation is reached, the operator must lift upwards on the handle 1, and the torsion spring 13 will extend the top frame 6 and bottom frame 7 such that the top wheel 4 and bottom wheel 5 will move away from one another, allowing the operator to remove the device 28 from the rope 26 to complete the process of the descent.