Rope Grab Device For A Portable Power Driven System

Abstract

A rope grab device for a portable power driven system adapted for advancing a rope includes an essentially circular rope grab, wherein the rope grab is adapted to, during operation, engage the rope along at least a section of a circumference of the rope grab. The rope grab device also includes a securing device comprising a leaver portion, a first roller arranged at one end of the leaver portion for guiding an unloaded end of the rope and an anchoring point arranged at the opposite end of the leaver portion adapted for receiving an anchoring force from a load connectable to the portable power driven system. The leaver portion is attached with a hinged connection arranged between the one end and the opposite end to the rope grab device and is adapted to, by means of the first roller, exert a pressure to the rope for forcing the roped towards the rope grab at a portion of the section where the rope, during operation, is engaging the rope grab upon applying the anchoring force on the anchoring point.

Claims

1. A rope grab device for a portable power driven system, the portable power driven system adapted for advancing a rope, the rope grab device comprising: an essentially circular rope grab, wherein the rope grab is adapted to, during operation, engage the rope along at least a section of a circumference of the rope grab, and a securing device comprising a leaver portion, a first roller arranged at one end of the leaver portion for guiding an unloaded end of the rope and an anchoring point arranged at the opposite end of the leaver portion adapted for receiving an anchoring force from a load connectable to the portable power driven system, wherein the leaver portion is attached with a hinged connection, arranged between the one end and the opposite end to the rope grab device and is adapted to, by means of the first roller, exert a pressure to the rope for forcing the rope towards the rope grab at a portion of the section where the rope, during operation, is engaging the rope grab upon applying the anchoring force on the anchoring point.

2. The rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the leaver portion comprises, between the one end and the opposite end, at least one of an essentially circular or concave shape oriented towards the rope grab.

3. The rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the hinged connection is arranged essentially in the middle between the one end and the opposite end of the leaver portion.

4. The rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the leaver portion is attached with the hinged connection to the rope grab device to rotate clockwise or counter clockwise upon applying the anchoring force on the anchoring point.

5. The rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the rope grab device comprises a lid, which is attached to the rope grab device via the hinged connection, for covering at least the rope grab during operation.

6. The rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the rope grab comprises a rope engaging face having a concave form for engaging the rope and the rope engaging face is provided with a plurality of pins adapted to contact the rope along the section of the circumference of the rope grab engaging the rope during operation of the rope grab device.

7. The rope grab device according to claim 6, wherein the pins provided to penetrate the rope have an angled form with an angle between −45 to 45 degrees.

8. The rope grab device according to claim 6, wherein the rope grab device comprises a heel portion arranged adjacently to the first roller and partly extending into the rope engaging face of the rope grab for avoiding that the rope re-circles the rope grab.

9. The rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the rope grab device comprises a second roller for guiding a loaded end of the rope, and the rope grab is arranged essentially between at least two of the first roller, the second roller or the anchoring point.

10. The rope grab device according to claim 9, wherein the rope grab device comprises a roller connector connecting the second roller and the leaver portion via an axis of the second roller and the hinged connection.

11. The rope grab device according to claim 9, wherein the rope grab device comprises a lid, which is attached to the rope grab device via the hinged connection, for covering at least the rope grab during operation, and wherein the second roller comprises a retractable axis and the lid an opening engageable with the axis for fixing the lid in a closed position covering at least the rope grab.

12. The rope grab device according to claim 11, wherein the rope grab device comprises a lid, which is attached to the rope grab device via the retractable axis, for covering at least the rope grab during operation.

13. The rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the securing device comprises a spring mechanism for forcing the first roller towards the rope grab.

14. 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; and a rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the rope grab is connected to the drive shaft of the motor for rotation of the rope grab and the anchoring force extends in a second direction being essentially opposite to the first main direction.

15. The portable power driven system according to claim 16, comprising, at least one of a centrifugal clutch or a worm drive connected between the motor and the rope grab.

16. The rope grab device according to claim 1, wherein the securing device is arranged adjacently to the rope grab.

17. The rope grab device according to claim 9, wherein the second roller is attached to a lever for loading the rope.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0035] These and other aspects of the invention will be apparent from and elucidated with reference to the implementations described hereinafter.

[0036] In the drawings:

[0037] FIG. 1 shows a rope grab device for a portable power driven system in a perspective view according to a preferred implementation,

[0038] FIG. 2 shows the rope grab device for the portable power driven system of FIG. 1 with a lid removed in a perspective view according to the preferred implementation, and

[0039] FIG. 3 shows a rope grab of the rope grab device for the portable power driven system of FIG. 1 in a perspective view according to the preferred implementation.

DESCRIPTION OF IMPLEMENTATIONS

[0040] FIG. 1 and show a rope grab device for a portable power driven system 300 in a perspective view according to a preferred implementation provided with a rope grab 100 essentially provided as a wheel. The portable power driven system 300 is further provided with a securing device 301 configured to force a rope 302 towards the rope grab 100 at a portion of the section where the rope 302, during operation, is engaging the rope grab 100. The securing device 301 forms together with the rope grab 100 the rope grab device.

[0041] The securing device 301 comprises a leaver portion 304 having an essentially circular and/or concave shape oriented towards the rope grab 100. The leaver portion 304 is at one end provided with a first hinged connection 308 for receiving an anchoring force from a load connectable to the portable power driven system 300. A first roller 314 is arranged at the other end of the first leaver portion 304 for guiding an unloaded end of the rope 302. The leaver portion 304 is attached with a hinged connection 310 arranged in particular in the middle between the one end and the opposite end to a main body 311 (typically including a “cover”) of the portable power driven system 300 respectively of the rope grab device.

[0042] During operation, the rope 302 is inserted to engage with a portion of the rope grab 100, typically being in contact with around half of the circumference of the rope grab 100. The rope will in addition extend in a first main direction 318 and as such engage with a second roller 316 for guiding a loaded end of the rope 302, which is attached to the main body 311. Still further, the rope 302 will pass around a portion of the first roller 314. When operating the portable power driven system 300, the load will be connected to an anchoring point of the portable power driven system 300, in the Fig. coinciding with the first hinged connection 308. The anchoring point may be provided with for example a sling 321 in turn connected to a carabiner 322 for connecting to a harness of a user. The user will accordingly place a loading force 324 to the portable power driven system 300, where the loading force 324 will extend in an essentially opposite direction as compared to the main direction of the rope 302. The rope 302 will additionally have an unloaded end extending out from the first roller 314.

[0043] When loading the portable power driven system 300 respectively upon applying the anchoring force on the anchoring point 308, the leaver portion 304 is swivelled counter clockwise with anchoring point 308 away from the rope grab 100 in a second direction 324 of the loading force 324. In turn, the first roller 314 is swivelled towards the rope grab 100 and thus exerts a pressure to the rope 302 for forcing the rope 302 towards the rope grab 100. The rope 302 becomes at least partly “clamped” between the first roller 314 and the rope grab 100. Accordingly, as a force is provided to the rope 302 at a portion of the rope grab 100 where the rope 302 during operation of the portable power driven system 300 is engaged, an increased friction between the rope 302 and the rope grab 100 is provided. This will allow for the use of a large variety of different types of ropes to be used with the portable power driven system 300.

[0044] The rope grab 100 comprises am essentially circular shape with a rope engaging face 102 having a concave form for engaging the rope 302. The rope engaging face 102 is provided with a plurality of pins 104 adapted to contact the rope 302 along the section of the circumference of the rope grab 100 for engaging the rope 302 during operation of the rope grab device, as shown in more detail in FIG. 3. The pins 104 of the rope grab 100 are arranged in a “forward facing” and/or “backward facing” direction as compared to the rotational direction of the rope grab 100 when the portable power driven system 300 is to ascend along the rope 302. The pins 104 penetrating the rope 302 have an angled form with an angle between 0 to 45 degrees. This is a possible implementation of the rope grab 100 in relation to the pins 104, however, it may be possible to allow the pins 104 to be perpendicularly arranged in comparison to the rope engaging face 102 or the rope grab 100.

[0045] The rope grab 100 is connected to a drive shaft 340 of a motor 330 of the power driven system 300 for rotation of the rope grab 100. The motor 330 can be connected to a centrifugal clutch 332, thereby compensation of the weakness of the motor torque at the start phase of the motor 330. The motor 330 is an electrical motor being optimized to have an in comparison high speed and low torque when being operated. The centrifugal clutch 332 is in turn connected to a gear arrangement, preferably comprising a first and a second stage. The first stage may be a general cog/wheel arrangement known in the art and second stage preferably comprise a worm drive 338. The worm drive 338 is preferably configured to be self-locking. This has the advantages of not having to include a break mechanism with the portable power driven system 300, thus decreasing the cost and complexity of the portable power driven system 300. The worm drive 338 is in turn connected to the drive shaft 340 for allowing connection to the rope grab 100.

[0046] The rope grab device comprises a lid 105 as shown in FIG. 1, while removed in FIG. 2, which is attached to the rope grab device via an axis 317 of the second roller 316 or alternative via the hinged connection 310, for covering at least the rope grab 100 during operation. The lid 105, comprising metal and/or plastic, is attached swivelling via the axis 317 or the hinged connection 310. Axis 317, respectively hinged connection 310, may be provided retractable such that an opening 106 of the lid 105 can be engaged with the axis 317 for fixing the lid 105 in a closed position covering at least the rope grab 100. The rope grab device may further comprises a heel portion 218 arranged adjacently to the first roller 314 and partly extending into the rope engaging face 102 of the rope grab 100. The heel portion 218 avoids that the rope 302 re-circles the rope grab 100. The second roller 316 may be attached to a lever, not shown, for loading the rope 203. Further, a spring can be provided for forcing the first roller 314 towards the rope grab. Even further, for improving stability of the before described leaver portion 304 mechanism, a metal roller connector 320 connects the second roller 316 and the leaver portion 304 the axis 317 of the second roller 316 and the hinged connection 310 such that the rope grab 100 is axially arranged between the metal connector 320 and the main body.

[0047] While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive; the invention is not limited to the disclosed implementations. Other variations to be disclosed implementations can be understood and effected by those skilled in the art in practicing the claimed invention, from a study of the drawings, the disclosure, and the appended claims. 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. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different dependent claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to advantage. Any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting scope.

REFERENCE SIGNS LIST

[0048] 100 rope grab [0049] 102 rope engaging face [0050] 104 pin [0051] 105 lid [0052] 106 opening [0053] 218 heel portion [0054] 300 portable power driven system [0055] 301 securing device [0056] 302 rope [0057] 304 leaver portion [0058] 308 anchoring point [0059] 310 hinged connection [0060] 311 main body [0061] 314 first roller [0062] 316 second roller [0063] 317 axis [0064] 318 first main direction [0065] 320 roller connector [0066] 321 sling [0067] 322 carabiner [0068] 324 second direction [0069] 330 motor [0070] 332 centrifugal clutch [0071] 338 worm drive [0072] 340 drive shaft