Portable Apparatus for Controlled Descent

Abstract

A device for facilitating a controlled descent of a body, the device comprising a rotatable reel around which at least a portion of a cable is wound, a first end of the cable secured to the reel and a second end or the cable free; a friction drum mounted coaxially around the reel, the cable, upon leaving the reel wound at least partially around the drum; a carrier on which the reel and the drum are mounted; wherein the reel is provided with braking means for braking rotational motion of the reel and for balancing descending speed or the body.

Description

FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to a self-braking safety apparatus adapted to permit the rapid descent of persons on the outside of buildings or the like in cases of emergency. More particularly it relates to a device and method for. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] It is at times necessary to evacuate upper floors in buildings or other high-elevations without having access to normal routes of egress. The cause is usually a fire on a lower floor that prevents persons on upper floors from passing through the lower floor and get down to safety. [0003] While fire is the most common case there are many others such as events that render the building structure in danger of imminent collapse, such as earthquakes or other events that result in an extensive damage. [0004] A related result of terrorism and of skyscraper fire tragedies is a change in the public's perception of high building safety. A dependable, portable safe device for rapid escape in the event o...

AI Technical Summary

Benefits of technology

[0031] Furthermore, in accordance with some preferred embodiments of the present invention, the device further comprises initial tension limiter, for preventing sudden impact on the body as it starts descending.

Problems solved by technology

While fire is the most common case there are many others such as events that render the building structure in danger of imminent collapse, such as earthquakes or other events that result in an extensive damage.

The devices suffer from various disadvantages, such as damage incurred from inadequate dissipation of heat generated from friction during descent; reliance on batteries, oil, or other materials with limited shelf life and / or heavy weight; complex mechanisms that are costly to manufacture, maintain, and use; and fixed-point installation, which renders them useless if the emergency condition prevents people from reaching the device installation point.

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