US 12,186,596 B2
Lock-off descent control systems and devices
Carl Andrew Bailey, Boulder, CO (US); Marc Reich, Boulder, CO (US); Ryan Daniel Walker, Boulder, CO (US); Nolan Hurd, Boulder, CO (US); Stefan Stahl, Boulder, CO (US); and Joseph Cinderella, Boulder, CO (US)
Assigned to TruBlue LLC, Louisville, CO (US)
Filed by TruBlue LLC, Boulder, CO (US)
Filed on Sep. 18, 2020, as Appl. No. 17/025,040.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/021,423, filed on May 7, 2020.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/903,385, filed on Sep. 20, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2021/0086002 A1, Mar. 25, 2021
Int. Cl. A62B 1/08 (2006.01); F16D 49/08 (2006.01); F16D 55/02 (2006.01); F16D 55/225 (2006.01); F16D 59/00 (2006.01); F16D 63/00 (2006.01); F16D 121/20 (2012.01); H02K 49/04 (2006.01)
CPC A62B 1/08 (2013.01) [F16D 59/00 (2013.01); F16D 63/002 (2013.01); H02K 49/046 (2013.01); F16D 49/08 (2013.01); F16D 55/02 (2013.01); F16D 55/225 (2013.01); F16D 63/008 (2013.01); F16D 2121/20 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An automatic descent control device comprising:
a housing;
a shaft rotatably supported within the housing, the shaft defining a rotation axis;
a line configured to be attached to a load;
a line system supported on the shaft and coupled to the line, the line system configured to retract the line within the housing and wind about the shaft when the line is not loaded and extend the line from the housing and unwind about the shaft when the line is loaded;
a first braking system coupled to the line system, the first braking system having a first rotor assembly coupled to the shaft and rotatable around the rotation axis and a first stator assembly coupled to the housing, wherein the first braking system provides a first braking force when the line is loaded, wherein the first braking system lowers the load at a first descent rate; and
a electromechanical braking system coupled to the line system, the electromechanical braking system having a second rotor assembly coupled to the shaft and rotatable around the rotation axis and a second stator assembly coupled to an exterior of the housing, wherein the electromechanical braking system provides a second braking force when the line is loaded, wherein the electromechanical braking system lowers or locks the load at a second descent rate, and wherein the load is a constant, and the first descent rate is greater than the second descent rate; and
a controller coupled to the electromechanical braking system, wherein the controller selectively engages the electromechanical braking system upon receiving an engagement signal, the electromechanical braking system independent from the first braking system.