US 11,938,350 B2
Fall arrest device with controlled retraction speed
Karl Jones, Devizes (GB); Owain Jones, Devizes (GB); and Nathan Wright, Devizes (GB)
Assigned to Latchways plc, Devizes (GB)
Appl. No. 16/347,280
Filed by Latchways Plc, Devizes (GB)
PCT Filed Nov. 20, 2017, PCT No. PCT/GB2017/053478
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date May 3, 2019,
PCT Pub. No. WO2018/096320, PCT Pub. Date May 31, 2018.
Claims priority of application No. 1619805 (GB), filed on Nov. 23, 2016.
Prior Publication US 2019/0275356 A1, Sep. 12, 2019
Int. Cl. A62B 1/10 (2006.01); A62B 35/00 (2006.01); A62B 35/04 (2006.01)
CPC A62B 1/10 (2013.01) [A62B 35/0093 (2013.01); A62B 35/04 (2013.01)] 12 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A fall arrest device, comprising:
an extendable and retractable lifeline wound about a rotatable drum;
a speed responsive mechanism arranged to stop the drum above a predetermined rotational speed; and
a friction brake arrangement separate from the speed responsive mechanism, the friction brake arrangement comprising a brake mechanism and a rotatable brake body, wherein the rotatable brake body is arranged to rotate in response to rotation of the drum;
wherein a rotational axis of the rotatable brake body is offset from a rotational axis of the drum,
wherein rotation of the rotatable brake body initiates the brake mechanism generating friction in the friction brake arrangement which applies a braking force to the drum as the lifeline is being retracted onto the drum, and
wherein the rotatable brake body engages the rotatable drum, such that the rotatable drum drives the rotation of the rotatable brake body.