US 12,133,820 B2
Lowering device
Brian Yeazel, River Forest, IL (US); and Marcin Sobas, Mount Prospect, IL (US)
Assigned to Frigid Fluid Company, Northlake, IL (US)
Filed by FRIGID FLUID COMPANY, Northlake, IL (US)
Filed on May 12, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/742,864.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/187,829, filed on May 12, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0362089 A1, Nov. 17, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. A61G 19/00 (2006.01); B66C 13/04 (2006.01); G07C 3/00 (2006.01)
CPC A61G 19/00 (2013.01) [B66C 13/04 (2013.01); G07C 3/00 (2013.01)] 30 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electrically-actuated brake assembly configured to control a rate of descent of an object to be lowered, comprising:
one or more rotatable surfaces coupled to the object to be lowered;
one or more stationary surfaces configured to frictionally engage the one or more rotatable surfaces; and
an electric actuator system operable to adjust the frictional engagement of the one or more stationary surfaces with the one or more rotatable surfaces to control the rate at which the one or more rotatable surfaces rotate with respect to the one or more stationary surfaces to control the rate of descent of the object,
wherein the one or more rotatable surfaces are coupled to a rotatable spool.