Descent device

Abstract

A descent device for lowering an individual includes a housing and a spool rotatably carried by the housing. The spool includes a barrel defining an interior volume and is adapted to receive a length of high tensile strength line. A centrifugal brake is carried within the barrel and a gear assembly couples the spool to the centrifugal brake for rotation of the centrifugal brake with the spool.

1 . A descent device for lowering an individual comprising: 
 a housing;    a spool rotatably carried by the housing, the spool including a barrel defining an interior volume, the spool adapted to receive a length of high tensile strength line;    a centrifugal brake carried within the barrel; and    a gear assembly coupling the spool to the centrifugal brake for rotation of the centrifugal brake with the spool.    
   
   
       2 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the gear assembly includes a spool gear carried by the spool for rotation therewith, an intermediate gear meshing with the spool gear and rotated thereby, and a brake gear meshing with the intermediate gear and rotated thereby and coupled to the centrifugal brake.  
   
   
       3 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 2  wherein the spool gear includes a plurality of teeth extending from the barrel radially inwardly into the interior volume.  
   
   
       4 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 1  further including a line carried by the spool and a brake mechanism carried by the housing, the brake mechanism being moveable between a braking position wherein the brake mechanism stops unspooling of the line and a release position permitting unspooling of the line.  
   
   
       5 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 4  wherein the brake mechanism includes a pair of releasing handles positioned on opposing sides of the housing so as to selectively provide movement of the brake mechanism into one of the braking position and the release position.  
   
   
       6 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 1  wherein the centrifugal brake includes a centrifugal clutch constructed to maintain rotation of the spool at a predetermined rate.  
   
   
       7 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 1  having a width of less than seven inches, a height less than twelve inches and a thickness of less than three inches.  
   
   
       8 . A descent device for lowering an individual comprising: 
 a housing;    a spool rotatably carried by the housing, the spool including a barrel defining an interior volume, the spool adapted to receive a length of high tensile strength line;    a centrifugal brake carried within the barrel; and    a gear assembly coupling the spool to the centrifugal brake for rotation of the centrifugal brake with the spool, the gear assembly including a spool gear carried by the spool for rotation therewith, an intermediate gear meshing with the spool gear and rotated thereby, and a brake gear meshing with the intermediate gear and rotated thereby and coupled to the centrifugal brake.    
   
   
       9 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the spool gear includes a plurality of teeth extending from the barrel radially inwardly into the interior volume.  
   
   
       10 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 8  further including a line carried by the spool and a brake mechanism carried by the housing, the brake mechanism being moveable between a braking position wherein the brake mechanism stops unspooling of the line and a release position permitting unspooling of the line.  
   
   
       11 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 10  wherein the brake mechanism includes a pair of releasing handles positioned on opposing sides of the housing so as to selectively provide movement of the brake mechanism into one of the braking position and the release position.  
   
   
       12 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 8  wherein the centrifugal brake includes a centrifugal clutch constructed to maintain rotation of the spool at a predetermined rate.  
   
   
       13 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 8  having a width of less than seven inches, a height less than twelve inches and a thickness of less than three inches.  
   
   
       14 . A descent device for lowering an individual comprising: 
 a housing;    a spool rotatably carried by the housing, the spool including a barrel defining an interior volume, the spool carrying a length of high tensile strength line;    a centrifugal brake carried within the barrel;    a gear assembly coupling the spool to the centrifugal brake for rotation of the centrifugal brake with the spool; and    a brake mechanism carried by the housing, the brake mechanism being moveable between a braking position wherein the brake mechanism stops unspooling of the line and a release position permitting unspooling of the line.    
   
   
       15 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the gear assembly includes a spool gear carried by the spool for rotation therewith, an intermediate gear meshing with the spool gear and rotated thereby, and a brake gear meshing with the intermediate gear and rotated thereby and coupled to the centrifugal brake.  
   
   
       16 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 15  wherein the spool gear includes a plurality of teeth extending from the barrel radially inwardly into the interior volume.  
   
   
       17 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 14  wherein the centrifugal brake includes a centrifugal clutch constructed to maintain rotation of the spool at a predetermined rate.  
   
   
       18 . A descent device as claimed in  claim 14  having a width of less than seven inches, a height less than twelve inches and a thickness of less than three inches.