Importance

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Abstract

A controlled descent apparatus for lowering a person from an elevated place includes a cable which is wound on a drum and is unwound from the drum by the weight of the person to effect the descent. To limit the rate of descent, the drum turns as the cable is unwound and drives a positive displacement pump the output of which is through a flow control valve. The latter is set to permit a preselected maximum rate of flow so that the drum turns at a correlated maximum speed and thus limits the rate at which the cable is paid out during the descent. In the unlikely event that the valve fails to limit the speed of the drum, a centrifugally operated brake is automatically energized at a somewhat higher speed of the drum whereby the descent continues at a faster but still a safe rate. The cable is guided through an opening, such as a window, in an outside wall by an arm which is formed by inner and outer sections pivotally connected to each other with the inner arm pivotally connected relative to the wall so that the arm may be placed in a compact stored condition. To use the apparatus, the outer arm section first is swung down and latched to the inner arm section in a ready position and then the arm is swung to an active position in which the outer section projects through the window. The apparatus also includes alternative power and manual means to rewind the cable on the drum for the next descent.

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First Claim