EP2359911B1 - Safety device, in particular rope safety device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a safety rope with the features of the preamble of the independent claim. The invention thus relates to a safety device for handling, tracking and / or securing a climbing rope along a climbing route with a climbing rope, one end of which is connected to a person climbing and to be secured and the at least one point or above the position in which locking person is located, and which is connected at the other end to the securing device comprising a stationary and equipped with a motor and cooperating with a braking device drive climbing cable.

During climbing in climbing gyms, a climbing person is usually secured by a second person on the ground holding and handling a safety rope. The climber and person to be secured is secured by the securing person with the safety rope, which is deflected above the highest point of the climbing route in the so-called toprope. Here, the locking person can optionally use a fixed to their body mechanical belay device, which is connected to their own climbing harness and the safety rope, whereby the climbing rope on which the climbing person is secured, can be slowed down when draining. Further, it can be ensured by the belay device that in the lead-in, in which the climber successively guides the safety rope through several safety elements during climbing, the safety rope is blocked. By the cable guide and suitable deflections in the belay device targeted rope friction is generated, which prevents the rope from slipping.

Presently known and in practice used belay devices all work mechanically and require manual handling by a second person, the belayer. However, the handling of such security devices requires some experience and great care in order to minimize the risk of improper securing and thus of an accident.

From the DE 100 48 046 A1 a device for securing a climbing rope along a climbing route is known. The device comprises a stationary and motorized climbing cable, an on-off switch and a receiver for wireless radio transmission. The climbing person wears a transmitter or a voice radio device to remotely control the holding device can. The device, also referred to as a climbing cable, is equipped with a pulley and a backstop. The pulley is driven by an electric motor, either via a belt drive or via a shaft with gear. This known security device does not comprise redundant systems for securing a climbing person.

The EP 0 876 987 A1 discloses an elevator with a planetary gear. The planetary gear is connected to a shaft. Above the shaft, a flywheel is attached with a brake weight. Next, a brake band is provided, which can be adjusted with a lever. If the elevator is to be lowered, the brake band is moved away from the flywheel by means of the lever. At high centrifugal force, the brake weight acts on the brake band to reduce a lowering speed of the elevator.

Moreover, from the WO 95/16496 A1 a safety device for sports climbing known. When securing according to WO document a climber is secured by a rope which is attached to a coil and can be wound by a motor. The engine turns a shaft and a gearbox. A friction clutch connects the motor to the coil.

An automatic climbing protection describes the FR 2 727 026 A1 , The anti-climbing device comprises a motor, by means of which motor a cable drum can be rotated. Next sensors are provided, which can be registered when the climber falls. If the climber falls, the motor is controlled and the climber on the rope to the ground. Another sensor is provided, which can be manually activated by the climber to increase safety.

The US Pat. No. 4,653,609 A discloses a descender. The device comprises a rope which is wound around a drum. Also, a control mechanism is provided. This can consist of a vacuum pump, which by an axis connected to the drum. For braking the drum or the rope may also be provided a centrifugal brake.

An object of the present invention is to provide a partially or fully automatic security system, which has a particularly high operational and reliability and is designed optimized in terms of its handling and ergonomics.

This object of the invention is achieved with the subject matter of the independent patent claim. Features of advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims. To achieve the object of the invention, a securing device with the features of independent claim 1 is proposed. The securing device according to the invention is used for handling, for tracking and / or securing a climbing rope along a climbing route and can thus be used, for example, when climbing in front and / or post. Apart from that, further meaningful uses for the securing device according to the invention are conceivable. For example, this can be used when working on structures, towers and sloping surfaces, such as in roofing work. Further, the security device can be used for example in the maintenance and repair of telephone poles, the maintenance of trees and in the maintenance and / or repair of power lines and corresponding masts. Since in practice - in other areas not mentioned here - personal safety devices via climbing ropes are used, the use of the safety device according to the invention is not limited to the previously enumerated areas.

The safety device comprises and guides a climbing rope, one end of which is connected to a person to be climbed and secured. The climbing rope can be for example a dynamic or a static rope. The diameter of the climbing rope used can vary. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention climbing ropes with a typical diameter of, for example, about 8.9 mm to 10.5 mm can be used. The connection between climbing rope and the person to be secured, for example, via a harness, which is attached to the person to be secured - in particular this belted - done. For example, the climbing rope via knots and / or additional fasteners, such as snap and / or locking devices such as carabiners o. The like., Are arranged on the harness. The skilled person knows all known from the prior art connection options between rope and the person to be secured due to his expertise, so that will not be discussed in more detail.

Furthermore, the climbing rope at at least one point and / or above the position in which the person to be secured is deflected. For example, the deflecting can be done via one or more carabiners that can be fixed to the climbing route. Also, additional, possibly complementary means, such as rope brakes can be provided for the deflection, which can be arranged at one or more points of the climbing route.

Furthermore, the climbing rope is connected at its other end to the securing device. The connection between safety device and climbing rope may for example be such that the end of the climbing rope, which is not connected to a person to be secured, is arranged on a climbing cable. For example, the climbing cable may comprise a cylindrical element, which can perform a rotational movement, generated by a drive motor, so that the climbing rope is wound or unwound during the rotational movement on the cylindrical element. The cylindrical element can thus be designed, for example, as a deflection cable drum. Likewise, a plurality of cylindrical elements may be present over which the climbing rope can be guided. If several cylindrical elements are present, they may be subject to different variations with regard to their diameter and / or their length. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention are exactly two cylindrical elements present, which are identical in the frequency of their two rotational movements. A meaningful embodiment of the cable guide can provide, for example, two parallel shafts with respective rotatably attached pulleys, over which the climbing rope is looped and deflected several times, so that a reliable and safe against slipping protective cable guide and a cable drive by motor drive at least one of the waves, possibly both waves, is guaranteed.

The drive motor, which may be provided for generating the rotational movement, may optionally be connected via deflection with one or more of the cylindrical elements, for example. By a belt drive one of the two waves with the rotatably mounted pulleys, optionally by a belt drive both shafts. Also, the motor may be designed such that it applies a constant force for retrieving the climbing rope in the climb. If a rappelling of the climber is allowed and supported, it is possible to minimize the torque of the motor or set to zero. This can be done for example via a remote control. If the torque chosen is sufficiently large to catch the climbing rope, but not sufficiently large enough to support the self-weight of the climber when rappelling, in this embodiment of the invention, in practice, the torque of the engine need not necessarily be set equal to zero. In the manner described, the drive motor can easily provide for relatively loose rope for an automatic retrieval, while the climbing person can easily work against the torque of the motor and roll the rope in a movement in which more rope length is needed, if necessary even by means of a reversal of the direction of rotation of the drive motor providing a resistance.

The climbing cable according to the invention acts in the context of the present invention via the motor drive with a braking device together. The operative connection can be, for example, such that the output of the climbing rope can be braked or blocked by the braking device and the recovery of the rope is effected via the torque of the motor. Furthermore, in order to achieve the above-mentioned aim of the invention, it is provided that the braking device at least two coupled, but independently activatable, the guided climbing rope if necessary decelerating and / or comprises blocking actuating systems for activating the braking device. Thus, for example, an actuation system can be activated in such a way that, when a predefined output speed of the climbing rope is exceeded, it causes the output speed to be decelerated to a predefined setpoint value. The desired value may preferably be chosen such that a comfortable and safe rappelling of the climber is made possible or, if necessary, a complete blocking of the output of the climbing rope takes place.

Furthermore, a second actuation system is provided which, for example, can be activated manually in one embodiment of the present invention. With regard to its configuration, the second actuation system may be activatable such that it is adjustable according to the user's request and in a suitable manner either causes complete blockage of the release of the climbing rope or has no effect on the release of the climbing rope. Preferably, in the context of the present invention, a further control of the second actuating system is provided, in which a braking of the guided climbing rope is effected. For example, the control can be done via a remote control. Thus, for example, three modes may be available to the user or climber in this embodiment of the present invention.

The first mode, in which the second operating system has no effect on the output of the climbing rope, can be selected, for example, in advance. The climber can thus lead the climbing rope without much resistance successively through the various security elements on the climbing route. If the climber falls, blocking or deceleration of the climbing rope's output can be effected by the first actuation system and / or the second actuation system.

The second mode, in which the second actuating system causes a decelerating effect on the output of the climbing rope, can be selected for example in the so-called toprope and / or in the lead after guiding the climbing rope through the last securing element. As a result, a safe and comfortable abseiling of the climber can be achieved. The decelerating effect can be adapted to the mass of the person climbing.

The third mode, in which the second actuation system causes a blocking effect on the release of the climbing rope, can in practice be chosen by the climber, for example, if several breaks are to be made during climbing along a climbing route. By blocking the output of the climbing rope, the climber can load the climbing rope with its own weight and change after the break, for example, to the aforementioned second or third mode.

With regard to the coupling of the first and the second actuating system can be provided, for example, that a deceleration of the output of the climbing rope can be done simultaneously by the first actuating system and the second actuating system. Also, for example, blocking the output of the climbing rope can be done by both the first actuating system and the second actuating system. The first or the second actuation system can be integrated into the safety device as so-called redundant systems. Also, the second system may assist in, for example, braking the output of the climbing rope to the first actuation system.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the climbing cable comprises at least one deflection cable drum on which the climbing rope is arranged. Further, the braking device comprises at least one mechanical friction brake, wherein the at least one mechanical friction brake is arranged to rotate on at least one Umlenkseiltrommel and is in operative connection with at least one of the brakes when required and / or blocking actuating systems. In this embodiment variant, the actuation systems can be designed in such a way that, for example, they have regions that come into contact with the mechanical friction brake by a change in position. The static friction generated thereby achieves a deceleration of the rotational speed of the friction brake and thus reduces the output speed of the climbing rope located on the deflection cable drum.

Alternatively, the friction brake by a disc brake, by an inner shoe brake o. The like. Be formed. Optionally, the friction brake may also be formed by a band brake having a rotating drum, on whose cylindrical outer circumferential surface a the drum at least partially or over most of its circumference wraps around brake band, wherein the brake band can be fed by means of at least one actuating system on surface contact with the rotating drum. Such a band brake has several advantages. Thus, in a compact space by the relatively large effective friction surface by means of relatively low operating force a strong delay can be achieved. Furthermore, such band brakes have the advantage of a so-called. Servo effect in a design with the same direction of rotation and tightening direction, in which by applying the brake band self-amplification is achieved, which provides a relatively high effective deceleration force at very low activation forces. The brake band can, for example, consist of a spring steel strip, which may optionally have a suitable friction lining. As such friction lining comes, for example, a belt section, a lining made of carbon fiber o. The like. Into consideration. Also woven flat belts made of aramid fibers as carrier material with plastic coatings as friction lining are ideal as brake bands. In such configured brake bands relatively small diameter of the brake drum and the belt partially durchschlschlenden be realized because such belts are very flexible and can be bent better than, for example, spring steel bands. In addition, aramid belts are less expensive to manufacture and use, especially since they can be used very wear-resistant or almost wear-free.

The necessary for the wrap band feed element for applying the actuating forces may have a variety of configurations. A variety of actuators are conceivable to actuate the brake band, for example. Electromagnetic, electromotive or fluidly activated motors or actuators. A particularly advantageous and precisely controlled variant can be achieved by designing the feed element, in which a rotating movement - for example, a stepping motor o. The like. - Is converted into a linear movement. The delivery element may for example comprise a suitable spindle drive or a ball screw o. The like.

In one embodiment of the present invention, the first actuation system may include an electric servomotor. Apart from that, other embodiments are conceivable in which, for example, the first actuating system is mechanically formed or in a suitable mechanical manner is activatable. Furthermore, the second actuation system may include a speed-dependent activation for the brake band, whereby the desired redundancy and protection against crashes and associated rapid unwinding of the rolled-up rope can be achieved. By suitable definition of a limit speed of the rolling cable drums, which corresponds to an accidental crash of the person to be secured, can be acted upon by targeted activation of the second actuation system on the brake so that it can be blocked or at least so strong that the rapid unwinding of the rope slowed down significantly or brought to a standstill. For example, the second actuating system may include an incremental encoder which cooperates with a corresponding signal generator, which in turn triggers the second actuating system and thus the brake in a suitable manner. In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the second actuation system includes a centrifugal clutch that can cooperate with the first actuation system in a suitable manner to strengthen the rope brake or to block it when needed. If the speed of rotation of the cable drums is used directly for triggering the centrifugal clutch and if the centrifugal clutch acts directly on the cable brake, then a very simple, reliable and safe system is created which, if the cable is unacceptably rapidly unwound, slows down the cable considerably. may even cause a desired blocking of the rope. Since the centrifugal clutch can be deactivated again after dropping below the triggering speed, the cable drum can be released again after the strong braking of the cable, so that the user can again control the rope speed in the desired manner as previously through targeted control interventions and braking operations.

It has been found in practice, however, that the operation of the braking device by means of the centrifugal clutch due to the very high accelerations in the crash of a person to be secured leads to sudden loads, which acts on the Stirnradübersetzung between the cable drum and the shaft with the coupled centrifugal clutch. Thus, the centrifugal clutch can be accelerated within a very short time of about 20 milliseconds to revolutions of up to 15,000 per minute, resulting in a sudden activation of the centrifugal clutch can be done. To reduce this sudden load, it is in one embodiment of the invention Securing device makes sense to combine the centrifugal clutch with a torque limiting further coupling, for example. With a mechanically acting slip clutch or with a magnetic coupling or with an electromagnetically acting slip clutch o. The like., Which permanently limits the transmittable torque to a fixed or adjustable value , The purpose of the slip clutch is to limit the maximum transmissible torque from the centrifugal clutch to the ball screw to reliably prevent damage to the gear or ball screw. For the slip clutch either a purely mechanically acting and wear-prone slip or friction clutch or a maintenance-free permanent or electromagnetic clutch can be used.

Also, the rope can be guided over at least two deflection drums, which are connected to the electric drive motor. For example, the deflection drums can be arranged one above the other. Furthermore, the deflection drums can have V-shaped depressions in which the climbing rope is guided. As a result, the climbing rope is friction-optimally connected to the respective deflection drum so that slippage, slipping or sliding of the climbing rope over the deflection drum is avoided. In addition, the person skilled in the art has further options for optimizing the friction between the rope and the deflection drum, for example by means of a corresponding configuration of the surface of the deflection drums or by means of a suitable coating. The surface may in this case have groove profiles. The grooves may, for example, be arranged obliquely, diagonally or otherwise in terms of their orientation. For example, the grooves as in the DE 698 30 742 T2 be arranged.

The climbing rope can be guided in the context of the invention over a deflection angle of at least 180 ° and at most about 270 to 300 degrees to at least one tail pulley, which is connected to the electric drive motor. Preferably, the climbing rope is guided around at least one tail pulley at an angle which is between 180 ° and 200 °.

Furthermore, the climbing rope can be sensibly monitored by at least one of the deflection drums having an optical detection device for detecting a cable tension and / or for detecting a slack rope length assigned. Such an optical detection device can advantageously be formed, for example, by light barrier sensors, for example with LED arrays or the like, which are able to detect the cable tension. In order to keep the rope as tight as possible at all times and to prevent too much slack rope, for example, can be arranged on each side of the pulley, a corresponding optical detection device or light barrier. When a slack rope is detected, the rope usually falls through one of the two light barriers and is detected there as an interruption of the light signal. From this signal of the optical detection device, a control signal for the cable retracting motor can be formed so that this feeds rope again. The rope length to be pulled in each case upon activation of the light barriers can optionally be set to a fixed value, made dependent on the further signal characteristic of the light barriers or defined as a time delay in the shutdown of the cable pull-in motor.

As has been clarified above with reference to various design variants, the invention provides a motor-driven, eg electrically activatable, and additionally centrifugal-controlled band brake and thus combines two braking systems which are operatively connected to one another, thereby providing redundancy in the event of failure of one of the systems. At the same time, the proposed concept can be realized easily and compactly in the construction. An advantage of the optionally usable band brake is the servo effect that can be achieved during braking. If the direction of rotation of the brake drum and the direction of actuation of the brake band are the same, then the braking force is amplified by the fact that the brake drum entrains the brake band and thus increases the surface pressure from the brake band to the brake drum. By this effect, the switching force is very low and a smaller motor can be used. The shaft on which the brake drum rotates is firmly connected to an intermediate gear and the band brake. The rotational movement of a spindle causes a flange connection to move, thus opening and closing the brake. The actuation of the conversion gear for converting the rotational movement into a linear adjusting movement for the delivery of the brake band takes place either via the electric motor or via a centrifugal clutch. In normal operation, the electric motor takes over the control of the brake. This is connected via a toothed belt with the spindle. In emergency mode, so if the electronics fails or the power fails, closes at a defined speed, the centrifugal clutch, the band brake. Reach the wave with it on it Cable drum and band brake a speed of, for example, about 350 min ^-1 , the centrifugal clutch transmits a speed-dependent torque to the ball screw and closes the band brake. The crown gear is necessary to raise the speed to usable levels, since the centrifugal clutch from a speed of, for example, about 2100 min ^-1 can transmit the necessary torque for the delivery of the band brake. The band brake slows down the rotational movement of the shaft with the brake drum or disc running thereon, whereby the centrifugal clutch again ensures a low contact force and the brake drum is braked less. This sets a constant lowering speed. For the person skilled in the art, the stated values represent only exemplary information on how the present invention can be configured. Depending on the embodiment of the present invention, a large number of values are available to the person skilled in the art, from which he can select the appropriate value on the basis of his specialist knowledge.

A specific embodiment of the securing device according to the invention may provide an anchored to a wall or floor support frame with two guided therein and arranged in parallel shafts each having disposed thereon pulleys and coupled to the shafts drive motor. Furthermore, it can be provided with at least one of the shafts rotatably connected band brake, which is activated by means of a linear drive. This linear drive can, for example, cooperate with two actuators, which cooperate via a conversion gear for converting a rotational movement in a linear movement on the one hand with a servomotor for controlled actuation of the brake and on the other hand with a Fliehkraftversteller for speed-dependent actuation of the brake, wherein the Fliehkraftversteller via a gear ratio with a the two shafts, which carries the pulleys, is coupled. Furthermore, the two actuators can be coupled via belt drives with the servomotor or the Fliehkraftversteller.

• Fig. 1 zeigt eine Perspektivansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zum Sichern eines Kletterseils.
• Fig. 2 zeigt eine weitere Perspektivansicht der erfindungsgemäßen Sicherungsvorrichtung.
• Fig. 3 zeigt eine schematische Seitenansicht der Sicherungsvorrichtung.
• Fig. 4 zeigt eine schematische Explosionsdarstellung mit den wesentlichen Baugruppen der erfindungsgemäßen Sicherungsvorrichtung.
• Fig. 5 zeigt eine Perspektivansicht einer Ausführungsform einer Seilrolle mit Kletterseil.
• Fig. 6 zeigt einen Querschnitt durch eine Ebene der Sicherungsvorrichtung, in der die beiden Wellen mit den rotierenden Seiltrommeln liegen.
• Fig. 7 zeigt eine Perspektivansicht einer Ausführungsform der Bremseinrichtung der Sicherungsvorrichtung.
• Fig. 8 zeigt eine Perspektivansicht einer weiteren Ausführungsform der Bremseinrichtung der Sicherungsvorrichtung.
• Fig. 9 zeigt eine schematische Teilschnittansicht eines ersten blockierenden Bremssystems der Bremseinrichtung.
• Fig. 10 zeigte eine weitere Perspektivansicht eines zweiten blockierenden Bremssystems der Bremseinrichtung.
• Fig. 11 zeigt eine Variante einer Seilführung der Vorrichtung zum Sichern eines Kletterseils.
• Fig. 12 zeigt eine Möglichkeit zum Anordnen einer Ausführungsform einer Vorrichtung zum Sichern eines Kletterseils an einer Kletterroute.

The invention will be explained in more detail by means of embodiments with reference to the drawings described below. The figures illustrate and illustrate a non-limiting embodiment of the present invention in its details, switching capabilities and functions.

• Fig. 1 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a device for securing a climbing rope.
• Fig. 2 shows a further perspective view of the securing device according to the invention.
• Fig. 3 shows a schematic side view of the securing device.
• Fig. 4 shows a schematic exploded view with the main components of the securing device according to the invention.
• Fig. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a pulley with climbing rope.
• Fig. 6 shows a cross section through a plane of the securing device, in which lie the two waves with the rotating cable drums.
• Fig. 7 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of the braking device of the securing device.
• Fig. 8 shows a perspective view of another embodiment of the braking device of the securing device.
• Fig. 9 shows a schematic partial sectional view of a first blocking brake system of the braking device.
• Fig. 10 showed a further perspective view of a second blocking brake system of the braking device.
• Fig. 11 shows a variant of a cable guide of the device for securing a climbing rope.
• Fig. 12 shows a possibility for arranging an embodiment of a device for securing a climbing rope on a climbing route.

Based on FIGS. 1 to 12 the various components and basic functions of a variant of the securing device 10 according to the invention for securing a climbing rope 12 are explained in more detail. The climbing rope 12 is looped around one or more pulleys 14 and thereby redirected several times (cf. Fig. 4 ), so that with appropriate guidance can set a sufficient self-locking, the rope on the respective parallel pulleys 14 to which the climbing rope 12 is a total of four times, against the weight of a person to be secured (not shown here) hold and fix can. Furthermore, in one embodiment of the present invention exactly one pulley 14 may be provided, the surface of which may have grooves 13 in order to prevent the climbing rope 12 from slipping, slipping or sliding off the pulley 14 (cf. Fig. 5 ). The cable can be continued here via additional deflection 15. The total of four pulleys 14 off FIG. 4 are each mounted in pairs on two parallel and closely spaced shafts 16, which in turn are each rotatably mounted in a U-shaped support frame 18. At one end, the two shafts 16 are each coupled via pulleys 20 by means of drive belt 22 with an electric drive motor 24, which can put the two shafts 16 in the same direction revolutions at the same rotational speed when the climbing rope 12 in one or the other direction up or unrolled shall be. The drive motor 24 provided with a cylindrical housing 26 is mounted in a mating receptacle below the two parallel shafts 16 and the pulleys 14 mounted thereon in the support frame 18, so that the motor shaft is arranged parallel to the axes of rotation of the two bearing shafts 16 for the pulleys 14 ,

In a further embodiment of the present invention, the drive motor 24 may also be arranged in the region of the brake device 30 (cf. Fig. 8 ). Here, the drive motor 24 is connected via the additional belt drive 53 and the pinion 60 with the crown gear 58 in connection, on which the shaft 16 (see. Fig. 4 ) is arranged. The speed of the drive motor 24 is designed so low that the centrifugal force due to the speed of the drive motor 24 does not actuate the linear drive 48.

As the FIGS. 1 to 4 clarify, the pulleys 14 are between the two parallel, plate-like legs 28 of the U-shaped support frame 18, while the frontally acting on the shafts 16 pulleys 20 with the drive belt 22 thereon on the in Fig. 4 left outside of one of the two plates 28 are arranged. On the outside of the in Fig. 4 right plate 28 is a braking device 30 is arranged, which has a narrow, Cylindrical brake disk 32 and arranged on the cylindrical outer circumferential surface and the brake disk 32 by an angle of about 270 to 300 degrees wraparound brake band 34 has. The brake disc 32 is non-rotatably connected to the lower of the two shafts 16 with the rotatably mounted lower two pulleys 14, while the brake band 34, its anchor and the actuators 36, 38 are fixed to the brake band 34 to support frame 40 with the support frame 18 are connected.

The most important according to the present invention core components of the braking device 30 are again with reference to the schematic representations of FIGS. 9 to 11 explained in more detail. There is also clarified in the direction of arrow A upwardly acting direction upon activation of the first actuator 36. This first actuator 36 can pull the brake band 34 upwards by a servomotor 42 via a belt drive 44 and a pulley 46 a rotational movement on a linear drive 48 exerts, which then acts on the train connection clamp 50 directly on the brake band 34 and this can pull up , The aforementioned servo action or self-amplification, which leads to a relatively strong friction and thus deceleration force with simultaneously relatively low actuating forces of the linear drive 48, is due to the movement in the same direction of the brake disc 32 (see the direction of rotation B in FIG Fig. 9 , counterclockwise) and the pulling direction A of the brake band 34 given.

The linear drive 48, which transmits the rotational movement of the servomotor 42 via a relatively small change in angle of the pulley 46 in a linear pulling movement of its actuating piston 52, for example. By a so-called. Ball screw, by a spindle drive with worm gear, by a rack drive or by another suitable transmission design be realized.

With the same pulley 46, which couples the linear drive 48 via the belt drive 44 with the servo motor 42, via a further belt drive 52, a centrifugal phaser 54 cooperates. The Fliehkraftversteller 54, which may be formed as a centrifugal clutch, has a rotational connection to the crown wheel 56 of the shaft 16 coupled to the brake disc 32, formed in the illustrated embodiment by a spur gear or by a crown gear 58. A pinion 60 provides the connection from the crown gear 58 to Fliehkraftversteller 54 ago, so that this depending on the setting in response to a definable limit speed for actuation of the linear drive 48 can provide to trigger the braking device 30 either at all or to actuate or to enhance the braking effect when the brake band 34 already in the direction A pulled to the cylindrical outer surface of the brake disc 32 and the brake device 30 is thus already activated. At the same time the crown gear 58 provides a suitable translation, since such a centrifugal clutch is triggered only at significantly higher speeds than they are achieved by the shaft 16 and the brake disc 32. The shaft 16 rotates with the associated brake disc 32, for example. With about 350 revolutions per minute, the crown gear 58 provides for a translation to more than 2000 revolutions per minute, since only at such speeds of the centrifugal phaser 54 provides a release torque, the via the belt drive 52 for rotation of the pulley 46 and thus for a further advancement of the linear drive 48 provides. The centrifugal force adjuster 54 thus forms the second actuating device 38 in the sense of the invention, which together with the first actuating device 36, which comprises an electric servomotor 42, provides the desired redundant protection of the braking device 30 and of the cable drive.

The schematic representation of Fig. 3 further clarifies a monitoring option for the climbing rope 12, in which one of the idler pulleys or pulleys 14 or both each associated with an optical detection device 64 for detecting a rope tension and / or for detecting a slack rope length. The optical detection device 64 can be formed, for example, by light barrier sensors with LED arrays or the like, which are able to detect the cable tension. In order to keep the rope 12 as tight as possible at all times and to prevent too much slack rope, for example, can be arranged on each side of the pulley 14, a corresponding optical detection device 64 and light barrier. If a slack rope is found, the rope 12 falls through one of the two light barriers and is detected there as an interruption of the light signal. From this signal of the optical detection device 64, a control signal for the cable pull-in motor 42 are formed so that this feeds rope 12 again. The cable length to be pulled in each case when the light barriers 64 are triggered can optionally be set to a fixed value, depending on the further signal characteristic of the light barriers be made or defined as a time delay in the shutdown of the cable feed motor 42.

As based on the detailed FIGS. 1 to 11 is clarified, the invention provides an electrically and centrifugally controlled band brake and thus combines two operatively connected brake systems, which is provided for redundancy in case of failure of one of the systems. At the same time, the proposed concept is lightweight and compact in construction. An advantage of the band brake used is the achievable servo effect during braking. If the direction of rotation of the brake drum and the direction of actuation of the brake band are the same, then the braking force is increased by the fact that the brake drum entrains the brake band and thus increases the surface pressure from brake band to brake drum. By this effect, the switching force is very low and a smaller motor can be used. The shaft on which the brake drum rotates is firmly connected to an intermediate gear and the band brake. The rotational movement of a spindle causes a flange connection to move, thus opening and closing the brake. The actuation of the conversion gear for converting the rotational movement into a linear adjusting movement for the delivery of the brake band takes place either via the electric motor or via a centrifugal clutch. In normal operation, the electric motor takes over the control of the brake. This is connected via a toothed belt with the spindle. In emergency mode, so if the electronics fails or the power fails, closes at a defined speed, the centrifugal clutch, the band brake. Reaches the shaft with the mounted on it, the cable drum and brake band, a speed of about 350 min ^-1, so the centrifugal clutch transmits a speed-dependent torque on the ball screw and closes the band brake. The crown gear is necessary to increase the speed to useful levels, since the centrifugal clutch from a speed of about 2100 min ^-1 can transmit the necessary torque for the delivery of the band brake. The band brake slows down the rotational movement of the shaft with the brake drum or disc running thereon, whereby the centrifugal clutch again ensures a low contact force and the brake drum is braked less. This sets a constant lowering speed.

The schematic representation of Fig. 12 illustrates an exemplary use of the device 10 according to the invention, by means of suitable Connecting points (on the support frame 18; Fig. 4 ) can be anchored to a wall or floor and the user 8 by means of a remote control (not shown) or a suitable automatic tracking the safety rope 12. Once the user 8 crashes, the rope first runs a short distance from the device 10, passing over the hook 62 into which the user 8 has last hooked it. As soon as the brake band 34 is pulled over the servomotor 42 or via the centrifugal phaser 54 in the direction of the cylindrical outer circumferential surface of the brake disc 32, the brake device 30 ensures a blockade or at least a sufficient delay of the cable guide. so that the user 8 either hangs on the safety rope 12 and is prevented from falling or is gradually lowered from the automatic circuit breaker 10 to the ground.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

8th

user

10

Device for securing a climbing rope

12

climbing rope

13

grooves

14

pulley

15

additional deflection

16

wave

18

support stand

20

pulley

22

drive belts

24

drive motor

26

casing

28

Plate, plate-shaped leg

30

braking means

32

Brake disc, brake drum

34

brake band

36

first actuating device

38

second actuating device

40

holding frame

42

servomotor

44

belt drive

46

pulley

48

linear actuator

50

train Schelle

52

further belt drive

53

additional belt drive

54

Centrifugal force adjuster, centrifugal clutch

55

Torque limiting clutch, slip clutch

56

crown

58

crown-gear

60

pinion

62

hook

64

optical detection device, light barrier

Claims (13)

1. Protection device (10) for handling, paying out and/or securing a climbing rope (12) along a climbing route wherein the climbing rope (12) is connected with one end to a person (8) who is climbing and who is to be secured, and is deflected in at least one point or above the position where the person (8) to be secured is located, and with the other end, the climbing rope (12) is connected to the protection device (10), which comprises a stationary climbing rope pulley, which is equipped with a motorised drive interacting with a braking device (30), wherein the braking device (30) comprises at least two actuation systems (36, 38), which are coupled with each other, which are, however, activatable independently of each other and which effect braking and/or blocking, as required, of the guided climbing rope (12), characterised in that the braking device (30) comprises at least one mechanical friction brake, which mechanical friction brake is formed by a band brake, which has a rotating drum (32) against the cylindrical external surface of which a brake band (34) fits embracing the drum (32) at least sectionwise, and wherein the first actuation system (36) and the second actuation system (38) are coupled with a closing element (48) and the brake band (34) is bringable into surface contact with the rotating drum (32) via the closing element (48).
2. The protection device as recited in claim 1, in which the climbing rope pulley comprises at least one deflection rope drum (14) at which the climbing rope (12) is arranged, and wherein the at least one mechanical friction brake (30) is rotationally arranged at at least one deflection drum (14).
3. The protection device as recited in claim 1 or claim 2, in which the closing element (48) converts a rotating movement of an actuating drive (42, 54) into a linear movement.
4. The protection device as recited in one of the previous claims, in which the first actuation system (36) comprises an electric actuating motor (42).
5. The protection device as recited in one of the previous claims, in which the second actuation system (38) comprises a rotational speed-dependent activation for the brake band (34).
6. The protection device as recited in claim 5, in which the rotational speed-dependent activation for the brake band (34) provides a centrifugal clutch (54).
7. The protection device as recited in claim 5 or claim 6, in which the centrifugal clutch (54) is associated with a torque-limiting clutch (55).
8. The protection device as recited in one of the previous claims, in which the climbing rope (12) is guided via at least two deflection drums (14), which are connected with the electric drive motor (24).
9. The protection device as recited in one of the previous claims, in which the climbing rope (12) is guided over at least 180 degrees and at most 270 degrees about at least one deflection drum (14), which is connected with the electric drive motor (24).
10. The protection device as recited in claim 8 or 9, in which at least one of the deflection drums (14) is associated with an optical detection device (64) for detecting a rope tension and/or for detecting a rope slack length.
11. The protection device as recited in one of the claims 8 to 10, in which the deflection drums (14) respectively have V-shaped grooves, in which the climbing rope (12) is guided.
12. The protection device as recited in one of the claims 1 to 11, which comprises a support frame (18) with two shafts (16) guided and arranged in parallel therein, with rope pulleys (14) arranged thereon and a drive motor (24) coupled with the shafts as well as the band brake (30), which is torque-proofly connected with at least one of the shafts (16), wherein the band brake (30) is activatable by means of a linear drive (48), which interacts with two actuation apparatuses (36, 38), which interact with an actuating motor (42) for the controlled actuation of the brake (30) via a conversion gear for converting a rotary movement into a linear movement on the one hand, and, on the other hand, with a centrifugal adjuster (54) for the rotational speed-dependent activation of the brake (30), wherein the centrifugal adjuster (54) is coupled with one of the two shafts (16), which supports the rope pulleys (14), via a gearbox ratio (58).
13. The protection device as recited in claim 12, in which the two actuation apparatuses (36, 38) are respectively coupled with the actuating motor (42) or with the centrifugal adjuster (54), as the case may be, via belt drives (44, 52).

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