MXPA00004550A - Braking device - Google Patents

Abstract

A braking device including a chamber rotatably mounted on an axle, the chamber defining an inner cavity, a disc mounted on the axle in the inner cavity, the disc having opposing surfaces extending away from the axle, and a pourable material disposed in the inner cavity such that rotation of the chamber imparts a centrifugal force to the material, causing the material to be wedged between an inner surface of the inner cavity and the opposing faces so as to apply a braking force to the disc.

Description

BRAKE DEVICE FIELD OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates generally to a vertical descent rescue apparatus and particularly to a brake device for a vertical descent rescue apparatus employing a pourable material which applies a braking force when a centrifugal force is Applies to pourable material BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION Vertical descent rescue devices are well known in the art. These devices basically comprise some type of seat or belt to support a person, the seat or belt being attached to a reel from which a cable can be unraveled. In an emergency situation that requires the rapid evacuation of a tall building, a person is secured to the seat / belt and hooks the end of the cable to a sturdy, anchored structure of the building. The person then jumps from the building. As the person descends, a braking mechanism slows the rotation of the cable reel so that the person descends at a safe speed down to the ground. An example of such a device is described in Dutch Patent 9401422 assigned to Boon Safety CV. This document describes a portable self-evacuation device for use in tall buildings. The apparatus includes a reel containing a rope that is entangled in any direction along with a braking element to limit the speed of the rope. The brakes act on the rope that is made of an aramid material such as TWARON® and KEVLAR®. Russian Patent 1430031 describes a rescue device for lowering. The device has integrated support cups with brake discs plus adjustable emergency brake shoes. Brazilian Patent 3701130 describes automatic rescue equipment based on gravity. The equipment includes a system with a belt belt for the descent from tall buildings and the automatic winding of the belt. Portuguese Patent 77995 describes rescue equipment for people trapped in buildings. The equipment includes safety belts in a double reel assembly and multiple suspension cables. Russian Patent 1005798 describes a centrifugal braking mechanism for a load lowering unit. The mechanism includes springs of several resistances. Russian Patent 3372230 discloses a centrifugal braking rescue mechanism with a reel including a braking disk placed in a braking drum cavity and provided with braking blocks. The mechanism is provided with springs of several rigidities to press the braking blocks against the braking disc. As the person rescuing is lowered, the end of the cable moves down and causes the spool to rotate. A torque from the spool is transmitted to the centrifugal braking mechanism of the flywheel through a cam clutch and planetary reducer. The braking blocks, due to the centrifugal force, rise to the inner surface of the reel, overcome the spring force and press against the "braking disc." Dutch Patent 8004667 describes an emergency rescue cable reel for buildings that stops or brakes during cable traction by tensioning the cable at least once every revolution to limit the descent rate German Patent Document 2748904 describes a reel where a rope for rescue equipment is lowered. Rescue has a brake mechanism that engages or releases brakes by rotating a handle.United States Patent 4,448,284 describes a rescue device with a centrifugal dynamic brake.brake bearings are pressed centrifugally against the drum of the brake. brake as the rescue cable is unwound from a rotating reel.A disadvantage of prior art systems is that a huge amount of Heat generation is generated by the braking action during descent. This generation of heat can lead to speeds of descent above the safety thresholds, or worse, to catastrophic failure of the brake mechanism.

DESCRIPTION The present invention seeks to provide an improved vertical descent rescue apparatus that is safe and reliable and that is not affected by the generation of braking heat. Thus, according to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, a braking device including a camera rotatably mounted on an axle is provided. The chamber defines an internal cavity, a disc mounted on the shaft in the internal cavity, the disc having opposing surfaces extending away from the shaft, and a pourable material disposed in the internal cavity so that the rotation of the chamber imparts a force centrifugal to the material, causing the material to wedge between the internal surface of the internal cavity and the opposite faces to apply braking force to the disc. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the device also includes a reel mounted around the shaft and connected to the chamber, wherein the rotation of the reel imparts rotation to the chamber.

Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the spool is connected to the chamber through a gear assembly. Preferably the gear assembly increases the rotation of the chamber relative to the spool. Additionally in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the device also includes a cable wound around the spool. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the device also includes a support loop secured to one end of the cable. Further in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the device also includes an external housing connected to the shaft, the camera being inside the housing. Still more in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one handle is attached to the outer surface of the pad. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention at least one device for supporting people is attached to the external surface of the housing. Still more in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention the pourable material may comprise: sand, powder material, granulated material, or a liquid. Also provided in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention is a braking device that includes a camera rotatably mounted on an axle, the chamber defining an internal cavity, a disc mounted on the axle in the internal cavity, the disc having opposing surfaces. which extend away from the axis and a wedge disposed in the internal cavity so that the rotation of the chamber imparts a centrifugal force to the material, causing the material to wedge between the internal surface of the internal cavity and the opposite faces to apply a braking force to the disc. According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention the wedge is lined with a brake bearing. Preferably the opposing surfaces are lined with a brake bearing.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS The present invention will be understood and appreciated more fully from the following detailed description, taken in conjunction with the drawings in which: Figure 1 is a simplified sectional illustration of a brake device constructed and operating from According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, Figure 2 is - a simplified image illustration of a rescue device constructed and operating in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention, which comprises therein the Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a simplified sectional illustration of a braking device constructed and operating in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERRED MODE Reference is now made to Figure 1 which illustrates a braking device 10 constructed and operating in accordance with a preferred embodiment of the present invention. The brake device 10 includes a chamber 12 rotatably mounted on an axis 14. The chamber 12 is shown constructed of two halves 12A and 12B, but it is appreciated that any other form of construction can also be used. The chamber 12 has an internal cavity 16. In the illustrated embodiment, the internal cavity has somewhat parabolic shaped ends, but any other shape can also be used. A disk 18 is mounted on the shaft 14 in the internal cavity 16. The disk 18 preferably has two opposite surfaces 20 and 22 extending away from the shaft 14. A pourable material 24 is disposed in the internal cavity. The pourable material 24 may be any kind of powder or granular material, and may even be a liquid.

The best way to carry out the invention comprises using sand as a pourable material 24. Sand can withstand the enormous generation of heat during braking without any significant change in material properties. The pourable material 24 is illustrated in Figure 1 with a shape imparted thereto during rotation of the chamber 12, as will be described hereinafter. Of course it is understood that when the chamber 12 is at rest, the pourable material 24 only sits in the chamber 12. One or more seals 25 can be provided to seal the pourable material 24 inside the internal cavity 16. A spool 26 preferably mounted around the shaft 14 and connected to the chamber 12, as by mechanical fasteners in the reference lines 27. The spool 26 is most preferably connected to the chamber 12 through a gear assembly 28, comprising one or more reduction gears. The rotation of the spool 26 about the shaft 14 imparts rotation to the chamber 12. The gear assembly 28 preferably increases the rotation of the chamber 12 relative to the spool 26. For example, a gear ratio can be selected so that the rotational speed of the chamber 12 is five times greater than the rotational speed of the reel 26. A cable 30 comprising as many strands 31 as is necessary for safety requirements, is preferably wrapped around an outer portion 32 of the spool 26. The shaft 14 is preferably enmuñona in an external housing 34. The chamber 12 is inside the housing 34, and the gears, of the gear assembly 28 preferably be enmuñona in the housing 34. The assembly of the chamber 12, the disc 18, the shaft 14 , the pourable material 24, the housing 34 and the cable 30 comprises a rescue device 35. Reference is now made to Figure 2 which illustrates a person 36 using the device. Rescue device 35 for descending from a tall building 38. The cable 30 preferably has a support loop 40 secured to one end thereof. Optionally, the cable 30 can terminate in a flexible belt 42. In this case, the flexible belt 42 has a support loop 40 secured to one end thereof. When the rescue device 35 is used, the loop 40 is attached to a hook 44 or other structure securely anchored to the building 38. The rescue device 35 is preferably provided with one or more devices supporting people 46, such as the strips 48. One or more handles 50 are preferably attached to an outer surface of the housing 34. Alternatively, instead of hanging from the rescue device 35, the person 36 can attach the rescue device 35 to the hook 44 and descend with the attached cable 30. to the devices that support people 46. Referring further to Figure 1, as the person 36 descends, the cable 30 is unwound from the reel 26, causing the reel 26 to rotate. The rotation of the spool 26 still causes a more rapid rotation of the chamber 12, via the gear assembly 28. The rotation of the chamber 12 imparts a centrifugal force to the pourable material 24, causing the pourable material 24 to wedge between an internal surface of the internal cavity 16 and the opposing surfaces 20 and 22 to apply a braking force to the disc 18. The pourable material 24 thus behaves like brake bearings pressing against a brake disc. As mentioned above, the pourable material 24 is illustrated in Figure 1 with the shape imparted thereto during the rotation of the chamber 12. Tests have shown that the rescue device 35 allows a person to reach a safe descent speed by below 2.5 meters / second for rescue weights that vary from 1 to 1000 kilograms. The pourable material 24 can reach very high temperatures, such as well above 1000 ° C during a descent of several hundred meters. The sand used as pourable material 24 effectively polishes surfaces 20 and 22 and the sand can be pulverized. Nevertheless, the sand efficiently and safely brakes the disk 18. The above values are of course only exemplary, and the present invention is not limited to these values. Reference is now made to Figure 3 which illustrates a brake device 60 constructed and operating in accordance with another preferred embodiment of the present invention. The brake device 60 is substantially identical to the brake device 10 with equal elements designated by the same numerals. The brake device 60 differs from the brake device 1Q in that the brake device 60 does not comprise a pourable material, but includes one or more wedges 62 freely disposed in the internal cavity. The wedge 62 is preferably lined with a brake bearing 64. The disc 18 is preferably lined with a corresponding brake bearing 66. Figure 3 illustrates one of the wedges 62 (on the right side of the disc 18) before the rotation of the spool 26 and chamber 12, and another wedge 62 (on the left side of disc 18) during the rotation of reel 26 and chamber 12. As described hereinabove for rescue device 35 with reference to Figure 2, as a person 36 descends, the cable 30 is unwound from the reel 26, causing the reel 26 to rotate. The rotation of the spool 26 causes even more rapid rotation of the chamber 12, via the gear assembly 28, The rotation of the chamber 12 imparts a centrifugal force to the wedges 62, causing the wedges 62 to wedge between an internal surface of the internal cavity 16 and the brake bearings 66 of the opposite faces 20 and 22 so that the brake bearings 64 of the wedges 62 apply a braking force to the disc 18. It is appreciated that the wedges 62 can have any arbitrary external shape , corresponding to the shape of the internal surface of the internal cavity 16. It will be appreciated by persons skilled in the art that the present invention is not limited by what has been particularly shown and described hereinbefore. Instead, the scope of the present invention includes both combinations and sub-combinations of the features described hereinabove, as well as modifications and variations thereof which would occur to a person skilled in the art after reading the above description and which are not in the prior art.

Claims (13)

RESIGNATIONS

1. A brake device comprising: a camera rotatably mounted on an axis, the chamber defining an internal cavity; a disk mounted on the shaft in the inner cavity, the disk having opposing surfaces extending away from the shaft, and a pourable material disposed in the internal cavity so that the rotation of the chamber imparts a centrifugal force to the material, causing the material is wedged between the inner surface of the inner cavity and the opposite faces to apply a brake force to the disc.

The brake device according to claim 1 comprising a reel mounted around the shaft and connected to the chamber, wherein the rotation of the reel imparts rotation to the chamber.

The brake device according to claim 2 and wherein the spool is connected to the chamber through a gear assembly.

The brake device according to claim 3 and wherein the engagement assembly increases the rotation of the chamber relative to the reel.

5. The brake device according to claim 2 and comprising a cable wound around the spool.

The braking device according to claim 5 and comprising a support loop secured to one end of the cable.

The braking device according to claim 1 and comprising an external housing connected to the shaft, the chamber being inside the housing.

8. The brake device according to claim 7 and wherein at least one handle is attached to the external surface of the housing.

The brake device according to claim 7 and wherein at least one person support device is attached to the external surface of the housing.

The brake device according to claim 1 and wherein the pourable material is selected from the group consisting of: sand, powdered material, granulated material, and a liquid.

11. A brake device comprising: a camera rotatably mounted on an axis, the chamber defining an internal cavity; a disk mounted on the shaft in the internal cavity, the disk having opposing surfaces extending away from the shaft; and a wedge disposed in the internal cavity so that the rotation of the chamber imparts a centrifugal force to the material, causing the material to wedge between an inner surface of the internal cavity and the opposite faces to apply a braking force to the disc.

12. A brake device according to claim 11 wherein the wedge is lined with a brake bearing.

13. A brake device according to claim 11 wherein the opposing surfaces are lined with a brake bearing.