Patent ID: 9427606
Filing Date: 2016-08-30
CPC Classification: A62B,B66D

Claim Text:
1. A powered rope ascender operational in ascending and descending modes, comprising: a reversible drive source; at least one rotating rope pulling jaw, the jaw connected to the reversible drive source so as to be rotated in a first, ascending direction and a second, opposed descending direction, the at least one rotating rope pulling jaw having a plurality of forward sweeping rope gripping features when operated in the ascending direction; a friction increasing descent assist device configured to provide a rope path having at least three guide surfaces around which a rope disposed in the rope path wraps angularly including a first, superior guide surface, a second laterally spaced capstan guide surface, and a third inferior guide surface, wherein the first and third guide surfaces form superior and inferior ends of a retention loop, and the second guide surface is provided on a capstan peg that is laterally spaced from the retention loop, and wherein the friction increasing descent assist device enhances operation of the powered rope ascender when operating in the descending mode.