Patent Description:
Powered personal lifting devices assist personnel in scaling vertical surfaces. Motorized winches are used to raise or lower personnel on platforms or harnesses attached to ropes. A winch must be anchored to a solid platform above the load or use pulleys coupled to the platform to hoist the load. Further, a winch winds the rope or cable on a spool which limits the length and weight of rope that can be used. Hoists, usually with compound pulleys or reducing gears are used to raise or lower individuals or platforms and must be suspended from a secure support point such as a tripod, beam or bridge crane. Typically, a winch or hoist requires at least a second person to operate or control the device in order for a first person to safely ascend a rope.

There are however many examples of where it would be desirable to have access to a portable winch, preferable for a portable winch that can be operated by the person ascending or descending the rope. Such scenarios include for example mountain climbing, caving, tree trimming, rescue operations and military operations. Industrial uses of a climbing device may include scaling tall structures, towers, poles, mine shafts or bridge works for servicing, cleaning, window washing, painting, etc..

An example of such a portable winch is disclosed in <CIT>. In <CIT> there is provided a promising approach to a portable climber operated winch, denoted as a climbing device, comprising a rotatable rope pulley connected to a motor, such as for example an internal combustion motor or an electric battery powered motor. When in the operational state of the climbing device a rope is introduced in the rope pulley, and once the motor is engaged and starts to rotate, the rope pulley may advance the climber in a typically vertical direction along the rope.

<CIT> describes a rope grab arrangement according to the preamble of claim <NUM>, comprising a rope grab for advancing a rope, the rope grab arrangement being configured to provide an increased friction between the rope grab and the rope for allowing use of multitude of different types of ropes.

Even though the above-mentioned prior art shows a very useful solution for rope access to heights, there is always an endeavor to introduce further improvements for the personnel utilizing the equipment. Specifically, there is a desire to minimize any risks when working at heights, thereby improving the environment for the user of such equipment.

According to a first aspect of the invention, the above is at least partly alleviated by a portable power-driven system for advancing a rope, the rope extending in a first main direction, the power-driven system comprising a motor comprising a drive shaft, a rope grab connected to the drive shaft, the rope grab comprises a rope engaging face adapted to, when in an operational state, engage the rope along a first section of a circumference of the rope grab, and a main body for mounting the motor and further comprising an anchoring point adapted to receive an anchoring force, the anchoring force extending in a second direction being essentially opposite to the first main direction, wherein the power-driven system further comprises a rope securing arrangement, the securing arrangement comprising an elongated lever at a first end having a hinged connection to the main body and at a second end configured to receive a first roller adapted to, when in the operational state, engage with the rope, and the rope securing arrangement is adapted to, by means of a second roller comprised with the elongated lever, exert a pressure to the rope for forcing the rope towards the rope grab at a portion of the first section where the rope, when in the operational state, is engaging the rope grab.

The invention is based on the understanding that the operation of the portable power-driven system may be simplified in comparison to prior art devices, since the solution as is defined above enables an increased number of different types of ropes, as well as different diameters of such ropes, to be used in conjunction with the system. This is in accordance to the present disclosure achieve by providing a rope securing arrangement, where the rope securing arrangement comprises a first and a second roller arranged to be comprised with an elongated lever, where the elongated lever in turn is hinged at a main body of the system.

When in the operational state of the system, the rope will engage with the first roller in such a manner that the hinged first elongated lever is, "moved" towards the rope grab, for example with a force being proportional to a carry load of the system. The second roller, being arranged closer to the hinged connection as compared to the first roller, will as a result be "pushed" towards the rope at a portion of rope grab, where the rope is engaging the rope grab.

The positioning of the second roller is dependent on a length of the elongated lever but may in some embodiments be positioned e.g. at <NUM> - <NUM>% of a distance from the hinged connection to the main body. The overall length of the elongated lever may also be selected dependent on a desired pressure that the second roller is to provide for forcing the rope closer towards the rope grab.

Within the context of the application, the term roller should be interpreted broadly, and may comprise any type of device that can rotate "along with the rope" at the same time as the pressure is provided between the rope and the rope grab. Accordingly, the second roller should preferably be configured to provide a pressure that still allows the second roller to rotate when in the operational state (rotation of) the rope grab. It is desirable to also allow the first roller to rotate when in the operational state of the system. In an embodiment the rollers comprise bearings and/or bushings.

The robe grab may in one embodiment comprise a roller (may also be referred to as a rope pulley) formed to possibly pinch the rope by means of a concave form such as a v- or u-shaped rope engaging face, the rope engaging face formed at the "inside" of the roller for receiving the rope. The inside of the roller may additionally comprise a plurality of ridges for further increasing the friction between the rope and the roller.

As mentioned above, the motor is connected to the rope grab using the drive shaft. The expression "drive shaft" may include any mechanical implementation for transferring a rotational force from the motor to the rope grab. As such, the drive shaft may for example further include a gearbox or similar for adapting the rotational force to suit the rotational speed of the rope grab. The term rope is here used in its broader sense and is intended to include ropes, wires, belts, webbing, and cords of whatever nature or size suitable for engaging with the rope grab. As understood by this definition, the rope may have a circular, elliptic of essentially flat (e.g. rectangular) form.

Furthermore, the term "main body" should be understood to refer to e.g. a chassis for the portable system, providing support for the elements of the system as well as for mounting the elongated lever, etc..

According to the invention, the system further comprises a stopping arrangement configured to, when in the operational state, locking the elongated lever to the main body to minimizing a movement of the elongated lever in a direction parallel to the drive shaft. In some implementations this may be achieved by allowing the stopping arrangement to engage with a recess comprised with the elongated lever, the recess arranged in a vicinity of the second end of the elongated lever. That is, once the recess of the elongated lever engages with the stopping arrangement, the elongated lever may be seen as given a second "connection point", whereby the elongated lever may be locked from any movement in the direction parallel to the drive shaft. Accordingly, in case the hinge of the elongated lever allows the elongated lever to move in a first direction, the stopping arrangement ensures that no movement of the elongated lever is allowed in a direction perpendicular to the first direction.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure , the stopping arrangement connected to the main body at a position adjacently to the rope grab, the stopping arrangement comprising a heel portion partly extending into the rope engaging face of the rope grab to ensure that the rope, when in the operational state, remains at the first section of the circumference of the rope grab. An advantage following the introduction of the heel portion is that an increase security may be achieved, since the heal portion moves out of the rope grab at a predetermined position. Thus, the heal portion ensures that the rope does is not "reintroduced or re-circle" for a second turn around the rope grab, which in would result in an unwanted tangling of the rope. The stopping arrangement is preferably arranged directly adjacently to the rope grab.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure the stopping arrangement is adapted to limit the pressure to the rope towards the rope grab. Accordingly, the stopping arrangement may be mounted in relation to the rope grab such that the stopping arrangement engages with the elongated lever to limit its movement in a direction towards the rope grab. Thus, as a result the second roller being comprised with the elongated lever will (at a specific position) be stopped from moving towards the rope, whereby as a result the pressure exerted towards the rope in a direction towards the rope grab may be controlled. In an embodiment this may be achieved by mounting the stopping arrangement at a position where the second roller remains at least at a predetermined distance from the rope grab.

Preferably, the system further comprises a hinged lid configured to be arranged in a closed state to cover the rope grab when in the operational state of the system, and to be arranged in an opened state for allowing introduction of the rope to the robe grab. Such a lid minimizes any risks of the user introducing e.g. a hand or similar, efficiently increasing the operational safety of the system. The lid is preferably hinged connected to the main body.

In a possible embodiment, the lid comprises a control stud adapted to engage with the stopping arrangement when in the closed state. The control stud, similarly to the above discussion, ensures that a further connection point is provided, in the closed state, between the lid and the main body, in addition to the hinged connection between the lid and the main body. Accordingly, any unwanted movement in the hinged connection between the lid and the main body (e.g. perpendicular to the direction for opening and closing the lid) may be reduced.

In a possible embodiment the rope engaging face is provided with a plurality of pins configured to contact the rope along the section of the circumference of the rope grab engaging the rope when in the operational state of the rope grab arrangement. Preferably, a length of the pins is selected to not fully pierce through the rope. Preferably, the length is configured such that they engage themselves in the full woven part of rope, belt, strip or hanger, however with a minimum penetration of the "core" of the rope. The general structure of a rope suitable for use with a portable power-driven system as discussed above will be readily understood by the person skilled in the art.

Preferably, in one embodiment the pins are parallelly arranged in pairs along the circumference of the rope grab. Such an embodiment has shown promising for ensuring that a large plurality of different ropes may be successfully used in conjunction with the system.

In an embodiment, the rope grab and the pins are manufactured from a metal material, preferably keep as light as possible for reducing the overall weight of the power-driven system. However, within the concept of the invention, it may also be possible to manufacture the rope grab and/or the pins out of a resistant plastic material, such as for example being manufactured from a polyoxymethylene material. It is of course understood that other suitable plastic material having high resistance may be useable within the context of the invention.

The pins and the rope grab are preferably manufactured as a single unit. This may in some implementations be preferred due to cost of manufacturing. One possibility would for example be to manufacture the single unit rope grab using a milling process, such as a computer numerical control (CNC) milling process. Alternatively, the rope grab may be formed as one unit and the plurality of pins may be integrated with the rope grab, for example by insertion in holes formed at the engaging face of the rope grab.

Within the context of the invention, it may be possible to provide at least the engaging face of the rope grab with a rubber material or a similar equivalent, further improving the friction between the rope grab and the rope. The selection of material may be dependent on a possible temperature increase relating to the use of the additional e.g. rubber material when operating the portable power-driven system.

In a possible embodiment of the present disclosure the rope securing arrangement further comprises a spring mechanism for forcing the first roller towards the rope. The spring may be ensured that a "base pressure" is provided by the second roller for consistently, when in the operational state, pushing/forcing the rope towards the rope grab. Such a base pressure ensures that the rope grab may be allowed to drive the rope forwards/backwards also in situations where no anchoring force is provided to the system. Typically, if no base pressure is provided and/or the base pressure is selected too low, then there is a risk that the user will "fall" for a short distance downward a short distance until the function of the rope securing arrangement comes into function such that the rope engages with the rope grab with a desired level of friction.

As defined above, the system comprises a motor for rotating the rope grab. The motor may for example be one of an internal combustion engine or an electrical motor further comprising a rechargeable battery. The type of motor may be selected based on the application at hand, where both the internal combustion engine and the electrical motor provide advantages for different implementations.

Advantageously, the system further comprising a user interface for operating the motor for allowing rotation of the rope grab in a first and a second direction. The user interface may for example be implemented using e.g. a pair of buttons for controlling the rotational direction of the rope grab (and thus if the system should move "up or down"). More sophisticated solutions are however preferred, for example by using a rotatable handle that may be used for controlling both the direction and rotational speed of the robe grab (and thus the speed up or down).

In an embodiment of the invention there is further provided an elongated safety sling connected to the anchoring point, the safety sling arranged to receive at least one of a maillon, a carabiner, or a rigging plate. The sling may for example be of a textile material. The elongated sling is preferably at one of its ends connected to the anchoring point and configured to at its other end receive at least one of a maillon, a carabiner, or a rigging plate. The at least one of a maillon, a carabiner, or a rigging plate may then in turn be used for allowing connection of the portable system to e.g. a harness for a user, or for anchoring the system to a fixed structure using e.g. further climbing/fining equipment. The general term "elongated sling" is typically referred to as in relation to general climbing equipment. In addition, the term "textile" should be interpreted very broadly. For example, the textile material used for forming the sling may be of any type of e.g. woven or non-woven material, natural and/or synthetic fibers, etc..

When in the operational state of the portable power-driven system, the user is typically securely connected to the above discussed anchoring point, e.g. by means of the sling and carabiner.

Furthermore, preferably it is desirable to adapt the rope securing arrangement such that it is possible to, when in a none operational state of the portable power-driven system, allow a loop of the rope to be inserted between the first and the second roller when engaging the rope with the rope grab. This allows for the rope to be loaded e.g. at a mid-section of the length of the rope, as compared to prior-art solutions where a rope-end must be available when encircling and "loading" the rope grab.

Accordingly, as such it is desirable to ensure that the first and the second roller are separated with at least a distance set by the loop of the rope to be used with the portable power-driven system. Furthermore, it is preferred to ensure that hinged first elongated lever may be "lifted" away from the rope grab such that the loop may be extended in between side portions of and through the elongated lever to subsequently be allowed to engage with the rope grab.

The skilled addressee realize that different features of the present invention may be combined to create embodiments other than those described in the following, without departing from the scope of the present invention, as defined in the appended claims.

This invention may, however, be embodied in many different forms and should not be construed as limited to the embodiments set forth herein; rather, these embodiments are provided for thoroughness and completeness, and fully convey the scope of the invention to the skilled addressee.

Referring now to the drawings and to <FIG> in particular, there is depicted a portable power-driven system <NUM> according to a possible embodiment of the invention. The power-driven system <NUM> comprises a motor (not shown) and a rope grab <NUM>, the motor and the rope grab <NUM> being connected to each other by means of for example a drive shaft (possibly also including a gearbox or similar). The motor is in the shown embodiment an electrical motor further comprising a rechargeable battery (not shown), the rechargeable battery possibly being removably attached to the system <NUM>. In the illustrated embodiment the motor, the battery and the drive shaft are enclosed in a main body <NUM> of the system <NUM>.

The system <NUM> further comprises a lid <NUM> for, when in the operational state, covering the rope grab <NUM>, the rope grab <NUM> being configured for receiving and advancing a rope <NUM> once the motor by means of the drive shaft rotates the rope grab <NUM>. The rope <NUM> is arranged to extend in a first main direction <NUM>.

Preferably, the portable power-driven system <NUM> is configured to be waterproof.

When in a non-operational state where the portable power-driven system <NUM> is prepared for subsequent operation, with further reference also to <FIG>, a loop of the rope <NUM> is inserted to engage with a portion of the rope grab <NUM>, typically being in contact with around half of the circumference of the rope grab <NUM>. As exemplified in <FIG>, the elongated lever <NUM> preferably comprises two side portions allowing the rope <NUM> to pass through within the elongated lever <NUM> and between the first <NUM> and the second roller <NUM>. In <FIG> the rope grab <NUM> comprises a rope engaging face having a concave form, the concave form in some examples corresponding to a concave form of a capstan. However, the rope engaging face may have other forms depending on the implementation at hand, such as e.g. being essentially flat or essentially flat and provided with protrusions for engaging with the rope <NUM>.

The rope <NUM> will as such engage and pass around a portion of a first roller <NUM>. The first roller <NUM> is arranged at an elongated lever <NUM>. The elongated lever <NUM> is in turned connected to the main body <NUM> using a hinge <NUM> at a first end of the elongated lever <NUM>. The first roller <NUM> is arranged at an opposite second end of the elongated lever <NUM>.

The elongated lever <NUM> is also provided with a second roller <NUM>, arranged in between the first roller <NUM> and the hinge <NUM>. The function of the second roller will be further discussed below.

Furthermore, a load will be connected to an anchoring point <NUM> of the portable power-driven system <NUM>, in the illustration coinciding with a hinge <NUM> of the lid <NUM>. The anchoring point <NUM> may be provided with for example a sling <NUM> in turn connected to a maillon <NUM> for connecting to a harness of a user. The user will accordingly place a loading force <NUM> to the portable power-driven system <NUM>, where the loading force <NUM> will extend in an essentially opposite direction as compared to the main direction <NUM> of the rope <NUM>. The rope <NUM> will additionally have an unloaded end <NUM> extending out in a vicinity of the second roller <NUM>.

When applying the loading force <NUM> to the portable power-driven system <NUM>, the rope <NUM> will force the elongated lever <NUM> to rotate in a direction D towards the rope grab <NUM> (at the hinge <NUM>). As a result, as is further illustrated in <FIG>, the second roller <NUM> will press a portion of the rope <NUM> towards the rope grab <NUM>, such that the rope <NUM> is at least partly "clamped" between the second roller <NUM> and the rope grab <NUM>. Clamping of the rope <NUM> between the second roller <NUM> and the rope grab <NUM> will increase a friction between the rope <NUM> and the rope grab <NUM>. This will as a result allow for the use of a large variety of different types of ropes to be used with the portable power-driven system <NUM>. In an embodiment, the second roller <NUM> may comprise a corresponding rope engaging face having e.g. one of a concave, a convex or a flat form.

Typically, a pressure inferred by the second roller <NUM> may be seen as proportional to the loading force <NUM>. It is necessary to control this pressure. In the illustrations the system <NUM>, this is achieved by further including a stopping arrangement <NUM>, the stopping arrangement <NUM> being connected to the main body at a position adjacently to the rope grab <NUM>. Preferably, a distance between the stopping arrangement <NUM> and the rope grab <NUM> is selected such that the rope <NUM> is not squashed between the second roller <NUM> and the rope engaging face of the rope grab <NUM>.

Preferably, the stopping arrangement <NUM> further comprises a heel portion <NUM> partly extending into the rope engaging face of the rope grab <NUM> to ensure that the rope, when in the operational state is not allowed to re-circle the rope grab <NUM>, a process that would result in an unwanted tangling of the rope <NUM> at the rope grab <NUM>.

The stopping arrangement <NUM> may further be adapted to, when in the operational state of the system <NUM>, engage with a recess <NUM> comprised with the elongated lever <NUM>, the recess <NUM> arranged in a vicinity of the second end of the elongated lever <NUM>. That is, once the recess <NUM> of the elongated lever <NUM> engages with the stopping arrangement <NUM>, the elongated lever may be seen as given a second connection point in addition to the hinge <NUM>, whereby the elongated lever <NUM> may be locked from any movement in the direction parallel to the drive shaft. Accordingly, the connection between the stopping arrangement <NUM> and the recess <NUM> of the elongated lever <NUM> ensures that no movement of the elongated lever <NUM> is allowed in a direction perpendicular to the regular direction D of moving the elongated lever <NUM> at the hinge <NUM>. The means for securing the elongated lever <NUM> to the stopping arrangement <NUM> may be implemented using e.g. a disc <NUM>.

Preferably, the lid <NUM> comprises a control stud <NUM> adapted to engage with an opening <NUM> of the stopping arrangement <NUM>, when the lid <NUM> is in a closed state. The control stud <NUM> thereby ensures that a further connection point is provided, in the closed state, between the lid <NUM> and the main body <NUM>, in addition to the hinge <NUM> of the lid <NUM>. Accordingly, any unwanted movement in the hinge <NUM> (e.g. perpendicular to the direction for opening and closing the lid <NUM>) may be reduced.

In addition, the system <NUM> may further comprise a user interface, in the illustrated embodiment implemented by means of a rotatable handle <NUM>, for controlling the direction and rotational speed of the motor. Furthermore, the lid <NUM> may additionally comprise a locking/unlocking mechanism <NUM> for opening/closing the lid <NUM>.

Still further, the system <NUM> may be equipped with a control unit (not shown) for controlling an operation of the motor, e.g. based on an input provided by the rotatable handle <NUM>. The control unit may in some embodiments be connected to a sensor (not shown) provided for determine if the lid <NUM> is in the closed or an open state. Such a sensor may for example be a magnetic sensor. In some embodiments, the system <NUM> may not be allowed to be operated if the lid <NUM> is in the open state.

Turning now to <FIG> and <FIG>, which illustrates exemplary horizontal and vertical operations, respectively, of the power-driven system <NUM>. In the embodiment of <FIG>, the system <NUM> is arranged as a standalone winch mode, i.e. instead of the user connecting his/her safety harness directly to the anchoring point <NUM> and using the system <NUM> to ascend/descend along the rope <NUM>, the system <NUM> is in this mode connected to a fixed structure <NUM> such as a wall or similarly available object at the operational site.

In the illustrated example, the rope <NUM> is configured to pass over e.g. a roller <NUM> for the purpose of allowing a user <NUM> to be transporter in a vertical manner without having to himself control the system <NUM>. The system may instead (or also) be controlled by an operator <NUM> using the user interface <NUM>, the operator <NUM> typically situated adjacently to the system <NUM>. It may however be possible to configure the system <NUM> to additionally comprise means to be controlled from a distance, for example by means of a remote control (wired or wireless, not shown). Preferably, the control is wireless and in such an implementation the system <NUM> comprises wireless connection means to communicate wirelessly with the remote control.

In <FIG>, the typical vertical operation scenario for the power-driven system <NUM> is shown. In this scenario, the user <NUM> having a safety harness is typically connected to the sling <NUM>. The rope <NUM> will in this case typically be arranged at a position above the user <NUM> (sometimes in relation to climbing denoted as "top rope"). In some possible scenarios of operation of the system <NUM>, the fixed top rope position above the user <NUM> may be somewhat flexibly arranged, for example by means of a rope launcher, a pole or any type of tactical hooks.

In summary, the present invention relates to a portable power-driven system for advancing a rope, the rope extending in a first main direction, the power-driven system comprising a motor comprising a drive shaft, a rope grab connected to the drive shaft, the rope grab comprises a rope engaging face having a concave form adapted to, when in the operational state, engage the rope along a first section of a circumference of the rope grab, and a main body for mounting the motor and further comprising an anchoring point adapted to receive an anchoring force, the anchoring force extending in a second direction being essentially opposite to the first main direction, wherein the power-driven system further comprises a rope securing arrangement, the securing arrangement comprising an elongated lever at a first end having a hinged connection to the main body and at a second end configured to receive a first roller adapted to, when in the operational state, engage with the rope, and the rope securing arrangement is adapted to, by means of a second roller comprised with the elongated lever, exert a pressure to the rope for forcing the rope towards the rope grab at a portion of the first section where the rope, when in the operational state, is engaging the rope grab.

Although the figures may show a specific order of method steps, the order of the steps may differ from what is depicted. Also two or more steps may be performed concurrently or with partial concurrence. Such variation will depend on the software and hardware systems chosen and on designer choice. All such variations are within the scope of the disclosure, as defined in the appended claims.

Claim 1:
A portable power-driven system (<NUM>) for advancing a rope (<NUM>), the rope (<NUM>) extending in a first main direction (<NUM>), the power-driven system (<NUM>) comprising:
a motor comprising a drive shaft;
a rope grab (<NUM>) connected to the drive shaft, the rope grab (<NUM>) comprises a rope engaging face adapted to, when in an operational state, engage the rope (<NUM>) along a first section of a circumference of the rope grab (<NUM>),
a main body (<NUM>) for mounting the motor and further comprising an anchoring point (<NUM>) adapted to receive an anchoring force, the anchoring force extending in a second direction being essentially opposite to the first main direction (<NUM>),
a rope securing arrangement, characterised by the securing arrangement comprising an elongated lever (<NUM>) at a first end having a hinged connection to the main body (<NUM>) and at a second end configured to receive a first roller (<NUM>) adapted to, when in the operational state, engage with the rope (<NUM>), and the rope securing arrangement is adapted to, by means of a second roller (<NUM>) comprised with the elongated lever (<NUM>), exert a pressure to the rope (<NUM>) for forcing the rope (<NUM>) towards the rope grab (<NUM>) at a portion of the first section where the rope (<NUM>), when in the operational state, is engaging the rope grab (<NUM>), and
a stopping arrangement (<NUM>) configured to, when in the operational state, locking the elongated lever (<NUM>) to the main body (<NUM>) to minimizing a movement of the elongated lever (<NUM>) in a direction parallel to the drive shaft.