Patent ID: 8181744

Claim:
A lifeline system, comprising: a lifeline; a drum assembly around which the lifeline is coiled, the drum assembly being rotatable about a first axis in a first direction during extension of the lifeline and in a second direction, opposite of the first direction, during retraction of the lifeline; a tensioning mechanism in operative connection with the drum assembly to impart a biasing force on the drum assembly to bias the drum assembly to rotate about the first axis in the second direction; and a braking mechanism carried on a hub plate of the drum assembly for rotation therewith, the braking mechanism comprising a catch that is rotatable about a second axis that is not concentric with the first axis, the second axis being operatively connected to the first axis so that the second axis rotates about the first axis in the same direction as the drum assembly when the drum assembly is rotating about the first axis, a center of mass of the catch being located in the vicinity of the second axis, the first axis extending through the catch, the catch rotating about the second axis in the second direction when the drum assembly is rotated in the first direction at least a determined angular acceleration to cause an abutment section of the catch to abut an abutment member of the lifeline system and stop the rotation of the drum assembly.