Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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LOAD LOWERING DEVICE
S P E C I F I C A T I O N
Background of the Invention
Field of the Invention -
The present invention relates generally to load
lowering devices adapted to lower a load from a first elevated
position to a second lo~er position at a regulated rate of speed.
~ore particularly, one form of the device of the invention is
specially designed for use in controllabiy lowering beer kegs
from the bed of a truck to the ground in a manner as to avoid
damage to the keg. Another form of the device of the invention
i5 adapted to use as a compact, light weight, reliable and
extremely safe escape device suitable for use in escape from
windows of skyscrapers during emergency situationsO
Discussion of the Prior Art-
An important use of the device of the present inventionis for safely and conveniently lowering filled beer kegs from
beer delivery trucks to the ground.
The critical need for such a device in the brewing
industry is brought about by the substantial amount of keg
damage th~t is sustained in removing the kegs from the delivery
trucks and personal injury and property damage done by out of
control kegs. In current practice, beer kegs weighing approximately
165 pounds each are stacked up to three high in the load bays
of a deliverv truck by use of a forklift. The delivery man
typically has no type of mechanical aid available to assist in
removing the kegs frorn the truck at the delivery site. Therefore,
common practice is for the delivery man to let the ke~ free
fall some five or six feet to the ground level. A rubber bumper
pad may or may not be used to cushion the impact. Consequently,
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severe damage can result to the keg chimes and bodies which
may require time consuming and ex~ensive repair or, on occasion,
renders the keg totally unservicable.
In the past various solutions to the problem have
been suggested, including the use of compressed gas or
electrically operated devices. However, such de~ices are
quite expensive and frequently are unreliable and difficult
to use. Additionally, when such devices are used the delivery
truck must be equipped with auxiliary equipment to provide the
necessary electrical power or compressed gas.
Another solution suagested in the past is to provide
thP delivery truck with electrically or hydrauli~ally operated
tail gates or similar load lowering mechanisms. These
devices are also typically verv expensive and require the
provision of bulky and exPensive auxilliary equipment on the
; delivery truck for their operation.
As will become apParent Erom the discussion which
follows, these and other drawbacks of the prior art devices
are effectively overcome by the compact, fu~ly self-contained
and highly safe and reliable load lowering device of the
present invention.
Anotherimportant use of the device of the invention
is as a unique personnel escape mechanism adapted for use in
the escape from multistoried buildings such as hotels, office
buildings and the like.
Numerous types of fire escaPe devices have been
suggested in the past. Typically these devices, because of
their size and wei~ht, are fixedly located within the building
ad~acent a window thereof. Often they are of complex design
and are difficult and time consuming to use. Further, unless
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the devices are continuously checked and maintained, the
chances of their failing during emergency situations is quite
high. While the prior art devices embody a wide variety of
mechanisms for regulating the rate of descent of the person,
most are highly suspect from a safety and reliability
standpoint particularly when the person must be lowered
hundreds of feet as may be the case in escape from multistory
skyscrapers.
The present invention provides for the first time
a highly versatile escape device which is compact, lightweight,
easily portable and totally reliable. The device is simple
to use, can be ~uickly and easily manipulated in emergency
situations even by persons of small stature and pr~vides a
completely safe means of escape from multistory buildings
in the event of fire or other emergency.
Summary of the Invention
The invention in one broad aspect pertains to a
load lowering device comprising a housing with interconnecting
means for removably interconnecting the housing to a rigid
support member. An axle extends transversely of the housing
and a hollow drum is mounted for rotation within the housing
about the axle. A length of cable is adapted to be uniformly
wound about the drum upon rotation of the drum in a first
direction and is adapted to be paid out from the drum upon
rotation of the drum in a second, opposite direction, the
cable having an inner end disposed within the housing and
having a free outer end. Cable rewind means is operably
associated with the drum for yieldably resisting rotation
of the drum in the second direction when the cable i6 paid
out from the drum, the cable rewind means being adapted to
cause rotation of the drum in the first direction upon the
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cable being substantially paid out thereby causing the cable
to be rewound upon the drum. Guide means is associated with
the housing for guiding the travel of the cable with respect
to the drum as the cable is rewound thereupon and braking
means is carried within the drum and is adapted to yieldably
resist rotation of the drum in the second direction to control
the rate at which the cable is unwound from the drum. Load
connecting means is associated with the outer end of the cable
for connecting the cable to the load to be lowered, the load
connecting means including cushioning means for cushioning
the impact forces imparted to the cable due to a limited free
fall of the load with respect to the outer end of the cable
subsequent to the interconnection of the load connecting means
with the load.
Another aspect of the invention comprehends a load
lowering device comprising a hollow rotatable drum with means
for interconnecting the drum with a rigid support member.
A length of cable is adapted to be uniformly wound about the
drum upon rotation of the drum in a first direction and is
adapted to be paid out from the drum upon rotation of the
drum in a second, opposite direction, the cable having an
inner end disposed proximate the drum and having a free outer
end. Braking means carried within the drum is adapted to
yieldably resist rotation of the drum in the second direction
to control the rate at which the cable is unwound from the
drum. The braking means comprises an internally toothed,
annular shaped gear ring affixed to the inner surface of the
hollow drum, a first support disposed within the hollow drum
and affixed to the axle, and at least one first planet gear
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rotatably carried by the first support and adapted to engage
the gear ring and be driven thereby as the drum rotates.
An externally toothed first sun wheel is rotatably carried
by the axle and is adapted to engage and be rotatably driven
by first planet gear, and a second support is rotatably carried
by the axle within the hollow drum and affixed to the sun
wheel for rotation therewith. At least one second planet
gear is rotatably carried by the second support and is adapted
to engage the ring gear and be driven thereby as the drum
rotates. An externally toothed second sun wheel rotatably
is carried by the axle and is adapted to engage and be
rotatably driven by the second planet gear. A governor
mechanism is rotatably carried by the axle and is operably
associated with the second sun wheel, and braking elements
are associated with the governor mechanism for actuation
thereby upon rotation of the drum to bring the elements into
pressural engagement with a braking surface provided internally
of the drum. Load connecting means is associated with the
outer end of the cablb for connecting the cable to the load
to be lowered.
In using the device in the delivery of beer kegs,
the drum housing is attached to the truck overhead structure
in the load bay and the free end of the cable is attached
to a keg chime by means of a specially configured harness
arrangement. When the keg is pushed out of the truck, the
lowering device controls the rate of descent to the ground
level. When the device is unhooked from the keg, the cable
automatically retracts at a controlled rate to the starting
position, ready for another keg.
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In one form of the invention, when a load is applied
to the cable, the drum rotates, feeding the cable out. The
rate of feed i5 controlled through a geared speed increaser
that drives a centrifugal brake at high speed and produces
a drag on the drum, thus converting the potential energy in
the keg to kinetic energy as the keg descends.
With the keg at ground level, only the light return
spring load must be overcome to release the harness from the
keg. Similarly, the centrifugal brake operates in the reverse
direction to gradually retract the cable.
Other aspects of the invention will beco~e apparent
from consideration of the detailed description of a preferred
embodiment of the invention.
Brief Description of the Drawings
Figure 1 is a generally pictorial view illustrating
the device of the invention interconnected with a rigid support
mem~er disposed within the load bay of a delivery truck and
with the load lowering harness thereof interconnected with
a beer keg.
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the device
showing the load lowering harness interconnected with the
end chimes of a beer keg.
Figure 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view
similar to Figure 2 but showing the harness of the device
interconnected with only the upper chime of the beer keg.
Figure 4 is a greatly enlarged side elevational
view of a portion of the device partly in cross-section showing
internal construction.
Figure 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along
lines 5 - 5 of Figure 4.
Figure 6 is a generally pictorial view
showing an alternate forrn of the
apparatus of the invention adapted for use
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as an escape device illustrating a person being lowered from
an upper window of a building during an emergency situation.
Figure 7 is a greatly enlarged side elevational view
of the alternate embodiment of the invention shcwn in Figure 6.
Figure 8 is a side elevational view taken along
lines 8-8 of Figure 3.
Description of Alternate Forms
of the Invention
Re~erring to the drawings and particularly to Figures l
through 5 thereof, the load lowering device of the present invention
comprises an outer housing, or cage 12; a hollow drum 14 rotat-
ably mounted within housing 12; a length of cable 16 adapted to be
uniformly wound about drum 14; and a load connectinq means, or
harness, associated wlth the outer, or lower, end of the cable for
connecting the cable to the load to be lowered. ~1eans for remov-
ably connecting the housing to a rigid support member 17 within the
load bay of the delivery truckis here provided in the form of a
length of chain 18 affixed at either end to housing 12 and an
interconnecting hook 2Q affixed to the chain intermediate its ends.
As best seen in Figures 2 and 3, the load connecting
means, or lowering harness, of the present embodiment of the
invention includes first and second cable portions 22 and 24
having at their free enas beer keg connecting hooks 26 which
are specially designed so that they can securely grip either
the peripheral portions of the uDper and lower keg chimes 28
and 30 of the keg, or alternatively, can grip the peripheral hand
hold portions of only the upper chime 28 of the beer-keq. With
this arrangement, the beer keg 32 can be lowered from the delivery
truck either in a horizontal orientation (Figure 2) or in a
vertical orientation (Figure 3). In the con~truction shown in
the dra~7ings, cahle portion 22 is merely a continuation of
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cable 16 while portion 24 comprises a short length of cable
interconnected with cable 16 at a location several inches
inboard of its extremity.
An important aspect of the load connecting means of
the invention is the cushioning means thereof which is adapted
to cushion the impact forces imparted to the cable 16 due to
a limited free fall of the beer keg which may occur after
the beer keg has been pushed from the load bay of the truck.
The cushioning means also function to maintain the gripping
hooks in tight engagement with keg chimes. In the present form
o -~he invention, this cushioning means is provided in the form
o~ an elongate coil spring 34 which is rigidly connected at one
end to a support member36 which also forms a part of the
connecting means, As best seen by referring to Figure 8, support
member 36 is provided with spaced apart side walls 38 inter-
connected by a top wall 40. Rotatably carried between side
walls 38 of the support member are a pair of spaced apart rollers 42
As illustrated in Figure 2, cable portions 22 and 24 pass about
rollers 42 and extend outwardly therefrom toward the gripping
hooks 26.
The cushioning means, or coil spring 34 of the ConneCtQr
means is rigidly interconnected at its lower end to a cylindrical
shaped boss 44 integrally formed with top wall 40 of support
member 36 (Figure 8). The opposite, or upper end of spring 34
is connected to a top cable guide assembly 46 (Figure 2) which
is slidably receivable over cable 16 inboard of the junction of
cable portion 24 and cable 16. Carried at the top of assmebly 46
and slidably receivable over cable 16 is a resilien~ly deformable
spherical member 48 which is adapted to restrict upwarcl travel
of the cable 1~6 as it is rewound around the drum in a manner
presently to be described.
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The device ofthe present invention also includes
cable rewind meansoperably associated with drum 14 for
yieldably resisting rotationof the drum with respect to the
housing as the cable 16 is paid out therefrom. Upon the
cab~e being substantially fully paid out from the drum, the
biasing means is adapted to cause rotation of the drum in
a first direction so as to cause the cable to be uniformly
rewound upon the drum after it has been disconnected from the
load being lowered.
Referriny particularly to Figure ~, the drum 14 can
be seen -to be rotatably supported within housing, or cage, 12
by means of a transversely extending axle 50. The rewind means
o~ the embodiment of the invention thereshown includes a power, or
torsion spring mechanism which circumscribes axle 50. This
mechanism generally designated by the numeral 52, comprises a
torsion spring 54 interconnected proximate:its inner end with
drum 14`by means of a pin 56 and interconnected proximate its
outer end with housing 12 by means of a pin 58. With this
construction, when drum 14 is rotated in a second direction as
~ the cable is paid out therefrom, torsion spring 54 becomes
tightly wound and functions to provide the driving force for
rewinding the cable onto the drum in a uniform manner presently
to be described. An outer guard 57 is carried by housing 12
and has a circumferentially extending wall 59 which surrounds
the periphery of spring 54.
After the cable 16 has been paid- out f-rom the drum,
and the interconnecting means disconnected from the load, in
this case, the beer keg 32, the coiled torsion spring 54 will act
upon the drum to cause its rotation in a first direct:ion to
uniformly rewind the cable upon the drum. To insure uniform
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winding of the cable about the drum, there is provided a
novel guide means generally designated in Figure 4 by the
numeral 60. Guide means 60 comprises a transverse axle 62
carried by housing 12 below drum 14 which rotatably supports
a sheave-like memher 64 having affixed thereto a sleeve 66
adapted to freely slide transversely along axle 62. A coiled
spring 68 is also telescopically received over axle 62 and
sleeve portion 66 and is disposed intermediate one face of
member 64 and the inner wall 12a of housing 12 to continuously
urge transverse movement of member 64 with respect to axle 62.
~heave-like member 64 is adap~ed to closely receive cable 16
wi thin a groove 65 formed about the periphery thereoE and is
disposed in close proximity with the outer surface of drum 14.
With this construction, as cable 16 is alternately paid out
and rewound upon the drum, the sheave member continuously
moves transversely of axle 62 to cause the coils of cable 16 to
be ~aintained in a uniform s~acingabout the circumference of
the drum 14.
Comprising an extremely important aspect of the
~ present invention is a braking means carried within drum 14 which
is-adapted to controllably regulate the speed rotation of the
drum as the cable is paid out therefrom. Referring particularly
to Figures 4 and 5 of the drawings, the braking means of the
embodiment thereshown comprises a novel planetary gear speed
increaser assembly whic-h includes an internally toothed annular
shaped gear ring 70 disposed about the inner surface of the drum;
at least one planet gear adapted to travel about gear ring 70;
and at least one sun wheel driven by the planet gear.
In the present form of the invention, there is
provided three cooperatively associated first planet gears 72
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each having external teeth 74 adapted to mesh with the internal
teeth 76 provided on gear ring 70. Planetary gears 72 are
rotatably carried by a first sup~ort member 78 which is in
turn non-rotatably connected to axle 50. Rotatably
carried by axle 50 is an externally toothed first sun wheel 80
having external teeth 82 adapted to engage and be driven by
the external teeth 74 of the planetary gear 72. Integrally
formed with first sun gear 80 is a second support member 84
rotatably carried by axle 50 and adapted to rotatably carry
a pair of second planet wheels 86. Second planetary gears 86
have external teeth 88 adapted to engage the external teeth 90
of a second sun wheel 92 which is also rotatably carried by
axle 50. The external teeth 88 of second ~lanetary gears 86
are also adapted to engage and be driven by teeth 76 formed
on annular ring gear 70.
Integrally formed with second sun wheel 92 is a
transversely extending base member 94 which member forms a part
of a unique governor mechanism of the invention. Member 94,
being integrated with sun wheel 92, rotates therewith about
axle 50. Also forming a part of the governor mechanism of the
invention are first and second arms 98 and 100 which are
pivotally connected proximate their inner endsto base94. The outer
ends of arms 98 and 100 are movable pivotally outwardly toward
the inner surface of drum 14 against the urging of biasing means
shown here in the form of springs 99 which interconnect the
free ends ofthe arms with the base 94.
Referring particularly to Figure 5, centrifically
actuated weight means are provided in the form of a pair of
disc shaped members 102 carried proximate the outer, or :Eree,
ends of arms 98 and 100. As drum 14 rotates in a second,
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unwinding direction, the sun wheel 92 and the base 94, which
is affixed thereto, will be rotated at a rapid rate of speed
as a result of the construction of the planetary gear speed
increaser mechanism just described. Due to centrifugal force,
rapid rotation of base 94 will cause weights 102 and the
free ends of arms 98 and 100 to be urged outwardly toward
the inner surfaces of the drum 14. This outer rnovement of
arms 98 and 100 will cause a pair of uniquely constructed
brake elements 103 also carried by arms 9~ and 100 to move into
pressurial engagement with the integral surfaces 14b of the
drum 14 (Figure 4). Brake elements 103 comprise a base 106
which is aEfixed to the first and second arms of the governor
mechanism and include novel drum engaging pads 108 which are
adapted to engage the internal surfaces 14b of the drum. Pads 108
may be formed of a variety of materials including asbestos
composites and carbon and graphite materials. Due to the
unique characteristics of these latter materials, whereby the
coefficient of friction increases as the temperature increases,
such materials have been found ideally suited for use in the
present application.
The drum 14 and the gears comprising the speed
increaser mechanism can be constructed of any suitable light
weight material such as plastic, aluminum, magnesium or steel.
Similarly, the housing or cage 12 can be constructed of light-
weight metal and may be of an open-construction as shown in the
drawings, or can be provided in the form of a closed housing
adapted to totally enclose the drum 14, the rewind means, and
the cable guide means.
In using the device of the invention it is first
interconnected in the manner shown in Figure 1 w:ith a rigid
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support located in the upper part of the load bay of the truck. The
load connectingmeans, or harness,is then connectedwith afilled beer
Xeg, eitherin the manner illustratedin ~igure 2,or in the manner
illustrated in Figure 3. The filled keg is then pushed
from the truck. The weight of the keg acting upon the cable 16
causes the drum 14 to rotate in a second direction. This in
turn causes rotation of the gears of the speed increaser
mechanism and the automatic engagement of the braking elements
of the centrifugally activated braking system with the internal
10 surfaces of the drum in the manner previously described herein.
'rhis uniform braking action enables the keg to be lowered
saFely and gently to the ground at a controlled rate of speed.
nu~inq this keg lowering step, the spring of the rewind mechanism
is ~ound so that upon disconnecting the harness assembly from
the keg, the cable 16 will be automatically rewound upon the
drum with the cable guide means functioning to uniformly pack
the coils of the cable about the periphery of the drum.
Referring to Figures 6 and 7 there is illustrated an
alternate form of the load lowering device of the invention.
20 As indicated by Figure 4, the design of the alternate form of
the invention is somewhat similar to that described in the
preceeding paragraphs and like numerals will be used in
Figures 6 and 7 to identify like components.
Turning particularly to Figure 6, the apparatus of
this embodiment can be seen to comprise an outer housing,
or cage 120, an axle 50 extending transversely of the housing,
a drum 14 rotatably carried by axle 50 and a length of wire
or cable 122 adapted to be wound upon drum 14. Disposed within
drum 14 is a planetary gear speed increaser mechanism and a
braking means identical to those shown in Figure 4 and previously
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described in detail herein. However, as bes~ seen in Figure 6
the load lowering harness associated with the free end of
cable 122 is of different construction, being provided in the
form of a sling or personnel leg harness 12~. Harness 124 is
interconnected with the free end of cable 122 by any suitable
means and is adapted to safely and securely su~port a conscious
or unconscious person in a sitting position illustrated in
the drawing.
Cable 122 is also of a different construction from
that shown in Figures 1 through 5. Because the cable must be
of a len~h sufficient to lower a person several hundred feet,
a5 Eor example, from the upper stories of a building, the c~ble
must be much longer and must be of a smaller diameter so that
it can be wound in several layers upon drum 14 in the manner
shown in Figure 7. Although various materials can be used in
forming cable 120, a small diameter, high tensile strength
steel wire has proven quite suitable.
In using the device of the invention as an escape
device in the manner shown in Figure 6, the hook 124 o~ the
2~ connecting means of the device is first secured to a window
sill, or other suitable rigid support member within the building.
The evacuee then positions himself in the leg sling as shown
in Figure 6 and lowers himself from the window. The weight
of the person causes the drum 14 to rotate in a second direction
driving the speed increaser mechanism which in turn drives the
governor means and the braking means of the invention as
previously described to precisely control the speed of rotation
of the drum and the rate of descent of the evacuee. Once the
evacuee safely reaches the ground the cable 122 is automatically
rewound onto the drum by the resind mechanism 53 in the manner
previously described.
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Because the unit is lightweight and easily portable,
it may be readily moved about the building to aid in the rescue
of other trapped persons. Due to its sturdiness and reliability
it may safely be used time after time in connection with the
same fire, earthquake or other emergency situation.
Having now described the invention in aetail in
accordance with the requirements of the patent statutes, those
skilled in this art will have no difficulty in making changes
and modifications in the individual parts or their relative
assembly in order to meet specific requirements or conditions.
Such ch~nges and modifications may be made without departing
from the scope and spirit of the invention, as set Eorth in
the following claims.
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