The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Dec. 03, 2002
Filed:
Sep. 12, 2000
The United States of America as represented by the Secretary of the Army, Washington, DC (US);
Abstract
An apparatus configured to be movably mounted upon a rope for lifting and pulling a load as the apparatus travels along the rope. The apparatus can also be used to retract a rope. In one embodiment, the apparatus comprises a pneumatic cylinder having first and second gas ports for receiving and venting a pressurized gas. The cylinder includes a piston and piston rod that move in response to the pressurized gas. A portion of the piston extends from the cylinder. The apparatus further comprises a first ascender and a second ascender. The first ascender is attached to the portion of the piston rod that extends from the cylinder. The second ascender is attached to the cylinder. Each ascender comprises a body through which a rope passes and a locking device that allows movement of the ascender, with respect to the rope, in a first direction, and prevents movement of the ascender, with respect to the rope, in a second direction. The second ascender includes means for attaching a load. When the apparatus is used to lift a load, pressurized gas is alternately introduced into one port and vented from the other port thereby causing the apparatus to climb the rope along with the load. When the apparatus is used to retract a rope, the attaching means of the second ascender is anchored to a secure object. Pressurized gas is alternately introduced into one port and vented from the other port so as to cause movement of the piston and piston rod in the first and second directions. When the piston rod moves in the second direction, the locking device of the first ascender clamps onto the rope thereby retracting the rope in the second direction.