Falling prevention device

Abstract

A fall protection device for blocking a rope when the relative speed between the rope and the device (10) reaches a threshold value includes a blocking mechanism (23) for blocking the rope, and a trigger mechanism (30) configured to trigger an actuation lever (24) of the blocking mechanism (23) to actuate the blocking mechanism (23) for blocking the rope when the speed reaches the threshold value, the trigger mechanism (30) including a drive shaft that is rotated by the rope during relative movement between the rope and the fall protection device (10), the drive shaft having a centrifugal weight holder and at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) held to act against the restoring force of a spring (28), the at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) being movable between an inactive position and a trigger position to trigger the actuation lever (24) when the speed reaches the threshold value. The centrifugal weight holder is rotatably disposed relative to a release gear (48) including teeth (72, 74) engageable by an actuating member of at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) when the at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) is in a trigger position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fall prevention device for blocking a rope when the relative speed between the rope and the device reaches a threshold value. The device includes a blocking mechanism for blocking the rope and a trigger mechanism configured to trigger a starting lever of the blocking mechanism for blocking the rope when the speed reaches the threshold value. The trigger mechanism includes a drive shaft rotated by the rope during relative movement between the rope and the fall prevention device. The drive shaft has a centrifugal weight holder, and at least one centrifugal weight is held to act against a restoring force. The at least one centrifugal weight is movable between a non-operating position and a trigger position for triggering the starting lever when the speed reaches the threshold value.

Background Art

[0002] Such a fall prevention device has become well-known through public use because the applicant publicly sells it under the trade name Blocstop.

[0003] Blocstop uses a trigger mechanism including two centrifugal weights arranged eccentrically in a centrifugal weight holder. When the descending speed between the rope and Blocstop reaches a threshold value, its outer part engages with the starting lever of the blocking mechanism. One of the outer parts of the centrifugal weight moves under the action of centrifugal force and engages with the starting lever after a certain angular movement. Depending on the position of the centrifugal weight relative to the starting lever during triggering, the centrifugal weight may rotate to a large rotation angle before the blocking mechanism is activated.

[0004] Since it is desirable that the operation of the block mechanism does not greatly depend on the specific position of the device when the block mechanism is activated, this can be said to be a somewhat undesirable situation. Thus, known devices function to automatically stop and hold suspended equipment such as a suspended access device (SAE) suspended from a rope against failures caused by breakage of the working rope, gear damage, etc., but it is difficult to say that the known devices are completely reproducible. The time lag in the startup of the device may vary depending on the specific position of the centrifugal weight at startup.

[0005] Similar fall prevention devices are known from Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2, and these have similar drawbacks.

[0006] In Patent Document 3, a fall protection device configured to be connected to a safety belt is known. This includes a frame forming an accommodation space, a shaft lever, a delay member, and a rotating drum provided on the frame. The delay member is pivotally provided on a shaft lever having a friction surface and received in the accommodation space. The rotating drum is fitted around the delay member and has an outer peripheral surface and an inner peripheral surface. The outer peripheral surface is adapted to wind the safety belt, and the inner peripheral surface faces the friction surface. The centrifugal weight supported by the centrifugal weight holder triggers frictional braking when the descending speed of the safety belt reaches a certain level.

[0007] Patent Document 4 discloses a device for automatically lowering a rope after fall prevention. This device includes a ratchet wheel cooperating with two ratchet elements arranged to pivot outwardly to engage with this ratchet wheel to perform a braking operation when the descending speed of the rope reaches a certain threshold, and then the ratchet wheel may be disengaged and the braking descent of the rope may be enabled to control the descent.

[0008] Patent Document 5 discloses an endless cable hoist including a working cable, a safety cable, and a drive cable pulley around which at least a part of the working cable is wound. A drive device for driving the drive cable pulley and a non-driven safety cable pulley rotatably attached to the housing and around which the safety cable is wound is provided. A restraint device including a ratchet wheel cooperating with a ratchet element that engages the ratchet wheel when the ratchet rotates at a threshold speed is provided. Thereby, the friction brake is actuated to block and brake the safety cable.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0009]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Patent Document 3

Patent Document 4

Patent Document 5

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0010] In view of this, an object of the present invention is to provide an improved fall prevention device for blocking a rope when the lowering speed between the rope and the device reaches a threshold value, and when the speed of the rope reaches the threshold value, a fall prevention device in which a trigger mechanism leads to a quick trigger operation with little dependence on the position of the device during startup.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0011] This object is achieved by the fall prevention device according to claim 1.

[0012] Thus, the object of the present invention is fully achieved.

[0013] By using a release gear having a tooth profile engageable by the operating member of at least one centrifugal weight, the activation of the blocking mechanism becomes largely independent of the angular position of the centrifugal weight at the time of activation of the blocking mechanism.

[0014] According to a further development of the present invention, the activation lever is pivotably arranged about an axis arranged at a distance outside the release gear.

[0015] According to a further development of the present invention, the activation lever comprises a first end that cooperates with the outer tooth profile of the release gear, and when the activation lever is in the open position corresponding to the inoperative position of the trigger mechanism, the activation lever preferably engages with the outer tooth profile at the first end.

[0016] According to a further development of the present invention, the activation lever comprises a second end including a catch portion that engages with a catch roller when in the open position, and when the trigger mechanism is triggered, the catch roller is moved from the open position to the closed position by the outer tooth profile, thereby activating the blocking mechanism by releasing the catch roller.

[0017] According to a further development of the present invention, the catch portion of the second end of the activation lever is configured as a claw that engages with a recess of the catch roller when in the open position, and this claw is released from the recess of the catch roller when the trigger mechanism is triggered.

[0018] According to a further development of the present invention, at least one centrifugal weight is pivotably arranged about a pivot axis located on a centrifugal weight holder against the restoring force of a spring, and when the drive shaft rotates, at least one centrifugal weight moves from the inoperative position to the trigger position and is capable of triggering the activation lever when the restoring force of the spring exceeds the threshold value when the threshold value is reached.

[0019] According to a further development of the invention, each centrifugal weight has one actuating member that cooperates with the inner tooth profile of the release gear, and when a threshold value is reached, the tooth profile is rotated by the actuating member.

[0020] These functions achieve a simple and reliable design.

[0021] According to a preferred development of the invention, the tooth profile includes a plurality of teeth including at least 8 teeth, preferably at least 16 teeth, more preferably 24 teeth.

[0022] Increasing the number of teeth enables the blocking mechanism to be triggered in a short time regardless of the angular position of at least one centrifugal weight.

[0023] According to another development of the invention, two centrifugal weights are provided that are eccentrically held in a centrifugal weight holder and act against the restoring force of the spring.

[0024] This makes the construction easy and leads to a balanced operation.

[0025] According to another development of the invention, each centrifugal weight is pivotably arranged about a pivot axis that is eccentrically arranged in the centrifugal weight holder.

[0026] This enables a simple configuration.

[0027] According to another development of the invention, each centrifugal weight has a pin that engages in a slot provided in a bracket extending across the centrifugal weight.

[0028] Due to this feature, regardless of which centrifugal weight moves outward first, it is evenly triggered.

[0029] According to another development of the invention, each centrifugal weight includes an actuating member configured as an actuator pin arranged to engage with the inner tooth profile of the release gear when at least one centrifugal weight is in the trigger position.

[0030] This allows the rotational movement from the weight holder to be easily transmitted to the release gear.

[0031] According to another development of the present invention, the release gear includes an outer tooth profile that engages with the activation lever to rotate the activation lever to a position for operating the blocking mechanism when at least one centrifugal weight is in the trigger position.

[0032] According to a further development of the present invention, each centrifugal weight has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape with one end pivotally supported about a pivot axis against the restoring force of a spring that biases the centrifugal weights relative to each other.

[0033] These features enable simple and reliable construction.

[0034] According to another development of the present invention, the release gear is combined with a bearing disk rotatably attached to the drive shaft. The release gear may be fixed to or integrated with the bearing disk.

[0035] Also, this feature enables a simple and reliable design.

[0036] It will be understood that the foregoing features and those described below are used not only in the combinations shown herein, but also in different combinations or independently. Further features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent from the following description with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0037]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 3a

Figure 4

Figure 4a

Figure 5

Figure 5a

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Figure 9

Figure 10

Figure 11

Figure 11a

Figure 12

Figure 13

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0038] In FIG. 1, the fall prevention device according to the present invention is shown in a perspective view and is represented as a whole by reference numeral 10.

[0039] The fall prevention device 10 is provided as a safety measure for effectively automatically stopping and holding suspended equipment such as suspended equipment (SAE) suspended by a rope. The fall prevention device 10 according to FIG. 1 blocks the rope 12 only when the rope 12 rises relative to the fall prevention device 10 at a threshold speed, or conversely, when the fall prevention device 10 descends relative to the rope 12 at at least the threshold speed.

[0040] In FIG. 1, a rope 12 guided through the fall prevention device 10 is shown. A sleeve 19 through which the rope 12 exits can be seen below the fall prevention device 10.

[0041] The fall prevention device 10 includes a housing 14 and a top cover 16 on which a handle 18 can be seen. The handle 18 can be manually switched between a block position and an open position as shown on the top cover 16. However, such manual switching is possible only when no load is applied to the fall prevention device 10.

[0042] The fall prevention device 10 is shown in a side view in FIG. 2. The same features as in FIG. 1 can be seen. Only an additional sleeve 20 is shown, which is added to the right end of the fall prevention device 10 through which a rope 12 (not shown) enters the device and exits the device through the other sleeve 19 on the left side (or the lower side during application).

[0043] The fall prevention device 10 according to the present invention includes a block mechanism, generally designated by reference numeral 23 and shown in FIGS. 4 and 5. The block mechanism 23 that can be seen in FIG. 4 is substantially identical to the known block mechanism Blocstop (trademark).

[0044] The block mechanism 23 cooperates with a trigger mechanism 30 that forms a novel and inventive part of the fall prevention device 10.

[0045] The trigger mechanism 30 includes a drive shaft 32, which is also shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 and particularly well shown in FIG. 6. The drive shaft 32 has a drive roller 68 (see FIG. 6) that cooperates with a pressure roller 70 that is pressed from the outside by a pressure spring 71 against a rope 12 (not shown) that extends between two sleeves 19, 20 (see FIG. 7). Thus, any movement of the rope 12 relative to the fall prevention device 10 causes the drive shaft 32 to rotate.

[0046] A bearing disk 49 that is rotatable relative to the drive shaft 32 is held at the upper part of the drive shaft 32 (see FIG. 6). A release gear 48 is firmly fixed on the bearing disk 49 (see FIGS. 6 and 4). The release gear 48 has an outer tooth profile 72 that includes 24 teeth. In the position shown in FIG. 4, the outer tooth profile engages with the first end 26 of the activation lever 24 of the blocking mechanism 23. The activation lever 24 is pivotally mounted about a shaft 25 (see FIGS. 4, 8, and 10). Depending on the position of the activation lever 24, its first end 26 either engages with the outer tooth profile 72 of the release gear 48 (as shown in FIG. 4) or is in a non-engaged state as shown in FIG. 4a. When the first end 26 of the activation lever 24 engages with the outer tooth profile 72 (as shown in FIG. 4), it is in the open position of the blocking mechanism 23 where the rope 12 can freely run within the fall prevention device 10 without any blocking or braking action.

[0047] The second end of the activation lever 24 on the side opposite the first end has a curved catch portion 80 that cooperates with a catch roller 82 (see FIG. 8). The catch roller 82 is held at the lower end of a lever 21 supported by a shaft 22 with a handle 18 fixed to its upper end. The handle 18 can manually move the fall prevention device 10 to the open position as shown in FIG. 3 only when the fall prevention device 10 is not under load. Throughout the drawings, the open position of the fall prevention device is indicated by 10, and the closed position where a blocking or braking action occurs is indicated by 10'.

[0048] The spring 28 that engages with the starting lever 24 on the side of the first end 26 pulls the starting lever 24 to the open position, and the first end 26 engages with the outer tooth profile 72 of the release gear 48.

[0049] The trigger mechanism 30 includes two centrifugal weights 36, 38 held by a centrifugal weight holder 34 firmly fixed to the drive shaft 32. The centrifugal weights 36, 38 have a substantially semi-cylindrical shape and are eccentrically and pivotally mounted at one end about pivot axes 35, 37 (see FIG. 4). The centrifugal weights 36, 38 can pivot outwardly under the action of the centrifugal force during rotation. Each of the centrifugal weights 36, 38 includes pins 43, 44 that extend into slots 45, 46 of a compensation bracket 42 that extends across the two centrifugal weights 36, 38. The compensation bracket is centered with respect to the drive shaft 32.

[0050] A tension spring 40 is fixed between the two pins 43, 44. Therefore, when the drive shaft 32 rotates, the centrifugal weights 36, 38 are urged outward, but they cannot move unless the centrifugal force overcomes the biasing force of the tension spring 40. When the relative speed between the rope 12 and the device 10 reaches a threshold value, the two centrifugal weights 36, 38 overcome the biasing force of the tension spring 40 and move outward, causing the pins 43, 44 to move within the respective slots 45, 46 of the compensation bracket 42.

[0051] As can be seen particularly in FIGS. 8, 9, 11, and 11a, the release gear 48 also includes an inner tooth profile 74 having 24 teeth. Each of the centrifugal weights 36, 38 has actuator pins 76, 78 (see particularly FIGS. 8 and 9) disposed near the end opposite their pivot axes 35, 37. The actuator pins 76, 78 cooperate with the inner tooth profile 74 of the release gear 48. When the relative speed between the rope 12 and the device 10 reaches a threshold value and the restoring force of the tension spring 40 is overcome, the centrifugal weights 36, 38 pivot outwardly, whereby the actuator pins 76, 78 engage the inner tooth profile 74.

[0052] Note that the inner tooth profile 74 is designed with an inclined tooth profile configured to engage with the actuator pins 76 and 78 only when the rope 12 moves upward relative to the fall prevention device 10 or when the fall prevention device 10 moves downward relative to the rope 12.

[0053] Therefore, when the trigger mechanism 30 is actuated, the actuator pins 76 and 78 engage with the inner tooth profile 74, causing the release gear 48 to move in the release direction (clockwise in this case), thereby moving the activation lever 24 from the engagement position with the outer tooth profile 72 shown in FIG. 4 to the closed position (right side in this case) against the action of the spring 28 and activating the block mechanism 23. As a result, the block mechanism 23 is moved to the closed position shown in FIGS. 4a and 5a, where the device is indicated by 10'.

[0054] As can be seen in FIGS. 11a and 3a, 4a, 5a, the lever 21 moves, thereby releasing the catch roller 82 from the catch portion 80 of the activation lever 24. The block mechanism 23 includes two brake lever pairs 52, 54 also shown in FIGS. 4, 5, 4a, 5a and 10. The brake lever pairs 52, 54 cooperate with the brake pads 51, 56. To move the brake pads (one of which 51 can be seen in FIG. 7), one brake lever pair 52, 54 is arranged above the brake pads 51, 56 and one brake lever pair 52, 54 is arranged below the brake pads 51, 56 on the brake lever. The brake lever pairs 52, 54 are pivotally held about pivots 53, 55 at one end thereof respectively. The end of the first brake lever pair 52 opposite to the pivot 53 is fixed to the spring carrier using a control pin. One end spring carrier 65 is pivotally attached to the pivot 67 and has a compression spring 66 that biases the first brake lever pair 52 in the direction of the closed position shown in FIGS. 4a and 5a. With the release of the catch roller 82 by the catch portion 80 and the movement of the activation lever 24 to the closed position as shown in FIGS. 4a and 5a, the first brake lever pair 52 moves to the closed position indicated by the reference numeral 10' in FIG. 5a under the action of the compression spring 66.

[0055] The brake pads 51, 56 as seen in FIGS. 5 and 5a move towards each other, and the control cams 57, 60 of the second brake lever pair 54 and the control cams 58, 59 of the first brake lever pair 52 move within the associated control slots 62, 61 respectively, thereby causing a blocking or braking action. The movement of the control cams 58, 59 within the control slot 61 is connected to the movement of the control cams 57, 60 within the control slot 62, so that when one brake lever pair 52 moves, the other brake lever pair 54 also moves simultaneously. By this action, the brake pads 51, 55 move relative to the rope 12 (only the rope 12 is shown in FIG. 1) extending between the sleeves 19, 20.

[0056] Accordingly, under the action of the compression spring 66 held by the spring carrier 65 and engaging with the first brake lever pair 52, the first brake lever pair 52 is moved to the closed or braking position. Thereby, the control lever 50 fixed to the shaft 22 (see FIGS. 5, 5a, 10) is also moved upward.

[0057] Using the control lever 50 attached to the shaft 22 to which the handle 18 is attached, the fall prevention device 10 can be manually moved between the closed position shown in FIGS. 3a, 4a and 5a and the open position shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5 when the fall prevention device 10 is not under load.

[0058] Initially, for use as a safety device, the handle 18 of the fall prevention device 10 is moved to the open position shown in FIGS. 3, 4 and 5. Thus, the first end 26 of the activation lever 24 is moved to engage with the outer tooth profile 72 of the release gear 48. Also, the catch roller 82 of the lever 21 is moved to the position shown in FIG. 8.

[0059] Starting from this position, when the relative speed between the rope 12 and the device 10 reaches a threshold value and overcomes the restoring force of the tension spring 40, the trigger mechanism 30 will be activated.

[0060] Thereby, the actuator pins 76, 78 engage with the inner tooth profile 74 of the release gear 48, rotating the release gear 48. Accordingly, the outer tooth profile 72 of the release gear 48 moves the activation lever 24 from the open position to the activation position or the closed position (see FIGS. 11 and 11a). Accordingly, the blocking mechanism 23 is moved to the blocking position or the braking position, thereby blocking the rope 12.

[0061] In FIG. 12, for comparison, a prior art fall prevention device Blocstop™ is shown in a similar representation as the device of the present invention according to FIG. 11a.

[0062] The prior art fall prevention device 100 also includes a blocking mechanism 123 including an activation lever 124 that cooperates with a trigger mechanism 130 including two substantially semi-circular centrifugal weights 136, 138 supported by a centrifugal weight holder driven by a drive shaft when there is a relative speed between the rope and the fall prevention device 100. The activation lever 124 is pulled to the open position by a spring. The two centrifugal weights 136, 138 are biased against each other by a spring 140. When the relative speed between the rope and the fall prevention device 100 reaches a threshold value, the centrifugal weights 136, 138 swing outward until one of the centrifugal weights 136, 138 engages the first end of the activation lever 126, overcoming the force of the spring 140. Thereby, the blocking mechanism 123 operates to block the rope.

[0063] In FIG. 13, an alternative design of the fall prevention device is shown in a perspective view similar to the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, designated as 10a as a whole. The catch roller is represented by 82a and the activation lever by 24a. Separately, the same reference numerals are used for similar parts previously described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 11.

[0064] The fall prevention device 10a according to FIG. 13 is different from the previously described embodiment in that the second end 27 of the activation lever 24a has a claw 29 that engages with a latch recess 31 provided in the catch roller 82a when the second end 27 is in the open position shown in FIG. 13. When the centrifugal weights 36, 38 overcome the restoring force of the spring 28 and the trigger mechanism 30 is activated, the outer tooth profile 72 moves counterclockwise against the action of the spring shown in FIG. 13, thereby moving the trigger mechanism 30 to the closed position (this movement is in the opposite direction to that previously described with respect to FIGS. 1 to 11 of the first embodiment, and the other components are rearranged as appropriate to achieve the same functions). Therefore, the second end 27 of the activation lever 24a moves to the right, thereby freeing the catch roller 82a and activating the block mechanism 23.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0065] 10 Fall prevention device 12 Rope 23 Block mechanism 24 Activation lever 25 Shaft 26 First end 27 Second end 30 Trigger mechanism 32 Drive shaft 34 Centrifugal weight holder 35, 37 Swivel shaft 36, 38 Centrifugal weights 40 Tension spring 42 Compensation bracket 43, 44 Pins 45, 46 Slots 48 Release gear (release lever) 49 Bearing disk 50 Control lever 51, 56 Brake pads 52 First brake lever pair 54 Second brake lever pair 53, 55, 67 Pivots 57, 60 Brake cams 62 Control slot 65 Spring carrier 66 Pressure spring 72 Outer tooth profile 74 Inner tooth profile 76, 78 Actuating members (actuator pins) 80 Catch portion 82, 82a Catch rollers

Claims

Claim 1 A fall prevention device for blocking the rope (12) when the relative speed between the rope (12) and the device (10) reaches a threshold value, wherein the device (10) includes a blocking mechanism (23) for blocking the rope (12), and when the speed reaches the threshold value, a trigger mechanism (30) configured to trigger the activation lever (24) of the blocking mechanism (23) to activate the blocking mechanism (23) for blocking the rope (12). The trigger mechanism (30) includes a drive shaft (32) rotated by the rope (12) during relative movement between the rope (12) and the fall prevention device (10). The drive shaft (32) has a centrifugal weight holder (34), and at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) is held so as to act against a restoring force. The at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) is movable between a non-operating position and a trigger position and can trigger the activation lever (24) when the speed reaches the threshold value. The centrifugal weight holder (34) is rotatably arranged relative to a release gear (48) including tooth profiles (72, 74) engageable by the actuating members (76, 78) of the at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) when the at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) is in the trigger position. A fall prevention device. Claim 2 The fall prevention device according to claim 1, wherein the activation lever (24) is pivotally arranged about a shaft (25) arranged at a distance outward from the release gear (48). Claim 3 The fall prevention device according to claim 2, wherein the activation lever (24) includes a first end (26) cooperating with the outer tooth profile (72) of the release gear (48), and when the activation lever (24) is in an open position corresponding to the non-operating position of the trigger mechanism (30), the activation lever (24) engages the outer tooth profile (72) and the first end (26). Claim 4 The starting lever (24) includes a second end portion (27) having a catch portion (80, 29) that engages with the catch rollers (82, 82a) when in the open position, and when the trigger mechanism (30) is triggered, the catch rollers (82, 82a) are moved from the open position to the closed position by the outer tooth profile (72), thereby releasing the catch roller (82) to activate the blocking mechanism (23). The fall prevention device according to claim 3, characterized in that.

5. The catch portion of the second end portion (27) of the starting lever (24a) is configured as a claw (29) that engages with a recess (31) of the catch roller (82a) when in the open position, and the claw (29) is released from the recess (31) of the catch roller (82a) when the trigger mechanism (30) is triggered to operate the blocking mechanism (23). The fall prevention device according to claim 4, characterized in that.

6. The at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) is pivotally arranged about a pivot axis (35, 37) located on the centrifugal weight holder (34) that acts against the restoring force of the spring (40), and when the at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) overcomes the restoring force of the spring (40) when the threshold value is reached during the rotation of the drive shaft (32), it is movable from the non-trigger position to the trigger position to trigger the starting lever (24). The fall prevention device according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that.

7. Each centrifugal weight (36, 38) has one operating member (76, 78) that cooperates with the inner tooth profile (74) of the release gear (48), and is rotated by the operating member (76, 78) when the tooth profiles (72, 74) reach the threshold value. The fall prevention device according to claim 6, characterized in that.

8. The tooth profiles (72, 74) include a plurality of teeth including at least eight teeth. The fall prevention device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that.

9. Two centrifugal weights (36, 38) are eccentrically held on the centrifugal weight holder (34) that acts against the restoring force of the spring (28). The fall prevention device according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that.

10. The fall prevention device according to claim 9, characterized in that each of the centrifugal weights (36, 38) is pivotally arranged about a pivot axis (35, 37) eccentrically arranged on the centrifugal weight holder (34).

11. The fall prevention device according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that each centrifugal weight (36, 38) has pins (43, 44) engaging in slots (45, 46) provided in a bracket (42) extending across the centrifugal weight (36, 38).

12. The fall prevention device according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that each centrifugal weight (36, 38) comprises an actuating member configured as an actuator pin (76, 78) arranged to engage with an inner tooth profile (74) of the release gear (48) when the at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) is in the trigger position.

13. The fall prevention device according to claim 12, characterized in that the inner tooth profile (74) of the release gear (48) is configured to engage the actuator pin (76, 78) only when the rope (12) rises relative to the device (10) or when the device (10) descends relative to the rope (12).

14. The fall prevention device according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the release gear (48) includes an outer tooth profile (72) engaging with the activation lever (24) to rotate the activation lever (24) to a position for actuating the blocking mechanism (23) when the at least one centrifugal weight (36, 38) is in the trigger position.

15. The fall prevention device according to any one of claims 11 to 14, characterized in that each of the centrifugal weights (36, 38) is supported at one end pivotally about the pivot axis (35, 37) against the restoring force of the spring (28) biasing the centrifugal weights (36, 38) against each other and has a substantially semi-cylindrical shape.

16. The fall prevention device according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the release gear (48) is combined with a bearing disk (49) rotatably mounted on the drive shaft (32).

Images