Patent attributes
A centrifugal brake mechanism for a controlled descent device, and a drum device employing it, are described. The mechanism comprises a circular wheel configured and operable to rotate about an axis of rotation thereof, an axle extending along and rotatable about the axis inside a central cavity of the wheel and having two or more parallel shaft rods extending inside the cavity substantially perpendicular to the axis of rotation, a gear system for transferring rotations of the wheel into counter-rotations of the axle, one or more brake elements each having pass-through bores for slidably mounting over the two or more parallel shaft rods, springs mounted over the parallel shaft rods between the brake element and the axle, and a friction enhancement mechanism for increasing friction forces between the brake elements and the inner wall the wheel responsive to increase in angular velocity of the wheel.
