Rope braking system

摘要

A compression chuck for variously conducting and braking a rope, wherein the compression chuck includes a first and second portions. The invention includes a first biasing mechanism which maintains the compression chuck first and second portions in a disengaged condition with the rope, wherein the rope is conducted freely in response to outside forces on the rope. Also included is an actuator, wherein the actuator is operable to overbear the first biasing mechanism to place the compression chuck in an engaged condition with the rope in response to a rope break, braking movement of the rope. The first and second compression chuck portions may be carried on opposing parallel plates that are biased apart until the actuator moves such plates together in response to a rope break. At least one of the plates may be fixed to a crane head, crane, or other structure proximate a moving rope, when installed.

主权项

1. A rope braking system comprising:
a first plate; a second plate parallel to and spaced apart from said first plate; at least one first portion of a compression chuck coupled to said first plate; at least one biasing mechanism operable to maintain said second plate spaced-apart from said first plate in a first configuration; at least one actuator coupled to at least said second plate and operable to overbear said biasing mechanism to urge said second plate towards said first plate in a second configuration; at least one second portion of said compression chuck coupled to said second plate and aligned to said at least one first portion of said compression chuck; wherein said at least one first portion of a compression chuck and said at least one second portion of a compression chuck comprises one of:
a tapered bore surrounding a first opening in one of said first plate and said second plate; andat least first and second resilient wedge members opposed across a second opening in one of said second plate and said first plate, respectively; and wherein said second portion of said compression chuck comprises a base portion having said tapered bore.