Device operating on ropes for use in lowering loads

(19)

(11)

EP 1 783 091 A3

(12)	EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(88)	Date of publication A3:
	28.05.2008 Bulletin 2008/22

(43)	Date of publication A2:
	09.05.2007 Bulletin 2007/19

(21)	Application number: 06122589.2

(22)	Date of filing: 19.10.2006

(51)

International Patent Classification (IPC):

B66D 3/02^(2006.01)

B66D 5/00^(2006.01)

(84)	Designated Contracting States:
	AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC NL PL PT RO SE SI SK TR
	Designated Extension States:
	AL BA HR MK RS

(30)

Priority:

02.11.2005 GB 0522414

(71)	Applicant: Balfour Beatty PLC
	London SW1V 1LQ (GB)

(72)	Inventor:
	Neve, Simon Harry c/o Balfour Beatty P.N. Ltd. Raynesway Derby, DE21 7BG (GB)

(74)	Representative: Anderson, James Edward George
	Elkington and Fife LLP Prospect House 8 Pembroke Road Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XR Sevenoaks, Kent TN13 1XR (GB)

(54)	Device operating on ropes for use in lowering loads

(57) A device (1) for use in paying out a rope using the force from a load supported by the rope. The device (1) comprises: a rope trapping arrangement (5); and a rope guiding arrangement defining a first guided position in which the rope is out of the rope trapping arrangement, and a second guided position in which the rope is engaged into the rope trapping arrangement (5). The device is operable in two modes: a first mode in which the rope is held by an operator of the device in the first guided position and the rope can be paid out; and a second mode in which the rope is released by an operator of the device, and the rope is guided to the second guided position, thereby to trap the rope and prevent further paying out of the rope. The rope guiding arrangement may be adapted, in use, to guide the rope to the second guiding position under the action of gravity or under the action of a resiliently biased element.

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