Load balancing descending device, systems and methods

Abstract

A system for passively slowing a descent rate of a load includes a rope having a fixed end and an opposing free end below the fixed end, a descent device having a base plate with first and second opposing plate ends, first and second pins fixedly mounted to the base plate, the first pin located at the first opposing plate end, and a carabiner attachment portion located at the second opposing plate end. A carabiner is attached to the carabiner attachment portion of the descent device, and a load attached to the carabiner. The system disposes a rope within the descent device about the first and second pin in serpentine manner, with the free end of the rope balanced against the load by the device disposed between the load and the free end, and the rope contacting first and second non-rotatable rope-contacting surfaces of the first and second pins, respectively.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for passively slowing a rate of descent of a load, comprising:
 a rope having a fixed end and free end opposite the fixed end, the free end being below the fixed end;   a descent device, the descent device including:
 a base plate having first and second opposing plate ends; 
 first and second pins fixedly mounted to the base plate, the first pin located at the first opposing plate end; and 
 a carabiner attachment portion located at the second opposing plate end; 
   a carabiner attached to the carabiner attachment portion of the descent device; and   a load attached to the carabiner,   wherein the rope is disposed within the descent device about the first and second pin in serpentine manner,   wherein the free end of the rope is balanced against the load by the descent device disposed between the load and the free end of the rope, and   wherein the rope contacts both of first and second rope-contacting surfaces of the first and second pins, respectively, the first and second rope-contacting surfaces being non-rotatable with respect to the base plate.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , the load balancing descending device configured to passively adjust the amount of friction applied to the rope based on a weight of the load against a weight of the free end of the rope by adjusting the amount of rotation of the descent device about a longitudinal axis of the second pin. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 2 , wherein a distance between the fixed end of the rope and the first pin is related to the weight of the free end of the rope.