Line brakes, line stoppers, and related methods

Abstract

A lift system includes an overhead support, a counterweight, a base unit including a brake and secured to a floor, a fly line, and a load line. The fly line connects the counterweight, the overhead support, and the base unit via pulleys. The brake is configured to engage the fly line to limit movement of the counterweight and a load. A manual rope brake includes a housing having a base portion, an upper portion, and a hinge rotatably connecting the upper portion to the base portion. A cam lock is within the housing between pulleys. The cam lock engages a rope when the brake is engaged, and disengages from the rope when the brake is disengaged. A portable lift system includes a container configured to carry pulleys, a base unit, a fly line, and a load line when the lift system is in transport. Related methods are also disclosed.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A line brake, comprising:
 a housing comprising a stationary member, a movable member, and a hinge rotatably connecting the movable member to the stationary member;   a first pulley rotatably secured to the housing;   a second pulley rotatably secured to the housing;   a cam lock within the housing between the first pulley and the second pulley;   wherein the cam lock is configured to engage a line passing from the first pulley to the second pulley when the movable member of the housing is in a first position, and wherein the cam lock is configured to disengage from the line when the movable member of the housing is in a second position.   
     
     
         2 . The line brake of  claim 1 , wherein engagement of the line by the cam lock is configured to limit movement of the line along a path between the first pulley and the second pulley. 
     
     
         3 . The line brake of  claim 1 , wherein the movable member of the housing is configured to be in the first position when a tension of the line is greater than a downward force applied to the movable member of the housing. 
     
     
         4 . The line brake of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the line when the movable member of the housing is in the first position moves the cam lock to a locking position. 
     
     
         5 . The line brake of  claim 1 , wherein movement of the movable member of the housing from the first position to the second position moves the cam lock to a non-locking position. 
     
     
         6 . The line brake of  claim 1 , further comprising a return mechanism comprising a body having a shape corresponding at least partially to a shape of a void defined by the cam lock. 
     
     
         7 . A line stopper, comprising:
 a rigid member defining a tapered cavity therethrough, the tapered cavity having a first cross-sectional area at one end thereof and a second cross-sectional area at an opposite end thereof; wherein the first cross-sectional area is larger than the second cross-sectional area; and   a line passing through the tapered cavity, wherein the line comprises a tapered plug disposed within the line, the tapered plug having a shape corresponding approximately to the shape of the tapered cavity in the rigid member, wherein the line surrounding the tapered plug has a cross-sectional area larger than the second cross-sectional area of the rigid member.   
     
     
         8 . The line stopper of  claim 7 , wherein the tapered cavity has a conical shape. 
     
     
         9 . The line stopper of  claim 7 , wherein the tapered plug is movable within the line. 
     
     
         10 . The line stopper of  claim 7 , wherein the rigid member further comprises an attachment point configured for securing a safety line. 
     
     
         11 . The line stopper of  claim 7 , wherein the rigid member further comprises a flange. 
     
     
         12 . The line stopper of  claim 7 , wherein the rigid member defines at least one opening, and wherein a pin passes through the at least one opening. 
     
     
         13 . The line brake of  claim 1 , further comprising a tensioner connected to the line passing from the first pulley to the second pulley. 
     
     
         14 . The line brake of  claim 1 , wherein the first pulley is rotatably secured to the stationary member of the housing. 
     
     
         15 . The line brake of  claim 1 , wherein the second pulley is rotatably secured to the movable member of the housing. 
     
     
         16 . The line brake of  claim 1 , further comprising a roller connected to the movable member and configured to slide within a slot defined by the stationary member. 
     
     
         17 . The line brake of  claim 16 , wherein the roller is configured to slide vertically within the slot defined by the stationary member. 
     
     
         18 . The line brake of  claim 1 , the cam lock comprises a body having a shape corresponding in part to a shape of an ellipse. 
     
     
         19 . The line brake of  claim 1 , wherein the cam lock comprises a non-stick material. 
     
     
         20 . A method of controlling a line using the line brake of  claim 1 , the method comprising:
 moving the movable member of the housing from the first position to the second position to disengage the line from the cam lock; and   moving the movable member of the housing from the second position to the first position to engage the line with the cam lock.