Braking apparatus and slack line control device

Claim 1

IN COMBINATION WITH A DRUM HAVING A CABLE WOUND THEREON, A BRAKING APPARATUS COMPRISING A BRAKING BAR SECURED IN JUXTAPOSITION TO THE DRUM, LEVER ARM MEANS CARRIED BY THE BRAKING BAR AND RESPONSIVE TO TENSION IN THE CABLE FOR MAINTAINING THE BRAKING BAR DISENGAGED FROM THE CABLE WOUND ON SAID DRUM, MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BRAKING BAR ADAPTED TO BE MOVED INTO BRAKING CONTACT WITH A PORTION OF SAID DRUM, MEANS COOPERATING WITH SAID LEVER ARM MEANS AND RESPONSIVE TO RELEASE OF THE TENSION IN THE CABLE FOR AUTOMATICALLY MOVING THE BRAKING BAR INTO ENGAGEMENT WITH THE CABLE WOUND ON THE DRUM, THE ENGAGEMENT OF SAID BRAKING BAR WITH THE CABLE WOUND ON THE DRUM ACTUATING SAID MEANS CARRIED BY SAID BRAKING BAR INTO BRAKING CONTACT WITH SAID PORTION OF SAID DRUM, SAID BRAKING BAR WHEN DISPOSED IN CONTACT WITH THE OUTERMOST LAYER OF CABLE WOUND ON THE DRUM IN THE ENGAGED POSITION THEREOF SUBSTANTIALLY PRECLUDING LOOSENING OF THE WOUND CABLE.