Winding – tensioning – or guiding – Reeling device – With brake
Patent
1992-08-19
1994-10-04
Stodola, Daniel P.
Winding, tensioning, or guiding
Reeling device
With brake
254267, 242371, B66D 148, B66D 154, B66D 500
Patent
active
053519060
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
This invention relates to safety anchorages for controlling pay-out of a safety line during descent of a body attached to such line.
The invention has been made with particular reference to personnel safety anchorages for use by persons working at height and the invention will be more particularly described in that context. However the safety line of anchorages according to the invention can of course be attached to any body, whether animate or inanimate.
The invention is applicable to different kinds of safety anchorages. One such kind comprises fall-arrest anchorages which permit a worker attached to the safety line to climb or descend from one level to another in course of his work but which are self-locking in the event of excessive pay-out speed of the safety line such as would occur if the worker should begin to fall. Another such kind comprises anchorages which control the descent of a person under his or her own weight and which can be used as a means of escape from an elevated position in the case of fire or other emergency circumstance . Fall-arrest anchorages normally incorporate a self-winding drum from which the safety line pays out as required by the movements of the person attached to the line. Safety anchorages of the descent control type normally comprise a safety line which is guided around a sheave as it pays out through the anchorage. As one end of the line descends the opposite end of the line rises and if another person then becomes attached to that opposite end of the line the anchorage can function in the same manner, but in a reverse sense, to control the descent of that other person.
Such safety anchorages essentially comprise a rotatable safety line carrier or guide which is driven by the safety line as it pays out, and a brake mechanism which prevents excessive pay-out speed. The safety line is conventionally in the form of a rope or cable.
Safety anchorages are known wherein the rotatable safety line carrier or guide and the brake mechanism are enclosed and carried by a casing whereby the anchorage can be easily attached to a fixture (see e.g. UK Patent 1552667, 851981 and 1463589, French Patent 71.47446). The casing provides a fixed interior surface with which movable brake elements co-operate to provide the braking resistance required to prevent excessive pay-out speed of the cable. The spatial relationship of the casing to the interior mechanism is therefore fairly critical. Moreover the casing must be strong enough to sustain the multidirectional forces, which are imposed on it when the cable is loaded, and which are particularly large in the case of fall-arrest apparatus in the event that a fall occurs. These requirements significantly contribute to manufacturing cost and the total weight of the anchorage.
The present invention provides safety anchorages in which load and braking forces are sustained and transmitted in a way which is conducive to simplification of construction and to more efficient use of material used.
The invention incorporates safety anchorages having the features set out below. According to a first embodiment, the anchorages are characterised in that the control assembly comprising the safety line carrier or guide and the brake mechanism which functions automatically to prevent excessive pay-out speed of the safety line when the anchorage is in use, are carried wholly or mainly by load-bearing means which is connected to the said assembly at a local region of its axial length. When the anchorage is in use, it is connected to a fixture. The anchorage has one or more attachment points for that purpose. Loading forces transmitted to the anchorage via the safety line, and braking forces, are transmitted to such attachment point(s) wholly or mainly along such spine.
Such safety anchorages can be compact and of relatively small weight. The use of load-bearing means in the form of a said spine is conducive to efficient use of the load-bearing material and to ease of assembly of the anchorage. The control assembly is preferably carried entirely or substantiall
REFERENCES:
patent: 2546202 (1951-03-01), Trouin
patent: 4198033 (1980-04-01), de la Messuziere et al.
patent: 4511123 (1985-04-01), Ostrobrod
patent: 4846313 (1989-07-01), Sharp
Barrow Hepburn Sala Ltd.
Nguyen John Q.
Stodola Daniel P.
LandOfFree
Safety anchorages for controlling pay-out of a safety line does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Safety anchorages for controlling pay-out of a safety line, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Safety anchorages for controlling pay-out of a safety line will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-576513