Line connector having a link detection system and method of making same
AssigneeThe Boeing Company
InventorGerald Oren Pollard
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A line connector for a personal fall protection system includes a carabiner having a loop portion that at least partially defines an opening. The opening is configured to receive a mating component of the personal fall protection system. The line connector also includes at least one sensor. Each at least one sensor includes a coil disposed around the loop portion of the carabiner. The line connector further includes a control unit coupled to the at least one sensor. The control unit is operable to send an excitation signal to the at least one sensor and determine whether the line connector is coupled to the mating component based on a response signal received from the at least one sensor.
Claims20
A line connector for a personal fall protection system, said line connector comprising:
- a carabiner having a loop portion that at least partially defines an opening, said opening configured to receive a mating component of the personal fall protection system;
- at least one sensor, each said at least one sensor comprises a coil disposed around said loop portion of said carabiner;
- and
- a control unit coupled to said at least one sensor, said control unit operable to:
- send an excitation signal to said at least one sensor;
- and
- determine whether said line connector is coupled to the mating component based on a response signal received from said at least one sensor.
A personal fall protection system comprising:
- a harness;
- at least one line element;
- and
- a plurality of line connectors configured to couple to mating components for connecting said harness, said at least one line element, and an anchor, at least one of said plurality of line connectors comprising:
- a carabiner having a loop portion that at least partially defines an opening, said opening configured to receive a mating component;
- at least one sensor, each said at least one sensor comprises a coil disposed around said loop portion;
- and
- a control unit coupled to said at least one sensor, said control unit operable to:
- send an excitation signal to said at least one sensor;
- and
- determine whether said line connector is coupled to the mating component based on a response signal received from said at least one sensor.
A method of making a line connector for a personal fall protection system, said method comprising:
- disposing a coil of at least one sensor around a loop portion of a carabiner to form the line connector, wherein the loop portion of the carabiner at least partially defines an opening configured to receive a mating component of the personal fall protection system;
- and
- coupling a control unit to the at least one sensor, wherein the control unit is operable to:
- send an excitation signal to the at least one sensor;
- and
- determine whether the line connector is coupled to the mating component based on a response signal received from the at least one sensor.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.