# US 2019/0168998 A1 · Fall arrest devices, and related methods > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2019/0168998 A1 - Document ID: US20190168998A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 16/323,049 - Filed: 2017-07-31 - Published: 2019-06-06 - Earliest claimed: 2016-08-03 - Assignees: Aip Aps - Applicants: AlP APS - Inventors: José Javiér Nuñez RIVERO - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20190168998A1 ## CPC - B66B 5/185: {by acting on main ropes or main cables} - B66B 5/0087: {Devices facilitating maintenance, repair or inspection tasks (devices incorporated in the buffer B66B5/288; railings on top of the car B66B11/0226)} - B66B 5/044: {Mechanical overspeed governors} - B66B 5/048: {Testing of overspeed governor} - B66B 5/24: by acting on guide ropes or cables - B66B: ELEVATORS; ESCALATORS OR MOVING WALKWAYS ({apparatus for raising or lowering persons on theatrical stages or the like A63J5/12} ; funicular railbound systems with rigid ground-supported tracks and cable traction, e.g. cliff railways, B61B9/00; arrangements of ammunition handlers in vessels B63G3/00; hoists, lifts, or conveyors for loading or unloading in general B65G; braking or detent devices controlling normal movements of winding drums or barrels B66D; ship-lifting devices E02C; garages for many vehicles with mechanical means for lifting vehicles E04H6/12; hoists for feeding ammunition or projectiles to launching apparatus or to loading mechanisms F41A9/00) ## Abstract A fall arrest device comprises a casing with an entry hole for the wire rope, and an exit hole for the wire rope, and a clamping mechanism and an overspeed detector arranged inside the casing. The speed detection mechanism comprises a driven roller arranged to be driven by the wire rope. The driven roller has one or more selected areas to be detected by a sensor, and the device further comprises a motion indicator configured to receive a signal from the sensor when the sensor detects one of the selected areas. The motion indicator is configured to give different indications depending on whether or not the signal is received from the sensor, and such indications are detectable from outside the casing. Methods for operating such a fall arrest device and method for retrofitting fall arrest devices are also disclosed. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A fall arrest device configured to be mounted around a wire rope of an elevator, the fall arrest device comprising a casing with an entry hole for the wire rope, and an exit hole for the wire rope, and a clamping mechanism and an overspeed detector arranged inside the casing, the overspeed detector comprising a driven roller arranged to be driven by the wire rope and wherein the clamping mechanism is configured to clamp the wire rope if the overspeed detector detects a speed of the driven roller above a predetermined threshold, wherein the driven roller has one or more selected areas to be detected by a sensor, and the device further comprising a motion indicator configured to receive a signal from the sensor when the sensor detects one of the selected areas, and the motion indicator is configured to give different indications depending on whether or not the signal is received from the sensor, such indications being detectable from outside the casing. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) A fall arrest device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor inside the casing is a photoelectric sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) A fall arrest device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor inside the casing is an inductive sensor. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) A fall arrest device according to claim 1, wherein the sensor is a color sensor or a contrast sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) A fall arrest device according to claim 1, wherein the overspeed detector further comprises a pressure roller configured to force the wire rope and the driven roller into contact. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) A fall arrest device according to claim 1, wherein the overspeed detector is a centrifugal speed detection mechanism. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) A fall arrest device according to claim 1, wherein the motion indicator is a light. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A fall arrest device according to claim 1, wherein the wire rope is a hoisting wire rope of the elevator. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) A fall arrest device according to claim 1, wherein the casing further comprises an inspection window for viewing the speed detection mechanism. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) An elevator system comprising the fall arrest device according to claim 1, and an elevator. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) A wind turbine comprising an elevator system according to claim 10. ### Claim 12 (depends on 10) A method for operating an elevator system according to claim 10, wherein the elevator is operated by a traction mechanism, and the method comprising deriving an estimated speed of the wire rope from the speed of the driven roller, deriving an actual speed of the wire rope from the traction mechanism, and comparing the estimated speed with the actual speed, and issuing a warning signal if a difference between the actual speed and the estimated speed is higher than a predetermined threshold. ### Claim 13 A method for retrofitting a fall arrest device comprising a casing with an entry hole for a wire rope, and an exit hole for a wire rope, and a clamping mechanism and an overspeed detector arranged inside the casing, the overspeed detector comprising a driven roller arranged to be driven by the wire rope and wherein the clamping mechanism is configured to clamp the wire rope if the overspeed detector detects a speed of the driven roller above a predetermined threshold, the method comprising: providing a sensor configured to detect selected areas of the driven roller, and providing a motion indicator configured to receive a signal from the sensor when the sensor detects one of the selected areas, wherein the motion indicator is configured to give different indications depending on whether or not the signal is received from the sensor, and such indications being detectable from outside the casing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) A method according to claim 13, further comprising making selected areas of the driven roller detectable by the sensor. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) A method according to claim 14, wherein making one or more selected areas of the driven roller detectable by the sensor includes providing one or more of a reflective foil, reflective paint, reflective coating or reflective sticker on the selected areas. ### Claim 16 (depends on 4) A fall arrest device according to claim 4, wherein the overspeed detector further comprises a pressure roller configured to force the wire rope and the driven roller into contact. ### Claim 17 (depends on 5) A fall arrest device according to claim 5, wherein the overspeed detector is a centrifugal speed detection mechanism. ### Claim 18 (depends on 6) A fall arrest device according to claim 6, wherein the motion indicator is a light. ### Claim 19 (depends on 7) A fall arrest device according to claim 7, wherein the wire rope is a hoisting wire rope of the elevator. ### Claim 20 (depends on 8) A fall arrest device according to claim 8, wherein the casing further comprises an inspection window for viewing the speed detection mechanism.