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US 5,332,071 AGranted
Shock absorber for safety cable system
AssigneeSinco, Inc.
InventorCharles W. Duncan
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A shock absorber which is especially adapted for use in conjunction with a horizontal safety cable plasticly deforms under the impact load of a falling worker. The shock absorber has a break away housing so that upon inspection, the shock can be identified if it has been subjected to an impact. The absorber is also configured to impart a tautness to the safety cable and visually indicate the attainment of the preferred cable pre-tension force.
Claims21
A shock absorber for a safety cable system having a safety cable, said shock absorber comprising:
- coil means comprising at least one coil and opposite first and second axially spaced end segments wherein said coil means has an elastic deformation range and said coil means functions as a spring to exert a tension force to maintain the cable in a taut configuration in the elastic deformation range;
- and
- housing means comprising a housing enclosing said at least one coil and having an axial end portion,
- so that when an axial force exerted between said end segments exceeds a preestablished threshold, said at least one coil plasticly deforms and said axial end portion separates from the rest of said housing.
1 more element
A safety cable system comprising:
- a safety cable;
- a shock absorber connected with said safety cable wherein said shock absorber has an elastic deformation range and said shock absorber exerts a force to maintain said cable in a taut configuration in the elastic deformation range, said shock absorber comprising:
- coil means comprising a plurality of coils and having opposite first and second axially spaced end segments;
- so that when an impact force exerted on said cable exceeds a pre-established impact threshold, said coils plasticly deform and said second end segment is displaced relative to said first end segment.
1 more element
A shock absorber for a safety cable system having a safety cable, said shock absorber comprising:
- coil means comprising a metal rod configured in a plurality of coils and having opposite first and second axial end segments wherein said coil means has an elastic deformation range and said coil means functions as a spring to exert a tension force to maintain the cable in a taut configuration in the elastic deformation range;
- and
- housing means comprising a tube enclosing said coils and having opposite first and second end caps, said first end cap being fixedly attached to said tube and said second end cap being semi-fixedly attached to said tube so as to detach from said tube when an axial force against said second end cap exceeds a preestablished threshold,
- so that when an axial force exerted between said end segments exceeds the preestablished threshold, said coils plasticly deform.
1 more element
A shock absorber for a safety cable system having a safety cable, said shock absorber comprising:
- coil means comprising a plurality of coils and having opposite first and second axially spaced end segments, said coils having an elastic and a plastic deformation range wherein said coil means functions as a spring to exert a tension force to maintain the cable in a taut configuration in the elastic deformation range;
- and
- housing means for enclosing said coils and comprising selective inspection means for maintaining a first structural configuration when said coil means is subjected to an axial load in the elastic range and for transforming to a second configuration when said coil means is subjected to an axial load in the plastic range.
A safety cable system comprising:
- a safety cable;
- a shock absorber connected with said safety cable, said shock absorber comprising:
- coil means comprising a plurality of coils and having opposite first and second axially spaced end segments wherein said coil means has an elastic deformation range and said coil means functions as a spring to exert a tension force to maintain said cable in a taut configuration in the elastic deformation range;
- and
- housing means comprising an enclosure for enclosing said coils and having opposite first and second end portions, said second end portion being displaceable relative to said first end portion when an axial force exerted against said coil means exceeds a preestablished threshold,
- so that when an impact force exerted on said cable exceeds said preestablished threshold, said coils plasticly deform and said second end portion is displaced relative to said first end portion.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.