Safety apparatus for horizontal lifeline

Abstract

A safety apparatus is capable of tensioning a horizontal lifeline while providing an adjustable shock absorber and a gauge or indicator for indicating the amount of tension on the lifeline. A housing is adapted to be secured to an anchor point through an anchoring line. The free end of a horizontal lifeline is connected to a chain which passes around a sprocket wheel within the housing. A guide member is located behind the sprocket wheel and ensures that the chain remains on the sprocket wheel. A lever is utilized to rotate the sprocket wheel in order to tension the lifeline. The lever, however, is interconnected to the sprocket wheel through an adjustable disk brake which can be preset to a desired force. When the tension on the lifeline reaches its desired level, the brake slips and the lever can freely rotate. A second series of disk brakes connected to the sprocket wheel function as a shock absorber. In the event of a fall, the initial force on the horizontal lifeline exceeds the braking force of the shock absorber brakes and the sprocket wheel can rotate through a limited number of turns. Eventually, however, the shock absorber brake slows the fall and eventually stops the same. The amount of tension on the shock absorber brake can also be adjusted to thereby control the amount of shock being absorbed.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.