Energy absorber and fall arrest system safety device
AssigneeLatchways PLC
InventorsOwain Jones, Karl Jones
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A safety device for use in a fall arrest or fall safety system includes an energy absorber to absorb energy in the event of a fall or other impulse event. The energy absorber is a resilient element (such as a tolerance ring) providing an interference fit between a first component of the device and a second component of the device. In the event of a fall arrestor other impulse event, the first and second components effect movement relative to one another, the interference fit being overcome, and the resilient element/tolerance ring acting to resist the relative movement thereby absorbing energy.
Claims11
A safety device for use in a fall arrest or fall safety system, the safety device comprising:
- an energy absorber arrangement to absorb energy in the event of a fall or other impulse event, wherein the energy absorber arrangement consists of a resilient element providing an interference fit between a rotatable shaft of the device and a safety line drum of the device, the safety line drum mounted about the shaft,
- wherein the resilient element is configured to permit relative rotation between the shaft and the safety line drum in a first configuration of the resilient element and to prevent relative rotation between the shaft and the safety line drum in a second configuration of the resilient element so that in the second configuration the shaft and the drum are permitted to rotate together in unison;
- and
- a speed responsive engagement mechanism responsive to the speed of rotation of the drum, which is activated, above a predetermined rotational speed of the drum,
- wherein, a degree of resilience of the resilient element is such that, when the speed responsive engagement mechanism is activated, the energy absorber arrangement acts to absorb energy and slow rotation of the safety line drum by permitting relative rotation between the shaft and the drum of the device.
A fall arrest device comprising:
- a rotatable shaft;
- a safety line drum mounted with the shaft for rotation;
- a speed responsive engagement mechanism responsive to the speed of rotation of the drum, which is activated, above a predetermined rotational speed of the drum;
- and
- an energy absorber arrangement configured to absorb energy and slow rotation of the safety line drum when the speed responsive engagement mechanism is activated in the event of a fall or other impulse event,
- wherein the energy absorber arrangement consists of a resilient ring or band mounted to the shaft with the drum and provides an interference fit between the shaft and the safety line drum, and
- wherein activation of the speed responsive engagement device causes the energy absorber arrangement to permit relative rotation between the shaft and the safety line drum, and
- wherein when the speed responsive engagement device is not activated, the safety line drum rotates in unison with the shaft and without relative rotation between the safety line drum and the shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.