Abstract:
A telescoping derrick has a safety line which is attached to a harness which secures to a worker to be used while climbing the ladder of the derrick. Telescoping tube sections are mounted to the derrick for extension and contraction with the derrick sections. The line is trained over a pulley attached to the crown of a derrick, then passes into the telescoping tube. The line is connected to a counterweight located in the telescoping tube. The line and counterweight remain inside the telescoping tube during rig up and rig down of the derrick.
Abstract:
An energy absorber for a fall protection system employing a horizontal lifeline comprises an elongate, flexible strength component to opposite ends of which is transmitted the tension shock load produced in the lifeline by arresting a fall and a plurality of sequential energy components operatively connected to the strength component, so that tension applied at opposite ends of the strength component is borne by each of the energy absorbing components and only after its predecessor has broken. The breaking strength of each energy absorbing component, which may be a linear segment of stainless steel aircraft cable, is selected not exceed a desired maximum arrest load. The number of energy absorber components is selected so that not all of them will break when the fall protection system arrests the fall of an object of a predetermined mass falling freely a predetermined distance.
Abstract:
A load attachment system comprises an elongate element secured with respect to a supporting structure and a load attachment, traversing device engaged therewith for sliding movement therealong to traverse intermediate attachment points for the elongate element without detachment therefrom. The traversing device includes a pair of rotary members which cooperate to define a channel for receiving and locating the elongate element. The rotary members are supported on mounting structure adapted to allow relative movement of the rotary member to narrow, or increase, the width of the channel. A load attachment connection is provided on the mounting structure to cause loading of the rotary members, under loads applied in directions away from the elongate element, so as to firmly maintain them in relative positions in which the channel is narrowed thereby securing the elongate element in the channel and reducing the possibility of detachment of the load from the elongate element.
Abstract:
A safety line shock absorber that is designed to gradually break the fall and stop the user without the shock that occurs when the standard lanyard reaches full extension. The shock absorber incorporates the structure of a bungy cord in combination with an elongated strip of flat webbing that is folded longitudinally upon itself a plurality of times in an accordian type manner to form a plurality of lapped portions. A plurality of transverse rows of stitching across the respective lapped portions will tear apart and allow the webbing to be stretched out to its unfolded length when excessive force is applied to the longitudinal axis of the safety line shock absorber when a workman hooked up to the shock absorber unexpectedly takes a fall. The shock absorber has a cover strip that will tear anytime the stitched lapped portions of the webbing and the bungy cord has been used to gradually break a fall and reduce the shock of the last workman reaching the end of the line during a fall and ripping out the stitching of the webbing and the cover strip thus alerting the workman that it should be discarded and that it is no longer safe to use.
Abstract:
A fall arrest device movable along a vertical lifeline comprises a toothed wheel rotatable in its own housing, which housing is pivoted and spring loaded inside an outer housing, so as to cause the toothed wheel to bear upon a lifeline running within a covered channel at the front of the outer housing. The toothed wheel thus pivots with respect to the outer housing and friction between the wheel and the rope causes the wheel to rotate as the device is moved up or down the rope. When the downward velocity of the outer housing reaches a predetermined rate, a centrifugal clutch mechanism stops the rotation of the toothed wheel so that the friction between the rope and the stationary toothed wheel causes the housing of the toothed wheel to pivot within the outer housing, wedging the rope against the outer housing and causing the rope to jam to prevent further movement of the fall arrest device therealong.
Abstract:
A safety device for mounting on a beam section including a body comprising two articulated portions having projections which produce a wedging effect on the beam section when under the pull of a load.
Abstract:
Apparatus and method for applying a counteracting force which is generated by pulling superposed sections of webbing, which are secured together, through a separating means so that the separation of the secured together superposed sections generates a counteracting force. A frictional force may also be generated so as to provide an additional counteracting force.
Abstract:
A grip device for mounting along a horizontal line, such as a rope or cable, to prevent a load from falling when one end of the line is no longer supported in its horizontal position. The device consists of a shell in which is mounted by means of a pin, a clamping wedge arranged such that when the handle of the wedge is moved in either direction, the wedge becomes clamped against the rope or cable to prevent movement of the rope through the device, and therefore prevent falling of a person attached to the device by means of an approved belt, harness or lanyard.
Abstract:
A fall arrester and emergency retrieval apparatus and a support tripod therefor, wherein an emergency retrieval assembly is operably associated with a clutch-brake type cable drum to enable cable dispensed from the cable drum and supporting a worker, subsequent to a fall to be selectively drawn in or extended from the assembly. The invention may comprise actuation assembly designed to hamper disengagement of the emergency retrieval assembly from the cable drum by unauthorized personnel subsequent to engagement and use of the emergency retrieval assembly. A specially adapted tripod assembly is described for anchoring the fall arrester and emergency retrieval apparatus which allows the apparatus to be mounted on a leg portion thereof or suspended from a central portion thereof, for facilitating use of the fall arrester and emergency retrieval apparatus in confined entry applications.
Abstract:
A load carrying device, movable along a rope, has a casing formed of two cheeks, a shaft supported on the casing, and a pulley supported on the shaft. Two diverters are disposed on opposite cheeks of the casing so a rope enters the device on one diverter, passes about a portion of the circumference of the pulley, and exits the device on the other diverter. The casing has a closed position where the cheeks are axially adjacent and an open position where the cheeks are spaced apart along the shaft so that a rope may be inserted in the device. The cheeks have stops which limit their translational movement from the closed position and limit their rotational movement when rope tension tends to move the diverters away from each other. Centrifugal force of pulley rotation causes a pawl to lock the pulley against rotation.