EP0608164A1 - Mobile anchorage permitting safe movement in an horizontal axis - Google Patents

Abstract

The mobile anchoring device according to the invention is of the type comprising a cable (1) supported by support elements (2) which are spaced apart and fixed on a construction element (3), and a clamp (4) which can accommodate the cable (1) in a groove by means of a window closed by at least one jaw, the said clamp (4) allowing fastening and movement along the cable (1) of a safety harness (8) of a person and/or of a load, characterised in that the support elements (2) are formed by an annular head (9) which encloses the cable (1), by a link pin and by a base (10), the whole allowing movement, in complete safety along a horizontal axis, of the clamp (4), without the latter being detached when passing over the support elements (2). The device finds a preferred application in safety means for persons working in high locations. <IMAGE>

Description

The invention relates to a mobile anchoring device of the type using a lifeline and a clamp.

The clamp allows the attachment of a safety harness for the use of a person and / or a load, for example a scaffolding.

Said mobile anchoring device allows movement along the entire lifeline without it being necessary, at a single instant, to unhook the clamp, inter alia at the cable fixing points relative to the elements of construction.

Many fall arrest devices these days use lifelines and tweezers.

Thus, the document FR-A-2,637,314 relates to a safety device for a structure with a large horizontal span, composed of sections abutted to each other such as a crane boom. This device comprises a lifeline cable to which an individual protection harness is attached by a backup line provided with a hooking member sliding freely on the cable. The latter is composed of cable sections abutted to each other, each of which has a length equal to that of the section of the structure with which it is associated, the cable sections being interconnected by connecting means allowing their separation. An anchor point is provided at at least one of the ends of each section, and the backup line includes a second attachment member by which it can be temporarily attached to said anchor point.

Document FR-A-2.635.981 relates to a safety device for traveling along a lifeline comprising a cable supported by various intermediate support collars spaced along the cable, each collar defining a closed space preventing accidental exit cable fixing means of said collars on building elements; a means of connection between the cable and an individual protective device comprising a hooking member sliding freely on the cable and a member for balancing the crossing means of each support collar. This device is characterized in that each support collar has a substantially U-shaped profile, one of the branches of which is adjacent to the construction, and in that said crossing means comprise means for movably closing the opening of the U capable of being moved into a position for releasing the opening of the collar to allow it to be crossed by said connecting means.

The document FR-A-2,606,648 relates to a safety device of the type called "lifeline" comprising a rail along which moves a carriage provided with a ring intended by a link to be connected to a harness, a belt or other, the carriage comprising means for blocking it on the rail, characterized in that the carriage is provided with two grooves intended to cooperate with two opposite edges of said rail, in one of the grooves extending an axis provided with a slot whose dimensions correspond to that of said groove the lateral edges of the slot forming two jaws, said axis being integral with a lever provided with the ring and movable between two stops, the angular setting of the lever being such on the axis that, in a middle intermediate angular position between the two stops, the slot is aligned with the groove while, in all other angular positions, the jaws bear against the rail to ensure the wedging of the chari ot on said rail.

The document FR-A-2,448,355 relates to an anti-fall device anchorable from the ground, essentially characterized by the fact that it comprises a telescopic insulating pole a member for hooking the upper part of this pole, for example on the support frames for the line of the locking means of this attachment member; means for controlling this locking; a lifeline, secured at one end to the fastening member, and capable, at the other end, of being anchored to the ground near the base of the post; and an anti-fall device sliding on this rope, also connected to the fitter.

Document EP-A-0.124.189 relates to a safety device for a lifeline used outside of a structure, for example in a wheelhouse of a boat, comprising members for fixing the lifeline at different spaced points and particularly in the corners of said structure, which allows the passage at the level of the fixing members, of a hook of the safety line which is attached and can slide along the lifeline. In one embodiment, each fixing member comprises a hollow wheel and a sliding element which embraces the teeth of said wheel, which have lateral circular grooves which join them with the sliding element, so that, when the hook is present at said fixing members, it enters between two teeth of the hollowed-out wheel which will rotate around its axis, while the internal face of the hook will slide against the sliding element which itself remains stationary.

The document WO 92/20407 relates to a security device comprising a security rail which is kept at a certain distance from a building or to another support by means of fixings situated at given intervals along said rail. The rail has a sliding element to which the worker's safety harness rope can be attached. This sliding element comprises a tube through which said safety rail passes, and has a longitudinal slot which allows the tube to pass through the fasteners of the rail. A connecting lug to be connected to the worker's rope is pivotally attached to the wall of the tube in a position such that the application of a downward load on the connecting lug causes the tube to rotate so that the slot is oriented laterally with respect to the safety rail.

Document EP-0.486.411 proposes a device which comprises a filiform element of the cable type fixed at each end and supported by intermediate support members, said cable receiving free sliding, a carabiner connected to the user, each support member having a profile determined to allow the passage of the carabiner without uncoupling as it moves along the cable, by subjecting said carabiner to different angular movements, in combination with said profile.

Patent application WO 92/20407 does not describe a mobile anchoring clamp for use as a fall prevention device. It describes an anchoring device which can no longer be reused if there has been a fall. The technical characteristics and the purpose are therefore totally different.

European patent application EP-A-0 486 411 describes a support whose particularity is to use a profile in the shape of a pigtail.

These last two patents are therefore very different.

The present invention aims to solve these problems.

For this purpose, the mobile anchoring device according to the invention is of the type comprising a cable of circular section supported by support elements spaced along said cable, and fixed on construction elements, and a section-shaped clamp of U extending longitudinally, which forms a groove and a window, said groove being intended to receive said cable, and said window being closed by at least one jaw movable in rotation about its axis which is parallel to the groove; said clamp authorizing the fixing as well as the longitudinal displacement along the cable of a safety harness of a person and / or a load, the support elements comprising an annular head, a base and a connecting axis between said head and base, and the outside diameter of the annular head of each support element being greater than the width of the clamp window, and that the diameter of the connecting axis of each support element is less than the width of the clamp window, so that said clamp cannot be detached from the cable at the level of the support elements, although it can slide, characterized in that said annular head grips the cable so that when a longitudinal movement, the jaw or jaws of the clamp open and close automatically when each connecting axis passes without the clamp being able to be unhooked.

Another object of the invention is that the diameter of the cable is less than the width of the window of the clamp, so that said clamp can be detached from the cable between the support elements.

Another subject of the invention is the fact that the jaw or jaws of the clamp act as cams for opening and closing said clamp at the level of each support element.

The invention also relates to a mobile anchoring device characterized in that each jaw has a longitudinal edge of convex shape which facilitates the passage of the connecting axis of the support element.

Another object of the invention resides in the fact that each jaw which closes the window of the clamp is movable in rotation according to different positions of said clamp, first of all an open position which allows the engagement of the cable in the groove of the clamp, then a semi-open position which allows the longitudinal movement of the clamp at the level of the support elements, and, finally, a closed position which allows the longitudinal movement of the clamp along the cable between the support elements.

An object of the invention consists in the fact that each jaw has elastic means which automatically hold the clamp in the closed position.

Yet another object of the invention consists in the fact that each jaw has an external lug which allows manual maintenance of the clamp in the open position.

The attached drawings are given as indicative and non-limiting examples. They represent a preferred embodiment according to the invention. They will allow the invention to be easily understood.

Figure 1 is a perspective view of the device in its preferred mode of use.

Figure 2 is a side view of the clamp in the closed position but in a cable snap configuration.

Figure 3 is a side view of the clamp in the open position, in an engagement or release configuration of the cable.

Figure 4 is a side view of the clamp in the closed position but in a cable release configuration.

Figure 5 is a radial section along A-A of Figure 2 of the clamp in the closed position, the cable being snapped.

Figure 6 is a side view of the clamp in semi-open position at a support member.

Finally, Figure 7 is a front view of a support element with the cable which is integral with it.

According to Figure 1, an individual with a safety harness 8, is located in an elevated location.

Said harness 8 secures it by means of a lifeline which comprises, among other things, a clamp 4 and a cable 1.

This clamp 4 can have a horizontal movement in complete safety along said cable 1 by simple force exerted on the harness 8.

Plated against the elements 3, such as walls, beams, ceilings, support elements 2 immobilize the cable 1 with respect to said elements construction 3.

Each support element 2 is generally formed of a so-called annular head 9 which encloses said cable 1 and of a base 10 which is in contact with the construction elements 3.

According to the following three figures, the system for attaching the clamp 4 to the cable 1 is better understood.

Thus, Figure 4 shows the clamp 4 in the closed position.

In other words, the clamp 4 has, from the side, a shape of a truncated cylinder, the center of the cylinder forming the groove 5 of the clamp 4, and the truncation forming the window 6 of the clamp 4.

On each side of the window 6, two axes carry two jaws 7, which are in the closed position, that is to say that their ends are opposite one another.

This closed position is the normal position of the clamp 4, because each axis is surrounded by a coil spring, the two ends of which extend longitudinally, so that one of the ends is in abutment against the corresponding jaw 7, while the other end bears against the body of the clamp 4.

Said spring is not shown in the figures for the sake of clarity, such a device being already known.

On the periphery of the body of the clamp 4, there are lugs 13 integral with the jaws 7 whose function will appear later.

Still in this side position, the ends of the jaws 7 have, substantially, the shape of a right triangle.

This shape facilitates the entry of the cable 1 into the groove 5 of the clamp 4, because each outer side of the jaws 7 forms an angle of about 45 degrees with the axis passing through the center of the cylindrical shape of the clamp 4 and the interface between the two jaws 7.

In the two outer sides, jaws 7 form a right angle between them.

This is not the case for the inner sides of the jaws 7 which together form a flat angle, which prevents the unexpected exit of the cable 1 from the groove 5.

The truncated cylinder of the clamp 4 extends unilaterally to allow the attachment of a loop 14, to which the safety harness 8 can be attached.

In Figure 3, the cable 1 is pushed into the groove 5, to do this, it passes at the level of the window 6 by moving the two jaws 7 apart from one another.

The clamp is said to be in the open position.

In FIG. 2, the cable is located in the groove 5 of the clamp 4, the two jaws 7, under the effect of the coil springs, have closed, said cable 1 is thus circumscribed in the groove 5 closed at its window 6 by the two jaws 7, without the possibility of coming out as has been seen above.

The cable 1 is released in a completely different way.

The coil springs holding the jaws 7 in the closed position, it is necessary, to open them, to play on the pins 13 by moving them away from each other by simple rotation around the axes of said jaws 7.

Cable 1 can then be released.

This movement is visible in Figure 3 where the direction of the arrow must be reversed and handling at the pins 13 must be indicated.

The clearance is also visible in FIG. 5 which is a radial section of the clamp of FIG. 2.

It can be seen that the body of the clamp 4 extends longitudinally around the cable 1, that the latter has a certain play of movement in the groove 5, and that the jaws 7 are provided with a longitudinal edge of convex shape 12 of which the utility will appear later.

Another point to note in this figure: a sleeve surrounds the cable 1, this sleeve is the annular head 9 of the support element 2.

According to Figure 6, we can see more precisely said support element 2 which is formed of three essential parts.

First, the base 10 which is the part pressed against the construction element 3.

In the specific case of FIG. 6, the cable being in the corner, between a wall and a ceiling, the base 10 has a profile view in the shape of an inverted L which adapts better to its environment.

However, these support elements 2 can have different forms with regard to their base 10, for example.

Then, the second part is formed of the annular head 9 whose internal diameter is greater than the diameter of the cable 1, but whose external diameter is less than the internal diameter of the body of the clamp 4, that is of the groove 5.

Finally, located between the base 10 and the annular head 9, there is a connecting pin 11 whose diameter is less than the width of the window 6.

In addition, the length of said window 6 is less than the diameter of the annular head 9.

This configuration allows the clamp 4 to slide along the cable 1 and pass the support elements 2 without releasing the cable 1 from the clamp 4.

It also allows the passage of the clamp at the level of the connecting pins 11 by simple semi-opening of the jaws 7, without risk of detachment of the clamp 4 relative to the cable 1, since the window 6 of the clamp 4 cannot leave pass the annular head 9 of the support element 2 of the cable 1.

According to the last and seventh figure, the support element 2 is integral with a construction element 3 by means of any suitable fixing means, such as screws, nails, rivets or staples.

It is the base 10 which carries the fixing means.

The connecting pin 11 secures the annular head 9 to the base 10.

Said annular head 9 allows cable 1 to pass through it.

We therefore understand the advantage of having jaws 7 comprising convex longitudinal edges, which facilitate the passage of the clamp 4 at the level of the support elements 2.

REFERENCES

• 1. Cable
• 2. Support element
• 3. Construction element
• 4. Clamp
• 5. Throat
• 6. Window
• 7. Jaw
• 8. Safety harnesses
• 9. Ring head
• 10. Base
• 11. Linking axis
• 12. Convex longitudinal edge
• 13. Ergot
• 14. Loop

Claims (6)

1. Mobile anchoring device allowing movement in complete safety along a horizontal axis of the type comprising a cable (1) of circular section supported by support elements (2) spaced along said cable (1), and fixed on construction elements (3), and a U-shaped section clamp extending longitudinally, which forms a groove (5) and a window (6), said groove (5) being intended to receive said cable (1), and said window (6) being closed by at least one jaw (7) movable in rotation around its axis (11) which is parallel to the groove (5); said clamp authorizing the fixing as well as the longitudinal movement along the cable (1) of a safety harness (8) of a person and / or a load, the support elements (2) comprising an annular head ( 9), a base (10) and a connecting pin (11) between said head (11) and base (10), and the outside diameter of the annular head (9) of each support element (2) being greater than the width of the window (6) of the clamp (4), and that the diameter of the connecting pin (11) of each support element (2) is less than the width of the window (6) of the clamp (4), so that said clamp (4) cannot be detached from the cable (1) at the level of the support elements (2), although it can slide, characterized by the fact that said annular head (9) encloses the cable so that during a horizontal movement, the jaw (s) (7) of the clamp (4) open and close automatically when each connecting axis (11 ) without the clamp (4) being able to be unhooked. 2. Device according to claim 1 characterized in that that the diameter of the cable (1) is less than the width of the window of the clamp (4), so that said clamp (4) can be detached from the cable (1) between the support elements (2). 3. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that that the jaw (s) (7) of the clamp (4) act as cams for opening and closing said clamp (4) at each support element (2). 4. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 3, characterized in that that each jaw (7) has a longitudinal edge of convex shape (12) which facilitates the passage of the connecting axis (11) of the support element (2). 5. Device according to any one of claims 1, 3 or 4, characterized in that that each jaw (7) which closes the window (6) of the clamp (4) is movable in rotation according to different positions of said clamp (4): - an open position which allows the cable (1) to be engaged in the groove (5) of the clamp (4), - a semi-open position which allows the longitudinal movement of the clamp (4) at the level of the support elements (2), and - A closed position which allows the longitudinal movement of the clamp (4) along the cable (1) between the support elements (2). 6. Device according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that that each jaw (7) has elastic means which automatically hold the clamp (4) in the closed position. 7. Device according to any one of claims 1, 3, 4, 5, or 6, characterized in that that each jaw (7) has an external lug (13) which allows manual maintenance of the clamp (4) in the open position.

Images