EP0752255B1 - Mobile fall arrest device for flexible safety rope - Google Patents

Abstract

The grip has a vertical channel (9) through which the support cable passes slidably along a vertical axis (YY'). A cam (10) formed by a ramp surface of a pivotable lever (16) selectively engages the cable as it passes through the channel, moving between open and closed positions in response to manual actuation of the lever. The free end of the lever includes a hole (23) through which a carabineer or other clip may be passed and secured. When located in the hole, the projecting ends of the clip engage stop surfaces (20a,b) on the casing of the grip, preventing pivoting movement of the lever from a closed position of the cam to its open position.

Description

The present invention relates to a safety device for the pivoting lever individual against falls from a height. It relates to a fall arrest system mobile for belay support more particularly adapted to supports vertical belay devices, in particular flexible belay devices, such as cables or ropes.

The personnel who have to intervene on installations in height and which for this purpose must climb or descend along pylons or posts must be insured so as not to fall unexpectedly. It is, for example, the case of installers or repairers of installations such as, for example, cable car or chairlift installations. he is therefore necessary to insure them so that they can climb or descend freely, without the risk of falling.

We already know such devices consisting of a rope or a belay cable arranged vertically, also called "lifeline", to which the user connects so that he can move up or down. For this purpose, it is equipped with protective equipment individual connecting it to the "lifeline" and including a harness attached to a mobile fall arrester. Document FR A 2 144 623 discloses a fall arrester having a retaining groove in which a cable slides, which can be locked using a cam secured to a pivoting lever between an open and closed position. . Furthermore, document FR-A.2.668.937 discloses a fall arrester provided with a mechanism making accidental release of the cable impossible. However, the known devices are not fully satisfactory in terms of their ease of use and their reliability.

The present invention provides a new device particularly safe, reliable and convenient to use.

Thus, according to the invention, the mobile fall arrester for support belay device such as a cable or rope, is of the type comprising a axis retaining groove, in which said belay support is retained thanks to a cam, integral with a pivoting lever between an open position which allows the passage of the belay support in the groove and a position of closure, which limits the passage of the belay support in the groove, characterized in that the free end of the pivoting lever comprises a hole intended to receive a carabiner, while a stop system for the carabiner limits the pivoting of the lever in an intermediate position when passing from the closed position to the open position when the carabiner is engaged in the hole.

According to a preferred arrangement, the retaining groove is produced through the wall of a main flange, while the fall arrester includes a secondary flange constituted by a wall, the lever being pivotally mounted between the two flanges.

According to an additional characteristic of the invention, it is provided a longitudinal and parallel passage to the axis of the groove, said passage being limited laterally by, on the one hand, the first border of the main flange and, on the other hand, the first border of the second flaccid.

According to another additional characteristic, the second borders include a clearance allowing the movement of the lever with its carabiner and delimiting the stops defining the intermediate position of the lever.

In a preferred embodiment, given by way of example, the second side border of each of the flanges includes a succession of two ramps, a lower ramp set back from an upper ramp to form the clearance. The lower ramp is circular radius centered on the axis, while the upper ramp is circular radius centered on the axis, knowing that the radius of said ramp upper is greater than the radius of said lower ramp, the clearance formed by the lower recessed ramp, is limited towards the high by the stops arranged radially and substantially in the plane horizontal passing through the pivot axis of the lever.

According to other additional features of the invention, the lever cam consists of a locking ramp extended by a release ramp, while the width of the lever is such that it does protrudes beyond the upper ramps when the lever is in position of extreme opening.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention are will emerge from the description which will follow with regard to the appended drawings which are only given as nonlimiting examples

Figure 1 is an overview showing how is used the fall arrest device of the invention.

Figure 2 is a side view showing more particularly the fall arrester mounted on the belay cable and its connection to the harness carried by the user.

Figures 3, 4 and 5 are execution views of the fall arrester; the FIG. 3 is a plan view, FIG. 4 is a side view on the lever side, while Figure 5 is a top view.

Figure 6 is a view similar to Figure 3 but illustrating the fall arrester, in its extreme opening position showing the different elements constituting the fall arrester.

Figure 7a is an exploded perspective view, while Figure 7b is a perspective representing the mounted fall arrester.

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate the different stages of implementation of the fall arrest device of the invention.

Figure 13 shows how fall arrest is used according to the invention.

Figure 14 is a view similar to Figure 5 showing a variant with partial cut along the pivot axis lever.

Figures 15, 16 and 17 illustrate an alternative embodiment, the Figures 15 and 16 being views similar to Figures 3 and 6.

The mobile fall arrester (1) is part of protective equipment individual against falls from a height with the general reference (2) and comprising in addition to said fall arrester (1) a harness (3) carrying the minus a mooring loop (4) with a snap hook (5), said fall arrester (2) being intended to be removably connected to a vertical belay support (6) fixed, for example, on a pylon intervention (7).

In its position of use, that is to say connected to the harness (3), the mobile fall arrester (1) can be moved upwards (HA) or down (BA) by normal sliding (i.e. at speed user ascending or descending) along the vertical cable (6) constituting the belay support which can, moreover, be constituted by a rope. In the event of a fall, which corresponds to a descent speed accelerated, the mobile fall arrester hangs on the cable. We will understand that the user (8) can then climb or descend along the pylon (7) by letting the fall arrester slide up (HA) or down (BA) the along the safety cable (6), if necessary, while it will be ensured do not fall down by blocking its fall arrester (1) on said cable (6) constituting the belay support.

The fall arrester (1) essentially comprises a hollow profile (9) straight intended to receive the belay cable (6) which is retained there after engagement, thanks to a pivotally movable cam (10). So the profile hollow (9) is constituted by the wall (11a) of a main flange (12a) whose first side border (13a) is folded parallel to said wall, so as to form a gutter or a semi-circular groove (9), while the second lateral border (14a) is in the plane of the wall and is curved to include a clearance at the bottom (15a). Note that the groove has a semi-circular profile with a vertical axis (YY ') and has substantially the dimension of the cable intended to be housed there. Through elsewhere, the locking cam (10) is integral with an operating lever and hook (16) which is pivotally mounted on the fall arrester around a transverse axis (XX ').

Note that the second side border (14a) includes a succession of two ramps, a lower ramp (17a) set back by relative to an upper ramp (18a) to form the clearance (15a). The lower ramp is circular with radius (R1) centered on the axis (XX '), while the upper ramp is circular with radius (R2) centered on the axis (XX ') knowing that the radius (R2) of said upper ramp is greater than the radius (R1) of said lower ramp. In addition, the clearance (15a) whose function will be explained later in the description, formed by the lower recessed ramp, is limited to the high by a stop (20a) arranged radially and substantially in the horizontal plane (H) passing through the pivot axis (XX ') of the lever (16).

The body of the mobile fall arrester includes, in addition to the flange main (12a) described above and forming the groove (9), a flange secondary (12b). The latter is integral with the main flange for him be parallel and spaced by a distance (d) to constitute, on the one hand, a space (e) between the two flanges intended for the movement of the lever (16) and, on the other hand, a longitudinal passage (40) for the engagement of the cable (40). The secondary flange has a configuration identical to the wall (11a) of the main flange (12a). Thus, it is constituted by a wall (11b) and comprises a first rectilinear side border (13b), while the second lateral border (14b) is in the plane of the wall and is curved to understand at its lower part a clearance (15b). So the second side border (14b) comprises a succession of two ramps, a lower ramp (17b) set back from a ramp upper (18b) to form the clearance (15b). The lower ramp is circular with radius (R1) centered on the axis (XX '), while the ramp upper is circular with radius (R2) centered on the axis (XX '), knowing that the radius (R2) of said upper ramp is greater than the radius (R1) of said lower ramp. Furthermore, the clearance (15b) which is will explain the function later in the description, formed by the ramp lower set back, is limited upwards by a stop (20b) arranged radially and substantially in the horizontal plane (H) passing through the axis (XX ') pivoting of the lever (16). Add that the passage (40) is laterally limited by the first border (13a) of the main flange (12a) and the first border (13b) of the secondary flange (12b). Well of course, the width of the passage is greater than the diameter of the cable (6) intended to be engaged therein, said passage extending parallel to the axis (YY ') of the throat.

The lever (16) previously mentioned is disposed movable in pivot around the axis (XX '). It is arranged to move between the two flanges (12a, 12b), in the space (e) formed between the main flange (12a) and the secondary flange (12b). It is thus rotatably mounted around an axis (21) extending between the two flanges so that its end attachment (22) extends beyond the lower ramps (17a, 17b) of two flanges (12a, 12b), in the area created by the clearances (15a, 15b). Said free hooking end (22) further comprises a hole hook (23) for receiving the snap hook (5) which can be engaged thanks to the clearance (15a, 15b) provided on the edges flanges (12a, 12b). The hanging hole (23) is cylindrical and its axis (QQ ') is at a distance (L1) from the axis (XX') between the value of the radius (R1) of the lower ramp (17a, 17b) and the value of the radius (R2) of the upper ramp (18a, 18b). In addition, its diameter is such that its peripheral wall (24) either at a distance (L2) from the upper axis (XX ') to the radius (R2).

Furthermore, the lever (16) comprises on the side opposite the hole hooking (23) a cam (10) constituted by a locking ramp (25) to block the fall arrester (1) on the belay cable extended by a ramp for unlocking (26) the fall arrester allowing the sliding of said fall arrester on said belay cable (6). The lever (16) can be rotated around the axis (XX ') two positions extremes, an open position as illustrated in FIGS. 6 and 8, and a closed position as shown in Figures 3, 10, 11 and 12.

Note that the lever is constantly biased towards its position of closing with a torsion spring (27). The latter is useful, on the one hand, maintaining the fall arrester (1) on the belay cable (6) at moment of fitting and removing the carabiner (5) and, on the other part, to ensure that the fall arrester is locked in the event of a fall, before even that the carabiner (5) does not have to ensure by itself the pivoting of the lever down. Add that the fall arrester has two stops (28, 29) to limit the angular movement of the lever downwards by a stop lower (28) and upwards by an upper stop (29). Stop lower (28) is produced by a small transverse wall (30) extending between the two flanges (12a, 12b) in the area of the ramps lower (17a, 17b), while the upper stop (29) is produced by an upper cylindrical spacer connecting the upper position of the two flanges (12a, 12b).

Figures 8 to 12 illustrate the different stages of implementation of the fall arrest device of the invention. The user by putting the first flange (12a) of the fall arrester (1) in the palm of the right hand rotate with his thumb the lever (16) upwards along R1 to clear the passage (40) for the cable. He brings the fall arrester (1) on the cable (6) to make pass said cable (6) for passage (40), as illustrated in the figure 8. Then he engages the cable (6) in the groove (9) and releases the lever (16), as illustrated in FIG. 9. The lever (16) urged by the spring (27) pivots downwards along (R2) until the ramp blocking (25) pinch the cable, thus retaining it in the groove (9), as shown in Figure 10.

The user then installs a carabiner (5) by engaging it in the hole (23) of the lever (16), as illustrated in FIG. 11. Then, it fixes its harness (3) to the carabiner, for example, through the loops mooring (4), as shown in Figure 12.

In the position illustrated in figure 12, the fall arrester (1) is blocked against any untimely descent to the bottom (BA) preventing the fall of the user but can be moved up (HA) by rotation upwards along (R1) of the lever (16), as illustrated in the figure 13. When climbing, the user swivels the lever (16) upwards (HA) according to (R2) until the carabiner abuts on the stops (20a) and (20b) flanges. In this intermediate position, the prohibited lever any possibility for the cable to leave the groove (9) and as soon as the lever, it pivots again according to (R1), which causes the blocking on the fall arrestor cable. Downhill, the weight of the fall arrester (1) and the spring allow the lever (16) to remain in abutment on the abutments (20a) and (20b) flanges (12a) and (12b). So the user can descend without intervening on the fall arrester (1). In the event of a fall or abrupt descent, the lever (16) pivots downwards (BA) according to (R1), while that the locking ramp (25) pinches the cable (6).

From the above description, we see that the fall arrester includes a system of stops (20a, 20b) for the carabiner, system of stops which limit the pivoting of the lever in a position intermediate when the user passes this lever from the position of closing to the open position. It is then impossible for the user to exceed this intermediate position, and it is then impossible for the cable leaving the retaining groove, the cam (10) still being engaged in the cable retention area, as shown in Figure 13. We also note that the clearance (1 Sa, 15b) allows the displacement of the carabiner (5) and therefore the lever (16) from the closed position to the intermediate position according to which the carabiner rests on the two stops (20a, 20b). In the intermediate position of figure 13, there is a clearance (j) between the cable and the cam (10), which allows free sliding both upwards (HA) and downwards (BA). However, as soon as there is a fall, the fall arrester (1) immediately returns in its locked position as illustrated in figure 12.

Furthermore, the fall arrester is advantageously metallic such as, for example, stainless steel. Add, as it appears more particularly in Figures 6 and 8 illustrating the fall arrester in its position of extreme opening, that the length (L2) of the lever is such that its end (22) projects beyond the upper ramps (18a, 18b).

FIG. 14 represents an alternative embodiment according to which the lever (16) does not rub on the wall (11a) of the first flange (12a). In this Indeed, there is provided a washer (210) disposed around the axis (21) between said lever (16) and the wall (11a), as it appears in the drawing in the sectioned area.

Figures 15 and 16 are views illustrating a variant embodiment according to which the locking ramp (25) comprises two locking projections, namely, an upper projection (250) and a projection lower (251). Furthermore, according to this variant, the lower ramp (17a, 17b) extends over a greater length than previously for extend beyond and above the horizontal plane (H). Note also that an additional safety device is provided, consisting of a pawl pivoting (40) urged to close by a spring. Said pawl (50) being intended to condemn the untimely release of the support belay (6) through the passage (40).

Note also that in this variant, means are provided for complementary locks (51, 52, 53) for the lever (16) so that in a completely inverted position of the device as illustrated in FIG. 17 there is locking of said lever (16) in its extreme open position. For this purpose, there is provided a sliding rod (51) intended to slide. freely in a hole (52) made in the lever, while in position locking, the end of the rod, by its own weight, engages in a corresponding hole (53) made in the axis (21).

Of course, the invention is not limited to the modes of realization described and represented as examples, but it includes also all technical equivalents and their combinations.

Claims (7)

1. Movable anti-fall device for a securing aid (6) such as a cable or a rope, of the type comprising a retaining groove (9) with axis (YY'), in which said securing aid is retained by means of a cam (10), integral with a lever (16) pivoting between an opening position which allows the passage of the securing aid (6) in the groove (9) and a closing position which restricts the passage of the securing aid (6) in the groove (9), characterised in that the free end of the pivoting lever (16) comprises a hole (23) intended to receive a snap-hook (5), while a limit stop system (20a, 20b) for the snap-hook limits the pivoting of the lever in an intermediate position when a movement is made from the closing position towards the opening position when the snap-hook is fitted in the hole (23).
2. Anti-fall device according to Claim 1, characterised in that the retaining groove (9) is implemented by the wall (11a) of a main plate (12a) and comprises a secondary plate (12b) constituted by a wall (11b), while the lever (16) is mounted pivoting between the two plates (12a, 12b).
3. Anti-fall device according to Claim 2, characterised in that it comprises a longitudinal passage (40) parallel to the axis (YY') of the groove (9), said passage being limited laterally by, on the one hand, the first edge (13a) of the main plate (12a) and, on the other hand, the first edge (13b) of the second plate.
4. Anti-fall device according to Claim 3, characterised in that the second edges (14a, 14b) comprise an undercut (15a, 15b) allowing the movement of the lever (16) with its snap-hook (5) and delimiting the limit stops (20a, 20b) defining the intermediate position of the lever.
5. Anti-fall device according to Claim 4, characterised in that the second lateral edge of each of the plates (14a, 14b) comprises a series of two ramps, a lower ramp (17a, 17b) set back with respect to an upper ramp (18a, 18b) in order to form the undercut (15a). The lower ramp is circular with radius (R1) centred on the axis (XX'), while the upper ramp is circular with radius (R2) centred on the axis (XX'), the radius (R2) of said upper ramp being greater than the radius (R1) of said lower ramp; the undercut (15a, 15b) formed by the set back lower ramp is limited upward by the limit stops (20a, 20b) disposed radially and substantially in the horizontal plane (H) passing through the axis of pivot (XX') of the lever (16).
6. Anti-fall device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the cam (10) is constituted by a locking ramp (25) continued by an unlocking ramp (26).
7. Anti-fall device according to any one of the previous claims, characterised in that the length of the lever (16) is such that it projects beyond the upper ramps (18a, 18b) when the lever is in the extreme opening position.

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