EP0851779B1 - An energy absorbing device - Google Patents
An energy absorbing device Download PDFInfo
- Publication number
- EP0851779B1 EP0851779B1 EP96931163A EP96931163A EP0851779B1 EP 0851779 B1 EP0851779 B1 EP 0851779B1 EP 96931163 A EP96931163 A EP 96931163A EP 96931163 A EP96931163 A EP 96931163A EP 0851779 B1 EP0851779 B1 EP 0851779B1
- Authority
- EP
- European Patent Office
- Prior art keywords
- lanyard
- energy absorbing
- slot
- layers
- absorbing device
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Expired - Lifetime
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Classifications
-
- A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
- A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
- A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
- A62B35/00—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion
- A62B35/04—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion incorporating energy absorbing means
Definitions
- the present invention relates to an energy absorbing device for use in an energy absorbing system coupled to an object, for example a fall arresting system.
- the invention relates to a device which is used with a lanyard and uses friction to absorb the kinetic energy of the falling object, for example a person.
- an energy absorbing device for use in an energy absorbing system coupled to an object, said energy absorbing device comprising: a body defining a longitudinal slot passing therethrough for receiving at least two layers of lanyard material in a tight-fitting relationship, the layers being movable in opposite directions, whereby, in the event of energy absorption demand, said lanyard material is moved relative to said energy absorbing device and friction between said lanyard and said device controls the force supplied to the object, characterised in that adjustment means is provided for increasing the width of the slot following arrest of the object so as to reduce said friction and permit controlled further movement of the object, the slot width being pre-set during manufacture, and in that means is provided for preventing inadvertent operation of the adjustment means.
- said slot is defined by a fixed body part and a movable body part associated with the adjustment means, the adjustment means being a manually operable adjustment screw.
- the preventing means is preferably a sheer pin interconnecting the body with a head of the adjustment screw so as to immobilise said screw.
- the slot is preferably divided into two passages by a separating element preventing such contact.
- the energy absorbing device is preferably provided in combination with a length of lanyard material having looped ends for securing the device by hook means to an anchor point and a harness.
- An intermediate section of the lanyard material is preferably folded into multiple layers so as to provide sufficient length of material for energy absorption and said further movement.
- the slot is preferably divided into two passages by a separating element preventing such contact.
- the energy absorbing device is preferably provided in combination with a length of lanyard material having looped ends for securing the device by hook means to an anchor point and a harness.
- An intermediate section of the lanyard material is preferably folded into multiple layers so as to provide sufficient length of material for energy absorption and said further movement.
- the illustrated lanyard indicated generally at 1 comprises an energy absorbing device 2 and a length of lanyard material 3.
- the energy absorbing device 2 may be encapsulated in tough plastics material 4 in order to prevent tampering.
- the lanyard material 3 is provided in a continuous length and has a relatively short section 3a extending to one side of the energy absorbing device 2 and a relatively long section 3b extending to the opposite side of the energy absorbing device 2.
- Each lanyard section 3a, 3b terminates in a loop 5, 6 which is connected by hooks 7, 8 (see Fig. 1) on the one hand to a workman's general purpose safety harness 9 and on the other hand to an anchorage (not shown).
- the energy absorbing device 2 comprises a body 10 having two halves 10a, 10b defining therebetween a longitudinal slot 11.
- the main body part 10b has a channel 12 flanked by side walls 13, 14 penetrated by holes 15 for socket headed cap screws one of which is shown at 16.
- the through holes 15 are aligned with tapped holes (not shown) in the underside of the cover body part 10a.
- the cover part 10a of the body 10 is also provided with a channel 17, facing the channel 12 and having terminal recesses 18, 19.
- the channels 12, 17 define a longitudinal passageway of fixed width determined by the spacing in between the floors of the channels 12 and 17.
- a slipper 20 in the form of a rectangular plate with upturned ends 21, 22 defines between its underside as seen in Fig.
- a separator plate 23 for dividing the slot 11 into two passages to either side of the plate 23 is located by means of side lugs 24, 25 in correspondingly shaped recesses 26, 27 in the side walls 13, 14 of the main body part 10b.
- An adjusting screw 28 (see inset to Fig. 2 and Fig. 3) has a head 29 in the form of a manual control knob and is in screw-threaded engagement with a tapped hole 30 in the cover 10a.
- the adjusting screw 28 extends through the hole 30 into engagement with the upper surface of the central part of the slipper 20 thereby urging the slipper 20 a predetermined distance towards the floor of the channel 12 and fixing the maximum width of the slot 11 for the particular screw setting.
- the energy absorbing device 2 is factory assembled with the slot 11 set to a predetermined width and the control knob 29 temporarily fixed in the corresponding position by means of a sheer pin 31 (see Figs. 2 and 3) engaged in aligned sockets in the underside of the control knob 29 and the upper surface of the cover 10a.
- the side walls 13, 14 of the main body part 10b extend beyond the channel 12 to provide locating pins 32, 33 for loops of lanyard material.
- the lanyard sections 3a, 3b are provided by a continuous length of lanyard material which is looped at its one end about the pin 33, is folded to form the loop 5 at the outer end of the section 3a and is then returned over the underside of the energy absorbing device 2 within the plastics sleeve 4 and via multiple folded layers 34 through the slot 11 in one direction under the separator plate 23, around the pin 32 and back in the opposite direction over the separator plate 23 to terminate in the loop 6 at the outer end of the lanyard section 3b.
- the lanyard section 3a has its various layers stitched together while the layers of webbing material constituting the lanyard section 3b are encased in a sheath 35 to permit movement in use as will now be described.
- the means for preventing inadvertent rotation of the control knob may involve, in place of the sheer pin 31, containment of the control knob 29 within the plastic sheath 4, although a sheer pin is preferred as giving a visible indication that the control knob has not been tampered with.
Description
Claims (6)
- An energy absorbing device for use in an energy absorbing system coupled to an object, said energy absorbing device comprising: a body (10) defining a longitudinal slot (11) passing therethrough for receiving at least two layers of lanyard material (3) in a tight fitting relationship, the layers being movable in opposite directions, whereby, in the event of energy absorption demand, said lanyard material (3) is moved relative to said energy absorbing device and friction between said lanyard (3) and said device controls the force supplied to the object, characterised in that adjustment means (20, 28-30) is provided for increasing the width of the slot following arrest of the object so as to reduce said friction and permit controlled further movement of the object, the slot width being pre-set during manufacture, and in that means (31) is provided for preventing inadvertent operation of the adjustment means.
- A device as claimed in claim 1, wherein said slot is defined by a fixed body part (10b) and a movable body part (10A) associated with the adjustment means, the adjustment means being a manually operable adjustment screw (28, 29).
- A device as claimed in claim 2, wherein said preventing means is a sheer pin (31) interconnecting the body with a head (29) of the adjustment screw (28, 29) so as to immobilise said screw (28, 29).
- A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, wherein the slot is divided into two passages by a separating element (23) preventing contact between the layers of lanyard (3) material in use.
- A device as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in combination with a length of lanyard material (3) having looped ends (5, 6) for securing the device by hook means to an anchor part and a harness.
- A device as claimed in claim 5, wherein an intermediate section of the lanyard material is folded into multiple layers (34) so as to provide sufficient length of material for energy absorption and said further movement.
Applications Claiming Priority (3)
Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
---|---|---|---|
GB9519250 | 1995-09-21 | ||
GBGB9519250.6A GB9519250D0 (en) | 1995-09-21 | 1995-09-21 | An energy absorbing device |
PCT/GB1996/002327 WO1997010876A1 (en) | 1995-09-21 | 1996-09-20 | An energy absorbing device |
Publications (2)
Publication Number | Publication Date |
---|---|
EP0851779A1 EP0851779A1 (en) | 1998-07-08 |
EP0851779B1 true EP0851779B1 (en) | 2000-08-23 |
Family
ID=10781021
Family Applications (1)
Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
---|---|---|---|
EP96931163A Expired - Lifetime EP0851779B1 (en) | 1995-09-21 | 1996-09-20 | An energy absorbing device |
Country Status (7)
Country | Link |
---|---|
EP (1) | EP0851779B1 (en) |
AU (1) | AU698797B2 (en) |
CA (1) | CA2228035A1 (en) |
DE (1) | DE69609979T2 (en) |
ES (1) | ES2150691T3 (en) |
GB (1) | GB9519250D0 (en) |
WO (1) | WO1997010876A1 (en) |
Cited By (5)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7665575B2 (en) | 2004-03-01 | 2010-02-23 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US7726350B2 (en) | 2005-08-16 | 2010-06-01 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Energy absorbing webbings |
US8316988B2 (en) | 2010-08-12 | 2012-11-27 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US8387749B2 (en) | 2004-03-01 | 2013-03-05 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US9328436B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2016-05-03 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Energy absorbing fabric and method of manufacturing same |
Families Citing this family (2)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
GB0519404D0 (en) * | 2005-09-23 | 2005-11-02 | Uniline Safety Systems Ltd | Energy absorber |
GB2490682A (en) * | 2011-05-10 | 2012-11-14 | Checkmate Ltd | Fall arrest device with energy dissipation by friction |
Family Cites Families (6)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US4100996A (en) * | 1977-06-06 | 1978-07-18 | Sharp Jonathan E | Shock absorber for a safety belt lanyard |
US4603755A (en) * | 1985-02-04 | 1986-08-05 | Mar-Mex International, Ltd. | Rappel line clamp and harness |
JPH05504494A (en) * | 1990-01-18 | 1993-07-15 | ベル,マイケル | Safety protection and lowering devices, methods of their use and means of body mooring that can be used therewith. |
GB9102498D0 (en) * | 1991-02-06 | 1991-03-27 | Crawford Henry | Energy absorbing device |
GB9314063D0 (en) * | 1993-07-06 | 1993-08-18 | Latchways Ltd | Shock absorber |
US5379858A (en) * | 1993-09-20 | 1995-01-10 | Sandoval; Alfredo R. | Compact emergency descender system |
-
1995
- 1995-09-21 GB GBGB9519250.6A patent/GB9519250D0/en active Pending
-
1996
- 1996-09-20 EP EP96931163A patent/EP0851779B1/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-09-20 ES ES96931163T patent/ES2150691T3/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 1996-09-20 AU AU69958/96A patent/AU698797B2/en not_active Ceased
- 1996-09-20 WO PCT/GB1996/002327 patent/WO1997010876A1/en active IP Right Grant
- 1996-09-20 CA CA 2228035 patent/CA2228035A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1996-09-20 DE DE69609979T patent/DE69609979T2/en not_active Expired - Fee Related
Cited By (8)
Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
---|---|---|---|---|
US7665575B2 (en) | 2004-03-01 | 2010-02-23 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US7677360B2 (en) | 2004-03-01 | 2010-03-16 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US8387749B2 (en) | 2004-03-01 | 2013-03-05 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US8387750B2 (en) | 2004-03-01 | 2013-03-05 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US7726350B2 (en) | 2005-08-16 | 2010-06-01 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Energy absorbing webbings |
US8316988B2 (en) | 2010-08-12 | 2012-11-27 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US8567559B2 (en) | 2010-08-12 | 2013-10-29 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Shock absorbing fabric structures |
US9328436B2 (en) | 2013-03-14 | 2016-05-03 | Ykk Corporation Of America | Energy absorbing fabric and method of manufacturing same |
Also Published As
Publication number | Publication date |
---|---|
WO1997010876A1 (en) | 1997-03-27 |
CA2228035A1 (en) | 1997-03-27 |
ES2150691T3 (en) | 2000-12-01 |
DE69609979T2 (en) | 2001-01-18 |
AU698797B2 (en) | 1998-11-05 |
DE69609979D1 (en) | 2000-09-28 |
GB9519250D0 (en) | 1995-11-22 |
AU6995896A (en) | 1997-04-09 |
EP0851779A1 (en) | 1998-07-08 |
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