EP3906971B1 - Protection device for rope and protection system - Google Patents

Description

Technical area

The invention relates to a protection device for a rope and to a protection system comprising several protection devices.

Prior technique

During acrobatic work, it is known to protect the rope passages by protective devices. When the cord is substantially fixed or moves little, the protection device is formed by a textile element which is interposed between the cord and the abrasive support. The rope can slip without being too damaged.

When the rope is intended to move more significantly on the support, the protection device comprises several contact bearings of circular shape and mounted fixed. The contact bearings have a surface finish allowing the rope to slide without too much friction so as not to damage the rope. The protection device comprises two flanges connecting the contact bearing(s). The two flanges are arranged to arrange the contact bearings at a distance from the support to avoid damaging the surface condition of the bearings.

There are also protection devices which have deformable side plates on which four or six bearings are fixed. Each of the two lateral flanges is formed by elementary flanges movable in rotation relative to each other by rotating shafts. The contact bearings are formed by the rotation shafts of the elementary flanges. The Kong company markets two protection devices under the names TERGESTE and ROLLER. The flanges deform along the longitudinal axis of the rope to follow the configuration of the obstacle. The protection device known under the name TERGESTE makes it possible to freeze the arrangement of the various constituent elements by means of clamping knobs. Setups substantially similar capable of deforming to follow the configuration of the obstacle are marketed by the company PMI under the name Edge Roller System, by the company Rescue Systems Inc. under the name All Terrain Edge Protector, by the company CMI Corporation under the name Edge Roller, by the applicant under the names CATERPILLAR or ROLL-MODULE.

However, if these configurations make it possible to ensure the protection of the rope and a displacement of the rope, they are incapable of ensuring the hoisting of a load and in particular for the Edge Roller System product from the company PMI, or the Caterpillar product from the Petzl company which have fixed bearings. Fixed bearings generate substantial friction making any hoisting operation complicated or impossible. Furthermore, the side plates are formed by thin sheets which deform when the stress imposed by the load increases, which may be the case during hoisting. On soft ground, the side walls of the flanges sink into the support. Following this depression, the bearings end up touching the ground and this can lead to the deterioration of the bearings and the accelerated deterioration of the rope.

There is an alternative configuration marketed by SMC under the name EDGE ROLLER. The protection device is formed by two elements mounted to move relative to each other by means of two quick links. Both elements have a support plate which increases the bearing capacity of the protective device to prevent it from sinking into soft surfaces. However, in many configurations, the angle between the two backing plates and the spacing between the two rollers causes the rope to rub against the edges of the backing plates. This configuration also has a large bulk.

The protection devices marketed by the company CONTERRA under the names CLAMPBOT and EDGEBOT have two rigid flanges which are connected to one another by two contact bearings of circular section. The two flanges have substantially a trapezium shape in side view with the large base cut out to define an arc. The two circular section contact bearings are arranged on the small base of the trapeze to deflect the rope.

Object of the invention

It is an object of the invention to provide a protective device which is more effective than prior art configurations against soft surfaces and edged supports, for example beams.

The invention also relates to a protection system comprising a plurality of protection devices according to one of the preceding configurations, two adjacent protection devices being connected to each other by two flexible wire elements and preferably the two devices adjacent protective shields are connected to each other by two flexible wire elements passing through one of the through holes.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 illustre, de manière schématique, une vue de côté d'un dispositif de protection ;
• la figure 2 illustre, de manière schématique, une vue de dessus d'un dispositif de protection ;
• la figure 3 illustre, de manière schématique, une vue de dessous d'un dispositif de protection ;
• la figure 4 illustre, de manière schématique, une vue de face d'un dispositif de protection ;
• la figure 5 illustre, de manière schématique, une vue en coupe longitudinale d'un dispositif de protection ;
• la figure 6 illustre, de manière schématique, une vue en coupe transversale d'un dispositif de protection ;
• la figure 7 illustre, de manière schématique, une vue en perspective d'un dispositif de protection ;
• la figure 8 illustre, de manière schématique, une vue en coupe transversale d'un dispositif de protection monté sur un support possédant un angle droit.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the following description of particular embodiments and implementations of the invention given by way of non-limiting examples and shown in the appended drawings, in which:

• there figure 1 schematically illustrates a side view of a protection device;
• there picture 2 schematically illustrates a top view of a protection device;
• there picture 3 schematically illustrates a bottom view of a protection device;
• there figure 4 schematically illustrates a front view of a protection device;
• there figure 5 illustrates, schematically, a view in longitudinal section of a protection device;
• there figure 6 illustrates, schematically, a cross-sectional view of a protection device;
• there figure 7 schematically illustrates a perspective view of a protection device;
• there figure 8 illustrates, schematically, a cross-sectional view of a protection device mounted on a support having a right angle.

Description of embodiments

The protective device illustrated in figures 1 to 8 comprises first and second side plates 1 which are separated by first and second rollers 2 extending in a first direction XX. Preferably, the first and second rollers 2 are mounted to rotate respectively about first and second axes of rotation mounted parallel with respect to the first direction XX. Alternatively, the first and second rollers 2 are fixedly mounted.

Advantageously, the first and second rollers 2 are mounted on bearings 3, which facilitates the rotation of the rollers 2 relative to the side plates 1 and facilitates the hoisting operations. During its movement, the rope R drives the roller 2 in rotation to reduce friction. The friction corresponds to the friction of the bearings and not to the friction of the rope R on the roller 2. The bearings 3 are preferably mounted between the two side plates 1. The two side plates 1 are distinct, that is to say that they do not belong to a one-piece element.

Advantageously, the two side flanges 1 are only fixed to each other by means of the rotation shafts of the rollers 2.

The first and second rollers 2 define first and second boundary planes illustrated by the lines AA and BB on the figure 1 . The first and second boundary planes AA and BB are separated by the first and second rollers 2. The first and second boundary planes AA, BB are each tangent to the first and second rollers 2.

The two side plates 1 and the two rollers 2 define slots, the bottom of which is formed by the rollers 2 and the side walls are formed by the side plates 1. The two side plates 1 and the two rollers 2 define a structure in the form of H in front view with two opposite slots which are separated by the rollers 2. The two slots allow the insertion of a rope by the two opposite main faces of the protection device. The protection device can be mounted on a support S according to two different arrangements. The protection device is reversible with different support planes to better adapt to heterogeneous installation configurations.

The first and second side plates 1 each have an attachment zone 1a which defines a notch 1c with two sections 1d of side walls arranged perpendicularly with respect to each other. The notch 1c is intended for the insertion of a support and in particular or a beam with a right angle. The side wall of the fixing zones 1a has two wall sections mounted perpendicular to each other to allow the insertion of a beam or any other support S having an edge representing an angle less than or equal to 90 °. An installation is shown in figure 8 . The notch 1c is formed in the attachment zone 1a more particularly in the first portion.

The side wall of the first flange 1 and the side wall of the second flange 1 each define a V-shaped notch 1c. The two notches 1c are arranged facing each other in the first direction XX so that the two 1d sections define two planes parallel to the first direction XX and perpendicular to each other. The two sections 1d meet in a junction zone. The two junction zones are aligned along the first direction XX to define a junction line. The first sections 1d of the first and second side plates 1 are aligned along the first direction XX to define a first support plane. The protection device is supported on the support by means of the first support plane. The second sections 1d of the first and second side plates 1 are aligned along the first direction XX to define a second support plane perpendicular to the first support plane. The protection device is supported on another face of the support by means of the second support plane. The first and second support planes meet along the junction line which must correspond to the edge of the support. The junction line is located in the first portion. The first and second rollers 2 are separated by the bisector of the angle defined by the first and second support planes. This makes it possible to better manage the forces between the support and the protective device.

It is then possible to place the protective device on a section beam having a right-angled or possibly acute-angled edge, for example with a square or rectangular section whose line of extension of the edge is parallel to the direction XX.

The junction line is preferably between two delimitation planes, here two parallel planes joining two diametrically opposite points of the first and second rollers 2 as illustrated by the lines AA and BB of the figure 1 . The junction line is an imaginary line which connects the junction zones of the two notches 1c. In this way, when the protective device is mounted on a beam with a right-angled or acute-angled edge, the notch 1c ensures stable installation of the protective device on the support S and the two rollers 2 deflect the rope R so as to avoid contact with the edge. Advantageously, the junction line belongs to the plane containing the axes of rotation of the two rollers 2.

The definition of a notch 1c which forms a V with a right angle allows a more advantageous use than the configuration in which the side flanges 1c define an arc of a circle. A circular arc notch is adapted to a support of circular section which has the same radius. When the radius of the support is smaller, two or four points of contact with the protective device are present. When the radius of the support is greater, the protection device bears against the support at the ends of the arc of a circle. Furthermore, with an indentation in the form of an arc of a circle, the points of contact with a support with an edge are punctual, which can damage the edge of the support. The circular arc configuration is rarely suitable for the S support configuration.

On the contrary, the V-shaped notch configuration allows better contact management. There are four points of contact between the protective device and a circular support. When the support is flat with an edge, the contact surface is better distributed.

Preferably, the two axes of rotation of the two rollers 2 belong to a plane which is parallel to the plane defined by the two support wings 1b of the two side plates 1. In an advantageous configuration, the line of junction connecting the two side plates 1 is arranged equidistant from the two axes of rotation of the two rollers 2. Preferably, the notch 1c defines an angle whose bisector is perpendicular to the plane comprising the two axes of rotation and even more preferably perpendicular to the plane defined by the support wings 1b of the two flanges 1. It is also advantageous to define a notch 1c whose bisector is perpendicular to the plane defined by the ends of the fixing zones 1a and forming the points of contact with a flat support. Preferably, the fixing zone 1a is perforated around the junction zone of the two sections 1d to facilitate mounting on a support.

The first and second side plates 1 each have attachment zones 1a and, according to the invention, and advantageously support wings 1b. Attachment areas 1a are mounted vis-à-vis in the first direction XX. The first and second rollers 2 are mounted on the fixing zones 1a.

The fixing zones 1a are divided by the first delimitation plane AA into first and second portions, the first portion containing the first and second rollers 2. The first delimitation plane AA corresponds to the support plane of the rope between the two rollers 2 when using the protective device.

The fixing zones 1a of the first and second side flanges 1 are extended by support wings 1b. The support wings 1b are mounted projecting from the attachment zones 1a and extend along the first direction XX from one end of the attachment zones 1a in the second portion as illustrated in the various figures. The support wings 1b of the first and second side plates 1 defining a third support plane. According to the invention, the third support plane is perpendicular to the fixing zone 1a of the first and second side flanges 1 and parallel to the first second delimitation plane BB.

The two flanges 1 have a thickness measured along the first direction XX for the attachment zones 1a. Preferably, the support wings 1b extend along the first direction XX by a distance at least equal to 5 times the thickness of the attachment zone 1a, preferably at least 10 times the thickness. With this configuration, the support wings 1b increase the lift of the protection device in the first direction XX, which makes it possible to prevent the protection device from sinking into a soft surface. Preferably, the support wings 1b extend from the attachment zone 1a away from the opposite flange 1.

It is then possible to place the protection device on a loose surface by means of the two support wings 1b and to define a rope retention slot whose bottom is formed by the rollers 2. It is also possible to turn the device protection to put it on a hard surface by means of the faces sides of the flanges 1 in the two fixing zones 1a. In this position, the protective device has a reduced support surface. The contact surface with the support is defined by three or four ends of the flanges 1 arranged in the same plane which allows a better adaptation of the position of the protection device on a non-planar hard surface in comparison with the support wings 1b.

It is advantageous for the two rollers 2 to define a plane parallel to the plane defined by the two support wings 1b. The plane corresponds to a plane tangent to the two rollers. Preferably, the two rollers 2 have the same diameter and their axes of rotation belong to a plane which is parallel to the plane defined by the two support wings 1b. By using parallel axes of rotation and contained in the same plane, it is possible to install several ropes between the two side plates.

In a particularly advantageous configuration, the two side flanges 1 are each formed by a folded metal sheet.

Preferably, the first and second side plates 1 each define first and second through-holes 4 arranged in the fixing zone 1a and aligned in the first direction XX. In an advantageous configuration, the protection device has a plane of symmetry which is perpendicular to the axes of rotation of the two rollers 2. It is also advantageous to form through holes 4 in the support portion 1b of the side flanges 1.

The two fixing zones 1a preferably each have a central zone 5 on which the two rollers 2 are fixed. The two central zones 5 are advantageously mounted parallel to each other and perpendicular to the two axes of rotation. The two attachment zones 1a have end flanges 6 projecting from the central zone 5 and which can be curved. Each flange 1 has a central zone 5 separating two end wings 6. Preferably, the end wings extend the central zone 5 in the first portion. The two end wings 6 are mounted projecting from the central zone 5 in the first direction XX to move away from the rollers 2. The central zone 5 separates the support portion 1b and the two end wings 6. The distance between the end flanges 6 in the first direction XX is greater than the distance between the attachment zones 1a in the first direction XX.

In a particular embodiment, the rollers 2 are fixed to the two side flanges by means of screws 7. The two rollers 2 are not directly connected to the two flanges 1.

The two shafts 8 of the two rollers 2 are fixed or rotatably mounted on the two side flanges 1.

In the illustrated embodiment, the attachment zones 1a are not flat in the first direction XX. The ends of the two side flanges 1 are curved outwards, that is to say to move away from the space arranged between the two side flanges 1. The fixing zones 1a have a flat zone and the two ends curved are separated by the flat area.

The ends 6 facing outwards have the first and second through holes 4 aligned in the first direction XX. It is also advantageous for each support wing 1b to define through-holes 4 having different shapes and/or different dimensions. The protection device comprises a fixing member intended to fix the support wing 4 to a support, the fixing member passing through one of the through holes 4 of each support wing 1b.

In the illustrated embodiment, the support wings 1b form a plane which is parallel to the first direction XX. The support wings 1b of the two side plates 1 extend from each fixing zone 1a outwardly so as to define an empty zone between the two side plates 1. The empty zone authorizes the installation of a rope R between the two flanges 1, the rope R will be supported by the two rollers 2.

Advantageously, the two side flanges 1 are only connected by the shafts 8 of the rollers 2 so as to prevent the rope R from being in a position of friction against a fixed part between the two flanges 1. Preferably, each flange 1 is one-piece.

In a preferred configuration illustrated in figure 1 , each flange 1 has a through hole 4 in the fixing zone 1a between the support portion 1b and the line connecting the two rollers 2.

In a particular embodiment, the axis of rotation of the rollers 2 is fixed to the two flanges by two screws 7. The screws 7 fix the rotation shaft 8 and the bearing 3 on the recesses of the two flanges 1.

In addition to the protection device, it is advantageous to form a protection system comprising at least two protection devices mounted in series. The two protection devices are connected by two flexible connections, for example ropes or straps. The ropes or straps pass through through holes 4 to connect and fix the two protective devices together. The through holes 4 are holes formed in the fixing areas or are holes of the support wings 1b.

Claims (11)

1. Protection device comprising:

   - first and second rollers (2) extending along a first direction (XX),

   - a first lateral flange (1) and a second lateral flange (1) each having a fixing wall, the fixing walls of the first and second lateral flanges (1) being arranged opposite each other in the first direction (XX), each of the first and second rollers (2) having an end mounted on each of the fixing walls,

   - first and second indentations (1c) formed respectively in the fixing wall of the first side flange (1) and the second side flange (1), the indentation (1c) being designed for the insertion of a support, each indentation (1c) being defined by first and second sections (1d) of the fixing wall, the first sections (1d) of the first and second lateral flanges (1) being aligned along the first direction (XX) to define a first support plane and the second sections (1d) of the first and second lateral flanges (1) being aligned along the first direction (XX) to define a second support plane perpendicular to the first support plane, the first and second support planes meeting along a junction line,

   protection device in which the first and second rollers (2) are separated by the bisector of the angle defined by the first and second support planes,

   protection device characterized in that each fixing wall (1a) is extended by a support wing (1b), the support wings (1b) extending in the first direction (XX) from one end of the fixing walls (1a), the first and second support wings (1b) of the first and second lateral flanges (1) defining a third support plane, the support wings being separated from the junction line by a first delimitation plane (AA) tangent to the first and second rollers (2).
2. The protection device according to claim 1 wherein the junction line is between the first delimitation plane (AA) and a second delimitation plane (BB) tangent to the first and second rollers (2), the first delimitation plane (AA) and the second delimitation plane (BB) being separated by the two rollers (2).
3. The protection device of claim 2 wherein the first and second rollers (2) are rotatably mounted respectively about first and second axes of rotation extending along the first direction (XX), the junction line being disposed in a first plane (CC) containing the first and second axes of rotation.
4. The protection device according to any one of the preceding claims in which the third support plane is parallel to the first delimitation plane (AA) and is perpendicular to the two fixing walls (1a) of the first and second side plates (1).
5. The protection device according to the preceding claim in which the fixing walls (1a) of the first and second lateral flanges (1) are extended by end wings (6), the end wings (6) extending in the first direction (XX), the distance between the end wings (6) in the first direction (XX) being greater than the distance between the fixing walls (1a) in the first direction (XX), the end wings (6) being separated from the indentations by the first delimitation plane (AA).
6. The protection device according to any of the preceding claims in which the fixing walls (1a) of the first and second lateral flanges (1) each define through holes (4) aligned along the first direction (XX) with at least one through hole (4) defined in the fixing wall (1a) and/or optionally a through hole (4) defined in the end wings (6) of a protective device according to the preceding claim.
7. The protection device according to any of the preceding claims wherein the first and second side flanges (1) are each formed by a metal sheet folded to form the fixing wall and the support wing.
8. The protection device according to one of the preceding claims in which the first and second rollers (2) are mounted for rotation respectively about first and second axes of rotation disposed parallel to each other and extending along the first direction (XX), the first and second axes of rotation belonging to the first plane (CC).
9. The protection device according to any of the preceding claims wherein each support wing (1b) defines through holes (4) having different shapes and/or sizes, the protection device comprising a fastener designed to securing the support wing (4) to a support, the fastener passing through one of the through holes (4) of each support wing (1b).
10. A protection system comprising a plurality of protection devices according to any of the preceding claims, two adjacent protection devices being connected to each other by two flexible wire elements.
11. The protection system according to the preceding claim wherein the devices are according to claim 6 and wherein the two adjacent protection devices are connected to each other by two flexible wire elements passing through one of the through holes (4).

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