FR2857877A1 - ANCHOR EQUIPPED WITH AT LEAST ONE DAMPING ELEMENT, AND ANCHORING DEVICE COMPRISING SUCH ANCHORS - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention relates to an anchor (2, 3) comprising, on the one hand, a plate (6) intended to be fixed in a supporting structure (4) of the wall or floor type, and on the other hand, an element link (7) attached to said platen and adapted to support at least one horizontal flexible anchorage support (5), said link member being pivotable about an axis (Δ ') substantially parallel to the plane in which is contained said platen during the fall of a user connected to the belay support, characterized in that it comprises at least one damping element attached to the connecting member and adapted to deform in contact with the platinum during the pivoting of said connecting member.

Description

i

  The present invention relates, on the one hand, to an anchor intended to be fixed in a supporting structure of the wall or floor type, and on the other hand, to an anchoring device equipped with such anchors.

  It is known to provide equipment to protect the users, working in places high up, against the risk of falling. Such equipment is usually composed of a cable or a pair of parallel and substantially horizontal cables, called belay supports, passing intermediate anchors fixed in place to a sufficiently strong support structure. The end anchors comprise means for allowing the ends of the belay supports to be attached. Each user wears a harness that is connected by a lanyard to a slider moving on the belay supports. The intermediate anchors are designed in such a way that the slider can cross them in order to move from one end to the other of the belay supports. To stop the movement of this slider, the end anchors are provided with end stop devices. Such anchors may each be constituted using, on the one hand, a plate intended to be fixed in the supporting structure, and on the other hand, a connecting member supporting the belay supports and mounted rotating around the platen.

  If the user falls, he is held in said slider at any point belay devices. However, any fall suffered by the user causes a sudden downward demand of the belay supports. Consequently, the anchors fixed in the support structure and connected to said belaying supports are stressed in tearing. The carrier structure is therefore subject to a risk of deterioration at the various attachment points, especially when the carrier structure is not of massive composition but it is for example constituted by a metal cladding. Known equipment sometimes comprises elements intended to damp the force exerted on the body of the user by stopping the fall, but, in general, these elements do not dampen the effort satisfactorily on the structure. carrier, especially when it is likely to undergo deformations or tears. The safety of the user can then be questioned if some anchors become detached from the supporting structure.

  The object of the present invention is to remedy the drawbacks mentioned above, and for this purpose concerns an anchor comprising, on the one hand, a plate intended to be fixed in a supporting structure of the wall or floor type, and on the other hand, an element link connecting said platen and provided to support at least one horizontal flexible belay support, said connecting member being pivotable about an axis substantially parallel to the plane in which said platinum is contained during the fall of a user connected to the belay support, characterized in that it comprises at least one damping element attached to the connecting member and adapted to deform in contact with the plate during the pivoting of said connecting member.

  Thus, such an anchor makes it possible to prevent the forces generated by the fall of the user from reaching, on the fixing face of the plate, the elastic limit of deformation of the carrier structure. Indeed, during its fall, the user exerts efforts on belaying media through the lanyard and the slider. These belay supports are driven downward and cause the connecting member of at least one anchor close to the user to pivot. Each damper element of this anchor, which deforms in contact with its plate and thus absorbs part of the forces induced, ultimately allows to minimize the residual forces exerted by the anchor on the carrier structure. In addition, the pivoting of the connecting member ceasing only when the latter abuts against the bearing structure 20 or against a flange of the plate, it follows that the residual forces ultimately acting on the bearing structure are shear forces, not tearing, which are not likely to damage said bearing structure.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each damping element comprises at least one damping tab adapted to deform by sliding against the plate during the pivoting of the connecting member. It should be understood, however, that a variant within the scope of the invention may reside in the use of a rigid lug secured to the connecting member and able to cause, during the pivoting of the binding, the deformation of a malleable coating deposited on the plate.

  Advantageously, an interstice is initially provided between each damping tab and the plate.

  Advantageously, each damping tab has a decreasing section towards its free end intended to come into contact with the plate during the fall of the user.

  Preferably, the connecting member is secured to the plate by means of at least one shear pin designed to break during the fall of the user. Such an arrangement makes it possible, on the one hand, to absorb part of the forces generated by the fall of the user 5 before each damping element comes into action, and on the other hand, to avoid any friction. inadvertent between each damping element and the plate.

  According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each damping element is constituted by a separate part provided with at least one shear pin engaged in an orifice presented by the plate. An important advantage therefore lies in the fact that, each damping element also fulfilling the pinning function, it suffices to replace this element with a new one following a fall of the user to obtain a new anchor ready for use. 'employment.

  Advantageously again, the connecting member is broken down, on the one hand, into a first part attached to the plate and able to pivot about the axis parallel to the plane in which said plate is contained, and on the other hand, a second portion directly connected to each belay support and adapted to pivot about an axis substantially perpendicular to each support 20 belay. Thus, the second part attached to each belay support being free to rotate around the first part, it follows that the deformation undergone by each belay support at the point of attachment with the connecting member is greatly minimized .

  In an end anchor according to the invention, intended to be fixed in a supporting structure of wall or floor type, the axis around which the connecting member pivots during the fall of the user is substantially perpendicular to each belay support.

  In an intermediate anchor according to the invention, intended to be fixed in a supporting structure of wall or floor type, the axis around which pivots the connecting member during the fall of the user is substantially parallel to each support d belay.

  The present invention also relates to an anchoring device equipped with at least one horizontal flexible belay support, characterized in that it comprises at least two end anchors according to the invention. Advantageously, such an anchoring device further comprises at least one intermediate anchor according to the invention.

  The invention will be better understood from the detailed description which is given below with reference to the appended drawing in which: FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side view of an anchoring device according to the present invention, before the fall of the user.

  FIG. 2 is a schematic view from above of the anchoring device represented in FIG.

  Figure 3 is a schematic side view of the anchoring device shown in Figure 1, after the fall of the user.

  FIG. 4 is a schematic view from above of the anchoring device 10 shown in FIG.

  Figure 5 is a schematic partial perspective exploded view of an anchor according to the preferred embodiment of the invention, before attachment of the connecting member in the plate.

  Figure 6 is a schematic partial perspective view of the anchor shown in Figure 5 after attachment of the connecting member in the plate, with omission of the second part of the connecting member.

  Figure 7 is a schematic partial perspective view of the anchor shown in Figure 6, after pivoting of the connecting member.

  FIG. 8 is a sectional view along the line VIII-VIII of the anchor 20 shown in FIG.

  Figure 9 is a sectional view along the line IX-IX of the anchor shown in Figure 7.

  Figure 10 is a schematic partial exploded perspective view of another anchor according to the invention, before attaching the connecting member in the plate.

  Figure 11 is a partial schematic perspective view of the anchor shown in Figure 10, after attachment of the connecting member in the plate.

  Figure 12 is a schematic partial perspective view of the anchor shown in Figure 11, after pivoting of the connecting member.

  An anchoring device 1 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 1 to 4. More specifically, this anchoring device 1 comprises, on the one hand, two end anchors 2 and an intermediate anchor 3 fixed in a supporting structure 4 floor type, and secondly, two brackets 35 belay 5 made in the form of two horizontal parallel cables. A user is connected to said cables 5 via a lanyard and a slider (not shown).

  The anchors 2, 3 are made from a plate 6 to which is attached a connecting member 7 respectively movable in rotation about an axis A, A 'parallel to the plane in which is contained said plate 6.

  More specifically, the plate 6 is provided with several perforations 9 for fixing in the supporting structure 4 by screwing or bolting for example, and, as can be verified in particular in Figure 5, two side cheeks 10 each having a orifice 11 of larger diameter and 10 of an orifice 12 of smaller diameter.

  The connecting member 7 is broken down, on the one hand, into a first stirrup-shaped part 13 intended to be articulated about the axis A or A ', this stirrup 13 comprising two branches 14 each having a lower end provided with two orifices 15, 16 respectively identical to the orifices 11, 12 of the lateral cheeks 10, and secondly, in a second part 17 provided with two tubular guides traversed by the cables 5 and able to pivot about an axis A "substantially perpendicular to these.

  As shown diagrammatically in FIGS. 5 and 6, the attachment of each branch 14 of the stirrup 13 to the lateral cheek 10 which corresponds to it is effected by means of a damping element 18. The latter is arranged against the internal face of the branch 14 and is constituted by a one-piece piece having a central portion framed by two damping tabs 19. The material in which the damping element 18 is made is chosen so as to have a hardness less than 25 that of the material in which the plate 6 is made. The two damping lugs 19 are in opposite directions and have a decreasing section towards their free end, and the central part is provided, on the one hand, with a lug 20 transverse thread inserted into the larger diameter orifices 11, 15, and secondly, a transverse shear pin inserted into the smaller diameter orifices 12, 16. A nut (not shown) can then be attached to the threaded pin 20 to prevent any separation between the stirrup 13 and the plate 6. The shear pin 21 can initially bind the stirrup 13 and the plate 6 of rigidly, but is designed to break when the user falls. In addition, it should be noted that each damping element 18 is fixed so that a gap is initially provided between each damping tab 19 and the plate 6.

  In the present example, it should be noted that the difference between an end anchor 2 and an intermediate anchor 3 lies in the fact that the axis A of the end anchor 2 is substantially perpendicular to the cables 5, then that the axis A 'of the intermediate anchor 3 is substantially parallel to said cables 5.

  Referring more particularly to FIGS. 3, 4, 7 and 9, it can be seen that, in the event of a fall of the user, the forces applied to the connecting member 7 of the intermediate anchor 3, on the one hand , are substantially vertical, and secondly, have the effect of causing the rupture of each shear pin 21 at the orifice 12 of the corresponding lateral cheek 10, a part of the forces applied to the anchoring device 1 being therefore absorbed during this shearing action. Referring more particularly to FIG. 9, it should be understood that this breaking of the shear pins 21 results in the branches 14 of the stirrup 13 being separated from the lateral cheeks 10 of the plate 6. In FIG. however, each shear pin 21 remaining inserted into the hole 16 of the branch 14 corresponding thereto, it follows that each damping element 18 remains integral with the stirrup 13. Therefore, under the effect of the gravity, both the stirrup 13 and the damping elements 18 are rotated about 90 about the axis A '. In doing so, one of the two damping tabs 19 of each damping element 18 is caused to deform by sliding against the plate 6, which has the effect of gradually absorbing part of the forces applied to the device. Anchoring 1. The pivoting of the stirrup 13 and the damping elements 18 ceases when the stirrup 13 abuts against the supporting structure 4 or against a flange (not shown) of the plate 6. Finally, the forces Residuals which are exerted on the bearing structure 4 at the intermediate anchor 3 are shear forces which are not likely to damage said bearing structure 4.

  The operation is substantially similar with respect to the end anchors 2. The main difference lies in the fact that, the forces transmitted by the cables 5 to the connecting members 7 being oblique and not more substantially vertical, the axis A is provided perpendicular to the cables 5 to maximize the pivoting of the stirrups 13, and therefore the resulting damping.

  In addition, as shown more particularly in FIG. 3, parallel to the pivoting of the stirrup 13, the second part 17 of each link member 7 is free to rotate about the axis A ". deformation experienced by each cable 5 at the two tubular guides of the second portion 17 is greatly minimized.

  Another variant embodiment of an anchor 101 according to the invention is shown in FIGS. 10 to 12. Such an anchor 101 comprises a plate 102 to which a connecting member 103 movable about an axis A parallel to the plane in which said platinum 102 is contained.

  The connecting member 103 is broken down, on the one hand, into a first part in the form of a branch 104 hinged about the axis A, and on the other hand, in a second part 105 provided with a guide tubular traversed by a cable 106 and 15 adapted to pivot about an axis A "substantially perpendicular to said cable 106.

  Unlike the anchors 2, 3 described above, the attachment of the connecting member 103 to the plate 102 is not made using a separate part. Indeed, the damping element 18 of the anchors 2, 3 is here integrated in the branch 104 of the anchor 101. More precisely, the branch 104 has a lower end provided with two damping lugs 108, a threaded transverse pin 109 and a shear pin 110 respectively comparable to the damping tabs 19, the pin 20 and the shear pin 21 of the damping element 18 anchors 2, 3. The attachment of the connecting member 103 to the plate 102 is finally achieved by insertion of the pin 109 and the shear pin 110 in two tubular sections 111, 112 secured to the plate 102.

  In operation, when sufficient forces are exerted on the connecting member 103 via the cable 106, the shear pin 110 breaks and releases the branch 104 in rotation. As before, this break allows to absorb some of the forces applied to the device and resulting from the fall of the user. The branch 104 is then pivoted about the axis A, and one of the two damping tabs 108 is caused to deform by sliding against the plate 102, which has the effect of progressively absorbing part of the efforts applied to the device. Finally, after the branch 104 has finished its course, the residual forces received by the carrier structure are shear forces whose intensity is not sufficient to cause damage to said bearing structure.

  As previously, the second part 105 being free in rotation about the axis A ", it follows that the deformation of the cable 106 at the tubular guide is very limited.

  It should be understood that an anchor according to the invention can work very well without having a shear pin. Indeed, in the event of a fall of the user, the damping lugs then immediately come into action in order to reduce the forces generated. In other cases, for example when the user exerts little effort on the belay supports during his movements, the connecting member can then rotate, but only at a weak angle, until one of the two damping lugs comes into abutment against the plate.

  Although the invention has been described in connection with particular embodiments, it is obvious that it is not limited thereto and that it comprises all the technical equivalents of the means described and their combinations if they are within the scope of the invention.

Claims (11)

  1. Anchor (2, 3, 101) comprising, on the one hand, a plate (6, 102) intended to be fixed in a supporting structure (4) of the wall or floor type, and on the other hand, a connecting member (7, 103) attached to said plate and adapted to support at least one horizontal flexible anchor support (5, 106), said connecting member being pivotable about an axis (A, A ') ) substantially parallel to the plane in which said plate 10 is contained during the fall of a user connected to the belay support, characterized in that it comprises at least one damping element (18) attached to the body of connection and able to deform in contact with the plate during the pivoting of said connecting member.   2. Anchor (2, 3, 101) according to claim 1, characterized in that each damping element (18) comprises at least one damping lug (19, 108) able to deform by sliding against the platinum (6, 102) during the pivoting of the connecting member (7, 103).   3. Anchor (2, 3, 101) according to claim 2, characterized in that it is initially provided a gap between each damping tab 20 (19, 108) and the plate (6, 102).   4. Anchor (2, 3, 101) according to any one of claims 2 or 3, characterized in that each damping tab (19, 108) has a decreasing section towards its free end intended to come into contact platinum (6, 102) during the fall of the user.   5. Anchor (2, 3, 101) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the connecting member (7, 103) is secured to the plate (6, 102) by the intermediate of at least one shear pin (21, 110) adapted to break upon the fall of the user.   6. Anchor (2, 3) according to claim 5, characterized in that each damping element (18) is constituted by a separate part provided with at least one shear pin (21) engaged in an orifice ( 12) presented by the plate (6).   7. Anchor (2, 3, 101) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the connecting member (7, 103) is broken down, on the one hand, into a first part ( 13, 104) attached to the plate (6, 102) and pivotable about the axis (A, A ') parallel to the plane in which said plate is contained, and secondly, in a second part (17 , 105) directly connected to each belay support (5, 106) and pivotable about an axis (A ") substantially perpendicular to each belay support.   8. Anchor (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the axis (A) around which pivots the connecting member (7) during the fall of the user is substantially perpendicular to each belay support (5).   9. Anchor (3) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the axis (A ') around which pivots the connecting member (7) 10 during the fall of the user is substantially parallel to each belay support (5).   10. Anchoring device (1) equipped with at least one horizontal flexible anchorage support (5), characterized in that it comprises at least two anchors (2) according to claim 8.   11. An anchoring device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that it comprises at least one intermediate anchor (3) according to claim 9.