GB2413821A

GB2413821A - Safety apparatus with overhead connection point

Info

Publication number: GB2413821A
Application number: GB0508999A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Stephen Murten
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2004-05-06
Filing date: 2005-05-04
Publication date: 2005-11-09
Also published as: GB0508999D0; GB0410085D0

Abstract

A safety apparatus comprising one or more vertical support members 111 and 112 and a cable 113 extending from a connection point at the base of the support member to the top of the support member over a pulley 108. The pulley housing 107 is configured to rotate about the upper support section. The support members may be made up of a series of interconnecting parts. These parts may be arranged to allow the support member to be telescopically extendable, and may be raised or lowered using a winding mechanism. The support members may be bolted to the ground, or fitted into ground engaged sockets. They may also be supported by a tripod structure 114. An operative may be connected to the cable by a harness and lanyard 103.

Description

Safe overhead connection point This invention relates to a safe overhead

connection point.

Safety apparatus for the erection of structures is disclosed in international patent publication number WO 01/27411 & United Kingdom application No 02 13 030 in the name of the present applicant. The safety apparatus has a first substantially vertical support, a second substantially vertical support and a supporting cable extending between the first and second supports. The vertical supports are configured to be adjustable in length and each include a first fixing means and a second fixing means such that the length of the support may be adjusted by releasing the first fixing means and then re-fixing the first fixing means after the adjustment has been made. In this way, it is possible to adjust the height of the safety apparatus while erection is taking place such that work may be carried out in safety at substantially all times.

According to a first aspect of the present invention, there is provided a safe overhead connection point comprising of one or more substantially vertical support member's, a cable extending from a connection point at the base of said support member up to the top of the said support member and over a pulley. The said pulley is located in a pulley housing configured to rotate with respect to said support.

The invention will now be described by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings of which: Figure 1 shows operatives connected to safety apparatus working on a structure or platform using a telescopic double tripod system: Figure 2 shows a typical pulley, pulley housing and rotation of the pulley housing: Figure 3 shows an alternative method of using the system: Figure 4 shows the telescopic value of the system in relation to the pulley.

Figure 5 shows a single tripod system: Figure 6 shows a none telescopic system connected to a structure and an operative connected to it whilst climbing a ladder.

Figure 7 shows a single system connected to a structure and an operative connected to it whilst on top of the structure.

Referring to the drawing a structure 101 or tripod 1 14 or alternative device (not shown) that brackets 1 15 or connecting pieces (not shown) can be used to connect the telescopic support member 1 1 1, 1 12 or none telescopic support member 1 17 to or into. A cable, wire or rope1 13 travels from a winch 104 or alternative clamping device (not shown) from the bottom to the top of support section 117 or up the lower support section 105 and the upper support section 106, into pulley housing 107 and over pulley 108 to connect to a second telescopic support member 112, 1 18 or connect by way of lanyard 103 or inertia reel 119 to an operative thus achieving safe ladder access and safer working environment. The telescopic support member 11 1, 112 can be raised or lowered using a winding mechanism 109 or alternative method (not shown) a operative 1 10 can connect to the cable 1 13 using a lanyard type device 103 thus the operative 110 can work and move freely knowing that if they fell the fall would be brought to a safe and quick conclusion. However by introducing excess cable 113 onto the winch 104 this would allow for the operative to be lowered to a safe area 102 in the event of a fall. Thus the safety apparatus could be used for safe retrieval of a fallen injured operative. Ladder 121 can be connected to a ladder connection point (not shown) fitted to any of the supports.

If required the supports 111, 112, 117 and 118 could be bolted at their base into the ground 102 or inserted into cups (not shown) that have previously being fitted into the ground 102 thus supporting the supports 111, 112, l 17 and 118.

A typical erection procedure firstly requires that one support member 111 or 117 is connected to the structure 101, tripod 114 or alternative device (not shown). The telescopic support member 111 is raised to the required height by the use of winding mechanism (109) or alternative device (not shown) the operative 1 10 connects to cable 1 13 by lanyard 103 or inertia reel 1 19. As the operative 1 10 moves around the support member 1 1 1 or 1 17 the swivel pulley housing 107 rotates 1 16 thus preventing threading the cable around the support member 111, 117. Also in the event of a fall the cable 113 is pulled in the direction of the fall thus preventing a pendulum effect on the operative 110.

An alternative erection procedure requires that both telescopic support members 1 11, 1 12 or support members 1 17, 1 18 are connected to a structure or separate structures 101 or tripods 1 14 or alternative structures (not shown) and the cable 113 is taken from the base of one support member 1 11 or117 up into pulley housing 107 and over pulley 108 to connect to a second support member112,118.

The telescopic support members 1 1 1, 1 12 are raised to the required height and the operative 110 connects to cable 113. In the event of a fall the pulley housing 107 is pulled in the direction 1 16 of the fall by the cable 1 13 thus preventing damage to the cable and the support members 1 1 1 1 12 or 117, 1 18 by reducing the torsion force applied.

The cables 113 can be connected to the support members 111, 112 or 117,1 18 by cable locking devices (not shown) or simply clipped at the required position.

The substantially vertical supports 111, 112 consists of lower support section 105, upper support section 106, pulley 108 and pulley housing 107. The lower support section 105 has a larger diameter than the upper support section 106, such that the upper support section 106 may slide vertically within the lower support section 105. The lower support section 105 can be attached to a structure 101 by way of lower fixing members 1 1 5,or alternative method (not shown). The upper support section 106 may if required be attached in a similar way. The upper support section 106 may be fitted with an internal or external strengthening device (not shown) to give it more rigidity and strength.

The substantially vertical supports 1 17, 1 18 consists of one or more pieces of material that can be joined together thus giving one length of material set at the required height, to include pulley 108 and pulley housing 107. The support sections 1 17, 118 are attached to the structure 101 by way of fixing members 1 15, or alternative method (not shown). The support sections 117,1 18 may be fitted with an internal or external strengthening device (not shown) to give them more rigidity and strength.

In the preferred embodiment, the vertical supports 11 1, 1 12 are circular in cross-section to facilitate their operation in a telescopic manner so as to assist adjustment. In addition, winding gear 109 or similar devices (not shown) may be provided to facilitate the movement of the telescoping devices vertically as the system is extended or contracted. However, vertical supports 1 17,1 18 may be configured of square or rectangular sections or H columns (not shown) as well as circular and other sections.

Claims

Claims Claims 1. A safety apparatus comprising one or more substantially

vertical support member's a cable extending from a connection point at the base of said support member up to the top of the said support member and over a pulley. The said pulley is located in a pulley housing configured to rotate with respect to said support.
2. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said connection point is a winch.
3. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said connection point is a locking device.
4. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vertical support are telescopic.
5. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said vertical support consists of one or more pieces of material that can be joined together thus giving one length of material set at the required height,
6. Safety apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said first telescopic support section is configured such that said cable travels over a distance to a second telescopic support and connects to it.
7. Safety apparatus according to claim 5 wherein said first support section is configured such that said cable travels over a distance to a second support and connects to it.
8. Safety apparatus according to claim 4 wherein said support section can be adjusted in height by winding gear or alternative method.
9. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said supports can be connected to a structure, tripod or alternative device.
10. Safety apparatus according to claim 6 or claim 7 wherein an operative can connect a lanyard or alternative device to said cable.
11. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the apparatus can be used to lower an injured operative.
12. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said supports can be used for safe ladder access.
13. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said supports can be connected to a weight stack.
14. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a socket is used to stand the supports in.
15. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein the said support is bolted to the ground at its base.
16. Safety apparatus according to claim 1 wherein a ladder connection piece is added to the said support thus allowing a ladder to connect to it. The ladder is held in-place by the said support thus preventing the ladder from slipping.
17. A safe overhead connection point substantially as described herein with reference to Figures1-7 of the accompanying drawings.