NZ624149B2 - Composite rope and anchoring and safety system - Google Patents

Abstract

composite fall arresting rope or cable (10-1) is disclosed. The rope or cable comprises an inner metallic core (10-A) laid from a plurality of twisted wire strands (10-A') and a plurality of covering layers (10-B, 10-C) formed around the core (10-A). The covering layers comprise a first layer (10-B) braided with aramid yarns, such as Kevlar, and a second layer (10-C) braided with polyester yarns. Additionally, the covering layers may comprise a third layer (10-C) braided with p-aramid yarns and/or yarns of UHMWPE fibres. The composite rope breaks in stages, first the metallic core (10-A) and subsequently the layers (10-A, 10-B, 10-C). An anchoring and safety system (see figs 7A-D) for the roof of buildings to prevent accidental falls from height is also disclosed. 0-B) braided with aramid yarns, such as Kevlar, and a second layer (10-C) braided with polyester yarns. Additionally, the covering layers may comprise a third layer (10-C) braided with p-aramid yarns and/or yarns of UHMWPE fibres. The composite rope breaks in stages, first the metallic core (10-A) and subsequently the layers (10-A, 10-B, 10-C). An anchoring and safety system (see figs 7A-D) for the roof of buildings to prevent accidental falls from height is also disclosed.

Description

COMPOSITE ROPE AND ANCHORING AND SAFETY SYSTEM Technical Field The present invention generally s to the technical field of cables, ropes and cords, and more particularly it relates to the field, narrower, of cables, ropes and cords of the ite type, that is of those cables and ropes which are composed of an inner metallic core of steel, in turn covered with one or more coverings or outer layers of protection, and which, therefore, thanks to these additional coverings or layers, exhibit special technical characteristics and performance that distinguish them ntially from the usual uncovered cables and ropes of steel.

The present invention also concerns in general the field of anchoring and security systems that are suitable for offering an anchorage and consequently to render safe critical and potentially dangerous zones, such as the roof of a building, in order to avoid the risk of accidental falls of persons that operate and move in these zones, and more particularly it concerns a type anchoring and safety , i.e. a system including, as an essential t to provide anchorage and safety, a cable or a rope, and more specifically a cable or rope of the composite type.

Background Art The present que offers a wide variety of cables, ropes and cords intended for an equally wide variety of applications, and in particular it provides various types and models of composite cables and ropes, i.e. having a central inner core, usually metallic and of steel, that is covered with one or more outer layers or sheaths or coverings.

Despite this wide and varied range, the technology, tly available and applied, cannot be considered entirely free from limitations and drawbacks that deserve to be carefully analyzed in order to get to overcome them. in particular, as a first consideration, it is observed how the present technique, in proposing covered and composite cables or ropes, has considered and taken into t only a vely small and limited number of materials with which to make these outer layers and layers, thus ignoring numerous and special materials that the modern technology today makes advantageously available, among which there are cited, by way of example, the special fl _ i. ‘ ,_ WW . V, was ngted' 20/11/2013;' 'DESCPAMD; lT20120003 I , NFQX 2 22 UTT. 2813 18222 P28 work in its vicinity and usually Come into contact wiih it An example of a known compasite cable showing in section a mum-layer configuration can be found in patent document U.8.V2011/18941‘i Ai, which disdases various embodiments of composite cable comprising a inner core, having a tubular configuration. an outer textile fiber sheath, and at least one intermediate layer of a texiile material diSposed beMeen the tubular inner core and the outer sheaih.

The present technique also offers a wide variety of systems directed to provide safety and a possibility of anchoring and grip to an operator who has to e in critical situations and potentially dangerous areas, for example move on the reef of a house or on a scaffolding of building in construction, as well as to ensure Security and protection t the risk of falling in certain Sports and activities such as ineering and in Among these known ty and safety systems, many include. as an essential element suitable for providing safety to an operator. a cable or a rope, to which the same Operator has {he pussibility to attach himself. for example via a spring-clip, and then remain firmly attached, AMENDED SHFF‘T Jvlgtggeizjgg 315% EPO on Oct 22, 2013 59. Page 20 of 27' ' ' r - . . 10:13:13-22.10.201310:45:39.Thispage 20 ofAMENDED SHE~ ET201310122:48 is ‘2é/id/20i3 ,._,-‘.~_..k_. N Printed: 20/1 1‘/2_61“é§ MVID: "W261 2000306, DQ- N.FQX 1 22 DTT. 2813 18222 P21 PCT/ITEM 2/000306 - 23 while working on the roof, whereby the operator daes hot run the ri the fcof where he moves and makes Its Job, but' ' is in any event heid by the came In these known safety systems based on a cabie or rape, the rope is usuauy installed on the structure, such as the roof. to make safe, so as to avoid the risk that an operator can from . ‘ fa! i :t, by usmg one or more suppod elements that support and bind the rope to define its path along the same structure.

AMENDED SHFFT Nation: 22.10.2013 10:13:13 - 22.10.2013 102559. This page 21 of AM ENDED 01310;23;15 Received at the EPO on Oct 22, 2013 10:25:59. Page 21 of 27 2“: 22/101261’3‘ 2012/000306 However these t elements, in particular those arranged in the intermediate areas of the path of the rope, are Usually configured so as not to block the rope, but simply to guide it while leaving it free to slide, whereby the rope, when it is pulled and urged by an operator attached to it, is subject to slide in the area of these support elements, with the consequent risk of creating situations of instability for the operator attached to the same rope.

Therefore, also here, there is to be noted that the known technique has some limitations and drawbacks, and that, moreover, it hasin fact neglected and arded some interesting possibilities that d deserve to be lly considered and ted more fully in order to e the characteristics and performance of the safety and anchoring systems currently available, particularly those that include and are based on the use of a cable or a safety rope.

For example it is noted that the actual technique, in the field of safety systems, is based almost solely and exclusively on systems that comprise structures and elements welded together, or forged clamps to which it is possible to attach a safety rope of steel. _ it follows that these known systems appear able to provide only a partial and incomplete safety to operators, y the risk of accidents, in particular of falls from an height, remains high. ln this regard, it is noted, as resulted from a recent survey, that 47% of accidents in the construction industry is represented by falls from a height, thereby ing the fact that, despite the tions and safety systems currently used, the problem persists and requires solutions more effective and efficient than the current ones.

Moreover, as a further consideration, it has to be pointed out that the current security and safety systems, at present available on the market, exhibit very different characteristics and peculiarities, often ting with one another, in terms both of their constructive and ical configuration and of the type of safety that they are capable of giving, thereby making rather difficult and problematic the selection, from a user, of which specific safety system he has to effectively adopt.

Summarizing, today there are available and known various safety systems that are made . up of parts and elements welded together, for example of a bolt which is welded to a base plate, or that comprise forged elements, such as eyebolts or terminals for the passage of a rope of galvanized or stainless steel.

Yet, there are known safety systems including a cable or a rope which is installed and made to run along a structure, e.g. a roof, to be rendered secure against accidental falls of the people working on it, wherein the rope is supported and bound on that structure, while having the possibility of sliding, by means of one or more support elements. sure of invention Unless the context clearly requires otherwise, throughout the description and the claims, the words ‘comprise', ‘comprising’ and the like are to be construed in an inclusive sense as opposed to an exclusive or exhaustive sense; that is to say in the sense of “including but not limited to".

Now, in the current technical context, as outlined above, the or has realized that a thorough study and an ive experimentation performed on the various outer layers for ng a cable and rope of the composite type, as well as the definition of an appropriate and efficacious ation of these covering layers, can lead to the result of a significant and substantial improvement of the features and operational performance, such as the mechanical th and the wear resistance, of the ite cable and rope.

In particular the inventor has perceived that numerous and relevant benefits can arise from the ple of covering a rope or a cable of steel with ent and appropriate coverings and layers, for example an increase, thanks to this special configuration with layers, both of the tensile strength, as also verified by specific tests carried out at the company Gamba Working Group of Biella and described below, and of the electrical insulation, as well as verified by tests conducted at ic laboratories that deal with safety in the workplace.

Furthermore, the inventor has also faced the problem of overcoming the drawbacks and limitations, above mentioned, of the present technique in this specific field of cables and ropes, in order to ensure both a stable anchorage of the cable that does not to show any failure and instability, and also an effective insulation of it from electrical sources.

At the same time the inventor has turned his attention to try to make a cable or rope, of the composite type, that were able to reduce to a minimum the accidents at work, and also were able to predict, reduce and minimize the negative effects of a possible ge of the inner core of the cable, for e by ensuring, in this case of breakage, a residual strength and mechanical resistance of the cable so as to delay its complete rupture.

Yet the inventor, starting from and analyzing the prior art and related limits, has faced the problem of improving in a tangible way the teristics, performances and effectiveness of the safety systems currently in use, and in ular of those which are based on the use of one or more safety cables in order to give a person the possibility of attaching to them, and which typically are intended to be installed on the roofs of buildings or in areas and on similar structures to make them safe against accidental fall of people who work on them. ore a first object, more general, of the present invention is to provide a cable or rope of the composite type, i.e. comprising one or more ng layers formed around an inner core constituted by a rope of steel, which offers concrete and tangible advantages over the composite cables and ropes that are now in use, and in particular it is such as to meet the above sed requirements, as well as to realize a new composite cable that is the result of a careful and thorough study and experimentation on the materials to be used to make the covering layers of ed for covering the metallic central core.

A second object, however connected to the first, of the present invention is to provide a new and innovative cable, of the composite type, that takes full advantage of the opportunity to exploit certain new materials, and therefore their special properties, today available in the art, in order to significantly improve the characteristics and operational performances of these composite cables.

A further object of the t invention is to provide an ing and safety system, of the type ing a cable directed to make safe structures such as the roofs of buildings, which system is capable of avoiding the risk of accidents and accidental falls from an height of the people who operate and move on these ures, wherein this anchoring and safety system substantially innovates and is associated with evident and tangible benefits with respect to the various and often non-homogeneous and dant security systems currently in use and applied, and in particular it is able to provide safer and more reliable anchorage points, and therefore optimum conditions of safety, to the people that operate on these structures to make safe, and also implies a rapid and easy installation on them.

These objects are to be read disjunctively with the object of at least providing the public with a useful alternative to known composite cable or rope and anchoring and safety systems. (followed by page 5a) The above objects can be considered fully achieved by the composite cable or rope and by the anchoring and safety system, including a rope, having the characteristics d herein.

In particular, the present invention provides in a first aspect a composite cable comprising: an inner metallic core consisting of a ity of metallic strands, and a plurality of layers formed around said inner metallic core, said ity of layers comprising: a first fabric layer at least braided with yarns or threads of aramid fibers or filaments constituted by aramid, which first layer is formed around and covers said inner metallic core, and a second fabric layer at least braided with yarns or threads of polyester fibers, which second layer is formed around and covers said first layer, wherein said composite cable is configured such that, at the e strength of the composite cable, it does not break completely, but the inner metallic core ruptures first, while said layers covering said inner metallic core maintain a residual strength of the composite cable, whereby the composite cable breaks totally and completely only after the rupture of the inner metallic core.

Particular forms of embodiment of the composite cable or rope and of the anchoring and safety system of the invention are also defined by the dependent claims.

Therefore, in summary, in a first aspect, the present invention s to a ite cabie or rope that exhibits high-performance technical characteristics, whiie, in a second aspect, it {FOLLOWED BY PAGE 6] concerns an anchoring and safety system, of the type with a cable, that also exhibits high improved technical and safety characteristics with t to the s and devices for anchoring and giving safety at present in use. it should be noted that, for the purposes of‘the present invention and in the respective following description, the terms “cor ", " and "rope" are to be understood as synonyms and can therefore be used interchangeably to indicate substantially the same object or part of the invention .

Also the words "layer", "coating", “covering”, h" are to be understood as synonyms and having the same meaning and therefore ed to indicate the same parts of the composite cable of the invention Brief Description of Drawings These and other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will embodiment thereof, provided appear cleany from the following description of some preferred solely by way of a non limiting-example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, where: Fig 1 is a schematic perspective view, in section, of a first embodiment of a composite cable according to the present ion; Fig 2 is a schematic perspective view, in section, of a second embodiment of the composite cable according to the present invention; Fig 3 is a photographic view of an effective sample of the composite cable of the invention, in particular ming to the tive first embodiment of Fig 1; Figs. 4A-4C are photographic views of some testing equipments used to test the composite cable of the invention; Fig 5A-SB are diagrams related to experimental tensile tests performed on samples of the composite cable of the invention; Fig 6 is a schematic view, with some parts in section, of an anchoring and safety system, according to the present invention, including a cable or rope of the ite type; Figs. 6A and 68 are views of some details and parts of the anchoring and safety system of Fig 6; Figs. 7A-7D are photographic views that show or simulate the anchoring and safety system, according to the present ion, in its actual installation on the roof of a building, and Fig 8A and 8B show respectively a specimen of a rope attachment, of the ing and safety system of the invention, showing an eyelet configuration and a diagram corresponding to a sliding test med on this specimen.

Detailed description of some preferred embodiments of the composite cable or rope of the invention With reference to the drawings, Fig 1 shows a first embodiment, indicated with 10-1, of a composite cable or rope according to the present invention.

In particular, the composite cable 104 is composed of a core or metal core, indicated with -A, constituted by a usual conventional cable formed from a plurality of steel s indicated 1O with 10-A', wherein this metal core 10-A is covered with a first layer or covering of Kevlar or in general of an aramid fiber, indicated with 10-8, which first layer 10-A in turn is d with an onal second layer, indicated with 10-C, ting of a polymer belonging to the class of polyester, exhibiting high tenacity, whereby the composite cable 10-1 is constituted by and composed of the inner metal core 10-A covered with the two layers of Kevlar and polyester, respectively 10—3 and 10-C, of which the latter 10-0, of polyester, is provided on the outer e of the composite cable 10-1.

It is recalled once again that the Kevlar is a material that, at equal weight, is five times stronger than steel, has a great resistance to heat and decomposes at about 500 degrees without melting.

The Fig 2 shows a second embodiment, indicated with 10-2, of the composite cable of the invention. ln particular, the composite cable 10-2 is composed of an inner metal core, indicated with -A, which is covered with a first layer of Kevlar, indicated with 10-3, in turn covered with a further and additional second layer, indicated with 10-C, ting of a polymer belonging to the class of polyester, at high tenacity, in turn covered with a further and onal third layer of Kevlar or Dyneema, indicated with 10-D, whereby the cable Composite 10-2, of this second ment 10-2 of the invention, is constituted by and ed of the inner metal core 10-A covered with the three layers 10-8, 10-0 and 10-0, respectively of Kevlar, polyester, and of Kevlar or Dyneema, of which the latter 10-0, of Kevlar or Dyneema, is arranged externally in the composite cable 10-2.

PCTKIT2012/000306 It is recalled that the a is a synthetic fiber, invented by the company DSN and consisting of ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, also indicated with the acronym UHMWPE (Ultra High Molecular Weight from English PolyEthylene), which exhibits a very high strength—to—weight ratio, up to fifteen times greater than that of steel. ore the difference between the composite cable 10-2, with triple layering, and the composite cable 104, with double layering, resides in the on of a third outer layer 10-0 to the composite cable 10-1 of the first embodiment. in particular, thanks to this additional outer layer 10~D of Kevlar or Dyneema, the ite cable or rope composite 10-2 appears to be particularly advantageous for being used in lifting systems or in elevators. in fact, this outer layer 10-D ct Kevlar or Dyneema is such as to considerably increase the friction, and thus ensure a lower sliding, between the ite cable 10-2 and the pulleys, of these lifting systems, on which the cable 10-2 is wrapped.

Both the layer 10-8 of Kevlar and that 10-0 of polyester are made in the form of a fabric consisting of woven and braided threads or yarns, in turn constituted by fibers of these two materials.

For clarity, the photographic view of Fig 3 shows an actual sample of the composite cable of the invention, conforming to the respective first embodiment 10-1 with two layers, namely with the layer 10-3 of Kevlar and that 10-0 of polyester.

According to a variant, in the two embodiments 10-1 and 10-2, the layer tO—C can be constituted, instead of only ter, both of polyester and Kevlar, in a given ratio between these two materials, in order to increase the characteristics of mechanical strength and technical performance of the composite cable.

For example, this percentage may be equal to a 50% in weight of Kevlar and 50% in weight of polyester.

As anticipated, the various and ent layers of ter, Kevlar, and (Kevlar + polyester) are made in a known manner, in the form of a fabric constituted by d and of the metal core-to-A.“ - woven yarns, and with equipment which are als‘oknown', on the outside Advantageously, the presence of these layers in the form of braided or aced yarns allows to avoid or at least mitigate the disruptive and negative effects that are often caused, in W0 2013i051043 the conventional cables, by a rupture of the inner metallic core of steel, and hence to ensure a safety margin and a residLial mechanical resistance of the ite cable also in the case of such an event, since the layers yield and are broken only after the rupture of the inner core of steel. in particular, as resulting from tests carried out at the company Gamba Working Group of Biella, also later mentioned and supplemented with further details, it was found that the composite cable or rope of the invention acquires a higher structural strength, so as to ensure a safety margin, before e, which is about 50% of the breaking load or tensile strength of a conventional rope of steel.

For example, numerically, a tional cable 10—A of steel with a diameter of 6 mm having a breaking load equal to 2510 kg, as declared by the manufacturer, after having been covered in accordance with the embodiment 10-1 so as to assume the configuration with two layers shown in Fig 1, in particular with a first layer 10-B of Kevlar of thickness = 1 mm and a second layer 10-C of polyester also of thickness of 1 mm, has a increase in the tensile th of 1,000 kg, rising thus to about 3,500 kg.

Still on the basis of numerical data, as resulting from the tests carried out at the firm Gamba Working Group of Biella, it was obtained, always in the case of a composite cable composed of a steel core to-A of 6 mm plus two layers of 100% Kevlar and 100% ter both having a thickness of 1 mm, whereby the composite cable assumes an outer diameter of 6 +2 +2 = 10 mm, that, after rupture of the inner steel core 104k at the conditions already above ned of 3,500 kg, corresponding to a considerable increase of the breaking load over that of the uncovered cable steel 10-A, the final and total rupture of the composite cable or rope occurs at a later time and at a m guaranteed load value ranging from 500 to 1,000 kg.

Turning to the electric aspect of the composite cable of the invention, it ha to be noted that the ter is a material resistant to re, water, marine, grease and sunlight and also has properties that remain unchanged and do not depend on the dry or wet state of the polyester.

Kevlar material in turn pres’ents’trnique and special cal and strength characteristics that make it suitable to be used for example to manufacture flak jackets, whereby the combination of these two materials, is. polyester and Kevlar, constitutes an optimal union, in 30 particular in order to provide high performance mechanical strength and to isolate from any power sources and thus protect, from electrical shocks ted by such sources, an operator that has to operate in contact with the composite cable.

The fields of application of the composite cable or rope of the invention are numerous, and for instance include the life and safety lines to be installed for safety and security reasons on the roofs of civil and industrial buildings, safety cords, hoisting cables for industrial use, ropes for mountaineering and mountain climbing, ropes for use in swimming, and many other applications yet.

Furthermore it will be appreciated that the composite cable of the ion, unlike the conventional uncovered steei cables, can conveniently be knotted and loosened for a practically unlimited number of times, always returning to the initial configuration, and also without the risk of damage or impair the resistance and strength of the inner metal core, thanks to the presence of the layers that cover it.

Experimental tests performed on the ite cable of the invention For a more e and complete information so as to ate the foregoing description, the photographic views of Figs. 4A-4C show some of the equipments that were used to test the composite cable of the invention, according to the tive embodiments 10-1 and 10-2, in order to verify its efiective characteristics and mance. in particular, these views show a traction equipment or e, indicated with MT, used to verify the static behavior and carry out the breaking tests on samples of the composite cable -1 and 10-2, and a panel, of the same traction machine MT, which show the ion of a breaking test. it is noted that these tests were performed and analyzed in the laboratories of the called "Static company Gamba Working Group of , and are part of an experimental activity strength of composite cables and their connections" in the following there are indicated the data which define the characteristics of the various parts which make up the" composite cable object of the tests.

Characteristics of the rope of the inner core of steel l Strength class Tensile diameter (mm) (daN/mmZ). (Kg/N/mm2 strength (daN) Tenacity c weight Melting point Water absorption (CN/Dtex) (°C) 21 5/220 Elongation (%) Figs. 5A-SB in turn refer to diagrams 01 and D2 which illustrate some of the results obtained from the experimental tests carried out on samples of the ite cable of the invention.

As it can be clearly seen from these diagrams 01 and DZ, relative to traction testing where a function of a traction force applied to the sample is progressively increased and measured as the corresponding shift or axial deformation of the same sample, the ite cable 10-1 or 102, in the respective ng point BP corresponding to rupture and breakage of the inner steel core 10-A. exhibits a certain tensile strength indicated with TS.

At this point, of , the strength of the cable collapses and falls out suddenly, but it does not become completely null, whereby the cable 10-1 or 10-2 exhibits, ately after the rupture of the inner metallic core 10-A, a residual strength or mechanical resistance, indicated with R8, due to the intervention and the resistance of the layers of Kevlar, polyester, and Kevlar + Dyneema which break only after that rupture of the inner core 10-A.

WO 51043 Therefore, advantageously, the final and complete rupture of the composite cable 10-1 or -2 of the invention occiJrs at a time T2 which is subsequent to the time T1 at which the breaking of the metallic inner core 10-A of steel occurs.

The numerous tests that weretcarried showed a medium e strength T3, or a medium resistance to static breakage, of approximately 28KN, with a standard deviation of 2 KN, whereby it can be estimated a static strength, with reliability of 99.7%, equal at least to 22 KN.

Detailed description of some red embodiments of the anchoring system and safety composite cable of the invention As anticipated, a second important aspect of the invention s to an anchoring and to safety system including, as an essential element suitable for providing safety, a cable or a rope, and in particular a rope of the composite type, with high-performance, such as that described above in detail. ‘ Now, with reference to the drawings and in particular to Fig 6, a rope-type anchoring and safety system, according to the t invention, also called life-line system as will be understood better later, is indicated in the whole with 20 and comprises: _, a rope of the composite type, indicated with E, consisting of a composite rope for example conforming to the embodiment 10—1 before described, thus composed of an internal core of steei 10-A, which is covered with a first layer 10-8 of Kevlar, having in particular the function of preserving the rope E from abrasion, which first layer in turn is covered with a surface second layer 10-0 of ter or a suitable for protecting the same rope E from atmospheric agents, and - one or more anchorages, each indicated as a whole with 21, in which the composite rope E is fixed and locked by screwing, wherein each age 21 in turn is stably fixed and anchored to a structure, indicated with ST and constituted for example by the roof of a building, to make sure and safe by means of the same safety system 20.

The anchorage 21, ial part of the safety system 20 of the invention, exhibits ww- ———remarkable and innovative‘features, as hereinafter described in , and in particular, unlike those used in the known safety s, is not constituted by parts welded between them.

PCTKIT2012/000306 Consequently, the anchorage 21 is not subject to structural problems and defects, such as due to cracks, due to imperfect Welds, which may arise and manifest themselves over time weathering and theme! expansions and that often afflict welded structures.

Again, advantageously, the anchor 21 does not include forged‘parts, such as rings, bolts or clamps, for the fixing and the passage of cables.

The anchorage 21 is installed and firmly fixed to the structure ST to make safe.

For example, as already anticipated, the anchorage 21 can abut and be stably fixed to the main load-bearing structure ST of the roof R0 or of the roof of a building, by means of a box of metal, indicated with BX. in which it is oned, through a hole JJ, a tubular element HH, wherein this tubular element HH in turn houses within it an element or threaded stem, indicated with F, of the type of a screw stud having two threads at the ends of te sense, one of which, higher, is indicated with F' and the other, lower, screwed into the structure ST, is indicated with F".

In ular, the box BX presents, in addition to the hole JJ for the passage of the tubular element H, a hole J for the passage of the threaded element F, and also four upper holes KK of and the larger er and four lower holes K ofsmaller diameter to allow passage of the head stem of four fixing screws VH, by means of which the box BX is rigidly fixed to the ure ST.

As shown in Fig 6, the anchorage 21 also comprises two plates A and B, for fixing and locking the composite rope E, wherein each of them has a central through hole M and two side through holes, tively l and 0.

These two plates A and B are made by a process of cold forging and each of them has- two seats, concave, adapted to receive at opposite sides the e of the composite rope E in order to house and lock it.

Therefore, by joining and pressing these two. plates one against the other, with the interposition of the composite rope E, it is possible to stably lock between them the composite rope E.

In the lation of the safety system 20, in a first phase the box element BX is fixed to the structure ST by means of-the four screws VH.

Even the threaded t F is screwed and fixed rigidly to the structure ST, by passing through the hole J of the box BX the lower threaded portion F” of this threaded element F.

PCT/1T2012/000306 Then the two plates A and B of the anchorage 21 are inserted, through their central through hole M. on the tip of the threaded upper portion F‘ of the threaded element F.

At this point, the two plates A and B are tightened both against each other, with the interposition of the composite cable E, via a pair of bolts C, and t the tubular element HH, which acts as a spacer, by screwing and tightening a nut G on the threaded upper portion F' of the threaded element F. in this way the stresses due to the tightening of the nut G tributed in a uniform manner on the various parts of the anchorage 21.

Furthermore, the threaded element F , the two plates A and B and the tubular element H form a single group, t and integral, which blocks and locks stably the rope E into the anchorage 21 and also makes the latter integral with the safety system or life-line 20 in its whole.

The box BX in turn allows both to distribute on the supporting structure ST the force applied on the anchorage 21, and to make compact the safety system or life-line 20.

For clarity and completeness of information the photographic views of Figs. 7A-7D show the system of anchorage and safety 20 in its actual installation on the roof R0 of a building.

As can be seen from these Figs. 7A-7D, the ing system and safety 20 is y fixed to the supporting structure of the roof R0 ST through more anchorages 21, arranged in appropriate points of the roof R0. it is ln this way, as can be seen by the same Figs. 7A—7’D, the composite cable E, once clamped n the two plates A and B of each anchorage 21, provides a safety line, also called life-line and ted with LL, suitable for offering a chance of attachment and anchoring to those persons who work in the zone where the safety system 20 is installed, so as to safeguard their life and in particular avoid that they may accidentally fall from an height.

In particular, the Fig 70 shows, close up, an age 21 around which the rope E is wound, so as to be locked along two respective passages between the two plates A and B.

Of course, as also shown in Figs. 7A, TB and 7D, the cable E can be , into the . anchorage 21, only along a passage bettveen the plates A and B, in particular ifthe anchorage 21 is arranged in an intermediate zone of the life-line LL.

WO 2013051043 Note also that, in correspondence of the anchorages 21, and in particular of those arranged at an end of the‘ life-line LL, as for e shown in Fig. 7D, the rope E is usually configured so as to form an eyelet EY. ln particular, this eyelet EY, before being firmly clamped between the two plates A and B of the anchorage 21, is disposed in a configuration in which it protrudes from the two plates A and 8 towards the outside of the lifeline LL, whereby the rope forming the eyelet EY is le for sliding when a given load is d to the life-line LL.

This eyelet like configuration, suitable for sliding, with which the cable E is fixed and locked between the two plates A and B is associated with significant advantages in the use of the safety system 20, as hereinafter more fully described. in the use of the safety system or life—line system 20, the operator has the possibility to anchor himself to any of the anchorage 21 of the safety system 20, for example by using a first spring clip, ted with SP0 and represented with a ot line in Fig 6, which is coupled to the plates A and B of the age 21 and inserted into the respective holes i or O, and also to attach himself to the composite rope E by using a second spring clip SPC, as also shown in dash-dot line in Fig 6A. ln this way the operator benefits of a double safety.

Furthermore, since the passage of the composite rope E is locked in the region of each anchorage 21, in turn spaced apart from each other with a constant pitch for instance of about 8 meters, the safety system 20 of the invention advantageously allows to eliminate and in any case to lower drastically the risk associated with pendulum effect, as well as to reduce, at equal traction force. in comparison with the cable conventional systems, the yielding of the rope calculated on the entire life-line system.

On the contrary these risks and adverse s are present in the cable tional security systems where the cable is not locked and therefore it is free to slide in the intermediate anchorages.

As added benefit, the composite cable E, thanks to its l covering, can be installed with bare hands, without any‘dang‘er ofinjury to the operator.

Yet the rope composite E, part of the safety system 20, es protection and electrical insulation from atmospheric electric shocks.

WO 1043 PCTKIT2012/000306 Furthermore, in the event of a etical rupture of the metallic steel core of the composite rope E, the operator ascertains visually the elongation of the composite rope E, not yet definitively , whereby he can ly intervene and take the necessary safety precautions.

Still, the elasticity of the covering layers of Kevlar and ter allows to protect the life of the operator, since the complete rupture takes place only at a later time, or after the collapse of the inner core of steel.

Another cant advantage is associated, as before mentioned, with the eyelet configuration. having the possibility of sliding between the two plates A and B, according to which the rope or cable E is fixed to an anchorage 21, in particular arranged at an end of the ine LL. in fact, when the safety system 20 or the life-line LL is subject to traction, for example because it must intervene to retain and hold an operator who is accidentally slipped on the roof RO, this eyelet EYis subject to slide between the two plates A and B by means of which it was locked on the anchorage 21.

Therefore this sliding or slipping of the eyelet EY, in the same anchorage 21, has the effect of damping the forces acting in the security system 20, thereby reducing considerably and cushioning the impact suffered by the operator when the ine LL intervenes to retain him and save his life.

This favorable performance, in the use of the security system 20, has been the subject of careful experimentation always at the firm Gamba Working Group of Biella. in particular there have been made some specimens, of the type shown in Fig 8A and indicated with SP. in which the rope E, forming an eyelet EY, is grasped and gn‘pped at the ends of the specimen SP by means of GR grips that simulate the tightening of the same cable E between the plates A and B. wherein these ens SP were subjected to on in a testing machine, in order to check and measure, as a function of the tensile load or axial force FA applied to the specimen SP, the sliding or shift 8 of the eyelet EY until its full recovery in the grips GR.

The diagram of Fig BB, in turn, shows the result of one of these sliding tests.

WO 2013051043 PCTIIT2012/000306 As can be seen from this diagram, the axial force FA applied to the specimen SP, after an initial increase, assumes an oscillatory behavior, in a range between about 4.5 and 6.5 KN, which ponds to a slip of the rope E for recovering completely the eyelets EY in their grips, wherein this fluctuating force FA is justified by the so-called phenomenon of "stick-slip", determined by the difference existing between the coefficient of static and dynamic on between the rope and their end grips in'the specimen SP. it is therefore clear from these tests, that the safety system A, in case of intervention to save the life of a user and prevent it from falling, whereby the life-line LL is subject to a certain tensile stress, advantageously reacts by allowing and activating the sliding of the eyelet EY, in 1O the tive anchorages 21, so as to reduce considerably the impact suffered by the user during such an intervention of the safety system 20 to save his life.

Finally the safety system exhibits a great flexibility, so as to be le for being easily installed and d to any type of roof and cover to be secured.

Therefore, thanks to these characteristics, the safety system or the life-line of the invention and to be appears to be adapted to be advantageously applied in a multiplicity of circumstances installed on various types of structures, in ular on roofs and the coverings of civil and industrial buildings to the purpose of making sure and without risks to workers the periodic maintenance of antennas, gutters, replacing shingles, so as to meet the safety tions prescribed by law and in particular by the law relating to the risk of falling from a height exceeding 2 meters Mania Of course, without prejudice to the principle and the basic concepts of the present ion, the forms of ment and details of construction of both the composite cable rope and the anchoring and safety system including a rope, here proposed, may be varied widely with respect to what has been described and rated hitherto, without thereby departing from the scope of the same invention.

For example, the layers of Kevlar and Dyneema instead of being constituted by a fabn'c formed of woven or braided threads or yarns, in turn constituted by fibers of Kevlar and Dyneema, can be constituted by a fabric consisting of continuous, i.e. rous, filaments, braided, still constituted by these materials.

Still, the rope, which is used in the anchoring and safety system 20 of the invention, can even be a conventional and known cable or rope, either of the composite type, i.e. having a central core, metallic or not, that is covered with one or more layers or s, or of the non- composite type, i.e. be an uncovered repe, thereby not exhibiting on its outer surface any protective layer or sheath.

Claims (11)

What is claimed is:

1. Composite cable sing: - an inner metallic core ting of a plurality of metallic strands, and - a plurality of layers formed around said inner metallic core, said plurality of layers comprising: — a first fabric layer at least braided with yarns or threads of aramid fibers or filaments constituted by aramid, which first layer is formed around and covers said inner ic core, and ~ a second fabric layer at least braided with yarns or threads of polyester , which 10 second layer is formed around and covers said first layer, wherein said composite cable is configured such that, at the e strength of the composite cable, it does not break completely, but the inner metallic core ruptures first, while said layers covering said inner metallic core maintain a residual strength of the composite cable, whereby the composite cable breaks totally and completely only after the rupture of the 15 inner metallic core.

2. Composite cable according to claim 1, consisting of said inner metallic core, said first fabric layer, and of said second layer, whereby said second layer is arranged on the outer surface of the composite cable.

3. Composite cable according to claim 1, wherein it comprises a further third fabric layer at 20 least braided with yarns or threads of para-aramid fibers and/or ultra high molecular weight polyethylene fibers or braided with filaments constituted by para-aramid and/or filaments constituted by ultra high molecular weight polyethylene, which third layer is formed around and covers said second layer, in turn formed and arranged around said first layer.

4. Composite cable according to claim 3, consisting of said inner metallic core, said first 25 fabric layer of at least yarns or threads of ramid fibers or at least filaments tuted by para-aramid, said second fabric layer, and of said third layer, whereby said third layer is ed on the outer surface of the composite cable.

5. Composite cable according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein said first layer also ses polyester fibers, and/or said second layer also comprises aramid/para—aramid 30 fibers or filaments, with the aramid/para-aramid fibers or filaments and polyester fibers being present and combined together according to a certain value in percentage of the weight of the layer.

6. Composite cable according to claim 5, wherein the value is 50% for both the aramid and the ter.

7. Composite cable according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the diameter of the inner ic core is about 6 mm, and the thickness of the fabric of each of said layers is about 1 mm.

8. Use of a composite cable according to any one of the preceding claims for safety purposes of people. 1O

9. Use according to claim 8 in an ing and safety system for ng a structure against falling from a height of the people who operate and move on it.

10. Use according to claim 9, wherein the structure is a roof.

11. Composite cable substantially as herein described with reference to any one of