US2432741A

US2432741A - Automatic lifesaving device

Info

Publication number: US2432741A
Application number: US675808A
Authority: US
Inventors: Frankel Jack
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1946-06-10
Filing date: 1946-06-10
Publication date: 1947-12-16
Anticipated expiration: 1964-12-16

Description

Dern 16,1947. J.FRA-KEL 2,432741, y

AUTOMATIC LIFESAVING DEVICE Filed June 10, 1946 2 Sheets-Sheetv l im I \ IN VEN TOR. JAmc `Hummer.

BY f/ Dec- 16, 1947 J. FRANKEL 2,432,741

AUTOMATIC LIFESAVING DEVICE Filed June l0; 1946 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 l'II |41 I f WF@ 21S/l); 69% i w h.. I

"III

WENTOR Jmrc @mmm BY Y Y Patented Dec. 16, 1947 AUTOMATIC? LIFE SAYING DEVICE t Jack Frankel, BrooklyngzN.: i

Appleationj'ne 10; 1946, ,TSerial\No.. 675,898.

accident;V the-workmancanbe'supported Without 10e injury and-firescuedjfrom-his precarious-position Another-i object* is,n toprovidea safetyf device that can b`e-easily and,a'djlistablysecured to; al n earbycable and vto Fan safetybelt- A- furtherobject'A is to `provide-asaetv device" 15s frictionally `v held bywable, carrying; means andJ having cable aligningmaris-arialcable clamping; means? a-ll offnovelconstmeti-on,`

These Y ariel otherobjects f are accomplished in p art and brieilyjb'yv provi-ding a safety^- device comprise-d" o-f` aframe, cable4 carrying` means cable aligning "mea-ns', cable" clamping means, and? fastening elements whereby thed'evce can be detachablwsecnred" to -a'icaole andia, safetyr belt. v Tliecable' carrying'meanawhicli forms an` imT portant p art`vl of tliis invention, consists*` of ja bar A hingeably--joined' at-oneu end to a frame side men'iber'andiY releasably` joined at' its other endj to-a`second frameside men'iber.A Twocablegllides, are mounteclontlfie bar; one ofthembeing mov- 30 able to4 adjust the distance1 betweemthemandl botl'rY Having; semi-cylindrical j cuneateV4 projecting end; portions facinggeach other andi adapted toy receive between tl'iempprtions oa.c,ablew o,und; about/the bar.

A flangedrgrojection extending outwardly from, aR center crossv piece of the frame aligns l, the, downward,` extending portionwoi the. cable. so that itk can be, rmly clampedl between jaws;n of. the, clamping means.

For further. comprehensiona 0l; the, invention,` and oft2 the lObj ects i and advantages thereof; y,refe erence. will be f had to.I the; following description, and accompanying; drawings and; t0; the an pended; claims; in,- whchg the; various;V novel fea:r tures 0f the inventiomare:moreeparticularlyuset;` forth;`

In theaccompanying; drawings `forming a miaterial-partlof this:disclbsure-f-e-4 Fig: 1':- is'. alperspectiveviewfof a safety-deviceorrautornatic :lifeprotecton embody-ing tilie=inven toniherein; saiddevice'being: shownrused 2in combination with ai safety? belt toe secure apersoni workingroma,seafoldtma guy rope.A

Fi'g. f 2fis a perspectiveviewbiytheafety de*- vce sli-own in Fig; 1:

Fig; K 3 is au front elevation of the safety belt shown n-Figgg 12.

Rigs; Yl andi?,` are-front and rear' elevations respectively ofltl're safetyV device sli'owrrjnY Figs.` 1' and^2.

Fig; (l1-isv agside; elevation vci said' device.-

lii'gsfl` andSiare sectional Lviewsalong "the lines I1-'I andi'f-B respectively ot-"Figg 4.

Fig'.` 91is a-perspective view-ol one off'the' cable guideelements;A of thef device;

Fig, lois-a'perspective-'viewf-of the-other-of the cable-f guide elementsu nof the; device.-

Inthe-drawings-- and-Qin the specificatiominz which like; referencenumbers designatesimilare parts; asafetydeviceor automatic-liffeprotectorm` device I 5i constructedin accordance with the-invention-herein; is adapted oruse'witha safetyf beltV suchaslthefbel-t- Iii-*shown in Figi.F 3,l to securea person working inf an elevated 2 position as theA person` IFI stiownon asca1o1d-I8l in`Fig. 1',- toa'vguy -r-ope-Aor cable I 9? IAhellifeprotector device 4- I 5f-is comprised-1 of a frame 20, cable carrying means 2l, cable aligning means-22; cable-clamping means 23, and fasteningv means.A ZLfor releasablwsecuring the-frame to-the belt I6.,

Theframef-ZIl-hastwo'uprightf side-members 25"- vand-t 25%4 a. centert cross. piece -26-'securedat= itsends-to `the sidemembers -vbycbolts 21; and-a bot-n tom-crosspiece-28` secured at=its ends to thefside members by bolts 29.

The cable carry-ingffmeans `2 Iv consistscolA a ybar- 3d; two bracketsl 2 and13I af and two Vcablegilides 32";Y and 32%. The bari- 3i-isz cylindricali and l has end: portions 3'31 andf 33My of-#reduced transversesection disposed'betweenvarmsfi-and 34i1trespec tively `ofthe brackets 31| andL 3 Iawhich, irr turn,` are secured bybolts S'B-'tothe upperendsof-= frameeside membersand- 252krespectively.y A 'pi-n` 36' extends through` the bracket aims- 34% and t'n'ef bar-- end 33e-1 securingthem4 together-,1 hingeably. Ax screwf withprojectingwhand grips-` 3 extendsf through-and =threadably engages the'bracketarrns34'and1the rod end33 detachf ably i securingj themA together so` thatl the bar- 3U i extendsacross and iii-front of the `frame-near dts' top:

The cableguide 32; (see Fig; 10) isa tube formedV with a cylindrical center portion 39'; al; cylindrical end portion IW of reduced transverse" section, and'- aprojecting;` semi-cylindrica-li endA portion -4 I l Witl12a= cuneate 'longitudinal jsectionl ing' aplane normal l to -itsfaxisY and# isA adjustably positioned with the bar 38 extending through its bore 42. A key 43, resting partly in a keyway 44 extending longitudinally in the bar, and partly in a keyway 45 in the bore 42, prevents the guide 32 from turning relative to the bar, and a set screw 45, extending through the reduced end portion 46 and acting on the surface of the bar, xes the guide 32 in position intermediate the ends of the bar, with the semi-cylindrical end portion 4I facing the cable guide 32a.

The cable guide 32a (see Fig. 9) is a cylindrical tube 41 with a semi-cylindrical projecting end portion 46 having a cuneate longitudinal section in a plane normal to the axis of the cylinder, and is mounted on the bar 39 near its end 33a adjacent the frame side member 25a, with said bar extending through the tube bore 49.

The protector device I5 is supported and frictionally held by the cable I9 which is wound or passed about the bar 39 in cable turns 59 between tlie cable guides 32 and 32a, with a first half turn 5I adjacent to the center portion 39 of the cable guide 32, and a last half turn 52 adjacent the tube 41 of the cable guide 32a. It will be noted that the semi-cylindrical cuneate end portions 4I and 48 facilitate the spiralling of the cable about the bar 39, and also wedgeably ll the space opposite the half turns, increasing the frictional grip and holding the turns compactly in position. The cable guide 32 can be adjusted longitudinally on the bar 30 by means of the set screw 46 to retain the cable turns and half turns firmly in compact position.

The cable aligning means 22 is a cylindrical projection 53 extending outwardly from the front of the center cross piece 26 intermediate its ends, said projection being provided with a transverse flange 54 at its end removed from the cross piece. The projection 53 is positioned so that a portion of the cable I9 extending downwardly from the half turn 52 can rest between the iiange and center cross piece at |93, aligning a downwardly extending cable portion with clamp jaws of the cable clamping means 23 as will appear hereafter.

The cable clamping means 23 comprises a clamp arm 55 pivotally joined intermediate its ends to a pivot 55 by a pivot pin 5l, and a spring 58. The pivot 51 projects outwardly from the front of the bottom cross piece 28 being centrally disposed thereon, and the clamp arm 55 extends longitudinally in front of said cross piece. The spring 58 is positioned with its ends resting in spring seats 59 and 60 in the bottom cross piece and clamp arm respectively, and acts to retain the clamp in closed position with clamp end 6I rotated toward the cross piece, and the opposite clamp end 62 rotated away from the cross piece. The clamp end 5I has a transversely extending arcuate cut out portion or jaw 63 adapted to coact with an arcuate cut out portion or jaw 64 of a clamp piece 65 secured to the front of the bottom cross piece 28, to grip a portion of the downwardly extending aligned cable.

The fastening means 24 consists of two lines, chains or straps 66, each having a ring or link 61 at one end and a snap hook 68 at the other end. Each line 66 is secured to the frame by its ring and to the safety belt I5 by its snap hook 68, the rings extending through holes 69 and 69'(1 in the frame side members 25 and 25a respectively.

The safety belt I6 has a body encircling strap 'I0 and two leg encircling straps 1I. The strap 'I9 is provided with two rings 'I2 capable of engaging the snap hooks 68 to releasably secure the safety belt to the automatic life protector device I5.

The device I5 can be installed as follows:

With the screw 31 removed and the guide 32 disassembled, the bar 30 is swung outwardly in gate fashion on the pin 36. The cable I9 can then be wound about the bar in as many cable turns 5I) as is desired and the two half turns 5I and 52. The cable guide 32 is then mounted on and keyed to the rod by means of the key 43 and adjusted longitudinally to provide a compact tight assembly, after which the set screw 46 is tightened. The bar can now be swung closed with its end 33 resting between the bracket arms 34, and the screw 31 engaged to retain the bar in closed position. If it is so desired, the screw 31 can be made in the form of a removable pin. The downwardly extending portion of the cable I9 is then aligned at I9il by placing it alongside the projection 53 between its flange 54 and the center cross piece 26. The clamp is opened by forcing the clamp end 62 toward the bottom cross piece 28 against the action of the spring 58, and the aligned cable I9 disposed between the coacting

jaws

63 and 64. The user, who is provided with a safety belt such as the belt I6 having fastening elements '12, can snap the hooks 68 onto the coacting engaging elements 12.

In the event that the scaffold collapses or the user slips, he will be supported against falling by the life protector device I5 which is securely attached and clamped to the cable I9.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and the right is reserved to all changes and modifications coming within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

1. A safety device for a person in an elevated position near a cable and provided with a safety belt, the device comprising a frame, cable carrying means, cable clamping means and fastening elements, the frame having two side members and a cross piece extending between them, the cable carrying means consisting of a bar, hinge means, a pin and two cable guides, one end of the bar being pivotally joined to one of the side members by the hinge means, the other end of the bar being releasably secured to the other side member by the pin, each cable guide having a projecting end portion, the guides being mounted on the bar with their projecting end portions facing each other and adapted to receive between them portions of the cable wound about the bar, the cable clamping means having a clamp arm pivotally secured to the frame cross member, the clamp arm having a cut out portion adapted to grip a portion of the cable and to clamp it against the frame cross member, and the fastening elements consisting of coacting elements on the frame and safety belt capable of engaging to secure them together detachably.

2. A safety device for a person in an elevated position near a cable and provided with a safety belt, the device comprising a frame, cable carrying means, cable clamping means and fastening elements, the frame having two side members and a cross piece extending between them, the cable carrying means consisting of a bar, hinge means, a pin and two cable guides, one end of the bar being pivotally joined to one of the side members by the hinge means, the other end of the bar being releasably secured to the other side member by a pin, each cable guide having a cuneate projecting end portion, the guides being mounted on the bar with their projecting end portions facing each other and adapted to receive between them portions of the cable wound about the bar, the cable clamping means having a clamp arm pivotally secured to the frame cross member, the clamp arm having a cut out portion adapted to grip a portion of the cable and to clamp it against the frame cross member, and the fastening elements consisting of coacting elements on the frame and safety belt capable of engaging to secure them together detachably.

3. A safety device for a person in an elevated position near a cable and provided with a safety belt, the device comprising a frame, cable carrying means, cable aligning means, cable clamping means, and fastening elements, the frame having two side members, a center cross piece and a bottom cross piece each extending between and secured to the side members, the cable carrying means consisting of a bar, hinge means, a pin and two cable guides, one end of the bar being pivotally joined to one of the side members by the hinge means, the other end of the bar being releasably secured to the other side member by the pin, each cable guide having a projecting end portion, the guides being mounted on the bar with their projecting end portions spaced from each other to receive between them portions of the cable wound about the bar, the cable aligning means comprising a projection extending outwardly from the center cross piece and having a flange at its outer end, the cable clamping means consisting of a clamp arm pivotally secured to the bottom cross piece, coacting jaws on the clamp arm and bottom cross piece adapted to grip a portionof the cable between them, and the fastening elements being positioned on the frame and safety belt and being capable of engaging to secure them together detachably.

4. A safety device for a person in an elevated position near a cable and provided with a safety belt, the device comprising a frame, cable carrying means, cable aligning means, cable clamping means, and `fastening elements, the frame having two side members, a center cross piece f and a bottom cross piece each extending between and secured to the side members, the cable carrying means consisting of a bar, hinge means, a pin and two cable guides, one end of the bar being pivotally joined to one of the side members by the hinge means, the other end of the bar being releasably secured to the other side member by the pin, each cable guide having a cuneate projecting end portion, the guides being mounted on the bar with their projecting end portions spaced from each other to receive between them portions of the cable wound about the bar, one of the guides being capable of being moved along the bar to adjust the distance between the guides, the cable aligning means comprising a projection extending outwardly from the center cross piece and having a flange at its outer end, the cable clamping means consisting of a clamp arm pivotally secured to the bottom cross piece, coacting jaws on the clamp arm and bottom cross piece adapted to grip a portion of the cable between them, and a spring positioned between the bottom cross piece and the clamp arm acting to retain the clamp jaws in closed position, the fastening elements being positioned on the frame and safety belt and being capable of engaging to secure them together detachably.

5. An escape device comprising vertical frame members, a bar connected at its ends to said members, a second bar connecting the members to each other in vertically spaced relation to the first bar, a rope guide supported between the vertical frame members, said rst bar being adapted to permit a rope to be wound thereon with portions of the rope extending above and below the bar, the second bar having a fixed jaw to clamp said rope, a lever pivoted to said second-named bar in a horizontal axis to move vertically and provided with a short arm having a concave jaw to engage the rope and a long jaw, and a coil spring between said lever and the second named bar.

JACK FRANKEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 450,796 Olmsted Apr. 21, 1891 666,879 White Jan. 29, 1901