Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B35/00—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion
  • A62B35/04—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion incorporating energy absorbing means
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F7/00—Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers
  • F16F7/12—Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using plastic deformation of members
  • F16F7/123—Deformation involving a bending action, e.g. strap moving through multiple rollers, folding of members
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16F—SPRINGS; SHOCK-ABSORBERS; MEANS FOR DAMPING VIBRATION
  • F16F7/00—Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers
  • F16F7/12—Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using plastic deformation of members
  • F16F7/128—Vibration-dampers; Shock-absorbers using plastic deformation of members characterised by the members, e.g. a flat strap, yielding through stretching, pulling apart
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T83/00—Cutting
  • Y10T83/04—Processes
• • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
  • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
  • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
  • Y10T83/00—Cutting
  • Y10T83/04—Processes
  • Y10T83/0591—Cutting by direct application of fluent pressure to work

Definitions

• the present invention relates to an energy absorber for use with fall protection and fall arrest equipment.
• Such apparatus typically include an interconnection between at least one anchorage point and a safety harness worn by a user performing tasks in proximity to the at least one anchorage point.
• a safety harness worn by a user performing tasks in proximity to the at least one anchorage point.
• One type of interconnection commonly used is a lifeline or a rail assembly interconnected between at least two anchorage points, along the length of which the user may move and perform tasks.
• the user's safety harness is typically connected to the lifeline or the rail assembly via a lanyard and a connector or other suitable devices. Should a fall occur, an energy absorber may also be used to absorb a significant amount of energy and reduce the likelihood of injury to the user due to the force of the fall.
• an energy absorber comprises an intermediate portion interconnecting a first end and a second end.
• the intermediate portion and the first and second ends are on the same plane.
• the intermediate portion includes curved portions configured and arranged to deform and begin to straighten when subjected to a predetermined load to absorb energy from the pre-determined load.
• a method of making an energy absorber comprises obtaining a piece of stainless steel having a thickness of 0.250 to 0.500 inch and cutting the stainless steel to form an intermediate portion interconnecting a first end and a second end on the same plane.
• the intermediate portion includes curved portions and the first and second ends include apertures formed therein. The curved portions deform and begin to straighten out when subjected to a pre-determined load to absorb energy from the pre-determined load.
• Figure 9 is a side view of the energy absorber shown in Figure 1 ;
• Figure 1 OB is a side view the energy absorber shown in Figure 10A;
• Figure 13 is a side view of the energy absorber shown in Figure 11 connected to anchorage structures and showing the energy absorber undergoing plastic deformation under load
• Figure 14 is a side view of the energy absorber shown in Figure 11 connected to anchorage structures and showing the energy absorber undergoing further plastic deformation under load
• FIG 16 is a side view of another embodiment energy absorber constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention.
• pins 109 and 111 provide a barrier proximate the laser cutting so that harness or lanyard webbing or other materials cannot get caught within openings or slots in the energy absorber.
• the large elastic deflections that could take place without the pins could allow unwanted items into the openings or slots in the energy absorber.
• the pins 109 and 111 assist in preventing relatively large elastic deformation under small loadings.
• Another advantage is that the pins 109 and 111 could be used as an indicator that the energy absorber 100 has been subjected to a load.
• one or more tab 150 could be created proximate each end of the part itself, and each tab 150 could be bent into a slot in an opposing portion or otherwise bent toward an opposing portion to provide a barrier proximate the laser cutting so that harness or lanyard webbing or other materials cannot get caught within openings or slots in the energy absorber.
• FIGs 10A and 10B This is illustrated in Figures 10A and 10B.
• the part would need to be elastically stretched while the tabs 150 are bent. After the part is released from being stretched, as shown in Figure 10B, the tabs 150 would pre-load the absorber.
• the energy absorber 100 There are many possible uses for the energy absorber 100.
• An example is connecting the energy absorber 100 to a shuttle 130, which moves along a rail 132, and to a carabiner 131, which is used to connect the energy absorber 100 to the user. This is shown in Figure 6.
• Other possible uses include, but are not limited to, limiting the impact force on a self-retracting lifeline (“SRL”) or a rescue device.
• SRL self-retracting lifeline
• the geometry and the materials of the energy absorber could be scaled and determined to meet various constraints of size, sealing or barrier gap width, spring pre-load, energy absorption / arrest force, maximum static / dynamic loading conditions, and other possible variables.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
• Vibration Dampers (AREA)
• Laser Beam Processing (AREA)

Priority Applications (8)

Applications Claiming Priority (4)

Publications (1)

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Citations (3)

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• 2010
  • 2010-08-30 MX MX2012004781A patent/MX2012004781A/es active IP Right Grant
  • 2010-08-30 WO PCT/US2010/047097 patent/WO2011049674A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2010-08-30 CN CN201080047105.2A patent/CN102575478B/zh active Active
  • 2010-08-30 JP JP2012535204A patent/JP5427955B2/ja not_active Expired - Fee Related
  • 2010-08-30 EP EP10755264.8A patent/EP2470733B1/en active Active
  • 2010-08-30 CA CA2774935A patent/CA2774935C/en active Active
  • 2010-08-30 US US12/870,917 patent/US8550225B2/en active Active
  • 2010-08-30 BR BR112012009519A patent/BR112012009519A2/pt not_active Application Discontinuation
  • 2010-08-30 SG SG2012017844A patent/SG179564A1/en unknown
  • 2010-08-30 AU AU2010308521A patent/AU2010308521B2/en active Active

Patent Citations (3)

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