WO2019111068A1

WO2019111068A1 - Emergency device for rescuing people from suspended structures

Info

Publication number: WO2019111068A1
Application number: PCT/IB2018/057817
Authority: WO
Inventors: Pietro Binda; Andrea Merello; Antonio TOPPI
Original assignee: Harken Italy S.P.A.
Priority date: 2017-12-05
Filing date: 2018-10-09
Publication date: 2019-06-13

Abstract

The present invention concerns a device that can be arranged in suspended or elevated structures and that can be activated, also remotely, in case of emergency to allow a rescuer to quickly and safely fasten a rescue rope to the structure, and to allow the controlled descent of the people to be rescued. The device comprises a casing containing a weight and a ring, the latter being fastened to the suspended structure by means of a steel cable, or a rope, chain or belt. The weight is housed into the casing together with the pilot line, which is doubled in the ring and knotted to the weight itself. The line is thin and flexible and is not adapted to support the weight of a person, reason for which a long section of the line is easily housed into the casing. The activation of the device causes the ejection of the weight from the casing and the consequent extension of the line until reaching the ground; a rescuer therefore uses the line as a pilot line to hoist a rescue rope up to the ring, i.e. so that it hangs from the fairlead ring. The rescue rope is adapted to support the weight of one or more persons and therefore allows both the rescuer to climb and the evacuation of the suspended structure.

Description

Emergency device for rescuing people

from suspended structures

DESCRIPTION

Field of the Invention

The present invention concerns a device mountable on suspended structures, for example the cabins of aerial lifts, walkways, bridges, cranes, nacelles of wind generators, or buildings, for allowing rescuers to rescue people in case of emergency. Moreover, the present invention concerns a method for rescuing people from suspended structures based on the use of the device. State of the Art

In the sector of rescue devices, various rope release systems and systems for a controlled descent along ropes have been provided.

For example, CN-A-106390309 describes a release system of a rescue rope initially coiled on a spool, to which a person can anchor himself with a harness for lowering himself down. The system is fastened to the structure of a building to allow the evacuation, in case of a fire for example, without using stairs or elevators.

EP 230965 describes a device worn by the single user, in the shape of a backpack or pouch for example, and containing a rescue rope, a harness and a mountaineering descender for lowering oneself along the rescue rope at a controlled speed.

A similar device is also described in WO 2014/083453.

GB 2525168 describes an emergency bag-shaped device, in which a rescue rope is arranged. The accessible end of the rescue rope ends with a ring that can be fastened to the structure that needs to be evacuated. Once the ring has been fastened to the structure, the bag can be made to fall to completely deploy the rescue rope.

The solutions provided in the known art, and just described, presuppose that the rescue rope is regularly inspected and resistant to atmospheric agents, in addition to the fact that the user knows how to both make the appropriate knots needed to fasten the rope and use the rope, rings and descent systems. However, there are situations in which people who don't have any experience with rescue devices, who do not know the procedures needed to carry out the rescue operations safely and who are unable to operate, therefore needing to be rescued, have to be evacuated from suspended structures. In these circumstances, the intervention of expert rescuers is required.

For example, an aerial-lift cabin, of the type used to transport skiers on top of a mountain, stops from time to time, with no possibility to operate it manually and to bring it back to the station downstream. In case of bad weather, and when a helicopter cannot help rescuers, the only way to rescue people from the cabins stopped at dozens of meters from the ground is to use specialized and expert mountain guides. A guide will climb up the supporting pillar arranged upstream from the cabin and will then come down along the cable of the aerial- lift cabin until reaching the metal arm supporting the cabin and, therefore, the cabin itself. The guide carries the rope that will have to be lowered from each cabin. Once the guide has reached the cabin, he will fasten the rescue rope and make it fall to the ground. The rescue rope reaches the ground, allowing at least one other guide to hoist himself on board of the cabin, where he will harness the passengers, fasten them to the rescue rope and control their descent, one by one.

To hoist oneself on board of the cabins, by using the rescue rope made available by their colleague, the rescuers on the ground generally use manual ascent devices for climbing up the rope, or a device of the type described in EP2482932, in the name of the Applicant.

The operations described are repeated for each cabin of the aerial lifts containing passengers. It is clear that this requires a lot of time, generally three hours, and that the mountain guides are exposed to considerable risks, especially the guide climbing along the cable of the aerial lift to reach the individual cabins. On the other hand, having the passengers lower themselves from the cabin alone is not conceivable, even if they had a rescue rope of a suitable length that could be made to fall to the ground.

On the other hand, rescuers are often reluctant to use ropes that were previously mounted by others and exposed to the air or, even worst, to the rain and ice for a long time. Therefore, even if the cabins were provided with ropes fastened at one end and that could be lowered, when needed, by the occupants of the cabins through the door or a window, the rescuers could however decide to carry out the rescue operations as previously described, using their own equipment, whose status and maintenance they know. In other words, rescuers want to use their own ropes and do not trust the ropes whose wear status they do not know; often, rescuers refuse to use third-party ropes.

The same dynamics can also be found on cranes with suspended control cabins: the rescue of the crane operator through the crane ladder may not be easy or possible, for example if the crane operator were to have a sudden health condition. The same considerations can be made if the maintenance operator of a nacelle of a wind generator, or an occupant of a construction site or building, has to be rescued.

Therefore, it is generally desirable to simplify the work of rescuers on the ground, by quickly and easily providing a rescue rope usable to lower the people being rescued, also whenever they are unable to manage the rescue ropes or equipment.

EP-A-0116102 describes a building evacuation assistance apparatus. The apparatus comprises a carriage movable on tracks and an arm mounted on the carriage and flippable from a vertical position to a horizontal position. A roller, in which a rescue rope is twisted, is mounted on the arm. A weight is hung up on the roller by means of the rescue rope. During use, the weight is released and falls by gravity, supported by the rescue rope unrolling from the roller.

US 4598793 describes a descent assistance device. The device comprises a bracket on which there is a roller, a weight that can be released and a rope twisted on the roller and connected to the weight. The release of the weight, which falls by gravity, causes the rope to untwist. On the rope, there is a descender of the mountaineering type to which users can anchor themselves to proceed with the controlled descent.

WO 2007/004934 describes a building evacuation method that provides the use of ground vehicles, on the road, and of ropes constrained to the vehicles.

US 20015/136525 describes a method for hoisting people up buildings. The method provides for the use of a carriage in which people are accommodated and for the raising of the carriage along the facade of the building by exploiting the thrust generated by a vehicle; the carriage is raised by the vehicle by means of a rope returned back to a drum arranged on the building, for example on the roof. The vehicle is provided with a motorized roller and the rope, defining a ring, is twisted on the roller and on the drum.

Summary of the Invention

The object of the present invention is therefore to provide an emergency device and a corresponding rescuing method to allow rescuers on the ground to quickly and easily lower one of their rescue ropes from the suspended or elevated structure from which people must be rescued, also whenever the people to be rescued are not expert of the rescue methods and equipment or are not temporarily able to operate.

In one of its first aspect, the present invention therefore concerns an emergency device according to claim 1.

The emergency device can be activated to help the rescuers on the ground rescue people from a suspended or elevated structure or building, without having rescuers climb up the structure and possibly by using a rescue rope of the same rescuers.

The device comprises:

- a fairlead ring that can be fastened to the suspended or elevated structure;

- a weight releasable in free fall by a person to be rescued; - a pilot line constrained to the weight.

As will now be described, the pilot line is not adapted to support the weight of an adult, as it is not certified, for example, according to the existing rescue standards, but it is relatively thin and flexible and, in fact, its function is to allow the hoisting of a rescue rope, i.e. a rope adapted for supporting the weight of an adult, a rope certified for this purpose. The pilot line is thin compared to the rescue rope. The fact that the pilot line is thin and flexible allows to have a considerable length of the pilot line in a narrow place, which would not be possible with a rescue rope adapted to support the weight of one or more adults, given that, precisely by virtue of this difference, a rescue rope of the same length would be considerably bigger in size and more rigid compared to the pilot line.

The pilot line is constrained to the weight and is doubled through the fairlead ring, i.e. both ends of the line are constrained to the weight and the pilot line passes through the fairlead ring. This aspect is important: making the pilot line pass through the fairlead ring and, simultaneously, making the two ends accessible to rescuers allows the use of the pilot line for the purpose for which it was intended, i.e. as a line to hoist a certified rescue rope. In fact, the fall of the weight to the ground determines the deployiment of the pilot line, which the rescuers can use to hoist a rescue rope adapted to support one or more persons by using the fairlead ring as a return.

In practice, the rescuers connect one end of the pilot line to a certified rescue rope suitable for supporting one or more persons and pull the other end of the pilot line to hoist the rescue rope and to make it pass through the fairlead ring until it stops at a stop prearranged on the rope, such as a knot or a plate greater in diameter than the fairlead ring for example. Alternatively, the rescuers make the rescue rope slide through the fairlead ring until completely replacing the pilot line, which carried out its function and which must not be used for the rescue, and use the fairlead ring as a return to hoist a rescuer or equipment secured to an end of the rescue rope, by pulling the other end from the ground. For this reason, it is advisable that the length of the pilot line is equal to at least twice the height to be covered, i.e. the height between the fairlead ring and the lower level (or ground) to which people must be brought.

Many advantages are offered by this solution.

Anyone can use the device, in the sense that no specific training is required to activate it. One of the people to be rescued just has to make the weight fall to the lower level, or ground, to allow rescuers to quickly hoist a rescue rope, to safely reach the suspended or elevated structure and to immediately help people descend along the rescue rope.

The use of the pilot line makes it possible to have a considerable length of the line inside a small volume, a container for example, or inside the weight itself whenever it should also serve as a container. This makes it possible to cover considerable heights and to avoid storing many meters of very thick rescue ropes in the structure. Ultimately, it is possible to cover a height of 20-30 meters inside a volume of the size of a cup.

There is no need to store many meters of very thick rescue rope in the suspended or elevated structure, a circumstance, as mentioned, which may not be useful to rescuers, especially if the rescue rope were to be exposed to atmospheric agents or humidity for a long time.

Moreover, the rescuers can use their own rescue rope, which they know, including its preservation and maintenance status.

The device can be activated manually by making the weight fall, or, as will be described hereinafter, the device may be provided with an actuator, which can simply be activated in situ or remotely.

For example, in the case of a stopped aerial lift, the occupants of the cabin can activate themselves the device by making the weight fall to the ground, therefore allowing rescuers to reach the cabin, as described above, without having to reach it by both climbing up the pillar upstream and going down the line of the aerial lift.

Preferably, the device further comprises an anchoring element to anchor to the suspended/elevated structure, selected between a belt, an anchoring cable or a rigid anchoring element, such as a bracket or shaft. The anchoring element is adapted to support the weight of one or more persons and supports the fairlead ring if it isn't directly provided on the suspended/elevated structure.

Preferably, as mentioned above, the weight also works as a container: the pilot line is housed in the weight-container and deploys during its fall to the ground.

Preferably, the assembly formed by the belt, or cable, and by the fairlead ring is certified according to the national or international standards on mountain rescue activities, i.e. rescue. The assembly is certified to ensure the support of at least one adult with equipment, i.e. at least 110 kg, even though it is preferably certified for at least 1000 kg or more preferably for at least 2000 kg. Generally, the ropes used by rescuers are also certified. Therefore, once the device was activated, the pilot line was replaced by the rescuers who hoisted the rescue rope, which remains hanging from the fairlead ring, the entire assembly only comprising certified elements, a circumstance that simplifies the use of the device, even from a regulatory and insurance point of view. Preferably, however, the breaking load of the pilot line is of a maximum of 30 kg.

For example, the belt is made of polyester and the cable is a metal cable. If the device is provided with a rigid anchoring element, it is, for example, a bracket or a metal shaft.

In the preferred embodiment of the present invention, the device comprises a casing in which the weight or weight-container is hermetically inserted to remain protected from the air or atmospheric agents. This makes it possible to protect the pilot line from humidity, water, ice and oxidation, therefore making it possible to also mount the device outdoors, for example on the cabin of an aerial lift, which is notably subjected to extreme meteorological conditions.

In case of manual activation, without an actuator, the weight or weight- container can be manually extracted from the casing, by means of the pressure exerted by a hand for example.

In the preferred embodiment, the device comprises an actuator prearranged for ejecting the weight or weight-container from the casing in response to a manual command given by the user, by means of a lever, wire, button, chain, etc. for example, or in response to a remote command, by means of a radio command for example.

Preferably, the same actuator is included in the casing, protected against atmospheric agents and selected from the group comprising the mechanical, pneumatic and electric actuators. The actuator is provided with a manual activation system and/or interface to receive a wireless remote activation signal, suitably supplied by the power provided by batteries, by an electric line or, given the reduced power needed, by a dynamo generator activated by the people to be rescued.

In the preferred embodiment, which is better adapted for being used on aerial lifts, cranes, nacelles of wind generators and similar suspended structures, the actuator comprises a canister of a compressed gas, CO₂ for example, and a shut-off valve at the outlet of the canister. The shut-off valve can be operated by the user, for example by means of a button or chain that reaches the inside of the cabin, or remotely, for example by means of a radio signal, for releasing the gas into the casing and for causing the ejection of the weight or weight-container and the deploying of the pilot line. The shut-off valve can be replaced by a device for perforating a membrane constituting the canister itself, therefore allowing the gas to escape.

In an embodiment, the weight-container is glass-shaped, or cup-shaped, and comprises a retaining ring projecting inwardly. The ends of the pilot line are knotted at the retaining ring and the knot can be untied by a rescuer on the ground to ensure the availability of the two ends. The rescuer ties the rescue rope to an end of the pilot line and pulls on the other end of the pilot line to hoist the rescue rope, exploiting the fairlead ring of the device, placed at the structure to be evacuated, as a return point. Preferably, the device comprises a plug fastened to the belt or to the anchoring cable of the structure. The plug hermetically seals the casing when the weight or weight-container is contained therein and is ejected, remaining anchored to the belt or cable, when the device is activated.

Preferably, the pilot line is made of a material selected among the most suitable ones adapted to resist to different climatic conditions, low or high temperatures for example, such as polyester or other synthetic fibers, and its diameter is in the range 1 -5 mm. The rescue rope to be used must comply with the applicable national or international standards. The pilot line could break if subjected to the tractive force exerted by the weight of an adult, whereas the rescue rope is specifically made to support the weight of the equipment and one or more persons.

Preferably, the pilot line is not twisted in spirals but simply stacked in the weight-container, progressively, or can be twisted in a ball that allows the untwisting without tangles.

A second aspect of the present invention concerns a method for rescuing a person from a suspended or elevated structure, such as a crane, an aerial-lift cabin, etc. for example, without climbing up the structure, but by lowering the person along a rescue rope to a lower level, such as the ground for example. The method provides for:

a) providing a fairlead ring anchored to the suspended or elevated structure and adapted to support the weight of one or more persons;

b) providing a weight, releasable in free fall from the suspended/elevated structure;

c) providing a pilot line. The length of the pilot line is so that to cover at least twice the distance from the suspended/elevated structure and the lower level where the people must be brought. The pilot line is constrained to the weight, knotted for example, and is doubled through the fairlead ring, i.e. both ends of the pilot line are constrained to the weight and the pilot line passes through the fairlead ring; d) releasing the weight, which causes the deploying of the pilot line while falling to the lower level;

e) a rescuer at the lower level releases the pilot line from the weight, connects one end of the pilot line to a rescue rope able to support one or more adults, preferably a rope certified according to the standards for this purpose, and pulls the other end of the pilot line to hoist the rescue rope and to pass it through the fairlead ring, until it stops at a stop prearranged on the same rescue rope, such as a knot or plate for example, or until the rescue rope has completely passed through, making a ground-fairlead ring-ground return with which the rescuer can be hoisted or to lower the people to be rescued;

f) lowering one or more persons along the rescue rope, possibly by using descenders and/or harnesses.

If necessary, the method can provide that rescuers can hoist themselves on the suspended or elevated structure along the rescue rope previously prearranged, possibly by using a motorized ascent device such as the one described in EP 2482932, bringing with him the equipment needed to lower one or more persons along the rescue rope.

Alternatively, step a) can be implemented by providing a belt or cable anchored to the suspended or elevated structure, wherein the belt or cable is adapted for supporting the weight of one or more persons and is provided with the fairlead ring. The length of the belt or cable is so that the fairlead ring remains at the height of the suspended/elevated structure, in a position useful for the evacuation.

Preferably, the weight also functions as a container of the pilot line, which deploys during the fall of the weight-container.

Brief description of the figures

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better highlighted by the review of the following specification of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment illustrated for illustration purposes only and without limitation, with the aid of the accompanying drawings, wherein: - figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of an aerial-lift cabin provided with an emergency device according to the present invention, in a no use and standby configuration;

- figure 2 is a schematic perspective view of the cabin shown in figure 1 , with the emergency device according to the present invention activated to open;

- figure 3 is a schematic perspective view of the cabin shown in figure 1 , with the emergency device according to the present invention completely open;

- figure 4 is a schematic perspective view of the cabin shown in figure 1 , with the emergency device according to the present invention completely open and used by a rescuer to hoist a rescue cable;

- figure 5 is a schematic perspective view of the cabin shown in figure 1 , with the emergency device according to the present invention completely open and a rescue cable hoisted at the level of the cabin;

- figure 5A is a schematic perspective view of the cabin shown in figure 1 , with the emergency device according to the present invention completely open and a rescue cable doubled at the level of the cabin;

- figure 6 is a schematic and sectional view of the emergency device according to the present invention shown in figure 1 ;

- figure 7 is a schematic and sectional view of the emergency device according to the present invention shown in the configuration of figure 3;

- figure 8 is a schematic and sectional view of the emergency device according to the present invention shown in the configuration of figure 5;

- figure 9 is an elevation view of a crane provided with an emergency device according to the present invention; and

- figure 10 is an elevation view of a wind generator provided with an emergency device according to the present invention.

Detailed description of the invention

Figure 1 shows an aerial-lift cabin 1 of the type used for transporting passengers from a downstream station to an upstream station along the line of the aerial lift. An emergency device 2 according to the present invention, better shown in the blow-up on the right, is arranged on the roof of the cabin.

In the version shown in the figures, the emergency device 2 comprises a casing 3, of cylindrical shape for example, constrained to the roof of the cabin 1. The components that will be described hereinafter are housed inside the casing. The casing 3 protects the inner components against atmospheric agents; in particular, the casing 3 is closed with a plug 3'.

A belt 4 comes out of the casing 3 through a slot obtained in the plug 3', extends to an anchoring point 5 of the cabin 1 and is particularly constrained to a metal ring 5', which is in turn integral with the anchoring point 5.

The belt 4 is preferably made of a material selected among synthetic fibers and is adapted to support a tensile load of more than 220 kg, and preferable of more than 1000 kg or 2000 kg. A metal cable ensuring the same tensile strength can be used in alternative to the belt 4.

As already mentioned above, a metal cable, a rigid bracket, a rigid shaft or equivalent elements can be used in alternative to the belt 4.

In figure 1 , the emergency device 2 is shown in an inactive, unopened, configuration.

In the event of a malfunction, the aerial lift could stop without a possibility to bring the cabin 1 back to the station downstream. The figures show the cabin 1 locked and suspended with respect to the ground; in this circumstance, the occupants of the cabin 1 must be saved by rescuers, typically mountain guides. In order to allow the rescuers to reach the cabin 1 from the ground, without having to obligatorily climb up the pillars and lower oneself along the line 9 of the aerial lift, the emergency device 2 is activated. In figure 2, and particularly in the inset showing a blow-up, on the right, the device 2 is opening, i.e. it was just activated.

The activation, as will be described hereinafter, can be carried out by an occupant of the cabin 1 or remotely, such as from the control station of the aerial lift for example.

The activation of the emergency device 2 causes the ejection of the plug 3' and weight 6 from inside of the casing 3, where they were initially housed, towards the outside. The plug 3' does not free fall, but remains fitted on the belt 4 given a fairlead ring 7, opposite of the anchoring point 5, is present on the belt 4 and the plug 3' is therefore restrained by the fairlead ring 7.

The length of the belt 4 is so that, when the emergency device 2 is activated, the fairlead ring 7 is at the cabin 1 , preferably at the height of the windows or the door.

If a metal cable, a rigid bracket, a rigid shaft or an equivalent element is used in alternative to the belt 4, the fairlead ring 7 is constrained to it.

Generally, however, the fairlead ring 7 is directly constrained to the cabin

1 , to its outer surface, roof or side walls for example.

The weight 6 is free to fall by the effects of gravity. Preferably, as shown in the accompanying figures, the weight 6 also works to contain a pilot line, or line, 8 and is therefore glass-shaped, or cup-shaped, and defined as a weight- container 6.

From this moment on, the pilot line 8 will simply be called line in short.

Figure 3 shows the emergency device 2 activated and completely open. The two insets show blow-ups of the corresponding parts circled with the dotted line in the same figure. The weight-container 6 fell to the ground; the line 8 initially contained in the weight-container 6 deployed and is extending from the fairlead ring 7 up to the weight-container 6 on the ground.

The line 8 passes through the fairlead ring 7, through which it slides, and both of its ends 8', 8" are knotted to the weight-container 6, as denoted by the reference number 10. In particular, the weight-container 6 in turn comprises a retaining ring 11 and the ends of the line 8 are knotted to this retaining ring 11. The ends of the line 8 can also be fastened to the weight -container 6 in another way, they can be passed through a hole and knotted to prevent them from slipping for example, or they can be glued, fastened with adhesive tape, a pipe clamp, etc.

The configuration just described, in which the two ends 8' and 8" of the line 8 are available on the ground and the line 8 passes through the fairlead ring 7, is defined as a doubled configuration. The utility of this configuration will now be explained with reference to figure 4.

Figure 4 shows a rescuer 12 on the ground. The rescuer frees the line 8 from the weight-container 6, by untying the knot 10, so that to make available the ends 8' and 8" of the line 8. One of the two ends of the line 8, the end 8" for example, is tied to an end 13' of a rescue rope 13. A knot 14 and/or stop 15, such as a plate greater in size than the hole of the fairlead ring 7 for example, is provided at the opposite end 13" of the rescue rope 13.

By pulling the free end 8' of the line 8, the rescuer 12 hoists the rescue rope 13 by using the fairlead ring 7 as a return.

Figure 5 shows the situation in which the rescuer 12 completely hoisted the rescue rope 13: the stop 15 reached the fairlead ring 7 and, having a greater diameter than the latter, does not allow the rescue rope 13 to slip out, i.e. it does not allow the end 13" to slip through the fairlead ring 7. In this configuration, the rescue rope 13 can be used for the vertical ascent, i.e. to allow a rescuer to go up 12 to the cabin 1 and to possibly also bring up the rescue equipment.

Alternatively, as shown in figure 5A, the rescuer 12 can completely slip out the line 8 and completely replace it with the rescue rope 13, therefore obtaining a complete ground-fairlead ring-ground return for hoisting a rescuer or equipment while operating from the ground. In figure 5A, the rescuer arranges the two ends 13' and 13" of the rescue rope 13 on the ground.

As previously described, the substantial difference between the line 8 and the rescue rope 13 lies in the fact that the line 8 is thin and flexible and not adapted to support the weight of a person; for example, the line 8 supports a maximum weight of 30 kg. Contrarily, the rescue rope 13 is thick and able to support the weight of one or more persons, and possibly also that of the equipment; for example, the rescue rope 13 is characterized by a breaking load equal to at least 110 kg or more. The line 8, by virtue of the fact that it is thin, occupies little space compared to the rescue rope 13. Therefore, the line 8 can easily be housed in the weight-container 6, i.e. many meters of the line 8, for example 40 meters, can easily be housed in a cup-sized weight-container 6, for example 10-15 cm in diameter and 10 cm in depth. It would be impossible to house 40 meters of rescue rope inside the same volume simply because they wouldn't fit, both for the size and poor flexibility of this type of rope. The line 8 is preferably made of a material selected among the most suitable ones adapted to resist to different climatic conditions, low or high temperatures for example, such as polyester or other synthetic fibers, and its diameter is between 1 mm and 5 mm.

The length of the line 8 must be sufficient so that to cover twice (up to the fairlead ring 7 and return) the maximum distance of the cabin 1 from the ground, which is known a priori.

The rescue rope 13 is a rope of the type typically used by rescuers, by mountain guides for example. The diameter is greater than 8 mm and, also in this case, it is usually made in polyester or other synthetic fibers.

The solution offered notably simplifies the rescue and evacuation operations of passengers stuck in the cabin 1. In practice, the line 8 does not provide a way of ascent per se, but is configured as a pilot line to allow the hoisting of a real rescue rope. A single rescuer 12 on the ground can hoist the rescue rope 13 in a few seconds to create a way of ascent on which a motorized or manual ascent device can be used.

Upon reaching the cabin 1 , the rescuer 12 prepares himself to safely lower the occupants along the rescue rope 13 or along another rope he brought with him on the cabin 1.

Preferably, the emergency device 2 is connected to the cabin 1 so that the fall of the weight-container 6 occurs longitudinally with respect to the line 9 of the aerial lift, so that the weight-container 6 probably falls in a zone without trees.

The emergency device 2 can be mounted on new cabins 1 , but can also easily be mounted on already existing ones, in retrofit.

Figures 6-8 show schematic sectional views of the emergency device 2 and help to better understand the operation, also as far as the usable activation means are concerned.

Figure 6 shows the device 2 on standby. The line 8 is housed in the weight-container 6, which is in turn inserted into the casing 3, preferably not coiled, but in a progressive way.

Generally, the activation of the device 2 can be manual, without an actuator, such as with a simple push of a user, for example, to make the weight- container 6 fall down; this way, the device 2 is prearranged in an accessible position for the user, at a window or specific opening of the cabin 1 for example.

Alternatively, the device 2 comprises an actuator 16 selected among a mechanic actuator, a pneumatic actuator and an electric or magnetic actuator, and a corresponding activation system.

In the example shown in figures 6-8, the actuator 14 is pneumatic and comprises a canister 17 containing a compressed gas, air or CO2 for example, and a shut-off valve or a perforation device 18 that shuts off the outlet. The shut-off valve or perforation device 18 can be activated by the user to open the canister 17, therefore releasing the gas inside the casing 3, to cause the ejection of the weight-container 6 as described above and as shown in figure 7.

An example of shut-off valve 18 adapted for the purpose is the valve model Micro Manual Inflator manufactured by the Company UML and displayed on the website https://www.uml.co.uk/products.html.

Figure 7 shows a device 2 activated and corresponding to the configuration shown in figure 3. The arrows leaving the casing 3 indicate the escape of gas in the atmosphere.

The activation system of the actuator comprises a command element 19 that can, in turn, be manual, an electric chain for example, a mechanical button for example, a lever or electronic device for example, a radio command sent from remote for example. In the example of the cabin 1 , the command element 19 can easily be a chain extending from the device 2 into the cabin 1.

Figure 8 shows the configuration also shown in figure 5.

Once the canister 17 of the actuator 16 is empty, after use for example, it can be replaced with a new and full canister 17.

Generally, another advantage of the device 2 lies in the fact that, after use, the initial configuration can be reset, i.e. it can be prearranged for a new use in an extremely easy way, by arranging the line 8 in the weight-container 6 and by reinserting the latter in the casing (possibly after having reset the actuator 16).

The emergency device 2 can be mounted on suspended or elevated structures, or also on the buildings for which an external access way is desirable.

Figure 9 shows an application on a construction crane 20: the device 2 is mounted on the cabin 21 of the crane 20, therefore allowing the operator or maintenance technician to be rescued in case of a sudden health condition. The device 2 can also be mounted on port cranes.

Figure 10 shows an application on a wind generator 22: the device 2 is mounted on the nacelle 23 of the wind generator 22, therefore allowing the rescue of the maintenance technician in case of a sudden health condition or to easily hoist equipment on the nacelle, without using the stairs on the pillar of the wind generator 22.

Claims

1. An emergency device (2) that can be activated to help rescuers (12) on the ground to rescue people from a suspended or elevated structure (1 ), including:

- a fairlead ring (7) fixed to the suspended or elevated structure (1 ) and adapted to support the weight of one or more persons;

- a weight (6) releasable in free fall from the suspended or elevated structure (1 );

- a pilot line (8);

wherein the pilot line (8) is constrained to the weight and is doubled through the fairlead ring (7), i.e. both ends (8', 8") of the pilot line (8) are constrained to the weight, and the pilot line (8) passes through the fairlead ring (7);

wherein the weight (6) falling to the ground causes the pilot line (8) to deploy, and

wherein the pilot line (8) is intended for the rescuers to hoist a rescue rope (13).

2. Device (2) according to claim 1 , wherein the pilot line (8) is thin and light compared to the rescue rope (13).

3. Device (2) according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the pilot line (8) is not adapted to support the weight of a person, and preferably has a breaking load equal to 30 kg.

4. Device (2) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -3, wherein the rescue rope (13) is certified according to the existing rescue standards, and preferably has a breaking load equal to at least 110 kg, or greater.

5. Device (2) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -4, wherein the pilot line (8) guides the rescue rope (13) through the fairlead ring (7).

6. Device (2) according to any one of preceding claims 1 -5, further comprising a rigid or flexible anchoring element (4) to anchor the fairlead ring (7) to the suspended or elevated structure (1 ), for example a belt, a cable, or a rigid element, wherein the anchoring element (4) is adapted to support the weight of one or more persons.

7. Device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising a casing (3), wherein the weight (6) is inserted into the casing (3), protected from the air and from atmospheric agents.

8. Device (2) according to claim 7, comprising an actuator (16) prearranged for ejecting the weight (6) from the casing (3) in response to a manual command given by the user, or in response to a remote command.

9. Device (2) according to claim 8, wherein the actuator (16) is included in the casing (3) and is selected from the group comprising mechanical, pneumatic, electric actuators and is provided with a manual activation system (19) and/or an interface to receive a wireless remote activation signal.

10. Device (2) according to claim 8 or claim 9, wherein the actuator (16) comprises:

- a canister (17) of a compressed gas and a shut-off valve (18) to shut off the outlet of the canister (17), wherein the shut-off valve (18) can be operated by the user, for example by means of a button or a chain (19), or remotely, for example by means of a radio signal, for releasing the compressed gas into the casing (3) and causing the ejection of the weight (6) and the deploying of the pilot line (8) or, as an alternative,

- a canister (17) of a compressed gas and a device for perforating a membrane closing the canister (17) itself, the device being able to be activated by the user in order to allow the gas to escape and to cause both the ejection of the weight (6) and the deploying of the line (8).

11. Device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weight (6) also functions as a container of the pilot line (8), and the pilot line (8) can be deployed from the weight-container (6) during the fall.

12. Device (2) according to claim 11 , wherein the weight-container (6) is cup-shaped and comprises a retaining ring (11 ) projecting inwardly, and wherein the ends (8', 8") of the pilot line (8) are knotted to the retaining ring (11 ), and the knot can be untied by a rescuer (12) on the ground in order to tie the rescue rope (13) to one end (8") of the pilot line (8) and hoist the rescue rope (13) by pulling the other end (8') of the pilot line (8).

13. Device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the weight (6) hermetically seals the casing (3).

14. Device (2) according to any one of claims 6-12, comprising a plug (3') fastened to the anchoring element (4) for the anchorage to the structure (1 ), wherein the plug (3') hermetically seals the casing (3) when the weight (6) is contained therein, and is ejected when the emergency device (2) is activated, thus remaining anchored to the anchoring element (4).

15. Device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising:

- a casing (3) in which the weight (6) and the pilot line (8) collected are housed,

- an actuator (16) prearranged to eject the weight (6) from the casing (3) in response to a manual command given by the user, or in response to a command received remotely, and cause the deploying of the pilot line (8),

- a plug (3') fastened to the anchoring element (4) for the anchorage to the structure (1 ), wherein the plug (3') hermetically seals the casing (3) when the weight (6) and the pilot line (8) are contained therein, and is ejected when the actuator (16) is activated.

16. Kit comprising an emergency device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims and a rescue rope (13) that can be fastened to the pilot line (8) for being inserted through the fairlead ring (7).

17. Use of the emergency device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims to anchor a rescue rope (13) to a suspended or elevated structure (1 ), from a lower level and without a need to climb the structure (1 ), and to allow the evacuation of the structure (1 ) by means of the rescue rope (13), by hoisting the rescue rope (13) by means of the pilot line (8), so that the rescue rope (13) passes through the fairlead ring (7).

18. Use of the emergency device (2) according to any one of the preceding claims to allow the evacuation of aerial-lift cabins (1 ), nacelles (23) of wind generators (22), cabins (21 ) of cranes (20), bridges, walkways, platforms.

19. A method for rescuing a person from a suspended or elevated structure (1 ), without first climbing the structure, by lowering the person along a rescue rope (13) to a lower level, for example down to the ground, the method comprising:

a) providing a fairlead ring (7) anchored to the suspended or elevated structure (1 ) and adapted to support the weight of one or more persons;

b) providing a weight (6), which can be released in free fall;

c) providing a pilot line (8);

wherein the pilot line (8) is constrained to the weight (6) and is doubled through the fairlead ring (7), i.e. both ends of the pilot line (8) are constrained to the weight (6) and the pilot line (8) passes through the fairlead ring (7);

d) releasing the weight (6), thereby causing the pilot line (8) to be deployed;

e) by a rescuer (12), tying one end (8") of the pilot line (8) to a rescue rope (13) and pulling the other end (8') of the pilot line (8) to hoist the rescue rope (13) and to pass it through the fairlead ring (7), either until it stops at a stop (14, 15) prearranged on the rescue rope (13) itself, for example a knot, or completely until the two ends (13, 13') of the rescue rope (13) are on the ground;

f) lowering one or more persons along the rescue rope (13), possibly by using descenders and/or harnesses, or hoisting rescuers or equipment.