GB2344541A - Device for passing a line over a remote beam - Google Patents

Abstract

A device for passing a line, rope or cable over a horizontal beam, girder, rafter or branch which is remote from the ground comprises a U-shaped yoke with each arm of the yoke having a hook shaped end, one downwardly open (10) and one upwardly open (5) co-operating with a cross arm initially carrying a rope (40) at a point on the cross arm lying outside the yoke. The cross arm has several transverse members forming potential pivot points with the hooks on the yoke so that in use, the cross-arm carrying the rope is first pushed against the beam (41) and pivots about rod (27) engaging hook (5), then under action of spring (28) reverts to a configuration where both hooks are engaged, but with the beam now below the cross arm, and then as the device is pulled down, the cross arm pivots about rod (35) engaging hook (10) until the rope (40) is carried over the beam (41), Figs 4 to 7 (Figs 4, 6 and 7, not shown). The yoke is provided with multiple attachment points for connection to a hand-held pole.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF INVENTION "IMPROVEMENTS IN OR RELATING TO A DEVICE FOR PASSING A LINE" THE PRESENT INVENTION relates to a device for passing a line, and more particularly relates to a device suitable for passing a line intended for use in passing a line over a horizontal beam which may be located a substantial distance above the ground.

There is a need to be able to pass a line above a horizontal beam or the like which is located at a substantial distance above the ground. For example, in connection with overhead cable-work, should it be necessary for a person to climb a power-cable pylon, it would be desirable for that person to have a safety rope. However, it is not possible for a person standing on the ground to pass a safely rope over a selected part of a pylon at a substantial height above the ground in order to fix the safety rope in position. Consequently, at least the first person who climbs a pylon does not have the benefit of a safety rope.

Similarly, it may be desirable for a safety rope to be fixed in position before a tree surgeon climbs a tree.

Consequently the present invention seeks to provide a device for passing a line which may be utilise by a person standing on the ground to pass a line over a horizontal beam or the like at an elevated position above the ground. Of course, a device in accordance with the invention may find other applications.

According to this invention there is provided a device for passing a line around a beam or the like which is located a substantial distance above the ground, the device comprising a yoke having a base supporting two upstanding spaced apart arms, one arm defining, at the upper end thereof, an upwardly open recess, and the other arm defining, at the upper end thereof, a downwardly open hook element, there being a cross-arm, the cross-arm having means adapted to engage the recess to permit the cross-arm to pivot downwardly about a pivot axis defined by the means adapted to engage the recess, the cross-arm also being provided with means adapted to be received within the hook, and being adapted to pivot upwardly about the axis defined by the means adapted to engage the hook, the cross or member yoke being configured so that when the cross-arm has pivoted about the means adapted to engage the recess, parts of the cross-arm are located adjacent parts of the yoke to prevent the cross-arm being disengaged from the yoke, and the cross-arm being configured so that when the cross-arm moves pivotally about the means engaged by the hook, parts of the cross-arm lie adjacent parts of the yoke to prevent the cross-arm being disengaged from the yoke, the cross-arm having means adapted to receive a line or the like, the yoke being provided with a plurality of connection means at spaced apart positions, there being a connector mounted on a pole, the connector being adapted to be connected to any one of the connecting means on the yoke at one of a plurality of selected orientations, at least one of the connecting means on the yoke being substantially aligned with a respective arm on the yoke.

Preferably the connection means on the yoke each comprise a turret, the turret presenting an end face carrying evenly spaced castellations, the connector comprising an element adapted to be engaged with the said castellated face, and defining a plurality of recesses adapted to receive the castellations.

Conveniently the castellations are angularly spaced apart by approximately 30 .

Preferably the turret and the connector are each provided with a throughbore, a but and bolt being passed through the bore to secure the connector to the turret.

Conveniently three connecting means are provided on the yoke, there being a respective connecting means provided on the base aligned with each said arm, and a centrally located connecting means.

Preferably the cross-arm comprises two spaced apart parallel plates inter-connected by transversely extending elements which constitute the means to engage the recess, and the means to be received within the hook, and wherein the parts of the cross-arm which prevent the cross-arm being disengaged from the yoke comprise a transversely extending element positioned to be located adjacent a surface provided at the base of a finger adjacent said "UX'-shaped recess when the cross-arm is moved pivotally about the means engaged by the hook, said surface being arcuate and having a centre of curvature coincident with the centre of curvature of the base of the"U"-shaped recess.

Conveniently the hook defines a passage of arcuate form having a centre of curvature coincident with the centre of curvature of the base of the"U" shaped recess, the passage leading to an enlarged diameter bore, a transverse element carried on the cross-arm being adapted to be received within the bore, said element having a cross-section presenting two substantially flat opposed faces and two arcuate faces.

Preferably the part of the hook defining the bore has a portion with an arcuate outer surface having a centre of curvature coincident with the axis of the bore, the parts of the cross-arm which prevent the cross-arm being disengaged from the yoke comprising a transversely extending element positioned to be located adjacent said arcuate outer face when the cross-arm is moved pivotally about the means adapted to engage the recess.

Conveniently a spring is provided located between the two plates constituting the cross-arm, the spring having a portion coiled around the transverse element adapted to be received within the"U"-shaped recess, and having one end adapted to engage the said finger adjacent the recess, and having another end adapted to engage a further element which extends transversely between the two plates.

The invention also relates to use of a device as described above to pass a line around a beam or the like.

In order that the invention may be more readily understood, and so that further features thereof may be appreciated, the invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: FIGURE 1 is a plan view of a yoke forming part of a device in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 2 is a perspective view of a cross-arm which is connected to the yoke to form a device in accordance with the invention, FIGURE 3 is a cross-section of part of the cross-arm of Figure 2, FIGURE 4 is a part sectional view illustrating the cross-arm mounted on the yoke, with the device being positioned ready to pass a line about a substantially horizontal beam, FIGURE 5 is a view corresponding to Figure 4 illustrating a subsequent stage in the passing of the line around the beam, FIGURE 6 is a view corresponding to Figure 5 illustrating a subsequent stage in the passing of the line around a beam, FIGURE 7 is a view corresponding to Figure 6 illustrating a further stage in the passing of the line around a beam, FIGURE 8 is an enlarged view of part of the yoke shown in Figure 1, and FIGURE 9 is a view of a connector for use with the yoke.

Referring now to Figure 1 of the accompanying drawings, a device for passing a line in accordance with the invention incorporating a yoke 1.

The yoke 1 is shown in Figure I and is formed of an element which defines a transverse base 2 having, at each end thereof, an upstanding arm 3,4.

The element may be formed of two parts which are bolted together. The upper end of the first arm 3 defines an upstanding finger 5. Adjacent the base of the finger 5, towards the outer side of the arm 3, which is facing away from the arm 4, is an upstanding lug 6, with a substantially"U"-shaped recess 7 being defined between the finger 5 and the lug 6. The inner surface of the finger 5, that is to say the surface directed towards the second arm 4, towards the lower end thereof, has an arcuate configuration 8. The arcuate configuration is based on the same centre of curvature as the centre of curvature of the base of the "U"-shaped recess 7, and consequently the thickness of the part of the finger 5 between the arcuate surface 8 and the inner surface of the recess 7 is constant.

The upper end of the second arm 4 is provided, on its inner surface, with a downwardly open hook structure 9. The hook structure 9 comprises a generally arcuate portion 10 which extends from the upper part of the arm 4, the arcuate portion 10 terminating in a downwardly directed tip 11. Between the tip 11 and the upper part of the arm 4 supporting the arcuate portion 10 is defined an arcuate passage 12. The passage 12 is provided with walls which have a slightly arcuate configuration, but which have a constant spacing between them. The centre of curvature of the arcuate passage 12 is coincident with the centre of curvature of the base of the"U"-shaped recess 7. The passage 12 communicates with a bore 13, the bore 13 having a diameter slightly greater than the width of the passage 12.

It is to be noted that the outer surface 14 of the arcuate portion 10 of the hook structure 9 has a radius of curvature which is centred on the centre of the bore 13. Thus, the thickness of material between the outer part of the bore 13 and the arcuate surface 14 on the external surface of the arcuate portion 10 of the hook structure 9 is constant.

The yoke 1, as shown in Figure 1, is provided with three connecting turrets 15,16,17 which are provided at the base 2 of the yoke. The turret 15 is aligned with the arm 3, and the turret 17 is aligned with the arm 4, whilst the turret 16 is centrally located. The connecting turrets will be described in greater detail hereinafter.

Referring to Figure 2 a cross-arm 20, adapted to be connected to the yoke 1 to form a device in accordance with the present invention, comprises two spaced apart vertical plates 21,22. At one end the plates are interconnected by a transverse rod 23. The transverse rod may comprise a hollow sleeve formed of plastics material, there being a nut and bolt extending through the sleeve and an associated nut maintaining the sleeve in position, and also serving to maintain the two vertical plates 21,22 in position.

Spaced slightly from the first rod 23 is a second rod 24 of similar configuration, this rod having a horizontally extending web 25 extending therefrom which is directed away from the rod 23. A space 26 is thus defined between the rod 23 and the rod 24.

At a position beyond the end of the web 23 is a further rod 27, again of the same configuration, this rod being surrounded by a coiled spring 28. The coiled spring has one end 29 which extends upwardly away from the rod 27, and which has a downwardly directed terminal portion which engages the web 25. The other end of the spring 28 comprises an upstanding arm 30 located on the side of the rod 27 remote from the web 25. A further web 31 is provided which extends between the two plates 21, 22. One end of the web 31 is provided with an upstanding flange 32, the flange being spaced from the combination of the rod 27 and the spring 28 by a distance which is slightly greater than the distance between the base of the"U"-shaped recess 7 and the arcuate surface 8 provided at the lower part of the finger 5, as provided on the arm 3 of the yoke I described above with reference to Figure 1.

The web 31 is provided with a central enlargement 33 that accommodates a bolt and terminates, opposed to the flange 32, with an upstanding flange 34. Spaced from the flange 34 is a further transverse rod 35 which is of the same configuration as the previously described rods. The distance between the flange 34 and the rod 35 is slightly greater than the distance between the bore 13 and the arcuate outer surface 14 of the hook structure 9 provided on the arm 4 of the yoke 1 described above with reference to Figure 1.

The rod 35 is not of circular section but, as shown in Figure 3, is provided with two opposed parallel flat faces 36,37 and has two arcuate end faces 38,39. The distance between the opposed flat faces 36,37 is slightly less than the width of the passage 12 of the hook structure 9, whereas the arcuate faces 38,39 have a radius of curvature which is slightly less than the radius of the bore 13.

Referring now to Figure 4 of the accompanying drawings, it is to be appreciated that the cross-arm 20 has been mounted on the yoke 1. The rod 35 is received within the bore 13 of the hook structure 9, and the combination of the rod 27 and the spring 28 has been located within the"U"-shaped recess 7.

The upwardly extending arm 30 of the spring 28 engages the outer face of the finger 5.

A line 40 that is to be passed across a horizontal beam 41 has been threaded through the space 26 provided between the rod 23 and the rod 24. As can be seen in Figure 4, the assembled device has been located so that the centre part of the cross-arm 20 is located immediately beneath the horizontal beam 41.

If the yoke 1 is now moved upwardly, the beam 41 will effectively press downwardly against the central part of the cross-arm 20, and the cross-arm 20 will pivot about an axis defined by the rod 27. It will be understood that the rod 35 is located so that the opposed flat faces 36,37 are aligned with the passage 12, and consequently the rod 35 may pass downwardly through the passage 12.

It is to be observed that as the cross-arm 20 has pivoted downwardly about the axis defined by the rod 27, the upstanding flange 32 present on the web 31 has followed a path adjacent the curved exterior of the base of the finger 5, thus ensuring that the cross-arm 20 cannot not become disengaged from the yoke. Also, as the cross-arm 20 has moved pivotally, the spring 28 has become compressed, since the flange 25 associated with the rod 24 has moved upwardly relative to the"LT-shaped recess 7, thus moving the end 29 of the spring towards the end 30 of the spring. The end 30 of the spring engages the inner face of the finger 5, and thus the spring has become compressed. It will thus be appreciated that as the yoke moves with a continuing upward movement, the cross-arm 20 will move past the beam 41, and the under the influence of the spring 28, will then remove to its initial position, with the rod 35 being received within the bore 13 of the hook structure 9. This is the situation shown in Figure 6.

If the yoke is now moved downwardly, the cross-arm 20 will again move with a pivotal action, but this time will pivot about the pivot axis defined by the rod 35. This is the situation shown in Figure 7. As the cross-arm moves pivotally in this way, the rod 35 is rotated relative to the hook element 10, and consequently the opposed flat faces 36,37 of the rod 35 are no longer aligned with the passage 12. This means that the rod 35 cannot escape from the hook element 10. Also, the flange 34 provided on the web 31 of the cross-arm 20 moves closely adjacent the arcuate exterior 14 of the hook structure 9, again ensuring that the cross-arm does not become disengaged from the rest of the yoke. The rod 27 and the associated spring 28 become disengaged from the recess 7 as the cross-arm 20 pivots upwardly. It will be understood that if the yoke is moved downwardly, the line 40 will pass over the beam 41.

Consequently, it will be appreciated that the device as described may be utilise to pass a line, such as the line 40, over a beam 41. When the line has been passed over the beam, the yoke may be returned to the initial condition of Figure 4 simply by pivoting the cross-arm 20 about the axis defined by the rod 35 until the cross-arm 20 is in the initial position as illustrated in Figure 4.

It will be clear that the yoke 1 may be mounted on a pole or the like to enable the device to be used by an operative on the ground to pass a line around a horizontal beam which is located a substantial distance above the ground.

In order to facilitate the use of the device, the yoke, as mentioned above, is provided with three connecting turrets 15,16,17. The connecting turrets, as will now be described with reference to Figure 8, are designed to co-operate with a connector, which is mounted at the end of a pole or the like, to enable the yoke to be connected to the pole at any desired orientation.

As can be seen from Figure 8, each connecting turret in the form of a cylindrical boss defining a through bore 45 and presenting an end face 46 that has, about its outer periphery, a plurality of evenly spaced castellations 47.

Preferably twelve castellations are provided so that the angular off-set between adjacent castellations is 30 . The castellations 47 are separated by spaces 48, the spaces between the castellations being of the same size and configuration as the castellations.

It is to be appreciated that the turret 15 is adapted to co-operate with a connector 50 as shown in Figure 9. The connector 50 comprises a cylindrical element 51 which is mounted at one end of an elongate pole 52. The cylindrical element 51 presents a flat face 53. The end face 53 is provided with a plurality of peripheral indentations 54 of the same configuration as the castellations 47 described above. The cylindrical element 51 is provided with a through bore 55. The connector 50 is thus configured to matingly engage with the castellated end face of the connecting turret.

It is to be understood that the connector 50 may be engaged with the castellated face 46 of the turret 15 in any one of a plurality of alternative orientations, simply by placing the flat face 53 up against the end of the turret 15 with the castellations 47 received within the recesses 54. A nut and bolt may be passed through the co-aligned bores 45,55 in order to secure the connector and the turret together.

It is therefore to be appreciated that in the described embodiment of the invention, the connector 50 may be connected to the yoke at three different positions, namely at the positions of each of the turrets 15,16,17, and may be connected to each turret at an orientation selected from a large number of possible orientations which are each 30 off-set.

It is envisaged that in certain circumstances the connector 50 should be connected to either the turret 15 or the turret 17 with the pole 52 in alignment with the arm adjacent the turret. This may provide optimum visibility for an operator utilising the device from the ground level, especially if the beam over which the line is to be passed is located at a substantial distance above ground, and also if there are other beams (or branches) in the vicinity of the selected beam.

It is to be understood that whilst the invention has been described with reference to a beam, the described device may be of equal use in passing a line across a branch, a rafter, a girder or the like. Whilst reference has been made to the passing of a line, it is to be understood that the word"line"is used in a broad sense and can mean any elongate flexible element such as a rope, cord, cable, or the like.

Claims (12)

1. CLAIMS: 1. A device for passing a line around a beam or the like which is located a substantial distance above the ground, the device comprising a yoke having a base supporting two upstanding spaced apart arms, one arm defining, at the upper end thereof, an upwardly open recess, and the other arm defining, at the upper end thereof, a downwardly open hook element, there being a cross-arm, the cross-arm having means adapted to engage the recess to permit the crossarm to pivot downwardly about a pivot axis defined by the means adapted to engage the recess, the cross-arm also being provided with means adapted to be received within the hook, and being adapted to pivot upwardly about the axis defined by the means adapted to engage the hook, the cross or member yoke being configured so that when the cross-arm has pivoted about the means adapted to engage the recess, parts of the cross-arm are located adjacent parts of the yoke to prevent the cross-arm being disengaged from the yoke, and the cross-arm being configured so that when the cross-arm moves pivotally about the means engaged by the hook, parts of the cross-arm lie adjacent parts of the yoke to prevent the cross-arm being disengaged from the yoke, the cross-arm having means adapted to receive a line or the like, the yoke being provided with a plurality of connection means at spaced apart positions, there being a connector mounted on a pole, the connector being adapted to be connected to any one of the connecting means on the yoke at one of a plurality of selected orientations, at least one of the connecting means on the yoke being substantially aligned with a respective arm on the yoke.
2. 2. A device according to Claim I wherein the connection means on the yoke each comprise a turret, the turret presenting an end face carrying evenly spaced castellations, the connector comprising an element adapted to be engaged with the said castellated face, and defining a plurality of recesses adapted to receive the castellations.
3. 3. A device according to Claim 2 wherein the castellations are angularly spaced apart by approximately 30 .
4. 4. A device according to Claim 2 or 3 wherein the turret and the connector are each provided with a through-bore, a nut and bolt being passed through the bore to secure the connector to the turret.
5. 5. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein three connecting means are provided on the yoke, there being a respective connecting means provided on the base aligned with each said arm, and a centrally located connecting means.
6. 6. A device according to any one of the preceding Claims wherein the cross-arm comprises two spaced apart parallel plates inter-connected by transversely extending elements which constitute the means to engage the recess, and the means to be received within the hook, and wherein the parts of the cross-arm which prevent the cross-arm being disengaged from the yoke comprise a transversely extending element positioned to be located adjacent a surface provided at the base of a finger adjacent said"U"-shaped recess when the cross-arm is moved pivotally about the means engaged by the hook, said surface being arcuate and having a centre of curvature coincident with the centre of curvature of the base of the"U"-shaped recess.
7. 7. A device according to Claim 6 wherein the hook defines a passage of arcuate form having a centre of curvature coincident with the centre of curvature of the base of the"U"-shaped recess, the passage leading to an enlarged diameter bore, a transverse element carried on the cross-arm being adapted to be received within the bore, said element having a cross-section presenting two substantially flat opposed faces and two arcuate faces.
8. 8. A device according to Claim 6 or 7 wherein the part of the hook defining the bore has a portion with an arcuate outer surface having a centre of curvature coincident with the axis of the bore, the parts of the cross-arm which prevent the cross-arm being disengaged from the yoke comprising a transversely extending element positioned to be located adjacent said arcuate outer face when the cross-arm is moved pivotally about the means adapted to engage the recess.
9. 9. A device according to any of Claims 6 to 8 wherein a spring is provided located between the two plates constituting the cross-arm, the spring having a portion coiled around the transverse element adapted to be received within the "U3'-shaped recess, and having one end adapted to engage the said finger adjacent the recess, and having another end adapted to engage a further element which extends transversely between the two plates.
10. 10. Use of a device according to any one of the preceding Claims to pass a line around a beam or the like.
11. 11. A device substantially as herein described with reference to and as shown in the accompanying drawings.
12. 12. Any novel feature or combination of features disclosed herein.