GB2463631A

GB2463631A - Safety line traveller and support

Info

Publication number: GB2463631A
Application number: GB0807690A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Karl Jones; Owain Jones
Original assignee: Latchways PLC
Current assignee: Latchways PLC
Priority date: 2008-04-28
Filing date: 2008-04-28
Publication date: 2010-03-24
Also published as: GB0807690D0; WO2009133361A1

Abstract

A traveller for a fall arrest system, has opposed ends each having a lead-in deflection arrangement for effecting deflectional rotational reorientation of the traveller to a preferred rotational orientation upon lead-in to a safety line support structure. The support structure may also have opposed ends, having lead-in deflection arrangements. The support traveller may have a passage extending between the opposed ends for accommodating a safety line, and a slot being in communication with the channel from externally of the traveller. The passage may have a part circumferential bearing surface for bearing against the safety line and a part circumferential clearance surface spaced from the bearing surface, the bearing surface having a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of the clearance surface. A support structure can include an arm having a curve form portion, arranged to be received internally of the traveller adjacent the clearance surface.

Description

Safety line Traveller and Support The present invention relates to a safety line traveller and support.

In order to protect personnel from falls when working at height it is usual, and often a legal requirement, to provide a fall arrest system comprising a safety line to which personnel can be securely attached by means of a safety lanyard or the like. W020041052465 discloses a safety line traveller and support arrangement suitable for such uses. The system disclosed recognises the issue of ensuring that the traveller is in a required degree of co-alignment with the support in order to ensure that the traveller can pass by the support without undue contact, jolting or snagging.

An improved arrangement has now been devised.

According to a first aspect, the present invention provides a traveller for a fall arrest system, the traveller comprising opposed ends each having a lead-in deflection arrangement for effecting deflectional rotational reorientation of the traveller to a preferred * : :* rotational orientation upon lead-in to a safety line support structure. S... * . *S.S

* : 20 It is preferred that the lead in deflection arrangement for each end comprises a contact lead in deflection arrangement. In a specific embodiment the lead-in deflection arrangement S..

may comprise respective deflection surfaces. The deflection surfaces may be curved or *.* inclined. * S * SS * S.

In a preferred embodiment the deflection surfaces may lead to an intermediate elongate guide surface extending in the direction between the opposed ends of the traveller.

In one embodiment, the traveller may include a passage extending between the opposed ends of the traveller for accommodating the safety line, a slot communication with the channel from externally of the traveller, the slot being defined between a pair of lips of the traveller. Beneficially, the gap between the lips is less than the diameter of the safety line.

The lead-in deflection arrangement is preferably associated with one of the lips. In a preferred realisation, the lips comprise an upper lip and a lower lip, the lead-in deflection arrangement is associated with the lower lip.

Beneficially the internal passage includes a part circumferential bearing surface for bearing against the safety line and a clearance surface spaced from the bearing surface. The bearing surface preferably has a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of the clearance surface.

According to a second aspect, the present invention provides a support structure for a safety line for a fall arrest system, the support comprising opposed ends, each having a respective lead-in deflection arrangement for effecting deflectional rotational reorientation of a safety line traveller to a preferred rotational orientation upon lead-in to the support structure.

In one embodiment the lead in deflection arrangement for each end comprises a contact lead in deflection arrangement. In such an embodiment the lead-in deflection arrangements may comprise respective deflection surfaces, which may be curved or * inclined. Beneficially, the deflection surfaces lead to an intermediate guide surface * extending in the direction between the opposed ends of the support.

In a preferred embodiment the deflection arrangement is positioned below the level of the *** safety line. * * * ** *

* * In a preferred embodiment the support may include an arm having a curve form portion, arranged to be received internally of a traveller passing by the support.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides a fall arrest system comprising a safety line, at least one support structure for the safety line and a traveller arranged to be retained on the safety line, wherein the traveller comprises opposed ends each having a lead-in deflection arrangement; and the support structure has opposed ends, each having a respective lead-in deflection arrangement, the lead-in deflection arrangements of the traveller and the support interacting to effect deflectional rotational reorientation of the -3'-safety line traveller to a preferred rotational orientation upon lead-in to the support structure.

According to a further aspect, the invention provides a fall arrest system comprising a traveller for a fall arrest system and a support structure for supporting the safety line, wherein: the traveller comprises a passage extending between the opposed ends of the traveller for accommodating the safety line, a slot being in communication with the channel from externally of the traveller, the slot being defined between a pair of lips of the traveller, wherein the internal passage includes a part circumferential bearing surface for bearing against the safety line and a part circumferential clearance surface spaced from the bearing surface, the bearing surface having a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of the clearance surface; the support structure including an arm having a curve form portion, arranged to be *:* : received internally of the traveller adjacent the clearance surface. * * *S..

* .. 20 The advantages of these inventive aspects and preferred features will become readily apparent from the following description of a preferred embodiment of the invention, which S..

is described by way of example only and with reference to the accompanying drawings, in S...

* . . which. S. S S. S

S S *S

Figure 1 is an end view of a traveller and support structure in accordance with the invention; Figure 2 is an end view of the traveller of figure 1; Figure 3 is a perspective view of the support structure of figure 1; Figure 4 is a further perspective view of the support structure of figure 3: Figure 5 is a an end view of the traveller and support of figure 1 in an extreme rotational position with respect to one another; Figure 6 is a perspective view of the traveller; Figure 7 is a perspective view of the traveller from an alternative viewpoint; Figure 8 is a an end view of the traveller and support of figure 1 in an alternative extreme rotational position with respect to one another; Figures 9a to 9d are sequential perspective views of the traveller passing by the support; Figures 1 Oa to I Od, are sequential end views of the traveller passing by the support.

Referring to the drawings, there is shown a traveller 1 for a safety line arranged to cooperate with a complementary support 2 for the safety line 3. In the embodiment shown the safety line 3 is supported typically at the waist height of an operative. The safety line *... traveller 1 moves along the safety line 3 which is supported at interval by the supports 2 * : 20 which may be mounted on support posts as shown in figures. *.*. * S..

The traveller 1 comprises a body 4 through which is defined an interior channel 10 accommodating the safety line 3. The interior channel 10 extends completely through the * 5. : traveller body 4 in the longitudinal direction of the safety line 3. An attachment element 7 is connected to and extends from the traveller body 4. The attachment element includes a connection eye 5 bounded by a perimeter 6 enabling connection to a connection device (such as a conventional carabineer) connected to a safety lanyard, safety harness or other connection device. The traveller body 4 and attachment element 7 may be formed integrally with one another (for example by die casting) or else they may be formed as separate components and assembled together.

The traveller body 4 is formed with a slot 11 communicating through the body and with the interior channel 10. The slot 11 extends completely through the traveller body 4 in the longitudinal direction of the safety line 3. The interior channel 10 is defined by internal surfaces of the body portion formed into two separate areas. A bearing portion is defined by the interior channel surface 9 of a first arcing body portion 4a. The bearing portion includes an interior surface portion 9a of a predefined radius to be matched to accommodate the circumferential surface of the safety line 3 and tubular section 12 of the support 2 in such a maimer that the traveller can rotate in a bearing like rotational manner about the circumferential surface of the safety line 3 and tubular section of the support 12.

The channel widens in a direction away from the bearing portion 4a to a clearance cavity defined adjacent a second arcing body portion 4b extending opposite the first arcing body portion 4a.

In the embodiment shown, the second arcing body portion 4b defines an internal channel surface 9b which has a radius of curvature greater than the radius of curvature of the bearing surface 9a. The first an second arcing portions 4a, 4b terminate at lips 4c 4d forming the slot 11 and define a gap between the first an second arcing portion lips 4c, 4d which is smaller than the diameter of the safety line 3 and tubular section 12 of the support 2. This is of crucial importance because it ensures that once the traveller is threaded onto the safety line, the safety line 3 cannot separate from the traveller by means of passing through the slot 11. The slot is however essential in order to enable the traveller to pass by *..

the supports 2. * * * ** *

* * The support 2 comprises an elongate a tubular section 12 for locating the safety line 3 connected through an arm 13 to a bracket portion 14 for connection to a support structure such as a support post. In the illustrated embodiment, the bracket 14 is shown as a flat plate having a connection hole for a connection bolt. This an illustrative example only, and it will be appreciated that other fixing arrangements can be used.

The support arm 13 includes an upper section 15 in use to be accommodated within the interior channel 10 of the traveller I as the traveller 1 passes by the support 2. Specifically the portion 15 includes a radial portion I 5a leading to a curve-form portion 1 Sb. The curve form portion I 5b is received within the traveller body 4 in the clearance cavity defined adjacent the second arcing body portion 4b. The curve form portion I 5b is curved correspondingly to but spaced from surface 9b. This arrangement permits the traveller to be rotationally re-orientated between the two extreme positions shown in figures 1 and 5 respectively, whilst the traveller 1 is in pass by relationship with the support 2.

The support arm 13 includes a lower section 16 which is provided with a traveller deflection arrangement comprising a first inclined linear deflection portion 1 6a, a second inclined linear deflection portion 16b and an interconnecting linear guide rail 16c. The deflection arrangement including the inclined portions I 6a, 1 6b and guide rail I 6c is positioned at a level to the lip 4b of the traveller 1. The guide rail I 6c is provided to one side of the safety line 3 and the deflection portions are inclined to extend from the guide rail I 6c toward the opposite side of the safety line 3.

The lip 4d of the traveller is formed to have a first deflection surface 17 toward one end of the traveller, a second deflection surface 18 toward the opposite end of the traveller and a guide surface 19 extending intermediately of the deflection surfaces 17, 18. The guide surface 19 extends to stand more proudly than the deflection surfaces 17, 18. The guide surfaces 17 18 in this embodiment are inclined with respect to the guide surface 19, and may alternatively be convex or rounded shoulder portions. The important feature of the * deflection portions 17, 18 is that they provide a lead-in deflection arrangement at the * opposed ends of the traveller which can cooperate with the safety line support (in a manner as will be described) to effect rotational reorientation of the traveller I to a preferred * rotational orientation with respect to the support 2 as the traveller passes by the support 2.

In use, the traveller 1, when travelling along the safety line 3 intermediate respective supports 2 is relatively free to rotate about the safety line 3 on the bearing surface 9a of the body portion 4a of the traveller 1. The traveller cannot be pulled off the safety line 3 because the gap defined by slot 11 is not as wide as the diameter of the safety line 3. In prior art arrangements a problem occurs with such safety line arrangements, particularly such arrangements which are not overhead arrangements, as the traveller passes by a support 2. If the traveller and support approach one another out of preferred rotational alignment, then the traveller can knock into the support 2 causing a jolt that will be felt by the user. This can become an irritation and may tempt the user not to attach to the line.

Over time, damage to the traveller and/or the support can also occur.

With the arrangement as described however, the interaction of the respective lead-in deflection arrangements of the traveller 1 and support 2 cooperate to adjust the alignment of the traveller with respect to the support to a preferred orientation for passing by, as can be seen in figures 9a to 9d and 1 Oa to I Od. Upon approaching the support 2 (figure 9a, 1 Oa) the traveller can be orientated on the safety line 3 such that the attachment element 7 is oriented extending relatively downwardly. The lead-in deflection surface 18 of the traveller I then engages with the lead-in deflection surface I 6b of the support 2 which begins to cause anticlockwise rotation of the traveller about the tubular section 12 of the support 2.

As the traveller passes by the guide rail 1 6c, the mid section 19 of the lower traveller lip 4d engages with the guide rail and the traveller is guided past the support arm 13 in the correct predetermined rotational orientation (figures 9b 10). As the traveller passes the lead out * *.

from the support 2 it can return to its preferred orientation 9 clockwise downward rotation, * 1** * .. as shown in figures 9c, 9d 1 Oc, I Od. The deflection arrangement therefore ensures reorientation from a situation where the attachment extension 7 is orientated downwardly and ensures that the traveller passes the support without snagging. An important feature of the arrangement is the traveller channel 10 configuration, and particularly the clearance cavity defined adjacent the second arcing body portion 4b. The curve form portion 15b of the support 2 is curved correspondingly to but spaced from surface 9b.

This arrangement permits the traveller to be rotationally re-orientated between the two extreme positions shown in figures 1 and 5 respectively, whilst the traveller 1 is in pass by relationship with the support 2, As a result if the traveller approaches the support 2 in a position where the attachment extension extends upwardly (as shown in figure 5) there is substantially no hindrance to passage of the traveller. -8-.

It will be appreciated that the benefit of the inventive aspects of the arrangements described can be achieved in circumstances where modifications and departures are made from the specific embodiments and alternatives mentioned herein. * *S * 0 * * ** S.. * S S... *.S.

S *.S. S.. S... * . . SS * S. S

S S S * .*

Claims

Claims: 1. A traveller for a fall arrest system, the traveller comprising opposed ends each having a lead-in deflection arrangement for effecting deflectional rotational reorientation of the traveller to a preferred rotational orientation upon lead-in to a safety line support structure.
2. A traveller according to claim 1, wherein the lead in deflection arrangement for each end comprises a contact lead in deflection arrangement.
3. A traveller according to any preceding claim, wherein the lead-in deflection arrangement comprises respective deflection surfaces.
4. A traveller according to claim 3, wherein the deflection surfaces are curved or inclined.
5. A traveller according to claim 3 or claim 4, wherein the deflection surfaces lead to * : :* an intermediate guide surface extending in the direction between the opposed ends of the traveller **. *.*.
*..: o. Atraveller according to any preceding claim including a passage extending between the opposed ends of the traveller for accommodating the safety line, a *:::: slot communication with the channel from externally of the traveller, the slot * . being defined between a pair of lips of the traveller. * 25
7. A traveller according to claim 6, wherein the gap between the lips is less than the diameter of the safety line.
8. A traveller according to claim 6 or claim 7, wherein the lead-in deflection arrangement is associated with one of the lips.
9. A traveller according to claim 8, wherein the lips comprise an upper lip and a lower lip, the lead-in deflection arrangement being associated with the lower lip.
10. Atraveller arrangement according to any of claims 6 to 9 wherein the internal passage includes a part circumferential bearing surface for bearing against the safety line and a clearance surface spaced from the bearing surface.
11. A traveller according to claim 10, wherein the bearing surface has a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of the clearance surface.
12. A support structure for a safety line for a fall arrest system, the support comprising opposed ends, each having a respective lead-in deflection arrangement for effecting deflectional rotational reorientation of a safety line traveller to a preferred rotational orientation upon lead-in to the support structure.
13. A support structure according to claim 12, wherein the lead in deflection arrangement for each end comprises a contact lead in deflection arrangement. * ** * * *

*::
14. A support according to any of claims 12 or 13, wherein the lead-in deflection arrangements comprise respective deflection surfaces. S... S...
15. A support according to claim 14, wherein the deflection surfaces are curved or :: inclined.

* 25
16. A support according to claim 14 or claim 15, wherein the deflection surfaces lead to an intermediate guide surface extending in the direction between the opposed ends of the support.
17. A support according to any of claims 12 to 16, wherein the deflection arrangement is positioned below the level of the safety line.
18. A support according to any of claims 12 to 17, including an arm having a curve form portion, arranged to be received internally of a traveller passing by the support.
19. A support according to any preceding claim including an elongate tubular section for receiving the safety line.
20. A fall arrest system comprising a safety line, at least one support structure for the safety line and a traveller arranged to be retained on the safety line, wherein the traveller comprises opposed ends each having a lead-in deflection arrangement; and the support structure has opposed ends, each having a respective lead-in deflection arrangement, the lead-in deflection arrangements of the traveller and the support interacting to effect deflectional rotational reorientation of the safety line traveller to a preferred rotational orientation upon lead-in to the support structure.
21. A fall arrest system comprising a traveller for a fall arrest system and a support *:* : :* structure for supporting the safety line, wherein: S... * S S...the traveller comprises a passage extending between the opposed ends of S...: the traveller for accommodating the safety line, a slot being in * communication with the channel from externally of the traveller, the slot *:: :: being defined between a pair of lips of the traveller, wherein the internal * . passage includes a part circumferential bearing surface for bearing * 25 against the safety line and a part circumferential clearance surface spaced from the bearing surface, the bearing surface having a radius of curvature which is less than the radius of curvature of the clearance surface; the support structure including an arm having a curve form portion, arranged to be received internally of the traveller adjacent the clearance surface.
22. A fall arrest system according to claim 21, wherein the relationship between the curve form portion of the support arm and the radius of curvature of the clearance surface of the traveller, permits the traveller to rotate through a wide angle of rotation with respect to the support, of substantially 90 degrees or more. * 0* * . . * S. *S.. * S *5S *5** * *... S.S S... * S * S. S S* * S S * S.