Energy absorber for horizontal lifelines in fall arrest systems
US5143187A · kind A · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Jan 22, 1991 |
| Grant date | Sep 1, 1992 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Jan 22, 2011 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC F)Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
- CPC primaryF16F7/127
- WIPO fieldOther consumer goods
- WIPO sectorOther fields
Abstract
An energy absorber for a fall protection system employing a horizontal lifeline comprises an elongate, flexible strength component to opposite ends of which is transmitted the tension shock load produced in the lifeline by arresting a fall and a plurality of sequential energy components operatively connected to the strength component, so that tension applied at opposite ends of the strength component is borne by each of the energy absorbing components and only after its predecessor has broken. The breaking strength of each energy absorbing component, which may be a linear segment of stainless steel aircraft cable, is selected not exceed a desired maximum arrest load. The number of energy absorber components is selected so that not all of them will break when the fall protection system arrests the fall of an object of a predetermined mass falling freely a predetermined distance.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.