阅读说明：本技术 支撑柱组件 (Support column assembly ) 是由 威廉·纽因 克里斯·斯托克布里奇 奥利弗·奥斯顿 于 2018-10-15 设计创作，主要内容包括：本发明涉及由在地面以上高度处工作的人使用的安全绳索系统。特别地,本发明涉及用于安全绳索系统的支撑柱。一种用于支撑降落安全绳索的支撑柱组件,包括：基座；支撑柱,降落安全绳索可连接到该支撑柱,该支撑柱具有纵向轴线；设置在基座和支撑柱之间的配合的弯曲支承表面；以及锁止组件,用于防止在低于阈值力时支承表面的相对移动,通过降落安全绳索向支撑柱施加高于阈值力的力,导致支撑柱相对于基座枢转,使得支承表面相对于彼此滑动,并且支承表面之间的摩擦消耗能量。(The present invention relates to a safety line system for use by persons working at a height above ground level. In particular, the present invention relates to a support post for a safety line system. A support post assembly for supporting a fall safety line, comprising: a base; a support column to which the lowering safety line is connectable, the support column having a longitudinal axis; a mating curved bearing surface disposed between the base and the support post; and a locking assembly for preventing relative movement of the bearing surfaces below a threshold force, the application of a force to the support column above the threshold force by the lowering safety line causing the support column to pivot relative to the base such that the bearing surfaces slide relative to each other and friction between the bearing surfaces dissipates energy.)

1. A support post assembly for supporting a fall safety line, the support post assembly comprising:

-a base;

-a support column to which a fall safety line is connectable, the support column having a longitudinal axis;

-a mating curved bearing surface disposed between the base and the support post; and

-a locking assembly for preventing relative movement of the bearing surfaces below a threshold force, application of a force to the support columns by the fall safety line above the threshold force causing the support columns to pivot relative to the base such that the bearing surfaces slide relative to each other and friction between the bearing surfaces dissipates energy.

2. A support post assembly according to claim 1, wherein the fall safety line is connectable to the support post at an end of the support post furthest from the base.

3. A support column assembly according to claim 1 or claim 2 in which the support column pivots relative to the base about an axis of rotation which is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support column as a result of the relative sliding of the bearing surfaces.

4. A support column assembly according to any preceding claim in which the assembly comprises a single axis of rotation about which the support column pivots relative to the base as a result of the relative sliding of the bearing surfaces.

5. A support column assembly according to claim 4 in which the support column is pivotable about the axis of rotation in two opposite directions in dependence on the direction of the applied force.

6. A support column assembly according to any preceding claim in which the support column is rotatable relative to the base about a longitudinal axis of the support column.

7. The support column assembly of claim 6, in which the base includes a base plate securable to a structure, and the support column assembly includes a coupling member disposed between one of the bearing surfaces and the base plate, the coupling member allowing the bearing surfaces and the support column to rotate relative to the base plate about the longitudinal axis of the support column.

8. A support column assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6 in which the assembly includes a plurality of axes of rotation about which the support column can pivot relative to the base as a result of the relative sliding of the bearing surfaces.

9. The support column assembly of claim 8, wherein the support column assembly comprises a ball joint between the support column and the base.

10. A support column assembly according to any preceding claim in which the support column pivots relative to the base through an angle of between 45 ° and 135 °.

11. A support column assembly according to any preceding claim in which the support column pivots relative to the base through an angle of approximately 90 °.

12. A support column assembly according to any preceding claim in which the support column comprises a first of the curved bearing surfaces and the base comprises a second of the curved bearing surfaces, the first bearing surface having a convex curvature and the second bearing surface having a concave curvature.

13. A support post assembly according to claim 12 wherein the first bearing surface is provided by a first bearing plate and the second bearing surface is provided by a second bearing plate.

14. A support column assembly according to claim 13 in which each of the first and second support plates includes an elongate slot extending along the direction of curvature of the support plate and a pin extends through the slot to connect the support plates.

15. A support post assembly according to any preceding claim, further comprising a retaining assembly configured to retain the support surfaces in contact with each other.

16. A support column assembly according to claim 15 in which the retaining assembly is adjustable to vary the friction between the bearing surfaces during relative sliding movement of the bearing surfaces.

17. A support column assembly according to claim 15 or claim 16 in which the retaining assembly is configured to apply a clamping force to the bearing surface.

18. A support post assembly according to any one of claims 15 to 17, wherein the retaining assembly and the locking assembly are provided by a single clamping assembly configured to apply a clamping force to the support surface.

19. A support column assembly according to claim 18 when dependent on claim 13, in which the clamp assembly comprises a first clamp member arranged to apply a force to the first bolster plate and a second clamp member arranged to apply a force to the second bolster plate.

20. A support column assembly according to claim 18 when dependent on claim 14, in which the clamp assembly comprises a first clamp member arranged to apply a force to the first bolster plate and a second clamp member arranged to apply a force to the second bolster plate, the first and second clamp members being connected by the pin.

21. A support post assembly as claimed in claim 19 or claim 20, in which the clamp assembly comprises a spacer disposed between the first and second clamp members, the spacer limiting the minimum distance between the first and second clamp members.

22. A support column assembly according to claim 21 when dependent on claim 20 in which the spacer comprises a tubular member surrounding the axis of the pin.

23. The support column assembly of any of claims 1-17, wherein the lock assembly comprises a shear pin configured to break at the threshold force.

24. A support post assembly according to any preceding claim further comprising a mounting member connected to the support post, with which a fall safety line is engageable.

25. A support post assembly according to claim 24, wherein the mounting member is pivotally connected to the support post.

26. A support post assembly according to claim 24 or claim 25 in which the support post includes a shock absorber and the mounting member is connected to the support post by the shock absorber.

27. A support column assembly according to claim 26 in which the shock absorber comprises a resilient element and the force applied to the mounting member by the fall safety line causes a portion of the resilient element to deform.

28. A support column assembly according to claim 27 when dependent on claim 25, in which the shock absorber comprises a first resilient element on a first side of the pivotal connection and a second resilient element on a second side of the pivotal connection, and movement of the mounting member due to the force exerted by the fall safety line causes both the first and second resilient elements to deform.

29. A support post assembly according to claim 27 or claim 28 in which the or each resilient element is a resilient block.

30. A support post according to claim 29 in which the mounting member extends through an aperture in the or each resilient block.

31. A support column assembly according to any one of claims 26 to 30 in which the damper and lock assembly are configured such that application of a force to the mounting member by the fall safety line above the threshold force fully deforms the damper and subsequently transmits a force to one of the bearing surfaces to cause the bearing surfaces to slide relative to each other.

32. A support post assembly according to any preceding claim in which the support post pivots relative to the base between an initial configuration and an activated configuration, and in the activated position a portion of the support post is located on a portion of the base.

33. A fall safety line system comprising:

-a support post assembly comprising a base, a support post, a mating curved support surface disposed between the base and the support post, and a locking assembly for preventing relative movement of the support surfaces below a threshold force; and

-a safety lowering line connected to the support column, the safety lowering line applying a force to the support column above the threshold force causing the support column to pivot relative to the base such that the bearing surfaces slide relative to each other and friction between the bearing surfaces dissipates energy.

34. The fall safety line system of claim 35, wherein the fall safety line is connected to an end of the support post furthest from the support surface.

35. A fall safety line system according to claim 33 or claim 34, wherein the fall safety line extends from the support column in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support column.

36. A fall safety line system according to any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein the support post comprises a shock absorber and the fall safety line is attached to a mounting member and the mounting member is connected to the shock absorber.

Summary of The Invention

The present invention provides a support pillar assembly for supporting a fall safety line (fall safety line), the support pillar assembly including:

-a base;

-a support column to which the fall safety line is connectable, the support column having a longitudinal axis;

-a mating curved support surface disposed between the base and the support column; and

a locking assembly for preventing relative movement of the bearing surfaces below a threshold force, the application of a force to the support column above the threshold force by the lowering safety line causing the support column to pivot relative to the base such that the bearing surfaces slide relative to each other and friction between the bearing surfaces dissipates energy.

The fall safety line may preferably be connected to the support post at the end of the support post furthest from the base. The support post may be elongate and extend between a first end and a second end; the base is connected to a first end of the support column and the lowering safety line is connected to a second end of the support column.

Due to said relative sliding of the bearing surfaces the support column is caused to pivot relative to the base about a rotational axis, which is preferably transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support column. In a preferred embodiment, the support post pivots relative to the base about an axis of rotation that is substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the support post as a result of said relative sliding of the bearing surfaces.

In some embodiments, the assembly comprises a single axis of rotation about which the support column pivots relative to the base as a result of said relative sliding of the bearing surfaces. The support column is preferably pivotable about said axis of rotation in two opposite directions depending on the direction of the applied force.

The support post may also be rotatable relative to the base about its longitudinal axis. In some embodiments, the base includes a base plate securable to the structure, and the support post assembly includes a coupling member disposed between one of the support surfaces and the base plate that allows the support surface and the support post to rotate relative to the base plate about a longitudinal axis of the support post. This allows the support column to be rotationally aligned relative to the direction of the applied force such that the axis of rotation about which the support column pivots relative to the base as a result of said relative sliding of the bearing surfaces extends substantially perpendicular to the direction of the applied force.

In some embodiments, the assembly comprises a plurality of axes of rotation about which the support post can pivot relative to the base as a result of said relative sliding of the bearing surfaces. The support post assembly may include a ball and socket joint between the support post and the base.

The support post is preferably pivoted relative to the base through an angle of between 45 ° and 135 °. More preferably, the support post pivots through an angle of about 90 ° relative to the base.

In a preferred embodiment, the support column comprises a first one of the curved support surfaces, the base comprises a second one of the curved support surfaces, the first support surface has a convex curvature and the second support surface has a concave curvature. The first support surface may be provided by a first support plate and the second support surface may be provided by a second support plate. In some embodiments, each of the first and second support plates includes an elongated slot extending along a direction of curvature of the support plate, and a pin extends through the slot to connect the support plates.

The support column assembly according to the present invention preferably further comprises a holding assembly configured to hold the support surfaces in contact with each other. The retaining assembly is preferably adjustable to vary the friction between the bearing surfaces during relative sliding movement of the bearing surfaces. The retention assembly may be configured to apply a clamping force to the support surface.

In a particularly preferred embodiment, the retaining assembly and the locking assembly are provided by a single clamping assembly configured to apply a clamping force to the support surface. In some embodiments, the clamping assembly comprises a first clamping member arranged to apply a force to the first support plate and a second clamping member arranged to apply a force to the second support plate. In embodiments where each of the first and second support plates comprises an elongate slot extending along the direction of curvature of the support plate and the pin extends through the slot, the clamp assembly may comprise a first clamp member arranged to apply a force to the first support plate and a second clamp member arranged to apply a force to the second support plate, the first and second clamp members being connected by the pin.

The clamping assembly may include a spacer disposed between the first and second clamping members, the spacer limiting a minimum distance between the first and second clamping members. In embodiments including a pin extending through a slot in the support plate, the spacer may include a tubular member surrounding the shaft of the pin.

The locking assembly may include a shear pin configured to break at a threshold force.

The support post assembly preferably further comprises a mounting member connected to the support post, the fall safety line being engageable with the mounting member. The mounting member is preferably pivotally connected to the support post.

In a preferred embodiment, the support column includes a shock absorber, and the mounting member is connected to the support column through the shock absorber. The shock absorber preferably comprises a resilient element and the force applied to the mounting member by the fall safety line preferably causes a portion of the resilient element to deform. In some embodiments, the shock absorber may include a first resilient element on a first side of the pivot connection and a second resilient element on a second side of the pivot connection. Movement of the mounting member due to the force exerted by the fall safety line preferably causes both the first and second resilient elements to deform. The or each resilient element may be a resilient block. The mounting member may extend through an aperture in the or each resilient block.

Preferably, the shock absorber and locking assembly are configured such that applying a force to the mounting member above a threshold force by dropping the safety line fully deforms the shock absorber and subsequently transmits the force to one of the bearing surfaces to cause the bearing surfaces to slide relative to each other.

The support post preferably pivots relative to the base between an initial configuration and an activated configuration. In the activated position, a portion of the support post is preferably located on a portion of the base.

The present invention also provides a fall safety rope system comprising:

-a support post assembly comprising a base, a support post, a mating curved support surface disposed between the base and the support post, and a locking assembly for preventing relative movement of the support surfaces below a threshold force; and

a safety line connected to the support columns, the safety line applying a force to the support columns above a threshold force, causing the support columns to pivot relative to the base such that the bearing surfaces slide relative to each other and friction between the bearing surfaces dissipates energy.

The fall safety line is preferably connected to the end of the support post furthest from the support surface. The fall safety line preferably extends from the support column in a direction transverse to the longitudinal axis of the support column. In some embodiments, the fall safety line will extend from the support column to the support column of an adjacent support column assembly.

In a preferred embodiment, the support column includes a shock absorber, and the fall safety line is attached to a mounting member connected to the shock absorber.

The support post assembly of the present invention will preferably be attached to a structure on or around which a person is working. The support column assembly may be attached to the structure at a height above the ground.