Patent ID: 8950551
Filing Date: 2015-02-10
Classification: A62B,F16F

Abstract:
1. A safety device for use in a fall arrest system, the safety device comprising: an energy absorbing mechanism; a rotatable drum which supports a safety line wound thereon; a speed responsive engagement mechanism responsive to speed of rotation of the drum and activated above a predetermined rotational speed of the drum; and a shaft configured to rotate with the drum only when the speed responsive engagement mechanism is activated; wherein the energy absorbing mechanism comprises a plastically deformable strip coupled to the shaft, wherein the plastically deformable strip is coiled during deployment in order to absorb energy as the shaft rotates; wherein the energy absorbing mechanism further includes a coiler member and a deforming structure, wherein the plastically deformable strip has a first end attached to the coiler member and a second free end remote from the first end, wherein the plastically deformable strip extends past the deformer structure at a position intermediate the first and second ends, and wherein relative rotation of the coiler member and deformer structure driven by rotation of the shaft causes the plastically deformable strip to be drawn past the deformer structure as well as plastic deformation of the plastically deformable strip and winding of the plastically deformable strip in a coil about the coiler member; and wherein the shaft extends through an interior portion of a housing, the housing supports the drum and the speed responsive engagement mechanism, and the energy absorbing mechanism is mounted onto the shaft externally of the housing and is separated from the drum and speed responsive engagement mechanism by means of a dividing wall.