APPARATUS FOR LOWERING PEOPLE FROM BUILDINGS AND THE LIKE

Abstract: Apparatus for lowering people from a high level, for example from a post. A lowering line (16) that is led through a block (15) with a cylindrical ratchet (19) with a grooved rim (21) that is rotated between two side plates (18) on a shaft (20). The ratchet (19) works with a pawl (23) that is movably engaged with teeth (22) on the rim, and that near the rim of the ratchet (19) there is a narrow entry and exit opening (32) for the two parts of the lowering line (16). The grooved rim (21) of the ratchet (19) is designed with side walls at such an angle that they produce friction with the lowering line (16).

Description: Apparatus for lowering people from buildings and the like. The invention comprises an apparatus as stated in the introduction to Claim 1 for lowering people, particularly from buildings, platforms, posts and such like- Background Swedish Patent no. 452.951 describes a lowering apparatus that is to be used from buildings. This apparatus is not suited for universal applications. It is poorly suited for suspending people from their body which is required for mast assembly workers on oil platforms and the like. US Patent Specification no. 659.093 describes a lowering apparatus with a rope block where a grooved brake lever acts as the brake unit. However, the braking effect is difficult to control so this may not be too easy to use. The breaking effect is also problematic to adjust to people of differing weights. This will mean that either children are lowered too slowly, or heavier adults will be lowered too quickly. Neither of these lowering devices are suited for releasing a person who is hanging unconscious, for example on a power line pole. Objective The main objective of the invention is to design a lowering apparatus that can be adjusted to various areas of application. A particular objective is to design a lowering apparatus that is so light and compact that it can be worn by mast assembly workers, for example, and those working on high scaffolding and platforms. The lowering apparatus must be suitable to be used for releasing a worker in an emergency who is hanging from his pole climbing footwear on a power line pole. Principle The invention is described in the characterizing part of Claim 1. Other specific advantageous aspects of the It has been found that the use of such a brake organ in the stated configuration provides sufficient braking with a wide range of loads. This safely provides adequate braking in a variety of applications. The apparatus makes it possible to stop the lowering process by a slight pull on the ingoing part of the line. A further advantage is that the new apparatus can be made to be small and relatively light. Example The invention will be described below with reference to the drawings, where Fig. 1 illustrates a lowering situation where an apparatus in accordance with the invention is used, Fig. 2 shows a cross section of the block, while Fig. 3 shows part of a section through the ratchet. Fig. 1 shows a power line post 11 with curved insulators 12. Here, there is a person 13, who has become incapable or has touched a live element so that he/she cannot get down without help. The drawing shows the lowering phase, after an assistant has secured the lowering apparatus in accordance with the invention, lifted the injured person from a hanging position, and loosened and removed that person ' s pole climbing footwear. The apparatus in accordance with the invention has three main components: a securing line 14, a block 15 that the securing line 14 is attached to at one end, and a lowering line 16 which can be attached by a loop 17 around the upper part of a person 13 who requires help. The securing line 14 can have its free end tied to a higher point, in this case a curved insulator 12. The block 15 is shown in more detail in Figs. 2 and 3. The block 15 has two parallel, rectangular side plates 18, one of these is shown in Fig. 2. The side plates 18 supporta ratchet 19 that is between them. This is freely mounted on a shaft 20 that in turn is has its centre attached to side plates. The ratchet 19 has a grooved rim 21 that has parallel sides in the example. On the sides of the grooved rim 21 there are teeth 22 for a pawl 23. The pawl 23, that will be described in more detail below, is mounted on a shaft pivot 24 in a corner of the side plates 18. The pawl 23 is pressed to engage with the teeth 22 by a spring 25 attached to the shaft pivot 24 and fixed to another pivot 26 located on the side of the shaft pivot 24, and also attached to the side plates 18. The engagement end 27 of the pawl 23 is forked so that it surrounds the lowering line 16 without engaging it. The free end 28 of the pawl 23 protrudes outside the side plates 18 so that is accessible for release. Near the rim of the ratchet 19 there is a pair of parallel pivots 29 and 30, that have combined guiding and braking functions. The respective distance between pivots 29 and 30 and the distance of the pivots to the ratchet 19 are adjusted to the diameter of the lowering line 16. The mode of operation will be described in more detail below. At the upper edge of the side plates 18 in Fig. 2 there is a securing bolt 31 for the securing line 14 on the opposite side from the pawl 23. The securing line 14 has a hook 33 on its free end that can be hooked over an anchor point above the user, either while he/she is in awork situation where there is a risk of falling, or as in the example, when there has been an accident and the rescue crew are to lower the injured person. The apparatus that is described in the example can also be used with a securing line 14 placed around the upper part of the user's body, while an end of the lowering line 16 is attached to a higher point. This solution may be satisfactory as a precaution, but is not suitable for rescue should an accident have occurred. The apparatus in the example can be modified in various ways. The pawl can, for example, be built into the ratchet so that it is accessible and can be released through one of the side plates 18. Also pivots 29 and 30 can be replaced by other types of guide units that together form a line guide opening 32 with a with and extent that suit the quality of the line. It is important that the line guide opening 32 is statically independent without any external forces being exerted, as is the case with the lowering apparatus in US Patent Specification no. 659.093. If independent of such forces, the present invention will ensure stable braking that cannot be influenced by external conditions, such as rain or other precipitation. The groove 21 has side walls that result in wedging the lowering line. This provides braking between the ratchet 19 and the lowering line 16. The side walls of the groove 21 can be slightly convergent towards their base, with a maximum of about 20 degrees on each side, preferably much less, and under 7.5 degrees.

Claims: Claims 1. Apparatus for lowering people from a high level, for example from buildings, a post, a platform or scaffolding, where there is a lowering line (16) that is led through a block (15) with a cylindrical ratchet (19) with a grooved rim (21) that can be rotated between two side plates (18) on a shaft (20) , c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the ratchet (19) working with a pawl (23) that is movably engaged with teeth (22) on the rim of the ratchet, and that near the rim of the ratchet (19) there is a narrow entry and exit opening (32) for the two parts of the lowering line (16), and that the grooved rim (21) on the. ratchet (19) is designed with side walls at such an angle that they produce friction with the lowering line (16). 2. Apparatus as claimed in Claim 1, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the pawl (23) being placed outside the part of the ratchet (19) that surrounds the lowering line (16) and that the engagement end (27) of the pawl is forked so that there is an opening for the lowering line to run through. 3. Apparatus as claimed in Claims 1 or 2, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the free end of the pawl (23) protruding outside the edge of the side plates (18), so that it is accessible for release. 4. Apparatus as claimed in one of Claims 1-3, c h a r a c t e r i z e d by the side walls of the groove on the rim forming a mutual opening angle of 0-15 degrees.

Inventors: KLOKSETH PER, KLOKSETH, PER
Applicants: KLOKSETH PER, KLOKSETH, PER
Application year: 1990
Main classification: A62B1
IPC codes: A62B1