Workers who are required to perform tasks at heights are required to have the proper safety gear to protect against inadvertent fall events. A rail system is one type of fall protection system that is used where workers are required to move significant distances in completing tasks at a height. A rail system typically includes an elongated rail and shuttle that is slidably attached to the rail. The rail itself is attached to a support structure. The shuttle typically includes a connection portion that is designed to allow a lifeline to be coupled to the shuttle. The lifeline in turn is connected to a safety harness donned by a worker. It is desired to have an effective and safe method of switching between rails systems in a rail lifeline fall protection system.
For the reasons stated above and for other reasons stated below which will become apparent to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the present specification, there is a need in the art for an effective and efficient method of switching a shuttle between rail sections of a fall protection rail system.
The above-mentioned problems of current systems are addressed by embodiments of the present invention and will be understood by reading and studying the following specification. The following summary is made by way of example and not by way of limitation. It is merely provided to aid the reader in understanding some of the aspects of the invention.
In one embodiment, a rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly is provided that includes a base member, a rotating disk, a center rail, a plurality of rail sections, at least one first stop member and at least one second stop member. The rotating disk is pivotally coupled to the base member. The center rail is coupled to the rotating rail and is configured and arranged to hold a sliding shuttle that is coupled to a lifeline. The plurality of rail sections are configured and arranged to hold a sliding shuttle. Each rail section is coupled to the base member and is positioned to align with the center rail when the rotating disk is at a select rotational orientation in relation to the base. The at least one first stop member and the at least one second stop member is coupled to the rotating disk. The central rail is positioned between the at least one first stop member and the at least one second stop member. Moreover, the stop members are positioned to prevent a shuttle from coming off of one of the rail sections when the rail section is not aligned with the central rail.
In another embodiment, still another rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly is provided. This rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly includes a base member, a rotation disk, a center rail, first, second, third and fourth rail sections and corner members. The rotating disk is pivotally coupled to the base member. The center rail is coupled to the rotating disk and is configured and arranged to hold a sliding shuttle that is coupled to a lifeline. Each of the first, second and third rail sections are coupled to the base. The rotating disk is positioned between the first rail section and the second rail section. The first rail section is aligned with the second rail section. Moreover, the center rail is selectively aligned with the first and second rail sections when the rotating disk is at a select first rotational orientation in relation to the base member. In addition, the rotating disk is also positioned between the third rail section and the second rail section. The third rail section is aligned with the fourth rail section. Moreover, the center rail is selectively aligned with the third and fourth rail sections when the rotating disk is at a select second rotational orientation in relation to the base member. Each of the first, second, third and fourth rails are configured and arranged to hold a sliding shuttle. The corner member is coupled to the base between each of the first, second, third and fourth rail sections. Each corner member is positioned to prevent the shuttle from coming off of the center rail when the central rail is not aligned with at least one of the first, second, third and fourth rail sections.
In yet another embodiment, still another rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly is provided. This rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly includes, a base member, a rotation disk, a center rail, rail sections, at least one first stop member, at least one second stop member and corner members. The base member includes a central portion having a central circular recess and a plurality of spaced arm portions that extend out radially from the central portion. The rotating disk is received within the central circular recess. The rotating disk is configured and arranged to rotate 360 degrees within the central circular recess of the base member. The center rail is coupled to the rotating disk and is configured and arranged to hold a sliding shuttle. Each rail section is coupled to an associated arm portion of the base member. Each rail section is positioned to align with the center rail at a select rotational orientation of the rotating disk. The at least one first stop member and the second stop member are coupled to the rotating disk. The central rail is positioned between the at least one first stop member and the at least one second member. The at least one first and second stop members are further positioned to prevent a sliding shuttle from falling off rail sections not aligned with the center rail. Each corner member is coupled to the base member between each arm portion of the base member. Moreover, each corner member is positioned to prevent a sliding shuttle from falling off of the center rail when the center rail is not aligned with one of the rail sections.
The present invention can be more easily understood and further advantages and uses thereof will be more readily apparent, when considered in view of the detailed description and the following figures in which:
In accordance with common practice, the various described features are not drawn to scale but are drawn to emphasize specific features relevant to the present invention. Reference characters denote like elements throughout Figures and text.
In the following detailed description, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof, and in which is shown by way of illustration specific embodiments in which the inventions may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the invention, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention. The following detailed description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense, and the scope of the present invention is defined only by the claims and equivalents thereof.
Embodiments of the present invention provide a rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly that is designed to safely and efficient rout a shuttle (or carriage) between different track sections of a fall protection rail system. Referring to
A partial unassembled side perspective view of the rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly 100 is illustrated in
The base member 108 has a central portion 108e with a central circular recess 108f and a central disk shaped recess 108g that is centrally located within the central circular recess 108f. The base 108 further has arm portions that extend from the central portion 108e. In particular, in this embodiment, four arm portions 108a, 108b, 108c and 108d extend outward from the central portion 108e. As discussed above, the respective rail sections 102a, 102b, 104a and 104b are coupled to the arm portions 108a, 108b, 108c and 108d of the base member 108 via fasteners 117 passing through rail apertures 125 and arm apertures 109. Moreover, as also discussed above, the first rail section 102a is aligned with the second rail section 102b to form the partial first rail path and the third rail section 104a is aligned with the fourth rail section 104b to form the partial second rail path.
The center rail 106 is couple to a rotating disk 114 via fasteners 115 passing through apertures 114c in the rotating disk 114. The center rail 106 is positioned to bisect the rotating disk 114 to selectively align the center rail 106 with the first and second rail sections 102a and 102b or the third and fourth rail sections 104a and 104b. The rotating disk 114 is received within the central circular recess 108f and is allowed to rotate 360 degrees within the circular recess 108f. As best illustrated in
Embodiments of the rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly 100 include corner members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d that are coupled to the base 108. The corner members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d are used to prevent a shuttle that is slideably engaged on the central rail 106 from falling off an end of the central rail 106 when the central rail 106 is not aligned with one of the first and second rail paths as best illustrated in
Extending from a surface of each side portion 130b and 130c is a connecting tab portion 140a and 142a that are used to attach the respective side portions 130b and 130c to respective arm portions 108a and 108d of the base member 108. For example, referring to
The rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly 100 further includes stop members 112a and 112b. Referring to
In use, a worker working at a height attaches a safety line to the connecting eye 204 of the shuttle 200. When the worker reaches the rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly 100, the worker grasps the center rail 106 and turns the center rail 106 and disk 114 until the center rail 106 aligns with the then current rail section the shuttle is slidably engaged. If the worker desires to change direction, the worker moves the shuttle onto the center rail 106. Once the shuttle is slidably engaged with the center rail 106, the center rail 106 is then rotated to align the center rail 106 to rail sections that define a desired rail path. The configuration including the corner members 110a, 110b, 110c and 110d prevent the shuttle from falling off ends of the center rail 106 while rotating. Once the center rail 106 is aligned with the desired rail sections, the user can slide the shuttle along the desired rail path. As discussed above, the slip pads 140 in the spaced grooves 114a in the rotating disk 114 hold the rotating disk 114 in a static position in relation to the base member 108 until a force (turn force applied to the center rail 106) is applied.
In embodiments the configuration and materials used allow the safety line turntable assembly 100 to expand/contract due to temperature changes without affecting the function of the rail lifeline fall protection turntable assembly 100. In one embodiment, 316 stainless steel and high strength metal alloy (such as 6010) aluminum) is used to construct the safety line turntable assembly.
Although specific embodiments have been illustrated and described herein, it will be appreciated by those of ordinary skill in the art that any arrangement, which is calculated to achieve the same purpose, may be substituted for the specific embodiment shown. This application is intended to cover any adaptations or variations of the present invention. Therefore, it is manifestly intended that this invention be limited only by the claims and the equivalents thereof.