Patent Application
20220306421
The invention relates generally to protecting ropes during rope access and rope rescue, and more specifically to a system for providing a barrier on an edge for protecting a rope passing over the edge.
In the field of industrial rope access and rope rescue, ropes are used to allow workers to access difficult to reach locations without the use of scaffolding, cradles or an aerial work platform. Rope access technicians descend, ascend and traverse ropes for access and work while suspended by their harness. Maintenance and inspection of high-rise buildings, oil platforms, power plants, bridges, dams, aerials, telecommunication and electrical transmission towers, and more can be done using rope access techniques.
Standard practice is to use two ropes, a working line and a safety line, to provide a back up in the unlikely case of a failure in the first rope system. The ropes may need to be rigged to pass over the edge of a parapet, wall, plate or other structure. The surface can be rough, sharp or abrupt, reducing the ropes breaking strength and lifespan which can damage the rope and cause a safety issue. Running the rope over an edge also increases rope friction and decreases the bend radius of the rope, thereby increasing wear and tear and reducing the rope's breaking strength and lifespan. Not using a rope edge protector can also make hauling the rope up over the edge more difficult.
A number of methods have been used to protect rope as it runs over an edge. This can include placing a material over the edge on which the rope sits or positioning a cover around the rope itself. These edge management systems are often fabricated on site, using a piece of carpet, a rope bag, gloves, a fire blanket, or any other item a user has on hand. These methods and systems are often unsuitable for the task of protecting ropes.
Speciality rope edge protectors also exist, including the Lyon™ Edge Guard™ which is a stainless-steel device having “teeth” that grip the edge with a camming action. The CMC Ultra-Pro™ edge protector provides a curved device made of a slick material to cover an edge. The SMC Edge Roller™ provides a metal roller over which a rope can pass to reduce friction going over an edge. The Cascade™ Edge Protector by Heightec™ provides a stainless-steel device that sits on a 90-degree edge and includes guides to separate ropes.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided an edge protector system for protecting a rope as it passes over an edge formed by a first face and a second face, the edge protector system comprising:
a body having:
a curved channel portion on an outer surface configured to receive at least one rope,
wherein the channel portion is enclosed by a pair of side walls;
a first underside surface configured for placement on the first face of the edge;
a second underside surface forming a dihedral angle with the first underside surface
and configured for placement on the second face of the edge; and
an attachment mechanism comprising a strap for operative connection to the body
and to a cam for tensioning the strap to secure the body to the edge.
The dihedral angle may be a right angle.
The cam may comprise a cam buckle. Alternatively, or in addition, the cam may be integrated into the body.
The body may include a connector for connecting to the strap. The connector may comprise a slot.
In some embodiments, there is a second body identical to the body, and the strap is for operative connection to the second body to secure the second body to a second edge opposing the first edge.
The channel portion may include one or more partitions extending out from the outer surface to divide the channel portion into a plurality of individual channels between the sidewalls. The minimum radius of curvature of the channel portion may be at least 1.5 times the width of the smallest individual channel, and preferably 3 times the width. More specifically, the minimum radius of curvature of the channel portion may be at least 22 mm.
The body may be made of plastic. The internal volume of the body may be is formed with an infill structure or it may be a solid mass.
The body may include at least one secondary connector for connecting to a secondary attachment mechanism.
There may also be a pad at least partially covering the first and second underside surfaces.
In some embodiments, the first and second underside surfaces are articulatable with respect to each other to adjust the dihedral angle.
In some embodiments, the channel portion includes a roller bearing configured to reduce friction on the rope moving through the channel portion.
In some embodiments, the body further comprises at least one magnet on the underside.
In some embodiments, there is a clevis pin for attachment across the channel portion for retaining the rope in the channel portion.
In accordance with some aspects of the invention, there is provided an edge protector system for protecting a rope as it passes over a structure having a first edge and a second opposing edge, the system comprising:
a first body and a second body, each body comprising:
wherein the channel portion is enclosed by a pair of side walls;
a second underside surface forming a dihedral angle with the first underside surface; and
wherein the first and second underside surfaces of the first body are configured for placement adjacent the first edge, and the first and second underside surfaces of the second body are configured for placement adjacent the second opposing edge; and
an attachment mechanism comprising a strap for operative connection to the first and second body and to a cam for tensioning the strap between the first and second body to secure the first body to the first edge and the second body to the second opposing edge.
Various objects, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention, as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. The drawings are not necessarily to scale, emphasis instead being placed upon illustrating the principles of various embodiments of the invention. Similar reference numerals indicate similar components.
When protecting rope passing over an edge, some users wrap a canvas or “soft” rope protector around the area of rope in contact with the edge. Soft rope protectors are susceptible to abrasion over time and to physical cuts when in contact with sharp edges coupled with lateral movements of the rope access worker.
Alternatively, a user may place a “hard” rope edge protector on or over the edge where the rope sits to protect the rope from the edge. Such rope protectors may be cumbersome to transport and to install, difficult to keep in place, and may cause a rope to bend with a small bend radius which can damage the rope and reduce its breaking strength.
As described in the background, there are a number of rope edge protectors designed to protect and/or guide a rope as it passes over an edge. The inventor has realized that it is important that a rope edge protector be easily positioned and secured in place on an edge, and that when installed, it remains firmly in place and free from unintended movement.
The inventor has designed a rope edge protector for protecting a rope as it passes over an edge. Common examples of edges include a parapet, wall, plate, I-beam, piece of wood, sill, foundation, concrete or brick, pony wall, walkway, or a vessel or structure.
The present rope edge protector may provide one or more of the following advantages:
Makes installation easier and quicker, and may allow for installation using only one hand;
Makes installation more secure and prevents unwanted movement of the rope edge protector when in use;
Provides a large bend radius for the rope to prevent damage and wear and tear to the rope;
Reduces weight (which may make the unit easier to carry, and over time reduce worker physical fatigue);
Reduces friction on the rope (which may reduce rope wear and tear and make hauling ropes back up easier with considerably less friction and damage to the edge);
Retains the rope in the intended position during use;
May be adapted for use on edges having various angles;
Reduces the risk of the rope edge protector falling from the edge during installation.
Various aspects of the invention will now be described with reference to the figures. For the purposes of illustration, components depicted in the figures are not necessarily drawn to scale. Instead, emphasis is placed on highlighting the various contributions of the components to the functionality of various aspects of the invention. A number of possible alternative features are introduced during the course of this description. It is to be understood that, according to the knowledge and judgment of persons skilled in the art, such alternative features may be substituted in various combinations to arrive at different embodiments of the present invention.
The body of the rope edge protector 10 will now be discussed in more detail with reference to
The body 20 includes a first portion 30 and a second portion 32, each having an outer surface 30a, 32a and an underside surface 30b, 32b. A curved channel portion 24 is formed along the outer surfaces and enclosed by a pair of side walls 34, 36 for receiving the one or more ropes. The first and second portions 30, 32 of the body may be shaped and sized identically to create a symmetrical body, or they may shaped and sized differently.
The channel portion 24 may include one or more partitions 24a to create individual rope channels 24b that are shaped to retain a rope and reduce friction as the rope slides through the channel portion 24. The figures illustrate three individual rope channels formed by the side walls 34, 36 and two partitions 24a, however any number of rope channels can be used. The side walls 34, 36 and partitions 24a are oriented generally parallel to the direction of rope travel T.
As best seen in
The channel portion 24 is sized and shaped to create a desirable bend radius for the rope 16 as it passes through the channel. As best seen in
The underside surfaces 30b, 32b of the first portion 30 and second portion 32 of the body 20 are generally planar surfaces that meet at a joint 38 having an angle of approximately 90° degrees to fit against a 90° degree edge 14 with generally planar faces 14c, 14d that form the edge.
The body 20 may also include a hole 34a, 36a in each sidewall 34, 36 to receive a rope retention device comprising a clevis pin 26. When the rope retention device is in place, the rope cannot be inadvertently lifted or bumped out of the channel portion 24.
The body 20 may include one or more attachment mechanisms for securing the body on an edge, which is discussed in more detail below.
One option for an attachment mechanism to secure the body on an edge is shown in
In another embodiment, the body 20 includes a built-in cam mechanism. For example, the attachment slot 40 may include a cam mechanism inside the slot for tensioning and securing a piece of webbing looped through the attachment slot.
In some embodiments, only one body 20 is used at a time and the cam strap 50 is connected to an anchor instead of to a second body 22.
In another embodiment, the body includes one or more secondary connectors for connecting cords, ropes or other attachment means to the body to tie it down. The one or more secondary connectors may be holes, as shown in
The body may also include one or more accessory connectors 46 such as holes on the sidewalls of the body for connecting an accessory cord which can act as a carrying handle.
The cam strap 50 which is used an attachment device in some embodiments comprises a cam mechanism, which is known to those in the art. A typical example of a cam strap 50 is shown in
Other cam mechanisms as known to those skilled in the art may be used as the attachment mechanism for the body 20.
In one embodiment, to use the rope edge protector device 10, a user places the first body 20 of the device on a first edge 14a and the second body 22 on the second edge 14b. The cam strap 50 is tightened until taut by pulling on the loose end of the webbing 52. The first and second bodies 20, 22 are now held in place. One or more ropes 16, 18 are placed in the channels 24 on each body, with one end 16b, 18b of each rope being connected to an anchor. A clevis pin 24 is inserted into each body 20, 22 to prevent the rope from being lifted out of the body. The user can then use the ropes as they require, while knowing that the ropes are protected from the edges 14a, 14b with the rope edge protector 10.
The joint 38 as shown in
Alternatively, the joint 38 can be an articulating joint with an adjustable angle. In this case, the first and second portions of the body 30, 32 are pivotably connected together.
In some embodiments, the first and/or second underside surfaces 30b, 32b are at least partially covered by a pad 33 as shown in
In some embodiments, shown in
In some embodiments, shown in
In some embodiments, shown in
The illustrated embodiments illustrate a removable clevis pin 26 positioned across the channel 24 for keeping the rope in the channel when in use. The rope edge protector device could be used safely without the clevis pin. Alternatively, another retention device like a cord, Velcro™, or other type of pin could be used in place of the clevis pin.
The rope edge protector may be formed from plastic (e.g. nylon). For example, the rope protector may be 3D printed or injection moulded or manufactured using Computer Numerical Control (CNC).
The outer surface of the rope edge protector, and particularly the outer surface of the channel 24 may be subject to manufacturing techniques, for example vapour smoothing, to smooth the surface to reduce friction on the rope during use and to add strength to the device.
The internal volume of the rope edge protector may be formed with an infill structure or it may be a solid mass. The term “infill” refers to the structure that is printed inside an object. It may be configured in a designated percentage and pattern, which may be set in slicing software (e.g. when using a 3D printer). Infill percentage and pattern influence print weight, material usage, strength, print time and sometimes decorative properties. The infill structure may have a combination of one or more of: a honeycomb structure; a grid structure; a Hilbert structure, a rectilinear structure and a linear structure.
Although the present invention has been described and illustrated with respect to preferred embodiments and preferred uses thereof, it is not to be so limited since modifications and changes can be made therein which are within the full, intended scope of the invention as understood by those skilled in the art.
This application claims the benefit of U.S. Provisional Application Ser. No. 63/167,337, filed Mar. 29, 2021, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by reference.
| Number | Date | Country | |
|---|---|---|---|
| 63167337 | Mar 2021 | US |
