The present invention broadly relates to safety equipment for climbing utility structures, such as utility towers and utility poles.
Fall arrest is one form of fall protection, regulations of which are specified by OSHA to prevent individuals working at height from fall injury. Personal fall arrest is one type of fall arrest, and a personal fall arrest system typically includes at least the following four key elements: anchorage, body wear, connector, and deceleration device. An anchorage is a secure point, often referred to as a tie-off point, for attachment to a structural part such as a rebar, I-beam, scaffolding and the like. A body wear is typically a body harness worn by the worker. A deceleration device has a mechanism to dissipate a substantial amount of energy and force associated with a fall arrest event. Examples of deceleration device include a rope grab, shock-absorbing lanyard, fall limiter, self-retracting lifeline and the like, one end of which can be coupled to a body wear. A connector is a device used to couple the other end of the deceleration device to the anchorage, such as a cross-arm strap, beam anchor, snap-hook, carabiner and the like. Each of these parts of a personal fall arrest system is typically required to sustain a minimum of 5,000 pounds per worker.
A utility tower is typically constructed to have threaded holes, which are to be engaged with threaded step rungs. Such a step rung is typically formed to have a shape of a bolt, i.e., an elongated solid cylinder with a threaded end portion, which is fastened with a nut to secure the engagement with the threaded hole. A utility pole is typically constructed to have holes where step rungs are to be inserted. The end portion of such a step rung may include a hook or be properly shaped for securing the step rung through the hole.
Utility workers climb utility structures, such as utility towers and utility poles, for repair, construction, maintenance and other purposes, with a variety of safety equipment. Conventional techniques addressing fall arrest in climbing a utility tower or pole include use of an independent component, such as a carabiner, climbing clip, hook and the like, to couple the deceleration device to the step rung installed with the structure. Other examples include a step rung integrated with an attachment to allow the climber to hook in a hook or clip installed at the end of the deceleration device, or to weave a climbing cable or rope around the step rung. However, these conventional techniques often fail to meet the requirement of supporting a load of 5,000 pounds or greater per worker. Therefore, there is a need for an easily installable step rung with reliable fall arrest capability. Furthermore, while new constructions of utility structures can be configured with safety equipment installed at the onset of construction, it is often necessary to retrofit old utility structures with new safety equipment to meet increasingly stringent safety requirements.
A step unit with fall arrest capability is provided according to an embodiment, for use in climbing a utility structure, such as a utility tower or a utility pole. The present step unit includes two separate members: a rod member 100 and a step member 200.
The step member 200 is configured for use as a step for a utility worker to step on for climbing a utility structure. The step member 200 is configured to have a shape of a generally hollow cylinder having an internal cylindrical surface defining a bore 204 longitudinally formed therethrough, as seen in
The step member 200 is further configured to provide fall arrest capability by including a flange section 220 and a loop section 224. The flange section 220 is integrally attached around the circumference of the cylindrical shape of the step member 200 between the shank section 212 and the guide section 216. The loop section 228 has a shape of generally an open loop. One end portion of the loop section 224 is integrally connected to the flange section 220, while the other end portion of the loop section 224 is integrally connected to the shank section 212, thereby providing an opening, defined by the loop section 224 and the part of the shank section 212 between the two end portions of the loop section 224, resembling a letter D in this example. Thus, the loop section 224 is configured for use as an anchorage of a fall arrest system in the present step unit.
The shank section 212 has a first surface and a second surface. The first surface includes a flat surface 228 that is formed opposite to the loop section 224, and extends longitudinally between the head section 208 and the flange section 220. When the present step unit is installed with a utility structure, the flat surface 228 can be oriented to face toward substantially the ascending, direction to provide a flat standing platform for the worker. The second surface of the shank section 212 has multiple ridges 232 formed in a pattern between the head section 208 and the flange section 220. Each of the multiple ridges 232 is formed longitudinally along the length of the step member 200. The height, width and length of each ridge 232 as well as the pattern of the multiple ridges 232 can be configured to provide suitable friction to a vertical force exerted by a gripping hand or a slipping foot, thereby providing enhanced prevention from fall.
In the assembled configuration illustrated in
In the configuration illustrated in
The other end of the deceleration device may include a connector, such as a cross-arm strap, beam anchor, snap-hook, carabiner and the like, which can be used for engagement with the loop section 224 of the present step unit. The load testing is typically conducted to ensure the sustainability of a minimum of 5,000 pounds.
As illustrated in
The step unit may be made of cast alloy steel, for example. Various sections in the rod member 100, except for the fastening parts 116, may be integrally formed by welding, molding, or other suitable processing technique. Similarly, various sections in the step member 200 may be integrally formed by welding, molding, or other suitable processing technique.
While this document contains many specifics, these should not be construed as limitations on the scope of an invention or of what may be claimed, but rather as descriptions of features specific to particular embodiments of the invention. Certain features that are described in this document in the context of separate embodiments can also be implemented in combination in a single embodiment. Conversely, various features that are described in the context of a single embodiment can also be implemented in multiple embodiments separately or in any suitable subcombination. Moreover, although features may be described above as acting in certain combinations and even initially claimed as such one or more features from a claimed combination can in some cases be exercised from the combination, and the claimed combination may be directed to a subcombination or a variation of a subcombination.
This U.S. patent application claims the benefit of U.S. provisional patent application Ser. No. 62/059,148, filed on Oct. 2, 2014.
Number | Date | Country | |
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62059148 | Oct 2014 | US |