A fall arrest system includes a line retraction device having a safety line, an energy absorber configured for connecting to a terminal end of the safety line, and a harness configured for connecting to the energy absorber such that the energy absorber is disposed between the terminal end of the safety line and the harness. The safety line is selected to have a predetermined mean breaking force with a first standard deviation, and the energy absorber is selected to have a predetermined mean deployment force with a second standard deviation. The mean breaking force of the safety line and the mean deployment force of the energy absorber overlap over an overlapping region of the first and second standard deviation. A ratio of an overlap mean force of the overlapping region to an overlap standard deviation of the overlapping region is less than or equal to 6.

A tension measuring device for a holding mechanism such as a ratchet or tie down strap. In one embodiment, a tension measuring device comprises a two-part frame, comprising a movable frame part and a stationary frame part. The movable frame part comprises a first connection portion, one or more biasing element rods, a biasing element lock plate with indicator needle, and one or more rod bolt caps. The stationary frame part comprises a second connection portion, a biasing element chamber, and one or more biasing element rod apertures. Further, the tension measuring device comprises one or more biasing elements and a housing.

A method of checking belt tension of a belt extending between pulleys includes providing a reference indicator defining a reference position relative to the upper surface of the belt in an undeflected state. A force/probe assembly is provided and is operable to measure a force applied to the distal end. The distal end is positioned on the upper surface of the belt and a force is applied generally perpendicular thereto. The belt may be deflected a predetermined distance, as determined by a change in position of the assembly relative to the reference indicator, and the force is measured, or a force is applied until the force is equal to a predetermined force, and the deflection of the belt is determined by a change in position of the force/probe assembly. The belt tension is determined based on the force and distance during the deflecting step.

A load change detection apparatus is provided with a base member, an elastic member, a first plate, a fixing member and heat flow sensors. The elastic member deforms according to a changed load applied to the elastic member, received by the receiving member. The first plate supports a surface of the elastic member on a side of the base member. The fixing member fixes the lower plate and the elastic member to the base member. The heat flow sensors, provided between the base member and the lower plate, output signals according to heat flowing between the lower plate and the base member. The heat flows due to heat generated or heat absorbed when the elastic member changes the elasticity shape thereof. Stress occurring when the elastic member deforms, is shut off by the first plate, thus direct transmission of the stress to the heat flow sensors is avoided.

A combination includes a cable puller having a capstan around which a pulling rope is wrapped, and a sensor configured to measure the distance the pulling rope travels during a pulling operation. The sensor may be a Hall effect sensor and/or an optical sensor.

A conveyor system that includes a sprocket, a conveyor element, a sensor, a tensioning system, and an electronic processor. The conveyor element is coupled to the sprocket to move around the sprocket. The sensor is positioned adjacent to the sprocket and configured to generate an output signal indicative of a detection of the conveyor element. The electronic processor is coupled to the sensor and to the tensioning system. The electronic processor is configured to receive the output signal from the sensor, estimate a trajectory of the conveyor element based on the output signal, determine a value for slack distance based on the estimated trajectory of the conveyor element, and control the tensioning system based on the value for slack distance.

Method and apparatus for detecting overload distortion A method and apparatus for detecting overload distortion in lifting and the like gear is disclosed. The apparatus includes a hook with two reference points thereon defining, in the undistorted state of the hook, a reference dimension. The hook also has a standard dimension provided on the hook and conveniently accessible for reference purposes. The standard dimension is also a pair of points and one of this pair is coincident with one of the reference points thereby forming a triangle of points on the hook.

An object of the present invention is to provide an equipment state detecting device, an equipment state detecting method, and a program that can create a 3D model of a cable based on three-dimensional coordinates acquired using a laser scanner or the like, and precisely estimate the tension for the entirety of the cable even if the entirety of the cable is not three-dimensionally modeled in the cable model. An equipment state detecting device of the present invention creates a 3D model of a cable based on three-dimensional coordinates acquired using a laser scanner or the like, acquires a sag and a straight line connecting ends of the 3D model based on the 3D model, and calculates the tension of the cable using a known cable load per unit length.

The present invention is directed to new methods of determining elongation, tension and applied pressure of elastic bandages comprising tension indicators. In one embodiment, a computer-implemented method of detecting elongation of an elastic bandage (e.g. on a mobile computing device having a processor and graphical user interface) is described. The method comprises receiving image data that includes a digital photograph of an elongated tension indicator of an elastic bandage; analyzing the image data to determine elongation of the elastic bandage by comparing geometric features of the elongated tension indicator to model geometric features that define a predetermined elongation state (such as an unelongated state); and providing output indicia associated with the determined elongation. Also described are various articles, some of which are intermediate articles of the methods described herein. Such articles include non-transient computer readable medium, a three-dimensional member comprising at least one layer of certain elastic bandages. In one embodiment, the elastic bandage comprises a tension indicator and a computer readable code.

Provided are portable apparatuses and associated methods for detecting high tension in a cord or hose and triggering an alarm. In one embodiment, a portable tension alarm apparatus is provided that includes an alarm system, a first connection point that is to be affixed to a cord or hose, and a second connection point that is to be affixed to the cord or hose, with slack between the two connection points, and that is attached to a triggering component of the alarm system.