Safety net

Abstract

A safety net, in particular for catching heavy loads, preferably dynamic impact bodies, in particular rocks, is formed at least to a large extent by mutually engaging net elements, and a maximum overall extension of the safety net parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net is substantially greater in an exterior region of the safety net, which in particular includes at least one outermost row of net elements, than a minimum overall extension of the safety net parallel to the main extension direction in an interior region of the safety net which differs from the exterior region.

Claims

1. A safety net, in particular for catching heavy loads, preferably dynamic impact bodies, in particular rocks, wherein the safety net is formed by mutually engaging net elements, which form separable base elements of the safety net and which are realized as closed wire structures, wherein a maximum overall extension of the safety net parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net is substantially greater in an exterior region of the safety net, which includes at least one outermost row of net elements, than a minimum overall extension of the safety net parallel to the main extension direction in an interior region of the safety net which differs from the exterior region, and wherein at least one partial region of the safety net which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to the main extension direction of the safety net comprises at least a plurality of net elements, which are provided to give way when the safety net is loaded in order to create an additional buffer path on at least one outer edge of the safety net at which the safety net is to be suspended.

2. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein the maximum overall extension of the safety net parallel to the main extension direction of the safety net is greater in the exterior region at least by a mean diameter of the net elements of the safety net than the minimum overall extension of the safety net parallel to the main extension direction in the interior region which differs from the exterior region.

3. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein a maximum overall extension of the safety net parallel to the main extension direction of the safety net is greater in a further exterior region of the safety net which differs from the exterior region than the minimum overall extension of the safety net parallel to the main extension direction in the interior region of the safety net which differs from the exterior region and from the further exterior region.

4. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein the net elements are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to a mirror plane, which is at least substantially perpendicular to a main extension plane of the safety net.

5. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, comprises a number of net elements arranged side by side in a row in the main extension direction of the safety net, which corresponds to at least a twentieth of a maximum number of all rows of net elements arranged side by side perpendicularly to the main extension direction of the safety net.

6. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, comprises a number of net elements arranged side by side in a row perpendicularly to the main extension direction of the safety net, which corresponds to at least a tenth of a maximum number of all rows of net elements arranged side by side perpendicularly to the main extension direction of the safety net.

7. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, comprises an at least substantially triangle-shaped arrangement of net elements.

8. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one net element of at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, comprises a periphery which deviates substantially from a mean periphery of net elements outside the partial region.

9. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one net element of at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, has in a test trial a tear resistance which deviates substantially from a mean tear resistance of net elements outside the partial region.

10. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one net element comprises a predetermined breaking point.

11. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one net element of at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, at least has a material composition which differs substantially from a material composition of the net elements outside the partial region.

12. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one net element of at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, comprises at least one wire winding, the wire diameter of which is substantially greater than a mean wire diameter of wire windings of net elements outside the partial region.

13. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one net element of at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, comprises at least a number of wire windings which deviates substantially from a mean number of wire windings of net elements outside the partial region.

14. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one net element of at least one partial region of the safety net, which protrudes over the interior region in a direction parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, comprises at least one energy absorber.

15. The safety net as claimed in claim 14, wherein the energy absorber is realized integrally with the at least one net element.

16. The safety net as claimed in claim 1, wherein at least one net element realizes precisely three connection regions to neighboring net elements.

17. A net and rope construction having a safety net as claimed in claim 1.

18. The net and rope construction as claimed in claim 17, further comprising at least one guide rope which is guided through at least every third net element of a row of net elements, which extends parallel to a main extension direction of the safety net, on at least one outer edge of the safety net.

19. The net and rope construction as claimed in claim 18, wherein the guide rope is realized as at least one support rope.

20. A use of a safety net as a catch net in a net and rope construction, in particular as it is claimed in claim 17.

Description

DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages are produced from the following description of the drawing. Six exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the drawings. The drawings, the description and the claims include numerous features in combination. The expert will also look at the features individually in an expedient manner and combine them to form sensible further combinations. In addition, in the case of the value ranges specified in said disclosure, values also lying within the named limits apply as disclosed and as arbitrarily applicable.

(2) The drawings are as follows:

(3) FIG. 1 shows a schematic top view of a safety net,

(4) FIG. 2 shows a schematic top view of an alternative safety net,

(5) FIG. 3 shows a schematic top view of a further alternative safety net,

(6) FIG. 4a shows a schematic sectional view through a net element of part of the safety net,

(7) FIG. 4b shows a schematic sectional view through a further net element of the part of the safety net,

(8) FIG. 5 shows a schematic top view of part of a net and rope construction with the safety net,

(9) FIG. 6 shows a schematic view of parts of net elements with a predetermined breaking point,

(10) FIG. 7 shows a schematic view of alternative net elements with energy absorbers,

(11) FIG. 8a shows a schematic sectional view through a net element of part of an alternative safety net,

(12) FIG. 8b shows a schematic sectional view through a further net element of the part of the alternative safety net,

(13) FIG. 9a shows a schematic sectional view through a net element of part of a further alternative safety net,

(14) FIG. 9b shows a schematic sectional view through a further net element of the part of the further alternative safety net,

(15) FIG. 10a shows a schematic sectional view through a net element of part of an additional further alternative safety net

(16) FIG. 10b shows a schematic sectional view through a further net element of the part of the additional further alternative safety net, and

(17) FIG. 11 shows a schematic top view of a second additional further alternative safety net.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

(18) FIG. 1 shows a safety net. The safety net is spread out along a main extension plane 28a. The safety net serves for catching heavy loads. The safety net is formed from net elements 10a. The net elements 10a are realized as rings 102a. The net elements 10a are realized substantially identically. The net elements 10a comprise a net element diameter 88a. The net elements 10a engage in neighboring net elements 10a. Two interconnecting net elements 10a realize a connection region 56a, 58a, 60a. At least one net element 10a of the safety net realizes precisely three connection regions 56a, 58a, 60a to neighboring net elements 10a. The net elements 10a realize adjoining rows of net elements 10a perpendicularly to a main extension direction 14a of the safety net. The net elements 10a of a row are without overlap with respect to one another. Net elements 10a of one row overlap with net elements 10a of neighboring rows. Net elements 10a of one row engage in net elements 10a of neighboring rows. It is conceivable for at least one net element 10a to comprise a predetermined breaking point 40a (cf. FIG. 6).

(19) The safety net comprises an exterior region 18a. The exterior region 18a includes an outermost row 16a of net elements 10a. The exterior region 18a includes two rows of net elements 10a. The exterior region 18a extends over all net elements 10a of an outermost row 16a of net elements 10a. The exterior region 18a extends over all net elements 10a of a further row 90a of net elements 10a which differs from the outermost row 16a. The safety net comprises a maximum overall extension 94a. The maximum overall extension 94a runs parallel to the main extension direction 14a of the safety net. The safety net comprises a maximum overall extension 12a which lies inside the exterior region 18a. The maximum overall extension 12a which lies inside the exterior region 18a and the maximum overall extension 94a of the safety net are identical to one another.

(20) The safety net comprises a further exterior region 26a. The further exterior region 26a is realized differently from the exterior region 18a. The further exterior region 26a and the exterior region 18a are without overlap to one another. The further exterior region 26a extends over all net elements 10a of a further outermost row 96a of net elements 10a. The further exterior region 26a extends over all net elements 10a of an additional row 98a of net elements 10a which differs from the further outermost row 96a. The safety net comprises a maximum overall extension 70a lying inside the further exterior region 26a. The maximum overall extension 70a lying inside the further exterior region 26a and the maximum overall extension 94a of the safety net are identical to one another

(21) The safety net comprises an interior region 22a. The interior region 22a is without overlap to the exterior region 18a and to the further exterior region 26a. The interior region 22a includes an inner row 92a of net elements 10a. The interior region 22a includes a further inner row 118a of net elements 10a neighboring the inner row 92a. The inner row 92a lies in the center of the safety net. The inner row 92a lies between the outermost row 16a and the further outermost row 96a. The safety net comprises a minimum overall extension 100a. The minimum overall extension 100a runs parallel to the main extension direction 14a of the safety net. The safety net comprises a minimum overall extension 20a lying inside the interior region 22a. The minimum overall extension 20a lying inside the interior region 22a and the minimum overall extension 100a of the safety net are identical to one another. The maximum overall extension 12a lying inside the exterior region 18a, 26a and/or the maximum overall extension 94a is greater than the minimum overall extension 20a lying inside the interior region 22a and/or the minimum overall extension 100a of the safety net. The maximum overall extension 12a lying inside the exterior region 18a, 26a and/or the maximum overall extension 94a of the safety net is greater by at least a mean diameter of the net elements 10a of the safety net than the minimum overall extension 20a lying inside the interior region 22a and/or the minimum overall extension 100a of the safety net. In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the mean diameter of the net elements 10a corresponds to the net element diameter 88a. A difference in size between the maximum overall extension 12a, 94a and the minimum overall extension 20a, 100a is greater than four times the net element diameter 88a. It is conceivable for at least one net element 10a to comprise a predetermined breaking point 40a in the exterior region 18a, the further exterior region 26a and/or the interior region 22a.

(22) The safety net comprises two mirror planes 30a, 32a. The mirror planes 30a, 32a are arranged perpendicularly to a main extension plane 28a of the safety net. One mirror plane 30a is perpendicular to the main extension direction 14a. One mirror plane 32a is parallel to the main extension direction 14a. The net elements 10a are arranged in a mirror-symmetrical manner with respect to the mirror planes 30a, 32a. The safety net comprises a constant overall extension 104a perpendicular to the main extension direction 14a in a direction lying in the main extension plane 28a.

(23) The safety net comprises four partial regions 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a which protrude over the minimum overall extension 20a of the interior region 22a in a direction parallel to a main extension direction 14a of the safety net. The partial region 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a comprises six net elements 10a. The partial region 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a of the safety net comprises a number of net elements 10a, which are arranged side by side in a row in the main extension direction 14a of the safety net, which corresponds to two seventeenths of a maximum number of all rows of net elements 10a arranged side by side perpendicularly to the main extension direction 14a of the safety net. The partial region 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a of the safety net comprises a number of net elements 10a, which are arranged side by side in a row perpendicularly to the main extension direction 14a of the safety net, which corresponds to two seventeenths of the maximum number of all rows of net elements 10a arranged side by side perpendicularly to the main extension direction 14a of the safety net. The partial region 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a of the safety net comprise a triangle-shaped arrangement 46a of net elements 10a. As an alternative to this, at least one of the partial regions 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a can comprise an arrangement which deviates from the triangle-shaped arrangement 46a, for example an at least rectangular arrangement 120a (cf. FIG. 2) and/or an at least partially polygonal arrangement. In a test trial, a net element 10a in the partial region 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a of the safety net has a tear resistance which deviates from a mean tear resistance of net elements 10a outside the partial region 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a. As an alternative to this, all net elements 10a can have a substantially identical tear resistance in the test trial. It is conceivable for at least one net element 10a to comprise a predetermined breaking point 40a in at least one of the partial regions 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a. As an alternative to this, the safety net can be realized as a mesh network 122a (cf. FIG. 3). The mesh network 122a is realized from mutually engaging helices 124a. At the ends, the helices 124a comprise at least one knot 128a which forms a loop 126a. Loops 126a of neighboring helices 124a mesh together. The safety net realized from helices 124a comprises four partial regions 34′a, 36′a, 42′a, 44′a which protrude over the minimum overall extension 20a of the interior region 22a in a direction parallel to a main extension direction 14a of the safety net. The partial regions 34′a, 36′a, 42′a, 44′a of the safety net realized from helices 122a comprise a rectangular arrangement 120′a of net elements 10a.

(24) FIGS. 4a and 4b show a section through part of the safety net along a section axis A (cf. FIG. 1). The net element 10a shown in FIG. 4a lies inside the partial region 36a. The net element 10a shown in FIG. 4b lies outside the partial region 36a. The net elements 10a shown in FIGS. 4a and 4b are realized as wire ropes 106a. The net element 10a comprises a net element cross section diameter 86a. The net element cross section diameter 86a is constant over a periphery 72a of the net element 10a. The wire rope 106a comprises a plurality of wire windings 48a. The wire windings 48a comprise a wire diameter 24a. The wire diameter 24a is constant over the periphery 72 of the net element 10a. The net element cross section diameter 86a corresponds to a multiple of the wire diameter 24a. The net element 10a comprises a wire strand 108a. The wire strand 108a comprises 19 wire windings 48a. The wire strand 108a comprises a wire strand diameter 52a. The wire strand diameter 52a is constant over the periphery 72a of the net element 10a. The net element cross section diameter 86a corresponds to a multiple of the wire strand diameter 52a. The net element 10a comprises seven wire strand windings 50a.

(25) FIG. 5 shows part of a net and rope construction 62a with the safety net. The safety net is used as a catch net 74a in the net and rope construction 62a. The catch net 74a is provided for catching a dynamic impact body in a catch area 38a of the catch net 74a. The catch net 74a is positioned such that a main impact direction of a dynamic impact body is perpendicular to the catch area 38a. The main impact direction of a dynamic impact body points into the image plane or out of the image plane in FIG. 5. The net elements 10a of the partial regions 34a, 36a, 42a, 44a are pushed together in the assembled, non-loaded state. Net elements 10a of the safety net lying on the outside in the main extension direction 14a comprise shackles 82a at least in part. Net elements 10a of the safety net are shackled by means of the shackles 82a with net elements 10a of a further neighboring safety net. The net and rope construction 62a comprises a support 80a. The net and rope construction 62a comprises a wall fastening element 78a. The wall fastening element 78a is provided for the purpose of fastening the support 80a to a wall 76a.

(26) The net and rope construction 62a comprises a first guide rope 64a. The first guide rope 64a is arranged on a side of the safety net remote from the wall 76a, in particular from the wall fastening element 78a. The first guide rope 64a is arranged on a side of the support 80a remote from the wall 76a, in particular from the wall fastening element 78a. The first guide rope 64a is connected to the support 80a. The net and rope construction 62a comprises a second guide rope 84a. The second guide rope 84a is arranged on a side of the safety net remote from the wall 76a, in particular from the wall fastening element 78a. The second guide rope 84a is arranged on a side of the support 80a remote from the wall 76a, in particular from the wall fastening element 78a. The second guide rope 84a is connected to the support 80a.

(27) The safety net comprises two outer edges 66a, 110a in a direction perpendicular to the main extension direction 14a of the safety net. The net elements 10a on the outer edges 66a, 110a form the two outermost rows 16a, 96a. The first guide rope 64a is guided through the net elements 10a of the outermost row 16a. The second guide rope 84a is guided through the net elements 10a of the further outermost row 96a. The first guide rope 64a is realized as a support rope 68a. The second guide rope 84a is realized as a support rope 68a.

(28) FIGS. 7 to 11 show five further exemplary embodiments of the invention. The following descriptions and the drawings are restricted substantially to the differences between the exemplary embodiments, reference also being possible, in principle, to the drawings and/or the description of the other exemplary embodiments, in particular of FIGS. 1 to 6, with regard to identically designated components, in particular with regard to components with identical reference symbols. To differentiate between the exemplary embodiments, the letter a is placed after the reference symbol of the exemplary embodiment in FIGS. 1 to 6. The letter a is replaced by the letters b to f in the exemplary embodiments in FIGS. 7 to 11.

(29) FIG. 7 shows a net element 10b. The net element 10b comprises an energy absorber 54b. The energy absorber 54b is realized integrally with the net element 10b. The energy absorber 54b is realized as a wavy region of the net element 10b. As an alternative to this, the energy absorber 54b could be realized as an, in particular helically, twisted region of the net element 10b and/or as a region with a material, in particular a highly resilient material, which deviates from the rest of the net element 10b. The net element 10b comprises a further energy absorber 112b. The further energy absorber 112b is realized separately from the net element 10b. The further energy absorber 112b is arranged between two neighboring, non-overlapping net elements 10b. The further energy absorber 112b is realized as a highly resilient, curved element. The net element 10b with the energy absorbers 54b, 112b is arranged in a partial region 34b, 36b, 42b, 44b of the safety net. As an alternative to this, it is conceivable for the net element 10b with the energy absorbers 54b, 112b to be arranged in a region of the safety net which differs from the partial region 34b, 36b, 42b, 44b, for example an interior region 22b and/or a region of an exterior region 18b, 26b of the safety net which differs from the partial region 34b, 36b, 42b, 44b.

(30) The detail of a safety net shown in sectional views in FIGS. 8a and 8b shows two net elements 10c. The net element 10c shown in FIG. 8a lies inside the partial region 36c. The net element 10c shown in FIG. 8b lies outside the partial region 36c. The net element 10c inside the partial region 36c comprises a number of wire windings 48c which deviates from the number of wire windings 48c of the net element 10c outside the partial region 36c. The net element 10c inside the partial region 36c comprises a greater number of wire windings 48c than the net element 10c outside the partial region 36c. As an alternative to this, it is conceivable for the net element 10c inside the partial region 36c to comprise a smaller number of wire windings 48c than the net element 10c outside the partial region 36c. The net element 10c comprises a wire strand 108c. The wire strand 108c comprises a plurality of wire strand windings 50c. The wire strand winding 50c comprises a wire strand diameter 52c. The wire strand diameter 52c of the net element 10c in the partial region 36c is greater than a wire strand diameter 52′c of a net element 10c outside the partial region 36c. As an alternative to this, the wire strand diameter 52c of the net element 10c in the partial region 36c could be greater than the wire strand diameter 52′c of the net element 10c outside the partial region 36c.

(31) The detail of a safety net shown in sectional views in FIGS. 9a and 9b shows two net elements 10d. The net element 10d shown in FIG. 9a lies inside a partial region 36d of the safety net. The net element 10d shown in FIG. 9b lies outside a partial region 36d. The net element 10d comprises a wire winding 48d. The wire winding 48d comprises a wire diameter 24d. The wire diameter 24d of a wire winding 48d inside the partial region 36d is greater than a mean wire diameter 24′d of wire windings 48d of net elements 10d outside the partial region 36d. As an alternative to this, it is conceivable for the net element 10d inside the partial region 36d to comprise a smaller wire diameter 24d of the wire winding 48d than the net element 10d outside the partial region 36d. The net element 10d comprises a net element cross section diameter 86d. The net element cross section diameter 86d of the net element 10d inside the partial region 36d is greater than a net element cross section diameter 86′d of a net element 10d outside the partial region 36d. As an alternative to this, the net element cross section diameter 86d of the net element 10d inside the partial region 36d could be smaller than the net element cross section diameter 86′d of the net element 10d outside the partial region 36d.

(32) The detail of a safety net shown in sectional views in FIGS. 10a and 10b shows two net elements 10e. The net element 10e shown in FIG. 10a lies inside a partial region 36e of the safety net. The net element 10e shown in FIG. 10b lies outside a partial region 36e. The net element 10e in the partial region 36e has a material composition 114e. The material composition 114e of net elements 10e in the partial region 36e is different to a material composition 114′e of the net elements 10e outside the partial region 36e.

(33) FIG. 11 shows a safety net with net elements 10f. The net elements 10f comprise a periphery 72f. The net elements 10f comprise an outer form 116f. A periphery 72′f, 72″f of a net element 10f inside a partial region 34f, 42f of the safety net deviates substantially from a mean periphery 72f of net elements 10f outside the partial region 34f, 42f. The periphery 72′f of a net element 10f in the partial region 34f is smaller than the periphery 72f, 72″f of a net element 10f outside the partial region 34f. The periphery 72″f of a net element 10f in the partial region 42f is greater than the periphery 72f, 72′f of a net element 10f outside the partial region 42f. An outer form 116′f, 116″f of a net element 10f in the partial region 34f, 42f deviates substantially from a mean outer form 116f of the net elements 10f outside the partial region 34f, 42f.