CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE AND PROCEDURE FOR ITS CONFIGURATION

Abstract

Configurable safety device comprising a main branch which, in turn, comprises a cable delimited by a flashing and a steering lock, with a series of rings and anchorage clamps of complementary geometries arranged on the cable in such a way that, in the locked position, all these elements are closely joined and the anchorage clamps are blocked without the possibility of opening, while in the unlocked position, spaces are generated between the elements, anchorage clamps and rings, allowing the opening of these anchorage clamps. The passage from the closed to the unlocked position is obtained by increasing the available cable extension, and the passage from the unlocked to the locked position by decreasing it. For this purpose, the steering lock has the means to increase or decrease this extension of available cable as well as a latch to fix it.

Claims

1. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE comprising an articulated tubular structure which, in turn, comprises a cable and a plurality of rings crossed by said cable, these rings being located in the available cable extension, along with a stop and a lock characterised in that it comprises a main branch which also comprises: One or more anchorage clamp (3) perpendicular to the cable (10) and crossed by the cable, where each anchorage clamp (3) has a mouth (18), a male side (17) and a female side (16). A plurality of rings (11) crossed by the cable where each ring has a male base (12) and a female base (14) with the rings aligned in the same direction, with the male base of one facing the female base of the next. A male re-entry (19) at the female side (16) of each anchorage clamp and a female re-entry (13) at the male base (12) of each ring (11). A steering lock (4) comprising a latch (2). A flashing. Where the available cable extension is variable from a maximum available cable extension position to a minimum available cable extension position where in the maximum available extension position the rings have spaces between them and the anchorage clamps have spaces with respect to the elements adjacent to them, and in the minimum available extension position the rings are in close contact with each other and the anchorage clamps have close contact with the elements adjacent to them.

2. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 1 characterised in that the steering lock also comprises a casing (6) and a piston (7) where the piston (7) and casing (6) move relative to each other and the latch (2) blocks or releases such movement.

3. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 1 or 2 characterised in that the latch is an internal latch (2).

4. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 2 characterised in that the steering lock comprises an elastic element (8) linked to the piston (7).

5. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 2 characterised in that the movement of the piston with respect to the casing modifies the available cable extension.

6. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 1 characterised in that the flashing (5) also includes a bolt (39).

7. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 1 characterised in that it also includes a static bolt (28) attached to a bracket (29).

8. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 1 characterised in that it also includes at least one secondary branch comprising a plurality of secondary rings (23), a secondary cable (22) of variable available extension passing through the secondary rings, a secondary lock and a secondary stop (40).

9. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 8 characterised in that it also includes at least one secondary anchorage clamp (41).

10. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 8 characterised in that the secondary lock comprises a secondary casing (20), a secondary piston (21) which moves by varying the available secondary cable extension (22), a secondary elastic element (24), a latch (27) and a retractable coupling piece (25).

11. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 10 characterised in that the retractable coupling piece (25) comprises a secondary bolt (26).

12. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 10 characterised in that the fact that the retractable coupling piece (25) comprises a hole.

13. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 1 characterised in that the steering lock is located between two sections of the main branch, a section 1 (31) and a section 2 (32).

14. CONFIGURABLE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 12 characterised in that one of the lateral extensions of the casing (20), that which corresponds to section 2 (32) of the main branch, has a section (36) and a mouth (37) with a greater section than the maximum section of the rings.

15. CONFIGURABLE SECURITY DEVICE according to claim 1 characterised in that the steering lock is at one end of the main branch.

16. PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFIGURATION OF THE SAFETY DEVICE characterised in that the configuration cycle, starting from a locked position, comprises the following stages: 1. An unlocking stage in which the available cable extension is increased. 2. A release stage of the clamp(s) with respect to the contiguous elements, dislodging the geometries of the former with respect to the latter. 3. A removal stage of the anchorage clamp(s) by separating the bodies they comprise and separating them from the device. 4. A stage of generation of new space for the relocation of the clamp(s), which is achieved by moving the rings and the rest of the elements along the available cable and grouping them until a sufficient free space of exposed available cable is obtained to locate the anchorage clamp. 5. A placement stage of the anchorage clamp in the new hole opened in the cable available. The clamp is located by grasping the exposed segment of the available cable, and perpendicular to it. 6. A blocking stage reducing the amount of cable available.

17. PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFIGURATION OF THE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 16 characterised in that the available cable extension is increased when the piston and the cable, either main or secondary, move towards the exit of the casing.

18. PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFIGURATION OF THE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 16 characterised in that the available cable extension is increased when the piston, which partially occupied the cable, moves and releases said cable space previously occupied by the set formed by the piston and the casing, allowing rings to be masked inside the casing.

19. PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFIGURATION OF THE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 16 characterised in that the available cable extension is decreased by displacing the piston, either main or secondary, in a reverse manner to claim 17.

20. PROCEDURE FOR THE CONFIGURATION OF THE SAFETY DEVICE according to claim 16 characterised in that the available cable extension is decreased when the piston moves and partially occupies the cable, expelling the rings masked inside the casing from the casing.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0078] FIG. 1 represents a device like the one described, in this case comprised only of a main branch (1) in which the flexible tubular body is formed by rings (11) and with a plurality of anchorage clamps (3) inserted between the rings and in close contact with them, and the steering lock (4) and the flashing (5), in this case with a bolt (39) at the end, can be found at the ends of the main branch.

[0079] FIG. 2 shows a detailed section of the steering lock comprising a casing (6) and a piston (7) with relative movement between them, in this case in the unlocked position showing the casing (6), the piston (7) in the forced position, with the bulb (9), the inner latch (2), the cable (10) and the rings (11) linked to the elastic element (8) which is contracted As the cable is at its maximum available extension due to the position of the piston, secured by the inner latch, the rings are loosely interlocked.

[0080] FIG. 3 shows a detailed section of the steering lock, although in this case in a locked position, reflecting how the elastic element (8) is expanded and the piston (7) is in its natural position and fixed by the inner latch (2), having dragged the cable (10) in its displacement, in such a way that the rings, which are now seen in a section view, have been closely joined, with no space between them.

[0081] FIG. 4 shows a detailed view of the section of a ring, with the following being observed: The male base (12) with female re-entry (13), female base (14) and through channel (15) suitable for housing the cable and for it to slide through the channel.

[0082] FIG. 5 shows a section and side view of the arrangement of the rings (11) and the cable (10) in close contact, with the male base (12) of each ring inserted as a ball-and-socket joint in the female base (14) of the next ring. The geometry of the rings itself acts as a ball-and-socket joint and a stop for the link between the rings.

[0083] FIG. 6 shows the locked anchorage clamp (38) with its female side (16), its male side (17) and the mouth (18).

[0084] FIG. 7 shows the unlocked anchorage clamp (35).

[0085] FIG. 8 shows a cut of the anchorage clamp where the female side (16) of the clamp and its male re-entry (19) can be seen embedded with the male base (12) of the previous ring and its female re-entry (13), and also the male side (17) of the clamp embedded in the female base (14) of the posterior ring. In this position, the clamp is engaged and locked, and not able to be unlocked unless the front and rear rings are disengaged and removed, which can only happen if the cable reaches its maximum available extension.

[0086] FIG. 9 shows a section view of a secondary lock, in this case in an unlocked position, and the mechanism is similar to the steering lock as it comprises a secondary casing (20), a secondary piston (21) that moves varying the extension of the secondary cable (22) available for the secondary rings (23) and, where appropriate, the secondary anchorage clamp(s) (41), a secondary elastic element (24) here compressed, and a retractable coupling piece (25), in this case comprising a secondary bolt (26) attached to the secondary piston. In order to keep the piston in the unlocked position without, for example, the coupling piece being anchored to any element, the secondary lock comprises a latch (27) which secures or releases the secondary piston.

[0087] FIG. 10 shows a section view of a secondary branch lock, in this case in a locked position.

[0088] FIG. 11 shows an example of a static bolt (28), in this case a bolt attached to a bracket (29) suitable for being attached to a structure comprising a tubular section, allowing the anchorage of said bolt, and therefore of the structure to which it is attached, to any anchorage clamp.

[0089] FIG. 12 shows an alternative embodiment of the steering lock that in this case is double, that is to say, is in line between a section 1 (31) and a section 2 (32) of the main branch. The figure shows the double-steering lock (30) in the unlocked position.

[0090] The same movement of the piston with respect to the casing, and the fixation thereof by the inner latch governed by the bulb allow 2 or more rings to be masked, or not, inside the casing, in such a way that the cable presents a maximum or minimum quantity of cable available in both sections. For this purpose, one of the side extensions of the casing corresponds to section 2 of the main branch, a section (36) and an opening (37) with a section greater than the maximum section of the rings, thus allowing the rings to occupy the inside of the casing at one point in the cycle.

[0091] As the piston moves inside the casing, it occupies or partially releases the cable, thus varying the available extension of the cable and expelling or masking the rings.

[0092] FIG. 13 shows the double-steering lock (30) in the locked position.

[0093] FIG. 14 shows a possible configuration of a device with a double main branch and a double-steering lock and a series of secondary branches (34) with a plurality of secondary rings (23) and clamps and a secondary flashing (40) on each of them.

DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0094] Below an embodiment of the invention is described which is not the only possible option, but merely explanatory.

[0095] The invention refers to a configurable safety device and the procedure for its configuration.

[0096] The ends to be easily configured by the user in a device such as that which is the object of this patent are the location of the anchorage clamps (3) in the main branch as well as, where appropriate, the secondary anchorage clamps (41) in the secondary branch (34), and also the number and location of the secondary branches with the advantage of all being governed by a single steering lock (4) that blocks or unblocks the set.

[0097] Below, a simple device is explained that only has one main branch, as the mechanics are very similar in the secondary branches as explained above.

[0098] For this purpose the device comprises a main branch (1) which in turn comprises: [0099] An articulated tubular body comprising a series of related rings (11). [0100] A cable (10) passing through such rings. [0101] A steering lock (4) with a latch, preferably an interior latch. [0102] Two anchorage clamps (3). [0103] A final flashing (5) with a bolt (39). [0104] A static bolt (28) attached to a bracket (29)

[0105] The tubular body consists of a series of rings (11) that constitute the segments of said tubular body. The rings (11) have a cylindrical main body with a female base (14) and a male base (12) incorporating a female re-entry (13).

[0106] The rings (11) include a through channel (15) suitable to be passed through by the cable (10) which supports the set and at the same time allows the sliding of the rings, taking the cable as axis. The cable is a flexible filiform body, and resistant to traction, such as a braided steel cable.

[0107] The cable is connected at one end to the steering lock (4), specifically to a displaceable piston (7) inside the casing (6) and at the other end to the flashing (5), which in this case incorporates a bolt (39).

[0108] The rings (11) and the anchorage clamps (3) are mounted on the cable

[0109] Depending on the position of the piston in relation to the casing, the available cable extension for the rings and clamps varies. In their maximum available extension or unlocked position, the rings and clamps are positioned loosely in the device, while in the minimum available cable extension position, the anchorage rings and clamps are closely linked.

[0110] The rings (11) are all arranged in the same direction along the cable, with the male base (12) of a ring facing the female base (14) of the next one in such a way that when the available cable extension is reduced, the male base (12) is inserted into the female base (14) as a ball-and-socket joint.

[0111] The anchorage clamps (3) are placed between two rings and perpendicular to the cable.

[0112] Each anchorage clamp comprises two bodies that tend to be joined by the action of an elastic such as a spring. The anchorage clamps (3) therefore have two positions, unlocked (35) and locked (38).

[0113] When they lock onto the cable, they grasp it, perpendicular to it, and crossed on the cable.

[0114] The anchorage clamps (3) comprise a female side (16) with a male re-entry (19), a male side (17) and a mouth (18) which is formed by joining the two bodies comprising each anchorage clamp.

[0115] Each anchorage clamp (3) is placed on the cable (10) facing its female side (16) with the male base (12) of the previous ring and its male side (17) facing the female base (14) of the posterior ring.

[0116] With the anchorage clamp (3) between two rings (11) and locked onto the cable (10) when the available cable extension is reduced, the sides of the anchorage clamps are fitted against the bases of the adjacent rings they are facing.

[0117] When the male side (17) of the anchorage clamp is fitted to the female base (14) of the adjacent ring, this ring base acts as a stop and prevents the opening of the clamp. On the other hand, when the male re-entry (19) of the female side (16) and the female re-entry (13) of the male base (12) of the adjacent ring on the opposite side are fitted, these geometries also act as a stop preventing the opening of the clamp.

[0118] If we have inserted a bolt (39) into the anchorage clamp (3), it will be trapped until the clamp is unlocked.

[0119] If a secondary bolt (26) were to be anchored in the clamp, in the case of an embodiment with secondary branches, when the clamp is unlocked and can be opened, the secondary bolt (26) would be released.

[0120] In order to unblock the anchorage clamp (3), it is necessary to increase the available cable extension. For this purpose, the position of the piston must simply be changed by increasing the available cable extension and allowing a space between the rings and between the rings and the clamps.

[0121] The procedure for configuring the safety device, starting from a lock position, comprises the following steps:

[0122] An unlocking stage in which the available cable extension is increased by displacing the piston.

[0123] A release stage of the clamp(s) with respect to the adjacent rings, dislodging the geometries of the former with respect to the latter.

[0124] A removal stage of the clamp(s) by separating the bodies they comprise and separating them from the device.

[0125] A stage of generation of new space for the relocation of the clamp(s), which is achieved by moving the rings along the available cable and grouping them together until there is enough free cable gap available to locate the clamp.

[0126] A placement stage of the clamp in the new hole opened in the cable available. The clamp is located by grasping the exposed segment of available cable and perpendicular to it.

[0127] A blocking stage reducing the amount of cable available which is obtained by displacing the piston in the opposite direction to the displacement of the first stage.