GB2328664A

GB2328664A - Safety rail traveller

Info

Publication number: GB2328664A
Application number: GB9804671A
Authority: GB
Inventors: David Sutherland Gleave
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1997-03-06
Filing date: 1998-03-06
Publication date: 1999-03-03
Anticipated expiration: 2018-03-06
Also published as: GB9804671D0; GB2328664B; GB9704662D0

Abstract

A safety rail traveller 1 comprises a hollow body and means to slideably engage a longitudinal track such as safety rail 2, the hollow body having an arcuate, slot-like passage extending along at least part of the length of the body parallel to the track, the passage having concave surface adjecent the engagement means. As shown, the traveller has a base plate 3, two cover plates 4, 5 and an eye member 6 for attachment of a safety line. Plates 4, 5 define a channel for pivoting movement of the eye member 6 to lower the point of load application.

Description

Safety rail traveller This invention relates to a traveller for use with a safety rail or track and to which a safety line may be attached. In particular this invention relates to a traveller for use with a safety rail or track mounted on the ridge of a roof, whereby the traveller must be able to transfer safely the load applied by a safety line on either side of the roof ridge.

Prior art travellers, such as those disclosed in DE-A37 28 282 and US-A-3 860 089, comprise a body which can run freely along a channel rail and a hook or eye connected to the body. The body may include rollers to reduce frictional forces when sliding the body along the rail. A safety line may be attached to the hook or eye. Such travellers are designed to accommodate loads applied in a direction away from the opening of the channel rail in which the traveller runs. They cannot accommodate loads applied in a direction which is perpendicular to the shaft of the traveller, since such loads would result in large bending moments in the shaft connecting the eye or hook to the traveller body.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a traveller which can accommodate loads applied in a wide range of directions and which can still slide freely along a rail or track.

According to a first aspect of the present invention there is provided a traveller comprising: a hollow body and engagement means adapted to slidably engage a longitudinal track, wherein the hollow body has a slot-like passage extending longitudinally along at least a part of the length of the body and substantially parallel to the track, and wherein said slot-like passage has a generally arcuate shape in cross-section, the concave surface of said passage being adjacent to the engagement means.

Preferably the slot-like passage is generally C-shaped and extends at least partially around the engagement means.

Preferably the engagement means comprises a projecting portion adapted to engage within a slot of a track.

Alternatively the engagement means comprises a recessed portion of the traveller body adapted to engage around a projecting portion of the track.

The hollow body may be a C-shaped ring member, which may have releasable locking means. The traveller may further comprise a safety line attachment means which may slide along said C-shaped ring member from one end of the C-shape to the other. Preferably said safety line attachment means is provided with a hook or eye to which a safety line may be fastened.

Preferably the hollow body is an annular or tubular member extending substantially parallel to the track.

Preferably the tubular member comprises a base member and a cover member. Preferably the base member is adapted to slidably engage the projecting portion of a track.

Preferably the base member is provided with a longitudinal recess extending substantially parallel to the track for engaging the projecting portion of the track. Preferably the entrance to the recess is narrower than the widest portion of the recess.

Preferably the entrance to the recess is defined by two longitudinal shoulders which prevent separation of the traveller from the rail. Preferably the shoulders are provided with roller or sliding bearings which contact the rail in use.

Preferably the cover member is provided with a transverse slot extending substantially across said Cshape. Preferably the cover member comprises two plate members attached to the base member with a gap therebetween forming said transverse slot.

Preferably the traveller further comprises a safety line attachment member retained within said slot.

Preferably the safety line attachment member comprises an anchor portion retained beneath the cover member, a shank portion extending through said slot and a line connecting portion above said cover member. The shank and line connecting portions may be formed as one generally planar portion. The anchor portion may protrude laterally from the planar portion. Preferably the anchor portion comprises two cylindrical portions extending from each side of the planar portion along the generally C-shaped passage.

According to a second aspect of the present invention there is provided a traveller comprising: a traveller body adapted to slidably engage a first safety track, said traveller body having a second track formed therein at an angle to said first track, and a safety line attachment means adapted to slidably engage said second track. Preferably said angle is substantially a right angle.

Preferably said second track is non-linear. Preferably said second track is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the first track. Preferably said second track is arranged such as to at least partially encircle said first track.

Preferably the traveller according to the second aspect of the present invention includes one or more features of the traveller according to the first aspect of the present invention.

According to a third aspect of the present invention there is provided a safety track system comprising a traveller according to the first or second aspects of the invention and a safety track. Preferably the track is arranged at the apex of a pitched roof comprising two sloping roof surfaces. Preferably the traveller comprises a safety line connecting member which is free to move between a position where it is adjacent to the first of said sloping roof surfaces and a position where it is adjacent to the second of said sloping roof surfaces.

An embodiment of the invention will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying figures, where: Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a traveller according to the invention; Fig. 2 is a transverse sectional view through the base member of the traveller of Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a side elevation of the base member of Fig.

2; Fig. 4 is a section on line IV-IV of the base member of Fig. 3; Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the base member of Fig.

2; Fig. 6 is a partial plan on the base member of Fig. 2; Fig. 7 is a section on line VII-VII of the base member of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is a partial view in the direction of arrow VIII on the underside of the base member of Fig. 2, showing the bearing bosses before installation of the roller bearings; Fig. 9 is a section on line IX-IX of the base member of Fig. 8; Fig. 10 is an enlarged view of the portion marked X of the base member of Fig. 8; Fig. 11 is a transverse sectional view through the cover member of the traveller of Fig. 1; Fig. 12 is a partial plan of the cover member of Fig.

11; Fig. 13 is a section on line XIII-XIII of the base member of Fig. 12; Fig. 14 is a plan on the eye member of the traveller of Fig. 1; Fig. 15 is an elevation on the eye member of Fig. 14; Fig. 16 is a section on line XVI-XVI of the eye member of Fig. 15; Figs. 17 (a) and (b) are an elevation and a plan respectively of the sealed bearing unit used in the traveller of Fig. 1; Figs. 18 (a) and (b) are a section and a plan respectively of the leaf spring shown in Fig. 4; Figs. 19 (a), (b) and (c) are a plan, section and bottom view respectively of the bearing cover used with the sealed bearing unit of Fig. 17; Fig. 20 is a section through a traveller according to the invention and a roof ridge unit incorporating a safety track on which the traveller runs; Fig. 21 is a section through an alternative traveller according to the invention and a roof ridge unit incorporating a safety track in which the traveller runs.

Referring to Fig. 1 there is shown a traveller 1 for use on a safety rail 2. The traveller comprises a base plate 3, two cover plates 4, 5 and an eye member 6. In use a person working on a roof attaches a safety line to the eye member 6, for example by means of a lockable loop member, such as a karabiner, while the other end of the safety line is attached to a harness worn by the person. The safety rail is formed by units such as those described in European Patent No. 0593150, which is incorporated herein by reference, and is located on the ridge of a roof, so that the person can work safely on the roof. If the person wishes to cross to the other side of the roof the eye member is free to slide along the channel 7, so that the person does not have to disconnect the safety line from the eye member. In the event of a fall the eye member is free to rotate such that the load from the safety line is transferred to the lowest point of the traveller 1.

Referring to Figs. 2 to 19, the base plate comprises an extruded aluminium section. The underside of the base plate is shaped to fit on a rail 2; the underside has a recess 10 bounded by two projecting blocks 11. The blocks 11 are relatively wide, since when a person falls the base plate 3 will be pulled sideways on the rail 2, and the traveller is kept on the rail by the shear resistance of the block 11 on the far side from the applied load. The load is transferred to the rail by bearing on the upper shoulder 12 of the block 11.

On each side of the recess there is a lower side portion 13 of the base plate. Each lower side 13 slopes down from the top of the rail towards the upper surface of the roof. At the end of the lower side 13 the base plate is formed in an upwardly bent U-shaped flange 14, which extends back in a direction towards the apex of the roof. A slot 15 is provided in the Ushaped flange 14 at the centre of the longitudinal side of the base plate. This slot 15 enables the shank of the eye member 6 to be oriented down the roof when an impact load is applied, to eliminate any bending in the shank of the eye member 6, and to keep the point of application of load to the traveller as low as possible.

The upper surface of the U-shaped flange is stepped to provide a seat 16 for the cover plate 4, 5. A leaf spring 17 is attached to the upper surface of the lower side 13 of the base plate 3 directly beneath the slot 15 in the flange 14. The leaf spring 17 consists of a mounting plate 18 and an angled spring 19 which projects into the area above the lower side 13 where the eye member 6 passes.

The main purpose of the leaf spring 17 is to hold the eye member 6 clear of the roof or ridge cap when the eye member 6 is at the end of the channel 7. without the angled spring 19, the shaft 51 of the eye member 6 would hang down in contact with the lower side 13 of the base plate 3. A secondary effect of the leaf spring 17 is to lessen the impact of the eye member 6 on the base plate 3 when a falling load is applied to the eye member. The eye member 6 will first contact the leaf spring 17 and apply a gradually increasing force on the base plate 3 as it travels down the slot.

Each U-shaped flange 14 is provided with a series of six drilled and tapped holes 20, three on each side of the slot 15. These are for fastening the cover plates 4,5 which are described later.

Each block 11 forming the recess 10 has four bearing bosses 30 formed therein. The bearing bosses 30 are circular in plan and effectively divide the block 11 into five discrete sections. A stainless steel sealed bearing unit 31 having a bearing sleeve 32 is mounted in each bearing boss 30. Typically the bearing unit is a stainless steel sealed bearing of the ball race type.

The bearing sleeves 32 act as tyres and reduce wear of the safety rail. They may be made of plastic such as acetal resins (e.g. Delrin TM) or nylon. As the safety rail is subject to wear it may be necessary to change the bearing sleeves 32 for replacement sleeves 32 having a larger external diameter. The traveller may be supplied with several sets of bearing sleeves 32 which are colour coded according to their outside diameter. In use the bearings 31 (not the blocks 11) are in contact with the rail 2, so that the traveller 1 slides easily along the rail 2 when the person working on the roof moves to another area along the roof and pulls the traveller with him.

Figs. 11 to 13 show the cover plates 4, 5, which are formed as aluminium extrusions. Two identical cover plates 4, 5 are secured to the base plate 3 by studs or bolts which pass through the drilled and/or tapped holes 40 in the cover plate and the holes 20 in the base plate. There is a gap 7 between the two cover plates. This gap forms a channel or track along which the eye member 6 can travel. The gap 7 between the cover plates 4, 5 is aligned with the slots 15 on each side of the base plate 3. The angled edges 41 of the cover plates 4, 5 are shaped to correspond with the seat 16 and angled edges 21 of the U-shaped flanges, so that a form of scarf joint is created when the cover plate is bolted or fastened to the base plate.

Figs. 14 to 16 show the eye member 6 which may be formed of stainless steel. The eye member has a shank 51 formed from a plate. The eye 50 is formed in the plate so that the eye and shank form one planar member.

The edge 53 of the eye is chamfered so that there are no sharp edges presented to any safety line or attachment device which is inserted through the eye 50.

At the opposite end of the shank 51 from the eye there is a retaining bar 52 which extends from each side of the shank 51. In use the shank passes through the gap 7 between the cover plates 4, 5 and the retaining bar 52, which has a diameter less than the width of the gap between the cover plate 4, 5 and base plate 3, is retained by the cover plate and base plate.

Although the above embodiment shows the base plate 3 and cover plates 4, 5 as being aluminium extrusions, they be of other materials such as composite materials, metals such as stainless steel or mild steel, and plastics, and may be formed by other methods. The bearing units may be omitted, and instead low-friction materials or lubricants may be used to ensure the traveller slides along the rail or track.

The units which form the safety rail are shown in Figs.

20 and 21. Fig. 20 shows a roof ridge unit 60 in section, comprising two flange portions 61 and a projecting rail portion 62 around which the traveller 1 fits. Fig. 21 shows a roof ridge unit 70 in section, comprising two flange portions 71 and a channel 72, in which a projecting portion 73 of the traveller 74 is located. The roof ridge unit 70 is fastened to a roof ridge beam 75 by a series of bolts 76. The lower edges 77 of the flanges 71 sit on top of the roof covering material 78. Other features of the traveller 74, apart from the bearings, are the similar to those illustrated in Fig. 1.

Although the described embodiment relates to a traveller for use on a roof ridge, the traveller of the invention may be used in other locations where a traveller must accommodate loads applied in a wide range of directions and which must still be able to slide freely along a rail or track. The traveller could be used in other locations on a building, such as eaves rails, on window cleaning access equipment, in steeplejack applications, in harness applications on boats or to attach a sail to a mast so that the sail can move freely from one side of the mast to the other at its point of connection.

These and other modifications and improvements can be incorporated without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims

1. A traveller comprising: a hollow body and engagement means adapted to slidably engage a longitudinal track, wherein the hollow body has a slot-like passage extending longitudinally along at least a part of the length of the body and substantially parallel to the track, and wherein said slot-like passage has a generally arcuate shape in cross-section, the concave surface of said passage being adjacent to the engagement means.

2. A traveller according to Claim 1, in which the slot-like passage is generally C-shaped and extends at least partially around the engagement means.

3. A traveller according to any preceding Claim, in which the engagement means comprises a projecting portion adapted to engage within a slot of a track.

4. A traveller according to Claim 1 or 2, in which the engagement means comprises a recessed portion of the traveller body adapted to engage around a projecting portion of the track.

5. A traveller according to any preceding Claim, whereby the body comprises a tubular member extending substantially parallel to the track and comprising an upper cover member and a lower base member mutually spaced apart to form said slot-like passage.

6. A traveller according to Claim 5, whereby the base member is provided with a longitudinal recess extending substantially parallel to the track for engaging a projecting portion of the track, the entrance to the recess being narrower than the widest portion of the recess.

7. A traveller according to Claim 6, whereby the entrance to the recess is defined by two longitudinal shoulders which prevent separation of the traveller from the rail, the shoulders having roller or sliding bearings mounted thereon which contact the rail in use.

8. A traveller according to any of Claims 5 to 7, whereby the cover member is provided with a transverse slot extending substantially across the width of the longitudinal slot-like passage.

9. A traveller according to Claim 8, whereby the cover member comprises two plate members attached to the base member with a gap between the plate members forming said transverse slot.

10. A traveller according to Claim 8 or 9, whereby the traveller further comprises a safety line attachment member retained within said slot, the safety line attachment member comprising an anchor portion retained beneath the cover member, a shank portion extending through said transverse slot and a line connecting portion above said cover member.

11. A traveller according to Claim 10, whereby the shank and line connecting portions are formed as one generally planar portion and the anchor portion comprises two cylindrical portions extending from each side of the planar portion along the slot-like passage.

12. A traveller according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, whereby the annular member is a C-shaped ring member, having releasable locking means and the traveller further comprises a safety line attachment means which may slide along said C-shaped ring member from one end of the C-shape to the other.

13. A traveller comprising: a traveller body adapted to slidably engage a first safety track, said traveller body having a second track formed therein at an angle to said first track, and a safety line attachment means adapted to slidably engage said second track.

14. A traveller according to Claim 13, whereby said second track is non-linear and is arranged in a plane perpendicular to the direction of the first track.

15. A traveller according to Claim 14, whereby said second track is arranged such as to at least partially encircle said first track.

16. A safety track system comprising a safety track and a traveller according to any preceding Claim.

17. A safety track system according to Claim 16, wherein the track comprises a slot adapted to accommodate a portion of the traveller body.

18. A safety track system according to Claim 16, wherein the track comprises a projecting member adapted to engage a recessed portion of said traveller body.

19. A safety track system according to any one of Claims 16 to 18, wherein the track is arranged at the apex of a pitched roof comprising two sloping roof surfaces.

20. A safety track system according to Claim 19, wherein the traveller comprises a safety line connecting member which is free to move between a position where it is adjacent to the first of said sloping roof surfaces and a position where it is adjacent to the second of said sloping roof surfaces.

21. A traveller as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

22. A safety track system as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.