GB2448146A

GB2448146A - Safety apparatus for use in loading or unloading a flat bed lorry

Info

Publication number: GB2448146A
Application number: GB0706479A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Gareth Whittington
Original assignee: SEV ENGINEERING CO Ltd
Current assignee: SEV ENGINEERING CO Ltd
Priority date: 2007-04-03
Filing date: 2007-04-03
Publication date: 2008-10-08
Also published as: GB0706479D0

Abstract

For ensuring the safety of an operator (35) engaged in loading or unloading a load-carrying surface (37), such as the flat bed of a lorry (33), two spaced-apart, substantially upright posts (3,5) are provided with a tensioned support wire (19) extending between them. A trolley (27) is mounted on the support wire for movement therealong, and a safety harness (31) is suspended from the trolley.

Description

SAFETY APPARATUS

Field of the invention

This invention relates to safety apparatus and in particular to apparatus for increasing the safety of personnel concerned with the loading or unloading of materials on to a support surface such as the load bearing surface of a flat bed lorry.

Background to the invention

Flat bed lorries convey goods from one location to another. For loading and unloading operations there is a need for an operator to be positioned on the flat bed so that the goods may be manhandled with or without the use of a crane or other apparatus. While on the flat bed the operator is always at some risk, particularly of falling off the flat bed which is typically raised about one metre from the ground. This is a sufficient height for the likelihood of serious injury to occur should such an accident happen.

Statements of the invention

According to the present invention there is provided safety apparatus for use with a flat top support, such as that provided by a lorry, the apparatus comprising two spaced apart, substantially upright posts having suspended therebetween a tensioned support wire, a trolley mounted on said support wire for movement therealong, and a safety harness suspended from said trolley. * ** ***I

I.... Preferably, said posts are secured to base blocks or other ground engaging members.

: * More preferably, said base blocks are made of concrete. **** *

* 25 Preferably, said posts are hinged so that they may be lowered to the ground for maintenance or other purposes. More preferably, said posts are hinged at their points of * connection to said base blocks.

Preferably, each of the said posts is provided with a cantilevered arm extending substantially laterally with respect to the plane extending between the posts, said support wire extending between the ends of said arms.

Preferably, each of said posts has an oppositely extending further cantilevered arm, and a restraint wire extending between said further cantilevered aims.

Preferably, the support wire is provided with means for tensioning said wire.

Detailed description of the drawings

The accompanying drawings are as follows: Figure 1 is a side elevation of safety apparatus according to the present invention; Figure 2 is an end elevation of the apparatus of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a top plan view of the apparatus of Figure 1.

Detailed description of the invention

The invention will now be described further, by way of example only, with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Safety apparatus 1 in accordance with the present invention comprises two substantially upright posts 3,5, each attached to a concrete base block 7,9, which may be sunk into the ground or which may simply stand on the ground. The connection between the posts and their respective base blocks is, in each case, strengthened by means of base plates and gussets 11,13, and the connection is a hinged one so that the posts may be lowered * *.

towards the ground for maintenance purposes. *S..

Each support post 3,5, is provided with a wire support 4,6, which, in each case, extends from the top of its respective post to the base blocks 7,9.

**S. . . . . As best seen in Figure 2, the upper part of each post is provided with two cantilevered * arms 15,17, which extend in opposite directions from the post to which they are attached and laterally with respect to the plane extending between the posts 3,5. Aligned arms, 15,16, one on each post 3,5, have extending therebetween a galvanized steel tensioned load wire 19. Arranged at the end of each cantilevered arm, 15,16, is a captive wire rope pulley 21,23. The load wire 19 extends around the pulleys and along the cantilevered arm, down the posts and to a tensioning device 25, which may be operated to achieve the appropriate tension in the load wire 19. Mounted on support wire 19, between posts 3,5, is a fabricated wire trolley 27, which includes an inertia fall arrest reel. This trolley is free to move along wire 19 between posts 3,5.

Suspended from trolley 27 by wire 29 is an industry standard harness 31.

In use, a lorry 33 is driven between support posts 3,5 for loading/unloading purposes. An operator 35, whose task is to perform or assist with the loading or unloading operation, will climb on to the flat bed 37 of lorry 33 and put on the harness 31. He will then be able to move along the lorry between the posts with virtually complete freedom so that he can perform his loading/unloading operations without hindrance. Should he fall off the bed 37 of lorry 33 then the inertia fall arrest reel will operate to prevent him falling to the ground. * ** * * * * ** **** * S S.., * S. S. * *SS,

S *.I * S SS* *S S * SS * .*

Claims

1. Safety apparatus for use with a flat top support, such as that provided by a lony, the apparatus comprising two spaced apart, substantially upright posts having suspended therebetween a tensioned support wire, a trolley mounted on said support wire for movement therealong, and a safety harness suspended from said trolley.

2. Apparatus according to Claim I, wherein said posts are secured to base blocks.

3. Apparatus according to Claim 2, wherein said base blocks are made of concrete.

4. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein said posts are hinged so that they may be lowered to the ground.

5. Apparatus according to Claim 4, wherein said posts are hinged at their connections to said base blocks.

6. Apparatus according to any of the preceding claims, wherein each said post is provided with a cantilevered arm extending substantially laterally with respect to the *:*::* 20 plane extending between the posts, said support wire extending between the ends of said arms. * * * **.

:*:::.

7. Apparatus according to Claim 6, wherein each of said posts has an oppositely extending, further cantilevered arm, and a restraint wire extends between the further cantilevered arms. **** * * ***. ** *

8. Apparatus according to Claim 1, wherein the support wire is provided with means for tensioning said wire.

9. Apparatus according to Claim I and substantially as herein described.

10. Safety apparatus substantially as described herein with reference to the accompanying drawings.