FALL ARRESTER

The invention relates to a fall arrester for use in a tall structure, said structure having on part of its outer side a ladder which is terminated at the top by a platform, said fall arrester being formed by a housing having a line which is terminated by a ring, which may be pulled out of the fall arrester so that the line may be secured to an individual who is to use the line as a safety belt.

In connection with work on tall structures, such as sea windmills, individuals are transported out to the sea windmill on a boat which, in rough weather, can rock a good deal, which makes it dangerous for an individual to leave the boat in order to get over to a ladder which is secured to the sea windmill. The ladder ends at a platform, where there is a door which gives access to a lift inside the sea windmill.

In view of this, it is absolutely necessary that the individual uses a safety appliance, so that fall accidents, or even worse, squeezing between the rocking boat and the sea windmill may be avoided.

However, such a safety appliance, which is typically formed by a fall arrester, must be secured to the sea windmill at a certain height.

On the other hand, the safety appliance must also be protected against the weather, so that it constantly satisfies the current safety requirements.

Accordingly, an object of the invention is to provide a safety appliance which satisfies current safety requirements and is also convenient to use for an individual.

The object of the invention is achieved by a fall arrester of the type defined

in the introductory portion of claim 1 , which is characterized in that the fall arrester is firmly mounted on the tall structure, and that it is equipped with an auxiliary line which is secured to the ring, said auxiliary line having a length which corresponds to or is larger than the height of the ladder.

Hereby, an individual may pull the auxiliary line and thereby get access to the hook which is mounted at the end of the line of the fall arrester.

When, as stated in claim 2, the housing consists of a first part and a second part, where the first part is secured to the tall structure by securing means, and the second part is secured to the first part, it is advantageously ensured that it is easy to inspect and replace the components disposed inside the fall arrester.

To secure the first part to the tall structure, this part has screw holes, as stated in claim 3.

To ensure that the two parts of the fall arrester are sealed well to each other so as to prevent corrosion attacks from the surroundings, it is advan- tageous, as stated in claim 4, that a diaphragm is arranged between the first part and the second part.

To prevent deposits of moisture inside the housing, it is expedient, as stated in claim 5 that holes are provided in the housing to avoid condensa- tion.

To increase the resistance of the housing to external, corrosive impacts, it is advantageous, as stated in claim 6, that the housing is surfaced with a weather-proof material, such as polyurethane, and, as stated in claim 7, that the housing is hard-anodized internally and externally.

To ensure additional good weather resistance, it is advantageous, as stated in claim 8, that all internal metal parts of the housing are made of stainless steel or bronze.

Expedient embodiments of the line and the auxiliary line, respectively, are that the line of the fall arrester is a steel wire, as stated in claim 9, and that the auxiliary line is a weather-proof line made of a kevlar material, as stated in claim 10, and that the auxiliary line is impregnated against fouling, such as attacks from seaweed, bivalves and the like, as stated in claim 11.

To ensure that the auxiliary line does not pull the steel wire out of the housing of the fall arrester by its own weight, e.g. if it is covered with ice, it is advantageous, as stated in claim 12, that the auxiliary line is provided with a weakened part close to the ring.

For secure attachment of the auxiliary line against the ladder in stormy weather, it is advantageous, as stated in claim 13, that the auxiliary line is detachably secured by means of hooks configured as "pig's tails", which are mounted on either the ladder or the wall of the tall structure.

With a view to avoiding the situation that the carabiner of an individual wears down the auxiliary ring where it is secured to the ring, it is advantageous, as stated in claim 14, that the ring is divided into two sub-rings, where the auxiliary line is secured to the one sub-ring, and the steel wire and the carabiner of an individual are secured to the other sub-ring.

The invention will now be explained more fully with reference to the drawing, in which

fig. 1 shows a fall arrester with an auxiliary line according to the invention,

fig. 2 shows part of a sea windmill with a mounted fall arrester with an auxiliary line according to the invention, while

fig. 3 shows a hook which is configured as a "pig's tail" for secur- ing the auxiliary line according to the invention.

In fig. 1 , the numeral 1 designates a fall arrester in its entirety, which is shown here as a housing in whose interior a line 7, such as a steel wire, may be wound up through a spring arrangement (not shown) in a winding mechanism 6, which is just indicated schematically in the figure.

The housing consists of a first part 2 and a second part 4, between which a diaphragm 5 is arranged. The first part 2 and the second part 4 may be clamped together by means of securing elements (not shown), such as screws or the like.

As will moreover be seen, screw holes 3 are provided in the first part, which are used in connection with the mounting of the first part on a tall structure 11 , cf. fig. 2, said first part being secured to the tall structure near a platform 10, to which a ladder 12 is secured.

At its free end at the entry into the fall arrester 1 , the steel wire is provided with a ring consisting of two sub-rings 8, 8a, where the one sub-ring 8 may be suitably secured to an individual who is to be protected against fall acci- dents, cf. the following, while an auxiliary line 9 may be secured to the other sub-ring 8a.

The auxiliary line has a length which at least corresponds to the distance between the platform 10 and the deck of the vessel 13 shown in fig. 2. Ex- pediently, the auxiliary line is made of a weather-proof material, such as a kevlar material. It may also be impregnated against attacks from seaweed.

Finally, the auxiliary line has a weakened area 9a near the location where it is secured to the sub-ring 8a. This weakened area ensures that the auxiliary line is not pulled out of the fall arrester, if, e.g., the auxiliary line is covered by ice and thereby is so heavy that it can resist the spring force from the winding mechanism and pull the steel wire out of the housing.

In case of a storm, the auxiliary line is protected against inexpedient swinging movements by means of hooks which are configured as "pig's tails" 14, cf. fig. 3, which are secured to the ladder 12 or the wall of the tall structure itself.

The outer surface of the fall arrester itself may have a protective layer applied to it, such as polyurethane.

In addition, the housing is hard-anodized internally and externally.

Further, all metal parts disposed inside the housing are made of stainless steel or bronze.

It will then be explained how an individual can get up on the platform safely, also in weather conditions where the vessel 13 is in rough sea.

The individual releases the auxiliary line 9 from the pig's tails 14, whereby the steel wire 7 with hook is pulled out of the spring mechanism 6 of the fall arrester, so that the individual, while still being onboard the vessel 13, may secure it to his harness and then jump over to the ladder 12 and safely climb it; in case of a fall, the individual is immediately held by the line 7 of the fall arrester, said line being provided with a brake mechanism (not shown) inside the fall arrester 1 which acts like a safety belt in a car. During climbing, the individual loosens the line from the hooks.

When the individual is to climb down the ladder, he secures his carabiner to the sub-ring 8, while the auxiliary line 9 is secured to the pig's tails, when the individual leaves the ladder 12 after the carabiner has been loosened from the harness.