Horizontal lifeline shuttle apparatus

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11833376-B2
Application number	US-202016832889-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 27, 2020
Priority date	Nov 1, 2019
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

A horizontal lifeline shuttle apparatus is provided. The horizontal lifeline shuttle apparatus includes an attachment portion, a body portion, and a cable channel. The body portion is configured to at least partially surround a portion of a cable so as to retain the portion of the cable within a cable channel The attachment portion is configured to move relative to the body portion based at least in part on the motion of the moveable pin fixedly secured thereto. At least a portion of the moveable pin is disposed within each of a plurality of moveable pin guide grooves positioned within the body portion such that a range of motion of the moveable pin is defined at least in part by the plurality of moveable pin grooves. At least one of the plurality of moveable pin grooves comprises a vertical portion.

First claim

That which is claimed:

1. A horizontal lifeline shuttle apparatus, comprising:
an attachment portion rotatable about an axis of a moveable pin, and connected to a body portion by the moveable pin
the body portion comprising:
a fixed jaw having a first moveable pin groove with a first vertical portion and a first set of angled portions that define a first S-shaped groove profile; and
a moveable jaw having a second moveable pin groove with a second vertical portion and a second set of angled portions that define a second S-shaped groove profile;

wherein at least a portion of the moveable pin is disposed within the first and second moveable pin grooves of the fixed jaw and the moveable jaw such that a range of motion of the moveable pin is defined at least in part by the first and second moveable pin grooves of the fixed jaw and the moveable jaw;
wherein the first and second S-shaped groove profiles of the fixed jaw and the moveable jaw being arranged in opposite directions and positioned such that the respective first and second vertical portions of the first and second moveable pin grooves are coaxially aligned and provide a nominal position along a vertical axis in which the moveable pin naturally settles so as to at least partially mitigate one or more effects of production variability.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the body portion further comprises a cable channel defined by at least a portion of the fixed jaw and at least a portion of the moveable jaw; wherein the body portion is configured to at least partially surround a portion of a cable so as to retain the portion of the cable within the cable channel.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion comprises:
an eyelet; and
the moveable pin, the moveable pin being fixedly disposed between two opposite arms.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the at least one of the moveable pin grooves comprising the vertical portion further comprises a first non-linear portion.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the at least one of the moveable pin grooves of the fixed jaw and the moveable jaw comprising the vertical portion comprises an S-shaped groove profile, wherein the vertical portion comprises an intermediate portion positioned in between the first non-linear portion and a second non-linear portion.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 , wherein the at least one of the moveable pin grooves of the fixed jaw and the moveable jaw comprising the vertical portion comprises two moveable pin grooves comprising the S-shaped shaped groove profile, the two moveable pin grooves comprising the S-shaped groove profile being arranged in opposite directions and positioned such that the respective vertical portions of each of the two moveable pin grooves comprising the S-shaped groove profile are coaxially aligned.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the attachment portion is configured to be rotatable 90 degrees relative to a vertical axis to an at least substantially horizontal position on either side of the body portion.

8. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the attachment portion is rotatable about a moveable pin axis of the moveable pin.

9. The apparatus of claim 7 , wherein the attachment portion is lockable in the at least substantially horizontal position via an engagement of at least a portion of the attachment portion with the body portion.

10. The apparatus of claim 9 , wherein the at least a portion of the attachment portion comprises one or more of the opposite arms of the attachment portion.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein the engagement of the at least a portion of the attachment portion with the body portion comprises a surface of each of the one or more arms being configured in an at least substantially flush arrangement against a bottom surface of one or more outer portions of the body portion.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the apparatus is configurable between an open position, a closed position, and a standard position; wherein the apparatus is configured to be placed in the open position based on a two-step process comprising a compression of a button element and a vertical displacement of the moveable pin, the vertical displacement of the moveable pin resulting at least in part from a force applied to the attachment portion.

13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein the attachment portion further comprises a bracket disposed between two opposite arms of the attachment portion, the bracket being configured to facilitate an execution of the two-step process by a user using a single hand.

14. The apparatus of claim 13 , wherein the bracket is positioned so as to at least partially block the button element from unwarranted user interaction when the attachment portion is rotated to an at least substantially horizontal position.

Assignees

• Honeywell Int Inc

Inventors

• Novotny Josef
• Gdovec Viliam
• Audyova Marketa
• Bradford Scott Hugh

Classifications

• B66C1/36

  with means, e.g. spring-biased detents, for preventing inadvertent disengagement of loads · CPC title

• F16B45/028

  the position-locking means being pivotally connected · CPC title

• F16B45/023

  the closing member pivoting about an axis perpendicular to the plane of the hook · CPC title

• A62B35/0081 Primary

  Equipment which can travel along the length of a lifeline, e.g. travelers · CPC title

• A62B35/0056

  Horizontal lifelines · CPC title