Fall protection system

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12350530-B2
Application number	US-202017754958-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 6, 2020
Priority date	Nov 21, 2019
Publication date	Jul 8, 2025
Grant date	Jul 8, 2025

Abstract

A fall protection system includes a mast assembly including a fixed mast section, a movable mast section, and a winch assembly. The fall protection system further includes a locking mechanism adapted to lock the movable mast section relative to the fixed mast section. The locking mechanism includes a locking pawl connected to the winch assembly. The locking pawl is adapted to rotate between an engaged position and a disengaged position. The locking pawl engages with the fixed mast section in the engaged position to prevent relative movement between the fixed mast section and the movable mast section. The locking mechanism also includes at least one spring adapted to bias the locking pawl towards the engaged position. Further, the winch assembly is adapted to retain the locking pawl in the disengaged position against the biasing of the at least one spring based on a tension selectively applied by the winch assembly.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A fall protection system comprising:
a mast assembly with a fixed mast section and with exactly one movable mast section;
exactly one winch assembly, operably connected to the movable mast section;
and
a locking mechanism adapted to lock the movable mast section relative to the fixed mast section, the locking mechanism comprising:
a locking pawl connected to the winch assembly, wherein the locking pawl is adapted to rotate between an engaged position and a disengaged position; and wherein the locking pawl engages with the fixed mast section in the engaged position to prevent relative movement between the fixed mast section and the movable mast section; and
at least one spring adapted to bias the locking pawl towards the engaged position; wherein the winch assembly is adapted to retain the locking pawl in the disengaged position against the biasing of the at least one spring based on a tension selectively applied by the winch assembly.

2. The fall protection system of claim 1 , wherein the winch assembly includes a cable that selectively applies the tension by the winch assembly.

3. The fall protection system of claim 2 , wherein the at least one spring is adapted to allow the locking pawl to rotate to the engaged position based on at least a decrease in the tension selectively applied by the cable.

4. The fall protection system of claim 1 further comprising a mounting structure, wherein the locking pawl and the at least one spring are connected to the mounting structure.

5. The fall protection system of claim 4 , wherein the mounting structure is fixedly connected to the movable mast section.

6. The fall protection system of claim 1 , wherein the fixed mast section includes at least one recess disposed on an outer surface thereof, wherein the locking pawl engages with the at least one recess in the engaged position.

7. The fall protection system of claim 1 , wherein the movable mast section is movable based on an operation of the winch assembly.

8. The fall protection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring includes a pair of springs.

9. The fall protection system of claim 1 , wherein the at least one spring is a torsion spring.

10. A fall protection system comprising:
a mast assembly with a fixed mast section and with exactly one movable mast section;
exactly one winch assembly, to the movable mast section;
and
a locking mechanism adapted to lock the movable mast section relative to the fixed mast section, the locking mechanism comprising:
a locking pawl connected to the winch assembly, wherein the locking pawl is adapted to rotate between an engaged position and a disengaged position, and wherein the locking pawl engages with the fixed mast section in the engaged position to prevent relative movement between the fixed mast section and the movable mast section;
at least one spring adapted to bias the locking pawl towards the engaged position; wherein the winch assembly is adapted to retain the locking pawl in the disengaged position against the biasing of the at least one spring based on a tension selectively applied by the winch assembly, and wherein the at least one spring is adapted to allow the locking pawl to rotate to the engaged position based on at least a decrease in the tension selectively applied by the cable.

11. The fall protection system of claim 10 further comprising a mounting structure, wherein the locking pawl and the at least one spring are connected to the mounting structure.

12. The fall protection system of claim 11 , wherein the mounting structure is fixedly connected to the movable mast section.

13. The fall protection system of claim 10 , wherein the fixed mast section includes at least one recess disposed on an outer surface thereof, wherein the locking pawl engages with the at least one recess in the engaged position.

14. The fall protection system of claim 10 , wherein the movable mast section is movable based on an operation of the winch assembly.

15. The fall protection system of claim 10 , wherein the at least one spring is a torsion spring.

Assignees

• 3M Innovative Properties Company

Inventors

• Strauss Andrew C
• Bauer Nicholas G
• Weiss michael t
• Meyer Nathan C

Classifications

• A62B35/0025

  Details and accessories · CPC title

• B66C23/166

  Simple cranes with jibs which may be fixed or can slew or luff · CPC title

• A62B35/0068 Primary

  Anchors · CPC title