DEVICE FOR SAFETY AT HEIGHT AND / OR FALL PROTECTION

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for height safety and / or protection against falls in the form of a davit arm comprising a base that has a defined weight that is many times greater than that of the davit arm itself, wherein the davit arm, acting as a crane element, substantially consists of a rod element and a cross arm, and a plurality of damping elements are provided on the cross arm.

Description

1 / 8 “DEVICE FOR SAFETY AT HEIGHT AND / OR FALL PROTECTION

[0001] The invention relates to a device for safety at height and / or fall protection in the form of a Davit arm with a base, which has a defined weight that is many times higher than that of the Davit arm.

[0002] Devices for safety at height and / or fall protection, described above, are already known, for example, from European patent document EP 1 400 642 A1. This document discloses a Davit arm in which a transverse arm is rigidly arranged. This arm is supported and can rotate around a vertical axis of the device. However, the device must be placed with its base on a support surface and be locked onto it. The rigid arrangement does not guarantee unfixed placement, free from a base on a support surface.

[0003] In addition, other devices for safety at height and / or fall protection are known, such as, for example, US patent document 20140008511 A1 or European patent document EP 3 825 493 A1. In these, a damping element is disclosed, which supports the transverse arm and, when subjected to a tensile stress on the transverse arm, deforms towards the support surface, and then pushes it along.

[0004] All the devices described above have in common the fact that a fixed, ring-shaped mounted device is connected to a free end of the cross arm, on which a flexible support means can be disposed, such that a retaining cable, to which, in turn, a person to be protected can be attached by known locking means.

[0005] However, in the case of a traction request, considerable forces arise at this free end, which, by virtue of a lever effect of the cross arm, can cause the Davit arm to be Petition 870250083316, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 10 / 64 2 / 8 requested at its base, in such a way that it is damaged there. In any case, the known construction design is not sufficient to reliably guarantee free placement of the devices without fastening with a lock due to the shape and / or the force on a supporting surface.

[0006] The invention aims to improve the disadvantages of the prior art, in particular, to prepare a device optimized for safety at height and / or fall protection, in which the base does not need to be locked with a latch due to the shape and / or the force on the support surface, in order to guarantee the functional safety of the device.

[0007] The objective is achieved, according to the invention, by a device for safety at height and / or fall protection with the characteristics of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention result from the subordinate claims.

[0008] The device according to the invention, for safety at height and / or fall protection of persons, consists of at least one mobile Davit arm as a crane element with a base. The base is used for placement on a support surface, for example, horizontal surfaces, such as horizontal roof surfaces, horizontal parts of buildings, such as floors or surfaces close to the ground, or also temporary platforms, such as roof forms and other scaffold-like structures.

[0009] In addition, the base has a defined weight. The base can be, for example, a parallelepiped-shaped element, with a receiving area for the crane element. The receiving area is located on an upper side of the base, opposite the support surface.

[0010] In the sense of the invention, the base can also be just the receiving element itself, such as, for example, a sleeve element, arranged inside or within a building volume, for example, connected to the building volume with a closure due to its shape and / or strength, such as screwed in, or with a closure due to the material, such as, for example, concreted. The element of Petition 870250083316, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 11 / 64 The 3 / 8 crane can be used in a lockable and removable manner for safe reception. Generally, there is a removable link between the base and the crane element. Any known links can be used within the scope of the invention.

[0011] The crane element has a vertical rod element, at whose free end is disposed a transverse arm, which can rotate through a variable angle α relative to the rod element, and is articulatedly supported relative to the rod element in a plane for changing the angle α. For example, the angle α can be rectangular.

[0012] In the context of the invention, the free end of the rod element should also be understood as the area of ​​the free end of the rod element. An exact arrangement at this free end is not required for the invention. The area of ​​the free end is encompassed, since a sufficient effect of the device can also be obtained there.

[0013] Furthermore, the crane element has a first damping element, which is arranged in the rod element and in the cross arm, such that the first damping element can act against a support movement of the cross arm towards the base, against a change in angle α and / or can guarantee a change in angle α by plastic deformation.

[0014] The cross arm and the first damping element are radially rotatable at the free end of the rod element by means of at least one bearing. This allows rotational movement relative to the rod element around its vertical axis.

[0015] According to the invention, another damping element, which can act against an elongation or traction movement in the longitudinal extension of the cross arm, called a traction damper, is arranged in the cross arm at another free end of the cross arm. At least one flexible support means, for example, a retaining cable, can be arranged in the other damping element. Then Petition 870250083316, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 12 / 64 4 / 8 A person to be protected can be secured to the restraining cable. The restraining cable therefore serves to protect a person against falls. In the sense of the invention, the other free end of the cross arm should also be understood as the area of ​​the other free end of the cross arm. An exact arrangement at this other free end is not required for the invention. The area of ​​the other free end is included, since a sufficient effect of the device can also be obtained there. In this case, the arrangement can therefore also be displaced in a limited way in the longitudinal direction of the cross arm at the other free end of the cross arm.

[0016] The base, for example, may be made of concrete or a comparable material. If the base is the receiving end, then it is made of a suitable metal or synthetic material. The crane element, such as a Davit arm, is made of metal, for example, of a steel alloy commonly used for this purpose.

[0017] The bearing described above may be designed, within the scope of the invention, as a bearing element, which has at least one bearing bushing, and is radially rotatable at the free end of the rod element, and in the bearing element are arranged the cross arm and the first damping element. Thus, a rotation of the cross arm and the first damping element may occur together around the longitudinal axis of the rod element, without a rotation of the rod element at the receiving end.

[0018] In the context of another design of the invention, the first damping element can be arranged axially in a movable manner on the cross arm, which ensures easy adjustment of the angle α.

[0019] In this case, the first damping element is removablely arranged in the cross arm, and a grid arrangement may occur by means of a known screw or plug connection. It may also be provided that the first damping element is axially movable in the cross arm by means of a fastening element. This ensures a defined fine adjustment of the angle α. Petition 870250083316, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 13 / 64 5 / 8

[0020] In another design of the invention, it can be foreseen that the other damping element is integrated into the cross arm, for example, inserted into it in a functionally safe, yet removable manner. This ensures better reception and dissipation of force.

[0021] The other damping element may be fitted in any suitable and known technical design, for example, as a hydraulic damper or as a spring-force damper. In the latter design, the damping element has at least one spring element, wherein at least one spring element is a helical spring.

[0022] Similarly, the other damping element can be designed as a plastically deformable component, in which a damping effect occurs through bending deformation or deformation of two other components, which interact through a press fit. Similarly, within the scope of the invention, a detachable strip made of metal and / or fabric can be considered as another damping element.

[0023] As already mentioned, the base can be designed in different ways. In this case, it can be foreseen that the defined weight of the base is many times higher than the weight of the crane element. The base is, therefore, a type of anchorage, being placed on the support surface without a fastening or locking mechanism due to the shape and / or strength of that base. It can be easily placed and handled without any means of fastening and then used. The defined weight of the base can be, for example, greater than or equal to 500 kg, and the weight of the crane element less than or equal to 25 kg. It is conceivable that the ratio between the defined weight of the base corresponds to the weight of the crane element at approximately 20:1. This may be the case if the crane element has a height of approximately 2.30 m.

[0024] The advantages of the solution according to the invention consist in the fact that the radially rotating support of the cross arm and the first Petition 870250083316, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 14 / 64 The 6 / 8 damping element, in combination with the first and other damping elements, ensures functionally safe handling without the need for the base to be fixed to its support surface.

[0025] The other additional damping element ensures, in the direction of tension of a retaining cable, additional damping of abrupt movements as a means of flexible support when the device is used in the event of a safety event and thus contributes to the stabilization of the entire device in order to prevent tipping, or in any case at least reduce this risk.

[0026] The invention will now be explained in more detail, with the aid of an embodiment with reference to the figures. In this case, other advantages, features and embodiments of the invention will result.

[0027] Shown: Fig. 1 shows a schematic representation of the device for safety at height and / or fall protection with a crane base and element; In Fig. 2, a schematic representation of an upper area of ​​the crane element.

[0028] Figures 1 and 2 show, in whole or in part, the device 1 according to the invention, for safety at height and / or fall protection for persons. This device consists of a movable Davit arm as a crane element 2 with a base 3, which is visible only in Fig. 1. The base 3 is used for placement on a support surface, for example, horizontal surfaces, such as horizontal parts of buildings or also temporary platforms, such as roof forms and other scaffold-like structures.

[0029] In addition, base 3 has a defined weight, which in the embodiment is 500 kg. Base 3 is a parallelepiped-shaped element with a bushing-shaped receiver for crane element 2. Crane element 2 is securely inserted into the receiver. In Petition 870250083316, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 15 / 64 7 / 8 example of implementation, it has a weight of 25 kg.

[0030] This element features a vertical rod element 4, at whose free end 5 is arranged a transverse arm 6 that can rotate through a variable angle α relative to the rod element 4 - supported in an articulated manner in a plane - relative to the rod element 4. Thus it is possible to change the angle α.

[0031] Furthermore, crane element 2 has a first damping element 7, which is arranged in the rod element 4 and the cross arm 6, such that the first damping element 7 can act against a support movement of the cross arm 6 towards the base 3 and, therefore, also against a change in angle α. In the embodiment, the damping element consists of two rod-shaped components, which are pressed against each other and can slide into each other with pressure admission, i.e., with a support movement of the cross arm 6.

[0032] The transverse arm 6 and the first damping element 7 are radially rotatable at the free end 5 of the rod element 4 by means of at least one bearing element 11. This ensures rotational movement relative to the rod element 4 around its vertical axis.

[0033] According to the invention, another damping element 9, which can act against an elongation or traction movement in the longitudinal extension of the transverse arm 6, a so-called traction damper, is provided in the transverse arm 6 at another free end 8 of the transverse arm 6. In the other damping element 9 is disposed at least one flexible support means 10, in the embodiment example, a retaining cable. Then, a person to be protected can be secured to the retaining cable. The retaining cable, therefore, serves to protect a person against falls.

[0034] Furthermore, in the realization example, the other element of Petition 870250083316, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 16 / 64 8 / 8 damping 9 is a spring-loaded damper. It has an eyelet at its free end, in which the retaining cable is reversibly arranged, as can be seen schematically in the embodiment.

[0035] List of reference numbers 1. device 2. crane element 3. base 4. rod element 5. Free end 6. Transverse arm 7. First damping element 8. other free end 9. another damping element 10. Flexible backrest 11. bearing element 12. clamping element Petition 870250083316, dated 09 / 16 / 2025, page 17 / 64

Claims

1 / 2 CLAIMS 1. Device (1) for safety at height and / or fall protection of persons, comprising at least one movable Davit arm as a crane element (2) with a base (3), which base (3) has a defined weight for placement on a support surface, the crane element (2) has a vertical rod element (4), at whose free end (5) is disposed a transverse arm (6) capable of rotating at a variable angle α relative to the rod element (4), characterized in that a first damping element (7) is disposed in the rod element (4) and in the transverse arm (6), such that the first damping element (7) can react against a support movement of the transverse arm (6) towards the base (3) and / or can allow a change in the angle α by plastic deformation,wherein the transverse arm (6) and the first damping element (7) are radially rotatable by means of at least one bearing in an upper area of ​​the free end (5) of the rod element (4), and wherein at another free end (8) of the transverse arm (6) another damping element (9), which can react against an elongation movement in the longitudinal extension of the transverse arm (6), is disposed in the transverse arm (6), and at least one flexible support means (10) may be disposed in the other damping element (9), to which a person to be protected may be attached.

2. Device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the bearing is a bearing element (11) having at least one bearing bushing and is radially rotatable in the upper area of ​​the free end (5) of the rod element (4), and the transverse arm (6) and the first damping element (7) are arranged in the bearing element (11).

3. Device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the defined weight of the base (3) is many times higher than the weight of the crane element (2).

4. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the base (3) is disposed on the support surface without a fastening with a lock due to its shape and / or strength.

5. Device (1), according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first damping element (7) is arranged in an axially displaceable manner in the transverse arm (6).

6. Device (1), according to claim 4, characterized in that the first damping element (7) is arranged in an axially displaceable manner in the transverse arm (6) by means of a clamping element (12).

7. Device (1), according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other damping element (9) is integrated into the cross arm (6).

8. Device according to one of the preceding claims, and characterized in that the other damping element contains at least one spring element.

9. Device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that at least one spring element is a helical spring.

10. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other damping element (9) is designed as a plastically deformable component.

11. Device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the other damping element (9) is a detachable strip made of metal and / or fabric. Petition 870250083316, dated 16 / 09 / 2025, page 19 / 64

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