Method for securing at least one person on an upper side of a refrigeration installation, use of at least one restraining device and method for maintaining a refrigeration installation

Abstract

The invention relates to a method for securing at least one person (77) on an upper side (2) of a refrigeration installation (1), in which method at least one restraining device (50) is provided which has at least one support (51) for placement on the refrigeration installation (1), said support having at least three placement points (52) for placement on the refrigeration installation (1) and, at a region of the support (51) remote from the placement points (52), an attachment element (55) for mechanical connection to at least one securing line (60) of a person (77) to be secured, and fastening means (73, 75) arranged on opposite sides of the support (51) for fixing the restraining device (50) in at least two translational degrees of freedom (80,81), the support (51) of the restraining device (50) is placed on the upper side (2) of the refrigeration installation (1) such that the support (51) is supported by way of its at least three placement points (52) on the upper side (2) of the refrigeration installation (1), the support (51) is fixed on the upper side (2) of the refrigeration installation (1) by means of the fastening means (73, 75) in at least two translational degrees of freedom (80, 81), and a person (77) to be secured is secured with a securing line (60) to an attachment point (58) of the attachment element (55), wherein the refrigeration installation (1) is an installation which is supported by at least one substructure (40) and has an upper surface which is spaced apart from the substructure, and the fastening means (73, 75) are guided along opposite sides (10, 20) of the installation and are mechanically fixed to at least one substructure (40), and the fastening means (73, 75) are guided only along two opposite sides (10, 20) of the installation and mechanically fixed to at least one substructure (40).

Description

[0001] Method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system, use of at least one restraint device and method for maintaining a refrigeration system

[0002] The present invention relates to a method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system, the use of at least one restraint device for the purpose of securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system and a method for maintaining a refrigeration system.

[0003] For the technical cooling of the air in rooms in buildings, systems are used which usually consist of an indoor unit for absorbing the heat energy from the rooms and an outdoor unit connected via pipes for releasing the heat energy to the environment. Depending on the technical variant of the refrigeration system, the outdoor units used can be table or V-cooled dry coolers, chillers or chilled water units. What all outdoor units have in common is that they contain one or more heat exchangers through which outside air is drawn with the help of fans. These heat exchangers are crisscrossed by tubes through which a liquid or gaseous cooling medium flows. As the cooling medium flows through the heat exchanger, the heat energy of the cooling medium is released into the ambient air. In order to achieve the highest possible performance of the heat exchangers, outside air is flowed through on the outside, or on the so-called air side, with the help of fans.In most cases, the heat exchangers are arranged horizontally, diagonally or vertically and the fans are arranged above them in order to direct the heated exhaust air upwards and thus avoid recirculation of the heated air, which naturally rises due to thermal buoyancy.

[0004] Figures 1-5 show exemplary design variants of outdoor refrigeration units.

[0005] To explain the refrigeration systems and the refrigeration outdoor units, reference is made to Figures 1-5, which show such refrigeration outdoor units and refrigeration systems 1, respectively. The refrigeration outdoor units shown in Figures 1 to 3 are designed as table-top chillers. All embodiments shown here have a top side 2 formed by a housing 23. The housing 23 is essentially cuboid-shaped on its outside and is supported in most cases via housing feet 24 on a substructure 40, which here is formed from double-T beams. As can be seen in particular from a combination of Figures 1-3, the refrigeration system 1 designed as a table-top chiller forms a first side 10 and a second side 20 opposite the first side 10, which correspondingly form a first edge 11 and a second edge 21 on the top side 2.

[0006] On the upper side 2, several nozzles 31 with fans with grid crosses are arranged. Heat exchangers 30 with connecting pieces are provided below these nozzles 31.

[0007] In the embodiment according to Figure 4, these heat exchangers 30 are arranged obliquely in the V-cooler shown, so that the refrigeration system 1 is a V-cooler 32.

[0008] Figure 5 shows a refrigeration system 1 configured as a refrigeration machine 33 or as a chiller 33, which, in addition to the already described inclined heat exchangers 30, also comprises a refrigeration unit 34. Heat exchangers with alternative designs can also be arranged vertically.

[0009] The installation of the outdoor refrigeration units generally takes place outside the buildings in question, e.g. on the roof or at ground level next to the buildings, on mezzanines, on containers or even on specially constructed platforms.

[0010] These devices must be maintained and / or cleaned to maintain their functionality and maintain efficient operation. This requires personnel to access the top of these devices to perform the required work.

[0011] Depending on the height and installation location of the respective outdoor refrigeration unit, there is a risk of falling for people on the outdoor refrigeration unit, e.g. if the units themselves have a housing height of 1 m or 2 m or more and / or if the outdoor refrigeration units are arranged, e.g. on buildings or containers, at a distance of less than 2 m from a falling edge.

[0012] Outdoor refrigeration units typically have a height of more than 1 m. For such heights, safety measures to protect people from the risk of injury from falls must be assessed and implemented if necessary.

[0013] Many tabletop chillers and almost all V-coolers, chillers, and chilled water units have a cover height of more than 2 m, which corresponds to the difference between the height of the top of the outdoor refrigeration unit and the height of the surrounding area. Occupational health and safety regulations often require measures to prevent fall hazards. When installed on building roofs or containers, the outdoor refrigeration units must sometimes be installed directly on the roof edge, which can result in significantly greater fall heights in the event of a fall from the top of the unit.

[0014] According to frequently applicable occupational health and safety regulations, a risk assessment must be carried out at edges where the standing or falling height is more than one meter, such as on outdoor refrigeration units, and measures to prevent falls or damage to health caused by falls are mandatory where the standing or falling height is more than two meters.

[0015] The state-of-the-art options available for preventing fall hazards when working on outdoor refrigeration units are explained below.

[0016] To avoid the risk of falling when working at height, which, as previously described, can also occur when working on or in refrigeration systems, the following technical solutions are available today:

[0017] - collective protection systems that eliminate the risk of falling without the use of personal protective equipment against falls, such as railings or scaffolding,

[0018] - Permanently installed anchor points, which establish a positive connection with the outdoor refrigeration unit and are used in conjunction with personal protective equipment against falls,

[0019] - Mobile anchor points, which establish a force-locking connection with the outdoor refrigeration unit and are used in conjunction with personal protective equipment against falls.

[0020] Collective protection systems are primarily used to protect a large number of people at the same time or to protect untrained persons. They are based on structural fall prevention. Stationary systems such as railings or enclosures or mobile systems such as scaffolding are used. Collective protection systems in the form of conventional scaffolding, such as the enclosure of outdoor refrigeration systems with fixed or mobile scaffolding, are only very rarely provided by plant operators for maintenance or cleaning work. Due to the relatively high costs and the high labor required, coupled with the low frequency of use of the protective measure, only very few plant operators are willing to implement such a protective measure. Furthermore, the erection of scaffolding, especially mobile scaffolding, on the refrigeration systems is usually not possible due to space constraints, for examplethere are no suitable installation areas or access to the refrigeration systems is very limited when installed on the roof or, for example, is very difficult when climbing onto the roof via roof hatches.

[0021] Permanently installed anchor points are generally widely used safety elements. They are manufactured in an industrial style, are usually planned during the design phase of new buildings or technical facilities, and are installed during construction. They then remain on the building for their entire service life.

[0022] These anchor points are essentially based on screwing to the supporting structure of the building or technical system, or clamping to the supporting structure with a screw connection. A wide variety of variants allow for use on steel girders, concrete girders, corrugated iron roofs, pitched roofs, etc. However, permanently installed anchor points, including permanently installed devices for mounting mobile, removable anchor points (e.g., by screwing), are not installed on outdoor refrigeration systems and are not available there to date.

[0023] Due to the tailor-made design and individual construction of refrigeration outdoor units according to customer-specific requirements, it can be assumed that manufacturers will not offer or manufacture them with fixed attachment points on the market in the future, as each attachment point would require disproportionately complex calculations and, if necessary, individual approvals.

[0024] The following state-of-the-art systems are available as mobile anchor points for securing against falls using personal protective equipment against falls:

[0025] - mobile anchor points for fastening on the top of buildings such as flat roofs using weights

[0026] - mobile anchor points for attachment to the surface e.g. of aircraft with negative pressure.

[0027] With mobile anchor points with weights, the required contact force is generated by weights. Weight-based systems cannot be used to secure people on outdoor refrigeration units because the housing construction of the outdoor refrigeration units usually consists only of thin sheet metal with correspondingly low load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, the mobile anchor points based on weights available on the market are not suitable for securing people on outdoor refrigeration units due to their dimensions and the disproportionately high effort involved in transporting them to the refrigeration systems. Mobile negative pressure-based systems create a negative pressure between the anchor point and the ground using pneumatics integrated into the anchor point. This requires a negative pressure source external or integrated into the system.

[0028] Negative pressure-based systems are also not suitable for securing people on outdoor refrigeration units, as the housing construction of the outdoor refrigeration units is usually made of thin sheet metal with correspondingly low load-bearing capacity. Furthermore, negative pressure-based systems require clean, smooth, and level surfaces as well as the availability of a negative pressure source. In practice, these requirements are usually not met with outdoor refrigeration units. Furthermore, the high acquisition and maintenance costs are disproportionate to the benefits.

[0029] Despite the hazards that exist in practice when working on refrigeration systems and the often legally binding obligations to install protective measures against falls, there are no sufficiently suitable technical solutions or those specifically developed for working on or in refrigeration systems that can be used to secure people in a simple, cost-effective and efficient manner.

[0030] The present invention is therefore based on the object of providing a method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system, a use of at least one restraint device for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system and a method for maintaining a refrigeration system, with which persons on the top side of refrigeration systems can be secured in a simple, safe and cost-effective manner.

[0031] This object is achieved by the method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to claim 1, by the use of at least one restraint device for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to claim 16, and by a method for servicing a refrigeration system according to claim 17. Advantageous embodiments of the method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system are specified in subclaims 2-15.

[0032] A first aspect of the present invention is a method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system, in which at least one restraint device is provided which has at least one trestle for installation on the refrigeration system, which has at least three installation points for installation on the refrigeration system and, on a region of the trestle facing away from the installation points, a stop element for mechanically connecting to at least one safety line of a person to be secured, as well as fastening means arranged on opposite sides of the trestle for fixing the restraint device in at least two translational degrees of freedom. The trestle of the restraint device is installed on the top side of the refrigeration system so that the trestle is supported on the top side of the refrigeration system via its at least three installation points.The trestle is fixed to the top of the refrigeration system by means of the fastening means in at least two translational degrees of freedom and a person to be secured is secured with at least one safety line to an anchor point of the anchor element.

[0033] The refrigeration system is a system such as a table chiller, which is supported by at least one substructure and has a surface which is spaced from the substructure, wherein the fastening means are guided along only two opposite sides of the system and are mechanically fixed to at least one substructure.

[0034] An installation on three installation points on top of the refrigeration system does not exclude the possibility of an intermediate layer, such as a deformable mat or similar, being located between the support and the top of the refrigeration system.

[0035] The proposed method is designed specifically to secure at least one person against falls. The fastening means and the anchor element are designed to absorb the resulting impact without causing damage if the person being secured falls.

[0036] The refrigeration system can be an outdoor refrigeration system. The support points of the trestle can also be referred to as feet. These are placed on top of the refrigeration system. The area of ​​the trestle facing away from the support points can be the upper end area of ​​the trestle. The opposite sides of the trestle are located opposite each other in a plane running perpendicular to the top of the refrigeration system. The anchor element serves as a direct connection to a safety line of a person to be secured if the safety line is coupled directly to the anchor element. The two translational degrees of freedom mentioned refer to the two degrees of freedom parallel to the top of the refrigeration system and perpendicular to it.The anchor point can be formed by an anchor eyelet, so that the exact geometric position of the attachment of the safety line can deviate from an exact geometric point.

[0037] The restraint device for carrying out the presented method can be designed to be mobile without a permanent connection to components of the refrigeration system and can therefore be used multiple times in a simple and easy-to-handle manner.

[0038] The system can be supported on one or more substructures. For example, the substructure can be a support unit on which the system's frame or housing rests.

[0039] For the purposes of the present invention, the system referred to is a device such as a table-top chiller and V-chiller, which has a raised upper side, on or in which at least one technical device is integrated and which has a housing or frame with legs with which the frame or the housing is supported on a substructure.

[0040] When the trestle is anchored to the top of the refrigeration system, the tensile forces acting in the fastening elements are transferred into one or more substructures, which absorb or absorb these tensile forces.

[0041] The substructure can, for example, be designed as a steel beam or comprise one or more interconnected steel beams.

[0042] Because the fastening means are guided along only two opposite sides of the system and are mechanically fixed to at least one substructure, a design of the method is achieved which is sufficient in terms of mechanical stability, but which has the advantage of low weight and low assembly effort.

[0043] The stop element can be arranged on the trestle so that it can rotate relative to the trestle.

[0044] This means that the stop element can be pivoted or rotated about an axis running perpendicular to the surface of the refrigeration system, which can also be referred to as the vertical axis of the stand. This increases the flexibility of use of the restraint device, as the positions of the stand's feet can be adapted to the positions of any unevenness or structures that may exist on the surface. This means, for example, that a four-legged stand can be placed on the surface in such a way that ideal connecting lines between its adjacent feet do not run parallel to the edges or boundary sides of the surface. However, due to the rotatability of the stop element, it can be aligned to opposite sides of the refrigeration system so that the fastening elements arranged on it continue to extend in one plane.

[0045] To achieve this rotational mobility, at least one of the two components, the stop element and the bracket, can have a plug-in pin or a plug-in mandrel that can be inserted into a complementary opening on the other component. The plug-in pin thus forms the axis of rotation.

[0046] An advantageous embodiment of the restraint device provides for the fastening means to be arranged below the attachment point on the stop element. This means that, after the support is installed on top of the refrigeration system, the fastening means run vertically between the attachment point and the top of the refrigeration system.

[0047] The fastening elements can be ropes, or at least partially constructed as ropes. These ropes are considered mechanical elements, meaning they can only transmit tensile loads. However, they can also be designed as straps, bands, chains, or similar devices, with appropriate attachment devices, such as snap hooks for attachment to the fastening eyes and / or at the other end, e.g., to beam clamps.

[0048] A further advantageous embodiment provides that the distance between the mounting points of the trestle and the positions of the fastening means on the trestle is greater than the distance between the positions of the fastening means on the trestle and the anchor point. These distances are defined vertically, i.e., essentially perpendicular to the top of the refrigeration system. Thus, the fastening means run diagonally downwards and clamp the trestle to the top of the refrigeration system.

[0049] In some cases, the distance between the trestle's installation points and the positions of the fastening devices on the trestle may be more than twice the distance between the positions of the fastening devices on the trestle and the anchor point.

[0050] The respective anchor point can, for example, be formed by an anchor eyelet.

[0051] The ratio of the height H of the fastening positions on the support frame to the width Bk of the refrigeration system spanned by the fastenings can range from H / Bk = 1 : 20 to 1 : 2.5. The height H of the fastening positions on the support frame can be, for example, 15 cm - 60 cm.

[0052] The width Bk of the refrigeration system spanned by the fastening elements can be, for example, 150cm - 250cm.

[0053] The ratio of the installation width Ba of the trestle to the height H of the positions of the fastening devices on the trestle can be Ba / H = 1 to 5.

[0054] The installation width Ba of the trestle can, for example, be between 50 cm and 102 cm.

[0055] The installation width is defined in the plane of the fastening elements.

[0056] The effective installation width depends on the orientation in which the trestle is set up on the surface, which has an impact on the distance of the stop element to a tipping edge of the trestle that is present when a lateral force is applied and that runs along an ideal line connecting two feet of the trestle, in a projection onto the surface.

[0057] The set tensile stress in the fastener should be between 50 and 250 daN. For safety reasons, it may be advisable not to exceed a maximum tensile stress of 250 daN.

[0058] Accordingly, it is ensured that the contact force applied by the trestle to the surface does not exceed 200 - 250 daN.

[0059] To adjust the tensile stress, a pre-tension indicator can be provided for each fastener, from which the applied tensile stress can be read.

[0060] To implement the proposed method, it would also be advantageous if at least one of the fastening elements is tensioned. This means that at least one of the fastening elements is adjusted to its respective effective length in order to generate prestress in the fastening element and thus press the support against the top of the refrigeration system under compressive prestress.

[0061] In one embodiment, it is provided that both fastening means connected to the same bracket are tensioned so that the bracket positioned on the refrigeration system can remain in this position and is not displaced by the tension of only one fastening means.

[0062] An advantageous embodiment of the method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system provides that the trestle has a plurality of legs, each of which can be pivoted about a pivot axis, such that the distance between the legs and thus the installation points formed by the legs can be changed, wherein the legs of the trestle are pivoted out after it has been arranged on the top side of the refrigeration system, such that the installation points formed by the legs are at a greater distance from one another than when the legs are pivoted in. This means that the trestle with the legs pivoted in orcan be easily transported to the surface of the refrigeration system with the legs folded in, and can increase its clamping range on the surface of the refrigeration system by swiveling out its legs, thus enabling wider support of the trestle on the surface and correspondingly reducing the risk of the trestle tipping over.

[0063] The trestle can implement the principle of the sliding crank chain with a coupling between a joint on the leg and a joint on the sliding joint, whereby the leg is designed as a crank and is connected to a joint with a linear guide element of the

[0064] The sliding crank chain is connected to the sliding joint. All legs are connected to the sliding joint via their own couplers.

[0065] Alternatively, it is provided that the principle of the slider-crank chain is realized with a coupling between a joint on the leg and a joint on the sliding joint, wherein the leg is designed as a crank and is connected by a joint to a sliding element of the slider-crank chain, in which the linear guide element is accommodated in a linearly movable manner.

[0066] Furthermore, at least one leg can be assigned a swivel stop to limit the swivel angle of the leg in a swiveling movement.

[0067] Alternatively or additionally, it is provided that at least one of the couplings is adjustable in length.

[0068] In addition, the trestle can be designed in such a way that all legs are pivotally connected to a central element, which is firmly connected to the linear guide element, wherein the stop element is mounted in the central element by means of a bushing, for example rotatably mounted.

[0069] Alternatively or additionally, the legs of the trestle can be telescopic along their longitudinal direction and can be extended by telescoping before the trestle is placed on top of a refrigeration system.

[0070] This change in the length of the legs of the buck also allows a larger setting up area of ​​the buck, thus also counteracting the risk of tipping over, while at the same time keeping the volume of the buck small when the leg is telescoped in.

[0071] Furthermore, this design of the stand allows it to be installed even on refrigeration system surfaces where there is relatively little space for the stand. The telescopic design allows for flexible adjustment of the positions of the legs, especially when combined with the pivoting legs of the stand.

[0072] The fastening devices can be attached to the substructure using beam clamps. Alternatively, the fastening devices of the restraint system can be attached to the substructure using other means or to anchor points in the surrounding area, e.g., on a roof.

[0073] The distance of the surface from the substructure can be relatively large, e.g. as in the case of a table cooler, e.g. as large as the width Bk of the system spanned by the retention device.

[0074] The fastening elements can be bent along each edge of the system's surface to lead from the support to the respective substructure. The method can be implemented in such a way that the restraint device or its support is installed on top of the refrigeration system, and the fastening elements, in the form of ropes or straps, are guided away from the support and routed around the lateral edges of the top of the refrigeration system, each downwards to one or more substructures on which the refrigeration system is installed.

[0075] The fastening elements extend in opposite directions from the trestle. It is sufficient if only two fastening elements are attached to the trestle and extend in opposite directions. Thus, the restraint device is essentially formed in a single plane, in which the fastening elements are attached to the trestle, the fastening elements themselves extend, and the fastening elements are attached to the substructure. Only the support points of the three- or multi-legged trestle can be located outside this plane.

[0076] The refrigeration system can have a height of, for example, 1 - 3 m and a width of 1.5 - 2.5 m, so that when the trestle is positioned centrally on top of the refrigeration system, a respective fastening element runs 0.75 m to 1.25 m on the top of the refrigeration system and 1 m to 3 m essentially perpendicular to the respective substructure.

[0077] In a simplified embodiment of the restraint device, the fastening means and the safety line of at least one person to be secured are attached to the anchor point of the anchor element. This means that in this embodiment, no additional fastening eyes are used to attach the fastening means; instead, the fastening means are also fixed to the anchor point, in this case, in an anchor eye. This embodiment of the restraint device has the advantage of lower material and manufacturing costs, as well as lower weight.

[0078] The anchor point or the anchor eye can be designed to be rotatable in the anchor element so that the anchor eye can be aligned according to the forces acting on it.

[0079] The function of the restraint device is not limited to the fact that a person secured with it can only reach the edge of the refrigeration system, but it can alternatively or additionally be used as a fall arrest device, in which the safety line connected to the person is of such a length that the person to be secured can move beyond the edge, but can still be held there by the restraint device in its function as a fall arrest device.

[0080] A further embodiment of the presented method for securing a person provides that a restraint system is arranged on the top side of the refrigeration system, which restraint system comprises a plurality of restraint devices, and the restraint devices are mechanically connected to one another by means of a connecting element.

[0081] Each of the two restraint devices comprises a trestle for installation on the refrigeration system, which has at least three installation points for installation on the refrigeration system and, on an area of ​​the trestle facing away from the installation points, an anchor element for indirect mechanical connection to at least one safety line of a person to be secured, and fastening means arranged on opposite sides of the trestle for fixing the restraint device in at least two translational degrees of freedom. The trestle of the respective restraint device is installed on top of the refrigeration system so that the trestle is supported on the top of the refrigeration system via its three installation points. The respective trestle is fixed to the top of the refrigeration system by means of the fastening means in at least two translational degrees of freedom.The person to be secured is connected to the connecting element by means of a safety line.

[0082] The connecting element can be designed to establish a mechanical connection to a safety line of at least one person to be secured and, in the event of a fall of the person to be secured, to absorb the resulting momentum acting on the connecting element without causing damage. The connecting element can also be a rope in the mechanical sense. This rope can have a tensioning device to adjust the active length to the distance between the restraint devices and, if necessary, to generate a certain pre-tension.

[0083] The connecting element can be attached to the anchor elements or their anchor eyes of the restraint devices. In this embodiment, the anchor elements or their anchor eyes serve for indirect connection to a safety line of a person to be secured, namely via the connecting element, which is coupled to the anchor elements or their anchor eyes.

[0084] The restraint device and restraint system provided for the implementation of the presented method enable quick assembly and disassembly, minimizing labor and costs. They have a low overall weight, allowing for easy transport and installation on top of the refrigeration system. This is also facilitated by their compact design. The restraint device and restraint system can be manufactured at low cost and yet ensure a high level of safety for the people secured by them, who can benefit from practical handling due to the limited number of elements of the restraint device and restraint system.

[0085] A further aspect of the present invention is the use of at least one restraint device for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system, wherein the restraint device has at least one trestle for installation on the refrigeration system, which has at least three installation points for installation on the refrigeration system and, on a region of the trestle facing away from the installation points, a stop element for mechanical connection to at least one safety line of a person to be secured, and fastening means arranged on opposite sides of the trestle for fixing the restraint device in at least two translational degrees of freedom.

[0086] The invention also provides a method for maintaining a refrigeration system, in which the described method is carried out to secure at least one person on a refrigeration system, and the secured person performs maintenance, repair, and / or repair work on or at the refrigeration system. Maintenance, for the purposes of the present invention, also includes measurements, inspections, etc., as well as work on heat exchangers that is carried out from the top of the refrigeration system.

[0087] The invention is explained below with reference to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings.

[0088] Figure 1 shows a refrigeration system designed as a table cooler in front view,

[0089] Figure 2: the refrigeration system designed as a table cooler in view of the long side,

[0090] Figure 3: a refrigeration system from above,

[0091] Figure 4: a V-cooler in front view,

[0092] Figure 5: a refrigeration machine in front view,

[0093] Figure 6: part of the restraint device from above,

[0094] Figure 7: a refrigeration system designed as a table cooler with a built-in retention device in front view,

[0095] Figure 8: a refrigeration system designed as a table cooler with a built-in retention device in view of the long side,

[0096] Figure 9: a refrigeration system with a built-in retention device from above,

[0097] Figure 10: a refrigeration system with a built-in retention system from above,

[0098] Figure 11 : a bracket of a restraint device in side view,

[0099] Figure 12: a stop element in a first embodiment in side view,

[0100] Figure 13: a stop element in a second embodiment in perspective view,

[0101] Figure 14: a stop element in a third embodiment,

[0102] Figure 15: a stop element in a fourth embodiment,

[0103] Figure 16: a bracket of a restraint device of a further embodiment in a view from above,

[0104] Figure 17: the trestle shown in Figure 16 along the section line AA indicated in Figure 16,

[0105] Figure 18: the trestle shown in Figure 16 along the section line BB indicated in Figure 16,

[0106] Figure 19: a section of the trestle shown in Figure 16 along the section CC indicated in Figure 17,

[0107] Figure 20: detail Z of the trestle from Figure 18,

[0108] Figure 21: a further embodiment of the restraint device in a view from above, Figure 22: a bracket of the further embodiment of the restraint device in a view from the side,

[0109] Figure 23: a refrigeration system designed as a table cooler with a further embodiment of the retention device installed in a view of the front side,

[0110] Figure 24: a refrigeration system designed as a table cooler with a further embodiment of the retention device installed, viewed from the long side,

[0111] Figure 25: a bracket of a restraint device of a further embodiment in a view from above,

[0112] Figure 26: the trestle shown in Figure 25 along the section AA indicated in Figure 25,

[0113] Figure 27: the trestle shown in Figure 25 along the section line BB indicated in Figure 25, and

[0114] Figure 28: Detail Z of the trestle from Figure 27.

[0115] For securing persons on the upper side 2 of the refrigeration systems 1 according to the invention, a restraint device 50 is provided, as can be seen in an embodiment in Figure 6.

[0116] This restraint device 50 comprises a trestle 51, which, in the embodiment shown here, has four support points 52 in the form of so-called feet. The legs 59 of the trestle 51 forming the support points 52 are mechanically connected to one another via stabilizers 53. At the upper end region 54 of the trestle 51, the restraint device 50 comprises an anchor element 55, which forms an anchor eyelet 56 on the upper side as the anchor point 58 for a safety line.

[0117] On two opposite sides, the retaining device 50 has a first fastening eyelet 71 and a second fastening eyelet 72.

[0118] Figure 7 shows the refrigeration system 1 with the restraint device 50 installed. It can be seen that the support 51 with its mounting points 52 is installed on the surface 2 of the refrigeration system 1.

[0119] A first fastening means 73 in the form of a rope or belt and a second fastening means 75, also in the form of a rope or belt, are connected to the two fastening eyes 71, 72. These fastening means 73, 75 lead around the two edges 11, 21 on the first side 10 and on the second side 20, in each case downwards to the substructure 40, where the two fastening means 73, 75 are fixed to the substructure 40, for example by means of respective support clamps 90. Alternatively, the fastening means of the restraint device could also be fastened to other suitable structures or, for example, to anchor points on a roof. A substructure can accordingly also be understood to mean a roof or a fixed structure encompassed by the roof.

[0120] The fastening means 73,75 have respective tensioning devices 74,76 with which the active length of the respective fastening means 73,75 and a corresponding tensile stress in the respective fastening means 73,75 can be adjusted.

[0121] As a result, the bracket 51 is fixed to the upper side 2 of the refrigeration system 1 in a first translational degree of freedom 80 perpendicular to the plane of the upper side 2 and in a second translational degree of freedom 81 parallel to the plane of the upper side 2 and in the plane of the extension of the fastening means 73,75.

[0122] The restraint device 50 serves to secure at least one person 77 on the upper side 2 of the refrigeration system 1, who, in the situation shown here, is equipped with a safety harness. The two people 77 shown here are shown merely to illustrate the movement options. However, the invention is not limited to a specific number of secured persons.

[0123] Each person 77 is connected to the anchor eyelet 56 of the anchor element 55 by a respective safety line 60, so that the person 77 is secured on the top side 2 of the refrigeration system 1 and cannot fall from it if the active length of the safety line 60 is set to a sufficiently short length. An adjustment element 61 on the safety line 60 is used to adjust the active length of the safety line 60.

[0124] Figure 8 shows the refrigeration system 1 with persons 77 secured to it in a side view. Here, the first fastening means 73 is also visible on the visible first side 10, which is secured to the substructure 40 by means of a support clamp 90. The second fastening means 75 runs on the opposite, second side of the refrigeration system (not shown here), as shown in Figure 7.

[0125] Thus, although only two fastening means 73, 75 extending essentially in one plane are used to clamp the support 51 onto the upper side 2, sufficient safety is nevertheless ensured that persons can still be caught by the restraint device 50 in the event of an unintentional movement essentially perpendicular to this plane. This effect is essentially caused by the clamping forces and frictional forces acting, which counteract any displacement of the support 51. Accordingly, in the situation illustrated in Figure 8, it is ensured that a secured person 77 cannot fall off the left side of the refrigeration system 1.

[0126] Figure 9 shows a plan view of the refrigeration system 1 and the restraint device 50, showing the movement area R1 of a person 77 secured with the restraint device 50 at two different positions. It can be seen that this person 77, in the secured state, can reach four of the nozzles 31 located in the movement area R1, as shown on the left side in Figure 9, with the fans and heat exchangers located therein, for maintenance purposes without being at risk of falling.

[0127] Figure 10 shows a plan view of the arrangement of a retention system 100 on the upper side 2 of a refrigeration system 1. The retention system 100 comprises two of the retention devices 50 already described, which are positioned at a distance from one another on the upper side 2 and are fixed in the manner described by means of respective fastening means.

[0128] In contrast to the securing of a person 77 described with reference to Figures 7-9 by a safety line 60, which is attached to the anchor eye 56 of the anchor element 55, the restraint system 100 shown here provides that a connecting element 110, which can also be a rope or a tension element, is arranged between the anchor eyes 56 of the two restraint devices 50 and connected to them. The active length of the connecting element 110 can be adjusted by means of a tensioning element 111, so that the connecting element 110 runs essentially linearly between the anchor eyes 56 of the two restraint devices 50. The length of the connecting element 110 can be approximately 2 m - 20 m.

[0129] The safety line 60 assigned to a respective person 77 can thus be connected to the connecting element 110 either fixedly or displaceably along the extension direction of the connecting element 110. This results in a significantly larger range of motion R2 when using two restraint devices 50 or a restraint system 100, which allows the person or several persons 77 to reach all of the nozzles 31 arranged on the top side 2 of the refrigeration system 1.

[0130] Figure 11 shows an embodiment of the support 51 of the restraint device from the side. It can be seen here that the distance A between the installation points 52 and the positions of the fastening means or fastening eyes 71, 72 on the support 51 is significantly greater than the distance B between the positions of the fastening means or fastening eyes 71, 72 on the support 51 and the attachment eyelet 56. Figure 12 shows an embodiment of the attachment element 55, which has the described attachment eyelet 56 on the top and in the center, as well as a first attachment eyelet 71 and a second attachment eyelet 72 further down on two opposite sides.

[0131] From Figure 13 it can be seen that the stop element 55 can have a plurality of threaded receptacles 57 for this purpose, into which external threads of standardized eyelets (not shown here) which form the stop eyelet and the fastening eyelets can be screwed.

[0132] In Figures 12 and 13 it can also be seen that the stop element 55 has on its lower side an insertion pin 62 which is suitable for being inserted into a complementary opening on the upper side of the bracket (not shown here), and thus for facilitating assembly and rotation about the vertical axis of the bracket.

[0133] Figures 14 and 15 show further alternative embodiments of the stop element 55, wherein the stop element 55 shown in Figure 14 forms two pairs of fastening eyes 71, 72, and the stop element 55 shown in Figure 15 forms only one pair of fastening eyes 71, 72. In both illustrated embodiments of the stop element 55, an opening is provided in the center for the purpose of mechanical connection by means of a fastening screw to the threaded receptacle for the stop eye 57a, see Figure 13.

[0134] Figures 16-18 show a trestle 51 of a restraint device of a further embodiment. This trestle 51 is equipped with pivoting legs 59. For this purpose, the trestle 51 comprises a central element 63, in which the stop element 55 with its stop eye 56 and the two fastening eyes 71, 72 is rotatably arranged. All four legs 59 of the trestle 51 shown are pivotally connected to the central element 63 by means of joints 67, which are shown in Figures 17 and 18 and form corresponding pivot axes 64. This allows the legs 59 to be folded together so that the trestle 51 can be stored and transported in a space-saving manner. However, the legs 59 cannot be pivoted independently of one another. A coupling 122 is connected to each leg 59 via a respective joint 67.Each respective link 122 is connected in an articulated manner via a further joint 67 to a sliding joint 124, which is linearly displaceable on a linear guide element 123, which is vertically oriented when the trestle 51 is in the upright position. The linear guide element 123 is in turn fixedly connected to the central element 63. Each respective leg 59 is correspondingly designed as a crank 121 of a sliding-crank chain 120, which, in addition to this crank 121, also includes the link 122, the sliding joint 124, and the linear guide element 123. This pusher crank chain 120 causes a linear movement of the pusher joint 124 on the linear guide element 123 when a leg 59 is folded in or pivoted in about the joint 67 on the central element 63, and thereby a movement of the coupling 122 assigned to the other legs 59 in this movement, so that the legs 59 connected to these couplings 122 are also pivoted in or folded in.In addition to a comfortable folding process, this also results in increased stability of the Bock 51.

[0135] As can be seen particularly from Figure 16, in the embodiment shown here, each leg 59 comprises two sections 125, 126 that can be telescoped into one another. This means that the second section 126, which forms the lower support point 52, can be partially inserted into the first section 125.

[0136] Figure 19 shows a portion of the trestle shown in Figure 16 along the section CC indicated in Figure 17. A coupling 122 is clearly visible here, which is supported on both sides by joints 67. Also visible here is the articulated connection to the sliding joint 124, which is slidably mounted on the cylindrical linear guide element 123.

[0137] The coupling 122 shown here is equipped with two length adjustment devices 68, which in the embodiment shown are designed as external threaded pins in internal threads, and which make it possible to flexibly adjust the length of the coupling 122 and thus also the opening angle of the leg connected to the coupling 122.

[0138] Figure 20 shows detail Z of the trestle from Figure 18. Here it can also be seen that the central element 63 forms a pivot stop 65 for each leg 59, also to limit the pivoting movement of the leg 59.

[0139] Furthermore, Figure 20 clearly shows a bushing 66 in which the stop element 55 is received so that it can rotate about its height axis, so that the stop element 55 with its fastening eyes 71, 72 arranged thereon can be aligned accordingly along the direction of tensile forces acting on the fastening eyes 71, 72.

[0140] Figures 21 to 28 show a further embodiment of the restraint device or its bracket.

[0141] This embodiment has the special feature that it dispenses with the fastening eyes 71, 72 shown in the previous figures. Instead, only the attachment eyelet 56 is arranged on the upper side of the bracket 51 in the stop element 55. Figure 21 shows a correspondingly designed embodiment of the restraint device in a top view. For the other elements of this restraint device, reference is made to Figure 6 for explanation.

[0142] Figure 22 shows this embodiment of the restraint device in a side view. It can be seen here that, since the functions of all the eyes shown in the previous drawings are now combined in the attachment eyelet 56 in this embodiment, there is no longer any distance B between the positions of the fastening means on the trestle and the attachment eyelet 56.

[0143] Figure 23 shows a front view of a refrigeration system designed as a table-top chiller with a restraint device installed. It can be seen here that all safety lines 60 as well as the fastening means 73, 75 are connected exclusively to the anchor eye 56 of the restraint device. For an explanation of the other elements of the restraint device and their functions, please refer to Figure 7.

[0144] Figure 24 shows a refrigeration system designed as a table-top chiller with a restraint device installed, viewed from the long side. Here, too, it is clear that all safety lines 60 and the fastening means 73 are connected exclusively to the anchor eye 56 of the restraint device. For an explanation of the other elements of the restraint device and their functions, please refer to Figure 8.

[0145] Figure 25 shows a bracket 51 of a restraint device of another embodiment in a top view, wherein this bracket 51 is designed as a folding variant, but, as described for Figures 21-24, has only one attachment eyelet 56. For an explanation of the other elements of the bracket 51 and their functions, reference is made to Figure 16.

[0146] Figure 26 shows the bracket illustrated in Figure 25 along the section line AA indicated in Figure 25. Here, it is particularly evident that the stop element 55 is narrower than in the embodiments according to Figures 6 and 7. The stop element 55 is arranged on the linear guide element 123, with the stop eye 56 being rotatably arranged in the stop element 55 so that the stop eye 56 can be aligned according to the forces acting on it. For an explanation of the other elements of the bracket 51 and their functions, reference is made to Figure 17.

[0147] Figure 27 shows the bracket 51 shown in Figure 25 along the section line BB indicated in Figure 25. Here, too, the stop eye 56 is rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the linear guide element 123. For an explanation of the other elements of the bracket 51 and their functions, reference is made to Figure 18.

[0148] Figure 28 shows detail Z of the trestle from Figure 27. Clearly visible here is the

[0149] Bushing 66, which sits between the stop element 55 and the stop eye 56, into which the stop eye 56 is screwed. The stop eye 56 allows a rotational movement relative to the stop element 55, so that the stop eye 56 can be rotated about the longitudinal axis of the linear guide element 123. For this purpose, the stop eye is designed to be rotatable in that it has a threaded pin for a rotationally fixed connection to the bushing 66, and an eye element which is designed to be rotatable relative to the threaded pin. The bushing 66 is in turn rotationally fixedly connected to the stop element 55. For an explanation of the other elements of the bracket 51 and their functions, reference is made to Figure 20.

[0150] List of reference symbols

[0151] 1 refrigeration system

[0152] 2 Top

[0153] 10 First page

[0154] 11 First edge

[0155] 20 Second page

[0156] 21 Second edge

[0157] 23 housings

[0158] 24 Housing stand

[0159] 30 heat exchangers with connection pieces

[0160] 31 Nozzle with fan with grid cross

[0161] 32 V recooler

[0162] 33 Refrigeration machine, chiller

[0163] 34 Refrigeration unit

[0164] 40 Substructure

[0165] 50 restraint device

[0166] 51 goat

[0167] 52 Installation point

[0168] 53 Stabilizer

[0169] 54 upper end area

[0170] 55 stop element

[0171] 56 Anchor eye

[0172] 57a Threaded socket for lifting eye

[0173] 57b Threaded holes for fastening eyelets

[0174] 58 Anchor point

[0175] 59 Leg

[0176] 60 safety line

[0177] 61 Adjustment element for length adjustment

[0178] 62 insertion pins

[0179] 63 Central element

[0180] 64 swivel axis

[0181] 65 Swivel stop

[0182] 66 Bushing 67 Joint

[0183] 68 Length adjustment device

[0184] 71 First attachment eyelet

[0185] 72 Second attachment eyelet

[0186] 73 First fastener

[0187] 74 Clamping device on the first fastening element

[0188] 75 Second fastener

[0189] 76 Clamping device on the second fastening device

[0190] 77 people

[0191] 80 First fixed translational degree of freedom

[0192] 81 Second fixed translational degree of freedom

[0193] 90 beam clamp

[0194] 100 restraint system

[0195] 110 connecting element

[0196] 111 Clamping element on the connecting element

[0197] 120 slider crank chain

[0198] 121 Crank

[0199] 122 paddock

[0200] 123 Linear guide element

[0201] 124 Sliding joint

[0202] 125 first shot

[0203] 126 second shot

[0204] R1 Range of motion when using a restraint device

[0205] R2 Range of motion when using two restraint systems

[0206] A Distance between the mounting points of the trestle and the positions of the fastening devices on the trestle

[0207] B Distance between the positions of the fastening devices on the trestle and the anchor eye

[0208] Bk Width of the refrigeration system

[0209] Ba Installation width Ba of the trestle

[0210] H Height H of the positions of the fastening devices on the trestle

Claims

Patent claims 1. A method for securing at least one person (77) on an upper side (2) of a refrigeration system (1), in which at least one restraint device (50) is provided, which has at least one trestle (51) for installation on the refrigeration system (1), which has at least three installation points (52) for installation on the refrigeration system (1) and, on a region of the trestle (51) facing away from the installation points (52), a stop element (55) for mechanically connecting to at least one safety line (60) of a person (77) to be secured, and fastening means (73, 75) arranged on opposite sides of the trestle (51) for fixing the restraint device (50) in at least two translational degrees of freedom (80, 81), the trestle (51) of the restraint device (50) is installed on the upper side (2) of the refrigeration system (1),such that the trestle (51) is supported via its at least three support points (52) on the upper side (2) of the refrigeration system (1), the trestle (51) is fixed by means of the fastening means (73, 75) in at least two translational degrees of freedom (80, 81) on the upper side (2) of the refrigeration system (1), and a person to be secured (77) is secured with at least one safety line (60) to an attachment point (58) of the attachment element (55), characterized in that the refrigeration system (1) is a system which is carried by at least one substructure (40) and has a surface which is spaced apart from the substructure, and in that the fastening means (73, 75) are guided along opposite sides (10, 20) of the system and are mechanically fixed to at least one substructure (40), and in that the fastening means (73, 75) are only on two opposite sides (10,20) are guided along the system and are mechanically fixed to at least one substructure (40).

2. Method for securing at least one person on an upper side of a refrigeration system according to claim 1, characterized in that the stop element (55) is arranged on the bracket (51) so as to be rotatable with respect to the bracket (51).

3. Method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means (73, 75) are arranged below the stop point (58) on the stop element (55).

4. Method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized characterized in that the fastening means (73,75) are ropes or are at least partially designed as ropes.

5. Method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the distance (A) between the installation points (52) of the trestle (51) and the positions of the fastening means (73, 75) on the trestle (51) is greater than the distance (B) between the positions of the fastening means (73, 75) on the trestle (51) and the attachment point (58).

6. Method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system according to claim 5, characterized in that the distance (A) between the installation points (52) of the trestle (51) and the positions of the fastening means (73, 75) on the trestle (51) is more than twice as large as the distance (B) between the positions of the fastening means (73, 75) on the trestle (51) and the anchor point (58).

7. Method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one of the fastening means (73, 75) is tensioned.

8. Method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trestle (51) has a plurality of legs (59) which can each be pivoted about a pivot axis (64) so ​​that the distance between the legs (59) and thus the installation points (52) formed by the legs (59) can be changed, wherein the legs (59) of the trestle (51) are pivoted out after it has been arranged on the upper side (2) of the refrigeration system (1) so that the installation points (52) formed by the legs (59) have a greater distance from one another than when the legs (59) are pivoted in.

9. Method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the legs (59) of the trestle (51) are telescopic along their longitudinal direction and are extended by telescoping before the trestle (51) is placed on the top side (2) of the refrigeration system (1).

10. Method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fixing of the fastening means (73, 75) is carried out by means of support clamps (90) on the substructure (40).

11. Method for securing at least one person on the top side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fastening means (73, 75) are bent at each edge (11, 21) of the top side of the system in order to lead from the trestle (51) to the respective substructure (40).

12. Method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to one of claims 1, 2, 4 and 7 to 11, characterized in that the fastening means (73, 75) and the safety line (60) of at least one person (77) to be secured are fastened to the attachment point (58) of the attachment element (55).

13. Method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a restraint system (100) is arranged on the upper side (2) of the refrigeration system (1), which restraint system comprises a plurality of restraint devices (50), and the restraint devices (50) are mechanically connected to one another by means of a connecting element (110).

14. Method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to claim 13, characterized in that the connecting element (110) is designed to establish a mechanical connection with a safety line (60) of at least one person (77) to be secured and, in the event of a fall of the person (77) to be secured, to absorb the impulse acting on the connecting element (110) in a non-destructive manner.

15. A method for securing at least one person on the upper side of a refrigeration system according to one of claims 13 and 14, characterized in that the connecting element (110) is fixed to the stop elements (55) of the retaining devices (50).

16. Use of at least one restraint device (50) for securing at least one person (77) on an upper side (2) of a refrigeration system (1), wherein the restraint device (50) has at least one trestle (51) for installation on the refrigeration system (1), which has at least three installation points (52) for installation on the refrigeration system (1) and, on a region of the trestle (51) facing away from the installation points (52), a stop element (55) for mechanical connection to at least one safety line (60) of a person (77) to be secured, and fastening means (73, 75) arranged on opposite sides of the trestle (51) for fixing the restraint device (50) in at least two translational degrees of freedom TI (80,81) for carrying out the method for securing at least one person on an upper side of a refrigeration system according to one of claims 1 to 15.

17. A method for maintaining a refrigeration system, in which the method for securing at least one person on a refrigeration system is carried out according to one of claims 1 to 15 and the secured person (77) carries out maintenance, repair and / or servicing work on or at the refrigeration system (1).

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