Safety line shock absorber
In at least one embodiment, a lifeline includes a wire rope and a shock absorber. In some embodiments, the shock absorber includes a tubular body defining a lumen therethrough. The tubular body defines a longitudinal axis including curvature along its length.
1. A lifeline comprising:
a wire rope;
a shock absorber comprising a tubular body defining a lumen therethrough, the tubular body defining a longitudinal axis comprising curvature along its length; and
a deformation gauge;
the wire rope extending through the lumen of the shock absorber.
2. The lifeline of claim 1 , the tubular body having a nominal condition and a deformed condition, a shape of the tubular body in the nominal condition being different from a shape of the tubular body in the deformed condition.
3. The lifeline of claim 1 , the shock absorber contacting the wire rope at a first location, a second location and a third location.
4. The lifeline of claim 1 , the deformation gauge comprising a rod and a receiver.
5. The lifeline of claim 4 , in the nominal condition, the rod extending to the receiver, in the deformed condition, the rod not extending to the receiver.
6. The lifeline of claim 1 , the tubular body extending in a U-shape.
7. The lifeline of claim 1 , the longitudinal axis of the tubular body comprising a U-shape.
8. A lifeline comprising:
a wire rope; and
a shock absorber comprising a tubular body defining a lumen therethrough, the tubular body defining a longitudinal axis comprising curvature along its length;
the wire rope extending through the lumen of the shock absorber;
the longitudinal axis of the tubular body comprising an inflection.
9. The lifeline of claim 8 , the inflection comprising a first inflection, the longitudinal axis comprising a second inflection.
10. The lifeline of claim 8 , comprising a deformation gauge.
11. The lifeline of claim 8 , the wire rope contacting the tubular body at a first location, a second location and a third location.
12. The lifeline of claim 8 , the wire rope comprising an inelastic material.
13. A lifeline comprising:
a tension member; and
a shock absorber, the shock absorber comprising a non-linear body member arranged to engage the tension member at multiple locations including a first location, a second location and a third location, the second location oriented along a length of the tension member between the first location and the third location;
wherein the second location is offset from a reference line that intersects the first location and the third location.
14. The lifeline of claim 13 , wherein the shock absorber comprises a tube.
15. The lifeline of claim 14 , wherein the tension member extends through the tube.
16. The lifeline of claim 13 , wherein the body member comprises curvature.
17. The lifeline of claim 13 , wherein the body member comprises a first length portion and a second length portion extending nonparallel to one another.
18. The lifeline of claim 13 , comprising a deformation gauge.
19. The lifeline of claim 18 , the deformation gauge comprising a rod.
20. The lifeline of claim 19 , the rod extending between a first end and a second end of the body member.