Fuse assembly having inline trigger for controlled failure and rope systems containing the same

Abstract

A fuse assembly for rope systems. A catch is a rope segment having a certain failure strength. An accompanying trigger component has a predetermined failure point which can be less than the failure strength of the catch, acting as a sacrificial element to reveal the potential risk of rope recoil. In one embodiment, the catch includes connecting ends, and the trigger is remote from the catch. In other embodiments the trigger includes the connecting ends and the catch is separate from but works cooperatively with the trigger. Additional hold components can accompany the system, as well as first and second chafe protection layers.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A fuse assembly, comprising:
 a catch having a central portion and at least one catch end, said at least one catch end transitioning from said central portion, said at least one catch end defining a connection point for said fuse assembly, said catch having a failure strength;   a trigger, said trigger having a predetermined failure point, and,   wherein said trigger is connected to said central portion and thereby remote from said at least one connection point such that solely said catch terminates at said at least one connection point.   
     
     
         2 . The fuse assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said predetermined failure point is less than said failure strength of said catch. 
     
     
         3 . The fuse assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said trigger is a localized, weak segment of rope generally co-linear with said central portion. 
     
     
         4 . The fuse assembly of  claim 3 , wherein said catch includes an extension segment, said extension segment not in tension with said central portion, thereby said extension segment is apart from said trigger when said trigger is in a non-sacrificed state. 
     
     
         5 . The fuse assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said trigger is a rigid hardware component. 
     
     
         6 . The fuse assembly of  claim 5 , wherein said rigid hardware component further comprises:
 at least one hardware connection location wherein said rigid hardware component can be connected to said central portion; and, a weak point defined within said rigid hardware component.   
     
     
         7 . The fuse assembly of  claim 6 , wherein said weak point is a notch defined medially within said rigid hardware component. 
     
     
         8 . The fuse assembly of  claim 1 , wherein said catch and said trigger are a single, fabricated structure, said trigger formed as a slipping splice within said catch, said slipping splice transitioning into said central portion of said catch such that said catch is adapted to elongate upon said failure strength exceeding said predetermined failure point. 
     
     
         9 . The fuse assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a first chafe protection layer over said fuse assembly. 
     
     
         10 . The fuse assembly of  claim 1 , further comprising a secondary chafe protection layer over said at least one connection point. 
     
     
         11 . A fuse assembly, comprising:
 a trigger, said trigger having a trigger rope segment and at least one trigger end, said at least one trigger end transitioning from said trigger rope segment to define a connection point for said fuse assembly, said trigger having a predetermined failure point;   a catch separate from said trigger but working cooperatively therewith, said catch having a failure strength; and,   wherein said trigger is separate from said catch.   
     
     
         12 . The fuse assembly of  claim 11  wherein said trigger includes a localized, weak segment of rope, said localized, weak segment of rope connected to said trigger rope segment and thereby remote from said at least one trigger end. 
     
     
         13 . The fuse assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a first chafe protection layer over said fuse assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The fuse assembly of  claim 11 , further comprising a secondary chafe protection layer over said connection point. 
     
     
         15 . A fuse assembly, comprising:
 a catch having at least one catch end, said at least one catch end defining a connection point for said fuse assembly, said catch having a failure strength;   a trigger, said trigger having a predetermined failure point, said trigger being separate from said catch and external thereto working cooperatively therewith; and,   a hold component, said hold component having a hold strength, said hold strength greater than both said failure strength and said predetermined failure strength, said hold component having a length greater than both said catch and said trigger such that said hold component is of unequal tension to said catch and said trigger, and wherein upon stretching or failure of both said trigger and said catch, said hold component maintains continuity of said fuse assembly.   
     
     
         16 . The fuse assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a first chafe protection layer over said fuse assembly. 
     
     
         17 . The fuse assembly of  claim 15 , further comprising a secondary chafe protection layer over said connection point. 
     
     
         18 . A rope system comprising:
 a mainline;   a terminal rope;   a fuse assembly, said fuse assembly further comprising: a catch having a central portion and at least one catch end, said at least one catch end transitioning from said central portion, said at least one catch end defining a connection point for said fuse assembly, said catch having a failure strength;   a trigger, said trigger having a predetermined failure point;   wherein said fuse assembly is connected in series with, and intermediate, said mainline and said terminal rope.   
     
     
         19 . The fuse assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a first chafe protection layer over said fuse assembly. 
     
     
         20 . The fuse assembly of  claim 18 , further comprising a secondary chafe protection layer over said connection point.