Safety catch apparatus for a suspension system

Abstract

The safety catch apparatus includes a generally vertically supported stationary bar which extends beyond the uppermost and lowermost positions of a suspended member. The suspended member has an aperture adapted to receive the stationary bar. The suspended member also has an inner chamber which communicates with the aperture. A catch block is sized to fit within the chamber and is adapted for vertical movement within the chamber. The catch block also includes a vertical slot which is adapted for slideable engagement with the stationary bar. A suspension system is connected to the suspended member so that the suspended member and the constrained catch block jointly move along the stationary bar. The vertical slot of the catch block has open recesses in the opposite sides and each recess has a base and an inner wall angulated toward the slot. A roller freely rests in the base of each recess adjacent to, but not in contact with, the stationary bar. The apparatus includes an activation mechanism which automatically generates relative motion between the roller and the catch block in the event of a suspension system failure. The relative motion will advance each roller along the inner wall of the recess, whereby each roller becomes wedged between the inner wall of the catch block and the stationary bar. The stationary bar will thus immediately support the suspended member in the event of a failure of the suspension system.