CH708749B1 - belay line system continues with non-return device. - Google Patents

Abstract

Belay line system including a pulley (4), and a belay line with a belay cable (2), the pulley including a channel (11) for receiving the belay cable (2) and a slot connected to the channel to allow passage of a portion of a cable support. The system includes a non-return device (52) including a support (54) for attachment to the belay cable, and a stop mechanism (56) including a pivot arm (58) mounted to the support (54) and having a free end (62) supported elastically or by means of a weight against the belay line.

Description

Description

The present invention relates to a continuous belay line system.

The belay lines are used to provide security in a suspended course (aerial course) such as a path between trees, poles and other structures of an adventure park. The lines of belay include a belay cable retained in supports attached to trees or other structures, the user wearing a harness and being connected by a safety rope to the line of belay. In some belay systems, the user is provided with two cables slidably connected to the line of belay, the user crossing the supports by decoupling a link from the line of belay and passing from the other side of the support, followed by the second, so that a safety rope is always connected to the line of belay. There is however the risk that the user does not follow the procedure correctly and ends up with the two safety ropes disconnected from the belay line. In order to eliminate this risk, certain belay lines include a continuous belay system, the user being connected by a safety rope to a sliding pulley on the belay line from the beginning to the end of the course.

To make a bifurcation in the course, these systems still require the disconnection of the safety rope from the belay line.

In conventional belay lines, the belay cable is supported by support devices attached to structures or shafts along the path, the cable being generally crimped or fixed in a non-removable or permanent manner at support. This requires a good adjustment of the belay cable lengths between the attachment points.

The rigid attachment of the cable to a support creates an area susceptible to fatigue due to shear forces and torsional forces exerted at the interface between the fixed body and the free portion of the cable. The natural oscillations of the cable due to the wind, or during the passage of the users, can lead to the damage of the cable or to a weakening of its mechanical strength at the points of attachment. Conventional belay lines must be checked often and replaced regularly, even before signs of wear or fatigue appear, to avoid any risk of cable breakage.

In the event of a major impact on the belay line, the rigid supports are susceptible to irreversible deformation, or even rupture, this may cause a lack of reliability of the belay system and lead to an accident, and moreover, this entails important and costly repairs of the belay line.

Continuous belay lines pulley have the disadvantage of not braking the user following a fall when there is an inclined cable section, with the risk that the user collides with another user or with a support structure or other obstacle in the course.

In view of the above, an object of the invention is to provide a continuous belay line system very safe and reliable.

[0009] It is advantageous to provide an economic belay line system to be used and maintained.

It is advantageous to achieve a continuous belay line system that allows for a great diversity of the course.

It is advantageous to provide a continuous belay line system which is easy to install and adjust.

It is advantageous to provide a continuous belay line system which has a long life.

It is advantageous to achieve a continuous belay line system that reduces shocks to the user and the system in case of a fall or other accident.

It is advantageous to achieve a continuous belay line system that is unlikely to damage due to fatigue materials.

[0015] Objects of the invention are realized by the belay line system according to claim 1.

In the invention, the belay line system including a pulley, and a belay line with a belay cable, the pulley comprising a channel for receiving the belay cable and a slot connected to the channel to allow passage of a portion of a cable support. The belay line system comprises a non-return device comprising a support intended to be fixed on the belay cable, and a stop mechanism comprising a pivoting arm mounted to the support and having a free end supported elastically or by means a weight against the line of belay.

In one embodiment of the invention, the support of the non-return device comprises a tube with a channel in which the belay cable is inserted, the tube comprising holes for housing the braking screws in order to stopping the belay cable in the support tube, the tightening of the brake screw or the braking screws being configured to lock the belay cable non-releasably in the support of the non-return device when normal use of the belay line and to allow slippage of the belay cable relative to the support device in the event of tensile forces exceeding a certain threshold to avoid damage to the system.

In one embodiment of the invention, the non-return arm comprises a substantially rigid element pivotally mounted about an axis to an extension of the support.

Other objects and advantageous aspects of the invention will emerge from the claims, from the detailed description of the following embodiments and the accompanying drawings, in which: FIG. 1A in FIG. 1 B fig. 1 C fig. 2A fig. 2B fig. 2C figs. 2D and 2E fig. 3A fig. 3B figs. 4A and 4B in FIG. 4C fig. 4D in fig. 4E figs. 5A and 5B is a view of a pulley (without a cap) and a support of a continuous belay line system according to one embodiment of the invention, seen in the axis of movement of the pulley ; is a perspective view of the capless pulley and part of the support of a continuous belay line system according to the embodiment of FIG. 1A; is a view in the axis of movement of the pulley of the device of FIG. 1 B; is a perspective view of the support device according to one embodiment of the invention; is a view from the top of the support device of FIG. 2A; is a perspective view of a fixing part of the support device of FIG. 2A; are perspective views of a cable guide portion of the support device of FIG. 2A; is a view of a flexible and removable cable anchoring device according to one embodiment; is a view of a flexible and removable cable anchoring device according to another embodiment; are perspective views of a bifurcation device according to one embodiment of the invention; is a perspective view of a portion of a course of a belay line system illustrating a bifurcation device according to one embodiment of the invention; is a view of the bifurcation device of FIG. 4A; is a sectional view along the line E-E of FIG. 4D; and are perspective views of a non-return device according to one embodiment of the invention.

[0020] Referring first to FIGS. 1A to 1C, the belay line system according to one embodiment of the invention comprises a pulley 4, a cable support device 6 and a belay cable 2 supported by the cable support device 6.

The pulley 4 comprises wheels 8 mounted in a body 10 comprising a channel 1 1 for the passage of the belay cable 2, a slot 13 connected to the channel 1 1 to allow the passage of an extension 24 of a a cable support device, and a fastening portion 12 with a ring, eyelet or hook 14 to allow attachment of a safety rope (not shown) of a user. The safety rope is intended to be connected at its other end to a harness of the user.

The slot 13 has a minimum width F smaller than the diameter D of the belay cable so that the cable can not leave the channel 1 1 and therefore that the pulley can not be released from the cable. The pulley 4 must be inclined at a certain angle with respect to the support device 6 to be able to pass the support.

[0023] Referring to FIGS. 2A to 2E, the cable support device according to one embodiment is illustrated. In this embodiment, the cable support device 6 comprises a cable guide (or support) portion 16 and an attachment portion 18 for securing the cable support portion 16 to a structure such as a pole. , tree, rock or other natural or constructed ground support structure. Support structures are for example arranged at intervals along an adventurous park course or a construction site, the belay cable being suspended between pairs of structures along the course.

The attachment portion 18 includes a base 20 and an extension 22 extending from the base, the extension being configured to be attached to an extension 24 complementary to the cable guide portion 16. Thus, the cable guide portion and the fastening portion may be formed of separate pieces that are assembled and locked together, providing a number of advantages. Various basic shapes can be provided for attaching the support device to structures of different shapes or materials using the same cable guide parts, reducing manufacturing costs and increasing the versatility of the system. Furthermore, the fixing portion 18 can be moved, or changed in case of deformation, wear or damage without changing the belay cable and the cable guide portions 16, or conversely to allow to change the belay cable without removing the fastening portions 18. Also, the fastening parts 18 can be fixed beforehand to the structures before mounting the belay cable facilitating

3 thus the assembly of the belay line system and its maintenance. The fixing portion 18 may also be configured and selected according to the desired position and angle for the cable guide portion 16. The base 20 of the attachment portion may be provided with various fastening means such as holes 21a, 21b for the passage of screws, hooks, rivets, straps or other means of attachment.

The extension 22 of the fixing portion 18 is, in the illustrated variant, in the form of a portion of inclined plate

23, the inner surface of the side walls 25 comprises guide rails 26, for example in the form of grooves for guiding and inserting complementary lateral edges 27 of the extension 24. The guide rails 26 may also have a trapezoidal or flared shape, the extension 24 of the cable support device 16 having a complementary shape so that the mounting of an extension in the other has a wedge or wedge effect. A screw with a nut 28 can then be inserted through assembly holes 29a, 29b into respective extensions 24, 22 to secure and lock them together.

A face 30 of one of the extensions 24 in contact with the other extension 22 may advantageously be provided with one or more protuberances or ribs 30a. The ribs prevent the fixing nut from rotating on its axis at the time of tightening. The compression of a face 30 of an extension against the face of the other extension is obtained by the V-shaped grooves 26 and the complementary shape of the lateral edges 27, as well as the trapezoidal or flared shape of the lateral edges and rails, so that when inserting the extension 24 into the rails 26, the extension

24 is clamped against the inclined plate portion 23 of the extension 22.

The upper side edges 31 of the cable guide portion 16 may be formed as knife blades so as to improve and facilitate their guidance through the slots 13 of the pulleys. Slots 13 of the pulley bodies may have funnel shapes to facilitate engagement and guidance of the pulley through the support.

The cable guide portion 16 further comprises a support or guide tube 32 comprising a channel 33 in which is inserted the belay cable 2, the outer shape of the tube at the ends may have a slightly flared shape to to facilitate the engagement of the wheels 8 of the pulley on the tube. The guide tube may advantageously comprise one or more screw holes 34 for braking screws which are screwed into the holes in order to produce a high friction of the belay cable in the support tube. The braking screws may be screws having a flat or slightly convex end bearing against the cable. It is also conceivable to have a removable plate inside the tube between the screw and the cable, the plate being pressed against the belay cable by the screw or screws.

The tightening of the braking screw can advantageously be configured to lock the belay cable in a non-removable manner in the cable support device during normal use of the belay line, but to allow the sliding of the belay cable relative to the support device in the event of tensile forces exceeding a certain threshold to avoid punctual damage to the system. A force exceeding the determined threshold may result for example from an accidental fall of a user or another shock on the belay cable resulting from objects falling on the cable (for example in the event of strong wind). The sliding of the cable in the event of a shock makes it possible to avoid damage to the cable or to one or more support devices during major shocks, avoiding the replacement of the belay line.

In a practical example, the support devices can be provided with two M8 screws tight on the cable with a torque of about 6 to 7 Nm, for a braided steel cable of a diameter 10 millimeters. Preferably, the support devices have at least two screws of size M8, or even more such as M10, clamped on the cable with a torque between 5 and 10 Nm. The braking screws make it possible, on the one hand, to fix the position of the cable in the support and therefore the lengths of the belay cable between the fastening structures, however avoiding the disadvantages of a rigid fastening section such as crimping the cable in a tube. The braking screws apply a point pressure on the cable allowing the bending of the cable and a certain rotation due to the torsional forces, thus reducing the fatigue of the material. The invention thus makes it possible to avoid the effects of fatigue in the cable material due to the torque and bending forces at the interface between a rigid connection and a free portion of the cable.

[0031] Referring to FIGS. 3A and 3B, another embodiment of a cable support device 6 '' is illustrated in conjunction with a removable cable anchor 36. The cable support device 6 <'> can be similar to the cable support device 6 described above except that the belay cable 2 is not stopped in the cable guide tube, but left slidable. The removable anchoring device 36 performs the function of stopping the cable 2, with respect to one, two or more supports 6 <'>, in a removable manner through elastic means 38 to absorb shocks and jerks tension on the belay cable. The sliding and elastic support of the belay cable with respect to one or more supports makes it possible to reduce the shocks for the users in the event of an accidental fall or during a sudden use of the belay line, thus increasing the comfort for the users. users. Advantageously, the invention makes it possible to insert elasticity to all the supports of the cable and not only at the end of the cable as is done in certain known systems. This absorption of shocks and tension spikes on the belay cable not only improves user comfort but also reduces the risk of deformation and fatigue of the cable and supports, thus increasing the safety of the belay line system.

The removable anchoring device may comprise a fixing means 40, 40 <'> such as a fixing ring, and a resilient means 38, optionally damping, such as a coil spring. Other forms of springs like a tube

4 or a stack of rings made of materials having elastic properties can be envisaged. In the illustrated examples, the resilient means is arranged around the belay cable 2. It is also conceivable to have an elastic means extending on one side along the cable 2 and fixed at its ends to the support device of FIG. one side and the fixing member 40 on the other side. In the latter case, the elastic means are connected to the support, respectively to the fixing member 40 by extension arms configured to pass through the slot of a pulley. In the case where the elastic means are in tubular form or a coil spring as illustrated, the elastic means have an outer diameter configured to allow rolling of the rollers 8 of the pulley on the elastic means.

The fixing element 40 according to the illustrated embodiment is in the form of a section of tube stopped on the belay cable, for example by a permanent fixing means (crimping, welding) or by a means separable fastener such as one or more braking screws. The braking screws may have a configuration similar to the braking screws of the cable support device 6 described above, or could have another shape. In the first case, braking screws can also be screwed with a torque of a defined amplitude to allow the sliding of the belay cable 2 relative to the fastener. This avoids damage to the supports and the cable during a shock or a very strong traction force on the belay cable.

In a first variant, as illustrated in FIG. 3A, the fastening element 40 is disposed between two cable support devices 6 '', an elastic means 38 being disposed on either side of the fastening element 40 between the fastening element and the devices respective cable 6 <'>. The two springs can work in compression or alternatively the springs can be configured to work in compression and traction depending on the direction of the force applied on the belay cable.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 3B, there are two resilient means disposed on either side of a cable support device 6 '', and two fastening elements 40 '' disposed on either side of the cable support device to stop one end of each spring. Again, the two springs can be at least partially compressed in their centered position or can be uncompressed in their centered position and work in tension and compression, or only one of the springs work in compression depending on the direction of the force applied on the belay cable.

It is also conceivable to have other configurations and another number of fastening elements and elastic means. For example, it is possible to have a single spring attached to the cable on one side and the support device on the other side, the elastic means working elastically in compression and traction.

[0037] Referring to FIGS. 4A to 4E, a bifurcation device 42 according to one embodiment of the invention is illustrated. The bifurcation device 42 has at least three branches 43a, 43b, 43c. In the example shown, the three branches form a "Y". In the illustrated embodiment, two of the branches 43a, 43b are aligned on the same axis AB, while the third branch 43c is deviated from this axis along an axis AC curved with respect to the axis AB, so as to achieve a bifurcation of the belay line defined by the AB axis. The bifurcation device 42 is fixed at each end 41a, 41b, 41c of these branches 43a, 43b, 43c to belay cables of the belay line system. The ends 41a, 41b, 41c of the branches may be provided with holes in which threads are formed which allow connection of the connecting elements to the cable of the continuous line by crimping or fixed by other means to the branches of the bifurcation device. The bifurcation device may further comprise a support or base and optionally the belay cables 2, 2 <'> are attached to a cable support device 6 on a structure 5 at a distance from the bifurcation device in order to prevent traction forces on the belay cable acting directly on the bifurcation device.

In the meeting zone 44 of the branches 43, the bifurcation device is provided with grooves 45a, 46a allowing the passage of the pulley through its slot through the bifurcation device. A first groove 45a is formed through the bifurcated curved branch 43c, the groove 45a extending parallel to the axis A-B to allow a pulley to slide along the belay cable extending in the A-B direction. For this, the user must pivot the pulley so that its slot 13 is aligned with the thickness R of the material between the bottom of the groove and the opposite side of the bifurcation element. The groove 46a is disposed substantially parallel to the other axis A-C allowing the user to branch off the axis A-B on the axis A-C of the belay line. Grooves or flattenings 45b, 46b may be made on opposite sides of the grooves 45a, 46a to thin the passage section R for the pulley.

In order to change the direction of the axis AB on the axis AC, the user must rotate the pulley on the axis of the channel 1 1 so that the slot 13 of the pulley is aligned with the R thickness of the material consisting of the bottom of the groove 46a and the opposite side 46b of the bifurcation element. A user coming from the side of the branch 43a can therefore either continue in the direction of the axis AB or deviate on the direction of the axis AC towards the branch 43c simply by orienting the pulley around the belay cable to position the slot of the pulley according to the groove 45a or the groove 46a according to the selected direction.

[0040] Referring to FIGS. 5A, 5B, a non-return device is illustrated. The anti-return device serves to allow the movement of a pulley in one direction along the belay line, but to stop movement in the opposite direction. This can be useful for stopping the fall back of a user on an inclined line or simply to avoid moving in one direction. The non-return device according to the illustrated embodiment comprises a support 54 intended to be fixed on the cable of the belay line, and a stop mechanism 56 having a pivoting arm 58

5 which is elastically supported at a free end 62 against the belay line - either against the tube 59 of the support 54 as illustrated, or against the belay cable 2 extending from the support. In the positive direction (S +) of the course, the pulley elastically spreads the arm 58 of the belay line thus allowing the pulley to pass through the non-return device, but in the opposite direction (S-) the pulley stops. against the arm 58 by pushing it towards the belay line, thus blocking the return of the pulley.

The support 54 of the non-return device can be fixed along the cable 2 at any desired position, the support 54 comprising, in the variant shown, a tube 59 with a channel 60 in which the belay cable is inserted. The tube may include holes 61 for braking screws to lock the non-return device on the belay cable. The braking screws may have a configuration identical or similar to the braking screws of the support device 6 described in relation with FIGS. 2A to 2B, the braking screws being tightened so as to allow a sliding of the support 54 on the cable in the event of impact or force exceeding a predefined threshold. This avoids damage to the cable or the non-return device and also to limit shocks to a user.

The non-return device can be braked on the belay cable by means other than screws, for example by a resilient clamp or limited crimping allowing sliding when a predefined force is applied to the device in the direction of the cable axis.

The non-return device allows a return of the pulley in reverse by manually applying a rotation of the pivot arm 58 by a user.

The non-return arm 58 may be resiliently supported against the support tube or the belay cable by different elastic means. In the variant shown, the non-return arm 58 comprises a substantially rigid element pivotally mounted about an axis 63 to an extension 64 of the support 54. A spiral spring 65 mounted around the axis 63 has an end 65b which engages the support and the other 65a the pivoting arm 58, the spiral spring being arranged to resiliently rotate the non-return arm 58 towards the belay cable. The spring may be disposed between wall portions 67a, 67b of the non-return arm.

Other configurations, however, are conceivable, such as an arm having a certain elasticity and working in elastic flexion, connected at one of its ends to the support 54 and at the other end in elastic support against the belay line. or using a counter weight. The extension 64 of the support 54 may have an upper wall portion with knife blade edges 68 similar to that provided on the cable guide portion described in connection with FIGS. 2D and 2E above, configured to allow passage of the pulley through the support 54.

List of elements referenced in the figures [0046]

Continuous belay line system 2 Cable

5 Structure

4 Pulley

7 Wheel device

8 Wheels

9 Fixing plates

10 Body

11

Channel

12

Fastening part

14 ring / eyelet / hook

13

Slot

17

Axis over the slit 17

22

24

Locking device Locking body

6 Cable support device

6 16 Cable guide part

18 fixing part

Intermediate extension

27 Bottom side edges

31 Upper side edges

29a assembly hole

30a ribs

32 support tube or guide

33 channel

34 holes for brake screw

35 brake screws

18 fixing part

20 basis

21 a, 21 b mounting holes 22 extension

23 slanted plate

29b assembly hole

25 side wall

26 rails

28 screw-nut

36 Removable cable anchoring device

38 elastic means

40 means or fastening element (of the elastic element on the cable)

Fixing ring 42 Bifurcation device

41 a, 41 b, 41c ends of the branches

43a, 43b, 43c branches

45a, 45b, 46a, 46b grooves

44 branch meeting area

52 Anti-return device

54 support

56 stop mechanism

58 anti-return arm

59 tube

60 channel

61 holes for brake screw

61

7

Claims (3)

62 free end 63 axis 64 extension 65 spiral spring 65a, 65b ends 67a, 67b wall parts 68 edges claims 1. Belay line system including a pulley (4), and a belay line with a belay cable (2), the pulley including a channel (1 1) for receiving the belay cable (2) and a slot (13) connected to the channel to allow the passage of a portion of a cable support, characterized in that it comprises a non-return device (52) comprising a support (54) intended to be fixed on the belay cable, and a stop mechanism (56) comprising a pivoting arm (58) mounted to the support (54) and having a free end (62) elastically supported or by means of a weight against the line of belay. 2. belay line system according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the support (54) of the non-return device comprises a tube (59) with a channel (60) in which the belay cable is inserted, the tube comprising holes (61) for housing braking screws to stop the belay cable in the support tube, the tightening of the braking screw or the braking screws being configured to lock the belay cable of non-releasable manner in the support (54) of the non-return device during normal use of the belay line and to allow the sliding of the belay cable with respect to the support device in case of tensile forces exceeding a certain threshold determined to avoid system damage. 3. belay line system according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the non-return arm comprises a substantially rigid element pivotally mounted about an axis (63) to an extension (64) of the support (54). 8