EP0757580B1 - Self-locking abseil device - Google Patents

Abstract

PCT No. PCT/FR95/00543 Sec. 371 Date Oct. 21, 1996 Sec. 102(e) Date Oct. 21, 1996 PCT Filed Apr. 26, 1995 PCT Pub. No. WO95/28990 PCT Pub. Date Nov. 2, 1995An abseil device including an integral main body (1) with two generally parallel main flanges (3, 4) joined together via a longitudinal connecting flange (6) and provided with two apertures (13, 14) engaged by a hook ring (2). The apertures (13, 14) include slanted edges (12) along which the hook ring (2) is slidable for wedging an intermediate portion (17) of a rope (5) and thereby locking the abseil device thereon. The device can be released by pivoting the main body (1). A self-locking abseil device suitable for mountaineering, caving, rock climbing or work in places high above the ground is thus provided.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to descenders, which are devices generally used for the practice of mountaineering, caving, climbing, work at height, allowing in particular to descend along a rope while braking on the rope.

The most commonly used descenders, or descenders in eight, only allow braking along the rope, the force of braking can be adjusted by voluntary action of the user on the rope itself. Braking, however, requires the user to hold the rope. If the user releases the rope, braking is not enough to stop the descender sliding along the rope, and sliding may occur at the end of the rope at too high a speed important, the user's course then continuing with a fall.

We have also proposed more complex descenders, comprising moving parts and zipper systems for adjustment braking force. These descenders are however too complex for safe use, because the user must necessarily be experienced to get correct use.

We also know, from document US-A-4,667,772, a self-locking device for climbing up along a rope. This device includes a one-piece main body with two flanges main generally parallel to each other and kept apart from each other at a suitable spacing for the sliding of the rope between them, and with a longitudinal connecting flange connecting two longitudinal sides of the two main flanges and forming a groove for the passage of the rope. Two ring guide lights are provided each on a respective main flange and positioned in correspondence of one another. They each have at least one edge oblique gradually approaching the connecting flange in direction from the rope entry end to a locking end. The ring guide lights are sized to accommodate a portion of the hooking ring which passes through them and which can slide up to the locking end in which the ring pinches the rope against the connecting flange.

In this document, the connecting flange is generally straight, and has roughness increasing the friction on the rope. The side flanges remain away from the cord.

Such a device, intended to go up along a rope, provides effective blocking, but is not suitable for allowing controlled sliding along a rope. The blocking force varies in too sudden effect between effective blocking and unblocking does producing practically more braking force.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The problem proposed by the present invention is to design a new descender structure that has both great simplicity, great security of use by avoiding any possibility error, and increased efficiency by ensuring progressive braking adjustable, and ensuring an automatic positive blocking in case of no user intervention.

According to the invention, the descender must thus be able to block automatically when the user does not intervene on his positioning and orientation along the rope, sliding controlled and braked of the descender along the rope being authorized by voluntary operation by the user.

According to the invention, this positive security must be obtained by a particularly simple descender, with no moving parts.

• deux flasques principaux généralement parallèles l'un à l'autre et maintenus à l'écart l'un de l'autre selon un écartement approprié pour le coulissement de la corde entre eux,
• un flasque de liaison longitudinal reliant deux côtés longitudinaux des deux flasques principaux et formant une gorge pour le passage de la corde entre une extrémité d'entrée et une extrémité de sortie,
• deux lumières de guidage d'anneau ménagées chacune sur un flasque principal respectif et positionnées en correspondance l'une de l'autre, comportant chacune au moins un bord oblique se rapprochant progressivement du flasque de liaison longitudinal en direction de l'extrémité d'entrée de corde jusqu'à une extrémité de blocage, les lumières de guidage d'anneau étant dimensionnées pour recevoir une portion de l'anneau d'accrochage qui les traverse et qui peut coulisser jusqu'à l'extrémité de blocage dans laquelle l'anneau pince la corde contre le flasque de liaison

To achieve these and other objects, the self-locking descender according to the invention allows the relative blocking of a hooking ring of the user and at least one strand of rope. The descender includes a one-piece main body with:

• two main flanges generally parallel to each other and kept apart from one another at a suitable spacing for the sliding of the rope between them,
• a longitudinal connecting flange connecting two longitudinal sides of the two main flanges and forming a groove for the passage of the rope between an inlet end and an outlet end,
• two ring guide slots each provided on a respective main flange and positioned in correspondence with each other, each comprising at least one oblique edge progressively approaching the longitudinal connecting flange in the direction of the inlet end of rope to a locking end, the ring guide lights being dimensioned to receive a portion of the hooking ring which passes through them and which can slide to the locking end in which the ring clamp the rope against the connecting flange

longitudinal; the longitudinal connecting flange has a transverse profile concave interior with converging sides forming at least one dihedral rope strand jamming; two opposite transverse connecting flanges each connecting two sides respective transverse of the main flanges, forming grooves of transverse wedging and constituting the input guide portions of rope and rope exit guide.

Preferably, the lights have a general shape symmetrical in isosceles triangle, with a central sonnet in which comes place the hooking ring in rope braking position insurance, and with two opposite locking ends. Of this way, the descender presents a symmetry allowing the use in either direction of progression of the rope.

For use of the same squeaker braking device lifeline, we can also provide connecting means elastic to connect an intermediate portion of the connecting flange longitudinal to the user's body, thus constituting an organ balancing in orientation, the user can simply hold the strands entering and leaving the rope.

The converging flanks of the longitudinal connecting flange can advantageously have longitudinal undulations respective parallels, forcing the rope to follow a path slightly sinusoidal. This improves the braking effect of the jamming of the cord between the converging flanks of the longitudinal connecting flange.

Use in the descent position is facilitated by providing a longitudinal connecting flange extending at both ends by two rope retaining spoilers. The rope can thus be passed over an opposite spoiler before entering the groove formed between the main flanges, producing a slight pivoting of the descender at away from the blocking orientation.

Advantageously, it is possible to provide main flanges comprising, at their ends opposite to the connecting flange longitudinal, rope passage notches. We pass the rope on such a notch just before it enters the groove formed between the main flanges. This embodiment ensures a blocking automatic in the absence of user intervention, and requires that the user rotates the descender to obtain an unlocking and braked sliding along the rope.

SUMMARY DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

• la figure 1 illustre, en perspective, un descendeur selon un premier mode de réalisation de l'invention, en position bloquée ;
• la figure 2 illustre le descendeur de la figure 1 en position de coulissement libre;
• la figure 3 est une vue de face du descendeur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 4 est une coupe transversale du descendeur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue du côté ouvert du descendeur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en perspective d'un descendeur selon une variante adaptée pour le coulissement sur deux brins de corde, en position bloquée ;
• la figure 7 est une coupe transversale du descendeur de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 8 est une vue du côté ouvert du descendeur de la figure 6 ;
• la figure 9 illustre, en vue de face, un descendeur selon un second mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 10 est une demi-coupe longitudinale du descendeur de la figure 9, selon le plan longitudinal médian B-B de la figure 14 ;
• la figure 11 est une vue de côté du descendeur de la figure 9 ;
• la figure 12 est une coupe transversale selon le plan A-A de la figure 9 ;
• la figure 13 est une vue partielle à plus grande échelle de la figure 12, montrant le détail du fond de gorge de blocage du descendeur ;
• la figure 14 est une vue de dessus du descendeur de la figure 9 ;
• la figure 15 illustre le descendeur de la figure 9 en position de coulissement libre ;
• la figure 16 illustre le descendeur de la figure 9 en position de blocage ;
• la figure 17 illustre le descendeur de la figure 9 en position de freinage contrôlé ; et
• la figure 18 illustre un troisième mode de réalisation d'un descendeur selon l'invention, an position de freinage contrôlé.

Other objects, characteristics and advantages of the present invention will emerge from the following description of particular embodiments, given in relation to the attached figures, among which:

• Figure 1 illustrates, in perspective, a descender according to a first embodiment of the invention, in the locked position;
• FIG. 2 illustrates the descender of FIG. 1 in the free sliding position;
• Figure 3 is a front view of the descender of Figure 1;
• Figure 4 is a cross section of the descender of Figure 1;
• Figure 5 is an open side view of the descender of Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is a perspective view of a descender according to a variant suitable for sliding on two strands of rope, in the locked position;
• Figure 7 is a cross section of the descender of Figure 6;
• Figure 8 is an open side view of the descender of Figure 6;
• FIG. 9 illustrates, in front view, a descender according to a second embodiment of the invention;
• Figure 10 is a longitudinal half-section of the descender of Figure 9, along the median longitudinal plane BB of Figure 14;
• Figure 11 is a side view of the descender of Figure 9;
• Figure 12 is a cross section along the plane AA of Figure 9;
• Figure 13 is a partial view on a larger scale of Figure 12 showing the detail of the bottom of the descender blocking groove;
• Figure 14 is a top view of the descender of Figure 9;
• FIG. 15 illustrates the descender of FIG. 9 in the free sliding position;
• Figure 16 illustrates the descender of Figure 9 in the locked position;
• FIG. 17 illustrates the descender of FIG. 9 in the controlled braking position; and
• FIG. 18 illustrates a third embodiment of a descender according to the invention, in the controlled braking position.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

In the embodiment shown in Figures 1 to 5, the descender according to the invention comprises a main body 1 in one piece to which is associated with a hanging ring 2, preferably a hanging ring with carabiner - type opening finger.

The main body 1 comprises two main flanges 3 and 4, generally parallel to each other, and kept apart from each other the other at a distance E suitable for sliding a rope 5 between them.

A longitudinal connecting flange 6 connects the two flanges main 3 and 4 to each other, forming a groove 7 for passage of rope, better visible in section on figure 4. In this mode of embodiment, the longitudinal connection flange 6 connects two sides respective lengths of the main flanges 3 and 4.

In this embodiment, the longitudinal connecting flange 6 has a straight longitudinal profile and a transverse profile concave with converging flanks forming a wedge-shaped dihedral, as shown in figure 4.

The descender further includes two connecting flanges opposite transverse 8 and 9, each connecting two transverse sides respective main flanges 3 and 4, forming grooves of transverse jamming.

The main body 1 also includes an inlet end of rope 10 and an outlet end 11 of rope, generally opposite to each other in a longitudinal direction or general direction of the rope 5, and shaped to orient the main body 1 along the rope 5 in said longitudinal direction.

The free ends of the transverse connecting flanges 8 and 9, advantageously cut at year V, constitute guide portions rope entry and exit.

The main body 1 also comprises two respective slots 13 and 14 year correspondence from each other and each provided in one main flanges 3 and 4. Lights 13 and 14 include oblique edges such as edge 12 gradually approaching the longitudinal connection flange 6 when approaching the end input 10 of rope, as illustrated in the figures.

In the position of use, the hooking ring 2 crosses the two respective lights 13 and 14, and is crossed by the cord 5. The rope 5 is introduced between the main flanges 3 and 4. When the hooking ring 2 is pulled in a pulling direction illustrated by arrow 15, while rope 5 is retained in the direction opposite illustrated by arrow 16, the attachment ring 2 guided by the guide surface formed by the oblique edge 12 wedges a portion intermediate 17 of the rope 5 between the hooking ring 2 and the flange longitudinal link 6 forming wedging groove. More traction is strong on the hooking ring 2, the stronger the jamming, and this produces the locking of the descender on the rope 5.

By rotating the main body 1 conne illustrated by the arrow 18 in FIG. 2, the pressure exerted is gradually reduced on the rope 5 between the hooking ring 2 and the main body 1, and the braking force between the rope 5 and the descender, thus allowing the descender to slide along rope 5, but while maintaining an appropriate braking force.

The descender previously described thus allows use downhill along a fixed rope 5.

Another possible use of the same descender is the braking of a lifeline. We then use the descender as illustrated in Figure 2, the input and output strands of the rope 5 being guided by the user's hands. The main body 1 and the hooking ring 2 allow the rope 5 to slide as long as the main body 1 is oriented transversely to the strands of rope, squeak illustrated in figure 2. Braking can be obtained by pivoting of the main body 1, to reproduce the positioning illustrated in figure 1. To facilitate the maintenance in the position of sliding illustrated in FIG. 2, provision is advantageously made for elastic connection means 19 for connecting an intermediate portion 25 of the longitudinal connection flange 6 to the body of the user, thus constituting a balancing member in orientation allowing the use of this descender as a rope braking device without having to hold the main body 1 of the descender when sliding. When we want to obtain a force of braking on rope 5, just leave the strand of rope free enters the main cap 1 and which, coming to weigh on the end rope entry 10, rotates main body 1 in the direction reverse of arrow 18. The snap hook 2 then slides and comes to engage in squeak locking position illustrated in FIG. 1.

Figures 6 to 8 illustrate a variant of the descender according to the invention, in which the descender is adapted for use on two parallel strands of rope 5 and 105. In this case, the flanges main 3 and 4 are separated enough to allow the accommodation of two strands 5 and 105 of rope side by side cone illustrated in FIG. 6, and the longitudinal connecting flange 6 can advantageously have a transverse profile in double dihedral wedging the two strands parallels 5 and 105 of squeaky rope illustrated in figure 7.

The inlet guide and outlet guide portions of rope are faded by the two free ends of the flanges transverse 8 and 9, which are advantageously cut into W squeaks shown in figure 7.

In all of the embodiments which have been previously described, the slots 13 and 14 advantageously have a shape generally symmetrical in isosceles triangle, with a central vertex 20 in which is housed the latching ring 2 in the braking position lifeline, squeak shown in Figure 2.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 9 to 14, we find the main characteristics of the descender previously described, namely the two main flanges 3 and 4 connected by a flange longitudinal link 6 forming a rope passage groove between the two ends 10 and 11. We also find the connecting flanges cross 8 and 9 cut in V with rounded bottom.

This embodiment includes three improvements advantageous.

According to an embodiment illustrated in particular in the figures 9 and 10, the longitudinal connecting flange 6 has a profile longitudinal triangular with internal edge 106 convex and apex 107 central.

According to a first improvement, the converging flanks 108 and 109 of the longitudinal connection flange 6 have corrugations 110 respective parallel longitudinal, as illustrated in Figures 13 and 14.

According to a second improvement, the connecting flange longitudinal 6 is extended at its two ends by two spoilers 21 and 22 rope retainer.

The use of the descender in Figures 9 to 14 is illustrated on Figures 15 to 17.

In FIG. 15, the descender is shown in the position of free sliding, in which the hooking ring 2 is housed in the subject 20 of light 13, the descender being in transverse position balance and not exerting any braking action on the rope 5. The maintaining this position requires holding the two strands of the rope 5 in the position shown in Figure 15.

If you drop one of the strands of rope 5, the descender rocks in the position of FIG. 16. A pull 23 exerted on the rope to against a traction 24 exerted on the hooking ring 2 causes blocking of the rope 5 by engagement of the hooking ring 2 in blocking position. This operation can be used advantageously to ensure a first rope.

In Figure 17, the descender is used in the position of descent, to produce controlled braking. For this, the input strand lower of the rope 5 passes first behind the spoiler 22 opposite to the entry end 10, then the rope runs laterally along the external face from one of the main flanges 3 and enters between the two flanges main 3 and 4 in the rope passage, to pass in the ring hooking 2 and come out upwards.

In the event that the rope 5 escapes the spoiler 22, the device returns to the position illustrated in FIG. 16, and ensures a automatic blocking.

In the embodiment illustrated in FIG. 18, the descender substantially incorporates the elements of the embodiment of the figure 9, adding two characteristics: first, the spoilers 22 and 21 are more pronounced, ensuring better guidance of the rope 5; and especially the main flanges such as the main flange 3 include, at their ends opposite the connecting flange longitudinal 6, notches 26 and 27 for passage of rope 5. The passage of the rope 5 in the notch 26 increases the braking force, compared to the embodiment of FIG. 9, and the more hollow shape of the notch 22 prevents any escape of the rope 5 out of the notch 22. This type of descender locks automatically if the user releases the rope and descender. Controlled sliding along the rope requires that the user applies an effort to the main body 1 of the descender pivoting tending & lowering the spoiler 22.

The main body 1 can be made of various materials. Of good braking and blocking effects can be achieved with a body main aluminum alloy.

The descender according to the invention has, by its very shape, a improved locking power, in particular ensuring braking by jamming which applies the braking force on the core of the rope, unlike rough surface devices that act mainly on the outer sheath of the rope and which risk deteriorate.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments which have been explicitly described, but it includes the various variants and generalizations contained in the field of claims below.

Claims (7)

1. Self-locking abseil device for relative locking of a hook ring (2) and at least one run of rope (5), comprising an integral main body (1) having:

   two generally parallel main flanges (3, 4) separated by an appropriate distance allowing the rope (5) to slide between them,

   a longitudinal connecting flange (6) joining together two longitudinal sides of the two main flanges (3, 4) and forming a groove (7) in which the rope (5) passes between an entry end (10) and an exit end (11),

   two ring guide openings (13, 14) housed in respective main flanges (3, 4) and positioned in corresponding relationship to each other, each including at least on oblique edge (12) progressively converging with the longitudinal connecting flange (6) in the direction towards the rope entry end (10) and as far as a locking end, the ring guide openings (13, 14) being sized to receive a portion of the hook ring (2) passing through them and which can slide as far as the locking end in which the ring clamps the rope (5) against the longitudinal connecting flange (6), characterised in that:

   the longitudinal connecting flange (6) has a concave inner transverse profile with convergent flanks forming at least one dihedron for wedging the run of rope (5),

   two opposite transverse connecting flanges (8, 9) each joining together two respective transverse sides of the main flanges (3, 4), forming transverse wedging grooves and constituting the rope entry (10) and rope exit (11) guide portions.
2. Abseil device according to claim 1, characterised in that the openings (13, 14) have general symmetrical shape, an isosceles triangle shape, with a central apex (20) in which the hook ring (2) is accommodated in a safety rope locking position, and with two opposite locking ends.
3. Abseil device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that it further comprises spring connecting means (19) for joining an intermediate portion (25) of the longitudinal connecting flange (6) to the body of the user, constituting an orientation balancing unit enabling use of the abseil device as a safety rope locking unit.
4. Abseil device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the longitudinal connecting flange (6) has a double dihedron transverse profile for wedging two parallel runs of rope (5, 105).
5. Abseil device according to any one of claims 1 through 4, characterised in that the convergent flanks (108, 109) of the longitudinal connecting flange (6) have respective parallel longitudinal undulations (110).
6. Abseil device according to any one of claims 1 through 5, characterised in that the longitudinal connecting flange (6) is extended at both ends thereof by two rope retaining brackets (21, 22).
7. Abseil device according to claim 6, characterised in that the main flanges (3, 4) have notches (26, 27) at their ends opposite the longitudinal connecting flange (6) and through which the rope passes.

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