EP1329242A1 - Self-locking descending device on tensioned rope - Google Patents

Abstract

The descent clamp (10), comprising fixed (12) and pivoting (14) flanges, a pair of pulleys (15, 16) with a gap (19) between them for the cable (11), and fastenings for attaching to the user's harness, has the pulleys located in the middle portion of the first flange (12), which has a handle (13) opposite a first fastening hole (23). When the clamp is fitted on a tensioned cable the hole (23) is located at the top and in vertical alignment with the gap (19).

Description

Technical field of the invention

• un premier flasque fixe, et un deuxième flasque mobile en rotation limitée dans un plan sensiblement parallèle au premier flasque entre une position fermée de service, et une position écartée de mise en place sur la corde,
• une paire de réas séparés l'un de l'autre par un intervalle de passage de la corde,

et des moyens d'attache destinés à être reliés au baudrier de l'utilisateur.The invention relates to a self-locking descender on rope or rope, comprising:

• a first fixed flange, and a second flange movable in limited rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the first flange between a closed service position, and a spaced-apart position for positioning on the rope,
• a pair of sheaves separated from each other by a rope passage interval,

and attachment means intended to be connected to the user's harness.

Such a descender can be used in various fields, in particular sailing, mountaineering, speleology, rope work, etc.

State of the art

Self-locking descenders on rope comprise in a conventional manner a pair of flanges, one of which is movable, a pair of sheaves for the passage in S rope, an operating handle, and a locking system rope. The hole for the carabiner is generally located in the lower bet on the side of the operating handle. Such descenders are described in documents EP 303388, US 5850893, US 4596314 and 6029777.

The passage in S of the rope on these known descenders makes their assembly impossible on taut ropes, that is to say subjected to tensions or loads important on the downstream strand. The absence of slack on a stretched rope does not allow no wrapping the rope around the sheaves.

There are also rope blockers, with a passage chute rope, and a locking cam, which can be moved aside for a mounting on a stretched rope. This type of blocker does not offer the function of descender, and does not allow the tool to be released under tension.

Subject of the invention

The invention aims to remedy these drawbacks, and to achieve a descender that can be mounted on a stretched rope, and allowing when descent to stop safely with an automatic lock, and set off again in a braked and controlled descent.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by the fact that the two sheaves are worn in the middle part of the first flange, which has at one end an operating handle located opposite at least a first orifice of attachment, and when placing the descender on a tight rope, the first opening is at the top of the first flange, and vertical alignment with the passage interval of the rope.

According to a preferred embodiment, the two sheaves are fixed to the first flange by means of screws cooperating with shoulder nuts, of which one serves as the axis of rotation of the second movable flange, and the other of which constitutes a stop for receiving a recess when the second flange arrives at closed position. The second flange has at least one hole for come next to the first hole in the closed position for hanging a attachment carabiner.

According to another characteristic of the invention, the two sheaves include friction surfaces rectilinear and parallel to each other to delimit said rope passage interval.

Brief description of the drawings

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un descendeur selon l'invention, lequel est représenté en position de mise en place sur une corde tendue ;
• la figure 2 montre une vue en coupe du descendeur en service lorsque la tension exercée sur la corde est importante ;
• la figure 3 représente une vue identique de la figure 2, pour une charge minimum sur la corde ;
• la figure 4 est une vue en perspective du descendeur dans la position de la figure 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une en perspective éclatée du descendeur de la figure 1 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe du descendeur en position de sécurité.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of particular embodiments of the invention given by way of nonlimiting examples and represented in the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of a descender according to the invention, which is shown in the positioning position on a tensioned rope;
• Figure 2 shows a sectional view of the descender in service when the tension on the rope is high;
• FIG. 3 represents an identical view to FIG. 2, for a minimum load on the rope;
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the descender in the position of Figure 3;
• Figure 5 is an exploded perspective view of the descender of Figure 1;
• Figure 6 is a sectional view of the descender in the safety position.

Description of particular embodiments.

In the figures, a self-locking descender 10 on a taut rope, includes a first fixed flange 12 extended at the bottom by a handle of operation 13, and a second flange 14 movable in limited rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the first flange 12. The rope used is made up by a rope 11, but could also be a halyard or a cable.

The first flange 12 carries two sheaves 15, 16 fixed by screws 17, 18 and separated one from the other by an interval 19 intended for the passage of the rope 11. The width of the interval 19 is slightly greater than the diameter of the rope 11. The ends of the screws 17, 18 cooperate with nuts 20, 21 with shoulders, of which one 20 serves as an axis of rotation and for holding the second movable flange 14, and the other 21 of which constitutes a stop for receiving the recess 22 when the second flange 14 arrives in the closed position (Figure 4).

Opposite the handle 13, the first flange 12 is equipped with two orifices 23, 24, one of which 23 constitutes a traction point when loading the descender. The second flange 14 also has two holes 25, 26 intended to come opposite the orifices 23, 24 for attaching the first flange 12, so as to allow the attachment of two carabiners 27, 28. The carabiner 27 is used for hanging, while the other carabiner 28 auxiliary is used to secure the descender.

The opening 23 of the first flange 12 is located at the top of the descender, and substantially in vertical alignment with the gap 19 when setting place the device on the stretched rope 11 (Figure 1). The other port 24 is located angularly offset between port 23 and sheave 15. The distance between port 24 and the axis of the sheave 16 is less than that separating the latter from the orifice 23.

Preferably, the two sheaves 15, 16 have friction surfaces 31 rectilinear and parallel to delimit the interval 19 for passage of the rope 11.

The operation of the descender 10 according to the invention is as follows:

In FIG. 1, the descender 10 can be placed on a rope 11 vertical stretched. Just rotate the second flange 14 to the position spread to be able to freely engage the rope 11 in the interval 19. This fitting on the stretched rope 11 is carried out without problem, since the gap 19 is aligned vertically with the hole 23 located at the part upper flange 12.

FIG. 2 illustrates a descent movement on a taut rope, in which the load on the rope is important. The weight of the user attached to the carabiner 27 requests a rotational movement of the descender 10 in the direction of arrow F1. The orifice 23 is angularly offset from the cord 11 in causing a torque tending to deform the portion of rope 11 in the interval 19 by creating friction points 29, 30 on the sheaves 15, 16. To descend, the user acts on the handle 13 in the direction of the arrow F2, so as to reduce the friction surface of the rope 11 on the sheaves 15, 16.

Figures 3 and 4 show the state of the descender with a minimum load on the rope 11. In this case, it is not necessary to act on the handle 13 to go down. Just manually regulate the rope tension by holding the strand downstream as in a classic descender.

In the three preceding phases, the second carabiner 28 does not intervene not, since the user is hooked on the first carabiner 27.

In Figure 6, we can add the second carabiner 28 in the hole 24 and hole 26 after charging of the device. The presence of this second carabiner 28 places the descender in the safety position preventing the return of the flange 12 in the positioning position of FIG. 1, when a brutal release action (arrow F2) is exerted on the handle 13. The rope 11 remains stuck on the friction points 19, 20, and thereby avoids the user free fall,

It is clear that the second carabiner 28 can be replaced by a finger mobile or any other means of restraint. the second carabiner 28

Claims (6)

Self-locking descender on rope or rope (11), comprising: a first fixed flange (12), and a second flange (14) movable in limited rotation in a plane substantially parallel to the first flange (12) between a closed service position, and a spaced apart position for positioning on the rope (11 ) a pair of sheaves (15, 16) separated from each other by an interval (19) for the passage of the rope (11), and attachment means intended to be connected to the user's harness, characterized in that the two sheaves (15, 16) are carried in the middle part of the first flange (12), which comprises at one of the ends a maneuvering handle (13) situated opposite at least one first orifice (23) for attachment, and that when the descender is placed on a taut rope (11), the first orifice (23) is located at the top of the first flange (12), and in vertical alignment with the interval (19). Self-locking descender according to claim 1, characterized in that the two sheaves (15, 16) are fixed to the first flange (12) by means of screws (17, 18) cooperating with shoulder nuts (20, 21), of which one (30) serves as the axis of rotation of the second movable flange (14), the other (21) of which constitutes a stop for receiving a recess (22) when the second flange (14) arrives in position closed. Self-locking descender according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the second flange (14) is provided with at least one hole (25) intended to come opposite the first orifice (23) in the closed position for the attachment of a carabiner (27) for attachment. Self-locking descender according to claim 1, characterized in that the two sheaves (15, 16) have friction surfaces (31) rectilinear and parallel to each other to delimit said interval (19) for passage of the rope ( 11). Self-locking descender according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first flange (12) is provided with a second orifice (24) allowing the introduction of a retaining means for securing the descender by jamming of the rope in the gap (19) between the sheaves (15, 16). Self-locking descender according to claim 5, characterized in that the retaining means is formed by an auxiliary carabiner (28).

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