Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A63—SPORTS; GAMES; AMUSEMENTS
  • A63B—APPARATUS FOR PHYSICAL TRAINING, GYMNASTICS, SWIMMING, CLIMBING, OR FENCING; BALL GAMES; TRAINING EQUIPMENT
  • A63B29/00—Apparatus for mountaineering
  • A63B29/02—Mountain guy-ropes or accessories, e.g. avalanche ropes; Means for indicating the location of accidentally buried, e.g. snow-buried, persons
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B1/00—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like
  • A62B1/06—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like by making use of rope-lowering devices
  • A62B1/14—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like by making use of rope-lowering devices with brakes sliding on the rope
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B35/00—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion
  • A62B35/0043—Lifelines, lanyards, and anchors therefore
  • A62B35/0068—Anchors

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a rope brake for securing people and objects, in particular climbers, the rope brake being provided in the safety system to reduce the energy in the event of a climber falling.
• the safety system usually consists of a climbing rope or safety rope, which is gradually attached by the climber during the ascent through safety points already in the wall or to be installed by the climber, for example in the form of carabiners.
• the rope is connected to both the climber and a belayer, the belayer, so that the belayer secures the climber against the fall with his own weight.
• the belayer usually stands at a distance of 1 to 2 meters from the wall.
• the belay points are usually spaced a few meters apart, so that even when climbing above a belay point, the climber cannot fall too far.
• the last securing point at which the safety rope was hooked represents the securing point at which the rope is deflected and the climber is held in the event of a fall. If the climber falls above the last belay point, the height of the fall is at least twice the distance to the last belay point. This allows the climber to achieve high fall speeds.
• a safety point usually consists of a hook attached to the wall and a carabiner attached to it, into which the safety rope is hung. Of course, other constructions can also serve as a securing point.
• the belayer's weight is often increased by adding additional weights, such as sandbags, to the belayer.
• additional weights such as sandbags
• So-called rope brakes offer a solution that can be used both in climbing gyms and when climbing in nature. These increase the rope friction in the system and are therefore able to reduce the fall energy to be absorbed by the belayer, so that the risk of accidents for climbers and belayers can be reduced.
• the cable brake disclosed in patent specification CH 428520 A is an example of this. This permanently increases the rope friction in the system, so that less energy acts on the belayer in the event of a fall.
• such rope brakes have the disadvantage that increased rope friction is also generated when climbing, which makes it more difficult to pull the rope and thus impairs the climber when climbing.
• the object of the present invention is to provide an alternative solution with which the weight difference between two climbing partners can be compensated and which is easy to use, works safely in the event of a fall and does not hinder the climber during regular climbing.
• the cable brake according to the invention for securing falling people or objects is attached to the climbing wall at a securing point, preferably at the securing point which is closest to the ground. It has a guide element which is designed to serve as a guide for a safety cable.
• the cable brake according to the invention also has a deflection element which has a fastening section and a braking section and is movably mounted. The safety cable is passed between the guide element and the deflection element.
• the cable brake according to the invention also has a stop which is set up to limit the movement of the deflection element, the stop being arranged in such a way that the distance between the deflection element and the guide element is always greater than the diameter of the safety cable and this is therefore between the guide element and deflection element can be passed through. Furthermore, the deflection element and the guide element are arranged relative to one another in such a way that the safety cable touches both the guide element and the braking section in a loaded state, in one unloaded state does not do such that a significant braking effect is brought about.
• the loaded state is the state that the rope brake assumes when the climber falls and his weight acts on the safety system.
• the unloaded state is therefore the opposite, i.e. when the weight of the climber does not affect the safety system and thus the rope brake.
• the rope brake at the belay point essentially hangs down due to gravity in the direction of the belayer and the safety rope is passed through the rope brake. During the no-load condition, the rope is not under tension.
• the safety cable is deflected by the deflection element and is now in contact with the braking section on one side and the guide element on the other side.
• the additional deflection increases the friction in the system and thus part of the climber's fall energy is dissipated, i.e. converted into heat.
• the remaining energy that has to be absorbed by the belayer can thus be reduced. In this way, safety can be increased and the permissible weight difference between the climber and the belayer can be increased.
• the deflection element is mounted on the cable brake such that it can rotate about a pivot point.
• a rotary mounting around a pivot point enables a simple and, as it were, stable constructive implementation.
• An advantageous embodiment of the cable brake according to the invention has an additional element which is arranged in such a way that the safety cable rubs against the guide element, the braking section of the deflection element and the additional element in the event of a fall into the cable brake itself.
• care must be taken to ensure that the rope friction that occurs between the carabiner of the safety point and the safety rope that is routed through it in the event of a fall into a belay point above the rope brake is not present. This means that the friction in the rope brake must be increased in order to achieve the same safety of the system as in a fall into a belay point above the rope brake. This is ensured by the additional friction on the additional element when falling into the rope brake itself.
• the cable brake has a second guide element, the guide element, the deflection element and the second guide element being arranged in relation to one another in such a way that the Safety rope in the loaded state rubs on both the guide element, the braking section of the deflection element, and the second guide element.
• the rope friction can be further increased and thus even more energy can be dissipated in the event of the climber falling. It is also conceivable to provide further guide elements in order to further increase the effectiveness of the brake.
• Embodiments with an additional element or a second guide element are particularly advantageous if the deflection element and the additional element or the second guide element are arranged in such a way that the distance between the braking section of the deflection element and the additional element or the second guide element is always greater than the diameter of the safety rope. It is thus possible to prevent the safety rope from being pinched in the rope brake, particularly in the unloaded state, and thus preventing the climber from being prevented from climbing.
• the cable brake has an opening element, for example in the form of rubber, a spring or another elastic element, which is configured to exert a force on the deflection element in such a way that the distance between the brake section and the guide element increases .
• the fact that the specified distance can change is due to the movable mounting of the deflection element. It enables the deflection element, and thus also the braking section, to move in a translatory or rotatory manner, depending on the type of bearing.
• the cable brake can be opened at least at one point in such a way that the safety cable can be inserted into the cable brake and positioned there.
• An opening can be realized, for example, via a joint and a latching mechanism. However, it is essential that the opening can be closed securely to prevent the safety rope from slipping out when climbing. The opening allows easy installation of the rope brake in the safety system. If the rope brake is attached to the belay point, the rope can easily be inserted into the open rope brake in this way without the climber having to loosen it and thread it through the rope brake and attach it to the climber again. Safety and comfort can be significantly increased in this way.
• the distance between the fastening section of the deflection element and the braking section can be changed.
• the geometry of the cable brake and thus also the path of the safety cable through the cable brake can be changed.
• the contact area between the rope and the braking section or the guide element is changed, whereby the rope friction and thus the braking effect according to the weights of the climber and of the belayer is adjustable.
• the friction effect of the brake increases when the distance between the fastening element and the brake section is increased and the cable is thus deflected more.
• the positions of the deflection element and the guide element can be adjusted in relation to one another and in this way the geometry of the cable brake can be changed.
• the braking effect of the rope brake can also be influenced by changing the geometry and in this way can be adjusted to the respective weight difference between the climber and the belayer.
• the braking section has a round shape at its end, which is in contact with the safety cable in the loaded state. In this way, rope wear can be minimized.
• the rope brake has a second stop which is set up to limit the movement of the deflection element in such a way that the distance between the fastening section and the guide element is always greater than the diameter of the safety rope.
• the first and the second stop are structurally ensured by a component. In this way, jamming of the safety rope can be effectively prevented in order to minimize the risk of the climber being obstructed by the rope brake.
• FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the rope brake according to the invention in the unloaded state
• FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the rope brake according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in a loaded state
• FIG. 3 shows the embodiment of the rope brake according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in the loaded state when falling into the rope brake itself
• FIG. 1 shows an embodiment of the cable brake 10 according to the invention in the unloaded state.
• a climber 20 climbs a wall 50 and is secured by a belayer 30.
• the cable brake 10 is fastened in a first securing point 51 provided on the wall 50 .
• the first securing point 51 is the securing point which is located furthest close to the ground.
• the climber 20 passes several safety points 51, 52, into which he hangs a safety rope 40 to secure himself.
• the last belay point to which the climber 20 hooked the safety rope 40 is referred to as the current belay point 52 . This catches the climber 20 in the event of a fall.
• the first safety point 51 consists of a safety hook 511 and a carabiner 512.
• the cable brake 10 is attached to the carabiner 512.
• types of securing points are also conceivable in which, for example, a textile connecting piece is provided between the securing hook 511 and the carabiner 512 .
• the climber usually hangs a carabiner 512 in each safety hook 511 when climbing a peg along the wall.
• the cable brake 10 can already be attached to the carabiner 512 on the ground, which means that only the carabiner 512 has to be hooked into the safety hook 511 when climbing up.
• the cable brake 10 consists of a deflection element 11, a guide element A, an additional element B and a stop 13, which are each arranged in a housing 12.
• the housing 12 consists of two plates, between which the named elements are arranged.
• the cable brake is shown in a sectional view, in which the one plate of the housing 20 that is inclined towards the viewer has been cut off in order to enable a view of the inner workings of the cable brake 10 .
• the cable brake 10 can be opened by rotating one of the plates in order to be able to easily insert the safety cable 40 into the cable brake 10.
• the deflection element 11 in turn consists of a fastening section 111 shaped as a ring and a braking section 112 lying opposite the fastening section.
• the safety cable 40 is guided through the cable brake 10 between the deflection element 11 and the guide element A, with the additional element B being located on the side of the guide element A and the stop 13 on the side of the deflection element 11 .
• An opening element designed as a torsion spring is provided at the pivot point 14 of the deflection element 11, which exerts a rotational force on the deflection element 11 so that it is rotated clockwise in the plane of the drawing in order to ensure the opening for the safety cable 40.
• the rope brake 10 hangs down due to its weight, pointing in the direction of the belayer.
• the safety rope 40 is held under slight tension by the belayer 30, without pulling the climber 20 down so that the climber 20 can climb the wall 50 without hindrance.
• climbing up he can easily pull the safety rope 40 through the rope brake 10 without it jamming or experiencing any other significant resistance.
• FIG. 2 shows the embodiment of the rope brake 10 according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 in a loaded state. Since the illustrations from FIG. 1 and FIG. 2 differ only in that the safety system with the rope brake 10 is in the unloaded state and in the loaded state, only the differences between the two figures will be discussed.
• the safety rope 40 is tensioned and deflected in the current safety point 52, so that the climber 20 hangs on one side of the current safety point 52 and on the other side the connection through the rope brake 10 to the belayer 30 is given. Due to the tension of the safety rope 40 and the geometry of the arrangement, the rope brake 10 is aligned pointing upwards in the direction of the climber 40 or in the direction of the safety point following the first safety point 51 . As a result, the safety cable 40 on the guide element A, which is designed as a cylinder between the two plates of the housing 12, is deflected by 90 degrees, causing friction between the safety cable 40 and the guide element A.
• the deflection element 11 Due to the load on the cable brake 10 , the deflection element 11 is rotated about the pivot point 14 against the force of the opening element, so that it bears against the stop 13 .
• the stop 13 prevents the safety cable 40 from being pinched between the guide element A and the deflection element 11 .
• the safety rope 40 is deflected again and then extends from the deflection element 11 directly in the direction of the belayer 30. This further deflection of the safety rope 40 creates friction on the braking section 112, which further reduces the energy out of the security system.
• the safety rope 40 When climbing without a rope brake 10, the safety rope 40 would be guided directly through the carabiner 512 of the lowest safety point 51.
• the cable friction that occurs in such a system thus corresponds approximately to the friction that is present between the guide element A and the safety cable 40 in the system with the cable brake 10 .
• the friction occurring at the braking section 112 thus additionally reduces the energy to be absorbed by the belayer 30 in comparison to climbing without a rope brake 10 . This can both increase safety and create the possibility that significantly lighter climbing partners can secure their heavier climbing partners.
• Embodiments of the invention are conceivable in which the positions of the guide element A or the pivot point 14 of the deflection element 11 can be changed in order to thus adjust the angle of wrap of the safety cable on the guide element A and braking section 112 .
• FIGS. 1 and 2 shows the embodiment of the rope brake 10 according to the invention shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in the loaded state when falling into the rope brake 10 itself.
• the cable brake 10 between FIGS. 1 to 3 only the differences from the previous figures will be discussed.
• the safety rope is first deflected by the guide element A, starting from the climber, and deflected in turn by the second guide element B to the belayer 30 .
• the braking section 112 of the deflection element 11 protrudes so far between the guide element A and the guide element B that the safety cable 40 is deflected by the braking section 112 in addition to the deflections on the guide elements A and B. There is thus friction both during the deflection on the guide elements A and B and on the braking section 112 .

Landscapes

• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Pulmonology (AREA)
• Physical Education & Sports Medicine (AREA)
• Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
• Braking Arrangements (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=81586344

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (5)

Family Cites Families (8)

• 2021
  • 2021-05-25 DE DE102021002712.4A patent/DE102021002712B3/de active Active
• 2022
  • 2022-05-24 EP EP22732449.8A patent/EP4347052A1/de active Pending
  • 2022-05-24 WO PCT/EP2022/064091 patent/WO2022248492A1/de active Application Filing
  • 2022-05-24 CA CA3217910A patent/CA3217910A1/en active Pending
  • 2022-05-24 JP JP2023572936A patent/JP2024520034A/ja active Pending

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events