ES1294610U - ROPE BESURANCE AND/OR BRAKING DEVICE (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding) - Google Patents

Abstract

Rope belay and/or braking device consisting of two parts assembled to form a set (1), comprising two lateral faces (2) joined at their base, which in turn form a core (3) inside the same forming a plurality of pins with each other and where said core forms a free space between its two lateral faces through which a rope will circulate in which the device is linked by means of, at least, a carabiner characterized in that said pins correspond with a dynamic brake cavity (4), a pad brake cavity (5) that incorporates locking cones (5b), a loop-shaped ventral ring mooring cavity, this being self-locking (6a), and a circular non-self-locking entry (6b) and a chest positioner (7). (Machine-translation by Google Translate, not legally binding)

Description

DESCRIPTION

ROPE BESURANCE AND/OR BRAKING DEVICE

Object of the invention

The object of this specification is a semi-automatic alpine belay and/or braking device, dynamic according to its revision, non-mechanical on rope for the practice of activities such as rock or ice climbing, mountaineering, mountaineering, canyoning , caving and acrobatic work within the framework of sports and professional activities.

Background of the invention

At present, alpine belay devices, as well as rope braking devices, for the different practices listed above are widely known in the state of the art.

In recent years, climbing has become a sport in constant growth, with many of these new users who need a period of initiation in the basic concepts of safety when practicing it. This great increase in the number of climbers has generated a demand for specific training courses that there is currently no possibility of satisfying, which leads many of them to practice this kind of sports without the necessary knowledge of climbing and belay techniques. or without the guidance of a person skilled in the art. In this kind of sports, experience is closely linked to safety, which can lead to incorrect operation of the equipment in emergency situations and/or any type of risk for the user, leading to falls or even personal injury. very diverse nature, such as the entrapment of the fingers in the loop that is generated in the rope before entering the devices.

The belay and braking means known in the state of the art usually consist of a metal frame with varied geometries, where the rope is housed and confined by means of at least one standard carabiner, thus producing large energy losses between rope, carabiner and belay device due to physical friction and/or the loops of string that are generated as the string flows through the device.

Among these known means, we find document FR2887463A1, a self-braking descender device for, for example, caving, which has two ears and a single metal part with a large central hole that communicates with a V-shaped slit, and an upper part curved towards the front, where an opening between the hole and the slit allows an optional self-locking and where, in turn, one of the ears has a lowering or belay rope that passes through it after being hooked to a carabiner hooked to the harness, allowing the rope to automatically come out of the ear and lock into the notch when the user wants to loosen the rope.

Likewise, we also find document FR2889814A, a device to aid mountaineering for rappelling that has a hook that blocks the user's descent when he or she does not exert force on the hook, and an opening whose edges include projections to hold the hook. when the user exerts force to control the descent.

To avoid these problems, descending devices have been developed that are equipped with an automatic rope locking system in case of release. Unfortunately, most of these devices have a complex, heavy and bulky mechanical structure and are difficult to use, which greatly limits their use. In fact, in the event of stress, the user can, with the mechanical devices, twitch on the handle of the release device and therefore make the climber who is belaying fall abruptly. In addition, the reduction of kinetic energy produced by these devices is carried out in an efficient way, but, generally, this maneuver is not achieved in a completely efficient way, that is, the expected energy dissipation is not produced in all cases. the necessary speed and strength.

To try to solve this problem, various alpine belay methods have been presented. Like EP2883574A2, a belay device comprising a body including a rope slot through which a rope can pass, a guide-mode anchor and a release formation, to which the guide-mode anchor is pivotally connected to the body, the device being operative to cause frictional locking of a working length of rope in a load condition on the rope corresponding to that occurring in the event of a fall of an secured climber. When the rope is locked, the body pivots with respect to the rope anchor. guide mode to increase the mechanical advantage of the release formation with respect to the load applied by the working length of the string on the body.

Likewise, document EP1834672B1, a multifunctional rope belay device comprising a support plate equipped with a fixed pin, a cam mounted with limited rotation on the plate around a first axis, and provided with a peripheral sector provided with a groove around which the rope is wound in a half turn, said cam being movable between a retention position corresponding to the locking of the rope by the wedge effect against the cone, and an extension position that allows the rope to runs freely in the gap between the cam (and the cone), where the cam is associated with an unlocking pawl capable of occupying either a locking position that locks the cam in the deployed position, or an unlocking position after a voluntary control action that releases said cam.

These inventions have a series of disadvantages and limitations, such as the need to continuously hold the rope by the free end in the device of document EP2883574A2, which, if released, can lead to an excessive speed of passage of the rope to through the safety device, being able to generate injuries of various kinds both to the climber due to free fall and to the belayer due to the entrapment of limbs between the device, carabiner and rope. While in document EP1834672B1, we observe that the rope is released by means of the belayer, applying a certain force to a lever which, with its rotation about an axis at its end, reduces the pressure generated by the rocker, releasing in this way said rope. However, if the belayer maintains high and constant pressure on the lever, the rope would be released and, in the event of the climber accidentally falling, the device would not have sufficient frictional power to dissipate the potential energy of the climber, letting him fall to reach a more stable energy position, which, in most cases, will be the level of the ground, and may also generate injuries of various kinds to the climber due to free fall.

The invention presented here has been made in view of the problems described above and by means of the development of the claims of the device, it aims to provide a belay and/or braking device on a rope that increases the safety for users in handling it during any sports practice described above.

Description of the invention

The technical problem that the present invention solves is to provide a rope belay and/or braking device capable of performing self-positioning movements to reduce the user's interaction, reducing the speed of the running body or even stopping it or keeping it immobile to avoid any type of accident during use. To do this, the rope securing and/or braking device, object of this utility model, comprises two side faces joined at their base, which in turn form a core inside them, forming a plurality of pins with each other. and where said core forms a free space between its two lateral faces through which a rope will circulate in which the device is linked by means of at least one carabiner characterized in that said pins correspond to a dynamic brake cavity, a brake of mats made up of a cavity and locking cones, a mooring cavity to the ventral ring with self-locking and a mooring cavity for rappelling without self-locking.

In the device, the dynamic brake is configured through the friction of the rope with the device, the carabiner and the rope itself, while the duffel brake is configured by constricting the rope with the plurality of locking cones arranged in the same.

Likewise, the device has an anti-return projection in the dynamic brake cavity.

The space between the two lateral faces comprises a minimum of 10 millimeters and a maximum of 14 millimeters and where the plurality of pins that make them up are of equal length to the width of the core as a whole.

The self-locking ventral ring mooring cavity has a curved section in a circular arrangement, with a linear length of between 280 and 300 millimeters and a width that comprises a minimum of 13 millimeters and a maximum of 15 millimeters, forming an angle of between 259° and 284° with respect to the dynamic brake cavity.

The non-self-locking ventral ring mooring cavity will be located next to the self-locking cavity, forming an angle of between 248° and 252° with respect to the dynamic brake cavity.

Thanks to its design, the device advocated here is capable of blocking the passage of the rope through any of its brake cavities in only one of its directions of movement, without the need for slippage, when large traction forces are applied to the rope. .

Likewise, in order to avoid accidental and unwanted unlocking of the device, a specific interaction from the user will be necessary to unlock it, which consists of exerting pressure on one of the ends of the device to rotate it on itself and, in this way, , reduce the pressure and friction produced by the rope loops generated inside the device, thus allowing the rope to slide progressively until the tensions between the device and the rope equalize. In addition, any of the through holes for mooring said device can be used to moor it to an anchor point by means of a safety carabiner as a robust union, but allowing a certain degree of freedom of rotation, rotation or slight movement.

The materialization of the core of this device in a robust metal allows the wear and/or breakage that the device would suffer due to contact with the rope to be minimized, thus lengthening its useful life and increasing the safety factor that it grants to the user in handling of it.

The invention is intended for the practice of vertical progression sports, such as, for example, climbing both in the climbing wall and on rock or ice, the descent of both dry and aquatic ravines, caving, etc., but this is not limiting and It could be used in any other area of life. Likewise, it is designed for the use of any user who has basic notions of climbing and to facilitate the introduction to these sports, but it could also be used in professional environments, as well as that of the state security forces and bodies. or others such as firefighters, military forces, etc.

Brief description of the figures

Next, a series of drawings that help to better understand the invention and that are expressly related to an embodiment of said invention that is presented as a non-limiting example of it are described very briefly.

FIG 1. Shows a right side view of the rope belay and/or braking device, object of this utility model.

FIG 2. Shows a perspective view of the exemplified frame of the rope belay and/or braking device, object of this utility model. FIG 3. Shows a rear elevation view of the rope belay and/or braking device, object of this utility model.

FIG 4. Shows a rear elevation view of the exemplified frame of the rope belay and/or braking device, object of this utility model. FIG 5. FIG 5. Shows a rear elevation view of the exemplified core of the rope belay and/or braking device, object of this utility model. FIG 6. FIG 6. Shows a perspective view of the exemplified core of the rope belay and/or braking device, object of this utility model. FIG 7. Shows a front perspective view of the exemplified core of the rope belay and/or braking device, object of this utility model.

Exposition of a detailed embodiment of the invention

A preferred embodiment of the invention is shown in the attached figures. More specifically, the rope belay and/or braking device comprises a set (1) made up of two assembled parts that join the two side faces (2) at their base, forming a core (3) inside, for which that circulates a rope and a carabiner, and a plurality of pins that correspond to a dynamic brake (4), a petates brake (5), a mooring cavity to the ventral ring with two entrances (with self-locking (6a) and without self-locking (6b)) and a chest positioner (7).

In a preferred embodiment, the self-locking ventral ring mooring cavity, with a curved section in a circular arrangement, is located at an angle of between 259 and 284° with respect to the brake cavity, which increases maneuverability in unlocking the brake. the rope, since when the device is in the rope lock position, the user will have the option of applying a small force to the end of the device to move it through the slide to its controlled rope release position, and in this way , reduce the degrees of rotation necessary for the device to reach a stable energy position.

In a preferred embodiment, the core is made of robust metal or any other with equivalent mechanical characteristics.

In a second preferred embodiment, the lateral faces are made of a light metal or any other with equivalent mechanical characteristics.

In a third preferred embodiment, the two pieces are assembled preferably by means of pins inserted under pressure, and may have riveted, threaded, cast heads or joined in any permanent way that prevents their detachment during operation or handling of the assembly.

This device can be seen used in countless examples in the practice of climbing, for example, in the task of climbing belayer in pairs or alone, since, by means of rope loops and friction, it manages to dissipate the shock highly energetic that produces the rope on the device. In addition, it can also be used as a rope descender, as it has both the locking system with anti-return projection to increase maneuverability, and the mooring cavity to the ventral ring without self-locking, in addition to the availability of a cavity for hoisting mats capable of blocking small diameter ropes.

For example, in a first case in which we want to semi-automatically secure the first climber of a rope when he is opening the route, we position the device with the rope passage slot upwards, we introduce the active rope (which has to hold us in case of fall) by the device and we join it to it by means of a safety carabiner that we fix in the hole (oval) of the device intended for semi-automatic belay. Once the first roper starts his climb up, the rope will run freely as long as the device is kept in a horizontal or inverted position and there is no excessive upward pressure on the rope; If at any time the leader falls, the device will change position and the passage of the rope through it will be blocked, ensuring the position of the climber. Whenever the user wishes to descend, they only have to change the angle of the device, which will be in a vertical position, rotating it to seek a horizontal position, so that the rope is released, and thus be able to lower the climber.

In a second practical example, in which the user is in a meeting and wants to secure the second roper, who is coming from below, the same procedure will be carried out, but the direction of the device will be the opposite. We attach the device by means of a carabiner to the meeting (above), and when the rope comes from below, it will be when (in a possible fall) it strangles itself against the steel core of the device and the same inactive rope (the one that remains free) thus causing the locking of the rope in the device automatically.

In a third practical example, the user can secure himself if he is solo climbing. Attaching the device to the chest harness by means of a carabiner or fastening cord through its two ears, we place the device with the dynamic brake slot facing forward and by means of another carabiner we attach it to the ventral ring of the waist harness (on the circular section slot intended for the self-locking brake). In this situation, we carry the inactive rope (the one that will not hold us in a possible fall) in a backpack to facilitate progression, passing it over one of our shoulders through the device in a downward direction and remaining fixed in its active part. (section of rope that works in the event of a fall) to the first insurance of the wall by means of a safety carabiner or closed fixed knot. In this way it will be possible to climb freely and in the event of a fall, the device will stop the climber in free fall at the height of the first insurance with which he finds himself.

In a fourth example in which due to technical circumstances of the route it is required to use dynamic braking, such as routes with high exposure in artificial climbing or on floating insurances, we will replicate the procedure cited in the first example, with the difference that, in this In this case, we attach the device to the waist harness's ventral ring on the round hole intended for rappelling and dynamic braking or without self-locking. In this way, in the event of a possible fall of the leader of the rope, we can brake its descent dynamically, thus subjecting the floating anchors installed on the wall to a much lower tension, limited by the dynamism of the braking on the fall.

In a fifth example in which we need to descend by a fixed rope (by rappelling) we will replicate the maneuver mentioned above, only this time, we will install the device on a fixed rope that falls vertically below us, thus being able to slide dynamically between two points included on it. In this case, the braking of the device on the rope is not total, but partial or dynamic (without self-locking), therefore that it is recommended to use an auxiliary line by means of a Machard's knot or similar that allows us to keep the inactive rope in an operative position for braking without the need to use the hands. If you want to rappel without resorting to external elements such as the aforementioned cord, you just have to attach the device to the harness through the slotted hole (self-locking brake) so that it is locked on the rope without the need for keep constant pressure on it.

In a sixth practical example in which we need to ascend an object on a fixed rope, be it a backpack, a person or ourselves, we attach the device to the rope by passing it through its two upper ears and closing said space with a carabiner that we can attach to our harness or any other element such as pedals or other blocking devices on the same rope, in order to organize a hoist on the rope that allows us to hoist large loads, or move upwards on it.

Claims (1)

1 Rope belay and/or braking device made up of two parts assembled to form a set (1), comprising two lateral faces (2) joined at their base, which in turn form a core (3) inside the themselves forming a plurality of pins with each other and where said core forms a free space between its two lateral faces through which a rope will circulate in which the device is linked by means of at least one carabiner characterized in that said pins correspond to a dynamic brake cavity (4), a pad brake cavity (5) that incorporates locking cones (5b), a loop-shaped ventral ring mooring cavity, this being self-locking (6a), and a non-self-locking circular entry (6b) and a chest positioner (7). two.

- Device according to claim 1, where the dynamic brake is configured through the friction of the rope with the device, the carabiner and the rope itself, while the backpack brake is configured by strangling the rope with the plurality of cones of lock (5b) arranged therein. 3.

- Device according to claims 1 and 2, where the device has an anti-return projection (8) in the dynamic brake cavity (4). Four.

- Device according to claims 1 to 3, where the space between the two lateral faces comprises a minimum of 10 millimeters and a maximum of 14 millimeters and where the plurality of pins that make them up are of equal length to the width of the core (3) in its whole. 5.

- Device according to claims 1 to 4, where the self-locking ventral ring mooring cavities (6a) have a curved section in a circular arrangement and comprise a linear length of between 280 and 300 millimeters and a width that comprises a minimum of 13 millimeters and a maximum of 15 millimeters. 6.

- Device according to claims 1 to 5, where the self-locking ventral ring mooring cavity (6a) is located at an angle of between 259° and 284° with respect to the dynamic brake cavity (4).