Not Applicable
Not Applicable
The present invention relates to descending by a rope, more particularly, to a device for controlling descent by rope.
Arborists and other tree workers who perform work at height utilize fall restraint systems by securing themselves to the trees using combinations of ropes, cords, and hardware. When using saws or other cutting tools, arborists secure themselves with at least two points of attachment, often by employing a primary working line and a shorter lanyard. It is necessary to adjust the length of a lanyard to properly position the arborist to do their work, either by letting out slack to move away or taking up slack to move closer to the anchor point. It is preferable to make this adjustment with one hand, in a controlled manner, and without needing to fully unload the system, which can create slack in the rope and increase the chance of a dangerous fall.
Significant work has been done in the tree care industry to improve the ease and ergonomics of taking up or letting out slack in the rope and to increase efficiency and safety for these systems. Original methods include using smaller cords in loop or eye-to-eye configurations, along with a carabiner, to tie hitches around the main rope or lanyard. These hitch cords can slide along the main rope or lanyard, then cinch on when weight is applied to hold their position. Typically, their grip can be released by compressing the coiled cord, allowing it to slide once again. Such systems allow for modulating the amount of friction and maintaining control when extending the system but wear out more quickly than most hardware-on-rope systems. They also add significant drag when taking up slack in the rope, especially if still holding any of the arborist's body weight and require additional tending hardware like a pulley when ascending a rope. A major concern with the use of hitches is that they require knowledge to tie correctly and to modify or adjust the configuration for the user's specific requirements.
Hardware designs that emulate the function of a hitch cord have continually improved the ease of taking up slack, but at the expense of an abrupt release of friction and reduced control when letting out. Some devices require the system to be unloaded before adjusting or require the arborist to apply additional friction by gripping the rope with a gloved hand to control the speed of adjustment. Such limitations create an impediment to efficient work and can furthermore compromise safety because of their reliance on exercising proper technique.
The rope grab of the present invention uses friction on a rope to control movement along the rope. The rope grab has a brake, cam, and housing.
The brake is a beam with an axis that has an eye at one end and a foot at the other. Optionally, the eye and foot are attached so as to swivel with respect to each other on the axis. The foot extends away at an angle to the axis to a rounded toe. Optionally, the toe is textured to provide more friction with the rope. Optionally, the bottom of the foot has an elongated shallow rounded cutout that centers the rope. Optionally, the toe is on a separable component so that toes with different characteristics can be used.
The cam has a generally oval rocker and a lever that extends radially from the side of the rocker opposite the rocker surface. The outer surface of the rocker curves about an axis in the rocker. Optionally, the rocker surface has a shallow rounded groove to both center the rope and to cradle more of the rope for more contact area with the rope. The curve of the outer rocker surface is eccentric about the axis, which makes the rocker behave like a cam. The half of the outer rocker surface adjacent to the toe is the operative surface. The rope is pinched between the operative surface and the toe. Optionally, the rocker surface is on a removable cap that fits over a rocker base on the rocker. Both ends of the surface independently operate as the operative surface depending on the orientation of the cap.
The brake and cam are held in the correct position relative to each other between two parallel walls of the housing. The brake pivots on a brake axis and the cam pivots on the parallel cam axis. The eye and lever extend in generally opposite directions outside the housing. The toe and operative surface form a rope slot therebetween. Optional springs bias the brake toe and operative surface into the slot. Optionally, the one of the walls can be rotated to provide access to the slot.
Objects of the present invention will become apparent in light of the following drawings and detailed description of the invention.
For a fuller understanding of the nature and object of the present invention, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
The rope grab 10 of the present invention uses friction on a rope to control movement along the rope. As shown in
The brake 14, shown in
The foot 32 extends away from the foot end 64 of the beam 36 at an approximately 48° angle to the beam axis 38, as shown in
Optionally, the foot 32 is constructed so that the toe 60 is on a separable component 92, as in
Optionally, the eye 30 and foot 32 are attached so as to swivel with respect to each other on the beam axis 38. Any acceptable swivel 34 can be implemented. In the illustrated swivel 34, shown in
Optionally, the foot aperture 70 has a smaller diameter than the eye aperture 50 and the bolt 76 has a corresponding difference in diameter separated by a shoulder 82. The shoulder 82 abuts the foot flat surface 70. The shoulder 82 against the brake flat surface 70 keeps the bolt 76 from clamping the flat surfaces 48, 70 together, which would lock up the swivel 34.
The cam 16, shown in
The lever 102 extends radially from the side of the rocker 100 opposite the rocker surface 110. The lever 102 is generally straight. Optionally, it is curved, as at 120, for ergonomics and/or avoiding interference with the rope.
The curve of the outer rocker surface 110 is eccentric about the axis 104 of the rocker 100, which makes the rocker 100 behave like a cam. The half of the outer rocker surface 110 adjacent to the toe 60 is the operative surface 138 of the outer rocker surface 110. The rope 3 is pinched between the operative surface 138 and the toe 60, as described below.
Optionally, the rocker 100 is designed to operate with ropes of different structures (diameters and/or constructions). To that end, in one changeable configuration, the rocker surface 110 is on a removable cap 124, as in
The cap 124 is secured to the rocker base 126 by whatever means works. In the illustrated configuration, the cap 124 is secured by the mechanism that pivotally mounts the cam 16 to the housing 12, as described below.
The eccentricity of the surface 110 is such that both ends 116, 118 of the surface 110 independently operate as the operative surface 138 depending on the orientation of the cap 124. The end 116, 118 that is adjacent to the toe 60 is the operative surface 138.
Optionally, the rocker base 126 has a rocker base surface 132 with a similar curvature as the cap rocker surface 110. When the cap 124 is not installed, the operative surface 138 is on the rocker base surface 132.
Optionally, each end 116, 118 of the cap rocker surface 110 is shaped for ropes of different structures. At the end 116 for a larger rope, the operative surface 138 is closer to the axis 104, as in
A second changeable configuration is shown in
The cap 308 is attached to the rocker base 310 by whatever means works. In the illustrated configuration, notches 316 on the edges 318 of the cap ends 312 snap onto cylindrical surfaces 320 extending from the rocker base ends 314. In the present design, the cylindrical surfaces 320 are on dowels 322 that are attached to the rocker base 310 in holes 324. Alternatively, the cylindrical surfaces 320 can be molded as part of the rocker base 310.
The eccentricity of the surface 330 is such that both ends 332, 334 of the surface 330 independently operate as the operative surface 138 depending on the orientation of the cap 308. The end 332, 334 that is adjacent to the toe 60 is the operative surface 138.
Optionally, as with configuration of
Optionally, each end 332, 334 of the rocker surface 330 is shaped for ropes of different structures, as in the configuration of
A third changeable configuration is shown in
Optionally, as with the cap 230 described above, each end 260, 262, 264, 266 of the rocker surfaces 232, 234 is shaped for ropes of different structures, as in
In the illustrated configuration, the cap 230 is secured in the cradle 236 by a pair of pins 256. The pins 256 extend through holes 252 in one cradle wall 238, through an aligned hole 250 in the cap 230, and through an aligned hole 254 in the other cradle wall 240.
In another configuration that is applicable to all of the changeable configurations, the cap 230 is secured in the cradle 236 by ball plungers mounted within the cap 230. Spring-biased spheres in the cap 230 pop into holes in the cradle walls 238, 240. Alternatively, the ball plungers are mounted to the cradle walls 238, 240 and the cap 230 has the holes that the plungers pop into.
The brake 14 and cam 16 are held in the correct position relative to each other by the housing 12. The housing 12 has a first wall 20 and a second wall 22 parallel to the first wall 20 between which the foot 32 and rocker 100 reside. The brake 14 is mounted to pivot on a brake axis 90 and the cam 16 is mounted to pivot on the cam axis 104 which is parallel to the brake axis 90. The eye 30 and lever 102 extend in generally opposite directions outside the walls 20, 22. The toe 60 and operative surface 138 form a rope slot 24 therebetween. The rope slot 24 has two ends through which a rope 3 extends. The end at the toe 60, on the left in
The optional U-shaped bridge 18 serves as a place to rest the heel of the hand when squeezing the lever 102 to release the cam 16 and/or turning the rope grab 10 to release the brake 14, as described below. Lateral ridges 156 texture the bridge body 150 to provide grip so the user's hand is less likely to slip off when applying pressure.
For the brake 14, in the configuration shown in
In the configuration shown in
Any configuration that provides an axle where the brake 14 can pivot relative to the housing 12 is contemplated by the present invention. Examples include an axle with swaged ends, an axle with a cotter pin, a long rivet, an axle with externally threaded ends and nuts, an axle with internally threaded ends and screws.
An optional spring 164 biases the brake toe 60 toward the operative surface 138, as at 178 in
Optionally, a stop prevents the brake 14 from rotating too far in either direction. The stop includes a pin 212 in a hole 214 in the foot 32. Alternatively, the pin 212 is formed integrally with the foot 32. The pin 212 rides in a curved slot 216 in the first wall 20, where the ends of the slot 216 dictate the rotation limit of the brake 14.
As indicated above, the cam 16 is mounted to pivot on the cam axis 104 within the walls 20, 22. In the one configuration, shown in
In the configuration shown in
Any configuration that provides an axle where the cam 16 can pivot relative to the housing 12 is contemplated by the present invention. Examples include an axle with swaged ends, an axle with a cotter pin or clevis pin, a long rivet, an axle with externally threaded ends and nuts, an axle with internally threaded ends and screws.
An optional spring 192 biases the operative surface 138 toward the toe 60, as at 220 in
If the rocker 100 has the cap 124 of
Optionally, a stop prevents the cam 16 from rotating too far in either direction. The stop includes a pin 222 in a hole 224 in the rocker 100. Alternatively, the pin 222 is formed integrally with the cam 16. The pin 222 rides in a curved slot 226, where the ends of the slot 226 dictate the rotation limit of the cam 16.
Optionally, the second wall 22 can swing open by pivoting on the brake axis 90 so that the user can load/unload the rope and/or to remove/swap/reverse the cap 124. To permit this, that fastener at the second wall end of the cam axle is removable. In the configuration of
The housing 12, brake 14, cam 16, and bridge 18 are composed of rigid, robust materials, such as a plastic, composite, or metal. Preferably, the surfaces that contact the rope are composed of a material that does not wear significantly during use. For example, if the cam 16 has a cap 124, 230, 308, the cap can be composed of a metallic material, while the remainder of the cam 16 is composed of a plastic, and if the brake 14 has a removable toe 92, the removable toe 92 can be composed of a metallic material, while the remainder of the brake 14 is composed of a plastic.
The rope grab 10 is installed on the rope 3 as shown in
Opening the side wall 22 also allows the user to reconfigure the operative surface 138 of the cap 124, 230 based on user preference of line compatibility and user weight. The cap 124 of
In typical use, the eye 30 is attached to one side of the user's harness with a carabiner 8 or other connector. The distal end 4 is wrapped around a tree, anchor or other fixed object and connected to the opposite side of the user's harness by a carabiner 5. Optionally, the distal end 4 is directly clipped to an anchor or choked around an anchor point and connected back to the rope 2 with the carabiner 5 and the eye 30 is attached to a centered connection point on the user's harness.
When force is applied to the eye 30, the brake 14 rotates about the brake axis 90 until the foot 32 pinches the rope 3 against the operative surface 136. At the same time, the distal end 4 of the rope 3 is tensioned, rotating the rocker 100 to pinch the rope 3 against the toe 60. Now the rope grab 10 can be used to adjust the length of the rope 3.
To release slack and lengthen the rope 3, the lever 102 is squeezed toward the distal end 28 of the rope slot 24, as at 270 in
The curve of the operative surface 138 allows the pinching force against the rope 3 to be modulated by the user so that the length can be adjusted while under load.
To take up slack and shorten the distal end 4 of the rope 3, the proximal end 6 of the rope 3 is held and pushed toward the distal end 4, causing the rocker 100 to rotate. Rotating the rocker 100 eases the pinching pressure on the rope 3. At the same time, the user must reduce the force being applied to the brake 14 via the eye 30, which eases the pinching pressure so the rope 3 can slide through the rope slot 24 toward the proximal end 6.
Thus, it has been shown and described a rope grab. Since certain changes may be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope of the present invention, it is intended that all matter described in the foregoing specification and shown in the accompanying drawings be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting sense.