Sail brake

Abstract

The invention relates to a rope brake (1) for a textile safety rope (7) for securing a secured person (8) against a fall by a belayer (9), wherein the rope brake (1) can be attached to a belaying point (10) located between the secured person (8) and the belayer (9), wherein the rope brake (1) has a rotationally symmetrical guide element (2) for guiding the safety rope (7), wherein the rope brake (1) has a deflection lever (3) which has a fastening section (4) and a braking section (5) and which is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis (6), wherein the safety rope (7) can be passed between the guide element (2) and the deflection lever (3), and wherein the fastening section (4) is designed for attaching the rope brake (1) to the respective belaying point (10). A simplified design results when the deflection lever (3) and the guide element (2) are coordinated in such a way that the safety rope (7) which is subjected to stress by a fall of the secured person (9) is clamped between the braking section (5) and the guide element (2) and thereby braked.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a rope brake.

[0002] Such rope brakes are designed for use with a textile safety rope used to secure a belayed person from falling while being belayed. In the event of a fall, i.e. if the belayed person falls, the rope brake brakes the safety rope, thereby reducing the force transferred from the safety rope to the belaying person. This is particularly advantageous when the belaying person is lighter than the belayed person. Such rope brakes enable rope teams between two people of different weights, so that the heavier person can also be belayed by the lighter person. Such rope brakes are particularly important when climbing on natural or artificial walls, for example when lead climbing.The person climbing in front is the belayed person and is usually connected to the safety rope via a suitable harness, so that the person climbing in front, being belayed, takes the safety rope with them. Along the wall, the safety rope is gradually clipped into fixed anchor points, for example in the form of firmly anchored eyelets, using suitable carabiners. The person climbing behind or waiting is the belaying person and is located below the belayed person. The belaying person is also connected to the safety rope and gradually loosens it as the belayed person progresses. The belaying person usually uses a belay device through which the safety rope is threaded and which is usually attached to a harness worn by the belaying person. The belay device allows the safety rope to be released in a targeted manner during the climbing process.In the event of a fall, the belaying person is required to hold the safety rope using the belay device, so that the safety rope is firmly connected to the belaying person via the belay device and the harness. The belaying person thus ultimately secures the belayed person with their body weight. If a heavier belayed person falls, there is a possibility that the belaying person will not be able to hold the safety rope, which is then subject to high tensile force despite the belay device. There is also a possibility that the lighter belaying person will be lifted and / or pulled against the wall by the tensile force of the held safety rope, which poses a risk of injury to the belaying person.

[0003] To ensure that a lighter person can also belay a heavier person more effectively, a rope brake is also used. This brake is attached to one of the belay points, usually the one closest to the belaying point. The belay point to which the rope brake is attached is located between the belayed person and the belaying person. The safety rope is passed through the rope brake. During normal climbing, the safety rope can move more or less freely through the rope brake, so that the climbing process is essentially unhindered by the rope brake. In the event of a fall, however, the rope brake generates a frictional force on the safety rope, which takes the tensile force out of the loaded safety rope and transfers it to the stationary belay point, for example, on the wall. The tensile force arriving at the belaying person via the safety rope is then correspondingly reduced.As a result, the belayer can more easily hold the safety rope in the belay device, which is subject to reduced tensile force. Furthermore, the reduced tensile force is usually no longer sufficient to lift the belayer and pull them against the wall.

[0004] DE 10 2014 001 695 B3 discloses a conventional rope brake having a V-shaped brake slot through which the safety rope is passed. When subjected to tensile stress, the safety rope is drawn into the brake slot, significantly increasing friction between the safety rope and the rope brake due to clamping. For this conventional rope brake to function properly, it requires a comparatively high weight. If the rope brake is too light, it will trigger even at the slightest resistance or friction, pulling the safety rope into the brake slot and preventing further climbing. Furthermore, the braking effect of such a V-shaped brake slot cannot be made arbitrarily strong. If the brake slot is designed too aggressively, the lowering of the belayed person will be jerky or the rope brake will constantly trigger incorrectly.It's also possible that, after a fall by the belayed person, the safety rope becomes so jammed in the brake slot that the conventional rope brake can no longer be released without tools and / or without damaging the safety rope. As a result, the supported belayed person cannot be easily lowered and cannot continue climbing.

[0005] Another rope brake is known from DE 10 2021 002 712 B3 and is configured to be attached to a securing point located between the secured person and the securing person. The rope brake has a rotationally symmetrical guide element for guiding the safety rope, as well as a bell crank that has a fastening section and a braking section and is pivotably mounted about a pivot axis. Furthermore, the rope brake is configured to allow the safety rope to pass between the guide element and the bell crank. Furthermore, the fastening section is designed to attach the rope brake to the respective securing point.

[0006] This rope brake, known from DE 10 2021 002 712 B3, is also equipped with a stop that limits the pivoting movement of the bell crank. The stop is positioned so that the distance between the bell crank and the guide element is always greater than the diameter of the safety rope. In the event of a fall, i.e. when the safety rope is under load, the bell crank pivots to the stop, so that the safety rope is deflected both over the braking section and over the guide element in order to generate the desired braking effect through friction of the safety rope on both the braking section and the guide element. The stop and the selected clearance between the bell crank and the guide element ensure that the known rope brake prevents the safety rope from becoming jammed between the braking section and the guide element.As a result, the braking effect of the known rope brake is not achieved through clamping, but only through friction. A disadvantage of the known rope brake, however, is that due to the stop and the selected spacing between the bell crank and the guide element, the rope brake can only be used with safety ropes whose diameter is smaller than the distance between the bell crank and the guide element. However, the diameter of the safety rope must not be too small to ensure that a sufficient braking effect can be generated through friction. Accordingly, the known rope brake works best with a standard safety rope that has a standard diameter. A diameter of 9 mm ± 0.5 mm, for example, can be assumed to be standard for safety ropes. Known rope brakes therefore generally work well in a diameter range of 9-10 mm, but to a limited extent above and below. At 8.They generally have a rather weak braking effect at 5-9 mm. At 10-10.5 mm, they are generally difficult to handle, as the friction prevents the safety rope from moving freely through the rope brake during normal climbing.

[0007] DE 20 2009 014 989 U1 discloses a belay device that is fixedly mounted above the secured person, e.g., on a hall ceiling. The rope wraps around two stationary pulleys and one mobile pulley in the belay device. In the event of a fall, the mobile pulley can be adjusted against a stop using a lever, whereby the rope is clamped between the mobile pulley and the adjacent stationary pulley, thus braking the device.

[0008] DE 10 2019 107 587 B3 discloses a climbing resistance device featuring two stationary deflection elements, one of which can be repositioned between several predetermined positions to adapt the resistance to different climber weights. The different positions of the repositionable deflection element create different wrap angles for the rope in the event of a fall, thus resulting in different friction and braking forces.

[0009] DE 10 2021 102 673 A1 discloses a portable safety device comprising a mounting section and a deflection element on a console. Furthermore, a lever is pivotably mounted on the console, on which a rope pulley is rotatably mounted, which has a V-shaped clamping groove. In the event of a fall, the lever pivots, so that the rope pulley approaches the deflection element, whereby the rope from the deflection element is pressed into the clamping groove of the rope pulley and clamped between the rope pulley and the deflection element, thus braking. Furthermore, the rope pulley can be blocked by means of an electromechanical release, so that the rope also pulls the rope pulley against the deflection element, generating the braking process by clamping.

[0010] Another safety device is known from DE 10 2021 119 362 A1, in which a rope pulley is rotatably mounted on a lever, while the lever is pivotally mounted on a bracket. The rope pulley has a groove with a clamping contour. In the event of a fall, the lever pivots into a position where the rope pulley is blocked. This pulls the rope into the clamping contour of the rope pulley, thus braking it.

[0011] The present invention addresses the problem of providing an improved or at least a different embodiment for a rope brake of the type mentioned above, which is characterized in particular in that it can also be used with different safety ropes that differ from one another in terms of different cross-sections or diameters.

[0012] This problem is solved according to the invention by the subject matter of the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0013] The invention is based on the general idea of ​​coordinating the bell crank and the guide element in such a way that distances between the bell crank and the guide element can be adjusted that are smaller than the diameter of the safety rope. As a result, in the event of a fall, the safety rope can also be clamped between the braking section and the guide section, so that the braking effect can be generated without blocking by clamping the safety rope. When the safety rope is clamped, the safety rope between the braking section and the guide element is elastically deformed, in particular elastically squeezed, which considerably increases the pressure of the safety rope against the braking section and the guide element, so that a particularly strong friction effect and thus a correspondingly high braking effect can be achieved.

[0014] In particular, it is proposed that the deflection lever and the guide element are coordinated with one another in such a way that the safety rope, which is loaded by a fall of the secured person, is clamped between the braking section and the guide element and is thereby braked, i.e. by the clamping. The rope brake according to the invention can therefore also be used with safety ropes of different diameters, which results in greater flexibility in the use of the rope brake. In particular, with the rope brake according to the invention, a sufficient braking effect can be achieved through the clamping even when a safety rope is used which is not a standard safety rope and does not have a standard diameter. The rope brake according to the invention also works with safety ropes that have a diameter that is smaller or larger than the standard diameter.

[0015] According to an advantageous embodiment, the bell crank and the guide element can be coordinated in such a way that the bell crank can be pivoted until it rests on the guide element when the safety rope is missing. This results in particularly high flexibility with regard to the possible diameters for the safety rope with which the rope brake can be used. This configuration also ensures that the braking section is always on the correct side of the guide element, which increases operational safety when using the rope brake. The bell crank and the guide element are expediently coordinated in such a way that the guide element limits the pivoting of the bell crank by allowing the braking section to rest on the guide element when the safety rope is missing.In other words, the coordination of the bell crank and the guide element is carried out in particular in such a way that the guide element forms a stop which limits the pivoting of the bell crank and against which the braking section comes into contact in the absence of a safety cable.

[0016] In the present context, a ‘configuration’ is synonymous with a ‘design’ and / or ‘arrangement’, so that the phrase ‘configured so that’ is synonymous with the phrase ‘designed and / or arranged so that’.

[0017] In an alternative embodiment, the bell crank and the guide element can be coordinated so that the bell crank can pivot past the guide element when the safety rope is missing. This embodiment can only be used with safety ropes that have a minimum diameter, which can, however, be significantly smaller than the standard diameter.

[0018] According to the invention, the guide element is designed as a guide pulley that is mounted so as to be rotatable about a rotation axis. For normal climbing operations, the rotatable guide pulley reduces the friction of the guide part within the rope brake and thereby reduces interactions between the rope brake and the safety rope during normal climbing. The improved guidance of the safety rope is also advantageous in the event of a fall in order to achieve optimal effectiveness of the rope brake. In the event of a fall, the braking section presses the safety rope against the guide pulley, which rolls off with the movement of the safety rope and therefore essentially creates no friction between the safety rope and the guide pulley. In this case, the braking effect is created by the friction between the braking section and the safety rope, which is, however, comparatively high due to the clamping or pinching. In addition, the clamping or pinchingWhen the safety rope is crushed, deformation work is performed, which also produces a significant braking effect. Tests by the applicant have shown that the use of a guide pulley in conjunction with the clamp is sufficient to remove enough force from the safety rope to compensate for a weight deficit of the belayer compared to the belayed person.

[0019] The guide roller can have a radially outer guide contour that interacts with the safety rope or against which the safety rope rests. In a simple embodiment, this radial outer contour can be cylindrical. In an advantageous embodiment, the radial outer contour can be groove-shaped and, in particular, have a concave curvature. This improves the guiding effect of the guide roller, particularly in the event of a fall, while at the same time largely preventing plastic deformation or damage to the safety rope due to the clamping process.

[0020] According to an advantageous development, the pivot axis of the bell crank can run parallel to the rotation axis of the guide roller. This results in a particularly simple and functionally reliable design.

[0021] A preferred embodiment is one in which the rope brake has a base plate from which the guide element protrudes and on which the bell crank is pivotally mounted. Furthermore, the rope brake can have a cover plate that is adjustable on the base plate between an open position and a closed position. In the open position, the cover plate opens an access through which the safety rope can be inserted into the rope brake transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rope between the guide element and the bell crank. In the closed position, the cover plate closes this access so that the safety rope inserted into the rope brake cannot be removed from the rope brake transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rope. This measure supports safe operation of the rope brake during use with the safety rope.

[0022] According to an advantageous development, the rope brake can have a bearing pin protruding from the base plate, on which the bell crank and the cover plate are pivotably mounted about a common pivot axis. This results in a compact design for the rope brake.

[0023] Additionally or alternatively, the rope brake can have a safety element that interacts with the cover plate and is adjustable between a release position and a secure position. In the release position, the safety element allows the cover plate to be moved from the closed position to the open position. In the secure position, however, the safety element secures or blocks the cover plate in its closed position. This design requires the user to first actuate the safety element, particularly manually, in order to then move the cover plate from the closed position to the open position, preferably also manually. This measure can prevent the cover plate from being opened accidentally.

[0024] Furthermore, a bearing pin can also be provided for the guide roller, on which the guide roller is rotatably mounted, in particular via at least one bearing, and which protrudes from the base plate. Optionally, the cover plate can be provided with a positive-locking engagement with this bearing pin in the closed position, so that the bearing pin is also supported on the cover plate. This provides the cable brake with particularly high stability in the closed position.

[0025] Another advantageous embodiment provides that the fastening section of the bell crank has a fastening opening for attaching a carabiner, with which the rope brake can be attached to the respective securing point. This creates a particularly simple and cost-effective embodiment.

[0026] Alternatively, according to another embodiment, the fastening section of the bell crank can be equipped with a fastening bolt, to which a retaining element is attached, with which the rope brake can be attached to the respective securing point. The retaining element provides greater flexibility for the use of the rope brake at differently designed securing points.

[0027] According to a preferred embodiment, the holding element can be a textile holding element. A textile holding element is characterized by high flexibility and low weight, making it versatile. Particularly in the event of a fall, a textile holding element can allow relative movement between the rope brake and the respective securing point, thus preventing damage to the safety rope in the event of a fall.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment, the fastening bolt can be detachably attached to the bell crank or the fastening section. For example, the fastening bolt can be configured as a threaded bolt that is screwed to the fastening section. Such a detachable fastening bolt is particularly advantageous in conjunction with a textile retaining element, as it allows the retaining element to be replaceably attached to the rope brake. During operation of the rope brake, the textile retaining element is subject to greater wear than other components of the rope brake. Due to the detachably attached fastening bolt, the retaining element can be replaced multiple times during the service life of the rope brake.

[0029] Another advantageous embodiment provides for the retaining element to be a textile rope or strap with two end sections and a central section connecting the two end sections. The two end sections are sewn to the central section in such a way that two spaced-apart loops are formed. One loop now wraps around the fastening bolt, while the other loop can be used to attach the rope brake to the respective securing point. Such sewn retaining elements are characterized by their high robustness and low manufacturing costs.

[0030] Alternatively, the retaining element can also be a loop made of a textile rope or tape that wraps around the fastening bolt and with which the rope brake can be attached to the respective securing point. Such a loop is self-contained, i.e., virtually endless. Using such a loop as a retaining element allows for particularly high flexibility in using the rope brake at a wide variety of securing points.

[0031] In an advantageous embodiment, it can be provided that the fastening bolt is arranged on the fastening section so that its distance from the pivot axis can be adjusted and can be fixed in at least two different positions that differ from one another due to different distances from the pivot axis. The distance of the fastening bolt from the pivot axis defines the effective lever arm of the fastening section, which presses the braking section against the safety rope in the event of a fall. This lever arm determines the force that can be removed from the safety rope through friction with the help of the rope brake in the event of a fall. The lever arm and thus the said distance therefore determine the size of the weight difference between the secured person and the belaying person, which can be compensated for with the help of the rope brake.The adjustable mounting bolt, which allows for different positions at different distances from the pivot axis, allows the rope brake to be adapted to varying weight differences between the person securing and the person being secured. This provides a particularly wide range of applications for the rope brake.

[0032] For example, the fastening section can have an elongated hole perpendicular to the pivot axis, in which the fastening bolt is adjustable transversely to the pivot axis, allowing the distance between the fastening bolt and the pivot axis to be varied. Using at least one clamping screw, the fastening bolt can then be fixed in the respective position on the fastening section, thereby fixing the respectively set distance and the resulting lever arm. The two longitudinal ends of the elongated hole define two end positions for the fastening bolt, in which the fastening bolt can be fixed to the fastening section. It is clear that the fastening bolt can also be configured so that it can be fixed in any intermediate position between the two end positions, allowing virtually any number of positions for the locking bolt to be set and fixed, differing in their distance from the pivot axis.

[0033] In a less complex alternative embodiment, the fastening section can have, in addition to the fastening bolt, an adjusting bolt which preferably extends parallel to the fastening bolt and is wrapped around the loop that forms the holding element. The adjusting bolt is arranged on the fastening section at a different distance from the pivot axis than the fastening bolt. The adjusting bolt can expediently be arranged relative to the fastening bolt such that the loop can be transferred into a first loop position and a second loop position. In the first loop position, the loop is guided past the adjusting bolt on a side of the adjusting bolt facing the pivot axis. In the second loop position, the loop is guided past the adjusting bolt on a side of the adjusting bolt facing away from the pivot axis.The two loop positions create two different lever arms at the attachment section. In the first loop position, the loop rests on the adjustment bolt in the event of a fall, so the distance of the adjustment bolt from the pivot axis determines the effective lever arm. In the second loop position, the loop rests only on the attachment bolt in the event of a fall, so the distance between the attachment bolt and the pivot axis determines the effective lever arm.

[0034] In a further development, the adjustment bolt can be designed to be detachable, allowing a third loop position to be set, in which the loop wraps around the adjustment bolt. This essentially creates a third effective lever arm, since in the third loop position, the loop rests on the adjustment bolt on one side and on the fastening bolts on the other side in the event of a fall, creating a central lever arm that lies between those of the first and second loop positions.

[0035] In an alternative embodiment, the fastening section of the bell crank can have a first adjusting bolt and a second adjusting bolt, each of which is at a different distance from the pivot axis than the fastening bolt. The two adjusting bolts can expediently extend parallel to the fastening bolt. In addition, the first adjusting bolt is arranged closer to the pivot axis than the second adjusting bolt. Furthermore, the adjusting bolts are arranged relative to the fastening bolt such that the loop can be transferred into a first loop position, a second loop position, and a third loop position. In the first loop position, the loop is guided past the first adjusting bolt on a side facing the pivot axis. In the second loop position, the loop is guided past the second adjusting bolt on a side facing away from the pivot axis.In the third loop position, the loop is positioned between the first adjustment bolt and the second adjustment bolt. Here, too, the different loop positions allow for different effective lever arms to be set, allowing the rope brake to be easily adapted to different weight differences between the secured person and the person being secured.

[0036] A suitable design is one in which the rope brake has a spring element that interacts with the bell crank to drive the braking section away from the guide element. This ensures smooth, largely unhindered passage of the safety rope through the rope brake during normal climbing.

[0037] Further important features and advantages of the invention emerge from the subclaims, from the drawings and from the associated description of the figures based on the drawings.

[0038] It is understood that the features mentioned above and those to be explained below can be used not only in the respective combination specified, but also in other combinations or on their own, without departing from the scope of the invention as defined by the claims. Components mentioned above and those to be mentioned below of a higher-level unit, such as a device, apparatus, or arrangement, which are designated separately, may form separate parts or components of this unit or be integral areas or sections of this unit, even if this is shown differently in the drawings.

[0039] Preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail in the following description, wherein the same reference numerals refer to the same or similar or functionally identical components.

[0040] They show, schematically, Fig. 1 a side view of a rope brake with the cover plate removed and a safety rope passed through the rope brake in a relieved state of the safety rope, Fig. 2 a side view as in Fig. 1, but with the cover plate, Fig. 3 a side view as in Fig. 1, but in the loaded state of the safety rope, Fig. 4 a side view in Fig. 3, but in a different embodiment, Fig. 5 side views as in the Fig. 3 and Fig. 4, but in a further embodiment and in different states A and B, Fig. 6 side views as in the Fig. 3 to 5, but with the cover plate and in a further embodiment and in different states A, B, C, Fig. 7 side views as in Fig. 6, but in a further embodiment in different states A, B, C, Fig. 8 an isometric view of the rope brake with cover plate in the loaded state of the safety rope in another embodiment, Fig. 9 an isometric view of the Fig. 1 to 3 shown rope brake with cover plate in loaded condition.

[0041] According to the Fig. 1 to 9, a cable brake 1 comprises a rotationally symmetrical guide element 2 and a deflection lever 3, which has a fastening section 4 and a braking section 5 and which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis 6.

[0042] The rope brake 1 is designed for use with a textile safety rope 7, of which the Fig. 1 to 9, only a small section is shown in each case. The safety rope 7 serves to secure a secured person 8, who is indicated by a circle in the figures, against a fall from a height, wherein the securing is carried out by a belaying person 9, who is also represented by a circle. For this purpose, the rope brake 1 can be fastened to a securing point 10 which, when the safety rope 7 is in use, is located between the secured person 8 and the belaying person 9. For example, such a securing point 10 can be fixed or anchored to a natural or artificial wall 11. The rope brake 1 can usually be attached to the respective securing point 10 by means of a carabiner.

[0043] The guide element 2 serves to guide the safety rope 7. For this purpose, the safety rope 7 can be or is passed through the rope brake 1 between the guide element 2 and the bell crank 3. The fastening section 4 serves to attach the rope brake 1 to the respective securing point 10, whereby appropriate securing elements, such as a carabiner or the like, can be used. When the safety rope 7 is used correctly, the safety rope 7 is connected on the one hand to the belayed person 8 and on the other hand to the belaying person 9. These connections are indicated in the figures by broken lines. When climbing, in particular on the wall 11, the belayed person 8 goes ahead and takes the safety rope 7 with him.The belaying person 9 lets out the rope 7 in accordance with the progress of the belayed person 8 in such a way that just enough free rope length is available for the belayed person 8 to move freely. In this way, the free rope length is as short as possible in the event of a fall by the belayed person 8, so that the securing effect of the safety rope 7 sets in quickly. The securing point 10, to which the rope brake 1 is attached, is located - in contrast to the greatly simplified representation of the . Fig. 1 to 9 - when climbing between the belayed person 8 and the belayer 9, who is located below the belayed person 8. This is usually the belay point 10 closest to the belaying person 9. The attachment of the rope brake 10 to the respective belay point 10 is indicated in the figures by a dashed line.

[0044] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. Figure 2 shows a condition that occurs during proper climbing, i.e., when the safety rope 7 is largely unloaded. In this unloaded condition of the safety rope 7, the rope brake 1 hangs downwards due to its own weight at the respective securing point 10 in the direction of the belaying person 9. Fig. 3 to 9, on the other hand, show a loaded state of the safety rope 7, which occurs primarily as a result of a fall of the belayed person 8. In this case, the rope brake 1 is pulled upwards, whereby it then extends upwards from the respective belaying point 10 in the direction of the belayed person 8. This kinematics arises from the fact that the belaying person 9 is usually positioned further away from the wall 11 than the belayed person 8 climbing on or in the wall 11. As a result, the safety rope 7 is deflected at the guide element 7, which, when the safety rope 7 is subjected to an upward tensile load via the guide element 2, pulls the rope brake 1 as a whole upwards.

[0045] In the rope brake 1 presented here, the bell crank 3 and the guide element 2 are coordinated with one another in such a way that the loaded safety rope 7 is clamped between the braking section 5 and the guide element 2 and is thereby braked. According to the invention, the clamping does not correspond to a blocking, since the safety rope 7 can move against the frictional force relative to the rope brake 1 even in the clamped state. The clamping results from the fact that the braking section 5 can approach the guide element 2 when the bell crank 3 is pivoted, so that the distance between the braking section 5 and the guide element 2 is smaller than a diameter 12 of the safety rope 7. The clamping causes an elastic deformation of the safety rope 7. In the Fig. 3 to 9 show a state in which the tension in the safety rope 7 has moved the rope brake 1 upward relative to the respective securing point 10 to which the rope brake 1 is attached. Furthermore, the bell crank 3 has pivoted far enough that the braking section 5 has approached the guide element 2, but not yet far enough for clamping to occur. With greater tensile load, the bell crank 3 can pivot further clockwise, allowing the braking section 5 to approach the guide element 2 further, until the safety rope 7 becomes clamped and crushed between the braking section 5 and the guide element 2.

[0046] The configuration of the bell crank 3 and guide element 2 is expediently selected such that the bell crank 5, in the absence of the safety cable 7, can pivot until it rests against the guide element 2 or can pivot past the guide element 2. For example, the bell crank 3 and guide element 2 can be coordinated such that the guide element 2 limits the pivotability of the bell crank 3 by the braking section 5 coming into contact with the guide element 2 in the absence of the safety cable 7. In this way, the guide element 2 essentially forms a stop that limits the pivotability of the bell crank 3 when the braking section 5 comes into contact with the guide element 2 forming the stop in the absence of the safety cable 7.

[0047] In the embodiments shown here, the guide element 2 is designed as a guide roller 13, which is mounted for rotation about a rotation axis 14. The rotation axis 14 extends parallel to the pivot axis 6. In the examples shown here, the guide roller 13 has a groove-shaped outer contour radially outward with respect to its rotation axis 14, into which the safety cable 7 dips, thus ensuring a secure guiding effect.

[0048] In the loaded state of the safety rope 7, the angle of wrap with which the safety rope 7 wraps around the guide element 2 increases. Fig. 3 to 9, the wrap angle is approximately 90°. In the unloaded state of the Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 there is essentially no wrap angle, since the safety rope 7 is guided freely through the rope brake 1 and is only in tangential contact with the guide element 2.

[0049] In all embodiments shown here, the rope brake 1 has a base plate 15 from which the guide element 2 protrudes or the guide roller 13 is rotatably mounted. The deflection lever 3 is also pivotally mounted on the base plate 15. Furthermore, the rope brake 1 has a Fig. 2 and 6 to 9, which for explanatory purposes is shown in Fig. 1 drawn with a broken line and in the Fig. 3 to 5 is omitted. The cover plate 16 is fixed to the base plate 15 between a Fig. 1 recognizable open position and one in the Fig. 2 and 6 to 9. In the open position, the cover plate 16 is Fig. 1 provides an access 17 through which the safety rope 7 can be inserted into the rope brake 1 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rope between the guide element 2 and the deflection lever 3. This makes it possible to attach the rope brake 1 to the safety rope 3 even if the safety rope 3 already connects the secured person 8 to the securing person 9. In the closed position, however, this access 17 is closed by the cover plate 16. As a result, the safety rope 7 inserted into the rope brake 1 cannot be removed from the rope brake 1 transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rope.

[0050] The cable brake 1 can have a bearing pin 18 protruding from the base plate 15, on which the deflection lever 3 and the cover plate 16 are mounted about a common pivot axis 6. Furthermore, the cable brake 1 can have a further bearing pin 19 protruding from the base plate 15, on which the guide roller 3 is rotatably mounted. For the rotatable mounting of the guide roller 13 on the further bearing pin 19, at least one bearing 20 can be provided, which can be designed as a plain bearing or as a rolling bearing, in particular as a ball bearing. Depending on the overall height of the guide roller 13, two such bearings 20 can also be mounted axially adjacent to the bearing pin 19 in order to mount the guide roller 13.

[0051] The cover plate 16 can be configured such that, in the closed position, it positively engages with the additional bearing pin 19, such that, in the closed position of the cover plate 16, the bearing pin also supports the cover plate 16 in a force-transmitting manner. In the open position, the cover plate 16 is released from this bearing pin 19 to open the access 17.

[0052] According to the Fig. 2 and 6 to 9, the cable brake 1 can also have a manually operable securing element 21 that interacts with the cover plate 16. The securing element 21 is adjustable between an unlocked position, in which the securing element 21 enables adjustment, in particular pivoting, of the cover plate 16 from the closed position to the open position, and a securing position, in which the securing element 21 secures or blocks the cover plate 16 in its closed position. The securing element 21 can be spring-loaded into its securing position, such that when the cover plate 16 is adjusted to its closed position, the securing element 21 is automatically returned to its securing position.

[0053] In Fig. 8 shows a particularly simple embodiment of the rope brake 1, which is characterized in that the fastening section 4 of the bell crank 3 has a fastening opening 22 which is configured such that a carabiner 23 can be fastened to the rope brake 1 through this fastening opening 22, with the aid of which the rope brake 1 can be fastened to the respective securing point 10.

[0054] In the other embodiments of the Fig. 1 to 7 and 9, however, a fastening bolt 24 is provided on the fastening section 4 of the bell crank 3, which bolt expediently extends parallel to the pivot axis 6. The rope brake 1 is also equipped with a holding element 25, which is held on the fastening bolt 24 and with which the rope brake 1 can be fastened to the respective securing point 10. For example, the holding element 25 can be fixed to the respective securing point 10 using a carabiner. For this purpose, the holding element 25 can be Fig. 1 to 3 and 9 have a first opening 26 through which the fastening bolt 24 passes, and a second opening 27 into which, for example, a carabiner can engage.

[0055] In order for the holding element 25 to engage around the fastening bolt 24 in a form-fitting manner, the fastening section 4 can expediently have two cheeks 41, which are spaced apart from one another parallel to the pivot axis 6 and which run parallel to one another. The two cheeks 41 extend from a central area of ​​the reversing lever 3, through which the pivot axis 6 runs. The fastening bolt 24 is supported on both cheeks 41. The holding element 25 engages around the fastening bolt 24 between the two cheeks 41. For explanatory purposes, Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 the cheek 41 facing the viewer is omitted. In the Fig. 1 to 5, only the cheek 41 facing the viewer is visible. In the isometric view of the Fig. 9 both cheeks 41 are visible. In the Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 8, however, there are no cheeks.

[0056] In principle, the holding element 25 can be configured as desired. Fig. However, FIGS. 4 to 7 show preferred embodiments in which the retaining element 25 is formed by a textile retaining element 25. The fastening bolt 24 can be detachably attached to the deflection lever 3. For example, the fastening bolt 24 can be screwed to the fastening section 4, e.g., to at least one of the two cheeks. This makes it possible to easily replace the retaining element 25.

[0057] In the examples of Fig. 4 and Fig. 5, the holding element 25 is designed as a textile band 28. Alternatively, the holding element 25 can also be designed as a textile rope. The following comments on the band 28 then also apply accordingly to the rope. The band 28 has two end sections 29, 30 and a middle section 31 connecting the two end sections 29, 30. The two end sections 29, 30 are sewn to the middle section 31 in such a way that two loops 32 and 33 are formed, which are spaced from one another and connected to one another via a web 34. The web 34 is formed by the sewn-together sections 29, 30, 31 of the band 28. One loop 32 wraps around the fastening bolt 24. The rope brake 1 can be attached to the respective securing point 10 using the other loop 33. For example, a carabiner can be attached to this other loop 33.

[0058] In the Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B shows an embodiment in which the fastening bolt 24 is arranged on the fastening section 4 so as to be adjustable with respect to its distance 35 from the pivot axis 6. Furthermore, the fastening bolt 24 can be fixed in at least two different positions on the fastening section 4. This allows the effective lever arm of the fastening section 4 to be changed. Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B show two different positions for the fastening bolt 24, which differ from each other by different distances 35 from the pivot axis 6. In Fig. 5A the distance 35 is significantly smaller, about half as large as in the Fig. 5B. In the example of Fig. 5A and Fig. 5B, the adjustability of the fastening bolt 24 is realized by means of an elongated hole 36 formed on the fastening section 4 and penetrated by the fastening bolt 24. The elongated hole 36 is aligned in the spacing direction, so that adjusting the fastening bolt 24 within the elongated hole 36 changes the spacing 35. By appropriately screwing, the fastening bolt 24 can essentially be fixed within the elongated hole 36 in any desired position on the fastening section 4. This allows the rope brake 1 to be easily adapted to different weight differences between the secured person 8 and the securing person 9.

[0059] In the Fig. 6 and Fig. 7, the holding element 25 is formed by a loop 37 made of a textile rope or a textile band. A textile band loop is preferably used here. In any case, the loop 37 wraps around the fastening bolt 24 and serves to attach the rope brake 1 to the respective securing point 10. For example, a carabiner can be hooked into the loop 37.

[0060] In the embodiment of the Fig. 6A, Fig. 6B and Fig. 6C, the fastening section 4 of the deflection lever 3 is equipped with an adjusting bolt 38, which extends parallel to the fastening bolt 24. The arrangement of the adjusting bolt 38 on the fastening section 4 is such that the adjusting bolt 38 and the fastening bolt 24 have different distances from the pivot axis 6. In the example shown here, the distance of the adjusting bolt 38 from the pivot axis 6 is greater than the distance of the fastening bolt 24 from the pivot axis 6. Furthermore, the adjusting bolt 38 and the fastening bolt 24 are arranged relative to each other such that the loop 37 is in a Fig. 6A shown first loop position and in a Fig. 6B shown second loop position. In the first loop position according to Fig. 6A, the loop 37 is guided past the adjusting bolt 38 on a side of the adjusting bolt 38 facing the pivot axis 6. In the second loop position according to Fig. 6B, the loop 37 is guided past the adjusting bolt 38 on a side of the adjusting bolt 38 facing away from the pivot axis 6. In Fig. 6C also shows an optional third loop position, which is particularly adjustable when the adjusting bolt 38 is designed to be detachable. In the third loop position according to Fig. 6C, the loop 37 not only wraps around the fastening bolt 24, but also the adjustment bolt 38. The three loop positions shown here allow the setting of three different effective lever arms on the fastening section 4 on the same cable brake 1, whereby the force with which the braking section 5 presses the safety cable 7 against the guide element 2 in the case of load can be adjusted or changed. A particular advantage here is that the first loop position according to Fig. 6A and the second loop position according to Fig. 6B can be adjusted without tools. For the third loop position according to Fig. 6C, the use of a tool may be required, for example, to remove and reinstall the adjustment bolt 38. This allows the rope brake 1 to be easily adjusted to varying weight differences between the secured person 8 and the belaying person 9.

[0061] In the Fig. 7A, Fig. 7B and Fig. 7C, the fastening section 4 of the deflection lever 3 is equipped with a first adjusting bolt 39 and a second adjusting bolt 40, each of which extends parallel to the fastening bolt 24. Both adjusting bolts 39, 40 have different distances from the pivot axis 6, which differ from the distance that the fastening bolt 24 has from the pivot axis 6. In the example shown here, the adjusting bolts 39, 40 are further away from the pivot axis 6 than the fastening bolt 24. In addition, the first adjusting bolt 39 is arranged closer to the pivot axis 6 than the second adjusting bolt 40. The two adjusting bolts 39, 40 and the fastening bolt 24 are arranged relative to one another on the fastening section 4 such that the loop 37 can be turned into a Fig. 7A shown first loop position, into a Fig. 7B shown second loop position and in a Fig. 7C shown third loop position. In the first loop position according to Fig. 7A, the loop 37 is guided past the first adjustment bolt 39 on a side facing the pivot axis 6. In the second loop position according to Fig. 7B is the

[0062] Loop 37 is guided past the second adjusting bolt 40 on a side facing away from the pivot axis 6. In the third loop position according to Fig. In Figure 7C, the loop 37 is guided between the two adjustment bolts 39, 40. Here, too, the three loop positions each generate a different effective lever arm on the fastening section 4, resulting in different forces under load with which the braking section 5 presses the safety rope 7 against the guide element 2. This allows the rope brake 1 to be easily and tool-free adjusted to different weight differences between the secured person 8 and the securing person 9.

Claims

[1] Rope brake (1) for a textile safety rope (7) for securing a secured person (8) against a fall by a securing person (9), - wherein the rope brake (1) can be attached to a wall-fixed securing point (10) located between the secured person (8) and the securing person (9), - wherein the rope brake (1) has a rotationally symmetrical guide element (2) for guiding the safety rope (7), - wherein the cable brake (1) has a deflection lever (3) which has a fastening section (4) and a braking section (5) and which is pivotally mounted about a pivot axis (6), - wherein the safety cable (7) can be passed between the guide element (2) and the deflection lever (3), - wherein the fastening section (4) is designed to fasten the rope brake (1) to the respective securing point (10), - wherein the guide element (2) is designed as a guide roller (13) which is rotatably mounted about a rotation axis (14), - wherein the deflection lever (3) and the guide roller (13) are coordinated with one another in such a way that the safety rope (7) loaded by a fall of the secured person (9) is clamped between the braking section (5) and the guide roller (13) without blocking and is thereby braked, so that the safety rope (7) can move against the frictional force relative to the rope brake (1) even in the clamped state, - wherein the clamping results from the fact that the braking section (5) can approach the guide roller (13) when the deflection lever (3) is pivoted to such an extent that a distance between the braking section (5) and the guide roller (13) is smaller than a diameter (12) of the safety cable (7). [2] Rope brake (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , - that the deflection lever (3) and the guide roller (13) are coordinated with one another in such a way that the deflection lever (3) can be pivoted until it rests on the guide roller (13) when the safety cable (7) is missing. [3] Rope brake (1) according to claim 1, characterized by , - that the deflection lever (3) and the guide roller (13) are coordinated with one another in such a way that the deflection lever (3) can be pivoted past the guide roller (13) when the safety cable (7) is missing. [4] Cable brake (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the pivot axis (6) of the reversing lever (3) runs parallel to the rotation axis (14) of the guide roller (13). [5] Cable brake (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , - that the cable brake (1) has a base plate (15) from which the guide roller (13) protrudes and on which the deflection lever (3) is pivotally mounted, - that the rope brake (1) has a cover plate (16) which is adjustable on the base plate (15) between an open position, in which the cover plate (16) opens an access (17) through which the safety rope (7) can be inserted into the rope brake (1) between the guide roller (13) and the deflection lever (3) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rope, and a closed position, in which the cover plate (16) closes the access (17) so that the safety rope (7) inserted into the rope brake (1) cannot be removed from the rope brake (1) transversely to the longitudinal direction of the rope. [6] Rope brake (1) according to claim 5, characterized by , - that the cable brake (1) has a bearing pin (18) projecting from the base plate (5), on which the deflection lever (3) and the cover plate (16) are pivotably mounted about a common pivot axis (6). [7] Rope brake (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by , - that the cable brake (1) has a securing element (21) which interacts with the cover plate (16) and which is adjustable between a release position, in which the securing element (21) allows the cover plate (16) to be adjusted from the closed position to the open position, and a securing position in which the securing element (21) secures the cover plate (16) in its closed position. [8] Rope brake (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , - that the fastening section (4) of the deflection lever (3) has a fastening opening (22) for fastening a carabiner (23) with which the rope brake (1) can be fastened to the respective securing point (10). [9] Rope brake (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by , - that the fastening section (4) of the deflection lever (3) has a fastening bolt (24) on which a holding element (25) is held, with which the cable brake (1) can be fastened to the respective securing point (10). [10] Rope brake (1) according to claim 9, characterized by , - that the holding element (25) is a textile holding element (25). [11] Rope brake (1) according to claim 9 or 10, characterized by , - that the fastening bolt (24) is detachably attached to the fastening section (4). [12] Cable brake (1) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by , - that the holding element (25) is a textile rope or band (28) which has two end sections (29, 30) and a middle section (31) connecting the two end sections (29, 30) to one another, - that the two end sections (29, 30) are sewn to the middle section (31) in such a way that two loops (32, 33) are formed which are spaced apart from each other, - that one loop (32) wraps around the fastening bolt (24), - that the rope brake (1) can be attached to the respective securing point (10) with the other loop (33). [13] Cable brake (1) according to one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by , - that the holding element (25) is a loop (37) made of a textile rope or band, which wraps around the fastening bolt (24) and with which the rope brake (1) can be fastened to the respective securing point (10). [14] Cable brake (1) according to one of claims 9 to 13, characterized by , - that the fastening bolt (24) is arranged on the fastening section (4) so ​​as to be adjustable with regard to its distance from the pivot axis (6) and can be fixed in at least two different positions which differ from one another by different distances from the pivot axis (6). [15] Rope brake (1) according to claim 13, characterized by , - that the fastening section (4) of the deflection lever (3) has an adjusting bolt (38) which has a different distance from the pivot axis (6) than the fastening bolt (24), - that the adjusting bolt (38) is arranged relative to the fastening bolt (24) such that the loop (37) can be transferred into a first loop position, in which the loop (37) is guided past the adjusting bolt (38) on a side facing the pivot axis (6), and into a second loop position, in which the loop (37) is guided past the adjusting bolt (38) on a side facing away from the pivot axis (6). [16] Rope brake (1) according to claim 15, characterized by , - that the adjusting bolt (38) is designed to be detachable, so that a third loop position can also be set, in which the loop (37) wraps around the adjusting bolt (38). [17] Rope brake (1) according to claim 13, characterized by , - that the fastening section (4) of the deflection lever (3) has a first adjusting bolt (39) and a second adjusting bolt (40), each of which has a different distance from the pivot axis (6) than the fastening bolt (24), - that the first adjusting bolt (39) is arranged closer to the pivot axis (6) than the second adjusting bolt (40), - that the adjusting bolts (39, 40) are arranged relative to the fastening bolt (24) such that the loop (37) can be transferred into a first loop position in which the loop (37) is guided past the first adjusting bolt (39) on a side facing the pivot axis (6), into a second loop position in which the loop (37) is guided past the second adjusting bolt (40) on a side facing away from the pivot axis (6), and into a third loop position in which the loop (37) is guided between the first adjusting bolt (39) and the second adjusting bolt (40).

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