Detachable Rope Ascender and Pulley for Flexible Mechanical Advantage
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
The combination of an ascender and pulley wheel in climbing apparatuses adds unnecessary weight and restricts space, limiting their effectiveness when used alone or with bulky loads, as they are typically fixed together, which can interfere with the climber and hinder efficient climbing.
Innovation Solution
A climbing apparatus with a separable pulley block and ascender, where the pulley block is releasably secured via a removable swivel pin, allowing it to be used independently or in combination with the ascender, providing a mechanical advantage when needed and avoiding unnecessary weight and space constraints.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If the pulley block is fixed to the ascender, then mechanical advantage is provided for lifting the climber, but the extra weight and size of the pulley block adds unnecessary impediment to the climber when not used with a separate pulley block
Solution Approach 1:
The combination apparatus is divided into two separable components: the ascender with its braking mechanism and the pulley block. The pulley block can be attached to the ascender when mechanical advantage is needed, or detached when not required, allowing the climber to avoid carrying unnecessary weight while maintaining the option to combine them for enhanced lifting capability.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection between the pulley block and ascender is made dynamic rather than fixed. The pulley block can be quickly attached or detached from the ascender, allowing the system to adapt its configuration based on the climber's immediate needs - combined for mechanical advantage or separate for reduced weight.
2Volume of moving object
If the pulley block is fixed immediately adjacent to the ascender, then the combination is compact, but the fixed position is cramped and limits the use of the pulley when carrying bulky loads which may interfere with the climber's body
Solution Approach 1:
By separating the pulley block from the ascender, the system allows the pulley to be positioned independently rather than being constrained to a fixed location adjacent to the ascender. This enables better spatial arrangement when handling bulky loads, reducing interference with the climber's body while maintaining compact configuration when needed.
Solution Approach 2:
The detachable connection enables dynamic repositioning of the pulley block relative to the ascender and climber. When carrying bulky loads, the pulley can be detached and repositioned to avoid interference, whereas a fixed arrangement would permanently constrain the system to a cramped configuration.
3Device complexity
If the pulley block is integrated with the ascender, then the apparatus can be used as a single unit, but the pulley block cannot be used independently for other purposes during the climb
Solution Approach 1:
The system is segmented into two independently functional components that can also work together. The pulley block can be used separately for independent tasks such as hauling equipment, while the ascender handles climber progression. When combined, they provide mechanical advantage for lifting the climber, offering maximum versatility.
Solution Approach 2:
Both the ascender and pulley block are designed with universal functionality - each can operate independently for its primary function, and they can also be combined for composite functions. The pulley block serves multiple purposes: independent hauling of equipment, combined use with ascender for mechanical advantage, or attachment to different anchor points.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This arrangement allows climbers to use the pulley block separately or in conjunction with the ascender, offering a mechanical advantage for lifting heavy loads while avoiding unnecessary weight and space constraints, and enabling the pulley block to be used for hauling equipment remotely, enhancing climbing efficiency and flexibility.
Implementation Method 1
the pulley block having front and rear plates between which is a pulley wheel rotatably mounted on a third swivel pin acting as an axle for the pulley wheel
Implementation Method 2
the cam lever being connected, directly or indirectly, to a climbing rope braking surface between the front and rear plates, the cam lever being operable to trap the rope against the cam braking surface
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
A combination climbing apparatus (1) comprising or including a rope ascender (5) and a pulley block (6), the rope ascender having front (19) and rear (21 ) plates disposed in generally parallel relationship, a first swivel pin (11) being received within co-axial bores in the front and rear plates, about which pin the plates are swivelable with respect to each other, a cam lever (9) mounted on the first swivel pin between the front and rear plates, the cam lever being connected, directly or indirectly, to a climbing rope braking surface (10) on a cam between the front and rear plates, the cam lever being operable to trap the rope against the cam braking surface, the front and rear plates each including a second bore (22,23) remote from the major axis of the first swivel pin for receiving a second, removable, swivel pin (29), a pulley block releasably secured to the ascender via the second swivel pin, the pulley block (6) having front (15) and rear (14) plates between which is a pulley wheel(12) rotatably mounted on a third swivel pin (13) acting as an axle for the pulley wheel, the arrangement being such that the ascender and pulley block may be selectively used in combination when required or separately when not. The invention also extends in a second aspect to a pulley block for use in a combination climbing apparatus according to the first aspect of the invention, or separately.