Foot Lock Ascender Strap Angle Optimization
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing foot lock ascenders experience friction issues when ascending, leading to reduced speed and increased user effort due to the ascender rubbing against the rope's top edge, causing difficulty in sliding along the rope.
Innovation Solution
The first strap attachment device is inclined at an angle between 40° and 75° with respect to the rope guide throat, preventing friction against the top edge and allowing the rope to remain parallel to the bottom of the throat, enabling smooth sliding during ascent.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the first strap attachment device is arranged perpendicular to the throat in the conventional configuration, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but friction occurs between the rope and the top edge of the throat during ascent, reducing sliding efficiency
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the angular parameter of the first strap attachment device from perpendicular (90°) to inclined at 45° relative to the throat. This parameter modification eliminates the harmful friction contact between the rope and throat top edge while maintaining manufacturing simplicity, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and sliding efficiency.
2Productivity
If the first strap attachment device is inclined at 45° to reduce friction and improve sliding, then ascending speed increases and user effort decreases, but the attachment device structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a 45° inclination angle for the first strap attachment device, which is a straightforward geometric parameter change. This single angular modification achieves the dual benefit of reducing friction and improving ascending speed without requiring complex mechanisms, thus resolving the contradiction between productivity and device complexity.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the rope contacts the top edge of the throat during ascent, then the ascender provides structural stability, but friction increases and requires greater user effort
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the angular parameter of the first strap attachment device to 45°, the patent redirects the rope path to avoid contact with the throat top edge. This parameter modification eliminates the harmful friction force while preserving the structural stability of the ascender, thereby resolving the contradiction between stability and required user effort.
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 design reduces friction and enhances the ascender's sliding efficiency, allowing for faster and easier rope ascension by keeping the rope parallel to the throat's bottom, thereby reducing the effort required from the user.
Implementation Method 1
A return spring 46 is fitted on swivel-pin 26 to bias gate 20 to the closed position
Implementation Method 2
a movable gate mounted pivoting on the body around a swivel-pin between a closed position and an open position
Data Source
AI summary
A foot lock ascender for ascending along a rope including a swivelling gate and attachment portion including at least a first passage for a first strap to pass through and to be adjusted, and at least a second passage for a second strap to pass through. The first strap is inclined by a predefined angle with respect to the throat, the angle is between 40° and 75° so as to keep the bottom of the throat parallel to the path of the rope when ascending.