Rope Locking Part with Spring-Loaded Ejection Mechanism
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current rope locking devices for climbing, mountaineering, and caving are unreliable, inefficient, and wasteful, often requiring excessive equipment and resulting in hazardous conditions due to random knot tightening and visual pollution from abandoned gear.
Innovation Solution
A rope locking device featuring a movable ejection mechanism with a ring or carabiner that blocks the rope under tension and releases it when tension is released, allowing for remote control and efficient reuse of the rope material, reducing the need for extensive equipment and minimizing environmental impact.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional rope locking devices are used, then the rope can be locked, but the device is unreliable and requires excessive equipment
Solution Approach 1:
The device separates the locking function into two independent carabiners (first and second carabiners) that can be positioned at different locations along the rope. This segmentation allows each carabiner to perform a specific locking function, improving reliability while maintaining manageable equipment complexity through modular functionality.
Solution Approach 2:
The device uses standard carabiners that can serve multiple purposes: the first carabiner locks the rope in use position, the second carabiner locks the rope in storage position, and both can interact with the same type of locking mechanism. This multi-functionality reduces the need for specialized equipment while maintaining reliability.
2Ease of operation
If heavy two-tone ropes of more than 80m are used for rappels of 40m, then the rappel can be performed, but the equipment weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables dynamic rope management by allowing the rope to be locked in different positions (use position and storage position) using the two carabiners. This dynamic capability allows users to perform rappels with shorter ropes by locking excess rope in the storage position, thereby reducing the weight of equipment that must be carried.
3Productivity
If the rope is fixed single and descended over its entire length, then the descent can be completed, but the material cannot be reused and causes visual pollution
Solution Approach 1:
The device enables recovery of the rope after use by locking it in the storage position with the second carabiner. This allows the rope to be retrieved, coiled, and reused for subsequent rappels, eliminating the need to abandon the rope and preventing visual pollution while improving productivity through material reuse.
4Reliability
If manual movement of the part body is required to unlock the rope, then the rope can be locked, but the operation becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The device employs spring-loaded carabiners that automatically engage with the locking mechanism when the rope is tensioned and automatically disengage when tension is released. This self-service mechanism eliminates the need for manual manipulation of the part body to unlock the rope, maintaining secure locking while greatly simplifying the operation.
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
The device provides a reliable and efficient means to double abseiling lengths with equivalent material weight, reducing equipment weight by half and preventing hazardous techniques, while allowing for the recovery and reuse of rope material, thus enhancing safety and reducing environmental impact.
Implementation Method 1
an elastic element, for example a spring
Data Source
Figure 1A~1D
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
The present invention relates to a part (Ω) for a device for locking a rope (R) for climbing, water sports, mountaineering, caving or life-saving, said rope comprising a first ("standing") strand (R7) and a second ("working") strand (R1, R2, R3), said part (Ω) comprising - at least one hole (A) designed to receive the rope (R), - at least one slot (1, 2) designed to cooperate with an oval-shaped ring or a carabiner (G), - an ejection mechanism (P) for ejecting the oval-shaped ring or the carabiner (G), said ejection finger (P1) being configured to move in a first direction when the first ("standing") strand (R7) is tensioned, thereby locking the second ("working") strand (R1, R2, R3), and to move in a second direction opposite to the first when the first ("standing") strand (R7) is released, thereby unlocking the second ("working") strand (R1, R2, R3). The present invention also relates to a device for locking a rope, comprising such a part, and to a method for locking a rope.