Rope brake
A rope brake is a belay device and a descender and is used in climbing and industrial climbing .
functionality
The task of rope brakes is to brake a passing rope through friction in such a way that a movement is stopped or slowed sufficiently with load distribution. In the event of a fall , the rope is pulled through the rope brake by developing friction and the impact force is dampened.
There are rope brakes that are operated by physical strength, or with dead man's devices that automatically trigger and block in the event of an abrupt fall or panic. The rope run is released by actuating a lever; if the lever is suddenly held or released, the device blocks immediately.
Few rope brake equipment is designed for lead climbing admitted. It should be noted that most of them are only allowed to be used for abseiling and securing the ascent , as they can not absorb the sudden impact force and technical failure can result.
Versions
- Figure eight
- Ascender or rope clamp
- automatic safety devices with, in some cases, panic functions or dead man's devices. (Blocking when holding or releasing the lever in panic)
- rope brakes that run in one direction only
literature
- Michael Hoffmann: Safely secure: Sport climbing - ice - BigWall . Panico-Alpinverlag, Köngen 2005, ISBN 3-936740-18-6 .
- Chris Semmel: The handbrake. Common belay devices in comparison . In: DAV Panorama . No. 4 , 2002, p. 61-62 .
