Ascending Cam

The present invention relates to ascending rope devices, pulley safety locks, fall protection devices, and the like.

Ascenders are mechanical devices which will allow a rope or the like to move in only one direction. Ascenders are used in a wide range of applications such as personal fall protection, in rock climbing using the rope for an ascending maneuver, hauling systems, pulley safety locks, and rope cleats. Ascenders will grip on any type of rope--kernmantle, twisted, braided, or plated.

Two basic types of ascenders are generally known. They are first a toothed cam type. Commercial manufactures of the toothed cam type include Jumar, CMI, and Petzl. These devices have slanted spike-like teeth. They are the most common type of ascender found in ascending systems. These devices usually can be put on or off the rope with one hand. One drawback is the tendency for mud or ice to clog the teeth. Once the teeth are clogged, the device fails. Most toothed style ascenders are right and left handed, and as a rule are sold in pairs.

A second basic type of ascender is a ridged cam. They have fewer, but larger, rounded ridges perpendicular to the direction of travel. No concavity of the bite surface is used. A pair of these are often used on sailboats. This simple, yet elegant design, presses or squeezes the rope with ridges instead of spike teeth. This design grabs wet, icy, or muddy ropes more securely than will a toothed cam, however, this will be at the expense of rope damage. Most ridged cam ascenders require two hands to put on or off the rope. Two commercial brands are Gibbs and Rock Exotica ascenders.

Both the toothed and ridged cam types use a concave working surface which engages the rope. Such a concave surface having teeth has the potential to exert a detrimental cutting force on a rope. The cutting force is simply the ratio of the weight divided by the area contacting the rope.

The present invention teaches a new, useful, and non-obvious set of crested curbs on the outside edges of the concave working surface on the cam face which engages the rope. Inside the concave surface are parallel flat ridges, each ridge having a flat top. The result is lower psi per contact point with the rope and additionally a higher total grip strength.

The ridges are uniquely positioned across the radius of the concave cam face to provide a superior grip without corresponding rope damage. The cams rounded curb margins uniquely prevent ropes from diagonal or unusual load/forces. In addition these cam crested curbs keep the rope geometrically aligned to prevent rope distortion torque and damage. Together the curb/ridges provide a higher grip at a lower PSI on the ropes.

Another advantage of the present invention is an integral safety lock which can lock the cam either open or closed. This lock can prevent accidental disengagement of a rope. This lock can also assist in the rapid and safe engagement should the user so choose.

The present invention can be used singly or in pairs. It can be mounted in rope ascenders, pulley safety locks, rope cleats or bits-marine, safety stops for workers on a rope, and fall protection devices.

The main object of the present invention is to provide a friction cam for a rope wherein the working surface of the cam is concave having a set of crested curbs and further comprises gear-like ridges, each ridge having a flat top. This design reduces the cutting force by lowering the psi per contact point and additionally increases the total grip strength.

Another object of the present invention is to provide an integral safety lock which can be set to either the open or the closed position.

Other objects of this invention will appear from the following description and appended claims, reference being had to the accompanying drawings forming a part of this specification wherein like reference characters designate corresponding parts in the several views.

FIG. 1 (prior art) is a top plan view of an ascender that was destroyed by an off axis force of the rope.

FIG. 2 is a top plan view of an ascender comprising the preferred embodiment of the ascending cam, wherein the rope was maintained in axial alignment with the ascending cam.

FIG. 3 is a side plan view of the cam's integral safety lock as used on the winch shown in FIG. 6.

FIG. 4 is a back plan view of the cam shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 5 is a front plan view of the cam showing the rope face. The cam is the one shown in FIG. 2.

FIG. 6 is a side plan view of a winch having the ascending cam installed therein.

FIG. 7 is a top perspective view of the cam.

Before explaining the disclosed embodiment of the present invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of the particular arrangement shown, since the invention is capable of other embodiments. Also, the terminology used herein is for the purpose of description and not of limitation.

Referring first to FIG. 1 a known ascender 1 has a traditional cam C.sub.1. The cam C.sub.1 pivots about axle A.sub.11. When a downward or ascending force F.sub.1 (into the page) is put on the ascender 1, the cam C.sub.1 rotates upwards out of the page and locks the rope R.sub.1 against the body B.sub.1. Normally the central axis A.sub.1 of the rope R.sub.1 is in axial alignment with the central axis A.sub.2 of the cam C.sub.1. However, in FIG. 1 the ascending force was so great that the rope R.sub.1 slipped off the cam face CF.sub.1 and exerted an off-axial force F.sub.2 on the body B.sub.1. The body B.sub.1 failed and bent, thereby creating a space S.sub.1 between the body B.sub.1 and the cam C.sub.1. The axis A.sub.1, A.sub.2 are no longer in alignment. The ascender 1 as shown has failed and jammed on the rope R.sub.1. The traditional cam face CF.sub.1 is concave and possesses teeth T.sub.N which grab the rope R.sub.1. However, during the failure mode shown the teeth T.sub.N have scratched and permanently destroyed the rope R.sub.1.

Referring next to FIG. 2 an ascender 2 has the preferred embodiment of the present invention shown as cam C.sub.2. The rope R.sub.2 is in axial alignment along axis A.sub.3 with the central axis of cam C.sub.2. Cam C.sub.2 pivots around axle A.sub.21. The rope R.sub.2 is shown locked against body B.sub.2 due to the ascending force F.sub.2 imparted on ascender 2.

The unique cam face CF.sub.2 is shown to be concave. Parallel ridges G.sub.N grip the rope R.sub.2. See FIG. 5. Crested curbs 20, 21 extend along the lengthwise edges of the cam face CF.sub.2. The crested curbs 20, 21 function to hold the rope R.sub.2 in axial alignment along axis A.sub.3 with the cam C.sub.2.

Referring next to FIGS. 4, 5 the cam C.sub.2 of FIG. 2 is shown dismounted. The tops of crested curbs 20, 21 are seen as rounded and not sharp. Each ridge G.sub.N tapers from its base 24 to its top surface 23. It can be seen that the top surface 23 of each ridge G.sub.N is straight. The base 24 of each ridge G.sub.N is straight. The base 24 of each ridge G.sub.N is wider than the top surface 23. The rope R.sub.2 under pressure compresses into the hollows H.sub.N between each ridge G.sub.N. See FIG. 5. The result is that there is provided a lower cutting force than in a cam having traditional teeth T.sub.N as shown in FIG. 1. Furthermore, an overall greater braking force is obtained than in a cam having traditional teeth T.sub.N.

Referring next to FIG. 6 a winch 60 is shown having a traditional 4:1 leverage design. In operation the user pulls the rope end 650 of rope 65. A roof mounted hook 61 supports the winch 60. The top pulley assembly 62 houses two side by side pulleys 63, 64. Pulley assembly 62 is secured to winch body 620 by bolt 621. The rope is wound around side by side pulleys 68, 69 of the load pulley assembly 66. The load is represented at 67. Pulling on crank end 650 exerts a 4:1 lifting force on load 67.

The winch 60 is fitted with a brake assembly 70. The brake assembly 70 consists of a rope wedge 71 and a rope guide 720. A cam C.sub.3 pivots around axle A.sub.3. Cam face CF.sub.3 locks the rope 65 against the wedge 71 as shown in the locked position. The load 67 is shown suspended by the brake assembly 70.

FIG. 3 shows the brake assembly 70 in a close-up view. The typical eccentric radius r of cam C.sub.3 is shown. Radius r extends from axle A.sub.3 to cam face CF.sub.3. The safety lever 72 functions to hold the cam C.sub.3 away from the rope 65 when in the OPEN position shown in dots. When in the OPEN position the safety lever 72 is spring loaded against the retaining wall 76. Retaining wall 76 has a width W approximately the same as the width W of the safety level 72 as best shown in FIG. 7. A pin 73 projects perpendicularly from the safety lever 72. The pin 73 provides easy release by fingers. Alternatively the string 74 attached to holes 79, 80 is used for remote release of safety lever 72 as shown in FIG. 6. The safety lever 72 pivots around axle 75 and is normally spring loaded against cam C.sub.3 by spring 77.

Referring last to FIG. 7 the hole 78 is shown when the axle A.sub.3 is disassembled. Cam body 81 is narrower than cam face CF.sub.3. Cam body 81 has holes 79, 80 which can be used to remotely control the position of cam C.sub.3. Cam body 81 is preferably made of a one piece investment casting having no seams or welds. The cam C.sub.3 works on all types of rope including laid, braided, or plaited. The ramp 82 allows for rope friction without harm to the rope. The ramp 82 is located at the bottom bite end of the cam C.sub.3. The bottom bite end of the cam C.sub.3 has ears 84, 85 which support the axle 75.

Although the present invention has been described with reference to preferred embodiments, numerous modifications and variations can be made and still the result will come within the scope of the invention. No limitation with respect to the specific embodiments disclosed herein is intended or should be inferred.