A velocity control device for controlling the velocity of a load on a flexible tension member. The device can include a chassis having a chassis peripheral surface, with a portion of the chassis peripheral surface defining an exit aperture. The device can also include a capstan, the capstan having a proximal face joined to the chassis and a distal face separated at a distance from the proximal face. A peripheral capstan surface can be tapered from a greatest diameter near the distal face to a smallest diameter near the proximal face. The device can include a throttle, the throttle being attached to the chassis. The throttle can an interior surface defining an opening through which the tension member can pass with the interior surface being in at least partial contact with the tension member. Heat produced by kinetic energy in the flexible tension member is transferred to the throttle, and the change in system internal energy produces work in the form of a drag force on the flexible tension member.

A velocity control device for controlling the velocity of a load on a flexible tension member. The device can include a chassis having a chassis peripheral surface, with a portion of the chassis peripheral surface defining an exit aperture. The device can also include a capstan, the capstan having a proximal face joined to the chassis and a distal face separated at a distance from the proximal face. A peripheral capstan surface can be tapered from a greatest diameter near the distal face to a smallest diameter near the proximal face. The device can include a throttle, the throttle being attached to the chassis. The throttle can an interior surface defining an opening through which the tension member can pass with the interior surface being in at least partial contact with the tension member. Heat produced by kinetic energy in the flexible tension member is transferred to the throttle, and the change in system internal energy produces work in the form of a drag force on the flexible tension member.

A passively engaged unidirectional friction load control device having a rope-encasing shell with two points of rope redirection therein to generate friction that varies with the mass of the load during a lowering procedure and minimizes friction during an unloaded raising procedure.

A passively engaged unidirectional friction load control device having a rope-encasing shell with two points of rope redirection therein to generate friction that varies with the mass of the load during a lowering procedure and minimizes friction during an unloaded raising procedure.

A rigid tether for use with a friction brake. The tether has a rigid handle with a pulley arm and pulley at one end. The friction brake is attached to rotate about a brake hole at one end of the handle. A pulley arm with pulley is attached to rotate about a pulley hole at the other end of the handle. The pulley arm is two parallel plates, a fixed plate and a gate plate, with an axle between them on which his mounted the pulley. The plates, pulley, and handle define a rope slot. The gate plate can pivot on the axle to provide access to the rope slot.

A safety line traveller (1) for a fall protection system has a first component (2) in sliding engagement with a safety line (40), and a second component (3) which hinders sliding contact of the traveller with the safety line (40). The first and second components (2,3) are normally held in a sliding configuration in which the second component (3) is spaced from the safety line (40) and the first component (2) provides sliding contact with the safety line. The first and second components (2,3) are reconfigurable to an alternative configuration in which the second component (3) engages with the safety line (40) in order to hinder sliding of the traveller (1) on the safety line (40).

A safety line traveller (1) for a fall protection system has a first component (2) in sliding engagement with a safety line (40), and a second component (3) which hinders sliding contact of the traveller with the safety line (40). The first and second components (2,3) are normally held in a sliding configuration in which the second component (3) is spaced from the safety line (40) and the first component (2) provides sliding contact with the safety line. The first and second components (2,3) are reconfigurable to an alternative configuration in which the second component (3) engages with the safety line (40) in order to hinder sliding of the traveller (1) on the safety line (40).

A clutch assembly for a climbing rope including a tether component pivotally supporting a plate, the plate in turn supporting a pair of pivotal clutch members defining a first pinch point of the rope. A carabiner pivotally attachable to the tether component through an aligning support aperture in the plate. A lever is pivotally attached to the tether component and slidably attached to the plate which permits at least one of sliding displacement or pivoting of the plate relative to the tether component to establish each of a sliding configuration of the rope relative to the clutch members during either of a normal ascent or normal descent condition, as well as a locked configuration of the clutch members against the rope to establish a free-fall preventing condition.

A clutch assembly for a climbing rope including a tether component pivotally supporting a plate, the plate in turn supporting a pair of pivotal clutch members defining a first pinch point of the rope. A carabiner pivotally attachable to the tether component through an aligning support aperture in the plate. A lever is pivotally attached to the tether component and slidably attached to the plate which permits at least one of sliding displacement or pivoting of the plate relative to the tether component to establish each of a sliding configuration of the rope relative to the clutch members during either of a normal ascent or normal descent condition, as well as a locked configuration of the clutch members against the rope to establish a free-fall preventing condition.

A self-locking descent control device features a clamp body, a handle lever pivotably coupled to the clamp body near a proximal end of the lever, an attachment point carried on the clamp body for connection to body-worn equipment of a user, a friction arrangement on the clamp body at a location across the elongated lever from the attachment point, and featuring a first set of rope passages. A second set of rope passages are laid out in series on the lever, and a clamping surface on the clamping body is positioned adjacent the proximal end of the lever on the same side thereof as the attachment point. The rope is routed on a serpentine path through the first and second sets of rope passages, and onward through a space between the proximal end of the lever and the clamping surface, whereby the user's body weight automatically clamps the rope therebetween.