A load lowering descent controller having a fixed cylindrical body or capstan about which a rope or cable is turned. The descent controller allows for lowering of the load at a controlled rate by adjusting the amount of friction between the controller and the rope or cable as a function of rope or cable turning and relative contact with rope or cable engagement surfaces in the controller. The fixed cylindrical body or capstan is surrounded by a vented sleeve to prevent the rope from becoming heated and to prevent the user from being injured.

A rigid tether for use with a friction brake. The tether has a rigid handle with a brake hole at one end designed for mounting a friction brake to rotate about the brake hole. A pulley arm with pulley is attached to rotate about 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 is 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 rigid tether for use with a friction brake. The tether has a rigid handle with a brake hole at one end designed for mounting a friction brake to rotate about the brake hole. A pulley arm with pulley is attached to rotate about 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 is 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 rigid tether for use with a friction brake. The tether has a rigid handle with a brake hole at one end designed for mounting a friction brake to rotate about the brake hole. A pulley arm with pulley is attached to rotate about 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 is 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 securing device configured for moving along with a person to be secured is disclosed. A housing has a groove and two opposed sidewalls which are spaced apart such that the groove and the sidewalls partially enclose a securing means. A lever with an attachment region is provided, to which the person is attachable, wherein the lever is pivotally mounted between the sidewalls. The lever is adapted and pivotable such that, in a securing position in which the securing means is blocked within the groove against a displacement in at least one direction along the securing means, the securing means is pressable into the groove and the attachment region protrudes out of the housing for being operated, and a release position in which the securing means is displaceable within the groove, the lever is covered between the sidewalls in the housing, such that attaching the person to the attachment region is prevented.

A descender is for work at height, climbing, mountaineering, speleology or other practices using a rope. The descender device for a textile rope (F) includes a casing in which a cam mechanism (10) and an actuating lever (3) for the cam mechanism (10) are housed. The casing (2) includes a return element (13) for the rope (F). The cam mechanism (10) includes a lever pin (29) rotatably actuated by the actuation lever (3) and a movable cam (25) which is rotatably movable between a deactivation position and a locked position in which the movable cam (25) presses on the rope (F) against the return element (13). The lever pin (29) acts on a rocker member (32) which is integral with the movable cam (25) during a first rotation step of the lever pin (29) in a direction opposite to the activation direction of the movable cam (25).

A descender is for work at height, climbing, mountaineering, speleology or other practices using a rope. The descender device for a textile rope (F) includes a casing in which a cam mechanism (10) and an actuating lever (3) for the cam mechanism (10) are housed. The casing (2) includes a return element (13) for the rope (F). The cam mechanism (10) includes a lever pin (29) rotatably actuated by the actuation lever (3) and a movable cam (25) which is rotatably movable between a deactivation position and a locked position in which the movable cam (25) presses on the rope (F) against the return element (13). The lever pin (29) acts on a rocker member (32) which is integral with the movable cam (25) during a first rotation step of the lever pin (29) in a direction opposite to the activation direction of the movable cam (25).

Methods and systems are provided for a rappelling device comprising a body, a pocket, and a pivotable bollard.

Methods and systems are provided for a rappelling device comprising a body, a pocket, and a pivotable bollard.

A protection device for traversing a guide member and method of making the like, the protection device includes a wheel configured to engage the guide member. In some embodiments, the protection embodiment includes a locker configured to engage a braking surface. The locker engagement mechanism configured to releasably engage the locker. In some embodiments, a centrifugal actuator operatively coupled to the wheel and configured to actuate the locker engagement mechanism to release the locker based on a threshold speed of the wheel. In an instance in which the wheel is rotating at or above the threshold speed of the wheel in a first direction, the centrifugal actuator is configured to actuate and rotate the locker engagement mechanism to release the locker and to allow the locker to rotate and engage the braking surface. A corresponding method of operation is also provided.