With the development of climbing, rescue and special training, ascenders are becoming common equipment for climbing. When rock climbers pass through dangerous and steep areas, the ascender is an important self-protection equipment. It forms a protection system with ropes, safety belts and other equipment; Dangerous areas such as rock cracks. Scope of application: Rescue, mountaineering, caving and other rope ascents and positioning on the rope, follow me today to learn more about all aspects of ascenders!
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Classification of ascenders
1.Handle ascenders
The more common ascenders are widely used in outdoor activities such as mountaineering, rock climbing, caving, river tracing, outdoor rescue, and fire training.
The hand ascender is easy to use and can be installed on the rope with one hand (with an ergonomic thumb handle). For the convenience of personal habits, it is divided into left-handed and right-handed types. The handle is crafted to provide grip for the hand while keeping the wrist in line with the direction of pull and can be operated with gloves.
The handle body is made of aluminum alloy, which is light and convenient. The protective jacket made of elastic rubber is comfortable and heat-insulating. The chrome-plated steel inclined claws and self-cleaning grooves can grasp wet, ice, snow or muddy ropes.
Suitable for 8-13mm fixed single rope climbing, more suitable for ice, snow and muddy environments.
The following is the new rope grab improved by Bofulong Company. For more styles, please refer to the website www.bofsafety.com.
2.Chest ascender
The chest ascender is often used in activities such as caving, and it needs to be used in conjunction with the hand ascender.
The chest ascender can make the body closer to the rope to prevent the body from shaking, losing balance and falling. The toothed cam and the automatic cleaning function of the grab rope groove make it can be used normally even in muddy and icy conditions.
Suitable for ropes with a diameter of 8-13mm.
For more styles, please refer to the website www.bofsafety.com.
3. Foot ascender
The foot ascender needs to be used in conjunction with the hand ascender and the chest ascender. With the feet on it, the body can remain upright and at the same time reduce the burden on the arms.
Divided into left foot and right foot to make the rope climb faster and reduce fatigue, the sling buckle that fixes the foot is easy to adjust. The pedal belt is made of special material to enhance the anti-wear performance, and the rope can be removed with a simple leg back movement.
For 8 – 13mm diameter single rope.
4. Portable ascender
Portable ascenders do not have handles, which are convenient for users to carry. They are generally used in conjunction with iron locks to meet various ascending needs, but the effect is not as good as that of hand ascenders.
There are two common types: one is a simple ascender with only inverted teeth, and the other is a simple ascender that is squeezed and stopped with a rope.
The former has smaller mass and volume, and after use, it can be easily put in the pocket on your clothes or backpack. According to the situation of using the main lock, it can be used for single rope ascent of 8-11mm.
The latter is an emergency multi-purpose ascender that can be used with belay equipment with slings of width 10-15mm. The small size allows one-handed belay operation, and the large hole can be inserted into the connecting lock.
Can be used for 8-13mm single rope.
5. Fall arrester
It can be used as a descending assistant, or as an ascender, and can be operated with one hand.
The new KONG fall arrester can be used by the operator in two directions and avoid possible falls. The special button on the switch lock off mode can also be used as a positioning device after switching.
Due to the special manufacturing method, the equipment can also withstand high impact forces in a semi-mobile mode (fall factor 2) and avoid rope damage caused by traditional equipment.
Bofulong company is a factory specializing in the production of rope grabs, ascenders and fall arresters. For more styles, please refer to the website www.bofsafety.com.
Structural function of ascender
Most ascenders use friction to achieve the braking effect, so the important part is the inverted tooth. The ascender can be pushed upwards through the rope. After stopping, the gears are embedded in the rope skin to generate brakes and will not slide down.
The frame of the ascender is mostly made of alloy material, which has good strength and light weight, and the gear part is generally made of steel.
The hand ascender has a handle made of rubber, which is easy for the user to hold and exert force. The fixing belt of the foot ascender can be adjusted according to the size of each person’s feet.
Precautions for use
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- The hand and foot ascenders are divided into left and right. When using them, you must pay attention to distinguish them, and don’t use them incorrectly.
- The inverted teeth on the ascender can automatically clean the ice and snow on the rope during the movement.
- When using the ascender, try to ensure that the direction of advancement is parallel to the rope.
- Do not use the ascender as the connection point of the protection system. The ascender is easily detached from the rope when it is impacted, and safety belts and main locks are required for group protection.
- The working load of the inverted-tooth ascender is 5KN. Exceeding this tension will cause great damage to the rope and reduce the safety factor. Therefore, try to avoid falling activities when using it.
- When the spring on the ascender fails or the wear of the rope groove exceeds 1/5 of the diameter, do not continue to use it.
- If the ascender falls from a high altitude (8m or above) and hits a hard object, it will be declared scrapped and cannot be used any longer.
Care and Maintenance
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- Be careful not to drop the ascender during use to avoid damage. When not in use, it should be removed from the rope and kept properly.
- Check after use. It needs to be cleaned for long-term storage. It should be stored in a dry and ventilated place. Do not wrap it with wet ropes or slings.
- If it is used in the rain, mud, ice and snow environment, it should be checked in time, especially the parts of the gears, and the sundries should be cleaned.
- Avoid contact with corrosive substances or acids (such as car batteries). Salt can also corrode the pulleys. If you often go to caves, remember to clean them regularly (just use a damp cloth).
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