(19)
(11) EP 4 454 718 A1

(12) EUROPEAN PATENT APPLICATION

(43) Date of publication:
30.10.2024 Bulletin 2024/44

(21) Application number: 24164874.0

(22) Date of filing: 20.03.2024
(51) International Patent Classification (IPC): 
A62B 1/10(2006.01)
(52) Cooperative Patent Classification (CPC):
A62B 1/10
(84) Designated Contracting States:
AL AT BE BG CH CY CZ DE DK EE ES FI FR GB GR HR HU IE IS IT LI LT LU LV MC ME MK MT NL NO PL PT RO RS SE SI SK SM TR
Designated Extension States:
BA
Designated Validation States:
GE KH MA MD TN

(30) Priority: 24.04.2023 IT 202300008010

(71) Applicant: OBER ALP S.p.A.
39100 - Bolzano (IT)

(72) Inventor:
  • TEMPERATO, Luca
    I-39100 BOLZANO (IT)

(74) Representative: Mitola, Marco 
Jacobacci & Partners S.p.A. Piazza Mario Saggin, 2
35131 Padova
35131 Padova (IT)

   


(54) LOCKING PULLEY FOR ROPES


(57) A locking pulley (4) for ropes comprising a contrast bushing (8), cylindrical with respect to an axial direction (X-X), a pulley (12) provided with a rotatable locking cam (16), wherein the contrast bushing (8) and the locking cam (16) identify a channel (24) of variable width, the locking cam (16) being provided with a return spring (28) which influences the approach to the contrast bushing (8) and traction means (32) with which a user may move it away from the contrast bushing (8). The contrast bushing (8) and the pulley (12) are mechanically connected to each other by means of a fixed cheek (36) and a movable cheek (40), wherein the movable cheek (40) is integral with the pulley (12) and is rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to said axial direction (X-X), from an opening configuration adapted to allow the insertion of a rope, in which said channel (24) is maximum, to a closing configuration adapted to allow the locking of the rope in which said channel (24) is minimum. The contrast bushing (8) comprises a peripheral groove (44) axially delimited by an end edge (48) directly facing the movable cheek (40), wherein the movable cheek (40) comprises a coupling portion (52) with a "C" counter-shape with respect to said peripheral groove (44) so as to make a shape coupling with the peripheral groove (44) and an undercut in the axial direction (X-X). Advantageously, said coupling portion (52) comprises a tooth (56) that makes a stop against the end edge (48) of the contrast bushing (8) when the movable cheek (40) is in the closed position.




Description

FIELD OF APPLICATION



[0001] The present invention relates to a locking pulley for ropes, in particular for climbing harnesses.

PRIOR ART



[0002] Solutions exist in the prior art for locking pulleys for harnesses that are typically used to control the descent of a user who is a climber. In particular such locking pulleys involve the use of a fixed, contrast bushing and a pulley provided with a locking cam, rotating around an axis of rotation parallel to said contrast bushing. The contrast bushing and locking cam identify a channel for the passage of the rope to be held or released based upon the requirements of the user. The locking cam is provided with a return spring that influences the approach to the contrast bushing and traction means with which the user may move it away from the contrast bushing overcoming the action of said return spring. The contrast bushing and the pulley, provided with a locking cam, are connected to each other by means of a fixed cheek and a movable cheek, in the form of plates.

[0003] The movable cheek is rotatable together with the pulley so as to be able to move to an opening configuration adapted to allow the insertion of the rope to be controlled and/or locked.

[0004] Such known solutions have some disadvantages and limitations.

[0005] For example, some known solutions may open accidentally during use due to the rotation and/or translation of the movable cheek with the consequent release and lack of control/braking of the rope.

[0006] In this regard, some safety devices are known, such as for example retainers for the movable cheek which, once the closing position has been reached, prevent the rotation of the cheek. Alternatively said known safety devices may prevent the translation of the safety cheek in an axial direction, i.e., parallel to the extension axis of the contrast bushing.

[0007] The known devices are not however without drawbacks, in particular they do not prevent the risk of accidental opening, also because they do not provide any feedback to the user in relation to the successful and complete closure of said movable cheek.

DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION



[0008] The need to solve the drawbacks and limitations mentioned with reference to the prior art is therefore felt.

[0009] Such need is satisfied by a locking pulley for ropes according to claim 1.

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS



[0010] Further features and advantages of the present invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of preferred, non-limiting embodiments thereof, wherein:

[0011] Fig. 1-2 are perspective views, from different angles, of a locking pulley, in an opening configuration, in accordance with one embodiment of the present invention;

[0012] Fig. 3 is a perspective view of the locking pulley of Fig. 1-2, in a release configuration of the closure;

[0013] Fig. 4 is a cross-section view of the locking pulley of Fig. 3, in a closing configuration;

[0014] Fig. 5 is an enlargement of the detail V of Fig. 4;

[0015] Fig. 6 is a front view of the locking pulley in accordance with the present invention, in an initial opening or release configuration of the movable cheek;

[0016] Fig. 7 is a front view of the locking pulley in Fig. 6, in a closing or coupling configuration of the movable cheek;

[0017] Fig. 8-10 are partial cross-section views and/or with partially transparent elements of a locking pulley in accordance with the present invention.

[0018] Elements or parts of elements common to the embodiments described hereinafter will be indicated with the same numerical references.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION



[0019] With reference to the aforesaid figures, an overall view of a locking pulley for a rope (not shown) is indicated collectively with the numeral 4.

[0020] The locking pulley 4 for ropes comprises a contrast bushing 8 which is cylindrical in relation to an axial direction X-X. Said contrast bushing 8 is preferably axisymmetric in relation to said axial direction X-X. The contrast bushing 8 is, for example, made of a metallic material, preferably aluminum of steel or the alloys thereof.

[0021] The locking pulley 4 furthermore comprises a pulley 12 provided with a locking cam 16 rotatable parallel to said axial direction X-X, for example around a pin 15. The pulley 12 is usually cylindrical and symmetrical in relation to an axis of symmetry parallel to said axial direction X-X; the locking cam 16 is typically keyed to the pulley 12, is integral in rotation with the pulley 12, and is provided with at least one set of teeth 20 adapted for grasping an associated rope, in a known manner. It should be pointed out that the pulley 12 and the locking cam 16 may be manufactured as two parts that are mechanically associated therebetween, or else they may be manufactured as a single part.

[0022] The contrast bushing 8 and the locking cam 16 identify a channel 24 of variable width for the passage of a rope to be retained or released according to the needs of a user.

[0023] The locking cam 16 is provided with a return spring 28 which rotatably influences the approach to the contrast bushing 8 and traction means 32 with which a user may move it away from the contrast bushing 8 overcoming the action of said return spring 28. The traction means 32 comprise, for example, a simple lanyard or loop, adapted for being grasped by the user, for example with a finger. The return spring 28 is typically a torsion/spiral spring.

[0024] The rotation of the locking cam 16 is preferably limited by a pair of end-stops, for example in the form of pins 33.

[0025] The contrast bushing 8 and the pulley 12, provided with a locking cam 16, are mechanically connected therebetween by means of a fixed cheek 36 and a movable cheek 40, in the form of plates.

[0026] In more detail, the movable cheek 40 is integral with the pulley 12 and is rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to said axial direction X-X from an opening configuration (Fig. 1-2) adapted to allow the insertion of the rope in which said channel 24 is maximum, to a closing configuration (Fig. 7) adapted to allow the locking of the rope in which said channel 24 is minimum.

[0027] The contrast bushing 8 comprises a peripheral groove 44 preferably having a toroidal shape, axially delimited by an end edge 48 directly facing the movable cheek 40.

[0028] In turn, the movable cheek 40 comprises a coupling portion 52 with a "C" counter-shape with respect to said peripheral groove 44 so as to make a shape coupling with the peripheral groove 44 and an undercut in the axial direction X-X. Said undercut limits the movement of the movable cheek 40 in relation to the fixed cheek 36 in a direction parallel to said axial direction X-X, as will be better described below.

[0029] Advantageously, said coupling portion 52 comprises a tooth 56 which makes a stop against the end edge 48 of the contrast bushing 8 when the movable cheek 40 is in the closed position.

[0030] Preferably, the movable cheek 40, in a closing configuration, is provided with an axial clearance 60 in the direction away from the fixed cheek 36, said axial clearance 60 being greater than or equal to an axial height 64 of said tooth 56 so as to allow the movable cheek 40 to be distanced from the fixed cheek 36 and the consequent disengagement of the tooth 56 from the end edge 48 of the contrast bushing 8 (when the movable cheek 40 is in the closing position). By virtue of such disengagement of the tooth 56 from the end edge 48 of the contrast bushing 8, it is possible to rotate the movable cheek 40 from the closed position to the open position.

[0031] In accordance with one possible embodiment, said coupling portion 52 comprises an inlet portion 68 having a radial width 72, perpendicular to said axial direction, less than or equal to a diameter D of the end edge 48 of the contrast bushing 8.

[0032] Preferably, said inlet portion 68 is asymmetric, having a first radial end 76 provided with said tooth 56 and a second radial end 80, opposite the first radial end 76, lacking said tooth 56.

[0033] In accordance with one possible embodiment, the inlet portion 68 comprises lead-in countersinks 84 for the entry of the coupling portion 52 in said peripheral groove 44.

[0034] In accordance with one possible embodiment, the tooth 56 has an angular width so that in the step of starting closing or angular overlapping of the movable cheek 40 to the contrast bushing 8, the tooth 56 keeps the movable cheek 40 in an offset position (Fig. 6) until, upon reaching the complete closing of the movable cheek 40, the latter may return to a position parallel to the fixed cheek 36 (Fig. 7).

[0035] Preferably, the locking pulley 4 also comprises a return spring 26 configured so as to axially influence the movable cheek 40 approaching the fixed cheek 36; in other words the return spring 26 is configured so as to influence the movable cheek 40 in a position that is substantially parallel to the fixed cheek 36, wherein locking is permitted between the tooth 56 and the end edge 48 of the contrast bushing 8.

[0036] For example, the return spring 26 is a spiral or cup spring.

[0037] In accordance with one possible embodiment, the fixed cheek 36 and the movable cheek 40 have the same overall dimensions with respect to a projection plane perpendicular to said axial direction X-X. This configuration is particularly ergonomic for the user.

[0038] In accordance with one possible embodiment, the fixed cheek 36 and the movable cheek 40 have a central narrowing 88 at said channel 24. Said central narrowing 88 is particularly comfortable for the user insofar as it may be used to rest the thumb thereon and to open the movable cheek 40.

[0039] For the purposes of ergonomics, the contrast bushing 8 is hollow, and said fixed cheek 36 and movable cheek 40, at the contrast bushing 8, are provided with holes 92 aligned with the cavity of the contrast bushing 8.

[0040] Preferably, the fixed cheek 36 and the movable cheek 40 have a peripheral edge 96 cantilevered with respect to the contrast bushing 8: said peripheral edge 96 facilitates gripping on the part of a user who may thus grasp the movable cheek 40 and move it axially away from the fixed cheek 36 so as to disengage the tooth 56 from the coupling portion 52 and open the movable cheek 40. Furthermore, the peripheral edge 96 also has the function of containing the rope, especially if the latter has a consistent diameter.

[0041] The operation of the locking pulley according to the present invention will now be described.

[0042] As mentioned above, in the closing configuration the movable cheek 40 is elastically influenced towards the fixed cheek 36, in such a way as to ensure the abutment between the tooth 56 and the coupling portion 52. In such configuration it is not possible to open the movable cheek 40. If the user intends to open the movable cheek, said user must first grasp it and move it axially away from the fixed cheek 36: in this way the tooth 56 is disengaged from the coupling portion 52 and permits the subsequent rotation of the movable cheek 40 in moving away from the fixed cheek 36. Such slight movement of rotation/misalignment is indicated by the arrow α in Fig. 6; in the subsequent Fig. 7 such angle is not shown insofar as it is equal to 0, i.e., the two fixed and movable cheeks 36,40 are parallel therebetween and perpendicular to the axial direction X-X. The misalignment or rotation of the movable cheek 40 has to be sufficient to release the tooth 56 from the peripheral edge 48; in other words, it is necessary to move the movable cheek 40 away by an amount greater than the axial height 64 of the tooth 56.

[0043] The closing of the movable cheek 40 is facilitated by the elastic action of the return spring 28 that influences the movable cheek 40 so as to bring it back into alignment with the fixed cheek 36, rotating parallel to said axial direction X-X. During this return movement, the combined action of the return spring 26 and of the shape coupling between the coupling portion 52 and the tooth 56 permits the elastic snap-return of the movable cheek 40 to the closing position.

[0044] This snap return, together with a relative acoustic "click," constitutes a further safety element insofar as it alerts the user, in an unequivocal way, as to the successful closure of the movable cheek 40.

[0045] As may be appreciated from that which has been described, the present invention overcomes the drawbacks of the prior art.

[0046] In particular and most importantly, following a clearly audibly noticeable snap, the user has the certainty of having correctly and completely locked the movable cheek.

[0047] Furthermore the specific configuration of the movable cheek and the end edge of the contrast bushing makes it possible to make a lock and a shape coupling that prevents any accidental opening of the movable cheek.

[0048] In fact, as seen, in order to be able to rotate the movable cheek, it is first necessary to misalign the movable cheek by moving it axially away from the fixed cheek; in this way the backstop is disengaged from the tooth and permits the subsequent rotation/opening of the movable cheek.

[0049] This is a safety element that is superior to the solutions of the known art, which makes any accidental opening of the pulley effectively impossible.

[0050] A person skilled in the art, for the purpose of satisfying contingent and specific needs, may make numerous modifications and variations to the solutions described above.

[0051] The scope of protection of the invention is defined by the following claims.


Claims

1. Locking pulley (4) for ropes, comprising:

- a contrast bushing (8), cylindrical with respect to an axial direction (X-X),

- a pulley (12) provided with a locking cam (16) rotatable parallel to said axial direction (X-X),

- wherein the contrast bushing (8) and the locking cam (16) identify a channel (24) of variable width for the passage of a rope to be retained or released according to the needs of a user,

- the locking cam (16) being provided with a return spring (28) which influences the approach to the contrast bushing (8) and traction means (32) with which a user may move it away from the contrast bushing (8) overcoming the action of said return spring (28),

- wherein the contrast bushing (8) and the pulley (12) provided with locking cam (16) are mechanically connected to each other by means of a fixed cheek (36) and a movable cheek (40), in the form of plates,

- wherein the movable cheek (40) is integral with the pulley (12) and is rotatable around a rotation axis parallel to said axial direction (X-X), from an opening configuration adapted to allow the insertion of the rope in which said channel (24) is maximum, to a closing configuration adapted to allow the locking of the rope in which said channel (24) is minimum,

- wherein the contrast bushing (8) comprises a peripheral groove (44) axially delimited by an end edge (48) directly facing the movable cheek (40),

- wherein the movable cheek (40) comprises a coupling portion (52) with a "C" counter-shape with respect to said peripheral groove (44) so as to make a shape coupling with the peripheral groove (44) and an undercut in the axial direction (X-X),

- wherein said coupling portion (52) comprises a tooth (56) which makes a stop against the end edge (48) of the contrast bushing (8) when the movable cheek (40) is in the closed position,

wherein the movable cheek (40), in a closing configuration, is provided with an axial clearance (60) in the direction away from the fixed cheek (36), said axial clearance (60) being greater than or equal to an axial height (64) of said tooth (56) so as to allow the movable cheek (40) to be distanced from the fixed cheek (36) and the disengagement of the tooth (56) from the end edge (48), when the movable cheek (40) is in the closing position.
 
2. Locking pulley (4) according to claim 1, wherein said coupling portion (52) comprises an inlet portion (68) having a radial width (72), perpendicular to said axial direction (X-X), less than or equal to a diameter (D) of the end edge (48) of the contrast bushing (8).
 
3. Locking pulley (4) according to claim 2, wherein said inlet portion (68) is asymmetric, having a first radial end (76) provided with said tooth (56) and a second radial end (80), opposite the first radial end (76), lacking said tooth (56).
 
4. Locking pulley (4) according to claim 2 or 3, wherein the inlet portion (68) comprises lead-in countersinks (84) for the entry of the coupling portion (52) in said peripheral groove (44).
 
5. Locking pulley (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the tooth (56) has an angular width so that in the step of starting closing or angular overlapping of the movable cheek (40) to the contrast bushing (8), the tooth (56) keeps the movable cheek (40) in an offset position until, upon reaching the complete closing of the movable cheek (40), the latter may return to a position parallel to the fixed cheek (36).
 
6. Locking pulley (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the pulley (4) comprises a return spring (26) configured so as to axially influence the movable cheek (40) approaching the fixed cheek (36).
 
7. Locking pulley (4) according to claim 6, wherein the return spring (26) is a spiral or cup spring.
 
8. Locking pulley (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the return spring (28) is a torsion/spiral spring.
 
9. Locking pulley (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the fixed cheek (36) and the movable cheek (40) have the same overall dimensions with respect to a projection plane perpendicular to said axial direction (X-X).
 
10. Locking pulley (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the fixed cheek (36) and the movable cheek (40) have a central narrowing (88) at said channel(24).
 
11. Locking pulley (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, wherein the contrast bushing (8) is hollow and said fixed cheek (36) and movable cheek (40), at the contrast bushing (8) are provided with holes (92) aligned with the cavity of the contrast bushing (8).
 
12. Locking pulley (4) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein said fixed cheek (36) and movable cheek (40) have a peripheral edge (96) cantilevered with respect to the contrast bushing (8).
 




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