The Aerial Friction Brake is here!

[The_Archdruid]

Bear in mind that I have not had a chance to play with one yet, but because the climber will be close to this in most situations, it should be easy enough to open the side plate and remove wraps.

If the climber has to go back and open side plates for every rope return, he or she will be suicidal by noon.

See what he did there, Orobos, with the quote? He only added an ellipsis to show paraphrasing, but didn't have to re-type anything else.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Stiffer ropes work better

In Nick's video and the pictures it shows that the rope spirals between the pins and next to the cheek plate

I found that by wrapping the rope on the outer sides made tailing easier. The rope
Makes a gradual diagonal wrap which smooths the transition

 

[DSMc]

If the climber has to go back and open side plates for every rope return, he or she will be suicidal by noon....

I think not. If this tool is used with the thought that a climber can assist with the lowering, he will not have to return from anywhere. He will already be there. That will also be dependent on whether removing a wrap is even required.

 

[monkeylove]

Other than the whole ratcheting idea the simple (maybe) solution may be just to add a twist lock pin similar but longer to the one up top for the sling. When you drop pin is in, when you pull back up pin is out. Quick paintshop pic below.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Instead of changing wraps we'd tail the rope against the tree for that leeetle bit more friction occasionally

 

[Oroboros]

Thanks for the reply, seems like it runs pretty smooth then.

But more importantly, how did you start your post by quoting mine, but end up without a space between "a" and "pain"? Did you diligently type out what I wrote, with just that small error, like some kind of scrivener? Why not just hit Reply and delete out whatever you don't need in there?

I copied and pasted. The glitch is evidence that the Machines have infiltrated my computer. Trust nothing I say.

 

[easyphloem]

I copied and pasted. The glitch is evidence that the Machines have infiltrated my computer. Trust nothing I say.

The New World Order is not a global domination cartel that you should take lightly. Literally all of our bases are belong to them, and there isn't a goddam thing we can do about it (except take over wilderness preserves on the weekend when they are closed).

SZ

 

[cerviarborist]

Stiffer ropes work better

That's what she said.

 

[CutHighnLetFly]

I'm sure rope choice will change how each grips the spool. I ran 1/2 inch polydyne with it wasn't the smoothest.. I'm not sure maybe a more firm not so squishy rope may work better. Sorta like people,possibly.

Wadda you saying aaron? I'm squishy not so firm but I work just fine.

 

[Treetopflyer]

Wadda you saying aaron? I'm squishy not so firm but I work just fine.

Well its situational like aerial friction brake.

 

[mpatch]

For those that have actually used the AFB how hard is it to tension the rigging line once set? I'm guessing you can't pre tension very much due to friction.
Now make one with a one way ratchet (like the Hobbs) and I'd pay triple the price if not more.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

I found that we could tension the rope by 'sweating up' the rigged end.

'Sweating up' is a term from Age of Sail...we've all done it too.

Pull the rope between the rigged end and the redirect/rigging point, or, in this case the AFB. Then, when the rope is released the groundie's pull the slack and re-tension. Repeat a couple of times.

In keeping with our nautical heritage this would be the time that the crew breaks into a sea chantey/shanty to get in a tugging rhythm.

In the illustration on the right, invert the rigging and insert the AFB at the feet of the two sailors on the right.

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sea_shanty

 

[Nish]

In keeping with our nautical heritage this would be the time that the crew breaks into a sea chantey/shanty to get in a tugging rhythm.

The next time a ground crew application lists Broadway experience, it's going to the top of the pile.

 

[Steve Connally]

So who has one and how's it going? Tried to order one yesterday but I misenetered my gift card 3 times so I took it as a sign.

 

[cerviarborist]

Wasn't there a video in the Richard Simmons Workout Series called "Sweating with the Groundies"?

 

[JeffGu]

Now, there's an image I didn't want stuck in my head...

 

[SingleJack]

TreeStuff.com AERIAL FRICTION BRAKE (link below)
PRODUCT UPDATE: actual AFB work experience -- yesterday:

I had the ideal job to use the AFB = one climber + one home owner. We used it in the configuration shown in the diagram below. The were two, LARGE, dead, branches (Quercus rubra) that had to be pieced-down over an asphalt drive, new lawn and other landscaping.
The Home Owner (HO) was *the* ground-help. {I even had to loan him my spare hard-hat} So, using 'knot-less' slings made it easy for the HO to simply un-sling a load and re-attach the sling.
From a TIP at 60', the AFB was set with a dead-eye sling at 55'. A 150' hank of Yale Polydyne rigging line was set with two-wraps into the AFB. An Alpine-Butterfly (AB) was tied on one side of the rigging line then lowered to ground and another AB/sling was set on the other side of the line.
The first, lower branch was 12-15" at the stem and about 50' long. It was 30'+ up and taken in 300-400lb segments. Each segment was girthed with the sling and 'carabinered' to the rigging line at the AB. After the release cut, the load would swing to below the AFB and gently descend (on its own) to the ground until it just touched down. This was *without* any tending of the lowering line. A light lifting of the up-rope allowed the load to fully lay flat. The HO would then remove the sling and re-attach it to the rigging line. While this was being done, the opposite sling was now up at my height, so, I could secure it the the next segment. Then the process would repeat, back-and-forth until the branch was completely removed, safely.
The second branch at ~55' was 8-10" (at stem - also 50' long). It was removed in exactly the same manner.
It needs to be stressed how delightful it was to make a release-cut of a 400lb piece and watch it slowly descend and lightly touch down *without* any tending of the rigging line. The auto-lowering limit with the Belay-Spool was about 250lbs. The AFB is a real game-changer for light piece-down rigging using 'unskilled' help. And, with skilled help, it could greatly increase productivity - IMO.



TREESTUFF AERIAL FRICTION BRAKE
https://www.treestuff.com/store/catalog.asp?item=15634#detail

 

[Pelorus]

50' branches?
Surely you jest.

 

[Oroboros]

I have just received my AFB. I'm somewhat disappointed to see that the bollard is aluminum. I have wear showing on my belay spool (stainless steel) after moderate use.
I guess I will have to rebuild it with stainless when the time comes.

 

[lumberjackson]

I've had mine for about a month, but have only used our a handful of times. I think it's great until you need to do any negative rigging. But for lowering anything from small to reasonably big when you have a good anchor point above the load it is pretty slick, especially when your groundie is not the greatest at running rope. Fantastic concept, I think tree stuff could've made it a little sturdier though. Overall I think it will be a worthwhile investment