How to Rig and Use the PowerQuick Ascender in Horizontal Applications

1
PQ 500 Series Instruction

• How to Rig and Use the PowerQuick Ascender in
  Horizontal Applications

2
Design Overview

• The PowerQuick Ascender was designed as a pulling
  machine to lift loads up and down in a vertical
  direction
• All the weight forces are on the capstan/gearbox
  assembly, controlled through the tension arm and
  passed through the up-rope guide
• This gives it great pulling strength, but minimal
  pushing strength

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Design Overview

• Anticipating a requirement for angle ascent and
  descent, the up-rope guide was designed to handle
  side forces.
• The down-rope guide was designed to allow the
  rope to hang loose.
• This configuration works very well for sharp
  angled ascent and descent.
• The ascender by original design is not tolerant
  of substantial side loads such as are encountered
  in a same level, side-to-side application.

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Side-to-Side Horizontal Challenges

• When stretched between two points even a
  low-stretch static kernmantle rope will always
  sag in the middle.
• This requires the ascender to push on the uphill
  side of the rope sag, which it is not designed to
  do.
• The rope could slip out of the lower rope guide
  and become bound in the machine.
• There is no danger of the ascender falling or
  dropping the load, but the ascender can become
  stuck in place.

5
Decision Point

• In working with our customers we discovered that
  it is sometimes necessary to be able to move
  loads in a truly horizontal direction for many
  applications.
• Our options were to
• Do a radical redesign which would take over a
  year and several thousands of dollars, or
• Make some minor modifications and develop safe,
  efficient procedures.
• In the interest of time, we opted for minor
  modifications and the development of procedures
  at this time.

6
Design Modifications

• We added a body hanger to better balance the
  asccender orientatin in horizontal applications.
• We added a down-rope guide lock to prevent the
  rope from being removed or getting pinched in the
  ascender, minimizing the potential for jamming.

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Horizontal Rigging Procedures

• Using the ascender in a horizontal orientation
  requires a minimum of 2 ropes, a minimum of one
  pulley (we recommend 2 though a carabineer can be
  used in an emergency).
• The pulley(s) are attached to the load line and
  the ascender to the movement line.
• In some configurations a third rope is needed as
  a tag line.

8
Horizontal Procedures-Varied Levels

• The preferred method of climbing is to secure
  both lines with one end at a high position and
  the other at a lower position.

Load Line
Movement Line

• If possible, the movement line should be attached
  at a point higher than the load line to add
  clearance for loads.
• The ascender should be loaded so that the up-rope
  guide points towards the highest point.
• The ascender will move the length of the rope
  smoothly in both directions with the load.

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Horizontal Procedures-Same Level
Load Line

• When the situation requires rigging in a strict
  horizontal position there are extra
  considerations.
• Pull the load line as tight as possible to
  minimize the center sagging. No matter how tight
  the line is there will be some sagging.

Movement Line
Tag Line

• Load the ascender so that the up-rope guide
  points towards the direction where it will be
  required to pull the most weight.
• Attach a tag line to the bottom of the ascender
  to assist when reversing up to the other side.

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Horizontal Procedures-Same Level-Rigging

• First load the movement line rope on the
  ascender,
• Put a carabineer through the stabilizer loop
  attached to the gear box
• Attach the tag line.

• Put a second carabineer through the load loop at
  the bottom of the ascender.
• Attach both carabineers to the pulleys connected
  to the load line

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Horizontal Procedures-Same Level Operation

• If a person is riding the ascender they can make
  the ascent and descent manually using the had
  grip.
• The ascender can also be controlled using the .
• Both options are demonstrated by these
  firefighters.

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Horizontal Procedures-Normal Operation

• This video illustrates that in the high-to-low
  point configuration the movement line is loosely
  held and the ascender descends with no problem.

13
Horizontal Procedures-Same Level Operation

• In this video you can see that when the ascender
  reaches the low point in the rope swag, a tug is
  needed on the tag line to assist the ascender in
  reversing up the line.
• No assistance is needed for the ascender to lift
  a load in the direction of the up-rope guide,
  which is the normal direction of travel.

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Conclusion

• While the PowerQuick ascender is best suited for
  movement from a high level to a lower level, it
  will function satisfactorily when rigged to
  travel at an equal level with the use of a tag
  line.
• The new additions of the hanger and the down-rope
  guide lock have improved the performance in this
  configuration.
• While we used a carabineer for this test, we
  recommend the use of pulleys to protect the rope
  and provide easier movement.

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Contact us any time if you have any questions

• To arrange for additional training contact your
  distributor