In elementary school science we all learned that a type 1 lever has the fulcrum between the load and the applied force, so it made sense for me to define a Type 1 Lever Cam Ascender as one where the pivot was between the sling and the rope.
Lever cam ascenders generally rely on the mechanical advantage of the lever arrangement to provide sufficient force to keep the cam from slipping. Specifically, the lever acts to provide a higher normal force between the cam face and the standing rope, so the friction generated parallel to the standing rope is sufficient to hold the load. As load is increased, the normal force increases, and so does the parallel frictional force. The cam teeth are secondary in importance to proper lever design, and so lever cam ascenders can often withstand severe tooth wear without losing their ability to hold a load.
The four ascenders listed here use the same design, i.e., a hinged frame to connect the lever to the sling rope. I've seen Czech ascenders that have a rigid frame where the sling rope passes through a tube in the handle and ties to the lever, but I haven't been able to obtain any of these for my collection. I believe these are noncommercial, since I did not't seen any of them in any of the Czech Sport shops during my many visits to that country (where the Budvar is excellent, and the women in Ceské Budéjovice are gorgeous).
[ More about Ascender Handles ]
| ID | Device | Description | Acquired | Weight | Height | Width | Thickness | Std. volume |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 219 | Black Diamond nForce | LH & RH, stamped pivoting frame, plastic grips, round top & bottom holes, lever cam, Z teeth, hold-open catch | Mountain Gear, 2007 | 182 | 194 | 105 | 33 | 663 |
| 55 | Kong-Bonaiti, Version A | LH & RH, stamped pivoting frame, plastic grips, round top & bottom holes, lever cam, Z teeth, hold-open catch | Speleoshoppe, 1982 | 237 | 206 | 94 | 30 | 578 |
| 56 | Kong-Bonaiti, Version B | LH & RH, stamped pivoting frame, plastic grips, round top & bottom holes, lever cam, sloping & Z teeth, hold-open catch /w removable safety extension | Speleoshoppe, 1985 | 263 | 206 | 95 | 30 | 587 |
| 58 | Russian Copy of Kong-Bonaiti | LH & RH, stamped pivoting frame, plastic grips, round top & bottom holes, lever cam, sloping & Z teeth, hold-open catch | John E. Weinel, Inc., 1989 | 275 | 207 | 98 | 29 | 588 |
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©2007, Gary D. Storrick