I acquired my CMI Uplift from John E. Weinel, Inc. in 1999. The CMI Uplift is 257 mm tall, 100 mm wide, and 62 mm thick. Mine weighs 1054 g.
When I described the SRT handled ascenders, I commented that they appeared to have copied the C.M.I. 5000 extrusion. It appears that CMI has returned the favor and copied many aspects of the SRT RM22 Rescuemate.
The CMI Uplift is a double pulley with an eccentric cam that prevents one strand of rope from entering the device. The central frame is an anodized aluminum extrusion with a rectangular channel for mounting the cam and a 17-mm U-shaped channel for the rope. The cam is a CMI cam that has been modified to use a hold-open safety that is virtually identical to the one on the SRT Rescuemates, and is riveted to the frame just like the SRT Rescuemates. It is a pity that this wasn't bolted on so that the cam could be replaced when worn. A 3-mm cord is tied to the cam in the same manner as on the SRT Rescuemates, which allows the cam to be opened remotely. On the back of the frame there is a cord lock that is almost identical to the SRT Rescuemates, including being mounted with an Allen-head cap screw. There is a rope guiding post that is, once again, a copy of the one on the SRT Rescuemates, complete with the nonfunctional groove. There is a carabiner hole at the bottom of the device.
The two anodized aluminum pulleys are 67-mm in diameter, which is larger than those on the RSI Rescue Hauling Pulley or the SRT Rescuemates. This provides better clearance between the rope and the back of the cam channel than the other designs do. The pulleys can handle ropes up to 13 or 14 mm without dragging, and up to 16 mm with degraded performance. The pulley side plates are anodized different colors, so that one can tell the front and back sides of the device without looking at the cam area. The pulleys and side plates are bolted to the frame, apparently on a loose-fitting rod with threads at each end. The pulleys and side plates tend to flop around on the frame. The pulley bearings are rather good, and allow the pulleys to turn freely.
No instructions
came with the device. There are two obvious ways to rig the device
for a 4:1 hauling system. In the first, the cam supports one half
of the load while the hauling team resets for another pull. In
the second, the cam supports one fourth of the load, but the frame
pivots with each pull and the rope runs over a portion of the
rope channel that should have been rounded, but wasn't. Thirty
seconds with a rat-tail file will fix this oversight.
Overall, this is a well-made device designed for rescue applications.
Any mechanical advantage system has certain dangers, so it is
important that the team not overstress any components. When rigged
correctly, it is unlikely that this device will be the weakest
link.
HaulPulley719.html/080226
©2008, Gary D. Storrick