User’s Manual for HR-1 Descent Device
Components
The HR-1 descent device (Figure 1) is made from milled aluminum and steel
components. The main frame and detent pin are permanently attached to the face plate.
The control lever, slip block and cam are permanently affixed to the back plate. The main
frame assembly is attached to the back plate assembly by means of a single recessed
captive bolt, which permits the faceplate assembly to be pivoted outward for rigging the
device.
Figure 1: HR-1 (with faceplate removed)
Inspection Criteria for HR-1 Descent Device
Backplate
Slip block
Cam
Shaft
Control Lever
Pylon
Mainframe
Faceplate
Detent pin
Wear pins
Allen bolts
To protect the smooth contact surfaces on the slip block, cam, and main frame, the
descent device should only be opened for purposes of inspecting, rigging or unrigging the
device. The descent device should never be left in the open configuration or dropped on
hard surfaces.
When stored or transported, descent devices should be protected from contact with tools
or other sources of potential damage. Avoid getting chemicals, oil, pitch or other
substances on descent devices that could increase or decrease the amount of friction
between a device and rope. If such contamination occurs, it must be removed before the
descent device is reused.
Inspect the faceplate, back plate and control lever for cracks or bends. Visually inspect all
Allen bolt heads secured to the face plate and back plate. There should be no visible
space or movement between Allen bolt heads and the face plate or back plate. All Allen
bolts are secured with Locktite compound; do not attempt to manipulate them to check
tightness. Retire any device that has a visible crack or bend in one of these components.
Open the descent device face plate and check slip block, cam, pylon, and main frame for
cracks or dings. Visually inspect rope channels on the slip block, cam, and main frame;
run finger through channels and over sides of pylon base to feel for sharp scratches,
dings, or cracks that could damage ropes. Small scratches or dings can be buffed out with
fine emery cloth. Remove from service any device that has a visible crack in the face
plate, back plate, slip block, cam, pylon or main frame.
The control lever and cam should move as a single unit and travel freely between pylon
stops without resistance. Insure the recessed Allen bolts are in place at the base of the
control lever and the backside of the cam. The function of these bolts is to secure the
crescent-shaped steel keys that lock the control lever and cam to the shaft. These bolts are
also secured with Locktite compound; do not attempt to manipulate them to check
tightness.
The spring-loaded detent pin should lock in open and closed positions. The threaded
section of detent pin inserted into mainframe assembly is secured with Locktite
compound and should not move when the knurled knob is twisted.
The slip block and mainframe each have a hardened steel wear pin on the upper friction
points. The purpose of the wear pins is to provide additional resistance to wear from the
rope passing over these high friction points. Wear pins are pressed into place; there
should be no gap or movement between each pin and surrounding aluminum component.
If a wear pin is worn through more than 1/3 of its diameter, the device should be retired.
The pylon should be free of cracks or dings. When opening or closing the device, the
channel in the faceplate should engage the curved pylon guide without interference.
Inspection Criteria for 12.5mm Bluewater rope
The following are general guidelines that can assist you in deciding when to retire a rope.
If your rope has any of the problems listed in the inspection criteria, it must be retired.
Rope must be inspected visually and manually (with bare hands) along every inch of
its length.
Abrasion/sheath wear: the core is exposed or more than half the outer sheath yarns are
abraded.
Fraying: indicates broken or damaged sheath bundles, which is an indication of abrasion
or overloading.
Glazing and/or glossy marks: hard, stiff areas signify heat damage. Typically, this is the
result of contact with a descender that has become overheated in a fast rappel.
Discoloration: a change in the ropes original color is an indication of chemical damage or
exposure to the elements of nature including ultraviolet (UV) radiation.
Exposed core fibers indicate severe sheath damage and possibly core damage.
A lack of uniformity in diameter or size indicates core damage. This is noted by a
depression in the diameter of the rope, lumpiness of the rope, or exposed core strands
protruding from the rope.
Inconsistency in the texture of the rope can be an indication of excessive wear. This is
most noted as soft or stiff areas in the rope.
Use/age: the rope can simply become worn out over time. We recommend a low
elongation/static rope be removed from service no more than ten years from its
manufacture date.
Loss of faith: If you feel uncomfortable for any reason or suspect there may be a problem
with your rope it must be retired and destroyed.
Termination: Stitching on sewn terminations should be intact. Thimble should be intact,
uniform in shape and without sharp dings in metal. Plastic shrink wrap may have small
tears or holes as long as rope and stitching underneath is intact.
After being used for rappelling, rope should be placed in rope bag or other protective
environment to minimize damage from ultraviolet (UV) rays, chemical fire retardants,
chemical foam, or other potential sources of rope degradation.
Operating Guide for the HR-1 Descent Device
Harness Carabiner
A SMC Tri Guard carabiner provides the interface between the HR-2 rappel harness and
the attachment eye of the HR-1 descent device. This carabiner uses a SMC small wire
keeper placed on the narrow end of the carabiner to keep it correctly positioned at the
apex of the Maillon Rapide Tri Link on the HR-2 rappel harness. Each wire keeper has a
welded junction on one side; if there is a gap present at this junction, the wire keeper
must be replaced.
Although they are removable, the Tri Guard carabiner, wire keeper and Maillon Rapide
Tri Link are considered integral components of the harness. When it becomes necessary
to change one of these components, the work will be performed by a rappel spotter, and
inspected afterward by the spotter and the rappeller using the harness.
The Tri Guard carabiner’s self-locking, spring-loaded barrel and gate is designed to
prevent the gate from opening unintentionally. It takes three separate steps to open the
carabiner gate. Start by grasping the carabiner in the right hand with the gate facing
downward; the narrow end of the carabiner and gate hinge should be closest to the
rappellers body,
•
•
•
Pull the barrel down toward the gate hinge pin.
While holding the barrel down, twist the barrel toward the right one quarter turn.
Push the barrel/gate inward to open the gate
When inspecting the Tri Guard carabiner, the body of the carabiner should be free from
cracks or bends. The barrel and gate should also be free from cracks or bends, and should
open and close without resistance or catching. The pin on which the gate hinges should
be tight and flush at both ends. The pin at the top of the gate should also be tight and
flush at both ends.
Because the gap between the gate and surrounding barrel is very small, sand or grit will
interfere with the function of these components. A small amount of lubricant within the
barrel will cause sand or dirt to adhere to it, and makes these abrasives more difficult to
remove. It is possible to remove most internal contaminants by manipulating the barrel
and gate while applying a high pressure stream of compressed air.
Rigging the HR-1
To rig the device, begin by positioning it in the left hand with the face plate toward the
user, with the control lever in the down position. Pull the spring-loaded detent pin out
with the right thumb and forefinger and give it a quarter turn to the left to lock it in the
open position. Rotate the main frame assembly outward 180 degrees until it is upside
down in relation to the back plate assembly.
Starting on the upper left side of the descent device, with the rope end at the top, place
the rope in the channel between the slip block and left side of the cam. Keeping the
control lever in the down position, route the rope around the bottom of the cam and back
up through the space between the right side of the cam and the open mainframe (Figure
2).
Figure 2: Rigging the HR-1
Then close the main frame assembly and rotate the detent pin one quarter turn to the right
until the flat edge of the detent pin aligns with the right side of the face plate. When the
main frame assembly and back plate are exactly aligned, the detent pin will snap back
into the closed position.
To confirm the detent pin is locked, turn the device over; if correctly seated, the tip of the
detent pin will project about 1/16 inch through the back side of the back plate. The device
is now rigged and ready for use.
Up to four devices can be rigged on a single rope, and up to four rappellers can descend
on a single rope. Each rappeller must descend and disconnect from the rope before the
next rappeller can hook up and begin their descent.
Hooking Up
After receiving the signal from the spotter to hook up, disconnect the seat belt and move
to the door edge (gunner strap is still connected). Place the descent device in the palm of
the left hand, manipulate the control lever downward toward the sweet spot with the left
thumb and forefinger, and push downward on the faceplate with the right hand. Slide the
device down the rope until it is adjusted to the correct distance for the user. Because of
the variable geometry between different floors, skids, and rappeller heights, the correct
adjustment will be slightly different for each simulator/helicopter and rappeller.
To hook up to the descent device, orient the rigged and correctly adjusted descent device
in the left hand so the face plate is toward the rappeller. Open the Tri Guard carabiner
affixed to the tri-link on the HR-2 harness, place the wide end of the carabiner downward
through the attachment eye of the device, and allow the carabiner gate to spring shut.
Under suspension, the carabiner gate should face away from the rappeller.
To visually confirm the carabiner is shut:
• Insure the top of the barrel encloses the tip of the wide end of the carabiner, and
• Confirm that the slot in the top of the barrel points toward the user’s left.
To manually confirm the carabiner is shut, squeeze inward on the barrel/gate. The gate
may wiggle slightly, but should not open.
There is no separate lock-off procedure. Once the device is rigged and attached to the
rappeller’s harness, whenever the rope between the device and anchor is under tension,
the rappeller’s weight will force the cam toward the upper mainframe. This compresses
the rope and will prevent the rappeller from being able to descend until the control lever
is pulled downward.
To present the hookup connection to the spotter, the rappeller should grasp both the rope
exiting the top of the device and the control lever with the left hand, palm facing inward.
Pull the device away from the harness until there is no slack between the harness tri-link,
carabiner, and descent device to demonstrate there is a positive connection between the
harness and the descent device.
Transitioning to the Skid
After hooking up, the spotter will signal the rappeller to move to the skid after checking
the connection between the rappeller’s harness and the descent device. First release the
gunner strap with the right hand. While maintaining a grip on both the control lever and
rope with the left hand, exit the aircraft/simulator into the rappel ready position on the
skid. Clear the rope to the rappeller’s right side, grasp the free end with the right hand,
and look down the rope to insure no knots are present.
Transitioning Off the Skid
After checking the rope for knots, firmly grasp the rope with the right hand and apply
downward force. This will insure the rappeller does not fall backward while preparing to
rotate backward off the skid. Once this is done, release the grip on the anchor end of the
rope with the left hand, pull the control lever downward as far as possible, and maintain
downward pressure.
The rappeller is now ready to descend. After the spotter gives the signal to rappel, reduce
downward pressure and grip on the free end of the rope with the right hand while
allowing the control lever to move upward toward the sweet spot. The rappeller will
rotate backward until inverted and the feet lose contact with the skid. If this maneuver is
performed correctly, the rappeller will transition smoothly off the skid and begin
descending down the rope. Always maintain minimum rope control by channeling the
free end between the right thumb and fingers.
Low Speed/Short Descents
There are two recommended modes of safe operation that can be used with the descent
device. For low speed and short descents, the user simply pulls down on the control lever
until they begin descending.
To operate the device in low speed mode, grasp the control lever with the left hand with
the palm facing inward. Grasp the free end of the rope with the right hand, and place the
right hand on the right hip. Pull downward on the control lever to reduce compression
between the cam and mainframe assembly while allowing rope to feed through the
channel between the palm and thumb of the right hand. The rappeller will begin
descending as compression between the cam and mainframe is reduced.
To stop in low speed mode, downward pressure on the lever is gradually released; the
combination of the rappeller’s weight and geometry of the device will compress the
upper end of the cam against the mainframe, which creates friction and brakes the
rappeller’s descent. Be aware that braking in slow mode can produce a sudden stop as the
friction between cam and mainframe increases.
Normal Speed/ Long Descents
In normal speed mode, the correct way to increase braking and reduce speed in
preparation for landing is to gradually pull the control lever downward until friction is
increased to the degree desired. Combined with the additional braking friction applied
through the gloved right hand, this technique permits rappellers to rapidly reduce descent
speed and smoothly stop with precision at the end of a rappel.
As the rappeller pulls the control lever down and past the sweet spot, they will begin to
feel increased friction as the bottom of the cam is compressed against the lower main
frame assembly. When increased force is applied downward on the control lever, it is
possible to come to a complete stop. However, once downward pressure is released, the
rappeller will begin to descend again.
Rappellers will find through practice that the device has a “sweet spot” that will permit a
rapid yet controllable rate of descent. The range of motion of the outer end of the control
lever is about 4 inches. The “sweet spot” is about midway through the control lever’s
range of motion.
It is not advisable to suddenly release the control lever during a normal speed rappel.
Doing so will cause the rappeller to come to a rapid stop. The low-stretch rope used with
this device provides very little shock absorption, so most of the force created by a sudden
stop will be imparted to the rappel anchor and the rappeller’s body.
To insure a safe landing, the rappeller should come to a complete stop 2-3 feet above the
ground. Look down at the ground to see where the feet will be placed, release downward
pressure, and land squarely with feet apart about shoulder width.
Once on the ground, place the descent device in the left palm, manipulate the control
lever with the left thumb and forefinger to the sweet spot, and push downward on the face
plate with the right hand while moving into a squat position to create slack in the rope.
Then grasp the connecting carabiner with the right hand and open the gate while moving
back into the upright position, the rappeller should be able to disconnect from the device
at this point. Once disconnected, leave the device attached to the rope and move to a safe
position.