Pulley (Pulley system)

Pulley
Other names	Pulley system
Use(s)	Rope support, rescue techniques, hauling

In climbing and mountaineering pulleys are used mainly in rescue techniques. Sometimes they are employed during hauling.

Principle of operation

2-to-1 pulley system

Pulley systems are simple machines used to lift heavy burdens. Image on the left describes 2-to-1 pulley. With this pulley, it takes roughly half of the force to lift the weight. But to lift the weight by 1 meter, you must take 2 meters of the slack as illustrated by arrows and colored parts of the rope.

3-to-1 (2-to-1) Pulleys

In most cases, these pulleys cannot be used for lifting a full-body weight by a single person. However, they work way faster than the higher-ratio pulleys. Their are mainly used when the lifted person helps with the pulling and for hauling.

Rope-support

TODO

Creavase self-rescue

TODO

5-to-1 (4-to-1) Pulley

These pulleys distribute the force in a way that lifting a person is possible without assistance. However due to the ratio the speed of lifting is very low and there is substantial friction from the amount of bends in the pulley system.

Rescue

TODO