Front View: Closed	Rear View: Closed	Top View
Front View: Open for Rigging, Cam Locked	Front View: Alternate Open	Cam locked open

Technical Details

I acquired two Climbing Technology Roll N Lock ascenders from Outdoor Supply LLC in 2013 and a third from Expé-Spelemat in 2014.

The Climbing Technology Roll N Lock is 34 mm. tall, 69 mm. wide, 32 mm. thick, and weighs 81 g. The body of the Duck consists of an aluminum alloy spool crimped to a 3 mm. aluminum alloy plate. The spool’s outer diameter is 24.8 mm., and a shallow U-shaped groove reduces the diameter to 23.9 mm. where the rope rides. The inside of the spool is 18.1 mm. in diameter.

The cam axle is riveted to the back plate, with a steel washer under the riveted head protecting the aluminum plate. The cam axle is about 6 mm. in diameter (I would have to destroy the ascender to get an accurate measurement).

The front plate is made from 3 mm. aluminum alloy. A 22.3 mm. hole lines up with the spool and back plate holes. When closed, the plate sits in a depression in the spool. The cam axle has a spring outside the front plate that acts as a spring to force the plate toward the back plate.

The cam is spring loaded, but the spring is not visible. A small roll pin pressed into the back plate probably forms a bearing surface for one end of the cam spring. The cam has five z-shaped teeth. The cam radius increases from 21 to 25 mm. over an angle of 30°, giving a 17° cam angle.

The center of the cam, behind the face, is cut away to allow mounting a pulley on the cam axle. The pulley is 11.7 mm. wide and has a 24.6 mm. major diameter. It has a U-shaped groove to create a central minor diameter of 23.4 mm. The cam also has an internal spring-loaded latch that extends through holes in the side of the cam to create finger tabs outside the front and back plates. This catch can be lifted over a small pin pressed into the back plate. In this position, it holds the cam open and the ascender can he used as a free-running pulley. With the catch disengaged, the cam acts like the cam in a typical hauling pulley.

The front plate is printed with "ROLLNLOCK," the Climbing Technology logo, "UIAA," "0112," and "climbing technology. It is stamped with an arrow labeled "OPEN," a weight icon, "4kN," an arrow, a hand-holding-a-rope icon, and Rope ø8÷13mm. The inside of the rear plate is stamped with a rigging diagram. The outside of the rear plate is stamped with "Made in Italy," "EN567," "EN12278," a book-with-an-"i" icon, a rigging diagram, and "CE0333."

Comments

The Roll N Lock is nicely made. It is a small, lightweight ascender that doubles as a pulley or hauling pulley. One cannot expect a combination device to perform as well as dedicated devices, but this one does a fair job in all respects. It might be a useful addition where one does not expect to need anything, but elects to carry one or two of these for contingencies.