Poly-Bollards

OK, I'll admit that this is a bizarre name, but it makes some sense because its all I could think at the time. Now that others are using the term, I'm reluctant to change it, even if I could think of something better. I used to lump these as miscellaneous descenders, but there are enough of them made to justify giving them their own category.

These devices have three or more bollards that the rope snakes between. At least one of the bollards moves with respect to the others (or else I call it a fixed multibar device), and I specifically exclude stop bobbins with their characteristic S-bend.

We all know that when a rope passes around a post, friction provides a braking action according to the snubbing formula. Poly-bollards may have many posts, but three of them are arranged as shown in the figure. The tension on the rope tends to pull the center bollard into the upper and/or lower ones, wedging the rope and exaggerating the friction beyond what normal snubbing provides (the mathematics describing this is rather interesting). To move, there must be some means of moving the center bollard away from the others as shown by the arrow. Normally this is done by some form of lever arrangement. One of the important design goals is to provide the proper lever arrangement so that the user can easily control their rappel. Some poly-bollards use a screw instead of a lever to move the center bollard. These do not have an auto-stop capability, but the user can set the screw so that the bollards are pulled together, providing a relatively secure stop position. The autostop feature is viewed as a safety advantage by some. I tend to disagree that it is a safety advantage for a variety of reasons, but I do consider it to be a convenience that is occasionally worth having.

These devices keep the rope running in a plane, so they do not introduce any significant spin.

In the ID field, I used a red background for lever polybollards and a blue background for screw polybollards .

ID ⇓	Device ↓	Description	Acquired	Weight ↓	Height ↓	Width ↓	Thickness ↓	Std. volume ↓
1113	Aircraft Materials Ltd., Version A	Anodized Al frame /w two fixed bollards and side strap, swinging anodized handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever	Paul Hugill, 2007	531	233	97	35	785
1262	Aircraft Materials Ltd., Version B	Anodized Al frame /w two fixed bollards and opening side strap, swinging anodized handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever	Ron Boomsma, 2010	551	204	99	41	837
1201	Aircraft Materials Ltd., Version C	Anodized Al frame /w two fixed bollards and opening side strap, swinging anodized handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever	Daniel Griffin, 2009	599	210	97	51	1043
1263	Aircraft Materials Ltd., Version D	Anodized Al frame /w 4 fixed bollards and opening side strap, swinging anodized handle, larger moving bollard on hand lever	Ron Boomsma, 2010	481	191	95	43	784
2559	DBI-SALA NoWorries Double Stop NWDS-11 8700387	Two fixed bollard and spring-loaded control lever on closed frame, one bollard on spring-loaded swinging plate hinged at clip point, small bollard on pivoting link.	Lance Swartwout, 2020	826	224	106	46	1098
2557	DBI-SALA NoWorries Double Stop NWDS-13 8700388	Two fixed bollard and spring-loaded control lever on closed frame, one bollard on spring-loaded swinging plate hinged at clip point, small bollard on pivoting link.	Janice C Snowden, 2020	827	224	106	46	1098
2558	DBI-SALA NoWorries Two Way Stop NW1 8700077	Two fixed bollards and spring-loaded plastic control lever on closed frame, one bollard on spring-loaded swinging plate hinged at clip point, small bollard on pivoting link.	Lance Swartwout, 2020	837	212	112	46	1087
2564	DBI-SALA NoWorries Two Way Stop NW1 8700079	Two fixed bollards and spring-loaded plastic control lever on closed frame, one bollard on spring-loaded swinging plate hinged at clip point, small bollard on pivoting link.	Lance Swartwout, 2020	848	212	126	46	1226
1003	Fallright Auto Stop DAS	Anodized Al frame /w two fixed bollards and side strap, swinging anodized handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever, stop bollard on frame.	Fallright International, 2006	722	245	95	40	942
1004	Fallright Controlled Rate Descender Mk. 2	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate	Steven Ward, 2006	349	132	123	34	549
2467	Fallright Controlled Rate Descender, P/N 071-1	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate, opening lock	Doug Schmitt, 2017	590	148	125	38	690
459	Gemini Rescue Equip. GemLok	Bent anodized Al frame /w four fixed bollards, swinging anodized side plate, larger moving bollard on hand lever.	Speleoshoppe, 1994	420	230	67	39	601
3040	Ice Rock Gnome IR0318SE	Two fixed bollards on closed frame, one bollard on pivoting arm, control lever	Vertical-USA, 2021	303	109	60	39	256
3014	Krok FED-21 6052.6.65 (ФЕД-21)	Stamped Al plates, fixed steel bollard & anvil, large pivoting bollard with handle & rubber grip, pivoting attachment eye.	Krok, 2021	647	162	79	62	791
3007	Krok Fedor Automat 6052.6_0245.63/1 (Фёдор Автомат-R)	RH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, larger moving bollard /w spring-loaded folding hand lever & rubber grip.	Krok, 2021	474	135	80	49	526
3008	Krok Fedor Mini 8+ 6056_42.54 (Фёдор Мини 8+)	RH, Al frame /w fixed Al bollard & steel anvil, Al side strap, larger moving Al bollard /w spring-loaded folding hand lever.	Krok, 2021	198	91	75	36	243
1346	Krok Fedya, Version A (Федя)	LH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, swinging steel handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever, stop bollard on frame.	Gear4Rocks, 2012	369	174	68	26	304
1347	Krok Fedya, Version B (Федя Зеркало)	RH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, swinging steel handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever, stop bollard on frame.	Gear4Rocks, 2012	394	173	67	25	293
3009	Krok Fedya, Version C, Left 6052.1_0150.25/1 (Промальп Федя)	LH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, larger moving bollard on hand lever /w rubber grip.	Krok, 2021	442	175	64	34	379
3010	Krok Fedya, Version C, Right 6052.1_0250.27/1 (Промальп Федя)	RH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, larger moving bollard on hand lever /w rubber grip.	Krok, 2021	444	173	64	31	345
3011	Krok Fedya, Version D, Left 6052_0150.29/1 (Федя Складной)	LH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, larger moving bollard on folding hand lever /w rubber grip.	Krok, 2021	501	152	63	43	418
3012	Krok Fedya, Version D, Right 6052_0250.31/1 (Федя Складной)	RH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, larger moving bollard on folding hand lever /w rubber grip.	Krok, 2021	501	153	63	43	418
3013	Krok Fedya Double 6052.5_01.35 (Федя Дубль)	Doubled, steel frames /w fixed bollards and side straps, larger moving bollards on folding hand levers /w rubber grips.	Krok, 2021	987	153	88	83	1118
1363 1393	Krok Snail	Stamped rear & pivoting front plate, round handle-actuated cam, two bollards, spring catch.	Krok (Alex Dniprovsky & Alex Kostromitinov), 2012 Gear4Rocks, 2013	332	87	185	46	739
1335	Lewis, Version A	Two fixed bars, movable bar on handle, bent sides, soft anodized, double rope	John Marshall, 2012	305	187	74	79	1087
463 2410	Lewis, Version B	Two fixed bars, movable bar on handle,bent sides, soft anodized, double rope	Speleoshoppe, 1979 Bob Thrun Collection, 2017	308	190	71	80	1079
3101	Orion-Alp Berkut, Left (Орион-Альп Беркут)	LH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, swinging steel handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever, stop bollard on frame.	Artyom Babin (Артём Бабин), 2021	638	221	86	46	862
2596	Orion-Alp Berkut, Right (Орион-Альп Беркут)	RH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, swinging steel handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever, stop bollard on frame.	Artyom Babin (Артём Бабин), 2020	646	221	86	46	862
3102	Orion-Alp Prom-Alp, Left (Орион-Альп Пром-Альп)	LH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, safety gate, swinging steel handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever, stop bollard on frame.	Artyom Babin (Артём Бабин), 2021	549	221	77	44	754
2593	Orion-Alp Prom-Alp, Right (Орион-Альп Пром-Альп)	RH, Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, safety gate, swinging steel handle /w plastic gip, larger moving bollard on hand lever, stop bollard on frame.	Artyom Babin (Артём Бабин), 2020	560	221	77	44	754
554	Single Rope Technique Equipment Belay Stop	Two fixed bollards on closed frame, one bollard and thumbscrew on spring-loaded swinging plate hinged at clip point, spring-loaded safety pin.	Single Rope Technique Equipment, 1999	781	167	129	46	991
555	Single Rope Technique Equipment Two Way Stop, Version A	Two fixed bollards and spring-loaded control lever on closed frame, one bollard on spring-loaded swinging plate hinged at clip point, spring-loaded safety pin, disarming nut.	Single Rope Technique Equipment, 1999	821	213	106	55	1242
1401	Single Rope Technique Equipment Two Way Stop, Version B	One fixed bollard and spring-loaded control lever on closed frame, three bollards on spring-loaded swinging plate hinged at clip point, spring-loaded safety.	Jai Andrews, 2013	825	213	105	53	1191
1150	Stab Descender	Stamped frame, handle moves bollard #5, hinged frame	Steven Messer, 2008	960	234	91	69	1468
1087	Storrick Double Allp, Version A	Two double-rope bollards on swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one double-rope bollard and thumbscrew on back plate	Gary Storrick, 2007	428	138	108	49	729
1121	Storrick Double Allp, Version B	Two double-rope bollards on fixed side plates, one double-rope bollard and thumbscrew on swinging central plate hinged at clip point	Gary Storrick, 2007	525	139	118	63	1026
3124	Storrick – Kashevnik R2 (СУ-Р2)	Steel frame, 3 fixed bollards, pivoting lever /w bollard and braking cam	Gary Storrick, 2022	866	207	31	55	355
1120	Troll Allp, Version A	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and painted thumbscrew on back plate	Jansen Cardy, 2007	293	135	103	30	424
1008 1306	Troll Allp, Version B	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and painted thumbscrew on back plate	David Chapman, 2006 Speedy-Marquee, 2011	315	132	99	34	443
1009	Troll Allp, Version C	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate	Chris Pund, 2006	295	133	100	32	428
1122	Troll Allp, Version D	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate, screw-type safety pin	John Sales, 2007	316	134	98	34	447
1026	Troll Allp, Version E	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate, spring-loaded safety pin	John Charles, 2007	322	133	103	34	458
1147	Troll Allp, Version F	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate, spring-loaded safety pin	Steve Chamberlain, 2008	326	134	102	34	458
1309	Troll Allp, Version G	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate, spring-loaded safety pin	proacsafety, 2011	320	134	98	34	439
3364	Troll Allp, Version H	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate, spring-loaded safety pin	Miles Bradshaw, 2023	319	134	99	34	448
584 1112	Troll Pro Allp Tech	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate, spring-loaded safety pin	Dalloz Fall Protection, 2000 Speedy-Marquee, 2011	591	148	92	51	694
1096	Troll (USA) Alp, Version A	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate	Ron Erickson, 2007	305	134	102	31	426
553	Troll (USA) Alp, Version B	Two bollards on spring-loaded swinging face plate hinged at clip point, one bollard and thumbscrew on back plate, spring-loaded safety pin	Troll USA, 1999 Paul Hugill, 2007	313	132	99	39	510
3079	Vento (Венто)	Steel frame /w fixed bollards and side strap, larger moving bollard on hand lever	Artyom Babin (Артём Бабин), 2021	466	66	201	25	326
3100	Vertical (Вертикаль) Galchonok (Галчонок)	Steel frame /w fixed bollard and larger moving bollard with hand lever, swinging side strap /w second small bollard.	Artyom Babin (Артём Бабин), 2021	423	121	166	34	681