Inflatable protection?

Post by **Alan Evil** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:07 pm

I just thought of this. Has anyone ever tried using an inflatable bladder for trad pro? It doesn't seem as though it would be too difficult to make a set of thick skinned bags that could hold really high impact loads, possibly even adding a degree of dynamism to the rope system. Protected in an expanding Kevlar weave or perhaps in an accordian pattern perhaps inflated with one of those medical blood pressure cuff pumps? I dunno. I'm imagining a shape like a wiffle ball bat with folds like an air filter and the handle being where the 'biner or draw would be attached. Any engineering thoughts on this idea? It seems that it could be used in some places where the surface friction on the bag would hold better than a cam. If it were as strong as a cam I would imagine it could cover much more width than any cam design at similar weights.

This rain sucks.

Post by **ReachHigh** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:12 pm

I could see a lot of use in irregularly shaped cracks and holes for an inflatable stopper. 8)

Post by **dhoyne** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:41 pm

The question is how much time it'll take to inflate? Do you really want to stand there and blow this thing up? How much pressure will be required?

Post by **Alan Evil** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 9:45 pm

You've pumped up a blood pressure thingy before, huh? You can get it up to painful in about ten squeezes.

Post by **dipsi** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 10:12 pm

Yeah, but wouldn't a POPPING sound just blow your mind at 60 feet? Well, you know my luck.......

Post by **marathonmedic** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 10:21 pm

The fire departments use something very similar in heavy rescue to lift things. They have an air compressor to do it. You could probably do something very similar with CO2 cartriges. They're dirt cheap.

Post by **Jonathan** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:29 pm

Yeah that's what we need, a bunch of empty CO2 cartridges laying around the cliff.

I probably wouldn't trust an inflatable piece of pro, especially for repeated use. Maybe as an aid placement. Then you gotta ask yourself if climbing A4 on nothing but some air and rubber is really where you wanted your climbing career to go.

Post by **ReachHigh** » Fri Apr 29, 2005 11:53 pm

It could be a great peice of technology to hold us off till the suction cup pro come out.

Post by KD » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:12 am

if it slipped it would sound like a fart

Post by **marathonmedic** » Sat Apr 30, 2005 2:33 am

I'm sure you could modify the air release valve to sound like a whoopie cushion.