- Maillon
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A maillon with the gate open and closed.
A maillon, maillon rapide or quick link is a metal link, similar to a carabiner.[1] Maillons have a threaded sleeve which tightens over a thread, as opposed to a hinged gate like a carabiner, making them stronger, but more difficult to use.[1] Like carabiners, maillons are available in a range of shapes and thicknesses (i.e. strengths), and often offer greater versatility over carabiners as their different shapes and lack of hinged gates allow them to be used in multi-directional load situations.[2]
The word "maillon" comes from the French language, meaning "link".[3]
Usage
Maillons are used primarily in climbing and caving. In caving they are used to make secure and vital connections such as those when using single rope technique,[4] or for attaching ropes to anchor points. In climbing they are used to construct leave-in-place abseil anchors. Maillons can also be used for fastening harnesses with a dual attachment point.
Variations
- "D" maillon - the central component of a caving harness or SRT kit on which all items of equipment are attached. So called because it is shaped like the letter D.
- "Delta" maillon - a variation of the D maillon, the delta maillon is triangular in shape, rather than semi-circular.
References
- ^ a b http://www.cavinguk.co.uk/book/index.php?chapter=15
- ^ http://www.hitchnhike.co.uk/acatalog/maillon_rapides.html
- ^ "maillon". Collins Free French Online Dictionary. HarperCollins. http://www.collinslanguage.com/results.aspx?context=6&reversed=True&action=define&homonym=0&text=maillon. Retrieved 2011-03-23.
- ^ http://www.cave-crag.co.uk/721/Maillon-Rapide-10mm-Semi-Circular.html
Categories:- Climbing equipment
- Caving equipment
- French loanwords
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