Load Ring

The Load-Ring is usually circular in shape and is from 2 to 3 feet in diameter.  It may be made of either wood or metal.  A wooden ring is usually made of several laminations of oak or ash glued together. Short ropes holding the toggles for the footropes and the basket ropes are spliced around the ring and prevented from sliding by small pegs, preferably metal.  An extra toggle is attached to the load-ring by a rope bridle.  This for the attachment of the drag rope. 

In the case of the metal load-ring, a steel tube is usually employed. Instead of pegs, cord lashing around the tube on each side of the toggle rope are used.  When varnished these lashing do not slide.

Some load-rings are made of 1/2 inch cable.  It is flexible and lighter in many cases than wood or tubular steel.

Some examples of load rings include:

             Steel Load Ring                                                      Cable Load Ring