What is Rig Plate for?

Hi,

I have seen rig plated sold on climbing hardware stores and websites. Not sue what it's really for. As far as I have pieced thigns together, rig plate seems to be an important equipment for SAR used as anchor point for connecting different rope from different directions, perhaps? Please correct me if my guess is wrong.

Thanks!

Thanks Mongoose,

However, I don't think Google is smart enough at the moment to give a detail answer of my question. I have tried this before I post the question on MP and only different pieces of information are found online. And as I have tried to dig out the older post on MP, not much is there either, bummer :/

So far, all I understand is rig plate is for multiple tie-in point at a "bombproof" anchor. Is that all the rig plate do?

Yep, sometimes referred to as a "bear claw" because that's what it looks like. Mostly used in rescue, but sometimes industrial work too I guess. Just provides multiple attachment points, used a lot with tripods, rescue haul systems, etc.
karstsports.com/cmistainste…

I've used one of these for my 3:1 anchor when putting a high line up for swift water rescue for example.

The common rigging of a Plate for the main line in a rescue operation would include:

Brake Rack Bar
2 Load release straps
a prussic minding pully
3 sets of prussics(2 each)

Rig plates are used for lowering and raising mountain or building rescuers. As stated previously they allow connection of various (usually three) friction devices (rack bar, prusiks,/pulleys/mariners hitch) in one convenient place, connected (at the top hole) to one carabiner.

They re not used in climbing usually, as they weight quite a bit and have no useful purpose.

I use them at my work. Basicaly you would build your anchor and then the "bear claw" or rigging plate would become your master point. From which you would hang all the goods that Doug Foust listed. They are great when you are switching from a lowering system to a raise. So, you could lower a rescuer with a brake bar rack, tie them off, put the load on a load releasing hitch or strap via a prussic to the main line, and then rig into your pulley for a raise thats conveniently hanging already in place. When performing your "switch over" from a lower to a raise you will briefly weight both the brake bar and the load releasing hitch, then load the prussic minding pulley and switch the load to that, also briefly sharing the load.....hence the need for multiple tie in points. Its far more complicated than a climber would ever make it and I left some things out in an attempt to simplify things, like double prussics on the main. Hope that helped and made sense?

Thanks folks for the helpful inputs! It feels good to know how one more thing works!