Isokinetic rope climbing method and machine

A rope climbing apparatus comprising:

• a. a support structure;
• b. a friction sheave mounted to the support structure and having a tapered channel;
• c. a climbing rope threaded about the friction sheave and seated within a portion of the tapered channel, friction between said climbing rope and tapered channel resulting in rotation of the friction sheave as force is applied to the climbing rope;
• d. a hydraulic reservoir for retaining fluid in a hydraulic loop;
• e. a hydraulic pump within said hydraulic loop and in fluid communication with the hydraulic reservoir and having a hydraulic pump shaft that is mechanically connected to the friction sheave such that the pump actuates and propels fluid as the friction sheave rotates;
• and
• f. a pressure compensated flow control valve within said hydraulic loop and in fluid communication with the hydraulic pump and hydraulic reservoir and comprising a fluid flow rate adjustment mechanism for selecting a climbing rope speed, a pressure adjustment chamber, and a pressure compensating spool in fluid communication with said pressure adjustment chamber, wherein the position of the pressure compensating spool shifts within the pressure compensated flow control valve in response to and in synchrony with an increase or decrease in pressure within the pressure adjustment chamber thereby maintaining a constant fluid flow rate within the hydraulic loop and subsequently allowing or inhibiting rotation of the hydraulic pump shaft to maintain a consistent climbing rope speed regardless of the magnitude of force applied to the climbing rope.