Ernie Coffman wrote:It is simlar to the Petzl ASAP, if anyone has knowledge of that instrument
The Goblin and ASAP are only similar in that they are both fall arrest devices. The ASAP is unique among fall arrest devices because it uses an inertia reel similar to what is found an many seatbelts. The inertia reel is the ASAP's most distinctive feature, although Petzl does not mention it anywhere. It has an aggressively toothed wheel that digs into the rope when it is activated. It is activated when it is pulled down the rope rapidly. It can be pulled down the rope slowly. It looks like the ASAP accommodates a wider range of rope sizes than the Goblin.
The Goblin is very sensitive to rope size. The markings say 10-11 mm rope, and they mean it. It would not work with a piece of PMI Pit Rope that I measured at 12.1 mm. With the proper size rope (I tried 10.7 mm)., the Goblin can be pulled up by the attached carabiner, but it must be pushed down by hand while squeezing it in just the right way. I can't describe the gripping mechanism in words, but it is similar to some other fall arrest devices. There is no toothed cam. The instructions are more difficult to fold than any road map.