Abstract: An aerial tramway having a pair of side-by-side, substantially parallel, movable haul ropes and at least one load carrying unit attached between the haul ropes for advancement therewith. A plurality of detachment assemblies are positioned periodically along the course of the haul rope to detach the load carrier from at least one of the haul ropes and thereby relieve torque induced in the load carrier due to differences in haul rope speeds. The load carrying units preferably have grip assemblies which wedge against the haul ropes, and detachment wheels lift the load carrier unit and grip assemblies up off the haul ropes to effect detachment. A method of conveying load carrying units by side-by-side haul ropes which prevents torque build-up in the units also is disclosed.

Abstract: An aerial tramway grip assembly (21) including a gripping head (24) carrying a pair of opposed movable jaws (26, 27) for gripping a haul rope (23) and a resilient biasing assembly (37) biasing the jaws (26, 27) towards a closed position. The improvement in the grip assembly (21) is comprised of two pairs of opposed stationary gripping surfaces (41,42,43,44) positioned proximate the jaws (26,27) and positioned to cooperate with an opposed one of the jaws (26,27) to grip the haul rope (23) therebetween in the event of release of the gripping force provided by the other jaw. Additionally, resilient biasing is provided by two independent rubber blocks or cylinders (38,39) which bias each jaw (26,27) toward an opposed jaw and toward the opposed stationary gripping surface (41-44). The stationary gripping surfaces (41-44) additionally are oriented to be gravity biased into wedging engagement with the haul rope (23) so as to grip the haul rope (23) even in the event of failure of the movable jaws (26,27).