Abstract: A cushion assembly for cushioning obstacles to prevent injury to skiers. Inflated gas bladders are held upright against obstacles such as ski lift support columns. The materials used for fabrication are selected to be substantially water-impervious so that melted snow cannot refreeze and create an undesirably rigid cushion that will injure a skier who skis into it. The cushion assembly is adjustable to include as many bladders as necessary to cushion the obstacle against skier impact.

Abstract: A cable tensioning apparatus and method for automatically maintaining and adjusting the tension forces in an endless cable for a ski lift, aerial tramway, etc. is disclosed. The apparatus includes a carriage on which the cable is carried, a pneumatic carriage displacement apparatus in the form of a piston and cylinder, a source of gas under pressure, and a regulator and relief valve connected to establish and maintain a pressure within the cylinder which falls between predetermined minimum and maximum pressures. As the aerial tramway is subject to passenger or cargo loading and ambient conditions which change the tension forces, the pressure in the pneumatic cylinder will vary within the preselected range, and upon a change in the tension force beyond the range, gas is automatically exhausted from or interjected into the pneumatic cylinder to maintain tension forces within the preselected range.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly for support of the haul rope of an aerial tramway or the like is disclosed. The assembly includes rocker arms, rope supporting sheaves rotatably mounted to the rocker arms and cantilevered from an inwardly facing side of the rocker arms. The rocker arms are additionally formed with rope catching groove or recess positioned outwardly of the sheaves and having a configuration which will enable not only the rope, but a hanger arm and grip to pass over the rope catcher in the event that the haul rope derails from the sheaves. The rocker arm assembly also preferably includes a platform which acts as a mount for the rocker arms and can be used for maintainence and repair of the rocker arms and rope supporting sheaves. Additionally, the rocker arm assembly includes haul rope derailment responsive apparatus formed to shutdown the tramway operation upon derailment of the rope from the sheaves.

Abstract: A grip assembly and method for detachably mounting a chair, gondola or the like to a movable cable is disclosed. The grip assembly includes a movable jaw, spring biasing means coupled to bias the jaw to a closed position, and jaw actuating means in the form of opposed toggle joints coupled to move the jaw between open and closed positions upon the application of equal, opposite and aligned forces to knee portions of the toggle joints. A mechanism for applying the actuating forces to the grip assembly is also disclosed.

Abstract: A friction-based, motion damping assembly for a chairlift or the like is disclosed in which the damping assembly is mounted between a hub provided on a cable grip assembly and the chairlift hanger arm. The improved damping assembly is formed as a sleeve mounted to the hub of the cable grip with concentric rubber block members mounted around the sleeve. The hanger arm is formed with a collar having tapered surfaces, and an axially displaceable nut on the hub is used to wedge the rubber blocks into radial compressive engagement of the sleeve to generate the necessary compression of the sleeve about the hub for frictional damping.

Abstract: A cable derailment responsive apparatus for use in terminating the operation of a cable drive for a chairlift, ski lift, gondola or the like is disclosed. The apparatus includes a spring biasing a portion of the pulley assembly for movement if the cable jumps the sheaves, further includes an electrical circuit having a plug-in connector that is mechanically pulled apart from the remainder of the circuit upon cable derailment to interrupt or deactivate the cable drive. Upon remounting of the cable on the sheave assemblies, the connector can be plugged back into the circuit to permit driving of the cable.

Abstract: A chair assembly mounting apparatus is disclosed which may be employed to mount a chair, gondola, platform, etc. to a hanger arm for use in a chairlift or the like. The apparatus provides a movable connection between the chair frame and hanger arm which reduces vibration and fatigue and yet damps or resists excessive motion. The mounting apparatus includes a rubber-like member which encircles a frame portion, preferably having a flange thereon, and in turn is encircled by a support housing rigidly mounted to the hanger arm. Movement of the frame relative to the hanger arm causes the flange to resiliently displace the rubber-like member.

Abstract: A positive cable derailment sensing apparatus and method for use with pulley means having a cable carried thereby to detect derailment of the cable from the pulley means is disclosed. The sensing apparatus includes a flexible tendon secured to a low inertia component of the pulley means, usually a pivotally mounted yoke carrying a pair of pulleys, and secured to spring biasing means to bias the low inertia component for movement upon derailment of the cable from the pulleys. The flexible tendon normally extends from the pulleys to a remote position which is protected or shielded from adverse environmental conditions. Sensing means is located at the remote protected location and formed to sense movement of the flexible tendon and stop the advancement of the cable over the pulley means upon derailment. A switch construction particularly well suited for sensing the derailment of either side of the looped cable of the type found on chairlifts or the like is also disclosed.