With Automatic Stopping Or Reversing Patents (Class 104/117.1)
  • Patent number: 9499181
    Abstract: A zipline braking system comprising a zipline cable and a destination supporting member; a rider carrier coupled to the zipline cable for movement towards the destination supporting member, such movement generating kinetic energy; a damper having a posterior end and an anterior end and connected to the destination supporting member at the posterior end; a tension line; a stopping member coupled to the zipline cable and the tension line; and the tension line for transferring the kinetic energy to the damper upon the rider carrier engaging the stopping member in movement to the destination supporting member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 14, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: TAG Adventure Tours Ltd.
    Inventors: David J. Halliday, Siegfried F. Stiemer
  • Patent number: 8960098
    Abstract: A trolley braking system for smoothly reducing the speed of a rider supported by a harness on a cable or rope approaching a landing platform comprises a vessel containing a fluid of selected viscosity and having a turbine rotatably mounted on a shaft in the interior. A braking cable is secured to a reel on the turbine shaft outside the cylinder and routed through a pulley to a braking block, which is slidably mounted on the cable between the trolley and the landing platform. The system may also may also include turbine blades of adjustable dimensions, so that the braking force may be controlled. The system may also include a counterweight suspended by a retraction cable which is coupled to the turbine shaft to rewind the braking cable on the reel for repeated use.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Inventors: Daniel Blair Boren, Mira De Avila-Shin, David B. Golay, Nickolaus W. Hill, Samuel D. Meyer, Ilona K. Phipps-Morgan
  • Patent number: 8807292
    Abstract: Improvements in a braking system for a zip line are presented. Braking occurs when a zip line rider makes contact with a braking carriage that slides along the zip line. The braking carriage pulls on a rope. The rope pulls on a length of chain in a chain reservoir to slide and lift the claim through the chain reservoir. The chain reservoir is an elongated tube that is mounted at an angle. As the zip liner moves further into the landing platform they lift a continuing greater amount of chain from the chain reservoir. The angle of the chain reservoir, coefficient of friction between the chain and the chain reservoir affects the pull-back. After the zip liner comes to a complete stop they remove the carriage from the zip line and gravity returns the brake mechanism. Minimum pull-back makes removal of the cable trolley easier.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 19, 2014
    Inventors: Pete E. Liston, Mike K. Liston
  • Patent number: 8783190
    Abstract: A trolley braking system for smoothly reducing the speed of a rider supported by a harness on a cable or rope approaching a landing platform comprises a cylinder having a closed end and a piston slidably mounted in the interior. A braking cable is secured to the piston and routed through an opening in the closed end of the cylinder to a braking block, which is slidably mounted on the cable between the trolley and the landing platform. The system may also may also include a relief valve to release compressed air from the cylinder, so that the braking force may be controlled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2012
    Date of Patent: July 22, 2014
    Inventors: Daniel Blair Boren, Brett J. Epstein, Joel C. Haas, Jesse E. Miller, Gary P. Prus
  • Patent number: 8635958
    Abstract: A cableway system has a conveying cable and chairs, which can be coupled to the conveying cable and are coupled to the conveying cable along the path of the cableway system, are uncoupled from the conveying cable at the entrance into the stations, are guided through the stations, along guide rails, by way of control tires, and are coupled to the conveying cable again at the exit from the stations, furthermore the chairs are designed with at least one safety bar and a device for adjusting the safety bar, and for locking the same, and a device for checking the locking are arranged at the exit from the stations. A first device for adjusting and locking the safety bar and an associated device for checking the locking and a second device for adjusting and locking the safety bar and an associated device for checking the locking are provided at the exit from the stations.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Markus Beck
  • Publication number: 20130239843
    Abstract: A trolley braking system for smoothly reducing the speed of a rider supported by a harness on a cable or rope approaching a landing platform comprises a vessel containing a fluid of selected viscosity and having a turbine rotatably mounted on a shaft in the interior. A braking cable is secured to a reel on the turbine shaft outside the cylinder and routed through a pulley to a braking block, which is slidably mounted on the cable between the trolley and the landing platform. The system may also may also include turbine blades of adjustable dimensions, so that the braking force may be controlled. The system may also include a counterweight suspended by a retraction cable which is coupled to the turbine shaft to rewind the braking cable on the reel for repeated use.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 10, 2013
    Publication date: September 19, 2013
    Applicant: ADVENTURE HOLDINGS LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Blair Boren, Mira De Avila-Shin, David B. Golay, Nickolaus W. Hill, Samuel D. Meyer, Ilona K. Phipps-Morgan
  • Patent number: 8240254
    Abstract: A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. The brake pad may include a plurality of segments contacting the cable. A first such segment may be formed from a first material. A second such segment may be formed from a second material, distinct from the first material. The sequence, composition, gaps, and the like of the plurality of segments may be selected to provide a desired resistance to wear, frictional coefficient, all-weather braking, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 6, 2011
    Date of Patent: August 14, 2012
    Inventor: Eric C. Cylvick
  • Patent number: 8191482
    Abstract: A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable relies on a brake to control velocity and net downhill acceleration of the trolley. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. At the downhill end of the ride, the lever actuating the brake is caught and lifted by a capture ring, thus relieving the braking load on the trolley. Also, the trolley engages a comparatively modest, second resistance mechanism, such as, for example, a system of springs, that gradually increases in resistance with distance of motion of the trolley thereagainst, bringing the trolley to a gradual halt.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 1, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 5, 2012
    Inventor: Eric S. Cylvick
  • Patent number: 8087360
    Abstract: A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. The brake pad may include a plurality of segments contacting the cable. A first such segment may be formed from a first material. A second such segment may be formed from a second material, distinct from the first material. The sequence, composition, gaps, and the like of the plurality of segments may be selected to provide a desired resistance to wear, frictional coefficient, all-weather braking, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 28, 2009
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2012
    Assignee: Zipholdings, LLC
    Inventor: Eric S. Cylvick
  • Patent number: 7966940
    Abstract: A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable relies on a brake to control velocity and limit net downhill acceleration of the trolley. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. At the downhill end of the ride, the lever actuating the brake is caught and lifted by a capture ring, thus relieving the braking load on the trolley. Also, the trolley engages a comparatively modest, second resistance mechanism, such as, for example, a system of springs, that gradually increases in resistance with distance of motion of the trolley thereagainst, bringing the trolley to a gradual halt at a rate to improve comfort of a rider and reduce acceleration forces (loads) on the trolley.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2011
    Assignee: Zipholdings, LLC.
    Inventor: Eric S. Cylvick
  • Patent number: 7891300
    Abstract: The invention relates to a cable derailing prevention device for carrier/traction cables of cable car systems in an installation including: a carrier/traction cable; a multitude of rollers which flank a coupling rail and are located at the exit from the station; a multitude of clamps from which the driving means are suspended; at least one roller that has a couple and clamp and supports the cable, and a support roller or hold-down roller battery according to the cable guide, the coupling rail forming a coupling area between the cable and the clamps. According to the invention, an aligning device is mounted in front of the coupling area of the clamps on the cable before the coupling rail and limits the deviation of the cable due to a derailing on the roller battery so that the cable is always located inside the opening of the clamp.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2006
    Date of Patent: February 22, 2011
    Assignee: High Technology Investments B.V.
    Inventors: Otto Pabst, Nikolaus Erharter, Gunther Steger
  • Patent number: 7800509
    Abstract: A ropeway may include at least one cable. A first sensor and a second sensor may be provided. The second sensor may be located between the first sensor and the cable. Related methodology is also disclosed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 27, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Assignee: Leitner-Poma of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah Daniel Frazier, Brian Christopher Kelly
  • Patent number: 7690313
    Abstract: A chairlift has chairs for conveying persons. The chairs may be detachably fastened to a haulage and conveying cable. A closing bar can be moved from a closed position into an open position and is mechanically connected by way of a Bowden cable or the like to a lever which interacts with rails that are arranged at the entry and exit of a station of the cableway system. In order to check whether the closing bar is completely opened or closed, a sensor for detecting the position of the actuating device is arranged in the region of the end of the rails as viewed in the conveying direction of the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2006
    Date of Patent: April 6, 2010
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventors: Josef Sutter, Manfred Ă–sterle, Herbert Schwendinger
  • Patent number: 7637213
    Abstract: A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. The brake pad may include a plurality of segments contacting the cable. A first such segment may be formed from a first material. A second such segment may be formed from a second material, distinct from the first material. The sequence, composition, gaps, and the like of the plurality of segments may be selected to provide a desired resistance to wear, frictional coefficient, all-weather braking, and the like.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 28, 2006
    Date of Patent: December 29, 2009
    Inventor: Eric S. Cylvick
  • Publication number: 20090255436
    Abstract: A zipline braking system and deceleration method having one load carrying cable, and at least one overhead member, where the overhead member can be extended above substantially the entire length of the load carrying member. A stopping member is attached with the cable, and a suspender is attached with the overhead member. A rope is attached with the stopping member and the suspender, such that when the stopping member and person traveling on the zipline move toward the finish end of the cable, the rope pulls counterweight against the force of gravity. A guide can apply friction to the rope at the finish end to further decelerate the speed of a person traveling on the zipline.
    Type: Application
    Filed: June 26, 2009
    Publication date: October 15, 2009
    Inventor: Richard Barrett Buckman
  • Publication number: 20090107357
    Abstract: Automatic cable transport facility along a closed loop line, including vehicles that can be disengaged at a set rate in stations after moving along a disengaged circuit where they are driven at low speed along disembarkation and embarkation platforms. Each station includes an automatic control mechanism able to extract the vehicles from the slow progression in the disengaged circuit, and transfer them to a disembarkation/embarkation point which is assigned to them in order of arrival, the previous vehicle having previously been reintegrated into the slow progression line in the place of the vehicle extracted in accordance with a preset program. A compensation point includes a permanently available spare empty vehicle which can be used to fill an empty space left by a vehicle that has been delayed and stopped at the disembarkation/embarkation point.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 29, 2007
    Publication date: April 30, 2009
    Applicant: ROPETRANS AG
    Inventor: Jerome Richard
  • Patent number: 7408474
    Abstract: A damage indicator for indicating potential damage to a sensor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 16, 2003
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Assignee: Leitner-Poma of America, Inc.
    Inventors: Jeremiah Daniel Frazier, Brian Christopher Kelly
  • Patent number: 7404360
    Abstract: A trolley for traveling along a cable. The trolley may include a frame having a first end, a second end, and a rail positioned between the first and second ends. A brake pad may connect to the frame. A sheave mount may also connect to the frame and include a sheave for rolling along the cable. A carriage may connect to the frame and include a user mount for suspending a user. The carriage may selectively travel along the rail through a continuous range of motion to control a braking force generated by the trolley between the brake pad and the cable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: July 29, 2008
    Inventor: Eric S. Cylvick
  • Patent number: 7299752
    Abstract: A trolley retrieval system for transporting or returning trolleys from a finish area back to a start area for traveling along a cable. The systems may include a cable held in suspension between the first and second supports. A retrieval line may be suspended in a closed loop extending from proximate the first support to proximate the second support. A trolley for traveling along the cable may be selectively connectable to the retrieval line. A motivator may selectively circulating the retrieval line around the loop. A controller may control operation of the motivator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: November 27, 2007
    Inventor: Eric S. Cylvick
  • Patent number: 6550392
    Abstract: The installation enables the downhill transportation of passengers from a higher station to a lower station along a rail. Cars that are guided along the rail are equipped with the first of two interacting elements of an electromagnetic braking device, in particular with one or more permanent magnets, and the guide rail being equipped with the second elements, in particular braking strips made from an electrically conductive nonmagnetizable material, such as copper or aluminum, which interact with said first elements of the braking device. Each car is equipped with one or more first elements with an operating brake that is adjustable as a function of its load, and with one or more first elements of a safety brake that is activatable during downhill travel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 22, 2003
    Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
    Inventor: Reinhard Albrich
  • Patent number: 6363858
    Abstract: A transport device includes a vehicle on an elongated support element extending between a departure station and an arrival station, the departure station being located at a higher elevation than the arrival station. The arrival station includes at least one braking unit for slowing the vehicle. The braking unit may be a series of rollers that engage the vehicle or a series of downwardly depending members that strike lateral extension from the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 2, 2002
    Assignee: Aerofun (Societe a Responsabilite Limitee)
    Inventor: Philippe Voirin
  • Publication number: 20010015149
    Abstract: A vehicle for use on a live line. The vehicle is provided with three coplanar traction wheels mounted on a frame and spaced along a first longitudinal axis parallel to the live line and above therefrom. The vehicle is also provided with two movable coplanar pressure wheels mounted on the frame and spaced along a second longitudinal axis parallel to the line and below therefrom. The vehicle has a driving motor mounted on the frame, for driving the traction wheels. The motor has a source of energy, such as batteries. The vehicle has a pressure mechanism mounted on the frame and coupled to the pressure wheels, for maintaining the line squeezed between the traction wheels and the pressure wheels. The vehicle has a control mechanism coupled to the motor for controlling the motor. Thereby, in use, the vehicle is moved along the line. The vehicle can also be provided with a de-icing tool. The de-icing tool has a collar with two parts opening and closing around the line.
    Type: Application
    Filed: February 22, 2001
    Publication date: August 23, 2001
    Applicant: HYDRO-QUEBEC
    Inventors: Serge Montambault, Jacques Cote