Patents by Inventor Paul Zuppiger

Paul Zuppiger has filed for patents to protect the following inventions. This listing includes patent applications that are pending as well as patents that have already been granted by the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

  • Patent number: 4078500
    Abstract: A vehicle system has a track along which a cable is driven, preferably at constant speed, to entrain a plurality of vehicles rollingly along the track. The vehicle carries a pair of pinch rollers adapted to grip the cable without slippage and at least one of these rollers is journaled on the vehicle and can entrain a star-shaped member whose spokes or arms have rollers adapted to engage cam surfaces disposed along the track. Depending upon the orientation of the cam surfaces, the vehicle may be displaced at a rate in excess of the linear speed of the cable, at the same rate as the cable or at a slower speed. This allows the vehicle to be slowed down for embarkation and disembarkation but permits the vehicle to be driven at high speeds between such embarkation/disembarkation stations all while the cable is operated at substantially constant speed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 23, 1976
    Date of Patent: March 14, 1978
    Assignee: Battelle Memorial Institute
    Inventor: Paul Zuppiger