Abstract: A cable transportation system cable return pulley has a hub, which is configured to rotate about an axis of rotation and has a plurality of lateral coupling sides lying along respective coplanar straight lines crosswise to the axis of rotation; and a main body, which is coupled to the hub, has an annular seat configured to house the cable, and a quantity of sectors equal to the quantity of lateral coupling sides of the hub, and wherein each sector is coupled to the hub and to the adjacent sectors solely along two of the straight lines.

Abstract: A cable railway installation has an endless conveying cable extending between terminal stations. Transport vehicles, such as chairs or gondolas, are coupleable to the conveying cable. In the two terminal stations the cable is guided over headwheels and, in optionally provided intermediate stations, it is guided over diverting pulleys, diverting rollers or the like. The transport vehicles entering the terminal stations are uncoupled from the conveying cable, conveyed through the stations by guide tires and then coupled to the conveying cable for exiting the stations. A load bearing structure, which carries components such as the headwheels, diverting pulleys and rollers, and the guide tires, is borne by at least one support disposed centrally between the paths of motion of the transport vehicles. An ascent leads up to the load bearing structure. The support carrying the load bearing structure is formed with a through passage through which the ascent is routed.

Abstract: A method for tensioning a cable uses a tensioning installation comprising a pulley over which the cable passes, a support trolley for the mobile pulley, on a guide rail and one or several linear actuators to move the trolley.

Abstract: A wear monitoring system is provided for monitoring the wear and/or abrasion of at least one system component of a cable operated transportation system, where the system component is subjected to wear and/or abrasion and is mounted in rotating and/or circulating manner. A parameter measuring device is provided for measuring an actual value and/or a time-dependent actual value function of at least one electrical and/or mechanical parameter of the at least one system component and/or the drive unit. An evaluating device is provided for determining a parameter deviation of the actual value from a desired value in dependence on time or a time interval and/or of the actual value function from a time-dependent desired value function of the at least one parameter. The parameter deviation corresponds to the state of abrasion and/or the state of wear of the at least one system component.

Abstract: A pressure device for conduction of the cable in cable traction transportation systems including a pressure-roller (12) of the cable (7) supported elastically on a fixed support (2) and a counter-roller (6) supported on the fixed support (2) is described. In accordance with this invention the counter-roller (6) is supported in a revolving manner on a roller-holder (5) articulated at one end to the fixed support (2) and possesses at the other end guide means (8, 9) that engage as a running guide an arm (10) that bears in a revolving manner at one end the pressure-roller (12) on the side opposite the counter-roller (6) and is articulated at the other end to the fixed support (2) with the arm (10) being pressed by elastic means in the direction of exertion of pressure of the pressure-roller (12) on the cable (7).

Abstract: A bull-wheel of a fixed carrying-hauling rope chair lift is driven by a geared motor mechanism having a coaxial shaft line extending perpendicularly to the bull-wheel in a substantially vertical direction. The geared motor mechanism is composed of an electric motor and a mechanical speed reducer forming two independent modules arranged on opposing sides of the bull-wheel, which is fitted on a movable carriage to provide mechanical tensioning of the rope.

Abstract: A logging block (16) formed in accordance with the present invention includes a frame (56) having a first end and an opposing second end and a sheave (50) having an upper side (58) and an opposing lower side (62) coupled to the second end of the frame such that the sheave rotatably contacts a continuous loop of cable (12) as the cable travels along a mono-cable path (32). Located at the first end of the frame (56) is a mounting assembly (77) providing at least two mounting slots (78) used for securing the frame to a stationary object along the mono-cable path (32), such as a tree or stump (20). The mounting slots (78) are positioned with respect to the sheave (50) such that when the logging block (16) is in operation, the alignment of a mounting slot is either above, below or directly in line with the sheave.

Abstract: Persons and/or goods are transported in a plurality of vehicles with runn wheels rolling on a track, such as on rails. A continuously moving, endless traction cable drives the vehicles on the track, and a clamping assembly selectively disconnects the vehicles from and connects the vehicles to the traction cable. The vehicles are disconnected from the traction cable in boarding stations, where deceleration wheels and acceleration wheels come into contact with a contact surface on the underside of the vehicles. The deceleration wheels and acceleration wheels rotate about substantially horizontal axes and they decelerate and accelerate the vehicles, respectively, upon being brought into contact with the contact surface. The deceleration and acceleration wheels are rotatably supported on a free end of swivel arms which are pivotally supported about an axis which extends substantially horizontally and substantially parallel to the track.

Abstract: The chairs or the cabins of an overhead cable transport installation are driven on a transfer rail in a station by means of friction sheaves staggered along the travel circuit and interconnected by a belt drive arrangement. The rotational movement of the friction sheaves is derived from a cable support sheave by means of a movement take up module, having a girder like box secured adjacent to the girder which supports the friction sheaves.

Abstract: A rope traction device includes a sheave having an annular rope receiving groove and being driven and rotated with a traction rope received in the rope receiving groove to cause the traction rope to be wound on the sheave and the rope traction device thereby moves along the traction rope. The sheave includes a pair of side walls made of an elastic material and formed integrally with the sheave for formaing the rope receiving groove. The interval between inner surfaces of the side walls in a rope holding portion is made smaller than the diameter of the traction rope by a predetermined value. The rope receiving groove may be formed in a U-shaped section, a V-shaped section or a section which is a combination of the U-shaped section and the V-shaped section.

Abstract: A rope traction device includes a sheave having an annular rope receiving groove and being driven and rotated with a traction rope received in the rope receiving groove to cause the traction rope to be wound on the sheave and the rope traction device thereby moves along the traction rope. The sheave includes a pair of side walls made of an elastic material and formed integrally with the sheave for formaing the rope receiving groove. The interval between inner surfaces of the side walls in a rope holding portion is made smaller than the diameter of the traction rope by a predetermined value. The rope receiving groove may be formed in a U-shaped section, a V-shaped section or a section which is a combination of the U-shaped section and the V-shaped section.

Abstract: A single-cable aerial cableway including guide rails forming a lead-in guide, secured to a stationary cable support structure. The lead-in guide cooperates with a wheel secured to the grip so as to stabilize and position the grip and the load before they pass along the structure. The position of the lead-in guide is automatically adjusted when the position in height of the cable changes so that the weel always enter the lead-in guide.

Abstract: A rope traction device includes a sheave having an annular rope receiving groove and being driven and rotated with a traction rope received in the rope receiving groove to cause the traction rope to be wound on the sheave and the rope traction device thereby moves along the traction rope. The sheave includes a pair of side walls made of an elastic material and formed integrally with the sheave for formaing the rope receiving groove. The interval between inner surfaces of the side walls in a rope holding portion is made smaller than the diameter of the traction rope by a predetermined value. The rope receiving groove may be formed in a U-shaped section, a V-shaped section or a section which is a combination of the U-shaped section and the V-shaped section.

Abstract: An aerial cableway system for filming subjects in motion over moderate to long distances. An endless cable is tensioned between two support structures in an elongated loop. A cable carriage is suspended from the endless cable and is in contact with both segments of the endless cable at all times. Each segment of the endless cable passes through the cable carriage in opposite directions by wrapping 180.degree. around two drive sheaves for a total cumulative wrap of 360.degree.. Each drive sheave has associated with it a disc brake assembly. The endless cable is driven by a bull wheel mechanism which is located at the base of one of the support structures. As the endless cable is continuously driven the two segments travel in opposite directions. When the disc brakes on one side of the carriage are engaged, the drive sheaves are immobilized on one segment of the endless cable and the carriage is carried along in the direction that the grasped segment of the endless cable is traveling.

Abstract: The hauling-carrier cable of a gondola lift or chair lift is subdivided in two endless cable loops operating together. These cable loops are linked by a technical relay including two bull wheels or a bull wheel with two grooves, one for each cable loop. Transfer rails located in the technical relay permit the passage of the cabins from one cable loop to the other. The cabins, uncoupled from the cable, run on the transfer rail at the same velocity as the cable. The two bull wheels are mechanically coupled to transfer the driving power from one cable loop to the other.

Abstract: A terminal of a detachable cable-car with two or more carrier-hauling ropes including bull-wheels located underneath the floor. After the cars have been uncoupled the carrier-hauling ropes run on downward diversion means which direct the ropes towards the bull-wheels. The cars detached from the ropes pass between the diversion wheels to the rear of the terminal.

Abstract: An aerial tramway (21) having an endless loop haul rope (41,42,43,44) supported for movement between end terminals (27,36) and preferably for movement over at least one intermediate support tower (75) with the haul rope oriented in a substantially vertical plane. The haul rope (41,42,43,44) has an upper rope portion (57) moving in one direction and a lower rope portion (56) moving in an opposite direction, and at least one carrier unit (46) is coupled for movement by a grip assembly (55) to the upper or lower rope portion. The carrier unit (46) further includes a sheave assembly (66) positioned to be in rolling engagement with the rope portion that is not gripped. In the preferred form, the grip assembly (55) grips the upper rope portion (57) while the sheave assembly (66) rollingly engages the lower rope portion (56).

Abstract: In the cableway having a multistrand lift cable, especially a double strand ift cable, with a plurality of couplable and uncouplable conveying means, the lift cable is guided at a driving station by at least two drive disks coupled with each other. The lift cable is formed by a single closed cable loop which is crossed at least once to form a plurality of cable segments. These cable segments are guided near the regions where the conveying means are coupled and uncoupled and in the conveying path parallel and adjacent each other. At least one crossing point of the lift cable loop is positioned between one of those regions and the cable (guide or drive) station associated therewith, near which the lift cable is fed to or guided from at least two guide disks positioned over each other at different heights by a plurality of deflection rolls.

Abstract: An aerial transportation system including two generally parallel endless aerial carrier and traction cables is disclosed in which apparatus is respectively associated with each of the cables for separately supporting each cable. The supporting apparatus associated with each cable each comprise at least one basic balance beam, at least one roller rotatably mounted at one end of the balance beam for engaging its associated cable and at least one support balance beam with the basic balance beam being pivotally mounted at one end on the support balance beam for pivotal movement about a pivot axis extending at right angles to the cables. A support structure is provided for the balance beams with the support balance beam being pivotally mounted on the support structure.

Abstract: The pulley support head according to the invention is adapted to permit easy adjustment of the orientation of the pulley at any time, even when the pulley is turning.The support head comprises a rigid frame (11) having a front extremity (13) which carries the pulley outside the frame, and mechanical means for pivoting this axle with respect to the frame on two substantially orthogonal axes (23, 40) defined by bearing edges provided on the frame. A first bearing edge (22) is situated in the front part of the frame. A threaded rod (27) articulated on the rear extremity (14) of the axle and connected to the frame by means of screws (31) permits pivoting the axle on the first edge (22). A guiding fork (34) defines a second pivoting axis (40) near to the rear extremity of the axle.Such a support head may be utilized in any cable conveyor, for example a ski tow or a building site cableway.

Abstract: An aerial cable transportation system is disclosed that includes at least one vehicle supported on a carriage through a suspension with a plurality of clamps for disengageably securing the carriage to a pair of endless carrier and traction cables that are parallel to and alongside each other in a horizontal direction. The parallel cables are driven continuously at the same speed and supported by intermediate support and/or compression towers, each of which has a base, a shaft, a horizontal transverse cross arm, and two series of support and/or compression rollers for the cables. The clamps consist of two pairs of clamps, with each of the pairs of clamps being associated with one of the cables. The clamps define a rigid quadrilateral in the form of a parallelogram which is not a rectangle and which, in the engaged state, favors the synchronous passage of the two cables.

Abstract: Plastic material is molded in the form of a sheave (20) about a wire steel brush (10), and interspersed between the bristles (14) thereof. A conductive path is provided to a cable (26) against which the sheave is urged via the bristles, which extend radially to the outer surface (22,24) of the sheave, and the hub (12) of the wire wheel brush.

Abstract: A rocker arm assembly (12), supporting the rope of an aerial tramway installation, comprises sheaves (14, 16), the spindles (18, 20) of which are fitted enabling their disassembly, cantilevered from an arm (22) fitted on the inward facing side of the sheaves. The arm (22), made of moulded material, has a rope catcher shoe (66), which protrudes on the outward facing side of the sheaves. A detector of excessive rocker arm (22) swing, due to the rope falling on the catcher shoe (66) or to a sheave being lost, is incorporated in the boss of the arm and protrudes into a shearing groove in the articulation spindle of the arm (22).

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 yarder is employed with a running skyline provided with a carriage. The running skyline has an intermediate suspended support consisting of a hanger bar with a shoe pivotally connected to the lower end of the hanger bar by a transverse shaft. The shoe has supporting sheaves and an enclosure rail, with the skyline haulback line supportingly received between the rail and the sheaves. The carriage is open on one side so as to be able to pass the transverse shaft of the intermediate suspended support. The open side of the carriage has a yieldable safety gate which allows the carriage to pass the transverse shaft but which retains the haulback line within the carriage. The lower portion of the carriage has respective sheaves for a slack pulling line and a log suspension line to which logs to be transported are connected. A mainline extends between the yarder and a junction member connected to both the slack pulling line and the log suspension line.

Abstract: A compound frame to support a plurality of sheaves on a tower of an aerial tram with a predetermined bias between each sheave and a supported transiting cable. The sheaves are supported in paired opposed groups with each sheave of a group in substantial opposition so that the bias of each group of sheaves provides a safety factor to aid in maintaining a transiting cable therebetween. The manner of biasing paired sheave groups requires minimal forces for greater economy. An associated desheavement annunciating system is disclosed.

Abstract: An apparatus for towing a skier on skis to a ski-jump takeoff at an accelerating speed comparable to that given by a starting tower comprising an endless rope tow driven by a motor and transmission which supplies a pre-set constantly increasing acceleration to the endless rope tow.