DUAL CABLE ZIPLINE TROLLEY TRANSFER SYSTEM

MECANISME DE TRANSFERT DE CHARIOT A TYROLIENNE A DOUBLE CABLE

English Abstract

This invention is a gravity powered Dual Cable Zipline Trolley Transfer System comprising, a dual cable zipline trolley and dual cable zipline transfer unit which work in conjunction of each other. The trolley comprises tandem wheels that traverse over the dual cables and are pivoted in the center to allow the trolley to pass smoothly over the transfer unit, which is suspended on support structures. Unlike the traditional zipline which has a path between two stations, this system is designed to allow the participant to travel in a continuous uninterrupted path without the need to detach from one cable to another in order to sustain the journey beyond the station. The transfer unit is lengthened to create curves both horizontal and vertical. This invention eliminates the menacing sag in the cable that occurs over distance.

French Abstract

Linvention est un mécanisme de transfert de chariot à tyrolienne à double câble comportant un chariot à tyrolienne à double câble et un module de transfert de tyrolienne à double câble qui fonctionnent de manière coopérative. Le chariot comprend des roues en tandem qui passent au-dessus des câbles doubles et qui pivotent au centre afin de permettre au chariot de passer doucement sur le module de transfert, qui est suspendu sur des structures dappui. Contrairement à la tyrolienne traditionnelle qui comporte un chemin entre deux stations, ce système est configuré pour permettre au participant de se déplacer sur un parcours ininterrompu continu sans avoir à se détacher dun câble et sattacher à un autre pour faire un déplacement au-delà de la station. Le module de transfert est rallongé pour créer des courbes, tant horizontales que verticales. Linvention élimine le relâchement menaçant que subit le câble sur la distance.

Claims

What is claimed is:
CLAIMS
1. A zipline system with reduced sag, comprising:
a) two parallel cables extending along a zipline path;
b) a plurality of spaced-apart support structures mounted along
said zipline path and supporting said parallel cables in
spans above a ground surface; each of said support
structures comprising a cable transfer unit suspended
thereto and supporting said parallel cables to said
support structures with a lateral spacing between said
cables;
c) each of said cable transfer units having an elongated body
with a longitudinal dimension extending along said
zipline path; said elongated body having an inverted T-
shaped cross-section and a nominal overall width; said
elongated body having two spaced apart tubes extending
along said longitudinal dimension at said lateral spacing,
each of said tubes enclosing one of said parallel cables
therein; each of said tubes being affixed to said
elongated body along a bottom surface thereof and
having an exposed top surface; and
d) a trolley having spaced-apart parallel side plates, support
wheels mounted to inside surfaces of said side plates,
and a clevis attached to said side plates; said support
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wheels being laterally spaced apart said lateral spacing;
said support wheels being rolling along said zipline path
on upper surfaces of said parallel cables and on said
exposed top surfaces of said tubes; said trolley having a
U-shaped cross-section with a central opening and said
side plates being laterally spaced apart a distance greater
than said nominal overall width of said cable transfer
units; each of a said cable transfer units passing through
said central opening of said trolley when said support
wheels of said trolley being rolling over said exposed top
surfaces of said tubes.
2. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said side
plates of said trolley also comprises flanges enclosing said
cables below said support wheels.
3. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said support
wheels on said trolley comprises two support wheels on each of
said side plates of said trolley.
4. The zipline system as claimed in claim 3 wherein said two
support wheels being mounted in a tandem-wheel arrangement
supported on a single axle extending from said each of said
side plates.
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5. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1 wherein said trolley
also comprises a drive wheel mounted thereto above said
support wheels and a motor connected to said drive wheel for
driving said trolley along said zipline path.
6. The zipline system as claimed in claim 5, wherein said motor
has a forward and a reverse direction.
7. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
elongated body of one of said cable transfer units has a
curvature therein along said longitudinal axis thereof
8. The zipline system as claimed in claim 4, wherein each of said
cable transfer units being suspended to a pivot mounted to a
respective one of said support structures; each of said transfer
units being free to move as a pendulum about said pivot in a
plane extending along said zipline path.
9. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first
horizontal alignment of said parallel cables between a first and
second support structures is different than a second horizontal
alignment of said parallel cables between said second and a
third support structures.
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10. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1, wherein a first
vertical alignment of said parallel cables between a first and
second support structures is different than a second vertical
alignment between said second and a third support structures.
11. The zipline system as claimed in claim 7, wherein a first
horizontal and vertical alignments of said parallel cables
between a first and second support structures is different than a
second horizontal and vertical alignments of said parallel
cables between said second and a third support structures.
12. The zipline system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said zipline
path has a zig-zag configuration.
13. The zipline system as claimed in claim 11, wherein said zipline
path has an up and down roller-coaster configuration.
14. The zipline system as claimed in claim 7, wherein said zipline
path has a circle configuration.
15. The zipline system s claimed in claim 1, wherein said zipline
path has a closed circle and up and down configuration.
16. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trolley
also comprises a braking system mounted thereto.
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17. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1, wherein said trolley
further comprises a disc mounted perpendicularly through each
of said side plates below each of said wheels and below each of
said cables.
18. The zipline system as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a
seat suspended to said clevis.
19. The zipline system as claimed in claim 6, wherein a first
horizontal alignment of said parallel cables between a first and
second support structures is different than a second horizontal
alignment of said parallel cables between said second and a
third support structures.
20. The zipline system as claimed in claim 6, wherein a first
vertical alignment of said parallel cables between a first and
second support structures is different than a second vertical
alignment between said second and a third support structures.

Description

CA 02843821 2015-08-31
DESCRIPTION
DUAL CABLE ZIPLINE TROLLEY TRANSFER SYSTEM
FIELD OF INVENTION
This Invention relates to a Dual Cable Zipline System.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
A zipline (or zip line, zip wire, aerial runway) is generally comprised
of a trolley suspended on a cable, typically single and made of steel,
attached between two platforms at a set distance apart. Usually
erected at an elevated height and mounted on an incline. A zipline
is designed to enable a participant propelled by gravity to travel in a
straight forward path from one platform to another, while holding
onto, or attached by a lanyard, to a freely moving trolley.
Some of the problems with the traditional zipline:
The traditional zipline acquires sag in the cable resultant from
being erected over long distance. The further the cable is anchored
between each platform, the greater the sag in the cable.
The conventional zipline is restricted to traverse in a straight
forward path from Point A to Point B and does not allow the rider on
the cable to continue beyond Point B or travel in a different
direction, unless the rider is detached from one cable and attached
to another.
The conventional zipline does not allow for curves, vertical or
horizontal.
The traditional zipline is commonly erected high above the canopy
and generally does not cater to the elderly, handicapped or
participants who have a fear of heights.
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CA 02843821 2015-08-31
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
This invention provides, in its broadest concept, improvements
in the traditional zipline.
This invention is a gravity or motor powered Dual Cable Zipline
Trolley Transfer System, comprised of a Dual Cable Zipline Trolley
and Dual Cable Zipline Transfer Unit which work in conjunction of
each other.
An entity of one aspect of the invention allows the participant on
the trolley to traverse uninterrupted on a continuous path from
Point A to Point B to Point C and so on, without the need to detach
from one cable and attach to another.
An entity of another aspect of this invention allows for different
directions without changing to another cable
An entity of yet a further aspect of this invention provides an
unlimited series of patterns including straight, curves; horizontal or
vertical, roller coaster motion and/or circles.
An entity of an additional aspect of this invention contributes to a
lower height, but not restricted to, to provide an enjoyable ride for
everyone including the youth, the elderly, the handicapped, and/or
participants who have a fear of heights.
An entity of still another aspect of this invention enables the
participant to travel uninterrupted without needing to reduce or
alter their speed.
Another entity of an aspect of this invention is a single wheel can be
added perpendicularly on each side of the top of the trolley as a set
of power wheels for forward or reverse travel.
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CA 02843821 2015-08-31
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Fig. 1 is a frontal view of the Dual Cable Zipline Trolley and a
sketch of the tandem wheels that have axles and bearings.
Fig. 2 is a side view of the Dual Cable Zipline Trolley. Included is a
sketch showing a steel holder pin (14) that runs through the coil
springs and a drawing of the short axle (11) used in this invention.
Fig. 3 is a frontal view of the Dual Cable Zipline Transfer Unit.
Fig. 4 is a side view of the Dual Cable Zipline Transfer Unit attached
to the structure.
Fig. 5 shows the path of the Dual Cable Zipline Trolley propelling by
gravity over the cable and over the Dual Cable Zipline Transfer
Units, attached to structures along the path.
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CA 02843821 2015-08-31
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
The preferred embodiment, a Dual Cable Zipline Trolley Transfer
System, comprised of a Dual Cable Zipline Trolley identified by FIG 1
86 FIG 2 and a Dual Cable Zipline Transfer Unit, identified by FIG 3 86
4 and form a system. The trolley (FIG 1 86 2) was strategically
constructed to work with the transfer unit (FIG 3 86 FIG 4).
The dual cable zipline trolley (FIG 1 86 FIG 2) comprises, two
steel outer plates (2), perpendicularly placed at a set distance apart;
creating the main body that holds the components of the trolley.
There are two sets of tandem zipline trolley wheels (4), connected with
a steel pivot pin (8), which equalizes the tandem wheels (4) when
entering the transfer unit, and are attached to the top of the trolley
between the two steel outer plates (2). The tandem wheels (4) are
fabricated from steel and have roller bearings and axles. Short inner
flanges (6) are connected perpendicularly to the inner side of the
tandem wheels (4) on each upper side of the trolley and serve to guide
the wheels on the cable as the trolley traverses over the dual cables
(32). The short inner flanges (6) also serve as a plate to secure the
tandem wheels (4) in place. Steel pivot pins (8) are perpendicularly
affixed to the top of the trolley on each side, and are attached in the
center between the two sets of tandem trolley wheels (4); and serve to
equalize the weight of each wheel as it makes the transition over the
dual cable transfer unit. Two steel discs (10), which serve as a safety
feature to prevent the trolley from lifting from the dual cables (32)
protrude through the horizontal slot (9) on the steel outer plates of
the trolley, and are perpendicularly affixed with a short axle (11). Two
steel holder pins are perpendicularly attached to the outer steel plates
of the trolley on each side and run through the orifices of the short
axle(11), and run through the center of the coil springs (12), which
are capped and locked to secure them in place, and allow the coil
springs (12) to work independently of each other.
Four large steel shafts (16 A, 16 B, 16C, 16D) run horizontally
through the steel outer plates (2) of the trolley and secure the bottom
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CA 02843821 2015-08-31
portion of the trolley at a fixed width. A hook-up clevis (18) is
attached to the bottom of the trolley, in which is attached a seat.
The dual cable transfer unit (FIG 3 &FIG 4) is comprised of a
rectangular (22) steel box opened at the top. Two steel tubes (24)
affixed perpendicularly at a precise distance apart, to the outer top
edges of the rectangular steel box (22) on each side allow the dual
cables (32) to pass through, and also stabilize the dual cables (32)
holding them firmly in place. A flat triangular steel plate (26) is
connected to the inside center of the rectangular box (22) also
attached to the inner both ends of the rectangular box (22). The flat
triangular steel plate (26) keeps the transfer unit level, and keeps the
dual steel cables (32) straight. A heavy steel pivot pin (28) connects
the heavy steel shaft (30) to the flat triangular steel plate (26) through
the orifice of the heavy steel shaft (30), and allows the transfer unit to
pivot at the heavy steel shaft (30), and to accommodate for weight as
the trolley enters the steel tubes (24) of the transfer unit. The heavy
steel shaft (30) protrudes downward from the top of the support
structure (34), and holds the dual cable transfer unit in place, and
the heavy steel shaft (30) is capped and locked.
Support structures (34) are erected at a determined distance apart
and each one holds a transfer unit (FIG 2 863) which is secured in
place by the heavy steel shaft (30). Additional flat triangular steel
plates (26) will be utilized when lengthening the transfer unit for the
purpose of creating curves. Each flat triangular steel plate (26) is
supported by an additional heavy steel shaft (30) when lengthening
the transfer unit (FIG 3864) for curves. This system includes dual
steel cables (32) that are perpendicularly placed and, pass through
the steel tubes (24) which are fastened horizontally, to the transfer
unit at a precise distance apart. This invention is a gravity or motor
powered system with the potential to append a caliper breaking
system.

Representative Drawing