A continuous assist braking and control system (10) operable to control the movement, speed and acceleration of a zipline rider (32) traversing a zipline (12). A brake line (40) is entrained around first and second reels (50, 52), and suspended above the zipline (12). The rider (32) is tethered to the brake line (40). A brake (56) is coupled to at least one of the reels (50, 52). When the brake (56) is disengaged, the brake line (40) is pulled along with the rider (32) as the rider (32) traverses the zipline (12). When the brake (56) is engaged, the reels' rate of rotation is slowed, thereby slowing the brake line (40) and the rider (32). When the brake (56) is engaged to stop the reels' rotation, the brake line (40) is brought to a stop, thereby arresting the motion of rider (32).

Continuous assist zipline braking and control system

An apparatus for transporting a rider between two points on a cable or rope, having a plurality of supports configured to suspend the cable or rope between two points of unequal elevation and a trolley for transporting the rider supported by a harness on the cable or rope, the trolley having a mounting plate configured with a connection point to receive the rider's harness, a pulley rotatably mounted to the mounting plate to support the plate on the cable or rope, and a friction shoe mounted on the plate forward of the pulley to contact the upper portion of the cable or rope, wherein the connection point is located beneath the cable or rope between the centers of the pulley and the friction shoe.

Trolley braking system

A system of one or more tower structures operationally configured for gravity cable-based transportation, comprising towers (7) with platforms (11,25) related by cables (33), including adaptations of such technologies that may. blend into surrounding environments, and which are particularly beneficial for use in connection with amusement facilities.

System for tower- and cable-based transportation structure

An improved zip line trolley allowing a rider control of his or her speed while traversing along a suspended cable ( 8 ) as seen in FIGS 1 A and 1 B The trolley comprises front and rear pulleys ( 44 F) and ( 44 R) conjoined via pulley housing ( 16 ) with left and right horizontal handles ( 10 L) and ( 10 R) attached to vertical shaft ( 12 ) Front and rear hand brake levers ( 20 F) and ( 20 R) are mounted onto left and right horizontal handles ( 10 L) and ( 10 R) When front and rear hand brake levers ( 20 F) and ( 20 R) are squeezed by the rider, they create a constricting force on front left and right calipers ( 32 FL) and ( 32 FR) along with rear left and right calipers ( 32 RL) and ( 32 RR) of FIGS 2 A and 3 A Thus, friction is applied to front and rear pulleys ( 44 F) and ( 44 R) via front left and right brake pads ( 34 FL) and ( 34 FR) along with rear left and right brake pads ( 34 RL) and ( 34 RR) This frictional force slows the rider's speed to his or her desired rate and brings the rider to a safe stop at a precise location along suspended cable ( 8 )

Rider controlled zip line trolley brake

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.

Load-minimizing, trolley arrester apparatus and method

Braking and motion-arrest apparatus for braking the arrival of a zipline cable rider at a landing platform and arresting the rider's motion to retain the rider at the platform. A frame is mounted on the cable to allow longitudinal rolling movement of the frame along the cable. A self-closing one-way latch is provided at the forward end of the frame. The latch includes a pair of capture plates which are normally inwardly biased toward one another, on opposite sides of the cable. The rider is tethered to a pulley block which rolls along the cable and collides with the latch. The collision force drives the plates laterally away from the cable, allowing the pulley block to roll through the latch. After the pulley block rolls past the latch, the plates' normal biasing closes the latch, preventing the pulley block from rolling back through the latch.

Charles Z. Steele

Papers

Zipline braking and motion-arrest system

Continuous assist zipline braking and control system