U.S. patent application number 10/745742 was filed with the patent office on 2004-10-07 for downhill zip line thrill ride system.
Invention is credited to Richardson, Michael Troy.
Application Number | 20040198502 10/745742 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46300588 |
Filed Date | 2004-10-07 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040198502 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Richardson, Michael Troy |
October 7, 2004 |
Downhill zip line thrill ride system
Abstract
A zip line thrill ride system includes a cable suspended between
a upper cable support tower and platform which, together, function
as the harnessing, loading, and take-off point for the ride, and a
lower cable support tower and platform which, together, function as
the landing, unloading and unharnessing point of the ride.
Multiple, substantially identical trolleys are designed to quickly
engage and disengage the cable. The trolley includes a frame of
generally I-beam cross section, a generally tubular brake retainer,
having a longitudinal slit therein, is welded to an upper rear
portion of the frame. A grooved, generally cylindrical brake
fabricated from a durable polymeric material is rotatably affixed
within the tubular brake retainer. When the trolley is affixed to
the suspended cable by sliding the cable into the slit and rotating
the brake, the grooved insert rides against the suspended cable and
generates friction.
Inventors: |
Richardson, Michael Troy;
(Elkridge, UT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Angus C. Fox, III
4093 N. Imperial Way
Provo
UT
84604-5386
US
|
Family ID: |
46300588 |
Appl. No.: |
10/745742 |
Filed: |
December 23, 2003 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
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10745742 |
Dec 23, 2003 |
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10385903 |
Mar 10, 2003 |
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6666773 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
472/49 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A63G 21/22 20130101;
F16D 63/008 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
472/049 |
International
Class: |
A63G 031/00 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A zip line transport system comprising: upper and lower support
towers; a cable suspended between said upper and lower support
towers; at least one trolley longitudinally slidable along the
cable, said trolley comprising: a frame; a brake retainer secured
to said frame; an abrasion-resistant brake secured within said
brake retainer, said brake having a longitudinal groove through
which the cable passes as the trolley moves along the cable, a
portion of said linear groove sliding against said cable, said
cable being lockable within said brake retainer; a pulley rotatably
mounted on said frame and longitudinally spaced from said brake
retainer, said pulley having both a circumferential groove that
engages an upper surface of said cable, and an axis of rotation
that is generally horizontal and transverse to the cable when the
trolley is slidably mounted thereon; and a lever arm adjustment
bracket affixed to said frame, said bracket supporting at least a
portion of a rider's weight, and being positionable fore and aft to
adjust an amount of pressure between the longitudinal groove and
said cable.
2. The zip line transport system of claim 1, wherein said brake is
fabricated from a durable, abrasion-resistant material selected
from the group consisting of Teflon.RTM., nylon, high-density
polyethylene, and composites.
3. The zip line transport system of claim 1, wherein: said brake
retainer is generally tubularly shaped, having a central axis and
first and second open ends and a primary longitudinal slit in a
lateral portion thereof, said primary longitudinal slit extending
from said first open end to said second open end; and said brake is
rotatably and concentrically installed within said tubular brake
retainer, said brake longitudinal groove is both centered about a
plane passing through the central axis, and alignable with the
primary longitudinal slit, said cable being insertable through said
primary longitudinal slit and into said longitudinal groove, said
cable being locked within said brake retainer by arcuate rotation
of said brake.
4. The zip line transport system of claim 3, wherein: said brake
retainer also has an arcuate slit which does not intersect the
longitudinal slit, said arcuate slit having an arc within a range
of 90 to 120 degrees; and said trolley further comprises a bolt
that passes through the arcuate slit and is secured within said
brake, thereby securing said brake within the brake retainer and
limiting rotational movement of the brake to arcuate movement
within a range of 90 to 120 degrees.
5. The zip line transport system of claim 4, wherein the arcuate
slit intersects a locking longitudinal slit, said locking
longitudinal slit being spaced apart from both ends of said brake
retainer.
6. The zip line transport system of claim 1, wherein said frame is
of generally I-beam cross-section, being fabricated from metal
plate stock.
7. The zip line transport system of claim 1, which further
comprises: a trap, having an internal ramp, that is slidably
mounted on the cable near the lower cable support tower; and at
least one coil spring assembly having a weighted bushing installed
within each end thereof and concentrically installed on the cable
between the trap and the lower support tower; and wherein said
frame has a downwardly-slanted nose, on which is mounted a bumper
made of a durable abrasion resistant material, said nose engaging
the trap and being forced by the internal ramp to a lower level as
the trolley travels down the cable and enters the trap, thereby
increasing the pressure between the brake and the cable and, at the
same time, transferring momentum to the trap and accelerating the
weighted bushings and compressing the coil spring of said at least
one coil spring assembly, as the trap slams into it.
8. The zip line transport system of claim 1, wherein the trolley is
installable on the cable by: rotating the brake so that its
longitudinal groove coincides with the slit of the tubular brake
retainer; positioning the trolley so that the frame is below and
oblique or perpendicular to the cable; elevating the trolley so
that the cable enters the gap between the brake retainer and the
pulley; aligning the body with the cable so that the cable enters
the longitudinal slit in of the brake retainer and the longitudinal
groove of the brake and the circumferential groove of the pulley is
positioned directly above the cable; seating the circumferential
groove of the pulley on the upper surface of the cable; and
rotating the brake to lock the cable within the brake retainer.
9. A zip line transport system comprising: upper and lower support
towers; a cable suspended between said upper and lower support
towers; at least one trolley slidable along the cable, said trolley
comprising: a frame; a brake retainer secured to a rear portion of
the frame; an abrasion-resistant brake secured within said brake
retainer, said brake having a longitudinal groove through which the
cable passes as the trolley moves along the cable, a bottom portion
of said linear groove sliding against a lower surface of said
cable, said cable being lockable within said brake retainer; a
pulley rotatably mounted above a middle portion of said frame, said
pulley having both a circumferential groove that rides on the upper
surface of the cable, and an axis of rotation that is generally
horizontal and perpendicular to the cable when the trolley is
slidable thereon; and a lever arm adjustment bracket affixed to a
front portion of said frame, said bracket supporting at least a
portion of a rider's weight, and being positionable fore and aft to
adjust an amount of pressure between the bottom portion of the
longitudinal groove and the lower surface of said cable.
10. The zip line transport system of claim 9, wherein said front
portion of said frame includes: a longitudinal adjustment slot, to
which said lever arm adjustment bracket is slidably affixed; a
linear array of evenly-spaced apertures that is beneath and
parallel to the longitudinal slot; and wherein said lever arm
adjustment bracket is slidably affixed to the longitudinal
adjustment slot and securable to any one of the apertures of the
linear array with a removable locking pin.
11. The zip line transport system of claim 9, wherein said brake
assembly comprises: a generally tubular brake retainer having a
central axis and first and second open ends secured to a rear
portion of the frame, said brake retainer having a primary
longitudinal slit in a lateral portion thereof, said primary
longitudinal slit extending from said first open end to said second
open end; and a generally cylindrical, abrasion-resistant brake
rotatably and concentrically installed within said tubular brake
retainer, said brake having a linear longitudinal groove through
which the cable passes, said linear longitudinal groove being
centered about a plane passing through the central axis, said
longitudinal groove being also alignable with the primary
longitudinal slit, said brake being fabricated from a durable,
abrasion-resistant material, said brake being affixed within the
tubular brake retainer acid rotatable about the central axis;
wherein said cable is positionable within the circumferential
groove of said pulley below its axis of rotation and insertable
through said primary longitudinal slit and into the longitudinal
groove of the brake , said brake then being rotatable to lock said
cable within said brake retainer.
12. The zip line transport system of claim 11, wherein said brake
retainer also has an arcuate slit which does not intersect the
longitudinal slit, said arcuate slit having an arc within a range
of 90 to 120 degrees.
13. The zip line transport system of claim 12, wherein said trolley
further comprises a bolt that passes through the arcuate slit and
is secured within said brake, thereby securing said brake within
the brake retainer and limiting rotational movement of the brake to
arcuate movement within a range of 90 to 120 degrees.
14. The zip line transport system of claim 12, wherein the arcuate
slit intersects a locking longitudinal slit, said locking
longitudinal slit being spaced apart from both ends of said brake
retainer.
15. A zip line transport system comprising: upper and lower support
towers; a cable suspended between said upper and lower support
towers; at least one trolley comprising: a frame; a brake assembly
affixed to a rear portion of said frame, said brake assembly having
an abrasion-resistant brake with a longitudinal linear groove,
through which the cable passes as the trolley moves along the
cable, a bottom portion of said linear groove sliding against a
lower surface of said cable; a pulley rotatably mounted to a middle
portion of said frame, said pulley having a circumferential groove
that rides on an upper surface of the cable; and a lever arm
adjustment bracket positioned on a front portion of said frame, the
rider mounting bracket being positionable fore and aft to adjust an
amount of pressure between the bottom portion of the linear groove
and the lower surface of said cable.
16. The zip line transport system of claim 15, wherein said
abrasion-resistant brake is fabricated from a material is selected
from the group consisting of Teflon.RTM., nylon, high-density
polyethylene, and composites.
17. An amusement ride comprising: upper and lower earth-mounted
cable support structures positioned such that said upper cable
support structure is at a higher terrain elevation than said lower
support structure; a static tensioned riding cable connected
between said upper and lower support structures; a rolling device
adapted for removable rolling engagement with said riding cable,
said rolling device being further adapted to support a harnessed
rider suspended therefrom, said rolling device comprising a brake
arm and a cable wheel assembly connected to said brake arm so as to
extend upwardly therefrom, said cable wheel assembly comprising a
cable wheel adapted for rolling engagement with said riding cable,
said rolling device further comprising a generally cylindrical
brake assembly mounted atop said brake arm proximate a rear end
thereof, said brake assembly having a central longitudinal axis
generally aligned with said cable wheel, said brake assembly
further comprising a generally cylindrical brake pad removably
positioned therein, said brake pad having a radial cable slot
longitudinally formed therein, said brake assembly having a
longitudinal aperture in a cylindrical wall thereof, said brake
assembly further comprising a brake pad stop at a rear opening
thereof for retaining said brake pad within said brake assembly
during operation of the amusement ride, said brake assembly further
comprising means for rotating said brake pad positioned therein
between an unlocked position in which said cable slot in said brake
pad is radially aligned with said aperture in said cylindrical wall
of said brake assembly to thereby permit entry of said riding cable
into said cable groove and a locked position in which said cable
slot faces upwardly within said brake assembly to thereby retain
said riding cable within said brake assembly.
18. An amusement ride as in claim 17, wherein said means for
rotating said brake pad comprises a brake pad locking pin inserted
into said brake pad and extending outwardly through a brake pad
locking guide formed in said cylindrical wall of said brake
assembly, said brake pad locking pin being movable within said
brake pad locking guide between points therein that define said
locked and unlocked positions.
19. An amusement ride as in claim 18, further comprising one or
more brake pad plunger pins removably insertable through an opening
in said cylindrical wall of said brake assembly into an aligned
radial opening in said brake pad for maintaining said brake pad in
said locked position.
20. An amusement ride as in claim 17, wherein said cable wheel is
adapted for removable attachment to said cable wheel assembly to
facilitate the engagement and disengagement of said rolling device
with said riding cable.
21. An amusement ride as in claim 17, further comprising a terminal
brake assembly, coaxially positioned over said riding cable
proximate said lower support structure, said terminal brake
assembly comprising a dampening system comprising a longitudinal
alternating series of springs and weights attached to each other
and coaxially positioned over said riding cable at a terminal end
thereof proximate said lower support structure, said terminal brake
assembly being operative for safely decelerating a runaway rider
approaching the terminal end of said riding cable.
22. An amusement ride as in claim 21, wherein said terminal brake
assembly further comprises a terminal brake acceptor positioned at
a leading end of said dampening system and having a depending
inverted v-shaped guide member for receiving a leading end of said
brake arm of an approaching rolling device having a rider suspended
therefrom, said guide member being operative for forcing said
leading end of said brake arm downwardly to thereby increasingly
force said brake pad upwardly against said riding cable and thus
further slow said approaching rolling device.
23. An amusement ride as in claim 18, further comprising one or
more additional static tensioned riding and safety cables connected
between said upper and lower support structures and corresponding
additional ones of said rolling device to accommodate additional
riders.
Description
[0001] This is a continuation-in-part of application Ser. No.
10/385,903, which was filed on Mar. 10, 2003 and issued on Dec. 23,
2003 as U.S. Pat. No. 6,666,773.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] This invention relates, generally, to suspended cable
transport systems commonly known as zip lines and, more
particularly, to trolleys for downhill zip line systems which are
securely attached to the suspended cable and are designed to
control maximum descent speed within a safe range.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Transport systems involving a trolley slidable along a
suspended length of cable have been known in the art for many
years. Commonly known as zip lines, such systems are extensively
used for rescue work on ski lift equipment. They are also available
as backyard toys for children and adults. Spring Swings, Inc. of
Riviera Beach, Fla. manufactures a Fun Ride Deluxe Zip Line kit
which can be installed between two trees or other suitable cable
supports. The kit includes enough stranded steel aircraft cable for
a ride of about 21 meters (70 feet) in length, cable tensioning
devices, and a "super tough" double-pulley plastic trolley which
travels bidirectionally on the suspended cable. The kit retails for
less than $100.
[0004] Within the past decade, zip lines have become part of the
"extreme sports" scene. One particular zip line installed on a hill
in the Costa Rican jungle has been given rave reviews. The Costa
Rican system is really quite primitive, having a trolley with a
single deep-groove nylon pulley riding on the suspended cable. In
order to slow his descent, a rider must twist the trolley, thereby
causing the flanges of the pulley to rub against the cable and
generate friction. Kinetic energy is, thus, dissipated as heat.
Riders who are particularly heavy may generate so much friction and
related heat that the trolley pulley may fail prematurely. Such a
system is potentially dangerous, as the riders, themselves, must
take responsibility for maintaining their descent speeds within a
safe range, in order to avoid smashing into the lower cable support
tower. In the absence of a legal system which demands that even the
most risk-inclined, incompetent and moronic individuals be
protected from themselves, such a zip line system might operate in
perpetuity. However, in a country such as the U.S., the slip and
fall plaintiffs' bar would kill it almost immediately.
[0005] Within the past year, a sophisticated, safe, and
thoroughly-engineered zip line thrill ride was installed on a steep
hill at Park City, Utah. The suspended cable is about 805 meters in
length (0.5 mile), and the vertical drop is approximately 183
meters (600 feet). Although maximum speeds in excess of 90 m.p.h.
are attainable on the system, the maximum speed experienced by
paying riders is automatically limited by the equipment to no more
than about 55 m.p.h. Certain components and features of this modern
zip line system are the subjects of this patent.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The zip line thrill ride system that is the focus of this
invention includes a cable suspended between a upper cable support
tower and platform which, together, function as the harnessing,
loading, and take-off point for the ride, and a lower cable support
tower and platform which, together, function as the landing,
unloading and unharnessing point of the ride. Multiple,
substantially identical trolleys are designed to quickly engage and
disengage the cable. A safety lock actuated by ride operator
personnel at the loading point prevents the trolley from being
removed from the cable until it is unlocked at the unloading point
by ride operator personnel at the landing point. The trolley, the
structural components of which are fabricated almost entirely from
stainless steel, includes a frame of generally I-beam cross section
fabricated from metal plate stock. A generally tubular brake
retainer, having a longitudinal slit therein, is welded to an upper
rear portion of the frame. A grooved, generally cylindrical brake
fabricated from a durable polymeric material, such as Teflon.RTM.,
nylon, or high-density polyethylene, high density polyethylene
(HDPE) brake, is rotatably affixed within the tubular brake
retainer. When the trolley is affixed to the suspended cable, the
grooved insert rides against the suspended cable and functions as a
brake. A clevis/handle assembly is bolted to a central portion of
the frame. A pulley is rotatably mounted within the clevis. The
clevis bracket of the clevis/handle assembly is positioned so that
a lower portion of the pulley is exposed.
[0007] In order to attach the trolley to the suspended cable, the
brake is rotated so that its groove coincides with the slit of the
tubular brake retainer. The trolley is then positioned below and
oblique or perpendicular to the suspended cable. The trolley is
then elevated so that the cable enters the gap between the brake
retainer and the clevis/handle assembly. Once the cable is
positioned below the level of the pulley flanges, the trolley is
rotated so that the cable enters the slit of the brake retainer and
the groove of the brake and the pulley is positioned over the
cable. The trolley is then lowered to seat the pulley on the cable.
The brake is then rotated so that the groove therein faces upward,
thereby locking the suspended cable within the tubular brake
retainer.
[0008] The frame also includes a longitudinal slot forward of the
clevis/handle assembly mounting point that is generally parallel to
the axis of the tubular brake retainer. The frame also includes a
linear array of evenly-spaced apertures that is beneath and
parallel to the longitudinal slot. A lever arm adjustment bracket
is attached to the frame with a retainer pin that passes through
both arms of the U-shaped suspension bracket, allowing the lever
arm adjustment bracket to be moved back and forth within the
longitudinal slot. The suspension bracket has a pair of locking
apertures, which are alignable with any of the apertures in the
linear array. The lever arm adjustment bracket may be locked in
place by inserting a locking pin through the pair of locking
apertures and through one of the apertures in the linear array. The
farther forward the lever arm adjustment bracket is located, the
greater the pressure applied by the brake to the suspension cable.
The position of the lever arm adjustment bracket is selected in
accordance with the weight of the rider and the maximum desired
speed of the ride. Thus, for any rider, the closer the lever arm
adjustment bracket is to the handle/clevis assembly, the greater
the maximum speed. Conversely, the farther the lever arm adjustment
bracket is from the handle/clevis assembly, the slower the maximum
speed.
[0009] The nose of the frame is downwardly slanted and has mounted
thereon a bumper made of a durable polymeric material such as
Teflon.RTM., nylon, or high-density polyethylene. At the end of the
ride, the nose engages a V-shaped trap that is slidable on the
suspended cable against one or more unloaded coil springs that are
concentrically installed on weighted bushings on the suspended
cable. As the nose of the frame engages the V-shaped trap, it is
pushed down, thereby increasing the pressure between the brake and
the suspended cable and, at the same time, accelerating the
weighted bushings and compressing the coil springs. These features
ensure that even if the pressure of the brake against the suspended
cable is not properly adjusted before the ride begins, the rider
will stop safely before reaching the end of the suspended
cable.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0010] FIG. 1 is a side elevational view of the new zip line system
of FIG. 1;
[0011] FIG. 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the upper
cable support tower that is shown in region 2 of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is an enlarged side elevational view of the lower
cable support tower that is shown in region 3 of FIG. 1;
[0013] FIG. 4 is an enlarged side elevational view of the rider
shown in region 4 of FIG. 1, the rider being coupled to the
suspended cable via a trolley;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of the upper cable support tower
of FIG. 2;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a top plan view of the lower cable support tower
of FIG. 3;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a right-side elevational view of a trolley
fabricated in accordance witht the present invention;
[0017] FIG. 8 is a left-side elevational view of the trolley of
FIG. 7;
[0018] FIG. 9 is a rear elevational view of the trolley of FIG.
7;
[0019] FIG. 10 is a front elevational view of the trolley of FIG.
7;
[0020] FIG. 11 is a side elevational view of a trolley, trap and
coil spring assemblies installed on the suspended cable near the
lower end thereof;
[0021] FIG. 12 is a bottom planar view of the trap;
[0022] FIG. 13 is a first alternative embodiment trolley having the
brake assembly in front of the pulley:
[0023] FIG. 14 is a second alternative embodiment trolley having a
brake assembly of square cross section; and
[0024] FIG. 15 is the second alternative embodiment trolley with
the brake assembly open.
PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION
[0025] The zip line thrill ride system will now be described with
reference to the accompanying drawing figures. It is to be
understood that the drawing figures are meant to be only
illustrative, that they are not necessarily drawn to scale, and
that some details, which would be obvious to those of ordinary
skill in the art, may have been omitted in the interest of
simplification and brevity.
[0026] Referring now to FIG. 1, a new zip line thrill ride system
100 has been built on a steep hill at Park City, Utah. This drawing
figure shows the approximate topography of the terrain 101 on which
the ride is built. The zip line thrill ride system includes an
upper cable support tower 102, a lower cable support tower 103, at
least one cable 104 that is suspended between the upper cable
support tower 102 and the lower cable support tower 103, and a
plurality of trolleys 105 which may be reversably coupled to the
cable 104. Each of the suspended cables 104 of the Park City, Utah
zip ride is about 805 meters in length (0.5 mile), and the vertical
drop is approximately 183 meters (600 feet). Although maximum
speeds in excess of 90 m.p.h. are attainable on the system, the
maximum speed experienced by paying riders is automatically limited
by the equipment to no more than about 70 m.p.h. Certain components
and features of the zip line thrill ride system 100 are the
subjects of this patent.
[0027] Referring now to FIG. 2, the upper cable support tower 102
is erected on concrete piers 201 which are embedded in the hillside
202. The upper cable support tower 102 incorporates upper and lower
cable anchor spools 203U and 203L, around which the upper end of
cable 104 is wrapped and secured. The cable support tower 102 also
incorporates a launching platform 204, from which riders 205 are
launched on the ride. A high-elevation access ramp 206 is connected
to the launching platform 204, and permits both ride operators 207
and riders 205 to easily ascend to and descend from the launching
platform 204. It will be noted that a lightning rod 208 couples the
upper cable support tower 102 to the ground, and protects the ride
operators 207 and riders 205 from lightning which may strike either
the upper cable support tower 102, the lower cable support tower
103, or the cable 104.
[0028] Referring now to FIG. 3, the lower cable support tower 103
is erected on concrete piers 301 which are embedded in the ground
302. The lower cable support tower 103 incorporates single cable
anchor spools 303, around which the lower end of cable 104 is
wrapped and secured. The lower cable support tower 103 also
incorporates a unloading platform 304, on which riders 205 are
deposited at the end of the ride. A low-elevation access ramp (see
FIG. 5) is connected to the unloading platform 304, and permits
both ride operators 207 and riders 205 to easily ascend to and
descend from the unloading platform 304. As with the upper cable
support tower 102, a lightning rod 208 provides a solid ground
connection as a protection against lightning strikes.
[0029] Referring now to FIG. 4, a rider 205 is suspended by support
cables 401 from a trolley 105. A rear harness (not shown) supports
the rider's buttocks, while a forward harness (also not shown)
supports the rider's legs near the knee joint.
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6, it will be noted that both
the upper cable support tower 102 and the lower cable support tower
103 are equipped to support four suspended cables 104, thereby
permitting four riders to careen simultaneously down the hillside
202.
[0031] Referring now specifically to FIG. 5, the high-elevation
access ramp 206 is clearly visible in this drawing figure, as are
the four piers 201 which support the upper cable support tower
102.
[0032] Referring now specifically to FIG. 6, the low-elevation
access ramp 601, which is coupled to the side of the unloading
platform 304 of the lower cable support tower 103, is clearly
visible in this view.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 7 through 10, the trolley 105 is
designed to quickly engage and disengage the cable 104. Structural
components of the trolley 105, which are fabricated almost entirely
from stainless steel, includes a frame 701 of generally I-beam
cross section fabricated from metal plate stock. A brake assembly
702 includes a generally tubular brake retainer 703, having a
longitudinal slit 704 therein, that is welded to an upper rear
portion 705 of the frame 701. The brake assembly 702 also includes
a generally cylindrical brake 706, fabricated from a durable
polymeric material, such as Teflon.RTM., nylon, or high-density
polyethylene (HDPE), and having a longitudinal groove 707. The
cylindrical brake 706 is rotatably affixed within the tubular brake
retainer 703 by means of a retainer bolt 708. The retainer bolt 708
slides within a arcuate slit 709, which permits the cylindrical
brake 706 to be rotated through an arc of within a range of 90 to
120 degrees. The preferred angle is presently deemed to be about
105 degrees. When the trolley 105 is affixed to the suspended cable
104, the bottom of longitudinal groove 707 rides against the lower
surface of the suspended cable 104 and generates friction, which
maintains ride speeds within safe limits. A clevis/handle assembly
710 is bolted to a central portion 711 of the frame 701. A pulley
712 is rotatably mounted within the clevis/handle assembly 710. A
clevis bracket 713 of the clevis/handle assembly 710 is positioned
so that a lower portion 714 of the pulley 712 is exposed.
[0034] In order to attach the trolley 105 to the suspended cable
104, the brake 706 is rotated so that its longitudinal groove 707
coincides with the longitudinal slit 704 of the tubular brake
retainer 703. The trolley 105 is then positioned below and oblique
or perpendicular to the suspended cable 104. The trolley 105 is
then elevated so that the suspended cable 104 enters a gap 715
between the tubular brake retainer 703 and the clevis/handle
assembly 710. Once the suspended cable 104 is positioned below the
pulley 712, the trolley 105 is rotated in a horizontal plane so
that the cable 104 enters the longitudinal slit 704 of the tubular
brake retainer 703 and the longitudinal groove 707 of the brake 706
and the pulley 712 is positioned over the suspended cable 104. The
trolley 105 is then lowered to seat the pulley 712 on the cable
104. The brake 706 is then rotated so that its longitudinal groove
707 faces upward, thereby locking the suspended cable 104 within
the tubular brake retainer 703.
[0035] The frame 701 also includes a longitudinal slot 716, forward
of the clevis/handle assembly 710, that is generally parallel to
the axis 717 of the tubular brake retainer 703. The frame 701 also
includes a linear array of evenly-spaced apertures 718 that is
beneath and parallel to the longitudinal slot 716. A lever arm
adjustment bracket 719 is permanently attached to the frame 701
with a retainer pin 720 that passes from one side. of the lever arm
adjustment bracket 719 to the other, and through the longitudinal
slot 716, thereby allowing the lever arm adjustment bracket 719 to
be adjustably moved back and forth within the longitudinal slot
716. The lever arm adjustment bracket 719 also. has a pair of
locking apertures 721 below the retainer pin 720, which are
alignable with any of the evenly-spaced apertures 718 of the linear
array. The lever arm adjustment bracket 719 may be locked in place
by inserting a removable locking pin 722 through the pair of
locking apertures 721 and through one of the evenly-spaced
apertures 718 in the linear array. For a given rider load on the
lever arm adjustment bracket 719, the farther forward the lever arm
adjustment bracket 719 is located, the greater the pressure applied
by the brake 706 to the suspended cable 104. The position of the
lever arm adjustment bracket 719 is selected in accordance with the
weight of the rider and the maximum desired speed of the ride.
Thus, for any rider, the closer the lever arm adjustment bracket is
to the handle/clevis assembly 710, the greater the maximum speed
attained by a rider 205. Conversely, the farther the lever arm
adjustment bracket 719 is from the handle/clevis assembly 710, the
slower the maximum speed. A rider suspension bracket 723 is coupled
to the lever arm adjustment bracket 719. The frame 701 has a
downwardly slanted nose 724 on which is mounted a bumper 725 made
of a durable polymeric material such as Teflon.RTM., nylon, or
high-density polyethylene (HDPE).
[0036] Referring now to FIG. 11, at the end of the thrill ride, the
nose 724 of the frame 701 engages a V-shaped trap 1101 that is
slidably mounted on the suspended cable 104. The interior surface
1102 of the trap 1101 is downwardly sloped to a stop 1103 that
limits maximum downward travel of the nose 724. As the nose 724
engages the V-shaped trap 1101, the bumper 725 is pushed down by
the interior surface 1102, thereby increasing the pressure between
the brake 706 and the suspended cable 104. The trap 1101 is driven
into one or more unloaded coil springs 1104 that are concentrically
installed on weighted bushings 1105 on the suspended cable 104,
simultaneously accelerating the weighted bushings 1105 and
compressing the coil springs 1104. These features ensure that even
if the pressure of the brake 706 against the suspended cable 104 is
not properly adjusted before the ride begins, the rider 205 will
stop safely before reaching the end of the suspended cable 104.
[0037] Referring now to FIG. 12, it will be noted that the opening
1201 seen by the nose 724 of the frame 701 is V-shaped so that the
nose 724, when it reaches the interior surface 1102 of the trap
1101, is centered below the suspended cable 104.
[0038] Referring now to FIG. 13, a first alternative embodiment
trolley 1300 has the brake assembly 702 in front of the pulley 712,
rather than behind it. Instead of riding on the bottom of the brake
groove 707, it rides on the top of the groove 707, which has been
axially rotated 180 degrees. The trolley frame 1301 has been
modified to implement the repositioning of the brake assembly. All
other features are essentially identical to those of trolley
105.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 14, a second alternative embodiment
trolley 1400 features a brake assembly of generally square cross
section. The brake assembly includes a brake retainer having a
lower portion 1401 L secured to the frame 701 and an upper portion
1401 U that is coupled to the lower portion 1401 L via a hinge
1404. A brake has upper and lower portions 1402U and 1402L,
respectively. The brake retainer may be secured around the cable
104 by placing a locking pin (not shown) through the aligned holes
of lower tab 1405L and upper tab 1405U.
[0040] Referring now to FIG. 15, the upper brake retainer portion
1401U has been rotated upwardly in order to either insert or remove
the cable from the groove 1403.
[0041] Although only several embodiments of the improved downhill
zip line thrill ride system have been heretofore described, it will
be obvious to those having ordinary skill in the art that changes
and modifications may be made thereto without departing from the
scope and the spirit of the invention as hereinafter claimed.
* * * * *