# US 2014/0196990 A1 · Continuous assist zipline braking and control system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 2014/0196990 A1 - Document ID: US20140196990A1 - Status: Published application - Kind: A1 - Application number: 14/216,454 - Filed: 2014-03-17 - Published: 2014-07-17 - Earliest claimed: 2010-06-25 - Assignees: Ziptrek Ecotours, Inc. - Applicants: Ziptrek Ecotours Inc. - Inventors: Charles Z. STEELE; David E. UDOW; Robert L. STEELE - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20140196990A1 ## CPC - B61H 9/02: for aerial, e.g. rope, railways - A63G 21/22: Suspended slideways - B61B 12/105: {Acceleration devices or deceleration devices other than braking devices} - B61H: BRAKES OR OTHER RETARDING DEVICES SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR RAIL VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR DISPOSITION THEREOF IN RAIL VEHICLES (arrangements in rail vehicles for adjusting wheel-braking force to meet varying vehicular or permanent-way conditions B60T8/00; transmitting braking action from initiating means to ultimate brake actuator with power assistance or drive, brake systems incorporating such transmitting means, e.g. air-pressure brake systems, B60T13/00; construction, arrangement or operation of valves incorporated in power brake systems B60T15/00; component parts, details or accessories of brake systems B60T17/00) - A63G: MERRY-GO-ROUNDS; SWINGS; ROCKING-HORSES; CHUTES; SWITCHBACKS; SIMILAR DEVICES FOR PUBLIC AMUSEMENT - B61B: RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR (lifts or hoists, elevators, escalators, moving walkways B66B) ## Abstract 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). ## Claims ### Claim 1 Apparatus for braking a zipline rider traversing a main cable that extends between a launch platform and a landing platform, the zipline rider suspended beneath a rider block moveably mountable to the main cable, the apparatus comprising: a brake line extending generally parallel to a substantial portion of the main cable, the brake line entrained around first and second reels respectively rotatably mounted near opposed ends of the main cable, the first reel rotatably mounted at a first location more proximate to the launch platform than to the landing platform and the second reel rotatably mounted at a second location more proximate to the landing platform than to the launch platform; a brake coupled to at least one of the reels and operable to slow and arrest rotation of the at least one of the reels; and a tether couplable between the zipline rider and the brake line. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) Apparatus as defined in claim 1, the brake line comprising an endless loop rotatably supported by the first and second reels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein the endless loop: is oriented in a generally vertical plane; and comprises upper and lower portions movable in opposed directions in the generally vertical plane, the upper and lower portions extending between the first and second reels which are horizontally spaced apart from one another. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) Apparatus as defined in claim 3, wherein the brake line is above the main cable, and the tether is couplable to the lower portion of the brake line. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) Apparatus as defined in claim 2, wherein the brake is coupled to the second reel. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the brake comprises a pair of brake calipers. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) Apparatus as defined in claim 6, wherein the brake calipers are hydraulically actuated. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the brake is controllable by an operator from a location remote from the brake. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) Apparatus as defined in claim 5, wherein the first reel comprises a first circumferential groove for receiving the brake line and the second reel comprises a second circumferential groove for receiving the brake line. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) Apparatus as defined in claim 9 wherein: the first reel is rotatably supported near an upper end of the main cable; and the second reel is rotatably supported near the lower end of the main cable; the apparatus further comprising a first guide mounted near the second reel, the first guide for guiding the brake line into the second circumferential groove of the second reel. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) Apparatus as defined in claim 10, further comprising a second guide mounted near the first reel, the second guide for guiding the brake line into the first circumferential groove of the first reel. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) Apparatus as defined in claim 11, wherein: the first guide comprises a first vertical guide roller and a first horizontal guide roller; and the second guide comprises a second vertical guide roller and a second horizontal guide roller. ### Claim 13 (depends on 5) Apparatus as defined in claim 5, further comprising a third reel rotatably supported near the second reel for entrainment of an intermediate portion of the brake line around the second and third reels. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) Apparatus as defined in claim 13, wherein the first reel comprises a first circumferential groove for receiving the brake line, the second reel comprises a second circumferential groove for receiving the brake line and the third reel comprises a third circumferential groove for receiving the brake line. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the tether comprises one or more components which couple the brake line to the rider block. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the one or more components comprise a carabiner. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) Apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the tether comprises one or more components which couple the brake line to a harness that may be worn by a zipline rider. ### Claim 18 (depends on 15) Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the one or more components comprise a loop fixed to the brake line and one or more links which project through the loop to couple the loop to the rider block. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the tether is couplable to the brake line at one of a plurality of points along the brake line. ### Claim 20 (depends on 15) Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the one or more components comprise a plurality of loops fixed to the brake line at spaced intervals and one or more links projectable through any one of the loops to thereby couple the loop to the rider block. ### Claim 21 (depends on 15) Apparatus as defined in claim 15, wherein the one or more components comprise a rope grab releasably fastenable to the brake line. ### Claim 22 (depends on 2) Apparatus as defined in claim 2, the apparatus further comprising a motor drivingly coupled to at least one of the reels for driving the at least one of the reels to reposition the brake line. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) Apparatus as defined in claim 22 further comprising: a battery electrically connected to the motor, the motor comprising a generator coupled to at least one of the reels for converting kinetic energy of the at least one of the reels to electrical energy for storage in the battery. ### Claim 24 Apparatus for braking a zipline rider traversing a main cable that extends between a launch platform and a landing platform, the zipline rider suspended beneath a rider block moveably mountable to the main cable, the apparatus comprising: a brake line extending generally parallel to a substantial portion of the main cable and having one end fixed to a first reel rotatably mounted near an upper end of the main cable at a first location more proximate to the launch platform than to the landing platform and an opposed end fixed to a second reel rotatably mounted near a lower end of the main cable at a second location more proximate to the landing platform than to the launch platform; a brake coupled to the first reel; and a tether couplable between the zipline rider and the brake line.