Cable bicycle
AssigneeThomas Pump & Machinery, Inc.
InventorJames W. THOMAS
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides for a more environmentally friendly method to move products and at the same time replace manual labor where it is used. The Cableway Eco-Bike may be a single or two-person pedal powered bicycle that rides on a cableway to pull agricultural products. A preferred embodiment has an option of an electric motor that provides power assist that operates on DC power from a battery that operates a DC motor. The electric motor operates on a battery that has a charging system to recharge at the end of the life cycle. The battery can preferably be charged with a convention (115) or (240) Volt battery charger or a solar powered charger. Also disclosed is a cable bicycle for use in moving people along a cable transport system.
Claims29
The method of transporting produce, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an elevated cable way that is supported at first and second portions with first and second spaced apart supports;
- b) placing the produce on a rack that is suspended from the cable, the rack having an upper end portion with a hanger with one or more rollers that engage the cable way and a lower end portion that is spaced below the cable way;
- c) supporting a carriage on the cable, the carriage having an upper end portion that engages the cable with one or more drive rollers and a lower end portion having a seat, a pedal drive, and linkage that connects the pedal drive to the drive roller or rollers;
- d) a worker attaching multiple of said racks on the cable at a first, loading station;
- e) the carriage transporting a selected rack to a second, unloading station that is spaced away from the first loading station;
- and
- wherein in step “e” the carriage is connected to a selected one of the racks.
The method of transporting produce, comprising the steps of:
- a) providing an elevated cable way that is supported at first and second end portions with anchor posts and at intervals between said anchor posts with one or more arches;
- b) placing the produce on a rack that is suspended from the cable, the rack having an upper end portion with a hanger with one or more rollers that engage the cable way and a lower end portion that is spaced below the cable way;
- c) supporting a carriage on the cable, the carriage having an upper end portion that engages the cable with one or more drive rollers and a lower end portion having a seat, a pedal drive, and linkage that connects the pedal drive to the drive roller or rollers;
- d) a worker attaching multiple of said racks on the cable at a first, loading station;
- e) the carriage transporting a selected rack to a second, unloading station that is spaced away from the first loading station;
- and
- wherein in step “e” the carriage is connected to a selected one of the racks.
A cable and arch supported produce transport apparatus, comprising;
- a) a cable way having end portions connected to first and second anchor posts, said cable way positioned above an underlying support surface;
- b) one or more arches that rest upon the underlying support surface and that attach to the cable, each arch having an interior passage space;
- c) a carriage mounted on the cable way with one or more rollers, said carriage having a pedal operated drive that moves the carriage responsive to a user pedaling the pedals;
- d) the carriage including a seat for supporting the user above the underlying support surface;
- e) multiple racks that are configured to hold produce to be transported along the cable way;
- and
- f) a connector that enables connection of the carriage to the rack;
- g) the cable way being supported a small enough distance from the underlying support surface that workers standing on the underlying support surface can place produce on the rack and access the carriage seat.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.