Conveying system with tensioning and docking assembly and method

A shuttle personnel conveying system comprising:

• a loop-type haul rope mounted to a plurality of sheaves for movement along a path;
• a first terminal positioned proximate one end of said path and having a first docking surface extending transversely of said path;
• a second terminal positioned proximate an opposite end of said path and having a second docking surface extending transversely of said path;
• a passenger carrier unit coupled to said haul rope for advancement between said first terminal and said second terminal;
• a drive assembly coupled to said haul rope and formed for advancement of said haul rope in one direction until said passenger carrier unit engages said first docking surface and for advancement of said haul rope in an opposite direction until said passenger carrier unit engages said second docking surface, said drive assembly being formed to advance said haul rope beyond the position at which said passenger carrier unit engages said first docking surface and beyond the position at which said passenger carrier unit engages said second docking surface;
• and
• a fluid piston-cylinder rope coupling assembly having at least one of a movable piston and a movable cylinder with one of said piston and said cylinder being coupled to said haul rope and the other of said piston and said cylinder being coupled to said passenger carrier unit, said fluid piston cylinder rope coupling assembly being formed for advancement of said haul rope relative to said passenger carrier unit while said passenger carrier unit is engaged with said first docking surface and with said second docking surface.

A method of precisely docking a load carrier unit at a terminal comprising the steps of:

• coupling said load carrier unit to a haul rope by a rope coupling assembly provided by a piston-cylinder assembly by coupling a movable one of a piston and a cylinder to said haul rope and coupling a stationary one of said piston and said cylinder to said load carrier unit;
• advancing said haul rope coupled to said load carrier unit by said rope coupling assembly until said load carrier unit is proximate a docking surface at said terminal;
• and
• thereafter continuing to advance said haul rope over a distance sufficient to ensure both engagement of said load carrying unit until said movable one of said piston and said cylinder is displaced relative to said stationary one of said piston and said cylinder with said docking surface and displacement of said haul rope relative to said load carrying unit while said load carrying unit is engaged with said docking surface and while maintaining said haul rope under tension.

A transportation system comprising:

• a haul rope mounted for advancement on a plurality of support sheaves;
• a load carrier unit mounted to said haul rope for advancement thereby;
• and
• a haul rope tensioning assembly carried by said load carrier unit and formed to create and maintain tension forces in said haul rope sufficient to advance said load carrier unit, said rope tensioning assembly being a piston-cylinder assembly coupled to a fluid circuit connected to pressurize a cylinder and displace a piston to effect tensioning of said haul rope.