US 6,606,954 B1 · Elevated cableway system

Abstract

An improved cableway system for providing a track over which a vehicle traverses is disclosed. The improved system includes a catenary cable system and a pair of track cable systems. The track cable systems are hung from the catenary cable system and support tracks over which a vehicle traverses. A plurality of hangers is employed to suspend the track cable systems from the catenary cable system. A plurality of pylons support the catenary and track cable systems. A pylon includes a base pylon, a lower saddle, and an upper saddle. The lower saddle is pivotally mounted to the base pylon and supports the track cable systems. Preferred embodiments of the lower saddle include apparatuses that dampen the application of loads to the pylon by the vehicle traversing the system. The upper saddle is supported by the base pylon and supports the catenary cable system while providing for deflection of the catenary cable system in response to forces applied to the cableway system. A preferred embodiment of the cableway system includes a force equalizing assembly for joining the catenary cable system to the track cable system at points between support pylons to equalize the tension in the cables among the various cables.

Claims18

Dependent claims

A force equalizing assembly for joining a catenary cable system to a pair of track cable systems at points between support pylons in an elevated cableway system to equalize the tension between the catenary cable system and the track cable systems, comprising a system of cable encasing members for engaging cables of the catenary cable system and the track cable systems about their respective circumferences and for distributing the forces applied by the catenary cable system and the track cable systems among the catenary cable system cables and the track cable system cables;

wherein said system of cable encasing members includes
a base frame having a longitudinal axis and ends with at least one cable connection for connecting a catenary cable to each end of the base frame such that the catenary cable is connected in parallel relation and essentially symmetrical relation with the longitudinal axis of the base frame, and
a plurality of askew cable connections attached to the base frame and for connecting the track system cables to the base frame such that the track system cables are connected at angles acute to the longitudinal axis of the frame.

a system of cable encasing members for engaging cables of the catenary cable system and the track cable systems about their respective circumferences and for distributing the forces applied by the catenary cable system and the track cable systems among the catenary cable system cables and the track cable system cables;
wherein said system of cable encasing members includes a frame, and
cable connections attached to the frame, at least some of said cable connections having longitudinal axes forming angles acute to the longitudinal axis of the frame and at least some other of said cable connections having longitudinal axes extending parallel with the longitudinal axis of the frame for therethrough distributing forces among the catenary cable system and the pair of track cable systems.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Elevated cableway system

Life of this patent

Elevated cableway system

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims18