US 8,424,460 B2Granted

Trolley for downhill zip line thrill ride

OwnerShawn Geoffrey Lerner, Michael Troy Richardsoninventors

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Abstract

A zip line trolley includes a frame assembled from a pair of spaced-apart parallel side plates and an inner beam, which is partially sandwiched between the side plates. The inner beam has a gallery of block-T-shaped cross section which extends its length. A shackle, from which a rider is suspended, can be pinned anywhere within the gallery. A main pulley, which is installed in an upper middle portion of the frame, rotates on a pair of sealed ball bearing races that are pressed on a hollow keyed shaft which slides into opposed grooves machined into each of the side plates. The keyed shaft is bolted between the side plates with a shoulder bolt passing transversely through both side plates. A water-wiping brake pad is pivotally mounted within the frame in front of the main pulley. A bumper is bolted between front portions of the side plates.

Claims20

Dependent claims

A zip line trolley comprising:

right and left parallel, spaced-apart, vertically-oriented side plates;
an inner beam at least partially sandwiched between lower portions of said side plates, said inner beam and said side plates being bolted together with bolts passing transversely through said side plates, said inner beam having a gallery of generally T-shaped cross section open at the bottom thereof that extends from about a longitudinal mid position of the trolley to about a rear end thereof;
a main pulley rotatably secured between said side plates at about the longitudinal mid position of the trolley, said main pulley sized to fit over a suspended zip line cable so that said main pulley supports the trolley and a rider;
a brake pad pivotally secured by a bolt and a nut between the side plates forward of said main pulley, said bolt passing through one side plate, through said brake pad, and through the other side plate, and into said nut, said brake pad having a generally upward-facing cable contact surface;
a bumper partially sandwiched between front portions of said side plates and bolted therebetween, said bumper functioning as a rigidifying spacer between said side plates, said bumper serving to protect said side plates from mechanical damage, and said bumper having an upwardly-angled lower-front face;
and
a shackle for supporting a suspended rider slidably installed within said gallery, said shackle being securable within said gallery at different locations therein to variably adjust a force of the brake pad against an under side of a cable on which the trolley is suspended.

4 more elements

A trolley for use on an inclined cable suspended between two immovable objects, the trolley comprising:

a frame having an inner beam at least partially sandwiched and bolted between right and left side plates, said inner beam having an internal gallery that extends from about a longitudinal midpoint of the trolley to the rear thereof, said gallery having an open bottom slot along its entire length;
a main pulley rotatably secured between said side plates at about the longitudinal mid position of the trolley, said main pulley sized to fit over the inclined cable so that said main pulley supports the trolley and a rider;
a brake pad pivotally secured by a bolt and a nut between the side plates forward of said main pulley, said bolt passing through one side plate, through said brake pad, and through the other side plate, and into said nut, said brake pad having a generally upward-facing cable contact surface;
and
a shackle caged within the gallery, yet slidable an entire length thereof, said shackle protruding through the slot and providing a suspension point for a rider and being securable at different locations within the gallery to a force of the brake pad applied against a lower surface of the inclined cable.

2 more elements

A trolley for use on an inclined cable suspended between two immovable objects, the trolley comprising:

a frame;
a main pulley rotatably mounted within a central upper portion of said frame, said main pulley intended to ride on top of the inclined cable;
a brake pad pivotally mounted within a forward portion of said frame, said brake pad having a generally upward-facing cable contact surface;
a longitudinal gallery located within a lower rear portion of said frame, said having an open bottom slot along a major portion of its length;
a shackle caged within the gallery, yet slidable an entire length thereof, said shackle protruding through the bottom slot and providing a suspension point for a rider and being securable at different locations within the gallery to a force of the brake pad applied against a lower surface of the inclined cable.

2 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/980,315Filed 28 Dec 2010
Published: US 2012/0160122 A128 Jun 2012
Granted: 23 Apr 2013
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification8 codes

A63G 21/20
Chutes; Helter-skelters: slideways with movably suspended cars, or with cars moving on ropes, or the like
B60T 11/046
Transmitting mechanically: using cables
B61B 7/00
Rope railway systems with suspended flexible tracks
B61H 9/02
Brakes characterised by, or modified for, their application to special railway systems or purposes: for aerial, e.g. rope, railways