Continuous assist zipline braking and control system

A zipline brake apparatus for braking a zipline rider traversing a main cable that extends between a launch platform from which the zipline rider departs and a landing platform on which the zipline rider lands, the zipline rider suspended beneath a rider block moveably mountable to the main cable, the zipline brake 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 and the first location higher than the second location;
• a brake coupled to the second reel by a brake coupling and operable to decelerate and arrest rotation of the second reel;
• a tether couplable between the zipline rider and the brake line;
• wherein the brake coupling frictionally engages the second reel, frictional engagement between the brake coupling and the second reel decelerating rotation of the second reel;
• wherein the brake line comprises an endless loop rotatably supported by the first and second reels;
• 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;
• wherein the apparatus further comprises:
• a first guide mounted near the second reel, the first guide located and shaped for guiding the brake line into the second circumferential groove of the second reel;
• a second guide mounted near the first reel, the second guide located and shaped for guiding the brake line into the first circumferential groove of the first reel;
• and
• 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.

A zipline brake apparatus for braking a zipline rider traversing a main cable that extends between a launch platform from which the zipline rider departs and a landing platform on which the zipline rider lands, the zipline rider suspended beneath a rider block moveably mountable to the main cable, the zipline brake 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, the first reel higher than the second reel;
• a brake coupled to the first reel by a brake coupling;
• and
• a tether couplable between the zipline rider and the brake line;
• wherein the brake coupling frictionally engages the first reel, frictional engagement between the brake coupling and the first reel decelerating motion of the brake line.