Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B61B7/00—Rope railway systems with suspended flexible tracks
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B1/00—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like
  • A62B1/06—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like by making use of rope-lowering devices
  • A62B1/08—Devices for lowering persons from buildings or the like by making use of rope-lowering devices with brake mechanisms for the winches or pulleys
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B35/00—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion
  • A62B35/0043—Lifelines, lanyards, and anchors therefore
  • A62B35/005—Vertical lifelines
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B35/00—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion
  • A62B35/0043—Lifelines, lanyards, and anchors therefore
  • A62B35/0056—Horizontal lifelines
• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A62—LIFE-SAVING; FIRE-FIGHTING
  • A62B—DEVICES, APPARATUS OR METHODS FOR LIFE-SAVING
  • A62B35/00—Safety belts or body harnesses; Similar equipment for limiting displacement of the human body, especially in case of sudden changes of motion
  • A62B35/0081—Equipment which can travel along the length of a lifeline, e.g. travelers
  • A62B35/0087—Arrangements for bypassing lifeline supports without lanyard disconnection

Definitions

• the present disclosure relates to the transport of human passengers in forests and other natural areas where environmental impact is counter indicated and a more particularly to a second-generation binary track safety traverse system.
• a first-generation binary track safety traverse system includes a wide selection of configurations for the designer without being limited necessarily by the environment as to where it is possible to install by increasing the range of angles of attack in the installation.
• such first-generation binary track safety traverse system includes a series of suspended platforms in trees, towers, and/or walls between which a rail is anchored at both ends and human passengers slide from a higher platform to a lower one while tethered to a pulley vehicle.
• Such first-generation binary track safety traverse system includes an ultra- strong polymer cable that is much stronger and quieter than steel cable, as well as being an insulator rather than a conductor of electricity.
• a single cable is strung around an anchor pulley to create an upper flexible rail and a lower flexible rail.
• the rails are self-equalizing, i.e., loads on both rails are continuously distributed equally between the two rails.
• the user vehicle unit is slidingly attached to both the upper rail and to the lower rail.
• a first tether is fixed to the upper rail and to a first base.
• a second tether is fixed to the lower rail and to the first base. Both tethers are located between the user vehicle unit and the anchor pulley.
• a vehicle (58) for supporting harnessed riders on a gravity binary track system and composed of a central element (79) carrying lower rollers (108, 1 10) to contact a lower line; an upper element (78) hinged to the central element and forming an upper cavity through which a rope can run, and carrying upper rollers (104, 106) located to contact an upper line, the upper cavity having a generally horizontal slot extending to the outside for passing through continuous belay anchoring assemblies (60, 62) (70,72) (130,132,134); and a lower element (80) hinged to the central element and forming a lower cavity through which a rope can run, the lower cavity having a generally horizontal slot extending to the outside for passing through continuous belay anchoring assemblies (60) (70,72) (130,132,134).
• Fig. 1 is an isometric view of both ends of the disclosed second-generation binary track safety traverse system
• Fig. 2 is an isometric view of the lower end of the second-generation binary track safety traverse system showing the safety brake system;
• Fig. 2A is a sectional view taken along line 2A-2A of Fig. 2;
• Fig. 3 is an isometric view of an intermediate support post showing the continuous belay system
• Fig 4 is sectional view taken along line 4-4 of Fig. 3;
• Fig 5 is a sectional view taken along line 5-5 of Fig. 4;
• Fig 5A is an exploded view of the locking system for the vehicle carriage
• Fig 6 is an end view of the vehicle carriage in an opened position
• Fig 7 is a sectional view taken along line 7-7 of Fig. 3
• Fig 8 is an isometric view of the vehicle carriage
• Fig 9 is a side view of the vehicle carriage
• Fig 10 is a top view of the vehicle carriage
• Fig 1 1 is a sectional view taken along line 1 1 -1 1 of Fig. 10 with the vehicle carriage with the dual hand brakes in a "ready to be engaged” position and cams released position to stop travel of the vehicle carriage rearward when the carriage is vertical;
• Fig. 12 is a sectional view taken along line 1 1 -1 1 of Fig. 10 with the vehicle carriage with the dual hand brakes released for movement of the vehicle carriage along the dual lines in any orientation with cams locked open;
• Fig. 13 is an isometric view of a vehicle carriage brake "rail-splitter” assembly in a closed condition
• Fig. 14 is an isometric view of a vehicle carriage brake "rail-splitter” assembly in an open condition splitting the dual lines for stopping a vehicle carriage.
• An upper launch station, 10 is where the rider gets on the zip line tour.
• Upper launch station 10, consists of a tower that includes an upstanding generally vertical pole, 12, and a lower platform assembly, 14, which includes a deck, 16, having a railing, 18, supported by a series of 6 vertical poles, typified by a pole, 20.
• Deck 16 is accessed via a stairway, 22.
• deck 16 Once the rider ascends stairway 22 to deck 16, an operator employee, can fit the rider into a harness assembly or the rider could have been fitted with the harness assembly prior to ascending stairway 22. It will be appreciated that a variety of methods for gaining access to lower platform assembly 14 can be envisioned for the tour operator to provide for use by the rider. For example, deck 16 could be accessed using a rock climbing wall or other means, as disclosed in PCT application CA2014/051 196. It further will be appreciated that the illustrated poles can be replaced with one or more of trees, cliffs, and sufficiently high ground for gravity to propel the rider down the course.
• the dual lines are attached at the upper end or beginning of the tour into a securing assembly, 24. It is at this point that the vehicle carriage assembly (described in detail below) is secured to the dual lines.
• a rope, 26, is attached to the harness worn by a rider, 28, at one end, around an upper pulley assembly, 30, and back down to a mechanical powered spinnaker assembly, 32, where a tour worker, 34, grasps the lower end of rope 26 for pulling rider 28 up to an upper platform, 34, from which the zip line commences.
• a hole has been cut in upper platform 34 through which rider 28 gains access to upper platform 34, although other configurations of upper platform 34 can be envisioned by an experienced course designer.
• Pulley assembly 32 desirably can rotate only in one direction so that a loss of grasp of rope 26 by tour worker 35 does not cause rider 28 to fall downwardly. Another safety feature is that the vehicle carriage used by rider 28 can only move in one direction (forward) along the dual lines of the course. The design and features of the vehicle carriage also will be detailed below.
• a second tour worker, 35 stands on upper platform 34 to assist rider 28, if needed, and to ensure safety of rider 28, as the first run of the tour commences. This also provides another opportunity for tour worker 35 to check that the harness is properly secured to rider 28.
• the dual line is connected to pole 12 by a continuous belay, so that the rider does not need to disengage the vehicle carriage in order to transition from a vertical ascent to a horizontally downward descent along the dual lines.
• a continuous belay attachment may be used at all intermediate positions of the zip line tour until its termination.
• an intermediate post, 36 carries about its upper end an intermediate platform, 38, atop which another tour worker, 40, is stationed for providing any needed assistance for rider 28.
• a continuous belay attachment system, 42 carries the dual lines and will be described in detail below.
• the tour terminates at a lower platform, 44, atop which a further tour worker,
• Braking system 48 is carried by a lower pole, 50, and will be described in detail below.
• a speed (velocity) sensor, 52 also is carried by lower pole 50 and senses the speed at which rider 28 is approaching the terminus of the tour. If the sensed speed or velocity is deemed unsafe (too fast), braking system 48 may be automatically engaged by being in continuous communication with sensor 52 or may be engaged manually by tour worker 46.
• the speed of rider 28 is slowed to a sufficiently slow rate so that rider 28 can safely stop and stand atop lower platform 44 whereat the vehicle carriage can be unlocked by tour worker 46, as described in further detail below, or passed off the end of the line after the splitter closes.
• FIG. 2A illustrates a zero relief connector, 53, whose placement is seen in Fig. 2 with the run being a synthetic cable, 55, uphill of zero relief connector 53 and a steel cable, 57, downhill thereof.
• wedges, 59 and 61 connect synthetic cable 55 with steel cable 57. Wedge 59 is swaged on steel cable 57, while wedge 61 tightens the wedge pair onto synthetic cable 55, optionally using an epoxy or other adhesive.
• the overall diameter of zero relief connector 53 is around 1 ⁇ 2 inch.
• the synthetic cable is made from an inner core and an outer sheath, that may be removed so that the core is inserted into the connector to maintain the overall diameter at connector 53 the same as the diameter of both the steel cable and synthetic cable.
• Continuous belay attachment system 42 consists of a leading or upper bracket assembly, 60, and a trailing or lower bracket assembly, 62.
• upper refers to a higher elevation
• lower refers to a lower elevation with the ride running by gravity from a higher or upper elevation to a lower elevation.
• leading bracket assembly 60 Fig. 4
• horizontal upper and lower arms, 64 and 66 each of which holds lines 54 and 56, respectively, by a tubular clip permit vehicle carriage 58 to continue to move down the dual lines and around intermediate pole 36.
• Trailing bracket assembly 62 carries a sprocket on its vertical arm, which carries a chain, 68, whose ends are capped by a pair of horizontally extending tubular clip assemblies, 70 and 72, that capture, respectively, dual lines 54 and 56.
• Upper clip assembly 70 is like the tubular clips carried by leading bracket assembly 60 in that the dual lines are free to move.
• Lower clip 72 has a pair of wedges, 74 and 76, pushed thereinto for tightly securing line 56.
• Self-equalization of line 56 is achieved by chain 68 and its ability to move about the sprocket carried by lower bracket assembly 62.
• a top element, 78, and lower element, 80 pivot open about a central element, 79, to open vehicle carriage 58 so that dual lines 54 and 56 can be secured.
• a semicircular cutout, 81 (Fig. 6), along the bottom surface of top element 78 along with a semicircular cutout, 83, along the top surface of central element 79 capture upper line 54 when top element 78 is closed.
• a semicircular cutout, 85, along the bottom surface of central element 79 along with a semicircular cutout, 87, along the top surface of lower element 80 capture lower line 56 when bottom element 80 is closed.
• the surfaces of these circular tubes for lines 54 and 56 may be polished, coated with a friction reducing material, and/or other treatment to reduce friction when vehicle carriage slides along the dual lines.
• FIG. 5 and 5A A locking mechanism for elements 78 and 80 with central element 79 is shown in Figs. 5 and 5A.
• An elongate hole formed through a downwardly extending front leg of element 78 and upwardly extending front leg of element 80 and into central element 79.
• Each hole carries a spring, 82, in element 78 and, 84, in element 80 that push against, respectively, pins, 86 and 88, that also are found in central element 79 and through each extending leg of element 78 and 80, respectively, to prevent rotation of elements 78 and 80.
• a key, 90 can be inserted into the two elongate holes to push pins 86 and 88 inwardly and away from the extending legs of each element 78 and 80, and permit rotation of element 78 by a piano-type hinge, 92, in element 80 by a piano-type hinge, 94, in element 80.
• An elongate slot, 89, in pin 86 and slot, 91 , in pin 88 have retaining pegs, 96 and 98, respectively, for in which the pins move and for retaining the pins.
• a dual braking system for the rider is provided by an upper brake lever, 100, and lower brake lever, 102, that rider 28 squeeze, respectively, against central element 79 to apply pressure to upper line 54 and lower line 56. Both levers can be easily grasped by one hand of the rider for slowing down and/or stopping the rider's descent. Rollers, 104 and 106, in upper element 78 engage upper line 54, while rollers, 108 and 110, in central element 79 engage lower line 56.
• Upper element 78 also carries a pair of eccentric pieces, 112 and 114, which are connected by a bar, 116.
• lower element 80 also carries a pair of eccentric pieces or cams, 116 and 118, which are connected by a bar, 120. While vehicle carriage 58 is in a horizontal orientation, as shown in Fig. 12, eccentric pieces, 116 and 118 ride along upper line 54. However, when carriage 58 is in a vertical orientation, as shown in Fig. 1 1 , eccentric pieces 116 and 118 connected by a bar, 120, rotate counter-clockwise to press against line 54 and prevent movement of vehicle carriage 58 in the reverse direction.
• eccentric pieces, 122 and 124, in lower element 80 and connected by a bar, 128, rotate clockwise to press against line 56 and prevent movement of vehicle carriage 58 in the reverse direction.
• Such mechanisms permit rider 28 to ascend as shown in Fig. 1 and not slide downwardly.
• Such mechanism also permit rider 28 to only descend along the extent of the tour.
• Braking system 48 is shown in a home or rest position in Fig. 13 and in an active position in Fig. 14.
• Braking system 48 can be actuated pneumatically, hydraulically, or electrically. Such actuating system can be housed within a container, 128 (see Fig. 1 ), located adjacent to lower platform 44.
• Braking system 48 has pair of elongate tubes, 130 and 132, for capturing upper line 54 and a single tube, 134, for capturing lower line 56.
• Tube 132 clamps down on line 54, while line 54 freely moves through tube 130.
• Tube 134 can clamp down on line 56.
• Tube 132 is attached to a movable carriage, 136.
• Materials of construction for vehicle carriage 58 desirably will be metal and stainless steel may find advantage for is resistance to corrosion. The same will be true for most other components, except for the rollers housed within vehicle carriage 58, which may be made from plastic to reduce resistance against the lines.
• the preferred rail composition will be the sheathed plastic rope disclosed in U.S. Patent No. 8,505,462; although, other composition rail materials could be used, as well as metal or any combination thereof. While the use of poles is shown, either end or any intermediate position of the system could be affixed to a tree, a cliff, or to other relatively stable and immovable locations.

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• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Business, Economics & Management (AREA)
• Emergency Management (AREA)
• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Refuge Islands, Traffic Blockers, Or Guard Fence (AREA)
• Emergency Lowering Means (AREA)
• Train Traffic Observation, Control, And Security (AREA)
• Control Of Vehicles With Linear Motors And Vehicles That Are Magnetically Levitated (AREA)

Priority Applications (1)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Publications (3)

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Family Applications (1)

Country Status (8)

Cited By (1)

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• 2016
  • 2016-06-17 EP EP16904855.0A patent/EP3472017B1/de active Active
  • 2016-06-17 SI SI201631533T patent/SI3472017T1/sl unknown
  • 2016-06-17 CN CN201680087664.3A patent/CN109476324A/zh active Pending
  • 2016-06-17 ES ES16904855T patent/ES2912180T3/es active Active
  • 2016-06-17 WO PCT/CA2016/050714 patent/WO2017214699A1/en not_active Ceased
  • 2016-06-17 MX MX2018015773A patent/MX2018015773A/es unknown
  • 2016-06-17 CA CA3027278A patent/CA3027278C/en active Active
  • 2016-06-17 PT PT169048550T patent/PT3472017T/pt unknown

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