A tower may support a horizontal track and a vertical climbing wall therebelow. A trolley, movable along the track, may be selectively driven toward and away from the tower by belay lines, line and capstan, positive drive, or some combination. Belay lines reeved over pulleys on the trolley may be taken up and paid out independently from the trolley, while fixed or moving. A rider may climb, be lifted, or both to near the intersection of the tower and track, from there to fall or jump into a controllable trajectory such as swinging or simulating a parachute landing. Swinging may be rapidly attenuated almost entirely by “bumps,” lifting a rider to remove momentum and kinetic energy as a rider moves toward a pivot point overhead. Control may be simplified based on sensing and using timing past bottom dead center (BDC).
A63B 21/00 - Appareils de gymnastique pour développer ou fortifier les muscles ou les articulations du corps en surmontant des résistances, avec ou sans dispositifs de mesure
A63B 69/00 - Appareils d'entraînement ou appareils destinés à des sports particuliers
2.
CLIMBING-WALL AND PENDULUM-FALL, SWING APPARATUS AND METHOD
A climbing wall (12) defines vertical (11a), transverse (11b) (horizontally in-and-out, toward-and-away-from wall) and lateral (11c) (horizontally sideways) directions, mutually orthogonal. A surface treatment (32) simulates rock by texture (32), holds (30), or both. A line (rope, cable) extends from a belay system (290), spaced away from the wall (12), to a climber (60) at the wall (12). When climbing (242) ends, the climber (60) swings (254) transversely (and, optionally, laterally sideways (11c)) away from the wall (12) in a pendulum fall (320c, 349), swinging (254) (oscillating) on the line (27) below a center of pivot (100) clear of contact with the wall (12). The fall (320c) may be intentional (the climber (60) releasing a grip on the wall (12)), accidental (falling (320c) from own weight), or due to line (27) tension initiated by an automated controller (26, 140) or operator intervention.
A63B 69/00 - Appareils d'entraînement ou appareils destinés à des sports particuliers
A62B 35/00 - Ceintures ou harnais de sécuritéÉquipements similaires pour limiter le déplacement du corps humain, notamment en cas de changement brusque de mouvement
A63B 17/00 - Appareils de gymnastique combinant plusieurs éléments tels que câbles, échelles, poutres, glissoires
A63B 27/00 - Appareils pour grimper aux mâts, aux arbres ou similaires
G06F 19/00 - Équipement ou méthodes de traitement de données ou de calcul numérique, spécialement adaptés à des applications spécifiques (spécialement adaptés à des fonctions spécifiques G06F 17/00;systèmes ou méthodes de traitement de données spécialement adaptés à des fins administratives, commerciales, financières, de gestion, de surveillance ou de prévision G06Q;informatique médicale G16H)
3.
Climbing-wall and pendulum-fall, swing apparatus and method
A climbing wall defines vertical, transverse (horizontally in-and-out, toward-and-away-from wall) and lateral (horizontally sideways) directions, mutually orthogonal. A surface treatment simulates rock by texture, holds, or both. A line (rope, cable) extends from a belay anchor, spaced away from the wall, to a climber at the wall. Line distance is controlled to eliminate slack to start, and continuously if the wall is increasingly steep and possibly curving sideways (laterally). When climbing ends, the climber swings transversely (and, optionally, laterally sideways) away from the wall in a pendulum fall, swinging (oscillating) about the belay anchor for multiple cycles and clear of contact with the wall. The fall may be intentional (the climber releasing a grip on the wall), accidental (falling from own weight), or due to line tension initiated by an automated timer or operator intervention.
A63B 69/00 - Appareils d'entraînement ou appareils destinés à des sports particuliers
A63B 21/00 - Appareils de gymnastique pour développer ou fortifier les muscles ou les articulations du corps en surmontant des résistances, avec ou sans dispositifs de mesure
A cable in suspension (clear span) supports a trolley. At the upper end, a launch block fixed to the cable registers the trolley in all directions, including a safety release link holding the trolley near the launch block. After release and descent with a rider, the trolley strikes an attenuator of distributed springs and spacers. The spring stack absorbs momentum from the trolley, but a leash limits recoil “bounce” after reversing the trolley. A second, recoil, leash resists recoil by capturing a subset of the springs between respective ends of itself and the first leash. The doubly leashed trolley will oscillate to a stop in an equilibrium position.
B61H 9/02 - Freins caractérisés par, ou modifiés pour, leur utilisation dans des systèmes, ou à des usages, ferroviaires particuliers pour chemins de fer aériens, p. ex. mus par câbles
B61B 7/00 - Systèmes ferroviaires à câble avec voies flexibles suspendues
A63G 21/20 - Glissoires à véhicules suspendus, ou à véhicules mobiles sur câbles ou appareils similaires
F16D 63/00 - Freins non prévus ailleursFreins combinant plusieurs des types mentionnés dans les groupes
Emergency egress systems carry multiple riders simultaneously accessing zip line catenary from higher, inaccessible, working locations to lower, safer areas. Hangers above the track line suspend trolleys to avoid weighting the catenary unduly at the high end, which might otherwise alter (reduce) clearance distances and safety of riders above a launch platform (deck). Catenary shape is controlled against approaching a launch deck by sequencing the release from the hangers of each trolley to roll along the catenary with its own rider. Autonomous braking, inter-trolley bumpers, and vertical stabilizers enable each rider to quickly occupy a seat (harness, etc.) and launch onto the track line, unconcerned with riders ahead or behind until underway. Multiple trolleys may thus load, launch, and in close proximity on a single line, regardless of the total weight of multiple riders.
A62B 1/20 - Dispositifs pour faire descendre des personnes hors des bâtiments ou dans des situations analogues faisant usage de câbles lisses, perches lisses ou glissières, p. ex. manches, tubes rigides, gouttières, plaques glissantes
B61B 7/00 - Systèmes ferroviaires à câble avec voies flexibles suspendues
B61H 9/02 - Freins caractérisés par, ou modifiés pour, leur utilisation dans des systèmes, ou à des usages, ferroviaires particuliers pour chemins de fer aériens, p. ex. mus par câbles
B61B 12/00 - Parties constitutives, détails ou accessoires de systèmes ferroviaires à câbles ou de systèmes "couplables à volonté" non prévus dans les groupes
F16D 63/00 - Freins non prévus ailleursFreins combinant plusieurs des types mentionnés dans les groupes
A63G 21/20 - Glissoires à véhicules suspendus, ou à véhicules mobiles sur câbles ou appareils similaires
6.
Integrated bollard, anchor, and tower (IBAT) apparatus and method
An integrated bollard, anchor, and tower (IBAT) system constructed as a single monolith may be formed of a single material, such as concrete or steel, or assembled from components of distinct materials, such as reinforced concrete with metal brackets, fixtures, fasteners, and so forth. An anchor (e.g., base, pad), sized to engage the ground therebelow by weight and friction, includes a mass sufficient to provide frictional stability (no appreciable movement) of the IBAT unit at each end of a track line (cable, wire rope, line, etc.), which wraps around the bollard portion of each upright (tower, fin) portion at an operational height defining the path of a trolley carried on the free span of the resulting catenary.
B61B 12/00 - Parties constitutives, détails ou accessoires de systèmes ferroviaires à câbles ou de systèmes "couplables à volonté" non prévus dans les groupes
B61B 7/02 - Systèmes ferroviaires à câble avec voies flexibles suspendues avec câbles de traction séparés
B61B 7/00 - Systèmes ferroviaires à câble avec voies flexibles suspendues
B61B 7/04 - Systèmes ferroviaires à câble avec voies flexibles suspendues avec voies suspendues servant de câbles de traction
B61B 7/06 - Systèmes ferroviaires à câble avec voies flexibles suspendues avec véhicules automoteurs
A cable in suspension (clear span) supports a trolley. At the upper end, a launch block fixed to the cable registers the trolley in all directions, including a safety release link holding the trolley near the launch block. After release and descent with a rider, the trolley strikes an attenuator of distributed springs and spacers. The spring stack absorbs momentum from the trolley, but a leash limits recoil “bounce” after reversing the trolley. A second, recoil, leash resists recoil by capturing a subset of the springs between respective ends of itself and the first leash. The doubly leashed trolley will oscillate to a stop in an equilibrium position.
B61H 9/02 - Freins caractérisés par, ou modifiés pour, leur utilisation dans des systèmes, ou à des usages, ferroviaires particuliers pour chemins de fer aériens, p. ex. mus par câbles
B61B 7/00 - Systèmes ferroviaires à câble avec voies flexibles suspendues
A63G 21/20 - Glissoires à véhicules suspendus, ou à véhicules mobiles sur câbles ou appareils similaires
F16D 63/00 - Freins non prévus ailleursFreins combinant plusieurs des types mentionnés dans les groupes
8.
Trim controlled, dynamically controllable, trolley brake
A trolley for traveling along a cable may include a frame having a first end, a second end, and a rail extending therebetween. A user may suspend from the frame in a harness, leveraging the user's weight about a fulcrum suspended by a sheave rolling along the cable. Opposite the user, across the fulcrum, a brake shoe or pad pivotably connected to the frame may be controlled by a user shifting weight, a trim brake adjustable by the user, or both to control a braking force generated by the trolley between the brake pad and the cable. Trim braking may be set to stop the trolley on any incline, roll with a constant braking bias, or roll freely. User-weight leveraging may be dynamically adjusted by a user likewise by selectively weighting a harness, weighting a handle and tether to draw the user's weight toward the fulcrum, or both.
A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. The brake pad may include a plurality of segments contacting the cable. A first such segment may be formed from a first material. A second such segment may be formed from a second material, distinct from the first material. The sequence, composition, gaps, and the like of the plurality of segments may be selected to provide a desired resistance to wear, frictional coefficient, all-weather braking, and the like.
A system comprising a cable held in suspension and a trolley traveling along the cable. The trolley may include a brake pad positioned to contact the cable. The brake pad may include a plurality of segments contacting the cable. A first such segment may be formed from a first material. A second such segment may be formed from a second material, distinct from the first material. The sequence, composition, gaps, and the like of the plurality of segments may be selected to provide a desired resistance to wear, frictional coefficient, all-weather braking, and the like.
A trolley for traveling along a cable. The trolley may include a frame having a first end, a second end, and a rail positioned between the first and second ends. A brake pad may connect to the frame. A sheave mount may also connect to the frame and include a sheave for rolling along the cable. A carriage may connect to the frame and include a user mount for suspending a user. The carriage may selectively travel along the rail through a continuous range of motion to control a braking force generated by the trolley between the brake pad and the cable.
A trolley retrieval system for transporting or returning trolleys from a finish area back to a start area for traveling along a cable. The systems may include a cable held in suspension between the first and second supports. A retrieval line may be suspended in a closed loop extending from proximate the first support to proximate the second support. A trolley for traveling along the cable may be selectively connectable to the retrieval line. A motivator may selectively circulating the retrieval line around the loop. A controller may control operation of the motivator.
brevets
