Patent ID: 6152044
Filing Date: 2000-11-28
Classification: B61B

Abstract:
A device for dragging skiers, by means of a rope running continuously along a closed loop path between starting and arrival locations disposed along a slope, said rope having at least end pulleys, on which the rope passes, at both the starting and arrival locations, said rope further having a dragging end intermediate the starting and arrival locations of the rope which is level with the slope so as to be seized directly by the skier, and comprising a driving means for driving the rope which is provided at the arrival location, with the driving means comprising a gear motor associated with said end pulley at the arrival location, characterised in that said dragging end of the rope is free from gripping means, and further having safety means disposed upstream of the end pulley at the arrival location comprising a telescopic tube through which the rope passes, and is such that when a body, particularly a hand, which has remained clung to the rope, bumps against the telescopic tube, this results in a shortening of the latter, with the safety means further comprising means for detecting the shortening of the telescopic tube, and capable of actuating, in the event that shortening is detected, the stoppage of the driving of the rope.