For travel on a cable, the zipline trolley includes a wheel, a brake, a frame, a hanger, and a lower slot. The wheel is disposed on a proximal end of a frame. The wheel includes a groove that receives a cable at a lower portion of the wheel and a wheel bearing. The brake is disposed on a distal end of the frame. The brake is connected to a given lever point and includes a groove along a brake bottom that receives the cable. The frame includes an array of lever points disposed between the brake and the wheel. The hanger is connected to a given lever point and suspends a weight. The weight applies a force about the wheel to the brake to control a rate of descent of the device along the cable. The lower slot receives the cable.

FIELD

The subject matter disclosed herein relates to a zipline trolley.

BACKGROUND

Description of the Related Art

Zipline trolleys must carry a rider safely down a cable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

FIG. 1is a side view drawing of one embodiment of a rider5suspended below the zipline trolley10. The zipline trolley10includes a frame15, a wheel20, a wheel bearing80, a brake25, a brake stop27, and a hanger35. A receiver120and spring110are also shown. The wheel20and the brake25may travel along a top of the cable45. The zipline trolley10may travel along a cable45in a direction of travel65. The wheel bearing80may be a Sprague bearing.

The zipline trolley10may experience a significant acceleration while descending a cable. As a result, it may be important to apply a braking force. Unfortunately, in the past, brakes have been large in order to provide a sufficient braking force. In addition, the zipline trolleys have been large, making it difficult to remove the trolleys from the cable45. The embodiments described herein provide a brake25that provides a sufficient braking force within a small volume. As a result, the zipline trolley10may be constructed in a small size that is easily removed from the cable45.

The zipline trolley10may make contact with the receiver120and may compress the spring110or series of springs. If compression occurs, the Sprague wheel bearing80will limit roll back of the zipline trolley10. This view also shows the safety strap53connected to a distal carabineer50a.

FIG. 2is a top isometric view drawing showing one embodiment of the brake stop27. As the zipline trolley10traverses the cable45, the zipline trolley10may make contact with the receiver120. The receiver120may apply additional downward force on the brake stop27to increase the braking force of the brake. The brake stop27may compress the spring110to further slow the zipline trolley10, increasing safety for the rider5.

FIG. 3is a side view cutaway drawing illustrating one embodiment of a zipline trolley10. The zipline trolley10may carry a rider suspended from a second carabiner50b. The zipline trolley10may travel along a cable45in a direction of travel65. In the depicted embodiment, the zipline trolley10includes a wheel20, a frame15, a brake25, a lower slot85, sliding bar68, receiver120, spring110, and a hanger35. In this view, the zipline trolley10may have stopped before impacting the receiver120and compressing the spring110or series of springs. This view also shows the brake stop27which may be forced down upon impact with the receiver120to initiate a downward force on the brake stop27causing the zipline trolley to decelerate. This view also shows a safety pin68passing through the slots of the hanger35and the frame15.

The wheel20may be disposed on a distal end90of the frame15. The wheel20includes a groove that receives the cable45at a lower portion100of the wheel20. In addition, the wheel20includes a wheel bearing80. The wheel bearing80may be selected from the group consisting of a Sprague bearing or a trapped bearing. In addition, the wheel bearing80may include a spring or configuration that may inhibit roll back when gravity or a compressing spring pack which slows the trolley10. In one embodiment, the wheel bearing80prevents rollback at a stopping point. The stopping point may be at or near the end of the cable45. The spring110and receiver120may cushion the impact of the zipline trolley10reaching the stopping point.

The brake25may be disposed on a proximal end105of the frame15. If the rider5and the zipline trolley10makes contact with the receiver120, the brake stop27portion of the brake25may contact the receiver120, applying a downward sheering fricative force on the cable45as the zipline trolley10transverses the cable45.

The brake25includes a groove along a brake bottom that receives the cable45. The brake25traverses the top of the cable45. As a result, the operation of the brake25is not diminished by moisture on the cable45, as the moisture migrates to the bottom of the cable45.

In one embodiment, the brake25is formed of a material with a melting point in excess of 200° F. In addition, the brake25may be formed of a material with a melting point in excess of 300° F.

The frame15includes an array of lever points30. The array of lever points30is disposed between the brake25and the wheel20. A given lever point30may be selected as a function of the slope of the zipline. In addition, the given lever point30may be selected as a function of a desired maximum speed of the zipline trolley10. The frame15may be formed of one or more of ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMW), Stainless Steel, Titanium, and high strength carbon steel.

The hanger35is connected to a given lever point30. The hanger35may be connected by a hanger connector70. The hanger35may be further connected to the frame15by a sliding bar68that passes through right and left slider groves55. As a result, the sliding bar60and hanger35cannot be detached from the frame15without removing the sliding bar60from the hanger35.

A weight such as the rider5may be suspended from the hanger35. In one embodiment, the weight is suspended from the hanger35using a proximal carabiner50b. The weight may apply an angular force about the wheel20to the brake25. The force about the wheel20causes the brake25to apply a fricative force to the cable45. The force on the brake25may control the rate of dissent of the zipline trolley10along the cable45. The force may be applied with a high force to surface area ratio. In one embodiment, the fricative force of the brake25is significantly more for the zipline trolley10in the direction of travel65then against the direction of travel65. In an alternate embodiment, the zip line trolley10may be used to carry a rider5against the direction of travel65to reduce the fricative force of the brake25.

The lower slot85receives the cable45. The zipline trolley10may be set on the cable45and removed from the cable45if the hanger35is removed from the given lever point30and the sliding bar60is removed. Because of the high force to surface area ratio, the size of the brake25and the zipline trolley10may be reduced. As a result, the zipline trolley10may be easily placed on the cable45at the top of the cable45and/or removed from the cable45at the bottom of the cable45.

In one embodiment, the zipline trolley10includes safety carabiner holes40disposed in the frame15and above the cable45. The distal carabiner50amay be inserted through the carabiner holes40and around the cable45. As a result, the zipline trolley10is securely connected to the cable45.

FIG. 4is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of the zipline trolley10. The wheel20includes the groove95. The groove95may receive the cable45at the lower portion of the wheel20.

FIG. 5is a front-view drawing illustrating one embodiment of the zipline trolley10. The lower slot85is shown. If the carabineers50a-band the sliding bar68are removed from the given lever point30, the zipline trolley10may be set on the cable45and/or removed from the cable45.

FIG. 6is a rear-view drawing of one embodiment the zipline trolley10with the slider bar68and the carabineers50a-bremoved. The zipline trolley10may be set on the cable45at an opening77. The zipline trolley10may be lifted from the cable45at the clearance75. The hanger35may remain connected to the frame15when removing the zipline trolley10from the cable45.

FIG. 7is a perspective drawing illustrating one alternate embodiment of the zip line trolley10. In the depicted embodiment, the hanger35is connected to the zip line trolley10by an upper sliding bar69and a lower sliding bar67. The upper sliding bar69is disposed in an upper sliding groove56. The lower sliding bar67is disposed in a lower sliding groove54. The upper sliding bar69and the lower sliding bar67may be free to slide within the upper sliding groove56and the lower sliding groove54respectively

Plunger pins71protrude through the lever points30and the hanger connector70to set a lever angle that adjusts the angular force that is applied about the wheel20to the brake25. The plunger pins71may be set to protrude through any pair of lever points30. The force about the wheel20causes the brake25to apply a fricative force to the cable45. Selecting lever points30toward the direction of travel65increases the force about the wheel20that is applied by the brake25to the cable45. Selecting lever points30away from the direction of travel65decreases the force about the wheel that is applied by the brake25to the cable45. The lever points30may be selected based on the slope of the cable45. If the slope of the cable45is steep, lever points30near to the brake25may be selected to increase the force of the brake25. If the slope of the cable45is shallow, lever points30farther from the brake25may be selected to decrease the force of the brake25. The force on the brake25may control the rate of dissent of the zipline trolley10along the cable45. The force may be applied with a high force to surface area ratio.

In one embodiment, two trolley body components205form the frame15. The trolley body components205may be fabricated separately and assembled together to reduce manufacturing costs.

FIG. 8is a side view drawing illustrating one embodiment of the trolley body component205. In the depicted embodiment, the trolley body component205includes the upper slider groove56, the lower slider groove54, the lever points30, the safety carabiner holes40, a brake hole41, a brake adjustment hole42and an active brake groove43.

The brake adjustment hole42may receive a brake pin, connect the brake25to the frame15, and allow the contact of the brake25on the cable45to be adjusted. The brake hole41may also receive a brake pin and connect the brake25to the frame15.

FIG. 9is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of a zip line trolley interior. In the depicted embodiment, one trolley body component205is removed to show the interior of the zip line trolley10. Brake pins44are shown embedded in the brake25. The brake pins44may be set in the brake hole41and the brake adjustment hole42such that the brake25is secured to the frame15. In addition, the brake pin44in the brake adjustment hole42may be moved within the brake adjustment hole42to adjust the contact of the brake25on the cable45.

If an active braking force46is applied to the brake25, the force applied by the brake25to the cable45is increased, increasing the fricative resistance of the brake25and further slowing the zip line trolley10.

In the depicted embodiment, the upper sliding bar69includes a bar sleeve63. The bar sleeve63may connect to another bar sleeve63and/or another upper sliding bar69extending from the other trolley body component205to connect the upper sliding bars69.

FIG. 10is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of the zip line trolley interior. In the depicted embodiment, the brake pin44and the bar sleeve63are shown in greater detail.

FIG. 11is a side view drawing illustrating one embodiment of lever angles31for the zip line trolley10. In the depicted embodiment, lever angles31are shown for a hanger35(not shown) connected to the upper sliding bar69(not shown) in the upper sliding groove56, the lower sliding bar67(not shown) in the lower sliding groove54, and plunger pins71(not shown) in the lever points30, with the plunger pins71determining the lever angles31. In the depicted embodiment, the lever angles31are separated by 8°. Any combination of lever angles31may be provided. Table 1 shows normalized brakes forces for exemplary braking angles31measured from a baseline angle33.

The braking force is thus a function of the braking angle31. The braking angle31can be adjusted to match the slope of the cable45, with more braking force applied for steeper slopes of the cable45. In addition, the braking force is dynamically modified as the slope of the cable45changes. For example, for any braking angle31, the braking force is increased for a steeper slope of a first portion of the cable45and the braking force is decreased for a shallower slope for a second portion of the cable45. As a result, the braking force dynamically adjusts to the slope of the cable45.

FIG. 12is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of the rider5suspended below a zip line trolley10with an active brake11. In the depicted embodiment, the rider5is disposed in a harness12. In addition, the rider5holds the active brake11. The active brake11may be a rope, a cable, structure, and the like. The rider5may pull down on the active brake11to apply the active braking force46to the brake25and increase the fricative resistance of the brake25on the cable45. As a result, the rider5can actively further slow the zip line trolley10.

FIG. 13is a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of the zip line trolley10with the active brake11. In the depicted embodiment, a proximal active brake13passes through the active brake groove43. As a result, when the rider5pulls on the active brake11in an active brake direction14, the active braking force46is applied to the brake25, increasing the fricative braking force of the brake25.

FIG. 14Ais a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of a spring110. In the depicted embodiment, an uncompressed spring110aand a compressed spring110bare shown for one spring segment23. A spring segment23may include spring coils16, one or more end caps17, and a guide18. In one embodiment, the spring coils16may be formed as a single helical hourglass. Alternatively, the spring coils16may be formed as two helical cones. The spring coils16may have a slope such that when the spring segment23is compressed, each spring coils16nests within a neighboring spring coils16as shown inFIG. 14I. As a result, the spring segment23may be compressed from a long length to a short length.

In one embodiment, the guide18connects two helical cone spring coils16. In addition, the guide18may guide the cable45through the center of the spring segment23. The end caps17may terminate the spring coils16. In one embodiment, the cable45passes through a hole24in each end cap17. The hole24may receive a portion of the brake stop27to increase the braking force.

The spring segment23comprises a plurality of spring coils16. The brake stop27contacts the spring segment23and compresses the spring segment23. In one embodiment, an end cap17of the spring segment23contacts the brake stop27. The brake stop27may compress the spring coils16of the spring segment23. The spring coils16of the compressed spring segment23may nest completely within a neighboring spring coil16.

FIG. 14Bis a side view drawing illustrating one embodiment of the spring110ofFIG. 14A. In the depicted embodiment, one spring segment23has an uncompressed length22. The uncompressed length22may be in the range of 2 to 6 inches. In addition, the spring segment23has a compressed length21. The compressed length21may be in the range of 0.5 to 2.25 inches.

FIG. 14Cis a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of a spring110. In the depicted embodiment, the spring110is shown as a compressed spring110band an uncompressed spring110a. The spring110includes a plurality of spring segments23.

FIG. 14Dis a side view drawing illustrating one embodiment of the spring110ofFIG. 14C. The uncompressed spring110amay have an uncompressed length22in the range of 16 to 20 feet. In addition, the compressed spring110bmay have a compressed length21in the range of 1 to 2 feet.

FIG. 14Eis a perspective drawing illustrating one embodiment of a spring110. In the depicted embodiment, a spring segment23includes a single helical cone of spring coils16. The spring110is shown as an uncompressed spring110aand a compressed spring110b.

FIG. 14Fis a side view drawing illustrating one embodiment of the spring110ofFIG. 14E. The uncompressed spring110ahas an uncompressed length22. The uncompressed length22may be in the range of 1 to 4 inches. The compressed spring110bhas a compressed length21. The compressed length21may be in the range of 0.5 to 1.5 inches.

FIG. 14Gis a side view drawing illustrating one embodiment of the spring coils16of a compressed spring110bwith the compressed length21.

FIG. 14His a top view drawing illustrating one embodiment of the spring coils16of the compressed spring110bofFIG. 14G.

FIG. 14Iis a side view cutaway drawing illustrating one embodiment of a compressed spring110b. In the depicted embodiment, each spring coil116of the nests completely within a neighboring spring coil16. As a result, a spring segment23may have a compressed length21that is substantially equivalent to a diameter of each spring coil116. As used herein, substantially equivalent refers to within plus or minus 50%.