Ski lift loader and unloader

An apparatus for loading skiers on a ski lift consisting of a plurality of rollers the rollers being parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ski lift at least during the portion of its length past the loading point. The rollers rotate, thereby accelerating a skier who is standing on the rollers to a speed the same or substantially the same as the speed of the ski lift. The skier is thereby able to sit down comfortably on the chair while standing on the rollers. A second apparatus may be disposed at an unloading point whereby the skier is moved away from the ski lift and is decelerated in order to safely transfer to the mow.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
The present invention relates to ski chair lifts and, more particularly, to 
an improved apparatus for loading and unloading skiers onto and from a 
chair lift. 
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
Despite the many advances that have been made in ski lift operation and 
design, the loading of skiers onto a chair lift and the unloading of 
skiers from a chair lift continue to be difficult and sometimes dangerous 
procedures. 
There are two main types of chairlifts commonly used. These are fixed grip 
chairlifts and detachable grip high-speed chairlifts. In fixed grip 
chairlifts, since the chair moves relatively rapidly along the loading 
area, skiers encounter difficulties in reaching the loading point and 
sitting down comfortably on the chair because the skier is exposed to the 
shock of a chair which is moving at a faster speed than the skier. This 
can be especially difficult for small children. In detachable grip 
high-speed chairlifts, the chairs move at a slow speed at the loading 
point and then accelerate to a high speed for the journey uphill, but such 
chairlifts are complicated and more expensive to manufacture and operate. 
They also need expensive protection equipment to protect the detachable 
mechanism from the weather elements. 
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,548,753 issued on Dec. 22, 1970 is disclosed a passenger 
loading installation having a conveyor belt by means of which skiers 
standing on the conveyor belt are accelerated to a velocity substantially 
the same as that of the cable. After embarkment of the passengers, the 
conveyor is stopped and the next passengers may step on the conveyor to be 
moved towards the loading point. However, this installation requires the 
use of a driving drum and an idler drum with the conveyor belt, which are 
expensive. Also, there is no deceleration stage to provide for safe 
unloading of passengers. 
In U.S. Pat. Nos. 5,454,326 and 5,454,327 issued on Oct. 3, 1995 is 
disclosed a passenger loading installation having a conveyor belt with 
drums This system is also prohibitively expensive and while it assists 
with the loading of the skier, it dramatically increases the danger of 
unloading the skier by subjecting the skier to a shock while unloading. 
Other conveyor belt systems have been proposed, some of which involve the 
skier sliding down a ramp onto a conveyor belt, thereby exposing the skier 
to a jolt when entering the ramp and again when the skier is being seated 
on the moving chair. In previous systems, when disembarking from the 
chair, the skier is often forced to ski down a ramp which can be 
hazardous, leading to unnecessary injury. 
The use of rollers in connection with ski tows or lifts is disclosed in 
U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,609 issued on Sep. 23, 1980 and U.S. Pat. No. 
3,602,361 issued on Aug. 31, 1971. However, in U.S. Pat. No. 4,223,609, 
the skier is propelled by a pusher element and in U.S. Pat. No. 3,602,361, 
by powered handrails onto a moving conveyor belt type tow. Both systems 
are complicated and awkward for the skier to use. 
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
An object of one aspect of the present invention is to provide an improved 
apparatus for loading and unloading skiers from a ski lift that will 
minimize the sudden contact of the chair with the skier and enable the 
lift to be operated more quickly, more safely and more efficiently with 
low installation and maintenance costs. 
In one aspect of the present invention, these and other objectives and 
advantages are achieved by providing an apparatus for loading a skier onto 
a ski lift which moves at a speed and in a direction to carry the skier up 
a ski hill, the apparatus comprising: 
a) a plurality of rollers positioned parallel to each other, in close 
proximity to each other and positioned perpendicular to the direction of 
movement of the ski lift; 
b) the plurality of rollers comprising a first roller further downhill and 
a last roller closer uphill; 
c) means for rotating the rollers in the direction of movement of the ski 
lift 
whereby the skier can stand on the rollers near the first roller and be 
accelerated to a speed the same as or substantially the same as the speed 
of the ski lift to an embarking point so as to facilitate embarking on the 
ski lift by the skier. 
In another aspect of the present invention, there is further provided an 
apparatus for loading a skier onto a ski lift which moves at a speed and 
in a direction to carry the skier up a ski hill, the apparatus comprising: 
a) a plurality of rollers comprising a First set of loading rollers, a 
second set of acceleration rollers and a third set of constant speed 
rollers, the rollers being positioned parallel to each other, in close 
proximity to each other and positioned perpendicular to the direction of 
the ski lift; 
b) the plurality of rollers comprising a first roller further downhill and 
a last roller further uphill; 
c) means for rotating and means for controlling the speed of rotation of 
the first set of loading rollers such that every loading roller is 
stationary when the skier steps onto the loading rollers, and the loading 
rollers begin to rotate thereafter; 
d) means for rotating the rollers in the second set of acceleration rollers 
such that each subsequent roller from the first roller to the last roller 
in the second set rotates at a speed faster than the preceding roller, 
thereby the last roller rotates at the fastest speed; 
e) means for rotating the rollers in the third set of constant speed 
rollers such that every roller in the third set rotates at a constant 
speed, which constant speed is the same or substantially the same as the 
speed of the ski lift; 
whereby the skier can stand on the first set of loading rollers and be 
accelerated from a stationary position and moved onto the second set of 
acceleration rollers which accelerate the skier to a speed the same or 
substantially the same as the speed of the ski lift to an embarking point 
thereby facilitating embarking on the ski lift at the embarking point or 
on the third set of constant speed rollers. 
In a further aspect of the present invention, an apparatus is provided for 
unloading a skier from a ski lift which moves at a speed and in a 
direction to carry the skier up a ski hill, the apparatus comprising: 
f) a plurality of rollers positioned parallel to each other, in close 
proximity to each other and positioned perpendicular to the direction of 
movement of the ski lift; 
g) the plurality of rollers comprising a first roller further downhill and 
a last roller closer uphill; 
h) means for rotating the rollers in the direction of movement of the ski 
lift: 
whereby the skier can stand on the rollers near the first roller and be 
moved away from the ski lift so as to facilitate disembarking from the ski 
lift. 
Another aspect of the present invention provides an apparatus for unloading 
a skier from a ski lift which moves at a speed and in a direction to carry 
the skier up a ski hill, the apparatus comprising: 
i) a plurality of rollers comprising a first set of unloading rollers and a 
second set of deceleration rollers, the rollers being positioned parallel 
to each other, in close proximity to each other and positioned 
perpendicular to the direction of the ski lift; 
j) the plurality of rollers comprising a first roller further downhill and 
a last roller closer uphill; 
k) means for rotating the rollers in the first set of unloading rollers 
such that every roller in the first set rotates at a constant speed, which 
constant speed is faster than the speed of the ski lift; 
l) means for rotating the rollers in the second set of acceleration roller 
such that each subsequent roller from the first roller to the last roller 
in the second set rotates at a speed slower that the preceding roller, 
thereby the last roller rotates at the slowest speed or does not rotate; 
whereby the skier can stand on the first set of unloading rollers and be 
carried away from the ski lift and moved onto the second set of 
deceleration rollers and be slowed down, thereby facilitating disembarking 
from the ski lift.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION 
Referring to the drawings, FIG. 1 illustrates the preferred embodiment of 
the invention installed at the lower end of a ski chair lift at the bottom 
of a hill, although it will be understood that passengers can be loaded by 
the apparatus of the present invention at any loading point along the path 
of the lift. The preferred embodiment of the invention is further 
illustrated in conjunction with a chair lift having chairs which hold 
three passengers apiece, but this is not limiting inasmuch as the present 
invention would work equally well in loading chairs holding more or fewer 
passengers. Furthermore, although the preferred embodiment of the 
invention is illustrated in conjunction with a chair lift, the present 
invention will also work equally well with other types of over ground 
lifts other than chair lifts. 
FIG. 1 illustrates a chair lift having a ski lift cable 20 which passes 
around a wheel 22 at the lower end of the ski slope. Chairs are suspended 
from ski lift cable 20 in the usual manner where they travel empty down 
the slope, around the wheel 22 and up the ski hill after picking up 
passengers. Such chairlifts are well known. A downhill chair 24 is shown 
travelling empty down the slope in the direction of the arrow 26 and 
around the wheel 22. An uphill chair 28 is also shown, having already 
passed around the wheel 22, travelling up the slope in the direction of 
the arrow 30. 
A plurality of rollers 32 is provided adjacent the wheel 22 which rollers 
are positioned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ski lift 
cable so that the axis of the rollers is collinear with the path of the 
chair lift, that is, collinear with ski lift cable 20. The rollers consist 
of three sections: the loading rollers 34, the acceleration rollers 36 and 
the constant speed rollers 38. The point where the acceleration rollers 36 
and the constant speed rollers 38 meet is referred to as the embarking 
point 40 Skiers 42 are depicted standing on the loading rollers 35, Skiers 
44 are depicted standing on the constant speed rollers, immediately uphill 
of the embarking point 40. A magnetic clutch 46 is indicated at the 
junction of the loading rollers 34 and the acceleration rollers 36. A stop 
switch 48 is positioned adjacent ski lift cable 20 slightly uphill from 
the downhill chair 24. A start switch 49 is positioned adjacent ski lift 
cable 20 immediately uphill of the embarking point 40. An arrow is 
indicated 50 showing the direction of approach of the skiers 42 and 44. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, a side view of two rollers 52 is shown. In the 
preferred embodiment, between the rollers are comb plates 54 whose teeth 
fit into the grooves in the rollers 52. The rollers preferably consists of 
grooved moulded rubber vulcanised seal onto a steel sleeve but any 
suitable material may be used. 
As illustrated in FIG. 2, the comb plates 54 are preferably, but not 
necessarily, positioned so that the upper surface of the comb plate 56 is 
approximately one quarter of an inch below the top surface of tho rollers 
52. The comb plates may consist of any suitable substance such as, but not 
limited to TEFLON. 
As shown in FIG. 3, the assembly of the rollers may be a series of modules 
58 consisting of three rollers (although different numbers of rollers 
could also be used) set in roller bearings 60 and mounted on a beam 62. A 
motor 64 is mounted on the apparatus. 
As illustrated in FIG. 4, each roller in the preferred embodiment will 
contain a sprocket 66 which will be driven by a series of drive chains 68 
which are driven by the motor 64. In the preferred embodiment of 3 rollers 
per module, every drive chain will surround three rollers with the next 
drive chain overlapping the preceding drive chain by one roller. Chain 
tensioners 70 are provided to control the tension of the drive chains. The 
assembled modules will be attached together by conventional means. In the 
preferred embodiment, the loading rollers 34 and the acceleration rollers 
36 contain a sprocket 66 which will be smaller than the sprocket in the 
roller preceding it in the direction of the arrow 26. The constant speed 
rollers 38 all contain a similar sized sprocket. 
FIG. 5 illustrates the preferred embodiment of the present invention 
installed at the upper end of a ski chair lift at the top of a hill, 
although it will be understood that passengers can be unloaded by the 
apparatus of the present invention at any unloading point along the path 
of the lift. FIG. 5 illustrates a chair lift having a ski lift cable 72 
which passes around a wheel 74 at the upper end of the ski slope. Chairs 
are suspended from ski lift cable 72 in the usual manner where they travel 
uphill carrying passengers in the direction of the arrow 76 where the 
passengers disembark. Chairs then travel empty around the wheel 72 and 
downhill in the direction of the arrow 78. 
A plurality of rollers 80 is provided adjacent the wheel 74 which rollers 
are positioned parallel to each other and perpendicular to the ski lift 
cable so the axis of the rollers is collinear with the path of the chair 
lift, that is, collinear with ski lift cable 72. The rollers consist of 
two sections: the unloading rollers 82 and the deceleration rollers 84. 
Skiers 86 are depicted on the rollers 80. Snow 88 is illustrated at the 
uphill end of the deceleration rollers. As described above, the rollers 
are driven by a series of drive chains and sprockets whereby the speed of 
rotation of each individual roller is determined by the size of the 
sprocket in that particular roller. Power is transmitted to the drive 
chains by a motor as described above. 
In operation, skiers approach the rollers 32 at the downhill end 50 of the 
system in line in the usual manner, with one skier positioning himself on 
one side of the roller apparatus and the other on the opposite side of the 
roller apparatus at its downhill end 50. The acceleration rollers 36 and 
the constant speed rollers 38 are being driven by the motor 64 and the 
drive chains 68 where every acceleration roller rotates faster than the 
roller preceding it due to the decreasing sizes of the sprockets in each 
roller. The constant speed rollers 38, on the other hand, are rotating at 
the same speed which speed is the same or substantially the same as that 
of the chair lift. The loading rollers 34 are, depending on the activity 
of the stop switch 48 and start switch 49 described below, either 
stationary or rotating. A marker is indicated on the rollers at the 
junction of the loading rollers 34 and the acceleration rollers 36 to 
indicate to the skiers as to where the loading rollers 34 end and the 
acceleration rollers 36 begin. 
At the start of the cycle, the loading rollers 34 are rotating until the 
downhill chair 24 passes the stop switch 48 which will disengage the 
magnetic clutch 46, thereby causing the loading relies 34 to stop rotating 
and allowing skiers 42 to step onto the loading rollers 34 while the 
loading rollers 34 are stationary Skiers 42 step onto the loading rollers. 
As the uphill chair 28 passes the start switch 49, the start switch 49 
engages the magnetic clutch 46 which is connected to the drive chains 66, 
thereby causing the loading rollers 34 to rotate in the same manner as the 
acceleration rollers 36 wherein every roller will rotate faster than the 
roller preceding it due to the decreasing size of the sprockets in each 
loading roller. 
As skiers 42 move from the loading rollers 34 onto the acceleration rollers 
36, skiers 42 will continue to be accelerated by the rotation of the 
acceleration rollers 36 to the embarking point 40 to a speed which will be 
the same or substantially the same speed as that of the ski lift cable 20 
where skiers 42 will assume the position of skiers 44. In the meantime, 
the downhill chair 24 will have passed around the wheel 22 add will be in 
the position of the uphill chair 28. Skiers 44 will then be travelling on 
the constant speed rollers 38 at the same or substantially the same speed 
as that of the ski lift cable 20 and will be seated on the uphill chair 28 
sometime before the end of the constant speed rollers 38. 
The cycle will then be repeated whereby another chair which has moved into 
the position of the downhill chair 24 will have passed the stop switch 48 
which will again disengage the magnetic clutch 46, thereby causing the 
loading rollers 34 to stop rotating and allowing the next skier to step 
onto the loading rollers 34 which begin to rotate once the uphill chair 28 
has passed the start switch 49. 
The number of loading rollers 34, acceleration rollers 36 and constant 
speed rollers 38 and the position of the stop switch 48 and start switch 
49 will be determined by the assembler on the basis of the type of lift to 
which the roller apparatus is being fitted to. The assembler will 
therefore take into account, among other things, the speed of the ski lift 
to determine the number of rollers, the size of the sprockets the position 
of the stop switch 48 and the start switch 49 in order to accelerate the 
skiers to the requisite speed. The assembler may also, of course, adjust 
the size of the sprockets so that similar sized sprockets are used in all 
or a portion of the loading rollers 34 or a portion of the acceleration 
rollers 36 as long as the overall object of accelerating the skiers to the 
same or substantially the same speed as the chairlift is achieved. 
It is to be understood, of course, that the length of the roller apparatus, 
the time interval during which the rollers accelerate the skiers from 
their stationary position to their terminal speed on the rollers and the 
position of the switches 48 and 49 are all chosen so that the uphill chair 
28 and the skiers are travelling at the same or substantially the same 
speed when the uphill chair 28 catches up to the skiers at the embarking 
point 40. 
For unloading passengers from the chair lift, a plurality of rollers 80 is 
provided which rollers are positioned parallel to each other and 
perpendicular to the lift cable so that the axis of the rollers 80 is 
colinear with the path of the chair lift, that is, colinear with the lift 
cable 72 at the point at which passengers disembark from the chair. The 
plurality of rollers 80 are illustrated installed adjacent the upper wheel 
74 although it will be understood that passengers can be unloaded by such 
an unloading apparatus at any point along the path of the lift. In the 
preferred embodiment, the rollers consist of two sections: the unloading 
rollers 82 and the deceleration rollers 84. 
As shown in FIG. 5 of the preferred embodiment, in the unloading rollers 
82, every roller in the direction of the arrow 76 will rotate at the same 
speed which is faster than the speed of the ski lift cable 72 whereby the 
skier will be accelerated away from the chair when the skier dismounts 
from the chair. In the deceleration rollers 84, every roller rotates 
slower than the roller preceding it until the skier gradually slows down 
or stops moving and transfers to the snow 88. 
As described above, the rollers in the preferred embodiment are driven by a 
series of drive chains and sprockets whereby the speed of each individual 
roller is determined by the size of the sprocket in that particular 
roller. Power is transmitted to the drive chains by a variable speed motor 
as described above. 
In operation, the skiers 86 stand up from the chair near the downhill end 
of the unloading rollers 82 and are moved away from the chair by the 
unloading rollers 82 and onto the deceleration rollers 84 where the skiers 
86 are slowed down as they travel over the deceleration rollers 84 until 
they transfer to the snow 88. In another embodiment of the invention, the 
skiers 86 travel over the deceleration rollers 84 until they come to a 
stop at the uphill end of the deceleration rollers 84. 
Again, the number of unloading rollers 82 and deceleration rollers 84 and 
the size of the sprockets will be determined by the assembler on the basis 
of the type of lift to which the roller apparatus is being fitted to. The 
assembler will therefore take into account, among other things, the speed 
of the ski lift to determine the number of rollers and the size of the 
sprockets needed to move the skiers away from the chair and to decelerate 
the skiers. The assembler may also, of course, adjust the size of the 
sprockets so that similar sized sprockets are used in a portion of the 
unloading rollers 82 or a portion of the deceleration rollers 84 as long 
as the overall object of moving the skiers away from the ski lift and 
decelerating the skiers is achieved. 
In one embodiment of the invention, each roller is approximately 6 inches 
in diameter and six to eight feet in length. The rollers are mounted on a 
beam which is approximately 6 inches in width. The rollers are positioned 
approximately one foot apart from each other. 
In another embodiment of the invention, the drive chains are replaced with 
other suitable driving means such as, but not limited to, gears. 
Modifications and alterations to the roller assembly of the present 
invention are contemplated and are within the scope of the invention.