IP Library › Granted Patent US 9,033,115
Granted Patent B2
US 9,033,115 · App. 13/673,509 · Granted May 19, 2015

Zip line braking

Inventor: Shawn Lerner (New York, NY)
B61H9/02B60T1/10B61H9/00B60T13/586B60T13/748
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,033,115
App. No.
13/673,509
Granted
May 19, 2015
Kind
B2
Abstract

For zip line braking, a brake cable travels between at least two terminals. A brake applies a braking force to travel of the brake cable. A link arm is in physical communication with the brake cable. A trolley receiver in physical communication with the link arm and slidably traveling along a zip line receives a trolley slidably traveling along the zip line. The trolley receiver transfers the braking force through the link arm to the trolley.

Claims (17)

1. An apparatus comprising:

a brake cable traveling alongside a portion of a zip line between a first terminal arranged downstream from a starting point of the zip line and a second terminal downstream from the first terminal;

a brake applying a braking force to travel of the brake cable;

a link arm in physical communication with the brake cable; and

a trolley receiver in physical communication with the link arm, slidably traveling along the zip line, the trolley receiver being configured to receive near the first terminal a travelling trolley slidable along the zip line, the trolley receiver transferring the braking force through the link arm to the trolley.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brake cable is a loop.

3. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brake cable is wound on a spool.

4. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a pulley, the brake cable traveling over the pulley.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the brake applies the braking force to the pulley.

6. The apparatus of claim 4 , further comprising a motor driving the pulley to move the brake cable to an initial position.

7. The apparatus of claim 4 , wherein the pulley comprises a rubberized groove between two flanges.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 , further comprising a brake receiver in physical communication with the brake cable and connecting the linking arm to the brake cable.

9. The apparatus of claim 8 , further comprising a spring traveling along the brake cable between the brake receiver and the second terminal.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brake is an eddy current brake.

11. The apparatus of claim 10 , wherein an eddy current brake moves the brake cable to an initial position.

12. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brake is a regenerative brake.

13. The apparatus of claim 1 , wherein the brake is a friction brake.

Continuity (2)
Provisional Application 61558571 · Nov 11, 2011
Related Publication 20130118842A1 · May 16, 2013