Rider controlled zip line trolley brake system
An improved zip line trolley allowing a rider control of his or her speed while traversing along a suspended cable. The trolley comprises front and back wheels conjoined via left and right trolley plates and a handle bar. Front and back hand brake levers are mounted onto the handle bar. When front and back hand brake levers are squeezed by the rider, they create a constricting force which applies friction to the suspended cable via brake pads. This frictional force slows the rider's speed to his or her desired rate and brings the rider to a safe stop at a precise location along the suspended cable. The rider is able to quickly and easily remove the trolley from the suspended cable and transport it to another.
1. A trolley for use with a suspended cable, said trolley comprising:
a pulley housing comprising a first support plate and a second support plate, said first and second support plates each having a planar surface in substantially parallel relationship and sandwiching a first wheel and a second wheel, said wheels configured to rest on said suspended cable;
one of said support plates having a flange extending therefrom, said flange having a first planar portion being coplanar with said planar surface of said respective support plate and a second planar portion extending in a plane that is substantially parallel and between respective coplanar planes of said first and second planar surfaces, said second planar portion terminating in a free distal end;
a handle mounting bracket comprising a strip having a first end portion and a second end portion, said first end portion abutting a first side of said second planar portion, and said second end portion abutting a second side of said second planar portion whereby said second planar portion is between said first end portion and said second end portion and connected thereto by a first and second nut and bolt connection, said strip further forming a handle bar receiving portion, said handle mounting bracket having an approximate ninety-degree twist between said first and second end portions and said handle bar receiving portion;
a handle bar received in said handle bar receiving portion and having a first end and a second end;
a first handbrake lever assembly attached proximate said first end of said handle bar being connected to and configured to activate a first brake arm proximate said first wheel, and a second handbrake lever assembly proximate said second end of said handle bar being connected to and configured to active a second brake arm proximate said second wheel, said first and said second brake arms are attached to respective first and second brake pads, said brake pads being configured to directly contact said cable.