US3875867A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
T-bar delivery mechanism on a tow lift
Assignee: Individual
•
Filing: 1974-08-09
•
Granted: 1975-04-08
•
Expires: 1994-08-09
Abstract
Abstract A guide device for supplying a T-bar in the correct position to a skier. In association with a conventional T-bar ski lift, there is provided a guide unit having a pair of parallel conveyor belts whose lower courses travel in the same direction of movement as the adjacent portion of the ski lift. The pair of belts is positioned below and aligned with the lift so that the T-bar can be guided therebetween with the cross-bar of the T being carried along and guided by the lower courses of the belts. The lower course of belts travel at a faster speed than does the lift. The skier waits at the discharge end of the conveyor and the T-bar is thus presented to him in the correct position for engagement of his body and movement up the slope in a conventional manner. The T-bar arrives well before the corresponding position of attachment to the lift cable so that ample time is given to the skier to grab the T-bar. The device can be arranged for the usual two-person T-bar lift or can be arranged for a one-person lift.
Inventors
- 👤 Hans Geyer
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-30 21:34
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B11/00; B61B11/004
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 18
Claim 1
Independent Claim
373 words
In a T-bar delivery mechanism for a ski lift having return pulley means for guiding a cable thereover which has a tow bar connected thereto through a retractable line mechanism, first drive means for said cable and inclined conveyor means for guiding said tow bar downwardly into a discharge position, the improvement comprising: a pair of laterally spaced parallel conveyor belts defining said conveyor means; support means for supporting said conveyor belts so that at least one surface of each conveyor belt is inclined to the horizontal and having velocity vector components in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said cable on said ski lift and perpendicular thereto, said conveyor means including orienting means engageable with said tow bar adjacent the upper end of said conveyor belts for orienting said tow bar prior to its engagement with said surface of each of said conveyor belts; second drive means for driving said pair of laterally spaced conveyor belts, said second drive means including means for providing a parallel velocity vector component which is greater than the parallel velocity component of said cable; and tow bar delivery means adjacent the lower end of said conveyor belts and said discharge position for effecting a disengagement of said tow bar from said surfaces and delivery of said tow bar to an awaiting skier, the angle of said line connecting said cable to said tow bar being inclined to the vertical and away from the back of said skier when said tow bar is delivered to said discharge position and said skier is positioned adjacent said tow bar delivery means and facing in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said cable, the angle of said line connecting said cable to said tow bar being inclined to the vertical and away from the front of said skier at the time said skier is drawn from said discharge position by the pull of said ski lift so that the time between the arrival of said tow bar at said discharge position and the pull of said skier by said ski lift is sufficient for said skier to properly position said tow bar before being pulled by said ski lift away from said discharge position.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
373 words
In a T-bar delivery mechanism for a ski lift having return pulley means for guiding a cable thereover which has a tow bar connected thereto through a retractable line mechanism, first drive means for said cable and inclined conveyor means for guiding said tow bar downwardly into a discharge position, the improvement comprising: a pair of laterally spaced parallel conveyor belts defining said conveyor means; support means for supporting said conveyor belts so that at least one surface of each conveyor belt is inclined to the horizontal and having velocity vector components in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said cable on said ski lift and perpendicular thereto, said conveyor means including orienting means engageable with said tow bar adjacent the upper end of said conveyor belts for orienting said tow bar prior to its engagement with said surface of each of said conveyor belts; second drive means for driving said pair of laterally spaced conveyor belts, said second drive means including means for providing a parallel velocity vector component which is greater than the parallel velocity component of said cable; and tow bar delivery means adjacent the lower end of said conveyor belts and said discharge position for effecting a disengagement of said tow bar from said surfaces and delivery of said tow bar to an awaiting skier, the angle of said line connecting said cable to said tow bar being inclined to the vertical and away from the back of said skier when said tow bar is delivered to said discharge position and said skier is positioned adjacent said tow bar delivery means and facing in a direction parallel to the direction of movement of said cable, the angle of said line connecting said cable to said tow bar being inclined to the vertical and away from the front of said skier at the time said skier is drawn from said discharge position by the pull of said ski lift so that the time between the arrival of said tow bar at said discharge position and the pull of said skier by said ski lift is sufficient for said skier to properly position said tow bar before being pulled by said ski lift away from said discharge position.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said tow bar delivery means includes means defining a waiting seat.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
24 words
A T-bar delivery mechanism according to claim 2, wherein said waiting seat is planar and arranged above the lower end of said conveyor belts.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A T-bar delivery mechanism according to claim 3, wherein said plane of said waiting seat and the running direction of the conveyor belts define an acute angle (.alpha.).
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
32 words
A T-bar delivery mechanism according to claim 3, including means defining cleaning and guide rollers for cleaning the tow bar, said cleaning and guide roller means being arranged below the waiting seat.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
17 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said conveyor means is positioned below said return pulley means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
22 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said orienting means comprises a guide channel having a slope inclined to said conveyor belts.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
27 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said tow bar delivery means includes at least one guide rail arranged at the lower end of said conveyor belts.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
24 words
The improvement according to claim 8, wherein said guide rail guides said tow bar parallel to the direction of movement of said tow bar.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
36 words
The improvement according to claim 8, wherein said tow bar delivery means further includes means defining a waiting seat located adjacent said guide rails whereby said guide rail guides said tow bar to said waiting seat.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
21 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein the conveyor belts are provided with cleats for engaging and guiding said tow bar.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
40 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said tow bar delivery means includes means defining an acoustic signal transmitter positioned at a distance in front of the lower end of said conveyor belts and operable by a passing tow bar.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
18 words
The improvement according to claim 1, including cleaning elements arranged adjacent the lower end of said conveyor belts.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement according to claim 1, including shield means for covering said conveyor belts.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
14 words
The improvement according to claim 1, including heating means for heating said waiting seat.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
26 words
The improvement according to claim 1, wherein said second drive means for said conveyor belts is arranged on one of the ends of said conveyor belts.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
44 words
The improvement according to claim 16, wherein said second drive means is a motor which drives the two conveyor belts through V-belt pulleys and wherein said first drive means comprises gear means for coupling the output from said motor to said return pulley means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
US3548753A
Cited
US3602361A
Cited
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1978-04-07 | 1978-10-07 | 1979-04-08 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1982-04-07 | 1982-10-07 | 1983-04-08 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1986-04-07 | 1986-10-07 | 1987-04-08 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |