CA2132235C

CA2132235C - Ski belt tow

Info

Publication number: CA2132235C
Application number: CA 2132235
Authority: CA
Inventors: Wayne Lindsey Schultz
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1994-09-16
Filing date: 1994-09-16
Publication date: 1997-08-19
Anticipated expiration: 2014-09-16
Also published as: CA2132235A1

Abstract

A ski tow arrangement having a single endless conveyor belt running on and directly supported by the snow, without the typical conveyor framing and idler rollers along the length of the belt. Both the loaded and return belt run flat on the snow, side by side with adequate lateral spacing, instead of the usual conveyor arrangement of loaded belt above the return belt. At each terminal four belt rollers, two horizontal and two vertical, serve to reverse the belt direction and provide adequate lateral spacing.
Power is applied by conventional means to the head pulley of the uphill terminal. The upper belt surface may be provided with cleats to hold the skier in position during slippery belt conditions on steeper slopes. To facilitate comfortable loading without a significant change in skier momentum, a snow ramp allows the skier to accelerate to match the belt speed prior to arriving on the belt at the lower terminal. Similarly the snow slopes away from the discharge end of the belt at the upper terminal to allow skiers to exit away from the ski belt and on down the hill by the force of gravity.

Description

2132~35 SKI BELT TOW

This invention is concerned with a ski tow transport system of the conveyor belt type that also relates to "moving sidewalks" for transporting passengers.
Ski tows and related apparatus are generally known in the prior art. A representative grouping of the prior art is illustrated in U.S. Pat. nos. 3,339,496; 3,349,720;
3,385,339; 3,602,361; 3, and 3,861,514. In operation the prior art tows are of two principal types; those which stop to pick up skiers and those which continue to move while the skier is being picked up. ~his invention is concerned with the latter type of tow.
Continuous moving tows are typically more reliable however inexperienced skiers have difficulty loading and unloading without falling down. As well, typical ski tows present hazards to skiers in the form of support tower obstacles and the potential drop of overhead components.
Belt tows described in prior art also present safety risks through contact with moving rollers and significant obstacles to down hill skiers. The construction requirements of typical conveyors and moving sidewalks with structural framing, foundations and many moving components are not economically practical.
There is a need for an economical ski tow whereby skiers can be safely picked up without stopping, transported without contact with moving rollers, and without creating 2~32235 significant hazards to down hill skiers. Besides safety of travel, the speed and comfort with which skiers are conveyed, and construction considerations affect the commercial success of ski belt tows.
This invention provides an improved ski tow system having a conveyor belt arrangement which permits substantially lower construction costs than those of a conventional ski tow. Furthermore the ski belt system is more reliable and safer due to fewer moving components and fixed obstacles.
The system consists of a conveyor belt running on and directly supported by the snow, without the typical conveyor framing and idler rollers along the length of the belt. Both the loaded and return belt run flat on the snow, side by side with adequate lateral spacing, instead of the usual conveyor arrangement of loaded belt above the return belt. At each terminal four belt rollers, two horizontal and two vertical, serve to reverse the belt direction and provide adequate lateral spacing. Power is applied by conventional means to the head pulley of the uphill terminal. The upper belt surface may be provided with cleats to hold the skier in position during slippery belt conditions on steeper slopes.
To facilitate comfortable loading without a significant change in skier momentum, a snow ramp allows the skier to accelerate to match the belt speed prior to arriving on the belt at the lower terminal. Similarly the ~3~23S
-snow slopes away from the discharge end of the belt at the upper terminal to allow skiers to exit away from the ski belt and on down the hill by the force of gravity.
The attached drawing is an isometric sketch of the preferred embodiment of the ski tow assembly.
Referring to the drawing, a skier 1 is shown using a ski tow assembly which includes a snow ramp 2 to access the lower terminal and arrive on the conveyor belt 4 that transports the skier to the upper terminal 5 and a similar snow ramp 6 away from the discharge end of the ski belt system.
The lower terminal consists of four conveyor belt rollers 7 that serve to reverse the belt direction and provide adequate lateral spacing. The conveyor belt 4 returning from the upper terminal 5 travels 180 degrees around the first horizontal roller, twists one quarter turn about its length, and travels a short distance and 90 degrees around the first vertical roller 7. The belt continues, at this right angle to the length of the ski belt system to provide the adequate lateral spacing of the uphill and downhill belts, then travels 90 degrees around a second vertical roller, twists one quarter turn about its length, and travels a short distance and 180 degrees around the second horizontal roller to continue in the direction away from the lower terminal 3 to the upper terminal 5. At all times the belt twist allows the upper surface of the belt 4, with or without cleats 8, to remain on the outside of the 2~Z~35 .
turn about the rollers 7 to extend belt llfe, eliminate cleat 8 damage and ensure the smooth bottom surface of the belt is in contact with the snow on both the uphill and downhill runs. Cleats 8 are provided on a minimum spacing of 25 feet when required to hold the skier 1 in position during slippery belt conditions on steeper slopes.
The main length of the ski belt system is comprised of conventional conveyor belting 4 with the smooth lower surface supported directly on the naturally low friction snow surface 6. A skier 1 may comfortably stand on the belt 4 or use ski poles in contact with the belt 4 for assistance in maintaining balance. No obstacles in the form of framing or supports exist throughout the length of the ski belt system.
lS The upper terminal 5 consists of four conveyor belt rollers 9 that serve to reverse the belt direction and provide adequate lateral spacing. The conveyor belt 4 approaching from the lower terminal 3 travels 180 degrees around the first horizontal roller 10, twists one quarter turn about its length, and travels a short distance and 90 degrees around the first vertical roller. The belt continues, at this right angle to the length of the ski belt system to provide the adequate lateral spacing of the uphill and downhill belts, then travels 90 degrees around a second vertical roller, twists one quarter turn about its length, and travels a short distance and 180 degrees around the second horizontal roller 9 to continue in the direction 2~3~

.
away from the upper terminal 5 to the lower terminal 3.
Note that the first horizontal roller 10 of the upper terminal 5 is also the drive roller 10 to which power is applied by conventional means at a safe speed adequate to the level of skier ability.

Claims

1. A ski tow arrangement comprising a conveyor belt connecting an upper and lower terminal wherein four rollers are arranged to reverse the conveyor belt direction, provide adequate lateral spacing, and ensure the smooth lower surface of the belt is in contact with the snow between terminals.

2. The ski tow of claim 1 additionally comprising a conventional conveyor belt, with or without cleats, supported directly on the low friction surface of the snow to transport skiers.