GB2144689A

GB2144689A - Ski lift

Info

Publication number: GB2144689A
Application number: GB08413545A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Philip David Armstrong
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1983-08-12
Filing date: 1984-05-25
Publication date: 1985-03-13
Also published as: GB8321783D0; GB2144689B; GB8413545D0

Abstract

A portable ski lift comprises an engine 11 and a deployable rope system Fig. 3 and a vehicular carrier Fig. 1 therefor drivable by the engine 11. The carrier has driving tracks 17 connectible to the engine. Controls may be provided, lawn mower fashion, on a handle. The portable ski lift is transported to a suitable ski slope on the vehicular carrier, with the operator either walking behind the carrier or being drawn on skis. The engine 11 of the vehicular carrier is then demounted and used to drive the deployable rope system. Alternatively, the engine can remain on the vehicular carrier when driving the deployable rope system. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Ski lift This invention relates to portable ski lifts comprising an engine and a deployable rope system arranged to haul a skier and his equipment up a ski slope.

Such ski lifts are, of course, portable only as compared to their larger brethren, the fixed commerical ski lifts. In order to keep the weight and bulk down to barely manageable levels - considering that in the nature of things they inevitably have to be carried uphill in good conditions for skiiing, but not so good for carrying things uphill, which is why you have ski lifts anyway - the power and the reel size and hence the amount of rope and hence the length of the run is limited, often to 100 metres or so, so that for even quite modest runs of 200 metres, two portable lifts need to be used.

The present invention improves the "portability" of portable ski lifts and in so doing enables a single lift to give longer runs if desired.

The invention comprises a portable ski lift comprising an engine and a deployable rope system, and a vehicular carrier therefor drivable by the engine.

Said carrier may comprise driving tracks connectiblue to said engine.

One embodiment of a portable ski lift according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicular carrier with an engine and pulley; Figure 2 is a plan view of the ski lift arrangement of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a view of the ski lift when deployed.

The drawings illustrate a portable ski lift comprising an engine 11 which may be a small, for example 5 h.p., petrol-driven engine driving a main pulley 12 over which in use is trained a hauling rope 13 which passes over a guide pulley arrangement 14 and an end pulley arrangement 15 which are deployed at the top and bottom respectively of the chosen ski slope.

The motor 11 and main pulley 12 may be mounted on a carrier 16 which is provided with tracks 17 trained over track wheels 18 on axles 19 and bogey wheels 20. The motor 11 and main pulley 12 are fitted to the carrier 16 by a catch 21 and guide rails 22. Power may be transmitted from the pulley 12 to a power transmission shaft 23 via a 'V' belt 24.

Tensioning of the 'V' belt 24 is maintained by catch 21. Power may then be transmitted through a clutch 25to an axle 19 and hence to the drive track 17.

Control cables 26,27 are provided for the clutch 25 and for throttle control of the motor 11 respectively, the cables 23,24 terminating in control levers 28,29 on a handle 30, all in similar fashion to a powered lawn mower.

The portable ski lift described and illustrated can now easily be taken single handed up a suitable ski slope, the operator either walking behind the carrier or being drawn on skis by the carrier if snow conditions permit. Once in position the motor and main pulley unit are removed from the carrier and fastened down in the usual way using stake anchors 31. Clearly larger engines and generally longer rope systems can be handled than if the equipment has to be manhandled up slopes.

The vehicular carriage 16 has a stowage drum 32 for the rope 13 and stowage for additional pulleys, anchors and so on.

It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof.

Thus, for example, the motor and pulley unit need not be removed from the carrier, the latter then being anchored when the ski lift is to be used.

1. A portable ski lift comprising an engine a deployable rope system, and a vehicular carrier therefor drivable by the engine.

2. A portable ski lift according to claim 1, said carrier comprising driving tracks connectible to said engine.

3. A portable ski lift according to claim 1 or claim 2, said engine driving a main pulley for a hauling rope.

4. A portable ski lift according to any one of claims 1 to 3, carrying a deployable end pulley arrangementfora hauling rope.

5. A portable ski lift according to any one of claims 1 to 4, in which the motor is fitted to the carrier by being slidable on guide rails on the carrier and locatable thereon by a catch.

6. A portable ski lift according to claim 5, in which power is transmitted to a drive shaft for driving the carrier by a V-belt arrangement.

7. A portable ski lift according to claim 6, in which the V-belt is tensioned by means for mounting the motor.

8. A portable ski lift according to any one of claims 1 to 7, said carriage carrying a rope storage arrangement.

9. A portable ski lift according to any one of claims 1 to 8, having driving controls mounted on a handle after the fashion of a lawn mower.

10. A portable ski lift substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Ski lift This invention relates to portable ski lifts comprising an engine and a deployable rope system arranged to haul a skier and his equipment up a ski slope. Such ski lifts are, of course, portable only as compared to their larger brethren, the fixed commerical ski lifts. In order to keep the weight and bulk down to barely manageable levels - considering that in the nature of things they inevitably have to be carried uphill in good conditions for skiiing, but not so good for carrying things uphill, which is why you have ski lifts anyway - the power and the reel size and hence the amount of rope and hence the length of the run is limited, often to 100 metres or so, so that for even quite modest runs of 200 metres, two portable lifts need to be used. The present invention improves the "portability" of portable ski lifts and in so doing enables a single lift to give longer runs if desired. The invention comprises a portable ski lift comprising an engine and a deployable rope system, and a vehicular carrier therefor drivable by the engine. Said carrier may comprise driving tracks connectiblue to said engine. One embodiment of a portable ski lift according to the invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a side elevation of a vehicular carrier with an engine and pulley; Figure 2 is a plan view of the ski lift arrangement of Figure 1; and Figure 3 is a view of the ski lift when deployed. The drawings illustrate a portable ski lift comprising an engine 11 which may be a small, for example 5 h.p., petrol-driven engine driving a main pulley 12 over which in use is trained a hauling rope 13 which passes over a guide pulley arrangement 14 and an end pulley arrangement 15 which are deployed at the top and bottom respectively of the chosen ski slope. The motor 11 and main pulley 12 may be mounted on a carrier 16 which is provided with tracks 17 trained over track wheels 18 on axles 19 and bogey wheels 20. The motor 11 and main pulley 12 are fitted to the carrier 16 by a catch 21 and guide rails 22. Power may be transmitted from the pulley 12 to a power transmission shaft 23 via a 'V' belt 24. Tensioning of the 'V' belt 24 is maintained by catch 21. Power may then be transmitted through a clutch 25to an axle 19 and hence to the drive track 17. Control cables 26,27 are provided for the clutch 25 and for throttle control of the motor 11 respectively, the cables 23,24 terminating in control levers 28,29 on a handle 30, all in similar fashion to a powered lawn mower. The portable ski lift described and illustrated can now easily be taken single handed up a suitable ski slope, the operator either walking behind the carrier or being drawn on skis by the carrier if snow conditions permit. Once in position the motor and main pulley unit are removed from the carrier and fastened down in the usual way using stake anchors 31. Clearly larger engines and generally longer rope systems can be handled than if the equipment has to be manhandled up slopes. The vehicular carriage 16 has a stowage drum 32 for the rope 13 and stowage for additional pulleys, anchors and so on. It will be appreciated that it is not intended to limit the invention to the above example only, many variations, such as might readily occur to one skilled in the art, being possible, without departing from the scope thereof. Thus, for example, the motor and pulley unit need not be removed from the carrier, the latter then being anchored when the ski lift is to be used. CLAIMS