US2677331A - Ski lift - Google Patents

Ski lift Download PDF

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US2677331A
US2677331A US106881A US10688149A US2677331A US 2677331 A US2677331 A US 2677331A US 106881 A US106881 A US 106881A US 10688149 A US10688149 A US 10688149A US 2677331 A US2677331 A US 2677331A
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secured
standard
disposed
pulley
supporting
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US106881A
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Marlyn J Hauseman
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BRIDGER SKI LIFT Inc
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BRIDGER SKI LIFT Inc
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    • BPERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
    • B61RAILWAYS
    • B61BRAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
    • B61B11/00Ski lift, sleigh lift or like trackless systems with guided towing cables only

Definitions

  • This invention relates to a towing apparatus and more particularly appertains to a ski tow apparatus for towing skiers up an inclination.
  • Figure l is a side elevational view showing the ski tow apparatus in assembled arrangement for towing skiers up a hill;
  • Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the driving means for the tow rope or similar member
  • Figure 3 is a top plan view of the driving means
  • Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper tower assembly of the apparatus, which anchored at the top of the hill;
  • Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the lower tower assembly
  • Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational View of the carrier member and intermediate guide means for the tow rope;
  • Figure 7 is a view taken on line 11 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;
  • Figure 8 a top plan view of the guide means
  • Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the spring box for the carrier member
  • Figure 19 is a sectional view taken on line iii-56 of Figure 9;
  • Figure ll is a front elevational view of the intermediate tower assembly
  • Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the intermediate tower assembly
  • Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the upper tower assembly.
  • the ski tow apparatus H] is illustrated in assembled arrangement for towing skiers up a hill I 2 and generally includes an endless or continuous towing rope or similar flexible member M from which depends at spaced points carrier members 16.
  • the rope is driven by a drive means [8, which is mounted at the foot of the hill or slide and is supported at the top of the hill by a supporting structure 26 with intermediate guide means 22 being provided and disposed along the hill.
  • the drive means [8 and supporting structure therefor includes a base member 24, which is anchored by suitable fastening members to a cement block or other anchoring means, which is embedded in the ground.
  • a pair of uprights or standards 25 and 28 extend upwardly and inwardly relative to each other from the base member.
  • the convergent standards are formed with attaching plates 30 at their lower ends, the plates being pivoted to apertured ears 32 formed integrally on the base member by bolt assemblies 34.
  • a cap member 36 is provided with downward- 1 extending integral sleeves or tubular extensions 38 which are disposed on the upper converging ends of the standards.
  • An intermediate standard iii is provided at its lower end with parallel projecting extensions 42 which are pivotally secured at their lower ends to a complementary pair of apertured ears 44.
  • a cap member 46 is secured on the upper end of the standard 40 and a U-shaped supporting plate 48 is integrally formed on the cap member.
  • a shaft 50 is journaled between the parallel legs of the supporting plate and a bank of pulleys 52 are rotatably disposed on the shaft.
  • a pair of complementary cars 54 extend or project rearwardly from the cap member 36 and a pair of pulleys 58 are journaled on a shaft 58, which is journaled in the cars.
  • a flexible member 59 is trained over the pulleys 52 and 53, the member having one end secured to the cap member 35 and the opposite end secured to a weight 58.
  • Restraining or anchoring cables 62 are secured to an offset section 64 of the cap member 46 and are anchored to the ground by stakes or other means.
  • Supporting means 86 supports the drive means and includes a U-shaped frame 68 to which is secured, adjacent the web portion thereof, a pair of downwardly extending side bars 15 and if.
  • a supporting platform '1 extends rearwardly from the lower ends of the side bars 19 and i2 and is disposed in substantial parallelism with the upper forwardly extending U-shaped frame 68.
  • a prime mover 15 is mounted on the platform 74 and a bank of pulleys T8 are fixed on the extending drive shaft thereof.
  • a transversely disposed bar 82 is secured to the web portion of the frame 68 and a parallel transversely disposed 3 bar 84 is secured between the opposing legs of the frame 68 forwardly of the bar 82.
  • Bearing blocks 85 are secured to the upper faces of the bars and a driven shaft 88 is rotatably disposed therein.
  • a bank of pulleys 90 are secured on the rearwardly extending end of the shaft as in vertical alignment with the pulleys 18 and are drivingly connected thereto by means of belts 82.
  • a housing 94 is supported between the outer ends of the frame 68 and a shaft 95 is vertically disposed therein.
  • a gear 98 is carried by the shaft in intermeshing engagement with a worm I fixed on the shaft 88.
  • a drive wheel or pulley IOI is secured on the lower end of the shaft and is rotated through the drive arrangement including the shaft 88 and the gear 88.
  • a U-shaped flexible guide member I02 embraces a portion of the pulley or drive wheel NH and is held in a suspended horizontal position from the frame 08 by supporting bars I83.
  • the guide member is formed with outwardly turned unattached ends I043, which project forwardly of the drive wheel.
  • a pair of vertically disposed pulleys I08 and I98 are rotatably carried by stub axles IIO extending laterally from supporting arms H2.
  • the arms II2 are secured to the terminating portions of the opposing legs of the frame 68 and project forwardly and downwardly therefrom in an inclined plane relative to the periphery of the drive wheel.
  • the pulleys I06 and IE8 function to retain the cable I4 in engagement with the drive pulley I81 and to guide the outgoing and return reaches of the cable into contact of the drive pulley.
  • the guide means 22 includes an intermediately positioned tower structure H ll, which includes an angle iron base member H6 on which are integrally formed a pair of complementary apertured ears H8.
  • a tubular supporting member 520 is pivotally secured at its lower end between the cars by a pivot pin I22 and is formed adjacent its upper end with a series of vertically spaced transversely disposed openings !24.
  • a complementary tubular member I25 is slidably disposed in the tubular member I20 and is formed with a series of transversely disposed spaced openings, which are alignable with the openings I24 to receive a pin I28.
  • a pair of rigidifying or bracing bars I32 and i32 are secured to a pair of laterally extending oifset sections I34 on the upper end of the tubular member 520 and are pivotally secured at their lower ends to upstanding ears I36 formed integrally on the base men1 her IIG.
  • Anchoring cable assemblies I33, of Y- shaped formation, shown in Fig. 11, are provided at each the upgrade and the down-grade sides of the tower structure I It, as shown in Fig. l, the branches I39 of each cable assembly being secured to the opposing ends of a cross piece his which is welded or otherwise secured midway between its ends on the upper end of the tubular member I26.
  • the stems MI of the cable assemblies I38 are secured to stakes or pegs I42 which are anchored in the ground at an inclined angle away from the vertical plane of the tubular members, with the base member 2 it secured by spikes I44 to a concrete block I46 embedded in the ground.
  • the guide means for the outgoing and return reaches of the cable are supported by the opposing ends of the cross piece 540.
  • a rod I48 is secured in the opposing ends of the cross piece I40.
  • a supporting bar I50 is transversely secured to the outer end of the rod I48 and a guide bar I52 is secured parallel to the bar I50 by bolts I54, the bar I52 being spaced from the bar I59 by bushings I56 concentrically disposed on the bolts.
  • the guide bar is formed with inwardly directed opposing ends I58 and IE0.
  • the bar functions as a cam bar to space the carrier members I6 from the support bar I50, as the cable is driven and carries the carriers upwardly and downwardly.
  • a pulley I62 is rotatably journaled to the bar I50 in a vertical position below the cable I4.
  • a complementary pulley IE l is resiliently mounted above the pulley I02, so that the cable I4 is guided between the two vertically aligned pulleys.
  • the pulley I64 is rotatably journaled on the outer end of a supporting arm I66 which is povotally secured as at I68 to an upwardly extending supporting bar I10, the bar being secured at its lower end in an inclined plane to the support bar I50.
  • a rod I12 is formed with a lateral end I14 which is disposed through the supporting bar I50 and is formed with a threaded end upon which is secured a nut I16. The rod extends upwardly and rearwardly from the bar 56.
  • the rod I12 is formed with an externally threaded upper end I18 upon which is secured a nut I30.
  • the rod extends through a vertical opening in the arm I66 and a stop plate I32 is formed integrally thereon with a spring I24 concentrically disposed about the rod and positioned between the stop plate I82 and the nut I80.
  • the arm IE5 is held under resilient tension, so that the pulley I64 is held in complementary relation with the pulley I52.
  • the pulley I6 l is allowed to move upwardiy and to be spaced from the pulley i62, upon entrance of the attaching means for the carrier units between the two pulleys.
  • An idler fiat pulley I86 is horizontally positioned on a horizontal extension I88, the pulley being rotatably disposed on a vertical shaft I90, so that the periphery thereof is disposed in engagement with the cable It for guiding the cable between and retaining the cable in engagement of the two pulleys I02 and I64.
  • the carrier units include a bead or pressed sleeve I92, which may be in the form of a clamp common in the art, is secured at spaced intervals on the cable I4.
  • a spindle or shaft I9 3 extends laterally from the bead and is provided with a coaxially reduced end.
  • An arm i96 is formed with a sleeve end I98, which is osciilatably disposed on the reduced end of the shaft I514.
  • the arm I is formed at its lower end with an inturned offset extremity I99 to which is pivotally secured by means of a pair of integral apertured ears 2!!!) a spring box 202.
  • the spring box 202 is formed with a reduced casing 206 which is secured to one side of the box.
  • a shaft 285 is rotatably journaled transversely in the box and casing and a reel 208 is fixed on the shaft.
  • the reel is disposed within the box 202.
  • the reel is formed with a split periphery 2I0, .a transversely disposed pin 2 I2 being positioned in the cut out portion of the hub.
  • a line is secured to the shaft 206, the line being disposed between the pin 252 and the adjacent end of the hub and extending around the hub and outwardly at the bottom or open lower end of the box.
  • a rewind spring structure 2I5 is disposed within the casing 204 and functions to rotate the shaft 205, so that the take-up line is automatically rewound on the hub.
  • the line is secured at its outer end to an arm 2M formed with an offset apertured lower end 2I8.
  • the end 2 is slidably disposed on a guide rod 226, which is formed with a laterally disposed aperturned end 222 slidably disposed on the shank of the member 2 [4.
  • a recoil spring 224 is disposed about the arm and a rod 226 is formed integrally with the lower end of the member 226 with a seat 228 secured to the lower end of the rod.
  • the upper tower structure 26 includes a base member 236, which is preferably an angle iron, having the horizontal portion thereof apertured as at 232 for receiving spikes or similar anchoring means, which are secured to a concrete block 234 anchored in the ground.
  • a pair of upstanding apertured ears 236 are integrally formed on the horizontal portion of the angle iron and tubular uprights or standards 238, 246 and 242 are pivotally secured between the ears, the lower ends of the tubular members being mounted on a common pivot element 244 disposed transversely between the ears.
  • the tubular member 238 is disposed intermediate of the members 2 16 and 242 and a cap member 2 36 is secured at the upper end thereof.
  • a cable 24 3 is secured at one end to the cap 246 and is entrained over a pulley 256 rotatably journaled between a pair of plates 252, which extend integrally from a superstructure 254 pivoted on the upper converging ends of the tubular members 2138 and 2A2.
  • Anchoring cables 256 extend from the cap 246 and may be anchored in the ground by means of retaining stakes. The opposite end of the cable 248 is secured to a winch (not shown).
  • a winch (not shown).
  • a pair of parallel supporting bars or plates 25? are integrally formed at one end with the body portion of superstructure 254 and an idler pulley 256 is rotatably carried by the outer ends of the supporting plates and is disposed in a horizontal plane.
  • a U-shaped guide member 266 is suspended from the supporting plates by means of vertical connecting bars 262 and a U- shaped supporting bar 264.
  • a pair of vertically disposed guide sheaves 266 are rotatably mounted on supporting arms 268 which project forwardly from the legs of the U-shaped bar 264.
  • the cable is driven by the drive pulley l6i, which is operated through the belt transmission system from the prime mover it.
  • the cable is operatively disposed through the intermediate guide structure and is entrained around the idler pulley 258 on the upper tower structure.
  • the carriers are disposed at spaced points along the cable and suspend therefrom.
  • the lift may be adjusted to dispose the reaches of the towing rope M at the desired distance above the skiing surface of the hill I2, by manipulation of the winch cable 248 (Fig. 13).
  • the standards 246 and 242 (Figs. 4 and 13) may be allowed to swing toward the standards 26 and 28 (Fig. 5) at the foot of the hill. This results in the standards 26 and 2B swinging in a direction away from the standards 246 and 242, at the top of the hill, the weight 66 becoming lowered during such adjustment and taking up any slack in the flexible member 59.
  • the flexible member 59 in association with bank of pulleys 56 and 56 and the weight 60 also functions to keep the towing rope l4 tensioned throughout this adjustment, and also while the lift is in use.
  • a base member a pair of standards pivotally connected to said base member and disposed in upwardly converging relation, a first cap member connecting the upper end portions of said standards, an in termediate standard pivotally connected to said base at a zone intermediate the connection of said pair of standards therewith, a second cap member secured to the upper end of said intermediate standard, a bank of pulleys rotatably carried by each said first and second cap mem bers, a flexible member secured at one end portion to said first cap member, extending therefrom toward said intermediate standard and trained about and back and forth between said banks of pulleys with its other end portion trained over one of the pulleys of the bank of pulleys carried by said second cap member, a weight secured to the end of
  • a base member a pair of standards pivotally connected to said base member and disposed in upwardly converging relation, a superstructure pivotally carried at the upper end of said standards, rotatably supporting the driven pulley, an intermediate standard pivotally connected to said base at a zone intermediate the connection of said pair of standards therewith, a cap member secured to the upper end of said intermediate standard, an anchoring cable connected to said cap member, disposing said intermediate standard in an inclined position to one side of the plane common to said pair of standards and at the side thereof opposite that to which said driven pulley is located, and a winch cable operatively connected to said cap member and superstructure whereby the relative position of said pair of standards may be adjusted with respect to said intermediate standard.
  • a ski lift of the class for towing skiers up a hill wherein an endless towing rope is trained about a drive pulley and a driven pulley, and has reaches extending between said pulleys substantially paralleling the inclined surface of the hill; the improvement which comprises; a first standard pivoted at its lower portion to swing toward and from the zone of the driven pulley, means carried by the upper portion of said first standard rotatably supporting said drive pulley, a drive means, including a prime mover, operatively connected to the drive pulley, mounted upon the upper portion of said first standard, a second standard pivoted at its lower portion to swing toward and from the zone of said drive pulley, a superstructure mounted upon the upper end portion of said second standard, rotatably supporting the driven pulley, means operatively connected to one of said standards for swinging it about its pivot and retaining it in a set position to space the reaches of the towing rope a predetermined distance above the hill skiing surface, and means operatively connected to the other of said
  • a ski lift of the class for towing skiers up a hill wherein an endless towing rope is trained about a drive pulley and a driven pulley, and has reaches extending between said pulleys substantially paralleling the inclined surface of the hill; the improvement which comprises: a base, a first and a second standard pivotally carried upon said base, means carried by the upper portion of said first standard, supporting the drive pulley of the towing rope to one side of said first standard, tensioning means to the other side of said first standard constructed and arranged to yieldably connect said first and second standards at their upper end portions, and an anchoring cable connected to the upper end portion of said second standard and to the ground, disposing said second standard in upwardly diverging relationship to said first standard, whereby said last mentioned means yieldably tensions the towing rope.

Description

y 4, 1954 M. J. HAUSEMAN 2,677,331
I SKI LIFT Filed July 26, 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 1 Fig 5- In uentor g 'v Marlyn J. Hauseman May 4, 1954 M. J. HAUSEMAN SKI LIFT 4 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 26, 1949 Inventor Marl yr; J Houseman May 4, 1954 J. HAUSEMAN SKI LIFT 4 Sheets-$heet 3 Filed July 26. 1949 4 Inventor Marlyn J. Hauseman MM Attorney y 4, 1954 M. J. HAUSEMAN 2,677,331
SKI LIFT Filed July 26. 1949 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 v A I M 7bw/hcb 2 2 266 To Anchor 234 Marlyn J. Hausem an IN V EN TOR.
Patented May 4, 1954 SKI LIFT Marlyn J. Hauseman, Bozeman,
Mont, assignor to Bridger Ski Lift, Incorporated, Bozeman, Mont, a corporation of Montana Application July 26, 1949, Serial No. 106,881
6 Claims. 1 This invention relates to a towing apparatus and more particularly appertains to a ski tow apparatus for towing skiers up an inclination.
to tow or pull skiers up a hill at an even and constant rate of speed without imparting any shock to the skier, especially during acceleration of the skier from a standing position to the velocity of the tow.
These and ancillary objects and structural features of merit are attained by this invention, a referred embodiment of which is set forth in following description and illustrated in the companying drawings, wherein:
Figure l is a side elevational view showing the ski tow apparatus in assembled arrangement for towing skiers up a hill;
Figure 2 is an enlarged side elevational view of the driving means for the tow rope or similar member;
Figure 3 is a top plan view of the driving means;
Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the upper tower assembly of the apparatus, which anchored at the top of the hill;
Figure 5 is an end elevational view of the lower tower assembly;
Figure 6 is an enlarged elevational View of the carrier member and intermediate guide means for the tow rope;
Figure 7 is a view taken on line 11 of Figure 6, looking in the direction of the arrows;
Figure 8 a top plan view of the guide means;
Figure 9 is a vertical sectional view of the spring box for the carrier member;
Figure 19 is a sectional view taken on line iii-56 of Figure 9;
Figure ll is a front elevational view of the intermediate tower assembly;
Figure 12 is a side elevational view of the intermediate tower assembly, and
Figure 13 is a side elevational view of the upper tower assembly.
In Figure 1, the ski tow apparatus H] is illustrated in assembled arrangement for towing skiers up a hill I 2 and generally includes an endless or continuous towing rope or similar flexible member M from which depends at spaced points carrier members 16. The rope is driven by a drive means [8, which is mounted at the foot of the hill or slide and is supported at the top of the hill by a supporting structure 26 with intermediate guide means 22 being provided and disposed along the hill.
The drive means [8 and supporting structure therefor includes a base member 24, which is anchored by suitable fastening members to a cement block or other anchoring means, which is embedded in the ground. A pair of uprights or standards 25 and 28 extend upwardly and inwardly relative to each other from the base member. The convergent standards are formed with attaching plates 30 at their lower ends, the plates being pivoted to apertured ears 32 formed integrally on the base member by bolt assemblies 34.
A cap member 36 is provided with downward- 1 extending integral sleeves or tubular extensions 38 which are disposed on the upper converging ends of the standards. An intermediate standard iii is provided at its lower end with parallel projecting extensions 42 which are pivotally secured at their lower ends to a complementary pair of apertured ears 44. A cap member 46 is secured on the upper end of the standard 40 and a U-shaped supporting plate 48 is integrally formed on the cap member. A shaft 50 is journaled between the parallel legs of the supporting plate and a bank of pulleys 52 are rotatably disposed on the shaft. A pair of complementary cars 54 extend or project rearwardly from the cap member 36 and a pair of pulleys 58 are journaled on a shaft 58, which is journaled in the cars. A flexible member 59 is trained over the pulleys 52 and 53, the member having one end secured to the cap member 35 and the opposite end secured to a weight 58. Restraining or anchoring cables 62 are secured to an offset section 64 of the cap member 46 and are anchored to the ground by stakes or other means.
In this manner, the supporting standards 26 and 28, which support the drive means it are tensioned and held in a proper vertical position.
Supporting means 86 supports the drive means and includes a U-shaped frame 68 to which is secured, adjacent the web portion thereof, a pair of downwardly extending side bars 15 and if. A supporting platform '1 extends rearwardly from the lower ends of the side bars 19 and i2 and is disposed in substantial parallelism with the upper forwardly extending U-shaped frame 68. A prime mover 15 is mounted on the platform 74 and a bank of pulleys T8 are fixed on the extending drive shaft thereof. A transversely disposed bar 82 is secured to the web portion of the frame 68 and a parallel transversely disposed 3 bar 84 is secured between the opposing legs of the frame 68 forwardly of the bar 82. Bearing blocks 85 are secured to the upper faces of the bars and a driven shaft 88 is rotatably disposed therein. A bank of pulleys 90 are secured on the rearwardly extending end of the shaft as in vertical alignment with the pulleys 18 and are drivingly connected thereto by means of belts 82.
A housing 94 is supported between the outer ends of the frame 68 and a shaft 95 is vertically disposed therein. A gear 98 is carried by the shaft in intermeshing engagement with a worm I fixed on the shaft 88. A drive wheel or pulley IOI is secured on the lower end of the shaft and is rotated through the drive arrangement including the shaft 88 and the gear 88.
A U-shaped flexible guide member I02 embraces a portion of the pulley or drive wheel NH and is held in a suspended horizontal position from the frame 08 by supporting bars I83. The guide member is formed with outwardly turned unattached ends I043, which project forwardly of the drive wheel. A pair of vertically disposed pulleys I08 and I98 are rotatably carried by stub axles IIO extending laterally from supporting arms H2. The arms II2 are secured to the terminating portions of the opposing legs of the frame 68 and project forwardly and downwardly therefrom in an inclined plane relative to the periphery of the drive wheel.
The pulleys I06 and IE8 function to retain the cable I4 in engagement with the drive pulley I81 and to guide the outgoing and return reaches of the cable into contact of the drive pulley.
The guide means 22 includes an intermediately positioned tower structure H ll, which includes an angle iron base member H6 on which are integrally formed a pair of complementary apertured ears H8. A tubular supporting member 520 is pivotally secured at its lower end between the cars by a pivot pin I22 and is formed adjacent its upper end with a series of vertically spaced transversely disposed openings !24. A complementary tubular member I25 is slidably disposed in the tubular member I20 and is formed with a series of transversely disposed spaced openings, which are alignable with the openings I24 to receive a pin I28. A pair of rigidifying or bracing bars I32 and i32 are secured to a pair of laterally extending oifset sections I34 on the upper end of the tubular member 520 and are pivotally secured at their lower ends to upstanding ears I36 formed integrally on the base men1 her IIG. Anchoring cable assemblies I33, of Y- shaped formation, shown in Fig. 11, are provided at each the upgrade and the down-grade sides of the tower structure I It, as shown in Fig. l, the branches I39 of each cable assembly being secured to the opposing ends of a cross piece his which is welded or otherwise secured midway between its ends on the upper end of the tubular member I26. The stems MI of the cable assemblies I38 are secured to stakes or pegs I42 which are anchored in the ground at an inclined angle away from the vertical plane of the tubular members, with the base member 2 it secured by spikes I44 to a concrete block I46 embedded in the ground.
The guide means for the outgoing and return reaches of the cable are supported by the opposing ends of the cross piece 540. In this respect, attention is directed to Figures 6-8. A rod I48 is secured in the opposing ends of the cross piece I40. A supporting bar I50 is transversely secured to the outer end of the rod I48 and a guide bar I52 is secured parallel to the bar I50 by bolts I54, the bar I52 being spaced from the bar I59 by bushings I56 concentrically disposed on the bolts. The guide bar is formed with inwardly directed opposing ends I58 and IE0. The bar functions as a cam bar to space the carrier members I6 from the support bar I50, as the cable is driven and carries the carriers upwardly and downwardly.
A pulley I62 is rotatably journaled to the bar I50 in a vertical position below the cable I4. A complementary pulley IE l is resiliently mounted above the pulley I02, so that the cable I4 is guided between the two vertically aligned pulleys. The pulley I64 is rotatably journaled on the outer end of a supporting arm I66 which is povotally secured as at I68 to an upwardly extending supporting bar I10, the bar being secured at its lower end in an inclined plane to the support bar I50. A rod I12 is formed with a lateral end I14 which is disposed through the supporting bar I50 and is formed with a threaded end upon which is secured a nut I16. The rod extends upwardly and rearwardly from the bar 56.
The rod I12 is formed with an externally threaded upper end I18 upon which is secured a nut I30. The rod extends through a vertical opening in the arm I66 and a stop plate I32 is formed integrally thereon with a spring I24 concentrically disposed about the rod and positioned between the stop plate I82 and the nut I80. In this manner, the arm IE5 is held under resilient tension, so that the pulley I64 is held in complementary relation with the pulley I52. However, the pulley I6 l is allowed to move upwardiy and to be spaced from the pulley i62, upon entrance of the attaching means for the carrier units between the two pulleys.
An idler fiat pulley I86 is horizontally positioned on a horizontal extension I88, the pulley being rotatably disposed on a vertical shaft I90, so that the periphery thereof is disposed in engagement with the cable It for guiding the cable between and retaining the cable in engagement of the two pulleys I02 and I64.
The carrier units include a bead or pressed sleeve I92, which may be in the form of a clamp common in the art, is secured at spaced intervals on the cable I4. A spindle or shaft I9 3 extends laterally from the bead and is provided with a coaxially reduced end. An arm i96 is formed with a sleeve end I98, which is osciilatably disposed on the reduced end of the shaft I514. The arm I is formed at its lower end with an inturned offset extremity I99 to which is pivotally secured by means of a pair of integral apertured ears 2!!!) a spring box 202.
With respect to Figures 9 and 10, it is to be noted that the spring box 202 is formed with a reduced casing 206 which is secured to one side of the box. A shaft 285 is rotatably journaled transversely in the box and casing and a reel 208 is fixed on the shaft. The reel is disposed within the box 202. The reel is formed with a split periphery 2I0, .a transversely disposed pin 2 I2 being positioned in the cut out portion of the hub. A line is secured to the shaft 206, the line being disposed between the pin 252 and the adjacent end of the hub and extending around the hub and outwardly at the bottom or open lower end of the box. A rewind spring structure 2I5 is disposed within the casing 204 and functions to rotate the shaft 205, so that the take-up line is automatically rewound on the hub. The line is secured at its outer end to an arm 2M formed with an offset apertured lower end 2I8. The end 2; is slidably disposed on a guide rod 226, which is formed with a laterally disposed aperturned end 222 slidably disposed on the shank of the member 2 [4. A recoil spring 224 is disposed about the arm and a rod 226 is formed integrally with the lower end of the member 226 with a seat 228 secured to the lower end of the rod.
Attention is now directed to Figures 4 and 13, wherein the upper tower structure is illustrated in detail. The upper tower structure 26 includes a base member 236, which is preferably an angle iron, having the horizontal portion thereof apertured as at 232 for receiving spikes or similar anchoring means, which are secured to a concrete block 234 anchored in the ground. A pair of upstanding apertured ears 236 are integrally formed on the horizontal portion of the angle iron and tubular uprights or standards 238, 246 and 242 are pivotally secured between the ears, the lower ends of the tubular members being mounted on a common pivot element 244 disposed transversely between the ears. The tubular member 238 is disposed intermediate of the members 2 16 and 242 and a cap member 2 36 is secured at the upper end thereof. A cable 24 3 is secured at one end to the cap 246 and is entrained over a pulley 256 rotatably journaled between a pair of plates 252, which extend integrally from a superstructure 254 pivoted on the upper converging ends of the tubular members 2138 and 2A2.
Anchoring cables 256 extend from the cap 246 and may be anchored in the ground by means of retaining stakes. The opposite end of the cable 248 is secured to a winch (not shown). Thus, it can be seen that the support or upright 238 is held in a desired inclined position by the anchoring cables and the supporting standards 246 and 242 are moved in adjusted vertically swinging positions by means of the cable and a winch or hoisting mechanism.
A pair of parallel supporting bars or plates 25? are integrally formed at one end with the body portion of superstructure 254 and an idler pulley 256 is rotatably carried by the outer ends of the supporting plates and is disposed in a horizontal plane. A U-shaped guide member 266 is suspended from the supporting plates by means of vertical connecting bars 262 and a U- shaped supporting bar 264. A pair of vertically disposed guide sheaves 266 are rotatably mounted on supporting arms 268 which project forwardly from the legs of the U-shaped bar 264.
In operation, the cable is driven by the drive pulley l6i, which is operated through the belt transmission system from the prime mover it. The cable is operatively disposed through the intermediate guide structure and is entrained around the idler pulley 258 on the upper tower structure. The carriers are disposed at spaced points along the cable and suspend therefrom. When a skier sits on one of the seats of the carrier, as seen in Figure 1, the line is unwound on the hub and the shock absorber structure of the rods and spring between the rod 226 and the line absorbs the initial shock. When the skier vacates the seat, the rod 226 and seat move into the position shown in Figure 6 by means of the spring return structure.
The lift may be adjusted to dispose the reaches of the towing rope M at the desired distance above the skiing surface of the hill I2, by manipulation of the winch cable 248 (Fig. 13). Thus, by way of example, if it is desired to dispose the reaches of the towing rope M in a lower zone than that shown in Fig. 1 due to a lowered skiing surface resulting from compacting or melting of the snow, the standards 246 and 242 (Figs. 4 and 13) may be allowed to swing toward the standards 26 and 28 (Fig. 5) at the foot of the hill. This results in the standards 26 and 2B swinging in a direction away from the standards 246 and 242, at the top of the hill, the weight 66 becoming lowered during such adjustment and taking up any slack in the flexible member 59. The flexible member 59, in association with bank of pulleys 56 and 56 and the weight 60 also functions to keep the towing rope l4 tensioned throughout this adjustment, and also while the lift is in use.
Of course, since other embodiments and purposes of this invention will become apparent to those skilled in the art, upon a perusal of the foregoing disclosure, in view of the accompanying drawings, it is to be understood that certain changes in size, style and arrangement of parts may be eifected thereon, without a departure from the spirit of the invention and within the scope of the appended claims.
Having described the invention, what is claimed as new is:
1. In a ski lift of the class for towing skiers up a hill wherein an endless towing rope is trained about a drive pulley and a driven pulley, and has reaches extending between said pulleys substantially paralleling the inclined surface of the hill; the improvement which comprises: a base member, a pair of standards pivotally connected to said base member and disposed in upwardly converging relation, a first cap member connecting the upper end portions of said standards, an in termediate standard pivotally connected to said base at a zone intermediate the connection of said pair of standards therewith, a second cap member secured to the upper end of said intermediate standard, a bank of pulleys rotatably carried by each said first and second cap mem bers, a flexible member secured at one end portion to said first cap member, extending therefrom toward said intermediate standard and trained about and back and forth between said banks of pulleys with its other end portion trained over one of the pulleys of the bank of pulleys carried by said second cap member, a weight secured to the end of said last mentioned end portion, anchoring cable means connected to said second cap member, disposing said intermediate standard in an inclined position to one side of the plane common to said pair of stand" ards, and supporting and drive means for the drive pulley of the towing rope, carried by the upper portions of said pair of standards.
2. In a ski lift of the class for towing skiers up a hill wherein an endless towing rope is trained about a drive pulley and a driven pulley and has reaches extending between said pulleys substantially paralleling the inclined surface of the hill; the improvement which comprises: a base member, a pair of standards pivotally connected to said base member and disposed in upwardly converging relation, a superstructure pivotally carried at the upper end of said standards, rotatably supporting the driven pulley, an intermediate standard pivotally connected to said base at a zone intermediate the connection of said pair of standards therewith, a cap member secured to the upper end of said intermediate standard, an anchoring cable connected to said cap member, disposing said intermediate standard in an inclined position to one side of the plane common to said pair of standards and at the side thereof opposite that to which said driven pulley is located, and a winch cable operatively connected to said cap member and superstructure whereby the relative position of said pair of standards may be adjusted with respect to said intermediate standard.
3. In a ski lift of the class for towing skiers up a hill wherein an endless towing rope is trained about a drive pulley and a driven pulley, and has reaches extending between said pulleys substantially paralleling the inclined surface of the hill; the improvement which comprises; a first standard pivoted at its lower portion to swing toward and from the zone of the driven pulley, means carried by the upper portion of said first standard rotatably supporting said drive pulley, a drive means, including a prime mover, operatively connected to the drive pulley, mounted upon the upper portion of said first standard, a second standard pivoted at its lower portion to swing toward and from the zone of said drive pulley, a superstructure mounted upon the upper end portion of said second standard, rotatably supporting the driven pulley, means operatively connected to one of said standards for swinging it about its pivot and retaining it in a set position to space the reaches of the towing rope a predetermined distance above the hill skiing surface, and means operatively connected to the other of said standards for yieldably swinging it about its pivot in a direction to tension the towing rope.
4. In a ski lift of the class for towing skiers up a hill wherein an endless towing rope is trained about a drive pulley and a driven pulley, and has reaches extending between said pulleys substantially paralleling the inclined surface of the hill; the improvement which comprises: a first standard pivoted at its lower portion to swing toward and from the zone of the driven pulley, means carried by the upper portion of said first standard rotatably supporting said drive pulley, a drive means, including a prime mover, operatively connected to the drive pulley, mounted upon the upper portion of said first standard, a second standard pivoted at its lower portion to swing toward and from the zone of said drive pulley, a superstructure mounted upon the upper end portion of said second standard rotatably supporting the driven pulley, means operatively connected to said second standard for swinging it about its pivot and retaining it in a set position to space the reaches of the towing rope a predetermined distance above the hill skiing surface, and means operatively connected to said first standard for yieldably swinging it about its pivot in a direction to tension the towing rope.
5. In a ski lift of the class for towing skiers up a hill wherein an endless towing rope is trained about a drive pulley and a driven pulley, and has reaches extending between said pulleys substantially paralleling the inclined surface of the hill; the improvement which comprises: a base, a first and a second standard pivotally carried upon said base, means carried by the upper portion of said first standard, supporting the drive pulley of the towing rope to one side of said first standard, tensioning means to the other side of said first standard constructed and arranged to yieldably connect said first and second standards at their upper end portions, and an anchoring cable connected to the upper end portion of said second standard and to the ground, disposing said second standard in upwardly diverging relationship to said first standard, whereby said last mentioned means yieldably tensions the towing rope.
6. In a ski lift of the class for towing skiers up a hill wherein an endless towing rope is trained about a drive pulley and a driven pulley, and has reaches extending between said pulleys substantially paralleling the inclined surface of the hill; the improvement which comprises: a base, a first and a second standard pivotally carried upon said base, means carried by the upper portion of said first standard, supporting the drive pulley of the towing rope to one side of said first standard, tensioning means to the other side of said first standard constructed and arranged to yieldably connect said first and second standards at their upper end portions, an anchoring cable connected to the upper end portion of said second standard and to the ground, disposing said second standard in upwardly diverging relationship to said first standard, whereby said last mentioned means yieldably tensions the towing rope, a prime mover, means carried by said first standard to the side thereof opposite said drive pulley and straddling said tensioning means, supporting said prime mover, and motion transmitting means operatively connecting said prime mover and drive pulley for imparting movement of the former to the latter.
References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,076,337 Vogel et al Oct. 21, 1913 1,313,357 Watkins Aug. 19, 1919 2,087,232 Constam July 20, 1937 2,152,235 Bannerman et al. Mar. 28, 1939 2,181,519 Paquette Nov. 28, 1939 2,285,636 Wallace June 9, 1942 FOREIGN PATENTS Number Country Date 825,278 France Nov. 27, 1937
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Cited By (16)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3011624A (en) * 1958-12-22 1961-12-05 Pomagalski Jean Endless-conveyor-cable drive stations
US3052470A (en) * 1957-09-24 1962-09-04 Pomagalski Jean Towing systems for use in water-sking or ski-yorring
US3110268A (en) * 1962-07-09 1963-11-12 Ivor J Allsop Skiers' tow seat
US3175517A (en) * 1961-03-23 1965-03-30 Wiedermann Anton Suspension
US3439627A (en) * 1966-03-26 1969-04-22 Ugo Carlevaro Hauling device for ski lifts
US3850304A (en) * 1973-05-04 1974-11-26 W Howell Radio controlled skyline skidder
US4023502A (en) * 1975-10-02 1977-05-17 John William Elsing Portable ski tow apparatus
US4179994A (en) * 1977-10-13 1979-12-25 Kunczynski Jan K Suspended articulated chairlift mounting assembly
US4550663A (en) * 1981-02-27 1985-11-05 Otis Elevator Company Transportation system having a cable drawn vehicle
US4607575A (en) * 1983-08-27 1986-08-26 Roland Bryda Variable-path surface transport system utilizing an angle comparator with a control guideway or externally supplied data for lateral offset, and method
US4782761A (en) * 1985-08-15 1988-11-08 Liftbyggarna Ab Cable tensioning device for ski lifts or aerial cableways
US5024162A (en) * 1989-02-08 1991-06-18 Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn Maschinenfabrik Gesellschaft M.B.H. & Co. Kg Cable transport apparatus
US6513440B1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2003-02-04 Pomagalski Sa Inclined cable car station
US8746148B1 (en) * 2011-02-28 2014-06-10 Leon E. Niedermeyer Portable various pitch rope tow system
WO2016179689A1 (en) * 2015-05-12 2016-11-17 Kathan Daniel Towing system for towing a user on a support material
US9637138B2 (en) * 2015-05-12 2017-05-02 Daniel Kathan Towing system for towing a user on a support material

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US1076337A (en) * 1912-01-22 1913-10-21 Charles H Vogel Suspended-cable tramway.
US1313357A (en) * 1919-08-19 Planooraph co
US2087232A (en) * 1934-08-17 1937-07-20 Constam Ernst Traction lines for ski-runners and other passengers
FR825278A (en) * 1937-08-06 1938-02-28 Advanced ski lift
US2152235A (en) * 1937-11-17 1939-03-28 American Steel & Wire Co Aerial ski tramway
US2181519A (en) * 1938-10-13 1939-11-28 Paquette Moise Ski towing apparatus
US2285636A (en) * 1940-12-23 1942-06-09 Eugene Wallace Ski tow mechanism

Patent Citations (7)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US1313357A (en) * 1919-08-19 Planooraph co
US1076337A (en) * 1912-01-22 1913-10-21 Charles H Vogel Suspended-cable tramway.
US2087232A (en) * 1934-08-17 1937-07-20 Constam Ernst Traction lines for ski-runners and other passengers
FR825278A (en) * 1937-08-06 1938-02-28 Advanced ski lift
US2152235A (en) * 1937-11-17 1939-03-28 American Steel & Wire Co Aerial ski tramway
US2181519A (en) * 1938-10-13 1939-11-28 Paquette Moise Ski towing apparatus
US2285636A (en) * 1940-12-23 1942-06-09 Eugene Wallace Ski tow mechanism

Cited By (17)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US3052470A (en) * 1957-09-24 1962-09-04 Pomagalski Jean Towing systems for use in water-sking or ski-yorring
US3011624A (en) * 1958-12-22 1961-12-05 Pomagalski Jean Endless-conveyor-cable drive stations
US3175517A (en) * 1961-03-23 1965-03-30 Wiedermann Anton Suspension
US3110268A (en) * 1962-07-09 1963-11-12 Ivor J Allsop Skiers' tow seat
US3439627A (en) * 1966-03-26 1969-04-22 Ugo Carlevaro Hauling device for ski lifts
US3850304A (en) * 1973-05-04 1974-11-26 W Howell Radio controlled skyline skidder
US4023502A (en) * 1975-10-02 1977-05-17 John William Elsing Portable ski tow apparatus
US4179994A (en) * 1977-10-13 1979-12-25 Kunczynski Jan K Suspended articulated chairlift mounting assembly
US4550663A (en) * 1981-02-27 1985-11-05 Otis Elevator Company Transportation system having a cable drawn vehicle
US4607575A (en) * 1983-08-27 1986-08-26 Roland Bryda Variable-path surface transport system utilizing an angle comparator with a control guideway or externally supplied data for lateral offset, and method
US4782761A (en) * 1985-08-15 1988-11-08 Liftbyggarna Ab Cable tensioning device for ski lifts or aerial cableways
US5024162A (en) * 1989-02-08 1991-06-18 Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn Maschinenfabrik Gesellschaft M.B.H. & Co. Kg Cable transport apparatus
US6513440B1 (en) * 1999-08-25 2003-02-04 Pomagalski Sa Inclined cable car station
US8746148B1 (en) * 2011-02-28 2014-06-10 Leon E. Niedermeyer Portable various pitch rope tow system
WO2016179689A1 (en) * 2015-05-12 2016-11-17 Kathan Daniel Towing system for towing a user on a support material
US9637139B2 (en) * 2015-05-12 2017-05-02 Daniel Kathan Rigid tensioning member and tension measuring device for a towing system for towing a user on a support material
US9637138B2 (en) * 2015-05-12 2017-05-02 Daniel Kathan Towing system for towing a user on a support material

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