ZA200506731B - A slide structure - Google Patents

Description

THIS INVENTION relates to a slide structure.

A slide structure as herein envisaged provides particularly for the displacement of a person at an elevated level above a substrate, e.g. above the ground, above a body of water, and the like, particularly between a higher point and a lower point that are spaced apart from one another. As such, the slide structure can fulfil an entertainment function, although it is envisaged also that the slide structure can fulfil various functional purposes as will be apparent from what follows.

According to the invention there is provided a slide structure which includes, in its operative configuration, an elongate support structure supported in an upright configuration with respect to a substrate; an anchor structure fixed at a spaced location from the support structure at a level beneath the top end of the support structure; a first cable arrangement including a primary cable having one end secured to the anchor structure and extending over a sheave at the top end of the support structure to a first winch, the first winch being operable to provide for slackening and tensioning of the primary cable; and a second cable arrangement including an auxiliary cable having one end displaceably located on the primary cable and carrying at this end a harness structure for holding a person, the auxiliary cable extending over a sheave at the top end of the support structure to a second winch, the second winch being operable to permit displacement of the harness structure along the primary cable substantially between the top end of the support structure and the anchor structure.

The slide structure, in accordance with the invention and as above defined, by the suitable operation of the first winch and of the second winch, can permit a person to be picked up at ground level via the hamess structure and to be lifted to an elevated level slightly beneath the top end of the support structure, from where the person can be displaced towards the anchor structure where he can conveniently release himself from the harness structure. This operation of the slide structure is described in more detail hereafter.

The slide structure of the invention may include also a foundation structure that serves as a base for supporting the support structure with respect to a substrate. According to one particular embodiment of the elongate support structure, it is in the form of an elongate boom-type structure that is pivotally supported at its operative bottom end on the foundation structure and, as such, the slide structure includes also anchor cables for anchoring the boom structure in its upright configuration with respect to a substrate.

For the above embodiment elongate support structure, the slide structure also includes a scaffold-type structure supported on the foundation structure adjacent the boom structure and anchor cables for holding the scaffold-type structure in its operative upright configuration. The scaffold-type structure can be conveniently used for facilitating the construction of the boom structure and also to permit any required maintenance work to be performed on the slide structure.

Further according to the invention, the anchor structure of the slide structure may be positioned substantially at the level of the substrate with respect to which the support structure is supported, which, typically, is at ground level. As such, the anchor structure may be secured in the ground. Alternatively, the anchor structure may be secured in a body of water, the slide structure thus permitting the displacement of a person from a location adjacent a body of water to a location above the body of water.

The first winch and the second winch of the slide structure of the invention may be electrically operable, although it is envisaged also that these winches may be mechanically and/or hydraulically operated winches.

The slide structure of the invention further may include safety means including sensing means for sensing a malfunction of the slide structure and stop means for stopping the operation of either one of the winches in response to a malfunction having been sensed.

The slide structure still further may include a third cable arrangement including a safety cable, that extends operatively above the primary cable between the elongate support structure and the anchor structure in a tensioned mode, and a displacement arrangement, that is displaceably located on the safety cable and that has a retractable line engaging the displacement arrangement with the harness structure, the retractable line being biased for retraction into the displacement arrangement and being extendable from the displacement arrangement only at a slow controlled rate.

The harness structure of the second cable arrangement may be particularly configured for holding a person in a suspended configuration with respect to the primary cable, different suitable harness structures for the purpose already being well known.

The features of a slide structure, in accordance with the invention, the operation of the slide structure and the applications of the slide structure are described in more detail hereinafter with reference to examples of slide structures that are illustrated in the accompanying diagrammatic drawings. In the drawings:

Figure 1 shows a schematic side view of a first embodiment of a slide structure, in accordance with the invention, in a first operative configuration thereof;

Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of the slide structure of Figure 1, in a second operative configuration thereof;

Figure 3 shows a schematic side view of the slide structure of Figure 1, in a third operative configuration thereof;

Figure 4 shows a schematic side view of the slide structure of Figure 1, in a fourth operative configuration thereof;

Figure 5 shows a schematic side view of a second embodiment of a slide structure, in accordance with the invention;

Figure 6 shows in front view the operative top end part of the support structure of the slide structure of Figure 5; and

Figure 7 shows a side view of the top end part of the support structure of the slide structure of Figure 5, as shown in Figure 6.

Referring initially to Figure 1 of the drawings, a first embodiment of a slide structure, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 10.

The slide structure 10 is shown schematically in a simplified form, particularly to illustrate the essential features of the slide structure of the invention and the mode of operation thereof. It must, however, be appreciated that the configuration of the slide structure of the invention is greatly variable, both in relation to the mechanical construction thereof and the mode of operation thereof. Figures 5 to 7 illustrate one alternative embodiment of the invention, although many further alternative embodiments are envisaged.

The slide structure 10 includes an elongate support structure 12, which is a scaffold- type structure. The support structure 12 is mounted on a base structure 14 that is securely located on a substrate 16, e.g. on the ground, anchor cables 18 providing additional support for the support structure 12 in its operative upright configuration, particularly for the purpose which will become apparent from the description that follows. The anchor cables 18 are secured to the substrate 16 via anchor formations 20 (only one such formation being shown).

The slide structure 10 includes further a first cable arrangement, the first cable arrangement including a primary cable 22 of which on end is secured to an anchor structure 24 located at a remote location from the support structure 12. The primary cable passes over a sheave 26 located near the top of the support structure 12 and then extends to a first winch 28 which is fixed on the base structure 14. It will be understood that by the operation of the winch 28, the effective length of the cable 22 between the winch 28 and the anchor structure 24 can be lengthened and shortened, particularly to provide for a completely slackened configuration of the primary cable 22 as shown in Figure 1 and a completely tensioned configuration of the cable 22 as shown in Figure 3.

The slide structure 10 includes also a second cable arrangement, the second cable arrangement including an auxiliary cable 30 of which one end is displaceably located on the primary cable 22 via a displaceable arrangement 32 that carries a harness structure 34. The harness structure 34 is adapted for carrying a person in a suspended configuration beneath the primary cable 22. The other end of the auxiliary cable 30 extends over a sheave 36, also located near the top end of the support structure 12, and from the sheave 36 to a second winch 38, also fixed on the base structure 14. The second winch 38 provides for the effective length of the cable 30 between the harness structure 34 and the winch to be lengthened and shortened, as will be explained in more detail hereafter.

In one particular operative configuration of the slide structure 10 as described, the support structure 12 is located on a base structure positioned adjacent a body of water, e.g. the sea, the anchor structure 24 then being secured to the sea bed at a spaced location from the support structure 12, thus providing for the primary cable 22 to extend from the support structure to the anchor structure above the sea level. It is envisaged in this regard that the spacing between the support structure 12 and the anchor structure 24 may be between 50m and 300m, although this spacing clearly is greatly variable.

The operative height of the support structure 12 also is greatly variable and a typical height in the order of 12 to 15 meters is envisaged.

For the operation of the slide structure 10, the winch 28 is operated to permit slackening of the primary cable 22, particularly to the extent that the harness structure 34 can be dropped to a location where a person can harness himself to the harness structure. The winch 38 simultaneously will provide for the effective lengthening of the auxiliary cable 30, particularly to the extent that the harness structure will be located as shown in

Figure 1. Insofar as many different configuration harness structures are already well known, a typical structure is not described further herein.

With a person suitably harnessed to the harness structure 34, the winch 28 can provide for effective tensioning of the primary cable 22, it being envisaged that the winch 38 will simultaneously provide for the auxiliary cable 30 to be effectively shortened, thus providing for the elevation of the person to a location as shown in Figure 2 of the drawings. This operation of the winches 28 and 38 will continue until the primary cable 22 is completely tensioned (as shown in Figure 3) and the person is elevated to a level near the operative top end of the support structure 12.

With the primary cable 22 held in this tensioned mode, the auxiliary cable can be allowed to effectively lengthen via the operation of the winch 38, thus providing for the displacement of the person, carried by the harness structure 34, along the primary cable 22 until reaching a position near the anchor structure 24, as illustrated in Figure 3 of the drawings. When reaching this position the person can release himself from the harness structure and jump into the sea, from where he can swim back to the shore. A person clearly can utilize this mode of displacement when surfing for being dropped of at a location beyond where waves ordinarily break. It will thus be understood that the slide structure 10 can fulfil not only an entertainment function, but also a functional purpose for displacing a person to a required location in the manner described.

After the person has separated himself from the harness structure, through the suitable operation of the winches 28 and 38 and, as such, slackening of the primary cable 22 and effective shortening of the auxiliary cable 30, the harness structure can be returned to the position as shown in Figure 4, where a further person can harness himself to the harness structure 34.

It will be appreciated that the configuration of the slide structure 10 will be such that the above operation can be easily and safely carried out without risk of injury to persons conveyed by the structure, thus rendering use of the structure attractive for entertainment and other purposes as envisaged.

Referring now to Figures 5 to 7 of the drawings, a more practical embodiment of a slide structure, in accordance with the invention, is designated generally by the reference numeral 50. In this embodiment slide structure, the elongate support structure is a boom-like structure 52 that has a sheave for a primary cable 54 and a sheave for an auxiliary cable 56 located near the operative top end thereof, the respective cables extending to winches, 58 and 60, respectively.

The operative bottom end of the boom-like structure 52 is pivotally supported via a pivot support 62 on a foundation structure 64 which is securely positioned in the ground in a configuration in which the required support for the boom-like structure 52 is ensured. An arrangement of anchor cables 66 (not clearly shown) secures the support of the boom- like structure 52 in its operative upright configuration as shown, the free ends of the anchor cables 66 being secured to a series of anchor supports 68 that are securely located in suitable locations.

The slide structure 50 includes also a scaffold-type structure 70 mounted on the foundation structure 64 and positioned adjacent the boom-like structure 52, the scaffold- type structure 70 serving to facilitate the construction of the boom-like structure 52, as well as any maintenance work that may be required on the slide structure, and particularly in relation to components and parts located on the boom-like structure at elevated levels along the length thereof. A series of anchor cables 72 are linked between the scaffold-like structure 70 and suitable anchoring locations spaced from the structure, for the effective upright support thereof. Also as is clearly apparent, the winches 58 and 60 are fixed to the foundation structure 64, the winches 58 and 60 typically being electrically operable, although they also may be mechanically and/or hydraulically operable.

As is illustrated clearly in Figures 6 and 7 of the drawings, sheave arrangements 74 and 76 serve to support and guide the primary cable 54 and the auxiliary cable 56 respectively, these arrangements clearly providing for the secure location of the cables as will be required by the safety requirements that will ordinarily be associated with the use of the slide structure 50. Insofar as various different suitable sheave configurations for this purpose are envisaged and insofar as the configuration of the arrangements 74 and 76 are clear from the drawings, these are not described in further detail herein.

The operation of the slide structure 50 will be the same as that of the slide structure 10 as above described and this is therefore not repeated herein.

-10- 2005/0873

Slide structures, in accordance with the invention, also may be associated with various safety means, including sensing means that can sense malfunctions of the structures, a safety cut-off 78 typically being located on the primary cable 54 as shown in Figure 5, to determine the most elevated position of the harness structure along the primary cable 54. An alarm switch 80 is located at the location as shown in order to identify an alarm situation in the case of failure of the cut-off 78. Any additional sensing means that can serve to enhance the safety associated with the use of the slide structure also can be provided, particularly in combination with means to stop the operation of either one or both of the winches, in different emergency situations.

The slide structure of the invention preferably is associated with an additional safety arrangement, this safety arrangement being illustrated only in conjunction with the embodiment of the invention as shown in Figures 1 to 4.

Referring again particularly to Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings, the safety arrangement referred to includes a third cable arrangement which includes a safety cable 90 that extends operatively above the primary cable 22 between the support structure 12 and the anchor structure 24, the safety cable being held in a tensioned mode and optionally also being linked with a winch arrangement (not shown) that can provide for this cable to be retained in its required tensioned mode.

The safety arrangement also includes a displacement arrangement 92 which is displaceable along the safety cable 90, the displacement arrangement 92 having a retractable line 94 extending therefrom. The line 94 is biased to retract into the displacement arrangement 92 and is extendable therefrom only at a slow controlled rate. The configuration of the displacement arrangement 92 insofar as it is displaceable along the safety cable 90 and insofar as it can provide for the required operation of the retractable line 94 clearly is greatly variable, suitable arrangements already being well known and such an arrangement thus not being described in further detail herein.

The free end of the retractable line 94 is engaged with the displaceable arrangement 32 that carries the harness structure 34 as is clearly illustrated. It will thus be understood that in any operative configuration of the slide structure 10 as shown in Figures 1 to 4, in case of a primary cable failure, the displaceable arrangement 32 and, as such, a person harnessed to the harness structure 34, will effectively remain suspended via the auxiliary cable 30 and the retractable line 94, the subsequent extension of the retractable line against its bias from the displacement arrangement permitting the person to be lowered to a level where he can safely release himself from the harness structure.

A failure of the auxiliary cable 30, particularly when the primary cable 22 is in a tensioned mode, could result in uncontrolled displacement of the displaceable arrangement 32 along the primary cable. However, the link with the displacement arrangement 92 via the retractable line 94 will provide for the displacement of the displaceable arrangement 32 along the primary cable to be effectively slowed down, providing for a person harnessed to the harness structure 34 to be slowly displaced towards the anchor structure 24, where he can safely release himself from the harness structure 34.

It will be understood that the safety arrangement will effectively protect a person against injury as a result of either one of primary cable failure and auxiliary cable failure, thus rendering use of the slide structure of the invention substantially safe. Clearly, different safety arrangements also are envisaged that can fulfil the above purpose.

The operation of the safety arrangement as described is clearly apparent from Figures 1 to 4 of the drawings and it will be understood that the equivalent safety arrangement will be associated with the slide structure 50 as shown in Figure 5 of the drawings.

A slide structure, in accordance with the invention, clearly can be utilized in many different situations, either in association with bodies of water as above described, or otherwise, it being envisaged that in addition to the entertainment function that these structures can serve, they can also serve various functional purposes where it is required to convey persons from an elevated location to a spaced location therefrom, for whatever purpose.

Within the parameters as above defined and described, the exact configurations of slide structures, in accordance with the invention, clearly are greatly variable and the invention extends also to all such different configurations of slide structures that still incorporate the essential principles of the invention as hereinabove defined and described.

Claims (12)

1. A slide structure which includes, in its operative configuration, an elongate support structure supported in an upright configuration with respect to a substrate; an anchor structure fixed at a spaced location from the support structure at a level beneath the top end of the support structure; a first cable arrangement including a primary cable having one end secured to the anchor structure and extending over a sheave at the top end of the support structure to a first winch, the first winch being operable to provide for slackening and tensioning of the primary cable; and a second cable arrangement including an auxiliary cable having one end displaceably located on the primary cable and carrying at this end a harness structure for holding a person, the auxiliary cable extending over a sheave at the top end of the support structure to a second winch, the second winch being operable to permit displacement of the harness structure along the primary cable substantially between the top end of the support structure and the anchor structure.

2. A slide structure as claimed in Claim 1, which includes a foundation structure that serves as a base for supporting the support structure with respect to a substrate.

3. Aslide structure a claimed in Claim 2, in which the elongate support structure is an elongate boom-type structure that is pivotally supported at its operative bottom end on the foundation structure and in which the slide structure includes anchor cables for anchoring the boom structure in its upright configuration with respect to a substrate.

4. A slide structure as claimed in Claim 3, which includes a scaffold-type structure supported on the foundation structure adjacent the boom structure and anchor cables for holding the scaffold-type structure in its operative upright configuration.

5. A slide structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the anchor structure is positioned substantially at the level of the substrate with respect to which the support structure is supported.

6. A slide structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the anchor structure is secured in the ground.

7. A slide structure as claimed in any one of Claims 1 to 5, in which the anchor structure is secured in a body of water.

8. A slide structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the first winch and the second winch are electrically operable.

9. A slide structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes safety means including sensing means for sensing a malfunction of the slide structure and stop means for stopping the operation of either one of the winches in response to a malfunction having been sensed.

10. A slide structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, which includes a third cable arrangement including a safety cable, that extends operatively above the primary cable between the elongate support structure and the anchor structure in a tensioned mode, and a displacement arrangement, that is displaceably located on the safety cable and that has a retractable line engaging the displacement arrangement with the harness structure, the retractable line being biased for retraction into the displacement arrangement and being extendable from the displacement arrangement only at a slow controlled rate.

11. A slide structure as claimed in any one of the preceding claims, in which the harness structure is configured for holding a person in a suspended configuration with respect to the primary cable.

12. A slide structure substantially as described in the specification with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings. DATED THIS 19™ DAY OF AUGUST 2005 ADAMS & ADAMS APPLICANTS PATENT ATTORNEYS