| CPC B61B 3/02 (2013.01) [A63G 21/22 (2013.01); B61B 7/06 (2013.01)] | 20 Claims |
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1. An auto-return zip line trolley assembly, the assembly comprising:
a vehicle having:
a housing comprising multiple sidewalls, the sidewalls defining an interior cavity, a front end, and a rear end, the housing further defining a slot extending along the longitudinal of the sidewalls, the slot being sized and dimensioned to enable introduction of a cable extending between a high point and a low point into the interior cavity;
a drive wheel disposed inside the interior cavity of the housing, the drive wheel selectively engaged with the cable;
a motor operatively connected to the drive wheel, the motor configured to rotatably drive the drive wheel;
whereby the drive wheel drives the housing along the cable when engaged with the cable;
a spring-loaded sheave subassembly disposed inside the interior cavity of the housing,
the spring-loaded sheave subassembly comprising a front sheave, the front sheave configured to engage the cable, the front sheave further being configured to pivot between an engage position for urging the cable into engagement with the drive wheel, and a disengage position for urging the cable into disengagement from the drive wheel,
the front sheave subassembly further comprising a fulcrum about which the front sheave pivots between the engage position and the disengage position,
the front sheave subassembly further comprising a spring, the spring having a spring tension sufficient to bias the front sheave to pivot to the engage position;
whereby in the engage position, the motor rotates the drive wheel to urge the housing along the cable;
whereby, a load applied to the housing having a weight greater than the spring tension urges the front sheave to pivot to the disengage position; and
whereby in the disengage position, the cable disengages from the drive wheel, causing the housing to freely ride along the cable.
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