Patent Application
20120312187
The present invention relates generally to snow sledding, and more particularly, relating to the pulling of snow sleds and riders up a snow slope by a tow rope.
It is known at ski slopes to install a cableway devices or other towing system in which persons with their skis are towed along the surface of the slope to a higher location on the slope. While the devices and systems heretofore meet their respective objects and requirements. A need remains for a new towing device and system particularly suited for towing snow sleds either alone or with accompanying riders along the surface of a slope.
Embodiments of the present invention addresses this need by providing a snow sled towing device and system for towing a snow sled along the surface of a snow covered slope.
Embodiments of the present invention also provide a snow sled towing device and system that is easily operated and maintained.
Embodiments of the present invention also provide a snow sled towing device and system including tow hooks that prevent snagging and injury to persons.
Embodiments of the present invention also provide a snow sled towing device and system including multiple snow sled towing stations arranged side-by-side along a slope that are each independently operated.
To achieve these and other advantages, in general, in one aspect, a snow sled towing device for towing one or more sleds up a slope from a starting position located towards the bottom of the slope to an arriving position located towards a top of the slope is provided. The device comprising includes a tow cable extending continuously along a closed loop path between the starting position and the arriving position along the slope. Tow cable pulleys are located at the starting position and the arriving position upon which the cable is supported and driven. A drive motor is operatively connected to one of the cable pulleys and operating to rotatingly drive the pulley to drive the cable through the closed loop path. One or more tow hooks are connected in series at spaced intervals to the tow cable for conjoint movement therewith.
In general, in another aspect, a snow sled towing device for towing one or more sleds up a slope from a starting position located towards the bottom of the slope to an arriving position located towards a top of the slope is provided. The device includes a tow cable and a tow cable drum disposed at the arriving position and upon which the tow cable is wound. A drive motor is operatively connected to the tow cable drum and operates to rotationally drive the tow cable drum to wind and unwind the tow cable from the tow cable drum. One or more tow hooks attached to a free end of the tow cable.
In general, in another aspect, a snow sled towing system for simultaneously and independently towing two or more snow sleds up a slope from a starting position located towards the bottom of the slope to an arriving position located towards a top of the slope, the device comprising. The system includes a plurality of tow stations arranged side-by-side along the slope and extending between the starting position and the arriving position. A guard railing is disposed between adjacent tow stations, and each tow station includes a tow cable, a tow cable drum disposed at the arriving position and upon which the tow cable is wound, a drive motor operatively connected to the tow cable drum and operating to rotationally drive the tow cable drum to wind and unwind the tow cable from the tow cable drum, and one or more tow hooks attached to a free end of the tow cable. The drive motors of each tow station are operated independently of one another.
There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood and in order that the present contribution to the art may be better appreciated.
Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon a reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of descriptions and should not be regarded as limiting.
As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based, may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention.
For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and descriptive matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention.
The following drawings illustrate by way of example and are included to provide further understanding of the invention for the purpose of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the invention. No attempt is made to show structural details of the embodiments in more detail than is necessary for a fundamental understanding of the invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the invention may be embodied in practice. Identical reference numerals do not necessarily indicate an identical structure. Rather, the same reference numeral may be used to indicate a similar feature of a feature with similar functionality. In the drawings:
Referring to
A drive motor 20 is operatively connected to a pulley 18 and is operated to rotatingly drive the pulley which in turn drives the tow cable 10 through the closed loop path. In an embodiment, the drive motor 20 may be an electric motor. The electric motor may include an overload protection circuit which operates to shut down the electric motor upon over heating which may be a result of an overloaded tow cable or obstruction of the tow cable from moving through the closed loop path. In an embodiment, the drive motor 20 may be a combustion engine. The combustion engine may include an overload protection device that operates to detect an overloaded tow cable or obstruction of the tow cable from moving through the closed loop path. In embodiments, lift attendants located at the starting position 14 and arriving position 16 will be provided with lift operating controls for operating the drive motor 20. In an example, the lift operating controls may include a safety shut down switch, which when depressed will halt the driving of the tow cable 10 by either stopping the drive motor 20 or operating a clutch to disengage the drive motor from the driven pulley 18. In embodiment, the lift attendants will carry with them wirelessly operated lift operating controls to permit the attendant to control the operation of the lift from any position within the vicinity of the lift.
In embodiment, lift operation sensors may be provided to monitor various aspect of the lift, such as the motion of the tow cable 10, pulleys 18 or a combination of both. In an example, a hall sensor, proximity sensor, acceleration sensor may be fitted to the tow cable 10, one or more pulley 18 or a combination of both to monitor the motion of the operation of the lift and the tow cable. If an anomaly is detected, such as a motion lost in a pulley, the lift may be shut down.
As illustrated in
It is contemplated that safety fencing would be employed to separate the lift area from the sledding area prevent accidental sledding into the lift area and to prevent injury to sliders.
In
In an embodiment, and as illustrated in
In
As discussed above and similarly here, tow cable 10 may be comprised of individual interval lengths 24 that are spliced together end-to-end by tow hook 34 to form the continuous tow cable. Each tow hook 34 splices together two interval lengths 24 of the tow cable 10. Alternatively, body 36 of tow-hook 34 may be comprised of a sleeve that encircles the tow cable 10.
In
A drive motor 52 is operatively connected to the cable drum 42 is operated to rotatingly drive the cable drum to wind and unwind the tow cable 40 from the cable drum to alternately position the free end 46 of the tow cable and/or attached sled between the starting position (not shown) and arriving position (not shown) to tow a sled up the slope.
Similarly as discussed above, drive motor 52 may be an electric motor. The electric motor may include an overload protection circuit which operates to shut down the electric motor upon over heating which may be a result of an overloaded tow cable or obstruction of the tow cable from moving through the closed loop path. In an embodiment, the drive motor 52 may be a combustion engine. The combustion engine may include an overload protection device that operates to detect an overloaded tow cable or obstruction of the tow cable from moving through the closed loop path.
In embodiments, lift attendants located at the starting position and arriving position will be provided with lift operating controls for operating the drive motor 52. In an example, the lift operating controls may include a safety shut down switch, which when depressed will halt the driving of the tow cable 40 by either stopping the drive motor 52 or operating a clutch to disengage the drive motor from the cable drum 42. In embodiment, the lift attendants will carry with them wirelessly operated lift operating controls to permit the attendant to control the operation of the lift from any position within the vicinity of the lift.
In
In
As further illustrated, guard rails 62 may be disposed between adjacent stations 56, 58, 60 to separate the stations and prevent collisions between sled being towed in each station. As best depicted in
In
It is contemplated embodiments of the invention may be permanently constructed and installed on location. Alternatively, embodiments of the invention may be configured for seasonal use and temporarily constructed and installed for use during the sledding season and then removed once the sledding season has ended.
A number of embodiments of the present invention have been described. Nevertheless, it will be understood that various modifications may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. Accordingly, other embodiments are within the scope of the following claims.
