High capacity passenger transport apparatus

Abstract

There is disclosed a high capacity passenger transport apparatus which may be employed as a ski lift including a high speed main cable ascending up a ski run and driven at high speeds. A pair of first and second shuttle tracks lead from the downhill run of such cable at the bottom station and separate to pass through respective first and second loading areas and then merge back together at the uphill run of the high speed cable. Chair trucks are carried on the main cable and include releasable grippers gripping such cables and are intercepted at the end of their downhill travel by escort cars which decelerate such trucks and escort them past a selector switch to direct alternate ones thereof onto the respective first and second shuttle tracks and then to a stopped position at the loading area so skiers can be loaded thereonto. The escort cars are then accelerated to accelerate such trucks along the respective shuttle tracks to be fed alternately onto the uphill run of such cable at a speed synchronized with the speed of such cable to grip such cable and be carried rapidly therealong for deposit at the uphill station. If desirable, the uphill station may likewise include first and second unloading shuttle tracks for receiving alternate trucks for deceleration to a stop at respective separate first and second unloading areas and then re-acceleration for deposit on the downhill run of the high speed cable. Further, the chairs themselves are preferably formed with back walls which pivot away carrying the seats therewith to clear a skier's path from the rear of such chairs so the skier may approach the chairs from the rear and after positioning relative to such chairs, the back walls and seats carried thereon pivoted back into position so the skier may be seated for conveyance up the ski run.