A rail coaster operates as a cross between a roller coaster and a zip line. A rail may be suspended under a frame by flexible cables or solid brackets. The rail may turn, incline, decline, or twist, but need not twist to still provide a “rolling” degree of freedom for a rider. An eddy current brake provides proportional braking as a function of speed. A cam-adjustment-axle (eccentric) carries certain wheels to provide finely divided, discrete, but incrementally small adjustments of idler wheel clearances to accommodate variations in the rail, wheel wear, and onsite adjustment of tolerances for curvature, unevenness, and friction. A “static universal” bracket provides adjustment in four degrees of freedom, three of translation and one of rotation in securing a rail to a supporting frame.

A rail coaster operates as a cross between a roller coaster and a zip line. A rail may be suspended under a frame by flexible cables or solid brackets. The rail may turn, incline, decline, or twist, but need not twist to still provide a “rolling” degree of freedom for a rider. An eddy current brake provides proportional braking as a function of speed. A cam-adjustment-axle (eccentric) carries certain wheels to provide finely divided, discrete, but incrementally small adjustments of idler wheel clearances to accommodate variations in the rail, wheel wear, and onsite adjustment of tolerances for curvature, unevenness, and friction. A “static universal” bracket provides adjustment in four degrees of freedom, three of translation and one of rotation in securing a rail to a supporting frame.

This disclosure relates to system for stabilizing a track-wheel based device is disclosed. In some embodiments, the system may include a support track configured to support the track-wheel based device. The system may further include a support-finger coupled to the track-wheel based device via a pivot point, the support-finger being rotatable about the pivot point between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the support-finger may be configured to sandwich the support track between the track-wheel based device and the support-finger. The system may further include a biasing member having a first end and second end. The biasing member may be coupled to the at least one support-finger via the first end, and to the track-wheel based device via the second end. Further, the biasing member may be configured to maintain the at least one support-finger biased in the first position.

A transportation system includes a first support tower, a second support tower, a suspension cable extending between the first and second support towers, and a tube defining an interior channel extending between the first and second support towers. A vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel. A tension support member has a first end coupled to the suspension cable and a second end coupled to the first tube through an actuator. The tension support member exerts tension force to upwardly pull the first tube towards the suspension cable. The actuator adjusts the tension force when the vehicle travels through the interior channel under the tension support member to reduce deflection of the tube.

A transportation system includes a first support tower, a second support tower, a suspension cable extending between the first and second support towers, and a tube defining an interior channel extending between the first and second support towers. A vehicle is configured to travel through the interior channel. A tension support member has a first end coupled to the suspension cable and a second end coupled to the first tube through an actuator. The tension support member exerts tension force to upwardly pull the first tube towards the suspension cable. The actuator adjusts the tension force when the vehicle travels through the interior channel under the tension support member to reduce deflection of the tube.

A trolley 100 for a rail 10 is described. The trolley 100 comprises a frame 110, a set S of wheels 120, including a first wheel 120A and a second wheel 120B, rotatably coupled to the frame 110 and an attachment member 130, coupled to the frame 110, for suspension of a load W therefrom, in use. The first wheel 120A is rotatable in a first plane P1 about a first axis A1 and the second wheel 120B is rotatable in a second plane P2 about a second axis A2. The first plane P1 and the second plane P2 define a line L. The trolley 100 is arrangeable in a first configuration, wherein the attachment member 130 is arranged at a first angular displacement D1 about the line L. The trolley 100 is arrangeable in a second configuration, wherein the attachment member 130 is arranged at a second angular displacement D2 about the line L, wherein the first angular displacement D1 and the second angular displacement D2 are different. A rail assembly 1, including the trolley 100 and the rail 10, is also described.

A trolley 100 for a rail 10 is described. The trolley 100 comprises a frame 110, a set S of wheels 120, including a first wheel 120A and a second wheel 120B, rotatably coupled to the frame 110 and an attachment member 130, coupled to the frame 110, for suspension of a load W therefrom, in use. The first wheel 120A is rotatable in a first plane P1 about a first axis A1 and the second wheel 120B is rotatable in a second plane P2 about a second axis A2. The first plane P1 and the second plane P2 define a line L. The trolley 100 is arrangeable in a first configuration, wherein the attachment member 130 is arranged at a first angular displacement D1 about the line L. The trolley 100 is arrangeable in a second configuration, wherein the attachment member 130 is arranged at a second angular displacement D2 about the line L, wherein the first angular displacement D1 and the second angular displacement D2 are different. A rail assembly 1, including the trolley 100 and the rail 10, is also described.

A rail coaster operates as a cross between a roller coaster and a zip line. A rail may be suspended under a frame by flexible cables or solid brackets. The rail may turn, incline, decline, or twist, but need not twist to still provide a rolling degree of freedom for a rider. An eddy current brake provides proportional braking as a function of speed. A cam-adjustment-axle (eccentric) carries certain wheels to provide finely divided, discrete, but incrementally small adjustments of idler wheel clearances to accommodate variations in the rail, wheel wear, and onsite adjustment of tolerances for curvature, unevenness, and friction. A static universal bracket provides adjustment in four degrees of freedom, three of translation and one of rotation in securing a rail to a supporting frame.

A rail coaster operates as a cross between a roller coaster and a zip line. A rail may be suspended under a frame by flexible cables or solid brackets. The rail may turn, incline, decline, or twist, but need not twist to still provide a rolling degree of freedom for a rider. An eddy current brake provides proportional braking as a function of speed. A cam-adjustment-axle (eccentric) carries certain wheels to provide finely divided, discrete, but incrementally small adjustments of idler wheel clearances to accommodate variations in the rail, wheel wear, and onsite adjustment of tolerances for curvature, unevenness, and friction. A static universal bracket provides adjustment in four degrees of freedom, three of translation and one of rotation in securing a rail to a supporting frame.

A longitudinally curved support rail (56) for supporting and moving a drive chain assembly (52) at the base of a spiral conveyor belt (34) to drive the bottom tier (30) of the spiral conveyor belt while being supported by the support rail. The support rail including an upright web section (80) and a support flange (78) cantilevered outwardly from the web section to provide a platform or shelf to support a chain drive assembly (52), thereon during travel of the chain drive assembly along the support rail.