Aerial ropeway transport methods

Abstract

An aerial ropeway transport system is disclosed. The system may include a rope extending between at least two terminals and a plurality of trains carried by the rope. Each of the trains may include at least one carrier which is detachably attached to the rope. The rope may be operated at a relatively high cruising speed. When a train approaches a terminal, however, the speed is reduced to a relatively low speed to facilitate simultaneous detachment and attachment of carriers.

1 . A method comprising: 
 providing an aerial ropeway transport system comprising a rope extending between at least two terminals and a plurality of carriers, each of said plurality of carriers being detachably attached to said rope at a first spacing from one another;    causing said plurality of carriers to move at a relatively high speed by moving said rope at said relatively high speed;    decelerating said rope, and thus said plurality of attached carriers, to a relatively slow speed;    detaching said plurality of carriers from said rope at one of said terminals while said rope is moving at said relatively slow speed;    accelerating said rope to said relatively higher speed after said plurality of carriers have been detached from said rope;    maintaining said first spacing between carriers after said plurality of carriers have been detached from said rope.    
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1  and further wherein: 
 said plurality of carriers comprises a first carrier and a second carrier; and    said first carrier is attached to said second carrier.    
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1  and further wherein said ropeway transport system further comprises a second plurality of carriers, said method further comprising: 
 attaching said second plurality of carriers to said rope at the same time that said plurality of carriers are detached from said rope.    
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1  and further wherein said ropeway transport system further comprises a second plurality of carriers, said method further comprising: 
 detaching said second plurality of carriers from said rope at the other one of said terminals while said rope is moving at said relatively slow speed.    
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1  and further comprising: 
 stopping said plurality of carriers at said one of said terminals after said detaching said plurality of carriers from said rope.    
     
     
         6 . A method comprising: 
 providing an aerial ropeway transport system comprising a rope extending between at least two terminals and a plurality of carriers, said plurality of carriers comprising at least a first carrier and a second carrier, each of said plurality of carriers being detachably attached to said rope;    causing said plurality of carriers to move at a relatively high speed by moving said rope at said relatively high speed;    decelerating said rope, and thus said plurality of attached carriers, to a relatively slow speed;    detaching said first carrier from said rope at one of said terminals while said rope is moving at said relatively slow speed;    detaching said second carrier from said rope at said one of said terminals after detaching said first carrier from said rope and while maintaining movement of said rope at said relatively slow speed;    accelerating said rope to said relatively higher speed after said second carrier has been detached from said rope.    
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 6  and further wherein: 
 said first carrier is attached to said second carrier.    
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 6  and further wherein said ropeway transport system further comprises a second plurality of carriers, said second plurality of carriers comprising at least a third carrier and a fourth carrier, each of said second plurality of carriers being detached from said rope, said method further comprising: 
 attaching said third carrier to said rope at the same time as said detaching said first carrier from said rope occurs.    
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8  said method further comprising: 
 attaching said fourth carrier to said rope at the same time as said detaching said second carrier from said rope occurs.    
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 6  and further wherein said plurality of carriers comprises at least a third and a fourth carrier, said method further comprising: 
 detaching said third carrier from said rope at the other one of said terminals at the same time as said detaching said first carrier from said rope occurs;    detaching said fourth carrier from said rope at said other one of said terminals at the same time as said detaching said second carrier from said rope occurs.    
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 6  and further comprising: 
 stopping said first carrier at said one of said terminals after said detaching said first carrier from said rope.    
     
     
         12 . A method comprising: 
 providing an aerial ropeway transport system comprising a rope extending between at least two terminals and a plurality of trains, said plurality of trains comprising at least a first train and a second train;    wherein each of said first train and said second train comprises at least one carrier that is selectively attachable to said rope;    wherein said rope has a first portion which moves in a first direction and a second portion which moves in a second direction opposite said first direction;    causing said rope to move at a relatively high speed;    decelerating said rope to a relatively low speed;    detaching said first train from said first portion of said rope at one of said terminals while said rope is moving at said relatively low speed;    attaching said second train to said second portion of said rope at said one of said terminals while said rope is moving at said relatively low speed;    after said detaching and said attaching, accelerating said rope to said relatively high speed.    
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 12  and further wherein said detaching said first train and said attaching said second train occur substantially simultaneously.  
     
     
         14 . The method of  claim 12  and further wherein said first train has only one carrier.  
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 12  and further wherein said first train comprises a plurality of carriers.  
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 15  and further wherein: 
 said plurality of carriers comprises at least a first carrier and a second carrier; and    said first carrier is attached to said second carrier.    
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 12  and further wherein said plurality of trains further comprises at least a third train, said method further comprising: 
 detaching said third train from said rope at the other one of said terminals at the same time as said detaching said first train from said rope occurs.    
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 12  and further comprising: 
 stopping said first train at said one of said terminals after said detaching said first train from said rope.