Conveyance arrest system

Abstract

A first conveyance arrest system includes a trolley arrest cylinder comprising a piston rod mechanically coupled a trolley receiver. The trolley receiver engages a conveyance trolley, displaces the piston rod and pressurizes a working fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder. The trolley arrest cylinder comprises a port that vents pressurized fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder and provides a vent resistance to fluid escaping the trolley arrest cylinder. A second conveyance arrest system includes a conveyance trolley slideably coupled to a conveyance guide, and a trolley arrest cylinder mechanically coupled to the conveyance trolley. The second conveyance arrest system also includes a conveyance stop configured to engage a stop engagement end of a piston rod and thereby pressurize fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder in response to movement of the trolley toward the conveyance stop.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A conveyance arrest system comprising:
 a trolley arrest cylinder comprising a barrel, a piston and a piston rod coupled to the piston;   a trolley receiver mechanically coupled to the piston rod, the trolley receiver configured to engage a conveyance trolley and displace the piston rod and pressurize a working fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder in response to displacement of the trolley receiver by the conveyance trolley; and   wherein the trolley arrest cylinder comprises at least one port that vents pressurized fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder and provides a vent resistance to fluid escaping the trolley arrest cylinder.   
     
     
         2 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the vent resistance is selected to arrest a maximum expected load on the conveyance trolley over an operational displacement distance of the trolley receiver. 
     
     
         3 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the vent resistance is adjustable. 
     
     
         4 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance arrest system comprises one or more operator controls that effect a change in the vent resistance; 
     
     
         5 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more operator controls comprise one or more of a control for selecting a maximum desired velocity for the trolley and a control for selecting a maximum expected load for the trolley. 
     
     
         6 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the conveyance arrest system further comprises a control system that measures at least one cylinder parameter and adjusts the vent resistance according to the at least one cylinder parameter. 
     
     
         7 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the at least one cylinder parameter comprises one or more of a displacement distance, a displacement velocity and a cylinder pressure. 
     
     
         8 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the port is pneumatically or hydraulically coupled to a fluid pressure system; 
     
     
         9 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid pressure system comprises a fluid storage vessel; 
     
     
         10 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid pressure system effects a change in the vent resistance as fluid is provided by the port; 
     
     
         11 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the fluid pressure system comprises a flow controller; 
     
     
         12 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the flow controller at least partially effects a change in the vent resistance according to a displacement rate of the trolley receiver; 
     
     
         13 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the trolley arrest cylinder comprises two or more telescoping stages; 
     
     
         14 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 1 , wherein the working fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder comprises at least one of oil, air and water; 
     
     
         15 . A conveyance arrest system comprising:
 a conveyance trolley slideably coupled to a conveyance guide;   a trolley arrest cylinder mechanically coupled to the conveyance trolley, the trolley arrest cylinder comprising a barrel, a piston and a piston rod coupled to the piston, the piston rod having a stop engagement end;   a conveyance stop, the conveyance stop configured to engage the stop engagement end of the piston rod and thereby pressurize fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder in response to movement of the trolley toward the conveyance stop; and   wherein the trolley arrest cylinder comprises a port that vents pressurized fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder and provides a vent resistance to fluid escaping the trolley arrest cylinder.   
     
     
         14 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 15 , wherein the working fluid within the trolley arrest cylinder comprises at least one of oil, air and water. 
     
     
         15 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 15 , wherein the conveyance stop is affixed to the conveyance guide. 
     
     
         16 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 15 , wherein the vent resistance is adjustable. 
     
     
         17 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 15 , further comprising a control system that measures at least one trolley arrest cylinder parameter and adjusts the vent resistance according to the trolley arrest cylinder parameter. 
     
     
         18 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 15 , further comprising one or more operator controls that effect a change in the vent resistance. 
     
     
         19 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more operator controls comprise one or more of a control for selecting a maximum expected velocity for the trolley and a control for selecting a maximum expected load for the trolley. 
     
     
         20 . The conveyance arrest system of  claim 15 , further comprising a control system that measures at least one trolley arrest cylinder parameter and adjusts the vent resistance according to the trolley arrest cylinder parameter;