Zip-line
Encyclopedia
A zip-line consists of a pulley
suspended on a cable
mounted on an incline
. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable, usually made of stainless steel, by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley. Zip-lines come in many forms, most often used as a means of entertainment. They may be short and low, intended for child's play and found on some playground
s. Longer and higher rides are often used as a means of accessing remote areas, such as a rainforest
canopy
. Zip-line tours are becoming popular vacation activities, found at outdoor adventure camps or upscale resorts, where they may be an element on a larger challenge or ropes course
.
ren's play
equipment, except in Australia
and New Zealand
where it also refers to professional forms of zip-line equipment.
In a flying fox the pulley(s)
, attached to the car, is fixed to the cable. The car itself can consist of anything from a simple hand grip, with the user hanging underneath, or a bucket for transporting small items to a quite elaborate construction, perhaps including a seat or a safety strap. Children's versions are usually not set up with a steep incline, so the speeds are kept relatively low, negating the need for a means of stopping.
In order to be propelled by gravity, the cable needs to be on a fairly steep slope. Even then the car will generally not travel completely to the end (although this will depend on the load
), and some means of safely stopping the car at the bottom end is sometimes needed. It can be returned by several means, a line leading from the car to the uphill end being the simplest.
These are usually made with rope instead of steel cable to make it easier and cheaper to install, uninstall and transport.
which attaches to a removable trolley
. A helmet
is required on almost all courses of any size.
Cables can be very high, starting at a height of over 30 feet (9 m), and travelling well over 1500 feet (457 m). All zip line cables have some degree of sag. The proper tensioning of a cable is important and allows the ability to tune the ride of a zip line.
Users of zip-lines must have means of stopping themselves. Typical mechanisms include:
Also a user can be stopped with a hand brake at the end of the zipline (operated by someone else) in case he fails to do any of the above.
Ziplines are a common way to return participants to the ground at the end of a ropes adventure course.
Ziplines are very safe and easy to use but but require proper knowledge and training on the part of the operators, and good maintenance.
Referred to as "an inclined strong", one appears in The Invisible Man
by H.G Wells, published in 1897, as part of a Whit-Monday fair.
In 1739, Robert Cadman
, a steeplejack
and ropeslider
, died when descending from Shrewsbury's
St Mary’s Church
when his rope snapped.
Alberto Santos-Dumont
used a direct ancestor of the zip-line in the spring of 1906 for a method of testing various characteristics of his 14bis
pioneer era canard biplane, before it ever flew under its own power later that year.
In past days in the Australia
n outback
, flying foxes were occasionally used for delivering food, cigarettes or tools to people working on the other side of an obstacle such as a gully or river. Australian troops have used them to deliver food, mail and even ammunition to forward positions in several conflicts.
How to Build
How to Build
Pulley
A pulley, also called a sheave or a drum, is a mechanism composed of a wheel on an axle or shaft that may have a groove between two flanges around its circumference. A rope, cable, belt, or chain usually runs over the wheel and inside the groove, if present...
suspended on a cable
Wire rope
thumb|Steel wire rope Wire rope is a type of rope which consists of several strands of metal wire laid into a helix. Initially wrought iron wires were used, but today steel is the main material used for wire ropes....
mounted on an incline
Slope
In mathematics, the slope or gradient of a line describes its steepness, incline, or grade. A higher slope value indicates a steeper incline....
. It is designed to enable a user propelled by gravity to travel from the top to the bottom of the inclined cable, usually made of stainless steel, by holding on or attaching to the freely moving pulley. Zip-lines come in many forms, most often used as a means of entertainment. They may be short and low, intended for child's play and found on some playground
Playground
A playground or play area is a place with a specific design for children be able to play there. It may be indoors but is typically outdoors...
s. Longer and higher rides are often used as a means of accessing remote areas, such as a rainforest
Rainforest
Rainforests are forests characterized by high rainfall, with definitions based on a minimum normal annual rainfall of 1750-2000 mm...
canopy
Canopy (forest)
In biology, the canopy is the aboveground portion of a plant community or crop, formed by plant crowns.For forests, canopy also refers to the upper layer or habitat zone, formed by mature tree crowns and including other biological organisms .Sometimes the term canopy is used to refer to the extent...
. Zip-line tours are becoming popular vacation activities, found at outdoor adventure camps or upscale resorts, where they may be an element on a larger challenge or ropes course
Ropes course
A ropes course is a challenging outdoor personal development and team building activity which usually consists of high and/or low elements. Low elements take place on the ground or only a few feet above the ground...
.
Flying fox
The term "flying fox" is most commonly used in reference to a small-scale zip line typically used as an item of childChild
Biologically, a child is generally a human between the stages of birth and puberty. Some vernacular definitions of a child include the fetus, as being an unborn child. The legal definition of "child" generally refers to a minor, otherwise known as a person younger than the age of majority...
ren's play
Play (activity)
Play is a term employed in ethology and psychology to describe to a range of voluntary, intrinsically motivated activities normally associated with pleasure and enjoyment...
equipment, except in Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
and New Zealand
New Zealand
New Zealand is an island country in the south-western Pacific Ocean comprising two main landmasses and numerous smaller islands. The country is situated some east of Australia across the Tasman Sea, and roughly south of the Pacific island nations of New Caledonia, Fiji, and Tonga...
where it also refers to professional forms of zip-line equipment.
In a flying fox the pulley(s)
Pulley
A pulley, also called a sheave or a drum, is a mechanism composed of a wheel on an axle or shaft that may have a groove between two flanges around its circumference. A rope, cable, belt, or chain usually runs over the wheel and inside the groove, if present...
, attached to the car, is fixed to the cable. The car itself can consist of anything from a simple hand grip, with the user hanging underneath, or a bucket for transporting small items to a quite elaborate construction, perhaps including a seat or a safety strap. Children's versions are usually not set up with a steep incline, so the speeds are kept relatively low, negating the need for a means of stopping.
In order to be propelled by gravity, the cable needs to be on a fairly steep slope. Even then the car will generally not travel completely to the end (although this will depend on the load
Structural load
Structural loads or actions are forces, deformations or accelerations applied to a structure or its components.Loads cause stresses, deformations and displacements in structures. Assessment of their effects is carried out by the methods of structural analysis...
), and some means of safely stopping the car at the bottom end is sometimes needed. It can be returned by several means, a line leading from the car to the uphill end being the simplest.
These are usually made with rope instead of steel cable to make it easier and cheaper to install, uninstall and transport.
Professional courses
Professional versions of a zip-line are most typically used as an outdoor adventure activity. In contrast to "flying foxes" professional courses are usually operated at higher speeds covering much longer distances and sometimes at considerable heights. The users are physically attached to the cable by wearing a harnessSafety harness
A safety harness is a form of protective equipment designed to protect a person, animal, or object from injury or damage. The harness is an attachment between a stationary and non-stationary object and is usually fabricated from rope, cable or webbing and locking hardware...
which attaches to a removable trolley
Zip line trolley
A zip-line trolley is a metal device that connects a person or a load to a cable and allows them to move along the cable either under their own power or by using gravity. A trolley usually consists of a metal frame with one or more shivs that the trolley runs on. The load or user is connected to...
. A helmet
Helmet
A helmet is a form of protective gear worn on the head to protect it from injuries.Ceremonial or symbolic helmets without protective function are sometimes used. The oldest known use of helmets was by Assyrian soldiers in 900BC, who wore thick leather or bronze helmets to protect the head from...
is required on almost all courses of any size.
Cables can be very high, starting at a height of over 30 feet (9 m), and travelling well over 1500 feet (457 m). All zip line cables have some degree of sag. The proper tensioning of a cable is important and allows the ability to tune the ride of a zip line.
Users of zip-lines must have means of stopping themselves. Typical mechanisms include:
- Friction made with the pulley against the cable.
- Thick purpose-built leather gloves.
- A mat or netting at the lower end of the incline.
- An arrester system composed of springsSpring (device)A spring is an elastic object used to store mechanical energy. Springs are usually made out of spring steel. Small springs can be wound from pre-hardened stock, while larger ones are made from annealed steel and hardened after fabrication...
, pulleys, counterweightCounterweightA counterweight is an equivalent counterbalancing weight that balances a load.-Uses:A counterweight is often used in traction lifts , cranes and funfair rides...
s, bungee cordBungee cordA bungee cord , also known as a shock cord, is an elastic cord composed of one or more elastic strands forming a core, usually covered in a woven cotton or polypropylene sheath...
or other devices, which slows then stops the trolley's motion. - Gravity stop utilizing the inherent nature of the sag in the cable. The belly of the cable is always lower than the termination point. The amount of uphill on a zip line controls the speed at which the user arrives at the termination point.
Also a user can be stopped with a hand brake at the end of the zipline (operated by someone else) in case he fails to do any of the above.
Ziplines are a common way to return participants to the ground at the end of a ropes adventure course.
Ziplines are very safe and easy to use but but require proper knowledge and training on the part of the operators, and good maintenance.
History
The zip-wire is not a recent invention. It has been used as a transportation method in some mountainous countries. In some remote areas in China, zip lines serve the purposes of bridges across rivers.Referred to as "an inclined strong", one appears in The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man
The Invisible Man is a science fiction novella by H.G. Wells published in 1897. Wells' novel was originally serialised in Pearson's Weekly in 1897, and published as a novel the same year...
by H.G Wells, published in 1897, as part of a Whit-Monday fair.
In 1739, Robert Cadman
Robert Cadman
Robert Cadman or Robert Kidman was an 18th century steeplejack and ropeslider who between 1732 and 1739 performed feats of daring by sliding or flying down a rope from St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury to the Gay Meadow across the River Severn....
, a steeplejack
Steeplejack
A steeplejack is a craftsman who scales buildings, chimneys and church steeples to carry out repairs or maintenance.Britain's most famous steeplejack was Fred Dibnah, who became a television presenter and minor celebrity as a result of his craft....
and ropeslider
Tightrope walking
Tightrope walking is the art of walking along a thin wire or rope, usually at a great height. One or more artists performs in front of an audience or as a publicity stunt...
, died when descending from Shrewsbury's
Shrewsbury
Shrewsbury is the county town of Shropshire, in the West Midlands region of England. Lying on the River Severn, it is a civil parish home to some 70,000 inhabitants, and is the primary settlement and headquarters of Shropshire Council...
St Mary’s Church
St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury
St Mary's Church, Shrewsbury, is a redundant Anglican church in St Mary's Place, Shrewsbury, Shropshire, England. It has been designated by English Heritage as a Grade I listed building, and is under the care of the Churches Conservation Trust. It is the largest church in Shrewsbury...
when his rope snapped.
Alberto Santos-Dumont
Alberto Santos-Dumont
Alberto Santos-Dumont , was a Brazilian early pioneer of aviation. The heir of a wealthy family of coffee producers, Santos Dumont dedicated himself to science studies in Paris, France, where he spent most of his adult life....
used a direct ancestor of the zip-line in the spring of 1906 for a method of testing various characteristics of his 14bis
Santos-Dumont 14-bis
The 14-bis , also known as , was a pioneer-era canard biplane designed and built by Brazilian inventor Alberto Santos-Dumont...
pioneer era canard biplane, before it ever flew under its own power later that year.
In past days in the Australia
Australia
Australia , officially the Commonwealth of Australia, is a country in the Southern Hemisphere comprising the mainland of the Australian continent, the island of Tasmania, and numerous smaller islands in the Indian and Pacific Oceans. It is the world's sixth-largest country by total area...
n outback
Outback
The Outback is the vast, remote, arid area of Australia, term colloquially can refer to any lands outside the main urban areas. The term "the outback" is generally used to refer to locations that are comparatively more remote than those areas named "the bush".-Overview:The outback is home to a...
, flying foxes were occasionally used for delivering food, cigarettes or tools to people working on the other side of an obstacle such as a gully or river. Australian troops have used them to deliver food, mail and even ammunition to forward positions in several conflicts.
List of Commercial Ziplines
- New York ZipLine Adventure Tours
- Black Mountain Thunder, Harlan County, Kentucky, United States
- Smoky Mountain Ziplines, Pigeon Forge, Tennessee, United States
- Zipline USA, Missouri, United States
- Zipline Los Cabos, México
- Canopy Ridge Farm, Lake Lure, North Carolina, United States
- Navitat Canopy Adventures, Asheville, North Carolina, United States
- Navitat Canopy Adventures, Wrightwood, California, United States
- Aerial Trek Zipline Adventures, Jack-in-the-Box Gully, St. Thomas, Barbados
- Hollybank Treetops Adventure, Tasmania, Australia
- Otway Fly Zip Line Tour, Victoria, Australia
- Margarita Adventures, Santa Margarita, California, United States
- Bootleg Canyon, Boulder City, Nevada, United States
External links
- The zip-line as a transportation system
- Smugglers busted over zip wire border racket ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
29 May 2008 - Video: Short documentary on riding a zip line
- Zip-line industry has another side to it Vancouver Sun 13 May 2008
- ‘Polarizing' zipline plan aired in Chase Kamloops Daily News 22 February 2011
- Zip-line in Slovakia
How to Build
- Zipline.Info has a nice sketch of a basic layout
- Illustrated Guide for building a homemade zip line
- Scoutbase: Advice on rope constructed rides
External links
- The zip-line as a transportation system
- Smugglers busted over zip wire border racket ReutersReutersReuters is a news agency headquartered in New York City. Until 2008 the Reuters news agency formed part of a British independent company, Reuters Group plc, which was also a provider of financial market data...
29 May 2008 - Video: Short documentary on riding a zip line
- Zip-line industry has another side to it Vancouver Sun 13 May 2008
- ‘Polarizing' zipline plan aired in Chase Kamloops Daily News 22 February 2011
- Zip-line in Slovakia
How to Build