EP0922620B2 - Procedure for storage and removal from storage of cabins within the stations of an aerial cable railway installation - Google Patents

Abstract

The procedure comprises a first stage consisting of braking and stopping a first cabin (2a) at a point close to the exit (4) from the station, transferring other cabins (2b - 2f) into the station during the first stage, braking and stopping a second cabin (2b) in a second stage, and repeating the two stages until all the cabins are stacked inside the station. The braking is carried out by a friction clutch and braking system with a detector.

Description

The invention relates to the technical field of overhead cable transport installations, including cabins or seats, suspended from cable coupling clamps, said clamps being disengageable.

More particularly, the invention relates to a method for storing and retrieving the vehicles of an overhead cable installation, this method being implemented during shutdowns of the installation, for example during the off-peak period or at the end of the day.

The storage of airlift transport vehicles poses many technical problems which have been variously approached in the prior art.

A method for stopping cabins in an aerial cableway installation of which at least one is a tractor is known from document FR-A-2,583,363 . In this prior art, the cabins are uncoupled from the cable at a corresponding location of a platform by an individual control means, the cabins of the same group coming to a stop behind one another, and the speed of the cable being temporarily slowed down during each disengagement and / or clutch maneuver.

The document EP-369 981 describes a cable car cabin storage facility. This installation comprises a storage rail pivoting about a horizontal axis, the displacement of the seats or cabins being induced, along the storage rail, by the force of gravity.

The storage area described in the document EP-369 981 is large floor area, so bulky in the vicinity of an end station of the facility, and is expensive.

The document FR-2598373 describes a transfer lane and / or garage layout for a gondola lift or a detachable chairlift. This arrangement, if it avoids tamping between vehicles while maintaining a minimum spacing between them, induces a footprint and additional cost for the transport facility.

The document FR-2654052 describes a method for starting and stopping a cable air transport facility.

Unlike most known installations in the prior art, the installation described in the document FR-2654052 does not have a large hangar adjacent to the departure and arrival stations for the storage of cabins or seats on diversion routes.

These hangars are expensive, especially in mountainous or hilly areas.

In the device described by the document FR-2654052 , the cabins are stored in the stations using a portion of the launch device and a part of the deceleration device, each of these devices consisting of two sections, including a storage.

The installation described in the document FR-2654052 has many disadvantages.

In particular, the cabin storage area is of limited size because it is necessary, according to this device, to maintain an acceleration or deceleration zone to reduce the speed of the vehicle.

Furthermore, the use of speed-synchronized motors that transmit motion to the tires that have a speed ratio 1 between them, and the fact that the storage area operates in step by step to allow the storage of the cabins to regular interval generates a significant investment in electronic and mechanical management equipment.

The document EP-A-0 557 179 discloses a transport system and a method of controlling such a system. This document provides for adapting the length of the means provided for modifying the speed of the vehicles station and move them at low speed so that, during an incident, some cabins can be stored in these means.

The invention relates to a method for storing and retrieving vehicles for aerial cable transport installations which does not have the disadvantages of the methods known in the prior art.

To this end, the invention relates, according to a first aspect, to a method for stopping an overhead cable transport installation as described in claim 1.

The invention relates, according to a second aspect, to a method for starting up an overhead cable installation as described in claim 3.

• les figures 1 à 4 représentent différentes phases de stockage de cabines en gare selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• la figure 5 illustre les variations de la vitesse du câble dans les sections lanceur, contour et ralentisseur lors de la mise en oeuvre du procédé selon l'invention, dans un mode de réalisation.

Other features and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description of embodiments, which description will be made with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

• the Figures 1 to 4 represent different stages of storing cabins in the station according to one embodiment of the invention;
• the figure 5 illustrates the variations of the speed of the cable in the launcher, contour and retarder sections during the implementation of the method according to the invention, in one embodiment.

The following description will be made with reference to a gondola with detachable clips on a cable.

Those skilled in the art will understand that the invention is easily transferable to bicable or multicable installations, comprising cabins, skips, seats for transporting materials, objects or passengers.

In the following and in order to simplify, the term cabin will be used alone.

In the figures, a station of a tractor-trailer cable gondola 1 comprises a vertical axis end pulley, not shown, over which the cable 1 passes.

To the cable 1 are coupled cabins 2.

At the entrance of the station, the cabins are uncoupled from the cable 1, in a known manner.

Similarly, at the exit of the station, the cabins are reconnected to the cable 1 in a known manner.

A carriage supporting at least one detachable clip is associated with each cabin.

The carriage is provided with rollers and rolls in the station after uncoupling to the cable 1, on a transfer rail.

In one embodiment, the carriage is driven by tire wheels, acting on a friction face of the carriage.

In one embodiment, the tire wheels are arranged from the inlet 3 of the station to decelerate the cabins 2 uncoupled from the cable 1 to the output 4 of the station, to accelerate the cabins 2 before re-coupling to the cable 1 .

In another embodiment, a drag chain is provided in the contour.

The Figures 1 to 4 illustrate the progressive storage of 14 cabins at the station end, in one embodiment of the invention.

On the figure 1 , the cabin 2a is already in the storage position.

A friction clutch system associated with a brake is used to stop the car 2a at the desired location.

In another embodiment, an engine takes place and place of said friction clutch system, and is optionally associated with a brake.

The transmission of the forces necessary for the animation of the cab drive system, downstream and upstream of the storage area, is not dependent on said clutch.

So that the storage of the cabin 2a, then the following cabs 2b, 2c, 2d ... does not interfere with the operation of the rest of the installation, in particular the acceleration, deceleration and dragging systems.

The invention can thus be implemented on existing installations, not intended for storing vehicles in the station, initially.

In particular, the mechanisms ensuring the disengagement, slowing, acceleration and clutch of the vehicles, which consist mainly of tire ramps, are compatible with the invention.

The invention is also compatible with an installation in which the power take-off is direct on the cable, the speed being modified from the tires.

The structure of these devices, of known type, will be briefly summarized below.

These devices are such that the tires drive the vehicles by adhesion above the clamps.

On the arrival side on the departure side, the tire ramp is conventionally divided into two sections.

In one embodiment, each of these sections is coupled to a variable speed geared motor by frequency variation for example, and each tire drives the following by a V-belt transmission, for example.

The reduction ratio between each tire is 1 and all the tires on the ramp turn at the same speed.

In these installations, the slowdown and the acceleration is done by the speed variation of the geared motors.

In operation, the two sections of the ramp function as a single ramp. For this purpose, they are coupled by an electromagnetic clutch and are driven by the two geared motors whose speeds are then synchronized.

In the event of stopping of one of the two geared motors, the electromechanical clutch always couples the two sections of the ramp and all the tires are driven by a single geared motor.

For the decycling of the cabins to be stored in the tracks as well as for recycling, the two sections of the ramp are uncoupled and are controlled by their own geared motor, following the program established for these configurations.

The drag chain in the contour is also driven by a variable speed geared motor.

In another embodiment, each section is coupled to a fixed speed geared motor, slowing and acceleration being obtained by the existence of gear ratios between the geared motors.

The invention makes it possible to maintain the principle of decreasing or increasing speed by modifying the speed ratio between the tires, thus maintaining the taking of direct movements on the cable.

The figure 2 illustrates an intermediate storage situation in which the cabin 2b is stopped near the cabin 2a.

The spacing between the cabins 2a, 2b ... in the stations, in the storage phase can be predetermined and modified on request.

The figure 3 illustrates the ultimate storage stage in which the 14 cabins, in the embodiment shown, are stored in the station, in the voltage station.

The figure 4 illustrates a situation similar to figure 3 , in the driving station.

Of course, depending on the respective dimensions of the loading and unloading stations and cabins, it may be possible to store more than 14 cabins at each station.

The invention makes it possible to use almost all the lengths of the acceleration / deceleration system and contour for storing vehicles.

In an embodiment not claimed the storage speed is kept substantially constant and lower than the nominal speed of the installation, this storage speed being compatible with the stopping speed of the cabins.

Alternatively and according to the invention, the method is such that the speed is variable between the nominal speed and the storage speed.

The invention can be applied to existing equipment, without significant mechanical and electrical modification, the launchers being in particular preserved identically.

In one embodiment, the storage routes of a traditional garage, under additional building, may be provided, if, for example, it is not possible to store all the cabins in the stations.

The friction clutch / brake assemblies, hereafter referred to as "clutch", are distributed in the mechanics of the main tracks, in the launcher, the retarder and the contour.

Each clutch is associated with a cab presence detector at the entrance of the disengageable tire.

This detector is, in one embodiment, of the inductive type.

In the launcher and retarder part, these sensors can be used for tracking control.

• une pour l'action "frein" (bobine alimentée impliquant le freinage) ;
• une pour l'action "embrayer" (bobine alimentée impliquant l'embrayage).

In one embodiment, the clutches consist essentially of two coils:

• one for the "brake" action (energized coil involving braking);
• one for the "engage" action (energized coil involving the clutch).

In normal operation, out of storage phase and destocking, all clutches are engaged.

An automatism allows the action on the speed of the cable, during the storage phase, in order to have the cabins under the disengageable tires.

The figure 5 illustrates the variations in cable speed in the Contour Launcher and Retarder sections. The device operates at "pulsed" speed, variable.

• la possibilité de garder des systèmes de prise de mouvement sur le câble pour transmettre la puissance nécessaire pour les systèmes d'accélération/décélération des véhicules en gare de l'installation ;
• lors du stockage, pas de marche forcée à effectuer comme le "pas à pas", pas de désaccouplement de tronçons ;
• simplification de la conception électrique de gestion du stockage des véhicules en gare ;
• stockage des véhicules sur presque toute la totalité du système d'accélération/décélération des véhicules ;
• possibilité d'un fonctionnement couplé avec un système de voies de garage traditionnel, sous bâtiment annexe, par exemple si la totalité des cabines ne peut être stockée dans les gares ;
• possibilité d'incorporation dans une installation existante, sans modification mécanique et électrique importante, notamment en conservant à l'identique les lanceurs.

The invention has many advantages:

• the possibility of keeping power-take-off systems on the cable to transmit the necessary power for the acceleration / deceleration systems of the vehicles at the station of the installation;
• during storage, no forced march to be performed as "step by step", no disconnection of sections;
• simplification of the electrical design of storage management of vehicles in the station;
• vehicle storage on almost the entire vehicle acceleration / deceleration system;
• possibility of operation coupled with a conventional siding system, under an ancillary building, for example if all the cabins can not be stored in the stations;
• possibility of incorporation into an existing installation, without significant mechanical and electrical modifications, in particular by keeping the launchers identical.

Claims (7)

1. In an overhead cable transportation installation, where at least one of the cables is a tractor cable, the said installation comprising a plurality of cabins (2) fixed to the cable or cables (1) by means of at least one disengageable clamp, a method for stopping cabins in a station, the said method being characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

   a) braking and stopping a first cabin (2a) close to the station exit, by engagement of at least one means of slowing down and stopping the cabin independent of the installation drive system;

   b) transferring the other cabins present in the station during step a), at a variable pulsed speed;

   c) braking and stopping a second cabin (2b), at a certain distance from the first cabin (2a), by engaging at least one means of slowing and stopping the cabin independent of the installation drive system, associated with the second cabin (2b);

   d) transferring the other cabins present in the station during step c), at a variable pulsed speed;

   e) repeating steps c) and d), the entire length of the station being able to be used for storing the cabins, and the transmission of the forces necessary for operating the drive system of the cabins, upstream and downstream of the storage area, being independent of the engagement of the means of slowing and stopping the cabins.
2. A method according to Claim 1, characterised in that the speed of the cabins transferred during steps b) and d) is variable between the nominal speed and the storage speed.
3. In an overhead cable transportation installation where at least one of the cables is a tractor cable, the said installation comprising a plurality of cabins (2) fixed to the cable or cables (1), a method for the starting up of the cabins in a station, characterised in that it comprises the following steps:

   a) launching a first cabin (2a) situated at the start of the acceleration section by disengaging a cabin stop means independent of the installation drive system and coupling the said cabin (2a) to the tractor cable;

   b) transferring the other cabins present in the station during step a) at a variable pulsated speed;

   c) launching a second cabin (2b) situated at the start of the acceleration section by disengaging a cabin stop means independent of the installation drive system and coupling the said cabin (2b) to the tractor cable;

   d) transferring the other cabins present in the station during step c) at a variable pulsated speed;

   e) repeating steps c) and d) until all the cabins are replaced in rhythm on the installation, the transmission of the forces necessary for operating the drive system of the cabins, upstream and downstream of the storage area, being independent of the engagement of the means of slowing and stopping the cabins.
4. A method according to Claim 3, characterised in that the speed of the cabins transferred during steps b) and d) is variable between the nominal speed and the storage speed.
5. A method for stopping an overhead cable transfer installation according to any one of Claims 1 or 2, characterised in that steps a) and b) on the one hand and c) and d) on the other hand are concomitant.
6. A method for starting up an overhead cable transportation installation according to any one of Claims 3 or 4, characterised in that steps a) and b) on the one hand and c) and d) on the other hand are concomitant.
7. A method according to any one of Claims 1 to 6, characterised in that it comprises a supplementary step of storing cabins in storage tracks in a garage, under a building related to the overhead cable transportation installation.

Images