A hybrid cable/rail transportation system comprising: at least one system portion configured as a cable transportation system comprising at least one cable; at least one system portion configured as a rail transportation system comprising at least one rail, wherein the system portion configured as a cable transportation system is upstream and/or downstream of the system portion configured as a rail transportation system; a plurality of transportation units, wherein each transportation unit comprises a cabin; wherein each cabin is configured for being moved along the entire system, respectively supported hanging from the cable along the system portion configured as a cable transportation system and supported resting on the rail along the system portion configured as a rail transportation system.

Disclosed herein is a transport system, comprising an electrified static cable system, a carriage supported by a non-electrified static cable, an electrical drive system incorporated into the carriage- wherein the electrical drive system is utilized to move the carriage along the pair of parallel non-electrified cables, a transconnector configured to supply electrical power to the carriage, and a cabin mounted to the carriage. Corresponding methods of making and using the system also are disclosed.

Disclosed herein is a transport system, comprising an electrified static cable system, a carriage supported by a non-electrified static cable, an electrical drive system incorporated into the carriage- wherein the electrical drive system is utilized to move the carriage along the pair of parallel non-electrified cables, a transconnector configured to supply electrical power to the carriage, and a cabin mounted to the carriage. Corresponding methods of making and using the system also are disclosed.

A microelectromechanical systems (MEMS) device and a method for calibrating a MEMS device. The device includes a first semiconductor substrate including at least one MEMS component. The device also includes an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC) comprising a second semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor substrate is attached to the first semiconductor substrate. The second semiconductor substrate includes at least one piezoresistive strain gauge. Each piezoresistive strain gauge includes at least one doped semiconductor region having a resistivity that is determined by a strain on said doped semiconductor region. The second semiconductor substrate also includes a circuit for evaluating a trim algorithm for the at least one MEMs component using one or more output values received from the at least one piezoresistive strain gauge.

An electrified-cable system is disclosed herein. The system includes first and second wires each having a longitudinally-extending uninsulated region comprising at least a portion of the circumference of the first wire, and a longitudinally-extending insulated region comprising the remaining circumference of the first wire, and an insulating connector that couples the insulated region of the first wire to the insulated region of the second wire. The system is configured to form an electrical circuit from the first wire to the second wire through a carriage in electrical contact with the uninsulated region of the first wire and the uninsulated region of the second wire. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

An electrified-cable system is disclosed herein. The system includes first and second wires each having a longitudinally-extending uninsulated region comprising at least a portion of the circumference of the first wire, and a longitudinally-extending insulated region comprising the remaining circumference of the first wire, and an insulating connector that couples the insulated region of the first wire to the insulated region of the second wire. The system is configured to form an electrical circuit from the first wire to the second wire through a carriage in electrical contact with the uninsulated region of the first wire and the uninsulated region of the second wire. A corresponding method is also disclosed.

A cable car system has at least two cable car stations and at least one carrying cable between the stations. A cable car vehicle is moved by a hauling cable between the car stations. The travelling positions of the vehicle along the travelling route are determined by a measuring device and transmitted to a control unit and processed and stored in same. A signal is input into the control unit by an input device located on a cable car support such that maintenance or assembly works and similar are carried out on this cable car support. When a cable car vehicle approaches the cable car support, the drive for moving the at least one cable car vehicle is controlled by the control unit such that the cable car vehicle is moved at a significantly reduced speed in relation to the operating speed, or is stopped at the cable car support.

An aerial rope tramway or slope hoist system suitable for use in an open pit mine or similar application. According to an embodiment, the aerial slope hoist system comprises an upper station and a lower station. The upper station is configured in proximity to a surface section of the open pit and the lower station is configured at a lower section of the open pit mine. According to an embodiment, the upper station comprises first and second towers and the lower station comprises first and second towers. The towers are configured to support respective ends of first and second suspension cable assemblies. Each of the suspension cable assemblies is configured to support and carry a trolley or skip. The system comprises a hoist configured to move the respective trolleys in opposite directions. The towers for the lower station are configured to be moveable and provide the capability to break down the system and/or lengthen or reduce the span of the system.

An aerial rope tramway or slope hoist system suitable for use in an open pit mine or similar application. According to an embodiment, the aerial slope hoist system comprises an upper station and a lower station. The upper station is configured in proximity to a surface section of the open pit and the lower station is configured at a lower section of the open pit mine. According to an embodiment, the upper station comprises first and second towers and the lower station comprises first and second towers. The towers are configured to support respective ends of first and second suspension cable assemblies. Each of the suspension cable assemblies is configured to support and carry a trolley or skip. The system comprises a hoist configured to move the respective trolleys in opposite directions. The towers for the lower station are configured to be moveable and provide the capability to break down the system and/or lengthen or reduce the span of the system.

A cable transportation system comprising: a first terminal station; a second terminal station; a plurality of transporting units moved between the terminal stations; at least one supporting cable for supporting the transporting units between the terminal stations; wherein the supporting cable comprises a first end housed inside the first terminal station and a second end housed inside the second terminal station; a first anchor device for anchoring the first end of the supporting cable inside the first terminal station; a second anchor device for anchoring the second end of the supporting cable inside the second terminal station; wherein the anchor devices are configured to selectively block the ends of the supporting cable inside the respective terminal stations and to enable a stepped sliding of the supporting cable between the terminal stations.