Cable transportation system comprising a station and method for operating such cable transportation system

Abstract

A station for a cable transportation system comprising a plurality of transporting units supported and driven outside the station by at least one cable, the station comprising an inlet and an outlet for the transporting units; a guiding device for guiding the transporting units uncoupled from the cable inside the station; an advancing auxiliary device for moving the transporting units along the guiding device; a control unit configured for controlling the advancing auxiliary device so that the advancing auxiliary device can switch, with no service interruption, from a first configuration, wherein the transporting units are individually arranged equidistant from each other and the boarding and landing occur inside the station without stopping the advancing movement, to a second configuration, wherein the transporting units are arranged in equidistant compact groups of at least two units and the boarding and landing occur inside the station by temporarily stopping the transporting units, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A cable transportation system comprising: a station comprising: an inlet associated with an uncoupling device configured to uncouple each of a plurality of transporting units from a cable configured to drive the transporting units outside the station, an outlet associated with a coupling device configured to couple each of the transporting units to the cable; a guiding device configured to guide the transporting units inside the station when the transportation units are uncoupled from the cable; an advancing auxiliary device configured to move the transporting units along the guiding device; and a control unit configured to cause the advancing auxiliary device to switch, with no service interruption, from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the transporting units are individually arranged outside the station equidistant from each other and a boarding and landing operation occurs inside the station without stopping an advancing movement of the transportation units and in the second configuration, the transporting units are arranged outside the station in equidistant compact groups of at least two of the transportation units and the boarding and landing operation occurs inside the station by temporarily stopping the advancing movement of the transporting units.

2. The cable transportation system of claim 1, wherein: the guiding device comprises, in series: an inlet guide configured to decelerate the transporting units, an intermediate guide configured to enable the boarding and landing operation, and an outlet guide configured to accelerate the transporting units; and the advancing auxiliary device is configured to drive the transporting units with different acceleration and deceleration rates along portions of the inlet guide and the outlet guide.

3. The cable transportation system of claim 2, wherein the advancing auxiliary device comprises a plurality of wheels arranged along the guiding device and configured to drive the transporting units to advance, by friction, with at least one group of wheels along the inlet guide and the outlet guide being provided with inverter motorization.

4. The cable transportation system of claim 2, wherein the advancing auxiliary device comprises a plurality of wheels arranged along the guiding device and configured to drive the transporting units to advance, by friction, with at least one group of wheels along the inlet guide and the outlet guide being provided with a gear joint with at least two rates.

5. The cable transportation system of claim 1, wherein the control unit is configured to vary an advancing speed of the cable such that in the first configuration, the cable advances at a first speed and in the second configuration, the cable advances at a second, lower speed.

6. A cable transportation system comprising: a station comprising: an inlet associated with an uncoupling device configured to uncouple each of a plurality of transporting units from a cable configured to drive the transporting units outside the station, an outlet associated with a coupling device configured to couple each of the transporting units to the cable; a guiding device configured to guide the transporting units inside the station when the transportation units are uncoupled from the cable; an advancing auxiliary device configured to move the transporting units along the guiding device; and a control unit configured to cause the advancing auxiliary device to switch, with no service interruption, from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, the transporting units are arranged outside the station in equidistant compact groups of at least two of the transportation units and a boarding and landing operation occurs inside the station by temporarily stopping an advancing movement of the transporting units and in the second configuration, the transporting units are individually arranged outside the station equidistant from each other and the boarding and landing operation occurs inside the station without stopping the advancing movement of the transportation units.

7. The cable transportation system of claim 6, wherein: the guiding device comprises, in series: an inlet guide, an intermediate guide configured to enable the boarding and landing operation, and an outlet guide; and the advancing auxiliary device is configured to drive the transporting units with different acceleration and deceleration rates along portions of the inlet guide and the outlet guide.

8. The cable transportation system of claim 6, wherein the control unit is configured to vary an advancing speed of the cable such that in the first configuration, the cable advances at a first speed and in the second configuration, the cable advances at a second, different speed.

9. A method for operating a cable transportation system, the method comprising: causing an advancing auxiliary device of a station to switch, with no service interruption, from a first configuration to a second configuration, wherein in the first configuration, a plurality of transporting units are individually arranged outside the station equidistant from each other and a boarding and landing operation occurs inside the station without stopping an advancing movement of the transportation units along a guiding device of the station configured to guide the transportation units inside the station when the transportation units are uncoupled from a cable configured to drive the transportation units outside the station, and in the second configuration, the transporting units are arranged outside the station in equidistant compact groups of at least two of the transportation units and the boarding and landing operation occurs inside the station by temporarily stopping the advancing movement of the transporting units along the guiding device of the station, and causing the advancing auxiliary device of the station to switch, with no service interruption, from the second configuration to the first configuration.

10. The method of claim 9, wherein causing the advancing auxiliary device of the station to switch, with no service interruption, from the first configuration to the second configuration comprises controlling the advancing auxiliary device to drive the transporting units with different acceleration and deceleration rates along an inlet guide of the guiding device and an outlet guide of the guiding device, the guiding device comprising, in series, the inlet guide associated with a deceleration of the transporting units, an intermediate guide associated with the boarding and landing operation and the outlet guide associated with acceleration of the transporting units.

11. The method of claim 10, wherein different portions of the inlet guide are associated with different deceleration rates and different portions of the outlet guide are associated with different acceleration rates.

12. The method of claim 9, further comprising varying an advancing speed of the cable such that during the first configuration, the cable advances at a first speed and during the second configuration, the cable advances at a second, lower speed.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features and advantages of the present disclosure will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

(2) FIG. 1 is a schematic, side elevation view of a portion of a cable system equipped with a station according to the present disclosure;

(3) FIG. 2 is an enlarged view of a detail of FIG. 1 indicated with II and showing an embodiment example of the advancing auxiliary device operating inside the station and configured for advancing the transporting units when uncoupled from the cable;

(4) FIG. 3 is an elevation view of the detail of FIG. 2 along the lines showing an embodiment example of a device for guiding and supporting the transporting units during motion in the station;

(5) FIG. 4 is a plan view of a first, service configuration of the system of the present disclosure;

(6) FIG. 5 is a plan view of a second, service configuration of the system of the present disclosure;

(7) FIG. 6 shows the transition steps from the first to the second configuration of the system in the absence of service interruptions; and

(8) FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically show the mutual arrangement of the transporting units according to the first and the second service configuration of the system.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The present disclosure relates to a cable transportation system equipped with a station and the method for operating the system as regards the management of the advancing movement of the transporting units inside the station.

(10) FIG. 1 shows a schematic, side elevation view of a portion of a cable system 2 equipped with a station 1 according to the present disclosure. In particular, FIG. 1 shows a plurality of transporting units 3, in series and equidistant from each other, which are supported and driven outside the station 1 by a supporting/hauling cable 4. Alternatively, the system may comprise a hauling cable and at least one supporting cable. The reference numeral 12 in FIG. 1 schematizes a control unit configured to control the advancing movement of the transporting units 3 inside the station 1. However, this control unit 12 may also be used to control the entire system, for example to control the speed of the cable 4, therefore without providing one control unit per station.

(11) FIGS. 2 and 3 show enlarged, elevation plan views of the detail indicated with II in FIG. 1. In particular, FIG. 2 shows a plan view of an embodiment example of an advancing auxiliary device 16 (in the form of a plurality of motorized wheels) operating inside the station 1 and configured for driving the transporting units 3 to advance when uncoupled from the cable 4. FIG. 3 shows an elevation view of an embodiment example of a guiding and supporting device 7 (in the form of at least one track guide) for the transporting units 3 during the advancing movement inside the station 1. According to this example, the guiding device 7 comprises a pair of tracks 21, 22 which support respective roller portions of a suspension arm 23 connected to the roof 24 of the transporting unit (i.e., a cabin 3). At the bottom, the cabin 3 is arranged between two sides 20 where, at one of these sides, a platform 19 is shown.

(12) Inside the station, the advancing movement, acceleration and deceleration of the transporting unit along these tracks 21, 22 are imparted to the cabin 3 by a suitable advancing auxiliary device 16. In the example of FIG. 2, this advancing auxiliary device 16 comprises a plurality of motorized wheels 25, such as made of rubber, which act against a corresponding portion 26, which is, in certain embodiments, knurled, at the top of the suspension arm 23.

(13) FIG. 4 shows a plan view of the path followed by the transporting units 3 inside the station 1 as well as immediately upstream and downstream thereof. Inside the station, the transporting units follow a path having a substantially U-shaped plan. In this respect, the station can be defined as an upstream or downstream station. However, the station of the present disclosure may also be an intermediate station, therefore without providing a U-shaped path. The direction of advance of the transporting units 3 is shown schematically in FIG. 4 as well as in FIGS. 5 and 6, the arrow I indicating the inlet of the station and the arrow O the outlet of the station. In particular, FIG. 4 shows a service configuration of the system 2 wherein the transporting units are all arranged equidistant from one another. This configuration can be defined as a high-traffic configuration because the distance between the units does not allow them to stop inside the station during the landing and boarding of passengers. A cable uncoupling device 4 is provided at the inlet of the station 1 (i.e., in the position indicated by reference numeral 5 in FIG. 4). Once the cable 4 has been uncoupled, the transporting unit entering the station 1 is supported by the inlet guide 8, which is a portion of a guiding device 7 extending from the inlet 5 to the outlet 6 of the station 1. The preceding FIGS. 2 and 3 show an embodiment example of said guiding device 7 and of the advancing auxiliary device 16 connected to the guiding device 7. Along the inlet guide 8, the transporting units 3 are slowed down so that they arrive at an intermediate guide 10 at a relatively low speed suitable for boarding and landing. In this configuration, the boarding and landing occur without stopping the transporting units 3, which advance at a constant speed along the intermediate guide 10. Downstream of the intermediate guide 10 there is an outlet guide 9 along which the transporting units 3 are accelerated to such a speed that they can be safely coupled with the cable 4. By way of example, the speed of the cable can be 5.5 meters/second, while the advancing speed along the intermediate guide 10 can be 0.3 meters/second. In the example of FIG. 4, the station 1 is shown as a return station with a U-shaped, in plan view, intermediate guide 10 and a longitudinal axis 13. The distance between the inlet guide and the outlet guide is such as to simultaneously enable the entry and exit of the transporting units into/from the station. To keep the transporting units 3 equidistant, the acceleration and deceleration rate is constant along the entire extent of the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 guide.

(14) FIG. 5 shows a second, service configuration of the system 2. In this configuration, the transporting units 3 are no longer individually equidistant, but are mutually arranged in compact equidistant groups 11, and according to the example shown, each group 11 consists of three units 3. In particular, the distance between the groups 11 is greater than the distance between the individual units 3 in the configuration of FIG. 4. The number of units 3 in operation in the system in the configuration of FIG. 4 is the same as that in the configuration of FIG. 5. In certain embodiments, the advancing speed of the cable 4 in the configuration of FIG. 5 is lower than the corresponding speed in the configuration of FIG. 4. During the operating mode of FIG. 5, the distance between the groups 11 is such as to enable the groups themselves to stop along the intermediate guide 10 without risk of collision with the group 11 entering the station 1. In this configuration, the presence of platform doors can be envisaged, which are schematized in FIG. 5 with reference number 17, so as to provide an automatic operating station 1. Also in this configuration of FIG. 5, the acceleration and deceleration rate is constant along the entire extent of the inlet 8 and the outlet 9 guide.

(15) FIGS. 7A and 7B schematically show the mutual arrangement of the transporting units 3 according to the first and the second service configuration of the system, schematized in FIGS. 4 and 5.

(16) According to the example in FIG. 7A, the speed of the cable 4 is 5.5 meters/second, while the gondolas 3 are mutually spaced apart by a distance d of 82.5 meters, corresponding to 15 seconds.

(17) According to the example in FIG. 7B, the speed of the cable 4 is 3.5 meters/second. Within the single groups 11, the gondolas 3 are mutually spaced apart by a distance of 45.5 meters, corresponding to 13 seconds. The downstream gondola of one group is separated from the upstream gondola of the preceding group by a distance D′ of 156.5 meters, corresponding to 44.71 seconds. The upstream gondola of one group is separated from the upstream gondola of the preceding group by a distance D of 247.5 meters, corresponding to 70.71 seconds.

(18) FIG. 6 schematically shows that the present disclosure enables the system 2 to be switched from the configuration of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5 without requiring service interruptions.

(19) As shown, along the inlet guide 8, the transporting units 3 are initially fed equidistant to each other and are slowed down with a constant braking ratio along the entire inlet guide 8 until they reach the intermediate guide 10 with the expected landing/boarding speed, for example 0.3 meters/second.

(20) Once the intermediate guide 10 has been covered, the transporting units 3 travel along a first, upstream portion of the outlet guide 9, indicated with 15 in FIG. 6, along which they are advanced at a first acceleration rate. In the next portion of the outlet guide 9 the transporting units 3 are advanced at a second acceleration rate, which is lower than the preceding one. Due to these different acceleration rates, the units 3 assemble together until they form a group 11. Once this group 11 is formed, the upstream portion 15 of the outlet guide 9 is temporarily operated with the same, relatively lower acceleration rate, to space the last cabin of the formed group 11 from the first cabin of the group 11 being formed. Once the desired distance between the groups 11 has been attained, the higher acceleration rate is restored along the upstream portion 15 of the outlet guide 9, in order to complete the second group 11 being formed. The sequence is repeated until completion of all the groups 11 along the path of the system 2. At this point and for the duration of the second service configuration, a constant acceleration rate is imposed along the outlet guide 9. In absolute terms, the acceleration ends when the speed reaches that of the cable 4, which, as indicated above, may also vary from configuration to configuration.

(21) In order to bring the system 2 back to the high-traffic conditions of FIG. 4, the cabins 3 advancing in groups 11 are spaced apart by imposing different deceleration rates along the inlet guide 8. In particular, a relatively lower deceleration rate is imposed along the downstream portion 14 of the upstream guide 8, so as to separate the transporting units 3 to a greater extent until the desired distance compatible with the operation of the system 2 is reached without stopping for boarding and landing.

(22) As is evident, both the transition from the configuration of FIG. 4 to that of FIG. 5, and vice versa, occur without service interruption of the system.

(23) Lastly, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the disclosure described herein without departing from the scope of the appended claims. Accordingly, various changes and modifications to the presently disclosed embodiments will be apparent to those skilled in the art.