BRANCH PARKING TRACK GARAGE FOR CABLEWAY VEHICLES

Abstract

A branch parking track garage includes a conveyor movable in two conveying directions and arranged along a first and a second branch parking track between respective transfer points and an end of the corresponding branch parking track. A first and second drive finger, which are spaced apart on the conveyor, are each movable back and forth between a first and a second drive finger position. A distance between the first and the second drive finger on the conveyor is adopted such that the first drive finger is located in a region of the first branch parking track transfer point or in a region of the conveyor facing a feeder track in the transverse direction between the first and the second branch parking track when the second drive finger is located in the region of the end of the second branch parking track, and vice versa.

Claims

1. A branch parking track garage for cableway vehicles, comprising: a feeder track which is connected to a first branch parking track and a second branch parking track, the first branch parking track and the second branch parking track each terminating at ends remote from the feeder track; a first branch parking track conveyor on the first branch parking track and the second branch parking track, which extends from the feeder track to a transfer point on the first branch parking track and second branch parking track, and a second branch parking track conveyor on the first branch parking track and the second branch parking track, which extends from the transfer point to the ends of the first branch parking track and second branch parking track, wherein the first branch parking track conveyor and the second branch parking track conveyor overlap in a region of a respective transfer point, a continuous conveyor with a conveyor movable in two conveying directions is arranged in a region of the first branch parking track and the second parking branch parking track, the continuous conveyor having a first conveying section in which the conveyor extends along the first branch parking track between the transfer point of the first branch parking track and the end of the first branch parking track in order to form the second branch parking track conveyor of the first branch parking track, and the continuous conveyor having a second conveying section in which the conveyor extends along the second branch parking track between the transfer point of the second branch parking track and the end of the second branch parking track to form the second branch parking track conveyor of the second branch parking track, a first drive finger and a second drive finger are arranged on the conveyor of the continuous conveyor at a distance from one another in the direction of the conveyor, the first drive finger and second drive finger are each movable back and forth between a first drive finger position and a second drive finger position, wherein the first and second drive fingers in the second drive finger position project further from the conveyor by an engagement distance in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction than in the first drive finger position, and wherein a distance between the first drive finger and the second drive finger in the conveying direction on the conveyor is adopted such that the first drive finger is located in a region of the transfer point of the first branch parking track or is located in a region of the continuous conveyor facing the feeder track in the transverse direction between the first branch parking track and the second branch parking track when the second drive finger is located in the region of the end of the second branch parking track, and vice versa.

2. The branch parking track garage according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first drive finger or the second drive finger is movable translationally and/or rotationally from the first drive finger position into the second drive finger position, and vice versa.

3. The branch parking track garage according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first drive finger or the second drive finder is movable by a drive finger drive on the conveyor or in the branch parking track garage from the first drive finger position into the second drive finger position, and vice versa.

4. The branch parking track garage according to claim 1, wherein at least one of the first drive finger or the second drive finger is designed such that, when the at least one drive finger is in the second drive finger position, a force acting on the at least one drive finger in the direction of the end of the branch parking track can be absorbed by the at least one drive finger in order to transmit a driving force in the direction of the transfer point of the branch parking track, and a force acting on the at least one drive finger in the direction of the transfer point of the branch parking track moves the at least one drive finger from the second drive finger position, preferably translationally and/or rotationally, into the first drive finger position.

5. The branch parking track garage according to claim 4, wherein the at least one drive finger is arranged on the conveyor so that it can pivot between the first drive finger position and the second drive finger position, and a pivoting of the at least one drive finger in the direction of the end of the branch parking track is blocked, and pivoting of the at least one drive finger in the direction of the transfer point is enabled.

6. The branch parking track garage according to claim 4, wherein a first sliding guide with a first guide surface is arranged in the region of the conveyor, and wherein the first guide surface interacts with the at least one drive finger when the drive finger is located in the region of the first guide surface in order to move the drive finger from the first drive finger position into the second drive finger position when the drive finger is moved with the conveyor past or along the first gate surface.

7. The branch parking track garage according to claim 4, wherein a first sliding guide with a first guide surface is arranged in the region of the end of the first branch parking track and/or the second branch parking track, and wherein the first guide surface interacts with the at least one drive finger when the at least one drive finger is located in the region of the first guide surface in order to move the at least one drive finger from the first drive finger position into the second drive finger position when the at least one drive finger is moved with the conveyor past or along the first gate surface.

8. The branch parking track garage according to claim 4, wherein a second sliding guide with a second guide surface is arranged in the region of the conveyor, and wherein the second guide surface interacts with the at least one drive finger when the at least one drive finger is located in the region of the second guide surface in order to move the at least one drive finger from the second drive finger position into the first drive finger position when the at least one drive finger is moved with the conveyor past or along the second gate surface.

9. The branch parking track garage according to claim 4, wherein a second sliding guide with a second guide surface is arranged in the region of the conveyor in the region of the end of the first branch parking track and/or the second branch parking track, and wherein the second guide surface interacts with the at least one drive finger when the at least one drive finger is located in the region of the second guide surface in order to move the at least one drive finger from the second drive finger position into the first drive finger position when the at least one drive finger is moved with the conveyor past or along the second gate surface.

10. The branch parking track garage according to claim 1, wherein a preload element is provided on the conveyor, which automatically holds the first drive finger or the second drive finger in the second drive finger position, and the first drive finger or the second drive finger is movable from the second drive finger position into the first drive finger position by overcoming the effect of the preload element.

11. The branch parking track garage according to claim 1, wherein a conveyor drive is provided on the continuous conveyor in order to drive the conveyor in a first conveying direction and in an opposite, second conveying direction.

12. The branch parking track garage according to claim 1, wherein the first branch parking track conveyor of the first branch parking track and/or the first branch parking track conveyor of the second branch parking track is designed as a tire conveyor.

13. A method for discharging cableway vehicles from a branch parking track garage according to claim 1, in which cableway vehicles are lined up next to one another on the first branch parking track and second branch parking track of the branch parking track garage, the method comprising: positioning the first drive finger in the second drive finger position in the region of the end of the first branch parking track, whereby the second drive finger is positioned in the region of the transfer point of the second branch parking track or in the region of the continuous conveyor facing the feeder track in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction between the first branch parking track and the second branch parking track, and moving the first drive finger in the second drive finger position with the conveyor in a first conveying direction from the region of the end of the first branch parking track in the direction of the transfer point of the first branch parking track, whereby the first drive finger in the second drive finger position contacts a part of a cableway vehicle that is closest to the end of the first branch parking track, and via the first drive finger, driving the cableway vehicle and pushing the cableway vehicle in the direction of the transfer point on the first branch parking track, whereby all cableway vehicles on the first branch parking track are pushed in the direction of the transfer point on the first branch parking track, so that each cableway vehicle comes into engagement with the first branch parking track conveyor of the first branch parking track and each cableway vehicle on the first branch parking track is moved from the transfer point on the first branch parking track with the first branch parking track conveyor of the first branch parking track in the direction of the feeder track, and wherein, by discharging the first branch parking track, the second drive finger is simultaneously positioned in the region of the end of the second branch parking track and is in the second drive finger position or is brought into the second drive finger position, and the second drive finger in the second drive finger position is moved with the conveyor in an opposite second conveying direction from the region of the end of the second branch parking track in the direction of the transfer point of the second branch parking track, whereby the second drive finger in the second drive finger position abuts a part of a cableway vehicle that is closest to the end of the second branch parking track, and the second drive finger drives this cableway vehicle and pushes it in the direction of the transfer point on the second branch parking track, whereby all cableway vehicles on the second branch parking track are pushed in the direction of the transfer point on the second branch parking track, so that each cableway vehicle comes into engagement with the first branch parking track conveyor of the second branch parking track and each cableway vehicle on the second branch parking track is moved from the transfer point on the second branch parking track with the first branch parking track conveyor of the second branch parking track in the direction of the feeder track.

14. The method for parking cableway vehicles in a branch parking track garage according to claim 1, the method comprising: positioning the first drive finger in the region of the end of the first branch parking track, whereby the second drive finger is positioned in the region of the transfer point of the second branch parking track, and the second drive finger on the conveyor is brought from the second drive finger position into the first drive finger position or the second drive finger is positioned in the region of the continuous conveyor facing the feeder track in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction between the first branch parking track and the second branch parking track, or vice versa, and moving cableway vehicles with the first branch parking track conveyor of the first branch parking track and/or with the first branch parking track conveyor of the second branch parking track from the feeder track to the transfer point on the first branch parking track and/or the transfer point on the second branch parking track, and from there further onto the first branch parking track and/or the second branch parking track.

15. The method for parking according to claim 14, wherein the cableway vehicles are pushed into the first branch parking track and/or the second branch parking track with the first branch parking track conveyor of the first branch parking track and/or with the first branch parking track conveyor of the second branch parking track.

16. A cableway having at least one cableway station, a plurality of cableway vehicles, and a branch parking track system according to claim 1, for parking at least one of the plurality of cableway vehicles.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] The present invention is described in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 1 to 7b which show, by way of example, advantageous embodiments of the invention in a schematic and non-limiting manner. In the figures:

[0027] FIG. 1 shows a cableway station with a branch parking track garage according to the invention;

[0028] FIG. 2 shows a hanger of a cableway vehicle;

[0029] FIG. 3 shows a branch parking track garage according to the invention with a continuous conveyor with circulating conveyor;

[0030] FIGS. 4 and 5 show branch parking track garages according to the invention with a continuous conveyor with non-circulating conveyor;

[0031] FIG. 6 shows a design of a drive finger; and

[0032] FIGS. 7A and 7B show a sliding guide for controlling the drive finger position of a drive finger.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0033] The particulars shown herein are by way of example and for purposes of illustrative discussion of the embodiments of the present invention only and are presented in the cause of providing what is believed to be the most useful and readily understood description of the principles and conceptual aspects of the present invention. In this regard, no attempt is made to show structural details of the present invention in more detail than is necessary for the fundamental understanding of the present invention, the description taken with the drawings making apparent to those skilled in the art how the several forms of the present invention may be embodied in practice.

[0034] FIG. 1 shows very schematically a cableway station 2 of a circulating cableway 1, for example, a valley or mountain station. The circulating cableway 1 usually has at least one further cableway station, for example, a mountain or valley station or a middle station, which is not shown in FIG. 1. A conveyor cable 3 circulates between the cableway stations 2, for example, on cable sheaves 4 in the cableway stations 2, wherein at least one cable sheave 4 is driven by a cableway drive 8. Cableway vehicles 5, such as gondolas or chairs, are transported on the conveyor cable 3 between the cableway stations 2. In a cableway station 2, the cableway vehicles 5 are uncoupled from the conveyor cable 3 in a known manner after entering the cableway station 2. Before exiting the cableway station 2, the cableways 5 are re-coupled to the conveyor cable 3. Cable clamps 33 (FIG. 2) on the cableway vehicles 5 are used for uncoupling and coupling. A station conveyor 7, for example a tire conveyor or a continuous conveyor, is provided for moving a cableway vehicle 5, that has been uncoupled from the conveyor cable 3, in the cableway station 2. At least one guide rail 6 can be provided in the cableway station 2, along which the cableway vehicles 5 can be guided in the cableway station 2.

[0035] FIG. 2 shows, by way of example, a hanger 30 of a cableway vehicle 5 by which the cableway vehicle 5 is suspended from the conveyor cable 3 and is moved along guide rails 6 in the cableway station 2. The hanger 30 is connected in a known manner to a transportation device (not shown) of the cableway vehicle 5, such as a car or a chair, by at least one hanger rod 38. A cable clamp 33 is arranged on the hanger 30, which cable clamp can clamp on the conveyor cable 3 when a clamping spring 34 acts thereon and which can be actuated mechanically via clamp actuator 35 for opening the cale clamp. Also, at least one guide roller 31, 32 is arranged on the hanger 30, which interacts with at least one guide rail 6 in the cableway station 2 in order to guide the cableway vehicle 5 in the cableway station 2 along the at least one guide rail 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the station conveyor 7 is designed as a tire conveyor having a plurality of driven tires 37 rotatably mounted in the cableway station 2 one behind the other in the conveying direction. The tires 37 interact with a friction lining 36 on the hanger 30 in order to move the cableway vehicle 5, which is uncoupled from the conveyor cable 3, through the cableway station 2 by rotating the tires 37, for example along the guide rail 6.

[0036] A branch parking track garage 10 for cableway vehicles 5 of the circulating cableway 1 is also provided in the circulating cableway 1, in which cableway vehicles 5 can be stored. The branch parking track garage 10 is located in or near one of the cableway stations 2 of the circulating cableway 1.

[0037] The branch parking track garage 10 has a feeder track 11 and a first and a second branch parking track 13a, 13b connected to the feeder track 11, wherein the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b each terminate at the end remote from the feeder track 11. For example, a branch parking track 13a, 13b branches off from the feeder track 11 at a junction 12. Hence, the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b are each designed as dead-end tracks.

[0038] A switch can be provided at a junction 12 or the junction 12 can be designed as a switch in order to connect a branch parking track 13a, 13b to the feeder track 11 and, depending on the position of the switch, to guide a cableway vehicle 5 from the feeder track 11 onto a branch parking track 13a, 13b or to guide it further along the feeder track 11.

[0039] The feeder track 11 is connected to the station conveyor 7 in the cableway station 2, for example via a switch 9, in order to transfer a cableway vehicle 5 from the station conveyor 7 onto the feeder track 11, or vice versa.

[0040] A feeder track conveyor 14 is provided on the feeder track 11 in order to move a cableway vehicle 5 along the feeder track 11. The feeder track conveyor 14 can be designed as a tire conveyor (analogous to the design in FIG. 2), a continuous conveyor or another suitable conveyor. For this purpose, a guide rail for the cableway vehicle 5 can also be provided in the region of the feeder track conveyor 14.

[0041] A first branch parking track conveyor 14a, 14b is provided on each of the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b, which conveyor extends from the feeder track 11 to a corresponding transfer point 15a, 15b on the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b. Furthermore, a second branch parking track conveyor 16a, 16b is provided on the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b, which conveyor extends from the transfer point 15a, 15b to the region of the end of the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b opposite the corresponding transfer point 15a, 15b. The first branch parking track conveyor 14a, 14b and the second branch parking track conveyor 16a, 16b overlap in the region of the transfer point 15a, 15b on the respective branch parking tracks 13a, 13b. Overlap means that in the overlap region, the conveyance of a cableway vehicle 5 changes from the first branch parking track conveyor 14a, 14b to the second branch parking track conveyor 16a, 16b, or vice versa.

[0042] The first branch parking track conveyor 14a of the first branch parking track 13a and/or the second branch parking track conveyor 14b of the second branch parking track 13b is preferably designed as a tire conveyor (analogous to the design in FIG. 2), but can also be designed as any other suitable conveyor.

[0043] In the movement region of a cableway vehicle 5 in the branch parking track garage 10, a guide element, such as a guide rail 6 or a guide profile, can also be provided for guiding a cableway vehicle 5.

[0044] The first branch parking track 13a and the second branch parking track 13b are preferably arranged parallel to each other, but could also be arranged at an angle to each other depending on the design of the branch parking track garage 10. A branch parking track 13a, 13b does not necessarily have to run straight as shown in the figures, but could, depending on the design of the branch parking track garage 10, also have deflections, for example a 900 curve, or be curved at least in sections.

[0045] A cableway vehicle 5 is moved by the first branch parking track conveyor 14a, 14b and the second branch parking track conveyor 16a, 16b on the respective branch parking tracks 13a, 13b.

[0046] To this extent, the branch parking track garage 10 according to the invention corresponds to a known embodiment of a branch parking track garage, for example as described in WO 2010/082125 A1. In the following, the inventive design of the second branch parking track conveyor 16a of the first branch parking track 13a and of the second branch parking track conveyor 16b of the second branch parking track 13b is explained.

[0047] In the region of the first branch parking track 13a and of the second branch parking track 13b, a continuous conveyor 17 with a conveyor 18 movable in two opposite conveying directions R (indicated by the double arrow in FIG. 1) is provided. The conveying direction R in both cases is in the direction of the conveyor 18. A chain conveyor with a chain as the conveyor 18 or a belt conveyor with a conveyor belt as the conveyor 18 can be used as a continuous conveyor 17, for example.

[0048] The continuous conveyor 17 preferably has a drive 19 (indicated in FIG. 1) to move the conveyor 18 in the two conveying directions R. The drive 19 can, for example, be designed as a driven drive roller, as indicated in FIG. 1, or as a driven sprocket-wheel in the case of a chain conveyor. However, the continuous conveyor 17 could also be moved manually.

[0049] In FIG. 1, the conveyor 18 is designed to run in the form of an endless conveyor, i.e., in the form of a closed conveyor 18. Well-known deflection rollers for the circulating conveyor 18 and/or a guide profile in which the conveyor 18 is guided are not shown in FIG. 1 for reasons of clarity. However, the conveyor 18 does not have to be designed as an endless conveyor, as will be explained below.

[0050] Of course, further branch parking tracks can be provided in the branch parking track garage 10, as indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1, but they can also be of a design different from that according to the invention.

[0051] The continuous conveyor 17 has a first conveying section 20a, in which the conveyor means 18 extends along the first branch parking track 13a and between the transfer point 15a of the first branch parking track 13a and the region of the end of the first branch parking track 13a, in order to form the second branch parking track conveyor 16a of the first branch parking track 13a. Likewise, the continuous conveyor 17 has a second conveying section 20b in which the conveyor 18 extends along the second branch parking track 13b and between the transfer point 15b of the second branch parking track 13b and the region of the end of the second branch parking track 13b in order to form the second branch parking track conveyor 16b of the second branch parking track 13b.

[0052] The continuous conveyor 17, specifically the conveyor 18 of the continuous conveyor 17, thus forms the respective second branch parking track conveyors 16a, 16b in both branch parking tracks 13a, 13b. For this reason, only a single conveyor 18 is required for the two second branch parking track conveyors 16a, 16b and thus only one drive and one control system for the continuous conveyor 17, which reduces complexity and costs.

[0053] A branch parking track garage 10 thus preferably has an even number of branch parking tracks 13a, 13b, wherein a pair of the branch parking tracks 13a, 13b is combined with a continuous conveyor 17 according to the invention in order to form the respective second branch parking track conveyors 16a, 16b.

[0054] A first drive finger 21a and a second drive finger 21b are arranged on the conveyor 18 of the continuous conveyor 17 at a distance from one another in the direction of the conveyor 18. The first and second drive fingers 21a, 21b are arranged on the conveyor 18 so as to be movable back and forth between a first drive finger position P1 and a second drive finger position P2 (see FIG. 6). The back and forth movement is preferably translational and/or rotational. In the second drive finger position P2, the drive fingers 21a, 21b are positioned in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction R on the branch parking track 13a, 13b further away from the conveyor 18 by an engagement distance A than in the first drive finger position P1. The engagement distance A is adopted such that a drive finger 21a, 21b in the second drive finger position P2 can be brought into engagement with a part of a cableway vehicle 5, preferably a part of the hanger 30 of the cableway vehicle 5, in order to drive the cableway vehicle 5 with the drive finger 21a, 21b when the conveyor 18 moves in a specific conveying direction R. In the first drive finger position P1, no engagement with a cableway vehicle 5 can be established and the drive finger 21a, 21b in the first drive finger position P1 has no effect. This will be explained in more detail below. The engagement distance A is of course predetermined and known by the specific design of the branch parking track garage 10 and of the cableway vehicle 5.

[0055] The distance between the first and second drive fingers 21a, 21b on the conveyor 18 in the direction of the conveyor 18, i.e., in the conveying direction R, is selected such that the first drive finger 21a is located in the region of the transfer point 15a of the first branch parking track 13a when the second drive finger 21b is located in the region of the end of the second branch parking track 13b, and vice versa (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 1). In the other (reverse) arrangement, the second drive finger 21b is located in the region of the transfer point 15b of the second branch parking track 13b when the first drive finger 21a is located in the region of the end of the first branch parking track 13a. If the conveyor 18 is moved in a corresponding conveying direction R, then one drive finger 21a, 21b moves from the region of the transfer point 15a, 15b in the direction of the end of the branch parking track 13a, 13b and at the same time the other drive finger 21a, 21b moves from the end of the other branch parking track 13a, 13b in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b. If the conveying direction R is reversed, then the drive fingers 21a, 21b move back with the conveyor 18 in the opposite direction.

[0056] Alternatively, the conveyor 18 can be brought into a position in which at least the drive finger 21a, 21b located on a region of the continuous conveyor 17 facing the feeder track 11 is positioned in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction R between the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b, as shown in FIG. 3. In this case, a drive finger 21a, 21b moves slightly beyond the transfer point 15a, 15b into the region between the two branch parking tracks 13a, 13b. The other drive finger 21a, 21b at the end of the corresponding branch parking track 13a, 13b can, in the case of a circulating conveyor 18, also be positioned in the transverse direction between the first and the second branch parking track 13a, 13b, as in FIG. 3. In the case of a non-circulating conveyor 18, this drive finger 21a, 21b would be arranged at the end of the respective branch parking track 13a, 13b, as shown in dashed lines in FIG. 3.

[0057] As already mentioned, the conveyor 18 does not have to be designed as circulating endless conveyor. In the embodiment according to FIG. 4, the conveyor 18 of the continuous conveyor 17 extends in a first position S1 of the conveyor 18 along the first branch parking track 13a and between the transfer point 15a of the first branch parking track 13a and the region of the end of the first branch parking track 13a in order to form the second branch parking track conveyor 16a of the first branch parking track 13a. In a second position S2 of the conveyor 18, the same conveyor 18 extends along the second branch parking track 13b and between the transfer point 15b of the second branch parking track 13b and the region of the end of the second branch parking track 13b (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 4) in order to form the second branch parking track conveyor 16b of the second branch parking track 13b. The drive 19 of the continuous conveyor 17 is arranged, for example, in the transverse direction between the two branch parking tracks 13a, 13b. The conveyor 18 is, for example, guided in a guide profile of the branch parking track garage 10. In this design, the conveyor 18 only needs to be about half as long as in the case of a circulating conveyor, which can save costs.

[0058] In order to position a drive finger 21a, 21b in a region in the transverse direction between the branch parking tracks 13a, 13b, it can also be provided that the conveyor 18 is displaced in the region of the transfer point 15a, 15b on a branch parking track 13a, 13b in the direction of the other branch parking track 13a, 13b, as shown in FIG. 5. This can of course also be provided in the case of a circulating conveyor 18.

[0059] In an embodiment with non-circulating conveyor 18 as in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5, the conveyor 18 does not extend simultaneously along the first branch parking track 13a and the second branch parking track 13b, at least not completely. Nevertheless, the conveyor 18 forms the first branch parking track conveyor 16a and the second branch parking track conveyor 16b, although not simultaneously.

[0060] Since the drive fingers 21a, 21b are arranged on the conveyor 18 and are moved along with the conveyor 18, and the drive fingers 21a, 21b can be in a first non-effective drive finger position P1 and a second drive finger position P2 which causes a cableway vehicle 5 to be driven along, it may be necessary for the discharging and/or parking of cableway vehicles 5 to specifically set one of the two drive finger positions P1, P2 for a drive finger 21a, 21b. For this purpose, it may be necessary to move at least one of the drive fingers 21a, 21b from the first drive finger position P1 into the second drive finger position P2, or vice versa.

[0061] In a possible embodiment for a drive finger 21a, 21b this can be effected by a drive finger drive on the conveyor 18 used to move the drive finger 21a, 21b actively by the drive, and in a controlled manner, from the first drive finger position P1 into the second drive finger position P2, or vice versa.

[0062] A drive finger drive on the conveyor 18 is of course more complicated and more difficult to implement. For this reason, it is preferred to move a drive finger 21a, 21b passively solely by the movement of the conveyor 18 from the first drive finger position P1 into the second drive finger position P2, or vice versa.

[0063] To achieve this, at least one drive finger 21a, 21b can be designed so that when a drive finger 21a, 21b is in the second drive finger position P2, a force F.sub.W acting on the drive finger 21a, 21b towards the end of the branch parking track 13a, 13b is absorbed by this drive finger 21a, 21b in order to achieve a driving force F.sub.M (as a reaction force) in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b of the branch parking track 13a, 13b, and a force F.sub.W acting on this drive finger 21a, 21b in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b of the branch parking track 13a, 13b moves the drive finger 21a, 21b from the second drive finger position P2, preferably translationally and/or rotationally, to the first drive finger position P1. Such an design of a drive finger 21a, 21b is explained below with reference to FIG. 6.

[0064] In the embodiment in FIG. 6, the conveyor 18 is designed as a chain, but could just as easily be designed as a belt or in any other way. In this embodiment, a drive finger 21a, 21b is arranged on the conveyor 18 so as to be pivotable on the conveyor 18 between the first drive finger position P1 and the second drive finger position P2. In the embodiment shown, the drive finger 21a, 21b is arranged to be pivotable about a rotation axis 22. The drive finger 21a, 21b has two arms 23a, 23b projecting from the rotation axis 22. In the second drive finger position P2 (shown in FIG. 6), the first arm 23a projects transversely from the conveyor 18 by the engagement distance A and the second arm 23b abuts the conveyor 18. The drive finger 21a, 21b can thus only be pivoted in one direction starting from the second drive finger position P2. The drive finger 21a, 21b can absorb a force F.sub.W acting on the drive fingers 21a, 21b towards the end of the branch parking track 13a, 13b (opposite the transfer point 15a, 15b), because the second arm 23b abuts the conveyor 18 and the drive finger 21a, 21b cannot be pivoted in this direction, to generate a driving force F.sub.M (reaction force) in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b of the branch parking track 13a, 13b. Due to the driving force F.sub.M in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b, the cableway vehicle 5 can be carried by the conveyor 18 in the conveying direction R in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b.

[0065] If the conveyor 18 is moved in the opposite direction towards the end of the branch parking track 13a, 13b and the drive finger 21a, 21b comes into abutment with another component, in particular a cableway vehicle 5, the drive finger 21a, 21b is not able to absorb the force F.sub.W acting on the drive finger 21a, 21b in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b, and the drive finger 21a, 21b will pivot from the second drive finger position P2 into the first drive finger position P1 (indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 6). This that no driving force F.sub.M towards the end of the branch parking track 13a, 13b can be transmitted by the drive finger 21a, 21b when the conveyor 18 moves towards the end of the branch parking track 13a, 13b, and the drive finger 21a, 21b is ineffective.

[0066] However, a drive finger 21a, 21b does not necessarily have to be arranged pivotably on the conveyor 18, but could, for example, also be arranged to be translationally movable, so that the drive finger 21a, 21b can be moved translationally from the first drive finger position P1 into the second drive finger position P2 and vice versa. For example, the drive finger 21a, 21b could be pushed by a force F.sub.W acting on the drive finger 21a, 21b from the second drive finger position P2 into the first drive finger position P1. A combined rotational and translational movement of the drive finger 21a, 21b is also conceivable. From a structural point of view, there are of course a multitude of possibilities for designing a drive finger 21a, 21b.

[0067] It is also possible to move at least one drive finger 21a, 21b automatically from the first drive finger position P1 into the second drive finger position P2 by a preload element 24, such as a spring, and to hold it in the second drive finger position P2 by the preload element 24, as shown in FIG. 6. The drive finger 21a, 21b must therefore be moved against the preload force of the preload element 24 from the second drive finger position P2 into the first drive finger position P1.

[0068] A drive finger 21a, 21b, which is automatically held in the second drive finger position P2, for example by a preload element 24, will, when the conveyor 18 moves and when cableway vehicles 5 are present, strike the cableway vehicles 5 as it moves past, which on the one hand can leave marks on the cableway vehicle 5 and on the other hand also represents a source of noise. For these reasons, it is advantageous if the drive fingers 21a, 21b are not automatically held in the second drive finger position P2. This can be achieved by a drive finger drive on the conveyor 18, as already mentioned above. However, this can also be achieved by an external drive finger drive 40, i.e. a drive finger drive that is not arranged on the conveyor 18 itself.

[0069] Such an external drive finger drive 40 can be realized in the form of a first sliding guide 41, which is arranged in the region of the conveyor 18, in the region of the end of the first branch parking track 13a and/or the second branch parking track 13b. The first sliding guide 41 has a first guide surface 43, wherein the first guide surface 43 interacts with a drive finger 21a, 21b when the drive finger 21a, 21b is located in the region of the first guide surface 43 in order to move the drive finger 21a, 21b from the first drive finger position P1 into the second drive finger position P2 when the drive finger 21a, 21b moves past or along the first guide surface 43 with the conveyor 18. Additionally, or alternatively, a second sliding guide 42 with a second guide surface 44 can be arranged in the region of the conveyor 18, for example in the region of the end of the first branch parking track 13a and/or of the second branch parking track 13b. The second sliding guide 44 works together with the drive finger 21a, 21b when the drive finger 21a, 21b is located in the region of the second guide surface 44 in order to move the drive finger 21a, 21b from the second drive finger position P2 into the first drive finger position P1 when the drive finger 21a, 21b moves past or along the second guide surface 44 with the conveyor 18.

[0070] A possible embodiment of a first and second sliding guide 41, 42 is shown in FIGS. 7A, 7B.

[0071] In this embodiment, the conveyor 18 is designed as a conveyor chain which is guided in a guide profile. Here the conveyor 18 is not designed to be circulating, but naturally this does not have to be the case.

[0072] A drive finger 21a, 21b is arranged on the conveyor 18. The drive finger 21a, 21b has an arm 23a which is arranged such that it can pivot about a rotation axis 22. The arm 23a is retracted in the first drive finger position P1 (FIG. 7A) and extended in the second drive finger position P2 (FIG. 7B). In the second drive finger position P2, the arm 23a rests against a component of the drive finger 21a, 21b and cannot be pivoted beyond the second drive finger position P2. This allows the drive finger 21a, 21b to absorb a force F.sub.W acting on the arm 23a of the drive finger 21a, 21b and consequently transmit a driving force F.sub.M as explained above in FIG. 6. A force F.sub.W acting in the opposite direction would retract the arm 23a and move it into the first drive finger position P1, as explained above for FIG. 6. However, the arm 23a is not held in the second drive finger position P2 by a preload element 24, which is why it is necessary, if required, to move a drive finger 21a, 21b located in the first drive finger position P1 by the external drive finger drive 40 into the second drive finger position P2, or vice versa. The first and second sliding guides 41, 42 are provided for this purpose.

[0073] The first sliding guide 41 comprises a first guide surface 43, which interacts with an engagement element 45, such as a pin or a roller, on the drive finger 21a, 21b, in the embodiment shown specifically on the arm 23a. If a drive finger 21a, 21b located in the first drive finger position P1 is moved past or along the first guide surface, the engagement element 45 comes into contact with the first guide surface 43. The first guide surface 43 is arrangedin this case, obliquelyso that the drive finger 21a, 21b is moved from the first drive finger position P1 into the second drive finger position P2. In the embodiment shown, the arm 23a swings out when the engagement element 45 is moved past or along the first guide surface 43. The drive finger 21a, 21b in the second drive finger position P2 can be moved past the second guide surface 43 in the opposite conveying direction R.

[0074] The second sliding guide 42 is also designed with an inclined second guide surface 44, wherein the second guide surface 44 interacts with the engagement element 45 on the drive finger 21a, 21b when a drive finger 21a, 21b located in the second drive finger position P2 is moved past or along the second guide surface 43. In the embodiment shown, the arm 23a retracts when the engagement element 45 is moved past or along the second guide surface 44.

[0075] In the embodiment in FIGS. 7A and 7B, both sliding guides 41, 42 are provided and arranged one after the other in the conveying direction R. This makes possible the safe assumption of either the first drive finger position P1 or the second drive finger position P2. For this purpose, the conveyor 18 only has to move to two different holding positions H1, H2. In the first holding position H1, the first drive finger position P1 is safely assumed and in the second holding position the second drive finger position P2 is safely assumed. Of course, the holding positions can also be swapped round.

[0076] In such an embodiment, to prevent the first guide surface 43 from blocking the opposite movement of the drive finger 21a, 21b in the first drive finger position P1 out of the first holding position H1, the first guide surface 43 can be arranged pivotably (as indicated by dashed lines in FIG. 7A, 7B) or otherwise brought out of the travel range of the drive finger 21a, 21b in the first drive finger position P2.

[0077] An embodiment with non-circulating conveyor 18 (as in FIG. 4 or FIG. 5) leads to a branch parking track garage 10 for cableway vehicles 5 with a feeder track 11 and a first and a second branch parking track 13a, 13b connected to the feeder track 11, wherein the first branch parking track 13a and second branch parking track 13b each terminate at the end remote from the feeder track 11, wherein a first branch parking track conveyor 14a, 14b is provided on the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b, which extends from the feeder track 11 to a transfer point 15a, 15b on the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b. A second branch parking track conveyor 16a, 16b is provided on each of the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b, which extends from the transfer point 15a, 15b to the end of the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b in each case, wherein the first branch parking track conveyor 14a, 14b and the second branch parking track conveyor 16a, 16b of each branch parking track 13a, 13b overlap in the region of the transfer point 15a, 15b. In the region of the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b, a continuous conveyor 17 with a conveyor 18 that can be moved in two conveying directions is provided. The continuous conveyor 17 has a first conveying section 20a, in which the conveyor 18 extends in a first position S1 of the conveyor 18 along the first branch parking track 13a between the transfer point 15a of the first branch parking track 13a and the end of the first branch parking track 13a in order to form the second branch parking track conveyor 16a of the first branch parking track 13a. The continuous conveyor 17 has a second conveying section 20b, in which the conveyor 18 extends in a second position S2 of the conveyor 18 along the second branch parking track 13b between the transfer point 15b of the second branch parking track 13b and the end of the second branch parking track 13b in order to form the second branch parking track conveyor 16b of the second branch parking track 13b. A first and a second drive finger 21a, 21b are arranged on the conveyor 18 of the continuous conveyor 17 at a distance from one another in the direction of the conveyor 18, wherein the first and second drive fingers 21a, 21b are each movable back and forth between a first drive finger position P1 and a second drive finger position P2. In the second drive finger position P2, a drive finger 21a, 21b is further away from the conveyor 18 by an engagement distance A than in the first drive finger position P1. The distance between the first and second drive fingers 21a, 21b on the conveyor 18 is adopted such that the first drive finger 21a is located in the region of the transfer point 15a of the first branch parking track 13a or in a region of the continuous conveyor 17 facing the feeder track 11 in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction R between the first and second branch parking tracks 13a, 13b when the second drive finger 21b is located in the region of the end of the second branch parking track 13b, and vice versa. When the drive fingers 21a, 21b are in the second drive finger position P2, the drive fingers 21a, 21b can absorb a force F.sub.W acting on the drive fingers 21a, 21b in the direction of the end of the branch parking track 13a, 13b in order to achieve a driving force F.sub.M in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b of the branch parking track 13a, 13b, and a force F.sub.W acting on the drive fingers 21a, 21b in the direction of the transfer point 15a, 15b of the branch parking track 13a, 13b moves the drive fingers 21a, 21b from the second drive finger position P2 into the first drive finger position P1.

[0078] The design with non-circulating conveyor 18 can additionally also have the same features as a design with circulating conveyor 18.

[0079] The inventive design of the second branch parking track conveyor 16a, 16b with a conveyor 18 (circulating or non-circulating) with the drive fingers 21a, 21b makes an inventive method possible for discharging cableway vehicles 5 from the branch parking track garage 10 or for parking cableway vehicles 5 in the branch parking track garage 10, as explained below.

[0080] When discharging, it is assumed that cableway vehicles 5 are lined up next to each other on the first and/or second branch parking track 13a, 13b, as indicated in FIG. 1 on the first branch parking track 13a. The first drive finger 21a is positioned in the region of the end of the first branch parking track 13a, for example via the drive 19 of the continuous conveyor 17 or manually, whereby the second drive finger 21b is positioned on the second branch parking track 13b in the region of the transfer point 15b of the second branch parking track 13b. Alternatively, the second drive finger 21b can be positioned in the region of the continuous conveyor 17 facing the feeder track 11 between the first and second branch parking tracks in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction R. The first drive finger 21a is located in the second drive finger position P2 and thus projects from the conveyor 18 by the engagement distance A. From this starting position, the first drive finger 21a is moved with the conveyor 18 in a first conveying direction R from the region of the end of the first branch parking track 13a in the direction of the transfer point 15a of the first branch parking track 13a, for example, via the drive 19 of the continuous conveyor 17 or manually. The first drive finger 21a projecting from the conveyor 18 comes into engagement with a part of a cableway vehicle 5 which is located closest to the end of the first branch parking track 13a. As a result, the first drive finger 21a drives the cableway vehicle 5 when the conveyor 18 moves accordingly in the direction of the transfer point 15a on the first branch parking track 13a, whereby the cableway vehicle 5 abutting the first drive finger 21a and also all cableway vehicles 5 located in front of it in the direction of the transfer point 15a, are pushed in the direction of the transfer point 15a on the first branch parking track 13a. At the first transfer point 15a, each cableway vehicle 5 on the first branch parking track 13a comes into engagement with the first branch parking track conveyor 14a of the first branch parking track 13a, and each cableway vehicle 5 on the first branch parking track 13a is moved from the transfer point 15a on the first branch parking track 13a with the first branch parking track conveyor in the direction of the feeder track 11. In this way, the cableway vehicles 5 on the first branch parking track 13a are moved onto the feeder track 11, where the cableway vehicles 5 can be moved further to the circulating cableway 1 with the feeder track conveyor 14. This is of course also possible when the first branch parking track 13a is not entirely filled with cableway vehicles 5 and even when only a single cableway vehicle 5 is parked on the first branch parking track 13a.

[0081] Due to the discharging of the first branch parking track 13a due to the movement of the conveyor 18 in the first conveying direction R, the second drive finger 21b on the second branch parking track 13b simultaneously moves in the opposite direction towards the end of the second branch parking track 13b and is thus positioned in the region of the end of the second branch parking track 13b. The first drive finger 21a is in the region of the transfer point 15a of the first branch parking track 13a or in the transverse direction between the two branch parking tracks 13a, 13b.

[0082] In order to make this possible, the second drive finger 21b is either brought into the first drive finger position P1 before the movement, for example with a drive finger drive on the conveyor 18, or the second drive finger 21b automatically assumes the first drive finger position P1 when the second drive finger 21b strikes a cableway vehicle 5 in the second branch parking track 13b during the movement. This also works if a preload 24 is provided which repeatedly moves the second drive finger 21b back into the second drive finger position P2.

[0083] This is possible, for example, because the second drive finger 21a, 21b cannot transmit a driving force F.sub.M in the direction of the end of the second branch parking track 13b. If the second drive finger 21b comes into engagement with a cableway vehicle 5 on the second branch parking track 13b, the force F.sub.W acts on the second drive finger 21b, which moves the second drive finger 21b from the second drive finger position P2 into the first drive finger position P1.

[0084] The conveying direction R of the conveyor 18 can now be reversed so that the conveyor 18 moves in the opposite direction. The discharging is thus repeated in an analogous manner on the second branch parking track 13b.

[0085] To park cableway vehicles 5 in a branch parking track garage 10, the first drive finger 21a is positioned in the region of the end of the first branch parking track 13a, whereby the second drive finger 21b is positioned in the region of the transfer point 15b of the second branch parking track 13b. In order for cableway vehicles 5 to be able to move past the drive finger 21b arranged in the region of the transfer point 15b, it must be ensured that the second drive finger 21b on the conveyor 18 is in the first drive finger position P1. For this purpose, the second drive finger 21b can, if necessary, be moved from the second drive finger position P2 into the first drive finger position P1. After a previous discharge, the second drive finger 21b will usually be in the second drive finger position P2. Alternatively, the second drive finger 21b can be positioned in the region of the continuous conveyor 17 facing the feeder track 11 in a transverse direction transverse to the conveying direction F between the first branch parking track 13a and the second branch parking track 13b. In this case, it does not matter for the parking operation which drive finger position the second drive finger 21b is in, because the position of the drive finger 21b allows cableway vehicles to be moved past anyway. Of course, the parking can also take place with the drive fingers arranged in reverse, i.e. with the second drive finger 21b at the end of the second branch parking track and with the first drive finger 21a in the region of the transfer point 15a on the first branch parking track 13a or in the transverse direction between the first branch parking track 13a and the second branch parking track 13b.

[0086] Cableway vehicles 5 are now moved with the first branch parking track conveyor 14a of the first branch parking track 13a and/or with the first branch parking track conveyor 14b of the second branch parking track 13b from the feeder track 11 to the transfer point 15a on the first branch parking track 13a and/or to the transfer point 15b of the second branch parking track 13b. The cableway vehicles 5 are, for example, discharged from the circulating cableway 1 by the feeder track conveyor 14. The cableway vehicles 5 are moved with the first branch parking track conveyor 14a of the first branch parking track 13a and/or with the first branch parking track conveyor 14b of the second branch parking track 13b in the direction of the first transfer point 15a and/or in the direction of the second transfer point 15b and from there further onto the first branch parking track 13a and/or the second branch parking track 13b, respectively. The second branch parking track conveyors 16a, 16b are preferably inactive during parking, i.e. the conveyor 18 does not have to be moved. The cableway vehicles 5 are pushed by the respective first branch parking track conveyor 14a, 14b or manually towards the ends of the branch parking tracks 13a, 13b. The filling of the branch parking tracks 13a, 13b with cableway vehicles 5 can thus be carried out with the first branch parking track conveyors 14a, 14b or manually. Alternatively, however, a separate conveyor could be provided for moving the cableway vehicles 5 from the respective transfer points 15a, 15b on the branch parking tracks 13a, 13b towards the end of the respective branch parking tracks 13a, 13b.

[0087] During a parking operation, the two branch parking tracks 13a, 13b do not have to be completely filled with cableway vehicles 5. It is even possible for only one cableway vehicle to be parked on a branch parking track 13a, 13b.

[0088] It is noted that the foregoing examples have been provided merely for the purpose of explanation and are in no way to be construed as limiting of the present invention. While the present invention has been described with reference to an exemplary embodiment, it is understood that the words which have been used herein are words of description and illustration, rather than words of limitation. Changes may be made, within the purview of the appended claims, as presently stated and as amended, without departing from the scope and spirit of the present invention in its aspects. Although the present invention has been described herein with reference to particular means, materials and embodiments, the present invention is not intended to be limited to the particulars disclosed herein; rather, the present invention extends to all functionally equivalent structures, methods and uses, such as are within the scope of the appended claims.