AERIAL CABLE TRANSPORT STATION, AERIAL CABLE TRANSPORT INSTALLATION COMPRISING ONE SUCH STATION AND OPERATING METHOD OF ONE SUCH INSTALLATION

Abstract

An aerial cable transport station comprises a cable running along the station to define a running track. A transport vehicle and a maintenance vehicle remain securedly attached to the cable when moving in the station. The maintenance vehicle is installed detachable from the cable and presents a different size from the transport vehicle. A guide prevents the transport vehicle from pivoting around a longitudinal axis of the cable beyond a threshold position. The guide is movable between operating and maintenance positions. In the operating position, the guide forms an obstacle to movement of the maintenance vehicle running in the station. In the maintenance position, the guide is located outside the volume occupied by the maintenance vehicle running in the station.

Claims

1. Aerial cable transport station comprising: a cable running along the station; a running track; vehicles comprising at least one transport vehicle and one maintenance vehicle, the maintenance vehicle presenting a different volume from that of the transport vehicle, each vehicle comprising a drive system performing attachment to the cable on exit from the station and attachment to the running track in the station; wherein the transport station comprises a guide installed movable between an operating position and a maintenance position, the operating position preventing pivoting of the transport vehicle around the attachment of the transport vehicle with the running track beyond a threshold position; wherein, in the operating position, the guide forms an obstacle to movement of the maintenance vehicle when the maintenance vehicle runs along the running track; and in that, in the maintenance position, the guide is located outside the volume occupied by the maintenance vehicle when the maintenance vehicle is travelling along the running track.

2. Aerial cable transport station according to claim 1 wherein the guide is installed pivoting between the operating position and the maintenance position.

3. Aerial cable transport station according to claim 2 wherein the guide is installed pivoting around a pivot axis parallel to a running axis of the transport vehicle along the running track.

4. Aerial cable transport station according to claim 1 comprising a first sensor emitting a signal representative of coupling of the maintenance vehicle with the cable and uncoupling of the maintenance vehicle from the cable and a second sensor emitting a signal representative of the guide in the operating position or of the guide in the maintenance position, and wherein when the first sensor emits a signal indicating coupling of the maintenance vehicle with the cable and the second sensor emits a signal indicating that the guide is in the operating position, a control circuit stops running of the cable.

5. Aerial cable transport station according to claim 4 wherein the first sensor is located upline from the guide and detects the presence or absence of a top platform, the presence of the top platform corresponding to coupling with the cable and the absence of the top platform corresponding to uncoupling from the cable.

6. Aerial cable transport station according to claim 4 comprising a parking area for the maintenance vehicle when the maintenance vehicle is uncoupled from the cable, the parking area comprising the first sensor detecting the presence or absence of the maintenance vehicle in the parking area, the presence of the maintenance vehicle corresponding to uncoupling from the cable and the absence of the maintenance vehicle corresponding to coupling with the cable.

7. Aerial cable transport station according to claim 6 wherein the cable defines a loop and the parking area is located outside the loop; wherein an access platform extends from the inside of the loop to the outside of the loop, passing above the cable; and wherein the access platform forms a slide rail designed to move the maintenance vehicle from the parking area to the cable to couple the maintenance vehicle and to move the maintenance vehicle from the cable to the parking area uncouple the maintenance vehicle.

8. Aerial cable transport installation comprising at least one aerial cable transport installation station according to claim 1.

9. Aerial cable transport installation according to claim 8 comprising a maintenance vehicle and several transport vehicles coupled to the cable.

10. Operating method of an aerial cable transport installation comprising the following steps: providing an aerial cable transport installation according to claim 8; coupling the maintenance vehicle with the cable; moving the guide from the operating position to the maintenance position; making the cable run to move the maintenance vehicle only after the maintenance vehicle has been coupled and after the guide has been moved to the maintenance position.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0033] Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments and implementation modes of the invention given for non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in the appended drawings, in which:

[0034] FIG. 1 schematically illustrates a station of a cable transport installation in which the maintenance vehicle is in a parking area, the guide being in an operating position;

[0035] FIG. 2 schematically illustrates a station of a cable transport installation in which the maintenance vehicle is located between the parking area and the drive cable, the guide being in an operating position;

[0036] FIG. 3 schematically illustrates a station of a cable transport installation in which the maintenance vehicle is on the drive cable, the guide being in a maintenance position;

[0037] FIG. 4 schematically illustrates a cable transport installation provided with two stations.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0038] FIGS. 1 to 4 represent an aerial cable transport installation 1 or a station of an aerial cable transport installation. The aerial cable transport installation 1 comprises a cable 2 and several vehicles 3 able to be hauled by the cable 2. The vehicles 3 comprise at least one transport vehicle 3a able to transport people or goods, for example a gondola car or a chair. The vehicles 3 comprise at least one maintenance vehicle 3b. The maintenance vehicle 3b is a different vehicle from the transport vehicle 3a, in particular as far as its safety regulations are concerned. For example, the maintenance vehicle 3b requires each user to attach himself to an attachment point of the maintenance vehicle 3b. The passenger is wearing a harness and is attached to the maintenance vehicle 3b via an attachment point. The maintenance vehicle 3b allows the passenger to move about inside the maintenance vehicle 3b or even to leave the maintenance vehicle 3b outside the stations, for example to attach himself to a tower.

[0039] The aerial cable transport installation 1 comprises a station 4 for loading and unloading passengers in or from the vehicles 3. The aerial cable transport installation 1 comprises a drive bull-wheel 5 driving the cable 2. The drive bull-wheel 5 is driven in rotation by a motor 6.

[0040] The station 4 defines a running track. When the vehicles 3 are in the station 4, the vehicles 3 travel along the running track. On exit from the station 4, the vehicles 3 travel along the cable 2.

[0041] Each vehicle 3 comprises a drive system that makes the vehicle 3 move. The drive system comprises one or more attachment systems performing attachment of the vehicle 3 to one or more driving means. A first driving means is the cable 2 and the drive system is configured to be attached to the cable 2 at least on exit from the station 4 to move the vehicles 3 out of the station 4.

[0042] The drive system preferentially comprises a grip 7 that is attached to the cable 2. The cable 2 supports the vehicle 3 and movement of the cable 2 results in movement of the vehicle 3.

[0043] When the installation is of fixed or non-detachable grip type, the running track is formed by the cable 2. The drive system may only comprise a single grip 7 that is attached to the cable 2 in the station 4 and outside the station 4. When the installation is a detachable grip installation, the grips 7 are disconnected from the cable 2 in the station 4 and the vehicles 3 travel along the running track that is different from the cable 2. The running track is formed by a second driving means, for example tyres or other conveying means, for example another cable, a drive belt, a chain, etc. The drive system can then comprise a grip 7 and another attachment device that operates in conjunction with the running track. The running track makes the vehicles 3 run in the station 4.

[0044] Control of pivoting of the vehicle 3 is particularly advantageous in fixed grip installations also equipped with a single carrying-hauling cable.

[0045] The aerial cable transport installation 1 preferentially comprises one or more towers 8 to keep the cable 2 above the ground. The tower 8 generally comprises a rocker 9 comprising one or more beams equipped with rotatably-mounted sheaves 10 to guide and enable movement of the cable 2. The vehicles 3 are hauled by the cable 2 and pass over the tower 8 to travel from one station 4 to the other.

[0046] In the loading station and preferably in each station 4, a guide 11 is installed that is configured to limit pivoting of the transport vehicle 3a around the attachment between the transport vehicle 3a and the running track. In other words, the guide 11 prevents the transport vehicle 3a from pivoting beyond a threshold position in a pivoting direction. For example in a fixed grip installation, the attachment corresponds to the attachment of the grip 7 on the cable 2. The guide 11 limits pivoting of the transport vehicle 3a around the longitudinal axis of the cable 2. The axis of the cable 2 is the axis in the attachment area of the vehicle 3 with the cable 2. The guide forms an end-of-travel stop in pivoting of the transport vehicle 3a with respect to the cable 2. Preferentially, two guides 11 are used in the form of an inner guide installed inside the loop defined by the cable 2 and an outer guide installed outside the loop defined by the cable 2. The two guides 11 are separated by the cable 2, at least in a vertical observation.

[0047] It is advantageous for the guide(s) 11 to be located and/or to extend under the horizontal plane containing the cable 2 and the grips 7 of the vehicle 3 to impose the position of an arm 3 of the transport vehicle 3a when the latter is in the station 4.

[0048] Each of the two guides 11 limits pivoting of the transport vehicle 3a with respect to the cable 2 thereby enabling a substantially horizontal reference surface to be had from one end of the transport vehicle 3a to the other. In the example of a chairlift, the different seating places of the chair remain substantially in the same horizontal plane regardless of the number of places occupied and the weight of each of the passengers. In the case of a gondola car, the floor remains substantially horizontal regardless of where the passengers are placed.

[0049] In preferential manner, the guide only extends facing the arm 3 without extending up to the altitude where passengers are to be received.

[0050] The maintenance vehicle 3b presents a volume that is different from the volume of the transport vehicles 3a. The maintenance vehicle 3b has a top platform 3 that is located closer to the rockers 9 and the sheaves 10 than another platform designed to receive one or more passengers during the travel of the maintenance vehicle 3b.

[0051] The top platform 3 is secured higher up on the arm 3 with respect to a transport vehicle 3a, which modifies the space occupation with respect to the transport vehicle 3a. Preferentially, the top platform 3 is located between 1 m and 1.5 m under the axis of rotation of one or more sheaves 10 when the grip 7 of the maintenance vehicle 3b is stationary on a sheave 10. Advantageously, the top platform 3 is located outside the loop defined by the cable 2. In a particular embodiment, the top platform 3 is equipped with a guard rail, and the guard rail is preferentially facing a sheave in a horizontal direction when the grip 7 is on a rocker 9.

[0052] The difference of size between a maintenance vehicle 3b and a transport vehicle 3a means that the top platform 3 comes up against the stop formed by at least one the guide 11 at least when the maintenance vehicle 3b attempts to perform a full turn around the loop defined by the cable 2. What is meant by top platform comes up against the stop is that at least one of the top platform or the guard rail associated with the top platform comes up against the stop formed by the guide.

[0053] In more general manner, the volume of the maintenance vehicle 3b is different from the volume of the transport vehicle 3a so that at least a part of the maintenance vehicle 3b comes up against the stop formed by the guide 11 or one of the guides 11.

[0054] To avoid damaging the guide 11 and/or the top platform 3, the guide 11 is fitted movable between an operating position and a maintenance position. In the operating position illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, the guide 11 prevents pivoting of a transport vehicle 3a, for example around the longitudinal axis of the cable 2, beyond a threshold position so as to have a horizontal or substantially horizontal reference plane. In the operating position, the maintenance vehicle 3b cannot pass through the station 4.

[0055] In a maintenance position of the guide 11 illustrated in FIG. 3, the guide 11 is deactivated. In other words, the maintenance vehicle 3b can pass through the station 4 and the transport vehicle 3a is able to pivot beyond the threshold position.

[0056] Installing a guide 11 that is fitted movable in the station 4 avoids having to take any action on the maintenance vehicle 3b. The guide 11 can be shifted quickly from the operating position to the maintenance position. The maintenance vehicle 3b can be installed in its ready-to-use configuration, thereby enabling a maintenance vehicle 3b to be had that is operational rapidly after it has been coupled to the cable 2. This also avoids having to dismantle the guide 11.

[0057] In preferential manner, the guide 11 is installed able to pivot between the operating position and the maintenance position, more preferentially able to pivot around a pivot axis that is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable 2 situated under or substantially under the pivot axis of the guide 11. It is advantageous for the pivot axis of the guide 11 to be located above the horizontal plane containing the cable 2 in the station 4. In other words, in the maintenance position, the maintenance vehicle 3b passes underneath the guide 11.

[0058] Pivotable installation of the guide 11 is an installation that is easy to implement and that enables a top platform 3 having a large space occupation to be passed without having to perform any operation on another part of the station 4. Pivotable installation around a pivot axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the cable 2 limits the space occupation of the guide 11 in the maintenance position as regards the other equipment of the station 4, for example the walkways that run inside the station 4.

[0059] Other movement modes are possible with pivoting around another axis, or a combination of pivoting and another movement for example a translation, or there again with a translation only.

[0060] It is advantageous for the station 4 to comprise an inner guide and an outer guide. The inner guide is configured to prevent pivoting of the arm 3 in the direction of the inside of the ring formed by the cable 2. The outer guide is configured to prevent pivoting of the arm 3 in the direction of the outside of the ring formed by the cable 2. It is particularly advantageous for the outer guide to move between the operating position and the maintenance position and for the inner guide not to be modified for coupling of the maintenance vehicle 3b. The top platform 3 and/or the associated guard rail can be facing the inner guide in a horizontal direction when the maintenance vehicle 3b is in the station 4.

[0061] When a maintenance vehicle 3b is coupled to the cable 2, a maintenance operation is scheduled preferentially outside the station 4 and possibly in the station 1. As the volume of the maintenance vehicle 3b is different from that of the other vehicles, it is advantageous to provide a safety mechanism configured to limit, stop or prevent movement of the cable 2 and therefore movement of the maintenance vehicle 3b when an abnormal situation is detected.

[0062] The station is preferentially equipped with a first sensor 12 that emits a signal representative of coupling and uncoupling of the maintenance vehicle 3b with/from the cable 2. The first sensor 12 can emit a first signal that indicates that the maintenance vehicle 3b is coupled to the cable 2, and it can emit a second signal that indicates that the maintenance vehicle 3b is uncoupled from the cable 2. The first signal is different from the second signal. One of the first signal and second signal can be an absence of a signal.

[0063] The station 4 is preferentially equipped with a second sensor 13 that emits a signal representative of the guide 11 in the operating position or of the guide 11 in the maintenance position. There again, the second sensor 13 emits a first signal that is different from the second signal. It is possible for one of the two signals to be an absence of a signal.

[0064] The first sensor 12 and the second sensor 13 are connected to a control circuit 14 that is configured to control movement of the cable 2. When the first sensor 12 emits a signal indicating that the maintenance vehicle 3b is coupled to the cable 2 and the second sensor 13 emits a signal indicating that the guide 11 is in the operating position, the control circuit 14 stops running of the cable 2 and/or prevents movement of the cable 2. Detection of the maintenance vehicle 3b coupled to the cable 2 means that a vehicle 3 exists having a larger size than the other vehicles. To avoid damaging the guide, the cable 2 is stopped. For example the motor 6 is shut down.

[0065] To detect coupling of the maintenance vehicle 3b with the cable 2, different embodiments are possible. The first sensor 12 can be a sensor detecting the presence of the top platform 3. The first sensor 12 is located upline from the guide 11 in the direction of running of the cable 2, the cable 2 moving from upline to downline. The presence sensor can be a sensor that is struck by the top platform 3 to detect the presence of the platform in a given position. The presence sensor can be an optical sensor that detects the top platform 3. It is further possible for the maintenance vehicle 3b to be equipped with a radio frequency tag or other electromagnetic signal emitter and for the station to be equipped with a sensor detecting the radio frequency signal or the electromagnetic signal so as to detect the presence of the maintenance vehicle 3b in the station 4 or close to the guide 11. It is advantageous to place a sensor on each side of the guide 11 in order to detect the presence of the maintenance vehicle 3b depending on whether the cable 2 is running in one direction or in the other.

[0066] In a particular embodiment, the station 4 comprises a parking area 15 for the maintenance vehicle 3b. The parking area 15 is scheduled to receive the maintenance vehicle 3b when the latter is uncoupled from the cable 2. It is advantageous for the parking area 15 to comprise the first sensor 12. The first sensor 12 detects the presence or absence of the maintenance vehicle 3b in the parking area 15. The presence of the maintenance vehicle 3b in the parking area 15 corresponds to uncoupling from the cable 2. The absence of the maintenance vehicle 3b from the parking area 15 corresponds to coupling with the cable 2. FIGS. 1 and 2 illustrate a parking area 15 arranged next to an operations room 16.

[0067] In advantageous manner, the parking area 15 for the maintenance vehicle 3b is situated outside the loop formed by the cable 2 in an observation in the vertical direction. Installing the parking area 15 outside the loop limits the congestion of the part of the station 4 housing the drive bull-wheel 5 or the return pulley and defining the running path of the vehicles 3. This part of the station 4 can also contain the motor 6. This enables the congestion inside the loop to be reduced.

[0068] For ease of coupling of the maintenance vehicle 3b with the cable 2, it is advantageous to have a station 4 that is equipped with a slide rail 17. The slide rail 17 extends from the parking area 15 up to the immediate proximity of the cable 2. The slide rail 17 is fixedly mounted and opens onto a portion of the cable 2 particularly well suited for coupling the maintenance vehicle 3b and the cable 2.

[0069] The slide rail 17 enables the maintenance vehicle 3b to be moved from the parking area 15 to the coupling area with the cable 2 and the reverse movement to then be performed. The slide rail 17 is a fixed structure. The end of the slide rail 17 is located in the immediate proximity of the cable 2, above the cable 2, and in such a way as to be able to install the grip 7 of the maintenance vehicle 3b quickly on the cable 2. A slide 18 moves along the slide rail 17 and the slide 18 supports the maintenance vehicle 3b.

[0070] The slide rail 17 is mounted fixedly secured to an access platform 19 that extends from the outside of the loop to an area inside the loop defined by the cable 2. Preferentially, the access platform 19 extends from above the parking area 15 to the inside of the loop in a vertical observation. The access platform 19 is terminated by a stairway 19a. The access platform 19 is located above the cable 2 at a distance allowing the vehicles to pass under the access platform 19 when the installation is in operation, i.e. with the vehicles 3 hauled by the cable 2.

[0071] Preferentially, the access platform 19 is the only means of access to the upper part of the station 4, i.e. the part situated above the plane containing the cable 2, without crossing the path taken by the vehicles 3 when the cable 2 is running. The access platform 19 enables secured access to be had to the top part of the station 4, i.e. without having to contend with the passing vehicles 3. This configuration enhances the safety of the operating personnel.

[0072] In addition to enhancing safety, the access platform 19 forms all or part of the slide rail 17 to enable the maintenance vehicle 3b to be attached quickly.

[0073] When the access platform 19 extends up to the vertical of the parking area 15, it is possible to attach the maintenance vehicle 3b to the slide rail 17 and to then raise maintenance vehicle 3b, for example by means of a hoist.

[0074] Once the maintenance vehicle 3b has been hoisted, it can be moved by means of the slide 18 until the grip 7 is located at the vertical and above the cable 2. The maintenance vehicle 3b can be lowered until the cable 2 and the grip 7 of the maintenance vehicle 3b are coupled. Once the maintenance vehicle 3b has been coupled to the cable 2, the slide 18 is preferentially moved to exit the volume occupied by the moving vehicles 3.

[0075] The use of the slide 18 that slides along the access platform 19 enables a better mastery of the position of the grip 7 to be had, thereby making installation of the maintenance vehicle 3b easier to achieve. The slide rail 17 does not contribute any additional volume with respect to the access platform 19. The maintenance vehicle 3b can be moved without any intervention of a hoisting system that also has to lift the maintenance vehicle 3b up to the cable 2, for example a mobile crane, a fork-lift truck or any other equivalent vehicle.

[0076] In a particular embodiment, the second sensor 13 is linked to the position of the slide 18 along the slide rail 17. The slide 18 is movable between a first position that is facing the parking area 15 in the vertical direction and a second position where the slide 18 is facing the cable 2 in the vertical direction. When the second sensor 13 detects that the slide 18 is outside the first position, the second sensor 13 can provide information indicating that the maintenance vehicle 3b is coupled. When the second sensor 13 detects that the slide 18 is in the second position, the second sensor 13 can provide information indicating that the maintenance vehicle 3b is coupled. When the second sensor 13 detects that the slide 18 is in the first position, the second sensor 13 can provide information indicating that the maintenance vehicle 3b is uncoupled. When the second sensor 13 detects that the slide 18 is outside the second position, the second sensor 13 can provide information indicating that the maintenance vehicle 3b is uncoupled. The second sensor 13 can also provide information on the weight lifted by the slide 19.

[0077] In a particular embodiment, the parking area 15 is bounded on a first side by a stairway 19a that connects a reference level to the access platform 19, on a second side by a post 19b that supports the reference platform and on a third side by a housing designed to receive at least a part of the control circuit 14, for example the operations room 16 and at least one person responsible for operation of the aerial cable transport installation 1.

[0078] The access platform 19 extends in a direction that passes between the stairway 19a and the housing up to the inside of the loop. Such a layout enables the person responsible for operation of the aerial cable transport installation 1 to have a clear view of the running track of the vehicles 3 and of any passengers that may be boarding.

[0079] In one embodiment, the access platform 19, the slide rail 17, the slide 18 and all the other means designed to enable a maintenance vehicle 3b to move are used independently from the movable guide. The station 4 can use a guide or it can not comprise a guide.

[0080] It is possible to provide a station 4 already comprising a cable 2 and means for driving the cable such as a motor 6 and sheaves and pulleys. An access platform 19 is installed extending above the cable 2 between the inside and the outside of the loop. The access platform 19 is equipped with a slide rail 17 allowing a slide 18 to slide for ease of coupling and uncoupling of a maintenance vehicle or any other type of vehicle.

[0081] If the station 4 is already provided with an access platform 19 that straddles the cable 2 passing above the cable 2, the access platform 19 can be functionalised by adding a slide rail 17 thereto, for example in the form of a beam enabling a slide 18 to slide.

[0082] The weight of a maintenance vehicle 3b is generally lower than the weight designed to be supported by a snow-covered access platform 19, for example a walkway supporting at least 50 cm of snow. Under these conditions, the addition of a slide rail 17 designed to facilitate transportation of a maintenance vehicle 3b does not require an important structural modification of the access platform 19.