ROPE CONVEYING SYSTEM, IN PARTICULAR FOR A RECREATIONAL SPORTS SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a system (10) in which a user (30) is towed by means of rope forces (46) through a movement region (20) which can be configured by software. The ropes (16) are parallel-kinematically connected at an anchor point (26), via which the user (30) is connected to the recreational sports system (10). By selectively tensioning the individual ropes (16), a controllable resultant tensile force (48) is created in the anchor point (26), which tensile force flexibly tows the user (30) along a movement path (40; 50).

Claims

1. A rope conveying system, comprising a plurality of rope conveying devices, each with a rope and a control system with which the rope conveying devices can be controlled, so that a free rope length of the rope conveyed by the respective rope conveying device can be adjusted, wherein the ropes are coupled kinematically via a common anchor point and the rope conveying devices are arranged around the anchor point, so that the anchor point can be positioned in a movement region spanning between the rope conveying devices.

2. The rope conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the rope conveying system comprises at least three rope conveying devices.

3. The rope conveying system according to claim 1, wherein at least one movement path for the anchor point is stored in the control system.

4. The rope conveying system according to claim 3, wherein the movement path can be programmed while the anchor point is moving along the movement path.

5. The rope conveying system according to claim 4, wherein at least one user interface is provided for the programming of the movement path, which contains an element from the following group; a manual data input device, a wireless interface for the coupling of a mobile input device, a sensor for detecting a gesture, a sensor for detecting a force, a sensor for detecting a voice command.

6. The rope conveying system according to claim 1, wherein one or more of the rope conveying devices are mounted stationary or mobile on the underlying base.

7. The rope conveying system according to claim 1, wherein a towing rope is additionally attached to the anchor point and can be held by a user at its end facing away from the anchor point, or that an object receptacle for accommodating an object is arranged directly at the anchor point.

8. The rope conveying system according to claim 1, wherein electric rope winches are provided as rope conveying devices.

9. The rope conveying system according to claim 1, wherein the rope conveying system is equipped with a regenerative energy source.

10. A control system designed to control a rope conveying system according to claim 1.

11. A system comprising a rope conveying system according to claim 1, wherein rope conveying devices of the rope conveying system are arranged relative to a traffic surface in such a way that a common anchor point of ropes of the rope conveying devices, in a tensioned state of the ropes, can be arranged above the traffic surface, and that a vertical projection of the traffic surface overlaps with a movement region of the anchor point at least in sections.

12. A method for operating a rope conveying system comprising rope conveying devices arranged relative to a traffic surface in such a way that a common anchor point of ropes of the rope conveying devices, in a tensioned state of the ropes, can be arranged above the traffic surface, and that a vertical projection of the traffic surface overlaps with a movement region of the anchor point at least in sections, comprising the following steps: adjustment of free rope lengths of ropes of said rope conveying system by means of a control system, so that an anchor point of the rope conveying system-is positioned at a starting position; detection of a start signal for movement of the anchor point along a movement path by the control system; control of the free rope lengths by means of the control system, in such a way that the anchor point follows the movement path.

13. The method according to claim 12, wherein at least one rope conveying device of the rope conveying system, towards which the anchor point moves at a point in time, applies a rope force which is greater than a rope force of at least one other rope conveying device, from which the anchor point is distanced at the same point in time.

14. The method according to claim 12, wherein a user of the system gives at least one user command via a user interface of the control system, which leads to the movement path being changed during the operation.

15. The method according to claim 12, wherein during operation of the method rope forces are measured directly or indirectly by the control system and at least once a change is detected, which is characteristic of the fact that a user of the system has lost a towing rope attached to the anchor point, or that an object accommodated in an object receptacle directly attached to the anchor point has been lost.

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a loss position on the movement path is stored by the control system and the anchor point is then lead back automatically to the loss position.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTIONS OF THE DRAWINGS

[0064] The invention is explained below by way of example with the aid of examples of embodiment and schematic drawings. The following show:

[0065] FIG. 1 a recreational sports system with a rope conveying system and a method for its operation;

[0066] FIG. 2 a recreational sports system in a further embodiment;

[0067] FIG. 3 a block diagram of a control system for a recreational sports system;

[0068] FIG. 4 an exemplary stationary fixing option for a rope conveying device; and

[0069] FIG. 5 an exemplary mobile fixing option for a rope conveying device.

DETAILED DESCRIPTIONS OF THE INVENTION

[0070] FIG. 1 shows a system 10 according to the invention, which is designed as a recreational sports system, with a rope conveying system 12 according to the invention. The following embodiments relate to an embodiment of system 10 as a recreational sports system, a different use of system 10 not thereby being excluded.

[0071] Rope conveying system 12 comprises at least three rope conveying devices 14 each with a rope 16 and a preferably electrical control system 18. Rope conveying devices 14 are arranged in such a way that a movement region 20 is spanned between them, which can preferably be configured using software. More than three rope conveying devices 14 each with a rope 16 can optionally also be provided, which is illustrated in FIG. 1 by a line represented in a dot-dash form assigned to a rope 16. Four rope conveying devices 14 are preferably provided, because the cost optimum in relation to available movement region 20 lies towards system costs here.

[0072] Rope conveying devices 14 are operatively connected to control system 18 (indicated by the dash-dot-lines), in such a way that a free rope length 22 of respective rope 16 can be controlled in movement region 20 by winding up or unwinding rope conveying device 14, as a result of which ropes 16 can be tensioned with respect to one another. Specifically, this is brought about in the present example by means of electric rope winches 24, which are considered in greater detail in FIG. 3. Rope winches 24 are preferably electro-mechanical systems.

[0073] The tensioning can be built up, since ropes 16 are kinematically coupled via a common anchor point 26. Anchor point 26 thus comprises one connection point of all ropes 16. As a result of a targeted change in the tension and the free rope lengths 22 of individual ropes 16, anchor point 26 can be dynamically positioned in movement region 20.

[0074] In the context of system 10, i.e. the recreational sports system, rope conveying devices 14 are arranged relative to a traffic surface 28, here for example a water surface, in such a way that common anchor point 26 of ropes 16, in a tensioned state of ropes 16, is arranged above traffic surface 28. A vertical projection 58 (see FIG. 2) of traffic surface 28 overlaps with movement region 20 of anchor point 26, which is spanned by rope conveying devices 14 arranged around movement region 20.

[0075] In the present, purely exemplary characterisation, system 10, i.e. the recreational sports system, is formed by a wakeboard system. A user 30 can be coupled with anchor point 26, here for example via a towing rope 32 additionally attached to anchor point 26, said towing rope being able to be guided to user 30.

[0076] In the illustrated example, rope conveying devices 14 are mounted in a stationary manner on underlying base 34, here purely by way of example via two masts 36 and a building 38, wherein the fixing can also take place for example on a natural structure such as a natural rock formation 39 (see FIG. 2). An exemplary further option for the fixing is shown later with the aid of FIG. 5.

[0077] User 30 can then be towed with anchor point 26 through movement region 20.

[0078] A method according to the invention for the operation of system 10, i.e. the recreational sports system, is explained with the aid of FIG. 1.

[0079] In preparation for the operation, a movement path 40 for anchor point 26, along which user 30 can be towed, is stored in control system 18.

[0080] In a first step of the method, an adjustment of free rope lengths 22 of ropes 16 takes place by means of control system 18, so that anchor point 26 is positioned at a starting position 42 illustrated purely by way of example in FIG. 1.

[0081] In the next step, a detection of a start signal for the movement of anchor point 26 along movement path 40 takes place by means of control system 18. As can be seen in FIG. 1, rope conveying system 12 in this example comprises an optional sensor 44 for detecting the user behaviour, which is operatively connected to control system 18 (also indicated by the dash-dot-line). Sensor 44 is designed to detect visually a gesture of user 30 and to transmit it to control system 18. Control system 18 can then recognise the start signal from the gesture. Sensor 44 can preferably be a camera.

[0082] After detection of the start signal, a dynamic control of free rope lengths 22 takes place by means of control system 18, in such a way that anchor point 26 follows movement path 40. This is achieved by resultant rope forces 46 which are superimposed in anchor point 26 to form a resultant rope force 48. Resultant rope force 48 corresponds to the force vector, which effectively accelerates anchor point 26 according to its direction and its magnitude.

[0083] For example, one of rope conveying devices 14 (here for example the one on the right-hand side in FIG. 1), towards which anchor point 26 is to be moved at a point in time, creates a rope force 46 which is greater (illustrated by the longest arrow 46) than a rope force 46 of at least one other rope conveying device 14 (here for example the one on the left-hand in FIG. 1), from which anchor point 26 is to be distanced at the same point in time.

[0084] Optionally, provision can also be made such that movement path 40 can be programmed while anchor point 26 is moving along movement path 40. Purely by way of example, this can, as mentioned above, also be achieved by gestures of user 30. For this purpose, sensor 44 can for example detect hand signals to the left or to the right, from which control system 18 recognises corresponding steering commands.

[0085] User 30 can for example give user commands via sensor 44, the effect of which is to change movement path 40 during operation according to a desired movement path 50, which is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 1.

[0086] In an advantageous optional embodiment of the method, the rope forces 46 can also be measured during operation directly or indirectly by the control system 18 for purposes other than the mere movement guidance of anchor point 26. If for example user 34 loses towing rope 32, a rapid change in rope forces 46 can be detected. The loss can of course also be recognised for example via sensor 44. Based on this, advantageous operating modes can be provided, for example that a loss position 52 of anchor point 26 and therefore an approximate loss position 52 of towing rope 32 on movement path 40 is stored by the control system 18 and anchor point 26 is then returned automatically to the loss position 52 and thus to user 30.

[0087] Since rope conveying system 12 operates in a very energy-efficient manner, it can be supplied up to 100% with a regenerative energy source 54. This is represented in FIG. 1 by way of example as a solar system, for example a photovoltaic system. The mobile solar system can comprise its own energy store.

[0088] FIG. 2 shows a further system 10 designed as a recreational sports system, which can essentially correspond to that from FIG. 1. The focus of FIG. 2 lies on the illustration of the layout of system 10, for which reason this is shown in a plan view.

[0089] Rope conveying devices 14 can be seen, four of which are provided here by way of example. Rope conveying devices 14 are arranged relative to one another in such a way that their distances 56 from one another, enclosing movement region 20, describe a polygon corresponding to their number, which here is trapezoidal.

[0090] Traffic surface 28, here in the form of a body of water, in certain sections in a vertical projection 58 overlaps with movement region 20, which lies here completely inside the vertical projection 58 of the body of water. Thus, in movement region 20, which can be fully utilised, a multiplicity of desired movement paths 50 are possible without leaving the body of water. The layout is selected here in such a way that an edge of movement region 20 adjoins a starting position 42 in the form of an entry and exit point.

[0091] Whereas three of the four rope conveying devices 14, as already mentioned, are mounted on masts 36, rope conveying device 14 at the top right in FIG. 2 is directly mounted on underlying base 34. Underlying base 34 is formed here for example by a natural rock formation 39.

[0092] Making further reference to FIG. 3, a block diagram of control system 18 is described for a system 10 constituted as a recreational sports system. Described control system 18 is designed here, for example, to control rope conveying systems 12 described above, but is not limited thereto. Purely by way of explanation, therefore, reference is made to the remaining figures and in this regard the same reference numbers are used.

[0093] Control system 18 is illustrated in FIG. 3 in the context of rope conveying system 12. Control system 18 comprises at least one control device 60, which centrally controls the individual rope conveying devices 14 and coordinates them with one another, in such a way that anchor point 26 describes desired movement path 50. For this purpose, control device 60 can exchange data with rope conveying devices 14, which can take place wired or wireless. Control device 60 can for example comprise an industrial computer with motion-control software.

[0094] In the example shown, control device 60 is connected via a wired data line 62 to rope conveying devices 14.

[0095] Rope conveying devices 14, which are designed as electric rope winches 24, are also represented as a block diagram, for example on the left-hand side in FIG. 3. Data line 62 is connected in each case to an internal control device 64 of respective rope conveying device 14. Internal control device 64 controls the sub-systems of rope conveying device 14, for example a servomotor 66 and optionally a brake 68 or also an optional gear unit 70 of rope conveying device 14. Servomotor 66 can also be used by its angle encoder for the exact determination of free rope length 22, whereby the number of revolutions is measured when rope 16 is pulled off from a rope drum 74 of cable conveying devices 14 by rope force 46 of another rope conveying device 14. Brake 68 can in turn be used to apply rope force 46 when rope 16 is pulled off from rope drum 74. When rope conveying system 12 is non-operational, brake 68 can also ensure that rope 16 is held under tension and anchor point 26 does not sag. Furthermore, internal control device 64 can control a rope guidance mechanism 72 for neater winding up or unwinding from rope drum 74.

[0096] Internal control device 64 thus controls all the magnitudes which, for reasons of reaction time for example, should be expediently processed locally in rope conveying device 14, instead of first having to be conveyed via data line 62 to superordinate control device 60 of control system 18.

[0097] In contrast, control device 60 controls all the magnitudes which have to be coordinated between the different rope conveying devices 14 in order to achieve the movement on desired movement path 50. These are in particular temporally coordinated rope forces 46 of individual ropes 16 of rope conveying devices 14, which are transmitted for example in the form of nominal motor power data or nominal braking data to respective internal control device 64.

[0098] Purely for systematic clarification, it should be noted that rope conveying devices 14 are not to be understood as a component of control system 18, but rather enter into an interaction with the latter and are illustrated to explain this.

[0099] Control system 18 further comprises an energy source 76, for example in the form of regenerative energy source 54 or also conventionally in the form of an AC supply network. The latter is connected via a power line 78 to an inverter 80 or can also supply internal control devices 64 directly, which can for example comprise a motor-inverter. Via inverter 80 shown in FIG. 3, the supply voltage is distributed to rope conveying devices 14 and control device 60. Inverter 80 can for example be a PFC, AC/DC converter or rectifier.

[0100] The supply voltage is then modulated at respective rope conveying device 14 by its internal control device 64 for the activation of rope conveying device 14 in the intended manner.

[0101] FIG. 4 shows an exemplary stationary fixing option for a rope conveying device 14 in greater detail. As already mentioned in the previous figures, rope conveying devices 14 of rope conveying system 12 can be mounted on a mast 36. Mast 36 expediently has a foundation 82, which is admitted into underlying base 34. For further stabilisation, guy ropes 84 are expediently provided, which are also anchored via foundations 82 in underlying base 34.

[0102] FIG. 5 shows an exemplary mobile fixing option for a rope conveying device 14 of rope conveying system 12. This takes place by means of a vehicle 86, which serves as a mobile platform for rope conveying device 14. On the vehicle 86, rope conveying devices 14 can again be mounted, if need be, on a kind of mast 36, so as to create the possibility of height adjustment. Vehicle 86 can expediently also be supported with a mechanical securing means 88 against occurring rope forces 46.

[0103] With such fixing options, rope conveying system 12 and therefore system 10 designed as a recreational sports system can be set up flexibly and easily and also dismantled again.