Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 02612148 2011-10-04
METHOD FOR OPERATING A CABLEWAY SYSTEM WITH
A VALLEY STATION AND WITH AT LEAST ONE MOUNTAIN
STATION, AND CABLEWAY SYSTEM
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] Field of the Invention:
[0003] The present invention relates to a method for operating a cableway
system with a valley station and with at least one mountain station and with
transportation devices which can be moved between said stations and, in these
stations, can be moved along a guide rail by means of conveying means, such as
conveying wheels, assigned thereto, through a first boarding and disembarking
region for the passengers, with at least one further guide rail branching off
from the
guide rail via at least one diverter, along which transportation devices are
moved,
likewise by means of conveying means, through at least one second boarding and
disembarking region.
[0004] Furthermore, the present invention relates to a cableway system for
carrying out the afore-mentioned method.
[0005] United States Patent No. 5,873,310 and European patent EP 814992 131
disclose a cableway system, in which the stations are provided with respective
guide rails and conveying means which are assigned thereto and by means of
which the transportation devices are moved through the stations where the
passengers embark or disembark. In the case of the prior art cableway system,
a
first guide rail is provided which leads through a first boarding and
disembarking
region and from which a second guide rail, which leads through a second
boarding
disembarking region, branches off by means of diverters. The transportation
devices are alternately guided along these two guide rails through the two
boarding
and disembarking regions in which the passengers enter or leave them.
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[0006] In the case of that prior art cableway system, in which the
transportation
devices are moved in an uninterrupted sequence into the cableway stations and
are moved out therefrom, first transportation devices are moved through the
first
boarding and disembarking region and second transportation devices are moved
through the second boarding and disembarking region. In this case, the
transportation devices have to be moved at predetermined intervals of time
through
the two boarding and disembarking regions, since otherwise malfunctions would
be
caused in the operation of the cableway system. Put another way, it is not
possible
in the case of this known cableway system to move the individual
transportation
devices through the boarding and disembarking regions at different speeds or
at
different intervals of time and, if appropriate, to stop the transportation
devices in
the boarding and disembarking regions in order thereby to meet particular
requirements in the transportation of the passengers.
BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a cableway
system
and an a method of operating a cableway system which overcome the above-
mentioned disadvantages of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this
general type and which allows the movement of the transportation devices
through
the boarding and disembarking regions to take place in any desired manner
corresponding to the particular requirements. The object is to avoid any
stress to
the passengers as they enter and leave the transportation devices.
[0008] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is provided, in
accordance with the invention, a method of operating a cableway system with
terminal stations, such as a valley station and at least one mountain station,
and
with transportation devices for movement between the stations. The method
which
comprises:
moving the transportation devices in the stations with conveying means,
such as conveying wheels, along a first guide rail through a first boarding
and
disembarking region for the passengers;
selectively moving the transportation devices with conveying means,
such as conveying wheels, along at least one second guide rail branching off
from
the first guide rail via at least one diverter through at least one second
boarding and
disembarking region;
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outputting sensor signals of a plurality of sensors disposed in the
boarding and disembarking regions to a control unit, and controlling the at
least one
diverter and the conveying means with the control unit to selectively move the
transportation devices through the first and second boarding and disembarking
regions as required.
[0009] In other words, the objects of the invention are achieved with a
control
unit, to which the outputs of sensors assigned to the boarding and
disembarking
regions are laid and by means of which the diverters and the conveying means
can
be controlled, with the transportation devices being moved through the
boarding
and disembarking regions as required.
[0010] At least three boarding and disembarking regions are preferably
provided, through which the transportation devices can alternatively be moved
along guide rails. Furthermore, access barriers assigned to the boarding and
disembarking regions are preferably also controlled by the control unit. In
addition,
the access barriers are each assigned sensors, the output signals of which are
likewise transmitted to the control unit. `
[0011] With the above and other objects in view there is also provided, in
accordance with the invention, cableway system with a valley station and at
least
one mountain station, comprising:
a plurality of transportation devices to be moved between the stations
and through the stations;
first and second boarding and disembarking regions for passengers
formed in the stations;
a first guide rail and associated conveying means for moving the
transportation devices through said first boarding and disembarking region for
the
passengers;
at least one further guide rail branching off from said first guide rail via
at
least one diverter, for movement of said transportation devices, by way of
conveying means, through said second boarding and disembarking region;
a plurality of sensors disposed in said boarding and disembarking
regions; and
a control unit connected to receive output signals from said sensors and
configured to control said diverter and said conveying means can be
controlled.
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[0012] In the case of a cableway system according to the invention with a
valley
station and with at least one mountain station, transportation devices are
provided
which can be moved between said stations and, in these stations, can be moved
along a guide rail, by means of conveying means assigned thereto, through a
first
boarding and disembarking region for the passengers, with at least one further
guide rail branching off from the guide rail via at least one diverter, along
which
transportation devices can be moved, likewise by means of conveying means,
through at least one second boarding and disembarking region, with a control
unit
being provided, to which the outputs of sensors assigned to the boarding and
disembarking regions are laid and by means of which the diverters and the
conveying means can be controlled.
[0013] In this case, the boarding and disembarking regions are preferably each
assigned access barriers which are controlled by the control unit.
Furthermore, the
access barriers are preferably each assigned sensors, the output signals of
which
are likewise transmitted to the control unit.
[0014] The method according to the invention for operating a cableway system
and a cableway system according to the invention are explained in more detail
below with reference to an exemplary embodiment which is illustrated in the
drawing.
[0015] Other features which are considered as characteristic for the invention
are set forth in the appended claims.
[0016] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein as embodied
in
method for operating a cableway system with a valley station and with at least
one
mountain station, a cableway system, it is nevertheless not intended to be
limited to
the details shown, since various modifications and structural changes may be
made
therein without departing from the spirit of the invention and within the
scope and
range of equivalents of the claims.
[0017] The construction and method of operation of the invention, however,
together with additional objects and advantages thereof will be best
understood
from the following description of specific embodiments when read in connection
with the accompanying drawing.
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BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0018] The figure is a schematic view of a terminal station of a cableway
system
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0019] Referring now the sole figure of the drawing in detail, the cableway
station has a deflecting pulley 10 via which a supporting and conveying cable
1 is
guided. That strand 1 a of the supporting and conveying cable 1 which runs
into the
station moves chairs 2 into the station and that strand 1 b which runs out of
the
station moves chairs 2 out of the station. The strand 1 a of the supporting
and
conveying cable 1 is adjoined by a guide rail 3 along which the chairs 2,
which are
decoupled from the supporting and conveying cable 1, continue to be moved in
the
station. The guide rail 3 is assigned deceleration wheels (for braking the
transport
device from the conveying speed of the conveying cable 1 to the transport
speed
inside the station) and also conveying wheels.
[0020] The guide rail 3 - here referred to as a first guide rail 3 - is
adjoined by
further, or second, guide rails 31, 32, 33 and 34 which are connected to the
first
guide rail 3 via diverters 41, 41 a, 41 b; 42, 42a; 43, 43a, 43b; 44, 44a. The
diverters
41 to 44a are assigned servomotors 51, 51 a, 51 b; 52, 52a; 53, 53a, 53b; 54,
54a
by means of which said diverters can be adjusted into their operating position
and
out of the same. The chairs 2 are moved along these further guide rails 31 to
34 to
a guide rail 3a which is assigned to that strand 1 b of the supporting and
conveying
cable 1 which runs out of the station and to which acceleration wheels (for
increasing the speed of the transport device from the conveying speed within
the
station to the speed of the conveying cable 1) are assigned.
[0021] All of the guide rails 31 to 34 are assigned conveying wheels by means
of which the chairs 2 are moved along these guide rails 31 to 34 through the
station, they being moved through boarding and disembarking regions 61, 62, 63
and 64 in which the passengers can enter and leave them. The boarding and
disembarking regions 61 to 64 are each assigned sensors 71, 72, 73 and 74 by
means of which the operating states of the chairs 2 located in the boarding
and
disembarking regions 61 to 64 are detected, namely whether the closing bar of
a
chair. 2 has been adjusted into its closed position. Furthermore, the boarding
and
disembarking regions 61 to 64 are assigned access barriers 81 to 84 which are
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provided with sensors 91 to 94 by means of which the skiers moving to the
access
barriers 81 to 84 are detected.
[0022] The system located in the stations is furthermore assigned a control
unit
7 to which the output signals of the sensors 71 to 74 and of the sensors 91 to
94
are passed and by means of which, furthermore,. the diverters 41 to 44a are
controlled and by means of which the servomotors 51 to 54b and the access
barriers 81 to 84 are controlled.
[0023] The functionality of the system and its operation may be summarized as
follows: As soon as a chair 2 enters the station, it is decoupled from the
supporting
and conveying cable 1 and passes onto the first guide rail 3, along which its
speed
is decelerated to approximately 1 m/sec. It continues to be moved along the
first
guide rail 3 to one of the adjoining guide rails 31 to 34. In the process, the
diverters
41 to 44a are controlled in such a manner that said chair 2 is moved toward
one of
the boarding and disembarking regions 61 to 64 in which there is no chair 2 or
one
which is free for the further chair 2 until the latter arrives. Passengers
enter and
leave said chair 2 in this boarding and disembarking region. As soon as said
chair 2
is ready for departure, a release signal is output to the control unit 7 by
the sensor
provided in said boarding and disembarking region.
[0024] In this manner, the operating states of the chairs 2 located in all of
the
boarding and disembarking regions 61 to 64 and, furthermore, the operating
positions of the diverters 41 to 44a are detected by the control unit 7. The
conveying wheels assigned to the guide rails and, furthermore, the diverters
41 to
44a and, in addition, the access barriers 81 to 84 are controlled by the
control unit 7
as a function of the operating states of the individual chairs 2 located in
the
boarding and disembarking regions 61 to 64 in such a manner that chairs 2 are
moved consecutively toward the guide rail 3a, said chairs being accelerated
along
said guide rail 3a and, as a result, being coupled at the required distances
to that
strand 1 b of the supporting and conveying cable 1 which moves out of the
station,
as a result of which said chairs are conveyed out of the station.
[0025] The following operating sequence arises with regard to the position of
the
diverters and of the transportation devices that is illustrated in FIG. 1:
[0026] As soon as, for example, the chair 2 located in the boarding and
disembarking region 61 is occupied and the closing bar is closed, a release
signal
is output by the sensor 71 to the control unit 7. As a result, said chair 2 is
moved
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along the guide rail 31 via the diverters 41 a and 41 b toward the guide rail
3a, along
which it is accelerated, whereupon it is coupled to that strand 1 b of the
supporting
and conveying cable 1 which leads out of the station and moves out of the
station.
[0027] If the diverter 41 is not in its operating position, it is adjusted
into its
operating position. Furthermore, the diverter 42 is adjusted out of its
operating
position, and therefore a further chair 2, which is located at this time on
the guide
rail 31, can be conveyed via the diverter 41 along the guide rail 31 into the
boarding
and disembarking region 61, in which skiers can enter it. During the same
period of
time, skiers enter the boarding region 62 and, in this region, a chair 2 is
moved at a
speed of 1 m/sec from behind up to the skiers, as a result of which they can
sit on
the chair 2. As soon as a release signal is output to the control unit 7 by
the
sensors 72 located in the boarding region 62, the diverter 41 is switched over
into
its operating position, whereupon the chair 2 is moved along the guide rail 31
and,
via the diverter 41 b, to the guide rail 3a, along which it is conveyed to the
exit.
Furthermore, a signal is output to the control unit 7 by the sensor 72
assigned to
the boarding and disembarking region 62 to the effect that the boarding and
disembarking region 62 is available for a further chair 2.
[0028] The access barriers 81 and 82 are opened and closed by the control unit
7. The skiers moving to the access barriers 81 and 82 are detected by the
sensors
91 and 92.
[0029] In an analogous manner, chairs 62 are also supplied to the boarding and
disembarking regions 63 and 64, in each case as required, control signals are
output to the control unit 7 by the sensors 73 and 74 assigned to said
boarding and
disembarking regions, the diverters 43, 43a and 43b and also 44 and 44a and
the
access barriers 83 and 84 are controlled by the control unit 7, and respective
signals are output to the control unit 7 by the sensors 93 and 94.
[0030] Instead of the conveying wheels, other conveying means, such as, for
example, conveying chains, may also be provided. It will be understood that a
cableway system of this type can be operated in an identical manner with
gondolas
or with chairs.
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