CN118062062A

CN118062062A - Parking system for circulating cableway

Info

Publication number: CN118062062A
Application number: CN202311559575.2A
Authority: CN
Inventors: J·贝切特; D·费斯勒
Original assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
Current assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
Priority date: 2022-11-24
Filing date: 2023-11-21
Publication date: 2024-05-24
Also published as: AT526242A4; AT526242B1; US20240174269A1; EP4375158A1

Abstract

In order to provide an improved parking system for carrying out a parking process for a cableway vehicle in a parking zone of a cableway station as simply and quickly as possible, a transfer device for transferring the cableway vehicle from an input rail to at least two parking rails is provided in the parking system, the transfer device having a displacement device which can be displaced along a fixed guide device between a first transfer position and a second transfer position, the displacement device having a first rail section and a second rail section, in the first transfer position of the displacement device a cableway vehicle being movable from the first rail section onto the first parking rail, a cableway vehicle being movable from the input rail onto the second rail, and in the second transfer position of the displacement device a cableway vehicle being movable from the input rail onto the first rail section, a cableway vehicle being movable from the second rail section onto the second parking rail.

Description

Parking system for circulating cableway

Technical Field

Parking system for a parking area of a cableway station for a cableway for performing a parking operation on a plurality of cableway vehicles of the cableway, wherein an input track (feeder), at least one first parking track and at least one second parking track (parking line) are provided in the parking system, and wherein a transfer device for transferring the cableway vehicles from the input track to the parking tracks is provided. The invention further relates to the use of a parking system for carrying out a parking process (operation), to a cableway having a parking system for carrying out a parking process (operation), and to a method for carrying out a parking process (operation) on a plurality of cableway vehicles in a parking area of a cableway stop of a cableway.

Background

A circulating ropeway generally has a plurality of ropeway stations, a plurality of ropeway vehicles, and a conveyor cable for moving the ropeway vehicles between the ropeway stations. In modern circulating runways, the cableway vehicle can be disconnected from the conveyor cable in a known manner in each cableway station and moved at a relatively low speed through the cableway station. Such circulating runways with releasable cableways generally have a parking area in which, outside the operating time, the cableway vehicle released from the conveyor cable can be parked. Such parking areas are usually located in a cableway station, for example in a garage on the same floor (plane) as the passenger's boarding and/or disembarking areas or, if possible, also below the boarding areas. For transferring a cableway vehicle into its predefined parking location in a parking zone, a suitable parking system is usually provided, which may comprise one or more transport devices. For example, there are exemplary parking systems in EP 0 711 696 A1, AT392766B, AT 366328B, CN 209942318U or US 3,200,766A.

Disclosure of Invention

Starting from the prior art, the object of the present invention is to provide an improved parking system which makes it as simple and rapid as possible to carry out a parking process of a cableway vehicle in a parking zone of a cableway station.

According to the invention, the problem is solved in that the displacement device has a displacement device which can be displaced along a (positionally) fixed guide device between a first displacement position and a second displacement position, wherein the displacement device has a first track section and a second track section, wherein in the first displacement position of the displacement device the (one) cableway vehicle can be moved from the first track section onto a first parking track (parking line, lateral line) and the (one) cableway vehicle can be moved from the input track onto the second track section; in the second transfer position of the displacement device, the cableway vehicle(s) can be moved from the input track (feed line) onto the first track section and the cableway vehicle(s) can be moved from the second track section onto the second parking track. The duration of the parking process can thereby be significantly reduced, since during the transfer of the cableway vehicle to a parking track, the subsequent cableway vehicle(s) can already be moved from the feed track into the waiting position on the displacement device.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the displacement device can have a displacement carriage, on which the first rail section and the second rail section are arranged at a distance from one another in the direction of movement of the displacement device, wherein the first rail section and the second rail section can be displaced together by means of the displacement carriage. This allows a simple construction and an easy synchronous control of the movements of the individual track segments. Alternatively, the displacement device can also have at least one first displacement carriage and (at least) one second displacement carriage, wherein the first rail section is arranged at the first displacement carriage and the second rail section is arranged at the second displacement carriage, and wherein the first rail section and the second rail section can be displaced independently of one another by means of the displacement carriage. A more flexible control of the movement of the track segments is thus possible, whereby different positions, speeds and accelerations are achieved.

In an advantageous manner, each track section of the parking track, the input track and the displacement device has a first guide rail for guiding the guide rollers (guide rollers/guide rollers) of the cableway vehicle. Optionally, the parking track, the input track and the track section of the displacement device each have a second guide rail for guiding the support-guide rollers of the cableway vehicle. The individual cableway vehicles can thus be moved along the vehicle guide rail in the operating region of the cableway station in the same manner as is known. However, the second guide rail does not necessarily have to extend over the entire length of the respective first guide rail, but may, for example, also be provided only in sections (in sections). The second guide rail reduces the lateral oscillations of the cableway vehicle, thereby reducing the risk of damage.

Preferably, each parking track has a (one) straight section in each case at least in the region of its parking track end facing the displacement device; the input rail has (one) straight section at least in the region of the input rail end(s) facing the displacement device; whereas each rail section of the displacement device has a (one) straight section correspondingly at least in the region of its rail section end, preferably over its entire length. In this way, for example, curvature jumps can be avoided, whereby the cableway vehicle can be transferred more easily and preferably smoothly.

Preferably, the linear sections of the rail sections are parallel to one another, and the displacement device extends straight (runs) along the direction of movement of the fixed guide device, preferably at right angles to the linear sections of the rail sections. Alternatively, the linear sections of the rail sections may also be arranged at an orbital angle to one another, and the displacement device may be arcuate, preferably annular (circular), along the direction of movement of the fixed guide device. In this way, a suitable constructional embodiment of the parking system can be provided depending on the available space.

Preferably, the respective parking track ends of the parking tracks facing the displacement device are spaced apart from each other in the direction of movement of the displacement device by a parking distance which corresponds at least to the vehicle width(s) of the cableway vehicle of the cableway. It is particularly preferable to set, for example, the sum of the vehicle width and a fixed safety distance of, for example, several centimeters as the parking distance. In this way, collisions between cableway vehicles on adjacent parking tracks can be prevented, so that damage can be avoided. However, in principle, smaller distances than vehicle widths can also be used, for example, when the cableway is alternately moved onto adjacent parking tracks in a zip system (Rei beta verschlusssystem).

Preferably, the length of the track section transverse to the direction of movement of the displacement device amounts to at least the cable clamp length of the cable clamp or the running gear length of the running gear of the cableway vehicle. This ensures that the entire cableway vehicle can be placed completely on the track section and then displaced. Of course, for ease of operation, it is advantageous if the track section length is greater than the cable clip length or running gear length.

The fixed guide means may have at least one rail and the displacement means may have a plurality of roller (roller) elements for movement along the at least one rail. For stable movement, the fixed guide device advantageously has two (or more) guide rails spaced apart transversely to the direction of movement of the displacement device, along which the displacement device can be moved by means of the roller elements. For example, suitable rollers (wheels), wheels, balls or the like may be provided as roller elements, which are rotatably arranged at the displacement device. The roller element may also have one or more gears and the fixed guide may have one or more racks along which the gears roll. Thereby allowing for accurate and repeatable positioning of the displacement device.

For automated control, it is advantageous if a drive is provided for driving the displacement device along the fixed guide. For example, the drive device may have a drive unit, for example an electric motor, arranged at the displacement device. For example, the plurality of roller elements described above may thereby be driven. The drive unit is thus part of the displacement device and can move with the displacement device. Alternatively, however, the drive device can also act on the displacement device from the outside, for example in the form of a chain drive, a toothed belt drive, an adjustment cylinder, etc. In this case, the drive unit is not part of the displacement device and therefore does not move with the displacement device.

Preferably, the displacement device has a first conveying device for conveying the cableway vehicle along the first track section and a second conveying device for conveying the cableway vehicle along the second track section. Thereby, the cableway vehicle can be automatically transported along the track section. In the same way, third conveying means may be provided for conveying the cableway vehicle along the first parking track, and/or fourth conveying means may be provided for conveying the cableway vehicle along the second parking track, and/or fifth conveying means may be provided for conveying the cableway vehicle along the input track. Preferably, at least one of the conveying devices has a tire conveyor designed and configured to interact with a friction lining of the cableway vehicle to convey the cableway vehicle. In this way, the same conveyor as the auxiliary drive for the operating range can be used in an advantageous manner, which reduces the system effort in terms of construction and control technology. Alternatively, at least one of the conveying devices may also have a chain conveyor or a toothed belt conveyor. For example, a chain conveyor or toothed belt conveyor may have a plurality of entrainment elements (carrying elements/intermediate elements) that interact with components of the cableway vehicle to move the cableway vehicle. For example, the entrainment element may exert a driving force on the spreader, at the upper end of which a steel cable clamp is arranged, and at the lower end of which a transport body (chair, pod) is arranged.

Preferably, a control unit is also provided for controlling the drive of the displacement device and/or for controlling the first conveyor of the displacement device and/or for controlling the second conveyor of the displacement device and/or for controlling the third conveyor of the first parking track and/or for controlling the fourth conveyor of the second parking track and/or for controlling the fifth conveyor of the input track. For example, a cableway may use a control unit that mainly also controls the driving of the cableway vehicle as the control unit. However, a separate control unit may also be provided, which may communicate with the control unit of the cableway in a suitable manner, for example, to control the parking process (parking maneuver).

A first sensor device may also be provided, which is designed to generate a first sensor signal representing the position of the displacement device on the fixed guide device, and/or a second sensor device may be provided, which is designed to generate a second sensor signal representing the presence of a cableway vehicle in a defined section of the input track, and the control unit may be designed to use the first sensor signal and/or the second sensor signal to control a parking maneuver (parking process). For example, the control unit can activate the available conveyor device of the parking system only if it is detected by means of the sensor signal that the cableway vehicle is located on the input track and the displacement device is in a transfer position. A higher degree of automation of the parking system can thereby be achieved.

Furthermore, this object is achieved by a method according to claim 18. Advantageous embodiments of the method are given in claims 19 to 20.

Drawings

The invention will be explained in more detail hereinafter with reference to fig. 1 to 3, fig. 1 to 3 showing an advantageous design configuration of the invention by way of example, schematically and without limitation. The drawings show:

Fig. 1 is a cableway station with a parking zone of a circulating cableway, in which a parking system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is arranged,

Figure 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the parking system according to the invention,

Fig. 3 shows a further alternative embodiment of the parking system according to the invention.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 shows a cableway station 2 of a circulating cableway 1, in which cableway station 2 there is an operating zone BB and a parking zone PB adjacent to the operating zone. The circulating ropeway 1 has, in a known manner, a plurality of ropeway vehicles 4 which can be moved by means of conveyor cables F between a ropeway station 2 and one or more other ropeway stations (not shown). The illustrated cableway station 2 serves as a terminal in which a cableway vehicle 4 turns. For this purpose, a first rope pulley 3 is arranged in the cableway station 2, around which first rope pulley 3 the conveyor wire F is deflected (turned). In another cableway station (not shown) a second rope pulley 3 is arranged, around which second rope pulley 3 the conveyor rope F is also deflected (turned) so that a closed rope loop is formed, along which the cableway vehicle 4 can move. The cableway vehicle 4 generally has a transport body, for example a chair or a pod (shown in fig. 1), for receiving persons and/or objects. The transport body is arranged in a known manner at the lower section of the hanger and can be suspended together with the hanger at the transport cable.

Furthermore, each of the cableway vehicles 4 has in a known manner a suitable cable clamp 4a, by means of which cable clamp 4a the cableway vehicle 4 can be releasably coupled to the conveyor cable F. The cable clips 4a are typically arranged at the upper section of the hanger. In the entry zone E of the cableway station 2, the cable clamp 4a can be opened by means of a suitable (not shown) actuating device in order to disengage the cableway vehicle 4 from the conveyor cable F. After disengagement, the cableway vehicle 4 can be braked and moved along a fixed vehicle-guiding device 22 parallel to the platform 20 to the exit area a at a lower speed. Thus, the passenger P can get on and off the vehicle at the platform 20 by the arrow drawing. In the exit area a, the cableway vehicle 4 can again accelerate to the speed of the conveyor cable F and can again be coupled in a force-fitting manner to the conveyor cable F by re-opening and subsequently closing the cable clamp 4 a. Suitable auxiliary drives, such as known tire conveyors or chain conveyors (not shown), may be provided in the cableway station 2 in order to move the cableway vehicle 4 decoupled from the conveyor cable F along the vehicle-guiding device 22.

A suitable vehicle drive 21 is provided for driving the cableway vehicle 4. For example, the vehicle drive device 21 may have a first drive unit 21a for driving the cable pulley 3 and a second drive unit 21b for driving the auxiliary drive. The drive units 21a, 21b are shown simplified in fig. 1. For example, the drive units 21a and 21b may each have a suitable motor. Furthermore, a control unit 17 is provided in the circulating ropeway 1 for controlling the vehicle drive 21. The control unit 17 may have suitable hardware and/or software. In addition to controlling the available drive units 21a, 21b of the vehicle drive device 21, the control unit 17 may also be provided for controlling other functions of the endless cableway 1, such as controlling the parking system PS according to the invention, as will be described in more detail below. The basic structure and operation of such a cableway 1 are known and will therefore not be described in more detail here.

As previously mentioned, the operating zone BB of the cableway station 2 is adjacent to the parking zone PB, in which the platform 20 is located, and the cableway vehicle 4 can be parked outside the operating time or also for maintenance purposes. The docking station 20 in the operating zone BB is of course accessible to the passenger P, while the parking zone PB is generally inaccessible to the passenger P. As mentioned at the outset, parking area PB can also be provided opposite to the embodiment shown, for example on a different floor than operating area BB, for example below or above it. Depending on the constructional embodiment of the cableway station 2. However, the location of the parking area PB within the cableway station 2 is not important for the description of the invention in terms of the function of the parking system PS according to the invention.

In order to perform a parking process (operation), a parking system PS according to the present invention is provided in the parking area PB. In the parking system PS there is provided an input track 5, at least one first parking track 6 and at least one second parking track 7. Furthermore, a transfer device 8 is provided for transferring the cableway vehicle 4 from the input track 5 to the parking tracks 6 and 7. For example, as shown in fig. 1, the input rail 5 can be selectively connected via a suitable switch W to a vehicle guide 22 arranged in the operating range BB. In this way, the cableway vehicle 4 can be diverted (ejected) into the parking zone from the operating zone BB, for example after the end of the operation. However, this is only exemplary, and the parking system PS may be disposed at another location of the parking area PB. For example, the parking system may (additionally or alternatively) also be arranged at a position of the parking area PB that is remote from the running area BB. For example, at least one of the parking tracks 6, 7 may be used here as an input track for the parking system PS. The cableway vehicle 4 can thereby be moved from the respective parking track 6, 7 to a further downstream parking track (not shown). However, for simplicity, the invention is described with reference to only the illustrated embodiments.

The displacement device 8 has a displacement device V which can be displaced along a fixed guide 10 in a movement direction BV predefined by the guide between a first displacement position U1 (shown in fig. 1) and a second displacement position U2 (not shown in fig. 1). The displacement device V has a first track section 11 and a second track section 12 spaced apart from the first track section 11 in the direction of movement BV. In the first transfer position U1 shown, the first track section 11 is aligned with the ends 11a and 6a of the first parking track 6 facing each other, so that the cableway vehicle 4 can be moved from the first track section 11 onto the first parking track 6. Furthermore, the ends 5a, 12b of the input track 5 and the second track section 12 facing each other are aligned such that the cableway vehicle 4 can be moved from the input track 5 onto the second track section 12. When the displacement device V is in the second transfer position U2 (not shown), the ends 5a, 11b of the first rail section 11 and the input rail 5 facing each other are aligned, so that the cableway vehicle 4 can be moved from the input rail 5 onto the first rail section 11. Furthermore, the ends 12a, 7a of the second track section 12 and the second parking track 7 facing each other are aligned such that the cableway vehicle 4 can be moved from the second track section 12 onto the second parking track 7. In order to reliably avoid collisions, it is also possible to leave a sufficiently small distance between the ends 5a, 11b, 12b or 6a, 11a or 7a, 12a facing each other.

In the example shown, the displacement device V has one (single) displacement slide (slide) 9, the first rail section 11 and the second rail section 12 being arranged at the displacement slide 9 spaced apart from one another. The first rail section 11 and the second rail section 12 can thus be moved back and forth jointly between the first transfer position U1 and the second transfer position U2 by means of the displacement carriage 9. However, according to an alternative embodiment (which will be described in more detail below with reference to fig. 2), the displacement device V may also have at least one first displacement slide 9a and (at least) one second displacement slide 9b. In this case, the first track section 11 is arranged at the first carriage 9a, while the second track section 12 is arranged at the second carriage 9b. The first rail section 11 and the second rail section 12 can thus be moved independently of one another along the fixed guide 10 between the first transfer position U1 and the second transfer position U2 by means of the displacement carriages 9a, 9b.

The parking tracks 6,7, the input track 5 and the track sections 11, 12 of the displacement device V can each have a first guide rail 6_1, 7_1, 5_1, 11_1, 12_1 for guiding a main guide roller (roller) of the cableway vehicle 4. In addition, the parking tracks 6,7, the input track 5 and the track sections 11, 12 of the displacement device V can each have a second guide rail 6_2, 7_2, 5_2, 11_2, 12_2 (not shown in fig. 1) for guiding the supporting guide rollers (rollers) of the cableway vehicle 4. In the context of the present invention, a main guide roller (roller) is understood to be a roller (rolling element, roller) of a cableway vehicle 4: the cableway vehicle 4 is moved along the main guide rail of the vehicle-guiding device 22 by means of these rollers. The weight of the cableway vehicle 4 is thereby supported at the main guide rail of the vehicle-guiding device 22 by means of main guide rollers (rollers). One or more such main guide rollers are typically arranged in the region of the cable clamp 4 a.

In the context of the present invention, supporting guide rollers are understood to be such rollers of a cableway vehicle 4: the rollers are arranged in addition to the main guide rollers and by means of which the cableway vehicle 4 is guided along a support rail extending parallel to the main rail of the vehicle-guiding device 22. The support guide rollers serve to minimize lateral (sideways) swinging movements of the cableway vehicle 4 transverse to the direction of movement. Each runway 4 is usually provided with one or more such supporting guide rollers in the region of the cable clamp 4 a. The construction embodiments and functions of the vehicle-guiding device 22 as well as the main guide rollers and the support guide rollers (support guide rollers, auxiliary guide rollers) are known and will not be described in more detail here.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the parking tracks 6,7 each have a straight section at least in the region of their parking track ends 6a, 7 a; the input rail 5 has a linear section at least in the region of its input rail end 5 a; the rail sections 11, 12 of the displacement device V each have a straight section at least in the region of their rail section ends 11a, 11b, 12a, 12 b. In the example shown, the track sections 11, 12 are constructed straight over their entire length. However, other orientations of the parking tracks 6,7, the input track 5 and the track sections 11, 12 are of course also conceivable, for example curved orientations.

In the example according to fig. 1, the longitudinal axes of the straight track sections 11, 12 are parallel to one another, and the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V moves along a straight line, which is here normal to the longitudinal axes of the track sections 11, 12. In an alternative embodiment (described in more detail below with reference to fig. 3), however, the longitudinal axes of the track sections 11, 12 may also be arranged at a section angle (sector angle) β to each other, the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V extending in a curved, preferably annular (circular) manner. The appropriate implementation may be selected based on the available space. Of course, a combination of a plurality of parking systems PS within the parking area PB and, if possible, different parking systems PS is also possible.

In order to reliably avoid collisions of the cableway vehicle 4 on adjacent parking tracks 6,7, it is preferable that at least the parking track ends 6a, 7a of the parking tracks 6,7 facing the displacement device V are separated from each other in the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V by a parking distance PA which corresponds at least to the vehicle width FB of the cableway vehicle 4. However, it is preferable that the parking distance PA is selected to be larger. For example, the parking distance PA may be a sum of the vehicle width FB and the determined (prescribed) safe distance. For example, the safe distance may range from a few centimeters to one meter or more. The distance between the track sections 11, 12 (or between the ends 11a, 12 a) is thus half the parking distance PA.

As previously mentioned, however, the parking tracks 6, 7 do not have to be formed straight or arranged at right angles to the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V (see fig. 1). For example, the parking tracks 6, 7 may also be formed straight and correspondingly arranged at a defined angle to the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V. The parking tracks 6, 7 may also be formed as curved or curvilinear. In order to reliably avoid collisions of the vehicles of the cableway 4 on adjacent parking tracks 6, 7, it is naturally necessary to keep the parking distance PA as small as possible over the entire length of the parking tracks 6, 7. However, the individual cableways 4 can also be parked on the parking tracks 6, 7 in a zip-like system such that they partially overlap in the transverse direction (transverse to the longitudinal direction). In this case, the parking distance PA may be smaller than the vehicle width FB.

Preferably, the section length SL of the track sections 11, 12 of the displacement device V (transverse to the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V) is the cable clamp length SKL of the at least one cable clamp 4 a. Fig. 1 shows an exemplary cable clip length SKL of the cable clip 4a for a cable car 4 located before the entry area E in the cable station 2.

If the circulating ropeway 1 is designed as a multi-rope circulating ropeway, the ropeway vehicle 4 has at least one carrying rope (carrying rope) in addition to the carrying rope F. Here, a running gear having a plurality of running rollers (running rollers, guide rollers) is provided on the cableway vehicle 4, with the aid of which each cableway vehicle 4 rolls along at least one carrying cable. The carrying wire rope thus serves as a running rail and the carrying wire rope F serves as a traction wire rope for driving the cableway vehicle 4. In the case of a multiple-rope circulating ropeway 1 of this type, the section length SL of the track sections 11, 12 is preferably at least the running gear length of the running gear of the ropeway vehicle 4 (not shown). It is thereby ensured that the track sections 11, 12 have a sufficient length to fully receive the cableway vehicle 4. Known multi-rope circulation ropes are, for example, double rope circulation ropes with one traction rope and one load-bearing rope, or triple rope circulation ropes (also referred to as "3S rope") with two load-bearing ropes and one traction rope.

Preferably, the stationary guide means 10 has at least one guide rail 10a, and the displacement means V has a plurality of roller (roller) elements 13 by means of which the displacement means V roll along the at least one guide rail 10 a. For example, the plurality of roller elements 13 may be rolling bodies (rollers/drums), wheels, balls or the like, which are supported in a suitable manner at the displacement device V. For example, as shown in fig. 1, the displacement carriage (slide/slider) 9 may have a frame, for example made of profiled tubes. The roller elements 13 can be arranged laterally (laterally) on the frame of the displacement carriage 9 and roll on the guide rails 10a and 10 b.

As shown in fig. 1, the stationary guide device 10 can also have two (or more) spaced-apart guide rails 10a, 10b transverse to the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V, which can be moved along the guide rails 10a, 10b by means of the roller elements 13. For example, the rails 10a, 10b may each have a U-shaped profile rail with sides that open towards each other. The roller element 13 can be accommodated here between the opposite (upper and lower) legs of the U-profile rail. For example, the plurality of roller elements 13 may also have one or more gears and a suitable rack (not shown) may be provided at the at least one guide rail 10 a. Thereby an accurate and repeatable positioning of the displacement device V along the fixed guiding device 10 is achieved.

In addition, a drive device 14 is provided in the parking system PS for driving the displacement device V along the fixed guide device 10. For example, the drive 14 may have an electric drive unit, for example an electric motor, which is arranged at the displacement device V, for example at the displacement carriage 9 in fig. 1. For example, the drive means 14 can be formed here for driving one or more roller elements 13 and move together with the displacement means V. Alternatively, the drive device 14 can also act externally on the displacement device V and thus not be part of the displacement device V. In this case, the drive 14 can, for example, have a chain drive, a toothed belt drive, an adjusting cylinder (servo cylinder) or the like and be arranged at a suitably fixed structure of the cableway station 2.

Furthermore, the displacement device V may have a first conveying device 15 for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the first track section 11 and a second conveying device 16 for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the second track section 12. In the example shown, the first conveyor 15 and the second conveyor 16 are each formed as a tire conveyor, which, like the auxiliary drive described above, can be provided for moving the cableway vehicle 4 decoupled from the conveyor cable F along the vehicle-guiding device 22. As shown in fig. 1, the tire conveyor may in a known manner have a plurality of tires arranged one after the other in the longitudinal direction of the respective track section 11, 12. As shown by the connection lines in fig. 1, the tyre may be driven by a suitable driving unit, such as an electric motor, which may be controlled, for example, by the control unit 17. For simplicity, the drive units of the conveying means 15, 16 are not shown. For driving the cableway vehicle 4, the tires of the tire conveyor can interact in a known manner with the friction linings of the cableway vehicle 4, for example, the friction linings can be provided in the region of the steel cable clamp 4 a. Of course, this is to be understood as merely exemplary, and the conveying means 15, 16 may also be formed in other forms, for example as chain conveyors, toothed belt conveyors, etc.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a third conveying device (not shown) for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the first parking track 6 and/or a fourth conveying device (not shown) for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the second parking track 7 and/or a fifth conveying device (not shown) for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the input track 5 are provided in the parking system PS. For example, the third, fourth and fifth conveying means may have tire conveyors, chain conveyors, toothed belt conveyors or the like. However, the parking tracks 6, 7 can also be embodied in principle as drive-free. For example, each cableway vehicle 4 can be pushed from the first or second conveyor 15, 16 onto the respective parking track 6, 7 by the respectively following cableway vehicle 4. It is also conceivable for the inclination of the parking tracks 6, 7 (preferably a variable inclination) to be such that the cableway vehicle 4 can move along the parking tracks 6, 7 under the influence of gravity.

The control unit 17 may be formed as a third conveying means for controlling the first parking track 6, a fourth conveying means for the second parking track 7 and a fifth conveying means for the input track 5, in addition to the driving means 14 for controlling the displacement means V, the first conveying means 15 and the second conveying means 16 for the displacement means V.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if the first sensor device 18 is provided in such a way that it is designed to generate a first sensor signal S1, the first sensor signal S1 representing the position of the displacement device V on the guide device 10. Likewise, a second sensor device 19 can be provided, which is designed to generate a second sensor signal S2, the second sensor signal S2 representing the presence of the cableway vehicle 4 in a defined (defined) section of the input track 5. The control unit 17 can use the first sensor signal S1 and the second sensor signal S2 to control the parking process (operation), in particular for controlling the first and second conveying means 15, 16 of the track sections 11, 12 and for controlling the fifth conveying means of the input track 5. For example, this defined section of the input track 5 may be a certain length of area, for example a few meters, adjoining the end 5 a.

For example, the control unit 17 can activate the first and second conveying means 15, 16 of the track sections 11, 12 only if the displacement device V is detected in the first or second transfer position U1, U2 on the basis of the first sensor signal S1 and the cableway vehicle 4 is detected at the input track 5 on the basis of the second sensor signal S2. The sensor devices 18, 19 can each have a plurality of suitable sensors, which communicate with the control unit 17 either by wire or wirelessly. For example, an electrical limit switch or an inductive, capacitive or optical sensor may be used as the sensor. For simplicity, the sensor devices 18, 19 in fig. 1 are shown in the region of the control unit 17. In practice, of course, the sensors are arranged at appropriate positions in order to generate the respective sensor signals S1, S2.

The construction of parking system PS is now fully described. For completeness, the application of the parking system PS to perform a parking process for a plurality of cableway vehicles 4 will be described below.

First, the vehicle-guiding device 22 moves the first cableway vehicle 4 onto the input track 5 via the switch W, for example. If the parking system PS is additionally or alternatively located at another location in the parking area PB, for example one of the parking tracks 6, 7 may also serve as an input track. However, for simplicity, reference is also made to the embodiment shown in fig. 1. When the displacement device V is in the first transfer position U1 shown in fig. 1, the first cableway vehicle 4 can be moved from the input track 5 onto the second track section 12 of the displacement device V. This may be achieved, for example, by activating (actuating) the second conveying means 16 of the second track section 12 and the third conveying means (not shown) of the input track 5 simultaneously. When the displacement device V is in the second transfer position U2 (not shown in fig. 1), the first cableway vehicle 4 can be moved from the input track 5 onto the first track section 11 of the displacement device V. This can be achieved, for example, by simultaneously activating the first conveying means 15 of the first track section 11 and the third conveying means (not shown) of the input track 5.

When the first cableway vehicle 4 is located in the second track section 12, which is optionally detected, for example, by means of a further sensor device, the displacement device V comprising the first cableway vehicle 4 is moved along the (positionally) fixed guide device 10 from the first transfer position U1 to the second transfer position U2. This can be achieved by the control unit 17 correspondingly controlling the drive means 14 of the displacement means V. When the first cableway vehicle 4 is located at the first track section 11 (which in turn can be detected, for example, by a further sensor device), the displacement device V comprising the first cableway vehicle 4 is moved along the fixed guide device 10 from the second transfer position U2 into the first transfer position U1.

When the displacement device V is in the respective end position (first or second transfer position U1, U2), which in turn can be detected by the first sensor device 18, for example, the first cableway vehicle 4 is moved from the first track section 11 onto the first parking track 6 or from the second track section 12 onto the second parking track 7. This can be done by the control unit 17 controlling the first or second conveying means 15, 16 and, if possible, the third conveying means of the first parking track 6, if provided, or the fourth conveying means of the second parking track 7, if provided.

When the first cableway vehicle 4 moves in the first rotational position U1 from the first track section 11 of the displacement device V onto the first parking track 6, a subsequent second cableway vehicle 4 can already move from the input track 5 onto the second track section 12 of the displacement device V. In the same way, the second cableway vehicle 4 can already be transferred from the input track 5 onto the first track section 11 of the displacement device V when the first cableway vehicle 4 is moved from the second track section 12 onto the second parking track 7 in the second transfer position U2. In this way, the parking process (operation) is accelerated compared to the prior art, since the respective subsequent cableway vehicle 4 can already be parked on the displacement device V. The parking operation can now be repeated for further cableway vehicles 4 following the second cableway vehicle 4. For example, in the event that the first parking track 6 and/or the second parking track 7 reach a maximum storage capacity, further cableway vehicles 4 can also be parked on the first track section 11 or the second track section 12 of the displacement device V.

Fig. 2 shows an alternative embodiment of the parking system according to the invention. In the example according to fig. 1, the displacement device V has a single displacement slide (carriage) 9, whereas the displacement device V according to fig. 2 has two independent displacement slides 9a, 9b, which can be moved independently of one another along a fixed guide 10. In the example shown, the stationary guiding means 10 has only one guide rail 10a. Of course, as shown in fig. 1, two parallel guide rails 10a, 10b are also conceivable, or more than two guide rails if possible. The first track section 11 is arranged at the first displacement carriage 9a and the second track section 12 is arranged at the second displacement carriage 9 b. At the first displacement carriage 9a, a first conveying device 15 for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the first track section 11 is provided, which first conveying device 15 (only by way of example) can be designed as a tire conveyor. In the same way, a second conveying device 16 for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the second track section 12 is provided at the second displacement carriage 9a, which second conveying device 16 can (by way of example only) in turn be designed as a tire conveyor. The tires of the tire conveyors 15, 16 shown in fig. 2 may be driven by a suitable drive unit, which may be controlled by a control unit 17. In addition, a third conveying device for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the first parking track 6, a fourth conveying device for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the second parking track 7, and a fifth conveying device for conveying the cableway vehicle 4 along the input track 5 are provided. The third, fourth and fifth conveying means may in turn have a tire conveyor as shown in fig. 2, but may alternatively have other suitable drives, such as a chain conveyor, a toothed belt conveyor or the like.

In the example according to fig. 1, the track sections 11, 12 have only the first guide rail 11_1, 12_1 for the main guide rollers of the cableway vehicle 4, whereas in the example according to fig. 2, the track sections 11, 12 have in each case an additional second guide rail 11_2, 12_2 for the support guide rollers of the cableway vehicle 4. The tilting movement of the cableway vehicle 4, in particular during the movement of the displacement carriages 9a, 9b, can thereby be reduced, so that the risk of damage can be reduced. In an advantageous manner, the parking tracks 6 and 7 also have a first guide rail 6_1, 7_1 for guiding the main guide rollers of the cableway vehicle 4 and a second guide rail 6_2, 7_2 for guiding the supporting guide rollers of the cableway vehicle 4, respectively. As shown in fig. 2, the second guide track 6_2, 7_2 of the parking track 6, 7 does not have to extend over the entire length of the first guide track 6_1, 7_1, but may also be shorter if possible, for example only at a section adjoining the displacement device V. In the section of the parking track 6, 7 that is further away from the displacement device V, it may be sufficient to provide only the first guide rail 6_1, 7_1.

The basic function of the parking system PS according to fig. 2 is the same as in fig. 1. In the first transfer position U1 shown, the first displacement carriage 9a is positioned such that the first track section 11 is aligned with the first parking track 6, so that the cableway vehicle 4 can be moved from the first track section 11 onto the first parking track 6. Furthermore, the second displacement carriage 9b is positioned in the first displacement position U1 such that the second track section 12 is aligned with the input track 5, so that the cableway vehicle 4 can be displaced from the input track 5 onto the second track section 12. In the second transfer position U2 (not shown), the first displacement carriage 9a is positioned such that the ground first rail section 11 is aligned with the input rail 5, so that the cableway vehicle 4 can be moved from the input rail 5 onto the first rail section 11. The second displacement carriage 9b is positioned in the second displacement position U2 such that the second track section 12 is aligned with the second parking track 7, so that the cableway vehicle 4 can be displaced from the second track section 12 onto the second parking track 7.

However, due to the independent mobility of the displacement carriages 9a and 9b, they do not have to be moved simultaneously and at the same speed or acceleration all the time during the execution of the parking process (operation). This enables more flexible control of the parking process (operation). However, the two displacement carriages 9a, 9b can of course also be synchronized such that they move simultaneously. The displacement carriages 9a, 9 here each have their own drive 14a, 14b, for example in the form of an electric motor. The drive 14a, 14b is part of the displacement carriage 9a, 9b and moves together with the displacement carriage 9a, 9 b. However, as already explained with respect to fig. 1, one or more external drives 14 can also be provided, which act on the displacement carriages 9a, 9b but are not part of the displacement carriages 9a, 9b (e.g. chain drives, toothed belt drives, etc.).

Fig. 3 shows a further alternative embodiment of a parking system PS according to the invention. The parking system PS is essentially of the same design as in fig. 1, with a displacement device V with a (single) displacement carriage 9, the displacement carriage 9 being movable along a fixed guide 10, the guide 10 having two parallel guide rails 10a, 10b. However, unlike fig. 1, the fixed guide 10 is not embodied here straight, but rather curved. The displacement carriage 9 is thereby movable along the fixed guide 10 in a curved direction of movement BV between a first transfer position U1 shown in fig. 3 and a second transfer position U2 (not shown in fig. 3). In an advantageous embodiment, the movement direction BV may be, for example, a circular path with a center M. Of course, other curved shapes are also contemplated, such as elliptical tracks or the like.

The input rail 5 is formed straight here, extending from the center M in the radial direction to the fixed guide 10. The first rail section 11 and the second rail section 12 of the displacement carriage 9 are formed straight and likewise extend in the radial direction. Although the track sections 11, 12 in fig. 1 are arranged parallel to one another, the track sections 11, 12 in fig. 3 are arranged at the displacement carriage 9 at a track section angle (track sector angle) α with respect to one another. The parking tracks 6, 7 are likewise embodied straight here and adjoin the fixed guide 10 on the side opposite the input track 5 and likewise extend in the radial direction. The parking tracks 6 and 7 are arranged at a parking track angle β with respect to each other, which corresponds to twice the track segment angle (track sector angle) α. Furthermore, the function of the parking system PS is unchanged compared to the embodiment according to fig. 1. This means that the displacement carriage 9 can be moved between the first shown transfer position U1 and a second (not shown) transfer position U2.

In the first transfer position U1 shown, the first free end 11a of the first track section 11 is aligned with the free end 6a of the first parking track 6 and the second free end 12b of the second track section 12 is aligned with the free end 5a of the input track 5. In the second transfer position U2 (not shown), the second free end 11b of the first track section 11 is aligned with the free end 5a of the input track 5, while the first free end 12a of the second track section 12 is aligned with the free end 7a of the second parking track 7. In order to avoid repetition, the relevant advantageous embodiments refer to fig. 1, which are applicable in a similar manner to the embodiment of fig. 3.

Claims

1. Parking System (PS) for a parking area (PB) of a cableway station (2) of a cableway (1) for carrying out parking operations on a plurality of cableway vehicles (4) of the cableway (1), wherein an input track (5) and at least one first parking track (6) and one second parking track (7) are provided in the Parking System (PS), and wherein a transfer device (8) for transferring the cableway vehicles (4) from the input track (5) onto the parking tracks (6, 7) is provided, characterized in that the transfer device (8) has a displacement device (V) which can be displaced along a fixed guiding device (10) between a first transfer position (U1) and a second transfer position (U2), wherein the displacement device (V) has a first track section (11) and a second track section (12), wherein in the first transfer position (U1) of the displacement device (V) the cableway vehicles (4) can be displaced from the first track section (11) onto the parking track (6) and the second track (4) can be displaced from the first transfer position (U1) onto the second track section (4), the cableway vehicle (4) can be moved from the input track (5) onto the first track section (11), and the cableway vehicle (4) can be moved from the second track section (12) onto the second parking track (7).

2. Parking System (PS) according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement device (V) has a displacement slide (9), the first track section (11) and the second track section (12) being arranged at the displacement slide (9) spaced apart from one another in the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V), wherein the first track section (11) and the second track section (12) can be displaced together by means of the displacement slide (9); or the displacement device (V) has at least one first displacement carriage (9 a) and one second displacement carriage (9 b), wherein the first rail section (11) is arranged at the first displacement carriage (9 a) and the second rail section (12) is arranged at the second displacement carriage (9 b), wherein the first rail section (11) and the second rail section (12) can be displaced independently of one another by means of the displacement carriages (9 a, 9 b).

3. Parking System (PS) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the track sections (11, 12) of the parking track (6, 7), the input track (5) and the displacement device (V) have respectively first guide rails (6_1, 7_1, 5_1, 11_1, 12_1) for guiding the main guide rollers of the cableway vehicle (4), and/or the track sections (11, 12) of the parking track (6, 7), the input track (5) and the displacement device (V) have respectively second guide rails (6_2, 7_2, 5_2, 11_2, 12_2) for guiding the support guide rollers of the cableway vehicle (4).

4. A Parking System (PS) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the parking track (6, 7) has a straight section, respectively, at least in its area towards the parking track end (6 a, 7 a) of the displacement device (V); the input rail (5) has a linear section at least in the region of one input rail end (5 a) facing the displacement device (V); and the rail sections (11, 12) of the displacement device (V) have a straight section respectively at least in the region of their section ends (11 a, 11b, 12a, 12 b), preferably over their entire length.

5. Parking System (PS) according to claim 4, characterized in that the straight sections of the track sections (11, 12) are parallel to each other and the displacement means (V) extend straight along the direction of movement (BV) of the fixed guiding means (10), preferably at right angles to the straight sections of the track sections (11, 12); or the straight sections of the track sections (11, 12) are arranged at a track angle (alpha) relative to each other, and the displacement means (V) are curved, preferably annular, along the direction of movement (BV) of the fixed guide means (10).

6. Parking System (PS) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the parking track ends (6 a, 7 a) of the parking tracks (6, 7) facing the displacement device (V) are spaced apart from each other in the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V) by a parking distance (PA) which corresponds at least to the vehicle width (FB) of the cableway vehicle (4) of the cableway (1), preferably to the sum of the vehicle width (FB) and the determined safety distance.

7. Parking System (PS) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the Section Length (SL) of the track section (11, 12) transversely to the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V) corresponds at least to the cable clamp length (SKL) of the cable clamp (4 a) or the running gear length of the running gear of the cableway vehicle (4).

8. Parking System (PS) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the stationary guiding means (10) has at least one guide rail (10 a) and the displacement means (V) has a plurality of roller elements (13) for movement along the at least one guide rail (10 a), wherein the stationary guiding means (10) preferably have at least two guide rails (10 a, 10 b) spaced apart transversely to the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement means (V).

9. Parking System (PS) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the drive means (14) are arranged for driving the displacement means (V) along a fixed guiding means (10).

10. Parking System (PS) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the displacement device (V) has a first conveying device (15) for conveying the cableway vehicle (4) along the first track section (11) and a second conveying device (16) for conveying the cableway vehicle (4) along the second track section (12).

11. Parking System (PS) according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that third conveying means for conveying the cableway vehicle along the first parking track (6) and/or fourth conveying means for conveying the cableway vehicle (4) along the second parking track (7) and/or fifth conveying means for conveying the cableway vehicle along the input track (5) are provided.

12. Parking System (PS) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that at least one of the conveying devices (15, 16) has a tire conveyor designed to co-act with a friction lining of the cableway vehicle (4) to convey the cableway vehicle (4); or at least one of the conveying devices (15, 16) has a chain conveyor or a toothed belt conveyor.

13. Parking System (PS) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that a control unit (17) is provided for controlling the drive means (14) of the displacement means (V), and/or for controlling the first conveying means (15) of the displacement means (V), and/or for controlling the second conveying means (16) of the displacement means (V), and/or for controlling the third conveying means of the first parking track (6), and/or for controlling the fourth conveying means of the second parking track (7), and/or for controlling the fifth conveying means of the input track.

14. Parking System (PS) according to claim 13, characterized in that a first sensor device (18) is provided, which first sensor device (18) is designed and formed for generating a first sensor signal (S1), which first sensor signal (S1) is representative of the position of the displacement device (V) on the stationary guide device (10); and/or a second sensor device (19) is provided, the second sensor device (19) being designed to generate a second sensor signal (S2), the second sensor signal (S2) representing the presence of a cableway vehicle (4) in a defined section of the input track (5), and the control unit (17) being designed to control the parking operation using the first sensor signal (S1) and/or the second sensor signal (S2).

15. Use of a Parking System (PS) according to any of claims 1 to 14 for performing a parking operation on a plurality of cableway vehicles (4), wherein the following steps are performed:

-moving a first cableway vehicle (4) from the input track (5) onto the first track section (11) of the displacement device (V) when the displacement device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2), or moving a first cableway vehicle (4) from the input track (5) onto a second track section (12) of the displacement device (V) when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1),

-Moving the displacement device (V) comprising the first cableway vehicle (4) along a fixed guiding device (10) from the second transfer position (U2) into the first transfer position (U1); or, in the reverse,

-Moving the first cableway vehicle (4) from the first track section (11) of the displacement device (V) onto the first parking track (6) when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), or from the second track section (12) of the displacement device (V) onto the second parking track (7) when the displacement device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2).

16. The application of claim 15, wherein the following steps are additionally performed: -moving a subsequent second cableway vehicle (4 b) from the input track (5) onto the second track section (12) of the displacement device (V) while the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the first track section (11) of the displacement device (V) onto the first parking track (6), or-moving a second cableway vehicle (4 b) from the input track (5) onto the first track section (11) of the displacement device (V) while the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the second track section (12) of the displacement device (V) onto the second parking track (7).

17. A cableway (1) having a plurality of cableway stations (2) and a plurality of cableway vehicles (4), the plurality of cableway vehicles (4) being movable between the cableway stations (2) by means of a conveyor cable (F), wherein in at least one cableway station (2) a parking zone (PB) is provided with a Parking System (PS) for carrying out a parking operation on the plurality of cableway vehicles (4), characterized in that the Parking System (PS) is configured as claimed in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein a vehicle-guiding device (22) is provided in the at least one cableway station (2), the cableway vehicle (4) decoupled from the conveyor cable (F) being movable along the vehicle-guiding device (22) from an entry zone (E) of the cableway station (2) to an exit zone (a) of the cableway station (2), and the cableway vehicle (4) being movable from the vehicle-guiding device (22) onto an input of the Parking System (PS).

18. Method for performing a parking operation on a plurality of cableway vehicles (4) in a parking zone (PB) of a cableway station (2) of a cableway (1), wherein a first cableway vehicle (4) is movable along an input track (5), a displacement device (V) being displaceable between a first displacement position (U1) and a second displacement position (U2), the first cableway vehicle being movable from the input track (5) onto a first track section (11) of the displacement device (V) when the displacement device (V) is in the second displacement position (U2); or when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), the first cableway vehicle is moved from the input track (5) onto a second track section (12) of the displacement device (V), the second track section (12) being spaced apart from the first track section (11) in the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V), wherein the displacement device (V) comprising the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved along a fixed guiding device (10) from the first transfer position (U1) to the second transfer position (U2); or vice versa; wherein the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the first track section (11) of the displacement device (V) onto a first parking track (6) when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), or from a second track section (12) of the displacement device (V) onto a second parking track (7) when the displacement device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2), the second parking track (7) being spaced apart from the first parking track (6) in the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V).

19. A method as claimed in claim 18, characterized in that a second cableway vehicle (4 b) following the first cableway vehicle (4) moves along the input track (5) and from the input track (5) onto the second track section (12) of the displacement device (V) while the first cableway vehicle (4) moves from the first track section (11) of the displacement device (V) onto the first parking track (6); or the second cableway vehicle (4 b) is moved from the input track (5) onto the first track section (11) of the displacement device (V) while the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the second track section (12) of the displacement device (V) onto the second parking track (7).

20. Method according to claim 19, characterized in that the parking operation according to claims 18 and 19 is repeated for other cableway vehicles (4) following the second cableway vehicle (4 b), wherein a subsequent cableway vehicle (4) is parked on the first track section (11) or the second track section (12) of the displacement device (V) when the first parking track (6) and/or the second parking track (7) reach a maximum storage capacity.