CN118076526A

CN118076526A - Transport facility

Info

Publication number: CN118076526A
Application number: CN202280066155.8A
Authority: CN
Inventors: A·莫列特
Original assignee: Poma SA
Current assignee: Poma SA
Priority date: 2021-10-01
Filing date: 2022-10-03
Publication date: 2024-05-24
Also published as: FR3127738A1; ES2972312T3; EP4208380A1; WO2023052649A1; EP4208380C0; CO2024004056A2; EP4208380B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport facility (100) having a first traction cable (11), the first traction cable (11) constituting a first closed loop (10) and being configured to be driven at a nominal linear speed by at least a first driving means (12), and the transport facility (100) having a vehicle (30), the vehicle (30) having coupling means (31) for coupling the vehicle to the first traction cable, the transport facility comprising at least a first circulation path (101), the first circulation path (101) having at least a first section (110), the first section (110) comprising at least one travel path (111) extending along the first traction cable (11), the first circulation path (101) comprising at least a second section (120), the transport facility being configured such that the vehicle is coupled to the first traction cable and is towed at the nominal linear speed by the first traction cable such that the vehicle passes through the first section and the second section, the first traction cable fully supporting the vehicle and driving the vehicle at the nominal linear speed along the second section.

Description

Transport facility

Technical Field

The present invention relates generally to the technical field of transportation facilities, in particular suspended transportation facilities, generally for transporting passengers.

Background

Nowadays, transportation facilities (especially transportation facilities suspended by overhead cables) mainly used in mountainous areas and also used in other environments such as urban traffic are various. Other types of suspended cable transportation facilities are also used in amusement parks.

Indeed, amusement parks do also exist suspended amusement rides in which vehicles for transporting personnel are suspended above the ground and carried by suspended tracks, each vehicle comprising a carrying wheel attached to the top of the vehicle, the carrying wheel rolling along the track. The above amusement rides may also be of different types, for example, intended to provide a strong sensory experience when their course contains a steep, highly varying slope; or when their track contains a gradual slope, less highly variable slope, then an exploration experience is intended to be provided for visitors to the subject site. In general, "exploring" rides are typically self-propelled, slower, and vehicles of "intense sensory feel" rides are typically passive and accelerate by gravity, as compared to so-called "intense sensory feel" rides.

In order to move a vehicle along the track of a seeker-type ride, the wheels of the vehicle are typically driven by motors mounted on the vehicle. The vehicle may also comprise several electric motors capable of driving the wheels or pairs of wheels, respectively. However, such motors are bulky, making the vehicle more cumbersome. In addition, batteries must be provided on the vehicle to power the motor, which makes the vehicle more cumbersome and the self-propelled vehicle sensitive to environmental conditions. Furthermore, the motors of each vehicle must be synchronized with each other to avoid any risk of collision between the vehicles.

Patent application FR 3,044,627 proposes a solution, in particular for the above-mentioned drawbacks, and describes an overhead transport facility comprising at least one circulation path for vehicles, said circulation path comprising a main rail suspended above the ground and having at least one curvature, and comprising at least one vehicle provided with a main wheel set configured to roll on the main rail. The circulation path includes an overhead traction cable, a drive device configured to drive the cable, and a guide device configured to guide the cable along the primary track, and the vehicle includes a fastening device configured to attach the vehicle to the cable. Thus, by equipping an overhead transport facility with a traction cable and attaching the vehicle to the traction cable, a facility may be provided that can bring the vehicles closer together without collision problems and increase the speed of movement of the vehicle relative to the exploratory ride. Such a device may increase passenger traffic while reducing the risk of the vehicle colliding during transportation of the passengers, since the vehicle is attached to the same traction cable during transportation.

However, this type of device is unsuitable when the fluctuations in position are too pronounced or too abrupt, since the track does not allow the vehicle to travel in a portion with a significant inclination. Furthermore, the system is not suitable for certain environments because even though the track may make a sharp turn, the track requires a large number of support towers that can make the installation bulky when it is desired to span long distance obstacles (e.g., steep areas or rivers).

Consequently, the terrain of the location of overhead cables or suspended transport facilities is very limited and therefore the use is limited.

Disclosure of Invention

The present invention aims to overcome all or some of the drawbacks of the prior art by proposing, in particular, a solution suitable for more different terrains while guaranteeing an improved safety for the user, in particular by reducing the risk of collisions between vehicles and possibly increasing the traffic flow of the passengers.

To this end, a transport facility is proposed, which transport facility has at least one first traction cable constituting a first closed loop and being configured to be driven by at least one first driving means at a nominal linear speed, and which transport facility has at least one vehicle having coupling means configured to couple the vehicle to the first traction cable, which transport facility comprises at least a first circulation path having at least a first section comprising at least one travel path extending along the first traction cable, the travel path having at least one curvature, the vehicle having a set of carrier wheels and a set of guide wheels configured to travel on the travel path at the nominal linear speed, the first circulation path comprising at least a second section, the transport facility being configured such that the vehicle is coupled to the first traction cable and is towed by the first traction cable at the nominal linear speed, so that the vehicle travels on the first section and the second section, characterized in that the transport facility is configured such that the first vehicle is fully loaded along the first traction cable at the nominal linear speed.

By combining the above features, the vehicle can travel along the first circulation path through different sections, in particular: through at least a first section in which a vehicle is carried and guided along a travel path capable of describing a desired curve, the vehicle traveling cyclically at a nominal linear speed by being towed by a first towing cable; and passing through at least a second section in which the vehicle is completely towed by the first towing cable and travels at a nominal linear speed. In particular, on the second section(s) along the first circulation path, the vehicle is fully suspended from the associated carrying cable, and may or may not need to support the tower, which enables the vehicle to span steep areas of long distance. In this suspended configuration, the load wheels of the load wheel set are passive and in suspension as the vehicle moves along the second section. The term "suspended" means that the underside of the vehicle remains free, the carrier wheels of the carrier wheel sets are out of the path of travel and no longer rest on the path of travel.

Furthermore, since the vehicle along the second section of the first circulation path is fully loaded and towed, the vehicle is able to circulate on an incline having a significant slope (the absolute value of the slope is typically greater than 15%). Of course, the slope may actually be different.

According to one embodiment, the transportation facility comprises at least a second traction cable forming a second closed loop and configured to be driven by at least one second driving device at a nominal linear speed, the transportation facility comprises at least a second circulation path and configured such that the vehicle travels from one circulation path to the other circulation path of the first circulation path and the second circulation path in at least one transition region and is configured such that the vehicle is coupled with the second traction cable and is towed by the second traction cable at the nominal linear speed so as to travel over at least a portion of the second circulation path.

With this arrangement, multiple cable loops can be used so that the vehicle can travel along a much longer route than a single cable, regardless of terrain. This also makes it possible to use a suitable nominal linear speed, since a given drive device can limit the nominal linear speed if the loop length is too long.

According to one embodiment, the second circulation path has at least a first section comprising at least one travel path extending along the second traction cable, the travel path of the first section having at least one curvature, the carrier wheel and the guide wheel of the vehicle being configured to travel on the travel path at a nominal linear speed.

According to one embodiment, the transition region comprises a portion of a continuous transition travel path (preferably rectilinear) extending from a travel path portion of the first section of the first circulation path to a travel path portion of the first section of the second circulation path. The transitional travel path or the merged travel path makes it possible to locally connect two circulation paths (i.e., a first circulation path and a second circulation path). In a configuration where a first closed loop and a second closed loop formed by a first traction cable and a second traction cable intersect, they are tangent at two points, with a transition travel path at each of the two points of intersection. Of course, more than two (e.g., three or four) cable loops may be provided, the number depending on the desired range of the transportation facility, the cable loops preferably being placed in series and intersecting one another.

According to one embodiment, the coupling device of the vehicle comprises a disconnecting device for releasing the vehicle from the traction cable wire coupled thereto of the first traction cable and the second traction cable and then coupling the vehicle to the other traction cable wire of the first traction cable and the second traction cable.

According to one embodiment, the transport facility comprises at least one boarding and/or alighting station, the separation device being in the separation position when the vehicle is in the boarding and/or alighting position or alighting station. In particular configurations, the boarding and/or alighting station may be located in the transition zone. Of course, other alternative locations of the boarding and/or alighting station, or even additional locations of another boarding and/or alighting station, are contemplated.

According to one embodiment, the second circulation path comprises at least a second section, the transportation facility is configured such that the vehicle is coupled to and towed by the second towing cable at a nominal linear speed so that the vehicle travels over the first section and the second section, and the transportation facility is configured such that the second towing cable fully carries the vehicle and drives the vehicle along the second section at the nominal linear speed.

According to one embodiment, the first traction cable is straight along a second section of the first circulation path, and preferably the second traction cable is straight along a second section of the second circulation path. In other words, the portion of the vehicle carried by the associated traction cable is rectilinear.

According to one embodiment, the transportation facility comprises a guiding device configured to guide the associated traction cable along a travel path of the first section of the associated circulation path.

According to one embodiment, the guiding means comprises vertical guiding means and horizontal guiding means. In this way, the associated traction cable can be guided along a horizontal curve and a curved curve or a combination of horizontal and curved curves.

According to one embodiment, the travel path comprises two tracks spaced apart in a regular manner.

According to one embodiment, the first traction cable constitutes a single drive cable of the vehicle along a first circulation path and/or the second traction cable constitutes a single drive cable of the vehicle along a second circulation path.

According to one embodiment, the first traction cable constitutes a single vehicle support along the second section of the first circulation path and/or the second traction cable constitutes a single vehicle support along the second section of the second circulation path.

According to one embodiment, the first section is placed in series with the first section of the associated circulation path.

According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a method of using a transport facility as described above, the method comprising at least the steps of:

-a first step: the vehicle is cycled along a first segment during which the set of load bearing wheels and the set of guide wheels of the vehicle travel on a travel path, the vehicle being driven by the traction cable at a nominal linear speed; and

-A second step: the vehicle is cycled along the second section during which the first traction cable fully carries the vehicle and drives the vehicle along the second section at a nominal linear speed.

Preferably, the two steps are performed directly successively in one direction (from the first circulation step to the second circulation step) and/or in the other direction (from the second circulation step to the first circulation step).

Drawings

Other features and advantages of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following description with reference to the accompanying drawings in which:

[ FIG. 1]: a schematic top view of an embodiment of a transport facility according to one embodiment of the invention;

[ FIG. 2]: a side view of a track section of a vehicle device of the transport facility according to fig. 1;

[ FIG. 3]: the details of fig. 1;

[ FIG. 4]: a schematic cross-sectional view of the transport facility shown in fig. 1 at an upper station and/or a lower station;

[ FIG. 5]: according to the schematic cross-section of the transportation facility of fig. 1, taken from the part carried by the traction cable, i.e. the cross-section through the tower;

[ FIG. 6]: according to the schematic cross-section of the transport facility of fig. 1, taken from the part carried by the traction cable;

[ FIG. 7]: according to the schematic cross-section of the transport facility of fig. 1, taken from the rolling part of the vehicle on the track;

[ FIG. 8]: a schematic top view of an embodiment of a transport facility according to another embodiment of the invention;

[ FIG. 9]: details of the alternative embodiment of fig. 8.

For purposes of clarity, the same or similar elements are designated by the same reference numerals throughout the drawings.

Detailed Description

Fig. 1 (fig. 1) shows a transport facility 100 comprising a first traction cable 11 for hauling one or more vehicles 30 over the ground. The first traction cable 11 constitutes a first closed loop 10 and is configured to be driven by a first driving device 12 at a nominal linear speed. The first traction cable 11 defines a first circulation path 101 along which the vehicle 30 is towed, and the transportation facility 100 comprises guiding means for guiding the first traction cable 11 along the first circulation path 101.

In this embodiment, the transport facility 100 further comprises a second traction cable 21, said second traction cable 21 constituting a second closed loop 20 and being configured to be driven at a nominal linear speed by a second driving device 22. The second traction cable 21 defines a second circulation path 102.

The two closed loops 10, 20 formed by the first traction cable 11 and the second traction cable 21 respectively intersect or overlap, so that two different intersections are present between the first traction cable 11 and the second traction cable 21, which are each located in the transition region 103. The transport facility 100 is configured such that the vehicle 30 passes from one of the first and second circulation paths 101, 102 to the other over each transition region 103. In this way, each vehicle travels along the endless path carried by the first 101 and second 102 endless paths along the tracks defined successively by the first and second 11, 21 endless cables.

Transport facility 100 also includes at least one passenger boarding and/or alighting station 150 for vehicle 30.

The driving means 12, 22 are configured to drive the associated traction cable 11, 21 along a respective circulation path 101, 102. The drive means 12, 22 are preferably located in a station called drive station. Each drive station is located in an indoor space of the closed loop 10, 20 of the associated traction cable 11, 21, preferably in the intersection area of these two indoor spaces. In this way the drive station is deviated from the corresponding circulation path 101, 102.

Referring to fig. 3 ([ fig. 3 ]), each drive device 12, 22 comprises a motor M1, M2, a drive pulley P1, P2 driven by the associated motor M1, M2, and the drive pulley P1, P2 is configured to drive the associated traction cable 11, 21. Each drive means 12, 22 further comprises means (not shown) for tensioning the associated traction cable 11, 21. The tensioning device may comprise (e.g. comprise two) deflection pulleys arranged on either side of the drive pulleys P1, P2 to deflect the associated traction cable 11, 21 in the direction of the drive pulleys P1, P2. The drive pulleys P1, P2 and the corresponding deflection pulleys have a horizontal rotation axis. Alternatively, the tensioning device may comprise a single deflection pulley, also referred to as a swivel pulley. According to this alternative, the axes of rotation of the driving pulleys P1, P2 and the swivel pulley are perpendicular.

The facility 100 may include a single vehicle 30 or multiple vehicles. Further, each circulation path 101, 102 may include one or more vehicles 30. Each vehicle 30 includes a cabin 300 as shown in fig. 4-7, and in particular and/or includes one or more seats for transporting passengers.

Each vehicle 30 comprises a coupling device 31, which coupling device 31 is configured to couple the vehicle 30 to the associated cable, that is to say to couple the vehicle 30 to the first traction cable 11 or the second traction cable 21, depending on its position on the track. In this way, the vehicle 30 is attached to the first traction cable 11 or the second traction cable 21 and is towed by the associated traction cable 11, 21 at a nominal linear speed to travel on at least a portion of the associated first or second circulation path 101, 102.

The term "nominal linear speed" is understood to mean the cruising speed of the vehicle 30 travelling in the transport position, also corresponding to the speed of the traction cables 11, 21 associated therewith.

More specifically, the first and second circulation paths 101, 102 each comprise at least one first section 110, said first section 110 comprising at least one travel path 111, 211 and extending along the first or second traction cable 11, 21. The vehicle 30 comprises a set of load bearing wheels 32 and a set of guide wheels configured to roll on the above-mentioned travel paths 111, 211 at a nominal linear speed.

In this embodiment, each travel path 111, 211 comprises at least one carrying structure (e.g. at least one track), the carrying structure herein comprising two tracks 111', 211', said two tracks 111', 211' being spaced apart in a regular manner and extending along the associated first or second traction cable 11, 21. In another alternative, the load bearing structure may include one or more load bearing cables instead of load bearing rails. Along such a first section 110, 210, the vehicle 30 is carried by a carrying structure carrying the travel path 111, 211, with wheels having carrying and guiding functions circulating on the travel path 111, 211. Each travel path 111, 211 has at least one curvature to guide the vehicle 30 in different positions (particularly non-aligned positions). The curvature may be a horizontal curvature or a vertical curvature. The horizontal curvature may be internal, towards the inside of the respective closed loop 10, 20, or external, towards the outside of the closed loop 10, 20. The vertical curvature (see in particular fig. 2 ([ fig. 2 ]) may be upward or downward with respect to the vertical axis Z.

The transportation facility 100 comprises a guiding device 140, which guiding device 140 is configured to guide the associated traction cable 11, 21 along the travel path 111, 211 of the first section 110, 210 of the associated circulation path 101, 102. The guide 140 includes a vertical guide 141 and a horizontal guide 142. The guiding means 140 may comprise rollers 140', i.e. small wheels with grooves, so that the traction cables 11, 21 can pass in the grooves. Typically, the rollers 140' are positioned along the first section 110 of the endless path 101, 102 such that the associated traction cable 11, 21 follows the vertical and horizontal curvatures of the endless path 101, 102.

The guide 140 is spaced apart along each travel path 111, 211 in groups of vertical guide 141 and horizontal guide 142 to guide the traction cables 11, 21 along a curvature. Each set of guiding means 140 comprises two vertical guiding means 141 and two horizontal guiding means 142, which are radially distributed around the associated traction cable 11, 21. In particular, two vertical guides 141 are positioned vertically opposite each other on either side of the associated traction cable 11, 21, including a lower roller and an upper roller, and two horizontal guides 142 are positioned laterally opposite each other on either side of the associated traction cable 11, 21, including two side rollers.

Of course, the circulation path 101, 102 may include an inclined curvature, i.e., a curvature that is not entirely vertical or entirely horizontal, and the rollers 140' may also be inclined to guide the traction cable 11, 21 along the first section 110, 210 of the circulation path 101, 102.

The first circulation path 101 further comprises at least a second section 120, the transportation facility 100 being configured such that the vehicle 30 is coupled to the first traction cable 11 and is towed by the first traction cable 11 at a nominal linear speed, such that the vehicle 30 travels the first section 110 and the second section 120, the transportation facility 100 being configured such that the first traction cable 11 fully carries the vehicle 30 and drives the vehicle 30 along the second section 120 at the nominal linear speed. In other words, the first traction cable 11 constitutes the only drive cable of the vehicle 30 along the first circulation path 101 and along this second section 120 bears all the weight of the vehicle 30 at the coupling device 31. The first traction cable 11 has a straight cable along the second section 120 of the first circulation path 101. The vehicle 30 moves along such a second section 120 while being carried entirely by the first traction cable 11, so the required securing structure at this section is limited to the traction cable 11 only, or it may even be a support tower 60 for fixedly suspending the traction cable 11 above the ground.

Fig. 2 ([ fig. 2 ]) particularly shows a side view of such a second section 120, said second section 120 particularly having a height inclination of typically more than 15%. This tilting can be achieved in that the traction cable 11 is drawn over the second section 120 and at the same time carries the vehicle 30.

In this embodiment, the second circulation path 102 does not include the second section 120. It should be appreciated that the second circulation path 102 may include one or more second sections similar to the first circulation path 101, depending on the topography of the environment in which the transportation facility 100 is located. In this case, the characteristics of the second section are the same.

According to one embodiment, the coupling device 31 comprises a fixing clamp 34 to couple the vehicle 30 to the traction cables 11, 21. Along the circulation path, the vehicle is attached to the traction cables 11, 21 in an equidistant manner.

In a configuration not shown, the coupling means 31 permanently couple the vehicle 30 to the traction cables 11, 21. In this configuration, the drive devices 12, 22 must be stopped so that the vehicle 30 remains stationary for passengers to step on or off the vehicle 30. However, such a configuration is only possible when the transportation facility 100 comprises only a single closed loop 10.

According to a preferred embodiment, the coupling device 31 comprises a detachable clamp 34 for removably coupling the vehicle 30 to the traction cables 11, 21. When the vehicle 30 is in the boarding position and/or the alighting position in the boarding and/or alighting station 150, in particular, the separation device 33 is in the separation position. The detachable clamp 34 may be opened to disengage the vehicle 30 from the traction cable 11, 21 or closed to clamp the traction cable 11, 21 in order to pull the vehicle 30, in other words, to mechanically connect the vehicle 30 to the traction cable 11, 21. In other words, the vehicle 30 is attached to the traction cable 11, 21 between the two stations 150, being towed at the nominal speed of the traction cable 11, 21, in particular along the first and second sections 110, 120. As the vehicle 30 enters the station 150, the vehicle 30 may disengage from the traction cables 11, 21.

Each transition region 103 comprises a portion of a continuous transition travel path 311 (preferably a straight line), which transition travel path 311 extends from the travel path portion 111 of the first section 110 of the first circulation path 101 to the travel path portion 211 of the first section 210 of the second circulation path 102. In this way, even if the first and second circulation paths 101, 102 have traction cables 11, 21, respectively, they are connected via a transition travel path 311, which transition travel path 311 is continuously contiguous with the travel path 111 of the first section 110 of the first circulation path 101 and the travel path 211 of the first section 210 of the second circulation path 102. In the same manner as at station 150, when the vehicle 30 enters the transition region 103, the vehicle 30 may be disconnected from one of the two original traction cables 11, 21 and then re-coupled to the other of the two destination traction cables 11, 21 in the direction of circulation.

As with the transition region 103, in the upper and/or lower stations 150, the vehicle 30 is suspended and secured to the load bearing structure (here rails 111', 211') when the vehicle 30 is disengaged from the respective traction cable 11, 21. Thus, the disengaged vehicle 30 may move at a lower speed than the associated traction cable 11, 21, and thus lower than nominal speed, particularly to facilitate passengers getting on and off the station 150. The movement of the vehicle 30 in the station 150 is provided by the electrically driven drive wheel 45.

More specifically, the vehicle 30 comprises a set of carrier wheels 32 and a set of guide wheels configured to roll on the track of each travel path 111, 211, in particular on the track, from the first section 110, 210 of the associated circulation path 101, 102. In this embodiment, the vehicle 30 comprises a bracket 40, said bracket 40 being fitted with two pairs of carrying wheels 32 and a coupling device 31. The load wheel 32 is active when the vehicle 30 is circulating along the first section 110, 210 of the associated circulation path 101, 102. Conversely, when the vehicle 30 circulates along the second sections 120 (in particular along the second sections of the first circulation path 101), the load-bearing wheels 32 are passive, since on these second sections the vehicle 30 is completely moved and carried by the load-bearing cable 11. Thus, the carrier wheel 32 need not be motorized. Preferably, the carrier wheel 32 is mounted for free rotation on opposite sides of the carriage 40. The guide rollers 46 arranged below the brackets 45 are configured to each be able to abut against one side of the respective rail 111', 211'. In this way, the carriage 45 can roll on the travel paths 111, 211 by its carrier wheel 32, while the lateral guidance is ensured by the guide rollers 46 (here four in number). The rollers 46 are preferably stressed by elastic stress means (not shown) to avoid any play.

Furthermore, the vehicle 30 comprises a cradle 37, to which cradle 37 the cabin 300 is attached, in particular connecting the cabin 300 with the bracket 40. Preferably, hanger 37 is connected to bracket 40 by a pivot link, allowing for swinging movement of cabin 300 relative to bracket 40. In particular, the first pivotal connection between hanger 37 and bracket 40 is particularly at the upper end of hanger 37 and allows hanger 37 to pivot relative to bracket 40 about an axis parallel to the transverse reference axis of the bracket, i.e., a horizontal axis that is at least partially orthogonal to the portion of the associated traction cable 11, 21 in which vehicle 30 is located. Thus, this first pivot allows for pitching movement of cradle 37, and thus carriage 300, relative to bracket 40. Preferably, the cradle 37 is connected to the vehicle cabin 300 by means of the second pivot link 42, in particular at a lower end portion of the cradle 37 opposite to its upper end, and allows a swinging movement of the vehicle cabin 300 with respect to the cradle 37, in particular a rolling movement of the vehicle cabin 300 with respect to the cradle 37.

The coupling device 31 comprises a detachable clamp 34, said detachable clamp 34 comprising a clamp that can be opened and closed on the traction cables 11, 21. The clamp comprises two jaws, here opposite each other with respect to a horizontal reference axis, and when the vehicle 30 is coupled to the traction cable 11, 21, the traction cable 11, 21 is clamped between the two jaws of the clamp. The detachable clamp 34 also includes one or more springs 35 to keep the clamp closed on the traction cables 11, 21. Further, the detachable clamp 34 comprises a lever 36, which lever 36 abuts against a spring 35 to open the clamp. The lever 36 is actuated not only in the upper and lower stops 150 and the transition region 103, but also when it is possible to couple and decouple the vehicle 30 with the traction cables 11, 21. The detachable clamp 34 is mounted on the bracket 40 by a support arm 41.

The fixed structure of the transportation means 100 comprises in particular supporting means, in this case a tower 60, to support the traction cables 11, 21 and the local load bearing means along the second section 120 above ground. Each tower 60 comprises a bracket 61, which bracket 61 extends perpendicularly to the direction of travel of the traction cables 11, 21 and has at least one end 62, on which at least one end 62 a support roller 63 is mounted. Each pulley 63 includes a groove for receiving the traction cable 11, 21 as the vehicle passes through the tower 60. In particular, some towers 60 located at the second section 120 of the first circulation path 101 only support these support pulleys 63 (see fig. 5 ([ fig. 5 ])).

Some other towers 60 also support at least one support frame 70 of the travel paths 111, 211 of the first and second sections 110, 210 of the first and second circulation paths 101, 102. The frame 70 is "C" shaped and is open to the ground. In other words, the frame 70 has a hollow shape, and the bracket 40 is placed inside the hollow shape and is opened downward with respect to the reference vertical direction Z. The lower opening of the frame 70 is delimited on both sides by two rails 111 'and 211'. The two rails 111 'and 211' form a load bearing structure and carry the associated travel paths 111 and 211. The guide 140 (in particular each set of vertical guide 141 and horizontal guide 142) is fixedly mounted on this frame 70. Like the supporting pulleys 63 on the first sections 110, 210, the lower rollers involved in the vertical guiding also function to support the associated traction cables 11, 21.

The suspension and support frame 70 of the travel paths 111, 211 also supports the motorized drive wheels 45 to ensure movement of the vehicle 30 in the station 150 and the transition region 103. In this embodiment, the drive roller 45 is formed of a tire so that sufficient grip can be provided to allow the vehicle 30 to decelerate or accelerate when the separation device 33 is separated and engaged, and also to maintain the nominal linear velocity as much as possible when passing through the transition region 103, particularly when passing through the transition travel path 311 (see fig. 3 ([ fig. 3 ])).

The contactors 47 integral with the brackets 45 may be held in electrical contact with electrical tracks integral with the frame 70, which are located in the interior space of the frame 70. In this way, electrical energy may be supplied to the electrical devices of the vehicle 30.

Fig. 4 to 7 show schematic side views of the transport facility 100, more particularly of the vehicle 30 at different positions of the circulation paths 101, 102 during its movement.

In particular, fig. 4 (fig. 4) shows a schematic view along section A-A of the transport facility 100 of fig. 1, i.e. taken at the upper station and/or the lower station 150, with the detachable clamp 34 in the detached position. Fig. 7 (fig. 7) is a view similar to this, showing a schematic D-D section of the transport facility 100 of fig. 1 (fig. 1), taken from the rolling portion of the vehicle 30 on the rails 111', 211' of the first section of the first circulation path 101 or the second circulation path 102, with the detachable clamp 34 in a closed position coupled to the traction cable outside the upper and/or lower stops 150.

Fig. 5 (fig. 5) shows a schematic view (fig. 1) along a section B-B of the transport facility 100 of fig. 1, taken at the portion carried by the first traction cable 11, i.e. from the second section along the first circulation path 101 when passing the support tower 60 of the first traction cable 11. It should be noted that not all towers 60 are shown in order to improve the readability of FIG. 1 (FIG. 1).

Fig. 6 ([ fig. 6 ]) shows a schematic view ([ fig. 1 ]) along a section C-C of the transportation means 100 of fig. 1, which section is taken at the portion carried entirely by the first traction cable 11, i.e. from the second section along the first circulation path 101.

Thanks to this transportation facility 100, the vehicle 30 can travel along the first and second circulation paths 101, 102, passing through different sections en route (in particular the first sections 110, 210) in which the vehicle 30 is carried and guided under traction of the first traction cables 11, 21, so as to travel successively along the travel paths 111, 211 at a nominal linear speed and to form a curve according to the desired trajectory. When the geographical conditions of the place where the transport facility 100 is located are too limited, for example a river is present on the path shown in fig. 1 (fig. 1), the second section 120 equips the transport facility 100 on the route of the vehicle 30 along which the vehicle 30 is carried entirely by the traction cables 11, 21 and driven at nominal linear speed.

Fig. 8 (fig. 8) shows a schematic view of another embodiment of the transportation facility 100, which differs from the above-described embodiment essentially in that it comprises a single cable loop (i.e. a single first traction cable 11). Another difference resulting from this arrangement is that the drive station comprising the drive means 12 is located in the lateral space of the closed loop 10 of the first traction cable 11 (here on the inside) instead of in the intersection area between the closed loops of the two cables 11, 21. Of course, the drive station comprising the drive means 12 may also be located outside the closed loop 10, depending in particular on the geometry of the carrier 40 and the geometry of the coupling means 31, but also on the topography of the external environment. Therefore, it is necessary to provide a transport device similar to that used in the boarding and/or disembarking station 150 or the transition area 103. In this case, two cases can be envisaged.

As shown in fig. 8 (fig. 8), in the first configuration, the motor is located in the upper station and/or the lower station 150, so that the upper station and/or the lower station 150 is also a driving station: in this configuration, the transmission means comprising the drive rollers 45 are configured to allow the vehicle 30 to decelerate at the station entrance and accelerate at the station exit, and comprise the coupling means 31, the clamps 34 of said coupling means 31 being separable so that the vehicle 30, when passing through the drive means 12, disengages the vehicle 30 from the traction cable 11 and detachably couples the vehicle 30 with the traction cable 11. In this configuration, after the vehicle has been separated by the separating apparatus 33, the tires forming the drive roller 45 decelerate the vehicle 30 at a get-off-get-on speed of, for example, 0.25m/s, and then the tires forming the drive roller 45 accelerate the vehicle 30 to the nominal linear speed of the first traction cable 11 for coupling by the separating apparatus 33. Thus, the disconnecting device 33 is configured to release the vehicle 30 from its attachment to the first traction cable 11 upstream of the drive device 12 (in particular the drive pulley P1) and then to couple the vehicle 30 with the same first traction cable 11 downstream of the drive device 12 (in particular the drive pulley P1). Thus, the transfer device is similar to that used at the upper station and/or the lower station 150 in the above-described embodiments.

In the second configuration, as shown in fig. 9 ([ fig. 9 ]), the motor is located outside the boarding station and/or the disembarking station, and thus in this case, the conveying apparatus is similar to that used at the conveying area 103 in the above-described embodiment. In summary, everything else is the same as in the station except that the tires forming the drive rollers 45 are set to maintain the vehicle 30 at a speed equal to the nominal linear speed of the first traction cable 11. Thus, the vehicle is guided along a transmission track similar to the transitional travel path 311, except that the separation device 33 is configured to release the vehicle 30 from its attachment to the first traction cable 11 upstream of the drive device 12 (in particular the drive pulley P1) and then to couple the vehicle 30 with the same first traction cable 11 downstream of the drive device 12 (in particular the drive pulley P1).

The invention has, of course, been described above by way of example. It should be appreciated that those skilled in the art can readily devise many other varied embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.

It is emphasized that all features which are known to the person skilled in the art from the present disclosure, the figures and the appended claims, even if they have been specifically described in relation to other defined features alone or in any combination, can be combined with other features or groups of features disclosed herein, without any technical circumstances making such a combination impossible or unreasonable, as long as it is not explicitly excluded.

Claims

1. A transportation means (100) having at least one first traction cable (11), the first traction cable (11) constituting a first closed loop (10) and being configured to be driven by at least one first driving device (12) at a nominal line speed, and the transportation means (100) having at least one vehicle (30), the at least one vehicle (30) having a coupling device (31) configured to couple the vehicle (30) to the first traction cable (11), the transportation means (100) comprising at least a first circulation path (101), the first circulation path (101) having at least a first section (110), the first section (110) comprising at least one travel path (111) extending along the first traction cable (11), the travel path (111) having at least one curvature, the vehicle (30) having a set of carrier wheels (32) and a set of wheels configured to travel at the nominal line speed on the travel path (111), the first circulation path (101) comprising at least a second circulation path (101) having at least a first section (120) extending along the first traction cable (11), the travel path (111) having at least one curvature, the carrier wheels (32) and the wheels being configured to travel at the nominal line speed on the first traction cable (11) and the first traction cable (120), the transport facility (100) is characterized in that it is configured such that the first traction cable (11) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives the vehicle along the second section (120) at a nominal linear speed.

2. The transport facility (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least a second traction cable (21), the second traction cable (21) constituting a second closed loop (20) and being configured to be driven by at least one second driving device (22) at a nominal linear speed, the transport facility (100) comprising at least a second circulation path (102) and being configured such that the vehicle (30) travels from one circulation path to the other circulation path of the first and second circulation paths (101, 102) in at least one transition region (103) and being configured such that the vehicle (30) is coupled with the second traction cable (21) and the vehicle is towed by the second traction cable (21) at a nominal linear speed so as to travel on at least a part of the second circulation path (102).

3. The transport facility (100) according to the preceding claim, wherein the second circulation path (102) has at least a first section (210), the first section (210) comprising at least one travel path (211) extending along the second traction cable (21), the travel path (211) of the first section (210) having at least one curvature, the carrier wheel (32) and the guide wheel of the vehicle (30) being configured to travel on the travel path (211) at a nominal linear speed.

4. A transport facility (100) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the transition region (103) comprises a portion of a continuous transition travel path, preferably rectilinear, extending from a travel path portion (111) of the first section (110) of the first circulation path (101) to a travel path portion (211) of the first section (210) of the second circulation path (102).

5. Transport facility (100) according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the coupling means (31) of the vehicle (30) comprise a disconnecting means (33) for releasing the vehicle (30) from the traction cable (11, 21) to which it is coupled from the first and second traction cables (11, 21) and then coupling the vehicle (30) to the other traction cable of the first and second traction cables (21, 11).

6. Transport facility (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one boarding and/or alighting station (150), the separation device (33) being in a separation position when the vehicle (30) is in the boarding and/or alighting position in the boarding and/or alighting station (150).

7. Transport facility (100) according to any one of the preceding claims depending at least on claim 2, wherein the second circulation path (102) comprises at least a second section, the transport facility (100) being configured such that the vehicle (30) is coupled to the second traction cable (21) and is towed by the second traction cable (21) at a nominal linear speed such that the vehicle travels over the first section (210) and the second section, the transport facility (100) being configured such that the second traction cable (21) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives the vehicle along the second section at the nominal linear speed.

8. The transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first traction cable (11) is rectilinear along the second section (120) of the first circulation path (101).

9. The transport facility (100) of claim 8, wherein the second traction cable (21) is linear along a second section of the second circulation path (102).

10. Transport facility (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises guiding means (140) configured to guide the first traction cable (11) along the travel path (111) of the first section (110) of the first circulation path (101).

11. Transport facility (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the guiding means (140) comprise vertical guiding means (141) and horizontal guiding means (142).

12. The transport facility (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the travel path comprises two tracks spaced apart in a regular manner.

13. The transport facility (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first traction cable (11) constitutes a single drive cable of the vehicle (30) along the first circulation path (101).

14. Transport facility (100) according to at least any one of the preceding claims depending on claim 2, characterized in that the second traction cable (21) constitutes a single drive cable of the vehicle (30) along the second circulation path (102).

15. The transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first section (110) and the second section (120) of the first circulation path (101) are placed in series.

16. A method of using a transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the method comprises at least:

-a first step: the vehicle (30) is circulated along the first section (110), during which the set of load-bearing wheels (32) and the set of guide wheels of the vehicle (30) travel on a travel path (111), the vehicle (30) being driven by the traction cable (11) at a nominal linear speed; and

-A second step: the vehicle (30) circulates along the second section (210), during which the first traction cable (11) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives the vehicle along the second section (120) at a nominal linear speed.