EP0147310B1 - Chairlift fitted with a protective device against cold and unsteady-weather - Google Patents

Abstract

A device which can be fitted on the chair of a chairlift cable transport system used in tourist resorts and which provides passengers with a protection against cold and adverse weather conditions. Properly shaped plate elements are so arranged that in a deployed position they form a continuous protecting shield extending from above the seat to downward and frontward of the seat and that when in an upward folded position they are superposed so that the device has a very reduced area subject to wind action on empty chairs thus permitting the keeping of all chairs permanently on the cable without jeopardizing the whole line during adverse weather conditions. Springs bias the safe-guard rail towards the folded position. The device adds little weight, is easy to operate by the passengers and does not affect the usual embarcation or disembarcation procedures.

Description

The invention relates to a protection system according to the preamble of claim 1.

Among the cable transport devices used in winter sports resorts, the chairlift is particularly interesting for equipping said resorts, because it offers an excellent flow / investment ratio for economical and reliable operation.

However, it does not offer users any protection against the cold and bad weather, which, on journeys which can last up to 15 minutes, can result in very trying constraints for said users.

The devices envisaged so far, however, have not given satisfactory results, either that they only protected the legs of the users, or that their large surface area posed serious problems when the empty seats were subjected to winds of force relatively important. We can cite for example the protection device according to French patent 2,422,536 which comprises a series of successive arches pivotally mounted and carrying a flexible wall to form a foldable and quickly removable shelter. The flexible walls, in this case the fabrics or plastic films, easily form pockets of accumulation of snow, frost and ice, in particular on the slightly inclined upper faces of the shelter. The resulting increase in the weight of the shelter and the snow trapped in these pockets hinders the folding of the shelter. French patent 2,489,220 relates to a removable hood for a chairlift bench railing also made up of a flexible wall carried by pivoting arches. This hood only partially protects the occupants of the seat. In addition, French patent application 2,440,298 relates to an elementary cabin for a cable car line. It is actually a cabin with lateral and longitudinal oscillation damping system, intended for a device of the gondola type. Furthermore, French patent 1,325,828 relates to a chairlift of the shell seat type, the practical drawbacks of which have led to its abandonment for chairlifts. This patent describes in fact a general means of protection constituted by two contiguous half-shells which, at the closed state, leave an opening at the bottom allowing the passage of the legs of the people seated on the seat.

An object of the present invention is to provide a protection system against the cold and bad weather, this chairlift system being easy to maneuver by the users themselves at the start and at the finish, while having excellent characteristics of reliability and robustness.

Another object of the invention is to provide a protection system for a chairlift which makes it possible to protect the most exposed parts of the body of the passengers against bad weather and cold, while presenting only a small surface in the wind when the seats are not are more occupied by users.

Yet another object of the invention is to provide a protection system for chairlift against bad weather and cold, which is of moderate weight and of a reasonable price compared to the valuation brought to this type of installation.

The object of the present invention is therefore to complete the conventional assembly, for example a chairlift with at least one seat, on which passengers take place, comprising a cable fastening system and a hanger supporting a frame on which the seat is fixed. and pivotally mounted, between a raised position and a lowered position, a system consisting of a guardrail and a footrest, by a frontal and bilateral protection system, actuated by the pivoting guardrail / rest system feet, and intended to protect the passenger (s) against the cold and bad weather.

When empty, the railing / footrest assembly, which pivots around its horizontal axis mounted on the frame behind the seat back, is raised and abuts the hanger so as to completely release the seat to allow skiers to sit on it, after which, once the passengers have boarded, they fold down the railing which is positioned a little above the level of the thighs. Near the arrival station, the users themselves raise the railing / footrest assembly.

From the above, it is clear that any protective device must therefore be linked to the railing / footrest assembly so that its installation and movement are caused by the two familiar movements of users after the departure and near arrival.

It should be noted that, in order for the wind surface to be reduced when the seats are empty, the elements constituting the protection must be foldable.

The front and side production system of the invention is particularly suitable for chairlifts, this protection system being characterized in that it comprises a certain number of solid protection elements, which come in the folded position of the system in the superposition position one on the other, and in the deployed position of the system in the juxtaposition position forming a protective wall.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the protective elements consist respectively of rectangular plates slightly convex towards the outside and having triangular lateral extensions in line with the lateral ends of the plates, these plates being respectively fixed to arches, of which one is also secured to the frame of the cabin, while the others are pivotally mounted on axes provided on bilateral brackets of the arcuate frame of the cabin, the arch the lowest in the deployed state of the protection system being integral with the railing / footrest system.

In this embodiment, there is also provided a system of stops secured to the pivoting protective elements so as to allow, on the one hand, in the deployed position of the system, the attachment to their hoops secured to the adjacent protective elements and, on the other hand, in the folded position of the system, a suitable superposition of said pivoting protective elements below the protective element secured to the fixed arch. We have equal ment provided elastic means for cooperating with means for locking the protection system in the deployed or folded position.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, these protective elements are constituted by stacked blades which are detachably associated with each other and which deploy in the lowered position of the railing / footrest system of the chairlift, these blades constituting a protective wall of the width of the seat and extending perpendicular to the seat above the users up to their legs. These protective blades take their respective position in gutters optionally provided with slides and formed in arcuate frames fixed to the frame of the chairlift, during the lowering operation of the railing / footrest system and threading one on the other. others following a slip in the opposite direction during the straightening operation of said system.

In order for the frontal protection device to be able to be deployed and folded, the lower plate of the stack should be fixed to the frame in the vicinity of the reinforcement connection area, while the upper plate of the stack will be fixed to a protective shield secured to the pivoting system of the railing / footrest or will constitute said protective shield in such a way that, when this system is lowered, the shield is positioned in front of the legs of the users while leaving space sufficient for skis and boots placed on the footrest. The protective elements can be made of a transparent, transparent or opaque material, for example fiberglass, aramid fiber, polycarbonates or similar synthetic material, the protective elements being located at the level of the passengers' vision, being made of material transparent. The frame will be advantageously formed by a profiled element having at least one internal gutter, U-shaped, or else an external gutter, H-shaped, inside the internal gutter will be provided the slides of the plates, which will be either cut with a tool, or constituted by added elements and fixed inside the internal gutter of the frame.

In profile, these slides are arranged in a staircase since the end of each blade must rest on its slide until the end of its travel when it no longer rests on the blade below. In such an embodiment, the blades are of decreasing length as they descend into the stack. Each slide has a length corresponding to the path assigned to the blade which supports it.

jectory assigned to the blade which supports it. It is of course necessary that the installation distance is adapted to the maximum deflection envisaged for the blades which, if necessary, will be reinforced by a light alloy element along each edge to limit said deflection.

In one embodiment, each blade or plate is provided in the vicinity of each frame with an oblong transverse lumen or groove and a stud, projecting from the underside of the blade, in line with the lumen of the blade neighbor. It is arranged in the vicinity of the upper edge of the blade, with the exception of the lower blade of the stack which does not have a nipple and the upper blade of the stack which does not have a lumen.

According to an advantageous characteristic of this latter embodiment, each stud is mounted captive by a flange or flange in longitudinal grooves provided in the lumen of the neighboring blade.

The lateral protection device is advantageously constituted by an impermeable fabric, for example made of synthetic material, fixed on the one hand to the frame of the chairlift and on the other hand to at least one rod with a radius substantially equal to that of the frames, each rod being pivotally mounted by one end on the frame, while the other end of said rod is secured to the protective shield or else to another zone of the pivoting system of the railing / footrest. This rod comes by its free end in sealing support against the corresponding reinforcement, said end being inserted for example in a groove or groove on the external lateral face or the internal face of the corresponding reinforcement.

This fixing will allow during the lowering or raising movements of the pivoting railing / footrest system, the erasure or the deployment of the waterproof canvas. This fabric may also be optionally reinforced with elastic threads so as to remain suitably tight when the railing / footrest system is in the raised position.

• figure 1 est une vue frontale d'un télésiège pourvu d'une première forme de réalisation de système de protection selon la présente invention;
• figure 2 est une vue latérale du télésiège de la figure 1 avec son dispositif de protection contre les intempéries, déployé;
• figure 3 est une vue analogue à la figure 2 mais avec le système garde-corps/repose-pieds relevé;
• figure 4 est une vue de détail de dessus selon la ligne IV-IV de la figure 2;
• figure 5 est une vue en perspective d'un télésiège pourvu d'une seconde forme de réalisation de système de protection de l'invention;
• figure 6 est une vue latérale du télésiège de la figure 1 avec son système de protection contre les intempéries déployé; et
• figure 7 est une vue analoge à la figure 6, mais avec son dispositif de protection contre les intempéries replié.

In order to avoid the accumulation of frost, brushing means should be provided inside said slides at the edges of the plates, advantageously constituted by thin strips of fluffy synthetic fabric or covered with fairly tight bristles, the flexibility of which allows possible passage of the blades without resistance, while giving a sufficient sealing solution against frost, snow and other bad weather. Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the following description of a non-limiting embodiment of chairlift, provided with a device for protection against cold and bad weather according to the invention, with reference to annexed drawings in which:

• Figure 1 is a front view of a chairlift provided with a first embodiment of the protection system according to the present invention;
• Figure 2 is a side view of the chair lift of Figure 1 with its weather protection device deployed;
• Figure 3 is a view similar to Figure 2 but with the railing / footrest system raised;
• Figure 4 is a detail view from above along line IV-IV of Figure 2;
• Figure 5 is a perspective view of a chairlift provided with a second embodiment of the inventive protection system;
• Figure 6 is a side view of the chair lift of Figure 1 with its weather protection system deployed; and
• Figure 7 is a view similar to Figure 6, but with its weather protection device folded.

In the embodiment of Figures 1 to 4, the chairlift consists of a hanger 1 with its upper hooking device 1a to the cable 1b. This hanger 1 supports a frame 2 to which a seat 2b is fixed. This frame 2 is extended laterally by two arcuate frames 6a, 6b. On the frame 2 is also pivotally mounted on a horizontal axis 2a, between a raised position and a lowered position, a system consisting of a railing (3) / footrest (4).

The chair lift of the invention further comprises a frontal protection device 5 which consists of a number of plates or blades 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e and extending over the entire distance between the frames 6a, 6b . These plates or blades 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e are supported by their lateral edges in internal grooves provided in the frames 6a, 6b.

The protective strip 5a is fixed at 11 in the vicinity of the points of connection of the reinforcements 6a, 6b, to the frame 2. The strip 5e, is attached with a certain degree of flexibility to the shield 7.

In the raised position of the railing 3 / footrest 4 system, protective plates or blades 5a, 5b, 5s, 5d, 5e are stacked in an upper zone between the reinforcements 6a, 6Q, in the vicinity of their junction with the frame. 2.

In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, the blades or plates 5a, 5b, 5c comprise, in the vicinity of each frame 6a, 6b, a transverse oblong lumen 9 and, projecting, on the underside of each of these blades, in the extension of the lumen 9, there is provided coming from molding with the blade or alternatively, a stud 10 disposed in the vicinity of the upper edge of the corresponding blade. It will be noted that the lower blade of the stack 5a does not have a hooking stud, while the upper blade of the stack 5e, is devoid of guide light.

The pins 10 will advantageously be mounted prisoners in the corresponding lumen of the neighboring blade. At the end of each stud, advantageously a flange or flange intended to slide in longitudinal grooves provided in the openings of each neighboring blade will be provided, the blades or plates having to have a quality of mechanical strength and appropriate flexibility. their deployment and re-stacking.

The chairlift of the invention also comprises a bilateral protection device 8 constituted on each side of the chairlift by a waterproof canvas having suitable elastic characteristics, and fixed, on the one hand, to the frame of the chairlift, on the other hand, to at at least one rod 8a, pivotally mounted by one end on the frame, for example on the pivot axis 2a of the system 3, 4, the other end being integral with the shield 7. On the external or internal faces of the frames 6a, 6b grooves or grooves will be provided in which will come to bear, by their free ends, the rods 8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f.

The chairlift of the invention operates like any chairlift comprising a pivoting railing / footrest system, between a raised position and a lowered position, except that these movements cause the frontal protection devices 5 and bilateral 8 from the deployed position to the non-deployed position and vice versa.

When users grasp the pivoting system of the railing 3 / footrest 4 above their head to bring it in front of them, the blade 5e which is attached to the shield 7 of the railing will drive the neighboring blade 5d when its nipple 10 will come by sliding abutting on the edge of the light, and so on until the complete deployment of the neighboring blades from each other, with the exception of the blade 5a which remains fixed.

When the railing is completely lowered, users will be behind a continuous wall a few centimeters in front of the railing with the shield 7 fixed to the swivel system and preferably to the footrest, which will protect the leg area between knees and shoes.

By raising the railing, it is the shield fastening device 7 which will successively push back the blade 5e to which it is attached, and which, thanks to its stud 10 will push the neighboring blade back, and so on the blades will come into position superimposed relative to each other by being driven by the upward movement of each stud 10 which will abut on the edge of the lumen 10 of the neighboring blade, opposite to that on which it was hung, and this, until that the footrest comes into abutment against the hanger, thus restoring the stacking of the starting blades.

It is clear that the bilateral protection device will also pass during these maneuvers from the non-deployed position to the deployed position and vice versa.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 5 to 7, the chairlift consists of a hanger 23 which supports a U-shaped frame or frame 17 and on the uprights of which two pairs of bilateral jib cranes 24, 25 are fixed. 24, 25 is fixed a hoop 13a to which is secured a protective element 12a. The other protective elements 12b, 12c, 12d are secured to the arches 13b, 13c, 13d, respectively, which are pivotally mounted on pins 16 provided on the bilateral brackets 25 of the frame 17, the arch 13d, being furthermore integral of the railing / footrest system 14.

As shown in the drawing, the arches 13a, 13b, 13c, 13d are advantageously secured respectively to the protective elements 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d, in the region of the anterior edge of said protective elements. These arches follow the shape of the protective elements which are shaped as rectangular plates slightly convex towards the outside and having substantially at right angles to the ends of this plate, triangular extensions.

For the protective and pivoting elements 12b, 12c, 12d, there is provided a system of stops 22b, 22c, 22d, intended to come to hang on the respective arches integral with the adjacent protective elements. In the folded position, this system of stops also serves to obtain suitable storage by superposition of the pivoting protective elements 12b, 12c, 12d, under the fixed protective element 1 2a. A first spring 18 is tensioned between the frame 17 and the free end of the bracket 25, while a second spring 19 is tensioned between the seat 20 and said free end of the bracket 25. These springs are intended to cooperate with locking means, not shown in the drawing, intended to lock the protection system 14 in the lowered or raised position.

As in the first embodiment, when the railing is completely lowered, the users will be behind a continuous wall, while by raising the railing 14, the arch 13d, which is integral with it, will successively push the element 12d by means of the stop system 22d, will push the element 13c, which by means of the stop system 22c will push the element 13b whose stop system 22b will abut against the hoop 13a.

Thus, in these two embodiments, in the raised state of the railing / footrest system, the chair lift of the invention will only offer little wind resistance, while in operation of the chair lift users will protected by a protective system leaving the total landscape view, against the effect of cooling in the air in general at low temperature at a speed close to 10 km / hour, this system also constituting an effective shelter in the event of a fall snow, which will deploy during the downward movement of the pivoting railing / footrest system.

Thus, is considerably improved according to the present invention, the protection against the cold and the bad weather of the passers of a chairlift, and this, thanks to a solid protective system actuated by the pivoting system constituted by the railing and the foot of the chairlift.

Claims (11)

1. A frontal and lateral protection system for transport apparatus, namely chair lifts having at least one seat, for protecting a or the passengers against cold and adverse weather, this chair lift comprising a frame or armature on which is pivotally mounted between a raised position and a lowered position a device constituted by a safety bar and a foot rest device, this protection system constituting in the deployed position a frontal and a lateral tight protection and able to move from that deployed position corresonding to the lowered position of the safety bar/foot rest assembly (4, 14) towards a folded position which corresponds to the raised position of the safety bar/foot rest assembly, characterized in that it comprises a given number of solid protection elements (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e; 12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) which come in a superposed position one above the other in the folded position of the system and in a juxtaposed position to form a protecting wall in the deployed position of the system.

2. Protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that each protecting element is constituted by a rectangular plate slightly convex outwards (12a, 12b, 12c, 12d) and having lateral triangular extensions substantially at the side ends of each plate and is secured to an arched member (13a, 13b, 13c, 13d) the arched member (13a) being secured to two pairs of bilateral brackets (24, 25) of the U-shaped armature (17), while the other (13b, 13c, 13d) are pivotally mounted on axes (16) provided on the bilateral brackets (25) of the armature (17) the arched member (13d) being further secured to the safety bar/foot rest assembly.

3. Protection system according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that an abutment system (22b, 22c, 22d) is provided respectively on the pivotable protecting element (12b, 12c, 12d) so as to permit, on the one hand in the deployed position, the hanging up on the arched members secured to the adjacent said protecting elements and on the other hand, in the folded position, an adapted superposition of said pivotable protecting elements (12b, 12c, 12d) above the fixed protecting element (12a).

4. Protection system according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that elastic means (18, 19) are provided to cooperate with latching positions of the safety bar/foot rest assembly in the lowered or raised position, therefore of the protection system in the deployed of folded position respectively.

5. Protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises a frontal protecting device (5) constituted by a given number of plates or blades (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) detachably associated one to the others and guided in an inner groove provided in the arched lateral armatures (6a, 6b) or in slides provided in said lateral armatures which are secured to the frame (2) supported by the hanger (1).

6. Protection system according to claim 5, characterized in that in the raised position of the safety bar (3)/foot rest (4) assembly, the plates or blades (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) are superposed in the upper zone of the frame (1) between the armatures (6a, 6b), the lower plate (5a) of the stack being secured to the frame (2) while the upper plate (5e) of the stack is secured to the shield (7) secured to the pivotable safety bar (3)/foot rest (4) assembly.

7. Protection system according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that each blade or plate (5b, 5c) is provided near each armature (6a, 6b) with a transversal slit or semi-length groove (9) and with a pin (10) protruding from the lower face of the corresponding blade, provided in the alignment of the slit of the adjacent blade, and disposed near the upper boarder of the blade which bears it, excepting the lower plate (5a) of the stack which has no pin and the upper plate of the stack (5e) in which there is no slit.

8. Protection system according to claim 7, characterized in that each pin (10) is restraintly mounted in the slit (9) of the adjacent blade.

9. Protection system according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that each pin is restraintly slidably mounted by means of a flange or collar in longitudinal grooves provided in the slit of the adjacent blade.

10. Protection system according to claim 1, characterized in that blades or plates (5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e) are made of transparent, translucent or opaque material, offering an appropriated mechanical resistance and flexibility and which is chosen among glass fibers, aramid fibers, polycarbonates and other adapted plastic materials, the blades on the height of the passengers sight being of trasparent material.

11. Protection system according to claim 8, characterized in that each rod (8a, 8b, 8c, 8d, 8e, 8f) comes with its free extremity in tight engagement against the corresponding armature (6a, 6b), this extremity fitting for instance into a groove provided in the lateral or inner face of the corresponding armature.

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