EP1393790B1 - Progressive brake and stop apparatus of a carriage or similar - Google Patents

Abstract

The progressive brake for a cable platform has a stop (2) freely sliding on the support cable (1) and guided for translation on it. The brake has a progressive bias actuator (3) connected to the stop and exerting a return force towards a neutral position. The intensity of the force is increased with the movement of the stop from the neutral position. the bias actuator can be a bias weight. Claims include a station for a circulating cableway.

Description

The present invention relates to leisure or professional use devices implementing a carriage freely moving on a cable, a rail or the like, and whose displacement is carried out under the action of gravity, and has for object a device for progressive braking and stopping for such a carriage, and a station of arrival of a transport device, equipped with such a braking device.

By requests for French patents No. 99 03488 and European Union No. 99 440279 in the name of the applicant, there is already known a circulation device of the aforementioned type comprising arrival or discharge stations provided with progressive braking units and stopping the carriage at the end of the transport cable.

In these units, the braking is performed by friction or friction of a plurality of successive elements against the carriage during its passage to their level.

Although these systems are effective and safe, they still result, due to the plurality of necessary elements, a resulting installation cumbersome and, for reasons of safety and guarantee of stopping, oversizing compared to the use and, in some cases, the combination of several successive braking units.

By the request of French Patent No. 2,806,688 in the name of the applicant, there is also known a progressive braking device for a circulation system of the aforementioned type, in which a hydraulic braking means is implemented.

The object of the present invention is to propose an alternative solution to the known solutions indicated above, with naturally progressive braking, simpler to implement, less expensive, with a longer service life and with reduced maintenance.

To this end, the subject of the present invention is a progressive braking and stopping device for a trolley or the like circulating on a cable, a rail or a similar support element, characterized in that it consists mainly of on the one hand, by a stop element sliding freely on the support element being guided in translation on the latter and, on the other hand, by at least one progressive weighting element, connected to said bumper element and exerting on the latter a force of recall to a neutral position or rest on the support member, the intensity of said force increasing with the removal of said stop member of said neutral position.

• La figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'une station d'arrivée intégrant un dispositif de freinage selon l'invention, l'élément butoir étant en position neutre ;
• La figure 2 est une vue en coupe d'une partir du dispositif de freinage représenté sur la figure 1 ;
• La figure 3 est une vue du détail A de la figure 2 à une échelle différente, et,
• La figure 4 est une vue de du détail B de la figure 2 à une échelle différente.

The invention will be better understood, thanks to the following description, which refers to a preferred embodiment, given by way of non-limiting example, and explained with reference to the attached schematic drawings, in which:

• The figure 1 is a perspective view of an arrival station incorporating a braking device according to the invention, the bumper element being in neutral position;
• The figure 2 is a sectional view of a part of the braking device shown in FIG. figure 1 ;
• The figure 3 is a detail view A of the figure 2 on a different scale, and
• The figure 4 is a view of detail B of the figure 2 on a different scale.

As shown in particular by figures 1 and 2 In the accompanying drawings, the progressive braking and stopping device mainly consists, on the one hand, of a stop element 2 sliding freely on the support member 1 while being guided in translation on the latter and, on the other hand, by at least one progressive ballasting element 3, connected to said bumper element 2 and exerting on the latter a restoring force towards a neutral or rest position on the support element 1, the intensity of said force increasing with the removal of said bumper element 2 of said neutral position.

Advantageously, each ballast element 3 consists of at least one elongated body 4, an increasing part of which is raised against gravity during the displacement of the bumper element 2 out of its neutral position.

According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, each ballast element 3 consists of at least one flexible and flexible elongated body 4 made of a relatively high density material and connected at one of its ends to the bumper element. 2, said elongated body 4 being able to be deposited freely in a pile.

In order to be able to immediately provide non-zero intensity displacement resistance at the time of the impact of the carriage moving on the stop element 2 at rest in the rest position, a part at least each elongate body 4 is already in a raised position, thereby generating a restoring force, when the stop element 2 is in the neutral position, the latter being defined by a means 5 of abutment or wedging.

The bumper element 2 may optionally be formed, or comprise a contact portion, of a resilient or elastically deformable material, so as to partially dampen the impact with the carriage.

According to a first variant embodiment of the invention, each elongate body 4 has a linear mass density or constant linear weight (e) towards its end which is not connected to the movable bumper element 2, the braking device thus developing a return force proportional to the length of the displacement of the bumper element 2 outside its rest position.

According to a second embodiment of the invention, each elongated body 4 has a linear mass density or increasing linear weight (e) towards its end not connected to the movable bumper element 2.

According to a preferred practical embodiment of the invention, each weighting element 3 consists of one or more chain (s) 4, preferably made of a high density and corrosion-resistant metal material.

As shown in the figures of the accompanying drawings, each weighting element 3 is preferably connected to the stop element 2 by a connecting cable 6 passing through at least one return pulley 7 promoting the unwinding of said cable 6 substantially along the support member 1 during the displacement of the stop element 2 driven by a carriage (not shown) passing at the intercepting point corresponding to the rest position of said movable bumper element 2.

Of course, the braking device may comprise a plurality of weighting elements 3, each comprising one or more bodies 4, connected in parallel to the bumper element 2 by corresponding cables 6, in order to increase the available braking force.

According to a possibility of advantageous realization ( figures 1 and 2 ), said braking device may comprise two weighting elements 3 located on either side and at a distance from a vertical plane comprising the support element 1 and each connected to the bumper element 2 by a corresponding connecting cable 6 circulating on a set of return pulleys 7 arranged so as to perform, on the one hand, a unwinding of the cable 6 substantially the along the support element 1 during the displacement of the bumper element 2 outside its rest position and, simultaneously, on the other hand, a substantially vertical lifting of the ballast element 3 to which it is attached.

In order to be able to adjust the displacement stroke of the elongate bodies 4 of the weighting means 3 with respect to the possible stroke of the bumper element 2, as well as possibly the braking force, it can be provided that for each element of weighting 3 is associated a set of pulleys 8 through which circulates the corresponding connecting cable 6 before passing over the return pulleys 7, the weighting element 3 being secured to the lower yoke of said assembly 8 and each set of pulleys 8 being housed in a protective box 9 possibly starting from a hollow upright 10 receiving in the lower part or the elongated body (s) 4 forming the ballast element 3 concerned, at least partially arranged in a heap in position of rest of the bumper element 2 ( Figures 2 to 4 ).

The elongate body (s) 4, preferably each in the form of a chain, are connected to a fixing piece 8 'integral with the lower group of pulleys 8.

According to an additional characteristic represented in figure 1 , the two boxes 9 may be connected transversely to the direction of the support member 1 by a spacer 11 carrying at least a portion of the pulleys 7 sets of return pulleys of the connecting cables 6 of the two weighting elements 3, and an abutment or stopping means 5 stopping the movable bumper element 2 in its rest position, the connecting cables 6 then being under tension, the hollow uprights 10 integrating said caissons 9 assuring or possibly participating in the support of a part at least constituent structures of an arrival or discharge station 12 comprising said braking device.

The invention also relates to an arrival station 12 forming part of a circulation installation comprising a support cable and a transport carriage or the like (not shown) freely moving under the action of gravity between a starting station (Not shown) and said arrival station, characterized in that it incorporates a braking device of the carriage or the like as described above.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described and shown in the accompanying drawings. Modifications remain possible, particularly from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of protection of the invention.

Claims (12)

1. A progressive braking device for stopping a carriage or the like circulating on a cable, a rail or similar support element, consisting principally, on the one hand, of a stop element (2) sliding freely on the support element (1) by being guided in translation on the latter, and, on the other hand, of at least one progressive weighting element (3) connected to the said stop element (2) and exerting on the latter a return force towards a neutral position or a position of rest on the support element (1), the intensity of said force increasing with the distancing of said stop element (2) from the neutral position.
2. The braking device according to claim 1, characterised in that each weighting element (3) consists of at least one extended body (4), a rising part of which is lifted against gravity during the displacement of the stop element (2) out of its neutral position.
3. The braking device according to any one of claims 1 and 2, characterised in that each weighting element (3) consists of at least one supple and flexible extended body (4) made from a material with a relatively high density and connected at one end to the stop element (2), said extended body (4) being able to lie down freely in a pile.
4. The braking device according to any one of claims 2 and 3, characterised in that at least a part of each extended body (4) is already in a lifted position, generating a return force, when the stop element (2) is in a neutral position, the latter being defined by a stopping or locking means (5).
5. The braking device according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterised in that each extended body (4) has a linear mass density or constant linear weight over its entire length.
6. The braking device according to any one of claims 3 and 4, characterised in that each extended body (4) has a linear mass density or a linear weight that increases in the direction of its end that is not connected to the mobile stop element (2).
7. The braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that each weighting element (3) consists of one or more chains (4) that are preferably made from a metal material with an increased density that is resistant to corrosion.
8. The braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that each weighting element (3) is connected to the stop element (2) by a connecting cable (6) which passes through at least one return pulley (7) facilitating the unwinding of said cable (6) substantially along the support element (1) during the displacement of the stop element (2) guided by a carriage passing at the point of interception corresponding to the position of rest of said mobile stop element (2).
9. The braking device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterised in that it comprises two weighting elements (3) which are located on either side of and at a distance from a vertical plane comprising the support element (1) and are each connected to the stop element (2) by a corresponding connecting cable (6) that circulates on an assembly of return pulleys (7) which are arranged in such a way as to perform, on the one hand, an unwinding of the cable (6) substantially the length of the support element (1) during the displacement of the stop element (2) from its position of rest and simultaneously, on the other hand, a lifting movement substantially vertical to the weighting element (3) to which it is attached.
10. The braking device according to claim 9, characterised in that to each weighting element (3) an assembly of sheaves (8) is connected through which the corresponding connecting cable (6) circulates before passing to the return pulleys (7), wherein the weighting element (3) is joined to the lower pulley shell of said assembly (8) and each assembly of sheaves (8) is housed in a protective box (9) possibly forming part of a hollow support (10) which receives in its lower part the extended body or bodies (4) that form the weighting element (3) concerned, at least partly lying in a pile in a position of rest of the stop element (2).
11. The braking device according to claim 10, characterised in that the two boxes (9) are connected transversely to the direction of the support element (1) by a cross member (11) supporting at least one part of the pulleys (7) of the assemblies of return pulleys of the connecting cables (6) of the two weighting elements (3), as well as a stop or locking means (5) locking the mobile stop element (2) in its position of rest, the connecting cables (6) then being under tension, the hollow supports (10) integrating said boxes (9) ensuring or participating possibly in the support of at least one part of the constituent structures of an approach station (12) or discharge station comprising said braking device.
12. An approach station forming part of a circulation installation which comprises a support cable and a transport carriage or the like that circulates freely under the action of gravity between a departure station and said approach station, characterised in that it integrates a braking device of the carriage or the like according to any one of claims 1 to 11.

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