Classifications

• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B61B12/00—Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in groups B61B7/00 - B61B11/00
  • B61B12/002—Cabins; Ski-lift seats
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B61B12/00—Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in groups B61B7/00 - B61B11/00
  • B61B12/02—Suspension of the load; Guiding means, e.g. wheels; Attaching traction cables
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B61—RAILWAYS
  • B61B—RAILWAY SYSTEMS; EQUIPMENT THEREFOR NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
  • B61B12/00—Component parts, details or accessories not provided for in groups B61B7/00 - B61B11/00
  • B61B12/02—Suspension of the load; Guiding means, e.g. wheels; Attaching traction cables
  • B61B12/022—Vehicle receiving and dispatching devices
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H01—ELECTRIC ELEMENTS
  • H01R—ELECTRICALLY-CONDUCTIVE CONNECTIONS; STRUCTURAL ASSOCIATIONS OF A PLURALITY OF MUTUALLY-INSULATED ELECTRICAL CONNECTING ELEMENTS; COUPLING DEVICES; CURRENT COLLECTORS
  • H01R41/00—Non-rotary current collectors for maintaining contact between moving and stationary parts of an electric circuit

Definitions

• the present invention relates to a mechanical lift installation, and more particularly to a device for bringing a first conductor into contact with a second electrical conductor on board a mechanical lift vehicle.
• a ski lift facility allows passengers, skiers or pedestrians, to go up or down slopes.
• a ski lift facility usually has two end stations, a station at the bottom of the slope and a station at the top of the slope. These end stations are connected by a carrying aerial cable and tractor can form a closed loop. It is known to drive the cable through pulleys and support it with pylons. Vehicles suspended from the cable allow the transportation of passengers from one end station to another.
• ski lift installations There are several types of ski lift installations: chairlift, ski lift, gondola or cable car.
• a chairlift lift facility allows passengers to ascend or descend a slope in a seated position, with seats suspended from a continuous motion cable.
• a ski lift lift facility can pull skiers on their own skis to climb the slope.
• a gondola-type installation consists of carrying passengers using cabins suspended from a continuous-motion cable.
• a cable-type facility can route passengers up or down a slope with a movement back and forth. In other words, the movement is reversed at the end stations.
• each end station may include a boarding area and a landing area for passengers.
• the ski lift installation thus offers the possibility of simultaneously transporting passengers up the slope and passengers descending.
• Vehicles can be disengaged or not.
• vehicles can be detached from the cable to which they are suspended to be routed to a secondary route when they arrive at a boarding area or landing.
• the speed of the vehicle is reduced to facilitate the boarding or disembarking of passengers, thus providing more comfort and safety.
• the vehicles are not disengaged, they remain permanently on the cable to which they are suspended. In this case, the absence of a clutch release system provides a simpler structure lift installation.
• the vehicles generally comprise a suspension for hanging from a cable and are free to oscillate longitudinally and transversely to the direction of movement of the vehicle during its journey. Under the effect of an eccentric load, for example when a vehicle has a single passenger seated on one side of the vehicle, the latter can lean to one side or the other ( Figures 1 to 3 in the case of a chair lift).
• the vehicle can also lean when it is subjected to the action of a wind blowing in a direction substantially transverse to that of the movement of the vehicle.
• guiding devices In order to straighten the vehicle whose inclination is random when arriving in an unloading area, for example, it is known to use guiding devices, especially when the vehicles are not disengageable.
• These guiding devices 100 are generally composed of a carrying structure 101 and guides 102. They make it possible to correct the inclination of the hanger 104 of a vehicle 103 to its arrival at an end station, as can be seen in FIGS. 6 and 7.
• FIG. 6 shows a vehicle 103 before the entry of its hanger 104 into the guiding device 100 and
• FIG. 7 shows the same vehicle once.
• the hanger entering the guiding device 100 As shown in FIG. 8, the hanger 104 passing through the guiding device is forced to remain in a "correct" position for the entire crossing of the guide device 100. Also it is the hanger that adapts to the position of the guide device, the latter being fixed.
• these guiding devices have the disadvantage of inducing high mechanical stresses to the vehicles. Knowing that the vehicles of the existing ski lift installations not equipped with guiding devices can not generally suffer from mechanical stresses in addition to those to which they are already subject, it is often impossible to set up known guiding devices on such installations. . In other words, the existing guiding devices are not adaptable to all ski lift installations. It is therefore not permitted for such installations to install and operate electrical coupling means effectively.
• the present invention aims to solve all or part of the disadvantages mentioned above.
• the subject of the present invention is a device for bringing a moving conductor on board a suspension of a vehicle of a ropeway installation connected to a cable by the suspension line into contact with a second conductor connected to an end station of the ski lift installation, characterized in that the device comprises at least one means for suspending the second conductor connected to the end station by a pivot connection enabling the mobile conductor to be brought into contact with the second driver, whatever the inclination of the hanger.
• the device according to the invention makes it possible, by adapting to the inclination of the vehicle entering an unloading or embarkation zone, to make sure contact the electrical conductor placed on the vehicle and the one connected to the vehicle. end station. It is indeed difficult to establish a reliable electrical contact between these conductors in ski lift installations that are not equipped with a guide device according to the invention, especially those whose vehicles are not disengaged. This can be explained by the fact that the swaying of the vehicles (thus of their hanger) can be relatively important.
• the device comprises a guide means connected to the suspension means, said guide means being placed on the path of the hanger so that the device adapts its position to that of the hanger.
• the guiding means comprises a longitudinal member extending substantially in the direction of the cable.
• the longitudinal member comprises a curved end intended to come into contact with the hanger so as to guide the device relative to the hanger to bring the conductors into contact.
• the longitudinal member comprises an end provided with a rotary roller intended to come into contact with the hanger so as to guide the device relative to the hanger to bring the conductors into contact.
• the device comprises damping means connected to the end station and the suspension means.
• the damping means comprise a jack comprising a first end connected by a pivot connection to a structure fixed to the end station and a second end connected to the suspension means by a connection. pivot.
• the damping means comprise a spring comprising a first end connected by a first pivot connection to the structure fixed to the end station and a second end connected to the suspension means by a second pivot connection.
• the suspension means comprises at least one arm.
• the suspension means comprises at least one hoop whose ends form arms on each of which is fixed a guide means, the guide means forming a rail adapted to receive the hanger to guide the device, in order to maintain contact between the mobile conductor and the second conductor.
• the invention also relates to a lift installation comprising a device having the aforementioned characteristics.
• FIGS. 1, 2 and 3 are front views of a mechanical lift vehicle of a known chairlift installation in different positions of use
• FIG. 4 is a perspective view of an end station of a ski lift installation equipped with a known fixed guide device
• FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a known guiding device
• FIG. 6 is a front view of a mechanical lift vehicle at the entrance of a known guiding device
• FIG. 7 is a front view of a mechanical lift vehicle whose suspension is engaged in a known guiding device
• FIG. 8 is a view from above of a known guiding device
• FIG. 9 is a perspective view of an end station of a ski lift installation equipped with a device according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 10 is a rear view of a mechanical lift vehicle at the entrance of the device according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 1 1 is a rear view of a mechanical lift vehicle engaged in the device according to a particular embodiment of the invention
• FIG. 12 is a rear view of a mechanical lift vehicle at the exit of the device according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 13 is a schematic top view of a ski lift installation comprising a device according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
• FIG. 14 is a front view of a device according to another particular embodiment of the invention.
• FIGS. 15, 16 and 17 are rear views of a mechanical lift vehicle in contact with a device according to a particular embodiment of the invention, the vehicle having different inclinations possible with respect to the vertical.
• Figure 13 shows a 1 1 installation of mechanical lift, including chairlift type, gondola or cable car.
• the installation 1 1 may comprise two end stations 2, 3.
• Each end station 2, 3 may include a passenger boarding area 4 and a passenger landing area 5.
• One or more lift vehicles 6 are suspended from an aerial cable 7 and tractor by a hanger 8.
• the cable 7 can be supported by towers.
• the cable 7 can form a closed loop and be driven by pulleys 9, 10, visible in FIGS. 4, 9 and 13.
• the lift installation 1 1 may comprise a device 1 according to the particular embodiment of the invention shown in FIGS. 9 to 12.
• the device 1 comprises suspension means.
• the suspension means may comprise one or more arches 14.
• the arches 14 comprise two arms 14a and 14b delimiting between them a space traversed by the vehicle 6.
• the arms 14a and 14b are substantially parallel, each arch 14 having substantially the shape of an inverted U, or a horseshoe. This allows the cable 7 and the hanger 8 to pass between the arms 14a and 14b of each arch 14.
• Each arch 14 is connected to a support structure 15 and fixed by a pivot link P1.
• each arch 14 is pivotable along the axis of rotation of the pivot link P1.
• the axis of the pivot connection P1 is substantially parallel to the cable 7.
• the pivot connection P1 can be made by a bearing in which a shaft is inserted. .
• the structure 15 is connected to the carrying structure of the cable 7 at the end stations (or is part thereof), and in particular at the level of the boarding areas 4 and landing 5.
• the device 1 comprises one or more electrical conductors 17, as described in document WO2010 / 052426, in the space between the arms 14a and 14b, as can be seen in FIGS. 10 to 12.
• Each conductor 17 is intended to cooperate with a driver 18 electrical conductor placed on the vehicle 6, for example on the hanger 8.
• the conductors 17 are arranged so that an electrical contact is established with the conductors 18 when the vehicle 6 arrives at a landing zone 5 or d 4 and comes into contact with the device 1. This may allow to feed a magnetic member of a restraint system for example as described in WO2007 / 135256.
• Each electrical conductor 17 may comprise a plurality of flexible conductive material contact wires placed in the path of the vehicle 6, as can be seen in particular in FIGS. 10, 11 and 12.
• the suspension means may comprise guide means, for example one or more longitudinal members 12, 13.
• the longitudinal members 12, 13, for example longitudinal members are arranged opposite one another. other, so that they form a rail 16.
• the longitudinal members 12, 13 extend in a direction substantially parallel to the cable 7 and are for example fixed to the ends of the arms 14a and 14b.
• the longitudinal members 12, 13 may comprise respectively ends 12a and 13a having a curved shape, pointing outwardly of the rail 16, so that the rail 16 has at its ends a flared shape.
• the device 1 thus comprises guiding means constituted by the curved end 12a or 13a of at least one of the longitudinal members 12, 13, allowing it to adapt its position to that of the hanger 8, whatever the inclination of the latter, and this to ensure a reliable contact between the conductors 17 and 18.
• the device 1 oscillates with the oscillations of the hanger 8.
• the device 1 according to the invention does not bring the hanger 8 into a neutral position, often vertical, corresponding to an equilibrium position of the vehicle 6 empty, but adapts to the inclination of the hanger 8 pivoting relative to the axis of the pivot connection P1. This makes it possible to ensure a certain contact between the electrical conductors 17, 18 and to avoid to constrain more the hanger 8, which makes the device 1 according to the invention adaptable to existing lift facilities.
• the device 1 further comprises damping means, for example cylinders 19.
• the cylinders 19 comprise two ends, a first end connected to the carrier structure 15 by a first pivot connection P2 and a second end connected to a hoop 14 by a second pivot link P3.
• the axis of rotation of the pivot links P2 and P3 is substantially parallel to that of the pivot link P1.
• the cylinders 19 can dampen oscillations of the arches 14 due to the movement of the vehicle 6 and its hanger 8, or those due to wind.
• the cylinders 19 can bring the arches 14 in a neutral equilibrium position.
• the cylinders 19 may be provided springs also to dampen the oscillations of the device 1 and bring it back to an equilibrium position.
• Figures 10 to 12 illustrate the device 1 in operation, according to a particular embodiment of the invention.
• the vehicle 6 arrives for example at a landing zone 5 (FIG. 10)
• its hanger 8 comes into contact with the end 12a or 13a of a longitudinal member 12 or 13 and enters the rail 16 formed by the longitudinal members 12, 13.
• the hoops 14 pivot, allowing the device 1 to adapt to the inclination of the hanger 8 and the vehicle 6 ( Figure 1 1).
• the device 1 oscillates and following the random inclination of the lines 8 without making any correction to this inclination.
• the conductors 17, comprising for this embodiment a plurality of flexible conductive wires, come into reliable contact with the conductors 18 placed on the lines 8.
• the device 1 finds a neutral equilibrium position thanks to the jacks 19. The device 1 is then ready to accommodate the hanger 8 of a second vehicle 6, when the installation 1 1 of the mechanical lift comprises more than one vehicle 6 .
• the device comprises a suspension means, for example a single arm 14b at the end of which is placed a body longitudinal 13, for example a spar.
• the device 1 according to this embodiment of the invention then has an equilibrium position, visible in FIG. 14, in which the longitudinal member 13 is placed on the trajectory of the vehicle 6, and more particularly of the hanger 8, whatever the inclination of the latter.
• the hanger 8 comes into contact with the longitudinal member 13, this forces the device 1 to pivot relative to the axis of the pivot link P1.
• the device 1 disappears when the suspension 8 passes, but the longitudinal member 13 remains in contact with the hanger 8 to ensure a certain electrical contact between the conductors 17, 18, as shown in Figures 15 to 17 for different inclinations possible of the hanger 8 relative to the vertical.
• This keeping in contact with the longitudinal member 13 and the hanger 8, whatever the inclination thereof, is due to the fact that the device 1 tends to return to its equilibrium position.
• damping not shown, such as a cylinder or a compression spring or the combination of the two.
• the damping means may comprise an end connected by a pivot link P2 to the carrier structure 15 and an end connected to the arm 14b by a pivot link P3.
• the guide member may comprise an end provided with one or more rotary rollers for guiding the device 1 with respect to the hanger 8.

Landscapes

• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Platform Screen Doors And Railroad Systems (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=44262886

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (3)

Family Cites Families (5)

• 2011
  • 2011-01-10 FR FR1150190A patent/FR2970380B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2012
  • 2012-01-10 EP EP12704860.1A patent/EP2663481B1/de not_active Not-in-force
  • 2012-01-10 WO PCT/FR2012/050066 patent/WO2012095606A1/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (1)

Also Published As

Similar Documents

Legal Events