EP3012168A1

EP3012168A1 - Transport system for transferring persons and method for securing a transport system for transferring persons

Info

Publication number: EP3012168A1
Application number: EP14199742.9A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Mathijs Schasfoort; Judith Masja Schasfoort-Postel; Arne Brilhuis
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2014-10-15
Filing date: 2014-12-22
Publication date: 2016-04-27
Anticipated expiration: 2034-12-22
Also published as: EP3009321A1; EP3012168B1

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport system for transferring persons, comprising:
- a cable bridging a space, the cable extending from a first location to a second location;
- at least one pulley, moveably arranged along the cable
- a first sensor, for detecting passage of the pulley along the first sensor, wherein the first sensor is arranged along the cable between the first location and the second location;
- a second sensor, for detecting passage of the pulley along the second sensor, wherein the second sensor is arranged along the cable between the second location and the first sensor;
- blocking means for blocking passage of further pulleys past the blocking means in the locked position and for releasing passage in the unlocked position, wherein the blocking means are arranged along the cable between the first location and the first sensor; and
- a controller, connected to the first sensor, the second sensor and the blocking means, wherein the blocking means are controlled to the locked position upon detection by the first sensor and are controlled to the unlocked position upon detection by the second sensor.

The invention further relates to a method for securing a transport system for transferring persons.

Description

The invention relates to a transport system for transferring persons, comprising:

a cable bridging a space, the cable extending from a first location to a second location; and
at least one pulley, moveably arranged along the cable.

The invention further relates to a method for securing a transport system for transferring persons.
Persons may be transferred from a first location to a second location for a wide variety of applications. For such applications, which include leisure activities, a cable may be provided to bridge a space, such as for instance a lake or an area of land. The cable may be provided with pulleys, moveable along the cable, and attachable to a person. Such a transport system is typically used in conjunction with more than one pulley, each pulley connected to a person.
When such a transport system is used with more than one pulley, two pulleys may use the cable at the same time and as a consequence, an accident may happen, in which two pulleys may collide. This issue is particularly relevant in relation to transport systems wherein the cable is a zipline. In a zipline system, the persons will travel substantially, or more typically, solely by the force of gravity along the cable between the first location towards the second location, which may cause the pulley to acquire a significant speed.
Some known transport systems, zipline systems in particular, may be provided with braking means. These braking means may be provided on the pulley, and therefore rely on actions to be performed by the user in order to accurately prevent collisions when imminent. This makes the transport system unreliable.
The braking means may also be provided adjacent to the cable and close to the second location in order to decrease the speed of a pulley approaching the second location, but such braking systems do not prevent collisions.
It is therefore the object of the invention to reduce or even obviate the above-mentioned disadvantages of the currently available transport systems.
This object of the invention is achieved by a transport system for transferring persons according to the preamble, which is characterized by

a first sensor, for detecting passage of the pulley along the first sensor, wherein the first sensor is arranged along the cable between the first location and the second location;
a second sensor, for detecting passage of the pulley along the second sensor, wherein the second sensor is arranged along the cable between the second location and the first sensor;
blocking means for blocking passage of further pulleys past the blocking means in the locked position and for releasing passage in the unlocked position, wherein the blocking means are arranged along the cable between the first location and the first sensor; and
a controller, connected to the first sensor, the second sensor and the blocking means, wherein the blocking means are controlled to the locked position upon detection by the first sensor and are controlled to the unlocked position upon detection by the second sensor.

The transport system is equipped with a first sensor and a second sensor, which are both arranged adjacent along a cable of the transport system for detecting passage of a pulley along the cable, both of which sensors are connected to a controller. The second sensor is place further down the direction of travel of the pulley along the cable.
Blocking means are also arranged along the cable. The blocking means are preferably in the unlocked position in the neutral state for allowing transfer of a pulley beyond the blocking means in the direction of travel of the pulley.
Upon detection of the passage of a pulley by the first sensor, the first sensor will activate the controller and the controller will move the blocking means from the unlocked position to the locked position, in which it blocks transfer of further pulleys. Most preferably, the blocking means are then locked in the locked position. Because the blocking means are arranged along the cable before the first sensor, the pulley currently detected by the first sensor is free to move further down the cable, towards the second sensor.
When the second sensor detects the passage of the trolley, the second sensor will notify the controller, and the controller will move the blocking means back to the unlocked position.
The first sensor and the second sensor as such define a segment of the cable in which only one pulley is able to travel simultaneously. In order to even further prevent the amount of possible collisions, the span of the cable between the first and the second sensor is therefore preferably larger than 50%, more preferably larger than 60%, even more preferably larger than 70% and most preferably larger than 80% of the total span of the cable between the first position and the second position. Preferably, the blocking means are placed before and adjacent to the first sensor, in order to prevent unnecessary delays.
The second sensor is preferably placed close to, e.g. at or beyond, a location in which a person using the pulley passing the second sensor is able to stand.
The cable may also comprise various sets of first and second sensors connected to blocking means, which are connected to each other via at least one controller, each of the sets securing one segment of the cable. The second sensor of a preceding set may than be the first sensor of the next set.
Preferably, at least an entrance platform is provided below the first position. In such a case, it is further preferred that the first sensor and/or the blocking means are arranged along the cable at a position not reachable by a person present on the platform in order to prevent manipulation of the first sensor and/or blocking means by the person, and thereby unpredictable functioning of the transport system.
The transport system may further comprise a warning system, such as an alarm light, showing the status of the transport system. When the transport system comprises an alarm light, it may be located adjacent to the first position. The alarm light may be in a first color, preferably red, when the blocking means are in the locked position. The alarm light may also be in a distinct second color, preferably green, when the blocking means are in the unlocked position.
The connection of the sensors and the controller may for instance be by e.g. linkage on the same circuit board, by a PLC module, but may also be via a network cable or wireless, e.g. by Bluetooth, infrared communication or wireless networking, as well as other suitable means.
The first sensor, the second sensor or the controller may be connected to a power supply, which may also comprise or be a battery.
The first sensor and the second sensor may detect the passage of the pulley along the sensor by different means, e.g. the sensor may detect metal, which is typically present in the pulley, the sensor may be a detector of movement, the sensor may be a mechanical switch, as well as other types or sensors. The first sensor and/or the second sensor may each also be multiple types of sensors. Preferably, the first sensor and the second sensor have the same detection mechanism.
The blocking means are driven by driving means such as a motor or a cylinder which preferably is provided with a safeguard mechanism, e.g. a sensor to detect abnormal amounts of power required for the movement of the blocking means between the unlocked and the locked position, which is an indication of the possible presence of fingers or other body parts between the blocking means, upon which the controller may automatically return the blocking means to the unlocked position.
The pulley may either be removably arranged on the cable, such that it may be disconnected when reaching the second position. Alternatively, the cable may also be connected to at least one further cable, to which the pulley may be transferred, in which case the pulley is preferably only removable from the cable at the starting point and the end point of all cables connected to each other.
The blocking means, the first sensor and the second sensor are typically mounted on at least one frame, the frame comprising a guiding shank for guiding the cable. The dimensions of the guiding shank are such to allow the pulley to travel over the guiding shank in the unlocked position of the blocking means and are therefore preferably relatively small.
The pulley may have different designs in order to accommodate the person, e.g. it may be attached to the back of a person, or the user may sit on a seat, fixed to the pulley.
In a preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the second location is lower than the first location with respect to the direction of gravity and the pulley is moveable from the first location to the second location along the cable substantially by the force of gravity.
The cable extends between a first position and a second position, which are typically above ground level. It is now preferred that the second location is lower than the first location, i.e. closer to ground level, such that the cable as a whole goes down when seen from the first position to the second position, because it allows the pulley to travel along the cable substantially, or preferably solely, by gravity.
In another preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the blocking means comprise a hingeable arm, wherein the arm extends in the path of the pulley along the cable in the locked position.
In the locked position, the hingeable arm will extend towards the cable such that a pulley arriving at the hingeable arm from the first position will not be able to pass the hingeable arm to travel down the cable. The dimensions of the hingeable arm and the dimensions of the hingeable arm are therefore adjusted to the dimensions of the part of the pulley connected to the cable such that the hingeable arm will extend in the path of the pulley along the cable.
Preferably, the hingeable arm will hinge backward when moving from the unlocked position towards the locked position and vice versa, such to allow the ease of movement to the unlocked position while the hingeable arm blocks a further pulley.
The hingeable arm is preferably controlled by a motor, for instance a 12V-motor, connected to the controller.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the blocking means comprise a slidable arm, wherein the arm extends in the path of the pulley along the cable in the locked position.
In the locked position, the slidable arm will extend towards the cable such that a pulley arriving at the slidable arm from the first position will not be able to pass the slidable arm to travel down the cable. The dimensions of the slidable arm and the dimensions of the slideable arm are therefore adjusted to the dimensions of the part of the pulley connected to the cable such that the slideable arm will extend in the path of the pulley along the cable.
Preferably, the slideable arm is enclosed in a shank for properly defining the position of the slideable arm. The shank may be provided with indicia to define the unlocked and locked position of the slideable arm, such to allow the ease of movement between the unlocked position and the locked position.
The slideable arm is preferably controlled by a cylinder, connected to the controller.
In again another preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the first sensor and the blocking means are fixed to one housing.
Because the blocking means are preferably placed adjacent to the first sensor, it is preferred to fix the first sensor and the blocking means to one housing, since it reduces the number of parts necessary to be installed along the cable. The controller may also be fixed into the same housing.
In a preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the blocking means and the first sensor are connected to a first door, arranged on or adjacent to an entrance platform, the first door being moveable from a closed position in the direction of travel along the cable towards an open position, which movement of the first door is blocked by the blocking means in the locked position, and which movement of the first door is allowed in the unlocked position, wherein a passage of the first door is detected by the first sensor.
The first door prevents a person aiming to use the transport system from passing the first door in the locked position of the blocking means and allows the person to pass the first door in the unlocked position of the blocking means by bringing the first door from the closed position towards the open position. The first door is consequently suitably arranged for that purpose. For that purpose, the first door preferably extends in the path of travel of a person using the transport system along the cable in a direction substantially perpendicular to this direction of travel and substantially parallel to the floor.
The first door may also be arranged before the area below the span of the cable between the first position and the second position in the direction of gravity in the direction of travel along the cable, if such an arrangement prevents persons from entering the part of the cable after the entrance platform in the direction of travel along the cable, e.g. because the entrance platform is at such a height from the floor, that a person has no reasonable alternative ways of entering the zone of the entrance platform after the first door. In that case, the first sensor and the blocking means being arranged along the cable may also mean that at least one of these is arranged adjacent to the first door.
The first sensor will detect passage of the first door, e.g. the first sensor may be arranged after the door in the direction of travel to detect the passage of the person as previously described.
The first door may be any suitable type of door, such as a turnstile door or a swing gate door and is of a type that returns towards its closed position after passage of a person to prevent further persons from accessing the span between the first sensor and the second sensor.
This embodiment is especially preferred in the case of transport systems in which persons are allowed to connect themselves to the cable, since it further decreases the chance of improper use, e.g. a person connecting themselves to a position after the first sensor in the direction of travel along the cable.
In another preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the second sensor is connected to a second door, the second door being moveable from a closed position in the direction of travel along the cable towards an open position, wherein a passage of the second door is detected by the second sensor.
The second sensor is connected to a second door, which second door may be similar in arrangement or type as the first door in the previous embodiment, since it serves a similar purpose, apart from the fact that blocking means are preferably not present on the second door. The second door may also be different in one or more aspects.
The second door may also be arranged after the area below the span of the cable between the first position and the second position in the direction of gravity in the direction of travel along the cable, if the arrangement of the second sensor reasonably prevents people from passing the second sensor through other means, e.g. because the location of the second sensor is at a suitable height from the floor. In order to achieve this, the distance of the second door is preferably less than 20 meters, more preferably less than 10 meters and most preferably less than 5 meters from the second position in the direction of travel along the cable.In even another preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the passage of at least one of the first door and the second door is detected by its movement by a preset threshold value relative to its closed position.
In order to pass at least one of the first door and the second door by the person, the person will have to move this door at least partly from its closed position towards its open position. While a sensor may be arranged to the door to detect the passage of the person as described above, the sensor may, alternatively or as an auxiliary measure, register the movement of the door to register the passage of a person upon movement of the door over at least a distance that implies that a person has passed the first door, this distance being the preset threshold value.
Under circumstances, at least one door may be moved over at least the preset threshold value without a user actually passing the door. Therefore, it may be preferred that the sensor according to this embodiment is used as an auxiliary measure, to enhance the security of the system and in order to diminish delays.
In again another preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, at least one of the first door and second door is immovable in the direction opposite to the direction of travel along the cable from its closed position.
In this way, the door is prevented from moving in an opposite direction from its closed position, decreasing the chance of persons passing in a direction opposite the direction of travel, thereby increasing the security of the system.
In yet another preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the second sensor is arranged on or adjacent to an exit platform.
Upon passage of the second sensor by a person, the transport system bring the first door in the unlocked position, allowing another person to enter the area between the first sensor and the second sensor. It is therefore preferred to provide an exit platform adjacent to the second sensor upon which a person is able to stand. A person that has passed the second sensor will then be able to anticipate more accurately on the arrival of the next person transferred on the cable.
In another preferred embodiment of the transport system according to the invention, the cable is a zipline.
A zipline transport system is a system commonly used for transporting persons, typically used for leisure purposes, in which persons travel along the cable substantially or solely by the force of gravity, and for which it is desirable to be able to enhance the security of the persons. Because of this need, and because the transport system provides such an enhancement, the cable of the transport system is preferably a zipline.
The object of the invention is further achieved with a method for securing a transport system for transferring persons according to the invention, comprising the steps of:

detecting the passage of a pulley by a first sensor of a transport system arranged along a cable from a first location to a second location;
transmitting a detection signal by the first sensor to the controller after detecting the passage;
moving the blocking means by the controller to a locked position after receiving the detection signal from the first sensor;
detecting the passage of the pulley by a second sensor of the transport system arranged along the cable after the detection of the passage of the pulley by the first sensor;
transmitting a detection signal by the second sensor to the controller after the detection of the passage of the pulley by the second sensor;
moving the blocking means by the controller to an unlocked position after receiving the detection signal from the second sensor.

The process of securing a transport system according to the invention according to the above mentioned method increases the security of the transport system, since the use of the method lets the first sensor and the second sensor as such define a segment of the cable in which only one pulley is able to travel simultaneously.
The method is preferably endlessly repeated.
These and other features of the invention will be elucidated in conjunction with the accompanying figures.

Figure 1 shows in perspective a part of a first embodiment of a transport system according to the invention with the locking means in the unlocked position.
Figure 2 shows a detail of the embodiment according to figure 1 with the locking means in the locked position.
Figure 3 shows a detail of a second embodiment of a transport system according to the invention with locking means in the unlocked position.
Figure 4 shows an overview of an embodiment of a transport system according to the invention.
Figure 5 shows an overview of another embodiment of a transport system according to the invention.

In Figure 1, a part of a transport system 1 is shown in which two housings 2, 3 are attached to poles 4, 5. A cable 6 bridges the space 7 between the poles 4, 5 and declines in the direction of pole 5. The cable 6 is attached via shafts 8, 9 attached to housings 2, 3. The first housing 2 comprises a bar 10, moveable in direction A (shown in Figure 2), attached to a motor (not shown) in the housing 2. In this Figure, the bar 10 is shown in unlocked position. The housings 2, 3 each comprise a sensor (not shown) for the detection of the passage of pulleys 11, 12 along the, of which pulleys 11, 12 only the top part is shown.
Since the cable 6 declines from pole 4 towards pole 5, the pulleys 11, 12 will travel towards in the same direction by the force of gravity. Upon detection of pulley 11 by the sensor in the first housing 2, the pulley 11 will be allowed to pass the housing and when possible, the bar 10 will move towards the locked position as shown in Figure 2. After the bar 10 has been moved to the locked position, possible further pulleys approaching the first housing 2 will be blocked by bar 10. This may also be reflected in the status of a warning light 13, arranged on the housing 2.
Upon detection of the pulley 11 by the sensor in the second housing 3, a signal will be sent from the second housing 3 towards the first housing 2 and the bar will be moved to the unlocked position, such that possible further pulleys may enter the segment 6 of the cable.
Figure 2 shows a detail of the first housing 2, in which the bar 10 is moved in direction A to the locked position. The shaft 8 is attached with a brace 14 to the housing 2. The pulley 11 is selected such that it able to travel over the shaft 8 when the bar 10 is in the unlocked position.
In an alternate embodiment as shown in figure 3, a brace 20 is shown, attached to a pole 21. The brace 20 is connected to a shaft 22 around the cable 23. A pulley 24 is able to travel over cable 23 and shaft 22 in the unlocked position as shown. The brace 20 comprises a bar 25, slidable in direction B within shaft 26, towards the cable 23 by suitable driving means, such as a cylinder (not shown). In the locked position, bar 25 will cross the path of pulley 24, such that it will not be able to pass beyond bar 25.
Figure 4 shows an overview of a transport system 30, comprising poles 31, 32, 33, 34 and a cable 35 bridging the spaces 36, 37, 38 between the poles 31, 32, 33, 34. The cable 35 is attached with its first end at a first point 39 on pole 31 and with its second end at a second point 40 on pole 34. The cable 35 also connected to poles 32, 33 through shafts (not shown), which shafts are attached to housings 41, 42. The cable 35 is thus divided in segments 43, 44, 45. A first pulley 46 is has entered the main segment 44. Because the first pulley has passes the first housing 41, the blocking means (not shown) on first housing 41 will be in the locked position, such that a further pulley 47 will not be able to pass the blocking means. After passage of the first pulley 46 along the sensor in the second housing 42, the blocking means of the first housing will be moved to the unlocked position and pulley 47 will be able to enter the segment 44.
In comparison to the total length of the cable 35, segment 44 has a significantly greater length than segments 43, 45. First housing 41 is arranged adjacent to an entrance platform 48, however out of reach of a person standing on platform 48. Second housing 42 is arranged adjacent to an exit platform 49.
In this embodiment, status indicators 50, 51 are arranged in a separate housing 52, indicating if the blocking means are in the locked position or in the unlocked position.
Figure 5 shows an overview of a second embodiment of a transport system 60, comprising poles 61 and 62, and a cable 63 bridging the space 64 between the poles 61 and 62, to which it is attached in a similar way as in the embodiment of Figure 3. Below the cable 63, an entrance platform 64 allows a person to connect himself to the cable 63, whereas an exit platform 65 allows a person to disconnect himself from the cable 63. The entrance platform 64 and the exit platform 65 are arranged at a suitable height relative to the cable 63 for a person to be able to connect and disconnect themselves from the cable 63 easily.
The transport system 60 is provided with a first turnstile door 66 and a second turnstile door 67. Each of these turnstile doors 66, 67 comprises a sensor for the detection of passage of the respective doors 66, 67. Turnstile door 66 further has blocking means to block the turning motion of the turnstile door 66 when the turnstile door 66 has passed by a trolley 68, which has not yet passed turnstile 67. In order to enter a zone of the entrance platform 64 suitable to enter the cable 63, a person has to pass turnstile door 66. After travelling down the cable 63, a further person will only be able to enter this zone of the entrance platform 64 after passage of the turnstile 67 by the previous person, which preferably means that the previous person is also disconnected from the cable 63, thereby increasing safety.

Claims

Transport system for transferring persons, comprising:
- a cable bridging a space, the cable extending from a first location to a second location; and

- at least one pulley, moveably arranged along the cable
characterized by

- a first sensor, for detecting passage of the pulley along the first sensor, wherein the first sensor is arranged along the cable between the first location and the second location;

- a second sensor, for detecting passage of the pulley along the second sensor, wherein the second sensor is arranged along the cable between the second location and the first sensor;

- blocking means for blocking passage of further pulleys past the blocking means in the locked position and for releasing passage in the unlocked position, wherein the blocking means are arranged along the cable between the first location and the first sensor; and

- a controller, connected to the first sensor, the second sensor and the blocking means, wherein the blocking means are controlled to the locked position upon detection by the first sensor and are controlled to the unlocked position upon detection by the second sensor.
Transport system according to claim 1, wherein the second location is lower than the first location with respect to the direction of gravity and wherein the pulley is moveable from the first location to the second location along the cable substantially by the force of gravity.
Transport system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking means comprise a hingeable arm, wherein the arm extends in the path of the pulley along the cable in the locked position.
Transport system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the blocking means comprise a slidable arm, wherein the arm extends in the path of the pulley along the cable in the locked position.
Transport system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the first sensor and the blocking means are fixed to one housing.
Transport system according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the blocking means and the first sensor are connected to a first door, arranged on or adjacent to an entrance platform, the first door being moveable from a closed position in the direction of travel along the cable towards an open position, which movement of the first door is blocked by the blocking means in the locked position, and which movement of the first door is allowed in the unlocked position, wherein a passage of the first door is detected by the first sensor.
Transport system according to claim 1, 2 or 6, wherein the second sensor is connected to a second door, the second door being moveable from a closed position in the direction of travel along the cable towards an open position, wherein a passage of the second door is detected by the second sensor.
Transport system according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the passage of at least one of the first door and the second door is detected by its movement by a preset threshold value relative to its closed position.
Transport system according any of the preceding claims 6, 7 or 8, wherein at least one of the first door and second door is immovable in the direction opposite to the direction of travel along the cable from its closed position.
Transport system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the second sensor is arranged on or adjacent to an exit platform.
Transport system according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the cable is a zipline.
Method for securing a transport system for transferring persons according to any of the preceding claims, comprising the steps of:
- detecting the passage of a pulley by a first sensor of a transport system arranged along a cable from a first location to a second location;

- transmitting a detection signal by the first sensor to the controller after detecting the passage;

- moving the blocking means by the controller to a locked position after receiving the detection signal from the first sensor;

- detecting the passage of the pulley by a second sensor of the transport system arranged along the cable after the detection of the passage of the pulley by the first sensor;

- transmitting a detection signal by the second sensor to the controller after the detection of the passage of the pulley by the second sensor;

- moving the blocking means by the controller to an unlocked position after receiving the detection signal from the second sensor.