EP3353033B1 - Cable car - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a cable car cabin with a floor that can be walked on at least when entering the cable car cabin and with at least two seats which, in a side view of the cable car cabin, are arranged on both sides of an imaginary vertical line on which the center of gravity is located when the cable car cabin is in operation.

Such cable car cabins are known and are often used to transport passengers between a valley station and a mountain station. Most of the time, a large number of cabins are used, which can be coupled to a suspension cable or are permanently coupled to it. To get in and out of the valley station or mountain station, the cable car cabins can usually be decoupled from the carrying cable in order to reduce the travel speed. Such cable car cabins usually have four to 8 seats for a corresponding number of passengers. Usually the seats are mounted in two rows facing each other so that the passengers sit opposite each other during the journey. The seats are arranged on both sides of the imaginary vertical line on which the center of gravity is located when the cable car cabin is in operation. As a result, the cable car cabin should hang as straight as possible, and this, if possible, even when the load is uneven, for example if fewer passengers are to be transported than existing seats. The seat or seats can each be provided for only one person, or else have several seats, so that several people can sit on one seat, preferably next to one another. The advantage of such cable car cabins is the good weather protection for the passengers. In addition, large numbers of passengers can be transported with such cable car cabins. On the other hand, the driving experience with these cable car cabins is often perceived as boring.

CH 542 079 A discloses an overhead swivel chair for three or more people. The suspension swivel chair has a hanger on which the chair elements face each other with their back parts. It also describes CH 542 079 A that the hanger is provided with a permanently connected outer tube and the outer tube is aligned for rotating the chair elements.

FR 2 639 302 A1 discloses a cabin that has two side walls, two end walls, an access door consisting of two sliding leaves, and seats. The seats are located in the four corners of the cabin and are attached to the side walls with their backrests. Further seats are arranged in pairs with facing backrests and form a so-called seating group, which is arranged between the seats. Furthermore, in the FR 2 639 302 A1 described that the seats in the cabin enable symmetrical filling of the cabin and standing space is provided in the middle. The object of the invention is therefore to increase the driving experience with a cable car cabin of the type mentioned at the beginning.

According to the invention, this object is achieved by a cable car cabin of the type mentioned at the beginning, which has the features of claim 1.

In such an arrangement of the seats in the cable car cabin, the driving experience can be increased considerably. Instead of looking at each other, passengers can enjoy the landscape undisturbed. This is achieved in particular by the fact that the seats are outermost seats, and thus no other passengers or other devices disturb the view. As seated passengers, straight and upright seated passengers with a straight line of sight are considered. It is of course up to the passengers to change their viewing direction by turning their heads. The arrangement of the seats according to the invention, however, makes it possible to enjoy the landscape without disturbance when looking straight ahead.

According to the invention, the seats are movable between a viewing position in which the direction of view of the passengers is at least partially, preferably completely turned away from the imaginary vertical line in the side view, and an entry position in which the direction of view of the passengers is preferably opposite the imaginary vertical line in a side view facing each other. As a result, the passengers can advantageously enter the cable car cabin conventionally via the floor. After the passengers have taken their seats, they can be moved to the viewing position so that they can enjoy the uninterrupted view.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the cable car cabin can have a housing that delimits an interior space. The housing can have at least one viewing opening, the passenger sitting on the seat preferably facing away from the interior space at least temporarily and at least partially, preferably completely, in the viewing position of the seat towards the viewing opening. Such a cable car cabin can offer better weather protection and at the same time allow an undisturbed view from the cable car cabin. The passenger is advantageously turned away from the interior in the viewing position and facing the interior in the boarding position.

It can be advantageous that in the viewing position the passenger is at least partially, preferably completely, turned away from a direction of transport of the cable car cabin. It is therefore conceivable that the passenger looks obliquely to the conveying direction or laterally to the conveying direction or even completely averted backwards to the direction of travel. It is also conceivable that the seat can be adjusted stepwise or steplessly between the viewing position and the boarding position. With the step-by-step adjustability, there is the possibility of being able to assume predetermined positions in a simple manner.

In an advantageous development of the invention, securing means are provided for securing the passenger on the seat. Since the passenger is facing the viewing opening, there is a fundamental risk of falling out and falling from the cable car cabin. In order to prevent this, the securing means are provided for securing the passenger. It can be advantageous if the seat has a backrest. This allows the passenger to be better secured. In addition, the sitting position becomes more comfortable.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the securing means can have a securing bracket, which can preferably be moved by pivoting from an open position, in which the passenger can leave the seat, to a locked position, in which the passenger is secured, preferably fixed, to the seat. Such safety brackets are known, for example, from roller coasters. In an open position, the bar is raised and the passenger can sit on the seat. The bracket is then moved into the locked position, whereby it is lowered so that it rests on the shoulders and in the chest area, or the person can lean against it with the shoulders or with the chest. For this purpose, the securing bracket can be designed essentially U-shaped with two hinges or joints. The securing bracket can preferably be attached pivotably to the backrest, preferably to an upper end section of the backrest.

In an advantageous development of the invention, the seat can be rotatable about a pivot axis for transferring from the viewing position to the entry position, and the pivot axis preferably extends essentially perpendicular to a floor of the cabin. In this way, a simple transfer of the seat from the viewing position to the boarding position and vice versa can be made possible. For this purpose, a vertical pivot axis can be anchored on the floor. Instead of pivoting, it is basically also conceivable to transfer the seat by moving it. Pivoting, however, is easier to implement.

In an advantageous further development of the invention, the seat can be pivoted through 180 ° for transferring from the entry position to the viewing position. At least two seats can advantageously be provided and, in the boarding position, the passengers sitting on the respective seats face one another. As a result, climbing and leaving the cable car cabin can take place in a conventional manner. The passengers initially take their seats opposite one another in a conventional manner. The passengers can then be swiveled by 180 ° so that the direction of view of the passengers is opposite. It can be the case that some of the passengers are facing in the direction of travel and the other part of the passengers is facing against the direction of travel. It is also conceivable that the passengers left and right to the direction of travel look. The effect becomes particularly clear when more than two seats are provided, in particular four or more, which are arranged in two rows. In the boarding position, the passengers sitting directly opposite each other look at each other. After the seats have been pivoted into the viewing position, the viewing direction of the passengers who were previously facing each other is turned away from each other. The passengers then have an unobstructed view of the landscape through the viewing opening.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the cabin has an entry opening, preferably with a door, through which the cabin can be entered and / or left again. In this way, the cable car cabins can be integrated into conventional cable car systems. For example, they can be operated mixed with standard cabins, which usually have access openings of this type with doors. It can be advantageous if the boarding opening is arranged adjacent to the seats and essentially between them. You enter the cable car cabin in a conventional manner between the two rows of seats.

A further increase in the driving experience can be achieved if, in the viewing position, the passenger protrudes at least partially through the viewing opening. In particular, for example, the feet can protrude from the viewing opening. It would also be conceivable to move the passengers with the seat in the direction of the viewing opening or through it. This could also further enhance the driving experience.

In order to also enable operation in poor weather conditions, it can be provided that the viewing opening can be closed at least when the seat is in the closed position. The cable car cabin can then be used in a conventional manner.

Furthermore, a safety device, preferably a rail, can be provided on the side of the seats facing away from the imaginary vertical line in the side view of the cable car cabin. This enables a very open cable car cabin to be realized. The railing can prevent the passengers from falling more effectively. At the same time, there is an improved feeling of security. For example, passengers can hold on to the railing while driving.

• Figur 1 eine schematische Darstellung der grundsätzlichen Anordnung von Seilbahnkabinen in einer Kabinenseilbahn;
• Figur 2 die erfindungsgemäße Seilbahnkabine mit Sitzen in der Zusteigestellung in einer Schnittansicht;
• Figur 3 die erfindungsgemäße Seilbahnkabine mit Sitzen in der Aussichtsstellung in einer Schnittansicht;
• Figur 4 eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Seilbahnkabine;
• Figur 5 eine weitere Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Seilbahnkabine in einer Draufsicht.

The invention is explained in more detail below on the basis of exemplary embodiments. Show it:

• Figure 1 a schematic representation of the basic arrangement of cable car cabins in a cabin cable car;
• Figure 2 the cable car cabin according to the invention with seats in the boarding position in a sectional view;
• Figure 3 the cable car cabin according to the invention with seats in the viewing position in a sectional view;
• Figure 4 a further embodiment of the cable car cabin according to the invention;
• Figure 5 another embodiment of the cable car cabin according to the invention in a plan view.

Figure 1 shows schematically a so-called cabin cable car 1, in which a large number of cable car cabins, in particular more than two cable car cabins, are coupled to a common support cable. The support cable has the reference number 2 and the cable car cabins the reference number 3 and 4. The mountain and valley stations are not shown, but are generally known and do not need to be explained in more detail here. In each of the mountain and valley stations, the cable car cabin is uncoupled from the suspension cable. As a result, the cable car cabins can be moved more slowly than the suspension cable, thereby enabling easy entry and exit of the cable car cabin. With the support cable, the cable car cabins are moved along a conveying direction F between the mountain and valley stations.

Two different types of cable car cabins are shown in the illustration. The reference number 3 denotes conventional cable car cabins. The reference number 4 denotes a cable car cabin according to the invention. As with Figure 1 It becomes clear that the dimensions of the conventional cable car cabin and the cable car cabin according to the invention are essentially the same. This should make it possible to operate the cable car cabin according to the invention mixed with conventional cable car cabins. It is of course conceivable to exclusively use cable car cabins according to the invention for the cabin cable cars. However, essentially the same dimensions between conventional and inventive cable car cabins are not mandatory.

The cable car cabins have a housing 5 which defines an interior 6. The housing 5 can consist, for example, of an aluminum or steel frame with disks etc. in a conventional manner. The housing has a base 7 which can be rectangular or square in plan view. In principle, it is of course also conceivable, for example, to provide a circular or oval shape for the floor. The rest of the cabin must then be designed accordingly. The cable car cabins have a boarding opening 8, which through a door 9 can be locked. The door 9 often consists of two door elements which are automatically opened and locked for entering and leaving the cable car cabin of the mountain and / or valley station.

In contrast to the conventional cable car cabins, a viewing opening 10 is provided in the cable car cabin according to the invention. In the embodiment preferred here, two viewing openings are provided which are opposite one another. The viewing openings can also be closed by means that are not described in detail. Such means can be, for example, transparent elements which cover the viewing opening and can be connected to the housing for this purpose. However, these covers are not required in normal operation. The viewing openings are then open. Alternatively, there can also be large windows which permanently close the viewing opening but do not interfere with the view.

In addition, the cable car cabin has several seats 11 which are attached to the housing and / or the floor. The seats 11 have a backrest 12 and securing means 13. The securing means 13 are essentially bow-shaped and pivotably mounted on an upper end section 14 of the backrest of the seat. The Figures 2 and 3rd show the securing means in an open position and a locked position, respectively. In the open position according to Figure 2 the bracket is raised so that a passenger 15 can sit on the seat 11 or stand up. In the locked position of the seat, the bracket is lowered and extends over the shoulder and chest area of the passenger in order to secure the passenger to the seat 11.

The seat 11 is pivotably mounted in the cable car cabin and can be switched between an entry position according to FIG Figure 2 and a viewing position according to Figure 3 be pivoted. For this purpose, the seat 11 can be pivoted about an axis of rotation 16. A corresponding axis of rotation is preferably attached to the floor of the cable car cabin. In the present embodiment, four seats are provided. The seats are arranged in two rows side by side. The dimensions of the cable car cabin are chosen so that eight seats are usually provided. However, the swiveling of the seats from the boarding position to the viewing position requires space, so that only four seats are provided instead of the conventional eight seats. It is also conceivable to arrange the passengers offset from one another in order to be able to build the cable car cabin more compactly. In the case of cable car cabins with a round or oval floor, the passengers in the viewing position can look outward in the radial direction, they are arranged along a circle, so to speak, with a radial outward direction in each case. In the viewing position, the passenger extends partially through the viewing opening. So For example, your feet hang freely in the air. This results in a driving experience similar to that of a roller coaster. In addition, the passenger can enjoy the uninterrupted view of the mountains.

So that the cable car cabin is as stable as possible on the hoist rope, the seats are arranged in the side view according to the figures on both sides of an imaginary vertical line LV, on which the center of gravity of the cable car cabin S is in operation. At the same time, in the preferred embodiment, a plan view is side by side on both sides of an imaginary horizontal line LH, which extends perpendicular to the imaginary vertical line LV and perpendicular to the plane of the side view, which in the illustration is the plane of the sheet. The imaginary horizontal line LH therefore does not have to intersect the imaginary vertical line LV. As a result, the cable car cabin should hang as straight as possible during the journey, even with uneven loads.

The effect and mode of operation of the invention are explained in more detail below.

In the mountain station, the doors 9 are opened in a conventional manner and the passenger can get through the passage opening 8 into the interior 6 of the cable car cabin. The passengers can now take a seat, with the safety bar in the open position in the boarding position. The passengers sit across from each other. As soon as the passengers are seated, the safety bar is lowered and locked. The passengers with the seat are then swiveled from the boarding position to the viewing position. This can be done manually by the passenger himself or automatically. At the mountain station, the passenger is swiveled back from the viewing position to the boarding position and the safety bracket is transferred to the open position. The passenger can then leave the cable car cabin in a conventional manner.

As can be seen in the figures, the viewing position is the direction of view B of the passengers in such a way that the direction of view in the side view is at least partially turned away from the imaginary vertical line LV. In this embodiment, the direction of view of the passengers is parallel to a vertical plane in which the direction of travel F is located. The passengers thus look either in the direction of travel or against the direction of travel F. The vertical plane in which the direction of travel F runs is parallel to a plane of the side view. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the vertical plane in which the direction of travel F extends encloses an angle with the direction of view of the passengers in the top view. This would apply e.g. B. to if, in a plan view of the cable car cabin, the direction of view was, for example, radially opposite the imaginary vertical line LV. Likewise, the direction of view of the passengers could be oriented perpendicular to the vertical plane in which the direction of travel extends. Then they would Passengers look either to one side or the other, perpendicular to the direction of travel. Because the seats are each outermost seat, there is no other person in the direction of view of the passengers, so that the passengers' view is undisturbed.

The new design of the cable car cabin increases the driving experience considerably. The passengers can enjoy the undisturbed view of the mountain landscape. At the same time, a feeling of floating is created.

Another embodiment of a cable car cabin according to the invention is described below.

The same elements are denoted by the same reference symbols. The cable car cabin 4 is designed as an open cable car cabin. It also has a floor 7 through which the cable car cabin can be entered. In the preferred embodiment, the seats are permanently installed with the backrests adjacent to one another. In the preferred embodiment, the seats are fixedly mounted on the floor. However, it is also conceivable to move the seats further outward in the side view with respect to the imaginary vertical line LV, and to make them also pivotable, as in the previous exemplary embodiment.

In the embodiment described here, a rail 16 is also provided. During the journey, passengers can hold on to the railing. Alternatively, passengers can hold on to the railing when entering or exiting the cable car cabin. In particular, the railing should prevent falling and increase the passengers' sense of security. Alternatively, it is also conceivable to design the floor in such a way that it can only be walked on when entering and exiting the cable car cabin. While the passengers are being transported, the floor can be moved in such a way that the feet of the passengers on the seats hang freely in the air. For this purpose, the ground z. B. partially withdrawn or averted.

The very open design of the cable car cabins according to the second exemplary embodiment reinforces the impression of floating during the journey and can thus lead to a further increase in the driving experience.

In a further possible embodiment, the seats are arranged offset to one another. Figure 5 shows the cable car cabin according to the invention in a top view perpendicular to the side view. In this top view, the seats 11 are shown with the floor 7. The imaginary vertical line LV extends into the plane of the sheet and perpendicular to the plane of the sheet. The offset of the Sitting is along the imaginary line LH, which extends perpendicular to the imaginary vertical line LV and perpendicular to the plane of the side view. In the representation in Fig. 5 the imaginary horizontal line LH runs parallel to the plane of the sheet. The imaginary horizontal line LH can preferably run through the center of gravity S, and thus intersect the imaginary vertical line LV. However, this is not absolutely necessary. In this embodiment, at least two of the seats can also be designed to be pivotable. In the preferred embodiment, these are the seats that are in the front in the direction of travel F.

The features of these embodiments can be combined with one another as required.

The invention also extends to a cable car cabin with a floor that can be walked on at least when entering the cable car cabin and with at least two seats which, in a side view of the cable car cabin, are arranged on both sides of an imaginary vertical line on which the center of gravity is located when the cable car cabin is in operation, and in which the seats are movable, preferably pivotable, between a boarding position, in which a passenger can take a seat on one of the seats, and a viewing position, in order to enable the passengers in the viewing position to have a view that is unobstructed by other passengers.

In the viewing position, the viewing direction (B) of the passengers sitting on the seats can be at least partially or preferably completely turned away from the imaginary vertical line (LV), and in the boarding position the viewing direction of the passengers can preferably be opposite the imaginary vertical line (LV) face each other.

Furthermore, the cable car cabin can have a housing that delimits an interior space and the housing can have at least one viewing opening, and the passenger sitting on the seat can at least temporarily and at least partially, preferably completely, face away from the interior space towards the viewing opening.

In the viewing position, the passenger sitting on the seat can at least partially, preferably completely facing away from the interior towards the viewing opening, and in the boarding position the passenger can preferably be completely facing the interior.

Furthermore, the invention extends to a cable car cabin with a floor that can be walked on at least when entering the cable car cabin and with at least two seats which, in a side view of the cable car cabin, are arranged on both sides of an imaginary vertical line on which the center of gravity is located when the cable car cabin is in operation, being security means are provided with which the passenger can be secured, preferably fixed, on the seat.

The securing means can advantageously have a securing bracket, which can be transferred, preferably by pivoting from an open position, in which the passenger can leave the seat, to a locked position, in which the passenger is secured, preferably fixed, to the seat.

The above-mentioned combinations of features can be freely combined with the features of the embodiments and the claims.

Claims (14)

1. A cableway cabin with a floor (7) which can be walked on at least during boarding the cableway cabin and with at least two seats (11) which, in a side view of the cableway cabin, are arranged on both sides of an imaginary vertical line (LV) on which the centre of gravity (S) is located during operation of the cableway cabin, wherein the viewing direction (B) of seated passengers (15) respectively corresponding to the seats (11) is at least temporarily facing away from each other with respect to the imaginary vertical line (LV) in the side view and the seats are respectively outermost seats with respect to the imaginary vertical line (LV) in the side view, to thereby offer passengers a view not obstructed by other passengers, characterized in that the seats are movable between a viewing position, in which the viewing direction (B) of the passengers sitting on the seats is at least partially, preferably completely, facing away from each other with respect to the imaginary vertical line (LV), and a boarding position, in which the viewing direction of the passengers with respect to the imaginary vertical line (LV) is preferably facing each other.
2. The cableway cabin according to claim 1, characterized in that the cableway cabin has a housing defining an interior space and the housing has at least one viewing opening, and the seated passenger is at least temporarily and at least partially, preferably completely, facing away from the interior space and facing towards the viewing opening.
3. The cableway cabin as claimed in claim 2, characterised in that in the viewing position the seated passenger is facing away from the interior towards the viewing opening and in the boarding position the passenger is facing towards the interior.
4. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat includes a backrest (12) and/or the securing means include a safety bar (13) which can be switched, preferably by pivoting, from an open position in which the passenger can leave the seat to a locked position in which the passenger is secured, preferably fixed, to the seat and/or the safety bar is pivotally attached to the backrest, preferably to an upper end portion of the backrest.
5. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat (11) for moving from the viewing position to the boarding position is rotatable about a pivot axis (16) and the pivot axis preferably extends substantially perpendicular to the floor (7) of the cabin.
6. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the seat can be pivoted through 180° for transfer from the boarding position to the viewing position.
7. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least two seats (15) are provided and, in the boarding position, the passengers seated on the respective seats face each other.
8. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least four seats (15) are provided which are arranged in two rows so that at least in the boarding position two of the passengers face each other.
9. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the cabin has at least one boarding opening (8), preferably with a door (9), through which the car can be boarded and/or exited.
10. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the boarding opening (8) is arranged adjacent to the seats substantially between them.
11. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the viewing position the passenger protrudes at least partially through the viewing opening (11).
12. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the viewing position the feet of the passenger are freely suspended, preferably to the outside of the interior.
13. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the viewing opening can be closed at least in the boarding position of the seat.
14. The cableway cabin according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a safety device, preferably a railing, is provided on the side of the seats facing away from the imaginary vertical line (LV) in the side view.

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