EP4190662A1 - Système de chauffage pour chauffer des unités de transport d'un système de transport par câble, système de transport par câble comprenant ledit système de chauffage et procédé de commande dudit système de chauffage - Google Patents

Système de chauffage pour chauffer des unités de transport d'un système de transport par câble, système de transport par câble comprenant ledit système de chauffage et procédé de commande dudit système de chauffage Download PDF

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Publication number
EP4190662A1
EP4190662A1 EP22211322.7A EP22211322A EP4190662A1 EP 4190662 A1 EP4190662 A1 EP 4190662A1 EP 22211322 A EP22211322 A EP 22211322A EP 4190662 A1 EP4190662 A1 EP 4190662A1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
heating
transport
electrically conductive
conductive element
power supply
Prior art date
Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
Pending
Application number
EP22211322.7A
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German (de)
English (en)
Inventor
Robert Hofer
Current Assignee (The listed assignees may be inaccurate. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation or warranty as to the accuracy of the list.)
Leitner AG
Original Assignee
Leitner AG
Priority date (The priority date is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the date listed.)
Filing date
Publication date
Application filed by Leitner AG filed Critical Leitner AG
Publication of EP4190662A1 publication Critical patent/EP4190662A1/fr
Pending legal-status Critical Current

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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

Definitions

  • the present invention concerns a heating system for heating transport units of a cable transport system, preferably aerial, and a cable transport system, preferably aerial, for transporting passengers comprising said heating system.
  • the present invention refers to a method for controlling said heating system.
  • Aerial cable transport systems are particularly useful when the conformation of the underlying terrain, or other factors surrounding it, do not make the classic ground advance feasible.
  • these aerial cable systems are used in the event that the path to be travelled involves significant elevation changes, even with considerable gradients. This path is typical of ski/mountain resort areas, where aerial cable transport systems are referred to as ski lifts.
  • aerial cable transport systems are also advantageously applied in urban contexts where inland transport is congested.
  • the term "aerial” refers to cable systems in which the transport units are moved and supported by at least one cable in a raised position with respect to the ground below or with respect to any other fixed structures below.
  • the transport systems may be chairlifts, in which each transport unit comprises a seat for each passenger to sit, or cable cars, in which the transport units comprise a cabin.
  • the currently known aerial cable transport systems can be of the "mono-cable” type, in which the load-bearing cable also performs the function of a drawing cable, or they can be of the "bi-cable” and “tri-cable” type, in which in addition to the drawing cable there are respectively one or two load-bearing cables.
  • the drawing cable is returned in a loop and moved between the terminal stations and in the case of mono-cable transport systems the transport units comprise special devices (for example clamps) to remain bound to the cable at least in the section outside the stations.
  • the transport units disengage from the drawing cable to proceed at a lower speed in order to allow a safe unboarding and boarding of the passengers, without slowing down the transport units in motion along the rest of the predefined path.
  • the transport units are heated by means of heating elements with electrical resistor installed in each transport unit.
  • the heating elements are installed in a padding of each seat.
  • the known heating systems comprise electrically conductive elements, which are configured to be electrically supplied and are arranged in heating sections along the predetermined path at a terminal station.
  • the heating elements are supplied through sliding collectors, each of which is mounted on a suspension of the respective transport unit and is guided along the respective electrically conductive element so as to electrically connect each electrically conductive element to the respective heating elements.
  • a proximity sensor is positioned at the entrance and at the exit of each heating section, which detects the entering and the exiting of each transport unit in/from the heating section, activating or deactivating the power supply of the electrically conductive element.
  • Aim of the present invention is to realize a heating system for heating transport units of a cable transport system that mitigates the drawbacks highlighted herein of the prior art.
  • a heating system for heating transport units of a cable transport system preferably aerial, comprising a transport cable extending along a predefined path; the heating system comprising:
  • the present invention it is possible to reduce the electricity consumption of the heating system, limiting the impact of the heating system both on environmental pollution and on the operating costs of the transport system.
  • the reduction of energy consumption is achieved through the controlled activation and deactivation of the electrically conductive element, based on the recognition of passengers in a boarding area of the transport system.
  • the heating system is activated only if the transport unit is occupied by at least one passenger.
  • a further aim of the present invention is to provide a method for controlling a heating system for heating transport units of a cable transport system that mitigates the drawbacks highlighted herein of the prior art.
  • a method for controlling a heating system for heating transport units of a cable transport system preferably aerial, comprising a transport cable extending along a predefined path; the method comprising the steps of:
  • 1 schematically denotes a portion of an aerial cable transport system.
  • the transport system 1 is of the mono-cable type and comprises a single cable 2 that performs the dual function of load-bearing cable and drawing cable.
  • the transport system 1 can be of the "bi-cable” and "tri-cable” type, wherein the transport system 1 comprises in addition to the drawing cable respectively one or two load-bearing cables.
  • the transport system 1 comprises a first terminal station or downstream station 3 and a second terminal station or upstream station, not shown in the accompanying Figures.
  • the downstream station 3 and the upstream station are provided with respective pulleys 4 (only the pulley of the downstream station 3 is visible in the accompanying Figures), at least one of which is motorized.
  • the cable 2 is returned in a loop by means of the two pulleys 4 so as to identify a predefined path 5 comprising an uphill branch 6 and a downhill branch 7.
  • the arrows A and B shown in Figure 1 indicate the directions of advancement of the uphill 6 and downhill 7 branches.
  • the transport system 1 comprises at least one transport unit 8, which is moved and supported by the cable 2 and is configured to transport passengers along the predefined path 5.
  • the transport system 1 comprises a plurality of transport units 8, arranged one after the other along both the uphill 6 and downhill 7 branches of the predefined path 5.
  • each transport unit 8 comprises a passenger seat 9 and an anti-fall device 10, typically a liftable safety bar, to prevent passengers from falling during transport along the predefined path 5.
  • the transport system 1 is referred to as chairlift.
  • each transport unit 8 may assume a wide range of different configurations.
  • each transport unit 8 may comprise a cabin for transporting passengers along the predefined path 5.
  • the transport system 1 is referred to as cable car.
  • each transport unit 8 is provided with at least one heating element 11 comprising an electrical resistor.
  • each transport unit 8 comprises a plurality of heating elements 11.
  • each heating element 11 is installed in a padding of each seat 9 of the transport unit 8 for heating said seat 9.
  • the transport system 1 comprises a boarding area 12, which is arranged at the downstream station 3 to allow passengers to board each transport unit 8.
  • the transport system 1 comprises an unboarding area, not shown in the accompanying Figures, arranged at the upstream station to allow passengers to unboard from each transport unit 8.
  • the boarding area 12 may be arranged at the upstream station and the unboarding area may be arranged at the downstream station 3 or the boarding area 12 and the unboarding area may be both arranged at the downstream station 3 or at the upstream station.
  • the transport system 1 comprises at least one intermediate station arranged between the downstream station 3 and the upstream station.
  • the transport system 1 may comprise a further boarding area and/or a further unboarding area, arranged at said intermediate station.
  • the transport system 1 comprises a heating system 13 for heating the transport units 8.
  • the heating system 13 comprises at least one electrically conductive element 14, which is arranged along a heating section 15 of the predefined path 5 and is configured to selectively electrically connect/disconnect with each heating element 11 arranged in the transport unit 8 when said transport unit 8 enters/exits in/from the heating section 15; and a recognition device 16, which is configured to detect the presence of passengers in the boarding area 12 of the transport system 1 and to generate a presence signal indicative of said detected presence.
  • the recognition device 16 comprises an optical sensor, in particular a camera or a photo camera or a photocell or a laser sensor.
  • the recognition device 16 comprises a mechanical device, in particular a gate or a turnstile.
  • the recognition device 16 comprises both an optical sensor and a mechanical device.
  • the heating system 13 comprises a plurality of electrically conductive elements 14 arranged around the downstream station 3 of the transport system 1 along respective heating sections 15 of the predefined path 5.
  • the heating system 13 comprises three electrically conductive elements 14.
  • the number and the arrangement of the electrically conductive elements 14 may vary according to a wide range of different possible configurations.
  • the electrically conductive elements 14 may be arranged at the upstream station and/or at intermediate stations.
  • each electrically conductive element 14 measured along the predetermined path 5 is less than the distance between two successive transport units 8. In this way, each heating section 15 is travelled by only one transport unit 8 at a time.
  • Each electrically conductive element 14 comprises an electrically conductive rail 17, which is configured to allow the sliding of a sliding collector 18 coupled to the transport unit 8.
  • each transport unit 8 comprises the sliding collector 18, which is made of an electrically conductive material, is configured to slide along each electrically conductive element 14, and is electrically connected to each heating element 11 of the transport unit 8 so as to transmit electric current from the electrically conductive element 14 to the respective heating elements 11.
  • each electrically conductive element 14 comprises a presence sensor assembly 39 ( Figure 2 ), which is configured to detect the entering and the exiting of the transport unit 8 in/from the heating section 15 and to generate a respective transit signal.
  • the presence sensor assembly 39 comprises an entrance proximity sensor 19, which is configured to detect the entering of the transport unit 8 in the respective heating section 15 and to generate a respective entrance signal; and an exit proximity sensor 20, which is configured to detect the exit of the transport unit 8 from the heating section 15 and to generate a respective exit signal.
  • the entrance signal and the exit signal define the transit signal.
  • the presence sensor assembly may be a motion detector, or an optical presence detection system, or a sound wave-based presence detection system, or an electromagnetic wave-based presence detection system. In this case, these sensors provide the transit signal.
  • the heating system 13 comprises a temperature sensor 21 configured to detect a temperature of the transport unit 8 and to generate a temperature signal indicative of said detected temperature.
  • the heating system 13 comprises a speed sensor 38, which is configured to detect the speed of the transport units 8 and to generate a speed signal indicative of said detected speed.
  • the speed sensor 38 is arranged on the pulley 4 and is configured to detect the speed of the transport units 8 by measuring the rotation speed of the pulley 4 and/or the sliding speed of the cable 2.
  • speed sensor 38 can be arranged on the transport unit 8 or in any other portion of the transport system 1.
  • the heating system 13 comprises a power supply circuit 22, which is configured to electrically supply each electrically conductive element 14 and comprises a switch assembly 37 for activating/deactivating the power supply of each electrically conductive element 14; and a control unit 24, which is configured to receive the presence signal generated by the recognition device 16 and to control the switch assembly 37 as a function of said received presence signal.
  • control unit 24 comprises a programmable logic controller, in particular of the "Programmable Logic Controller” (PLC) type.
  • PLC Programmable Logic Controller
  • the power supply circuit 22 is connected to an electrical power source, such as an AC power supply or an electrical generator or a battery.
  • the power supply circuit 22 comprises for each electrically conductive element 14 an electric power converter 25, which is configured to convert an input alternating electric current into an output direct electric current so as to supply the respective electrically conductive element 14 with direct current.
  • the switch assembly 37 comprises a switch 23, which is configured to simultaneously activate/deactivate the power supply of the electrically conductive elements 14, and a switch 26 for each electrically conductive element 14 configured to activate/deactivate the respective electrically conductive element 14.
  • the control unit 24 is configured to control the switches 26 independently of each other so as to selectively activate/deactivate the power supply of the respective electrically conductive elements 14.
  • the heating system 13 comprises for each electrically conductive element 14 a current sensor 27 configured to detect a power supply current of the respective electrically conductive element 14.
  • control unit 24 is configured to control the switch assembly 37 so as to activate the power supply of the electrically conductive elements 14 if the recognition device 16 detects the presence of passengers in the boarding area 12 of the transport system 1.
  • control unit 24 is configured to command the closure of the switch 23 so as to close the power supply circuit 22.
  • control unit 24 activates the supply of the heating elements 11 only when the respective transport unit 8 is occupied by passengers.
  • control unit 24 is configured to receive the transit signal generated by the presence sensor assembly 39 and to control the switch assembly 37 as a function of the received transit signal.
  • control unit 24 is configured to receive the input and output signals generated respectively by the input proximity sensor 19 and by the output proximity sensor 20 and to control the switch assembly 37 as a function of the received input and output signals.
  • control unit 24 is configured to control the switch 23 so as to activate the power supply of the electrically conductive elements 14 if the recognition device 16 detects the presence of passengers in the boarding area 12 of the transport system 1 and to control each switch 26 so as to activate the power supply of a certain electrically conductive element 14 when the respective input proximity sensor 19 detects the entering of the transport unit 24 in the respective heating section 15.
  • control unit 24 is configured to control the switches 26 so as to activate the power supply only of the electrically conductive elements 14 travelled by the transport unit 8.
  • control unit 24 is configured to control the switches 26 so as to deactivate the power supply of the respective electrically conductive elements 14 when the respective output proximity sensors 20 detect the exit of the transport unit 8 from the respective heating sections 15.
  • control unit 24 activates the supply of each electrically conductive element 14 only when said electrically conductive element 14 is electrically connected to the heating elements 11.
  • the switch assembly 37 comprises only the switches 26.
  • the switch 23 is removed from the power supply circuit 22.
  • each switch 26 directly controls the power supply of the respective electrically conductive element 14 as a function of the presence signal and of the respective transit signal, in particular with an AND function of the presence signal and of the respective transit signal.
  • the switch assembly 37 comprises only the switch 23.
  • the switches 26 are removed from the power supply circuit 22.
  • the switch 23 simultaneously controls the supply of all electrically conductive elements 14 as a function of the presence signal and of the transit signals, in particular through an OR function among all the transit signals, in turn in AND with the presence signal.
  • control unit 24 is configured to receive an enabling signal and to selectively activate/deactivate the heating system 13 as a function of said enabling signal.
  • the enabling signal may be generated by a manual command device 28, such as a manual switch, which is controllable by an operator.
  • control unit 24 is configured to receive the temperature signal generated by the temperature sensor 21 and to control the switch assembly 37 as a function of said received temperature signal, in particular so as to activate/deactivate the power supply of the electrically conductive elements 14.
  • the speed sensor 38 is configured to detect the speed of the transport units 8 and to generate a speed signal indicative of said detected speed.
  • the control unit 24 is configured to receive the speed signal generated by the speed sensor 38 and to control the switch assembly 37 as a function of said received speed signal, in particular so as to deactivate the power supply of the electrically conductive elements 14 when the detected speed falls below a certain threshold.
  • the heating system 13 is deactivated when the transport units 8 are stationary in the heating sections 15.
  • the temperature sensor 21, the manual command device 28 and the speed sensor 38 generate respective signals.
  • the control unit 24 receives said signals and, as a function of the received signals, outputs an enabling signal to selectively activate/deactivate the heating system 13 (block 29).
  • control unit 24 evaluates whether to activate or deactivate the heating system 13 (block 30).
  • control unit 24 commands the opening of the switch 23 so as to deactivate the power supply of the electrically conductive elements 14 (block 31).
  • control unit 24 controls the presence of passengers in the boarding area 12.
  • control unit 24 receives the presence signal detected by the recognition device 16 (block 32).
  • control unit 24 evaluates whether to activate or deactivate the power supply of the electrically conductive elements 14 (block 33).
  • control unit 24 commands the opening of the switch 23 so as to deactivate the power supply of the electrically conductive elements 14 (block 31).
  • control unit 24 checks whether there are transport units 8 in each heating section 15.
  • control unit 24 receives input signals from each input proximity sensor 19 and output signals from each output proximity sensor 20.
  • control unit 24 determines whether there are transport units 8 in the heating sections 15 (block 34) and evaluates for each heating section 15 whether to activate or deactivate the power supply of the respective electrically conductive elements 14 (block 35).
  • control unit 24 commands the opening of the respective switch 26 so as to deactivate the power supply of the respective electrically conductive element 14 (block 31).
  • control unit 24 commands the closure of the respective switch 26 so as to activate the power supply of the respective electrically conductive element 14 (block 36).

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  • Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
  • Transportation (AREA)
  • Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
  • Control Of Resistance Heating (AREA)
EP22211322.7A 2021-12-06 2022-12-05 Système de chauffage pour chauffer des unités de transport d'un système de transport par câble, système de transport par câble comprenant ledit système de chauffage et procédé de commande dudit système de chauffage Pending EP4190662A1 (fr)

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
IT202100030788 2021-12-06

Publications (1)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP4190662A1 true EP4190662A1 (fr) 2023-06-07

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Family Applications (1)

Application Number Title Priority Date Filing Date
EP22211322.7A Pending EP4190662A1 (fr) 2021-12-06 2022-12-05 Système de chauffage pour chauffer des unités de transport d'un système de transport par câble, système de transport par câble comprenant ledit système de chauffage et procédé de commande dudit système de chauffage

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EP (1) EP4190662A1 (fr)

Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040041541A1 (en) * 2002-09-03 2004-03-04 Christoph Hinteregger Cable railroad system
US20050168028A1 (en) * 2003-03-10 2005-08-04 Innova Patent Gmbh Method of heating the seat and/or backrest of a chair of a cableway system, and chair that is suitable for the purpose
US7389729B2 (en) * 2004-09-15 2008-06-24 Innova Patent Gmbh Method for heating a gondola of a cableway system, a gondola suitable therefor and a cableway system
EP2578466A1 (fr) * 2011-10-06 2013-04-10 Rolic Invest S.AR.L. Vehicule de telepherique, telepherique avec un tel vehicule et procede de chauffage d'un vehicule de telepherique

Patent Citations (4)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
US20040041541A1 (en) * 2002-09-03 2004-03-04 Christoph Hinteregger Cable railroad system
US20050168028A1 (en) * 2003-03-10 2005-08-04 Innova Patent Gmbh Method of heating the seat and/or backrest of a chair of a cableway system, and chair that is suitable for the purpose
US7389729B2 (en) * 2004-09-15 2008-06-24 Innova Patent Gmbh Method for heating a gondola of a cableway system, a gondola suitable therefor and a cableway system
EP2578466A1 (fr) * 2011-10-06 2013-04-10 Rolic Invest S.AR.L. Vehicule de telepherique, telepherique avec un tel vehicule et procede de chauffage d'un vehicule de telepherique

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