EP4375158A1 - Parking system for a cableway - Google Patents

Abstract

In order to provide an improved parking system which enables cable car vehicles to be parked in a parking area of a cable car station as simply and quickly as possible, a transfer device (8) for transferring cable car vehicles from a feed track (5) to at least two sidings (6, 7) is provided in the parking system (PS), which transfer device has a displacement device (V) which can be displaced along a stationary guide device (10) between a first transfer position (U1) and a second transfer position (U2), wherein the displacement device (V) has a first track segment (11) and a second track segment (12), wherein in the first transfer position (U1) of the displacement device (V) a cable car vehicle (4) can be moved from the first track segment (11) to the first siding (6) and a cable car vehicle (4) can be moved from the feed track (5) to the second track segment (12) and in the second transfer position (U2) of the Displacement device (V) a cable car vehicle (4) is movable from the feed track (5) to the first track segment (11) and a cable car vehicle (4) is movable from the second track segment (12) to the second siding (7).

Description

Parking system for a parking area of a cable car station of a cable car, for carrying out a parking process with a number of cable car vehicles of the cable car, wherein a feed track and at least a first siding and a second siding are provided in the parking system and wherein a transfer device is provided for transferring cable car vehicles from the feed track to the sidings. Furthermore, the invention relates to a use of the parking system for carrying out a parking process, a cable car with a parking system for carrying out a parking process and a method for carrying out a parking process with a number of cable car vehicles in a parking area of a cable car station of a cable car.

Circulating cable cars generally have a number of cable car stations, a number of cable car vehicles and a conveyor cable for moving the cable car vehicles between the cable car stations. In modern circulating cable cars, the cable car vehicles can be decoupled from the conveyor cable within the cable car stations in a known manner and moved through the cable car stations at a reduced speed. Such circulating cable cars with decoupleable cable car vehicles generally also have a parking area in which the cable car vehicles decoupled from the conveyor cable can be parked outside of operating hours. Such a parking area is usually located within one of the cable car stations, for example on the same level as the operating area in which the boarding and/or alighting area for the passengers is located or possibly also in a garage below the operating area. In order to transfer the cable car vehicles to their intended parking positions in the parking area, a suitable parking system is generally provided, which can include one or more conveyor devices. Example parking systems are shown in EP 0 711 696 A1 , AT 392766 B , AT 366328 B , CN 209942318 U or US 3,200,766 A .

Based on the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved parking system which enables cable car vehicles to be parked in a parking area of a cable car station as simply and quickly as possible.

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the transfer device has a displacement device which can be displaced along a stationary guide device between a first transfer position and a second transfer position, wherein the displacement device has a first track segment and a second track segment, wherein in the first transfer position of the displacement device a cable car vehicle can be moved from the first track segment to the first siding and a cable car vehicle can be moved from the feed track to the second track segment and in the second transfer position the shifting device allows a cable car vehicle to be moved from the feeder track to the first track segment and a cable car vehicle to be moved from the second track segment to the second siding. This can significantly reduce the duration of the parking process, since while a cable car vehicle is being transferred to one of the sidings, a following cable car vehicle can already be moved from the feeder track to a waiting position on the shifting device.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the displacement device can have a displacement carriage on which the first track segment and the second track segment are arranged at a distance from one another in a direction of movement of the displacement device, wherein the first track segment and the second track segment can be displaced together by means of the displacement carriage. This enables a simple structure and simple synchronous control of the movement of the track segments. Alternatively, the displacement device can also have at least a first and a second displacement carriage, wherein the first track segment is arranged on the first displacement carriage and the second track segment is arranged on the second displacement carriage, and wherein the first track segment and the second track segment can be displaced independently of one another by means of the displacement carriages. This enables more flexible control of the movement of the track segments, which also makes different positions, speeds and accelerations possible.

Advantageously, the sidings, the feeder track and the track segments of the shifting device each have a first guide rail for guiding a guide roller of the cable car vehicles. Optionally, the sidings, the feeder track and the track segments of the shifting device can each also have a second guide rail for guiding a support guide roller of the cable car vehicles. This allows the cable car vehicles to be moved in the same way as is done in a known manner along the vehicle guide rail in the operating area of the cable car station. However, the second guide rails do not necessarily have to extend over the entire length of the first guide rails, but could also be provided only in sections, for example. The second guide rails reduce lateral swinging of the cable car vehicles, which reduces the risk of damage.

Preferably, the sidings each have a straight section at least in the area of their siding ends facing the shifting device, the feed track has a straight section at least in the area of a feed track end facing the shifting device and the track segments of the shifting device each have a straight section at least in the area of their segment ends, preferably over their entire length. This allows, for example,

Curvature jumps can be avoided, which allows for an easier and jerk-free transfer of the cable car vehicles.

Preferably, the straight sections of the track segments are parallel to one another and the direction of movement of the displacement device along the stationary guide device is straight, in particular at a right angle to the straight sections of the track segments. Alternatively, the straight sections of the track segments could also be arranged at a track angle to one another and the direction of movement of the displacement device along the stationary guide device can be curved, preferably circular. This allows a suitable structural embodiment of the parking system to be provided depending on the space available.

The stationary guide device can have at least one guide rail and the displacement device can have a number of rolling elements for movement along the at least one guide rail. For stable movement, it is advantageous if the stationary guide device has two (or more) guide rails spaced transversely to the direction of movement of the displacement device, along which the displacement device can be moved by means of the rolling elements. Suitable rollers, wheels, balls, etc. can be provided as rolling elements, for example, which are rotatably arranged on the displacement device. The rolling elements can also have one or more gears and the stationary guide device can have one or more racks along which the gear(s) roll. This enables precise and reproducible positioning of the displacement device.

For automatic control, it is advantageous if a drive device is provided to drive the displacement device along the stationary guide device. The drive device can, for example, have a drive unit arranged on the displacement device, e.g. an electric motor. This can, for example, drive a number of the rolling elements mentioned above. The drive unit would thus be part of the displacement device and would be moved along with it. Alternatively, the drive device can also act on the displacement device from the outside and be designed, for example, as a chain drive, toothed belt drive, actuating cylinder, etc. In this case, the drive unit would not be part of the displacement device and would therefore not be moved along with it.

The displacement device preferably has a first conveyor device for conveying a cable car vehicle along the first track segment and a second conveyor device for conveying a cable car vehicle along the second track segment. This allows the cable car vehicles to be conveyed automatically along the track segments. In the same way, a third conveyor device can be used for Conveying cable car vehicles along the first siding and/or a fourth conveyor device for conveying cable car vehicles along the second siding and/or a fifth conveyor device for conveying cable car vehicles along the feed track. Preferably, at least one of the conveyor devices has a tire conveyor that is designed to interact with a friction lining of a cable car vehicle to convey the cable car vehicle. This advantageously allows the same conveyor device as for the auxiliary drive of the operating area to be used, which reduces the design and control system complexity. Alternatively, at least one of the conveyor devices can also have a chain conveyor or a toothed belt conveyor. The chain conveyor or the toothed belt conveyor can, for example, have a number of driving elements that interact with a component of the cable car vehicle to move the cable car vehicle. For example, the driving elements could exert a driving force on the suspension, at the upper end of which the cable clamp is arranged and at the lower end of which the conveying body (chair, cabin) is arranged.

Preferably, a control unit is also provided for controlling the drive device of the shifting device and/or for controlling the first conveyor device of the shifting device and/or for controlling the second conveyor device of the shifting device and/or for controlling the third conveyor device of the first siding and/or for controlling the fourth conveyor device of the second siding and/or for controlling the fifth conveyor device of the feeder track. The control unit of the cable car, which also controls the drive of the cable car vehicles, among other things, can be used as the control unit. However, a separate control unit could also be provided, which can, for example, communicate in a suitable manner with the control unit of the cable car in order to control the parking process.

A first sensor device can also be provided which is designed to generate a first sensor signal representative of a position of the displacement device on the stationary guide device and/or a second sensor device can be provided which is designed to generate a second sensor signal representative of the presence of a cable car vehicle in a defined section of the feed track and the control unit can be designed to use the first sensor signal and/or the second sensor signal to control the parking process. The control unit can, for example, only activate the available conveyor devices of the parking system when it has been recognized from the sensor signals that a cable car vehicle is on the feed track and the displacement device is in one of the transfer positions. This makes it possible to achieve a higher degree of automation of the parking system.

The object is also achieved with a method according to claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the method are specified in claims 16 and 17.

• Fig.1 eine Seilbahnstation einer Umlaufseilbahn mit einem Parkbereich, in dem ein Parksystem gemäß einer beispielhaften Ausführungsform der Erfindung angeordnet ist,
• Fig.2 eine alternative Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Parksystems,
• Fig.3 eine weitere alternative Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Parksystems.

The present invention is described below with reference to the Figures 1 to 3 which show exemplary, schematic and non-limiting advantageous embodiments of the invention.

• Fig.1 a cable car station of a circulating cable car with a parking area in which a parking system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is arranged,
• Fig.2 an alternative embodiment of the parking system according to the invention,
• Fig.3 another alternative embodiment of the parking system according to the invention.

Fig.1 shows a cable car station 2 of a circulating cable car 1, in which an operating area BB and a parking area PB adjoining the operating area are provided. The circulating cable car 1 has, in a known manner, a plurality of cable car vehicles 4, which can be moved with a conveyor cable F between the cable car station 2 and one or more (not shown) further cable car stations. The cable car station 2 shown serves as the end station in which the cable car vehicles 4 are turned. In the cable car station 2, a first cable pulley 3 is arranged for this purpose, around which the conveyor cable F is deflected. In a further cable car station (not shown), a second cable pulley 3 is arranged, around which the conveyor cable F is also deflected, so that a closed cable loop is formed, along which the cable car vehicles 4 can be moved. The cable car vehicles 4 generally have a transport body for accommodating persons and/or objects, for example a chair or a (in Fig.1 indicated) cabin. The transport body is arranged in a known manner on a lower section of a hanger and can be suspended from the haulage rope with the hanger.

Furthermore, the cable car vehicles 4 each have a suitable cable clamp 4a in a known manner, with which the cable car vehicle 4 can be detachably coupled to the conveyor cable F. The cable clamp 4a is usually arranged on an upper section of the suspension. In an entry area E of the cable car station 2, the cable clamp 4a can be opened by a suitable (not shown) actuating device in order to decouple the cable car vehicle 4 from the conveyor cable F. After decoupling, the cable car vehicle 4 can be braked and moved at a reduced speed along a stationary vehicle guide device 22 parallel to a platform 20 to the exit area A. This makes it easier for passengers P to get on or off the platform 20, as indicated by the arrows. In the exit area A, the cable car vehicle 4 can be accelerated back to the speed of the conveyor cable F and can be accelerated again by opening and then closing the cable clamp 4a. be coupled non-positively to the conveyor cable F. To move the cable car vehicles 4 decoupled from the conveyor cable F along the vehicle guide device 22, a suitable auxiliary drive can be provided in the cable car station 2, for example a known tire conveyor or chain conveyor (not shown).

A suitable vehicle drive device 21 is provided for driving the cable car vehicles 4. The vehicle drive device 21 can, for example, have a first drive unit 21a for driving the cable pulley 3 and a second drive unit 21b for driving the auxiliary drive. The drive units 21a, 21b are in Fig.1 shown in simplified form. The drive units 21a, 21b can each have a suitable electrical machine, for example. Furthermore, a control unit 17 for controlling the vehicle drive device 21 is provided in the circulating cable car 1. The control unit 17 can have suitable hardware and/or software. In addition to controlling the available drive units 21a, 21b of the vehicle drive device 21, the control unit 17 can also be provided for controlling other functions of the circulating cable car 1, e.g. for controlling the parking system PS according to the invention, which is described in more detail below. The basic structure and the functioning of such a cable car 1 are known, which is why no more detailed description is given here.

As mentioned, the operating area BB of the cable car station 2, in which the platform 20 is located, is connected to a parking area PB in which the cable car vehicles 4 can be parked outside of operating hours or for maintenance. While the platform 20 in the operating area BB is naturally accessible to passengers P, the parking area PB is generally not accessible to passengers P. As mentioned at the beginning, contrary to the embodiment shown, the parking area PB could also be provided at a different level than the operating area BB, for example below or above. This depends on the structural design of the cable car station 2. For the function of the parking system PS according to the invention, however, the position of the parking area PB within the cable car station 2 is irrelevant for the description of the invention.

To carry out the parking process, a parking system PS according to the invention is provided in the parking area PB. In the parking system PS, a feeder track 5, at least one first siding 6 and at least one second siding 7 are provided. Furthermore, a transfer device 8 is provided for transferring cable car vehicles 4 from the feeder track 5 to the sidings 6, 7. The feeder track 5 can, for example, be selectively connected to the vehicle guidance device 22 arranged in the operating area BB via a suitable switch W, as shown in Fig.1 This means that the cable car vehicles 4 can be transferred from the operating area BB to the parking area after the end of operations. However, this is only an example and the parking system PS could also be arranged at a different location in the parking area PB. For example, the parking system could (additionally or alternatively) also be arranged at a location in the parking area PB further away from the operating area BB. In this case, for example, at least one of the sidings 6, 7 could function as a feeder track for the parking system PS. This would allow cable car vehicles 4 to be moved from the respective siding 6, 7 to further downstream sidings (not shown). However, for the sake of simplicity, the invention is only described using the embodiment shown.

The transfer device 8 has a displacement device V which moves along a stationary guide device 10 in a direction of movement BV predetermined by the guide device between a (in Fig.1 shown) first transfer position U1 and one (in Fig.1 not shown). The displacement device V has a first track segment 11 and a second track segment 12 spaced apart from the first track segment 11 in the direction of movement BV. In the first transfer position U1 shown, the mutually facing ends 11a, 6a of the first track segment 11 and the first siding 6 are aligned so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the first track segment 11 to the first siding 6. In addition, the mutually facing ends 5a, 12b of the feed track 5 and the second track segment 12 are aligned so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the second track segment 12. When the shifting device V is in the second transfer position U2 (not shown), the mutually facing ends 5a, 11b of the first track segment 11 and the feed track 5 are aligned so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the first track segment 11. In addition, the mutually facing ends 12a, 7a of the second track segment 12 and the second siding 7 are aligned so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the second track segment 12 to the second siding 7. In order to reliably avoid a collision, a sufficiently small distance can also be provided between the mutually facing ends 5a, 11b, 12b or 6a, 11a or 7a, 12a.

In the example shown, the displacement device V has a (single) displacement carriage 9, on which the first track segment 11 and the second track segment 12 are arranged at a distance from one another. The first track segment 11 and the second track segment 12 can thus be moved back and forth together between the first transfer position U1 and the second transfer position U2 by means of the displacement carriage 9. According to an alternative embodiment (which is described below with reference to Fig.2 will be described in more detail below), the displacement device V can also have at least one first displacement carriage 9a and one second displacement carriage 9b. In this case, the first track segment 11 is arranged on the first displacement carriage 9a and the second track segment 12 is arranged on the second displacement carriage 9b. The first The track segment 11 and the second track segment 12 can thus be moved independently of one another along the stationary guide device 10 between the first transfer position U1 and the second transfer position U2 by means of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b.

The sidings 6, 7, the feeder track 5 and the track segments 11, 12 of the shifting device V can each have a first guide rail 6_1, 7_1, 5_1, 11_1, 12_1 for guiding main guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4. In addition, the sidings 6, 7, the feeder track 5 and the track segments 11, 12 of the shifting device V can each also have a (in Fig.1 not shown) second guide rail 6_2, 7_2, 5_2, 11_2, 12_2 for guiding support guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4. In the context of the invention, the main guide rollers are understood to be those rollers of a cable car vehicle 4 with which the cable car vehicle 4 is moved along a main guide rail of the vehicle guide device 22. The weight of a cable car vehicle 4 is thus supported on the main guide rail of the vehicle guide device 22 via the main guide rollers. As a rule, one or more such main guide rollers are arranged in the area of the cable clamp 4a.

In the context of the invention, the support guide rollers are understood to mean those rollers of a cable car vehicle 4 which are provided in addition to the main guide rollers and with which the cable car vehicle 4 is guided along a support guide rail running parallel to the main guide rail of the vehicle guide device 22. The support guide rollers serve to minimize lateral pendulum movements of the cable car vehicle 4 transverse to the direction of movement. As a rule, one or more such support guide rollers are arranged in the area of the cable clamp 4a for each cable car vehicle 4. The structural design and function of the vehicle guide device 22 as well as the main guide rollers and the support guide rollers are known, which is why no further description is given here.

Furthermore, it can be advantageous if the sidings 6, 7 each have a straight section at least in the area of their siding ends 6a, 7a, that the feed track 5 has a straight section at least in the area of its feed track end 5a and that the track segments 11, 12 of the shifting device V each have a straight section at least in the area of their segment ends 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b. In the example shown, track segments 11, 12 are straight over their entire length. Of course, other courses of the sidings 6, 7, the feed track 5 and the track segments 11, 12 would also be conceivable, for example curved courses.

In the example according to Fig.1 the longitudinal axes of the straight track segments 11, 12 are parallel to each other and the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V runs along a straight line, here normal to the longitudinal axes of the track segments 11, 12. In an alternative embodiment (which is described below with reference to Fig.3 will be described in more detail below), the longitudinal axes of the track segments 11, 12 can also be arranged at a segment angle β to one another and the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V can be curved, preferably circular. A suitable design can be selected depending on the space available. A combination of several and possibly different parking systems PS within a parking area PB would of course also be possible.

In order to reliably prevent a collision of cable car vehicles 4 on adjacent sidings 6, 7, it is advantageous if at least the siding ends 6a, 7a of the sidings 6, 7 facing the shifting device V are spaced apart from one another in the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V by a parking distance PA that corresponds at least to a vehicle width FB of a cable car vehicle 4. Preferably, however, the parking distance PA is chosen to be somewhat larger. For example, the parking distance PA can be a sum of the vehicle width FB and a specified safety distance. The safety distance can, for example, be in the range of a few centimeters to one meter or more. The distance between the track segments 11, 12 (or between the ends 11a, 12a) is thus half the parking distance PA.

As mentioned, the sidings 6, 7 do not necessarily have to be straight and do not necessarily have to be arranged at a right angle to the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V (as in Fig.1 ). For example, the sidings 6, 7 could also be straight and each arranged at a certain angle to the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V. The sidings 6, 7 could also be curved or curved. In order to reliably prevent a collision between cable car vehicles 4 on the adjacent sidings 6, 7, the parking distance PA should of course not be exceeded over the entire length of the sidings 6, 7. The cable car vehicles 4 could, however, also be parked on the sidings 6, 7 in a type of zipper system so that they partially overlap in the transverse direction (transverse to the longitudinal direction). In this case, the parking distance PA could also be smaller than the vehicle width FB.

A segment length SL of the track segments 11, 12 of the shifting device V (transverse to the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V) is preferably at least one cable clamp length SKL of a cable clamp 4a. The cable clamp length SKL of the cable clamp 4a is in Fig.1 shown as an example for the cable car vehicle 4, which is located in front of the entrance area E into the cable car station 2.

If the circulating cable car 1 is designed as a multi-cable circulating cable car, then the cable car vehicles 4 have at least one further supporting cable in addition to the haul cable F. A running gear with a number of rollers is provided on the cable car vehicles 4, with which the respective cable car vehicle 4 rolls along the at least one supporting cable. The supporting cable thus serves as the track and the haul cable F serves as the traction cable for driving the cable car vehicle 4. In such a multi-cable circulating cable car 1, the segment length SL of the track segments 11, 12 is preferably at least one running gear length of the running gear of a cable car vehicle 4 (not shown). This ensures that the track segments 11, 12 have a sufficient length to completely accommodate a cable car vehicle 4. Known multi-cable circulating cables are, for example, the two-cable circulating cable with a traction cable and a supporting cable or the three-cable circulating cable (also called a 3S cable) with two supporting cables and a traction cable.

Preferably, the stationary guide device 10 has at least one guide rail 10a and the displacement device V has a number of rolling elements 13 with which the displacement device V rolls along the at least one guide rail 10a. The number of rolling elements 13 can, for example, comprise rollers, wheels, balls or the like, which are suitably mounted on the displacement device V. For example, the displacement carriage 9 can comprise a frame, for example made of profile tubes, as in Fig.1 is indicated. The rolling elements 13 can be arranged laterally on the frame of the sliding carriage 9 and roll on the guide rails 10a, 10b.

As in Fig.1 As shown, the stationary guide device 10 can also have two (or more) guide rails 10a, 10b spaced apart transversely to the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V, along which the displacement device V can be moved by means of the rolling elements 13. The guide rails 10a, 10b could, for example, each have a U-profile rail with open sides facing each other. The rolling elements 13 could be accommodated between the opposite (upper and lower) legs of the U-profile rails. The number of rolling elements 13 can, for example, also have one or more gear wheels and a suitable rack could be provided on the at least one guide rail 10a (not shown). This makes it possible to achieve precise and reproducible positioning of the displacement device V along the stationary guide device 10.

Furthermore, a drive device 14 for driving the displacement device V along the stationary guide device 10 can be provided in the parking system PS. The drive device 14 can, for example, have an electric drive unit, e.g. an electric motor, which is arranged on the displacement device V, in Fig.1 eg on the sliding carriage 9. The drive device 14 can be used, for example, to drive one or more rolling elements 13 and be moved along with the displacement device V. Alternatively, the drive device 14 could also act on the displacement device V from outside, for example, and would thus not be part of the displacement device V. In this case, the drive device 14 could, for example, have a chain drive, toothed belt drive, actuating cylinder or the like and be arranged on a suitable stationary structure of the cable car station 2.

Furthermore, the displacement device V can have a first conveyor device 15 for conveying a cable car vehicle 4 along the first track segment 11 and a second conveyor device 16 for conveying a cable car vehicle 4 along the second track segment 12. In the example shown, the first conveyor device 15 and the second conveyor device 16 are each designed as a tire conveyor, similar to the above-mentioned auxiliary drive, which can be provided for moving the cable car vehicles 4 decoupled from the conveyor cable F along the vehicle guide device 22. A tire conveyor can have a number of tires arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the respective track segment 11, 12, as in Fig.1 is indicated schematically. The tires can be driven by a suitable drive unit, eg an electric motor, which can be controlled eg by the control unit 17, as in Fig.1 is indicated by the connecting lines. The drive units of the conveyor devices 15, 16 are not shown for the sake of simplicity. To drive the cable car vehicles 4, the tires of the tire conveyors can interact in a known manner with a friction lining of the cable car vehicle 4, which can be provided, for example, in the area of the cable clamp 4a. Of course, this is only an example and the conveyor devices 15, 16 could also be designed differently, e.g. as chain conveyors, toothed belt conveyors, etc.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a third conveyor device (not shown) for conveying cable car vehicles 4 along the first siding 6 and/or a fourth conveyor device (not shown) for conveying cable car vehicles 4 along the second siding 7 and/or a fifth conveyor device (not shown) for conveying cable car vehicles 4 along the feed track 5 are provided in the parking system PS. The third, fourth and fifth conveyor devices can, for example, again have a tire conveyor, chain conveyor, toothed belt conveyor or the like. The sidings 6, 7 could, however, in principle also be designed without a drive. The cable car vehicles 4 could, for example, be pushed from the first or second conveyor device 15, 16 onto the respective siding 6, 7 by the respective following cable car vehicle 4. It would also be conceivable for the sidings 6, 7 to have an inclination (preferably variable) so that the cable car vehicles 4 can be moved along the sidings 6, 7 by gravity.

In addition to controlling the drive device 14 of the shifting device V, the first conveyor device 15 and the second conveyor device 16 of the shifting device V, the control unit 17 can also be designed to control the third conveyor device of the first siding 6, to control the fourth conveyor device of the second siding 7 and to control the fifth conveyor device of the feed track 5.

Furthermore, it is advantageous if a first sensor device 18 is provided which is designed to generate a first sensor signal S1 representative of a position of the displacement device V on the guide device 10. A second sensor device 19 can also be provided which is designed to generate a second sensor signal S2 representative of the presence of a cable car vehicle 4 in a defined section of the feed track 5. The control unit 17 can use the first sensor signal S1 and the second sensor signal S2 to control the parking process, in particular to control the first and second conveyor devices 15, 16 of the track segments 11, 12 and to control the fifth conveyor device of the feed track 5. The defined section of the feed track 5 can, for example, be an area of a certain length, e.g. a few meters, adjacent to the end 5a.

For example, the control unit 17 can only activate the first and second conveyor devices 15, 16 of the track segments 11, 12 when it has been recognized from the first sensor signal S1 that the shifting device V is in the first transfer position U1 or in the second transfer position U2 and when it has been recognized from the second sensor signal S2 that a cable car vehicle 4 is on the feed track 5. The sensor devices 18, 19 can each have a number of suitable sensors that communicate with the control unit 17, wired or wirelessly. Electrical limit switches or inductive, capacitive or optical sensors can be used as sensors, for example. The sensor devices 18, 19 are in Fig.1 For the sake of simplicity, they are shown in the area of the control unit 17. In practice, the sensors are of course arranged at a suitable location in order to generate the respective sensor signal S1, S2.

The structure of the parking system PS has now been sufficiently described. For the sake of completeness, the use of the parking system PS to carry out a parking process with a number of cable car vehicles 4 is described below.

First, a first cable car vehicle 4 is moved, for example, from the vehicle guidance device 22 via the switch W, onto the feed track 5. If the parking system PS is additionally or alternatively located at another location in the parking area PB, then one of the sidings 6, 7 can also function as a feed track. The For the sake of simplicity, reference is made to the Fig.1 The embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is taken. When the displacement device V is in the position shown in Fig.1 shown first transfer position U1, then the first cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the second track segment 12 of the shifting device V. This can be done, for example, by simultaneously activating the second conveyor device 16 of the second track segment 12 and the (not shown) third conveyor device of the feed track 5. If the shifting device V is in the (in Fig.1 not shown) second transfer position U2, then the first cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the first track segment 11 of the shifting device V. This can be done, for example, by simultaneously activating the first conveyor device 15 of the first track segment 11 and the third conveyor device (not shown) of the feed track 5.

If the first cable car vehicle 4 is located on the second track segment 12 (which can optionally be detected by another sensor device, for example), then the displacement device V including the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved along the stationary guide device 10 from the first transfer position U1 to the second transfer position U2. This can be done by the control unit 17 controlling the drive device 14 of the displacement device V accordingly. If the first cable car vehicle 4 is located on the first track segment 11 (which can in turn be detected by another sensor device, for example), then the displacement device V including the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved along the stationary guide device 10 from the second transfer position U2 to the first transfer position U1.

If the shifting device V is in the respective end position (first or second transfer position U1, U2) (which can be detected, for example, by the first sensor device 18), then the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved from the first track segment 11 to the first siding 6 or from the second track segment 12 to the second siding 7. This can be done by the control unit 17 controlling the first or second conveyor device 15, 16 and, if applicable, the third conveyor device of the first siding 6 or the fourth conveyor device of the second siding 7.

While the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved in the first transfer position U1 from the first track segment 11 of the shifting device V to the first siding 6, a subsequent second cable car vehicle 4 can already be moved from the feed track 5 to the second track segment 12 of the shifting device V. In the same way, the second cable car vehicle 4 can already be moved from the feed track 5 to the first track segment 11 of the shifting device V, while the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved in the second transfer position U2 from the second track segment 12 to the second siding 7. This allows the parking process to be carried out in a manner that is more efficient than in the prior art. accelerated because the respective following cable car vehicle 4 can already be parked on the shifting device V. The described parking process can now be repeated with further cable car vehicles 4 following the second cable car vehicle 4. When a maximum storage capacity is reached on the first siding 6 and/or on the second siding 7, another following cable car vehicle 4 can also be parked, for example, on the first track segment 11 or the second track segment 12 of the shifting device V.

In Fig.2 an alternative embodiment of the parking system PS according to the invention is shown. While the displacement device V in the example according to Fig.1 has a single sliding carriage 9, the sliding device V according to Fig.2 two separate sliding carriages 9a, 9b, which can be moved independently of one another along the stationary guide device 10. In the example shown, the stationary guide device 10 has a single guide rail 10a. Of course, two parallel guide rails 10a, 10b would also be conceivable, as in Fig.1 is shown, or possibly more than two guide rails. The first track segment 11 is arranged on the first sliding carriage 9a and the second track segment 12 is arranged on the second sliding carriage 9b. A first conveyor device 15 for conveying a cable car vehicle 4 along the first track segment 11 is provided on the first sliding carriage 9a, which can be designed as a tire conveyor (only by way of example). In the same way, a second conveyor device 16 for conveying a cable car vehicle 4 along the second track segment 12 is provided on the second sliding carriage 9b, which in turn can be designed as a tire conveyor (only by way of example). The Fig.2 The tires of the tire conveyors 15, 16 indicated can be driven by a suitable drive unit that can be controlled by the control unit 17. Furthermore, a third conveyor device for conveying the cable car vehicles 4 along the first siding 6, a fourth conveyor device for conveying the cable car vehicles 4 along the second siding 7 and a fifth conveyor device for conveying the cable car vehicles 4 along the feed track 5 are provided here. The third, fourth and fifth conveyor devices can in turn have a tire conveyor, as in Fig.2 indicated, but could alternatively have another suitable drive, e.g. a chain conveyor, toothed belt conveyor or similar.

While the track segments 11, 12 in the example according to Fig.1 only have a first guide rail 11_1, 12_1 for the main guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4, the track segments 11, 12 in the example according to Fig.2 an additional second guide rail 11_2, 12_2 for the support guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4. This reduces lateral pendulum movements of the cable car vehicles 4 (particularly during the movement of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b). , whereby the risk of damage can be reduced. Advantageously, the sidings 6, 7 each have a first guide rail 6_1, 7_1 for the main guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4 and a second guide rail 6_2, 7_2 arranged parallel thereto for guiding the support guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4. As in Fig.2 As indicated, the second guide rails 6_2, 7_2 of the sidings 6, 7 do not have to extend over the entire length of the first guide rail 6_1, 7_1, but could also be shorter and, for example, only be provided in a section adjacent to the shifting device V. In the sections of the sidings 6, 7 further away from the shifting device V, it may be sufficient if only first guide rails 6_1, 7_1 are provided.

The basic function of the PS parking system according to Fig.2 is the same as in Fig.1 . In the illustrated first transfer position U1, the first shifting carriage 9a is positioned such that the first track segment 11 is aligned with the first siding 6, such that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the first track segment 11 to the first siding 6. In addition, the second shifting carriage 9b is positioned in the first transfer position U1 such that the second track segment 12 is aligned with the feed track 5, such that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the second track segment 12. In the (not illustrated) second transfer position U2, the first shifting carriage 9a is positioned such that the first track segment 11 is aligned with the feed track 5, such that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the first track segment 11. The second shifting carriage 9b is positioned in the second transfer position U2 such that the second track segment 12 is aligned with the second siding 7, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the second track segment 12 to the second siding 7.

Due to the independent mobility of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b, they do not always have to be moved simultaneously or at the same speed or acceleration during the parking process. This allows for more flexible control of the parking process. Of course, the two sliding carriages 9a, 9b can also be synchronized so that they are moved simultaneously. The sliding carriages 9a, 9b each have their own drive device 14a, 14b, e.g. in the form of an electric motor. The drive devices 14a, 14b are part of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b and are moved along with them. As shown in Fig.1 As already mentioned, one or more external drive devices 14 could also be provided which act on the sliding carriages 9a, 9b but are not part of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b (e.g. chain drive, toothed belt drive, etc.).

In Fig.3 Another alternative embodiment of the parking system PS according to the invention is shown. The parking system PS is essentially constructed in the same way as in Fig.1 and has a displacement device V with a (single) displacement carriage 9, which is movable along a stationary guide device 10, which has two parallel guide rails 10a, 10b. In contrast to Fig.1 However, the stationary guide device 10 is not straight but curved. The sliding carriage 9 is thus in a curved movement direction BV along the stationary guide device 10 between the Fig.3 shown first transfer position U1 and the (in Fig.3 not shown) second transfer position U2. In an advantageous embodiment, the direction of movement BV can be, for example, a circular path with a circle center M. Of course, other curve shapes would also be conceivable, e.g. an elliptical path or the like.

The feed track 5 is straight and runs from the circle center M in a radial direction to the stationary guide device 10. The first track segment 11 and the second track segment 12 of the sliding carriage 9 are straight and also run in a radial direction. While the track segments 11, 12 in Fig.1 are arranged parallel to each other, the track segments 11, 12 are in Fig.3 at a track segment angle α to each other on the sliding carriage 9. The sidings 6, 7 are also straight here and border on the stationary guide device 10 on the side opposite the feed track 5 and also run in a radial direction. The sidings 6, 7 are arranged at a siding angle β to each other, which corresponds to twice the track segment angle α. In addition, the function of the parking system PS is different from the embodiment according to Fig.1 unchanged. This means that the sliding carriage 9 is movable between the illustrated first transfer position U1 and the (not illustrated) second transfer position U2.

In the illustrated first transfer position U1, the first free end 11a of the first track segment 11 is aligned with the free end 6a of the first siding 6 and the second free end 12b of the second track segment 12 is aligned with the free end 5a of the feeder track 5. In the (not illustrated) second transfer position U2, the second free end 11b of the first track segment 11 is aligned with the free end 5a of the feeder track 5 and the first free end 12a of the second track segment 12 is aligned with the free end 7a of the second siding 7. To avoid repetition, reference is made to the explanations regarding the advantageous embodiments. Fig.1 which are responsible for the execution of Fig.3 are valid in an analogous manner.

Claims (17)

Parking system (PS) for a parking area (PB) of a cable car station (2) of a cable car (1), for carrying out a parking process with a number of cable car vehicles (4) of the cable car (1), wherein a feed track (5) and at least a first siding (6) and a second siding (7) are provided in the parking system (PS), and wherein a transfer device (8) is provided for transferring cable car vehicles (4) from the feed track (5) to the sidings (6, 7), characterized in that the transfer device (8) has a displacement device (V) which can be displaced along a stationary guide device (10) between a first transfer position (U1) and a second transfer position (U2), wherein the displacement device (V) has a first track segment (11) and a second track segment (12), wherein in the first transfer position (U1) of the displacement device (V) a cable car vehicle (4) from the first track segment (11) is movable onto the first siding (6) and a cable car vehicle (4) is movable from the feed track (5) onto the second track segment (12) and in the second transfer position (U2) of the shifting device (V) a cable car vehicle (4) is movable from the feed track (5) onto the first track segment (11) and a cable car vehicle (4) is movable from the second track segment (12) onto the second siding (7). Parking system (PS) according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement device (V) has a displacement carriage (9) on which the first track segment (11) and the second track segment (12) are arranged at a distance from one another in a direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V), wherein the first track segment (11) and the second track segment (12) can be displaced together by means of the displacement carriage (9) , or that the displacement device (V) has at least a first displacement carriage (9a) and a second displacement carriage (9b), wherein the first track segment (11) is arranged on the first displacement carriage (9a) and the second track segment (12) is arranged on the second displacement carriage (9b), wherein the first track segment (11) and the second track segment (12) can be displaced independently of one another by means of the displacement carriages (9a, 9b). Parking system (PS) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sidings (6, 7), the feed track (5) and the track segments (11, 12) of the shifting device (V) each have a first guide rail (6_1, 7_1, 5_1, 11_1, 12_1) for guiding a main guide roller of the cable car vehicles (4) and/or that the sidings (6, 7), the feed track (5) and the track segments (11, 12) of the shifting device (V) each have a second guide rail (6_2, 7_2, 5_2, 11_2, 12_2) for guiding a support guide roller of the cable car vehicles (4). Parking system (PS) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the sidings (6, 7) each have a straight section at least in the region of their siding ends (6a, 7a) facing the displacement device (V), that the feed track (5) has a straight section at least in the region of a feed track end (5a) facing the displacement device (V), and that the track segments (11, 12) of the displacement device (V) each have a straight section at least in the region of their segment ends (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b), preferably over their entire length. Parking system (PS) according to claim 4, characterized in that the straight sections of the track segments (11, 12) are parallel to one another and that the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V) along the stationary guide device (10) runs straight, preferably at a right angle to the straight sections of the track segments (11, 12), or that the straight sections of the track segments (11, 12) are arranged at a track angle (α) to one another and that the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V) along the stationary guide device (10) runs curved, preferably circular. Parking system (PS) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the stationary guide device (10) has at least one guide rail (10a) and that the displacement device (V) has a number of rolling elements (13) for movement along the at least one guide rail (10a), wherein the stationary guide device (10) preferably has at least two guide rails (10a, 10b) spaced apart transversely to the direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V). Parking system (PS) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a drive device (14) is provided for driving the displacement device (V) along the stationary guide device (10). Parking system (PS) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the displacement device (V) has a first conveyor device (15) for conveying a cable car vehicle (4) along the first track segment (11) and a second conveyor device (16) for conveying a cable car vehicle (4) along the second track segment (12), wherein preferably at least one of the conveyor devices (15, 16) has a tire conveyor which is designed to cooperate with a friction lining of a cable car vehicle (4) for conveying the cable car vehicle (4) or that at least one of the conveyor devices (15, 16) has a chain conveyor or a toothed belt conveyor. Parking system (PS) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a third conveyor device for conveying cable car vehicles along the first siding (6) and/or a fourth conveyor device for conveying Cable car vehicles (4) along the second siding (7) and/or a fifth conveyor device for conveying cable car vehicles along the feed track (5) are provided, wherein preferably at least one of the conveyor devices has a tire conveyor which is designed to cooperate with a friction lining of a cable car vehicle (4) for conveying the cable car vehicle (4) or that at least one of the conveyor devices has a chain conveyor or a toothed belt conveyor. Parking system (PS) according to one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a control unit (17) is provided for controlling the drive device (14) of the displacement device (V) and/or for controlling the first conveyor device (15) of the displacement device (V) and/or for controlling the second conveyor device (16) of the displacement device (V) and/or for controlling the third conveyor device of the first siding (6) and/or for controlling the fourth conveyor device of the second siding (7) and/or for controlling the fifth conveyor device of the feed track. Parking system (PS) according to claim 10, characterized in that a first sensor device (18) is provided which is designed to generate a first sensor signal (S1) representative of a position of the displacement device (V) on the stationary guide device (10) and/or that a second sensor device (19) is provided which is designed to generate a second sensor signal (S2) representative of a presence of a cable car vehicle (4) in a defined section of the feed track (5) and that the control unit (17) is designed to use the first sensor signal (S1) and/or the second sensor signal (S2) to control the parking process. Use of the parking system (PS) according to one of claims 1 to 11, for carrying out a parking process with a number of cable car vehicles (4), wherein the following steps are carried out: - moving a first cable car vehicle (4) from the feed track (5) to the first track segment (11) of the shifting device (V) when the shifting device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2) or moving the first cable car vehicle (4) from the feed track (5) to the second track segment (12) of the shifting device (V) when the shifting device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), - moving the shifting device (V) including the first cable car vehicle (4) along the stationary guide device (10) from the second transfer position (U2) to the first transfer position (U1) or vice versa, - moving the first cable car vehicle (4) from the first track segment (11) of the shifting device (V) to the first siding (6) when the shifting device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1) or moving the first cable car vehicle (4) from the second track segment (12) of the shifting device (V) to the second siding (7) when the shifting device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2). Use according to claim 12, wherein the following steps are additionally carried out: moving a subsequent second cable car vehicle (4b) from the feed track (5) to the second track segment (12) of the shifting device (V), while the first cable car vehicle (4) is moved from the first track segment (11) of the shifting device (V) to the first siding (6) or moving the second cable car vehicle (4b) from the feed track (5) to the first track segment (11) of the shifting device (V), while the first cable car vehicle (4) is moved from the second track segment (12) of the shifting device (V) to the second siding (7). Cable car (1) with a plurality of cable car stations (2) and with a plurality of cable car vehicles (4) which can be moved between the cable car stations (2) with a conveyor cable (F), wherein in at least one of the cable car stations (2) a parking area (PB) with a parking system (PS) for carrying out a parking process with a number of cable car vehicles (4) is provided, characterized in that the parking system (PS) is designed according to one of claims 1 to 11, wherein in the at least one cable car station (2) a vehicle guide device (22) is provided, along which cable car vehicles (4) decoupled from the conveyor cable (F) can be moved from an entry area (E) of the cable car station (2) to an exit area (A) of the cable car station (2) and that the cable car vehicles (4) can be moved from the vehicle guide device (22) onto the feed track (5) of the parking system (PS). Method for carrying out a parking process with a number of cable car vehicles (4) in a parking area (PB) of a cable car station (2) of a cable car (1), wherein a first cable car vehicle (4) is moved along a feed track (5) and is moved from the feed track (5) to a first track segment (11) of a displacement device (V) that can be displaced between a first transfer position (U1) and a second transfer position (U2) when the displacement device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2) or is moved from the feed track (5) to a second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) that is spaced apart from the first track segment (11) in a direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V) when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), wherein the displacement device (V) including the first cable car vehicle (4) is moved along a stationary guide device (10) from the first transfer position (U1) into the second transfer position (U2) or vice versa, wherein the first cable car vehicle (4) is moved from the first track segment (11) of the shifting device (V) to a first siding (6) is moved when the shifting device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1) or is moved from the second track segment (12) of the shifting device (V) to a second siding (7) spaced apart from the first siding (6) in the direction of movement (BV) of the shifting device (V) when the shifting device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2). Method according to claim 15, wherein a second cable car vehicle (4b) following the first cable car vehicle (4) is moved along the feed track (5) and is moved from the feed track (5) to the second track segment (12) of the shifting device (V), while the first cable car vehicle (4) is moved from the first track segment (11) of the shifting device (V) to the first siding (6) or is moved from the feed track (5) to the first track segment (11) of the shifting device (V), while the first cable car vehicle (4) is moved from the second track segment (12) of the shifting device (V) to the second siding (7). Method according to claim 16, wherein the parking process according to claim 15 and claim 16 is repeated with further cable car vehicles (4) following the second cable car vehicle (4b), wherein when a maximum storage capacity is reached on the first siding (6) and/or second siding (7), a following cable car vehicle (4) is parked on the first track segment (11) or second track segment (12) of the shifting device (V).

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