FR2578215A1 - DEVICE FOR PROMOTING THE CLEARANCE OF SKIERS ON THE ARRIVAL OF A TELESKI OF THE TYPE WITH DETACHABLE CLAMPS - Google Patents

Abstract

1. Device to assist in the release of skiers at the arrival of a skilift comprising a cable (1) movable an sheaves (2) having a groove and an a return sheave (4) disposed at the arrival station, and supporting by means of grips (63 to 66) towbars (6) far towing skiers, the own weight of the towbar (6) being sufficient to positively couple the grips (63 to 66) to the cable (1), characterized in that it comprises between the last grooved sheave (2) and the return sheave (4) a release station (8) having means (96) to neutralize the own towbar weight and the traction exerted by the towed skiers so that the cable grips (63 to 66) are automatically uncoupled from the cable (1) to permit the safe release of the skiers from the towbars (6).

Description

The present invention relates to ski lifts or cable ski lifts

  tractor of the type known as with disengageable clamps and relates to a device for promoting the clearance of skiers at the arrival station. In these installations, the towing cable passes in the direction of ascent on pulleys with a groove of horizontal axis, carried by pylons and, at the intermediate stage of the arrival station, is returned by a pulley of axis vertical called "return pulley" to descend to the departure station on pulleys similar to those used for the ascent. The cable carries poles or traction lines allowing the skiers to be pulled from the departure station to the arrival station. The poles used are fixed to the cable by disengageable pliers, the fixed pliers being more and more often abandoned. Clamping of the clamps on the cable is done in a known manner automatically by cooperation of the cable with the shaped bore that has a nut forming part of the clamp and the dead weight of the pole is sufficient even in the absence of a towed skier

for the clutch to be effective.

  According to the known state of the art, each pole is clutched to

  departure of each skier and the rest until his return to the ski resort

  part including after release by the skier, involuntary uphill or voluntary at the arrival station at the top. For debit reasons

  optimal and safe, the poles succeed each other at the maximum cadence ap-

  approximately one every 4 s and it is hardly possible to exceed a translation speed greater than 2.5 / s due to possible incidents

  and even relatively frequent at the arrival station.

  Such incidents, which can be very serious, imply

  quent the automatic shutdown of the installation for sometimes very long durations, also, as much for reasons of safety as of profitability, one seeks to avoid them or at least to reduce their probability. Now the

  users, especially children, caught in the mood for pleasure and relaxation

  are often inattentive or misjudge their ability to react,

  they are sometimes numbed by the cold, their wrist straps can be

  mileae or their equipment badly secured, which hinders their freedom of movement to free themselves from the towing pole, which is at the origin of awkwardness preventing a release in time. The pole still engaged

  being taken up by the return pulley can thus project by centrifugal effect

  runs away from the user several meters from sometimes very serious accidents.

  - 2 - We tried to remedy these drawbacks first by adjusting the slope by earthworks before approaching the station of arrival and to the right of it and then by placing the return pulley at a distance minimum 5 to 10 m beyond the release station proper. The work to be carried out can take on a considerable scale in terms of both surface area and volume of materials to be moved, at a cost that can

  be prohibitive, which tends to give up this solution to reve-

  to deny that known as "letting go in the pulley" with the drawbacks which have just been mentioned, which also often leads users to free themselves before the arrival station with the additional risks that this

behavior implies.

  The present invention aims to eliminate all these drawbacks by proposing a device which is similar in terms of its cost advantages to the "drop in the pulley" type but without presenting the danger of accidents.

  and shutdown of the installation, this device disengages the clamp from the

  che to the right of the release area to give the skier all the time ne-

  stop its release under optimal safety conditions.

  The features of the invention which are the subject of the claims

  cations and some of its other advantages will become apparent in the light of

  the description which follows and for the understanding of which we will refer

  in the drawings, in which: - Figure 1 is a general representation of a ski lift arrival station where a device according to the invention is used, - Figure 2 shows the device as a whole,

  - Figure 3 is a perspective view of the part-of-dipsI per-

  putting the clutch, a boom? yéy- being-engaged,

  - Figures 4, 5 and 6 show three successive phases of function-

  ment of the device according to the invention.

  We see very schematically shown in Figure 1 a ski lift arrival station to which the device can be applied according to the invention. The towing cable 1 arrives by a grooved pulley 2 routinely carried by a pylon 3 at the arrival station, to continue an approximately horizontal race up to and around the return pulley 4 before descending following a race substantially parallel to that of the climb. The return pulley 4 is carried by a structure 5 integral with a solid mass anchored to the ground and also carrying a device

  with carriage cooperating with hauling to maintain a suitable tension

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cable on the cable 1.

  The skier subject to his hanger 6 arrives at the end of the climb to the arrival station o a slope break and a preferably flat area are arranged to facilitate its release and the continuation of its race in flexibility to free the station. As already said above according to the process known as "letting go in the pulley" representing the known state of the art, the skier permanently towed by the hanger 6 whose clamp remains constantly engaged on

  the cable 1 must prepare for its release from the line 6 and release it

  Ci when it is already engaged in the return pulley 4, which is a delicate operation and which leaves him only a short time if he does not want

  be trained when the line 6 clamp starts its cir- cular movement

  ring around the return pulley 4.

  Figure 2 shows in side view the general constitution of a

  device according to the invention where the structure 5 is recognized

  head of a vertical grooved pulley 2 on which the cable 1 arrives and

  of the horizontal return pulley 4. Between the grooved pulley 2 and the

  return link 4, the cable 1 passes in line with a declutching station 8 of the hanger clamps, the latter being able to extend longitudinally over a distance of the order of 1.30 to 1.50 m, the pulley back can

  have a diameter of the order of 3.50 m. From throat pulley 2 to the end

  mite of the return pulley 4, the construction covers a distance of the order of 5 m corresponding to the ground at the drop area of the hanger and

  to that of release from the arrival station.

  --25_ _ -The clutch release station 8 of the hanger clamps is shown in perspective-in Figure 3. A hanger 6 engaged on the cable 1 comes

  pass the grooved pulley 2 and enter the declutching station 8.

  The line 6 of the usual type includes an arm 61 carrying the bodies shown by 62, allowing the skier to be secured. This arm 61 carries

  in the upper part a horizontal axis 63 carrying a nut 64 through the

  end of a nut holder arm 65. In a known manner the nut 64 provided with a shaped bore in which the cable 1 passes passes it to give a positive clutch by the mere weight of the hanger 6 therefore a

  a fortiori when a skier is towed there. At the departure station, a

  known positive uncouples the cable clamps which allows the storage of free lines and their return to service on demand by automatic clutch. -4 - The declutching station 8 comprises a slide 9 consisting of two longitudinal profiles in U 91, 92 whose lateral branches are arranged horizontally, leaving between their respective ends

  sufficient space for the free passage of the arm 61 of the hanger 6.

  The lower branches of the U 91, 92 carry two wings 93, 94 in the form of horns directed towards the outside constituting an entry guide for the arm 61 in the slide 9. The upper branches of the U 91, 92, respectively carry two longitudinal profiles reported, the first round 95

  cooperating with a notch of the same shape 66 formed under the support arm

  nut 65, the second with square or rectangular section 96 on which the axis 63 of the nut holder comes into positive contact. The round profile 95 and the notch 66 do not play a determining role in the invention, the notch 66 having the function of allowing easy passage of the hanger clips 6 to

  right of the cheeks of the grooved pulleys 2 of the line of pylons of the installation

lation.

  When the hanger 6 engaged by the nut 64 on the cable 1, whether or not towing a skier, arrives at the declutching station 8, guided by the funnel branches 93, 94, it enters the slide 9, o

  the support of the axis 63 being made on the square support profile 96 and access

  evening and possibly on the round guide 95, the self-weight of the hanger 6 and the additional traction exerted by the weight of the skier are neutralized and therefore no longer fulfill their function of clutching the nut 64 on the cable 1. There is therefore uncoupling, the skier stops

  to be trained and continue its progression by its own kinetic energy.

  No longer being requested by line 6, it is entirely open to you to disassociate yourself

  riser from it, get away from it and slip away on the release area

  taking advantage of its residual speed. The skier therefore arrives in som-

  puts track to be placed in security conditions previously unknown according to the state of the art. The disengaging of its hanger 6 leaves it all freedom of action to disengage and disappear from the trajectory of the hangers, which does not prevent the implementation of conventional safety stops in the event of incidents, but those they can only intervene in completely exceptional conditions, without any relation to

  those of the classic operation of "letting go in the pulley".

  The hanger 6, disengaged by the device which has just been described and released from its skier cannot, for obvious safety reasons,

  stay on slide 9. Its own speed could allow it to

  worm at the end of the slide and therefore re-engage automatically by the solicitation of its own weight. However, in order to make impossible any incident due to a hanger 6 remaining unexpectedly after release of the skier in the slide 9 and which could then present a danger to the

  Next skier, the invention provides for an automatic evacuation of the

  slopes 6 of the slide 9, up to point o automatically re-entered on the cable 1, they again accompany the latter in its race around the return pulley 4 and thus descend to the departure station. To understand the device used for the release of the lines 6 released, advantageously refer to Figures 2

  and 3 simultaneously and 4 to 6 which illustrate the chronology of events.

  Coupled with synchronization to the progression of the tractor cable 1 and to the right of the slide 9 is mounted a device for releasing the released lines 6. As shown, it comprises an endless chain 101 driven by a driving toothed wheel 102 and passing towards the 'other end of the slide 9 on a second toothed wheel 103 mounted idly on its axis. The chain 101 carries fingers 104 projecting outwards, articulated and retractable against a return member, for example

  with spring, and regularly arranged on this chain 101 to match

  approximately at the frequency of arrival of the lines 6 at the declutching station 8. When a line 6 has entered the slide 9, so has been disengaged and released from its skier and stops progressing, the first

  finger 104 carried by the chain 101 and located behind the pliers, advances up to

  that in contact with the head of the arm 61 and drives it positively up to the exit of the slide 9 o then occurs the automatic clutching of the hanger 6. In the case where the skier is not yet released when the finger 104 comes into contact with the clamp to push it, the traction exerted by the skier is sufficient to overcome the elastic force of

  recall of finger 104 which retracts and passes over the clamp without driving it.

  The skier will then be able to free himself and the next finger 104 carried by the chain 101 will take charge of the line to push it up

  its final release and / or its automatic clutch on the cable 1.

  It is obvious that the movement of the chain 101 and of the cable 1 bringing the lines 6 must be synchronized for safety reasons

  and optimal functioning ensuring a large flow of skiers. Advantageous-

  ment and according to the invention, the drive of the driving wheel 102 is taken

  on the grooved pulley 2 located before the entry of the declutching station 8.

  This pulley 2 can be secured to a wheel 21 connected to a drive wheel.

  -6- ing (not shown) integral with the driving wheel 102 of the chain 101, by belt or better by chain 22. The transmission ratios are chosen so as to obtain optimal conditions both for the flow of

  skiers only for their safety. Such a PTO, linked to the movement-

  cable 1 itself, therefore synchronized with it, does not require any other

  supply of motive energy, for example electrical, which represents an advantage

  certain timing both in terms of timing and in terms of self

energy name of the device.

  Advantageously, in the context of what has just been said, it is possible to obtain with the device according to the invention an arrival of

  skier every 4 s, which requires very rapid re-engagement of the

  slopes 6, thus 3 s after the arrival of a skier its hanger 6 must already have been re-clutched and driven by the cable 1. We arrive at conditions which can be considered optimal when the chain 101 carrying fingers 104 has a linear speed of the order of a third of that of the cable

tractor 1.

  Figures 4 to 6 illustrate very schematically but more clearly the operation of the line release device 6 which has just been described. Thus, in FIG. 4 a hanger 6 has come out of the slide 9, with or without the intervention of the finger 104 ′, and a second hanger 6, still towing its skier (not shown) enters the slide 9. In FIG. 5 , this hanger 6, disengaged from the cable 1, and already released from its skier is in the intermediate position in the slide 9 o

  finger 104 catches it and pushes it towards the exit of slide 9.

  In FIG. 6, the hanger 6 has come out of the slide 9 and, re-engaged on the cable 1, continues its race towards the return pulley. Slide 9 is

  free and a 6 "line towing his skier will present itself lJentr4ec-

  the slide 9. The finger 104 ′, either precede it, or else take it over and possibly retract and it is then the next finger

  104 "which will take over to push it out of slide 9.

25782 1 5

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Claims (10)

CLAIMS R E V E N D I C A T I 0 N 5   1.- Device to promote the clearance of skiers at the ar-   shore of a ski lift comprising a cable (1) moving on grooved pulleys (2) and a return pulley (4) located at the arrival station, and   carrier by means of clamps (63 to 66) of lines (6) for   block skiers, the self-weight of the lines (6) sufficient to positively engage the clamps (63 to 66) on the cable (1), characterized in that it comprises between the last grooved pulley (2) and the pulley return (4) a declutching station (8) comprising means (96) for   neutralize the action of the self-weight of the lines (6) and the traction exerted by   created by towed skiers, so as to automatically disengage the clamps (63 to 66) of the cable (1) and thus allow skiers to free themselves   safely hanging lines (6).   2.- Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the means (96) consist of a longitudinal profile (96) on which rests an axis (63) of the clamp (63 to 66) of each hanger   (6) arriving at and passing through the declutching station (8).   3.- Device according to claim 2, characterized in that   that the longitudinal profile (96) is of square or rectangular section.   4.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 3,   characterized by the fact that the means (96) are integral with a slide   longitudinal (9) guiding the arms (61) at the inlet (93, 94) and through it   sée (91, 92) of the declutching station (8).   5.- Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the slide (9) comprises two longitudinal profiles (91, 92) in U of which - -Z5-Iem branches' laterfé-I msont are arranged horizontally leaving between their respective ends sufficient space for the passage of arms (61) lines (6).   6.- Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the means (96) are carried by the upper branch of one (92) of the U-shaped profiles 7.- Device according to claim 6, characterized in that   that the upper branehe of the second (91) U-shaped profile carries a long   tudinal (95) of rounded section cooperating-in guiding with a notch   (66) of complementary shape presented by the clamps (63 to 66) of the above slopes (6). -8   8.- Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7,   characterized by the fact that, in line with the means (96), the   yage (8) comprises means (10, 101 to 104) for driving the lines   disengaged (6) towards the outlet towards the return pulley (4).   9.- Device according to claim 8, characterized in that the means (10, 101 to 104) comprise an endless chain device (101) driven (102, 21, 22) in synchronization with the movement of the cable (1 ) and carrying fingers (104) which cooperate in thrust with the clamps (63 to 66) of the lines (6) to bring them towards the exit of the   declutching station (8) in the direction of the return pulley (4).   10.- Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the fingers (104) are articulated on the chain (101) and retractable to   against a reminder device.   11.- Device according to claim 9 or claim 10, characterized in that the drive of the chain (101) is done by mechanical transmission (21, 22, 102) of the movement of the last pulley to   groove (2) preceding the declutching station (8).