FR2929911A1 - SUPPORT DEVICE FOR A CARRIER CABLE OF A TELEPHERIC INSTALLATION AND METHOD FOR CONTROLLING A CARRIER CABLE IN SUPPORT ON A SUPPORT DEVICE - Google Patents

Abstract

A cable carrier support device (10) of a cable car installation comprises a support piece receiving a cable-carrier portion (10) and resting on a shoe (12) of the installation. The support piece is subdivided, in the direction of the carrying cable (10), into a plurality of elementary sections (13i) each resting on at least one removable intermediate wedge (14) in contact with the shoe (12), in order to be able to moving each elementary section (13i) away from the carrying cable (10) after removal of the shim (14). The invention also relates to a method for controlling a support cable (10) resting on a device of support.

Description

Support device for a cable-carrier of a ropeway installation and method for controlling a support cable resting on a support device Technical field of the invention

A first aspect of the invention relates to a support device for the cable-carrier of a cable car installation, comprising a support piece receiving a cable-carrier portion and resting on a shoe of the installation. A second aspect of the invention relates to a method of controlling a carrier cable resting on a support device according to the first aspect.

State of the art

In a cable car installation, the cabins move along 20 lines, each comprising at least one support cable that is fixedly tensioned between the stations for the recovery of the gravity forces of the cabins and, on the other hand, at least a rolling tractor cable and to which the cabins are hung by fixed connection means to transmit the forces necessary for moving the cabins. Each carrier cable 25 rests on hooves of the installation to ensure the recovery of efforts. At each shoe, a portion of cable-carrier is placed in a support part, usually provided with a lateral support lining of the cable-carrier, which support part rests on the shoe itself. To limit the risk of damage to the carrier cable, in particular by shearing, each support piece has a curvature in the

direction of the cable-carrier. The value of the radius of curvature along the support piece may possibly be variable according to the applications.

Despite a fixed set-up, the by-laws require periodic inspection of all load-bearing cables, particularly on the portions received by the support pieces. Control outside said portions is practiced visually without concern for access. On the other hand, the control of the portions resting in the support parts of the hooves is a problem in view of the impossibility of access to the contact zone.

One known technique is to arrange at the ends of each carrier cable a length reserve of cable-carrier. For the control of the support zone of a carrier cable on a support piece integral with a shoe, it is sufficient to use the cable-carrier reserve to translate it to a position of the shoe area. offset support of the support piece. But such a practice requires the presence of at least one cable-carrier reserve, which can be annoying, expensive, or sometimes impossible to develop.

Another technique is to lift the portion of cable-carrier resting on the support part, thanks to a suitable lifting system. But such a practice is feasible only at locations where the radius of curvature of the support part, and therefore that of the carrier cable, is greater than a minimum value below which the lifting of the cable-carrier would require efforts. too high and may cause local damage.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION An object of the invention is to provide a support device for visual inspection at locations where the radius of curvature of the cable-

carrier is substantially small, and this without the need to arrange spare length of cable-carrier.

The device according to the invention is remarkable in that the support piece is subdivided, in the direction of the carrier cable, into a plurality of elementary sections each resting on at least one removable intermediate wedge in contact with the shoe, to be able to move away. each elementary section relative to the carrier cable after removal of the hold.

Said at least one intermediate shim interposed between the shoe and the associated elementary section is advantageously removably mounted. The withdrawal of the wedge initially allows the lowering of the elementary section in the direction of the shoe to move away from the carrier cable, and then in a second step the withdrawal of the elementary section, making it selectively removable. The carrier cable then remains supported on the support device at the level of the elementary sections still in place and the visual control of the carrier cable along the length in contact with the elementary section before removal of the wedge becomes possible. For complete control of the carrier cable over the entire length of the support device, it suffices to repeat this operation for all the elementary sections.

According to a preferred embodiment, each elementary section comprises means for coupling to a complementary member of a hoisting system of said elementary section. Thanks to such coupling means, the removal of the wedge is possible after an elevation of the elementary section by the lifting system to release the wedge.

Other technical characteristics may be used alone or in combination: each elementary section is secured to the shoe by at least one fastening screw ensuring compression of the corresponding shim,

the coupling means are constituted by at least one notch opening on a longitudinal edge of the elementary section, each elementary section is equipped, along its entire length in the direction of the carrier cable, with a lateral holding pad of the carrying cable. perpendicular to said direction, the liner being housed in a complementary groove.

As mentioned above, the control method according to the second aspect of the invention is such that for each elementary section, the following successive steps are carried out: the elementary section is coupled to a member complementary to a lifting system, the lifting system is actuated to an elevation position of the elementary section to release the shim previously arranged under the elementary section, the shim is removed, the lifting system is actuated to a lowering position of the elementary section to move away. the elementary section with respect to the carrier cable, the elementary section and the lifting system are separated, the elementary section is removed, the carrier cable is controlled over the length liberated.

Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of a particular embodiment of the invention given by way of nonlimiting example and represented in the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 shows a part of a cable car installation equipped with a support device according to the first aspect of the invention, Figure 2 illustrates a detail of the. FIG. 3 is a side section of the support device of FIGS. 1 and 2, FIGS. 4 to 8 illustrate the successive steps during application to an elementary section of the control method according to the second aspect of FIG. 'invention.

Description of a preferred embodiment of the invention

In Figures 1 to 3, a support device for a carrying cable 10 of a cable car installation comprises a support piece 11 receiving a portion of cable-carrier 10 near its end. The support piece 11 rests on a shoe 12 of the installation to take up the forces applied by the portion of the carrier cable 10 resting on the support part 11 and transmit them to the ground.

According to the first aspect of the invention, the support part 11 is subdivided, in the direction of the carrier cable 10, into a plurality of elementary sections 13a, 13b, ..., 113 ;, ..., 13n. Each elementary section 13; rests on at least one intermediate shim 14 in contact with the shoe 12. Each shim 14 is interposed between the elementary section 13, associated and the shoe 12. In the particular example shown, three intermediate shims 14 are associated with each elementary section 13; being staggered along the elementary section 13; in the direction of the carrying cable 10. Each intermediate shim 14 is directly attached to the shoe 12 without any fastening means provided between these two parts. In an identical manner, each elementary section 13; is directly attached to the elementary shims 14 associated, without using fastening means vis-à-vis the intermediate shims 14. 30

Each elementary section 13; is secured, against against directly to the shoe 12 via at least one fixing screw 15 ensuring a compression of the intermediate shims 14 corresponding. Each fastening screw 15 consists of a bearing head 16 and an elongated body 17 subdivided into a first smooth section on the side of the bearing head 16 and a second threaded section on the opposite side to the head of the head. 16. The organization is such that the support head 16 comes into contact from above with the elementary section 13 ;, and that the second threaded portion is screwed into a tapped hole provided in the upper face of the shoe 12 crossing a passage provided in the thickness of the elementary section 13; Four fixing screws 15 are arranged in pairs on either side laterally relative to the cable-carrier portion 10 received. On each side, the two fixing screws 15 are offset in the direction of the carrying cable 10.

The relative configuration described above between the support piece 11 (composed by the union of the elementary sections 13;), the shoe 12 and the intermediate wedges 14 makes it possible, after the removal of the fastening screws 15 associated with an elementary section 13; and lifting said section 13 ;, remove the intermediate shims 14 previously arranged under the elementary section 13 ;. Such a possibility gives each intermediate shim 14 a removable character without any disassembly. Removing all the intermediate shims 14 associated with an elementary section 13; given subsequently authorizes said elementary section 13; to be able to be lowered in the direction of the shoe 12 to move away from the carrier cable 10, then to be removed. It follows that the elementary sections 13; are removable selectively, independently of each other, in particular independently of the two adjacent sections 13; _, and 13; + ,. The removable nature of each elementary section 13; makes it possible to generate a free space under the carrying cable 10 at the location of said section 13; by withdrawal of the latter. The free space generated under the carrying cable 10 over a length

equal to the length of the elementary section 13 removed allows a visual check of the carrier cable 10 along this length.

For the purpose of the use described above of the support piece 11, each elementary section 13; comprises coupling means to a complementary member of a lifting system (not shown in full) of said elementary section 13 ;. By way of example, the coupling means consist of at least one notch 18 opening on a longitudinal edge of the elementary section 13; The longitudinal edge corresponds to an edge oriented in the direction of the carrier cable 10. In the variant shown, the intermediate section 13; has four indentations 18 distributed in pairs on the two longitudinal edges of the elementary section 13 ;.

Referring to Figure 2, the lifting system used for the successive raising and lowering of the elementary sections 13; can implement at least one cylinder, for example of hydraulic type, each comprising a body 19 and a sliding rod 20 associated with a piston mounted in the body 19. By way of example, the lifting system comprises four independent cylinders . Still in a variant that is in no way limitative, the member complementary to the coupling means formed by the notches 18 is constituted by a radial flange 21 arranged projecting from each body 19 to come from below in contact with the elementary section 13, after the laterally placed bodies 19 in the notches 18. In this case, the sliding rods 20 are intended to bear by their free end on the shoe 12 (see Figure 2). In a variant not shown, the radial collars 21 may be provided in projecting sliding rods 20 while the bodies 19 are intended to bear on the shoe 12 during the relative movement of the rods 20 relative to the body 19.30

Each elementary section 13; is equipped, over its entire length taken in the direction of the carrier cable 10, a lateral holding liner 22 of the carrier cable 10. The notion of lateral corresponds to a direction perpendicular to the direction of the cable-carrier 10. The lining 22 is housed in a complementary groove 23. The attachment of the lateral support lining 22 inside the complementary groove 23 is formed by a plurality of auxiliary fastening screws 24 distributed along the elementary section 13; in the direction of the carrier cable 10 and each engaged in a tapping 25 opening on the bottom of the groove 23.

The outer shape of the liner 22 is a straight cylinder. By mathematical definition, a cylinder is a surface of the space defined by a generating line passing through a variable point describing a closed plane curve (called the guiding curve) and keeping a fixed direction. In the case of a straight cylinder, the direction of the generating line is perpendicular to the plane of the guide curve. In application to the lining 22, the guide curve thus corresponds to a lateral section of the lining and the direction of the generating line is parallel to the direction of the carrying cable 10.

To ensure its lateral holding function of the carrier cable 10, the upper face of the section of the seal 22, being defined as the face opposite to the complementary groove 23, has in the center, in the lateral direction, a positioning groove 26 By way of example, the material used for the side support liner 22 is high density polyethylene.

The complementary groove 23 provided in the intermediate section 13; for attachment of the lining 22 which it is provided is curved on the side of the shoe 12. For example, the groove 23 is a portion of a surface of revolution having a generatrix constituted by a U whose branches are perpendicular to its base. The radius separating the mathematical axis from the surface of revolution

and the U-shaped generator determines the local value of the radius of curvature of the support member 11, and therefore that of the radius of curvature of the carrier cable 10. The value of the radius of curvature along the support member 11 can optionally be variable according to the applications.

The control method according to the second aspect of the invention corresponds to an appropriate use of the support device according to the first aspect of the invention, as follows. The control of the portion of the carrier cable 10 received by the support part 11 is practiced by a successive control of the carrier cable 10 over the length received by each of the elementary sections 13;

For each elementary section 13, from the normal operating configuration (FIG. 4), it is first necessary to remove all the fixing screws 15 associated with said section 13; and to couple the elementary section 13; to a member complementary to a lifting system (Figure 5). To carry out this last operation in the illustrated example, the bodies 19 of the cylinders are engaged laterally in the notches 18 to position the radial flanges 21 bearing below the elementary section 13, under two lateral wings constituting the longitudinal edges of the elementary section 13 ;. In a next step (FIG. 6), the lifting system is actuated towards an elevation position of the elementary section 13; to release the intermediate shims 14 arranged beforehand, that is to say before the section 13, is raised under the elementary section 13; To perform this operation in the example shown, the sliding rods 20 are actuated to an output position to, at first, abut by their free end against the shoe 12, then in a second phase, cause the elevation proper thanks to the relative movement of the body 19 relative to the rod 20 when the latter is in abutment against the shoe 12. Still with reference to Figure 6, the wedges 14 are then removed, for example laterally. In a next step,

the lifting system is actuated to a lowering position of the elementary section 13; to bring it closer to the shoe 12 and away from the carrier cable 10. In the example, it is sufficient to control the sliding rods 20 to a retracted position to a state where the radial collars 21 no longer support the weight of the elementary section 13 ;. The carrier cable 10 then bears at least on the two directly adjacent elementary sections still in place on the shoe 12. Next, the elementary section 13; and the lifting system are separated (Figure 7). To perform this last operation in the illustrated example, the bodies 19 of the cylinders are laterally disengaged from the notches 18. Referring to Figure 8, the elementary section 13; is then removed to generate a free space under the carrying cable 10 at the location of said section 13; after withdrawal of the latter. The free space generated under the carrying cable 10 over a length equal to the length of the elementary section 13; removed allows a visual check of the carrier cable 10 on this released length. Before controlling the carrier cable 10 over a length resting on another elementary section 13 ,, it is necessary to replace the elementary section previously removed by performing the following steps in reverse order. To carry out the control method according to the second aspect of the invention, the steps described above apply to an elementary section 13; particular must be repeated for all the elementary sections 13; forming the support piece 11.

The number of elementary sections 13; may vary according to the applications, in particular according to the length of the support piece 11 in the direction of the carrier cable 10 and as a function of the maximum mass for which the lifting system is dimensioned. It is clear that a sufficient number of elementary sections 13; should be chosen so as to reduce the lifting forces at the time of the elevation of each of the elementary sections 13 ;, in order to limit the risk of local damage of the carrier cable 10.

Claims (6)

Revendications1. Supporting device for a carrying cable (10) of a ropeway installation, comprising a support piece (11) receiving a portion of the carrying cable (10) and resting on a shoe (12) of the installation, characterized in the support piece (11) is subdivided, in the direction of the carrier cable (10), into a plurality of elementary sections (13;) each resting on at least one removable intermediate wedge (14) in contact with the shoe (12), to be able to move each elementary section (13;) relative to the carrier cable (10) after removal of the wedge (14). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that each elementary section (13;) is secured to the shoe (12) by at least one fixing screw 15 (15) ensuring a compression of the shim (14) corresponding. 3. Device according to one of claims 1 and 2, characterized in that each elementary section (13;) comprises means for coupling to a complementary member of a lifting system of said elementary section 20 (13;). 4. Device according to claim 4, characterized in that the coupling means are constituted by at least one notch (18) opening on a longitudinal edge of the elementary section (131). 5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that each elementary section (13;) is equipped, over its entire length in the direction of the carrier cable (10), with a lateral support lining ( 22) of the carrier cable (10) perpendicular to said direction, the liner (22) being housed in a complementary groove (23). 11 6. A method of controlling a carrier cable (10) bearing on a support device according to claims 1 to 5, characterized in that for each elementary section (131 is performed the following successive steps: the elementary section is coupled to (13;) to a complementary member 5 of a lifting system, the lifting system is actuated to an elevation position of the elementary section (13,) to release the shim (14) previously arranged under the elementary section ( 131 the shim (14) is removed, the lifting system is actuated to a lowering position of the elementary section (13;) in order to move the elementary section (13;) away from the carrying cable (10). the elementary section (13;) and the lifting system, the elementary section (131) is withdrawn and the carrier cable (10) is controlled over the length liberated.