FR3053651A1 - TERRESTRIAL CABLE TRANSPORTATION SYSTEM AND METHOD - Google Patents

Abstract

A terrestrial cable transport installation (2) comprising two vehicles (S, T) each provided with a hooking means (6) configured to attach the vehicle (S, T) removably to the earth cable (2). ), two end stations (3, 4) located respectively at the ends of the terrestrial cable (2), an intermediate station (10) situated between the two end stations (3, 4), an avoidance (11) located between a first end station (4) and the intermediate station (10) and configured to allow a vehicle crossing (S, T), and reversible drive means (5) of the terrestrial cable (2) configured to invert a direction of rotation (X) of the land cable when a vehicle (S, T) reaches the second end station (3).

Description

Technical field of the invention

The invention relates to land cable transport.

State of the art

Currently, land cable installations, such as funiculars, are used to transport people in an urban environment, or for journeys over short distances.

Mention may be made of French patent application FR2943025 which discloses a transport installation, comprising two towing cables to which a vehicle is successively coupled reversibly, by two mechanisms, for its pulling back and forth along a single traffic lane connecting two end stations. The pulling of the towing cables is ensured by two motorization units. However, this installation is complex because it is necessary to maintain the functioning of two motorization units and to ensure the maintenance of two towing cables.

Furthermore, patent application FR2942194 discloses a transport installation, comprising a towing cable to which a vehicle is successively coupled reversibly, by two coupling mechanisms, for its pulling back and forth along a single track of traffic connecting two end stations. In addition, the installation includes intermediate stations arranged along the taxiway between the end stations, for the embarkation and disembarkation of people. But this installation is also complex because the vehicle must be uncoupled at each intermediate and end station, which results in fatigue of the coupling mechanisms and an increase in the frequency of maintenance operations.

Mention may also be made of French patent application FR2133102 which discloses a transport installation, comprising a terrestrial cable for towing several vehicles along two guide paths arranged symmetrically with respect to a vertical plane, and several vehicles equipped with guide members located on a single lateral side of the vehicles so as to cooperate only with one of the guide tracks. In addition, the vehicles are fitted with disengageable clamps for detachably hanging the vehicles on the cable so as to slow the vehicles at the station to facilitate the embarkation and disembarkation of people, and so that the vehicles can be turned over to hang them to the cable return strand. But this installation is complex because it requires the use of deceleration, acceleration and bypass circuits at each station to move the vehicles that are off the cable.

We can cite the European patent application EP0347324 which discloses a transport installation, comprising a terrestrial cable for pulling back and forth20 comes two vehicles along a track provided with an asymmetrical avoidance to allow the vehicles to cross in direction opposite and halfway from the installation's end stations. Vehicles can be fitted with detachable clips to detachably hang vehicles from the cable to change the position of a vehicle when the length of the cable is changed or when the position of a station is changed. However, this installation is not suitable when it is desired to place an intermediate station on the track, without being obliged to place it halfway between the end stations.

Subject of the invention

An object of the invention to overcome these drawbacks, and more particularly to provide a facility and a method of transport by land cable which is simple and which allows embarkation and disembarkation of people in three stations located at distinct positions one others.

According to one aspect of the invention, there is provided a method of transporting by land cable two vehicles each provided with an attachment means configured to hook the vehicle removably to the land cable, comprising a step of traction by the terrestrial cable of the two vehicles in the direction of two end stations located respectively at the ends of the terrestrial cable.

The method comprises a step of crossing vehicles between a first end station and an intermediate station located between the two end stations, a step of reversing a direction of rotation of the land cable when a vehicle reaches the second end station, and a step for stopping a vehicle in the intermediate station.

Thus, a simplified method is provided for transporting people to three separate stations using only two vehicles. Advantageously, such a method makes it possible to place the intermediate station at any distance from the end stations, thus offering freedom as to the implementation of the transport method. Such a method also makes it possible to limit maintenance operations, in particular through the use of a single terrestrial cable.

The method may include a step of stalling each vehicle when the vehicles reach the first end station.

In this case, means can be positioned to pick up the vehicles only at one of the end stations, which simplifies the transport process. This limits the number of stalls of a vehicle on the land cable, which reduces maintenance operations on the vehicle attachment means.

When stopping a vehicle, the vehicle can be hung on the ground cable.

It is therefore not necessary to unhook the vehicles from the terrestrial cable 5 when they are located in the intermediate station, which further limits maintenance operations on the attachment means.

According to another aspect of the invention, a terrestrial cable transport installation is proposed, comprising two vehicles each provided with an attachment means configured to hook the vehicle removably to the terrestrial cable, and two stations ends located respectively at the ends of the terrestrial cable.

The installation comprises an intermediate station situated between the two end stations, an avoidance situated between a first end station and the intermediate station and configured to allow vehicles to cross, and means for reversibly driving the land cable configured to reverse a direction of rotation of the land cable when a vehicle reaches the second end station.

The installation may include a single device for detaching vehicles from the terrestrial cable located within the first end station.

A vehicle can be located at the intermediate station and hung on the ground cable. 25

Brief description of the drawings

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of particular embodiments and implementation of the invention given by way of nonlimiting examples and represented in the appended drawings, in which:

- Figures 1 to 6 schematically illustrate the main steps of an embodiment of the invention; and

- Figure 7 schematically illustrates a sectional view of an embodiment of a transport installation according to the invention.

detailed description

In FIGS. 1 to 6, an embodiment of a transport installation 1 by terrestrial cable 2 has been shown. Terrestrial cable 2 is understood to mean a tractor cable located at ground level, unlike a cable aerial used for cable cars, such as cable cars or chairlifts. A transport installation 1 by land cable 2 is also called funicular. The installation comprises two vehicles S, T, two end stations 3, 4 and reversible drive means 5 for the land cable 2, hereinafter noted cable 2. In other words, the stations 3, 4 d the end are located respectively at the ends of the cable 2. Each vehicle S, T comprises a hooking means 6 configured to hook the vehicle S, T removably to the cable 2. The hooking means 6 may be a clamp, said disengageable clamp, having a closed position in which the clamp clamps the cable 2 so as to be able to tow the vehicle S, T, and an open position in which the vehicle S, T can be detached from the cable 2. The end stations 3, 4 each have a pulley 8, 7. A first end station 4 has a drive pulley 7 coupled to a motor and configured to drive the cable 2. The second end station 3 has, for its part, a pulley 8 for reference tension the cable 2. Thus, the cable 2 is stretched between the driving pulley 7 and the return pulley 8, and it delimits a traffic lane 17, 18 between the end stations 3, 4. The terrestrial cable 2 is continuous and describes a closed loop. When the driving pulley 7 is driven in a first counterclockwise direction of rotation X, it drives the cable 2 in the first counterclockwise direction X (illustrated in Figures 1 to 3).

In other words, a first strand 2a of the cable 2 is driven in translation towards the second end station 3 and, conversely, a second strand 2b of the cable 2 is driven in translation towards the first station of end

4. The drive means 5 are further configured to reverse the direction of rotation of the cable 2, to drive it in a second direction of clockwise rotation Y (illustrated in FIGS. 4 to 6), by driving the driving pulley 7 according to a second direction of rotation Y reverses to the first direction of rotation X.

Furthermore, the installation 1 comprises an intermediate station 10 located between the two end stations 3, 4. The intermediate station 10 allows disembarkation and embarkation of people in vehicles S, T. In general, the station intermediate 10 has platforms to receive the people leaving vehicles S, T, and to allow people to wait for a vehicle S, T in which they wish to take their place. The intermediate station 10 is located a first distance from the first end station 4 and a second distance from the second end station 3. For example, the first distance may be greater than the second distance. The intermediate station 10 can be located midway 15 from the end stations 3, 4. Preferably, the intermediate station 10 is located at one third of the length of the taxiway 17, 18. The taxiway 17, 18 of the two vehicles S, T comprises a first section 17 connecting the first end station 4 to the intermediate station 10 and a second section 18 connecting the second end station

3 at intermediate station 10.

Preferably, the installation 1 comprises an avoidance 11 configured to allow a crossing of vehicles S, T. The avoidance 11 can be located within the intermediate station 10, or be located between the intermediate station 10 and one of the stations end 3, 4. For example, the bypass 11 can be located at level 14 of the first section 17 of the taxiway. Preferably, the bypass 11 is located midway between the intermediate station 10 and the first end station 4. According to one embodiment, the bypass 11 has two branches 12, 13 offset one by the other laterally, and along which the two strands 2b, 2a of the cable 2 flow respectively. Thus, when the vehicles S, T are towed by the cable 2, they circulate in the opposite direction on the first section 17, and when the drive pulley 7 is driven in rotation according to the first direction of rotation X, a first vehicle S travels along the first branch 12, and the second vehicle T travels along the second branch 13 and can cross the first vehicle S.

Furthermore, the installation 1 may comprise a device 16 for detaching vehicles S, T from the cable 2. Such a device 16 can be controlled by control means 16a configured to control the stalling of a vehicle S, T .

In addition, FIG. 7 shows an embodiment of the installation 1, in which a vehicle T comprises a cabin 30 mounted on a chassis 31, rolling means 32, 33 configured to allow movement in translation of the vehicle T along the taxiway 17, 18. The taxiway 17, 18 comprises a support structure 36, 37 for carrying the vehicle T. Preferably, the support structure 36, 37 comprises two rails 36, 37 extending along the taxiway 17, 18, and the rolling means 32, 33 may comprise wheels rotatably mounted on shafts 34, 35 coupled to the chassis 31, so that the vehicle T can roll on the rails 36, 37. In addition, the avoidance 11 comprises two additional rails, not shown for simplification purposes, extending respectively along the branches 12, 13 to allow vehicles S, T to travel along the branches 12, Avoid 13 ment 11. The vehicles S, T can be identical to simplify the transport installation 1, that is to say that the attachment means 6 can be located in the same position on the two vehicles S, T.

Transport installation 1 offers the possibility of transporting people in three separate stations 3, 4, 10. In addition, installation 1 is as simple as possible and comprises a single cable 2, two vehicles S, T and three stations 3, 4, 10. Such an installation 1 makes it possible to limit maintenance operations.

In FIGS. 1 to 6, the main stages of a cable transport method 2 of two vehicles S, T are also shown. The method can be δ

implemented by the transport installation 1 described above. Figure 1 illustrates an initial step in the process. In this initial step, a first vehicle S is located in the intermediate station 10 and the second vehicle T is located in the first end station 4. The two vehicles S, T are hooked to the cable 2, and in this case the means attachment 6 are represented by solid circles. Then, the method comprises a pulling step during which the cable 2 tows the two vehicles S, T in the direction 20, 21 of the two respective end stations 4, 3. The two vehicles S, T are towed in respectively two opposite directions 20, 21. The first vehicle S is pulled to the first station 4 and the second vehicle T to the intermediate station 10. In this case the driving pulley 7 turns in the first counterclockwise direction X. The two vehicles S, T intersect at level 14 of the first section 17, and they respectively reach the first end station 4 and the intermediate station 10, as illustrated in FIG. 2. The method comprises, in in addition, a stop step in which the second vehicle T is stopped at the intermediate station 10. The stop step allows people to disembark and embark. Preferably, during the stopping step, the driving of the cable 2 is stopped when a vehicle S, T reaches a new station 3, 4, 10. The second vehicle T can then remain attached to the cable 2, and it is not necessary to unhook the vehicle T from the cable 2. The opening and closing actions to be carried out on the fastening means 6 are thus reduced to limit their wear.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 3, the first vehicle S is removed from the cable 2, so as to allow the second vehicle T to be towed towards the second end station 3. The attachment means 6 is shown vehicle S, T by a hollow circle when the vehicle S, T is unhooked from the cable 2. The second vehicle T is therefore towed in direction 22 and reaches the second station 3 where it remains attached to the cable 2.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 4, an inversion step is carried out, during which the direction of rotation of the cable 2 is reversed. In other words, the direction of rotation of the cable is reversed when a vehicle S, T reaches the second end station 3. In this case, the driving pulley 7 rotates in the second direction of clockwise rotation Y and the second vehicle T is towed in translation in the direction of the intermediate station 10, which it achieved. When the second vehicle T reaches the intermediate station 10, the vehicle T is stopped, which remains attached to the cable 2. Then, the first vehicle S is hooked again to the cable 2, and the drive of the cable 2 is resumed in the second direction. of rotation Y. The first vehicle S is then towed in the direction 25 of the intermediate station 10 and the second vehicle T is towed in the direction 24 of the first end station 4.

As illustrated in FIG. 5, the vehicles S, T respectively reach the intermediate station 10 and the first end station 4. In addition, the second vehicle S is stopped at the intermediate station 10.

Then, as illustrated in FIG. 6, the second vehicle T is disconnected from the cable 2, the stall being carried out in the first station 4, in particular by means of the stall device 16. Preferably, the stall device 16 is located only in the first end station 4. In other words, the stall step is carried out, for each of the two vehicles S, T, when the vehicles S, T reach the first end station 4. Such a transport method makes it possible to pick up a vehicle S, T only once during a round trip of the vehicle S, T. A round trip of a vehicle S or T is understood to mean the journey that the vehicle S or T travels leaving a first initial station 4 or 10, passing through the two other stations of installation 1, and returning to the first initial station 4 or 10. Then, we resume the drive of cable 2 according to the second direction of rotation Y, to tow the he first vehicle S, in direction 26, to the second end station 3, which he reaches.

In addition, as soon as the first vehicle S reaches the second end station 3, the direction of rotation of the driving pulley 7, and therefore of the cable 2, is reversed. This reversal makes it possible to bring the first vehicle S back to the intermediate station 10, and the installation 1 is found in its initial configuration illustrated in FIG. 1.

The invention which has just been described is particularly suitable for reducing the 5 maintenance operations of a land cable transport installation.

The invention makes it possible to guarantee the transport of people to three separate stations, using means that are simple to carry out and to implement.

Claims (6)

Claims 1. Land cable transport method ( 2) two vehicles (S, T) each provided with a hooking means (6) configured to hang the 5 vehicle (S, T) removably to the land cable (2), comprising a step of traction by the land cable (2) of the two vehicles (S, T) in the direction of two end stations (3, 4) located respectively at the ends of the terrestrial cable (2), characterized in that it comprises a step of crossing vehicles between a first end station (4) and an intermediate station (10) io located between the two end stations (3, 4), a step of reversing a direction of rotation (X, Y) of the land cable (2) when a vehicle (S, T) reaches the second end station (3), and a vehicle stop step (S, T) at the intermediate station (10). 2. Method according to claim 1, comprising a step of detaching each vehicle (S, T) when the vehicles (S, T) reach the first end station (4). 3. Method according to claim 1 or 2, wherein, during the stopping step 20 of a vehicle (S, T), the vehicle (S, T) is attached to the ground cable (2). 4. Transport installation by land cable (2), comprising two vehicles (S, T) each provided with a hooking means (6) configured to hook the vehicle (S, T) removably to the land cable (2), and two 25 end stations (3, 4) located respectively at the ends of the land cable (2), characterized in that it comprises an intermediate station (10) located between the two end stations (3, 4), a bypass (11) located between a first end station (4) and the intermediate station (10) and configured to allow a crossing of vehicles (S, T), and reversible drive means (5) of the 30 land cable (2) configured to reverse a direction of rotation (X, Y) of the land cable (2) when a vehicle (S, T) reaches the second end station (3). 5. Installation according to claim 4, comprising a single device for detaching (16) vehicles (S, T) of the land cable (2) located within the first end station (4). 5 6. Installation according to claim 4 or 5, wherein a vehicle (S, T) located at the intermediate station (10) is attached to the ground cable (2). 1/3