JP2023534135A - Door control mechanism for cable car - Google Patents

Abstract

Confidence in the operation of a cable car with a cable car (F) whose boarding barrier (5) is operable by a remotely controlled actuation mechanism (11) in the cable car station (1). In order to increase the security within the cable car station (1), according to the invention the cable car station (1) is provided with a mechanical forced control mechanism for opening and/or closing the boarding barrier (5). and within the cable car station (1) the actuating mechanism (11) is operated by the remote control unit (12) to open and/or close the boarding barrier (5) without relying on a mechanical forced control mechanism. It is contemplated that it can be controlled.

Description

The present invention is a cable car comprising at least one cable car station and at least one cable car vehicle, the cable car vehicle being provided with at least one boarding barrier, the boarding barrier providing access to the cable car vehicle. and a closed position in which access to the cable car car is blocked, the cable car car being provided with a remotely controllable actuation mechanism for actuating the boarding barrier. , relates to a cable car in which an actuation mechanism can be controlled by a remote control unit for opening and/or closing boarding barriers in a cable car station. Furthermore, the present invention is a cable car for a cable car comprising at least one boarding barrier, the boarding barrier allowing access to the cable car within the cable car station by means of a mechanical forced control mechanism. and a closed position in which access to the cable car is blocked. Furthermore, the present invention is a method of operating a cable car comprising at least one cable car station and at least one cable car vehicle, wherein the cable car vehicle is provided with at least one boarding barrier, the boarding barrier comprising: A mechanism provided at a cable car station for actuating a boarding barrier which is shiftable between an open position allowing access to the cable car carriage and a closed position blocking access to the cable car carriage. The boarding barrier is opened and/or closed in the cable car station by a remotely operable actuating mechanism provided on the cable car, without relying on a conventional forced control mechanism, and the actuating mechanism is controlled by a remote control unit. about the method.

Cable car installations are used to transport people and goods between two, even three or more cable car stations. For this purpose, a plurality of cable car vehicles such as chairs and cabins are cyclically moved or reciprocated between cable car stations. Cable car cars are moved between cable car stations by at least one hoisting cable. A cable car car may be suspended on at least one supporting or hoisting cable (cableway) or movably arranged on rails or on the ground (crossing cable car) and moved by at least one hoisting cable. can. However, the cable car car can also be detachably or fixedly fastened to the hoisting rope and moved with it. In the case of circular cable cars, the cable car carriages are often decoupled from the hoisting cables at the cable car stations by removable cable clamps or the like, and are moved at low speed through the cable car stations for boarding and disembarking passengers. Or facilitate the loading and unloading of goods.

In funiculars, mechanical forced control mechanisms, in particular link controls, for certain functions, e.g. opening and closing cable clamps, opening and closing safety bars of chairs or weather protection hoods, opening and closing cabin or gondola doors at funicular stations. It is known to operate by mechanism. For this purpose, links are arranged fixedly at the stations and are connected by means of connecting elements present on the funicular cars during passage. The connecting element is arranged on a rotatably supported lever, which is pivoted upon connection. Here, a specific function is performed by a Bowden cable or linkage that engages the lever. An example for the opening and closing function of the door can be found in US Pat. No. 3,742,864 (A) and EP 1 671 867 B1 shows an example for the opening and closing folding of the safety bar.

However, the link control mechanism limits the flexibility of door control. In particular, the moment or position at which the cabin door is opened and closed within the cable car station depends on the specific design of the link guide within the cable car station and is therefore fixed and preset. Here, changing the open/close position is not possible or only possible with great effort since fixed link guides at cable car stations have to be changed. However, under certain circumstances it may be desirable to be able to change the position or time at which the door is opened and closed. For example, this is the case when the cable car car is already out of the link guide during an emergency in the cable car station. In the event of an emergency, it has hitherto been necessary to manually open the door, especially to push it open, which requires skill and strong physical strength. However, it is possible, for example, that there is a malfunction of the link control mechanism, which causes the door not to open as desired or in the intended position.

EP 2 708 434 A1 discloses a cable car station in which some functions of the cable car can be controlled by a control unit, such as opening/closing the doors of the cable car. The control unit can be controlled by the user via a fixed user interface in the control room or by remote control within a defined area of the station.

EP 2 067 682 A1 discloses a method for remotely monitoring the locking status of the doors of a cable car vehicle.

Based on the prior art, the object of the present invention is therefore to increase the reliability of cable car operation in cable car stations.

According to the invention, this problem is solved by providing the cable car station with a mechanically forced control mechanism for opening and/or closing the boarding barrier, and within the cable car station, relying on the mechanically forced control mechanism. The solution is that the actuating mechanism can be controlled by the remote control unit in order to open and/or close the boarding barrier without the need to. This increases the flexibility of door control in cable car stations, as the doors can be opened and/or closed as needed without relying on a forced control mechanism.

Preferably, the remote control unit is configured as a stationary remote control unit, preferably located in the control room of the cable car station. Alternatively or additionally, the actuation mechanism is preferably controllable via a portable remote control unit, preferably a mobile phone or a portable computer. Here, control signals can be transmitted wirelessly and/or by wire from the remote control unit to the actuating mechanism of the cable car. This allows flexible activation by the operator from the operator's room or from any position within the cable car station.

The actuation mechanism preferably comprises mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or electromechanical actuators for driving the boarding barrier. This makes it possible to achieve an easy drive of the boarding barrier that produces sufficient actuation force.

For the energy supply to the actuating mechanism, an energy store is advantageously provided on the cable car and/or an energy generating unit is provided on the cable car and/or the energy supply to the actuating mechanism is via a cable. Wired and/or wireless within the Carr station. Here, the energy accumulator is preferably configured as a mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or electrical energy accumulator. Wired energy supply preferably takes place via sliding contacts and/or wireless energy transmission preferably takes place by induction. Advantageously, mechanically driven generators and/or solar units are provided in the cable car stations as energy generating units in the cable car. Appropriate energy supply can thereby be planned according to the application.

A cable car carriage advantageously has a cabin and the boarding barrier is the door, or a cable car car has a chair and the boarding barrier is a safety bar or hood. This makes it possible to apply the present invention to various general cable cars.

The object of the invention is furthermore that a cable car car is provided with a remotely operable actuation mechanism for actuating the boarding barrier, which can be operated in the cable car station by a remote control unit without relying on a mechanical force control mechanism. Solved by a cable car vehicle that opens and/or closes the boarding barrier.

Furthermore, the problem is that the cable car station is provided with a mechanical forced control mechanism for opening and/or closing the boarding barrier, and within the cable car station the mechanical forced control mechanism is controlled by a remotely operable actuating mechanism. A solution is provided by a method in which the boarding barrier is opened and/or closed independently of a control mechanism.

The present invention will now be described in more detail with reference to FIG. FIG. 1 schematically shows an advantageous embodiment of the invention by way of example and not limitation.

1 is a top view of a cable car station of a cable car; FIG.

FIG. 1 shows a cable car station 1 of a cable car designed as a cabin cable car. Since the basic configuration and function of the cable car station 1 are known, a detailed description is omitted here. The figures are therefore greatly simplified, showing only the components essential to the invention. The cable car comprises a plurality of cable car cars F which are moved using hoisting cables 2 . In the example shown, the cable car is designed as a circular cable car, the cable car car F being fixedly or detachably connected to the hoisting cable 2 . Here the hoisting cable is deflected 180° around the rotating disc 3 and driven by it. For this purpose, a cable car drive (not shown), for example an electric drive, is provided to drive the rotating disk 3 . Of course, this is only an example and it is also possible to provide several cable car stations 1 in a cable car, for example two terminal stations and one or more intermediate stations, each cable car station being provided with a cable car drive. can be done. In principle, deflections of less than 180° are also conceivable. Usually at least two cable car stations 1 are provided between which cable car cars F travel, for example transporting people and/or goods, at least one cable car station 1 having a cable car drive. be provided.

Of course, other cable car carriages F may also be provided, for example chairs when the cable car is designed as a chairlift. Also, the cable car does not necessarily have to be designed as a circular cable car, but can also be designed as a known round-trip cable car.

As is known, the cable car F of a circular cable car can be decoupled from the hoisting cable 2 when entering the cable car station 1, independent of the speed of the hoisting cable 2, mostly It can be moved through cable car station 1 at a lower speed. When exiting the cable car station 1 , the cable car F is accelerated again and connected to the hoist cable 2 . This allows comfortable boarding and disembarking of the cable car F within the cable car station 1, while still achieving a high carrying capacity since the speed of the hoisting cable 2 remains high. In the uncoupled state, the cable car F may be guided along guide rails 4 arranged in the upper region of the cable car station 1, for example by rollers (not shown). The drive of the cable car F, which is decoupled from the hoisting cable 2 during movement within the cable car station 1, can be effected, for example, by a known friction drive.

Each cable car F is provided with at least one boarding barrier 5, the boarding barrier 5 having an open position in which access to the cable car F is possible and a closed position in which access to the cable car F is blocked. It is possible to shift between In the case of the illustrated cabin cable car, the boarding barrier 5 is for example the door of the cabin. Of course, depending on the design of the cable car, the cable car car F can also be provided with several boarding barriers 5 or doors. For example, the cabin of a shuttle cable car often has two doors on either side of the cabin. For example, when the cable car is configured as a chairlift, the boarding barrier 5 may be a safety bar or a hood for weather protection.

As is known, actuation of the boarding barrier 5 is often performed by a mechanical forced control mechanism provided at the cable car station 1 . The boarding barrier 5 is normally provided by the cooperation of a first working part arranged on the cable car car F and a second working part fixedly arranged at the cable car station 1, preferably for the cable passing through the cable car station 1. It is actuated to open and/or close by the movement of the car vehicle F. A return spring (not shown) or locking device may also be provided to ensure that the boarding barrier 5 remains in the closed position in the non-actuated state. Thereby, for example during the movement of the cable car F outside the cable car station 1, the doors of the cabin remain closed.

The boarding barrier 5 is often designed as a known link control mechanism. In this case, a lever 6 suitably articulated to the boarding barrier 5 (as a first actuating part) is arranged on the cable car F, by which lever the boarding barrier can be actuated to open and close. In order to actuate the lever 6, a guide roller 7 cooperating with a link 8 (as second actuating part) can be arranged on the lever.

The link 8, for example in the form of a guide rail, extends over a particular section of the cable car station 1 where the opening of the boarding barrier 5 is to take place, for example in the boarding area 9 of the platform 10 indicated by the arrow in FIG. . At the starting point 8a of the link 8, the guide roller 7 of the lever 6 is received by the link 8 and is forced to be guided in it. Now, depending on the course of the link 8, the guide roller 7 is shifted transversely to the direction of movement, thereby actuating the lever 6 and opening the boarding barrier 5. FIG. At the end of the boarding and alighting area 9, the guide rollers 7 are shifted back in the reverse direction following the path of the link 8, thereby closing the boarding barrier 5. FIG. Of course, the link guide is shown very simplistically in order to explain its basic functionality. The link guide can also be configured in such a way that a link 8, for example in the form of a guide rail extending in the direction of travel of the cable car F, is arranged at the cable car station 1 above the cable car F passing by. In this case, the guide rail can also have a varying course in the vertical direction, so that a vertical actuation force is applied to the guide roller 7 arranged on the lever 6 . Here, naturally, the opening mechanism of the boarding barrier 5 is designed so that the boarding barrier 5 can be opened and closed by a vertical actuation force according to the course of the link 8 .

The specific structural form differs depending on the type of cable car, particularly the cable car vehicle or the opening mechanism of the boarding barrier 5 . Depending on the specific design of the mechanical forced control mechanism or link guide, the opening time or point of the boarding barrier in the cable car station 1 is fixed and preset and cannot be changed, or Or it cannot be changed without much effort. Therefore, it is not possible to open and close the boarding barrier 5 outside the predetermined position. For example, when the cable car F is already out of the link guide in the direction of travel, the boarding barrier 5 is already in the closed position as shown on the left side of FIG. In this position, for example, an emergency could occur and the cable car could be stopped, for example because an object was caught when closing the boarding barrier 5 . In this case it may be desirable to open the boarding barrier 5 in order to be able to remove the object and continue the operation of the cable car. Hitherto, this has only been possible manually, requiring the required skill on the one hand and relatively strong physical strength on the other hand. It is therefore clear that the opening of the boarding barrier 5 in the cable car station 1 is considerably restricted by conventional mechanical forced control mechanisms.

Thus, according to the invention, the cable car F is provided with a remotely controllable actuation mechanism 11 for actuating the boarding barrier 5, the actuation mechanism 11 being controllable by a remote control unit 12 and mechanically To remotely open and/or close a boarding barrier 5 in a cable car station 1 without relying on any forceful control mechanism. The remote control unit 12 can be configured, for example, as a fixed remote control unit 12a which is preferably arranged in a control room (not shown) of the cable car station 1 . Thereby, for example, the responsible operator can control the boarding barrier 5 from the control room. From the control room the control of the cable car takes place anyway. However, it is of course also possible to activate the boarding barrier 5 from outside the funicular station 1 . For example, the remote control unit 12 can be provided at another cable car station 1 or in a central control center, which is provided for control and monitoring of a plurality of cable cars.

Here, "remotely operated" or "remotely" in this context means in particular from an open position in which access to the cable car F is possible to a closed position in which access to the cable car F is blocked (or its vice versa) means that the boarding barrier 5 can be actively acted upon by the actuation mechanism 11 so that the boarding barrier 5 can be shifted, e.g. It is not necessary to be near the boarding barrier 5.

Alternatively or additionally, the actuation mechanism 11 may advantageously be controllable via a portable remote control unit 7 (not shown in Figure 1), preferably a mobile phone or a portable computer. This allows an operator to open and/or close the boarding barrier 5 at a location separate from the control room of the cable car station 1, for example from outside the cable car station 1, in particular from another cable car station or control center. can increase the flexibility of control. Control signals can be transmitted wirelessly and/or by wire from the remote control unit 7 to the actuating mechanism 11 of the cable car F, regardless of whether the remote control unit 7 used is fixed or mobile. Wireless control can be, for example, via wireless, Bluetooth, or Near Field Communication (NFC), as shown in FIG. Wired transmission can be via, for example, sliding contacts or another suitable transmission.

The actuation mechanism 11 preferably has mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or electromechanical actuators 13 for driving the boarding barrier 5 . For example, pneumatic or hydraulic cylinders, mechanical linkages or gearing, or electric motors are conceivable, which appropriately cooperate with the boarding barrier 5 for opening and/or closing. Preferably, the actuators are electrically controllable so that they can be easily controlled by the remote control unit 12 .

In order to supply the actuation mechanism 11, in particular the actuator 13 with energy, for example the cable car car F can be provided with an energy store 14 . Here, the type of energy storage 14 depends on the specific form of actuator 13 . For example, a purely mechanical actuator 13 can be provided with a mechanical energy store, for example a spring energy store. Thereby a very simple actuation mechanism 11 can be provided, which can be used for example to open the boarding barrier 5 only once in an emergency. When the actuator 13 is a pneumatic cylinder, a pressure accumulator, for example, can be provided as the energy accumulator 14 in order to actuate the pneumatic cylinder one or more times. Likewise, a hydraulic pressure accumulator can be provided as energy accumulator 14 for the hydraulic cylinder as actuator 13 . When an electromechanical actuator, for example an electric motor, in particular a servomotor or a stepper motor, is used as actuator 13, a battery or a capacitor can be used as energy store 14. FIG.

Alternatively or additionally, an energy generating unit 15 can also be provided on the cable car vehicle F, by means of which the actuating mechanism 11 , in particular the actuator 13 , is supplied with actuation energy. As energy generation unit 15, for example, a mechanically driven generator arranged on the cable car F can be provided, which is driven by the relative movement of the cable car F with respect to the cable car station 1. be. For example, it is conceivable that the generator is driven via gears or friction wheels, for example on the upper guide rail 4 . Alternatively or additionally, a solar unit can also be provided on the cable car F as the energy generating unit 15 . Thereby, the electrical energy store 14 can also be charged, for example, while the cable car F is traveling on a path outside the cable car station 1 and/or by lighting inside the cable car station 1 . Alternatively or additionally, the energy supply to the actuation mechanism 11 in the cable car station can also be wired and/or wireless. Wired energy supply via sliding contacts and/or wireless energy transmission by induction are also conceivable, for example. Of course, any combination of the aforementioned configurations is also possible.

Claims (14)

A cable car comprising at least one cable car station (1) and at least one cable car car (F), said cable car car (F) being provided with at least one boarding barrier (5), said A boarding barrier (5) is shiftable between an open position allowing access to said cable car vehicle (F) and a closed position blocking said access to said cable car vehicle (F). , said cable car car (F) is provided with a remotely operable actuation mechanism (11) for actuating said boarding barrier (5), said boarding barrier (5) being operated within said cable car station (1). In a cable car, wherein said actuation mechanism (11) can be controlled by a remote control unit (12) for opening and/or closing,
Said cable car station (1) is provided with a mechanical forced control mechanism for opening and/or closing said boarding barrier (5), and within said cable car station (1) said mechanical forced control Cable car, characterized in that the actuation mechanism (11) can be controlled by the remote control unit (12) for opening and/or closing the boarding barrier (5) independently of the mechanism. Said remote control unit (12) is preferably configured as a stationary remote control unit (12a) located in the control room of said cable car station (1) and/or said actuating mechanism (11) is a portable remote control Controllable via a unit, preferably a mobile phone or a portable computer, control signals can be transmitted wirelessly and/or by wire from said remote control unit to said actuation mechanism (11) of said cable car (F). Cable car (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that: 4. The actuating mechanism (11) comprises a mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or electromechanical actuator (13) for driving the boarding barrier (5). Cable car (1) according to 1 or 2. An energy store (14) is provided in the cable car (F) for supplying energy to the actuation mechanism (11) and/or an energy generating unit (15) is provided in the cable car (F). 4. Any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that it is provided and/or that the energy supply to the actuating mechanism (11) takes place in the cable car station (1) by wire and/or wirelessly. Cable car (1) according to . Said energy accumulator (14) is configured as a mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or electrical energy accumulator and/or said wired energy supply takes place via sliding contacts and/or said wireless energy transmission is by induction and/or mechanically driven power generation in said cable car station (1) as an energy generating unit (15) in said cable car vehicle (F). Cable car (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that it is provided with a plane and/or a solar unit. Said cable car car (F) has a cabin and said boarding barrier (5) is a door or said cable car car (F) has a chair and said boarding barrier (5) is a safety bar or a hood. Cable car (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a A funicular car (F) for a cable car comprising at least one boarding barrier (5), said boarding barrier (5) being activated in a cable car station (1) by a mechanical forced control mechanism. In a cable car car (F) shiftable between an open position allowing access to the cable car car (F) and a closed position blocking said access to said cable car car (F) ,
Said cable car car (F) is provided with a remotely operable actuation mechanism (11) for actuating said boarding barrier (5) and in said cable car station (1) said mechanical forced control mechanism. A cable car vehicle (F), characterized in that said boarding barrier (5) is opened and/or closed by means of a remote control unit (12) independently of. 4. The actuating mechanism (11) comprises a mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or electromechanical actuator (13) for driving the boarding barrier (5). Cable car vehicle according to 7. Said actuating mechanism (11) is activated via a portable remote control unit, preferably a mobile phone or a portable computer, and/or by a fixed remote control unit (12a) preferably located at the cable car station (1) of the cable car. Cable according to claim 7 or 8, characterized in that it is controllable and the actuation mechanism (11) is arranged to obtain control signals wirelessly and/or by wire from the remote control unit (12). car vehicle. For energy supply to the actuating mechanism (11), the cable car car (F) is provided with an energy storage (14) and/or an energy generation unit (15) and/or the cable car station (1 10. A cable car vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the energy supply to the actuation mechanism (11) in ) can be wired and/or wireless. Said energy accumulator (14) is configured as a mechanical and/or hydraulic and/or pneumatic and/or electrical energy accumulator and/or said wired energy supply takes place via sliding contacts and/or said wireless energy transmission is by induction and/or a generator and/or solar unit is provided which can be driven mechanically in said cable car station (1) as energy generation unit (15). The cable car vehicle according to claim 10, characterized in that: Said cable car car (F) has a cabin and said boarding barrier (5) is a door or said cable car car (F) has a chair and said boarding barrier is a safety bar or a hood. Cable car vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 11. A method of operating a cable car comprising at least one cable car station (1) and at least one cable car vehicle (F), said cable car vehicle (F) having at least one boarding barrier (5). provided, said boarding barrier (5) is between an open position allowing access to said cable car vehicle (F) and a closed position blocking said access to said cable car vehicle (F). opening and/or closing of said boarding barrier (5) in said cable car station (1) by means of a shiftable and remotely controllable actuation mechanism (11) provided on said cable car car (F); A method, wherein said actuation mechanism (11) is controlled by a remote control unit (12),
Said cable car station (1) is provided with a mechanical forced control mechanism for opening and/or closing said boarding barrier (5), within said cable car station (1) said remotely operable actuation A method, characterized in that said boarding barrier (5) is opened and/or closed by means of a mechanism (11) independently of said mechanical forced control mechanism. Said boarding barrier (5) is preferably opened and/or closed by a fixed remote control unit (12a) from the cable car station (1) and/or said actuation mechanism (11) is controlled by a portable remote control unit, preferably to be opened and/or closed by a mobile phone or portable computer and control signals transmitted wirelessly and/or by wire from said remote control unit (12) to said actuation mechanism (11) of said cable car (F); 14. A method according to claim 13.

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