KR20140041755A - Installation for transport by overhead cable, equipped with means for avoiding accidents to individuals - Google Patents

Abstract

Facilities for transfer by overhead cable include: embarkation stop 1 and disembarkation stop 2 for passengers; And a plurality of vehicles mounted on the lifting cable 4 between the boarding stop 1 and the unloading stop 2, the vehicles passing through a loop path passing through the boarding stop 1 and the unloading stop 2. Arranged to move along, each vehicle 3 is a guard designed to take the chair 5 and an open position with free access to the chair 5 and a closed position to ensure the protection of the passengers on the chair 5. It comprises a plurality of vehicles, comprising a rail (6). In addition, the installation comprises electronic detection means 7, 8, 9, 7 ′, 8 ′, 9 ′ for detecting the presence of a passenger on the chair 5 and the position of the guard rail 6.

Description

INSTALLATION FOR TRANSPORT BY OVERHEAD CABLE, EQUIPPED WITH MEANS FOR AVOIDING ACCIDENTS TO INDIVIDUALS}

The present invention relates to aerial cable installations, which are:

-Embarkation and disembarkation stops for passengers, and

A plurality of vehicles mounted on a lifting cable between the embarkation and disembarkation stops, the vehicles being arranged to move along a loop path through the embarkation and disembarkation stops, each vehicle being a chair, and a chair And a restraining bar arranged to take an open position free to access and a closed position to ensure protection of the passengers on the chair.

In aerial cable installations, such as chair lifts, each vehicle is provided with a safety bar which is lowered and raised by the passenger according to signaling means following the rules. In practice, this facility generally includes a downstream stop for boarding passengers and generally an upstream stop for boarding passengers. At the downstream stop there is a first panel provided with a pictogram explaining that the safety bar should be lowered when leaving the downstream stop, and at the upstream stop there is another pictogram explaining that passengers should lift the safety bar before arriving at the upstream stop. do.

As skiing becomes more free, an increasing number of people unfamiliar with sliding sports and their safety requirements will use these aerial cable arrangements.

Thus, when using aerial cable installations, 80% of accidents are due to the fact that the safety bar is lifted too early in the arrival zone, 20% of accidents are due to the fact that the safety bar does not come down after boarding, or poor boarding.

US patent application US Pat. No. 2004/0003751 discloses a device for controlling the locking of the safety bar of a chair lift chair. French patent application FR 2 905 337 describes a system for controlling the states of the chairs of a chair lift. However, these documents do not describe effective means for suppressing accidents during operation of aerial cable installations.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a means against the accidents in the prior art.

This object is achieved that the facility comprises electronic detection means for detecting the position of the safety bar and the presence of passengers on the chair.

Other mechanical properties can be used individually or in combination with the following:

The electronic detection means is arranged at the embarkation and / or disembarkation stop,

The electronic detection means comprises an image acquisition device for generating an image representing the configuration of the vehicle traveling through the field of view of the image acquisition device, and an image analysis unit programmed to determine the presence of passengers on the chair and the position of the safety bar. Including,

The image acquisition means may at least partially generate an infrared image of the configuration of the vehicle,

The device comprises a light source in the infrared range facing the image acquisition means, the image acquisition device and the light source being associated to produce a shadowy infrared image when a vehicle is driven between the image acquisition device and the light source. Arranged at both sides of the passage section of the vehicles at the stop,

At an embarkation stop located downstream from the aerial cable installation, the light source comprises an infrared illumination device behind the diffuse side of the diffuse canvas screen facing the diffuse canvas screen and the passageway area,

At the downstream stop located upstream from the aerial cable installation, the light source is configured as a vertically arranged lighting strip, and the associated analysis unit is adapted to receive a plurality of intermediate images as the vehicle proceeds through the passage zone, and It is programmed to process the plurality of intermediate images to reconstruct the infrared image of the shade representing the configuration of.

Other advantages and features will become more apparent from the following description of specific embodiments of the invention given as non-limiting examples and shown in the accompanying drawings.
1 schematically illustrates an aerial cable installation.
2 to 5 illustrate various configurations of the vehicle of the aerial cable installation.
6 illustrates a first embodiment of the detection means.
7 illustrates a second embodiment of the detection means.

The installation differs from the prior art in that it includes electronic detection means for detecting the position of the safety bar and the presence of passengers on the chair. The term "presence" means that the detection means checks whether or not the passenger is sitting on the vehicle. These means can be used, for example, to send an alert to an operator on the spot, to stop the plant, slow down the plant, etc. unless the detected problem is resolved.

In the present description, the expression "construction of the vehicle" means the presence or absence of a passenger and the position of the safety bar.

As illustrated in FIG. 1, the aerial cable installation comprises a boarding stop 1 and an unloading stop 2 for passengers. Carriers 3 are arranged in the lifting cable 4 between the boarding stop 1 and the unloading stop 2. These vehicles 3 are arranged to move along the loop passing through the boarding stop 1 and the unloading stop 2. This loop can be illustrated in FIG. 1 as the path followed by the lifting cable 4. Preferably, the installation is disengageable, ie the vehicles 3 are fixedly mounted to the lifting cable 4 between the stations 1 and 2, and at the stations 1 and 2. Since it is separated from the lifting cable 4, the vehicles can be decelerated at the stops 1 and 2 to allow passengers to embark and disembark respectively. The use of disconnectable equipment makes it possible to increase speed while ensuring the safety of passengers during embarking and disembarking operations.

As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, each vehicle 3 has a chair 5 and an open position free to access the chair 5 (ie the safety bar 6 is raised) (FIG. 2). And a safety bar 6 arranged to take a closed position in which the protection of the passenger on the chair 5 is guaranteed (ie the safety bar 6 is lowered).

Exceptionally, the installation may also comprise other means of transport, in addition to the above-mentioned vehicles, for example maintenance transport means which are not considered as vehicles. In this description, the vehicle is to be understood as a transport vehicle for people on a chair provided with a safety bar.

In FIG. 1, the installation comprises electronic detection means 7, 8, 9, 7 ′, 8 ′, 9 ′ for the position of the safety bar 6 and the presence of passengers on the chair 5. The term "position" of the safety bar 6 means its open or closed position, or an intermediate position between an open position and a closed position that may cause an accident.

Preferably, the electronic detection means 7, 8, 9, 7 ′, 8 ′, 9 ′ are arranged in the boarding stop 1 and / or the unloading stop 2. The term "at (at)" means that the stop (1, 2) is considered in or near the stop (1, 2). In fact, as explained in the prior art, the areas causing the accident are located at the exit of the boarding stop 1 or at the entrance of the unloading stop 2. As a result, the second electron detection structures 7 ′, 8 ′, 9 according to the first electron detection structures 7, 8, 9 at the exit of the boarding stop 1 and at the entrance of the unloading station 2. '), It is advantageous to arrange the detection means 7, 8, 9, 7 ′, 8 ′, 9 ′ as illustrated in FIG. 1, the direction of rotation of the vehicles being the specific example illustrated in FIG. 1. Is counterclockwise.

2 to 5 illustrate various configurations of the vehicle 3.

In FIG. 2, the vehicle 3 comprises a free seat 5 and a safety bar 6 in the open position. Typically this is the configuration of the vehicle 3 when no passenger is present.

In FIG. 3, the vehicle 3 comprises an empty chair 5 and a safety bar 6 in the closed position. In general, this configuration is not achieved during operation of the installation.

In FIG. 4, the passenger is on the chair 5 and the safety bar is in the closed position. This is a configuration between the boarding stop 1 and the unloading stop 2, which is generally checked at the exit of the boarding stop 1.

In FIG. 5, the passenger is on the chair 5 and the safety bar 6 is in the open position. This is generally a configuration when the safety bar 6 arrives at the boarding stop 1 and the unloading stop before coming down to the closed position.

According to the embodiment shown in FIG. 1, FIG. 6 and FIG. 7, the electronic detection means displays an image showing the configuration of the vehicle 3 running through the field of view of the image acquisition devices 7, 7 ′. An image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ for generating, and an analysis unit 8, 8 ′ for analyzing the image generated by the image acquisition device. The analyzing unit 8, 8 ′ determines determining the presence of a passenger sitting in the vehicle 3, which proceeds through the field of view of the image acquisition device 7, 7 ′, and the position of the safety bar 6. Make it possible. In other words, the unit is programmed to implement these decision functions. Functions that allow the program to determine the presence or absence of a passenger on the chair, and the position of the safety bar 6, are not described in detail herein, and those skilled in the image processing arts will appreciate, for example, the position of the safety bar 6 and Analysis means 8, 8 ′ can be programmed to detect shapes representing the passenger. For example, the safety bar 6 may comprise a marker having a particular shape and easily recognizable in the image, and the position of the safety bar 6 may be determined according to the position of this shape.

Preferably, the image processed by the analysis unit 8, 8 ′ is an image showing the configuration of the vehicle in the lateral direction with respect to the displacement direction. 2-5 illustrate these side views. As illustrated in FIGS. 2 to 5, the safety bar 6 has a front part 6a which can be lowered to the closed position over the passenger and the safety bar 6 when the safety bar 6 has reached the open position. And a rear portion 6b which forms a swing arm with the front portion 6a for holding in the open position. Thus, the safety bar 6 can be rotatably mounted on the posts 3a of the vehicle 3 between the front portion 6a and the rear portion 6b. As a result, the position of the safety bar 6 can be detected from the side view of the vehicle 3 by measuring the angle α between the rear part 6b of the safety bar 6 and the post 3a. From this measurement of the angle α, the analysis units 8, 8 ′ can determine the position of the safety bar 6.

Advantageously, it is desirable to hide the background (mountains, trees, distant objects) in order to limit the information in the image to be processed by the analysis means 8, 8 ′. For this purpose, the image to be processed is preferably of infrared type. As a result, the image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ can at least partially generate an infrared image of the configuration of the vehicle 3 which proceeds through the field of view of the image acquisition device 7, 7 ′.

In order to facilitate the operation of the analysis units 8, 8 ′, it is preferred that the image be treated as being a shaded infrared image. To produce such an image, the facility may comprise a light source 9, 9 ′ in the infrared range, facing an image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ that can take infrared images. The image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ and the light source 9, 9 ′ are shaded when the vehicle 3 is driven between the image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ and the light source 9, 9 ′. Arranged in the associated embarkation stop 1 or the disembarkation stop 2 on both sides of the passage zone for vehicles in order to produce an infrared image.

In fact, the shaded infrared image corresponds to the infrared image as opposed to the light. The object then lies between the infrared light sources 9, 9 ′ and the image acquisition device 7, 7 ′. Thus, the light source acquires an image except for the path of the infrared radiations in which the object is arranged so that an image having a dark silhouette against a clear background and a general shape of the object is produced within the framework of the present invention where the object is a vehicle with or without passengers. “Saturate” the device 7, 7 ′. In order to analyze the composition of the vehicle, only the areas of the image that are not sufficiently irradiated with infrared light should be analyzed.

Also, in order to facilitate the operation of the analysis units 8, 8 ′, the image to be processed is a side silhouette of the construction of the vehicle 3 with respect to its displacement direction, and then by using the infrared image of the shaded safety bar ( While facilitating navigation of the rear portion 6b of 6) and the post 3a of the vehicle 3, the position of the safety bar 6 can be determined as described above.

This type of installation is generally used in the field of mechanical ascent assistance in mountains, more specifically ski lifts. As a result, the use of infrared light as described above is advantageous because it is possible to easily detect the configuration of the vehicle 3 in most weather conditions. For example, if a boarding stop (1) or an unloading stop (2) is in the cloud, the operator of the relevant stop will not be able to distinguish between vehicles leaving or entering the stop and not know if there is a problem. In this way, the electronic detection means using infrared light can analyze all the same situations.

Equipment in the mountains generally includes a boarding stop (1), the so-called downstream and unloading stations (2), the so-called upstream stations, the altitudes of the upstream stations being higher than the altitudes of the downstream stations. In other words, the boarding stop 1 is located downstream from the installation, and the upstream stop is located upstream from the installation. At downstream stops the ground is relatively flat, allowing access to the ground and boarding of passengers, while at upstream stops the ground can be steep. As a result, depending on ground conditions, it is more difficult or less difficult to integrate the electronic detection means.

6 schematically illustrates a first embodiment in which the electronic detection means is located at the boarding stop 1 downstream from the facility. In order to produce a shaded image, the light source 9 can comprise an infrared light device 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d behind the diffused side of the diffused canvas screen 10 and the diffused canvas screen facing the passage area. . In FIG. 6, the diffuse side is oriented towards an image acquisition device 7 capable of producing an infrared image, the field of view of the infrared image being represented by dotted lines connecting the image acquisition device 7 to the canvas screen 10. And behind this diffusion side an illumination device is arranged. The diffuse canvas screen makes it possible to generate indirect homogeneous infrared illumination to prevent the image acquisition device from being dazzled. Preferably, the diffuse canvas screen 10 and the image acquisition device 7 can take a single photographic / infrared image of the configuration of the vehicle 3 in which the image acquisition device 7 proceeds through the passage zone. Are arranged to be. The dimensions of the diffused canvas screen 10 will thus be adapted to the dimensions of the vehicle to make it possible to distinguish the presence or absence of the passenger and the position of the safety bar 6 on the same image. Advantageously, the diffuse canvas screen 10 has dimensions of about 1.5 m x 1.5 m. The construction at this downstream stop is possible because the ground evolution can be easily integrated by fixing the large diffused canvas screen 10 to the ground, for example by means of two supports 12a, 12b. to be. The image acquisition device 7 can be fixed to the ground by the associated support 12c. The image acquisition device 7 can be connected to the analysis unit 8 ′ by any suitable connection that enables the transfer of images.

The diffuse canvas screen 10 can be made from nylon canvas. Nylon has the advantage that the advertising design is printed on the diffusion side oriented towards the image acquisition device 7, for example for display, without disturbing the diffusion of infrared light from the light source 9.

Of course, if the ground permits it, the configuration of FIG. 6 can also be implemented at an upstream stop.

If incorporating the configuration of FIG. 6 at an upstream unloading stop is impossible or difficult due to the ground, it is possible to implement the second embodiment illustrated in FIG. In FIG. 7, the light source 9 ′ is configured as a vertically arranged infrared light strip 13, for example 1.5 m long and 50 mm wide. From the configuration of FIG. 7, the vehicle in which the infrared image generated by the image acquisition device 7 ′ runs along the dotted lines and passes through the field of view of the image acquisition device 7 ′ covering the infrared illumination strip 13. It is understood that a complete image representing the configuration of (3) cannot be obtained. As a result, it is necessary to adapt the analysis unit 8 'to produce a complete infrared image representing the configuration of the vehicle. To this end, the associated analysis unit 8 'is programmed to receive a plurality of intermediate images as the vehicle proceeds through the passage zone. Moreover, the analysis unit 8 'is programmed to process the plurality of intermediate images to reconstruct the shaded infrared image representing the configuration of the vehicle 3. From this complete infrared image, the analysis unit 8 'may be able to determine the presence or absence of the passenger and the position of the safety bar 6 to send an alert message to the operator or to make a decision regarding the operation of the facility. will be. In this implementation, the image acquisition device 7 ′ is preferably a video image acquisition device that makes it possible to send the video flow to the analysis unit to be interrupted as a sequence of intermediate images. The video image acquisition device may be configured as a linear sensor provided with a line of 512 pixels arranged perpendicular to the illumination strip 13.

Preferably, in this second embodiment, the image acquisition device 7 'and the light source 9' are fixed to the free ends of the two posts 14a, 14b respectively connected to the ground.

The example of FIG. 7 can also be integrated into a downstream stop, but the configuration of FIG. 6 is preferred for this stop.

The two aforementioned embodiments can in particular be combined along the ground.

In various embodiments, the image acquisition device is for a video camera or photograph provided with a CCD sensor, for example, recording 60 images per second and having a resolution of 640x480 pixels in 1/3 Format Progressive Scan. It may be a camera.

If the image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ is a video camera, continuously transmit the video flow to be processed by the analysis unit 8, 8 ′. The analysis unit 8, 8 ′ may analyze the video flow to extract or generate an image representing the configuration of the vehicle traveling through the field of view of the video camera to process it.

In a general manner, the analysis unit 8, 8 ′ may send an error if one of the following situations is detected:

The passenger is present and the safety bar is in the open or intermediate position at the exit of the boarding stop 1,

-Passenger is present and safety bar is in closed or intermediate position at entrance of disembarkation stop (2).

In the event of sending such an error, the electronic detection means may trigger an alarm to bring the operator's attention to the stop at the relevant stop.

Thus, the facilities as described above make it possible to significantly limit accidents when in operation.

If both embarkation and disembarkation stops contain structures capable of determining the configuration of the vehicle, this facility is unnecessary, but they may have the same analysis unit.

The description enumerates the use of optical, preferably numerical means (image acquisition devices such as video cameras or photographic cameras), but the skilled person is connected to the analysis unit for the construction of any other type of electronic means, vehicles. It may be possible to use position encoders for the safety bar and presence encoders for passengers, and on board each vehicle.

The advantage of a solution using image analysis lies in the fact that it can be adapted to all vehicle shapes as long as the profiles are integrated into the analysis unit.

The analysis unit may comprise a computer provided with a microprocessor capable of implementing a program which makes it possible to analyze the above-described images or sensor data.

Claims (7)

As aerial cable harness,
Embarkation stop (1) and disembarkation stop (2) for passengers,
A plurality of vehicles (3) mounted on a lifting cable (4) between the boarding stop (1) and the unloading stop (2), the vehicles having the boarding stop (1) and the unloading stop (2) Arranged to move along the penetrating loop path, each vehicle 3 being secured to the chair 5 and an open position free access to the chair 5 and to the protection of the passengers on the chair 5. Said plurality of vehicles, comprising a restraining bar 6 arranged to take a closed position, and
Image acquisition device 7, 7 as electronic detection means 7, 8, 9, 7 ′, 8 ′, 9 ′ for detecting the presence of a passenger on the chair 5 and the position of the safety bar 6. And said electronic detection means, comprising said image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ for generating an image representing the configuration of the vehicle 3 running through the field of view of '),
The aerial cable installation comprises an image analysis unit 8, 8 ′ programmed to determine the presence of a passenger sitting in the vehicle 3 and the position of the safety bar 6. . The method according to claim 1,
Said electronic detection means (7, 8, 9, 7 ', 8', 9 ') are arranged in said boarding stop (1) and / or said unloading stop (2). The method according to claim 1,
Said image acquisition device (7, 7 ') can produce at least partly an infrared image of the configuration of said vehicle (3). The method of claim 3, wherein
A light source (9, 9 ') in the infrared range, facing the image acquisition device (7, 7'),
The image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ and the light source 9, 9 ′ drive the vehicle 3 between the image acquisition device 7, 7 ′ and the light source 9, 9 ′. Aerial cable arrangement, which is arranged on both sides of the passage zone for the vehicles at an associated stop (1, 2) in order to produce a shaded infrared image. 5. The method of claim 4,
At the embarkation stop 1 located downstream from the installation, the light source 9 is an infrared illuminating device behind the diffuse side of the diffuse canvas screen 10 and the diffuse canvas screen 10 facing the passage area. 11a, 11b, 11c, 11d). 5. The method of claim 4,
In the undercarriage stop 2 located upstream from the installation, the light source 9 'is configured as a vertically arranged lighting strip 13, and an associated analysis unit 8' is provided with the vehicle 3 Characterized in that it is programmed to receive a plurality of intermediate images when proceeding through the passage zone and to process the plurality of intermediate images to reconstruct a shaded infrared image representing the configuration of the vehicle 3. Aerial cable fittings. The method according to claim 6,
The aerial cable arrangement, characterized in that the image acquisition device (7 ') and the light source (9') are respectively fixed to the free ends of the two posts (14a, 14b) connected to the ground.

Images