US20250002058A1

US20250002058A1 - Transport facility

Info

Publication number: US20250002058A1
Application number: US18/697,701
Authority: US
Inventors: Alain Mollet
Original assignee: Poma SA
Current assignee: Poma SA
Priority date: 2021-10-01
Filing date: 2022-10-03
Publication date: 2025-01-02
Also published as: EP4208380C0; ES2972312T3; CN118076526A; FR3127738A1; KR20240093469A; EP4208380A1; EP4208380B1; WO2023052649A1; CO2024004056A2; JP2024533642A

Abstract

The invention relates to a transport facility (100), having a first traction cable (11) that describes a first closed loop (10) and is configured to be driven by at least a first drive means (12) at a nominal linear velocity, and a vehicle (30) having a coupling device (31) for coupling the vehicle to the first traction cable, the transport facility comprising at least a first traffic lane (101) having at least a first segment (110) comprising at least one track (111) along the first traction cable, the first traffic lane comprising at least a second segment (120), the transport facility being configured so that the vehicle is coupled to the first traction cable and pulled by same at the nominal velocity so as to pass through the first segment and the second segment, the first traction cable fully supporting the vehicle and driving it at the nominal speed along the second segment.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention generally relates to the technical field of transport facilities, in particular suspended, generally intended for transporting passengers.

PRIOR ART

Today, there are numerous types of transport facilities, in particular suspended by an overhead cable and mainly used in mountains, but also in other environments such as urban transportation. Other types of suspended cable transport facilities also equip amusement parks.
There are, in fact, amusement parks having suspended rides where vehicles that transport persons are suspended above the ground and carried on suspended rails, each vehicle comprising carrying wheels attached at the top of the vehicles to make them roll along the rails. These rides may also be of different types, for example intended to provide strong sensations when their circuits have slopes having a large elevation change, or intended for discovery with slopes with a low level of elevation, to allow people to visit themed locations. In general, the speeds of the rides of the “discovery” type, which are generally self-propelled, are small compared to those of the so-called “strong sensation” rides, the vehicles of which are generally passive and accelerated by gravity.
In order to move the vehicles along the rails of the rides of the discovery type, the wheels of the vehicles are generally driven by an electric motor mounted on the vehicles. The vehicles can also comprise several electric motors capable of respectively driving the wheels or the pairs of wheels. However, such motors are bulky and make the vehicles heavier. In addition, it is necessary to equip vehicles with batteries to power the motors, which even further clutters the vehicles, the self-propelled vehicles being also sensitive to environmental conditions. Furthermore, the electric motors of each of the vehicles must be synchronized with one another to avoid any risk of collision between vehicles.
Patent application FR 3-043-627 proposes a solution in particular for these drawbacks and describes an overhead transport facility, comprising at least one circulation path for vehicles comprising a main rail suspended above the ground and having at least one curvature, and at least one vehicle provided with a set of main wheels configured to roll on the main rail. The circulation path comprises an overhead traction cable, a drive means configured to drive the cable, and guiding means configured to guide the cable along the main rail, the vehicle comprising a fastening means configured to attach the vehicle to the cable. Thus, by equipping an overhead transport facility with a traction cable and by attaching the vehicles to the traction cable, a facility is provided which makes it possible to bring the vehicles closer together without collision problems and to increase the speed of movement of the vehicles relative to the rides of the discovery type. Such an installation makes it possible to increase the flow rate of the passengers, while reducing the risks of collision between vehicles during the transportation of the passengers, since the vehicles are attached to the same traction cable during transport.
However, this type of installation is not suitable when the reliefs of the location are too pronounced or abrupt because the rails do not make it possible to implement vehicle movements on portions having significant inclinations. In addition, the system is not suitable for certain environments, since even if the rails offer the possibility of taking sharp turns, the rails require numerous support pylons, which can make the facility bulky when it is desired to cross obstacles over large distances, for example to pass over steep areas or rivers.
The topography of the place where the overhead cable or suspended transport facility is located is therefore very restrictive and does not allow certain uses.

Disclosure of the Invention

The invention aims to remedy all or some of the disadvantages of the prior art by proposing in particular a solution suitable for more varied topographies, while guaranteeing reinforced user safety, in particular by limiting the risk of collision between vehicles and by making it possible to increase the transport flow rate of the passengers.
To do so, there is proposed a transport facility, having at least a first traction cable which describes a first closed loop and is configured to be driven by at least one first drive means at a nominal linear speed, and having at least one vehicle having a coupling device which is configured to couple the vehicle to the first traction cable, the transport facility comprising at least a first circulation path having at least a first segment comprising at least one travel path extending along the first traction cable, the travel path having at least one curvature, the vehicle having a set of carrying and guiding wheels which are configured to travel on the travel path at the nominal linear speed, the first circulation path comprising at least a second segment, the transport facility being configured such that the vehicle is coupled to the first traction cable and pulled by the first traction cable at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over the first segment and the second segment, the transport facility being characterized in that it is configured so that the first traction cable fully carries the vehicle and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment.
By virtue of such a combination of features, the vehicle can be driven along the first circulation path by passing through various segments, in particular: at least a first segment where the vehicle is carried and guided along the travel path, which can describe the desired curves, circulating at the nominal linear speed by being pulled by the first traction cable; and at least a second segment where the vehicle is fully carried, and driven at the nominal linear speed, by the first traction cable. In particular, along the second segment(s) of the first circulation path, the vehicle is entirely carried by the associated carrier cable by being suspended and requiring, or not, a support pylon, this making it possible to pass through steep areas over large distances. In such a suspended configuration, the carrying wheels of the set of carrying wheels are passive and suspended when the vehicle is moving along the second segment. The term “suspended” means that a lower part of the vehicle remains free, the carrying wheels of the set of carrying wheels being detached from the travel path and no longer rest on it.
Moreover, the fact that the vehicle is entirely carried and pulled along such second segment(s) of the first circulation path, it is possible to circulate the vehicles on inclined portions having significant inclinations, typically greater than 15%, in absolute value since this slope can be positive or negative. Of course, in practice the slope may be different.
According to one embodiment, the transport facility comprises at least a second traction cable which describes a second closed loop and is configured to be driven by at least one second drive means at the nominal linear speed, the transport facility comprising at least a second circulation path and being configured so that the vehicles pass from one to the other of the first and second circulation paths at least one transition region, and is configured such that the vehicle is coupled to the second traction cable and pulled by the second traction cable at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over at least part of the second circulation path.
By virtue of such a configuration, a plurality of cable loops can be used so that the vehicle follows a much longer circuit than if it had a single cable, regardless of the topography of the terrain. This also makes it possible to have a suitable nominal linear speed, which can be limited for a given drive means if the loop length is too great.
According to one embodiment, the second circulation path has at least a first segment comprising at least one travel path extending along the second traction cable, the travel path of the first segment having at least one curvature, the carrying and guiding wheels of the vehicle being configured to travel on the travel path at the nominal linear speed.
According to one embodiment, the transition region comprises a continuous portion of a preferably rectilinear transition travel path extending from a travel path portion of the first segment of the first circulation path to a travel path portion of the first segment of the second circulation path. The transition travel path, or junction travel path, makes it possible to locally join the two circulation paths, namely the first and the second circulation paths. In a configuration where the first and second closed loops described by the first and second traction cables intersect, they are secant at two points, where at each of these two crossings, there is a transition travel path. Of course, more than two cable loops can be provided, for example three or four depending on the desired extent of the transport facility, the cable loops preferably being placed in series and intersecting two by two.
According to one embodiment, the coupling device of the vehicle comprises disengaging means so as to release the vehicle from the traction cable to which it is coupled from among the first and second traction cables and then to couple the vehicle to the other of the traction cables from among the first and second traction cables.
According to one embodiment, the transport facility comprises at least one embarking and/or disembarking station, the disengaging means being in the disengaged position when the vehicle is in an embarking and/or disembarking position in the embarking and/or disembarking station. In a particular configuration, an embarking and/or disembarking station may be located at a transition zone. Of course, other alternative positions of the embarking and/or disembarking station can be envisaged, or even complementary to another embarking and/or disembarking station.
According to one embodiment, the second circulation path comprises at least a second segment, the transport facility being configured such that the vehicle is coupled to the second traction cable and pulled by the second traction cable at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over the first segment and the second segment, the transport facility being configured such that the second traction cable fully carries the vehicle and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment.
According to one embodiment, the first traction cable is rectilinear along the second segment of the first circulation path, and preferably the second traction cable is rectilinear along the second segment of the second circulation path. In other words, the section where the vehicle is carried by the associated traction cable is rectilinear.
According to one embodiment, the transport facility comprises guiding means which are configured to guide the associated traction cable along the travel path of the first segment of the associated circulation path.
According to one embodiment, the guiding means comprise vertical guiding means and horizontal guiding means. In this way, the associated traction cable can be guided along horizontal and curved curves, or combination of these curves.
According to one embodiment, the travel path comprises two rails spaced apart in a regular manner.
According to one embodiment, the first traction cable constitutes the single driving cable of the vehicle along the first circulation path and/or in that the second traction cable constitutes the single driving cable of the vehicle along the second circulation path.
According to one embodiment, the first traction cable constitutes the single vehicle support means along the second segment of the first circulation path and/or the second traction cable constitutes the single vehicle support means along the second segment of the second circulation path.
According to one embodiment, the first segment(s) and the first segment(s) of an associated circulation path are placed in series.
According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a method for using a transport facility as described above, the method comprising at least the following steps:

- a first step of circulating the vehicle along the first segment during which the set of carrying wheels for guiding the vehicle travels on the travel path, the vehicle being driven by the traction cable at the nominal linear speed; and
- a second step of circulating the vehicle along the second segment during which the first traction cable fully carries the vehicle and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment.

Preferably, these two steps succeed one another directly in one direction, from the first to the second circulation step, and/or in the other direction, from the second to the first circulation step.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF FIGURES

Other features and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the following description, with reference to the appended figures, in which:

FIG. 1 : a schematic top view of an embodiment of a transport facility according to one embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 2 : a side view of a trajectory portion of a vehicle equipment the transport facility according to FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 3 : a detail of FIG. 1 ;

FIG. 4 : a schematic sectional view of the transport facility according to FIG. 1 , taken at an embarking and/or disembarking station;

FIG. 5 : a schematic sectional view of the transport facility according to FIG. 1 , taken at a portion carried by the traction cable, upon passage of a pylon;

FIG. 6 : a schematic sectional view of the transport facility according to FIG. 1 , taken at a portion carried by the traction cable;

FIG. 7 : a schematic sectional view of the transport facility according to FIG. 1 , taken at a rolling portion of the vehicle on rails;

FIG. 8 : a schematic top view of an embodiment of a transport facility according to another embodiment of the invention;

FIG. 9 : a detail of an alternative embodiment of FIG. 8 .

For greater clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs in all of the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF ONE EMBODIMENT

FIG. 1 ([FIG. 1 ]) shown a transport facility 100, comprising a first traction cable 11 for pulling one or more vehicle(s) 30 above the ground. The first traction cable 11 describes a first closed loop 10 and is configured to be driven by a first drive means 12 at a nominal linear speed. The first traction cable 11 defines a first circulation path 101 along which vehicles 30 are pulled, the transport facility 100 comprising guiding means for guiding the first traction cable 11 along the first circulation path 101.
In this embodiment, the transport facility 100 further comprises a second traction cable 21 describing a second closed loop 20 and configured to be driven by a second drive means 22 at the nominal linear speed. The second traction cable 21 defines a second circulation path 102.
The two closed loops 10, 20 formed by the first traction cable 11 and the second traction cable 21 respectively intersect or overlap so as to present here two distinct intersections between the first traction cable 11 and the second traction cable 21, these intersections are each located in a transition zone 103. The transport facility 100 is configured for vehicles 30 pass from one to the other of the first and second circulation paths 101, 102 at each of the transition zones 103. In this way, each vehicle follows a trajectory successively delimited by the first and second tractor cables 11, 21 along a circulation path carried by the first circulation path 101 and the second circulation path 102.
The transport facility 100 further comprises at least one passenger embarking and/or disembarking station 150 for the vehicles 30.
The drive means 12, 22 are configured to drive the associated traction cable 11, 21 along the corresponding circulation path 101, 102. The drive means 12, 22 are preferably located within a station called a drive station. Each drive station is situated here in an indoor space of the closed loop 10, 20 of the associated tractor cable 11, 21, preferably in an intersection area between these two indoor spaces. In this way, the drive stations are offset from the corresponding circulation paths 25 101, 102.
With reference to FIG. 3 ([FIG. 3 ]), each drive means 12, 22 comprises a motor M1, M2, a drive pulley P1, P2 driven by the associated motor M1, M2 and configured to drive the associated traction cable 11, 21. Each drive means 12, 22 further comprises a means (not shown) for tensioning the associated traction cable 11, 21. The tensioning means may comprise deflection pulleys, for example two, arranged on either side of the drive pulley P1, P2 to deflect the associated traction cable 11, 21 in the direction of the drive pulley P1, P2. The drive pulley P1, P2 and the corresponding deflection pulleys have horizontal axes of rotation. Alternatively, the tensioning means may comprise a single deflection pulley, also called a return pulley. According to this alternative, the axes of rotation of the drive pulleys P1, P2 and return pulleys are vertical.
The facility 100 may comprise a single vehicle 30 or a plurality of vehicles. Furthermore, each circulation path 101, 102 may comprise one or more vehicles 30. Each vehicle 30 comprises a cabin 300 as shown in FIGS. 4 to 7 , in particular and/or comprises one or more seats, for transporting passengers.
Each vehicle 30 comprises a coupling device 31 configured to couple the vehicle 30 to the associated cable, that is to say the first traction cable 11 or the second traction cable 21 depending on its location on its trajectory. In this way, the vehicle 30 is attached either to the first traction cable 11, to the second traction cable 21 and is pulled by the associated traction cable 11, 21 at the nominal linear speed to travel at least part of the associated first or second circulation path 101, 102.
The term “nominal linear speed” is understood to mean the cruising speed at which the vehicles 30 travel in a transport position, also corresponding to the speed of the traction cable 11, 21 associated with it.
More particularly, the first and second circulation paths 101, 102 each comprise at least one first segment 110 comprising at least one travel path 111, 211 and extending along the first or second traction cable 11, 21. The vehicle 30 comprises a set of carrying wheels 32 and guiding wheels configured to roll on these travel paths 111, 211 at the nominal linear speed.
In this embodiment, each travel path 111, 211 comprises at least one carrying structure, for example at least one rail, the carrying structure here comprising two rails 111′, 211′ spaced apart in a regular manner and extending along the associated first or second traction cable 11, 21. In another alternative, the carrying structure may comprise one or more carrying cable(s) instead of the carrying rail(s). Along such a first segment 110, 210 the vehicle 30 is carried by the carrying structure carrying the travel path 111, 211 on which the carrying and guiding wheels circulate. Each travel path 111, 211 having at least one curvature so as to guide the vehicles 30 in different locations, in particular non-aligned locations. A curvature may be a horizontal or vertical curvature. The horizontal curvature can be interior, toward the inside of the corresponding closed loop 10, 20, or exterior, toward the outside of the closed loop 10, 20. The vertical curvature (see in particular FIG. 2 ([FIG. 2 ]) can be upward or downward with reference to a vertical axis Z. The curvatures may of course be combinations of these types of curvatures.
The transport facility 100 comprises guiding means 140 configured to guide the associated traction cable 11, 21 along the travel path 111, 211 of the first segment 110, 210 of the associated circulation path 101, 102. The guiding means 140 comprise vertical guiding means 141 and horizontal guiding means 142. The guiding means 140 may comprise rollers 140′, that is, small wheels with grooves so that the traction cable 11, 21 can pass inside the groove. In general, the rollers 140′ are located along the first segment 110 of the circulation path 101, 102 so that the associated traction cable 11, 21 follows the vertical and horizontal curvatures of the circulation path 101, 102.
The guiding means 140 are spaced apart in groups of vertical guiding means 141 and horizontal guiding means 142 along each travel path 111, 211 to guide the tractor cables 11, 21 along the curvatures. Each group of guiding means 140 comprises two vertical guiding means 141 and two horizontal guiding means 142 radially distributed around the associated traction cable 11, 21. In particular, two vertical guiding means 141 are located vertically opposite each other on either side of the associated traction cable 11, 21, comprising a lower roller and an upper roller, and two horizontal guiding means 142 are located laterally opposite on either side of the associated traction cable 11, 21, comprising two side rollers.
Of course, the circulation path 101, 102 may comprise inclined curvatures, i.e. ones that are not exactly vertical or exactly horizontal, and the roller s 140′ may also be inclined to guide the tractor cable 11, 21 along the first segment 110, 210 of the circulation path 101, 102.
The first circulation path 101 further comprises at least a second segment 120, the transport facility 100 being configured such that the vehicle 30 is coupled to the first traction cable 11 and pulled by the first traction cable 11 at the nominal linear speed to travel the first segment 110 and the second segment 120, the transport facility 100 is configured so that the first traction cable 11 fully carries the vehicle 30 and driving it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment 120. In other words, the first traction cable 11 constitutes the only drive cable of the vehicle 30 along the first circulation path 101 and takes up, along this second segment 120, all the gravitational forces of the vehicle 30 at the coupling means 31. The first traction cable 11 has a rectilinear cable strand along the second segment 120 of the first circulation path 101. The vehicle 30 moves along such a second segment 120 while being fully carried by the first traction cable 11 so that the fixed structure necessary at this segment is limited to the traction cable 11 alone, or even possibly a support pylon 60 for holding the traction cable 11 suspended above the ground.
FIG. 2 ([FIG. 2 ]) shown in particular a side view of such a second segment 120 having in particular a highly inclined portion, typically greater than 15%. Such an inclination is possible thanks to the feature whereby the traction cable 11 pulls and simultaneously carries vehicles 30 along this second segment 120.
In this embodiment, the second circulation path 102 does not comprise a second segment 120. It is understood that the second circulation path 102 may comprise one or more second segments similar to the first circulation path 101 depending on the topography of the environment where the transport facility 100 is located. In this case, the characteristics of the second segment are the same.
According to one embodiment, the coupling means 31 comprise a fixed clamp 34 to couple the vehicle 30 to the traction cable 11, 21. Along the circulation path, the vehicles are attached to the tractor cable 11, 21 so as to be equidistant.
In a configuration that is not shown, the coupling means 31 couple the vehicle 30 to the traction cable 11, 21 permanently. In such a configuration, the drive means 12, 22 must be stopped so that the vehicles 30 will remain immobile in order for the passengers to embark or disembark the vehicles 30. However, such configuration is only possible when the transport facility 100 only comprises a single closed loop 10.
According to the preferred embodiment, the fastening means 31 comprises a disengageable clamp 34 for removably coupling the vehicle 30 to the traction cable 11, 21. The disengaging means 33 are in particular in the disengaged position when the vehicle 30 is in an embarking and/or disembarking position in the embarking and/or disembarking station 150. The disengageable clamp 34 can open to detach the vehicle 30 from the traction cable 11, 21, or close to clamp the traction cable 11, 21 in order to pull it, in other words to mechanically connect the vehicle to the traction cable 11, 21. In other words, the vehicles 30 are attached to the tractor cable 11, 21 between two stations 150 to be pulled at the nominal speed of the traction cable 11, 21, and in particular along the first and second segments 110, 120. The vehicles 30 can be detached from the traction cable 11, 21 when the vehicles 30 enter a station 150.
Each transition region 103 comprises a continuous portion of a preferably rectilinear transition travel path 311 that extends from a travel path portion 111 of the first segment 110 of the first circulation path 101 to a travel path portion 211 of the first segment 210 of the second circulation path 102. In this way, even if the first and second circulation paths 101, 102 separate possess tractor cables 11, 21, they are connected via a transition travel path 311 in continuity with a travel path 111 of a first segment 110 of the first circulation path 101 and of a travel path 211 of a first segment 210 of the second circulation path 102. In the same way as at the stations 150, the vehicles 30 can be detached from one of the two original traction cables 11, 21 when the vehicles 30 enter a transition region 103, then is coupled back onto the other of the two destination traction cables 11, 21 in the direction of circulation.
In the embarking and/or disembarking station 150 as in the transition zone 103, when the vehicles 30 are detached from the corresponding traction cable 11, 21, the vehicles 30 are held suspended from the carrying structure, here to the rails 111′, 211′. Thus, the detached vehicles 30 can be moved at a speed that is lower than that of the associated traction cable 11, 21, and therefore less than the nominal speed, in particular to facilitate the embarking and disembarking of passengers at a station 150. The movement of the cars 30 in the station 150 is provided by motorized drive wheels 45.
More specifically, the vehicle 30 comprises a set of carrying wheels 32 and guiding wheels configured to roll on the rails of each of the travel paths 111, 211 from the first segment 110, 210 of the associated circulation path 101, 102, in particular on the rails. In this embodiment, the vehicle 30 comprises a carriage 40 on which two pairs of carrying wheels 32 are mounted, as well as the coupling means 31. The carrying wheels 32 are active when the vehicle 30 circulates along the first segments 110, 210 of the associated circulation path 101, 102. On the contrary, these carrying wheels 32 are passive when the vehicle 30 circulates along the second segments 120, in particular here those of the first circulation path 101, since on these second segments the vehicle 30 is moved and carried fully by the carrying cable 11. The carrying wheels 32 therefore do not need to be motorized. Preferably, the carrying wheels 32 are mounted free to rotate on two pairs of lateral ends of the carriage 40. Guiding rollers 46 arranged under the carriage 45 are configured so as to each bear against one side of the corresponding rail 111′, 211′. In this way, the carriage 45 can roll on the travel paths 111, 211 owing to its carrying wheels 32 and the transverse guidance is ensured by the guiding rollers 46, here four in number. The rollers 46 are preferably stressed by elastic stress means (not shown) to avoid any clearance.
In addition, the vehicle 30 comprises a hanger 37 on which the cabin 300 is attached, connecting in particular the cabin 300 with the carriage 40. Preferably, the hanger 37 is connected to the carriage 40 by a pivot link allowing pendulum movements of the cabin 300 relative to the carriage 40. In particular, this first pivot connection between the hanger 37 and carriage 40 is located in particular at an upper end portion of the hanger 37 and allows the hanger 37 to pivot relative to the carriage 40 about an axis parallel to a transverse reference axis of the carriage, i.e. a horizontal axis locally orthogonal at least to the portion of the associated traction cable 11, 21 where the vehicle 30 is located. This first connection thus allows pitch movements by the hanger 37, and therefore of the cabin 300, relative to the carriage 40. Preferably, the hanger 37 is connected to the cabin 300 by a second pivot link 42, in particular at a lower end portion of the hanger 37 opposite its upper end, and allowing pendulum movements of the cabin 300 relative to the hanger 37, in particular roll movements of the cabin 300 relative to the hanger 37.
The coupling means 31 comprise a disengageable clamp 34 comprising a pincher that can open and close on the traction cable 11, 21. The pincher comprises two jaws, here opposite one another relative to a horizontal reference axis, and the traction cable 11, 21 is clamped between the two jaws of the pincher when the vehicle 30 is coupled to the traction cable 11, 21. The disengageable clamp 34 also comprises one or several springs 35 to hold the pincher closed on the traction cable 11, 21. In addition, the disengageable clamp 34 comprises a lever 36 bearing against the spring 35 to open the pincher. The lever 36 is activated not only in the embarking and disembarking station 150 and in the transition region 103, but also at in order to be able to couple and detach the vehicle 30 from the traction cable 11, 21. The disengageable clamp 34 is mounted on the carriage 40 via a support arm 41.
The fixed structure of the transport facility 100 comprises in particular support means, comprising in this case pylons 60, to hold tractor cables 11, 21 and locally carriers along the second segments 120 above the ground. Each pylon 60 comprises a bracket 61 extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of the traction cable 11, 21 and having at least one end 62 on which support pulleys 63 are mounted. The pulleys 63 each comprise a groove for receiving the traction cable 11, 21 corresponding to when the vehicle passes a pylon 60. Some pylons 60 located in particular at a second segment 120 of the first circulation path 101 support only these support pulleys 63 (see FIG. 5 ([FIG. 5 ]).
Some of the other pylons 60 also support at least one support frame 70 of the travel path 111, 211 of the first segments 110, 210 of the first and second circulation paths 101, 102. The frame 70 has a “C” shape open towards the ground. In other words, the frame 70 has a hollow shape inside which the carriage 40 is placed, and open on the lower side, downward relative to the reference vertical orientation Z. The lower opening of the frame 70 is bordered on either side by the two rails 111′, 211′ forming a carrying structure and carrying the associated travel path 111, 211. The guiding means 140, and in particular, each group of vertical 141 and horizontal 142 guiding means are mounted secured to this frame 70. The lower roller participating in the vertical guiding also plays the role of supporting the associated traction cable 11, 21, comparable to the support pulleys 63 on the first segments 110, 210.
The suspension and support frame 70 of the travel path 111, 211 also supports the motorized drive wheels 45 ensuring the movement of the cars 30 in the station 150, but also in the transition regions 103. In this embodiment, the drive rollers 45 are formed by tires making it possible to offer adequate grip to allow the slowing or acceleration of the speed of the vehicles 30 upon disengagement and engagement of the disengaging means 33, but also to maintain as much as possible the nominal linear speed when going through the transition regions 103, in particular the transition travel paths 311 (see FIG. 3 ([FIG. 3 ]).
A contactor 47 integral with the carriage 45 makes it possible to maintain an electrical contact with an electrical rail integral with the frame 70 and housed in its interior space. In this way, it is possible to supply electrical energy to electrical equipment of the vehicle 30.
FIGS. 4 to 7 show schematic side views of the transport facility 100, and more particularly a vehicle 30 at different locations of the circulation path 101, 102 during its movement.
In particular, FIG. 4 ([FIG. 4 ]) shown a schematic view along a section A-A of the transport facility 100 of FIG. 1 , namely taken at an embarking and/or disembarking station 150, the disengageable clamp 34 being in a disengaged position. FIG. 7 ([FIG. 7 ]) is similar to this figure and illustrates a schematic view along a section D-D of the transport facility 100 of FIG. 1 ([FIG. 1 ]) taken at a rolling portion of the vehicle 30 on rails 111′, 211′ of a first section of the first circulation path 101 or the second circulation path 102, outside an embarking and/or disembarking station 150, the disengageable clamp 34 being in a closed position for coupling to the traction cable.
FIG. 5 ([FIG. 5 ]) shown a schematic view along a section B-B of the transport facility 100 of FIG. 1 ([FIG. 1 ]), taken at a portion carried by the first traction cable 11, that is, taken along the second segment of the first circulation path 101, when going past a support pylon 60 of the first traction cable 11. It will be noted that to improve the readability of FIG. 1 ([FIG. 1 ]), not all the pylons 60 have been shown.
FIG. 6 ([FIG. 6 ]) shows a schematic view along a section C-C of the transport facility 100 of FIG. 1 ([FIG. 1 ]), taken at a portion carried entirely by the first traction cable 11, that is, taken along the second segment of the first circulation path 101.
Thanks to such a transport facility 100, the vehicles 30 can be driven along the first and second circulation paths 101, 102 by going through different segments, in particular first segments 110, 210 where the vehicles 30 are carried and guided along the travel paths 111, 211 successively and describing curves as a function of the desired trajectory, circulating at the nominal linear speed and being pulled by the first traction cable 11, 21. When the geography of the place of the transport facility 100 is too constraining, for example when a river is on the path as shown in FIG. 1 ([FIG. 1 ]), second segments 120 equip the transport facility 100 on the route of the vehicles 30 along which the vehicles 30 are entirely carried, and driven at the nominal linear speed, by the traction cable 11, 21.
FIG. 8 ([FIG. 8 ]) shown a schematic view of another embodiment of a transport facility 100 which differs essentially from the aforementioned embodiment in that it comprises a single monocable loop, namely a single first traction cable 11. Another difference resulting from this configuration is that the drive station comprising the drive means 12 is located in a lateral space, here on the inner side, of the closed loop 10 of the first traction cable 11, and not in an area of intersection between two closed loops of cables 11, 21. Of course, the drive station comprising the drive means 12 could also be located on the outside of the closed loop 10, depending in particular on the geometry of the carriage 40 and that of the coupling means 31, but also depending on the topography of the external environment. Thus, transfer means comparable to those of the embarking and/or disembarking stations 150 or to those used in the transition region 103 must be provided. In this case, two cases can be envisaged.
In a first configuration, as shown in FIG. 8 ([FIG. 8 ]), the motor is located in an embarking and/or disembarking station 150, said embarking and/or disembarking station 150 is therefore also the driving station: in such a configuration, the transfer means comprising the drive rollers 45 are configured to allow the slowing down at the station entrance and the acceleration at the station exit of the speed of the vehicles 30 and comprising the coupling means 31 whose clamp 34 that is disengageable to detach and then removably couple the vehicle 30 to the traction cable 11 when passing the drive means 12. In such a configuration, after the vehicle has been disengaged by the disengaging means 33, the tires forming drive rollers 45 slow down the vehicle 30 at a disembarking-embarking speed, for example 0.25 m/s, then the tires forming drive rollers 45 accelerate the vehicle 30 to the nominal linear speed of the first traction cable 11 for coupling by the disengaging means 33. Thus, the disengaging means 33 are configured so as to release the vehicle 30 from the first traction cable 11 to which it is attached upstream of the drive means 12, in particular of the drive pulley P1, then to couple the vehicle 30 to the same first tractor cable 11, downstream of the drive means 12, in particular of the drive pulley P1. The transfer means are therefore comparable to those used at an embarking and/or disembarking station 150, in the preceding embodiment.
In a second configuration, as shown in FIG. 9 ([FIG. 9 ]), the motor is located outside an embarking and/or disembarking station 150, in this case the transfer means are therefore comparable to those used at a transfer region 103, in the preceding embodiment. In summary, everything happens as in the station, except that the tires forming drive rollers 45 are set to keep the vehicle 30 at a speed equal to the nominal linear speed of the first traction cable 11. The vehicles are thus guided along a transfer track similar to the transition travel paths 311 except that the disengaging means 33 are configured so as to release the vehicle 30 from the first traction cable 11 to which it is attached upstream of the drive means 12, in particular of the drive pulley P1, then to couple the vehicle 30 to the same first tractor cable 11, downstream of the drive means 12, in particular of the drive pulley P1.
Of course, the invention is described in the foregoing by way of example. It is understood that a person skilled in the art is able to produce different variant embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention.
It is emphasized that all of the features, as they are taught to the person skilled in the art from the present disclosure, drawings and attached claims, even though specifically they have been described in relation to other determined features, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other features or feature groups disclosed herein, as long as not expressly excluded and no technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or nonsensical.

Claims

1. Transport facility (100), having at least a first traction cable (11) which describes a first closed loop (10) and is configured to be driven by at least one first drive means (12) at a nominal linear speed, and having at least one vehicle (30) having a coupling device (31) which is configured to couple the vehicle (30) to the first traction cable (11), the transport facility (100) comprising at least a first circulation path (101) having at least a first segment (110) comprising at least one travel path (111) extending along the first traction cable (11), the travel path (111) having at least one curvature, the vehicle (30) having a set of carrying and guiding wheels (32) which are configured to travel on the travel path (111) at the nominal linear speed, the first circulation path (101) comprising at least a second segment (120), the transport facility (100) being configured such that the vehicle (30) is coupled to the first traction cable (11) and pulled by the first traction cable (11) at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over the first segment (110) and the second segment (120), the transport facility (100) being characterized in that it is configured so that the first traction cable (11) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment (120).

2. Transport facility (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least a second traction cable (21) which describes a second closed loop (20) and is configured to be driven by at least one second drive means (22) at the nominal linear speed, the transport facility (100) comprising at least a second circulation path (102) and being configured so that the vehicles (30) pass from one to the other of the first and second circulation paths (101, 102) at least one transition region (103), and is configured such that the vehicle (30) is coupled to the second traction cable (21) and pulled by the second traction cable (21) at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over at least part of the second circulation path (102).

3. Transport facility (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second traffic path (102) has at least a first segment (210) comprising at least one travel path (211) extending along the second traction cable (21), the travel path (211) of the first segment (210) having at least one curvature, the carrying and guiding wheels (32) of the vehicle (30) being configured to travel on the travel path (211) at the nominal linear speed.

4. Transport facility (100) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the transition region (103) comprises a continuous portion of a preferably rectilinear transition travel path (311) extending from a travel path portion (111) of the first segment (110) of the first traffic path (101) to a travel path portion (211) of the first segment (210) of the second traffic path (102).

5. Transport facility (100) according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the coupling device (31) of the vehicle (30) comprises disengaging means (33) so as to release the vehicle (30) from the traction cable (11, 21) to which it is coupled from among the first and second traction cables (11, 21) and then to couple the vehicle (30) to the other of the traction cables from among the first and second traction cables (21, 11).

6. Transport facility (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one embarking and/or disembarking station (150), the disengaging means (33) being in the disengaged position when the vehicle (30) is in an embarking and/or disembarking position in the embarking and/or disembarking station (150).

7. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims dependent at least on claim 2, characterized in that the second circulation path (102) comprises at least a second segment, the transport facility (100) being configured such that the vehicle (30) is coupled to the second traction cable (21) and pulled by the second traction cable (21) at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over the first segment (210) and the second segment, the transport facility (100) being configured such that the second traction cable (21) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment.

8. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first traction cable (11) is rectilinear along the second segment (120) of the first circulation path (101).

9. Transport facility (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that the second traction cable (21) is rectilinear along the second segment of the second circulation path (102).

10. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises guiding means (140) which are configured to guide the first traction cable (11) along the travel path (111) of the first segment (110) of the first circulation path (101).

11. Transport facility (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the guiding means (140) comprise vertical guiding means (141) and horizontal guiding means (142).

12. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the travel path comprises two rails spaced apart in a regular manner.

13. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first traction cable (11) constitutes the single driving cable of the vehicle (30) along the first circulation path (101).

14. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims dependent at least on claim 2, in that the second traction cable (21) constitutes the single driving cable of the vehicle (30) along the second circulation path (102).

15. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first segment(s) (110) and the second segment(s) (120) of the first traffic path (101) are placed in series.

16. Method for using a transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least:

a first step of circulating the vehicle (30) along the first segment (110) during which the set of carrying wheels (32) for guiding the vehicle (30) travels on the travel path (111), the vehicle (30) being driven by the traction cable (11) at the nominal linear speed; and

a second step of circulating the vehicle (30) along the second segment (210) during which the first traction cable (11) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment (120).