US2682838A

US2682838A - Single cable ropeway

Info

Publication number: US2682838A
Application number: US251950A
Authority: US
Inventors: Dumur Marc
Original assignee: Giovanola Freres SA
Current assignee: Giovanola Freres SA
Priority date: 1951-01-10
Filing date: 1951-10-18
Publication date: 1954-07-06
Anticipated expiration: 1971-07-06
Also published as: CH291119A; DE919714C; DE893657C; FR1044303A; GB733662A; CH286312A; GB717916A; FR63753E; GB734869A; DE919713C; FR63754E; CH291118A

Description

July 6, 1954 Filed Oct. 18, 1951 M. DUMUR SINGLE CABLE ROPEWAY 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 INVENTORI "AR 0 IDuMuIt July 6, 1954 M. DUMUR SINGLE CABLE ROPEWAY 2 Sheets- Sheet 2 Filed Oct. 18, 1951 INVENTOR:

MRRQ Dum g Patented July 6, 1954 SINGLE CABLE ROPEWAY Marc v Dumur, Gully, Switzerland, assignor to Giovanola Freres S. A., Clos Douroux, Monthey, Canton of Valais, Switzerland, a firm of Switzerland Application October 18, 1951, Serial No. 251,950

Claims priority, application Switzerland January 10, 1951 My invention has for its object a single cable ropeway including a carriage provided on one hand with jaws adapted to clamp automatically the driving and carrying cable and on the other hand a suspension device carrying equipment for the transportation of passengers.

My improved ropeway is characterized by the fact that at least one of the jaws is connected positively with a slider guided inside a slideway of the carriage, while the suspension member or device is adapted to move vertically inside a guide provided on the rope railway carriage; the connection between the suspension member and the slider being ensured by an oblique slideway provided on one of said members, and cooperating with a transmitting stud, provided on the other member, the suspension member being provided moreover with a bearing member such as a lateral roller that is adapted to provide its rising movement through its temporary engage ment with a stationary disconnecting sloped track, the object of this arrangement being to provide for transient release of the jaws under the action of the rising of the suspension member inside its casing or guiding member while the load urges the suspension downwardly and provides for the resumed tightening of said jaws.

Accompanying drawings illustrate by way of example a preferred embodiment of my invention. Insaid drawings:

Figs. 1 and 2 are general elevational views of the arrangement according to the invention as seen respectively from the side and from the front.

Fig. 3 is an elevational view of the carriage, part of which is omitted.

Fig. 4 is a cross section of the carriage through the axis of the slider.

Fig. 5 is a plan view of a carriage including a partial sectional view through line V-V of Fig. 3.

The suspension rod l on the ropeway carries a double seat cabin 2 arranged in a manner such that when inoperative the center of gravity of.

the load registers with a vertical line passing through the axis of the carrier and driving cable 3.

The suspension rod I is connected with a carriage 4-6 provided with rollers 5 which are adapted to run over upper and lower stationary rails 31 and 38 that are provided at each station but'not between stations. The side frames 4 of the carriage are rigid with a transverse plate -6 forming one piece with a hub 1. A stationary jaw 8 is secured to the carriage plate 6 while the huh I has an inner cylindrical surface 5 Claims. (Cl. 104-211) provided with an anti-friction lining 9 inside 8 which may rotate the coaxial horizontal hollow arm Ill of a guiding member l0-l6 (Fig. 4) assuming the shape of 'a hollow box-shaped structure. A slider I I having a longitudinally extending body is carried inside the arm l0 through the agency of an anti-friction lining; said arm l0 forms thus a normally horizontal slideway for the slider ll. Said slider is provided on its right hand side as shown in Fig. 4 with an extension I2 forming a pivot adapted to revolve inside a corresponding perforation provided in the bent flange of the movable jaw l3, said flange being held over the pivot l2 in one direction by an elastic washer l4 fitted in a groove at the end of the pivot 12 and in the other direction by a ball bearing 33.

The jaws 8 and I3 are shaped in a manner such as to be capable of clamping the cable 3 over the major part of its periphery.

The vertical walls of the arm 16 forming part of the guide l0l6 engage with a slight clearance two parallel arms l1 forming upwardly directed extensions of the suspension rod I. Each of the arms I! is provided on its outer surface with a recess assuming the shape of a'gutter with vertical walls, the sides [8 of which form races for the corresponding rollers l9 rigid with spindles mounted in the ball bearings 20 providedin the adjacent sides of the guiding member l6.

Furthermore, the arms H are provided with elongated slots 2| registering with each other and arranged obliquely with reference to the slideway H). The slider II (Fig. 5) carries transverse trunnions or studs 22 fitted through the agency of needle bearings 23 inside the oblique slots 2|.

One of the vertical arms I1 is provided outwardly with notches or serrations 24 assuming a saw-tooth shape (Fig. 3) the guide I 6 carries a bracket 25 serving as a bearing for a spindle 26 to which is keyed a bell crank the lower arm 2'! of which is adapted to engage the notches 24 under the action of two coil springs 28. The arrangement including parts 24 to 28 forms a collapsible locking device.

The suspension rod I carries through a ball bearing having a horizontal axis, a bearing roller 30 extending underneath the guiding member IS.

The ropeway described hereinabove operates as follows: I

During normal operation the parts occupy the positions illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5.

Under the action of gravity, the suspension rod lwith its upper arms I! assumes its lowermost 3 position with reference to the carriage (Fig. 3). The oblique slots 2| exert consequently a horizontal stress in the direction of the arrow F-I on the trunnions. 22 of the slider I I. Through its shoulder 32 and the ball bearing 33 engaged thereby said slider transmits the thrust in said direction F-I to the jaw I3 that is thus urged against the cable 3 and clamps it in association with the jaw 8.

In the case of a light load capable of being submitted to a swinging movement under the action of the Wind, the suspension rod I may have a tendency to rise inside the guiding member It, but this would be prevented by the engagement of the serration 24 with the lever arm 2%.

Each station of the ropeway is provided with angle bars 39 adapted to release the means looking the suspension rod through action on the upper arm 40 of the lever 2l40 to rookut-he latter in the direction of the arrow F-3, when the "carriage of the ropeway enters the station. :Consequently, the lower arm 21 of said lever 23-40 .disengages the .serration 24 which allows the rod extensions W to slide vertically inside the guiding member I6.

Immediately after the collapse of the :bent lever 21-40 the bearing roller 30 and the suspension rod 1 are gradually raised by a disconnecting sloped track 36 carried by the framework forming the station, whereby the carriage of the'ropeway executes a slight upward movement with respect to the cable 3 owing to the slope of the track 36 being different from the cable incline at the station. At the same time, the rollers 5 of the tearriage are guided by the rails 31 and 38 that are adapted to hold the carriage in the desired position. By reason of the rising movement of the suspension rod I, the oblique slots 2| exert on the trunnions 22 a thrust in the direction of thearrow F-2 that urges the jaw I3 away from the cable 3. The guiding rails 37! raise slightly the carriage whereby the jaws 8 and I3 also rise and enter ,a levelabove the cable 3.

,For restarting the carriage system, the disconnecting track 36 is downwardly operated from beneath the bearing roller 30 by means that are not illustrated. At substantially the same time, the

carriage-releasing angle bar 39 is downwardly actuated to release the lever 48. Then, the lever arm is again urged by spring 28 on the serration 24. In the meantime, the carriage has advanced over the downwardly sloping rails 3'1 and 38 so that it may be lowered sufiiciently for the jaws 8 and I3 to return into the level registering with the location of the cable 3. This loweringqmotion .of the carriage is almost simultaneous with a vertical downward sliding of the extensions I1 in the guiding member I6, the track 36 being operated asabove described, so that the jaw I3 reengages the cable 3 under the action of the slider .II, urg d :by the trunnions 22 in the direction of the ,arrow F-I.

The sliding movement of the extensions 17 of the suspension rod I inside the guiding member I6 are-executed with a very slight friction ,as-during the upward movement of the suspension :rod with reference to the carriage, as illustrated in Figs. 3 and 5, the left hand bearings I8 :run over the rollers I9 and when the rod sinks, the right hand bearings ll run over the rollers.

What I claim is:

1. In a .ropeway operated by a single cable 'between a plurality of stations, the provision of ,a carriage adapted to run on guiding rails at :said stations, twojaws one of which is rigid with the carriage and the other is slidingly carried thereon to move in a direction transverse and horizontally with reference to the cable, said jaws being adapted to clamp the cable between them, suspension means mounted on said carriage and adapted to carry the load, a slideway provided transversely on the carriage, a slider adapted to slide inside the slideway, a swivelling link connectingsaid slider with the movable jaw, a vertical ,guideway provided in the carriage and in which the suspension means are slidingly carried, a connection between the suspension means and the slider including a slotted member the slot in which is oblique with reference to the vertical and a transmitting stud engaging the slot,

said slotted member and transmitting stud carried respectively by one of the following parts, the suspension means and the slider, a vertically reciprocable disconnecting track adapted to take an upper and a lower position at each station of the ropeway, .sa-id track being sloped up with respect :to said cable at :each station, so that in its upper position said track is adapted to raise the Suspension means as it passes into-a station, the raising .of the suspension means acting on the slider through the slotted member and said transmitt-mg studs to urge the slider and movable jaw away from the first Jaw, the lowering of the suspension means and load under the action of gravity rat ;a point beyond :the disconnecting track at each station returning the :slider and jaw into their operative cable clamping positions.

:2. In a ropeway operated by .a single cable be tween a plurality of stations, the provision of a carriage adapted to run on guiding rails at said stations, two jaws one ,of which is rigid with the carriage and the other is slidably carried thereon to move in a direction transverse and horizontally with reference to the cable, said jaws being adapted to clamp the .cable :between them, suspension means mounted on said oarriage and adapted to carry the load, a slideway provided transversely ,on the carriage, a slider adapted to slide :inside the slideway, .a swivelling link connecting said slider with the movable jaw, a vertical guideway provided in the carriage and in chtthe Suspension means are slidingly-carried, said guideway extending at right angles across theslideway, the suspension means including two vertical extensions rigid ivith the upper end thereof and engaging the guideway, said extension being located respectively to the front and to the .rear of the ,slider and provided with elongated slots oblique with reference to the vertical and registering With each other, said .slider carrying at least one transmitting roller arranged 12kt right angles to said slideway and engaging the slots in the extensions, va vertically reciprocable disconnecting track adapted to take an upper and a lower position at .each station, said track :being sloped up with respect to :said cable, so that in its upper position, said track is adapted to raise the suspension means in the guiding member as it passes into .a :station, the raising of the suspension means acting on the slider through the slotted extensions and roller system to urge the slider and movable jaw away from the first jaw, the lowerin of the suspension means and load under the action ,of gravity at a point beyond the disconnecting track at each station returning the slider and jaw into their operative cable :clamping positions.

3. In aropewayoperated by ,a single cable :between a plurality ,of stations, the provision of a carriage ,adapted to run on guiding rails at said stations, two jaws one of which is rigid with the carriage and the other is slidingly carried thereon to move in a direction transverse and horizontally with reference to the cable, said jaws being adapted to clamp the cable between them, suspension means mounted on said carriage and adapted to carry the load, a slider adapted to slide inside the slideway and pivotally connected with the movable jaw, a vertical guideway provided in the carriage and in which the suspension means are slidingly carried, said guideway extending at right angles across the slideway, the suspension means including two vertical extensions rigid with the upper end thereof and engaging the guideway, said extensions being located respectively to the front and to the rear of the slider and provided with elongated slots oblique with reference to the vertical and registering with each other, said extensions being provided on their outer surface with a guttershaped recess having vertical side walls forming races, said guideway being provided with vertical rollers engaging either race in the corresponding recess, said slider carrying at least one transmitting roller arranged at right angles to said slideway and engaging the slots in the extensions, a vertically reciprocable disconnecting track adapted to take an upper and a lower position at each station, said track being sloped up with respect to the travelling cable and adapted, in its upper position, to raise the suspension means as it passes into a station considered, the raising of the suspension means acting on the slider through the slotted extension and transmitting roller system to urge the slider and movable jaw away from the first jaw, the lowering of the suspension means and load under the action of gravity at a point beyond the disconnecting sloped track at each station returning the slider and jaw into their operative cable clamping positions.

4. In a ropeway operated by a single cable between a plurality of stations, the provision of a carriage adapted to run on guiding rails at said stations, two jaws one of which is rigid with the carriage and the other is slidingly carried thereon to move in a direction transverse and horizontally with reference to the cableysaid .iaws being adapted to clamp the cable between them, suspension means mounted on said carriage and adapted to carry the load, a slideway provided transversely on the carriage, a slider adapted to slide inside the slideway and pivotally connected with the movable jaw, a vertical guideway provided in the carriage and in which the suspension means are slidingly carried, collapsible looking means fitted partly on the suspension means and partly on the guideway to hold the suspension means in their lowermost position for constantly urging the jaws into their cable clamping position between said stations, means carried by each station for releasing said locking means, as the carriage passes said releasing means, the sus pension means including a slotted member the slot in which is oblique with reference to the vertical and a transmitting stud engaging the slot, said slotted member and stud being carried respectively by one of the following parts,

the suspension means and the slider, a disconnecting track at each station of the ropeway, said track being adapted to be given a lower and an upper position in which latter it is adapted to raise the suspension means as it passes into a station, the raising of the suspension means acting on the slider through the slotted member and transmitting stud to urge the slider and movable jaw away from the first jaw, the lowering of the suspension means and load under the action of gravity at a point beyond the disconnecting track at each station returning the slider and jaw into their operative cable clamping positions.

'5. In a ropeway operated by a single cable between a plurality of stations, the provision of a carriage adapted to run on guiding rails, at said stations, two jaws one of which is rigid with the carriage and the other is slidingly carried thereon to move in a direction transverse and horizontally with reference to the cable, said jaws being adapted to clamp the cable between them, suspension means mounted on said carriage and adapted to carry the load, a slideway provided transversely on the carriage, a slider adapted to slide inside the slideway and pivotally connected with the movable jaw, a vertical guideway provided in the carriage and in which the suspension means are slidingly carried, collapsible locking means fitted partly on the suspension means and partly on the guideway to hold the suspension means in their lowermost position forconstantly urging the jaws into their cable clamping position between the stations, said locking means including a lever pivotally secured to the guideway, a serration provided on the suspension means, a spring urging one arm of said lever into locking engagement with said serration and a stationary releasing collapsible bar at each station adapted to transiently rock said lever out of its operative position, as the carriage passes past said releasing bar, a connection between the sus pension means and the slider including a slotted member the slot of which is oblique with reference to the vertical and a transmitting stud engaging the slot, said slotted member and stud being carried respectively by one of the following parts, the suspension means and the slider, a disconnecting track sloped up with respect to the cable and arranged to be given a lower position and an upper position in which said track is adapted to raise the suspension means as the carriage passes into a station, said releasing bar at each station being located before said disconnecting track in the travelling direction of the carriage, so that the raising of the suspension means is made possible, such raising acting on the slider through the slotted member and transmitting stud system to urgethe slider and movable jaw away from the first jaw, the lowering of the suspension means and load under the action of gravity at a point beyond the disconnecting sloped track at each station returning the slider and jaw into their operative cable clamping positions.

No references cited.