WO2012131432A1

WO2012131432A1 - Radiusing element for cable systems, cable system and carriage or sheave for such cable system

Info

Publication number: WO2012131432A1
Application number: PCT/IB2011/051352
Authority: WO
Inventors: Giorgio Bevilacqua
Original assignee: Giorgio Bevilacqua
Priority date: 2011-03-30
Filing date: 2011-03-30
Publication date: 2012-10-04

Abstract

The present invention refers to a radiusing element (1) for forming a curvilinear length in a cable system comprising a bearing cable (201) adapted to support carriages or sheaves (101) having one or more pulleys (102) adapted to engage such bearing cable (201). The radiusing element (1) comprises a main tubular body (2) axially extending along a curvilinear arc and adapted to receive the bearing cable (201), so that the bearing cable substantially follows the curvilinear arc, and adapted to be outwardly engaged by said pulleys (102). The present invention further refers to a cable system provided with one or more of such radiusing elements and a carriage or sheave adapted to operate in such system.

Description

"RADIUSING ELEMENT FOR CABLE SYSTEMS, CABLE SYSTEM AND CARRIAGE OR SHEAVE FOR SUCH CABLE SYSTEM"

The present invention refers to a radiusing element for cable systems, particularly, a radiusing element enabling to form curves along the paths of such systems, and a system provided with such radiusing elements. Further, the present invention refers to a carriage or sheave adapted to be used in such system.

The cable systems are systems which employ cables for a suspended transport of bodies, such as objects or persons. In such systems, one or more bearing cables support, by a carriage or sheave, the body to be transported. Examples of such systems are the cable-ways, cable-railways, chair lifts, or cable- ways, in which a vehicle is supported by a carriage to the bearing cable/s and follows a predetermined rectilinear path along these cables. In this kind of systems, the vehicle is moved by further cables besides the bearing cable, particularly, haulage cables fixed to the vehicle and driven in suitable stations, which pull the vehicle along the bearing cable. In other types of systems, the vehicle or in any case the transported bodies are driven by the force of gravity along the bearing cable. An example of this second kind of systems is represented by the so-called "tyrollienes", in which a person harnessed to a sheave moving along the bearing cable follows acrobatic paths. Analogous cable systems can be used for example in yards, in which it is necessary to move materials and/or persons from one location to another.

In such known cable systems, it is very difficult to form paths which are not rectilinear, in other words provided with curves, and this fact limits the capacity and possibility of use.

In complicated cable systems, for example cable-ways, paths provided with curves are obtained by serially arranging several rectilinear systems which are independent one from the other. At the end of a length of a rectilinear path, the carriage leaves the first length of the system and then moves to a second length of the system which is completely independent from the first one. The handover from a portion to the other of the system occurs in complicated switching stations, in which the vehicles must be released from the first length of the system and coupled to the second length of the system.

There is a similar problem in the tyrollienes, whose paths have interruptions at the curves, wherein the sheave must be removed by the user, from a first bearing cable adjacent a curvature and then must be positioned again on a second bearing cable. In this way, the acrobatic path is necessarily fragmented.

Therefore, the object of the present invention is to make available a structurally simple radiusing element such to enable the introduction of curvilinear lengths in the cable systems, without interrupting the continuity of the bearing cable.

A further object of the present invention is to make available a carriage or sheave adapted to operate in cable systems provided with one or more of said radiusing elements.

This and other objects are met by a radiusing element according to claim 1 , a carriage or sheave according to claim 10, and a cable system according to claim 17.

For a better comprehension of the invention and appreciation of its advantages, the following will describe some of its exemplifying non limiting embodiments with reference to the attached drawings, wherein:

Figure 1 a is a perspective view of a radiusing element according to the invention;

Figure 1 b is a cross-section view of the radiusing element of Figure 1 a;

Figures 2a and 2b are side views of a sheave according of the invention;

Figure 2c is a perspective view of the sheave of Figures 2a and 2b;

Figure 3 is a cross-section view of the radiusing element in a condition engaged by the sheave;

Figure 4 is a perspective view of a portion of a cable system, according to the invention, showing successive steps of its operation;

Figure 5 is a perspective view of a portion of the cable system showing successive steps of its operation according to a further possible embodiment of the invention.

With reference to the figures, a radiusing element 1 for forming a curvilinear length in a cable system is indicated by the reference 1. Reference 101 indicates a carriage or sheave for the suspended transport of bodies, such as objects and/or persons by such cable system.

The radiusing element 1 can be used in complex cable systems, such as for example: cable-ways, cable-railways, chair-lifts, or cable-ways, but also in simple systems such as the so-called "tyrollienes". Analogously, the carriage or sheave 101 can be, for example, the supporting carriage for transport vehicles such as for example a cable-way, a cable-railway, a chair-lift, or a cable-way, but it can be also the sheave supporting a person using the tyrollienes or for supporting a person or objects in yards.

In the present description, if it is not otherwise stated, reference will be made in an illustrative way, to sheaves and tyrollienes, however, the described features can also refer, in the same way, to carriages adapted to operate in complex systems, such as the above-mentioned systems.

The cable system according to the invention comprises a bearing cable 201 adapted to support the carriage or sheave 101. According to a possible embodiment, the cable system comprises a single bearing cable 201. Alternatively, the cable system can also be provided with several bearing cables 201.

With reference to the cable systems of the tyrollienes type or similar, preferably they do not have the haulage cables and the displacement of the sheave 101 along the bearing cable 201 is mainly caused by the path slope and therefore by the force of gravity. In case of complex systems, for example cable-ways, there are instead provided haulage cables adapted to move the carriage or sheave along a predetermined path of the bearing cable 201. In this latter case, the haulage cable/cables is/are preferably fixed to the carriage or sheave 101 , which in turn is pulled along the bearing cable 201 due to the motions of the one or more haulage cables.

The sheave 101 comprises one or more pulleys 102 preferably linearly arranged, adapted to engage the bearing cable 201 . In case the cable system provides more bearing cables 201 , the sheave 101 can be provided with more groups of pulleys 102 preferably linearly arranged, each group of pulleys being adapted to engage a corresponding bearing cable 201. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the sheave 101 comprises a single group of two linearly arranged pulleys 102. Alternatively, each group can provide more than two linearly arranged pulleys 102.

In order to ensure the engagement of the bearing cable 201 , the pulleys 102 are provided with suitable races 103. Preferably, they are rotatively connected to a main structure 104 of the sheave 101 . To this end, according to a possible embodiment, the sheave 101 comprises, for each pulley 102, a pin 105 preferably fixedly connected to the main structure 104 and a bearing 106 adapted to enable the rotation of each pulley 102 on the corresponding pin 105. The main structure 104 of the sheave 101 defines a cable seat 107 which, during the normal condition of use of the sheave 101 , receives the bearing cable 201 engaged by the pulleys 102. It is to be observed that, in the present description and in the attached claims, the term "normal conditions of use" of the sheave, means the conditions in which the sheave is supported by the bearing cable 201 (or by the radiusing element 1 , as it will be explained in the following) of the cable system by the engagement of its pulleys 102.

With reference to the radiusing element 1 , when it is associated to the cable system, it enables to adapt the latter according to a path provided with curves, in other words a non rectilinear path, without interrupting the continuity of the bearing cable 201. Consequently, the sheave 101 supported by the bearing cable 201 of the cable system can continuously follow a path which is not completely rectilinear without interruptions.

To this end, the radiusing element 1 comprises a main tubular body 2. Such main tubular body 2 can for example have a circular cross-section, in other words it can have an inner circular cross-section having a first diameter and an outer circular cross-section having a second diameter, wherein the first diameter is smaller than the second. Possibly, the main tubular body can have cross-sections having different shapes (for example, elliptical). The tubular body 2 advantageously defines a cavity 3, receiving a length of the bearing cable 201 when the cable system has been assembled. The main tubular body 2 and its cavity 3 extend in an axial direction (that is along the direction of the tubular body axis) along a curvilinear arc, in other words it extends along a generally non rectilinear direction. Such curvilinear arc can have a constant curvature radius or, alternatively, lengths having different curvature radiuses. Possibly, one or more lengths of the main tubular body can axially extend along rectilinear lengths. Since the main tubular body 2 is generally curved in the axial direction, the bearing cable 201 , in the length received by the cavity 3 of the main tubular body, follows a curvature. Advantageously, the bearing cable 201 is inserted in the cavity 3 of the main tubular body 2 during the assembly of the system and, once has been assembled the system, it has also a bearing function for the radiusing element 1 itself. In other words, the radiusing element 1 is supported by the bearing cable 201 and kept suspended by the latter.

Advantageously, to the radiusing element 1 are associated one or more tie- rods 202 adapted to exert radially directed tensile forces (in other words in directions corresponding to the curvature radiuses of the arc along which the main tubular body 2 extends). Preferably, such tie-rods 202 are radially outwardly connected to each radiusing element 1 (in other words, on the convex side of the radiusing element, with reference to the arc along which the main tubular body 2 extends), for example by means of connecting holes 4 provided in the radiusing element 1. As an alternative or in addition, to the radiusing element 1 it is possible to associate one or more struts (not shown in figures) adapted to exert radially directed compression forces. Preferably, such struts are radially inwardly connected to each radiusing element 1 (that is on the concave side of the radiusing element, with reference to the arc along which the main tubular body extends). In this way, it is ensured that, at the ends of the main tubular body 2, the bearing cable 201 is substantially aligned to it in the axial direction and kept taut.

The pulleys 102 of the sheave 101 are adapted to outwardly engage the tubular body 2 of the radiusing element 1 , and are also adapted to engage the bearing cable 201. In this way, the sheave 102, in the operative conditions of the cable system, is supported by the bearing cable 201 in the rectilinear lengths. At the curvilinear lengths defined by the radiusing elements 1 , the bearing cable 201 is received in the cavity 3 of the main tubular body 2. Therefore, when the sheave 101 reaches the radiusing element 1 , its pulleys 202 disengage the bearing cable 201 and outwardly engage the main tubular body 2, enabling the sheave 101 to follow the curvilinear length. At the end of this step, the bearing cable 201 projects the cavity 3 of the main tubular body 2 and therefore it can be engaged by the pulleys again.

According to a possible embodiment, the races 103 of the pulleys 102, in order to ensure a secure engagement by the latter both of the bearing cable 201 along the rectilinear lengths, and the main tubular body along the curvilinear lengths, comprise a first portion 103', preferably located at the center, having a first curvature radius and one or more second portions 103", preferably two second portions on the two sides opposite to the first central portion 103', having different curvature radiuses. Particularly, the first portion 103 is designed to engage the bearing cable 201 and for this reason it has preferably a curvature radius smaller than the curvature radius of the second portions 103", adapted instead to outwardly engage the main tubular body 2, which, according to the embodiment shown in the figures, has an outer diameter greater than the diameter of the bearing cable 201. Obviously, it is possible to provide different shapes of the races 103 in case the main tubular body 2 has a non circular cross-section. The main tubular body 2 of the radiusing element 1 is supported by one or more supporting elements 7. According to a possible embodiment, the radiusing element 1 comprises a supporting plate 8 axially extending along an arc, also curvilinear, preferably having a curvature center coincident with the curvature center of the curvilinear arc along which the main tubular body 2 extends. Still more preferably, such supporting plate 8 is radially inwardly arranged with respect to the curvilinear arc along which the latter extends. It is to be observed that the term "radially" herein refers to the curvature radius of the curvilinear arc along which the main tubular body 2 extends.

In order to prevent the sheave 101 from hitting the supporting elements 7, particularly the supporting plate 8, of the radiusing element 1 , the main structure 104 of the sheave advantageously comprises a notch 108. The notch 108 is adapted to enable the supporting elements 7, particularly with the supporting plate 8, to pass in, when the sheave 101 follows the curvilinear length of the cable system, and therefore the main tubular body 2 is received in the cable seat, engaged by the pulleys 102. Preferably, the notch 108 is arranged on a side of the main structure 104 and enables the cable seat 107 to communicate with an outer side of the sheave 101. According to this possible arrangement, the main structure 104 of the sheave 101 has a substantially C shape.

Preferably, the notch 108 is located at a level corresponding to the level of the main tubular body 2 when the latter is received in the cable seat 107, outwardly engaged by the pulleys 102. In case the supporting elements 7 have a shape different from the one of the above described supporting plate 8, also the notch 108 can be obviously located or shaped in a different way.

The notch 108 has a shape and size such to prevent, in the normal conditions of use of the sheave 101 , the bearing cable 201 and the main tubular body 2 of the radiusing element 1 from exiting the cable seat 107, when the latter accidentally disengage the pulleys 101.

Advantageously, in order to enable the access to the cable seat 107 and therefore the insertion of the bearing cable 201 into the former, the main structure 104 of the sheave 101 can be configured according to an opened arrangement and a closed arrangement. In the opened arrangement, it is possible to insert the bearing cable 201 in the cable seat 107 and to take it from the latter, while in the closed arrangement, such operations are not possible. In the normal conditions of operation of the sheave 101 , the main structure 104 has a closed arrange ment.

According to a possible embodiment, the main structure 104 comprises a first body 104' and a second body 104", preferably at the opposed sides with respect to the pulleys 102, and therefore also at the two opposed sides of the main cable and/or of the main tubular body 2 in the normal conditions of use of the sh eave.

Advantageously, such first and second bodies 104', 104" are movable one from the other. In particular, they are preferably capable to slide one from the other, still more preferably along a transversal surface, for example, perpendicular to the rotation axis of the pulleys 102, in other words perpendicular to the pins 105. For example, the first and second bodies 104', 104" can slide one from the other in a lower area (still referring to the normal conditions of use of the sheave) of the main structure 104, wherein the two bodies 104' and 104" are faced towards each other. Due to the relative sliding between the first and second bodies 104', 104", the main structure 104 changes its shape. Particularly, the shape and/or size of the notch 108 change. In the closed arrangement, the notch 108 has a size such to prevent the bearing cable 201 and/or the main tubular body 2 from passing through it, while in the opened arrangement, at least the bearing cable 201 can pass through the notch.

In order to enable such relative sliding between the first and second bodies 104', 104" of the main structure 104, the first body 104' can comprise, fo r example, shaped guides 109 adapted to be engaged by guiding pins 1 10 integral with the second body 104". According to a possible embodiment shown in the fig ures, such shaped guides 109 have a substantially L shape. In the condition shown in Figure 2b, the pins 1 10 engage a first end 109' of such L-shaped guides, and the main structure 104 is in the closed arrangement. If the first and second bodies 104', 104" are moved one from the other, for example along the arrows F1 and F2, so that the guiding pins 1 10 engage the second end 109" of the shaped guides 10^, the main structure 104 takes the opened arrangement. In fact, in such arrangement, the first body 104' position is lower than position of the same in the closed arrangement. Therefore, the notch 108 has a longer extension, such to enable the bearing cable 201 to pass. In order to change the arrangement of the main structure 10>4 from the opened one to the closed arrangement, it is necessary to move the first body 104' with respect to the second body 104" according to the arrows F3 and F4 of Figure 2b.

Advantageously, the sheave 101 comprises means for blocking the main structure 104 in the closed arrangement, particularly for blocking the first and second bodies 104', 104" one to the other in the closed arrangement. In this way, it is ensured the sheave 101 operates in a safe condition when it moves along the bearing cable 201 or the main tubular body 2.

According to a possible embodiment, the first and second bodies 104', 104" comprise corresponding holes 1 1 1 ' and 1 1 1 " which are aligned when the first and second bodies 104', 104" are in the closed arrangement (Figure 2a). In order to block the first body 104' and the second body 104" one against the other in this arrangement, it is possible to insert in such holes 1 1 1 ' and 1 1 1" a blocking element such to engage and prevents relative movements of the first and second bodies 104', 104". According to a possible embodiment, such blocking element can be for example a spring-catch 203, enabling to connect the sheave to the body to be transported, for example, a person fixed to the spring-catch by an harness.

It is to be observed that the cited characteristics which enable the sheave to pass from a closed arrangement to an opened arrangement and \zice versa can be possibly provided independently from the other features of the sheave. For example, such features can be provided in a sheave or carriage wherein the pulleys are of a known type (that is capable of engaging just the bearing cable 201 ), or wherein the main structure 104 does not have the notch 108.

Advantageously, when the sheave 101 follows the curvili near length, the supporting element 7 of the radiusing element 1 is caused to pass the notch 108 of the sheave 101 , because the sheave 101 itself and/or the radiusing element 1 comprise means adapted to keep the sheave in a predetermined position with respect to the radiusing element 1 when the main tubular body 2 is outwardly engaged by the pulleys 102 of the sheave 101 itself (see Figure 3, in which the sheave 101 is shown according to such predetermined position> . According to a possible embodiment, the radiusing element 1 comprises a guiding body 12 extending along its axial direction along a curvilinear arc. The sheave 101 , in turn, comprises one or more engagement elements 1 12 capable of engaging the guiding body 12 of the radiusing element 1. When the engagement elements 1 12 of the sheave 101 engage the guiding body 12 of the radiusing element 1 , the sheave 101 maintains the above-mentioned predetermined position with respect to the radiusing element and, therefore, collisions between the main structure 104 of the sheave 101 and the supporting plate 8 of the radiusing element 1 are avoided. According to a possible embodiment, the guiding body 12 extends along a curvilinear arc substantially equal to the curvilinear arc along which the main tubular body 2 extends and, preferably, is located above it in the same radial position (referring to the curvature center of the main tubular body 2). Stated in geometric terms, the curvature arc along which the guiding body 12 extends and its curvature radius define a plane parallel to a further plane defined by the curvature arc along which the main tubular body 2 extends and its curvature radius. Further, preferably, the corresponding curvature centers are on a line perpe ndicular to these two planes. It is to be observed that, in the present description, terms as "upper", "lower", "above", "under" or the like, refer to the normal conditions of use of the sheave (as previously defined) and of the radiusing element, these conditions being referred to the radiusing element inserted in the cable system, ready for its use.

According to a possible embodiment, the guiding body 12 has a constant cross-section, preferably a circular one. Still more prefe rably, the guiding body 12 is tubular in order to reduce the overall weight of the radiusing element 1. Advantageously, in order enable a gradual engagement of the engagement elements 1 12 of the sheave 101 without collisions, the guiding body 12 has, at one of its ends, preferably at both ends, a cross-section outwardly decreasing in the axial direction. The presence of such arrangement at both ends enables the sheave 101 to cross the radiusing element 1 in both directions.

With reference to the engagement elements 1 1 2 of the sheave, they can preferably rotate with respect to the main structure 104, in order to roll along the guiding body 1 12. For example, they can comprise rolling bearings fixed to the main structure 104 by pins 1 13. According to an embodiment, the engagement elements 1 12 are arranged above the main structure 104 in two groups located on two opposed sides of the former. Particularly, they are connected to the second body 104" of the main structure 104. Preferably, each of such groups comprises one or more (for example two) aligned engagement elements 1 12. Preferably, the pins 1 13, and therefore the rotation axes of the engagement elements 1 12, are slanted, for example, of 40° - 50°, with respect to the pins 105 and therefore with respect to the rotation axes of the pulleys 102. In this way, the engagement elements 1 12 engage the circular guiding body 12 in two of its lower quadrants.

In the conditions of use, the sheave 101 , when approaches the radiusing elements 1 along the bearing cable 201 , sometimes arrives adjacent to it with an orientation with respect to the latter which is not the predetermined orientation, ensuring the supporting plate 8 of the radiusing element passes through the notch 108 of the sheave itself.

In order to ensure that the sheave 101 had the correct orientation when is adjacent the radiusing element 1 , the rad iusing element 1 , advantageously, comprises leading-in/aligning means at least at one end of the main tubular body 2. Such leading-in/aligning means are shaped in order to gradually give the sheave 101 the predetermined orientation previously defined, when this approaches the main tubular body 2 along the bearing cable 20 1 .

As a further advantage, the sheave 1 01 comprises means for gradually aligning along the above-mentioned predetermined orientation with respect to the main tubular body 2 of the radiusing element 1 when it approaches the main tubular body 2 along the bearing cable 201.

Still more advantageously, the leading-in/aligning means of the radiusing element 1 and the means for gradually aligning the sheave 101 are shaped in order to interact to each other to ensure the correct orientation of the sheave as this approaches the radiusing element 1 .

According to a possible embodiment, the leading-in/aligning means of the radiusing element 1 comprise one or more tracks 14 and the means for gradually aligning the sheave 101 comprise corresponding one or more elements 1 14 for engaging such tracks 14. Preferably, such tracks 14 are in number of two (particularly: a first and a second track 14' , 14" are provided) and, still more preferably, they are located on the two opposed sides with respect to the main tubular body 2 of the radiusing element 1. Correspondingly, the tracks 14 engagement elements 1 14 are advantageously in a number of two (particularly: there are provided a first and second engag ing elements 1 14', 1 14" adapted to respectively engage the first and second tracks 14', 14"), preferably arranged on the two opposing sides with reference to the pulleys 102 of the main structure 104. Still more preferably, they can be located below in the main structure 104, in other words in a position below the position of the engaging elements 112 of the guiding body 12.

Advantageously, the tracks 14 comprise a proximal end 15 (that is an end adjacent to the main tubular body 2) and a distal end 16 (that is an end located at a distance from said main tubular body 2) which are located at different heights one with respect to the other. Particularly, with reference to the normal conditions of use of the radiusing element 1 , the di stal end 16 is located at a height greater than the one of the proximal end 15. Therefore, the tracks 14 extend along a path which gradually changes height between the distal end 16 and the proximal end 15. For example, the tracks 14 can be generally curvilinear, or they comprise two or more straight lengths which are preferably radiused by curvilinear arcs, in other words without sharp bends, at least in the areas contacting the engaging elements 1 14. The proximal end 15 is advantageously at such an height so that, when the engaging elements 1 14 of the sheave disengage the tracks 14 because the sheave is adjacent the main tubular body 2, the sheave 101 is located with the predetermined orientation condition.

The decreasing height of the tracks 14 extending from the distal end 16 to the proximal end 15 ensures that, also in the presence of oscillations of the sheave 101 with respect to the predetermined orientation condition which must have when it crosses the radiusing element 1 , at least one of its engaging elements 1 14 engages one of the tracks 14 when the sheave 101 approaches the main tubular body 2.

According to a possible embodiment, the engaging elements 114 comprise bodies adapted to roll along the tracks 14, which, preferably, have a circular cross- section. Particularly, the engaging elements 1 14 of the tracks 14 can be rotatively connected, for example by pins 1 15, to the main structure 104. For example, the first engaging element 1 14 can be associated to the first body 104' of the main structure 104 and the second engaging element can be associated to the second body 104" of the main structure 14. Preferably, the pins 1 15, and therefore the rotation axes of the engaging elements 1 14, are slanted for example of 40° - 50°, with respect to the pins 105 and also to the rotation axes of the pulleys 102.

According to a possible embodiment, the radiusing element 1 further comprises disengaging means at one of its ends, such that the sheave 101 , once followed the curvilinear length, gradually leaves the predetermined orientation condition. Preferably, such disengaging means are shaped as the above-mentioned leading-in/aligning means, which therefore can form the disengaging means. For example, the above described tracks 14 can operate also as disengaging means, as it is clear to the person skilled in the art. According to this possible arrangement, the tracks 14 are located at both en ds of the radiusing element 1 and form engaging and aligning means at one end and disengaging means at the opposed end. Moreover, according to this arrangement, the sheave can indifferently follow the radiusing element 1 in two opposed directions. In both the directions, the sheave is gradually taken to the predetermined orientation condition by approaching the radiusing elements 1 , and gradually leaves such orientation by going away from the radiusing element 1.

According to a possible embodiment, the tracks 14 of the radiusing element 1 are supported by corresponding plates 17. These plates in turn can be supported for example by a bridge element 18 radially extending from the curvilinear arc along which the main tubular body 2 extends. Moreover, it is possible to provide structural bracing elements 20 between the plates 17. Preferably, the radiusing element 1 includes a plurality of bridge elements 17 arranged along the curvilinear arc along which the main tubular body 2 extends. Advantageously, they support, besides the tracks 14 at the ends of the radiusing element 1 , the supporting plate 8 of the main tubular body 2 and the guiding body 12. According to an embodiment, the radiusing element 1 comprises a further plate 19 arranged radially outward the curvilinear length along which the main tubular body 2 extends, opposed to the supporting plate 8. The plate 19 also extends along a curvilinear arc, preferably having a curvature center coincident with that of the curvilinear arcs along which the main tubular body 2 and the supporting plate 8 extend. Also the further plate 19 is advantageously supported by the bridge elements 18. The further plate 19 is provided by the above- mentioned holes 4 for connecting the radiusing element 1 to the tie-rods 202. According to the possible described arrangement, the radiusing element 1 is made in an integral piece, whose elements, for example, made of metal, are connected to each other, for example by welding.

With reference to the embodiments shown in Figures 3 and 4, a possible operation mode of the cable system and of the sheave according to the invention will be now described.

Along the straight lengths of the cable system, the sheave 101 follows and is supported by the beari ng cable 201 because the latter is engaged by the pulleys 102, particularly at the first portion 103' of its grooves 103. In the straight lengths, the sheave can freely oscillate around the bearing cable 201. If the bearing cable 201 accidentally disengages the pulleys 102, it cannot come out from the cable seat 107 because the notch 108 prevents the cable from passing when the first and second bodies 104', 104" of the main structure 104 of the sheave 101 are in the closed arrangement.

When the sheave 101 approaches the radiusing element 1 , its engaging elements 114 contact the tracks 14 of the radiusing element 1 , so that the sheave 1 , if it is not correctly oriented, arrives near the main tubular body 2 with the predetermined orientation.

Moreove r, before or when the sheave 101 starts following the curvilinear length, the engaging elements 1 12 engage the guiding body 1 12.

Along the curvilinear length, the bearing cable 201 is received in the cavity 3 of the main tubular body 2. Therefore, when the sheave 101 reaches the main tubular body 2 with the correct orientation, the engagement of the main cable ends, and the pulleys 102 outwardly engage the main tubular body 2. Such engagement occurs, particularly, in the side portions 103' of the grooves 103 of the pulleys 102.

During the travel along the curvilinear length, the supporting plate 8 crosses through the main structure 104 of the sheave 101 through the notch 108. Moreover, the pulleys 102 keep the outward engagement of the main tubular body 2 and, at the same time, the engagement elements 12 keep the engagement of the guiding body 12. In this way, it is ensured the predetermined orientation by the sheave 101.

At the end of the travel along the curvilinear length, the pulleys 101 of the sheave 101 disengage the main tubular body 2 by the first portion 103' of the grooves 103 and they engage again the bearing cable 201 projecting from the main tubular body 2 by the first portion 103' of the grooves 103. In the first portion of the travel of the bearing cable 201 after the disengagement of the main tubular body 2, the sheave 101 is kept with the predetermined orientation because the end portion of the guiding body 12 is engaged by the engaging elements 1 12 and/or, afterwards, the tracks 14 are engaged by the engaging elements 1 14. As the sheave 101 follows its travel, the sheave is gradually enabled to freely oscillate with respect to the bearing cable 201 thanks to the gradual height increase of the tracks 14 from the proximal end 15 to the distal end 16. Then, also the engagement of the tracks 14 by the engaging elements 1 14 ends. The sheave 101 can therefore follow a further straight length along the bearing cable 201. The same operation repeats again when it is reached a further curvilinear radiusing element 1 of the cable system.

It is to be observed that the radiusing element 1 , according to the invention, can be advantageously used not just for forming curves (as it is used for example in the embodiments shown in Figures 1 a and 4) along the cable system path, but also for forming rises and/or descents.

When the radiusing element 1 is adapted to form a curvature, the curvature radius of the axis along which the main tubular body 2 extends, during the assembly of the cable system, is substantially perpendicular to the direction of the force of gravity (shown in the figures by the arrow G). Referring to the shown embodiments, the curvature radiuses of the guiding body 12, supporting plate 8, and of the further plate 19 have an analogous orientation with respect to the direction of the force of gravity G.

With reference to a possible embodiment shown in Figure 5, the radiusing element 1 is in this case adapted to form a rise length in the cable system path. To this end, the main tubular body 2 extends along a curvilinear arc whose curvature radiuses are located on planes parallel to the direction of the force of gravity G. With reference to the shown embodiment, the curvature radiuses of the guiding body 12, the supporting plate 8, and the further plate 19 have an analogous orientation with respect to the direction of the force of gravity G. Particularly, these two plates are symmetrically arranged with respect to the main tubular body. Moreover, according to this embodiment, the tie-rods 202 are advantageously arranged at both sides of the radiusing element 1 , preferably connected to the supporting plate 8 and to the further plate 19.

As it will be understood by a person skilled in the art, according to a further embodiment not shown in the figures, the radiusing element 1 can also form a descent length. In this case, the radiusing element 1 , during the assembly of the cable system, is generally downwardly concave. In the previously described example, in which the radiusing element forms a rise length, the concavity is instead generally upwardly.

Obviously, it is possible to provide combined embodiments, wherein the radiusing element 1 forms at the same time rises or descents and curves. In these cases, the curvature radiuses of the main tubular body 2 are in skew planes with respect to the direction of the force of gravity G.

From the above provided description, the person skilled in the art can appreciate that the radiusing element and the carriage or sheave, according to the invention, make possible to form curvilinear lengths in cable systems, by keeping the continuity of the bearing cable and without introducing in the system itself intermediate structurally complex stations or interruptions of the path.

The person skilled in the art, in order to meet contingent specific needs, can introduce several additions, changes, or substitutions of elements with other operatively equivalent to the described embodiments, without falling out from the scope of the attached claims.

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Claims

1. Radiusing element (1 ) for forming a curvilinear length in a cable system, comprising a bearing cable (201 ) adapted to support carriages or sheaves (101 ) having one or more pulleys (102) adapted to engage said bearing cable (201 ), wherein said radiusing element (1 ) comprises a main tubular body (2) axially extending along a curvilinear arc, said main tubular body (2) being adapted to receive said bearing cable (201 ), so that it substantially follows said curvilinear arc, and adapted to be outwardly engaged by said one or more pulleys (102).

2. Radiusing element (1 ) according to the preceding claim, comprising one or more supporting elements (7; 8) of said main tubular body (2).

3. Radiusing element (1 ) according to claim 1 or 2, comprising means (12) adapted to keep said carriages or sheaves (101 ) at a predetermined orientation with respect to the radiusing element (1 ) when said main tubular body (2) is outwardly engaged by said one or more pulleys (102) of the carriages or sheaves (101 ).

4. Radiusing element (1 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein said means for keeping the carriages or sheaves (101 ) at a predetermined orientation comprise a guiding body (12) axially extending along a curvilinear arc, said guiding body (12) being adapted to be engaged by respective engaging elements (1 12) of said carriages or sheaves (101 ).

5. Radiusing element (1 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein said guiding body (12) has a gradually decreasing cross-section at one or both its axially outward ends, so that it is enabled the engagement by said engaging elements (1 12).

6. Radiusing element (1 ) according to anyone of claims 3-5, comprising leading- in/aligning means (14, 14', 14") near at least one end of said main tubular body (2), said leading-in/aligning means (14, 14', 14") being shaped in order to gradually cause said carriages or sheaves (101 ) to take to said predetermined orientation when they approach the main tubular body (2) along the bearing cable (201 ).

7. Radiusing element (1 ) according to anyone of claims 3-6, comprising disengaging means (14, 14', 14") near at least one end of said main tubular body (2), said disengaging means (14, 14', 14") being shaped so that said carriages or sheaves (101 ) gradually leave said predetermined orientation with respect to the radiusing element (1 ) when they depart from the latter along said bearing cable (201 ).

8. Radiusing element (1 ) according to claim 7 when depending from claim 6, wherein said leading-in/aligning means form said disengaging means and vice versa.

9. Radiusing element (1) according to anyone of claims 6-8, wherein said leading- in/aligning means and/or said disengaging means comprise one or more tracks (14, 14', 14") comprising a proximal end (15) and a distal end (16) located at an height greater than the height of said proximal end (15) in the normal conditions of use of the radiusing element (1 ).

10. Carriage or sheave (101) for the suspended transport of bodies, such as objects and/or persons in a cable system comprising a bearing cable (201 ), comprising a main structure (104) defining a cable seat (107) adapted to receive said bearing cable (201), and one or more aligned pulleys (102) rotating with respect to said main structure (104) adapted to engage said bearing cable (201 ), wherein said one or more pulleys (102) are moreover adapted to outwardly engage a main tubular body (2) axially extending along a curvilinear arc of a radiusing element (1 ) for forming a curvilinear length in said cable system.

11. Carriage or sheave (101) according to the preceding claim, wherein said main structure (104) comprises a notch (108) which communicates said cable seat (107) and an outer side of said carriage or sheave (101) for letting the passage of one or more supporting elements (7; 8) of said main tubular body of the radiusing element when the carriage or sheave (101) follows said curvilinear length of the cable system.

12. Carriage or sheave (101) according to claim 10 or 11 , wherein said one or more pulleys (102) comprise a groove (103) having a first portion (103') with a first curvature radius and one or more second portions (103") with a second curvature radius different from the first curvature radius, said first portion (103') of the groove (103) being adapted to engage said bearing cable (201 ) and said one or more second portions (103") being adapted to outwardly engage said main tubular body (2) of the radiusing element (1 ).

13. Carriage or sheave (101) according to anyone of claims 10-12, comprising means (112) for keeping the carriage or sheave (101) at a predetermined orientation with respect to the radiusing element (101 ) when said one or more pulleys (102) outwardly engage said main tubular body (2) of the radiusing element (1).

14. Carriage or sheave (101) according to the preceding claim, wherein said means for keeping the carriage or sheave (101) at a predetermined orientation comprise one or more elements (112) for engaging a guiding body (12) axially extending along a curvilinear arc of the radiusing element (1).

15. Carriage or sheave (101) according to claim 13 or 14, comprising means (114) for the gradual alignment at said predetermined orientation with respect to said radiusing element (1 ), when the carriage or sheave (101 ) approaches the main tubular body of the radiusing element (2) along the bearing cable (201 ).

16. Carriage or sheave (101 ) according to the preceding claim, wherein said gradually aligning means comprise one or more elements (1 14) for engaging corresponding one or more tracks (14, 14', 14") of the radiusing element (1 ) comprising a proximal end (15) and a distal end (16) located at an end greater than said proximal end (15) in the normal conditions of use of the radiusing element (1 ).

17. Cable system comprising a bearing cable (201 ) adapted to support carriages or sheaves (101 ) having one or more pulleys (102) adapted to engage said bearing cable (201 ), comprising one or more radiusing elements (1 ) according to anyone of claims 1 -9 for forming corresponding curvilinear lengths, wherein said bearing cable (201 ) is partially received inside the main tubular body (2) of said one or more radiusing elements (1 ) in correspondence of said curvilinear lengths.

18. Cable system according to claim 17, comprising at each of said curvilinear lengths means adapted to exert on said radiusing elements (1 ) radial forces so that, at the ends of said main tubular body (2), said bearing cable is substantially axially aligned with said main tubular body (2).

19. Cable system according to claim 17 or 18, comprising one or more carriages or sheaves (101 ) according to anyone of claims 10-16.