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EP-4397562-B1 - CABLEWAY

EP4397562B1EP 4397562 B1EP4397562 B1EP 4397562B1EP-4397562-B1

Inventors

  • LUGER, PETER

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20231219

Claims (17)

  1. A circular cableway (1) comprising at least two cableway stations (2A, 2B) and at least one cableway vehicle (3), which is moveable in a circulating movement between the cableway stations by a haul cable (5), wherein the at least one cableway vehicle (3) comprises at least on cable clamp (10) for releasably coupling the cableway vehicle (3) to the haul cable (5), and wherein an actuating device (15) for actuating the cable clamp (10) is provided in at least one cableway station (2A, 2B), wherein a control arm (11) is provided is provided on the cableway vehicle (3), wherein a control arm guide device (12) is provided in the at least one cableway station (2A), which control guide device (12) is configured to interact with the control arm (11) during movement during movement of the cableway vehicle (3) to generate a deflection force (F), and wherein the control arm guide device (12) is arranged relative to the actuating device (15) such that the deflection force (F) is generated in a defined temporal relation to the actuation of the cable clamp (10), characterized in, that the cable clamp (10) of the cableway vehicle (3) is pivotable transversely to the direction of movement (B) of the cableway vehicle (3) at a fixed deflection angle (α) about a first axis of rotation (DA1) by the deflection force (F).
  2. The circular cableway (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the actuating device (15) comprises a stationary first actuating guide rail (15A), which is arranged in an entry area (EB) of the cableway station (2A), and which is configured to interact with an actuating lever (14) of the at least one cable clamp (10) during movement of the cableway vehicle (3) to generate an actuating force for opening the at least one cable clamp (10), in that the control guide device (12) comprises a stationary first control guide rail (12A) which is arranged in the entry area (EB) of the cableway station (2A), and in that the first actuating guide rail (15A) and the first control guide rail (12A) are arranged relative to one another such that the at least one cable clamp (10) is pivoted while or after opening the at least one cable clamp (10), and/or in that the actuating device (15) comprises a stationary second actuating guide rail (15B) which is arranged in an exit area (AB) of the cableway station (2A), and which is configured to interact with an actuating lever (14) of the at least one cable clamp (10) during movement of the cableway vehicle (3) to generate an actuating force for opening the at least one cable clamp (10), in that the control guide device (12) comprises a stationary second control guide rail (12B) which is arranged in the exit area (AB) of the cableway station (2A), and in that the second actuating guide rail (15B) and the second control guide rail (12B) are arranged relative to one another such that the at least one cable clamp (10) is pivoted while or after opening the at least one cable clamp (10).
  3. The circular cableway (1) according to claim 2, characterized in that a direction of movement (B) of the cableway vehicle (3) and a course of the haul cable (5) in the entry area (EB) of the cableway station (2A) diverge starting from the first actuating guide rail (15A) in the vertical direction, and in that the deflection angle (α) is defined by the first control guide rail (12A) such that the at least one cable clamp (10) can be lifted from the haul cable (5) in a contactless manner in the vertical direction after opening by the first actuating guide rail (15A) and/or in that a direction of movement (B) of the cableway vehicle (3) and a course of the haul cable (5) in the exit area (AB) of the cableway station (2A) converge up to the second actuating guide rail (15B) in the vertical direction, and in that the deflection angle (α) is defined by the second control guide rail (12B) such that the at least one cable clamp (10) can be joined to the haul cable (5) in a contactless manner in the vertical direction after opening by the second actuating guide rail (15B).
  4. The circular cableway (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the at least one cable clamp (10) comprises a fixed clamp jaw (10A) and a clamp jaw (10B), which is movable relative thereto, between which the haul cable (5) can be clamped, wherein at least the fixed clamp jaw (10A) is configured to partially enclose the haul cable (5) when coupled to the haul cable (5), so that a free end portion (E1) of the fixed clamp jaw (10A) is located on an underside of the haul cable (5), and in that the deflection angle (α) is defined such that the at least one cable clamp (10) can be lifted from the haul cable (5) and/or can be joined to the haul cable (5) without the free end portion (E1) touching the haul cable (5), wherein the deflection angle (α) is preferably at least 0.3°, particularly preferably at least 0.5°, in particular preferably at least 0.8°.
  5. The circular cableway (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that the deflection angle (α) is defined such that a distance (X1) between the free end portion (E1) of the fixed clamp jaw (10A) and the haul cable (5) is at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, particularly preferably at least 3 mm, in a transverse direction (Q) extending transversely to the direction of movement (B) after pivoting of the at least one cable clamp (10), and/or in that the deflection angle (α) is defined such that a distance (X2) between a free end portion (E2) of the movable clamp jaw (10B) and the haul cable (5) in the transverse direction (Q) after pivoting the at least one cable clamp (10) is at least 1 mm, preferably at least 2 mm, particularly preferably at least 3 mm.
  6. The circular cableway (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the cableway vehicle (3) comprises a transport body (9) for accommodating passengers, a hanger support (8), and a hanger (7), wherein an upper portion (7B) of the hanger (7) is connected to the hanger support (8), wherein the hanger (7) is preferably fastened to the hanger support (8) such that it is pivotable relative to the hanger support (8), preferably about a second axis of rotation (DA2) extending transversely to the direction of movement (B), and a lower portion of the hanger (7) is connected to the transport body (9), in that the at least one cable clamp (10) is arranged on the hanger support (8), and in that the control arm (11) is arranged on the hanger support (8), on the hanger (7), or on the transport body (9).
  7. The circular cableway (1) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a cable clamp center point (P1) is provided on the at least one cable clamp (10), through which cable clamp center point (P1) a longitudinal axis of the haul cable (5) runs when the cable clamp (10) is coupled to the haul cable (5), and in that the cable clamp center point (P1) is spaced apart from the first axis of rotation (DA1) by a clamping distance (L2), which is preferably at least 100 mm, more preferably at least 300 mm, particularly preferably at least 700 mm, in particular at least 720 mm.
  8. The circular cableway (1) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the control arm (11) comprises a free control end, wherein a force application point (P2) is provided at the free control end, which is configured to interact with the control arm guide device (12) for generating the deflection force (F), and in that the force application point (P2) is spaced apart from the first axis of rotation (DA1) by a lever arm distance (L1), which is preferably at least 400 mm, further preferably at least 700 mm, particularly preferably at least 800 mm, in particular at least 900 mm, wherein a rotatable roller (13) is arranged preferably at the free control end of the control arm (11) and the force application point (P2) is at the rotatable roller (13).
  9. The circular cableway (1) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a guide track is provided on the stationary control guide device (12), in particular on the first and/or on the second control guide rail (12A, 12B), along which guide track the control (11) is guided during movement of the cableway vehicle (3) to generate the deflection force (F), and in that the guide track is designed to be curved, wherein the guide track preferably has a curve with a continuous curvature profile, preferably with a G1 continuity or a G2 continuity..
  10. The circular cableway (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the circular cableway (1) can be designed as a monocable gondola lift, wherein the haul cable (5) is designed as a traction cable and at the same time as a support cable, in that a stationary guide rail (19) is provided in the at least one cableway station (2A), along which guide rail (19) the at least one cableway vehicle (3) is moveable through the cableway station (2A) when decoupled from the haul cable (5), wherein a number of guide rollers (21) are arranged on the cableway vehicle (3) to roll on the guide rail (19), and in that a contact (K1) of the guide rollers (21) on the guide rail (19) forms the first axis of rotation (DA1).
  11. The circular cableway (1) according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the circular cableway (1) is designed as a bi-cable gondola lift, wherein the haul cable (5) is designed as a traction cable and a support cable (4) is provided, wherein a number of cable rollers (S1) arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement are arranged on the cableway vehicle (3), which cable rollers (S1) are designed to roll on the support cable (4), wherein a stationary guide rail (19) is provided in the at least one cableway station (2A), along which guide rail (19) the at least one cableway vehicle (3) is moveable through the cableway station (2A) by the cable rollers (S1) when decoupled from the traction cable, and in that a contact (K2) of the cable rollers (S1) on the guide rail (19) or a center point (M) of a guide portion of the guide rail (19) forms the first axis of rotation (DA1).
  12. The circular cableway (1) according to any of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the circular cableway (1) is designed as a tri-cable gondola lift, wherein the haul cable (5) is designed as a traction cable and two support cables (4A, 4B) are provided, wherein the at least one cableway vehicle (3) comprises a traveling gear (6), on which a number of first cable rollers (S1) arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement are arranged, which are configured to roll on a support cable (4A), and on which a number of second cable rollers (S2) arranged one behind the other in the direction of movement are arranged, which are configured to roll on the respective other support cable (4B), in that two stationary guide rails (19A, 19B) are provided in the at least one cableway station (2A, 2B), along which guide rails (19A, 19B) the at least one cableway vehicle (3) is moveable through the cableway station by the first and second cable rollers (S1, S2) when in a state decoupled from the traction cable, and in that the traveling gear (6) is pin-jointed to the hanger support (8) via a joint (G), wherein the joint (G) forms the first axis of rotation (DA1) and wherein the joint is preferably arranged between the number of first cable rollers (S1) and the number of second cable rollers (S2) transversely to the direction of movement (B).
  13. The circular cableway (1) according to claim 12, characterized in that the number of first cable rollers (S1) contact the first stationary guide rail (19A) in a first contact point and the number of second cable rollers (S2) contact the second stationary guide rail (19B) in a second contact point, and in that , in the vertical direction, the joint (G) lies above, below or at the same height as the first and/or the second contact point.
  14. The circular cableway (1) according to claim 12 or 13, characterized in that the at least one cable clamp (10) is arranged below the joint (G) in the vertical direction, and in that the number of first cable rollers (S1) are arranged transversely to the direction of movement (B) between the control (11) and the joint (G).
  15. A method for operating a circular cableway (1) comprising at least one cableway vehicle (3), which is moveable in a circulating movement between at least two cableway stations (2A, 2B) by a haul cable (5), wherein the at least one cableway vehicle (3) comprises at least one cable clamp (10) for releasably coupling the cableway vehicle (3) to the haul cable (5), wherein the cableway vehicle (3) is moved into an entry area (EB) of a cableway station (2A), in which the cable clamp (10) is opened to decouple the cableway vehicle (5) from the haul cable (5), and in that during movement of the cableway vehicle (3), while or after opening the cable clamp (10), a deflection force (F) is generated due to an interaction of a control arm (11) with a control arm guide device (12) in the cableway station (2A), by which deflection force (f) the cable clamp (10) is pivoted transversely to the direction of movement (B) at a defined deflection angle (α) about a first axis of rotation (DA1), or wherein the cableway vehicle (3) is moved into an exit area (AB) of a cableway station (2A), in which the cable clamp (10) is opened by an actuating device (15) in the cableway station (2A), to couple the cableway vehicle (5) to the haul cable (5), and in that during movement of the cableway vehicle (3), while or after opening the cable clamp (10), a deflection force (F) is generated due to an interaction of a control arm (11) with a control arm guide device (12) in the cableway station (2A), by which deflection force (F) the cable clamp (10) is pivoted about a first axis of rotation (DA1) transversely to the direction of movement (B) at a defined deflection angle (α).
  16. The method according to claim 15, characterized in that a direction of movement (B) of the cableway vehicle (3) and a course of the haul cable (5) in the entry area (EB) diverge in the vertical direction as from a region, in which the cable clamp (10) is opened, and in that the open cable clamp (10) in the pivoted state is lifted from the haul cable (5) in a contactless manner during movement of the cableway vehicle (3) in the vertical direction, and/or a direction of movement (B) of the cableway vehicle (3) and a course of the haul cable (5) in the exit area (AB) converge in the vertical direction up to a region, in which the cable clamp (10) is opened, and in that the open cable clamp (10) in the pivoted state is joined to the haul cable (5) in a contactless manner during movement of the cableway vehicle (3) in the vertical direction.
  17. The method according to claim 16, characterized in that at least one fixed clamp jaw (10A) of the cable clamp (10) partially encloses the haul cable (5) when coupled to the haul cable (5), so that a free end portion (E1) of the fixed clamp jaw (10A) is located on an underside of the haul cable (5), and in that the deflection angle (α) is defined such that the open cable clamp (10) is lifted from the haul cable (5) or is joined to the haul cable (5) without the free end portion (E1) touching the haul cable (5), wherein the deflection angle (α) is preferably at least 0.3°, particularly preferably at least 0.5°, in particular preferably at least 0.8°.

Description

The invention relates to a circulating cable car with at least two cable car stations and with at least one cable car vehicle that is movable in a circular motion between the cable car stations by means of a haul rope, wherein the at least one cable car vehicle has at least one rope clamp for releasably coupling the cable car vehicle to the haul rope, and wherein an actuating device for actuating the rope clamp is provided in at least one cable car station. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a circulating cable car with at least one cable car vehicle that is movable in a circular motion between at least two cable car stations by means of a haul rope, wherein the at least one cable car vehicle has a rope clamp for releasably coupling the cable car vehicle to the haul rope. Circulating cableways are a well-known technology and are typically used for transporting people and/or materials in topographically challenging terrain, for example, as gondola lifts or chairlifts in winter sports areas. In a circulating cableway, multiple vehicles are moved in a continuous loop between several stations by a single haul rope. A fundamental distinction is made between single-cable circulating cableways, which use only one haul rope that simultaneously serves as the traction rope for generating the driving force and as the track rope for supporting the vehicles, and multi-cable circulating cableways, where the haul rope acts solely as the traction rope for driving the vehicles. The vehicles are movably mounted on one or more track ropes by means of a suitable carriage. Depending on the number of track ropes, these systems are also referred to as double-cable circulating cableways (one haul rope and one track rope) or triple-cable circulating cableways (one haul rope and two track ropes). Multi-cable gondola lifts, in particular, combine the advantages of aerial tramways, such as their high transport capacity, with those of single-cable gondola lifts, such as continuous operation without downtime. Multi-cable gondola lifts have a number (e.g., one or two) of track ropes in each direction of travel, forming a track, as well as at least one endless, circulating haul rope. Usually, several gondola lift cars are used, which move in a continuous loop between two terminal stations. Each gondola lift car is equipped with a carriage containing several pulleys that run along the number of track ropes. In a three-cable gondola lift, for example, two parallel track ropes are used, and the carriage has two sets of pulleys spaced apart by the distance between the track ropes. The running gear is typically connected to an upper section of a suspension system, and a transport unit, such as a cabin, for carrying passengers and/or goods is located at the lower end of the suspension system. Each cable car has at least one operable cable clamp, which allows the cable car to be detachably coupled to the haul rope. The haul rope is driven by a suitable drive unit to generate a motive force for moving the cable car. This drive unit is usually an electric machine and is located in at least one cable car station. In the cable car stations, the cable cars can be uncoupled from the haul rope by opening the rope clamps upon entry. This interrupts the power transmission, allowing the cable cars to move within the station at a reduced speed along a guide rail (or parallel guide rails in the case of a tricable gondola lift). A suitable auxiliary drive is provided to power the cable cars within the station between uncoupling from and coupling to the haul rope. Upon exiting the station, the auxiliary drive accelerates the cable cars back up to the speed of the haul rope, and they are then coupled to the haul rope by closing the rope clamp. Conventional rope clamps typically feature a fixed clamping jaw and a movable jaw relative to it. The movable jaw is usually pre-tensioned in the closed position by a suitable pre-tensioning device and can be opened against the pre-tensioning force using a suitable actuating device. One or more actuating levers are generally provided to operate the rope clamp, interacting with a suitable actuating device located within the cable car stations to generate an actuating force. To achieve the best possible clamping effect, the rope clamps are generally designed so that the clamping jaws partially encircle the haul rope. When opening the rope clamp, the cable car cannot simply be moved vertically away from the haul rope without the stationary clamp jaw touching the haul rope, potentially forcing it out of its guide or even damaging it. Completely lifting the rope clamp from the haul rope is usually necessary, however, because the haul rope's path in the cable car station typically differs from the direction of travel of the cable cars. Often, for example, the haul rope runs at a certain angle to the direction of travel of the cable car in the area of the operating mechanism, either downwards or upward