Patent Publication Number: US-10787180-B2

Title: Cable transport installation

Description:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     The invention relates to cable transport installations, and more particularly to aerial cable transport installations. 
     STATE OF THE ART 
     Aerial cableways, such as chairlifts or gondola lifts, are currently used to transport passengers pursuing leisure activities in the mountains. These aerial cableways may momentarily break down and prevent transport of passengers until the aerial cableway has been put back in service. 
     It is therefore useful to provide an aerial cableway, or a ground cable transport installation, ensuring a minimum passenger transit rate. 
     Aerial cable installations comprising two independent aerial cableways arranged in parallel exist at the present time. Each aerial cableway comprises a single cabin, and is of to-and-fro type, i.e. the outward and incoming run of the cabin take place on the same track. This installation procures a certain flexibility in the passenger transit rate, for if an aerial cableway breaks down, the second aerial cableway can take over to perform transport of the passengers. Such an installation does however present the shortcoming of having a low passenger transit rate, as it is necessary to wait for the return of the cabin which is running to be able to proceed to load passengers again. 
     OBJECT OF THE INVENTION 
     The object of the invention consists in remedying these shortcomings, and more particularly in providing a cable transport installation which can ensure a minimum passenger transit rate. 
     Another object of the invention consists in providing an installation having small overall dimensions. 
     According to one feature of the invention, a cable transport installation is proposed comprising at least one carrier, a first hauling cable to haul a carrier and describing a first closed loop, and a second hauling cable to haul a carrier and describing a second closed loop. 
     In this installation, the second loop surrounds the first loop so as to create a separating space between the first and second hauling cables. 
     An installation is thus provided enabling the availability of the carriers for loading and unloading of the passengers to be enhanced. Indeed, driving of a first hauling cable can be stopped, for example to perform maintenance or in case of a breakdown, while keeping the possibility of using the second hauling cable. Such an installation thereby ensures redundancy of driving of the carriers. Furthermore, when the second hauling cable surrounds the first hauling cable, each running track of the carriers can comprise a single hauling cable, i.e. they do not comprise return of the hauling cable as is the case of current installations, thereby reducing the lateral space occupation of the carrier running tracks. 
     The installation can comprise a loading/unloading platform situated inside the separating space. 
     The installation can comprise a first running track for a carrier hauled by the first hauling cable, and a second running track for a carrier hauled by the second hauling cable, the length of the first running track being shorter than that of the second running track. 
     The installation can comprise a carrier equipped with a detachable clamp to couple the carrier in removable manner to at least one hauling cable. 
     The installation can comprise a first drive means of the first hauling cable along the first running track, and a second drive means of the second hauling cable along the second running track, the second drive means being distinct from the first drive means. 
     At least one drive means of a hauling cable can comprise a driving pulley and two diverting pulleys to divert the hauling cable in the direction of the driving pulley. 
     According to one embodiment, the axis of rotation of the driving pulley and the axes of rotation of the diverting pulleys are horizontal. 
     The drive means can also comprise two inflection pulleys to bend the hauling cable in the direction of the driving pulley, the axis of rotation of the driving pulley being vertical and the axes of rotation of the diverting pulleys and of the inflection pulleys being horizontal. 
     According to another embodiment, the axis of rotation of the driving pulley and the axes of rotation of the diverting pulleys are vertical. 
     The installation can comprise a running space situated between the two diverting pulleys, and a disengagement circuit for a carrier passing through the running space in order to remove the carrier from the hauling cable. 
     The first and second hauling cables can be aerial hauling cables suspended above the ground and the carrier comprises a cabin and a hanger arm coupling the cabin to the clamp of the carrier, the hanger arm being located inside the separating space when the carrier is coupled to the hauling cable. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       Other advantages and features will become more clearly apparent from the following description of particular embodiments of the invention given for non-restrictive example purposes only and represented in the appended drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1  schematically illustrates an embodiment of a cable transport installation according to the invention; 
         FIG. 2  schematically illustrates a top view of an embodiment of the drive means of the hauling cables of the installation; 
         FIG. 3  schematically illustrates a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 2 ; 
         FIG. 4  schematically illustrates a top view of another embodiment of the drive means of the hauling cables of the installation; 
         FIG. 5  schematically illustrates a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 4 ; 
         FIG. 6  schematically illustrates a top view of yet another embodiment of the drive means of a hauling cable of the installation; 
         FIG. 7  schematically illustrates a front view of another embodiment of the drive means of the hauling cables of the installation; 
         FIG. 8  schematically illustrates a front view of an embodiment of the hanger arms of the carriers of the installation; 
         FIG. 9  schematically illustrates a top view of another embodiment of a cable transport installation according to the invention; and 
         FIG. 10  schematically illustrates a front view of the embodiment of  FIG. 9 . 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION 
     In  FIG. 1 , a transport installation  1  by cable  2 ,  3  has been represented. The installation  1  comprises at least one carrier  4  to  10 , a first hauling cable  2  to haul a carrier  4  to  10  and describing a first closed loop, and a second hauling cable  3  to haul a carrier  4  to  10  describing a second closed loop. The carriers  4  to  10  are designed to be coupled to at least one hauling cable  2 ,  3  to be hauled in order to transport passengers or goods. The carriers  4  to  10  can be designed to transport passengers and comprise an open passenger space, such as chairs, or a closed passenger compartment such as cabins, or they can be designed to transport goods and are containers. 
     In general manner, the installation  1  comprises a first running track X for a carrier  4  to  6  along which the first hauling cable  2  is driven, and a second running track Y for a carrier  7  to  10  along which the second hauling cable  3  is driven. In  FIG. 1 , three carriers  4  to  6  coupled to the first hauling cable  2  and four carriers  7  to  10  coupled to the second hauling cable  3  have been represented. The spacing between the carriers  4  to  10  running along one and the same track X, Y is not necessarily constant. The spacing between the carriers  4  to  10  can vary from one track to the other. In other words, the running tracks X, Y are independent. The installation  1  can be of aerial cableway type, i.e. the hauling cables  2 ,  3  are aerial and the carriers  4  to  10  are suspended above the ground, as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 8 . As a variant, the installation  1  can be of ground cableway type and the hauling cables  2 ,  3  are located at ground level, as illustrated in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . According to this variant, the installation  1  comprises a support structure having several support rails on the ground on which the carriers  4  to  10  are placed. It can also be envisaged for the installation  1  to be of mixed type comprising one running track X, Y of aerial cableway type and one running track X, Y of ground cableway type. Furthermore, when a running track X, Y is of aerial cableway type, it can comprise a single cable  2 ,  3  that is both hauling and carrying cable, or comprise a hauling cable  2 ,  3  and several carrying cables, or there again comprise two hauling cables arranged in parallel and driven in the same running direction with one or more carrying cables or without any carrying cables. When a running track X, Y is of ground cableway type, it can comprise a single hauling cable  2 ,  3  or two hauling cables arranged in parallel manner and driven in the same running direction. 
     More particularly, the second closed loop described by the second hauling cable  3  surrounds the first closed loop described by the first hauling cable  2 , so that a separating space  11  is created between the first and second hauling cables  2 ,  3 . In other words, the second running track Y surrounds the first running track X. What is meant by “surrounds” is the fact that the first closed loop described by the first hauling cable  2  is situated inside the second closed loop described by the second hauling cable  3 . That is to say that the first running track X is positioned inside the second running track Y. Such an arrangement of the hauling cables  2 ,  3  makes it possible to ensure a greater availability of the carriers  4  to  10  in order to guarantee a minimum passenger transit rate. Indeed, when a running track X, Y breaks down or is undergoing maintenance, running of the hauling cable of the track X, Y is stopped, and the passengers can use the other running track X, Y, the associated hauling cable  2 ,  3  of which is in operation. For example, the running tracks X, Y can be parallel over the whole of their travel path. According to one embodiment, the length of the first running track X is shorter than that of the second running track Y. According to another embodiment, the length of the first hauling cable  2  is shorter than that of the second hauling cable  3 . 
     The installation  1  can comprise one or more terminals  12  to  17 . The terminals  12  to  17  are designed for loading/unloading of the passengers in and out of the carriers  4  to  10 . A terminal  12  to  17  can comprise a platform  18  for loading and/or unloading of the passengers. In particular, the platforms  18  of the terminals  12  to  17  are located inside the separating space  11 . The platform  18  facilitates access for the passengers to the two running tracks X, Y. From one and the same platform  11 , a passenger can choose to enter a carrier  4  to  10  running along one track X, Y or along the other track X, Y. The installation  1  therefore enables a passenger to travel from one terminal  12  to  17  to the other by taking one or the other of the running tracks X, Y. Transport of the passengers is thus ensured from one terminal  12  to  17  to any of the other terminals  12  to  17 , even if one of the running tracks X, Y is no longer in operation. The position of the platforms  18  situated between the hauling cables  2 ,  3  allows the lateral dimensions of the terminals  12  to  17  to be reduced, in other words the ground occupation surface of the terminals  12  to  17  is reduced. 
     The carriers  4  to  10  are further equipped with a clamp  19  to couple them to a hauling cable  2 ,  3 , as illustrated in  FIGS. 2 to 8 and 10 . Preferentially, the clamps  19  are of detachable type. A detachable clamp  19  couples a carrier  4  to  10  to a hauling cable  2 ,  3  in removable manner, i.e. it allows a carrier  4  to  10  to be detached from a hauling cable  2 ,  3 . What is meant by “detached” is that the carrier  4  to  10  is not mechanically connected to a hauling cable  2 ,  3 , in other words the carrier  4  to  10  is not in mechanical contact with the hauling cable  2 ,  3 . On the contrary, what is meant by “coupled” is the fact that the carrier  4  to  10  is mechanically connected to a hauling cable  2 ,  3 , i.e. that the carrier  4  to  10  is in mechanical contact with the hauling cable  2 ,  3  and the carrier is secured to the hauling cable  2 ,  3 . Furthermore, a detachable clamp  19  can occupy a closed position to couple the carrier  4  to  10  so that it is hauled by the hauling cable  2 ,  3  and can occupy an open position to detach it from the hauling cable  2 ,  3 . 
     According to a preferred embodiment, the installation  1  is a transport installation of detachable type, i.e. the carriers  4  to  10  each comprise a detachable clamp  19 . An installation  1  of detachable type enables the passenger transit rate to be increased as it is not necessary to stop the hauling cables  2 ,  3  to immobilise the carriers  4  to  10  at the level of the platforms  18  so that the passengers can enter or exit the carriers  4  to  10 . 
     In general manner, the installation  1  comprises a first drive means  20  of the first hauling cable  2  along the first running track X, and a second drive means  21  of the second hauling cable  3  along the second running track Y. Preferably, the second drive means  21  is distinct from the first drive means  20  in order to ensure redundancy of the running tracks X, Y. In other words the drive means  20 ,  21  are independent. The drive means  20 ,  21  can be configured to each drive a hauling cable  2 ,  3  in a running direction  22 ,  23 . For example the hauling cables  2 ,  3  can be driven in the same running direction  22  or in two opposite directions  22 ,  23 . As a variant, the drive means  20 ,  21  can be reversible and can reverse the running direction of the hauling cables  2 ,  3 . A drive means  20 ,  21  can for example comprise a driving pulley  24 ,  25 . When the installation  1  comprises a running track X, Y of detachable type, i.e. when the carriers  4  to  10  running on the track X, Y are each equipped with a detachable clamp  19 , the drive means  20 ,  21  associated with the running track X, Y advantageously comprises two diverting pulleys  26  to  29  to divert the hauling cable  2 ,  3  which it drives in the direction of its driving pulley  24 ,  25 . Due to the diverting pulleys  26  to  29 , the driving pulley  24 ,  25  can be located offset with respect to the running track of the carriers  4  to  10 . The driving pulley  24 ,  25  driving a hauling cable  2 ,  3  can be located inside or outside the closed loop described by the hauling cable  2 ,  3  which it drives. In particular, when a running track X, Y is detachable and the associated driving pulley  24 ,  25  is located inside the closed loop described by the hauling cable  2 ,  3  which it drives, the detached carriers are extracted from the hauling cable  2 ,  3  towards the inside of the track X, Y, i.e. towards the inside of the closed loop described by the cable. On the contrary, when the driving pulley  24 ,  25  is located outside the closed loop described by the hauling cable  2 ,  3  which it drives, the detached carriers are extracted from the hauling cable  2 ,  3  towards the outside of the track X, Y, i.e. towards the outside of the closed loop described by the cable. Advantageously, the driving pulley  25  driving the second hauling cable  3  is positioned inside the second closed loop and the driving pulley  24  driving the first hauling cable  2  is positioned outside the first closed loop. In this way, the carriers  4  to  6  running along the first track X can be extracted towards the outside of the first track X, and the carriers  7  to  10  running along the second track Y can be extracted towards the inside of the second track Y. In other words, each carrier  4  to  10  can be extracted from a hauling cable  2 ,  3  to the separating space  11 , i.e. to the platform  18  of a terminal  12  to  17 . The overall dimensions of the terminals  12  to  17  are thereby reduced. It can also be noted in  FIGS. 2 and 4  that the driving pulley  24  driving the first hauling cable  2  is located inside the second loop and that the driving pulley  25  driving the second hauling cable  3  is located outside the first loop. It can also be noted that the driving pulleys  24 ,  25  can be positioned at a distance from the loading/unloading platform  18 . 
     In  FIGS. 2 to 10 , different embodiments of the drive means  20 ,  21  of the hauling cables  2 ,  3  have been represented. In general manner, the terminal  12  where a drive means  20 ,  21  of a hauling cable  2 ,  3  is situated is denoted as being a drive terminal. The drive means  20 ,  21  can be situated in the same drive terminal  12 . It can be envisaged to place the first drive means  20  in one terminal  12  to  17  and the second drive means  21  in another different terminal  12  to  17 . 
     In  FIGS. 2 to 8 , an installation  1  of detachable aerial cableway type has been represented. The installation  1  comprises two aerial hauling cables  2 ,  3 , and the carriers  4  to  10  each comprise a transport cabin  30  and a hanger arm  31 . The hanger arm  31  of a carrier  4  to  10  couples the cabin  30  to the clamp  19  of the carrier  4  to  10 . The hanger arm  31  is preferably located inside the separating space  11  when the carrier  4  to  10  is coupled to the hauling cable  2 ,  3 . 
     In  FIG. 2 , an embodiment of the installation  1  has been represented wherein the axes of rotation A 24 , A 25  of the driving pulleys  24 ,  25  and the axes of rotation A 26  to A 29  of the diverting pulleys are vertical, i.e. perpendicular to the sheet plane of  FIG. 2 , the vertical being a direction which follows the direction of gravity. 
     The carriers  4 ,  5  and  7 ,  8  have also been represented in two different positions in the installation  1  in  FIG. 2 . A first carrier  4  is situated in the terminal  12  where it runs along a first bypass circuit C 1  of the terminal  12 . The terminal  12  also comprises a second bypass circuit C 2 . The first carrier  4  is also said to be detached, i.e. it is uncoupled from the first hauling cable  2 . In this case, the clamp  19  is in an open position and the first carrier  4  is detached from the first hauling cable  2 . The first carrier  4  is thus unlatched from the hauling cable  2 , the first carrier  4  also being said to be extracted from the hauling cable  2 . The first carrier  4  is detached and runs along the first bypass circuit C 1  to pass round the driving pulley  24  of the first drive means  20 . Then, after loading/unloading of the passengers, the first carrier  4  is coupled to the first hauling cable  2  again to exit from the terminal  12 . A second carrier  5  is situated outside the terminal  12 . The clamp  19  of the second carrier  5  is in a closed position and the second carrier  5  is hauled by the first hauling cable  2  at a running speed of the first cable  2 . A third carrier  8  is also situated outside the terminal  12 , and is coupled and hauled by the second hauling cable  3 . A fourth carrier  7  is detached from the second hauling cable  3  and runs along the second bypass circuit C 2  to bypass the driving pulley  25  of the second drive means  21 . The first and fourth carriers  4 ,  7  can be stopped so that they are immobile when the passengers enter or exit the carriers from the platform  18 . The installation  1  can further comprise four groups of horizontal sheaves  32  placed on entry and exit of the terminal  12  to divert the hauling cables  2 ,  3  in the direction of the driving pulleys  24 ,  25 , and more particularly in the direction of the diverting pulleys  26  to  29 . 
     Motors  33 ,  34  to drive the driving pulleys  24 ,  25  respectively in rotation have also been represented in  FIG. 3 . The motors  33 ,  34  have vertical output shafts respectively coupled to the driving pulleys  24 ,  25 . The hanger arm  31  of a carrier  4  to  10  can further comprise wheels  35  to run on bypass circuits C 1 , C 2  in order to move the carriers  4  to  10  in the terminals  12  to  17 . The installation  1  can further comprise an access means  36 , such as a stairway, or an escalator, or a lift, to the platform  18  when the latter is situated above ground level. 
     Yet another embodiment of the invention has been represented in  FIGS. 4 and 5 . In  FIGS. 4 and 5 , certain component parts illustrated in the previous figures have been represented. In this embodiment, the axes of rotation A 24 , A 25  of the driving pulleys  24 ,  25  and the axes of rotation A 26  to A 29  of the diverting pulleys  26  to  29  are horizontal, i.e. they are perpendicular to the vertical. The diverting pulleys  26  to  29  can therefore be positioned on a first level E 2  of the terminal  12 . The driving pulleys  24 ,  25  can then be positioned on a second level E 1  located above the first level E 2  or below the first level E 2 . Preferably, the driving pulleys  24 ,  25  are positioned on the level E 1  located below the level E 2  where the diverting pulleys  26  to  29  are positioned in order to reduce the lateral dimensions of the terminal  12 . 
     Furthermore, positioning a driving pulley  24 ,  25  on a different level from the one where the hauling cable  2 ,  3  is running enables the carriers  4  to  10  to be removed from the bypass circuits C 1 , C 2  to a parking area Z 1 , Z 2 . In particular, the diverting pulleys  26 ,  27  of the first hauling cable  2  can be positioned at a distance from one another to create a running space  37  between the pulleys  26 ,  27 . This running space  37  provides a passage for a first disengagement circuit C 3  for carriers. Each parking area Z 1 , Z 2  comprises a disengagement circuit C 3 , C 4  to store the carriers  4  to  10  which have been detached from the hauling cables  2 ,  3 . The first disengagement circuit C 3  passes through the running space  37  in order to remove carriers  4  to  6  from the hauling cable  2 . In the same way, the diverting pulleys  28 ,  29  of the second hauling cable  3  can be positioned at a distance from one another to create another running space  38  between the pulleys  28 ,  29 . This other running space  38  provides a passage for the second disengagement circuit C 4  for carriers. A carrier suspended on the first disengagement circuit C 3  has been assigned the reference numeral  6 , and two carriers suspended on the second disengagement circuit C 4  have been assigned the reference numerals  9 ,  10 . It can be noted that, according to this embodiment, the output shafts of the motors  33 ,  34  are also horizontal. When a carrier  4  to  10  enters a terminal, it is removed from the hauling cable  2 ,  3  and runs along the bypass circuit C 1 , C 2 . Then the carrier  4  to  10  is either recoupled to the hauling cable  2 ,  3  to exit from the terminal  12  to  17 , or the carrier  4  to  10  is moved, by means of a track switch, onto a disengagement circuit C 3 , C 4  to be stored in a parking area Z 1 , Z 2 . Inversely, a carrier  4  to  10  stored in a parking area Z 1 , Z 2  can be moved, by means of a track switch, onto a bypass circuit C 1 , C 2  for the carrier  4  to  10  to be coupled back onto a hauling cable  2 ,  3  to exit from the terminal  12  to  17 . 
     In  FIGS. 6 and 7 , another embodiment of the invention has been represented in which the output shafts of the motors  33 ,  34  are vertical. According to this other embodiment, the second drive means  21  comprise two inflection pulleys  40 ,  41  to bend the second hauling cable  3  in the direction of the driving pulley  25 . The respective axes of rotation A 40 , A 41  of the inflection pulleys  40 ,  41  are horizontal, and the axis of rotation A 25  of the driving pulley  25  is vertical. More particularly, the axes of rotation A 40 , A 41  of the inflection pulleys  40 ,  41  are coaxial. The first drive means  20  can have the same configuration as that described for the second drive means  21 . Advantageously, the two drive means  20 ,  21  have the same configuration, as illustrated in  FIG. 7 . In  FIG. 7 , an inflection pulley of the first drive means  20  has been assigned the reference numeral  42  and its axis of rotation the reference numeral A 42 , its second inflection pulley not being represented for the sake of simplification. A driving pulley  24 ,  25  can thus be placed on a different level E 1  from the level E 2  where the diverting pulleys  26  to  29  are situated, in order to create a running space  37 ,  38  to remove the carriers  4  to  10  from the hauling cables  2 ,  3 , while continuing to drive the driving pulleys  24 ,  25  by a motor  33 ,  34  with a vertical output shaft. 
     A pillar  43  suitable for an installation  1  having two aerial hauling cables  2 ,  3  has been represented in  FIG. 8 . The pillar  43  comprises a body  44 , a head  45  mounted on one end of the body  44 , and two sheave assemblies  46 ,  47  respectively mounted on the two lateral ends of the head  45  of the pillar  43 . Each sheave assembly comprises sheaves  48  mounted rotating to allow passage of the hauling cables  2 ,  3  and of the clamps  19  of the carriers  4  to  10 . In particular, the bodies  44  of the pillars  43  are located between the hauling cables  2 ,  3 , and more particularly in the separating space  11 . In order to reduce the lateral space occupation of the running tracks X, Y, the hanger arms  31  of the carriers  4  to  10  running along a running track X, Y are situated between the bodies  44  of the pillars  43  and the sheave assemblies  46 ,  47  which support or compress the hauling cable  2 ,  3  associated with the track X, Y. The carriers  4  to  10  each further have openings  49  situated on the same side as the hanger arms  31 , i.e. the openings are facing the bodies  44  of the pillars  43  when the carriers  4  to  10  pass the pillars  43 . 
     An installation  1  of detachable ground cable transport type has been represented in  FIGS. 9 and 10 . The installation  1  comprises two hauling cables  2 ,  3 , at ground level. Preferably, each drive means  20 ,  21  comprises a driving pulley  24 ,  25  the axis of rotation A 24 , A 25  of which is horizontal, and two diverting pulleys  26  to  29  the axes of rotation A 26  to A 29  of which are also horizontal. The hanger arms  31  are situated underneath the carriers  4  to  10 , preferably in the middle of the carrier. Each carrier  4  to  10  is equipped with at least one pair of wheels  35  to run on the bypass circuits C 1 , C 2 , on the disengagement circuits C 3 , C 4 , and on the support rails C 5  and C 6  of the support structure of the installation  1 . It can be noted in  FIG. 9  that the first running track X comprises a disengagement circuit C 3 , and that the bypass circuit C 1  is distinct from the support rails C 5 . The second running track Y does not comprise a disengagement circuit, and the bypass circuit C 2  coincides with the support rails C 6 . 
     In general manner, each drive means  20 ,  21  comprises a tensioning system of the hauling cable  2 ,  3  which it drives. The tensioning system can be a hydraulic or pneumatic jack mounted on the frame of the driving pulley  24 ,  25  to move the latter, and consequently to move the hauling cable  2 ,  3 , in order to place it under tension. As a variant, the tensioning system is formed by the two diverting pulleys  26  to  29 . 
     The invention which has just been described in the foregoing is particularly suitable for any type of cable transport installation, in particular an installation with an aerial or a ground hauling cable. The invention ensures a minimum passenger transit rate while at the same time minimizing the size of the terminal stations.