EP0010471B1 - Modular vehicle for cable-railway - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a modular vehicle for an aerial cable transport installation of the cable car or gondola type, which may comprise either a single tractor-carrier cable or two separate cables, one carrier and the other tractor. It is recalled that the known cable cars have a single cabin per track, of large capacity and require elaborate and expensive installations and infrastructures. Known gondolas, in particular of the pulsed type, include a plurality of cabins, possibly grouped by train and therefore require either frequent stops, or very long embarkation and disembarkation platforms. The safety equipment is specific to each cabin.

The publication US-A-1 824 291 mentions in the preamble that a solution to the problem of cabin capacity consists in coupling several small cabins, but that this solution is met with serious objections. The recommended solution is to add a floor or additional compartments to the cable car cabin. The present invention aims to remedy the aforementioned drawbacks and to allow the production of a modular vehicle combining the advantages of monobloc cabins of the cable car type and low capacity cabins of cable cars.

The vehicle according to the present invention is characterized in that the coupling means between the modules are such that they allow relative vertical movements between said modules while keeping them parallel two by two, in that each module has a coupled hanger to the cable and in that the fixing points on the cable of the successive lines are spaced along the cable so that the modules come substantially into contact in the sections of greatest slope of the installation.

Each module is rigidly fixed to the overhead cable by its hanger, and it is clear that the spacing between the modules varies with the slope of the cable. The assembly is arranged in such a way that the modules are practically placed side by side when the vehicle is on a section of maximum slope, while the modules deviate slightly on the horizontal sections. Simultaneously with the spacing of the modules, due to the variation in the cable slope, there is an offset in height of the modules. These variations in spacing and height between the different modules are relatively small and in conventional installations are limited to a few centimeters.

It is unnecessary to provide a partition between the successive modules, which makes the vehicle even lighter and allows, if necessary, the passage from one module to another for safety operations. According to a development of the invention, a guardrail extends in the interface between two successive modules to prevent parking in the junction area and movement inside the vehicle. A single guardrail is arranged in the interface in order to avoid a shearing effect during height shifts of the successive modules.

According to another development of the invention, the modules are of parallelepiped shape with parallel faces and each comprise an individual access door. A vehicle with a flat face at the junction of successive modules can travel rectilinear sections, but is unable to travel curves. Such vehicles are suitable for installations of the reciprocating type. For installations with continuous circulation of vehicles, it is necessary to make use of an articulated vehicle, which according to a development of the present invention, is produced by a combination of modules whose junction faces are cylindrical to allow the modules to pivot. one to another.

The continuity of the floor and / or the roof of the vehicle is advantageously achieved by flexible joints allowing the displacement in height of the modules with respect to each other. The edges of the junction faces are equipped with elastic beads acting as bumpers and, where appropriate, seals, which participate by friction in the damping of the swings of the modules in the manner described below. The modules secured on the one hand by the overhead cable, are advantageously connected together by articulated links, so as to constitute a deformable parallelogram system. In a back-and-forth installation, the modules can be connected by two or more parallel links which thus ensure the alignment of the successive modules. The upper parts of the lines can be joined by connecting rods which extend parallel to the cable. These connecting rods compensate for a failure of one of the fasteners or the derailment of one of the modules.

The individual lines ensure a load distribution on the cable and facilitate the passage of the pylons.

• La figure 1 est une vue schématique en perspective d'une véhicule selon l'invention, parcourant un tronçon en pente;
• la figure 2 est une vue partielle en élévation du véhicule selon la fig. 1, représentée sur un tronçon de pente maximale;
• la figure 3 est une vue schématique et partielle du véhicule sur un tronçon horizontal;
• la figure 4 est une vue en plan d'une variante de réalisation du véhicule ayant des surfaces cylindriques de jonction des modules successifs.

Other advantages and characteristics will emerge more clearly from the description which follows of two embodiments of the invention, given by way of nonlimiting examples and represented in the appended drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 is a schematic perspective view of a vehicle according to the invention, traveling a sloping section;
• FIG. 2 is a partial view in elevation of the vehicle according to FIG. 1, shown on a section of maximum slope;
• Figure 3 is a schematic and partial view of the vehicle on a horizontal section;
• Figure 4 is a plan view of an alternative embodiment of the vehicle having cylindrical surfaces for joining successive modules.

In the figures, a vehicle 10 is constituted by a juxtaposition of five modules 12, 14, 16, 18, 20, each suspended by a hanger 22, equipped with rollers 24 on a carrying cable 26 of a installation for transporting the cable car or gondola type. The lines 22 of the successive modules 12 to 20 are coupled by conventional clamps 28 to a towing cable 30 in a manner well known to specialists. The constituent modules of the vehicle 10 are all identical and of rectangular shape, with the exception of the end modules 12 and 20, the front and rear faces 32, 34 of which are curved.

The modules 12 to 20 are individually fixed by the lines 22 and it is understood that on the horizontal sections of the cable 26 the modules are at the same level. On the sloping sections of the carrying cable 26, the modules 12 to 20 shift in height as shown in FIG. 1. The lines 22 are joined together by the towing cable 30, and the shifts in height of the modules 12 to 20, due to the slope of the cable 26, or more exactly of the cables 26, 30, are accompanied by a movement of approach or spacing of the modules 12 to 20. The spacing of the coupling clamps 28 to the cable 30 is chosen in such a way that on the sections of maximum slope the modules 12 to 20 are practically joined to each other, while preferably allowing a slight gap to remain. On the horizontal sections the modules 12 to 20 are slightly spaced from each other, but this spacing is relatively small and is limited to a few centimeters in conventional installations.

The successive modules 12 to 20, connected by the tractor cable 30, are on the other hand secured to each other by rods in the form of bent levers 36, the ends of which are articulated on horizontal axes 38, 40 fixed under the floor 42 modules. The length of the links 36 is equivalent to that of the cable section between two successive clamps 28, and it is easy to see that the assembly, modules 12 to 20, cable 30 and links 36 constitutes a deformable articulated parallelogram. The lateral faces 44 of the modules 12 to 20, opposite another module, are devoid of walls in order to avoid any internal walling of the vehicle 10. A guardrail 46, in the form of a horizontal bar extending in the interface between two successive modules, prevents the passage of passengers from one module to another and each module 12 to 20 is equipped with its own access door 48.

Referring more particularly to FIG. 2, which represents the junction of the module 14 with the adjacent modules 12 and 16, this junction being of course identical between the other modules, it can be seen that the continuity of the floor 42 is produced by a flexible joint 50 , folded upwardly in a U and the edges 52, 54 of which are rigidly subject respectively to the adjacent lateral faces 44 of the modules 12, 14. The flexible joint 50 does not prevent the deflection in height of the modules, nor a variation in their spacing due to the inclination variations of the cables 26, 30. In a similar manner, the roof 56 of each module is connected to the adjacent roof by a flexible strip 58 which is housed in the folded position inside a frame 60 secured to the face 44 of one of the successive modules 12, 14, and forming a joint cover. The frame 60, preferably in the form of a U covering the upper and lateral edges of the interface between the modules 12, 14, has a sufficient height to allow the relative deflections of the modules 12, 14. At the lateral edges of the faces 44 of the modules opposite 12, 14, are fixed beads (not shown) in an elastic material, acting as a bumper and, where appropriate, shock absorbers for the height displacement of the modules, which come into contact in the deflection position of the modules on the sections of greatest slope but are spaced on the horizontal sections. The frame 60, in the form of a joint cover, has a gutter-shaped section in a manner well known per se.

The operation of the vehicle according to the invention is apparent from the preceding discussion, and it suffices to recall that the relative position of the modules with respect to each other varies with the slope of the cables 30, 26. The vehicle 10 with flat lateral faces 44 is unable to circulate on curved sections implying a pivoting of a module with respect to the other, and its use is limited to installations of the back-and-forth type. The connecting rods contribute to the relative positioning of the modules and for reciprocating vehicles it is advantageous to provide at least two parallel rods which ensure the alignment of the modules and limit the lateral oscillations. Other articulated connections between the modules can be provided, for example at the level of the lines by connecting rods (not shown) extending parallel to the cables 26, 30. These connections can inter alia retain a module in the event of derailment or supplement the failure of a fastener. Similarly, the junction by flexible joint 50, 58 between the successive modules 12 to 20 is not essential.

FIG. 4 illustrates an alternative embodiment of a vehicle 10 arranged to be able to travel on curved paths, that is to say to allow an articulation of a module 12 to 20 relative to the others. To this end, the lateral faces 44 ′ are cylindrical in shape with a vertical axis allowing pivoting about this axis when passing over a curved path in a manner well known to specialists. The form curved or cylindrical side faces 44 'does not prevent the height travel described above.

In the case of an articulated vehicle of the type represented in FIG. 4, the vehicle can travel on installations of the gondola type with passage of the vehicles in the stations on a curved section to join the other way.

The modular vehicle according to the invention can be used on single-cable installations in which the modules are fixed to a carrying tractor cable, or on two-cable installations, of the type shown in FIG. 1.

The invention is of course in no way limited to the modes of implementation more particularly described and represented in the appended drawings, but it extends in particular to that in which a partial or total internal partitioning would be arranged between the successive modules, or celué again in which the modules 12 to 20 would not be of parallelepiped shape.

Claims (10)

1. Modular vehicle (10) for cable-railway (30) constituted by a plurality of cabins or modules (2-20) successively coupled together, characterized in that the coupling means (36) between the modules are so devised that vertical relative movements between said modules are authorized while they are maintained parallel, that each module has a suspension bar (22) coupled to cable (30) and that the coupling points (28) onto said cable of the successive suspension bars are so staggered along the cable (30) that the modules come substantially into contact on the track sections of greatest slope.

2. Vehicle according to claim 1,,characterized in that the coupling means between the modules (12-20) are essentially constituted by mechanical coupling rods (36) articulated on said modules so as to form with these and the cable (30) deformable parallelograms.

3. Vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the facing surfaces (44) have no wall so as to provide a passageway between the successive modules (12_-20) of the vehicle.

4. Vehicle according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by the fact that only one hand rail (46) secured to one of said modules (12-20) extend within the interface between two successive modules for providing a separation between the different modules and that each module comprises its own door (48).

5. Vehicle according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that the facing surfaces (44) of two successive modules are parallel so as to derive one form the other by a translation.

6. Vehicle according to claim 1, 2, 3 or 4, characterized by the fact that the facing surfaces (44) of two successive modules have cylindrical revolution surfaces with a vertical axis to permit a rotation of the modules travelling on a curved section of the installation.

7. Vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that each module comprises a floor (42) and eventually a roof (56) and that said floors and eventually said roofs of successive modules are bounded together by flexible elements (50, 58) providing the floor continuity and eventually the roof continuity of the vehicle whilst permitting the movements and level variations due to the cable slope (30).

8. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized by the fact that one or a plurality of crank lever shaped coupling rods (36) are articutatpd by their extremities to the base of the module;.

9. Vehicle according to claim 2, characterized in that it comprises two parallel coupling rods (36) devised for providing an alignment of the successive modules (12-20)..

10. Vehicle according to any, one of the preceding claims, characterized by the fact that the edges of the facing surfaces (44) of the successive modules are provided with an elastic material forming a bumper and a vehicle oscillation damper.

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