EP3319856B1 - Chair for a chairlift - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to an armchair for chairlifts according to the preamble of claim 1.

The present invention also relates to a method according to the preamble of claim 13.

A generic armchair for chair lifts and a generic method are out EP 1 671 867 A1 known.

In order to be able to transport passengers safely, chairlift armchairs have a safety bar. In most of the chairlifts currently in use, the safety bars are closed and opened by the passengers themselves. The problem with such chair lift systems is that the safety bars are often closed too late after sitting up or opened too early before the area of the station where the passengers want to get off. This carries an increased risk of falling, especially for children.

To increase passenger safety, it is off the EP 808 757 A known to lock the safety bar so that it cannot be opened too early by the passengers. A disadvantage of this system is that the safety bar has to be closed and opened manually by the people being transported.

Other armchairs for chairlifts with a swiveling device, such as a safety bar, are out EP 2 810 841 A1 and DE 10 2010 017068 A1 known.

In order to increase the safety and comfort of the passengers, devices are therefore also known which close the bar after the passengers have been seated via an externally actuated transmission device and the safety bar lock. Only shortly before disembarking at the station is the safety bar released again from the lock and opened via the externally operated transmission device.

The object of the present invention is to create a device on armchairs which brings the passenger more safety and comfort, and which can preferably also be retrofitted to existing chairlifts as part of a modular system.

This object is achieved with a device which has the features of claim 1.

The object is also achieved with a method which has the features of claim 13.

According to the invention, devices which can be pivoted via the device can be pivoted and locked on the device via a locking element. Swiveling devices of a chair lift include, in particular, protective devices such as safety bars and weather protection hoods, as well as seats or parts of seats such as seat parts and back parts, to which reference is made in the following description by way of example and in a non-limiting manner.

By arranging at least one locking system on the chair, for example, manual opening of the safety bar by the passengers can be prevented while driving. The locking takes place in a form-fitting manner by a straight or rotational movement of a locking element in a depression or recess on a locking element connected to the device. To open the device or the safety bar, a control element is used, which is preferably on a bolt on the locking element of the Attacks the safety bar to automatically open the safety bar.

The device according to the invention can also be used for externally actuated pivoting, in particular folding up, a seat part or folding down a back part. For this purpose, as is preferred with the safety bar, the control element engages via a bolt on a locking element of the seat part or the back part in order to automatically open or close it. In order to prevent the seat part from being unintentionally folded up or the back part folded down, these are locked again as described for the safety bar. With the device according to the invention on the seat, deposits on the seat part can be prevented in the event of snowfall and no lift personnel have to be provided to pivot the seat parts when parking. Furthermore, the seat part and the back part are secured against unwanted pivoting by the wind by the locking.

The control element preferably has a control cam on which the locking element rests, preferably by spring force. If the control element is moved, the locking element resting on the control cam is first moved out of a depression or recess in the locking element, whereupon the device, for example the safety bar, is then opened.

In order to implement an externally actuated pivoting of the device in addition to the locking, in particular opening or also closing of the safety bar, two different embodiments of the control element are preferred.

In an embodiment in which the safety bar is closed, locked, unlocked and opened in an externally operated manner via the control element, the control element points to Release of the locking element preferably has a short opening in which the bolt of the locking element engages. The short opening, for example an elongated hole, is as long in the direction of movement of the control element as the path of the control element in order to move the locking element from the locking position into the release position plus the diameter of the bolt. The width of the opening must be at least as large as the bolt of the locking element guided in it.

A long opening, for example a long slot, is preferably arranged in the control element in order to effect manual closing and locking by a passenger, but an externally actuated unlocking and opening of the safety bar before getting out. The opening must be at least as long as the length of the movement of the bolt of the locking element from the open to the closed position of the safety bar plus the length of the path of the control element to move the locking element from the locking position to the release position plus the diameter of the bolt .

In contrast to the first-mentioned variant, only the locking element is released when the control element is operated externally during the closing process. The control element can then move in the direction of its locking position without moving the safety bar over the bolt of the locking element, since the latter can move in the elongated slot. The safety bar is only locked via the locking element when the safety bar has been pivoted down by a passenger so far that the locking element can snap into the recess on the locking element.

The control is preferred over a Transmission device, preferably essentially in a straight line, displaced, the transmission device further preferably having an actuating device which is set in motion by means of a mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic or electrical drive. Mechanical actuation of the control element is preferred, in particular via the transmission device, by means of a Bowden cable or linkage.

Further preferred embodiments of the invention are the subject of the remaining subclaims.

• Fig. 1 eine erste Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungssystems mit einem geschlossenem Bügel,
• Fig. 2 eine zweite Ausführungsform eines erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungssystem mit einem geschlossenem Bügel,
• Fig. 3 bis 8 Ansichten des Verriegelungssystems gemäß der Ausführungsform von Fig. 1 in unterschiedlichen Stellungen während des Öffnens und Schließen des Sicherheitsbügels,
• Fig. 9 bis 12 Ansichten des Verriegelungssystems gemäß der Ausführungsform von Fig. 2 in unterschiedlichen Stellungen während des Schließens des Sicherheitsbügels,
• Fig. 13 eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Verriegelungssystems für einen Sitzteil eines Sesselliftes und Fig. 14 eine Schrägansicht der Fig. 13.

Further features and advantages of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments of the invention with reference to the attached drawings. It shows:

• Fig. 1 a first embodiment of a locking system according to the invention with a closed bracket,
• Fig. 2 a second embodiment of a locking system according to the invention with a closed bracket,
• Figures 3 to 8 Views of the locking system according to the embodiment of FIG Fig. 1 in different positions during opening and closing of the safety bar,
• Figures 9 to 12 Views of the locking system according to the embodiment of FIG Fig. 2 in different positions while the safety bar is being closed,
• Fig. 13 an embodiment of the locking system according to the invention for a seat part of a chair lift and Fig. 14 an oblique view of the Fig. 13 .

In the Figures 1 to 12 Locking devices 1 are shown in two preferred embodiments. A device 8, in the illustrated embodiment a safety bracket, is connected to a locking element 10, for example welded. The locking element 10 is connected to a frame of a chair of a chair lift via a bore and a bolt 13 located therein and can be pivoted about the bolt 13 with the safety bar 8. On the locking element 10 there is also a bolt 3 which is located in an opening, in the embodiment shown in an elongated hole 9 ( Fig. 1 ) or 11 ( Fig. 2 ), which is located in a control element 6 which controls the locking and movement of the safety bracket 8. A mechanical reversal between the locking device 10 and the control element 6 is possible in that the bolt 3, which engages the locking element 10 in order to open the pivotable device 8, is located on the control element 6.

In order to control unlocking and locking according to the invention by means of a preferably spring-loaded locking element 7, the shape of a control cam 15 of the control element 6, on which the locking element 7 rests, as well as the movement path of the bolt 3 and the shape or arrangement of the elongated hole 9 or 11 decisive. Depending on the length of the elongated hole 9 or 11, in addition to an externally operated opening, if necessary, an externally operated closing of the safety bar 8 can also be effected.

In order to enable an externally actuated unlocking, opening and possible closing, the control element 6 is assigned a transmission device 2. This has a tilting element 5, which at one end with a Bowden cable 4 and is connected to the control element 6 at the other end. The movement of the Bowden cable 4 is transmitted to the control element 6 via the tilting element 5. The tilting element 5 could, however, also be omitted and the Bowden cable 4 or another drive could, for example, act directly on the control element 6. The control element 6 could also be moved in a rotary manner and not essentially in a translatory manner as shown and described.

The Bowden cable 4 is, for example, a rocker arm on the support rod of the chair lift, such as in the EP 1 780 091 A revealed, actuated. The tilting element 5 is pivotably mounted on a bolt 12 on the frame of the chair. The locking element 7 rests against the control cam 15 of the control element 6 under spring tension. The locking element 7 is pivotably mounted on the frame of the chair and engages in the closed and locked state (cf. Fig. 1 ) of the locking element 10 into a recess 14 or recess on the locking element 10.

In Fig. 1 a first preferred embodiment of the locking device 1 according to the invention is shown. In the illustration, the safety bar 8 is in the closed position with the locking element 7 engaging in the recess 14 of the locking element 10. The transmission device 2, consisting of the Bowden cable 4 and the tilting element 5, is located together with the control element 6 in the state shown highest point. In this position, the bolt 3 of the locking element 10 rests against the lower end of the short elongated hole 9. The control element 6 does not deflect the locking element 7 and the safety bar 8 is closed and locked.

The Fig. 2 shows the substantially same arrangement of FIG Components of Fig. 1 in locked position. Substantial difference to Fig. 1 is, however, that the elongated hole 11 of the control element 6 is as long as the path of the bolt 3 from the uppermost position to the lowest position of the safety bar 8. In addition, the length of the path of the control element 6 to the locking element 7 from the locking position to move into the release position, as shown by the Fig. 3 is explained, as well as the diameter of the bolt 3 and any play.

The Fig. 3 shows the beginning of the externally operated unlocking of the locking element 7 in the embodiment of FIG Fig. 1 . In this case, the control element 6 is first displaced so far via the transmission device 2 that the locking element 7 resting on the control cam 15 releases the locking element 10. In this position, the locking element 7 resting on the control element 6 is deflected so far that the locking element 10 can move past the locking element 7 when the safety bar 8 is opened. The bolt 3 of the locking element 10 rests against the uppermost end of the elongated hole 9 when the locking element 7 is deflected so far that the safety bar 8 on the locking element 10 can be opened by the control element 6.

From Fig. 4 the further rotational movement sequence of the safety bar 8 is shown after the locking element 10 has been released. A projection 16 on the recess 14 of the locking element 10 has already been moved past the locking element 7. Due to the operative connection between the control element 6 and the bolt 3 at the upper end of the elongated hole 9, the safety bracket 8 is rotated upwards or opened under the action of the transmission device 2 on the control element 6.

In Fig. 5 the safety bar 8 is fully open Position shown. The transmission device 2 and the control element 6 are in the lowest position. The safety bar 8 is held in the open position by the bolt 3 resting on the upper end of the elongated hole 9.

In Fig. 6 the start of the externally actuated closing process is shown. In order to accomplish this, the elongated hole 9 of the control element 6 must be used in a short embodiment. The bolt 3 of the locking element 10 is in the lowest position of the short elongated hole 9 and the safety bar 8 is moved down into the closed position via the operative connection between the bolt 3 and control element 6, in that the transmission device 2 moves the control element 6 upwards.

In Fig. 7 the safety bar 8 has already been moved further down. The locking element 7 continues to move along the control curve 15 of the control element 6 and is in the release position until the locking element 7 rests against the projection 16 and subsequently the end position of Fig. 8 is reached.

The Fig. 8 shows the safety bar 8 closed and locked at the end of this closing process. The transmission device 2 and the control element 6 are again in the highest position and the locking element 7 is locked in the recess 14.

The Fig. 9 shows the embodiment of Fig. 2 the same position of the components as in Fig. 5 after the safety bar 8 how to the Figs. 3 to 5 has been opened. The safety bar 8 is in the open position and the bolt 3 of the locking element 10 is in the uppermost position of the elongated hole 11 instead of the short elongated hole 9 (as in Fig. 5 shown) an elongated slot 11 is now used.

In Fig. 10 the control element 6 moved all the way up by the transmission device 2 is again in the same position as in FIG Fig. 2 shown, with the essential difference that the safety bar 8 was not moved and closed due to the long elongated hole 11. The safety bar 8 can be closed manually by a passenger in the position of the control element 6 shown, as in FIG Figures 11 and 12 is shown.

In Fig. 11 the safety bar 8 was already partially closed manually by a passenger. The locking element 7 now rests on the projection 16 of the recess 14 of the locking element 10.

In this embodiment, several recesses or recesses can be provided one behind the other in the direction of movement on the locking element 10, so that the locking element 7 successively engages in one recess or recess after the other during the closing process and thus the safety bar 8 gradually and step-by-step against being opened again by one Passenger locks.

In Fig. 12 is the locking element 10 by the locking element 7, as well as in the Fig. 2 shown, locked. The locking element 7 is again in the recess 14 of the locking element 10 and locks the safety bar 8 in the closed position. The safety bar 8 can only be unlocked and opened again by external actuation by the transmission device 2.

The locking device 1 according to the invention can after same principle as in the Figures 1 to 12 can also be used for weather protection hoods, for example.

In Fig. 13 shows the use for an externally operated pivoting of a seat part 17 of a seat of a chair lift. The functions and embodiments of the elongated holes 9 and 11 in the short or long embodiment in the control element 6 correspond to those in the Figures 3 to 12 are already described. Like in the Fig. 13 shown, the locking device 1 can also be arranged between the seat part 17, which is in the seated position in this illustration, and the frame of the armchair. In order to pivot the seat parts into the open and closed position, the locking element 10 is connected to the seat part 17. The same device can also serve to pivot a back part 18. In the context of the invention, the seat part 17 is in the position according to FIG Fig. 13 , in which people can sit on it, in the "open" position and in the raised position in the "closed" position. The back part 18 is in the position according to FIG Fig. 13 in which people can sit on the seat in the "open" position and in the folded-down position in the "closed" position.

A further improved embodiment of the locking device 1 according to the invention on the seat part 17 serves to increase comfort and safety when sitting up and down, in particular for smaller and motor-impaired passengers. In order to make it easier to get on and off, it is advantageous if a front edge 19 of the seat part 17 is inclined as far down as possible. To make this possible, a force can be applied to the control element 6 via the transmission device 2, with which the seat part 17 is pressed further down against an elastic element 20 via the locking element 10. After the passengers sit, the tilting element 5 of the locking device 1 is relieved. Due to the stored force in the elastic element 20, the front edge 19 is moved upwards again, the seat part 17 is inclined slightly backwards and the locking element 7 again engages in the recess 14 of the locking element 10. This also reduces the distance between the seat part 17 and the safety bar 8 and the risk of slipping under the safety bar 8 is reduced for smaller passengers. Should heavier people sit on the seat in individual cases, where the force of the spring 20 is not sufficient to lift the seat part 17 again, this is not disadvantageous, but offers the additional advantage that for these mostly taller people automatically more space under the Safety bar 8 is present, which increases the comfort for these people.

The recess 14 on the locking element, or a further recess, can also be arranged so that the locking element 7 engages when the seat part is in the lowest position, whereby the seat part during the entire passage of the armchair through a station in the lowest entry and exit position remains.

The Fig. 14 shows the in Fig. 13 described embodiment of the locking device 1 in an oblique view.

Claims (16)

1. Chair for chairlifts, comprising a pivotable device (8, 17, 18) which is pivotable into a closed position and into an open position, comprising a locking element (10) which is connected to the device (8, 17, 18), a blocking element (7) for the locking element (10), which blocking element is movable into at least one locking position and into a releasing position, and a control element (6) which moves the blocking element (7) from the locking position into the releasing position, characterized in that the control element (6) is connected to the device (8, 17, 18).
2. Chair according to claim 1, characterized in that the control element (6) has a control cam (15), against which the blocking element (7) bears, preferably under a spring force.
3. Chair according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the locking element (10) has at least one depression (14) or recess, in which the blocking element (7) engages in the locking position.
4. Chair according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the control element (6) is operatively connected to the device (8, 17, 18) only in one direction of movement.
5. Chair according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the control element (6) has an opening (9), in which a bolt (3) connected to the device (8, 17, 18) engages.
6. Chair according to claim 5, characterized in that the length of the opening (9) in the direction of movement of the control element (6) is at least as large as the travel of the control element (6) for moving the blocking element (7) from the locking position into the releasing position, plus the diameter of the bolt (3).
7. Chair according to claim 5, characterized in that the length of the opening in the direction of movement of the control element (6) is at least as large as the length of the movement of the bolt (3) from the open position to the closed position of the device (8, 17, 18), plus the travel of the control element (6) for moving the blocking element (7) from the locking position into the releasing position, plus the diameter of the bolt (3).
8. Chair according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by a transmission device (2) for the control element (6), which transmission device (2) has a mechanical, pneumatic, hydraulic or electric drive, in particular a Bowden cable (4) or a linkage.
9. Chair according to claim 8, characterized in that the transmission device (2) has a tilting element (5) which displaces the control element (6).
10. Chair according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the blocking element (7) engages in the locking element (10) by a rotational or linear movement.
11. Chair according to any one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the pivotable device (8, 17, 18) may be a safety bar, a weather protection hood, a seat part or a back part.
12. Chairlift comprising at least two stations with a boarding area and an alighting area, wherein chairs which are connected to a cable can travel between the stations, characterized in that the chairs are configured according to any one of claims 1 to 11.
13. Method for actuating a pivotable device (8, 17, 18) which is pivoted between a closed position and an open position, comprising a locking element (10) which is connected to the device (8, 17, 18), a blocking element (7) which is moved from a locking position into a releasing position in order to release the locking element (10), characterized in that a control element (6) which is connected to the device (8, 17, 18) first moves the blocking element (7) into the releasing position and then pivots the device (8, 17, 18) from the closed position to the open position.
14. Method according to claim 13, characterized in that, in order to close the device (8, 17, 18), the control element (6) is moved back into the position in which the blocking element (7) can be moved into the locking position.
15. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that, as it moves back, the control element (6) pivots the device (8, 17, 18) into the closed position.
16. Method according to claim 14, characterized in that, as it moves back, the control element (6) having a long slot (11) leaves the device (8, 17, 18) in the open position, and the latter must be closed manually.

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