EP4208380B1 - Transport facility - Google Patents

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The invention relates, in general, to the technical field of transport installations, in particular suspended ones, generally intended for the transport of passengers.

STATE OF PRIOR ART

There are many types of transportation facilities today, including suspended by an overhead cable and used primarily in the mountains, but also in other environments such as urban transportation. Other types of suspended cable transport installations also equip leisure parks.

There are in fact leisure parks having suspended rides where the vehicles which transport people are suspended above the ground and carried on suspended rails, each vehicle having carrying wheels attached to the top of the vehicles to make them roll along rails. These rides can also be of different types, for example intended to provide thrills when their circuits have slopes with a steep difference in altitude, or even intended for discovery with slopes with a slight difference in altitude, to allow people to visit places features. Generally speaking, the speeds of “discovery” type rides, generally self-propelled, are low compared to those of so-called “thrill” rides, whose vehicles are generally passive and accelerated by gravity.

To move the vehicles along the rails of discovery-type rides, the wheels of the vehicles are generally driven by an electric motor mounted on the vehicles. The vehicles can also include several electric motors capable of respectively driving the wheels or pairs of wheels. But such engines are bulky and make vehicles heavier. In In addition, vehicles must be equipped with batteries to power the engines, which takes up even more space for vehicles, as self-propelled vehicles are also sensitive to environmental conditions. Furthermore, the electric motors of each vehicle must be synchronized with each other to avoid any risk of collision between vehicles.

The patent application FR 3,044,627 proposes a solution to some of these drawbacks in particular and describes an air transport installation, comprising at least one taxiway for vehicles comprising a main rail suspended above the ground and having at least one curvature, and at least one vehicle provided with 'a set of main wheels configured to ride on the main rail. The taxiway comprises an aerial tractor cable, a drive means configured to drive the cable, and guide means configured to guide the cable along the main rail, the vehicle comprising a hooking means configured to hook the vehicle to the cable. Thus, by equipping an air transport installation with a tractor cable and by hooking the vehicles to the tractor cable, we offer an installation which makes it possible to bring the vehicles closer to each other without collision problems and to increase the speed of movement of the vehicles. vehicles compared to discovery type rides. Such an installation makes it possible to increase the flow of passengers, while reducing the risk of collision between vehicles during the transport of passengers, because the vehicles are attached to the same tractor cable during transport.

However, this type of installation is not suitable when the reliefs of the place are too pronounced or steep because the rails do not allow vehicle movements on portions with significant inclinations. Furthermore, the system is not suitable for certain environments since even if the rails offer the possibility of taking sharp turns, the rails require numerous support pylons, which can make the installation cumbersome when one wishes to cross obstacles over long distances, for example when crossing steep terrain or rivers.

The topography of the place where the aerial or suspended cable transport installation is located is therefore very restrictive and does not allow certain uses.

The documents FR 3 052 131 A , JP H11 171008 A , JP H09 240466 A And US 5,172,640 A describe transport installations known from the prior art.

STATEMENT OF THE INVENTION

The invention aims to remedy all or part of the disadvantages of the state of the art by proposing in particular a solution adapted to more varied topographies, this while guaranteeing enhanced safety for users, in particular by limiting the risk of collision between vehicles and allowing an increase in passenger transport throughput.

To do this, according to a first aspect of the invention, a transport installation is proposed, comprising at least a first tractor cable describing a first closed loop and configured to be driven by at least a first drive means at a linear speed nominal, and at least one vehicle comprising a hooking device configured to hook the vehicle to the first tractor cable, the transport installation comprising at least a first traffic lane comprising at least a first segment comprising at least one running lane s 'extending along the first tractor cable, the running track having at least one curvature, the vehicle comprising a set of supporting and guide wheels configured to roll on the running track at the nominal linear speed, the first running track comprising at least a second segment, the transport installation being configured so that the vehicle is attached to the first traction cable and towed by the first traction cable at the nominal linear speed to travel through the first segment and the second segment, the installation comprising guide means configured to guide the first tractor cable along the running track of the first segment of the first running track, the guide means being spaced apart by group of vertical guide means and horizontal guide means, each group of guide means comprising two vertical guide means and two horizontal guide means distributed radially around the associated tractor cable, the transport installation being characterized in that it is configured so that the first tractor cable entirely carries the vehicle and the drives at nominal linear speed along the second segment.

Thanks to such a combination of characteristics, the vehicle can be driven along the first traffic lane by crossing different segments, in particular: at least a first segment where the vehicle is carried and guided along the running track, which can describe the desired curves, traveling at the nominal linear speed while being towed by the first tractor cable; and at least a second segment where the vehicle is fully supported and driven at linear speed nominal, by the first traction cable. In this way, the associated tractor cable can be guided along horizontal curves and vertical curves, or combinations of these curves. In particular, along the second segment(s) of the first traffic lane, the vehicle is entirely carried by the associated carrier cable while being suspended and requiring, or not, a support pylon, this making it possible to traverse steep areas over significant distances. In such a suspended configuration, the load wheels of the set of load wheels are passive and suspended when the vehicle moves along the second segment. By the term “suspended” we mean that a lower part of the vehicle remains free, the supporting wheels of the set of supporting wheels being separated from the running track and no longer resting on it.

Furthermore, the fact that the vehicle is entirely carried and towed along these of the second segment(s) of the first traffic lane, it is possible to circulate the vehicles on inclined portions having inclinations significant, typically greater than 15%, in absolute value given that this slope can be positive or negative. Of course, in practice the slope may be different.

According to one embodiment, the transport installation comprises at least a second traction cable describing a second closed loop and configured to be driven by at least a second drive means at the nominal linear speed, the transport installation comprising at at least one second traffic lane and being configured so that the vehicles pass from one to the other of the first and second traffic lanes at at least one transition zone, and so that the vehicle is attached to the second cable tractor and towed by the second tractor cable at the nominal linear speed to travel at least part of the second traffic lane.

Thanks to such a configuration, several loops of cables can be used so that the vehicle follows a much longer circuit than if it had a single cable, regardless of the topography of the terrain. This also makes it possible to have a suitable nominal linear speed, which can be limited for a given drive means if the loop length is too long.

According to one embodiment, the second traffic lane comprises at least a first segment comprising at least one running track extending along the second tractor cable, the running track of the first segment having at least one curvature, the supporting wheels and guidance of the vehicle being configured to roll on the running track at the nominal linear speed.

According to one embodiment, the transition zone comprises a continuous portion of a transition running track, preferably rectilinear, extending from a running track portion of the first segment of the first traffic lane to a portion of the taxiway of the first segment of the second taxiway. The transition running lane, or also junction, makes it possible to locally join the two traffic lanes, namely the first and the second traffic lane. In a configuration where the first and second closed loops described by the first and second traction cables intersect, they intersect at two points, where a transition running track is located at each of these two crossings. Of course, more than two cable loops can be provided, for example three or four depending on the extent of the desired transport installation, these being preferably placed in series and crossing each other two by two.

According to one embodiment, the vehicle attachment device comprises disengagement means so as to release the vehicle from the traction cable to which it is attached among the first and second traction cables and then to attach the vehicle to the other of the traction cables among the first and second traction cables.

According to one embodiment, the transport installation comprises at least one embarkation and/or disembarkation station, the disengagement means being in the disengaged position when the vehicle is in an embarkation and/or disembarkation position in the boarding and/or disembarkation station. In a particular configuration, an embarkation and/or disembarkation station may be located at a transition zone. Of course, other alternative positions of the boarding and/or disembarkation station can be envisaged, or even complementary to another embarkation and/or disembarkation station.

According to one embodiment, the second traffic lane comprises at least a second segment, the transport installation being configured so that the vehicle is attached to the second tractor cable and towed by the second tractor cable at the nominal linear speed to travel the first segment and the second segment, the air transport installation being configured so that the second tractor cable completely carries the vehicle and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment.

According to one embodiment, the first traction cable is rectilinear along the second segment of the first traffic lane, and preferably the second traction cable is rectilinear along the second segment of the second traffic lane. In other words, the section where the vehicle is carried by the associated tractor cable is rectilinear.

According to one embodiment, the running track comprises two rails spaced regularly between them.

According to one embodiment, the first tractor cable constitutes the sole drive cable of the vehicle along the first traffic lane and/or in that the second tractor cable constitutes the sole drive cable of the vehicle along of the second traffic lane.

According to one embodiment, the first traction cable constitutes the sole means of supporting the vehicle along the second segment of the first traffic lane and/or the second traction cable constitutes the sole means of supporting the vehicle along the second segment of the second traffic lane.

According to one embodiment, the first segment(s) and the first segment(s) of an associated traffic lane are placed in series.

• une première étape de circulation du véhicule le long du premier segment durant laquelle l'ensemble de roues porteuses et de guidage du véhicule roule sur la voie de roulement, le véhicule étant entraîné par le câble tracteur à la vitesse linéaire nominale ; et
• une deuxième étape de circulation du véhicule le long du deuxième segment durant laquelle le premier câble tracteur porte entièrement le véhicule et l'entraîne à la vitesse linéaire nominale le long du deuxième segment.

According to another aspect of the invention, it relates to a method of using a transport installation as described above, the method comprising at least the following steps:

• a first step of circulation of the vehicle along the first segment during which the assembly of supporting and guiding wheels of the vehicle rolls on the running track, the vehicle being driven by the tractor cable at the nominal linear speed; And
• a second stage of circulation of the vehicle along the second segment during which the first tractor cable entirely carries the vehicle and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment.

Preferably these two stages follow one another directly in one direction, from the first to the second circulation stage, and/or in the other direction, from the second to the first circulation stage.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

• [Fig. 1] : une vue schématique de dessus d'un mode de réalisation d'une installation de transport selon un mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig. 2] : une vue de côté d'une portion de trajectoire d'un véhicule équipement l'installation de transport selon la figure 1 ;
• [Fig. 3] : un détail de la figure 1 ;
• [Fig. 4] : une vue en coupe schématique de l'installation de transport selon la figure 1, prise au niveau d'une station d'embarquement et/ou de débarquement ;
• [Fig. 5] : une vue en coupe schématique de l'installation de transport selon la figure 1, prise au niveau d'une portion portée par le câble tracteur, au passage d'un pylône ;
• [Fig. 6] : une vue en coupe schématique de l'installation de transport selon la figure 1, prise au niveau d'une portion portée par le câble tracteur ;
• [Fig. 7] : une vue en coupe schématique de l'installation de transport selon la figure 1, prise au niveau d'une portion roulante du véhicule sur des rails ;
• [Fig. 8] : une vue schématique de dessus d'un mode de réalisation d'une installation de transport selon un autre mode de réalisation de l'invention ;
• [Fig. 9] : un détail d'une variante de réalisation de la figure 8.

Other characteristics and advantages of the invention will emerge on reading the description which follows, with reference to the appended figures, which illustrate:

• [ Fig. 1 ]: a schematic top view of one embodiment of a transport installation according to one embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig. 2 ]: a side view of a portion of the trajectory of a vehicle equipping the transport installation according to the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig. 3 ]: a detail of the figure 1 ;
• [ Fig. 4 ]: a schematic sectional view of the transport installation according to figure 1 , taken at an embarkation and/or disembarkation station;
• [ Fig. 5 ]: a schematic sectional view of the transport installation according to figure 1 , taken at the level of a portion carried by the tractor cable, when passing a pylon;
• [ Fig. 6 ]: a schematic sectional view of the transport installation according to figure 1 , taken at the level of a portion carried by the tractor cable;
• [ Fig. 7 ]: a schematic sectional view of the transport installation according to figure 1 , taken at the level of a rolling portion of the vehicle on rails;
• [ Fig. 8 ]: a schematic top view of one embodiment of a transport installation according to another embodiment of the invention;
• [ Fig. 9 ]: a detail of an alternative embodiment of the figure 8 .

For greater clarity, identical or similar elements are identified by identical reference signs throughout the figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF AN EMBODIMENT

There figure 1 ([Fig.1 ]) illustrates a transport installation 100 , comprising a first tractor cable 11 intended to tow one or more vehicle(s) 30 above the ground. The first traction cable 11 describes a first closed loop 10 and configured to be driven by a first drive means 12 at a nominal linear speed. The first tractor cable 11 defines a first traffic lane 101 along which the vehicles 30 are towed, the transport installation 100 comprising guide means for guiding the first tractor cable 11 along the first traffic lane 101.

In this embodiment, the transport installation 100 also comprises a second tractor cable 21 describing a second closed loop 20 and configured to be driven by a second drive means 22 at speed nominal linear. The second tractor cable 21 defines a second traffic lane 102.

The two closed loops 10 , 20 formed by the first tractor cable 11 and the second tractor cable 21 respectively intersect or overlap so as to present here two distinct intersections between the first tractor cable 11 and the second tractor cable 21 , these intersections each being located in a transition zone 103. The transport installation 100 is configured so that the vehicles 30 pass from one to the other of the first and second traffic lanes 101 , 102 at each of the transition zones 103. In this way each vehicle follows a trajectory delimited successively by the first and second traction cables 11 , 21 along a traffic lane carried by the first traffic lane 101 and the second traffic lane 102.

The transport installation 100 further comprises at least one station or station 150 for boarding and/or disembarking passengers in vehicles 30.

The drive means 12, 22 are configured to drive the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 along the corresponding traffic lane 101, 102 . The drive means 12 , 22 are preferably located within a station called a driving station. Each power station is located here in an interior space of the closed loop 10 , 20 of the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 , preferably in a zone of intersection between these two interior spaces. In this way, the power stations are offset from the corresponding traffic lanes 101, 102 .

In reference to the figure 3 ([Fig.3 ]), each drive means 12 , 22 comprises a motor M1 , M2 , a driving pulley P1 , P2 driven by the associated motor M1 , M2 and configured to drive the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 . Each drive means 12 , 22 further comprises a means for tensioning (not illustrated) the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 . The tensioning means may comprise deflection pulleys, for example two, arranged on either side of the driving pulley P1 , P2 to deflect the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 in the direction of the associated driving pulley P1 , P2 . The driving pulley P1 , P2 and the deflection pulleys corresponding have their axes of rotation horizontal. Alternatively, the tensioning means may comprise a single deflection pulley, also called a return pulley. According to this variant, the axes of rotation of the driving pulleys P1 , P2 and return pulleys are vertical.

The installation 100 may include a single vehicle 30 or several vehicles. In addition, each traffic lane 101, 102 can include a single or several vehicles 30. Each vehicle 30 includes a cabin 300 as illustrated in the figures 4 to 7 in particular and/or include one or more seats, to transport passengers.

Each vehicle 30 comprises a hooking device 31 configured to hook the vehicle 30 to the associated cable, that is to say to the first tractor cable 11 or to the second tractor cable 21 depending on its location on its trajectory. In this way the vehicle 30 is attached either to the first tractor cable 11 or to the second tractor cable 21 and is towed by the tractor cable 11, 21 associated with the nominal linear speed to travel at least part of the first or second track. circulation 101, 102 associated.

By nominal linear speed is meant the cruising speed of movement of the vehicles 30 in a transport position, also corresponding to the speed of the tractor cable 11, 21 associated with which it is attached.

More particularly, the first and second traffic lanes 101, 102 each comprise at least a first segment 110 comprising at least one associated running lane 111, 211 extending along the first or second associated tractor cable 11, 21 . The vehicle 30 comprises a set of load-bearing and guide wheels 32 configured to roll on these rolling tracks 111, 211 at the nominal linear speed.

In this embodiment, each running track 111, 211 comprises at least one supporting structure, for example at least one rail, the supporting structure here comprising two rails 111', 211' spaced apart from each other in a regular manner and extending the along the first or second associated tractor cable 11, 21 . In another alternative, the supporting structure may include one or more supporting cable(s) in place of the supporting rail(s). Along such a first segment 110 , 210 the vehicle 30 is carried by the supporting structure carrying the running track 111 , 211 on which the carrying and guide wheels circulate. Each running track 111 , 211 having at least one curvature so as to guide the vehicles 30 in different locations, in particular unaligned locations. A curvature can be a horizontal or vertical curvature. The horizontal curvature can be interior, towards the interior of the corresponding closed loop 10 , 20 , or exterior, towards the exterior of the corresponding closed loop 10 , 20 . The vertical curvature (see in particular the figure 2 ([Fig.2 ])) can be upwards or downwards with reference to a reference vertical Z axis. The curvatures can of course be combinations of these types of curvatures.

The transport installation 100 comprises guide means 140 configured to guide the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 along the running track 111 , 211 of the first segment 110 , 210 of the associated running track 101 , 102 . The guide means 140 comprise vertical guide means 141 and horizontal guide means 142. The guide means 140 may comprise rollers 140' , that is to say small grooved wheels so that the tractor cable 11 , 21 can pass inside the throat. Generally speaking, the rollers 140' are located along the first segment 110 of the traffic lane 101 , 102 so that the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 follows the vertical and horizontal curvatures of the traffic lane 101 , 102.

The guide means 140 are spaced by groups of vertical guide means 141 and horizontal guide means 142 along each running track 111 , 211 so as to guide the traction cables 11 , 21 along the curvatures. Each group of guide means 140 comprises two vertical guide means 141 and two horizontal guide means 142 distributed radially around the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 . In particular two vertical guide means 141 are located vertically facing each other on either side of the associated tractor cable 11, 21 , comprising a lower roller and an upper roller, and two means of horizontal guides 142 are located laterally opposite each other horizontally of the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 , comprising two lateral rollers.

Of course, the traffic lane 101 , 102 can include inclined curvatures, that is to say neither exactly vertical nor exactly horizontal, and the rollers 140 ' can also be inclined to guide the tractor cable 11 , 21 along the first segment 110 , 210 of the associated traffic lane 101 , 102 .

The first traffic lane 101 also comprises at least a second segment 120 , the transport installation 100 being configured so that the vehicle 30 is attached to the first tractor cable 11 and towed by the first tractor cable 11 at the nominal linear speed to travel the first segment 110 and the second segment 120. The transport installation 100 is configured so that the first tractor cable 11 completely carries the vehicle 30 and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment 120. In others In terms, the first tractor cable 11 constitutes the only drive cable of the vehicle 30 along the first traffic lane 101 and takes up, along this second segment 120 , all the gravitational forces of the vehicle 30 at the level of the means d hooking 31. The first tractor cable 11 presents a strand of rectilinear cable along the second segment 120 of the first traffic lane 101. The vehicle 30 moves along such a second segment 120 while being carried entirely by the first cable tractor 11 so that the fixed structure necessary at this segment is limited to the simple tractor cable 11 , or possibly a support pylon 60 to keep the tractor cable 11 suspended above the ground.

There figure 2 ([Fig.2 ]) illustrates in particular a side view of such a second segment 120 presenting in particular a strongly inclined portion, typically greater than 15%. Such an inclination is possible thanks to the characteristic according to which the tractor cable 11 tows and carries the vehicles 30 at the same time along this second segment 120.

In this embodiment, the second traffic lane 102 does not include a second segment 120. It is of course understood that the second traffic lane 102 may include one or more similar second segment(s) to the first traffic lane 101 depending on the topography of the environment where the transportation facility 100 is located. In this case the characteristics of the second segment are the same.

According to one embodiment, the attachment means 31 comprises a fixed clamp 34 for attaching the vehicle 30 to the tractor cable 11 , 21. Along the traffic lane, the vehicles are attached to the tractor cable 11 , 21 so as to be equidistant.

In a configuration not illustrated, the hooking means 31 hooks the vehicle 30 to the tractor cable 11 , 21. permanently. In such a configuration, the drive means 12 , 22 must be stopped so that the vehicles 30 remain stationary so that passengers can board or disembark in the vehicles 30. However, such a configuration is only possible when the installation of transport 100 has only a single closed loop 10.

According to the preferred embodiment, the attachment means 31 comprises a disengageable clamp 34 for removably attaching the vehicle 30 to the tractor cable 11 , 21. The release means 33 are in particular in the disengaged position when the vehicle 30 is in a boarding and/or disembarkation position in the boarding and/or disembarkation station 150 . The disengageable clamp 34 can open to unhook the vehicle 30 from the tractor cable 11 , 21 , or close to grip the tractor cable 11 , 21 in order to tow it, that is to say to mechanically connect the vehicle 30 to the tractor cable 11 , 21. In other words, the vehicles 30 are attached to the tractor cable 11 , 21 between two stations 150 to be towed at the nominal speed of the tractor cable 11 , 21 , and in particular along the first and second segments 110 , 120. The vehicles 30 can be unhooked from the tractor cable 11 , 21 when the vehicles 30 enter a station 150.

Each transition zone 103 comprises a continuous portion of a transition running track 311 , preferably rectilinear, which extends from a running track portion 111 of the first segment 110 of the first running track 101 to a portion of track 211 of the first segment 210 of the second traffic lane 102. In this way, even if the first and second traffic lanes 101,102 have separate traction cables 11 , 21 , they are connected via a transition running track 311 in continuity of a running track 111 of a first segment 110 of the first running lane 101 and of a running track 211 of a first segment 210 of the second running lane 102. In the same manner as at the level stations or stations 150 , the vehicles 30 can be unhooked from one of the two original tractor cables 11, 21 when the vehicles 30 enter a transition zone 103 , then reattached to the other of the two tractor cables 11 , 21 destination in the direction of traffic.

At boarding and/or disembarkation station 150 as well as in transition zone 103 , when the vehicles 30 are unhooked from the corresponding tractor cable 11 , 21 , the vehicles 30 are kept suspended from the supporting structure, here from the rails 111' , 211 '. Thus, the unhooked vehicles 30 can be moved at a speed which is lower than that of the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 , and therefore lower than the nominal speed, in particular to facilitate the boarding and disembarking of passengers at station 150. The movement cars 30 in station 150 is provided by motorized drive wheels 45 .

More precisely, the vehicle 30 comprises a set of carrying and guide wheels 32 configured to roll on the rails of each of the running tracks 111 , 211 of the first segment 110 , 210 of the associated running track 101 , 102 , in particular on the rails. In this embodiment, the vehicle 30 comprises a carriage 40 on which two pairs of carrying wheels 32 are mounted as well as the attachment means 31. The carrying wheels 32 are active when the vehicle 30 travels along the first segments 110 , 210 of the associated taxiway 101 , 102 . On the contrary, these carrying wheels 32 are passive when the vehicle 30 travels along the second segments 120 , in particular here the first traffic lane 101 , because on these second segments the vehicle 30 is moved and carried entirely by the carrying cable 11 The supporting wheels 32 therefore do not need to be motorized. Preferably, the carrying wheels 32 are mounted to rotate freely on two pairs of lateral ends of the carriage 40. Guide rollers 46 arranged under the carriage 45 are configured so as to each bear against one side of the corresponding rail 111' , 211' . In this way, the carriage 45 can roll on the rolling tracks 111 , 211 thanks to its supporting wheels 32 and the transverse guidance is provided by the guide rollers 46 , here four in number. The rollers 46 are preferably constrained by elastic constraint means (not illustrated) to avoid play.

In addition, the vehicle 30 comprises a hanger 37 on which the cabin 300 is fixed, connecting in particular the cabin 300 with the carriage 40. Preferably the hanger 37 is connected to the carriage 40 by a pivot connection allowing pendulum movements of the cabin 300 relative to the carriage 40. In particular, this first pivot connection between the hanger 37 and the carriage 40 is located in particular at an upper end portion of the hanger 37 and allows pivoting of the hanger 37 relative to the carriage 40. carriage 40 around an axis parallel to a transverse reference axis of the carriage, i.e. a horizontal axis and locally orthogonal at least to the portion of the tractor cable 11 , 21 associated where the vehicle 30 is located. This first connection therefore allows movements pitching of the hanger 37 , and therefore of the cabin 300 , relative to the carriage 40. Preferably, the hanger 37 is connected to the cabin 300 by a second pivot connection 42 , located in particular at a portion of lower end of the hanger 37 opposite its upper end, and allowing pendulum movements of the cabin 300 relative to the hanger 37 , in particular rolling movements of the cabin 300 relative to the hanger 37.

The hooking means 31 comprises a disengageable clamp 34 comprising a jaw which can open and close on the tractor cable 11 , 21. The jaw comprises two jaws, here facing each other with respect to a reference axis horizontal, and the tractor cable 11 , 21 is clamped between the two jaws of the jaw when the vehicle 30 is attached to the tractor cable 11 , 21. The disengageable clamp 34 also includes one or more springs 35 to keep the jaw closed on the tractor cable 11 , 21. Furthermore, the disengageable clamp 34 includes a lever 36 which presses on the spring 35 to open the jaw. The lever 36 is actuated in the boarding and disembarkation station 150 and in the transition zone 103 , but also in order to be able to hook up and unhook the vehicle 30 from the tractor cable 11 , 21. The disengageable clamp 34 is mounted on the carriage 40 via a support arm 41.

The fixed structure of the transport installation 100 notably comprises support means, here comprising pylons 60 , for maintaining the traction cables 11, 21 and locally carrying cables along the second segments 120 above the ground. Each pylon 60 comprises a bracket 61 extending perpendicular to the direction of travel of the tractor cable 11, 21 and having at least one end 62 on which support pulleys 63 are mounted. The pulleys 63 each include a groove for receiving the tractor cable 11 , 21 corresponding to the passage of a pylon 60 by the vehicle. Certain pylons 60 located in particular at the level of a second segment 120 of the first traffic lane 101 only support these support pulleys 63 (see the figure 5 ([Fig.5 ])).

Certain other pylons 60 also support at least one frame 70 for supporting the track 111 , 211 of the first segments 110 , 210 of the first and second traffic tracks 101 , 102. The frame 70 has an open “C” shape to the ground. In other words, the frame 70 has a hollow shape inside which the carriage 40 is placed and open on the lower side, downwards with respect to the reference vertical orientation Z. The lower opening of the frame 70 is bordered on either side by the two rails 111' , 211' forming a supporting structure and carrying the associated running track 111 , 211 . The guide means 140 , and in particular, each group of vertical guide means 141 and horizontal 142 are mounted integral with this frame 70. The lower roller participating in the vertical guide also plays the role of supporting the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 , comparable to the support pulleys 63 on the first segments 110 , 210.

The suspension and support frame 70 of the running track 111, 211 also supports the motorized drive wheels 45 ensuring the movement of the cars 30 in station 150 but also at the level of the transition zones 103. In this embodiment, the drive rollers 45 are formed by tires making it possible to provide adequate grip to allow the slowing down or acceleration of the speed of the vehicles 30 during disengagement and engagement of the disengagement means 33 but also to maintain as much as possible the speed linear nominal when passing the transition zones 103 , in particular the transition running tracks 311 (see the figure 3 ([Fig.3 ])).

A contactor 47 secured to the carriage 45 makes it possible to maintain electrical contact with an electrical rail secured to the frame 70 and housed in its interior space. In this way, it is possible to supply electrical energy to the electrical equipment of the vehicle 30.

On the figures 4 to 7 , schematic side views of the transport installation 100 are shown, and more particularly a vehicle 30 located at different locations on the traffic lane 101, 102 during its movement.

In particular, the figure 4 ([Fig.4 ]) illustrates a schematic view and in a section AA of the transport installation 100 of the figure 1 , namely taken at an embarkation and/or disembarkation station 150 , the disengageable clamp 34 being in a disengaged position. There figure 7 ([Fig.7 ]) is similar to this figure and illustrates a schematic view and in a section DD of the transport installation 100 of the figure 1 ([Fig.1 ]) taken at the level of a rolling portion of the vehicle 30 on the rails 111' , 211' of a first section of the first traffic lane 101 or the second traffic lane 102 , outside a station 150 d boarding and/or disembarkation, the disengageable clamp 34 being in a closed position for attachment to the tractor cable.

There figure 5 ([Fig.5 ]) illustrates a schematic view and in a section BB of the transport installation 100 of the figure 1 ([Fig.1 ]), taken at the level of a portion carried by the first tractor cable 11 , that is to say taken along the second segment of the first traffic lane 101 , at the passage of a pylon 60 supporting the first tractor cable 11. Note that to improve the readability of the figure 1 ([Fig.1 ]), not all pylons 60 have been shown.

There figure 6 ([Fig.6 ]) illustrates a schematic view and in a CC section of the transport installation 100 of the figure 1 ([Fig.1 ]), taken at the level of a portion carried entirely by the first tractor cable 11 , that is to say taken along the second segment of the first traffic lane 101.

Thanks to such a transport installation 100 , the vehicles 30 can be driven along the first and second traffic lanes 101 , 102 by crossing different segments, in particular first segments 110 , 210 where the vehicles 30 is carried and guided along the running tracks 111 , 211 successively and describing curves as a function of the desired trajectory, circulating at the nominal linear speed and being towed by the first associated tractor cable 11 , 21 . When the geography of the location of the transport installation 100 is too restrictive, for example when a river is on the route as illustrated in the figure 1 ([Fig.1 ]), second segments 120 equip the transport installation 100 on the route of the vehicles 30 along which the vehicles 30 are entirely carried, and driven at the nominal linear speed, by the associated tractor cable 11 , 21 .

There figure 8 ([Fig.8 ]) illustrates a schematic view of another embodiment of a transport installation 100 which differs essentially from the embodiment described above in that it comprises a single single-cable loop, namely a single first tractor cable 11 Another difference which results from this configuration is that the motor station comprising the drive means 12 is located in a lateral space, here on the interior side, of the closed loop 10 of the first tractor cable 11 , and not in a zone intersection between two closed loops of cables 11 , 21. Of course, the power station comprising the drive means 12 could also be located on the exterior side of the closed loop 10 , this depending in particular on the geometry of the carriage 40 and of that of the attachment means 31 , but possibly also depending on the topography of the external environment. Thus, transfer means comparable to those of boarding and/or disembarkation stations 150 or to those used in transition zone 103 must be provided. In this case two cases can be considered.

In a first configuration, as illustrated in the figure 8 ([Fig.8 ]), the power car is located in a boarding and/or disembarkation station 150 , said boarding and/or disembarkation station 150 is therefore also the power station: in such a configuration, the transfer means comprising the rollers drive 45 are configured to allow the slowing down when entering the station and the acceleration when leaving the station of the speed of the vehicles 30 and comprising the hooking means 31 including the disengageable clamp 34 for unhooking and then removably hooking the vehicle 30 to the tractor cable 11 as the drive means 12 pass. In such a configuration, after disengagement of the vehicle by the disengagement means 33 , the tires forming drive rollers 45 slow down the vehicle 30 to a disembarkation-boarding speed, for example 0.25m/s, then then the tires forming drive rollers 45 accelerate the vehicle 30 up to the nominal linear speed of the first traction cable 11 for the clutch by the disengagement means 33. Thus, the disengagement means 33 are configured so as to release the vehicle 30 from the first traction cable 11 to which it is attached upstream of the drive means 12 , in particular of the driving pulley P1 then to hook the vehicle 30 to the same first tractor cable 11 , downstream of the drive means 12 , in particular of the driving pulley P1. The transfer means are therefore comparable to those used at an embarkation and/or disembarkation station 150 , in the previous embodiment.

In a second configuration, as illustrated on the figure 9 ([Fig.9 ]), the engine is located outside an embarkation and/or disembarkation station 150 , In this case the transfer means are therefore comparable to those used at a transfer zone 103 , in the previous mode of achievement. In summary, everything happens as in a station with the difference that the tires forming drive rollers 45 are instructed to maintain the vehicle 30 at a speed equal to the nominal linear speed of the first tractor cable 11. The vehicles are thus guided along a transfer running track similar to the transition running tracks 311 with the difference that the disengagement means 33 are configured so as to release the vehicle 30 from the first tractor cable 11 to which it is attached upstream of the means drive 12 , in particular of the driving pulley P1 then to hook the vehicle 30 to the same first tractor cable 11 , downstream of the drive means 12 , in particular of the driving pulley P1.

Naturally, the invention is described in the above by way of example. It is understood that those skilled in the art are able to carry out different alternative embodiments of the invention without departing from the scope of the invention,

It is emphasized that all the characteristics, as they emerge for a person skilled in the art from the present description, the drawings and the attached claims, even if concretely they have only been described in relation to other specified characteristics, both individually and in any combinations, may be combined with other characteristics or groups of characteristics disclosed herein, provided that this has not been expressly excluded or that technical circumstances make such combinations impossible or devoid of sense.

Claims (14)

1. Transport facility (100), having at least a first traction cable (11) which describes a first closed loop (10) and is configured to be driven by at least one first drive means (12) at a nominal linear speed, and having at least one vehicle (30) having a coupling device (31) which is configured to couple the vehicle (30) to the first traction cable (11), the transport facility (100) comprising at least a first circulation path (101) having at least a first segment (110) comprising at least one travel path (111) extending along the first traction cable (11), the travel path (111) having at least one curvature, the vehicle (30) having a set of carrying and guiding wheels (32) which are configured to travel on the travel path (111) at the nominal linear speed, the first circulation path (101) comprising at least a second segment (120), the transport facility (100) being configured such that the vehicle (30) is coupled to the first traction cable (11) and pulled by the first traction cable (11) at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over the first segment (110) and the second segment (120), the facility comprising guiding means (140) which are configured to guide the first traction cable (11) along the travel path (111) of the first segment (110) of the first circulation path (101), the guiding means being spaced apart by a group of vertical guiding means (141) and horizontal guiding means (142), each group of guiding means (140) comprising two vertical guiding means (141) and two horizontal guiding means (142) distributed radially around the associated traction cable, the transport facility (100) being characterized in that it is configured so that the first traction cable (11) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment (120).
2. Transport facility (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that it comprises at least a second traction cable (21) which describes a second closed loop (20) and is configured to be driven by at least one second drive means (22) at the nominal linear speed, the transport facility (100) comprising at least a second circulation path (102) and being configured so that the vehicles (30) pass from one to the other of the first and second circulation paths (101, 102) at least one transition region (103), and is configured such that the vehicle (30) is coupled to the second traction cable (21) and pulled by the second traction cable (21) at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over at least part of the second circulation path (102).
3. Transport facility (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that the second traffic path (102) has at least a first segment (210) comprising at least one travel path (211) extending along the second traction cable (21), the travel path (211) of the first segment (210) having at least one curvature, the carrying and guiding wheels (32) of the vehicle (30) being configured to travel on the travel path (211) at the nominal linear speed.
4. Transport facility (100) according to claims 2 and 3, characterized in that the transition region (103) comprises a continuous portion of a preferably rectilinear transition travel path (311) extending from a travel path portion (111) of the first segment (110) of the first traffic path (101) to a travel path portion (211) of the first segment (210) of the second traffic path (102).
5. Transport facility (100) according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the coupling device (31) of the vehicle (30) comprises disengaging means (33) so as to release the vehicle (30) from the traction cable (11, 21) to which it is coupled from among the first and second traction cables (11, 21) and then to couple the vehicle (30) to the other of the traction cables from among the first and second traction cables (21, 11).
6. Transport facility (100) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that it comprises at least one embarking and/or disembarking station (150), the disengaging means (33) being in the disengaged position when the vehicle (30) is in an embarking and/or disembarking position in the embarking and/or disembarking station (150).
7. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims dependent at least on claim 2, characterized in that the second circulation path (102) comprises at least a second segment, the transport facility (100) being configured such that the vehicle (30) is coupled to the second traction cable (21) and pulled by the second traction cable (21) at the nominal linear speed in order to travel over the first segment (210) and the second segment, the transport facility (100) being configured such that the second traction cable (21) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment.
8. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first traction cable (11) is rectilinear along the second segment (120) of the first circulation path (101).
9. Transport facility (100) according to claims 2 and 8, characterized in that the second traction cable (21) is rectilinear along the second segment of the second circulation path (102).
10. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the travel path comprises two rails spaced apart in a regular manner.
11. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first traction cable (11) constitutes the single driving cable of the vehicle (30) along the first circulation path (101).
12. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims dependent at least on claim 2, in that the second traction cable (21) constitutes the single driving cable of the vehicle (30) along the second circulation path (102).
13. Transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first segment(s) (110) and the second segment(s) (120) of the first traffic path (101) are placed in series.
14. Method for using a transport facility (100) according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises at least:

    - a first step of circulating the vehicle (30) along the first segment (110) during which the set of carrying wheels (32) for guiding the vehicle (30) travels on the travel path (111), the vehicle (30) being driven by the traction cable (11) at the nominal linear speed; and

    - a second step of circulating the vehicle (30) along the second segment (210) during which the first traction cable (11) fully carries the vehicle (30) and drives it at the nominal linear speed along the second segment (120).

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