WO2014140501A1

WO2014140501A1 - Mechanical ascension vehicle and installation comprising said vehicle

Info

Publication number: WO2014140501A1
Application number: PCT/FR2014/050596
Authority: WO
Inventors: Yves Chedal Bornu
Original assignee: Sommital
Priority date: 2013-03-14
Filing date: 2014-03-14
Publication date: 2014-09-18
Also published as: CA2905193A1; FR3003222B1; RU2015142743A; CN105189243A; JP2016513596A; FR3003222A1; EP2969698A1; KR20150129745A; US20160031452A1

Abstract

The vehicle (1) comprises a suspension member (4) having an upper end (6) from which a portion (8) for coupling to an aerial carrying track cable (10) extends transversely, and a control member (12) for controlling a predetermined technical function. In addition, the vehicle (1) comprises an offset arm (14) that extends in a transverse plane from a side of the upper end (6) that is opposite the side from which the coupling portion (8) extends, the offset arm (14) having a proximal end arranged at the height of the upper end (6) and a distal end that supports the control member (12), a stop member (16), and connecting means that connect the proximal end of the offset arm (14) and the suspension member (4), the connecting means allowing the offset arm (14) to move in the transverse plane.

Description

Ski lift vehicle and installation comprising this vehicle

The present invention relates to a lift vehicle and a lift installation comprising the vehicle.

Conventionally, a ski lift facility allows passengers, skiers or pedestrians, to go up or down slopes. A ski lift facility usually has two end stations, a station at the bottom of the slope and a station at the top of the slope. These end stations are connected by a carrying aerial cable and tractor can form a closed loop. It is known to drive the cable through pulleys and support it with pylons. Vehicles suspended from the cable allow the transportation of passengers from one end station to another.

When the cable forms a closed loop, each end station may include both a boarding area and a passenger landing area. The ski lift installation thus offers the possibility of simultaneously transporting passengers up the slope and passengers descending.

The ski lift vehicles can be disengaged or not. When they are disengageable, the vehicles can be detached from the cable to which they are suspended to be routed to a secondary route when they arrive at a loading or unloading area. On the secondary route, the speed of the vehicle is reduced to facilitate the boarding or disembarking of passengers, thus providing more comfort and safety. When the vehicles are not disengaged, they remain permanently on the cable to which they are suspended. In this case, the absence of a clutch release system provides a simpler structure lift installation.

There are several types of lifts: ski lifts (users are towed by an apparatus, skis remaining in contact with the ground), teleported with, among others, cable cars, gondola lifts and chairlifts (users transported without contact with the ground ).

In addition, chairlift vehicles traditionally comprise a movable railing between a high position in which the guardrail clears a space to allow boarding or the landing of passengers, and a low position in which the guardrail forms an obstacle to prevent the fall of a passenger.

To ensure a high level of security when a chairlift vehicle transits between the end stations, it is known from patent document WO 2012/080603 to lock the railing in the down position when the vehicle is moved between two stations. end, and unlock the railing when the vehicle is in an end station to allow the disembarkation and boarding of passengers. As described in patent document WO 2012/080603, the railing locking means may comprise an electromagnet cooperating with a magnetisable member, the electromagnet being electrically connected to electrical conductors on board the vehicle. The power supply of the electromagnet or not via the onboard conductors makes it possible to exert an attraction or not of the magnetisable member in order to lock or unlock the railing.

This solution operates in particular with a sequential power supply device, as described in patent document FR 2 937 938, comprising a fixed electrical conductor having a plurality of flexible conductor contact wires forming a conductive brush, and a mobile conductor embedded on the vehicle making it possible to establish an electrical contact when the mobile conductor comes into contact with the wires of the conductive brush.

However, this sequential feeding device is difficult to adapt to old installations. Indeed, for reasons of original design of these facilities, it is not possible to add mechanical stresses on the structural elements of the lift seats.

The patent document WO 2012/095606 overcomes this disadvantage by proposing a mobile structure for supporting conductive brushes for sequentially feeding the vehicles. This mobile structure comprises a mobile suspended arm matching the oscillating movements of the hanger to maintain an electrical contact without mechanically constraining the suspension of the lift seats.

However, the weight of this mobile structure may sometimes require the addition of a support tower. Depending on the case, the addition of this support tower may be complicated and / or expensive to implement. Also, the present invention aims to overcome this disadvantage by proposing a mechanical lift vehicle and a mechanical lift installation providing the establishment of a reliable control of a predetermined technical function, without mechanical stress of the suspension of the vehicle, with a relatively low mass to limit the complexity and costs of implementation, and requiring little maintenance.

For this purpose, the subject of the present invention is a mechanical lift vehicle comprising a hanger, the hanger having an upper end from which extends transversely an attachment portion intended to suspend the mechanical lift vehicle to a carrying aerial cable and tractor, and a control member, for controlling a predetermined technical function of the mechanical lift vehicle, characterized in that the mechanical lift vehicle comprises

an offset arm, extending in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, from a side of the upper end opposite to that from which the attachment portion extends, the offset arm having a proximal end arranged at the height of the upper end of the hanger and a distal end supporting the control member,

an abutment member against which is intended to support the offset arm, and

connecting means, connecting the proximal end of the offset arm and the hanger, the connecting means allowing the displacement of the offset arm in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle,

so that the offset arm is movable relative to the hanger between a pre-engagement position, wherein the offset arm, bearing on the stop member, is intended to come into contact with a guide rail of a lift installation, and an engagement position in which the offset arm, away from the stop member, is intended to slide along the guide ramp so that the control member allows the realization of the predetermined technical function.

Thus, the mechanical lift vehicle according to the invention offers the possibility of establishing a reliable control and not dependent on the oscillations of the hanger, caused by an eccentric load or a strong lateral wind, and this without guiding or any other form of mechanical stress of the hanger, without significant weighting of the vehicle or the installation, and without particular complexity of implementation, so that the invention can be used for both old and new installations , with disengageable or non-disengageable vehicles.

Note that the arm is arranged at the height of the upper end of the hanger, that is to say where the oscillation movements of the hanger are the weakest, so that these oscillation movements do not that may vary the position of the offset arm relative to the guide ramp. This contributes to the reliability of contact regardless of the inclination of the hanger.

Furthermore, the fact of transversely deporting the control member via the offset arm, away from a vertical axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, allows for the control of a predetermined technical function remote from the hanger . Thus, it is not likely to come into contact with the guide ramp arranged on the path of the offset arm, even when the hanger oscillates under the effect of a strong lateral wind or an off-center load . This results in an absolute freedom of movement of the hanger, which can not be guided or mechanically constrained during the movement of the lift vehicle.

Finally, the fact that the offset arm extends on the opposite side from that from which extends the attachment portion prevents the carrier and towing aerial cable forms a possible obstacle to the displacement of the offset arm, for greater contact reliability.

According to one embodiment, the control member is formed of two substantially cylindrical electrical conductors aligned along the arm and each intended to cooperate with a row of electrically conductive brushes of the mechanical lift installation, the electrical conductors being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance to prevent the two electrical conductors from contacting the same row of electrically conductive brushes.

This feature has the advantage of allowing establishment of a reliable electrical contact between the lift installation and the lift vehicle.

Advantageously, the offset arm and the stop member are arranged relative to each other so that the offset arm is recalled in pre-engagement position against the stop member under the effect of gravity only.

In other words, the mechanical lift vehicle has no return means for actively recalling the offset arm in the pre-engagement position.

This characteristic offers the advantage of limiting the number of pieces. This results in both a limited mass and a need for less maintenance.

According to an exemplary embodiment, the connecting means comprise a pivot connection P1, of axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle, allowing a rotation of the offset arm relative to the suspension in the substantially perpendicular transverse plane. to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle.

The pivot connection offers the advantage of a simple and reliable solution to allow the movement of the offset arm.

According to one possibility, the connecting means comprise a flexible longitudinal element whose distal end is attached to the proximal end of the offset arm and whose proximal end is fixed relative to the hanger, the flexion of the flexible longitudinal element allowing the moving the offset arm in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle.

This feature offers the advantage of eliminating a mechanical connection, such as a joint, between the offset arm and the hanger, so that this connection requires less maintenance.

Advantageously, the connecting means comprise a connecting arm, fixed against the hanger, the connecting arm having a distal end is connected to the proximal end of the offset arm, and an oblique portion extending to its distal end, on which is fixed the abutment member, the oblique portion being configured so that an intermediate portion of the offset arm, between its proximal end and its distal end, is supported by the abutment member in the position of pre-commitment.

The use of a connecting arm to indirectly connect the offset arm to the hanger offers the advantage of being able to adapt the solution to installations and vehicles of old lifts. The invention also relates to a ski lift installation, comprising two end stations connected by a carrier and towing aerial cable, a mechanical lift vehicle having the aforementioned characteristics, and a guide ramp arranged substantially parallel to the carrying aerial cable. and tractor, in the path of the offset arm of the mechanical lift vehicle, so that the passage of the mechanical lift vehicle at the guide ramp causes the displacement arm to move by sliding thereof along the the guide ramp, and consequently the achievement of the predetermined technical function.

Advantageously, the guide ramp is arranged in or in the immediate vicinity of a loading zone and / or in or in the immediate vicinity of an unloading zone of one of the end stations.

According to one possibility, the ski lift installation is a non-disengageable type of installation.

Nevertheless, the lift installation may be disengageable type.

According to one possibility, the ski lift installation comprises a ski lift vehicle having the aforementioned characteristics and comprises two rows of conductive brushes substantially parallel to each other and to the carrier and towing aerial cable, the two rows of conductive brushes being arranged above and / or below the guide ramp to contact one of the electrical conductors as the offset arm slides along the guide rail.

Other features and advantages of the present invention will emerge clearly from the following description of an embodiment of the invention, given by way of non-limiting example, with reference to the appended drawings, in which:

FIG. 1 is a side view of a mechanical lift vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention,

FIG. 2 is a front view of a mechanical lift vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention, FIGS. 3 and 4 are front views of a detail of a mechanical lift vehicle according to two embodiments of the invention,

- Figure 5 is a schematic top view of a lift installation comprising a mechanical lift vehicle according to one embodiment of the invention.

Figures 1 and 2 show a vehicle 1 mechanical lift according to one embodiment of the invention, including a teleported vehicle, in this case a lift seat. This lift seat can include a railing 2 movable between a high position in which the guardrail 2 clears a space to allow the embarkation or disembarkation of passengers, and a low position in which the guardrail 2 forms an obstacle to prevent the fall of a passenger. The low and high positions are simultaneously represented in FIG.

It is specified that the description is made with respect to a Cartesian reference system, visible in FIGS. 1 and 2, linked to the vehicle 1 of mechanical lift, the axis X being oriented in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1 of mechanical lift, the axis Y being oriented in a transverse direction of the vehicle 1, and the Z axis being oriented in a vertical direction of the vehicle 1. The orientations, directions, plans, longitudinal, transverse or vertical displacements, front, back, top, bottom, are thus defined with respect to this reference frame.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the mechanical lift seat comprises a hanger 4. The hanger 4 has an upper end 6, more particularly visible in FIGS. 3 and 4, from which extends transversely, it is that is to say in a plane substantially perpendicular to the axis X, a portion 8 hooking. The attachment portion 8 is intended to suspend the mechanical lift seat to a carrier and tractor aerial cable, as can be seen in FIGS. 1, 3 and 4.

Note that the upper end 6 of the hanger 4 corresponds to the upper part of the hanger 4, as opposed to the lower end of the hanger 4, or lower part, which is attached to the frame of the vehicle 1 of ascent mechanical, as shown in Figure 2. The lift seat also comprises a control member 12, an offset arm 14, a stop member 16 and connecting means connecting the offset arm 14 and the hanger 4, which will be described in more detail below. after.

The control member 12 is intended to control a predetermined technical function. According to the embodiments illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 4, the control member 12 corresponds to an electrical sensor formed of two substantially cylindrical electrical conductors 18 aligned along the offset arm 14 and each intended to cooperate with a row. of electrically conductive brushes of a mechanical lift installation 100.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the electrical conductors 18 are spaced apart by a predetermined distance to prevent the two electrical conductors from contacting one and the same row of electrically conductive brushes.

The electrically conductive brushes may be formed of a plurality of flexible conductive wires whose free end is intended to rub against one of the electrical conductors to establish an electrical connection between the mechanical lift installation 100 and the ski lift.

This electrical connection makes it possible to control the realization of the predetermined technical function, for example corresponding to the magnetic unlocking of the guardrail 2, as described in the patent document WO 2012/080603. Thus, the electrical conductors 18 belong to an electrical circuit intended to be supplied via the electrically conductive brushes 20 to control, for example, the resetting of the locking or the unlocking of a railing 2 of the mechanical lift seat.

The offset arm 14 extends in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y of the mechanical lift seat. The offset arm 14 further extends from one side of the upper end 6 opposite to that from which extends the fastening portion 8.

As can be seen in FIGS. 3 and 4, the offset arm 14 has a proximal end, arranged at the height of the upper end 6 of the hanger 4, and a distal end supporting the control member 12. It will be noted that the offset arm 14 can only be dedicated to the displacement of the control member 12 in order to allow the displacement of the control member 12 in contact with the guide ramp 104.

The abutment member 1 6 is intended to receive the support arm 14 deported. It will be noted that the offset arm 14 and the abutment member 16 may be arranged relative to each other so that the offset arm 14 is biased back to the pre-engagement position against the stop member 16 under the effect of gravity only. The stop member 16 is for example arranged under the arm 14 of offset to support the latter.

The connecting means directly or indirectly connect the proximal end of the offset arm 14 and the hanger 4, while allowing the movement, in particular ascending or descending, of the arm 14 of offset in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis Y the lift seat.

Thus, the offset arm 14 is movable relative to the hanger 4 between a pre-engagement position (not shown), in which the offset arm 14 bears on the abutment member 16 and is intended to come to the contact with a ramp 104 for guiding the mechanical lift installation 100, and an engagement position (shown in FIGS. 2 to 4), in which the offset arm 14 is at a distance from the stop member 16 , and slides along the guide ramp 104 so that the control member 12 allows the realization of the predetermined technical function. According to the example of FIGS. 2 to 4, in the engagement position, the electrical conductors 18 rub against the rows of electrically conductive brushes 20. Thus, in the engagement position, an electrical connection is established between the lift installation 100 and the lift seat.

Note that, in the engagement position, the offset arm 14 may be substantially horizontal and that, in pre-engagement position, the offset arm 14 may be inclined relative to the horizontal, forming with the horizontal an angle substantially less than 45 °, in particular less than 30 °, and preferably less than 15 °. This limits the movement of the offset arm 14 between the pre-engagement position and the engagement position, for a minimum of mechanical stress. The fact of having a horizontal offset arm 14 in the engagement position also makes it possible, if necessary, to horizontally align the electrical conductors 18 to guarantee reliable electrical contact. According to the example of Figure 3, the connecting means comprise a pivot connection P1, of axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the mechanical lift seat.

According to the example of FIG. 4, the connecting means comprise a flexible longitudinal element 22 whose one distal end is attached to the proximal end of the offset arm 14 and whose one proximal end is fixed relative to the suspension 4. flexible longitudinal element 22 corresponds for example to a leaf spring, for example metal or composite material, so that the longitudinal metal element 22 provides the flexibility required while having the particularity of firmly support the arm 14 deport when the one it is remote from the guide ramp 104.

As can be seen in Figures 3 and 4, the connecting means may also comprise a connecting arm 24. The connecting arm 24 is fixed against the hanger 4. It has a distal end connected to the proximal end of the offset arm 14, and an oblique portion 26 extending to this distal end. The abutment member 16 is here fixed on the oblique portion 26, the latter being configured so that an intermediate portion of the offset arm 14, that is to say a portion between the proximal end and the distal end of the offset arm 14, is supported by the abutment member 16 in the pre-engagement position. The connecting arm 24 may possibly follow the shape of the hanger 4 and be aligned along it.

It will also be noted that the distal end of the connecting arm 24 can be connected to the proximal end of the offset arm 14 either directly via the pivot connection P1 or indirectly via the flexible element 22. Where appropriate, the proximal end of the flexible member 22 is attached to the distal end of the connecting arm 24.

As illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, the oblique portion 26 may extend substantially transversely in a direction substantially opposite to that in which the arm 14 deportation extends.

The invention also relates to a mechanical lift installation 100, comprising two end stations 102, shown in FIG. 5, connected by a carrier and tractor aerial cable, a mechanical lift vehicle 1 as previously described, in particular a seat of a mechanical lift, and a guide ramp 104 arranged substantially parallel to the carrier and tractor aerial cable 10, in the path of the arm 14 of the mechanical lift vehicle 1, so that the passage of the vehicle 1 of the mechanical lift at the guide ramp 104 causes the displacement arm 14 to move by sliding thereof along the guide ramp 104, and consequently the achievement of the predetermined technical function, as the resetting the lock or unlocking the guardrail 2.

The carrier and towing aerial cable is for example supported by pylons (not shown) and pulled by pulleys 106 arranged at each end station 102.

The guide ramp 104 may be arranged in a boarding zone 108 and / or in a landing zone 1 10 of one of the end stations 102.

The guide ramp 104 may also be arranged in a close zone (not shown) of the landing zone 1 of one of the end stations 102, for example in front of the landing zone 1 1 0, in the immediate vicinity of this, to allow users to unlock for example the guardrail 2 early enough and, once the guardrail 2 unlocked, give them time to raise it before leaving the vehicle 1.

The guide ramp 104 may comprise a first inclined portion 1 12 arranged on the path of the offset arm 14 to guide the offset arm 14 to a portion 14 main substantially parallel to the carrier and tractor aerial cable.

According to the example of FIGS. 1 to 5, the mechanical lift installation 100 comprises two rows of conductive brushes 20 substantially parallel to each other and to the carrier and tractor aerial cable, the two rows of conductive brushes being able to be arranged above the guide ramp 104 to make contact with one of the electrical conductors 18 when the offset arm 14 slides along the guide ramp 104.

The two rows of conductive brushes 20 are for example fixed on the guide ramp 104.

Where appropriate, the two rows of conductive brushes 20 are arranged above and / or below the main portion 14.

It will be noted that the ski lift installation 100 may correspond to a non-disengageable type installation 100. In other words, the lift installation 100 is devoid of a disengagement system of the vehicle 1 of the mechanical lift. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiment described above, this embodiment having been given as an example. Modifications are possible, especially from the point of view of the constitution of the various elements or by the substitution of technical equivalents, without departing from the scope of the invention.

Thus, the invention is not limited to lift seats; it can be applied for example to vehicles 1 cable car type of lift.

In addition, the predetermined technical function performed by moving the offset arm 14 in the engagement position may correspond to another function that the locking or unlocking of a railing 2, such as for example the opening of a or several doors of a cabin.

Finally, the control member 12 may correspond, instead of an on-board electrical sensor, to another type of control, such as a cable control or a hydraulic control.

Claims

1. Vehicle (1) of mechanical lift comprising a hanger (4), the hanger (4) having an upper end (6) from which extends transversely a portion (8) of attachment for suspending the vehicle (1) lift mechanical device to a carrier and tractor cable (10), and a control member (12) for controlling a predetermined technical function of the mechanical lift vehicle (1), characterized in that the mechanical lift vehicle (1) comprises

an offset arm (14) extending in a transverse plane substantially perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the mechanical lift vehicle (1) from a side of the upper end (6) opposite to that from which the attachment portion (8), the offset arm (14) having a proximal end arranged at a height of the upper end (6) of the hanger (4) and a distal end supporting the control member (12), an abutment member (16) against which the abutment arm (14) is intended to bear, and

connecting means, connecting the proximal end of the arm (14) offset and the hanger (4), the connecting means allowing the displacement of the arm (14) offset in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (1) lift,

so that the arm (14) of offset is movable relative to the hanger (4) between a pre-engagement position, wherein the arm (14) offset, resting on the member (16) abutment, is intended to come into contact with a ramp (104) for guiding an installation (100) for mechanical lift, and an engagement position in which the arm (14) of offset, at a distance from the member (16) ) stop, is intended to slide along the guide ramp (104) so that the control member (12) allows the realization of the predetermined technical function.

2. Vehicle (1) mechanical lift according to claim 1, characterized in that the control member (12) is formed of two conductors (18) electrical, substantially cylindrical, aligned along the arm and each intended to cooperate with a row of electrically conductive brushes (20) of the mechanical lift installation (100), the electrical conductors (18) being spaced from each other by a predetermined distance to prevent the two conductors (18) electrical contact with the same row of brushes (20) electrically conductive.

Vehicle (1) for mechanical lift according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the offset arm (14) and the stop member (16) are arranged relative to one another so that the offset arm (14) is biased to the pre-engagement position against the abutment member (16) under the effect of gravity only.

4. Vehicle (1) lifts according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting means comprise a pivot connection (P1), of axis substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (1) of mechanical lift, allowing a rotation of the arm (14) of offset relative to the suspension (4) in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (1) mechanical lift.

5. Vehicle (1) lift according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connecting means comprise a flexible longitudinal element (22) having a distal end attached to the proximal end of the offset arm and whose proximal end is fixed relative to the hanger (4), the flexion of the flexible longitudinal element (22) allowing the displacement of the offset arm (14) in the transverse plane substantially perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle ( 1) lift.

6. Vehicle (1) lift according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the connecting means comprises a link arm (24), fixed against the hanger (4), the arm (24) of a link having a distal end is connected to the proximal end of the offset arm (14), and an oblique portion (26) extending to its distal end, to which the abutment member (16) is attached, the oblique portion (26) being configured so that an intermediate portion of the offset arm (14) between its proximal end and its distal end is supported by the abutment member (16) in the pre-engagement position.

7. Lift installation (100), comprising two end stations (102) connected by a carrier and tractor aerial cable (10), a vehicle (1) lift according to one of claims 1 to 6, and a ramp (104) for guiding arranged substantially parallel to the cable (10) carrying air and tractor, in the path of the arm (14) of deporting the vehicle (1) mechanical lift, so that the passage of the vehicle (1) lift at the guide ramp (104) causes the displacement arm (14) to move by sliding thereof along the guide ramp (104), and consequently the realization of the predetermined technical function.

8. Installation (100) lift according to claim

7, characterized in that the guide ramp (104) is arranged in or in the immediate vicinity of an embarkation zone (108) and / or in or in the immediate vicinity of a landing zone (1 10) of the one of the end stations (102).

9. Installation (100) lift according to claim 7 or 8, comprising a vehicle (1) for mechanical lift according to claim 2 or according to one of claims 3 to 6 dependent on claim 2, characterized in that lift installation (100) comprises two rows of conductive brushes (20) substantially parallel to each other and to the carrier and tractor aerial cable (10), the two rows of conductive brushes (20) being arranged above and / or below the guide ramp (104) for contacting one of the electrical conductors (18) when the offset arm (14) slides along the guide ramp (104).