Cable transportation installation with improved safety, method for detecting an event on a cable and method for manufacturing one such installation

Cable transportation installation a comprising:

• a cable;
• at least one optical fuse defining a first state allowing an optical signal to pass and a second state preventing the optical signal from passing, the at least one optical fuse being configured to change state between the first state and the second state when the at least one optical fuse detects at least one event on a cable, the at least one event on a cable corresponding to the at least one optical fuse mechanically stressed by the cable, the optical fuse comprising an optical fibre;
• a plurality of pillars each provided with at least one sheave, the cable being arranged pressing on the at least one sheave of the plurality of pillars, at least one pillar of the plurality of pillars being provided with the at least one optical fuse;
• a detection device configured to detect at least one event on a cable, the detection device making the optical signal flow through the at least one optical fuse to monitor the state of the at least one optical fuse, the detection device comprising a transmitter device configured to transmit an optical signal and a receiver device configured to receive said optical signal, the transmitter device being connected to the receiver device by the at least one optical fuse, the detection device being configured to emit an alarm in response to detection of a change of state of the at least one fuse,
• wherein the at least one optical fuse comprises a plurality of optical fuses connected in series on an optical line and designed so that the optical signal can flow through the plurality of optical fuses, each optical fuse being initially in the first state, wherein the detection device comprises a determination device configured to determine a position of one of the optical fuses in the second state among the optical fuses connected in series when an event on a cable has been detected.

Method for detecting an event on a cable in a cable transportation installation comprising at least the following steps:

• providing a cable transportation installation comprising a cable, and a plurality of pillars each provided with at least one sheave, the cable being arranged pressing on the at least one sheave of the plurality of pillars, at least one pillar of the plurality of pillars being provided with at least one optical fuse defining a first state allowing an optical signal to pass and a second state preventing the optical signal from passing, the at least one optical fuse being configured to change state between the first state and the second state when the at least one optical fuse detects an event on the cable;
• regularly transmitting a signal passing through the at least one optical fuse;
• detecting absence of receipt of said signal by a receiver device and deducing therefrom a change of state of the at least one fuse representative of an event on the cable,
• wherein the at least one optical fuse comprises an optical fibre,
• wherein the optical signal is designed to pass through the at least one optical fuse,
• wherein the receiver device is an optical receiver device and wherein at least one optical fuse is configured to change state when said at least one optical fuse is mechanically stressed by the cable, and
• wherein:
• each optical fuse belongs to an optical connector, the optical connectors being connected in series along the optical fibre, wherein each optical connector introduces a disturbance of the optical signal when the optical signal passes through the optical connector, the method comprising a countdown of the number of disturbances of the optical signal received to determine the number of optical connectors passed through and to evaluate the position of the optical fuse that changed state, or
• the optical fuses are connected in series along the optical fibre, wherein two consecutive optical fuses along the optical fibre are always separated by a threshold distance, the threshold distance corresponding to the minimum distance that exists along the optical fibre between two optical fuses and that enables a distinction to be made by a measuring device of the optical signal, determination of the optical fuse that changed state being performed by calculating the time taken to receive the signal reflected by the fuse that changed state.

Method for manufacturing a cable transportation installation comprising:

• providing a cable transportation installation comprising a cable, and a plurality of pillars each provided with at least one sheave, the cable being arranged pressing on the at least one sheave of the plurality of pillars, at least one pillar of the plurality of pillars being provided with at least one electric fuse defining a first state allowing an electrical signal to pass and a second state preventing the electrical signal from passing, the at least one electric fuse being configured to change state between the first state and the second state when the at least one electric fuse is mechanically stressed by the cable, the at least one electric fuse being connected to a detection circuit by an electrically conducting cable, the detection device being configured to detect at least one event on a cable;
• replacing the at least one electric fuse by an optical fuse, the at least one optical fuse defining a first state enabling an optical signal to pass and a second state preventing the optical signal from passing, the at least one optical fuse being configured to change state between the first state and the second state when the at least one optical fuse detects an event on the cable;
• connecting the at least one optical fuse to the detection circuit via an optical line,
• wherein the detection device comprises a transmitter device configured to transmit an optical signal, a receiver device configured to receive said optical signal, the transmitter device being connected to the receiver device by the at least one optical fuse, the detection device being configured to emit an alarm in response to detection of a change of state of the at least one optical fuse of the plurality of pillars,
• wherein the at least one optical fuse is configured to cut an optical fibre by shearing when the at least one optical fuse is mechanically stressed by the cable, and
• wherein the at least one optical fuse comprises a pin fitted in movable manner to sever a loop of optical fibre when the pin is mechanically stressed by the cable and wherein the at least one optical fuse comprises the loop of optical fibre and a body defining a cavity, the loop of optical fibre being fitted inside the cavity around two attachment points separated by the pin, the at least one optical fuse being configured to detect derailment of the cable by means of the pin.

Method for manufacturing a cable transportation installation comprising:

• providing a cable transportation installation comprising a cable, and a plurality of pillars each provided with at least one sheave, the cable being arranged pressing on the at least one sheave of the plurality of pillars, at least one pillar of the plurality of pillars being provided with at least one electric fuse defining a first state allowing an electrical signal to pass and a second state preventing the electrical signal from passing, the at least one electric fuse being configured to change state between the first state and the second state when the at least one electric fuse is mechanically stressed by the cable, the at least one electric fuse being connected to a detection circuit by an electrically conducting cable, the detection device being configured to detect at least one event on a cable;
• replacing the at least one electric fuse by an optical fuse, the at least one optical fuse defining a first state enabling an optical signal to pass and a second state preventing the optical signal from passing, the at least one optical fuse being configured to change state between the first state and the second state when the at least one optical fuse detects an event on the cable;
• connecting the at least one optical fuse to the detection circuit via an optical line,
• wherein the detection device comprises a transmitter device configured to transmit an optical signal, a receiver device configured to receive said optical signal, the transmitter device being connected to the receiver device by the at least one optical fuse, the detection device being configured to emit an alarm in response to detection of a change of state of the at least one optical fuse of the plurality of pillars, and
• wherein the at least one optical fuse comprises a plurality of optical fuses connected in series on an optical line and designed so that the optical signal can flow through the plurality of optical fuses, each optical fuse being initially in the first state, wherein the detection device comprises a determination device configured to determine a position of one of the optical fuses in the second state among the optical fuses connected in series when an event on a cable has been detected.