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US 4,508,205 AGranted
Double cable funicular transport device, looped on itself and with speed variation
OwnerMichel Aulagner, Jean-Paul Jourinventors
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A funicular type transport device including a variation chain and at least one tractor chain. The variation chain includes a plurality of variation links of variable length forming a continuous loop and a plurality of mobiles interconnected with the plurality of variation links. Each of the plurality of mobile components is provided with an interconnection device selectively engageable with the at least one tractor chain. A sensor measures the tension in the variation chain. A control device responds to the sensor to maintain the tension in the variation chain below a predetermined maximum level.
Claims12
A funicular type transportation device comprising:
- stationary rail means defining a first continuous loop;
- a variation chain comprising a plurality of variation links of variable length, said plurality of variation links being interconnected with each other in a series which is looped back on itself, said variation chain being mounted to said stationary rail means such as to be movable about said first continuous loop;
- variation link control means disposed in first predetermined locations relative to said stationary rail means, said variation link control means controlling the length of each variation link of said plurality of variation links in said first predetermined locations such that said variation link control means define a rule of speed for said plurality of variation links on said variation chain as said variation chain travels about said first continuous loop, said variation link control means defining at least one high speed zone of said first continuous loop;
- tractor means disposed adjacent said at least one high speed zone of said first continuous loop, said tractor means comprising at least one cable forming a second continuous loop, a portion of said at least one cable being disposed adjacent said at least one high speed zone;
- drive means driving said tractor means at a predetermined speed around said second continuous loop;
- a plurality of mobile components spaced along said variation chain, each mobile component of said plurality of mobile components being interconnected with at least one variation link of said plurality of variation links, the spacing of adjacent mobile components of said plurality of mobile components along said variation chain being determined by the various lengths of said plurality of variation links, such that the instantaneous velocity of any one mobile component of said plurality of mobile components relative to an adjacent mobile component of said plurality of mobile components is determined by said rule of speed;
- a plurality of controllably operable interconnection means for interconnecting said plurality of mobile components with said tractor means, each interconnection means of said plurality of controllably operable interconnection means being controllably operable for interconnecting an associated mobile component of said plurality of mobile components with said at least one cable such that said associated mobile component is driven by said at least one cable;
- actuation means disposed in at least one second predetermined location relative to said stationary rail means, said at least one second predetermined location being at an upstream end of said at least one high speed zone, said actuation means being controllably operable for actuating each interconnection means of said plurality of controllably operable interconnection means when the associated mobile component associated therewith passes said at least one second predetermined location as said variation chain travels along said first continuous loop, such that said interconnection means of said associated mobile component interconnects said associated mobile component with said at least one cable line as said associated mobile component passes said at least one second predetermined location;
- deactuation means disposed in at least one third predetermined location relative to said stationary rail means, said at least one third predetermined location being located at a downstream end of said at least one high speed zone, said deactuation means being controllably operable for deactuating each interconnection means of said plurality of controllably operable interconnection means when said associated mobile component passes said at least one third predetermined location as said variation chain travels along said first continuous loop, such that said interconnection means of said associated mobile component disconnects said associated mobile component with said at least one cable as said associated mobile component passes said at least one third predetermined location;
- sensor means measuring the force of said variation link control means on said variation chain;
- and
- control means responsive to said sensor means such as to control said drive means in a manner to maintain said force of said variation link control means on said variation chain below a predetermined maximum level.
9 more elements
A funicular type transportation device comprising:
- stationary rail means defining a first continuous loop;
- a variation chain comprising a plurality of variation links of variable length, said plurality of variation links being interconnected with each other in a series which is looped back on itself, said variation chain being mounted to said stationary rail means such as to be movable about said first continuous loop;
- each of said plurality of variation links comprising an unraveling reel type link comprising:
- a pair of spaced apart bogies;
- a roller attached to each of said bogies;
- and
- a variation cable having a first end wound about the roller of one of said pair of spaced apart bogies and a second end wound about the roller of the other of said pair of spaced apart bogies;
- variation link control means disposed in first predetermined locations relative to said stationary rail means, said variation link control means controlling the length of each variation link of said plurality of variation links in said first predetermined locations such that said variation link control means define a rule of speed for said plurality of variation links on said variation chain as said variation chain travels about said first continuous loop, said variation link control means defining at least one high speed zone of said first continuous loop, said variation link control means comprising:
- ramp means disposed in said first predetermined locations;
- and
- follower means fixedly interconnected with one of said rollers, said follower means engaging said ramp means such as to rotate said one of said rollers and thereby vary the length of said variation link when said follower means moves by said ramp means as said variation chain travels about said first continuous loop;
- tractor means disposed adjacent said at least one high speed zone of said first continuous loop, said tractor means comprising at least one cable forming a second continuous loop, a portion of said at least one cable being disposed adjacent said at least one high speed zone;
- drive means driving said tractor means at a predetermined speed around said second continuous loop;
- a plurality of mobile components spaced along said variation chain, each mobile component of said plurality of mobile components being interconnected with at least one variation link of said plurality of variation links, the spacing of adjacent mobile components of said plurality of mobile components along said variation chain being determined by the various lengths of said plurality of variation links, such that the instantaneous velocity of any one mobile component of said plurality of mobile components relative to an adjacent mobile component of said plurality of mobile components is determined by said rule of speed;
- a plurality of controllably operable interconnection means for interconnecting said plurality of mobile components with said tractor means, each interconnection means of said plurality of controllably operable interconnection means being controllably operable for interconnecting an associated mobile component of said plurality of mobile components with said at least one cable such that said associated mobile component is driven by said at least one cable;
- actuation means disposed in at least one second predetermined location relative to said stationary rail means, said at least one second predetermined location being at an upstream end of said at least one high speed zone, said actuation means being controllably operable for actuating each interconnection means of said plurality of controllably operable interconnection means when the associated mobile component associated therewith passes said at least one second predetermined location as said variation chain travels along said first continuous loop, such that said interconnection means of said associated mobile component interconnects said associated mobile component with said at least one cable as said associated mobile component passes said at least one second predetermined location;
- deactuation means disposed in at least one third predetermined location relative to said stationary rail means, said at least one third predetermined location being located at a downstream end of said at least one high speed zone, said deactuation means being controllably operable for deactuating each interconnection means of said plurality of controllably operable interconnection means when said associated mobile component passes said at least one third predetermined location as said variation chain travels along said first continuous loop, such that said interconnection means of said associated mobile component disconnects said associated mobile component with said at least one cable as said associated mobile component passes said at least one third predetermined location;
- sensor means measuring the force exerted by said follower means on said ramp means;
- and
- control means responsive to said sensor means such as to control said drive means in a manner to maintain the tension in said variation chain below a predetermined maximum level.
17 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.