The present invention relates to a cable transportation system.

More specifically, the present invention relates to a cable transportation system comprising at least one supporting cable; a haul cable; a rescue haul cable; a transportation unit; at least one rescue vehicle movable along the supporting cable and hauled by the rescue haul cable; and a station comprising a main track adjacent to the supporting cable and for supporting the transportation unit.

The transportation unit is transferred from the supporting cable to the main track at the station, and cooperates with actuating devices. The main track normally extends along a U-shaped path, and the actuating devices comprise a release/connecting device for releasing/connecting the transportation unit from/to the haul cable; and an auxiliary actuating device for moving the transportation unit along the main track once the transportation unit is released from the haul cable.

Cable transportation systems of the above type are often also equipped with a rescue vehicle which, in the event of stoppage of the haul cable, recovers the transportation unit and returns it to the station turnaround point to allow the passengers to alight.

To do this, known rescue vehicles are supported by the supporting cable and hauled by the rescue haul cable, which is operated by a drive pulley connected to a generator set.

The rescue vehicle is normally parked close to a station, and, when needed, is hoisted by a lifting device onto the supporting cable and connected to the rescue haul cable. The rescue vehicle setup procedure is particularly time-consuming, and involves a relatively long wait for passengers in the distressed transportation unit.

A cable transportation system of the above-identified type is disclosed in EP 265354.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a cable transportation system designed to eliminate the drawbacks of the known art, and which, in particular, provides for fast intervention of the rescue vehicle.

According to the present invention, there is provided a cable transportation system comprising at least one supporting cable; a haul cable; a rescue haul cable; a transportation unit; at least one rescue vehicle movable along the supporting cable and hauled by the rescue haul cable; and a station comprising a main track adjacent to the supporting cable and for supporting the transportation unit; the cable transportation system being characterized by comprising an auxiliary track for supporting the rescue vehicle in a rest position; the auxiliary track being adjacent to the main track and selectively connectable to the main track by means of a switch device.

The present invention also relates to a method of operating a cable transportation system.

According to the present invention, there is provided a method of operating a cable transportation system comprising at least one supporting cable; a haul cable; a rescue haul cable; a transportation unit; at least one rescue vehicle movable along the supporting cable and hauled by the rescue haul cable; and a station comprising a main track adjacent to the supporting cable and for supporting the transportation unit; the method comprising the step of moving the rescue vehicle along the supporting cable to recover said transportation unit in the event of a breakdown of the cable transportation system; and the method being characterized by comprising the steps of parking the rescue vehicle on an auxiliary track adjacent to the main track; connecting the auxiliary track to the main track by means of a switch device; and moving the rescue vehicle along the main track.

A non-limiting embodiment of the present invention will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

• Figure 1 shows a schematic side view, with parts removed for clarity, of a cable transportation system in accordance with the present invention;
• Figure 2 shows a larger-scale view in perspective of a detail of the Figure 1 cable transportation system;
• Figure 3 shows a larger-scale, schematic plan view, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the Figure 1 cable transportation system;
• Figure 4 shows a larger-scale, schematic side view, with parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the Figure 1 cable transportation system;
• Figure 5 shows a larger-scale, front view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the Figure 1 system;
• Figure 6 shows a larger-scale, schematic front view, with parts in section and parts removed for clarity, of a detail of the Figure 1 system.

Number 1 in Figure 1 indicates as a whole a cable transportation system comprising a bottom station 2; a top station 3; two intermediate roller assemblies 4 fitted to respective pylons 5; two supporting cables 6 (only one shown in Figure 1) ; a haul cable 7; a rescue haul cable 8; and a transportation unit 9 having a trolley 10 fitted to supporting cables 6 and hauled, in use, by haul cable 7, to which trolley 10 is connected by a clamp 11.

Cable transportation system 1 comprises a rescue vehicle 12, which, in the event of a breakdown of cable transportation system 1, provides for recovering and transferring transportation unit 9 to bottom station 2 or top station 3.

Though Figure 1 shows only one rescue vehicle 12, it is understood that the system may comprise a number of rescue vehicles 12 parked respectively at bottom station 2, top station 3, and even at any intermediate stations.

With reference to Figure 2, rescue vehicle 12 rests on supporting cables 6, is hauled by rescue haul cable 8 in a direction D, and comprises a trolley 13; an anchoring device 14 for engaging a transportation unit 9 (not shown in Figure 2); a connecting device 15 for connecting trolley 13 to rescue haul cable 8; and a rescue crew platform 16 fitted to trolley 13 to rotate about an axis A1, so that platform 16 is positioned horizontally regardless of the tilt angle of trolley 13.

In the example shown, trolley 13 supports in rotary manner four assemblies 17 (only two shown in Figure 2), each of which comprises two rollers 18 connected by a rocker arm and engaging one of supporting cables 6.

Anchoring device 14 comprises a tow hook 19 integral with trolley 13; and a tow hook 20 connected to trolley 13 by an arm 21 to pivot about an axis A2, and connected to arm 21 to pivot about an axis A3.

By means of the two tow hooks 19 and 20, trolley 13 of rescue vehicle 12 is connectable to trolley 10 of transportation unit 9 along two opposite sides.

Connecting device 15 comprises a first connecting assembly 22 fixed to rescue haul cable 8; a second connecting assembly 23 hinged to trolley 13 and engaging first connecting assembly 22 in sliding manner; and a third connecting assembly 24 anchored to trolley 13 and engaging first connecting assembly 22 in sliding manner. Rescue haul cable 8 hauls rescue vehicle 12 selectively by means of first and second connecting assembly 22, 23 or first and third connecting assembly 22, 24, depending on the pull direction of rescue haul cable 8 and the slope of supporting cables 6.

Rescue vehicle 12 also comprises a counterweight 25 connected in articulated manner to trolley 13, on the same side of trolley 13 as platform 16.

With reference to Figure 6, trolley 13 of rescue vehicle 12 comprises four rollers 26 (only two shown in Figure 6) located inwards of rollers 18 and rotating about respective axes parallel to the axes of rollers 18.

With reference to Figure 1, bottom station 2 and top station 3 comprise respective supporting structures 2b and 3b for supporting the ends of supporting cables 6, and supporting and returning haul cable 7 and rescue haul cable 8.

With reference to Figure 3, bottom station 2 comprises a U-shaped main track 27 supported by supporting structure 2b (not shown in Figure 3) and having two parallel, side by side rails 28; and two auxiliary tracks 29, each comprising two rails 30 of the same gauge as rails 28 and connectable selectively to main track 27.

In the Figure 3 example, track 27 comprises two straight portions 31 connected by a curved portion 32; and auxiliary tracks 29 are straight and aligned with respective straight portions 31 of main track 27.

Bottom station 2 comprises two switch devices 33 for selectively connecting respective auxiliary tracks 29 to main track 27; and each switch device 33 comprises a movable portion 34 of auxiliary track 29, and a movable portion 35 of main track 27.

Movable portion 34 comprises two rails 36 hinged to respective rails 30 about respective vertical axes.

Movable portion 35 of main track 27 extends along curved portion 32, is adjacent to straight portion 31 of main track 27, and comprises two portions of rails 28.

Movable portion 35 is activated by means of actuators 37, and is movable between a work position (shown by the dash line in Figure 4), in which main track 27 is seamless, and a lowered position (shown by the continuous line in Figure 4), in which main track 27 is interrupted.

With reference to Figure 3, movable portion 34 is activated either by actuators (not shown) or by hand, and is movable between a rest position (shown by the continuous line in Figure 3), and a work position (shown by the dash line in Figure 3), in which it connects rails 30 of auxiliary track 29 to rails 28 of main track 27.

Bottom station 2 comprises actuating devices which cooperate with transportation unit 9 as it travels through bottom station 2. In the example shown, the actuating devices comprise an auxiliary actuating device 38 for moving transportation unit 9 along when transportation unit 9 is located on main track 27 and released from haul cable 7; and two release/connecting devices 39 for selectively releasing/connecting transportation unit 9 from/to haul cable 7. Auxiliary actuating device 38 is defined by a number of tyres 40, which are located over main track 27, are activated by haul cable 7, and are connected to one another in known manner, not shown in the drawings, to impart a given movement to transportation unit 9 along main track 27.

Each release/connecting device 39 comprises a linear cam 41, which is located over main track 27, substantially centrally with respect to rails 28, and has two opposite faces 42, the distance between which varies along cam 41.

In Figure 5, trolley 10 of transportation unit 9 is shown along main track 27 and engaging both auxiliary actuating device 38 and cam 41.

Trolley 10 comprises rollers 43 for engaging supporting cables 6; and rollers 44 for engaging rails 28 and rails 30. Clamp 11 of trolley 10 comprises a fixed jaw 45; and a movable jaw 46 connected to a roller 47. Trolley 10 also supports a roller 48 facing roller 47, and cam 41 is positioned so as to wedge between roller 48 and roller 47. The increasing distance between the opposite faces 42 of cam 41 moves roller 47 with respect to roller 48 to open clamp 11, and the subsequent decreasing distance between the opposite faces of the cam closes the clamp. Trolley 10 is fixed to an arm 49 supporting the cab (not shown) of transportation unit 9.

With reference to Figure 3, rescue haul cable 8 extends about two pulleys 50 - one of which is driven by an actuator, normally a generator set not shown - and over straight portions 31 of main track 27, and auxiliary tracks 29.

In Figure 4, haul cable 7 is guided by pulleys 51 and extends about a pulley 52; and rescue vehicle 12 is shown in a rest position resting on auxiliary track 29.

Each auxiliary track 29, in fact, defines a parking area for rescue vehicle 12, which, when needed, is moved along main track 27 and supporting cables 6, and, once transportation unit 9 is recovered, tows it onto main track 27. In Figure 4, rescue vehicle 12 is shown without platform 16 for the sake of clarity.

With reference to Figures 5 and 6, cam 41 is movable between the Figure 5 work position, and the Figure 6 rest position allowing transit of rescue vehicle 12 along main track 27.

Release/connecting device 39 comprises two arms 53 fixed to cam 41 and mounted to rotate, about an axis A4 parallel to cam 41, with respect to a frame 54 integral with supporting structure 2b.

Release/connecting device 39 is activated by actuators 55, which, in the example shown, are hydraulic cylinders connected to arms 53 and supporting structure 2b.

The above description specifically describes a bottom station 2 equipped with two auxiliary tracks 29, each defining a respective parking area for a respective rescue vehicle 12. It is understood, however, that bottom station 2 may be equipped with only one auxiliary track 29; or top station 3 may comprise at least one auxiliary track 29, and bottom station 2 none; or both bottom station 2 and top station 3 may comprise at least one auxiliary track 29.

In actual use, haul cable 7 of cable transportation system 1 is moved along an endless path P, and transportation unit 9 is moved along path P between bottom station 2 and top station 3. At stations 2 and 3, transportation unit 9 is released from haul cable 7, is moved by auxiliary actuating device 38 along main track 27, is decelerated to allow passengers to alight or board transportation unit 9, and is then accelerated and connected to haul cable 7.

In the event of a breakdown of cable transportation system 1, i.e. stoppage of haul cable 7, the rescue vehicle 12 parked on auxiliary track 29 comes into play. With reference to Figure 3, switch device 33 must be activated before operating rescue vehicle 12 : that is, movable portion 35 of main track 27 is lowered, and movable portion 34 of auxiliary track 29 is rotated to join auxiliary track 29 to straight portion 31 of main track 27.

Moreover, cam 41 is moved from the work position over main track 27 - in which cam 41 cooperates with transportation unit 9 to selectively release/connect transportation unit 9 from/to haul cable 7 (Figure 5) - into the rest position, in which cam 41 allows transit of rescue vehicle 12 along main track 27 (Figure 6).

Once movable portion 34 is locked into the work position, and cam 41 into the rest position, rescue haul cable 8 is moved along path P, and rescue vehicle 12 travels successively along auxiliary track 29, main track 27, and supporting cables 6 up to transportation unit 9 (Figure 1). Anchoring device 14 is fixed to trolley 10 of transportation unit 9, and rescue vehicle 12 is drawn by rescue haul cable 8, together with transportation unit 9, back to station 2. Once transportation unit 9 is located on main track 27, rescue vehicle 12 is released from transportation unit 9 and moved onto auxiliary track 29. Switch device 33 is then activated to restore the continuity of main track 27, and transportation unit 9 is pushed onto curved portion 32 of main track 27.

Switch device 33 is then activated again to connect auxiliary track 29 to main track 27, and rescue vehicle 12 performs another rescue cycle to recover another transportation unit 9.

By virtue of the present invention, rescue vehicle 12 is made available to move immediately into operation, and is also weather-protected by being housed inside the station.