Patent Application
20120090496
This application claims the benefit of and priority to Italian Patent Application No. MI2010A 001297, filed on Jul. 14, 2010, the entire contents of which are incorporated by reference herein.
Certain known cable transportation systems are described in documents CH Patent No. 671,929; AT Patent No. 404,010; U.S. Pat. No. 5,582,109; EP Patent No. 687,607; AT Patent No. 405,269; EP Patent No. 1,077,167; EP Patent No. 1,088,729; IT Patent No. 1,313,914; IT Patent No. 1,317,169; IT Patent No. 1,316,131; IT Patent No. 1,326,531; WO Patent Application No. 08/129,019; WO Patent Application No. 2009/019,259; and WO Patent Application No. 2009/053,485.
The tracks of cable transportation systems of these type sometimes have forks. One particular type is that in which the track forks into two at a stop station for two transportation units traveling in opposite directions. Generally speaking, cable transportation system tracks may comprise two-way single-rail portions, and two-rail portions along which the transportation units pass one another in opposite directions.
When the transportation units travel in opposite directions along the track, the system comprises two respective hauling cables operated in opposite directions. In certain know cable transportation systems, the hauling cables extend parallel to the track, between the rails, and are connected to the transportation units by clamps integral with the units. Therefore, in addition to ensuring continuity of the track, the switches must also be configured to avoid interfering with the hauling cable/s and clamps.
One example of a known switch for cable transportation systems is described in IT Patent No. 1,326,531, in which the switch comprises a track portion defined by two parallel curved rails extending along respective arcs, mounted on a pivot, and configured to connect different branches of the track, depending on the angular position of the pivot.
The above switch has proved successful, but has the drawback of comprising a moving part of considerable size and weight. Moreover, the pivot has to travel a long way to switch the rails, which therefore takes considerable time.
The present disclosure relates to a cable transportation system switch.
More specifically, in one embodiment the present disclosure relates to a switch for a cable transportation system comprising transportation units moved by at least one hauling cable along a track defined by pairs of parallel rails.
It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a cable transportation system switch that is relatively easy to produce and operate.
Another object of the present disclosure to provide a cable transportation system switch featuring a relatively small moving part.
Another object of the present disclosure to provide a cable transportation system switch that is relatively easy to move.
According to one embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a cable transportation system switch comprising: a first straight rail; a second straight rail forming an angle of more than 0° and less than 45° with the first straight rail; a third straight rail located between the first and second straight rail and movable selectively between a first operating position, in which the third straight rail contacts the first straight rail and is parallel to the second straight rail, and a second operating position, in which the third straight rail contacts the second straight rail and is parallel to the first straight rail.
By virtue of one embodiment of the present disclosure, switching is performed by simply moving the third straight rail, which, combined with the first straight rail, at least partly defines one branch of the track, and, combined with the second straight rail, at least partly defines a further branch of the track. This switch configuration has a relatively compact, lightweight moving part, and provides for faster switching between the first and second operating positions.
In one embodiment, the first and second straight rail have a first and second contoured portion respectively; and the third straight rail has a contoured end configured to form a joint with the first and second contoured portion.
This configuration of the first, second and third straight rail ensures the continuity of the track.
In another embodiment, the present disclosure also relates to a cable transportation system.
According to another embodiment of the present disclosure, there is provided a cable transportation system comprising: at least one transportation unit having wheels, and steering trolleys for steering the wheels; a track along which the transportation unit runs; two hauling cables engageable by the transportation unit; and a switch located along the track.
Additional features and advantages are described in, and will be apparent from, the following Detailed Description and the figures.
A non-limiting embodiment of the present disclosure will be described by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:
Referring now to the example embodiments of the present disclosure illustrated in
Cable transportation system 1 comprises a track 2; a stop station 3 along track 2; and two transportation units 4. Track 2 is defined by parallel rails with a gauge S (
Branch 5 comprises two parallel rails 10 and 11; branch 6 comprises two parallel rails 12 and 13; and branches 7 and 8 each comprise two parallel rails 14 and 15.
Cable transportation system 1 comprises two hauling cables 16 and 17 extending along track 2, between the rails, and operated in opposite directions D2 and D1 respectively.
More specifically, both hauling cables 16 and 17 extend along branches 5 and 6, whereas only hauling cable 16 extends along branch 7, and only hauling cable 17 extends along branch 8.
With reference to
Branch 18 comprises two straight parallel rails 20 and 21, and branch 19 comprises two straight parallel rails 22 and 23.
Straight rail 20 is connected to rail 10 at a connecting point 24; straight rail 23 is connected to rail 11 at a connecting point 25; whereas straight rails 21 and 22 converge and contact one another at a vertex 26.
Switch 9 comprises a movable straight rail 27 mounted for rotation at vertex 26, and movable selectively into a first operating position shown by the continuous line in
Straight rail 27 rotates about an axis A1, which is perpendicular to the plane of straight rails 20, 23, 27, is located close to vertex 26, and is the same distance, substantially equal to gauge S of track 2, from rails 20 and 23.
With reference to
Each switch 9 comprises a supporting structure 30 for supporting straight rail 27; and an actuating device 31 for operating straight rail 27. Supporting structure 30 comprises a guide 32 located beneath and for guiding straight rail 27 between the first and second operating positions; and two supporting members 33 beneath respective connecting points 24 and 25.
Actuating device 31 comprises a linear actuator 34 connected to supporting structure 30 and to straight rail 27, between ends 28 and 29.
As an alternative to the linear actuator, actuating device comprises a rotating actuator connected to the rail by means of a crank having one end engaged in a slit made in the rail.
Each of rails 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 20, 21, 22, 23, 27 (
In actual use, upper flange 35 and web 37 define respective rolling tracks for transportation units 4, as shown more clearly in
Number 38 in
Rail 10 and straight rail 20 have contoured portions at connecting point 24 for forming a joint with the free end 29 of straight rail 27; rail 11 and straight rail 23 have contoured portions at connecting point 25 for also forming a joint with the free end 29 of straight rail 27; and the free end 29 of straight rail 27 is shaped to form the joints with the respective contoured portions at connecting points 24 and 25, and to connect the rolling tracks.
More specifically, the bottom parts of rail 10 and straight rail 20 are removed or define cutouts along the contoured portions at connecting point 24, and the bottom parts of rail 11 and straight rail 23 are removed or define cutouts along the contoured portions at connecting point 25. More specifically, lower flange 36 is removed completely, and roughly half the height of web 37 is removed. Conversely, the top part of straight rail 27 is removed or defines a cutout at free end 29. That is, upper flange 35 is removed completely, and roughly half the height of web 37 is removed at free end 29.
The free end 29 of straight rail 27 is also configured to form a curved path at both connecting points 24 and 25.
More specifically, straight rail 27 comprises two connecting members 44 located symmetrically on opposite sides of web 37 at free end 29. One connecting member 44 comprises a curved face 45 tangent to web 37 of straight rail 27 and to web 37 of rail 10 at connecting point 24; and the other connecting member 44 comprises a curved face 45 tangent to web 37 of straight rail 27 and to web 37 of rail 11 at connecting point 25.
The switch according to the present disclosure has numerous advantages. In particular, the moving part of the switch is relatively compact and lightweight, and only has to move a relatively short distance, so the movable straight rail can be moved quickly between the first and second operating position. Moreover, the configuration of the free end of the movable straight rail forms smooth rolling tracks for the steering trolleys, with no sharp change in direction at the switch, thus improving passenger comfort and the stability of the transportation unit.
Clearly, changes may be made to the switch and cable transportation system as described herein without, however, departing from the scope of the accompanying Claims.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| MI2010A 001297 | Jul 2010 | IT | national |
