Patent Application
20180170404
The present invention concerns a coupling device intended to couple a vehicle, for example a cable car or a chairlift, to a traction cable of a transportation installation.
The document U.S. Pat. No. 5,111,751 describes such a coupling device which comprises in particular:
a support body,
a first clamping jaw fixedly mounted relative to the support body,
a clamping element comprising a second clamping jaw and a connecting arm including a first end portion secured to the second clamping jaw and a second end portion opposite to the second clamping jaw, the clamping element being hingedly mounted on the support body about a first hinge axis between a clamping position in which the first and second clamping jaws are configured to clamp the traction cable and a release position in which the first and second clamping jaws are configured to release the traction cable,
an actuation lever configured to actuate a displacement of the clamping element between its clamping and release positions, the actuation lever being bent and comprising a first lever portion hingedly mounted on the connecting arm about a second hinge axis between a first position in which the clamping element is in the clamping position, and a second position in which the clamping element is in the release position, and a second lever portion equipped with a declutch roller, and
a biasing device configured to bias the clamping element towards the clamping position, the biasing device comprising a first mounting portion hingedly mounted on the actuation lever about a third hinge axis, and a second mounting portion hingedly mounted on the support body about a fourth hinge axis.
Such a configuration of the coupling device results in that the first position of the actuation lever, and therefore of the declutch roller, depends on the diameter of the traction cable portion clamped by the first and second clamping jaws. Thus, the position of the declutch roller is likely to vary both horizontally and vertically according to the diameter of the traction cable portion clamped by the first and second clamping jaws. Hence, this results in a high uncertainty on the position of the declutch roller at the end station entrance.
In order to ensure cooperation between the declutch roller and a declutch rail disposed at the end station entrance, and therefore a release of the traction cable, it is thus necessary to provide a complex and considerably wide declutch rail. However, the use of such a declutch rail induces, during the opening of the coupling device, impacts of the declutch roller against the declutch rail which are likely to harm to the operation of the coupling device over time. In addition, such impacts cause discomfort and annoyance to the users.
The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks.
Hence, the technical problem underlying the invention consists in providing a coupling device which has a simple and reliable structure, while allowing limiting the noise disturbances generated during its opening.
To this end, the present invention concerns a coupling device intended to couple a vehicle, for example a cable car or a chairlift, to a traction cable of a transportation installation, the coupling device comprising at least:
a support body,
a first clamping jaw fixedly mounted relative to the support body,
a clamping element comprising a second clamping jaw and a connecting portion connected to the second clamping jaw, the clamping element being hingedly mounted on the support body about a first hinge axis between a clamping position in which the first and second clamping jaws are configured to clamp the traction cable and a release position in which the first and second clamping jaws are configured to release the traction cable,
a biasing device configured to bias the clamping element towards the clamping position,
an actuation lever configured to actuate a displacement of the clamping element between the clamping and release positions thereof, the actuation lever being hingedly mounted on the support body about a second hinge axis, and
a declutch/clutch element mounted on the actuation lever, the declutch/clutch element being intended to cooperate with at least one declutch rail and at least one clutch rail extending along the displacement path of the coupling device,
the biasing device and the actuation lever being configured so as to define a plurality of stable positions of the actuation lever including a first stable position of the actuation lever in which the clamping element is in the clamping position, and a second stable position of the actuation lever in which the clamping element is in the release position.
Such a configuration of the coupling device, and in particular such a hinged arrangement of the actuation lever on the support body, allows considerably reducing the variations of the first position of the actuation lever, therefore of the declutch roller carried by the actuation lever, according to the diameter of the traction cable portion clamped by the first and second clamping jaws. Thus, these arrangements allow using simpler and narrower declutch rails, and therefore reducing the magnitude of the impacts of the declutch roller against the declutch rail during the opening of the coupling device, as well as the noise disturbances generated during the opening of the coupling device.
Such a hinged arrangement of the actuation lever on the support body further ensures a displacement of the declutch roller carried by the actuation lever along a circular path, which allows considerably simplifying the structure of the clutch and declutch rails intended to cooperate with such a declutch roller.
The coupling device may further have one or more of the following features, considered alone or in combination.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling device is intended to couple a vehicle to a carrier-tractor cable of the transportation installation.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion includes a first end portion connected to the second clamping jaw and a second end portion opposite to the second clamping jaw. According to an embodiment of the invention, the connecting portion is a connecting arm.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the actuation lever is hingedly mounted on the support body between the first stable position in which the clamping element is in the clamping position, and the second stable position in which the clamping element is in the release position.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the biasing device and the actuation lever are configured so as to define a toggle.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the actuation lever comprises a stop portion configured to cooperate with the support body when the actuation lever is in the first stable position. These arrangements allow suppressing the variations of the first position of the actuation lever, and therefore fixing the first position of the actuation lever, regardless of the diameter of the traction cable portion clamped by the first and second clamping jaws. This results in the possibility of using declutch rails which are simpler and with a width close to the diameter of the declutch roller carried by the actuation lever, and therefore further reducing the magnitude of the impacts of the declutch roller against the declutch rail and the noise disturbances generated during the opening of the coupling device.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the stop portion is disposed in the vicinity of the second hinge axis.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the stop portion is configured to limit the pivoting stroke of the actuation lever towards the first and second clamping jaws.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the stop portion comprises a substantially planar stop surface configured to cooperate with a substantially planar bearing surface formed on the support body.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first and second hinge axes are substantially parallel.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the biasing device comprises a first mounting portion hingedly mounted on the connecting portion about a third hinge axis, and a second mounting portion hingedly mounted on the actuation lever about a fourth hinge axis.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the biasing device is interposed between the connecting portion and the actuation lever.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling device is configured so that, when the clamping element is in the clamping position, the fourth hinge axis is disposed at the side of the first and second clamping jaws with respect to an imaginary straight line connecting the second and third hinge axes, and so that, when the clamping element is in the release position, the fourth hinge axis is disposed at the opposite side of the first and second clamping jaws with respect to the imaginary straight line connecting the second and third hinge axes.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the toggle defines an alignment point corresponding to the alignment of the second, third and fourth hinge axes.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the toggle comprises a toggle axis formed by the fourth hinge axis.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first, second, third and fourth hinge axes are substantially parallel.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the biasing device further comprises a compression spring configured to bias the first and second mounting portions away from each other.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the normal to the bearing surface formed on the support body extends substantially parallel to the axis of the compression spring when the actuation lever is in the first position thereof. These arrangements allow taking on all the force of the compression spring by the stop portion, and thus not loading the second hinge axis in the clamped position of the coupling device.
According to the embodiment represented in the figures, the coupling device comprises two biasing devices symmetrically disposed on either side of a pivot plane of the actuation lever. According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling device is configured so that, when the actuation lever is in the first position thereof, the normal to the bearing surface formed on the support body extends substantially parallel to the axes of the two compression springs, and is comprised in the plane formed by these two axes.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the compression spring comprises a first end portion bearing against the first mounting portion, and a second end portion bearing against the second mounting portion.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the second mounting portion delimits a housing in which the compression spring is housed at least partially. These arrangements allow limiting further the risks of insertion of a signal cable, belonging to the transportation installation and disposed between two strands of the traction cable, between the coils of the compression spring, and therefore the risks of unintentional opening of the coupling device.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the biasing device further comprises a guide rod around which extends the compression spring, the guide rod comprising a first end portion secured to the first mounting portion and a second end portion slidably mounted in a passage opening delimited by the second mounting portion.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the biasing device comprises a stop element configured to limit the expansion of the compression spring. According to an embodiment of the invention, the stop element is fastened on the guide rod, and for example on the second end portion of the guide rod.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the stop element is configured to bear against the second mounting portion when the actuation lever is in the second stable position.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the second mounting portion includes a bottom wall delimiting at least partially the housing in which the compression spring is housed at least partially. Advantageously, the stop element is configured to bear against the bottom wall when the actuation lever is in the second stable position.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the second end portion of the compression spring bears against the bottom wall of the second mounting portion.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the first mounting portion includes a bearing surface against which bears the first end portion of the compression spring.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the actuation lever includes a first end portion hingedly mounted on the support body about the second hinge axis, a second end portion opposite to the first end portion, and an intermediate portion disposed between the first and second end portions, the second mounting portion being hingedly mounted on the intermediate portion of the actuation lever.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the intermediate portion is arcuate.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the actuation lever comprises a protective surface, and the biasing device and the actuation lever are configured so that, when the clamping element is in the clamping position, the protective surface is farther from the first and second clamping jaws than the compression spring. These arrangements allow limiting further the risks of insertion of a signal cable belonging to the transportation installation between the coils of the compression spring, and therefore the risks of unintentional opening of the coupling device.
In other words, the biasing device and the actuation lever are configured so that, when the clamping element is in the clamping position, the compression spring is disposed setback from the protective surface and at the side of the first and second clamping jaws.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the protective surface is disposed opposite to the first and second clamping jaws when the clamping element in the clamping position.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the declutch/clutch element includes a declutch/clutch roller movably mounted in rotation about an axis of rotation carried by the actuation lever.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the connecting arm includes a first arm portion connected to the second clamping jaw, and a second arm portion on which the first mounting portion is hingedly mounted, the first and second arm portions being inclined with respect to each other.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling device is configured so that a passage of the actuation lever from its first stable position to its second stable position induces a pivoting of the actuation lever opposite to the first and second clamping jaws.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the actuation lever extends along a first general direction of extension when the actuation lever is in the first stable position, and along a second general direction of extension when the actuation lever is in the second stable position, the inclination angle between the first general direction of extension of the actuation lever and a general direction of extension of the support body is larger than the inclination angle between the second general direction of extension of the actuation lever and the general direction of extension of the support body.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the inclination angle between the first general direction of extension of the actuation lever and the general direction of extension of the support body is comprised between 70 and 110°.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the inclination angle between the second general direction of extension of the actuation lever and the general direction of extension of the support body is comprised between 0 and 40°, and for example between 0 and 30°.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling device is configured so that a passage of the actuation lever from its first stable position to its second stable position induces a pivoting downwardly of the actuation lever.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling device is configured so that the second end portion of the actuation lever is farther from the first and second clamping jaws when the actuation lever is in the second stable position than when the actuation lever is in the first stable position.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling device is configured so that the second end portion of the actuation lever is closer to the support body when the actuation lever is in the second stable position than when the actuation lever is in the first stable position.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the actuation lever is hingedly mounted on an upper portion of the support body.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling device includes running rollers mounted on the support body and configured to cooperate with guide elements belonging to the transportation installation.
Anyway, the invention will be better understood using the following description with reference to the appended schematic drawing showing, as a non-limiting example, an embodiment of this coupling device:
The coupling device 2 comprises an elongate support body 4 extending according to a general direction of extension De. The coupling device 2 is configured so that, when the coupling device 2 is coupled to the traction cable 3, the support body 4 extends transversely to the traction cable 3, and more particularly substantially perpendicular to the traction cable 3.
The support body 4 is intended to be connected to a hanger 5 supporting a vehicle (not shown in the figures), such as a cable car or a chairlift, for example.
The support body 4 carries running rollers 6 configured to cooperate with guide rails (not shown in the figures) belonging to the transportation installation and disposed in the end stations of the transportation installation. The support body 4 further carries a drive pad or cross-member 7 configured to cooperate with complementary drive means of the transportation installation. More particularly, the running rollers 6 and the drive pad 7 are configured to enable a displacement of the coupling device 2, declutched from the traction cable 3, on and along the guide rails.
The coupling device 2 also comprises a first clamping jaw 8 fixedly mounted relative to the support body 4. Advantageously, the first clamping jaw 8 is disposed at a front end of the support body 4.
The coupling device 2 further comprises a clamping element 9 comprising a second clamping jaw 11, and a connecting arm 12 extending from the second clamping jaw 11. According to an embodiment of the invention, the clamping element 9 is made in one-piece part. Nonetheless, according to another embodiment of the invention, the second clamping jaw 11 may be attached and fastened on the connecting arm 12.
More particularly, the connecting arm 12 includes a first end portion 12a secured to the second clamping jaw 11 and a second end portion 12b opposite to the second clamping jaw 11. According to the embodiment represented in the figures, the connecting arm 12 is arcuate, and includes a first arm portion 13 connected to the second clamping jaw 11, and a second arm portion 14 opposite to the second clamping jaw 11.
The clamping element 9 is hingedly mounted on the support body 4 about a first hinge axis A between a clamping position (shown in
Advantageously, the coupling device 2 is configured so that the first clamping jaw 8 is located inwardly of the coupling device 2 and the second clamping jaw 11 is turned outwardly of the coupling device 2. Furthermore, the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11 are advantageously configured to clamp the traction cable 3 from above.
The coupling device 2 also comprises an actuation lever 15 configured to actuate a displacement of the clamping element 9 between the clamping and release positions thereof The actuation lever 15 includes a first end portion 16, a second end portion 17 opposite to the first end portion 16, and an intermediate portion 18 disposed between the first and second end portions 15, 16. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the intermediate portion 18 is arcuate. However, the intermediate portion 18 might have another shape, and might be for example rectilinear.
The first end portion 16 of the actuation lever 15 is hingedly mounted on an upper portion of the support body 4 about a second hinge axis B between a first position (shown in
More particularly, the coupling device is configured so that a passage of the actuation lever 15 from the first position to the second position induces a pivoting of the actuation lever 15 downwards and opposite to the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11. The actuation lever 15 extends along to a first general direction of extension D1 when the actuation lever 15 is in the first stable position and along a second general direction of extension D2 when the actuation lever is in the second stable position. According to an embodiment of the invention, the inclination angle between the first general direction of extension D1 of the actuation lever 15 and the general direction of extension De of the support body 4 is comprised between 70 and 110°, and the inclination angle between the second general direction of extension D2 of the actuation lever 15 and the general direction of extension De of the support body is comprised between 0 and 40°, and for example between 0 and 30°.
The second end portion 17 of the actuation lever 15 is equipped with a declutch/clutch roller 19 movably mounted in rotation about an axis of rotation 21 fastened on the second end portion 17. The declutch/clutch roller 19 is configured to cooperate with declutch and clutch rails 22 belonging to the transportation installation and extending along the displacement path of the coupling device 2, so as to guide a displacement of the actuation lever 15 between the first and second positions thereof.
Advantageously, the actuation lever 15 comprises a stop portion 23 configured to cooperate with a bearing surface 24 formed on the support body 4, when the actuation lever 15 is in the first position. Thus, the stop portion 23 is configured to limit the pivoting stroke of the actuation lever 15 towards the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11. Advantageously, the stop portion 23 is disposed in the vicinity of the second hinge axis B.
In addition, the coupling device 2 comprises at least one biasing device 25 interposed between the actuation lever 15 and the connecting arm 12, and configured to bias the clamping element 9 towards the clamping position. According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the coupling device 2 comprises two identical biasing devices 25 symmetrically disposed on either side of a hinge or pivot plane of the actuation lever 15. Nonetheless, the coupling device 2 may comprise one single biasing device 25. More particularly, each biasing device 25 includes a first mounting portion 26 hingedly mounted on the second end portion 12b of the clamping element 9 about a third hinge axis C, and a second mounting portion 27 hingedly mounted on the intermediate portion 18 of the actuation lever 15 about a fourth hinge axis D. Advantageously, the first, second, third and fourth hinge axes A, B, C, D are substantially parallel.
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the first mounting portion 26 of each biasing device 25 is intended to receive the second hinge axis C carried by the connecting arm 12, and the second mounting portion 27 of each biasing device 25 includes a bottom wall 29 and a lateral wall 31 delimiting a receiving housing 32.
Each biasing device 25 further comprises a compression spring 33 housed at least partially in the respective receiving housing 32. The compression spring 33 of each biasing device 25 is helical, and comprises a first end portion bearing against a bearing face delimited by the respective first mounting portion 26, and a second end portion bearing against the bottom wall 29 of the respective second mounting portion 27. Thus, each compression spring 33 is configured to bias the respective first and second mounting portions 26, 27 away from each other.
Advantageously, the coupling device 2 is configured so that each compression spring 33 is compressed when the clamping element 9 is in the clamping position.
Each biasing device 25 also comprises a guide rod 34 around which extends the respective compression spring 33. Each guide rod 34 comprises a first end portion secured to the respective first mounting portion 26 and a second end portion slidably mounted in a passage opening 35 delimited by the bottom wall 29 of the respective second mounting portion 27.
Each biasing device 25 further comprises a stop element 36 configured to limit the expansion or the detent of the respective compression spring 33, and therefore the spacing of the first and second mounting portions 26, 27. According to the embodiment represented in the figures, the stop element 36 of each biasing device 25 is fastened on the second end portion of the respective guide rod 34, and is configured to bear against the respective bottom wall 29 when the clamping element 9 is in the release position.
The coupling device 2 is configured so that, when the clamping element 9 is in the clamping position, the fourth hinge axis D is disposed at the side of the support body 4 with respect to an imaginary straight line connecting the second and third hinge axes B, C, and so that, when the clamping element 9 is in the release position, the fourth hinge axis D is disposed at the opposite side of the support body 4 with respect to the imaginary straight line connecting the second and third hinge axes B, C.
The biasing devices 25 and the actuation lever 15 are configured to define a toggle having a toggle axis formed by the fourth hinge axis D and an alignment point corresponding to the alignment of the second, third and fourth hinge axes B, C, D (see
According to the embodiment shown in the figures, the actuation lever 15 comprises a protective surface 37 disposed opposite to the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11, and the biasing devices 25 and the actuation lever 15 are configured so that, when the clamping element 9 is in the clamping position, the protective surface 37 is farther from the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11 than the compression springs 33 of the biasing devices 25. In other words, when the clamping element 9 is in the clamping position, the compression springs 33 are disposed setback from the protective surface 37 and at the side of the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11.
The operation of the coupling device 2 will be now described considering that the coupling device 2 is initially coupled to a traction cable 3, and therefore the clamping element 9 is in the clamping position.
At the entrance of an end station of the transportation installation, the declutch/clutch roller 19 cooperates with a declutch rail 22 shaped to guide the actuation lever 15 towards its second stable position. Therefore, the actuation lever 15 progressively pivots opposite to the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11.
As the fourth hinge axis D overtakes the alignment point of the toggle, the compression spring 33 of each biasing device 25 is released and also biases the actuation lever 15 towards its second position. In order to avoid a brutal and noisy ejection of the actuation lever 15 towards its second position, the declutch rail 22 accompanies and guides the actuation lever 15 up to its second position.
Such a displacement of the actuation lever 15 causes a pivoting of the connecting arm 12 towards the support body 4 and therefore a displacement of the clamping element 9 to the release position, and therefore a release of the traction cable and a declutching of the vehicle equipped with the coupling device.
After the release of the traction cable 3 by the coupling device 2, the declutched vehicle is guided along a transfer path, in particular by means of running rollers 6, until the exit of the end station.
At the exit of the end station, the declutch/clutch roller 19 cooperates with a clutch rail (not shown in the figures) shaped to guide the actuation lever 15 towards its first position. Then, the actuation lever 15 progressively pivots in the direction of the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11, which causes a displacement of the fourth hinge axis D towards the first and second clamping jaws 8, 11.
Such a displacement of the actuation lever 15 may be divided into a first phase during which the clamping element 9 is displaced up to its clamping position and the compression spring 33 of each biasing device 25 is not compressed, and into a second phase during which the compression spring 33 of each biasing device 25 is compressed.
When the fourth hinge axis D overtakes the alignment point of the toggle, the compression spring 33 of each biasing device 25 biases the actuation lever 15 to its first stable position, and the clamping element 9 is then stabilized in the clamping position. In order to avoid a brutal and noisy displacement of the actuation lever 15 towards its first position, the clutch rail accompanies and guides the actuation lever 15 up to its first position.
It goes without saying that the invention is not limited to the sole embodiment of this coupling device, described hereinabove as example, but it encompasses on the contrary all the variants.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 15/55562 | Jun 2015 | FR | national |
This application is a National Stage of PCT Application No. PCT/FR2016/051482 filed on Jun. 17, 2016, which claims priority to French Patent Application No. 15/55562 filed on Jun. 18, 2015, the contents each of which are incorporated herein by reference thereto.
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/FR2016/051482 | 6/17/2016 | WO | 00 |
