Parking system for cableway vehicles

Abstract

A parking system for cable car vehicles (2) is provided to improve the parking and, in particular, the loading of cable car vehicles (2) of a cable car (2) and to simplify the handling of the cable car vehicles (2), wherein the cable car vehicles (2) each have at least two connecting elements (4) which are designed to detachably connect two adjacent cable car vehicles (2) to each other during operation of the parking system (10), wherein, when using the parking system (10), a jointly movable vehicle assembly (12) consisting of the cable car vehicles (2) detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements (4) is parked on the parking track (11), and wherein, for loading the cable car vehicles (2), a parking track conveyor (15) is provided on the parking track (11), which pulls the vehicle assembly (12) out of the parking track (11) towards the feed track (21).so that the detachably connected connecting elements (4) of the two cable car vehicles (2) located at one end of the vehicle assembly (12) facing the track end (11a) enter the area of ​​operation of an actuating device (13) arranged in the area of ​​the track end (11a) and the actuating device (16) releases the detachably connected connecting elements (4) between these two cable car vehicles (2) and the feeder track conveyor (22) takes over the cable car vehicle (2) located at the end of the vehicle assembly (12) facing the track end (11a) and detached from the vehicle assembly (12) and moves it away from the parking track (11).

Description

Technical field of the invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a parking system for a plurality of cable car vehicles of a cable car system, wherein the parking system comprises a parking area with a parking track for parking the plurality of cable car vehicles, wherein the parking track has an axial track end, wherein a feeder track of the cable car is connected to the track end of the parking track, wherein the cable car vehicles, in a state decoupled from a haul rope of the cable car, can be moved from the feeder track via the track end into the parking track, wherein a feeder track conveyor is provided on the feeder track for moving a cable car vehicle along the feeder track. The present invention also relates to a method for operating a parking system. State of the art

[0002] Circulating cable cars typically have multiple stations, several cars, and a haul rope to move the cars between the stations. The haul rope runs between the stations (e.g., a valley station and a mountain station), for example, around pulleys in the stations, with at least one pulley being driven.

[0003] There are also circulating cable cars in which the cable car vehicles are uncoupled from the haul rope in a cable car station using a rope clamp. In this uncoupled state, they move through the cable car station independently of the circulating haul rope, usually at a speed lower than that of the circulating haul rope. Before exiting the cable car station, the cable car vehicles are, if necessary, accelerated back up to the speed of the circulating haul rope and coupled to it using the rope clamp. This allows for high transport capacity due to the high speed of the haul rope, while simultaneously reducing the speed of the cable car vehicles within the cable car station. This facilitates passenger boarding and alighting, or more generally, loading and unloading the cable car vehicles.

[0004] Cable cars with track ropes are also known. Such a cable car consists of at least two fixed track ropes as a track, on which the running wheels of a cable car vehicle roll, and a circulating haul rope onto which the vehicles are clamped outside the cable car stations. At the cable car stations, the vehicles are clamped off the haul rope. Cable cars with track ropes allow the use of larger vehicles, are particularly characterized by high wind stability, and enable long cable spans (sections without cable car towers).

[0005] Typically, at least one guide rail is provided within the cable car station, along which the cable car vehicles, uncoupled from the haul rope, are guided through the station. Rollers are usually attached to the cable car vehicles, for example, to the suspension system, which allow the vehicles to roll along the guide rail.

[0006] A station conveyor is provided for transporting the detached cable car vehicles within a cable car station. The station conveyor can be a conventional tire conveyor, in which driven tires arranged along the guide rail in the cable car station interact with a friction lining on the cable car vehicles to move them along. The friction lining can be located, for example, on the suspension of the cable car vehicle. The rope clamp for coupling and uncoupling to the haul rope is also located on the suspension. However, the station conveyor can also be designed differently, for example, as a mechanical continuous conveyor with a traction element (such as a belt or chain) on which carriers are provided that interact with a section of a cable car vehicle to move it at the speed of the traction element. The cable car vehicles attached to the traction element are thus moved at the same speed as the traction element.

[0007] Such circulating cable cars with detachable cabins often also feature a parking area or storage facility where the cabins can be stored outside of operating hours. This allows for maintenance work on the haul rope or the cabins, and protects them from the elements such as snow, ice, and storms. A number of cabins can also be stored in the parking area during operation, for example, during periods of low passenger demand. Such a parking area is typically located within or near one of the cable car stations, for example, on the same level as the operating area, where passengers board and / or disembark, or in a garage below the operating area.

[0008] To transfer the cable car vehicles to their designated parking positions in the parking area, a parking conveyor is generally provided, which may include one or more conveying units. The parking conveyor is usually connected to the station conveyor to transfer cable car vehicles from the station conveyor to the parking conveyor, or vice versa. Switches may also be provided to move cable car vehicles from the station conveyor to the parking conveyor, or vice versa. Examples of parking conveyors are known from EP 711 696 A1 or AT 392 766 B.

[0009] The movement of cable car vehicles in the parking area often takes place on so-called gravity tracks, either as parking conveyors or as part of a parking conveyor system. A gravity track is essentially designed analogously to the guide rail of the cable car station, but with a specific, predetermined gradient. The movement of the cable car vehicles along the gravity track to their parking position is achieved solely by gravity due to the defined gradient, without any external drive. The gravity track can, for example, be connected to the guide rail of the cable car station via a switch, allowing the cable car vehicles to be diverted from the guide rail onto the gravity track for parking. The return transport of the cable car vehicles from the parking area to the operating area can be accomplished, for example, with a tire conveyor, similar to how the cable car vehicles are driven along the guide rail in the operating area of ​​the cable car station.

[0010] In AT 392 766 B, a continuous conveyor is provided, and the cable car vehicles are moved on the parking tracks by self-propelled cable car vehicles. However, this design is very complex because each cable car vehicle requires its own cable car vehicle vehicle with its own drive.

[0011] The cable car vehicles are usually moved individually for parking and loading, resulting in significant logistical effort. In EP 2 551 164 A2, cable car vehicles are pushed together in a parking area of ​​a cable car station to compact them and move them together in a space-saving manner. However, handling the compacted cable car vehicles is very limited and inflexible, as care must be taken to determine which cable car can be moved without the pushed-together vehicles becoming separated. For example, the last cable car in the direction of travel is moved to push the vehicles ahead of it. To brake the cable car vehicles, the foremost cable car in the direction of travel must be braked to also brake the vehicles behind it. Summary of the invention

[0012] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a parking system for cable car vehicles in order to improve the parking and in particular the loading of cable car vehicles of a cable car and to simplify the handling of the cable car vehicles.

[0013] According to the invention, the problem is solved by the fact that the cable car vehicles each have at least two connecting elements which are designed to detachably connect two adjacent cable car vehicles to each other during operation of the parking system, that in use of the parking system a jointly movable vehicle assembly consisting of the cable car vehicles detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements is parked on the parking track, and that a parking track conveyor is provided on the parking track for loading the cable car vehicles, which pulls the vehicle assembly from the parking track towards the feeder track.so that the detachably connected connecting elements of the two cable car vehicles located at one end of the train facing the track end come into the operating range of an actuating device located in the track end area, and the actuating device releases the detachably connected connecting elements between these two cable car vehicles, and the feeder track conveyor takes over the cable car located at the end of the train facing the track end and moves it away from the parking track. The connecting elements make it possible to pull the train from the parking track without having to pay attention to the cable car that can be moved without the coupled cable car vehicles separating from each other. Thus, the handling of the cable car vehicles in the parking area is improved.especially when loading from the parking area. In addition, the logistics for parking and loading the cable car vehicles are simplified, as moving the individual cable car vehicles is no longer necessary.

[0014] In a preferred embodiment of the parking system, the feed track conveyor is provided for parking a cable car vehicle, to move the cable car vehicle to be parked to the end of the parking track until the cable car vehicle to be parked, moved by the feed track conveyor, enters the effective range of a connecting element of a cable car vehicle located in the area of ​​the track end, and the actuating device in the area of ​​the track end acts on at least one of the connecting elements of the cable car vehicle located in the area of ​​the track end or of the cable car vehicle to be parked being moved to the track end, in order to detachably connect the cable car vehicle located in the area of ​​the track end and the cable car vehicle to be parked being moved to the track end.so that a jointly movable vehicle assembly is formed on the parking track from the cable car vehicles, which are detachably connected to one another via the connecting elements, and that the feeder track conveyor or the parking track conveyor is configured to push the formed vehicle assembly into the parking track until the cable car to be parked, which has moved to the end of the track with the feeder track conveyor, is in the area of ​​the track end. The jointly movable vehicle assembly improves the shunting of the cable car vehicles, since the cable car vehicles can be both pulled and pushed as a unit without becoming separated from one another. In addition, a cable car vehicle holder with its own drive is no longer required for each cable car.

[0015] Preferably, the actuating device is actively designed, comprising an actuator that interacts with the connecting elements of the cable car vehicles to generate an actuating force for connecting or disconnecting the connecting elements. Alternatively, the actuating device is passively designed, interacting with the cable car vehicle during its movement to generate an actuating force for connecting or disconnecting the connecting elements. Preferably, the passively designed actuating device is configured as a positive guide, whereby, during operation of the parking system, the cable car vehicles are moved along the positive guide to generate the actuating force and to connect or disconnect the cable car vehicles via the connecting elements. This further increases the flexibility of the parking system, as it allows for adjustments depending on boundary conditions (e.g.,(Installation space in the cable car station or type of cable car vehicle) allows for the selection of an advantageous design of the actuating device.

[0016] In an advantageous embodiment, one of the at least two connecting elements of the cable car vehicles is designed as a hook element, and another of the at least two connecting elements of the cable car vehicles is designed as an eyelet element. During operation of the parking system, to connect the cable car vehicles, a hook element of one cable car vehicle engages with the eyelet element of the adjacent cable car vehicle. To disconnect the cable car vehicles, a hook element of one cable car vehicle and the eyelet element of the adjacent cable car vehicle separate. This allows for a simple and reliable connection of the cable car vehicles.

[0017] Preferably, the cableway vehicles each comprise a transport body and a suspension, wherein the suspension serves to attach the respective cableway vehicle to the cable of the cableway and the suspension is connected to the transport body, with the connecting elements being provided on the suspension of the respective cableway vehicle. Since the actuating device for the connecting elements is preferably provided in the area of ​​the suspension, attaching the connecting elements to the suspension is advantageous.

[0018] A cable car with at least one cable car station, wherein the at least one cable car station comprises a parking system according to the invention. The parking system in the cable car station simplifies and increases the efficiency of the cable car operation, as handling the cable car vehicles in the parking area, particularly when loading them from the parking system, is straightforward.

[0019] The problem is further solved by a method for operating a parking system for a plurality of cable car vehicles of a cable car, wherein the cable car vehicles, in a state decoupled from a haul rope of the cable car, are moved by a feed track conveyor from a feed track via a track end of a parking track connected to the feed track into the parking track, wherein the cable car vehicles each have at least two connecting elements, wherein two adjacent cable car vehicles are detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements, wherein a jointly movable vehicle assembly of the cable car vehicles detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements is parked at the parking track, and that, to load the cable car vehicles, the vehicle assembly is pulled from the parking track towards the feed track by a parking track conveyor of the parking track.so that the detachably connected connecting elements of the two cable car vehicles located at the end of the train facing the track end come into the operating range of an actuating device located in the area of ​​the track end, and the detachably connected connecting elements between these two cable car vehicles are released by the actuating device, and the cable car located at the end of the train facing the track end and detached from the train is taken over by the feeder track conveyor and moved away from the parking track. This improves the handling of the cable car vehicles, especially when loading them from the parking area. The connecting elements make it possible to pull the train out of the parking track without having to pay attention to which cable car can be moved.without the cable car vehicles separating from each other. Furthermore, logistics for parking and loading the cable car vehicles are simplified, as individual cable car vehicles do not need to be moved.

[0020] Preferably, for parking the cable car vehicles, a cable car vehicle to be parked is moved by the feeder track conveyor to the end of the parking track until the cable car vehicle to be parked enters the area of ​​influence of a connecting element of a cable car vehicle located in the area of ​​the track end and the actuating device acts on at least one of the connecting elements of the cable car vehicle located in the area of ​​the track end or of the cable car vehicle to be parked being moved to the track end, so that the cable car vehicle located in the area of ​​the track end and the cable car vehicle to be parked being detachably connected to each other and thereby the jointly movable vehicle assembly of the cable car vehicles detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements is formed on the parking track and that the feeder track conveyor or the parking track conveyor pushes the formed vehicle assembly into the parking track for parking.until the cable car to be parked, which has been moved to the end of the track by the feeder conveyor, is located in the area of ​​the track end. The jointly movable vehicle group allows for improved shunting of the cable car vehicles in the parking area, as the cable car vehicles can be both pulled and pushed together without becoming separated. In addition, the need for a separate drive system for each cable car vehicle is eliminated. Character description

[0021] The present invention is described below with reference to the Figures 1 to 4 In more detail, the invention is explained, and exemplary, schematic, and non-restrictive embodiments are shown. This includes showing Fig. 1 a cable car station with a parking system according to the invention, Fig. 2 a cable car vehicle with connecting elements according to the invention, Fig. 3a-3c an operating device designed as a forced guidance system, and Fig. 4a connection of two connecting elements.

[0022] In Fig. 1 The diagram merely schematically depicts a cable car station 20 of a cable car 1 (e.g., a gondola lift), for example, a valley or mountain station, in a top view. The cable car 1 typically has at least one other cable car station, for example, a mountain or valley station or an intermediate station, which is shown in Fig. 1(not shown). A haul rope 3 runs between the cable car stations 20, for example around pulleys 23 in the cable car stations 20, with at least one pulley 23 being driven by a cable car drive 24. A plurality of cable car vehicles 2, such as gondolas or chairs, are transported between the cable car stations 20 on the haul rope 3. In a cable car station 20, the cable car vehicles 2 are uncoupled from the haul rope 3 after entering the cable car station 20 in a known manner. Before leaving the cable car station 20, the cable car vehicles 2 are re-coupled to the haul rope 3. Rope clamps 61 (in) are used for uncoupling and coupling. Fig. 2(shown) on the cable car vehicles 2. To move a cable car vehicle 2 that is decoupled from the haul rope 3 in the cable car station 20, a station conveyor 25, for example a tire conveyor or a continuous conveyor, is provided. At least one guide rail 26 can be provided in the cable car station 20, along which the (decoupled) cable car vehicles 2 are guided in the cable car station 20. As is known, the cable car vehicles 2 are moved suspended by the station conveyor 25 along the guide rail 26 in the cable car station 20.

[0023] In Fig. 1The basic structure of the parking system 10 according to the invention is shown. The parking system 10 is arranged in or near one of the cable car stations 20 of the cable car 1. The parking system 10 can be at the same or a different level than the cable car station 20. The parking system 10 has a parking area P. The majority of the cable car vehicles 2 are parked in the parking area P. For this purpose, at least one parking track 11 is provided in the parking area P. The invention will be described below with only one parking track 11, although the parking system 10 can, of course, also provide several parking tracks 11. The parking track 11 in Fig. 1 The example shows a straight path. Of course, depending on the design of the parking system 10, the parking track 11 can also have any other path. The parking system 10 can, for example, be housed in a building, such as a hall, to protect parked cable car vehicles 2 from the weather.

[0024] Parking track 11 has an axial track end 11a, with a feeder track 21 of the cable car 1 connected to track end 11a of parking track 11. "Connected" here does not necessarily mean that feeder track 21 and parking track 11 are directly connected, but rather that it is possible to move a cable car 2 from feeder track 21 to parking track 11, and vice versa. In one embodiment, parking track 11 terminates at the axial track end opposite feeder track 21. For this example, parking track 11 is designed as a stub track. However, parking track 11 can also be designed as a closed track, where "closed" means that the track end of parking track 11 opposite feeder track 21 is connected to track end 11a or feeder track 21. If more than one parking track 11 is provided in parking area P, branches 28 from the feeder track 21 may be provided.A switch may be provided at a junction 28, or the junction 28 may be designed as a switch to connect a parking track 11 with the feeder track 21 and, depending on the position of the switch, to direct a cable car 2 from the feeder track 21 to a parking track 11 or to continue along the feeder track 21. Fig. 1 A further parking track 11 is only schematically indicated (dashed line). As already mentioned, the invention is described below with a parking track 11.

[0025] The cable car vehicles 2, in a state decoupled from the haul rope 3 of the cable car 1, can be moved from the feeder track 21 via track end 11a into the parking track 11. The feeder track 21 is connected to the station conveyor 25 in the cable car station 20, for example via a switch 27, to transfer a cable car vehicle 2 from the station conveyor 25 to the feeder track 21, or vice versa. The feeder track 21 and the parking track 11 are preferably designed such that the cable car vehicles 2 are moved along the respective track suspended from it and, in the case of the parking track 11, are parked suspended from it. Alternatively, the cable car vehicles 2 can also be moved or parked while stationary on the respective track (e.g., on a trolley). However, the design of the respective track is irrelevant for the coupling of the cable car vehicles 2 according to the invention.

[0026] A feed track conveyor 22 is provided at feed track 21 for moving a cable car 2 along feed track 21. The feed track conveyor 22 can be designed in a known manner as a tire conveyor, continuous conveyor, or as another suitable conveyor. A guide rail for the cable car 2 can also be provided in the area of ​​the feed track conveyor 22.

[0027] In a known manner, the cable car vehicles 2 are designed to transport persons and / or objects. The cable car vehicles 2 comprise a transport unit 5, which is designed to accommodate the persons and / or objects to be transported. The figures show, by way of example, a cabin as the transport unit 5 of the cable car vehicles 2, although a number of chairs can also be provided as the transport unit 5 (e.g., in a chairlift).

[0028] The cable car 2 further comprises a suspension 6, the suspension 6 serving to attach the cable car 2 to a haul rope 3. The suspension 6 is connected to the transport body 5, for example via a suitable screw connection. The rope clamp 61 is arranged on the suspension 6, by means of which the cable car 2 can be detachably coupled to the haul rope 3 in a known manner. The rope clamp 61 is shown only schematically in Fig. 2The rope clamp 61 can clamp the haul rope 3 under the action of a clamping spring (not shown), and the rope clamp 61 can be mechanically actuated to open via a clamping mechanism in the cable car station 20. A running gear 62 with a plurality of rollers 63 can be provided on the suspension 6. The rollers 63 are rotatably arranged on the running gear 62. When the running gear 62 is used on a cable car 2, the rollers 63 run on support ropes 33, which are stretched between two cable car stations 20 of the cable car 1. Fig. 2 The cable car vehicle 2 with a running gear 62 is shown as an example.

[0029] At least one guide roller can be arranged on the suspension 6, which interacts with a guide rail in the cable car station 20 and / or in the parking system 10 to guide the cable car 2 along guide rails. The parking track conveyor 15, the feed track conveyor 22, and the station conveyor 25 are, for example, each designed as a tire conveyor, in which a plurality of driven tires are rotatably mounted one behind the other in the direction of travel of the cable car 2. The tires interact with a friction lining on the suspension 6 of the cable car 2, which is decoupled from the haul rope 3, to move it through the cable car station 20 and / or through the parking system 10 by rotating the tires, e.g., along a guide rail.

[0030] According to the invention, the cable car vehicles 2 each have at least two connecting elements 4, which are designed to detachably connect two adjacent cable car vehicles 2 to one another during operation of the parking system 10. The cable car vehicles 2, detachably connected to one another via the connecting elements 4, form a jointly movable vehicle assembly 12. The vehicle assembly 12 is designed to be pulled or pushed along the parking track 11 in a conveying direction F (in Fig. 1 (indicated by a double arrow), without the cable car vehicles 2 detaching from the vehicle group 12. Due to the connecting elements 4, it is irrelevant which cable car vehicle 2 in the vehicle group 12 is used to move the vehicle group 12. This simplifies the shunting of the cable car vehicles 2 in the parking area.

[0031] Preferably, the connecting elements 4 are provided on the suspension of the respective cable car vehicle 2. As shown by way of example in Fig. 2 As shown, the connecting elements 4 are provided on the running gear 62 (if present) on the suspension 6 of the cable car 2. Of course, the connecting elements 4 can also be arranged on the transport body 5 of the cable car 2. For example, depending on the embodiment of the cable car 2 or the cable car 1, it may be advantageous to attach the connecting elements 4 to the suspension 6 or to the transport body 5. To allow relative movement of the connected cable car 2 to each other, the connecting elements 4 can be mounted on the cable car 2 with bearings, or the connecting elements 4 can be designed to permit movement.

[0032] The connecting elements 4 can be of different designs. For example, the connection can be mechanical, magnetic, etc. Connecting elements 4 can include, for example, plug connectors, screw connectors, quick-release couplings, etc. As in Fig. 2As shown, one of the two connecting elements 4 of the cable car 2 is preferably designed as a hook element 4a, and the other of the two connecting elements 4 of the cable car 2 is designed as an eyelet element 4b. Another possibility is to use a component of the suspension 6 (e.g., a frame of the running gear 62) itself as a connecting element 4 (e.g., as an eyelet element 4b). Two connecting elements 4 can also be connected to each other via a separate coupling element. For example, both connecting elements 4 are designed as hook elements 4a, and a bracket is used as the coupling element, which is hooked into both hook elements 4a to connect the cable car 2. The coupling element can also be hooked in manually (e.g., by the cable car operator) to establish the connection, if advantageous.Connecting and disconnecting the connecting elements 4 should preferably be quick and easy, and the connection of the cable car vehicles 2 should hold reliably.

[0033] The hook element 4a is, for example, T-shaped and the eyelet element 4b is C-shaped. Of course, the connecting elements 4 can have a different shape, as long as they allow the cable car vehicles 2 to be detachably connected to one another. To connect the cable car vehicles 2, during operation of the parking system 10, the hook element 4a of one cable car 2 engages with the eyelet element 4b of the adjacent cable car 2. To detach the cable car vehicles 2, the hook element 4a of one cable car 2 and the eyelet element 4b of the adjacent cable car 2 are separated again. The connecting elements 4 can be partially movable to facilitate engagement and separation. For example, the eyelet element 4b could be pivotable to connect to or detach from the hook element 4a.Alternatively or additionally, the engagement and separation of the two connecting elements 4 takes place by a relative movement of the cable car vehicles 2 to each other, as described below with reference to the . Fig. 3a-3c will be described in more detail.

[0034] The parking system 10 comprises an actuating device 13, which is designed to connect or disconnect the connecting elements 4 of the cable car vehicles 2. The actuating device 13 is located in the area of ​​the track end 11a of the parking track 11. Fig. 1The actuating device 13 is shown schematically. The actuating device 13 comprises an operating area in which the connecting elements 4 of the cable car vehicles 2 can be connected or disconnected by the actuating device 13. The actuating device 13 is preferably actively designed, comprising an actuator 13a. The actuator 13a is configured to interact with the connecting elements 4 of the cable car vehicles 2 to generate an actuating force for connecting or disconnecting the connecting elements 4. Depending on the embodiment of the connecting elements 4, a suitable actuator 13a can be used. For example, the actuator 13a is designed as a hydraulic cylinder that applies the actuating force to one or both of the connecting elements 4 (e.g., designed as plug connectors) to connect or disconnect them.

[0035] Alternatively, the actuating device 13 can be passive. The actuating device 13 is designed to interact with the cable car 2 during its movement to generate the actuating force for connecting or disconnecting the connecting elements 4. The passively designed actuating device 13 is preferably configured as a positive guide 14. The positive guide 14 has a predetermined path along which the cable car 2 is moved. The positive guide 14 preferably extends from the feeder track 21 via the track end 11a into the parking track 11. During operation of the parking system 10, the cable car 2 is moved along the path of the positive guide 14, generating the actuating force on the connecting elements 4 to connect or disconnect the cable car 2 via the connecting elements 4.For example, the cable car vehicles 2 are moved along the course of the forced guidance 14 by means of guide rollers on the suspension 6, which interacts with the forced guidance 14.

[0036] In the Fig. 3a-3c This is an example, in a top view of the cable car vehicles 2, of connecting two cable car vehicles 2 via the connecting elements 4 (as in Fig. 2 (as shown) by means of the actuating device 13 designed as a forced guide 14. In Fig. 4A more detailed view of the connecting element 4 of the cable car vehicles 2 is shown. The path of the forced guidance 14 is depicted as an S-shaped track section in the axial conveying direction F. Both cable car vehicles 2 move in the conveying direction F (e.g., towards the end of the parking track furthest from the feeder track) along the path of the forced guidance 14. After the preceding cable car vehicle 2 has passed the S-shaped track section, the two cable car vehicles 2 are arranged transversely to the conveying direction F, offset from each other ( Fig. 3aDue to the laterally offset arrangement of the cable car vehicles 2 perpendicular to the conveying direction F, the hook element 4a of the cable car vehicle 2 preceding it in the conveying direction F and the eyelet element 4b of the cable car vehicle 2 trailing it in the conveying direction F are initially laterally offset from each other. Due to the course of the forced guidance 14, the cable car vehicle 2 trailing it in the conveying direction F is moved relative to the preceding cable car vehicle 2. As in Fig. 3b As shown, the S-shaped track section causes a rotation around the vertical axis of the cable car vehicle 2 (indicated by an arrow R in the Fig. 3b ) instead. The hook element 4a of the preceding cable car 2 engages with the eyelet element 4b of the following cable car 2. Due to the further course of the forced guidance 14, the following cable car 2 is rotated in the opposite direction around its vertical axis (indicated by an arrow R in ). Fig. 3c), whereby the connection between the two cable car vehicles 2 is established. In Fig. 4 The connection between the two cable car vehicles 2 via the connecting elements 4, which are arranged on the respective running gear 62 of the cable car vehicles 2, is shown. Similarly, the connection of the connecting elements 4 can be released when the cable car vehicles 2 move in the opposite direction of travel. The positive guidance 14 is advantageous because the cable car vehicles 2 are moved anyway for parking and loading, and the connection can therefore be easily established without additional actuators.

[0037] The following describes an exemplary parking procedure for two cable car vehicles 2 of cable car 1, with reference to the Fig. 1Reference is made to the following. For example, at the end of the operating time of cable car 1, the cable car vehicles 2 are parked in the parking system 10 to protect them from the weather. As a first step, the two cable car vehicles 2 to be parked are detached from the haul rope 3 of cable car 1 after entering the cable car station 20 (and, if present, also from the track ropes 33). The two cable car vehicles 2 move onto the station conveyor 25 and are thus transferred one after the other along the guide rail 26 via the switch 27 onto the approach track 21. Once on the approach track 21, the approach track conveyor 22 takes over the movement of the cable car vehicles 2. To park the two cable car vehicles 2, both cable car vehicles 2 are moved by the approach track conveyor 22 towards the track end 11a of the parking track 11 until they reach the operating range of the actuating device 13 located in the area of ​​the track end 11a.If necessary, the second of the two cable car vehicles 2, which is downstream in the conveying direction, is moved further towards the track end 11a of the parking track 11 by the feeder track conveyor 22 until a connecting element 4 enters the effective range of a connecting element 4 of the preceding cable car vehicle 2. Depending on the embodiment, the actuating device 13 acts actively, for example on at least one of the connecting elements 4 of the cable car vehicles 2, or passively, for example on one of the two cable car vehicles 2 or on at least one of the connecting elements 4 of the cable car vehicles 2, so that the two cable car vehicles 2 are detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements 4. This forms a jointly movable vehicle assembly 12 from the two cable car vehicles 2 detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements 4.The feed track conveyor 22 or the parking track conveyor 15 pushes the formed vehicle assembly 12 into the parking track 11 until the cable car 2, which is moving towards the track end 11a on the feed track conveyor 22, is located in the area of ​​the track end 11a. Further cable car 2s are detachably connected to the vehicle assembly 12 in the same manner via respective connecting elements 4. It is advantageous if this allows the vehicle assembly 12 to be successively pushed further into the parking track 11 by each newly added cable car 2. This can be repeated until the parking track 11 is filled with cable car 2s.

[0038] To supply the two parked cable car vehicles 2, the vehicle assembly 12 is pulled from parking track 11 towards the feed track 21 by the parking track conveyor 15 until the detachably connected connecting elements 4 of the two cable car vehicles 2 (still in the vehicle assembly 12) enter the operating range of the actuating device 13 located in the area of ​​the track end 11a. Pulling the entire vehicle assembly 12 is only possible because the cable car vehicles 2 are connected to each other via the respective connecting elements 4.The actuating device 13 acts actively, for example on at least one of the connecting elements 4 of the cable car vehicles 2, or passively, for example on one of the two cable car vehicles 2 or on at least one of the connecting elements 4 of the cable car vehicles 2, so that the detachably connected connecting elements 4 between the two cable car vehicles 2 located in the area of ​​the track end 11a and within the operating range of the actuating device 13 are released, thereby successively dissolving the vehicle assembly 12. The released cable car vehicle 2 is taken over by the feeder track conveyor 22 and moved away from the parking track 11 on the feeder track 21. The feeder track conveyor 22 moves the cable car vehicles 2 to be supplied in the direction of the station conveyor 25, for example to the switch 27, in order to transfer them via the switch 27 onto the station conveyor 25.Upon arrival at the station conveyor 25, it takes over the movement of the cable car vehicles 2 along the guide rail 26 towards the haul rope 3. Before exiting the cable car station 20, the two cable car vehicles 2 are re-coupled with the haul rope 3. This process is repeated for each cable car vehicle 2 in the vehicle train 12, so that the vehicle train 12 is successively dismantled.

Claims

1. Parking system (10) for a plurality of cable car vehicles (2) of a cable car (1), wherein the parking system (10) has a parking area (P) with a parking track (11) for parking the plurality of cable car vehicles (2), wherein the parking track (11) has an axial track end (11a), wherein a feeder track (21) of the cable car (1) is connected to the track end (11a) of the parking track (11), wherein the cable car vehicles (2) in a state decoupled from a haul rope (3) of the cable car (1) can be moved from the feeder track (21) via the track end (11a) into the parking track (11), wherein a feeder track conveyor (22) is provided on the feeder track (21) for moving a cable car vehicle (2) along the feeder track (21), characterized by the fact that the cable car vehicles (2) each have at least two connecting elements (4) which are designed to detachably connect two adjacent cable car vehicles (2) during the operation of the parking system (10), thatIn use of the parking system (10) a jointly movable vehicle group (12) consisting of the cable car vehicles (2) which are detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements (4) is parked on the parking track (11). and thatFor the purpose of supplying the cable car vehicles (2), a parking track conveyor (15) is provided on the parking track (11), which pulls the vehicle assembly (12) out of the parking track (11) towards the feeder track (21), so that the detachably connected connecting elements (4) of the two cable car vehicles (2) located at an end of the vehicle assembly (12) facing the track end (11a) enter the area of ​​operation of an actuating device (13) arranged in the area of ​​the track end (11a) and the actuating device (13) releases the detachably connected connecting elements (4) between these two cable car vehicles (2) and the feeder track conveyor (22) takes over the cable car vehicle (2) located at the end of the vehicle assembly (12) facing the track end (11a) and is detached from the vehicle assembly (12) and moves it away from the parking track (11).

2. Parking system (10) according to claim 1, characterized by the fact thatThe feed track conveyor (22) is designed to move the cable car vehicle (2) to be parked to the track end (11a) of the parking track (11) until the cable car vehicle (2) being moved by the feed track conveyor (22) enters the effective range of a connecting element (4) of a cable car vehicle (2) located in the area of ​​the track end (11a) and the actuating device (13) in the area of ​​the track end (11a) acts on at least one of the connecting elements (4) of the cable car vehicle (2) located in the area of ​​the track end (11a) or of the cable car vehicle (2) being moved to the track end (11a) in order to detachably connect the cable car vehicle (2) located in the area of ​​the track end (11a) and the cable car vehicle (2) being moved to the track end (11a).so that the jointly movable vehicle assembly (12) is formed on the parking track (11) from the cable car vehicles (2) which are detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements (4), and that the feed track conveyor (22) or the parking track conveyor (15) is set up to push the formed vehicle group (12) into the parking track (11) for parking, until the cable car vehicle (2) to be parked, which was moved with the feed track conveyor (22) to the track end (11a), is in the area of ​​the track end (11a).

3. Parking system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact that the actuating device (13) is actively configured, wherein the actuating device (13) comprises an actuator (13a) which interacts with the connecting elements (4) of the cableway vehicles (2) to generate an actuating force for connecting or releasing the connecting elements (4).

4. Parking system (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by the fact thatthe actuating device (13) is designed passively, wherein the actuating device (13) interacts with the cable car vehicle (2) during the movement of the cable car vehicle (2) to generate an actuating force for connecting or releasing the connecting element (4).

5. Parking system (10) according to claim 4, characterized by the fact that the passively designed actuating device (13) is designed as a positive guide (14), wherein in the operation of the parking system (10) the cable car vehicles (2) are moved along the positive guide (14) to generate the actuating force and to connect or disconnect the cable car vehicles (2) via the connecting elements (4).

6. Parking system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by the fact thatone of the at least two connecting elements (4) of the cableway vehicles (2) is designed as a hook element (4a) and another of the at least two connecting elements (4) of the cableway vehicles (2) is designed as an eyelet element (4b), wherein in the operation of the parking system (10) to connect the cableway vehicles (2) a hook element (4a) of one cableway vehicle (2) engages in the eyelet element (4b) of the adjacent cableway vehicle (2) or to release the cableway vehicles (2) a hook element (4a) of one cableway vehicle (2) and the eyelet element (4b) of the adjacent cableway vehicle (2) separate.

7. Parking system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by the fact thatThe cableway vehicles (2) each comprise a transport body (5) and a suspension (6), wherein the suspension (6) serves to attach the respective cableway vehicle (2) to the haul rope (3) of the cableway (1) and the suspension (6) is connected to the transport body (2), wherein the connecting elements (4) are provided on the suspension (6) of the respective cableway vehicle (2).

8. Cableway (1) with at least one cableway station (20), wherein the at least one cableway station (20) comprises a parking system (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

9. Method for operating a parking system (10) for a plurality of cable car vehicles (2) of a cableway (1), wherein the cable car vehicles (2) in a state decoupled from a haul rope (3) of the cableway (1) are moved by a feed track conveyor from a feed track (21) via a track end (11a) of a parking track (11) connected to the feed track (21) into the parking track (11), characterized by the fact thatThe cable car vehicles (2) each have at least two connecting elements (4), wherein two adjacent cable car vehicles (2) are detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements (4), that A jointly movable vehicle group (12) consisting of the cable car vehicles (2) which are detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements (4) is parked on the parking track (11). and thatTo supply the cable car vehicles (2), the vehicle assembly (12) is pulled from the parking track (11) towards the feed track (21) by a parking track conveyor (15), so that the detachably connected connecting elements (4) of the two cable car vehicles (2) located at the end of the vehicle assembly (12) facing the track end (11a) enter the area of ​​operation of an actuating device (13) arranged in the area of ​​the track end (11a) and the detachably connected connecting elements (4) between these two cable car vehicles (2) are released by the actuating device (13) and the cable car vehicle (2) located at the end of the vehicle assembly (12) facing the track end (11a) and released from the vehicle assembly (12) is taken over by the feed track conveyor (22) and moved away from the parking track (11).

10. Method according to claim 9, characterized by the fact thatFor parking the cable car vehicles (2), a cable car vehicle (2) to be parked is moved with the feed track conveyor (22) to the track end (11a) of the parking track (11) until the cable car vehicle (2) to be parked enters the area of ​​effect of a connecting element (4) of a cable car vehicle (2) located in the area of ​​the track end (11a) and the actuating device (13) acts on at least one of the connecting elements (4) of the cable car vehicle (2) located in the area of ​​the track end (11a) or of the cable car vehicle (2) to be parked being moved to the track end (11a), so that the cable car vehicle (2) located in the area of ​​the track end (11a) and the cable car vehicle (2) to be parked being detachably connected to each other and thereby the jointly movable vehicle assembly (12) consisting of the vehicles detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements (4) is formed on the parking track (11). cable car vehicles (2) is formed and thatthe feed track conveyor (22) or the parking track conveyor (15) pushes the formed vehicle group (12) into the parking track (11) for parking, until the cable car vehicle (2) to be parked, which was moved to the track end (11a) with the feed track conveyor (22), is in the area of ​​the track end (11a).

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