Access device for cableway support

Abstract

In order to optimize an access device (2) for a cableway support (1), in particular for prolonging the service life and improving the safety of cableway workers, the cableway support (1) comprises at least one retaining device (5), the access device (2) having at least one connecting element (7), the access device (2) is connected to the at least one holding device (5) of the cableway support (1) via the at least one connecting element (7) in order to hold the access device (2) in the air, the at least one connecting element (7) being at least partially made of a damping material in order to separate the access device (2) from the cableway support (1) in terms of vibrations.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an access device for a cableway support, wherein the cableway support comprises at least one holding device, wherein the access device has at least one connecting element via which the access device is connected to at least one holding device of the cableway support in order to hold the access device in midair. Background Art

[0002] Cableways are of various designs and are mainly used for transporting people and / or goods, for example as a means of urban transport or for transporting people at ski resorts, wherein cableway vehicles (e.g. cabins, chairs or other transport containers) suspended from steel cables are used for transport. Usually, a cableway has at least two cableway stations, between which the cableway vehicles are moved by means of at least one steel cable through one or more cableway supports.

[0003] A distinction must be made between endless cableways and aerial cableways. In the case of aerial cableways, one or two cableway vehicles, pulled by traction cables, travel back and forth on a line between at least two stations on transport cables. In contrast, endless cableways have a continuously circulating closed loop of transport cables between the stations, on which a plurality of cableway vehicles, such as gondolas, cars or chairs, are arranged. The cableway vehicles thus move from one station to another on one side and back again on the other side. The movement of the cableway vehicles is therefore always substantially continuous in one direction, similar to a continuous conveyor.

[0004] In order to be able to cross longer distances, one or more cableway supports for guiding (one or more load-bearing / traction / transporting) cables are usually arranged between at least two stations. The structure of the cableway support is basically composed of the foundation, the support itself and the crossbeam at the top of the support (also called the transverse head). The cableway support can be designed as a steel frame structure, or a steel pipe or metal plate box structure. The support can also be made of concrete. For example, a plurality of rollers in the form of so-called roller assemblies are usually arranged on the cableway support or crossbeam to carry and guide the cable and the cableway vehicle. In addition, on the cableway support, for example, in the area where the crossbeam is parallel to the direction of the cable or parallel to the roller assembly, there is also an access device (so-called platform), which serves to enable the cableway staff to access the tower or the roller assembly for maintenance or repair work. This is also mainly a steel frame structure, which is designed so that the cableway staff can move safely on it. In addition, safety devices, such as railings, can also be provided to improve the safety of the cableway staff. The access device can be reached via a ladder on the cableway support or on the crossbeam, or by climbing up from a special cableway vehicle (as in EP 3 947 096 B1).

[0005] Access devices on the cableway support are subject to vibrations (e.g. due to wind, cable-induced vibrations, movement of the cableway vehicle on the roller assemblies of the cableway support, etc.). Vibrations can not only lead to premature fatigue of components or structures, but can also endanger cableway personnel on the platform. Vibrations are particularly relevant in the case of urban cableways, as their operating times are long and fatigue loads are therefore high.

[0006] The object of the present invention is therefore to optimize the access device on the cableway support, in particular to extend the service life and to increase the safety of the cableway personnel. Summary of the invention

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved with an access device for a cableway support in that at least one connecting element is at least partially made of a damping material in order to decouple the access device from the cableway support in terms of vibrations. As a result, vibrations that may occur on the cableway support (as described above) are damped (damped) or not transmitted to the access device. The damping material dissipates vibration energy, so that the access device is not additionally loaded or stressed by vibrations on the cableway support, which prolongs the service life of the access device. In addition, the safety of cableway personnel on the access device is increased, for example during maintenance or repair work on the cableway support.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment of the access device, at least one strut is provided, which is preferably connected to the access device via a first axial end and preferably to the cableway support via a second axial end, wherein at least one further connecting element is provided, which is arranged between the connection of the at least one strut to the access device (entry device) or between the connection of the at least one strut to the cableway support. The at least one strut is provided in particular for larger cableway supports or access devices, since the components freely suspended there may deform unacceptably due to their size, for which reason it is necessary to provide an additional mounting (strut) on the cableway support. According to the invention, since the at least one strut connects the access device to the cableway support, at least one further connecting element is provided in order to decouple the access device from the cableway support with respect to vibrations.

[0009] In an advantageous embodiment of the access device, the access device has at least two segments, wherein a first segment of the at least two segments is fastened to at least one retaining device of the cableway support, and a second segment of the at least two segments is connected to the first segment of the at least two segments via at least one connecting element. It may be advantageous if not the entire access device, but only the segment(s) of the access device is vibrationally decoupled from the cableway support. This improves the accessibility of the at least one connecting element and increases the installation space of the access device. Furthermore, it is easier to retrofit such a segment to an existing cableway support.

[0010] In a further advantageous embodiment of the access device, at least one strut is preferably connected via a first axial end to a second of the at least two sections of the access device, and at least one strut is preferably connected via a second axial end to a cableway support, wherein at least one further connecting element is arranged between the connection of the at least one strut to the second of the at least two sections of the access device or between the connection of the at least one strut to the cableway support. This also allows for an increase in the installation space of the access device. It is easier to retrofit such a strut to an existing cableway support.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment of the access device, fastening elements are provided in order to connect the at least one connecting element to the access device and to the at least one retaining device.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment of the access device, a fastening element is provided in order to connect at least one further connecting element to the access device and to the at least one strut, preferably to a first axial end of the at least one strut, or to connect at least one further connecting element to the cableway support and to the at least one strut, preferably to a second axial end of the at least one strut.

[0013] In an advantageous embodiment of the access device, at least one connecting element is a resilient solid body. For example, the solid body can be square or rectangular. This allows the access device to have a certain flexibility relative to the cableway support, thereby keeping the access device in the air, for example, so that cableway personnel can access the access device in order to carry out maintenance or repair work on the cableway support. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] In the following, reference Figures 1 to 5 Describing the present invention in more detail, Figures 1 to 5 Schematic and non-limiting, exemplary advantageous embodiments of the present invention are shown. In the drawings: Figure 1 The basic structure of the cableway support with access device according to the present invention is shown. Figure 2An embodiment of an access device according to the invention is shown on a cableway support having at least one support rod, Figure 3 A further embodiment of an access device according to the invention is shown on a cableway support having at least one support rod. Figure 4 An embodiment with two access devices according to the invention on a cableway support is shown, and Figure 5 A further embodiment with two access devices according to the invention is shown on a cableway support. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0015] Figure 1 The basic structure of a cableway support 1 with an access device 2 according to the invention is shown. The cableway support 1 comprises a support (tower, support column) 3, a crossbeam 4 and at least one retaining device 5. For example, the support 3 can be (circular) cylindrical, cylindrical with a circular or square cross section, or can also be designed as a frame configuration. For example, the crossbeam 4 can have a square cross section and two axial ends. The support 3 can be fastened in a foundation at one axial end (not shown). At the other axial end of the support 3, the crossbeam 4 can be fastened to the support 3 (for example, by means of a flange). On the crossbeam 4 (for example, at the axial end of the crossbeam 4, as shown in FIG. 1 ), a flange can be provided. Figure 1 As shown) a roller assembly 6 is arranged in which a steel cable 10 is held or guided.

[0016] For example, at least one retaining device 5 of the cableway support 1 can be fastened to the crossbeam 4 between the axial ends of the crossbeam 4 and the support 3 (e.g., by bolting or by welding). Depending on the design of the cableway support 1, the at least one retaining device 5 can also be fastened directly to the support 3. However, for the sake of simplicity, the case where the at least one retaining device 5 is fastened directly to the support 3 will not be described below. For example, the support 3, the crossbeam 4 and the at least one retaining device 5 can be made of steel or at least also partially made of concrete. In a simple embodiment (e.g., Figure 1 As shown in FIG. 1 , at least one holding device 5 of the cableway support 1 can be designed as a shaped tube with a square or rectangular cross section.

[0017] The access device 2 has at least one connecting element 7, via which the access device 2 is connected to at least one holding device 5 of the cableway support 1 in order to hold the access device 2 in the air. Of course, it is also possible to provide two holding devices 5, for example, on the crossbeam 4 of the cableway support 1, and then to provide two connecting elements 7 on the access device 2, so as to connect the access device 2 to the two holding devices 5 via the two connecting elements 7 and hold the access device 2 in the air.

[0018] like Figure 1As shown, the access device 2 can be designed as a longitudinal beam 8 (e.g. a shaped tube with a square cross section) on which a step 9 is arranged. For example, the step 9 is made of a perforated metal sheet or a checkered metal sheet and is fastened to the longitudinal beam 8 of the access device 2, for example via a bolt connection or a welded connection. Another possible embodiment of the access device 2 is a continuous step 9 along the longitudinal beam 8. For example, the access device 2 serves to ensure that cableway personnel can stay and move safely to carry out maintenance or repair work on the roller assembly 6. Here, it is advantageous that the access device 2 is positioned close to the roller assembly 6 (e.g. below or on the side of the roller assembly 6) so that the cableway personnel can easily and safely reach the roller assembly 6 for maintenance or repair work. Therefore, the access device 2 is preferably arranged on at least one retaining device 5 parallel to the roller assembly 6 or parallel to the cable direction S of the cable 10 guided in the roller assembly 6. For example, the access device 2 is made of steel. In addition, a railing ( Figure 1 ), which is fastened, for example, to the longitudinal beam 8 of the access device 2 and / or to the footboard 9 of the access device 2 in order to secure the cableway personnel against falling from the cableway support 1 .

[0019] At least one connecting element 7 is at least partially made of a damping material in order to decouple the access device 2 from the cableway support 1 in terms of vibrations. Figure 1 1 and 2. The at least one connecting element 7 is shown to be arranged between at least one holding device 5 of the cableway support 1 and the access device 2. Depending on the application, it is also possible not to arrange the at least one connecting element 7 between the connection of the at least one holding device 5 of the cableway support 1 and the access device 2, but to arrange it at the fastening of the at least one holding device 5 to the cableway support 1 in order to decouple the access device 2 from the cableway support 1 in terms of vibrations. Preferably, the at least one connecting element 7 is an elastic solid body (e.g. rectangular or square). Preferably, a fastening element 11 is provided in order to connect the at least one connecting element 7 to the access device 2 and to the at least one holding device 5. Preferably, the fastening element 11 is a screw, a bolt, a pin or the like.

[0020] Preferably, the damping material of the at least one connecting element 7 is an elastomer or silicone or rubber or a silicone-rubber mixture, such as EPDM silicone, or the like. Preferably, the damping material has as good a low-frequency damping effect as possible over as wide a temperature range as possible and as long a service life as possible. Since the at least one connecting element 7 is at least partially made of a damping material, there is no rigid connection (e.g. as in the case of a bolted or welded connection) between the access device 2 and the at least one retaining device 5, but an elastic connection. Due to this elastic connection between the access device 2 and the at least one retaining device 5, vibrations that may occur on the cableway support 1 (e.g. due to wind, vibrations caused by the steel cable, due to movement of the cableway vehicle on the roller assembly 6 of the cableway support 1, etc.) are suppressed (i.e. the vibration energy is dissipated) or are not transmitted to the access device 2 via the at least one retaining device 5 rigidly connected or fastened to the cableway support 1. The access device 2 is thus vibrationally decoupled from the cableway support 1, whereby the access device 2 can remain in the air despite the elastic connection and can be accessed by cableway personnel, for example, for maintenance or repair work on the cableway support 1. In the case of a rigid connection between the access device 2 and the at least one holding device 5, the vibrations just described would be transmitted to the access device 2. The access device 2 could therefore be loaded or stressed by the vibrations on the cableway support, which could shorten the service life of the access device 2 and endanger cableway personnel on the access device 2 (for example, in the event of premature fatigue of the access device 2).

[0021] In a preferred embodiment, the at least one connecting element 7 comprises a housing (e.g. a rectangular tube made of aluminum), wherein two solid bodies (e.g. two square bodies made of steel) with recesses (e.g. holes) for the fastening elements 11 are arranged in the housing. The damping material of the at least one connecting element 7 is arranged in the housing between the two solid bodies and the housing (e.g. as a filler made of an elastomer or silicone or rubber or a silicone-rubber mixture, such as EPDM silicone, etc.). The two solid bodies are thus elastically mounted in the housing. If one of the two solid bodies of the at least one connecting element 7 is connected to the access device 2 and the second of the two solid bodies of the at least one connecting element 7 is connected to the at least one retaining device 5, then there is an elastic connection between the access device 2 and the at least one retaining device 5 (as described above).

[0022] Of course, it is also possible to provide at least one retaining device 5, for example between one axial end of the crossbeam 4 and the support 3, wherein the crossbeam 4 is fastened to the support 3 of the cableway support 1 between the two axial ends of the crossbeam 4. Thus, the access device 2 can be arranged on the corresponding at least one retaining device 5 of the cableway support 1 (for example, in the case of a circulating cableway). Such an embodiment is Figure 4 and Figure 5 For simplicity, Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 Only one access device 2 is shown. As mentioned above, the corresponding at least one retaining device 5 can also be attached directly to the support 3.

[0023] Figure 2 An embodiment of an access device 2 on a cableway support 1 and having at least one support rod 12 is shown. For example, at least one support rod 12 can be designed as a shaped tube with a square cross section. Figure 2 In the embodiment of the present invention, at least one strut 12 is arranged on the downhill side of the cableway support 1. In this case, the access device 2 has at least one connecting element 7. The access device 2 is connected to the at least one strut 12 via at least one further connecting element 7, preferably to a first axial end of the at least one strut 12. The at least one strut 12 has a second axial end, wherein the at least one strut is preferably fastened to the cableway support 1 via the second axial end (for example, to the crossbeam 4 via a bolt connection). Depending on the requirements for the at least one further connecting element 7, its dimensions can be, for example, similar to Figure 1 At least one connecting element 7 is different from, or at least one other connecting element 7 is different from Figure 1 As already mentioned above, a fastening element 11 is preferably provided in order to connect the at least one further connecting element 7 to the access device 2 and to the at least one strut 12, preferably to a first axial end of the at least one strut 12. Depending on the application, it is also possible to arrange the at least one further connecting element 7 not between the connection of the access device 2 and the at least one strut 12, but at the connection of the at least one strut 12 to the cableway support 1, in order to decouple the access device 2 from the cableway support 1 in terms of vibrations.

[0024] Figure 3A further embodiment of an access device 2 on a cableway support 1 with at least one support rod 12 is shown. The access device 2 has at least two sections B1, B2, wherein a first section of the at least two sections B1, B2 is (rigidly) fastened to at least one retaining device 5 of the cableway support 1 (e.g. via a bolt connection or a welded connection), while a second section of the at least two sections B1, B2 is (elastically) connected to the first section of the at least two sections B1, B2 via at least one connecting element 7. The second section of the at least two sections B1, B2 is (elastically) connected to the at least one support rod 12, preferably to a first axial end of the at least one support rod 12, via at least one further connecting element 7, wherein the at least one support rod 12 is preferably fastened to the cableway support 1 via a second axial end (e.g. to the crossbeam 4 by means of a bolt connection). Due to the elastic connection, the second section of the at least two sections B1, B2 of the access device 2 is decoupled from the cableway support 1 in terms of vibrations. As shown in FIG. Figure 3 As shown, in addition to at least one strut 12 (e.g. on the downhill side), at least one further strut 12 may be provided in the cable direction S (e.g. on the uphill side). The at least one further strut 12 is preferably (rigidly) attached to a first section of the at least two sections B1, B2 via a first axial end of the at least one further strut 12, wherein the at least one strut 12 is preferably attached to the cableway support 1 via a second axial end (e.g. to the crossbeam 4 by means of a bolt connection). Of course, in Figure 2 In the illustrated embodiment, at least one additional support rod 12 may also be provided.

[0025] Furthermore, the access device 2 can of course also have a further section B1, B2 which is vibrationally decoupled from the cableway support 1, for example by the further section B1, B2 being (elastically) connected to at least one further strut 12 via at least one further connecting element 7, preferably via a first axial end of at least one further strut 12, wherein the at least one further strut 12 is preferably further fastened to the cableway support 1 via a second axial end and by a further section B1, B2 of the at least two sections B1, B2 being (elastically) connected to the first section via at least one connecting element 7. Figure 3 In the embodiment, the second section of at least two sections B1, B2 is therefore mirrored around the longitudinal axis of the crossbeam 4, so that Figure 4 and Figure 5 The illustrated embodiment with two access devices 2 can also be designed in a mirror-image manner around the longitudinal axis of the cross member 4 (for example, not only on the downhill side but also on the uphill side).

[0026] Figure 4An embodiment with two access devices 2 on a cableway support 1 is shown, wherein at least one retaining device 5 is provided on the cableway support 1, for example between one axial end of a crossbeam 4 and a support 3, wherein the crossbeam 4 is fastened to the support 3 of the cableway support 1 between the two axial ends of the crossbeam 4. For simplicity, Figure 4 The roller assembly 6 and the steel cable 10 at the corresponding axial ends of the cross beam 4 of the cableway support 1 are not shown. The two access devices 2 each have at least two sections B1, B2, such as Figure 3 , wherein a first of the at least two sections B1, B2 is (rigidly) fastened to the respective at least one retaining device 5 of the cableway support 1, while a second of the at least two sections B1, B2 is (elastically) connected to the respective first of the at least two sections B1, B2 via at least one connecting element 7. The respective second of the at least two sections B1, B2 is (elastically) connected to the respective first axial end of the at least one support rod 12, preferably to the respective first axial end of the at least one support rod 12, via at least one further connecting element 7, wherein the respective at least one support rod 12 is preferably fastened to the cableway support 1 (e.g. to the crossbeam 4 by means of a bolt connection) via the respective second axial end. Due to the elastic connection, the respective second of the at least two sections B1, B2 of the respective access device 2 is vibrationally decoupled from the cableway support 1.

[0027] Of course, the at least two sections B1, B2 of the access device 2 can also be connected to each other via another support rod 13. Figure 4 In the embodiment, a support rod 13 is shown between the second of the at least two sections B1, B2 of the respective access device 2. The second of the at least two sections B1, B2 are thus (rigidly) connected to each other, but are nevertheless decoupled from the cableway support 1 in terms of vibrations by the elastic connection between the respective first of the at least two sections B1, B2 of the respective access device 2 and the respective at least one support rod 12.

[0028] As mentioned above, Figure 1 , Figure 2 and Figure 3 The embodiment shown can of course also be Figure 4 As in the design with two access devices 2.

[0029] Figure 5 A preferred embodiment with two access devices 2 on a cableway support 1 is shown (similar to Figure 4 ), wherein the cableway support 1 has an additional crossbeam 4, which is fastened to the existing crossbeam 4 via feet 14. As already described in Figure 4As shown in FIG. 1 , the two access devices 2 are each designed with at least two sections B1, B2 and, for example, are provided with four support rods 12. Figure 4 , at least two struts 12 (e.g. on the downhill side) are each preferably fastened via a respective first axial end to a respective second section of the at least two sections B1, B2, wherein the at least two struts 12 are each preferably connected (elastically) via a respective second axial end to the further crossbeam 4 via at least one further connecting element 7. Due to the elastic connection, the respective second section of the at least two sections B1, B2 of the respective access device 2 is decoupled from the cableway support 1 in terms of vibrations. Of course, as Figure 4 It is also possible that at least two struts 12 (e.g. on the downhill side) are preferably connected (elastically) via at least one further connecting element 7 via the respective second axial end to an existing crossbeam 4. Alternatively, the respective at least one retaining device 5 can of course also be fastened to a further crossbeam 4 of the cableway support 1.

Claims

1. An access device (2) for a cableway support (1), wherein: The cableway support (1) comprises at least one holding device (5), wherein the access device (2) has at least one connecting element (7), the access device (2) being connected to the at least one holding device (5) of the cableway support (1) via the at least one connecting element (7) in order to hold the access device (2) in the air, characterised in that the at least one connecting element (7) is at least partially made of a damping material in order to decouple the access device (2) from the cableway support (1) in terms of vibrations.

2. The access device (2) according to claim 1, characterized in that: At least one support rod (12) is provided, which is preferably connected to the access device (2) via a first axial end and is preferably connected to the cableway support (1) via a second axial end, wherein at least one further connecting element (7) is provided, which is arranged between the connection of the at least one support rod (12) to the access device (2) or between the connection of the at least one support rod (12) to the cableway support (1).

3. The access device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The access device (2) has at least two sections (B1, B2), wherein a first section of the at least two sections (B1, B2) is fastened to the at least one retaining device (5) of the cableway support (1), and a second section of the at least two sections (B1, B2) is connected to the first section of the at least two sections (B1, B2) via the at least one connecting element (7).

4. The access device (2) according to claim 3, characterized in that: The at least one support rod (12) is preferably connected to the second section of the at least two sections (B1, B2) of the access device (2) via the first axial end, and the at least one support rod (12) is preferably connected to the cableway support (1) via the second axial end, wherein the at least one further connecting element (7) is arranged between the connection of the at least one support rod (12) to the second section of the at least two sections (B1, B2) of the access device (2) or between the connection of the at least one support rod (12) to the cableway support (1).

5. The access device (2) according to claim 1 or 3, characterized in that: Fastening elements (11) are provided in order to connect the at least one connecting element (7) to the access device (2) and to the at least one retaining device (5).

6. The access device (2) according to claim 2 or 4, characterized in that: A fastening element (11) is provided in order to connect the at least one further connecting element (7) to the access device (2) and to the at least one support rod (12), preferably to the first axial end of the at least one support rod (12), or to connect the at least one further connecting element (7) to the cableway support (1) and to the at least one support rod (12), preferably to the second axial end of the at least one support rod (12).

7. The access device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that: The at least one connecting element (7) is an elastic entity.

8. A cableway support (1) with at least one retaining device (5), wherein: At least one access device (2) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 is connected to the at least one retaining device (5).

9. The cableway support (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that The cableway support (1) has at least one further retaining device (5), to which the further access device (2) is connected, wherein the cableway support (1) comprises at least one crossbeam (4) and a tower (3), wherein the at least one retaining device (5) is arranged on the cableway support (1), preferably between a first axial end of the at least one crossbeam (4) and the tower (3), and wherein the at least one further retaining device (5) is preferably arranged on the cableway support (1) between a second axial end of the at least one crossbeam (4) and the tower (3).

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