PARKING SYSTEM FOR A CIRCULAR CABLE CAR

Description

[0001] A parking system for a parking area of ​​a cable car station of a cable car, for carrying out a parking operation with a number of cable car vehicles of the cable car, wherein a feeder track and at least one first siding and one second siding are provided in the parking system, and wherein a transfer device is provided for transferring cable car vehicles from the feeder track to the sidings. Furthermore, the invention relates to a use of the parking system for carrying out a parking operation, a cable car with a parking system for carrying out a parking operation, and a method for carrying out a parking operation with a number of cable car vehicles in a parking area of ​​a cable car station of a cable car.

[0002] Circulating cable cars typically have a number of cable car stations, a number of cable car vehicles, and a haulage cable for moving the cable car vehicles between the cable car stations. In modern circulating cable cars, the cable car vehicles can be decoupled from the haulage cable within the cable car stations in a conventional manner and moved through the cable car stations at a reduced speed. Circulating cable cars with decoupleable cable car vehicles typically also have a parking area where the cable car vehicles, decoupled from the haulage cable, can be parked outside of operating hours. Such a parking area is typically located within one of the cable car stations, for example, on the same level as the operating area where the passenger boarding and / or disembarkation areas are located, or possibly in a garage below the operating area.To transfer the cable car vehicles to their designated parking positions in the parking area, a suitable parking system is usually provided, which may include one or more conveyor systems. Examples of parking systems are described in WO 2022 / 043378 A1, EP 0 711 696 A1, AT 392766 B, AT 366328 B, CN 209942318 U, or US 3,200,766 A.

[0003] Based on the prior art, it is an object of the present invention to provide an improved parking system which enables the simplest and quickest possible parking of cable car vehicles in a parking area of ​​a cable car station.

[0004] According to the invention, the object is achieved in that the transfer device has a displacement device which can be displaced along a stationary guide device between a first transfer position and a second transfer position, wherein the displacement device has a first track segment and a second track segment, wherein in the first transfer position of the displacement device a cable car vehicle can be moved from the first track segment to the first siding and a cable car vehicle can be moved from the feed track to the second track segment and in the second transfer position of the displacement device a cable car vehicle can be moved from the feed track to the first track segment and a cable car vehicle can be moved from the second track segment to the second siding.This allows the duration of the parking process to be significantly reduced, since while a cable car vehicle is being transferred to one of the sidings, a subsequent cable car vehicle can already be moved from the feeder track to a waiting position on the shifting device.

[0005] According to an advantageous embodiment, the displacement device can have a displacement carriage on which the first track segment and the second track segment are arranged at a distance from one another in a direction of movement of the displacement device, wherein the first track segment and the second track segment can be displaced together by means of the displacement carriage. This enables a simple structure and simple synchronous control of the movement of the track segments. Alternatively, the displacement device can also have at least a first and a second displacement carriage, wherein the first track segment is arranged on the first displacement carriage and the second track segment is arranged on the second displacement carriage, and wherein the first track segment and the second track segment can be displaced independently of one another by means of the displacement carriages.This allows for more flexible control of the movement of the track segments, allowing for different positions, speeds and accelerations.

[0006] Advantageously, the sidings, the feeder track, and the track segments of the shifting device each have a first guide rail for guiding a guide roller of the cable car vehicles. Optionally, the sidings, the feeder track, and the track segments of the shifting device can each also have a second guide rail for guiding a support guide roller of the cable car vehicles. This allows the cable car vehicles to be moved in the same way as is known along the vehicle guide rail in the operating area of ​​the cable car station. However, the second guide rails do not necessarily have to extend over the entire length of the first guide rails, but could, for example, also be provided only in sections. The second guide rails reduce lateral swinging of the cable car vehicles, thereby reducing the risk of damage.

[0007] Preferably, the sidings each have a straight section at least in the area of ​​their siding ends facing the shifting device, the feeder track has a straight section at least in the area of ​​a feeder track end facing the shifting device, and the track segments of the shifting device each have a straight section at least in the area of ​​their segment ends, preferably over their entire length. This allows, for example,

[0008] Curvature jumps are avoided, which allows for an easier and jerk-free transfer of the cable car vehicles.

[0009] Preferably, the straight sections of the track segments are parallel to each other, and the direction of movement of the displacement device along the stationary guide device is straight, in particular at a right angle to the straight sections of the track segments. Alternatively, the straight sections of the track segments could also be arranged at a track angle to each other, and the direction of movement of the displacement device along the stationary guide device can be curved, preferably circular. This allows a suitable design of the parking system to be provided depending on the available space.

[0010] The stationary guide device can have at least one guide rail, and the displacement device can have a number of rolling elements for movement along the at least one guide rail. For stable movement, it is advantageous if the stationary guide device has two (or more) guide rails spaced transversely to the direction of movement of the displacement device, along which guide rails the displacement device can be moved by means of the rolling elements. Suitable rollers, wheels, balls, etc., which are rotatably arranged on the displacement device, can be provided as rolling elements. The rolling elements can also have one or more gears, and the stationary guide device can have one or more racks along which the gear(s) roll. This enables precise and reproducible positioning of the displacement device.

[0011] For automatic control, it is advantageous if a drive device is provided to drive the displacement device along the stationary guide device. The drive device can, for example, have a drive unit arranged on the displacement device, e.g. an electric motor. This can, for example, drive a number of the above-mentioned rolling elements. The drive unit would thus be part of the displacement device and would move with it. Alternatively, the drive device can also act on the displacement device from the outside and be designed, for example, as a chain drive, toothed belt drive, actuating cylinder, etc. In this case, the drive unit would not be part of the displacement device and would therefore not move with it.

[0012] The shifting device preferably comprises a first conveyor device for conveying a cable car vehicle along the first track segment and a second conveyor device for conveying a cable car vehicle along the second track segment. This allows the cable car vehicles to be conveyed automatically along the track segments. Similarly, a third conveyor device for conveying cable car vehicles along the first siding and / or a fourth conveyor device for conveying cable car vehicles along the second siding and / or a fifth conveyor device for conveying cable car vehicles along the feeder track can be provided. Preferably, at least one of the conveyor devices comprises a tire conveyor designed to interact with a friction lining of a cable car vehicle to convey the cable car vehicle.This advantageously allows the use of the same conveyor system as for the auxiliary drive of the operating area, reducing the design and control system complexity. Alternatively, at least one of the conveyor systems can also comprise a chain conveyor or a toothed belt conveyor. The chain conveyor or the toothed belt conveyor can, for example, comprise a number of carrier elements that interact with a component of the cable car vehicle to move the cable car vehicle. For example, the carrier elements could exert a driving force on the suspension system, at the upper end of which the cable clamp is arranged and at the lower end of which the conveying body (chair, cabin) is arranged.

[0013] Preferably, a control unit is also provided for controlling the drive device of the shifting device and / or for controlling the first conveyor device of the shifting device and / or for controlling the second conveyor device of the shifting device and / or for controlling the third conveyor device of the first siding and / or for controlling the fourth conveyor device of the second siding and / or for controlling the fifth conveyor device of the feeder track. The control unit used can be, for example, the control unit of the cable car, which, among other things, also controls the drive of the cable car vehicles. However, a separate control unit could also be provided, which can, for example, communicate in a suitable manner with the control unit of the cable car in order to control the parking process.

[0014] A first sensor device can also be provided, which is designed to generate a first sensor signal representative of a position of the displacement device on the stationary guide device, and / or a second sensor device can be provided, which is designed to generate a second sensor signal representative of the presence of a cable car vehicle in a defined section of the feeder track, and the control unit can be designed to use the first sensor signal and / or the second sensor signal to control the parking process. The control unit can, for example, only activate the available conveyor devices of the parking system once it has been detected from the sensor signals that a cable car vehicle is located on the feeder track and the displacement device is in one of the transfer positions. This makes it possible to achieve a higher degree of automation of the parking system.

[0015] The object is further achieved by a method according to claim 15. Advantageous embodiments of the method are specified in claims 16 and 17.

[0016] The present invention is described below with reference to the Figuren 1 bis 3 which show exemplary, schematic and non-limiting advantageous embodiments of the invention. Fig.1 a cable car station of a circulating cable car with a parking area in which a parking system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention is arranged, Fig.2 an alternative embodiment of the parking system according to the invention, Fig.3 another alternative embodiment of the parking system according to the invention.

[0017] Fig.1 shows a cable car station 2 of a circulating cable car 1, in which an operating area BB and a parking area PB adjoining the operating area are provided. The circulating cable car 1 has, in a known manner, a plurality of cable car vehicles 4 which can be moved by a haulage cable F between the cable car station 2 and one or more further cable car stations (not shown). The cable car station 2 shown serves as the end station in which the cable car vehicles 4 are turned around. For this purpose, a first cable pulley 3 is arranged in the cable car station 2, around which the haulage cable F is deflected. In a further cable car station (not shown), a second cable pulley 3 is arranged, around which the haulage cable F is also deflected, so that a closed cable loop is formed, along which the cable car vehicles 4 can be moved.The cable car vehicles 4 generally have a transport body for accommodating persons and / or objects, for example a chair or a (in . Fig.1 indicated) cabin. The transport body is arranged in a known manner on a lower section of a suspension and can be suspended from the hoist rope by means of the suspension.

[0018] Furthermore, the cable car vehicles 4 each have, in a known manner, a suitable cable clamp 4a with which the cable car vehicle 4 can be detachably coupled to the haulage cable F. The cable clamp 4a is generally arranged at an upper section of the suspension. In an entry area E of the cable car station 2, the cable clamp 4a can be opened by a suitable (not shown) actuating device in order to decouple the cable car vehicle 4 from the haulage cable F. After decoupled, the cable car vehicle 4 can be braked and moved at reduced speed along a stationary vehicle guidance device 22 parallel to a platform 20 to the exit area A. This can facilitate the boarding and disembarkation of passengers P at platform 20, as indicated by the arrows.In the exit area A, the cable car vehicle 4 can be accelerated back to the speed of the haulage cable F and can be re-coupled to the haulage cable F by opening and then closing the cable clamp 4a. To move the cable car vehicles 4 decoupled from the haulage cable F along the vehicle guide device 22, a suitable auxiliary drive can be provided in the cable car station 2, for example, a known tire conveyor or chain conveyor (not shown).

[0019] A suitable vehicle drive device 21 is provided to drive the cable car vehicles 4. The vehicle drive device 21 can, for example, have a first drive unit 21a for driving the cable pulley 3 and a second drive unit 21b for driving the auxiliary drive. The drive units 21a, 21b are Fig.1 shown in simplified form. The drive units 21a, 21b can each have a suitable electric machine, for example. Furthermore, a control unit 17 for controlling the vehicle drive device 21 is provided in the circulating cable car 1. The control unit 17 can have suitable hardware and / or software. In addition to controlling the available drive units 21a, 21b of the vehicle drive device 21, the control unit 17 can also be provided for controlling further functions of the circulating cable car 1, e.g. for controlling the parking system PS according to the invention, which will be described in more detail below. The basic structure and mode of operation of such a cable car 1 are known, which is why no further detailed description is given here.

[0020] As mentioned, adjacent to the operating area BB of the cable car station 2, in which the platform 20 is located, is a parking area PB in which the cable car vehicles 4 can be parked outside of operating hours or for maintenance. While the platform 20 in the operating area BB is naturally accessible to passengers P, the parking area PB is generally not accessible to passengers P. As mentioned at the beginning, contrary to the embodiment shown, the parking area PB could, for example, also be provided at a different level than the operating area BB, for example below or above. This depends on the structural design of the cable car station 2. However, for the function of the parking system PS according to the invention, the position of the parking area PB within the cable car station 2 is irrelevant for the description of the invention.

[0021] To carry out the parking process, a parking system PS according to the invention is provided in the parking area PB. The parking system PS includes a feeder track 5, at least one first siding 6, and at least one second siding 7. Furthermore, a transfer device 8 is provided for transferring cable car vehicles 4 from the feeder track 5 to the sidings 6, 7. The feeder track 5 can be selectively connected, for example, via a suitable switch W to the vehicle guidance device 22 arranged in the operating area BB, as shown in Fig.1 is shown. This allows the cable car vehicles 4, for example, to be diverted from the operating area BB to the parking area after the end of operations. However, this is merely an example, and the parking system PS could also be arranged at a different location in the parking area PB. For example, the parking system could (additionally or alternatively) also be arranged at a location in the parking area PB further away from the operating area BB. In this case, for example, at least one of the sidings 6, 7 could function as a feeder track for the parking system PS. This would allow cable car vehicles 4 to be moved from the respective siding 6, 7 to further downstream sidings (not shown). However, for the sake of simplicity, the invention will only be described with reference to the embodiment shown.

[0022] The transfer device 8 has a displacement device V which is arranged along a stationary guide device 10 in a direction of movement BV predetermined by the guide device between a (in Fig.1 shown) first transfer position U1 and a (in Fig.1 not shown) second transfer position U2. The shifting device V has a first track segment 11 and a second track segment 12 spaced apart from the first track segment 11 in the direction of movement BV. In the illustrated first transfer position U1, the mutually facing ends 11a, 6a of the first track segment 11 and of the first siding 6 are aligned, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the first track segment 11 to the first siding 6. In addition, the mutually facing ends 5a, 12b of the feed track 5 and the second track segment 12 are aligned, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the second track segment 12.When the shifting device V is in the second transfer position U2 (not shown), the mutually facing ends 5a, 11b of the first track segment 11 and the feeder track 5 are aligned, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feeder track 5 to the first track segment 11. Furthermore, the mutually facing ends 12a, 7a of the second track segment 12 and the second siding 7 are aligned, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the second track segment 12 to the second siding 7. To reliably prevent a collision, a sufficiently small distance can also be provided between the mutually facing ends 5a, 11b, 12b or 6a, 11a or 7a, 12a.

[0023] In the example shown, the displacement device V has a (single) displacement carriage 9, on which the first track segment 11 and the second track segment 12 are arranged at a distance from one another. The first track segment 11 and the second track segment 12 can thus be moved back and forth jointly between the first transfer position U1 and the second transfer position U2 by means of the displacement carriage 9. According to an alternative embodiment (which will be described below with reference to Fig.2 However, the displacement device V can also comprise at least a first displacement carriage 9a and a second displacement carriage 9b (as will be described in more detail below). In this case, the first track segment 11 is arranged on the first displacement carriage 9a, and the second track segment 12 is arranged on the second displacement carriage 9b. The first track segment 11 and the second track segment 12 can thus be moved independently of one another along the stationary guide device 10 between the first transfer position U1 and the second transfer position U2 by means of the displacement carriages 9a, 9b.

[0024] The sidings 6, 7, the feeder track 5 and the track segments 11, 12 of the shifting device V can each have a first guide rail 6_1, 7_1, 5_1, 11_1, 12_1 for guiding main guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4. In addition, the sidings 6, 7, the feeder track 5 and the track segments 11, 12 of the shifting device V can each also have a (in Fig.1 not shown) second guide rail 6_2, 7_2, 5_2, 11_2, 12_2 for guiding support guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4. Within the scope of the invention, the main guide rollers are understood to be those rollers of a cable car vehicle 4 with which the cable car vehicle 4 is moved along a main guide rail of the vehicle guide device 22. The weight of a cable car vehicle 4 is thus supported on the main guide rail of the vehicle guide device 22 via the main guide rollers. As a rule, one or more such main guide rollers are arranged in the region of the cable clamp 4a.

[0025] In the context of the invention, the support guide rollers are those rollers of a cable car vehicle 4 that are provided in addition to the main guide rollers and with which the cable car vehicle 4 is guided along a support guide rail running parallel to the main guide rail of the vehicle guide device 22. The support guide rollers serve to minimize lateral pendulum movements of the cable car vehicle 4 transverse to the direction of movement. As a rule, one or more such support guide rollers are arranged in the area of ​​the cable clamp 4a for each cable car vehicle 4. The structural design and function of the vehicle guide device 22 as well as the main guide rollers and the support guide rollers are known, which is why no further description is provided here.

[0026] Furthermore, it may be advantageous if the sidings 6, 7 each have a straight section at least in the region of their siding ends 6a, 7a, that the feeder track 5 has a straight section at least in the region of its feeder track end 5a, and that the track segments 11, 12 of the shifting device V each have a straight section at least in the region of their segment ends 11a, 11b, 12a, 12b. In the example shown, track segments 11, 12 are straight over their entire length. Of course, other courses of the sidings 6, 7, the feeder track 5, and the track segments 11, 12 would also be conceivable, for example, curved courses.

[0027] In the example according to Fig.1 the longitudinal axes of the straight track segments 11, 12 are parallel to each other and the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V runs along a straight line, here normal to the longitudinal axes of the track segments 11, 12. In an alternative embodiment (which will be described below with reference to Fig.3 (described in more detail below), the longitudinal axes of the track segments 11, 12 can also be arranged at a segment angle β to each other, and the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V can be curved, preferably circular. A suitable design can be selected depending on the available space. A combination of several and possibly different parking systems PS within a parking area PB would of course also be possible.

[0028] In order to reliably prevent a collision between cable car vehicles 4 on adjacent sidings 6, 7, it is advantageous if at least the siding ends 6a, 7a of the sidings 6, 7 facing the shifting device V are spaced from one another in the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V by a parking distance PA that corresponds at least to a vehicle width FB of a cable car vehicle 4. Preferably, however, the parking distance PA is selected to be somewhat larger. For example, the parking distance PA can be the sum of the vehicle width FB and a specified safety distance. The safety distance can, for example, be in the range of a few centimeters to one meter or more. The distance between the track segments 11, 12 (or between the ends 11a, 12a) is thus half the parking distance PA.

[0029] As mentioned, the sidings 6, 7 do not necessarily have to be straight and do not necessarily have to be arranged at a right angle to the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V (as in Fig.1 ). For example, the sidings 6, 7 could also be straight and each arranged at a certain angle to the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V. The sidings 6, 7 could also be curved or curved. In order to reliably avoid a collision between cable car vehicles 4 on the adjacent sidings 6, 7, the parking distance PA should of course not be exceeded over the entire length of the sidings 6, 7. However, the cable car vehicles 4 could also be parked on the sidings 6, 7 in a type of zipper system, so that they partially overlap in the transverse direction (transverse to the longitudinal direction). In this case, the parking distance PA could also be less than the vehicle width FB.

[0030] A segment length SL of the track segments 11, 12 of the shifting device V (transverse to the direction of movement BV of the shifting device V) is preferably at least one cable clamp length SKL of a cable clamp 4a. The cable clamp length SKL of the cable clamp 4a is in Fig.1 shown as an example for the cable car vehicle 4, which is located in front of the entrance area E into the cable car station 2.

[0031] If the circulating cable car 1 is designed as a multi-cable circulating cable car, the cable car vehicles 4 have at least one further supporting cable in addition to the haul cable F. A running gear with a number of rollers is provided on each cable car vehicle 4, with which the respective cable car vehicle 4 rolls along the at least one supporting cable. The supporting cable thus serves as the track and the haul cable F serves as the traction cable for driving the cable car vehicle 4. In such a multi-cable circulating cable car 1, the segment length SL of the track segments 11, 12 is preferably at least one running gear length of the running gear of a cable car vehicle 4 (not shown). This ensures that the track segments 11, 12 are long enough to completely accommodate a cable car vehicle 4. Known multi-cable circulating cable cars are, for example,the two-cable gondola lift with one traction cable and one supporting cable or the three-cable gondola lift (also called 3S lift) with two supporting cables and one traction cable.

[0032] Preferably, the stationary guide device 10 has at least one guide rail 10a and the displacement device V has a number of rolling elements 13, with which the displacement device V rolls along the at least one guide rail 10a. The number of rolling elements 13 can, for example, comprise rollers, wheels, balls or the like, which are suitably mounted on the displacement device V. For example, the displacement carriage 9 can have a frame, for example made of profile tubes, as in Fig.1 is indicated. The rolling elements 13 can be arranged laterally on the frame of the sliding carriage 9 and roll along the guide rails 10a, 10b.

[0033] As in Fig.1 As shown, the stationary guide device 10 can also have two (or more) guide rails 10a, 10b spaced apart transversely to the direction of movement BV of the displacement device V, along which the displacement device V can be moved by means of the rolling elements 13. The guide rails 10a, 10b could, for example, each have a U-profile rail with open sides facing one another. The rolling elements 13 could be accommodated between the opposite (upper and lower) legs of the U-profile rails. The number of rolling elements 13 can, for example, also have one or more gears, and a suitable rack could be provided on the at least one guide rail 10a (not shown). This makes it possible to achieve precise and reproducible positioning of the displacement device V along the stationary guide device 10.

[0034] Furthermore, a drive device 14 for driving the displacement device V along the stationary guide device 10 can be provided in the parking system PS. The drive device 14 can, for example, have an electric drive unit, e.g. an electric motor, which is arranged on the displacement device V, in Fig.1 e.g., on the sliding carriage 9. The drive device 14 can, for example, be designed to drive one or more rolling elements 13 and be moved along with the sliding device V. Alternatively, the drive device 14 could, for example, also act on the sliding device V from outside and would thus not be part of the sliding device V. In this case, the drive device 14 could, for example, have a chain drive, toothed belt drive, actuating cylinder or the like and be arranged on a suitable stationary structure of the cable car station 2.

[0035] Furthermore, the displacement device V can have a first conveyor device 15 for conveying a cable car vehicle 4 along the first track segment 11 and a second conveyor device 16 for conveying a cable car vehicle 4 along the second track segment 12. In the example shown, the first conveyor device 15 and the second conveyor device 16 are each designed as a tire conveyor, similar to the above-mentioned auxiliary drive, which can be provided for moving the cable car vehicles 4 decoupled from the conveyor cable F along the vehicle guide device 22. A tire conveyor can, in a known manner, have a number of tires arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction of the respective track segment 11, 12, as in Fig.1 is indicated schematically. The tires can be driven by a suitable drive unit, e.g. an electric motor, which can be controlled, for example, by the control unit 17, as shown in Fig.1 is indicated by the connecting lines. The drive units of the conveyor devices 15, 16 are not shown for the sake of simplicity. To drive the cable car vehicles 4, the tires of the tire conveyors can interact in a known manner with a friction lining on the cable car vehicle 4, which can be provided, for example, in the area of ​​the cable clamp 4a. Of course, this is only an example, and the conveyor devices 15, 16 could also be designed differently, e.g., as chain conveyors, toothed belt conveyors, etc.

[0036] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a third conveyor device (not shown) for conveying cable car vehicles 4 along the first siding 6 and / or a fourth conveyor device (not shown) for conveying cable car vehicles 4 along the second siding 7 and / or a fifth conveyor device (not shown) for conveying cable car vehicles 4 along the feed track 5 are provided in the parking system PS. The third, fourth and fifth conveyor devices can, for example, again have a tire conveyor, chain conveyor, toothed belt conveyor or the like. The sidings 6, 7 could, however, in principle also be designed without a drive. The cable car vehicles 4 could, for example, be pushed from the first or second conveyor device 15, 16 onto the respective siding 6, 7 by the respective following cable car vehicle 4.A (preferably variable) inclination of the sidings 6, 7 would also be conceivable, so that the cable car vehicles 4 can be moved along the sidings 6, 7 by gravity.

[0037] In addition to controlling the drive device 14 of the shifting device V, the first conveyor device 15 and the second conveyor device 16 of the shifting device V, the control unit 17 can also be designed to control the third conveyor device of the first siding 6, to control the fourth conveyor device of the second siding 7 and to control the fifth conveyor device of the feed track 5.

[0038] Furthermore, it is advantageous if a first sensor device 18 is provided, which is designed to generate a first sensor signal S1 representative of a position of the displacement device V on the guide device 10. Likewise, a second sensor device 19 can be provided, which is designed to generate a second sensor signal S2 representative of the presence of a cable car vehicle 4 in a defined section of the feeder track 5. The control unit 17 can use the first sensor signal S1 and the second sensor signal S2 to control the parking process, in particular to control the first and second conveyor devices 15, 16 of the track segments 11, 12 and to control the fifth conveyor device of the feeder track 5. The defined section of the feeder track 5 can, for example, be an area of ​​a specific length, e.g., a few meters, adjacent to the end 5a.

[0039] For example, the control unit 17 can activate the first and second conveyor devices 15, 16 of the track segments 11, 12 only when it has been detected, based on the first sensor signal S1, that the shifting device V is in the first transfer position U1 or in the second transfer position U2, and when it has been detected, based on the second sensor signal S2, that a cable car vehicle 4 is located on the feeder track 5. The sensor devices 18, 19 can each have a number of suitable sensors that communicate with the control unit 17, either wired or wirelessly. For example, electrical limit switches or inductive, capacitive, or optical sensors can be used as sensors. The sensor devices 18, 19 are in Fig.1 For the sake of simplicity, they are shown in the area of ​​the control unit 17. In practice, the sensors are of course arranged at a suitable location to generate the respective sensor signal S1, S2.

[0040] The structure of the parking system PS has now been sufficiently described. For the sake of completeness, the use of the parking system PS for carrying out a parking operation with a number of cable car vehicles (4) is described below.

[0041] First, a first cable car vehicle 4 is moved, for example, by the vehicle guidance device 22 via the switch W, onto the feeder track 5. If the parking system PS is additionally or alternatively located at another location in the parking area PB, then, for example, one of the sidings 6, 7 can also function as a feeder track. For the sake of simplicity, however, reference is made to the Fig.1 The embodiment shown is taken into account. When the displacement device V is in the position shown in Fig.1 shown first transfer position U1, then the first cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the second track segment 12 of the shifting device V. This can be done, for example, by simultaneously activating the second conveyor device 16 of the second track segment 12 and the (not shown) third conveyor device of the feed track 5. If the shifting device V is in the (in Fig.1 not shown) second transfer position U2, then the first cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the first track segment 11 of the shifting device V. This can be done, for example, by simultaneously activating the first conveyor device 15 of the first track segment 11 and the (not shown) third conveyor device of the feed track 5.

[0042] If the first cable car vehicle 4 is located on the second track segment 12 (which can optionally be detected, for example, by a further sensor device), then the displacement device V including the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved along the stationary guide device 10 from the first transfer position U1 to the second transfer position U2. This can be done by the control unit 17 accordingly controlling the drive device 14 of the displacement device V. If the first cable car vehicle 4 is located on the first track segment 11 (which can in turn be detected, for example, by a further sensor device), then the displacement device V including the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved along the stationary guide device 10 from the second transfer position U2 to the first transfer position U1.

[0043] When the shifting device V is in the respective end position (first or second transfer position U1, U2) (which can be detected, for example, by the first sensor device 18), the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved from the first track segment 11 to the first siding 6 or from the second track segment 12 to the second siding 7. This can be achieved by the control unit 17 controlling the first or second conveyor device 15, 16 and, if applicable, the third conveyor device of the first siding 6 or the fourth conveyor device of the second siding 7.

[0044] While the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved in the first transfer position U1 from the first track segment 11 of the shifting device V to the first siding 6, a following second cable car vehicle 4 can already be moved from the feeder track 5 to the second track segment 12 of the shifting device V. In the same way, the second cable car vehicle 4 can already be moved from the feeder track 5 to the first track segment 11 of the shifting device V, while the first cable car vehicle 4 is moved in the second transfer position U2 from the second track segment 12 to the second siding 7. This allows the parking process to be accelerated compared to the prior art because the following cable car vehicle 4 can already be parked on the shifting device V. The described parking process can now be repeated with further cable car vehicles 4 following the second cable car vehicle 4.When a maximum storage capacity is reached on the first siding 6 and / or on the second siding 7, another following cable car vehicle 4 can also be parked, for example, on the first track segment 11 or the second track segment 12 of the shifting device V.

[0045] In Fig.2 An alternative embodiment of the parking system PS according to the invention is shown. While the displacement device V in the example according to Fig.1 has a single sliding carriage 9, the sliding device V according to Fig.2 two separate sliding carriages 9a, 9b, which are movable independently of each other along the stationary guide device 10. In the example shown, the stationary guide device 10 has a single guide rail 10a. Of course, two parallel guide rails 10a, 10b would also be conceivable, as in Fig.1 is shown, or possibly more than two guide rails. The first track segment 11 is arranged on the first sliding carriage 9a and the second track segment 12 is arranged on the second sliding carriage 9b. A first conveyor device 15 for conveying a cable car vehicle 4 along the first track segment 11 is provided on the first sliding carriage 9a, which can be designed (only by way of example) as a tire conveyor. In the same way, a second conveyor device 16 for conveying a cable car vehicle 4 along the second track segment 12 is provided on the second sliding carriage 9b, which in turn can be designed (only by way of example) as a tire conveyor. Fig.2 The indicated tires of the tire conveyors 15, 16 can be driven by a suitable drive unit, which can be controlled by the control unit 17. Furthermore, a third conveyor device for conveying the cable car vehicles 4 along the first siding 6, a fourth conveyor device for conveying the cable car vehicles 4 along the second siding 7, and a fifth conveyor device for conveying the cable car vehicles 4 along the feed track 5 are provided. The third, fourth, and fifth conveyor devices can in turn comprise a tire conveyor, as in Fig.2 indicated, but could alternatively also have another suitable drive, e.g. a chain conveyor, toothed belt conveyor or similar.

[0046] While the track segments 11, 12 in the example according to Fig.1 only have a first guide rail 11_1, 12_1 for the main guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4, the track segments 11, 12 in the example according to Fig.2 each have an additional second guide rail 11_2, 12_2 for the support guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4. This allows (particularly during the movement of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b) lateral pendulum movements of the cable car vehicles 4 to be reduced, thereby reducing the risk of damage. Advantageously, the sidings 6, 7 each have a first guide rail 6_1, 7_1 for the main guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4 and a second guide rail 6_2, 7_2 arranged parallel thereto for guiding the support guide rollers of the cable car vehicles 4. As shown in Fig.2 As indicated, the second guide rails 6_2, 7_2 of the sidings 6, 7 do not have to extend over the entire length of the first guide rail 6_1, 7_1, but could also be shorter and, for example, only be provided in a section adjacent to the shifting device V. In the sections of the sidings 6, 7 further away from the shifting device V, it may be sufficient if only first guide rails 6_1, 7_1 are provided.

[0047] The basic function of the PS parking system according to Fig.2 is the same as in Fig.1 . In the illustrated first transfer position U1, the first shifting carriage 9a is positioned such that the first track segment 11 is aligned with the first siding 6, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the first track segment 11 to the first siding 6. In addition, the second shifting carriage 9b is positioned in the first transfer position U1 such that the second track segment 12 is aligned with the feed track 5, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the second track segment 12. In the (not illustrated) second transfer position U2, the first shifting carriage 9a is positioned such that the first track segment 11 is aligned with the feed track 5, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the feed track 5 to the first track segment 11.The second transfer carriage 9b is positioned in the second transfer position U2 such that the second track segment 12 is aligned with the second siding 7, so that a cable car vehicle 4 can be moved from the second track segment 12 onto the second siding 7.

[0048] Due to the independent mobility of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b, they do not always have to be moved simultaneously or at the same speed or acceleration during the parking process. This allows for more flexible control of the parking process. Of course, the two sliding carriages 9a, 9b can also be synchronized so that they are moved simultaneously. The sliding carriages 9a, 9b each have their own drive device 14a, 14b, e.g., in the form of an electric motor. The drive devices 14a, 14b are part of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b and are moved along with them. As Fig.1 As already mentioned, one or more external drive devices 14 could also be provided which act on the sliding carriages 9a, 9b but are not part of the sliding carriages 9a, 9b (e.g. chain drive, toothed belt drive, etc.).

[0049] In Fig.3 A further alternative embodiment of the parking system PS according to the invention is shown. The parking system PS is essentially constructed in the same way as in Fig.1 and has a displacement device V with a (single) displacement carriage 9, which is movable along a stationary guide device 10, which has two parallel guide rails 10a, 10b. In contrast to Fig.1 However, the stationary guide device 10 is not straight but curved. The sliding carriage 9 is thus in a curved direction of movement BV along the stationary guide device 10 between the Fig.3 shown first transfer position U1 and the (in Fig.3 not shown) second transfer position U2. In an advantageous embodiment, the direction of movement BV can be, for example, a circular path with a circle center M. Of course, other curve shapes would also be conceivable, e.g., an elliptical path or the like.

[0050] The feed track 5 is straight and runs from the circle center M in a radial direction to the stationary guide device 10. The first track segment 11 and the second track segment 12 of the sliding carriage 9 are straight and also run in a radial direction. While the track segments 11, 12 in Fig.1 are arranged parallel to each other, the track segments 11, 12 are in Fig.3 at a track segment angle α to each other on the sliding carriage 9. The sidings 6, 7 are also straight here and border on the stationary guide device 10 on the side opposite the feeder track 5 and also run in a radial direction. The sidings 6, 7 are arranged at a siding angle β to each other, which corresponds to twice the track segment angle α. In addition, the function of the parking system PS is different from the embodiment according to Fig.1 unchanged. This means that the sliding carriage 9 is movable between the illustrated first transfer position U1 and the (not illustrated) second transfer position U2.

[0051] In the illustrated first transfer position U1, the first free end 11a of the first track segment 11 is aligned with the free end 6a of the first siding 6 and the second free end 12b of the second track segment 12 is aligned with the free end 5a of the feeder track 5. In the (not illustrated) second transfer position U2, the second free end 11b of the first track segment 11 is aligned with the free end 5a of the feeder track 5 and the first free end 12a of the second track segment 12 is aligned with the free end 7a of the second siding 7. To avoid repetition, with regard to the advantageous embodiments, reference is made to the explanations to Fig.1 which are responsible for the execution of Fig.3 are valid in an analogous manner.

Claims

1. A parking system (PS) for a parking area (PB) of a cableway station (2) of a cableway (1), for executing a parking process with a number of cableway vehicles (4) of the cableway (1), wherein a feed track (5) and at least one first stabling track (6) and a second stabling track (7) are provided in the parking system (PS), and wherein a transfer device (8) for transferring cableway vehicles (4) from the feed track (5) onto the stabling track (6, 7) is provided, characterized in that the transfer device (8) has a displacement device (V) which can be displaced along a stationary guide device (10) between a first transfer position (U1) and a second transfer position (U2), wherein the displacement device (D) has a first track segment (11) and a second track segment (12), wherein when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), a cableway vehicle (4) can be moved from the first track segment (11) onto the first stabling track (6), and a cableway vehicle (4) can be moved from the feed track (5) onto the second track segment (12) and when the displacement device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2), a cableway vehicle (4) can be moved from the feed track (5) onto the first track segment (11), and a cableway vehicle (4) can be moved from the second track segment (12) onto the second stabling track (7).

2. The parking system (PS) according to claim 1, characterized in that the displacement device (V) has a displacement carriage (9) on which the first track segment (11) and the second track segment (12) are arranged at a distance from one another in a movement direction (BV) of the displacement device (V), wherein the first track segment (11) and the second track segment (12) are jointly displaceable by means of the displacement carriage (9), or that the displacement device (V) has at least one first displacement carriage (9a) and a second displacement carriage (9b), wherein the first track segment (11) is arranged on the first displacement carriage (9a) and the second track segment (12) is arranged on the second displacement carriage (9b), wherein the first track segment (11) and the second track segment (12) are displaceable independently of one another by means of the displacement carriage (9a, 9b).

3. The parking system (PS) according to either claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the stabling tracks (6, 7), the feed track (5) and the track segments (11, 12) of the displacement device (V) each have a first guide rail (6_1, 7_1, 5_1, 11_1, 12_1) for guiding a main guide roller of the cableway vehicles (4) and / or the stabling tracks (6, 7), the feed track (5) and the track segments (11, 12) of the displacement device (V) each have a second guide rail (6_2, 7_2, 5_2, 11_2, 12_2) for guiding a support guide roller of the cableway vehicles (4).

4. The parking system (PS) according to any of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the stabling rails (6, 7) each have a straight section at least in the region of their stabling rail ends (6a, 7a) facing the displacement device (V), in that the feed track (5) has a straight section at least in the region of one feed track end (5a) facing the displacement device (V) and in that the track segments (11, 12) of the displacement device (V) each have a straight section at least in the region of their segment ends (11a, 11b, 12a, 12b), preferably over their entire length.

5. The parking system (PS) according to claim 4, characterized in that the straight sections of the track segments (11, 12) are parallel to one another, and that the movement direction (BV) of the displacement device (V) along the stationary guide device (10) runs straight, preferably at a right angle to the straight sections of the track segments (11, 12), or that the straight sections of the track segments (11, 12) are arranged in a track angle (α) relative to one another, and in that the movement direction (BV) of the displacement device (V) along the stationary guide device (10) runs curved, preferably circular.

6. The parking system (PS) according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the stationary guide device (10) has at least one guide rail (10a), and that the displacement device (V) has a number of rolling elements (13) for movement along the at least one guide rail (10a), wherein the stationary guide device (10) preferably has at least two guide rails (10a, 10b) spaced transversely to the movement direction (BV) of the displacement device (V).

7. The parking system (PS) according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a drive device (14) is provided for driving the displacement device (V) along the stationary guide device (10).

8. The parking system (PS) according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the displacement device (V) has a first conveying device (15) for conveying a cableway vehicle (4) along the first track segment (11) and a second conveying device (16) for conveying a cableway vehicle (4) along the second track segment (12), wherein preferably at least one of the conveying devices (15, 16) has a tire conveyor which is designed to interact with a friction lining of a cableway vehicle (4) for conveying the cableway vehicle (4), or that at least one of the conveying devices (15, 16) has a chain conveyor or a toothed belt conveyor.

9. The parking system (PS) according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that a third conveying device for conveying cableway vehicles along the first stabling track (6) and / or a fourth conveying device for conveying cableway vehicles (4) along the second stabling track (7) and / or a fifth conveying device for conveying cableway vehicles along the feed track (5) are provided, wherein preferably at least one of the conveying devices (15, 16) has a tire conveyor which is designed to interact with a friction lining of a cableway vehicle (4) for conveying the cableway vehicle (4), or that at least one of the conveying devices (15, 16) has a chain conveyor or a toothed belt conveyor.

10. The parking system (PS) according to any of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that a control unit (17) is provided for controlling the drive device (14) of the displacement device (V) and / or for controlling the first conveying device (15) of the displacement device (V), and / or for controlling the second conveying device (16) of the displacement device (V), and / or for controlling the third conveying device of the first stabling track (6), and / or for controlling the fourth conveying device of the second stabling track (7), and / or for controlling the fifth conveying device of the feed track.

11. The parking system (PS) according to claim 10, characterized in that a first sensor device (18) is provided which is designed to generate a first sensor signal (S1) representative of a position of the displacement device (V) on the stationary guide device (10) and / or that a second sensor device (19) is provided which is designed to generate a second sensor signal (S2) representative of a presence of a cableway vehicle (4) in a specified section of the supply track (5), and that the control unit (17) is designed to use the first sensor signal (S1) and / or the second sensor signal (S2) to control the parking process.

12. A use of the parking system (PS) according to any of claims 1 to 11, for executing a parking process with a number of cableway vehicles (4), wherein the following steps are carried out: - moving a first cableway vehicle (4) from the feed track (5) onto the first track segment (11) of the displacement device (V) when the displacement device (V) is located in the second transfer position (U2) or moving the first cableway vehicle (4) from the feed track (5) to the second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), - displacing the displacement device (V) including the first cableway vehicle (4) along the stationary guide device (10) from the second transfer position (U2) into the first transfer position (U1) or vice versa, - moving the first cableway vehicle (4) from the first track segment (11) of the displacement device (V) onto the first stabling track (6) when the displacement device (V) is located in the first transfer position (U1) or moving the first cableway vehicle (4) from the second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) onto the second stabling track (7) when the displacement device (V) is located in the second transfer position (U2).

13. The use according to claim 12, wherein additionally the following steps are carried out: moving a subsequent second cableway vehicle (4b) from the feed track (5) onto the second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) while the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the first track segment (11) of the displacement device (V) onto the first stabling track (6), or moving the second cableway vehicle (4b) from the feed track (5) onto the first track segment (11) of the displacement device (V) while the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) onto the second stabling track (7).

14. A cableway (1) having a plurality of cableway stations (2) and having a plurality of cableway vehicles (4) that can be moved between the cableway stations (2) using a conveyor cable (F), wherein a parking area (PB) having a parking system (PS) is provided in at least one of the cableway stations (2) for executing a parking process with a number of cableway vehicles (4), characterized in that the parking system (PS) is designed according to any of claims 1 to 11, wherein a vehicle guide device (22) is provided in the at least one cableway station (2), along which cableway vehicles (4) decoupled from the conveyor cable (F) can be moved from an entry area (E) of the cableway station (2) to an exit area (A) of the cableway station (2), and that the cableway vehicles (4) can be moved by the vehicle guide device (22) onto the feed track (5) of the parking system (PS).

15. A method for executing a parking process with a number of cableway vehicles (4) in a parking area (PB) of a cableway station (2) of a cableway (1), wherein a first cableway vehicle (4) is moved along a feed track (5) and is moved from the feed track (5) onto a first track segment (11) of a displacement device (V) which can be displaced between a first transfer position (U1) and a second transfer position (U2) when the displacement device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2), or from the feed track (5) onto a second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) spaced apart from the first track segment (11) in a direction of movement (BV) of the displacement device (V) when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), wherein the displacement device (V) including the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved along a stationary guide device (10) from the first transfer position (U1) to the second transfer position (U2) or vice versa, wherein the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the first track segment (11) of the displacement device (V) onto a first stabling track (6) when the displacement device (V) is in the first transfer position (U1), or from the second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) onto a second stabling track (7) spaced from the first stabling track (6) in the movement direction (BV) of the displacement device (V) when the displacement device (V) is in the second transfer position (U2).

16. The method according to claim 15, wherein a second cableway vehicle (4b) following the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved along the feed track (5) and is moved from the feed track (5) onto the second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) while the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the first track segment (11) of the displacement device (V) onto the first stabling track (6), or is moved from the feed track (5) onto the first track segment (11) of the displacement device (V) while the first cableway vehicle (4) is moved from the second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V) onto the second stabling track (7).

17. The method according to claim 16, wherein the parking process according to claim 15 and claim 16 is repeated with additional cableway vehicles (4) following the second cableway vehicle (4b), wherein, upon reaching a maximum storage capacity on the first stabling track (6) and / or the second stabling track (7), a subsequent cableway vehicle (4) is parked on the first track segment (11) or second track segment (12) of the displacement device (V).