Arrangement for potential compensation of a supporting cable of a cableway

Abstract

In order to enable a more reliable electrical potential equalization of a supporting cable (4) of a cable car (1), which does not lose its effectiveness even in the event of possible slight movements of the supporting cable (4), it is provided that an insert recess (14) is provided on the plastic insert (11) of a guide part (6) for the supporting cable (4), through which insert recess an electrically conductive contact element (15) is pushed and the contact element (15) is movably arranged in the insert recess (14), wherein a spring element (20) is provided which presses the electrically conductive contact element (15) against the supporting cable (4) so ​​that the electrically conductive contact element (15) contacts the supporting cable (4) guided on the plastic insert (11) with a contact surface (16), and wherein the electrically conductive contact element (15) is electrically connected to a potential equalization point (17) of the cable car (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an arrangement for the potential equalization of a supporting cable of a cable car, wherein a guide part is arranged on a stationary device of the cable car, wherein the guide part comprises a plastic insert extending in the cable direction and the supporting cable rests on and is guided on the plastic insert.

[0002] Cable cars use ropes, usually made of steel or a combination of steel and plastic, to transport cable car vehicles, usually between two or more cable car stations. A cable car rope can be designed as a suspension rope and is permanently stretched between two points, for example, two cable car stations. A cable car rope can also be designed as a haul rope and can be moved, either back and forth or revolving. A haul rope, for example, is used to move the cable car vehicles, for example, by clamping the cable car vehicle firmly or detachably to the haul rope. When at least one suspension rope is used, the cable car vehicles run over rollers on at least one suspension rope and are moved by a haul rope connected to the cable car vehicle. In a cable car, a haul rope and, if applicable, a suspension rope are guided over cable car supports arranged between the cable car stations.

[0003] For safety reasons, cable car ropes must be electrically earthed to ensure electrical equipotential bonding in order to safely discharge any electrical charge in the rope, for example due to electrostatic charging, lightning strikes, the coupling of electrical currents through electric fields, etc. Electrical charging of the rope can in principle also occur if the rope itself is not electrically conductive. With tightly tensioned suspension ropes, such equipotential bonding to a defined reference potential, for example earth, is easier to achieve than with moving haulage ropes because there is no or only very slight relative movement between the suspension rope and the earthing. With moving haulage ropes, however, equipotential bonding is difficult because the moving rope must be reliably and permanently electrically contacted for equipotential bonding.Due to the relative movements, the contact element that contacts the hoist rope also experiences significant wear. To reduce wear, WO 2022 / 090166 A1 proposes a contact brush with bristles made of electrically conductive plastic as the contact element.

[0004] WO 2018 / 150149 A1 discloses a grounding system for a haulage or suspension rope of a cable car, in which a contact element is pressed against the rope with a spring to establish secure electrical contact between the contact element and the rope. This grounding system is also subject to significant wear in the case of a moving haulage rope, which is further aggravated by the high contact forces due to the spring preload, making this type of grounding system unsuitable for moving ropes. Although the spring preload of the contact element can improve electrical contact, external influences such as wind forces, rope vibrations, etc. can cause the rope of a cable car to deflect sideways. This applies to both haulage and suspension ropes of a cable car.In the event of a lateral deflection, the electrical contact and thus the potential equalization could be lost or at least compromised, even despite the spring preload of the contact element. Therefore, under certain circumstances, the grounding of the suspension cable is not a satisfactory solution.

[0005] A cable car's suspension cable can be attached to or secured to an electrically conductive and grounded component of the cable car, such as a cable car support, which would also ensure electrical equipotential bonding. However, such equipotential bonding can be lost due to movement of the suspension cable caused by external influences, such as wind forces, cable vibrations, etc., which leads to the suspension cable becoming misaligned. A mounting of a suspension cable on a cable car component is described, for example, in EP 2 127 990 B1.

[0006] However, cable car suspension cables are increasingly being embedded in guides with plastic inserts because this reduces the mechanical stress acting on the suspension cable and minimizes wear. If the suspension cable were embedded in a plastic insert, electrical potential equalization via the contact with the guide would not be possible.

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide a safer electrical potential equalization of a suspension cable of a cable car, which does not lose its effectiveness even in the event of possible slight movements of the suspension cable.

[0008] This object is achieved according to the invention in that an insert recess is provided on the plastic insert, through which an electrically conductive contact element is inserted and the contact element is movably arranged in the insert recess, in that a spring element is also provided which presses the electrically conductive contact element against the support cable so that the electrically conductive contact element contacts the support cable guided on the plastic insert with a contact surface, and in that the electrically conductive contact element is electrically connected to a potential equalization point of the cable car.

[0009] Since the suspension cable is guided and held in the plastic insert, lateral movement (perpendicular to the cable direction) of the suspension cable generally does not occur during operation. Small movements in the cable direction are possible due to stretching or load changes in the suspension cable. Such movements of the suspension cable in the cable direction do not impair the contact between the suspension cable and the contact element. This also results in only slight relative movements between the suspension cable and the contact element, so that wear on the contact element is also minimal. More importantly, however, the spring-loaded contact element, which extends into the plastic insert, can compensate for even possible slight movements of the suspension cable perpendicular to the cable direction, ensuring reliable electrical contact with the equipotential bonding even during such movements.The equipotential bonding is thus always ensured during the usual and expected movements of the supporting cable 4 during operation of the cable car.

[0010] To protect the plastic insert, the guide part can comprise a guide housing in which the plastic insert is arranged. In this case, a housing recess is provided in the guide housing, and the electrically conductive contact element is inserted through the housing recess in the guide housing and through the insert recess in the plastic insert.

[0011] The guide housing is preferably detachably mounted on the cable car's stationary equipment. This allows for easy replacement of the guide housing, for example, if the plastic insert becomes worn. Of course, only the plastic insert could also be replaceable.

[0012] The present invention is described below with reference to the Figures 1 to 6which show exemplary, schematic and non-limiting advantageous embodiments of the invention. Fig.1 a section of a cable car with a supporting cable and a guide section, Fig.2 to 4 various views of a guide part according to the invention with contact element, Fig.5 a guide part with several contact elements and Fig.6 a guide part with a transport lock for the contact element.

[0013] Fig.1 shows schematically a small section of a cable car 1 with a cable car support 2 with a cable carrier 3, which is arranged on the cable car support 2. The cable car support 2 and the cable carrier 3 are stationary devices of the cable car 1. At least one supporting cable 4 of the cable car 1 runs on the cable carrier 3. In the embodiment according to Fig.1Two supporting cables 4 are provided, although more or fewer (at least one supporting cable) supporting cables 4 may be provided. For this purpose, the supporting cable 4 is guided, for example, on the upper side of the cable carrier 3, as in the embodiment according to Fig. 1 . For this purpose, a guide part 6 is arranged on the cable carrier 3, in which the supporting cable 4 is guided and held.

[0014] A cable car vehicle 7 has a carriage 9 with a number of rollers 10. The carriage 9 is connected to a transport part, for example a gondola, of the cable car vehicle 7 via a suspension rod 8. The number of rollers 10 roll on the supporting cable 4, possibly also on different supporting cables 4, as the cable car vehicle 7 moves. A traction cable 5 is provided for moving the cable car vehicle 7, which, for example, runs between two cable car stations (not shown). The supporting cable 4 is usually fixedly guyed between the two cable car stations. The carriage 9 generally comprises a known cable clamp for clamping the cable car vehicle 7 to the traction cable 5 using the cable clamp, or for detaching it from it (for example, in a cable car station).

[0015] An embodiment of a guide part 6 according to the invention is shown in the Figures 2 to 4shown. The guide part 6 comprises a plastic insert 11 extending in the cable direction S (the longitudinal direction of the suspension cable 4). When the guide part 6 is used, the suspension cable 4 rests against the plastic insert 11. The plastic insert 11 holds and thus guides the suspension cable 4. The suspension cable 4 is guyed between two points in the cable car 1. The suspension cable 4 therefore only moves to a very limited extent, for example due to external influences such as wind or cable vibrations or when a cable car vehicle 7 passes by. In any case, the suspension cable 4 does not rotate due to a cable car drive and is also not moved back and forth by a cable car drive.

[0016] The plastic insert 11 is advantageously designed on the side facing the supporting cable 4 with a guide groove 13 extending in the cable direction S, in which the supporting cable 4 lies. The guide groove 13 allows the supporting cable 4 to be held and guided better and more securely.

[0017] In the in the Figures 2 to 4 In the embodiments shown, the guide part 6 also includes a guide housing 12 for receiving the plastic insert 11. The plastic insert 11 is arranged in the guide housing 12. The guide housing 12 is designed, for example, in the form of a U-shaped profile, with the plastic insert 11 arranged between the two legs of the U-shaped profile. The guide housing 12 can have any suitable shape. However, the guide housing 12 is optional and does not have to be provided.

[0018] In the execution according to Fig.2the plastic insert 11, or the guide housing 12 with the plastic insert 11 is arranged so as to be movable, here pivotable, for example as described in EP 2 127 990 B1. This does not necessarily have to be the case, as for example in Fig.3 shown.

[0019] Once the plastic insert 11 is made of plastic, the suspension cable 4 is electrically separated from other components of the cable car 1 by the plastic insert 11. To still enable electrical potential equalization of the suspension cable 4, an insert recess 14 is provided on the plastic insert 11. An electrically conductive contact element 15 is pushed through the insert recess 14. The contact element 15 extends into the area of ​​the plastic insert 11, for example into the area of ​​the guide groove 13, in which the suspension cable 4 comes to rest during use. The suspension cable 4 guided along the plastic insert 11 is thus electrically contacted by the electrically conductive contact element 15. For this purpose, the contact element 15 has a contact surface 16 that touches the suspension cable 4.The electrically conductive contact element 15 is electrically connected to a potential equalization point 17 (for example, on the cable car support 2) of the cable car 1. The electrical connection can be made via an electrical connecting cable 18, as in the illustrated embodiments.

[0020] The contact element 15 is designed, for example, as an electrically conductive carbon brush or a brush with electrically conductive plastic bristles. Instead of a brush, the contact element 15 can of course also be designed as a rigid electrically conductive component, for example, a graphite block.

[0021] If the plastic insert 11 is arranged in a guide housing 12, then a housing recess 19 is also provided in the guide housing 12, through which the electrically conductive contact element 15 is inserted. In this case, the recess 14 in the plastic insert 11 and the housing recess 19 in the guide housing 12 are aligned, and the contact element 15 is inserted through both.

[0022] The contact element 15 is arranged in the insert recess 14, and possibly also in the housing recess 19, so that it can move in the direction toward the supporting cable 4. The contact element 15 is thus also arranged so that it can move away from the supporting cable 4.

[0023] Furthermore, a spring element 20, for example a spiral spring or a leaf spring, is provided on the guide part 6, which presses the electrically conductive contact element 15 against the support cable 4 located in the plastic insert 11. This establishes and maintains the electrical contact.

[0024] The spring-loaded contact element 15 allows the electrical contact between the suspension cable 4 in the plastic insert 11 and the contact element 15 to be maintained even if the suspension cable 4 moves due to external influences. The fixed suspension cable 4 will move only slightly during operation of the cable car 1. The spring-loaded contact element 15 can at least compensate for this movement in order to maintain the electrical contact and thus the potential equalization. In the event of a serious fault, in which the suspension cable 4, for example, completely jumps out of the plastic insert 11, the potential equalization could not be guaranteed. However, such faults must be intercepted in other ways anyway, for example as in EP 2 127 990 B1.

[0025] A spring holder 22 can be arranged on the guide housing 12, or another component of the guide part 6, and the spring element 20 can be arranged between the spring holder 22 and the contact element 15.

[0026] Several contact elements 15 can also be arranged on the guide part 6 distributed over the cable direction S, as shown in Fig.5 shown. Each of these contact elements 15 can be connected to a potential equalization point 17 of the cable car 1, or to different potential equalization points 17 of the cable car 1.

[0027] In the execution according to Fig.6A transport lock 21 is provided on the guide part 6, for example on the spring holder 22. In this case, the transport lock 21 is designed as a screw, although the transport lock can also be designed in any other way. The transport lock 21 is detachably connected to the contact element 15 and, when in use, holds the contact element 15 in a defined position retracted from the support cable 4. This allows the support cable 4 to be arranged in the plastic insert 11 before the spring element 20 presses the electrically conductive contact element 15 against the support cable 4 after the transport lock 21 has been released. At the same time, this can prevent the contact element 15 from falling out of the guide part 6, for example during assembly or maintenance.

Claims

1. Arrangement for the potential equalisation of a supporting cable (4) of a cable car (1), wherein a guide part (6) is arranged on a stationary device (2, 3) of the cable car (1), wherein the guide part (6) comprises a plastic insert (11) extending in the cable direction (S) and the supporting cable (4) rests on the plastic insert (11) and is guided, characterized in that an insert recess (14) is provided on the plastic insert (11), through which an electrically conductive contact element (15) is inserted and the contact element (15) is movably arranged in the insert recess (14), that a spring element (20) is provided which presses the electrically conductive contact element (15) against the supporting cable (4) so that the electrically conductive contact element (15) contacts the supporting cable (4) guided on the plastic insert (11) with a contact surface (16), and thatthe electrically conductive contact element (15) is electrically connected to a potential equalization point (17) of the cable car (1).

2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide part (6) comprises a guide housing (12) in which the plastic insert (11) is arranged, wherein a housing recess (19) is provided on the guide housing (12), and the electrically conductive contact element (15) is pushed through the housing recess (19) in the guide housing (12) and through the insert recess (14) in the plastic insert (11).

3. Arrangement according to claim 2, characterized in that a spring holder (22) is arranged on the guide housing (12) and the spring element (20) is arranged between the spring holder (22) and the contact element (15).

4. Arrangement according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the guide housing (12) is detachably arranged on the stationary device (2, 3) of the cable car (1).

5. Arrangement according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that a transport lock (21) is provided on the guide part (11), which can be detachably connected to the contact element (15) and which holds the contact element (15) in a defined position retracted from the support cable (4), so that the support cable (4) can be arranged in the plastic insert (11) before the spring element (20) presses the electrically conductive contact element (15) against the support cable (4) after the transport lock (21) has been released.

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