Cabin for an aerial cable transportation system and aerial cable transportation system with such a cabin

Abstract

A cabin for an aerial cable transportation system with at least one station for embarking and disembarking passengers having two side guides facing each other and configured to guide the cabin along a forward direction; wherein at one of the two side guides the cabin is provided with a footboard to help passengers embark and disembark from the cabin; wherein the footboard comprises a fixed body with an outer edge configured to cooperate with the corresponding side guide during the advancement of the cabin into the station; wherein the footboard furthermore comprises at least one movable body coupled to the fixed body in such a manner that it selectively penetrates and protrudes variably outside the second edge of the fixed body towards the side guide so that any space between the side guide and the outer edge of the fixed body is at least partially filled by the second movable body and the footboard has a variable geometry outer edge suitable for adapting to the varying extension in plan of the side guides.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] This patent application claims priority from Italian patent application no. 102024000026139 filed on November 20, 2024, the entire disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference.Technical Field of the Invention

[0002] The reference technical field of this invention is that of aerial cable transportation systems. These systems comprise a plurality of cabins moved one after the other between two passengers embarking and disembarking terminal stations where the cabins outside the stations are moved in an aerial configuration supported by at least one cable. In particular, this invention relates to a cabin for such a system and addresses the problem of how to improve the stages of moving the cabin through the station and embarking and disembarking passengers.State of the Art

[0003] As is known, an aerial cable transportation system for transporting passengers is a system in which a plurality of transport units, according to this invention cabins, are moved one after the other along a predetermined route. This route is usually delimited at opposite ends by two terminal embarking and disembarking stations, usually called downstream and upstream stations in the case of mountain systems, and is defined by at least one cable running between these stations (usually in two parallel outward and return branches). One or more intermediate embarking and disembarking stations may be provided between the terminal stations. For the purposes of this invention, systems with "at least one cable" are referred to because the number of cables is not a limiting characteristic. In other words, according to this invention there may be only one cable, which performs both the function of a supporting cable and a hauling cable and is moved in a loop between the terminal stations, or there may be one or two fixed (non-moving) supporting cables and a hauling cable. The speed of "in-line" transport, that is, between the stations, is therefore defined by the speed of the hauling cable. At the embarking / disembarking stations, there is a need to advance the transport units more slowly to allow passengers to safely embark and disembark. To avoid slowing down the units travelling beyond the stations, instead of slowing down the hauling cable, when the transport units enter the station they are released from the hauling cable and are moved by a plurality of rotating tyres. On leaving the stations, of course, the units couple again with the hauling cable and continue in an aerial configuration to the next station. However, even this feature is not limiting for this invention, that is, how the cabins are moved forward through the station is not a limitation.

[0004] In the stations, there are two side guides running parallel to each other, usually in the form of essentially vertical rails, within which the cabins are advanced, thus limiting their transverse oscillations. In fact, the embarking and disembarking of passengers takes place in a direction transverse to the forward direction and without these rails the cabin would be subject to transverse oscillations. Usually, the upper edge of the side rails is essentially at the same height as the cabin floor. In addition, the cabin comprises a footboard at the door, which makes a kind of extension of the cabin floor beyond the door and helps passengers when embarking and disembarking. The transverse distance between the rails is such that on one side a rail is essentially in contact with the edge of the cabin floor on the side opposite the door and the other rail is essentially in contact with the outer edge of the footboard. The footboard is therefore not only an aid to passengers during embarking and disembarking, but also cooperates with the corresponding rail to guide the cabin as it moves through the entire station. For the purposes of this invention, embarking and disembarking can take place with the cabin stationary or moving forward. At least where embarking and disembarking take place, vertical rails are connected to horizontal embarking and disembarking platforms. In plan view, that is, from top to bottom along the direction of gravity, the rails usually indicate a substantially U-shaped path with a straight section entering the station, a section with a radius of curvature and a straight section exiting so that the system can have two parallel transport branches, that is, an outwards branch and a return branch of the cabins parallel to each other. In these stations where the side rails have a section with a radius of curvature, the outer edge of the footboard is necessarily curved accordingly. This footboard with a curved edge therefore has front and rear portions with a smaller transverse extension than the central portion and a curved profile that at least in the central portion follows the curved profile of the rail.

[0005] In this configuration, therefore, there is necessarily a transverse distance between the footboard and the corresponding rail at the front and rear portions. This distance in the curved section increases at the straight section and may increase again if there is a side guide section with an opposite radius of curvature. This distance between the front and rear portions of the footboard and the corresponding side rail, therefore, actually identifies a gap into which an object (for example, a passenger's ski) or even a foot or other part of a passenger could slip, creating a dangerous situation. In addition, due to the curved profile of the footboard, the gap between the front portion of the footboard and the side guide acts as a wedge in which the fallen object or passenger's jammed foot is progressively squashed between the footboard and the side rail as the cabin moves forward.

[0006] Based on this current state of the art, the aim of this invention is to avoid the aforementioned dangerous situations during embarking and disembarking and to optimise the stages when the cabins are guided into the station.Subject and Summary of the Invention

[0007] According to this invention, the above-mentioned purpose is achieved by means of a cabin for a cable transportation system as claimed in the attached claims.

[0008] The starting point for this invention is a cabin for an aerial cable transportation system such as those currently in use in a system with at least one passenger embarking and disembarking station in which there are two essentially vertical side guides or rails facing each other and configured to contain and guide the cabin along a forward direction as it advances through the station. The cabin, as is known, comprises a footboard to assist passengers embarking and disembarking from the cabin in which, at one of the two side guides, the footboard is in the form of a fixed body with an inner edge coupled to the rest of the cabin at the embarking and disembarking door and an outer edge configured to cooperate with the corresponding side guide as the cabin moves forward in the station.

[0009] Starting from this known configuration, according to this invention the footboard also comprises at least one other body movably coupled to the fixed body in such a manner that this new body or movable appendage can selectively and variably penetrate and protrude from (that is, with various transverse extensions) the outer edge of the fixed body towards the side guide. This movable body is therefore a movable extension of the outer edge of the footboard, which can thus at least locally change its transverse extension towards the corresponding side guide in order to fill any gap between the side guide and the outer edge of the fixed body. Advantageously, therefore, any space between the side guide and the outer edge of the fixed body is at least partially filled by the movable body of the footboard, reducing or eliminating the gap into which an object or a passenger's foot could slip (as described in the prior art).

[0010] Not only is embarking and disembarking made safer in this way, but also guiding the cabin throughout the station is optimised because the footboard now has a variable geometry external profile that can adapt to the varying plan extension of the side guides.

[0011] From a structural point of view, the outer edge of the fixed body comprises recesses or seats in which the movable body is housed so that, potentially, it may not protrude beyond the original edge of the fixed body. The movable body can therefore generally be mounted partially internally to the fixed body of the footboard, leaving the passenger walking surface unchanged in some circumstances, or it could also be mounted externally to the fixed body of the footboard.

[0012] According to a preferred embodiment of this invention, which is most suitable for systems with U-shaped stations, the outer edge of the fixed body of the footboard has (as is known) a curved profile along the forward direction of the cabin in such a way as to identify a front portion and a rear portion with an extension transverse to the forward direction that is less than the middle portion (where it contacts the curved guide). In this configuration, this invention involves equipping the footboard with two movable bodies, a front movable body and a rear movable body respectively, which are front and rear movable appendages of the footboard, in such a way that any front and rear distance between the side guide and the fixed body are filled by the movable bodies.

[0013] According to one embodiment of this invention, the coupling between the movable body and the fixed body of the footboard may be provided such that each movable body comprises an outer edge essentially extending from the corresponding front or rear edge of the fixed body towards the middle of the first fixed body, and that each movable body is rotatably coupled to the fixed body around a pivot with an essentially vertical rotation axis at the portion of the second movable body facing the middle of the first fixed body. In this configuration, therefore, it is the front or rear portion of the movable body that performs most of the extension motion beyond the outer edge of the fixed body.

[0014] There is, preferably, a spring between each movable body and the fixed body configured to force the second movable body outwards in a maximum outwards configuration relative to the outer edge of the fixed body. It is, therefore, the side guide with its profile that determines how far the movable body protrudes beyond the fixed body, that is, up to contacting the side rail. Alternatively, a limit stop can be provided for the maximum extension of the movable bodies outwards.

[0015] According to one embodiment of this invention, each second movable body may comprise a vertical-axis roller that protrudes slightly beyond the outer edge and that, in contact with the side rail, acts as a spacer and helps the second movable body slide along the side guide.Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] For a better understanding of this invention, an embodiment thereof will now be described, purely by way of a non-limiting example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein: Figure 1 is a schematic view of an aerial cable transportation system that may be improved thanks to this invention; Figure 2 is a schematic view of a cabin of the system in Figure 1 in the station; Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a U-shaped station in which a first cabin is travelling along a straight section and a second cabin is travelling along a curved section; Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the portions marked IV and V in Figure 3; Figure 6 is a schematic view of a new footboard according to this invention; Figure 7 is an enlarged view of the portion marked VII in Figure 6; Figures 8, 10 and 12 are schematic views of various possible configurations of the new footboard in Figure 6; Figures 9, 11 and 13 are enlarged views of the portions marked IX, XI and XIII in Figures 8, 10 and 12. Preferred Embodiment of the Invention

[0017] Figure 1 is a schematic view of an aerial cable transportation system that may be improved thanks to this invention. This system is denoted with reference number 1 and comprises a plurality of cabins 2 moved in a suspended configuration by at least one cable 4 between two terminal stations 3 at opposite ends of the system. Figure 1 shows two cabins 2 and a station 3 where one cabin is "in line" (that is, outside the stations) and one is at a station 3 where passenger embarking and disembarking take place. Each cabin comprises a suspension arm 20' on one side bound to the cabin roof and on the other side coupled to a selective cable 4 clamp 21. Figure 2 is a schematic view of a cabin 2 of the system in Figure 1 in the station 3. Figure 2 shows how the station 3 comprises two side guides or rails 5 configured to guide the cabin 2 and avoid oscillations transverse to the forward direction A. To this end, the side guides or rails 5 have a vertical extension and comprise an upper edge that cooperates with the opposite sides of the cabin 2 floor. As can be seen, the cabin 2 comprises a door 22 and a footboard 10 that acts as an extension of the floor of the cabin 2 outside the door 22. Thus, as can be seen, the outer guide cooperates with the outer edge of the footboard 10 when advancing through the station 3. In this example, the guides 5 comprise a straight section 6 and a curved section 7 so that, in plan, the guides 5 create a U-shaped path for the cabins. In fact, in this example, the system 1 has two parallel advancement branches, that is, an ascending branch and a descending branch for the cabins 2 that are parallel to each other. In Figure 2, reference number 23 denotes the platform on which passengers at the station approach or move away from the cabin 2.

[0018] Figure 3 is a schematic plan view of a U-shaped station in which a first cabin 2 is seen while travelling along a straight section 6 of the guides 5 and a second cabin 2 is travelling along a curved section 7 of the guides 5. The footboard 10 has a fixed body 11 with an outer edge 14 that has a curved profile with front and rear portions 16 (along the forward direction A) that have a transverse extension that is less than the middle portion. This curved profile of the edge 14 prevents the cabin 2 from jamming in the guides 5 and allows the footboard 10 to act as a guide along the rail 5 (for this purpose, the edge 14 of the footboard can essentially have the same curvature as the guide 5 in the curved section, or it can have a smaller radius to touch the guide 5 only at one point). Figures 4 and 5 are enlarged views of the portions marked IV and V in Figure 3. These figures show how in both the straight section 6 and the curved section 7, due to the profile of the edge 14 at the front and rear portions 16, a gap 24 is created in which an object or a passenger's foot can slip, creating a dangerous situation. The geometry also increases the danger because as the cabin moves forward, this gap 24 becomes progressively smaller and smaller and wedges the fallen object or foot between the footboard 10 and the guide 5.

[0019] Figure 6 is a schematic view of a new footboard 10 produced according to this invention. As can be seen in this example of this invention, the footboard 10 comprises, in addition to the fixed body 11 (which was previously the only body forming the footboard), two appendages or movable bodies 12 as well that are coupled to the fixed body 11 and that protrude from the edge 14 at the front and rear portions 16 until they contact the guide 5 (it is also possible to provide an end stop limiting the outward movement of the movable bodies 12 in order to lock them just before contacting the outer guide 5). These appendages 12 then occupy the gap indicated in the previous figures with reference number 24. These appendages 12 are movable (in fact, if they were fixed as shown in Figure 6, the cabin 2 could not travel along the curved section 7 of the guides 5) and, in this sense, Figure 7 (which is an enlarged view of the portion marked VII in Figure 6) shows how the movable body 12 extends from the edge 16 towards the middle of the fixed body 11 where it is coupled with it, revolving around a vertical pivot 17. Between the movable body 12 and the fixed body 11, there is a spring 18 that forces the movable body into an extended position beyond the edge 14 into which it only re-enters due to the guide 5. In fact, the movable body 12 is integrated into the body 11 in just such a position that it can be selectively retracted within the edge 14 or can extend beyond that edge towards the guide 5 with variable transverse extensions. Finally, in Figure 7 reference number 20 identifies a vertical-axis roller integrated into the edge 15 to allow advancement along the rail 5. As can be seen, this roller 20 protrudes a little beyond the edge 15 towards the guide 5 and thus also acts as a spacer for the movable body 12 in relation to the outer guide 5 to prevent sliding.

[0020] Figures 8, 10 and 12 are schematic views of different possible configurations of the new footboard 10 in Figure 6, respectively, when advancing along the curve, the straight section and a possible curved section with an opposite curvature. As can be seen in Figures 9, 11 and 13 (which are enlarged views of the portions marked IX, XI and XIII in Figures 8, 10 and 12), the movable appendages 12 fit the profile of the rail 5 and in all configurations avoid the gap 24 that there would be in their absence between the fixed body 11 and the guide 5. In Figure 9, the body 12 is basically entirely in the retracted position and only protrudes slightly beyond the edge 14 to avoid the wedge effect. In Figure 11, the movable body 12 is in a position protruding beyond the edge 14 until it contacts the horizontal guide 5. The outer profile of the footboard 10 (understood as a compressive outer profile) is essentially in contact with the guide 5 along its whole extension and the footboard 10 assumes a straight edge like the corresponding guide. In Figure 13, the body 12 is further extracted to fill the additional gap that would have been created by the extension of the guide 5 moving away from the footboard 10.

[0021] Lastly, it is clear that modifications may be made to the preferred embodiment described and illustrated herein, and variations produced thereto, without thereby departing from the protective scope of this invention, as set forth in the attached claims.

Claims

1. A cabin (2) for an aerial cable transportation system (1) with at least one station (3) for embarking and disembarking passengers having two side guides (5) facing each other and configured to guide the cabin (2) along a forward direction (A); - wherein at one of the two side guides (5) the cabin (2) is provided with a footboard (10) to help passengers embark and disembark from the cabin (2); - wherein the footboard (10) comprises a fixed body (11) with an outer edge (14) configured to cooperate with the corresponding side guide (5) during the advancement of the cabin (2) into the station (3); characterised in that the footboard (10) furthermore comprises at least one movable body (12) coupled to the fixed body (11) in such a manner that it selectively penetrates and protrudes variably outside the outer edge (14) of the fixed body (11) towards the side guide (5) so that any space between the side guide (5) and the outer edge (14) of the fixed body (11) is at least partially filled by the movable body (12) and the footboard (10) has a variable geometry outer edge suitable for adapting to the varying extension of the side guides (5).

2. The cabin as claimed in claim 1, wherein the outer edge (14) of the fixed body (11) has a curved profile along the forward direction (A) such that the first fixed body (11) comprises a front portion (16) and a rear portion (16) with an extension transverse to the forward direction (A) that is less than the centreline portion of the first fixed body (11); two movable bodies (12) being provided, respectively a front movable body (12) and a rear movable body (12), at the front and rear portions of the first fixed body (11) in such a way that any front and rear distance between the side guide (5) and the fixed body (11) are filled by the movable bodies (12).

3. The cabin as claimed in claim 2, wherein each movable body (12) comprises an outer edge (15) extending substantially from the corresponding front edge (16) or rear edge (16) of the fixed body (11) towards the centreline of the first fixed body (11); wherein each second movable body (12) is coupled so that it revolves to the fixed body (11) around a substantially vertical axis of rotation (17) at the portion of the second movable body (12) facing the centreline of the first fixed body (11).

4. The cabin as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein there is a spring (18) between each movable body (12) and the fixed body (11) configured to force the movable body (12) into maximum outside configuration relative to the outer edge (14) of the fixed body (11).

5. The cabin as claimed in any one of the foregoing claims, wherein each movable body (12) comprises an outer edge (15) provided with a roller (20) having a vertical axis to aid in advancing the movable body (12) along the side guide (5).

6. An aerial cable transportation system (1) for transporting passengers; wherein the system (1) comprises: - at least one cabin (2) for the transport of passengers according to any of the foregoing claims; - at least one station (3) for embarking and disembarking passengers from the cabin (2); - at least one cable (4) for aerially supporting the cabin (2) outside the station (3); wherein - the station (3) comprises two side guides (5) facing each other and configured to guide the cabins (2) into the station (3) along a forward direction (A); the side guides (5) identify in plan a travel profile with at least one straight section (6) and at least one section with a curved angle (7); wherein each movable portion (12) of the footboard (10) selectively penetrates and protrudes with respect to the outer edge (14) of the fixed body (11) as the cabin (2) moves forward in the station (3) as it passes from the straight section (6) of the side guides (5) to the section with a curved angle (7) of the side guides (5) and vice versa.

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