Pulley for a cable transport installation

Abstract

Pulley (1) for a cable transport installation, comprising: - a hub (2) having an axis of rotation and peripheral mounting parts; - peripheral rim segments (30) mounted around the hub to form a rim, and each having an inner mounting part fixed to the associated peripheral mounting part and an outer circumferential groove part (32) for housing a cable; - each of the peripheral mounting parts has a mounting surface (24) having the shape of a concave portion of a cylinder of revolution centered on the axis of rotation; and - for each of the peripheral rim segments, the inner mounting part has a complementary mounting surface (34) pressed against the mounting surface of the associated peripheral mounting part and of convex shape and complementary to said mounting surface (24). Abstract figure: Figure 5

Description

Title of the invention: Pulley for a cable transport installation Technical field

[0001] The invention relates to a pulley for a cable transport installation, such as for example a cable car, a chairlift or a gondola.

[0002] It relates more particularly to a pulley composed of several components to be assembled, in order to be able to transport them to a site and then assemble them on site to form the pulley.

[0003] The invention finds application both for driving pulleys and return pulleys. Prior art

[0004] It is known, for example from documents EP1610035 and EP2844893, to form a pulley by means of several components to be assembled, which are mainly a hub having an axis of rotation and peripheral rim segments which are mounted on and around the hub to together form a rim having a circumferential groove for housing a cable.

[0005] In these documents, a hub is proposed provided with flat outer mounting surfaces on which the peripheral rim segments are fixed; the latter being provided with flat inner mounting surfaces fixed and pressed against the flat outer mounting surfaces of the hub.

[0006] However, these assemblies, based on flat supports between flat surfaces, require precise machining of these different flat surfaces to guarantee precise assembly.

[0007] There is therefore a need to improve the assembly between the different components of a pulley. Summary of the invention

[0008] To this end, the invention provides a pulley for a cable transport installation, comprising: - a hub having an axis of rotation and peripheral mounting parts; - peripheral rim segments mounted around the hub to together form a rim, wherein each of said peripheral rim segments is associated with one of the peripheral mounting portions of the hub and has an inner mounting portion fixed to the associated peripheral mounting portion, and an outer circumferential groove portion for housing a cable.

[0009] This pulley is remarkable in that: - each of the peripheral mounting parts has a mounting surface having the shape of a concave portion of a cylinder of revolution centered on the axis of rotation; and - for each of the peripheral rim segments, the inner mounting part has a complementary mounting surface pressed against the mounting surface of the associated peripheral mounting part, said complementary mounting surface being convex in shape and complementary to said mounting surface.

[0010] Thus, the invention proposes that the mountings of the peripheral rim segments on the hub are not based on flat supports between flat surfaces, but on supports in the shape of a cylinder arc between concave and convex surfaces in the form of cylinder portions which are complementary.

[0011] The advantage of such cylindrical arc surfaces, and therefore non-planar, is that they are easier to machine, because they can be worked by mechanical turning, which ultimately promotes the precision of the assembly. They thus allow more precise positioning and centering, compared to the flat support solutions of the prior art, which contributes to having a better adjusted pulley and therefore an increased cable life.

[0012] The mounting surfaces of the peripheral mounting parts of the hub are all inscribed on the same cylinder of revolution having the axis of rotation as the axis of revolution and having a given radius, called the mounting radius, so that these mounting surfaces form concave cylinder arcs having the mounting radius. The complementary mounting surfaces of the peripheral rim segments are complementary to these mounting surfaces of the hub, and therefore they also form convex cylinder arcs which fit the associated mounting surfaces; these convex cylinder arcs also having the mounting radius, either exactly the mounting radius or substantially the mounting radius with the mounting clearance close.

[0013] According to one characteristic, for each of the peripheral rim segments in association with the associated peripheral mounting part, the mounting surface and the complementary mounting surface respectively have a groove and a tenon which are of complementary shapes for engagement of said tenon inside said groove.

[0014] The groove is provided in one of the mounting surface and the complementary mounting surface, and the tenon is provided on the other of the mounting surface and the complementary mounting surface. Thus, this engagement of the tenon in the groove mechanically promotes assembly, in addition to facilitating indexing.

[0015] According to another characteristic, for each of the peripheral rim segments in association with the associated peripheral mounting part, the tenon is in the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation.

[0016] This shape allows the peripheral rim segment to slide over the hub mounting surface, for precise adjustment of the final assembly.

[0017] According to one possibility, for each of the peripheral mounting parts, the mounting surface is continuous or is segmented into several sectors spaced circumferentially from each other.

[0018] In other words, either the mounting surface is continuous, which means that it offers a continuous support in the shape of a cylinder arc, or the mounting surface is segmented into several sectors, which means that it offers several supports in the shape of a cylinder arc which are circumferentially spaced; all of these sectors being of course all inscribed on the same cylinder having the axis of rotation as the axis of revolution and having the mounting radius.

[0019] According to another possibility, for each of the peripheral rim segments, the complementary mounting surface is continuous or is segmented into several sectors spaced circumferentially from each other.

[0020] In other words, either the complementary mounting surface is continuous, which means that it offers continuous support in the shape of a cylinder arc, or the complementary mounting surface is segmented into several sectors, which means that it offers several supports in the shape of a cylinder arc which are circumferentially spaced apart; all of these sectors being, of course, all inscribed on the same cylinder complementary to that of the mounting surfaces of the hub.

[0021] In a particular embodiment, the hub has at least one cylindrical periphery axially offset (i.e. offset along the axis of rotation) relative to the mounting surfaces of the peripheral mounting parts, and each of the peripheral rim segments has at least one lateral plate provided with a peripheral rim axially offset relative to the complementary mounting surface and in the form of an arc of a circle of shape complementary to said cylindrical periphery of the hub, such that said peripheral rim of the at least one lateral plate matches and bears against the cylindrical periphery of the hub.

[0022] Thus, the peripheral edges of the lateral plates of the peripheral segments come into continuous support against the cylindrical periphery of the hub, in addition to the supports obtained between the mounting surfaces and the complementary mounting surfaces, which contributes to a mechanical improvement of the mounting, while contributing to facilitating indexing and assembly.

[0023] According to one possibility, for each of the peripheral rim segments, the at least one lateral plate comprises two lateral plates arranged on either side of the complementary mounting surface.

[0024] According to another possibility, the lateral plates of the peripheral rim segments are provided with radial edges which are arranged contiguously.

[0025] Advantageously, for each of the peripheral rim segments, the complementary mounting surface is fixed to the mounting surface of the associated peripheral mounting part by means of at least one fixing member.

[0026] According to a variant, the at least one fixing member comprises a screw which passes through the complementary mounting surface and the mounting surface to cooperate with at least one nut (in other words with a nut if the screw comprises a head, or with two nuts if the screw does not comprise a head).

[0027] In a particular embodiment, each of the peripheral rim segments has arms extending radially between the inner mounting portion and the outer circumferential groove portion.

[0028] In an advantageous embodiment, for each of the peripheral rim segments, the complementary mounting surface is formed at the ends of the arms.

[0029] Thus, the cylinder arc supports are made at the ends of the arms, for the passage of forces in the arms, contributing to improved mechanical strength.

[0030] According to one possibility, for each of the peripheral rim segments, the complementary mounting surface is segmented into several sectors spaced circumferentially from each other and formed at the respective ends of the arms.

[0031] Advantageously, the outer circumferential groove parts of the peripheral rim segments have flat lateral surfaces which are fixed together to fix said peripheral rim segments two by two and in a contiguous manner.

[0032] These flat lateral surfaces are preferably of radial extension. These flat lateral surfaces are provided on the right and left of each of the peripheral rim segments to be fixed together.

[0033] According to one variant, there are four peripheral rim segments, and four peripheral hub mounting parts. Brief description of the drawings

[0034] Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will appear on reading the detailed description below, of two non-limiting examples of implementation, made with reference to the appended figures in which:

[0035] [Fig-1] is a schematic top view of a return pulley according to the invention, fully assembled and functional;

[0036] [Fig.2] is a schematic top view of the idler pulley of [Fig.l], with one of its four peripheral rim segments disassembled;

[0037] [Fig.3] is a schematic sectional and partial view of the return pulley of [Fig.l], along the section line AA, with a zoom on the zone X below;

[0038] [Fig.4] is a zoomed schematic view of zone Y of [Fig.l];

[0039] [Fig.5] is a schematic perspective view from above of the return pulley of the [Fig.l], with one of its four peripheral rim segments disassembled;

[0040] [Fig.6] is a schematic perspective view from above of the peripheral rim segment which is disassembled on the return pulley of [Fig.5];

[0041] [Fig.7] is a schematic view of a zoomed-in portion of [Fig.5], showing the portion inner mounting part of the peripheral rim segment which is disassembled and the associated peripheral mounting part of the hub;

[0042] [Fig.8] is a schematic perspective view from below of the idler pulley of [Fig.l], fully assembled and operational;

[0043] [Fig.9] is a schematic view of a zoomed-in portion of [Fig.8];

[0044] [Fig. 10] is a schematic top view of a drive pulley according to the invention, with one of its four peripheral rim segments disassembled; and

[0045] [Fig. 11] is a schematic perspective view from above of the peripheral rim segment which is disassembled on the drive pulley of [Fig. 10];

[0046] [Fig. 12] is a schematic view of a zoomed-in portion of [Fig. 11], showing the inner mounting portion of the rim peripheral segment being disassembled and the associated peripheral mounting portion of the hub;

[0047] [Fig. 13] is a schematic perspective view from below of the drive pulley of [Fig. 10], fully assembled and operational.

[0048] [Detailed description of several embodiments of the invention]

[0049] Figures 1 to 9 illustrate a return pulley 1 according to the invention, and Figures 10 to 13 illustrate a drive pulley 10 according to the invention; the same numerical references will be used to designate the structural or functional elements which are equivalent in the two pulleys 1, 10.

[0050] Each pulley 1, 10 is a pulley for a cable transport installation, also called an aerial cable transport installation and such as for example a cable car, a chairlift or a gondola, in which a transport unit is coupled to a carrier-hauling cable for its movement and pulleys are positioned on the path of the carrier-hauling cable to move and / or orient this carrier-hauling cable.

[0051] Each pulley 1, 10 comprises a hub 2 having an axis of rotation 20 around which it rotates, and peripheral rim segments 30 mounted around the hub 2 to together form a rim 3. In the two pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example, the peripheral rim segments 30 are four in number and therefore form quarter rims.

[0052] The hub 2 comprises peripheral mounting parts 21 provided over its entire periphery for fixing the peripheral rim segments 30. Each of the peripheral rim segments 30 is associated with one of the peripheral mounting parts 21 of the hub 2. The peripheral mounting parts 21 are thus in number of four in the pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example, and they are distributed over angular sectors of 90 degrees.

[0053] Each of the peripheral rim segments 30 comprises: - an internal mounting part 31 fixed to the associated peripheral mounting part 21; - an outer circumferential groove portion 32 for housing a cable, such that the rim 3 has a circumferential groove around its entire circumference which is formed by the outer circumferential groove portions 32 of the peripheral rim segments 30; and - arms 33 extending radially between the inner mounting part 31 and the outer circumferential groove part 32, and which are three in number in the pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example.

[0054] For the drive pulley 10, each of the peripheral rim segments 30 comprises a toothed wheel section 60 fixed on the arms 33, between the inner mounting part 31 and the outer circumferential groove part 32; so that the rim 3 has a toothed wheel formed of the toothed wheel sections 60 which are joined when the peripheral rim segments 30 are fixed on the hub 2. These toothed wheel sections 60 have terminations which are fixed together, two by two. In the drive pulley 10 given as an example, the toothed wheel sections 60 are in the shape of a quarter circle.

[0055] Each of the peripheral mounting parts 21 of the hub 2 has a mounting surface 24 having the shape of a concave portion of a cylinder of revolution centered on the axis of rotation 20. The mounting surfaces 24 of the peripheral mounting parts 21 of the hub 2 are thus all inscribed on the same cylinder of revolution having the axis of rotation 20 as the axis of revolution and having a given radius, called the mounting radius R, so that these mounting surfaces 24 form concave cylinder arcs having the mounting radius R.

[0056] And in a complementary manner, for each of the peripheral rim segments 30, the inner mounting part 31 has a complementary mounting surface 34 pressed against the mounting surface 24 of the associated peripheral mounting part 21, where this complementary mounting surface 34 is convex in shape and complementary to the mounting surface 24. The complementary mounting surfaces 34 are thus all inscribed on the same cylinder of revolution having the axis of rotation 20 as the axis of revolution and having the mounting radius R, so that these complementary mounting surfaces 24 form convex cylinder arcs having the mounting radius R and which match the concave mounting surfaces 24.

[0057] In the two pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example, for each of the peripheral rim segments 30, the complementary mounting surface 34 is segmented into several arcuate sectors 35 spaced circumferentially from each other. More precisely, these sectors 35 are formed (or arranged) at the respective ends of the arms 33, on the side of the internal mounting part 31. These sectors 35 can be formed from flats (or flat plates) welded onto these ends of the arms 33, then machined by mechanical turning to give them this convex cylinder arc shape of mounting radius R. In a variant not illustrated, the complementary mounting surface 34 is continuous.

[0058] Similarly, in the two pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example, for each of the peripheral mounting parts 21, the mounting surface 24 is segmented into several sectors 25 spaced circumferentially from one another. These sectors 25 can be formed from flats (or flat plates) welded then machined by mechanical turning to give them this arc shape of a concave cylinder with mounting radius R. In a variant not illustrated, the mounting surface 24 is continuous.

[0059] In the two pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example, for each of the peripheral rim segments 30 and for each of the peripheral mounting parts 21, the complementary mounting surface 34 has a groove 36 and the mounting surface 24 has a tenon 26, where the groove 36 and the tenon 26 are of complementary shapes for engagement of the tenon 26 inside the groove 36; and more precisely the tenon 26 and the groove 36 are in the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation. The reverse configuration is conceivable, namely that the complementary mounting surface 34 has the tenon and the mounting surface 24 has the groove. In the two pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example, the groove 36 is therefore formed in the sectors 35 and can be produced by mechanical turning, and the tenon 26 is formed in the sectors 25 and can be produced by mechanical turning.

[0060] For fixing the peripheral rim segments 30 to the peripheral mounting parts 21 of the hub 2, orifices are provided in the mounting surfaces 24 and in the complementary mounting surfaces 34 for the passage of screws 90 suitable for cooperating with nuts 91. These orifices are therefore provided in each of the sectors 35 defining the complementary mounting surface 34 and in each of the sectors 25 defining the mounting surface 24. These orifices are advantageously provided on either side of the grooves 36 and the tenons 26.

[0061] In the two pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example, the hub 2 has an upper plate 27 defining a cylindrical periphery 28 axially offset relative to the mounting surfaces 24 of the peripheral mounting parts 21. This cylindrical periphery 28 has the mounting radius R and comes in continuity with the mounting surfaces 24.

[0062] Furthermore, each of the peripheral rim segments 30 has an upper lateral plate 37 provided with a peripheral rim 38 axially offset relative to the complementary mounting surface 34 is in the shape of an arc of a circle with a mounting radius R, and therefore of a shape complementary to the cylindrical periphery 28 of the upper plate 27 of the hub 2; and thus this peripheral rim 38 matches and bears against the cylindrical periphery 28 of the hub 2. The peripheral rim 38 is in continuity with the complementary mounting surface 34, and therefore in continuity with the sectors 35.

[0063] This upper lateral plate 37 extends over the arms 33 up to the outer part of the circumferential groove 32, and this upper lateral plate 37 connects the arms 33 to each other at the level of the inner mounting part 31 so as to define the peripheral rim 38 which connects the sectors 35 to each other, and also at the level of the outer part of the circumferential groove 32.

[0064] The upper lateral plates 37 of the peripheral rim segments 30 are provided with radial flanges 39 which are arranged contiguously; in other words the radial flange 39 of each of the upper lateral plates 37 is contiguously joined with the radial flange 39 of the adjacent upper lateral plate 37.

[0065] In the drive pulley 10, the hub 2 also has a lower plate 270 defining a cylindrical periphery 280 axially offset relative to the mounting surfaces 24 of the peripheral mounting parts 21; such that the upper plate 27 and the lower plate 270 are arranged on either side of the mounting surfaces 24. This cylindrical periphery 280 has the mounting radius R and is in continuity with the mounting surfaces 24

[0066] Furthermore, in this drive pulley 10, each of the peripheral rim segments 30 has a lower lateral plate 370 provided with a peripheral rim 380 axially offset relative to the complementary mounting surface 34; such that the lower lateral plate 370 and the upper lateral plate 37 are arranged on either side of the complementary mounting surface 34. This peripheral rim 380 is in the shape of an arc of a circle with a mounting radius D, and therefore of a shape complementary to the cylindrical periphery 280 of the lower plate 270 of the hub 2; and thus this peripheral rim 380 matches and bears against the cylindrical periphery 280 of the hub 2. The peripheral rim 380 is in continuity with the complementary mounting surface 34, and therefore in continuity with the sectors 35.

[0067] The lower lateral plates 370 of the peripheral rim segments 30 are provided with radial rim flanges 390 which are arranged contiguously; in other words the radial rim 390 of each of the lower lateral plates 37 is contiguously joined with the radial rim 390 of the adjacent lower lateral plate 37.

[0068] In the two pulleys 1, 10 illustrated as an example, for each of the peripheral rim segments 30, the outer groove portion 32 has two flat lateral surfaces 320 which are provided on the right and on the left and which are of extension radial. Thus, the flat lateral surfaces 320 are fixed together to fix the peripheral rim segments 31 two by two and in a contiguous manner. In other words, each of the two flat lateral surfaces 320 of the peripheral rim segments 30 is fixed contiguously with one of the two flat lateral surfaces 320 of the adjacent peripheral rim segment 30. Holes are provided in these flat lateral surfaces 320 for the passage of screws suitable for cooperating with nuts.

Claims

Claims

1. Pulley (1; 10) for a cable transport installation, comprising: - a hub (2) having an axis of rotation (20) and peripheral mounting parts (21); - peripheral rim segments (30) mounted around the hub (2) to together form a rim (3), wherein each of said peripheral rim segments (30) is associated with one of the peripheral mounting parts (21) of the hub (2) and has an inner mounting part (31) fixed on the associated peripheral mounting part (21), and an outer circumferential groove part (32) for housing a cable; said pulley (1; 10) being characterized in that: - each of the peripheral mounting parts (21) has a mounting surface (24) having a shape of a concave portion of a cylinder of revolution centered on the axis of rotation (20);and - for each of the peripheral rim segments (30), the inner mounting part (31) has a complementary mounting surface (34) pressed against the mounting surface (24) of the associated peripheral mounting part (21), said complementary mounting surface (34) being convex in shape and complementary to said mounting surface (24).;

2. Pulley (1; 10) according to claim 1, wherein, for each of the peripheral rim segments (30) in association with the associated peripheral mounting part (21), the mounting surface (24) and the complementary mounting surface (34) respectively have a groove (36) and a tenon (26) which are of complementary shapes for engagement of said tenon (26) inside said groove (36).

3. Pulley (1; 10) according to claim 2, wherein, for each of the peripheral rim segments (30) in association with the associated peripheral mounting part (21), the tenon (26) is in the shape of an arc of a circle centered on the axis of rotation (20).

4. Pulley (1; 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, for each of the peripheral mounting portions (21), the mounting surface (24) is continuous or is segmented into several sectors (25) spaced circumferentially from each other.

5. Pulley (1; 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, for each of the peripheral rim segments (30), the complementary mounting surface (34) is continuous or is segmented in several sectors (35) spaced circumferentially from each other.

6. Pulley (1; 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the hub (2) has at least one cylindrical periphery (28; 280) axially offset relative to the mounting surfaces (24) of the peripheral mounting parts (21), and each of the peripheral rim segments (30) has at least one lateral plate (37; 370) provided with a peripheral rim (38; 380) axially offset relative to the complementary mounting surface (34) and in the form of an arc of a circle of shape complementary to said cylindrical periphery (28; 280) of the hub (2), so that said peripheral rim (38; 380) of the at least one lateral plate (37; 370) matches and bears against the cylindrical periphery (28; 280) of the hub (2).

7. Pulley (1; 10) according to claim 6, wherein, for each of the peripheral rim segments (30), the at least one side plate (37; 370) comprises two side plates (37, 370) arranged on either side of the complementary mounting surface (34).

8. Pulley (1; 10) according to claim 6 or 7, in which the side plates (37; 370) of the peripheral rim segments (30) are provided with radial flanges (39; 390) which are arranged contiguously.

9. Pulley (1; 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein for each of the peripheral rim segments (30), the complementary mounting surface (34) is fixed to the mounting surface (24) of the associated peripheral mounting part (21) by means of at least one fixing member (90, 91).

10. Pulley (1; 10) according to claim 9, wherein the at least one fixing member comprises a screw (90) which passes through the complementary mounting surface (34) and the mounting surface (24) to cooperate with at least one nut (91).

11. A pulley (1; 10) according to any preceding claim, wherein each of the peripheral rim segments (30) has arms (33) extending radially between the inner mounting portion (31) and the outer circumferential groove portion (32).

12. Pulley (1; 10) according to claim 11, wherein, for each of the peripheral rim segments (30), the complementary mounting surface (34) is formed at the ends of the arms (33).

13. Pulley (1; 10) according to claims 5 and 12, wherein, for each of the peripheral rim segments (30), the complementary surface- mounting element (34) is segmented into several sectors (35) spaced circumferentially from each other and formed at the respective ends of the arms (33).

14. Pulley (1; 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the outer circumferential groove portions (32) of the peripheral rim segments (30) have flat lateral surfaces (320) which are fixed together to fix said peripheral rim segments (30) two by two and in a contiguous manner.

15. Pulley (1; 10) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the peripheral rim segments (30) are four in number, and the peripheral mounting parts (21) of the hub (2) are four in number.

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