Cable Car Cabin Positioning via Zone Detection

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative Solutions
Generate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable car stations can only determine the position of a cable car cabin relative to the cable speed or tire conveyor speed, lacking independent and precise positioning capabilities.

Innovation Solution

A cable car station with a monitoring section divided into zones, equipped with zone detection devices and cable car cabin positioning devices, allowing for independent determination of the cabin's position.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Measurement precision

If cable car cabin position is determined using cable speed or tire conveyor speed, then the positioning system is simple, but the positioning accuracy and reliability deteriorate because it depends on the speed of moving components

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecable car cabin position determination accuracyVSAvoidpositioning system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Measurement precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the mechanical speed-based positioning system with an electromagnetic sensing system. Active sensors (RFID readers) and passive positioning devices (RFID tags or magnets) create an electromagnetic field-based positioning method that is independent of cable or conveyor speed, thereby improving measurement precision without excessive complexity increase

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent introduces RFID tags or magnets as intermediary positioning devices attached to the cabin, and RFID readers as intermediary sensing devices mounted on the station. These intermediaries enable precise position detection without directly measuring cable speed or conveyor speed, resolving the contradiction between accuracy and complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If active sensors are placed in the cable car station, then data processing and maintenance become easier, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedata processing and maintenance easeVSAvoidsensor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The passive positioning devices (RFID tags or magnets) attached to the cabin are self-contained and require no power supply or data processing, while the active sensors in the station automatically detect and process data. This self-service arrangement simplifies operation and maintenance while managing system complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The active sensors serve multiple functions: detecting cabin position, determining zone boundaries, and providing data to the control system. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate systems, thereby easing operation and maintenance without proportionally increasing complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If the monitoring section is divided into multiple zones with detection devices at each boundary, then position determination reliability improves, but the system complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveposition determination reliabilityVSAvoidzone detection system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The monitoring section is segmented into multiple zones with detection devices at boundaries. This segmentation allows independent verification of position in each zone, improving reliability through distributed detection while managing complexity through modular zone management

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

Each zone detection device provides feedback about cabin position to the control system. This feedback mechanism enables continuous position verification and cross-checking across zones, enhancing reliability while the systematic feedback loop manages complexity through standardized processing

Inventive Principle:
Principle #23Feedback

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

Enables precise and reliable determination of the cable car cabin's position within the station, independent of cable or tire conveyor speeds, facilitating safe and efficient operation.

Implementation Method 1

The zone detection device is an RFID sensor

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRFID (Radio Frequency Identification): Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 2

The cable car cabin positioning device is a magnet

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field: Magnetic Field

Data Source

PatentEP4570612A1Cable car, method for controlling a cable car, computer program product and computer-readable medium
Publication Date: 2025.06.18 BARTHOLET ROPEWAYS AG
  • EP4570612A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4570612A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4570612A1 patent drawing

AI summary

The invention relates to a cable car station (1). The cable car station (1) comprises a monitoring section (2) for transporting a cable car cabin (3) through the cable car station (1). The monitoring section (2) is divided into at least two zones (4, 5, 6, 7). The cable car station (1) comprises a zone detection device (9) arranged at the boundary (8) between a first zone (4) and a second zone (5). At least one cable car cabin positioning device (12) is formed on the cable car station (1). The cable car cabin positioning device (12) is arranged within the first zone (4) and/or within the second zone (5). The invention also relates to a cable car cabin (3), a cable car comprising at least one cable car station (1) and a cable car cabin (3), a method for controlling a cable car cabin (3), as well as a computer program product and a computer-readable medium.