Cable Car Vehicle Coupling for Simplified Parking Track Loading

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable car vehicle parking systems are complex and inefficient, requiring individual handling and movement of vehicles, which complicates logistics and loading operations.

Innovation Solution

The implementation of connecting elements on cable car vehicles to form detachable vehicle assemblies, combined with a parking track conveyor system that uses an actuating device to manage the connection and disconnection of vehicles, allowing for joint movement and simplified handling.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If individual cable car vehicles are handled and moved separately in the parking area, then each vehicle can be positioned independently, but the logistics and handling complexity increases significantly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle handlingVSAvoidlogistics complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines multiple cable car vehicles into a single coupled assembly that moves together as one unit. The coupling device connects vehicles along the parking track, allowing them to be handled collectively rather than individually, thereby simplifying logistics and reducing operational complexity while maintaining independent positioning capability through the coupled structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Extent of automation

If a parking conveyor system is provided to move cable car vehicles to parking positions, then vehicles can be automatically positioned, but the system complexity and infrastructure requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevehicle positioningVSAvoidconveyor system complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Extent of automationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent employs a self-service mechanism where cable car vehicles couple to each other automatically or semi-automatically using a coupling device that interacts with the vehicles' own structures. This eliminates the need for complex external conveyor systems, as the vehicles themselves participate in the positioning process through their coupling capability, reducing infrastructure requirements while maintaining automation

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Quantity of substance

If multiple cable car vehicles are stored in the parking area during operation, then transport capacity is maintained, but the space requirements and management complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of stored vehiclesVSAvoidparking management complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges multiple vehicles into coupled assemblies that occupy less space and are easier to manage than individually positioned vehicles. By coupling vehicles together along the parking track, the system reduces the management burden and space requirements while maintaining the ability to store multiple vehicles during operation periods

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP4696581A1Parking system for cableway vehicles
Publication Date: 2026.02.18 INNOVA PATENT GMBH
  • EP4696581A1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4696581A1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3b
  • EP4696581A1 patent drawingFigure 3c~4

AI summary

A parking system for cable car vehicles (2) is provided to improve the parking and, in particular, the loading of cable car vehicles (2) of a cable car (2) and to simplify the handling of the cable car vehicles (2), wherein the cable car vehicles (2) each have at least two connecting elements (4) which are designed to detachably connect two adjacent cable car vehicles (2) to each other during operation of the parking system (10), wherein, when using the parking system (10), a jointly movable vehicle assembly (12) consisting of the cable car vehicles (2) detachably connected to each other via the connecting elements (4) is parked on the parking track (11), and wherein, for loading the cable car vehicles (2), a parking track conveyor (15) is provided on the parking track (11), which pulls the vehicle assembly (12) out of the parking track (11) towards the feed track (21).so that the detachably connected connecting elements (4) of the two cable car vehicles (2) located at one end of the vehicle assembly (12) facing the track end (11a) enter the area of ​​operation of an actuating device (13) arranged in the area of ​​the track end (11a) and the actuating device (16) releases the detachably connected connecting elements (4) between these two cable car vehicles (2) and the feeder track conveyor (22) takes over the cable car vehicle (2) located at the end of the vehicle assembly (12) facing the track end (11a) and detached from the vehicle assembly (12) and moves it away from the parking track (11).