Cable Car Carriage Pressing Mechanism for Autonomous Cable Travel
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing cable car systems lack autonomous movement capabilities, are reliant on traction cables that can fail, and have complex, maintenance-intensive designs with uneven load distribution, leading to inefficiencies and high costs.
Innovation Solution
A cable car carriage with a pressing mechanism featuring spring tensioning elements and pretensioning cylinders, which ensures adhesion and load distribution through adjustable contact pressure, and a balance chassis for even force distribution, allowing for autonomous movement and reduced maintenance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a traction cable is used to adjust gondolas along the supporting cable, then the gondolas can be moved along the cable, but the system becomes dependent on the traction cable and cannot move autonomously if the cable breaks
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts and eliminates the traction cable from the system, replacing it with an autonomous caterpillar chain drive that propels the carriage directly along the supporting cable. This removes the single point of failure associated with the traction cable while maintaining the core function of movement.
Solution Approach 2:
The caterpillar chain drive serves itself by using the supporting cable as both a structural element and a propulsion surface. The chains press against the cable and use friction to propel the carriage forward without requiring an external traction cable or complex cable tensioning mechanisms.
2Power
If large motors are used to move gondolas by means of a traction cable, then the gondolas can be moved, but the motors become very expensive
Solution Approach 1:
The invention replaces the large, expensive motor-cable system with a mechanical caterpillar chain drive that uses friction between the chains and the supporting cable for propulsion. This mechanical approach uses smaller, more affordable drive units while achieving the same movement function.
3Reliability
If caterpillar chains without pressing devices are used to move along a suspension cable, then the structure is simpler, but adhesion to the cable cannot be guaranteed
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing mechanism dynamically adjusts the contact pressure between the caterpillar chains and the supporting cable based on operational conditions. This ensures reliable adhesion during movement while allowing the system to adapt to varying loads and cable conditions, maintaining reliability without excessive complexity.
4Force
If caterpillar chains with high loads are used to move along a suspension cable, then the chains can move the carriage, but the structure becomes very complicated and maintenance-intensive
Solution Approach 1:
The pressing mechanism controls the contact pressure parameter between the chains and cable, optimizing it for different operational phases. During movement, sufficient pressure is applied to ensure adhesion and load transfer. During idling or maintenance phases, pressure is reduced or eliminated, reducing wear and simplifying maintenance requirements.
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 autonomous and efficient movement along a supporting cable with improved adhesion and load distribution, reducing component stress and maintenance needs while allowing for adaptable contact pressure and uniform force distribution.
Implementation Method 1
the pressing mechanism comprises at least one spring tensioning element, which biases the two beads towards each other
Implementation Method 2
the pressing mechanism comprises at least one pretensioning cylinder, which counteracts the force of the spring tensioning element
Implementation Method 3
the pressure mechanism acts on the two caterpillars, which are pressed against each other or against a carrying cable in order to ensure sufficient adhesion
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~6
Figure 7~9
AI summary
The invention relates to a cable car for transporting goods or persons, to a cable crane, to a person gondola, to a cable saddle, and to a transport assembly. The cable car (10) comprises two crawlers (1, 2) which are arranged opposite each other on a plane, in particular one over the other. The crawlers (1, 2) are arranged at a distance from each other, and each of the crawlers (1, 2) has a crawler chain (11, 21) and a plurality of chain links (111, 211) arranged next to one another. The chain links (111, 211) form the respective crawler chain (11, 21), and a support cable (3) can be introduced between the opposing crawlers (1, 2) on the opposing chain links (111, 211) of the crawler chains (11, 21). According to the invention, a pressing mechanism (5) is provided which connects the crawlers (1, 2) together, and the distance between the crawlers (1, 2) can be adjusted by the pressing mechanism (5). The pressing force of the two crawlers (1, 2) relative to each other and/or the pressing force of the two crawlers (1, 2) acting on a support cable (3) can be adjusted by the pressing mechanism (5). The crawler chains (11, 21) are driven in a circulating movement by a drive (30) via a crawler running gear (12, 22), and the cable car (10) can be moved along a support cable (3).