Cable Transportation Boarding Zone Variable Distance

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable transportation systems face difficulties in allowing passengers of varying heights to easily board transportation units, particularly children who may need assistance due to fixed boarding zone distances calculated for average heights.

Innovation Solution

The cable transportation system features a conveyor assembly and boarding zone that are not parallel, allowing the distance between the boarding zone and the conveyor assembly to vary within a range, enabling passengers to board at different points along the zone, with adjustable gates and control units to accommodate different heights.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of operation

If the conveyor assembly and boarding zone are kept parallel with a fixed distance calculated for average passenger height, then the system structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but passengers of different heights (especially children) have difficulty boarding and settling correctly

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of boardingVSAvoidconveyor assembly configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor assembly is designed with a variable distance configuration relative to the boarding zone, allowing the distance to vary within a given range along the travelling direction. This dynamic adjustment enables passengers of different heights to board easily without requiring a completely complex reconfigurable system

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The distance parameter between the conveyor assembly and boarding zone is changed along the travelling direction, creating a varying gap that accommodates different passenger heights. This parameter variation allows children and adults to both board comfortably without assistance

Inventive Principle:
Principle #35Parameter changes

2Adaptability or versatility

If the conveyor assembly and boarding zone are made non-parallel with varying distance, then passengers of different heights can board easily, but the system structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaccommodation of different passenger heightsVSAvoidconveyor assembly configuration
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The conveyor assembly incorporates a variable distance configuration that naturally adapts to different passenger heights along the boarding zone, providing versatility without excessive complexity

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The varying distance configuration between the conveyor assembly and boarding zone allows passengers to self-select their optimal boarding position based on their height, eliminating the need for complex control systems or assistance mechanisms

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2221227B1Cable transportation system
Publication Date: 2012.02.08 ROLIC INVEST SARL
  • EP2221227B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2221227B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A cable transportation system has an arrival/departure station (2); a number of transportation units (3) movable in a travelling direction (D1) along a given path (P1); a conveyor assembly (4) for guiding and suspending the transportation units (3) at the arrival/departure station (2); and a passenger boarding zone (6) beneath the conveyor assembly (4); the conveyor assembly (4) and the boarding zone (6) being arranged with respect to each other so that the distance between the boarding zone (6) and a reference region of the conveyor assembly (4) varies within a given range (I) in the travelling direction (D1) along the boarding zone (6).