Cable Transport Unit Heating With Passenger-Triggered Power Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aerial cable transport systems face high electricity consumption for heating transport units, leading to environmental pollution and increased operating costs due to the continuous supply of heating elements without passenger occupancy detection.
Innovation Solution
A heating system with a recognition device to detect passenger presence, a power supply circuit with a switch assembly, and a control unit to selectively activate heating elements only when passengers are present, reducing energy waste by controlling the power supply of electrically conductive elements along the transport path.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If heating elements are continuously supplied with electricity to ensure passenger comfort, then the comfort of passengers is improved, but electricity consumption and environmental pollution increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system transitions from continuous operation to dynamic, demand-based operation. The control unit activates heating elements only when transport units are detected in the heating section, creating a flexible system that adapts to actual operational needs rather than running continuously
Solution Approach 2:
The system implements feedback control through proximity sensors that detect the presence of transport units in the heating section. This information is fed to the control unit, which then activates or deactivates the heating elements accordingly, creating a closed-loop system that responds to real-time conditions
Solution Approach 3:
The heating system becomes self-regulating through the automated detection and control mechanism. The system automatically activates heating when needed and deactivates it when transport units are absent, eliminating the need for continuous manual monitoring or oversight
2Ease of operation
If heating elements are activated continuously to maintain temperature, then passenger comfort is ensured, but operating costs increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heating system operates periodically rather than continuously. The control unit activates heating elements in periodic intervals when transport units are detected, and deactivates them when units are absent, creating a rhythmic on-off pattern that reduces overall energy consumption while maintaining comfort when needed
3Device complexity
If heating elements are supplied without passenger detection, then system simplicity is maintained, but energy waste increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces intermediary components (proximity sensors and a control unit) that mediate between the heating elements and the power supply. These intermediaries detect transport unit presence and control the activation of heating elements, adding minimal complexity while eliminating significant energy waste
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
Reduces electricity consumption and environmental impact by activating heating elements only when transport units are occupied, thereby lowering operational costs and pollution.
Implementation Method 1
the heating elements are supplied through sliding collectors, each of which is mounted on a suspension of the respective transport unit and is guided along the respective electrically conductive element so as to electrically connect each electrically conductive element to the respective heating elements
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3
AI summary
A heating system for heating a transport unit (8) of a cable transport system (1) has at least one electrically conductive element (14), which is arranged along a heating section (15) of a predefined path (5) and is configured to selectively electrically connect/disconnect with a heating element (11) arranged in a transport unit (8); a power supply circuit (22), which comprises a switch assembly (37) for selectively activating/deactivating the power supply of the at least one electrically conductive element (14); and a recognition device (16), which is configured to detect the presence of passengers in a boarding area (12) of the transport system (1) and to generate a presence signal indicative of said detected presence; and a control unit (24), which is configured to receive the generated presence signal and to control the switch assembly (37) as a function of said received presence signal.