Aerial Cableway Cornering Structure with Active Guidance
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional aerial cableway systems face limitations in urban environments due to space constraints and inefficiencies when dealing with large horizontal angles, requiring long curved sections and being unsuitable for dual-cable systems, which compromises passenger comfort and efficiency.
Innovation Solution
An aerial structure with a curved intermediate section and active guidance systems for both vehicles and hauling cables, utilizing clothoid and pseudo-clothoid profiles to optimize space usage while maintaining safe acceleration and jerk limits, allowing for efficient cornering without vertical deflection.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a conventional aerial cableway system uses a long curved intermediate section to handle large horizontal angles, then the cornering capability is improved, but the space requirement increases significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies clothoid and pseudo-clothoid curves to design the curved intermediate section, optimizing the radius of curvature progression. This mathematical curve application allows for smooth transitions and efficient cornering within reduced space by controlling the rate of curvature change, thereby resolving the contradiction between cornering capability and space requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes geometric parameters of the curved section, specifically using varying radius of curvature along the clothoid profile. By adjusting these parameters, the system achieves effective cornering with a more compact layout, reducing the overall area occupied while maintaining adaptability to large horizontal angles
2Area of stationary object
If the curved intermediate section is shortened to reduce space requirements, then the area occupied is reduced, but the passenger comfort and safety deteriorate due to excessive lateral acceleration and jerk
Solution Approach 1:
The use of clothoid curves with progressively varying radius of curvature ensures smooth transitions that limit lateral acceleration and jerk. The mathematical properties of the clothoid profile naturally control the rate of change of curvature, maintaining passenger comfort and safety even in shortened configurations
Solution Approach 2:
The guidance systems actively counteract potential excessive lateral forces by preemptively adjusting the cable path and vehicle trajectory. The active guidance mechanisms detect and correct deviations before they compromise comfort or safety, enabling shorter curved sections without sacrificing reliability
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional guidance systems are used for dual-cable aerial cableways, then the system compatibility is maintained, but the efficiency and speed deteriorate due to restrictive cornering requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements active guidance systems that dynamically adjust the cable deflection and vehicle trajectory in real-time. This dynamic control enables higher speeds and improved efficiency by optimally managing the cornering process, while maintaining compatibility with dual-cable aerial cableway systems through adaptable control mechanisms
4Area of stationary object
If the radius of curvature is reduced to shorten the curved section, then the space requirement is reduced, but the lateral acceleration and jerk increase beyond acceptable limits
Solution Approach 1:
The clothoid profile with its progressively varying radius of curvature allows for compact cornering while controlling the rate of change of curvature. This mathematical approach ensures that even with reduced overall radius, the lateral acceleration and jerk remain within acceptable limits through smooth transitions
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes the radius of curvature parameter along the curved section, using smaller radii in certain zones while maintaining larger radii in transition zones. This parameter optimization reduces space requirements while keeping lateral forces within acceptable ranges through careful spatial distribution of curvature values
Data Source
AI summary
An overhead structure, for a cableway installation of the type having at least one hauling cable, includes an entrance and an exit which are coupled respectively to an upstream portion and to a downstream portion, each generally rectilinear, of a pathway of the cableway installation. The structure also includes an intermediate portion that is curved, at least in projection in a horizontal plane of the pathway, between the entrance and the exit. The structure further includes active vehicle guidance, at least laterally, over a first portion of the curved intermediate portion, the first portion extending generally along a portion that is radioidal or pseudo-radioidal at least in projection in the horizontal plane, or a mean plane which contains the entrance and the exit, and active guidance of the hauling cable between the entrance and the exit, capable of deflecting the cable at least laterally.