Cableway Powerline Communication via Busbar and Current Collector

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing data transmission methods between cableway vehicles and controllers are inefficient due to the lack of reliable energy supply and connectivity, especially in harsh environmental conditions, requiring additional hardware and being prone to disruptions.

Innovation Solution

Implementing powerline communication using existing electrical lines and connections in cableways, which allows for flexible data transmission between vehicles and controllers, utilizing powerline modems and small electrical buffer storage to ensure continuous data exchange.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If RFID transponders are used for data transmission, then data can be transmitted without additional cabling, but the transmission is sensitive to harsh environmental conditions and requires additional hardware on the vehicle

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission implementationVSAvoidtransmission reliability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The electrical supply line serves dual purposes: providing electrical energy to the vehicle and transmitting data signals. The existing electrical infrastructure is utilized for both power supply and communication, eliminating the need for separate data transmission hardware and reducing sensitivity to environmental conditions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical supply line is made multi-functional by enabling it to carry both electrical energy and data signals simultaneously. This allows the same infrastructure to serve multiple purposes, reducing overall system complexity and hardware requirements while improving reliability.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If additional hardware is installed on vehicles for data transmission, then data communication capability is improved, but device complexity and cost increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata communication capabilityVSAvoidhardware complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The data transmission function is merged with the existing electrical power supply system. By combining these two functions into a single infrastructure, the patent eliminates the need for separate communication hardware on vehicles, thereby reducing device complexity and cost.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Loss of information

If data is transmitted continuously, then real-time monitoring is improved, but energy consumption increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvedata transmission completenessVSAvoidvehicle energy consumption

Core Design Contradiction:

Loss of informationVSUse of energy by moving object

Solution Approach 1:

Data transmission occurs periodically when the vehicle is in contact with the electrical supply line at stations or intermediate contact points. This periodic transmission ensures real-time monitoring capability while minimizing energy consumption by utilizing existing power contact moments rather than maintaining continuous communication.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Solution Approach 2:

The electrical supply line continuously provides both power and data transmission capability whenever the vehicle is in contact with it. This ensures that data transmission is available continuously during powered operation without requiring additional energy consumption for dedicated communication systems.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #20Continuity of useful action

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

This solution provides reliable, flexible, and cost-effective bidirectional data communication, ensuring no data loss and utilizing existing electrical supplies for both data transmission and vehicle power, enhancing monitoring and control capabilities of cableway systems.

Implementation Method 1

powerline communication for data communication between a vehicle and the cableway controller. Existing devices, in particular electrical lines and connections, of the cableway can thus be used for the powerline communication

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectPowerline communication: Conduction (electrical)

Implementation Method 2

a current collector of the vehicle contacts a busbar by the movement of the vehicle during operation of the cableway

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElectrical conduction: Conduction (electrical)

Data Source

PatentUS20240308561A1Cableway with data communication between cableway controller and vehicle

Publication Date: 2024.09.19 INNOVA PATENT GMBH

AI summary

To allow simple data communication between a vehicle and a cableway controller of a cableway, provision is made, during operation of the cableway, for a current collector of the vehicle to come into contact with a busbar through the movement of the vehicle, wherein a vehicle powerline modem of the vehicle is connected to the current collector and a control powerline modem is connected to the busbar and the cableway controller and, while the current collector is in contact with the busbar, a powerline communication connection is established between the vehicle powerline modem and the control powerline modem and is used to transmit vehicle data from the vehicle to the cableway controller or vice versa.