Conveyor Device for Automated Cable Car Vehicle Parking

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing cable car systems require manual intervention by operating personnel to move and park transportation equipment when the cable is restarted, as there is no mechanical or automatic drive to facilitate this process in areas where wheels are deactivated.

Innovation Solution

A conveyor device is introduced, arranged parallel to the transport device, which can engage and disengage with the transportation equipment, utilizing a conveyor element like a conveyor belt or chain hoist with a protruding driver to push the equipment into desired positions, allowing for mechanical or automatic movement and parking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Quantity of substance

If the transport device wheels are deactivated in certain areas to allow parking, then the transportation equipment can be parked close together in the station, but there is no drive to move the parked equipment and manual intervention is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvenumber of parked transportation equipmentVSAvoidmanual work for moving equipment
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

A conveyor device is introduced as an intermediary mechanism between the deactivated transport device wheels and the parked transportation equipment. The conveyor device includes a conveyor element (belt or chain) with protruding drivers that engage with the equipment to push it into desired positions, thereby automating the movement task without requiring manual intervention.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The system enables self-service by allowing the conveyor device to automatically move parked transportation equipment into and out of parking areas without human assistance. The conveyor element with its drivers autonomously pushes the equipment along the guide devices, making the system self-sufficient for equipment handling operations.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

2Adaptability or versatility

If the transport device wheels are deactivated, then transportation equipment can be parked in that area, but the area cannot serve both active transport and parking functions simultaneously

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvedual function of transport and parking areaVSAvoidadditional conveyor device
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The system implements dynamic functionality by allowing the conveyor device to be selectively activated and deactivated. During normal transport operations, the conveyor device remains inactive and the transport device wheels perform their function. When parking or retrieval is needed, the conveyor device is activated to move equipment, thus enabling the same physical space to serve multiple functions at different times.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The conveyor device is designed with universal applicability, using the same guide devices and spatial infrastructure already present for the transport device. The protruding drivers on the conveyor element can engage with various transportation equipment types, and the system can handle both parking and retrieval operations, making it a multi-functional solution that reduces overall system complexity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Data Source

PatentEP1925522B1Aerial cable railway installation with a station for garaging the vehicles
Publication Date: 2012.06.13 INNOVA PATENT GMBH
  • EP1925522B1 patent drawingFigure 1~5
  • EP1925522B1 patent drawingFigure 6~8

AI summary

The installation has guiding rails arranged in an area of stations (3), where coaches (2) are moved in the guiding rails. A group of retarding wheels (4), a group of conveying wheels (5) and a group of acceleration wheels (6) drive the coaches along the guiding rails. A conveying device (7) is arranged next to the retarding wheels and the acceleration wheels in parallel, and is brought into external interference with the coaches.