Overhead Cable Traction for Amusement Park Transport
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current aerial transport installations for amusement parks, particularly 'discovery' type rides, face issues with vehicle weight due to bulky electric motors, synchronization challenges for collision avoidance, and limited throughput, which affect safety and passenger transport efficiency.
Innovation Solution
The installation features a main rail suspended above the ground with a hauling overhead cable and guide rollers, allowing vehicles to attach to the cable for synchronized movement, reducing the risk of collision and increasing speed and throughput, while also incorporating secondary rails for enhanced stability and redundancy.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If electric motors are mounted on each vehicle to propel it along the tracks, then the vehicles can move independently, but the motors add weight and bulk to the vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the propulsion function from individual vehicle motors and transfers it to a centralized overhead cable system. The cable, driven by a single motor at the station, assumes the propulsion role, allowing vehicle motors to be removed entirely. This extraction eliminates the weight and bulk of motors and batteries from each vehicle while maintaining independent movement capability through cable-driven propulsion.
2Power
If electric motors are mounted on each vehicle, then vehicles can be propelled, but synchronization of motors is required to prevent collision
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the propulsion function from multiple distributed motors into a single centralized motor that drives the overhead cable. This consolidation eliminates the need for complex synchronization systems between multiple motors, as the cable naturally synchronizes all vehicles along the track through its continuous motion driven by one motor.
3Ease of operation
If batteries are added to power the motors, then vehicles can operate autonomously, but the batteries add even more bulk to the vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the energy storage function from onboard vehicle batteries and relocates it to the station's power system. The overhead cable acts as a continuous energy transmission medium, delivering power from the station motor to vehicles along the route. This extraction eliminates the need for bulky batteries on vehicles while maintaining autonomous operation capability through cable-driven propulsion.
4Device complexity
If a single traffic lane is used, then the system is simpler, but maintenance requires stopping the entire system
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traffic system into multiple independent traffic lanes, each with its own overhead cable and propulsion system. This segmentation allows one lane to be maintained or repaired while other lanes continue operating, maintaining transport throughput. The modular lane structure reduces overall system complexity by creating independent, manageable units rather than a single complex system.
5Device complexity
If cable car systems use a single cable for both traction and support, then the system is simpler, but horizontal curves cause cable bending that may derail vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the cable system into functionally distinct components: a separate overhead traction cable for propulsion and a separate support rail structure for vehicle guidance. The traction cable remains straight and horizontal, eliminating bending issues that cause derailment, while the support rail provides structural guidance through curves. This functional segmentation maintains system simplicity while significantly improving vehicle safety on curved tracks.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to an overhead transportation facility, comprising at least one circulation path (2) for vehicles (4) including a main rail (6) suspended above the ground and having at least one curvature (10 to 16), at least one vehicle (4) provided with a set of main wheels (25) configured to roll on the main rail (6), an overhead traction cable (31), a drive means (33) configured to drive the cable (31), and guide means (34) configured to guide the cable (31) along the main rail (6), the vehicle (4) including a coupling means (43) configured to couple the vehicle (4) to the cable (31).