Technical Field

The present invention relates to a system for the transportation of loads and/or persons at height.

Background Art

Several systems are known to be used for the transportation of loads and/or persons at height along routes that are generally difficult to cover using conventional motorised means of transport or on foot.

Generally, these types of system make use of cable transport means, such as cableways, where one or more cars are attached along a cable that runs suspended along a predefined route, e.g. along the slope of a mountain. Specifically, this type of system carries cars of known type along a closed route between two arrival/departure stations, where the system’s users can get in and out of the car.

This way, the systems of known type allow for easy transportation of loads and/or persons along routes that are difficult to cover between the arrival/departure stations.

This type of system is however susceptible to improvements related to their functionality and convenience of use.

In fact, the cars used by the known type of systems are bound to the cable of the corresponding means of transport, from which they are released only to perform maintenance and/or replacement operations of the car itself and/or of the system.

Therefore, the cars are substantially unusable when released from the system’s cable. In addition, after being released, the cars are difficult to move, as they are particularly bulky.

In addition, the arrival/departure stations of the systems are not always easily reachable by the users, for example because of the morphological characteristics of the area where the system is installed and/or the weather conditions.

These drawbacks limit the functionality of the systems of known type, making them inconvenient and complicated to use.

Description of the Invention

The main aim of the present invention is to devise a system and a related car which allow increasing the functionality and the way of use of the same compared to the systems and cars of known type.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a system and a related car which allow overcoming the above mentioned drawbacks of the prior art within a simple, rational, easy, effective to use and low cost solution.

The objects set out above are achieved by the present system having the characteristics of claim 1.

The objects set out above are achieved by the present car having the characteristics of claim 12.

Brief Description of the Drawings

Other characteristics and advantages of the present invention will become more clear from the description of a preferred, but not exclusive, embodiment of a system and a related car, illustrated by way of an indicative, yet non-limiting example, in the accompanying tables of drawings wherein:

Figure 1 is an axonometric view of the system’s station according to the invention;

Figure 2 is a schematic view of the system according to the invention;

Figure 3 is a schematic side view of some components of the system according to the invention;

Figure 4 is a schematic rear view of the system’s components shown in Figure

3;

Figure 5 is an axonometric view of some components of the system according to the invention.

Embodiments of the Invention

With particular reference to these figures, reference numeral 7 globally indicates a system for the transportation of loads and/or persons at height.

The system 7 comprises: at least one car 1 defining at least one cab 2 for the transportation of loads and/or persons; cable transport means 4 of the car 1 adapted to move the latter suspended at height; movement means 6 of the car 1 onto the ground.

Advantageously, the system 7 comprises a plurality of cars 1 moved by the movement means 6 on the ground and by the transport means 4 at height.

In particular, the cable transport means 4 comprise at least one cable 8 connected in a closed loop sliding along an aerial route C and a plurality of fixed supports 36 to which the cable itself is coupled in suspension, for example as is the case in cableways of known type.

Conveniently, the system 7 comprises removable hooking means 3 of the car 1 to the cable transport means 4 adapted to move the car itself suspended at height.

Specifically, the hooking means 3 comprise: at least one supporting arm 9 secured to the cable transport means 4 and provided with at least a first hooking portion 10; at least a second hooking portion 11 associated with the car 1 and coupleable to the first hooking portion 10 in a removable manner.

Preferably, the supporting arm 9 comprises a first end 12 attached to the cable 8 and a second end 13 on which the first hooking portion 10 is formed.

On the other hand, the car 1 comprises a roof 14 on which the second hooking portion 11 is formed.

According to a possible embodiment of the system 7, the first hooking portion 10 comprises a plurality of housings and the second hooking portion 11 comprises a plurality of locking pins which are insertable in a removable manner inside the respective housings for securing the car 1 to the supporting arm 9 and consequently to the transport means 4.

According to the invention, the hooking means 3 comprise a plurality of supporting arms 9 adapted to be hooked in a removable manner to a respective car 1 to move it in suspension.

Advantageously, the system comprises removable coupling means 16, 17 of the car 1 to the movement means 6 onto the ground.

In detail, the car 1 is movable between a first operating configuration, wherein the coupling means 16, 17 secure the car 1 to the movement means 6, and a second operating configuration, wherein the hooking means 3 secure the car 1 to the transport means 4 and the car itself is suspended.

Preferably, in the second operating configuration, the car 1 is uncoupled from the movement means 6 by means of the coupling means 16, 17.

Furthermore, preferably, in the first operating configuration, the car 1 is uncoupled from the transport means 4 by means of the hooking means 3. Advantageously, the movement means 6 onto the ground comprise at least one movable support 15 coupleable to the car 1 in a removable manner by means of the coupling means 16, 17 and adapted to hold the car 1 during the movement of the same onto the ground.

In particular, the coupling means 16, 17 comprise at least a first coupling portion 16 associated with the movable support 15 and a second coupling portion 17 associated with the car 1 and coupleable to the first coupling portion 16 in a removable manner.

Preferably, the movable support 15 comprises a supporting surface 18 arranged, in use, substantially horizontal to the ground, intended to receive the car 1 and on which the first coupling portion 16 is formed.

On the other hand, the car 1 comprises a bottom wall 19 on which the second coupling portion 17 is formed.

This way, when the bottom wall 19 rests on the supporting surface 18, the first coupling portion 16 and the second coupling portion 17 are coupled to secure the car 1 and the movable support 15 to each other so as to allow the movement of the car itself onto the ground.

Advantageously, the movable support 15 comprises a pair of retaining side rails 20 of the car 1 in the first operating configuration.

In particular, the retaining side rails 20 are arranged substantially parallel and opposite each other and suitably spaced apart to define a housing channel for housing the car 1. In addition, the retaining side rails 20 are associated cantilevered with respect to the supporting surface 18 and arranged substantially vertical to the ground.

In fact, in the first operating configuration, the car 1 is arranged inside the housing channel 21, positioned between the retaining side rails 20.

Indeed, the car 1 comprises at least one pair of side walls 22 arranged substantially opposite and parallel to each other and adapted to be arranged facing a respective retaining side rail 20 in the first operating configuration. Appropriately, the side walls 22 are positioned between the roof 14 and the bottom wall 19 to define the cab 2 with the latter.

Advantageously, the movement means 6 comprise a plurality of movable supports 15 adapted to be coupled in a removable manner to a respective car 1 to move it onto the ground.

Appropriately, the coupling means 16, 17 comprise a first coupling portion 16 formed on each movable support 15 and a second coupling portion 17 associated on each car 1.

Conveniently, the movable support 15 comprises at least one motor-driven assembly for the movement of the support itself onto the ground.

In particular, the motor-driven assembly comprises at least four mutually independent wheels 23 and respective electric actuators, not shown in the figures, each of which is mechanically coupled to a respective wheel 23.

This way, each wheel 23 is driven in rotation independently of the others by the corresponding electric actuator to allow the movement of the movable support 15.

Conveniently, the system 7 comprises at least one exchange station 24 located between the movement means 6 onto the ground and the transport means 4 at height and defining at least one point of departure 25, at which the car 1 is moved from the first operating configuration to the second operating configuration, and at least one point of arrival 26, at which the car 1 is moved from the second operating configuration to the first operating configuration. Advantageously, the movement means 6 comprise at least one of either: guidance means 27 for guiding the movable support 15 along at least one predetermined route D and provided with at least one way of arrival 28 to the point of departure 25 and at least one way of departure 29 from the point of arrival 26; or stiff shifting means 37 of the movable support 15 between the point of departure 25 and the point of arrival 26 along a shifting direction B. Preferably, the guidance means 27 comprise at least one pair of guides 30 defining at least one lane 31, 32 inside which moves the movable support 15.

In particular, the guidance means 27 comprise at least one arrival lane 31 defining the way of arrival 28 and at least one departure lane 32 defining the way of departure 29.

Preferably, the shifting means 37 comprise a movable belt 33 positioned between the point of arrival 26 and the point of departure 25.

In particular, the movable belt 33 comprises at least one first end at which the point of departure 25 is defined and at least one second end at which the point of arrival 26 is defined.

Advantageously, the system 7 comprises both the guidance means 27 and the shifting means 37.

This way, the movable support 15 reaches the point of departure 25 via the way of arrival 28, is shifted to the point of arrival 26 by the shifting means 37, and moves away from the point of arrival 26 via the way of departure 29.

In particular, when the movable support 15 is arranged at the point of departure 25 and of the point of arrival 26, the retaining side rails 20 are arranged substantially parallel to the shifting direction B.

This way, the shifting means 37 move the movable support 15 and approach a car 1, inserting it into the housing channel 21.

In particular, the retaining side rails 20 slide laterally along the body of the car 1, partly enveloping it.

Similarly, the shifting means 37 move the movable support away from a car 1 to slide it out of the housing channel 21.

In particular, the retaining side rails 20 slide laterally along the body of the car 1 and release it. In particular, the way of arrival 28 and the way of departure 29 extend substantially parallel to each other along their respective directions of guidance A of the movable support 15 arranged substantially orthogonal with respect to the shifting direction B .

Advantageously, the motor-driven assembly is configured to move the movable support 15 along a direction of movement.

In particular, the motor-driven assembly is configured to move the movable support 15 in a first direction of travel of the direction of movement and to reverse the direction of travel, moving the movable support 15 in a second direction of travel of the direction of movement opposite the first one.

This way, when the movable support 15 is shifted between the point of departure 25 and the point of arrival 26, the motor-driven assembly reverses the direction of travel thereof, so as to cover the way of arrival 28 and the way of departure 29 in the first direction of travel and in the second direction of travel, respectively.

Advantageously, the movement means 6 comprise at least one power supply line 34 which extends along the predetermined route D and configured to electrically supply at least one of either the movable support 15 or the car 1.

In fact, at least one of either the movable support 15 or the car 1 comprises at least one connecting element 35, not shown in the figures, positioned, in use, in sliding contact with the power supply line 34.

In particular, the power supply line 34 and the connecting element 35 are configured to power one or more electronic appliances of the car 1 and/or of the movable support 15.

According to the invention, while the movable support 15 comprises the connecting element 35, the car 1 is not provided with it.

The system 7 however comprises removable electrical connection means, not shown in the figures, positioned between the movable support 15 and the car 1 and configured to electrically connect the latter in the first operating configuration.

This way, the power supply line 34 supplies the movable support 15, which, in the first operating configuration, connects the same power supply line to the car 1 by interposition of the electrical connection means.

Further embodiments of the system 7 cannot be ruled out wherein both the movable support 15 and the car 1 are provided with the electrical connecting element 35.

Preferably, the electrical connecting element 35 is of the type of a sliding contact of known type and the power supply line 34 is of the type of an electrically conductive metal track.

This way, the power supply line 34 and the connecting element 35 make a contact line power supply system.

According to the possible embodiment of the system 7, with particular reference to Figure 5, the power supply line 34 is associated with the guidance means 27. In particular, the power supply line 34 is associated with the guides 30 and arranged facing the inside of the lane 31, 32.

This way, during the displacement of the movable support 15 inside the lane 31, 32, the connecting element 35 remains in contact with the power supply line 34. Advantageously, the car 1 comprises at least one battery, not shown in the figures, configured to electrically power one or more electronic appliances in the car, such as e.g. the outlets for charging electronic devices, interactive entertainment devices for car users and the like.

Further, the electrical connection means or the connecting element 35, if any, of the car 1 are configured to recharge the battery when the car is in the first operating configuration, particularly when the power supply line 34 and the connecting element 35 are in contact with each other.

This way, in the second operating configuration, the battery is charged and can keep the electronic appliances powered of the car 1.

The operation of the system 7 is as follows.

Advantageously, the car 1, loaded onto a respective movable support 15, covers the way of arrival 28 until it reaches the point of departure 25 of a station 24.

At the point of departure 25 the movable support 15 stops its travel, and while the supporting arm 9 is hooked to the car 1, the movable support 15 is uncoupled from it.

In this configuration, the shifting means 37 shift the movable support 15 away from the car 1, approaching it to an additional car 1 arranged by the transport means 4 at the point of arrival 26.

This way, the shifting means 37 fit the new car 1 inside the housing channel 21 of the movable support 15.

In this configuration, while the supporting arm 9 is released from the new car 1, the movable support 15 is hooked thereto.

This way, the movable support 15 moves the new car 1 away from the point of arrival 26 along the way of departure 29 and the car 1, previously entrusted to the transport means 4, is moved by the same away from the point of departure 25.

This process is repeated continuously.

A possible embodiment of the system 7 is shown in Figure 2.

In this embodiment, the system 7 comprises a pair of exchange stations 24 between which the transport means 4 are positioned.

Furthermore, in this embodiment, the movement means 6 comprise a plurality of ways of arrival and departure 28, 29 arranged at the points of arrival and departure 25, 26 of the respective stations 24.

Further embodiments of the system 7 cannot however be ruled out, wherein the same comprises the movement means 6 positioned between the two stations 24 and transport means 4 for each station 24.

Further embodiments of the system 7 cannot be ruled out in which the same comprises any combination of the movement means 6, transport means 4 and stations 24.

According to a further aspect, the present invention relates to a car for the transportation of loads and/or persons, globally indicated by reference numeral 1 in the figures.

The car 1 for the transportation at height defines at least one cab 2 for the transportation of loads and/or persons and comprises at least one of: removable hooking means 3 of the car 1 to cable transport means 4 of the car itself; removable coupling means 16, 17 of the car 1 to the movement means 6 of the car itself onto the ground.

Preferably, the car 1 comprises both hooking means 3 and coupling means 16, 17.

This way, the coupling means 16, 17 secure the car 1 to the movement means 6 to allow the same to be moved onto the ground, and the hooking means 3 secure the car 1 to the transport means 4 to allow the same to be moved suspended at height.

Advantageously, the car 1 comprises at least one seat, not shown in the figures, occupiable by at least one user of the car 1 and mounted inside the cab 2. Preferably, the seat is of the known type.

Furthermore, the car 1 comprises a plurality of seats to accommodate a plurality of users inside the cab 2 during the movement of the car itself.

Conveniently, the car 1 comprises at least one housing, not shown in the figures, of at least one load to be transported.

This way, the users of the car 1 place conveniently and easily one or more loads, such as e.g. personal belongings, sports equipment, food and the like, inside the housing.

Preferably, the housing is made inside the cab 2.

Alternative embodiments of the car 1 cannot however be ruled out wherein the housing is made outside of the cab 2 or wherein the car itself comprises a plurality of housings made inside and/or outside the cab 2.

It has in practice been ascertained that the described invention achieves the intended objects.

In particular, the cable transport means and movement means onto the ground allow for more ways and flexibility of use to the system and the relevant car with respect to the systems and cars of known type.

In addition, the hooking means and the coupling means allow the system to employ the car in a versatile and dynamic manner for both movement onto the ground and overhead movement at height.