This application claims priority from Italian Patent Application no. 102017000036544 filed on 03/04/2017, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to a station for a cable transportation system.

In particular, the present invention relates to a station of a cable transportation system for the embarkation and disembarkation of passengers or material that are transported outside the station by transporting units, for example chairs or gondolas or the like, supported and/or hauled by at least one cable.

Even more in particular, the present invention relates to a station of a cable transportation system, which can be a upstream, a downstream or an intermediate station, inside which the transporting units temporarily stop their advance to allow a safe embarkation and disembarkation.

STATE OF THE PRIOR ART

As is known, a station of a cable transportation system comprises an inlet and an outlet for the transporting units arranged in succession one after the other. At the inlet and the outlet, respectively, the station is provided with devices for uncoupling and coupling the transporting units from/to the cable, which, in fact, only supports/hauls the transporting units outside the station. This selective uncoupling of the transporting units from the cable inside the station has the purpose of allowing the slowing down of the transporting units passing through the station without however slowing down the remaining transporting units moving outside the station.

Within this type of stations, the provision of a guide system configured to support the transporting units when uncoupled from the cable and to guide them from the inlet to the outlet of the station is well known. This guiding device is usually in the form of at least one rail located above the transporting unit, which extends, in plan view, from the inlet to the outlet of the station where it ends at a cable-coupling device. Beyond the coupling device, the transporting unit is coupled, for example clamped, to the cable and proceeds to the next station of the system.

The extension in plan of the guiding device inside the station as defined above can be divided into a succession of portions or sections. In particular, it is possible to identify :

- an inlet portion delimited upstream by the station entry point, where the cable uncoupling device is arranged, and along which the transporting unit is slowed down;

- an intermediate portion at which the disembarkation and embarkation take place; and

- an outlet portion delimited downstream by the station exit point, where the cable-coupling device is arranged, and along which the transporting unit is accelerated up to a speed such as to allow a secure coupling to the cable, i.e. without jerks.

The indicated terms "upstream" and "downstream" are related to the forward direction of the transporting unit in the station.

To maximize the hourly capacity of the system, it is today common practice in the prior art not to stop the transporting units during the embarkation and disembarkation procedures. Therefore, along the intermediate guide portions, the transporting units advance at a constant low speed.

Still further to maximize the hourly capacity of the system, the provision of a plurality of intermediate guide portions inside the station is well known in order to provide a plurality of embarking and disembarking zones mutually arranged in a parallel structure.

According to these systems, the inlet guide portion ends downstream, at a diverging point of the guide itself beyond which at least two intermediate guide portions branch off along two different paths. As is known, a selector device, for example of the railroad switch type, is provided at the diverging point, which selector device is configured to alternately feed the units along one or the other of the two intermediate guide portions. Similarly, the outlet guide portion starts upstream at a converging point in which the two aforesaid intermediate embarking and disembarking portions converge.

The prior art documents EP2157004, FR2752803 and EP1849674 show stations such as foregoing described wherein inside the station there is a plurality of embarking and disembarking zones mutually arranged in a parallel structure along which the transporting units advance at a constant low speed.

OBJECT OF THE INVENTION

The object of the present invention is to provide an alternative station for a cable transportation system in which passengers are embarked and disembarked safely and comfortably without however compromising the hourly capacity of the respective cable transportation system.

According to the invention, the station comprises an inlet and an outlet for the transit of a plurality of transporting units, for example gondolas, chairs or the like, arranged in succession one after the other. As is known, outside the station, the transporting units are supported and moved by at least one cable. Inside the station, the same transporting units are uncoupled from the cable and guided along a suitable guiding device, for example upper rails. To this end, at the inlet and the outlet, the station is thus provided with cable uncoupling and coupling devices. In the station of the present invention, the guiding device extends, in plan view, within the station between the inlet and the outlet and comprises an inlet guide extending from the inlet to a diverging point, a plurality of intermediate guides extending along different paths between the diverging point and a converging point, and an outlet guide extending from the converging point to the outlet of the station.

The station of the present invention further comprises a control unit, which can also be the control unit of the entire system, configured for alternately feeding at least one transporting unit along the intermediate guides. In other words, all the transporting units travel in a line the inlet guide, and at the diverging point are alternately diverted, individually or in groups, towards one or the other intermediate guide.

In particular, according to the present invention, the control unit further temporary stops the transporting units at at least one stopping point along the intermediate guides for allowing the embarking and disembarking while the transporting unit is stopped. In the event that the control unit alternately diverts a group or train of transport units along the intermediate guides, each gondola of the diverted group is stopped at its own stopping point, and when the embarking and disembarking is completed, the entire group starts off again at the same time towards the outlet guide. In this way, disembarking and embarking take place simultaneously for the entire group of transporting units, as is usually the case for the carriages of an underground train.

Although the transporting units are temporarily stopped, their motion outside the station is not slowed down because the transporting unit at the inlet is diverted by the control unit to the intermediate guide inside which there is always a free stopping point.

Advantageously, according to the above, the present invention allows a safe embarkation and disembarkation while the transporting units are stopped, without compromising the hourly capacity of the system. In fact, embarking and disembarking while the gondolas are moving is considered disadvantageous especially in urban and tourist transport since in such environments passengers are accustomed to other means of urban transport where embarking and disembarking always take place when the vehicle is stationary. Furthermore, in urban applications the number of people with limited mobility is significantly higher than in winter sports applications. In general, considering "m" as the number of intermediate guides provided and "n" as the number of transporting units that make up the diverted group, without compromising the hourly capacity of the system and maintaining the distance of the in-line transporting units unchanged, the theoretical stop time is equal to (m-1) * n times the space between the in- line gondolas .

According to one embodiment of the invention, the station comprises at least one footboard or embarking and/or disembarking platform at at least one portion of the intermediate guides. In particular, such a platform is provided with a plurality of platform doors at the stopping points where the transporting units stop.

Advantageously, such an embodiment increases the safety of the station both because the platform doors are configured to only open in the presence of a stationary transporting unit and because it avoids the danger of falling into the station pit.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the station comprises at least one time indication device for indicating the waiting time at each stopping point.

Advantageously, this embodiment allows the filling of the gondolas to be organised systematically, with the waiting time indicated at each stopping point. The people waiting can thus easily spread at multiple embarkation points according to the waiting time.

Preferably, the guiding device of the present invention comprises at least one module with a first and a second intermediate guide configured to define an inner zone between the intermediate guides, and two outer zones outside the intermediate guides with respect to the inner zone. Starting from this configuration of the guides, the present invention can be viewed according to different variants in which each variant is aimed at optimizing the embarkation/disembarkation procedures or at simplifying the layout of the station.

According to one embodiment of the invention, the station comprises a common inner embarking and disembarking platform at the inner zone and a service platform for all transporting units. The term "embarking" is intended to mean that the platform is provided with a plurality of devices suitable for the transit of passengers who must embark on the transporting units, whereas the term "disembarking" is intended to mean that the platform is provided with a plurality of devices suitable for the transit of passengers who have come out of the transporting units and must leave the station. When only an "embarking" or a "disembarking" platform is indicated, this will therefore refer to a platform where passenger transit is provided and allowed only in a specific direction. In the example above, the common inner platform is to be understood as both an embarking and disembarking platform for all the transporting units diverted to the intermediate guides .

Advantageously, this embodiment simplifies the layout of the station by providing a single central platform.

An alternative embodiment of the invention provides two outer embarking and disembarking platforms respectively housed in the outer zones of each intermediate guide. According to this embodiment, the embarkation and disembarkation on/from the transporting units diverted to an intermediate guide occurs exclusively via the respective outer platform. In other words, not all the transporting units passing through the station can be accessed from an outer platform, only those that will be diverted along the intermediate guide facing the corresponding platform.

Advantageously, according to this embodiment, the distribution of the passengers is organised in a systematic way, thus avoiding a common concentration zone.

An alternative embodiment of the invention provides an inner embarking and disembarking platform at the inner zone and an outer embarking and disembarking platform at an outer zone. According to this embodiment, the transporting units can be simplified by installing doors only on one side of the transporting units, i.e. the side facing the outer platform.

An alternative embodiment of the invention provides an outer platform at each outer zone and an inner platform at the inner zone. According to this embodiment, the inner platform is configured to only be an embarkation or a disembarkation platform, while the remaining outer platforms are configured to only be complementary disembarkation or embarkation platforms.

Advantageously, this embodiment enables a systematic organization, avoiding the creation of two opposing flows of passengers moving on the same platform.

Of course, the present invention also extends to the whole cable transportation system comprising the transporting units, the cable and a plurality of stations, at least one of which is a station as previously described. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Further features and advantages of the present invention will be apparent from the following description of a non-limiting embodiment thereof, with reference to the figures of the accompanying drawings, wherein:

- Figure 1 is a schematic, side elevation view of a portion of a cable system equipped with an example of a station according to the present invention;

- Figure 2 is an enlarged view of the detail indicated as II in Figure 1 showing an embodiment of a guiding device inside the station;

- Figures 3-6 show schematic views of alternative embodiments of stations according to the present invention. PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a station for a cable transportation system, a cable transportation system equipped with such a station, and the method for operating the system as regards the management of the movement of the transporting units inside the station.

Figure 1 shows a schematic, side elevation view of a portion of a cable system 2 provided with a station 1 according to the present invention. In particular, Figure 1 shows a plurality of transporting units 3, in succession one after the other, which are supported and moved outside the station 1 by a carrying/hauling cable 4. As already evident from the schematic view in Figure 1, inside the station 1 of the present invention the transporting units 3 are alternately diverted along two different paths so that at least two transporting units are at at least one embarking and disembarking platform. According to the example in Figure 1, the station has three platforms 15, 16 and 17, respectively, both between the two transporting units 3 and outside the latter. The reference numeral 14 in Figure 1 schematizes a control unit configured to control the movement of the transporting units 3 inside the station 1. However, this control unit 14 may also be used to control the entire system, therefore without providing one control unit for each station.

Figure 2 shows an enlarged view of the detail indicated as II in Figure 1. In particular, Figure 2 shows how the transporting units are guided inside the station 1 where they are no longer coupled to the cable 4.

According to the example of Figure 2, the station 1 comprises a guiding device 7 in the form of a pair of rails 21, 22 which support respective roller portions of a suspension arm 23 connected to the roof 24 of the transporting unit 3. The advancing, acceleration and deceleration of the transporting units along these tracks 21, 22 are imposed by a plurality of motorized wheels (not shown and preferably made of rubber) , which act against a corresponding, preferably knurled portion 26 at the top of the suspension arm 23. At the bottom, the represented transporting unit 3 is contained by side walls 20 optionally integrated into the disembarkation and embarkation platforms 17.

Figures 3-6 show schematic views of alternative embodiments of stations according to the present invention. In particular, these embodiments differ in the arrangement of the embarking and disembarking platforms 15 16 17 with respect to the guiding device 7. However, all these embodiments, which show repeatable modules even within the same station, allow the movement of the transporting units 3 in the station 1 to be controlled as provided in the present invention. In this respect, before describing in detail the differences in the embodiments of Figures 3-6, attention will be given to the common characteristics that contribute to the implementation of the invention.

In particular, in all the embodiments of Figures 3-6 the guiding device 7 comprises a plurality of guides arranged in succession (and shown in plan view) between the inlet 5 and the outlet 6 of the station. At such inlet 5 and outlet 6 points of the station 1, the reference numerals 25 and 27 schematize a device for respectively uncoupling and coupling the cable 4. The arrows I and 0 indicate the forward direction of the transporting units 3 entering and exiting the station 1. In particular, the guiding device 7 comprises an inlet guide 8 extending from the inlet 5 to a diverging point 9, two intermediate guides 10, 11 extending along different paths between the diverging point 9 and a converging point 12, and an outlet guide 13 extending from the converging point 12 to the outlet 6 of the station 1. Well-known selector devices are provided at the diverging 9 and converging 12 points, which are configured so as to ensure a secure passage of the transporting units 3 at such switches. In the examples of Figures 3-6, the station 1 is configured to be a upstream or a downstream station, but for the purposes of the present invention the station 1 may also be an intermediate station.

In view of the presence of two intermediate guides 10 and 11, the control unit 14 feeds in an alternating, cyclic manner a transporting unit 3 along the first intermediate guide 10 and the subsequent transporting unit 3 along the first intermediate guide 11 by controlling the operation of the selector 9. According to the examples shown, the control unit 14 activates the selector 9 when a group or train of units 3, for instance four as shown, is reached, not upon the passage of a single transporting unit 3. According to the invention, the control unit 14 also commands a temporary stop of the transporting units 3 at corresponding stopping points along the intermediate guides 10, 11 for allowing the embarking and disembarking while the transporting units 3 are stopped. According to this example, i.e. with groups of four selectively diverted units 3, the control of the station can be schematized as follows.

Initially, all the stopping points provided along both the intermediate guides 10 and 11 are occupied with the respective transport units stationary to allow embarking and disembarking. In this condition, a transporting unit enters the station while a first group of transporting units 3 is set in motion along the first intermediate guide 10. The first unit of this first group exiting the station occupies the gap left along the cable 4 by the vehicle entering the station 1. This entering unit is diverted towards the first intermediate guide 10, which is being emptied, until it reaches the stopping position downstream of the guide. Similarly, the next unit entering the station 1 will be diverted to the first intermediate guide 10 until it reaches the free stopping position downstream of the guide. As indicated above, the "gaps" left along the cable 4 by the units entering the station are filled by the units exiting the same.

This procedure continues until the complete filling of the stopping positions provided along the first intermediate guide 10. At this point, the next entering transporting unit is no longer diverted towards the first intermediate guide 10, but rather towards the second one 11 where the present train of units is operated so that it leaves the station 1. Similarly as described above, the second intermediate guide 11 is also gradually emptied and filled again along the stopping positions. In this condition, the starting point is reached again and the cycle can be repeated .

As previously mentioned, the operation of the station as described above is applicable to all the embodiments shown in Figures 3-6, which differ from each other in the relative positioning of the platforms with respect to the stopping positions of the units 3 along the intermediate guides 10 11. According to the example in Figure 3, the station 1 comprises a common inner embarking and disembarking platform 15 arranged in the inner zone between the first 10 and the second 11 intermediate guide. According to this example, therefore, the platform 15 serves as an embarkation and disembarkation platform for all the transporting units 3 passing through the station.

According to the example in Figure 4, the station 1 comprises an outer embarkation and disembarkation platform 16, 17. According to this example, therefore, the platform

16 serves as an embarkation and disembarkation platform for all the transporting units 3 fed along the second intermediate guide 11, whereas the platform 17 serves as an embarkation and disembarkation platform for all the transporting units 3 fed along the first intermediate guide 10.

According to the example in Figure 5, the station 1 comprises an inner embarking and disembarking platform 15 housed in the inner zone between the first 10 and the second 11 intermediate guide, and an outer embarking and disembarking platform 16, 17 at an outer zone of one of the intermediate guides 10 11. The example shows the outer platform 16 coupled to the second intermediate guide 11, but alternatively the platform 17 coupled to the first intermediate guide 10 may be present.

According to the example in Figure 6, the station 1 comprises an outer embarking (or disembarking) platform 16,

17 at each outer zone of the intermediate guides 10 11, and an inner embarking (or disembarking) platform 15 at the inner zone between the first 10 and the second 11 intermediate guide.

In Figures 3-6, the platforms 15 16 17 comprise a plurality of platform doors 18 at the stopping points where the units 3 stop along the intermediate guides 10 11. Figure 5 schematically shows a time indication device 19 configured to indicate the waiting time at each stopping point along the intermediate guides 10 11. These time indication devices 19 may of course also be present in the remaining embodiments of Figures 3, 4 and 6 as well as in other embodiments of the invention not shown.

Lastly, it is clear that modifications and variations may be made to the invention described herein without departing from the scope of the appended claims.