U.S. patent application number 10/889930 was filed with the patent office on 2005-01-27 for device for transporting persons on a cableway system.
This patent application is currently assigned to Innova Patent GmbH. Invention is credited to Music, Elvis.
Application Number | 20050016415 10/889930 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 33437399 |
Filed Date | 2005-01-27 |
United States Patent
Application |
20050016415 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Music, Elvis |
January 27, 2005 |
Device for transporting persons on a cableway system
Abstract
In order to prevent the cooling of chair lift seats that is
perceived as being unpleasant by skiers, the seats have at least
one element with good heat storage capacity at operating
temperature. The element is preferably integrated in a seat cushion
and/or in a back cushions and it has, for example, a covering in
which a solid or fluid material with good heat-storing
characteristic is contained.
Inventors: |
Music, Elvis; (Bregenz,
AT) |
Correspondence
Address: |
LERNER AND GREENBERG, PA
P O BOX 2480
HOLLYWOOD
FL
33022-2480
US
|
Assignee: |
Innova Patent GmbH
|
Family ID: |
33437399 |
Appl. No.: |
10/889930 |
Filed: |
July 12, 2004 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
105/149.2 ;
105/345 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A47C 7/748 20130101;
Y02T 30/00 20130101; B61B 12/002 20130101; Y02T 30/40 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
105/149.2 ;
105/345 |
International
Class: |
B61B 003/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jul 11, 2003 |
AT |
1071/2003 |
Claims
I claim:
1. A device for transporting persons in a cableway system, the
device comprising: a fastening device for attachment to a
supporting and conveying cable; at least one seat connected to said
fastening device, said at least one seat having a seat cushion and
at least one element with good heat storage capacity at an
operating temperature of the device.
2. The device according to claim 1, wherein said element is
integrated in said seat cushion.
3. The device according to claim 1, wherein said seat further has a
back cushion.
4. The device according to claim 1, wherein said element is
integrated in said seat cushion and in said back cushion.
5. The device according to claim 1, wherein said element comprises
a covering containing a solid or fluid material having a superior
heat-storing characteristic.
6. The device according to claim 1, wherein said element is a body
with a substantially solid spatial form containing a material
having good heat-storing properties therein.
7. The device according to claim 6, wherein said body is a foamed
structure or a fabric structure.
8. The device according to claim 1, which comprises a heating
device connected to said element.
9. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device
surrounds said element at least in some regions thereof.
10. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device is
disposed within said element.
11. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device is
a sheet-shaped device having heat-spending heating lines fitted
therein or thereon.
12. The device according to claim 11, wherein said heating lines
are electric heat conductors.
13. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device is
formed with a connection to an energy storage device.
14. The device according to claim 13, wherein said energy storage
device is a battery connected to said heating device and disposed
on the device.
15. The device according to claim 13, wherein at least one of said
heating device and said energy storage device includes a connection
for an external energy source not disposed on the device.
16. The device according to claim 8, wherein said heating device
includes a connection for an external energy source not disposed on
the device.
17. The device according to claim 16, wherein said connection is
disposed on one of said fastening device and a supporting rod of
the device.
18. The device according to claim 5, wherein said heat-storing
material is a continuously-dispensing heat spender.
19. The device according to claim 5, wherein said heat-storing
material is configured to output heat based on a pulse or upon
substantially permanent mechanical loading.
20. The device according to claim 19, wherein said pulse is a
mechanical pulse.
21. The device according to claim 1, which comprises a
heat-insulating covering surrounding said element.
22. The device according to claim 21, wherein said element is
integrated in said seat cushion and said seat cushion forms said
heat-insulating covering.
23. The device according to claim 21, wherein said heat-insulating
covering is configured, on a side of said element facing towards a
user, to have an increased heat-conducting capability under
pressure.
24. The device according to claim 23, wherein said heat-insulating
covering is compressible on a side thereof facing the user.
25. The device according to claim 1, which further comprises a
control device controlling said heating device.
26. The device according to claim 25, which further comprises a
temperature sensor connected to said control device for detecting a
temperature of said element.
27. The device according to claims 1, wherein said element or a
material contained in said element has a latent-heat-storing
capacity at an operating temperature of the device.
28. A cableway system, comprising: a supporting and conveying
cable; and a multiplicity of devices for transporting persons
having fastening devices for fastening to said supporting and
conveying cable, and being configured according to claim 1.
29. The cableway system according to claim 28, which comprises
conductor rails connected to an external energy source for
supplying energy to said element, disposed in at least one station
of the cableway system.
30. The cableway system according to claim 28, comprising a
cableway station configured for garaging said devices during
non-use thereof, and conductor rails in said cableway station
connected to an external energy source for supplying energy to said
element.
31. The cableway system according to claim 28, which comprises at
least one of a temperature sensor and a central controlling unit
for charging at least one of said energy storage device and said
elements disposed in at least one station of the cableway system.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Field of the Invention
[0001] The invention relates to a device for transporting persons
on a cableway system. The device is connectable via a fastening
device to a supporting and conveying cable and it has at least one
seat with seat cushions and, if appropriate, back cushions. The
invention furthermore relates to a cableway system that is equipped
with a multiplicity of such transport devices.
[0002] In the prior art, chairs of cableway systems are known that
are equipped with pivotable hoods for protecting the seats and the
persons being conveyed during the operation of the cableway system
from unfavorable climatic effects, such as snowfall and cold
temperatures. However, these hoods provide only a limited amount of
protection against cold, with the severe cooling of the seat
surfaces being perceived by the people being conveyed as being
unpleasant, in particular at very low ambient temperatures. This
disadvantage applies, however, not only to chair lifts but also,
albeit to a somewhat smaller extent, to systems using gondolas and
cable cars.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0003] It is accordingly an object of the invention to provide a
transport device which overcomes the above-mentioned disadvantages
of the heretofore-known devices and methods of this general type
and allows increasing the comfort for the persons being conveyed on
the seats of a cableway system.
[0004] With the foregoing and other objects in view there is
provided, in accordance with the invention, a device for
transporting persons in a cableway system, the device
comprising:
[0005] a fastening device for attachment to a supporting and
conveying cable;
[0006] one or more seats connected to the fastening device, the
seat having a seat cushion and/or a back cushion with at least one
element having good heat storage capacity at an operating
temperature of the device.
[0007] In accordance with an added feature of the invention, the
heat-storing element is integrated in the seat cushion and/or in
the back cushion.
[0008] Conventional seat and back cushions of the seats of cableway
systems cool very rapidly after a person gets up from them, since
they have only a very small heat storage capacity, and so the seat
is cold again or has assumed the ambient temperature by the time
the next person sits down on it. It is therefore proposed in the
invention to integrate at least one element into the seat, which
element is capable of storing relatively large quantities of heat.
Ideally, elements which can store a relatively large quantity of
latent heat at operating temperature are used for this. However, it
is also possible to use for this purpose elements or materials
having a better heat storage capacity at operating temperature in
comparison with conventional seats. For example, reference is made
to bags filled with a gel which are known per se from medicinal or
therapeutic cold or heat treatments.
[0009] In the present context, operating temperature is understood
to be that temperature which is perceived by the people being
conveyed as being pleasant, and lies, for example, between 5 and
40.degree. C. Depending on the structure of the seat and back
cushions and the arrangement of the element on them and possible
insulating layers, the operating temperature of the element may
also lie above or below these values.
[0010] Since the elements can store relatively large quantities of
heat, they can maintain a temperature within this operating
temperature range for a relatively long period of time, and so the
seats do not cool so rapidly.
[0011] In this connection, elements having a material which has a
latent-heat-storing capacity at operating temperature have very
good properties, since they can dispense heat at a constant
temperature for a relatively long period of time.
[0012] The heat capacity which is to be stored can be selected to
be greater or smaller, depending on requirements, the smallest
quantity being that which is necessary in order to keep the seat or
cushion warm until a person has been conveyed over a section, i.e.
for example, from the valley station to the mountain station, with
the possibility of bringing the element back to operating
temperature before the next person is conveyed. However, it is also
possible to store higher quantities of heat which are sufficient
for more conveying cycles, for example in the cooler morning hours,
with the possibility of regularly reheating the elements, i.e. for
example, each time the chair passes through a station of the
cableway system or else only at greater intervals.
[0013] In one embodiment of the invention, it is also possible for
the heating device to have a connection for an energy store, for
example a battery, situated on the chair. In this case, there is
the possibility of reheating the element permanently or at
intervals and, if appropriate, only when required, e.g. if the
temperature of the element drops below a certain value, by means of
the battery. The battery, or more precisely an accumulator, could,
for its part, be recharged as required when it passes through a
station, for example if its charging capacity drops below a certain
value. Therefore, if the discussion is about batteries within the
context of the present invention, the same applies equally to
accumulators.
[0014] Materials which have latent-heat-storing properties at the
operating temperatures desired in the invention are adequately
known in the prior art. For example, reference is made to powder
substances of paraffin and silicate or to salts, such as sodium
acetate trihydrate (NaCH.sub.3CO.sub.2.3H.sub.2O) which has a
melting point at about 58.degree. C. The particular materials can
be surrounded by coverings or bags which can then be integrated in
the seat and/or back cushion. Depending on the heat-storing
property of the layers of the cushion which surround the element,
in particular on the seat surface for the person being conveyed,
the operating temperature selected has to be a temperature which is
perceived through the covering as being pleasant by the person
being conveyed, i.e. with good insulation it is selected to be
higher than if insulation is poorer or if the person is sitting
directly on the covering or is leaning on the covering.
[0015] In contrast to solid, i.e. granular or fluid materials which
are contained in a flexible bag, in the invention use can also be
made of bodies with a solid spatial form in which a material having
the desired heat-storing properties is contained. For example, it
is conceivable for the element to be a foamed body into which the
heat-storing material is inserted by foaming. However, elements are
also conceivable which consist of fabric-like or fleece-like
materials, in which the individual fibers are provided or covered
with a heat-storing material or consist thereof. In this context,
reference is made, for example, to U.S. 6 217 993 B1, in which a
material is described which can be used for the desired purpose
within the context of the present invention.
[0016] Although it is conceivable in principle for the elements
having the heat-storing capacity to be able to be reheated only by
being removed from the chair and reheated in an external heating
device, it is preferred within the context of the present invention
if the element is connected to a heating device.
[0017] This heating device may surround the element at least in
some regions or may be arranged within the element. Heating films
having heating coils imprinted on them or heating mats having
carbon fibers woven into them or heating coils integrated in the
element are conceivable as the heating device.
[0018] In order to prevent too much heat from becoming lost to the
surroundings in times in which no user is sitting on the seat,
measures may be provided within the context of the invention which
reduce the heat loss in these times. For example, heat-insulating
coverings or layers which have a lower heat-conducting capability
on the side facing the user when a person is sitting on the cushion
or is leaning against it are suitable in this case. This can take
place, for example, by the heat-insulating covering being
compressible and an insulating medium, for example air, being
displaced when sat upon or lent against, as a result of which the
heat transfer is automatically increased. Open-pored, foamed
plastics are suitable examples of this.
[0019] Other features which are considered as characteristic for
the invention are set forth in the appended claims.
[0020] Although the invention is illustrated and described herein
as embodied in a device for transporting persons on a cableway
system, it is nevertheless not intended to be limited to the
details shown, since various modifications and structural changes
may be made therein without departing from the spirit of the
invention and within the scope and range of equivalents of the
claims.
[0021] The construction and method of operation of the invention,
however, together with additional objects and advantages thereof
will be best understood from the following description of specific
embodiments when read in connection with the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0022] FIG. 1 is an elevational front view of a multi-person lift
chair assembly that is located in a station and that belongs to a
cableway system according to the invention;
[0023] FIG. 1A is an enlarged view of detail A of FIG. 1;
[0024] FIG. 2 is a front view of a second exemplary embodiment of a
chair assembly of a cableway system according to the invention;
[0025] FIG. 2A is a side view of the chair assembly of FIG. 2;
[0026] FIG. 3 is a front view of a third exemplary embodiment of a
chair assembly of a cableway system according to the invention;
[0027] FIG. 3A is a side view of the chair assembly of FIG. 3;
[0028] FIG. 4 is a front view of a fourth exemplary embodiment of a
chair assembly of a cableway system according to the invention;
[0029] FIG. 4A is a side view of the chair assembly of FIG. 4;
[0030] FIG. 5 is a top plan view of a storage system which is
provided in a cableway system according to the invention and is
intended for a multiplicity of chairs;
[0031] FIG. 6 is a perspective view of a seat of a chair assembly
according to the invention;
[0032] FIG. 7 is a partly broken-away, perspective view of a seat
of a chair according to the invention; and
[0033] FIG. 8 is an enlarged view of a detail VIII in FIG. 7.
DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0034] Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and
first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a station of
a cableway system according to the invention in which a chair 1
with six seats 7 for six persons is disposed. The chair 1 has a
supporting rod 11, at whose upper end a coupling device 12 and a
pulling cradle or running assembly 13 are provided. A supporting
frame 14, on which a seat bench 15 is disposed, has a pivotally
mounted locking bar 16. In addition, the chair 1 is provided with a
hood 17 that can be pivoted by way of a control device 17a.
[0035] The chair 1 can be coupled to the supporting and conveying
cable of the cableway system by means of the coupling device 12.
The pulling cradle 13 can be used to move the chair 1 in the
stations, in which it is decoupled from the supporting and
conveying cable, along guide rails 4 through the stations.
[0036] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the seat cushions 8 and, if
appropriate, also the back cushions 9 of the seats 7 are provided
in each case with an element 10 that has a high storage capacity
for latent heat at operating temperature. For the supply of heating
devices 19 for these elements 10, connections 8a, 9a to an external
current source and a control device 3, which is situated below the
seat surface, are provided on each chair 1. The heating of the
elements 10 by way of the heating elements 19 can take place, on
the one hand, outside the operating times of the cableway system
during the garaging of the chairs 1. It may also, on the other
hand, take place during the operation of the cableway system as the
chairs 1 move through the stations. This may take place each time
they travel through the station or only when the temperature of the
elements 10 drops below a predetermined minimum temperature. Since
the chairs 1 are decoupled from the supporting and conveying cable
in the stations and are guided through the stations along the guide
rails 4 at a substantially reduced speed in comparison to the
conveying speed of the supporting and conveying cable, there is a
period of time of approximately 10-20 secs, in the case of chair
lifts, and of approximately 30-60 secs, in the case of systems
using cable cars, for heating the elements 10.
[0037] For the supply of the heating devices 19, two batteries 2,
for example, which are situated below the seat surface may also be
provided on each chair 1. In this case, instead of the direct
heating of the elements 10 by means of the heating elements 19 as
they pass through the station, the batteries 2 can be charged
outside the operating times of the cableway system during the
garaging of the chairs 1 or else during the operation of the
cableway system as the chairs 1 move through the stations. In
addition, the batteries 2 can be charged by means of photovoltaic
elements.
[0038] As can be seen in particular from FIG. 1A, for the charging
of the batteries 2 or the direct heating of the heating elements
19, conductor rails 5 having two current conductors 51 and 52 which
are assigned current collectors 21 and 22 on the supporting rod 11
are situated in the stations. These current collectors 21 and 22
are used to feed the batteries 2 or the heating elements 19 with
current as the chairs 1 pass through the stations.
[0039] The control device 3 is used to control the heating of the
seat and back cushions 8, 9 of the chairs 1. Provision is made in
this case to heat the cushions 8, 9 as soon as the chairs 1 enter
the stations and are consequently used, this being the case, in
particular, for those seats 7 which were not occupied when the
chairs entered into the stations and so cool down more severely
during their movement over the section. For this purpose,
temperature sensors whose outputs are connected to the control
devices 3 are preferably provided in the seats. However, if
batteries are used, the heating of the elements 10 may also take
place continuously, but in any case irrespective of the particular
position of the chair 1 on the cableway system and, for example,
only if the temperature of the elements 10 drops below a
predetermined minimum temperature.
[0040] It is also possible to provide a temperature sensor and a
controlling means only in a station rather than on each chair 1,
via which then the charging of the batteries 2 or heating of the
elements 10 is controlled centrally when required. It is also
possible for just a single chair 1 to be provided with a sensor
which passes on its measurement data via radio, or when passing
through a station, to a central controlling means for the charging
of the batteries 2 or heating of the elements 10.
[0041] The chair 1 which is illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 2A differs
from the chair 1 according to FIG. 1 in that it is equipped on both
sides of the supporting frame 14 with photovoltaic elements 6, by
means of which the batteries 2 or the elements 10 are also fed with
current during the journey of the chairs 1 over the section and are
thereby charged or heated.
[0042] In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 3
and 3A, a further photovoltaic element 6a is disposed on the rear
side of the chair 1.
[0043] In the case of the exemplary embodiment according to FIGS. 4
and 4A, two photovoltaic elements 6b are disposed on the front side
and on the rear side of the horizontal beam 14a of the supporting
frame 14 above the seat bench 15.
[0044] FIG. 5 illustrates one of the stations of the cableway
system through which the chairs 1 are moved along the guide rails 4
during the operation of the cableway system. In this case, the
station is assigned a system for storing the chairs 1 outside the
operating times of the cableway system. This storage system has a
plurality of storage rails 4b which can be connected by means of a
connecting rail 4a to the guide rail 4 and onto which the chairs 1
can be displaced in order to store them outside the operating times
of the cableway system. The storage rails 4b are assigned conductor
rails 5a via which the batteries 2 or elements 10 can be charged by
means of the current collectors 21, 22 during the storage of the
chairs 1.
[0045] FIG. 6 finally illustrates a seat 7 which has, both in its
seat region and in its back region, heated cushions 8 and 9 which
are connected via connections 8a and 9a to the batteries 2 with the
connection in between of the control circuit 3.
[0046] FIGS. 7 and 8 illustrate an embodiment of the invention by
way of example, in which the element 10 comprises a bag 30 having a
latent-heat-storing material. The bag 30 is surrounded by an
insulating layer 31, 32, the layer 31, which is arranged on the
upper side, consisting of a compressible, open-pored plastic. As a
result, the upper layer 31 has good insulating behavior in the
unloaded state, i.e. if a person is not sitting on it. If, however,
a person is sitting on the seat, the layer 31 is compressed, as a
result of which the air escapes from the pores and the insulating
properties of the layer are therefore greatly reduced. As a result,
the transfer of heat from the element 10 to the person is greatly
improved. The frame 33 of the seat is disposed below the lower
insulating layer 32 of a noncompressible, readily insulating
plastic. A heating film 19 which heats the element 10 when required
is arranged between the bag 30 and the lower insulating layer
32.
[0047] In summary, an exemplary embodiment of the invention can be
depicted as follows:
[0048] In order to prevent the cooling of seats on chair lifts that
is perceived as being unpleasant by skiers, the seats 7 have at
least one element 10 which has a good heat storage capacity at
operating temperature. This element 10 is preferably integrated in
the seat and/or back cushions 8, 9 and comprises, for example, a
covering 30 in which a solid or fluid material having a good
heat-storing property is contained.
[0049] This application claims the priority, under 35 U.S.C. .sctn.
119, of Austrian patent application No. 1071/2003, filed Jul. 11,
2003; the entire disclosure of the prior application is herewith
incorporated by reference.
* * * * *