Patent US3662691A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3662691A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Aerial ropeway vehicle system
Assignee: Cegelec SA
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Filing: 1970-03-24
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Granted: 1972-05-16
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Expires: 1990-03-24
Abstract
Abstract In the aerial ropeway vehicle system herein, when a vehicle arrives at a station at which is provided a carriage rail, its driven connection to the towing cable is broken and simultaneously its load is taken up by the stationary carriage rail and it is connected to a local rotating cylinder drive system. The local drive system is constructed to decelerate the vehicle in a given manner and to accelerate the vehicle as it leaves the station to be again connected to the towing cable.
Inventors
- 👤 Pierre Goirand
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-28 14:49
CPC Classifications
B; B61; B61B; B61B12/00; B61B12/12; B61B12/122
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim
398 words
An aerial ropeway vehicle system, including a vehicle, cable means for carrying and towing the vehicle along a given path, clamping means comprising a movable clamping jaw carried by said vehicle for coupling the latter to said cable means, and a station in the path of movement of said vehicle and comprising a carriage rail arranged to take up the load of said vehicle from said cable means as the vehicle enters said station and during its passage therethrough, rotating drive means located on one side of said carriage rail and having a surface configuration affording a lower generatrix disposed generally parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle through the station, means for rotating said rotating drive means at a given speed of rotation, a freely rotatable drive roller mounted on said vehicle and located underneath said drive means when the vehicle is in said station, said carriage rail, said rotating drive means and said drive roller being so constructed and arranged that when the load of the vehicle is transferred to said carriage rail, said drive roller is brought into engagement with said rotating drive means, the entry end portion of said rotating drive means having a given surface configuration such that when said drive roller engages the lower generatrix of such end portion the vehicle will be moved at a given speed corresponding to the orientation of said drive roller, means presetting the orientation of said drive roller so that when it is engaged with said end portion the vehicle will be driven at a speed equal to that imparted thereto by said cable means, and means operable to open said clamping means to uncouple said vehicle from said cable means while said drive roller is engaging said entry end portion of said rotating drive means, said operable means including actuator means connected to said movable jaw, and means for applying a force to said actuator means to withdraw said movable jAw from said cable means, said actuator and force applying means being so constructed and arranged that the force applied to said actuator means to open the clamp means is in a direction to increase the bearing pressure of said drive roller on said rotating drive means so as to ensure the transfer of the vehicle drive on the release of said clamp means, without substantially disturbing the vertical equilibrium of the vehicle.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
398 words
An aerial ropeway vehicle system, including a vehicle, cable means for carrying and towing the vehicle along a given path, clamping means comprising a movable clamping jaw carried by said vehicle for coupling the latter to said cable means, and a station in the path of movement of said vehicle and comprising a carriage rail arranged to take up the load of said vehicle from said cable means as the vehicle enters said station and during its passage therethrough, rotating drive means located on one side of said carriage rail and having a surface configuration affording a lower generatrix disposed generally parallel to the direction of movement of the vehicle through the station, means for rotating said rotating drive means at a given speed of rotation, a freely rotatable drive roller mounted on said vehicle and located underneath said drive means when the vehicle is in said station, said carriage rail, said rotating drive means and said drive roller being so constructed and arranged that when the load of the vehicle is transferred to said carriage rail, said drive roller is brought into engagement with said rotating drive means, the entry end portion of said rotating drive means having a given surface configuration such that when said drive roller engages the lower generatrix of such end portion the vehicle will be moved at a given speed corresponding to the orientation of said drive roller, means presetting the orientation of said drive roller so that when it is engaged with said end portion the vehicle will be driven at a speed equal to that imparted thereto by said cable means, and means operable to open said clamping means to uncouple said vehicle from said cable means while said drive roller is engaging said entry end portion of said rotating drive means, said operable means including actuator means connected to said movable jaw, and means for applying a force to said actuator means to withdraw said movable jAw from said cable means, said actuator and force applying means being so constructed and arranged that the force applied to said actuator means to open the clamp means is in a direction to increase the bearing pressure of said drive roller on said rotating drive means so as to ensure the transfer of the vehicle drive on the release of said clamp means, without substantially disturbing the vertical equilibrium of the vehicle.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
110 words
The system defined in claim 1, in which said actuator means comprises an arm connected to said movable clamping jaw and mounted for pivotal movement about a horizontal axis, and spring means connected to said actuator arm and normally positioning the latter to maintain said movable clamping jaw closed, and in which said force applying means comprises a roller mounted on said actuator arm and a rail engageable by said roller, said actuator arm, roller and rail being constructed and arranged to apply an upwardly directed clamp opening force to said actuating arm to move the latter against the tension of said spring means to withdraw said movable clamping jaw.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
29 words
The system defined in claim 1, including means operative after the clamp means are released to reorient said drive roller to decelerate said vehicle according to a set program.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
49 words
The system defined in claim 1, in which said rotating drive means has a portion following said entry end portion thereof and having a surface configuration such as to cooperate with said drive roller to decelerate the vehicle according to a set program after the clamp means are released.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system defined in claim 4, in which said rotating drive means has a cylindrically shaped entry end portion, and said following portion thereof has a conically shaped surface arranged to provide a lower generatrix in alignment with the lower generatrix of said entry end portion, and in which said rotating drive means has a second cylindrically shaped portion following said conical surface and of a diameter the same as that of the smaller end of said conical surface.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
The system defined in claim 1, in which said rotating drive means is located to one side of said carriage rail and said cable means, and in which the place of application of the force applied by said force applying means to said actuator means is on the same side of said carriage rail and said cable means as said rotating drive means, said force applying means applying an upwardly acting force to said actuator means.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
79 words
The system defined in claim 6, in which said carriage rail is located between said cable means and said rotating drive means so that as the load of the vehicle is taken up by said rail there is produced a displacement of the point of suspension of the vehicle with respect to its center of gravity such as to cause the vehicle to rock in a direction to bring said drive roller to bear against said rotating drive means.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
34 words
The system defined in claim 1, in which said carriage rail has a surface configuration such that said vehicle is lifted vertically to bring said drive roller to bear against said rotating drive means.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-05-16 | 1975-11-15 | 1976-05-16 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-05-16 | 1979-11-15 | 1980-05-16 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-05-16 | 1983-11-15 | 1984-05-16 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |