Hooking device for a ski-lift tow bar and ski-lift including said bars

Claim 2

A ski-lift comprising an endless traction cable, a cabledriving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extEnds, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed Vsection recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway co-operative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism which includes locking means and is adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand and is located at an end of the slideway, the slideway being adjacent the path of the cable and extending in the same direction as the cable at such level with respect to the level of the cable whereby, when the abutment surfaces of each hooking device is engaged on the slideway, the support is raised to a position with respect to the cable in which the cable can freely pass through the median part of the passage of the hooking device.

Claim 3

The ski-lift claimed in claim 1, wherein said mechanism comprises a plurality of locking means and means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine.

Claim 4

The ski-lift claimed in claim 2, comprising a frame, a mount integral with the frame, the locking means comprising plates slidable in the mount, a control mechanism being provided for rendering the locking means inoperative in accordance with a pre-determined sequence.

Claim 5

A skilift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slop comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism located at an end of said slideway and adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand, said mechanism comprising two locking means, each locking means comprising two pivotable levers which are resiliently biased and coupled to each other, one of the levers of one of the locking means being located between the two levers of the other locking means, said mechanism further comprising means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being Located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine.

Claim 6

A skilift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slop comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism located at an end of said slideway and adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand, said mechanism comprising two locking means, each locking means comprising two pivotable levers which are resiliently biased and coupled to each other, one of the levers of one of the locking means being located between the two levers of the other locking means, said mechanism further comprising means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being Located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine.

Claim 7

The ski-lift claimed in claim 4 comprising an arm capable of coming in contact with the first tow bar available at the exit of the magazine, a first of the locking means one of the levers of which first locking means is the nearest to the exit of the magazine, being capable of being actuated by the arm.

Claim 8

The ski-lift claimed in claim 5 wherein the first locking means comprises an abutment for rendering the other locking means operative when the first locking means has just been rendered inoperative when a hooking device has been taken from the magazine.

Claim 9

A skilift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism located at an end of said slideway and adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand, said mechanism including a frame, a mount integral with the frame, a plurality of locking means and means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine, said locking means comprising plates slidable in the mount, a control mechanism being provided for rendering the locking means inoperative in accordance with a pre-determined sequence, said control mechanism comprising a rotary shaft, thrust means mounted on the shaft and capable of coming alternately into engagement with the locking means for raising the locking means in the course of the rotation of the shaft, there being provided for each of the locking means return means which are operative in opposition to the action of the thrust means and tend to maintain the locking means in the operative position of the locking means.

Claim 10

A skilift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway cooperative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism located at an end of said slideway and adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand, said mechanism including a frame, a mount integral with the frame, a plurality of locking means and means for rendering the locking means operative in an alternating manner, the locking means being located with respect to the slideway when operative for locking the hooking devices, and means for rendering the locking means inoperative when a hooking device is taken from the magazine, said locking means comprising plates slidable in the mount, a control mechanism being provided for rendering the locking means inoperative in accordance with a pre-determined sequence, said control mechanism comprising a rotary shaft, thrust means mounted on the shaft and capable of coming alternately into engagement with the locking means for raising the locking means in the course of the rotation of the shaft, there being provided for each of the locking means return means which are operative in opposition to the action of the thrust means and tend to maintain the locking means in the operative position of the locking means.

Claim 11

The ski-lift claimed in claim 7, comprising an electric motor drivingly engaged with the shaft, and control means for controlling operation of the motor, the control means being responsive to the presence and to the absence of a tow bar at the exit of the magazine.

Claim 12

A ski-lift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway co-operative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism which includes locking means and is adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand and is located at an end of the slideway, the slideway being adjacent the path of the cable and extending in the same direction as the cable at such level with respect to the level of the cable whereby, when the abutment surfaces of each hooking device is engaged on the slideway, the support is raised to a position with respect to the cable in which the cable can freely pass through the median part of the passage of the hooking device, the driving station comprising a chassis having two parts, a first part of which chassis is adapted to be permanently fixed to the ground and a second part of which chassis carries in particular the drive pulley and is mounted to be adjustable in height on the first part.

Claim 13

A ski-lift comprising an endless traction cable, a cable-driving station and a cable-returning station respectively located at opposite ends of a slope having an upper end and a lower end, the stations comprising pulleys around which pulleys the cable extends, the pulley pertaining to the cable-driving station being a drive pulley, a plurality of hooking devices engaged on the cable, each hooking device comprising a rigid support defining a passage for receiving the cable, the passage having in cross section a median enlarged part and two opposed V-section recesses located on opposite sides of the median enlarged part which enlarged part is such that the cable is freely movable through the enlarged part, the V-section recesses being capable of wedging against the cable so as to render the support rigid with the cable, the support having means defining a lateral opening communicating with the passage for laterally introducing the cable into the passage, means defining an abutment surface on the support, the station at the lower end of the slope comprising a reception magazine for storing the hooking devices which are not used and having an exit, the magazine comprising a slideway co-operative with the abutment surfaces of the hooking devices and a mechanism which includes locking means and is adapted to release the hooking devices one by one in accordance with the demand and is located at an end of the slideway, the slideway being adjacent the path of the cable and extending in the same direction as the cable at such level with respect to the level of the cable whereby, when the abutment surfaces of each hooking device is engaged on the slideway, the support is raised to a position with respect to the cable in which the cable can freely pass through the median part of the passage of the hooking device, the driving station comprising a chassis having two parts, a first part of which chassis is adapted to be permanently fixed to the ground and a second part of which chassis carries in particular the drive pulley and is mounted to be adjustable in height on the first part.

Claim 14

The ski-lift claimed in claim 9, comprising a hoisting device having a winch comprising a hoisting cable which supports said second part in the course of the adjustment in height of the second part, the hoisting cable having a line of force exerted by said winch intersecting the centre of gravity of the second part.

Claim 15

The ski-lift claimed in claim 9, wherein the second part comprises a girder which extends substantially in a direction parallel to the traction cable and carries at one end the drive pulley, and said cable-driving station including a motor-driven speed reducer having an output shaft to which said drive pulley is operatively mounted.

Claim 16

The ski-lift claimed in claim 11, comprising a motor, a speed reducer having an output shaft and drivenly engaged by the motor, the drive pulley being keyed on the output shaft.

Claim 17

The ski-lift claimed in claim 12, comprising an endless belt coupling the speed reducer to the motor, the endless belt travelling in a path which is adaptable to variations in the height of the second part with respect to the first part.

Claim 18

The ski-lift claimed in claim 13, comprising freely rotatable belt direction-changing pulleys and an arm carrying the direction-changing pulleys and capable of being moved selectively toward and away from the speed reducer in accordance with the adjustment in the height of the adjustable second part with respect to the first part.

Claim 19

The ski-lift claimed in claim 11, wherein the first part has two vertical posts and means are provided for fixing the girder to the two vertical posts.

Claim 20

The ski-lift claimed in claim 15, wherein the posts are constituted by cylindrical tubes and the fixing means comprise for each post a U-section member which is adapted to the post and a clamping collar which may be released for the adjustment in height of the second part with respect to the first part.

Claim 21

The ski-lift claimed in claim 9, comprising two guy lines, an element anchored to the ground, the two guy lines being held taut between two spaced-apart anchoring points on the chassis and the element anchored to the ground, the force exerted by the guy lines on the chassis opposing the force that the traction cable exerts on the chassis, the spaced-apart anchoring points being located on a line which is perpendicular to the direction of travel of the traction cable.