Railway rolling stock – Suspended – Passenger car; e.g. – for skiing
Patent
1994-05-05
1995-08-01
Le, Mark T.
Railway rolling stock
Suspended
Passenger car; e.g., for skiing
105148, 105453, B61B 1200
Patent
active
054372348
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
The present invention relates to an assembly for securing a gondola or chair of an overhead cableway system to a suspension bar (hanger), which is embodied on its lower end with a support device that fits under a load-bearing structure for the gondola or chair, wherein at least one damping element in the form of an inflatable vessel is disposed between the support device and the load-bearing structure.
In known apparatus of this kind, a support device is pivotably connected to the lower end of the suspension bar, which in particular is clamped fixedly or releasably to the feed cable by means of a clamp device, the support device being embodied with four support arms, for instance, whose free ends are penetrated by bolts anchored in the gondola. To attain an elastically damping fastening to the support arms, sleeves are provided into which cylindrical damping bodies are inserted that are penetrated by the bolts, and retaining disks are disposed on the upper ends of the bolts.
However, these known fasteners do not meet the demands made of them, because as a result of excessive compression of the damping bodies, as well as aging of the material of the damping bodies and other factors, shocks that are caused by the motion of the clamping jaws via the cable rollers are transmitted to the gondola via the suspension bar, and as a result a number of shocks reach the gondola as it passes over the cable rollers. This also causes cable vibration and generates noise.
These disadvantageous effects are becoming increasingly important, because the speeds of cableway systems are higher and higher, to increase the carrying capacity; and this increases the shocks caused when the gondola travels over sets of rollers. Conversely, though, the passengers are looking for an increasingly comfortable ride.
Another disadvantage of known apparatus is that for the sake of strength, when the gondola is secured to the suspension bar the fastening bolts must be located in the peripheral regions of the roof of the gondola. Conversely, however, to avert torque exerted by the gondola on the suspension bar, the fastening of the suspension bar should be located in the middle region of the gondola roof. To avert the exertion of torque on the suspension bar, it is therefore necessary, in known fasteners, to dispose a joint between the suspension bar and the support device.
An apparatus for elastically suspending a cableway gondola is disclosed in European Patent disclosure EP-A 015 205; this apparatus is embodied by a damping element, in the form of an inflatable tire, disposed between a support device secured on the suspension bar and a load-bearing frame connected to a gondola. However, this apparatus does not meet requirements because if the damping element should fail, for instance if air escapes from it as a result of damage, the damping action sought is not guaranteed. Moreover, this damping element is of the kind that must be made specially for this particular intended application.
By comparison, the object of the present invention is to create a damping device by which the calm motion of the gondola or chair that is sought is assured even at high travel speed, which enables suspension of the gondola or chair from the suspension bar without a joint located between the support device and the load-bearing structure, which can be manufactured in a simple way because it is made of devices that are available on the market, and which is still functional even if some of the devices fail. These disadvantages of the known prior art are avoided according to the invention in that at least two and in particular four spaced-apart air or gas springs, on which the load-bearing structure rests, are provided on the support device.
Since the damping devices thus comprise commercially available components, namely gas springs or air springs, this assembly can be manufactured in a simple way. Since moreover at least two gas springs or air springs are disposed between the support device and the load-bearing structure, the damping action sought is at least pa
REFERENCES:
patent: 3559583 (1971-02-01), Chadenson
Greenberg Laurence A.
Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn Maschinenfabrik Gesellschaft m.b.H. & C
Le Mark T.
Lerner Herbert L.
LandOfFree
Assembly for securing a gondola or a chair to a suspension bar does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Assembly for securing a gondola or a chair to a suspension bar, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Assembly for securing a gondola or a chair to a suspension bar will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-728608