Apparatus for monitoring the locking of the safety bar of a chair in a cableway system

• US 20040003751A1
• Filed: 05/16/2003
• Published: 01/08/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 07/04/2002
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
• Original Assignee: Innova Patent GmbH
• Inventors: Albrich, Reinhard, Hinteregger, Christoph
• Granted Patent: US 7,114,451 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 104/27
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 12/002 Cabins; Ski-lift seats B61B12/028 takes precedence

Abstract

An apparatus monitors the locking of the safety bar of the chairs of an aerial cableway system. A first sensor determines the occupancy of the chairs and a second sensor determines the locking of the safety bar. The sensor output signals from these two sensors are led to a control device, which is enabled to switch the chairlift system off.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring the locking of the safety bar of a chair in a cableway system, which comprises:

a first sensor disposed to determine whether or not a given chair is occupied and outputting a corresponding first sensor signal;

a second sensor disposed to determine whether or not the safety bar of the given chair is locked and outputting a corresponding second sensor signal;

a control device disposed to receive the first and second sensor signals, and for outputting a corresponding control signal.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said control device is configured to output a control signal causing the cableway system to temporarily shut down.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said first sensor is disposed in a fixed position and responds as chairs of the cableway system travel past said first sensor.

4. The apparatus according to claim 1, wherein said second sensor comprises a transmitter disposed on the chair and a stationary receiver configured to receive a signal from said transmitter and to output the second sensor signal to said control unit.