Ropeway safety monitoring system

• US 5,528,219 A
• Filed: 04/28/1994
• Issued: 06/18/1996
• Est. Priority Date: 04/28/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Doppelmayr Seilbahn-Vertriebsgesellschaft GmbH
• Original Assignee: Konrad Doppelmayr & Sohn
• Inventors: Frohlich, Sigurd, Schurian, Georg, Zauner, Reinhold, Koellner, Hans
• Primary Examiner(s): SWANN III, GLEN R
• Application Number:
  US08/234,572
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 340/540, 340/521, 340/679, 104/178, 104/179
• US Class Current: 340/540
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 12/06 Safety devices or measures against cable fracture

Abstract

Sensors distributed along a ropeway communicate with a base station and preferably a base station computer. One type of sensor detects and signals cable misalignments from a normal line of cable traction. Preferably each cable tower has at least one such sensor. Another type of sensor is mounted on a sheave assembly and detects vibrations characteristic of disintegration within the assembly. It produces a sheave problem signal whenever such occurs. Preferably there is one vibration sensor mounted on each sheave assembly. Another type of sensor is preferably mounted on each ropeway carrier for detecting and signaling excessive swings. The sensor signals are communicated to a cable operator so that remedial action can be taken. Each carrier sensor has an RF transmitter for broadcasting its signals to RF receivers mounted on cable towers. Interface units local to sensor groups relay their signals to a base station computer that provides corresponding indicators to the cable operator. Preferably ropeway carrier transmitters and tower receivers are spread spectrum for immunity from outside interference. Preferably the interface units and the base computer communicate via a common data network. Each carrier can also have one or more code transponders which communicate certain unique codes to the base station each time the carrier passes by the station.

Claims

1. A system for monitoring the safety of a ropeway comprising:

(a) means, responsive to misalignments of the cable from a normal line of cable traction, for producing signals ("cable misalignment signals") proportional to the amount of the misalignments, and

(b) means for communicating the cable misalignment signals to a cable operator.

2. The system according to claim 1 wherein the means for communicating the cable misalignment signals to a cable operator comprises:

(a) base computer means for receiving cable misalignment signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator, and

(b) interface unit means for receiving cable misalignment signals originating locally to said interface unit means and relaying them to the base computer means.

3. The system according to claim 2 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein said interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

4. The system according to claim 1 wherein the means responsive to misalignments of the cable comprises means, mounted on a cable sheave assembly, for producing magnetic flux that permeates the cable and for sensing the position of the cable relative to said normal line of cable traction as a function of the amount of said magnetic flux permeating the cable.

5. The system according to claim 4 wherein the means for communicating the cable misalignment signals to a cable operator comprises:

(a) base computer means for receiving cable misalignment signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator, and

(b) interface unit means, local to said means for producing cable misalignment signals, for relaying said cable misalignment signals to the base computer means.

6. The system according to claim 5 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein the interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

7. The system according to claim 4 further comprising:

(a) means, mounted on a cable sheave assembly and responsive to at least those vibrations in said cable sheave assembly, for producing a signal ("sheave problem signal") corresponding thereto, and

(b) means for communicating each sheave problem signal to a cable operator.

8. The system according to claim 7 wherein said means responsive to vibrations in a cable sheave assembly comprises:

(a) means for transducing vibrations within the sheave assembly to a corresponding signal, and

(b) means for filtering-out components of said corresponding signal produced by normal operation of the sheave assembly, components of the signal not filtered-out being a sheave problem signal.

9. The system according to claim 7 wherein said means responsive to vibrations in a cable sheave assembly comprises:

(a) piezoelectric means, mounted against a supporting member of the sheave assembly, for producing a signal in response to mechanical pressure,

(b) a free-floating mass disposed on a side of the piezoelectric means opposite the supporting member,

(c) means for biasing the mass against the piezoelectric means, the amount of bias being sufficient to hold the mass against the piezoelectric means during vibrations produced by normal operation of the sheave assembly but insufficient to keep the mass from pounding the piezoelectric means during vibrations characteristic of disintegration within the sheave assembly, the piezoelectric means producing a sheave problem signal in response to said pounding.

13. The system according to claim 4 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein the interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

10. A system for monitoring the safety of a ropeway comprising:

(a) a pair of open core inductors disposed symmetrically on opposite sides of a ropeway cable and magnetically close to the cable,

(b) a corresponding pair of free-running oscillator circuits, the frequency of each oscillator circuit being a function of the inductance of its corresponding inductor,

(c) means for detecting differential shifts in the frequencies of the oscillators,

(d) means for producing a corresponding cable misalignment signal whenever a differential shift exceeds a predetermined threshold, and

(e) means for communicating cable misalignment signals to a cable operator.

11. The system according to claim 10 wherein the means for communicating the cable misalignment signals to a cable operator comprises:

(a) base computer means for receiving cable misalignment signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator, and

(b) interface unit means, local to said means for producing cable misalignment signals, for relaying said cable misalignment signals to the base computer means.

12. The system according to claim 11 wherein the means for detecting differential shifts comprises processing means, incorporated in the interface unit means, for measuring the respective periods of oscillators'"'"' outputs and calculating differences between the periods.

14. A system for monitoring the safety of a ropeway comprising:

(a) means, responsive to misalignments of a ropeway cable from a normal line of cable traction, for producing signals ("cable misalignment signals") corresponding to the misalignments,

(b) means for communicating the cable misalignment signals to a cable operator,

(c) means, mounted on a cable sheave assembly and responsive to at least those vibrations in said cable sheave assembly that are characteristic of disintegration within the sheave assembly, for producing a signal ("sheave problem signal") corresponding thereto, and

(d) means for communicating each sheave problem signal to a cable operator.

15. The system according to claim 14 wherein the means for communicating the cable misalignment signals and the means for communicating the sheave problem signals to a cable operator comprise:

(a) base computer means for receiving cable misalignment and sheave problem signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator,

(b) interface unit means, local to said means for producing cable misalignment signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means, and

(c) interface unit means, local to said means for producing said sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

16. The system according to claim 15 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

17. The system according to claim 14 wherein said means responsive to vibrations in a cable sheave assembly comprises:

(a) means for transducing vibrations within the sheave assembly to a corresponding signal, and

(b) means for filtering-out components of said corresponding signal produced by normal operation of the sheave assembly, components of the signal not filtered-out being a sheave problem signal.

18. The system according to claim 17 wherein the means for communicating the cable misalignment signals and the means for communicating the sheave problem signals to a cable operator comprise:

(a) base computer means for receiving cable misalignment and sheave problem signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator,

(b) interface unit means, local to said means for producing cable misalignment signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means, and

(c) interface unit means, local to said means for producing the sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

19. The system according to claim 18 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

20. The system according to claim 14 wherein said means responsive to vibrations in a cable sheave assembly comprises:

(a) piezoelectric means, mounted against a supporting member of the sheave assembly, for producing a signal in response to mechanical pressure,

(b) a free-floating mass disposed on a side of the piezoelectric means opposite the supporting member,

(C) means for biasing the mass against the piezoelectric means, the amount of bias being sufficient to hold the mass against the piezoelectric means during vibrations produced by normal operation of the sheave assembly but insufficient to keep the mass from pounding the piezoelectric means during vibrations characteristic of disintegration within the sheave assembly, the piezoelectric means producing a sheave problem signal in response to said pounding.

21. The system according to claim 20 wherein the means for communicating each sheave problem signal to a cable operator comprise:

(a) a data network,

(b) base computer means for receiving via the network sheave problem signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator, and

(c) interface unit means, local to said means for producing the sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means via the network.

22. The system according to claim 21 wherein each interface unit means further comprises:

(a) an analog-to-digital converter,

(b) means for receiving and multiplexing a plurality of analog sheave problem signals from a corresponding number of said means for producing same to an analog input of the converter, the output of the converter being digitized sheave problem signals,

(c) network interface means for communicating the digitized sheave problems to the base computer means, and

(d) processing means for controlling the sequence of multiplexing and the network interface means.

23. The system according to claim 14 further comprising:

(a) means, mounted on a ropeway carrier supported by the cable and responsive to an excessive swing of the ropeway carrier, for producing a signal ("excessive swing signal") corresponding thereto, and

(b) means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator.

24. The system according to claim 23 wherein the means for communicating cable misalignment signals, the means for communicating sheave problem signals and the means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator comprise:

(a) base computer means for receiving cable misalignment, sheave problem signals and excessive swing signals, and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator,

(b) means, at the ropeway carrier, for broadcasting excessive swing signals originating therefrom,

(c) means, mounted on a cable support structure, for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals,

(d) interface unit means, local to said means for producing cable misalignment signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means,

(e) interface unit means, local to said the means for producing sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means, and

(f) interface unit means, local to said means for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

25. The system according to claim 24 wherein the means for broadcasting and receiving the excessive swing signals comprises a spread spectrum RF transmitter and a spread spectrum RF receiver, respectively.

26. The system according to claim 25 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

27. The system according to claim 24 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

28. The system according to claim 23 wherein said means for producing the excessive swing signals comprises:

(a) means for producing a signal ("tilt signal") whenever the ropeway carrier is inclined beyond a predetermined threshold angle of inclination,

(b) means for measuring the duration and repetition rate of tilt signals, and

(c) means for producing an excessive swing signal whenever a duration or a repetition rate exceeds a predetermined corresponding threshold.

29. The system according to claim 28 wherein the means for communicating cable misalignment signals, the means for communicating sheave problem signals and the means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator comprise:

(a) base computer means for receiving cable misalignment, sheave problem signals and excessive swing signals, and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator,

(b) means, at the ropeway carrier, for broadcasting excessive swing signals originating therefrom,

(c) means, mounted on a cable support structure, for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals,

(d) interface unit means, local to said means for producing cable misalignment signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means,

(e) interface unit means, local to said means for producing sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means, and

(f) interface unit means, local to said means for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals, for replaying said signals to the base computer means.

30. The system according to claim 29 wherein the means for broadcasting and receiving the excessive swing signals comprises a spread spectrum RF transmitter and a spread spectrum RF receiver, respectively.

31. The system according to claim 30 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

32. The system according to claim 29 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

33. A system for monitoring the safety of a ropeway comprising:

(a) means, responsive to misalignments of a ropeway cable from a normal line of cable tractions, for producing signals ("cable misalignment signals") corresponding to the misalignments,

(b) means for communicating the cable misalignment signals to a cable operator,

(c) means, mounted on a ropeway carrier supported by the cable and responsive to an excessive swing of the ropeway carrier, for producing a signal ("excessive swing signal") corresponding thereto, and

(d) means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator.

34. The system according to claim 33 wherein said means for producing the excessive swing signals comprises:

(a) means for producing a signal ("tilt signal") whenever the ropeway carrier is inclined beyond a predetermined threshold angle of inclination,

(b) means for measuring the duration and repetition rate of tilt signals, and

(c) means for producing an excessive swing signal whenever a duration or a repetition rate exceeds a predetermined corresponding threshold.

35. A system for monitoring the safety of a ropeway comprising:

(a) means, mounted on a cable sheave assembly of the ropeway, for producing magnetic flux that permeates the cable and for sensing the position of the cable relative to a normal line of cable traction as a function of the amount of said magnetic flux permeating the cable, and for producing signals ("cable misalignment signals") corresponding to the misalignments,

(b) means for communicating the cable misalignment signals to a cable operator,

(c) means, mounted on a ropeway carrier supported by the cable and responsive to an excessive swing of the ropeway carrier, for producing a signal ("excessive swing signal") corresponding thereto, and

(d) means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator.

36. The system according to claim 35 wherein said means for producing the excessive swing signals comprises:

(a) means for producing a signal ("tilt signal") whenever the ropeway carrier is inclined beyond a predetermined threshold angle of inclination,

(b) means for measuring the duration and repetition rate of tilt signals, and

(c) means for producing an excessive swing signal whenever a duration or a repetition rate exceeds a predetermined corresponding threshold.

37. A system for monitoring the safety of a ropeway comprising:

(a) means, mounted on a cable sheave assembly and responsive to at least those vibrations in said cable sheave assembly that are characteristic of disintegration within the sheave assembly, for producing a signal ("sheave problem signal") corresponding thereto, and

(b) means for communicating each sheave problem signal to a cable operator.

38. The system according to claim 37 wherein the means for communicating the sheave problem signals to a cable operator comprises:

(a) base computer means for receiving sheave problem signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator, and

(b) interface unit means, local to said means for producing said sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

39. The system according to claim 38 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein the interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

40. The system according to claim 37 wherein said means responsive to vibrations in a cable sheave assembly comprises:

(a) means for transducing vibrations within the sheave assembly to a corresponding signal, and

(b) means for filtering-out components of said corresponding signal produced by normal operation of the sheave assembly, components of the signal not filtered-out being a sheave problem signal.

41. The system according to claim 40 wherein the means for communicating the sheave problem signals to a cable operator comprise:

(a) base computer means for receiving sheave problem signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator, and

(b) interface unit means, local to said means for producing the sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

42. The system according to claim 41 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

43. The system according to claim 37 wherein said means responsive to vibrations in a cable sheave assembly comprises:

(a) piezoelectric means, mounted against a supporting member of the sheave assembly, for producing a signal in response to mechanical pressure,

(b) a free-floating mass disposed on a side of the piezoelectric means opposite the supporting member,

(c) means for biasing the mass against the piezoelectric means, the amount of bias being sufficient to hold the mass against the piezoelectric means during vibrations produced by normal operation of the sheave assembly but insufficient to keep the mass from pounding the piezoelectric means during vibrations characteristic of disintegration within the sheave assembly, the piezoelectric means producing a sheave problem signal in response to said pounding.

44. The system according to claim 43 wherein the means for communicating each sheave problem signal to a cable operator comprise:

(a) a data network,

(b) base computer means for receiving via the network sheave problem signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator, and

(c) interface unit means, local to said means for producing the sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means via the network.

45. The system according to claim 44 wherein each interface unit means further comprises:

(a) an analog-to-digital converter,

(b) means for receiving and multiplexing a plurality of analog sheave problem signals from a corresponding number of said means for producing same to an analog input of the converter, the output of the converter being digitized sheave problems signals,

(c) network interface means for communicating the digitized sheave problems to the base computer means, and

(d) means for controlling the sequence of multiplexing and the network interface means.

46. The system according to claim 37 further comprising:

(a) means, mounted on a ropeway carrier supported by the cable and responsive to an excessive swing of the ropeway carrier, for producing a signal ("excessive swing signal") corresponding thereto, and

(b) means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator.

47. The system according to claim 46 wherein the means for communicating sheave problem signals and the means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator comprise:

(a) base computer means for receiving sheave problem signals and excessive swing signals, and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator,

(b) means, at the ropeway carrier, for broadcasting excessive swing signals originating therefrom,

(c) means, mounted on a cable support structure, for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals,

(d) interface unit means, local to said means for producing sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means, and

(e) interface unit means, local to said means for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

48. The system according to claim 47 wherein the means for broadcasting and receiving the excessive swing signals comprises a spread spectrum RF transmitter and a spread spectrum RF receiver, respectively.

49. The system to claim 48 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

50. The system according to claim 47 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

51. The system according to claim 46 wherein said means for producing the excessive swing signals comprises:

(a) means for producing a signal ("tilt signal") whenever the ropeway carrier is inclined beyond a predetermined threshold angle of inclination,

(b) means for measuring the duration and repetition rate of tilt signals, and

(c) means for producing an excessive swing signal whenever a duration or a repetition rate exceeds a predetermined corresponding threshold.

52. The system according to claim 51 wherein the means for communicating sheave problem signals and the means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator comprise:

(a) base computer means for receiving sheave problem signals and excessive swing signals, and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator,

(b) means, at the ropeway carrier, for broadcasting excessive swing signals originating therefrom,

(c) means, mounted on a cable support structure, for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals,

(d) interface unit means, local to said means for producing sheave problem signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means, and

(e) interface unit means, local to said means for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

53. The system according to claim 52 wherein the means for broadcasting and receiving the excessive swing signals comprises a spread spectrum RF transmitter and a spread spectrum RF receiver, respectively.

54. The system according to claim 53 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

55. The system according to claim 52 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein each interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

56. A system for monitoring the safety of a ropeway comprising:

(a) means, mounted on a ropeway carrier supported by the cable and responsive to an excessive swing of the ropeway carrier, for producing a signal ("excessive swing signal") corresponding thereto, and

(b) means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator.

57. The system according to claim 56 wherein said means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator comprises:

(a) base computer means for receiving excessive swing signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator,

(b) means, at the ropeway carrier, for broadcasting excessive swing signals originating therefrom,

(c) means, mounted on a cable support structure, for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals, and

(d) interface unit means, local to said means for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

58. The system according to claim 57 wherein said means for broadcasting and receiving the excessive swing signals comprises a spread spectrum RF transmitter and a spread spectrum RF receiver, respectively.

59. The system according to claim 58 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein the interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

60. The system according to claim 57 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein the interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

61. The system according to claim 56 wherein said means for producing the excessive swing signals comprises:

(a) means for producing a signal ("tilt signal") whenever the ropeway carrier is inclined beyond a predetermined threshold angle of inclination,

(b) means for measuring the duration and repetition rate of tilt signals, and

(c) means for producing an excessive swing signal whenever a duration or a repetition rate exceeds a predetermined corresponding threshold.

62. The system according to claim 61 wherein the means for communicating excessive swing signals to a cable operator comprises:

(a) base computer means for receiving excessive swing signals and for providing corresponding indications to the cable operator,

(b) means, at the ropeway carrier, for broadcasting excessive swing signals originating therefrom,

(c) means, mounted on a cable support structure, for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals, and

(d) interface unit means, local to said means for receiving broadcast excessive swing signals, for relaying said signals to the base computer means.

63. The system according to claim 62 wherein the means for broadcasting and receiving the excessive swing signals comprises a spread spectrum RF transmitter and a spread spectrum RF receiver, respectively.

64. The system according to claim 63 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein the interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.

65. The system according to claim 62 further comprising a data network communicating with the base computer means, and wherein the interface unit means further comprises means for communicating with the network for relaying signals to the base computer means.