Lock monitoring

• US 8,710,977 B2
• Filed: 05/05/2008
• Issued: 04/29/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/10/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ropetrans AG (Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH)
• Original Assignee: CWA Constructions SA (Doppelmayr Seilbahnen GmbH)
• Inventors: Gubler, Daniel
• Primary Examiner(s): Lee, Benjamin C
• Assistant Examiner(s): TANG, SIGMUND N
• Application Number:
  US12/599,103
• Publication Number:
  US 20100085183A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,185 Days
• Field of Search: 340/539.1, 340/10.4, 34042615-42628, 340/545.6, 340/539.11, 340/539.13, 340/542, 70/14, 702/09, 70/63
• US Class Current: 340/539.1
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 12/002 Cabins; Ski-lift seats B61B12/028 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B61B 12/06 Safety devices or measures against cable fracture
• CPC Class Codes: E05B 2047/0069 bolt position
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 70/40 Portable

Abstract

The cars of a passenger transport means are provided with a sensor (3) which scans the state of the locking mechanism and with a transponder antenna (5) which is fitted to the outside of the car (1), and the stations (6) contain transmission antennas (7) which poll signals from the transponder antenna in contactless fashion.

Claims

1. A method of monitoring a locking state of closed doors of a passenger transport cabin prior to leaving a departure station, comprising:

sensing a state of a lock which locks the doors of the passenger transport cabin, when the doors are closed;

transmitting a signal from the cabin to the station which indicates information of the state of the lock; and

evaluating the information of the state of the lock and preventing departure of the passenger transport cabin when the doors are determined not to be locked, wherein

the sensing of the state of the lock senses the state of the lock which locks the doors of the passenger transport cabin which is a cableway cabin.

2. The method according to claim 1, further comprising:

sending an interrogating signal from the station to the transport cabin which causes said transmitting.

3. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting transmits a wireless signal from the cabin to the station.

4. The method according to claim 1, wherein:

the transmitting transmits a wireless signal from an antenna on a roof of the cabin.

5. A system for monitoring a locking state of closed doors of a passenger transport cabin prior to leaving a departure station, comprising:

a locking mechanism which locks the doors of the passenger transport cabin, after the doors of the passenger transport cabin are closed;

a sensor, attached to the passenger transport cabin, which determines a state of the locking mechanism;

a first transmitter which transmits a signal from the cabin to the station which indicates information of the state of the locking mechanism; and

an evaluating device to evaluate the information of the locking state and prevent departure of the passenger transport cabin when the evaluating device determines that the doors are not locked, wherein

the passenger transport cabin is a cableway cabin.

6. The system according to claim 5, further comprising:

a second transmitter to send an interrogating signal to the first transmitter of the cabin to obtain information of the locking state,

wherein the transmitting of the signal from the cabin occurs in response to the sending of the interrogating signal.

7. The system according to claim 6, wherein the first and second transmitters are wireless transmitters.

8. The system according to claim 5, further comprising:

an antenna on a roof of the cabin connected to the first transmitter of the cabin.