Abstract: A process for both storing vehicles of an aerial cable transport installation and taking vehicles from stored stock in a station. The vehicles are suspended by disengagable coupling clamps to the cable. The installation is shut down by braking and stopping a first car in the vicinity of a station exit, transferring the other cars in the station during the first step, braking and stopping a second car, transferring the rest of the cars in the station during the preceding step, and repeating the last two steps to use the entire station length to store cars. In one embodiment, the cable speed is approximately constant during the second and fourth steps of the process.

Abstract: A passenger transport installation in urban aeras comprises a wide track, constituted by two parallel, laterally spaced track cables and vehicles having supporting wheels for running on that track cables. The supporting wheels are located above the vehicle roof at a small constant distance thereof, so as to provide a clearance between the vehicle roof and the horizontal plane containing the track cables, wherein are housed the track cable bearing shoes and the vehicle traction cable loops with their return wheels.

Abstract: A transport installation making use of passive vehicles hauled along a track by traction cables. The track is divided into successive track sections extending between successive stations and each equipped with a traction cable for moving the vehicle along this track section and for stopping it in the stations. The taking-over of the vehicle by the successive traction cable is operated in the station while the vehicle is stopped. The track section of greatest length is equipped with a greater number of independent traction cables to increase the transport capacity.

Abstract: A rhythm device section is controlled by a controller, which controls the travelling time of the carriage in terms of the delay or advance and repositions the carriage correctly with respect to a periodic signal synchronized with the cable. The controller in addition detects successive identical deviations and in this case triggers dephasing of the periodic signal so as to rephase it with the passing of the carriages.

Abstract: An aerial transportation system including two generally parallel endless aerial carrier and traction cables is disclosed in which apparatus is respectively associated with each of the cables for separately supporting each cable. The supporting apparatus associated with each cable each comprise at least one basic balance beam, at least one roller rotatably mounted at one end of the balance beam for engaging its associated cable and at least one support balance beam with the basic balance beam being pivotally mounted at one end on the support balance beam for pivotal movement about a pivot axis extending at right angles to the cables. A support structure is provided for the balance beams with the support balance beam being pivotally mounted on the support structure.

Abstract: An aerial cable transportation system is disclosed that includes at least one vehicle supported on a carriage through a suspension with a plurality of clamps for disengageably securing the carriage to a pair of endless carrier and traction cables that are parallel to and alongside each other in a horizontal direction. The parallel cables are driven continuously at the same speed and supported by intermediate support and/or compression towers, each of which has a base, a shaft, a horizontal transverse cross arm, and two series of support and/or compression rollers for the cables. The clamps consist of two pairs of clamps, with each of the pairs of clamps being associated with one of the cables. The clamps define a rigid quadrilateral in the form of a parallelogram which is not a rectangle and which, in the engaged state, favors the synchronous passage of the two cables.

Abstract: A disconnectable locking clamp disconnectable from an overhead cable onto which it is locked, the clamp having a body with a fixed jaw and a movable jaw and in which the support surface (11) of the fixed jaw (3) has, on the one hand, a first cylindrical surface (14) complementary to a corresponding surface (15) of the cable, and, on the other hand, the end (6) of the fixed jaw (3) has a second surface (16) which is an extension of the first surface (14) and which is spaced from a corresponding surface (17) of the cable.The invention also covers methods of disconnection, connection, and uncoupling of such a clamp, and a transport or towing installation using such a clamp.

Abstract: An aerial ropeway transport installation comprises cars coupled to the rope by detachable grips. On the line the cars run in groups but are widely spaced in order to spread the load. In the terminal the cars are uncoupled from the rope at a corresponding location of a platform by an individual control device, the cars of any one group stopping one behind the other. The rope speed is temporarily slowed down or stopped during each detachment and/or attachment operation.

Abstract: A preferred embodiment for a detechable gondola lift is disclosed in which carraiges on a closed circuit are detached from the circuit upon entering an end station and coupled to a semi-circular section before being recoupled onto the circuit upon exiting the end station. The semi-circular section has a drive wheel with a first drive mechanism on its periphery for driving the carriages over the semi-circular section. The first drive mechanism is located at regular intervals and driven at a predetermined first speed to impose a regular flow rate to the carriages leaving the semi-circular section and a regular distribution of carriages on the circuit. The semi-circular section also includes a second drive mechanism for imparting a slightly different speed to the carriages from that imposed by the drive wheel. One of the drive means has priority to impose a predetermined flow rate to the carriages leaving the semi-circular section.

Abstract: A detachable gondola lift or chair-lift is disclosed which includes several sections which can operate independently from one another. Two sections are connected in an intermediate station by connecting tracks to transfer cars from one section to the other. Each section is equipped with a chain to drive the cars on the transfer rails. Each section is also fitted with flowrate regulators. When the two sections are joined, an adjustment device adjusts the chain of one of the sections in relation to the chain of the other section to achieve a regular transfer of the cars from one section to the other without intermediate storage.

Abstract: The invention relates to a detachable grip chairlift or gondola lift terminal having a transfer rail extending between the downhill run and the uphill run of the cable. The chair trucks run at slow speed along the transfer rail which comprises a movable rail section extending along the loading and/or unloading area. The level of the movable rail section may be adapted in accordance with the snow level on this area for properly positioning the chairs.

Abstract: Gondola lift or chairlift with carriages supporting a gondola or a chair and having a grip for coupling on a continuously moving cable. In the terminals the carriages uncoupled from the cable run without stopping on a transfer rail. The carriages are regularly spaced and the transfer rail comprises a rail section equipped with a rhythm device which controls the release of the carriages at regular time intervals.

Abstract: Monitoring of the clamping of the grips 10 of a detachable gondola lift or chair lift is carried out when the grip passes on a ramp 18 constituted by a T-shaped section. Over a measurement section 1, the base 24 of the T is separated from the upright 26 by a notch 28 to give the base 24 a certain flexibility. The deformation of the base 24, due to the action of the grip operating lever, is measured by a proximity detector 34, which delivers a signal analyzed by an electronic circuit compensating for any drift which may occur. As a result, the invention can be applied to measure the clamping of moving vehicles in general.

Abstract: Chairlift or gondola lift with a carriage supporting a gondola or a chair and having a detachable grip for coupling on a continuously moving cable. In the terminals the carriage is uncoupled from the cable and it runs on a transfer rail. This transfer rail is equipped with friction drive wheels disposed along the carriage travel path for engaging the friction face of a running plate rigidly secured to the carriage so as to brake, accelerate or drive the carriage on the rail. During the night or bad weather periods a cover plate covers the friction face of the carriages disposed on the line and this cover plate is raised away in the terminals to clear the friction face. For removing the snow or ice which covers the friction face and hinders the correct friction drive of the carriage a brushing or rubbing device may be disposed along the carriage travel path so as to brush the friction face.