Installation for transporting persons

Abstract

The installation conveys passengers along a self-contained track which extends between two end stations and has at least one intermediate station between the end stations. Traveling devices, such as cablecars or carriages can be moved along the track by a self-contained traction cable which are guided in the end stations about drive pulleys and deflecting pulleys. The traveling devices are moved through the stations at such a speed that passengers can embark and disembark. The intermediate station is situated at an equal distance from the respectively adjacent stations, the traveling devices, which are optionally arranged in groups, are coupled onto the traction cable at a spacing distance equal to twice the distance between the stations. Subsections of the track allow the traveling devices to move in opposite directions only in the stations.

I claim:  
     
         1 . An installation for conveying persons, comprising: 
 a plurality of stations including two end stations and at least one intermediate station disposed equidistant from respectively adjacent said stations;    a self-contained track extending between said two end stations;    a self-contained traction cable extending along said track and pulleys for said traction cable disposed in said end stations;    a plurality of traveling devices coupled to said traction cable at a spacing distance from one another substantially equal to twice a distance between said stations, wherein said traction cable moves said traveling devices along said track, and said traveling devices are moved through said stations at a speed enabling persons to enter or leave said traveling devices in said stations;    said track having subsections for traveling devices moving in opposite directions spaced apart only in said stations to allow two or more traveling devices to move past one another.    
     
     
         2 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said traveling devices are arranged in groups.  
     
     
         3 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said traveling devices are selected from the group consisting of cablecars and carriages.  
     
     
         4 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said pulleys are selected from the group consisting of driving pulleys and deflecting pulleys.  
     
     
         5 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said traction cable is moved at a changing speed, whereby said traveling devices are moved through said stations at a relatively slow speed and are moved along stretches of said track between said stations at a speed substantially increased with respect to said relatively slow speed, and wherein said traveling devices are coupled onto the traction cable in said intermediate stations.  
     
     
         6 . The installation according to  claim 5 , which comprises devices in said end stations for uncoupling said traveling devices from said traction cable, for moving said traveling devices through said end stations detached from said traction cable and for subsequently coupling said traveling devices onto said traction cable.  
     
     
         7 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said traction cable is driven at a uniform speed, and wherein devices are provided in all of said stations for uncoupling said traveling devices from said traction cable in said stations, for moving said traveling devices through said stations detached from said traction cable and for subsequently coupling said traveling devices onto said traction cable.  
     
     
         8 . The installation according to  claim 1 , which comprises a platform for passengers in said at least one intermediate station disposed between said two subsections of said track whereon said traveling devices move in mutually opposite directions.  
     
     
         9 . The installation according to  claim 1 , which comprises platforms at said end stations for passengers disposed radially outside said track guided in said end stations along a substantially circular arc.  
     
     
         10 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said track is formed by a rail along which said traveling devices are movable.  
     
     
         11 . The installation according to  claim 1 , wherein said track is formed by a carriageway along which said traveling devices are movable.  
     
     
         12 . An installation for conveying persons, comprising: 
 a plurality of stations including two end stations and at least one intermediate station disposed a given distance from one of said end stations and from another one of said stations;    a self-contained track extending between said two end stations;    a self-contained traction cable extending along said track and pulleys for said traction cable disposed in said end stations;    a plurality of groups of traveling devices coupled to said traction cable at a spacing distance from one another substantially equal to twice the given distance, wherein said traction cable drives said traveling devices along said track and drives said traveling devices through said stations at a speed enabling passengers to embark and disembark from said traveling devices in said stations;    said track having subsections extending between said stations spaced apart to allow said traveling devices to only move in one direction at a time and subsections in said stations spaced apart to allow said groups of traveling devices to move past one another.    
     
     
         13 . The installation according to  claim 12 , wherein said groups of traveling devices each include at least one traveling device.