simulation method for simulating braking of a cable transport facility, a diagnosis method for diagnosing the braking of such a facility and control apparatus for controlling the facility

Abstract

The application relates to a simulation method for simulating braking of a cable transport facility having at least one brake means and drive means, the simulation method comprising at least one test stage for testing the brake means, which test stage comprises at least one step of applying the brake means on the facility driven by the drive means controlled in a closed loop by a setpoint signal formed by a predetermined control curve F=f(t).

1 . A simulation method for simulating braking of a cable transport facility having at least one brake and a drive, the simulation method comprising at least one step of applying the brake on the facility driven by the drive controlled in a closed loop by a setpoint signal formed by a predetermined control curve F=f(t). 
   
   
       2 . A simulation method according to  claim 1 , wherein, for the closed-loop control, the setpoint signal is compared with a measurement of the force exerted on the cable, of the drive torque, or of a variable that is characteristic of the drive and that is proportional to the force exerted on the cable, to the drive torque, or to the instantaneous power delivered by the drive. 
   
   
       3 . A simulation method according to  claim 1 , wherein, for the closed-loop control, the setpoint signal is compared with a measurement of the speed of the cable. 
   
   
       4 . A diagnosis method for diagnosing at least one brake of a cable transport facility having at least one brake and a drive, the diagnosis method comprising at least a test stage for testing the brake, which test stage includes at least applying the brake on the facility driven by the drive controlled in a closed loop by a setpoint signal formed by a predetermined control curve F=f(t), while the facility is empty, and recording of a test characteristic curve. 
   
   
       5 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , wherein the test stage further comprises a second step for comparing the test characteristic curve with a pre-recorded calibrated standard curve. 
   
   
       6 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , further comprising a preliminary calibration stage comprising at least:
 a step of recording the calibrated standard characteristic curve while the brake is being applied on the facility operating while loaded; and   a step of recording the drive control curve F=f(t) while the brake is being applied on the facility driven while empty and by the drive controlled in a closed loop by a setpoint signal formed by said standard characteristic curve.   
   
   
       7 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , further comprising a preliminary calibration stage comprising at least:
 a step of recording the drive control curve F=f(t) while the brake is being applied on the facility while said facility is operating loaded; and   a step of recording the calibrated standard characteristic curve while the brake is being applied on the facility driven while empty and by the drive controlled in a closed loop by a setpoint signal formed by said control curve.   
   
   
       8 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 6 , wherein the preliminary stage further comprises a first step of adjusting the brake. 
   
   
       9 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 7 , wherein the preliminary stage further comprises a verification operation for verifying the calibration, which operation comprises:
 a step of applying the brake on the facility while the facility is operating empty and driven by the drive controlled in a closed loop by a setpoint signal formed by the control curve F=f(t) and of recording a verification characteristic curve; and   a step of comparing the verification characteristic curve with the calibration standard characteristic curve.   
   
   
       10 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , wherein the test stage further comprises:
 a step of applying the brake on the facility while empty, and of recording an empty characteristic curve; and   a step of comparing the empty characteristic curve with a pre-recorded empty calibrated standard characteristic curve.   
   
   
       11 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 10 , wherein the empty calibration standard characteristic curve is a curve that is recorded while the brake is being applied on the facility operating empty. 
   
   
       12 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , wherein the characteristic curves are deceleration curves representing deceleration of the cable. 
   
   
       13 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 12 , wherein the control curve F=f(t) is recorded by measuring the force exerted on the cable, the drive torque, or a variable that is characteristic of the drive and that is proportional to the force exerted on the cable, to the drive torque, or to the instantaneous power delivered by the drive. 
   
   
       14 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , wherein the characteristic curves are curves representing measurement of the force exerted on the cable, of the drive torque, or of a variable that is characteristic of the drive, and that is proportional to the force exerted on the cable, to the drive torque, or to the instantaneous power delivered by the drive. 
   
   
       15 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 14 , wherein the control curve F=f(t) is recorded by measuring the deceleration of the cable. 
   
   
       16 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , wherein the control curve F=f(t) is extended by a constant function K=f(t). 
   
   
       17 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , wherein the position of at least one vehicle driven by the cable is indexed. 
   
   
       18 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 4 , for a cable transport facility whose brake is pneumatic or hydraulic, wherein the test stage further comprises a step of recording a pressure variations curve Pt=f(t) representing the pressure variations during application of the brake, and a step of comparing Pt=f(t) with a predetermined curve Pe=f(t). 
   
   
       19 . A diagnosis method according to  claim 18 , wherein the curve Pe=f(t) is a pressure variations curve recorded during the preliminary stage while the brake is being applied. 
   
   
       20 . An adjustment method for adjusting at least one brake of a cable transport facility, which method comprises:
 at least a checking step for checking the brake by using a diagnosis method according to  claim 4 ; and   at least an adjustment step for adjusting the brake as a function of the comparison of the test characteristic and standard characteristic curves.   
   
   
       21 . A control apparatus for controlling a cable transport facility having a drive and at least one brake, the apparatus comprising a control operably controlling the drive, a control operably controlling the brake, and a safety device, the control apparatus further comprising a switch operably switching the safety device between an active position in which simultaneous use of the drive and of the brake is not allowed, and a passive position in which said simultaneous use is allowed. 
   
   
       22 . A control apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a measurer operably measuring the speed of the cable. 
   
   
       23 . A control apparatus according to claim  claim 21 , further comprising a data recorder. 
   
   
       24 . A control apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a pressure measurer. 
   
   
       25 . A control apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a current measurer operably measuring the current passing through the drive. 
   
   
       26 . A control apparatus according to  claim 21 , further comprising a position-indexer operably indexing the position of at least one vehicle driven by the cable.