Ropeway System With Automatic Passenger Registration

Abstract

A passenger ropeway system has a plurality of vehicles mounted on a traction cable for movement between its stations. A hazard detection evaluation unit is connected to cameras and evaluate image data from an exit area to determine the presence of a vehicle and passengers in that exit area. In the event of such presence, when another vehicle enters the exit area or is at a predetermined distance from such entry, an emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal is generated. The signal is used to slow down or stop the vehicle or vehicles directly and automatically without the need for an operator to be present. In addition, image signals from the cameras are transmitted to an operator display device via a signal transmitter so that an operator can restart the ropeway system if necessary.

1 . A ropeway system for people comprising:
 an entry station and an exit station for people as passengers,   a plurality of vehicles mounted on a traction cable for movement between the entry station and the exit station,   electronic passenger detection means for detecting the presence of a passenger in a vehicle,   one or more cameras provided for capturing images of at least one predetermined exit area at the exit station,   a virtual entry vehicle grid, which is provided transversely to the entry movement of a vehicle at an exit edge of the exit area and comprising at least one sensor for capturing sensor data relating to an object or person entering its monitoring area, and   a hazard detection evaluation unit,   
       wherein the vehicles are arranged to move along a loop passing through the entry station and the exit station, wherein each vehicle comprises a seating area for at least one passenger, 
       wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is connected to the one or more cameras for receiving captured image data, 
       wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is further connected to the virtual entry vehicle grid for receiving captured sensor data, 
       wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is configured to determine the presence of one or more of a group comprising a vehicle and one or more persons in the predetermined exit area, by evaluating successive image data from the camera(s), 
       wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is configured to generate an emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal when a vehicle enters the exit area or is at a predetermined distance from such an entry in the case of the presence of a person in a predetermined section of the exit area or in the case when an object entering the monitoring area of the virtual entry vehicle gate is detected outside a passage of a vehicle through the virtual entry vehicle gate, and is further configured to transmit said signal to the motor control of the ropeway system for the implementation of said signal for the movement of the vehicle. 
     
     
         2 . The ropeway system according to  claim 1 , wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is configured to determine, by evaluating successive image data from the cameras, a fall of a person in the image data in the predetermined exit area, on the basis of which the emergency slowdown or emergency stop signal is generated. 
     
     
         3 . The ropeway system according to  claim 1 , wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is configured to determine the movement of a person in the direction of the path of travel of the vehicles by evaluating successive image data from the cameras, on the basis of which the emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal can be generated. 
     
     
         4 . The ropeway system according to  claim 1 , wherein the peripheral edge of the exit area is closed by at least one of the further elements from the group comprising:
 one or more physical access barriers with and/or without detection sensors,   a virtual passenger exit gate, and   a virtual exit vehicle grid;   
       wherein the one or more further elements are provided with detection sensors and connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit, so that when the entry of a non-passenger into the exit area is detected, the said emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal is triggered. 
     
     
         5 . The ropeway system according to  claim 4 , wherein one or more lateral vehicle limiting gates are associated with the virtual entry vehicle gate, wherein said lateral vehicle limiting gates are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit, so that upon detecting the entry of a non-passenger into the exit area, said emergency slowdown or emergency stop signal is triggered by touching a gate or a pivoting movement of a gate. 
     
     
         6 . The ropeway system according to  claim 4 , wherein one or more lateral vehicle limiting gates are associated with the virtual exit vehicle gate, wherein said lateral vehicle limiting gates are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit, so that upon detecting the entry of a non-passenger into the exit area, said emergency slowdown or emergency stop signal is triggered by touching or pivoting movement of the gates. 
     
     
         7 . The ropeway system according to  claim 1 , wherein a pre-exit area is provided adjacent to the exit area against the direction of movement of the vehicle on the other side of an exit edge, wherein the pre-exit area has a surface which is lower than the exit area and is provided with at least one pressure plate, which is connected to the exit edge by means of an inclined sliding surface, wherein the pressure plate(s) are connected to the hazard detection evaluation unit, so that when the presence of a person on the pressure plate is detected. 
     
     
         8 . The ropeway system according to  claim 7 , wherein, when the presence of a person on the pressure plate is detected, the said emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal is triggered. 
     
     
         9 . The ropeway system according to  claim 8 , wherein the said emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal is triggered with a delay and only when a further vehicle enters the pre-exit area. 
     
     
         10 . The ropeway system according to  claim 7 , wherein the surface provided with the pressure plate(s) is inclined downwards transversely to the direction of travel to a lateral exit surface in order to enable persons located on the pressure plate(s) to follow an exit path from the pre-exit area following the force of gravity. 
     
     
         11 . The ropeway system according to  claim 1 , further comprising an operator display device, wherein images from the camera(s) are transmitted from the camera(s) to the operator display device via a signal transmitter. 
     
     
         12 . The ropeway system according to  claim 11 , wherein the operator display device comprises one or more elements from the group: an operator's smartphone with a control app for the ropeway system, and a screen and intercom in a duty room of the ropeway system with control elements for the ropeway system. 
     
     
         13 . The ropeway system according to  claim 1 , wherein the entry station is a valley station and the exit station is a middle station or a mountain station, or wherein the entry station is a mountain station and the exit station is a middle station or a valley station, or wherein the entry station is a middle station and the exit station is either a valley station or a mountain station. 
     
     
         14 . The ropeway system according to  claim 1 , wherein the vehicles of the ropeway system are from the group comprising chairs, chairs with seat bar locking and chairs with bubbles and seat bar locking. 
     
     
         15 . A ropeway system for people comprising:
 an entry station and an exit station for people as passengers,   a plurality of vehicles mounted on a traction cable for movement between the entry station and the exit station,   electronic passenger detection means for detecting the presence of a passenger in a vehicle,   one or more cameras provided for capturing images of the at least one predetermined direct entry area,   a virtual entry vehicle grid, which is provided transversely to the entry movement of a vehicle at an entry edge of the direct entry area and comprising at least one sensor for capturing sensor data relating to an object or person entering its monitoring area, and   a hazard detection evaluation unit;   
       wherein the vehicles are arranged to move along a loop passing through the entry station and the exit station, wherein each vehicle comprises a seating area for at least one passenger, 
       wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is connected to the one or more camera for receiving captured image data, 
       wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is further connected to the virtual entry vehicle grid for receiving captured sensor data, 
       wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is configured to determine the presence of a passenger in the direct entry area by evaluating successive image data from the camera(s), 
       wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is configured to generate an emergency deceleration or emergency stop signal when the vehicle of the boarding passenger leaves the direct entry area and another vehicle enters the direct entry area or is at a predetermined distance from such an entry, and is further configured to transmit said signal to the motor control of the ropeway system for the implementation of said signal for the movement of the vehicles. 
     
     
         16 . The ropeway system according to  claim 15 , wherein the hazard detection evaluation unit is configured to determine, by evaluating successive image data from the cameras, a fall of a person in the image data in the direct entry area, on the basis of which the emergency slowdown or emergency stop signal is generated. 
     
     
         17 . The ropeway system according to  claim 15 , further comprising an operator display device, wherein images from the camera(s) are transmitted from the camera(s) to the operator display device via a signal transmitter. 
     
     
         18 . The ropeway system according to  claim 17 , wherein the operator display device comprises one or more elements from the group: an operator's smartphone with a control app for the ropeway system, and a screen and intercom in a duty room of the ropeway system with control elements for the ropeway system. 
     
     
         19 . The ropeway system according to  claim 15 , wherein the entry station is a valley station and the exit station is a middle station or a mountain station, or wherein the entry station is a mountain station and the exit station is a middle station or a valley station, or wherein the entry station is a middle station and the exit station is either a valley station or a mountain station. 
     
     
         20 . The ropeway system according to  claim 15 , wherein the vehicles of the ropeway system are from the group comprising chairs, chairs with seat bar locking and chairs with bubbles and seat bar locking.