Station of a cable transport installation and method for performing maintenance of a station

Abstract

A cable transport installation is equipped with a car and a station; the station includes a moving device to move the car in the station; the moving device defines a running track of the car and moves the car; a platform is arranged on one side of the running track; the platform allows movement next to the moving device and enables operations to be performed on the moving device; the station defines a clearance for a clamp of the car to pass; the moving device is located between the platform and the passage clearance; an additional platform is movable between first and second positions; in a first position, the additional platform does not form an obstacle to progression of the car; the second position enables operations to be performed on the moving device.

1 . Station of a cable transport installation provided with at least one car, the station comprising:
 a moving device configured to move the at least one car in the station, the moving device defining a running track of the at least one car in the station, the moving device comprising a plurality of moving parts able to move the at least one car in the station;   a platform arranged on a first side of the running track, the platform being configured to enable an operator to pass alongside the moving device and to allow work to be performed on the moving device;   at least one shrouding mounted movable between a protection position and an operating position, in the protection position, the at least one shrouding at least partially covering the moving device to separate the operator present on the platform and the moving device and to prevent access to the moving device, and in the operating position, the at least one shrouding allowing access to the moving device;   at least one additional platform distinct from the at least one shrouding, the at least one additional platform being mounted movable between a stowed position and a maintenance position by means of a controller distinct from the at least one shrouding, the at least one additional platform being mounted movable between a stowed position and a maintenance position only when the at least one shrouding is in the operating position;   
       wherein the station defines a passage clearance designed to let a clamp of the at least one car pass, the clamp attaching the at least one car to the cable, the moving device being arranged between the platform and the passage clearance; 
       wherein the stowed position is a position where the at least one additional platform does not form an obstacle to progression of the at least one car on the running track and wherein the maintenance position is a position able to support the operator to enable maintenance work on the moving device; 
       wherein in the maintenance position, the at least one additional platform is arranged on a second side of the running track facing the platform, the second side being separated from the first side by the running track in a vertical observation. 
     
     
         2 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional platform is mechanically connected to the at least one shrouding by a mechanical connection, the at least one shrouding in the protection position preventing movement of the at least one additional platform from the stowed position to the maintenance position. 
     
     
         3 . Station according to  claim 2  wherein when the at least one shrouding is in the protection position, the at least one additional platform is in the stowed position, and wherein when the at least one shrouding is in the operating position, the at least one additional platform is in the maintenance position. 
     
     
         4 . Station according to  claim 3  wherein when the at least one additional platform is in the stowed position, the at least one shrouding is in the protection position, and when the at least one additional platform is in the maintenance position, the at least one shrouding is in the operating position. 
     
     
         5 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein the controller is accessible from the platform only when the at least one shrouding is in the operating position and/or wherein the controller is deactivated when the at least one shrouding is in the protection position. 
     
     
         6 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional platform in the maintenance position prevents the at least one shrouding from being moved out of the operating position. 
     
     
         7 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one additional platform in the maintenance position prevents movement of a cable designed to drive the at least one car or wherein the at least one additional platform in the maintenance position prevents the at least one car from being attached to the cable when the car is detachable from the cable. 
     
     
         8 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein in the maintenance position, the at least one additional platform is arranged in a clearance space designed to be occupied by the clamp, the at least one additional platform forming an obstacle to running of the at least one car in the station. 
     
     
         9 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one shrouding comprises a plurality of shroudings installed following one another along the cable designed to drive the at least one car from one end of the station to the other, and wherein the at least one additional platform comprises a plurality of additional platforms arranged following one another along the cable, one additional platform of the plurality of additional platforms being associated with one shrouding of the plurality of shroudings to form a maintenance section, each maintenance section being mechanically independent from the other maintenance sections. 
     
     
         10 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein the moving device comprises at least one wheel configured to move the car in the station, and wherein the height of the additional platform is lower than the height of a rotation axis of the at least one wheel. 
     
     
         11 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein, in the stowed position, the at least one additional platform is totally on the second side. 
     
     
         12 . Station according to  claim 1  comprising at least one sensor configured to detect the additional platform outside the stowed position and/or the at least one shrouding outside the protection position and to transmit a first signal and a control circuit connected to the sensor to receive said first signal, the control circuit being configured to stop the moving device or to prevent start-up of the moving device on receipt of said first signal. 
     
     
         13 . Station according to  claim 1  wherein the at least one shrouding in the operating position forms a guard rail as regards the additional platform in the maintenance position, the guard rail being separated from the moving device by the additional platform in an observation in a vertical direction. 
     
     
         14 . Method for performing maintenance of a station of a cable transport installation comprising the following steps:
 providing a station according to  claim 1 ;   moving the additional platform from the stowed position to the maintenance position, the maintenance position supporting an operator performing maintenance on the moving device, the stowed position being a position where the additional platform is outside the passage clearance for the cars to run in the station.