Overhead line system and control method

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11834307-B2
Application number	US-202117231529-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 15, 2021
Priority date	Jul 27, 2020
Publication date	Dec 5, 2023
Grant date	Dec 5, 2023

Abstract

An overhead line system includes a plurality of support posts, an overhead line supported by the support posts, a lifting device with which the overhead line is liftable, a suspension device that is connected to the overhead line and is movable in the air as the lifting device winds the overhead line, and a control device. The control device controls the lifting device so as to reduce tension when a predetermined condition relating to a tension abnormality of the overhead line is satisfied.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. An overhead line system, comprising:
a plurality of support posts;
an overhead line supported by the support posts;
a winch that lifts the overhead line;
a suspension device including a plurality of pulleys, the overhead line being hung on the pulley and the suspension device being movable in the air as the winch winds the overhead line;
another overhead line supported by the support posts;
a fixing device having a drum and a fixing portion, the fixing portion being fittable to the drum and able to stop rotation of the drum, the other overhead line being fixed to the drum and the fixing device being able to stop lifting or lowering the other overhead line;
a moving device that is connected to the overhead line and is movable in the air along the other overhead line as the winch winds the overhead line, the suspension device being connected to the moving device via the overhead line;
a tension sensor that detects tension of the overhead line and the other overhead line; and
a control device having a wireless transmitter, the control device that controls the winch and the fixing device, by sending wireless command signals from the wireless transmitter to the winch and the fixing device, so as to reduce tension of the overhead line when a predetermined condition relating to a tension abnormality of the overhead line is satisfied, and
wherein:
the predetermined condition includes a condition that the tension detected by the tension sensor is equal to or higher than a first threshold, and
when the predetermined condition is satisfied, the control device causes the winch to lower the overhead line, and causes the fixing device to lower the other overhead line until the tension detected by the tension sensor becomes equal to or lower than a second threshold that is lower than the first threshold, such that the moving device and the suspension device are moved down.

2. A control method for an overhead line system including; a winch that lifts an overhead line and another overhead line supported by a support post, a suspension device having a plurality of pulleys on which the overhead line being hung and the suspension device being movable in the air as the winch winds the overhead line, a fixing device having a drum and a fixing portion fiittable to the drum and able to stop rotation of the drum, the other overhead line being fixed to the drum and the fixing device being able to stop lifting or lowering the other overhead line, a moving device that is connected to the overhead line and is movable in the air along the other overhead line as the winch winds the overhead line, the suspension device being connected to the moving device via the overhead line, a tension sensor that detects tension of the overhead line and the other overhead line, and a control device having a wireless transmitter, the method comprising, when a predetermined condition is satisfied:
sending wireless command signals from the wireless transmitter to the winch and the fixing device;
controlling, by the control device, the winch to reduce tension of the overhead line;
controlling, by the control device, the winch to lower the overhead line; and
controlling, by the control device, the fixing device to lower the other overhead line until the tension detected by the tension sensor becomes equal to or lower than a second threshold, such that the moving device and the suspension device are moved down, wherein
the predetermined condition relates to a tension abnormality of the overhead line,
the predetermined condition includes a condition that the tension detected by the tension sensor is equal to or higher than a first threshold, and
the second threshold is lower than the first threshold.

Assignees

• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Suyama Kazuo
• Harajiri Katsuji

Classifications

• B66C21/10 Primary

  travelling · CPC title

• A01G23/083 Primary

  Feller-delimbers · CPC title

• B66C21/00 Primary

  Cable cranes, i.e. comprising hoisting devices running on aerial cable-ways (rope or cable drives for trolleys, combinations of such drives with hoisting gear B66C11/16; railway systems B61B; rope or cable winding mechanisms B66D1/00) · CPC title

• B66C11/00

  Trolleys or crabs, e.g. operating above runways (runways, tracks or trackways therefor B66C7/00; winch mechanisms B66D) · CPC title

• B66C13/18

  Control systems or devices (exclusively for rope, cable, or chain winding mechanisms B66D1/40) · CPC title