TRANSPORT UNIT AND METHOD FOR TRANSPORTING A MOVING WALKWAY

Abstract

The application relates to a transport unit for transporting a moving walkway, which transport unit has moving walkway modules and holding frames. At least two of the moving walkway modules are designed as a moving walkway central part and each have a supporting structure portion, the supporting structure portion being designed to support a guide rail portion, a forward pallet belt portion and a return pallet belt portion. The moving walkway modules are designed to be coupled to one another one behind the other. The moving walkway modules are arranged in the transport unit in levels one above the other. Each holding frame has horizontal struts spaced apart and parallel to one another and vertical struts holding the horizontal struts at opposite ends. A holding frame is arranged at positions spaced apart such that one of the moving walkway modules rests on one of the horizontal struts and the vertical struts extend on opposite sides of the moving walkway modules.

Claims

1. A transport unit comprising: a plurality of moving walkway modules of a moving walkway and a plurality of holding frames; at least two of the moving walkway modules being configured as a moving walkway central part and each having a supporting structure portion, the supporting structure portion being configured to support a guide rail portion, a forward pallet belt portion, and a return pallet belt portion, wherein: the moving walkway are configured to be coupled to one another one behind the other in a longitudinal direction in order to form at least one load-bearing structure of a portion of the moving walkway; and the moving walkway modules are arranged in the transport unit in a plurality of levels one above the other in a vertical direction extending transversely to the longitudinal direction; each holding frame comprising a plurality of horizontal struts spaced apart in the vertical direction and extending parallel to one another and at least two vertical struts holding the horizontal struts at opposite ends, wherein: each holding frame is configured and arranged in at a position spaced apart in the longitudinal direction such that one of the moving walkway modules rests on one of the horizontal struts, and the vertical struts extend on opposite sides of the moving walkway modules so as to be laterally adjacent to the moving walkway modules; and at least one end connection element, the end connection element being attached to an end, seen in the longitudinal direction, of one of the moving walkway modules, the end connection element being configured as a spacer in order to keep the moving walkway module connected thereto and its transport unit within a container accommodating the transport unit at a distance from an opposite container wall or a further transport unit.

2-13. (canceled)

14. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein the end connection element comprises an engagement opening and is attached to the moving walkway module such that the moving walkway module can be displaced in the longitudinal direction by engaging in the engagement opening and pulling.

15. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein the moving walkway modules further comprise the guide rail portion, the forward pallet belt portion, the return pallet belt portion and at least one fastener, wherein: the guide rail portion is attached to the supporting structure portion and is configured, during a displacement movement of the forward pallet belt portion relative to the supporting structure portion, to guide at least the forward pallet belt portion parallel to the longitudinal direction; and the forward pallet belt portion and the return pallet belt portion are fastened to at least one of the guide rail portion or to the supporting structure portion using the at least one fastener during transport of the transport unit.

16. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein each of the vertical struts has a lifting structure at a vertically upper end, the lifting structure configured such that by lifting all the holding frames on the lifting structures of the vertical struts thereof, the entire transport unit can be lifted.

17. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein each of the moving walkway modules is reversibly releasably coupled to at least one of the vertical struts or at least one of the horizontal struts or to at least one of the vertical struts on opposite sides.

18. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein at least two of the moving walkway modules are reversibly and releasably coupled to one another by supporting elements so as to support one another.

19. The transport unit of claim 1, further comprising a moving walkway module configured as a deflection drive module or as a deflection tensioning module, wherein the deflection drive module is configured to deflect and drive a pallet belt of the moving walkway near one end of the moving walkway, and wherein the deflection tensioning module is configured to deflect and tension the pallet belt of the moving walkway near one end of the moving walkway.

20. The transport unit of claim 1, further comprising a transport monitoring module configured to detect accelerations or changes in position acting on the transport unit and to store information about same.

21. The transport unit of claim 1, wherein an identification mark is provided on the holding frame which uniquely identifies the holding frame.

22. A method for transporting a moving walkway, the method comprising: providing a plurality of moving walkway modules; providing horizontal struts and vertical struts for forming a plurality of holding frames; arranging the moving walkway modules in a plurality of levels one above the other in a vertical direction in order to form a transport unit; wherein: at least two of the moving walkway modules are configured as a moving walkway central part and each comprises supporting structure portion, the supporting structure portion configured to support a guide rail portion, a forward pallet belt portion, and a return pallet belt portion; the moving walkway modules are configured to be coupled to one another one behind the other in a longitudinal direction in order to form at least one load-bearing structure of a portion of the moving walkway; the horizontal struts and vertical struts are combined to form a holding frame during the arrangement of the moving walkway modules such that each holding frame comprises a plurality of horizontal struts spaced apart in the vertical direction and extending parallel to one another and at least two vertical struts holding the horizontal struts at opposite ends, and a holding frame configured and arranged in each case at positions spaced apart in the longitudinal direction in such a way that in each case one of the moving walkway modules rests on one of the horizontal struts and the vertical struts extend on opposite sides of the moving walkway so as to be laterally adjacent to the moving walkway modules, and at least one end connection element is attached to at least one end, seen in the longitudinal direction, of one of the moving walkway modules of a transport unit, the end connection element being designed as a spacer in order to keep the moving walkway module connected thereto and its transport unit within a container accommodating the transport unit at a distance from an opposite container wall or a further transport unit.

23. The method of claim 22, wherein: when the moving walkway modules are arranged in a plurality of levels one above the other, a first of the moving walkway modules is placed in each case on the first of the horizontal struts of two horizontally spaced holding frames; a vertical strut is attached at each of the opposite ends of both first horizontal struts; a second horizontal strut is attached to each vertical strut above the first moving walkway module for each of the two holding frames; and a second of the moving walkway modules is placed on each of the second horizontal struts.

24. The method of claim 22, wherein lifting elements are reversibly and releasably attached to the moving walkway modules, by which lifting elements each moving walkway module can be lifted in order to be placed on associated horizontal struts of two holding frames in a provided level.

25. The method of claim 23, wherein lifting elements are reversibly and releasably attached to the moving walkway modules, by which lifting elements each moving walkway module can be lifted in order to be placed on associated horizontal struts of two holding frames in a provided level.

26. The method of claim 22, wherein a transport monitoring module is arranged on the transport unit, which transport monitoring module is configured to detect accelerations or changes in position acting on the transport unit and to store information about same.

27. The method of claim 23, wherein a transport monitoring module is arranged on the transport unit, which transport monitoring module is configured to detect accelerations or changes in position acting on the transport unit and to store information about same.

28. The method of claim 24, wherein a transport monitoring module is arranged on the transport unit, which transport monitoring module is configured to detect accelerations or changes in position acting on the transport unit and to store information about same.

29. The method of claim 25, wherein a transport monitoring module is arranged on the transport unit, which transport monitoring module is configured to detect accelerations or changes in position acting on the transport unit and to store information about same.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0057] Embodiments of the application will be described in the following with reference to the accompanying drawings, with neither the drawings nor the description being intended to be interpreted as limiting the application.

[0058] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a transport unit according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0059] FIG. 2 is a side view of a transport unit according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0060] FIG. 3 is a front view of a holding frame of a transport unit according to an embodiment of the present application.

[0061] FIG. 4 is a side view of the holding frame from FIG. 3.

[0062] FIG. 5 is a sectional view along the plane A-A from FIG. 2.

[0063] FIG. 6 is a side view of a transport unit according to a further embodiment of the present application.

[0064] FIG. 7 is a sectional view along the plane B-B from FIG. 6.

[0065] The drawings are merely schematic and not true to scale. Like reference signs refer to like or equivalent features in the various drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0066] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of an exemplary transport unit 1, by means of which components of a moving walkway 19 can be transported. Details and possible designs of this exemplary transport unit 1 are shown in FIGS. 2 to 5.

[0067] In the example shown, the transport unit 1 comprises four moving walkway modules 3 and two holding frames 5. The moving walkway modules 3 are designed as moving walkway central parts 7. Each moving walkway central part 7 here comprises a supporting structure portion 9 on which a guide rail portion 11, a forward pallet belt portion 13 and a return pallet belt portion 15 are arranged. The moving walkway modules 3 extend parallel to a longitudinal direction 17. After transport using the transport unit 1, the moving walkway modules 3 can be assembled to form a moving walkway 19.

[0068] In the example shown, the supporting structure portion 9 is designed as a framework structure 55. This framework structure 55 comprises several upper chords 57, lower chords 59, transverse bars 61, upright bars 63 and diagonal bars 65. The various straps 57, 59 and bars 61, 63, 65 are made of steel profiles, for example, and are connected to one another in a load-bearing manner in order to form the framework 55. Connection elements 67 can also be provided on the supporting structure portion 9, by means of which other components, such as components of a moving walkway balustrade, can be attached to the supporting structure portion 9.

[0069] The pallet belt portions 13, 15 can have a plurality of pallets 69 which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction 17. The pallets 69 can be connected to one another and/or to a conveyor chain 71. The pallets 69 are held on the guide rail portion 11, such that a pallet belt composed as a whole of the pallets 69 can be guided by a guide rail composed of the guide rail portions 11.

[0070] In order to prevent the pallet belt portions 13, 15 from becoming detached from the guide rail portion 11 or the supporting structure portion 9 during transport, fastening means (or a fastener) 73 can be provided, by means of which the pallet belt portions 13, 15 can be temporarily attached to the guide rail portion 11 and/or the supporting structure portion 9 (clearly shown in FIG. 7, for example). The fastening means 73 can in particular prevent pallets 69 from moving relative to the supporting structure portion 9 and, for example, from slipping out of the guide rail portion 11. The fastening means 73 can be designed, for example, as loops or straps.

[0071] During transport, e.g., within the transport unit 1, the moving walkway modules 3 are arranged one above the other, e.g., stored one above the other in a plurality of levels or levels. The moving walkway modules 3 are held by the at least two holding frames 5.

[0072] For this purpose, as illustrated in particular in FIGS. 3 and 4, each of the holding frames 5 has a plurality of horizontal struts 21 and at least two vertical struts 23. In this case, the horizontal struts 21 and vertical struts 23 are formed with metal profiles 33. In the example shown, four horizontal struts 21′, 21″, 21′″, 21″″ are arranged vertically spaced apart from one another in different horizontal planes. A vertical distance between adjacent horizontal struts 21 is at least slightly greater than a height of the moving walkway modules 3 to be accommodated between the horizontal struts 21. Opposite ends of each of the horizontal struts 21 are each attached to one of the vertical struts 23. For example, the horizontal struts 21 and vertical struts 23 can be screwed together.

[0073] The transport unit 1 can be assembled in different ways or in different sequences. For example, a lowermost horizontal strut 21′ can first be provided. A lowermost moving walkway central part 7′ can then be placed on this horizontal strut 21′ (illustrated by way of example in FIG. 5). A vertical strut 23′, 23″ can then be attached to each of the opposite ends of the horizontal strut 21′. A further horizontal strut 21″ can then be attached to these vertical struts 23′, 23′ above the lowermost moving walkway central part 7′. The next moving walkway central part 7″ can then be placed on this further horizontal strut 21″, etc., until the entire transport unit 1 is assembled.

[0074] In order to be able to raise the moving walkway modules 3 during such loading of the transport unit 1, a plurality of lifting elements 49 can be attached to each moving walkway module 3. Such lifting elements 49 can be, for example, bars that can be temporarily connected to the supporting structure portion 9. The lifting elements 49 can then be lifted together with the moving walkway modules 3, for example, by means of a crane.

[0075] In order to prevent the moving walkway modules 3 from moving horizontally relative to the holding frame 5, it is also possible for the moving walkway modules 3 to be coupled to at least one of the vertical struts 23 and/or one of the horizontal struts 21. For example, the moving walkway modules 3 can be secured to one of these struts 21, 23 via screw connections 39 (illustrated in particular in FIG. 5).

[0076] After the moving walkway modules 3 have been arranged on the different levels of the transport unit 1, the entire transport unit 1, e.g., the two holding frames 5 including the moving walkway modules 3 arranged therein, can be loaded. For example, the entire transport unit 1 can be accommodated in a container 27 (shown in FIG. 1 only by broken lines for reasons of clarity). Such a container 27 is typically cuboid and is delimited by container walls 29. A single transport unit 1 can be accommodated in a single container 27. In the case of larger containers 27, a plurality of transport units 1 can also be accommodated in a single container 27.

[0077] In order to be able to load the transport unit 1 into a container 27 from above, for example, lifting structures 35 can be provided on the vertical struts 23. These lifting structures 35 can be designed in such a way that they can be used to lift all the holding frames 5 of the transport unit 1 together, for example, by means of a crane.

[0078] In the example shown, the lifting structures 35 are each designed as a through-opening 37 near an upper end of each of the vertical struts 23. A loop, for example, can be passed through such a through-opening 37, which loop can then be gripped and lifted by a crane hook.

[0079] In particular, in order to avoid the transport unit 1 moving within the container 27, e.g., being displaced relative to the container walls 29 and/or to another transport unit 1 accommodated in the container 27, end connection elements 25 can be provided. Such an end connection element 25 can be attached to an end, seen in the longitudinal direction 17, of one of the moving walkway modules 3. Such an end connection element 25 should preferably be attached to at least a lowermost moving walkway module 3 at one or preferably both opposite ends. The end connection elements 25 are designed and dimensioned such that the moving walkway module 3 can be supported on the container wall 29 or on an adjacent moving walkway module 3 via the end connection elements 25.

[0080] The end connection elements 25 can additionally be configured in order to be used to be able to move the entire transport unit 1 or at least one of the moving walkway modules 3 horizontally, for example, in order to be able to pull the transport unit 1 out of a laterally opened container 27. For this purpose, the end connection element 25 can have an engagement opening 31. A hook of a pulling machine can, for example, engage in this engagement opening 31, by means of which hook a sufficient tensile force can then be exerted on the moving walkway module 3 connected thereto via the end connection element 25.

[0081] Another possible embodiment of a transport unit 1 is shown in FIGS. 6 and 7. While four substantially identical moving walkway modules 3 in the form of moving walkway parts 7 were accommodated in the holding frame 5 in the embodiment shown in the preceding drawings, in the embodiment shown here different types of moving walkway modules 3 are arranged in the transport unit 1.

[0082] In the example shown, a different type of moving walkway module 3 in the form of a deflection drive module 41 or a deflection tensioning module 43 is accommodated in the transport unit 1 between a lower moving walkway module 3 designed as a moving walkway central part 7′ and an upper moving walkway module 3 also designed as a moving walkway central part 7″.

[0083] Such deflection drive modules 41 or deflection tensioning modules 43 generally have a significantly greater height than, for example, moving walkway central parts 7. Accordingly, a vertical distance between horizontal struts 21″, 21′″, which delimit the compartment in which the deflection drive module 41 or the deflection tensioning module 43 is to be accommodated, must be significantly greater than for accommodating moving walkway central parts 7 (illustrated in particular in FIG. 7).

[0084] In addition, the deflection drive modules 41 or deflection tensioning modules 43 can also have a greater width than the moving walkway central parts 7. A lateral distance between the vertical struts 23′, 23″ can thus be selected to be greater for this transport unit 1 than for a transport unit 1 in which only moving walkway parts 7 are to be accommodated. In order to still be able to secure the lower and upper moving walkway central part 7′, 7″ laterally to the vertical struts 23′, 23″, spacer elements 53 can be used (see FIG. 7).

[0085] In addition, deflection drive modules 41 or deflection tensioning modules 43 are usually significantly heavier than moving walkway central parts 7. In order to be able to absorb the heavy weight of such deflection drive modules 41 or deflection tensioning modules 43 or to be able to distribute said weight appropriately within the transport unit 1, additional support elements 51 can be provided in the transport unit 1 (see FIG. 6). By means of the support elements 51, one of the deflection drive modules 41 or deflection tensioning modules 43 can be supported, for example, downwards to a moving walkway middle part 7 below. The support elements 51 can be provided, for example, in a region in the longitudinal direction 17 between the holding frames 5. Correspondingly, such support elements 51 can also be used for moving walkway central parts 7 which are significantly shorter than the other moving walkway central parts 7, so that they can be attached to a holding frame 5 only at one end. The other end can be fastened via support elements 51 to the moving walkway central part 7 arranged below and/or above said end. Of course, it is also possible to fasten such a short moving walkway central part 7 completely to a longer moving walkway central part 7 and thus to connect it indirectly to the holding frame 5. By connecting the moving walkway modules 3 to one another by means of support elements 51, the transport unit 1 can be made overall even more resistant to impacts and bending loads, such that the moving walkway modules 3 or moving walkway central parts 7, deflection drive modules 41 and deflection tensioning modules 43 support and protect one another in this way.

[0086] In particular, in order to be able to detect transport damage that can be caused, for example, by a crash or a collision of the transport unit 1 during transport thereof, the transport unit 1 can also have a transport monitoring module 45 (shown schematically in FIG. 1). The transport monitoring module 45 can be provided on one of the holding frames 5, for example. The transport monitoring module 45 can use a sensor system to detect accelerations and/or changes in position acting on the transport unit 1. Data determined by the sensor system can be stored and/or processed in order to be able to derive information from this data, for example, regarding possible transport damage. For example, the information in the data regarding excessive accelerations that have occurred can be used in order to be able to determine any damaging effects of the accelerations that have occurred on the moving walkway 19 by means of a data set of a digital twin or double of the moving walkway 19 serving as a simulation environment.

[0087] In order to be able to establish the identity of a transport unit 1 or at least of the holding frame 5 inserted therein, identification marks 47 can be provided on the holding frame 5 (shown schematically in FIG. 1). Such identification marks can preferably be read out in an automated manner. The location of the holding frames 5, for example, can be tracked using the identification marks. This information can be used, for example, to create a motivation for sending the holding frames 5 back to a sender of the transport unit 1 after they have been used. For this purpose a type of deposit system, for example, can be set up. Alternatively, functionalities of the moving walkway can be activated only when the holding frames 5 have been returned.

[0088] Finally, it should be noted that terms such as “comprising,” “having,” etc. do not preclude other elements or steps and terms such as “a” or “an” do not preclude a plurality. Furthermore, it should be noted that features or steps that have been described with reference to one of the above embodiments may also be used in combination with other features or steps of other embodiments described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be considered to be limiting.