RAILLESS TUGGER TRAIN

Abstract

A railless tugger train (100) includes a train module (10), at least one transportation module and at least two axis modules, wherein each axis module has a stiffly configured axis beam, at which a first mounting device is configured in the form of a stiff mounting of the train module or a transportation module and at which a second mounting device is configured for an articulated connection of a transportation module. At least two wheels (19) are mounted at the axis beam in such a way that the wheels are each rotatable around a rotation axis (D) which is configured vertical to the longitudinal axis (L) of the axis beam.

Claims

1. Railless tugger train with a train module, at least one transportation module and at least two axis modules, characterized in that each axis module has a stiffly configured axis beam, at which a first mounting device is configured in the form of a stiff mounting of the train module or a transportation module and at which a second mounting device is configured for an articulated connection of a transportation module, wherein at least two wheels are mounted at the axis beam in such a way that the wheels are each rotatable around a rotation axis (D) which is configured vertical to the longitudinal axis (L) of the axis beam.

2. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that the rotational axis (D) of the wheel is configured outside or inside a contact surface (A) of the wheel.

3. Railless tugger train according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the wheels are each arranged at a steering knuckle which is rotatable around the rotational axis (D) and is mounted at the axis beam.

4. Railless tugger train according to claim 3, characterized in that the steering knuckles mounted at an axis beam are individually drivable by means of a steering drive or that the steering knuckles mounted at an axis beam are coupled with each other via a connecting rod and are conjointly drivable by means of a steering drive.

5. Railless tugger train according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that wheels are each arranged in an individual center pivot plate retainer or in a fixed castor retainer, which are rotatably mounted at the axis beam.

6. Railless tugger train according to claim 5, characterized in that the individual center pivot plate retainers or fixed castor retainers mounted at an axis beam are individually drivable by means of a steering drive or conjointly by means of a steering drive.

7. Railless tugger train according to claim 4, characterized in that the steering drive is configured electrically, hydraulically or pneumatically.

8. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one sensor is arranged at at least one of the axis modules, by means of which data relating to the dynamics of the tugger train (100) movement are continuously measurable.

9. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one electronic steering control device is provided at the axis modules, by means of which the current state of movement of the axis module and thus the steer angles of the wheels to be adjusted by the steering drive are determinable, and wherein the steering control device includes an adjustment device with which one or several steering drive(s) of the axis module is/are adjusted in such a way that the previously determined steer angles are reached.

10. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one connecting device for a power supply connectable to the train module via an electric line is arranged at at least one of the axis modules.

11. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one energy storage device is provided at at least one of the axis modules.

12. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one hoisting device for hoisting and lowering a transportation module connected to the axis module is arranged at at least one of the axis modules.

13. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one acoustic and/or optic signal transmitter is arranged at at least one of the axis modules.

14. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one electronic display device is arranged at at least one of the axis modules.

15. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one input device arranged at at least one of the axis modules.

16. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one operating data processing unit is arranged at at least one of the axis modules.

17. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that a braking device is arranged at at least one of the axis modules, wherein an individual brake assembly of the braking device is assigned to each wheel arranged at the axis module.

18. Railless tugger train according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one of the axis modules has a traction drive device.

19. Railless tugger train according to claim 18, characterized in that an individual traction drive device is assigned to each wheel of an axis module.

20. Railless tugger train according to claim 18, characterized in that the traction drive device is adjustable and/or controllable by means of an electronic drive control device.

Description

SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] Further measures improving the invention are shown in more detail in the following together with the description of exemplary embodiments of the invention by means of the figures.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a schematic of a railless tugger train according to the invention,

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a view of a sequence of axis modules and transportation modules in different embodiments for a railless tugger train as shown in FIG. 1.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a schematic of an axis module according to the invention for a railless tugger train as shown in FIG. 1,

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a schematic of an individual center pivot plate retainer with a wheel arranged thereon according to the invention,

[0034] FIG. 5 shows a schematic of a fixed castor retainer with a wheel arranged thereon according to the invention,

[0035] FIG. 6 shows a schematic of an axis module according to a further embodiment of the invention for a railless tugger train as shown in FIG. 1,

[0036] FIG. 7 shows a further view of the axis module shown in FIG. 6 during a steering movement,

[0037] FIG. 8 shows a schematic of an axis module according to a further embodiment of the invention for a railless tugger train as shown in FIG. 1,

[0038] FIG. 9 shows a schematic of an axis module according to a further embodiment of the invention for a railless tugger train as shown in FIG. 1,

[0039] FIG. 10 shows a schematic of an axis module according to a further embodiment of the invention for a railless tugger train as shown in FIG. 1,

[0040] FIG. 11 shows a schematic of an axis module according to a further embodiment of the invention for a railless tugger train as shown in FIG. 1,

[0041] FIG. 12 shows a schematic of an individual center pivot plate retainer with a traction drive device arranged thereon and a braking device arranged thereon according to the invention,

PREFERRED EMBODIMENT OF THE INVENTION

[0042] FIG. 1 schematically shows a railless tugger train 100 according to the invention. The railless tugger train has a train module 10, several transportation modules 11 arranged behind one another and several axis modules 12, wherein one axis module 12 each is arranged between two transportation modules 12 arranged behind each other and between the train module 10 and the first—in driving direction F—transportation module 11. Further, an axis module 12 is assigned also to the—in driving direction F—last transportation module 11 as completion of the tugger train 100.

[0043] Each axis module 12 has a fixedly configured axis beam 13, which is configured in the form of a rod or a beam.

[0044] A first mounting device 14 is configured in the form of a stiff mounting of the train module 10 or a transportation module 11 at each axis beam 13, wherein this first mounting device 14 is preferably configured at the—in driving direction F—forward longitudinal side 15 of the axis beam 13. The train module 10 or one of the transportation modules 11 is arranged at the first mounting device 14 in a rotatably fixed manner, so that a relative movement in the connection area between the axis beam 13 and the train module 10 or the transportation module 11 is avoided.

[0045] In addition to the first mounting device 14, a second mounting device 16 is arranged at each axis beam 13, at which an articulated connection of a transportation module 11 is enabled. The second mounting device is configured in the form of a tow coupling. Due to the articulated connection of a transportation module 11 to this second mounting device 16, it can be achieved that the transportation module 11 connected to the second mounting device 16 can be pivoted relative to the axis beam 13 if the tugger train 100 runs on a curved track.

[0046] For connecting a transportation module 11 to the second mounting device 16, the transportation module is provided with a cantilever arm 17, which can be directly connected to the second mounting device in an articulated manner.

[0047] The connection of the transportation module 11 to the first mounting device 14, however, is carried out without such a cantilever arm.

[0048] For connecting the train module 10 to the first mounting device 14, the train module 10 has a cantilever arm 18, wherein this cantilever arm 18 is connected to the first mounting device 14 in a fixed, in particular in a rotatably fixed, manner. To the main body 20 of the train module 10, however, the cantilever arm 18 is connected in an articulated manner.

[0049] Two wheels 19 each are mounted at the individual axis beams 13 of the axis modules 12 in such a way that the wheels 19 are each rotatable around a rotation axis D which is configured vertical to the longitudinal axis L of the axis beam 13. During a cornering of the tugger train 100, the wheels 19 can be pivoted relative to the axis beam 13, as shown in FIG. 1.

[0050] As shown in the following FIGS. 2 to 12, the axis modules 12 and the transportation modules 11 can be configured differently.

[0051] FIG. 2 shows a view in which the transportation modules 11 are configured as modules which have a support surface 43 or which have a reception area 44, in which loads can be hung.

[0052] FIG. 3 shows an embodiment of an axis module 12, in which the wheels 19 are each arranged in an individual center pivot plate retainer 21, wherein both individual center pivot plate retainers 21 are each rotatably mounted at the axis beam 13. Due to the rotatable mounting, the wheels 19 are rotatable relative to the axis beam 13. The rotational axis D of the wheels 19, which is configured vertically to the longitudinal axis L of the axis beam 13, directly passes through the wheels 19 and thus through the wheel contact surface A of the wheels 19.

[0053] A belt pulley 22 each is arranged at the individual center pivot plate retainers 21, wherein the belt pulleys 22 can be driven by a motor 23, which is connected to the respective belt pulley 22 via a belt drive 24. A belt pulley 22, a motor 23 and a belt drive 24 together form a steering drive, wherein in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3 an individual steering drive in the form of a belt pulley 22, a belt drive 24 and a motor 23 is provided for each individual center pivot plate retainer 21 and thus for each wheel 19.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows a respective individual center pivot plate retainer 21 with a wheel 19 arranged at same in detail. Here, it can be seen that in this embodiment the rotational axis D is located inside the wheel contact surface A and thus coincides with the vertical of the wheel contact surface A.

[0055] As an alternative to an individual center pivot plate retainer 21, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the wheels 19 can also be arranged in a fixed castor retainer 25 as shown in FIG. 5. In this fixed castor retainer 25, the rotational axis D is also arranged inside the wheel contact surface A, so that the rotational axis D coincides with the vertical of the wheel contact surface A.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows a further embodiment of an axis module 12, wherein in this embodiment, the wheels 19 are each rotatably arranged at a steering knuckle 26 which is arranged at the axis beam 13 and is rotatable around the rotational axis D. In this embodiment, the rotational axis D of the wheel 19 is spaced apart from the respective wheel 19, so that the rotational axis D is located outside a wheel contact surface A of the wheel 19.

[0057] The wheels 19 are arranged at the steering knuckles 26 in a rotatably fixed manner. The two steering knuckles 26 are coupled with each other via a connecting rod 27. The steering drive is effected via this connecting rod, with the connecting rod 27 being set in a translational movement via a hydraulic cylinder 28, and this translational movement is transferred or transformed into a rotatory movement of the steering knuckles 26. This is schematically shown particularly in FIG. 7. By this rotatory movement of the steering knuckles 26, a rotational movement of the wheels 19 relative to the axis beam 13 is effected.

[0058] FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of an axis module 12, at which sensors 29 are provided at the axis module 12. The sensors 29 shown here are configured as wheel speed sensors and are positioned in the vicinity to the wheels 19. Further, in this embodiment, no hydraulic cylinder is provided for driving the connecting rod, but a motor 30 which sets the connecting rod 27 in a translational motion in order to achieve a steering of the wheels via the steering knuckles 26. A further sensor in the form of a position sensor can, for example, be arranged at the motor 30. Further, in the embodiment shown in FIG. 8, an individual traction drive device 38 is arranged at each wheel, which here is configured respectively as a wheel hub motor with a gear mechanism.

[0059] FIG. 9 shows an embodiment of an axis module 12, in which a connecting device 31 for energy supply, a hoisting device 32, an acoustic and/or optic signal transmitter 33, an electronic display device 34 and an input device 35 are arranged.

[0060] FIG. 10 shows an embodiment, in which an energy storage device 36 is arranged instead of the connecting device for power supply.

[0061] In the embodiment of an axis module 12 shown in FIG. 11, the hoisting device 32 is shown in an extended position, in which the transportation module 11 arranged—here not shown—at the second mounting device 16 provided in the region of the hoisting device 32 is hoisted. As schematically indicated in FIG. 11 by the arrow, the hoisting device 32 can be hoisted and lowered in order to achieve an upward and downward movement of the transportation module 11 attached to the second mounting device 16.

[0062] As can be seen in FIGS. 9 to 11, the first mounting device 14 has bore holes 37, via which a transportation module 11 or a cantilever arm 18 of a train module 10 can be detachably mounted by means of screws.

[0063] FIG. 12 shows a further embodiment of an individual center pivot plate retainer 21, in which a traction drive device 38 comprising a gear mechanism 39 and a motor 40 is directly arranged at the individual center pivot plate retainer 21. Additionally, a braking device 41 is arranged at the individual center pivot plate retainer 21, which has a brake assembly 42 directly assigned to the wheel 19.

[0064] The invention is not limited in its embodiment to the above-described preferred embodiments. Rather, a number of variants are conceivable, which make use of the described solution also for basically different embodiments. All features and/or advantages arising from the claims, the description or the figures, including structural details, spatial arrangements and process steps, can be essential to the invention both by themselves or in arbitrary combinations.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0065] 100 tugger train [0066] 10 train module [0067] 11 transportation module [0068] 12 axis module [0069] 13 axis beam [0070] 14 first mounting device [0071] 15 longitudinal side [0072] 16 second mounting device [0073] 17 cantilever arm [0074] 18 cantilever arm [0075] 19 wheel [0076] 20 main body [0077] 21 individual center pivot plate retainer [0078] 22 belt pulley [0079] 23 motor [0080] 24 belt drive [0081] 25 fixed castor retainer [0082] 26 steering knuckle [0083] 27 connecting rod [0084] 28 hydraulic cylinder [0085] 29 sensor [0086] 30 motor [0087] 31 connecting device [0088] 32 hoisting device [0089] 33 signal transmitter [0090] 34 display device [0091] 35 input device [0092] 36 energy storage device [0093] 37 bore hole [0094] 38 traction drive device [0095] 39 gear mechanism [0096] 40 motor [0097] 41 braking device [0098] 42 brake assembly [0099] 43 support surface [0100] 44 reception area [0101] L longitudinal axis [0102] D rotational axis [0103] A wheel contact surface [0104] F driving direction