Rail wheel set and car

Abstract

A rail wheel set for a car which can be moved on a rail of a rail system has a bearing housing with a radial suspension for connecting the rail wheel set to the car, and two running wheels which are rotatably mounted on the bearing housing. Each wheel has a respective rail rolling surface, the shape of which is adapted to the contour of a running surface of the rail, and a respective ground rolling surface. The wheels can roll independently of each other on the running surface of the rail or on the ground. The rail wheel set is secured to a chassis of a car for transporting objects on a rail system.

Claims

1. A rail wheel set (2) for a car (1) movable on a rail (9) of a rail system (12), comprising a bearing housing (6) having a wheel suspension configured for connecting the rail wheel set (2) to the car (1), and two running wheels (4, 5) rotatably mounted on the bearing housing (6), each of the wheels having a respective rail rolling surface (41, 51) shaped to match a contour of a running surface of the rail (9), and a respective ground rolling surface (42, 52), wherein the wheels are configured to roll independently of one another on the running surface (91) of the rail (9) or on a floor, wherein the rail rolling surfaces each have an inner edge and an outer edge, wherein the ground rolling surfaces (42, 52) are each integrally formed in one piece with the outer edge of the respective rail rolling surfaces (41, 51), and wherein the rail rolling surfaces configured to be arranged on the rail together with the inner edges of the rail rolling surfaces facing each other, with the ground rolling surfaces to the outside.

2. The rail wheel set (2) according to claim 1, wherein the running wheels (4, 5) are arranged on the bearing housing (6) oriented inclined at an angle to one another.

3. The rail wheelset (2) according to claim 2, wherein the running wheels (4, 5) are each oriented inclined to one another at an angle of inclination (a) of 40 to 80.

4. The rail wheel set (2) according to claim 1, wherein the running wheels (4, 5) are oriented parallel to one another.

5. The rail wheel set (2) according to claim 1, wherein the rail rolling surfaces (41, 51) are formed as a circular section in cross-section through a diameter of the respective running wheel (4, 5).

6. The rail wheel set (2) according to claim 1, wherein a wrap angle (B) encompassed by the two rail rolling surfaces (41, 51) of the running wheels (4, 5) is less than 180 or exactly 180 when viewed in cross-section through a diameter of the respective running wheel (4, 5).

7. The rail wheel set (2) according claim 1, wherein a wrap angle (B) encompassed by the two rail rolling surfaces (41, 51) of the running wheels (4, 5) is more than 180 when viewed in cross-section through a diameter of the respective running wheel (4, 5).

8. The rail wheel set (2) according to claim 1, wherein the ground rolling surfaces (42, 52), as viewed in cross-section through a diameter of the respective running wheel (4, 5), are straight.

9. The rail wheel set (2) according to claim 1, wherein a plate (7) configured for connection to the car (1) is arranged on the bearing housing (6).

10. The rail wheel set (2) according to claim 9, wherein the plate (7) is rotatably attached to the bearing housing (6).

11. A car (1) for transporting objects on a rail system (12), comprising a chassis (3) and rail wheel sets (2) attached to the chassis (3), wherein the rail wheel sets (2) are designed according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES

(1) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective representation of an embodiment variant of a rail wheel set mounted on a rail,

(2) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view through the rail wheel set and the rail shown in FIG. 1,

(3) FIG. 3 shows a schematic perspective representation of a section of a rail system with a rotating running surface,

(4) FIG. 4 shows a perspective representation of a rail wheel set positioned at an intersection point of a rail system,

(5) FIGS. 5 and 6 show different perspective representations of a car with rail wheel sets arranged thereon.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

(6) In the following figure description, terms such as above, below, left, right, front, rear, etc. refer exclusively to the exemplary representation and position of the rail wheel set, rail, car, bearing housing, running wheels and the like selected in the respective figures. These terms are not to be understood in a restrictive way, i.e. these references may change due to different working positions or the mirror-symmetrical design or the like.

(7) In FIGS. 1-4 and 6, the reference numeral 2 designates altogether an embodiment variant of a rail wheel set for a car 1 that can be moved on a rail 9 of a rail system 12.

(8) The rail wheel set 2 has, as shown in particular in FIGS. 1 and 2, a bearing housing 6 with two axle mounts 61 for the pivot bearing of two running wheels 4, 5.

(9) The running wheels 4, 5, which are rotatably mounted on the bearing housing 6, each have a rail rolling surface 41, 51 and a ground rolling surface 42, 52.

(10) The two running wheels 4, 5 can roll independently of each other on the running surface 91 of the rail 9 or on a flat floor.

(11) The rail rolling surfaces 41, 51 of the running wheels 4, 5 are shaped to match the contour of the running surface 91 of the rail 9. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the rail 9 is designed as a round rail embedded in a rail bearing 11, which can be installed in a floor of a factory building or the like.

(12) Accordingly, the rail rolling surfaces 41, 51 of the two running wheels 4, 5 are shaped as a circular section in cross-section through a diameter of the respective running wheel 4, 5, as shown in FIG. 2, which shows the rail wheel set 2 in such a cross-sectional view when mounted on rail 9.

(13) In this case, the two running wheels 4, 5 are rotatably mounted via bearings, preferably roller bearings 10 on the axle mounts 61 of the bearing housing 6.

(14) As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the running wheels 4, 5 are arranged at an angle to each other on the bearing housing 6.

(15) Accordingly, the axle mounts 61 of the bearing housing 6 are not horizontal, but inclined.

(16) The angle of inclination a of the running wheels 4, 5 is preferably between 20 and 40 to a vertical axis of the rail wheel set 2. The running wheels 4, 5 are oriented inclined particularly at an angle of inclination a of 30 to the vertical and are accordingly at an angle of inclination of 60 to each other.

(17) The running wheels 4, 5 are fixed with the respective screw bolts 63 in mounting holes of the axle mounts 61.

(18) It is also conceivable to align the running wheels 4, 5 parallel to each other.

(19) As further shown in FIG. 2, a wrap angle , defined by the angular distance of the outer edges of the rail rolling surfaces 41, 51, is less or exactly 180, preferably in a range of 90 to 130, allowing the rail wheel set 2 to be placed on the running surface 91 of the rail 9.

(20) In principle, it is also conceivable to shape the rail rolling surfaces 41, 51 in such a way that they encompass the rail 9 at a wrap angle of more than 180, which would involve captive mounting of the rail wheel set 2.

(21) The ground rolling surfaces 42, 52 of the respective running wheel 4, 5 are preferably integrally formed on one edge of the rail rolling surfaces 41, 51.

(22) In the embodiment variant of the rail wheel set 2 running on a round rail shown here, the ground rolling surfaces 42, 52 are integrally formed on the respective outer edge of the rail rolling surfaces 41, 51.

(23) The ground rolling surfaces 42, 52 are straight or slightly convex in cross-section through a diameter of the respective running wheel 4, 5, as shown in FIG. 2, to ensure a sufficient contact surface on a flat floor.

(24) To fix the rail wheel set 2 to a car 1, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 by way of example, the bearing housing 6 has a plate bearing holder 62 to accommodate a plate 7, which can be fixed, in particular screwed, to a chassis 3 of car 1.

(25) In this case, several holes 73 are provided in the plate 7 for the screw connection of plate 7. These holes 73 are used for the passage of screw bolts and can be used to screw the plate 7 to the chassis 3, for example to mounting plates 32 of the chassis 3.

(26) As shown in FIG. 2, the plate 7 is attached to the bearing housing 6, preferably rotatably via a pivot bearing 8. The plate 7 is preferably mounted via roller bearings 10 both around a vertical axis of rotation in the plate bearing holder 62 and via a horizontally oriented pivot bearing on the bearing housing 6.

(27) FIG. 3 shows a section of a rail system 12, with rails 9 running at the same angle to each other and meeting at the respective intersection points 14.

(28) In the region of these intersection points 14 there is no rail but a flat plate 15.

(29) From this intersection point 14 with the centrally arranged flat plate 15, both rails 9 and a rotating track 13 with a flat running surface extend.

(30) The rotating track 13 and the distances between the intersection points 14 are adapted to the dimensions of the positions of the rail wheel sets 2 on car 1.

(31) In the embodiment variant shown here in FIGS. 3, 5 and 6, the rail wheel sets 2 are arranged relative to each other as a square, so that a turnstile shown in FIG. 3 as an example requires only four such intersection points 14.

(32) A rectangular arrangement of the rail wheel sets 2 on car 1 is also conceivable, for example, for which four or more intersection points 14 would have to be provided in a turnstile shown in FIG. 3.

(33) In order to turn the car 1, the rail wheel sets 2 must be pushed down from rail 9 onto the flat plate 15 as shown in FIG. 4 as an example.

(34) On this flat plate 15, the ground rolling surfaces 42, 52 now rest on the surface of the plates 15 and can be easily rotated around a vertical central axis of the respective rail wheel set 2 to perform the rotary movement, so that the alignment of the rail wheel set 2 faces in the direction of the rotating track 13 or the transversely extending rail 9. During this rotation of the respective rail wheel sets 2, the running wheels 4, 5 rotate in opposite directions.

(35) Then the car 1 can be moved on the turnstile 16 in a rotary motion so that the rail wheel sets 2 are moved from a first intersection point 14 to an adjacent second intersection point 14 along the rotating tracks 13.

(36) As an alternative to turning the car, it can be moved further by moving the wheelsets 2 transversely at the respective intersection point 14 on the transversely extending rail 9.

(37) After reaching the next intersection point 14, the rail wheelsets 2 are rotated again about their vertical axis until they are oriented parallel to a rail 9, so that the car 1 can then be moved along an imaginary extension of parallel extending rails 9 in a direction different from the initial direction.

(38) In addition to the arrangement of the plates 7 on the bearing housing 6 centrically to the running wheels 4, 5, which is shown as a preferred exemplary embodiment, it is also conceivable that the axis of rotation of the plate 7 is eccentrically positioned on the bearing housing 6.

(39) Another advantage of the angularly oriented running wheels 4, 5 compared to an integral running wheel placed on the rail is the reduced friction between the running wheels and the rail. As a result of the large forces that regularly occur in the use of such cars 1 when transporting heavy objects, a pressure ellipse is always formed when rolling running wheels with a concave rail rolling surface, which is accompanied by an offset of the rolling radius within the rail rolling surface.

(40) As the force is applied in the vertical direction (direction of the weight force) in an integrally designed running wheel, there is a greater offset of the rolling radius than in a rail wheel set with two running wheels, in particular running wheels 4, 5, which are oriented at an angle to each other, as shown by way of example in FIG. 2, as the force is applied at an angle to the vertical of the rail 9.

(41) With a pressure ellipse forming symmetrically to the point of force application, the resulting offset of the rolling radius in relation to a rail wheel with a running wheel placed vertically on the rail is significantly reduced.

(42) A further advantage of the inclined running wheels 4, 5 is that, compared to a vertical running wheel arrangement, larger rolling diameters are possible with the same overall height of the rail wheel set or a flatter, more compact overall height is possible with the same rolling diameter of the running wheels, compared to running wheels standing vertically on a round rail.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(43) 1 Car 2 Rail wheel set 3 Chassis 31 Wheel mount 4 Running wheel 41 Rail rolling surface 42 Ground rolling surface Running wheel 51 Rail rolling surface 52 Ground rolling surface 6 Bearing housing 61 Axle mount 62 Plate bearing holder 63 Screw bolt 7 Plate 71 Upper side 72 Underside 73 Hole 8 Pivot bearing 9 Rail 91 Running surface Roller bearing 11 Rail bearing 12 Rail system 13 Rotating track 14 Intersection region Plate 16 Turnstile Angle of inclination Wrap angle