System for moving vehicles along two tracks

Abstract

A system for moving vehicles along two tracks that are in each case formed by two guides, in particular rails. The vehicles are moved by endless conveying cables to which the vehicles may be coupled. The two tracks have a switch in the regions of the end stations and where appropriate along the course, by way of which they are brought together. The switch has four guides which are located next to one another. The middle two guides, which are rigidly connected to one another, are pivotal about a first axis and the outer two guides, which are connected to one another in an articulated manner, are pivotal about two further axes that are spaced from one another. The switch that is formed by the four guides can thus be pivoted out of a first position into a second position.

Claims

1. A system for moving vehicles, comprising: a plurality of tracks each formed by two guides for supporting the vehicles; at least two conveying cables extending along said tracks below a level of said guides for coupling the vehicles thereto and moving the vehicles along said tracks; at least one switch disposed in said tracks at terminal stations or along a course of said tracks, said switch having four guides disposed next to one another, said four guides including two middle guides rigidly connected to one another and pivotally mounted about a first axis, and including two outer guides, connected to one another in an articulated manner, and pivotally mounted about two mutually spaced-apart further axes, wherein said switch that is formed by said four guides is pivotal out of a first position into a second position.

2. The system according to claim 1, wherein said guides of said tracks are rails.

3. The system according to claim 1, wherein said conveying cables are endlessly circulating conveying cables.

4. The system according to claim 1, which further comprises a servo lever connected to said two inner guides of said switch, and pivotally mounted at an end outside said two guides about a fixed axis, and a servo piston articulated to said servo lever and configured to move said two inner guides into one of the two pivotal positions thereof.

5. The system according to claim 4, wherein said two outer guides on the outside of said switch are connected to one another in an articulated manner by way of a transverse strut, and which comprises a further servo piston for pivoting said two outer guides about further axes each arranged to the side and outside.

6. The system according to claim 5, wherein said further servo piston is articulated to said strut connecting said two outer guides in an articulated manner.

7. The system according to claim 1, wherein said guides of said switch are each configured with at least one movable support that is movable along a curved path.

8. The system according to claim 1, wherein said guides are each constructed to have at least one support with which a counter-bearing is associated in first and second positions of said switch.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWING

(1) FIG. 1 is a plan view of a switch which is located in a system for moving vehicles by way of two conveying cables, in a first position of the switch;

(2) FIG. 1A is a section taken along the plane IA-IA in FIG. 1;

(3) FIG. 1B is a section along the plane IB-IB in FIG. 1; and

(4) FIG. 2 is a plan view of the switch illustrated in FIG. 1 in a second position of the switch.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INTENTION

(5) Referring now to the figures of the drawing in detail and first, particularly, to FIG. 1 thereof, there is shown a system for moving vehicles having a first track 1, which is formed by two guides 11 and 12, in particular rails, and a second track 2, which is formed by two guides 21 and 22, in particular rails. Furthermore, a third track 3 is provided, which is formed by two guides 31 and 32, in particular rails, and which is joined to the first track 1 or the second track 2 by way of a switch 4, which is formed by four guides 41, 41a, 42 and 42a which are located next to one another, in particular rails.

(6) In FIG. 1 the switch 4 connects to first track 1 to the third track 3.

(7) The vehicles are moved along the tracks 1, 2 and 3 by means of two continuous conveying cables 51 and 52 which run along the tracks 1, 2 and 3, wherein they are guided by way of deflection rolls 53 and 54 or carrying rolls 55.

(8) The inner two guides 41 and 41a of the switch 4 are rigidly connected to one another by way of a plurality of struts 43. Furthermore provided is a servo lever 44, which is pivotal about a fixed axis 40 by means of a servo cylinder 45 and a servo rod 45a and which is rigidly connected to the guides 41 and 41a. By means of the servo cylinder 45, the guides 41 and 41a are pivotal about the axis 40 out of a first position, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, into a second position, which is illustrated in FIG. 2.

(9) The outer two guides 42 and 42a are connected to one another by means of a strut 46 which is pivotally articulated thereto. Furthermore, the outer two guides 42 and 42a are movable by means of a servo cylinder 47 and servo rod 47a, which is articulated to the strut 46, about two further fixed axes 40a and 40b, out of a first position, which is illustrated in FIG. 1, into a second position, which is illustrated in FIG. 2.

(10) The guides 41, 41, 42 and 42a are constructed to have a plurality of support devices 6, which are illustrated in FIG. 1A and are formed by support rolls 61 that are movable along paths 62 that run transversely in relation to the guides 41, 41a, 42 and 42a. Furthermore, the guides 41, 41a, 42 and 42a are constructed to have a plurality of support elements 63, which are illustrated in FIG. 1B and with which fixed counter-elements 64 are associated.

(11) In the first position of the switch 4, vehicles that are coupled to the conveying cable 51, and are hence moved thereby in the direction of the arrow A, pass along the guides 11 and 12, over the guides 41 and 42 and onto the guides 31 and 32. In the end station, coupling of the vehicles is transferred from the first conveying cable 51 onto the conveying cable 52, which is moved in the opposite direction, as a result of which, once the switch 4 has been operated, they are moved in the direction of the arrow B, over the guides 41a and 42a and onto the adjoining guides 21 and 22 of the second track 2.

(12) Because the guides 41, 41a, 42 and 42a of the switch 4 adjoin each of the guides 11 and 12 of the first track 1, the guides 21 and 22 of the second track 2 and the guides 31 and 32 of the third track 3, directly and with no change in the curvature, when the vehicles run over the switch 4 any jolting is avoided, as a result of which the travel properties of the vehicles are significantly improved and their speeds of travel can be increased. Because, furthermore, the guides 41, 41a, 42 and 42a of the switch 4 are pivoted from the first position into the second position, collisions between the guides 41 to 44 and the conveying cables 51 and 52 are avoided.