TRANSPORT SYSTEM WITH AN ENGAGEMENT MEMBER MOUNTED TO A RAIL

Abstract

An embodiment of a transport system may include a vehicle and a circuit with a rail extending at least on sections of the circuit. The system may include a drive system configured for a positive drive for propelling the vehicle along the circuit, wherein, at least on sections extending along the circuit, the drive system has first and second engagement members. The first engagement member may have a first projection and an adjacent second projection on at least sections of the circuit and, between the first and adjacent second projections, grooves, which are each bounded by the first and adjacent second projections. The first engagement member may have one or more openings, of which at least one through-opening is formed between the first and adjacent second projections. Through the through-opening may engage a connecting member configured for connecting the first engagement member with the rail for attachment to the rail.

Claims

1. A transport system comprising: a vehicle; a circuit with a rail extending at least on sections of the circuit, the vehicle being movably disposed along the circuit; and a drive system configured for a positive drive for propelling the vehicle along the circuit, wherein, at least on sections extending along the circuit, the drive system has a first engagement member and the drive system has a second engagement member, which is connected to the vehicle and which is propellable, wherein the first engagement member has a first projection and an adjacent second projection on at least sections of the circuit and, between the first and adjacent second projections, grooves, which are each bounded by the first projection and the adjacent second projection, further wherein the first engagement member has one or more openings, of which at least one through-opening is formed between the first projection and the adjacent second projection, further wherein through the through-opening engages a connecting member configured for connecting the first engagement member with the rail for attachment to the rail.

2. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first engagement member is attached to at least sections of the rail by a positive-locking connecting member.

3. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first engagement member is attached to at least sections of the rail by a frictional-locking connecting member.

4. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein a cross-section of the rail is configured to have a convex outer surface.

5. The transport system in accordance with claim 4, wherein the first engagement member has at least one or more elements, each element comprising respectively a base region and an engagement region, wherein a respective surface of the respective base region in contact with the rail has a concave curvature which is complementary to the curvature of an outer surface of rail.

6. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein in a cross-sectional view an angle greater than 0° or equal to 0° and less than 90° is disposed between a radial plane of the rail and an engagement plane.

7. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the rail comprises at least one pipe with a bore or hole into which the connecting member is inserted.

8. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a screw.

9. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a positive-locking connecting member.

10. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein further positive-locking connecting members are disposed for additional attachment.

11. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein in addition to the connecting members, a welded connection is provided between the first engagement member and the rail.

12. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first engagement member rests on a guide device in a statically determined manner.

13. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting member is inserted radially into an attachment component of the rail.

14. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first engagement member is attached to a surface of the rail, wherein the rail also is configured to serve as a running surface for at least one wheel configured for guiding the vehicle.

15. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first engagement member is a flexible engagement member.

16. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the first engagement member is attached to a front, upper side of the rail, wherein a rear, bottom side and/or at least one end face or side face of the rail is configured to serve as a running surface for at least one wheel configured for guiding the vehicle.

17. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connecting member is a frictional-locking connecting member.

18. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein further frictional-locking connecting members are disposed for additional attachment.

19. The transport system in accordance with claim 1, wherein further frictional-locking and positive-locking connecting members are disposed for additional attachment.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0041] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of prior art of a conventional guide system for a rail-bound transport system;

[0042] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of prior art of a conventional guide system with a vehicle;

[0043] FIG. 3 is a side view of an embodiment of a rail-bound transport system according to the present invention;

[0044] FIG. 4 is a perspective plan view of an embodiment of a section of a rail with an engagement member according to the present invention;

[0045] FIG. 5 is a perspective plan view of an embodiment of a section of an engagement member according to the present invention; and

[0046] FIG. 6 a cross-sectional view of the embodiment of the engagement member from FIG. 4 according to the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0047] The embodiment described below relates to a transport system, especially to a rail-bound passenger transport system in the private sector. The transport system can, however, be used in any other application for which it is suitable.

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a conventional guide system 1′ comprising two parallel rails 2a′ and 2b′ for guiding dual track vehicles along a circuit as well as a rack 3′ disposed centrally between the rails 2a′, 2b′.

[0049] As shown in FIG. 2, the rack 3′ is intended for a positive drive 5′, 9′ 6′ of a vehicle 4′. Here, a gear wheel 6′ mounted to the vehicle 4′ and drivable by way of a motor 5′, engages with the rack 3′. The motor 5′ is connected to the chassis 7′ of the vehicle 4′. A shaft 9′ transmits the power from the motor 5′ to the gear wheel 6′. The chassis 7′ is guided along the circuit via rollers 8a′ 8b′, which make contact with the rails 2a′ and 2b′. The drive 5′, 9′ 6′ can have a shaft and/or gear but can also be formed as a direct drive (e.g., hub motor) without shaft/gear, or just with gear and pinion, i.e., without shaft. The drive motor can be an electromagnetic or hydraulic drive or a combination thereof.

[0050] FIG. 3 shows a side view of an inventive transport system. This has components similar to those in the system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. Equivalent components, however, are labelled without an apostrophe.

[0051] The transport system comprises a circuit with a guide system 1 and a vehicle 4. The vehicle 4 is movable along the circuit and is connected thereto. A first engagement member 3, e.g., a rack, but especially a flexible engagement member such as a chain, is provided for positive drive of the vehicle 4. For this, a gear wheel 6 for positive drive which is mounted to the vehicle 4 and driven by way of a motor 5, engages with the engagement member 3. The motor 5 is connected to the chassis 7 of the vehicle 4. A shaft 8 transmits the power from the motor 5 to the gear wheel 6.

[0052] The chassis 7 is guided along the circuit via rollers 8a, 8b, which make contact with the rails 2a and 2b. The drive can have a shaft and/or transmission but can also be formed as a direct drive (e.g., wheel hub motor) without shaft/transmission, or just with transmission and pinion, i.e., without shaft. The drive motor can be an electromagnetic or hydraulic drive or a combination thereof.

[0053] According to one or more embodiments of the present invention, the first engagement member 3 is attached to a rail 2a, in this case to a running rail or guide rail 2a. The type of attachment is, e.g., illustrated in detail in FIG. 4.

[0054] In this exemplary embodiment, the engagement member 3 is a chain comprising inner tooth segments 30 each having two teeth 300, 301 and two opposing inner tooth flanks 3001, 3011 and two outer tooth flanks 3002, 3012. Between each two inner tooth segments 30 is disposed an outer tooth segment 31 with two outer tooth components 310 and 311 encompassing the inner tooth segment 30 (see also FIG. 5). The outer tooth segment 31 is connected to a chain holder 32, via which the engagement member 3 is connected to the rail 2a. The opposing inner tooth flanks 3001 of each of the inner tooth segments 30 and their outer flanks 3012 and 3002 of two adjacent inner tooth segments 30 (together with the inner flanks 312 and 313 of the outer tooth segment 31 connected in each case) each form an engagement toothing for a complementary tooth of an engagement member on the vehicle side.

[0055] The chain holders 32 and the tooth segments 30, 31 are connected by way of shoulder screws 33. The chain holders 32 are attached to the rail 2a by way of a screw connection 34. The screw connection 34 enables variable and secure attachment, especially of relatively flexible engagement members 3 such as chains, even in the case of complex, curved and twisted circuit routes.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows in more detail the structure of a chain holder 32 with toothed segments 30, 31 attached thereto. The chain holder 32 has a base region 320 with an opening 3200 (through-opening through the base region) for receiving the screw connection 34 and an engagement region 321 for receiving the shoulder screws 33. The engagement region 321 has a central groove corresponding roughly to the configuration of the outer tooth segments 310, 311. The opening cross-section 3202 of the through-opening 3200 accessible from the outside between the projections on the engagement side is disposed approximately centrally, mid-way between the lateral projections of the engagement region 321 in the base region 320. The opening also extends into a region between the two lateral tooth components 310 and 311 of the outer tooth segments 31 and two each of adjacent inner tooth segments 30. The engagement-side opening cross-section 3202 is disposed roughly in the engagement plane or intersects it. The rail-side opening cross-section 3203 is disposed at the opposite side of the base region.

[0057] A damping member 35 can be disposed between the chain holder 32 and the tooth segments 30, 31.

[0058] FIG. 6 shows the cross-section of the structure and the fastening of a chain holder 32 in detail. The base region 320 has a through-opening 3200 for a screw 34 (alternatively for a bolt). The cross-section of the underside 3201 of the base 320 is concavely curved such that the concave curvature is matched to the corresponding convex curvature of the rail 2a, i.e., the curvatures complement (convex/concave) one another.

[0059] The alignment of the engagement plane E of the engagement member 3 is not necessarily equal to a radial plane R which extends through the centre of the rail 2a or (alternatively or additionally thereto) is aligned perpendicularly to the surface of the rail 2a and which engages the engagement plane E in the surface of the rail. Instead, the planes E and R can form an angle θ which is, e.g., less than 90°, and/or greater than or equal to 0°, e.g., greater than 0°, greater than 5°, or greater than 10°, and/or smaller than 45°. The through-opening 3200, on the other hand, is aligned such that it runs radially to the centre point of the rail cross-sectional profile, or (alternatively or additionally thereto) is aligned perpendicularly to the surface of the rail 2a. Thus, the central axis of the through-hole forms an angle with the engagement plane, said angle corresponding to the angle θ between the engagement plane E and the radial plane R.

[0060] It goes without saying that the rail 2a has a bore 20a at a location corresponding to the through-opening 3200 into which the screw 34 can be guided. The screw has a thread 340 which may be screwed with an internal thread provided in the bore 20a.

[0061] Even in the case of winding routes (and combinations in three dimensions), it is possible to attach and adapt the chain to the routes. The chain attached at the (first) pipe is, in the event of a winding, i.e., lateral tilting of the vehicle, guided in such a way that its orientation relative to the second pipe at each circuit position of the drive section remains the same.

[0062] The alignment of the first engagement member relative to the plane defined by the two guide rails is thus always the same. In the event of a winding of the circuit between two circuit positions, e.g., the first engagement member describes a helical screw winding.

[0063] In one or more embodiments of the present invention, a transport system comprises a circuit with a guide system 1 and a vehicle 4. The vehicle 4 is movable along the circuit and is connected thereto. A first engagement member 3, e.g., a rack, but especially a flexible engagement member such as a chain, is provided for positive drive of the vehicle 4. According to the present invention, the first engagement member 3 is attached to one rail 2a, in this case to a running rail or guide rail 2a. Attachment is by way of a connecting member that engages through a through-opening of the engagement member 3.

[0064] The present invention may include one or more of the following concepts: [0065] A. A transport system comprising: [0066] a vehicle (4); [0067] a circuit with a rail (2a, 2b) extending at least on sections of the circuit, the vehicle (4) being movably disposed along the circuit; and [0068] a drive system (3, 5, 6, 9) for a positive drive for propelling the vehicle (4) along the circuit, wherein, at least on sections extending along the circuit, the drive system has a first engagement member (3) and the drive system has a second engagement member (6), which is connected to the vehicle (4) and which is propellable, [0069] wherein the first engagement member (3) has projections (300, 301, 312, 313) on at least sections of the circuit and, between the projections, grooves, which are each bounded by a first projection (3002, 312) and an adjacent second projection (3012, 313), [0070] wherein the first engagement member (3) has openings (3200), of which at least one through-opening is formed between the first projection and the adjacent second projection, wherein through the opening engages a connecting member (34) for the purpose of connecting the first engagement member (3) with the rail (2a)for the purpose of attachment to the rail (2a). [0071] B. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the first engagement member (3) is attached to at least sections of the rail (2a)by way of positive-locking connecting members (34). [0072] C. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the first engagement member (3) is attached to at least sections of the rail (2a)by way of frictional-locking connecting members (34). [0073] D. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the cross-section of the rail (2a)is configured to have a convex outer surface. [0074] E. The transport system in accordance with paragraph D, wherein the first engagement member (3) has at least one, especially a plurality of, element(s) (32) comprising a base region (320) and an engagement region (321), wherein the surface (3201) of the base region (320) in contact with the rail (2a)has a concave curvature which is complementary to the curvature of the outer surface of rail (2a). [0075] F. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein in a cross-sectional view an angle greater than 0° or equal to 0° and less than 90° is disposed between a radial plane (R) of the rail (2a)and the engagement plane (E). [0076] G. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the rail (2a) comprises at least one pipe with a bore or hole into which the connecting member (34) is inserted. [0077] H. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the connecting member (34) is a screw. [0078] I. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the connecting member (34) is a positive-locking or frictional-locking connecting member. [0079] J. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein further frictional-locking and/or positive-locking connecting members are disposed for additional attachment. [0080] K. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein in addition to the connecting members, a welded connection is provided between the first engagement member (3) and the rail (2a). [0081] L. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the first engagement member (3) rests on the guide device in a statically determined manner. [0082] M. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the connecting member (34) is inserted radially into an attachment component (20a) of the rail (2a). [0083] N. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the first engagement member (3) is attached to a surface of the rail (2a), wherein the rail also serves as a running surface for at least one wheel (8a) intended for guiding the vehicle (4). [0084] O. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the first engagement member (3) is a flexible engagement member. [0085] P. The transport system in accordance with paragraph A, wherein the first engagement member (3) is attached to a front/upper side of the rail (2a), wherein a rear/bottom side and/or at least one end face (side face) of the rail (2a)serves as a running surface for at least one wheel (8a) intended for guiding the vehicle (4).

[0086] The disclosure set forth above may encompass multiple distinct inventions with independent utility. Although each of these inventions has been disclosed in its preferred form(s), the specific embodiments thereof as disclosed and illustrated herein are not to be considered in a limiting sense, because numerous variations are possible. To the extent that section headings are used within this disclosure, such headings are for organizational purposes only. The subject matter of this disclosure includes all novel and nonobvious combinations and subcombinations of the various elements, features, functions, and/or properties disclosed herein. The claim concepts particularly point out certain combinations and subcombinations regarded as novel and nonobvious. Other combinations and subcombinations of features, functions, elements, and/or properties may be claimed in applications claiming priority from this or a related application. Such claims, whether directed to a different example or to the same example, and whether broader, narrower, equal, or different in scope to the original claims, also are regarded as included within the subject matter of the present disclosure. Furthermore, explicit reference is hereby made to all embodiments and examples shown in the drawings, whether or not described further herein.