EP0753625B1 - Pneumatic actuated deviation apparatus for aerial trolley transport track - Google Patents

Abstract

The pneumatic diverter control has points (3) which can turn through an angle of 180 degrees . This enables them to be placed in a first rectilinear position, corresponding to the connection between two aligned portions (1,4). A second position allows connecting one portion (1) to a curved portion (5) connecting with parking lanes perpendicular to the principal track. Rotation of the points is operated by a computer controlled pneumatic actuator (2). The computer is connected to a centre located outside the installation where a personnel presence is not required. The actuator controls, through its piston, the rotation of the points from the normal position of continuation in a straight line of the trolleys to a position turned through 180 degrees . This allows diversion of the trolleys onto transverse lines and vice versa. Detectors (8,9) are connected to a safety system to verify, before activation of the points, the presence of a carriage in transit. The points rotation control is locked and any incident on the trolley, avoided.

Description

The subject of the present invention is a control diversion device tire intended to be applied to an air transport line by carts of any type, which can be used, for example, in stores for the transport of goods of different types which require large circulation spaces, sometimes devoid of heating in winter or also lighting, the installation can be fully automated and therefore may not include service staff inside.

The device is able to allow carriages to be diverted from the line main transport to diverted lines, for example according to the transverse direction of the store, so as to have the possibility load and unload said storage lines as required of services.

Document FR-A-2129119 describes a deviation device for an air transport line including a needle which can rotate with an amplitude 180 ° angle so that it can be placed in a first position in which a portion of track rectilinear of said needle establishes the connection between two aligned portions of a main track and a second position oriented 180 ° in which a portion of track curve of said needle connects a portion of main track and a curved portion of a track of deviation.

The control device according to the invention is defined in claim 1 and dependent claims.

In fact it includes a pneumatic cylinder actuated through a suitably arranged solenoid valve, and a cam device able to rotate a body shaped as 180 ° a needle which, in a first position, constitutes a segment of rectilinear guide capable of causing the carriages to continue their movement on the main transmission line, while in a second position, rotated 180 ° from the previous one, it gives rise to a curved track segment which deflects the carriages on a line perpendicular to the main line, where the carriages are stored, together with their charge.

The mechanism which controls the rotation of the needle consists of a metal cylinder coaxial with said needle and the main line, secured to the needle by a pin element.

In this cylinder is provided a notch with a helical profile, the length is suitable to allow a finger which slides in said notch to rotate the needle to make it affect the two positions indicated above.

We can see that the finger guided in the helical notch transforms the horizontal movement in a rotational movement at an angle of 180 ° rotation.

The translational movement of the finger is controlled by a double-acting pneumatic cylinder, with slide guide rectilinear provided for this purpose.

• l'aiguillage est normalement fermé, pour permettre la continuation du mouvement du chariot sur la ligne principale ;
• sous l'effet de l'envoi d'air comprimé dans le cylindre du vérin pneumatique, se produit la sortie du piston. La sortie du piston fait coulisser le cylindre muni du doigt ; ce dernier coulisse dans l'entaille en hélice, en provoquant la rotation de l'aiguille.

In summary :

• the switch is normally closed, to allow the carriage movement to continue on the main line;
• under the effect of sending compressed air into the cylinder of the pneumatic cylinder, the piston comes out. The exit of the piston slides the cylinder fitted with the finger; the latter slides in the helical notch, causing the needle to rotate.

By feeding the pneumatic cylinder from the other end, the reverse rotation of the needle.

• la perte de la maítrise du chariot sortant,
• la rupture du chariot,

si bien qu'on a prévu un système de contrôle qui est en mesure d'arrêter le mouvement lorsque l'aiguille n'a pas été positionnée correctement.The mechanical reliability index of the device described above is greater than 98%. However, it should be taken into account that any failure to operate results in:

• loss of control of the outgoing carriage,
• rupture of the carriage,

so that a control system has been provided which is able to stop the movement when the needle has not been positioned correctly.

Fig. 1 est une vue par l'avant du dispositif de déviation représenté à la position droite ;

Fig. 2 est une coupe verticale partielle, selon le plan II-II de fig. 1 ;

Fig. 3 est une vue en plan du dispositif en position de continuation rectiligne du déplacement du chariot ;

Fig. 4 représente le dispositif en position déviée.

The invention will now be described below in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a view from the front of the deflection device shown in the straight position;

Fig. 2 is a partial vertical section along the plane II-II of FIG. 1;

Fig. 3 is a plan view of the device in the position of rectilinear continuation of the movement of the carriage;

Fig. 4 shows the device in the deviated position.

As can be seen in fig. 1, track 1, which has a substantially shaped semi-cylindrical in the passage surface of the carriages, is provided with a pneumatic control cylinder 2 and a deflection needle 3 which in its rectilinear position defines a continuous line with the portion track 4, oriented in its extension.

The needle 3 can rotate 180 ° along its longitudinal axis, then placing in the position shown in fig. 4, where the portion of semi-cylindrical track forms a curve which continues through the portion of curved lane 5, connected to the parking lane not shown, arranged in a direction perpendicular to the longitudinal track 1.

The rotation of the needle 3 is controlled by a finger 11 integral with the piston 12 which emerges from the cylinder of the jack 2; that finger slides in a helical notch 13 formed on the section 14 of the channel which is integral with the needle 3.

In this way, the carriage support arm 6, provided with a form wheel bi-conical 7 whose profile is drawn in broken lines in fig. 3 and 4, which support arm is connected by a bar 10 to a second support arm 6 ', allows the carriage to be brought to the position shown in fig. 4, by deviating in this way the carriage with the objects transported by the latter towards the parking or diversion lane arranged at 90 ° to the main track 1 of the store supply.

A control system consisting of two sensors 8 and 9 has been provided (fig. 3 and 4) which indicate the position of needle 3, one of these sensors being able to detect the 0 ° position, the other the position 180 °.

This control therefore has absolute reliability, since the sensors mentioned above thus detect the erroneous and dangerous positions for cart integrity.

It should be noted that checking the position of the needle occurs on the element integral with the needle itself and not on mechanisms or levers that control its movement.

In addition, it is expected that a sensor mounted upstream of the device, and which is always connected to the electronic device, control, before the activation of the assembly, that there is not a trolley in transit. For more security, we also provide the possibility of inserting at the exit a photoelectric cell which checks the presence of a trolley.

A suitable local central, not shown, which operates with semi-automatic or even automatic modalities, translated and checked the signals that come from the sensors and decides, based on the response of these, whether or not to stop the installation, with possible signaling by a corresponding alarm.

Claims (6)

1. Truck-switching device for elevated truck monorail transportation system, applicable to tracks networks comprising a main track for feeding trucks and transverse tracks for parking or truck-switching objects storable in a storeroom, characterised in that it comprises a switching member (3) which can rotate by an angle of 180° in such a manner to move in a first position wherein a straight portion of said switching member establishes a the connection between two aligned portions (1, 4) of main track, and in a second position rotated by 180° wherein a curved portion of said switch member establishes the connection with a transverse track normal to the main track, and in that said switch member (3) is acted upon by a cam device including a bolt (11) attached to a piston (12) extending from a cylinder of a pneumatic jack (2), which bolt is slidingly mounted within a groove (13) of a track portion (14) unitary with the switch member and adjacent to the main feeding track.
2. Device according to claim 1, characterised in that the mechanism actuating the rotation of the switch member (3) is coaxial to the main transportation track (1).
3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the groove (13) of the track portion (14) has a helical profile.
4. Device according to any preceding claims, characterised in that the jack (2) is preferably provided with an electronic computerised control device connected to a central unit external to the installation.
5. Device according to claim 4, characterised in that sensors (8, 9) are provided to control the correct positioning of the switch member (3) thereby deciding, upon response thereof, to stop or not the installation, optionally with a warning signal.
6. Device according to claim 5, characterised in that a sensor connected to a safety system verifies before activation of the switch member the presence of a transient truck, thereby locking the rotation actuation of the switch member (3) in order to prevent any accident for said truck.

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