EP2467548B1 - Guide rail for a sliding wall and method for operating a switch point in a guide rail - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a running rail for a sliding wall according to the preamble of claim 1. Such Lanfschiene is from the document DE 200152034 known. The sliding wall consists of several separate sliding wall elements, each sliding wall element usually has two carriages, which engage in the running rail. In this way, the sliding wall element hangs in the running rail and is slid over the carriage in the running rail. To the sliding wall elements z. B. set in a parking position, the running rail can be connected to a branch rail or separated from this, which is done via a switchable switch, which is operated by each carriage.

Such sliding wall elements are known as wing elements of horizontal and Faltschiebewänden that u. a. can be in the park or closed position. In the park position, the sliding wall elements are lined up side by side in a parking station as a wing package. In the closed position, the sliding wall elements along the rail track of the track between final walls or columns lined up and separate an indoor from an outdoor area.

If the sliding wall elements are to be moved into the parking position, then a carriage of a sliding wall element is further moved on the running rail, while the other carriage of the same sliding wall element is moved to the branch rail. For this purpose, the running rail and the branch rail are connected via a switch.

From the DE 100 24 580 A1 is a generic track known, in which the switch when driving through the same is operated by a carriage. The carriage pushes while passing the switch against this and sets the track. Since the switch is also loaded by the force acting on the carriage weight of the sliding wall element, the carriage is applied when driving through the switch with significant switching and / or holding forces, thereby increasing the driving resistance for the carriage.

Based on the aforementioned prior art, it is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a running rail for a sliding wall, which is inexpensive and easy to manufacture and at which the switching and / or holding forces are minimized when passing through the switch by the carriage or omitted entirely , Thus, a safe operation of the switch when driving through the carriage should be guaranteed.

The solution of the problem is achieved by the measures specified in claim 1, which have the following meaning.

In the track rail according to the invention a completely new mode of operation of the switch is proposed. The adjustment of the switch takes place by at least one carriage of the sliding wall element, when this carriage is outside the expansion area of the switch. The carriage passes thereafter only the already operated switch without switching and / or holding forces occur in the switch. This minimizes mechanical wear of the carriage and turnout and guarantees a smooth movement of the carriage in the track rail or the branch track. The adjustment of the switch by the carriage outside the expansion region of the switch is possible according to the invention in both directions.

The switch is designed as a simple switching element which is arranged between the running rail and the branch rail. The switching element is switched by means of a switching mechanism, with which it is rotatably connected. The switching mechanism protrudes outside of the points area in the direction of travel of the carriage. If the carriage moves in front of the points area on the track rail or the branch track, the carriage moves the switching mechanism, which in turn switches the switching element between the track rail and the branch track rail. The necessary to actuate the switching mechanism switching forces are reduced. In case of failure of the motor of a motor-driven carriage, the sliding wall elements can be manually moved from the parking position to a closed position and vice versa at any time.

The switching mechanism comprises a movably mounted pivoting lever. On the pivot lever at least one switching part is fixed, which protrudes in the direction of travel of the carriage and which is actuated by the carriage. Since the pivot lever is rotatably connected to the switching element representing the switch, the switching element is always adjusted when the switching part is actuated by the carriage.

The switching part is designed as a shift lever. In this case, two of these shift levers are arranged on the pivot lever, wherein a shift lever moves the switch in the direction of the track rail and the other shift lever, the switch in the direction branch line rail. Each shift lever is movable in both directions of travel of each carriage, so that the switching element via the shift lever both when retracting the carriage in the parking position and during the extension of the carriage from the parking position of the sliding wall elements is actuated. After the carriage has passed the shift lever, this takes a rest position from which it will be moved again by the following carriage.

A particularly robust construction of the shift mechanism is achieved when the shift lever is biased to return to its rest position by a spring element. The carriage then has to expend only the force which is necessary to overcome the spring force in the operation of the shift lever. Since the spring force for returning the shift lever can be kept very low in its rest position and the switching mechanism is guided as such easily movable, only minimal switching forces must be applied to switch the switch by the carriage.

According to the invention, four shift levers are provided on the pivoting lever, of which two shift levers point in the direction of the running rail and the two other shift levers in the direction of the branching rail. Thus, each pair of shift levers is provided for the track rail and the branch track rail. The first shift lever of each pair is moved by the carriage in its first direction of travel, while the second shift lever of each pair is activated by the carriage on its return, that is in a second direction of travel. This has the advantage that the direction of travel of a sliding wall element can be changed at any time. Even if only a part of the sliding wall has moved, for example, in the parking position in which the first carriage of the sliding wall element has passed the switch in the direction of branch rail and the second carriage of the same sliding wall element but is still positioned in front of the switch, located on the branch rail Carriage immediately take the opposite direction of travel and pass the switch in the direction of running rail. As a result, the sliding wall elements are very flexible and also the control effort in electrically operated sliding wall elements Reduced significantly, so that a simple control can be used.

Since the two pairs of shifters switch the pivoting lever of the switching mechanism with which they are movably connected between two different states, it must be ensured that the pivoting lever remains in the once switched position, so that the switch maintains its position. Therefore, the pivot lever is positively biased. This ensures that the pivot lever assumes its two end positions stable.

The swivel lever can be biased by a spring for stable adjustment of its two end positions. This spring presses the pivot lever in its respective end position. The carriage must overcome this spring force upon actuation of the shift lever on the pivot lever to move the pivot lever from the first end position to the second end position. In this case, the pivot lever automatically switches under the action of the spring force in the next end position when the pivot lever has covered approximately half the distance from the one end position to the second end position, with half of the distance is set by the displacement of the corresponding lever through the carriage back , This optimizes the shifting force which the carriage has to apply.

Preferably, a preceding carriage switches the switch for a subsequent carriage. Alternatively, a carriage switches the switch before the same carriage enters the turnout area. It is also conceivable that a carriage of the sliding wall element with drive and another without a drive for automatically moving or moving the sliding wall element has. Likewise, a sliding wall element may also have more than one or two carriages.

Technical features which are disclosed for the device according to the invention also apply to the method according to the invention and vice versa. Also, the inventive method can be carried out with the device according to the invention.
Further measures and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the claims, the following description and the drawings. In the drawings, the invention is shown in several embodiments.

Figur 1:

schematische Darstellung der Weiche in einem System mit Laufschiene und Abzweiglaufschiene,

Figur 2:

schematische Darstellung eines nicht zur Erfindung gehörenden Schaltmechanismus für die Weiche mit einem Schalthebel pro Laufschiene und Abzweiglaufschiene,

Figur 3:

schematische Darstellung des erfindungsgemäßen Schaltmechanismus für die Weiche mit einem Paar von Schalthebeln pro Laufschiene und Abzweiglaufschiene und

Figur 4:

dreidimensionale Darstellungen des Schaltmechanismus der Figur 3 an der abgedeckten Laufschiene und Abzweiglaufschiene.

Show it:

FIG. 1:

schematic representation of the switch in a system with track and branch track,

FIG. 2:

schematic representation of a not belonging to the invention switching mechanism for the switch with a shift lever per track and branch rail,

FIG. 3:

schematic representation of the switching mechanism according to the invention for the switch with a pair of levers per track and branch rail and

FIG. 4:

three-dimensional representations of the switching mechanism of FIG. 3 on the covered track and branch track.

In Fig. 1 schematically, a running rail 1.1 is shown, which is attached to the ceiling of a room and which is split behind a switch 1 in a branch rail 1.2 and a rail section 1.3, wherein the rail section 1.3 represents an extension of the rail 1.1. The particular automatically movable sliding wall elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are connected to two not shown carriage hanging on the branch rail 1.2 and the rail section 1.3 shown in their parking position. In this case, the sliding wall elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9 are lined up parallel to each other, wherein the first carriage of a sliding wall element on the branch rail and the second carriage of the sliding wall element is on the rail section 1.3. How out Fig. 1 can be seen, the sliding wall element 9 is moved out of its parking position. Another position of the sliding wall element is indicated by the reference numeral 9a. In this case, first traverses the one end of the sliding wall element 9, the switch 1, which on the rail section 1.3. was parked and pivots on the track 1.1. This is followed by the second end of the running rail 9, which was arranged on the branch rail 1.2. Both ends of the sliding wall element 9, ie their two carriages, now pivot on the running rail 1.1, on which the sliding wall element 10 with its two carriages is already located.

Fig. 2 shows a running rail, and how the switch 1 is set by the carriage 3.1, 3.2. In the area of the switch 1, the running rail 1.1, or the running rail section 1.3 and the branch rail 1.2 are arranged. On the ceiling or on a panel of the track 1.1, a switching mechanism 2 is fixed, which has a pivot lever 2.1, which is rotatably connected via a rotational axis 2.2 with a switching element 2.3, which the track of the carriage 3.1, 3.2. in the direction of running rail 1.1 or rail section 1.3 or in the direction of the branch rail 1.2 releases or blocks. On the pivot lever 2.1 in the direction of branch rail 1.2, a first shift lever 2.1.a and in the direction of the rail section 1.3, a second shift 2.1.b is arranged. The attachment to the pivot lever 2.1 via an intermediate link 2.5, wherein at each end of the intermediate linkage 2.5, a spring element 2.6 is arranged. Each spring element 2.6 is one each Shift lever 2.1 a and 2.1.b connected, wherein the spring element 2.6 pulls each switching element after actuation in a rest position.

In the figures A and B of Fig. 2 the switching operation of the switch 1 is shown when the sliding wall elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 retract from the closed position to the parking position. Considered is only a sliding wall element, which has the two carriages 3.1, 3.2, wherein, for example, a carriage is designed with an electric drive and the other carriage is designed without electric drive and the first carriage pushes or moves. But it is also another variant possible in which a driven carriage pulls the second carriage.

Fig. 2A shows the first carriage 3.1, the direction of travel is marked with the arrow F, which has already crossed the switch 1 coming from the running rail 1.1 and now outside the switch area actuates the shift lever 2.1.b, which protrudes into its track. By adjusting the shift lever 2.1.b moves the pivot lever 2.1 and pivots the switching element 2.3 in a direction opposite to the clockwise direction, whereby the rail section 1.3 is locked. The shift lever 2.1.a is at this time in its rest position.

The now following carriage 3.2 is guided due to this position of the switching element 2.3 in the direction of the branch rail 1.2, which is made Fig. 2B can be seen. During pivoting into the branch rail 1.2, the second carriage 3.2 actuates the shift lever 2.1.a from its rest position, whereby the pivot lever 2.1 is in turn moved and on the axis of rotation operating as a shaft 2.2, the switching element moves 2.3. This now moves in the opposite direction, which is in the clockwise direction and blocks the branch rail 1.2 for the subsequent first carriage 3.1 of the next Sliding wall element, which is now pushed back in the direction of the rail section 1.3.

The Fig. 2C and 2D clarify the operation of the switching mechanism 1, when the sliding wall elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 are moved from the parking position to the closed position. First, in Fig. 2C the first carriage 3.1 of a sliding wall element 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 moves, wherein the shift lever 2.1.b is moved from its rest position, whereby the switching element is rotated 2.3 clockwise and the path from the rail section 1.3 to the running rail 1.1 releases and the branch rail 1.2 locks. During this process, the shift lever is 2.1.a in its rest position. After the first carriage 3.1 has passed the switch 1 moves the parked in the branch rail 1.2 3.2 carriage the shift lever 2.1.a, with the result that the switching element is again rotated in a counterclockwise direction 2.3 2.3 and the branch rail 1.2 to pass of the carriage 3.2 in the track 1.1 releases again ( Fig. 2D ).

This embodiment is comfortable only with a shift lever 2.1.a and 2.1.b per single rail 1.1 and 1.2.

In Fig. 3 a running rail according to the invention is shown, in which on the pivot lever 2.1 per rail a pair of levers are arranged. Thus, the slide rail section 1.3, the shift lever 2.1.a.1 and 2.1.a.2 assigned, while the branch rail the shift lever 2.1.b.1 and 2.1.b.2 are assigned. The two pairs of shifter 2.1.a.1; 2.1.a.2 and 2.1.b.1, 2.1.b.2 are each connected via a linkage 2.5.a or 2.5.b with the pivot lever 2.1, wherein the pivot lever 2.1 at the end, which is opposite to the axis of rotation 2.2 is connected to a spring 2.4, which is designed as a compression spring. The feather 2.4 has the task of ensuring that the Swivel lever has only two stable end conditions, which corresponds to the two different positions of the switching element 2.3.

Fig. 3A shows the parking a sliding wall element 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10. In this case, the first carriage 3.1, the switch 1 has already passed through and actuated in its further travel in the rail section 1.3 the shift lever 2.1.a.1, whereby the switching element 2.3 the Branch rail 1.2 released for the subsequent carriage 3.2 and the rail section has 1.3 locked. In the Fig. 3B has the second carriage 3.2 passes the turnout 1 and is pivoted to the branch rail 1.2 and is now close to the operation of the shift lever 2.1.b.2, which in turn brings the switching element 2.3 in such a position that the branch rail 1.2 locked and the Rail section 1.3 is released for the first carriage 3.1 of the following sliding wall element.

Fig. 3C illustrates the extension of the sliding wall elements 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10 from the parking position. The first carriage 3.1 a sliding wall element moves at its exit from the parking position, first, the shift lever 2.1.a.2, which protrudes outside the switch area in his driveway. As a result, the pivot lever 2.1 is moved from its first end position to its second end position and the switching element 2.3 releases the running rail 1.1 for the carriage 3.1, which can pass through the width 1 unhindered. In a next step, the second carriage 3.2 of the same sliding wall element, which was parked on the branch rail 1.2, moved. In Fig. 3D is the second carriage 3.2 just before the operation of the shift lever 2.1.b.1. In this position, the switching element 2.3 still blocks the branch rail 1.2, which is released only by the operation of the shift lever 2.1.b.2, whereby the switching element 2.3 pivots in the direction of rail section 1.3 and the way for the carriage 3.2 from the branch rail 2.1 to the running rail 1.1 is released.

As already explained, for example, the second carriage 3.2 can be electrically driven. For this purpose, a first and a second busbar 1.4 and 1.5 are arranged in the running rail 1.1 and the branch rail 1.2, which contact the second carriage 3.2 and thereby supply him with electrical power.

In Fig. 4 is the disguised switch area of the track according to the embodiment according to Fig. 3 shown. Fig. 4A shows the pairs of shifters 2.1.a.1, 2.1.a.2 and 2.1.b.1, 2.1.b.2 in the position in which the switching element 2.3 has disconnected the connection between the running rail 1.1 and the rail section 1.3. In Fig. 4B are the pairs of the shift lever 2.1.a.1, 2.1.a.2 and 2.1.b.1, 2.1.b.2 shown in the position in which the switching element 2.3, the connection between the running rail 1.1 and the rail section 1.3 released has and the access to the branch rail 1.2 blocked.

The points area is provided with a cover 4, which are mechanically connected to the switch 1 via connecting elements 4.1, which are designed as clamping elements. For this purpose, the cover has 4 brackets 4.2, in which the connecting element 4.1 is inserted.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

switch

1.1

runner

1.2

Branch track rail

1.3

Running track section

1.4

first busbar

1.5

second busbar

2

switching mechanism

2.1

pivoting lever

2.1.a

gear lever

2.1.b

gear lever

2.1.a.1

gear lever

2.1.a.2

gear lever

2.1.b.1

gear lever

2.1.b.2

gear lever

2.1.c.1

turntable

2.1.c.2

turntable

2.2

axis of rotation

2.3

switching element

2.4

feather

2.5

linkage

2.5.a

linkage

2.5.b

linkage

2.6

spring element

3.1

first carriage

3.2

second carriage

4

cover

4.1

connecting element

4.2

bracket

5

Sliding element

6

Sliding element

7

Sliding element

8th

Sliding element

9, 9a

Sliding element

10

Sliding element

Claims (9)

1. A roller rail for a sliding wall comprising several sliding wall elements (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10), in which each sliding wall element (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) is supported to be displaceable in particular via two carriages (3.1, 3.2), wherein the roller rail (1.1) can be connected to a branching roller rail (1.2) respectively separated therefrom via a turnout (1) of the roller rail which is switchable by the carriages (3.1, 3.2), wherein, for adjusting the turnout (1), at least one carriage (3.1, 3.2) of a sliding wall element (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) takes up a position which is located outside the turnout (1), wherein
   the turnout (1) is configured as a switching element (2.3), which is connected to a switching mechanism (2) of the roller rail, which mechanism, at least partially, protrudes in the travel direction of the carriage (3.1, 3.2) travelling on the roller rail (1.1) or on the branching roller rail (1.2), wherein the switching mechanism (2) can be actuated by means of the carriage (3.1, 3.2), whereby the switching element (2.3), which is attached to the switching mechanism (2), moves between the roller rail (1.1) and the branching roller rail (1.2), wherein
   the switching mechanism (2) has a displaceably supported pivoting lever (2.1), which is connected to the switching element (2.3) in a torque-proof manner and to which at least one switching portion (2.1.a, 2.1.b, 2.1.a.1, 2.1.a.2, 2.1.b.1, 2.1.b.2, 2.1.c.1, 2.1.c.2) is attached in order to be actuated by the carriage (3.1, 3.2), characterized in that
   for the roller rail (1.1) and for the branching roller rail (1.2), respectively two switching portions are configured as change levers (2.1.a.1, 2.1.a.2; 2.1.b.1, 2.1.b.2), are disposed at the pivoting lever (2.1), and point into the direction of the same rail (1.1, 1.2), wherein the first change lever (2.1.a.1, 2.1.b.1) associated to each rail (1.1, 1.2) can be actuated in a first direction of movement of the carriage (3.1, 3.2) by the latter, and the second change lever (2.1.a.2, 2.1.b.2), associated to each rail, can be actuated in a second direction of movement of the same carriage (3.1, 3.2).
2. The roller rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the pivoting lever (2.1) has respectively one switching portion configured as a change lever (2.1.a, 2.1.b) and pointing in the direction of the roller rail (1.1) respectively of the branching roller rail (1.2), which portion, after being displaced by the carriage (3.1, 3.2), returns into its resting position.
3. The roller rail according to claim 2, characterized in that the change lever (2.1.a, 2.1.b) is charged by a spring element (2.6) for the return into its resting position.
4. The roller rail according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pivoting lever (2.1) is non-positively preloaded so it can reach its two terminal positions in a stable way.
5. The roller rail according to claim 4, characterized in that the pivoting lever (2.1) is preloaded via a spring (2.4).
6. The roller rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the two carriages (3.1, 3.2) of a sliding wall element (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10) are differently encoded, wherein a switching member (2.8) disposed at the switching mechanism (2) can be switched by means of the encoding.
7. The roller rail according to claim 6, characterized in that the two carriages (3.1, 3.2) have different mechanical encodings (2.7.a, 2.7.b), which actuate the switching member configured as a leaf spring (2.8), wherein the leaf spring (2.8) partially surrounds a rotating shaft (2.2) connecting the pivoting lever (2.1) and the switching element (2.3), and the one end of the leaf spring (2.8), at least partially, protrudes into the track of the carriage (3.1, 3.2) moving on the roller rail (1.1), whereas the other end of the leaf spring (2.8) extends at least partially into the track of the carriage (3.1, 3.2) moving on the branching roller rail (1.2).
8. The roller rail according to claim 7, characterized in that the mechanical encoding is realized by means of cams (2.7.a, 2.7.b), which are affixed to different locations of the two carriages (3.1, 3.2) of a sliding wall element (5, 6, 7, 8, 9, and 10).
9. The roller rail according to claim 1, characterized in that the switching portion is configured as a rotary disc (2.1.c.1, 2.1.c.2) and in that a first rotary disc (2.1.c.1) points in the direction of the roller rail (2.1.c.1.) and the second rotary disc (2.1.c.2) points in the direction of the branching roller rail (1.2), wherein the first and the second rotary discs (2.1.c1, 2.1.c.2) are interconnected via an arm assembly (2.5) and in that the rotary discs (2.1.c.1, 2.1.c.2) can be actuated by means of several differently located cams (2.7.a, 2.7.b) of the carriages (3.1, 3.2) of a sliding wall element (5, 6, 7, 8, 9 and 10).

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