EP3283689B1

EP3283689B1 - Conveyor guide track for facade elements and method for connecting guide tracks

Info

Publication number: EP3283689B1
Application number: EP16780380.8A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Henrik Falk; David SIMLUND
Original assignee: Brunkeberg Systems AB
Current assignee: Brunkeberg Systems AB
Priority date: 2015-04-13
Filing date: 2016-04-12
Publication date: 2020-06-10
Anticipated expiration: 2036-04-12
Also published as: EP3283689A4; SE538823C2; WO2016167710A1; EP3283689A1; SE1550436A1

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention relates to conveyor systems for transporting or conveying facade elements. In particular the present invention pertains to a conveyor guide track transporting facade elements along the facade of a building to and to put them into position for subsequent mounting on the facade of the building.

BACKGROUND

Conveyor systems are commonly used in the movement of objects along a path such that the elements do not contact the ground or floor. Conveyor systems are especially useful in applications involving the transportation of heavy objects.
One type of conveyor system is an overhead conveyor system in which a fixed conveyor guide rail track is assembled and in which an attachment trolley member is positioned. Objects to be moved can be connected to the attachment trolley member which can move within the conveyor guide track.
Such overhead conveyor systems can typically be found in factories where parts to be for example painted are moved from a painting location to a drying location. In such a system the track is constructed as a relatively permanent feature of the factory and remains constructed for long durations. Furthermore, as conveyor systems can be used to move objects of substantial weight the systems require robust and reliable assembly. Such systems are therefore costly and time consuming to assemble.
Scaffolding or staging is traditionally erected in most construction projects. Scaffolding is a temporary structure generally used to support a work crew and materials to aid in the construction, maintenance and repair of buildings. As scaffolding is temporary it is generally easy to assemble and disassemble. Scaffolding systems can for example be reused in multiple building projects.
Multi-storey buildings often comprise a facade acting as either a load-bearing structure or as a weather protective structure. The facade is generally constructed from individual facade elements which are installed in one of a variety of ways to the building. Facade elements are often transported to the building site on trucks. The elements have generally been off-loaded, stored, and subsequently installed to the building. Due to the heavy weight of the facade elements, there is imminent risk of personal injury when the facade elements are lifted off the truck. If the elements are lifted directly from the truck the storage of elements can be bypassed and time and space on the building site can be saved.
The movement and installation of facade elements on a building via a conveyor system is ideal as it removes a portion of the risk of personal injury and allows facade elements to be moved efficiently.
Brunkeberg Systems AB has developed an efficient method for mounting façade elements which substantially reduces the time to unload, lift and mount façade elements on a building structure of a multi-storey building. According to the method, which is disclosed in WO2010070082 , façade elements are transported on a conveyer directly from a delivery truck to a multi-storey building. The façade elements are then hoisted by a crane, whilst inserted in slots of guiding rails mounted on the building structure.
DE 12 49 301 B1 (DEMAG ZUG GMBH), 07 September 1967, describes a conveyor guide track for suspended tracks or suspended cranes, comprising an open-ended trapezoidal-shaped profile having an upper surface and a oppositely disposed lower surface having a slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular profile, said upper and lower surfaces being joined at their longitudinal extending edges to a pair of side walls, wherein the upper surface, the lower surface and the pair of side walls together form a longitudinal cavity within the profile suitable for rollably receiving an attachment trolley member also extending through the slot. Said document does also disclose attachment units (sleeves) for connecting the conveyor guide track to a corresponding attachment unit of another conveyor guide track, provided at each longitudinal end of the profile, wherein each attachment unit of the conveyor guide track is positioned transversally within the boundaries of the side walls, thus forming a flat exterior side surface along the entire longitudinal extension of the profile and along the side walls of the profile.
US 3 854 406 A (MONNE M), 17 December 1974 , relates to a guide track having a rectangular cross-section.
JP S56 119001 A (HITACHI LTD), 18 September 1981, relates to a guide track.
GB 2 117 337 A (MANNESMANN AG), 12 October 1983, relates to a connector for conductor rails.
US 6 283 038 B1 (KCI KONECRANES INTERNATIONAL P), 04 September 2001, relates to a profile rail joint for use for example in light crane systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Accordingly, the present invention preferably seeks to mitigate, alleviate or eliminate one or more of the above-identified deficiencies in the art and disadvantages singly or in any combination and solves at least the above mentioned problems by providing a conveyor guide track for conveying facade elements, comprising an open-ended rectangular profile having an upper surface and a oppositely disposed lower surface having an slot extending in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular profile, said upper and lower surfaces being joined at their longitudinal extending edges to a pair of side walls, wherein the upper surface, the lower surface and the pair of side walls together from a longitudinal cavity within the profile suitable for slidably receiving a facade attachment trolley member also extending through the slot, at least one attachment unit for connecting the conveyor guide track to a corresponding attachment unit of another conveyor guide track, provided at each longitudinal end of the profile, wherein each attachment unit of the conveyor guide track is positioned transversally within the boundaries of the side walls, thus forming a flat exterior side surface along the entire longitudinal extension of the profile and along at least one sidewall of the profile; and a method for connecting at least two such conveyor guide tracks.
Further advantageous features of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

These and other aspects, features and advantages of which the invention is capable of will be apparent and elucidated from the following description of embodiments of the present invention, reference being made to the accompanying drawings, in which

Figs 1 and 2 respectively show a perspective view of a conveyor guide track according to an embodiment; and
Fig. 3 is a flow chart of a method for mounting a system of conveyor guide tracks according to an embodiment.
Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a constructions site employing a conveyor guide track according to the present invention.
Fig. 5 is a perspective view of a lifting jig employed in the present invention.
Fig. 6a-6d shows schematically a lifting jig and the conveyor guide track according to the present invention in various positions.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

In Figs. 1 and 2 a conveyor guide track 10 for conveying facade elements is provided. The conveyor guide track 10 comprises an open-ended rectangular profile 10 having an upper surface 11 and an oppositely disposed lower surface 12. The lower surface 12 has a slot 13 extending in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular profile. The upper 11 and lower 12 surfaces are joined at their longitudinal extending edges to a pair of side walls 14a, 14b. The upper surface 11, the lower surface 12 and the pair of side walls 14a, 14b together form a longitudinal cavity within the profile suitable for slidably receiving a facade attachment trolley member (not shown) also extending through the slot 13. The conveyor guide track 10 further comprises at least one attachment unit 15 for connecting the conveyor guide track 10 to a corresponding attachment unit 15 of another conveyor guide track. At least one attachment unit 15 is provided at each longitudinal end of the profile. Moreover, each attachment unit 15 of the conveyor guide track 10 is positioned transversally within the boundaries of the side walls 14a, 14b, as best shown in Fig. 1, thus forming a flat exterior side surface along the entire longitudinal extension of the profile and along at least one sidewall 14b of the profile.
Hence, there are no components, e.g. flanges, of the conveyor guide track protruding transversally or extending radially outwards from the sidewall along the longitudinal extension of the profile. This means that the conveyor guide track 10 of the present invention, when mounted to the overlaying scaffolding structure 110, a larger amount of free space is provided between the facade of the building and the conveyor guide track 10, thereby allowing a lifting jig (not shown in Fig. 1 or 2) to move freely in this enlarged free space in order to lift off the facade elements from the conveyor guide track for subsequent mounting onto the facade of the building. The conveyor guide track may be formed in a C-shape as shown in Figs 1 and 2.
A single attachment unit 15 may be arranged on the upper surface 11 transversally between the slot 13 and a first sidewall 14a of the pair of sidewalls 14a, 14b.
One attachment unit 15 may be arranged on the lower surface 12 transversally between the slot 13 and a first sidewall 14a of the pair of sidewalls 14a, 14b, and a further attachment unit 15 is arranged on the lower surface 12 between the slot 13 and a second sidewall 14b of the pair of sidewalls 14a, 14b.
In use the second sidewall 14b is arranged to face the facade of the building to which the facade elements conveyed via the conveyor guide track is to be mounted.
A longitudinally arranged first flange 16 may be arranged on the upper surface 11 of the profile for connection to a clamp 100 connecting the conveyor guide track 10 to a supporting scaffold 110. The flange 16 may be provided with at least one perforation or hole extending transversally through the flange at a longitudinal position thereof. The at least one perforation or hole are used to connect the flange 16 to the clamp 10 via a corresponding number of perforations or holes in the bottom portion of the clamp 100, as shown in Figs 1 and 2.
A second flange 17 may be longitudinally arranged on the upper surface 11 and along the longitudinal edge of the upper surface at the interface to the second side wall 14b for supporting a lifting jig (not shown) arranged to disconnect a facade element from the facade element attachment trolley member (not shown) being connected to the conveyor guide track 10 in use. This second flange 17 is used to support the lifting jig moving downwards from the facade at an angle towards the conveyor guide track 10, thereby improving the accuracy of the subsequent steps of lifting off the facade elements from the conveyor guide track 10. This also means that the complexity of the lifting jig is reduced since its relative position in relation to the conveyor guide track 10 does not have to be as precise when the supporting flange 17 is provided on the conveyor guide track 10. The lifting jig will be described in detail further below. However, in an embodiment the lifting jig may comprise a lifting yoke which is configured to be supported on the second flange when the lifting jig is in proper position to engage a façade element hanging from the conveyor guide track on a façade element attachment trolley. According to an embodiment the lifting yoke may comprise at least one contact element which is configured to be supported on the second flange of the conveyor guide track when the lifting jig, and the lifting yoke, is in proper position for engaging a façade element hanging on an attachment trolley on the conveyor.
The attachment unit 15 may comprise an attachment loop or cylinder through which a bolt (not shown) may be inserted. Hence, by providing the bolt through the attachment unit 15 of a first conveyor guide track 10 in a direction towards and through the attachment unit of a second conveyor guide track 10, these two conveyor guide tracks 10 can be securely locked together. The attachment unit 15, i.e. the attachment loop and the bolt may thereby comprise mating threads (not shown) such that the bolt may be screwed into the attachment loop. Alternatively, locking may be achieved by mounting a nut at the end of the bolt.
The conveyor guide track may be made of a heavy duty material, e.g. stainless steel, or any other suitable material, such as metal/steel of suitable grade or reinforced plastics.
In Fig. 3 a method 30 for connecting at least two conveyor guide tracks 10 described above for conveying facade elements is provided. The method 30 comprises aligning 31 a longitudinal end of a first conveyor guide track 10 to an opposing longitudinal end of a second conveyor guide track 10, thereby aligning at least a first attachment unit 15 of the first conveyor guide track 10 to at least a second attachment unit 15 of the second conveyor guide track 10. The method further comprises inserting 32 a bolt through one of the at least one first attachment units 15 of the first conveyor guide track 10 towards and through the corresponding aligned attachment unit 15 of the second conveyor guide track. Furthermore, the method comprises locking 33 the bolt and the attachment unit. Locking may be achieved by engaging threads on the bolt with threads in the attachment unit, e.g. by screwing the bolt into the attachment unit. Alternatively locking is achieved by providing a nut at the end of the bolt.
In the following the conveyor guide track 10 according to the present invention will be described in use at a construction site while being engaged by a lifting jig.
Fig. 4 shows a building site of a multi-storey building 200 in which a mounting system 101 of the initially described art is employed. Guide profiles 102, also called wind posts, are erected around the building from the ground up to the various floors of the building. A conveyor guide track 10 according to the present disclosure is located outside the guide profiles 102 and attached to a scaffolding structure 110. The conveyor guide track 10 transports façade element 105 from a storage (not shown) to the building 100. A lifting jig 1 is guided in the guide profiles 102 and is arranged to be moved by a crane 104 up and down from the conveyor guide track 10 to a floor of the building. In operation, the lifting jig 1 is lowered by the crane 104 to the level of the conveyor guide track 10 to engage a façade element 105 hanging on the conveyor 10 and move it into the guide profiles 102 so that the façade element can be hoisted up to a floor of the building and be installed.
Fig. 5 shows schematically the lifting jig 1. The lifting jig 1 comprises a base frame 20 having two vertical support beams 21, 22 which are configured to fit movably into the guide profiles on the building. The lifting jig further comprises a lifting yoke 30 on which a lifting rail 40 for engaging a façade element is supported. The lifting yoke 30 may comprise at least one contact element 31, preferably two contact elements, for abutting against the second flange 17 of the conveyor guide track 10 when the lifting yoke is moved into a façade panel engagement position. The contact elements 31, which may be L-shaped angular irons, or triangular irons may be attached to the lifting yoke 30 such that they extend horizontally away from the lifting yoke 30. The lower side of the contact elements 31 may be flat. However, preferably, as shown in figure 5, the contact elements 31 comprise a recess for receiving the second flange of the conveyor guide track. In operation, the contact elements 31 ensure that the lifting yoke 30 and the conveyor guide track 10 are in the right position with regards to each other. The lifting jig 1 further comprises a linkage arrangement 50 which couples the base frame 20 with the lifting yoke 30 so that the lifting yoke 30 may perform a controlled and predefined arc-shaped movement outwards and downwards with respect to the base frame 20. The linkage arrangement 50 comprises at least two, preferably four, identical links 51, 52, 53, 54. Each link comprises a pivot arm 81, 82, 83, 84; a push rod 61, 62, 63, 64 and a carriage 71, 72, 73, 74. Each carriage is linearly movable in axial direction in a guide track 26, or a guide rail, along a respective support beam 21, 22. To each carriage 71-74 is one end of a respective pivot arm 51-54 pivotally attached. The other end of each pivot arm is pivotally attached to the lifting yoke 30. The first end of each push rod 61, 62, 63, 64 is pivotally attached to a respective pivot arm and the second end of the push rod is pivotally attached to a respective support beam 21, 22.
Figs. 6a - 6c shows schematically the interaction between the lifting jig 1 and the conveyor guide track 10 as the lifting jig is lowered to the conveyor guide track and brought in position to engage a façade element (not shown).
Fig. 6a shows the lifting jig 1 in the façade element lifting position A, immediately after the lifting jig has stopped after being lowered in the guide profiles on a building down to the conveyor (see Fig. 4). In this position, a stop block 107 in the guide profile blocks the base frame 20 of the lifting jig 1 from further movement downwards. When the base frame of the lifting jig is resting on the stop 107 the lifting yoke 30, which is not blocked, forces the carriages 71 to move downwards along the tracks 26 in the vertical support beams 21, 22. Thus, it is weight of the lifting yoke 30 that forces the carriages to move downwards in the tracks 26. During the downward movement of the carriages, the push rods 61 which are pivotally connected to both the pivot arm and the carriage, pushes the pivot arms 81 outwards such that the pivot arms move in an arc shape outwards and downwards (Figs. 6b, 6c). The movement continues until the contact elements 31 of the lifting yoke are supported on the longitudinal flange 17 of the conveyor guide track 10. The lifting jig is then in the façade engagement position (Fig. 6c) and may engage a façade element (not shown) hanging on a façade attachment trolley 18 on the conveyor guide track and disconnect the façade element therefrom. The return movement of the linkage arrangement follows exactly the reverse path of the downward movement and initiates when the hoisting crane pulls the lifting yoke upwards.
Fig. 6d shows a detailed view of the contact element 31 and the lifting yoke of Figs. 6b and 6c. The contact element 31 is attached to the lifting yoke 30 such that its lower side 33 is directed towards the lifting rail (not shown). The contact element 31 comprises a recess 32 which extends across the lower side of the contact element 31 parallel with the lifting yoke 30. The recess 32 is configured to receive a second flange 17 such that the upper inner surface of the recess 32 is supported onto the flange. The recess 32 guides the lifting yoke 30 into a precise and predetermined position with regards to the conveyor guide track.
Although the present invention has been described above with reference to specific embodiments, it is not intended to be limited to the specific form set forth herein. Rather, the invention is limited only by the accompanying claims and, other embodiments than the specific above are equally possible within the scope of these appended claims.
In the claims, the term "comprises/comprising" does not exclude the presence of other elements or steps. Furthermore, although individually listed, a plurality of means, elements or method steps may be implemented by e.g. a single unit or processor. Additionally, although individual features may be included in different claims, these may possibly advantageously be combined, and the inclusion in different claims does not imply that a combination of features is not feasible and/or advantageous. In addition, singular references do not exclude a plurality. The terms "a", "an", "first", "second" etc do not preclude a plurality. Reference signs in the claims are provided merely as a clarifying example and shall not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims in any way.

Claims

A conveyor guide track (10) for conveying facade elements, comprising
an open-ended rectangular profile having an upper surface (11) and a oppositely disposed lower surface (12) having a slot (13) extending in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular profile, said upper (11) and lower (12) surfaces being joined at their longitudinal extending edges to a pair of side walls (14), wherein the upper surface (11), the lower surface (12) and the pair of side walls (14a, 14b) together form a longitudinal cavity within the profile suitable for slidably receiving a facade attachment trolley member also extending through the slot (13),
at least one attachment unit (15) for connecting the conveyor guide track (10) to a corresponding attachment unit (15) of another conveyor guide track, provided at each longitudinal end of the profile, wherein each attachment unit (15) of the conveyor guide track (10) is positioned transversally within the boundaries of the side walls (14a, 14b), thus forming a flat exterior side surface along the entire longitudinal extension of the profile and along at least one sidewall (14b) of the profile, and
a second flange (17) arranged longitudinally on the upper surface (11) and along the longitudinal edge of the upper surface at the interface to the second side wall (14b) for supporting a lifting jig arranged to disconnect a facade profile from the facade attachment trolley member in use.
The conveyor guide track (10) according to claim 1, wherein a single attachment unit (15) is arranged on the upper surface (11) transversally between the slot (13) and a first sidewall (14a) of the pair of sidewalls (14a, 14b).
The conveyor guide track (10) according to claim 1, wherein one attachment unit (15) is arranged on the lower surface (12) transversally between the slot (13) and a first sidewall (14a) of the pair of sidewalls, and a further attachment unit (15) arranged on the lower surface (12) between the slot (13) and a second sidewall (14b) of the pair of sidewalls (14a, 14b).
The conveyor guide track (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a longitudinally arranged first flange (16) on the upper surface (11) for connection to a clamp (100) connecting the conveyor guide track (10) to a supporting scaffold structure (110).
The conveyor guide track (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one attachment unit comprises an attachment loop through which a bolt may be inserted, thereby allowing two conveyor guide tracks (10) to be connected by means of the bolt extending through the attachment loops of each conveyor guide track (10).
The conveyor guide track (10) according to claim 5, wherein the bolt and the attachment loop comprises mating threads for locking the bolt in the attachment loop.
The conveyor guide track (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the open-ended rectangular profile is C-shaped.
A method (30) for connecting at least two conveyor guide tracks (10) for conveying facade elements, each conveyor guide track comprising an open-ended rectangular profile having an upper surface (11) and a oppositely disposed lower surface (12) having an slot (13) extending in the longitudinal direction of the rectangular profile, said upper (11) and lower (12) surfaces being joined at their longitudinal extending edges to a pair of side walls (14), wherein the upper surface (11), the lower surface (12) and the pair of side walls (14a, 14b) together from a longitudinal cavity within the profile suitable for slidably receiving a facade attachment trolley member also extending through the slot (13), and at least one attachment unit (15) for connecting the conveyor guide track (10) to a corresponding attachment unit (15) of another conveyor guide track, provided at each longitudinal end of the profile, wherein each attachment unit (15) of the conveyor guide track (10) is positioned transversally within the boundaries of the side walls (14a, 14b), and wherein the outer boundary of at least one sidewall is flat along the entire longitudinal extension of the profile, and further comprising a second flange (17) arranged longitudinally on the upper surface (11) and along the longitudinal edge of the upper surface at the interface to the second side wall (14b) for supporting a lifting jig arranged to disconnect a facade profile from the facade attachment trolley member in use, the method comprising
aligning (31) a longitudinal end of a first conveyor guide track (10) to an opposing longitudinal end of a second conveyor guide track (10), thereby aligning at leas a first attachment unit (15) of the first conveyor guide track (10) to at least a second attachment unit (15);
inserting (32) a bolt through one of the at least one first attachment units (15) of the first conveyor guide track (10) towards and through the corresponding aligned attachment unit (15) of the second conveyor guide track; and
locking (33) the bolt and the attachment unit (15).