GB2170767A

GB2170767A - Drive transmission for an overhead rail conveyor system

Info

Publication number: GB2170767A
Application number: GB08525129A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Harry Heinrich
Original assignee: PHB WESERHUETTE AG; PHB WESERHUTTE AG
Current assignee: PHB WESERHUETTE AG; PHB WESERHUTTE AG
Priority date: 1984-10-30
Filing date: 1985-10-11
Publication date: 1986-08-13
Also published as: DE3439647C2; GB8525129D0; DE3439647A1; GB2170767B; FR2572347A1

Abstract

The ratio of the transmission can be automatically changed as the trolley travels along in order to increase the driving force when required; in addition, when the driving force is to be increased, the driving torque is divided between a trolley driving wheel 3 which runs along the top of the rail 9 and a friction wheel 11 which runs along the bottom of the rail 9. The driving wheel 3 is driven by a planetary gear 1 whose planet cage 4 is connected by way of sprocket wheels 6 and a chain 5 to the friction wheel 11. In its normal position, the friction wheel 11 and planet cage 4 are held locked by a toothed locking wheel 8 which engages a locking element 7; in this position, the friction wheel 11 does not engage the bottom of the rail 9. At selected sections of the rail 9, the depth of the rail 9 is increased by a bar or rail and the friction wheel 11 engages the rail and is pushed down, unlocking wheel 8 to roll along the rail, lowering the transmission ratio and dividing the torque between the wheels 3, 11. <IMAGE>

Description

SPECIFICATION Drive transmission for a conveyor system The invention relates generally to a conveyor system of the type having an extended supporting and reaction means such as a rail and at least one trolley which runs along the supporting and reaction means and is driven by a driving wheel which engages the supporting and reaction means, the trolley having a drive transmission connected to the driving wheel.

Such systems are normally of the overhead or suspended type and can be referred to as telpher systems.

In such systems, it is already known to have drive transmissions with planetary gearing and a stationary planet carrier, providing a fixed transmission ratio.

It was desirable to provide a transmission whose ratio can be automatically changed as the trolley travels along in order to increase the driving force for instance when the supporting and reaction means ortrack is inclined upwards or when relatively heavy loads must be conveyed or pulled.

The present invention provides drive transmissions as set forth in Claims 1 or 8 and a conveyor system as set forth in Claim 9. The remaining Claims set forth preferred features of the invention.

The transmission can be shifted by stationary members adjacent inclinations in the track or adjacent sections of the track where the loads will be heavy, or which can be specially actuated if the loads are heavy due to particular circumstances.

An embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a drive transmission of the invention: and Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the transmission of Figure 1.

The drive transmission is for a trolley (not shown) carrying a suspended load and which is driven along supporting and reaction means in the form of a rail 9 by means of an electric motor (not shown) mounted for instance on the housing 2 of the drive transmission. The electric motor drives a pinion connected to the sun wheel of a planetary gear 1. The outer ring of the planetary gear 1 forms or carries a driving wheel 3 which runs along the top of the track 9. The planet wheels are carried on a carrier or cage 4 which is rotatably mounted in the housing 2. The planet cage 4 is rotationally fixed with respect to a sprocket wheel 6 which is in turn connected by a chain 5 with a second sprocket wheel 6which is rotationally fixed with respect to an auxiliary or friction wheel 11.The friction wheel 11 lies below the track 9 and is mounted so as to float in a vertical guide 12, being sprung upwards by springs 13.

At certain sections of the track 9, there is a member 10 in the form of a bar, rail or the like which effectively increases the depth of the track. Where there is no member 10, the springs 13 push the friction wheel 11 and associated parts upwards until a toothed locking pinion or wheel 8, which is rotationally fixed to the friction wheel 11, engages a locking element 7. This both locks the friction wheel 11 and holds the planet cage 4 stationary, and also holds the friction wheel 11 out of contact with the track 9. The transmission ratio is -higher and is set for fast travel.When the friction wheel 11 engages the bottom of the member 10, the transmission is automatically shifted- the friction wheel 11 is pressed against the member 10 by the springs 13 and causes the planet cage 4 to rotate in the opposite direction to the driving wheel 3, thereby lowering the transmission ratio and slowing the trolley. In addition, the driving torque is divided between the driving wheel 3 and the friction wheel 11. In this way, a greater force of propulsion can be applied to the trolley, assisting travel of the trolley up inclined portions of the rail 9 or slowing the speed of the trolley on horizontal portions of the rail for specific reasons: also, non-slip transmission of the force of propulsion to the rail 9 is improved, particularly if the trolley is being used as a tractor or the like for pulling heavy loads.

Where there are curves upwards or downwards of the rail 9, the driving wheel 3 and the friction wheel 11 will roll along different lengths of rail 9. The arrangement allows the ratio of speeds of rotation of the wheels 3,9 to vary, to accommodate such differences in lengths.

It is understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention.

1. A drive transmission for a conveyor system of the type having an extended supporting and reaction means such as a rail and at least one trolley which runs along the supporting and reaction means and is driven by a driving wheel which engages the suppoting and reaction means, the drive transmission being arranged to mount a driving wheel for engaging the top of the supporting and reaction means and a auxiliary wheel for engaging the bottom of the supporting and reaction means in sections where the effective depth of the supporting and reaction means is increased, to thereby divide the output torque of the transmission between the driving wheel and the auxiliary wheel, the drive transmission also being arranged so that its transmission ratio can ha changed where the effective depth of the supporting and reaction means is increased.

2. The drive transmission of Claim 1, which is arranged such that the transmission ratio is automatically reduced by the increase in depth of the supporting and reaction means.

3. The drive transmission of Claim 1, and incorporating a planetary gear with a rotatable planet carrier, the planet carrier being connected to the auxiliary wheel, whereby the transmission ratio is changed when the auxiliary wheel engages the supporting and reaction means.

4. The drive transmission of Claim 3, wherein the auxiliary wheel is connected to the planet carrier by way of respective sprocket wheels rotatably fixed

**WARNING** end of DESC field may overlap start of CLMS **.

Claims

**WARNING** start of CLMS field may overlap end of DESC **. SPECIFICATION Drive transmission for a conveyor system The invention relates generally to a conveyor system of the type having an extended supporting and reaction means such as a rail and at least one trolley which runs along the supporting and reaction means and is driven by a driving wheel which engages the supporting and reaction means, the trolley having a drive transmission connected to the driving wheel. Such systems are normally of the overhead or suspended type and can be referred to as telpher systems. In such systems, it is already known to have drive transmissions with planetary gearing and a stationary planet carrier, providing a fixed transmission ratio. It was desirable to provide a transmission whose ratio can be automatically changed as the trolley travels along in order to increase the driving force for instance when the supporting and reaction means ortrack is inclined upwards or when relatively heavy loads must be conveyed or pulled. The present invention provides drive transmissions as set forth in Claims 1 or 8 and a conveyor system as set forth in Claim 9. The remaining Claims set forth preferred features of the invention. The transmission can be shifted by stationary members adjacent inclinations in the track or adjacent sections of the track where the loads will be heavy, or which can be specially actuated if the loads are heavy due to particular circumstances. An embodiment of the invention is described below, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which: Figure 1 is a vertical section through a drive transmission of the invention: and Figure 2 is a schematic side view of the transmission of Figure 1. The drive transmission is for a trolley (not shown) carrying a suspended load and which is driven along supporting and reaction means in the form of a rail 9 by means of an electric motor (not shown) mounted for instance on the housing 2 of the drive transmission. The electric motor drives a pinion connected to the sun wheel of a planetary gear 1. The outer ring of the planetary gear 1 forms or carries a driving wheel 3 which runs along the top of the track 9. The planet wheels are carried on a carrier or cage 4 which is rotatably mounted in the housing 2. The planet cage 4 is rotationally fixed with respect to a sprocket wheel 6 which is in turn connected by a chain 5 with a second sprocket wheel 6which is rotationally fixed with respect to an auxiliary or friction wheel 11.The friction wheel 11 lies below the track 9 and is mounted so as to float in a vertical guide 12, being sprung upwards by springs 13. At certain sections of the track 9, there is a member 10 in the form of a bar, rail or the like which effectively increases the depth of the track. Where there is no member 10, the springs 13 push the friction wheel 11 and associated parts upwards until a toothed locking pinion or wheel 8, which is rotationally fixed to the friction wheel 11, engages a locking element 7. This both locks the friction wheel 11 and holds the planet cage 4 stationary, and also holds the friction wheel 11 out of contact with the track 9. The transmission ratio is -higher and is set for fast travel.When the friction wheel 11 engages the bottom of the member 10, the transmission is automatically shifted- the friction wheel 11 is pressed against the member 10 by the springs 13 and causes the planet cage 4 to rotate in the opposite direction to the driving wheel 3, thereby lowering the transmission ratio and slowing the trolley. In addition, the driving torque is divided between the driving wheel 3 and the friction wheel 11. In this way, a greater force of propulsion can be applied to the trolley, assisting travel of the trolley up inclined portions of the rail 9 or slowing the speed of the trolley on horizontal portions of the rail for specific reasons: also, non-slip transmission of the force of propulsion to the rail 9 is improved, particularly if the trolley is being used as a tractor or the like for pulling heavy loads. Where there are curves upwards or downwards of the rail 9, the driving wheel 3 and the friction wheel 11 will roll along different lengths of rail 9. The arrangement allows the ratio of speeds of rotation of the wheels 3,9 to vary, to accommodate such differences in lengths. It is understood that the present invention has been described above purely by way of example, and that modifications of detail can be made within the scope of the invention. CLAIMS

4. The drive transmission of Claim 3, wherein the auxiliary wheel is connected to the planet carrier by way of respective sprocket wheels rotatably fixed relative to the auxiliary wheel and to the planet carrier and the sprocket wheels are interconnected by a chain or the like.

5. The drive transmission of Claim 3 or 4 and arranged such that the planet carrier is automatically locked where the depth of the supporting and reaction means is less and is automatically unlocked when the depth of the supporting and reaction means increases.

6.The drive transmission of Claim 5, wherein the movement of the auxiliary wheel, on engaging the increased depth reaction and supporting means, unlocks the planet carrier.

7. The drive transmission of any of the preceding Claims, wherein the driving wheel and the auxiliary wheel are arranged to rotate at speeds which vary with respect to each other, thereby allowing the driving wheel and auxiliary wheel to accommodate different lengths of supporting and reaction means along which they roll.

8. A drive transmission, substantially as herein described with reference to, and as shown in, the accompanying drawing.

9. A conveyor system of the type having an extended supporting and reaction means such as a rail and at least one trolley which runs along the supporting and reaction means and is driven by a driving wheel which engages the supporting and reaction means, the trolley having the driving mechanism of any of the preceding Claims.