US3834319A

US3834319A - Conveyor installation with transport containers

Info

Publication number: US3834319A
Application number: US00322363A
Authority: US
Inventors: W Kastenbein
Original assignee: Ingold & Co Hans
Current assignee: Ingold & Co Hans; Ingold H & Co ch
Priority date: 1972-01-14
Filing date: 1973-01-10
Publication date: 1974-09-10
Anticipated expiration: 1991-09-10
Also published as: DE2263568C2; DK139217B; BE793855A; JPS4881210A; IT972953B; CH559682A5; CA966725A; JPS5748422B2; DK139217C; DD101636A5; DE2263568A1; NO139345B; NL7300342A; NO139345C; SE396043B; GB1383261A; AT323646B; FR2168000B1; FR2168000A1; AU5073373A

Abstract

A conveyor installation with transport containers guided at a rail and each of which can be propelled by means of its own drive unit. Each of the transport containers is supported at the associated rail through the agency of a respective pair of travelling wheels arranged in the direction of the transverse axis of the transport container and by means of guide wheels arranged in the lengthwise axis of the transport container.

Description

United States Patent 1191 Kastenbein 1451 Sept. 10, 1974 CONVEYOR INSTALLATION WITH TRANSPORT CONTAINERS [75] Inventor: Werner Kastenbein, Zurich,

Switzerland [73] Assignee: Hans lngold & C0., Zollikon, Switzerland [22] Filed: Jan. 10, 1973 [21] App]. No.: 322,363

[30] Foreign Application Priority Data Jan. 14, 1972 Switzerland 493/72 52 US. Cl ..l04/246,104/243, 105/75 51 1111.0 B61f 13/00 [58] Field of Search 104/242, 243, 245, 246; 105/75, 73; 280/43.1, 47.16, 110, 43.12;

ISO/24.02

[56] References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 682,662 9/1901 Bartholomew 280/47.16 1,373,754 4/1921 Miller 104/246 1,613,866 1/1927 Avery 104/242 1,682,974 9/1928 Lukens 104/242 2,943,865 7/1960 Fite ISO/24.02

FOREIGN PATENTS OR APPLICATIONS 920,189 11/1954 Germany 104/243 Primary ExaminerRobert J. Spar Assistant Examiner-Kenneth Noland Attorney, Agent, or Firm1-li1l, Gross, Simpson, Van Santen, Steadman, Chiara & Simpson [5 7] ABSTRACT A conveyor installation with transport containers guided at a rail and each of which can be propelled by means of its own drive unit. Each of the transport containers is supported at the associated rail through the agency of a respective pair of travelling wheels arranged in the direction of the transverse axis of the transport container and by means of guide wheels arranged in the lengthwise axis of the transport container.

13 Claims, 3 Drawing Figures CONVEYOR INSTALLATION WITH TRANSPORT CONTAINERS BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION The present invention relates to a new and improved construction of conveyor installation incorporating transport containers which are guided at a rail or track and each of which can be propelled by means of its own drive unit.

With known conveyor installations of this type, as a general rule the transport containers are guided and supported at the rail by means of pairs of wheels, that is to say, by means of wheels arranged in pairs at the same axle. With this type of construction, the mutually contradictory requirements for realizing a sufficient stability, on the one hand, and small radius of the curves of the rails, on the other hand, can also not be readily completely satisfied, only by submitting to certain compromises. Thus, the wide track gauge which is desired from the standpoint of attaining the maximum possible stability precludes the use of narrow curves of the rails, especially then when there are being handled larger size containers, the center of gravity of which is located relatively high above the rail and the stability of which about the transverse axis requires a relatively long wheel spacing. In most cases it is not possible, for constructional reasons, to maintain as small as possible curve radius, since the friction which arises during travelling through the relevant curves requires a considerable drive output and hence necessitates the use of expensive and heavy drive units. 1

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION Hence it is a primary object of the present invention to provide an improved construction of conveyor installation equipped with transport containers which effectively and reliably overcomes the aforementioned drawbacks and limitations of the prior art proposals.

Now in order to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks and to fulfill the objective indicated above as well as others which will become more readily apparent as the description proceeds, the conveyor installation of this development is manifested by the features that each of the transport containers is supported at the associated rail by means of a pair of travelling wheels arranged along the transverse axis of the transport container and by means of a pair of guide wheels arranged along the lengthwise axis of the transport container.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above, will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawing wherein:

FIG. 1 schematically illustrates in side view the travelling carriage of a transport container according to the invention;

FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the carriage depicted in FIG. 1, taken substantially along the line lI-II thereof; and

FIG. 3 is a sectional view of the arrangement of FIG. 1, taken substantially along the line III-III thereof, and additionally showing a cross-section of the associated rail and schematically indicating the transport container which is placed upon the travelling carriage.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS Considering now the illustrated exemplary embodiment, it will be understood that the travelling carriage, generally designated by reference character 1, possesses a travelling wheel 2 which is located at each side of the travelling carriage 1 along the transverse axis thereof as well as a respective guide wheel 3 which is located at each end of such carriage and which is arranged at the lengthwise or longitudinally extending axis of such carriage. A balance beam or rocker 5 which is hingedly connected by means of a pivot shaft 4 to the carriage 1 carries a drive unit 6 equipped with a drive wheel 7. This drive wheel 7 is coaxially arranged with respect to the transverse axis and laterally offset with respect to the lengthwise axis of the carriage 1. Further, drive wheel 7, as best seen by referring to FIG. 3, frictionally engages at the central or intermediate flange or web 12 of a track or rail member 9 possessing a substantially C-shaped cross-sectional configuration. In order to increase the friction inherently brought about by the weight of the drive unit 6, there is advantageously provided a resilient element, here in the form of a blade spring 8 (FIG. 1) which is anchored at its one end at location 9 at the carriage l and engages at its other end with the upper surface of the drive unit 6. The degree of pivotability of the drive unit 6 and the balance beam or rocker 5 which carries such drive unit 6 and which is subjected to the action of its own weight and the spring force can be adjustably limited by a stop screw 10. As schematically indicated in FIG. 3, the carriage 1 carries a container 1 1 which is secured to its top surface.

The lateral guiding of the carriage l in the rail 9 of C-shaped cross-section is insured for by suitable sliding bodies or guiding element means 30 formed of a material poor in friction, preferably plastic, mounted at the side walls of the carriage at the terminal or end regions thereof, and which cooperate with the lateral flanges 13 of the rail 9. The lateral flanges 13 of the rail 9 have inwardly directed marginal border or ledges 14 which engage over the travelling wheels 2 of the carriage 1 in order to guide such in the rail 9 in the vertical direction.

With the container 11 completely loaded, the carriage 1 bears by means of its four wheels, that is to say, by means of the pair of travelling wheels 2 and both of the guide wheels 3 at the central web 12 of the rail 9, wherein however the loading of the wheels 2 differs from one another since owing to the contact force of the friction wheel 7 at the rail, the travelling wheel 2 which is located at the region thereof (in FIG. 2 the lower situated travelling wheel) is considerably relieved of load, particularly then when such contact force is chosen to be relatively great in consideration of the desire to insure for the self-travelling capability of relatively large and therefore correspondingly loaded containers. Consequently, there occurs a certain relieving of the load acting upon both of the guide wheels 3, even if such is slight, or at least one such wheel. The corresponding relationships can be better understood if it is imagined that the container is empty or only partially loaded to such an extent that the force of the spring 8 is sufficient to raise the travelling wheel 2 neighboring the friction wheel 7 from the rail until such, as the case may be, bears against the marginal border or ledge 14 of the rail situated over such wheel. As a result, the carriage tilts about its transverse axis, which is now slightly inclined, and bears upon only one of both guide wheels 3. There is therefore produced a three-point support, especially by means of the friction wheel 7, the travelling wheel 2 remote therefrom, and a guide wheel 3, which as a general rule is the guide wheel which is located rearwardly in the direction of travel. Starting from this readily imaginable position, it should be readily understood that such three-point support also is maintained if the container is fully loaded, since, as already mentioned, the friction wheel, the travelling wheel 2 remote therefrom, and one of the guide wheels 3, also then will support at the rail the essential part of the weight of the transport container and the actual load when the second travelling wheel and- /or guide wheel contacts the travelling web 12 of the rail 9. Owing to the foregoing considerations, the support of the transport container upon the rail is especially stable, and specifically also then when the travelling web 12 of the rail exhibits irregularities or distorted or twisted portions. Accordingly, the rail and its mounting can be designed much easier and generally adjustments thereof can be carried out under much less stringent requirements. On the other hand, the carriage itself will be less subjected to the load or stress of a twisted portion of the rail, something which likewise provides for constructional similification of the system. Finally, the friction conditions generally, especially however in curves, are more favorable, so that in consideration thereof practically no limitations are imposed upon a reduction of the radius of the curves. Of course, the holding ability of the carriage in the curves of the track system is already quite good owing to the described arrangement of the travelling wheels and guide wheels and is particularly then considerable if the curve radius is undertoken as a function of the track gauge. The incrased steerability of the carriage which is inherently brought about by the wheel arrangement and also by the three-point support, also has the effect that the gliding bodies, which have the task of carrying out the lateral guiding of the carriage at the rail, are only slightly loaded in the curves as well as along the straight track sections. Such gliding bodies can be replaced by guide rolls or even completely omitted if there is provided for the guidewheels a guide track, as schematically indicated at 40 in FIG. 3. For this purpose, there could be used, for instance, the current rail which has not been particularly illustrated in the drawing, and which in a practical construction of the equipment, would be arranged at the intermediate travelling web 12 of the rail 9 and would transmit the driving energy for the drive unit 6 through the agency of nonillustrated sliding contacts or equivalent structure.

It should be understood that the friction wheel 7 can be shifted more or less in offset relationship to one or the other side with respect to the lengthwise center line of the carriage. Application of the friction wheel 7 against the travelling web 12 of the rail 9 could of course occur in a different manner than through the use of a resilient spring, such as the depicted blade spring; for instance it could occur in certain cases through the use of a mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electrical, direct or indirect (for instance through the use of a spindle) operating contacting or applying means.

While there is shown and described present preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be distinctly understood that the invention is not limited thereto but may be otherwise variously embodied and practiced within the scope of the following claims. ACCORD- INGLY,

What is claimed is:

l. A conveyor installation comprising at least one transport container, a rail for guiding said transport container for movement therealong, said transport container having its own drive unit for propelling the transport container along the rail, said transport container having a transversely extending axis and a lengthwise extending axis, a pair of main load supporting traveling wheels arranged on the transversely extending axis and a pair of guide wheels arranged on the lengthwise extending axis at least one of said guide wheels lying remote from and to each side of said transversely extending axis, said transport container being supported by said wheels at said rail, the drive unit incorporating a drive wheel positioned intermediate the gauge of the pair of traveling wheels, the drive wheel downwardly shiftable relative to the pair of traveling wheels independently thereof.

2. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 1, further including guide element means for guiding the transport container at the rail and engaging with the latter.

3. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 2, wherein said rail possesses a guide track for the guide wheels.

4. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 1, further including means for placing said drive wheel in contact with the rail and engaging from above with said drive wheel.

5. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 4, wherein said placing means comprises a spring.

6. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 5, further including a guide ledge extending along the rail and at least above the travelling wheel which neighbors the drive wheel.

7. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 6, wherein said rail possesses a configuration in crosssection which substantially approximates the shape of a substantially sharp cornered C.

8. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 7, wherein said rail includes a web portion, said drive wheel engaging with said web portion.

9. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 8, wherein the drive wheel is a friction wheel.

10. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 2, wherein the rail includes vertically extending guide surfaces and the guide element means are located adjacent the front and rear endsof the carriage on opposite sides thereof and project therefrom for engagement with vertical guide surfaces.

11. The conveyor installation of claim 1, wherein the drive unit includes means for rotating a drive wheel, the drive wheel and the means for rotating the drive wheel being attached to a common frame member, the common frame member being pivotably hinged to the transport container whereby the combined weight of the drive wheel and the driving means bias the drive wheel downwardly.

12. The conveyor installation of claim 11, wherein additional biasing means are provided effective to bias the drive unit downwardly relative to the pair of traveldrive wheel is positioned offset from the lengthwise extending axis and has a diameter greater than the travelling wheel.

Claims

1. A conveyor installation comprising at least one transport container, a rail for guiding said transport container for movement therealong, said transport container having its own drive unit for propelling the transport container along the rail, said transport container having a transversely extending axis and a lengthwise extending axis, a pair of main load supporting traveling wheels arranged on the transversely exTending axis and a pair of guide wheels arranged on the lengthwise extending axis at least one of said guide wheels lying remote from and to each side of said transversely extending axis, said transport container being supported by said wheels at said rail, the drive unit incorporating a drive wheel positioned intermediate the gauge of the pair of traveling wheels, the drive wheel downwardly shiftable relative to the pair of traveling wheels independently thereof.

7. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 6, wherein said rail possesses a configuration in cross-section which substantially approximates the shape of a substantially sharp cornered C.

10. The conveyor installation as defined in claim 2, wherein the rail includes vertically extending guide surfaces and the guide element means are located adjacent the front and rear ends of the carriage on opposite sides thereof and project therefrom for engagement with vertical guide surfaces.

12. The conveyor installation of claim 11, wherein additional biasing means are provided effective to bias the drive unit downwardly relative to the pair of traveling wheels, the biasing force including the additional biasing means and the weight of the drive unit exceeding the weight of the transport container when the transport container is empty.

13. The conveyor installation of claim 1, wherein the drive wheel is positioned offset from the lengthwise extending axis and has a diameter greater than the travelling wheel.