Overhead transport with a low ecological impact

Abstract: This system of overhead transport consists essencially of a track with two rail-cables (2), horizontally placed, along which the motorised vehicles(1) run and are electrically powered. These cables are maintened statically parallel by cable-carrier shoes (5) attached to the ends of fixtures (21/28) hanging firmly from support arms (22) with support pillars (20) or from a third horizontalizing cable (25) supported in (24). The rail cables are drawn with hydraulic cylinders (51/55) from the pillars where a cable ends and another begins. To make the vehicle passing through them smoothly, the cable-carrier shoes begin in a slended way (50a) under every cable and go step by step widening and joining it until they form two horizontal planes (53) where the traction wheels (31) of the vehicle roll. This widening of the shoes also force the guide-arms (41) to open through the wheels (43).

Description: A transport system is known from EP-A-0 130 947 comprising a motorised vehicle suspended on rails mounted on cables. The invention proposes a system according to the features of claim 1 in order avoid using rails and power cables. This transport system consists of two parts: the track and the vehicle. The track consists of two horizontal rail-cables (2), along which the motorised vehicle (1) runs, is guided and powered. These cables are maintained statically parallel by cable-carrier shoes (5) attached to the ends of fixtures (21/28) hanging firmly from support arms (22) with support pillars (20), or from a third, horizontalizing cable (25) and arms (24). The vehicle is supported by traction wheels (31) attached directly to special electric engine shafts (30). The cabin is supported by the suspension (11) of the frames (3) grouping together the motors and guides (4). The centralizer arms (41) with guide wheels (43) have a system of springs and buffers that keep the unit centred, both on the rail-cables and as it passes through the cable-carrier shoes.

Claims: Overhead transport system , characterised by having a track composed of two static rail-cables (2), on which motorized vehicles (1) run, are guided and powered; such vehicles may be simple or made up of several units, like a train or articulated tube. Overhead transport system , according to the above claim, characterised by the fact that the two rail-cables (2) are laid down horizontally, separated and maintained statically in space by lifting supports (21 oe 28), in the form of an inverted T, with cable-carrier shoes (5) incorporated on the two horizontal parts. Overhead transport system , according to the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the fixtures (21 and 28) hang firmly from support arms (22) on support pillars (20) or another cable (25) which, supported by higher arms that also exist on the support pillars (24), by means of hangers (27), helps to keep the rail-cables horizontal in a similar way to suspension bridges. Overhead transport system , according to the previous claims, characterised by the fact that the vehicle (1) has two or more drive assemblies (3), from which it hangs by means of shock-absorbing suspension (11) and swivels (12). Overhead transport system , according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that each drive assemly (3) consists, essentially, of a frame (32) containing guide units (4) and support and traction wheels (31), which are supported on the top of the rail-cables (2) and which receive their driving power through bushing by means of any conventional transmission system, or by being coupled directly to the shafts of high-torque, low-speed engines (30), which are attached to the aforesaid frame. Overhead transport system , according to the previous claim, characterised by the fact that the guide units (4) are composed of two symmetrically equal centralizer arms (41) that revolve around axles (42) attached to the vertical edges of the frame (32c) and at the bottom have guide wheels (43), which run on the sides of the cables and make the centralizer arms open as they pass through the cable-carrier shoes (5); they maintain the cables centred in respect of the traction wheels (31) because the arms (41) have a device composed of two springs (44), a central buffer (45) and a central anchorage (46), in which the free end of both springs is fixed. Other buffers (47) and stretch restrictors inside the springs prevent the cable from coming out of the groove formed by the three wheels. Overhead transport system , according to previous claims, characterised by the fact that the cable-carrier shoes (5) of the rail cables, have both ends pointed to make the opening an closing of the centralizer arms (41) smoother as they pass trough them. Overhead transport system , according to previous claims, characterised by the fact that since the rail-cables are locked-coil cables and cannot be spliced, the rolling between one cable ending and another commencing is performed on special "coupling" shoes (5), which have a longitudinal opening at the bottom to allow both rail-cables, in a slight arc, to descend and cross in order to reach slack adjusters composed of hydraulic cylinders or any other element fulfilling this function, which are anchored beneath such shoes at the opposite end to the entrance of each cable and horizontally shifted a few centimetres in respect of the vertical of the centre of each shoe, each to the opposite side to avoid the rail-cables from rubbing when crossing. Overhead transport system , according to previous claims, characterised by the fact that the cable-carrier shoes (5) incorporate longitudinal clamps which, set into a cutting made for this purpose, hold the rail-cables from above to prevent them from coming out of the compartment of such shoes in the event of vertical oscillations produced for any reason.

Inventors: SANZ ARAPILES JESUS, SANZ ARAPILES, JESUS
Applicants: SANZ ARAPILES JESUS, SANZ ARAPILES, JESUS
Application year: 1992
Main classification: B61B7
IPC codes: B61B7