Patent ID: 12195057

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

In the following figure description, terms such as above, below, left, right, front, rear, etc. refer exclusively to the exemplary representation and position of the rail wheel set, rail, car, bearing housing, running wheels and the like selected in the respective figures. These terms are not to be understood in a restrictive way, i.e. these references may change due to different working positions or the mirror-symmetrical design or the like.

InFIGS.1-4and6, the reference numeral2designates altogether an embodiment variant of a rail wheel set for a car1that can be moved on a rail9of a rail system12.

The rail wheel set2has, as shown in particular inFIGS.1and2, a bearing housing6with two axle mounts61for the pivot bearing of two running wheels4,5.

The running wheels4,5, which are rotatably mounted on the bearing housing6, each have a rail rolling surface41,51and a ground rolling surface42,52.

The two running wheels4,5can roll independently of each other on the running surface91of the rail9or on a flat floor.

The rail rolling surfaces41,51of the running wheels4,5are shaped to match the contour of the running surface91of the rail9. In the exemplary embodiment shown in the figures, the rail9is designed as a round rail embedded in a rail bearing11, which can be installed in a floor of a factory building or the like.

Accordingly, the rail rolling surfaces41,51of the two running wheels4,5are shaped as a circular section in cross-section through a diameter of the respective running wheel4,5, as shown inFIG.2, which shows the rail wheel set2in such a cross-sectional view when mounted on rail9.

In this case, the two running wheels4,5are rotatably mounted via bearings, preferably roller bearings10on the axle mounts61of the bearing housing6.

As can be seen inFIGS.1and2, the running wheels4,5are arranged at an angle to each other on the bearing housing6.

Accordingly, the axle mounts61of the bearing housing6are not horizontal, but inclined.

The angle of inclination a of the running wheels4,5is preferably between 20° and 40° to a vertical axis of the rail wheel set2. The running wheels4,5are oriented inclined particularly at an angle of inclination a of 30° to the vertical and are accordingly at an angle of inclination of 60° to each other.

The running wheels4,5are fixed with the respective screw bolts63in mounting holes of the axle mounts61.

It is also conceivable to align the running wheels4,5parallel to each other.

As further shown inFIG.2, a wrap angle β, defined by the angular distance of the outer edges of the rail rolling surfaces41,51, is less or exactly 180°, preferably in a range of 90° to 130°, allowing the rail wheel set2to be placed on the running surface91of the rail9.

In principle, it is also conceivable to shape the rail rolling surfaces41,51in such a way that they encompass the rail9at a wrap angle β of more than 180°, which would involve captive mounting of the rail wheel set2.

The ground rolling surfaces42,52of the respective running wheel4,5are preferably integrally formed on one edge of the rail rolling surfaces41,51.

In the embodiment variant of the rail wheel set2running on a round rail shown here, the ground rolling surfaces42,52are integrally formed on the respective outer edge of the rail rolling surfaces41,51.

The ground rolling surfaces42,52are straight or slightly convex in cross-section through a diameter of the respective running wheel4,5, as shown inFIG.2, to ensure a sufficient contact surface on a flat floor.

To fix the rail wheel set2to a car1, as shown inFIGS.5and6by way of example, the bearing housing6has a plate bearing holder62to accommodate a plate7, which can be fixed, in particular screwed, to a chassis3of car1.

In this case, several holes73are provided in the plate7for the screw connection of plate7. These holes73are used for the passage of screw bolts and can be used to screw the plate7to the chassis3, for example to mounting plates32of the chassis3.

As shown inFIG.2, the plate7is attached to the bearing housing6, preferably rotatably via a pivot bearing8. The plate7is preferably mounted via roller bearings10both around a vertical axis of rotation in the plate bearing holder62and via a horizontally oriented pivot bearing on the bearing housing6.

FIG.3shows a section of a rail system12, with rails9running at the same angle to each other and meeting at the respective intersection points14.

In the region of these intersection points14there is no rail but a flat plate15.

From this intersection point14with the centrally arranged flat plate15, both rails9and a rotating track13with a flat running surface extend.

The rotating track13and the distances between the intersection points14are adapted to the dimensions of the positions of the rail wheel sets2on car1.

In the embodiment variant shown here inFIGS.3,5and6, the rail wheel sets2are arranged relative to each other as a square, so that a turnstile shown inFIG.3as an example requires only four such intersection points14.

A rectangular arrangement of the rail wheel sets2on car1is also conceivable, for example, for which four or more intersection points14would have to be provided in a turnstile shown inFIG.3.

In order to turn the car1, the rail wheel sets2must be pushed down from rail9onto the flat plate15as shown inFIG.4as an example.

On this flat plate15, the ground rolling surfaces42,52now rest on the surface of the plates15and can be easily rotated around a vertical central axis of the respective rail wheel set2to perform the rotary movement, so that the alignment of the rail wheel set2faces in the direction of the rotating track13or the transversely extending rail9. During this rotation of the respective rail wheel sets2, the running wheels4,5rotate in opposite directions.

Then the car1can be moved on the turnstile16in a rotary motion so that the rail wheel sets2are moved from a first intersection point14to an adjacent second intersection point14along the rotating tracks13.

As an alternative to turning the car, it can be moved further by moving the wheelsets2transversely at the respective intersection point14on the transversely extending rail9.

After reaching the next intersection point14, the rail wheelsets2are rotated again about their vertical axis until they are oriented parallel to a rail9, so that the car1can then be moved along an imaginary extension of parallel extending rails9in a direction different from the initial direction.

In addition to the arrangement of the plates7on the bearing housing6centrically to the running wheels4,5, which is shown as a preferred exemplary embodiment, it is also conceivable that the axis of rotation of the plate7is eccentrically positioned on the bearing housing6.

Another advantage of the angularly oriented running wheels4,5compared to an integral running wheel placed on the rail is the reduced friction between the running wheels and the rail. As a result of the large forces that regularly occur in the use of such cars1when transporting heavy objects, a pressure ellipse is always formed when rolling running wheels with a concave rail rolling surface, which is accompanied by an offset of the rolling radius within the rail rolling surface.

As the force is applied in the vertical direction (direction of the weight force) in an integrally designed running wheel, there is a greater offset of the rolling radius than in a rail wheel set with two running wheels, in particular running wheels4,5, which are oriented at an angle to each other, as shown by way of example inFIG.2, as the force is applied at an angle to the vertical of the rail9.

With a pressure ellipse forming symmetrically to the point of force application, the resulting offset of the rolling radius in relation to a rail wheel with a running wheel placed vertically on the rail is significantly reduced.

A further advantage of the inclined running wheels4,5is that, compared to a vertical running wheel arrangement, larger rolling diameters are possible with the same overall height of the rail wheel set or a flatter, more compact overall height is possible with the same rolling diameter of the running wheels, compared to running wheels standing vertically on a round rail.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

1Car2Rail wheel set3Chassis31Wheel mount4Running wheel41Rail rolling surface42Ground rolling surfaceRunning wheel51Rail rolling surface52Ground rolling surface6Bearing housing61Axle mount62Plate bearing holder63Screw bolt7Plate71Upper side72Underside73Hole8Pivot bearing9Rail91Running surfaceRoller bearing11Rail bearing12Rail system13Rotating track14Intersection regionPlate16Turnstileα Angle of inclinationβ Wrap angle