Transfer device for self-propelled carriages on a road network such as an elevated road

Abstract

The invention relates to a transfer device (50) for a self-propelled vehicle (1) on a road network (1000) such as an elevated road, wherein the road network (1000) has at least one route element (106, 108) and at least one intersection, turning point or end point, and in the region of the at least one intersection, turning point or end point, the self-propelled vehicle (1) can be transferred from the at least one route element (106, 108) to an adjustably arranged carrying unit (25a to 25d).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a transfer device for self-propelled carriages on a road network such as an elevated highway, wherein the carriages are provided in particular for transporting people and the road network comprises various stations through which the carriages can travel. Background Art

[0002] A transfer device for self-propelled carriages at a road network is known from US2017 / 0313328A1. The known document discloses a load-bearing unit in the form of a switch that can be adjusted around a vertical axis, especially in the area of ​​intersections (at which multiple route elements or route sections converge in a star shape), which is designed to receive a carriage from a first route element and transfer it to a second route element by alignment or rotation. However, route elements of a road network that are not arranged in parallel are connected to each other by means of the known transfer device. In addition, the number of route sections that can be connected to each other by means of switches is limited by principle. Summary of the invention

[0003] The transfer device according to the invention for self-propelled carriages at the road network has the advantage that it can, in principle, connect any number of travel routes to one another via the transfer device with relatively little structural effort, so that carriages can be transferred from a first travel route to any second travel route by switching. Furthermore, the transfer device according to the invention allows carriages to be deflected from the region of the travel routes for loading and unloading without blocking travel routes for other carriages in the region of the transfer device. For this purpose, the invention provides that the support unit is arranged in a linearly movable manner in the region of the preferably door frame-like support structure, in particular parallel to the end section of the track element facing the support unit.

[0004] Advantageous embodiments and configurations of the device according to the invention for transferring self-propelled vehicles on an elevated-type road network are described.

[0005] A particularly simple design of the door frame-like support structure is achieved if the door frame-like support structure has a crossbeam with at least one cross arm, on which the support unit is movably arranged.

[0006] In the last proposed development, it is provided that the cross member has two cross arms, between which the support unit can be moved by means of rolling elements arranged on the support unit. The use of two cross arms between which the support unit is arranged has the advantage, in particular, of particularly good guidance of the carriage on the support unit or when traversing the support unit.

[0007] In order to be able to transfer the car body from a track element of the travel path to the support unit, it is provided that the support unit has at least one profile section for the support arm of the car body. This profile section is aligned with the track element in such a way that no height deviation occurs when the car body is transferred to the support unit. In particular, this also achieves a travel of the car body in which it can traverse the region of the door frame-like support structure without performing a steering maneuver or without stopping or slowing down.

[0008] Another particularly preferred structural design of the support unit provides that, when the car body is parked in the region of the door frame-like support structure, the car body can either be turned or tilted for travel in the opposite direction of travel, or the car body can be lowered or raised to the ground for boarding or disembarking without additional structural measures, and that the support unit is constructed from at least two elements, namely a first element guided in the region of the crossbeam and a second element designed to guide the car body. The car body is guided locally in the region of a support arm of the car body, which is arranged on the upper side of the car body's pod.

[0009] Depending on requirements, in this design it can be provided that the second element can be lowered and raised relative to the first element by means of a lifting device for boarding or disembarking and / or the second element is arranged so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis relative to the first element for steering the carriage.

[0010] In a particularly preferred embodiment of the transfer device, the route section can still be used by carriages even if they have already stopped in the area of ​​the door frame-like supporting structure, for example for boarding or getting off, by providing that a plurality of supporting units are arranged in the area of ​​the supporting structure, which can be aligned flush with the end sections of the route element if necessary.

[0011] In a further development of such a support structure with a plurality of support units, it is provided that two support units are provided in the region of the support structure for moving two carriages in parallel along two travel paths. This design allows that in two travel paths arranged parallel to one another and crossing the door frame-like support structure, the carriages can be deflected or switched in one travel path while the other travel path can continue to be operated.

[0012] It is particularly preferred that four support units are provided, wherein the two outer support units can be aligned with two opposite and flush end sections of the track element when the inner support unit is arranged in parallel between the outer support units. This design with four support units allows a car to be stopped or deviated from the track in each of two travel routes extending parallel to one another and the travel route is completed by a further support unit in such a way that it is passable by other cars despite the deflection of the cars.

[0013] Further advantages, features and elements of the invention emerge from the following description of preferred specific embodiments of the invention and with reference to the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0014] Figure 1 In a simplified top view, without showing the self-propelled carriage, the subdivision of the road network with two parallel travel routes for the self-propelled carriage in the region of the door frame-like supporting structure is shown;

[0015] Figure 2 Yes Figure 3 The device along Figure 1 A simplified side view in direction II-II;

[0016] Figure 3 and Figure 4 The front view shows a button with differently designed carrying units for different carriages. Figure 1 and 2 The load-bearing structure;

[0017] Figures 5 to 7 Different positions of the support unit in the region of the door frame-like support structure are shown in each case to illustrate different modes of operation;

[0018] Figure 8 It is a front view of a door frame type bearing structure equipped with only two bearing units;

[0019] Fig. 9 The top view shows Figure 8 The door frame type bearing structure is used to illustrate the steering operation of the carriage by adjusting the two bearing units;

[0020] Fig.10 The positions of four carrying units in the area of ​​the carrying structure are shown to perform the steering operation; and

[0021] Fig.11 A portal frame-like support structure with only one movable support unit is shown in the region of an end point of a road network. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0022] Identical elements or elements with the same function are provided with the same reference numerals in the figures.

[0023] exist Figures 1 to 3 1 shows a partial view of a track network 1000 for a self-propelled vehicle 1, in the illustrated embodiment for a passenger cabin with a gondola 2 and a support arm 3 arranged on the upper side of the gondola 2. The track network 1000 comprises a large number of terminals and intermediate stations, not shown in detail, in the region of which, for example, it is intended to be possible to enter or exit the gondola 2. In the illustrated region of the track network 100, two travel routes 100, 102 arranged parallel to one another are provided, each having, for example, a fixed rope 104, a rigid rail 110 in the form of which only a fixed rope 104 is provided. Figure 2 The track elements 106, 108 shown in FIG. 1 are each fixed to the fixed ropes by supporting ropes 105 and extend downward. The rigid rail 110 serves to guide or partially receive the supporting arm 3 of the carriage 1 and has a vertical Figure 3 of the drawing plane and parallel to Figure 2 The guide section 112 extends in the plane of the drawing, and the guide section is provided, for example, by means of Figure 3 The carriage 1 is surrounded by a pulley 5 which can be seen in the drawing, via which the carriage 1 is also at least partially pushed.

[0024] Figures 1 to 3 The road network 1000 is shown in the area of ​​a gantry-type supporting structure 10. The supporting structure 10 is used to form a parking and transfer station for a carriage 1. For this purpose, the supporting structure 10 has, for example, a total of four columnar, vertically arranged pillars 11 to 14, of which two pillars 11, 12 or 13, 14 are arranged on opposite sides of two travel paths 100, 102 and are arranged spaced apart from the rope 104. The pillars 11 to 14 are used to fix a crossbeam 15, which is formed by two cross arms 16, 18 arranged parallel to each other and spaced apart from each other. A rail-shaped rope support 19 for supporting the rope 104 and aligning the rail 110 is arranged above the two cross arms 16, 18.

[0025] The two cross arms 16, 18 each have a rail-shaped profile section 20 on the bottom side facing the ground EB, so that, for example, four support units 25a to 25d are arranged between the two profile sections 20 of the two cross arms 16, 18 and are arranged so as to be longitudinally movable in the direction of the double arrow 22. The identically designed support units 25a to 25d can each be moved by means of a drive not shown in detail, wherein two rolling elements 26, 27 in each support unit 25a to 25d are supported on the corresponding profile section 20 of the cross arms 16, 18. The support units 25a to 25d together with the support structure 10 form an important component of the transfer device 50.

[0026] The support units 25a to 25d are each formed of at least two elements 28, 29. The first element 28 carries the rolling elements 26, 27 and is guided in the section 20 of the cross arms 16, 18. The second element 29 comprises a profile section 30 which is perpendicular to the profile section 30. Figure 3 The drawing plane of the profile section 30 extends, and the profile section is configured to receive or guide the support arm 3 of the pod 2. For this purpose, the cross section of the profile section 30 is configured to be consistent with the cross section of the rail 110 or with the guide section 112, for example.

[0027] It is important that the two track elements 106, 108 extend with their end-side end sections 111 to the support units 25a to 25d, wherein the end sections 111 are arranged flush with the profile section 30 when the respective support unit 25a to 25d is in a corresponding position on the cross arms 16, 18. In particular, no height deviations are formed between the rails 110 and the profile section 30, so that a continuous travel path 100, 102 is formed for the carriage 1, which means that the carriage 1 can traverse the region of the support structure 10 without having to stop or slow down.

[0028] The design of the carrying units 25a to 25d enables additional functions to be realized: Figure 3 2, it can be seen that, for example, a rope pulling mechanism 32 of a lifting device 34 is arranged between two elements 28, 29 at the support unit 25a. The lifting device 34 allows the pod 2 to be lowered to the level of the ground EB or raised from the ground EB for entering or exiting the pod 2. For this purpose, a sleeve-shaped guide housing 35 is advantageously provided in the area of ​​the ground EB in order to avoid collisions with objects or persons located below the pod 2 when the pod 2 is lowered in the direction of the ground EB, and to limit or avoid swaying movements of the pod 2, for example caused by wind, on the other hand. The guide housing 34 is also a component of the enclosure and has an access door 36, through which the pod 2 can be accessed.

[0029] Furthermore, in the two central support units 25b, 25c it can be seen that the two elements 28, 29 are arranged rotatably relative to each other in the direction of the vertical axis 38 in the direction of the double arrow 39, so that the pod 2 can be rotated by 180° to perform a steering operation via the support units 25a to 25d.

[0030] In addition, it is preferably provided that all support units 25a to 25d generally have the described lifting device 34 or their elements 28, 29 are arranged rotatably relative to each other about a vertical axis 38. The rotatability of the two elements 28, 29 is Figure 3In the exemplary embodiment shown, this is necessary in order to switch the pod 2 between the travel routes 100 , 102 . This is necessary due to the fact that the support arm 3 is guided only on one side or inwardly on the guide section 112 .

[0031] exist Figure 3 As can be seen in the figure, the carrying unit 25a is located to the side of the travel path 100 and is raised or lowered straightly to enable the movement of people. In contrast, the carrying unit 25b is arranged flush with the travel path 100 or the track 110 so that the carriage 1 shown in dashed lines can pass the supporting structure 10. The carrying unit 25c is located between the two travel paths 100, 102 and the carrying unit 25d is aligned with the travel path 102.

[0032] exist Figure 4 2 shows support units 25a to 25d, whose profile sections 30a or elements 29a have different cross sections than element 29. The support arm 3a of the pod 2 is also designed differently. Element 29a has, in particular, a centrally arranged through-slot 41 which defines two supports 42, 43, on which the support arm 3a is supported. A web-shaped section 44 of the support arm 3a passes through the through-slot 41. In this design, it is not necessary to arrange the support units 25a to 25d or their elements 28, 29a and the vertical axis 38 so that they can rotate relative to each other in order to enable the car body 1 to be turned between the two travel routes 100, 102.

[0033] exist Figures 5 to 7 2 shows different positions of the carrying units 25a to 25d, wherein in this case it is assumed that the carrying units 25a to 25d are correspondingly arranged in a plurality of positions. Figure 4 , that is to say, is constructed using two elements 28, 29a. Figure 5 4 shows two different positions. Thus, it can be seen that the carrying unit 25a is pivoted outward from a position aligned with the travel path 100 according to arrow 45 in order to achieve the lowering or raising of the pod 2. The carrying unit 25b moves into a position flush with the travel path 100 according to arrow 46. Figure 5 The following figure therefore corresponds to Figure 3 and 4 , so that the pod 2 or carriage 1 can travel through two travel routes 102, 102 at the same time.

[0034] exist Figure 64 shows that all the support units 25a to 25d are simultaneously moved from a position in which the support units 25a to 25d are aligned with the travel routes 102, 102 into a position in which the support unit 25a is aligned with the travel route 102, corresponding to the arrow 47. In this position, the pod 2 can therefore be switched from the travel route 100 to the travel route 102 by a corresponding steering operation.

[0035] exist Figure 7 1 shows how the pod 2 performs a turning operation from the travel route 100 to the travel route 102. For this purpose, the two central carrying units 25b, 25c are connected to the vehicle 102 by means of the support unit 25a. Figure 7 The upper figure in FIG. 1 is first moved outward by one position, so that the carrying unit 25b is aligned with the travel route 100 in order to receive the pod 2. Then the corresponding Figure 7 In the lower figure, the carrying unit 25b is aligned with the travel route 102, and the two carrying units 25c and 25d are moved to the right outside by another position.

[0036] exist Figure 8 , a modified support structure 10a is shown, in the region of which only two support units 25a, 25b are arranged, which have elements 28, 29a. This design of the support structure 10a allows, on the one hand, the formation of a continuous travel path 100, 102 for the pod 2 and, on the other hand, a diversion operation from the travel path 100 to the travel path 102 or vice versa for the pod 2. In this case, the respective support unit 25a, 25b is aligned with the respective other travel path 100, 102 after receiving the pod 2. During the transfer of the pod 2, no travel operation is possible on the travel path 100, 102 of the taken-over pod 2.

[0037] This conversion process Fig. 9 Here it can be seen that the carrying unit 25a, which was first aligned with the travel path 100 to take over the pod 2, is then aligned with the travel path 102 to transfer the pod 2 to the travel path 102, and the carrying unit 25b moves laterally to the right from its initial position aligned with the travel path 102.

[0038] However, such a steering operation is also possible, for example, when four support units 25a to 25d are used in the support structure 10, as in Fig.10 For this purpose, the two middle carrying units 25b, 25c are first aligned with the two travel routes 100, 102. Then, the carrying unit 25b is aligned with the travel route 102, while the two carrying units 25c, 25d are moved to the right. The carrying unit 25a is aligned with the travel route 100 at the same time, so that the travel route 100 can continue to be passed.

[0039] Finally, in Fig.11 In particular, it can be seen that there is only one supporting unit 25a, which can be moved between the travel routes 102 from a position aligned with the travel route 100, for example, in the direction of arrow 48 into a position aligned with the travel route 102 for switching the pod 2 (not shown).

[0040] In general, the described door frame-type support structures 10, 10a, 10b can be varied or modified in a variety of ways, just like the carriage 1, the support units 25a to 25d and the track network 1000, without departing from the inventive concept. Thus, for example, it is conceivable to use supporting cables or the like as track elements 106, 108 instead of rigid rails 110 in order to form travel paths 100, 102 outside the support units 25a to 25d.

Claims

1. A transfer device (50) for a self-propelled carriage (1) at a network (1000) of elevated roads, wherein: The road network (1000) has at least one route element (106, 108) and at least one intersection, turning point or end point, in the region of the at least one intersection, turning point or end point, a self-propelled vehicle (1) can be transferred from the at least one route element (106, 108) to an adjustably arranged carrying unit (25a to 25d), It is characterized in that The carrier units (25a to 25d) are arranged in a linearly movable manner in the region of a carrier structure (10; 10a; 10b), wherein the carrier structure (10; 10a; 10b) is of the gantry type, the carrier units (25a to 25d) are arranged parallel to an end section (111) of at least one track element (106, 108) facing the carrier units (25a to 25d), and the carrier structure (10; 10a; 10b) has a cross arm (16, 18) with at least one cross arm (16, 18). A crossbeam (15), the support units (25a to 25d) are movably arranged on the cross arm, the support units (25a to 25d) are constructed from at least two elements (28, 29; 29a), namely a first element (28) guided in the area of ​​the crossbeam (15) and a second element (29; 29a) constructed for guiding the carriage (1), the second element (29) being arranged in a manner rotatable relative to the first element (28) around a vertical axis (38).

2. The transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that The crossbeam (15) has two cross arms (16, 18), between which the support units (25a to 25d) can be moved by means of rolling elements (26, 27) arranged on the support units (25a to 25d).

3. The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that The support unit (25a to 25d) has a profile section (30; 30a) for guiding a support arm (3; 3a) of the carriage body (1).

4. The transfer device according to claim 1, characterized in that: The second element (29) can be lowered and raised relative to the first element (28) by means of a lifting device (34).

5. The transfer device according to any one of claims 1 to 2, characterized in that In the region of the support structure (10; 10a), a plurality of support units (25a to 25d) are arranged, which support units can be aligned flush with an end section (111) of the at least one track element (106, 108) if necessary.

6. The transfer device according to claim 5, characterized in that Two support units (25a, 25b) are provided in the region of the support structure (10a) for enabling two carriages (1) to travel in parallel along two travel routes (100, 102).

7. The transfer device according to claim 5, characterized in that Four support units (25a to 25d) are provided in the region of the support structure (10), wherein the two outer support units (25a, 25d) can be aligned with two travel paths (100, 102) while the inner support units (25b, 25c) are arranged between the outer support units (25a, 25d).

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