Steering mechanism, traveling system and steering method for suspended rail trolleys

Abstract

The present invention discloses a steering mechanism, a traveling system and a steering method for a suspended rail car, which relate to the technical field of mechanical devices of rail cars, and include a holding body, a transfer track lifting bracket and a steering wheel; the holding body is used for being fixedly arranged at the steering position of the rail car; the movement of the transfer track in the first axis direction can be restricted, and the transfer track can rotate from one end of the transfer track being in contact with one end of a traveling track to the other end of the transfer track being in contact with one end of another traveling track; when the rail car is located on the transfer track, the lifting of the lifting bracket can make the steering wheel contact with the bottom surface of the holding body, and the built-in driving element of the rail car can drive the steering wheel to roll on the bottom surface of the holding body, so as to drive the transfer track to rotate. The steering mechanism, the traveling system and the steering method for the suspended rail car disclosed by the present invention enable the rail car to flexibly turn at any angle, and have a simple structure and convenient steering.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to the technical field of track trolley mechanical devices, and particularly to a steering mechanism, a traveling system and a steering method for a suspended track trolley. Background Art

[0002] The suspended track trolley does not rely on high-precision sensors and real-time algorithms to ensure the robustness of its movement. Instead, it is "constrained" on the pre-planned track path through a mechanical structure, and the main body can only move forward and backward along the guide rail, thus performing one-dimensional movement.

[0003] During the process of the track trolley walking along the track, it usually needs to turn to enable its delivery target to reach the specified delivery position smoothly. People usually set the track into a curved shape to guide the track trolley to turn. There is a problem that the turning flexibility of the track trolley is poor (it can only be limited by the fixed curved track); in addition, Chinese Patent CN 109895790A discloses a steering mechanism for a suspended track transportation device. When the transportation device needs to turn along the track, the load-bearing hanger can rotate relative to the two vertical axes, so that a relative rotation is generated between the wheel axles of the front wheel and the rear wheel to adapt to the curvature of the track and complete the turning. However, this steering mechanism has problems of complex structure, low turning flexibility and small turning angle. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a steering mechanism, a traveling system and a steering method for a suspended track trolley, so as to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, enable the track trolley to turn flexibly at any angle, and have a simple structure and convenient turning.

[0005] To achieve the above purpose, the present invention provides the following solutions:

[0006] The present invention provides a steering mechanism for a suspended rail car, including a holding body, a transfer track lifting bracket, and a steering wheel; the holding body is used for being fixedly arranged at a steering position between at least two running tracks of the rail car, and the included angle between any two adjacent running tracks converging at the steering position is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees; the transfer track is arranged on the holding body so as to be rotatable about a first axis, the movement of the transfer track in the direction of the first axis can be restricted, and the cross-section of the transfer track is the same as the cross-sections of the respective running tracks, and the transfer track can be rotated from one end of the transfer track being in contact with one end of a running track to the other end of the transfer track being in contact with one end of another running track; the lifting bracket is arranged on the rail car so as to be able to rise and fall; the steering wheel is arranged on the lifting bracket so as to be rotatable about a second axis, and the included angle between the second axis and the running direction of the running wheels of the rail car is an acute angle or an obtuse angle; when the rail car is located on the transfer track, the lifting of the lifting bracket can make the steering wheel contact with the bottom surface of the holding body, and the built-in driving element of the rail car can drive the steering wheel to roll on the bottom surface of the holding body, and the rolling of the steering wheel on the bottom surface of the holding body can drive the transfer track to rotate.

[0007] Preferably, the holding body is used for being fixedly connected to the respective running tracks; it further includes a rotating shaft and a turntable, the turntable is used for being placed on the top surface of the holding body, one end of the rotating shaft is used for being fixedly connected to the transfer track, and the other end of the rotating shaft is used for passing through the holding body and the part protruding out of the holding body is fixedly connected to the turntable.

[0008] Preferably, the bottom surface of the turntable can be entirely in contact with the top surface of the holding body.

[0009] Preferably, the center lines of the holding body, the transfer track, the rotating shaft, and the turntable are collinear.

[0010] Preferably, the length and width of the holding body are equal, and the length of the transfer track is less than the length of the holding body.

[0011] Preferably, the turntable is a cylinder, the bottom surface of the cylinder is used for being in contact with the top surface of the holding body; the mounting surface of the steering wheel is used for being tangent to the circumferential side surface of the cylinder, and the second axis is used for being perpendicular to the mounting surface of the steering wheel.

[0012] Preferably, the included angle between the second axis and the running direction of the running wheels of the rail car is 45 degrees.

[0013] The present invention also provides a traveling system for a suspended rail car, including a steering mechanism for a suspended rail car as described in any one of the above and at least two traveling rails. There is at least one steering position between each of the traveling rails, and the included angle between any two adjacent traveling rails meeting at the steering position is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

[0014] Preferably, the number of the traveling rails is four, and the four traveling rails meet at a steering position, and the included angle between any two adjacent traveling rails is 90 degrees.

[0015] The present invention also provides a steering method for a suspended rail car, including the following steps:

[0016] Step 1, making the transfer rail in the initial position and one end of the transfer rail in contact with and remaining in contact with one end of the traveling rail where the rail car is located;

[0017] Step 2, waiting for the rail car to travel from its traveling rail onto the transfer rail;

[0018] Step 3, after the rail car travels from its traveling rail onto the transfer rail, using the driving unit in the rail car to raise the lifting bracket until the steering wheel contacts the bottom surface of the holding body, and making the steering wheel roll on the bottom surface of the holding body, while driving the transfer rail to rotate until the other end of the transfer rail is in contact with and remaining in contact with one end of the next target traveling rail of the rail car;

[0019] Step 4, waiting for the rail car to travel from the transfer rail onto the next target traveling rail of the rail car. After the rail car travels from its traveling rail onto the transfer rail, one steering operation of the rail car is completed.

[0020] The present invention has achieved the following technical effects compared with the prior art:

[0021] The steering mechanism, traveling system and steering method for a suspended rail car provided by the present invention can enable the rail car to travel from its current traveling rail to the transfer rail, and then from the transfer rail to the next target traveling rail by setting a holding body fixedly arranged at the steering position between the traveling rails of the rail car and setting a transfer rail that can rotate from one end of the transfer rail being in contact and fitting with one end of a traveling rail to the other end of the transfer rail being in contact and fitting with one end of the other traveling rail. And when the rail car travels onto the transfer rail, the lifting bracket can be raised by a driving unit in the rail car until the steering wheel contacts the bottom surface of the holding body, and the steering wheel can roll on the bottom surface of the holding body, simultaneously driving the transfer rail to rotate until the other end of the transfer rail is in contact and fitting with one end of the next target traveling rail of the rail car and maintaining the contact and fitting. Moreover, the transfer rail drives the rail car to rotate simultaneously, thereby realizing the rapid steering of the rail car, improving the operation efficiency and steering accuracy of the rail car, enabling the rail car to flexibly turn at any angle, and having a simple structure and convenient steering. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In order to more clearly illustrate the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention or the prior art, the following will briefly introduce the drawings required to be used in the embodiments. Obviously, the drawings in the following description are only some embodiments of the present invention. For those of ordinary skill in the art, other drawings can be obtained based on these drawings without creative efforts.

[0023] Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the steering mechanism for a suspended rail car provided by the present invention;

[0024] Figure 2 It is a front view schematic diagram of the steering mechanism for a suspended rail car provided by the present invention;

[0025] Figure 3 It is a left view schematic diagram of the steering mechanism for a suspended rail car provided by the present invention;

[0026] Figure 4 For using Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the first process of the rail car turning using the provided steering mechanism;

[0027] Figure 5 For using Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the second process of the rail car turning using the provided steering mechanism;

[0028] Figure 6 For using Figure 1 It is a schematic diagram of the third process of the rail car turning using the provided steering mechanism;

[0029] Figure 7 Schematic diagram of the fourth process for the rail car to turn using the Figure 1 steering mechanism provided

[0030] In the figure: 1, rail car; 2, turntable; 3, transfer track; 4, steering wheel support; 5, steering wheel; 6, retaining body. Specific embodiments

[0031] The following will clearly and completely describe the technical solutions in the embodiments of the present invention with reference to the accompanying drawings in the embodiments of the present invention. Obviously, the described embodiments are only a part of the embodiments of the present invention, rather than all the embodiments. Based on the embodiments of the present invention, all other embodiments obtained by those of ordinary skill in the art without creative efforts shall fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a steering mechanism, a traveling system and a steering method for a suspended rail car to solve the problems existing in the above-mentioned prior art, so that the rail car can flexibly turn at any angle, and has a simple structure and convenient steering.

[0033] To make the above objects, features and advantages of the present invention more obvious and understandable, the present invention will be further described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and specific embodiments.

[0034] Embodiment 1

[0035] As Figure 1-7 shown, this embodiment provides a steering mechanism for a suspended rail car, including a retaining body 6, a lifting bracket 4 for the transfer track 3, and a steering wheel 5; the retaining body 6 is used to be fixedly arranged at the steering position between at least two traveling tracks of the rail car 1, and the angle between any two adjacent traveling tracks intersecting at the steering position is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees; the transfer track 3 is used to be rotatably arranged on the retaining body 6 around a first axis, the movement of the transfer track 3 in the first axis direction can be restricted, and the cross-section of the transfer track 3 is the same as that of each traveling track, and the transfer track 3 can be rotated from one end of the transfer track 3 being in contact with one end of a traveling track to the other end of the transfer track 3 being in contact with one end of another traveling track; the lifting bracket 4 is used to be arranged on the rail car 1 so as to be able to rise and fall; the steering wheel 5 is used to be rotatably arranged on the lifting bracket 4 around a second axis, and the angle between the second axis and the traveling direction of the traveling wheels of the rail car 1 is an acute angle or an obtuse angle; when the rail car 1 is located on the transfer track 3, the rising of the lifting bracket 4 can make the steering wheel 5 contact with the bottom surface of the retaining body 6, and the built-in driving element of the rail car 1 can drive the steering wheel 5 to roll on the bottom surface of the retaining body 6, and the rolling of the steering wheel 5 on the bottom surface of the retaining body 6 can drive the transfer track 3 to rotate.

[0036] The steering mechanism for a suspended rail car provided in this embodiment can enable the rail car 1 to travel from its current running rail to the transfer rail 3, and then from the transfer rail 3 to the next target running rail. By setting the holding body 6 fixed at the steering position between the running rails of the rail car 1 and the transfer rail 3 capable of rotating from one end of the transfer rail 3 being in contact and rotating with one end of a running rail to the other end of the transfer rail 3 being in contact with one end of the other running rail. And when the rail car 1 travels onto the transfer rail 3, the lifting bracket 4 can be raised by the drive unit inside the rail car 1 until the steering wheel 5 contacts the bottom surface of the holding body 6, and the steering wheel 5 rolls on the bottom surface of the holding body 6, simultaneously driving the transfer rail 3 to rotate until the other end of the transfer rail 3 is in contact and remains in contact with one end of the next target running rail of the rail car 1, and the transfer rail 3 drives the rail car 1 to rotate simultaneously, thus realizing the rapid steering of the rail car 1, improving the running efficiency and steering accuracy of the rail car 1, enabling the rail car 1 to flexibly steer at any angle, and having a simple structure and convenient steering.

[0037] Furthermore, the holding body 6 is used for fixedly connecting with each running rail; the steering mechanism for a suspended rail car provided in this embodiment further includes a rotating shaft and a turntable 2. The turntable 2 is used for being placed on the top surface of the holding body 6. One end of the rotating shaft is used for fixedly connecting with the transfer rail 3, and the other end of the rotating shaft is used for passing through the holding body 6 and the part protruding from the holding body 6 is fixedly connected with the turntable 2. By setting the turntable 2, it can better carry the transfer rail 3 and the rail car 1, with reliable operation and long service life.

[0038] Furthermore, the bottom surface of the turntable 2 can be entirely in contact with the top surface of the holding body 6, enabling the holding body 6 to more fully and stably carry the turntable 2, the transfer rail 3 connected to the turntable 2, and the rail car 1 carried on the transfer rail 3, with a long service life.

[0039] Furthermore, the center lines of the holding body 6, the transfer rail 3, the rotating shaft, and the turntable 2 are collinear, with a symmetrical structure and stable and reliable force transmission.

[0040] Furthermore, the length and width of the holding body 6 are equal, and the length of the transfer rail 3 is less than the length of the holding body 6, which can leave enough space for the rotation of the transfer rail 3 to prevent the transfer rail 3 from colliding with the holding body 6 or other running rails when rotating.

[0041] Further, the turntable 2 is a cylinder, and the bottom surface of the cylinder is used to contact the top surface of the holding body 6; the mounting surface of the steering wheel 5 is used to be tangent to the circumferential side surface of the cylinder, and the second axis is perpendicular to the mounting surface of the steering wheel 5, which can make the force transmission between the steering wheel 5, the turntable 2 and the holding body 6 more stable and reliable when the steering wheel 5 rotates on the bottom surface of the holding body 6.

[0042] Further, the included angle between the second axis and the traveling direction of the traveling wheels of the rail car 1 is 45 degrees. The structure is simple and easy to install, and it can make the rolling friction force between the steering wheel 5 and the holding body 6 be more fully used to push the transfer track 3 to rotate.

[0043] Embodiment 2

[0044] This embodiment provides a traveling system for a suspended rail car, including a steering mechanism for a suspended rail car as described in any one of the above and at least two traveling tracks. There is at least one steering position between the traveling tracks, and the included angle between any two adjacent traveling tracks meeting at the steering position is greater than 0 degree and less than 180 degrees.

[0045] The traveling system for a suspended rail car provided in this embodiment can realize that the rail car 1 travels from its original traveling track to the transfer track 3, and then travels from the transfer track 3 to the next target traveling track by setting the holding body 6 fixedly arranged at the steering position between the traveling tracks of the rail car 1 and setting the transfer track 3 to be able to rotate from one end of the transfer track 3 being in contact and fitting with one end of a traveling track to the other end of the transfer track 3 being in contact and fitting with one end of another traveling track. And when the rail car 1 travels onto the transfer track 3, the lifting bracket 4 can be raised by the driving unit in the rail car 1 until the steering wheel 5 contacts the bottom surface of the holding body 6, and the steering wheel 5 rolls on the bottom surface of the holding body 6, while driving the transfer track 3 to rotate until the other end of the transfer track 3 is in contact and fitting with one end of the next target traveling track of the rail car 1 and remains in contact and fitting, and the transfer track 3 drives the rail car 1 to rotate simultaneously, so as to realize the rapid steering of the rail car 1, improve the running efficiency and steering accuracy of the rail car 1, enable the rail car 1 to flexibly turn at any angle, and has a simple structure and convenient steering.

[0046] Further, the number of traveling tracks is four, and the four traveling tracks meet at a steering position, and the included angle between any two adjacent traveling tracks is 90 degrees. When the rail car 1 turns 90 degrees, the rail car 1 can choose to continue traveling on one of the two new traveling tracks, which is more flexible to use.

[0047] Embodiment 3

[0048] This embodiment provides a steering method for a suspended rail car, including the following steps:

[0049] Step 1: Place the transfer track 3 in the initial position, and one end of the transfer track 3 is in contact with and remains in contact with one end of the running track where the rail car 1 is located.

[0050] Step 2: Wait for the rail car 1 to travel from its running track to the transfer track 3.

[0051] Step 3: After the rail car 1 travels from its running track to the transfer track 3, use the driving unit in the rail car 1 to raise the lifting bracket 4 until the steering wheel 5 contacts the bottom surface of the holding body 6, and make the steering wheel 5 roll on the bottom surface of the holding body 6, while driving the transfer track 3 to rotate until the other end of the transfer track 3 is in contact with and remains in contact with one end of the next target running track of the rail car 1.

[0052] Step 4: Wait for the rail car 1 to travel from the transfer track 3 to the next target running track of the rail car 1. After the rail car 1 travels from its running track to the transfer track 3, one steering operation of the rail car 1 is completed.

[0053] The steering method for the suspended rail car provided in this embodiment can enable the rail car 1 to travel from its running track to the transfer track 3, and then from the transfer track 3 to the next target running track by setting the holding body 6 fixedly arranged at the steering position between the running tracks of the rail car 1 and setting the transfer track 3 capable of rotating from one end in contact with one end of a running track to the other end in contact with one end of another running track. And when the rail car 1 travels to the transfer track 3, the driving unit in the rail car 1 can be used to raise the lifting bracket 4 until the steering wheel 5 contacts the bottom surface of the holding body 6, and make the steering wheel 5 roll on the bottom surface of the holding body 6, while driving the transfer track 3 to rotate until the other end of the transfer track 3 is in contact with and remains in contact with one end of the next target running track of the rail car 1, and the transfer track 3 drives the rail car 1 to rotate simultaneously, thereby realizing the rapid steering of the rail car 1, improving the running efficiency and steering accuracy of the rail car 1, enabling the rail car 1 to flexibly perform steering at any angle, and having a simple structure and convenient steering.

[0054] In the present invention, specific examples are used to elaborate on the principle and implementation manner of the present invention. The description of the above embodiments is only used to help understand the method and its core idea of the present invention; at the same time, for those of ordinary skill in the art, according to the idea of the present invention, there will be changes in the specific implementation manner and application scope. In summary, the content of this specification should not be construed as a limitation to the present invention.

Claims

1. A steering mechanism for a suspended track trolley, characterized in that: Comprising a retaining body, a transfer track lifting bracket and a steering wheel; the retaining body is used to be fixedly arranged at the steering position between at least two running tracks of the track trolley, and the included angle between any two adjacent running tracks converging at the steering position is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees; the transfer track is rotatably arranged on the retaining body about a first axis, the movement of the transfer track in the direction of the first axis can be restricted, and the cross-section of the transfer track is the same as that of each running track, and the transfer track can be rotated from one end of the transfer track being in contact with one end of a running track to the other end of the transfer track being in contact with one end of another running track; the lifting bracket is used to be arranged on the track trolley so as to be able to rise and fall; the steering wheel is rotatably arranged on the lifting bracket about a second axis, and the included angle between the second axis and the running direction of the running wheels of the track trolley is an acute angle or an obtuse angle; when the track trolley is located on the transfer track, the lifting of the lifting bracket can make the steering wheel contact with the bottom surface of the retaining body, and the built-in driving element of the track trolley can drive the steering wheel to roll on the bottom surface of the retaining body, and the rolling of the steering wheel on the bottom surface of the retaining body can drive the transfer track to rotate.

2. The steering mechanism for a suspended rail car according to claim 1, wherein: The retaining body is used for fixedly connecting with each running track; it further includes a rotating shaft and a turntable, the turntable is used to be placed on the top surface of the retaining body, one end of the rotating shaft is used for fixedly connecting with the transfer track, and the other end of the rotating shaft passes through the retaining body and the part protruding from the retaining body is fixedly connected with the turntable.

3. The steering mechanism for a suspended rail car according to claim 2, wherein: The bottom surface of the turntable can be entirely in contact with the top surface of the retaining body.

4. The steering mechanism for a suspended rail car according to claim 2, characterized in that: The center lines of the retaining body, the transfer track, the rotating shaft and the turntable are collinear.

5. The steering mechanism for a suspended rail trolley according to claim 4, characterized in that: The length and width of the retaining body are equal, and the length of the transfer track is less than the length of the retaining body.

6. The steering mechanism for a suspended rail car according to claim 5, characterized in that: The turntable is a cylinder, the bottom surface of the cylinder is used to be in contact with the top surface of the retaining body; the mounting surface of the steering wheel is used to be tangent to the circumferential side surface of the cylinder, and the second axis is perpendicular to the mounting surface of the steering wheel.

7. The steering mechanism for a suspended rail car according to claim 1, characterized in that: The included angle between the second axis and the running direction of the running wheels of the track trolley is 45 degrees.

8. A traveling system for a suspended rail car, characterized in that: Comprising the steering mechanism for a suspended track trolley as described in any one of claims 1-7 and at least two running tracks, there is at least one steering position between each of the running tracks, and the included angle between any two adjacent running tracks converging at the steering position is greater than 0 degrees and less than 180 degrees.

9. The running system for a suspended monorail car according to claim 8, wherein: The number of the running tracks is four, and the four running tracks converge at a steering position, and the included angle between any two adjacent running tracks is 90 degrees.

10. A steering method for a suspended rail trolley, which works based on the traveling system for a suspended rail trolley described in any one of claims 8-9, characterized in that: Comprising the following steps: Step 1, making the transfer track be in the initial position and one end of the transfer track be in contact with and remain in contact with one end of the running track where the track trolley is located; Step 2, waiting for the track trolley to travel from its original running track to the transfer track; Step 3, after the rail trolley travels from its walking track to the transfer track, the lifting bracket is raised by a driving element in the rail trolley until the steering wheel contacts the bottom surface of the holding body, and the steering wheel rolls on the bottom surface of the holding body, while driving the transfer track to rotate until the other end of the transfer track abuts and remains in abutment with one end of the next target walking track of the rail trolley; Step 4, wait for the rail trolley to travel from the transfer track to the next target walking track of the rail trolley. After the rail trolley travels from its walking track to the transfer track, one steering operation of the rail trolley is completed.

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