Transfer trolley and system for transporting heavy loads placed on pallets

Abstract

Transfer wagon (13) for transporting heavy loads such as coils (3) of metallic strip, metallic castings and rolled products such as slabs, sheets or other semi-finished products, Unit Load Devices (ULD) and standard sea containers or standard rail containers and / or unloaded pallets (2) placed on pallets (2) on a preferably circumferentially arranged transport track (4) for transfer wagon (13), wherein the transfer wagon (13) has wheels (8) below a platform (14) and is designed and equipped to receive the pallets (2) resting on the platform (14) and to be transported on rails (5) or a track, characterized in that two receiving places (11a,b) for pallets (2) are provided on the platform (14) arranged next to each other in the direction of travel of the transfer wagon (13).

Description

1. Field of the invention

[0001] The invention relates to a transfer carriage and a system for transporting heavy loads placed on pallets, such as coils of metallic strip, metallic casting and rolling products, as well as slabs, sheets or other semi-finished products, so-called Unit Load Devices (ULD) and standard sea containers or standard rail containers on a preferably circumferentially arranged transport track. 2. State of the art

[0002] Heavy loads, such as coils of metallic strip or metallic castings and rolls, which typically include slabs, sheets, or other semi-finished products, as well as heavy profiles like rails, billets, H-beams, or forgings, must be transported within a plant to move them from the production facility to a warehouse or from a warehouse into the production process. Similarly, such heavy loads need to be transported from one production site to another, for example, from a rolling mill to a downstream processing line or to a transfer point for onward transport to a different location.

[0003] Heavy loads in the sense of the invention often exceed weights of 20 t and reach up to a weight of over 55 t. This applies in particular to sheets, slabs or coils of wound metallic strip, and in special cases also to loaded standard sea containers or standard rail containers.

[0004] A wide variety of transport options are known to those skilled in the art, such as so-called bundle trolleys, which are essentially pallet systems on which a bundle or coil rests. Pallet systems are also known to those skilled in the art on which semi-finished products of the type described above or other heavy loads can be placed in such a way that they can be moved safely and without the risk of slipping on the top of the pallet.

[0005] Particularly in steelworks, roller conveyors are known on which pallets, each with at least two skids on its underside, can be safely transported from one place to another. These roller conveyors essentially consist of a large number of rollers arranged parallel to one another, over which the pallet skids slide. Individual or all of the rollers can be rotated in at least one direction to transport the pallet across the conveyor, thus enabling transport in at least one direction, and in special cases, in two opposing directions.

[0006] When storing heavy loads such as coils or other heavy goods, pallet circulation systems are often used. These systems ensure both the transport of pallets into the warehouse and the return of empty pallets to their starting point after the coils or other heavy loads have been stored. This well-known pallet transport technology also utilizes sliding tables to connect two parallel transport lines, thereby increasing the overall flexibility of the transport system.

[0007] In practice, however, this conveying technology, which essentially relies on pallets moved via roller conveyors with skids attached to their underside, has proven to be extremely expensive, both in terms of the roller conveyor's construction and its maintenance. Particularly in cases where heavy loads need to be transported over long distances, the roller conveyor technology, while versatile in its application, is associated with especially high investment and maintenance costs.The use of conventional transfer carts, which move heavy loads placed on pallets along a transport track, allows only limited application, particularly in circulating transport systems and / or the use of a large number of transfer carts and / or the design of a circulating transport system with two parallel transport tracks or an essentially closed transport track loop, in order to ensure the transport of loaded and unloaded pallets. 3. Object of the invention

[0008] It was therefore an object of the invention to provide a transfer cart, a system for transporting heavy loads placed on pallets, and a method for transporting heavy loads placed on pallets, which at least minimize the disadvantages known from the prior art and simultaneously ensure a reliable means, system, and method for transporting heavy loads with consistently high flexibility and system safety. This object is achieved according to the invention with a transfer cart comprising the features of claim 1 and a system comprising the features of claim 8. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are set forth in particular in the dependent claims. 4. Summary of the invention

[0009] According to a first aspect of the invention, a transfer car is provided for transporting heavy loads placed on pallets, such as coils of metallic strip, metallic castings and rolled products like slabs, sheets or other semi-finished products, unit load devices (ULDs) and standard sea containers or standard rail containers and / or empty pallets, on a preferably circumferentially arranged transport track for transfer cars. The transfer car has wheels below a platform and is designed and equipped to receive the pallets resting on the platform and to be transported on rails or a track. According to the invention, two pallet receiving positions are provided on the platform, arranged side by side in the direction of travel of the transfer car.

[0010] This provides a transfer trolley that, compared to conventional transfer trolleys, offers a higher capacity for accommodating loaded and / or unloaded pallets, as well as greater flexibility, particularly for use in circulating pallet transport systems. In these circulating transport systems, heavy loads placed on pallets are transported from one location to another using transfer trolleys. Once the heavy load reaches its destination, it is removed from the transfer trolley, and the unloaded pallet remaining on the trolley must then be returned to its starting point to be loaded with a new heavy load.The transfer carriage according to the invention now allows the transport of loaded and unloaded pallets without the need for two transfer carriages or removing the heavy load along with the pallet from the transfer carriage. The transfer carriage according to the invention is therefore particularly suitable for use in circulating transport systems, preferably a circulating transport system that has only a single transport track for the circular transport of the pallets, optionally subdivided into several sections. The use of the transfer carriage according to the invention makes it possible to move loaded pallets in a first direction and unloaded pallets in an opposite direction along the same transport track, without having to remove pallets from the transfer carriage or requiring the transport track to be double-tracked or designed as a closed loop.

[0011] Preferably, the platform of the transfer carriage above the wheels is designed and configured to accommodate loaded and unloaded pallets and / or two loaded pallets and / or two unloaded pallets, preferably simultaneously. The platform preferably spans a horizontal plane; however, the two-part design according to the invention also allows for a height difference between the adjacent pallet receiving positions. According to the invention, two receiving positions with a height difference of up to 50 cm from each other nevertheless form a plane on which two pallets can be received simultaneously.

[0012] It is also preferred that the transfer carriage has at least one roller conveyor, preferably two roller conveyor segments arranged side by side and parallel to each other, on each of which a pallet can be placed. The roller conveyor or roller conveyor segments enable the pallets to be moved in the direction of travel of the transfer carriage, which is determined by the arrangement of the wheels under the platform. This is particularly advantageous when placing a pallet on the transfer carriage, removing a pallet from the transfer carriage, and / or transferring a pallet from a first transfer carriage to a second transfer carriage is to be carried out without the need to lift the heavy load and / or the pallet vertically.

[0013] Preferably, the roller conveyor or roller conveyor segments are integrated into the platform, and the rollers of the roller conveyor or roller conveyor segment form the receiving positions for loaded and / or unloaded pallets. This provides a transfer carriage with a particularly functional and versatile design.

[0014] It is also preferred if the transfer carriage has support elements onto which a cover can be placed above the platform, preferably being detachably connected to the support elements. Such covers can cover one or both receiving areas, at least temporarily, and in particular protect roller conveyors or roller conveyor segments against damage or contamination whenever this appears expedient.

[0015] The roller conveyor or roller conveyor segments within the transfer carriage preferably have at least one roller that can be driven in at least one direction of rotation, preferably at least one roller driven in one direction of rotation in each roller conveyor segment, and preferably rollers driven in different directions of rotation in two roller conveyor segments arranged side by side and parallel to each other. This creates a transfer carriage that particularly advantageously supports the transport of pallets, especially in circulating transport systems, and enables the pallets to be picked up from, removed from, or moved onto the transfer carriage without the need for external drives or drives on the pallets themselves.

[0016] It is preferred that the heavy loads weigh at least one ton and up to 55 tons, preferably between 10 and 55 tons, and particularly preferably between 15 and 45 tons. The transport of these heavy loads not only places demands on the design of the system components involved, including the design of roller conveyor segments or transfer cars and the design of the foundations required for transporting the transfer cars, but also, in particular, necessitates attention to special safety aspects. This is because the safe transport of such heavy loads on pallets, in the transfer area, and on the transfer cars places high demands on the proper operation of such a system, both with regard to the potential for damage from uncontrolled movement of loads and with regard to the safety of the plant personnel.This is particularly important when the heavy loads have an elevated temperature, as is often the case with coils or semi-finished products made of steel or aluminum. Hot-rolled steel strip has temperatures exceeding 800°C, hot-rolled aluminum strip exceeding 300°C, and other metals often between 300°C and 500°C. All of this must be taken into account to ensure the safe operation of the system according to the invention, which is why the design and operation of such systems for transporting heavy loads differs significantly from transport systems for packages or other light loads.

[0017] According to a second aspect of the invention, a system for transporting heavy loads placed on pallets is provided, comprising a preferably circumferentially arranged transport track and at least one transfer carriage that can be loaded with several pallets arranged side by side, in particular a transfer carriage according to the first aspect of the invention. The system according to the invention offers the same effects and advantages as the transfer carriage described above according to the first aspect of the invention. The system according to the invention can transport transfer carriages quickly and with easily controllable means, even over longer distances, with minimal investment and maintenance costs.

[0018] It is preferred that the transport track is equipped with rails or a track for the rolling transport of the pallets resting on the transfer cars over at least a first section, and with rails or a track for the rolling transport of the pallets resting on the transfer cars over at least a second section, wherein a transfer area with a roller conveyor is arranged between the first and second sections, enabling the transfer of the pallet transported on the first section to the second section. Preferably, the pallets then have skids and are designed and equipped for transport on the roller conveyor.

[0019] This preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention thus utilizes the conventional roller conveyor for transporting heavy loads on pallets only for a portion of the transport route and, in addition, a wheeled rail or track system, preferably for faster transport than is usual on roller conveyors and for bridging greater distances, preferably more than 50 m, and in particular more than 100 m. The transfer area provided according to the invention thus allows for the transport of heavy loads on pallets on roller conveyors for certain sections of the route, while other sections are covered by a rail-bound or track-bound transport system. The transfer area allows the heavy load to be transferred from a roller conveyor pallet to a wheeled transfer cart, whether rail-bound or track-bound, and, if necessary, back again.In a continuously arranged transport track, this is particularly advantageous if the transfer carriages are designed and equipped to provide two pallet receiving positions on their platforms, preferably next to each other, especially preferably for placing a loaded pallet on the first receiving position and picking up an unloaded pallet on the second receiving position of the platform.

[0020] The transfer trolleys can be brought to the transfer area, pick up the heavy load, preferably together with the pallet, and transfer it to a second transfer trolley. Likewise, the first transfer trolley can transfer an unloaded pallet to the transfer area or take an unloaded pallet or a pallet loaded with a heavy load from the transfer area for transport, preferably return transport.

[0021] This preferred embodiment of the invention thus focuses on the use of a more cost-effective rail or roadway transport system in combination with a roller conveyor system. Due to the transfer area arranged between the sections of the transport track, a quick change from a first to a second section is enabled, and in particular, the fact that rapid transport can preferably be carried out over longer distances by rail or roadway is utilized. The transfer area can also be used as a buffer for pallets. In particular, the division of the transport track into sections connected by a transfer area ensures that pallet transport can be carried out quickly and with minimal disruption. Consequently, the use of a transfer car is generally limited to one section and for a correspondingly limited transport distance for that transfer car.By using transfer cars to transport pallets along the individual sections of the system, an easily manageable means of transport is provided that can be quickly loaded and unloaded, thus enabling the transport of heavy loads over long distances of more than 100 m at the highest possible speed and with maximum reliability. The system according to the invention also allows for significant cost savings compared to exclusively roller conveyor-based transport systems, faster assembly and commissioning of the system, and fewer components than in continuous conveyor technology, which also entails higher maintenance costs and greater wear.

[0022] In a first preferred embodiment of the invention, the track is designed and equipped to be traversed by wheeled transfer carts. These can be, for example, self-propelled pallets capable of moving along a structurally defined track on the factory floor. Equally preferred, the pallets can be rail-bound on the track, with the rails then being integrated into the track or mounted on it for transporting the rail-bound pallets. The transfer carts then preferably have railway wheels with the tread ring typical of railway wheels located next to the running surface.It is also preferred that the transfer carriages have wheels with guide rollers that can preferably be pivoted from a rest position to an operating position, wherein the guide rollers are designed and configured to provide additional lateral support for the transfer carriage in their operating position, for example, in conjunction with side guides arranged laterally on the transport track or laterally to the rails, or with recessed guide tracks within the transport track. In any case, this creates a system that can ensure safe and rapid transport of pallets, even with heavy loads, at comparatively low cost.

[0023] According to the invention, the transfer wagon has a platform with at least two receiving positions for loaded and / or unloaded pallets. The pallets are preferably used for transporting coils, which have coil supports well known to those skilled in the art, such as those used in coil wagons for decades. The coil then rests on at least two supports that brace the coil from below in such a way that it does not roll off the pallet during transport and at the same time reliably prevents the coil from bouncing off or unwinding.In the case of standard sea containers or standard rail containers, these are typically corner connectors or corner guides arranged on the top of the pallet, each with at least one sliding surface chamfered towards the center between two corner connectors. These guides allow a standard sea container or standard rail container to be placed securely and preferably self-aligning in the desired orientation when placed on the pallet, even if there is a pre-existing angular misalignment. In the case of sheets, slabs, or other semi-finished products, these are typically supports designed for the respective application, the dimensions of which correspond to the supporting semi-finished product. In a particularly preferred embodiment of the invention, these supports also have surfaces that at least minimize permanent damage to the semi-finished product surface.A pallet in the present preferred embodiment is thus designed to provide such a support or support systems.

[0024] It is preferred if the transfer carriages can be arranged in alignment with the transfer area. This means that the sections designed as tracks preferably extend in alignment with each other and to the transfer area from two sides, in order to ensure the transport of a pallet from the first transfer carriage to the transfer area or the transfer of a heavy load resting on a pallet from an unloaded pallet from the transfer area to the respective transfer carriage.

[0025] Preferably, the transfer area comprises stationary conveying technology connected to it, preferably conveying technology integrated into the transfer area, in particular with two roller conveyor segments arranged parallel to each other and driven in different directions, which are specifically designed and equipped to receive loaded and / or unloaded pallets from a first transfer car and transfer them to a second transfer car. This creates a system that ensures the transfer of loads to or from the transfer area using simple means and guarantees that the transfer cars used in the system according to the invention do not need to provide any additional equipment for transferring or receiving the loaded and / or unloaded pallets.In particular, no loading and unloading of the pallets is necessary in the transfer area; the pallets can be moved unloaded or loaded via the transfer area from a first to a second section.

[0026] It is preferred if the system includes facilities that allow for the additional transport of pallets perpendicular to the direction of travel of the transfer cars. This enables pallets to be transported perpendicular to the transport path as needed, thus providing a particularly simple way to use the pallets for transporting heavy loads in a highly versatile manner if the transport system is designed as a circulating system.

[0027] It is particularly advantageous if at least a section of the transport track is equipped with rails, and these rails are then arranged within the aisle so that their running surfaces are flush with the floor adjacent to the rails. This allows the track to be used with both rail-mounted pallets and transfer carts running on conventional wheels, and potentially even allows transfer carts running on conventional wheels to cross the rails integrated into the floor. This creates a system that is particularly versatile and allows the use and, if necessary, the exchange of different transfer carts on the same section of the transport track.

[0028] Furthermore, it is preferred that a circulating transport system allows for the transport of loaded pallets in a first direction and the transport of unloaded pallets in a second direction, preferably parallel to and opposite to the first. This creates a system that ensures the number of pallets used can be minimized while still providing a sufficient number of unloaded pallets for loading heavy loads wherever this is useful or necessary. A circulating transport system can therefore be manufactured and operated with minimal investment and maintenance costs.

[0029] It is particularly preferred if, in addition to the transport track described above, the system has at least one area where a pallet can be transferred to a conveyor, preferably a conveyor arranged perpendicular to the transport track. It is especially preferred if this conveyor can be used to remove pallets from the system as well as to introduce pallets into the system. This can be particularly useful where it is advantageous to transfer heavy loads directly from a warehouse to an external means of transport without using the warehouse in between. This makes the system according to the invention particularly flexible and allows the number of pallets used in the transport system to be varied as needed with particularly simple means.

[0030] It is particularly preferred if the system according to the invention, including the transport track and transfer area, can be operated without the use of cranes, whereby a heavy load, once placed on a pallet or specifically on its supports, no longer needs to be vertically lifted and moved during the entire transport along the conveyor track, including the first section, the transfer area, and the second section. Instead, the heavy load is transferred resting on its pallet, together with the pallet, across the roller conveyor section, the transfer area, and the subsequent sections.

[0031] The invention can also be implemented in a method for transporting heavy loads placed on pallets, such as coils of metallic strip, metallic castings and rolls, slabs, sheets or other semi-finished products, unit load devices (ULDs), and standard sea containers or standard rail containers, on a preferably circumferentially arranged transport track for transfer cars, preferably transfer cars according to the first aspect of the invention. This method can include the following features: Method for transporting heavy loads such as coils (3) of metallic strip, metallic castings and rolled products such as slabs, sheets or other semi-finished products, unit load devices (ULDs) and standard sea containers or standard rail containers placed on pallets (2) on a preferably circumferentially arranged transport track (4) for transfer cars (13), wherein the transfer car (13) has wheels (8) below a platform (14) and is designed and equipped to receive the pallets (2) resting on the platform (14) and to be transported on rails (5) or a track, wherein two receiving positions (11a,b) for pallets (2) are provided on the platform (14) arranged side by side in the direction of travel of the transfer car (13) and the transfer car (13) moves a loaded or unloaded pallet (2) in a first direction and a loaded or unloaded pallet (2) in a second direction.preferably transported in the opposite direction to the first direction on the transport track (4).

[0032] This system transports heavy loads on pallets, such as coils of metallic strip, metallic castings and rolls, slabs, sheets, or other semi-finished products, unit load devices (ULDs), and standard sea containers or standard rail containers, on a preferably circumferential transport track for transfer cars. The transfer car has wheels beneath a platform and is designed and equipped to pick up the pallets resting on the platform and transport them on rails or a track. The platform provides two pallet receiving positions arranged side-by-side in the direction of travel of the transfer car. The transfer car moves one loaded or unloaded pallet in a first direction and another loaded or unloaded pallet in a second direction, preferably opposite to the first, along the transport track.This method reduces the number of transfer trolleys required for transporting pallets to the necessary minimum and allows for fast and safe transport of both loaded and unloaded pallets, even in continuous transport systems.

[0033] It is particularly preferred if the method is carried out with a system according to the second aspect of the invention. The technical effects achievable with the method correspond to those that can be achieved when using the system according to the second aspect of the invention.

[0034] The invention can preferably also be implemented in a method in which the transport track (4) comprises at least a first section (4a) with rails (5) or a track for the rolling transport of the pallets (2) resting on transfer carriages (13) and a second section (4b) with rails (5) or a track for the rolling transport of the pallets (2) resting on transfer carriages (13), and wherein a transfer area (7) is arranged between the first section (4a) and the second section (4b), with which a transfer of the pallet (2) transported on the first section (4a) to the second section (4b) can be effected, and wherein the transfer area (7) is provided with at least one roller conveyor (6), preferably two roller conveyor segments (6a,b) arranged parallel to each other, the pallets (2) having skids (12) and being designed and equipped to be transported on the roller conveyor (6).characterized by the steps: transporting a pallet (2) on a first transfer car (13) over a first section (4a) of the transport track (4) to the transfer area (7), transferring the pallet (2) from the first transfer car (13) to the transfer area (7), moving the pallet (2) on the transfer area (7) to a second transfer car (13), transferring the pallet (2) from the transfer area (7) to the second transfer car (13), and further transporting the pallet (2) on the second transfer car (13) over a second section (4b) of the transport track (4).

[0035] It is particularly preferred if the transport over a first section of the transport track occurs at a different speed than the transport over the transfer area. It is particularly preferred if the rail-bound or roadway-bound transport is faster than the transport over the roller conveyor. It is highly preferred if at least one rail-bound or roadway-bound section is longer than the section of the system formed by the roller conveyor in the transfer area. This creates a method that enables the preferably continuous transport of loaded and unloaded pallets on transfer cars particularly advantageously and in the shortest possible time, even over long distances of, for example, more than 100 m, preferably more than 200 m.

[0036] Preferably, the movement of a first pallet (2) on the transfer area (7) from a first transfer carriage (13) to a second transfer carriage (13) occurs simultaneously with the movement of a second pallet (2) from the second transfer carriage (13) to the first transfer carriage (13). This makes the transfer area particularly time-efficient and allows for the efficient use of a circulating transport system.

[0037] It is particularly preferred if the pallets equipped with skids are moved on the roller conveyor by rotating at least a subset of the conveyor's rollers. This ensures that the pallets can be moved on the roller conveyor without the need for a pallet-side drive system. Furthermore, it ensures that all pallets can be transported on the roller conveyor at the same speed, thus eliminating the risk of collisions.

[0038] A preferred method is also a method in which the shunting wagons (13) equipped with wheels (8) or railway wheels are moved along the transport track (4), preferably a section (4a,b) with rails (5) or a roadway for the rolling transport of the shunting wagons (13) by driving at least one wheel (8), preferably a railway wheel.

[0039] A preferred method involves transferring the pallet (2) in the transfer area (7) without lifting the heavy load from the pallet (2) or the loaded pallet (2), for example, by means of a crane or other lifting equipment. This provides a method that minimizes the energy required by the system and reduces the number of components used in transporting heavy loads and the associated hazards.

[0040] Furthermore, it is preferred that the transfer cars, equipped with wheels or railway wheels and, if necessary, guide rollers, in particular pivotable guide rollers, are moved along the section of track with rails or a roadway for the rolling transport of the transfer cars by driving at least one wheel, preferably a railway wheel. This provides a method in which the preferably significantly faster movement of the transfer cars compared to pallets moved on roller conveyor segments can be achieved with simple and easily controllable means, in particular by providing a simply driven wheelset, as is frequently used in rail-bound or roadway-bound vehicles. 5. Brief description of the characters

[0041] The invention is explained in more detail with reference to three figures, in which preferred embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The figures show Fig. 1 a perspective view of an embodiment of a system according to the invention in accordance with the second aspect of the invention, Fig. 2 a perspective view of a transfer area within a system according to the invention, and Fig. 3 a perspective view of a transfer carriage according to the first aspect of the invention. 6. Detailed description of the figures

[0042] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective top view of an embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention, which is integrated into a circulating system for transporting pallets 2. This system 1 essentially comprises a first section 4a and a second section 4b for transporting pallets 2 on rails 5, as well as a roller conveyor 6 for transporting pallets 2 via a transfer area 7 arranged between the sections 4a and 4b. Both sections 4a and 4b are arranged in alignment with the transfer area 7 such that the transfer area 7 is able to ensure the transfer of a heavy load, here a coil 3, together with its pallet 2 and resting on a support 9 on the top of the pallet 2, from a first transfer carriage 13a according to the invention to a second transfer carriage 13b according to the invention, via the transfer area 7.While the first transfer car 13a is designed to be moved along the first section 4a by rail, the second transfer car 13b is designed to be moved along the second section 4b by rail. The transfer cars 13a and 13b each have two receiving positions on their platform 14, arranged side by side in the direction of travel of the transfer cars 13a and 13b, and designed and equipped to receive either a coil 3 with its pallet 2 or an empty pallet 2. The circulating transport system is designed such that a coil 3 resting on a loaded pallet 2b is conveyed by the first transfer car 13a from right to left in alignment to the transfer area 7, then transferred across the transfer area 7 to the second transfer car 13b, with the movement of the loaded pallet 2b within the transfer area 7 being effected by the roller conveyor 6.The empty pallet 2a, in turn, is brought to the transfer area 7 in the opposite direction of transport and is then guided by the second transfer wagon 13b over the transfer area 7 to the empty storage space on the first transfer wagon 13a, in order to be loaded with another coil (not shown) after the complete process along the rails 5.

[0043] Fig. Figure 2 shows the use of a transfer area 7 within a preferred embodiment of a system 1 according to the invention at the time of the transfer of a coil 3 together with its pallet 2 from the first transfer car 13a according to the invention, which is guided in alignment with the transfer area 7 on rails 5, in the figure from right to left onto the transfer area 7. At the same time, an empty pallet 2a is transferred from the second transfer car 13b according to the invention onto the roller conveyor 6 within the transfer area 7, in order to be transferred at a later time to the second storage position of the second transfer car 13b.For the movement of the pallets 2, each having skids 12, both with and without coil 3, two roller conveyor segments 6a, 6b arranged parallel to each other are integrated into the transfer area 7, via which the pallets 2 can be transferred with simple means from the first transfer carriage 13a to the second transfer carriage 13b or from the second transfer carriage 13b to the first transfer carriage 13a.

[0044] Fig.Figure 3 shows a perspective view of a transfer carriage 13 according to the invention, which is moved on rails 5 over a first section 4a of a preferred embodiment of the system according to the invention. The transfer carriage 13 has two receiving positions 11a, 1b, which are arranged next to each other in the direction of travel of the transfer carriage 13. While the first receiving position 11a on the transfer carriage 13 is unoccupied, the second receiving position 11b is occupied by a pallet 2 with a coil 3 arranged on it. The transfer carriage 13 shown here is particularly suitable for use in a circulating transport system in which the transfer carriage can be moved in a first direction loaded with a coil 3 resting on a pallet 2 and in the opposite direction with an unloaded pallet 2, then arranged on the first receiving position 11a. Reference symbol list 1 system 2 pallets 3 Coil 4 Transport track 4a,b sections 5 rail 6a,b Rollgang 7 Transfer area 8 wheels 9 supports 11a,b admission places 12 runners 13a,b shunting wagon 14 Platform

Claims

[1] Transfer wagon (13) for transporting heavy loads such as coils (3) of metallic strip, metallic castings and rolled products such as slabs, sheets or other semi-finished products, Unit Load Devices (ULD) and standard sea containers or standard rail containers and / or unloaded pallets (2) placed on pallets (2) on a preferably circumferentially arranged transport track (4) for transfer wagons (13), wherein the transfer wagon (13) has wheels (8) below a platform (14) and is designed and equipped to receive the pallets (2) resting on the platform (14) and to be transported on rails (5) or a track, characterized by , that on the platform (14) two receiving places (11a,b) for pallets (2) are provided next to each other in the direction of travel of the transfer carriage (13). [2] Transfer carriage (13) according to claim 1, characterized by that the platform (14) is divided into two parts and preferably spans a plane. [3] Transfer carriage (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the transfer carriage (13) has at least one roller conveyor (6), preferably two roller conveyor segments (6a,b) arranged next to each other and parallel to each other, on which two pallets (2) can be placed and preferably moved in the direction of travel of the transfer carriage (13). [4] Transfer carriage (13) according to claim 3, characterized by that the roller conveyor (6), preferably the roller conveyor segment (6a,b), are integrated into the platform (14) and the rollers of the roller conveyor (6) or of each roller conveyor segment (6a,b) form the receiving positions (11a,b). [5] Transfer carriage (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the transfer carriage (13) has support elements for supporting at least one cover above the platform (14), preferably for detachably attaching a cover to the support elements. [6] Transfer carriage (13) according to any one of claims 2 to 5, characterized by , that the roller conveyor (6) has rollers that can be driven in at least one direction of rotation, preferably the roller conveyor segments (6a,b) each have rollers that can be driven in at least one direction of rotation, particularly preferably in opposite directions of rotation. [7] Transfer carriage (13) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the heavy loads have a weight of at least 1 ton and up to 55 tonnes, preferably between 10 tonnes and 55 tonnes, particularly preferably between 15 and 45 tonnes. [8] System (1) for transporting heavy loads such as coils (3) of metallic strip, metallic casting and rolling products such as slabs, sheets or other semi-finished products, Unit Load Devices (ULD) and standard sea containers or standard rail containers placed on pallets (2), comprising a preferably circumferentially arranged transport track (4) and at least one transfer carriage (13) according to one of the preceding claims. [9] System (1) according to claim 8, characterized by, that the transport track (4) comprises at least a first section (4a) with rails (5) or a track for the rolling transport of the pallets (2) resting on transfer cars (13) and a second section (4b) with rails (5) or a track for the rolling transport of the pallets (2) resting on transfer cars (13), and wherein a transfer area (7) is arranged between the first section (4a) and the second section (4b), with which a transfer of the pallet (2) transported on the first section to the second section can be effected, and wherein the transfer area (7) is provided with at least one roller conveyor (6), preferably two roller conveyors (6) arranged parallel to each other, the pallets (2) have skids (12) and are designed and equipped to be transported on the roller conveyor (6). [10] System (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized bythat the roadway is designed and equipped to be used by wheeled shunting wagons (13) equipped with wheels (8). [11] System (1) according to one of claims 8 or 9, characterized by , that the rails (5) are designed and equipped to be used by shunting wagons (13) fitted with railway wheels. [12] System (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 11, characterized by , that the transfer carriages (13) can be arranged in alignment with the transfer area (7). [13] System (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 12, characterized by, that the transfer area (7) has a stationary roller conveyor (6) connected to the transfer area (7), in particular two roller conveyor segments (6a,b) arranged parallel to each other and which can be driven in different directions, which is or are designed and equipped to receive heavy loads from a first transfer carriage (13) and transfer them to a second transfer carriage (13). [14] System (1) according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized by , that the rails (5) of at least one section (4a,b) of the transport track (4) are arranged within the floor such that their running surfaces are aligned with the floor adjacent to the rails (5). [15] System (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 14, characterized by, that in a continuously arranged transport track (4) a transport of loaded pallets (2) on a transfer carriage (13) in a first direction and a transport of unloaded pallets (2) on a transfer carriage (13), preferably the same transfer carriage (13), in a second direction, preferably oriented parallel to the first direction and opposite to the first direction, is possible. [16] System (1) according to any one of claims 8 to 15, characterized by , that in addition to the transport track (4) it has at least one area where it is possible to transfer a pallet from a transfer carriage (13) to a conveyor track, preferably a conveyor track arranged perpendicular to the transport track (4). [17] System (1) according to claim 16, characterized by , that the conveyor belt can be used to remove pallets (2) from the system (1) and to introduce pallets (2) into the system (1).

Images