Installation jig

Abstract

To provide an installation jig that can accommodate various gap dimensions between adjacent joints while ensuring positional accuracy between those joints. [Solution] The plate member 171 of the installation jig 170 is placed on the upper surfaces 82a, 92a of adjacent coupling devices 80, 90 (coupling parts), and a fastening member 175 inserted into a mounting hole 171a formed through the plate member 171 fastens the plate member 171 to coupling device 80. Furthermore, a fastening member 176 fastens the plate member 171 to coupling device 90 through an adjustment elongated hole 171b formed through the plate member 171. Since the adjustment elongated hole 171b extends in the direction of travel, it can accommodate various clearance dimensions of coupling devices 80, 90. The installation jig 170 includes a clearance adjustment block 177 that is sandwiched between coupling devices 80, 90 in the direction of travel. This makes it easy to ensure the positional accuracy of coupling devices 80 and 90 in the direction of travel.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to an installation jig used for attaching a joint to an end of a plurality of aligned girders, and particularly to an installation jig that can accommodate various clearance dimensions between adjacent joints and ensure positional accuracy between the joints. [Background Art]

[0002] For example, Patent Document 1 describes a branching device that changes the traveling route of a vehicle by moving a plurality of movable girders serving as the vehicle's traveling road in the width direction of the vehicle. Specifically, the branching device switches between a reference route (a straight section) in which fixed girders are connected by movable girders, and a branching route (a curved section) in which other fixed girders are connected by movable girders. Each of these girders has a bottom portion on which the traveling road is formed on an upper surface. Further, in order to prevent girders from interfering with each other when the movable girders move in the width direction, a clearance is formed at the end portion of each girder in the traveling direction of the vehicle. [Prior Art Documents] [Patent Documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2012-106680 (for example, paragraphs 0020 to 0022, Figures 1 and 2) [Summary of the Invention] [Problem to be Solved by the Invention]

[0004] In such a branching device, for example, in order to precisely adjust the clearance dimensions of the section through which vehicle wheels pass, and to reduce the difference in height on both sides of that clearance, it is conceivable to form each girder mainly from concrete and arrange them, and then retrofit coupling devices that form both sides of the clearance to each girder (unknown). Specifically, for example, it is conceivable to place a coupling part, which is at least a part of the coupling device, in a recess provided on the upper surface of the end of the vehicle's direction of travel at the bottom of each girder, and then attach the coupling part to each girder by hardening secondary concrete (filling member) filled into the recess (unknown). However, simply attaching coupling parts individually to each girder made it difficult to accommodate various clearance dimensions while ensuring positional accuracy between adjacent coupling parts.

[0005] The present invention was made to solve the above-mentioned problems, and aims to provide an installation jig that can accommodate various gap dimensions between adjacent joints while ensuring positional accuracy between those joints. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The installation jig of the present invention for achieving this objective is used in the manufacture of a branching device. The branching device comprises a first girder and a second girder, each having a bottom on which a vehicle travel path is formed on its upper surface, and connected to each other in the direction of travel of the vehicle; a first coupling portion, positioned in a first recess provided on the upper surface of the end of the bottom of the first girder on the side of the second girder, and attached to the first girder by hardening a filling material filled in the first recess; and a second coupling portion, positioned in a second recess provided on the upper surface of the end of the bottom of the second girder on the side of the first girder, and attached to the second girder by hardening a filling material filled in the second recess, and adjacent to the first coupling portion in the direction of travel, and the path of the vehicle is changed by moving at least one of the first girder and the second girder in the width direction. The installation jig is used when filling and hardening the filling material in the manufacture of the branching device, and is for supporting the first joint and the second joint with respect to the first and second girders, respectively, and comprises a plate member that is superimposed on the upper surfaces of the adjacent first and second joints, a first fastening member that is inserted into a mounting hole formed through the plate member and fastens the plate member to the first joint, a second fastening member that is inserted into an adjustment elongated hole formed through the plate member and extending in the direction of travel and fastens the plate member to the second joint, and a gap adjustment block that is attached to the plate member and sandwiched between the first joint and the second joint in the direction of travel. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] According to the mounting jig described in claim 1, a plate member is placed on the upper surface of each of the adjacent first and second joints, and a first fastening member inserted into a mounting hole formed through the plate member fastens the plate member to the first joint. Furthermore, a second fastening member fastens the plate member to the second joint through an adjustment elongated hole formed through the plate member. As a result, the adjacent first and second joints are integrally connected via the plate member, and they can be treated as a single unit with mutual positional accuracy ensured. However, since the adjustment elongated hole extends in the direction of travel, the position of the second fastening member can be moved in the direction of travel within the adjustment elongated hole to connect the first and second joints even if the gap between them is of various sizes, but positional accuracy in the direction of travel (accuracy of the gap) cannot be ensured.

[0008] In contrast, the installation jig includes a gap adjustment block that is attached to the plate member and sandwiched between the first and second joints in the direction of travel. This sandwiching makes it easy to ensure the positional accuracy of the first and second joints in the direction of travel, even if there is an adjustment slot. As a result, the installation jig can accommodate various gap dimensions of adjacent joints and ensure the positional accuracy of those joints.

[0009] The mounting jig described in claim 2 provides the following effects in addition to those of the mounting jig described in claim 1: Since the mounting holes, adjustment slots, and gap adjustment blocks are provided on both sides in the width direction of the plate member, the angular error in the width direction between the first joint and the second joint can be suppressed, thereby improving the positional accuracy of each other.

[0010] The installation jig described in claim 3 provides the following effects in addition to those of the installation jig described in claim 1 or 2. The installation jig comprises a first screw shaft portion perpendicular to the direction of travel and width, which rises from the bottom surface of the first recess of the first girder and is inserted into a first through-hole formed through the plate member; a second screw shaft portion perpendicular to the direction of travel and width, which rises from the bottom surface of the second recess of the second girder and is inserted into a second through-hole formed through the plate member; and a support nut fitted to the first screw shaft portion and the second screw shaft portion, respectively, to support the plate member from below. By rotating the support nut, the support nut is moved in the axial direction (up and down direction) of the first screw shaft portion and the second screw shaft portion. This makes it easy to position the first and second connecting portions, which are integrally connected via the plate member supported on the support nut, in the vertical direction with respect to the first and second girder, respectively.

[0011] Furthermore, the first and second girders remain connected to each other even when the vehicle's path is changed. Since the first and second girders are not connected to other girders (the girders they connect to do not change even when the path is switched), the positional accuracy of the first and second connections does not need to be considered in relation to the ends (connections) of other girders. Therefore, the installation jig can be simplified as described above.

[0012] The installation jig described in claim 4 provides the following effects in addition to those of the installation jig described in claim 3: The first screw shaft portion and the second screw shaft portion are inserted into retaining holes provided in the bottom surfaces of the first recess and the second recess, respectively. This allows the integrally connected first and second joint portions to be positioned approximately in the direction of travel and in the width direction relative to the first and second girders, respectively.

[0013] The installation jig described in claim 5 provides the following effects in addition to those of the installation jig described in claim 4. Here, if both the first through hole and the second through hole are circular holes that prevent the first screw shaft portion and the second screw shaft portion from moving almost in the direction of travel, the distance between the first screw shaft portion and the second screw shaft portion in the direction of travel also varies depending on the clearance between the first joint portion and the second joint portion, which are integrated by a plate member. Therefore, depending on the clearance between the first joint portion and the second joint portion, it becomes necessary to construct retaining holes into the first and second girders at the time of insertion, into which the first and second screw shaft portions are inserted.

[0014] In contrast, since the second through-hole is an elongated hole extending in the direction of travel, the second screw shaft can be moved in the direction of travel within the second through-hole. Therefore, the distance between the first screw shaft and the second screw shaft in the direction of travel can be adjusted, largely independently of the clearance between the first and second joints, which are integrated by a plate member. As a result, the first and second screw shafts can be inserted into the pre-installed retaining holes in the first and second girders, eliminating the need for the insertion work described above and reducing the amount of work required during installation. In other words, variations in the distance between the pre-installed retaining holes in the first and second girders can be absorbed by the movement of the second screw shaft within the second through-hole.

[0015] The installation jig according to claim 6 provides the following effects in addition to those of the installation jig according to claim 5: Both the first and second through holes are elongated holes extending in the direction of travel. This allows the first and second joints, which are integrated by the plate member, to be easily positioned in the direction of travel relative to the first and second girders, respectively, by moving the first and second screw shafts in the direction of travel within the first and second through holes, respectively.

[0016] During this positioning, the second screw shaft moves within the second through-hole in the direction of travel by a maximum of the length of the first through-hole. Separately, as described above, the second screw shaft also moves within the second through-hole to absorb variations in the distance between the pre-prepared holding holes. Therefore, by making the second through-hole longer than the first through-hole in the direction of travel, it is possible to eliminate the limitation of the movement adjustment range of the other due to one of the two types of movement. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0017] [Figure 1] This is a schematic top view of a branching device manufactured using an installation jig according to one embodiment of the present invention, where (a) shows the state in which the reference path is formed, (b) shows the state in which the first branching path is formed, and (c) shows the state in which the second branching path is formed. [Figure 2] This is a partially enlarged top view of a branching device. [Figure 3] This is a magnified perspective view of a branching device. [Figure 4] This is a side view of the terminal girder, joint, and installation jig. [Figure 5] (a) is a cross-sectional view of the terminal girder, joint, and installation jig on the Va-Va line in Figure 4, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the terminal girder, joint, and installation jig on the Vb-Vb line in Figure 4. [Figure 6] (a) is a top view of the end girder, joint, and installation jig in the direction of arrow VIa in Figure 4, and (b) is a cross-sectional view of the end girder, joint, and installation jig along the line VIb-VIb in Figure 6(a). [Figure 7] This is an explanatory diagram showing the positioning process using an installation jig in the reference path. [Figure 8] This is an explanatory diagram showing the positioning process using an installation jig in the first branching path. [Figure 9] (a) is a partially enlarged top view of the branching device, and (b) is a partially enlarged side view of the branching device as seen in the direction of arrow IXb in Figure 9(a). [Figure 10](a) is a side view of the intermediate girder, the joint portion and the installation jig, and (b) is a top view of the intermediate girder, the joint portion and the installation jig as viewed along the direction of arrow Xb in Fig. 10(a). [Figure 11] It is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate girder, the joint portion and the installation jig taken along line XI-XI in Fig. 10(b). [Figure 12] It is a cross-sectional view of the intermediate girder, the joint portion and the installation jig taken along line XII-XII in Fig. 10(b). [Figure 13] It is an explanatory diagram showing a positioning step using the installation jig. [Figure 14] It is a partially enlarged top view of the turnout device. [Figure 15] It is a top view of the joining device and the installation jig. [Figure 16] It is a side view of the intermediate girder, the joining device and the installation jig. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Hereinafter, preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. First, the overall configuration of the turnout device 1 will be described with reference to Fig. 1. Fig. 1(a) is a schematic top view of the turnout device 1 in a state where a reference route is formed. Fig. 1(b) is a schematic top view of the turnout device 1 in a state where a first branched route is formed. Fig. 1(c) is a schematic top view of the turnout device 1 in a state where a second branched route is formed.

[0019] The turnout device 1 is a device for selectively connecting between fixed girders A1, A2 and fixed girders B1, B2 to change the traveling route of a vehicle, and comprises a plurality of fixed girders A1, A2, B1, B2 (hereinafter referred to as "fixed girders A1 to B2") and a plurality of movable girders 10a to 10f, 11a to 11f, 12a to 12f, 13a to 13f (hereinafter referred to as "movable girders 10a to 13f"). Traveling paths for a vehicle to travel are respectively formed on the upper surfaces of the fixed girders A1 to B2 and the movable girders 10a to 13f, and a traveling route for the vehicle is formed by connecting these to each other. Each of the fixed girders A1 to B2 is a non-movably installed structure on the ground or the like.

[0020] Each of the movable girders 10a to 13f is formed in a rectangular shape when viewed from above, with the direction of travel of vehicles on the road as its longitudinal direction. The movable girders 10a to 10f are arranged in this order longitudinally and are inseparably connected to each other. One end of the movable girder 10a in the longitudinal direction (the end opposite to the movable girder 10b) is inseparably connected to the fixed girder A1.

[0021] Similarly, the movable girders 11a to 11f are arranged longitudinally in this order and inseparably connected to each other. One longitudinal end of movable girder 11a (the end opposite to movable girder 11b) is inseparably connected to fixed girder A2. The movable girders 12a to 12f are arranged longitudinally in this order and inseparably connected to each other. One longitudinal end of movable girder 12a (the end opposite to movable girder 12b) is inseparably connected to fixed girder B1. The movable girders 13a to 13f are arranged longitudinally in this order and inseparably connected to each other. One longitudinal end of movable girder 13a (the end opposite to movable girder 13b) is inseparably connected to fixed girder B2.

[0022] As shown in Figure 1(a), the branching device 1 connects the ends of the movable girder 10f and the movable girder 12f to form a linear reference path connecting the fixed girder A1 and the fixed girder B1. Furthermore, the branching device 1 also forms a linear reference path connecting the fixed girder A2 and the fixed girder B2 by connecting the ends of the movable girder 11f and the movable girder 13f.

[0023] On the other hand, as shown in Figure 1(b), the branching device 1 connects the ends of the movable girder 10f and the movable girder 13f to form a curved first branching path connecting the fixed girder A1 and the fixed girder B2. Also, as shown in Figure 1(c), the branching device 1 connects the ends of the movable girder 11f and the movable girder 12f to form a curved second branching path connecting the fixed girder A2 and the fixed girder B1.

[0024] Thus, the branching device 1 is configured to switch between the standard route and the branch route by disconnecting the connected movable girders 10f, 11f, 12f, and 13f, moving the movable girders 10a to 13f in the width direction, and then reconnecting the movable girders 10f, 11f, 12f, and 13f. This configuration for moving the movable girders 10a to 13f in the width direction is publicly known and is illustrated, for example, in Japanese Patent Publication No. 2012-106680, so no further explanation is provided.

[0025] From now on, as needed, movable girders 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a connected to fixed girders A1 to B2 will be referred to as start girders. Movable girders 10f, 11f, 12f, and 13f that are separated from adjacent movable girders 10f, etc. when the vehicle changes direction will be referred to as end girders. Movable girders 10b to 10e, 11b to 11e, 12b to 12e, and 13b to 13e that are not separated from adjacent movable girders 10a, etc. when the vehicle changes direction will be referred to as intermediate girders.

[0026] Next, the branching device 1 will be described in more detail with reference to Figure 2. Figure 2 is a schematic, partially enlarged top view of the branching device 1 in the state where the reference route is formed, and the connection portion between the movable girder 10e (intermediate girder), movable girder 10f (end girder), and movable girder 12f (end girder) is shown in enlargement.

[0027] Each of the movable girders 10e, 10f, and 12f is equipped with a bottom 15 on which a running path is formed on the upper surface 15a, and a pair of wall sections 16 rising upward from both ends in the width direction of the bottom 15, and is mainly composed of a concrete structure. Each of the movable girders 10e, 10f, and 12f has a cross section perpendicular to the longitudinal direction formed by the bottom 15 and the pair of wall sections 16, which is U-shaped (channel-shaped) with the top open. The same applies to the other movable girders 10a-10d, 11a-11f, 12a-12e, 13a-13f, and the fixed girders A1-B2.

[0028] To prevent interference between movable girders 10a-13f and each other, and between movable girders 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a and fixed girders A1-B2, gaps are formed at the ends of each girder. In particular, relatively large gaps are formed between the large, heavy movable girders 10a-13f during construction.

[0029] To connect movable girders 10a-13f to each other, or to connect movable girders 10a, 11a, 12a, 13a to fixed girders A1-B2 via these gaps, or to partially narrow the gaps, the branching device 1 is equipped with multiple connecting devices 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70, 80, and 90. These connecting devices 20-90 are mainly made of metal and are attached to each girder after the concrete structure girders have been laid out, by filling and hardening (casting) secondary concrete.

[0030] The coupling devices 20, 30, 60, and 70 are for connecting the walls 16 of each girder to each other. The coupling devices 40, 50, 80, and 90 are for partially narrowing the gap between the bottoms 15 of each girder, reducing vehicle vibration when the wheels pass over the gap, and form part of the running track. Since each of the coupling devices 40, 50, 80, and 90 is for vibration reduction, they are arranged approximately symmetrically at two locations separated in the width direction from the parts where the wheels roll when the vehicle is running, i.e., the ends of the bottoms 15.

[0031] The coupling device 20 is a device provided on the upper part of the end of the movable girder 12f side of the pair of wall sections 16 of the movable girder 10f. The coupling device 30 is a device provided on the upper part of the end of the movable girder 10f side of the pair of wall sections 16 of the movable girder 12f, and is adjacent (facing) to the coupling device 20 in the direction of travel.

[0032] The movable girders 10f and 12f (end girders) are connected to each other via these coupling devices 20 and 30. Additionally, the same coupling device 20 is provided on movable girder 11f, and the same coupling device 30 is provided on movable girder 13f, thereby connecting movable girders 11f and 13f to each other. Note that the arrangement is not limited to the above; it is acceptable for coupling devices 20 to be provided on one end of adjacent end girders, and coupling devices 30 to be provided on the other end of those two ends. Further details of coupling devices 20 and 30 will be described later.

[0033] The coupling device 40 is a device provided at the end of the bottom 15 of the movable girder 10f that is on the side of the movable girder 12f. The coupling device 40 is configured such that the movable part 42 slides against a fixed part 41 which is fixed so as to be embedded in the bottom 15, causing the movable part 42 to extend and retract from the end of the bottom 15. The same coupling device 40 is also provided on the movable girder 11f.

[0034] The coupling device 50 is a device installed at the end of the movable girder 12f on the movable girder 10f side of the bottom 15 of the movable girder 12f, adjacent to the coupling device 40 in the direction of travel. The same coupling device 50 is also installed on the movable girder 13f.

[0035] When the movable girders 10f and 11f are connected to the movable girders 12f and 13f, the movable part 42 of the coupling device 40 is extended from the end of the bottom 15, narrowing the gap between the coupling devices 40 and 50, thereby reducing vibrations of vehicles passing over that gap. On the other hand, when changing the direction of a vehicle, the movable part 42 of the coupling device 40 is retracted toward the fixed part 41 to prevent interference between the coupling device 40 and the movable girders 12f and 13f. Furthermore, the arrangement is not limited to the above-described configuration; a coupling device 40 may be provided on one end of adjacent terminal girders, and a coupling device 50 may be provided on the other end of those two ends.

[0036] The coupling devices 60 are devices provided on the upper part of the ends of the movable girder 10f on the side of the pair of wall sections 16 of the movable girder 10e. The coupling devices 70 are devices provided on the upper part of the ends of the movable girder 10e (intermediate girder) on the side of the pair of wall sections 16 of the movable girder 10f, and are adjacent to the coupling devices 60 in the direction of travel. The movable girders 10e and 10f are connected to each other via these coupling devices 60 and 70. These coupling devices 60 and 70 may be arranged in reverse.

[0037] Furthermore, not limited to movable girders 10e and 10f, coupling devices 60 are provided at one end of an adjacent terminal girder and one end of an intermediate girder, at one end of two adjacent intermediate girders, at one end of an adjacent starting girder and one end of an intermediate girder, and at one end of an adjacent starting girder and one end of a fixed girder A1 to B2. Coupling devices 70 are provided at the other end of each end adjacent to coupling device 60. Details of coupling devices 60 and 70 will be described later.

[0038] The coupling device 80 is a device provided at the end of the bottom 15 of the movable girder 10e on the side of the movable girder 10f. The coupling device 90 is a device provided at the end of the bottom 15 of the movable girder 10f on the side of the movable girder 10e, and is adjacent to the coupling device 80 in the direction of travel. The upper surfaces of these coupling devices 80 and 90 and the upper surface 15a of the bottom 15 are substantially flush. These coupling devices 80 and 90 may also be arranged in reverse.

[0039] Furthermore, similar to coupling devices 60 and 70, coupling devices 80 are provided at one end of an adjacent terminal girder and one end of an intermediate girder, at one end of two adjacent intermediate girders, at one end of an adjacent starting girder and one end of an intermediate girder, and at one end of an adjacent starting girder and one end of fixed girders A1 to B2. Coupling devices 90 are provided at the other end of each end adjacent to coupling device 80. Details of coupling devices 80 and 90 will be described later.

[0040] Refer to Figure 3 for a detailed explanation of the coupling devices 20 and 30. Figure 3 is a schematic partial enlarged perspective view of the branching device 1, showing an enlarged view of the vicinity of the coupling devices 20 and 30. In Figure 3, all parts of the wall 16 except the end in the direction of travel are omitted (the same applies to Figures 4, 6, 7, and 8).

[0041] The coupling device 20 includes a coupling part 21 which serves as a base attached to the wall part 16 of the movable girder 10f, a coupling drive part 22 which is attached to the upper surface 21a of the coupling part 21, and a guide surface forming part 23 which is attached to the side surface 21b of the coupling part 21.

[0042] The joint portion 21 is formed in a gate shape in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of travel. The joint portion 21 comprises a planar upper surface 21a parallel to the bottom portion 15, a planar side surface 21b perpendicular to the upper surface 21a and facing the inside of the wall portion 16 (the side of the wall portion 16 facing the bottom portion 15), and a planar side surface 21c (see Figure 5) facing the outside of the wall portion 16 (the side of the wall portion 16 opposite to the side facing the bottom portion 15) and parallel to the side surface 21b.

[0043] The coupling drive unit 22 is the part that is driven when connecting or disconnecting the coupling device 20 and the coupling device 30. Each part of the coupling drive unit 22 is detachably fixed to the upper surface 21a of the coupling part 21 with a plurality of fastening members 22b (for example, bolts), and the coupling pin 22a is configured to extend and retract from the end of the wall part 16.

[0044] The guide surface forming section 23 is a part that forms the vicinity of the play in the guide surface on which a guide wheel, provided on the side of a vehicle, rolls. The guide surface forming section 23 is composed of a rectangular tubular box with an opening in the vertical direction and is detachably fixed to the side surface 21b of the connecting section 21 with a plurality of fastening members 23a (for example, bolts).

[0045] The coupling device 30 comprises a coupling portion 31 which serves as a base attached to the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 12f, a pin receiver 32 attached to the upper surface 31a of the coupling portion 31, and a guide surface forming portion 33 attached to the side surface 31b of the coupling portion 31.

[0046] The joint 31 is formed in a gate shape in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of travel. The joint 31 comprises a planar upper surface 31a (see Figure 4) parallel to the bottom 15, a planar side surface 31b perpendicular to the upper surface 31a and facing the inside of the wall 16, and a planar side surface facing the outside of the wall 16 and parallel to the side surface 31b. The joint 31 is shorter in the direction of travel than the adjacent joint 21.

[0047] The pin receiver 32 is a gate-shaped portion into which the connecting pin 22a protruding from the coupling device 20 is inserted, and is detachably fixed to the upper surface 31a of the coupling portion 31 by a plurality of fastening members 32a (e.g., bolts). The guide surface forming portion 33 is a portion similar to the guide surface forming portion 23, and is composed of a rectangular tubular box with an opening in the vertical direction. The guide surface forming portion 33 is detachably fixed to the side surface 31b of the coupling portion 31 by a plurality of fastening members 33a (e.g., bolts).

[0048] Next, a method for manufacturing the branching device 1, specifically a method for attaching the coupling devices 20 and 30 to the wall portion 16, will be described. In outline, this method involves first providing a recess 17a in advance at the upper part of the end of the wall portion 16 where the coupling device 20 is to be installed, and providing a recess 17b in advance at the upper part of the end of the wall portion 16 where the coupling device 30 is to be installed. Then, using an installation jig 100 (see Figure 4, etc.), positioning only the coupling portion 21 of the coupling device 20 within the recess 17a, and positioning only the coupling portion 31 of the coupling device 30 within the recess 17b.

[0049] In that state, the filling member 18a made of secondary concrete is filled into the recess 17a, and the filling member 18b made of secondary concrete is filled into the recess 17b, and the joints 21 and 31 are attached to the wall 16 by hardening. The installation jig 100 is removed, and finally, the connecting drive unit 22, the pin receiver 32, and the guide surface forming units 23 and 33 are attached to the joints 21 and 31, respectively, to form the coupling devices 20 and 30.

[0050] The installation jig 100 used for the above positioning will be described with reference to Figures 4 to 6. Figure 4 is a side view of the movable girders 10f, 12f (end girders), connecting parts 21, 31 and the installation jig 100. Figure 5(a) is a cross-sectional view of the movable girder 10f, connecting part 21 and the installation jig 100 along the Va-Va line in Figure 4. Figure 5(b) is a cross-sectional view of the movable girder 10f, connecting part 21 and the installation jig 100 along the Vb-Vb line in Figure 4. Figure 6(a) is a top view of the movable girders 10f, 12f, connecting parts 21, 31 and the installation jig 100 in the direction of arrow VIa in Figure 4. Figure 6(b) is a cross-sectional view of the movable girders 10f, 12f, connecting parts 21, 31 and the installation jig 100 along the VIb-VIb line in Figure 6(a).

[0051] For the sake of simplicity, in the following explanation, the right side of Figure 4 (the side with movable girder 12f) will be considered the front, and the left side of Figure 4 (the side with movable girder 10f) will be considered the rear. This distinction between front and rear is for the sake of explanation and can, of course, be reversed.

[0052] As shown in Figures 4 and 5, the installation jig 100 includes a first adjustment jig 110 for supporting the joint 21 on the movable girder 10f, a second adjustment jig 120 for supporting the joint 31 on the movable girder 12f, and a restraining jig 130 for integrally connecting the joints 21 and 31. Each of these parts is independent of the others and is mainly made of metal.

[0053] The first adjustment jig 110 comprises a pair of front and rear wall mounting parts 111 attached to the side surface of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10f, a pair of front and rear upright parts 112 extending upward from the pair of wall mounting parts 111, a pair of front and rear adjusters 113 placed on the pair of wall mounting parts 111 inside the pair of upright parts 112, and a coupling mounting part 114 that spans the pair of adjusters 113 and is attached to the side surface 21b of the coupling part 21. These parts 111 to 114 are provided not only on the inside (side surface 21b side) of the wall portion 16 but also on the outside (side surface 21c side) in a substantially symmetrical manner in the width direction.

[0054] The wall mounting portion 111 is a member whose cross-section perpendicular to the direction of travel (front-to-back direction) is formed in an L-shape by a flat plate-shaped side portion and a flat plate-shaped top portion that are perpendicular to each other. The front and rear pair of wall mounting portions 111 are spaced apart in the direction of travel. The side portions of the wall mounting portion 111 are superimposed on the side of the wall portion 16 and are detachably attached to the wall portion 16 at multiple locations in the direction of travel by fastening members 111a (e.g., bolts). The top portion of the wall mounting portion 111 to which the side portions are attached is approximately parallel to the direction of travel.

[0055] The upright portion 112 is a member whose vertically perpendicular cross-section is formed in an L-shape by mutually orthogonal flat side portions and flat end portions, and rises vertically from the upper surface of the wall mounting portion 111. The side portions of the upright portion 112 are separated in the width direction from the side portions of the wall portion 16 and the side portions 21b and 21c of the connecting portion 21.

[0056] An adjustment screw 115, made of a bolt, is fitted (screwed) into a threaded hole formed through the upper part of the side surface of the upright section 112. The tip of the adjustment screw 115 protrudes in the width direction from the upright section 112 toward the side surfaces 21b and 21c. By rotating the adjustment screw 115, the amount of protrusion is adjusted, and the joint section 21 is sandwiched between the tips of the adjustment screws 115 on both sides in the width direction, thereby fixing the joint section 21 to the wall section 16 in the width direction. Furthermore, by adjusting the amount of protrusion due to the rotation of the adjustment screw 115, the width direction position of the joint section 21 relative to the wall section 16 changes. In this way, the wall mounting section 111, the upright section 112, and the adjustment screw 115 form a first width adjustment section that changes the width direction position of the joint section 21 relative to the movable girder 10f.

[0057] An adjustment screw 116, made of a bolt, is fitted into a threaded hole formed through the upper part of the end face of the upright portion 112. The tip of the adjustment screw 116 protrudes from the pair of front and rear upright portions 112 toward each other in the direction of travel. The amount of this protrusion is adjusted by rotating the adjustment screw 116.

[0058] The adjuster 113 is a component that extends and retracts vertically by the rotation of the adjustment screw 113a. The lower end surface of the adjuster 113 rests on the upper surface of the wall mounting portion 111. The upper end surface of the adjuster 113 is a surface perpendicular to the vertical direction and is formed of a lubricating material such as synthetic resin.

[0059] The connecting attachment portion 114 is a member whose cross-section perpendicular to the direction of travel is formed in an L-shape by a flat plate-shaped side portion and a flat plate-shaped bottom portion that are perpendicular to each other. The side portions of the connecting attachment portion 114 are superimposed on the side portions 21b and 21c of the connecting portion 21 and are detachably attached to the side portions 21b and 21c at multiple locations in the direction of travel by fastening members 114a (for example, bolts).

[0060] The lower surface of the coupling mounting portion 114 rests on the upper end surface of the adjuster 113. By rotating the adjustment screw 113a in this state to extend or retract the adjuster 113, the vertical position of the coupling portion 21 relative to the wall portion 16 is changed. In this way, the wall mounting portion 111, the adjuster 113, and the coupling mounting portion 114 form a first vertical adjustment portion that changes the vertical position of the coupling portion 21 relative to the movable girder 10f.

[0061] At both ends of the connecting attachment portion 114 in the direction of travel, there are flat end faces 114b that are substantially parallel to the end faces of the upright portion 112 and face the direction of travel. By adjusting the amount of protrusion of the adjustment screws 116 from the end faces of the upright portion 112 and bringing the tips of the adjustment screws 116 on both the front and rear sides against the end faces 114b, the connecting attachment portion 114 is clamped in the direction of travel, thereby fixing the connecting portion 21 to the wall portion 16 in the direction of travel. Furthermore, by adjusting the amount of protrusion due to the rotation of the adjustment screws 116, the position of the connecting portion 21 in the direction of travel relative to the wall portion 16 changes. In this way, the wall attachment portion 111, the upright portion 112, the connecting attachment portion 114, and the adjustment screws 116 form a first travel adjustment portion that changes the position of the connecting portion 21 in the direction of travel relative to the movable girder 10f.

[0062] The second adjustment jig 120 comprises a wall mounting portion 121 attached to the side surface of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 12f by a plurality of fastening members 121a (e.g., bolts), a pair of front and rear upright portions 122 extending upward from both the front and rear ends of the wall mounting portion 121, a single adjuster 123 placed on the wall mounting portion 121 inside the pair of upright portions 122, and a connecting mounting portion 124 placed on the adjuster 123 and attached to the side surface 31b of the connecting portion 31 by a plurality of fastening members 124a (e.g., bolts). These portions 121 to 124 are provided not only on the inside of the wall portion 16 but also on the outside in a substantially symmetrical manner in the width direction.

[0063] Furthermore, although the dimensions and number of parts 121 to 124 of the second adjustment jig 120 differ slightly in the direction of travel, they are basically identical in structure to the parts 111 to 114 of the first adjustment jig 110. Therefore, some explanation of the parts 121 to 124 of the second adjustment jig 120 will be omitted.

[0064] The second adjustment jig 120, like the first adjustment jig 110, includes a second width adjustment section, a second vertical adjustment section, and a second forward adjustment section. The second width adjustment section is formed by a wall mounting section 121, an upright section 122, and an adjustment screw 125 that fits into a screw hole formed through the upper part of the side surface of the upright section 122. The joint section 31 is fixed to the wall section 16 in the width direction by clamping the joint section 31 in the width direction with the tip of the adjustment screw 125. By rotating the adjustment screw 125, the width direction position of the joint section 31 relative to the wall section 16 changes.

[0065] The second vertical adjustment section is formed by a wall mounting section 121, an adjuster 123, and a connecting mounting section 124. By rotating the adjustment screw 123a of the adjuster 123, the vertical position of the connecting section 31 relative to the wall section 16 is changed.

[0066] The second adjustment section is formed by a wall mounting section 121, an upright section 122, a connecting mounting section 124, and an adjustment screw 126 that fits into a screw hole formed through the upper part of the end face of the upright section 122. By bringing the tips of the adjustment screws 126 on both the front and rear sides against the flat end face sections 124b provided at both ends of the connecting mounting section 124 in the direction of travel, the connecting section 31 is fixed to the wall section 16 in the direction of travel. By rotating the adjustment screws 126, the position of the connecting section 31 in the direction of travel relative to the wall section 16 changes.

[0067] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the restraint jig 130 is designed to integrally connect adjacent joints 21 and 31 in the direction of travel, allowing them to be treated as a single unit with relative positional accuracy. The restraint jig 130 comprises a restraint body 131 spanning between joints 21 and 31, four fastening members 135 for fastening the restraint body 131 to joint 21, four fastening members 136 for fastening the restraint body 131 to joint 31, two clearance adjustment blocks 137 sandwiched between joints 21 and 31 in the direction of travel, and four fastening members 138 for fastening the clearance adjustment blocks 137 to the restraint body 131. The fastening members 135, 136, and 138 in this embodiment are bolts that can be easily attached and detached.

[0068] The restraint body 131 comprises a plate member 132 whose ends in the direction of travel are superimposed on the upper surfaces 21a, 31a of the joints 21, 31, respectively; an overhanging member 133 that protrudes downward in a stepped manner from the inner side of the plate member 132 in the width direction; and three protrusions 134a, 134b, 134c that protrude downward in a stepped manner from the lower surface of the plate member 132, respectively.

[0069] The plate member 132 is a flat, plate-shaped member that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The plate member 132 has four mounting holes 132a into which four fastening members 135 are inserted, two adjustable elongated holes 132b into which two fastening members 136 are inserted, and four through holes 132c into which four fastening members 138 are inserted, all of which are formed through the plate member 132 in the vertical direction.

[0070] The mounting holes 132a, adjustment slots 132b, and through holes 132c are arranged approximately symmetrically on both sides of the plate member 132 in the width direction, and are aligned in the direction of travel. Figure 6(a) shows the state where the fastening members 135, 136, and 138 are not inserted into the mounting holes 132a, adjustment slots 132b, and through holes 132c on the lower side of the paper (inward in the width direction), and the state where the fastening members 135, 136, and 138 are inserted into the mounting holes 132a, adjustment slots 132b, and through holes 132c on the upper side of the paper (outward in the width direction) (each hole is hidden).

[0071] The mounting hole 132a is a circular hole. The shaft of the fastening member 135 inserted into the mounting hole 132a passes through the plate member 132 and is fastened (screwed) into the screw hole 21e for fitting the fastening member 22b (see Figure 3) for the connecting drive unit 22. By reusing the screw hole 21e, it is not necessary to create a new screw hole in the joint 21 for attaching the restraining jig 130, thus reducing the amount of processing required during the manufacturing of the joint 21.

[0072] The inner diameter of the mounting hole 132a is approximately 10% larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the fastening member 135. Therefore, even if the axes of the screw hole 21e of the joint 21 and the mounting hole 132a are slightly misaligned, the fastening member 135 can still fasten the plate member 132 and the joint 21. In other words, the relative position of the fastened joint 21 and the plate member 132 can be adjusted in the direction of travel and width.

[0073] Positioning during width adjustment is performed by the overhanging member 133. Specifically, by pressing (overlapping) the overhanging member 133 against the side surface 21b of the joint 21, the joint 21 and the plate member 132 can be easily positioned in the width direction.

[0074] Furthermore, positioning during adjustment of the direction of travel is performed by the protrusion 134b. Specifically, by pressing the rear end surface of the protrusion 134b against the front end surface of the connecting portion 21, the connecting portion 21 and the plate member 132 can be easily positioned in the direction of travel.

[0075] Furthermore, a groove 21d is formed on the upper surface 21a of the joint 21, which accommodates the protrusion 134a. When overlapping the protruding member 133 or the protrusion 134b on each surface of the joint 21, the parts to be overlapped can be brought closer together by first accommodating the protrusion 134a in the groove 21d. This makes it easier to position the joint 21 and the plate member 132 in the width direction and direction of travel.

[0076] The adjustment slot 132b is an elongated slot extending in the direction of travel. The shaft portion of the fastening member 136 inserted into the adjustment slot 132b penetrates the plate member 132 and is fastened to the screw hole 31e for fitting the fastening member 32a (see Figure 3) for the pin receiver 32. By reusing the screw hole 31e, it is not necessary to create a new screw hole in the joint 31 for attaching the restraint jig 130, thus reducing the amount of processing required during the manufacturing of the joint 31.

[0077] Since the adjustment slot 132b is an elongated slot, the position of the fastening member 136 can be moved in the direction of travel within the adjustment slot 132b. As a result, even if there are various sizes in the clearance between the connecting portion 21 and the connecting portion 31, the size variations can be absorbed by the adjustment slot 132b, allowing the connecting portions 21 and 31 to be connected by the restraining jig 130.

[0078] Furthermore, the width of the adjustment slot 132b is approximately 10% larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the fastening member 136. Therefore, even if the screw hole 31e of the joint 31 and the adjustment slot 132b are slightly misaligned in the width direction, the fastening member 136 can still fasten the plate member 132 and the joint 31. In other words, the relative position of the fastened joint 31 and the plate member 132 can be adjusted in the width direction.

[0079] Positioning during width adjustment is performed by the overhanging member 133, similar to the joint 21 side. Specifically, by pressing the overhanging member 133 against the side surface 31b of the joint 31, the joint 31 and the plate member 132 can be easily positioned in the width direction.

[0080] Similarly, a groove 31d is formed on the upper surface 31a of the joint 31, which accommodates the protrusion 134c. When the overhanging member 133 is placed on the side surface 31b of the joint 31, the protrusion 134c is first accommodated in the groove 31d, which brings the overlapping parts closer together. This makes it easier to position the joint 31 and the plate member 132 in the width direction.

[0081] The through-hole 132c is a circular hole. The shaft of the fastening member 138 inserted into the through-hole 132c passes through the plate member 132 and is fastened to a screw hole provided on the upper surface of the gap adjustment block 137.

[0082] The gap adjustment block 137 is a rectangular parallelepiped-shaped member, and one with dimensions matching the design value of the gap between the connecting parts 21 and 31 that are sandwiched between them is selected and used from a variety of dimensions in different directions of travel. The adjustment slot 132b described above makes it difficult to specify the gap between the connecting parts 21 and 31, that is, to ensure the positional accuracy of the connecting part 21 and the connecting part 31 in the direction of travel. However, by sandwiching the gap adjustment block 137 between the connecting parts 21 and 31, the positional accuracy in the direction of travel can be easily ensured.

[0083] In particular, since the mounting hole 132a, the adjustment slot 132b, and the gap adjustment block 137 are provided on both sides of the plate member 132 in the width direction, it is easier to ensure straightness between the direction of travel of the joint 21 and the direction of travel of the joint 31. In other words, angular errors in the width direction between the joint 21 and the joint 31 can be suppressed, and the relative positional accuracy of each other in terms of that angle can be improved. Also, since the mounting hole 132a is a circular hole and not an elongated hole, it is easier to ensure the relative positional accuracy of the joints 21 and 31 in the direction of travel using the mounting hole 132a side as a reference.

[0084] According to the restraining jig 130 described above, the lower surface of the plate member 132 is superimposed on the upper surfaces 21a, 31a of the connecting parts 21, 31, respectively, and they are fastened together, so that the connecting parts 21, 31 can be easily positioned relative to each other in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the protruding member 133 allows the connecting parts 21, 31 to be easily positioned relative to each other in the width direction as well. Thus, with the restraining jig 130, which has a simple configuration, the positional accuracy of the connecting parts 21, 31 can be easily ensured in both the vertical and width directions.

[0085] Next, with reference to Figures 7 and 8, the steps for positioning the joints 21 and 31 on the wall 16 using the installation jig 100 will be described. Figure 7 is an explanatory diagram showing the positioning steps using the installation jig 100 in the reference path. Figure 8 is an explanatory diagram showing the positioning steps using the installation jig 100 in the first branch path. The order of each step is not limited to those described below, and some of the steps may be rearranged.

[0086] First, as shown in Figure 7(a), the wall mounting portion 111 of the first adjustment jig 110 is attached to the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10f, and the wall mounting portion 121 of the second adjustment jig 120 is attached to the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 12f. Next, the coupling mounting portion 114 is attached to the coupling portion 21, and the coupling mounting portion 124 is attached to the coupling portion 31. Then, as indicated by arrow A, the coupling portion 21 is inserted into the recess 17a of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10f so that the coupling mounting portion 114 is placed on the adjuster 113 which is placed on the wall mounting portion 111. Similarly, as indicated by arrow B, the coupling portion 31 is inserted into the recess 17b of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 12f so that the coupling mounting portion 124 is placed on the adjuster 123 which is placed on the wall mounting portion 121.

[0087] Furthermore, regulating protrusions 19 protrude upward from the center in the width direction of the bottom surface of recesses 17a and 17b. By inserting these regulating protrusions 19 into the inside of the gate-shaped connecting parts 21 and 31, the wall part 16 and the connecting parts 21 and 31 can be roughly aligned.

[0088] As shown in Figure 7(b), with the connecting mounting parts 114 and 124 placed on the adjusters 113 and 123, the connecting parts 21 and 31 are not clamped by the adjustment screws 115 and 125, nor are the connecting mounting parts 114 and 124 clamped by the adjustment screws 116 and 126, allowing the connecting parts 21 and 31 to move easily relative to the wall 16. In this state, the gap adjustment block 137 is inserted between the connecting parts 21 and 31 as indicated by arrow D.

[0089] Next, as indicated by arrow C, the restraint body 131 is placed on top of the upper surfaces 21a, 31a of the connecting parts 21, 31. Then, after positioning each part of the restraint body 131 and each part of the connecting part 21, the restraint body 131 is fastened to the connecting part 21 with the fastening member 135. After that, while pressing the gap adjustment block 137 against the front end surface of the connecting part 21, the gap adjustment block 137 is fastened to the restraint body 131 with the fastening member 138.

[0090] Next, while pressing the rear end surface of the coupling portion 31 (movable girder 10f side) against the play adjustment block 137, the parts of the restraint body 131 and the parts of the coupling portion 31 are positioned in each direction, and then the restraint body 131 is fastened to the coupling portion 31 with the fastening member 136. During these positioning steps, the adjusters 113 and 123 are extended or retracted, and the coupling portions 21 and 31 are slid along the upper end surfaces of the adjusters 113 and 123 in the width direction and the direction of travel. Since the upper end surface of the adjuster 113 is lubricated, the force required for this sliding can be reduced.

[0091] Furthermore, when adjusting the gap between the joints 21 and 31 by pressing the joint 31 against the gap adjustment block 137, it is preferable to first insert the fastening member 136 into the adjustment slot 132b and lightly fasten it to the joint 31, and then move the joint 31 relative to the joint 21. The joint 31 has a smaller dimension in the direction of travel than the joint 21 and is easier to move, and since the joint 31 can be moved along the adjustment slot 132b, the gap adjustment work can be made easier.

[0092] As shown in Figure 4, through the steps taken so far, the joints 21 and 31 are integrally connected by the restraint jig 130 and each is positioned relative to the others, so they can be treated as a single unit with ensured positional accuracy. In this state, the adjustment screws 113a and 115, 116 of the adjuster 113 are rotated to position the joint 21 in each direction on the wall 16 of the movable girder 10f using the first adjustment jig 110. Almost simultaneously, the adjustment screws 123a and 125, 126 of the adjuster 123 are rotated to position the joint 31 in each direction on the wall 16 of the movable girder 12f using the second adjustment jig 120.

[0093] These positions are determined by reading multiple measurement points 25, 35 (see Figure 4 or Figure 5) attached to the sides 21b, 31b of the joint portions 21, 31, respectively, using a measuring instrument such as a laser tracker placed on the bottom portion 15. The measurement points 25, 35 are fitted into some of the multiple screw holes 21f, 31f into which the fastening members 23a, 33a for the guide surface forming portions 23, 33 are fitted. By reusing the screw holes 21f, 31f, it is not necessary to create new screw holes in the joint portions 21, 31 to attach the measurement points 25, 35, thus reducing the processing required during the manufacturing of the joint portions 21, 31.

[0094] As explained above, with the installation jig 100, the adjustment of the movable girder 10f side using the first adjustment jig 110 and the adjustment of the movable girder 12f side using the second adjustment jig 120 can be easily performed individually while ensuring the positional accuracy of the joints 21 and 31 with the restraining jig 130. Therefore, the amount of work required to ensure the positional accuracy of adjacent joints 21 and 31, the positional accuracy of the joint 21 relative to the movable girder 10f, and the positional accuracy of the joint 31 relative to the movable girder 12f can be reduced.

[0095] Furthermore, since the adjustments in each direction using the first adjustment jig 110 and the adjustments in each direction using the second adjustment jig 120 are performed individually by rotating the adjustment screws 113a, 123a and 115, 116, 125, 126 of the adjusters 113, 123, it is possible to make precise adjustments compared to when using a hydraulic jack or the like.

[0096] After the adjustments for connecting the movable girder 10f and the movable girder 12f are completed, the restraint fixture 130 is removed from both the connecting parts 21 and 31, as shown by arrows E and F in Figure 7(b), and the connection between them is released. At this time, the adjustment screws 113a, 123a and 115, 116, 125, 126 of the adjusters 113, 123 are not rotated, and the adjustments made by the first adjustment fixture 110 and the second adjustment fixture 120 are maintained.

[0097] Next, the movable girders 10a to 13f are moved in the width direction from the reference path shown in Figure 1(a) to switch to the first branch path shown in Figure 1(b). As a result of this operation, the wall portion 16 of movable girder 10f and the wall portion 16 of movable girder 13f become adjacent in the direction of travel, as shown in Figure 8(a). Next, the connecting portion 31 is positioned on the wall portion 16 of movable girder 13f using the third adjustment jig 120a. The third adjustment jig 120a is configured identically to the second adjustment jig 120.

[0098] In the positioning process using the third adjustment jig 120a, first the wall mounting portion 121 of the third adjustment jig 120a is attached to the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 13f. Next, the coupling portion 31 is inserted into the recess 17b of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 13f, as indicated by arrow G, so that the coupling mounting portion 124 attached to the coupling portion 31 is placed on the adjuster 123 placed on the wall mounting portion 121.

[0099] Next, as indicated by arrows H and I in Figure 8(b), the adjacent joints 21 and 31 are integrally connected with the restraint jig 130. Then, the adjustment screws 123a and 125, 126 of the adjuster 123 are rotated to position the joint 31 in each direction on the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 13f using the third adjustment jig 120a.

[0100] As a result, while the positional accuracy of each part of the movable girder 10f is ensured when connected to the movable girder 12f, the positional accuracy of the connection part 31 relative to the movable girder 13f is ensured while the mutual positional accuracy of the connection part 21 of the movable girder 10f and the connection part 31 of the movable girder 13f is ensured by the restraining jig 130. Therefore, the amount of work required to ensure the positional accuracy of each part when connecting the movable girder 10f and the movable girder 12f, and the positional accuracy of each part when connecting the movable girder 10f and the movable girder 13f can be reduced.

[0101] After the adjustments for connecting the movable girder 10f and the movable girder 13f are completed, the connection by the restraining jig 130 is released again while maintaining the adjustments made by the first adjustment jig 110, the second adjustment jig 120, and the third adjustment jig 120a. Next, the path is switched from the first branch path shown in Figure 1(b) to the reference path shown in Figure 1(a).

[0102] Next, the positioning of the movable girder 11f and the movable girder 13f is performed when they are connected. The positioning of the connection part 21 with respect to the wall part 16 of the movable girder 11f is performed using the same fourth adjustment jig as the first adjustment jig 110, and the restraining jig 130, in the same manner as the positioning for the movable girder 10f. Finally, the connection by the restraining jig 130 is released, and the route is switched from the reference route shown in Figure 1(a) to the second branch route shown in Figure 1(c), and it is checked whether the positional accuracy of each part when the movable girder 11f and the movable girder 12f are connected is within the allowable range. If it is within the allowable range, the positioning work is completed, and if it is outside the allowable range, the positional accuracy of each part is reviewed. As a result, the positional accuracy of each part when connecting movable girder 10f and movable girder 12f, when connecting movable girder 10f and movable girder 13f, when connecting movable girder 11f and movable girder 13f, and when connecting movable girder 11f and movable girder 12f can be reduced, as can the amount of work required to ensure these accuracy levels.

[0103] Next, the coupling devices 60 and 70 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 9. Figure 9(a) is a schematic partial enlarged top view of the branching device 1, showing the vicinity of the coupling devices 60 and 70 in an enlarged view. Figure 9(b) is a partial enlarged side view of the branching device 1 as seen in the direction of arrow IXb in Figure 9(a). To simplify the explanation below, the right side of Figure 9 (movable girder 10f side) will be referred to as the front, and the left side of Figure 9 (movable girder 10e side) as the rear. This front-to-back orientation is for the convenience of explanation and can, of course, be reversed.

[0104] The coupling device 60 includes a coupling portion 61 which serves as a base attached to the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10e, a first connecting portion 62 which is detachably attached to the upper surface 61a of the coupling portion 61 with a plurality of fastening members 62a (for example, bolts), and a guide surface forming portion 63 which is attached to the side surface 61b of the coupling portion 61.

[0105] The joint 61 is formed in a gate shape in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of travel. The joint 61 comprises a planar upper surface 61a parallel to the bottom 15, a planar side surface 61b perpendicular to the upper surface 61a and facing the inside of the wall 16, and a planar side surface 61c facing the outside of the wall 16 and parallel to the side surface 61b. The joint 61 is attached to the wall 16 by filling a recess 17c provided at the upper part of the end of the wall 16 with a filling member 18c made of secondary concrete and allowing it to harden, similar to the joints 21 and 31.

[0106] The coupling device 70 includes a coupling portion 71 which serves as a base attached to the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10f, a second connecting portion 72 which is detachably attached to the upper surface 71a of the coupling portion 71 with a plurality of fastening members 72a (for example, bolts), and a guide surface forming portion 73 which is attached to the side surface 71b of the coupling portion 71.

[0107] The joint portion 71 is formed in a gate shape in a cross section perpendicular to the direction of travel. The joint portion 71 includes a planar upper surface 71a parallel to the bottom portion 15, a planar side surface 71b perpendicular to the upper surface 71a and facing the inside of the wall portion 16, and a planar side surface 71c facing the outside of the wall portion 16 and parallel to the side surface 71b. The joint portion 71 is attached to the wall portion 16 by filling a recess 17d provided at the upper part of the end of the wall portion 16 with a filling member 18d made of secondary concrete and allowing it to harden, similar to the joint portions 21, 31, and 61.

[0108] The second connecting portion 72 is a flat plate-shaped part. An elongated hole 72b extending in the direction of travel is formed through the rear end of the second connecting portion 72 in the vertical direction. The first connecting portion 62 is composed of two plate members that sandwich the second connecting portion 72 from above and below, and a pin 62b fixed to these two plate members and inserted into the elongated hole 72b. These first connecting portion 62 and second connecting portion 72 connect the wall portions 16 in an inseparable manner, allowing the gap between adjacent wall portions 16 to be changed, and the angle of the direction of travel of one wall portion 16 relative to the direction of travel of the other wall portion 16 to be changed in the width direction.

[0109] The guide surface forming section 63 is the same part as the guide surface forming sections 23 and 33 (see Figure 3), and is composed of a rectangular tubular box with an opening in the vertical direction, and is detachably fixed to the side surface 61b of the connecting section 61 with a plurality of fastening members 63a (e.g., bolts). Similarly, the guide surface forming section 73 is the same part as the guide surface forming section 63, and is composed of a rectangular tubular box with an opening in the vertical direction, and is detachably fixed to the side surface 71b of the connecting section 71 with a plurality of fastening members 73a (e.g., bolts).

[0110] Next, a part of the manufacturing method of the branching device 1, specifically the method of attaching the coupling devices 60 and 70 to the wall portion 16, will be described. While the method of attaching the coupling devices 60 and 70 between movable girders 10e and 10f will be explained as an example, the method of attaching the coupling devices 60 and 70 between other girders is the same.

[0111] The general method for attaching the coupling devices 60 and 70 to the wall section 16 is as follows: First, using an installation jig 150 (see Figure 10, etc.), only the coupling parts 61 and 71 of the coupling devices 60 and 70 are positioned in the recesses 17c and 17d of the wall section 16. Next, the filling members 18c and 18d are filled into the recesses 17c and 17d, respectively, and allowed to harden, thereby attaching the coupling parts 61 and 71 to the wall section 16. Finally, the installation jig 150 is removed, and the first connecting part 62, the second connecting part 72, and the guide surface forming parts 63 and 73 are attached to the coupling parts 61 and 71, respectively, to constitute the coupling devices 60 and 70.

[0112] Referring to Figures 10 to 12, the installation jig 150 used for the above positioning will be described. Figure 10(a) is a side view of the movable girder 10e (intermediate girder), movable girder 10f (end girder), connecting parts 61, 71 and the installation jig 150. Figure 10(b) is a top view of the movable girder 10e, 10f, connecting parts 61, 71 and the installation jig 150 in the direction of arrow Xb in Figure 10(a). Figure 11 is a cross-sectional view of the movable girder 10e, connecting part 61 and the installation jig 150 along the line XI-XI in Figure 10(b). Figure 12 is a cross-sectional view of the movable girder 10e, 10f, connecting parts 61, 71 and the installation jig 150 along the line XII-XII in Figure 10(b).

[0113] As shown in Figures 10 and 11, the installation jig 150 mainly comprises a restraint body 151 that spans between adjacent joints 61 and 71, two fastening members 155 that fasten the restraint body 151 to the joint 61, and two fastening members 156 that fasten the restraint body 151 to the joint 71. Each of these parts is mainly made of metal. The fastening members 155 and 156 in this embodiment are bolts that can be easily attached and detached.

[0114] The restraint body 151 comprises a plate member 152 that is superimposed on the upper surfaces 61a, 71a of the joint portions 61, 71, respectively; an overhanging member 153 that protrudes downward in a stepped manner from the inner side of the plate member 152 in the width direction; and two protrusions 154a, 154b that protrude downward in a stepped manner from the lower surface of the plate member 152, respectively.

[0115] The plate member 152 is a flat, plate-shaped member that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The plate member 152 has two mounting holes 152a into which two fastening members 155 are inserted, and two adjustable elongated holes 152b into which two fastening members 156 are inserted, both formed through the plate member 152 in the vertical direction.

[0116] The mounting holes 152a and the adjustment slots 152b are arranged approximately symmetrically on both sides of the plate member 152 in the width direction. Figure 10(b) shows the state where the fastening members 155 and 156 are not inserted into the mounting holes 152a and adjustment slots 152b on the lower side of the paper (inward in the width direction), and the state where the fastening members 155 and 156 are inserted into the mounting holes 152a and adjustment slots 152b on the upper side of the paper (outward in the width direction) (the holes are hidden).

[0117] The mounting hole 152a is a circular hole. The shaft of the fastening member 155 inserted into the mounting hole 152a passes through the plate member 152 and is fastened to the screw hole 61f for fitting the fastening member 62a for the first connecting part 62 (see Figure 9). By reusing the screw hole 61f, it is not necessary to create a new screw hole in the connecting part 61 for attaching the mounting jig 150, thus reducing the processing required during the manufacturing of the connecting part 61.

[0118] The inner diameter of the mounting hole 152a is about 10% larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the fastening member 155. Therefore, even if the screw hole 61f of the joint 61 and the mounting hole 152a are slightly misaligned, the fastening member 155 can fasten the plate member 152 and the joint 61. In other words, the relative position of the fastened joint 61 and the plate member 152 can be adjusted in the direction of travel and width.

[0119] Positioning during width adjustment is performed by the overhanging member 153. Specifically, by pressing the overhanging member 153 against the side surface 61b of the joint 61, the joint 61 and the plate member 152 can be easily positioned in the width direction.

[0120] Furthermore, a groove 61d is formed on the upper surface 61a of the joint portion 61, which accommodates the protrusion 154a. When the overhanging member 153 is placed on the side surface 61b of the joint portion 61, the protrusion 154a is first accommodated in the groove 61d, which brings the overlapping parts closer together. This makes it easier to position the joint portion 61 and the plate member 152 in the width direction.

[0121] As shown in Figure 12, the positioning of the joint 61 and the plate member 152 in the direction of travel is performed by the protrusion 154b. Specifically, by pressing the rear end surface of the protrusion 154b against the front end surface of the joint 61, the joint 61 and the plate member 152 can be easily positioned in the direction of travel. A groove 71d is formed on the upper surface 71a of the joint 71 to avoid the protrusion 154b, so that when the joint 71 is moved relative to the plate member 152 in the direction of travel, the joint 71 does not interfere with the protrusion 154b in the direction of travel.

[0122] As shown in Figure 10, the adjustment slot 152b is an elongated slot extending in the direction of travel. The shaft of the fastening member 156 inserted into the adjustment slot 152b penetrates the plate member 152 and is fastened to the screw hole 71f for fitting the fastening member 72a (see Figure 9) for the second connecting portion 72. By reusing the screw hole 71f, it is not necessary to create a new screw hole in the connecting portion 71 for attaching the installation jig 150, thus reducing the amount of processing required during the manufacturing of the connecting portion 71.

[0123] Furthermore, the width of the adjustment slot 152b is approximately 10% larger than the outer diameter of the shaft portion of the fastening member 156. Therefore, even if the screw hole 71f of the joint 71 and the adjustment slot 152b are slightly misaligned in the width direction, the fastening member 156 can still fasten the plate member 152 and the joint 71. In other words, the relative position of the fastened joint 71 and the plate member 152 can be adjusted in the width direction.

[0124] Positioning during widthwise adjustment is performed by the overhanging member 153, similar to the joint portion 61 side. Specifically, by pressing the overhanging member 153 against the side surface 71b of the joint portion 71, the joint portion 71 and the plate member 152 can be easily positioned in the widthwise direction.

[0125] With the restraint body 151, fastening member 155, and fastening member 156 of the installation jig 150 described above, the lower surface of the plate member 152 is superimposed on the upper surfaces 61a, 71a of the joints 61, 71, respectively, and they are fastened together, so that the joints 61, 71 can be easily positioned relative to each other in the vertical direction. Furthermore, the overhanging member 153 allows the joints 61, 71 to be easily positioned relative to each other in the width direction as well. In this way, the positional accuracy of the joints 61, 71 can be easily ensured in both the vertical and width directions by the restraint body 151 and the like.

[0126] Therefore, similar to the restraining jig 130 described above, with the installation jig 150, adjacent joints 61 and 71 are integrally connected via the restraining body 151, and they can be treated as a single unit with mutual positional accuracy ensured. However, since the adjustment slot 152b extends in the direction of travel, by moving the position of the fastening member 156 within the adjustment slot 152b in the direction of travel, joints 61 and 71 can be connected even if the clearance between them is of various sizes, but positional accuracy in the direction of travel (accuracy of clearance) cannot be ensured.

[0127] In contrast, the installation jig 150 further includes a gap adjustment block 157 to ensure positional accuracy in the direction of travel. The gap adjustment block 157 is a rectangular parallelepiped member attached one to each side of the restraint body 151 in the width direction. The gap adjustment block 157 on the inside in the width direction is located below the plate member 152 and is fastened to the plate member 152 by a fastening member 158 consisting of a bolt that penetrates the plate member 152.

[0128] The gap adjustment block 157 on the outer side in the width direction is located further outward in the width direction than the plate member 152. The gap adjustment block 157 is attached to the plate member 152 by a connecting plate 159a superimposed on the upper surface of the plate member 152 and the upper surface of the gap adjustment block 157, and a fastening member 159b consisting of multiple bolts.

[0129] The gap adjustment block 157 attached to the plate member 152 is sandwiched between the joint 61 and the joint 71 in the direction of travel. The gap adjustment block 157 is selected from various dimensions in the direction of travel and is used if it has the same dimensions as the design value of the gap between the joints 61 and 71 that are sandwiched between them.

[0130] The insertion of the gap adjustment block 157 makes it easy to ensure the positional accuracy of the joint 61 and joint 71 in the direction of travel, even with the adjustment slot 152b. As a result, the installation jig 150 can accommodate various gap dimensions of adjacent joints 61 and 71 with the adjustment slot 152b, and the positional accuracy of the joints 61 and 71 can be ensured with the gap adjustment block 157.

[0131] In particular, since the mounting hole 152a, the adjustment slot 152b, and the gap adjustment block 157 are provided on both sides of the plate member 152 in the width direction, it is easier to ensure straightness between the direction of travel of the joint 61 and the direction of travel of the joint 71. In other words, angular errors in the width direction between the joint 61 and the joint 71 can be suppressed, and the relative positional accuracy with respect to that angle can be improved. Also, since the mounting hole 152a is a circular hole and not an elongated hole, it is easier to ensure the relative positional accuracy of the joints 61 and 71 in the direction of travel using the mounting hole 152a side as a reference.

[0132] Unlike the installation jig 100 described above, the installation jig 150 is used for manufacturing girders that remain connected to each other when the vehicle's path is changed, such as between movable girders 10e and 10f. Therefore, since both ends of movable girders 10e (movable girders other than the end girder) and the rear end of movable girder 10f (the end of the end girder on the movable girder side) are not connected to other girders (they are always connected to the same movable girder, etc.), it is not necessary to consider the positional accuracy of the joint 61 of movable girder 10e and the joint 71 of movable girder 10f relative to the ends of other girders (joints 21, 31, etc.) (it is sufficient to provide accurate clearance between movable girders facing each other in the front-rear direction). Consequently, the installation jig 150 can be simplified compared to the installation jig 100. Specifically, the installation jig 150 simplifies the configuration for positioning the joints 61 and 71 on the wall portions 16 of movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively.

[0133] For these positioning configurations, the installation jig 150 further comprises a first protruding portion 161, a second protruding portion 162, a first screw shaft portion 163, a second screw shaft portion 164, support nuts 165, 166, and fixing nuts 167, 168.

[0134] The first overhang portion 161 is a flat plate-shaped portion that extends from the plate member 152 toward the rear in the direction of travel, and faces the upper surface of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10e in the vertical direction. The first overhang portion 161 is superimposed on the upper surface of the plate member 152 and attached to the plate member 152 with fastening members 161a (e.g., bolts). A pair of left and right first through holes 161b are formed through the rear end of the first overhang portion 161 in the vertical direction.

[0135] The first threaded shaft portion 163 is a part formed by providing an external thread on the outer circumferential surface of a shaft portion perpendicular to the direction of travel and the width direction. The first threaded shaft portion 163 is inserted into a retaining hole 16a provided on the upper surface of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10e, and rises substantially vertically from the upper surface. The first threaded shaft portions 163 are provided in pairs, left and right, so as to be inserted into a pair of first through holes 161b, respectively.

[0136] The support nut 165 is a flange nut fitted onto the first threaded shaft portion 163. The flange portion of the support nut 165 is oriented upward, and the first protruding portion 161 is supported from below by the flange portion.

[0137] The fixing nut 167, like the support nut 165, is a flange nut fitted onto the first threaded shaft portion 163. The flange portion of the fixing nut 167 is oriented downwards. The first protruding portion 161 is fixed to the wall portion 16 by sandwiching it vertically between the fixing nut 167 and the support nut 165.

[0138] The second overhang portion 162 is a flat plate-shaped portion that extends forward from the plate member 152 in the direction of travel, and faces the upper surface of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10f in the vertical direction. The second overhang portion 162 is superimposed on the upper surface of the plate member 152 and attached to the plate member 152 with fastening members 162a (e.g., bolts). A pair of second through holes 162b are formed through the rear end of the second overhang portion 162 in the vertical direction.

[0139] The second threaded shaft portion 164 is a part formed by providing an external thread on the outer circumferential surface of a shaft portion perpendicular to the direction of travel and the width direction. The second threaded shaft portion 164 is inserted into a retaining hole 16b provided on the upper surface of the wall portion 16 of the movable girder 10f, and rises substantially vertically from the upper surface. The second threaded shaft portions 164 are provided in pairs, left and right, so as to be inserted into a pair of second through holes 162b, respectively.

[0140] The support nut 166 is a flange nut fitted onto the second screw shaft portion 164. The flange portion of the support nut 166 is oriented upward, and the second protruding portion 162 is supported from below by the flange portion.

[0141] The fixing nut 168, like the support nut 166, is a flange nut fitted onto the second threaded shaft portion 164. The flange portion of the fixing nut 168 is oriented downwards. The second protruding portion 162 is fixed to the wall portion 16 by sandwiching it vertically between the fixing nut 168 and the support nut 166.

[0142] Next, with reference to Figure 13, the steps for positioning the joints 61 and 71 on the wall 16 using the installation jig 150 will be explained. Figure 13 is an explanatory diagram showing the positioning process using the installation jig 150. The order of each step is not limited to that described below, and some of the steps may be rearranged.

[0143] First, as shown in Figure 13, the gap adjustment block 157 is sandwiched between the connecting parts 61 and 71. Next, the plate member 152 of the restraining body 151 is placed on the upper surfaces 61a and 71a of the connecting parts 61 and 71, and the restraining body 151 is attached to the connecting parts 61 and 71 and the gap adjustment block 157 with fastening members 155, 156, 158, etc. As a result, the connecting parts 61 and 71 connected via the restraining body 151 become a single unit with their relative positional accuracy ensured, as described above.

[0144] After these connections are made, the first overhang 161 and the second overhang 162 are attached to the plate member 152 of the restraint body 151 using fastening members 161a and 162a. Next, the first screw shaft portion 163 and the second screw shaft portion 164 are inserted into the holding holes 16a and 16b of the wall portion 16 of the movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively, and support nuts 165 and 166 are fitted onto them.

[0145] Subsequently, a wire or the like is passed through an eyebolt 169 attached to the upper surface of the restraint body 151 to suspend the integrated unit of the connecting parts 61 and 71. The connecting parts 61 and 71 are then inserted into the recesses 17c and 17d of the wall part 16 while inserting the first threaded shaft part 163 and the second threaded shaft part 164 into the first through-hole 161b and the second through-hole 162b of the first protruding part 161 and the second protruding part 162 that extend from the suspended integrated unit.

[0146] As shown in Figure 10, the first and second protruding parts 161 and 162 are supported on the support nuts 165 and 166, thereby supporting the integrated joint 61 and 71 on the wall portion 16 of the movable girders 10e and 10f. By rotating the support nuts 165 and 166 respectively, the support nuts 165 and 166 are moved in the axial direction (vertical direction) of the first and second screw shaft portions 163 and 164, respectively, and the first and second protruding parts 161 and 162 supported on them are also moved vertically. This movement allows the integrated joint 61 and 71 to be easily positioned vertically relative to the movable girders 10e and 10f.

[0147] Furthermore, since the first screw shaft portion 163 and the second screw shaft portion 164 are inserted into the holding holes 16a and 16b provided in the wall portions 16 of the movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively, the integrated joint portions 61 and 71 can be positioned approximately in the direction of travel and in the width direction relative to the movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively.

[0148] Since the inner diameters of the first through hole 161b and the second through hole 162b are approximately 10% larger than the outer diameters of the first screw shaft portion 163 and the second screw shaft portion 164, the integrated joint portion 61 and 71 can be slightly moved in the direction of travel and in the width direction on the support nuts 165 and 166. This movement allows for precise positioning of the integrated joint portion 61 and 71 in the direction of travel and in the width direction.

[0149] Once positioning in each direction is complete, the fixing nuts 167 and 168 are fitted onto the first screw shaft portion 163 and the second screw shaft portion 164, and the first protruding portion 161 and the second protruding portion 162 are sandwiched between the support nuts 165 and 166 and the fixing nuts 167 and 168. As a result, the integrated joint portion 61 and 71 is fixed to the wall portion 16 with the installation jig 150 in the positioned direction.

[0150] Positioning in each direction is performed by reading multiple measurement points 65, 75 attached to the sides 61b, 71b of the joint portions 61, 71, respectively, using a measuring instrument such as a laser tracker placed on the bottom portion 15. The measurement points 65, 75 are fitted into some of the multiple screw holes 61e, 71e (see Figure 13) into which the fastening members 63a, 73a for the guide surface forming portions 63, 73 are fitted. By reusing the screw holes 61e, 71e, it is not necessary to create new screw holes in the joint portions 61, 71 to attach the measurement points 65, 75, thus reducing the processing required during the manufacturing of the joint portions 61, 71.

[0151] Next, the coupling devices 80 and 90 will be described in detail with reference to Figure 14. Figure 14 is a schematic partial enlarged top view of the branching device 1, showing the vicinity of the coupling devices 80 and 90 in an enlarged manner. For the sake of simplicity, the right side of Figure 14 (movable girder 10f side) will be referred to as the front, and the left side of Figure 14 (movable girder 10e side) as the rear. This front-to-back orientation is for the convenience of explanation and can, of course, be reversed.

[0152] The coupling device 80 is attached to the bottom 15 of the movable girder 10e, and its upper surface forms part of the track. The coupling device 80 mainly comprises a flat lower plate portion 81, a flat upper plate portion 82 which is superimposed on the upper surface of the lower plate portion 81 to form the track, and a plurality of fastening members 83 which fasten the upper plate portion 82 to the lower plate portion 81. The upper surface 82a of the upper plate portion 82 forms part of the track.

[0153] The coupling device 90 is attached to the bottom 15 of the movable girder 10f, and its upper surface forms part of the track. The coupling device 90 mainly comprises a flat lower plate portion 91, a flat upper plate portion 92 which is superimposed on the upper surface of the lower plate portion 91 to form the track, and a plurality of fastening members 93 which fasten the upper plate portion 92 to the lower plate portion 91. The upper surface 92a of the upper plate portion 92 forms part of the track.

[0154] Next, a part of the manufacturing method of the branching device 1, specifically the method of attaching the coupling devices 80 and 90 to the bottom 15, will be described. While the method of attaching the coupling devices 80 and 90 between movable girders 10e and 10f will be explained as an example, the method of attaching the coupling devices 80 and 90 between other girders is the same.

[0155] In outline, this method first involves creating a recess 17e on the upper surface of the end of the bottom 15 where the coupling device 80 is to be installed, and creating a recess 17f on the upper surface of the end of the bottom 15 where the coupling device 90 is to be installed. Next, using an installation jig 170 (see Figure 15, etc.), the coupling device 80 is positioned in the recess 17e and the coupling device 90 is positioned in the recess 17f.

[0156] In that state, the filling member 18e made of secondary concrete is filled into the recess 17e, and the filling member 18f made of secondary concrete is filled into the recess 17f, and the two are allowed to harden, thereby attaching the bonding devices 80 and 90 to the bottom 15, respectively. After that, the installation jig 170 is removed.

[0157] Furthermore, screw shafts 81a, 91a (see Figure 16) that protrude downward from the lower plate portions 81, 91, and nuts 81b, 91b (see Figure 16) fitted to them are embedded in these filling members 18e, 18f. This firmly attaches the lower plate portions 81, 91 to the bottom portion 15.

[0158] The installation jig 170 used for the above positioning will be described with reference to Figures 15 and 16. Figure 15 is a top view of the coupling devices 80, 90 and the installation jig 170. Figure 16 is a side view of the movable girder 10e (intermediate girder), movable girder 10f (end girder), coupling devices 80, 90 and the installation jig 170.

[0159] The installation jig 170 mainly comprises a plate member 171 that is superimposed on the upper surfaces 82a and 92a of adjacent coupling devices 80 and 90, four fastening members 175 that fasten the plate member 171 to coupling device 80, and four fastening members 176 that fasten the plate member 171 to coupling device 90. All of these parts are mainly made of metal. The fastening members 175 and 176 in this embodiment are bolts that can be easily attached and detached, and a part of them is formed by an eyebolt through which a wire for suspending the installation jig 170 and coupling devices 80 and 90 is passed.

[0160] The plate member 171 is a flat, plate-shaped member that is perpendicular to the vertical direction. The plate member 171 has four mounting holes 171a into which four fastening members 175 are inserted, and four adjustable elongated holes 171b into which four fastening members 176 are inserted, which are formed through the plate member 171 in the vertical direction.

[0161] The mounting holes 171a and the adjustment elongated holes 171b are arranged approximately symmetrically on both sides of the plate member 171 in the width direction, and are aligned in the direction of travel. Figure 15 shows the state in which the fastening member 175 is not inserted into the mounting hole 171a on the lower side of the paper (inward in the width direction), and the state in which the fastening member 175 is inserted into the mounting hole 171a on the upper side of the paper (outward in the width direction) (the state in which the mounting hole 171a is hidden).

[0162] The mounting hole 171a is a circular hole. The shaft of the fastening member 175 inserted into the mounting hole 171a passes through the plate member 171 and is fastened to a screw hole 82b (see Figure 14) provided on the upper surface 82a of the coupling device 80.

[0163] The adjustment slot 171b is an elongated hole extending in the direction of travel. The shaft portion of the fastening member 176 inserted into the adjustment slot 171b passes through the plate member 171 and is fastened to a screw hole 92b (see Figure 14) provided on the upper surface 92a of the coupling device 90.

[0164] With this type of installation jig 170, the lower surface of the plate member 171 is superimposed on the upper surfaces 82a and 92a of the coupling devices 80 and 90, respectively, and they are fastened together, so that the coupling devices 80 and 90 can be easily positioned relative to each other in the vertical direction. With this simple installation jig 170, the vertical positional accuracy of the coupling devices 80 and 90 can be easily ensured.

[0165] Here, the coupling devices 20, 30, 60, and 70 provided on the wall portion 16 form guide surfaces on which the guide wheels provided on the side of the vehicle roll, so it is necessary to improve the positional accuracy in the width direction. In contrast, the coupling devices 80 and 90 provided on the bottom portion 15 do not form guide surfaces, so it is not necessary to improve the positional accuracy in the width direction.

[0166] Therefore, with the installation jig 170, even without ensuring positional accuracy in the width direction, the coupling devices 80 and 90 connected via the plate member 171 can be treated as a single unit with mutual positional accuracy ensured, similar to the restraining jig 130 and installation jig 150 described above. However, since the adjustment slot 171b extends in the direction of travel, the position of the fastening member 176 can be moved in the direction of travel within the adjustment slot 171b, allowing coupling devices 80 and 90 to be connected even if their clearance dimensions vary, but positional accuracy in the direction of travel (accuracy of clearance dimensions) cannot be ensured.

[0167] In contrast, the installation jig 170 further includes a gap adjustment block 177 to ensure positional accuracy in the direction of travel. The gap adjustment block 177 is a rectangular parallelepiped member attached one to each side in the width direction of the plate member 171, and is positioned overlapping the lower surface of the plate member 171. This attachment is performed by fastening a fastening member 178 inserted into a through hole 171c that penetrates the plate member 171 in the vertical direction.

[0168] The gap adjustment block 177, attached to the plate member 171, is sandwiched between the coupling device 80 and the coupling device 90 in the direction of travel. The gap adjustment block 177 is selected from various dimensions in the direction of travel, and the one with the same dimensions as the design value of the gap between the coupling devices 80 and 90 that are sandwiched in it is used.

[0169] The insertion of the gap adjustment block 177 makes it easy to ensure the positional accuracy of the coupling device 80 and coupling device 90 in the direction of travel, even with the adjustment slot 171b. As a result, the installation jig 170 can accommodate various gap dimensions of adjacent coupling devices 80 and 90 through the adjustment slot 171b, and the positional accuracy of the coupling devices 80 and 90 can be ensured by the gap adjustment block 177.

[0170] In particular, since the mounting hole 171a, the adjustment slot 171b, and the gap adjustment block 177 are provided on both sides of the plate member 171 in the width direction, it is easier to ensure straightness between the direction of travel of the coupling device 80 and the direction of travel of the coupling device 90. In other words, the angular error in the width direction between the coupling device 80 and the coupling device 90 can be suppressed, and the relative positional accuracy with respect to that angle can be improved. Also, since the mounting hole 171a is a circular hole and not an elongated hole, the relative positional accuracy of the coupling devices 80 and 90 in the direction of travel can be more easily ensured using the mounting hole 171a side as a reference.

[0171] Furthermore, while the gap adjustment block 177 is sandwiched between the lower plate portion 81 of the coupling device 80 and the lower plate portion 91 of the coupling device 90, the plate member 171 is attached to the upper plate portions 82 and 92 of the coupling devices 80 and 90, respectively. Therefore, depending on the displacement in the direction of travel between the lower plate portions 81 and 91 and the upper plate portions 82 and 92, the fastening position of the gap adjustment block 177 to the plate member 171 may shift in the direction of travel.

[0172] In contrast, in this embodiment, the through hole 171c into which the fastening member 178 for fastening the gap adjustment block 177 is inserted is an elongated hole extending in the direction of travel. This makes it easy to shift the fastening position of the gap adjustment block 177 to the plate member 171 in the direction of travel, thereby preventing them from becoming unable to be fastened.

[0173] The installation jig 170, like the installation jig 150, is used for manufacturing girders that remain connected to each other when the vehicle's path is changed, such as between movable girders 10e and 10f. Therefore, since both ends of the movable girders 10e (movable girders other than the end girder) and the rear end of the movable girder 10f (the end of the end girder on the movable girder side) are not connected to other girders, the positional accuracy of the coupling device 80 of the movable girder 10e and the coupling device 90 of the movable girder 10f does not need to be considered in relation to the ends of other girders. Thus, the installation jig 170 can be simplified, similar to the installation jig 150. Specifically, the installation jig 170 simplifies the configuration for positioning the coupling devices 80 and 90 on the bottom 15 of the movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively.

[0174] For these positioning configurations, the mounting jig 170 further comprises a first screw shaft portion 183, a second screw shaft portion 184, support nuts 185, 186, and fixing nuts 187, 188.

[0175] The first threaded shaft portion 183 is a part formed by providing an external thread on the outer circumferential surface of a shaft portion perpendicular to the direction of travel and the width direction. The first threaded shaft portion 183 is inserted into a retaining hole 15b provided on the bottom surface of a recess 17e of the movable girder 10e, and rises substantially vertically from the bottom surface. The first threaded shaft portion 183 is inserted into a first through hole 171d formed vertically through the plate member 171.

[0176] The first through-holes 171d are provided symmetrically on both sides of the plate member 171 in the width direction, on the portions that protrude beyond the coupling device 80. Similar to the pair of first through-holes 171d, the first screw shaft portion 183 and the retaining hole 15b are also provided in pairs (symmetrically).

[0177] The support nut 185 is a flange nut fitted onto the first threaded shaft portion 183. The flange portion of the support nut 185 is oriented upward, and the plate member 171 is supported from below by this flange portion.

[0178] The fixing nut 187, like the support nut 185, is a flange nut fitted onto the first threaded shaft portion 183. The flange portion of the fixing nut 187 is oriented downwards. By sandwiching the plate member 171 vertically between the fixing nut 187 and the support nut 185, the plate member 171 is fixed to the bottom portion 15 of the movable girder 10e.

[0179] The second screw shaft portion 184 is a part formed by providing an external thread on the outer circumferential surface of a shaft portion perpendicular to the direction of travel and the width direction. The second screw shaft portion 184 is inserted into a retaining hole 15c provided on the bottom surface of a recess 17f of the movable girder 10f, and rises almost vertically from the bottom surface. The second screw shaft portion 184 is inserted into a second through hole 171e formed vertically through the plate member 171.

[0180] The second through-holes 171e are provided symmetrically on both sides of the plate member 171 in the width direction, on the portions that protrude beyond the coupling device 90. Similar to the pair of second through-holes 171e, the second screw shaft portion 184 and the retaining hole 15c are also provided in pairs (symmetrically).

[0181] The support nut 186 is a flange nut fitted onto the second screw shaft portion 184. The flange portion of the support nut 186 is oriented upward, and the plate member 171 is supported from below by this flange portion.

[0182] The fixing nut 188, like the support nut 186, is a flange nut fitted onto the second screw shaft portion 184. The flange portion of the fixing nut 188 is oriented downwards. By sandwiching the plate member 171 vertically between the fixing nut 188 and the support nut 186, the plate member 171 is fixed to the bottom portion 15 of the movable girder 10f.

[0183] According to the installation jig 170 described above, the plate member 171 with the coupling devices 80 and 90 connected is supported in the recesses 17e and 17f of the movable girders 10e and 10f via the first screw shaft portion 183, the second screw shaft portion 184, and the support nuts 185 and 186. By rotating the support nuts 185 and 186 respectively, the support nuts 185 and 186 are moved in the axial direction (up and down direction) of the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184, respectively, and the integrated coupling devices 80 and 90 supported by them can be easily positioned in the up and down direction relative to the movable girders 10e and 10f.

[0184] Furthermore, since the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 are inserted into the holding holes 15b and 15c provided in the bottom portions 15 of the movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively, the integrated coupling devices 80 and 90 can be positioned approximately in the direction of travel and in the width direction relative to the movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively.

[0185] The first through-hole 171d and the second through-hole 171e of the plate member 171 into which the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 are inserted are both elongated holes extending in the direction of travel. If both the first through-hole 171d and the second through-hole 171e are circular holes into which the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 can hardly be moved in the direction of travel, the distance between the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 in the direction of travel will also vary depending on the clearance dimensions of the integrated coupling devices 80 and 90. Therefore, depending on the clearance dimensions of the coupling devices 80 and 90, it becomes necessary to construct the retaining holes 15b and 15c into which the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 are inserted in the movable girders 10e and 10f at the time of insertion.

[0186] In contrast, if at least one of the first through-hole 171d and the second through-hole 171e is an elongated hole extending in the direction of travel, the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 can be moved in the direction of travel within them. Therefore, the distance between the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 in the direction of travel can be adjusted, largely independently of the clearance dimensions of the integrated coupling devices 80 and 90.

[0187] As a result, the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 can be inserted into the retaining holes 15b and 15c of the movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively, eliminating the need for the insertion work described above and reducing the amount of work required during construction. In other words, variations in the distance between the retaining hole 15b of the movable girder 10e and the retaining hole 15c of the movable girder 10f can be absorbed by the movement of the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 within the elongated through-hole 171d or the second through-hole 171e.

[0188] Furthermore, because both the first through-hole 171d and the second through-hole 171e are elongated holes, the integrated coupling device 80, 90 can be easily moved in the direction of travel relative to the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 inserted into the holding holes 15b and 15c. In other words, the integrated coupling device 80, 90 can be easily positioned in the direction of travel relative to the movable girders 10e and 10f, respectively.

[0189] During this positioning, for example, the second screw shaft portion 184 moves in the direction of travel within the second through hole 171e by a maximum length of the first through hole 171d. Separately, as described above, the second screw shaft portion 184 also moves within the second through hole 171e to absorb variations in the distance between the pre-prepared holding holes 15b and 15c. Therefore, by making the second through hole 171e longer than the first through hole 171d in the direction of travel, the adjustment range of one of the two types of movement is not limited by the other.

[0190] When using the mounting jig 170, positioning in each direction is performed by reading the measurement points 85 and 95 with a measuring instrument such as a laser tracker placed on the bottom 15, similar to when using the mounting jig 150, etc. Screw holes 82c and 92c are provided on the upper surfaces 82a and 92a of the coupling devices 80 and 90, which are exposed upwards by cutting out the four corners of the plate member 171. The measurement points 85 and 95 are attached to these screw holes 82c and 92c.

[0191] If the measurement points 85 and 95 are attached to the mounting jig 170, the positional accuracy of the coupling devices 80 and 90 will be reduced due to mounting errors between the mounting jig 170 and the coupling devices 80 and 90. However, as described above, since the measurement points 85 and 95 are directly attached to the coupling devices 80 and 90, the positional accuracy of the coupling devices 80 and 90 can be ensured.

[0192] Although the present invention has been described above based on the above embodiments, it can be easily inferred that the present invention is not limited in any way to the above embodiments, and that various modifications and improvements are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. The specific configurations of the coupling devices 20 to 90 may be changed as appropriate.

[0193] In the above embodiment, the case in which movable girder 10a is inseparably connected to fixed girder A1, movable girder 11a to fixed girder A2, movable girder 12a to fixed girder B1, and movable girder 13a to fixed girder B2 was described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, movable girders 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a may be configured to be detached from fixed girders A1 to B2 and connected to other fixed girders. In this case, movable girders 10a, 11a, 12a, and 13a and fixed girders A1 to B2 are terminal girders. Furthermore, it is not limited to the case in which movable girders 10f and 11f are connected to movable girders 12f and 13f; movable girders 12a to 12f and 13a to 13f may be omitted, and movable girders 10f and 11f (terminal girders) may be connected to fixed girder B1 or fixed girder B2. Moreover, for example, fixed girder A2 and movable girders 11a to 11f may be omitted.

[0194] In all of these cases, it is preferable that a coupling device 20 is provided on one end of adjacent terminal girders and a coupling device 30 is provided on the other end. Similarly, it is preferable that a coupling device 40 is provided on one end of adjacent terminal girders and a coupling device 50 is provided on the other end.

[0195] Furthermore, when selectively connecting one terminal girder to either of the two fixed girders B1 or B2, it is preferable to provide a coupling device 20 at the end of the terminal girder and coupling devices 30 at the ends of each of the two fixed girders B1 and B2, thereby reducing the number of coupling parts 21 of the coupling device 20, which are relatively difficult to move during adjustment.

[0196] In the above embodiment, the case in which an installation jig 150 is used to position the coupling devices 60 and 70 has been described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. An installation jig 100 may also be used to position the coupling devices 60 and 70. Furthermore, the installation jig used to position the coupling devices 80 and 90 may be configured to include, like the installation jig 100, a first adjustment jig for supporting the coupling device 80 on the movable girder 10e, a second adjustment jig for supporting the coupling device 90 on the movable girder 12f, and a restraining jig (plate member 171, etc.) for integrally connecting the coupling devices 80 and 90.

[0197] In the above embodiment, the case in which the first screw shaft portion 163 and the second screw shaft portion 164 are inserted into the retaining holes 16a and 16b provided on the upper surface of the wall portion 16 has been described, but the embodiment is not necessarily limited to this. The retaining holes 16a and 16b may be omitted, and the lower ends of the first screw shaft portion 163 and the second screw shaft portion 164 may be placed on the upper surface of the wall portion 16. Similarly, the retaining holes 15b and 15c may be omitted, and the lower ends of the first screw shaft portion 183 and the second screw shaft portion 184 may be placed on the bottom surfaces of the recesses 17e and 17f of the bottom portion 15.

[0198] In the above embodiment, the case in which the coupling parts 21, 31, 61, and 71 of the coupling devices 20, 30, 60, and 70 are positioned by the installation jigs 100 and 150 has been described, but the invention is not necessarily limited to this. The entire coupling device 20, 30, 60, and 70 may be considered as the coupling part, and that coupling part may be positioned by the installation jigs 100 and 150. Furthermore, the installation jig 170 may not be limited to positioning the entire coupling device 80 and 90 (the coupling part), but may also be used to position a coupling part that is a part of the coupling device 80 and 90 (for example, the lower plate parts 81 and 91).

[0199] In the above embodiment, the case in which the through hole 132c into which the fastening member 138 for fastening the gap adjustment block 137 is inserted is described as a circular hole, but it is not necessarily limited to this. For example, the through hole 132c may be formed by an elongated hole extending in the direction of travel, such as the through hole 171c for the gap adjustment block 177. Alternatively, the through hole 171c for the gap adjustment block 177 may be a circular hole. The through hole for the gap adjustment block 157 may be a circular hole or an elongated hole.

[0200] The mounting holes 132a, 152a, and 171a may be formed by elongated holes extending in the direction of travel. In this case, the adjustment elongated holes 132b, 152b, and 171b on the opposite side may be circular mounting holes. At least one of the first through hole 161b and the second through hole 162b may be formed by an elongated hole extending in the direction of travel.

[0201] In the above embodiment, the case where the fastening member 22b etc. is a bolt was described, but it is not necessarily limited to this. The fastening member 22b etc. may be composed of a screw shaft portion fixed to one of the members to be fastened and a nut fitted thereto. Furthermore, while it is preferable that the fastening member 22b etc. is basically easily attachable and detachable, it may also be composed of rivets, pins, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0202] 1. Branching device 10e Movable girder (1st girder) 10f Movable digit (2nd digit) 15 Bottom 15b,15c holding hole 17e Recess (First recess) 17f recess (second recess) 18e, 18f Filling material 80 Coupling device (1st coupling part) 90 Coupling device (second coupling part) 170 Installation jig 171 Plate members 171a Mounting hole 171b Adjustment slot 175 Fastening member (first fastening member) 176 Fastening member (second fastening member) 177 Playing space adjustment block 171d First through hole 171e Second through hole 183 First screw shaft 184 Second screw shaft 185,186 Support nuts

Claims

1. A branching device comprising: a first girder and a second girder, each having a bottom on which a vehicle's running path is formed on its upper surface, and connected to each other in the direction of travel of the vehicle; a first connecting part, positioned in a first recess provided on the upper surface of the end of the bottom of the first girder on the side facing the second girder, and attached to the first girder by hardening a filling material filled in the first recess; and a second connecting part, positioned in a second recess provided on the upper surface of the end of the bottom of the second girder on the side facing the first girder, and attached to the second girder by hardening a filling material filled in the second recess, and adjacent to the first connecting part in the direction of travel, changes the path of the vehicle by moving at least one of the first girder and the second girder in the width direction, and an installation jig used when filling and hardening the filling material in the manufacture of the branching device, The installation jig is for supporting the first and second connecting parts with respect to the first and second girders, respectively. A plate member is superimposed on the upper surfaces of the adjacent first joint and the second joint, A first fastening member is inserted into a mounting hole formed through the plate member and fastens the plate member to the first joint, A second fastening member is inserted into an adjustment elongated hole formed through the plate member and extending in the direction of travel, and fastens the plate member to the second joint, An installation jig characterized by comprising a gap adjustment block attached to the plate member and sandwiched between the first joint and the second joint in the direction of travel.

2. The mounting jig according to claim 1, characterized in that the mounting hole, the adjustment slot, and the gap adjustment block are provided on both sides of the plate member in the width direction, respectively.

3. The first and second digits remain connected to each other when the vehicle changes direction. The installation jig includes a first screw shaft portion perpendicular to the direction of travel and the width direction, which rises from the bottom surface of the first recess of the first girder and is inserted into a first through hole formed through the plate member, A second screw shaft portion, perpendicular to the direction of travel and the width direction, is inserted into a second through-hole formed by rising from the bottom surface of the second recess of the second girder and penetrating the plate member, The installation jig according to claim 1 or 2, further comprising a support nut fitted to the first screw shaft portion and the second screw shaft portion, respectively, to support the plate member from below.

4. The installation jig according to claim 3, characterized in that the first screw shaft portion and the second screw shaft portion are inserted into retaining holes provided on the bottom surfaces of the first recess and the second recess, respectively.

5. The installation jig according to claim 4, characterized in that the second through hole is an elongated hole extending in the direction of travel.

6. The first through hole is an elongated hole extending in the direction of travel, The installation jig according to claim 5, characterized in that the second through hole is longer in the direction of travel than the first through hole.

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