Rotary console for a rail-guided transport system

Abstract

A rotary console for a rail-guided transport system having a turntable which has a first rail section for a first transport direction and a second rail section for a second transport direction and which can be rotated in such a way that the first rail section or the second rail section enables a corresponding connection to connecting rail sections outside the rotary console, with the turntable being of hollow-chamber design.

Description

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the filing benefit of German Pat. App. Ser. No. DE 10 2024 139 519.2 filed Dec. 20, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a rotary console or rotary switch for a rail-guided transport system.2. Description of Prior Art

[0003] In intralogistics, rail-guided transport systems are used in warehouses and production areas to automatically convey goods or workpieces. The rail-guided transport systems can be, for example, double-track ground-based track systems or overhead track systems. Rail switches are used to convey goods to different destinations within a transport system. These rail switches usually consist of a movable rail segment that can either be rotated, folded or moved and can connect corresponding connecting rail sections of a main track with a secondary track as required.

[0004] A common concept for floor-based conveyor systems, for example, is the sliding switch. In doing so, a sliding table with, for example, two rail sections is moved laterally relative to the conveying direction in such a way that conveying—coming, for example, from a main track—is possible either via the first rail section into a first connecting rail section of the main track or via the second rail section into another second connecting rail section, for example of a secondary track. In this way, reliable switches can be realized but this design has certain disadvantages when it comes to special requirements:

[0005] Due to the inherent design of a sliding switch, it requires lateral space for the movement path of the sliding table and the associated drive components. In production halls and warehouses, such space is often available to a limited extent only.

[0006] Sliding switches are designed according to the expected loads in both sliding positions and are therefore generally constructed with solid steel components in order to safely bear the required loads. This is associated with high material and assembly costs.

[0007] In order to keep the costs of production, assembly and operation low, a low weight and low overall height combined with a high payload are of great interest.

[0008] Against this background, there is a need for a compact and lightweight switch design for rail-bound transport systems that is both inexpensive to manufacture and able to withstand the high loads over the long term.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] This object is solved by a rotary console according to independent claim 1. Further configurations of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0010] The rotary console according to the invention for a rail-guided transport system has a turntable which comprises a first rail section for a first transport direction—for example said main track—and a second rail section for a second transport direction—for example a secondary track—and can be rotated in such a way that optionally either the first or the second rail section can be connected to connecting rail sections outside the rotary switch, with the turntable being of hollow-chamber design. This design significantly reduces the overall weight of the rotary console and at the same time maintains or improves the structural stability of the rotary console. The hollow chamber design can use the appropriate arrangement of stiffeners to direct the forces that occur into the corresponding structures, thus achieving decisive weight advantages and at the same time enabling high rigidity. This means that the rotary console is compact and lightweight in design and can be easily integrated into existing logistics environments.

[0011] In one embodiment, it may be provided for the turntable to comprise a circular plate to which the rail sections are attached. The circular plate can, for example, be made from a metal / metal sheet of the appropriate material thickness and is therefore easy and inexpensive to manufacture, providing an ideal assembly platform for all other components of the rotary console. It is also characterized by high tensile strength and being able to reliably absorb the forces acting on it if the right material is selected.

[0012] In a further embodiment, it may be provided that the turntable comprises a plurality of cassettes arranged in a circle around the center of the rotary console. The cassettes can also be made of metal / sheet metal with a suitable material thickness and have an internal cavity. For example, the cassettes can have a U-shaped cross-section in one direction and / or be open in another direction. Thanks to the ring-shaped arrangement, they enable an even distribution of the loads introduced into the rotary console from above via the rail sections and increase the rigidity of the entire rotary console.

[0013] In a further embodiment, it may be provided that the cassettes are connected to the circular plate in such a way that they form a hollow chamber structure. In particular, the cassettes can initially be connected to the circular plate via a simple plug-in assembly. This simplifies the assembly of the rotary console and thus reduces the time and consequently the cost of manufacturing. In a second step, the cassettes can be adjusted so that manufacturing tolerances can be easily compensated for. Then, the cassettes can be connected to each other and / or to the circular plate, e.g. by welding / riveting / bolting / etc. to form hollow structures. For the process of permanently connecting the cassettes to each other and / or to the circular plate, the cassettes to be connected have already been fixed relative to each other and relative to the circular plate by means of the plug-in connection, and a dimensionally stable connection can be produced in a simple way that reliably withstands the loads occurring during conveying operation. In particular, it can be provided that the cassettes are connected to each other at their outer circumference in the sense of a “barrel hoop”, for example by welding.

[0014] This increases the stability of the hollow chamber or sandwich arrangement, respectively, and helps to improve the rigidity of the rotary console.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, it can also be provided that the cassettes are configured in such a way that they can be permanently connected to each other after plug-in assembly. It is possible that after plug-in assembly, the cassettes are still adjustable and are only then permanently connected to each other, for example by a welding process. This increases the ease of assembly and allows flexible production, as the individual parts can first be provisionally positioned before the final, stable connection will be made.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, it may be provided that the turntable has a slewing ring or slewing bearing. Via such a slewing ring, the rotational forces required for setting the switches can be transferred to the turntable. The slewing ring does not only absorb the rotational forces required for the rotary movement but also axial and tilting moments. This integrated bearing arrangement allows for a precise, smooth rotary movement and minimizes the installation space required.

[0017] In one embodiment in this regard, it may also be provided that the slewing ring has internal toothing. This design offers a number of advantages: By placing the toothing inside the turntable, the associated components can be easily protected against dirt or unauthorized access. In particular, the internal toothing allows for a drive—for example comprising a motor with a transmission—to be arranged internally so that the outer dimensions of the turntable do not exceed the dimensions required for the rotary movement. This enables a very compact design in the lateral—i.e. in the plane of the rails—and in the horizontal direction, respectively.

[0018] In a further embodiment, it can also be provided that the slewing ring is connected to a drive that is arranged on the turntable. In a particularly advantageous way, the drive is arranged in the area of the turntable so that it does not protrude into the clearance profile of the rail sections. In this way, a particularly compact design can be achieved perpendicular to the rail level or in the vertical direction, respectively.

[0019] According to one embodiment, it may be provided that the drive is connected to the slewing ring by means of a transmission. An appropriate transmission helps to transfer the required rotational speed and torque to the turntable in a suitable manner. It should be noted that the transmission together with the drive transfers the occurring rotational forces of the turntable to the substructure and must be designed accordingly.

[0020] In one embodiment, it may be provided that the circular plate and the slewing ring are pressed against each other by bracing. This pressure bracing creates a firm connection that transfers the occurring load forces from above to the slewing ring and consequently to the substructure. In addition, the bracing makes it possible to compensate for manufacturing tolerances that may result from a welding process, for example, and / or allows for the rotary console to be leveled in terms of planarity.

[0021] In one embodiment, support or pressure screws can be provided to adjust the planarity of the turntable. The screws can be used, for example, to adjust the compensation individually for each pressure screw, allowing the circular plate, and thus the entire turntable, to be optimally leveled in terms of planarity, similar to the spokes of a bicycle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In these figures,

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a first side view,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a top view,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a first second view,

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view,

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotary console according to the invention, and

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a detailed perspective view of a sheet metal cassette of the rotary console.DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0029] While the present invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is described in detail herein, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0030] FIGS. 1-5 show a schematic representation of a rotary console 10 for a two-track rail-guided ground-based track transport system in various views. The rotary console 10 comprises a turntable 12. The turntable 12 has a first straight two-track rail section 14 which is formed by first rail 16 and a second rail 18, and a second two-track curved rail section 20 which is formed by two curved rails 22, 24. The rail sections 14, 20 are designed in such a way that they enable connecting rail sections not shown to be connected to either the first rail section 14 or the second rail section 20. The rotary console for a two-track ground-based track system shown is only an example. The invention can also be realized in the context of a single-track ground-based track system or also in the context of an overhead track system according to the principles explained.

[0031] The turntable 12 is substantially circular in shape, although the outer boundary of the circular ring does not necessarily have to follow a geometric circle. Here, depending on the manufacturing process, other geometric designs are also conceivable. As an upper closure, the turntable 12 to which said rail sections 14, 20 are attached has a sheet-metal circular plate 26. This plate is also circular in shape-here, the corresponding information given with respect to the turntable 12 itself apply with regard to the geometric design.

[0032] On its upper side 27, the sheet-metal circular plate 26 carries said rails 16, 18, 22, 24 which are connected to the upper side 27 of the sheet-metal circular plate 26 by suitable fastening means, such as the angle brackets 29 shown.

[0033] On the bottom side 28 of the sheet-metal circular plate 26, which is clearly visible in FIG. 4, a row of sheet-metal cassettes 30 is arranged in a circle around the center of the sheet-metal circular plate 26. Such a sheet-metal cassette 30 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, 24 sheet-metal cassettes 30 are arranged in a circle around the center of the sheet-metal circular plate 26. The number of sheet-metal cassettes 30 and their dimensions depend on the desired stability and the associated material costs and can vary significantly depending on the respective application. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the sheet-metal cassettes 30 have a trapezoidal basic structure. From a base surface 32, which is aligned parallel to the plane of the sheet-metal circular plate 26, webs 34, 36 extend on three sides. The two opposing, non-parallel webs 36 have lugs 38 on the side facing the sheet-metal circular plate 26. For assembly, these can be inserted into corresponding recesses, i.e. elongated holes, slots or grooves 40, in order to fix the sheet-metal cassettes 30 relative to the sheet-metal circular plate 26. In FIG. 2, two examples of such elongated holes are provided with a reference sign 40.

[0034] After inserting the sheet-metal cassettes 30 into the elongated holes 40 of the circular plate 26, the cassettes 30 can be aligned during the manufacturing process, for example wedged, and connected to each other and / or to the sheet-metal circular plate 26 at selected points—for example by welding—in order to obtain the required stability of the turntable 10 by means of the thus resulting hollow chamber or sandwich structure. Consequently, the thus resulting hollow chambers within the cassettes 30 serve to introduce and transmit force into the substructure of the rotary console 10 without significantly deforming the turntable 12, as the planarity can be leveled by adjusting the pressure screws as required.

[0035] The sheet-metal circular plate 26 can have a one-part or multiple-part configuration. As can be seen in FIG. 2, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the circular plate 26 has a two-part configuration and has a first half 26.1 and a second half 26.2 which are connected to each other by suitable connecting means 26.3 (see, for example, FIG. 4). This can be an advantage when transporting and installing the rotary console, for example.

[0036] A central recess 42 is provided in the inner area of the turntable 12 in which a slewing ring 44 is arranged (see, in particular, FIG. 2). The slewing ring 44 has a fixed gear ring 46. For example—as shown in FIG. 4—this ring is connected to the fixed substructure via a suitable fastening structure. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, it is a suitable perforated disk 47 which enables a rotationally stable and tilt-resistant connection to the substructure via bearing feet 48 in order to transfer the forces that occur into the substructure. The gear ring is rotatably mounted relative to the rest of the slewing ring 44, for example via a ball bearing. A drive pinion 50 of a transmission 52 which is connected to a drive motor 54 engages with the gear ring 46. The transmission 52 is connected to the turntable 12 in a torsion and twist resistant manner and is arranged between the rail sections 22 and 18 in such a way that it does not interfere with the clearance profile and undisturbed driving operation on the track sections 14, 20 is possible.

[0037] In operation, the motor 54 is controlled in such a way that a torque is transmitted to the drive pinion 50 via the transmission 52, which is transmitted to the ring gear 46 via the gear-gear ring connection and, thus, the entire turntable 12 will be set in a rotary motion relative to the gear ring 46 and consequently relative to the retaining structure 47 and the substructure. The retaining structure 47 has a free space 56 for this purpose which enables the required angular rotation of the turntable 12.

[0038] In order to increase the rigidity of the turntable 12, particularly in the case of forces that are introduced into the sheet-metal circular plate 46 from above via the rails 16, 18, 22, 24, a radial bracing of the sheet-metal circular plate 26 relative to the slewing ring 44 is provided. For this purpose, screw connections 60 are provided at regular intervals along the inner circumference in the area of the slewing ring 44 on the bottom side 28 of the sheet-metal circular plate 26. These screw connections have attachment blocks that are firmly connected to the bottom side 28 of the sheet-metal circular plate 26 and allow for pressure to be exerted on the slewing ring 44 by means of an inserted screw. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to adjust the sheet-metal circular plate 26 relative to the slewing ring 44 and, on the other hand, to transfer axial and tilting moments exerted on the slewing ring 44 into the sheet-metal circular plate 26 and thus into the hollow chamber structure. This increases the overall stability of the turntable 12.

[0039] To operate the rotary console 10, electrical connections are required, for example for live rail sections and for controlling the drive 54 and the associated sensors. These are not explicitly shown.

[0040] With the aid of the hollow chamber structure shown, the design shown allows for a low design height of only 300 mm, for example, when using 180 mm high guide rails, whereby effectively only 120 mm must be used for the pure rotary-console construction. The use of the slewing-ring construction enhances this further. The arrangement of the drive 54 in the inner area of the rotary console 10 reduces the total installation space required by the rotary console and thus enables a compact design, even in the vertical direction. Suitable material thicknesses for the sheet-metal cassette(s) are 2-3 mm, for example. The sheet-metal circular plate 12 can, for example, be made from a sheet metal with a thickness of between 3 and 5 mm. For the thus resulting very high rigidity a low material input is required.

[0041] At the transitions of the rail sections 16, 18, 22, 24 to the surrounding connecting rail sections, support blocks can be provided on the bottom side of the turntable 12 which only come into contact with the turntable 12 when the rail sections are passed over, but are free during an adjustment process. In this respect, the turning process can thus run in a friction-free manner.

[0042] The angle of rotation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is 32.6°, e.g., but other angles of rotation are also possible, for example from 20°-60°, possibly even up to 90°. In the configuration shown, adjustment times of less than two seconds can be realized.

[0043] While in the foregoing there has been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the characteristics of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0029]While the present invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is described in detail herein, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0030]FIGS. 1-5 show a schematic representation of a rotary console 10 for a two-track rail-guided ground-based track transport system in various views. The rotary console 10 comprises a turntable 12. The turntable 12 has a first straight two-track rail section 14 which is formed by first rail 16 and a second rail 18, and a second two-track curved rail section 20 which is formed by two curved rails 22, 24. The rail sections 14, 20 are designed in such a way that they enable connecting rail sections not shown to be connected to either the first rail section 14 or the second rail section 20. The rotary ...

RELATED APPLICATIONS

[0001] The present application claims the filing benefit of German Pat. App. Ser. No. DE 10 2024 139 519.2 filed Dec. 20, 2024, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference.BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION1. Field of the Invention

[0002] The invention relates to a rotary console or rotary switch for a rail-guided transport system.2. Description of Prior Art

[0003] In intralogistics, rail-guided transport systems are used in warehouses and production areas to automatically convey goods or workpieces. The rail-guided transport systems can be, for example, double-track ground-based track systems or overhead track systems. Rail switches are used to convey goods to different destinations within a transport system. These rail switches usually consist of a movable rail segment that can either be rotated, folded or moved and can connect corresponding connecting rail sections of a main track with a secondary track as required.

[0004] A common concept for floor-based conveyor systems, for example, is the sliding switch. In doing so, a sliding table with, for example, two rail sections is moved laterally relative to the conveying direction in such a way that conveying—coming, for example, from a main track—is possible either via the first rail section into a first connecting rail section of the main track or via the second rail section into another second connecting rail section, for example of a secondary track. In this way, reliable switches can be realized but this design has certain disadvantages when it comes to special requirements:

[0005] Due to the inherent design of a sliding switch, it requires lateral space for the movement path of the sliding table and the associated drive components. In production halls and warehouses, such space is often available to a limited extent only.

[0006] Sliding switches are designed according to the expected loads in both sliding positions and are therefore generally constructed with solid steel components in order to safely bear the required loads. This is associated with high material and assembly costs.

[0007] In order to keep the costs of production, assembly and operation low, a low weight and low overall height combined with a high payload are of great interest.

[0008] Against this background, there is a need for a compact and lightweight switch design for rail-bound transport systems that is both inexpensive to manufacture and able to withstand the high loads over the long term.SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0009] This object is solved by a rotary console according to independent claim 1. Further configurations of the invention are given in the dependent claims.

[0010] The rotary console according to the invention for a rail-guided transport system has a turntable which comprises a first rail section for a first transport direction—for example said main track—and a second rail section for a second transport direction—for example a secondary track—and can be rotated in such a way that optionally either the first or the second rail section can be connected to connecting rail sections outside the rotary switch, with the turntable being of hollow-chamber design. This design significantly reduces the overall weight of the rotary console and at the same time maintains or improves the structural stability of the rotary console. The hollow chamber design can use the appropriate arrangement of stiffeners to direct the forces that occur into the corresponding structures, thus achieving decisive weight advantages and at the same time enabling high rigidity. This means that the rotary console is compact and lightweight in design and can be easily integrated into existing logistics environments.

[0011] In one embodiment, it may be provided for the turntable to comprise a circular plate to which the rail sections are attached. The circular plate can, for example, be made from a metal / metal sheet of the appropriate material thickness and is therefore easy and inexpensive to manufacture, providing an ideal assembly platform for all other components of the rotary console. It is also characterized by high tensile strength and being able to reliably absorb the forces acting on it if the right material is selected.

[0012] In a further embodiment, it may be provided that the turntable comprises a plurality of cassettes arranged in a circle around the center of the rotary console. The cassettes can also be made of metal / sheet metal with a suitable material thickness and have an internal cavity. For example, the cassettes can have a U-shaped cross-section in one direction and / or be open in another direction. Thanks to the ring-shaped arrangement, they enable an even distribution of the loads introduced into the rotary console from above via the rail sections and increase the rigidity of the entire rotary console.

[0013] In a further embodiment, it may be provided that the cassettes are connected to the circular plate in such a way that they form a hollow chamber structure. In particular, the cassettes can initially be connected to the circular plate via a simple plug-in assembly. This simplifies the assembly of the rotary console and thus reduces the time and consequently the cost of manufacturing. In a second step, the cassettes can be adjusted so that manufacturing tolerances can be easily compensated for. Then, the cassettes can be connected to each other and / or to the circular plate, e.g. by welding / riveting / bolting / etc. to form hollow structures. For the process of permanently connecting the cassettes to each other and / or to the circular plate, the cassettes to be connected have already been fixed relative to each other and relative to the circular plate by means of the plug-in connection, and a dimensionally stable connection can be produced in a simple way that reliably withstands the loads occurring during conveying operation. In particular, it can be provided that the cassettes are connected to each other at their outer circumference in the sense of a “barrel hoop”, for example by welding.

[0014] This increases the stability of the hollow chamber or sandwich arrangement, respectively, and helps to improve the rigidity of the rotary console.

[0015] In a particular embodiment, it can also be provided that the cassettes are configured in such a way that they can be permanently connected to each other after plug-in assembly. It is possible that after plug-in assembly, the cassettes are still adjustable and are only then permanently connected to each other, for example by a welding process. This increases the ease of assembly and allows flexible production, as the individual parts can first be provisionally positioned before the final, stable connection will be made.

[0016] According to a further embodiment, it may be provided that the turntable has a slewing ring or slewing bearing. Via such a slewing ring, the rotational forces required for setting the switches can be transferred to the turntable. The slewing ring does not only absorb the rotational forces required for the rotary movement but also axial and tilting moments. This integrated bearing arrangement allows for a precise, smooth rotary movement and minimizes the installation space required.

[0017] In one embodiment in this regard, it may also be provided that the slewing ring has internal toothing. This design offers a number of advantages: By placing the toothing inside the turntable, the associated components can be easily protected against dirt or unauthorized access. In particular, the internal toothing allows for a drive—for example comprising a motor with a transmission—to be arranged internally so that the outer dimensions of the turntable do not exceed the dimensions required for the rotary movement. This enables a very compact design in the lateral—i.e. in the plane of the rails—and in the horizontal direction, respectively.

[0018] In a further embodiment, it can also be provided that the slewing ring is connected to a drive that is arranged on the turntable. In a particularly advantageous way, the drive is arranged in the area of the turntable so that it does not protrude into the clearance profile of the rail sections. In this way, a particularly compact design can be achieved perpendicular to the rail level or in the vertical direction, respectively.

[0019] According to one embodiment, it may be provided that the drive is connected to the slewing ring by means of a transmission. An appropriate transmission helps to transfer the required rotational speed and torque to the turntable in a suitable manner. It should be noted that the transmission together with the drive transfers the occurring rotational forces of the turntable to the substructure and must be designed accordingly.

[0020] In one embodiment, it may be provided that the circular plate and the slewing ring are pressed against each other by bracing. This pressure bracing creates a firm connection that transfers the occurring load forces from above to the slewing ring and consequently to the substructure. In addition, the bracing makes it possible to compensate for manufacturing tolerances that may result from a welding process, for example, and / or allows for the rotary console to be leveled in terms of planarity.

[0021] In one embodiment, support or pressure screws can be provided to adjust the planarity of the turntable. The screws can be used, for example, to adjust the compensation individually for each pressure screw, allowing the circular plate, and thus the entire turntable, to be optimally leveled in terms of planarity, similar to the spokes of a bicycle.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] In the following, an exemplary embodiment of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. In these figures,

[0023] FIG. 1 shows a first side view,

[0024] FIG. 2 shows a top view,

[0025] FIG. 3 shows a first second view,

[0026] FIG. 4 shows a bottom view,

[0027] FIG. 5 shows a perspective view of an embodiment of a rotary console according to the invention, and

[0028] FIG. 6 shows a detailed perspective view of a sheet metal cassette of the rotary console.DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0029] While the present invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is described in detail herein, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0030] FIGS. 1-5 show a schematic representation of a rotary console 10 for a two-track rail-guided ground-based track transport system in various views. The rotary console 10 comprises a turntable 12. The turntable 12 has a first straight two-track rail section 14 which is formed by first rail 16 and a second rail 18, and a second two-track curved rail section 20 which is formed by two curved rails 22, 24. The rail sections 14, 20 are designed in such a way that they enable connecting rail sections not shown to be connected to either the first rail section 14 or the second rail section 20. The rotary console for a two-track ground-based track system shown is only an example. The invention can also be realized in the context of a single-track ground-based track system or also in the context of an overhead track system according to the principles explained.

[0031] The turntable 12 is substantially circular in shape, although the outer boundary of the circular ring does not necessarily have to follow a geometric circle. Here, depending on the manufacturing process, other geometric designs are also conceivable. As an upper closure, the turntable 12 to which said rail sections 14, 20 are attached has a sheet-metal circular plate 26. This plate is also circular in shape-here, the corresponding information given with respect to the turntable 12 itself apply with regard to the geometric design.

[0032] On its upper side 27, the sheet-metal circular plate 26 carries said rails 16, 18, 22, 24 which are connected to the upper side 27 of the sheet-metal circular plate 26 by suitable fastening means, such as the angle brackets 29 shown.

[0033] On the bottom side 28 of the sheet-metal circular plate 26, which is clearly visible in FIG. 4, a row of sheet-metal cassettes 30 is arranged in a circle around the center of the sheet-metal circular plate 26. Such a sheet-metal cassette 30 is illustrated in more detail in FIG. 6. In the embodiment shown in FIG. 4, 24 sheet-metal cassettes 30 are arranged in a circle around the center of the sheet-metal circular plate 26. The number of sheet-metal cassettes 30 and their dimensions depend on the desired stability and the associated material costs and can vary significantly depending on the respective application. As can be seen in FIG. 6, the sheet-metal cassettes 30 have a trapezoidal basic structure. From a base surface 32, which is aligned parallel to the plane of the sheet-metal circular plate 26, webs 34, 36 extend on three sides. The two opposing, non-parallel webs 36 have lugs 38 on the side facing the sheet-metal circular plate 26. For assembly, these can be inserted into corresponding recesses, i.e. elongated holes, slots or grooves 40, in order to fix the sheet-metal cassettes 30 relative to the sheet-metal circular plate 26. In FIG. 2, two examples of such elongated holes are provided with a reference sign 40.

[0034] After inserting the sheet-metal cassettes 30 into the elongated holes 40 of the circular plate 26, the cassettes 30 can be aligned during the manufacturing process, for example wedged, and connected to each other and / or to the sheet-metal circular plate 26 at selected points—for example by welding—in order to obtain the required stability of the turntable 10 by means of the thus resulting hollow chamber or sandwich structure. Consequently, the thus resulting hollow chambers within the cassettes 30 serve to introduce and transmit force into the substructure of the rotary console 10 without significantly deforming the turntable 12, as the planarity can be leveled by adjusting the pressure screws as required.

[0035] The sheet-metal circular plate 26 can have a one-part or multiple-part configuration. As can be seen in FIG. 2, in the embodiment shown in the figures, the circular plate 26 has a two-part configuration and has a first half 26.1 and a second half 26.2 which are connected to each other by suitable connecting means 26.3 (see, for example, FIG. 4). This can be an advantage when transporting and installing the rotary console, for example.

[0036] A central recess 42 is provided in the inner area of the turntable 12 in which a slewing ring 44 is arranged (see, in particular, FIG. 2). The slewing ring 44 has a fixed gear ring 46. For example—as shown in FIG. 4—this ring is connected to the fixed substructure via a suitable fastening structure. In the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1-5, it is a suitable perforated disk 47 which enables a rotationally stable and tilt-resistant connection to the substructure via bearing feet 48 in order to transfer the forces that occur into the substructure. The gear ring is rotatably mounted relative to the rest of the slewing ring 44, for example via a ball bearing. A drive pinion 50 of a transmission 52 which is connected to a drive motor 54 engages with the gear ring 46. The transmission 52 is connected to the turntable 12 in a torsion and twist resistant manner and is arranged between the rail sections 22 and 18 in such a way that it does not interfere with the clearance profile and undisturbed driving operation on the track sections 14, 20 is possible.

[0037] In operation, the motor 54 is controlled in such a way that a torque is transmitted to the drive pinion 50 via the transmission 52, which is transmitted to the ring gear 46 via the gear-gear ring connection and, thus, the entire turntable 12 will be set in a rotary motion relative to the gear ring 46 and consequently relative to the retaining structure 47 and the substructure. The retaining structure 47 has a free space 56 for this purpose which enables the required angular rotation of the turntable 12.

[0038] In order to increase the rigidity of the turntable 12, particularly in the case of forces that are introduced into the sheet-metal circular plate 46 from above via the rails 16, 18, 22, 24, a radial bracing of the sheet-metal circular plate 26 relative to the slewing ring 44 is provided. For this purpose, screw connections 60 are provided at regular intervals along the inner circumference in the area of the slewing ring 44 on the bottom side 28 of the sheet-metal circular plate 26. These screw connections have attachment blocks that are firmly connected to the bottom side 28 of the sheet-metal circular plate 26 and allow for pressure to be exerted on the slewing ring 44 by means of an inserted screw. This makes it possible, on the one hand, to adjust the sheet-metal circular plate 26 relative to the slewing ring 44 and, on the other hand, to transfer axial and tilting moments exerted on the slewing ring 44 into the sheet-metal circular plate 26 and thus into the hollow chamber structure. This increases the overall stability of the turntable 12.

[0039] To operate the rotary console 10, electrical connections are required, for example for live rail sections and for controlling the drive 54 and the associated sensors. These are not explicitly shown.

[0040] With the aid of the hollow chamber structure shown, the design shown allows for a low design height of only 300 mm, for example, when using 180 mm high guide rails, whereby effectively only 120 mm must be used for the pure rotary-console construction. The use of the slewing-ring construction enhances this further. The arrangement of the drive 54 in the inner area of the rotary console 10 reduces the total installation space required by the rotary console and thus enables a compact design, even in the vertical direction. Suitable material thicknesses for the sheet-metal cassette(s) are 2-3 mm, for example. The sheet-metal circular plate 12 can, for example, be made from a sheet metal with a thickness of between 3 and 5 mm. For the thus resulting very high rigidity a low material input is required.

[0041] At the transitions of the rail sections 16, 18, 22, 24 to the surrounding connecting rail sections, support blocks can be provided on the bottom side of the turntable 12 which only come into contact with the turntable 12 when the rail sections are passed over, but are free during an adjustment process. In this respect, the turning process can thus run in a friction-free manner.

[0042] The angle of rotation of the embodiment shown in FIGS. 1 to 5 is 32.6°, e.g., but other angles of rotation are also possible, for example from 20°-60°, possibly even up to 90°. In the configuration shown, adjustment times of less than two seconds can be realized.

[0043] While in the foregoing there has been set forth preferred embodiments of the invention, it is to be understood that the present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or central characteristics thereof. The present embodiments, therefore, are to be considered in all respects as illustrative and not restrictive, and the invention is not to be limited to the details given herein. While specific embodiments have been illustrated and described, numerous modifications come to mind without significantly departing from the characteristics of the invention and the scope of protection is only limited by the scope of the accompanying claims.

Examples

Embodiment Construction

[0029]While the present invention is susceptible to embodiments in many different forms, there is described in detail herein, preferred embodiments of the invention with the understanding that the present disclosures are to be considered as exemplifications of the principles of the invention and are not intended to limit the broad aspects of the invention to the embodiments illustrated.

[0030]FIGS. 1-5 show a schematic representation of a rotary console 10 for a two-track rail-guided ground-based track transport system in various views. The rotary console 10 comprises a turntable 12. The turntable 12 has a first straight two-track rail section 14 which is formed by first rail 16 and a second rail 18, and a second two-track curved rail section 20 which is formed by two curved rails 22, 24. The rail sections 14, 20 are designed in such a way that they enable connecting rail sections not shown to be connected to either the first rail section 14 or the second rail section 20. The rotary ...

Claims

1. A rotary console for a rail-guided transport system, comprising:a) a turntable which has a first rail section for a first transport direction and a second rail section for a second transport direction and which can be rotated in such a way that the first rail section or the second rail section enables a corresponding connection to connecting rail sections outside the rotary console,b) wherein the turntable is of hollow chamber design.

2. The rotary console according to claim 1, wherein the turntable comprises a circular plate to which the rail sections are attached.

3. The rotary console according to claim 1, wherein the turntable comprises a plurality of cassettes arranged in a circle around a center of the rotary console.

4. The rotary console according to claim 3, wherein the cassettes are connected to a circular plate in such a way that they form a hollow chamber structure.

5. The rotary console according to claim 3, wherein the cassettes are designed in such a way that they can be permanently connected to each other and / or to the circular plate after plug-in assembly.

6. The rotary console according to claim 1, wherein the turntable has a slewing ring.

7. The rotary console according to claim 6, wherein the slewing ring has an internal toothing.

8. The rotary console according to claim 6, wherein the slewing ring is connected to a drive arranged on the turntable.

9. The rotary console according to claim 8, wherein the drive is connected to the slewing ring by means of a transmission.

10. The rotary console according to claim 2, wherein the circular plate is pressure-braced with the slewing ring.

11. The rotary console according to claim 1, wherein support screws are provided to adjust the planarity of the turntable.

12. The rotary console according to claim 2, wherein the turntable comprises a plurality of cassettes arranged in a circle around a center of the rotary console.

13. The rotary console according to claim 12, wherein the cassettes are connected to the circular plate in such a way that they form a hollow chamber structure.

14. The rotary console according to claim 12, wherein the cassettes are designed in such a way that they can be permanently connected to each other and / or to the circular plate after plug-in assembly.

Images