Pivotally Supported Movable Rails for Crossing Aisle Passage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional configurations for guiding conveying traveling bodies to intersect crossing aisles are costly and cumbersome, requiring complex motor-driven systems and large, heavy guide rails that are difficult to manually open and close, leading to increased inertia and impact issues.
Innovation Solution
A traveling route structure featuring pivotally supported, horizontally rotatable movable rails that are half the length of the guide rails, with a locking mechanism to couple them in the connection position, reducing manual operation difficulties and inertia, and incorporating a double door structure for convenient maintenance and safety.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the guide rail part intersecting the crossing aisle is designed to be horizontally rotatable, then vehicles can pass through the crossing aisle, but the guide rail part becomes very large and heavy, making manual opening and closing difficult and increasing inertia
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail part is divided into multiple sections: fixed guide rails (9a, 9b) that remain stationary, and movable rails (15, 16) that can be opened and closed. This segmentation allows the crossing aisle to accommodate vehicles when needed while maintaining structural integrity during normal operation. The movable rails are only opened when vehicle passage is required, reducing the weight and complexity of the moving components.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide rail system transitions from a static configuration to a dynamic one by incorporating movable rails (15, 16) that can be horizontally opened and closed about vertical spindles (19, 21). This dynamic capability allows the system to adapt between two states: closed to maintain the traveling route for conveying traveling bodies, and open to allow vehicle passage through the crossing aisle.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the guide rail part is designed to be horizontally rotatable, then the crossing aisle can be used for vehicle passage, but the inertia in horizontally moving the guide rail part is increased, leading to increased impact when butting and stopping
Solution Approach 1:
The system incorporates limit stoppers (23a, 23b, 24) positioned at predetermined locations to cushion the impact when movable rails (15, 16) are opened or closed. These stoppers prevent excessive movement and reduce the harmful impact forces that would otherwise occur during the opening and closing operations, protecting the guide rail structure and surrounding components.
3Adaptability or versatility
If the guide rail part is made wide enough for vehicles to pass, then vehicle passage is enabled, but the guide rail part becomes very large and heavy, increasing operational difficulties
Solution Approach 1:
The guide rail system is segmented into fixed portions (9a, 9b) that provide structural stability and movable portions (15, 16) that can be manually operated. This segmentation allows the crossing aisle to be wide enough for vehicle passage when opened, while the movable sections remain manageable in size and weight for manual operation.
Solution Approach 2:
Vertical spindles (19, 21) serve as intermediaries that facilitate the opening and closing motion of the movable rails (15, 16). These spindles provide a pivot point that reduces the effort required to manually open and close the guide rail part, making the operation easier while still enabling sufficient width for vehicle passage.
4Reliability
If a locking means is provided to couple movable rails together, then reliable connection is achieved, but device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The locking means (28) replaces complex mechanical fastening systems with a simpler mechanism that couples the inner end portions of movable rails (15, 16) together. This substitution maintains reliable connection between the movable rails while reducing the overall complexity of the locking mechanism, making it easier to operate and maintain.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for safe and easy manual operation, reduces operational and maintenance costs, and enhances safety by minimizing impact and the risk of accidents, while enabling reliable locking and easy passage of vehicles through the crossing aisle.
Implementation Method 1
each of the movable rails (15, 16) is pivotally supported so as to be horizontally rotatable about a vertical spindle (19, 21) at each outer end portion positioned outside of the crossing aisle (14)
Implementation Method 2
a locking means (28) which couples inner end portions of both movable rails (15, 16) together, the inner end portions adjacent to each other when in the connection working position, is provided
Data Source
AI summary
A traveling route structure of a conveying traveling body has a traveling route with an area intersecting a crossing aisle, and has a movable rail horizontally openable and closable between a connection working position that connects guide rails in front and rear of the crossing aisle and a retracting position lateral to the crossing aisle. The movable rail has front and a rear movable rails arranged in a line when the movable rails are in the connection working position. Each of the movable rails is pivotally supported so as to be horizontally rotatable about a vertical spindle at each outer end portion positioned outside of the crossing aisle. A locking means couples inner end portions of both movable rails together, with the inner end portions being adjacent to each other when the movable rails are in the connection working position.