Rail System for Conveying Vehicle with Positive-Locking Joints
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional rail systems for conveyor vehicles in storage systems face issues with wear and tear at rail joints due to gaps between connected rails, leading to increased maintenance needs and safety concerns in fire-hazardous environments, especially when welding is required on-site.
Innovation Solution
A rail system design featuring pre-fabricated rails with integrated positive-locking elements that form a nearly gap-free connection using metal-cutting or forming processes, eliminating the need for additional connecting elements and allowing for quick on-site assembly, reducing wear on impellers and enhancing safety by minimizing the need for welding.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If conventional rail systems use additional connecting elements (bolts, pins) to join rails, then the connection strength is improved, but the device complexity and assembly time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The connecting element is merged with the rail itself by integrating the tenon directly into the rail structure. This eliminates separate connecting components while maintaining strong connections between rails, thereby reducing device complexity without compromising connection strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The tenon is pre-formed on the rail during manufacturing through metal-cutting or forming processes. This preliminary action allows the rail to be connected directly on-site without requiring additional connecting elements or complex assembly procedures, reducing both device complexity and assembly time.
2Ease of operation
If rails are connected with gaps between end faces, then assembly ease is improved, but wheel wear increases due to impact at joints
Solution Approach 1:
The tenon and corresponding recess are pre-formed on the rails during manufacturing. This preliminary action enables the rails to be connected with minimal gap on-site, eliminating the need for complex alignment procedures while reducing wheel wear caused by large gaps or misalignment.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection interface features localized geometric forms (tenon and recess) that are specifically designed to achieve precise fitting. This local quality enhancement at the connection point allows for minimal gaps while maintaining ease of assembly through the self-aligning nature of the tenon-recess interface.
3Strength
If welding is used to connect rails on-site, then connection strength is improved, but safety concerns arise in fire-hazardous environments
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical connection system using tenons and recesses replaces the thermal welding process. This substitution eliminates the need for on-site welding operations in fire-hazardous environments while maintaining strong, reliable connections between rails through precise mechanical interlocking.
Solution Approach 2:
The connection features are pre-formed on the rails during manufacturing through metal-cutting or forming processes. This preliminary action allows the rails to be connected mechanically on-site without requiring welding, thereby eliminating fire hazards while maintaining connection strength.
4Loss of time
If rails are prefabricated with integrated positive-locking elements, then on-site assembly time is reduced, but manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The tenon is pre-formed on the rail during manufacturing through metal-cutting or forming processes. This preliminary action transfers complexity from the on-site assembly phase to the controlled manufacturing phase, reducing assembly time while the standardized processes keep manufacturing complexity manageable.
Solution Approach 2:
The rail is segmented into modular sections with integrated tenons. This segmentation allows for standardized prefabrication of rail sections that can be quickly assembled on-site, reducing assembly time while the modularity helps manage manufacturing complexity through repetition of standardized components.
Data Source
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AI summary
The invention relates to a rail system (20a) for a conveying vehicle (4) which is movable along said rail system and intended for storing piece goods (5) into a storage rack or retrieving piece goods (5) from a storage rack, comprising a first running rail (33a), a second running rail (33b), and a connecting device which comprises a form-fitting connection between the end faces, which are directed towards one another, of the first running rail (33a) and second running rail (33b). The first running rail (33a) forms at its end face (35a) a first form-fitting element (36a) and a first surface portion (37a). The second running rail (33b) forms at its end face (35b) a second form-fitting element (36b) and a second surface portion (37b). Here, the first form-fitting element (36a) and second form-fitting element (36b) inter-engage in a complementary manner and the end faces (35a, 35b) of the first running rail (33a) and second running rail (33b) butt flush against one another by the surface portions (37a, 37b). The invention further relates to a storage system having such a rail system (20a).