Railway rolling stock – Suspended
Reexamination Certificate
1999-04-05
2001-04-24
Sotelo, Jesus D. (Department: 3613)
Railway rolling stock
Suspended
C105S141000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06220176
ABSTRACT:
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
1. Field of the Invention
The invention relates to a travelling mechanism, especially for a lifting device such as a hoist.
2. Discussion of the Prior Art
U.S. Pat. No. 2,470,060 discloses a travelling mechanism that can be used, in particular, for lifting devices. This travelling mechanism comprises a rail that consists of flange parts and web parts. Two running wheels, which are located opposite to each other, roll on the flange inner sides of the rail. To guide the travelling mechanism, guide rollers rest in front of and behind each running wheel, on both sides, parallel to the web. The running wheels and the guide rollers are rotatably-mounted in lateral bars. The two bars are spaced relative to each other and connected to each other by means of a connecting element in the manner of a traverse. However, this travelling mechanism can be used only for a predetermined flange width. It is assembled completely prior to use and then placed on the travelling rail. A change in the distance between the two lateral bars and thus between the running wheels is not possible. This travelling mechanism thus can be used only in rail profile systems with a constant flange width, whereby an optimal distance is selected between the web and the running wheels to attain the desired statically advantageous stress on the travelling rail and the travelling mechanism.
From European reference EP 0 078 085 A1, another travelling mechanism is known, which comprises a travelling rail and running wheels. The wheels are located opposite to each other and rest on the flange parts of the travelling rail. Guide rollers are not provided in this travelling mechanism. To adjust to different web widths, the bilaterally arranged bars, in which the running wheels are rotatably-mounted, are adjustable with respect to their spacing. Seen in the direction of travel, connecting traverses equipped with slots are located in front of and behind the travelling rail. The slots run in pairs on both sides of the web at a right angle to the direction of travel. The connecting traverse is attached to the bars with screws, which are inserted through the slots. This makes it possible to adjust the distance between the two bars.
Due to the intrinsic weight of the trolley, the clearance between the wheel flange and the flange side can be adjusted only by great force. However, the crucial disadvantage of this travelling mechanism is that, although adjustment to different flange widths is possible, the running wheels are, in the case of wider flanges, farther from the web. This leads to known disadvantages: The travelling rail is unfavorably stressed, and the flange is subjected to higher bending stress, which results in a larger profile having to be used.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
Accordingly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a travelling mechanism that can be adjusted to different flange widths, whereby the running wheels always run relatively close to the web.
According to the invention, the travelling mechanism is adjustable to different flange widths by the use of connecting traverses of different lengths. Moreover, the distance between the axles is variable independently of the running wheels for the purpose of adjusting the guide rollers to the flange width. Advantageously, this allows the travelling mechanism to be easily adjusted to different flange widths. Moreover, the flange width can be adjusted even after the travelling mechanism has been mounted on the travelling rail. After adjustment of the guide roller spacing, it is possible, e.g., by test driving, to check whether the distance is sufficient and, if necessary, to undertake fine-tuning without great expense. In addition, in this travelling mechanism, the distance between the web and the running wheels remains constant regardless of the flange width, which leads to statically favorable stress on the travelling rail.
In a further embodiment, a slot extending at a right angle to the direction of travel and arranged on a horizontal plane is provided above each guide roller, through which slot the vertical rotational axis of the associated guide roller is run. The slot makes it possible to change the position of the guide roller relative to the web simply by moving the rotational axis inside the slot.
Adjusting the guide roller spacing is very simple when each rotational axis position can be fixed within two end positions defined by the length of the slot.
To avoid rotation of the fixed rotational axis and thus prevent loosening of the fixed position, each rotational axis is embodied as a bolt flattened on both sides, the larger diameter of which is larger than the slot width.
Simple prepositioning of the rotational axis is attained when, for each slot, a measurement strip is arranged between the end positions to determine the particular rotational axis position.
The stability of the web can be increased by equipping the lateral surfaces of the connecting traverse with a slot arranged at a right angle to the longitudinal direction of the connecting traverse, into which slot a complementary projection arranged on and belonging to the bar end engages in a positive-locking manner when the travelling mechanism is mounted. The slot connection prevents the bars from rotating relative to each other.
Advantageously, the slot is oriented in the direction of travel. In this way, rotational forces can be absorbed especially effectively.
When the bars are embodied asymmetrically, the assembly of the travelling mechanism can be further simplified by embodying the connecting traverse and one of the two bars in a single piece.
A very economical embodiment is obtained when the bar ends are attached to the connecting traverse at both ends by means of screws and clamping sleeves.
When the lateral surfaces of the web traverses are arranged in the area vertically below the support of the running wheels, the result, due to the low bending moment, is reduced tensile stress on the screw connections.
A load suspension means can be supported on the web traverse in a simple manner.
A travelling mechanism that runs very evenly and stably is attained when the load suspension means is supported in articulated fashion in a ball socket embodied on the upper side of the connecting traverse.
To prevent the travelling mechanism from pitching in the travelling direction, the lower end of the C-shaped load suspension means is equipped with a rotary-mounted sliding piece, which engages in a guide slot arranged on the lower side of the connecting traverse and oriented at a right angle to the direction of travel. The guide slot frees the pendulum motion of the load only at a right angle to the direction of travel.
A stable and compact travelling mechanism is attained when the bars, above the support points of the running wheels on the flange parts, are embodied to project toward the web.
The range of possible flange widths can be enlarged when the two bars form a C that is open at the top and has, on its inner sides at the level at which the guide rollers contact the flange parts, a vertical surface parallel to the running direction. Advantageously, the distance between the two vertical surfaces is equal to the greatest flange width of the lower flange.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2470060 (1949-05-01), Webb et al.
patent: 5277126 (1994-01-01), Wendt et al.
patent: 5809896 (1998-09-01), Gersemsky
patent: 6058849 (2000-05-01), Ostholt et al.
patent: 0 078085 A1 (1983-05-01), None
Cohen & Pontani, Lieberman & Pavane
Mannesmann AG
McCarry, Jr. Robert J.
Sotelo Jesus D.
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