Rail conveyor element
AssigneeStrothmann Machines & Handling GmbH
InventorsStefan Rehling, Michael Bentrup, Markus Ostendorf, Fabian Kuhlemann, Tim Büllesbach
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Rail conveyor element which can be displaced on a rail system with intersecting rails, includes a base and a wheel-bearing cassette which supports the base and in which at least one wheel is accommodated to rest on a rail, the wheel-bearing cassette is rotatably mounted around a vertical axis relative to the base and the rail conveyor element includes a pressure ram with actuator which extends downward on or below the base and can be displaced between a raised unloaded position which coincides with the transport position of the rail conveyor and a lowered loaded position to unload the wheel-bearing cassette relative to the rail.
Claims15
A rail conveyor element which is adapted to be displaced on a rail system with intersecting rails comprising:
- a base,
- a wheel-bearing cassette having the base mounted thereon, and which, in a transport position of the rail conveyor element supports the base,
- at least one wheel in the wheel-bearing cassette and accommodated to rest on a said rail and
- a pressure ram with actuator which extends downward on or below said wheel-bearing cassette and is adapted to be moved by an actuator between a raised unloaded position which coincides with the transport position of the rail conveyor element and a lowered loaded position for unloading the wheel-bearing cassette relative to a said rail,
- wherein the wheel-bearing cassette is mounted to be rotatable around a vertical axis relative to the base,
- wherein the pressure ram is designed, in its loaded position, to lift the wheel-bearing cassette together with the base off the rails.
A method for operating a rail conveyor element which is adapted to be displaced on a rail system with intersecting rails, the rail system comprising a base, a wheel-bearing cassette having the base mounted thereon, and which, in a transport position of the rail conveyor element supports the base, at least one wheel in the wheel-bearing cassette and accommodated to rest on a said rail and a pressure ram with actuator which extends downward on or below said wheel-bearing cassette and is adapted to be moved by an actuator between a raised unloaded position which coincides with the transport position of the rail conveyor element and a lowered loaded position for unloading the wheel-bearing cassette relative to a said rail, wherein the wheel-bearing cassette is mounted to be rotatable around a vertical axis relative to the base,
- said method comprising the following steps:
- S1:
- positioning of the rail conveyor element in the transport position on a first said rail at a rail intersection where the first rail intersects with a second rail;
- S2:
- lowering of the pressure ram onto the rail intersection;
- S3:
- lifting of the wheel-bearing cassette and the base off the first rail by further lowering of the pressure ram relative to the rail conveyor element;
- S4:
- rotation of the wheel-bearing cassette from the direction of travel of the first rail to the direction of travel of the second rail;
- S5:
- lowering of the rail conveyor element onto the second rail by lifting the pressure ram relative to the rail conveyor element;
- S6:
- resuming travel of the rail conveyor element on the second rail.
A method for operating a rail conveyor element which is adapted to be displaced on a rail system with intersecting rails, the rail system comprising a base, a wheel-bearing cassette having the base mounted thereon, and which, in a transport position of the rail conveyor element supports the base, at least one wheel in the wheel-bearing cassette and accommodated to rest on a said rail and a pressure ram with actuator which extends downward on or below said wheel-bearing cassette and is adapted to be moved by an actuator between a raised unloaded position which coincides with the transport position of the rail conveyor element and a lowered loaded position for unloading the wheel-bearing cassette relative to a said rail, wherein the wheel-bearing cassette is mounted to be rotatable around a vertical axis relative to the base,
- said method comprising the following steps:
- S1:
- positioning of the rail conveyor element in the transport position on a first said rail at a rail intersection where the first rail intersects with a second rail;
- S2:
- lowering of the pressure ram onto the rail intersection;
- S3:
- lifting of the wheel-bearing cassette off the first rail towards the base without moving the base relative to the rail system;
- S4:
- rotation of the wheel-bearing cassette from the direction of travel of the first rail to the direction of travel of the second rail;
- S5:
- lowering of the wheel-bearing cassette onto the second rail;
- S6:
- lifting of the pressure ram off the rail intersection;
- S7:
- resuming travel of the rail conveyor element on the second rail.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.