WO2014091122A1 - Facility for conveying motor vehicles having balanced force transmission - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a facility (1) for conveying vehicles (2), including: an endless transport chain; a plurality of pods (20) each of which is capable of receiving a vehicle (2), each pod being connected to the chain by a hanger (24) provided with an undeformable arm (25) having an inner end that forms a link of the chain (5), the hanger being provided with a pair of linking axels which are rigidly connected to the inner end of the arm and by means of which the arm is pivotably connected to the adjacent links of the chain; a wheel (6) for driving the chain, provided with a pair of rotatably secured ring gears which engage jointly with the linking axles of the hangers, said gears defining, therebetween, a gap in which the inner end of the arm is housed.

Description

 AUTOMOTIVE VEHICLE CONVEYING SYSTEM WITH BALANCED EFFORTS TRANSMISSION

The invention relates to the conveying of heavy and bulky loads, such as motor vehicles, in particular to allow their storage in urban or peri-urban areas in underground garage areas or on the surface, possibly in height.

 The problem of storage of motor vehicles in urban areas is known for a long time, to the point that since the 1920s manufacturers have tried to remedy by offering automated facilities for conveying and storing vehicles in infrastructure equipped with individual boxes , cf. eg. US Pat. Nos. 1,85,774 (Clark, 1927) and US Pat. No. 1,180,603 (Me Gavin, 1928).

 Automated conveyor and storage facilities for motor vehicles have therefore continued to improve over time. For example, US Pat. Nos. 2,728,467 (Glicker, 1954), US 3,033,390 (Gronvold, 1960), US 3,221,907 (O'Sullivan, 1963), US Pat. No. 3,547,281 (Litchi et al, 1968).

 Despite the large number of solutions proposed to automate the garage of vehicles in urban areas, the agglomerations have shown the persistence, and even the supremacy, of conventional fixed-structure car parks (underground or high), in which drivers must enter and go around to search for a location by walking the many floors. Their congestion / storage capacity ratio, which is extremely unfavorable with regard to automated car parks, would hit conventional obsolete car parks if drivers agreed to abandon the persistent habit of parking (and recovering) one's own vehicle.

However, the constant rise in real estate costs is likely to change the situation in favor of automated parking, which both the construction and use are more competitive, and this type of parking is more and more used in the Asian megacities, whose rapid expansion favors the use of lighter, more compact and more efficient constructions. A now old technique is to mount the vehicles in nacelles mounted on an endless chain conveyor. Storage is done vertically or horizontally. Thus, there is known for example from the international application WO 2008/060000 a conveyor installation and storage of motor vehicles equipped with a transport chain which circulates between two guide rails. The chain is coupled to garage nacelles via indeformable arms whose inner end portion forms a link in the chain. A sun gear driven gear meshes each arm via a pair of dogs ("dogs") projecting from one side thereof.

 This installation has two major flaws. Firstly, the efforts required to drive the chain generate significant wear at the interface between the wheel and the arms. Secondly, the configuration of the wheel and the arms generates a cantilever which increases the tension in the chain and accelerates its wear as well as that of the guide rails, at least in the curved sections.

 A first objective is to provide a conveyor installation for transporting heavy loads so as to have increased reliability.

 A second objective is to provide a conveyor installation that can be reduced without harming its rigidity.

 For this purpose, it is proposed a conveyor installation of motor vehicles, which comprises:

 a frame,

 an endless transport chain mounted circulating relative to the frame;

a plurality of nacelles each adapted to receive a vehicle, each nacelle being coupled to the chain by means of a hanger provided with a deformable arm having an inner end forms a link of the chain, and an outer end on which the nacelle is rotatably mounted via a bearing, the hanger being further provided with a pair of connecting pins integral with the inner end of the arm and through which the arm is articulated to links adjacent to the chain; a drive wheel of the chain, provided with a pair of rotationally integral toothed rings, which mesh together the connection axes of the lines, these rings defining between them a gap in which is housed the inner end of the arm.

 This architecture makes it possible to balance the forces transmitted to the suspension lines by the drive wheel, to the benefit of the precision of the guidance and the reliability of the installation.

 Various additional features may be provided, alone or in combination:

 each link adjacent to the inner end of the arm comprises a pair of flanges mounted together on a connecting pin with a spacing greater than the overall thickness of the drive wheel at the ring gear;

 the frame comprises a guide rail in which the chain is mounted circulating, this rail defining, at the drive wheel, a curved section where the rail comprises two separate tracks arranged on either side of the wheel;

 the hanger is provided with rollers mounted at the ends of the connecting pins, each roller cooperating in rolling, in the curved strand of the rail, with a track thereof;

 the drive wheel comprises a pair of separate disks integral in rotation and each defining, at its periphery, a ring gear;

 the discs are mounted on a common motor shaft;

 the frame comprises a pair of covers arranged on either side of the wheel, and in which the motor shaft is rotatably mounted;

 the installation comprises a motor coupled in rotation to the motor shaft, this motor is mounted on one of the covers;

 the installation comprises a cam path integral with the frame, and each nacelle is provided with a cam follower adapted to cooperate with the cam path maintain the attitude of the nacelle during its displacement;

the installation is arranged horizontally. Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent in the light of the description of an embodiment, given hereinafter with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

 Figure 1 is a perspective view showing, schematically, a conveyor installation of motor vehicles;

 Figure 2 is a side view showing a detail of the installation of Figure 1;

 Figure 3 is a side view, partly cut away, showing, on an enlarged scale, a detail of the installation of Figure 2;

 Figure 4 is a detail sectional view of the installation, along the section line IV-IV of Figure 3;

 FIG. 5 is a detailed sectional view of the installation, along the sectional line V-V of FIG. 3.

 FIGS. 1 and 2 show a plant 1 for conveying heavy and bulky loads 2. It could be, in particular, containers intended to be loaded on trains or cargo ships, but it is preferably 2 cars (shown in dashed lines in Figure 2), this installation 1 finding a practical application in temporary storage of vehicles in urban areas. In this case, the installation 1 constitutes or is integrated in an automated parking system allowing any driver to deposit his vehicle, which he wishes the guard is insured, then to recover it later, without it being necessary to search for a free location.

 As can be seen in FIG. 1, the installation 1 comprises a frame 3 which is preferably formed by assembling metal beams 4 (in particular steel or aluminum). This frame 3 is intended to rest on the ground or, preferably, on a concrete foundation for greater stability.

 The installation 1 can be buried, totally or partially, or extend above the ground, totally or partially.

The installation 1 comprises an endless conveyor chain 5 mounted circulating relative to the frame 3, and a drive wheel 6 of the chain 5. More specifically, the frame 3 comprises a fixed guide rail 7, in which the chain 5 is circulating mounted. The guide rail 7 defines two strands 8, 9 straight parallel, namely a strand 8 go and a strand 9 return, where the chain 5 flows rectilinearly in opposite directions. At the ends of strands 8, 9 straight, the rail 7 defines two curved strands (in practice, semicircular), namely an upstream curved strand and a downstream strand 11, which connect the strands 8, 9 straight and where the chain 5 circulates in a loop. In the example shown, the installation 1 is arranged horizontally, that is to say that the straight strands 8, 9 of the rail 7 are oriented horizontally. However, alternatively, the installation 1 could be arranged vertically, the forward and return strands of the rail being in this case oriented vertically.

 As can be seen in FIG. 5, in the strand 8 to go (as in the strand 9 return), the rail 7 has, in cross section, a U-shaped profile and comprises a continuous bottom wall 12, which is extended by two walls. 13 side parallel, the side walls 13 themselves being extended by two returns 14 at right angles.

 The drive wheel 6 is located at a bent strand 10, 11 (especially the upstream strand), concentrically thereto. In each curved section 10, 11, the rail 7 comprises two separate U-shaped lateral tracks disposed on either side of the wheel 6.

 The chain 5 comprises a plurality of oblong links 16 articulated with respect to each other about common articulation axes 17. According to a particular embodiment, illustrated in Figure 5, each link 16 comprises a pair of flanges 18 mounted on a common axis 17 joint and spaced apart. The spacing between the flanges 18 can be kept constant by means of a spacer or circlips inserted in grooves formed in the hinge axis 17.

 As seen in Figure 5, the chain 5 further comprises rollers 19 mounted at the ends of each axis 17 of articulation and which cooperate in rolling with the rail 7. In strands 8, 9 straight, the rollers 19 cooperate rolling with the bottom wall 12 or returns 14 at right angles, depending on whether the strand 8 go or the strand 9 return, the orientations are opposite. In the strands 10, 11 curves, the rollers 19 cooperate in rolling with the lateral tracks.

As can be seen in FIGS. 1 and 2, the installation 1 furthermore comprises a plurality of nacelles 20 each capable of accommodate a vehicle 2 to ensure its conveyance along the path of the chain 5.

 Each nacelle 20 comprises a plate 21 on which is intended to rest a vehicle 2, and a cage 22 to which the plate 21 is fixed and by which the nacelle 20 is suspended from the chain 5. As can be seen in FIGS. 2, the cage 22 defines an opening 23 through which the vehicle 2 can be introduced into the nacelle 20. This opening 23 can be frontal (in which case the vehicle 2 is introduced into the nacelle 20 in its normal direction of circulation), or lateral (In this case the vehicle 2 is introduced transversely into the nacelle 20, for example by means of a transfer device).

 Each nacelle 20 is not directly mounted on the chain 5, but is coupled thereto by means of a hanger 24 provided with a non-deformable arm (that is to say, it does not is not composed of elements articulated with respect to each other, but is formed of a one-piece element, as in the example shown, or elements integral with each other, for example welded tubes).

 In practice, as illustrated in the figures, the installation 1 is symmetrical with respect to a central plane, and comprises two synchronized identical chains 5, which run on parallel rails 7. The nacelles 20 are thus suspended between the two chains 5 by means of a pair of lines 24 mounted articulated at the ends of the cage 22.

 More specifically, each arm 25 has an outer end 26 on which the nacelle 20 is rotatably mounted via a bearing 27.

Each line 24 is integrated in the chain 5, the arm 25 having an inner end 28 forming a link of the chain 5. In practice, the hanger 24 is provided with a pair of connecting pins 29 secured to the end 28 internal arm 25 and through which the arm 25 is articulated to adjacent links 16 of the chain 5. The connecting pins 29 of the hanger 24 are identical to the hinge axes 17 of other links 16 of the chain 5. The length and the diameter of the connecting rods 29 of the hanger 24 correspond respectively to the length and the diameter of the hinge pins 17 of the other links 16. Similarly, the spacing between the axes 29 connecting the hanger 24 is equal to the nominal spacing between two successive axes 17 articulation.

 Like each link 16 of the chain, the hanger 24 is also provided with rollers 19 mounted at the ends of the connecting pins 29. Each roller 19 cooperates in rolling, in each strand 8, 9 right rail 7, with the bottom wall 12 or a return 14 at right angles thereof and, in each strand 10, 11 curve of the rail, with a track 15 side of it.

 The driving wheel 6 is rotatably mounted relative to the frame 3. More specifically, the wheel 6 is integral with a motor shaft 30 coupled in rotation to a motor 31 fixed to the frame 3.

 According to an embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4, the frame 3 comprises, at least at the level of the upstream curved strand, a pair of covers 32 arranged on either side of the wheel 6, and in which the shaft 30 motor is mounted in rotation. These covers 32 provide some protection for the wheel 6 against external aggression (dust and other debris, bad weather).

 As can be seen in FIG. 4, the motor 31 can be mounted on one of the covers 32. In addition, the motor shaft on which the wheel 6 is mounted can be merged with the output shaft of the motorization 31.

 The wheel 6 is shaped to mesh both the articulation axes 17 of the links 16 and the connecting axes 29 of the hanger 24.

 As illustrated in Figure 4, the drive wheel 6 is provided with a pair of rings 33 toothed rotationally integral. These toothed rings 33 mesh indifferently with the axes 17 of articulation of the links 16 and the axes 29 of the suspension lines 24. To this end, the crowns 33 are provided with notches 34 adapted to cooperate with the axes 17 of articulation and the axes 29 of connection, the linear distance (or rope) between two notches 34 being equal to the pitch of the chain 5, that is to say the distance between two successive axes 17 of articulation (or between the axes 29 connecting the same hanger 24).

The toothed rings 33 define between them a gap 35 in which is housed the inner end 28 of the arm 25 when the latter is engaged by the wheel 6. According to a particular embodiment of FIG. embodiment, the wheel 6 comprises a pair of disks 36 separated, secured in rotation being jointly fixed on the motor shaft which is then common to them. Each disk 36 defines, at its periphery, a ring gear 33. This embodiment has the advantage of lightness, but one could imagine a one-piece gear whose tooth periphery would be hollowed out of a groove defining the gap between the toothed crowns.

 As can also be seen in FIG. 4, the flanges 18 of the links adjacent to the internal end 28 of the arm 25 and articulated thereto are mounted on the connection shaft 29 with a mutual spacing greater than the thickness outside. all of the drive wheel 6 at the level of the crowns 33 teeth. In other words, the flanges 18 are positioned on either side of the drive wheel 6, which contributes to the symmetry of the meshing.

 As the toothed rings 33 are distributed on either side of the internal end 28 of the arm 25, the forces applied by the wheel to each connecting pin (and therefore to the arm) are not exerted cantilevered but are symmetrical and equilibrate each other, their resultant extending in the general plane in which the arm 25 extends. Similarly, the latter applying to the wheel 6, via the connecting shaft 29, a resisting force which extends substantially in the plane of the arm 25 (due to the symmetrical suspension of the nacelle 20 between the two chains 5), the resultant of the forces suffered by each connecting pin 29 extends in the general plane of the arm 25. In this way, the connecting axis 29 is maintained in a constant orientation perpendicular to the plane in which the chain 5 circulates without having a tendency to swing sideways due to an imbalance of the forces it undergoes. The forces to which the connection shaft 29 is subjected are thus transmitted in a balanced manner by the rollers 19 of the hanger 24 to the two tracks 15 of the rail 7, which can provide a precise and reliable guide function for the chain 5, at least in the curved sections.

 This balancing of efforts makes it possible to maintain the tension in the chain 5 at a reasonable level.

Likewise, the balancing of the forces makes it possible to reduce the wear of the components, in particular the wheel 6, the connecting pins 29 and the curved strands 10, 11 of the rail 7. The result of these increased performances is greater reliability and longer life of the installation 1.

 This also results in a better optimization of the dimensions of the components, which can be reduced, to the benefit of the size and weight of the installation 1.

 Various embodiments may be provided.

 In particular, it is conceivable, to avoid the rocking movements of the nacelles during successive stops and restarts of the chain, to guide the nacelles in at least two points.

 Thus, according to a particular embodiment (not shown), the installation comprises a cam path integral with the frame and defining a fixed loop path for a given point of the nacelle, and each nacelle is provided with a cam follower at this point, this cam follower cooperating with the cam path. The cam follower is preferably located on or near the platen, for example at the junction of the platen and the cage, so that the cam path does not interfere with the frontal insertion (or withdrawal) of the cam. vehicle in (of) the basket. The cam follower, in combination with the hanger 24 guided by the chain 5, to maintain the attitude of the nacelle 20 during its movement.

Claims

1. Installation (1) for conveying automobile (2) vehicles, which comprises:  a frame (3),  an endless conveyor chain (5) mounted circulating relative to the frame (3);  a plurality of nacelles (20) each adapted to receive a vehicle (2), each nacelle (20) being coupled to the chain (5) via a hanger (24) provided with an arm (25) dimensionally stable having an inner end (28) forming a link in the chain (5), and an outer end (26) on which the nacelle (20) is rotatably mounted by means of a bearing (27), the suspension ( 24) being further provided with a pair of pins (29) integral with the end (28) of the inner arm (25) and through which the arm (25) is articulated to links (16). ) adjacent to the chain (5);  a wheel (6) for driving the chain (5); this installation (1) being characterized in that the drive wheel (6) is provided with a pair of rotationally integral toothed crowns (33) which jointly mesh the connecting pins (29) of the lines (24), these rings (33) defining between them a gap in which is housed the inner end of the arm.  2. Installation (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that each link (16) adjacent to the end (28) of the inner arm comprises a pair of flanges (18) mounted together on a shaft (29) connecting with a gap greater than the overall thickness of the drive wheel (6) at the toothed crowns (33).  3. Installation (1) according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the frame (3) comprises a guide rail (7) in which the chain (5) is mounted circulating, said rail (7) defining, at the driving wheel (6), a curved strand (10) where the rail (7) comprises two separate tracks (15) arranged on either side of the wheel (6). 4. Installation (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the hanger (24) is provided with rollers (19) mounted at the ends. connecting pins (29), each roller (19) co-operating in rolling, in the curved strand (10) of the rail (7), with a track (15) thereof.  5. Installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive wheel (6) comprises a pair of separate discs (36) integral in rotation and defining each, at its periphery, a ring (33). ) toothed.  6. Installation (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that the discs (36) are mounted on a shaft (30) common motor.  7. Installation (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the frame (3) comprises a pair of covers (32) arranged on either side of the wheel (6), and in which the shaft (30) ) motor is rotatably mounted.  8. Installation (1) according to claims 6 and 7, characterized in that it comprises a motor (31) rotatably coupled to the shaft (30) motor, the motor (31) being mounted on one of the covers (32).  9. Installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it comprises a cam path integral with the frame (3), and each nacelle (20) is provided with a cam follower adapted to cooperate with the cam path for maintaining the attitude of the nacelle (20) during its displacement.  10. Installation (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is arranged horizontally.