EP4193018B1 - Assembly and method for transferring a monorail vehicle from one rail of a two-rail track to the other rail of the two-rail track - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to an arrangement with a monorail vehicle, a double-rail track and a rail changing system arranged on the double-rail track for moving the monorail vehicle from one rail of the double-rail track to the other rail of the double-rail track. The invention further relates to a method for moving a monorail vehicle from one rail of a double-rail track to the other rail of the double-rail track by means of a rail changing system arranged between the two rails of the double-rail track and having a lifting device.

Typical monorails in use today are either positively stabilized on a non-classical rail with a large, suitable cross-section, or they hang from the rail, like the suspension railway in Wuppertal in Germany. However, it is also possible for monorail vehicles to be primarily gyro-stabilized. Such monorail vehicles, sometimes also called monocabs, maintain their vertical position during travel through a combination of gyro stabilization and mass transfer. Forces from the drive and brakes (longitudinal dynamics) are transmitted over the edges.

To do this, a gyroscope of a circular stabilizer is made to rotate. The angular momentum within this system remains constant even when external forces are applied. This means that the gyroscope is stable against changes in position. Although monorail vehicles only have space for a few people, they can use existing railway lines from passenger and freight transport with two-rail vehicles, especially in less densely populated areas, to provide a new means of transport.

Since the monorail vehicles only run on one rail of a double-track system, there needs to be a way to transport monorail vehicles from one rail to the other, for example to change the direction of travel or to vary the number of monorail vehicles in the network.

The EN 10 2015 113 180 A1 describes a cabin vehicle for rail-bound passenger transport with individual drive and system for rail-bound passenger transport with a track system, in particular a track network, with a plurality of cabin vehicles movable along the track system, wherein the cabin vehicle has a 1-person-wide cabin in which a single individual seat or a row of individual seats arranged one behind the other is/are arranged.

Based on this, the object of the invention is to provide a rail changing system which makes it possible to transfer monorail vehicles from one rail to another rail in a particularly simple manner.

This object is achieved by the subject matter of patent claim 1. Preferred developments can be found in the subclaims.

According to the invention, an arrangement is thus provided with a monorail vehicle, a double-rail track and a rail changing system arranged on the double-rail track for moving the monorail vehicle from one rail of the double-rail track to the other rail of the double-rail track, wherein the rail changing system is arranged between the two rails of the double-rail track and has a lifting device and a positioning unit, the lifting device is set up in such a way that the monorail vehicle can be lifted on the rail on which it is located, moved to the other rail and lowered onto the other rail and the positioning unit is set up in such a way that the lifting device on the monorail vehicle can be positioned in a predetermined manner.

Furthermore, according to the invention, a method is provided for transferring a monorail vehicle from one rail of a double-rail track to the other rail of the double-rail track by means of a rail changing system arranged between the two rails of the double-rail track and having a lifting device, with the following method steps: positioning the lifting device on the monorail vehicle in a predetermined manner, lifting the monorail vehicle above the rail on which it is located, moving the monorail vehicle to the other rail and lowering the monorail vehicle onto the other rail.

It is therefore a key point of the invention that the rail changing system, which is arranged between the two rails of the double-rail track, has a lifting device and a positioning unit. The lifting device is designed in such a way that it can be used to move the monorail vehicle from one rail to the other. The positioning unit is designed to position the lifting device on the monorail vehicle in a predetermined manner. The positioning of the lifting device can basically be done manually or automatically. Automatic positioning can be done, for example, via a magnetic switch to which a magnet attached to the monorail vehicle reacts. The rail changing system is preferably arranged centrally between the two rails of a double-rail track, so that the distance between the rail changing system and the rail is the same for both rails of the double-rail track.

According to a preferred development of the invention, it is provided that the lifting device has at least one connecting unit and at least one counterpart complementary to the connecting unit is provided on the monorail vehicle, so that a force-fitting and/or form-fitting connection can be established between the lifting device and the monorail vehicle. This ensures that a secure connection can be established between the lifting device and the monorail vehicle. The connection can additionally or alternatively also be made by means of a magnetic fixation.

An important development of the invention is that the lifting device can be raised and lowered again by a predetermined value and/or rotated. This ensures that the monorail vehicle, which can be connected to the lifting device, can be raised and lowered using the lifting device. To move the monorail vehicle from one rail to the other rail of a two-rail track, the monorail vehicle can be raised from one rail using the lifting device, then rotated towards the other rail and lowered onto the other rail. The lifting, lowering and/or rotation is carried out by the lifting device to which the monorail vehicle can be attached. The lifting Raising and lowering preferably takes place along an axis perpendicular to the ground, while rotation takes place around this axis perpendicular to the ground.

According to a preferred development of the invention, at least part of the rail changing system is arranged underground. The rail changing system is installed between two rails of a two-rail track. The rail changing system is installed in such a way that two-rail vehicles can still travel on the track. The rail changing system can therefore be partially installed underground so that the height of the rail changing system outside the ground does not exceed a maximum permissible height for two-rail vehicles.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the lifting device can be rotated by at least 180° in a plane parallel to the ground. The lifting device can be connected to the monorail vehicle so that when the lifting device rotates, the monorail vehicle can also be rotated. If the monorail vehicle is lifted, rotated by 180° in a plane parallel to the ground and set down, the monorail vehicle can be moved from one rail to the other rail of a two-rail track along a semicircle due to this movement. Within the scope of the invention, it is also possible to rotate the lifting device by 360° so that a complete rotation of the monorail vehicle is possible.

In principle, it is possible to design the lifting device in different ways. However, according to a preferred development of the invention, the lifting device comprises at least one lifting arm, the lifting arm being designed to point radially away from the rail changing system and being rotatable around the rail changing system. The outermost point of the lifting arm, which can be connected to the monorail vehicle, moves along a circular path whose center is the rail changing system. The lifting device can have one or two lifting arms. Two lifting arms enable two monorail vehicles to be moved simultaneously, with the first monorail vehicle being on one rail of the two-rail track and the second monorail vehicle being on the other rail of the two-rail track. With the help of a lifting device with two lifting arms, the positions of the two monorail vehicles can be swapped.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the lifting device has a displacement device with which the lifting device can be displaced along a linear axis between two rails of the two-rail track. The monorail vehicle can be displaced between the two rails of a two-rail track using the lifting device, so that rotation of the monorail vehicle is not absolutely necessary. If the monorail vehicle has a door on both sides and is designed to travel forwards and backwards, the transfer can take place without rotating the monorail vehicle, since it is accessible from both sides. In this case, it is sufficient to move the monorail vehicle between the two rails. Within the scope of the invention, however, it is also provided that the monorail vehicle can be rotated in the middle of the two rails. The space required to rotate and transfer a monorail vehicle can thus be minimized.

The lifting device of the rail changing system can therefore either have at least one lifting arm with which the rotation can take place along a circular path or be designed in such a way that the monorail vehicle can be displaced between the rails and preferably rotated centrally between the rails, so that the rotation can preferably take place centrally between the two rails of a two-rail track.

The invention further includes a method for moving a monorail vehicle from one rail of a double-rail track to the other rail of the double-rail track by means of a rail changing system arranged between the two rails of the double-rail track and having a lifting device, with the following method steps: positioning the lifting device on the monorail vehicle in a predetermined manner, lifting the monorail vehicle on the rail on which it is located, moving the monorail vehicle to the other rail and lowering the monorail vehicle onto the other rail. The positioning of the lifting device on the monorail vehicle can in principle be done manually, but preferably the positioning is done automatically with the help of a positioning unit. The movement of the monorail vehicle takes place after lifting and before lowering and preferably includes rotating the monorail vehicle.

According to a preferred development of the invention, the method comprises the following further method steps: establishing a force-locking and/or form-locking connection between the lifting device and the monorail vehicle before lifting the monorail vehicle and releasing the force-locking and/or form-locking connection between the lifting device and the monorail vehicle after lowering the monorail vehicle. The monorail vehicle is therefore connected to the lifting device before lifting, raised, moved, lowered and released from the lifting device after lowering. In addition to or as an alternative to the force-locking and/or form-locking connection, a magnetic connection is also possible.

The method further comprises a further method step: moving the lifting device along a linear axis between the two rails of the double-rail track. The monorail vehicle is moved after it is raised and before it is lowered and preferably comprises rotating the monorail vehicle.

The invention is explained in more detail below using a preferred embodiment with reference to the drawings.

• Fig. 1 schematisch eine Anordnung mit einem Einschienenfahrzeug, einem zweischienigen Gleis und einer an dem zweischienigen Gleis angeordneten Schienenwechselanlage gemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,
• Fig. 2 schematisch eine Anordnung mit zwei Einschienenfahrzeugen, einem zweischienigen Gleis und einer an dem zweischienigen Gleis angeordneten Schienenwechselanlage gemäß einem zweiten bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,
• Fig. 3 schematisch eine Anordnung mit einem Einschienenfahrzeug, einem zweischienigen Gleis und einer an dem zweischienigen Gleis angeordneten Schienenwechselanlage gemäß einem dritten bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung,
• Fig. 4 schematisch ein Verfahren zum Umsetzen eines Einschienenfahrzeugsgemäß einem bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung und
• Fig. 5 schematisch ein Verfahren zum Umsetzen eines Einschienenfahrzeugs gemäß einem zweiten bevorzugten Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

In the drawings show

• Fig.1 schematically an arrangement with a monorail vehicle, a double-rail track and a rail changing system arranged on the double-rail track according to a preferred embodiment of the invention,
• Fig.2 schematically an arrangement with two monorail vehicles, a two-rail track and a rail changing system arranged on the two-rail track according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention,
• Fig.3 schematically an arrangement with a monorail vehicle, a double-rail track and a rail changing system arranged on the double-rail track according to a third preferred embodiment of the invention,
• Fig.4 schematically a method for moving a monorail vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention and
• Fig.5 schematically shows a method for moving a monorail vehicle according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention.

Out of Fig.1 shows a schematic arrangement with a monorail vehicle 1, a double-rail track 2 and a rail changing system 3 arranged on the double-rail track 2 according to a preferred exemplary embodiment of the invention. The rail changing system 3 is arranged between the two rails 4, 5 of the track 2 and partially installed in the ground 10, so that at least part of the rail changing system 3 is installed below the ground 9. The rail changing system 3 comprises a lifting device 6. In this exemplary embodiment, the lifting device 6 has a lifting arm 110, which can be positioned on the monorail vehicle 1 via a positioning unit 7 and connected to the monorail vehicle 1 with the aid of the connecting unit 8. The connecting unit 8 comprises two parts 8A, 8B, which are designed to be complementary to one another, so that a force-fitting or form-fitting connection can be established between the lifting arm 110 and the monorail vehicle 1. Here it is shown that the connecting unit 8 does not engage centrally on the monorail vehicle 1, i.e. not in the center of gravity. This is not necessary if the connecting unit 8 can absorb the resulting torque around the longitudinal axis. If this is not possible or difficult to implement, the connecting unit 8 can be attached in or around the center of gravity, always above the rail, of course, in order to keep the torque around the longitudinal axis low.

The monorail vehicle 1 can be lifted with the help of the lifting device 6 and rotated about the rotation axis A. The rotation can be done by 180°, i.e. half a turn, or by 360°, i.e. a full turn. With a rotation of 180°, the monorail vehicle 1 can be moved from one rail 4 of the track 2 to the other rail 5 of the track 2, so that the monorail vehicle 1 can be moved from the starting position P1 and reaches the target position P2.

As already mentioned, the lifting device 6 can also comprise two lifting arms 111, 112. This embodiment is shown in Fig.2 shown. One monorail vehicle 11 is located on one rail 4 of track 2 and the other monorail vehicle 12 is located on the other rail 5 of track 2. One lifting arm 111, 112 is connected to each monorail vehicle 11, 12. With the help of the lifting device 6, both monorail vehicles 11, 12 are lifted and rotated by 180° about the rotation axis A, so that after relocation, one monorail vehicle 11 is on the rail 5 on which the other monorail vehicle 12 was previously located and the other monorail vehicle 12 is on the rail 4 on which the one monorail vehicle 11 was previously located. The positions of the two monorail vehicles 11, 12 can therefore be swapped with the help of the rail changing system 3.

However, the lifting device 6 does not necessarily have to have one or more lifting arms 110, 111, 112, but can also comprise a displacement device 13, as in Fig.3 It should be noted here that the representation in Fig.3 is purely schematic, i.e. it shows the principle meant here and the dimensions and dimensions shown there are not necessarily to scale. The displacement device 13 is arranged between the two rails 4, 5. The lifting device 6 is integrated in the displacement device 13 so that the lifting device 6 can be moved along the displacement device 13. The monorail vehicle 1 can be lifted from the rail 4 with the lifting device 6 and moved along the displacement axis B in the direction of the other rail 5. Depending on the design of the monorail vehicle 1, it may be necessary to rotate the monorail vehicle 1. The rotation can take place centrally between the rails 4, 5. Once the monorail vehicle 1 has reached the target position P2, it can be lowered onto the other rail 5. This embodiment has the advantage that the monorail vehicle can be moved and rotated in a space-saving manner since only the space between the rails 4, 5 is used for moving and rotating.

Fig.4 shows schematically a method for moving a monorail vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention. First, the lifting device 6 is positioned S1 on the monorail vehicle 1 with the aid of the positioning unit 7. Then a force-fitting connection is established between the monorail vehicle 1 and the lifting device 6. and/or positive connection is established S2. After the connection S2 has been established, the monorail vehicle 1 is lifted S3 from the rail 4 on which the monorail vehicle 1 is located using the lifting device 6. The monorail vehicle 1 is then moved to the other rail 5 S4. The movement can also include a rotation of the monorail vehicle 1. After the monorail vehicle 1 has been moved S4, the monorail vehicle 1 is lowered onto the other rail 5 S5 and the connection between the lifting device 6 and the monorail vehicle 1 is released S6.

Fig.5 shows schematically a method for moving a monorail vehicle according to a second preferred embodiment of the invention. First, the lifting device 6 is positioned on the monorail vehicle 1 with the aid of the positioning unit 7 S1. Then a force-fitting and/or form-fitting connection is established between the monorail vehicle 1 and the lifting device 6 S2. After the connection S2 has been established, the monorail vehicle 1 is lifted S3 from the rail 4 on which the monorail vehicle 1 is located with the aid of the lifting device 6. The monorail vehicle 1 is then moved S4 from one rail 4 to the other rail 5. The movement of the lifting device 6 takes place by displacing the lifting device 6 with the aid of a displacement unit 13 along a displacement axis B between the rails 4, 5 S7. The movement can also comprise a rotation of the monorail vehicle 1. The rotation takes place during or after the displacement of the lifting device 6. After the monorail vehicle 1 has been moved S4, the monorail vehicle 1 is lowered onto the other rail 5 S5 and the connection between the lifting device 6 and the monorail vehicle 1 is released S6.

List of reference symbols

1

Monorail vehicle

11

Monorail vehicle

12

Monorail vehicle

2

double track

3

Rail changing system

4

rail

5

rail

6

Lifting device

7

Positioning unit

8th

Connection unit

8A

Connection unit

8B

Complementary counterpart to the connecting unit

9

ground

10

soil

110

Lifting arm

111

Lifting arm

112

Lifting arm

13

Shifting device

P1

Starting position

P2

Target position

A

vertical axis of rotation

B

horizontal displacement axis

S1

Positioning the lifting device

S2

Establishing a connection between the lifting device and the monorail vehicle

S3

Lifting the monorail

S4

Moving the monorail vehicle

S5

Lowering the monorail vehicle

S6

Disconnecting the connection between the lifting device and the monorail vehicle

S7

Moving the lifting device

Claims (10)

1. Arrangement with a monorail vehicle (1), a two-rail track and a rail changing system (3) arranged on the two-rail track (2) for transferring the monorail vehicle from one rail (4) of the two-rail track (2) to the other rail (5) of the two-rail track (2), wherein

   the rail changing system (3) is arranged between the two rails (4, 5) of the two-rail track (2) and comprises a lifting device (6) and a positioning unit (7),

   the lifting device (6) is arranged such that it can be used to lift the monorail vehicle (1) on the rail on which it is located, move it to the other rail and lower it onto the other rail, and

   the positioning unit (7) is arranged to position the lifting device (6) on the monorail vehicle (1) in a predetermined manner.
2. Arrangement according to claim 1, characterized in that the lifting device (6) comprises at least one connecting unit (8A), and at least one counterpart (8B) complementary to the connecting unit (8A) is provided on the monorail vehicle (1), so that a force-fit and/or form-fit connection is adjustable between the lifting device (6) and the monorail vehicle (1).
3. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting device (6) is raisable by a predetermined value and lowable again and/or rotatable.
4. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least a part of the rail changing system (3) is arranged in the ground (10).
5. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting device (6) is rotatable through at least 180° in a plane parallel to the ground (9).
6. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting device (6) comprises at least one lifting arm (110), wherein the lifting arm (110) is configured to point radially away from the rail changing system (3) and is rotatable around the rail changing system (3).
7. Arrangement according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lifting device (6) comprises a displacement device (13) with which the lifting device (6) is movable along a linear axis (B) between two rails (4, 5) of the double-rail track (2).
8. Method for transferring a monorail vehicle (1) from one rail (4) of a two-rail track (2) to the other rail (5) of the two-rail track (2) by means of a rail changing system (3) arranged between the two rails (4, 5) of the two-rail track (2) and comprising a lifting device (6), with the following method steps:

   Positioning the lifting device on the monorail vehicle in a predetermined manner,

   Lifting the monorail vehicle above the rail on which it is located,

   Moving the monorail vehicle to the other rail and

   Lowering the monorail vehicle onto the other rail.
9. Method according to claim 8 with the following further method steps:

   Establishing a non-positive and/or positive connection between the lifting device (6) and the monorail vehicle (1) before lifting the monorail vehicle (1), and

   Releasing the non-positive and/or positive connection between the lifting device (6) and the monorail vehicle (1) after the monorail vehicle (1) has been lowered.
10. Method according to claim 8 or 9 with the following further method step:
    Moving the lifting device (6) along a linear axis (B) between the two rails (4, 5) of the two-rail track (2).

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