Driveway for magnetically lavitated vehicles
Disclosed is a driveway for magnetically levitated vehicles, comprising a plurality of driveway modules (1) which are disposed along a track and are preferably provided with accessories. Each of said driveway modules (1) is fixed to a primary supporting framework (2) by means of at least one fastening device (4) that has the function of a movable bearing. The fastening device (4) comprises a supporting bearing which is made of spring steel and is detachably connected to the lower side of the module (1).
The present invention relates to a driveway for magnetically levitated vehicles according to the general class indicated in the definition of the species in claim 1.
Driveways for magnetically levitated vehicles are known in various configurations. They typically include a large number of supports anchored in a primary supporting framework and installed along a predetermined track at a height of one meter or more, and they include driveway carriers that are, e.g., approximately 12 m to approximately 62 m in length arranged on said supports. All pieces of equipment needed to operate a magnetically levitated vehicle are fixed to the carriers, e.g., stator cores, lateral guide rails, slide rails, and the like. When steel carriers are used, in order to enable the necessary temperature-induced expansions to occur, said carriers are supported in a fixed manner at a center part and at its ends on associated supports in a movable manner that depends on the type of movable bearing. The movable bearings are realized as elastomer-Teflon sliding bearings, for example, which are installed in a manner that allows them to be replaced easily using screws (e.g., ZEV-Glas, Ann. 105, 1981, No. 7/8, pp 205-215 and DE 34 04 061 C1).
In addition, vehicles of the general class described initially are known; the driveway components of said vehicles are composed of steel and have relatively short lengths of, e.g., approximately 6 m or less, down to 2 m, and are intended for “ground-level” operation of magnetically levitated vehicles in particular. Driveway modules of this type formed the basis of the request for bids for the ground-level components of the Berlin-Hamburg magnetically levitated driveway, for example; they are anchored at their ends in a foundation built on the ground, the ends being anchored with the aid of fastening devices containing the supporting bearings made of steel, and said ends being fastened to the underside of the modules. The known supporting bearings are composed of approximately 1 m-high crossties or dividers which fulfill the necessary support function in the vertical direction and the function of a movable bearing in the longitudinal direction of the driveway. For this purpose, the supporting bearings are made of the same material as the carrier, i.e., construction steel, and are integrally joined with the modules by welding.
Due to the constructional method described, the application of supporting bearings of this type is limited. If the supporting bearings are located at an adequate height of a meter or more, they can absorb the stresses in the longitudinal direction which occur due to temperature-induced expansions of the driveway, and the vertical loads which occur during operation of the magnetically levitated vehicles. In the interest of locating the driveway as close to ground level as possible, the shorter the configuration of the supporting bearings is, however, the less favorable are the stress ratios of the deformations which inevitably occur as a result of temperature fluctuations. With the desired low construction heights of less than one meter and the known constructional method, this results, in the end, in plastic deformations of the supporting bearings and in fractures in the region of the welding points in particular. Reducing the cross sections of the supporting bearings in order to increase their bending property would not change this by much; instead, it could possibly result in a level of stress on the supporting bearings that would be impermissible for operation of the magnetically levitated vehicles. Adding to this is the fact that, if a supporting bearing becomes defective, the entire associated carrier would have to be replaced, since repairs cannot be performed on-site.
Finally, driveways for magnetically levitated vehicles are known (DE 198 08 622 C2), with which the individual modules are not fastened directly to a primary supporting framework in the form of a foundation built on the ground, but instead are fixed to a primary supporting framework which is mounted on supports which are supported on the ground. The modules, made of concrete in this case, are provided with openings on their undersides which accommodate fastening devices having the function of a fixed or movable bearing. The detailed configuration of said fastening devices that allows them to function as a fixed or movable bearing cannot be determined from this known proposed design.
Based on this, the problem of the present invention is to design the driveway of the general class initially described such that it is suited for installing the driveway modules on the primary supporting framework without increasing the tendency to break, and to enable defective supporting bearings to be replaced.
The characterizing features of claim 1 serve to attain this object.
The present invention has the advantage that, due to the properties of spring steel, the supporting bearing made of spring steel can compensate for the inevitable deformations of the modules that occur even with low construction heights and can absorb the stresses that occur as a result without the risk of breaking. It has also been proven that the forces which occur perpendicularly to the driveway during operation of the magnetically levitated vehicles can be fully absorbed by the supporting bearings made of spring steel without incurring an impermissible risk of buckling or compromising the driving properties. The detachable connection of the supporting bearing with the module also ensures that the two can be easily separated from each other, which greatly simplifies the replacement of a defective supporting bearing as compared with the integral and/or welded versions.
Further advantageous features of the present invention result from the subclaims.
The present invention is explained in greater detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments in combination with the attached drawing.
Each module 1 is supported on a primary supporting framework, which can be individual concrete foundations (
Magnetic driveways are known from publications ZEV-Glas, Ann. 105 (1981), No. 7/8, pp 205 through 215; DE 298 09 580 U1 and EP 1 048 784 A1, for example. Said publications are therefore made part of the subject of the present disclosure via reference.
The support of modules 1 on primary carrier 2 takes place according to the present invention with the aid of fastening devices 3 and 4. A fastening device 3 located essentially in the center of the module thereby fulfills the function of a fixed bearing, while fastening devices 4 provided at the two ends of the module have the function of movable bearings. As a result, modules 1 are held stationary in the center part, while their sections extending away from the center and toward the two sides undergo the usual temperature-induced expansions and contractions.
According to the present invention, fastening devices 4 have supporting bearings in the form of band-shaped or rod-shaped elements which are composed of spring steel and are yielding in the selected x direction (
According to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention considered to be the best so far (
As shown in
Plate-shaped spacers and/or spacer sheets 15 are preferably located between mounting rails 7 and bearing elements 5, 6. They serve to permit springy motions of bearing elements 5, 6 without their contacting mounting rails 7 or deforming around their lower ends. On the other hand, relatively short spacers 15 can increase the size of the lever arms of bearing elements 5, 6, which improves the spring properties.
Module 1 can be mounted on primary supporting framework 2 made of concrete as shown in
An alternative exemplary embodiment of the invention is shown in
In the exemplary embodiment according to
In an underside view of module 1,
A substantial advantage of the exemplary embodiments according to
Movable bearings effective in the y direction are not provided in the exemplary embodiment according to
An advantage of the present invention compared to integral bearings is that the supporting bearings can be replaced if any type of defect occurs, without damaging associated module 1 and therefore needing to replace it. Exemplary embodiments according to
The present invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown, which said exemplary embodiments can be modified in numerous ways. This applies, for example, for the design of modules 1 and primary supporting frameworks 2. In particular, it does not matter whether modules 1 are fastened to a primary supporting framework 2—using fastening devices 4, 4a and 4b—in the form of a foundation built on the ground, or in the form of a supporting structure which itself is supported by supports or the like on the ground or on a foundation built on the ground. Fastening devices 4, 4a and 4b could be used in a similar manner to fasten modules 1 in the form of supporting elements on which further modules—with the pieces of equipment installed—are fastened with the aid of corresponding or different fastening devices. The expressions “module” and “primary supporting framework” are therefore intended to be understood in the most general sense within the framework of the present invention. The form and number of supporting bearings provided in the specific case does not matter, in principle. Furthermore, instead of mounting screws 9, 10, 24, 25 and 28 described, it is also possible to use other fastening elements in the form of bolts secured with pins, rivets, or the like. Finally, it is also understood that the various features can also be used in combinations other than those presented and described here.
Claims
1. A driveway for magnetically levitated vehicles, comprising a plurality of driveway modules (1) situated along a track, each of the driveway modules being fixed to a primary supporting framework (2) by means of at least one fastening device (4, 4a, 4b) having the function of a movable bearing, whereby the first fastening device (4, 4a, 4b) contains a supporting bearing which is composed of steel and is connected with the underside of the module (1), wherein the supporting bearing is made of spring steel and is detachably connected to the module (1).
2. The driveway as recited in claim 1,
- wherein the supporting bearing contains at least one rod-shaped bearing element (18).
3. The driveway as recited in claim 2,
- wherein the supporting bearing contains at least one band-shaped bearing element (5, 6; 19).
4. The driveway as recited in claim 1,
- wherein the fastening device (4a, 4b) contains a first connecting flange (22, 27) and a second connecting flange (21, 26) on the underside of the module (1), the connecting flange being mounted at one end of the supporting bearing associated with the module (1), and
- wherein the two connecting flanges (22, 27; 21, 26) are detachably connected with each other.
5. The driveway as recited in claim 1,
- wherein the supporting bearing contains two band-shaped bearing elements (5, 6) arranged in parallel with each other.
6. The driveway as recited in claim 3,
- wherein the module (1) is provided, on its underside, with a mounting rail (7) projecting from said underside, and first ends of the bearing elements (5, 6) rest against the mounting rail (7) and are detachably secured to same.
7. The driveway as recited in claim 3,
- wherein the primary supporting framework is equipped, on its top side, with one of these projecting mounting rails (8a) and second ends of the bearing elements (5, 6) rest against the mounting rail (8a) and are detachably secured to same.
8. The driveway as recited in claim 6,
- wherein spacers (15) are arranged between the mounting rails (7) and the bearing elements (5, 6).
9. The driveway as recited in claim 5,
- wherein the module (1) is supported, on the primary supporting framework (2), at its ends pointing in the driving direction by two first fastening devices (4, 4a, 4b) each, the fastening devices being arranged such that they are separated transversely to the driving direction and are configured in accordance with one of the claims 1 through 8.
10. The driveway as recited in claim 9,
- wherein the first fastening devices (4, 4a, 4b) perform their function as loose bearings either parallel or transversely to the driving direction.
11. The driveway as recited in claim 1,
- wherein mounting screws (9, 10; 24, 25; 28) are provided for making the detachable connections.
12. The driveway as recited in claim 1,
- wherein the modules (1) are also fixed to the primary supporting framework (2) by means of at least one second fastening device (3) each having the function of a fixed bearing, and the second fastening device (3) contains a supporting bearing (14) detachably connected to at least the underside of the module (1).
Type: Application
Filed: May 23, 2003
Publication Date: Oct 20, 2005
Inventors: Johann Matuschek (KERKEN), Thomas Stihl (Luenen)
Application Number: 10/517,353