Interlocking Coupling System For Overhead Aligned Rails

Abstract

The present invention relates to an interlocking coupling system (1) for overhead aligned rails (4, 5) of which at least one rail (4) is displaceably arranged and comprises a first coupling part (2) and a second coupling part (3), each of said coupling parts (2, 3) is arranged at end parts of said rails (4, 5) and arranged for interlocking, when said rails (4, 5) are in aligned position, wherein each of said coupling parts (2, 3) comprises a pivotal gate member (23, 33), and said first coupling part (23) comprises a locking bolt member (21) with a tapered end part (214) adapted to engage with a pin (334) projecting from said gate member (33) of said second coupling part (3) and said locking bolt member (21) is adapted to engage with a recess (234) in said pivotal gate member (23), and both said gate members (23, 33) are activated by displacing said locking bolt member (21).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

The invention will now be explained with reference to the accompanying drawing, wherein:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of the coupling system according to the invention,

FIG. 2 is an exploded view of the first coupling part according to the invention,

FIG. 3 is an exploded view of the second coupling part according to the invention, and

FIG. 4 is a view of the locking bolt according to the invention.

The reference numbers in the figures indicate the following:

1 Coupling system

2 First coupling part

20 Casing

201 Casing; elongated recess

202 Casing; side recess

203 Casing; aligning members

21 Locking bolt member

211 Locking bolt member; pin member

212 Locking bolt member; front bridge

213 Locking bolt member; back bridge

214 Locking bolt member; tapered end

215 Locking bolt member; forwardly open recess

216 Locking bolt member; transverse extension recess

22 Key plate member

221 Key plate member; spring

222 Key plate member; spring

223 Key plate member; recess

224 Key plate member; ball bearing

225 Key plate member; ball bearing

226 Key plate member; stop edge

23 Gate member

231 Gate member; top part

232 Gate member; side part

233 Gate member; bottom part

234 Gate member; top part; recess

235 Gate member; spring

24 Mounting holder

25 Sensor

3 Second coupling part

30 Casing

301 Casing; double wing part

302 Casing; double wing part; recess

303 Casing; recess

304 Casing; bolt

305 Casing; fitting

31 Key plate member

311 Key plate member; spring

312 Key plate member; recess

313 Key plate member; ball bearing

32 Locking ball

33 Gate member

331 Gate member; top part

332 Gate member; side part

333 Gate member; bottom part

334 Gate member; pin

335 Gate member; aligning member

336 Gate member; spring

4 Rail

41 Rail; top recess

42 Rail; bottom recess

5 Rail

51 Rail; top recess

52 Rail; bottom recess

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

FIG. 1 shows a coupling system 1 comprising a first coupling part 2 and a second coupling part 3, where said first coupling part 2 is arranged at an end part of rail 5 and said second coupling part 3 is arranged at an end part of rail 4.

Mounting holders 24 connected to the casing 20 of said first coupling part is provided for the mounting of the rail 5 in a fixed position.

The casing 20 of said first coupling part 2 is fixed to said rail 5 with bolts 204, which are mounted onto a fitting (not shown) positioned in the top recess 51 of rail 5

The casing 20 furthermore comprises an aligning member 203 in the shape of two spaced protruding arm plates.

Said first coupling part 2 is shown with the gate member 23 in an open position and with the locking bolt member 21 positioned in said top recess 51 of rail 5, in a protruding position.

The key plate member 22 is arranged pivotally on the casing 20 and is spring loaded by means of two springs 221, 222 and provided with ball bearings 224, 225.

The pin member 211 of the locking bolt member 21 is shown guided in recesses (not shown) in said key plate member 22, said casing 20 and in the top part (not shown) of said gate member 23.

A sensor 25 is provided for detecting the alignment of said coupling parts 2, 3 arranged at end parts of said rails 4, 5.

The casing 30 of said second coupling part 3 is fixed to said rail 4 with bolts 304, which are mounted onto a fitting (not shown) positioned in the top recess 41 of rail 4.

The front part of said casing 30 is in the shape of a double wing part 301, the front edge being adapted for guiding said ball bearing 224 of said first coupling part 2 along the front edge into a front recess (not shown) when said rail 4 is positioned in front of said rail 5.

Said second coupling part 3 is shown with the gate member 33 in a closed position where the bottom part 333 prevents the sling (not shown) from being moved off said rail 4.

The key plate member 31 is pivotally arranged on the casing 30 and is spring loaded by means of one spring 311 and provided with a ball bearing 313, which is adapted to interconnect with ball bearing 225 of said first coupling part 2 when said rail 4 is positioned in front of said rail 5.

The key plate member 31 is provided with a recess 312 which is arranged for receiving a part of the locking ball (not shown) of the locking arrangement.

The gate member 33 furthermore comprises an aligning member 335 in the shape of a protruding arm plate, which is adapted to interlock between said two spaced protruding arm plates of said aligning member 203, thereby preventing said rail 4, 5 to move apart even if the locking bolt member 21 is damaged or broken.

The springs 235, 336 are arranged on said casings 20, 30 ensuring that said gate members 23, 33 is moved back into closed position, preventing a sling (not shown) to be moved off either said rail 4 or said rail 5 when said rail is not aligned and the locking bolt member 21 is pushed outwards in connection with the pivotal movement of said gate members 23, 33, due to the displacement of said locking bolt member 21.

It should be noted that the situation shown in FIG. 1 is only shown as an illustration of the possible position of said locking bolt member 21, as said locking bolt member 21, when said two rails 4, 5 are not aligned, is in a drawback position with said tapered end part 214 being positioned inside said top recess 51 of said rail 5 and with said back bridge 213 being moved back against said casing 20 in the side recess 202.

FIG. 2 shows said first coupling part 2 in exploded view, and it is possible to see the recess 223 in key plate member 22, the recess 201 in casing 20 and the recess 231 in the top part 234 of gate member 23, wherein said pin (not shown) of said locking bolt member (not shown) is guided when a displacement of said locking bolt member (not shown) occurs.

As the spring 221 is connecting said key plate member 22 to said casing 20 and said key plate member 22 is pivotally arranged on said casing 20, said key plate member 22 will be forced to the side, whereby the stop edge 226 will prevent said pin (not shown) from sliding though recess 223.

When said ball bearing 224 is guided along said front edge (not shown) of said double wing part (not shown) of said second coupling part (not shown) and positioned into said front recess (not shown) of said double wing part (not shown) the pressure on said ball bearing 224 will force said key plate member 22 to rotate, whereby said stop edge 226 will be moved away and said pin (not shown) can slide though recess 223 and the underlying recesses 201,231 when a displacement of said locking pin (not shown) occurs.

The key plate member 22 is one of the precautionary measures for preventing the gate member 23 to open at random, because it will only allow a displacement of said locking bolt member (not shown), hence opening of gate member 23, when said rails (4,5) are aligned and the ball bearing 224 is positioned in said front recess (not shown) of said double wing part (not shown).

When said gate member 23 is in closed position said recess 234 in said top part 231 of said gate member 23 is arranged in a skew direction in comparison to the recess 201 of said casing 20. The forward push of said pin (not shown) of said locking bolt member (not shown) at recess 234, when a displacement of said locking bolt member (not shown) occurs will force said gate member 23 to move pivotally into an open position thereby allowing a passage through said rail (not shown).

The side recess 202 of said casing 20 is provided for allowing said bridges (not shown) of said locking bolt member (not shown) to slide back and forth.

FIG. 3 shows said second coupling part 3 in exploded view, in a rear view and a front view.

The gate member 33 is provided with a pin 334 which is adapted to interlock with the recesses (not shown) of said tapered end part (not shown) of said locking bolt member (not shown) when a displacement of said locking bolt member (not shown) occurs. Since said pin 334 is rigidly connected to said gate member 33 a displacement of said locking bolt member will (not shown) cause said gate member 33 to move into an open position.

As the spring 311 is connecting said key plate member 31 to said casing 30 and said key plate member 31 is pivotally arranged on said casing 30, said key plate member 31 will be forced into a first position.

Said casing 30 is provided with a recess 303, wherein a locking ball 32 is positioned, and said recess 303 has a diameter which is larger than the outer diameter of said locking ball 32, allowing said locking ball 32 to move freely through said recess 303. When said gate member 33 is in a closed position, said recess 303 will be positioned in alignment and above a recess (not shown) in said gate member 33, and said recess (not shown) in said gate member 33 has a diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of said locking ball 32, preventing said locking ball 32 from sliding through said recess (not shown) in said gate member 33. A part of said locking ball 32 will protrude into said recess (not shown) in said gate member 33 and maintain said gate member 33 in a fixed position.

When said first coupling part (not shown) and said second coupling part 3 are aligned said ball bearing (not shown) on said first coupling part (not shown) will be positioned in contact and provide a pressure on said ball bearing 313, whereby said key plate member 31 is moved pivotally and the recess 312 will be positioned in alignment and above said recess (not shown) in gate member 33 and said recess 303 in said casing 30.

Said recess 312 has a diameter which is smaller than the outer diameter of said locking ball 32, preventing said locking ball 32 from sliding through said recess 312.

Due to the alignment of said recess 312, said recess 303 and said recess (not shown) in said gate member, it is possible to move said gate member 33 pivotally, because said locking ball is pushed up from the said recess (not shown) in said gate member 33 into recess 312, thereby locking said key plate member 31 in a fixed position and releasing said gate member 33.

The key plate member 31 is one of the precautionary measures for preventing said gate member 33 to open at random, only allowing an opening of said gate member 33, when the ball bearing 313 is activated by an opposite ball bearing (not shown) forcing said key plate member 31 into a pivotal movement, whereby said recess 312 is positioned in alignment and above recess 303, and the said locking ball 32 is pushed upwards due to the pivotal movement of said gate member 33.

The gate member 33 is provided with an aligning member 335 which is adapted to interlock with the aligning member (not shown) on the opposite coupling part (not shown).

FIG. 4 shows locking bolt 21 with a tapered end part 214, which is provided with an axially forwardly open recess 215 for receiving the pin projecting (not shown) from said gate member (not shown) of said second coupling part (not shown), and said open recess 215 has a transverse extension 216 for locking said pin (not shown) preventing said locking bolt member 21 from being retracted while the gate members (not shown) are in an open position.

A projecting pin member 211 is adapted to engage to said pivotal gate member (not shown) of said first coupling part (not shown) is provided at a distance behind said tapered end part 214.

Bridge members 212, 213 are provided at opposite end of said recess 215, and adapted for engaging said side recess (not shown) in said casing (not shown) of said first coupling part (not shown). The distance between said bridge members 212, 213 allows for the arranging of means for displacement of said bolt member 21.

Claims

1. Interlocking coupling system (1) for overhead aligned rails (4, 5) of which at least one rail (4) is displaceably arranged and comprises a first coupling part (2) and a second coupling part (3), each of said coupling parts (2,3) is arranged at end parts of said rails (4, 5) and arranged for interlocking, when said rails (4, 5) are in aligned position, characterised in that each of said coupling parts (2, 3) comprises a pivotal gate member (23, 33), and said first coupling part (23) comprises a locking bolt member (21) with a tapered end part (214) adapted to engage with a pin (334) projecting from said gate member (33) of said second coupling part (3) and said locking bolt member (21) is adapted to engage with a recess (234) in said pivotal gate member (23), and both said gate members (23, 33) are activated by displacing said locking bolt member (21).

2. Coupling system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said locking bolt member (21), at a distance behind said tapered end part (214), is provided with a projecting pin member (211) adapted to engage with said pivotal gate member (23) of said first coupling part (2).

3. Coupling system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that each of said coupling parts (2, 3), furthermore, comprises a spring loaded key plate member (22, 31) with a number of ball bearings (224, 225, 313) adapted to engage with said key plate member (22, 31) on opposite coupling part (2, 3).

4. Coupling system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first coupling part (2), said key plate member (22) and said gate member (23) are provided with elongated recesses (223, 234) for guiding said projecting pin member (211) of said locking bolt member (21).

5. Coupling system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said second coupling part (3) is provided with a locking arrangement for said key plate member (31) and said gate member (33).

6. Coupling system (1) according to claim 5, characterised in that said locking arrangement comprises a locking ball (32) adapted to move between a recess (312) in said key plate member (31) and said gate member (33).

7. Coupling system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that each of said coupling parts (2, 3) is provided with an aligning member (203, 335) being adapted to engage with an aligning member (203, 335) of said opposite coupling part (2, 3).

8. Coupling system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said tapered end part (214) of said locking bolt member (21) is provided with an axially forwardly open recess (215) for receiving said pin (334) projecting from said gate member (33) of said second coupling part (3), and said open recess (215) having a transverse extension (216).

9. Coupling system (1) according to claim 1, characterised in that said first coupling part (2) comprises means for displacement of said bolt member (21).