The invention relates to a telescopic push arm for a load-receiving means for stockpiling an auxiliary loading means in and removing it from a shelf storage system, as well as to a load-receiving means, as specified in the introductory parts of claims 1, 12, 26 and 41.
A telescopic push arm of this type of a load-receiving device for storing a block-shaped auxiliary loading means in a shelf storage facility and removing it from the latter, is known from US 2003/0185656 A1. Said telescopic push arm is comprised of a support frame, a center intermediate carriage and an outer carriage, said carriages being adjustable relative to the support frame and to one another. The outer carriage is provided with driving elements, which are adapted for pivoting transversely to the longitudinal expanse of the telescopic push arm, and are each coupled to a servo-drive (actuator), and sensors are associated with said driving elements for monitoring their operating positions. The sensors and/or actuators are arranged on the outer carriage. Said sensors and/or actuators are provided with electrical energy by means of electrically conductive connections such as, for example cable lines. Such cable lines are laid in energy chains which, starting from an interface (supply source) arranged within the area of the support frame, lead to the sensors an/or the actuators disposed laterally next to the telescopic push arm. The drawback of this solution is that even the smallest types of energy chains require a relatively large minimum radius in order to maintain the useful life of the cable lines over a relatively long time. For this reason, the installation space is relatively large, and it is therefore not possible to satisfy the requirement increasingly to be met at the present time, which is to provide a load-receiving device that is as compact and small as possible.
Another known design consists in that the energy supply of the sensors and/or the actuators is realized on the outer carriage in the form of a compact cable drum with sliding ring bodies. The drawback of this solution is the large size of the cable drum conditioned by the required minimum diameter of the cable, as well as the high weight and the relatively high costs. Designs of this type can be employed only with larger structures of telescopic push arms.
Another, highly space-saving design for a transmission means for supplying the sensors and/or the actuators on the outer carriage with electrical energy is known from US 2003/0185656 A1 as well, where the stranded flexible steel wires of the toothed belts for driving the intermediate center carriage and the outer carriage in and out, are employed at the same time as means for transmitting the electrical energy, permitting a highly space-saving energy supply at favorable cost in this way. However, this solution is disadvantageous in that for functional reasons, such an arrangement can be realized only for telescopic push arms with only one movable carriage, or maximally with only one movable carriage, or one intermediate carriage and one outer carriage at the most.
The problem of the present invention is to provide a telescopic push arm for storing or delivering loads, as well as a load-receiving device that permit safe transfer of energy between an interface arranged on a lifting platform of a conveying vehicle, and a sensor and/or actuator mounted on an extendable carriage, such push arm and such device being characterized by a simple and compact as well as low-maintenance design.
The problem of the invention is resolved by the features specified in the characterizing clauses of claims 1, 12 and 41. The advantages offered in this connection include that the electrical energy for a sensor and/or an actuator arranged on the extendible carriage, and/or a signal for the actuator can be supplied by means of a sliding cable line arrangement provided between the support frame and the carriage, and that the energy and/or a signal can be tapped from the sliding line line arrangement by means of one or two sliding-body arrangements provided between the support frame and the carriage. In other words, the one or more sliding-body arrangements are connected with the sliding-line arrangements via sliding contacts, which ensures a continuous energy supply for the sensor and/or the actuator, e.g. a servo-drive on the outer carriage, in any position of the carriage in relation to the support frame. The sliding-line and sliding-body arrangements are structured in a very compact way, so that the telescopic push arm and the load-receiving device can be realized with small dimensions. Therefore, it is now possible also to increase the number of auxiliary loading means accommodated in the shelf storage system because owing to the small structure of the telescopic push arm, it is possible to reduce the spacing between two auxiliary loading means deposited next to one another in the shelf storage system.
The embodiments according to claims 2 to 5 and 13 to 16 are advantageous in that due to the alternating arrangements of the sliding-line and sliding-body arrangements on the support frame or carriage, a flexible adaptation to the operational requirements is possible without having to change the compact installation measurements. If the telescopic push arm can be extended in both directions with respect to the lifting platform, the support frame or carriage is equipped with two sliding-body arrangements, which are mounted as closely as possible to the face-side end areas of the support frame or carriage, so that in such a compact embodiment, the length of extension from the carriage itself is not restricted. Furthermore, the modular structure of the transmission means comprising the sliding-line and sliding-body arrangements is beneficial as well in that only as many sliding-line and sliding-body arrangements have to be employed as exactly required by the number of carriages of the telescopic push arm, or as required by the extension of the latter in only one or in two directions, which means that the telescopic push arm can be manufactured in a particularly economical way.
The embodiments according to claims 6 to 8 and 17 to 19 are advantageous in that the multiple-extensible telescopic push arm now can be extended to such an extent that auxiliary loading means can be stored in and removed from the shelf storage system both in a front storage space located close to the aisle in the direction of extension of the telescopic push arm, and in a rear storage space located far from the aisle. The degree of utilization of the shelf storeroom and its efficiency and consequently the economy of the storage system can be increased in this way. In this connection, the shelves are set up either only on one side next to a conveying vehicle, or on both sides of the latter, whereby the telescopic push arm can be extended then only in one or in both directions with respect to the lifting platform. A reliable supply of the sensor and/or the actuator provided on the outer carriage with electrical energy, and/or the transmission of signals to the sensor and/or the actuator, is accomplished by transmitting energy and/or signals first from the sliding cable line and sliding body arrangements installed between the support frame and the intermediate carriage, to the sliding-line and sliding-body arrangements installed between the intermediate carriage and the outer carriage, and subsequently then to a sensor and/or an actuator.
The further developments according to claims 9 to 11 and 20 to 22 are advantageous as well in that the multiple-extendible telescopic push arm is structured in this way in a robust way, and capable of reaching long extension distances, so that in the direction of extension, said telescopic arm is capable of servicing also a number of storage compartments in the storage shelf system, which are disposed one after the other, for stowing away auxiliary loading means or removing the latter from storage.
The measure according to claim 23 permits reliable energy supply and/or signal transmission even with the telescopic push arm disposed in its maximally extended position.
According to claim 24, the length of the sliding contact of the sliding-body arrangement is coordinated in such a way that the minimum contact surface area for safely supplying energy and/or safely transmitting signal is realized, and maximally possible surface contact pressure for reducing wear, and smooth sliding of the sliding body arrangement are achieved as well, but not exceeded.
A realizable advantageous embodiment of the sliding-line and sliding-body arrangement is specified in claim 25.
However, the problem of the invention can be resolved also by the features specified in the characterizing clause of claim 26, which are advantageous in that electrical energy and/or signals can be transmitted free of contact wirelessly between an interface arranged on the lifting platform, and an actuator and/or sensor arranged on the outer carriage, so that mechanical wear is avoided, and maintenance work on the telescopic push arm in minimized. In addition, the transmitting and/or receiving units arranged opposite each other on the support frame and on the carriage, are distanced from one another with a small spacing by an air gap, so that the requirements to be met with respect to the tolerances of the linear guides arranged between the support frame and the carriage are low, while the advantage of safe energy supply and/or signal transmission between the transmitting and/or the receiving units is nonetheless preserved. Furthermore, it is beneficial that the telescopic push arm can be used without any restrictions under harsh ambient operating conditions such as dust and the like.
The embodiments according to claims 27 to 32 are advantageous in that owing to the alternating arrangement of the transmitting and/or receiving units on the support frame or carriage, flexible adaptation to the operationally conditioned requirements is possible without having to change the compact installation measurements. If the telescopic push arm is extendible with respect to the lifting platform in both directions, the support frame or the carriage is equipped with at least two transmitting and/or receiving units, which are mounted as closely as possible to the face-side end areas of the support frame or carriage, so that the distance of extension from the carriage itself is not restricted even with such a compact design of the telescopic push arm. The modular structure of the transmitting means comprising the transmitting and/or receiving units is beneficial as well.
The embodiments according to claims 33 and 34 are advantageous as well, because the multiple-extendible telescopic push arm can now be extended to such an extent that the auxiliary loading means can be stored in and removed from the shelves both in storage places disposed close to the aisle in the direction of extension of the arm, and in rearward storage place disposed located far from the aisle. The storage shelves are set up only on one side next to a conveying vehicle, or on both sides of the latter, whereby the telescopic push arm can then be extended from the lifting platform only in one or in both directions. Reliable supply of the sensor and/or actuator provided on the outer carriage with electrical energy, and /or reliable transmission of signals to the sensor and/or actuator are ensured by transmitting energy and/or signals from the transmitting and/or receiving units arranged between the support frame and the intermediate carriage, to the transmitting and/or receiving units arranged between the intermediate carriage and the outer carriage, and then further to a sensor and/or an actuator.
The further developments according to claims 35 and 36 are advantageous as well in that the multiple-extendible telescopic push arm is provided with a robust structure in this way, and capable of extending over large distances, so that in the direction of extension of the telescopic push arm, the latter is capable of reaching also a number of storage places disposed in the shelf storage system one after the other, where auxiliary loading means can be then stored or removed from storage as well.
Finally, advantageous embodiments for the transmitting and/or receiving units are specified in claims 37 to 40.
The invention is described in greater detail in the following with the help of the exemplified embodiments shown in the drawings, in which:
It is noted by way of introduction that identical components of the various embodiments described herein are provided with the same reference numbers or same component designations, whereby the disclosures contained throughout the specification can be applied in the same sense to identical components with the same reference numbers or the same component designations. Furthermore, data specifying positions such as, i.e. “top”, “bottom”, “lateral” etc., relate to the directly described and shown figure, and have to be applied to any new position where a position has changed. Moreover, individual features or combinations of features of the different exemplified embodiments shown and described herein may per se represent inventive solutions or solutions as defined by the invention.
As shown in
When an auxiliary loading means 12 is stored in the shelf system section 3a, 3b, the rear (viewed in the direction of extension) pair of the driving elements 3c, 13d is adjusted from an idle position to an operating position projecting beyond the outer periphery of the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b. With the driving elements 13c and 13d in their operating positions, the front (viewed in the direction of extension) side wall 57a of the auxiliary loading means 12 that has to be stored in the storage compartment in the shelf system section 3a, 3b close to or far from the aisle, is positively engaged from behind. The auxiliary loading means 12 is subsequently pushed from the lifting platform 8 into the shelf system section 3a, 3b solely owing to the extending movement of the telescopic push arm 11a, 11b.
When the auxiliary loading means 12 is removed from the shelf system 3a, 3b and loaded on the lifting platform 8, the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b are displaced on both sides next to the auxiliary loading means 12 to be removed, and driven beyond the rear side wall 57b of said auxiliary loading means, whereupon the front (viewed in the direction of extension) pair of the driving elements 13a, 13b is adjusted from its idle to its operating position protruding beyond the outer periphery of the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b. With the driving elements 13a, 13 in their operating positions, the rear (viewed in the direction of extension) side wall 57b of the auxiliary loading means 12 stored in a storage compartment in the shelf storage system section 3a, 3b close to or far from the aisle, is positively engaged from behind. Thereafter, the auxiliary loading means 12 is pushed from the storage shelf section 3a, 3b and onto the lifting platform 8 solely owing to the retracting movement of the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b.
The driving elements 13a, 13b, 3c, 13d of each telescopic push arm 11a, 11b, said driving elements being adjustable from their idle to their operating positions, are coupled to at least one electrical servo-drive (actuator) not shown, particularly an electrical motor. The idle and operations positions of the driving elements 13a, 13b, 3c, 13d are each monitored via a sensor not shown. The servo-drives and the sensors of the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b are arranged on the outer carriage 15a and 15b, respectively. It is, of course, possible to arrange on the outer carriages 15a and 15b also additional, separately controllable actuators and/or sensors serving other functions.
For feeding the actuator and/and or sensors with electrical energy and/or signals, each telescopic push arm 11a, 11b comprises a transmission means 20, which is described in the following figures.
Each telescopic push arm 11a and 11b comprises a transmission means 20 for feeding electrical energy and/or transmitting signals from an energy and/or signal interface 52 arranged on the lifting platform 8, to the actuators and/or sensors on the carriages 15a and 15b, respectively. According to the present embodiment, the transmission means 20, which is electrically conductively connected to the interface 52, is formed by a sliding-line arrangement 16 and a sliding-body arrangement 18, whereby at least one electrical sliding contact 17 is formed between the sliding-line arrangement 16 and the sliding-body arrangement 18. The sliding-line arrangement 16 is formed by several sliding lines and secured on the support frame 14a, 14b on its side facing the carriage 15a, 15b, respectively. The length 46 of the sliding-line arrangement 16 approximately corresponds with the length of the support frame 14a, 14b. The sliding-body arrangement 18 is formed by several sliding bodies, particularly spring-actuated sliding carbon brushes, and secured on the carriage 15a, 15b in the tail end area 25a opposing the telescopic push arm 11a, 11b in the direction of extension according to arrow 19a. The length 48 of the sliding contact 17 of the sliding body arrangement 18 between the sliding-line arrangement 16 and the sliding-body arrangement 18 corresponds to a fraction of the length 46 of the slip line arrangement 16. The sliding- line arrangement 16 of the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b is connected in each case to an interface 52, which in turn supplies the sliding-line arrangement 16 with electrical energy, or signals are transmitted from the interface 52 to the sliding-line arrangement 16. Said interface 52 is connected to an overriding control, e.g. a control with a programmable memory, and/or to an external energy source.
Another embodiment (not shown) of the unilaterally extendible telescopic push arms 11a, 11b consists of an arrangement of the sliding-line and sliding-body arrangements 16 and 18, respectively, such arrangement representing an alternative to
The sliding-line and sliding-body arrangements 16 and 18, respectively, are electrically insulated vis-à-vis the support frames 14a and 14b and the carriages 15a and 15b, respectively.
The electrical energy for a sensor and/or an actuator on the carriage 15a, 15b, and the signals for the actuator are supplied by means of the sliding-line arrangement 16 provided between the support frame 14a, 14b and the carriage 15a, 15b, and tapped by means of the sliding-body arrangement 18 between the support frame 14a, 14b, and the carriage 15a, 15b, respectively.
Now, since the sliding bodies of the sliding-body arrangement 18 are guided or sliding along the sliding lines of the sliding-line arrangement 16, and are electrically connected to each other, and owing to the fact that at least one sliding body is permanently pressed against and in contact with at least one electrically conductive sliding-line (not shown), electrical energy and/or signals can be transmitted to the actuator and/or sensor as the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b are being extended or retracted.
The embodiment of the load-receiving device 9 according to
Another embodiment (not shown) of the telescopic pushing arms 11a and 11b, which extendible in two directions with respect to the lifting platform 8, consists of an arrangement of the slip line and sliding body arrangements 16, 18a, 18b that represents an alternative to the design according to
According to the present design of the transmission means 20 of each telescopic push arm 11a, 11b, each intermediate carriage 21a, 21b has a sliding-line arrangement 22a, 22b on its side facing the support frame 14a, 14b and the carriage 15a, 15b. The support frame 14a, 14b of the telescopic push arm 11a, 11b, is provided in its front—viewed in the direction of extension according to arrow 19a—end area 27b with a sliding-body arrangement 18, 18a, and the carriage 15a, 15b of the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b is provided with such a sliding-body arrangement 18, 18a in its opposite, trailing—viewed in the direction of extension according to arrow 29a—end area 25a, whereby at least one electrical sliding contact 17 and 17a is formed in each case between a sliding-line arrangement 22a, 22b and a sliding-body arrangement 18, 18a. The sliding-line arrangements 22a and 22b secured on the intermediate carriages 21a and 21b, respectively, are electrically conductively connected with each other, and have the length 46, which substantially extends over the entire length of the intermediate carriage 21a, 21b. Each sliding-line arrangement 22a, 22b may form a constructional unit produced as one single piece.
The sliding-body and sliding-line arrangements 18, 18a; 22a, 22b of the transmission means 20 are electrically insulated versus the support frame 14a, 14b, the outer carriage 15a, 15b, and the intermediate carriage 21a, 21b, and form the electrical connection between the interface 52 and a sensor and/or actuator arranged on the outer carriage 15a, 15b. The sliding-body arrangements 18 of the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b are connected to an interface 52.
Current and/or an electrical signal is transmitted from the interface 52 to the sensor and/or actuator arranged on the outer carriage 15a, 15b via the sliding-body and sliding-line arrangements 18, 18a; 22a, 22b, said arrangements being electrically connected by means of the sliding contact 17, 17a irrespectively of whether the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b have been retracted into their basic positions on the lifting platform 8, or extended into the shelf system section 3a into a transporting position.
The type of embodiment according to
Another type of embodiment (not shown) of the bilaterally extendible telescopic push arms 11a and 11b consists of an arrangement of the slip- body and sliding-line arrangements 18 to 18c; 22a, 22b that represents an alternative to
The embodiment of the load-receiving device 9 according to
On its side facing the carriage 15a, 15b, the support frame 14a, 14b is provided with the sliding-line arrangement 16, and the second intermediate carriage 26a, 26b neighboring on the carriage 15a, 15b, is provided with a sliding-line arrangement 22a, 22b on each of its sides facing the support frame 14a, 14b and the carriage 15a, 15b. On its side facing the support frame 14a, 14b, the first intermediate carriage 26a, 26b neighboring on the support frame 14a, 14b is provided in the rear-viewed in the direction of extension according to arrow 19a—end area 24a with the sliding-body arrangement 18, and in its side facing the carriage 15a, 15b in the front-viewed in the direction of extension according to arrow 19a—end area 24b with a sliding-body arrangement 18a. In the opposite rear-viewed in the direction of extension indicated by arrow 19a—end area 25a, the outer carriage 15a, 15b has a sliding-body arrangement 18b. The sliding-body arrangements 18 and 18a on the first intermediate carriage 21a and 21b, respectively, and also the sliding-line arrangements 22a and 22b on the second intermediate carriages 26a and 26b, respectively, are electrically conductively connected among each other in each case. The electrical sliding contacts 17, 17a and 17b are formed between the sliding-line arrangements 16, 22a, 22b, and the respective sliding-body arrangements 18, 18a, 18b, respectively, i.e., the sliding-body and sliding-line arrangements 18, 18a, 18b; 16, 22a, 22b are electrically connected by means of the sliding contacts 17, 17a and 17b, respectively.
Another embodiment (not shown) of the unilaterally extendible telescopic push arms 11a and 11b consists of an arrangement of the sliding-body and sliding-line arrangements 18, 18a, 18b; 22a, 22b representing an alternative to the one shown in
The embodiment according to
It is shown in
Another embodiment (not shown) of the bilaterally extendible telescopic push arms 11a and 11b representing an alternative to the design shown in
The first intermediate carriage 21a, which is displaceably guided on the support frame 14a and has an approximately I-shaped cross section, comprises a guide component 35a and an about L-shaped mounting 36a secured on the latter. Said guide component 35a has two linear guides that are separated from each other: one for guiding the first intermediate carriage 21a on the support frame 14a, and the other for guiding the second intermediate carriage 26a on the first intermediate carriage 21a. Thus the second intermediate carriage 26a is displaceably guided in the longitudinal direction on the first intermediate carriage 21a on one of the linear guides. As shown in the present figure, furthermore, the linear guides extending parallel to the direction of retraction and extension of the telescopic push arm 11a each comprise two vertical and/or lateral guide tracks 37a, 37b; 38a, 38b, which are separated from each other and designed, e.g. in the form of slide guides. The sliding-body arrangement 18 is secured on the section-like mounting 36a, particularly on the leg projecting upwards from the first intermediate carriage 21a on the side facing the mounting 34a of the support frame 14a, and the sliding-body arrangement 18a is fastened on the side facing away from the mounting 34a of the support frame 14a. The sliding-body arrangements 18, 18a extend parallel to the direction of retraction and extension of the telescopic push arm 11a.
The second intermediate carriage 26a comprises two approximately C-shaped guide components 40a and 40b, which are arranged one on top of the other, facing away from each other, and an about L-shaped mounting 41a secured on the top guide component 40a. The guide components 40a and 40b each have two linear guides separated from one another: one for guiding the second intermediate carriage 26a on the first intermediate carriage 21a, and the other for guiding the outer carriage 15a on the second intermediate carriage 26a. Thus the outer carriage 15a is displaceably guided in the longitudinal direction on the second intermediate carriage 26a in one of the linear guides. As shown in the present figure, the linear guides extending parallel to the direction of retraction and extension of the telescopic push arm 11a comprise two vertical and/or lateral guide tracks 42a, 42b; 43a, 43b, which are separated from one another and realized, for example as slide guides. The sliding-line arrangement 22a is secured on the section-like mounting 41a, particularly on the upwardly projecting leg of the second intermediate carriage 26a on the side facing the mounting 34a of the support frame 14a, and the sliding-line arrangement 22b is fastened on the side facing away from the mounting 34a of the support frame 14a. The sliding-line arrangements 22a, 22b extend parallel to the direction of retraction and extension of the telescopic push arm 11a.
The outer carriage 15a comprises a guide component 44a and a substantially plane, section-like mounting 45a secured thereon. The guide component 44a has a linear guide for guiding the carriage 15a on the second intermediate carriage 26a. Thus the carriage 15a is displaceably guided on the second intermediate carriage 26a in the longitudinal direction by means of the linear guide. As shown in the present figure, the linear guide extending parallel to the direction of retraction and extension of the telescopic arm 11 a comprises two vertical and/or lateral guide tracks 47a, 47a, which are separated from each other and realized, e.g. as slide tracks. The sliding-body arrangement 18b is secured on the mounting 45a of the first intermediate carriage 21a on the side facing the mounting 34a of the support frame 14a, said sliding-body arrangement 18b extending parallel to the direction of retraction and extension of the telescopic push arm 11a.
The sliding-line arrangements 16, 22a, 22b, and the sliding-body arrangements 18, 18a, 18b form the transmission means 20 described above, whereby according to the present embodiment, a multitude of electrical sliding contacts 17, 17a, 17b, e.g. ten sliding contacts are formed between the respective sliding-line arrangements 16, 22a, 22b, and the sliding-body arrangement 18.
The sliding-line arrangements 16, 22a, 22b; 23 consist of a basic body made of insulation material, e.g. plastic, and at least one electrically conductive sliding line 54 in the form of a metal rail or the like. The sliding-body arrangements 18, 18a, 18b; 18c to 18e each consist of at least one electrically conductive sliding body 55 in the form of a spring-actuated sliding carbon brush or the like. Several sliding lines 54 disposed parallel to one another are usefully formed for motor currents, control currents and data transmission signals, along which several sliding bodies 55 slide over the entire distance of the path of retraction and extension of the telescopic push arm 11a, 11b. A sliding contact 17, 17a, 17b is realized by pressing the sliding body 55 against the sliding line 54. For example, provision is made for ten sliding lines 54 for each sliding-line arrangement 16, 22a, 22b; 23, and for ten slip-bodies 55 for each sliding-body arrangement 18, 18a, 18b; 18c to 18e.
It is not shown in any detail that the sliding-body arrangements 18 and 18a and the sliding-line arrangements 22a and 22b are electrically conductively connected to each other, whereby the sliding-line arrangement 16 supplies the sliding-body arrangement 18 with electrical energy and/or transmits signals to the latter; and the sliding-body arrangement 18a supplies the sliding-line arrangement 22a; the sliding-line arrangement 22a supplies the sliding-line arrangement 22b; and the sliding-line arrangement 22b the sliding-body arrangement 18b, and/or transmits signals to same. The sliding-body arrangement 18b is in turn connected to the actuators 50a to 50d and/or the sensor 51 shown in
It is shown already by
It is additionally advantageous that the sliding-line and sliding-body arrangements 16, 22a, 22b; 23, 18 to 18b; 18c to 18d of the transmission means 20 are arranged on the side facing away from the lifting platform 8 above, and on the side facing the lifting platform 8 below the telescopic push arm 11a, 11b, particularly the intermediate carriage 21a, 21b and/or the intermediate carriage 6a, 26b, so that a very narrow width of the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b can be maintained, and the latter do not have to be widened because of the arrangement of the transmission means 20. This is made possible because the transmission means of the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b can be installed laterally next to the auxiliary loading means 12 in the free spaces that are available there in any case due to the structural height of said loading means to be transported, either above or below the respective telescopic push arm 11a, 11b.
Another arrangement of the sliding-line arrangements 16, 22a, 22b, and the sliding-body arrangements 18, 8a, 18b of the transmission means 20 is shown in
The sliding-line arrangement 22a is secured on the guide component 35a of the first intermediate carriage 21a on the side facing the second intermediate carriage 26a. The sliding-body arrangement 18a is secured on the C-shaped guide component 40a of the second intermediate carriage 26a on the side facing the support frame 14a. And the sliding-line arrangement 22b is secured on the further C-shaped guide component 40b of the second intermediate carriage 26a on the side facing the outer carriage 15a, 15b.
The sliding-body arrangement 18b is secured on the guide component 44a of the carriage 15a on the side facing the support frame 14a.
The sliding-line arrangements 16 and 22a are electrically connected to each other. Likewise, the sliding-body arrangement 18a and the sliding-line arrangement 22b are electrically connected with one another. The sliding-body arrangement 18 is connected to the interface 52 (not shown).
The embodiment according to
It is noted again that the sliding bodies 55 are designed in the form of spring-actuated sliding carbon brushes or the like. Owing to retraction bevels on both sides of the sliding lines, and the beveled, elastically supported sliding bodies 55 of the sliding-body arrangements 18; 18a to 18c, the sliding-body arrangements 18; 18a to 18e can be safely and smoothly extended into and retracted from into the sliding-line arrangements 16, 22a, 22b; 23. The sliding-line arrangements 16, 22a, 22b; 23 are open to one side and in electrical contact with the sliding-body arrangements 18; 18a to 18e, particularly the sliding bodies 55. Each sliding-line arrangement consists of at least one electrically conductive sliding line 54, which is coordinated with the length of the associated intermediate carriage 21a, 21b; 26a, 26b; carriage 15a, 15b; or of the support frame 14a, 14b, and is electrically insulated.
In another embodiment, the sliding-body arrangements 18; 18a to 18e are doubled around their axes of symmetry, each comprising left and right sliding bodies 55, which ensures safe contacting between the sliding line 54 and the sliding body 55 and energy transmission even if one of the sliding bodies 55 is worn due to friction.
The sliding-line arrangement 16, 22a, 22b; 23 described above forms a current-feeding element, and the sliding-body arrangement 18; 18a to 18e a current collector.
The intermediate carriages 21a, 21b; 26a, 26b, and the outer carriages 15a, 15b of the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b are driven, for example by means of pulley drives not shown, particularly belt drives, whereby a driving force in applied to one of the intermediate carriages 21a, 21b, 26a, 26b, and transmitted by means of the belt drives to the other intermediate carriage 21a, 21b; 26a, 26b and the outer carriage 15a, 15b. An applicable driving concept for the embodiment according to
The load-receiving device 9 as defined by the invention is shown in FIGS. 11 to 14 jointly described below. Said load-receiving means 9 again has the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b arranged parallel to and spaced from one another, and secured on the lifting platform 8 via the support frames 14a, 14b provided for said arms.
The telescopic push arms 11a and 11b according to
In the present embodiment, the transmission means 60 is formed by the transmitting and/or receiving units 61 and 62, between which an electromagnetic field is generated for transmitting energy and/or signals. The first transmitting and/or receiving unit 61 is arranged on the support frame 14a, 14b, and the second transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 on the outer carriage 15a, 15b. If the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b are designed for extending in only one direction, the second transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 is arranged in the rear end area 25a viewed against the direction of extension according to arrow 19a.
The first transmitting and/or receiving unit 61 is formed by a coil with a large surface area, particularly a conductor loop 63, which is substantially extending over the entire length of the support frame 14a, 14b and connected to the interface 52, which in turn supplies the conductor loop 63 with energy from an external energy source, and/or an external control unit with signals. The second transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 is formed by a fork-like, open ferromagnetic core 64, and a coil 65 mounted on said core. The windings of the coil 65 are preferably applied to the center prong of the core 64. The core 64 of the transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 is secured on the carriage 15a, 15 in such a way that the latter encloses a feed and return line 66, 67 of the conductor loop 63. The conductor loop 63 and the coil 65 are arranged neighboring on one another with a small spacing from each other, and disposed opposing each other, so that the transmission distance or air gap is as short as possible, which also minimizes possible losses.
When ac voltage is fed into the conductor loop 63 and ac current is flowing through said loop, current or voltage is induced in the coil 64 of the transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 as a result of the magnetic flow, with the amount and direction of such magnetic flow changing depending on the frequency of the ac voltage admitted into the conductor loop 63. The conductor loop 63 and the coil 65 are electrically insulated against one another, but magnetically coupled with each other. The coil 65 is therefore permeated by the magnetic field generated by the conductor loop 63 through which current is flowing.
If wireless transmission of electrical signals and electrical energy is to take place simultaneously, the support frame 14a, 14b is additionally provided in a first embodiment with a second conductor loop 63a having the first transmitting and/or receiving unit 61, as shown in
In a second embodiment not shown, the first transmitting and/or receiving unit 61 has the two conductor loops 63, 63a, and the second transmitting and/or receiving unit 61 has the two coils 65, 65a, whereby the latter are arranged on only one ferromagnetic core 64.
In a third embodiment for simultaneous transmitting signals and electrical energy, the first transmitting and/or receiving unit 61 has only one conductor loop 63, and the second transmitting and/or receiving 61 only one coil 65. An alternating magnetic field is formed in the transmission of ac current, which generates in the coil 65 an ac current with the same frequency. A high-frequency signal is superimposed on the alternating magnetic field. The signals are thus modulated upon the alternating magnetic field generated by the energy transmission. The voltage induced in the coil 65 is consequently present at a different voltage level and frequency. The signals modulated upon the electromagnetic field can be tapped off again from the latter, so that the signals and the energy can be tapped off again separately as well. Following filtration, the signals and the energy are present again in the form in which they were originally emitted by the conductor loop 63, and can be processed then in this form by a logic. The ac voltage induced by the conductor loops 63 and 63a in the coils 65 and 65a, respectively, can be, for example rectified and transformed into the required voltage. A current circuit is provided for this purpose, which is comprised of the coil 65 or 65a, a capacitor connected in parallel to the coil 65 or 65a mounted on the ferromagnetic core 64 or 64, respectively, and a diode. The diode and the capacitor represent a rectifier diode with a buffer capacity connected downstream in order to rectify again the ac voltage received for supplying energy.
The transmission of energy and/or signals between the transmitting and/or receiving units 61 and 62 may take place both by the full and semi-duplex methods.
If, ass opposed to the embodiment described above, the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b are extendible in both direction with respect to the lifting platform 8, the carriage 15a, 15b of said telescopic push arms 11a, 11b is additionally equipped with a transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 also in the further end area 25b, as shown by broken lines. If the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b are extended in the direction of extension according to arrow 19a to the right, ac voltage is induced only in the coil 65 or 65a, respectively, of the transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 arranged in the end area 25a. If, however, the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b are extended to the left according to the direction of extension according to arrow 19b as indicated by the broken line, ac voltage is induced only in the coil 65 or 65a of the second transmission and/or receiving unit 62a arranged in the end area 25b. The transmitting and/or receiving unit 62a has the same structure as the transmitting and/or receiving unit 62.
As shown in the figures, the coils 65 and 65a of the transmitting and/or receiving units 62 and 62a, respectively, are electrically conductively connected to the actuators 50a to 50f and the sensors (not shown) via connecting lines, and, where necessary, via the interconnected capacitor and rectifier diode.
If the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b are suitable only for unilateral extension, the intermediate carriage 21a, 21b is provided in the rear-viewed in the direction of extension according to arrow 19a—end area 24a with the second transmitting and/or receiving unit 62, and the carriage 15a in the opposite rear-viewed against the direction of extension according to arrow 19a—end area 25a with a fourth transmitting and/or receiving unit 68. The intermediate carriage 21a, 21b is additionally provided with a third transmitting and/or receiving unit 69. The second and the fourth transmitting and/receiving units 62 and 68, respectively, are each formed by a coil 65 mounted on a ferromagnetic core 64. The core 64 of the second transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 is secured on the intermediate carriage 21a, and the core 64 of the fourth transmitting and/or receiving unit 68 on the outer carriage 15a. The third transmitting and/or receiving unit 69 is formed by a conductor loop 70, which is connected to the coil 65 of the second transmitting and/or receiving unit 62.
The transmitting and/or receiving units 61, 62, 68 and 69 are again structured in such a way that signals and electrical energy can be wirelessly transmitted simultaneously.
If the telescopic push arm 11a, 11b can be extended in both directions with respect to the lifting platform 8, the intermediate carriage 21a, 21b and the carriage 15a, 15b, is additionally equipped with a transmitting and/or receiving unit 62a, 68a in the opposite end area 24a, 25b, respectively, as shown by a broken line. When the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b are extended to the right in the direction of extension 19a as shown, ac voltage is induced only in coils 65 (65a) of the second and the fourth transmitting and/or receiving units 62 and 68, respectively, arranged in the end areas 24a and, respectively, 25a. On the other hand, however, when the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b are extended to the left in the direction of extension 19b as shown by a broken line, ac voltage is induced only in the coils 65 (65a) of the second and the fourth transmitting and/or receiving units 62a, 68a arranged in the end areas 24b, 25b. The structure of the transmitting and/or receiving units 62a, 68a corresponds with the one of the transmitting and/or receiving unit 62.
The coils 65, (65a) of the fourth transmitting and/or receiving unit 68, 68a each are connected to the actuators 50a to 50d and/or sensors (not shown).
The conductor loop 63 and the coil 65 of the first transmitting and/or receiving unit 62, (62a) are electrically insulated against each other, but magnetically coupled to one another, so that the coil 65 is therefore permeated by the magnetic field generated by the conductor loop 63, through which the current is flowing. Likewise, the conductor loop 70 and the coil 65 of the fourth transmitting and receiving unit 68, (68a) are electrically insulated against each other, but magnetically coupled to one another, so that the magnetic coil 65 is therefore permeated by the magnetic field generated by the conductor loop 70, through which current is flowing.
If the telescopic push arms 11a and 11b can be extended only unilaterally, the first carriage 21, 21b disposed adjacent to the support frame 14a provided in its opposite, rear-viewed in the direction of extension according to arrow 19a—end range 24a with the second transmitting and/or receiving unit 62; the second intermediate carriage 26a, 26b neighboring on the carriage 15a in its opposite rear-viewed against the direction of extension according to arrow 19a—end area 28a with the fourth transmitting and/or receiving unit 68; and the carriage 15a 15b in its opposite rear-viewed in the direction of extension according to arrow 19a—end area 25a with a sixth transmitting and/or receiving unit 71.
The first intermediate carriage 21a, 21b is additionally equipped with a third transmitting and/or receiving unit 69, and the second intermediate carriage 26a, 26b additionally with a fifth transmitting and/or receiving unit 72. The first, third and fifth transmitting and/or receiving units are formed by the conductor loops 63, 70 and 73, respectively. Said conductor loops 63, 70 and 73 each substantially extend over the entire length of the support frame 14a, 14b, as well as of the first and second intermediate carriage 21a, 21b; 26a, 26b. The conductor loop 70 is again connected to the coil 65 of the second transmitting and/or receiving unit 62, and the conductor loop 73 to the coil 65 of the fourth transmitting and/or receiving unit 68.
The core 64 (64a) with the coil 65 (65a) of the second transmitting and/receiving unit 62 (62a) mounted thereon is secured on the first intermediate carriage 21a, 21b. The core 64 (64a) with the coil 65 (65a) of the fourth transmitting and/or receiving unit 68 mounted thereon is secured on the second intermediate carriage 26a, 26b. The core 64 (64a) with the coil 65 (65a) of the sixth transmitting and/or receiving unit 71 mounted thereon is secured on the carriage 15a, 15b.
If the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b are capable of extending in both directions with respect to the lifting platform 8, the intermediate carriages 21a, 21b; 26a, 26b, and also the outer carriages 15a, 15b are additionally equipped with a transmitting and/or receiving unit 62a, 68a 71 a also in each of the further end area 24b, 28b, 25b, as indicated by broken lines. When the telescopic push arms 11a, 11b are extended to the right in the direction of extension indicated by arrow 19a, ac voltage is induced only in the coils 65 (65a) of the second, fourth and sixth transmitting and/or receiving units 62, 68, 71, respectively, arranged in the end areas 24a, 28a, 25a, respectively, whereas when the direction of extension is reversed as indicated by arrow 19b and broken lines, ac voltage is induced only in the coils 65 (65a) of the second, fourth and sixth transmitting and/or receiving units 62a, 68a, 71a arranged in the end area 24b, 28b, 25b, respectively.
If energy and/or signals are transmitted via separate transmission lines as described in connection with
The coils 65 (65a) of the sixth transmitting and/or receiving units 71, 71a each are connected to the actuators 50a to 50d and/or sensors (not shown).
Furthermore, the conductor loop 73 and the coil 65 of the sixth transmitting and/or receiving unit 71, (71a) are electrically insulated against one another, but magnetically coupled with each other; therefore, the coil 65 is permeated by the magnetic field generated by the conductor loop 73 flowed through by current.
As opposed to the energy and/or signal or data transmission by means of substantially inductive elements described heretofore, energy and/or signals or data can be transmitted as well with substantially capacitive elements, e.g. capacitors. Instead of the windings of the coil 65 (65a) mounted on a ferromagnetic core 64 (64a), the support frames 14a, 14b, the intermediate carriages 21a, 21b, 26a, 26, and the carriages 15a, 15b are equipped in that case with, for example a first plate of a plate capacitor serving as the transmitting and/or receiving unit. The corresponding transmitting and/or receiving unit on the adjacent intermediate carriage 21a, 21b; 26a, 26, or carriage 15, 15b serves as the corresponding second plate of the plate capacitor. As voltage is being applied to the capacitor so formed, an electrical field is generated between said capacitor plates, which, entirely analogous to the electromagnetic field described above, can be used for transmitting energy and/or signals or data.
Likewise, wireless transmission of energy and/or signals or data between the transmitting and/or receiving units secured on the support frame 14a, 14b, intermediate carriage 21a, 21b, 26a, 26, and carriage 15, 15b in the manner described above, is possible also by optical means, e.g. by means of laser or infrared, and/or by means of radio transmission.
Finally, it is pointed out that energy and/or signals can be transmitted not only from the interface 52 to the actuators 50a to 50e and/or sensors, but also from the actuators 50a to 50e and/or sensors to the interface 52. Bidirectional transmission of energy and/or signals is therefore possible as well. Likewise, the transmitting and/or receiving units 61, 62, (62a); 68 (68a), 69; 71, (71a), 72 alternately arranged between the support frame 14a, 14b, intermediate carriage 21a, 21b 26a, 26b, and carriage 15a, 15b, can be arranged also in a reversed sequence. For example, in case the carriage 15a, 15b can be extended in only one direction, the support frame 14a, 14b may have the transmitting and/or receiving unit 62 (62a) in one of its end areas 27a, 27b, or if the carriage 15a, 15b can be extended in both directions, in both of said end areas, whereas the carriage 15, 15b is equipped with the transmitting and/or receiving unit 61 (61a).
The exemplified embodiments show possible design variations of the application of a telescopic push arm 11a, 11b, whereby it is noted herewith that the invention is not limited to the design variations specifically shown herein, but that various combinations of the individual design variations among each other are possible as well, and that owing to the instruction for technical execution of the present invention, such variation possibility falls within the scope of the skill of the expert engaged in the present technical field. Therefore, all conceivable design variations feasible by combining individual details of the design variations shown and described herein, are jointly covered by the scope of protection.
It is finally not for the sake of good order that in the interest of superior understanding of the structure of the telescopic push arm 11a, 11b, the latter and its components are partly represented untrue to scale and/or enlarged and/or reduced.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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A 778/2003 | May 2003 | AT | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
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PCT/AT04/00175 | 5/19/2004 | WO | 1/12/2006 |