Roller unit for vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to a roller unit for a vehicle, the roller unit comprising: a holding body; at least one wheel rotatable relative to the holding body about an axis of rotation; at least one braking unit for braking at least one wheel; the invention relates to a ventilation device for manually ventilating a brake unit, the brake unit having a pull rod (20) which can be moved in translation relative to a holding body between an upper end position, in which the brake unit is released, and a lower end position, in which the brake unit is actuated, the ventilation device has a lever (10) having a first lever arm (11) and a second lever arm (12), a lever fork (6) arranged on the second lever arm (12), the lever (10) being pivotable about a lever axis (H) relative to the holding body between a ventilation position and a working position, the lever fork (6) being pivotable about the lever axis (H) relative to the holding body when the lever (10) is in the ventilation position, and the lever fork (6) being pivotable about the lever axis (H) relative to the holding body when the lever (10) is in the working position. A first lever arm (11) of the lever (10) holds the pull rod (20) in the upper end position, the lever fork (6) being pivotable about a fork axis (G) relative to the lever (10) between a free position and a holding position when the lever (10) is in the ventilation position, the lever fork (6) being locked by a locking device when the lever fork (6) is in the holding position, therefore, the lever (10) is kept in the ventilation position.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a roller unit for a vehicle, the roller unit comprising: a holding body; at least one wheel rotatable relative to the holding body about a rotation axis; at least one braking unit for braking at least one wheel; a ventilation device for manually ventilating the braking unit. The present invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle, comprising at least one roller unit according to the present invention. Background Art

[0002] A roller bearing unit for a vehicle is known from DE 10 2016 013 570 A1. The roller bearing unit has a drum brake operable by means of an electromagnet for braking the wheel. When the electromagnet is energized, the drum brake is released / loosened and the wheel is rotatable. When there is no current in the electromagnet, the drum brake is actuated and the wheel is braked.

[0003] In the event of an interruption of the supply voltage of the vehicle, there is no current in the electromagnet, the drum brake is actuated, and the wheel is braked. This prevents the vehicle from moving uncontrollably. The drum brake can be manually ventilated by means of a ventilation device and thus the drum brake is released. Thereby, the vehicle can be pushed, for example, to a repair station.

[0004] A fixable swivel roller for a drivable device is known from DE 80 22 219 U1. The swivel roller includes an axially movable adjusting bolt for locking and releasing a brake rocker, and the brake rocker can be actuated by a stop lever. The stop lever is connected to a foot-operated lever. Summary of the Invention

[0005] It is an object of the present invention to improve a roller unit for a vehicle and a vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle.

[0006] This object is achieved by a roller unit having the features given in claim 1. Advantageous designs and improvements are the subject of the dependent claims. This object is also achieved by a vehicle having the features given in claim 13. Advantageous designs and improvements are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] A roller unit for a vehicle according to the present invention includes: a holding body; at least one wheel rotatable relative to the holding body about a rotation axis; at least one braking unit for braking at least one wheel; a ventilation device for manually ventilating the braking unit. Here, the braking unit has a pull rod that can translate relative to the holding body between an upper end position and a lower end position, in which the braking unit is released in the upper end position and the braking unit is actuated in the lower end position. The ventilation device has a lever including a first lever arm and a second lever arm, a lever fork arranged on the second lever arm, and a locking device. The lever can swing relative to the holding body about a lever axis between a ventilation position and a working position, wherein when the lever is in the ventilation position, the first lever arm of the lever holds the pull rod in the upper end position. When the lever is in the ventilation position, the lever fork can swing relative to the lever about a fork axis between a free position and a holding position. When the lever fork is in the holding position, the lever fork is locked by the locking device such that the lever is held in the ventilation position.

[0008] The braking unit of the roller unit according to the present invention can be manually ventilated in a simple manner and thus released. For this purpose, it is only necessary to swing the lever from the working position to the ventilation position and swing the lever fork from the free position to the holding position. Then, the lever fork is held in the holding position by the locking device, the lever is held in the ventilation position, the pull rod is held in the upper end position, and the braking unit is released. In the case of maintenance, for example, in the case of a power supply voltage interruption of the vehicle, the vehicle can be pushed to a maintenance station, for example. Here, the ventilation device can be realized in a relatively space-saving and cost-effective manner.

[0009] According to a preferred design of the present invention, the lever includes a lever block and a lever plate, on which the first lever arm is formed on the lever block and the second lever arm is formed on the lever plate. The lever plate is fixedly connected to the lever block, in particular by screw connection. The two-piece lever design enables these two components, namely the lever block and the lever plate, to be implemented as relatively simple components to manufacture. Thereby, compared with a complex one-piece lever, the manufacturing cost is further reduced.

[0010] According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the lever axis extends through the lever block. For this purpose, a hole is formed in the lever block, a bolt passes through the hole, and the lever axis extends through the bolt. This bolt does not need to be installed separately.

[0011] According to an advantageous improvement of the present invention, the ventilation device has a spring unit that loads the lever in the direction of the working position. After the lever fork swings from the holding position to the free position, the lever automatically swings to the working position.

[0012] According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the spring unit is designed as a torsion spring, wherein the winding axis of the torsion spring extends parallel to the lever axis in a staggered manner, and the torsion spring is supported on the second lever arm. For example, the torsion spring is additionally supported on the holding body. The torsion spring arranged in this way is particularly space-saving.

[0013] According to an advantageous refinement of the present invention, the lever fork has an upper side and a lower side, and the upper side and the lower side enclose the second lever arm. Thereby, the connection between the lever fork and the lever is particularly mechanically stable.

[0014] According to a preferred design of the present invention, the fork axis extends at a right angle to the lever axis. Thereby, the ventilation device is particularly space-saving.

[0015] According to an advantageous refinement of the present invention, the ventilation device has a bottom plate, which is fixedly connected to the holding body, in particular by screw connection. The locking device is constructed in the form of a holding arm on the bottom plate, and the holding arm overlaps the lever fork in the holding position. The manufacturing of the bottom plate is relatively simple and the manufacturing cost is low.

[0016] According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the braking unit has an electromagnet, and in the energized state, the electromagnet loads the pull rod in the direction of the upper end position. By energizing the electromagnet, the brake can be released.

[0017] According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the braking unit has a brake spring, which loads the pull rod in the direction of the lower end position. In the case of a power supply voltage interruption of the vehicle, the electromagnet has no current, the braking unit is actuated, and the wheel is braked. Thereby, uncontrolled movement of the vehicle is prevented.

[0018] According to an advantageous design of the present invention, the braking unit has an actuating unit coupled to the pull rod and a pair of brake shoes. Here, in the case where the pull rod is in the lower end position, the actuating unit swings the brake shoes relative to the holding body to generate a braking torque such that the brake shoes contact the braking surface that rotates with the wheel. In addition, in the case where the pull rod is in the upper end position, the actuating unit swings the brake shoes relative to the holding body such that the brake shoes are disengaged from the braking surface. Here, the braking unit is constructed in the form of a drum brake.

[0019] According to an advantageous refinement of the present invention, the ventilation device includes a sensor for identifying the lever position. The sensor is designed as a microswitch or an optical sensor, for example. Thus, the sensor identifies whether the lever is in the ventilation position or the working position. The sensor transmits information about the lever position to the control unit of the vehicle via a signal line or a bus system.

[0020] A vehicle according to the present invention, in particular an autonomous vehicle, comprises a chassis and at least one roller unit according to the present invention. Here, the roller unit is mounted on the chassis.

[0021] According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the roller unit is mounted on the chassis such that the retaining body can swing relative to the chassis about a swing axis. Accordingly, at least one wheel can also swing relative to the chassis about the swing axis. Thus, the wheels are always aligned with the driving direction. Therefore, vehicle turning can be achieved more simply.

[0022] The present invention is not limited to the feature combinations of the claims. For those skilled in the art, especially for the purposes proposed and / or by comparison with the prior art, other reasonable combination possibilities of the claims and / or single claim features and / or the features of the description and / or the features of the drawings can be obtained. Description of the Drawings

[0023] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings. The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the drawings. The drawings only schematically show the subject matter of the present invention. The figures show:

[0024] Figure 1 A top view of the ventilation device looking at it with the lever in the working position,

[0025] Figure 2 Showing a cross-section through the ventilation device along the Figure 1 section line A-A in

[0026] Figure 3 A top view of the ventilation device looking at it with the lever in the ventilation position, and

[0027] Figure 4 Showing a cross-section through the ventilation device along the Figure 3 section line B-B in Detailed Description of the Embodiment

[0028] Figure 1 A top view of the ventilation device looking at it for a roller unit of a vehicle is shown. The vehicle not shown here is, for example, used for transporting objects in a technical facility, especially in a painting workshop, or for delivering goods to the residences of private recipients in a city or residential area. The vehicle is in particular an autonomous vehicle. The vehicle comprises a chassis and a plurality of roller units which are mounted on the chassis.

[0029] The roller unit includes a retaining body (not shown here), a wheel (not shown here), and a braking unit for braking the wheel. The wheel is rotatable relative to the retaining body about a rotational axis. The roller unit is mounted on the chassis such that the retaining body is swingable relative to the chassis about a swing axis. Accordingly, the wheel is also swingable relative to the chassis about the swing axis. Here, the rotational axis extends at a right angle to the swing axis. It is also conceivable that the roller unit has two or more wheels arranged parallel to each other. Then, these wheels are rotatable about a common rotational axis and swingable about a common swing axis.

[0030] The braking unit has a pull rod 20. The pull rod 20 is designed in the form of a bolt and has a shank and a head. The pull rod 20 is translatable relative to the retaining body between an upper end position and a lower end position. In the upper end position of the pull rod 20, the braking unit is released and the wheel is rotatable. In the lower end position of the pull rod 20, the braking unit is actuated and the wheel is braked.

[0031] The braking unit has a braking spring. The braking spring loads the pull rod 20 in the direction of the lower end position. The braking unit also has an electromagnet. If the electromagnet is energized, the electromagnet loads the pull rod 20 in the direction of the upper end position. Here, the electromagnet exerts a force on the pull rod 20 that is greater than the braking spring. If the electromagnet is not energized, the electromagnet does not load the pull rod 20.

[0032] If the electromagnet is energized, the electromagnet moves the pull rod 20 into the upper end position, the braking unit is released, and the wheel is rotatable. If the electromagnet is not energized, the braking spring moves the pull rod 20 into the lower end position, the braking unit is actuated, and the wheel is braked.

[0033] The braking unit has an actuating unit coupled to the pull rod 20 and a pair of brake shoes. If the pull rod 20 is in the lower end position, the actuating unit swings the brake shoes relative to the retaining body to generate a braking torque such that the brake shoes contact a braking surface that rotates with the wheel. If the pull rod 20 is in the upper end position, the actuating unit swings the brake shoes relative to the retaining body such that the brake shoes are disengaged from the braking surface.

[0034] Furthermore, the roller unit includes a ventilation device for manually ventilating the braking unit. The ventilation device has a bottom plate 2. The bottom plate 2 is fixedly connected, currently by threaded connection, to a retaining body (not shown here). Furthermore, the ventilation device has two lateral blocks 3 that are spaced apart from each other on the bottom plate 2. Furthermore, the ventilation device has a cover plate 1 that lies flat on the lateral blocks 3. The lateral blocks 3 are fixedly connected, currently by threaded connection, to the bottom plate 2 and the cover plate 1.

[0035] The ventilation device has a lever 10, which includes a first lever arm 11 and a second lever arm 12. The lever 10 is pivotable about a lever axis H relative to the holding body and relative to the base plate 2 between a ventilation position and a working position. The first lever arm 11 and the second lever arm 12 are located on opposite sides with respect to the lever axis H. In the illustration shown here, the lever 10 is in the working position.

[0036] The lever 10 includes a lever block 4, on which the first lever arm 11 is constructed. At the end facing away from the lever axis H, the lever block 4 has two protrusions, and an opening is provided between the two protrusions. The handle of the pull rod 20 passes through the opening. Here, the head of the pull rod 20 is located on the protrusion of the lever block 4.

[0037] The lever 10 includes a lever plate 5, on which the second lever arm 12 is constructed. The lever plate 5 is fixedly connected, currently screwed, to the lever block 4. The ventilation device has a lever fork 6. The lever fork 6 is arranged at the end of the lever plate 5 facing away from the lever axis H and is thus arranged on the second lever arm 12. The lever fork 6 is pivotable relative to the lever plate 5 and thus relative to the lever 10 about a fork axis G. In the illustration shown here, the lever fork 6 is in the free position.

[0038] Figure 2 Shows a cross-section through the ventilation device along Figure 1 the section line A-A. Here, as already mentioned, the lever 10 is in the working position. The pull rod 20 is in the lower end position. The fork axis G extends at a right angle to the lever axis H.

[0039] The lever fork 6 has an upper side and a lower side. The upper side and the lower side enclose the lever plate 5 and thus enclose the second lever arm 12. A pin 30 passes through the side of the lever fork 6 and the lever plate 5. The fork axis G extends through the pin 30 and the lever plate 5.

[0040] A bolt 8 is supported in the lateral block 3. The bolt 8 passes through a hole formed in the lever block 4. The lever axis H passes through the bolt 8 and through the lever block 4.

[0041] The ventilation device has a spring unit 7. The spring unit 7 loads the lever 10 in the direction of the working position. The spring unit 7 is designed as a torsion spring and is wound around a bolt supported in the lateral block 3. The winding axis of the torsion spring extends parallel to the lever axis H in a staggered manner. The torsion spring is supported on the lever plate 5 and thus on the second lever arm 12. Additionally, the torsion spring is supported on a holding body not shown here, alternatively on the base plate 2.

[0042] Figure 3 Shows a top view of the ventilation device looking at it with the lever 10 in the ventilation position. From Figure 1 andFigure 2 Starting from the working position of the middle lever 10, the lever fork 6 is moved towards the holding body. Thereby, the lever 10 is swung from the working position around the lever axis H into the ventilation position.

[0043] If the lever 10 is in the ventilation position, the lever fork 6 can swing relative to the lever 10 around the fork axis G between the free position and the holding position. In Figure 1 and Figure 2 , the lever fork 6 is in the free position. In the illustration shown here, the lever fork 6 is in the holding position.

[0044] A locking device in the form of a holding arm 25 is constructed on the bottom plate 2. The holding arm 25 overlaps the lever fork 6 in the holding position. If the lever fork 6 is in the holding position, the lever fork 6 is locked by the locking device. Thereby, the lever 10 is held in the ventilation position.

[0045] Figure 4 Shows a cross-section through the ventilation device along the Figure 3 section line B-B. At this time, as already described, the lever 10 is in the ventilation position. The pull rod 20 is in the upper end position. The lever block 4 of the lever 10, and thus the first lever arm 11, hold the pull rod 20 in the upper end position.

[0046] List of reference numerals:

[0047] 1 Cover plate

[0048] 2 Bottom plate

[0049] 3 Lateral block

[0050] 4 Lever block

[0051] 5 Lever plate

[0052] 6 Lever fork

[0053] 7 Spring unit

[0054] 8 Bolt

[0055] 10 Lever

[0056] 11 First lever arm

[0057] 12 Second lever arm

[0058] 20 Pull rod

[0059] 25 Holding arm

[0060] 30 Pin

[0061] H Lever axis

[0062] G Fork axis

Claims

1. A roller unit for a vehicle, the roller unit comprising: A holding body; At least one wheel rotatable relative to the holding body about a rotation axis; At least one braking unit for braking at least one wheel; A ventilation device for manually ventilating the braking unit, wherein the braking unit has a pull rod (20) which is translatable relative to the holding body between an upper end position and a lower end position, in which upper end position the braking unit is released and in which lower end position the braking unit is actuated, characterized in that the ventilation device has a lever (10) comprising a first lever arm (11) and a second lever arm (12), a lever fork (6) arranged on the second lever arm (12), and a locking device, the lever (10) being swingable relative to the holding body about a lever axis (H) between a ventilation position and a working position, wherein in the case where the lever (10) is in the ventilation position, the first lever arm (11) of the lever (10) holds the pull rod (20) in the upper end position, wherein in the case where the lever (10) is in the ventilation position, the lever fork (6) is swingable relative to the lever (10) about a fork axis (G) between a free position and a holding position, wherein in the case where the lever fork (6) is in the holding position, the lever fork (6) is locked by the locking device such that the lever (10) is held in the ventilation position.

2. The roller unit according to claim 1, wherein The lever (10) comprises a lever block (4) and a lever plate (5), on which lever block the first lever arm (11) is formed, and on which lever plate the second lever arm (12) is formed, the lever plate (5) being fixedly connected, in particular screwed, to the lever block (4).

3. The roller unit according to claim 2, characterized in that The lever axis (H) extends through the lever block (4).

4. The roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The ventilation device has a spring unit (7) which loads the lever (10) in the direction of the working position.

5. The roller unit according to claim 4, characterized in that, The spring unit (7) is designed as a torsion spring, wherein the winding axis of the torsion spring extends parallel to the lever axis (H) in a staggered manner, and wherein the torsion spring is supported on the second lever arm (12).

6. The roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The lever fork (6) has an upper side and a lower side which enclose the second lever arm (12).

7. The roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The fork axis (G) extends at right angles to the lever axis (H).

8. The roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The ventilation device has a base plate (2) which is fixedly connected, in particular screwed, to the holding body, the locking device being formed on the base plate (2) in the form of a holding arm (25) which overlaps the lever fork (6) in the holding position.

9. The roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The braking unit has an electromagnet which, in the energized state, loads the pull rod (20) in the direction of the upper end position.

10. The roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The braking unit has a braking spring which loads the pull rod (20) in the direction of the lower end position.

11. The roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The braking unit has an actuating unit coupled to the pull rod (20) and a pair of brake shoes, wherein in the case where the pull rod (20) is in the lower end position, the actuating unit swings the brake shoes relative to the holding body to generate a braking torque such that the brake shoes contact a braking surface rotating with the wheel, wherein In the case where the drawbar (20) is in the upper end position, the actuating unit swings the brake shoe relative to the holding body such that the brake shoe is disengaged from the brake surface.

12. The roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The ventilation device includes a sensor for identifying the position of the lever (10).

13. A vehicle, in particular an autonomous vehicle, comprising a chassis and at least one roller unit according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein, The at least one roller unit is mounted on the chassis.

14. The vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that, The roller unit is mounted on the chassis such that the holding body can swing relative to the chassis about the swing axis.

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