Rear-loading intelligent protection device of unmanned loader
By designing anti-vibration brackets and protective devices with integrated heat dissipation and heating functions, the stability and maintenance efficiency of the unmanned loader's sensing equipment in complex environments have been solved, achieving high stability and efficient maintenance of the equipment in high vibration and extreme environments.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- CN202511123766.3
- Authority / Receiving Office
- CN · China
- Patent Type
- Applications(China)
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Filing Date
- 2025-08-12
- Publication Date
- 2025-10-31
AI Technical Summary
The existing protective devices for sensing equipment of unmanned loaders are not stable enough in high vibration, strong impact and complex environments, have low maintenance and replacement efficiency, poor environmental adaptability and poor weight design.
The bracket structure consists of a base bracket, a connecting bracket, and an adjustment bracket. The bracket is made of vibration-resistant material and equipped with vibration damping pads and an angle adjustment structure. The protective cover integrates heat dissipation and heating functions, and the lens is coated with anti-fog agent. The design is lightweight.
It improves the stability and flexibility of sensing equipment, enhances environmental adaptability, simplifies installation and maintenance processes, and improves the reliability and operational continuity of equipment in extreme environments.
Smart Images
Figure CN120867386A_ABST
Abstract
Description
Technical Field
[0001] This invention relates to the field of unmanned loader technology, specifically to an intelligent protective device for the rear loading of unmanned loaders, suitable for protecting sensing devices such as lidar and cameras, to improve their reliability and maintenance efficiency in high vibration, strong impact and complex environments. Background Technology
[0002] With the rapid development of autonomous driving technology, unmanned loaders, as the core equipment of unmanned spoil heap systems, are widely used in complex operating scenarios such as mines, ports, and construction sites. Unmanned loaders rely on sensing devices such as LiDAR and cameras to achieve environmental perception, path planning, and autonomous operation. However, due to the harsh operating environment of unmanned loaders, the equipment faces challenges such as high vibration, strong impact, extreme temperature changes, and dust erosion during operation. These factors place extremely high demands on the stability and reliability of the sensing devices. Existing technologies have the following problems with the protective devices for sensing equipment:
[0003] First, the existing protective devices lack sufficient strength and stability. During operation, unmanned loaders experience frequent and intense mechanical vibrations and impacts. Traditional protective devices, typically employing simple fixed supports or shell structures, are ill-suited to effectively absorb and disperse vibration energy, leading to loosening, misalignment, or even damage to lidar or cameras. For example, some protective supports are simply bolted together, lacking vibration damping design. After prolonged high-intensity operation, these connections are prone to loosening or structural fatigue fracture. This not only affects the accuracy of sensing equipment but may also cause system misjudgments, reducing the operational safety and efficiency of the unmanned loader.
[0004] Secondly, the maintenance and replacement efficiency of existing protective devices is low. Unmanned loaders typically require regular replacement or maintenance of their sensing equipment to ensure performance. However, existing brackets and protective covers are complex in design, cumbersome in disassembly and assembly, and lack rapid positioning and alignment capabilities. For example, after replacing cameras or lidar, traditional devices require complex manual calibration and program adjustments, consuming significant time and impacting the continuity and efficiency of unmanned operations. Furthermore, the interface design of some protective devices lacks standardization, making them difficult to adapt to different models of sensing equipment, further increasing maintenance complexity.
[0005] Secondly, existing protective devices lack adaptability to extreme environments. In high-temperature environments, the internal circuitry of sensing equipment is prone to overheating and failure, while traditional protective covers lack effective heat dissipation designs, leading to decreased equipment performance or even damage. In low-temperature environments, camera lenses are prone to fogging or frosting, severely affecting image acquisition quality, and the scanning accuracy of lidar may also decrease due to temperature changes. While some existing protective devices attempt to address these issues by adding heating elements or anti-fog coatings, these designs are typically single-function, difficult to dynamically adjust according to ambient temperature, and have limited anti-fog effectiveness, failing to meet the long-term stable operation requirements of unmanned loaders under varying climatic conditions.
[0006] Furthermore, existing protective devices are insufficient in terms of lightweight design. The overall weight of an unmanned loader directly affects its fuel efficiency and driving stability, while traditional supports and protective covers typically use heavy metal materials, resulting in complex structures that do not adequately consider lightweight requirements. This not only increases the vehicle's energy consumption but may also affect operational stability due to uneven weight distribution. Summary of the Invention
[0007] In view of this, the purpose of the present invention is to solve the above problems and provide an intelligent protective device for the rear loading of unmanned loaders, which is used to fix and protect sensing devices such as lidar and cameras to ensure their stability and reliability in high vibration, strong impact and complex environments, while realizing flexible adjustment of installation angle and height.
[0008] To achieve the above objectives, the present invention provides the following technical solution:
[0009] An intelligent protective device for the rear loading of an unmanned loader includes a bracket, a protective cover, and a sensing device. The bracket includes a base bracket, a connecting bracket, and an adjusting bracket connected in sequence. The base bracket is fixedly connected to the body of the unmanned loader. The protective cover and the sensing device are fixedly connected to the adjusting bracket, with the sensing device located inside the protective cover. The installation angle and height can be adjusted by the adjusting bracket to adapt to different operating environments.
[0010] Furthermore, the adjustment bracket includes a first sheet metal bracket, a second sheet metal bracket, and a third sheet metal bracket connected in sequence; one end of the connecting bracket is fixedly connected to the base bracket by bolts, and the other end is threaded with a nut on the thread; the first sheet metal bracket is fitted onto the thread and locked in place by the nut; the sensing device is fixedly mounted on the third sheet metal bracket.
[0011] Each of the first sheet metal bracket, the third sheet metal bracket, and the second sheet metal bracket has a central hole and two oblong holes at the connection points. Bolts are installed in both the central hole and the oblong holes, and the first sheet metal bracket, the third sheet metal bracket, and the second sheet metal bracket are connected by the bolts. The bolts in the oblong holes can move around the central hole within the oblong holes, thereby adjusting the installation angle of the sensing device.
[0012] Furthermore, the second sheet metal bracket can be rotated and adjusted in a vertical plane, and the rotation plane of the third sheet metal bracket is perpendicular to the rotation plane of the second bracket.
[0013] Furthermore, vibration damping pads are provided at the connection points between the first sheet metal bracket, the second sheet metal bracket, and the third sheet metal bracket.
[0014] Furthermore, the basic support is Z-shaped, made of welded square steel, and has a surface coating or electroplating treatment; it is fixed to the unmanned loader with bolts through four holes on the square steel.
[0015] Furthermore, the sensing device includes a lidar and a camera, both of which are fixed on the housing support; the camera and lidar are respectively located at the bottom and top of the U-shape, and the heat sink is located between the camera and the lidar.
[0016] Furthermore, the outer casing support is U-shaped, with a protective plate on one side and a base on the other side. A camera bracket and a heat sink bracket are located in the middle of the U-shape; both the base and the camera bracket are equipped with positioning pins.
[0017] The base is bolted to the lidar and is isolated from the bracket by vibration damping plates to reduce the impact of vibration; the camera and the heat sink are bolted to the camera bracket and the heat sink bracket, respectively; the lidar and the camera are both positioned and installed using locating pins.
[0018] Furthermore, the heat sink is a cooling fan.
[0019] Furthermore, the camera is encapsulated in a protective housing, which is provided with heat dissipation fins or heat dissipation holes, and the circuit part is wrapped with high-performance heat insulation material.
[0020] Furthermore, the protective cover integrates a heating wire or a thermistor heating element to automatically adjust the operating temperature of the sensing device according to the ambient temperature. The lens portion of the protective cover is coated with an anti-fogging agent to prevent fogging or frost formation on the lens.
[0021] The beneficial effects of this invention are as follows:
[0022] The intelligent rear-mounted protective device for unmanned loaders of the present invention has significant advantages in terms of stability, flexibility, environmental adaptability, and installation and maintenance efficiency, as detailed below:
[0023] 1. High Stability: The support structure is made of vibration-resistant materials (such as aluminum alloy). The base support is welded with Z-shaped square steel and securely connected to the unmanned loader body with four bolts, effectively dispersing vibration and impact forces during operation. Vibration-damping pads are added at the connection points of the adjustable support to reduce the impact of vibration on the sensing equipment (LiDAR and camera). Tests show that vibration acceleration is reduced by more than 35%. The U-shaped outer shell support isolates the LiDAR through vibration-damping plates, further reducing vibration transmission and ensuring long-term stable operation of the equipment in high-intensity working environments, extending the service life of the sensing equipment and reducing the failure rate.
[0024] 2. Flexible Adjustment: The adjustment bracket achieves multi-dimensional angle adjustment through the central holes and oblong holes of the first, second, and third sheet metal brackets. The second sheet metal bracket rotates in a vertical plane, and the third sheet metal bracket rotates in a horizontal plane. The two rotation planes are perpendicular, allowing for an adjustment range of ±30°, flexibly adapting to the sensing needs of different operating scenarios (such as mines and ports). The oblong hole structure simplifies angle adjustment operations, allowing for quick completion without specialized tools, thus improving the equipment's adaptability and sensing accuracy under complex working conditions.
[0025] 3. Excellent Environmental Adaptability: The protective cover uses high-performance heat-insulating material to encase the sensing device circuitry, and is equipped with heat dissipation fins and a cooling fan, effectively reducing the device temperature in high-temperature environments. Tests show that it can maintain normal operation of the device at 55℃. The internally integrated heating wire or thermistor heating element can automatically adjust according to the ambient temperature, ensuring stable operation of the device in low-temperature environments down to -25℃. The anti-fogging agent applied to the lens effectively prevents fogging or frost formation, maintaining clear camera images and significantly improving the reliability of the sensing device in extreme climates.
[0026] 4. Efficient Installation and Maintenance: The U-shaped housing bracket enables precise installation of the LiDAR and camera via positioning pins, simplifying the assembly process. Bolted connections and standardized interface design reduce equipment replacement time to less than 4 minutes, a reduction of more than 50% compared to traditional devices. The angle adjustment and positioning mechanisms eliminate the need for complex calibrations, significantly improving maintenance efficiency, reducing downtime for the unmanned loader, and ensuring operational continuity.
[0027] Other advantages, objectives, and features of the invention will be set forth in part in the description which follows, and in part will be apparent to those skilled in the art from the following examination, or may be learned from practice of the invention. The objectives and other advantages of the invention can be realized and obtained through the following description. Attached Figure Description
[0028] To make the objectives, technical solutions, and advantages of the present invention clearer, the preferred embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, wherein:
[0029] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram of the overall structure of the intelligent protective device for the rear loading of an unmanned loader in this invention.
[0030] Figure 2 This is a schematic diagram of the structure of the adjustment bracket in this invention.
[0031] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the sensing device in this invention.
[0032] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the housing support structure of the sensing device in this invention.
[0033] Figure 5 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the lidar base in this invention.
[0034] Reference numerals: 1-Basic bracket; 2-Connecting bracket; 3-Adjusting bracket; 4-Protective cover; 31-First sheet metal bracket; 32-Second sheet metal bracket; 33-Third sheet metal bracket; 5-LiDAR; 6-Camera; 7-Cooling fan; 8-Outer shell bracket; 9-Camera bracket; 10-Radiator bracket. Detailed Implementation
[0035] The following specific examples illustrate the implementation of the present invention. Those skilled in the art can easily understand other advantages and effects of the present invention from the content disclosed in this specification. The present invention can also be implemented or applied through other different specific embodiments, and various details in this specification can be modified or changed based on different viewpoints and applications without departing from the spirit of the present invention. It should be noted that the illustrations provided in the following embodiments are only schematic representations of the basic concept of the present invention. Unless otherwise specified, the following embodiments and features can be combined with each other.
[0036] The accompanying drawings are for illustrative purposes only and are schematic diagrams, not actual pictures. They should not be construed as limiting the invention. To better illustrate the embodiments of the invention, some parts in the drawings may be omitted, enlarged, or reduced, and do not represent the actual product dimensions. It is understandable to those skilled in the art that some well-known structures and their descriptions may be omitted in the drawings.
[0037] In the accompanying drawings of the embodiments of the present invention, the same or similar reference numerals correspond to the same or similar components. In the description of the present invention, it should be understood that if terms such as "upper," "lower," "left," "right," "front," and "rear" indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the drawings, they are only for the convenience of describing the present invention and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, the terms used to describe positional relationships in the drawings are only for illustrative purposes and should not be construed as limiting the present invention. For those skilled in the art, the specific meaning of the above terms can be understood according to the specific circumstances.
[0038] Please see Figures 1-5 The intelligent protective device for the rear loading of the unmanned loader in this embodiment includes a bracket, a protective cover 4, and sensing equipment. The bracket consists of a base bracket 1, a connecting bracket 2, and an adjusting bracket 3. The base bracket 1 is Z-shaped, welded from square steel, and its surface is coated or electroplated to enhance corrosion resistance. It is fixed to the unmanned loader with bolts through four holes. One end of the connecting bracket 2 is fixedly connected to the base bracket 1 with bolts, and the other end is threaded with a nut. The adjusting bracket 3 includes a first sheet metal bracket 31, a second sheet metal bracket 32, and a third sheet metal bracket 33 connected in sequence. The first sheet metal bracket 31 is fitted onto the threaded end of the connecting bracket 2 and locked in place with a nut. The connection points between the second sheet metal bracket 32 and the first sheet metal bracket 31, and between the third sheet metal bracket 33 and the second sheet metal bracket 32, are each provided with a central hole and two oblong holes, which are bolted together. The bolts in the oblong holes can move around the central hole to adjust the angle, and vibration damping pads are provided at the connection points. The second sheet metal bracket 32 rotates in a vertical plane, and the rotation plane of the third sheet metal bracket 33 is perpendicular to the second sheet metal bracket 32, thereby realizing the adjustment of the installation angle and height of the sensing device.
[0039] The sensing devices include a lidar 5 and a camera 6, both fixed on a U-shaped housing bracket 8, which is mounted on a third sheet metal bracket 33. The housing bracket 8 includes a protective plate and a base, with a camera bracket 9 and a heat sink bracket 10 positioned in the middle. Positioning pins are provided on both the base and the camera bracket 9. The base connects to the lidar 5 via bolts and vibration damping plates. The camera bracket 9 and the heat sink bracket 10 connect to the camera 6 and the cooling fan 7 respectively via bolts. The lidar 5 and camera 6 are precisely positioned using the positioning pins. The lidar 5 is located at the top of the U-shape, the camera 6 at the bottom, and the cooling fan 7 is located between them. The camera 6 is encapsulated in a protective housing with heat dissipation fins or holes. High-performance heat-insulating material is used to wrap the circuit components. A heating wire or thermistor heating element is integrated inside the protective cover 4 to automatically adjust the operating temperature of the sensing device according to the ambient temperature. An anti-fogging agent is applied to the lens to prevent fogging or frost.
[0040] The support structure is assembled as follows:
[0041] 1. Prepare the foundation support 1, which is made of square steel welded into a Z-shaped structure. Apply an anti-corrosion coating or electroplating treatment to the surface, and fix it to the unmanned loader body with M20 bolts through four preset holes to ensure a stable connection.
[0042] 2. One end of the connecting bracket 2 is fixedly connected to the base bracket 1 by an M20 bolt, and the other end is machined with external threads and fitted with an M20 nut.
[0043] 3. The first sheet metal bracket 31 is fitted onto the threaded end of the connecting bracket 2 and locked in place by an M20 nut.
[0044] 4. The second sheet metal bracket 32 is connected to the first sheet metal bracket 31 by three M8 bolts through a central hole and two oblong holes. Vibration damping pads are provided at the connection to reduce vibration.
[0045] 5. The third sheet metal bracket 33 is connected to the second sheet metal bracket 32 via a central hole and two oblong holes using three M8 bolts. Vibration damping pads are provided at the connection point. The second sheet metal bracket 32 rotates in a vertical plane, while the third sheet metal bracket 33 rotates in a horizontal plane, with the plane of rotation being vertical.
[0046] The protective cover and sensing equipment are assembled as follows:
[0047] 1. Prepare a U-shaped housing bracket 8, which includes a protective plate and a base, with a camera bracket 9 and a heat sink bracket 10 in the middle.
[0048] 2. The base connects to the LiDAR 5 via M6 bolts and vibration damping plates, with positioning pins ensuring precise installation. The camera bracket 9 secures the camera 6 with M6 bolts, and the heat sink bracket 10 secures the cooling fan 7 with four M5 bolts, both positioned using positioning pins.
[0049] 3. The camera 6 is encapsulated in a protective housing, which is equipped with heat dissipation fins or ventilation holes. The internal circuitry is wrapped with high-performance heat-insulating material. The protective cover 4 integrates a thermistor heating element, which automatically adjusts the temperature to 20℃-40℃. The lens is coated with an anti-fogging agent to prevent fogging or frost formation.
[0050] 4. The outer casing bracket 8 is fixed to the third sheet metal bracket 33 by bolts. The lidar 5 is located at the top of the U-shape, the camera 6 is located at the bottom, and the cooling fan 7 is in the center.
[0051] Angle adjustment and operation:
[0052] The adjustment bracket 3 achieves angle adjustment through the oblong hole and the center hole. The second sheet metal bracket 32 rotates around the center hole in the vertical plane, with an adjustment range of ±30°. The third sheet metal bracket 33 rotates in the horizontal plane, with an adjustment range of ±30°. The rotation planes of the two brackets are perpendicular. During operation, loosen the M8 bolt in the oblong hole, adjust the bracket position, and then tighten it to adapt to the sensing needs of mining, port, and other operating scenarios.
[0053] Finally, it should be noted that the above embodiments are only used to illustrate the technical solutions of the present invention and are not intended to limit it. Although the present invention has been described in detail with reference to preferred embodiments, those skilled in the art should understand that modifications or equivalent substitutions can be made to the technical solutions of the present invention without departing from the spirit and scope of the present invention, and all such modifications or substitutions should be covered within the scope of the claims of the present invention.
Claims
1. An intelligent protective device for the rear loading of an unmanned loader, characterized in that: The system includes a support frame, a protective cover, and a sensing device. The support frame comprises a base support, a connecting support, and an adjusting support connected in sequence. The base support is fixedly connected to the unmanned loader body. The protective cover and the sensing device are fixedly connected to the adjusting support, with the sensing device located inside the protective cover. The installation angle and height can be adjusted via the adjusting support to adapt to different operating environments.
2. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The adjustment bracket includes a first sheet metal bracket, a second sheet metal bracket, and a third sheet metal bracket connected in sequence; one end of the connecting bracket is fixedly connected to the base bracket by bolts, and the other end is threaded with a nut on the thread; the first sheet metal bracket is fitted onto the thread and locked in place by the nut; the sensing device is fixedly mounted on the third sheet metal bracket; Each of the first sheet metal bracket, the third sheet metal bracket, and the second sheet metal bracket has a central hole and two oblong holes at the connection points. Bolts are installed in both the central hole and the oblong holes, and the first sheet metal bracket, the third sheet metal bracket, and the second sheet metal bracket are connected by the bolts. The bolts in the oblong holes can move around the central hole within the oblong holes, thereby adjusting the installation angle of the sensing device.
3. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 2, characterized in that: The second sheet metal bracket can be rotated and adjusted in a vertical plane, and the rotation plane of the third sheet metal bracket is perpendicular to the rotation plane of the second bracket.
4. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 2, characterized in that: Vibration damping pads are provided at the connection points between the first sheet metal bracket, the second sheet metal bracket and the third sheet metal bracket.
5. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The basic support is Z-shaped and made of welded square steel with a surface coating or electroplating treatment; it is fixed to the unmanned loader with bolts through four holes on the square steel.
6. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The sensing device includes a lidar and a camera, both of which are fixed on the housing support. The camera and lidar are respectively located at the bottom and top of the U-shape, and the heat sink is located between the camera and the lidar.
7. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 6, characterized in that: The outer casing support is U-shaped, with a protective plate on one side and a base on the other side. A camera bracket and a heat sink bracket are located in the middle of the U-shape; both the base and the camera bracket are equipped with positioning pins. The base is bolted to the lidar and is isolated from the bracket by vibration damping plates to reduce the impact of vibration; the camera and the heat sink are bolted to the camera bracket and the heat sink bracket, respectively; the lidar and the camera are both positioned and installed using locating pins.
8. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 6, characterized in that: The radiator is a cooling fan.
9. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 6, characterized in that: The camera is encapsulated in a protective housing, which has heat dissipation fins or heat dissipation holes, and the circuit part is wrapped with high-performance heat insulation material.
10. The intelligent rear-loading protection device for unmanned loaders according to claim 1, characterized in that: The protective cover integrates a heating wire or a thermistor heating element to automatically adjust the operating temperature of the sensing device according to the ambient temperature. The lens portion of the protective cover is coated with an anti-fogging agent to prevent fogging or frost formation on the lens.