Power-operated loading bridge with emergency release device

Abstract

Loading bridge (20) with a loading bridge platform (24), at least one hydraulic cylinder (32, 42) for moving the loading bridge platform (24) and a power-operated hydraulic pump unit (44), wherein the hydraulic pump unit (44) has an electric motor (46) operated by a power grid (52) and a hydraulic pump driven by a drive shaft (48) of the electric motor (46) for supplying the hydraulic cylinder (32, 42) with pressurized hydraulic medium and an emergency actuation device (22) for actuating the hydraulic pump in the event of a failure of the power grid (52).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a power-operated loading bridge with a loading bridge platform, at least one hydraulic cylinder for moving the loading bridge platform, and a power-operated hydraulic pump unit comprising an electric motor powered by a mains supply and a hydraulic pump driven by a drive shaft of the electric motor for supplying the hydraulic cylinder with pressurized hydraulic medium.

[0002] Such loading bridges are known from the company brochure “Loading Technology” of Hörmann KG Sales Company with the print date 11.2013, version 06 / 2013 as well as from DE 10 2012 110 292 A1, EP 0 045 581 A1 and DE 20 2006 002 501 A1.

[0003] Reference is also made to DIN EN 1398:2009-07, which explains and describes details of power-operated loading bridges and corresponding safety requirements.

[0004] The invention aims to make such power-operated loading bridges even more reliable with minimal effort.

[0005] This problem is solved by a loading bridge with the features of claim 1.

[0006] Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0007] The invention provides a loading bridge with a loading bridge platform, at least one hydraulic cylinder for moving the loading bridge platform, and a power-operated hydraulic pump unit, wherein the hydraulic pump unit comprises an electric motor operated by a power grid and a hydraulic pump driven by a drive shaft of the electric motor for supplying the hydraulic cylinder with pressurized hydraulic medium, as well as an emergency actuation device for actuating the hydraulic pump in the event of a power grid failure.

[0008] It is preferred that the emergency operating device is designed for manual operation of the hydraulic pump.

[0009] It is preferred that the hydraulic pump has a motor-driven section and a hand-operated section within the same pump housing.

[0010] It is preferred that the manually operated area be designed as a hand pump and / or foot pump.

[0011] It is preferred that the pump housing be equipped with a valve block via which both the motor-driven area and the manually operated area can be switched.

[0012] It is preferred that the emergency actuation device has a coupling on the drive shaft in order to drive the drive shaft manually from the outside or by means of a battery-powered drive device or cordless screwdriver.

[0013] It is preferred that the emergency operating device or the battery-operated drive device or the cordless screwdriver or a hand drive, hand crank or handwheel for coupling to the drive shaft for manual operation of the same.

[0014] It is preferred that the emergency operating device includes a battery or accumulator for emergency power supply to the electric motor.

[0015] It is preferred that a renewable power source or an energy harvester be provided to convert local energy into electrical energy for the accumulator.

[0016] It is preferred that a power-operated movable lip be arranged on the loading bridge platform.

[0017] It is preferred that the hydraulic pump equipped with the emergency actuation device is designed and configured to supply at least one lifting hydraulic cylinder for raising the loading bridge platform as well as a lip hydraulic cylinder intended for moving the lip.

[0018] It is preferred that a weight compensation device be provided to compensate for at least part of the weight of the loading bridge platform.

[0019] Preferably, the loading bridge is designed as a hinged wedge loading bridge. Accordingly, a hinged wedge lip is preferably provided at one free end of the loading bridge platform. Alternatively, a sliding lip can also be provided.

[0020] A preferred embodiment preferably uses a conventional hinged keel loading bridge.

[0021] In a particularly preferred embodiment, the loading bridge can still be operated in at least two ways in the event of a power failure.

[0022] One possible method is to drive the electric motor's drive shaft from the outside, for example via a handwheel or hand crank shaft, or by means of a cordless drill or cordless screwdriver, which is attached to the motor shaft via a suitable tool coupling - for example, a socket wrench.

[0023] Furthermore, the motor pump can be equipped with a manual control unit, thus providing a hand pump option. This hand pump is preferably integrated into the motor pump, specifically into the pump housing. This allows the use of the same hydraulic connections and controls. Instead of a motor-driven motor shaft, a pump lever or similar device is simply attached to a pump lever mount, enabling manual pumping.

[0024] Other operating methods are conceivable. For example, a 12V battery or a 24V battery with charger could be used.

[0025] For example, a handwheel may be provided for mounting on the motor shaft.

[0026] However, it is preferred to design the hydraulic pump unit in such a way that the motor shaft can be driven externally by a battery-powered drill or the like, and that a hand pump area is also provided in the pump unit.

[0027] Some advantages of the invention or of advantageous embodiments thereof are explained in more detail below.

[0028] The loading bridge platform is still hydraulically operated.

[0029] The lip can still be hydraulically actuated. Alternatively, mechanical actuation of the lip is also conceivable.

[0030] Inspection and maintenance are easier to carry out. This is particularly true if a hydraulic unit, and especially the pump unit, is provided separately at the ramp.

[0031] A hand pump is completely integrated into the hydraulic unit - the pump unit.

[0032] An emergency stop function can be implemented hydraulically. Such an emergency stop function remains operational as an emergency stop in the event of a power failure. For further details, please refer to the exemplary embodiments of the hydraulic circuit diagrams according to the Fig. 11, Fig. 12 to Fig. 13, Valve 7, which provides the emergency stop function.

[0033] Furthermore, a restart interlock can be implemented together with and integrated into an emergency stop switching unit. In the exemplary embodiments, this is also integrated into valve 7.

[0034] In an advantageous embodiment, the loading bridge lowers only after the emergency stop switch is unlocked and a reset switch (restart interlock) is activated. Such a reset switch is preferably positioned behind a flap or door to prevent or hinder unauthorized or unintentional activation.

[0035] Another advantage is that the safety functions are equivalent to those of electric operation when operating manually. Preferably, a hydraulic safety device is provided, designed and configured to hold the weight of the loading platform and any industrial truck, such as a forklift, on it, even if the vehicle being loaded drives away while the platform is raised. For this purpose, hose rupture protection valves are provided, for example.

[0036] The motor shaft can also be operated, for example, with a cordless drill, which drives the pump.

[0037] The hydraulic power unit – also called the pump unit – can be installed in a cabinet, with only the necessary operating components accessible. The cabinet is lockable so that it can only be opened for installation and maintenance purposes by authorized personnel. Operators can operate the necessary components located outside the cabinet.

[0038] Different designs and variants of the loading bridge with emergency manual operation are provided.

[0039] One possible embodiment is an embodiment with at least one lifting hydraulic cylinder for lifting the loading bridge platform and possibly also a lip hydraulic cylinder for moving the lip.

[0040] The pump unit - also called hydraulic unit - can be set up separately on the ramp next to the loading bridge platform.

[0041] The hydraulic unit can be equipped with an integrated hand pump with lever or with handwheel.

[0042] The hydraulic unit can be equipped with a foot pump with pedal.

[0043] The hydraulic unit can be equipped with a motor shaft suitable for drive by a cordless drill or cordless screwdriver.

[0044] The hydraulic unit can be equipped with a motor shaft suitable for drive via belts and pulleys for operation by a handwheel.

[0045] The hydraulic unit can be equipped with a battery pack and charger. The battery pack can be charged via renewable energy sources and / or energy harvesters, such as a solar panel for converting local energy into electrical energy; alternatively or additionally, the battery pack can be charged via mains power.

[0046] All of the above features can be combined in any number of different embodiments.

[0047] Another possible variant of the loading bridge involves an arrangement in which a hydraulic unit - the pump unit - is positioned and / or mounted under the loading bridge platform and is accessible from above.

[0048] Here too, the hydraulic unit can be equipped with a hand pump with a lever or be driven by a handwheel.

[0049] In this arrangement, the hydraulic unit can also be equipped with a foot pump that can be operated by means of a pedal.

[0050] Here too, the hydraulic unit can be equipped with a motor shaft suitable for driving by a battery-powered drill.

[0051] Here too, the hydraulic unit can be equipped with a motor shaft that is suitable for belt drive via drive belts and drive pulleys using a handwheel.

[0052] Here too, the hydraulic unit can be equipped with a battery pack and charger. Charging can be done via renewable energy sources or mains power, as described above.

[0053] These different designs can also be combined with each other as desired.

[0054] Instead of driving the lip with a lip cylinder, it is also conceivable in all embodiments that the lip folds out mechanically into the upper position. For this purpose, mechanical movement mechanisms such as chain drives, levers, linkages, or the like can be provided.

[0055] For further details on the loading bridges, please refer to the aforementioned Hörmann brochure "Loading Technology" and DIN EN 1398-2009. All features shown in these publications can also be incorporated into the loading bridges according to the invention.

[0056] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a first embodiment of a loading bridge with emergency manual operation, wherein a middle position, a raised position and a lowered position are shown; Fig. 2 an exemplary installation situation for the loading bridge of Fig. 1 in a perspective drawing; Fig. 3 one Fig. 1. Comparable representation of the loading bridge with an alternative type of emergency manual operation; Fig. 4 one Fig. 1. Comparable representation of the loading bridge with yet another alternative type of emergency operation; Fig. 5 a Fig. 1. Comparable representation of a second embodiment of the loading bridge with emergency manual operation; Fig. 6 a Fig. 1 comparable representation of a third embodiment of the loading bridge with emergency manual operation; Fig. 7 an alternative type of emergency manual operation on one of the loading bridges according to the embodiments of Fig. 5 or Fig. 6; Fig. 8. Another alternative type of emergency manual operation for the loading bridge according to one of the embodiments of the Fig. 5 or Fig. 6; Fig. 9. Another type of emergency manual operation on the loading bridge according to one of the embodiments of the Fig. 5 or Fig. 6; Fig. 10, one in turn Fig. 1 comparable representation of the loading bridge according to one of the Fig. 5 or Fig. 6 with yet another type of emergency operation; Fig. 11-13 Hydraulic circuit diagrams for different embodiments of hydraulic circuits for the loading bridges according to one of the embodiments of Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 or Fig. 10; Fig. 14 a perspective view of a modification of a manually operated hydraulic pump in the embodiment of the loading bridge of Fig. 5; Fig. 15 a perspective view of a manually operated hydraulic pump, which is used in one of the designs of the loading bridges according to the Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 to Fig. It can be used in 10 ways.

[0057] The figures shown depict different embodiments of a power-operated loading bridge 20, which has an emergency operating device 22 that can be operated manually in the event of power failures or the like.

[0058] As from the Fig. As can be seen from Figures 1, 2, 3 to 10, the loading bridge 20 has a loading bridge platform 24 which is fastened by means of a loading bridge fastening 26 in the area of ​​an edge of a loading ramp 28 or in a loading bridge recess 30 of the loading ramp 28.

[0059] The loading bridge 20 further comprises a lifting hydraulic cylinder 32, which can be one of several lifting hydraulic cylinders 32. For example, a first and a second lifting hydraulic cylinder 32 are provided on the left and right edges of the loading bridge platform 24. The loading bridge platform 24 can be raised or lowered by means of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 32.

[0060] For this purpose, the loading bridge mounting 26 is fixedly attached in the area of ​​the loading ramp 28; the loading bridge platform 24 is pivotally attached to the loading bridge mounting 26 at a first end 34 about a horizontal axis 36 so as to pivot upwards and downwards.

[0061] At a second, opposite end 37 of the loading bridge platform 24, a lip 38 is provided, which is movably articulated to the loading bridge platform 24 by means of a movement mechanism 40 relative to the loading bridge platform 24. For example, the lip 38 is designed as a (not shown) feed lip. In the illustrated embodiments, the lip 38 is designed as a hinged lip.

[0062] The movement mechanism 40 has in particular at least one lip hydraulic cylinder 42.

[0063] A power-operated hydraulic pump unit 44, which can also be referred to as a hydraulic power unit, is provided to move at least one of the hydraulic cylinders 32, 42.

[0064] The power-operated hydraulic pump unit 44 comprises an electric motor 46 with a motor shaft or drive shaft 48, which is controlled by a control unit 50 and supplied with energy from an electrical power supply 52. ​​A power-operated pump section 56, driven by the drive shaft 48, and a manually operated pump section 58, which can be driven by muscle power, are provided in a common housing 54 of the hydraulic pump unit 44. "Manually operated" here means "driven by muscle power"; this can be actuated by the hand of an operator or by the foot of an operator. Accordingly, the manually operated pump section 58 can be designed as a hand pump 60 for operation by hand and / or as a foot pump 62 for operation by foot.

[0065] Furthermore, the drive shaft 48 on the side of the electric motor 46 opposite the pump areas 56, 58 is provided with a coupling 64, by means of which a tool 66 can be attached to rotate the drive shaft 48 in the event of a power failure 52.

[0066] The coupling 64 can, for example, be designed as a tool engagement - e.g. hexagon, socket, square, other standardized tool engagement.

[0067] As shown in various illustrations of the accompanying figures, a tool 66 for manual operation, such as a wheel 68, can be mounted on the coupling 64, allowing an operator 70 to rotate the drive shaft 48 and thus drive the power-operated pump section 56 to pump hydraulic fluid into the connected hydraulic cylinders 32, 42. Instead of the wheel 68, any other manually operated rotary mechanism, such as a crank, a rotary cross, or the like, can also be provided.

[0068] Instead of a hand-operated tool, the tool 66 can also be power-operated. For example, a cordless screwdriver or cordless drill 72 is shown, by means of which the drive shaft 48 can be driven independently of the power grid 52, in order to drive the power-operated pump section 56 to supply the connected hydraulic cylinder 32, 42 with hydraulic medium independently of the power grid 52.

[0069] As in the Fig. 1, Fig. 2, Fig. 3 to Fig. As shown in Figure 4, the power-operated hydraulic pump unit 44 – the hydraulic power pack – can be attached to the underside of the loading platform 24. The loading platform 24 then has a corresponding recess or opening (not shown) through which the power-operated hydraulic pump unit 44 is accessible for actuating the emergency release device. This opening allows access to the coupling 64, for example, to attach the battery-powered drill 72, the wheel 68, or the like.

[0070] Furthermore, a slot-shaped opening (not shown) is provided through which a pump lever 74 can be inserted into a lever receptacle 76 for actuating the manually operated pump section 58; this is described in more detail in Fig. 1 shown.

[0071] Instead of being arranged under the loading bridge platform, the power-operated hydraulic pump unit 44 can also be arranged, for example, on the loading ramp 28 next to the loading bridge platform 24. Such an arrangement is shown in the Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9 to Fig. 10 shown.

[0072] Specific embodiments of the power-operated hydraulic pump unit are described in the Fig. 14 and Fig. 15 shown.

[0073] As in Fig. As can be seen in Figure 14, the power-operated hydraulic pump unit 44 can be enclosed in a cabinet 78 so that only essential operating elements are accessible, and the cabinet 78 can be opened by authorized personnel for maintenance purposes or the like.

[0074] Fig. Figure 15 shows the power-operated hydraulic pump unit 44, in which the power-operated pump section 56 and the manually operated pump section 58 are integrated together on a pump and valve block 80, which forms the housing 54. The electric motor 46 is flanged to one side of the pump and valve block 80, while a hydraulic fluid reservoir 82 is provided on the other side.

[0075] In the Fig. In the example shown in Figure 15, the lever receptacle 76 is designed as a rod 84. A pump lever 74, designed as a tube, can be attached to this pump rod 84.

[0076] As in the Fig. 9 and Fig. As shown in Figure 10, the emergency actuation device 22 can, in addition to the manually operated pump section 58 and the coupling 64 for the tool 66, also include an electrical energy storage device 86, such as, in particular, a battery block 88. In the embodiment shown in Fig. 9 this battery block 88 is charged via the mains power supply 52; in the embodiment in Fig. Alternatively or additionally, the battery block 88 can be charged by renewable energies or an energy harvester; a solar panel 90 (photovoltaics) is shown here as an example.

[0077] As from the Fig. 1, Fig. 3, Fig. 4, Fig. 5, Fig. 6, Fig. 7, Fig. 8, Fig. 9, Fig. 10 and Fig. As can be seen in Figure 15, the same hydraulic connections 92 and 94 can be used, which, when the power supply is available, are supplied by the power-operated pump section 56 driven by the electric motor 46, and, when the power supply fails, are supplied manually, either via the manually operated pump section 58 or by corresponding rotation of the drive shaft 48. All of this takes place within the pump and valve block 80, so that no additional hydraulic connections or the like are required for the emergency operating device 22.

[0078] In the Fig. 11, Fig. 12 to Fig. Figure 13 shows possible hydraulic diagrams for the corresponding hydraulic circuits. Hydraulic fluid from the hydraulic fluid reservoir 82 is routed through the motor pump section 4 via a first filter 9 to a valve 6, which opens to flow when pressure is applied by the motor pump 4 and otherwise allows a return flow via a drain and throttle valve 8 and a safety valve 7.

[0079] The lowering of the lifting hydraulic cylinders 32 is effected via the throttle valve 8 and via the safety valve 7, which has an emergency stop function and can be operated externally with an emergency stop button 96 (see also Fig. 15) When the emergency stop function is activated, hydraulic connection A for the lifting hydraulic cylinders is locked. This keeps the loading platform 24 in the raised position even under load, for example, when a forklift is on the loading platform 24 and the truck being loaded drives away.

[0080] An overload valve 5 ensures that a maximum pressure of 120 bar is not exceeded.

[0081] The manually operated pump section 58 is shown as arrangement 10 with check valves in the hydraulic diagrams of the Fig. 11, Fig. 12 to Fig. 13 is marked.

[0082] B designates the hydraulic connection for the lip 38; the lip hydraulic cylinder 42 can be selectively supplied with hydraulic fluid via a changeover valve 14 through this connection. The hydraulic fluid is drawn in via a second filter 18.

[0083] The hydraulic diagrams differ in the arrangement of the overpressure relief valve 5, which in the three alternatives is connected to the outlet of the manually operated pump section 58 using different connecting elements 15. The connection to the motor-driven section is the same in all cases, via a check valve 16.

[0084] In Fig. Item 13 indicates a safety valve which, in the event of an emergency stop switch 96 – safety valve 7 – is triggered, ensures that lip 38 does not move downwards. Otherwise, the hydraulic diagrams are self-explanatory for the expert.

[0085] As from the Fig. As shown in Figures 1 and 3 to 10, a first hydraulic hose 102 is led from hydraulic port A to a chamber of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 32 that is effective for lifting. A second hydraulic hose 104 is led from hydraulic port B to the lip hydraulic cylinder 42. As shown in the examples... Fig. Figures 1 and 3 to 10 show that a third hydraulic hose 106 may be provided to connect a counter chamber of the lifting hydraulic cylinder 32 to a hydraulic control unit. This is shown in Fig. 11, Fig. 12 to Fig. 13 not explicitly shown. Reference symbol list: 4 Motor pump area 5 Overpressure relief valve 6 valve 7 Safety valve 8 Throttle valve 9 first filter 10 manually operated arrangement 13 Safety valve 14 Diverter valve 15 Connecting element 16 Check valve 17 Throttle 18 second filter 20 Loading bridge 22 Emergency operating device 24 loading bridge platforms 26 Loading bridge fastening 28 Loading ramp 30 Loading bridge recess 32 lifting hydraulic cylinders 34 first end 36 horizontal axis 37 second end 38 Lippe 40 Movement mechanism 42 lip hydraulic cylinders 44 power-operated hydraulic pump unit 46 Electric motor 48 Drive shaft 50 Control 52 Power grid 54 cases 56 power-operated pump range 58 manually operated pump range 60 hand pump 62 Foot pump 64 Clutch 66 tools 68 wheel 70 operator 72 Cordless drill 74 pump levers 76 Lever mount 78 Cabinet 80 Pump and valve block 82 hydraulic fluid reservoirs 84 Pump rod 86 Energy storage 88 battery pack 90 solar panels 92 Hydraulic connection 94 Hydraulic connection 96 Emergency stop button 100 hydraulic circuit 102 first hydraulic hose 104 second hydraulic hose 106 third hydraulic hose A hydraulic connection for lifting hydraulic cylinders B Hydraulic connection for Lippe hydraulic cylinders

Claims

[1] Loading bridge (20) with a loading bridge platform (24), at least one hydraulic cylinder (32, 42) for moving the loading bridge platform (24) and a power-operated hydraulic pump unit (44), wherein the hydraulic pump unit (44) comprises an electric motor (46) operated by a power grid (52) and a hydraulic pump driven by a drive shaft (48) of the electric motor (46) for supplying the hydraulic cylinder (32, 42) with pressurized hydraulic fluid and an emergency actuation device (22) for actuating the hydraulic pump in the event of a failure of the power grid (52). [2] Loading bridge (20) according to claim 1, characterized by , that the emergency operating device (22) is designed for manual operation of the hydraulic pump. [3] Loading bridge (20) according to claim 2, characterized by , that the hydraulic pump has a motor-driven section (56) and a hand-operated section (58) within the same pump housing. [4] Loading bridge (20) according to claim 3, characterized by , that the manually operated area (58) is designed as a hand pump (60) and / or foot pump (62). [5] Loading bridge (20) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized by , that the pump housing is provided with a valve block (80) via which both the motor-driven area (56) and the manually operated area (58) can be switched. [6] Loading bridge (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the emergency actuation device (22) has a coupling (64) on the drive shaft (48) to drive the drive shaft (48) from the outside manually or by means of a battery-powered drive device or cordless screwdriver. [7] Loading bridge (20) according to claim 6, characterized by, that the emergency operating device (22) or the battery-operated drive device or the cordless screwdriver or a hand drive, hand crank or handwheel for coupling to the drive shaft (48) for the purpose of manually driving the same. [8] Loading bridge (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the emergency operating device (22) has a battery or accumulator for emergency power supply to the electric motor (46). [9] Loading bridge (20) according to claim 8, characterized by that a renewable power source or energy harvester is provided to convert local energy into electrical energy for the accumulator. [10] Loading bridge (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a power-operated movable lip (38) is arranged on the loading bridge platform (24). [11] Loading bridge (20) according to claim 10, characterized by, that the hydraulic pump equipped with the emergency actuation device (22) is designed and equipped to supply at least one lifting hydraulic cylinder (32) for lifting the loading bridge platform (24) as well as to supply a lip hydraulic cylinder (42) intended for moving the lip (38). [12] Loading bridge (20) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by , that a weight compensation device is provided to compensate for at least part of the weight of the loading bridge platform (24).

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