Trailer device, in particular for a driverless transport system, driverless transport system, and method for operating a trailer device and a driverless transport system

Abstract

Trailer device (2), with a trailer (3), which has: - wheels (5) by means of which the trailer (3) can be supported on a ground (7) and rolled along the ground (7); - at least one brake (8) which can be actuated by means of a fluid and by means of which the wheels (5) and thereby the trailer (3) can be braked; and - a connecting device (9) via which the brake (8) can be connected to and actuated by a braking system of a towing vehicle for moving the trailer (3); characterized by an adapter (16) which is formed separately from the trailer (3) and is reversibly detachably connected or connectable to the connecting device (9), which adapter is designed to wirelessly receive at least one signal provided wirelessly by a device (11) different from the trailer device (2) and to actuate the brake (8) of the trailer (3) via the connecting device (9) as a function of the received signal.

Description

The invention relates to a trailer device, in particular for a rodless transport system, according to the preamble of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention relates to a rodless transport system, in particular for producing products, according to the preamble of claim 6.Trailer devices are already sufficiently known from the general prior art. Such a trailer device can be seen as known, for example, from DE 10 2013 223 529 A1. The trailer device comprises a trailer which has wheels via which the trailer can be supported on a ground and rolled along the ground. For example, the wheels are rotatably held on a chassis, in particular on a frame of the trailer. The trailer can be coupled reversibly detachably to a towing vehicle, for example, and can thus be moved or maneuvered by means of the towing vehicle, such that products can be transported, for example, by means of the trailer, in particular on the trailer. The trailer further comprises at least one brake that can be actuated by means of a fluid, in particular by means of air, by means of which the wheels and thus the trailer can be braked. In particular, the wheels and thus the trailer can be locked by means of the brake and thus secured against rolling away.In addition, the trailer has a connection device, via which the brake can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle for moving the trailer. The towing vehicle can be designed in particular as a conventional commercial vehicle which has, for example, the brake system which can be actuated by means of the same fluid as the brake of the trailer. The brake system is, for example, a service brake of the towing vehicle. If, for example, the brake of the trailer is connected to the brake system of the towing vehicle via the connection device, then, for example, the brake of the trailer is supplied via the connection device with the fluid from the brake system of the towing vehicle and thereby released and in particular held released or open, so that when the brake of the trailer is connected to the brake system of the towing vehicle via the connection device, the towing vehicle can move the trailer without this movement of the trailer caused by the towing vehicle being prevented by the brake of the trailer or without the brake of the trailer opposing the movement of the trailer caused by the towing vehicle.Sensorless transport systems and methods for operating such sensorless transport systems are known, for example, from DE 10 2005 051 133 B4, from DE 10 2015 215 101 A1 and from EP 0 800 129 A1. DE 10 2012 100 402 A1 discloses a pneumatic trailer brake system. EP 1 686 046 A1 discloses a self-propelled maneuvering vehicle for a semi-trailer. WO 2017 / 171 911 A1 discloses a storage arrangement for lines from a tractor unit to a trailer.It is the object of the present invention to provide a trailer device, a keyless transport system and a respective method of the type mentioned at the beginning, so that particularly advantageous and in particular time- and cost-effective operation can be realized.This object is achieved according to the invention by a trailer device having the features of claim 1, by a rodless transport system having the features of claim 6, by a method having the features of claim 8 and by a method having the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.A first aspect of the invention relates to a trailer device, in particular for a Keyless Transport System (FTS). The trailer device comprises a trailer which has wheels by means of which the trailer can be supported on a ground and rolled along the ground. For example, the wheels are rotatably held on a chassis, in particular on a frame, of the trailer. The trailer further comprises at least one brake which can be actuated by means of a fluid, in particular by means of compressed air of different air, by means of which brake the wheels and thus the trailer can be braked. In particular, it is conceivable that the wheels and thus the trailer can be fixed by means of the brake of the trailer and thus secured against rotation or against undesired rolling away. The trailer further has a connection device, via which the brake of the trailer can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle, which is different from the trailer and is formed separately from the trailer, for moving or maneuvering the trailer. In particular, the brake of the trailer can be connected via the connection device in a reversibly detachable manner to the brake system of the towing vehicle, such that, for example, the connection device can be connected to the brake system and then released from the brake system and then connected again to the brake system without damage occurring to the connection device or the brake system.The brake system of the towing vehicle can be actuated, for example, by means of the same fluid as the brake of the trailer, such that the brake system of the towing vehicle can be actuated, for example, by means of air or compressed air and thus pneumatically. In particular, the brake system is, for example, a service brake for braking the towing vehicle.The brake of the trailer can be supplied with the fluid via the connection device, for example when the brake of the trailer is fluidically connected to the brake system of the towing vehicle via the connection device, which fluid is provided, for example, by the brake system or by the towing vehicle. By supplying the brake of the trailer with the fluid, the brake of the trailer is actuated, for example, in particular in such a way that the brake of the trailer is opened and in particular is kept open or open. As a result, for example, the towing vehicle can move the trailer, while the brake is fluidically connected to the brake system via the connection device, without the brake of the trailer opposing the movement of the trailer brought about by the towing vehicle.In order to realize a particularly advantageous and in particular time- and cost-effective operation, the trailer device comprises an adapter which is formed separately from the trailer and separately from the towing vehicle and is therefore different from the towing vehicle and is connected or can be connected to the connection device in a reversibly detachable manner. This means that the trailer and the adapter are two components which are formed separately from one another and are therefore independent and which can be produced or are produced, for example, independently of one another. In this case, the adapter can be connected, in particular fluidically, to the connection device, can then be detached from the connection device and then connected again to the connection device without damage occurring to the adapter or the connection device.The adapter, which can be connected to the connection device in particular independently of the towing vehicle, is designed to receive at least one signal wirelessly provided by a device different from the trailer device and to actuate the brake of the trailer via the connection device as a function of the received signal. This actuation of the brake of the trailer effected or can be effected by the adapter can be understood in particular to mean that the adapter opens the brake of the trailer and in particular keeps it open during the actuation of the brake of the trailer. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable that the adapter actuates the brake of the trailer in dependence on the wirelessly received signal in such a way that the brake of the trailer is closed. As a result, for example, the wheels of the trailer and thus the trailer as a whole are braked and in particular secured against undesired rotation or against undesired rolling away. Thus, the adapter is preferably designed to open and / or keep open and / or close the brake of the trailer as a function of the signal via the connection device. By opening or keeping the brake of the trailer open, the brake of the trailer allows the wheels of the trailer to rotate and thus allows the trailer to roll. By closing the brakes, the brake of the trailer brakes the wheels of the trailer, wherein it can be provided that the brake secures the wheels against rotation. This makes it possible to secure the trailer against undesired rolling away. The aforementioned towing vehicle is, for example, a conventional commercial vehicle designed as a motor vehicle, which can be driven by a human driver. If the commercial vehicle is connected, in particular reversibly releasably, to the trailer, the trailer and the commercial vehicle form a combination which can be moved by the human driver and thus. This means that the human driver can cause the train to travel.By means of the combination, products such as components and / or other materials for producing further products can be transported, for example, and supplied, for example, to a processing facility such as, for example, a factory. In this case, further transport or further distribution of the supplied materials in the factory is desirable. Conventionally, such further transport takes place with the aid of conventional towing machines, which are likewise designed as commercial vehicles, for example, are driven by human drivers and are designed for long-distance use on the road. In the factory, which is also referred to as the factory, journeys of the utility vehicles are carried out in order to transport respective trailers further with the materials, wherein these journeys are usually very short and slow and in the process take place only at a speed of at most 10 km / h. In addition, it is often necessary to maneuver in the factory, and the conventional traction machines in the form of commercial vehicles are not particularly useful.It is therefore desirable to transport and in particular to maneuver the further transport of the materials and thus, for example, a further transport of the previously described trailer taking place in the factory by means of a rodless transport system and thus by means of a rodless tractor in the factory, since such a rodless tractor is very cumbersome and thus has a particularly advantageous maneuverability, in particular in comparison to conventional towing vehicles designed as commercial vehicles.After the previously described trailer has thus been delivered to the plant or transported to the plant, for example, by means of the aforementioned, classic towing vehicle, the trailer is decoupled from the towing vehicle, for example, and coupled to a suspension tractor without drivers, in particular reversibly in a detachable manner. Then, for example, the trailer, which is in particular designed as a trailer or semi-trailer, can be moved and in particular transported by means of the rodless tractor and thus automatically, that is to say without a human driver, in particular in the processing facility or in the aforementioned work. The rodless tractor has a platform on which the trailer, also referred to as trailer, can be placed. Via the platform, for example, the trailer can be reversibly detachable and articulated to the suspension tractor. The rodless tractor is usually designed to drive the rodless tractor in a rodless manner, i.e. without a human driver and thus automatically, so that the trailer can be moved in the factory automatically and thus without a human driver, in particular when it is coupled to the rodless tractor.For this purpose, the rodless tractor has, for example, a motor and an omnidirectional drive which can be driven, for example, by the motor. The motor can be designed in particular as an electric motor, so that the rodless traction machine can be operated or is operated in particular electrically. This makes it possible to prevent the generation of exhaust gases in the plant. A particularly great advantage of such a rodless tractor is that no human driver is required to drive the rodless tractor, for example, at the factory.The connection of the brake of the trailer described above via the connection device to the brake system of the towing vehicle mentioned is particularly simple, since the connection device of the trailer, also referred to as a connection, is usually standardized. The connection device can have a plurality of fluid inputs, in particular air inputs, via which the brake of the trailer can be supplied with the fluid, in particular from the brake system.If the connection device is disconnected from the brake system or from the adapter, i.e. if nothing is connected to the connection device, so that the connection device is in a disconnected or unconnected state, then the brake of the trailer is usually activated, so that the trailer cannot roll away in an undesired manner and in particular cannot be moved in an undesired manner.Within the scope of experiments and investigations, the problem has now been identified that a suspension tractor is usually of particularly flat design, and therefore lies or is arranged only under the trailer, in particular in a state in which the trailer is reversibly releasably and articulatedly coupled to the suspension tractor, and therefore automatically dock to the trailer, that is to say can be connected or coupled to the trailer, only under the trailer. Automatic connection of the brake of the trailer via the connection device to a brake system, in particular to a brake system of the rodless tractor, is not possible. Therefore, the connection device of the trailer usually has to be connected via at least one or more lines, such as hoses, to the rodless tractor, in particular to at least one or more compressed air connections provided on the rodless tractor, in order thereby to be able to connect the brake of the trailer via the connection device to a brake system provided on the rodless tractor or to a fluid source provided on the rodless tractor, in order to connect the brake via the connection device and the hose or the hoses to the brake system or to the fluid source of the rodless tractor and thereby to be able to supply it with fluid provided by the rodless tractor. Thus, each time a suspension tractor is docked to a or to the mentioned trailer, a manual intervention is necessary, within the scope of which the connection device must be connected to the suspension tractor by a person in order to be able to actuate the brake of the trailer. As a result, the advantage of automation, which can be realized in principle by using the rodless transport system, and the lower personnel outlay resulting therefrom, is drastically reduced in comparison with transporting the trailer by means of a conventional towing vehicle in the factory.These problems and disadvantages can now be avoided by means of the trailer device according to the invention, since, as a result of the use of the adapter, the trailer or its connection device does not have to be connected to the suspension vehicle without a driver, but rather the connection device is connected to the adapter in a reversibly detachable and in particular fluidic manner, for example, when a decoupling of the trailer from the towing vehicle and a subsequent and in particular automatic coupling of the trailer to a suspension vehicle with a driver's free towing vehicle is provided. Thus, the previously described manual connection of hoses of a suspension tractor to the connection device of the trailer can be avoided and replaced by the adapter or by connecting the adapter to the connection device.It has been found that in a process in which the trailer initially connected to the classic towing vehicle is decoupled from the towing vehicle and then coupled to the rodless tractor, the connection of the adapter to the connection device can be carried out substantially more time-less and cost-less, in particular by a person, than the connection of the connection device to the rodless tractor.In the process, it is provided, for example, that the trailer, which is initially reversibly detachable and preferably articulated to the towing vehicle, is parked in a parking space by means of the towing vehicle and thus by a driver of the towing vehicle. Then, for example, the connection device is disconnected from the brake system of the towing vehicle. Thereupon, for example, the driver of the towing vehicle connects the adapter to the connection device, in particular fluidically. In this case, for example, the adapter is connected to at least one or more compressed air connections of the connection device. As described above, the adapter is designed to actuate, that is to say to release or to fix, the brake of the trailer as required.After connecting the connection device to the adapter or because the adapter is connected to the connection device, the automated tractor can dock, in particular automatically, on the trailer and thus couple, in particular automatically, and preferably reversibly detachable and / or articulated, to the trailer without the need for and providing a manual connection of the connection device to the automated tractor.If the keyless tractor docks, for example, on the trailer, the keyless tractor provides the aforementioned signal wirelessly, for example, and in the process provides it, for example, by radio. The adapter receives the provided signal wirelessly and in the process, for example, by radio, and releases or opens the brake of the trailer as a function of the signal. As a result, the suspension tractor can automatically move the trailer without the brake of the trailer opposing the movement of the trailer effected by the suspension tractor. This means that the rodless tractor is preferably the aforementioned device which provides the signal wirelessly and in this case in particular by radio.By means of the rodless tractor, the trailer can be transported, in particular automatically, to at least one location different from the parking space and be parked at the location, for example. Then, for example, the suspension tractor is disengaged from the trailer. This means that the suspension tractor without the driver, in particular automatically, disengages or separates from the trailer. Then, for example, the suspension tractor without the driver provides the signal wirelessly and, for example, by radio or another signal which is received wirelessly by the adapter and, for example, by radio. Subsequently, the adapter actuates the brake of the trailer in particular in such a way as to close or fix the brake as a function of the received signal or further signal. In other words, the adapter brings about a locking or closing of the brake of the trailer as a function of the reception of the further signal, so that undesired rolling away of the trailer from the said location is avoided.The first signal for causing the brake of the trailer to open is also referred to as a release or opening signal, for example, wherein the further signal for causing the brake to close is also referred to as a brake signal, for example.It has been found that, by using the adapter, excessive impairment of the automation that can be realized by using the rodless transport system and thus the rodless tractor can be avoided, so that the use of the adapter enables a particularly high degree of automation. As a result, for example, the aforementioned materials or products can be processed particularly quickly and cost-effectively, so that the further products can be produced from the products or materials in a time and cost-effective manner. In particular, a capability for automatizing the entire process chain is possible. The rodless tractor, which is used to implement the rodless transport system, can dock with the trailer particularly quickly and dock off from the trailer, since a manual connection of the connection device of the trailer to the rodless tractor upstream or downstream is not provided and is omitted. In addition, the rodless tractor can be used particularly flexibly by using the adapter, and the number of manual working steps to be performed during the above-mentioned process can be kept particularly small, so that the process can be performed in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner. The suspension tractor is, for example, a battery-operated suspension tractor which enables a particularly permanent transport of the trailer.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the adapter is connected or connectable fluidically to the brake via the connection device, such that, for example, the adapter can bring about a flow of the fluid for actuating the brake, in particular from the adapter, through the connection device to the brake, in order thereby to actuate, in particular to open or close, the brake. In other words, it is thereby possible, for example, for the adapter to allow a flow of the fluid, in particular from the adapter, via the connection device to the brake and / or from the brake via the connection device, in particular to the adapter, whereby the brake can be closed or opened. This allows a particularly high degree of automation to be realized, so that the process mentioned can be carried out in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner.It has also been shown to be particularly advantageous if the adapter has at least one tank for receiving the fluid for actuating the brake. As a result, it is possible, for example, to supply the brake with the fluid from the tank in order, for example, to thereby open the brake and, in particular, to keep it open. Alternatively or additionally, it is conceivable, for example, to close the brake in such a way that the fluid is discharged from the brake via the connection device and in particular introduced into the tank.In a further advantageous embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the adapter is fastened or can be fastened to the trailer in a mechanically and reversibly detachable manner. Thus, for example, not only is a fluidic connection of the adapter to the connection device provided, but the adapter is also held mechanically reversibly detachably on the trailer, so that the adapter is held stably and firmly on the trailer and in particular on the connection device.In order to be able to carry out the aforementioned process particularly in a time-efficient and cost-effective manner, it is provided in a further embodiment of the invention that the trailer has at least one holding device which is different from the connection device and is spaced apart from the connection device and on which the adapter is to be held in a reversibly detachable manner in a state separated from the connection device. This means that the adapter can be held in a simple manner on the holding device and thus on the trailer via the holding device when the adapter is not used, that is to say in particular when the adapter is not connected to the connection device. As a result, the adapter can be stored particularly easily when not in use, and for example a person who wishes to connect the adapter to the connection device can quickly and easily find the adapter held on the connection device in a reversibly detachable manner, can easily be detached from the connection device and connect it to the connection device.A second aspect of the invention relates to a sensorless transport system (FTS), in particular for producing components or for producing the aforementioned further products. The rodless transport system comprises at least one rodless tractor, wherein the previously described and following embodiments relating to the aforementioned rodless tractor according to the first aspect of the invention can also be easily transferred to the rodless tractor according to the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa. In order to be able to realize a particularly advantageous and in particular time- and cost-effective operation, in particular a particularly time- and cost-effective production of the components, it is provided within the scope of the second aspect of the invention that the keyless transport system has at least one trailer device, in particular at least one trailer device according to the invention according to the first aspect of the invention. The trailer device comprises a trailer which can be coupled or is coupled reversibly releasably to the suspension tractor and which has wheels via which the trailer can be supported on a floor and rolled along the floor. The trailer further comprises at least one brake that can be actuated by means of a fluid, by means of which brake the wheels and thereby the trailer can be braked. The trailer according to the second aspect of the invention further comprises a connection device, via which the brake of the trailer can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle, which is designed, for example, as a commercial vehicle or utility vehicle, for moving the trailer.Furthermore, the keyless transport system comprises an adapter which is formed separately from the trailer and is connected or can be connected to the connection device in a reversibly detachable manner and is formed to receive wirelessly at least one signal provided wirelessly by the keyless towing vehicle different from the trailer device and to actuate the brake of the trailer via the connection device as a function of the received signal. Advantages and advantageous configurations of the first aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous configurations of the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, the rodless tractor has at least one motor, in particular at least one electric motor, for driving the rodless tractor. In addition, the rodless tractor has at least one electronic computing device which is designed to actuate the motor, thereby automatically drive the rodless tractor and thereby effect a rodless automatic drive of the rodless tractor. This means that a journey of the automated tractor can be carried out in a non-driver manner, i.e. without a human driver, so that the trailer, which is coupled to the non-driver tractor in a particularly reversibly detachable and / or articulated manner, can be transported automatically and thus without a human driver, in particular in the aforementioned plant. This allows a particularly time-consuming and cost-effective process or operation to be presented.A third aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a trailer device, in particular a trailer device according to the invention. In the method, the trailer device comprises a trailer which has wheels via which the trailer can be supported on a ground and rolled along the ground. Furthermore, the trailer has at least one brake which can be actuated by means of a fluid and by means of which the wheels and thus the trailer can be braked. In addition, the trailer has a connection device, via which the brake can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle for moving the trailer.In order to be able to realize a particularly advantageous and in particular time- and cost-effective operation, the method provides an adapter which is formed separately from the trailer and separately from the towing vehicle and is thus connected to the connection device in a different and reversibly detachable manner by the towing vehicle and by means of which an adapter which is provided wirelessly by a device different from the trailer device is received wirelessly and the brake of the trailer is actuated via the connection device as a function of the received signal. Advantages and advantageous configurations of the first aspect and of the second aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous configurations of the third aspect of the invention, and vice versa. In this case, the adapter is connected to the connection device in particular independently of the towing vehicle and independently of the apparatus or the towing vehicle. In particular, it is conceivable that the wireless provision of the signal by the device designed, for example, as a rodless tractor is part of the method according to the invention.It has proven particularly advantageous if the adapter has at least one tank in which the fluid is accommodated, wherein the brake is actuated as a function of the received signal by means of at least a part of the fluid from the tank and thus by the adapter. As a result, the adapter can bring about a respective actuation of the brake of the trailer without additional components, so that the operation or process can be carried out particularly quickly and economically.Finally, a fourth aspect of the invention relates to a method for operating a rodless transport system, in particular a rodless transport system according to the invention according to the second aspect of the invention. In the method according to the fourth aspect of the invention, at least one suspension tractor is used.According to the invention, in the fourth aspect of the invention, at least one trailer device is provided with a trailer which can be coupled or is coupled to the suspension tractor in a reversibly detachable manner and which has wheels via which the trailer can be supported on a floor and rolled along the floor. The trailer further comprises at least one brake that can be actuated by means of a fluid, in particular by means of air or compressed air, by means of which brake the wheels and thus the trailer can be braked. In addition, the trailer has a connection device, via which the brake can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle, which is in particular conventional, for moving the trailer. In the fourth aspect of the invention, an adapter which is formed separately from the trailer and is connected to the connection device in a reversibly detachable manner is also provided, by means of which adapter at least one signal provided wirelessly by the rodless tractor different from the trailer device is received wirelessly and the brake of the trailer is actuated via the connection device as a function of the received signal. Advantages and advantageous configurations of the first aspect, the second aspect and the third aspect of the invention are to be regarded as advantages and advantageous configurations of the fourth aspect of the invention and vice versa.Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferred exemplary embodiment with the associated drawings. The following shows: FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a portion of a rodless transport system according to the invention; FIG. 2 shows a schematic front view of a portion of the suspension system; and FIG. 3 is a schematic perspective view of a rodless tractor of the rodless transport system.In the figures, identical or functionally identical elements are provided with identical reference symbols.FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a portion of a sensorless transport system (FTS) denoted overall by 1, which is used, for example, in the context of producing components or products. As will be explained in more detail below, the automated guided system 1 is used, for example, to transport further products or materials from which the aforementioned first products are produced within a processing facility such as a factory or a factory. For this purpose, the suspension system 1 comprises a trailer device 2 which has a trailer 3. The trailer 3 comprises, for example, a chassis 4 which is inherently rigid and is partially recognizable in FIG. 1 and is also referred to as a frame. the trailer 3 further comprises wheels 5, which are particularly schematically illustrated in FIG. 1 and are held on the chassis 4 for example in a rotatable manner. the wheels 5 can thus rotate about respective axes of rotation 6 relative to the chassis 4. The trailer 3 can be supported or supported on a floor 7, in particular of the aforementioned work, via the wheels 5, wherein the trailer 3 can be moved along the floor 7 and thus in a simple manner, in particular when the wheels 5 are released for rotation relative to the chassis 4.The trailer 3 further comprises a brake 8, which is illustrated particularly schematically in FIG. 1 and can be actuated by means of a fluid. The fluid is in particular air or compressed air, so that the brake 8 is designed, for example, as an air brake, in particular as a compressed air brake. The brake 8 is thus designed as a pneumatic brake. The wheels 5 and thus the trailer 3 can be braked overall by means of the brake 8. In particular, the wheels 5 can be fixed by means of the brake 8 and thus secured against rotation relative to the chassis 4, whereby for example the trailer 3 can be secured against undesired rolling away, in particular relative to the ground 7. In conjunction with FIG. 2, it can be seen particularly well that the trailer 3 has a connection device 9, which is mechanically held on the chassis 4 and is connected, for example, fluidically to the brake 8. Via the connection device 9, the brake 8, in particular fluidically, can be connected and actuated to a towing vehicle, not shown in the figures, for moving the trailer 3.The towing vehicle is designed, for example, as a commercial vehicle and, in particular, as a utility vehicle, wherein the brake system of the towing vehicle can be actuated, for example, by means of the same fluid as the brake 8. Thus, the braking system of the towing vehicle, which is designed, for example, as a service brake, is likewise designed, for example, as an air brake or as a compressed air brake.In particular, in a state in which the brake 8 is fluidically connected to the brake system via the connection device 9, the brake 8 is supplied with the fluid from the brake system via the connection device 9. As a result, for example, the initially closed brake 8 is opened and in particular kept open. When the brake 8 is closed, the wheels 5 are secured against rotation relative to the chassis 4 by means of the brake 8. When the brake 8 is open, the wheels 5 can rotate about the axes of rotation 6 relative to the chassis 4. By opening and holding the brake 8 open as described, the towing vehicle can move the trailer 3, for example, without the brake 8 or the wheels 5 opposing or opposing the movement of the trailer 2 brought about by the towing vehicle.It is thus possible, for example, for the towing vehicle and the trailer 3 which is reversibly detachable and articulated to the towing vehicle to form a combination, it being possible for the aforementioned materials to be transported on or in the trailer 3. In this way, it is possible, for example, to transport the materials by means of the trailer 3 from a production facility at which the materials are produced to the factory and in particular to a parking space of the factory. By means of the towing vehicle, the trailer 3 is parked, for example, in the parking space designated by 10 in FIG. 1. If, for example, the connecting device 9 is then released from the towing vehicle or from the brake system, the brake 8 is closed or established. The trailer 3 then stands securely on the parking space 10.Further transport of the trailer 3 in the factory takes place by means of the rodless transport system 1, since the trailer 3 can thereby be moved automatically, i.e. without a human driver in the factory, and can be maneuvered particularly advantageously. While a human driver who drives the towing vehicle is required for carrying out a journey of the towing vehicle mentioned, the trailer 3 can be moved and transported in a non-driver manner, that is to say without a human driver and thus automatically, by means of the non-driver transport system 1. For this purpose, the rodless transport system 1 comprises a rodless tractor 11 which can be seen particularly well from FIGS. 2 and 3 and which has a platform 12. The platform 12 has, for example, a coupling device 13, by means of which the suspension tractor 11 can be reversibly releasably and pivotably coupled to the trailer 3. The coupling of the suspension tractor 11 to the trailer 3 is also referred to as docking.The rodless tractor 11 also has, for example, a chassis and wheels rotatably supported on the chassis. Furthermore, the rodless tractor 11 has, for example, at least one motor 14, which is illustrated particularly schematically in FIG. 3 and is designed, for example, as an electric motor, and an electronic computing device 15, which is designed to actuate the motor 14 and thereby drive the wheels and thus the rodless transport vehicle 11 as a whole via the motor 14. In this way, automatic driving of the rodless tractor 11 can be effected by the electronic arithmetic unit 15. If the trailer 3 is coupled to the rodless tractor 11, the trailer 3 can be transported and maneuvered in the factory in a rodless manner and thus automatically by means of the rodless tractor 11. In order to now perform an operation that can be carried out particularly quickly and cost-effectively, in the scope of which the suspension tractor 11 automatically docks onto the trailer 3, moves the trailer 3, in particular in the factory, automatically and then docks it off again from the trailer 3, that is to say for example automatically releases or separates from the trailer 3, an adapter 16 is provided, which is illustrated particularly schematically in FIG. 1. The adapter 16 is formed separately from the trailer 3 and separately from the rodless tractor 11 and separately from the tractor vehicle, so that the adapter 16 is the tractor 11, the trailer 3 and the tractor vehicle independently or separately formed components.The adapter 16 is reversibly detachable and preferably fluidically connected or connectable to the connection device 9 and is designed to receive at least one signal provided wirelessly and for example by radio from the rodless tractor 11 different from the trailer device 2 and for example by radio and for example by radio and for actuating the brake 8 of the trailer 3 via the connection device 9 as a function of the received signal.Within the scope of the aforementioned operation, for example, the driver of the towing vehicle places the trailer 3 in the parking space by means of the towing vehicle. The driver of the towing vehicle then disconnects the trailer 3 from the towing vehicle, as a result of which the brake 8 or the connection device 9 is disconnected from the brake system of the towing vehicle. As a result, the brake 8 is no longer supplied with the fluid from the brake system of the towing vehicle, whereby the brake 8 is closed and in particular is kept closed. Thereupon, for example, the driver of the towing vehicle or another person at least fluidically connects the adapter 16 to the connection device 9.Before, during or after this, the tractor 11 automatically docks on the trailer 3, so that the tractor 11 reversibly detachably, articulately and automatically connects to the trailer 3. In this case, the tractor 11 provides the signal mentioned, in particular in the form of an enable signal. The adapter 16 receives the release signal and, as a result of the reception of the release signal, effects an opening of the brake 8, in which, for example, the brake 8 is supplied with the fluid via the connection device 9. the fluid originates, for example, from a tank 17 of the adapter 16 which is shown particularly schematically in FIG. 1. Subsequently, the trailer 3 can be transported automatically by means of the tractor 11 coupled to the trailer 3 in an articulated and reversibly detachable manner and in the process can be transported, for example, from the parking space 10 to a location different from the parking space 10.The tractor 11 sets the trailer 3 at the said location. Thereupon, for example, the tractor 11 provides a further signal wirelessly and in this case, in particular by radio, in particular in the form of a brake signal. The adapter 16 receives the brake signal and actuates the brake 8 in response to the receipt of the brake signal in such a way that the adapter 16 closes or establishes the brake 8. For this purpose, the fluid is discharged from the brake 8, in particular via the connection device 9 and / or the tank 17. Thereupon, the tractor 11 disengages or decouples from the trailer 3, which is then securely located in place and is secured against undesired rolling away by the brake 8 being closed.In order to be able to easily locate the adapter 16 and connect it to the connection device 9, in particular when the trailer 3 is moved by means of the towing vehicle, and, for example, when the trailer 3 is connected to the towing vehicle, to be able to be easily stowed away from the connection device 9, the trailer 3 has, for example, a holding device 18 which is different from the connection device 9 and is spaced apart from the connection device 9 and on which the adapter 16 can be held in a reversibly detachable, in particular mechanically, manner.The driver can then, for example, release the adapter 16 initially held on the holding device 18 and thus on the trailer 3 from the holding device 18 and connect it to the connection device 9, in particular fluidically. Furthermore, for example, a person can release the adapter 16 from the connection device 9 and hold it again on the holding device 18. Overall, it can be seen that a particularly high degree of automation can be realized by using the adapter 16, so that the products can be produced particularly quickly and cost-effectively. In addition, the number of working steps to be carried out manually can be kept particularly low. Furthermore, the suspension system 1 can be used in a particularly flexible manner.It can be seen from FIG. 3 that the tractor 11 has, for example, at least one energy store 19 which is in particular designed as a battery and is intended for storing electrical energy. In order to drive the wheels of the tractor 11, for example, by means of the motor 14, in particular electrically, the motor 14, which is designed as an electric motor, for example, is supplied with electrical energy stored in the energy store 19. As a result, the tractor 11 can be designed, for example, as a battery-operated, rodless tractor, as a result of which transportation can be realized particularly continuously.List of reference characters1 Unmanned transport system 2 Trailer device 3 Trailer 4 Chassis 5 Wheels 6 Axis of rotation 7 Floor 8 Brake 9 Connection device 10 Parking space 11 Rodless tractor 12 Platform 13 Coupling device 14 Motor 15 Electronic computing device 16 Adapter 17 Tank 18 Holding device 19 Energy store

Claims

Trailer device (2), having a trailer (3) which has: - wheels (5) by means of which the trailer (3) can be supported on a floor (7) and rolled along the floor (7); - at least one brake (8) which can be actuated by means of a fluid and by means of which the wheels (5) and thus the trailer (3) can be braked; and - a connection device (9), via which the brake (8) can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle for moving the trailer (3); characterized byan adapter (16), which is formed separately from the trailer (3) and is connected or can be connected in a reversibly detachable manner to the connection device (9) and is formed to receive at least one signal provided wirelessly by a device (11) different from the trailer device (2) and to actuate the brake (8) of the trailer (3) via the connection device (9) in dependence on the received signal.Trailer device (2) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the adapter (16) is or can be fluidically connected to the brake (8) via the connection device (9).Trailer device (2) according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the adapter (16) has at least one tank (17) for receiving the fluid for actuating the brake (8).Trailer device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the adapter (16) is fastened or can be fastened to the trailer (3) in a mechanically and reversibly detachable manner.Trailer device (2) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the trailer (3) has at least one holding device (18), which is different from the connection device (9) and is spaced apart from the connection device (9) and on which the adapter (16) can be held in a reversibly detachable manner in a state separated from the connection device (9).A suspension system (1) comprising at least one suspension tractor (11), at least one trailer device (2) comprising a trailer (3) which can be coupled or is coupled to the suspension tractor (11) in a reversibly detachable manner and which has: ◯ wheels (5) by means of which the trailer (3) can be supported on a floor (7) and rolled along the floor (7); ◯ at least one brake (8) which can be actuated by means of a fluid and by means of which the wheels (5) and thereby the trailer (3) can be braked; ◯ a connection device (9), via which the brake (8) can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle for moving the trailer (3); characterized bya connector (16), which is formed separately from the trailer (3) and separately from the rodless towing vehicle (11) and is connected or can be connected in a reversibly detachable manner to the connection device (9) and is formed to receive at least one signal provided wirelessly from the rodless towing vehicle (11) different from the trailer device (2) and to actuate the brake (8) of the trailer (3) via the connection device (9) as a function of the received signal.The automated guided system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the automated guided tractor (11) comprises at least one motor (14) for driving the automated guided tractor (11) and at least one electronic computing device (15), which is configured to actuate the motor (14), thereby automatically driving the automated guided tractor (11) and thereby causing automated driving of the automated guided tractor (11).Method for operating a trailer device (2), in which the trailer device (2) comprises a trailer (3) which has: - wheels (5), by means of which the trailer (3) can be supported on a floor (7) and rolled along the floor (7); - at least one brake (8) which can be actuated by means of a fluid and by means of which the wheels (5) and thus the trailer (3) can be braked; and - a connection device (9), via which the brake (8) can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle for moving the trailer (3); characterized in that, by means of an adapter (16) formed separately from the trailer (3) and connected in a reversibly detachable manner to the connection device (9), at least one signal provided wirelessly by a device (11) different from the trailer device (2) is received wirelessly and, as a function of the received signal, the brake (8) of the trailer (3) is actuated via the connection device (9).Method according to claim 8, characterised in that the adapter (16) has at least one tank (17) in which the fluid is accommodated, wherein the brake (8) is actuated as a function of the received signal by means of at least part of the fluid from the tank (17).Method for operating a suspension system (1) without a driver, in which at least one suspension tractor (11) is used, wherein at least one trailer device (2) is provided with a trailer (3) which can be coupled or is coupled to the suspension tractor in a reversibly detachable manner and which has: ◯ wheels (5) via which the trailer (3) can be supported on a floor (7) and rolled along the floor (7); ◯ at least one brake (8) which can be actuated by means of a fluid and by means of which the wheels (5) and thus the trailer (3) can be braked; a connecting device (9), via which the brake (8) can be connected and actuated to a brake system of a towing vehicle for moving the trailer (3); characterized byan adapter (16), which is formed separately from the trailer (3) and separately from the rodless towing vehicle (11) and is connected in a reversibly detachable manner to the connecting device (9) and by means of which at least one signal provided wirelessly by the rodless towing vehicle (11) different from the trailer device (2) is received wirelessly and the brake (8) of the trailer (3) is actuated via the connecting device (9) as a function of the received signal.

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