Carrying device for a hedge trimmer, hedge cutter or similar tool

Abstract

The invention relates to a carrying device, in particular an exoskeleton, for a working device (2) such as a hedge trimmer, comprising a carrying arm (3) which supports at least a portion of the weight of the working device (2). A drive (9) for adjusting the height (h) of the working device (2) above the ground (7) is provided, which drive is controlled by a control unit (10). A monitoring unit (11) with sensors (12, 13, 14) is provided on the working device (2), which transmits sensor signals and / or operating signals based on sensor signals to the control unit (10). For this purpose, the control unit (10) and the monitoring unit (11) are connected to one another via a wireless connection (15). The control unit (10) is designed to set various support modes and the height (h) of the working device (2) depending on the operating signals transmitted by the monitoring unit (11).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a carrying device, in particular an exoskeleton, for a working tool such as a hedge trimmer, a hedge cutter or similar working tool.

[0002] A known carrying device comprises a support arm that is held by a user with a back strap and supports at least part of the weight of a tool such as a hedge trimmer. The support arm allows the tool to be held at a preset height. However, adjusting the working height is cumbersome, especially when different operating positions of the tool and different working positions of the user are required.

[0003] The invention is based on the object of providing a carrying device for a working device such as a hedge trimmer, a hedge cutter or similar working device, the working height of which can be easily adjusted to different operating positions of the working device and different working positions of the user.

[0004] To achieve this objective, a drive for adjusting the height of the implement is provided, which is connected to a control unit for operating the drive. The control unit itself is signal-connected to a monitoring unit arranged on the implement. The monitoring unit is signal-connected to at least one sensor arranged on the implement, wherein the monitoring unit transmits sensor signals and / or operating signals based on sensor signals to the control unit, in particular as data. For this purpose, the control unit and the monitoring unit communicate with each other via a signal-connection. The control unit is designed to adjust the working height of the implement depending on the operating signals, in particular the data, transmitted by the monitoring unit.

[0005] Sensors located on the implement and / or the user detect the operating positions of the implement and / or the user's working positions and report these operating and / or working positions to the monitoring unit. Based on these sensor signals or data based on sensor signals, the control unit adjusts the appropriate working height of the implement.

[0006] The implement is simply mounted on the support arm via a support element. In a preferred embodiment, the support element can be designed as a support cable. The support cable allows the user to move the implement in all spatial directions without significant resistance.

[0007] The signaling connection via which the signals and / or data from the sensors provided on the implement and / or the user are transmitted from the monitoring unit to the control unit is preferably a wireless connection. This wireless connection can, in particular, be designed as a data connection.

[0008] In a further development of the invention, the control unit is signal-connected to a second sensor, which detects the force acting on the support element and transmits a sensor signal to the control unit based on the detected force. Based on the sensor signal from the second sensor arranged on the control unit, the force absorbed by the support cable can be varied, in particular adjusted.

[0009] The sensor and / or sensors can be selected from a list that includes inertial sensors such as an acceleration sensor, a yaw rate sensor, a height sensor, and / or sensors for detecting an operating state, in particular an inclination sensor. Based on the output signals of one or more sensors selected from this list, the operating positions of the implement and / or the working positions of the user can be easily and reliably detected.

[0010] Advantageously, the control unit is connected to another sensor for signaling purposes. This additional sensor is designed to detect the working height of the implement and, depending on the detected height, transmit a corresponding sensor signal to the control unit. The control unit thus has a reliable sensor signal indicating the working height of the implement in every operating position of the implement and / or the user's working position.

[0011] According to the invention, the control unit is designed to provide different support modes for the operation of the implement depending on the detected sensor signals. Thus, in a first support mode, the implement can keep the working height of the implement constant. In a further development of the invention, the control unit is designed to adjust the working height in accordance with a received sensor signal in a second support mode. The control unit is designed to determine support parameters in a support mode and, depending on this, to provide support, in particular a reversal point during side cutting with a hedge trimmer. Advantageously, the control unit is signal-connected to an operating unit via which operating parameters, in particular predefinable operating parameters, can be entered.The control unit is designed to process the predeterminable operating parameters, in particular when providing the different support modes.

[0012] Further features of the invention emerge from the further claims, the following description, and the drawing, which schematically illustrates the carrying device and its control system. The features disclosed in the claims, the description, and the drawings can be combined with one another independently of the claims' references.

[0013] The drawings show: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a carrying device according to the invention, Fig. 2 a schematic flow diagram of the interaction of control unit, monitoring unit and drive to execute different support modes of the implement.

[0014] In Fig. 1, the reference numeral 1 denotes a carrying device, which can also be referred to as an exoskeleton. The carrying device 1 is intended for holding and guiding a working tool 2, such as a hedge trimmer, a hedge cutter, or similar working tool. Fig. The working device 2 shown in Figure 1 schematically represents a hedge trimmer.

[0015] The carrying device 1 of the illustrated embodiment can have a back plate 4, which is to be fixed to the back of a user (not shown). A support arm 3 is attached to the back plate 4 and extends forward over the head of a user. At least a portion of the weight of the implement 2 is supported by the support arm 3. The implement 2 can be held at a predeterminable height via a support element 5. In the illustrated embodiment, the support element 5 is preferably a support cable 6, which is fed to a cable drum 8 via deflection rollers 24. The cable drum 8 can be rotated in both directions via a drive 9.

[0016] The drive 9 is used to adjust the height h of the working device 2. In the illustrated embodiment, the height h is the distance of the working device 2 from the ground 7. To adjust the working height of the working device 2 above the ground 7, a control unit 10 is provided, which controls the operation of the drive 9 and thus of the cable pulley 8 in both directions of rotation.

[0017] A monitoring unit 11 can be provided on the work device 2, wherein the monitoring unit 11 is signal-connected to at least one sensor 12, 13, 14 and / or 17 arranged on the work device 2. The sensor signals of the sensors 12, 13, 14 and / or 17 arranged on the work device 2 are fed to the monitoring unit 11. The monitoring unit 11 transmits the detected sensor signals and / or operating signals based on these sensor signals to the control unit 10. In particular, the monitoring unit 11 transmits the sensor signals and / or operating signals based on sensor signals as data to the control unit 10. The control unit 10 and the monitoring unit 11 communicate with each other via the signal connection 15. The signal connection 15 is designed, in particular, to be wireless.

[0018] The control unit 10 is designed to adjust the height h of the working device 2 depending on the sensor signals transmitted by the monitoring unit 11 and / or operating signals based on sensor signals, in particular the data.

[0019] How Fig. As shown in Figure 1, the control unit 10 is signal-connected to at least a second sensor 16. The sensor 16 detects the force acting on the support element 5, in particular on the support cable 6. Depending on the detected force on the support element 5, the sensor 16 transmits its sensor signal 19 to the control unit 10.

[0020] The sensors provided on the implement 2 can be inertial sensors. Sensor 12 on the implement 2 is advantageously an acceleration sensor. Sensor 13 on the implement 2 can be a yaw rate sensor. Sensor 14 on the implement 2 can be an inclination sensor. By combining the output signals of the sensors arranged on the implement 2, the operating position of the implement 2 can be easily detected.

[0021] In a special way, a sensor 17 can also be provided on the working device 2, which is designed to detect the height h of the working device 2 above the ground 7 and to transmit a sensor signal 18 to the control device 10 depending on the detected height h.

[0022] The control unit 10 is designed to provide different support modes for the operation of the working device 2 depending on a sensor signal and / or the detected sensor signals and / or a combination of the detected sensor signals.

[0023] Thus, the control unit 10 can have a first support mode which evaluates the sensor signal 18 of the sensor 17 to detect the working height h above the ground 7 and keeps the working height h of the working device 2 constant by appropriately controlling the drive 9, in particular to rotate the cable drum 8.

[0024] In a second support mode, the control unit 10 is designed to adjust the working height h of the working device 2 according to a received sensor signal.

[0025] The control unit 10 is further designed to determine the support parameters in a selected support mode and to carry out support depending thereon, i.e. to adjust the working device 2, for example, to its working height h.

[0026] It is also possible to detect the reversal point during a side cut with the hedge trimmer. During a side cut with hedge trimmers, their height h above the ground 7 is reduced or increased according to the cutting movement performed by the user, since the hedge trimmer therefore performs an up-and-down movement. The control unit 10 is designed to extend or shorten the length of the support element 5 upon a user input of "side cut support mode", wherein the reversal point of the up-and-down movement is controlled. During both the upward and downward movements, at least part of the weight of the implement is applied by the support device.

[0027] As in Fig. As shown schematically in Figure 1, the control unit 10 is connected via signaling to a control unit 20, via which the user can enter operating commands. For example, the control unit 20 has an ON / OFF switch 21, an emergency stop switch 22, and an operating button 23.

[0028] The initialization of the system, the working mode with various support modes as well as a storage mode is shown in the schematic flow chart after Fig. 2 shown.

[0029] In field 25, the carrying device 1 is activated by the user by actuating the on / off switch 21 on the control unit 20. Subsequently, according to field 26, a signaling connection 15, in particular a data connection, is established between the monitoring unit 11 on the implement 2 and the control unit 10 of the carrying device 1. This signaling connection 15 is in particular a wireless connection, most particularly a Bluetooth connection.

[0030] For further initialization, the user must press and hold the control button 23, as shown in field 27. If a long press of the button, for example, 2 seconds, is detected, the control unit 10 controls the drive 9, as shown in field 28, such that the cable drum 8 is rotated in the direction of an upward movement of the working device 2. An upward cable movement is performed. The user calibrates the desired position in field 29.

[0031] For further initialization, the user must again press and hold the operating button 23, as indicated in field 30. If a long press of, for example, 2 seconds on the operating button 23 is detected, the drive 9 is controlled such that a downward movement of the support cable 6 occurs as indicated in field 31. The downward movement of the support cable 6 occurs until the user can hook up the working device 2, in particular a hedge trimmer (field 32). Once the working device 2, in particular a hedge trimmer, has been hooked up, the user must again confirm this by pressing and holding the operating button 23, as indicated in field 33. If the hooking up of the hedge trimmer is confirmed by pressing the operating button 23, the weight is calibrated (field 34). The carrying device 1 is now ready to execute different support modes.

[0032] Now, by querying the sensors on the implement 2, a check is made to determine whether the implement, in particular the hedge trimmer, is tilted or not. This refers to a position of the hedge trimmer rotated from its rest position, preferably by 90° around its longitudinal axis. In a so-called "side-cutting mode," the blade bar of a hedge trimmer is positioned, in particular, perpendicular to the ground 7. If the hedge trimmer is tilted, preferably by 90°, the system branches to the right after field 35 into the side-cutting mode (field 36). Once the "side-cutting mode" support mode has been detected, a query is made in field 37 as to whether the hedge trimmer is active, i.e., whether the hedge trimmer's drive motor is running.The cable drum 8 is now controlled via the drive 9 by the control unit 10, in which the sensor 16 on the support cable 6 determines whether the user is exerting a tensile force on the support cable 6 in order to carry out a downward cutting movement or is reducing the weight of the working device 2 due to an upward cutting movement, which leads to a relief of the support cable 6.

[0033] If a downward force is detected on the support cable after field 38, drive 9 is activated to rotate cable drum 8, extending support cable 6. Field 39 checks whether the permissible cable length of support cable 6 has been exceeded. If this is not the case, support cable 6 continues to move downward, as indicated in field 40. After passing through field 40, the query is returned to the input of field 37 to determine whether the hedge trimmer is active. If the check determines that the permissible cable length has been exceeded, field 39 branches back to field 37.

[0034] If a reduction in load on the support cable 6 is detected, as indicated in field 41, the control unit controls the cable drum 8 in a direction of rotation in which the support cable 6 is wound up. After field 42, the support cable 6 thus moves upwards. If it is determined in field 41 that no further load reduction can be detected on the support cable 6, the system branches to the input of field 39, where it is checked whether the permissible cable length of the support cable 6 has been exceeded. If this is not the case, the cable moves downwards - see field 40.

[0035] If input field 35 detects that the hedge trimmer is not tilted, the "Head Cutting Mode" support mode is activated. Field 35 branches to field 50, "Head Cutting Mode."

[0036] In "head-cutting mode," the blade bar of a hedge trimmer is positioned horizontally to the ground 7. In "head-cutting mode," field 51 first checks whether the hedge trimmer is active, i.e., whether the hedge trimmer drive is switched on. If the hedge trimmer is active, field 51 branches back to field 35.

[0037] If the hedge trimmer is not active in “head cut mode”, the option to set the desired height h of the working device 2 above the ground 7 for the head cut is enabled.

[0038] Thus, after field 51, the system first checks whether the user is raising (field 52) or lowering (field 55) the implement 2. If the user raises the implement 2, field 52 branches to field 53 and the control unit 10 drives the cable drum 8 in the direction of an upward movement of the support cable 6. During the upward movement of the cable, field 54 can be used to check whether a hedge trimmer is attached at all. If this is the case, the loop of fields 52, 53 and 54 is run through until the user has reached the desired height position of the implement 2. If the device is not raised any further, field 52 branches to field 58, which stores the "neutral position" of the implement for the head cutting mode.

[0039] If the system branches from field 51 to field 55, the user moves the implement 2 downwards toward ground 7, exerting a force on the support cable 6 downwards toward ground 7. Field 55 branches to a test field 56, where the extended cable length is checked. If the permissible side length is not exceeded, a downward cable movement is controlled according to field 57, and the loop of fields 55, 56, and 57 is repeated. If the cable length is exceeded, the system branches from field 56 to field 58, and the position is saved as the neutral position.

[0040] The user is now required to branch back to the entrance of field 51 by pressing the control button 23 via field 59. If the user has briefly pressed the control button 23, they can branch to field 60 by pressing the control button 23 again for a long time, where the height of the implement 2 above the ground set by the user is saved as the desired height position. If the button is not pressed for a long time, the system moves from field 60 to field 61, via which the control unit 10 activates the drive 9 such that the previously saved position of the implement 2 is moved to for a head cut.

Claims

[1] Carrying device, in particular an exoskeleton, for a working tool (2) such as a hedge trimmer, a hedge cutter or similar working tool, - with a support arm (3), wherein the support arm (3) supports at least a portion of the weight of the working device (2), wherein the working device (2) is held at a predeterminable height (h), - and with a drive (9) for adjusting the height (h) of the working device (2), - and with a control unit (10) for operating the drive (9), - and with a monitoring unit (11) arranged on the working device (2), - wherein the monitoring unit (11) is signal-connected to at least one sensor (12, 13, 14) arranged on the working device (2), - and the monitoring unit (11) transmits sensor signals and / or operating signals based on sensor signals to the control unit (10), in particular as data, - for which purpose the control unit (10) and the monitoring unit (11) communicate with each other via a signal connection (15), - and the control device (10) is designed to adjust the height (h) of the working device (2) as a function of the operating signals, in particular the data, transmitted by the monitoring unit (11). [2] Carrying device according to claim 1, characterized by that the working device (2) is held on the support arm (3) via a support element (5), in particular a support cable (6). [3] Carrying device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the signaling connection (15) is a wireless connection, in particular a data connection. [4] Carrying device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the control unit (10) is signal-connected to at least one second sensor (16) which detects the force occurring on the support element (5) and transmits an output signal (19) to the control unit (10) depending on the detected force. [5] Carrying device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized by that the first sensor (12, 13, 14) and / or the second sensor (16) is selected from a list which comprises an acceleration sensor, a rotation rate sensor and sensors for detecting an operating state, but in particular comprises an inclination sensor. [6] Carrying device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by in that the control unit (10) is connected to a third sensor (17) for signaling purposes, wherein the third sensor (17) is designed to detect the height (h) of the working device (2) and to transmit a sensor signal (18) to the control unit (10) depending on the detected height (h). [7] Carrying device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized by that the control device (10) is designed to provide different support modes for the operation of the working device (2) depending on the detected sensor signals (18, 19). [8] Carrying device according to claim 7, characterized by that the control device (10) is designed to keep the working height (h) of the working device (2) constant in a first support mode. [9] Carrying device according to claim 7, characterized by that the control device (10) is designed to adjust the working height (h) of the working device (2) in a second support mode according to a received sensor signal (18). [10] Carrying device according to claim 7, characterized by that the control device (10) is designed to determine support parameters in a support mode and to carry out support depending thereon, in particular a reversal point during a side cut. [11] Carrying device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized by that the control unit (10) is signal-connected to an operating part (20) for predeterminable operating parameters, and the control unit (10) is designed to process the predeterminable operating parameters, in particular when providing the different support modes.

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