Wheel module for a vehicle and vehicle

Abstract

A wheel module according to the invention for a vehicle, in particular for an autonomous transport vehicle, comprises a housing part which can be attached to a vehicle frame, a wheel which is rotatably mounted about a running axis relative to the housing part, and an electromagnetically actuated brake unit by means of which rotation of the wheel about the running axis can be braked. The brake unit has a brake housing which is attached to a side of the housing part facing away from the wheel in the axial direction. A vehicle according to the invention, in particular an autonomous transport vehicle, comprises a vehicle frame and two wheel modules according to the invention. The housing parts of the wheel modules are connected to the vehicle frame in a manner that prevents displacement and rotation.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wheel module for a vehicle, in particular for an autonomous transport vehicle, comprising a housing part, a wheel, and an electromagnetically actuated brake unit by means of which the rotation of the wheel can be braked. The invention also relates to a vehicle comprising a vehicle frame and two wheel modules according to the invention attached thereto.

[0002] In technical facilities, such as production plants, transport vehicles, especially autonomous transport vehicles, are used to transport items such as small parts or boxes. These transport vehicles move components from logistics areas, such as a material warehouse, to workstations where the components are processed.

[0003] Document DE 10 2023 002 924 B3 discloses a mobile transport system for transporting objects, particularly within a technical plant. The mobile transport system comprises two drive modules, each with two drive wheels, two support rollers, and two brake rollers. The support rollers and the brake rollers are each pivotable about a pivot axis extending in the vertical direction.

[0004] From CN 1 08 081 946 A a generic wheel module for a vehicle is known, comprising a housing part, a wheel and an electromagnetically actuated brake unit.

[0005] From CN 1 06 598 050 B, a wheel module for a vehicle is also known, which includes a housing part, a wheel and an electromagnetically actuated brake unit.

[0006] The invention is based on the objective of further developing a wheel module for a vehicle as well as a vehicle, in particular an autonomous transport vehicle.

[0007] The problem is solved by a wheel module for a vehicle with the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the

[0008] Dependent claims. The problem is also solved by a vehicle with the features specified in claim 5. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0009] A wheel module according to the invention for a vehicle, in particular for an autonomous transport vehicle, comprises a housing part which can be attached to a vehicle frame, a wheel which is rotatably mounted about a running axis relative to the housing part, and an electromagnetically actuated brake unit by means of which rotation of the wheel about the running axis can be braked. The brake unit has a brake housing which is attached to a side of the housing part facing away from the wheel in the axial direction.

[0010] A brake unit designed in this way generates a relatively high braking force and is readily available and relatively inexpensive. Due to the arrangement of the brake housing of the brake unit on the housing part according to the invention, the wheel module is relatively compact and space-saving.

[0011] According to the invention, the wheel module comprises a shaft which is non-rotatably connected to the wheel, and the wheel module comprises a drive element which is non-rotatably connected to the shaft. The drive element has external teeth which project into the brake housing of the brake unit.

[0012] The shaft rotates around the axis of rotation along with the impeller. The drive gear also rotates around the axis of rotation along with the impeller. The external teeth of the drive gear form an interface for coupling the brake unit.

[0013] According to the invention, the brake unit has a brake pad carrier which has internal teeth. The internal teeth of the brake pad carrier engage positively with the external teeth of the drive pin.

[0014] The brake pad carrier rotates around the wheel's axis of rotation. The internal teeth of the brake pad carrier form an interface for engaging the drive pin.

[0015] According to the invention, the brake pad carrier is connected to the driver in a rotationally fixed manner, and the brake pad carrier is displaceable in the axial direction relative to the driver.

[0016] The brake pad carrier is moved axially relative to the drive pin to brake the wheel.

[0017] According to the invention, the brake unit has an anchor disc which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner relative to the brake housing of the brake unit and which is axially displaceable relative to the brake pad carrier.

[0018] The anchor disc is pressed axially onto the brake pad carrier to brake the wheel.

[0019] According to the invention, the brake unit comprises a plurality of springs which exert a spring force on the armature disc in the axial direction towards the brake pad carrier. The brake unit also comprises an electromagnet which, when energized, exerts a magnetic force on the armature disc in the axial direction away from the brake pad carrier.

[0020] If the power source supplying the electromagnet fails, the springs press the armature disc against the brake pad carrier, thus braking the wheel. Energizing the electromagnet moves the armature disc away from the brake pad carrier, allowing the wheel to rotate. The electromagnet must be energized such that its magnetic force exceeds the spring force.

[0021] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the driver is designed in a sleeve-like form and surrounds the shaft coaxially. The shaft and the driver project into the brake housing of the brake unit.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the anchor disc and the brake pad carrier are arranged inside the brake housing of the brake unit.

[0023] This results in a compact design for the brake unit and wheel module. Furthermore, the anchor disc and brake pad carrier are protected from external mechanical damage.

[0024] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the wheel module comprises a ventilation device for manually ventilating the brake unit.

[0025] In the event of a breakdown, especially a failure of the power source that feeds the electromagnet, the braking of the wheel can therefore be reversed, and a vehicle on which the wheel module is mounted can be moved.

[0026] A vehicle according to the invention, in particular an autonomous transport vehicle, comprises a vehicle frame and two wheel modules according to the invention. The housing parts of the wheel modules are connected to the vehicle frame in a manner that prevents displacement and rotation.

[0027] The wheel modules are relatively compact and space-saving. The brake units of the wheel modules generate a relatively high braking force.

[0028] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the housing parts of the wheel modules are attached to the vehicle frame in such a way that the running axes of the wheel modules are always aligned with each other.

[0029] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the running wheels of the wheel modules are rotatable relative to the vehicle frame exclusively about the running axes.

[0030] The wheels are not designed to pivot around a vertical axis relative to the vehicle frame. By fixing the axles, the wheel modules are robust against lateral forces, and higher braking power can be achieved with the brake units.

[0031] The invention is not limited to the combination of features in the claims. For a person skilled in the art, further meaningful combinations of claims and / or individual claim features and / or features of the description and / or the figures will arise, in particular from the problem statement and / or the problem arising from a comparison with the prior art.

[0032] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the illustrations. The invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in the illustrations. The illustrations only depict the subject matter of the invention schematically. They show: Fig. 1: a perspective view of a wheel module, Fig. 2: a front view of the wheel module made of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3: a sectional view of the wheel module made of Fig. 2.

[0033] Fig. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a wheel module for a vehicle. The wheel module comprises a housing part 12, a wheel 20, and a brake unit 45 for braking the wheel 20. In this view, the brake unit 45 is obscured by the housing part 12. The housing part 12 can be attached to the vehicle frame. During normal operation of the vehicle, the wheel 20 rolls across the ground.

[0034] The wheel module includes a ventilation device for manually venting the brake unit 45. The ventilation device has a tie rod and an actuating lever 16. The tie rod is translationally displaceable between an upper end position, in which the brake unit 45 is released, and a lower end position, in which the brake unit 45 is actuated, by means of the actuating lever 16.

[0035] Fig. Figure 2 shows a front view of the wheel module. Fig. 1. The brake unit 45 is also concealed by the housing part 12 in the illustration shown here. The wheel 20 is rotatably mounted about a running axis 22 relative to the housing part 12. The brake unit 45 allows the rotation of the wheel 20 about the running axis 22 to be braked.

[0036] The housing part 12 of the wheel module is connected to a vehicle frame of a vehicle (not shown) in a manner that prevents displacement and rotation. The wheel 20 is rotatable only about the axis of rotation 22 relative to the housing part 12. In particular, the wheel 20 is not pivotable about any other axis of rotation relative to the housing part 12. Thus, the wheel 20 is also rotatable relative to the vehicle frame only about the axis of rotation 22.

[0037] The vehicle comprises at least two wheel modules. The housing parts 12 of the two wheel modules are attached to the vehicle frame in such a way that the running axes 22 of the wheel modules are always aligned with each other. The wheel modules are arranged axially offset from each other with respect to the running axes 22.

[0038] Fig. Figure 3 shows a sectional view of the wheel module along the section line A - A. Fig.2. The brake unit 45 has a brake housing 44. The brake housing 44 is attached to a side of the housing part 12 facing away from the wheel 20 in the axial direction with respect to the axis of rotation 22. The brake housing 44 is screwed to the housing part 12. The brake housing 44 is thus rotationally fixed to the housing part 12.

[0039] The wheel module comprises a shaft 24. The shaft 24 is non-rotatably connected to the impeller 20. The shaft 24 is rotatably mounted in the housing part 12 by means of a bearing 26. The wheel module also includes a driver 41. The driver 41 is non-rotatably connected to the shaft 24. The impeller 20, the shaft 24, and the driver 41 rotate together about the axis of rotation 22 relative to the housing part 12.

[0040] The driver 41 is sleeve-shaped and coaxially surrounds the shaft 24. The shaft 24 and the driver 41 project into the brake housing 44 of the brake unit 45. The driver 41 has external teeth. The external teeth of the driver 41 project into the brake housing 44 of the brake unit 45.

[0041] The brake unit 45 has a brake pad carrier 42. The brake pad carrier 42 has internal teeth. The internal teeth of the brake pad carrier 42 engage positively with the external teeth of the drive pin 41. The brake pad carrier 42 is thus rotationally fixed to the drive pin 41. The brake pad carrier 42 surrounds the shaft 24 coaxially. The brake pad carrier 42 therefore also rotates about the axis of travel 20 relative to the housing part 12. The brake pad carrier 42 is axially displaceable relative to the drive pin 41.

[0042] The brake unit 45 has an anchor disc 43. The anchor disc 43 is fixed to the brake housing 44. The anchor disc 43 is axially displaceable relative to the brake pad carrier 42. The anchor disc 43 is also axially displaceable relative to the brake housing 44. The anchor disc 43 and the brake pad carrier 42 are located inside the brake housing 44.

[0043] The brake unit 45 has a number of springs, not shown here. The springs are designed, for example, as spiral compression springs. The springs exert a spring force on the anchor disc 43 in the axial direction towards the brake pad carrier 42.

[0044] The brake unit 45 includes an electromagnet 50. The electromagnet 50 is designed as a coil winding that coaxially surrounds the running axis 20. When the electromagnet 50 is energized, it exerts a magnetic force on the armature disk 43 in the axial direction away from the brake pad carrier 42. The brake unit 45 is thus electromagnetically actuated.

[0045] When the electromagnet 50 is energized such that the magnetic force is greater than the spring force, the armature disk 43 is pulled axially away from the brake pad carrier 42. The impeller 20 is then freely rotatable about the axis of rotation 22.

[0046] When the electromagnet 50 is de-energized, the spring force moves the armature disc 43 axially towards the brake pad carrier 42. The armature disc 43 then comes into contact with the brake pad carrier 42 and pushes the brake pad carrier 42 further axially towards the housing part 12 of the wheel module. The brake pad carrier 42 is then clamped between the housing part 12 and the armature disc 43. This action brakes the wheel 20. Reference symbol list 12 Housing part 16 operating levers 20-inch wheel 22 Running axle 24 wave 26 warehouses 41 drivers 42 brake pad carriers 43 Anchor disc 44 Brake housings 45 Brake unit 50 Electromagnet

Claims

[1] Wheel module for a vehicle, comprising a housing part (12) which can be attached to a vehicle frame, a wheel (20) which is rotatably mounted about a running axis (22) relative to the housing part (12), and an electromagnetically actuated brake unit (45) by means of which a rotation of the wheel (20) about the axis of rotation (22) can be braked, characterized by , that the brake unit (45) has a brake housing (44) which is attached to a side of the housing part (12) facing away from the impeller (20) in the axial direction, and that the wheel module comprises a shaft (24) which is non-rotatably connected to the wheel (20), and that the wheel module includes a driver (41) which is non-rotatably connected to the shaft (24), and that the driver (41) has an external toothing which projects into the brake housing (44) of the brake unit (45), and that the brake unit (45) has a brake pad carrier (42) which has internal teeth, and that the internal teeth of the brake pad carrier (42) engage positively with the external teeth of the driver (41), and that the brake pad carrier (42) is rotationally fixed to the driver (41), and that the brake pad carrier (42) is axially displaceable relative to the driver (41), and that the brake unit (45) has an anchor disc (43) which is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner to the brake housing (44) of the brake unit (45), and which is axially displaceable relative to the brake pad carrier (42), and that the brake unit (45) has a plurality of springs which exert a spring force on the anchor disk (43) in the axial direction towards the brake pad carrier (42), and that the brake unit (45) has an electromagnet (50) which, when energized, exerts a magnetic force on the armature disc (43) in the axial direction away from the brake pad carrier (42). [2] Wheel module according to claim 1, characterized by , that the driver (41) is designed in a sleeve-like manner and coaxially surrounds the shaft (24), and that the shaft (24) and the driver (41) project into the brake housing (44) of the brake unit (45). [3] Wheel module according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the anchor disc (43) and the brake pad carrier (42) are arranged inside the brake housing (44) of the brake unit (45). [4] Wheel module according to any of the preceding claims, characterized by , that the wheel module includes a ventilation device for manually ventilating the brake unit (45). [5] vehicle, comprising a vehicle frame and two wheel modules according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the housing parts (12) of the wheel modules are connected to the vehicle frame in a manner that prevents displacement and rotation. [6] Vehicle according to claim 5, characterized by , that the housing parts (12) of the wheel modules are attached to the vehicle frame in such a way that the running axes (22) of the wheel modules are always aligned with each other. [7] Vehicle according to one of claims 5 to 6, characterized by , that the running wheels (20) of the wheel modules are rotatable relative to the vehicle frame exclusively about the running axes (22).

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