drive unit

Abstract

Drive unit for a shunting drive (1) of a roadworthy vehicle trailer (3), wherein the drive unit (2) has a drive device (8) which comprises a rotationally driven drive roller (9) which can be delivered to a trailer wheel (7) of the vehicle trailer (3), a movable roller carrier (11) and a roller drive (10), wherein the roller drive (10) has a drive motor (21) and a gear (23) which is connected to the drive roller (9) and is arranged completely or at least predominantly within the drive roller (9), characterized in that the drive motor (21) is arranged outside and separately from the drive roller (9) and drives the drive roller (9) via an intermediate drive (27) coupled to the gear (23).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drive unit for a shunting drive of a road-going vehicle trailer having the features in the preamble of the main claim.

[0002] Such a drive unit is known from EP 2 208 661 A1. The gear of the roller drive is arranged in the hollow drive roller, with the drive motor arranged coaxially to the gear and also arranged entirely or at least partially in the drive roller.

[0003] GB 2 450 603 A also discloses a drive unit for a shunting drive in which the motor and a multi-stage gearbox are arranged together as a unit within a motor housing and this motor / gearbox unit is then placed completely within the hollow drive roller.

[0004] EP 3 552 932 A1 and DE 20 2018 101 924 U1 show another drive unit for a shunting drive of a roadworthy vehicle trailer, in which the drive motor of the roller drive is located outside the drive roller. The multi-stage spur gear connected to the drive roller is also largely located outside the drive roller. In this case, the drive roller has only an inner gear ring, with which an eccentrically arranged output pinion of the spur gear meshes.

[0005] DE 20 2012 010 074 U1 deals with a shunting drive whose conventional drive units each have an electric motor with a mechanical brake and an additional brake module.

[0006] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved drive unit for a shunting drive of a road-going vehicle trailer.

[0007] The invention solves this problem with the features in the independent claims.

[0008] The claimed drive unit and the shunting drive have various advantages.

[0009] The claimed drive unit for a shunting drive of a roadworthy vehicle trailer and the drive method can have the basic design mentioned in the preamble. The drive unit can have at least one drive device comprising a rotationally driven drive roller that can be delivered to a trailer wheel of the vehicle trailer, a movable roller carrier, and a roller drive. The roller drive can have a drive motor and a transmission connected to the drive roller and arranged entirely or at least predominantly within the drive roller.

[0010] The driven drive roller can be brought into driving engagement with the trailer wheel, e.g., with the tread of its tire, and can rotate the trailer wheel. This enables motorized movement, particularly maneuvering, of the road-going vehicle trailer. For this purpose, the drive roller can have a roller casing with good traction, e.g., a grooved outer surface. Alternatively or additionally, the drive roller can engage with another part of a trailer wheel, e.g., a rim or the like.

[0011] The roller drive's drive motor, preferably electric and controllable, e.g., a DC motor, is located outside and separate from the drive roller and the gearing, which is located entirely or at least predominantly within the drive roller. This spatial separation has several advantages.

[0012] On the one hand, the dimensions, type, and positioning of the drive motor, which is preferably arranged on the roller carrier, can be selected and varied as needed. This allows different requirements to be met, e.g., different drive torques and power depending on the trailer weight and number of trailer axles, etc. On the other hand, there are thermal advantages. The heat generated by the drive motor can be absorbed and dissipated by the roller carrier. The motor heat can be kept away from the gearbox. Furthermore, the installation space in the hollow interior of the drive roller and on the roller carrier can be optimally utilized. The gearbox can be arranged concentrically to the cylindrical drive roller and, preferably, completely within its interior.

[0013] Furthermore, advantages arise for the stable support and mounting of the rotating drive roller and the drive motor. In particular, the reaction forces exerted by the trailer wheel can be better absorbed in the contact and drive position of the drive roller.

[0014] The motor axis and the gearbox axis are also arranged separately from each other. They are coupled to each other via the intermediate drive. This offers structural advantages. The motor axis and the gearbox axis can be arranged parallel and laterally spaced. Alternatively, a perpendicular or oblique alignment of the motor and gearbox axes is possible. The installation space in the preferably housing-like, hollow roller carrier can be optimally utilized.

[0015] The gearbox can provide a high reduction ratio between the high input speed of the drive motor and the slow output speed of the drive roller. The gearbox can comprise one or more stages. The gearbox can be designed in different ways. A gearbox design as an epicyclic gear, particularly a planetary gear, is advantageous. Other gearbox designs are also possible. The gearbox can be self-locking or non-self-locking.

[0016] The intermediate drive can be arranged on the roller carrier. It can be located essentially outside the drive roller. The intermediate drive can be designed in various ways. A belt drive is advantageous. This can be a frictional or, preferably, positive-locking belt drive, in particular a toothed belt drive. The intermediate drive, especially when designed as a belt drive, offers advantages for vibration decoupling between the drive motor and the transmission. A belt can have damping properties.

[0017] The small size of the required installation space is also advantageous. The intermediate drive, in particular the belt drive, can be accommodated in a space-saving manner in the preferably housing-like roller carrier, in particular in a carrier arm. Another advantage is that the output element of the intermediate drive, e.g., a pulley or a gear, can have a smaller diameter than the drive roller, which is preferably arranged coaxially with it. The drive roller can protrude radially beyond the roller carrier and its preferably forked support arms in the feed direction. The roller carrier therefore has no interfering contours when the drive roller is fed to the trailer wheel.

[0018] The drive unit can have a controllable braking device with a holding function for the drive roller. This is particularly advantageous when the transmission is designed without self-locking. The drive roller can be fixed in its pressing position on the trailer wheel and, thanks to its holding function, acts as a braking element that prevents unwanted rotation of the trailer wheel. The braking device can be arranged at a suitable location between the transmission and the drive motor. It is advantageous to arrange the braking device between the transmission and the intermediate drive. The braking device can, in particular, be arranged within the hollow drive roller.

[0019] The drive roller can be mounted and supported on the roller carrier via at least one roller bearing, e.g., a rolling bearing or plain bearing. The drive roller can also be internally rotatably mounted on a support tube fixed to the carrier. The drive roller bearing can be designed such that an intermediate stage of the transmission can be non-rotatably supported on the roller carrier, in particular on the support tube.

[0020] The roller carrier can comprise a hollow support housing. The drive motor and preferably also the intermediate drive can be arranged in the support housing. It is advantageous to design the roller carrier with fork-like support arms, between which the drive roller is arranged. The drive roller can also advantageously be rotatably mounted via the fork-like support arms and supported against reaction forces from the trailer wheel.

[0021] The drive unit can include a feed mechanism that moves the drive mechanism and can position it, together with the drive roller, against the trailer wheel and, if necessary, press it against it. The feed movement and feed direction can be translational and / or rotational. The drive mechanism can be moved back and forth between a retracted rest position and the drive position on the trailer wheel. This can be done by hand or foot power or by means of a motorized or other feed drive.

[0022] A linear feed function and design of the feed device are favorable. It is also advantageous to equip the feed device with its own feed drive. Alternatively, the feed drive can be derived from the drive motor of the driving device. The feed device can comprise a console on which the roller carrier is mounted with suitable kinematics, preferably linearly, so that it can be adjusted in a feed direction. The roller carrier can be coupled to the feed drive in various ways. The feed drive can be located in or on the console or in or on the driving device. The feed drive can, for example, comprise a controllable electric drive motor, in particular a DC motor.

[0023] The console can be attached to the vehicle trailer, in particular to its chassis, and can be designed accordingly. It is advantageous for the console to be attached to a longitudinal member of the chassis, in particular to an upright central web of the longitudinal member. Alternatively or additionally, the console can be attached to a cross member, which in turn can be firmly connected to the longitudinal member(s) in a suitable manner. A cross member can be arranged below the longitudinal members. It can also be pushed through the upright central webs of the longitudinal members. In both cases, the cross member can protrude beyond the longitudinal members on both sides. In a further variant, the cross member can be arranged between the longitudinal members and, via end plates, rest against an upright central web of the longitudinal member and be firmly connected to the console, in particular screwed.

[0024] The drive unit can have a communication interface designed for communication with at least one controller and / or a remote control of the shunting drive. Communication can be wired and / or wireless. The at least one controller can be a central controller of the shunting drive or a distributed controller with control modules on the drive units of the shunting drive. The controller can act on the drive motor and, if applicable, the drive unit's own feed drive. The drive unit can also comprise one or more sensors, e.g. temperature sensors, speed sensors, position sensors, force sensors or the like. These can also communicate with the at least one controller. The direction of travel and the travel speed of the drive unit can be controlled and, if necessary, regulated by the controller.

[0025] The claimed drive unit can be part of a shunting drive. The shunting drive can comprise two or more, in particular four, drive units. One or more left and one or more right drive units can be present, each of which can act on a left and a right trailer wheel of a single-axle or multi-axle roadworthy vehicle trailer. According to operator specifications, the control system can control and, if necessary, regulate the directions of travel and speeds of the drive units of the shunting drive individually and in relation to one another in such a way that the shunting drive moves the vehicle trailer in the desired direction of travel forwards / backwards, straight ahead, and in selectable curves, and, if necessary, enables turning while stationary.

[0026] The described and claimed device features can be advantageously used in the method. Conversely, the described method features can also be advantageously used in the claimed device(s).

[0027] The invention is illustrated by way of example and partly schematically in the drawings. In detail: Fig. 1: a side view of a road trailer with a shunting drive and a drive unit, Fig. 2: a fragmentary top view of the trailer chassis and drive unit of Fig. 1 and Fig. 3: a fragmentary schematic representation of the drive unit.

[0028] The invention relates to a drive unit (2) for a shunting drive (1) of a roadworthy vehicle trailer (3) and to a drive method. The invention also relates to the shunting drive (1).

[0029] Fig. 1 shows a side view of the vehicle trailer (3) with a drive unit (2) of a shunting drive (1).

[0030] The vehicle trailer (3) comprises a chassis (4) with one or more vehicle axles (36) and trailer wheels (7) on both sides. The e.g. Fig. The vehicle axle (36) shown broken away in Figure 2 is designed, for example, as a trailing arm axle and comprises an axle tube extending across the trailer width with rotatable wheel check arms at the ends, each of which supports a trailer wheel (7) at the free end. The trailer axle can be designed, for example, as the trailing arm axle shown or as a semi-trailing arm axle. It can also be designed as a stub axle or half axle, which is arranged multiple times on the chassis (4).

[0031] The chassis (4) comprises two or more longitudinal members (5) with a front drawbar and a trailer coupling arranged at the front end of the drawbar. The longitudinal members (5) are designed, for example, as thin-walled and folded sheets with an upright central web and a horizontally arranged upper chord and / or lower chord. The one or more vehicle axles (36) are fastened to the longitudinal members (5). The chassis (4) can further comprise one or more cross members (6). Any desired structure can be arranged on the chassis (4). The forward direction of travel of the vehicle trailer (3) is in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 marked with an arrow.

[0032] The shunting drive (1) comprises two or more drive units (2), each associated with a trailer wheel (7). In the illustrated embodiment of a single-axle vehicle trailer (3), there is a pair of two drive units (2) arranged on the left and right sides of the chassis (4). In a multi-axle vehicle trailer (3), e.g., with a tandem axle, there may be one, two, or more pairs of drive units (2).

[0033] The drive units (2) each have a drive device (8) and preferably also a feed device (12).

[0034] The drive device (8) comprises a rotationally driven drive roller (9) that can be delivered to a trailer wheel (7), a movable roller carrier (11), and a roller drive (10) that rotationally drives the drive roller (9). The roller drive (10) comprises a drive motor (21) and a gear (23) connected to the drive roller (9).

[0035] The drive motor (21) is designed, for example, as a controllable electric drive motor, in particular a DC motor. It can also have any other suitable design. The drive device can have one or more drive motors (21).

[0036] The gear (23) is arranged entirely or at least predominantly within the drive roller (9) in its hollow interior (19). The drive mechanism (8), and in particular the drive roller (9), is advanced toward the trailer wheel (7) in the advance direction indicated by arrows. The advance movement and advance direction are preferably translational and, in particular, linear.

[0037] The drive device (8) and the drive roller (9) are moved between a rest position released from the trailer wheel (7) and retracted according to Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 and a driving position on the vehicle wheel (7) according to Fig. 3 is moved back and forth. In the drive position, the drive roller (9) is brought into driving contact with the trailer wheel (7), in which the rotational movement of the drive roller (9) can be transferred to the trailer wheel (7) and rotates it accordingly.

[0038] In the embodiment shown, the drive roller (9) is Fig. 3 is pressed with force against the tread of a pneumatic tire of the trailer wheel (7). To transmit the rotary movement, the drive roller (9) has a suitably designed roller shell (17), which, for example, has a surface with favorable drive and friction. This can, for example, be formed by axial corrugation or other projections and depressions for the preferably positive and non-positive transmission of the drive forces and movements from the rotating drive roller (9) to the trailer wheel (7). The drive roller (9) has, for example, a cylindrical shape and rotates about a central roller axis (18). The hollow drive roller (9) can be open on one end.

[0039] The gear mechanism (23) can have any desired configuration. It can be single-stage or multi-stage. In the illustrated embodiment, it is designed as an epicyclic gear mechanism, in particular as a planetary gear mechanism. The gear mechanism (23) can have a gear axis (24), which is preferably arranged concentrically with the roller axis (18).

[0040] The gear unit (23) is acted upon on the input side by a shaft (26), on which the input gear, in particular the sun gear, of the gear unit (23) can also be arranged or formed. The shaft (26) can be rotatably mounted and supported by means of bearings (32) on the roller carrier (11) and in the drive roller (9), e.g. in a support tube fixed to the carrier. The output from the gear unit (23) to the drive roller (9) can be via a recirculating roller carrier, in particular a planetary carrier, which is fixedly connected to the drive roller (9). Another part of the epicyclic gear unit, in particular a planetary gear unit, e.g. a ring gear, can be fixedly and rotationally fixedly supported on the roller carrier (11). For this purpose, a support tube (not shown) can be attached to the roller carrier (11), which projects into the hollow drive roller (9) at the end and accommodates the gear unit (23).The output roller carrier, in particular the planetary carrier, can be connected to a face plate of the drive roller (9), which is also coupled to an adjacent roller bearing (20) for rotatably supporting the drive roller (9). The drive roller (9) can also be rotatably mounted and supported on the support tube at the other end.

[0041] The roller support (11) accommodates the drive roller (9) and the gear (23) on the one hand, and the drive motor (21) on the other. The drive motor (21) is arranged on the roller support (11) outside and separate from, and at a distance from, the drive roller (9), e.g., offset laterally. The roller support (11) can have a hollow support housing (16), in whose interior the drive motor (21) is housed in a protected manner.

[0042] The drive motor (21) drives the drive roller (9) via an intermediate drive (27), which is coupled on the one hand to the drive motor (21) and on the other hand to the gear (23). The intermediate drive (27) is also arranged on the roller carrier (11), in particular in the carrier housing (16), and essentially outside the drive roller (9). In the embodiment shown, the drive motor (21), which is arranged at a distance from the gear (23) on the roller carrier (11), and the gear (23) have parallel axes (22, 24) which are drivingly coupled to one another via the intermediate drive (27).

[0043] The intermediate drive is designed as a belt drive (28). This is preferably a positive-locking belt drive (28), in particular a toothed belt drive. The belt drive (28) comprises a driving belt pulley or gear (30) on the motor shaft or motor axis (22) and a driven belt pulley or gear (31) on the shaft (26) or the transmission axis (24). The belt pulleys or gears (30, 31) are coupled to one another by a belt (29), in particular a toothed belt. The intermediate drive (27) can have any suitable transmission ratio, e.g., a 1:1 transmission ratio.

[0044] The drive roller (9) is mounted on the roller support (11) in a free space between fork-like support arms (15). It can be rotatably supported on the roller support (11), in particular on at least one support arm (15), via said roller bearing (20), and otherwise on the support tube.

[0045] The drive unit (2) can comprise a controllable braking device (25) with a holding function for the drive roller (9). When the drive roller (9) is in the driving position on the trailer wheel (7), the braking device (25) can block the trailer wheel (7) and prevent the vehicle trailer (3) from rolling away.

[0046] The braking device (25) is arranged, for example, between the gear (23) and the intermediate drive (27). It can be located in the hollow interior (19) of the drive roller (9), in particular within the support tube. The braking device (25) can be designed in any suitable manner and can be controllable. It can be designed, for example, as a controllable magnetic brake. One braking element is fixedly and rotationally fixedly supported on the roller carrier (11), in particular in the support tube, and another braking element is fixedly connected to the shaft (26) or the drive roller (9) or another rotatable part in or on the drive roller (9). A bearing (32) can be arranged in the drive tube (9) between the braking device (25) and the gear (23). The bearing (32) can, for example, be fixedly supported in the support tube. The other bearing (32) of the shaft (6) can deviate from Fig. 3 must also be arranged in the support tube and supported by the support.

[0047] The drive device (8) is moved back and forth between the rest position and the drive position on the trailer wheel (7) by the aforementioned feed device (12), preferably in a translational and linear manner. The feed device (12) can be designed and driven in any suitable manner.

[0048] In the embodiment shown, the feed device (12) comprises a console and its own controllable feed drive (14). The feed drive (14) can be designed, for example, as an electric motor or in some other way. The roller carrier (11) is preferably mounted on the console (13) so as to be linearly adjustable in the feed direction and is coupled to the feed drive (14). The feed drive (14) can be arranged in the console (13) and / or in the drive device (8), in particular in or on the roller carrier (11).

[0049] The bracket (13) can be attached to the vehicle trailer (3), in particular to its chassis (4), in a suitable manner. Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, the bracket (13) is arranged and fastened on the outside to an upright central web of the adjacent longitudinal member (5). A supporting, preferably telescopic, cross member (6) can be arranged between the pair of left and right drive units (2). The cross member (6) can have end flange plates, each of which bears against the inside of the upright central web of the longitudinal members (5) and is firmly connected to the adjacent bracket (13) and said central web via screws or other fastening means.

[0050] In another and e.g. in Fig. In the embodiment indicated in Figure 1, the cross member (6) can be arranged and fastened to the underside of the longitudinal members (5). In a further variant, the cross member (6) can be inserted through openings in the upright central webs of the longitudinal members (5) and fastened there to the surrounding central web wall via adapter plates or the like. In both variants, the cross member (6) can project outwards beyond the longitudinal members (5) and be firmly connected in these areas to a bracket of a delivery device (12).

[0051] The drive components of the drive unit (2), in particular the drive motor (21) and the feed drive (14), can be designed to be controllable. They can be connected to at least one Fig.1 schematically illustrated controller (34). This can be, for example, a central controller (34) to which several drive units (2) are connected. The drive units (2) can further comprise a single-part or multi-part sensor system (not shown), e.g., temperature sensors, speed sensors, force sensors, displacement sensors, and / or the like. The sensor system can also be connected to the controller (34).

[0052] In another variant not shown, the controller (34) can be distributed, with control components arranged on each drive unit (2) and communicating with each other. One of these control components can be configured as a master and the others as slaves.

[0053] The drive units (2) each have a communication interface (33). This can be used and designed for communication with the at least one controller (34). The drive units (2) can also communicate with each other via the communication interfaces (33). Furthermore, communication with a preferably mobile remote control (35) of the shunting drive (1) is possible. The remote control (35) and the at least one controller (34) likewise have suitable communication interfaces (33'). Communication between said communication interfaces (33, 33') can be wired and / or wireless, e.g., via radio, Bluetooth, infrared, or the like.

[0054] The maneuvering drive (1) may also comprise its own power supply (not shown), in particular an electric battery. The maneuvering drive (1) may also be connected to a trailer-side power supply, in particular an electric battery. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 1 shunting drive 2 drive unit 3 roadworthy vehicle trailers 4 chassis 5 longitudinal members 6 cross members 7 trailer wheel 8 Driving device 9 Drive roller 10 roller drive 11 roller carriers 12 Delivery device 13 Console 14 Feed drive 15 support arm 16 carrier housings 17 roller casing 18 roller axle 19 Interior 20 roller bearings 21 Drive motor 22 Axle, motor axle 23 Gearboxes, planetary gears 24 axle, gear axle 25 Braking device 26 Wave 27 Intermediate shoot 28 Belt drive 29 Timing belt 30 gear 31 gear 32 warehouses 33 Communication interface 33' communication interface 34 Control 35 Remote control 36 vehicle axles QUOTES CONTAINED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents submitted by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the convenience of the reader. This list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] EP 2 208 661 A1

[0002] GB 2 450 603 A

[0003] EP 3 552 932 A1

[0004] DE 20 2018 101 924 U1

[0004] DE 20 2012 010 074 U1

[0005]

Claims

[1] Drive unit for a shunting drive (1) of a road-going vehicle trailer (3), wherein the drive unit (2) has a drive device (8) which comprises a rotationally driven drive roller (9) which can be delivered to a trailer wheel (7) of the vehicle trailer (3), a movable roller carrier (11) and a roller drive (10), wherein the roller drive (10) has a drive motor (21) and a gear (23) connected to the drive roller (9) and arranged completely or at least predominantly within the drive roller (9), characterized by that the drive motor (21) is arranged outside and separately from the drive roller (9) and drives the drive roller (9) via an intermediate drive (27) coupled to the gear (23). [2] Drive unit according to claim 1, characterized by that the transmission (23) comprises several stages. [3] Drive unit according to claim 1 or 2, characterized bythat the gear (23) is designed as a planetary gear, in particular a planetary gear. [4] Drive unit according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized by that the drive motor (21) is arranged at a distance from the gear (23) on the roller carrier (11). [5] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the intermediate drive (27) is arranged on the roller carrier (11) and substantially outside the drive roller (9). [6] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the intermediate drive (27) is designed as a preferably positive-locking belt drive (28), in particular a toothed belt drive. [7] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive motor (21) and the gear (23) have parallel axes (22,24). [8] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the drive unit (2) has a controllable braking device (25) with a holding function for the drive roller (9). [9] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the braking device (25) is arranged between the gear (23) and the intermediate drive (27). [10] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the braking device (25) is arranged within the drive roller (9). [11] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive roller (9) is mounted on the roller carrier (11) via at least one roller bearing (19). [12] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the roller carrier (11) comprises a hollow carrier housing (16) in which the drive motor (21) and preferably the intermediate drive (27) are arranged. [13] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the roller carrier (11) comprises fork-like support arms (15) between which the drive roller (9) is arranged. [14] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive unit (2) comprises a preferably linear delivery device (12) which is designed to move the drive device (8) and to deliver it to the trailer wheel (7). [15] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by in that the feed device (12) comprises a console (13) and preferably a dedicated feed drive (14), wherein the roller carrier (11) is preferably mounted on the console (13) in a linearly adjustable manner and is coupled to the feed drive (14), wherein the console (13) is designed to be fastened to the vehicle trailer (3), in particular to its chassis (4), preferably to a longitudinal member (5) and / or to a cross member (6). [16] Drive unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the drive unit (2) has a communication interface (33) which is designed to communicate with at least one controller (34) and / or a remote control (35) of the shunting drive (1). [17] Maneuvering drive for a road-going vehicle trailer (3), wherein the manoeuvring drive (1) comprises several drive units (2) that can be delivered to a trailer wheel (7) of the vehicle trailer (3), characterized by that the drive units (2) are designed according to one of claims 1 to 16. [18] Shunting drive according to claim 17, characterized by that the shunting drive (1) has at least one control (34). [19] Shunting drive according to claim 17 or 18, characterized by that the shunting drive (1) has a remote control (35) which preferably communicates wirelessly with the at least one controller (34).

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