CABLE CRANE SYSTEM

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a cable crane system with at least one carriage, at least one supporting cable on which the at least one carriage is or can be arranged to be movable, at least one traction cable (circulating cable) which is arranged on the at least one carriage, and at least one cable winch device for moving the at least one carriage, by means of which the at least one traction cable can be wound up and unwound.

[0002] Such cable crane systems are well known in the art and are frequently used for timber haulage during forestry operations in difficult terrain and on steep slopes. Two different haulage methods are known for use on steep slopes, one of which is downhill haulage.

[0003] During downhill transport, the felled trees are transported from a mountain or slope to a valley using a cable crane system. One or more felled trees are attached to the carriage, which then travels down the valley along the support cable, taking advantage of gravity. In the valley, the felled trees can be further processed and / or transported away.

[0004] In order to transport more trees, the carriage must be moved back uphill or uphill. The cable winch and the traction cable are designed for this purpose. The traction cable is designed as a circulating cable. This means that the traction cable is attached to the carriage and, at the highest point of the cable crane system (uphill or uphill), is redirected and guided to the cable winch. By winding up the traction cable using the cable winch, the carriage can be moved back uphill or uphill. In the current state of the art, an internal combustion engine is usually used to drive the cable winch. This comes with several disadvantages.

[0005] In particular, combustion engines place a significant burden on the environment due to their high levels of pollutant and noise emissions. This is particularly problematic in the forestry sector, given the impact on the forest ecosystem. Furthermore, the potential energy of trees, which arises due to the difference in altitude between mountainous or hillside locations and valleys, is not utilized effectively. Instead, this energy is released unused into the environment, for example, as heat energy, by necessary braking systems.

[0006] WO 2018 / 065090 A1 discloses a cable crane system with at least one carriage, at least one supporting cable on which the at least one carriage is or can be arranged to be movable, at least one cable winch device for moving the at least one carriage, wherein the at least one cable winch device comprises at least one electric motor for operating the at least one cable winch device, and wherein the at least one electric motor can be operated as a generator, wherein the at least one electric motor operated as a generator can be driven by a travel movement of the at least one carriage, wherein the at least one carriage comprises at least one hoist winch and a drive unit for driving the at least one hoist winch, and a further energy storage device for feeding the drive unit, wherein the further energy storage device can be charged via a generator traveling with the at least one carriage.

[0007] The object of the invention is to at least partially remedy the above-described disadvantages and to provide a cable crane system that is improved over the prior art. This object is achieved by the features of independent claim 1.

[0008] Accordingly, the cable winch device is initially intended to include at least one electric motor for operating the cable winch device. This eliminates the problems caused by combustion engines. An electric motor also offers other advantages, such as the high torque available right from the start. Often, a tree is attached to the carriage and then lifted or moved from its storage location by moving the carriage. Particularly when trees have been stored for a long time, they may have grown into the ground or sunk. In these cases, this torque is advantageous for easily moving the trees.

[0009] However, simply replacing an internal combustion engine with an electric motor is not possible without further ado. Providing the electric motor with power, in particular, poses a major challenge.

[0010] Logging typically takes place in remote and difficult-to-access locations. Therefore, powering the electric motor from the power grid is practically impossible.

[0011] A battery-powered power supply is also not practical. Either the battery would have to be extremely large to provide sufficient energy for logging operations lasting several days, which would be prohibitively expensive, as would the cost of both such a battery and its transport to the site. Or the battery would have to be recharged after each working day, which would require transporting it to a suitable charging station.

[0012] Operating or charging the electric motor or an energy storage system that powers the electric motor via a photovoltaic system is also not practical. This is due, firstly, to the fact that in forests and on shady slopes, there is too little sunlight for a photovoltaic system to produce sufficient energy. Furthermore, a photovoltaic system could easily be damaged.

[0013] It is accordingly further provided that the at least one electric motor can be operated as a generator, wherein the at least one electric motor operated as a generator can be driven by a travel movement of the at least one carriage.

[0014] This allows the potential energy of the felled trees to be utilized during downhill transport. The carriage, complete with the felled trees, descends along the support cable due to gravity. The traction cable is unwound via the deflection. As the traction cable is unwound, at least one electric motor can be operated as a generator and powered by the unwinding. This allows the potential energy of the felled trees to be converted into usable electrical energy.

[0015] This electrical energy can then be used, even with the interposition of an energy storage device, to power the electric motor to move the carriage back uphill or into a slope. Thus, the subject matter of the invention also solves the problem of supplying the electric motor with energy.

[0016] According to the invention, the carriage comprises at least two rollers, via which the carriage can be arranged displaceably on a support cable, at least one hoist winch and a drive unit for driving the at least one hoist winch, and a further energy storage device for supplying the drive unit, wherein the further energy storage device can be charged via a generator traveling with the carriage.

[0017] In state-of-the-art cable crane carriages, it is common for the drive unit to include an internal combustion engine to power at least one hoist winch. This is associated with several disadvantages. On the one hand, the demands placed on such an internal combustion engine are extremely high due to the resulting inclinations, vibrations, and emissions standards, which negatively impacts costs. On the other hand, internal combustion engines have a significant impact on the environment due to their high levels of pollutant and noise emissions. Furthermore, energy that could be used during the downhill journey (regeneration) is wasted due to the required braking process.

[0018] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0019] Preferably, it can be provided that the at least one cable winch device comprises at least one cable drum onto which the at least one traction cable can be wound and unwound.

[0020] Particularly preferably, it can be provided that the at least one cable drum can be driven by the at least one electric motor and / or the at least one electric motor operated as a generator can be driven by the at least one cable drum when the traction cable is unwound or wound up.

[0021] This represents a simple possibility of converting an unwinding movement of the traction cable during unwinding into a drive movement for at least one electric motor operated as a generator.

[0022] Advantageously, the cable crane system can comprise at least one energy storage device for supplying the at least one electric motor, wherein the at least one energy storage device can be charged via the at least one electric motor operated as a generator.

[0023] The at least one energy storage device allows the energy generated by the electric motor operating as a generator to be temporarily stored until needed, for example, to operate the at least one electric motor. Since the at least one energy storage device is charged every time the carriage descends a hill, it can be significantly smaller than if it could only be charged once a day, for example.

[0024] In particular, the energy storage device can be designed as an accumulator. Since excessive capacities are not required and the battery is essentially stationary, a cost-effective lead-acid battery or similar can be used. Of course, other battery technologies or other energy storage devices, such as physical energy storage, are also conceivable.

[0025] It may also be advantageous if the cable crane system has a battery management system (BMS) for monitoring, controlling and protecting the at least one energy storage device.

[0026] This ensures safe and efficient charging and discharging of at least one energy storage device.

[0027] It can be provided that the battery management system monitors and / or regulates at least one of the following parameters: state of charge (SoC), voltage, current, current consumption or consumption, temperature, state of health (SoH).

[0028] If the battery management system is part of at least one energy storage unit, a compact and small design of the crane rope system can be facilitated.

[0029] Particularly preferably, the at least one cable winch device can comprise a charging unit, via which at least one external consumer can be supplied with energy generated by the at least one electric motor operating as a generator and / or energy stored in the energy storage device. Thus, excess energy generated by the at least one electric motor operating as a generator can be usefully reused.

[0030] The charging unit can have at least one, preferably several, interfaces for connecting external devices. These interfaces can include, for example, regular 230V sockets, 400V three-phase sockets, or Type 2 sockets for charging electric vehicles. However, it is generally conceivable to use any type of socket.

[0031] It can also be provided that the charging unit comprises a power converter unit.

[0032] The power converter unit can, for example, include inverters, boost and / or buck converters and so on in order to be able to serve a wide variety of interfaces.

[0033] Advantageously, it can also be provided that the charging unit is designed for bidirectional charging.

[0034] This makes it possible to charge at least one energy storage device via at least one external consumer.

[0035] External loads could include, for example, electric chainsaws, electric limbs, electric debarkers, mobile electric sawmills, or even electric cars, excavators, trucks, or the like. Essentially, any electrically powered device or vehicle can be charged using the energy generated by the at least one electric motor operating as a generator. The cable crane system acts as a "power plant," so to speak, generating usable electrical energy from the potential energy of the felled trees.

[0036] The energy generated and thus available depends largely on the number of trees transported. The following proof-of-concept calculation will demonstrate, in rough terms, that a cable crane system can indeed provide enough energy to charge an electric car, for example.

[0037] Assuming only one tree load per downhill run of the trolley, a load of m = 2000 kg on the trolley can be assumed. The elevation difference dH = 200 m and F = 30 runs per day are assumed.

[0038] This results in the theoretically achievable energy at these values:

[0039] If one also includes the efficiencies of the energy storage η Akku =0.9, the electric motor operated as a generator η Gen =0.92, the remaining electrical components η E =0.95 and the mechanics η m =0.99, the actually usable energy is: η Akku ⋅ η Gen ⋅ η S ⋅ η m ⋅ E = 25 , 44 kWh

[0040] Thus, in the worst case scenario, the energy generated and available over a day is 25.44 kWh. Typically, several trees are attached to the trolley, multiplying the energy generated—for example, quadrupling it with an average of four trees per trip. Furthermore, more than 30 trips are usually made per day, and significant elevation differences are often present.

[0041] If, for example, an average of four trees are transported per trip, at least around 100 kWh are available, which can fully charge even electric cars with the largest battery capacities currently available.

[0042] As described in the introduction, downhill logging involves transporting trees from a mountain or slope to a valley. This means that the felled trees are transported from top to bottom. This shortens the elevation difference during the logging process, as the trees at higher elevations are removed after a certain amount of time. This would result in an increasingly lower energy yield.

[0043] A smaller height difference also results in a shorter distance the trees must be transported. However, a shorter distance also allows for a higher load, i.e., the mass transported by the carriage. This compensates for the losses caused by the smaller height difference and ensures a substantially constant energy yield.

[0044] If an electric motor is provided to drive at least one hoist winch, the problem of energy supply arises. Energy storage devices suitable for such a carriage, given their dimensions, generally have insufficient capacity for effective operation of the carriage. Furthermore, the kinetic energy that would be available during the downhill travel of the load cannot be utilized in a carriage without energy recovery.

[0045] If the energy storage device is designed to be recharged via a generator traveling with the carriage, the energy supply problem can be solved by charging the energy storage device via the traveling generator while the carriage is in operation. This allows the use of an energy storage device with a lower capacity and therefore suitable dimensions, since the energy storage device is continuously recharged during the carriage's operation.

[0046] Preferably, it can be provided that the generator is driven by a travel movement of the carriage and / or by a rolling process of the at least one hoist winch.

[0047] This means that the energy storage device is charged during the (quite numerous) travel movements of the carriage and / or unwinding operations of the hoist winch and enables energy-autonomous use of the carriage during pulling or load picking up with the hoist winch.

[0048] An additional battery management system may also be provided to monitor, control and protect the additional energy storage unit.

[0049] Preferably, it can be provided that the generator is driven via a parabolic disk.

[0050] In particular, it can also be provided that the generator is driven by a parabolic disk, which is wound around a traction cable (circulating cable).

[0051] These embodiments represent a straightforward, cost-effective, and efficient way to charge the energy storage device, as the energy storage device is charged with each movement of the carriage. When the carriage moves downwards, the generator can also generate a braking effect. Thus, the generator has dual utility.

[0052] In the present application, a parabolic disc is defined as a disc whose outer groove for receiving the traction cable winding(s) has a parabolic contour in cross section.

[0053] It can also be provided that the generator is used as a drive unit, supporting the movement of the carriage by means of the traction cable guided over the parabolic disc.

[0054] This is advantageous when there are opposing gradients along the suspension cable, for example, when a suspension cable sags significantly in flat sections between two supports of a cable crane system. With the support of the generator used as the drive unit, such sections can be negotiated without any problems.

[0055] Preferably, it can be provided that the drive unit comprises an electric motor, wherein the electric motor can preferably be operated as a generator during a rolling process of the at least one hoist winch.

[0056] This energy can also be used to charge the energy storage system. Here, too, the electric motor, which operates as a generator, can act as a brake. Thus, energy is recuperated.

[0057] According to one aspect of the invention, the at least one carriage and the at least one hoist winch can be operated simultaneously and, through the possible use of the generator as a drive unit, the movement of the carriage on the support cable can be supported via the traction cable wound around the parabolic disc.

[0058] Particularly advantageously, it can be provided that by means of the control unit the at least one energy storage device can be charged depending on a charge state of the further energy storage device and / or the further energy storage device can be charged depending on a charge state of the at least one energy storage device

[0059] This allows the energy storage unit that requires the most energy to be charged. If one of the energy storage units is already fully charged, the other can be charged. This allows as much energy as possible to be converted into usable electrical energy.

[0060] In one embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one carriage and / or the at least one cable winch device can be remotely controlled via a remote control, preferably a radio remote control.

[0061] The at least one carriage and / or the at least one cable winch device can preferably have a radio module for receiving and / or transmitting data from or to the remote control.

[0062] Remote control of the at least one carriage and / or the at least one cable winch device offers several advantages. Firstly, it represents the simplest way to control the at least one carriage. Secondly, a user can thus not only control the at least one hoist winch via a remote control, but also receive, monitor, and modify parameters and properties of the drive unit, the energy storage device, and / or the generator. If the cable winch can also be controlled via the remote control, one or more users can operate an entire cable crane system via the remote control.

[0063] Particularly preferably, it can be provided that the at least one cable winch device, the at least one carriage and / or the at least one external consumer are in a data connection with one another, preferably wirelessly.

[0064] This essentially enables communication between the at least one cable winch device, carriage, and / or the at least one external consumer. In conjunction with other components of a cable crane system, in particular the control unit described below, this data connection can be used for a variety of purposes.

[0065] Preferably, it can be provided that the cable crane system has at least one control unit for controlling and / or regulating of the at least one electric motor, the at least one energy storage device, the charging unit, the drive unit, the generator, the further energy storage device, a remote control, and / or a data connection includes.

[0066] The control unit can thus be used to control and / or regulate the entire cable crane system. In particular, the interaction between the energy storage units and electric motors or generators can be controlled and regulated.

[0067] According to one embodiment, it can be provided that the at least one control unit is arranged on or in the at least one cable winch device and / or on or in the at least one carriage or separately from the at least one cable winch device and the at least one carriage.

[0068] As a rule, the control unit will be arranged on or in the at least one cable winch device, since space requirements and weight play a lesser role in the at least one stationary cable winch device than, for example, in the carriage.

[0069] It can be provided that the at least one carriage has a further control unit for controlling and / or regulating the carriage, in particular the drive unit, the generator and / or the further energy storage device.

[0070] This reduces the load on the control unit of the cable crane system, as not all control and / or regulation processes need to be handled via the control unit. Furthermore, control and / or regulation processes that only affect the carriage can be processed more quickly, as data does not first have to be transferred between the carriage and the control unit, then processed at the control unit, and finally sent back to the carriage.

[0071] If the electric motor is operated as a generator, it also acts as a brake, which slows down the movement of the carriage by braking the cable drum.

[0072] In addition, it can also be provided that the at least one cable winch device has at least one braking device.

[0073] This braking device serves to brake the at least one carriage in the event that the braking power via the at least one electric motor operated as a generator is too low or all energy storage devices are full and thus no more braking power can be achieved.

[0074] Such a braking device can be, for example, an electrodynamic (eddy current brake) or hydrodynamic retarder or even a wind vane.

[0075] In addition, a preferably mechanical dead man's switch can advantageously be provided, which brakes the carriage in the event of a power failure or the like.

[0076] A user interface may also be provided, preferably on the cable winch device and / or on the remote control.

[0077] This user interface can display a wide variety of data, such as the charge level of the energy storage device and / or the additional energy storage device, the energy consumption of at least one external consumer, etc.

[0078] A warning device is also conceivable. If both energy storage units are fully charged, this warning device can warn the user that energy will be converted into unusable energy (heat energy during braking) during the next descent.

[0079] It can also be provided that the cable crane system has an automatic targeting system.

[0080] Without automatic targeting, an operator, a so-called winch operator, is required to brake the carriage before each support to ensure that the supports are safely crossed.

[0081] With an automatic targeting system, this is no longer necessary; the carriage is automatically braked accordingly. This simply requires a programming run after setting up the cable crane system.

[0082] Preferably, it can be provided that the cable crane system in a transport state has maximum dimensions (L x W x H) of 5.8 m x 2.3 m x 2.3 m.

[0083] This makes it possible to load the cable crane system into a 20-foot ISO container during transport. This makes the cable crane system easy to transport.

[0084] It can also be provided that the cable crane system remains at least partially on a transport vehicle, for example a truck or trailer, in an operating state.

[0085] For example, a tilting mast cable device and at least one cable winch device can be mounted stationary on the transport vehicle. This facilitates rapid assembly and disassembly of the cable crane system.

[0086] Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims.

[0087] Further details and advantages of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures and the drawings, in which: Fig. 1 is a schematic representation of a cable crane system, Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of a carriage, Fig. 3a is a schematic front view of a carriage, Fig. 3b is a schematic rear view of a carriage, and Fig. 4 is a schematic block diagram of a cable crane system.

[0088] The Figure 1shows a schematic representation of a cable crane system 1. A supporting cable 2 is visible, with a carriage 100 mounted on the supporting cable 2 via rollers 102. The rollers 102 are arranged on support arms 112.

[0089] The support cable 2 is tensioned between two trees via bearing rollers 2a and then guyed to the ground (not visible). However, the support cable 2 can also be tensioned, for example, between a tree and a tilting mast cable device, between two tilting mast cable devices, or between other suitable objects.

[0090] A traction cable 3 is arranged at one end of the carriage 100 and can be wound up or unwound via a cable winch device 4. The traction cable (revolving cable) 3 is guided via the deflection pulley 3a in such a way that winding up the traction cable 3 by means of the cable winch device 4 results in a movement of the carriage 100 in the direction of the deflection pulley 3a. A second deflection pulley 3b serves to guide the traction cable 3 parallel to the supporting cable 2.

[0091] As the carriage 100 travels downhill, i.e., toward the cable winch device 4, the traction cable 3 is unwound from a cable drum 4a (not visible). During unwinding, the cable drum 4a drives the electric motor 5 (not visible), which operates as a generator, converting the potential energy of the carriage 100 with the load in the form of a tree into usable electrical energy, and also braking the carriage 100.

[0092] Here, too, it is possible to arrange the pulleys 3a and 3b not on a tree, but on a tilting mast rope device or another suitable object.

[0093] This energy can then be used to operate the electric motor 5. For this purpose, the energy can be temporarily stored in the energy storage device 6. The energy storage device 6 is not shown, but can, for example, be adjacent to the cable winch device 4.

[0094] Via interfaces 7a of a charging unit 7, various external consumers V can also be charged and / or operated using the generated energy. Examples shown here include an electric chainsaw and an electric truck.

[0095] The traction cable 3 is also guided into the carriage 100, which is particularly useful in the Figure 2 is more clearly visible.

[0096] The carriage comprises a hoist winch 103 with a hoist cable 103a. A fastening means 103b is provided on the hoist cable 103a, via which loads can be attached to the hoist cable 103a. The lifting means 103b can be, for example, a loop, a gripper, or the like. In the present embodiment, the load is a tree; however, in principle, other loads can also be transported by a carriage according to the invention.

[0097] The Figure 1 further shows a remote control 8, via which the carriage 100 and the cable winch device 4 can be remotely controlled. The wireless connection between these components is indicated by corresponding symbols.

[0098] The Figure 2 shows a schematic side view of a carriage 100. It can be seen how the carriage 100 is arranged on the support cable 2 so that it can move via the rollers 102.

[0099] The traction cable 3 is connected to the carriage 100 at an attachment point 3c and is moved in the traction direction Z to move the carriage toward the deflection pulley 3a. After being deflected over the deflection pulley 3a, the traction cable 3 is guided by the guide pulley 3d into the carriage 100. The traction cable 3 then wraps around the parabolic disk 106 in the carriage 100.

[0100] The parabolic disc 106 is thus rotated with each movement of the traction cable 3. The rotational movement of the parabolic disc 106 is transmitted via a belt drive 107a to a generator 107, which converts the rotational movement into electrical energy. The traction cable 3 is then guided back out of the carriage 100 via another guide roller 3d.

[0101] A hoist winch 103 with a hoist cable 103a is also visible. The hoist cable 103a can be wound up or unwound on a drum 103c of the hoist winch 103. The drum 103c is driven by a further electric motor 104a of the drive unit 104 via a belt drive 104b and a gear with a brake 104c. A hoist cable guide roller 103d serves to guide the hoist cable 103a. A lifting means 103b is only indicated.

[0102] When the hoisting rope 103a is unwound, in particular when a load is suspended from the hoisting rope 103a, the additional electric motor 104a can be operated as a generator and thus convert the rotational movement of the drum 103c into electrical energy via the belt drive 104b when unwinding.

[0103] The generator 107, the further electric motor 104a, the energy storage device 105, the further control unit 108 and the radio module 110 are connected to one another by electrical lines not shown.

[0104] The energy storage device 105 can be charged via the additional control unit 108 with the energy generated by the generator 107 and / or the additional electric motor 104a operating as a generator. The additional control unit 108 monitors and regulates or controls the charging process so that the energy storage device 105 is always charged properly and efficiently.

[0105] The additional electric motor 104a can also be controlled via the control unit 108. Corresponding control commands can be received, for example, by the radio module 110 and processed and forwarded by the control unit 108.

[0106] This additional control unit 108 can reduce the load on the control unit 9, since only control and / or regulation processes relating to the carriage 100 can be carried out directly on the carriage 100. In particular, the additional control unit 108 can also receive commands from the control unit 9, for example via the radio module 110, and further process and forward them.

[0107] In addition, data such as sensor data from the generator 7, the further electric motor 4a or the further battery management system 105a can also be sent via the radio module 110 to the remote control 8 and / or the control unit 9 for further processing.

[0108] The Figure 3a shows a schematic front view of a carriage 100 according to the invention, the Figure 3b a schematic rear view of a carriage 100 according to the invention.

[0109] It can be seen that the carriage 100 has a support beam 111, to which the support arms 112 are also attached. The support arms 112 are arranged off-center, but the rollers 102 are arranged centrally. The rollers 102 rest on the support cable 2. Of course, any suitable configuration of rollers 102 is conceivable, not just the one shown here.

[0110] The traction cable 3 is guided into the carriage 100 and up onto the parabolic disk 106 via the guide roller 3d. The traction cable 3 wraps around the parabolic disk 106 once or twice, whereby the disk is driven by each movement of the traction cable 3. It can be seen that the traction cable 3 is displaced on the parabolic disk 106 by one supporting cable diameter, which makes such wrapping possible.

[0111] The parabolic disk 106 is connected via a gear 106a to the belt drive 107a, which drives the generator 107.

[0112] In the Figure 3b The drum 103c of the hoist winch 103 is also visible. A portion of the hoist rope 103a is wound onto the drum 103c. The unwound portion of the hoist rope 103a is guided over the hoist rope guide roller 103d.

[0113] The Figure 4 shows a schematic block diagram of a cable crane system 1. A block diagram of the carriage 100 and the cable winch device 4 can be seen.

[0114] The carriage 100, the cable winch device 4, and the remote control 8 are connected to each other via the radio modules 110 and 8a. The dotted lines indicate a wireless connection, while the solid lines between the components of the cable winch device 4 and the carriage 100 indicate a wired connection. This could, for example, be implemented via a bus system, such as a CAN bus.

[0115] It can be seen that the further control unit 108 is connected to all electrical components of the carriage 100, and the control unit 9 is connected to all electrical components of the cable winch device 4. A battery management system 10 is also visible. The control unit 9 is also in data communication with the further control unit 108 and the at least one external consumer V via the radio module 8a.

[0116] The control unit 9 can therefore receive data from all subsystems of the cable crane system 1 as well as from at least one external consumer V, as well as transmit commands, instructions, etc. to the subsystem.

[0117] The control unit 9 thus coordinates the entire cable crane system 1. The following are some examples of how this circumstance can be used advantageously.

[0118] The energy storage device 6 is fully charged and no energy is being drawn from it, for example by external consumers V. The carriage 100 travels downhill with the load and must be braked.

[0119] The control unit 9 knows the status of the entire cable crane system 1. Instead of braking the carriage 100 via at least one braking unit, thereby releasing unused energy into the environment, the control unit 9 can use the generator 107 to brake the carriage 100 via the parabolic disk 106. This allows the additional energy storage device 105 to be charged.

[0120] If, for example, the additional energy storage device 105 is already fully charged, but the energy storage device 6 is not, the control unit 9 can only brake the carriage 100 via the electric motor 5 operated as a generator and thereby charge the energy storage device 6.

[0121] In addition, the required braking power can also be adjusted via the control unit 9.

[0122] For example, if speed data of the carriage 100 are known from a speed sensor, the speed of the carriage 100 can also be kept constant via the control unit 9. Thus, in areas with steeper gradients, the carriage 100 can be braked more strongly and in flat sections, less strongly, or even supported in a travel movement by the generator 107, which operates as a motor, and the parabolic disk 106. Reference symbol list:

[0123] 1Cable crane system 2Carrying cable 2a Bearing rollers 3Traction cable 3a Deflection pulley 3b Second deflection pulley 3c Anchor point 3d Guide rollers 4Cable winch device 4a Cable drum 5Electric motor 6Energy storage 7Charging unit 7a Interface 8Remote control 8a Radio module 9Control unit 10Battery management system 100Carriage 102Rollers 103Hoist winch 103a Hoist cable 103b Lifting device 103c Drum 103d Hoist cable guide roller 104Drive unit 104a Additional electric motor 104b Belt drive 104c Gearbox with brake 105Energy storage 105a Additional battery management system 106Parabolic disc 106a Gearbox 107Generator 107a Belt drive 108 Control unit 109Remote control 110Radio module 111Support beams 112Support arms DData connection VExternal consumer ZPull direction

Claims

1. Cable crane system (1) comprising: - at least one trolley (100), - at least one suspension cable (2) on which the at least one trolley (100) is movably arranged or can be arranged, - at least one traction cable (3) designed as a circulating cable (3), which is arranged on the at least one trolley (100), and - at least one cable winch device (4) for moving the at least one trolley (100), by means of which the at least one traction cable (3) can be wound up and unwound, wherein the at least one cable winch device (4) comprises at least one electric motor (5) for operating the at least one cable winch device (4), and wherein the at least one electric motor (5) can be operated as a generator, wherein the at least one electric motor (5) operated as a generator can be driven by a traveling movement of the at least one trolley (100), wherein the at least one trolley (100) comprises at least two rollers (102), via which the at least one trolley (100) can be movably arranged on a suspension cable (2), at least one lifting winch (103) and a drive unit (104) for driving the at least one lifting winch (103), and a further energy storage device (105) for supplying the drive unit (104), wherein the further energy storage device (105) can be charged by means of a generator (107, 104a) traveling with the at least one trolley (100).

2. Cable crane system according to claim 1, wherein the at least one cable winch device (4) comprises at least one cable drum (4a) onto which the at least one traction cable (3) can be wound and unwound.

3. Cable crane system according to claim 2, wherein the at least one cable drum (4a) can be driven by the at least one electric motor (5) and / or the at least one electric motor (5) operated as a generator can be driven by the cable drum (4a) when the traction cable (3) is unwound from or wound up to the cable drum (4a).

4. Cable crane system according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the cable crane system (1) comprises at least one energy storage device (6) for supplying the at least one electric motor (5), wherein the at least one energy storage device (6) can be charged via the at least one electric motor (5) operated as a generator.

5. Cable crane system according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the at least one cable winch device (4) comprises a loading unit (7) via which at least one external consumer (V) can be supplied with energy generated by the at least one electric motor (5) operated as a generator and / or stored in the at least one energy storage device (6).

6. Cable crane system according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the generator (107, 104a) is driven by a travelling movement of the at least one trolley (100) and / or by a rolling movement of the at least one lifting winch (103).

7. Cable crane system according to one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the drive unit (104) comprises an electric motor (104a), wherein during an unwinding process of the at least one lifting winch (103), the electric motor (104a) can preferably be operated as a generator in.

8. Cable crane system according to one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the at least one cable winch device (4), the at least one trolley (100) and / or the at least one external consumer (V) are in data communication (D) with one another, preferably wirelessly.

9. Cable crane system according to one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the at least one trolley (100) and / or the at least one cable winch device (4) can be remotely controlled via a remote control (8), preferably a radio remote control.

10. Cable crane system according to one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the cable crane system (1) comprises at least one control unit (9) for open-loop controlling and / or closed-loop controlling - the at least one electric motor (5), - the at least one energy storage device (6), - the charging unit (7), - the drive unit (104), - the generator (107, 104a), - the further energy storage device (105), - a remote control (8), and / or - a data connection (D).

11. Cable crane system according to claim 10, wherein the at least one control unit (9) is arranged on or in the at least one cable winch device (4) and / or on or in the at least one trolley (100) or separately from the at least one cable winch device (4) and the at least one trolley (100).

12. Cable crane system according to one of claims 10 or 11, wherein at least one of the trolleys (100) has a further control unit (108) for open-loop controlling and / or closed-loop controlling the trolley (100), preferably the drive unit (104), the generator (107, 104a) and / or the further energy storage device (105).

13. Cable crane system according to one of claims 10 to 12, wherein the control unit (9) is used to charge the at least one energy storage device (6) as a function of a charging state of the further energy storage device (105) and / or the further energy storage device (105) as a function of a charging state of the at least one energy storage device (6).

14. Cable crane system according to one of claims 1 to 13, characterized in that the cable crane system (1) in a transport state has maximum dimensions of 5.8 m x 2.3 m x 2.3 m (L x W x H).