WHEEL SYSTEM, ESPECIALLY FOR A CRANE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wheel system according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Such a wheel system, designed as a so-called wheel block, is known, for example, from DE 10 2004 008 552 B3, DE 19 540 217 C1, or DE 31 34 750 C2. Wear on the wheel of such a wheel system, which is mounted, for example, on a crane chassis, can lead to defects and potentially to an accident. To prevent this, timely replacement of the worn wheel is necessary. One way to check for wear is to disassemble the wheel system and break it down into its components. The wheel can then be examined for wear. Alternatively, wear can be checked using markings by first marking the contact point of the wheel on the rail on both parts.The wheel is then rotated to make another mark on the rail, and the distance between the marks is measured. From this, the wheel's circumference and diameter, and thus any wear, are determined.

[0003] From JP 2017 146 227 A, a traveling crane with a system for detecting wear on its running wheels is known. The system comprises two laser distance meters, reflectors, and a control unit. A disadvantage of such a solution is the comparatively high cost and operating expenses, as well as the system's relatively low robustness against mechanical influences such as vibrations.

[0004] A mechanical device for detecting wear on crane wheels is known from JP 2000-177 981 A. DE 10 2010 008 232 B4 relates to tool trolleys for a panel processing plant and describes the detection and compensation of wear with regard to their wheels.

[0005] The detection of wear on wheels is also described in DE 10 2019 210 884 A1, DE 10 2017 115 222 A1 and WO 2009 / 028776 A1.

[0006] CN 107 720 543 B describes a device for aligning crane wheels.

[0007] In JP S 52 28865 U, the use of coal as a wear indicator for a crane wheel in combination with a viewing window for reading the wear is described.

[0008] The CN 210 084 752 U discloses the use of a protective cover as a wear indicator for a wheel.

[0009] A mechanical device for detecting wear on a tire is known from US patent 2004 / 250613 A1.

[0010] Based on this prior art, the present invention aims to enable predictive maintenance of a generic wheel system with minimal inspection effort.

[0011] This problem is solved by a wheel system with the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims and the following description.

[0012] According to the invention, in a wheel system comprising a wheel and a support body that at least partially encloses the wheel, in which the wheel is mounted and from which the wheel projects to contact a rail, predictive maintenance with minimal inspection effort is enabled by mounting a mechanical device for detecting and / or determining wear on the wheel on the support body. Preferably, the mechanical device is movably mounted on the support body such that it can be brought into contact with the wheel to detect and / or determine wear, and for this purpose, in particular, it can be brought into contact with a running surface of the wheel. Preferably, a movable part of the mechanical device is brought into contact with the wheel from a standby position away from the wheel.

[0013] The mechanical device is thus integrated into the support structure. The wheel system, and in particular its running wheel, can be driven by a drive unit, especially an electric motor. The wheel system according to the invention can optionally be used for a crane, in particular a traveling crane, which is typically rail-bound, wherein the running wheel of the wheel system, as one of several running wheels of the crane, is in contact with the respective rail and rolls on it.

[0014] The impeller, mounted in the support body, is rotatable about a horizontally oriented axis of rotation in the impeller's usual installation position. The impeller is preferably mounted by means of a hub, which is laterally held in a plain and / or roller bearing inserted into the support body.

[0015] By means of the mechanical device mounted on the support body and thus integrated into the wheel system and permanently present, the wear of the wheel can be detected and / or determined while the wheel is installed. Neither disassembly of the wheel system, in particular removal of the wheel, nor a separate measuring instrument is required for this purpose. The mechanical device is preferably designed to operate discontinuously and must be manually actuated to detect and / or determine wear on the wheel. Without manual actuation, wear on the wheel cannot be detected and / or determined.

[0016] In the context of the invention, "detection" or "detection" means that it is identifiable that wear of the impeller is present. "Determination" or "determinable" in the context of the invention means that the wear of the impeller is quantifiable and thus quantifiable.

[0017] The mechanical device offers a robust and cost-effective solution for the early detection of wear during operation, compared to sensor-based system solutions such as those described in JP 2017 146 227 A. No control engineering effort is required. This allows for simple predictive maintenance of the wheel system, particularly the impeller.

[0018] According to the invention, the mechanical device also includes a sensor that can be brought into contact with the impeller in order to detect and / or determine wear on a running surface of the impeller. The sensor preferably has a free end which is preferably brought into contact with the impeller from a ready position located away from it. In contrast to non-contact sensors, such as optical sensors, the sensor thus detects any wear on the impeller through contact.

[0019] Due to the discontinuous operating principle, there is therefore no continuous contact between the sensor and the impeller. Contact with the impeller for detecting and / or determining wear on the impeller must be triggered by manual actuation of the mechanical device. For this purpose, an actuating element coupled to the sensor and accessible to an operator on the outside of the support body can be provided. As long as no actuation occurs, the sensor can be in its standby position, away from the impeller. This discontinuous operation of the mechanical device prevents further wear on the sensor and / or the impeller.

[0020] The running surface is located on the circumference of the wheel and serves primarily to provide contact between the wheel and a rail. Wear occurs on the running surface as the wheel moves.

[0021] The sensor is rigid and dimensionally stable and has a shape suitable for repeatable contact with the impeller, for example, an elongated shape. For this purpose, the sensor can be made of sheet metal, especially aluminum sheet metal, or plastic.

[0022] In a structurally simple manner, the mechanical device according to the invention also includes an optical display which is arranged outside the support body. The display is designed and connected to the sensor in such a way that it can visualize the result of the detection and / or determination of wear.

[0023] This provides a visible indication of the wear condition outside the wheel system. This allows an operator to perceive the result of the wear detection and / or determination without having to open or disassemble the wheel system into its components.

[0024] A particularly advantageous feature of the invention is that the optical indicator comprises a pointer which is rigidly connected to the sensor via a connecting element, in particular by means of a rod or pin, and which forms a movable part of the mechanical device. The pointer can simultaneously serve as an actuating element to bring the sensor into contact with the impeller by actuating it.

[0025] The movable part of the mechanical device therefore includes the sensor and the pointer.

[0026] If wear measurement is required, the optical indicator includes a scale, which is typically located on an outer surface of the support body. The scale may have two or more reading points, which may be marked with a predetermined designation for the respective degree of wear. With a sensor in contact with the impeller, the condition of the impeller and its wear can then be determined by reading the scale and observing the position of the pointer relative to it.

[0027] If wear detection is required, only a single marking on the outer surface of the support body is necessary. This marking allows, for example, the identification of a pointer position representing a specific degree of wear, or a change in the pointer's position relative to a known, wear-free starting position, with the sensor in contact with the impeller. In a particularly simple implementation, a single notch on the outside of the housing is sufficient.

[0028] The connection between the pointer and the sensor is preferably detachable and form-fit and / or force-fit. Depending on the geometric design of the sensor and the pointer, the movable part can also include a connecting element, for example a rod or pin, which is arranged between the sensor and the pointer and preferably connects them detachably and rigidly.

[0029] The connection between the sensor and the connecting element is preferably detachable and, in particular, designed to be positively locked and / or force-locked. For this purpose, the connecting element can have a thread on which the sensor can be held and fixed in the axial direction, for example by means of two nuts, preferably locked together. The connection between the pointer and the connecting element is then preferably detachable and, in particular, designed to be positively locked and / or force-locked.

[0030] A change in the position or orientation of the sensor resting on the impeller, which is preferably induced exclusively by wear on the impeller, is transmitted directly to the pointer due to the rigid connection. In other words, the pointer moves to the same extent, particularly in the same angle of rotation, as the sensor. Identical alignment of the sensor and pointer is not required.

[0031] Since the pointer is located outside the support body and the sensor inside, an opening in a side wall of the housing is required for the moving part of the mechanical device, through which the connecting element is guided.

[0032] A pointer is understood to be a rigid and dimensionally stable element suitable for displaying information, and for this purpose, it has a free end shaped as a "point". The shape of the pointer is freely selectable.

[0033] Advantageously, the movable part of the mechanical device is rotatably and / or translationally mounted on the support body. In particular, the connecting element, for example the rod or pin, is rotatably and / or translationally mounted on the support body. In the case of translationally movable mounting, the translational movement preferably occurs parallel to the axis of rotation of the wheel. The rotatable mounting creates an axis of rotation for the mechanical device, particularly for the sensor and the pointer, and thus for the movable part of the mechanical device. Rotations accordingly occur about a longitudinal axis of the connecting element. The sensor and the pointer are preferably arranged and oriented such that they extend transversely, particularly at right angles, away from the axis of rotation, in the manner of a clock hand.It is possible that the sensor and the pointer extend in different directions.

[0034] In a particularly simple embodiment, it can be provided that, without manual actuation of the mechanical device, the contact between the sensor and the impeller is broken solely by gravity, and the sensor is moved into the ready position by gravity. For this purpose, the connecting element and the sensor must be designed accordingly and arranged on the support body in relation to the impeller.

[0035] Alternatively or additionally, it may be advantageous to provide that the movable part of the mechanical device can be locked relative to the support body in order to keep the sensor in the ready position away from the impeller, especially as soon as manual operation ends.

[0036] The locking mechanism can be positive-locking, for example, whereby manual actuation and the resulting movement of the movable part create a positive fit between the movable part and a receptacle, preferably located on the support body. The shape of the receptacle corresponds to a contour of the movable part, such as the connecting element.

[0037] Alternatively or additionally, the locking mechanism can be frictional, in particular by means of at least one spring element of the mechanical device, whereby a frictional connection is established between the moving part and the support body without manual actuation, i.e., in particular when a previously performed manual actuation is terminated. For this purpose, for example, the moving part, in particular its connecting element, can be tensioned axially relative to the support body by means of the spring element.

[0038] The locked state, in particular the positive locking and / or frictional locking, of the moving part can be released by actuating the mechanical device, especially the actuating element, in order to leave the ready position and subsequently establish contact between the sensor and the impeller. With positive locking, this requires manual actuation to move the moving part out of its receptacle in the opposite direction. With frictional locking, this requires manual actuation to move the part against the holding force of the frictional locking mechanism, in particular the corresponding spring force.

[0039] A combination of positive and frictional locking mechanisms is particularly advantageous. Here, the frictional locking mechanism, for example, by means of at least one spring element, ensures that the positive locking is maintained as soon as the operator ceases operation. Accordingly, manual operation must first release the frictional locking mechanism in order to then completely release the positive locking mechanism and thus the locking mechanism, allowing the device to exit the ready position.

[0040] In an optional embodiment, the support body can be designed as a housing that has several, preferably five, side walls enclosing the wheel.

[0041] According to a further embodiment of the wheel system, the support body can be part, in particular a load-bearing structural part, of a chassis carrier. The chassis carrier itself thus has a housing function for the wheel and the components of the mechanical device arranged in the support body for detecting and / or determining wear on the wheel, in particular the sensor and the connecting element as well as the optional spring element(s).

[0042] According to another embodiment, the support body can have a connection surface for being attached to, i.e., mounted on, a chassis support. The support body can thus also be designed as a separate housing that can be detachably attached to the chassis support. Of course, further connection surfaces can be provided, for example, for connecting a drive unit for the wheel. The connection surface can be brought into contact with a mating surface by means of a screw or bolt connection to establish the corresponding connection, for example, to the chassis support or the drive unit. Corresponding connection holes are provided for the screw or bolt connection, into which the corresponding screws or bolts then engage.

[0043] In particular, the support body can be designed as a box-shaped housing that is open at its bottom, with the impeller protruding through an opening. In this case, the impeller system is also referred to as an impeller block. The housing can be composed of several parts, preferably two identical housing halves, resulting in a correspondingly symmetrical housing design.

[0044] The housing can then have a connection surface, also known as a head connection surface, on one side opposite the underside, which is used to connect the wheel system or the wheel block, for example, to a chassis beam of a crane.

[0045] According to the invention, a crane, in particular a traveling crane, especially a bridge crane or gantry crane, is further improved by comprising a wheel system according to the invention. The advantages described for the wheel system apply accordingly to the crane.

[0046] The undercarriage beam, whether used in a crane or in other applications, can be designed as a T-beam, I-beam, box girder, L-profile beam, or C-profile beam. Multiple wheel systems can be mounted on a single undercarriage beam. With two wheel systems, they are typically arranged one behind the other, with the wheels oriented in one direction of travel. Of course, it is also possible for the wheel systems to be arranged side by side with respect to the direction of travel. A combination of both arrangements is also possible.

[0047] In the case of a crane application, the chassis support can be arranged on a bridge of a traveling crane or a support of a gantry crane and / or a trolley of the traveling crane or gantry crane. Naturally, the wheel system according to the invention can also be used on other types of cranes.

[0048] Further details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing, in which Figure 1 a schematic perspective view of a traveling crane, Figure 2a a schematic perspective and partial sectional view of a wheel system designed as a wheel block with a mechanical device for detecting and / or determining wear on a wheel of the wheel block, Figure 2b an enlarged section from Figure 2a , Figures 2c and 2dSchematic perspective and partial sectional views of a wheel system designed as a wheel block with a mechanical device for detecting and / or determining wear on a wheel of the wheel block with different degrees of wear and Figures 3a to 3f Each shows a side view of a wheel system designed as a wheel block with an optical display for detecting and / or determining wear on the wheel of the wheel block.

[0049] The Figure 1 Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a traveling crane 1, which is exemplified here as a so-called two-girder bridge crane. The traveling crane 1 is essentially horizontally movable in a crane travel direction K on a track with two parallel and spaced-apart rails 100 (schematically indicated by dashed lines), also referred to as a running track.

[0050] The overhead traveling crane 1 comprises two parallel box girders 2 spaced apart from each other, forming, for example, a horizontal crane girder and serving as a travel path for a trolley 3 with a hoist 4. The trolley 3 travels on the box girders 2 in a horizontal trolley travel direction k, which is perpendicular to the crane travel direction K. The box girders 2 also extend in the trolley travel direction k. Alternatively, a single box girder or I-beam, similar to a single-girder bridge crane, can be used. In this case, the trolley 3 travels, for example, along the bottom chord of the box girder. Truss girders can be used instead of box girders to form the respective crane girder.

[0051] The box girders 2 rest at their respective, opposite ends on trolley beams 5 that run transversely to them and thus in the crane travel direction K. At each opposite end of the trolley beams 5, a wheel system designed as a wheel block 6 is arranged, of which at least one of the two wheel blocks 6 on each trolley beam 5 is driven by an electric motor 10. The wheel blocks 6 are each equipped with their wheel 11 (see Figures 2a and 2b as well as 3a to 3f) on the rails 100 in the crane travel direction K. Of course, the running wheel blocks 6 can also be used on other crane types.

[0052] The Figure 2a Figure 1 shows a schematic perspective and partial sectional view of a wheel system, exemplified as a wheel block 6, with a mechanical device 20 for detecting and / or determining wear on the wheel 11 of the wheel block 6. An enlarged section of Figure 2 is shown. Figure 2a shows Figure 2b .

[0053] The wheel system, designed as a wheel block 6, has a support body in the form of an exemplary box-shaped housing 7 (see also Figures 3a to 3f ) which is composed of two identical housing halves. A connection surface 8 is provided on the upper side of the housing 7, of which only two of the four connection bores 9 are shown due to the partial view. When the impeller block 6 is mounted on the chassis carrier 5, the connection surface 8 comes into contact with a mating surface on the chassis carrier 5, to which it is fastened by screws or bolts engaging in the connection bores 9.

[0054] The impeller 11 is arranged in the housing 7, which rotates around an axis D (see Figures 3a to 3f) rotatably mounted in the housing 7 and is partially enclosed by the support body, in particular the housing 7. The wheel 11 has a running surface 11a on its circumference, which, in operation with the rails 100 (see Figure 1 is in contact.

[0055] The mechanical device 20 is arranged in the upper region of the housing 7 and spaced apart from the impeller 11, and is mounted in the housing 7 such that a sensor 22 of the mechanical device, and in particular its free end 22a, can be brought into contact with the running surface 11a from a ready position away from the impeller 11, so that it can function as described in Figures 2a and 2b depicted as being related to this.

[0056] The sensor 22 is detachably fastened to a connecting element, exemplified as a pin 23, which has a thread for this purpose, by means of two nuts 25. The two nuts 25 are arranged on opposite sides of the sensor 22 and are locked against each other.

[0057] In order to establish contact between the sensor 22 and the impeller 11 for the detection and / or determination of wear on the impeller 11 by means of manual actuation of the mechanical device, an actuating element 12 is provided which is coupled to the sensor 22 via the pin 23 and accessible to an operator on the outside of the housing 7.

[0058] The pin 23 is rotatably and translationally movably mounted on the housing 7. Furthermore, the pin 23 is axially tensioned relative to the housing 7 by means of at least one spring element 14, in this example by means of two spring elements 14, and can simultaneously be positively locked in a receptacle on the housing 7 such that the sensor 22 is thereby held in the ready position. By manually actuating the mechanical device 20, which causes the pin 23 to move axially against the spring force, the positive locking with the receptacle can be released, allowing the pin 23 to then be rotated to establish contact between the sensor 22 and the running surface 11a.

[0059] In addition to the sensor 22, the pin 23, which serves as a connecting element, also has a pointer 21a of an optical display 21 for detecting and / or determining wear on the impeller 11 of the impeller block 6 (see also Figures 3a to 3f ) attached, which also serves as the actuating element 12. Together with the sensor 22 and the pin 23, the pointer 21a forms a movable part of the mechanical device 20, which, in particular due to the described bearing of the pin 23, is rotatably and translationally movable on the housing 7 and can be locked against the housing 7 by means of the receptacle.

[0060] The pointer 21a is located outside the housing 7. For this purpose, the pin 23 is guided through an opening 24 in a side wall of the housing 7. The pointer 21a serves to detect and / or determine wear on the impeller 11, even while it is installed in the impeller block 6.

[0061] The Figures 2c and 2dThe figures show schematic perspective and partial sectional views of a wheel system designed as a wheel block 6 with a mechanical device 20 for detecting and / or determining wear on a wheel 11 of the wheel block 6 with different degrees of wear. The wear of the wheel 11 is shown in Figure 2d larger than in Figure 2c , which is why the sensor 22, in particular its free end 22a, which is brought into contact with the impeller 11, is deflected from the axis of rotation of the impeller 11 at the point of contact with the impeller 11 Figure 2d less far apart than in Figure 2c The corresponding information is displayed by indicator 21 and its pointer 21a, as will be explained in more detail below. Otherwise, the statements regarding the Figures 2a and 2b also for the wheel system of the Figures 2c and 2d .

[0062] The Figures 3a to 3fEach figure shows a side view of a wheel system designed as a wheel block 6 with an optical display 21 for detecting and / or determining wear on the wheel 11 of the wheel block 6, as also shown in the examples of Figures 2a to 2d They may be present and are shown there as examples.

[0063] The housing 7 is open on its underside 13, with the impeller 11 partially protruding through an opening. The impeller 11 is mounted by means of a hub (not visible). The hub is laterally supported by a plain and / or roller bearing (not visible) inserted into the housing 7. The impeller 11 is rotatable about a pivot axis D extending transversely to the crane's direction of travel K. In the standard installation position, the pivot axis D is horizontally oriented.

[0064] The optical display 21 belongs to the mechanical device 20, as it is used in connection with Figures 2a and 2bas described in an exemplary embodiment. The optical display 21 comprises the pointer 21a and a scale 21b, by means of which the wear of the impeller 11 can be detected and determined. The scale 21b has, for example, four reading points, each marked with a predetermined designation for the respective degree of wear (here numbers "0", "1", "2", "3").

[0065] In the examples given, the display 21 and in particular the pointer 21a and the reading points can be arranged such that, with increasing wear, the number shown by the pointer 21a becomes larger and thus represents increasing wear ( Figures 2c and 2d as well as 3e and 3f) or becomes smaller and thus represents a decreasing circumference of the wheel 11 ( Figures 2a and 2bas well as 3a to 3d). Of course, scale 21b may also have a different number of reading points and / or different designations for the minimum reading point.

[0066] The Figures 3a and 3b as well as 3e and 3f differ from the Figures 3c and 3d This is achieved solely by the fact that the optical display 21 is arranged on different sides of the housing 7 and by a different arrangement of the scale 21b, the reading points and the pointer 21a relative to each other. The Figures 3a and 3b the Figures 3e and 3f with the exception of the reversed arrangement of the reading points. In the Figures 3b and 3c In each case, 3e shows a position of the pointer 21a directed towards the reading point "0", whereas the pointer 21a in the Figures 3a and 3d as 3f points to reading point "3". Depending on the prior setting, the number "0" can thus have a minimal ( Figure 3e) or maximum ( Figure 3b ) Indicates wear, with the opposite being true when the number "3" is displayed. It is possible that the sensor 22 and the pointer 21a extend in different directions. Reference symbol list

[0067] 1 Overhead crane 2 Box girder 3 Trolley 4 Hoist 5 Chassis beam 6 Wheel block 7 Housing 8 Mounting surface 9 Mounting bore 10 Electric motor 11 Wheel 11a Running surface 12 Actuating element 13 Underside 14 Spring element 20 Device 21 Optical display 21a Pointer 21b Scale 22 Sensor 22a Free end 23 Pin 24 Opening 25 Nut 100 Rail D-axis rotation k trolley travel direction KK crane travel direction

Claims

1. A wheel system having a running wheel (11) and a support body which at least partially surrounds the running wheel (11) and in which the running wheel (11) is mounted and from which the running wheel (11) projects in order to come into contact with a rail (100), characterized in that a mechanical device (20) for detecting and / or determining wear on the running wheel (11) is mounted on the support body, wherein the mechanical device (20) has a probe (22) which can be brought into contact with the running wheel (11) in order to abut on a running surface (11a) of the running wheel (11) in order to detect and / or determine wear, wherein the mechanical device (20) comprises a visual indicator (21) which is arranged outside the support body and comprises a pointer (21a) which is rigidly connected to the probe (22) via a connecting element, and forms a movable part of the mechanical device (20).

2. The wheel system according to claim 1, characterized in that the probe (22), by its free end (22a), preferably from a standby position remote from the running wheel (11), can be brought into contact with the running wheel (11) in order to abut on a running surface (11a) of the running wheel (11) in order to detect and / or determine wear.

3. The wheel system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the pointer (21a) is rigidly connected to the probe (22) via the connecting element by means of a rod or pin (23).

4. The wheel system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the movable part of the mechanical device (20) is rotatably and / or translationally movably mounted on the support body.

5. The wheel system according to any of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that the movable part of the mechanical device (20) can be locked in relation to the support body, in particular with a non-positive and / or positive connection, in order to hold the probe (22) in the standby position remote from the running wheel (11).

6. The wheel system according to any of the preceding claims, characterized in that the support body is designed as a housing (7) which has a plurality of, preferably five, side walls surrounding the running wheel.

7. The wheel system according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support body is a part, in particular a supporting structural part, of a carriage support (5).

8. The wheel system according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support body has a connecting surface (8) in order to thereby be connected to a carriage support (5).

9. A crane, in particular, an overhead traveling crane (1), in particular a bridge crane or gantry crane, having a wheel system according to any of the preceding claims.