Sweeping machine

Abstract

A pushed or pulled sweeper (1) is provided for attachment to a self-propelled carrier vehicle, which has at least one driven rotating sweeping roller (19), wherein the sweeping roller (19) is driven by an electric drive unit (15) which can accommodate at least one electric buffer storage device (28).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a push or pull sweeper mounted on a carrier vehicle according to the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] Hand-operated sweepers are known in which the axially or radially working sweeping tools are electrically driven.

[0003] For more demanding tasks, attachments are available, such as sweeper attachments, which are pushed or pulled by a carrier vehicle like tractors, wheel loaders, municipal vehicles, or forklifts. These sweeper attachments typically feature a sweeping roller oriented transversely to the machine's direction of travel and often an additional, laterally swiveling disc brush. The rotation of the sweeping roller and disc brush sweeps dust, coarse dirt, debris, etc., lying on the surface to be cleaned in a direction roughly corresponding to the direction of travel of the carrier vehicle, or, depending on the sweeper's features, conveys it into a forward-moving collection container. The respective sweeping roller and disc brush are usually each driven by a hydraulic motor.The collection container can be pivoted from a working position to an emptying position and vice versa in a known manner using a hydraulic cylinder. The hydraulic power is supplied by the carrier vehicle via a standardized coupling of the sweeper to the hydraulic system. Furthermore, attachments are known with a hydraulic power unit, operated by a combustion engine or electric motor, installed on the attachment, which provides the necessary hydraulic power for the working tools.

[0004] Utility model application DE 20 2009 005 011 discloses an attachment with a generator and electrically driven tools, such as a sweeping roller. The attachment is carried or pushed by a carrier vehicle and, during operation, is supported against the ground by means of support wheels. A generator is driven by the support wheels and supplies energy to the electric tools. Such attachments have not proven successful in practice because the technical implementation, particularly the drive of the generator by the support wheels, is very complex and expensive.

[0005] Conventional carrier vehicles are typically equipped with combustion engines that, through energy conversion, provide both the drive power for the carrier vehicle and additional mechanical and hydraulic drive energy for the working tools of the attachments. These conventional carrier vehicles, due to their combustion engines, generate both harmful noise and exhaust emissions. Therefore, new low-emission or zero-emission carrier vehicles, such as tractors, wheel loaders, and municipal vehicles, have been available on the market for some time. These new carrier vehicles are predominantly electrically powered and feature integrated energy storage in the form of batteries.These new carrier vehicles also feature a hydraulic power source for operating currently known implements. However, the conversion of electrical energy to hydraulic energy is very inefficient, resulting in extremely short operating times for the carrier vehicle with hydraulically driven implements and thus limited practicality. Therefore, some of the electrically powered carrier vehicles offer a second, high-performance electrical power source in addition to the standard 12V power source. The standard 12V power source is designed only for low electrical loads, such as headlights, and is of very limited use for operating electric implements. The second new electrical power source in the carrier vehicle, on the other hand, is specifically designed for electric implements and is intended to replace the hydraulic power source.This significantly increases the overall operating time of the carrier vehicle with an electrically powered attachment. However, there is currently no standardized secondary power source for the various carrier vehicles, resulting in different electrical voltages being provided. Consequently, the electric motors in the attachments must be specifically matched to the respective carrier vehicle. This leads to the disadvantage that, firstly, the attachments can no longer be operated in the familiar way with different carrier vehicles, and secondly, the production of individual attachments is more complex and the procurement of individual electrical components is also more expensive.

[0006] A sweeper of this type is known from document CN 2 630 310 Y. The integrated electric motor is powered by an integrated energy storage device. The power supply to the energy storage device is not discussed in detail.

[0007] From US patent 9,702,102 A1, a sweeper is known that can be mounted on a self-propelled carrier vehicle and in which the sweeping roller is electrically driven. The power supply for the motor is not discussed in detail.

[0008] Patent application US 2019 / 0341826 A1 discloses an electric motor that can be used to power small electrical appliances. A power storage device can be inserted into a receptacle formed in the motor's housing to supply the motor with electrical energy. A charging method for the power storage device is also mentioned.

[0009] Further information on sweepers can be found in US 2,248,012 A and CN 201 221 070 Y.

[0010] The invention is based on the objective of creating an attachment sweeper with electric working tools that can be operated with a wide variety of carrier vehicles and can utilize a wide variety of electrical energy sources of the carrier vehicle or can also operate electrically autonomously.

[0011] This problem is solved for a sweeping machine of the generic type according to the invention by the characterizing features of claim 1.

[0012] The buffer storage unit supplies the electric drive unit with energy, thus enabling the drive unit to operate advantageously even autonomously. The charging unit can be connected to a wide variety of electrical energy sources from different carrier vehicles and supply the buffer storage unit with electrical energy, for example, during operation. Furthermore, by connecting to a public electrical grid, the charging unit can also charge the buffer storage unit without a carrier vehicle. In an advantageous embodiment, the drive unit can also be operated without a buffer storage unit by being supplied with energy directly from the carrier vehicle.

[0013] The drive unit is also advantageously used in handheld power tools, for example. This allows for large-scale production, easy procurement, and cost-effectiveness. Gearboxes connected to the drive unit allow the output speed to be conveniently adjusted to the required speed of the working tools.

[0014] The invention will be explained in more detail using an exemplary embodiment and purely schematic drawings. The corresponding drawings show: Fig. 1 an isometric view of the sweeper according to the invention seen from the rear Fig. 2 an isometric view of the sweeper according to the invention from the front Fig. 3 a first schematic control of the drive unit Fig. 4 a further schematic control of the drive unit Fig. 5 a non-inventive schematic control of the drive unit Fig. 6a an isometric schematic sectional view of the drive unit Fig. 6b an isometric schematic sectional view of the drive unit Fig. 7 a non-inventive isometric schematic view of the drive unit

[0015] The in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2 The attachment 1 shown is designed to be pushed along the ground by a motorized carrier vehicle so that dust, coarse dirt, waste, etc. can be swept and collected. The attachment 1 consists of a housing 2, which has two rear Fig. 2The attachment 1 has visible casters 5 and a caster 4 mounted on the front of the collection container 3. The three casters 5 and 4 allow the attachment 1 to move in any direction relative to the ground. Preferably, the two rear casters 5 bear the majority of the attachment's mass. The housing 2 has a number of bores to accommodate other components necessary for operation (e.g., casters, collection container, etc.) with appropriate fasteners. Roller arms 6 and 7 are mounted on the outer sides of the housing 2 via rotatable bearings. Each roller arm 6 and 7 is fixedly positioned in the housing 2 by means of a length-adjustable adjusting element 8, which is articulated to both the roller arms 6 and 7 and the housing 2. The sweeping roller 19 is mounted at the other end of the roller arms 6 and 7 via radial bearings 9.Due to operational wear of the sweeping roller 19, the effective diameter of the sweeping roller 19 steadily decreases, therefore readjustment of the sweeping roller 19 to the area being swept is necessary. This readjustment is achieved by shortening the adjusting means 8 and moving the sweeping roller 8 relative to the housing 2 towards the area being swept. Further along the sides of the housing 2 are receptacles 10 in which the collection container 3 is rotatably mounted. A joint unit 11 connects the collection container 3 to the housing 2. A length-adjustable adjusting means 12 is also connected to the joint unit 11 and the housing 2. The adjusting means 12 is advantageously designed as an electrical adjusting means. The collection container 3 is held in the working position by the joint unit 11. In the working position shown, the adjusting means 12 is in its longest position.By shortening the actuating element 12, the collection container 3 is pivoted from the working position to an emptying position. A pivotable connecting element 13 is arranged in the front central area of ​​the housing 2. A mounting bracket 14 for a carrier vehicle is attached to the connecting element 13. The mounting bracket 14 can be designed differently depending on the type of carrier vehicle. An electric drive unit 15 is arranged above the housing 2. A bevel gear 16 is connected to the housing 2 below the drive unit 15. The output shaft of the drive unit 15 is torsionally connected to a first output shaft of the bevel gear 16. The second output shaft of the bevel gear 16 is torsionally connected to a drive shaft 17. The drive shaft 17 runs transversely to the housing 2 through the left roller arm 6. The drive shaft 17 is held in the opening of the roller arm 6 by a radial bearing 18.At the end of the drive shaft 17, a first sprocket 20 is torsionally connected to the drive shaft 17. Another sprocket 21 is torsionally connected in the left axis of the sweeping roller 19. The two sprockets 20 and 21 are frictionally connected by a chain 22. Thus, the drive unit 15 drives the sweeping roller 19 via the bevel gear 16, the drive shaft 17, and the chain drive 48, consisting of 20, 21, and 22. The chain drive 48 is shown here only as an example; toothed belt drives, power belt drives, or similar systems can also be advantageously used. Different diameters of the sprockets 20 and 21 can also be used to achieve reductions or reductions. The bevel gear 16 can also be designed as a reduction or transmission gearbox, thus allowing the rotational speed of the working tool to be adjusted to the output speed of the drive unit 15.

[0016] Fig. 3Figure 1 shows the electric drive unit 15 with an integrated electric motor 34 and an integrated energy storage device 28. The integrated energy storage device 28 supplies the electric drive unit with energy. The energy storage device 28 is advantageously rechargeable and can be replaced without tools. For example, several energy storage devices 28 can be carried on the work device 1. If necessary, discharged energy storage devices 28 can be replaced with charged energy storage devices 28 in the drive unit 15. Furthermore, the drive unit 15 is connected via an electrical cable 29 to a charger 23 mounted on the work device 1. The charger 23 advantageously has several additional electrical cables 24 and 25 with corresponding electrical couplings 30 and 31. The function of the charger 23 is to supply the energy storage device 28 integrated in the drive unit 15 with external energy.In an advantageous embodiment, the charger 23 can also directly supply energy to the drive unit 15. The charger 23 is capable of receiving a wide variety of electrical voltages and converting them into the voltage required for the energy storage device 28 or for the drive unit 15. The charger 23 can be connected either to the electrical power source of the carrier vehicle via the electrical coupling 30 or to a public electrical supply network via the electrical coupling 31. By connecting the charger 23 to a public electrical supply network, the energy storage device 28 can also be charged when the implement 1 is at rest without a carrier vehicle. The drive unit 15 is also connected to an operating unit 36 ​​via another electrical cable 35 and is thus supplied with electrical energy. The operating unit 36 ​​is in turn connected to the electrical actuator 12 via another electrical cable 27.The control unit 36 ​​serves, firstly, to switch the integrated electric motor 34 in the drive unit 15 on and off, and secondly, to control other electrical consumers such as the actuator 12. The control unit 36 ​​can advantageously be operated from the carrier vehicle.

[0017] Fig. 4Figure 1 shows another embodiment of the drive unit 15 in conjunction with an operating unit 38. Here, the drive unit 15 is connected to a control unit 37 via the electrical cable 35. The control unit 37 is in turn connected to the electrical actuator 12 via another electrical cable 27. The operating unit 38 and the control unit 37 are advantageously connected wirelessly (e.g., via radio). The operating unit 38 sends corresponding operating signals to the control unit 37, which in turn switches the integrated electric motor 34 in the drive unit 15 on or off and also controls other electrical consumers, such as the actuator 12.

[0018] Fig. 5Figure 1 shows the electric drive unit 15 with an integrated electric motor 34 and an integrated energy storage device 28. The drive unit 15 is supplied with energy exclusively by the integrated energy storage device 28. The charger 32 shown in this embodiment is mounted on the working device 1, can directly accommodate the energy storage device 28, and is not connected to the drive unit 15 and is therefore not according to the invention.

[0019] The charger 32's function is to recharge the energy storage device 28 with external energy. The work device 1 thus has two energy storage devices 28 in alternating use. The first energy storage device 28 supplies the drive unit 15 with energy, and the second energy storage device 28 is charged by the charger 32 during operation. The charger 32 is also capable of receiving a wide variety of electrical voltages and converting them into the voltage required by the energy storage device 28. The charger 32 can be connected either to the electrical power source of the carrier vehicle via the electrical coupling 30 or to a public electrical supply network via the electrical coupling 31. By connecting the charger 32 to a public electrical supply network, the energy storage device 28 can also be charged when the work device 1 is at rest without a carrier vehicle.In another advantageous embodiment, the charger 32 can also be powered by one or more photovoltaic modules 39 mounted on the work device 1. The energy storage unit 28 can also be charged by the photovoltaic module 39 without a carrier vehicle. The charger 32 can also advantageously supply other electrical consumers, such as the control unit 37, with electrical energy.

[0020] Fig. 6a and Fig. 6bFigure 1 shows an exemplary drive unit 15 consisting of a drive housing 40 in which an electric motor 34 is installed. The drive shaft 41 of the electric motor 34 protrudes from the lower drive housing 40. Furthermore, the drive unit 15 has a mounting flange 42 with mounting holes 43 for receiving the drive unit 15. The drive housing 40 also has a battery compartment 45 that can be closed with a cover 44. The energy storage device 28 is received in the battery compartment 45 via corresponding guides and electrical contacts and is electrically connected to the drive unit 15. An electrical connection unit 46 is also provided in the front lower area of ​​the drive unit 15, which has electrical contacts 47 for, for example, a control unit 37, a charger 23, 32, or other electrical consumers.

[0021] Fig. 7Figure 1 shows a non-inventive embodiment of the drive unit 15, in which, instead of an energy storage device, an electrical cable 33 is connected to the drive unit 15 via electrical contacts (not shown). At the other end of the electrical cable 33 is the already known electrical coupling 30, which is connected to the carrier vehicle. Thus, the carrier vehicle supplies the drive unit 15 directly with energy. Reference symbol list

[0022] 1 Sweeper 2 Housing 3 Collection container 4 Swivel caster 5 Swivel caster 6 Roller arm 7 Roller arm 8 Actuating device 9 Wheel bearing 10 Mounting bracket 11 Joint unit 12 Actuating device 13 Connecting element 14 Mounting bracket 15 Drive unit 16 Angle gear 17 Drive shaft 18 Radial bearing 19 Sweeping roller 20 Sprocket 21 Sprocket 22 Chain 23 Charger 24 Electrical cable 25 Electrical cable 27 Electrical cable 28 Energy storage device 29 Electrical cable 30 Electrical coupling 31 Electrical coupling 32 Charger 33 Electrical cable 34 Electric motor 35 Electrical cable 36 Operating unit 37 Control unit 38 Operating unit 39 Photovoltaic module 40 Drive housing 41 Drive shaft 42 Mounting flange 43 Mounting holes 44 Cover 45 Battery compartment 46 Connection unit 47 Contacts 48 Chain drive

Claims

1. Pushed or towed sweeping machine (1) for mounting on a self-propelled carrier vehicle, such as a tractor, wheel loader or municipal vehicle, for example, comprising: - an electric drive unit (15) and - at least one driven rotating sweeping roller (19), wherein the sweeping roller (19) is driven by the electric drive unit (15), which comprises at least one electric buffer store (28), characterized in that the sweeping machine (1) comprises a charger (23) and a first and a second electrical coupling (30, 31), wherein the drive unit (15) is connected to the charger (23), and the charger (23) is also connectable, via the first electrical coupling (30), to the carrier vehicle, or, via the second electrical coupling (31), to a public electrical power supply grid, in order thereby to be supplied with electrical energy, wherein the charger (23) is configured to supply the buffer store (28) integrated in the drive unit (15), and preferably to supply the drive unit (15) directly with electrical energy, and wherein the charger (23) is configured to accept different electrical voltages.

2. Sweeping machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the sweeping machine (1) is supported relative to the ground during operation by at least one castor (5).

3. Sweeping machine (1) according to Claim 1, characterized in that the buffer store (28) integrated in the drive unit (15) supplies the drive unit (15) with electrical energy.

4. Sweeping machine (1) according to Claim 1 or 3, characterized in that the buffer store (28) integrated in the drive unit (15) is replaceable without tools.

5. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (15) is configured to be supplied with electrical energy from the carrier vehicle.

6. Sweeping machine (1) according to Claim 5, characterized in that the drive unit (15) is configured to be supplied with electrical energy from the carrier vehicle without the buffer store (28).

7. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one gearbox (16) is arranged between the drive unit (15) and the sweeping roller (19) and the output rotational speed of the drive unit (15) differs from the rotational speed of the sweeping roller (19).

8. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one chain drive (48) is arranged between the drive unit (15) and the sweeping roller (19) and the output rotational speed of the drive unit (15) differs from the rotational speed of the sweeping roller (19).

9. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the drive unit (15) has a higher rotational speed compared with the sweeping roller (19).

10. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding Claims 1-9, characterized in that the charger (23, 32) can accept both direct voltage and alternating voltage.

11. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding Claims 1-10, characterized in that the charger (23, 32) can accept different direct voltages from 12 volts to 120 volts.

12. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding Claims 1-11, characterized in that a further charger (32) is provided which can receive and charge a buffer store (28) directly.

13. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding Claims 1-12, characterized in that at least one photovoltaic module (39) is provided on the sweeping machine and is connected to the further charger (32), thereby supplying the further charger (32) with electrical energy.

14. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one photovoltaic module (39) is provided on the sweeping machine and is connected to the drive unit (15), thereby supplying the drive unit (15) with electrical energy.

15. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an operating unit (36) is provided which is connected to the drive unit (15) and is configured to switch the electric motor (34) in the drive unit (15) on and off.

16. Sweeping machine (1) according to Claim 15, characterized in that the operating unit (36) is configured also to switch further electrical consumers on and off.

17. Sweeping machine (1) according to any one of the preceding Claims 1-14, characterized in that a control unit (37) is provided which is connected, on the one hand, to the drive unit (15) and, on the other hand, to a wireless operating unit (38) and is configured to switch the electric motor (34) in the drive unit (15) on and off.

18. Sweeping machine (1) according to Claim 17, characterized in that the control unit (37) is configured also to switch further electrical consumers on and off via the wireless operating unit (38)

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