Roller unit for a vehicle, and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a roller unit for a vehicle, comprising a retaining member, at least one wheel rotatable relative to the retaining member about an axis of rotation, at least one brake unit for braking the at least one wheel and a ventilation device for manually ventilating the brake unit, wherein the brake unit has a tie rod (20) which is translationally displaceable, relative to the retaining member, between an upper end position, in which the brake unit is released, and a lower end position, in which the brake unit is actuated, wherein the ventilation device comprises a lever (10) comprising a first lever arm (11) and a second lever arm (12), a lever fork (6), which is arranged on the second lever arm (12), and a locking means, and wherein the lever (10) is swivelable relative to the retaining member about a lever axis (H), between a ventilation position and a work position, wherein, when the lever (10) is in the ventilation position, the first lever arm (11) of the lever (10) retains the tie rod (20) in the upper end position and, when the lever (10) is in the ventilation position, the lever fork (6) is swivelable relative to the lever (10) about a fork axis (G), between a free position and a retaining position and, when the lever fork (6) is in the retaining position, the lever fork (6) is locked by the locking means in such a way that the lever (10) is retained in the ventilation position.

Description

[0001] Roller unit for a vehicle and vehicle

[0002] Description:

[0003] The invention relates to a roller unit for a vehicle, comprising a support body, at least one wheel rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the support body, at least one brake unit for braking the at least one wheel, and a ventilation device for manually ventilating the brake unit. The invention also relates to a vehicle, in particular an autonomously driving vehicle, comprising at least one roller unit according to the invention.

[0004] DE 102016 013 570 A1 discloses a roller bearing unit for a vehicle. The roller bearing unit has a drum brake actuated by an electromagnet for braking a wheel. When the electromagnet is energized, the drum brake is released and the wheel can rotate. When the electromagnet is deenergized, the drum brake is actuated and the wheel is braked.

[0005] If the vehicle's power supply fails, the electromagnet is de-energized, the drum brake is applied, and the wheel is braked. This prevents uncontrolled movement of the vehicle. Using a release device, the drum brake can be manually released. This allows the vehicle to be pushed to a service station, for example.

[0006] DE 8022 219 U1 discloses a lockable swivel caster for mobile equipment. The swivel caster includes an axially movable adjusting bolt for locking and releasing a brake arm, which is actuated by a locking lever. The locking lever is connected to a foot-operated lever.

[0007] The invention is based on the object of developing a roller unit for a vehicle and a vehicle, in particular an autonomously driving vehicle.

[0008] The object is achieved by a roller unit having the features specified in claim 1. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the subclaims. The object is also achieved by a vehicle having the features specified in claim 13. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0009] A roller unit for a vehicle according to the invention comprises a holding body, at least one wheel rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the holding body, at least one brake unit for braking the at least one wheel, and a venting device for manually venting the brake unit. The brake unit has a tension rod which is translationally displaceable relative to the holding body between an upper end position in which the brake unit is released and a lower end position in which the brake unit is actuated. The venting device has a lever which comprises a first lever arm and a second lever arm, a lever fork which is arranged on the second lever arm, and a locking device.The lever can be pivoted about a lever axis relative to the holding body between a ventilation position and a working position. When the lever is in the ventilation position, the first lever arm of the lever holds the tie rod in the upper end position. When the lever is in the ventilation position, the lever fork can be pivoted about a fork axis relative to the lever between a free position and a holding position. When the lever fork is in the holding position, the lever fork is locked by the locking device such that the lever is held in the ventilation position.

[0010] The brake unit of the roller unit according to the invention can be easily manually released and thus released. To do so, the lever simply needs to be pivoted from the working position to the release position, and the lever fork needs to be pivoted from the free position to the hold position. The lever fork is then held in the hold position by the locking device, the lever is held in the release position, the tension rod is held in the upper end position, and the brake unit is released. In the event of a service call, for example, in the event of a power failure in the vehicle, the vehicle can then be pushed to a service station. The ventilation device is relatively space-saving and cost-effective to implement.

[0011] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the lever comprises a lever block on which the first lever arm is formed, and a lever plate on which the second lever arm is formed. The lever plate is firmly connected, in particular screwed, to the lever block. The two-part design of the lever allows the two parts, namely the lever block and the lever plate, to be designed as relatively simple parts. This further reduces manufacturing costs compared to a complex one-piece lever.

[0012] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the lever axis extends through the lever block. For this purpose, a bore is drilled into the lever block, through which a bolt passes, through which the lever axis extends. A separate fastening of the bolt is not required.

[0013] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ventilation device has a spring unit that urges the lever toward the working position. After pivoting the lever fork from the holding position to the free position, the lever is then automatically pivoted into the working position.

[0014] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the spring unit is designed as a torsion spring, with a winding axis of the torsion spring running parallel to the lever axis, and with the torsion spring being supported on the second lever arm. The torsion spring is additionally supported, for example, on the holding body. A torsion spring arranged in this way is particularly space-saving.

[0015] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the lever fork has an upper leg and a lower leg that encompass the second lever arm. This makes the connection between the lever fork and the lever particularly mechanically stable.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the fork axis runs perpendicular to the lever axis. This makes the ventilation device particularly space-saving.

[0017] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ventilation device comprises a base plate that is firmly connected, in particular screwed, to the holding body. The locking device is formed on the base plate in the form of a holding arm that engages over the lever fork in the holding position. The base plate is relatively simple to manufacture, and manufacturing costs are low.

[0018] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the brake unit has an electromagnet which, when energized, urges the tie rod toward the upper end position. The brake can then be released by energizing the electromagnet.

[0019] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the brake unit has a brake spring that urges the tie rod toward the lower end position. If the vehicle's power supply fails, the electromagnet is de-energized, the brake unit is actuated, and the wheel is braked. This prevents uncontrolled movement of the vehicle.

[0020] According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, the brake unit comprises an actuating unit coupled to the tie rod and a pair of brake shoes. When the tie rod is in the lower end position, the actuating unit pivots the brake shoes relative to the holding body to generate a braking torque such that the brake shoes are in contact with a braking surface rotating with the wheel. Furthermore, when the tie rod is in the upper end position, the actuating unit pivots the brake shoes relative to the holding body such that the brake shoes are out of contact with the braking surface. The brake unit is designed in the form of a drum brake.

[0021] According to an advantageous development of the invention, the ventilation device comprises a sensor for detecting the position of the lever. The sensor is designed, for example, as a microswitch or an optical sensor. The sensor thus detects whether the lever is in the ventilation position or the operating position. The sensor transmits information regarding the position of the lever to a control unit of the vehicle via a signal line or a bus system.

[0022] A vehicle according to the invention, in particular an autonomously driving vehicle, comprises a chassis and at least one roller unit according to the invention. The roller unit is attached to the chassis.

[0023] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the roller unit is attached to the chassis in such a way that the holding body can pivot about a pivot axis relative to the chassis. This means that the at least one wheel can also pivot about the pivot axis relative to the chassis. The wheel is therefore always aligned in the direction of travel. This makes cornering of the vehicle easy. The invention is not limited to the combination of features of the claims. Those skilled in the art will recognize further useful combinations of claims and / or individual claim features and / or features of the description and / or the figures, in particular from the task and / or the task posed by comparison with the prior art.

[0024] The invention will now be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments shown in the drawings. The drawings only represent the subject matter of the invention schematically. They show:

[0025] Figure 1 : a plan view of a ventilation device with the lever in the working position,

[0026] Figure 2: a section through the ventilation device along the section line A - A in Figure 1 ,

[0027] Figure 3: a plan view of a ventilation device with the lever in the ventilation position and

[0028] Figure 4: a section through the ventilation device along the section line B - B in Figure 3.

[0029] Figure 1 shows a top view of a ventilation device of a roller unit for a vehicle. The vehicle, not shown here, is used, for example, to transport objects in a technical facility, in particular in a paint shop, or to deliver goods to a private recipient's home in a city or residential area. The vehicle is, in particular, an autonomously driving vehicle. The vehicle comprises a chassis and several roller units attached to the chassis.

[0030] The roller unit comprises a holding body (not shown here), a wheel (not shown here), and a braking unit for braking the wheel. The wheel is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the holding body. The roller unit is attached to the chassis in such a way that the holding body can pivot about a pivot axis relative to the chassis. Thus, the wheel can also pivot about the pivot axis relative to the chassis. The rotation axis runs at right angles to the pivot axis. It is also conceivable for the roller unit to have two or more wheels arranged parallel to one another. The wheels can then rotate about a common rotation axis and pivot about a common pivot axis.

[0031] The brake unit has a tie rod 20. The tie rod 20 is designed in the form of a screw and has a shaft and a head. The tie rod 20 is translationally displaceable relative to the holding body between an upper end position and a lower end position. In the upper end position of the tie rod 20, the brake unit is released, and the wheel can rotate. In the lower end position of the tie rod 20, the brake unit is actuated, and the wheel is braked.

[0032] The brake unit has a brake spring. The brake spring acts on the tie rod 20 toward the lower end position. The brake unit also has an electromagnet. When the electromagnet is energized, the electromagnet acts on the tie rod 20 toward the upper end position. The electromagnet exerts a greater force on the tie rod 20 than the brake spring. When the electromagnet is not energized, the electromagnet does not act on the tie rod 20.

[0033] When the electromagnet is energized, the tension rod 20 is moved by the electromagnet to the upper end position, the brake unit is released, and the wheel can rotate. When the electromagnet is deenergized, the tension rod 20 is moved by the brake spring to the lower end position, the brake unit is actuated, and the wheel is braked.

[0034] The brake unit has an actuating unit coupled to the tie rod 20 and a pair of brake shoes. When the tie rod 20 is in the lower end position, the actuating unit pivots the brake shoes relative to the holding body to generate a braking torque such that the brake shoes are in contact with a braking surface rotating with the wheel. When the tie rod 20 is in the upper end position, the actuating unit pivots the brake shoes relative to the holding body such that the brake shoes are out of contact with the braking surface.

[0035] The roller unit further comprises the ventilation device for manually releasing the brake unit. The ventilation device has a base plate 2. The base plate 2 is firmly connected, in this case screwed, to the holding body (not shown here). The ventilation device further has two side blocks 3, which are spaced apart from one another on the base plate 2. The ventilation device further has a cover plate 1, which rests on the side blocks 3. The side blocks 3 are firmly connected, in this case screwed, to the base plate 2 and the cover plate 1.

[0036] The ventilation device has a lever 10, which comprises a first lever arm 11 and a second lever arm 12. The lever 10 is pivotable about a lever axis H relative to the holding body and relative to the base plate 2 between a ventilation position and a working position. The first lever arm 11 and the second lever arm 12 are located on opposite sides with respect to the lever axis H. In the illustration shown here, the lever 10 is in the working position.

[0037] The lever 10 comprises a lever block 4, on which the first lever arm 11 is formed. At an end facing away from the lever axis H, the lever block 4 has two projections, between which an opening is provided. The shaft of the tie rod 20 extends through said opening. The head of the tie rod 20 rests on the projections of the lever block 4.

[0038] The lever 10 comprises a lever plate 5, on which the second lever arm 12 is formed. The lever plate 5 is firmly connected to the lever block 4, in this case screwed. The ventilation device has a lever fork 6. The lever fork 6 is arranged at an end of the lever plate 5 facing away from the lever axis H, and thus on the second lever arm 12. The lever fork 6 is pivotable about a fork axis G relative to the lever plate 5, and thus to the lever 10. In the illustration shown here, the lever fork 6 is in a free position.

[0039] Figure 2 shows a section through the ventilation device along section line A-A in Figure 1. As already mentioned, the lever 10 is in the working position. The tie rod 20 is in the lower end position. The fork axis G runs perpendicular to the lever axis H.

[0040] The lever fork 6 has an upper leg and a lower leg. The upper leg and the lower leg engage around the lever plate 5 and thus the second lever arm 12. A pin 30 penetrates the legs of the lever fork 6 and the lever plate 5. The fork axis G extends through the pin 30 and through the lever plate 5.

[0041] A bolt 8 is mounted in the side blocks 3. The bolt 8 passes through a bore in the lever block 4. The lever axis H runs through the bolt 8 and through the lever block 4.

[0042] The ventilation device has a spring unit 7. The spring unit 7 urges the lever 10 toward the working position. The spring unit 7 is designed as a torsion spring and is wound around a screw that is mounted in the side blocks 3. A winding axis of the torsion spring runs parallel and offset from the lever axis H. The torsion spring is supported on the lever plate 5, and thus on the second lever arm 12.

[0043] In addition, the torsion spring is supported on the holding body not shown here, alternatively on the base plate 2.

[0044] Figure 3 shows a top view of the ventilation device with the lever 10 in the ventilation position. Starting from the working position, in which the lever 10 is located in Figures 1 and 2, the lever fork 6 is moved toward the holding body. This pivots the lever 10 about the lever axis H from the working position to the ventilation position.

[0045] When the lever 10 is in the ventilation position, the lever fork 6 can be pivoted about the fork axis G between the free position in which the lever fork 6 is located in Figure 1 and Figure 2 and a holding position relative to the lever 10. In the illustration shown here, the lever fork 6 is in the holding position.

[0046] A locking device in the form of a holding arm 25 is formed on the base plate 2. The holding arm 25 engages over the lever fork 6 in the holding position. When the lever fork 6 is in the holding position, the lever fork 6 is locked by the locking device. This holds the lever 10 in the ventilation position.

[0047] Figure 4 shows a section through the ventilation device along section line B-B in Figure 3. As already mentioned, the lever 10 is in the ventilation position. The tie rod 20 is in the upper end position. The lever block 4, and thus the first lever arm 11 of the lever 10, holds the tie rod 20 in the upper end position.

[0048] List of reference symbols

[0049] 1 cover plate

[0050] 2 base plate

[0051] 3 page block

[0052] 4 lever block

[0053] 5 lever plate

[0054] 6 lever fork

[0055] 7 Spring unit

[0056] 8 bolts

[0057] 10 levers

[0058] 11 first lever arm

[0059] 12 second lever arm

[0060] 20 tie rods

[0061] 25 Holding arm

[0062] 30 pens

[0063] H lever axis

[0064] G Fork axle

Claims

Patent claims:

1. A roller unit for a vehicle, comprising a holding body, at least one wheel rotatable about a rotational axis relative to the holding body, at least one brake unit for braking the at least one wheel, and a venting device for manually venting the brake unit, wherein the brake unit has a tension rod (20) which is translationally displaceable relative to the holding body between an upper end position in which the brake unit is released and a lower end position in which the brake unit is actuated, characterized in that the venting device has a lever (10) comprising a first lever arm (11) and a second lever arm (12), a lever fork (6) arranged on the second lever arm (12), and a locking device, and in that the lever (10) is pivotable about a lever axis (H) relative to the holding body between a venting position and an operating position.wherein, when the lever (10) is in the ventilation position, the first lever arm (11) of the lever (10) holds the tie rod (20) in the upper end position, and wherein, when the lever (10) is in the ventilation position, the lever fork (6) can be moved between a free position and a holding position relative to the lever, (10) is pivotable about a fork axis (G), and wherein when the lever fork (6) is in the holding position, the lever fork (6) is locked by the locking device in such a way that the lever (10) is held in the ventilation position.

2. Roller unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the lever (10) comprises a lever block (4) on which the first lever arm (11) is formed, and a lever plate (5) on which the second lever arm (12) is formed, and that the lever plate (5) is firmly connected, in particular screwed, to the lever block (4).

3. Roller unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the lever axis (H) extends through the lever block (4).

4. Roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ventilation device has a spring unit (7) which urges the lever (10) towards the working position.

5. Roller unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the spring unit (7) is designed as a torsion spring, wherein a winding axis of the torsion spring runs parallel offset to the lever axis (H), and wherein the torsion spring is supported on the second lever arm (12).

6. Roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the lever fork (6) has an upper leg and a lower leg which engage around the second lever arm (12).

7. Roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fork axis (G) runs at right angles to the lever axis (H).

8. Roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ventilation device has a base plate (2) which is firmly connected, in particular screwed, to the holding body, and in that the locking device on the base plate (2) is designed in the form of a holding arm (25) which engages over the lever fork (6) located in the holding position.

9. Roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the braking unit has an electromagnet which, when energized, acts on the tension rod (20) in the direction of the upper end position.

10. Roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the braking unit has a braking spring which acts on the tension rod (20) in the direction of the lower end position.

11. Roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the braking unit has an actuating unit coupled to the tension rod (20) and a pair of brake shoes, wherein the actuating unit, when the tension rod (20) is in the lower end position, pivots the brake shoes relative to the holding body in order to generate a braking torque such that the brake shoes are in contact with a braking surface rotating with the wheel, and wherein the actuating unit, when the tension rod (20) is in the upper end position, pivots the brake shoes relative to the holding body in such a way that the brake shoes are out of contact with the braking surface.

12. Roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the ventilation device comprises a sensor for detecting a position of the lever (10).

13. Vehicle, in particular autonomously driving vehicle, comprising a chassis and at least one roller unit according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the at least one roller unit is attached to the chassis.

14. Vehicle according to claim 13, characterized in that the roller unit is attached to the chassis in such a way that the holding body is pivotable about a pivot axis relative to the chassis.

Images