Construction machine

Abstract

To provide a construction machine that can provide electric conduction connection in a rotating system region by an easy and secure method.SOLUTION: A construction machine includes: at least one system region (24) rotatable around a rotation axis (D) relating to a machine frame (22); and at least one first electric unit (78) in the rotatable system region (24). which is connected to at least one second electric unit (80) carried to an outside of the rotatable system region (24) relating to the machine frame (22) in an electric conduction manner by conduction connection (82). In the construction machine, particularly in a compaction machine, the conduction connection (82) includes a first conduction path (84), and the first conduction path (84) includes at least one sealing assembly (56) for sealing without leakage in relation to a non-rotating system region (42) that the rotatable system region (24) is carried relating to the machine frame (22).SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a construction machine, such as a compaction machine, having a system area rotatably carried on a machine frame about an axis of rotation. [Background technology]

[0002] A similar construction machine is known from DE 10 200 03 133 A1. In the construction machine configured as a compaction machine, electrical energy is transmitted wirelessly and inductively between an electrical device arranged inside the ground working roller and a power source arranged outside the ground working roller. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] DE 102016121724 A1 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE It is an object of the present invention to provide a construction machine in which an electrically conductive connection can be provided in a simple and reliable manner within the area of ​​a rotating system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] According to the invention, this problem is solved by a construction machine, in particular a compaction machine, which comprises at least one system area which is rotatable about a rotation axis relative to the machine frame and at least one first electric unit in the rotatable system area, which is electrically conductively connected by a conductive connection to at least one second electric unit which is carried outside the system area which is rotatable relative to the machine frame.

[0006] The conductive connection includes a first conductive path, the first conductive path including at least one sealing assembly that leak-tightly seals the rotatable system region relative to a non-rotating system region carried relative to the machine frame.

[0007] The invention is used to transmit electrical energy or electrical signals between a rotatable system area of ​​a compaction machine and an area outside the rotatable system area, i.e. a system area that does not rotate with the rotatable system area, components for performing other functions that are typically present in construction machines. Thus, at least one sealing assembly is important to seal the internal volume of the rotatable system area against the outside, so that for example lubricant leakage can be prevented and dirt is reliably prevented from entering this volume area.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one sealing assembly comprises a slide ring sealing, which comprises a first slide ring made of electrically conductive material supported in relation to the rotatable system area and a second slide ring made of electrically conductive material supported in relation to the non-rotating system area, the first slide ring and the second slide ring being supported in contact with each other in the direction of the rotation axis and rotatable relative to each other around the rotation axis, where for reasons of stability and durability the slide rings are advantageously made of a generally metallic material, for example steel.

[0009] To ensure a defined positioning of the slide rings, it is proposed that the first slide ring is supported in a first axial direction radially outwardly in relation to the rotatable system area by an annular first sealing element, and that the second slide ring is supported in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction radially outwardly in relation to the non-rotating system area by an annular second sealing element.

[0010] In order to be able to guarantee a leak-free seal even in the region of the slide rings which are supported directly against one another, it may also be provided that the first slide ring has a first axial support region and the second slide ring has a second axial support region which is axially supported in the first axial support region.

[0011] For example, each of the first axial support region and the second axial support region may include a substantially radially extending support surface for load relief.

[0012] The first and second slide rings may be axially adjacent and pressed against one another with their first and second axial support regions by annular first and second sealing elements.

[0013] It is further proposed that for the establishment of the electrically conductive connection, the first slide ring is electrically conductively connected to at least one first electric unit by means of a first connecting line and the second slide ring is electrically conductively connected to at least one second electric unit by means of a second connecting line, which connecting lines may be formed, for example, by cables, guide rails or in a similar manner.

[0014] For a stable contact, the first connecting wire can be electrically conductively connected to the first slide ring by a material connection, preferably by soldering or / and clamping or / and screwing, and / or the second connecting wire can be electrically conductively connected to the second slide ring by a material connection, preferably by soldering or / and clamping or / and screwing.

[0015] Regardless of how the first conductive path is provided, an aspect of the invention which solves the problem described at the beginning further proposes that the conductive connection comprises a second conductive path, the second conductive path comprising a bearing unit which rotatably supports at least one rotating system area around a rotation axis in relation to a non-rotating system area carried in relation to the machine frame.

[0016] At least one bearing unit may comprise a rolling bearing having an outer bearing ring made of electrically conductive material, an inner bearing ring made of electrically conductive material and a number of rolling elements made of electrically conductive material supported on the outer bearing ring and the inner bearing ring. Also in this type of bearing unit, it is advantageous for reasons of stability and durability if the various components of the bearing unit are made of a metallic material, for example steel.

[0017] For electrical contact, the at least one bearing unit may be electrically conductively connected to the at least one first electric unit by a third connecting line, and the at least one bearing unit may be electrically conductively connected to the at least one second electric unit by a fourth connecting line.

[0018] And in particular when the second conductive path provides or is connected to a ground connection of the construction machine, it is advantageous if the third connecting line comprises at least one electrically conductive, carrying structural element of the rotatable system area, where the second conductive path may be provided at least in part by a component of the rotatable system area which is present in any case.

[0019] For this purpose, it may be provided that at least one bearing unit is radially and / or axially supported on at least one electrically conductive, carrying structural element.

[0020] For example, it may also be envisaged that the second conductive path includes a roller drive motor in which a rotor region is rotatably supported in relation to a stator region by one or more electrically conductive bearing units.

[0021] In order to prevent or reduce the transmission of vibrations between the rotatable system area and the machine frame, it is proposed that the non-rotating system area is supported on the machine frame by a number of elastic, electrically insulating suspension elements.

[0022] The at least one first electric unit may include an electric device, preferably a sensor or / and a transmission unit. Furthermore, it may be envisaged that the at least one second electric unit includes a power source, preferably a battery or / and a generator.

[0023] In particular in the form of a construction machine as a compaction machine, for example an autonomous compaction machine, the rotatable system area may include a ground working roller.

[0024] In the ground working roller, at least one sealing assembly may leaktightly seal a volume having at least one unbalance assembly with an unbalance mass rotatable about an unbalance axis of rotation.

[0025] The invention is explained in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] FIG. 2 is a side view of a construction machine configured as an autonomous compaction machine. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a ground working roller of the construction machine of FIG. 1; [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of detail III of FIG. 2; [Figure 4] 2 is a perspective cross-sectional view of a slide ring sealing of the ground working roller of the construction machine of FIG. 1. FIG. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0027] In Figure 1, a side view of a construction machine 10 configured as an autonomous compaction machine is shown. The construction machine 10 comprises wheels 14 driven on a rear vehicle 12 by a drive unit mounted on the rear vehicle 12, which moves the ground working machine 10 above the ground 16 to be compacted. On the rear vehicle 12, an operating stand 18 is envisaged, inside which there is a seat for an operator who operates the ground working machine 10.

[0028] A front vehicle 20 of the ground working machine 10 is pivotally connected to the rear vehicle 12 for steering the machine. In the front vehicle 20, which essentially forms part of a machine frame 22 of the ground working machine 10, a ground working roller 26 which provides a rotatable system area 24 of the ground working machine 10 is rotatably carried about a roller rotation axis D which is perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Figure 1.

[0029] The ground working roller 26, shown in longitudinal section in Fig. 2, in the embodiment shown is also driven for rotation and furthermore has a roller drive motor 32 which is connected to the roller circumference 30 through a plate-shaped carrying element 28, also commonly called a circular pressed sheet metal. The stator area of ​​the roller drive motor 32 may be supported on the front vehicle 20 through a number of elastic suspension elements, not shown, while the rotor area of ​​the roller drive motor 32 is connected to the carrying element 28.

[0030] A first bearing support element 36 is fixed, for example by screwing, to the further plate-shaped support element 34 in the end region shown on the right in Fig. 2, which bears the bearing of the ground work roller 26 and provides a structural element of the ground work roller 26 which it carries. A second bearing support element 44 is supported on the first bearing support element 36 via two bearing units 38, 40 which are axially spaced from one another and are shown in Fig. 3, which provides a non-rotating system area 42 or a part of the non-rotating system area 42. The second bearing support element 44 can be supported on the front vehicle 20, for example by a number of elastic suspension elements.

[0031] The second bearing support element 44 carries an unbalance motor 46 which drives an unbalance assembly 48 arranged inside the ground work roller 26 for rotation about an unbalance axis U which in the described embodiment corresponds to the roller rotation axis D. The unbalance assembly 48 in the described embodiment comprises two unbalance masses 50, 52 arranged axially spaced from one another with a centre of gravity eccentric to the unbalance axis U. Inside the ground work roller 26, a volume 53 which essentially contains the unbalance assembly 48 is enclosed between the two plate-shaped carrying elements 34 by a cylindrical casing 54 which is connected to the carrying elements, for example by welding, and which is thus also made of metal material, and in particular also by the first bearing support element 36 in the part shown on the right in FIG.

[0032] For a leak-tight seal between the first bearing support element 36 and the second bearing support element 44, which rotate relative to each other around the roller rotation axis D during ground work drive, a sealing assembly 56 is envisaged, which is shown in detail in Figs. 3 and 4. The sealing assembly 56 comprises a slide ring seal 58 with two slide rings 60, 62 following each other in the axial direction. The first slide ring 60 is leak-tight sealed relative to the rotatable system area 24, which essentially comprises the ground work roller 26, through a first sealing element 64, for example in the form of an O-ring. Further, for example, a sealing element-support element 66 is attached to the first bearing support element 36, in which the first sealing element 64 is supported radially outward relative to the roller rotation axis D and axially towards the left in Fig. 3. Similarly, the first sealing element 64 is supported radially inward and axially towards the right in Fig. 3 on the first slide ring 60.

[0033] The second slide ring 62 is supported in relation to the second bearing support element 44 via an O-ring shaped second sealing element 67, in which the second sealing element 67 is supported radially outwardly, towards the right in FIG. 3, on the second bearing support element 44 and radially inwardly, towards the left in FIG. 3, on the second slide ring 62.

[0034] The two slide rings 60, 62 are supported axially against one another in the region of a first axial support region 68 of the first slide ring 60 and a second axial support region 70 of the second slide ring 62. Each of the two axial support regions 68, 70 may, for example, be provided by an annular support surface extending substantially in the radial direction.

[0035] Through the axial preload generated by the two sealing elements 64, 67, the two slide rings 60, 62, which are supported directly against one another in the axial support areas 68, 70, are provided with an axial preload relative to one another, so that they create a leak-tight seal. In particular also the ingress of dirt into the volume 53 and the leakage of lubricant from this volume area and from the two bearing units 38, 40 can thus be reliably prevented by the sealing assembly 56 formed as a slide ring seal 58.

[0036] Each of the two bearing units 38, 40 is formed as a rolling bearing with an outer bearing ring 72, radially outwardly supported axially on the second bearing support element 44, an inner bearing ring 74, radially inwardly supported axially on the first bearing support element 36, and a number of rolling elements 76, e.g. spheres, acting therebetween or rolling out in the circumferential direction thereof. Like the two sliding rings 60, 62, for reasons of stability and durability, the bearing rings 72, 74 and the rolling elements 76 are also formed from a metallic material, e.g. steel.

[0037] At least one first electric unit 78 is shown in a principle manner in Fig. 1 arranged on the ground work roller 26 providing the rotatable system area 24 of the construction machine 10. The electric unit 78 may, for example, comprise one or more sensors, such as acceleration sensors, for providing information about the motion state of the ground work roller 26. The at least one first electric unit 78 may alternatively or additionally comprise a transmitting / receiving unit, which is configured to emit and / or receive data as electric signals.

[0038] For example, at least one second electric unit 80 is envisaged in the rear vehicle 12 of the construction machine 10. The second electric unit 80 may, for example, comprise a power source. For example, the second electric unit 80 may comprise a rechargeable battery of the construction machine 10, from which electric energy is supplied to the first electric unit 78 in the ground working roller 26 via a diagrammatically represented conductive connection 82. Alternatively or additionally, the second electric unit 80 may comprise a transmitting / receiving unit, which is configured to emit and / or receive data as electric signals.

[0039] For example, a first electric unit 78 of the ground working roller 26 may be supplied with electric energy from a second electric unit 80 via a conductive connection 82. Information provided by the first electric unit 78, for example in the form of a sensor signal, may be transmitted between the first electric unit 78 and the second electric unit 80 or further electric units envisaged therefor, for example by radio and / or wireless induction or possibly by the conductive connection 82.

[0040] In particular, for supplying the first electric unit 78 with electric energy from the second electric unit 80, the conductive connection 82 may include two conductive paths 84, 86, which are essentially implied in Fig. 3. The first conductive path 84 may, for example, connect the positive pole of the second electric unit 80, which may include a battery, to the first electric unit 78. The second conductive path 86 may connect the negative pole of the second electric unit 80, which may include a battery, to the first electric unit 78, or with a ground connection, which may also include the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10.

[0041] To guide the first conductive path 84 to the rotatable system area 24, i.e. the ground working roller 26, the conductive path includes a sealing assembly 56 acting as a kind of rotary joint. The first slide ring 60 of the sealing assembly is electrically conductively connected to the first electric unit 78 by a first connecting line 88 of the first conductive path 84, for example configured as a cable. Here, for example, the first connecting line 88 can be rigidly electrically conductively connected to the first slide ring 60 by a clamping element 90. Alternatively or additionally, the first connecting line 88 can also be electrically conductively connected to the first slide ring 60 by screwing or by a material connection, for example soldering.

[0042] A second connection line 92 of the first conductive path 84 is implemented, for example, as a cable and connects the second slide ring 62 in an electrically conductive manner with a positive pole of the second electric unit 80, which for example includes a battery. The second connection line 92 may be firmly and electrically conductively connected to the second slide ring 62 by means of a clamping element 94. Alternatively or additionally, the firmly electrically conductive connection between the second slide ring 62 and the second connection line 92 may be effected by screwing or by a material connection, for example by soldering.

[0043] Since the two slide rings 60, 62 are made of an electrically conductive metallic material and are in direct contact with each other, electricity may flow between the two electric units 78, 80 through the two connecting wires 88, 92 and the two slide rings 60, 62 of the slide ring sealing 58 in the first conductive path 84. Since the two slide rings 60, 62 are supported in relation to the ground working roller 26 or the machine frame 22 only through the sealing elements 64, 67 acting together with the slide rings and thus are not in direct contact with other components of the construction machine 10, the slide rings are electrically insulated both in relation to the rotatable system area 24 and in relation to the machine frame 22 by the sealing elements 64, 67 which are generally made of an electrically insulating material. Therefore, there is no risk of a short circuit occurring through the slide rings 60, 62.

[0044] The second conductive path 86, which serves for example to form a ground connection, comprises at least one of the two bearing units 38, 40 as a type of rotary joint. Since the two bearing units 38, 40 are essentially made of electrically conductive metallic material and the bearing inner rings 74 of said bearing units rest or are supported by the first bearing support element 36 and are thus in electrically conductive contact with said bearing support element, the first bearing support element 36 may form part of a third connecting line 96 of the second conductive path 86 as an electrically conductive, carrying structural element of the ground work roller 26. Further components of the ground work roller 26, such as the carrying elements 28, 34 and the casing 54, may also form part of the third connecting line 96 as a carrying structural element of the ground work roller 26. The negative or ground connection of the first electrical unit 78 may thereby be directly connected to such a carrying structural element of the ground working roller 26 and thereby electrically conductively connected to the two bearing units 38, 40 through a third connecting line 96.

[0045] The fourth connection line 98 of the second conductive path 86 includes a second bearing support element 44 made of metallic material, which supports the two bearing outer rings 72 of the bearing units 38, 40. As already explained, the second bearing support element 44, like the roller drive motor 32 located at the other axial end of the ground working roller 26, is supported for vibration isolation on the front vehicle 20 or on the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10 by means of elastic, generally electrically insulating suspension elements, which may be formed, for example, as rubber bumpers or the like.

[0046] In order to bypass this electrically insulating suspension area, the second conductive path 86 comprises, for example, a cable as part of the fourth connecting line 98, which connects the second bearing support element 44, which is electrically conductively connected on the one hand to, for example, the front vehicle 20 on the other hand, thereby providing a non-rotating system area 42, with the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10. The machine frame 22, which is generally made of a metallic material, essentially provides a mass area to which the negative pole of the second electric unit 80, which includes a battery, is connected.

[0047] The two conductive paths 84, 86 of the conductive connection 82 thereby include the sealing assembly 56 and the two bearing units 38, 44 as rotary joints for the system area that serves for the power and is essentially installed in such a construction machine 10. Therefore, costly and error-prone transmission systems operating wirelessly for supplying electrical energy in particular to the rotatable system area 24 do not have to be used. It should be emphasized once again that the conductive connection 82 including the two conductive paths 84, 86 may alternatively or additionally be used for transmitting data or information in general from or to the first electric unit 78.

[0048] In particular, the second conductive path 86, which contributes to the formation of an electrically conductive connection to the mass area of ​​the construction machine 10, may include the roller drive motor 32, as an alternative or in addition to the use of one or both of the bearing units 38, 40. For example, its stator area may be connected to the front vehicle 20 of the construction machine 10, and thereby to the machine frame 22, through a cable providing a component of a fourth conductive path 98, while the rotor area of ​​the roller drive motor 32 in the rotatable system area 24, i.e. the ground working roller 26, forms a component of the third connection line 96, electrically conductive and connected to the structural element it carries. Since the stator area of ​​the roller drive motor 32 is also rotatably connected to its rotor area by one or more rolling bearings, generally formed by metallic components, a similar bearing unit installed in the roller drive motor 32 may be used as a rotary joint of the second conductive path 86. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10. Construction machinery 12 Rear car 14 wheels 16 Ground 18 Operation stand 20 Front car 22 Machine Frame 24 Rotatable System Areas 26 Ground Working Roller 28, 34 Support element 30 Roller outer periphery 32 Roller drive motor 36, 44 Bearing support element 38, 40 Bearing unit 42 Non-rotating system area 46 Unbalanced motor 48 Unbalanced assembly 50, 52 Unbalanced mass 53 Volume 54 Casing 56 Sealing Assembly 58 Slide Ring Ceiling 60, 62 Slide ring 64, 67 Sealing element 66 Sealing elements - Support elements 68, 70 axial support area 72 Bearing outer ring 74 Bearing inner ring 76 Rolling elements 78, 80 Electrical unit 82 Conductive Connection 84, 86 Conduction Pathways 88, 92, 96, 98 connecting wires 90, 94 Clamp element D Rotational Axis U Unbalanced rotating shaft

Claims

1. A construction machine, in particular a compaction machine, comprising at least one system area (24) rotatable about a rotation axis (D) relative to a machine frame (22) and at least one first electric unit (78) in said rotatable system area (24), said at least one first electric unit (78) being electrically conductively connected by a conductive connection (82) with at least one second electric unit (80) carried outside said rotatable system area (24) relative to said machine frame (22), 11. A construction machine comprising: a first conductive path (84) including at least one sealing assembly (56) for leak-tightly sealing the rotatable system area (24) relative to a non-rotating system area (42) carried relative to the machine frame (22).

2. 2. The construction machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one sealing assembly (56) includes a slide ring sealing (58), the slide ring sealing (58) including a first slide ring (60) made of an electrically conductive material supported in relation to the rotatable system area (24) and a second slide ring (62) made of an electrically conductive material supported in relation to the non-rotating system area (42), the first slide ring (60) and the second slide ring (62) being supported in contact with each other in the direction of the rotation axis (D) and rotatable around the rotation axis (D) relative to each other.

3. 3. The construction machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the first slide ring (60) is supported in a first axial direction radially outwardly relative to the rotatable system area (24) by an annular first sealing element (64), and the second slide ring (62) is supported in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction radially outwardly relative to the non-rotating system area (42) by an annular second sealing element (67).

4. 4. The construction machine according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the first slide ring (60) has a first axial support area (68) and the second slide ring (62) has a second axial support area (70) that is axially supported in the first axial support area (68).

5. 5. The construction machine of claim 4, wherein each of the first and second axial support areas comprises a support surface extending substantially in a radial direction.

6. 6. A construction machine according to claim 3, 4 or 5, characterized in that the first slide ring (60) and the second slide ring (62) are pressed axially adjacent to each other with their first axial support areas (68) and second axial support areas (70) by the annular first sealing element (64) and the annular second sealing element (67).

7. 7. The construction machine according to claim 2, wherein the first slide ring (60) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one first electric unit (78) by a first connecting line (88) and the second slide ring (62) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one second electric unit (80) by a second connecting line (92).

8. 8. The construction machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the first connecting line (88) is electrically conductively connected to the first slide ring (60) by a material connection, preferably by soldering or / and clamping or / and screwing, and / or the second connecting line (92) is electrically conductively connected to the second slide ring (62) by a material connection, preferably by soldering or / and clamping or / and screwing.

9. 9. A construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 8 or the preamble of claim 1, characterized in that the conductive connection (82) comprises a second conductive path (86) comprising at least one bearing unit (38, 40) rotatably supporting the rotating system area (24) in relation to a non-rotating system area (42) carried in relation to the machine frame (22) about the axis of rotation (D).

10. 10. The construction machine according to claim 9, characterized in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) comprises a rolling bearing having an outer bearing ring (72) made of an electrically conductive material, an inner bearing ring (74) made of an electrically conductive material, and a number of rolling elements (76) made of an electrically conductive material supported in the outer bearing ring (72) and the inner bearing ring (74).

11. 11. The construction machine according to claim 9 or 10, characterized in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one first electric unit (78) by a third connecting line (96), and the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one second electric unit (80) by a fourth connecting line (98).

12. 12. The construction machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the third connection line (96) comprises at least one electrically conductive, carrying structural element (36) of the rotatable system area (24).

13. 13. Construction machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is radially and / or axially supported on at least one electrically conducting, carrying structural element (36).

14. 14. A construction machine according to any one of claims 9 to 13, characterized in that the second conductive path (86) includes a roller drive motor (32).

15. 15. A construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 14, characterized in that the non-rotating system area (42) is supported on the machine frame (22) by a number of elastic, electrically insulating suspension elements.

16. 16. A construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 15, characterized in that the at least one first electric unit (78) comprises an electric device, preferably a sensor or / and a transmission unit, and / or the at least one second electric unit (80) comprises a power source, preferably a battery or / and a generator.

17. A construction machine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the rotatable system area (24) comprises a ground working roller (26).

18. 18. The construction machine according to claim 17, characterized in that in the ground working roller (26), the at least one sealing assembly (56) leak-tightly seals a volume (53) having an unbalance assembly (48) with at least one unbalance mass (50, 52) rotatable about an unbalance rotation axis (U).

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