Device for supplying power to load

Abstract

To provide a device that substantially protects a space at risk for people and combustibles from the effects of arc ignition that may occur between a plug component of a power line on the supply side and a power line on the load side connected to the plug component.SOLUTION: An electrical connector, the position of which is not initially precisely determinable but can later be fixed substantially stationary by power from a fixed source, includes a movable carriage or a slide 2 connected to an arm 3, the arm 3 is movable between a first position 7 and a second position 8 and having at least one plug component 4 for connection to a power supply line 5 of a load. The plug component 4 is connected to the source by a power supply line 6. A cover component 9 which is movable with movement of the arm is disposed on the arm 3. In the first position 7 of the arm 3, the cover component at least partially covers the plug component 4 and in the second position 8 of the arm 3, the cover component exposes the plug component 4 for connection to the power supply line 5 of the load.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for supplying power to a load, the position of which is initially not precisely determinable but which can later be fixed substantially stationary by means of power from a fixed source, comprising a displaceable carriage or slide connected to an arm, the arm being movable between a first position and a second position, and having at least one plug part for connection to a power supply line of the load, the plug part being connected to the source by the power supply line. [Background technology]

[0002] Such a device is known from Patent Document 1. The device involves a power supply device for a ship dock in a port. The guide device has a horizontally displaceable land-based carriage, on which a power line provided with a plug part for supplying power to the ship is arranged. In this case, the power line can be electrically connected to a power grid on land. The plug side of the power line, which can be displaced vertically by an arm, is arranged on the carriage.

[0003] The horizontally displaceable carriage or slide allows the portion of the power line provided with the plug element to be variably positioned, for example, along the ship dock and also along the ship at the dock. In this way, the portion of the power line provided with the plug element can be displaced to the position of the ship dock required for each ship there. This is particularly advantageous because the ship dock can accommodate a wide variety of ships, e.g., ships of different sizes and configurations. For each of these ships, the power line provided with the plug element and pulling from the load may be required at another position along the ship dock. Due to the displaceable slide on a suitable guide device that can also accommodate the source-side portion of the power line, the arrangement prevents the source-side portion of the power line from being routed loose and unprotected for long distances on or within the ship dock.

[0004] The connection of plug components connected to the power lines of a source to the power lines of a load carries the risk of arc ignition and explosion due to the high voltages applied, which may result in the release of hot gases into spaces occupied by people and / or spaces containing combustible materials. In particular, such arc explosions endanger people working on wharf equipment at ship docks and combustible materials, such as vehicles. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] International Publication No. 2012 / 116919 Summary of the Invention

[0006] It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide an apparatus for powering a load of the type described above, which substantially protects the space at risk with respect to persons and combustible materials from the effects of possible arc ignition between a plug part of the supply line on the source side and the load line connected to the plug part.

[0007] According to the invention, this object is achieved in that a cover part is arranged on a movable arm connected to a displaceable carriage or slide, which cover part is movable with the movement of the arm and at least partially covers the plug part in a first position of the arm and exposes the plug part for connection to the power line on the load side in a second position of the arm.

[0008] A cover part coupled in its movement to the movement of the arm makes it possible to shield areas at risk, for example on wharf equipment at a ship dock, with respect to possible arc ignition in the connection between the plug part and the load-side power line.

[0009] In the first position of the arm, the arm is in a ready position in which the plug component is not connected to the load power line. With the arm in this position, the carriage or slide can be displaced to a position where a load can be placed and the load power line can be passed to a device for supplying power to the load. The arm connected to the carriage or slide can be moved from its first position to a second position in which the cover component exposes the plug component, thereby allowing the load power line to be connected to the plug component. After connecting the load power line to the plug component, the arm with the load power line can be moved from its second position to the first position in which the cover component at least partially covers the plug component. In this state, the arm is in a ready position in which the load can then be supplied with power from a stationary power source.

[0010] The cover part can be arranged on the arm in the first position so that it covers the plug part in the direction facing away from the load, preferably also in two directions of the travel path of the carriage or slide.

[0011] Preferably, the arm is arranged in its second position so that the plug part is easily accessible to an operator positioned on a fixed bottom surface against which the carriage or slide can be displaced, so that the arm can easily connect load-side power lines, particularly those of a relatively large weight and thickness, to the plug part.

[0012] The cover part may have a wall facing away from the load, which covers the plug part when the arm is in the first position, and may further have a side wall adjacent to the wall facing away from the load and facing in the direction of the travel path of the carriage or slide, which side wall, together with the wall facing away from the load, covers the plug part when the arm is in the first position.

[0013] The plug member is lockable with the arm in its first position.

[0014] Movement of the cover part may be coupled to movement of the arm between the first and second positions, in particular by a mechanical connection between the cover part and the arm.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arm is swivelable between its first and second positions, and the swivel axis may be arranged horizontally and parallel to the travel path of the carriage or slide.

[0016] The carriage or slide can be positioned, for example, in a shaft at the fixed bottom of the quay, so that the arm connected to the carriage or slide can be positioned in its second position approximately horizontally but at an angle of at least less than 30 degrees, in particular less than 20 degrees, to the horizontal, so that the plug part can be easily reached by an operator.

[0017] If the arrangement involves a power supply device for a ship at a ship dock in a port, the carriage or slide is preferably arranged on a guide device mounted on the quay wall at the ship side so that the arm connected to the carriage or slide can also be positioned in its second position approximately horizontally but at an angle of at least less than 30 degrees, in particular less than 20 degrees, to the horizontal, at a height above the quay that is easily reachable by workers.

[0018] The arm can be swiveled up from its second position to the first position, so that the plug part is positioned higher than when the arm is in the second position. In its first position, the arm can be positioned at an angle of more than 60 degrees, in particular more than 70 degrees, to the horizontal. In that position, the carriage or slide, together with the arm, occupies only a relatively small space extending horizontally and perpendicular to the carriage or slide's travel path. Therefore, the carriage or slide, together with the arm in the first position, occupies only a relatively small space on a fixed bottom, for example, a quay, which hardly restricts the freedom of movement of vehicles and people there.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the invention, the cover part may be in the form of a flap that is pivotable relative to the arm about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the arm, the axis being located in space in a direction from the plug part towards the free end of the arm.

[0020] In the preferably substantially vertical position of the arm in the first position, the flap may also be in a vertically pivoted position, and the wall of the flap facing away from the load and the side wall facing in the direction of travel of the carriage or slide may also extend vertically.

[0021] The pivoting movement of the flap is coupled to the pivoting movement of the arm, such that the flap can pivot away from the arm from a first position to a second position upon pivoting of the arm, thereby exposing the plug member in the second position of the arm. The flap can also be in a vertical position relative to the arm in the second position.

[0022] The arm and flap may be configured such that, in the second position of the arm pivoted away from the arm, the flap is supported on a fixed bottom surface, for example, a pier at a ship dock.

[0023] The flap preferably has a wall facing away from the load at approximately right angles and a side wall laterally adjacent to said wall facing in the direction of travel of the carriage or slide, and is preferably substantially rectangular. The flap can then protect the endangered space away from the load and laterally from the effects of an arc explosion in the connection area between the plug element and the load-side power line. When using the device according to the invention for power supply to ships moored at a quay in a port, this flap configuration provides protection perpendicular to and in both directions of the travel path of the carriage or slide towards the quay.

[0024] The wall of the flap facing away from the load and optionally the side wall may be positioned generally perpendicular to the arm in the second position of the arm.

[0025] The flap may be coupled to the arm by a lever mechanism in such a manner that the flap is simultaneously pivoted by pivoting movement of the arm between the first and second positions.

[0026] For this purpose, the lever mechanism may have a link rod which, in one of its end regions, is pivotally arranged on the flap and, in its other end region, is pivotally arranged on a lever arm which is fixedly connected to the carriage or slide and faces away from the load.

[0027] A cable passage extending along the arm may be arranged on or within the arm, the cable passage having at least one power supply line arranged in the area of the arm.

[0028] The arm may have a plate-like configuration, and the cable passage is disposed on the arm.

[0029] In particular, each cable passage may be arranged in the region of one of the two longitudinal faces of the arm.

[0030] The cable passage is of flexible construction so as to be bendable in the direction of pivoting, at least in the region of the pivoting connection of the arm to the carriage or slide.

[0031] The arm may have a housing in the region of its free end, through which the power supply lines on the source side are routed and guided to a plug part that projects from the housing in the direction towards the load, and the cable passage ends in the housing.

[0032] The cover part may be terminated by the housing in the first position of the arm on a surface facing away from the load, a surface facing toward the travel path of the carriage or slide, and a surface facing away from the carriage or slide together with the housing. In this way, the cover part with the housing in the first position of the arm forms a substantially closed cover for the plug part in a direction facing away from the load, a lateral direction of the travel path of the carriage or slide, and a direction facing away from the carriage or slide on the arm. Hot gases generated by arc ignition can therefore be diverted to a space not at risk.

[0033] A cover part in the form of a flap may be pivotally mounted on the housing.

[0034] The power supply lines on the source side are routed in at least one energy guide chain in the area between the fixed source and the carriage or slide, the energy guide chain having a first connection part fixedly arranged relative to the source and a second connection part arranged at the carriage or slide, and the power supply lines are passed from the energy guide chain to the movable arm by at least one cable passage.

[0035] The energy guide chain may have a first run connected to a first connector and a second run connected to a second connector, the runs being interconnected by a turning region, and the two runs may be arranged in an overlapping relationship with each other, with the lower run preferably connected to the first connector and the upper run preferably connected to the second connector.

[0036] The energy guide chain can be arranged in a channel-shaped guide device, and in the case of using the device according to the invention for ships docking at a quay in a port, the guide device with the energy guide chain can be arranged on the quay face facing the ship.

[0037] Alternatively, the guide device with the energy guide chain can also be arranged in a shaft provided on a fixed bottom, for example a quayside installation of a port, relative to which the carriage or slide is displaceable. The guide device can also be arranged on a fixed bottom, for example a quayside installation of a port.

[0038] Embodiments of the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0039] [Figure 1] 1 shows an end view of an apparatus for powering a load, with an arm having a plug part connected to a carriage or slide in its second position, a first position shown in dashed lines, and an intermediate position. [Figure 2] 2 shows a perspective view of the device for powering a load shown in FIG. 1, with the arm connected to the carriage or slide in its second position; [Figure 3] 2 shows a perspective view of the device for powering a load shown in FIG. 1, with the arm connected to the carriage or slide in its first position; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0040] As can be seen from the drawing, the device 1 for supplying power to a load or power consumer (not shown), the position of which is initially not precisely determinable but which can later become substantially stationary and fixable, comprises a displaceable carriage or slide 2 connected to a pivotable arm 3. The arm has at least one plug part 4 for connection to a power supply line 5 of the load, the plug part 4 being connected by a power supply line 6 to a stationary supply source (not shown).

[0041] As can be seen in particular from Figure 1, the arm connected to the carriage or slide 2 is pivotable between a first position 7 and a second position 8. A cover part 9, pivotable with the pivoting movement of the arm 3 and whose pivoting movement is coupled to the pivoting movement of the arm 3, is arranged on the arm 3 in the region of its free end, more particularly in such a way that in the first position 7 of the arm 3 the cover part 9 at least partially covers the plug part 4 and in the second position 8 of the arm 3 the cover part 9 exposes the plug part 4 for connection to the power line 5 on the load side.

[0042] The carriage or slide 2 is displaceable in both directions perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Figure 1. The axis about which the arm 3 connected to the carriage or slide 2 can be pivoted is arranged parallel to the travel path of the carriage or slide 2. As can be seen from the drawing, in its first position 7 the arm 3 is arranged substantially vertically and in its second position 8 it is arranged substantially horizontally.

[0043] In the intermediate position of the pivotable arm 3 as shown in FIG. 1, the load side power line 5 is not shown for clarity of the drawing.

[0044] In the embodiment considered here, the arm 3 is made pivotable by means of a hydraulic drive 10 which hinges on a hood-like cover 11 of the carriage or slide 2, and by means of a fork-like leg 12 arranged on the arm 3 in the end region opposite the free end.

[0045] The cover part 9 is in the form of a flap 13 that is pivotable relative to the arm 3 about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the arm 3, which axis is arranged at a distance from the plug part 4 in a direction towards the free end of the arm 3. As can be seen in the drawing, the flap 13 has a substantially rectangular wall 14 facing away from the load, and substantially rectangular side walls 15, 16 that adjoin the wall 14 and face towards the travel path of the bogie or slide 2. The flap can therefore protect an endangered area in the space that is a wharf installation for a ship (load) to be docked thereon, as shown in the drawing, away from and laterally to the load, from the effects of a possible arc explosion in the connection area between the plug part 4 and the power line 5 on the load side.

[0046] In the vertical position of the arm 3 in the first position, the flap 13 is also in its vertically pivoted position, with the wall 14 facing away from the load and the side walls 15, 16 of the flap 13 facing in the direction of the travel path of the bogie or slide 2 also extending vertically. As can be seen in particular from Figure 1, the flap 13 is connected to the arm 3 by a lever mechanism 17 in such a way that a pivoting movement of the arm 3 between the first position 7 and the second position 8 also causes the flap 13 to be pivoted at the same time. The lever mechanism 17 has a link rod 18 which in one of its end regions is pivotally arranged to the flap 13 and in its other end region is pivotally arranged to a lever arm 19 which is fixedly connected to the bogie or slide 2 and faces away from the load.

[0047] As shown in particular in Figures 2 and 3, the arm 3 has a plate-like configuration, and each cable passage 20 is arranged in one area of the two longitudinal faces of the plate-like arm 3, with the areas of the power lines 6 each arranged toward the arm.

[0048] As can be seen particularly from FIGS. 2 and 3, the two cable passages 20 are flexible and bendable in the direction of rotation of the arm 3 .

[0049] A housing 21 is arranged in the region of the free end of the arm 3, and the end of the cable passage 20 of the power line 6 and the region arranged therein are guided by a plug part 4 which protrudes on the housing 21 in the direction towards the load.

[0050] The flap 13 is pivotably mounted on the housing 21. As shown in Figure 3, in the first position 7 of the arm 3, the flap 13 is terminated by the housing 21 on a side facing away from the load, a side facing towards the travel path of the bogie or slide 2 and a side facing away from the bogie or slide 2 together with the housing 21. In these sides, there is no significant intermediate space between the flap 13 and the housing 21 through which hot gases generated in the event of a possible arc ignition could be released in the above-mentioned direction. Therefore, such hot gases generated by an arc ignition can be diverted to a space that is not exposed to danger, in this example, between the quay 22 and the ship (not shown). Note that in this example, the ship is separated from the quay 22 by a buffer (not shown) to a distance such that the bogie or slide 2 and its guide devices do not come into contact with the ship.

[0051] The power supply line 6 on the supply side is routed in an energy guide chain 23 in the region between the fixed supply source and the carriage or slide 2. The energy guide chain 23 has a first connection (not shown) fixedly arranged relative to the supply source and a second connection 24 arranged on the carriage or slide 2. The power supply line 6 is passed from the energy guide chain 23 to the pivotable arm 3 by at least one cable passage 25. The energy guide chain 23 has a lower run 26 connected to the first connection and an upper run 27 connected to the second connection 24, both runs being interconnected by a turning area. The energy guide chain 23 is arranged in a guide channel 28, which also guides the carriage or slide 2 connected to the second connection 24 on rollers along the travel path of the carriage or slide. The guide channel is fixedly arranged on a bracket 30 on the quay wall 22.

[0052] By virtue of the guide channel 28, which is fixed parallel to the quay wall 22 and which has the carriage or slide 2 arranged thereon, the pivot axis of the arm 3 is relatively low in relation to the quay bottom 31, so that in the second, substantially horizontal position, the arm 3 with the plug part 4 is easily accessible to workers on the quay. In the second position 8 of the arm 3, the flap 13 is supported by one or more support elements 32 on the quay bottom 31. The plug part 4 can be connected to the load-side power line 5 by a worker, and this connection can be locked by a locking mechanism 33. The load-side power line 5 can likewise be released from the plug part 4 after the end of the power supply to the load in the second position 8 of the arm 3 by releasing the locking mechanism.

[0053] Furthermore, a locking device (not shown) is provided on the arm 3 and the flap 13, whereby the flap 13 can be locked to the arm in the first position 7 of the arm 3 so that in the event of an arc explosion between the plug part 4 and the load-side power line 5 connected to the plug part 4, the flap cannot be pivoted open by the pressure of the explosion. [Explanation of symbols]

[0054] 1 device 2 sliding body 3 Arm 4 Plug parts 5 Power Line 6 Power Lines 7. First position 8 Second position 9 Cover parts 10 Hydraulic Drive 11 Cover 12 Legs 13 Flap 14 Wall 15 Side wall 16 side wall 17 Lever mechanism 18 Link rod 19 Lever arm 20 Cable passage 21 Housing 22 Quay 23 Energy Guide Chain 24 Second connection 25 Cable passage 26 Lower Run 27 Upper Run 28 Guide Channel 29 Laura 30 Bracket 31 bottom 32 Supporting Elements 33 Locking mechanism

Claims

1. 1. A device (1) for supplying power to a load, the position of which is initially not precisely determinable but which can later be fixed substantially stationary by means of power from a fixed source, comprising a displaceable carriage or slide (2) connected to an arm (3) movable between a first position (7) and a second position (8) and having at least one plug element (4) for connection to a power supply line (5) of the load, said plug element (4) being connected to the source by a power supply line (6), a cover part (9) disposed on the arm (3) that is movable with the movement of the arm, at least partially covering the plug part (4) when the arm (3) is in the first position (7), and exposing the plug part (4) for connection to the load-side power line (5) when the arm (3) is in the second position (8).

2. 2. The device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that in the second position (8), the arm (3) is arranged so that the plug part (4) is easily accessible to an operator positioned on a fixed bottom surface (31) relative to which the carriage or slide (2) is displaceable.

3. 3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the cover part (9) has a wall (14) directed away from the load and side walls (15, 16) that are contiguous with the wall (14) laterally, face the travel path of the carriage or slide (2) and cover the plug part (4) in the first position (7) of the arm (3).

4. 4. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the cover part (9) can be locked or unlocked in the first position (7) of the arm (3).

5. 5. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the movement of the cover part (9) is coupled to the movement of the arm (3) between the first position (7) and the second position (8), in particular by a mechanical connection between the cover part (9) and the arm (3).

6. 6. Device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the arm (3) is pivotable between the first position (7) and the second position (8).

7. 7. Device (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that the axis about which the arm (3) can be pivoted extends horizontally and parallel to the path of travel of the carriage or slide (2).

8. 8. The device (1) according to claim 6 or 7, characterized in that in the second position (8), the arm (3) is arranged substantially horizontally but at an angle of at least less than 30 degrees, in particular less than 20 degrees, to the horizontal.

9. 9. The device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 8, characterized in that in the first position the arm (3) is arranged substantially vertically but at an angle of at least more than 60 degrees, in particular more than 70 degrees, to the horizontal.

10. 10. The device (1) according to any one of claims 6 to 9, characterized in that the cover part (9) is in the form of a flap (13) that is pivotable relative to the arm (3) about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the arm, the axis being spaced apart from the plug part (4) in a direction towards the free end of the arm (3).

11. 11. Device (1) according to claim 10, characterized in that in the vertical position of the arm (3) in the first position (7), the flap (13) is also in a vertically pivoted position.

12. 12. Device (1) according to claim 10 or 11, characterized in that in the second position (8) of the arm (3), the flap (13) is in a vertically pivoted position.

13. 13. The device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 12, characterized in that the arm (3) and the flap (13) are configured such that the flap (13) is supported on a fixed bottom surface (31) at the second position (8) of the arm (3).

14. The device (1) according to any one of claims 3 and 10 to 13, characterized in that the wall (14) of the flap (13) facing away from the load and the side walls (15, 16) continuous with the wall (14) are arranged approximately perpendicular to the arm (3) at the second position (8) of the arm (3).

15. 15. The device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 14, characterized in that the flap (13) is connected to the arm (3) by a lever mechanism (17) in such a way that it is simultaneously pivoted by the pivoting movement of the arm (3) between the first position (7) and the second position (8).

16. 16. The device (1) according to any one of claims 10 to 15, characterized in that the arm (3) has a plate-like construction, a cable passage (20) extending along the arm (3) is arranged in the arm (3), in which the at least one power supply line (6) from the source side is arranged in the area of the arm (3) in the cable passage (20), and the cable passage (20) is flexible and can be bent in the pivoting direction at least in the area of the pivoting connection of the arm (3) to the bogie or slide (2).

17. 17. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 16, characterized in that a housing (21) is arranged in the region of the free end of the arm (3), the power supply line (6) of the source side is passed through the housing (21), and the power supply line (6) of the source side is guided by a plug part (4) protruding on the housing (21) in the direction towards the load.

18. 18. The device (1) according to claim 17, characterized in that the cover part (9) in the first position (7) of the arm (3) is terminated by the housing (21) on a surface facing away from the load, on a surface facing in the direction of the travel path of the carriage or slide (2), and on a surface facing away from the carriage or slide (2) together with the housing.

19. 19. Device (1) according to claim 17 or 18, characterized in that the cover part (9) is in the form of a flap (13) and is pivotally mounted on the housing (21).

20. 20. The device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 19, characterized in that the power supply lines (6) on the source side in the area between the fixed power supply and the carriage or slide (2) are routed in at least one energy guide chain (23), which has a first connection part fixedly arranged relative to the power supply and a second connection part (24) arranged in the carriage or slide (2), and the power supply lines (6) are guided from the energy guide chain (23) towards the movable arm (3) by at least one cable passage (25).

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