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 patent document 1. In the construction machine configured as a compaction machine, electrical energy is transmitted wirelessly by induction 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] German Patent Application Publication No. 102016121724 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 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 rotating system area. [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 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 connected by a conductive connection to at least one second electric unit carried outside the system area 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 leaktightly seals the rotatable system region relative to a non-rotating system region carried relative to the machine frame.

[0007] The present 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 that perform other functions typically present in construction machines. Thus, at least one sealing assembly is important for sealing the internal volume of the rotatable system area from the outside, thereby preventing, for example, leakage of lubricant and ensuring that dirt does not enter this volume.

[0008] In an advantageous embodiment, 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 region and a second slide ring made of electrically conductive material supported in relation to the non-rotating system region, 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, whereby 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 by an annular first sealing element in a first axial direction radially outward relative to the rotatable system area, and that the second slide ring is supported by an annular second sealing element in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction radially outward relative to the non-rotating system area.

[0010] In order to ensure a leak-tight seal even in the area of ​​the slide rings that are supported directly against each other, it may also be provided that the first slide ring has a first axial support area and the second slide ring has a second axial support area that is axially supported on the first axial support area.

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

[0012] The first and second slide rings may be pressed against each other axially adjacently with their first and second axial support regions by the annular first and second sealing elements.

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

[0014] For stable contact, the first connecting wire may be electrically 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 may be electrically 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 that solves the problem described at the outset further proposes that the conductive connection comprises a second conductive path, the second conductive path comprising a bearing unit that rotatably supports at least one rotating system area around a rotation axis relative to a non-rotating system area carried relative 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 supported in the outer and inner bearing rings, also made of electrically conductive material. For reasons of stability and durability, even in such a bearing unit, it is advantageous 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 that is present anyway.

[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 conduction path includes a roller drive motor in which a rotor region is rotatably supported relative to a stator region by one or more electrically conducting 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 and / or a transmission unit. Furthermore, the at least one second electric unit may include a power source, preferably a battery and / or 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 explanation of the drawings]

[0026] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a construction machine configured as a self-propelled compaction machine; [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of a ground working roller of the construction machine of FIG. 1. [Figure 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 INVENTION

[0027] 1 shows a side view of a construction machine 10 configured as a self-propelled compaction machine. The construction machine 10 includes wheels 14 driven on a rear vehicle 12 by a drive unit mounted on the rear vehicle 12 to move the ground working machine 10 above the ground 16 to be compacted. An operator stand 18 is envisaged on the rear vehicle 12, within which there is a seat for an operator to operate 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 the machine frame 22 of the ground working machine 10, ground working rollers 26, which provide a rotatable system area 24 of the ground working machine 10, are rotatably carried about roller rotation axes D which are perpendicular to the plane of the drawing in Figure 1.

[0029] 2 in longitudinal section, the ground working roller 26 is also driven for rotation in the illustrated embodiment and further has a roller drive motor 32 connected to the roller periphery 30 through a plate-shaped support element 28, also commonly referred to as a circular pressed metal plate. The stator region 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 region of the roller drive motor 32 is connected to the support element 28.

[0030] A first bearing support element 36 is fixed, for example by screwing, to the other plate-shaped support element 34 in its end region shown on the right in Fig. 2, which supports the bearing of the ground work roller 26 and provides a structural element for the ground work roller 26. A second bearing support element 44 is supported on the first bearing support element 36 via two axially spaced-apart bearing units 38, 40 shown in Fig. 3, which provide a non-rotating system area 42 or a portion 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. In the described embodiment, the unbalance assembly 48 comprises two unbalance masses 50, 52 arranged axially spaced apart and with a center of gravity eccentric to the unbalance axis U. Inside the ground work roller 26, a volume 53 essentially containing the unbalance assembly 48 is enclosed between the two plate-shaped support elements 34 by a cylindrical casing 54 which is connected to the support elements, for example by welding, and which is thus also made of metal, and which is also enclosed by the first bearing support element 36, in particular in the part shown on the right in FIG. 2 .

[0032] To ensure 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, shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, is envisioned. The sealing assembly 56 includes a slide ring seal 58 having two axially adjacent slide rings 60, 62. The first slide ring 60 is sealed leak-tight relative to the rotatable system region 24, which substantially includes the ground work roller 26, through a first sealing element 64, e.g., in the form of an O-ring. Furthermore, for example, a sealing element-support element 66 is attached to the first bearing support element 36, with the first sealing element 64 supported radially outward relative to the roller rotation axis D and axially to the left in FIG. 3. Similarly, the first sealing element 64 is supported radially inward and axially to 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 outward, towards the right in FIG. 3, on the second bearing support element 44, and radially inward, towards the left in FIG. 3, on the second slide ring 62.

[0034] The two slide rings 60, 62 are supported axially against each other 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 be provided, for example, 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 each other in the axial support areas 68, 70, are axially preloaded relative to each other, so that they create a leak-tight seal. In particular, the ingress of dirt into the volume 53 and the leakage of lubricant from this volume and the two bearing units 38, 40 can thus be reliably prevented by the sealing assembly 56 formed as 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 in relation to the second bearing support element 44, an inner bearing ring 74, radially inwardly supported axially in relation to the first bearing support element 36, and a number of rolling elements 76, e.g., spheres, acting therebetween or extending circumferentially therebetween. Like the two slide rings 60, 62, the bearing rings 72, 74 and the rolling elements 76 are also made of a metallic material, e.g., steel, for reasons of stability and durability.

[0037] 1 shows in a schematic manner that at least one first electric unit 78 is arranged on the ground work roller 26 that provides the rotatable system area 24 of the construction machine 10. The electric unit 78 may, for example, include one or more sensors, such as acceleration sensors, to provide information about the motion state of the ground work roller 26. Alternatively or additionally, the at least one first electric unit 78 may include a transmitting / receiving unit that is configured to emit and / or receive data as electric signals.

[0038] For example, at least one second electric unit 80 is envisaged for the rear vehicle 12 of the construction machine 10. The second electric unit 80 may include, for example, a power source. For example, the second electric unit 80 may include a rechargeable battery of the construction machine 10, from which electrical 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 include a transmitting / receiving unit, which is configured to emit and / or receive data as electrical signals.

[0039] For example, the first electric unit 78 of the ground working roller 26 may be supplied with electric energy from the 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 to a further electric unit envisaged therefor, for example by radio and / or wireless induction or possibly via the conductive connection 82.

[0040] In particular, for supplying electrical energy from the second electrical unit 80 to the first electrical unit 78, the conductive connection 82 may include two conductive paths 84, 86, which are essentially implied in Figure 3. The first conductive path 84 may, for example, connect the positive pole of the second electrical unit 80, which may include a battery, to the first electrical unit 78. The second conductive path 86 may connect the negative pole of the second electrical unit 80, which may include a battery, to the first electrical unit 78, or to 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 region 24, i.e., the ground working roller 26, the conductive path includes a sealing assembly 56 that acts as a type of rotary joint. The first slide ring 60 of the sealing assembly is electrically 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 may be firmly and electrically connected to the first slide ring 60 by a clamping element 90. Alternatively or additionally, the first connecting line 88 may be electrically connected to the first slide ring 60 by screwing or by a material connection, such as soldering.

[0042] The second connecting line 92 of the first conductive path 84 is embodied, for example, as a cable, and connects the second slide ring 62 in an electrically conductive manner with the anode of the second electric unit 80, which may, for example, comprise a battery. The second connecting 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 connecting line 92 may be made 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 can flow between the two electrical units 78, 80 via the two connecting lines 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 are therefore 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 due to the slide rings 60, 62.

[0044] The second conductive path 86, which serves, for example, to form a ground connection, includes 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 the bearing units abut or are supported by, and are thereby in electrically conductive contact with, the first bearing support element 36, 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, supporting structural element of the ground work roller 26. Further components of the ground work roller 26, such as the supporting elements 28, 34 and the casing 54, may also form part of the third connecting line 96 as supporting structural elements 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 connected to the two bearing units 38, 40 through a third connecting line 96.

[0045] The fourth connecting line 98 of the second conductive path 86 includes the second bearing support element 44 made of a 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 machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10 by elastic, generally electrically insulating, suspension elements. The suspension elements may be formed, for example, as rubber bumpers or the like.

[0046] To bypass this electrically insulating suspension area, the second conductive path 86 includes, for example, a cable as part of the fourth connecting line 98, which connects the second bearing support element 44 on the one hand and, on the other hand, the second bearing support element 44, which is electrically connected, for example, to the front vehicle 20, thereby providing the 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 metal 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 electrical power and is essentially installed in such a construction machine 10. Therefore, it is not necessary to use a costly and error-prone wirelessly operating transmission system for supplying electrical energy in particular to the rotatable system area 24. 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 forming an electrically conductive connection to the mass region of the construction machine 10, may include the roller drive motor 32, either as an alternative or in addition to using one or both of the bearing units 38, 40. For example, its stator region may be connected to the front vehicle 20 of the construction machine 10, and thereby to the machine frame 22, through a cable that provides part of the fourth conductive path 98, while the rotor region of the roller drive motor 32 in the rotatable system region 24, i.e., the ground working roller 26, forms part of the third connection line 96, electrically conductively connected to the structural element it carries. Since the stator region of the roller drive motor 32 is also rotatably connected to its rotor region by one or more rolling bearings, typically made of 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 vehicle 14 wheels 16 Ground 18 Operation stand 20 Front vehicle 22 Machine Frame 24 rotatable system areas 26 Ground work 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 elements 66 Sealing element - Support element 68, 70 axial support area 72 Bearing outer ring 74 Bearing inner ring 76 Rolling elements 78, 80 Electrical Unit 82 Conduction Connection 84, 86 Conduction pathway 88, 92, 96, 98 connecting wires 90, 94 Clamp element D rotation 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 the rotatable system area (24), the at least one first electric unit (78) being electrically conductively connected by a conductive connection (82) to at least one second electric unit (80) carried outside the rotatable system area (24) relative to the machine frame (22), 10. A construction machine, comprising: a first conductive path (84) for connecting the rotatable system area (24) to a non-rotating system area (42) carried in relation to the machine frame (22) and for sealing the rotatable system area (24) in a leak-tight manner relative to the non-rotating system area (42).

2. 2. The construction machine according to claim 1, wherein 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 region (24) and a second slide ring (62) made of an electrically conductive material supported in relation to the non-rotating system region (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, wherein the first slide ring (60) is supported by an annular first sealing element (64) in a first axial direction radially outward relative to the rotatable system area (24), and the second slide ring (62) is supported by an annular second sealing element (67) in a second axial direction radially outward relative to the non-rotating system area (42), opposite to the first axial direction.

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 includes a support surface extending substantially radially.

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 against each other 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 connected to the at least one first electric unit (78) by a first connecting line (88), and the second slide ring (62) is electrically 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 connected to the first slide ring (60) by a material connection, preferably by soldering and / or clamping and / or screwing, and / or the second connecting line (92) is electrically connected to the second slide ring (62) by a material connection, preferably by soldering and / or clamping and / or 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), the second conductive path (86) comprising at least one bearing unit (38, 40) for rotatably supporting the rotating system area (24) about the axis of rotation (D) in relation to a non-rotating system area (42) carried in relation to the machine frame (22).

10. 10. The construction machine according to claim 9, wherein the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) includes 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 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 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 supported radially and / or axially 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 conduction 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 resilient, 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. 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, wherein in the ground working roller (26), the at least one sealing assembly (56) seals a volume (53) having an unbalance assembly (48) with at least one unbalance mass (50, 52) rotatable around an unbalance rotation axis (U) in a leak-tight manner.

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