Device for supplying power to a load

Abstract

To provide a device for powering a load, which substantially protects a space endangered with respect to a person and a combustible material from an effect of arc ignition that may occur between a source-side power line plug component and a load-side power line connected to the plug component.SOLUTION: A device 1 for powering a load includes a displaceable carriage or a slide 2 connected to an arm 3 with at least one plug component 4, the plug component is connected to a supply source by a power line 6 on a source side, the first position 7 of the arm at least partially covers the plug component, in the second position 8 of the arm, a cover component 9 is arranged on the arm exposing the plug component for connection to the power supply line 5 on the load side, and after connecting the power line on the load side to the plug component, the arm having the load-side power line connected to the plug component is movable from a second position of the arm to the first position of the arm, where the cover component at least partially covers the plug component.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 not initially determinable accurately but can be substantially stationary and fixed later by the power from a fixed supply source, and includes a displaceable carriage or slider connected to an arm. The arm is movable between a first position and a second position and has at least one plug component for connection to the power line of the load, and the plug component is connected to the supply source by the power line.

Background Art

[0002] Such a device is known from Patent Document 1. The device involves a power supply device for a ship berthing dock in a harbor. The guiding device has a horizontally displaceable carriage installed on land, and a power line provided with a plug component for supplying power to a ship is arranged there. In that case, the power line can be electrically connected to a power grid on land. The plug-side portion of the power line displaceable in the vertical direction by an arm is arranged on the carriage.

[0003] By a horizontally displaceable carriage or slider, the portion of the power line provided with the plug component can be variably arranged, for example, along the ship berthing dock and also along the ship in the dock. In this way, the portion of the power line provided with the plug component can be displaced to the position of the ship berthing dock required for each respective ship there. This is particularly advantageous because most ships that are very different, for example, ships with different sizes and configurations, can berth at the ship berthing dock. For each of those ships, the power line provided with the plug component for drawing power from the load may be required at other positions along the ship berthing dock. By a slider displaceable on a suitable guiding device that can also accommodate the supply-side portion of the power line, the arrangement configuration avoids the supply-side portion of the power line becoming slack and being routed so that it is not protected over a long distance on or within the ship berthing dock.

[0004] The connection of the plug component connected to the power line of the supply source to the power line of the load involves the risk of arc ignition and explosion caused thereby due to the high voltage applied, and thereby, high-temperature gas may be released into the space used by people and / or the space containing combustibles. In particular, such arc explosions will endanger the people working on the quay facilities of the ship berthing dock and combustibles such as vehicles.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

[0006] Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a device for supplying power to a load of the above type, and to provide a device that substantially protects the space endangered with respect to people and combustibles from the influence of arc ignition that may occur between the plug component of the power line on the supply source side and the power line on the load side connected to the plug component.

[0007] According to the present invention, the object is achieved by arranging a cover component on a movable arm connected to a displaceable carriage or slider, the cover component being movable with the movement of the arm, at least partially covering the plug component in a first position of the arm, and exposing the plug component for connection to the power line on the load side in a second position of the arm.

[0008] By means of the cover component coupled to the movement of the arm during its movement, it is possible to shield, for example, the area endangered on the quay facilities of the ship berthing dock with respect to possible arc ignition occurring in the connection between the plug component and the power line on the load side.

[0009] In the first position of the arm, the arm will be in a ready position where the plug component is not connected to the load-side power line. Along with the arm in that position, the carriage or slider can be displaced to a position where the load is placed and the load-side power line can be passed to the device for supplying power to the load. The arm connected to the carriage or slider can move from its first position to a second position where the cover component exposes the plug component, and accordingly, the load-side power line can be connected to the plug component. After the connection of the load-side power line to the plug component, the arm having the load-side power line can move from its second position to the first position where the cover component at least partially covers the plug component. In that situation, the arm will then be in a ready position where the load can be powered from a fixed supply source.

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

[0011] Preferably, the arm is arranged in its second position so that the plug component is easily accessible to an operator arranged on a fixed bottom surface relative to which the carriage or slider can be displaced. Thus, the arm can easily connect the load-side power line, especially with a relatively large weight and thickness, to the plug component.

[0012] The cover component only needs to have a wall directed away from the load, and the wall covers the plug component in the first position of the arm. Further, the cover component only needs to have a side wall adjacent to the wall directed away from the load and facing the direction of the travel path of the carriage or slider, and the side wall covers the plug component together with the wall directed away from the load in the first position of the arm.

[0013] The plug component can be locked to the arm in its first position.

[0014] The movement of the cover part can be coupled to the movement of the arm between the first position and the second position, in particular, by a mechanical coupling between the cover part and the arm.

[0015] In a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the arm is pivotable between its first position and its second position, and the pivot axis can be arranged horizontally and parallel to the travel path of the trolley or the slider.

[0016] The trolley or the slider can be arranged, for example, in a shaft on the fixed bottom surface of the quay, whereby the arm connected to the trolley or the slider can be arranged substantially horizontally in its second position, but at an angle of at least less than 30 degrees, in particular less than 20 degrees, with respect to the horizontal, whereby the operator can easily reach the plug part.

[0017] When the configuration involves a power supply device for a ship at a ship berthing dock in a harbor, the arm connected to the trolley or the slider can also be arranged substantially horizontally in its second position at a height on the quay that is easily accessible to the operator, but at an angle of at least less than 30 degrees, in particular less than 20 degrees, with respect to the horizontal. Thus, the trolley or the slider is preferably arranged in a guide device mounted on the quay wall on the ship side.

[0018] The arm can pivotally rise from its second position to its first position, whereby the plug part is arranged higher than in the case of the second position of the arm. The arm can be arranged at an angle of more than 60 degrees, in particular more than 70 degrees, with respect to the horizontal in its first position. In that position, the trolley or the slider, together with the arm, occupies only a relatively small space extending horizontally and perpendicular to the travel path of the trolley or the slider. Thus, the trolley or the slider, together with the arm in the first position, occupies only a relatively small space on the fixed bottom surface, for example, on the quay, which hardly restricts the freedom of movement of the vehicles and people located there.

[0019] In a preferred embodiment of the present 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, and the axis is disposed in a space in a direction from the plug part toward the free end of the arm.

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

[0021] By the pivoting operation of the flap coupled to the pivoting operation of the arm, the flap can pivot away from the arm from the first position to the second position in the pivoting operation of the arm, whereby the plug part is exposed at 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 the flap may have a structure such that the flap is supported by a fixed bottom surface, for example, a quay of a ship berthing dock, at the second position of the arm pivoted in a direction away from the arm.

[0023] The flap preferably has a wall facing in a direction substantially perpendicular to the load and a side wall facing the traveling direction of the carriage or the slider adjacent to the wall in the lateral direction, and is preferably substantially rectangular. And the flap can protect the space exposed to danger from the influence of arc explosion in the connection area between the plug part and the power line on the load side in a direction away from the load and in the lateral direction. When using the device according to the present invention for power supply to a ship berthed at a quay of a harbor, with this configuration of the flap, the arrangement configuration provides protection perpendicular to the traveling path of the carriage or the slider and in both directions of the traveling path toward the quay.

[0024] The wall of the flap facing away from the load and optionally the side wall can be disposed substantially perpendicular to the arm at the second position of the arm.

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

[0026] For that purpose, the lever mechanism may have a link rod which is pivotably arranged on the flap at one of its end regions and pivotably arranged on a lever arm which is fixedly connected to the trolley or the slider at the other end region and faces away from the load.

[0027] A cable passage extending along the arm may be arranged on or in the arm, and at least one power line is arranged in the region of the arm in the cable passage.

[0028] The arm may be of a plate-like configuration, and the cable passage is arranged on the arm.

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

[0030] The cable passage is of a flexible configuration that can be bent in the pivoting direction, at least in the region of the pivoting connection of the arm to the trolley or the slider.

[0031] There may be a housing in the region of the free end of the arm, and the power line on the supply side is passed into the housing and guided to a plug component protruding in the direction towards the load in the housing. The cable passage will terminate at the housing.

[0032] The cover part can be terminated by the housing on the surface facing away from the load, the surface facing the traveling path direction of the carriage or the slider, and the surface facing away from the carriage or the slider together with the housing when the arm is in the first position. In this way, the cover part having the housing in the first position of the arm forms a substantially closed cover for the plug part in the direction facing away from the load, the lateral direction of the traveling path of the carriage or the slider, and the direction facing away from the carriage or the slider in the arm. Therefore, the high-temperature gas generated by the arc ignition can be diverted to a space not exposed to danger.

[0033] The cover part in the form of a flap can be pivotally attached to the housing.

[0034] The power supply line on the supply source side will be routed in the region between the fixed supply source and the carriage or the slider within at least one energy guide chain. The energy guide chain has a first connection part fixedly arranged with respect to the supply source and a second connection part arranged on the carriage or the slider. The power supply line is passed from the energy guide chain to the movable arm through at least one cable passage.

[0035] The energy guide chain may have a first run connected to the first connection part and a second run connected to the second connection part, and both runs are connected to each other by a direction-changing region. The two runs can be arranged in an overlapping relationship with the lower run preferably connected to the first connection part and the upper run preferably connected to the second connection part.

[0036] The energy guide chain can be arranged particularly in a channel-shaped guide device. The guide device having the energy guide chain can be arranged on the quay wall surface facing the ship when the device according to the present invention is used for a ship berthing at a port of a harbor.

[0037] Alternatively, a guide device having an energy guide chain can also be arranged in a fixed base, for example, in a shaft provided in port facilities of a harbor, with respect to which a carriage or a slider can be displaced. The guide device can also be arranged on a fixed base, for example, on port facilities of a harbor.

[0038] Embodiments of the present invention will be described in more detail below with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0039]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0040] As can be seen from the drawings, a device 1 for supplying power to a load or a power-consuming device (not shown) whose position cannot be accurately determined initially but can be substantially stationary and fixed later includes a displaceable carriage or slider 2 connected to a rotatable arm 3. The arm has at least one plug component 4 for connection to the power line 5 of the load, and the plug component 4 is connected to a fixed power source (not shown) by a power line 6.

[0041] As can be seen particularly from FIG. 1, the arm connected to the carriage or the slider 2 is pivotable between a first position 7 and a second position 8. It is pivotable together with the pivoting movement of the arm 3, and a cover part 9 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 specifically, 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 is arranged in such a manner as to expose the plug part 4 for connection to the power supply line 5 on the load side.

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

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

[0044] In the embodiment under consideration here, the arm 3 is made pivotable by a hydraulic drive 10 that engages the hood-shaped cover 11 of the carriage or the slider 2 in a hinged manner, and by a fork-shaped leg 12 arranged on the arm 3 in the end region opposite to 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, and that axis is arranged spaced apart from the plug part 4 in the direction towards the free end of the arm 3. As can be seen from the drawing, the flap 13 has a substantially rectangular wall 14 facing away from the load, and substantially rectangular side walls 15, 16 adjacent to the wall 14 and facing in the direction of the travel path of the trolley or slider 2. Thus, as shown in the drawing, the flap can protect the area at risk from the influence of an arc explosion that can occur in the connection area between the plug part 4 and the load-side power line 5 in the space that is a quay facility for the ship (load) to berth there, in a direction away from the load and laterally.

[0046] In the vertical position of the arm 3 in the first position, the flap 13 is also in its vertical pivot position, and 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 trolley or slider 2 also extend vertically. As can be seen particularly from FIG. 1, the flap 13 is coupled to the arm 3 by a lever mechanism 17 in such a manner that the flap 13 is also pivoted simultaneously by the pivoting movement of the arm 3 between the first position 7 and the second position 8. The lever mechanism 17 has a link rod 18, and the link rod 18 is pivotably arranged on the flap 13 at one of its end regions, and at the other end region is fixedly connected to the trolley or slider 2 and pivotably arranged on a lever arm 19 facing away from the load.

[0047] As shown particularly in FIGS. 2 and 3, the arm 3 has a plate-like configuration, and each cable passage 20 is arranged in a region of one of the two longitudinal faces of the plate-like arm 3, and the regions of the power lines 6 are arranged towards the arm respectively.

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

[0049] The 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 to the plug component 4 that protrudes in the direction towards the load on the housing 21.

[0050] The flap 13 is pivotally attached to the housing 21. As shown in FIG. 3, in the first position 7 of the arm 3, the flap 13 is terminated by the housing 21 on the surface facing away from the load, the surface facing the traveling path direction of the carriage or the slider 2, and the surface facing away from the carriage or the slider 2 together with the housing 21. There is no significant intermediate space between the flap 13 and the housing 21 on those surfaces through which the high-temperature gas generated in the case of possible arc ignition can be discharged in the above directions. Therefore, such high-temperature gas generated by arc ignition can be diverted to a space not in danger. In this example, it can be diverted between the quay wall 22 and a ship (not shown). In this example, the ship is separated from the quay wall 22 by a buffer (not shown) to a distance such that the carriage or the slider 2 and its guiding device do not contact the ship.

[0051] The power line 6 on the supply side is routed in the region between the fixed supply source and the carriage or the slider 2 in the energy guide chain 23. The energy guide chain 23 has a first connection part (not shown) fixedly arranged with respect to the supply source and a second connection part 24 arranged on the carriage or the slider 2. The power line 6 is passed from the energy guide chain 23 towards the pivotable arm 3 through at least one cable passage 25. The energy guide chain 23 has a lower run 26 connected to the first connection part and an upper run 27 connected to the second connection part 24, and both runs are connected to each other by a direction-changing region. The energy guide chain 23 is arranged in the guide channel 28, and the guide channel 28 also guides the carriage or the slider 2 connected to the second connection part 24 along the traveling path of the carriage or the slider on the rollers. The guide channel is fixedly arranged on the bracket 30 at the quay wall 22.

[0052] The pivot axis of the arm 3 is relatively low with respect to the bottom surface 31 of the quay by means of a guide channel 28 fixed parallel to the quay wall 22 and having a trolley or slider 2 arranged on the quay wall 22, whereby, in the second substantially horizontal position, the arm 3 having the plug part 4 is easily accessible to the operator 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 bottom surface 31 of the quay. The plug part 4 can be connected by the operator to the power supply line 5 on the load side, and the connection can be locked by a locking mechanism 33. The power supply line 5 on the load side can likewise be released from the plug part 4 after 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 case of an arc explosion between the plug part 4 and the power supply line 5 on the load side connected to the plug part 4, the flap cannot be rotated and opened by the pressure of the explosion.

Explanation of reference numerals

[0054] 1 Device 2 Slider 3 Arm 4 Plug part 5 Power supply line 6 Power supply line 7 First position 8 Second position 9 Cover part 10 Hydraulic drive 11 Cover 12 Leg 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 wall 23 Energy guide chain 24 Second connecting part 25 Cable passage 26 Lower run 27 Upper run 28 Guide channel 29 Roller 30 Bracket 31 Bottom surface 32 Support element 33 Lock mechanism

Claims

1. An apparatus (1) for supplying power to an electrical consumer, namely a ship, by means of power from a fixed power source, comprising a displaceable trolley or slide (2) connected to an arm (3) which is movable between a first position (7) and a second position (8) and has at least one plug connection part (4) for connection to a first power line (5) of the ship, said plug connection part (4) being connectable to the fixed power source by means of a second power line (6), a housing (21) is arranged on the arm in the region of the free end of the arm (3), the second power line (6) is passed through the housing (21), and the second power line (6) is guided to the plug connection part (4) protruding from the housing (21), a cover part (9) is in the form of a flap (13) and is pivotally mounted on the housing (21), said cover part (9) at least partially covering the plug connection part (4) in the first position (7) of the arm (3) and exposing the plug connection part (4) for connection to the first power line (5) on the ship side in the second position (8) of the arm (3), characterized in that the apparatus (1).

2. The apparatus (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the arm (3) is arranged such that the plug connection part (4) is easily accessible to an operator on a fixed base (31) on which the trolley or slide (2) is displaceable relative thereto in the second position (8).

3. The cover part (9) has a wall (14) facing a first direction and side walls (15, 16) extending transversely to the wall (14) and facing a second direction orthogonal to the first direction, the wall (14) and the side walls (15, 16) covering the plug connection part (4) in the first position (7) of the arm (3), characterized in that the apparatus (1) according to claim 1 or 2.

4. The apparatus (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that the cover part (9) is lockable or unlockable in the first position (7) of the arm (3).

5. The apparatus (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the arm (3) is pivotable between the first position (7) and the second position (8).

6. The axis about which the arm (3) is pivotable extends horizontally and / or parallel to the travel path of the carriage or slider (2), the device (1) according to claim 5, characterized in that.

7. In the second position (8), the arm (3) is arranged at an angle of less than 30 degrees with respect to the horizontal, and / or In the first position, the arm (3) is arranged at an angle of more than 60 degrees with respect to the horizontal, the device (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that.

8. The cover part (9) is in the form of a flap (13) pivotable with respect to the arm (3) about an axis parallel to the pivot axis of the arm, the device (1) according to any one of claims 5 to 7, characterized in that.

9. In the vertical position of the arm (3) in the first position (7), the flap (13) is also in the vertical pivot position, and / or In the second position (8) of the arm (3), the flap (13) is in the vertical pivot position, the device (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that.

10. A cable passage (20) extending along the arm (3) is arranged on the arm (3), and in the cable passage (20), the second power line (6) is arranged in the region of the arm (3). The cable passage (20) is flexible and bendable in the pivoting direction at least in the region of the pivoting connection of the arm (3) to the carriage or slider (2), the device (1) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that.

11. The cover part (9) in the first position (7) of the arm (3) closes the housing (21) on at least three surfaces including a surface facing away from the ship, a surface facing the direction of the travel path of the carriage or slider (2), and a surface facing away from the carriage or slider (2), the device (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that.

12. The second power line (6) in the region between the fixed power supply and the carriage or slider (2) is guided in at least one energy guide chain (23), and the energy guide chain (23) has a first connection part fixedly arranged with respect to the fixed power supply and a second connection part (24) arranged on the carriage or slider (2), the device (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that.

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