Construction machinery

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 having a system area rotatably supported around a rotation axis in a machine frame, for example, a compaction machine or the like.

Background Art

[0002] Similar construction machines are known from Patent Document 1. In a construction machine formed as a compaction machine, electrical energy is wirelessly transmitted inductively between an electrical device arranged inside a ground working roller and a power source arranged outside the ground working roller.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] The problem of the present invention is to provide a construction machine that can provide an electrical conductive connection in a simple and reliable manner within a rotating system area.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] According to the present invention, this problem is solved by a construction machine, in particular a compaction machine, comprising at least one system area rotatable around a rotation axis in relation to a machine frame, and at least one first electrical unit in the rotatable system area, conductively connected in an electrically conductive manner to at least one second electrical unit carried outside the system area rotatable in relation to the machine frame.

[0006] The conductive connection includes a first conductive path, and the first conductive path includes a sealing assembly that seals without leakage in relation to at least one non-rotating system area carried in relation to a mechanical frame by a rotatable system area.

[0007] The present invention is used to transmit electrical energy or electrical signals between a rotatable system area of a tightening machine and an area outside this rotatable system area, that is, a non-rotating system area that does not rotate together with the rotatable system area, and components for performing other functions that are commonly present in construction machines. In this way, at least one sealing assembly is important for sealing the internal volume of the rotatable system area against the outside, thereby, for example, preventing leakage of lubricant and reliably preventing dirt from entering this volume area.

[0008] In an advantageous form, at least one sealing assembly includes a sliding ring seal, and the sliding ring seal includes a first sliding ring made of an electrically conductive material supported in relation to the rotatable system area and a second sliding ring made of an electrically conductive material supported in relation to the non-rotating system area. The first sliding ring and the second sliding ring are supported in contact with each other in the direction of the rotation axis so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis in relation to each other. For reasons of stability and durability, there the sliding rings are advantageously generally formed from a metallic material, for example steel.

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

[0010] Also, in the region of the sliding rings that are directly supported in contact with each other, in order to ensure a leak - free seal, it may be assumed that the first sliding ring has a first axial support region and the second sliding ring has a second axial support region that is axially supported in the first axial support region.

[0011] For example, each of the support regions of the first axial support region and the second axial support region may include a support surface that extends substantially in the radial direction for load reduction.

[0012] The first sliding ring and the second sliding ring may be axially adjacent to each other and pressed against each other in contact with their first axial support region and second axial support region by an annular first sealing element and an annular second sealing element.

[0013] For the establishment of an electrical conductive connection, it is further proposed that the first sliding ring is electrically conductively connected to at least one first electrical unit by a first connection line, and the second sliding ring is electrically conductively connected to at least one second electrical unit by a second connection line. These connection lines may be formed, for example, by cables, guide rails, or similar means.

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

[0015] Regardless of the method of providing the first conduction path, an aspect of the present invention that solves the problems described at the beginning is that the conduction connection includes a second conduction path, and the second conduction path rotatably supports at least one rotating system region around a rotation axis in relation to a non-rotating system region carried in relation to a machine frame. It is further proposed to include a bearing unit.

[0016] The at least one bearing unit may include a rolling bearing having a bearing outer ring made of an electrically conductive material, a bearing inner ring made of an electrically conductive material, and a number of rolling elements made of an electrically conductive material supported between the bearing outer ring and the bearing inner ring. Also in a bearing unit of such a form, for reasons of stability and durability, it is advantageous if the various components of the bearing unit are formed from a metallic material, for example steel.

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

[0018] And in particular, when the second conduction path provides or is connected to the ground connection of a construction machine, it is advantageous if the third connection line includes at least one electrically conductive load-bearing structural element of the rotatable system region. There, at least in part, the second conduction path may be provided by components of the rotatable system region that exist anyway.

[0019] For this purpose, it may be assumed that the at least one bearing unit is supported radially and / or axially in at least one electrically conductive load-bearing structural element.

[0020] Also, for example, it may be assumed that the second conduction path includes a roller drive motor, and in the roller drive motor, the rotor region is rotatably supported in relation to the stator region by one or more electrically conductive bearing units.

[0021] In order to suppress or reduce the propagation of shaking between the rotatable system region and the machine frame, it is proposed that the non-rotating system region is carried in the machine frame by a number of elastic and electrically insulating suspension elements.

[0022] At least one first electrical unit may include an electrical device, preferably a sensor or / and a transmission unit. Further, it may be assumed that at least one second electrical unit includes a power source, preferably a battery or / and a generator.

[0023] In particular, in the form of a construction machine as a clamping machine, such as a self-propelled clamping machine for example, the rotatable system region may include a ground working roller.

[0024] In the ground working roller, at least one sealing assembly may seal without leakage a volume having an unbalance assembly with an unbalance mass rotatable around at least one unbalanced rotating shaft.

[0025] The present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0026]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Best Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0027] In FIG. 1, a side view of a construction machine 10 formed as a self-propelled compaction machine is shown. The construction machine 10 includes wheels 14 driven in a rear vehicle 12, and the wheels are driven by a drive unit installed in the rear vehicle 12 and moved above a ground 16 to be compacted by the ground working machine 10. In the rear vehicle 12, an operation stand 18 is assumed, and inside the operation stand, 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 rotatably connected to the rear vehicle 12 for steering the machine. In the front vehicle 20 that substantially provides a component of the machine frame 22 of the ground working machine 10, a ground working roller 26 that provides a rotatable system area 24 of the ground working machine 10 is rotatably supported around a roller rotation axis D orthogonal to the plane of the drawing in FIG. 1.

[0029] The ground working roller 26 shown as a longitudinal section in FIG. 2 is also driven for rotation in the illustrated exemplary form, and further has a roller drive motor 32 connected to a roller outer periphery 30 through a plate-shaped support element 28, which is generally also called a circular press sheet metal. The stator region of the roller drive motor 32 may be supported in 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] Another plate-shaped support element 34 bears, in the end region shown on the right in FIG. 2, the bearing of the ground working roller 26 and provides a structural element of the ground working roller 26 that bears and supports it. A first bearing support element 36, for example fixed by screwing, is provided. On the first bearing support element 36, a second bearing support element 44 that provides a non-rotating system region 42 or a part of the non-rotating system region 42 is supported through two bearing units 38, 40 that are axially spaced apart from each other as shown in FIG. 3. The second bearing support element 44 may be supported in the front vehicle 20, for example, by a number of elastic suspension elements.

[0031] An imbalance motor 46 is borne by the second bearing support element 44, and the imbalance motor drives an imbalance assembly 48 arranged inside the ground working roller 26 to rotate around an imbalance axis U corresponding to the roller rotation axis D in the described exemplary form. The imbalance assembly 48 includes, in the described exemplary form, two imbalance masses 50, 52 that are axially spaced apart from each other and have a center of gravity eccentric with respect to the imbalance rotation axis U. Inside the ground working roller 26, a volume 53 substantially including the imbalance assembly 48 is sealed between two plate-shaped support elements 34 by a cylindrical casing 54 that is connected to the support elements, for example, by welding and is thus also formed from a metal material, and is particularly sealed by the first bearing support element 36 in the part shown on the right in FIG. 2.

[0032] To seal the space between the first bearing support element 36 and the second bearing support element 44, which rotate around the roller rotation axis D in relation to each other during ground operation, a sealing assembly 56, shown in detail in FIGS. 3 and 4, is envisaged. The sealing assembly 56 includes a sliding ring seal 58 having two axially consecutive sliding rings 60, 62. The first sliding ring 60 is sealed without leakage in relation to a rotatable system area 24, which substantially includes the ground operation roller 26, through, for example, a first sealing element 64 in the shape of an O-ring. Further, for example, the first bearing support element 36 has a sealing element - support element 66 attached thereto, with the first sealing element 64 supported radially outwardly in relation to the roller rotation axis D and axially leftward in FIG. 3. Similarly, the first sealing element 64 is supported radially inwardly and axially rightward in FIG. 3 in the first sliding ring 60.

[0033] The second sliding ring 62 is supported in relation to the second bearing support element 44 through a second sealing element 67 in the shape of an O-ring. Therein, the second sealing element 67 is supported in the second bearing support element 44 radially outwardly and rightward in FIG. 3, and is supported in the second sliding ring 62 radially inwardly and leftward in FIG. 3.

[0034] The two sliding rings 60, 62 are supported in contact with each other axially in the areas of a first axially supporting area 68 of the first sliding ring 60 and a second axially supporting area 70 of the second sliding ring 62. Each of the two axially supporting areas 68, 70 may be provided, for example, by an annular supporting surface extending substantially radially.

[0035] Through the axial preload generated by the two sealing elements 64, 67, the two sliding rings 60, 62 that are supported in direct contact with each other in the axial support regions 68, 70 are preloaded relative to each other axially, whereby the sliding rings create a leak - free seal. In particular, the ingress of dirt into the volume 53 and the leakage of lubricant from this volume region and the two bearing units 38, 40 can thus be reliably prevented by the sealing assembly 56 formed as a sliding ring seal 58.

[0036] Each of the two bearing units 38, 40 is formed as a rolling bearing with an outer bearing ring 72 that is axially supported radially outwardly in relation to the second bearing support element 44, an inner bearing ring 74 that is axially supported radially inwardly in relation to the first bearing support element 36, and a number of rolling elements 76, such as spheres, that act between them or are fed circumferentially around them. Similar to 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 of a metallic material such as steel.

[0037] In the ground - working roller 26 that provides the rotatable system region 24 of the construction machine 10, the arrangement of at least one first electrical unit 78 is shown in a schematic way in FIG. 1. The electrical unit 78 may include, for example, one or more sensors, such as acceleration sensors, etc., in order to provide information regarding the motion state of the ground - working roller 26. The at least one first electrical unit 78 may alternatively or additionally include a transmission / reception unit that is formed to transmit and / or receive data as electrical signals.

[0038] For example, at least one second electrical unit 80 is envisaged in the rear vehicle 12 of the construction machine 10. The second electrical unit 80 may include, for example, a power source. For example, the second electrical unit 80 may include a rechargeable battery of the construction machine 10, and electrical energy is supplied from the battery to the first electrical unit 78 in the ground working roller 26 through the schematically shown conductive connection 82. Alternatively or additionally, the second electrical unit 80 may include a transmission / reception unit, which is configured to transmit and / or receive data as electrical signals.

[0039] For example, the first electrical unit 78 in the ground working roller 26 may be configured to be supplied with electrical energy from the second electrical unit 80 through the conductive connection 82. Information provided, for example, in the form of a sensor signal from the first electrical unit 78 may be transmitted, for example, by wireless and / or inductive means, or in some cases by the conductive connection 82, between the first electrical unit 78 and the second electrical unit 80, or yet another electrical unit envisaged therefor.

[0040] In particular, in order to supply 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 that are implicitly shown in principle in FIG. 3. The first conductive path 84 may connect, for example, the first electrical unit 78 to the anode of the second electrical unit 80 including a battery. The second conductive path 86 may connect the first electrical unit 78 to the cathode of the second electrical unit 80 including a battery, or to a ground connection including the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10.

[0041] To guide the first conduction path 84 to the rotatable system area 24, i.e., the ground working roller 26, the conduction path includes a sealing assembly 56 that acts as a kind of rotary joint. The first sliding ring 60 of the sealing assembly is electrically conductively connected to the first electrical unit 78 by a first connection line 88 configured, for example, as a cable, of the first conduction path 84. Here, for example, the first connection line 88 may be electrically conductively and firmly connected to the first sliding ring 60 by a clamping element 90. Alternatively or additionally, the first connection line 88 may be electrically conductively connected to the first sliding ring 60 by screwing or by a material connection such as soldering.

[0042] The second connection line 92 of the first conduction path 84 is implemented, for example, as a cable and electrically conductively connects the second sliding ring 62, for example, to the anode of a second electrical unit 80 including a battery. The second connection line 92 may be electrically conductively and firmly connected to the second sliding ring 62 by a clamping element 94. Alternatively or additionally, the firm electrical conductive connection between the second sliding ring 62 and the second connection line 92 may be made by screwing or by a material connection such as soldering, for example.

[0043] The two slide rings 60, 62 are formed of an electrically conductive metal material and are in direct contact with each other. Therefore, in the first conduction path 84, electricity may flow between the two electrical units 78, 80 through the two connection lines 88, 92 and the two slide rings 60, 62 of the slide ring sealing 58. The two slide rings 60, 62 are supported only through the sealing elements 64, 67 that act with the slide rings in relation to the ground working roller 26 or the machine frame 22, and thus are not in direct contact with other components of the construction machine 10. Therefore, 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 formed of an electrically insulating material. Therefore, there is no risk of a short circuit occurring due to the slide rings 60, 62.

[0044] For example, the second conduction path 86, which serves 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 basically formed of an electrically conductive metal material and the bearing inner ring 74 of the bearing unit is in contact with or supported by the first bearing support element 36, and thus is in a state of electrical conductive contact with the bearing support element, the first bearing support element 36 may constitute a part of the third connection line 96 of the second conduction path 86 as an electrically conductive and load-bearing structural element of the ground working roller 26. Further components of the ground working roller 26, such as the load-bearing elements 28, 34, and the casing 54, etc., may also constitute a part of the third connection line 96 as load-bearing structural elements of the ground working roller 26. The negative connection or ground connection of the first electrical unit 78 may thereby be directly connected to such a load-bearing structural element of the ground working roller 26 and may thereby be electrically conductively connected to the two bearing units 38, 40 through the third connection line 96.

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

[0046] To bypass this electrically insulating suspension area, the second conduction path 86 includes, for example, a cable as a component of the fourth connecting line 98, which is electrically conductively connected on the one hand to the second bearing support element 44 and on the other hand, for example, to the front vehicle 20, thereby connecting the second bearing support element 44, which provides a non-rotating system area 42, to the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10. The machine frame 22, which is generally formed from a metallic material, basically provides a mass area to which the cathode of the second electrical unit 80, including the battery, is connected.

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

[0048] In particular, the second conduction path 86 that contributes to the formation of the electrically conductive connection to the mass area of the construction machine 10 may include the roller drive motor 32 as an alternative or 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 thus to the machine frame 22, through a cable that provides a component of the fourth conduction 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 that is electrically conductive and connected to its supporting structural element. Since the stator area of the roller drive motor 32 is also generally rotatably connected to its rotor area by one or more rolling bearings formed by metal components, a similar bearing unit installed in the roller drive motor 32 may be used as the rotary joint of the second conduction path 86.

Explanation of Signs

[0049] 10 Construction machine 12 Rear vehicle 14 Wheel 16 Ground 18 Operating stand 20 Front vehicle 22 Machine frame 24 Rotatable system area 26 Ground working roller 28, 34 Supporting element 30 Roller outer periphery 32 Roller drive motor 36, 44 Bearing support element 38, 40 Bearing unit 42 Non-rotating system area 46 Unbalance motor 48 Unbalance assembly 50, 52 Unbalance mass 53 Volume 54 Casing 56 Sealing assembly 58 Slide ring seal 60, 62 sliding ring 64, 67 sealing element 66 sealing element - support element 68, 70 axial support region 72 bearing outer ring 74 bearing inner ring 76 rolling element 78, 80 electrical unit 82 conductive connection 84, 86 conductive path 88, 92, 96, 98 connection line 90, 94 clamping element D rotating shaft U unbalanced rotating shaft

Claims

Claim 1 In a construction machine, at least one system area (24) rotatable around a rotation axis (D) in relation to a machine frame (22), and at least one first electrical unit (78) in the rotatable system area (24), which is electrically conductively connected by a conductive connection (82) to at least one second electrical unit (80) carried outside the rotatable system area (24) in relation to the machine frame (22). The construction machine is characterized in that the conductive connection (82) includes a first conduction path (84), and the first conduction path (84) includes at least one sealing assembly (56) that seals without leakage in relation to a non-rotating system area (42) carried in relation to the machine frame (22) with the rotatable system area (24). Claim 2 The construction machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one sealing assembly (56) includes a sliding ring seal (58), the sliding ring seal (58) includes a first sliding ring (60) made of an electrically conductive material supported in relation to the rotatable system area (24), and a second sliding ring (62) made of an electrically conductive material supported in relation to the non-rotating system area (42), and the first sliding ring (60) and the second sliding ring (62) are supported in contact with each other in the direction of the rotation axis (D) so as to be rotatable around the rotation axis (D) in relation to each other. Claim 3 The construction machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the first sliding ring (60) is supported in a first axial direction radially outward in relation to the rotatable system area (24) by an annular first sealing element (64), and the second sliding ring (62) is supported in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction radially outward in relation to the non-rotating system area (42) by an annular second sealing element (67). Claim 4 The first slide ring (60) has a first axial support region (68), and the second slide ring (62) has a second axial support region (70) that is axially supported in the first axial support region (68). The construction machine according to claim 2, characterized in that.

5. The construction machine according to claim 4, characterized in that each of the support regions of the first axial support region (68) and the second axial support region (70) includes a support surface extending in the radial direction.

6. The first slide ring (60) is axially supported in a first axial direction toward the radially outer side in relation to the rotatable system region (24) by an annular first sealing element (64), and the second slide ring (62) is axially supported in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction toward the radially outer side in relation to the non-rotating system region (42) by an annular second sealing element (67). The first slide ring (60) and the second slide ring (62) are axially adjacent to each other and in contact with and pressed against each other by the annular first sealing element (64) and the annular second sealing element (67) together with its first axial support region (68) and second axial support region (70). The construction machine according to claim 4, characterized in that.

7. The construction machine according to any one of claims 2 to 6, characterized in that the first slide ring (60) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one first electrical unit (78) by a first connection line (88), and the second slide ring (62) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one second electrical unit (80) by a second connection line (92).

8. The construction machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the first connection line (88) is electrically conductively connected to the first slide ring (60) by material connection, or / and clamping, or / and screwing, and / or the second connection line (92) is electrically conductively connected to the second slide ring (62) by material connection, or / and clamping, or / and screwing. Claim 9. The construction machine according to claim 7, characterized in that the first connection line (88) is electrically conductively connected to the first sliding ring (60) by soldering, and / or clamping, and / or screwing, and / or the second connection line (92) is electrically conductively connected to the second sliding ring (62) by soldering, and / or clamping, and / or screwing.

10. Claim 10. The construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the conductive connection (82) includes a second conduction path (86), and the second conduction path (86) rotatably supports the rotating system area (24) around the rotation axis (D) in relation to a non-rotating system area (42) carried in relation to the machine frame (22), including at least one bearing unit (38, 40).

11. Claim 11. The construction machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) includes a rolling bearing having a bearing outer ring (72) made of an electrically conductive material, a bearing inner ring (74) made of an electrically conductive material, and a plurality of rolling elements (76) made of an electrically conductive material supported by the bearing outer ring (72) and the bearing inner ring (74).

12. Claim 12. The construction machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one first electrical unit (78) by a third connection line (96), and the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is electrically conductively connected to at least one second electrical unit (80) by a fourth connection line (98).

13. Claim 13. The construction machine according to claim 12, characterized in that the third connection line (96) includes at least one electrically conductive supporting structural element (36) of the rotatable system area (24).

14. Claim 14. The construction machine according to claim 13, characterized in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is supported radially and / or axially in at least one electrically conductive supporting structural element (36).

15. The construction machine according to claim 10, characterized in that the second conduction path (86) includes a roller drive motor (32).

16. The construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the non-rotating system area (42) is carried in the machine frame (22) by a number of elastic and electrically insulating suspension elements.

17. The construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the at least one first electrical unit (78) includes electrical equipment and / or the at least one second electrical unit (80) includes a power source.

18. The construction machine according to claim 17, characterized in that the electrical equipment includes a sensor and / or, and / or the power source includes a battery and / or a generator.

19. The construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the rotatable system area (24) includes a ground working roller (26).

20. In the ground working roller (26), a volume (53) having an unbalance assembly (48) with at least one unbalance mass (50, 52) rotatable around an unbalanced rotation axis (U) is sealed without leakage by the at least one sealing assembly (56). The construction machine according to claim 19, characterized in that.

21. The construction machine according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the construction machine is a compaction machine.

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