Construction machinery

Abstract

A construction machine, in particular a ground compaction machine, which includes at least one system area (24) capable of rotating around a rotational axis (D) in relation to a machine chassis (22) and at least one primary electrical unit (78) above the rotatable system area (24), where at least one primary electrical unit (78) is connected via a line connection (82) to transmit electricity to at least a second electrical unit (80) carried outside the rotatable system area (24) in relation to the machine chassis (22), the characteristic of which is that the line connection (82) includes a primary line path (84), where the primary line path (84) includes at least one sealing device (56) that tightly closes the rotatable system area (24) and the non-rotating system area (42) carried in relation to the machine chassis (22).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a construction machine, such as a soil compactor, with a system area rotatably mounted on a machine frame about an axis of rotation.

[0002] In a construction machine known from DE 10 2016 121 724 A1, designed as a soil compactor according to the preamble of claim 1, energy is wirelessly transferred by induction between a consumer of electrical energy arranged in a soil cultivation roller and a source of electrical energy arranged outside the soil cultivation roller.

[0003] From KR 2013 0064872 A, it is known, for example, in electrically powered vehicles, to transfer electrical energy by electromagnetic induction between rotating components of electric motors. For this purpose, a rotating coil is provided on a rotating component and a stationary coil is provided on a stationary, non-rotating component, between which energy can be transferred by electromagnetic interaction.

[0004] In a construction machine known from DE 25 33 962 A1, two slip rings are provided for the transmission of electrical energy to an eccentric element rotatably mounted on a vibrating shaft about an axis of rotation, providing two conductor paths on the vibrating shaft at an axial distance from each other. Each slip ring interacts with a contact that does not rotate with the vibrating shaft for coupling to a power source.

[0005] From DE 10 2022 200 513 B3, a radial sealing arrangement is known by means of which a rotating machine part can be sealed against a stationary machine part. The radial sealing arrangement comprises a radial sealing ring supported on the stationary machine part and preloaded against the outer circumferential surface of the rotating machine part.

[0006] In order to use the radial direction arrangement as a conduction path, the radial sealing ring can be designed to be electrically conductive.

[0007] The object of the present invention is to provide a construction machine in which an electrically conductive connection to a rotating system area can be provided in a simple and reliable manner. According to the invention, this object is achieved by a construction machine, in particular a soil compactor, as defined in claim 1. The construction machine comprises at least one system area rotatable about an axis of rotation with respect to a machine frame, and at least one first electrical unit on the rotatable system area, wherein the at least one first electrical unit is electrically connected by means of a conductor connection to at least one second electrical unit located outside the rotatable system area with respect to the machine frame.

[0008] The line connection includes a second line path, wherein the second line path comprises at least one bearing unit rotatably mounted about the axis of rotation in relation to a non-rotating system area supported in relation to the machine frame.

[0009] The line connection can further comprise a first line path, wherein the first line path comprises at least one sealing arrangement that tightly closes the rotatable system area with respect to a non-rotating system area supported by the machine frame.

[0010] The present invention utilizes components generally present on construction machinery to perform other functions, for the transmission of electrical energy or electrical signals between a rotatable system area of ​​a soil cultivation machine and areas outside this rotatable system area, i.e., a system area that does not rotate with the rotatable system area. The at least one sealing arrangement primarily ensures that an internal volume of the rotatable system area is sealed off from the outside, thus preventing, for example, the escape of lubricant and reliably preventing the ingress of contaminants into this volume area.

[0011] In an advantageous embodiment, the at least one sealing arrangement can comprise a mechanical seal, wherein the mechanical seal comprises a first sliding ring made of electrically conductive material, supported with respect to the rotatable system area, and a second sliding ring made of electrically conductive material, supported with respect to the non-rotating system area, wherein the first sliding ring and the second sliding ring are rotatably supported relative to each other about the axis of rotation in the direction of the axis of rotation. For reasons of stability and durability, the sliding rings are advantageously generally made of metal material, e.g., steel.

[0012] To ensure a defined positioning of the guide rings, it is proposed that the first sliding ring is supported by means of an annular first sealing element radially outwards with respect to the rotatable system area and in a first axial direction, and that the second sliding ring is supported by means of an annular second sealing element radially outwards with respect to the non-rotating system area and in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction.

[0013] In order to ensure a tight seal even in the area of ​​the sliding rings that are directly supported against each other, it can be provided that the first sliding ring has a first axial support area, and that the second sliding ring has a second axial support area that is axially supported on the first axial support area.

[0014] For example, to minimize stress, each support area of ​​the first axial support area and the second axial support area can comprise a support surface extending essentially radially.

[0015] The first sliding ring and the second sliding ring can be pressed together in axial contact by the ring-like first sealing element and the ring-like second sealing element with their first axial support area and second axial support area.

[0016] To establish the electrically conductive connection, it is further proposed that the first sliding ring be electrically connected to the at least one first electrical unit by means of a first connecting line, and that the second sliding ring be electrically connected to the at least one second electrical unit by means of a second connecting line. These connecting lines can be designed, for example, in the form of cables, busbars, or the like.

[0017] For stable contact, the first connecting line can be electrically connected to the first sliding ring by material connection, preferably soldering, and / or clamping or / and screwing, and / or the second connecting line can be electrically connected to the second sliding ring by material connection, preferably soldering, and / or clamping or / and screwing.

[0018] The at least one bearing unit can comprise a rolling element bearing with an outer bearing ring made of electrically conductive material, an inner bearing ring made of electrically conductive material, and a plurality of rolling elements made of electrically conductive material supported on the outer and inner bearing rings. For reasons of stability and durability, it is also advantageous for such bearing units if the various components are made of metallic material, e.g., steel.

[0019] For electrical contacting, the at least one storage unit can be electrically connected to the at least one first electrical unit by means of a third connecting line, and the at least one storage unit can be electrically connected to the at least one second electrical unit by means of a fourth connecting line.

[0020] Particularly when the second conductor path provides or is intended to provide the ground connection for the construction machine, it is advantageous if the third connecting conductor includes at least one electrically conductive, load-bearing structural element of the rotatable system area. The second conductor path can be provided, at least in part, by components already present in the rotatable system area.

[0021] For this purpose, it may be provided that at least one bearing unit is radially or axially supported on at least one electrically conductive, load-bearing structural element.

[0022] For example, it may also be provided that the second line path includes a roller drive motor in which a rotor area is rotatably supported relative to a stator area by means of one or more electrically conductive bearing units.

[0023] In order to suppress or reduce the transmission of vibrations between the rotating system area and the machine frame, it is proposed that the non-rotating system area be supported on the machine frame by means of a plurality of elastic, electrically insulating suspension elements.

[0024] The at least one first electrical unit can comprise a consumer of electrical energy, preferably a sensor and / or transmitter unit. Furthermore, the at least one second electrical unit can comprise a source of electrical energy, preferably a battery and / or generator.

[0025] Particularly when the construction machine is designed as a soil compactor, such as a self-propelled soil compactor, the rotating system area can include a soil cultivation roller.

[0026] By means of at least one sealing arrangement, a volume containing an unbalance arrangement with at least one unbalance mass rotatable about an unbalance axis can be tightly sealed in the soil cultivation roller.

[0027] The present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. These show: Fig. 1 shows a side view of a construction machine designed as a self-propelled soil compactor; Fig. 2 shows a longitudinal section view of a soil cultivation roller of the construction machine. Fig. 1 ; Fig. 3 an enlarged view of detail III in Fig. 2 Fig. 4 a perspective sectional view of a sliding ring seal of the soil cultivation roller of the construction machine of the Fig. 1 .

[0028] In Fig. 1 Figure 10 shows a side view of a construction machine 10 designed as a self-propelled soil compactor. The construction machine 10 comprises 12 driven wheels 14 on a rear chassis, which, driven by a drive unit provided on the rear chassis 12, move the soil compactor 10 over a subsoil 16 to be compacted. An operator's platform 18 is provided on the rear chassis 12, in which an operator of the soil compactor 10 can be seated.

[0029] A front carriage 20 of the soil cultivation machine 10 is articulated to the rear carriage 12 for steering purposes. A soil cultivation roller 26, which provides a rotatable system area 24 of the soil cultivation machine 10, is mounted on the front carriage 20, which essentially forms part of a machine frame 22 of the soil cultivation machine 10, around a plane of the drawing. Fig. 1 orthogonal roller rotation axis D rotatably supported.

[0030] The in Fig. 2 The soil cultivation roller 26, shown in longitudinal section, is also driven to rotate in the illustrated embodiment and has a roller drive motor 32 connected to a roller shell 30 via a disc-like support element 28, generally also referred to as a disc. A stator section of the roller drive motor 32 can be supported on the front carriage 20 by a plurality of elastic suspension elements (not shown), while a rotor section of the roller drive motor 32 is connected to the support element 28.

[0031] On another disc-shaped support element 34, a bearing for the soil cultivation roller 26 is located in its Fig. 2 The first bearing support element 36, which serves as a load-bearing structural element for the soil cultivation roller 26 and is visible on the right, is fixed, for example, by bolting. The first bearing support element 36 is connected to the first bearing support element 36 via two Fig. 3 Recognizable bearing units 38, 40, arranged at axial distances from one another, are supported by a second bearing support element 44, which provides one or part of a non-rotating system area 42. The second bearing support element 44 can, for example, be supported on the front carriage 20 by means of a plurality of elastic suspension elements.

[0032] A counterweight motor 46 is mounted on the second bearing support element 44. This motor drives a counterweight assembly 48, located inside the tillage roller 26, to rotate about a counterweight axis U corresponding to the roller's axis of rotation D in the illustrated embodiment. In the illustrated embodiment, the counterweight assembly 48 comprises two counterweight masses 50, 52 arranged axially apart from each other, with their center of mass eccentric to the counterweight axis of rotation U. The volume 53 inside the tillage roller 26, which essentially contains the counterweight assembly 48, is enclosed between the two disc-like support elements 34 by a cylindrical housing 54, which is connected to these elements, for example, by welding, and is thus also constructed of metal. This housing is particularly defined at the point where it is located in the Fig. 2 The part visible on the right is also completed by the first bearing support element 36.

[0033] To achieve a 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 axis of rotation D during soil cultivation, a Fig. 3 and in Fig. 4 A more detailed sealing arrangement 56 is provided. The sealing arrangement 56 comprises a mechanical seal 58 with two axially successive sliding rings 60, 62. The first sliding ring 60 is sealed tightly with respect to the rotatable system area 24, which essentially encompasses the soil cultivation roller 26, by means of a first sealing element 64, for example, an O-ring-like element. For this purpose, a sealing element support element 66 is fixed, for example, to the first bearing support element 36, on which the first sealing element 64 extends radially outwards with respect to the roller's axis of rotation D and axially in Fig. 3 is supported to the left. Likewise, the first sealing element 64 is radially inward and axially inward on the first sliding ring 60. Fig. 3 supported to the right.

[0034] The second sliding ring 62 is supported by an O-ring-like second sealing element 67 with respect to the second bearing support element 44. The second sealing element 67 is radially outward and in Fig. 3 supported to the right on the second bearing support element 44 and extends radially inwards and into Fig. 3 supported to the left on the second sliding ring 62.

[0035] The two sliding rings 60, 62 are axially supported against each other in the area of ​​a first axial support area 68 of the first sliding ring 60 and a second axial support area 70 of the second sliding ring 62. Each of the two axial support areas 68, 70 can, for example, be provided by a substantially radially extending ring-like support surface.

[0036] The axial preload generated by the two sealing elements 64, 67 axially preloads the two sliding rings 60, 62, which are directly supported against each other in their axial support areas 68, 70, so that they create a tight seal. The ingress of contaminants, particularly into volume 53, as well as the escape of lubricant from this volume and from the area of ​​the two bearing units 38, 40, can thus be reliably prevented by the sealing arrangement 56, which is designed as a mechanical seal 58.

[0037] Each of the two bearing units 38, 40 is designed as a rolling element bearing with an outer bearing ring 72, which is supported radially outwards and axially with respect to the second bearing support element 44, an inner bearing ring 74, which is supported radially inwards and axially with respect to the first bearing support element 36, and a plurality of rolling elements 76, for example balls, acting between them or rolling circumferentially on them. Like the two sliding rings 60, 62, the bearing rings 72, 74 and also the rolling elements 76 are made of metal material, e.g. steel, for reasons of stability and durability.

[0038] In Fig. 1 It is illustrated in principle that at least one first electrical unit 78 is arranged in the soil cultivation roller 26, which provides the rotatable system area 24 of the construction machine 10. The electrical unit 78 can, for example, comprise one or more sensors, such as accelerometers, to provide information about the movement state of the soil cultivation roller 26. The at least one first electrical unit 78 can alternatively or additionally comprise a transmitter / receiver unit configured to transmit and / or receive data in the form of electrical signals.

[0039] For example, at least one second electrical unit 80 is provided on the rear carriage 12 of the construction machine 10. The second electrical unit 80 can, for example, comprise a source of electrical energy. For example, the second electrical unit 80 can comprise a rechargeable battery of the construction machine 10, from which the first electrical unit 78 in the soil cultivation roller 26 is supplied with electrical energy via a schematically shown cable connection 82. Alternatively or additionally, the second electrical unit 80 can comprise a transmitter / receiver unit, which is configured to transmit and / or receive data in the form of electrical signals.

[0040] For example, the setup can be such that the first electrical unit 78 in the soil cultivation roller 26 is supplied with electrical energy from the second electrical unit 80 via the cable connection 82. The information provided by the first electrical unit 78, for example in the form of sensor signals, can be transmitted between the first electrical unit 78 and the second electrical unit 80 or a further electrical unit provided for this purpose, for example by radio and / or wirelessly via induction or possibly also via the cable connection 82.

[0041] In particular, for supplying the first electrical unit 78 with electrical energy from the second electrical unit 80, the line connection 82 comprises two in Fig. 3The basic conductive paths 84 and 86 are indicated. The first conductive path 84 can, for example, serve to connect the first electrical unit 78 to the positive terminal of the second electrical unit 80, which comprises a battery. The second conductive path 86 can serve to connect the first electrical unit 80 to the negative terminal of the second electrical unit 80, which also comprises a battery, or to connect it to the ground connection, which also includes the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10.

[0042] To guide the first conductor path 84 into the rotatable system area 24, i.e., the soil cultivation roller 26, it includes the sealing arrangement 56, which acts as a type of rotary feedthrough. The first sliding ring 60 of the sealing arrangement is electrically connected to the first electrical unit 78 by means of a first connecting line 88 of the first conductor path 84, which may be designed, for example, as a cable. For this purpose, the first connecting line 88 can, for example, be electrically and rigidly connected to the first sliding ring 60 by means of a clamping element 90. Alternatively or additionally, the first connecting line 88 can be electrically connected to the first sliding ring 60 by means of a screw connection or by a material connection, for example, soldering.

[0043] A second connecting line 92, for example designed as a cable, of the first conductor path 84 electrically connects the second sliding ring 62 to, for example, the positive terminal of the second electrical unit 80 comprising a battery. The second connecting line 92 can be permanently electrically connected to the second sliding ring 62 by a clamping element 94. Alternatively or additionally, the permanent electrically conductive connection between the second sliding ring 62 and the second connecting line 92 can be made by screwing or by a material connection, for example, soldering.

[0044] Since the two sliding rings 60, 62 are made of electrically conductive metal and are in direct contact with each other, current can flow in the first conduction path 84 between the two electrical units 78, 80 via the two connecting lines 88, 92 and the two sliding rings 60, 62 of the mechanical seal 58. Because the two guide rings 60, 62 are only supported by the sealing elements 64, 67 interacting with them with respect to the soil cultivation roller 26 and the machine frame 22, respectively, and thus have no direct contact with other components of the construction machine 10, they are electrically insulated by the sealing elements 64, 67, which are generally made of electrically insulating material, both with respect to the rotatable system area 24 and with respect to the machine frame 22. Therefore, there is no risk of a short circuit generated via the guide rings 60, 62.

[0045] The second conductor path 86, which serves, for example, to establish a ground connection, comprises at least one of the two bearing units 38, 40 as a type of rotary feedthrough. Since the two bearing units 38, 40 are fundamentally constructed of electrically conductive metal material and their inner bearing rings 74 bear against or are supported by the first bearing support element 36 and are thus in electrically conductive contact with it, the first bearing support element 36, as an electrically conductive, load-bearing structural element of the soil cultivation roller 26, can form part of a third connecting conductor 96 of the second conductor path 86. Other components of the soil cultivation roller 26, such as the support elements 28, 34 and the housing 54, can also form part of the third connecting conductor 96 as load-bearing structural elements of the soil cultivation roller 26. A negative connection orThe ground connection of the first electrical unit 78 can thus be directly connected to such a supporting structural element of the soil cultivation roller 26 and thus electrically connected to the two bearing units 38, 40 via the third connecting line 96.

[0046] A fourth connecting line 98 of the second line path 86 comprises the second bearing support element 44, which supports the two outer bearing rings 72 of the bearing units 38, 40 and is constructed of metal. As already described, for vibration decoupling, the second bearing support element 44 is supported by the front carriage 20 or the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10, as is the roller drive motor 32 positioned at the other axial end of the soil cultivation roller 26, via elastic and generally electrically insulating suspension elements. These can be designed, for example, as rubber buffers or the like.

[0047] To bridge this electrically insulating suspension area, the second conductor path 86, as part of the fourth connecting conductor 98, includes, for example, a cable that is electrically connected to the second bearing support element 44 on one side and, for example, to the front carriage 20 on the other, thus connecting the second bearing support element 44, which provides the non-rotating system area 42, to the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10. The machine frame 22, which is generally made of metal, can provide the ground area to which the negative terminal of the second electrical unit 80, comprising a battery, is connected.

[0048] The two conductor paths 84, 86 of the conductor connection 82 thus comprise, together with the sealing arrangement 56 and the two bearing units 38, 44 as rotary feedthroughs for the electrical current, effective system areas that are fundamentally present in such a construction machine 10. Costly and error-prone wireless transmission systems, particularly for supplying electrical energy to the rotatable system area 24, can therefore be dispensed with. It should be emphasized again that the conductor connection 82, comprising the two conductor paths 84, 86, can alternatively or additionally also be used to transmit data or information in general to and from the first electrical unit 78.

[0049] In particular, the second conductor path 86, which serves to establish an electrically conductive connection to the mass area of ​​the construction machine 10, can alternatively or additionally include the roller drive motor 32, instead of using one or both bearing units 38, 40. For example, its stator area can be connected to the front carriage 22 and thus to the machine frame 22 of the construction machine 10 via a cable that provides a component of the fourth conductor path 98, while the rotor area of ​​the roller drive motor 32 forms a component of the third connecting line 96 in the rotatable system area 24, i.e., the soil cultivation roller 26, which is coupled to electrically conductive, load-bearing structural elements of the same.Since the stator area of ​​the roller drive motor 32 is also rotatably coupled to the rotor area of ​​the same via one or more rolling element bearings, which are generally constructed with metal components, such bearing units present in the roller drive motor 32 can also be used as a rotary feedthrough for the second conductor path 86.

Claims

1. A construction machine, in particular a ground compactor, comprising at least one system region (24) which is rotatable about an axis of rotation (D) with respect to a machine frame (22) and at least one first electrical unit (78) on the rotatable system region (24), characterized in that the at least one first electrical unit (78) is electrically conductively connected by means of a line connection (82) to at least one second electrical unit (80) carried outside the rotatable system region (24) with respect to the machine frame (22), and in that the line connection (82) comprises a second line path (86), wherein the second line path (86) comprises at least one bearing unit (38, 40) which supports the rotating system region (24) rotatably about the axis of rotation (D) with respect to a non-rotating system region (42) carried with respect to the machine frame (22).

2. A construction machine according to claim 1, characterized in that the line connection (82) comprises a first line path (84), wherein the first line path (84) comprises at least one sealing arrangement (56) which tightly closes the rotatable system region (24) with respect to a non-rotating system region (42) carried with respect to the machine frame (22).

3. The construction machine according to claim 2, characterized in that the at least one sealing arrangement (56) comprises a mechanical seal (58), wherein the mechanical seal (58) comprises a first sliding ring (60) made of electrically conductive material supported with respect to the rotatable system region (24) and a second sliding ring (62) made of electrically conductive material supported with respect to the non-rotating system region (42), wherein the first sliding ring (60) and the second sliding ring (62) are supported on one another in the direction of the rotation axis (D) so as to be rotatable with respect to one another about the rotation axis (D).

4. The construction machine according to claim 3, characterized in that the first sliding ring (62) is supported by means of a ring-like first sealing element (64) with respect to the rotatable system region (24) radially outward and in a first axial direction, and in that the second sliding ring (62) is supported by means of a ring-like second sealing element (67) with respect to the non-rotating system region (42) radially outward and in a second axial direction opposite to the first axial direction.

5. The construction machine according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that the first sliding ring (60) has a first axial support region (68), and in that the second sliding ring (62) has a second axial support region (70) axially supported on the first axial support region (68).

6. The construction machine according to claim 5, characterized in that each support region of the first axial support region (68) and the second axial support region (70) comprises a substantially radially extending support surface.

7. The construction machine according to claim 4 and claim 5 or 6, characterized in that the first sliding ring (60) and the second sliding ring (62) are pressed into axial contact with one another by the ring-like first sealing element (64) and the ring-like second sealing element (67) with their first axial support region (68) and second axial support region (70).

8. The construction machine according to any one of claims 3-7, characterized in that the first sliding ring (60) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one first electrical unit (78) by means of a first connecting line (88), and in that the second sliding ring (62) is electrically conductively connected to the at least one second electrical unit (80) by means of a second connecting line (92).

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

10. The construction machine according to one of claims 1-9, characterized in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) comprises a rolling element bearing with a bearing outer ring (72) made of electrically conductive material, a bearing inner ring (74) made of electrically conductive material and a plurality of rolling elements (76) made of electrically conductive material supported on the bearing outer ring (72) and the bearing inner ring (74).

11. The construction machine according to one of claims 1-10, characterized in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is electrically connected to the at least one first electrical unit (78) by means of a third connecting line (96), and in that the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is electrically connected to the at least one second electrical unit (80) by means of a fourth connecting line (98).

12. The construction machine according to claim 11, characterized in that the third connecting line (96) comprises at least one electrically conductive, supporting structural element (36) of the rotatable system region (24), preferably wherein the at least one bearing unit (38, 40) is supported radially and / or axially on at least one electrically conductive, supporting structural element (36).

13. The construction machine according to any one of claims 1-12, characterized in that the second line path (86) comprises a roller drive motor (32), or / and in that the non-rotating system region (42) is supported on the machine frame (22) by means of a plurality of elastic, electrically insulating suspension elements.

14. The construction machine according to any one of claims 1-13, characterized in that the at least one first electrical unit (78) comprises a consumer of electrical energy, preferably a sensor and / or a transmitter unit, and / or in that the at least one second electrical unit (80) comprises a source of electrical energy, preferably a battery and / or a generator.

15. The construction machine according to any one of claims 1-14, characterized in that the rotatable system region (24) comprises a ground processing roller (26), preferably wherein a volume (53) in the ground processing roller (26) containing an unbalance arrangement (48) with at least one unbalance mass (50, 52) rotatable about an unbalance axis of rotation (U) is tightly sealed by the at least one sealing arrangement (56).