System and coupling device for automatically coupling a mobile machine, in particular a container-stacking crane, to a mobile consumer supply system, and a coupling therefor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016347586-A1
Application number	US-201515116747-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Feb 4, 2015
Priority date	Feb 4, 2014
Publication date	Dec 1, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A system ( 10 ) for automatically docking a container stacker crane ( 11 ), in particular a RTG, to a movable supply, having a docking device ( 14 ) with a transverse advancer unit ( 16 ) and an extendable extension arm ( 20 ) of which an end portion ( 22 ) can be advanced transversely to the movable supply and connects thereto.
According to the invention, an energy guiding chain ( 12 ) with an entrainment member ( 24 ) serves as a movable supply. A mechanical coupling is proposed with a coupling piece ( 26 ) on the end portion ( 22 ) and a coupling counterpart ( 28 ) on the entrainment member ( 24 ). The entrainment member ( 24 ) floatingly supports ( 34 ) the coupling counterpart ( 28 ) with transverse play. A plug connector ( 30 ) on said end portion ( 22 ) cooperates with a socket ( 32 ) on the entrainment member ( 24 ). The mechanical coupling has a coupling piece ( 26 ) configured as a funnel ( 40 ) and a cooperating coupling counterpart ( 28 ) configured as coupling head ( 42 ). The coupling head ( 42 ) includes at least one extension ( 44 ), which cooperates with the funnel ( 40 ) and/or a locking bolt ( 46 ) for securing perpendicular to the longitudinal direction. The locking bolt ( 46 ) cooperates with the extension ( 44 ) for securing in the longitudinal direction, and for securing the coupling head ( 42 ) in a fixed position.

First claim

1 . System for automatically docking a mobile machine, in particular a container stacker crane, to a movable supply, the system comprising:
a docking device with a transverse advancer unit and an extendable extension arm, wherein an end portion of the extension arm can be advanced transversely to the movable supply and the end portion is designed or equipped for connecting to the movable supply; characterized by an energy guiding chain serving as a movable supply and including an entrainment member; a mechanical coupling including a coupling piece on the end portion of the extension arm and a coupling counterpart on the entrainment member of the energy guiding chain cooperating for position fixing; and by a plug connector on said end portion and a cooperating socket on the entrainment member which can be coupled for supplying said machine, in particular with energy.

2 . System according to claim 1 , characterized by a guide channel for the energy guiding chain in which the energy guiding chain can be deposited and which defines a route, in particular a route running linearly as far as possible.

3 . System according to claim 2 , characterized in that said guide channel of the energy guiding chain forms a mechanical longitudinal guide for the entrainment member and receives lateral forces.

4 . System according to claim 2 , characterized in that the guide channel includes a weather protection and a lateral longitudinal gap for the docking device.

5 . System for automatically docking a mobile machine, in particular a container stacker crane, to a movable supply, the system comprising:
a docking device with a transverse advancer unit and an extendable extension arm, wherein an end portion of the extension arm can be advanced transversely to the movable supply and the end portion is designed or equipped for connecting to the movable supply; characterized in that an energy guiding chain with an entrainment member is provided as a movable supply; that a coupling piece is provided on the end portion of the extension arm and a cooperating coupling counterpart is provided on the entrainment member the coupling piece and the coupling counterpart forming a mechanical coupling; and that the entrainment member floatingly supports the coupling counterpart with lateral play transversely to the energy guiding chain.

6 . System according to claim 1 , characterized in that an advancing control is provided which cooperates with a detector arrangement on the entrainment member and with the transverse advancer unit, for adjusting the horizontal position of the end portion during operation, wherein said advancing control is in particular designed as an open-loop control or as closed-loop control and is designed for triggering an emergency stop or automatic undocking of the entrainment member before the extension arm is retracted or extended up to the limit stop.

7 . System according to claim 6 , characterized in that the detector arrangement comprises proximity switches provided on both sides of the entrainment member, which proximity switches can be connected to an advancing control or to the advancing control through a plug connector on the docking device.

8 . System according to claim 1 , characterized in that the range of the extendable extension arm is at least three times, the horizontal play on the entrainment member, the horizontal play amounting to 25% to 100% of the width of the energy guiding chain.

9 . System according to claim 1 , characterized in that the energy guiding chain carries one or more supply lines, in particular electric current supply lines, optical data transmission lines and/or one more hose pipes for media supply, in particular for supplying liquid or gaseous operating media, which supply lines can be automatically docked by said docking device.

10 . Use of a system according to claim 1 , for the power supply of a vehicle, in particular of a container stacker crane having rubber tires.

11 . Docking device for automatically docking a mobile machine, in particular a container stacker crane, to a movable supply, the docking device comprising:
a transverse advancer unit with an extendable extension arm by which an end portion of the extension arm can be advanced transversely to the movable supply; and a vertical advancer unit by which the end portion can be vertically advanced; characterized in that on the end portion of the extension arm a coupling piece is provided that can be connected to a coupling counterpart on the entrainment member of an energy guiding chain, the coupling piece being configured in a manner so as to cooperate with the coupling counterpart for position fixing; and that on the end portion of the extension arm a plug connector for supplying the machine, in particular with energy, is provided for a cooperating socket on the entrainment member.

12 . Docking device according to claim 11 , characterized in that the same comprises a longitudinal advancer unit with which the end portion, if necessary together with the horizontal and/or vertical advancer units, can be advanced in the longitudinal direction.

13 . Docking device according to claim 11 , characterized in that position transmitters are provided on the end portion, for determining the horizontal and vertical positions, the position transmitters in particular cooperating with an advancing control.

14 . Docking device according to claim 11 , characterized in that the plug connector is operatively connected to an independent drive, in particular for advancing parallel to the horizontal advancing direction so that the plug connection can be produced independently, in particular during or after the connection of the coupling pieces.

15 . Mechanical coupling, in particular for a docking device according to claim 11 , comprising a coupling piece configured as a funnel and a cooperating coupling counterpart configured as coupling head as well as locking bolt for mechanically locking the coupling head in the funnel, the coupling head being at least partly insertable in the funnel in a longitudinal direction;
characterized in that the coupling head includes at least one extension which for securing perpendicular to the longitudinal direction cooperates with the funnel and/or the locking bolt in a form-locking manner and the locking bolt cooperates with said at least one extension for securing in the longitudinal direction, the coupling head after locking being fixed to the funnel in a fixed position.

16 . Mechanical coupling according to claim 15 , characterized in that the funnel includes a seat, which secures the at least one extension against twisting.

17 . Mechanical coupling according to claim 15 characterized in that two bollard-shaped extensions are provided, with a bulge being provided on the upper end of each extension.

18 . Mechanical coupling according to claim 15 , characterized in that the at least one extension can be at least partially inserted in the funnel in a longitudinal direction and that centering slopes for the insertion of the extension are provided on the funnel.

Assignees

• Igus Gmbh

Inventors

• Hermey Andreas
• Barten Dominik
• Howold Philip

Classifications

• B60L11/1801

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic

• B60L2200/40

  Working vehicles · CPC title

• B66C19/00

  Cranes comprising trolleys or crabs running on fixed or movable bridges or gantries (B66C17/00 takes precedence; base supporting structures with legs B66C5/00; jib cranes B66C23/00) · CPC title

• B66C13/12 Primary

  Arrangements of means for transmitting pneumatic, hydraulic, or electric power to movable parts of devices · CPC title

• B66C19/007 Primary

  for containers · CPC title