Soil Compaction Device

Abstract

A compaction device for compacting a soil region includes at least one vibration unit and/or oscillation unit able to be driven by an electric drive motor. A soil contacting unit comprises at least one soil contacting element in contact with the soil region. The soil contacting unit comprises at least the electric drive motor and the vibration unit and/or the oscillation unit. At least one power supply unit supplies the electric drive motor with electric drive power. At least one electric plug device for releasably and electrically connecting the electric drive motor is provided between the electric drive motor and the power supply unit. At least one fixing device for releasably and mechanically fixing to the power supply unit is provided between the soil contacting element of the soil contacting unit and the power supply unit.

Claims

1. A soil compaction device for compacting a soil region, comprising: a driven device comprising at least one of a vibration unit and an oscillation unit; an electric motor that is configured to drive the driven device, wherein the electric drive motor is configured as one of an electric linear motor and as an electric motor having a rotor rotatable about a rotation axis; at least one power supply unit that supplies the electric drive motor with electric power; at least one of an electric plug device and a first coupling device releasably that electrically couples the electric drive motor and the power supply unit and that is provided between the electric drive motor and the power supply unit; and a soil contacting unit comprising at least one soil contacting element, wherein the soil contacting element is configured to contact with the soil region, and wherein the soil contacting unit comprises at least the electric drive motor and the driven device; and at least one of a fixing device and a second coupling device for releasably and mechanically coupling the soil contacting element of the soil contacting unit to the power supply unit, wherein the at least one of the fixing device and the second coupling device is provided between the soil contacting element of the soil contacting unit and the power supply unit.

2. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, further comprising a flexible electric cable provided between at least one of the electric plug device and the first coupling device and the electric drive motor.

3. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a spacing is provided between the at least one of the electric plug device and the first coupling device and at least one of the fixing device and the second coupling device such that the at least one of the electric plug device and the first coupling device and the at least one of the fixing device and the second coupling device are configured as separate components.

4. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit has at least one support frame, and further comprising at least one handle for holding the soil compaction device during an operating phase of the soil compaction device, the handle being disposed on the support frame.

5. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 4, wherein at least one of the power supply unit and the support frame has at least a first fixing device of at least one of the fixing device and the second coupling device, wherein the soil contacting unit has a second fixing device, and wherein the first and the second fixing devices are able to be releasably fixed to one another.

6. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the soil contacting unit is configured as a separately manageable soil module, and wherein the power supply unit is configured as a separately manageable, replaceable power module.

7. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises at least one rechargeable electric storage unit.

8. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises at least one internal combustion engine, the internal combustion engine being at least one of a diesel engine, a gas engine, and a turbine.

9. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises at least one electric generator for converting dynamic energy to electric power.

10. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises at least one inverter for converting DC to AC.

11. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises at least one of a mains connector and a mains cable for connecting to a grid.

12. The soil compaction device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the power supply unit comprises at least one fuel cell unit for generating electric power from hydrogen or methane and at least one of oxygen and air.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0041] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawing and will be explained in more detail hereunder via the figures.

[0042] FIGS. 1A and 1B show a first vibratory plate according to the invention illustrated in a schematic manner, having an internal combustion engine with an electric generator as the power supply of a soil module;

[0043] FIGS. 2A and 2B shows a second vibratory plate according to the invention illustrated in a schematic manner, having an internal combustion engine with an electric generator as well as having a current converter as the power supply of the soil module;

[0044] FIGS. 3A and 3B show a third vibratory plate according to the invention illustrated in a schematic manner, having at least one electric storage unit as well as optionally having a current converter as the power supply of the soil module;

[0045] FIGS. 4A and 4B show a fourth vibratory plate according to the invention illustrated in a schematic manner, having the internal combustion engine with an electric generator as well as having a current converter and having an electric storage unit as the energy supply of the soil module;

[0046] FIGS. 5A and 5B show a fifth vibratory plate according to the invention illustrated in a schematic manner, having at least one electric storage unit as well as a mains connector and optionally having a current converter as the power supply of the soil module;

[0047] FIGS. 6A and 6B show a sixth vibratory plate according to the invention illustrated in a schematic manner, having a current converter and having a mains connector as well as optionally having a current converter as a power supply of the soil module;

[0048] FIG. 7 shows a first rammer according to the invention illustrated in a schematic manner, having at least one electric storage unit as well as optionally having a current converter as the energy supply of a rammer soil module; and

[0049] FIG. 8 shows a second rammer according to the invention illustrated in a schematic manner, having an internal combustion engine with an electric generator as well as optionally having a current converter as the power supply of the rammer soil module.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0050] Illustrated in a schematic manner in FIGS. 1A to 6B are different vibratory plates 1 having different power supply modules 2 as well as the same or identical, respectively, soil module 3 in a connected state/operation, on the one hand, and in the mutually released/separated state, on the other hand.

[0051] Accordingly illustrated in a schematic manner in FIGS. 7 and 8 are different rammers 10 having different power supply modules 20 as well as the same or identical, respectively, rammer soil module 30 in a connected state/operation, on the on the one hand, and in a mutually released/separated state, on the other hand.

[0052] The soil modules 3, or rammer soil modules 30, respectively, thus have in each case a soil plate 4 or 40, respectively, as well as in each case at least one oscillation or a vibration exciter 5 or 50, respectively, having an electric drive motor.

[0053] The soil module 3 of the vibratory plates 1, or the rammer base module 30 of the rammers 10, respectively, are in each case of identical configuration. Only the power supply, or the respective power supply module 2 or 20, respectively, are of different configurations. A replacement of the respective power supply modules 2 or 20, respectively, can thus be advantageously implemented.

[0054] According to FIGS. 1A and 1B, an internal combustion engine 6 drives an electric generator 7 which supplies electric power suitable for directly driving an electric motor of the exciter or exciters 5. Individual exciters 5 or combinations of a plurality of exciters 5 are possible. Optionally, an electric motor as the drive of the oscillation exciter 5 can also be part of this exciter 5 per se.

[0055] According to FIGS. 2A and 2B, a/the internal combustion engine 6 in turn drives a/the generator 7 which supplies electric power to the exciter 5. This power is fed into an electronics unit 9, or a current converter 9, in particular an AC/DC converter 9 and/or DC/AC converter 9. The type of current, i.e. AC or DC, suitable for operating the electric motor is advantageously provided here. Electric power storage units 8 here can be conjointly used for temporarily storing the generated current. Individual exciters 5, or combinations of a plurality of exciters 5, are again possible.

[0056] A further variant of the invention having one or a plurality of storage units 8, or rechargeable batteries 8, respectively, is illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3B. The power storage unit 8 delivers the electric power to an electronics unit, or a current converter 9, respectively, which provides the type of current suitable for operating the electric motor of the exciter 5.

[0057] The variant according to FIGS. 4A and 4B differs from the variant according to FIGS. 2A and 2B substantially in that an additional storage battery, or a/the additional electric storage unit 8, respectively, is integrated in the power supply unit 2. This power module 2 thus has a so-called range extender by way of which a longer running time or operating time, respectively, is able to be implemented.

[0058] The exemplary embodiments according to FIGS. 5A to 6B advantageously have a mains connector 11 in order to implement a mains supply. Charging of the storage unit 8, or a temporary storage, respectively, and/or a direct supply of energy to the exciter 5 can be implemented here.

[0059] In principle, it is advantageous for the electric connection, or an electric plug connection 12, or an electric cable 13 having a plug 12 of the soil module 3, respectively, to be advantageously connected (without tools), for example in that the plug 12 can be plugged into a socket 14 of the power module 2 and unplugged again.

[0060] Alternatively or in combination, this electrical connecting can however also be implemented with the aid of an advantageous electric connection or coupling, respectively, not only by way of plugs, or in the usual manner by way of fixedly connected/plug cables, respectively, but this electric connection can also be implemented in a magnetic and/or capacitive (contactless) manner, for example. The two components of the plug/socket or of the first coupling device, respectively, to be connected can thus magnetically adhere/hold on to one another, and current, or electric power, respectively, for the drive motor or for the soil module 3, respectively, could moreover be transmitted by way of the magnetic contact faces.

[0061] Moreover, the soil module 3 and the power module 2 are advantageously connected to one another in a releasable manner via, for example, four fixing devices 15, or a buffers 15, respectively. The buffers 15 to this end optionally have in each case two buffer elements 16 and 17, wherein a lower buffer element 16 is firmly fixed to the soil module 3 and an upper buffer elements 17 is firmly fixed to the power module 2. The buffers 15, or buffer elements 16 and 17, respectively, have identical fixing spacings such that the different power modules according to FIGS. 1A-6B all are compatible with the soil module 3, or interchangeable, respectively.

[0062] A fixing not illustrated in more detail, for example a screw fitting, a bracing, a latching fit, or the like, for fixing the buffers 15, or the tool buffer element 16 and 17, respectively, to one another is not illustrated in more detail in FIGS. 1A-6B only for reasons of clarity.

[0063] According to the invention, a flexible system can thus be implemented as a kit in which as many identical parts as possible reduce the complexity and the costs of the overall machine. The machines illustrated possess identical soil modules 3, or lower masses, respectively, and electric exciters 5, independently of the drive source utilized for operating the machine.

[0064] The exciters 5 can have electric motors as a drive, or exciters 5 operating in a linear manner. The machine is completed in that an electric current source is installed/carried on board in the power module 2 or on the upper mass (one or a plurality of upper masses being possible), said current source providing the type of current suitable for driving the exciter motor.

[0065] Accordingly illustrated in FIGS. 7 and 8 is in each case a rammer 10, wherein the rammer soil module 30 comprises an electric oscillation exciter 50 having an electric motor. A power module 2 as alternative or interchangeable modules, respectively, comprises either an internal combustion engine 60 having a generator 70 and an optional converter 70, according to FIG. 8, or an electric storage unit 80 having an optional converter 90, according to FIG. 7, for supplying power to the exciter 50.

[0066] According to the invention here, the exciter 50 is fixedly integrated in the soil module 30; a frame 18 having a handle 19 is likewise integrated in the soil module 30 here. The mechanical fixing, or the fixing device 21, respectively, here is on the frame 18, and the electric plug connection 22 via the line 13 here is advantageously on the exciter 50.

[0067] According to the invention, a cost-effective and ecologically forward-looking kit system for vibratory plates and/or rammers can thus be implemented, in which the upper mass of the machine supports the mechanical or electric power source, and the lower mass supports the drive system and the oscillation exciter or exciters.

[0068] In the case of a plurality of vibration exciters 5, the latter when in operation can advantageously be individually switched on, switched off or toggled in order for the resulting motion vectors of the machine to be suitably controlled.

[0069] In various exemplary embodiments of the invention, the following are to be mentioned inter alia as particular advantages: [0070] very simple and cost-effective construction; [0071] no frequency inverters; [0072] no start-up control of the vibration exciters 5 (because of the self-acting start-up of the asynchronous machine); and [0073] no vector control (because of the auto-synchronization of the asynchronous machines in the energized operation).

[0074] The use of other types of motors for the vibration exciters 5 is of course also possible. For example, synchronous machines such as the synchronous reluctance motor, the switched reluctance motor or the BLDC motor may be used, wherein hybrids such as the reluctance motor, which represents a combination of the synchronous machine and an asynchronous machine, are also conceivable. Likewise possible are EC motors, DC machines, and universal motors.

[0075] It is moreover also noted that FIGS. 2A and 2B in principle describe the same approach as is schematically illustrated in FIGS. 1A and 1B, but the type of current generated by the internal combustion engine 6 with a generator 7 by way of an electronics unit is completely or partially converted to another type of current which advantageously enables the operation of the coupled vibration exciters 5, or renders the latter controllable.

[0076] FIGS. 3A and 3B in a similar manner describe the approach of FIGS. 2A and 2B, wherein the power required for operating the vibration exciters 5 is not supplied by an internal combustion engine 6 with a generator 7, but by one or a plurality of power storage units 8 which are assembled on the upper mass, or the power module 2, respectively, and have an electronics unit 9 connected thereto, according to FIGS. 2A and 2B. The power storage 8 assembled or present on the upper mass, respectively, can also be embodied so as to be removable.

[0077] FIGS. 4A and 4B furthermore describe a variant of FIGS. 3A and 3B, but a current generator is additionally used as a so-called range extender in order for the energy storage unit 8 to be recharged when required.

[0078] FIGS. 5A and 5B describe a machine which is comparable to that of FIGS. 3A and 3Bf and able to be connected to a grid that partially or completely handles the supply of the previously described vibration exciters 5 with electric power. The combination of an energy storage unit 8 and a charging unit is also possible here.

[0079] FIGS. 6A and 6B describe a machine which again is comparable to that of FIGS. 3A and 3B and is able to be connected to a grid that handles the supply of the previously described vibration exciters 5 with electric power.

[0080] Consequently, FIGS. 1A to 6B all also show a combination of a base machine, or a soil module 3, respectively, or an electric lower mass, respectively, and a “power box”, or power module 2 which is the upper mass or is in the latter and contains the power providers described in the context of FIGS. 1A to 6B, this combination being able to be carried out by a user of the vibratory plate 1, for example. Created as a result is a vibratory plate 1 which, depending on the task, can be correspondingly equipped by the operator on site.

[0081] In general, further advantageous variants or features, respectively, can be implemented individually and/or in combination with one another, respectively: [0082] combination of independent systems composed of a rechargeable battery, a current inverter, a charger; [0083] current inverter for generating, for example, 115 V/60 Hz, or 230 V/50 Hz, integrated in the rechargeable battery block, wherein the rechargeable battery block can furthermore be utilized as a mobile rechargeable battery; [0084] optionally having a charging function for the dedicated rechargeable battery or else third-party rechargeable batteries; [0085] combinations with H2 fuel cells; [0086] use of DC voltage components (rechargeable battery—motor); [0087] subdividing the lower mass into a plurality of lower masses; and/or [0088] subdividing the upper mass into a plurality of upper masses—also as a third plane.