Vehicle

Abstract

A vehicle having a thick matter pump has multiple supporting devices, a rotatable mast assembly with part-mast members, and a hydraulic drive assembly with hydraulic drives for the supporting devices and the mast assembly. A valve assembly is provided for the hydraulic drive assembly. The valve assembly has a group of proportional valves and a group of switching valve devices which are each connected to at least one hydraulic drive of the supporting devices or the part-mast members. The switching valve devices are connected downstream of the proportional valves. Exactly one switching valve device is supplied by exactly one proportional valve and is connected downstream of exactly one proportional valve such that outputs of the proportional valves lead exclusively to inputs of the switching valve devices.

Claims

1.-15. (canceled)

16. A vehicle for a thick matter pump apparatus, comprising: at least two supporting devices for supporting and/or orienting the vehicle; a mast arrangement which is rotatable and which has several partial mast elements which are movable independently of one another; a hydraulic drive arrangement for the supporting devices and the mast arrangement which has hydraulic drives for in each case movement of the supporting devices and the movable partial mast elements; a valve arrangement in order to move one of the supporting devices and/or one of the partial mast elements via the hydraulic drive arrangement and its hydraulic drives, wherein the valve arrangement has a group of proportional valves for control of the hydraulic drive arrangement, the valve arrangement has a group of switching valve apparatuses which are connected in each case to at least one hydraulic drive of the supporting devices or the partial mast elements, the switching valve apparatuses are connected downstream of the proportional valves, precisely one switching valve apparatus or several switching valve apparatuses are supplied by precisely one proportional valve or are connected downstream of precisely one single proportional valve, outlets of the proportional valves lead exclusively to inlets of the switching valve apparatuses, each of the switching valve apparatuses has between two and five outputs, wherein each output leads to one of the hydraulic drives of the supporting devices or the mast arrangement, and in the case of each switching valve apparatus, precisely two outputs lead to the hydraulic drives of the supporting devices and precisely one output leads to the hydraulic drives of the mast arrangement.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein precisely one single switching valve apparatus is connected downstream in each case of precisely one single proportional valve.

18. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein all of the switching valve apparatuses have between one another the same setting possibilities and adjustment possibilities.

19. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein all of the proportional valves have between one another the same setting possibilities and adjustment possibilities.

20. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein each of the switching valve apparatuses has three or four outputs.

21. The vehicle according to claim 20, wherein several outputs are arranged on each switching valve apparatus in a row, the outputs at the start of the row and at the end of the row lead to one of the hydraulic drives of the supporting devices, and a central output of the row leads to one of the hydraulic drives of the mast arrangement.

22. The vehicle according to claim 16, further comprising: a selector operating mode valve connected upstream of the group of proportional valves coming from an oil pump, wherein a single oil feed to the oil pump including an inlet module is connected upstream of the selector operating mode valve.

23. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the selector operating mode valve is formed to adjust all of the switching valve apparatuses simultaneously and in the same manner between in each case a position for an output.

24. The vehicle according to claim 23, wherein an adjustment of the switching valve apparatuses adjusts, via the selector operating mode valve, said switching valve apparatuses for actuation of hydraulic drives only of the supporting devices on one hand or only of the mast arrangement on the other hand.

25. The vehicle according to claim 24, wherein, within the hydraulic drives of the supporting devices, a differentiation is made into precisely two groups between supporting devices on a left-hand side of the vehicle and supporting devices on a right-hand side of the vehicle, wherein the two sides are not jointly and/or simultaneously adjustable.

26. The vehicle according to claim 25, further comprising: a monitoring apparatus which ascertains whether all of the switching valve apparatuses are in a same position so as to actuate only hydraulic drives of the supporting devices or only hydraulic drives of the mast arrangement or a separate group of hydraulic drives, wherein the monitoring apparatus closes a safety valve in the event that not all of the switching valve apparatuses are in the same position, which safety valve is connected upstream of the proportional valves, and also is connected upstream of the selector operating mode valve so that the entire valve arrangement cannot bring about any pressure change or any actuation for one of the hydraulic drives of the hydraulic drive arrangement.

27. The vehicle according to claim 26, wherein the monitoring apparatus has means for hydraulic feedback, the means for hydraulic feedback lead from each switching valve apparatus through all pre-selector valves of the switching valve apparatuses in such a manner that they form a feedback line to the safety valve, the feedback line is open in the event that all the pre-selector valves of all the switching valve apparatuses are in the same position, and the feedback line is interrupted in the event that at least one pre-selector valve of a switching valve apparatus is in a different position to at least one pre-selector valve of a different switching valve apparatus.

28. The vehicle according to claim 22, wherein the switching valve apparatuses and/or the selector operating mode valve are actuatable electrically via an actuation apparatus, and the actuation apparatus has operating elements for an operator, wherein the actuation apparatus is provided at a central, joint point of the vehicle.

29. The vehicle according to claim 28, wherein the actuation apparatus is at a distance of at least 1 m from the supporting devices and the mast arrangement.

30. The vehicle according to claim 16, wherein all proportional valves and all switching valve apparatuses are arranged on the joint valve carrier, and the valve carrier has a carrier plate for fastening the proportional valves and switching valve apparatuses.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] An exemplary embodiment of the invention is represented schematically in the drawings and is explained in greater detail below.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a simplified schematic representation of a vehicle according to an embodiment of the invention as a so-called concrete pump with supports and a mast arrangement,

[0031] FIG. 2 shows a highly simplified representation of a valve arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention for the vehicle from FIG. 1 with a group of proportional valves, downstream of which a group of switching valves are connected,

[0032] FIG. 3 shows a detailed representation of the structure of the hydraulic arrangement including various actuation possibilities for the supports and the mast arrangement, and

[0033] FIG. 4 shows a slightly enlarged representation of the valve arrangement from FIG. 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EXEMPLARY EMBODIMENTS

[0034] FIG. 1 represents a vehicle 11 which is also known as a so-called concrete pump.

[0035] Vehicle 11 has a driver's cabin 12 at the front and at the rear a large utility surface 14. Two supports 16 are provided at the front and two supports 17 are provided at the rear on the utility surface, two on each side which are formed in the familiar manner. A support 161 at the front left is represented which can also be extended to different lengths, as is also illustrated below. A support 171 is provided at the rear left. Both supports 16 and 17 can be pivoted in a horizontal plane in a certain range and can be extended to different widths downwards.

[0036] A mast arrangement 20 is provided on utility surface 14, with four mast elements 21b to 21e on a rotary table 23. Mast elements 21b-e are folded together for transport, in FIG. 3 they are folded apart at least schematically.

[0037] At the rear on vehicle 11, a pump module 25 is provided into which concrete is poured from above and which then pumps in a familiar manner this poured concrete or generally thick matter through a movable line along mast arrangement 20 or its mast elements 21.

[0038] An operating field 27 is furthermore provided as an above-mentioned actuation apparatus or operating point on utility surface 14. In addition, a valve arrangement 30 is represented schematically which, however, does not necessarily have to be visible. The valves thereof are actuated by means of operating field 27.

[0039] In the simplified representation according to FIG. 2, a valve arrangement 30 is represented in detail. A hydraulic pump 32 is represented at the bottom right, which hydraulic pump 32 pumps hydraulic fluid with pressure into valve arrangement 30. Valve arrangement 30 has a valve carrier plate 34 on which proportional valves 36 are arranged or mounted in the lower region and, in the upper region, switching valves 40 as a group.

[0040] Each of proportional valves 36a to 36e which have in each case an actuation 37a to 37e proceeds in each case to precisely one downstream switching valve 40a to 40e, and indeed directly. Proportional valves 36a to 36e and switching valves 40a to 40e are in each case formed to be identical. Proportional valves 36a to 36e are advantageously formed as pressure-compensated proportional valves.

[0041] Switching valves 40a to 40e have in each case three outlets which are arranged identical in the case of all the switching valves. It is possible to switch between the three outlets by means of an adjustable valve 41a to 41e for each switching valve 40a to 40e. All valves 41a to 41e are moved simultaneously by a joint activating apparatus 43 and also moved in a similar manner. An actuator 44 is provided for this purpose. Actuator 44 is, just like actuation 37a to 37e of proportional valves 36, connected to in each case one of several operating elements 28 of operating field 27 for actuation.

[0042] The lowermost output of switching valves 40a to 40e proceeds to group Al of left-hand supports 161 and 171. Central outputs M all proceed to mast arrangement 20 including rotary table 23. Uppermost outputs Ar proceed to right-hand supports 16r and 17r represented at the top right in FIG. 3.

[0043] As a result of the simultaneous adjustment according to the invention and described above within switching valves 40a to 40e, it is thus ensured that either only the left-hand supports, only the mast arrangement including rotary table or only the right-hand supports can be actuated or their hydraulic drives. A feedback line explained above or feedback is not yet installed or not represented here.

[0044] In the position represented in FIG. 2 of valves 41a to 41e in the central position for mast arrangement 20 or rotary table 23, in each case a hydraulic drive of mast arrangement 20 or rotary table 23 can be driven by means of proportional valves 36a to 36e. This is clearly apparent top center in FIG. 3. First switching valve 40a is responsible for rotary table 23 in the central position for mast arrangement M. In the lower position, it is responsible for right-hand supports Ar, and indeed for the horizontal extension of front right-hand support 16r. In the uppermost position, it is responsible for the horizontal extension of left-hand front support 161 or actuates the corresponding hydraulic drive. If switching valve 40a is located in one of three positions, either rotary table 23 with mast arrangement 20 can thereupon be rotated in one or the other direction by corresponding activation of precisely and directly assigned proportional valve 36a by means of operating field 27. In one of the two other positions, either left-hand front support 161 or right-hand front support 16r can be further extended or further retracted in the horizontal direction. It is clear here that associated proportional valve 36 must be depressurized prior to adjustment of switching valve 40.

[0045] Second switching valve 40b is, in central position M, connected to first, lowermost mast element 21b or its hydraulic drive. In the upper position, it is connected to left-hand front support 161 or the hydraulic drive in order to extend it downwards in the vertical direction. In the lower position, it is connected to the hydraulic drive of right-hand front support 16r in order to move it in the vertical direction.

[0046] Third switching valve 40c is, in central position M, connected to second mast element 21c or its hydraulic drive, as is apparent. In the upper position, it is connected to the hydraulic drive of left-hand rear support 171 in order to extend it in the vertical direction. In the lower position, it is connected to the hydraulic drive of right-hand rear support 17r for vertical movement.

[0047] Fourth switching valve 40d is, in central position M, connected to third mast element 21d or its hydraulic drive. In the upper position, it is connected to a hydraulic drive for horizontal pivoting of left-hand front support 161. In the lower position, it is connected to the hydraulic drive for right-hand front support 16r in order to pivot it to and fro in the horizontal plane.

[0048] Fifth switching valve 40e is, in central position M, connected to the hydraulic drive for fourth, last mast element 21e. In the upper position, it is connected to the hydraulic drive for left-hand rear support 171 in order to pivot it in the horizontal plane. In the lowermost position of its valve, it is connected to the hydraulic drive for right-hand rear support 17r in order to pivot it in the horizontal plane.

[0049] It is thus clear that either mast arrangement 20 or its four mast elements 21b to 21e or rotary table 23 can be actuated or their hydraulic drives in each of the three positions of valves 41 of switching valves 40. In a further position, all supports 161 and 171 can be moved on the left-hand side of vehicle 11, and in a yet further position, all right-hand supports 16r and 17r can be moved.

[0050] The exact hydraulic circuit diagram is apparent from the detailed representation, already partially described above, of valve arrangement 30. It is apparent how in each case precisely one single switching valve 40a to 40e is connected directly downstream of each proportional valve 36a to 36e. Proportional valves 36a to 36e and switching valves 40a to 40e are also in actual fact advantageously mounted on a joint valve carrier plate, which is not represented here. Here, valve arrangement 30 also has at the bottom right an inlet module 46 and, connected downstream thereof, a selector operating mode valve 48. Two electric pilot valves 50 are provided at the top right.

[0051] In order to ensure, as has been mentioned above, that all switching valves 40a to 40e or their valves 41a to 41e are in the same position, so that an operator knows precisely which hydraulic drive or which functional unit is activated by activating corresponding proportional valve 36a to 36e via operating field 27, here a hydraulic feedback 52 is represented by a dashed line. It goes through all switching valves 40a to 40e and is only closed if all switching valves 40a to 40e are actually in the same position. Only then is in each case one of the above-mentioned groups actuated. The hydraulic feedback is otherwise interrupted, and as a result it can be provided that none of proportional valves 36a to 36e can be opened. A fault message should furthermore be output visually and/or acoustically, optimally at least on operating field 27, particularly advantageously, however, also at a further point.

[0052] As a result of the direct connection of switching valves 40a to 40e downstream of proportional valves 36a to 36e, advantageously with short line lengths therebetween, a compact valve arrangement 30 which can easily be overseen and is easy to maintain can be created.