CABLE WINCH

Abstract

The invention relates to a cable winch comprising a cable drum onto which a cable can be wound, a temperature measuring device being provided to measure the temperature of the cable drum.

Claims

1. A cable winch comprising: a cable drum configured to have a cable wound onto the cable drum; and a temperature measuring device for measuring a temperature of the cable drum.

2. The cable winch of claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring device is on a gear unit side of the cable drum for determining the temperature of a cable drum portion surrounding or adjacent to a winch transmission.

3. The cable winch of claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring device comprises at least one stationary temperature sensor with respect to which the cable drum is rotatable.

4. The cable winch of claim 3, wherein the at least one stationary temperature sensor is arranged at least partially on an outer side on an end face of the cable drum.

5. The cable winch of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to operate in a contactless manner and is directed with a detection region of the temperature sensor toward a guard plate base portion of the cable drum.

6. The cable winch of claim 1, further comprising at least one temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member, wherein the at least one temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member is at least partially received in a cavity of the cable winch open towards an outer side and the temperature of which is detected by a temperature sensor arranged outside the cavity.

7. The cable winch according to claim 6, wherein the at least one temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member is seated in a reception bore which extends into the cable drum and is open towards an end face of the cable drum, wherein the temperature and/or heat conducting member protrudes from the end face of the cable drum towards said end face, and further comprising a stationary, contactless operating sensor for detecting the temperature of the portion of the temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member protruding from the cable drum.

8. The cable winch according to claim 7, wherein the reception bore has an oversize in an outer portion arranged towards the cable drum end face with respect to the at least one temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member, so that there is no contact between the reception bore and the at least one temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member, and wherein the temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member contacts the cable drum material only in a deeper portion of the reception bore.

9. The cable winch of claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring device comprises at least one temperature sensor in a transmission housing of a cable winch drive or mounted on the transmission housing.

10. The cable winch of claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring device comprises at least one temperature sensor co-rotating with the cable drum.

11. The cable winch of claim 10, wherein the co-rotating at least one temperature sensor is integrated into the interior of the cable drum.

12. The cable winch of claim 11, wherein the temperature sensor is on an inner casing surface of a drum casing of the cable drum and/or is between a gear mechanism of a cable winch drive and the drum casing of a cable winch.

13. The cable winch of claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring device comprises a contactlessly operating signal transmission device for transmitting a temperature signal.

14. The cable winch of claim 1, further comprising a signal transmission device integrated into the interior of the cable drum and/or mounted co-rotatingly with the cable drum.

15. The cable winch of claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring device comprises an energy generator for generating electrical energy from rotary movement of the cable drum.

16. The cable winch of claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring device comprises a temperature switch for providing a temperature signal when a predetermined limit temperature of the cable drum is reached and/or exceeded.

17. The cable winch of claim 1, wherein the temperature measuring device comprises at least one optically operating temperature indicator which changes color when a predetermined limit temperature is reached or exceeded.

18. The cable winch of claim 17, wherein the temperature indicator is configured to irreversibly change color.

19. The cable winch of claim 1, further comprising a determination device for determining a replacement state and/or a remaining service life of the cable in dependence on the temperature of the cable drum determined by the temperature measuring device.

20. The cable winch of claim 19, further comprising: a display device for displaying the replacement state and/or the remaining service life; and/or a transmission device for transmitting the replacement state and/or remaining service life to a maintenance planning device.

21. The cable winch of claim 1, further comprising a controller for temporarily shutting down and/or temporarily reducing a load spectrum and/or winch power and/or winch speed in dependence on the cable drum temperature determined by the temperature measuring device.

22. The cable winch of claim 1, further comprising a controller for switching on and/or increasing a cooling measure in dependence on the cable drum temperature, wherein the controller is configured to start and/or increase a circulation of a winch drive lubricant and/or gear mechanism lubricant and/or to start or increase an external cooling of the cable winch by a fan when the cable drum temperature determined by the temperature measuring device approaches, or reaches, or exceeds a predetermined temperature limit.

23. A lifting device comprising the cable winch of claim 1.

24. The lifting device of claim 23, comprising a crane, wherein the cable winch forms a hoisting cable winch of the crane.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The invention will be explained in more detail in the following with respect to preferred embodiments and to associated drawings. The drawings show:

[0052] FIG. 1 a sectional view of a cable winch according to an advantageous explanation of the invention, in which the temperature measuring device comprises a stationary temperature sensor which detects the temperature of the cable drum at a guard plate base in a contactless manner;

[0053] FIG. 2 a sectional view of a cable winch similar to FIG. 1, wherein the temperature measuring device has a stationary temperature sensor in a transmission housing of the gear mechanism driving the cable drum;

[0054] FIG. 3 a sectional view of a cable winch similar to the foregoing figures, wherein the temperature measuring device has a temperature sensor which co-rotates with the cable drum, is arranged in the region of the gear mechanism inside the cable drum and provides its temperature signal via a wireless signal transmission device inside the cable drum;

[0055] FIG. 4 a sectional view of a cable winch similar to FIG. 3, wherein the co-rotating temperature sensor and its signal transmission device are supplied with energy by an energy supply device which converts rotary movements of the cable drum into electrical energy;

[0056] FIG. 5 a sectional view of a cable winch similar to the foregoing figures, wherein the temperature measuring device comprises a temperature switch arranged on an outer side of a guard plate of the cable drum;

[0057] FIG. 6 sectional and face end views of a cable winch similar to the foregoing figures, the temperature measuring device comprising a temperature indicator element having a visual indication of the cable drum temperature by color change and being visibly arranged on an end face of the cable drum; and

[0058] FIG. 7 a sectional view of a cable winch similar to the foregoing figures, the temperature measuring device comprising a temperature guide pin projecting from an end face into a reception bore in the drum casing, a stationary contactlessly operating temperature sensor being provided for detecting the temperature of said temperature guide pin.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0059] As shown in the figures, the cable winch 1 comprises a cable drum 2 with a substantially cylindrical drum casing 3 laterally enclosed on the right and left by guard plates 4. The drum casing 3 can be provided with a groove, but can also be configured to be plain.

[0060] A cable 5 is wound on the drum casing 3 of the cable drum 2 between the guard plates 4, whereby the cable 5 can be wound in a single layer or in multiple layers, cf. FIG. 1.

[0061] The cable drum 2 can be driven by a cable winch drive 6, which can have a winch motor or drive 7, for example in the form of an electric motor or a hydraulic motor.

[0062] The cable winch drive 6 may further comprise a gear mechanism 8, which may be at least partially arranged inside the cable drum 2. In particular, the gear mechanism 8 may extend into the interior of the drum casing 3 from one side of the drum, and the cable drum 2 may be supported on a transmission housing 9. In particular, the cable drum 2 can be supported on a rotatably mounted housing part and thus be rotatably mounted. In principle, however, it would also be possible to rotatably support the cable drum 2 on a stationary transmission housing part.

[0063] As the figures show, the winch drive 7 may be arranged laterally on the cable drum 2, for example flanged to the gear mechanism 8, which extends into the drum casing 3.

[0064] The said gear mechanism 8 may, for example, be configured as a planetary gear mechanism and may, for example, have two or more planetary stages. In principle, however, other gearbox configurations and arrangements are also possible.

[0065] The cable winch 1 has a temperature measuring device 10 to measure the temperature of the cable drum 2.

[0066] Since the cable drum 2 is usually subjected to the greatest heat on the drive side from the gear mechanism 8 or, depending on the configuration of the cable winch drive 6, also from the winch drive 7, and the highest cable drum temperatures occur there, the temperature measuring device 10 is advantageously assigned to the gear and/or drive side of the cable drum or is configured to measure the cable drum temperature on the gear or drive side. In particular, the temperature measuring device 10 may include at least one temperature sensor 11 that measures the temperature of a drum portion arranged on or immediately adjacent to the gear mechanism 8 and/or the winch drive 7. In particular, at least one temperature sensor 11 can be arranged on the guard plate 4 on the gear and/or drive side of the cable drum 2 or on a portion of the drum casing 3 that is located on the gear mechanism 8 or surrounds the gear mechanism 8.

[0067] In this respect, different temperature sensors can be provided and/or temperature sensors can be arranged at different locations.

[0068] As FIG. 1 shows, a preferably contactlessly operating temperature sensor 11 can be arranged stationary at one end face of the cable drum 2, for example mounted upright on a gear mechanism and/or drive flange, in order to measure the temperature of the cable drum 2 at its end face. In particular, the said temperature sensor 11 can have its measuring area facing a base portion of the guard plate 4 adjacent to the drum casing 3. For example, the temperature sensor 11 may be arranged at a distance from the drum rotation axis 12 that is substantially equal to the radius of the drum casing 3. For example, the temperature sensor 11 can be arranged opposite a first winding layer, cf. FIG. 1.

[0069] The temperature sensor 11 can provide its temperature signal cyclically or continuously to an evaluation unit 13, which evaluates the temperature signal, for example, to display a warning message on a display device 14, which can comprise a display, when the cable drum temperature reaches or exceeds a limit value.

[0070] Alternatively or additionally, the evaluation unit 13 can evaluate the temperature signal, as the case may be together with further environmental and/or operating parameters and/or other cable parameters, for determining the replacement state and/or remaining service life of the cable 5 taking into account the measured temperature. A replacement state signal and/or a signal reflecting the remaining service life may also be output on said display device 14.

[0071] Alternatively or additionally, the replacement state signal and/or remaining service life signal can also be used to shut down or limit the operation of the cable winch 1 when the replacement state is reached or when the cable winch 1 approaches the replacement state of the cable. Alternatively or additionally, the replacement state signal and/or remaining service life signal may be provided to a maintenance and/or scheduling management system to initiate and/or schedule replacement of the cable.

[0072] As FIG. 2 shows, the temperature measuring device 10 may also have a temperature sensor 11 mounted on the transmission housing 9 or arranged in the transmission housing 9. In particular, such a temperature sensor 11 may be provided on a portion of the transmission housing 9 positioned immediately adjacent to the cable drum 2 and/or supporting the cable drum 2. For example, the temperature sensor 11 can be led out of the end face of the transmission housing 9 and/or arranged on a stationary portion of the transmission housing 9.

[0073] The stationary temperature sensors 11, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, can be connected to the evaluation unit 13 in a simple manner, for example by means of a signal transmission cable, although wireless signal transmission would also be possible in principle.

[0074] As FIG. 3 shows, however, the temperature measuring device 10 can also have a temperature sensor 11 co-rotating with the cable drum 2, whereby such a co-rotating temperature sensor 11 can advantageously be integrated into the interior of the cable drum 2 and/or be attached to an inner casing surface of the drum casing 3. Advantageously, such a co-rotating temperature sensor 11 can also be arranged on the gear unit side of the cable drum 2, for example on a drum casing portion surrounding the gear mechanism 8, for example in an area between two gear stages, cf. FIG. 3.

[0075] The temperature sensor 11 advantageously comprises a wirelessly operating signal transmission device 15, for example in the form of a radio and/or Bluetooth and/or WLAN module, which can transmit sensor signals wirelessly to the evaluation device 13.

[0076] Such a signal transmission device 15 can also be adopted inside the cable drum 2 or be mounted co-rotating with the cable drum 2. In principle, it would also be possible to mount the signal transmission device 15 on an outer side of the cable drum 2, for example one of the guard plates 4.

[0077] The signal transmission device 15 and/or the temperature sensor 11 can be supplied with electrical energy from an energy storage device 16, whereby such an energy storage device 16 can also be mounted co-rotating on the cable drum 2, for example integrated into the interior, cf. FIG. 3.

[0078] In order to be able to maintain and/or replace the temperature sensor 11 integrated inside the cable drum 2, the cable drum 2 can advantageously have a maintenance and/or assembly opening 17 through which the temperature sensor 11 and/or its accessory components such as the signal transmission module or device 15 are accessible and can advantageously also be replaced. For example, such a maintenance and/or assembly opening 17 may be configured in an end face of the cable drum 2 and provide access to the interior of the drum casing 3 from the end face. The maintenance opening and/or assembly opening 17 may be provided immediately adjacent to a bearing flange of the cable drum 2.

[0079] Advantageously, the maintenance opening and/or assembly opening 17 can be closed by a cover.

[0080] As FIG. 4 shows, the temperature measuring device 10 can also be supplied with electrical energy from an energy generator 18, which generates electrical energy from the rotational movement of the cable drum 2. For example, such an energy generator 18 may be configured to operate inductively and include a co-rotating part and a stationary part with the cable drum 2 so that electrical energy is generated by the movement of the co-rotating and stationary parts. For example, the co-rotating energy generator part can be mounted on a guard plate 4 and the stationary energy generator part can be mounted on a carrier that is located on the end face in front of the guard plate 4, so that the co-rotating and stationary energy generator parts rotate past each other when the cable drum 2 rotates.

[0081] In principle, the energy generator 18 can feed the generated energy directly into the signal transmission module 15 or also the temperature sensor 11 or provide these components. Advantageously, however, the generated energy can also be fed into the previously mentioned energy storage device 16, from which the sensor components are then supplied with electrical energy.

[0082] As FIG. 5 shows, the temperature measuring device 10 may also include a temperature switch 19 that provides or enables a signal when a predetermined cable drum temperature is reached. Such a temperature switch 19 may, for example, be configured as a bimetallic switch and have a bimetallic sensor that deforms as the temperature changes and changes a contact circuit, in particular closes a contact, to provide or enable a temperature signal.

[0083] Advantageously, the temperature switch 19 can have an energy storage device 16, for example in the form of a battery, for then providing the temperature signal via a signal transmission module 15, which indicates reaching or exceeding or a predetermined temperature, for example the boundary temperature of the cable, or also an approach to this temperature.

[0084] The signal provided by the temperature switch 19 can be of various natures, for example comprising an acoustic signal or having an optical signal, for example in the form of a flashing light.

[0085] Such a temperature switch 19 can also be arranged on the gear unit side of the cable drum 2, for example, mounted on the end face of the guard plate 4, which is located on the winch drive 7.

[0086] As FIG. 6 shows, the temperature measuring device 10 may also include a temperature indicator element 20 that provides a visual signal or indication in the form of a color change when a predetermined temperature, such as the boundary temperature of the cable, is reached or exceeded. For example, such a temperature indicator element 20 may have thermochromic pigments whose color changes when the temperature rises above a predetermined value.

[0087] Advantageously, the temperature indicator element 20 can be irreversibly configured to change color, i.e., to retain its changed color indicating the increased temperature even if the temperature drops again. This means that even after overheating has occurred, for example even when the cable winch is switched off, it can be determined retrospectively that the cable drum 2 had exceeded a predetermined temperature limit.

[0088] As FIG. 7 shows, the temperature monitoring device 10 may also include a temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member 23 that allows an easily accessible positioned temperature sensor 11 to detect the cable drum temperature at an inaccessible location. Advantageously, said temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member 23 may extend at least partially into a recess 24 configured in or extending into an interior portion of the cable drum and may be open to an outer side of the cable winch 1.

[0089] For example, a reception bore can lead into the drum casing from one end face, cf. FIG. 7, and the, for example, pin-shaped temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member 23 can be seated in this reception bore, whereby advantageously the conducting member 23 can look out of the reception bore 24 with a head portion, cf. FIG. 7.

[0090] In this regard, the temperature measuring device 10 may advantageously comprise a stationary temperature sensor 11 capable of contactlessly detecting the temperature of the cable drum 2 via said temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member 23.

[0091] Advantageously, said recess, in particular the reception bore 24, can be configured in the area of a guard plate base and be larger in diameter or clear width than the diameter or thickness of the temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member 23, so that no heat transfer by contact takes place in this enlarged recess area, cf. the enlarged portion Z of FIG. 7. A base portion of the pin-shaped temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting member 23 can fit accurately in a wider or deeper portion of the reception bore 24 to detect the temperature there or to accept the temperature and heat of the drum portion. Advantageously, the recess 24 can be configured in the form of a stepped bore.

[0092] Advantageously, the temperature can be detected specifically inside the drum casing 3 at a desired location, although a stationary temperature sensor 11 is used.

[0093] For determining the temperature of the conducting member 23, the cable drum 2 can be set in such a way that the temperature sensor 11 is opposite the conducting member 23 or can detect the temperature at the conducting member 23.

[0094] Alternatively, however, several temperature conducting members and/or heat conducting members 23 can be fitted, for example in reception bores 24 arranged around the circumference and leading into the drum casing 3 from the end face in the manner shown in FIG. 7.

[0095] Advantageously, the temperature conducting member and/or heat conducting members 23 can be connected to a ring-shaped detection collar, for example in the form of a ring-shaped metal sheet, via which the temperature sensor 11 can advantageously continuously detect the temperature without having to bring the cable drum 2 into a specific rotational position. In particular, the temperature sensor 11 can be configured to operate contactlessly.

[0096] Advantageously, the monitoring of temperature of the cable drum 2 described can be used to deduce the temperature of the cable 5 and thus avoid serious danger points.

[0097] However, the monitoring of temperature can also be used to ensure safe operation of the cable winch 1 with a high-strength fiber rope that has a relatively low permissible boundary temperature. This eliminates the need to use fiber ropes with relatively high permissible boundary temperatures due to the heating of the cable drum 2. At the same time, the permissible boundary temperature of a fiber rope can be better exploited. At the same time, this allows a wider range in terms of material selection in the manufacture of fiber ropes, which means that other rope properties can be positively influenced accordingly.

[0098] Advantageously, the monitoring of temperature described can enable safe operation of the cable winch with a fiber rope even in conveyor systems with difficult boundary conditions, for example in the case of relatively high ambient temperatures or operation of the cable winch with a load spectrum that leads to high gearbox heating.