FLUID-OPERATED LIFTING GEAR

Abstract

The invention relates to a fluid-operated hoist and a method for operating a fluid-operated hoist. In order to provide a fluid-operated hoist and a method for operating a fluid-operated hoist, wherein the hoist is particularly convenient to produce and install and can be permanently and reliably operated without frequent maintenance, it is provided that the hoist comprises a fluid supply line supplying an operating fluid to the hoist for operating the hoist, a generator connected to the fluid supply line for generating electricity by means of the operating fluid, and at least one electrical consumer on the hoist which is operated by means of the electricity generated by the generator.

Claims

1. A fluid-operated hoist, comprising a fluid supply line supplying an operating fluid to the hoist for operating the hoist, a generator connected to the fluid supply line for generating electricity by means of the operating fluid, and at least one electrical consumer on the hoist, which is operated by the electricity generated by the generator.

2. The fluid-operated hoist according to claim 1, wherein an electrical consumer is a receiver unit of a wireless remote control of the hoist, an electronic control unit, an operating hour counter and/or an evaluation unit for determining operating states of the hoist.

3. The fluid-operated hoist according to claim 1, wherein an accumulator for storing the electricity generated by means of the generator and/or for operating at least one electrical consumer while the generator is not generating electricity.

4. The fluid-operated hoist according to claim 1, wherein the generator for generating the electricity is a compressed-air generator, which is connected to the fluid supply line of a pneumatically operated hoist.

5. The fluid-operated hoist according to claim 1, wherein a wired hand control for operating at least one electro-pneumatic valve of the hoist, said valve being supplied with electricity by the generator.

6. The fluid-operated hoist according to claim 1, wherein a pneumatic hand control, at which in the ready-for-operation condition of the hoist a fluid pressure is always applied, wherein by means of the hand control a main switch valve of the fluid supply line can be opened, such that the operating fluid is supplied to the generator for generating electricity and/or to a motor of the hoist.

7. The fluid-operated hoist according to claim 1, wherein the main switch valve and/or a fluid pressure sensor are disposed between the fluid supply line supplying the operating fluid to the hoist and the generator connected to the fluid supply line.

8. The fluid-operated hoist according to claim 1, wherein the generator and the motor of the hoist are connected to the fluid supply line in parallel with and/or inseparably from each other, wherein the main switch valve is disposed between a fluid control line to the hand control and the generator and/or the motor of the hoist.

9. A method for operating a fluid-operated hoist, comprising the steps of: supplying an operating fluid to the hoist via a fluid supply line, supplying the operating fluid to a generator of the hoist and generating electricity by means of the operating fluid, and conducting the generated electricity to at least one electrical consumer of the hoist.

10. The method for operating a fluid-operated hoist according to claim 9, wherein when a main switch valve disposed between the fluid supply line and the motor of the hoist is opened, the generator is automatically supplied with operating fluid, such that electricity for electrical consumers is generated.

11. The method for operating a fluid-operated hoist according to claim 9, wherein when an actuation button on a pneumatic hand control is pressed, the main switch valve is opened and/or the generator is supplied with operating fluid.

12. The method for operating a fluid-operated hoist according to claim 9, wherein, after opening the main valve, a fluid pressure is continuously built up upstream of a motor control valve for lifting or lowering by means of the hoist, while the generator is already supplied with operating fluid, wherein an electrical consumer is fully started until the fluid pressure is sufficiently high to open the motor control valve.

13. The method for operating a fluid-operated hoist according to claim 9, wherein a control unit and/or an operating hour counter interpolates the starting time on the basis of the current rotational speed of the starting motor of the hoist when the motor has started before an electrical consumer is fully started or ready for operation.

14. The method for operating a fluid-operated hoist according to claim 9, wherein at least one electrical consumer is started as soon as the generator generates electricity, wherein a control unit, which does not start the respective electrical consumer until the electricity required for this purpose is available, is provided.

15. The method for operating a fluid-operated hoist according to claim 9, wherein, operating fluid pressure is applied, all electrical consumers are completely switched off after a set time interval and/or a main switch valve disposed between the fluid supply line and the generator is automatically closed.

Description

[0036] An exemplary embodiment of a fluid-operated hoist and a method for operating such a hoist are subsequently described in more detail with reference to the drawing. Shown in the FIGURE:

[0037] FIG. 1 schematic of a fluid-operated hoist with a motor and a generator for generating electricity.

[0038] A pneumatically operated hoist 1 is arranged at a hall ceiling for lifting and lowering loads by means of a hook on a chain. The hoist 1 comprises a pneumatic vane motor 7 as drive. Accordingly, the hoist 1 is connected to at least one compressed air line at the hall ceiling, wherein the compressed air line is connected to a compressed air supply line 2 of the hoist 1. There is no electrical connection, since a pneumatically operated hoist 1 usually does not require a power supply.

[0039] For operation by a user, the hoist 1 comprises a hand control 5 by means of which the lowering and lifting of a load on the hook of the chain can be controlled. For this purpose, the hand control 5 comprises at least one actuation button 13. Furthermore, the control functions preferably also include a displacement of the hoist 1 in at least one, preferably two, spatial directions. The pneumatic hand control 5 is thereby connected, on the one hand, via a fluid control line 8 to the compressed air supply line 2 and on the other hand, via a respective control line 11, 12 to a switching valve 9, 10, wherein the one switching valve 9 is provided for lifting a load by means of the hoist 1 and the other switching valve 10 is provided for lowering the load. Each switching valve 9, 10 can be operated in this case by means of an actuation button 13 on the pneumatic hand control 5. The pneumatic hand control 5, on the other hand, has no electrical connection with the hoist 1 or any other electrical consumer 4.

[0040] Furthermore, the hoist 1 comprises an electronic control as an electrical consumer 4, which is supplied with electricity by a compressed-air generator 3, which is arranged at the compressed-air supply line 2 in the region of the hoist 1 and generates electricity as long as compressed air flows through the compressed-air generator 3. Furthermore, an electronic evaluation unit and/or an operating hour counter can also be provided additionally or alternatively as an electrical consumer 4.

[0041] In order to avoid continuous operation of the compressed air flow generator 3, a main switch valve 6 is disposed between the compressed air supply line 2 and the compressed air flow generator 3, which connects the compressed air flow generator 3 to the compressed air supply line 2 in the open state and disconnects said generator from said line in the closed state. The pneumatic vane motor 7 of the hoist 1 is connected in parallel to the compressed air flow generator 3 and can also be disconnected from the compressed air supply line 2 by means of the main switch valve 6.

[0042] For operating the hoist 1, compressed air is first applied to the compressed air supply line 2, but it does not yet reach the hoist 1 since the main switch valve 6 is closed. However, the compressed air already reaches the pneumatic hand control 5 via a fluid control line 8 disposed upstream of the main switch valve 6, such that compressed air is also applied to there.

[0043] Now, when one of the actuation buttons 13 is pressed, compressed air is introduced into one of the control lines 11, 12 for lifting or lowering the hoist 1, by which the compressed air first reaches a shuttle valve 15, by which the main switch valve 6 is opened.

[0044] Subsequently, part of the compressed air inside the hoist 1 flows into a supply air line 14 to the compressed-air generator 3, which immediately starts generating electricity. At the same time, pressure builds up inside the hoist 1 upstream of the switching valves 9, 10, which, however, cannot yet open during the pressure buildup. During this time, the compressed-air generator 3 is already providing electricity to the connected electrical consumers 4, for example a control and evaluation unit, so that these can start.

[0045] As soon as a sufficiently high pressure is applied to the switching valves 9, 10, they can be opened and the vane motor 7 of the hoist 1 moves in the desired direction. In this case, the pressure increase as well as the starting process of the electrical consumers 4 typically takes between 50 ms and 150 ms. In addition, the starting process can also last longer, although a duration of less than 500 ms is clearly preferred.

[0046] During operation of the hoist 1, all electrical consumers 4 are supplied by means of the compressed-air generator 3, wherein preferably a temporary power storage is provided, for example a capacitor, to bridge fluctuations and short interruptions. In addition, a long-life battery can be provided on an electrical consumer 4, for example to enable operation of a real-time clock as part of an operating hour counter.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0047] 1 Hoist [0048] 2 Fluid supply line [0049] 3 Generator [0050] 4 Consumer [0051] 5 pneumatic hand control [0052] 6 Main switch valve [0053] 7 Motor [0054] 8 Fluid control line [0055] 9 Switching valve “Lifting” [0056] 10 Switching valve “Lowering” [0057] 11 Control line “Lifting” [0058] 12 Control line “Lowering” [0059] 13 Actuation button [0060] 14 Supply air line to the generator [0061] 15 Shuttle valve