MOBILE WORK MACHINE

Abstract

The present invention relates to a mobile work machine, in particular to an excavator, that comprises an undercarriage having a tracked chassis, a rail mounting, or a wheeled chassis, a superstructure having an attachment fastened thereto, and a slewing ring that rotatably connects the undercarriage and the superstructure to one another. The work machine is characterized by a decentralized energy supply and/or by a decentralized supply network, preferably a DC supply network, and a slip ring for transferring electrical energy between the superstructure and the undercarriage.

Claims

1. A mobile work machine (1), in particular an excavator, comprising: an undercarriage (2) having a tracked chassis, a rail mounting, or a wheeled chassis (3); a superstructure (4) having an attachment fastened thereto; a slewing ring (5) that rotatably connects the undercarriage (2) and the superstructure (4) to one another; a decentralized energy supply and/or a decentralized supply network (6), preferably a DC supply network; and a slip ring (5) to transfer electric energy between the superstructure (4) and the undercarriage (2).

2. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein a part of the supply network extends in the superstructure (4) and an electric connection to the undercarriage (2) is implemented via the slip ring (5) so that the supply network can be continued in the undercarriage (2).

3. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein an energy store (7) connected to the slip ring (5) is configured in a decentralized manner in a plurality of energy storage units (7), with the connection lines to the energy stores arranged in a decentralized manner preferably all having approximately the same line resistances.

4. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the energy storage units (7) is arranged in the undercarriage (2) and a different one of the energy storage units (7) is arranged in the superstructure (4); and an energy storage unit (7) in the undercarriage (2) is preferably fastened to the fastening device for attaching a dozer blade and/or instead of the dozer blade.

5. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein one of the energy storage units (7) is attached to the superstructure (4) at a side disposed opposite the attachment to serve as ballast.

6. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the energy store (7) is scalable in its capacity by connecting energy storage units (7) to the supply network (6).

7. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein a slewing gear (5) of the mobile work machine is actuable by an electrical slewing gear drive (8) that obtains its energy via the supply network (6) to perform a slewing movement of the superstructure (4) with respect to the undercarriage (2).

8. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, further having a power store (9) that is connected to the supply network (6) and is preferably configured in the form of capacitors, so-called supercaps.

9. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, wherein the power store (9) is designed in a decentralized form, preferably wherein a separate power store (9) is provided for a plurality of recuperable systems or for every recuperable system.

10. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, further having an electric traction drive (10) that is preferably arranged in the undercarriage (2) and that obtains its energy via the supply network (6).

11. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, further having at least one electric drive (11) for the actuation of the work device, wherein the at least one electric drive (11) obtains its energy via the supply network (6).

12. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, further having at least one electric subsystem (12) that obtains its energy via the supply network (6), with the at least one electric subsystem preferably being a hydraulic oil cooler, a heating climate control device, an emergency brake and a service brake, an undercarriage support system, a steering, and/or a cabin lift.

13. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, further having an electric traction drive (10) arranged in the undercarriage (2) and obtains its energy via an energy distribution unit (13) connected to the energy store (7), preferably to an energy storage unit (7) arranged in the undercarriage (2).

14. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, further having at least one electric drive (11) for the actuation of the work device, wherein the at least one electric drive (11) obtains its energy via an energy distribution unit (13) connected to the energy store (7), preferably to an energy storage unit (7) arranged in the superstructure (4).

15. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 1, further having at least one electric subsystem (12) that obtains its energy via an energy supply unit (13) connected to the energy store (7), preferably to an energy storage unit (7) arranged in the superstructure (4) with the at least one electric subsystem (12) preferably being a hydraulic oil cooler, a heating climate control device, an emergency brake and a service brake, an undercarriage support system, a steering, and/or a cabin lift.

16. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 2, wherein an energy store (7) connected to the slip ring (5) is configured in a decentralized manner in a plurality of energy storage units (7), with the connection lines to the energy stores arranged in a decentralized manner preferably all having approximately the same line resistances.

17. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 16, wherein one of the energy storage units (7) is arranged in the undercarriage (2) and a different one of the energy storage units (7) is arranged in the superstructure (4); and an energy storage unit (7) in the undercarriage (2) is preferably fastened to the fastening device for attaching a dozer blade and/or instead of the dozer blade.

18. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 3, wherein one of the energy storage units (7) is arranged in the undercarriage (2) and a different one of the energy storage units (7) is arranged in the superstructure (4); and an energy storage unit (7) in the undercarriage (2) is preferably fastened to the fastening device for attaching a dozer blade and/or instead of the dozer blade.

19. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 2, wherein one of the energy storage units (7) is arranged in the undercarriage (2) and a different one of the energy storage units (7) is arranged in the superstructure (4); and an energy storage unit (7) in the undercarriage (2) is preferably fastened to the fastening device for attaching a dozer blade and/or instead of the dozer blade.

20. A work machine (1) in accordance with claim 17, wherein one of the energy storage units (7) is attached to the superstructure (4) at a side disposed opposite the attachment to serve as ballast.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0035] Further features, details and advantages of the invention will be explained with reference to the following description of the Figures. There are shown:

[0036] FIG. 1: a schematic basic design of the work device in accordance with the invention;

[0037] FIGS. 2a&b: a schematic view of the superstructure and undercarriage in which the slip ring is used as a power distribution unit;

[0038] FIG. 3: a superstructure of a work machine in accordance with the invention; and

[0039] FIGS. 4a&b: an undercarriage of a work machine in accordance with the invention.

DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0040] FIG. 1 shows a schematic basic design of a work machine 1 in accordance with the invention. The centrally arranged cross point represents the slip ring 5 here, that is the rotatable electric connection of the superstructure and the undercarriage. The supply network 6 starting from here is characterized on the one hand by a continuous line that represents the course of the supply network 6 in the superstructure. The dotted line starting from the slip ring is here representative of the extent of the supply network 6 in the undercarriage. It can be recognized that components both in the undercarriage and in the superstructure are connected to the supply network 6 and the supply network 6 extends through the slip ring 5.

[0041] In the present case, an energy storage unit 7 and also a traction drive 10 are provided in the undercarriage and are each connected to the supply network 6. The traction drive 10 arranged in the undercarriage, however, does not obtain its energy only from the energy storage unit 7 that is arranged in the undercarriage (when present), but also from the energy storage unit 7 arranged in the superstructure (where present).

[0042] A slewing gear drive 8, e.g. an electric slewing gear drive 8, for rotating the superstructure 5 is furthermore arranged in the superstructure and obtains its energy via the supply network 6.

[0043] In addition, there are further electric consumers in the superstructure that are connected to the supply network 6. One or more electric drives 11 for the work hydraulics of the attachment of the work machine 1, for example an excavator arm or the like, are also connected to the supply network 6. An electric brake, a steering, a cabin lift, the support of the work machine (by means of outriggers and/or dozer blades) or also an oil cooler and optionally a water cooler can be considered as further consumers.

[0044] Devices such as the heating and air conditioning of the operator workplace can likewise be supplied with energy via the supply network 6. In an advantageous extension, the heating can take place by using waste heat of the drive components or of the energy stores. The efficiency of the air conditioning system could be further increased by the use of heat pumps and the use of primary energy could thus again be reduced.

[0045] The energy storage unit arranged in the superstructure is advantageously arranged at the side of the superstructure disposed opposite the attachment so that it also simultaneously acts as ballast and the ballast that is normally present is not required or only to a reduced degree.

[0046] It can furthermore be seen from FIG. 1 that a power store 9, a so-called supercap, is present in the superstructure that is adapted to take up a large amount of energy in a short time and to store it for a brief period (for example approximately 30 seconds up to 2 minutes). In an advantageous extension, it can be arranged as a central store for all the systems.

[0047] For example, the power store 9 cannot only be connected to the supply network 6, but also furthermore has a further respective connection 14 to the slewing gear drive 8 and to the drive or drives 11 for the attachment.

[0048] FIGS. 2a and 2b show a slightly modified variant of the schematic setup of the work machine 1 in which the electric components (e.g. FU) and energy store are connected to the supply network via the slip ring. The slip ring has a connection to at least one energy storage unit 7. The arrangement ensures that the power resistances between the energy storage units can be held in a tolerable range.

[0049] FIG. 2a here shows the structural design in a superstructure of the mobile work machine, whereas FIG. 2b shows the structural design in an undercarriage of the work machine. FIG. 3 shows a superstructure 4 of an electric work machine, for example a battery-operated excavator. The individual electric consumers of the superstructure are shown schematically therein.

[0050] An operators cabin 20 can be recognized from where an operator can control the work machine. A connection section for an excavator arm or for a different attachment of the work machine that projects from a side of the superstructure is marked next to it by reference numeral 21.

[0051] Opposite exactly that side to which the attachment of the work machine is attached, an energy store 7 can be arranged that simultaneously due to its weight also serves as part of the ballast for the work machine.

[0052] In addition, the electric slewing gear drive 8, the drives 11 for the attachment, inverter units 15 for the electric drives, converter units 16 to generate onboard network voltages of 24 V, 48 V or AC 230/400 V, and the cooling and heating system 17 are present in the superstructure 4. An additional installation plane for further consumers is present with reference numeral 18.

[0053] FIG. 4a shows a perspective view of an undercarriage 2, with the fluidic rotary union and the slip ring for transferring the control signals 5 being centrally installed. The range extender modules, charge modules, or plug-in modules, e.g. energy storage units 7, and the dozer blade 19 arranged at the front in the direction of travel arranged at the undercarriage 2 can furthermore be recognized.

[0054] FIG. 4b shows the undercarriage 2 as it now presents a further energy storage device 7 that increases the available energy capacity instead of the dozer blade 19. This selectively connectable energy store 7 can therefore. Provision can be made here that the taking up of this energy storage unit takes place by means of the movement device that is also suitable to actuate the dozer blade. It is thus not necessary to raise the range extender energy storage unit by means of a crane or the like since the required lifting procedure away from the ground can take place by the actuation device for the dozer blade that is already present at the work machine (e.g. at the excavator).