Abstract
The present disclosure relates to a driving arrangement for a construction machine, such as an excavator, comprising a hydraulic pump for powering a working equipment and/or locomotion of the construction machine through a hydraulic circuit, an electric motor for driving the hydraulic pump, and a supporting device for mounting the driving arrangement to the construction machine, the supporting device comprising a plate-like mounting portion with two opposing mounting surfaces, wherein the hydraulic pump is mounted to one of the mounting surfaces and the electric motor is mounted to the other mounting surface, and wherein power of the electric motor is transferable to the hydraulic pump via a mechanical connection means extending across the mounting portion of the supporting device.
Claims
1. A driving arrangement for a construction machine, comprising: a hydraulic pump for powering a working equipment and/or locomotion of the construction machine through a hydraulic circuit; an electric motor for driving the hydraulic pump; and a supporting device for mounting the driving arrangement to the construction machine, the supporting device comprising a plate-like mounting portion with two opposing mounting surfaces, wherein the hydraulic pump is mounted to one of the mounting surfaces and the electric motor is mounted to the other one of the mounting surfaces, and wherein power of the electric motor is transferable to the hydraulic pump via a connection means extending across the mounting portion of the supporting device.
2. The driving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the connection means is configured as a mechanical connection means.
3. The driving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the supporting device comprises a horizontal plate-like base portion for fixing the driving arrangement to the construction machine, and wherein the mounting portion is provided vertically on the base portion and is materially bonded to the supporting device.
4. The driving arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a damping device provided at the supporting device for mounting the driving arrangement to the construction machine via the damping device.
5. The driving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the supporting device further comprises a motor support, which is detachable from the supporting device, for supporting the end of the electric motor facing away from the mounting portion.
6. The driving arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a controller for controlling the electric motor and/or the hydraulic pump, wherein the supporting device comprises a controller support, which is detachable from the supporting device, for supporting the controller.
7. The driving arrangement according to claim 6, wherein the controller support is mounted to one of the mounting surfaces of the mounting portion to which the hydraulic pump is mounted to position the controller above the hydraulic pump.
8. The driving arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the controller support has two opposing side portions and a top portion forming an accommodation space in which the controller is situated.
9. The driving arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the controller support exhibits a substantially L-shaped configuration with a first leg mounted to the mounting portion and a second leg extending above the hydraulic pump, the controller being provided at the second leg and on the side facing away from the hydraulic pump.
10. A construction machine, comprising a driving arrangement according to claim 1.
11. The driving arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the construction machine is an excavator.
12. The driving arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the mechanical connection means is a rigid coupling.
13. The construction machine according to claim 10, wherein the construction machine is an excavator.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] FIG. 1 shows a driving arrangement for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention in a side view.
[0017] FIG. 2 shows the driving arrangement of FIG. 1 in a perspective view.
[0018] FIG. 3 shows the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 in an exploded view.
[0019] FIG. 4 shows a driving arrangement for a construction machine according to a further embodiment in a side view.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS
[0020] FIG. 1 shows a driving arrangement 1 for a construction machine according to an embodiment of the present invention. In the present embodiment, the construction machine is an excavator comprising an undercarriage and a superstructure, which is pivotably with respect to the undercarriage. On the superstructure of the excavator, an operator's cabin and a boom with a working equipment at its distal end are provided. The excavator may be a pure electric excavator, implying that the locomotion of the excavator, the actuation of the boom and the actuation of the swing drive between the undercarriage and the superstructure are powered by electrical energy only. The electrical energy for powering those devices may be stored in multiple battery modules provided on top of the excavator's superstructure, wherein said battery modules may function as the excavator's counterweight. The excavator may comprise one or multiple electric motors for powering tracks provided at the excavator's undercarriage to move the excavator backwards, forwards and sidewards. In addition, the excavator may comprise an additional electric motor for powering the excavator's swing drive.
[0021] The driving arrangement 1, which is shown in FIGS. 1 to 3, may be mounted to the excavator's superstructure. The driving arrangement 1 of the present embodiment comprises a hydraulic pump 2 for powering multiple hydraulic cylinders of the excavator's boom via a hydraulic circuit. Specifically, the excavator comprises a boom with multiple arms, which are movable with respect to each other via hydraulic cylinders. The hydraulic cylinders are part of a hydraulic circuit, which is powered by the hydraulic pump 2 of the driving arrangement 1 of the present embodiment. Furthermore, the driving arrangement 1 comprises an electric motor 3, which is powered by electric energy of the excavator's battery modules. As derivable from FIG. 3, the electric motor 3 exhibits a substantially cylindrical shape with a lateral surface 4 and a front surface 5. The shaft 6 of the electric motor 3 is positioned symmetrically with respect to the lateral surface 4 and is accessible via the front surface 5. Furthermore, the electric motor 3 comprises a back surface 7, which is provided in parallel to the front surface 5. On top of the lateral surface 3, a power connecting unit 8 with a connection port is provided. Via the power connecting unit 8, the electric motor 3 may be supplied with electrical power through a cable, e.g. a high voltage cable.
[0022] In addition, the driving arrangement 1 comprises a supporting device 9 for mounting the driving arrangement 1 to the construction machine, namely to the superstructure of the excavator. As derivable from FIG. 3, the supporting device 9 comprises a plate-like base portion 10, which is oriented horizontally when the driving arrangement 1 is attached to the excavator's superstructure in the intended fashion. The base portion 10 exhibits a substantially rectangular, e.g. quadratic, shape. The driving arrangement 1 further comprises a damping device with four individual damping units 11.1, 11.2, 11.3, 11.4 provided at the corners of the base portion 10 and between the base portion 9 and the superstructure of the excavator to absorb vertical shocks exerted on the driving arrangement 1. In the present embodiment, the damping units are configured as damping pads, e.g. rubber pads.
[0023] The supporting device 9 comprises a plate-like mounting portion 12, which is vertically provided on the horizontal base portion 10. The mounting portion 12 comprises a substantially rectangular pedestal which merges into a substantially semi-circular shape in vertical direction V. Centrally, the mounting portion 12 comprises a through-hole 13 having a diameter substantially corresponding to half of the width of the mounting portion in depth extension T thereof. The mounting portion 12 is provided at the middle of the base portion 10 and extends substantially parallel to two side surfaces thereof.
[0024] Furthermore, the supporting device 9 comprises two strengthening portions 14.1, 14.2, which are formed substantially identical to each other. The strengthening portions 14.1, 14.2 are both formed from a plate-like element having a rectangular portion, wherein triangular fingers are provided on both ends of the rectangular portion. As derivable from FIG. 3, the strengthening portions 14.1 and 14.2 are provided on opposite sides of the mounting portion 12 to stand upright, extend substantially perpendicular to the mounting portion 12 and engage the pedestal portion of the mounting portion 12. The triangular fingers of the strengthening portion 14.1 are oriented towards the triangular finger of the strengthening portion 14.2 and vice versa. With the triangular fingers, the surface contact between the strengthening portions 14.1, 14.2 and the base portion 10 is increased, at the same time providing good accessibility. The strengthening portions 14.1, 14.2 are provided for strengthening the mounting portion 12, in particular for strengthening the positional relationship between the base portion 10 and the mounting portion 12. Each of the base portion 10, the mounting portion 12 and each of the strengthening portions 14.1, 14.2 is respectively integrally formed from a single plate-shaped steel part. Furthermore, the parts are connected to each other via material bonding, preferably welding.
[0025] The mounting portion 12 comprises a first mounting surface 15 and a second mounting surface 16, which are provided parallel to each other. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hydraulic pump 2 is mounted to the first mounting surface 15 of the mounting portion 12. Furthermore, the electric motor 3 is mounted to the second mounting surface 16 of the mounting portion 12. Specifically, the front surface 5 of the electric motor 3 engages with the second mounting surface 16 of the mounting portion 12 such that the shaft 6 of the electric motor 3 is accessible through the through-hole 13 formed in the mounting portion 12. Likewise, the hydraulic pump 2 is mounted to the first mounting surface 15 of the mounting portion 12 in such a way that the pump's shaft is accessible through the through-hole 13 of the mounting portion 12. More precisely, the electric motor 3 and the hydraulic pump 2 are mounted to the mounting portion 12 in such a way that the shaft 6 of the electric motor 3 and the shaft of the hydraulic pump 2 are aligned with each other to be connected with a mechanical connection means, e.g. a torque-proof rigid coupling, through the through-hole 13. To fix the positional relationship of the electric motor 3 and the hydraulic pump 2 with respect to each other, both parts are mounted to the mounting portion 12 with multiple bolts and/or screws, which may be positioned around a circumference of the respective component 2, 3.
[0026] Furthermore, as derivable from FIG. 3, the base portion 10 exhibits a cut-out 17 between the damping units 11.1, 11.2 provided on the first mounting surface 15 side of the mounting portion 12 for improving accessibility to the hydraulic pump 2. On the other hand, the base portion 10 exhibits a protruding portion 18, which is provided between the damping units 11.3 and 11.4 provided on the second mounting surface 16 side of the mounting portion 12. At the protruding portion 18 of the base portion 10, a motor support 19 is detachably mounted via bolts and/or screws. The motor support 19 further engages via multiple pins with the back surface 7 of the electric motor 3 to support the motor's back end and decrease the moment exerted on the connection between the motor's front surface 5 and the second mounting surface 16 of the mounting portion 12. Furthermore, as derivable from FIG. 2, the electric motor 3 is connected to the supporting device 9 in such a way that the power connection unit 8 is provided on top of the motor 3 to face away from the base portion 10 of the supporting device 9.
[0027] In addition, the driving arrangement 1 comprises a controller 20 for controlling the electric motor 3. In particular, the controller 20 comprises at least one connecting port 21 via which the controller 20 is connected to the power connection unit 8 of the electric motor 3 via a cable, e.g. a high voltage cable. In the present embodiment, the controller 20 is provided above the hydraulic pump 2 in vertical direction V of the driving arrangement 1. In particular, the controller 20 does not extend across the electric motor 3. The supporting device 9 comprises a controller support 22 via which the controller 20 is mounted stationary to the first mounting surface 15 of the mounting portion 12 of the supporting device 9. Specifically, the controller support 22 comprises two spaced apart side portions 23.1, 23.2, which are connected with each other via a front portion 24 and a top portion 25. The front portion 24 engages with the first mounting surface 15 of the mounting portion 12 and exhibits a cut-out to avoid interference with the through-hole 13. Likewise, the top portion 25 exhibits a central cut-out. The controller 20 is accommodated in a space formed by the two side portions 23.1, 23.2, the front portion 24 and the top portion 25 of the controller support 22. Specifically, as derivable from FIGS. 1 and 2, the controller 20 is provided below the top portion 25, wherein the cut-out in the top portion 25 provides good accessibility to the controller 20. Furthermore, as derivable from FIGS. 1 and 2, the connecting port 21 of the controller 20 is oriented towards the power connection unit 8 of the electric motor 3 to minimize a distance therebetween. As the electric motor 3 and the controller 20 are both mounted to the mounting portion 12 of the supporting device 9, a positional relationship between those two parts is fixed with respect to each other. Accordingly, stresses exerted on a cable running between the controller 20 and the power connection unit 8 are minimized.
[0028] FIG. 4 shows a driving arrangement 100 according to a further embodiment of the present invention. The driving arrangement 100 according to this further embodiment corresponds to the driving arrangement 1 of the embodiment described in connection with FIGS. 1 to 3 except for the below described differences. In the embodiment of FIG. 4, the controller support 220 is formed differently. Specifically, the controller support 220 exhibits a substantially L-like shape with a first leg 221 being mounted to the first mounting surface 15 of the mounting portion 12 and a second leg 222 extending away from the mounting portion 12 and above the hydraulic pump 2. On top of the second leg 222, i.e. on that side of the leg 222 which is facing away from the hydraulic pump 2, the controller 20 is provided.
