CABLE DRUM SUPPORT FOR ROTATABLY SUPPORTING A CABLE DRUM

Abstract

The application relates to a cable drum support for rotatably supporting a cable drum, including a cross beam, on which two holding arms are arranged, which are aligned parallel to one another, wherein each holding arm has a respective laterally protruding and rotatably supported bearing pin on a free end, wherein the bearing pins are arranged aligned with one another on the holding arms so as to face one another and aligned parallel to the cross beam, and wherein at least one of the holding arms is shiftably supported along the cross beam. The cable drum support further including at least one actuatable actuator, which is formed to shift at least the one of the holding arms and/or to apply a torque to at least one bearing pin for rotating about its longitudinal central axis.

Claims

1. A cable drum support for rotatably supporting a cable drum, comprising a cross beam, on which two holding arms are arranged, which are aligned parallel to one another, wherein each holding arm has a respective laterally protruding and rotatably supported bearing pin on a free end, wherein the bearing pins are arranged aligned with one another on the holding arms so as to face one another and aligned parallel to the cross beam, and wherein at least one of the holding arms is shiftably supported along the cross beam, and comprising at least one actuatable actuator, which is formed to shift at least the one of the holding arms and/or to apply a torque to at least one bearing pin for rotating about its longitudinal central axis.

2. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein a first actuator, which is arranged on the cross beam and which is operatively connected to at least one of the holding arms, for the purpose of shifting it or them, respectively.

3. The cable drum support according to claim 2, wherein to each of the holding arms a first actuator is assigned to, respectively, for the shifting thereof.

4. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein at least one second actuator, which is operatively connected to the at least one bearing pin in order to apply a torque to the latter for rotating purposes.

5. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein the first actuator and/or the second actuator is each formed as hydraulic actuator.

6. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein the first actuator is formed as hydraulic cylinder.

7. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein the second actuator is formed as hydraulic motor.

8. The cable drum support according to claim 5, wherein a first hydraulic system, which has a first hydraulic circuit comprising the first actuator and a second hydraulic circuit comprising the second actuator, and at least one switching valve, by means of which the first hydraulic circuit or the second hydraulic circuit can optionally be connected to a hydraulic connector, which can be connected to a hydraulic supply system.

9. The cable drum support according to claim 8, wherein the hydraulic connector is arranged between the holding arms, viewed in the longitudinal extension of the cross beam.

10. The cable drum support according to claim 8, wherein an activatable coupling for the releasable mechanical fastening of the cable drum support to a working machine arm, is arranged on the cross beam.

11. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein a second hydraulic system, which has a hydraulically drivable third actuator, wherein the activatable coupling is supported on the cross beam so as to be rotatable by means of a rotary joint, and wherein, in response to its actuation, the third actuator is formed to rotate the coupling relative to the cross beam.

12. The cable drum support according to claim 11, wherein the second hydraulic system has a hydraulic connection, which is assigned to the coupling.

13. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein the coupling is formed to establish at least one hydraulic connection between the hydraulic supply system and the first and/or the second hydraulic system during the mechanical fastening of the cable drum support.

14. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein the first hydraulic system has two switching valves, which connect the first hydraulic circuit to the hydraulic connector only when both switching valves are in a first one of two switching positions, and which connect the second hydraulic circuit only when both switching valves are in a second one of the two switching positions.

15. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein the two switching valves are manual switching valves, wherein a respective handle of only one of the switching valves is arranged on the holding arms.

16. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein at least one manually operable throttle valve is arranged in the second hydraulic circuit.

17. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein an axial support disk for the axial support of a cable drum is in each case arranged in a rotationally fixed manner on the respective bearing pin.

18. The cable drum support according to claim 1, wherein the respective axial support disk has at least one elastically deformable stop element, arranged so as to be distributed evenly over the circumference of the axial support disk, for a cable drum.

Description

[0023] The invention will be described in more detail below on the basis of the drawings, for the purpose of which

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an advantageous cable drum support system in a perspective illustration,

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a cable drum support of the cable drum support system in a side view,

[0026] FIG. 3 shows a schematic hydraulic circuit diagram of a first hydraulic system of the cable drum support, and

[0027] FIG. 4 shows a schematic hydraulic circuit diagram of a second hydraulic system of the cable drum support.

[0028] In a perspective illustration, FIG. 1 shows an advantageous cable drum support system 1, which comprises a cable drum support 2 as well as a construction machine 3, which is only shown in sections here, in particular in form of a digger. The construction machine 3 has a movable, in particular hydraulically and/or motor moveable working arm 4, on the free end of which the cable drum support 2 can in particular be releasably fastened.

[0029] The cable drum support 2 has a cross beam 5, to which a coupling 6 for releasably fastening the cable drum support 2 to the working arm 4 of the construction machine 3 is centrally fastened. The coupling 6 is in particular arranged centrally, viewed in the longitudinal extension of the cross beam 5, so that in the assembled state the cross beam 5 hangs in a horizontally aligned manner on the working arm 4 in a balanced manner. Two holding arms 7 are supported on the cross beam 5 so as to be shiftable in the longitudinal direction of the cross beam 5. On their end 8 facing the cross beam 5, the holding arms 7 have, for this purpose, a guide opening 9, through which the cross beam 5 protrudes in such a way that the holding arms 7 are supported on the cross beam 5 so as to be shiftable in the longitudinal direction of the cross beam, as indicated by means of double arrows 10 in FIG. 1. According to the present exemplary embodiment, the cross beam 5 is formed as I beam or double-T support, so that it has an outer contour, which differs from a circular shape. The inner contour of the guide opening 9 is formed according to the outer contour of the cross beam 5 or complementary thereto, respectively, so that a positive anti-rotation protection is formed between the cross beam 5 and the respective holding arm 7, which anti-rotation protection prevents that one of the holding arms 7 can be pivoted about the longitudinal axis of the cross beam 5. On the contrary, the support of the holding arms 7 is designed in such a way that they can only be shifted on the cross beam 5 in the longitudinal direction thereof according to the arrows 10. It goes without saying that a bearing play can also be present in other directions of movement, in order to prevent a canting or jamming of the holding arms 7 on the cross beam 5 during the shifting.

[0030] On their end 11 facing away from the end 8, the holding arms 7 each have a rotatably supported bearing pin 12. The bearing pins 12 are thereby rotatably supported on the respective holding arm 7 and support an axial protective disk 13, which has an outer diameter, which is larger than the outer diameter of the bearing pin 12 itself.

[0031] In a simplified side view, FIG. 2 shows the cable drum support 2. It can be seen here that the two bearing pins 12 are arranged on the holding arms 7 so as to face one another and so as to be aligned with one another. The bearing pins 12 can thus be rotated about a common imaginary longitudinal central axis or axis of rotation 14. On its end, which faces away from the axial support disk 13 and which faces the opposite bearing pin 12, the respective bearing pin 12 additionally preferably has an insertion phase 17.

[0032] The respective axial support disk 13 lies at the end of the bearing pin 2 facing the respective holding arm 7 and, on its front side 15 facing the respective opposite axial support disk 12, supports several stop elements 16, which are arranged so as to be distributed evenly over the circumference and which are in particular formed to be elastically deformable. The stop elements 16 are in particular stop buffers or rubber elements, which serve the purpose of axially abutting against a cable drum to be transported.

[0033] A cable drum 18 is additionally illustrated in an exemplary manner in FIG. 2 in a longitudinal section. As do conventional cable drums, the cable drum 18 centrally has a continuous cylindrical receptacle 19, into which, for example, a bearing mandrel or, according to the present exemplary embodiment the respective bearing pin 12 can be axially inserted, in order to thus support the cable drum 18. The cable drum 18 additionally has side walls 20, which prevent that a rolled-up cable can laterally escape from the cable drum 18. Due to the fact that the holding arms 7 are shiftably supported on the cross beam 5, the bearing pins 12 can be moved towards one another or away from one another, as shown by means of a double arrow 21 in FIG. 2. The bearing pins 12 can thus be inserted in a simple way into the receptacle 19 or can be pulled out of the latter, in order to fasten the cable drum 18 to the cable drum support 2 or to release it from the latter. For fastening between the axial support disks 13, in particular between the stop elements 16, the cable drum 18 is thereby preferably held in an axially tensioned manner, so that it is firmly locked to the cable drum support 2. Due to the fact that the bearing pins 12 are rotatably supported on the holding arm 7, a simple unrolling or rolling up of the cable drum 18 arranged thereon is ensured.

[0034] The coupling 6, which is centrally arranged on the cross beam 5, in particular has a rotary joint 22, which allows that the cross beam 5 is pivotably supported about an axis of rotation 22, which is aligned perpendicular to the imaginary axis of rotation 14 and thus also perpendicular to the longitudinal extension of the cross beam 5 and represents a vertical axis in particular during operation. A high flexibility during the rolling up or unrolling of the cable is thus made possible during operation.

[0035] The cable drum support 2 furthermore has several hydraulically activatable or actuatable actuators, which serve the purpose of applying a torque to the at least one bearing pin 12, to move the holding arms 7 towards one another or away from one another and/or to pivot the cross beam 5 about the axis of rotation 22 on the coupling 16.

[0036] For this purpose, the cable drum support 2 has a first hydraulic system 23, which is shown in a schematic illustration in FIG. 3. The hydraulic system 23 has a first actuator 24, which is operatively connected to the holding arms 7 and which is arranged on the cross beam 5, in order to shift the holding arms 7 along the cross beam 5. For this purpose, the hydraulic actuator 24 is formed as hydraulic cylinder 25, which has a working cylinder 26, in which a piston 27 is supported so as to be shiftable longitudinally, as shown by a double arrow. The piston 27 is connected to one of the holding arms 7 by means of a piston rod 28, which protrudes from the working cylinder 26 on the front side. On its end facing away from the piston rod 28, the working cylinder 26 is firmly connected to the other one of the holding arms 7. Two working chambers 29 and 30, which can be filled with hydraulic medium, are formed in the working cylinder 26 between the piston 27 and the working cylinder 26. Depending on to which one of the two working chambers 29, 30 hydraulic medium is applied, the piston 27 is moved into the one or into the other direction, in order to move the holding arms 7 towards one another or away from one another. It is thereby determined in particular by means of the conveying direction of the hydraulic medium, which is determined by means of the hydraulic supply system, which one of the two working chambers 29, 30 is filled with or to which one hydraulic pressure is applied, respectively. Alternatively, at least one further actuatable or activatable valve means is present, by means of which the hydraulic medium can be applied to the one or the other one of the working chambers 29, 30.

[0037] A gear, which safely ensures that the holding arms Tare shiftably supported on the cross beam 5 only in opposite directions, is optionally switched between the holding arms 7, so that they always have the same distance from the coupling 6 and thus from the center of the cross beam 5. It is ensured thereby that the cable drum support 2 does not become out of balance by means of the shifting of the holding arms 7. According to the present exemplary embodiment, a respective hydraulic cylinder 25 is assigned to each of the holding arms 7. The hydraulic cylinders 25 are thereby arranged on side of the cross beam 5 facing away from one another. The working cylinders 26 are thereby preferably in each case firmly connected to the cross beam 5, and the piston rods 28 to the respective holding arm 7. The hydraulic cylinders 25 are thereby arranged on the cross beam 5 in particular in opposite directions to one another. The hydraulic cylinders 25 are particularly preferably in each case inserted in a lateral depression of the cross beam 5, which is formed by means of the I cross sectional shape of the cross beam 5, so that they are installed on the cable drum support 2 in an installation space-saving manner. For the sake of clarity, the second hydraulic cylinder 25 is only illustrated in a simplified manner in FIG. 3, but likewise integrated into the hydraulic system 23. Due to the arrangement of the hydraulic cylinders 25 in opposite directions on the cross beam 5, the shifting of the holding arms 7 in opposite directions is ensured by means of the hydraulic system 23.

[0038] The hydraulic system 23 furthermore has at least one hydraulic motor 31, which forms a second hydraulic actuator 32 of the cable drum support 2 and which is assigned to one of the bearing pins 12 and is operatively connected directly to the latter in a rotationally fixed manner or by means of a gear. Depending on the conveying direction of the hydraulic medium, the bearing pin 12 is thereby driven into the one or into the other direction for rotating purposes. The conveying direction is in particular dependent on the hydraulic supply system. Alternatively, at least one valve or switching means is preferably present in the hydraulic system 23, by means of which a flow direction reversal can be set independently of the hydraulic supply system.

[0039] According to the present exemplary embodiment, the first hydraulic cylinders 25 are arranged in a first hydraulic circuit 33, and the hydraulic motor 31 in a second hydraulic circuit 34 of the hydraulic system 23. In the present case, the two hydraulic circuits 33, 34 are in each case connected to two switching valves 35, 36. On the input side, the one switching valve 35 is thereby connected to a hydraulic supply line 37, and, on the output side, the other one of the switching valves 36 is connected to a hydraulic return line 38. The two switching valves 35, 36 are in each case formed as -way valves, thus as switching valves, which have two switching positions and three connections. One of the connections is in each case provided for the supply line 37 or for the return line 38, respectively. A second connector of the switching valve 35 is connected to the first hydraulic circuit 33 as well as a second connector of the switching valve 36. A third connector of the switching valves 35 or 36, respectively, is thereby in each case connected to the second hydraulic circuit 34. In the first switching position, as shown in FIG. 3, the switching valve 35 connects the supply line 37 to the first hydraulic circuit 33, and the switching valve 36 connects the hydraulic circuit 33 to the return line 38. The first hydraulic circuit 33 is thus activated in this case.

[0040] In a second switching position, the switching valve 35 connects the supply line 37 to the second hydraulic circuit 37, and the switching valve 36 connects the hydraulic circuit 34 to the return line 38. If the two switching valves 35, 36 are thus in the second switching position, the second hydraulic circuit 34 is hydraulically connected to feed line or supply line 37 and return line 38, respectively, and is thus activated.

[0041] If one of the switching valves 35, 36 is activated in such a way that one of the switching valves 35, 36 is in the first switching position, and the other one of the switching valves is in the second switching position, none of the hydraulic circuits 33, 34 can be operated, and the cable drum support 2 is preferably hydraulically blocked.

[0042] It is attained by means of the switching valves 35, 36 that a shifting of the holding arms 7 is made possible or effected, respectively, only when both switching valves 35, 36 are in the first switching position. The safety against the incorrect operation and an unwanted release of the cable drum 18 from the cable drum support 2 is safely ensured therewith.

[0043] Connected upstream of and/or downstream from the hydraulic motor 31, the second hydraulic circuit 34 optionally has a throttle valve 39, by means of which the hydraulic flow in the second hydraulic circuit 34 can be influenced, in order to be able to set the rotational speed of the hydraulic motor 31 independently of the present hydraulic pressure of a hydraulic supply system, in particular of the construction machine 3. The throttle valves 39 are in particular arranged on the holding arms 7 as manually activatable throttle valves, so that a user can manually activate the respective throttle valve 39 by activating a respective handle 40.

[0044] The switching valves 35, 36 are likewise preferably formed as manually activatable switching valves, to which a handle 41 or 42 is assigned, respectively, by means of which the switching valves 35, 36 can be displaced from the one into the other switching position. The handles 41, 42 are also preferably arranged on the holding arms 7, in particular close to the end 11 of the holding arms 7 on the outer side of the holding arms 7, thus on the side facing away from the opposite holding arm 7, so that they can be reached and activated easily by a user.

[0045] The cable drum support 2 preferably has a second hydraulic system 43, which is shown schematically in FIG. 4. The second hydraulic system 43 has a further actuator 44 in the form of a hydraulic motor 45, which is assigned to the coupling 6, in particular to the rotary joint 22 of the coupling. The actuator 44 is thereby formed for the purpose of rotating the cross beam 5 about the axis of rotation 22 relative to the coupling 22, if necessary, as is indicated by means of a double arrow in FIG. 2. The hydraulic motor 45 is thereby hydraulically connected to a supply line 46 and a return line 47.

[0046] The supply lines 37, 46 and the return lines 38, 47 in each case end on a connector 48, 49 on the coupling 6, which is moreover formed to automatically connect the supply lines 37, 46 and return lines 38, 47 or the connectors 48, 49, respectively, to a hydraulic supply system of the construction machine 3 during the mechanical fastening of the cable drum support 2 to the construction machine 3. It is thus not a mechanical, but also a hydraulic coupling of the cable drum support 2 to the construction machine 3, which takes place in an automated manner. Alternatively, the hydraulic lines of the hydraulic systems 23, 43 are to be connected manually to the hydraulic supply system of the construction machine 3 by a user.