Abstract
A system for counterbalancing a weight force of an object is provided. The object is fastenable to a traction cable, wherein the traction cable is guided in or on a cantilever in the direction of a back structure of the system, wherein a second end of the cantilever can be accommodated by a back structure, and the system can be carried by a user of the system via the back structure. The system is characterized by an electronic module which includes an apparatus for winding up the traction cable and a motor for driving the apparatus for winding up the traction cable, wherein the system is configured to determine a counterforce for the weight force of the object and to transmit same to the object. It is particularly preferred for the purposes of the invention that a control device of the system is configured to adjust a counterforce with respect to the weight force of the object. The system can preferably be configured to create a force balance between the weight force of the object on the one hand and the counterforce on the other hand. An electronic module for counterbalancing a weight force of an object, and to a kit which includes such an electronic module, a traction cable, and at least one deflection pulley. With the invention, the weight force of an object, which can be fastened to a traction cable of a counterbalancing system, can be compensated for particularly well and in a way that is easy on the back.
Claims
1-15. (canceled)
16. A system for counterbalancing a weight force of an object fastenable to a traction cable guidable in or on a cantilever in the direction of a back structure of the system, the system comprising: an electronic module including: an energy source for supplying the system with electrical energy; a winder for winding up the traction cable; a motor for driving the winder; and a controller; the system configured to determine a counterforce for the weight force of the object and to transmit the counterforce to the object.
17. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the counterforce is determined in a counterbalancing operation such that the weight force of the object is counterbalanced by the counterforce directed counter to the weight force.
18. The system as recited in claim 17 wherein with the counterbalancing operation, a torque of the motor is determinable depending on the weight force of the object.
19. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the winder for winding up the traction cable is arranged in a region of the back structure and the traction cable is windable up using the motor and the winder.
20. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the traction cable is guided via pulleys or a Bowden cable.
21. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the cantilever is accommodatable by the back structure.
22. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the cantilever includes a back section and a head section arranged perpendicular to one another.
23. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the back structure includes a first contact region and a second contact region for contact with a user of the system.
24. The system as recited in claim 23 wherein a distance A between the first contact region and the second contact region is adjustable in order to adapt the system to the user and to counterbalance a tilting moment caused by the object.
25. The system as recited in claim 16 further comprising a support strut in order to introduce a tilting moment caused by the object into a first contact region of the system.
26. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the cantilever is guidable over a head of a user or next to the head of the user.
27. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the cantilever has at least one joint so that the cantilever is foldable.
28. The system as recited in claim 16 wherein the cantilever includes a support point for supporting the system on a wall.
29. An electronic module for counterbalancing a weight force of an object fastenable to the electronic module with a traction cable, the electronic module comprising: an energy source for supplying a system with electrical energy; a winder for winding up the traction cable; a motor for driving the winder; and a controller; the electronic module configured to determine a counterforce for the weight force of the object and to transmit the counterforce to the object.
30. A kit comprising: the electronic module as recited in claim 29, the traction cable and at least one deflection pulley for counterbalancing the weight force of the object.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0045] FIG. 1 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system
[0046] FIG. 2 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system with a length-adjustable back structure
[0047] FIG. 3 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system with a support strut
[0048] FIG. 4 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system, wherein the head section of the cantilever extends over the user's head
[0049] FIG. 5 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the-system, wherein the head section of the cantilever runs next to the user's head
[0050] FIG. 6 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system with a joint in the back section of the cantilever
[0051] FIG. 7 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system with a joint in the transition region between the back section and the head section of the cantilever
[0052] FIG. 8 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system, in which the back section of the cantilever can be lowered in the back structure
[0053] FIG. 9 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system with a rotatable and foldable cantilever
[0054] FIG. 10 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system with a joint in the head section of the cantilever
[0055] FIG. 11 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the system with a support point or contact point for a wall
[0056] FIG. 12 shows a view of a preferred embodiment of the kit as a stand-alone apparatus
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0057] FIG. 1 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1, which is carried by a user 20. The system 1 comprises a cantilever 5 which runs above the head 21 of the user 20 in the example of the invention shown in FIG. 1. The cantilever 5 can have sections which are referred to as the back section 15, head section 16 and transition section 25. The back section 15 is arranged in a back region or rear region of the system 1 and runs substantially parallel to a spine of the user 20. The head section 16 runs substantially perpendicularly to the back section 15 of the cantilever 5, such that the back section 15 and the head section 16 substantially enclose a right angle. The cantilever 5 can be L-shaped or have a transition region 24 which has a transition section 25 arranged obliquely between the back section 15 and the head section 16. The cantilever 5 has a front or first end 7 and a second or rear end 8 which opens into the back structure 6 of the system 1. The back structure 6 makes it possible for the user 20 to carry the system 1 on their back. An electronic module 10 that contains various components of the system 1 is provided in the back region of the user 20. In particular, an energy source 11, an apparatus 12 for winding up a traction cable 4, a control device 14 and a motor 13 are accommodated in the electronic module 10. The back structure 6 or the electronic module 10 can be fastened on the user 20 with a first contact region 17 and a second contact region 18. The first contact region 17 can be designed as a hip belt, while the second contact region 18 is preferably designed as back padding. An object 3 having a weight force 2 can be fastened to the traction cable 4. The weight force 2 is preferably the weight of the object 3, wherein the weight force 2 points in the direction of the ground. For the purposes of the invention, this direction is preferably referred to as the downward U spatial direction. The other spatial directions upward O, forward V or backward H are also shown in FIG. 1. The downward arrow, which is provided with the reference sign 2, symbolizes the weight force 2 of the object 3 and indicates its direction. The object 3 can preferably be in the form of a power tool and can be fastened to the system 1 via the traction cable 4. Simple fastening means, such as snap hooks, or special fastening means or receiving devices can be used for this purpose.
[0058] The traction cable 4 leads from the object 3 in the direction of the cantilever 5 and is then guided in or on the cantilever 5 in the direction of the back structure 6 or the electronic module 10. The winding apparatus 12 with which the traction cable 4 can be wound up is located in the electronic module 10. As a result, the effective length of the traction cable 4 can be extended or shortened. In particular, the length of the traction cable 4 can be adapted to the weight force 2 of the object 3, wherein the weight force 2 of the object 3 is determined in a counterbalancing operation. The winding apparatus 12 is driven by a motor 13 which can also be arranged in the electronic module 10. It is preferred for the purposes of the invention that the counterbalancing operation represents a regulating and control process, the aim of which is that the motor 13 is at a standstill. In other words, the motor 13 is regulated to a rotational speed of zero by the counterbalancing operation. With the counterbalancing operation, the system 1 enables a weight force 2 of the object 3 to be compensated for, such that the system 1 can preferably also be referred to as a balancing system. The weight force 2 is preferably compensated for by an interaction between the winding apparatus 12, the motor 13, and the control device 14, wherein the mentioned components of the system 1 are supplied with electrical energy by the energy source 11. The energy source 11 is preferably a battery or a power pack. The weight force 2 of the object 3 is compensated for in particular by a counterforce 9 which is exerted on the object 3 and transmitted to the object 3 by means of the traction cable 4. In other words, the counterforce 9 counterbalances the weight force 2 of the object 3 and thus ensures that the user 20 of the system 1 does not have to hold the object 3 against gravitational force, but has to apply only the force required to work with the object 3. As a result, the system 1 can make the work with the object 3 much easier for the user 20. The counterforce 9 is marked in the figures with an arrow in the spatial direction upward and the reference sign 9.
[0059] A counterbalancing operation takes place in particular when a (new) object 3 is fastened to the traction cable 4 or when the object 3 is exchanged. In particular, the compensation for the weight force 2 of the object 3 can be regulated statically to the weight thereof. However, it can also be preferred for the purposes of the invention that the counterbalancing operation takes place continuously and that the counterforce 9 is dynamically adapted to changes in the weight force 2 that may occur briefly when working with the object 3.
[0060] FIG. 2 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1 with a length-adjustable back structure 6. In particular, in the exemplary embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 2, a distance A between the first contact region 17 and the second contact region 18 of the back structure 6 can be set. For the purposes of the invention, it is very particularly preferred that the distance A between a hip belt 17 and a back padding 18 of the back structure 6 can be adjusted. Owing to the adjustability of the distance A between the hip belt 17 and the back padding 18, a tilting moment 19 generated by the object 3 can be compensated for. The tilting moment 19 is shown in FIG. 2 with a hatched arrow and the reference sign 19. The tilting moment 19 is caused by the weight force 2 of the object 3, which pulls the system 1 in the spatial direction downward U. As a result, a tilting moment 19 acts overall, which acts downward and forward and in particular pulls the cantilever 5 of the system 1 in this direction. It has been shown that a particularly large distance A between the hip belt 17 and the back padding 18 as the contact surfaces between the back structure 6 and the user 20 counterbalances this tilting moment 19 particularly effectively, since particularly good leverage conditions prevail in this way. The left half of FIG. 2 shows a large distance A between hip belt 17 and back padding 18, which is symbolized by a capital letter A, while the right half of FIG. 2 shows a small distance a between hip belt 17 and back padding 18, which is symbolized by a lower-case letter a. In addition, the individual sections 15, 16, 25 of the cantilever 5 are shown in FIG. 2, wherein the cantilever 5 can comprise a back section 15, a head section 16, and a transition section 25. While the back section 15 and the head section 16 are arranged substantially perpendicularly to one another, the transition section 25 is present in a transition region 24 between the back section 15 and the head section 16 of the cantilever 5. The adjustability of the distance A can be made possible in particular by the provision of a linear guide.
[0061] FIG. 3 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1 with a support strut 33 which can be arranged between the hip belt 17 and the back padding 18 of the back structure 6. The introduction of the tilting moment 19 into the back structure 6, in particular into the hip belt 17, can be further improved with the support strut 33, such that the support strut 33 enables an improved introduction of force into the hip belt 17, as well as further improved relieving of load for the user 20.
[0062] FIG. 4 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1, wherein the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 extends over the head 21 of the user 20, while FIG. 5 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1, in which the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 runs next to the head 21 of the user 20. Owing to the different possible configurations of the system 1, the system 1 can be used together with different objects 3 or power tools. This makes it particularly versatile to use and it can be used, for example, by craftsmen from different trades. In addition, different types of power tools can be fastened to the traction cable 4 of the system 1.
[0063] FIG. 6 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1 with a joint 27 in the back section 15 of the cantilever 5. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that at least one joint 26, 27, 30 is arranged in the cantilever 5 of the system 1, such that the cantilever 5 is foldable. For example, the joint 27 divides the back section 15 of the cantilever 5 into an upper part 28 and a lower part 29, the upper part 28 together with the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 being able to be folded in a spatial direction forward. This rotatability of the upper region 28 of the back section 15 and of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 is indicated in FIG. 6 by the circular arrow. For the purposes of the invention, it is preferred that the rotation of the upper region 28 of the back section 15 and of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 takes place about a first horizontal axis H1, which preferably runs through the joint 27 in the back section 15 of the cantilever 5. The upper part 28 and the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 can, for example, be placed next to the head 21 of the user 20 and the system 1 can be carried particularly easily as a backpack in this embodiment of the invention and owing to the small pack size. It is preferred for the purposes of the invention that the lower region 29 of the back section 15 terminates at the bottom with the second or rear end 8 of the cantilever 5.
[0064] FIG. 7 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1 with a joint 26 in the transition region 24 between the back section 15 and the head section 16 of the cantilever 5. In this embodiment of the invention, the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 can be folded forward about a second horizontal axis H2, such that the pack size of the folded-up system 1 is also significantly reduced.
[0065] In order to further reduce the pack size, the lower part 29 of the back section 15 of the cantilever 5 can be retracted into the back structure 6. This embodiment of the invention is shown in FIG. 8, wherein the retractability of the back section 15 of the cantilever 5 into the back structure 6 is symbolized by the downwardly pointing arrow running parallel to the back section 15. Analogously to FIG. 6, FIG. 8 shows an embodiment of the system in which a joint 27 is provided in the back section 15 of the cantilever 5, which joint divides the back section 15 into an upper region 28 and a lower region 29. Also shown in FIGS. 6 to 8 are the contact regions 17, 18, which can be formed by a hip belt and back padding and which preferably form the back structure 6 of the balancing system 1. Of course, it is also possible to combine the retractability of the back section 15 of the cantilever 5 with the embodiment of the invention shown in FIG. 7, in which the joint 26 is arranged in the transition region 25 between the back section 15 and the head section 16 of the cantilever 5.
[0066] FIG. 9 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1 with a rotatable and foldable cantilever 5. The upper figures of FIG. 9 show a top view from above of a preferred embodiment of the system 1, in which the cantilever 5 can be rotated to the side about a first vertical axis V1 by an angle of rotation. The angle of rotation can be, for example, substantially 90 degrees, that is to say can represent an essentially right angle. Preferably, the first vertical axis V1 is substantially parallel to the back section 15 of the cantilever 5 and protrudes out of the plane of the drawing of the upper figures in FIG. 9, i.e. coming toward the reader. In the upper right image of FIG. 9, the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 is rotated through a right angle compared to the initial state (cf. upper left image of FIG. 9) of the system 1. For the purposes of this embodiment of the invention, it is preferred that the cantilever 5 has a joint 26, 27 (see FIG. 7 and FIG. 8 respectively), such that an upper region of the cantilever 5 can be folded downward next to the body of the user 20 after the rotation. This rotatability of the cantilever 5 is indicated by the round arrow in the lower left image of FIG. 9. In the lower right image of FIG. 9, the system 1 is shown in the folded-up state when the upper region of the cantilever 5 is folded to the side or downward next to the body of the user 20. The folding downward takes place about a horizontal axis of rotation H1, H2, which preferably runs substantially horizontally through the joint 26, 27 in the cantilever 5 of the system 1. The joint 26, 27 can be, for example, a joint 26 in the transition region 24 between the back section 15 and head section 16 of the cantilever 5 or a joint 27 in the back section 15 of the cantilever 5, which divides the back section 15 into an upper region 28 and a lower region 29. In the lower images of FIG. 9, an embodiment of the system with a joint 27 in the back section 15 of the cantilever 5 is shown.
[0067] FIG. 10 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1 with a joint 30 in the head section 16 of the cantilever 5. The two images of FIG. 10 show, in particular, a top view of a preferred embodiment of the system 1, with the joint 30 dividing the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 into a front region 31 and a rear region 32. Preferably, the front end of the front region 31 of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 is referred to as the first or front end 7 of the cantilever 5. It is preferred for the purposes of the invention that the front region 31 of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 can be folded to the side about a second vertical axis V2 in such a way that the front region 31 of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 comes to lie next to the rear region 32 of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5. In other words, the front region 31 and the rear region 32 of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5as shown in the right image of FIG. 10are substantially parallel to one another. This rotatability about the second vertical axis V2 can in particular reduce the extent of the system 1 in a side view. It is preferred for the purposes of the invention that the second vertical axis V2 runs substantially parallel to the back section 15 of the cantilever 5 or a spine of the user 20 and protrudes from the plane of the drawing of FIG. 10. In other words: the second vertical axis V2 comes toward the reader. The second vertical axis V2 preferably runs through the joint 30 in the head section 16 of the cantilever 5.
[0068] FIG. 11 shows a preferred embodiment of the system 1 with a support point or contact point 22 for a wall 23. With this embodiment of the invention, the tilting moment 19 caused by the object 3 can be absorbed even better by the system 1. The support point or contact point 22 is arranged in particular in the front end 7 of the cantilever 5 and may comprise an elastic material or at least one pulley, wherein the elastic material or the pulley comes into contact with a wall 23. The wall 23 can be, for example, masonry, a wall or a substrate that is to be machined with the object 3, which is preferably designed as a power tool. With the support point or contact point 22, the system 1 or the user 20 of the system 1 can be supported on the wall 23 to be machined, such that the tilting moment 19 caused by the object 3 is introduced directly into the wall 23 and so does not constitute any load for the user 20 of the system 1. As a result, the user 20 of the system 1 can be further considerably relieved of load and supported when working with a power tool.
[0069] FIG. 11 furthermore shows that the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 can be designed to be telescopic, with the telescoping ability of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5 being present in particular in the horizontal direction. It is indicated in FIG. 10 by the arrow running above and parallel to the head section 16. The telescoping ability of the head section 16 makes it possible to use different tools on the object 3, which is preferably designed as a power tool, and to work with them. In particular, the system 1 can be particularly easily adapted to different tool lengths of the power tool because of the telescoping ability of the head section 16 of the cantilever 5.
[0070] FIG. 12 shows a preferred embodiment of the kit 50 as a stand-alone apparatus. In addition to the system 1, the invention relates in further aspects to an electronic module 10 and to a kit 50, the kit 50 comprising an electronic module 10, at least one traction cable 4 and a deflection pulley 51. An object 3 can be fastened to the traction cable 4, wherein an effective length of the traction cable 4analogously to that described for the system 1can be shortened or extended by a winding apparatus 12 of the electronic module 10, such that a weight or a weight force 2 of the object 3 is counterbalanced. The electronic module 10 in each case comprises such a winding unit 12, a motor 13 with which the winding unit 12 can be driven, an energy source 11 for the electrical supply of the electronic module 10 and its components 12, 13, 14, and a control unit 14, which is responsible for the counterbalancing operation. With the counterbalancing operation, the torque generated by the motor 13 can be regulated, controlled and in particular adapted to the weight of the object 3, such that the weight force 2 of the object 3 is compensated for. The kit 50 can be set up as a stand-alone apparatus at a desired work site, for example, and can be transported particularly easily.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0071] 1 System [0072] 2 Weight force [0073] 3 Object [0074] 4 Traction cable [0075] 5 Cantilever [0076] 6 Back structure [0077] 7 First, front end of the cantilever [0078] 8 Second, rear end of the cantilever [0079] 9 Counterforce [0080] 10 Electronic module [0081] 11 Energy source [0082] 12 Apparatus for winding up the traction cable [0083] 13 Motor [0084] 14 Control device [0085] 15 Back section of the cantilever [0086] 16 Head section of the cantilever [0087] 17 First contact region, hip belt [0088] 18 Second contact region, back padding [0089] 19 Tilting moment [0090] 20 User [0091] 21 User's head [0092] 22 Support point or contact point [0093] 23 Wall [0094] 24 Transition region [0095] 25 Transition section [0096] 26 Joint in the transition region between the back section and the head section of the cantilever [0097] 27 Joint in the back section of the cantilever [0098] 28 Upper region of the back section of the cantilever [0099] 29 Lower region of the back section of the cantilever [0100] 30 Joint in the head section of the cantilever [0101] 31 Front region in the head section of the cantilever [0102] 32 Rear region in the head section of the cantilever [0103] 33 Support strut [0104] 34 Transmission [0105] 50 Kit [0106] 51 Deflection pulley [0107] A distance [0108] V front [0109] H rear [0110] O top [0111] U bottom [0112] H1 first horizontal axis [0113] H2 second horizontal axis [0114] V1 first vertical axis [0115] V2 second vertical axis
