Telescopic arm with a push-pull chain drive

Abstract

The invention relates to a telescopic arm (1), in particular, for a current collector system for a vehicle which can be driven along a power rail arrangement, wherein the telescopic arm (1) can be extended and/or retracted by means of an adjustment drive (7, 8, 9, 10) and the telescopic arm (1) has a base unit (2) which can be attached to the vehicle, on which a first telescopic stage (3) is arranged displaceably in a direction (R.sub.T), in particular, horizontally, and a second telescopic stage (4) is arranged displaceably on the first telescopic stage (3) in the same direction (R.sub.T), wherein the adjustment drive (7, 8, 9, 10) is arranged on the first telescopic stage (3), characterized in that the adjustment drive (7, 8, 9, 10) interacts with a rigid chain (S), which is connected with its one end (S.sub.a) to the base unit (2) and with its other end (S.sub.b) to the second telescopic stage (4).

Claims

1. A telescopic arm for a current collector system for a vehicle which can be driven along a power rail arrangement, the telescopic arm including: a base unit of the telescopic arm of the current collector system configured to be attached to the vehicle, a first telescopic stage of the telescopic arm of the current collector system arranged displaceably in one direction, a second telescopic stage of the telescopic arm of the current collector system arranged displaceably on the first telescopic stage in the one direction, and an adjustment drive arranged on the first telescopic stage and configured to interact with a rigid chain having a first end connected to the base unit and a second end connected to the second telescopic stage, wherein the telescopic arm is configured to be extended and/or retracted by means of the adjustment drive.

2. The telescopic arm according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment drive has an electric motor, which drives a sprocket, which in turn drives the rigid chain.

3. The telescopic arm according to claim 2, wherein the rigid chain is deflected by 160-180 on the first telescopic stage by the sprocket or by a deflection device.

4. The telescopic arm according to claim 1, wherein the rigid chain is guided to the first telescopic stage, the second telescopic stage, or both by means of at least one respective guide.

5. The telescopic arm according to claim 1, wherein the sprocket, the deflection device, or both is/are arranged in an area of an end of a respective telescopic stage.

6. A current collector system including the telescopic arm according to claim 1, and further including a current collector carriage with current collector contacts arranged thereon and arranged on a one of the telescopic stages that is able to be extended furthest.

7. A vehicle including the current collector system according to claim 6, wherein the vehicle is a container stacking crane.

8. A telescopic for a current collector system for a vehicle which can be driven along a power rail arrangement, the telescopic arm including: a base unit configured to be attached to the vehicle, a first telescopic stage arranged displaceably in one direction, a second telescopic stage arranged displaceably on the first telescopic stage in the one direction, and an adjustment drive arranged on the first telescopic stage and configured to interact with a rigid chain having a first, end connected to the base unit and a second end connected to the second telescopic stage, wherein the telescopic arm is configured to be extended and/or retracted by means of the adjustment drive, the telescopic arm further including: a third telescopic stage mounted displaceably on the second telescopic stage, and a deflection device arranged on the second telescopic stage for a second rigid chain, wherein the second rigid chain is attached by a first end to the first telescopic stage and by a second end to the third telescopic stage.

9. A telescopic for a current collector system for a vehicle which can be driven along a power rail arrangement, the telescopic arm including: a base unit configured to be attached to the vehicle, a first telescopic stage arranged displaceably in one direction, a second telescopic stage arranged displaceably on the first telescopic stage in the one direction, and an adjustment drive arranged on the first telescopic stage and configured to interact with a rigid chain having a first, end connected to the base unit and a second end connected to the second telescopic stage, wherein the telescopic arm is configured to be extended and/or retracted by means of the adjustment drive, wherein the adjustment drive has an electric motor, which drives a sprocket, which in turn drives the rigid chain, wherein the rigid chain is deflected by 160-180 on the first telescopic stage by the sprocket or by a deflection device, and wherein the rigid chain comprises two rigid chain sections, which are located between a respective mounting point on the telescopic stage or the base unit and the deflection device or the sprocket, and extend nearly parallel or parallel to the one direction along the first telescopic stage in a straight form and thus can absorb thrust and tensile forces, wherein the rigid chain is guided in a curved path only in and area of the sprocket and/or of the deflection device.

Description

(1) A possible embodiment of the telescopic arm according to the present invention is illustrated in detail below by means of drawings in which

(2) FIG. 1: shows a partial sectional view of an extended telescopic arm;

(3) FIG. 2: shows a retracted telescopic arm according to FIG. 1;

(4) FIG. 3: shows a front view of a telescopic arm according to FIG. 1;

(5) FIGS. 4a and 4b: show two possible embodiments of rigid chains for the telescopic arm according to the present invention according to FIG. 1;

(6) FIG. 5: shows a horizontal guide for the rigid chain.

(7) FIG. 1 shows a possible embodiment of a telescopic arm 1 according to the present invention, which has a base unit 2, with which the telescopic arm 1 can be attached, for example, to a crane, in particular, a container stacking crane. A first telescopic stage 3 is arranged displaceably on the base unit 2 in the telescopic direction R.sub.T. A second telescopic stage 4 is also arranged displaceably on the first telescopic stage 3 in the telescopic direction R.sub.T. For this purpose, guide rolls R are attached to the first telescopic stage 3, which run in guides 4c of the second telescopic stage 4. A vertical guide for a current collector carriage, as it is known, for example, from WO 2010/054852 A2, can be arranged on the front side 4a of the second telescopic stage 4.

(8) The electric motor 7 is arranged on the back side 3b of the first telescopic stage 3, which electric motor drives a rigid sprocket, which is not depicted, by means of a chain drive, around which the rigid chain S is deflected. The rigid chain S is attached with its first end S.sub.a to the base unit 2 and with its second end S.sub.b to the second telescopic stage 4, in particular, of its end area 4b. By twisting the rigid sprocket the length ratio of the upper rigid chain segment S.sub.c to the lower rigid chain segment S.sub.d changes, whereby the telescopic arm 1 will either retract or extend. At the same time, sensors can be provided, which monitor in particular the end positions as well as the extension and retraction of the telescopic arm 1. The rigid chain S can only be swiveled about the deflection direction R.sub.U. If it is guided straight, the rigid chain S can transfer thrust forces, so that a retraction and extension of the telescopic arm 1 is possible.

(9) By means of an energy chain 6 the necessary control and supply lines can be guided from the base unit 2 to the first and second telescopic stages 3.

(10) FIG. 2 shows the telescopic arm 1 in its retracted position, in which the upper rigid chain segment S.sub.c extends nearly over the entire length of the telescopic stage 3 and the lower rigid chain segment S.sub.d is shortened to a minimal length. FIG. 3 shows a front view of the telescopic arm.

(11) FIGS. 4a and 4b show two possible embodiments of a usable rigid chain S. The rigid chain S consists of rigid chain members Sk articulately connected to each other. Both depicted rigid chains S can only be deflected about the deflection directions R.sub.U. Contrary to the deflection direction R.sub.U the rigid chains S are resistant to buckling. The buckling resistance is achieved through the contact surfaces Ska and Skb arranged transverse to the direction of thrust R.sub.S. It is of course also possible to use other forms of rigid chains for the current collector system according to the present invention. It is also possible to use divided rigid chains, which consist of half rigid chains initially separated from each other. This type of rigid chain is resistant to buckling and can transfer thrust forces only through combination of the two half rigid chains.

(12) FIG. 5 shows a possible guide F, which in each case can be arranged on the base unit 3 and/or the first and/or second telescopic stage 3, 4. The guide can be formed by a U profile 12, in the interior 14 of which the rigid chain S is guided. The U profile 12 can optionally still be sealed by means of a cover plate 13.