Line Guide Device Having a Movement Sensor as well as a Drive Arrangement and Winding Apparatus Having such a Line Guide Device

Abstract

The invention concerns line guide devices, for example energy guide chains (31, 51), having a movement sensor. An aspect concerns a movement sensor (10; 20) including a bearing having a first component, for example a guide (11; 21) of a linear bearing, and a second component moveable relative thereto, for example a longitudinally displaceable slider (12; 22), and at least one pick-up (13, 14; 23, 24) whose output signal depends on the relative position of both components. The movement sensor (10; 20) can be arranged with the first component at the connecting location to be supplied and with the second component at the moveable end of the line guide device, or vice-versa. A further aspect concerns an apparatus (30; 40) for winding up and unwinding a line guide device. A rotatable drum (32; 42) for winding up and unwinding the line guide device has a drum drive (38; 48). A sensor unit (35; 45) is arranged at the load-side end region (52B) of the line guide device, for detecting a movement parameter. A control unit (36; 46) connected to the sensor unit (35; 45) controls the drum drive. Both aspects are suitable inter alia for shore power supply.

Claims

1. A line guide device comprising a movement sensor, wherein the line guide device (31, 51) is adapted for the protected guidance of lines, cables or hoses between a first connecting location and a second connecting location moveable relative thereto, wherein the movement sensor (10; 20) has a bearing having a first component and a second component moveable relative thereto, and includes at least one pick-up (13, 14; 23, 24) whose output signal depends on the position of the second component in relation to the first component; the movement sensor (10; 20) is arranged with the first component at the second connecting location, and with the second component at the corresponding moveable end of the line guide device; or with the second component at the second connecting location and with the first component at the corresponding moveable end of the line guide device.

2. The line guide device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one pick-up (13, 14; 23, 24) is mounted to the slider or to the guide.

3. The line guide device according to claim 1, wherein there are provided two pick-ups including a first contact-free proximity switch and a second contact-free proximity switch (13, 14; 23, 24) at a spacing in the longitudinal direction.

4. The line guide device according to claim 1, wherein the movement sensor (10) additionally includes two limit switches (16, 17) at mutually opposite ends of the guide or the slider respectively to indicate the attainment of a maximum longitudinal displacement.

5. The line guide device according to claim 1, wherein the movement sensor is connected to a control unit (36; 46) which actuates an adjusting member.

6. The line guide device according to claim 5, wherein signal lines (55) for connecting the movement sensor (10) to a control unit (46) and/or an adjusting member are guided through the line guide device to the stationary end thereof.

7. The line guide device according to claim 4, wherein the movement sensor (10; 20) is connected to a control unit (36; 46) that actuates a drive (38; 48) for assisting the line guide device as an adjusting member, and triggers an emergency stop of a moveable load which includes the second connecting location if the movement sensor indicates the attainment of a maximum longitudinal displacement; or wherein the movement sensor mechanically couples the second connecting location to the moveable end of the line guide device and for that purpose has in particular at the guide or at the slider two end abutments (28, 29) for limiting the maximum longitudinal displacement.

8. An arrangement for line guidance comprising: an energy guide chain (31; 51) for the protected guidance of lines (54, 55) between a first connecting location and a second connecting location moveable relative thereto at a load; a drive (38, 48) operatively connected to the energy guide chain for assisting with the forward and/or return movement of the energy guide chain; a control unit (36; 46) for actuating the drive; a sensor unit (35, 45) for detecting a movement parameter of a moveable end region (52B) of the energy guide chain, wherein the control unit (36; 46) is connected to the sensor unit (35; 45) and to the drive (38; 48) and actuates the drive on the basis of an output signal of the sensor.

9. The arrangement for line guidance according to claim 8, wherein the forward and/or return movement of the energy guide chain (31) is effected substantially in a horizontal direction, the energy guide chain forms a lower run, and direction-changing arc and an upper run and the drive assists with the travel movement of the upper run and/or the direction-changing arc.

10. Apparatus (30; 40) for winding up and unwinding a line guide device, the apparatus comprising: a line guide device (31; 51) for the protected guidance of lines, cables, and hoses between a first connecting location (53A) and a second connecting location (53B) moveable relative thereto at a load; a rotatably mounted drum (32; 42) for winding up and unwinding the line guide device; a drum drive (38; 48) for rotating the drum; a sensor unit (35; 45) arranged at the load-side end region (52B) of the line guide device for detecting a movement parameter of the line guide device; and a control unit (36; 46) connected to the sensor unit (35; 45) and the drum drive for actuating the drum drive.

11. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the sensor unit (35; 45) includes a movement sensor (10; 20) having a guide, a slider displaceable in the guide in the longitudinal direction (L) and at least one pick-up whose output signal depends on the position of the slider relative to the guide.

12. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the control unit (36; 46) actuates the drum drive (38; 48) in regard to the direction of rotation and the rotational speed to provide closed-loop or open-loop control thereof.

13. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein the drum drive has an electric motor (48) and a self-locking transmission (49) that is connected thereto at the drive side and that is connected at the output side to the drum shaft.

14. The apparatus according to claim 13, wherein the transmission is a worm transmission (49).

15. Use of the apparatus according to claim 10 for the shore power supply of a ship, wherein the line guide device includes an energy guide chain (51) that guides heavy-current cables for the shore power supply.

16. Use of the apparatus according to claim 10 for the supply of a vertically displaceable underground works tool, wherein the underground works tool having the second connecting location is carried by a draw cable of a winch and moves predominantly vertically up and down by means of a winch drive and the drum drive follows the winch drive.

17. A line guide device according to claim 1, wherein said bearing is a linear bearing including the first component, which is a guide (11; 21), and comprising the second component, which is a slider (12; 22) displaceable in the guide in a longitudinal direction (L), and wherein the output signal of said at least one pick-up (13, 14; 23, 24) depends on the position of the slider relative to the guide.

18. The line guide device according to claim 1, wherein said line guide device is an energy guide chain.

19. The arrangement for line guidance according to claim 8, wherein the sensor unit includes a movement sensor (10; 20) having a guide (11; 21), a slider (12; 22) longitudinally displaceable in the guide and at least one pick-up (13, 14; 23, 24) whose output signal depends on the position of the slider relative to the guide, and the movement sensor is arranged with the guide stationary at the load (50) and with the slider stationary at the moveable end region (52B) or with the guide stationary at the moveable end region and with the slider stationary at the load.

20. The arrangement for line guidance according to claim 8, wherein said lines include at least one cable or at least one hose.

21. The arrangement for line guidance according to claim 8, wherein said load comprises a movable machine component or a movable tool.

22. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said line guide device is an energy guide chain.

23. The apparatus according to claim 10, wherein said load includes a moveable machine component.

Description

[0032] Further details, features and advantages of the invention will be apparent from the more detailed description hereinafter of preferred embodiments by way of example with reference to the accompanying Figures. The Figures without limitation are diagrammatic views which are not true to scale.

[0033] FIG. 1 shows a diagrammatic side view of a first embodiment of a movement sensor according to the first aspect of the invention,

[0034] FIG. 2 shows a diagrammatic side view of a second embodiment of a movement sensor according to the first aspect of the invention,

[0035] FIG. 3 shows a diagrammatic plan view of an embodiment of an apparatus for winding up and unwinding a line guide device according to the second aspect,

[0036] FIGS. 4A-4C show diagrammatic side views of a further apparatus for winding up and unwinding in accordance with the second aspect, for example for use on an underground works tool, and

[0037] FIG. 5 shows a diagrammatic view of the use of an apparatus for winding up and unwinding a line guide device, for example as shown in FIG. 3 or FIGS. 4A-4C, for the purposes of shore power supply for a ship.

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a first embodiment of a movement sensor 10. A slider 12 is mounted displaceably in the longitudinal direction L in a guide 11, for example by means of plain bearings. The bearings can be provided in coaxial openings at two mutually opposite holding arms of the guide 11, which are perpendicular to the longitudinal direction L, as indicated in FIG. 1. In FIG. 1 two pick-ups 13, 14 are mounted at a predetermined longitudinal spacing to the guide 11. Arranged approximately centrally on the slider 12 is a triggering element 15, for example a permanent magnet, which co-operates with the pick-ups 13, 14. The pick-ups 13, 14 can thus be in the form of contact-less proximity switches like reed contacts or the like.

[0039] If a load fixed to the guide 11 moves away the slider 12 is moved rearwardly relative to the guide 11 (towards the left in FIG. 1), that is to say the first pick-up 13 is then addressed. If the slider 12 moves forwardly (towards the right in FIG. 1) relative to the guide the second pick-up 14 is addressed. The direction of movement can thus be detected in a robust and particularly simple fashion as the output signal of the pick-ups 13, 14 depends on the relative position of the floatingly mounted slider 12 relative to the guide 11. In that respect it is immaterial whether the guide 11 is fixed at the load-side connecting location and the slider 12 at the corresponding moveable end of a line guide device (see FIGS. 3-4) or vice-versa, only the way in which the pick-ups 13 and 14 operate is correspondingly reversed.

[0040] Besides the pick-ups 13, 14 FIG. 1 additionally shows two limit switches 16, 17 at mutually opposite ends of the guide 11, just beside the holding arms. The limit switches 16, 17 operate in accordance with the same principle as the pick-ups, but display the attainment of a maximum desired longitudinal displacement, in accordance with which the spacing between the limit switches 16, 17 and thus the movement sensor 10 are to be dimensioned.

[0041] FIG. 2 shows a second embodiment of a movement sensor 20 which differs from FIG. 1 essentially only in two aspects. The pick-ups 23, 24 for direction detection are here not mounted to the guide 21 but to the slider 22. Accordingly, two triggering elements 15 are provided at the end regions on the guide 21. The mode of operation of the pick-ups 23, 24 is however identical to that of the pick-ups 13, 14. A further difference is that the movement sensor 20 has end abutments 28, 29, for example transverse pins, which engage the holding arms. The end abutments 28, 29 limit the relative movement of the slider 22 in relation to the guide 21 and are optionally of a sufficiently strong nature to use the movement sensor 20 at the same time as an entrainment member with a floating mounting in the longitudinal direction L.

[0042] FIG. 3 shows an apparatus 30 for horizontally winding up and unwinding an energy guide chain 31 for protected guidance of lines, cables, hoses and the like (not shown in FIG. 3). The apparatus 30 includes a rotatably mounted drum 32 for winding up and unwinding the energy guide chain 31 with a suitable drum drive 38 for driving the drum. To avoid sliding contacts or the like the apparatus has a special spiral band 33 which connects the non-extendable end of the energy guide chain 31 to the fixed point. In that respect the apparatus 30 is designed substantially in accordance with DE 10 2012 110 967 A1.

[0043] A sensor unit 35 is provided for actuating and possibly for closed-loop control of the drum drive 38, at the extendable and retractable or load-side end region of the energy guide chain 31. The sensor unit 35 includes a movement sensor 10 or 20 as shown in FIG. 1 or 2 respectively, for detecting a movement parameter, in particular the direction of movement of the load (not shown in FIG. 3). A control unit 36 which is respectively connected in signal-communicating relationship to the sensor unit 35 and the drum drive 38 serves for actuation of the drum drive 38 in accordance with the detected movement parameter.

[0044] FIGS. 4A-4C show an apparatus 10 for vertically winding up and unwinding an energy guide chain 51, for protected guidance of supply lines 54, for example for an underground works tool, between a first connecting location 53A and a second connecting location 53B which is moveable relative thereto, on a load 50. The apparatus 40 is constructed in accordance with a similar principle to the apparatus 30 in FIG. 3 and includes in particular a sensor unit 45 with a movement sensor 10 as shown in FIG. 1, wherein the guide is mounted stationarily to the load 50 and the slider is mounted stationarily to the moveable end region 52B of the energy guide chain 51. The arrangement can also be reversed.

[0045] The apparatus 40 shown in FIGS. 4A-4C has an electric motor 48 as the drive for assisting with the upward and/or retraction movement of the energy guide chain 51 and for driving the rotatable drum 52. The sensor unit 35 detects the direction of movement of the load 50, by means of the movement sensor 10. As a comparison of FIG. 4B and FIG. 4C with the rest condition in FIG. 4A shows the one pick-up 13 will respond when the load 50 moves downwardly and the other pick-up 14 will respond when the load 50 moves upwardly. Accordingly, the control unit 46 actuates the drum drive 48 by way of the signal line 55 in order to wind up the energy guide chain 31 (FIG. 4C) or to unwind it (FIG. 4B). In that case, by virtue of the configuration of the movement sensor 10, the energy guide chain 31 can substantially follow the movement of the load. If a breakdown should occur, for example by the energy guide chain 31 becoming caught, the control unit 46 can detect that by virtue of the limit switches 16, 17 and possibly trigger an emergency stop of the load 50, for example by the control unit stopping a cable winch for the underground works tool.

[0046] FIGS. 4A-4C also shows a self-locking worm transmission which is connected at the drive side to the drum drive 48 and which at the drive output side drives the drum shaft 44, that is to say the shaft of the drum 42. Uncontrolled freewheeling is prevented in that way.

[0047] Unlike the situation shown in FIGS. 4A-4C the control unit 46 can also be arranged at the drum drive 48, that is to say on the stationary side of the energy guide chain 31.

[0048] FIG. 5 shows a further example of use of the apparatus 40, for example as shown in FIGS. 4A-4C, for the power supply to an ocean-going ship 50 as the load. For providing the shore power/alternative maritime power for the ship 50 the apparatus 40 (not shown in detail here) is provided in a standard container which in FIG. 5 by way of example is set up directly at the quayside of a port. The ship 50 has a jib arm with cable winch 56, with a steel cable 58 and a crane hook (not shown) for lifting up and lowering a combined coupling and sensor unit 45 of the apparatus 40. For connecting the electric supply lines 54 of the ship 50 to the supply lines delivered by the energy guide chain 51 (see FIGS. 4A-4C), arranged near the cable winch 56 is a coupling device 57, for example for making a plug connection, on the jib arm of the ship 50. The end region 52B of the energy guide chain 51, as described with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C, is mounted floatingly within the coupling and sensor unit 45 and is operatively connected to a movement sensor (see FIGS. 4A-4C).

[0049] The mode of operation of the arrangement shown in FIG. 5 is described in respect of the forces in correspondingly reversed relationship with FIGS. 4A-4C, wherein the drum drive here too operates in conjunction with the drive of the cable winch 56. The structure of the apparatus 40 is adapted to the reversed force conditions, otherwise it is similar to the arrangement described with reference to FIGS. 4A-4C. If the combined coupling and sensor unit 45 is raised by the cable winch 56, the drum drive of the apparatus 40 switches on and extends the energy guide chain 51 until it latches to the coupling device 57 of the ship 50 and connects to the supply lines 54. The cable winch 56 stops at that moment, which causes the drum drive to switch off. Uncoupling, return movement and winding of the energy guide chain 51 into the container of the apparatus 40 take place in a correspondingly reversed fashion, with the energy guide chain 51 being automatically wound on to the drum (FIGS. 4A-4C).

[0050] As an alternative to the embodiment shown in FIG. 5 the apparatus 40 can also be arranged on the ship 50, in particular a container ship, itself, in which case the motor-assisted and sensor-controlled apparatus 40 is used for extending or retracting the energy guide chain 51 from the ship to the mooring pier, with the mode of operation and structure being identical as described with reference to FIG. 3 or FIGS. 4A-4C.

[0051] Typical power consumptions for shore power supply, for example for container or cruise ships, are in the region of some megawatts (MW) with three phases. Therefore, suitable supply lines are of an extremely high weight. Thus, the motor-assisted and sensor-controlled arrangement for line guidance can be used to particular advantage for shore power supply.

LIST OF REFERENCES

[0052] FIG. 1 [0053] 10 movement sensor [0054] 11 guide [0055] 12 slider [0056] 13 first pick-up [0057] 14 second pick-up [0058] 15 triggering element [0059] 16, 17 limit switch [0060] L longitudinal direction [0061] FIG. 2 [0062] 20 movement sensor [0063] 21 guide [0064] 22 slider [0065] 23 first pick-up [0066] 24 second pick-up [0067] 25 triggering elements [0068] 28, 29 end abutments [0069] L longitudinal direction [0070] FIG. 3 [0071] 30 winding apparatus [0072] 31 energy guide chain [0073] 32 drum [0074] 33 spiral band [0075] 34 drum shaft [0076] 35 sensor unit [0077] 36 control unit [0078] 38 electric motor [0079] FIGS. 4A-4C [0080] 10 movement sensor [0081] 40 winding apparatus [0082] 42 drum [0083] 44 drum shaft [0084] 45 sensor unit [0085] 46 control unit [0086] 48 electric motor [0087] 49 worm transmission [0088] 50 load [0089] 51 energy guide chain [0090] 52A, 52B end regions [0091] 53A, 53B connecting locations [0092] 54 supply lines [0093] 55 signal lines [0094] FIG. 5 [0095] 40 winding apparatus [0096] 45 sensor and coupling unit [0097] 50 ship (load) [0098] 51 energy guide chain [0099] 52B end regions [0100] 54 supply lines [0101] 56 cable winch [0102] 57 coupling device [0103] 58 steel cable