AXLE DEVICE COMPRISING AN ENERGY STORAGE ARRANGEMENT AND A CONVEYING SYSTEM COMPRISING THE AXLE DEVICE

Abstract

An axle device is proposed including a linear shaft, at least one carriage, an electric drive for moving the carriage along the linear shaft, and a mechanical energy storage arrangement. The energy storage arrangement being able to assume a charging state for converting kinetic energy into potential when the carriage is decelerated along the linear shaft energy in an energy charging region, a storage state for storing the potential energy, and a discharging state for converting the stored potential energy into kinetic energy when the carriage is accelerated along the linear shaft in an energy releasing region.

Claims

1. An axle device, comprising: a linear shaft; at least one carriage; an electric drive for moving the carriage on the linear shaft; and a mechanical energy storage arrangement, the energy storage arrangement being capable of assuming a charging state for converting kinetic energy into potential energy upon deceleration of the carriage along the linear shaft in an energy charging region, a storage state for storing the potential energy, and a discharging state for converting the stored potential energy into kinetic energy upon acceleration of the carriage along the linear shaft in an energy releasing region.

2. The axle device according to claim 1, wherein, in the storage state of the energy storage arrangement, the carriage can be moved in an energy-neutral manner with respect to the stored potential energy and/or in a force-neutral manner with respect to the energy storage arrangement.

3. The axle device according to claim 1, wherein the potential energy is configured as gravitational potential energy and/or as spring energy.

4. The axle device according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage arrangement comprises at least one energy storage apparatus for storing the potential energy.

5. The axle device according to claim 4, wherein the energy storage apparatus is arranged to be stationary with respect to the linear shaft or in that the energy storage apparatus is moved along with the carriage.

6. The axle device according to claim 1, wherein the axle device has at least one reversal point, the energy charging region being located upstream of the reversal point in order to decelerate the carriage upstream of the reversal point, and the energy releasing region being located downstream of the reversal point in order to accelerate the carriage away from the reversal point.

7. The axle device according to claim 1, wherein the linear shaft comprises an energy storage portion, the energy charging region being arranged at the beginning of the energy storage portion in order to decelerate the carriage, and the energy releasing region being arranged at the end of the energy storage portion in order to accelerate the carriage in the same direction of movement.

8. The axle device according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage arrangement comprises a carriage partner and a track partner, the partners together forming a curved track apparatus by which the partners move relative to one another, one partner having at least or exactly one curved track, and the other partner having a runner, at least one of the partners being operatively connected to the energy storage apparatus such that, when the runner runs on the curved track, the energy storage apparatus is charged in an energy charging region and/or discharged in an energy releasing region.

9. The axle device according to claim 8, wherein the at least or exactly one curved track has an input portion, the input portion being oriented in the same direction as the linear shaft, and/or has an output portion, the output portion being oriented in the same direction as the linear shaft, such that the runner moves in the input portion and output portion in an energy-neutral manner.

10. The axle device according to claim 8, wherein the runner is guided by the curved track along a charging path in a direction transverse to the linear shaft, the runner being operatively connected to the energy storage apparatus in order to charge and/or discharge the energy storage apparatus.

11. The axle device according to claim 1, wherein the runner has a track roller, the track roller rolling on the curved track.

12. The axle device according to claim 11, wherein the track roller is actively drivable.

13. The axle device according to claim 1, wherein the energy storage apparatus has a leg spring for energy storage, the leg spring being connected by one leg to one of the partners in a stationary state and by the other leg to the runner.

14. The axle device according to claim 13, wherein the leg spring is penetratingly inserted into the curved track.

15. A conveying system comprising at least one axle device according to claim 1.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

[0036] In the drawing:

[0037] FIGS. 1 a, b, c are respective schematic views of an axle device as one exemplary embodiment of the invention;

[0038] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an energy storage arrangement for the axle device in the preceding figures;

[0039] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of a sequence when the partners of the energy storage arrangement in FIG. 2 are brought together;

[0040] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of a further energy storage arrangement for the axle device in the previous figures; and

[0041] FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the energy storage arrangement having a driven runner.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0042] FIGS. 1 a, b, c each show an axle device 1 of a conveying system 2 as one example of the invention. As shown, the conveying system 2 can comprise exactly one axle device 1 or a plurality of axle devices 1. Furthermore, the conveying system 2 can comprise, for example, a processing station, a loading station and/or an unloading station (not shown).

[0043] The axle device 1 has a linear shaft 3, the linear shaft 3 being configured, for example, as a rail, in particular a steel rail, or as an aluminum profile, or comprising the same. Furthermore, the axle device 1 comprises a carriage 4, the carriage 4 being arranged so as to be movable on the linear shaft 3 in a direction of movement. The axle device 1 comprises an electric drive 5, the electric drive 5 being arranged on the carriage 4 in this exemplary embodiment in order to be able to actively move said carriage along the linear shaft 3.

[0044] The axle device 1 has a mechanical energy storage arrangement 6, which is arranged kinematically in parallel with the electric drive 5. The energy storage arrangement 6 has a carriage partner 7 and a track partner 8, which can interact with one another. The carriage partner 7 is arranged on the carriage 4, and the track partner 8 is arranged on the linear shaft and/or fixed thereto in a stationary state.

[0045] The energy storage arrangement 6 has the function of converting kinetic energy from the carriage 4 into potential energy when the carriage 4 is decelerated along the linear shaft 3. In addition, the energy storage arrangement 6 has the function of storing the potential energy. As a further function, the energy storage arrangement 6 can convert stored potential energy or a portion thereof back into kinetic energy and accelerate the carriage 4 along the linear shaft 3 using the converted potential energy. Thus, when the potential energy is discharged, the energy storage arrangement 6 forms a mechanical drive that acts kinematically in parallel with the electric drive 5. It can be provided for the parallel drives to operate entirely or largely in parallel; alternatively, the parallel drives have only parallel force components.

[0046] This mechanical parallel drive makes it possible that along the linear shaft 3 in an energy charging region, the carriage 4 being decelerated in the energy charging region to charge the mechanical energy storage arrangement 6 with potential energy. By contrast, in an energy releasing region, the stored potential energy is converted into kinetic energy to accelerate the carriage 4.

[0047] FIG. 1b shows a variation of the axle device 1 in FIG. 1a, with an energy storage portion 9 being provided along the linear shaft 3; in this energy storage portion, an energy charging region 10 of this kind is first arranged along the direction of movement of the carriage 4, and an energy releasing region 11 of this kind is arranged at the end of the energy storage portion 9. Functionally, the carriage 4 enters the energy charging region 10 and is decelerated there, with the kinetic energy being converted into the potential energy. In an intermediate region 12 between the energy charging region 10 and the energy releasing region 11, the carriage 4 can be moved through at a reduced speed, for example. Here the energy storage arrangement 6 operates in an energy-neutral and/or passive manner. Subsequently, the carriage 4 enters the energy releasing region 11, with the potential energy or some of the potential energy being released again to accelerate the carriage 4. For example, the processing station or the transfer station is located in the intermediate region 12, with the speed having to be reduced in comparison with the regions outside the energy storage portion 9. The mechanical energy storage arrangement 6 makes it possible to perform deceleration and acceleration in an almost energy-neutral manner. Optionally, the electric drive 5 can actively support the deceleration and/or the acceleration.

[0048] FIG. 1c shows the axle device 1 in the preceding figures, with the carriage 4 passing through a reversal point, for example at the end of the linear shaft 3. Upstream of the reversal point, the carriage 4 enters an energy charging region 10 of this kind and is decelerated upstream of the reversal point. Braking can be implemented exclusively mechanically via the energy storage arrangement 6 or alternatively by a combination of mechanical and electromotive deceleration using the electric drive 5. In any case, the speed of the carriage 4 is reduced to zero at the reversal point. For example, at the reversal point, the carriage 4 can be loaded with a workpiece or a workpiece can be unloaded therefrom. Subsequently, the carriage 4 enters an energy releasing region 11 of this kind, with the stored potential energy or some thereof being converted to kinetic energy to accelerate the carriage 4 away from the reversal point. At the reversal point, the energy charging region 10 and the energy releasing region 11 are arranged one after the other in the direction of movement of the carriage but are positioned so as to overlap in relation to the linear shaft 3.

[0049] In particular, it is provided for one such track partner 8 of the mechanical energy storage arrangement 6 to be arranged in both the energy charging region 10 and the energy releasing region 11, as shown in FIG. 1b. However, it can be provided for just a single carriage partner 7 to be arranged on the carriage 4.

[0050] FIG. 2 is a highly schematized view of an exemplary embodiment of the energy storage arrangement 6. The energy storage arrangement 6 has a first partner 13 and a second partner 14. The first partner 13 can be configured as either the carriage partner 7 or the track partner 8. The second partner 14 is accordingly configured as the other.

[0051] The first partner 13 has a curved track 15, and the second partner 14 has a runner 16 which is forcibly guided along the curved track 15 during relative movement between the first partner 13 and the second partner 14. The runner 16 is operatively connected to an energy storage apparatus 18 of the energy storage arrangement 6 such that, by means of a forcibly guided movement of the runner 16 along a charging path 17 by the curved track 15, the energy storage apparatus 18 is charged with potential energy in one direction of the charging path 17 and is discharged in the other direction of the charging path 17.

[0052] For example, the potential energy can be spring energy. In this exemplary embodiment, the energy storage apparatus 18 is implemented as a leg spring 19. The leg spring 19 is similar to a leaf spring and is connected to a fixed point of the second partner 14 by one leg 20 and to the runner 16 by the other leg 21. When the leg spring 19 is deflected by moving the runner 16 along the track 18, the leg spring 19 is tensioned and thus charged with spring energy and is released in the opposite direction and thus discharged. In FIG. 2, the leg spring 19 is shown several times in various charging states along the charging path 17.

[0053] The second partner 14 has a mechanical stop 22 against which the leg spring 19 rests in the rest position and/or released state. The stop 22 is positioned in such a way that the runner 16 is inserted into the curved track 15 in the rest position, in particular without jolting.

[0054] The curved track 15 has an input portion 23 and an output portion 24, the input portion 23 and/or the output portion 24 being oriented in the same direction as a direction of movement of the first or the second partner 13, 14. Upon relative movement between the first and second partners 13, 14, the runner 16 enters the input portion 23 and is not initially moved along the charging path 17. Thus, the energy storage arrangement 6 operates in an energy-neutral manner when the carriage 4 moves in the direction of movement. Only in an incline portion 25 between the input portion 23 and the output portion 24 is the runner 16 then moved relative to the fixed point 20 in such a way that said runner moves along the charging path 17 and the leg spring 19 is tensioned in the output portion 24. The output portion is aligned in parallel with the direction of movement of the carriage 4 such that the energy storage arrangement 6 is energy-neutral when the carriage 4 moves in the direction of movement.

[0055] For example, considering the situation shown in FIG. 1c at the reversal point, the first partner 13 can be configured as the carriage partner 7, and the second partner 14 can be configured as the track partner 8, for example. In this case, the carriage 4 having the first partner 13 moves towards the second partner 14 and catches the runner 16 by means of the curved track 15. As the carriage 4 continues to move toward the reversal point, the runner 16 travels up the intermediate portion 25, with kinetic energy from the carriage 4 being converted into spring energy of the leg spring 19.

[0056] Once the runner 16 has arrived at the output portion 15, no further kinetic energy is converted when the carriage 4 continues to move toward the reversal point. The travel path is then energy-neutral. In addition, the runner 16 is self-retaining in the output portion 15, which is oriented in the same direction as the linear shaft 3, such that no spring energy can be converted into kinetic energy either.

[0057] The electric drive 5 can then be used to start the carriage 4 in the opposite direction, with the energy storage arrangement 6 converting spring energy into kinetic energy, but only when the runner 16 has left the output portion 24 and entered the incline portion 25.

[0058] For the situation in FIG. 1b, for example, it can be provided for the second partner 14 to be configured as the carriage partner 7. Alternatively, the first partner 13 is connected to the carriage 4. In both cases, the curved track 15 can have a further incline portion 25 downstream of the output portion 24, which, however, is oriented in the opposite direction, leading to a further input portion 23. As soon as the carriage 4 enters the energy storage portion 9, the runner 16 is caught in the input portion 23 in an energy-neutral manner. Subsequently, the carriage 4 enters the energy charging region 10, with the energy storage apparatus being charged with spring energy in the manner already described by passing through the incline portion 25. Subsequently, the energy-neutral output portion 24 follows, and the carriage 4 passes through the intermediate region 12. As soon as the carriage 4 enters the energy releasing region 11, the runner 16 travels down the further incline portion and converts the spring energy into kinetic energy in this way. The runner can then leave the curved track 15 in an energy-neutral manner via the further input portion. If the direction of the carriage 4 is reversed, the energy storage portion 9 can be passed through in the opposite direction.

[0059] FIG. 3 shows a schematic sequence during the charging of the energy storage arrangement 6. Discharging takes place in the reverse order.

[0060] FIG. 4 shows an alternative embodiment for the second partner 14 in the same view as in FIG. 2. In the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4, the energy storage arrangement 6 uses gravitational potential energy, rather than spring energy, as potential energy. Similarly, the second partner 14 has the runner 16, but in this embodiment, the runner is connected to a weight 26 as an energy storage apparatus 18 such that, in the incline portion 25, the weight 26 is pulled upward, thereby charging the energy storage apparatus 18 with gravitational potential energy. The runner 16 operates as previously described; thus, reference is made to the preceding description.

[0061] Instead of a downwardly oriented weight 26, the gravitational potential energy can also be dissipated via a gearing or other structure. Similarly, it is also possible for a compression spring or a tension spring to be used instead of the weight 26 and for the potential energy to be spring energy.

[0062] It should also be noted that, in the embodiment example in FIG. 4, the weight force from the weight 26 or the spring force from a similarly configured spring is oriented downward. However, the leg spring 18 in FIG. 2 presses tangentially to the charging path 17 such that the force component in the direction of movement of the carriage 4 is proportionally greater than in the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 4.

[0063] FIG. 5 is a highly schematized view of the energy storage arrangement 6 in the direction of movement, showing the first partner 13 with the curved track 15 and the second partner 14 with the runner 16. The runner 16 is configured as a rotatable roller which can roll along the curved track 15. It is insignificant whether the energy storage apparatus 17 is configured according to the exemplary embodiment in FIG. 2 or FIG. 4 or according to another exemplary embodiment.

[0064] The axle device 1, in particular the energy storage arrangement 6, has a drive motor 27, which is configured to rotate the runner 16 prior to contact with the curved track 15 such that no significant relative movement, which generates wear on the roller and the curved track 15, occurs upon contact with the curved track 15.

[0065] While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.