Roller having a driven wheel, load truck comprising a roller having a driven wheel and operating device

Abstract

A wheel of a roller includes a roller axis, the wheel being driven by an electric motor, wherein the electric motor is a hub motor which drives a hub body, which extends with circumferential spacing and surrounds the wheel axle, relative to the fixed wheel axle, wherein furthermore the wheel has a running surface. The running surface is formed on a running surface carrier and the running surface carrier is supported flush on the hub body at the back of the running surface. Further, a manually movable load truck includes one or more rollers, of which at least one roller has a driven wheel. Further, an operating device, in particular for a manually movable load truck, is formed having a substantially annular cross-section having a central through opening.

Claims

1. A roller (5) comprising a wheel (31) that is driven by an electric motor and has a stationary wheel axle (6), wherein the electric motor is a hub motor (19) that drives a hub body (7) surrounding the stationary wheel axle (6) with circumferential spacing relative to the stationary wheel axle (6), and wherein the wheel (31) furthermore comprises a running surface (10), wherein the running surface (10) is on a running surface carrier (11) and the running surface carrier (11) is supported on the hub body (7) in a planar fashion on a rear side of the running surface (10), wherein further the running surface carrier (11) is pot shaped with a pot bottom (14) extending outside the hub body (7) and essentially perpendicular to the stationary wheel axle (6) and a pot wall overlapping a circumferential wall of the hub body, and wherein the hub body (7) comprises a pot shaped part that encompasses the circumferential wall (9) and a side wall (8), which side wall (8) is overlapped by the pot bottom (14), wherein the pot shaped part of the hub body (7) is encompassed with respect to a front edge of the pot wall by another pot shaped part and said another pot shaped part provides an other side wall (8) as pot bottom and an overlapping section (29) formed by the pot wall, and wherein one or more circumferential ribs (15) are formed on the running surface carrier (11) for dissipating heat.

2. The roller according to claim 1, wherein the running surface carrier (11) has said one or more circumferential ribs (15) that form part of an outer surface of the running surface carrier (11).

3. The roller according to claim 2, wherein said one or more circumferential ribs (15) is realized circumferentially.

4. The roller according to claim 1, wherein a roller fork (16) is provided, and wherein the roller fork (16) is made of a sheet metal part with a width corresponding to 10-times the thickness of the sheet metal part or more.

5. The roller according to claim 4, wherein the roller fork (16) is realized in a U-shaped fashion.

6. The roller according to claim 1, wherein a horizontally aligned enclosure part (18) vertically extends over part of height H of roller (5).

7. The roller according to claim 6, wherein the enclosure part (18) is made of a sheet metal part with a width corresponding to 10-times the thickness of the sheet metal part or more.

8. The roller according to claim 6, wherein the enclosure part (18) vertically extends only over part of the height H of the roller (5) or the roller fork (16).

9. A load truck (1) that can also be maneuvered manually and has at least one roller (4, 5), of which said at least one roller (5) has a driven wheel (31), comprising a design of the roller (5) according to claim 1.

10. The load truck according to claim 9, wherein said at least one roller (5) is controlled with respect to a power output of the electric motor.

11. The load truck according to claim 9, wherein a control device (25) is arranged on the load truck (1).

12. The load truck according to claim 9, wherein said at least one roller comprises two rollers (5) with respectively said driven wheel (31).

13. The load truck according to claim 9, wherein said at least one roller comprises two rollers (5) with said driven wheel (31) which is controlled independently of one another.

14. The roller according to claim 4, wherein the roller fork (16) is made of a sheet metal part with a width corresponding up to 200-times or 300-times the thickness of the sheet metal part.

15. The roller according to claim 7, wherein the enclosure part (18) is made of a sheet metal part with a width corresponding up to 200-times or 300-times the thickness of the sheet metal part.

Description

(1) The invention is described in greater detail below with reference to the attached drawings that, however, merely show exemplary embodiments. In these drawings:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic perspective view of a load truck with two driven electric rollers;

(3) FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a driven electric roller only;

(4) FIG. 3 shows a side view of the roller according to FIG. 2;

(5) FIG. 4 shows a top view of the roller according to FIG. 2 and FIG. 3;

(6) FIG. 5 shows a cross section through the roller according to FIG. 2 along the line V-V;

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of a control device;

(8) FIG. 7 shows a perspective view of an enclosure that serves for routing cables;

(9) FIG. 8 shows a section along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. 7;

(10) FIG. 9 shows a perspective exploded view of the control device;

(11) FIG. 10 shows the control device in the form of a sectioned perspective view; and

(12) FIG. 11 shows an illustration according to FIG. 10, in which the line of section is shifted in the axial direction.

(13) A load truck 1 featuring a loading platform 2 and a handle bar 3 for maneuvering the load truck is described below with reference to FIG. 1. In the exemplary embodiment, four rollers are arranged underneath the loading platform 2, wherein two rollers 4 consist of conventional rollers that are not driven and two rollers 5 feature wheels 31 that are electrically driven by a hub motor.

(14) An electrically driven roller 5 is preferably realized in the form of a fixed roller. The non-driven rollers 4 may be realized in the form of steering rollers in the exemplary embodiment.

(15) In this figure, the driven rollers 5 are arranged on the front of the load truck 1 referred to the normal moving direction. They are therefore able to pull the load truck.

(16) According to FIGS. 2-5, an electrically driven roller 5 features a wheel 31 and a wheel axle 6, on which a hub body 7 is arranged. The functional components for an electric drive are arranged within the hub body 7, but not described in greater detail at this point.

(17) The hub body 7 shown is essentially realized cylindrically and features two sidewalls 8 that essentially extend perpendicular to the wheel axle 6 and a circumferential wall 9.

(18) A running surface 10 is arranged on the circumferential wall 9, wherein the running surface 10 forms part of a running surface carrier 11 that is in direct surface contact with an outer side of the circumferential wall 9 of the hub body 7 over at least part of its extent in the direction of the wheel axle 6; see the surfaces lying on top of one another at the reference symbol 12.

(19) The running surface carrier 11 is essentially realized in a pot-like fashion with a pot wall 13 and a pot bottom 14.

(20) The pot bottom 14 overlaps one of the sidewalls 8 of the hub body 7. Referred to a longitudinal center plane M extending transverse to the wheel axle 6, the pot wall 13 extends beyond this center plane M viewed from the pot bottom 14. The longitudinal center plane M preferably extends through the running surface 10 centrally referred to its width illustrated in FIG. 5.

(21) The hub body 7 itself preferably also consists of a pot-shaped part that encompasses the circumferential wall 9 and one of the sidewalls 8, namely the sidewall 8 overlapped by the pot bottom 14 in the exemplary embodiment. On the side of its opening, this pot-shaped part of the hub body 7 is encompassed with respect to a front edge of the pot wall by another pot-shaped part. This additional pot-shaped part features the other sidewall 8 as pot bottom and an overlapping section 29 formed by the pot wall.

(22) Circumferential ribs 15 are formed on the running surface carrier 11, preferably to one side of the running surface 10, and serve for dissipating heat. Since surface contact with the circumferential wall 9, which in a cross section lies thereunder, is preferably also produced in this region, a sound heat conduction and subsequent heat dissipation is achieved by means of the aforementioned circumferential ribs 15.

(23) The overlapping section 29 of the hub body itself is preferably also realized with such circumferential ribs as shown. These circumferential ribs are arranged to the other side of the running surface 10.

(24) The roller 5 furthermore features a roller fork 16. The roller fork 16 encloses the wheel 31 in a U-shaped fashion, wherein the U-crossbar 17 extends in the operative state of the roller above and approximately parallel to a horizontal plane extending through the wheel axle 6.

(25) The roller fork 16 consists of a thin sheet metal part, wherein the sheet metal strip bent into the roller fork may have a width, for example, of 8-16 cm and a thickness of 0.2-0.7 or, if applicable, up to 4 mm.

(26) The roller 5 furthermore features an enclosure part 18 that is essentially aligned horizontally. The enclosure part 18 also consists of a sheet metal part of the described type. The enclosure part 18 horizontally extends completely around the hub motor 19 and the corresponding wheel or roller part provided with the running surface.

(27) Under normal operating conditions, the enclosure part 18 has a vertical height h of 4-12 cm.

(28) This results in a peripheral sheet metal strip that, in particular, may also provide protection against the direct contact of the running surface with any obstacles. The sheet metal strip itself may particularly consist of two parts, namely two U-shaped parts (referred to a top view).

(29) Due to its surface contact in the region of one or both U-limbs 20 of the roller fork 16, the enclosure part 18 is also in thermally conductive contact with the roller fork such that additional heat can be dissipated via the enclosure part 18.

(30) According to another detail, the enclosure part 18 is respectively connected to the roller fork 16 by means of two connecting screws 21 on each U-limb.

(31) Since the enclosure part 18 only extends over part of the height H of the roller, a view opening 22 remains between the roller fork 16 and the enclosure part 18; see FIG. 4.

(32) The roller 5 furthermore features an electrical interface that is realized in the form of a plug socket and exposed on a lateral surface of the roller fork 16, i.e. in the region of a U-limb 17 of the roller fork 16. On the inner side, the electrical interface 23 continues in the form of a cable 24 that is routed in overlap with the roller fork 16 and leads into the stationary roller axle 6. The cable 24 may be held by an enclosure 30 realized on the inner side of the fork 16.

(33) According to the illustration in FIG. 7, the enclosure 30 may consist of an injection-molded plastic part. This plastic part is essentially realized in an L-shaped fashion and features an enclosure web 35 that, according to FIG. 5, essentially extends parallel to the U-crosspiece 17 of the roller fork 16, as well as an enclosure limb 36 that in a cross section extends perpendicular thereto and essentially parallel to the U-limb 20 of the roller fork 16.

(34) The width of the enclosure 30 measured perpendicular to the plane of projection in FIG. 5 is preferably chosen smaller than the width of the roller fork 16, particularly its U-limbs 20, measured in the same direction.

(35) Referred to a cross section transverse to the plane of projection in FIG. 5, the enclosure web 35 is essentially realized in a U-shaped fashion (see FIG. 7).

(36) The preferably parallel U-limbs have a cross-sectional length that at least corresponds to and preferably exceeds the largest diameter of the cable 24.

(37) The U-limbs of the enclosure web 35 are realized with snap-on means 37. These snap-on means 37 may be realized in the form of snap-on tabs as shown in order to snap the enclosure 30 onto the roller fork 16.

(38) The bottom-like U-crosspiece of the enclosure web 35 extending at a distance from the U-crosspiece 17 of the roller fork 16 is provided with a window-like recess 38 in the end region that faces away from the enclosure limb 36 in order to lead through the cable 24 in the region of the connection of the electrical interface 23 to the roller fork 16.

(39) Referred to a cross section according to FIG. 8, the enclosure limb 36 preferably is in surface contact with the inner side of the U-limb 20 with a central section. Widenings 39 of semicircular cross section are realized to both sides of this flat central section and form channels together with the inner wall of the facing U-limb 20. The cable 24 is routed to the wheel axle 6 through at least one of these cable channels.

(40) The load truck 1 is furthermore provided with a control device 25 that is arranged in such a way that it encompasses the handle bar 3. The control device 25 is realized with an essentially circular cross section and features a central through-opening 34 with a longitudinal axis x.

(41) A control element T in the form of an actuating handle 26 is respectively realized on both ends of the control device 25 referred to its longitudinal extent in the direction of the handle bar 3. It extends over the length indicated by the clamp. The actuating handle 26 can be moved about the handle bar 3 along a circular arc that extends in a plane extending perpendicular to the direction of the handle bar 3 in this region.

(42) Each actuating handle 26 serves for actuating one of the driven rollers 5.

(43) The rollers 5 can be activated independently of one another such that it is also possible to only drive one roller.

(44) With respect to the handle bar 3, an electrical connection between a driven roller 5 and the control device 25 may extend within the handle bar 3 as indicated by the cable 27 drawn with a broken line. For this purpose, the handle bar 3 features a through-opening 40 in the overlapping region of the control device 25.

(45) The control device is illustrated separately in FIG. 6. According to another detail, the actuating handle 26 shown is realized with a concave surface 28, the end regions of which can be used for the actuation. The actuation may take place in both circumferential directions. For example, the actuating handle is actuated in one direction in order to realize a forward motion and in the other direction in order to realize a reverse motion.

(46) With respect to a circumference of the handle bar, the concave surface 28 extends in this region over a circumferential angle, for example, of 30-270°, preferably about 120°.

(47) The control device 25 features a stationary section that is composed of two joinable shell-shaped parts 41 and 42. These parts are tensioned relative to one another by means of not-shown screws such that they encompass the handle bar 3. The screws penetrate correspondingly positioned bores 43 in the handle bar 3 in this case. The stationary section of the control device 25 is fixed on the handle bar 3 in the axial direction of the handle bar 3, as well as in the circumferential direction thereof.

(48) The stationary section carries a board 44 with control electronics.

(49) Referred to the direction of the through-opening 34 formed by the two parts 41 and 42, the respective ends of the stationary section simultaneously form guide sections 45 that encompass the facing section of the handle bar 3.

(50) Each control element T or each actuating handle 26 is respectively composed of two shell-shaped parts 46 and 47 that are tensioned relative to one another, as well as an actuating part 48 that is covered, in particular, by the shell-shaped part 47.

(51) The actuating part 48 preferably lies, in particular, in the shell-shaped part 47 in a form-fitted fashion in order to cooperate with the assigned guide section 45 in a rotationally sliding fashion.

(52) The guide section 45 fixes the actuating part 48 and said actuating part fixes the actuating handle 26 on the stationary section of the control device 25 referred to the axial direction of the handle bar 3.

(53) The actuating part 48 preferably acts upon Hall sensors 55 arranged on the board 44 by means of three magnets 54 that are spaced apart from one another in the moving direction of the actuating part 48, wherein the actuating part 48 and therefore the entire actuating handle 26 is respectively rotatable by an angle of about 5-10° from a central home position in both rotating directions.

(54) The control element T or the actuating handle 26 is respectively spring-loaded into this home position.

(55) Two contact limbs 49, which are arranged axially adjacent to one another and directed opposite to one another, are respectively fixed on the stationary part 42 and assigned to a guide section 45 in that they essentially place themselves around the guide section 45 in the form of segments of a circle. The free ends of these contact limbs are widened similar to a hammer.

(56) A radial extension 50 of the actuating part 48 acts upon the free side of the hammer-shaped ends facing away from the contact limb 49. A rotation of the actuating handle 26 in a rotating direction causes the radial extension 50 to act upon the contact limb 49 that extends opposite to the rotating direction and can be pivoted about an axis in an end region facing away from the hammerhead end. The pivoting motion caused by the actuation is detected by the magnet/Hall sensor arrangement and interpreted as a control signal. The rotational motion is preferably restricted in that a stopping extension 51, which is directed radially inward, contacts the hammer-shaped end of the other contact limb 49 extending in the rotating direction.

(57) The restricted rotational angle in one rotating direction is identified by the reference symbol a in FIG. 10. The rotational angle (relative to the home position) in the opposite direction is preferably chosen identical.

(58) For example, a leg spring may be arranged in the region of the axial support of each contact limb 29 and prestress the contact limb 49 and therefore the control element T into the home position.

(59) The figures also show an emergency shut-off button in the form of an impact button, by means of which a potentially still running motor of a driven roller can be deactivated.

(60) It is also preferred to arrange a metallic disc element 33 on the wheel axle 6 outside the hub motor, particularly between a ball bearing 32 and the roller fork 16 or the enclosure part 18, respectively. The disc element 33 preferably consists of aluminum. This disc element advantageously makes it possible to enlarge the thermal contact surface with the roller fork 16 and/or the enclosure part 18.

(61) The preceding explanations serve for elucidating all inventions that are included in this application and respectively enhance the prior art independently with at least the following combinations of characteristics, namely:

(62) A roller, which is characterized in that the running surface 10 is realized on a running surface carrier 11 and the running surface carrier 11 is supported on the hub body in a planar fashion on the rear side of the running surface 10.

(63) A roller, which is characterized in that the running surface carrier 11 is realized in a pot-like fashion, wherein a pot bottom 14 extends outside the hub body 7 and essentially perpendicular to the wheel axle 6.

(64) A roller, which is characterized in that the running surface carrier 11 features one or more ribs 15 that form part of the outer surface of the running surface carrier 11.

(65) A roller, which is characterized in that a rib 15 is realized circumferentially.

(66) A roller, which is characterized in that a roller fork 16 is provided, and in that the roller fork 16 is made of a sheet metal part with a width corresponding to 10-times the thickness of the sheet metal part or more, for example, up to 200-times or 300-times the thickness of the sheet metal part.

(67) A roller, which is characterized in that the roller fork 16 is realized in a U-shaped fashion.

(68) A roller, which is characterized in that a horizontally aligned enclosure part 18 is provided.

(69) A roller, which is characterized in that the enclosure part 18 is made of a sheet metal part with a width corresponding to 10-times the thickness of the sheet metal part or more, for example, up to 200-times or 300-times.

(70) A roller, which is characterized in that the enclosure part 18 vertically extends only over part of the height H of the roller 5 or the roller fork 16.

(71) A roller, which is characterized in that the enclosure part 18 and/or the roller fork 16 is/are connected to one or both ends of the wheel axle 6.

(72) A roller, which is characterized in that an electrical interface 23 with the electric motor is realized on the enclosure part 18 or the roller fork 16.

(73) A roller, which is characterized in that the interface 23 is realized in the form of a plug socket.

(74) A roller, which is characterized in that a cable 24 connecting the interface 23 to the electric motor extends on the inner side of the enclosure part 18 or the roller fork 16.

(75) A load truck, which is characterized by a design of the roller 5 with one or more of the described roller characteristics.

(76) A load truck, which is characterized in that a roller 5 can be controlled with respect to the power output of the electric motor.

(77) A load truck, which is characterized in that a control device 25 is arranged on the load truck 1.

(78) A load truck, which is characterized in that two rollers 5 with respectively driven wheels 31 are provided.

(79) A load truck, which is characterized in that two rollers 5 realized with driven wheels 31 can in any case be controlled independently of one another.

(80) A load truck, which is characterized in that the load truck 1 features a handle bar 3, and in that the control device 25 is arranged on the handle bar 3.

(81) A load truck, which is characterized in that the handle bar 3 extends through the control device 25.

(82) A load truck, which is characterized in that the control device 25 essentially extends annular to the handle bar 3 in a cross section.

(83) A load truck, which is characterized in that an electrical connection between a roller 5 with a driven wheel 31 and the control device 25 is installed within the handle bar 3, if applicable, with an intermediately arranged junction box.

(84) A control device, which is characterized in that the control device 25 is essentially realized in the shape of a circular ring in a cross section and features a central through-opening.

(85) A control device, which is characterized in that at least two joinable parts are provided in order to form the through-opening.

(86) A control device, which is characterized in that one or more control elements are provided and movable relative to the otherwise stationary control device 25.

(87) A control device, which is characterized in that a control element can be moved circularly referred to a longitudinal axis of the through-opening.

(88) A control device, which is characterized in that two control elements are provided and separated in the direction of the longitudinal axis by a stationary section of the control device 25 located in between the control elements.

(89) A control device, which is characterized in that a control element is rotatable relative to a stationary internal switch section of the control device 25.

(90) A control device, which is characterized in that a control element features an engagement cavity that extends in the direction of the longitudinal axis and is radially accessible from outside.

(91) A control device, which is characterized in that a control element is spring-loaded into a home position.

(92) A control device, which is characterized in that the control element is movable in two opposite directions from its home position.

(93) A control device, which is characterized in that the control device 25 features control electronics.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

(94) 1 Load truck 2 Loading platform 3 Handle bar 4 Roller 5 Roller 6 Wheel axle 7 Hub body 8 Sidewall 9 Circumferential wall 10 Running surface 11 Running surface carrier 12 Surface contact 13 Pot wall 14 Pot bottom 15 Circumferential rib 16 Roller fork 17 U-crosspiece 18 Enclosure part 19 Hub motor 20 U-limb 21 Connecting screw 22 View opening 23 Electrical interface 24 Cable 25 Control device 26 Actuating handle 27 Cable 28 Concave surface 29 Overlapping section 30 Enclosure 31 Wheel 32 Ball bearing 33 Disc element 34 Through-opening 35 Enclosure web 36 Enclosure limb 37 Snap-on means 38 Recess 39 Widening 40 Lead-through opening 41 Part 42 Part 43 Bore 44 Board 45 Guide section 46 Shell-shaped part 47 Shell-shaped part 48 Actuating part 49 Contact limb 50 Radial extension 51 Stopping extension 52 Emergency shut-off button 53 Storage battery charge indicator 54 Magnet 55 Hall sensor H Height M Longitudinal center axis T Control element h Vertical height x Longitudinal axis α Angle