MOBILE TRANSPORT SYSTEM

Abstract

A mobile transport system includes a vehicle frame, first and second pairs of support wheels, first and second drive wheels, and a swing frame. A drive unit including a drive frame is disposed on the swing frame. The first drive wheel is rotatably supported on a first swing arm, and the second drive wheel is rotatably supported on a second swing arm. The first and second swing arms are coupled to each other by a coupling unit, such that a pivot motion of the first swing arm about a first swing axis in a first pivot direction brings about a pivot motion of the second swing arm about a second swing axis in a second pivot direction oriented opposite to the first pivot direction.

Claims

1 to 15. (canceled)

16. A mobile transport system for transporting objects, comprising a vehicle frame; a swing frame pivotable about a swing axis relative to the vehicle frame; a pair of first rotatably supported support wheels arranged on the vehicle frame; a pair of second rotatably supported support wheels arranged on the swing frame; a first drive wheel rotatable about a first drive axis extending in a transverse direction; a drive unit arranged on the swing frame and including a drive frame; and a second drive wheel rotatable about a second drive axis extending in the transverse direction; wherein the first drive wheel is rotatably supported on a first swing arm pivotable about a first swing axis relative to the drive frame, and the second drive wheel is rotatably supported on a second swing arm pivotable about a second swing arm relative to the drive frame; wherein the first swing arm and the second swing arm are coupled to each other by a coupling unit; and wherein a pivot motion of the first swing arm about the first swing axis in a first pivot direction results in a pivot motion of the second swing arm about the second swing axis in a second pivot direction directed opposite the first pivot direction.

17. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the first drive axis and the second drive axis are displaceable relative to each other perpendicular to the transverse direction.

18. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the first swing axis extends in the transverse direction, the second swing axis extends in the transverse direction, and/or the first swing axis and the second swing axis are aligned with each other.

19. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the coupling unit includes a rocker pivotable about a coupling axis, a first strut, and a second strut, the first swing arm is connected to the rocker by the first strut, and the second swing arm is connected to the rocker by the second strut.

20. The mobile transport system according to claim 19, wherein the coupling axis extends in a longitudinal direction arranged perpendicular to the transverse direction.

21. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the drive unit includes a first drive motor adapted to drive the first drive wheel and a second drive motor adapted to drive the second drive wheel, the first drive motor is arranged on the first swing arm, and the second drive motor is arranged on the second swing arm.

22. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the drive frame is pivotable about a steering axis relative to the swing frame.

23. The mobile transport system according to claim 22, wherein the steering axis extends in a vertical direction arranged perpendicular to the transverse direction.

24. The mobile transport system according to claim 22, wherein the drive unit includes a swivel attached to the swing frame, the drive frame is pivotable about the steering axis relative to the swivel, and the drive unit includes an actuator motor adapted to drive the drive frame relative to the swivel.

25. The mobile transport system according to claim 22, wherein the drive unit includes a rotary transmitter adapted to transmit electrical energy and data between the drive frame and the swing frame.

26. The mobile transport system according to claim 22, wherein a distance between the second support wheels and the swing axis in a base direction is at least approximately equal to a distance between the steering axis and the swing axis in the base direction.

27. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the first support wheels are each supported rotatably relative to the vehicle frame about a first axis of rotation extending in a horizontal direction and are pivotable relative to the vehicle frame about a first pivot axis extending in a vertical direction, and/or the second support wheels are each supported rotatably relative to the vehicle frame about a second axis of rotation extending in a horizontal direction and are pivotable relative to the vehicle frame about a second pivot axis extending in a vertical direction; and wherein the vertical direction extends perpendicular to the transverse direction.

28. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein a braking device is arranged on each of the two support wheels adapted to brake a rotation of the corresponding second support wheel about a second axis of rotation extending in a horizontal direction.

29. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the drive wheels are arranged between the first support wheels and the second support wheels in a base direction.

30. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein a receiving unit is arranged on the drive frame, to which energy is transferrable inductively from a charging unit.

31. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein at least one inductive sensor adapted to detect a magnetic field of a particularly linear conductor is arranged on the drive frame.

32. The mobile transport system according to claim 30, wherein at least one inductive sensor adapted to detect a magnetic field of a particularly linear conductor is arranged on the drive frame.

33. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the first support wheels are each supported rotatably relative to the vehicle frame about a first axis of rotation extending in a horizontal direction and are pivotable relative to the vehicle frame about a first pivot axis extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to the transverse direction.

34. The mobile transport system according to claim 16, wherein the second support wheels are each supported rotatably relative to the vehicle frame about a second axis of rotation extending in a horizontal direction and are pivotable relative to the vehicle frame about a second pivot axis extending in a vertical direction perpendicular to the transverse direction.

35. The mobile transport system according to claim 33, wherein the second support wheels are each supported rotatably relative to the vehicle frame about a second axis of rotation extending in the horizontal direction and are pivotable relative to the vehicle frame about a second pivot axis extending in the vertical direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a mobile transport system.

[0033] FIG. 2 is a side view of a drive unit.

[0034] FIG. 3 is a front view of a drive unit.

[0035] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a drive unit.

[0036] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a drive unit.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0037] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a mobile transport system 10. The mobile transport system 10 is adapted for transporting objects in a technical plant. The technical plant is an industrial application, such as a production plant. The transport system 10 is also adapted, for example, for supplying goods to a residence of a private recipient in a city or in a residential region. The mobile transport system 10 is an automated guided vehicle. As illustrated, the mobile transport system 10 is present on a flat ground within a technical plant.

[0038] The mobile transport system 10 includes a vehicle frame 12 and a swing frame 14. The swing frame 14 is pivotable about a swing axis 13 relative to the vehicle frame 12. The swing axis 13 extends in the lateral direction S. The vehicle frame 12 includes an approximately rectangular cross section and extends predominantly in a base direction T and in the transverse direction S.

[0039] The base direction T corresponds at least approximately to the usual travel direction of the mobile transport system 10. The lateral direction S extends perpendicular to the base direction T. The base direction T and the lateral direction S are horizontal directions and extend parallel to the flat ground on which the mobile transport system 10 is present. A vertical direction Z is arranged perpendicular on the flat ground and thus extends perpendicular to the base direction T and perpendicular to the lateral direction S. Each direction perpendicular to the vertical direction Z is a horizontal direction.

[0040] Two first support wheels 41 are disposed on the vehicle frame 12 and are rotatable relative to the vehicle frame 12. The first support wheels 41 are disposed offset to each other in the lateral direction S. Two second support wheels 42 are disposed on the swing frame 14 and rotatable relative to the swing frame 14. The second support wheels 42 are disposed offset to each other in the lateral direction S.

[0041] The first support wheels 41 are each pivotable relative to the vehicle frame 12 about a first pivot axis 61 extending in a vertical direction Z. The first support wheels 41 are each further supported rotatably relative to the vehicle frame 12 about a first axis of rotation 51 extending in a horizontal direction. As illustrated, the first axes of rotation 51 extend in the lateral direction S. Depending on a pivoting of the first support wheels 41 about the first pivot axis 61, the first axes of rotation 51 extend in the base direction T, for example, or in a different horizontal direction. The first pivot axis 61 and the first axis of rotation 51 of a first support wheel 41 do not intersect.

[0042] The second support wheels 42 are each pivotable relative to the swing frame 14 about a second pivot axis 62 extending in a vertical direction Z. The second support wheels 42 are each further supported rotatably relative to the swing frame 14 about a second axis of rotation 52 extending in a horizontal direction. As illustrated, the second axes of rotation 52 extend in the lateral direction S. Depending on a pivoting of the second support wheels 42 about the second pivot axis 62, the second axes of rotation 52 extend in the base direction T, for example, or in a different horizontal direction. The second pivot axis 62 and the second axis of rotation 52 of a second support wheel 42 do not intersect.

[0043] The mobile transport system 10 includes a drive unit 70 disposed on the swing frame 14. The drive unit 70 includes a drive frame 75 and a swivel 88. The drive frame 75 is pivotable relative to the swivel 88 about a steering axis 95. The swivel 88 is attached to the swing frame 14. The drive frame 75 is thus pivotable relative to the swing frame 14 about a steering axis 95. The drive unit 70 is disposed between the first support wheels 41 and the second support wheels 42 in the base direction T.

[0044] The drive unit 70 includes a first drive wheel 71 and a second drive wheel 72, both rotatably supported. As illustrated, the second drive wheel 72 is hidden. The drive wheels 71, 72 are disposed between the first support wheels 41 and the second support wheels 42 in the base direction T. A distance between the second support wheels 42 and the swing axis 13 in a base direction T is at least approximately equal to a distance between the steering axis 95 and the swing axis 13 in the base direction T. The distance between the second support wheels 42 and the swing axis 13 in the base direction T thereby corresponds to the distance between the second pivot axes 62 and the swing axis 13 in the base direction T.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a side view of the drive unit 70. The drive unit 70 includes a first swing arm 81 pivotable relative to the drive frame 75 about a first swing axis 91 and the second swing arm 82 pivotable relative to the drive frame 75 about a second swing axis 92. The first swing axis 91 and the second swing axis 92 extend in a transverse direction Y and are aligned to each other. The swing arms 81, 82 are each pivotable relative to the drive frame 75 in a first pivot direction A and in a second pivot direction B aligned opposite the first pivot direction A about the swing axes 91, 92.

[0046] The transverse direction Y extends perpendicular to the vertical direction Z. A longitudinal direction X extends perpendicular to the vertical direction Z and perpendicular to the transverse direction Y. The longitudinal direction X and the transverse direction Y are horizontal directions. Each direction perpendicular to the vertical direction Z is a horizontal direction. As previously mentioned, the drive frame 75 of the drive unit 70 is pivotable relative to the swivel 88 and to the swing frame 14 of the mobile transport system 10 about the steering axis 95. Depending on a pivot motion of the drive frame 75 about the steering axis 95, an alignment of the drive frame 75 changes relative to the vehicle frame 12 and relative to the swing frame 14. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the longitudinal direction X corresponds to the base direction T, and the transverse direction Y corresponds to the lateral direction S.

[0047] The first drive wheel 71 is rotatably supported on the first swing arm 81 about a first drive axis 73 extending in the transverse direction Y. The second drive wheel 72 is rotatably supported on the second swing arm 82 about a second drive axis 74 extending in the transverse direction Y. As illustrated, the second drive wheel 72 is hidden. The drive axes 73, 74 thus extend parallel to the swing axes 91, 92 but are offset parallel relative to the same. Due to pivot motions of the swing arms 81, 82 about the swing axes 91, 92, the drive axes 73, 74 are displaceable relative to each other perpendicular to the transverse direction Y.

[0048] The drive unit 70 includes a receiving unit 20 disposed on the drive frame 75 and to which energy can be transmitted inductively from a charging unit. The charging unit is implemented as a linear conductor or as a coil, for example. The energy inductively transmitted from the charging unit to the receiving unit 20 serves, for example, for charging an electrical energy store of the mobile transport system 10.

[0049] The drive unit 70 further includes an inductive sensor 21 disposed on the drive frame 75. The inductive sensor 21 serves for detecting a magnetic field. When the magnetic field is generated by a linear conductor arranged in the ground, for example, the inductive sensor 21 provides for following the linear conductor in order to reach a particular destination.

[0050] FIG. 3 is a front view of a drive unit 70. The drive unit 70 includes a coupling unit including a rocker 80 for pivoting about a coupling axis 90 relative to the drive frame 75, a first strut 85, and a second strut 86. The first swing arm 81 is connected to the rocker 80 by the first strut 85. The second swing arm 82 is connected to the rocker 80 by the second strut 86. The coupling axis 90 extends in the longitudinal direction X. The first swing arm 81 and the second swing arm 82 are thus coupled to each other by the coupling unit.

[0051] When the first drive wheel 71 travels into a ground protrusion, for example, the first drive wheel 71 is thereby displaced upward in the vertical direction Z. The first swing arm 81 is thereby pivoted about the first swing axis 91 in the first pivot direction A. The first swing arm 81 thereby brings about a pivot motion of the rocker 80 about the coupling axis 90 by the first strut 85. The rocker 80 thereby brings about a pivot motion of the second swing arm 82 about the second swing axis 92 in the second pivot direction B by the second strut 86. The second drive wheel 72 is thereby displaced downward in the vertical direction Z.

[0052] For the described procedure, the drive wheels 71, 72 are not displaced exclusively in the vertical direction Z, but also slightly in the longitudinal direction X. Due to the geometric arrangement of the swing arms 81, 82 and the swing axes 91, 92, the motion of the drive wheels 71, 72 in the longitudinal direction is, however, negligible in comparison with the motion in the vertical direction Z.

[0053] The first swing arm 81 and the second swing arm 82 are thus coupled to each other by the coupling unit, such that a pivot motion of the first swing arm 81 about the first swing axis 91 in the first pivot direction A brings about a pivot motion of the second swing arm 82 about the second swing axis 92 in the second pivot direction B. The first swing arm 81 and the second swing arm 82 are also coupled to each other by the coupling unit, such that a motion of the first drive wheel 71 upward in the vertical direction Z brings about a motion of the second drive wheel 72 downward in the vertical direction Z, and vice versa.

[0054] The first strut 85 and the second strut 86 extent at least approximately in the vertical direction Z. The first strut 85 and the second strut 86 are each adjustable in length independently of each other. This means that an extent of the struts 85, 86 in the vertical direction Z is adjustable.

[0055] The drive unit 70 includes a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt of the rocker 80 relative to the drive frame 75 about the coupling axis 90. The drive unit 70 includes a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt of the first swing arm 81 relative to the drive frame 75 about the first swing axis 91. The drive unit 70 includes a tilt sensor for sensing a tilt of the second swing arm 82 relative to the drive frame 75 about the second swing axis 92.

[0056] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a drive unit 70. The drive unit 70 includes an actuator motor for driving the drive frame 75 relative to the swivel 88 about the steering axis 95. The actuator motor 89 is disposed in a stationary manner on the drive frame 75 and operationally connected to a gearbox, by which the actuator motor 89 drives the drive frame 75 relative to the swivel 88.

[0057] The gearbox includes a pinion 97 disposed on the drive frame 75 in a stationary manner and a crown gear 98. The crown gear 98 is disposed on the swivel 88 in a stationary manner. The pinion 97 meshes with the crown gear 98. As illustrated, the pinion 97 and the crown gear 98 are covered by a cover panel 77 disposed on the drive frame 75 in a stationary manner.

[0058] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of a drive unit 70. The drive unit 70 illustrated in FIG. 5 substantially corresponds to the drive unit 70 illustrated in FIG. 4. The following primarily addresses the differences between the drive units 70.

[0059] In the illustration of the drive unit 70, the cover panel 77 is removed. The pinion 97 of the gearbox and the crown gear 98 of the gearbox are thus visible. The actuator motor 89 drives the pinion 97, and the pinion meshes with the crown gear 98.

[0060] The drive unit 70 includes a rotary transmitter 94 including an approximately rotationally symmetrical, e.g., cylindrical, base body. A cylinder axis of the base body of the rotary transmitter 94 extends in the vertical direction Z and is aligned with the steering axis 95.

[0061] The rotary transmitter 94 is disposed on the drive frame 75 and is pivotable relative to the crown gear 88 about the steering axis 95. It is also possible that the rotary transmitter 94 is disposed on the crown gear 88 in a stationary manner and is pivotable relative to the drive frame 75 about the steering axis 95.

[0062] The rotary transmitter 94 includes slip rings by which electrical energy and data can be transmitted from the drive frame 75 to the crown gear 88 and to the swing frame 14. Electrical energy and data can also be transmitted from the crown gear 88 and from the swing frame 14 to the drive frame 75 by the slip rings.

[0063] The drive unit 70 further includes a support panel 78 disposed on the drive frame 75 in a stationary manner. The support panel 78 is thereby implemented approximately rotationally symmetrically about the steering axis 95 and encloses the drive frame 75 nearly concentrically.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0064] 10 Mobile transport system
12 Vehicle frame
13 Swing axis
14 Swing frame
20 Receiving unit
21 First inductive sensor
41 First support wheel
42 Second support wheel
51 First axis of rotation
52 Second axis of rotation
61 First pivot axis
62 Second pivot axis
70 Drive unit
71 First drive wheel
72 Second drive wheel
73 First drive axis
74 Second drive axis
75 Drive frame
77 Cover panel
78 Support panel

80 Rocker

[0065] 81 First swing arm
82 Second swing arm
85 First strut
86 Second strut

88 Swivel

[0066] 89 Actuator motor
90 Coupling axis
91 First swing axis
92 Second swing axis
94 Rotary transmitter
95 Steering axis

97 Pinion

[0067] 98 Crown gear
A First pivot direction
B Second pivot direction
S Lateral direction
T Base direction
X Length direction
Y Transverse direction
Z Vertical direction