U.S. patent application number 14/347023 was filed with the patent office on 2014-09-18 for electric tool having a protective hood.
This patent application is currently assigned to Wacker Neuson Produktion GmbH & Co., KG. The applicant listed for this patent is Rudolf Berger, Helmut Braun, Christina Glanz, Philip Overfeld, Dirk Sibila, Michael Steffen. Invention is credited to Rudolf Berger, Helmut Braun, Christina Glanz, Philip Overfeld, Dirk Sibila, Michael Steffen.
Application Number | 20140262400 14/347023 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 46968129 |
Filed Date | 2014-09-18 |
United States Patent
Application |
20140262400 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Berger; Rudolf ; et
al. |
September 18, 2014 |
ELECTRIC TOOL HAVING A PROTECTIVE HOOD
Abstract
A piece of equipment which has a ground contact device for
working on a ground region located below the ground contact device
in the working position of the piece of equipment, a driving device
which can be operated by an electric motor in order to produce a
working movement of the ground contact device, an electrical energy
accumulator, enclosed by a housing, for supplying the electric
motor with electrical energy, and a covering device for covering
the housing and thus the energy accumulator, which covering device
is arranged above the energy accumulator in the working position.
The piece of equipment may for example be a tamper, a vibration
plate, a roller, or a breaker.
Inventors: |
Berger; Rudolf; (Grunwald,
DE) ; Steffen; Michael; (Munich, DE) ; Glanz;
Christina; (Dachau, DE) ; Overfeld; Philip;
(Munich, DE) ; Sibila; Dirk; (Moorenweis, DE)
; Braun; Helmut; (Bergkirchen, DE) |
|
Applicant: |
Name |
City |
State |
Country |
Type |
Berger; Rudolf
Steffen; Michael
Glanz; Christina
Overfeld; Philip
Sibila; Dirk
Braun; Helmut |
Grunwald
Munich
Dachau
Munich
Moorenweis
Bergkirchen |
|
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE
DE |
|
|
Assignee: |
Wacker Neuson Produktion GmbH &
Co., KG
Munich
DE
|
Family ID: |
46968129 |
Appl. No.: |
14/347023 |
Filed: |
September 13, 2012 |
PCT Filed: |
September 13, 2012 |
PCT NO: |
PCT/EP2012/003845 |
371 Date: |
March 25, 2014 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
173/148 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B25D 2250/245 20130101;
E01C 19/32 20130101; E01C 19/283 20130101; E02D 3/068 20130101;
B25D 17/00 20130101; B25D 17/043 20130101; E01C 19/262 20130101;
E02D 3/046 20130101; E01C 19/35 20130101; B25D 2250/121
20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
173/148 |
International
Class: |
E02D 3/068 20060101
E02D003/068 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Oct 6, 2011 |
DE |
10 2011 115 008.4 |
Claims
1. A working device, comprising: a ground contact device for
processing a ground region situated underneath the ground contact
device in a working position of the working device; a drive device
that can be operated by an electric motor for producing a working
movement of the ground contact device; an electrical energy storage
device, enclosed by a housing, for supplying the electric motor
with electrical energy; and a covering device, situated above the
energy storage device in the working position thereof, for covering
the housing and thus the energy storage device.
2. The working device as recited in claim 1, further comprising a
guide device for guiding the working device, wherein the energy
storage device and the covering device are situated on the guide
device.
3. The working device as recited in claim 1, further comprising an
electronic control device for controlling an operation of at least
one the drive device and the electric motor, and wherein the
covering device is situated above the control device in the working
position thereof, and covers the control device.
4. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the covering
device has an essentially flat covering plate, and wherein the
covering plate essentially covers at least one of 1) an upper side,
which in the working position is situated at the top on the energy
storage device, of the housing of the energy storage device, and 2)
an upper side, which in the working position thereof is situated at
the top on the control device, of the control device.
5. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the covering
device has at least one of 1) a material that protects against a
radiation of heat, and 2) a coating that reflects a significant
part of the heat radiation.
6. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the covering
device has a material that protects against the impact of
stones.
7. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the covering
device has a pivotable part, and the energy storage device is
removable from a receptacle device in a pivot position of the
pivotable part.
8. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the covering
device has a removable part, and the energy storage device is
removable from the receptacle device when the removable part of the
covering device has been removed.
9. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the covering
device has a cooling air flow guide for guiding a cooling air flow
along at least one of 1) the energy storage device and 2) the
control device.
10. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the covering
device has at least one opening for dissipating warm air situated
under the covering device.
11. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the covering
device is fastened to at least one of 1) the housing of the energy
storage device 2) a housing of the control device.
12. The working device as recited in claim 1, wherein the working
device has a mass of at least 15 kg, and the working device is one
of 1) a tamper or a vibrating plate for ground compacting, and
wherein the ground contact device has a ground contact plate, 2)
the working device is a roller, and wherein and the ground contact
device has a roller lining, and 3) a breaker, and wherein the
ground contact device has an impact device.
13. A working device, comprising: a ground contact device that
processes a ground region that is situated underneath the ground
contact device when the ground contact device is in a working
position thereof; an electric motor; a drive device that is
operated by the electric motor to produce a working movement of the
ground contact device; an electrical energy storage device that
supplies the electric motor with electrical energy; a housing in
which the electrical energy storage device is enclosed; and a
covering device that is situated in a position that is above the
energy storage device when the ground contact device is in the
working position thereof and that covers the housing and the energy
storage device.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a working device for
processing a region of the ground, for example a tamper, a
vibrating plate, a roller, or a breaker.
[0003] 2. Discussion of the Related Art
[0004] Working devices for processing the ground are increasingly
offered having electric motors, the electric motors being capable
of being supplied with electrical energy by accumulators also
carried on the working device. Due to the high power requirement,
the accumulators have a large performance capacity, and are
therefore valuable and expensive components. In order to achieve a
good degree of acceptance of such working devices, it is therefore
necessary to ensure a long working life and operating time of the
accumulators.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] The present invention is based on the object of indicating a
working device for ground processing, supplied with power by an
electrical energy storage device that promotes a long working life
and operating time of the electrical energy storage device.
[0006] A working device for ground compacting has a ground contact
device for processing a region of ground situated underneath the
ground contact device, a drive device drivable by an electric motor
for producing a working movement of the ground contact device, an
electrical energy device, surrounded by a housing, for supplying
the electric motor with electrical energy, and a covering device,
which in the working position is situated above the energy storage
device, for covering the housing and thus the energy storage
device.
[0007] The working device can be used for ground compacting and/or
ground processing. Working devices for ground compacting are for
example tampers, vibrating plates, or rollers. Working devices for
ground processing are for example large hammers, or breakers, for
processing or breaking up a region of ground.
[0008] In a specific embodiment, the working device can have a mass
of for example at least 15 kg. It can be held in the working
position by an operator in such a way that the working movement of
the ground contact device is oriented substantially vertically
downward, in the direction of the ground that is to be processed.
The working movement can have a striking, tamping, or vibrating
movement.
[0009] In a specific embodiment, the working device is a tamper or
a vibrating plate having a ground contact plate situated on the
ground contact device. In this specific embodiment, the ground
contact plate can compact the ground in a tamping or vibrating
fashion.
[0010] In a further specific embodiment, the working device can be
a breaker and the ground contact device can have a tool for ground
processing. The breaker can be a large hammer that can be held
above the ground that is to be processed by the operator. Here, the
tool, such as a chisel, can process, or break up, the ground.
[0011] On the tamper, the vibrating plate, or the hammer, the drive
device can have an upper mass, a lower mass that is movable
relative to the upper mass and is movably coupled to the upper mass
via a spring device, and a vibration-producing device for producing
a relative movement between the upper mass and the lower mass. The
ground contact device, in the form of a ground contact plate or a
tool, can be situated on the lower mass.
[0012] In the case of the tamper, the drive device can for example
have a crank drive for producing the relative movement between the
upper mass and the lower mass. In the case of a vibrating plate,
the drive device can for example be fashioned having imbalance
masses situated on the lower mass in order to produce the relative
movement of the lower mass relative to the upper mass.
[0013] In the case of the breaker, the tool can have an impact
device having an impact piston and a snap die on which the impact
piston can act, and that impacts a breaking chisel acting as a
tool. The impact piston can be driven by the drive device, and can
be set into impact movement so as to impact the snap die. For
example, the impact piston can be driven by a drive piston of the
drive device via a pneumatic spring impact mechanism.
[0014] In a further specific embodiment, the working device can be
a roller, the ground contact device having a roller lining and it
being possible to compact the ground through rolling action and/or
vibration of the roller lining.
[0015] In all these embodiments, the drive device can be operated
by the electric motor. The electric motor can be a universal motor,
an induction motor, a switched-reluctance motor (SR motor), a
direct current motor (BDC motor), or a brushless direct current
motor (BLDC motor). In addition to the electric motor, additional
motors can be provided, for example an internal combustion engine
that can be operated optionally or in addition in the context of a
hybrid drive of the drive device.
[0016] The electrical energy storage device provides the electrical
energy required by the electric motor. This can be an accumulator
of a suitable power class, for example a lithium-ion or lithium
polymer accumulator. The energy storage device can have
electrochemical cells and can be enclosed by a housing, for example
a plastic housing. The housing can encapsulate the electrochemical
cells and electrical connection devices, as well as, if present,
operating and display devices. The energy storage device can for
example form a commercially standard unit together with the
housing.
[0017] In the working position, the covering device can be situated
above the energy storage device, i.e. on a side situated opposite
the ground. It can cover the energy storage device, or the housing
thereof, essentially completely or partly, at least upwardly.
Consequently, in a view of the working device from the top, the
energy storage device can be essentially covered by the covering
device. In particular, an upward-oriented upper side of the energy
storage device, or of its housing, can be covered by the covering
device.
[0018] Through the covering of the energy storage device, this
device can be effectively protected in rough worksite operating
conditions. For example, the covering device can protect to the
energy storage device from strong heating by solar radiation when
used in warm areas. In this way, a switching off of the working
device due to an excessive operating temperature of the energy
storage device is prevented, thus increasing the operating time of
the energy storage device and thus of the working device. This
protection against overheating can also have a positive effect on
the useful life of the energy storage device.
[0019] With the provision of the covering device, further cooling
devices such as an air cooling device can operate at a lower power
level, or can possibly be completely omitted, saving costs and
energy.
[0020] In addition, the covering device can protect the energy
storage device from damaging mechanical influences in work site
operation, for example given use in a trench, where stones or other
objects could fall onto the device. In this case, the covering
device can absorb an impact, protecting the energy storage
device.
[0021] In a specific embodiment, the working device can have a
guide device for guiding the working device, and the energy storage
device and the covering device can be situated on the guide
device.
[0022] The guide device can have a guide handle or guide bracket
for holding the working device, or can have a guide drawbar for
pulling and/or pushing the working device. On the guide device, a
guide handle for an operator can be provided, as can operating
devices, positioning levers, and/or operating buttons. In addition,
a fastening device for fastening the guide device on the working
device can be provided. This fastening device can include a
vibration decoupling device having vibration damping devices, such
as spring devices or elastic buffers (e.g. rubber buffers). In this
way, the hand-arm vibrations of the operator during working
operation can be reduced, and a smooth guiding can be enabled. The
guide device can include the entire assembly at which a gripping
zone for the operator is provided. During the working movement of
the working device, the situation of the energy storage device on
the guide device can have an advantageous influence on the hand-arm
vibrations on the guide device or on the guide handle. Through the
mass of the guide device, increased by the energy storage device,
the introduction of impulses and vibration due to the vibrating
lower or upper mass can be reduced.
[0023] However, the energy storage device is particularly exposed
to various damaging influences at the upper part of the working
device, i.e. at the side situated opposite the ground contact
device, such as solar radiation or the impact of falling objects.
Through the covering device, the energy storage device can be
additionally protected in this position. Risks that result from the
exposed situation of the energy storage device can be reduced or
avoided, and the useful life or operating life of the energy
storage device can be increased.
[0024] In a further specific embodiment, the working device can
have an electronic control device for controlling an operation of
the drive device and/or of the electric motor; in the working
position, the covering device can be situated above the control
device, and can cover the control device.
[0025] The provision of an electronic control device makes it
possible to use the operating current used at the working device
for electronic controlling as well of the working device, of the
drive device, and/or the electric motor by the operator. In this
way, operating possibilities and convenience are improved. However,
the control device is a complicated and expensive component that is
susceptible to failure, and has to be protected from the
introduction of impulses during working operation. Therefore, for
the control device as well a situation on an upper side of the
device is advantageous, where it is removed from the ground contact
device and is protected from the introduction of impacts. In
particular, the control device, like the energy storage device, can
also be situated on the guide device. In this position, the control
device can be protected by the covering device.
[0026] In a specific embodiment, the covering device has an
essentially flat covering plate, such that the covering plate
essentially covers an upper side, which in the working position is
situated at the top on the energy storage device, of the housing of
the energy storage device, and/or essentially covers an upper side,
which in the working position is situated at the top on the control
device, of the working device.
[0027] The covering device, which is essentially flat, i.e. has a
flat or planar construction over large parts, can effectively
protect the named components, for example from solar radiation or
from falling objects, without requiring significant additional
constructive space.
[0028] In addition, the upper side of the working device can be
protected by the covering plate in such a way that there is very
little possibility for dust and dirt to deposit and penetrate. The
working device and its interior, in particular the constructive
spaces in which the energy storage device and/or the control device
are also situated, are in this way protected from contamination. In
addition, the covering plate can improve the attractiveness or the
design of the working device.
[0029] In a further specific embodiment, the covering device can
include a material that protects against heat radiation, and/or can
include a coating that reflects heat radiation. For example, a
material can be selected that does not conduct the heat radiating
in at the top side to the lower side. Alternatively or in addition,
a reflecting layer, or a reflective paint, can be applied that
reflects the heat radiation.
[0030] In another specific embodiment, the covering device can have
a material that protects against impacts by stones. In particular,
a material such as a metal having suitable strength can be selected
that can absorb the impact of a falling fragment of stone and that
prevents the impact from being communicated to the energy storage
device or to the control device. This enables an effective
protection against falling objects.
[0031] Likewise, an embodiment of the covering device is possible
in which it is made of a plastic having suitable strength. In this
way, greater freedom of design is provided, so that the covering
device can significantly improve the design. The color of the
plastic, the coating, or the paint can be selected in such a way
that the plastic essentially reflects the heat radiation.
[0032] In a further specific embodiment, the covering device can
have a pivotable part, such that in a pivot position of the
pivotable part the energy storage device can be removed from a
receptacle device.
[0033] For example, the pivotable part can be fashioned as a flap,
and can be connected pivotably via a hinge to other components of
the covering device. This enables a folding up of the covering
device, making a part of the covered area accessible to the
operator. After the folding up, the energy storage device can be
removed by the operator and can be exchanged or connected to a
charge device. In addition, the energy storage device can be fixed
or positioned by locking in the pivotable part. In addition, a
display area of the control device can be made accessible or
visible by the folding up. This enables an effective protection of
the energy storage device and of the control device when the flap
is closed, and at the same time enables good accessibility to these
components for operating and maintenance purposes.
[0034] In addition, it is possible to orient the pivotable part in
the direction of the solar radiation, in order to protect, in a
working position, the energy storage device, and possibly the
control unit, from this radiation as well as possible.
[0035] In a further specific embodiment, the covering device can
have a removable part, the energy storage device being capable of
being removed from the receptacle device when the removable part of
the covering device has been removed.
[0036] The removable part can be fashioned as a cover, and can for
example be capable of being locked on the covering device. In the
locked position, the cover can protect the energy storage device
and/or the control device, and if warranted can also fix them.
After removal of the cover, for example the receptacle device for
the energy storage device and/or the display area of the control
device can be accessible by the operator for operating or
maintenance purposes, as described above for the flap.
[0037] In a further specific embodiment, the covering device can
have a cooling air flow guidance for guiding a cooling air stream
along the energy storage device and/or along the control device.
For example, the covering device can be fashioned as a hood that
can form and/or limit a flow channel for the cooling air. The
cooling air stream can be guided under the covering device, moving
along the energy storage device and/or the control device and
effectively cooling these.
[0038] In a further specific embodiment, the covering device can
have at least one opening for dissipating warm air situated under
the covering device. For example, the covering device can have a
plurality of openings or ventilation slots, or a ventilation grid.
Through a reflecting layer on the ventilation grid, in addition a
reflection of the heat radiation can be achieved. The operating
heat of the energy storage device, which for example can arise when
electrical energy is provided or absorbed, can be dissipated.
Overheating of the energy storage device, heat accumulation, or
switching off of the working device can be prevented.
[0039] In a further specific embodiment, the covering device is
fastened, or is capable of being fastened, to the housing of the
energy storage device and/or to a housing of the control device.
This makes it possible to situate the covering device in a targeted
manner for the protection of the energy storage device or of the
control device. Such a covering device can be offered as
retrofittable, for example in connection with new energy storage
devices or accumulators for such working devices, and consequently
can be retrofitted without a large assembly outlay.
[0040] These and additional features of the present invention are
explained in more detail below on the basis of examples, with the
aid of the accompanying Figures.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING
[0041] FIG. 1 shows a tamper having a partially pivotable covering
device for protecting an energy storage device and a control
device.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0042] FIG. 1 schematically shows, in a lateral sectional view, a
tamper 1 having an upper mass 2 and a lower mass 3 that can be
moved relative to upper mass 2. Lower mass 3 has a tamper foot
having a ground contact plate 4 that acts as a ground contact
device. Upper mass 2 includes, inter alia, a drive device (not
shown) having an electric motor (not shown) that drives a crank
drive (not shown) connected to lower mass 3. Through the crank
drive, upper mass 2 and lower mass 3 can be set into an oscillating
movement relative to one another, through which ground contact
plate 4 is forced into a tamping working movement. Through the
tamping, a region of the ground 5 situated underneath tamper 1 and
ground contact plate 4 in the depicted upright working position can
be compacted in a tamping manner.
[0043] For the guidance of tamper 1 by an operator, a guide bracket
6 is provided on which for example an operator handle can be
situated. Guide bracket 6 is situated on upper mass 2. It can be
decoupled from vibrations of upper mass 2 during the working
movement by a vibration decoupling device 6a, such as a rubber
buffer.
[0044] An electrical energy storage device 7 provided in order to
supply the electric motor is situated on guide bracket 6. Through
the situation of energy storage device 7 on guide bracket 6, the
relative mass of guide bracket 6 in relation to upper mass 2 or to
lower mass 3 can be increased. This enables a reduction of the
vibrations introduced into guide bracket 6 by the working movement
of tamper 1. As a consequence, such vibrations are introduced at
guide bracket 6 only in damped fashion, and have only an attenuated
effect on energy storage device 7, the operator handle, and the arm
of the operator. This increases both operator comfort and the
useful life of energy storage device 7.
[0045] In addition, an electronic control device 8 is situated on
the guide bracket. This makes it possible for the operator to
direct control tasks to the drive device via control device 8 with
only a slight cabling outlay. In addition, control device 8 can be
supplied with power by energy storage device 7 with only a slight
cabling outlay.
[0046] In order to protect energy storage device 7 and control
device 8 in the exposed position on guide bracket 6 on the upper
side of tamper 1, oriented away from ground region 5, a covering
device 9 is provided that, in the depicted working position of
tamper 1, is situated above energy storage device 7, i.e. directed
away from ground region 5. Covering device 9 can protect energy
storage device 7 and control device 8 from solar radiation or heat
radiation, and can contribute to keeping the operating temperature
low. In addition, covering device 9 can protect energy storage
device 7 and control device 8 from falling objects, for example
when used in a trench.
[0047] In addition, a cooling air flow produced by a ventilator
device (not shown) can be conducted underneath covering device 9,
moving along energy storage device 7 and control device 8, as
indicated by the dashed arrow. This makes it possible to keep the
operating temperature of energy storage device 7 and of control
device 8 low, and in this way to increase their useful life or
operating time. The cooling air flow should be directed away from
the operator.
[0048] In the depicted specific embodiment, covering device 9 has a
part 10 that is capable of being pivoted along the bent arrow,
connected via a hinge 11 to a stationary component of covering
device 9. Pivotable part 10 makes it possible for the operator to
fold up covering device 9 and to have easy access to energy storage
device 7. In this way, an operating display of energy storage
device 7 can be monitored, a charge device or external power source
can be connected to energy storage device 7, or energy storage
device 7 can be exchanged, e.g. for charging outside the
device.
* * * * *