WO2012155280A1 - Device support - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a support means (1) having a rail-guided connecting arm (5), a sealed electric cylinder (3) with a guided spindle in a piston rod (4) and an integrated freewheel and a controller (17), having a current monitor and time relay, which serve to move a pivot lever (6) downward and upward and, by means of 2 x2 software and an inclination sensor, simultaneously to activate four electric motors (16) and, for levelling purposes, to always activate two electric motors (16) in order thereby to support and to level a device, for example a caravan, in a quick and reliable manner.

Description

 device support

Technical area

The invention relates to a motor-driven extendable support for devices with leveling and height adjustment, according to the preamble of the first claim.

State of the art

Retractable supports, on mobile cranes or vehicles or trailers are widely used and can be operated manually as well as by motor. They are usually used to support an asymmetrically loaded device or for horizontal attitude of a single or tandem axle trailer as shown, inter alia, in US Pat. No. 4,103,869 and can also be used as a leveling agent on uneven ground as shown, inter alia, in the patent EP 1 257 450th Such Post facilities can also be used as height adjustment, so that a device to another device at the same level or can be placed on a corresponding staircase or the like accurately at the same height.

Presentation of the invention

The invention has for its object to operate a motor-driven and sled-guided, extendable support means to operate by means of a self-contained active agent and level by means of a simple software devices quickly and precisely or to adjust in height, according to the preamble of the first claim

The invention is exemplified on a mobile device, e.g. a caravan explained, which is placed in a place where the ground may not be flat and may not be absolutely solid. Most caravans have 4 supports, which are extended at the site and each support is then individually set so that the caravan is ultimately leveled as possible. The extension of the supports can be done manually or by motor, the manual is time-consuming, but inexpensive. The embodiment described here relates to a motor design, which may be hydraulic or electric, wherein the electrical version is given priority, because at the same time an important safety means is incorporated by means of an encapsulated and self-locking spindle, namely that the support means so statically secured and waterproof and dirt-tight, the described overall design also represents an inexpensive support system at the same time and to enable by means of software and a smartphone, an extremely comfortable and playful horizontal position of the caravan.

To realize these requirements, the electric cylinder is a self-contained apparatus comprising at least the electric motor, the gearbox, the spindle and a piston rod in a housing. This can be sealed by means of sealing rings on the housing outlet to the piston rod, as known from the hydraulic cylinders and the piston rod to which a spindle nut is fastened, is retracted by an internal spindle and extended. The spindle nut is connected to a reduction gear and this in turn with an electric motor which is powered by the mostly 12 or 24 V onboard battery of the towing vehicle of the caravan or a separate unit. Thus, the electric cylinder is a compact, fully sealed working cylinder, which has receptacles for bearing bolts at both ends, so that it can be installed or removed in a few steps in the support means. The spindle has an additional cage with both sides drivers and circulating balls lying therein and the spindle has transverse pins on both ends, so that when a driver on the additional cage with the cross pin at the end of the spindle comes to a stop, rotate the orbital balls in the additional cage and thus rotates the spindle is empty and the piston rod can not be retracted or extended and thus represents a simple freewheel means. Thus, the electric cylinder requires no limit switches, which would otherwise be mandatory for a self-locking spindle.

In addition, the electric cylinder may have a sensor with which the spindle speed and in this way also the stroke can be detected, which is evaluated by a controller.

 The controller is connected to a current monitor to limit the load on

Electric motor, an electronic spirit level, a time relay and a remote control, e.g. using a smartphone with a built-in spirit level and software that allows you to quickly level a caravan. In this case, the smartphone is localized, because the operator must be where the tilt sensor is currently, for a high quality of leveling is achieved. This controls all electric cylinders at the same time, instead of each cylinder individually as usual and thus have the supports four times faster and safer ground contact. After that, there are always two

Electric cylinder at the same time for the final leveling, by means of a so-called 2 x 2 stroke, pulled in. By means of the remote control, the entire caravan can be synchronously raised and lowered by means of the four electric cylinders.

 The best software and also a smart working cylinder does not use much, even if the basic mechanics and kinematics are not well executed. Again, the invention is new ways in which one of the levers is rotatably mounted on a carriage and the carriage is rail-guided, thus representing optimal stability of the extending support and the active cylinder, here the electric cylinder, the spindle integrated in a piston rod undergoes no side loads. The whole thing can be additionally secured by means of a gas spring or the electric drive with this help does not have to provide such a high performance to put the feet of the supports on the ground, but a part of the force is provided by means of the gas spring. Furthermore, instead of the usual hand crank, if necessary, by means of an emergency bolt, the supports are folded up.

According to the invention, this is achieved by the features of the first claim.

The core of the invention is, by means of a rail-guided lever and a guided spindle in a piston rod, which is located in a self-sufficient and sealed working cylinder with integrated freewheel, as well as current monitor and time relay down a support and start up and by means of software, first four supports activated at the same time and then for leveling always two of the supports are activated, so quickly and safely a device, such as a caravan to support and level.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims. Brief description of the drawings

In the following, embodiments of the invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the drawings. The same elements are provided in the various figures with the same reference numerals.

Show it:

 Fig. 1 is a schematic three-quarter view of a support means with the on

 Console mounted electric cylinder, which with the rail-guided

 Connecting arm is connected and this actuates the pivot lever to which the foot is attached, and the controller, which is connected to the electric cylinder 3

Fig. 2 is a schematic plan view of a smartphone, which in his

 Touch screen displays an electronic dragonfly with control buttons, automatic button and height control and data information.

Only the elements essential for the immediate understanding of the invention are shown schematically.

Way to carry out the invention

Fig. 1 shows a schematic three-quarter view of a support means 1 with the at the

 Console 2 fixed electric cylinder 3, which is connected by means of the piston rod 4 with the rail-mounted connecting arm 5 and this actuates the pivot lever 6, to which the foot 7 is mounted, wherein the rail guide 8.9 is a carriage 8 and a rail 9. If necessary, a gas spring 10 supports the electric cylinder 3. For emergency operation is an emergency drive on the electric motor 16 with an Allen available, which by means of an emergency key 11 or other

Place an emergency bolt 12 is ready, which can be operated in an emergency. The bolts 13 serve as fastening means and as a pivot bearing for the kinematics of which one has a rubber bearing 14. The cable 15 of the stored in the electric cylinder 3

 Electric motor 16 leads to the controller 17th

 The bracket 2 of the support means 1 is attached to the substructure of a device, such as e.g. of a caravan, usually four pieces are mounted in the outer corners, but also three support means 1 are a good solution. On the bracket 2 is the suspension 2a for the electric cylinder 3 and the rail 9, to which the carriage 8 can be moved back and forth with little friction, which a

Bolt 13, so that between the bolt 13 of the suspension 2a and the bolt 13 on the carriage 8, the electric cylinder 3 can be mounted. The bolt 13 on the carriage 8 can at the same time record the connecting arm 5, which is a kink-resistant, lightweight and cover-friendly U-profile, rotatably mounted, which is rotatably connected to the opposite side to the pivot lever 6 and can be a double arm for reasons of rigidity, on the is rotatably mounted at one end of the foot 7 and the support means 1 is a wide foundation and at the other end of the pivot lever 6 rotatably connected to the console 2 is connected. When the piston rod 4 of the electric cylinder 3 is extended, the connecting arm 5, which is guided in the rail 9 by means of the carriage 8, pulls the pivoting lever 6 high until it practically extends to the console 2. Thus, the support means 1 is raised elegantly and takes up little height and is in the extended mode, due to the rail guide 8.9, even against side forces extremely robust. A bellows can additionally protect the piston rod 4 against salt dryness and road dirt. An electric cylinder 3 with a self-locking spindle is, unlike a hydraulic cylinder, locked at rest per se and needs no further

Locking devices to keep the support means 1 in a certain position - even over a long time - perfect. The electric cylinder 3 described here additionally has an integrated freewheel at the respective stroke end of the piston rod 4, so that the

Electric cylinder 3 no limit switch needs. For this, the electric cylinder 3, which is coupled to the controller 15, has a time relay, so that e.g. at startup of the pivot lever 6 according to arrow b, respectively. Extend the piston rod 4 according to arrow a, at the stroke end of the electric motor 16 is not stopped due to the freewheel, because no resistance opposes, but continues to rotate and thus after a certain time the power is turned off for thermal reasons. When lowering the pivot lever 6, the foot sets at a point on the ground, which would very likely long before the freewheel would come into action, so suddenly a high load on the entire mechanics of the electric cylinder 3 acts and the electric motor 16 would come to an abrupt halt and without Therefore, a current monitor on the controller 15 is mounted, which immediately stops the electric motor 16 at a defined increase in the current. As an additional measure, the electric cylinder 3 is equipped with a rubber bearing 14 on a bolt 13 carrying the electric cylinder 3, so that when rising of the

Electricity the security camp 14, e.g. in the form of a rubber bearing is first compressed as a damping means and the electric motor 16 is thus braked harmless in the subsequent Stromwegnahme. Instead of a rubber camp can also be a

Metal spring absorb the sudden change in pressure.

Unlike hydraulic cylinders, where the lifting force is insufficient there, the hydraulic pressure can be raised a little and so the problem is often solved. In an electric cylinder 3, an additional power is a little more complex and can not be done simply by more power, but usually it requires a larger electric motor 16, this may need a different reduction, or and another spindle, in short, the individual parameters must be balanced with each other, on the one hand more lifting power should be available and on the other hand, the same lifting speed can be maintained. For this purpose, a gas spring 10 is optimally suitable, depending on the configuration, a compression spring or a tension spring, in this case a gas tension spring, which supports the electric cylinder 3 when retracting the piston rod 4, ie when the pivot lever 6 is extended. Gas spring 10 are inexpensive, have proven themselves millions of times and can afford large lifting powers. Such a gas spring 10 can thus be clipped quickly and easily laterally to the bolts 13 with appropriate means, or such a gas spring 10 can also be integrated directly into an electric cylinder 3. This can be achieved with little effort, a much higher lifting capacity. It is important to note that the

Gas springs 10 no more lifting power than the electric cylinder 3, because of the

 Electric cylinder 3 must be able to apply a force, which ensures that the gas spring 10 can be pushed back into the starting position.

 Elaborate, but very efficient is the use of a lockable gas spring 10. Thus, a non-self-locking spindle can be used, thus the electric motor 16 needs to be much less powerful, since he no longer has to overcome the high friction between the spindle and spindle nut and builds therefore much smaller. The reduction gear can be made smaller, it requires an unlocking device which releases the gas spring 10 from the blocking and again locks at the end of the lifting operation. Blockable gas springs 10 are blocked until the material is broken. The corresponding unlocking means is state of the art and will therefore not be explained further here.

 Should the unlikely event happen once that the electric cylinder 3 is no longer functional, the support means 1 can be actuated using the known methods of manual actuation. Here is shown a version which at the end of the electric cylinder 3 projects from the electric motor 16, e.g. Allen hexagonal device, which by means of a Allen key, also called allen key, an emergency key 11, the stroke of the piston rod 4 can be adjusted in the electric cylinder 3, or to fold the pivot lever 6, by means of pulling out or unscrew the emergency bolt 12, which one of the two Bolt 13, which hold the electric cylinder 3 and fix the pivot lever 6 at the top of the console 2 by means of a device not shown here. In the first emergency device, the electric motor 16 is rotated, therefore, a diode is mounted, which dissipates the generated generator current.

2 shows a schematic plan view of a smartphone 18 which has a touch-sensitive screen 19 in which an electronic level 20 with control buttons 21, automatic button 22 and height controller 23 and data information 24 is shown. The whole can be displayed with the device to be leveled as 3-D, for example a caravan with the corresponding animation. The visualization of the background with your own caravan can be designed accordingly attractive - there are no limits.

 The support means 1 known on the market all work according to the same

Procedure, namely, that each support means is extended individually to the ground contact, then each support means 1 is again individually extended accordingly further until the caravan is leveled as possible. This can be done by means of a remote control on which there are control buttons or it can be done automatically by an inclination sensor is integrated in the controller 17 and this leaves the program independently.

The invention shown here has its own algorithm and uses a smartphone 18 such as the i-phone which at the same time has an excellent inclination sensor integrated and the leveling not only technically very precise running, but the operation is also playful by the smartphone 18 to a desired plane which is to be horizontal after the leveling operation, such as a step or the saloon table, etc. Thus, the user can personally decide what should be absolutely horizontal for him and not a controller 17 mounted anywhere on the caravan with a tilt sensor on which a previously determined angle measure was determined as horizontal. It is advantageous to keep the smartphone 18 aligned with the support means 1 as shown in the layout and drawing. The controller 17 is Bluetooth or Wifi capable and thus can communicate with the smartphone 18 directly. Thus, the user can his smartphone 18, which is so localized, but the place of the desired, ultimately optimized leveling can be followed directly and thus exemplarily place the smartphone 18 on the entry stairs level, touch the automatic button 22 on the touch screen 19, which as Command is forwarded to the controller 17 and all four electric cylinders 3 are activated simultaneously and thus drive the support means 1 from. As soon as the respective electric cylinder 3 experiences a corresponding current load and reaches a defined threshold, eg 10 A, the electric motor 16 stops its activity, since it is an indication that the foot 7 has not only touched the ground, but a corresponding force on the ground acts. This force is defined at the factory and is an important factor. For example, if the ground is softened grass, foot 7 will continue to move until finally a safe, predefined pressure of the piston Bar 4 and thus the electric motor 16 counteracts. If this is not possible by no corresponding pressure in the form of increased current consumption at the electric motor 16, the smartphone 18 sounds an alarm and in the window of the data information 24, the text is what triggered the alarm and thus the problem can be solved accordingly by, for example, a corresponding wood between the substrate and the foot 7 is underlaid. Are all four electric cylinder 3 finally stopped due to the correspondingly high power consumption, which is usually done in a few seconds, the program changes and now takes into account the integrated tilt sensor of the smartphone 8 in the controller with. The algorithm can be designed so that all four cylinders extend first without the use of a current monitor, because at the stop the respective spindle turns empty due to the freewheel and a time relay is used, which stops the whole system after a certain stroke time. By the full extension of the pivot lever 6 is thus the caravan or other device to be leveled, fully loaded on the ground and can then be extremely easily leveled by the appropriate page are lowered to the desired position:

If the dragonfly 20 is e.g. outside the center at the location of the dragonfly 20a, so the two electric cylinders 3c, 3d go out and the dragonfly 20a "rolls" on the broken line \ i until the line of the longitudinal axis X is reached, then the electric cylinders 3a, 3c are extended, so that the dragonfly 20a on the broken line yi "rolls" to the line of the transverse axis Y in place of the dragonfly 20 and thus is the

Caravan already leveled. Of course, you can also reverse the procedure by first looking at the Y axis. By means of the control buttons 2, the stroke of the electric cylinder 3 can be adjusted individually still at its own discretion. Also located on the screen 19 is the height adjuster 23 which allows the user to keep the level 20 centered by synchronously adjusting all four electric cylinders 3 to lift or lower the caravan and to lower it, e.g. to be aligned with a corresponding object. At the window of the data information 24, which may appear at a different location depending on the activity, the degrees of degree of leveling can be read, the

Condition of the on-board batteries and much more.

The height controller 23 with the centered remaining dragonfly 20 works particularly well when in the electric cylinder 3, a sensor is mounted, which detects the rotational speed of the spindle or the electric motor 16, because thus the individual electric cylinder 3 by means of the controller 17 exactly in terms of speed each other be tuned and thus also the stroke in eg centimeters can be calculated. The user can thus say exactly how many inches the caravan should be raised or lowered. Of course, the invention is not limited to those shown and described

Embodiments limited.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1 column means

 2 console

 2a suspension

 3 electric cylinders

 4 piston rod

 5 connecting arm

 6 swivel lever

 7 feet

 8 sleds

 9 rail

 10 gas spring

 11 emergency keys

 12 emergency bolts

 13 bolts

 14 security camps

 15 cables

 16 electric motor

 17 controllers

 18 smartphone

 19 screen

 20 dragonfly

 21 control button

 22 automatic key

 23 height controls

 24 data information

X, Y tilt axes

Claims

 claims 1. Support means (1)  in  in that the support means (1) has a rail guide (8, 9) on which  Electric cylinder (3) with integrated freewheel and the self-locking spindle in the piston rod (4) is mounted and on the opposite side to the suspension (2a), by means of a safety bearing (14) and bolt (13) is fixed and the electric motor (16 ) is connected to a controller (17), which has a 2 x 2 software and may have a current monitor and a time relay. 2. support means (1) according to claim 1  characterized,  in that the controller (17) is connected to a stationary smartphone (18) and the smartphone (18) has an integrated tilt sensor and a touch-sensitive screen (19) and can be actuated by means of Bluetooth or Wifi virtual buttons (21, 22, 23) and on the screen (19) a virtual dragonfly (20) as feedback of the tilt axes (X, Y) and  Data information (24) are visible. 3. support means (1) according to claim 1  characterized,  in that the controller (17) has a 2 × 2 algorithm which activates the four electric motors (16) at the same time when the automatic key (22) is actuated and switches off each one at a given current consumption and after all four electric motors (16) no longer complete a stroke Tilt sensor of the  Smartphones (18) is consulted and by activation of two electric motors (16) the dragonfly (20) on a line of the tilt axis (X, Y) is driven and then, by activation of two electric motors (16) on the other line of the Tilting axis (X, Y) is driven until the dragonfly (20) is located in the crosshairs of the two tilt axes (X, Y). 4. support means (1) according to claim 1 characterized, in that the controller (17) has a 2 × 2 algorithm which simultaneously activates the four electric motors (16) when the automatic button (22) is pressed and each one switches off after a certain time by means of the time relay and after all four electric motors (16) have no stroke Pass more, the tilt sensor of the smartphone (18) is consulted and by activation of two electric motors (16) the dragonfly (20) is driven on a line of the tilt axis (X, Y) and then, by activation of two electric motors (16 ) is moved to the other line of the tilt axis (X, Y) until the dragonfly (20) is located in the crosshairs of the two tilt axes (X, Y). Support means (1) according to claim 1 characterized, the smartphone (18) is positioned longitudinally or transversely to the layout of the electric motors (16) for the leveling operation and height regulation Support means (1) according to claim 1 characterized, that by means of the height regulator (23) all four electric motors (16) are simultaneously raised or lowered and by means of integrated sensors in the four Electric motors (16) can detect the speed of the electric motors (16) or the spindles and by means of the controller (17) the electric motors (16) are synchronized with each other here and by means of the knowledge of the reduction and spindle pitch so that the lifting height is known. Support means (1) according to claim 1 characterized, that the electric cylinder (3) is waterproof at least to IP 65. Support means (1) according to claim 1 characterized, that on or in the electric cylinder (3) a gas spring (10) is mounted and this in connection with a non-self-locking spindle or a Hydraulic cylinder is blocked and can be ensured by means of an unlocking the blocking or canceled. 9. support means (1) according to claim 1  characterized,  the electric cylinder (3) can also be a hydraulic cylinder. 10. support means (1) according to claim 1  characterized,  that on the electric motor (16) is a receptacle for an emergency key (11) or and instead of a bolt (13) an emergency bolt (12) is mounted. 11. support means (1) according to claim 1  characterized,  the rail guide (8, 9) represents a carriage (8) and a rail (9).