EP0586029B1 - Lifting apparatus with a lifting device - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a hoist with a lifting device according to the preamble of claim 1.

Such a hoist with a lifting device is known from DE 25 13 031 C2. The lifting device can be opened or closed with one of these. developable traction means connected, at the free end of a control device is arranged. A load suspension device is attached to the control device. Furthermore, the control device has a housing to which a straight and horizontally arranged handle is attached for manipulating the load hanging on the load-carrying means. On both sides of the housing in the region of the ends of the handle, actuating means for switching elements for controlling the lifting device are arranged as rocker switches. The shift paddles can be reached from the thumb of a hand that grips the handle without having to detach it from the handle. In addition, the paddle shifters are arranged horizontally Rocker shafts, as well as swiveling transversely to the handle surface. The rocker shafts in turn are connected to a selector shaft of the switching element for the lifting device via bevel gear segments. Furthermore, the rocker switch is arranged vertically in the rest position and has an operating surface for the thumb of the operator, which is slightly inclined towards the handle. The handle is approximately at right angles to the rocker shafts.

This design of the housing, which is characterized by the linear handle and the rocker shafts arranged at right angles thereto with the associated shift paddles, has proven to be ergonomically unfavorable. In addition, the actuation of the switching elements requires high switching forces due to the design and arrangement of the rocker switch.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a hoist with a lifting device and a control device acting on the load suspension means, which ensures user-friendly and thus also safe handling of the control device, in particular in extreme positions of the control device.

This object is achieved in a generic hoist with a lifting device and a control device arranged on a load suspension device by the characterizing features of claim 1. Advantageous refinements of the lifting device according to the invention are specified in subclaims 2 to 14.

According to the invention, the hoist achieves through the arcuate design of the handle in such a way that the outside of the handle, in imaginary extension, cuts the contact surface for the actuating thumb on the pressure element, which is designed in particular as a rocker switch, that the contact surface on the pressure element and the outside of the handle stand at an obtuse angle to each other and thus a fatigue-free and ergonomically favorable position of the actuating thumb is achieved while the grip is gripped by the remaining fingers of the operator's hand. In addition, the heel of the hand is given greater freedom of movement due to the rearward displacement of the outside of the handle from the middle of the handle in the direction of the rocker switch. This facilitates actuation of the shift paddles. Furthermore, the arcuate design of the handle enables the thumb to move in the direction of the rocker switch when gripping. In addition, the entire palm of the operator lies on the curved outside of the handle and fatigue-free operation of the control device is promoted. The design of the rocker switch as a two-armed lever with edge areas serving as an actuating surface, the distance to the rocker shaft is large and thereby the thumb transmits the switching forces to the rocker shaft via a long effective lever arm. This results in a minimization of the switching forces and thus enables fatigue-free actuation. Furthermore, the design of the contact surface on the rocker switch proves to be advantageous, since the clear separation into a central region for the thumb in the rest position and two edge regions for the actuation of the rocker switch, which are angled upwards and downwards to this central region, ensure that the operator can clearly feel the position of his thumb on the rocker switch without making eye contact with the rocker switch. The arrangement of the rocker shafts for the shift paddles at an angle of 70 - 85, in particular 83 °, to the lever shaft for the actuation of the switching elements proves to be particularly advantageous, since this places the contact surfaces for the actuating thumb within the lateral boundary of the housing contour and thus during manipulation the control device, when approaching a flat object from the side, prevents an injury to the thumb by squeezing in particular. The formation of the switching elements as a pressure snap switch in Connection with the two-armed lever arranged on the lever shaft and with the gear segments for transmitting the rotary movement of the rocker shaft to the lever shaft minimizes the switching forces. Furthermore, the projecting beyond the contour of the housing of the edge region of the rocker switch, which additionally has a projection in the direction of the housing, enables the rocker switch to be actuated from the housing in the direction of the projection in extreme positions of the control device.

Fig. 1

ein Hebezeug mit einer Hubvorrichtung und einer an dem Zugmittel angeordneten Steuervorrichtung beim Absenken eines Motors in einen PKW,

Fig. 2

einen Längsschnitt durch die Steuervorrichtung,

Fig. 3

einen Querschnitt durch die Steuervorrichtung gemäß Schnittlinie I-I in Fig. 2,

Fig. 4

eine Vorderansicht eines Verbindungselementes mit Anschlußstücken für ein Zugmittel und ein Lastaufnahmemittel,

Fig. 5

eine Schaltwippe gemäß Schnittlinie II - II in Fig. 3.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. Show it:

Fig. 1

a hoist with a lifting device and a control device arranged on the traction means when lowering an engine into a car,

Fig. 2

a longitudinal section through the control device,

Fig. 3

2 shows a cross section through the control device according to section line II in FIG. 2,

Fig. 4

a front view of a connecting element with connectors for a traction device and a load suspension device,

Fig. 5

a rocker switch according to section line II - II in Fig. 3rd

1 shows a hoist with a lifting device 1 which can be moved horizontally on a rail. The lifting device 1 is used to raise or lower a load-carrying device 3, which is connected to the lifting device 1 via a traction device 2 and is designed as a hook. A control device 4 is arranged between the load-carrying device and the end of the traction device 2. The control device 4 contains switching elements, not shown, by means of which the lifting device 1 can be switched via a control line 5 which is helically guided around the traction means 2. In addition, the control device 4 has a handle 6, seen horizontally on the control means 4 and hanging vertically on the traction means, and arranged on the front of the housing 6. The handle 6 is used for manually guiding the load hanging on the control device 4 via the load suspension means 3 by an operator.

2 shows a longitudinal section through a control device 4 according to the invention with the handle 6 partially shown. It can be seen that the control device 4 is essentially constructed from a housing 7 and a connecting element 8, which is designed in particular as a sheet steel strip. The connecting element 8 extends in the longitudinal direction through the entire housing 7 and, when the control device 4 is suspended on the traction means 2, protrudes out of the housing 7 at the top and bottom. 2 also shows that the connecting element 8 and a partition 20 divide the interior of the housing 7 into a mechanical part 11 and an electrical part 12 lengthways and parallel to the longitudinal extent of the handle 6. In the electrical part 12, the switching elements 13, in particular in the form of pressure snap switches, for controlling the lifting device 1 and an emergency stop switching element 14 are arranged. The switching elements 13, 14 arranged one above the other are enclosed in a container-like manner by the side walls 19 and the partition wall 20 of the housing 7 and by the connecting element 8. The electrical part 12 of the housing 7 that is open to the outside is closed in a water-tight and dust-tight manner by a cover 15 which is also designed as a container. With the cover 15 removed, the switching elements 13, 14 protrude beyond the side walls 19 of the housing 7 to the rear.

The mechanical part 11 of the housing 7 serves to receive the switching plungers 16 of the switching elements 13, 14, which are guided through bores 17 in the connecting element 8 and the partition 20, and the actuating mechanism for transmitting the switching forces from the outside to the housing 7 and not shown, to one switching paddle two-armed and mounted on a lever shaft 24 lever 18, via which the two switching plunger 16 of the switching element 13 can be actuated. The switching plunger 16 of the emergency stop switching element 14 can be actuated via a push button 34, which is arranged in the housing wall on the front of the mechanical part 11 above the handle 6. The switching plungers 16 are surrounded within the mechanical part 11 by sealing elements 32 designed as rubber membranes, which seal tightly with the bores 17. The sealing elements 32 are hat-shaped and have a circumferential bend in their side wall in order to enable the sealing element 32 to be folded in a targeted manner when the switching plunger 16 is actuated. It can also be seen from FIG. 2 that the mechanical part 11 of the housing 7 is horizontally divided into an upper part 11o and a lower part 11u at the level of the lever shaft 24, which is level with the center of the handle 6.

The upper part 11o additionally has a separating plane running vertically and parallel to the connecting element 8, so that when the upper part 11o is removed, the electrical part 12 and the lower part 11u of the housing are L-shaped in side view and accordingly the upper part 11o is angular is trained.

FIG. 3 shows a cross section through the control device 4 according to the invention with the upper part 11o of the housing 7 removed according to the section line II in FIG. 2. This figure clearly shows that the limitation of the electrical part 12 of the housing 7 consists of the side wall 19 of the housing 7, the connecting element 8, the partition 20 and the cover 15. The container-shaped electrical part 12 of the housing 7 is formed by side walls 19 and the bottom by the connecting element 8 and the partition 20. The connecting element 8 extends parallel and adjacent to the dividing wall 20 and is surrounded by webs 20 'on its lateral edges. The webs 20 'are fastened to the partition 20 and thus form a connection between the housing 7 and the connecting element 8 which carries the housing 7.

3 also shows the configuration of the mechanical part 11 of the housing 7. The housing 7 of the mechanical part 11 has essentially the shape of an oval ring at the height of the handle 6, the handle 6 being located on one long side of the oval, which is part of the mechanical part 11 of the housing 7. On the side opposite the handle 6, the mechanical part 11 of the housing 7 assumes a cuboid shape and merges towards the rear into the likewise cuboid electrical part 12 of the housing 7. In the area of the two ends of the curved handle 6, a rocker switch 21 is arranged, which can be pivoted about horizontal rocker shafts 22 mounted in the housing 7. The rocker shafts 22 are provided at the ends facing away from the shift rockers 21 with gear segments 23, which in turn mesh with further gear segments 23 '. The gear segments 23 'are arranged at the ends of a common lever shaft 24, which is aligned with its longitudinal extent parallel to the width of the housing 7. In the middle of the horizontal lever shaft 24 the two-armed lever 18 is slid on, which is used via its lever ends to actuate the switching plunger 16 of the switching elements 13.

The rocker shafts 22 and the lever shaft 24 are arranged at an angle a to one another, the angle a being approximately 70-85, in particular 83 degrees. This results in an inclination of the rocker shaft 22 in the direction of the center 6m of the handle 6. This inclination is continued in the contact surface 25 for the actuating thumb on the switching rocker 21, since this contact surface 25 is at an angle b of approximately 10-20, in particular 15 degrees is inclined to the axis of the rocker shaft 22. The central region 27 - shown in dash-dotted lines - (see also FIG. 5) of the support surface 25 merges without a step into the outside of the handle 6a in order to avoid a disruptive edge for the actuating thumb. In order to achieve this coordination between the central region 27 and the outside of the handle 6a, the angle between the rocker shaft 22 and the central region 27 has been chosen somewhat smaller than the angle b and is between 5 and 15 degrees, in particular it is 10 degrees. Furthermore, the handle 6 is designed in the form of a ring segment which, when viewed from the electrical part 12 of the housing, is convexly curved. The curvature of the handle 6 is selected so that the outside 6a of the handle 6 intersects the contact surface 25 of the rocker switch 21 in an imaginary extension of the curvature. The curvature of the handle 6 and the angular position of the support surface 25 are directed towards each other, so that the transition from the handle 6 to the support surface 25 is largely fluid and thus an ergonomic posture of the hand, in particular the thumb, is ensured. In addition, the handle 6 is formed symmetrically to an imaginary plane running perpendicularly and transversely through the center 6m of the handle 6. In order to describe the curvature of the handle 6, two straight lines G can be drawn in for this purpose, the included angle c of which represents a measure of the curvature of the handle. The auxiliary straight lines G begin in the direction seen in the transverse and longitudinal directions in the middle of the handle 6m and each run through the center of the handle ends 6e seen in the transverse direction. The included angle c is in the range between 150-170 degrees and is in particular 160 degrees. The width f of the handle 6 is 100-110 mm, in particular 105 mm.

4 shows a front view of the connecting element 8, which is designed in particular as a steel sheet. The connecting element 8 is in the form of a band and is provided on the flat side and in the middle with three bores 17 spaced apart in the longitudinal direction. The bores 17 serve for the passage of the switching plunger 16. At the ends of the connecting element 8 two further fastening bores 26 are arranged, into which form-fitting pins are inserted, which are part of a half of the longitudinally divided connecting pieces 10. Another arranged between the mounting holes 26 bore 26 'serves to receive a screw, not shown, for connecting the longitudinally divided connecting pieces 10 to the connecting element 8. The lower connecting piece 10 is connected to a load-carrying means 3, the bolt of which is partially shown. The upper connecting piece 10 serves to fasten the traction means 2 to the connecting element 8. The connecting pieces 10 and the ends 9 of the connecting element 8 protruding from the housing 7 at the top and bottom are covered by caps 31. The lower cap 31 can be displaced vertically in order to be able to unlock the bolt for fastening the load-carrying means 3.

5 shows a section from the area of the rocker switch 21 according to the section line II - II in FIG. 3 but with the rocker switch 21 actuated downward and the upper part 11o of the housing 7 inserted. The rocker switch 21 has the function of a two-armed lever comparable and has a central bore for receiving the rocker shaft 22, so that the lever arms have the same length.

Furthermore, the rocker switch 21 on the side facing away from the housing 7 and protruding from it has a support surface 25 for the thumb of the operating hand, which is inclined in the direction of the rocker shaft 22. The bearing surface 25 is divided into a central region 27, a transition region 28 and an edge region 29. The central region 27 of the bearing surface 25 is arranged opposite the rocker shaft 21, so that the length of the lever arms is very short. Furthermore, the central region 27 is slightly convex when viewed from the outside. The central region 27 serves to receive the actuating thumb in the rest position and has a width e of 15-25 mm, in particular 20 mm, oriented transversely to the rocker shaft 22. In the rest position of the rocker switch 21, the central region 27 is oriented vertically. Starting from the central region 27 upwards and downwards, there are transition regions 28 provided with a small radius, which then merge into the edge region 29 with a noticeable edge 30. The edge regions 29 and the central region 27 are each arranged at an angle d to one another which is 25-35 degrees, in particular 28 degrees. The free ends of the edge region 29 have a projection 29 'on the side facing away from the actuating surface 25, as a result of which the edge region 29 is given a hook-shaped configuration when viewed from the side. The length of the rocker switch 21 is selected so that when the actuated edge region 29 abuts the housing 7, the latter projects beyond the contour of the housing 7 upwards or downwards. Here, the projection 29 'is directed towards the wall of the housing. Another important measure is the distance g, which lies between the inside of the handle end 6e and the edge region 29 of an actuated rocker switch 25. This distance g assumes values of 15-25 mm, in particular 21 mm, and thus determines the distance between the thumb surface and the side surface of the index finger. The selected values allow a powerful and fatigue-free actuation of the rocker switch 25. Furthermore, it can be seen that a flap 33 on a round Approach of the rocker switch 21 is performed. The flap 33 pivots when the switching rocker 21 is actuated by a driver with it and thus closes a gap which arises between the housing 7 and the non-actuated end of the switching rocker 21.

Reference list

1

Lifting device

2nd

Traction means

3rd

Load handler

4th

Control device

5

Control line

6

Handle

6m

Handle center

6a

Outside of the handle

6e

Handle ends

7

casing

8th

Fastener

9

Ends of 8

10th

Fittings

11

mechanical part of 7

11u

Lower part of 11

11o

Top of 11

12th

electrical part of 7

13

Switching element

14

Emergency stop switching element

15

cover

16

Switch plunger

17th

Holes

18th

two-armed lever

19th

Side walls of the housing 7

20th

partition wall

20 '

Partitions of the partition

21

Rocker switch

22

Rocker shaft

23.23 '

Gear segments

24th

Lever shaft

25th

Contact surface

26

Mounting holes

26 '

drilling

27

Middle range

28

Transition area

29

Edge area

29 '

29th advantage

30th

Edge

31

cap

32

Sealing element

33

flap

34

Push button

a

Angles between 22 and 24

b

Angles between 22 and 25

c

Angle between G, G '

d

Angles between 27 and 29

e

Width of the central area 27

f

Handle width 6

G

Distance between 29 and the inside of the handle

G

Auxiliary lines

Claims (15)

1. A lifting apparatus with a lifting device (1) by which a load carrying member (3) connected via a drawing means (2) with the lifting device (1) is able to be raised and lowered and with a control device (4) connected with the load carrying member, the control device (4) consisting of a housing (7), a handle (6) for manipulating the load carrying member (3) and with switching elements (13) arranged in the housing (7) which in order to control the lifting device (1) are able to be actuated by pressure elements arranged in the housing (7) and inclined towards the handle (6), which are constructed as switching levers (21) which, with the control device (4) viewed hanging vertically on the drawing means (2), are swivellable about horizontal rocker shafts (22) and are able to be reached by the thumb of a hand grasping the handle (6),
   characterised in that
   the handle (6) is curved, the curvature of which is selected so that the outer side (6a) of the handle (6) in an imaginary extension intersects the switching levers (21) in the region of their bearing surfaces (25) and that the bearing surface (25) of the switching lever (21) consists of a central region (27) lying opposite the rocker shaft (22) to receive the actuating thumb in the position of rest and two marginal regions (29), in each case adjoining the central region (27) in an angular manner above and below in transverse direction to the rocker shaft (22), to receive the actuating thumb in the switching position.
2. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 1,
   characterised in that
   the handle (6) is aligned horizontally with its longitudinal extent.
3. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 2,
   characterised in that
   in the region of the handle ends (6e) in the housing (7) in each case a switching lever (21) is arranged and the ends of the rocker shafts (22) facing away from the switching levers (21) are connected with a common lever shaft (24) on which a two-armed lever (18) is arranged in the centre, by means of the arms of which in each case a switching element (13) is able to be actuated.
4. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 3,
   characterised in that
   the switching elements (13) are constructed as pressure jump switches.
5. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 3 or 4,
   characterised in that
   the lever shaft (24) is connected with the rocker shafts (22) with regard to driving by means of toothed wheel segments (23, 23') arranged in each case on the shaft ends.
6. A lifting apparatus according to one or more of Claims 3 to 5,
   characterised in that
   the angle (a) formed by the rocker shaft (22) and the lever shaft (24) lies betwen 70 and 85 degrees and the housing (7) projects laterally over the switching levers (21).
7. A lifting apparatus according to one or more of Claims 2 to 6,
   characterised in that
   the angle (b) formed by the bearing surface (25) and the rocker shaft (22) lies between 10 and 20°.
8. A lifting apparatus according to one or more of Claims 1 to 7,
   characterised in that
   the curved handle (6) is curved such that the angle (c) formed by two imaginary auxiliary straight lines (G) lies between 150 and 170 degrees and the auxiliary straight lines (G) run through the handle centre (6m) viewed in transverse and longitudinal direction and in each case run through the centre of the handle end (6e) viewed in transverse direction of the handle (6).
9. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 8,
   characterised in that
   each of the auxiliary straight lines (G) forms an obtuse angle with the respectively adjacent bearing surface (25).
10. A lifting apparatus according to Claim 9,
    characterised in that
    the obtuse angle lies between 135 and 170°.
11. A lifting apparatus according to one or more of Claims 1 to 10,
    characterised in that
    the handle (6) is symmetrical to a plane running perpendicularly through the handle centre (6m).
12. A lifting apparatus according to one or more of Claims 1 to 11,
    characterised in that
    the angle (d) formed by the central region (27) and the marginal region (29) of the bearing surface (25) lies between 25 and 35°.
13. A lifting apparatus according to one or more of Claims 1 to 12,
    characterised in that
    the transition between the central region (27) and the marginal region (29) consists of a curved transition region (28) which adjoins the central region (27) on both sides and continues in each case over an edge (30) into the marginal region (29).
14. A lifting apparatus according to one or more of Claims 1 to 13,
    characterised in that
    the central region (27) has a width (e) of 15 to 25 mm.
15. A lifting apparatus according to one or more of Claims 1 to 14,
    characterised in that
    the switching lever (21) in actuated position projects with the marginal region (29) of the actuated side over the contour of the housing (7) and the part of the marginal region (29) projecting over the contour of the housing (7) has a projection (29') in the direction of the housing (7).

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