CN113880018A

CN113880018A - Steering mechanism, operation platform chassis and scissor-fork type aerial operation platform thereof

Info

Publication number: CN113880018A
Application number: CN202111161970.6A
Authority: CN
Inventors: 喻向阳; 孙卫平; 张立文
Original assignee: Hunan Zoomlion Intelligent Aerial Work Machinery Co Ltd
Current assignee: Hunan Zoomlion Intelligent Aerial Work Machinery Co Ltd
Priority date: 2021-09-30
Filing date: 2021-09-30
Publication date: 2022-01-04
Anticipated expiration: 2041-09-30
Also published as: CN113880018B

Abstract

The invention relates to the technical field of lifting machinery, in particular to a steering mechanism, an operation platform chassis and a scissor-type aerial work platform thereof. Wherein, steering mechanism includes walking wheel subassembly, connecting horizontal pole and actuator. The walking wheel assembly can be pivotally connected with a chassis frame of the working platform. Two ends of the connecting cross rod are respectively in pivot connection with the walking wheel assemblies positioned at the two transverse ends of the chassis frame. The actuator comprises a fixed end and a movable end, wherein the fixed end is arranged on the chassis frame and is transversely arranged, so that the movable end can only linearly stretch and retract along the transverse direction. In the steering mechanism, the actuator is arranged along the transverse direction, so that the movable end linearly stretches and contracts along the transverse direction all the time, and the movable end can generate larger steering driving torque and smaller steering resistance torque, and is more beneficial to steering.

Description

Steering mechanism, operation platform chassis and scissor-fork type aerial operation platform thereof

Technical Field

The invention relates to the technical field of lifting machinery, in particular to a steering mechanism, an operation platform chassis and a scissor-type aerial work platform thereof.

Background

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a conventional steering mechanism. As shown in fig. 1, in the conventional steering mechanism, both ends of an actuator 30 are pivotally connected to the road wheel assembly 10 and the connecting cross bar 20, respectively, and the actuator 30 drives the connecting cross bar 20 in a diagonal manner. This distributes the forces generated by the actuator 30 and is not conducive to steering due to the large angle between the actuator 30 and the connecting rail 20.

Disclosure of Invention

Aiming at the defects or shortcomings in the prior art, the invention provides a steering mechanism, a working platform chassis and a scissor-type aerial working platform thereof, which can form larger steering driving torque and smaller steering resistance torque and are beneficial to steering.

To achieve the above object, a first aspect of the present invention provides a steering mechanism of a work platform, the steering mechanism comprising:

the walking wheel assembly can be in pivot connection with a chassis frame of the operation platform;

the two ends of the connecting cross rod are respectively pivoted with the travelling wheel assemblies positioned at the two transverse ends of the chassis frame; and

the actuator comprises a fixed end and a movable end, wherein the fixed end is arranged on the chassis frame and is transversely arranged, so that the movable end can only linearly extend and retract along the transverse direction.

Alternatively, the steering mechanism can be switched between an unsteered state in which the actuator is parallel to the connecting cross bar and an extreme steering state in which the movable end is at the extension limit position or the retraction limit position.

Optionally, the connecting cross rod is provided with a movable connecting portion, and the movable end is movably connected with the connecting cross rod through the movable connecting portion.

Optionally, the movable connecting portion is a waist-shaped connecting hole arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the movable end is embedded into the waist-shaped connecting hole and can slide linearly along the waist-shaped connecting hole.

Optionally, the movable connecting portion is a short connecting rod, one end of which is pivotally connected to the connecting cross rod, and the other end of the short connecting rod is pivotally connected to the movable end.

Optionally, the road wheel assembly comprises:

the wheel carrier comprises a vertical pivot shaft and a wheel seat, one end of the vertical pivot shaft can be in pivot connection with the chassis frame, and the other end of the vertical pivot shaft is fixedly connected with the wheel seat;

the travelling wheel is pivotally connected to the transverse outer side end of the wheel seat; and

and the walking motor is arranged at the transverse inner side end of the wheel seat and can drive the walking wheel to rotate.

Optionally, the end of the connecting rail is pivotally connected to the wheel base.

A second aspect of the invention provides a work platform chassis comprising a chassis frame and a steering mechanism for a work platform as described above.

Optionally, the chassis frame is rectangular, and the steering mechanism is mounted at one longitudinal end of the chassis frame or at both longitudinal ends of the chassis frame.

The invention provides a scissor type aerial work platform in a third aspect, which comprises the work platform chassis.

In the steering mechanism of the invention, the actuator comprises a fixed end and a movable end, the fixed end is fixedly arranged on the chassis frame and enables the actuator to be arranged along the transverse direction, and the movable end is always linearly extended and contracted along the transverse direction. Because the actuator is transversely and linearly telescopic all the time, compared with the actuator in the prior art which drives the connecting cross rod in a diagonal bracing manner, the steering mechanism can generate larger steering driving torque and smaller steering resistance torque, and is more beneficial to steering.

Additional features and advantages of the invention will be set forth in the detailed description which follows.

Drawings

The accompanying drawings, which are included to provide a further understanding of the invention and are incorporated in and constitute a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments of the invention and together with the description serve to explain the principles of the invention and not to limit the invention. In the drawings:

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a prior art steering mechanism;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of a prior art steering mechanism in an extreme steering state;

FIG. 3 is a force diagram of a conventional steering mechanism in an extreme steering state;

FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a steering mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

FIG. 5 is a schematic view of the steering mechanism of FIG. 4 in an un-steered state;

FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the steering mechanism of FIG. 4 in an extreme steering state;

FIG. 7 is a force diagram of the steering mechanism of FIG. 4 in an extreme steering condition;

FIG. 8 is a perspective view of another steering mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention;

fig. 9 is a perspective view of a scissor-type aerial work platform according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Description of reference numerals: 10. a traveling wheel assembly; 11. a wheel carrier; 12. a traveling wheel; 13. a traveling motor; 20. connecting the cross bars; 21. a movable connection portion; 30. an actuator; 31. a fixed end; 32. a movable end; 40. a chassis frame; 111. a vertical pivot axis; 112. a wheel seat; 211. a waist-shaped connecting hole; 212. short connecting rod

Detailed Description

The following detailed description of embodiments of the invention refers to the accompanying drawings. It should be understood that the detailed description and specific examples, while indicating embodiments of the invention, are given by way of illustration and explanation only, not limitation.

It should be noted that the embodiments and features of the embodiments may be combined with each other without conflict.

In embodiments of the invention, where the context requires otherwise, the use of directional terms such as "upper, lower, top and bottom" is generally intended in the orientation shown in the drawings or the positional relationship of the various components in a vertical, vertical or gravitational orientation.

The invention will be described in detail below with reference to exemplary embodiments and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a steering mechanism for a work platform that includes a road wheel assembly 10, a connecting rail 20, and an actuator 30. The road wheel assembly 10 is pivotally connectable to a chassis frame 40 of the work platform; the two ends of the connecting cross rod 20 are respectively pivoted with the road wheel assemblies 10 at the two transverse ends of the chassis frame 40; the actuator 30 includes a fixed end 31 and a movable end 32, and the fixed end 31 is disposed on the chassis frame 40 and arranged in the lateral direction such that the movable end 32 can be linearly extended and contracted only in the lateral direction.

Specifically, the road wheel assembly 10 can be mounted at the bottom of the chassis frame 40 and can pivot relative to the chassis frame 40, and steering can be achieved by changing the relative angle of the road wheel assembly 10 and the chassis frame 40. The connecting cross rod 20 is connected between the two walking wheel assemblies 10, and when the connecting cross rod 20 moves, the two walking wheel assemblies 10 can be driven to rotate. Specifically, the actuator 30 includes a fixed end 31 and a movable end 32, the fixed end 31 is fixedly mounted on the chassis frame 40 and the actuator 30 is arranged in the transverse direction, so that the movable end 32 is linearly extended and contracted in the transverse direction at all times. Since the movable end 32 is connected to the connecting rail 20, the connecting rail 20 can be driven to move to rotate the traveling wheel assembly 10, thereby achieving steering.

It should be noted that, since the actuator 30 is always linearly extended and contracted in the lateral direction, the steering mechanism of the present invention can generate a larger steering driving torque and a smaller steering resistance torque than the prior art in which the actuator 30 drives the connecting cross rod 20 in a diagonal manner. The specific analysis is as follows:

fig. 2 is a schematic view of a conventional steering mechanism in an extreme steering state, and fig. 3 is a force diagram of the conventional steering mechanism in the extreme steering state. The pivotal connection of the two road wheel assemblies 10 to the chassis frame 40 is defined as A, B, the pivotal connection of the connecting beam 20 to the two road wheel assemblies 10 is defined as C, D, and the connection of the two ends of the actuator 30 is defined as E, F. Thus, the actuator 30 generates a force F in the direction EF_EF，F_EFDecomposable into a component F in the CD direction_CDAnd a component F perpendicular to the CD direction_PThe angle between the CD line and the EF line is a (corresponding to the angle between the connecting beam 20 and the actuator 30), and the larger a is, the component force F is_CDSmaller, component force F_PThe larger. Component force F_CDActing on the arm AC and the arm BD to produce a steering drive torque, F_PActing on the arms AC and BD produces a steering drag torque.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of a steering mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, fig. 6 is a schematic view of the steering mechanism of fig. 4 in an extreme steering state, and fig. 7 is a force diagram of the steering mechanism of fig. 4 in the extreme steering state. In the illustrated embodiment, the angle between the CD line and the EF line is b, and since the actuator 30 of the present invention always extends linearly in the transverse direction, obviously, the angle b is smaller than the angle a, therefore, under the condition of the same specification of the actuator 30, the component force F is smaller than the component force F_CDGreater component force F than in the prior art_PSmaller than in prior art solutions. Therefore, compared with the prior art, the steering mechanism can generate larger steering driving torque and smaller steering resistance torque, and is more beneficial to steering. Therefore, the actuator 30 of the present invention can be selected with a smaller size than the conventional one, and cost and space can be saved.

It is to be understood that the actuator 30 may be any one of a hydraulic cylinder, an electric push rod, and the like having a linear expansion and contraction function. Preferably, the actuator 30 is an electric cylinder, and the existing solution adopts a hydraulic cylinder to drive steering, and requires matching installation of a hydraulic oil tank for storing hydraulic oil and a complex hydraulic oil circuit, so that there is a risk of leakage of hydraulic oil, and maintenance is difficult. Compared with a hydraulic cylinder in the prior scheme, the electric cylinder can also generate enough steering driving force, does not need to be provided with a complex oil way, does not have the oil leakage condition, and can be used in places with high requirements on the working environment.

Further, the steering mechanism can be switched between an unsteered state in which the actuator 30 is parallel to the connecting cross bar 20 and an extreme steered state in which the movable end 32 is located at the extension limit position or the retraction limit position.

Specifically, the actuator 30 is capable of driving the connecting rail 20 to rotate the road wheel assembly 10 relative to the chassis frame 40. FIG. 6 is a schematic view of the steering mechanism in an extreme steering state, e.g.In the illustrated embodiment, as shown in fig. 6, after the road wheel assembly 10 is rotated to the limit angle, the connecting cross bar 20 interferes with the fixed bushing (shown at B) on the chassis frame 40, so that the range of rotation of the road wheel assembly 10 relative to the chassis frame 40 is constant, in other words, the steering mechanism can be switched between the non-steering state and the limit steering state. Fig. 5 is a schematic view of the steering mechanism in fig. 4 in an un-steered state. In the non-steered state, the actuator 30 is parallel to the connecting rail 20, such that the angle between the actuator 30 and the connecting rail 20 is 0, and therefore no force component F is generated_PTo create a steering drag torque and thus facilitate steering mechanism initiated steering. In the extreme steering state, the movable end 32 is located at the extension limit position or the recovery limit position, so that an additional limit part is not required to limit the linear expansion stroke of the actuator 30, and the cost is controlled.

In the embodiment of the present invention, the connecting rail 20 is provided with the movable connection portion 21, and the movable end 32 is movably connected with the connecting rail 20 through the movable connection portion 21.

Specifically, since the movable end 32 is always linearly extended and retracted in the lateral direction, the connecting rail 20 is rotated relative to the road wheel assembly 10, and thus, the connection between the movable end 32 and the connecting rail 20 is not fixed. In this embodiment, the movable end 32 is movably connected to the connecting rail 20 by a movable connection 21 provided on the connecting rail 20.

In an alternative embodiment, the movable connecting portion 21 is a waist-shaped connecting hole 211 arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the movable end 32 is embedded in the waist-shaped connecting hole 211 and can slide linearly along the waist-shaped connecting hole 211.

As shown in fig. 4 to 6, in the steering mechanism of the present embodiment, the movable end 32 can reciprocate along the kidney-shaped connecting hole 211 during switching between the non-steering state and the extreme steering state. When the movable end 32 is located at both ends of the kidney attachment hole 211, the steering mechanism reaches the extreme steering state. When the connecting rail 20 is parallel to the actuator 30, the steering mechanism is in an un-steered state.

In another alternative embodiment, the movable connection 21 is a short link 212 having one end pivotally connected to the connecting rail 20, and the other end of the short link 212 is pivotally connected to the movable end 32.

Fig. 8 is a perspective view of another steering mechanism according to an embodiment of the present invention, as shown in fig. 8, specifically, the movable connecting portion 21 is a short link 212, and both ends of the short link 212 are pivotally connected to the movable end 32 and the connecting cross bar 20, respectively. The stub link 212 is much shorter in length than the connecting rail 20, and the stub link 212 can pivot relative to the connecting rail 20 and the movable end 32 when the actuator 30 telescopically drives the steering. In a state where the short link 212 is in line with the telescopic rod of the actuator 30, the steering mechanism is in an un-steered state. Compared with the technical scheme that the movable connecting part 21 is a waist-shaped connecting hole 211, the waist-shaped connecting hole 211 can play a better limiting role.

In an embodiment of the present invention, the traveling wheel assembly 10 includes a wheel carrier 11, traveling wheels 12, and a traveling motor 13. The wheel carrier 11 includes a vertical pivot shaft 111 and a wheel seat 112, one end of the vertical pivot shaft 111 can be pivotally connected with the chassis frame 40, and the other end is fixedly connected with the wheel seat 112. The road wheels 12 are pivotally connected to the laterally outboard ends of the wheel bases 112. The traveling motor 13 is disposed at the lateral inner end of the wheel base 112 and can drive the traveling wheels 12 to rotate.

Specifically, the vertical pivot shaft 111 and the wheel seat 112 are fixedly connected to form the wheel carrier 11, one end of the vertical pivot shaft 111 is pivotally connected to the chassis frame 40, so that the wheel seat 112, which is fixedly connected to the other end of the vertical pivot shaft 111 and is provided with the road wheels 12, can rotate relative to the chassis frame 40, the road wheels 12 are pivotally connected to the lateral outer sides of the wheel seats 112, the traveling motors 13 are installed on the lateral outer sides of the wheel seats 112, and the road wheels 12 are driven by the traveling motors 13 to rotate so as to drive the whole chassis to travel.

Further, the ends of the connecting rail 20 are pivotally connected to the wheel base 112. Specifically, both ends of the connecting cross rod 20 are respectively pivotally connected with the wheel seats 112 on the two road wheel assemblies 10, and the connecting cross rod 20 can drive the wheel seats 112 to pivot relative to the chassis frame 40 when moving, so as to drive the road wheels 12 installed on the wheel seats 112 to rotate for realizing steering.

An exemplary embodiment of the present invention provides a work platform chassis comprising a chassis frame 40 and a steering mechanism for a work platform as described above. Since the work platform chassis includes the steering mechanism, it is obvious that the work platform chassis has all the advantages brought by the steering mechanism, and detailed description is omitted here. Of course, in this embodiment, the work platform chassis also includes components that interact with or are independent of the steering mechanism described above.

Further, the chassis frame 40 is rectangular, and the steering mechanism is mounted at one longitudinal end of the chassis frame 40 or at both longitudinal ends of the chassis frame 40.

As shown in fig. 9, specifically, the steering mechanism can be mounted at one longitudinal end of a chassis frame 40 having a rectangular shape, so as to achieve the effect of forward-drive steering or backward-drive steering. Or the steering mechanism can be mounted at both longitudinal ends of the chassis frame 40 so as to drive both front and rear steering simultaneously.

An exemplary embodiment of the invention provides a scissor aerial work platform comprising a work platform chassis as described above. Since the scissor-type aerial work platform comprises the work platform chassis, all the beneficial effects brought by the work platform chassis are obviously achieved, and detailed description is omitted here.

In the description of the present invention, it is to be understood that the terms "central," "longitudinal," "lateral," "length," "width," "thickness," "upper," "lower," "front," "rear," "left," "right," "vertical," "horizontal," "top," "bottom," "inner," "outer," "clockwise," "counterclockwise," "axial," "radial," "circumferential," and the like are used in the orientations and positional relationships indicated in the drawings for convenience in describing the invention and to simplify the description, and are not intended to indicate or imply that the referenced devices or elements must have a particular orientation, be constructed and operated in a particular orientation, and are therefore not to be considered limiting of the invention.

Furthermore, the terms "first", "second" and "first" are used for descriptive purposes only and are not to be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly indicating the number of technical features indicated. Thus, a feature defined as "first" or "second" may explicitly or implicitly include at least one such feature. In the description of the present invention, "a plurality" means at least two, e.g., two, three, etc., unless specifically limited otherwise.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the terms "mounted," "connected," "secured," and the like are to be construed broadly and can, for example, be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally formed; may be mechanically coupled, may be electrically coupled or may be in communication with each other; they may be directly connected or indirectly connected through intervening media, or they may be connected internally or in any other suitable relationship, unless expressly stated otherwise. The specific meanings of the above terms in the present invention can be understood by those skilled in the art according to specific situations.

In the present invention, unless otherwise expressly stated or limited, the first feature "on" or "under" the second feature may be directly contacting the first and second features or indirectly contacting the first and second features through an intermediate. Also, a first feature "on," "over," and "above" a second feature may be directly or diagonally above the second feature, or may simply indicate that the first feature is at a higher level than the second feature. A first feature being "under," "below," and "beneath" a second feature may be directly under or obliquely under the first feature, or may simply mean that the first feature is at a lesser elevation than the second feature.

In the description herein, references to the description of the term "one embodiment," "some embodiments," "an example," "a specific example," or "some examples," etc., mean that a particular feature, structure, material, or characteristic described in connection with the embodiment or example is included in at least one embodiment or example of the invention. In this specification, the schematic representations of the terms used above are not necessarily intended to refer to the same embodiment or example. Furthermore, the particular features, structures, materials, or characteristics described may be combined in any suitable manner in any one or more embodiments or examples. Furthermore, various embodiments or examples and features of different embodiments or examples described in this specification can be combined and combined by one skilled in the art without contradiction.

Although embodiments of the present invention have been shown and described above, it is understood that the above embodiments are exemplary and should not be construed as limiting the present invention, and that variations, modifications, substitutions and alterations can be made to the above embodiments by those of ordinary skill in the art within the scope of the present invention.

Claims

1. A steering mechanism for a work platform, the steering mechanism comprising:

a travelling wheel assembly (10) which can be pivotally connected with a chassis frame (40) of the work platform;

the two ends of the connecting cross rod (20) are respectively pivoted with the walking wheel assemblies (10) positioned at the two transverse ends of the chassis frame (40); and

an actuator (30) comprising a fixed end (31) and a movable end (32), the fixed end (31) being disposed on the chassis frame (40) and arranged in a lateral direction such that the movable end (32) can only linearly expand and contract in the lateral direction.

2. Steering mechanism of a work platform according to claim 1, wherein the steering mechanism is switchable between an un-steered state, in which the actuator (30) is parallel to the connecting crossbar (20), and an extreme steered state, in which the movable end (32) is in an extended extreme position or a retracted extreme position.

3. Steering mechanism for a work platform according to claim 1, wherein the connecting crossbar (20) is provided with a movable connection (21), the movable end (32) being movably connected to the connecting crossbar (20) via the movable connection (21).

4. The steering mechanism of a work platform according to claim 3, wherein the movable connecting part (21) is a waist-shaped connecting hole (211) arranged along the longitudinal direction, and the movable end (32) is embedded in the waist-shaped connecting hole (211) and can slide linearly along the waist-shaped connecting hole (211).

5. The steering mechanism of a work platform according to claim 3, wherein the movable connection (21) is a short link (212) having one end pivotally connected to the connecting crossbar (20), and the other end of the short link (212) is pivotally connected to the movable end (32).

6. Steering mechanism for a work platform according to claim 1, wherein the travelling wheel assembly (10) comprises:

the wheel carrier (11) comprises a vertical pivot shaft (111) and a wheel seat (112), one end of the vertical pivot shaft (111) can be in pivot connection with the chassis frame (40), and the other end of the vertical pivot shaft is fixedly connected with the wheel seat (112);

a road wheel (12) pivotally connected to a lateral outboard end of the wheel base (112); and

and the walking motor (13) is arranged at the transverse inner side end of the wheel seat (112) and can drive the walking wheel (12) to rotate.

7. Steering mechanism for a work platform according to claim 6, wherein the end of the connecting crossbar (20) is pivotally connected to the wheel base (112).

8. A work platform chassis, characterized in that the work platform chassis comprises a chassis frame (40) and a steering mechanism of a work platform according to any of claims 1-7.

9. The work platform chassis according to claim 8, wherein the chassis frame (40) is rectangular and the steering mechanism is mounted at one longitudinal end of the chassis frame (40) or at both longitudinal ends of the chassis frame (40).

10. A scissor aerial work platform comprising the work platform chassis of claim 9.