Classifications

• • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
  • A61—MEDICAL OR VETERINARY SCIENCE; HYGIENE
  • A61G—TRANSPORT, PERSONAL CONVEYANCES, OR ACCOMMODATION SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR PATIENTS OR DISABLED PERSONS; OPERATING TABLES OR CHAIRS; CHAIRS FOR DENTISTRY; FUNERAL DEVICES
  • A61G7/00—Beds specially adapted for nursing; Devices for lifting patients or disabled persons
  • A61G7/08—Apparatus for transporting beds
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/0026—Propulsion aids
  • B62B5/0069—Control
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/0026—Propulsion aids
  • B62B5/0069—Control
  • B62B5/0073—Measuring a force
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B2202/00—Indexing codes relating to type or characteristics of transported articles
  • B62B2202/42—Persons or animals, dead or alive
• • B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
  • B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
  • B62B—HAND-PROPELLED VEHICLES, e.g. HAND CARTS OR PERAMBULATORS; SLEDGES
  • B62B5/00—Accessories or details specially adapted for hand carts
  • B62B5/0026—Propulsion aids
  • B62B5/0033—Electric motors
  • B62B5/0036—Arrangements of motors
  • B62B5/0043—One motor drives one wheel

Definitions

• the present invention relates carts ma- nutention as such is employed in the industrial complex assembly plants for transporting compo ⁇ nents between two places (storage, clearance, post ⁇ tra vail, post delivery. ..) where they are loaded on the cart or unloaded from the cart. It also relates to any means of transport of sick, injured, or person ⁇ born disabled ... in care facilities, or between them and specialized vehicles.
• trolleys can be associated in a train of trolleys, dragged by a motor vehicle from the place of destocking to a workstation. They can equal ⁇ be independent (cases of hospital beds for exam ple ⁇ ) without the possibility of association. In the first case, they require a manual maneuver to train the train or to dissociate it. In the second case, their movement is to ⁇ sprawl manual. This manipulation is a factor of difficulty of the task of the operator that is necessary to reduce to the maximum to meet the increasingly demanding provisions governing the working conditions.
• start-up assistance devices which comprise components for storing energy derived from that expended by the motor vehicle during the movement of the carriage train in the case where the carriages are connectable by train and travel through important distances in convoy.
• start-up assistance devices which comprise components for storing energy derived from that expended by the motor vehicle during the movement of the carriage train in the case where the carriages are connectable by train and travel through important distances in convoy.
• document FR 2 899 550 may be cited.
• Trolleys are also known which are equipped with an additional motorized wheel, added to the cha ⁇ riot already provided with its rolling members that the operator ⁇ tor controlled by a switch of the engine power supply by the associated battery generally to a controller that optimizes the operation of this motorized wheel.
• document FR 2 613 996 describes a coupling between the manual handling shaft of a pallet truck and its front axle, whereby any pivoting of the drawbar results in a rotation drive of this axle (transmission by chain and toothed wheel or by a set of bevel gears).
• the pivot axis of the maneuvering bar and the axis of the wheel are confused and tilting of the drawbar is transmitted to the wheel by a detachable ratchet mechanism.
• the invention relates to a method and means for assisting the start of a carriage provides the ope rator ⁇ a maneuver of the carriage facility (or more generations LEMENT a rolling base) while maintaining a number constraints relating to the general safety of the use of this type of material.
• the subject of the invention is a method of assisting the manual operation of a workshop trolley equipped with a device for driving at least one rolling member of this trolley and for a power source emb ⁇ cated for the power supply of the drive device, ca ⁇ characterized in that it consists in allowing the control of the drive device as long as is observed the presence of a force of advancement exerted manually on the carriage of an intensity greater than or equal to a given threshold.
• the driving device is thus controlled in all or nothing, which makes power management means unnecessary, ensuring a proportionality between the power developed by the engine at a time t and the effort provided by the operator. at the same time.
• the control of the drive device is allowed only in the presence of a load detected on the truck. This arrangement helps to ensure optimal utili ⁇ tion of the drive device in terms of energy consumption. It is possible to provide a load threshold below which the control of the driving device is not permitted.
• the means to achieve these functions are known in themselves and are easy to implement with also known as drive devices for exam ⁇ ple of motorized wheels.
• the detection of the charge may include a determination step. nation of the latter.
• the control circuits of the drive motor means for example to adjust the value of the assist torque to be applied to the wheel to the value of the load transported.
• These circuits com ⁇ mande are known in themselves and generally include a power controller electric power assist motor on the inputs (instructions) which it is possible to act.
• the method of the invention also comprises a step of delaying the operation of the drive device.
• the advantage of this delay lies in the fact that it is a safety runaway speed of the carriage. Indeed, a long presence of a manual force on the upper carriage than the threshold, aug mented ⁇ the driving force assistance, can lead to excessive and dangerous speed of the truck must be prevented.
• the method 1 'in- vention comprises a step of determining the direction of the manual force exerted on the carriage so as to détermi ⁇ ner the direction of the force generated by the device in ⁇ dragging.
• the invention also relates to a trolley for implementing the above method, comprising a platform frame to which is fixed a motorized wheel, and which is equipped with a manual operating member articulated to the platform frame and provided with a cleat cooperating with at least one force sensor emitting a signal towards a controller of the motorized wheel so as to be ex ⁇ ploited by this controller according to its programming.
• the truck is also equipped at its platform with a detector of the presence or absence of a load cooperating with a force sensor connected to the controller of the motorized wheel. It also has a time-limiting timer during which the assistance is in use.
• FIG. 1 is a partial diagrammatic representation, from the side, of a carriage for carrying out the method of the invention
• FIG. 2 is a schematic detail view of an alternative embodiment of the carriage of FIG. 1.
• Figure 1 shows diagrammatically the front part of a carriage whose rolling platform or base 1 is equipped with rolling bodies 2 and 3.
• the body 3 is rou ⁇ LEMENT here a known motorized wheel including its mo ⁇ tor 3a, electric batteries not shown and a controller 4 of the motor 3a.
• This wheel is here fixed by a conventional screed platform 1.
• the invention also applies to it.
• the frame of this platform is equipped with a gold ⁇ maneuver manual maneuver of the carriage in the form of a ⁇ administrat or a handrail 5, articulated in 6 to the frame of the platform 1.
• the lower end of this lever 5 is extended by a rod 7, slidably guided in at least one slide 7a and provided with a catch 7b which im ⁇ mobilizes relative to the platform with two stops 8 and 9 which surround it.
• These abutments are equipped with known force sensors, for example strain gauges or strain gauges, which, one or the other, transmit a signal significant effort they collect from the cleat 7b. This signal is led to the controller 4 of the motorized wheel 3 so as to be operated by this controller according to its programming.
• the platform is also equipped with a detector
• sensors for example displacement or end-of-travel sensors of the movable member (lever 5 or plate 10) associated with resilient return members that can be tapped. ensure the one-to-one correspondence between races traveled and efforts to achieve this.
• the carriage thus equipped allows the implementation of the method according to the invention. Indeed, when the operator seizes the handrail 5 to, for example, push the carriage in the direction of the arrow A, the stopper 7b abuts against the stop 8 which cash the thrust force transmitted to the platform.
• the sensor associated with the stop 8 shows the presence of a thrust force.
• the sensor transmits a signal to the controller 4 that the latter compares a predetermined threshold (a programmed set value) or the sensor transmits a signal to the controller if the force is higher than threshold.
• This threshold is fixed by construction to the value of the effort above which it is considered that there is a risk of adverse influence from an ergonomic point of view for the operator.
• the motorized wheel As long as the effort is below this threshold, the motorized wheel is not operational, either because it is disengaged (freewheel) or because it is not in contact with the ground (luffing wheel). If the effort is equal to or greater than this threshold, the controller makes the motorized wheel operational, which means transmitting a torque drive to this wheel (before contacting the ground, if any) to relieve the thrust force.
• the controller program ensures optimized wheel operation to account for the variability of the thrust force after start-up assistance is put into operation.
• control circuits of the drive motor means for, for example, adjust the value of the assist torque to be applied to the wheel.
• control circuits are known in themselves and generally include an NENT ⁇ a power controller electric power assist motor on the program ⁇ what you can do such change set their va- recorded.
• the power of the motor is independent of the value of the effort exerted by the operator. This results in a great simplicity of the motor controller.
• the controller 4 of the motorized wheel of assistance Demar ⁇ rage can be provided a progressivity of the commissioning of this wheel to avoid a call for too much energy at the start or an adjustment ⁇ ment of the value of the assistance torque depending on the size manual effort ...
• the starting aid is conditioned on the detection of a manual effort of maneuver and the continued existence of this effort, this contrary to the most electrically assisted vehicles that detect a movement generated by the operator. In the case of a cha ⁇ workshop riot, expect the existence of a movement impli ⁇ that the risk of imposing an ergonomically prohibited effort from the operator to get this moving.
• FIG. 2 illustrates the case of a truck which comprises a drawbar 13 hinged to the front of the platform in bearings 13a, 13b.
• stops 8 and 9 of the pre- cedente view are provided with sensors connected to the controller 4 of the motorized wheel 3 in order to transmit the same infor mation ⁇ .
• this alternative embodiment can be detec ⁇ ter the presence or absence of the stop 15 between the stops 8a and 9a respectively to put out or in service a wheel generator of electric energy not shown and connected to the batteries.
• the absence of the cleat between the stops indicates that the truck is in a train, in convoy, with a motor vehicle which allows the operation of the generator wheel to recharge the batteries.
• the wheel can be controlled to operate continuously or intermittently. Every interruption of the supply in the case of intermittent operation, it can be provided to check whether a force greater than the predetermined threshold is still exerted on the carriage and, if so, to supply the engine again.
• the method of the invention can implement a first delay time, starting after the activation of the driving wheel to a first energy level (torque and speed), at the end of which the mo ⁇ tor is controlled to provide a second energy level lower than the first energy level and a second delay time after which the motor is controlled to provide a third energy level, lower than the second energy level, and a third power duration; tempo ⁇ rization after which the motor power is interrupted.
• the duration and the number of timers may be modified for example in accordance with a state of charge of the battery or a function of the mass transpor ted ⁇ or transported volume (corresponding a sensor must be provided and connected to the controller).
• the second energy level and / or the third energy level may be greater than or equal to the previous one.
• the delay time controlling the stopping of the power supply of the motor may have a modifiable duration, for example as a function of a state of charge of the battery or as a function of the transported mass or volume trans ⁇ carried (a corresponding sensor must be provided and re ⁇ linked to the controller).
• the controller controls the motor of the wheel in such a way that the wheel is in rotation when it touches the wheel. the floor in such a way that the wheel is also rotating when it leaves the ground.
• the carriage When the carriage simply serves to support a container whose one edge is used as a member of my ⁇ nipulation of the carriage / container, it is possible to provide on the carriage a handle connected to the controller and provided with means for its fixing removable on the container. It is also possible to provide between the container and the carriage receiving a set of electrical contacts re ⁇ related to the controller such that when an operator applies a force in a given direction on the tale ⁇ ing, moves containing the slightly relative to the carriage because of the game and comes to apply contacts against each other so as to control the power of the mo ⁇ tor in the right direction. It is necessary to then provide means for returning the container to a neutral position in which the contacts are inactivated. This embodiment is more particularly conceivable when ⁇ the resistance to movement of the carriage relative to the ground is greater than the resistance to the displacement of the teller ⁇ neur with respect to the carriage.
• the drawbar may be provided with a sensor for detecting a catch by cooperating with a hook or ball of another carriage or a towing vehicle and driving the motorized wheel accordingly.
• the detection of a potential hooking depending on the position of the drawbar can be ob ⁇ held by means of a flat or a relief formed on the axis of the drawbar to cooperate with a detector connected to the controller connected to the engine of the wheel.
• the force may be a button with dif ⁇ ent representative driving levels of different levels of effort exerted on the carriage sensor.
• the controller can be arranged to control the motor according to these conditions. calves of effort.
• the invention is of course also applicable to trolleys not provided with drawbar or provided with a drawbar with any type of attachment means.
• the support on the truck by the operator triggers a delay delaying the entry into action of the driving wheel. This makes it possible to avoid that a thrust on the carriage, which is involuntary and rapidly interrupted, causes the driving wheel to be actuated.
• the support force on the carriage by the operator triggers the entry into action of the driving wheel only if this effort is greater than a predetermined threshold. This prevents unintentional thrust on the carriage from causing the driving wheel to operate.
• An operator presence detector can be mounted on the truck.
• the presence detection may for example reside in two contact zones spaced apart from each other on which the operator is obliged to apply these hands to push the carriage. This prevents unintentional shock or thrust on the truck from activating the drive wheel.
• the recharging of the batteries can in particular be achieved either by means of a generating wheel as indicated above or by connecting the batteries to a charger connected to the mains.
• a force exerted on the handle of the carriage or a dedicated force sensor, in a direction opposite to the direction of travel causes a deactivation of the drive device.
• the manual maneuvering member of the carriage may have the form of any means for exerting a force on the carriage (thrust, traction %) and for example a handle, a lever, a handrail ...
• the invention in all its variants, applies to a carriage provided with a motorized wheel driven electrically or by any other energy source, including hydraulic.
• the trolley according to the invention may have a struc ture ⁇ different from that described and for example have its wheels in diamond pattern, the drive wheel being mounted at the center of the diamond.
• two wheel drive ad ⁇ underlying can be mounted in the center of the diamond.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
• Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
• Transportation (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Nursing (AREA)
• Life Sciences & Earth Sciences (AREA)
• Animal Behavior & Ethology (AREA)
• General Health & Medical Sciences (AREA)
• Public Health (AREA)
• Veterinary Medicine (AREA)
• Handcart (AREA)
• Carriers, Traveling Bodies, And Overhead Traveling Cranes (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (1)

Family

ID=46963795

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (3)

Families Citing this family (7)

Family Cites Families (10)

• 2012
  • 2012-05-11 FR FR1254353A patent/FR2990398B1/fr not_active Expired - Fee Related
• 2013
  • 2013-05-07 EP EP13724543.7A patent/EP2847064A2/de not_active Withdrawn
  • 2013-05-07 WO PCT/EP2013/059503 patent/WO2013167600A2/fr active Application Filing

Non-Patent Citations (2)

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