US-12623694-B2 - Drive module for a self-driving vehicle, and self-driving vehicle

US12623694B2US 12623694 B2US12623694 B2US 12623694B2US-12623694-B2

Abstract

A drive module for a self-driving vehicle of an elevated-track-type support structure. The drive module is able to be connected to a support arm for a gondola.

Inventors

Adrian Heinrich Sichau
Bernd Stuke
Felix Jaegle
Gael Le Hen
Olaf Ohlhafer

Assignees

OTTOBAHN GMBH

Dates

Publication Date: 20260512
Application Date: 20210217
Priority Date: 20200302

Claims (10)

1 . A drive module for a self-driving vehicle of an elevated-track-type support structure, the drive module being configured to be connected to a support arm for a gondola, the drive module comprising: a lifting device configured to move the support arm between a raised driving position and a lowered loading or unloading position for the gondola, wherein the drive module has a first electric motor configured to move the gondola along the support structure, and the lifting device is at least indirectly drivable by the first electric motor, the first electric motor being further configured to be alternately coupled with drive elements for the gondola or the lifting device via gear unit having at least two coupling devices, wherein an additional coupling device is provided to block the lifting device when the first electric motor is actively connected to the drive elements.
2 . The drive module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least two coupling devices are switched using separate actuators.
3 . The drive module as recited in claim 1 , wherein switching of the at least two coupling devices is implemented via a shared actuator, the at least two coupling devices being mechanically coupled with one another.
4 . The drive module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the at least two coupling devices and the additional coupling device are switchable using a shared actuator.
5 . The drive module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the additional coupling device is switchable using an additional actuator.
6 . The drive module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lifting device is configured to be driven using a second electric motor.
7 . The drive module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the lifting device has a cable or chain drive for lowering or raising the gondola.
8 . The drive module as recited in claim 1 , wherein the drive module has a closed housing.
9 . A self-driving vehicle, comprising: a gondola connected to a support arm; and a drive module connected to the support arm, wherein the drive module includes a lifting device configured to move the support arm between a raised driving position and a lowered loading or unloading position for the gondola, wherein the drive module has a first electric motor configured to move the gondola along a support structure, and the lifting device is at least indirectly drivable by the first electric motor; and wherein the support arm is movable relative to the drive module using the lifting device, and the support arm is configured to be coupled with the drive module using a coupling, wherein the first electric motor is further configured to be alternately coupled with drive elements for the gondola or the lifting device via gear unit having at least two coupling devices, wherein an additional coupling device is provided to block the lifting device when the first electric motor is actively connected to the drive elements.
10 . The self-driving vehicle as recited in claim 9 , wherein the coupling includes a centering aid.

Description

FIELD The present invention relates to a drive module for a self-driving vehicle of an elevated-rail-type support structure. Within the framework of the present invention, a self-driving vehicle is understood as a vehicle which is able to be moved along the support structure with the aid of the drive module, i.e., with the aid of its own drive. Both autonomously driving, i.e., driverless, vehicles are possible and those that are controlled by a driver or operator. The vehicle may typically be used for transporting persons or freight. In addition, the present invention relates to a self-driving vehicle having a drive module according to the present invention. BACKGROUND INFORMATION German Patent Application No. DE 10 2019 217 948 A1 of the Applicant describes a drive module for a self-driving vehicle of an elevated-track-type support structure. This drive module is part of a self-driving vehicle which is characterized by a lifting device by which the gondola can be adjusted from a raised position, which is assumed during the driving operation of the gondola, to a lowered position for loading or unloading the gondola either in the region of a station or else along the driving route, e.g., in emergency situations. It is furthermore described in the cited patent application that the lifting device is developed as a component of a support arm device or of the gondola. SUMMARY A drive module for self-driving vehicles according to the present invention may offer the advantage that it allows for a particularly advantageous design of the lifting device and also for an advantageous integration of the lifting device into the self-driving vehicle. According to an example embodiment of the present invention, the drive module is provided with a lifting device for this purpose, which is at least indirectly able to be driven by an electric motor and developed to move the support arm between a raised driving position and a lowered loading or unloading position for the gondola. In other words, this means that the lifting device—in contrast to the related art mentioned above—is no longer a component of the support arm or the gondola, but a component of a drive module which is used to move the gondola along the support structure. This offers the advantage that all components required to drive or move the gondola along the support structure and to raise or lower the gondola can be positioned within the drive module, and, furthermore, parts or components possibly used for driving the gondola may simultaneously be used as a component of the lifting device. Advantageous further developments of the drive module for a self-driving vehicle of an elevated-track-type drive module of the present invention are disclosed herein. In one particularly preferred constructive implementation of the present invention, it is provided that the drive module has a first electric motor for moving the gondola along the support structure and that the lifting device is at least indirectly drivable by the first electric motor. Such an embodiment thus makes it possible to use one and the same electric motor both for driving the gondola along the support structure and for lowering or raising the gondola for loading and unloading purposes. This is advantageous insofar as the drive power of the lifting device is typically lower than the drive power required for moving the gondola along the support structure. As a consequence, it will not be necessary to modify the size or power of the electric motor in comparison with a variant in which the electric motor is not used for operating the lifting device but for driving the gondola. In addition, the use of a single electric motor both for driving the gondola and for driving the lifting device makes it possible to keep the required space in the drive module to a relative minimum and the investment costs at a relatively low level. In a further development of the present invention, it is provided that the (single) electric motor is alternately able to be coupled with drive rollers for the gondola or the lifting device via a gear unit having at least two coupling devices. The drive rollers are used to move the gondola along the support structure. In another provided further development of the present invention, it is particularly advantageous if an additional coupling device is provided for blocking the lifting drive when the electric motor is actively connected to the drive elements for the vehicle. This is because the coupling device, which is provided to move the lifting device with the aid of the electric motor, is switched to an open state in this switching state, and it must be avoided that the lifting device is activated, e.g., solely by the weight force of the gondola, or that the gondola will be lowered unintentionally. According to the present invention, there are also different variants with regard to the switching of the at least two coupling devices, which are connectable to the drive or the drive elemen