ENERGY SUPPLY SYSTEM

An energy supply system includes a cable store for winding and unwinding an energy cable about a winding center of the cable store. A carrier is provided for the at least one energy cable, and the cable store has an opening for the inlet and outlet of the carrier and the energy cable. The carrier can be guided through the opening in order to guide the carrier and the energy cable in sections in the cable store to the winding center of the cable store over a first guide path through a first guide arc, over a second guide path, which adjoins the first guide arc, through a second guide arc, and over a third guide path, which adjoins the second guide arc and lies further inwards relative to the winding center than the first guide path, and optionally over additional guide paths and guide arcs, using guiding means.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to an energy supply system.

A generic energy supply system is known, for instance, from EP 2 610 208 A1. In a variant shown inFIGS. 12 to 15, the carrier is guided in a guide device, wound onto or unwound from a winding device. The guide device has transport discs with several concentric tracks arranged in steps. The carrier has sections with different widths, which can be wound onto or unwound from the stepped tracks according to the width, in which the winding takes place from the innermost track to the outermost track. A track change between the tracks takes place through the ramps connecting the tracks and the changing width of the carrier.

However, such an energy supply system has some disadvantages. For example, the carrier is designed in a very complex way. Winding devices with different intake capacities require specifically designed carriers in each case. Furthermore, the height of the winding at the outlet of the winding device varies in each case by the winding layer.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

It is an object of the invention to provide an improved energy supply system without the disadvantages discussed above.

The energy supply system comprises a line storage for winding and unwinding of at least one energy line around a winding center of the line storage.

The line storage can serve as a space-saving and orderly storage of a part of the energy line that is not taken out of the line storage.

Essentially, as a winding center, a centrally located point in the line storage can be understood, starting from which (or towards which) the at least one energy line can be wound in the line storage, running in one or more windings. Such a course can, for instance, be similar to a flat spiral or a helical line.

For the energy supply system, it can generally be provided that the at least one energy line enters into the line storage in the winding center, for instance through a suitable joint. It can thus be provided that the energy line enters into the line storage in the winding center, from there runs in sectionally guided windings to the opening, and exits from the line storage through the opening.

The energy supply system can be provided for a tool that can be fixed or is fixed to a hoist.

The energy supply system can generally allow relative movement of the tool (or in general a free end of the energy line) towards the line storage. The tool can remain connected to the energy line during the movement. The length of the section of the energy line taken from the line storage can be adapted to the relative movement between the tool and the line storage by winding up and unwinding the at least one energy line into the line storage or out of it.

The at least one energy line can comprise at least one hydraulic supply line and/or at least one electrical supply line.

For the energy supply system, at least one carrier is provided for the at least one energy conducting line. The energy line can be arranged in the carrier (in other words, the carrier can embrace the energy line), so that winding and unwinding the energy line in the line storage is carried out by winding and unwinding the carrier. The carrier may conceivably be formed by a sheath of the line or lines.

The line storage comprises an opening for the inlet and outlet of the carrier and the energy line. A section of the carrier can thus be brought into the line storage through the opening or partially be removed from the line storage through the opening.

The carrier (and thus the energy line) of the energy supply system according to the invention can be guided by guide means via guide sections and guide arches to the winding center of the line storage for guiding the carrier section by section in the line storage.

The carrier can generally have a section with guide means and a section without guide means.

Here, a first guide section and a first guide arch adjoining it, and a second guide section and a second guide arch adjoining it, whereas the second guide section is adjoining the first guide arch, and further a third guide section adjoining the second guide arch, lying further inwards compared to the first guide section relative to the winding center, are provided.

The first guide section and the second guide section can essentially have the same distance (measured for instance as normal distance) to the winding center.

The first guide arch and the second guide arch can essentially have the same distance (for instance measured as the standard distance of the center of curvature) to the winding center.

The first guide section and the second guide section can, relative to the winding center, be arranged facing each other.

The first guide arch and the second guide arch can, relative to the winding center, be arranged facing each other.

If necessary, further guide arches and guide sections can be provided. So, a third guide arch can for instance be provided, which adjoins the third guide section, and is located further inwards relative to the winding center compared to the first guide arch, and which is adjoined by a fourth guide section located further inwards relative to the winding center compared to the second guide section. It should not be ruled out that even further guide arches and guide sections are provided.

The guide sections and guide arches can form a guide track, and the guide track can have an essentially spirally winding course from the opening towards the winding center, narrowing (thus, essentially with a decreasing radius of curvature) in the direction of the winding center.

By such an arrangement of guide sections and guide arches, it can be achieved that these have an essentially spiral course from the opening towards the winding center, and the at least one carrier can be wound and unwound section by section and essentially spirally in the line storage towards the winding center.

In other words, such an arrangement of guide arches and guide sections can have an essentially narrowing (more tightly wound), spiral course starting from the opening of the line storage towards the winding center of the line storage.

In this way, a sectional, essentially spiral, multi-layered and concordant (with the same winding sense) winding and unwinding of the carrier (and thus of the energy line) in the line storage can be achieved.

Because of the guide arches and guide sections and the corresponding guide means, the line storage itself can be formed with essentially no movable parts.

By means of the guide arches and guide sections and the corresponding guide means, the occurring forces can be spread in a better way. This can minimize wear.

The guide arches and guide sections and corresponding guide means can allow a gliding movement of the carrier relative to the guide arches and guide sections.

A connection of a guide section to a guide arch (or vice versa) does not have to be direct, uninterrupted or immediate. In an exemplary embodiment of the guide sections and guide arches in the form of webs or recesses, there can be a certain gap or discontinuity, for example, between a guide arch and a subsequent guide section. However, such a gap or discontinuity is to be measured in such a way that a guidance of the carrier with its guide means is ensured.

The third guide section, relative to the winding center compared to the first guide section, is arranged lying further inwards. For instance, the first guide section and the third guide section, relative to the winding center, can be arranged facing each other, and the third guide section is located closer to the winding center.

The guide sections and also the guide arches, in particular the first and third guide section, can be arranged and spaced in such a way that a carrier wound thereon does not touch itself between adjacent guide sections or guide arches. This can lead to a reduction in the frictional forces that occur.

The guide arches and guide sections and the corresponding guide means can subject the carrier to forced guidance in sections in the line storage.

The guide arches and guide sections and the corresponding guide means can be used to guide the carrier in sections in the line storage in a shearing-resistant manner. When a tensile or thrust force is applied to the carrier in the direction of the carrier, it can be moved along the guide arches and guide sections. The guide arches and guide sections and the corresponding guide means can engage in such a way that only a movement of the carrier along the guide arches and guide sections is possible. This can prevent buckling and thus being wound an unwound in a disorderly manner.

The carrier can be in the form of at least one sheath of the energy line or in the form of at least one chain with chain links connected to each other in a jointed manner. Such chains are known in the prior art as energy chains or also as energy guiding chains. The at least one energy line can be arranged in an inner part of the chain.

The carrier can be essentially freely bendable or windable in at least one direction.

In one embodiment of the carrier as a sheath of the power line, the carrier can have a certain transverse stiffness, but can be bent to a certain minimum bend radius and thus can be wound.

In one embodiment of the carrier as a chain, the carrier can be freely bendable or windable in at least one direction (for example, at least in the sense of winding) essentially up to a certain minimum bend radius. Bending or winding in certain directions can be suppressed by self-locking of the chain.

In one embodiment of the invention, it can be provided that the guide means of the carrier are formed as axial projections protruding from at least a part of the carrier, in particular from the sheath or a part of the chain links.

Axial protrusion can generally be understood as a protrusion transverse to the longitudinal extent of the carrier. The axial protrusions can be provided with rollers or friction-reducing coatings to reduce friction. The protrusions can be cylindrical or web-shaped.

The line storage can have at least one planar carrier plate, and the guide arches and guide sections can be formed in the carrier plate in the form of a guide track corresponding to the guide means of the carrier. The guide track can be in the form of a step, a groove or a recess in the carrier plate. The guide track can be continuous or in sections, i.e. as a series of individual sections.

In one embodiment of the invention, it is conceivable that the guide track is formed as a single continuous groove or recess in the at least one carrier plate of the line storage.

In a further embodiment of the invention, the guide means of the carrier can be formed as a guide track in the form of a plurality of individual guide tracks in at least a part of the sheath or at least a part of the chain links. The individual guide tracks can for instance be formed as grooves or recesses in the carrier.

The guide arches and guide sections can have the form of an arrangement or sequence of protrusions protruding from the carrier plate.

Protruding from the carrier plate can generally be understood as a protrusion from the plane of the carrier plate. The protrusions can be provided with rollers or friction-reducing coatings to reduce friction. The protrusions can have a cylindrical or web-like shape.

For the energy supply system, in a further embodiment of the invention:the carrier has an outer, first end and an inner, second end, andthe carrier has a section with guide means and a section without guide means, and the section without guide means extends from the second end to the section with guide means, andthe carrier is connected to the winding center at the second end of the carrier, and the section without guide means is unguided in the line storage.

In other words, the carrier in the line storage has a guided section and an unguided section. The guided section can essentially extend from the opening of the line storage over the guide sections and guide arches to the end of the section of the carrier with guide means or to the beginning of the section of the carrier without guide means, respectively. The unguided section can extend from there to the winding center.

The carrier can also have guide means outside the line storage.

The first end of the carrier can be arranged on the section of the carrier taken from the line storage.

An unguided section can generally be understood as a section of the carrier that is not guided by guide arches or guide sections and corresponding guide means. Such an unguided section can be similar to a drag chain.

For this embodiment, the unguided section of the carrier can be wound essentially in a spiral manner about the winding center, and that the winding radius of the unguided section of the carrier increases or decreases as the guided part of the section with guide means of the carrier is wound up and down. An increase or decrease in the winding radius of the unguided section can be the case when transitioning to a loose or tight winding.

Here, it can be possible that the energy line enters into the line storage in the winding center through a non-rotary joint. The winding of the unguided section with a second end held non-rotary in the winding center, resulting from winding and unwinding of the guided part of the section with guide means of the carrier, for which in other embodiments, a technically complex rotary joint is provided, can be permitted by an essentially spiral winding around the winding center and an increasing or decreasing winding radius. The space in the line storage occupied or vacated by the winding or unwinding of the unguided section can be made available or filled by the guided part of the carrier moving out of or into the line storage.

Alternatively, for this embodiment, a rotary joint is provided for the energy line in the winding center. The torsion of the unguided section resulting from winding and unwinding of the guided section of the carrier can be permitted or prevented by connecting the second end of the carrier to the rotary joint.

As a further alternative, but also in combination with the essentially spiral winding described above, it can be provided that the unguided section of the carrier can be wound and unwound in opposing layers about the winding center when the guided section of the carrier is wound and unwound. The movement of the unguided section of the carrier can resemble a two-layer folded drag chain, which can be wound in a sliding arrangement around the winding center.

When winding the unguided section of the carrier around the winding center, it can generally be provided that the unguided section is supported on and slides along the section of the carrier guided at the guide sections and guide arches. In particular, this can be the case with an increasing winding radius (transition to a loose winding) of the unguided section of the carrier as the guided section is wound up. In particular, this can be the case with an increasing winding radius (transition to a loose winding) of the unguided section of the carrier as the guided section is wound up.

For the energy supply system, it can generally be provided that the distance of the guide arches to each other is essentially invariable.

Winding and unwinding of the carrier (and thus of the energy line) into or out of the line storage can be carried out along a fixed guide track, which can be predetermined, or a predetermined guide track formed by the guide sections and guide arches.

For the energy supply system, the guide arches can have an essentially 180 degree winding angle and/or the guide arches have equal and/or different radii of curvature, and the guide arches with different radii of curvature have a decreasing radius of curvature from the opening of the line storage towards the winding center, and/or the respective radius of curvature of a guide arch is constant.

The guide arches can each be semicircular in shape.

Groups of guide arches with different radii of curvature, which have a decreasing radius of curvature from the opening of the line storage to the winding center, can be arranged concentrically. The grouping can, for instance, be made on opposite sides relative to the winding center.

For the energy supply system, it can generally be provided that the respective guide sections have an essentially straight course and/or essentially the same longitudinal extent.

For the energy supply system, it can generally be provided that the line storage has an essentially elongated shape with a greater longitudinal extent than transverse extent, and the guide sections extend essentially along the longitudinal extent of the line storage.

An elongated shape of the line storage can optimize the length of the energy line that can be wound and unwound in or out of the line storage.

The line storage can, for instance, have an essentially rectangular shape, in which the guide arches are arranged on the short sides of the rectangle and the guide sections are arranged along the long sides of the rectangle.

For the energy supply system, it can generally be provided that the winding and unwinding of the at least one carrier takes place essentially in one plane. This can enable crossing-free winding of the carrier.

For the energy supply system, the inlet and outlet of the at least one carrier through the opening takes place at a fixed position of the line storage. This can be achieved by the first guide section being located adjacent to the opening.

In energy supply systems known in the prior art, the position of the inlet and outlet to or from the line storage changes with the length of the carrier wound or unwound in the line storage. In contrast, for the energy supply system according to the invention, it can be provided that this takes place at a fixed position of the line storage, which makes it easier to predict the course of the carrier taken from the line storage.

For the energy supply system, the at least one carrier has an essentially constant transverse extent. This can be used to easily adapt the carrier to the windable length in the line storage.

For the energy supply system, a drive acting on the at least one carrier can be provided for winding and unwinding the at least one carrier. The drive can be present in the form of one (or more) driven rollers or a driven gear wheel. The drive can have an energy storage, for example in the form of a spring, or a motor.

For the energy supply system, the position of the winding center in the line storage can be adjusted. For instance, the winding center can be arranged in the line storage so that it can be moved linearly.

For this, a drive can preferably be present. Preferably, the position of the winding center in the line storage can be designed to be linearly movable in the direction of and/or transverse to the guide sections.

By being able to adjust the position of the winding center in the line storage, the length of the unguided section of the carrier can be reduced.

Protection is also requested for hoist, in particular a crane, with an energy supply system as previously described.

The hoist can comprise a tool, and the energy supply system can allow a relative movement of the tool to the line storage. The tool can remain connected to the energy line during the movement, and the length of the section of the energy line taken from the line storage can be adapted to the relative movement between the tool and the line storage.

With such a hoist, the energy supply system can be attached to an outrigger, for instance an arm of an arm system, of the hoist.

Advantageously, the energy supply system can be arranged on an inner outrigger, for instance the beginning of a telescopable arm system, and a tool supplied by the energy supply system can be arranged on an outer outrigger that is movable with respect thereto, for instance at the end of a telescopic outrigger of a telescopable arm system.

When the telescopic arm system is extended and retracted, the length of the section of the carrier taken from the line storage, and thus of the energy line, can be adapted to the relative movement between the tool and the line storage.

Other applications of the energy storage device according to the invention, such as for CNC machining centers, industrial robots, or general moving machine parts, are also imaginable.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

FIG. 1shows an energy supply system1, which is arranged with a housing20, which accommodates the line storage3, on an inner outrigger36of a hoist not shown here in more detail (seeFIGS. 12ato 12d). The carrier6, which can be wound or unwound in or out of the line storage3, is attached on a first end30to an outer outrigger40, which is movable relative to the line storage3.

FIG. 2shows in isolation an embodiment of an energy supply system1with a line storage3arranged in a housing20, from the opening7of which a part of the carrier6is taken. In this embodiment, the carrier6is formed by a chain22with chain links23, on which guide means8are arranged in the form of two axially protruding protrusions24per chain link23. In this embodiment, the line storage3has an elongated, approximately rectangular shape. This embodiment of the carrier6is also shown in the embodiment of the energy storage1ofFIGS. 11aand11b.

InFIG. 3, a further embodiment of an energy supply system1is shown in isolation, in which the energy supply system1again has a line storage3arranged in a housing20, from the opening7of which a part of the carrier6is taken. In this embodiment, the carrier6is formed by a chain22with chain links23, on which guide means8are arranged in the form of an axially protruding protrusion24for each chain link23. The carrier plate26of the line storage3has been made visible in this embodiment by partially blanking out the lid of the housing20.

FIG. 4shows a view ofFIG. 3in which the lid of the housing20has been completely banked out. It Is identifiable that the carrier6is guided for at least one energy-carrying line (not visible here, seeFIGS. 5a-5jandFIG. 6) for the inlet and outlet of the carrier6through the opening7of the line storage3, for guiding the carrier6and the energy line in sections in the line storage3with the help of guide means8via a first guide section9through a first guide arch10, and via a second guide section11adjoining the first guide arch10through a second guide arch12, and via a third guide section13adjoining the second guide arch12, which is lying further inwards relative to the winding center5(see alsoFIG. 5a) compared to the first guide section9—and, analogous to this, via further guide arches15,17and guide sections14,16,18—is guided to the winding center5of the line storage unit3. The further course of the carrier6between the end of the innermost guide section18and the winding center5is shown with dashed lines inFIG. 4and can be seen in detail inFIG. 5a.

The third guide section13is arranged lying further inwards compared to the first guide section9relative to the winding center5. The first guide section9and the third guide section13are arranged opposite each other relative to the winding center5, and the third guide section13is located closer to the winding center5.

Moreover, a third guide arch14is shown, which adjoins a further inwards lying third guide section13compared to the first guide arch10relative to the winding center5, to which a fourth guide section15adjoins, lying further inwards, compared to the second guide section11relative to the winding center5. The same applies to the further guide arches16,18and the further guide sections17,19. It should not be ruled out that, different to what is shown, further guide arches and guide sections are provided in addition to those shown.

In the embodiment shown, the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18form a guide track27, and the guide track27comprises an essentially spirally-wound course from the opening7towards the winding center5, narrowing in the direction of the winding center5.

It can be further seen in the embodiment shown thatthe guide arches10,12,14,16,18essentially have a winding angle of 180 degrees, and thatthe guide arches10,14,18or the guide arches12,16, respectively, have different radii of curvature, and the guide arches10,14,18and the guide arches12,16, with different radii of curvature, respectively, have a decreasing radius of curvature from the opening7of the line storage3towards the winding center5, and thatthe respective radius of curvature of a guide arch10,12,14,16,18is constant.

In the embodiment shown, the guide arches10,12,14,16,18are each formed in an essentially semicircular shape.

Groups of guide arches10,14,18and12,16with different radii of curvature, which have a decreasing radius of curvature from the opening7of the line storage3towards the winding center5, are arranged concentrically in the embodiment shown. The grouping of the guide arches10,14,18and12,16is arranged on opposite sides relative to the winding center5.

In the embodiment shown, the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19have an essentially straight course and essentially the same longitudinal extent.

In the embodiment shown, the line storage3comprises an essentially elongated shape with a greater longitudinal extent than transverse extent, and the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19essentially extend along the longitudinal extent of the line storage3.

The sequence ofFIGS. 5ato 5jshows an unwinding of the carrier6from the line storage3according to the embodiment ofFIG. 4. In reverse order, the figures show a winding of the carrier6into the line storage3.

FIG. 5ashows a line storage3which is essentially completely wound up. The guided part of the section33of the carrier6with guide means8extends essentially over the entire length of the guide track27formed by the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18.

FIG. 5jshows a line storage3that is essentially completely unwound. The guided part of the section33extends essentially over the minimum length of the guide section9adjoining the opening7. The unguided section32has been essentially completely wound around the winding center5due to the non-rotary joint37.

Except for the length of the part of the carrier6removed from the line storage3, only the carrier plate26shown inFIG. 4is blanked out inFIGS. 5ato 5jcompared toFIG. 4. It can be seen that the line storage3has at the rear (in the view ofFIGS. 5ato 5jlocated behind the carrier6in perspective) a further carrier plate26, which in turn has guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18. The carrier6is guided in sections along the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18to the winding center5of the line storage3. The carrier6is guided on both sides by the presence of the two carrier plates6(see alsoFIGS. 7ato 7c). However, this does not have to be so, since a single-sided guidance is also conceivable.

In the embodiment shown, the guide track27is formed as a single continuous groove in the carrier plate26of the line storage unit3.

The guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18are arranged and spaced in such a way that the carrier6wound thereon does not touch itself between adjacent guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18.

The carrier6has a section32with guide means8and a section33without guide means. The section33without guide means extends from the second end31of the carrier6to the beginning of the section32with guide means8, at which the first guide means41of the guided part of the section32with guide means8is arranged.

The carrier6is connected to the winding center5at the second end31of the carrier6. The section33without guide means runs unguided in the line storage3, i.e. it is not guided by the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18.

In other words, the carrier6in the line storage3has a guided section33with guide means8and an unguided section32without guide means. The guided part of the section33extends essentially from the opening7of the line storage3via the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18to the end of the section33of the carrier6with guide means8and to the beginning of the section32of the carrier6without guide means8, respectively. The unguided section32extends from there to the winding center5.

In the embodiment shown inFIGS. 5ato 5j, the unguided section32of the carrier6can be windable essentially spirally around the winding center5, and the winding radius of the unguided section32of the carrier6can increase or decrease as the guided part of the section33is wound and unwound by guide means8of the carrier6. An increase—such as in the transition fromFIG. 5bto 5a—or decrease—such as in the transition fromFIG. 5ato 5b—in the winding radius of the unguided section32can be the case in a transition to a loose (wind) or tight (unwind) winding.

In the embodiment shown, at least one energy line4enters into the line storage3at the winding center5through a non-rotary joint37. The carrier6connects the non-rotary joint37tangentially in the direction of the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19. The winding of the unguided section32resulting from winding and unwinding of the guided part of the section33with guide means8of the carrier6with a second end31held non-rotating in the winding center5, for which alternatively in the embodiment ofFIG. 8a rotary joint34is provided, can be permitted by an essentially spiral winding of the section32around the winding center5and an increasing or decreasing winding radius. The space in line storage3occupied or vacated by winding or unwinding of the unguided section32can be made available or filled by the guided part of the carrier6leaving or entering into the line storage3(in particular, compareFIGS. 5aand 5j).

When the unguided section32of the carrier6winds around the winding center5, the unguided section32is supported by and slides along the section33of the carrier6guided on the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18. In particular, this is the case when the winding radius of the unguided section32increases (transition to a loose winding) as the section33coils up.

In the course ofFIG. 5atoFIG. 5j, when the carrier6is removed from the line storage3, the first guide means41of the guided part of the section32moves from the innermost guide section19along the guide track27formed by the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18towards the opening7. An outlet of the carrier6from the line storage3takes place at a fixed position.

The carrier6can be guided in sections in the line storage3in a shearing-resistant manner by the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18and the corresponding guide means8. When a tensile or thrust force is exerted on the carrier3in the direction of the carrier6, the latter can be moved along the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18in a guided manner. The guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18and the corresponding guide means8intertwine in such a way that only one movement of the carrier6along the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18is possible. This can prevent the carrier6from buckling, and thus from being wound and unwound in a disorderly manner.

InFIG. 6, a cross-section through the energy storage1according to the embodiment ofFIG. 5ais shown.

Thereby, several energy lines4arranged inside the carrier6are visible. In the section33with guide means8, the carrier6has axial protrusions protruding from the carrier6with rollers25positioned thereon, which engage in the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches (not visible here) in the carrier plate6. The unguided section32without guide means is not guided by the guide sections and guide arches.

It is visible that winding and unwinding of the carrier6takes place essentially in a plane parallel to the carrier plate6. It is also visible that the carrier6has an essentially constant transverse extent.

FIG. 7aschematically shows an embodiment of the carrier6in which the carrier6has protrusions24protruding axially from it, which engage in a groove-shaped guide track27of the carrier plate26of the line storage3. Energy lines4are arranged inside the carrier6. This embodiment essentially corresponds to that ofFIGS. 5 and 6.

FIG. 7bschematically shows an embodiment of the carrier6, in which the carrier6is designed in the form of a sheath21of the energy line4. A guide of the carrier6is designed analogously to the embodiment ofFIG. 7bwith axially protruding protrusions24and a guide track27.

FIG. 7cschematically shows an embodiment of the carrier6in which the guide means of the carrier6is formed as a guide track28, here in the form of a groove, in at least part of the carrier6, and the guide arches and guide sections are formed in the form of an arrangement of protrusions29protruding from the carrier plate6. When the carrier6is formed as a chain with chain links, the guide track28can be formed in the form of guide tracks arranged in a row in individual chain links. The arrangement of protrusions29protruding from the carrier plate6can be fashioned after the course of the guide track27formed by the guide tracks9,11,13,15,17,19and guide arches10,12,14,16,18of the embodiment ofFIGS. 5 and 6. An embodiment of the carrier6in the form of a sheath21of the energy line4analogous to the schematic illustration ofFIG. 7bis also conceivable.

FIG. 8shows an embodiment of the energy storage1analogous to the embodiment ofFIG. 5, in which, in contrast to the embodiment ofFIG. 5, a rotary joint34is provided in the winding center5. The torsion of the unguided section32, described as for the embodiment ofFIG. 5, resulting from wound and unwound of the guided section33of the carrier6, can here be allowed or prevented by connecting the second end31of the carrier6to the rotary joint34.

Since here, when the carrier6is removed from the line storage3, there is no spiral winding of the unguided section32around the winding center5, the longitudinal extent of the unguided section32can be formed to be shorter. The transverse extent of the line storage3can also be shorter.

FIG. 9shows an embodiment of the energy storage1analogous to the embodiment ofFIG. 5. Here, a non-rotary joint37is also provided in the winding center5, though in contrast to the embodiment ofFIG. 5, the unwound section32of the carrier6can be wound and unwound in reverse layers about the winding center5when the guided section33of the carrier6is wound and unwound. As the carrier6progressively unwinds from the line storage3, or at the beginning of winding the carrier6in the line storage3, an essentially spiral winding of the unguided section32about the winding center5can take place.

FIG. 10ashows an embodiment of an energy storage1in which the position of the winding center5in the line storage unit3can be adjusted. The adjustable range is shown by a dashed line. InFIG. 10a, the winding center5is arranged in the line storage3so as to be linearly movable in the direction of the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19.

FIG. 10bshows an embodiment of an energy storage1in which the position of the winding center5in the line storage unit3can be adjusted. The adjustable range is again illustrated by a dashed line. InFIG. 10b, the winding center5is arranged in the line storage3so as to be linearly movable transversely to the guide sections9,11,13,15,17,19.

By an adjustability of the position of the winding center5in the line storage3, it can be possible to reduce the length of the unguided section33of the carrier6.

FIGS. 11aand 11bshow a drive38acting on the carrier6for winding and unwinding the at least one carrier6. The drive38has a gear wheel39which engages in the guide means8in the form of the protrusions24of the section33of the carrier6guided in the line storage3. In this embodiment, the drive38acting on the carrier6with the gear wheel39is arranged adjacent to the opening7at the beginning of the guide track27. An arrangement at another position of the guide track is also conceivable.

The energy supply system1is attached with the housing20to an inner outrigger36, for instance an arm of a telescopable arm system, of the hoist2. A tool supplied by the energy supply system1, not shown here, can be arranged on the outer outrigger40which is movable to it, for instance at the end of a telescopic outrigger of a telescopable arm system. The carrier6can thereby be connected with its first end30to the tool or the outer outrigger40.

The energy supply system1can allow relative movement of the outrigger40, and thus of the tool, towards the line storage3. The tool can remain connected to the carrier6and the energy line4during the movement, and the length of the section of the carrier6and the energy line4, taken from the line storage3, can be adapted to the relative movement between the tool and the line storage3.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS