Abstract:
A power acquisition equipment, including at least: a power supplying portion, including at least: a pair of first posts, multiple second posts, multiple upper brackets, multiple lower brackets, multiple tightening devices, a cathode slide line, and an anode slide line, a power acquisition portion, including at least: a slide plate, a driving device, an adjusting device, a first base, and a linkage mechanism, and a control portion, including at least: a pair of front laser range sensors, a pair of back laser range sensors, multiple photoelectric detecting plates, a PLC controller, and an inverter driving system. The equipment features simple operation and high efficiency, and is retractable, stable, safe, cost-effective, and environmental friendly.

Description:
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS 
     Pursuant to 35 U.S.C. §119 and the Paris Convention Treaty, this application claims the benefit of Chinese Patent Application No. 200910061008.8 filed on Mar. 6, 2009, the contents of which are incorporated herein by reference. 
     BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
     1. Field of the Invention 
     The invention relates to power acquisition equipment, and more particularly to power acquisition equipment for a rubber-tired gantry crane. 
     2. Description of the Related Art 
     Rubber-tired gantry cranes are widely used in ports all over the world, and power acquisition equipment operate to supply power thereto. However, there are several problems with the current power acquisition equipment: firstly, operation of the power acquisition equipment is complex and inefficient since operators are needed; secondly, they are unstable, unsafe and expensive; thirdly, they generate large noises and pollute the air during operation; finally, they take up a large space and cannot be retracted. 
     SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     In view of the above-described problem, it is one objective of the invention to provide a power acquisition equipment that features simple operation and high efficiency, and is retractable, stable, safe, cost-effective, and environmental friendly. 
     To achieve the above objectives, in accordance with one embodiment of the invention, provided is power acquisition equipment, comprising: a power supplying portion, comprising: a pair of first posts, multiple second posts, multiple upper brackets, multiple lower brackets, multiple tightening devices, a cathode slide line, and an anode slide line, a power acquisition portion, comprising: a slide plate, a driving device, an adjusting device, a first base, and a linkage mechanism, and a control portion, comprising: a pair of front laser range sensors, a pair of back laser range sensors, multiple photoelectric detecting plates, a PLC controller, and an inverter driving system, wherein the second posts are disposed between the first posts with equal space and operate to support the cathode slide line and the anode slide line, the upper bracket, the lower bracket and the photoelectric detecting plate are disposed between the second posts, the cathode slide line and the anode slide line are disposed on the upper brackets and the lower bracket, the tightening devices are disposed on both ends of the slide line and connected to the first posts, the linkage mechanism is disposed on the first base, the photoelectric detecting plate is parallel to the slide line, the PLC controller and the inverter driving system are connected to the front laser range sensors and the back laser range sensors, to the power acquisition portion, and to travel motors of rubber-tired gantry cranes, one of the front laser range sensors and one of the back laser range sensors are connected to the photoelectric detecting plate, and the power acquisition portion is connected to one of the cathode slide line and the anode slide line. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the power acquisition portion further comprises an insulator, a first spring, a bending board, a vertical hinge, and multiple insulated porcelain bottles. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the linkage mechanism comprises a first fly jib, a second fly jib, a first pull rod, a second pull rod, a main boom, and a connecting rod. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the first pull rod is connected to the head of the first fly jib, the second fly jib is connected to the head of the second pull rod, and the first fly jib is connected to the second pull rod via the connecting rod. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, one end of the main boom is hinge connected to the first base, and the other end thereof is hinge connected to the second fly jib. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the first pull rod is connected to the second fly jib via the vertical hinge. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the insulator is disposed on the vertical hinge, and the insulated porcelain bottles are disposed on the insulator. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the number of the insulated porcelain bottles is 4. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the driving device comprises a brake, a drum, a speed reducer, a motor, a steel cable, a second base, and a limiting cam. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the brake and the drum are axially connected, the speed reducer and the motor are axially connected, the limiting cam is disposed on the brake, the steel cable is wrapped on the drum, and the speed reducer is disposed on the second base. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the adjusting device comprises an ear plate, a second spring, a screw, and a nut. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the ear plate is disposed on the first base, the nut is disposed on the screw, and the second spring is disposed between the ear plate and the screw. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the electrode slide line and the anode slide line are double-slot copper lines, and are vertically and bilaterally installed. 
     In an embodiment of the invention, the first base is disposed on an upper beam of a rubber-tired gantry crane. 
     Advantages of the invention comprise: 
     The bending board is well contacted with the slide line. 
     The adjusting device automatically adjusts contact pressure, which ensures normal power acquisition even if the rubber-tired gantry crane is slightly deviates. 
     The first spring is capable of ensuring good adaptability of the rubber-tired gantry crane in operation. 
     The insulator and the insulated porcelain bottles ensure good insulation performance between the bending board and the linkage mechanism and improves safety. 
     Both sides of the slide wine are powered up simultaneously, whereby supplying power to two groups of rubber-tired gantry cranes on both sides thereof or to multiple rubber-tired gantry cranes on one side, which reduces container area and saves cost. 
     The laser range sensor controls a speed of the rubber-tired gantry crane, and keeps a distance between the power acquisition portion and the slide line within L+ΔL (L is a constant, and ΔL≦200 mm), whereby correcting deviation of the rubber-tired gantry crane. 
     Retraction of the power acquisition portion is controlled by the limiting cam, and no operator is needed, which makes the invention high efficient and safe. 
     The first posts and the second posts feature low cost and requirements for foundation properties, light weight, simple production and installation, convenient transportation, small influence on occupied space, and good time effectiveness of improvement. 
     One rubber-tired gantry crane uses four power acquisition equipment on both sides thereof, and the power acquisition equipment comply with the same standard. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
       The invention is described hereinafter with reference to accompanying drawings, in which: 
         FIG. 1A  is a front view of a power acquisition equipment of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 1B  is a top view of a power acquisition equipment of an exemplary embodiment of the invention; 
         FIG. 2  is a schematic view of a power acquisition portion of the invention; 
         FIGS. 3A and 3B  are schematic view of a driving device of the invention; 
         FIGS. 4A and 4B  are schematic view of an adjusting device of the invention; 
         FIG. 5  is a schematic view of a control portion of the invention; and 
         FIGS. 6 and 7  illustrate control and position limitation protection of the invention. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS 
     As shown in  FIG. 1 , power acquisition equipment of the invention comprises a power supplying portion, a power acquisition portion, and a control portion. 
     The power supplying portion comprises a slide plate, a pair of first posts  1 , multiple second posts  2 , multiple upper brackets  4 , multiple lower brackets  5 , multiple tightening devices  6 , a cathode slide line  8 , and an anode slide line  8 . 
     The second posts  2  are disposed between the first posts  1  with equal space and operate to support the cathode slide line and the anode slide line  8 . 
     The upper bracket  4  and the lower bracket  5  are disposed between the second posts  2 . 
     The cathode slide line and the anode slide line  8  are disposed on the upper brackets  4  and the lower bracket  5 . 
     The tightening devices  6  are disposed on both ends of the slide line  8  and connected to the first posts  1 . 
     The cathode slide line and the anode slide line  8  are double-slot copper lines, and are vertically and bilaterally installed, whereby enabling multiple rubber-tired gantry cranes on both sides thereof to acquire power therefrom. 
     As shown in  FIG. 2 , the power acquisition portion  7  comprises a driving device  9 , an adjusting device  10 , a first base  18 , a linkage mechanism, an insulator  14 , a first spring  15 , a bending board  16 , a vertical hinge  21 , and multiple insulated porcelain bottles  22 . 
     The insulator  14  is disposed on the vertical hinge  21 . 
     The insulated porcelain bottles  22  are disposed on the insulator  14 . In this embodiment, the number of the insulated porcelain bottles  22  is 4. 
     The vertical hinge  21  is always vertical to the bending board  16 . 
     The insulator  14  and the insulated porcelain bottles  22  ensure good isolation performance between the bending board  16  and the linkage mechanism. 
     As the power acquisition portion  7  is laid down, the bending board  16  is contacted with the slide line  8  whereby acquiring power therefrom. 
     The first spring  15  is disposed between the bending board  16  and the insulator  14 , and capable of compensating seismic displacement. In this embodiment, the first spring  15  is a leaf first spring. 
     The first base  18  is disposed on an upper beam  17  of a rubber-tired gantry crane. 
     The linkage mechanism is disposed on the first base  18 , and comprises a first fly jib  11 , a second fly jib  13 , a first pull rod  12 , a second pull rod  19 , a main boom  20 , and a connecting rod  11 A. 
     The first pull rod  12  is hinge connected to the head of the first fly jib  11 , the second fly jib  13  is hinge connected to the head of the second pull rod  19 , and the first fly jib  11  is hinge connected to the second pull rod  19  via the connecting rod  11 A. 
     One end of the main boom  20  is hinge connected to the first base  18 , and the other end thereof is hinge connected to the second fly jib  13 , whereby supporting retraction of the linkage mechanism. 
     The first pull rod  12  is hinge connected to the second fly jib  13  via the vertical hinge  21 . 
     As shown in  FIGS. 3A and 3B , the driving device  9  comprises a brake  9 . 1 , a drum  9 . 2 , a speed reducer  9 . 3 , a motor  9 . 4 , a steel cable  9 . 5 , a second base  9 . 6 , and a limiting cam  9 . 7 . 
     The brake  9 . 1  and the drum  9 . 2  are axially connected, the speed reducer  9 . 3  and the motor  9 . 4  are axially connected, the limiting cam  9 . 7  is disposed on the brake  9 . 1 , the steel cable  9 . 5  is wrapped on the drum  9 . 2 , and the speed reducer  9 . 3  is disposed on the second base  9 . 6 . As the motor  9 . 4  is started, the steel cable  9 . 5  controls retraction of the limiting cam  9 . 7 . Once reaching a limit position, the limiting cam  9 . 7  sends a signal to control the motor  9 . 4  to stop, and gives acoustic-optic alarm indication. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 4A and 4B , the adjusting device  10  comprises an ear plate  10 . 1 , a second spring  10 . 2 , a screw  10 . 3 , a nut  10 . 4 , and a hinge shaft  10 . 5 . 
     The ear plate  10 . 1  is disposed on the first base  18 , the nut  10 . 4  is disposed on the screw  10 . 3 , and the second spring  10 . 2  is disposed between the ear plate  10 . 1  and the screw  10 . 3 . 
     The second spring  10 . 2  keeps moment balance between the adjusting device  10  and the power acquisition portion  7 . A retraction force is laterally adjusted in a range of ±300 mm, so that a contact force between the slide plate and the slide line  8  is between 90 and 120 N. 
     The adjusting device  10  is connected to the main boom  20  via the hinge shaft  10 . 5 . A position of the screw  10 . 3  is varied, and then fixed via the nut  10 . 4 , so that a contact force between the bending board  16  and the slide line  8  is between 90 and 120 N. 
     As shown in  FIG. 5 , the control portion comprises a pair of front laser range sensors, a pair of back laser range sensors, multiple photoelectric detecting plates  3 , a PLC controller, and an inverter driving system. 
     The photoelectric detecting plate  3  is parallel to the slide line  8  and disposed between the second posts  2 . 
     The PLC controller and the inverter driving system are connected to the front laser range sensors and the back laser range sensors, to the power acquisition portion, and to travel motors of rubber-tired gantry cranes. One of the front laser range sensors and one of the back laser range sensors are connected to the photoelectric detecting plate  3 , and the power acquisition portion  7  is connected to one of the cathode slide line and the anode slide line  8 . 
     The front laser range sensors and the back laser range sensors control a velocity of the rubber-tired gantry crane, correct deviation thereof, and keeps a distance between the power acquisition portion  7  and the slide line  8  within L+□L (L is a constant, and □L≦200 mm). For example, as the rubber-tired gantry crane travels forwards, if the front laser range sensor detects □L≧200 mm and the back laser range sensor detects □L≦200 mm, the laser range sensor transmits a signal to the PLC controller and the inverter driving system, and the PLC controller and the inverter driving system control a velocity of a left travel motor of the rubber-tired gantry crane to be 1-5% greater than that of a right travel motor thereof. After the distance is within L+□L, a velocity of the left travel motor is the same as that of the right travel motor. The same principle applies if the rubber-tired gantry crane travels backwards. 
     As shown in  FIGS. 6 and 7 , a first switch K 2  and a second switch K 3  disposed on the right of a cab respectively controls retraction of the power acquisition portion on the right and left of the rubber-tired gantry crane. For example, retraction of the power acquisition portion on the right of the rubber-tired gantry crane is controlled by the switch K 2  or a PLC instruction from the cab, deploying and retraction are controlled by relays K 4  and K 5 , and interlocking is controlled by KM 5  and KM 6 . The deploying process and the reaction process are reciprocal. As the switch K 5  is deployed, KM 6  is closed, the motor enters an inversion driving state, the first switch K 2 , an inverter KM 6 , a limiting switch K 10  controls KM 1  to close, and the right cathode power acquisition equipment is laid down, as the right cathode power acquisition equipment reaches a limit position, the limiting switch K 10  is opened, and the right cathode power acquisition equipment stops retracting and the power acquisition equipment acquires power therefrom. As K 4  is retracted, KM 5  is closed, the motor enters a normal state, the first switch K 2 , the limiting switch K 6  and the inverter KM 5  control KM 1  to close, the right cathode power acquisition equipment is retracted, as the right cathode power acquisition equipment reaches a limit position, the limiting switch K 6  is opened, the right cathode power acquisition equipment reaches stops retracting. The same principle applies for the right anode power acquisition equipment, and the right anode power acquisition equipment and the right cathode power acquisition equipment are simultaneously laid down. 
     As the rubber-tired gantry crane is turned over, the right power acquisition equipment is retracted, and then the rubber-tired gantry crane acquires power from the left power acquisition equipment. At this time the second switch K 3  is closed to retract and deploy the left power acquisition equipment. The principle is the same as above. 
     While particular embodiments of the invention have been shown and described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art that changes and modifications may be made without departing from the invention in its broader aspects, and therefore, the aim in the appended claims is to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention.