DE102018111181B4 - Multiple burner unit - Google Patents

Abstract

Multiple torch unit, with a frame (2), several cutting torches, a torch holder (3) mounted on the frame (2) and rotatable about a rotary axis (4), which has adjustment means for the several cutting torches (7; 8; 9). of its working height and/or its orientation in relation to the surface of a workpiece (10) to be machined, and with a hollow shaft (5) having a longitudinal bore and a wall, the central axis of the bore of which runs coaxially to the axis of rotation (4), wherein Each cutting torch (7; 8; 9) is connected to a plurality of supply lines (17) combined to form a common hose pack (7a; 8a; 9a), and the hose packs (7a; 8a; 9a) from the cutting torches (7; 8; 9 ) coming into the hollow shaft bore, characterized in that the hollow shaft wall is provided with at least one wall opening through which the supply lines of a hose package (7a; 8a; 9a) connect to a first connection point of the hollow shaft (5) surrounding energy chain (6a; 6b; 6c), which has cable guide windings (W1; W2) running in opposite directions, the energy chain (6a; 6b; 6c) having a ribbon-like cable guide (13) consisting of several layers (L1-L6 ) which, in use, form a first winding section (W1) with the first connection point and a first layer winding direction and a second winding section (W2) with a second connection point and a second layer winding direction running in the opposite direction to the first winding direction, with the first The winding section (W1) and the second winding section (W2) are connected to one another via a deflection bend (U), and the supply lines (17) are led out of the energy chain (6a; 6b; 6c) at the second connection point, and one of the connection points is non-rotatable connected to the hollow shaft (5) and the other connection point in a stationary manner to the frame (2), the hollow shaft (5) having a plurality of wall openings at different height positions (H1; H2; H3) and each wall opening is individually assigned an energy chain (6a; 6b; 6c), and the number of wall openings at different height positions (H1; H2; H3) and the number of energy chains (6a; 6b ; 6c) corresponds to the number of hose packages (7a; 8a; 9a), and that each hose package (7a; 8a; 9a) is individually assigned an energy chain.

Description

The present invention relates to a multiple torch unit, with a frame, multiple cutting torches, a torch holder mounted on the frame and rotatable about a rotary axis, which for the multiple cutting torches has means for adjusting their working height and/or their orientation in relation to the surface of a workpiece to be machined, and with a hollow shaft having a longitudinal bore and a wall, the central axis of the bore of which runs coaxially to the axis of rotation, with each cutting torch being connected to a plurality of supply lines combined to form a common hose package, and the hose packages coming from the cutting torches into the Hollow shaft bore are introduced.

A typical area of application for such multiple burner units is the cutting of contour or phase cuts. Laser, oxy-fuel or plasma cutting torches can be mentioned as cutting torches

State of the art

When making contour or bevel cuts using a single cutting torch, the torch must be guided along the cut seam at different angles in order to cut the seam to the desired contour. In the case of bevel cuts, the angle of inclination of the cutting torch to the workpiece surface must be set according to the specified bevel or bevel angle after each cut.

The associated time and expense is by using a multiple burner unit according to FR 2 332 835 A1 reduced. From this, a multiple plasma torch unit with three angle-adjustable plasma torches for producing a contour or phase cut is known. The torch holder is designed for mounting a medium plasma torch and two additional plasma torches on either side. The two lateral plasma torches are oriented in such a way that their longitudinal axes enclose a manually adjustable angle with the longitudinal axis of the central plasma torch.

Such inclined cutting torches are also referred to below as “oblique torches”, “oblique cutting torches” or the like.

In the development of this prior art according to DE 2 224 186 A1 a motorized angular adjustment of the inclined burners in a three-burner unit is known, the inclined cutting burners being motor-driven by means of a carriage on an arc-shaped angle adjustment device.

Each of the cutting torches is connected to a hose pack, in which several supply lines for gaseous or liquid media, for the energy supply and possibly data lines are combined.

Such a multiple burner unit with three plasma torches and manual adjustability of the angular position based on the workpiece surface is, for example, from US 3,459,376A known. In this case, the supply lines for the plasma torches are each surrounded by an enveloping hose, with the individual enveloping hoses merging into a common hose package.

The hose packs have to follow the translation, rotation and pivoting movements of the burner unit and are subject to high forces; especially at high speeds of movement. The hose packs of inclined burners are particularly affected and vulnerable.

In the generic multiple plasma torch unit according to EP 2 865 478 A2 (also published as DE 20 2013 104 676 U1 ) it is proposed that the hose packs be accommodated in a twistable manner by the hollow shaft running along the axis of rotation in the boom.

A similar device is also from CN 2 621 871 Y known, which is also proposed to lead lines near the burners in an energy chain.

To mitigate the problem of torsion (twisting) of the hosepacks during rotary movements, the FR 2 269 398 A1 proposes a simple oxy-fuel cutting torch for bevel cutting, which is equipped with a boom on which an internal hollow cylinder is rotatably mounted, through which a hose package runs. The inner hollow cylinder is coaxially surrounded by an outer hollow cylinder that can be rotated by means of a servo motor, which prevents the hose package from twisting in the inner hollow cylinder.

From the DE 20 2010 001 084 U1 an energy chain is known which is guided around a cylindrical guide element and which has turns which run in opposite directions to one another. These are able to compensate for rotary movements between an upper and a lower connection point.

The CN 1 05 798 457 A describes a two-axis, three-dimensional laser head the supply lines are routed in an energy chain and wound in an upper area in reverse to the lower area.

The DE 20 2016 102 087 U1 discloses a conduit system for umbilicals and a swivel therefor. It is mentioned that the lines for realizing a functional rotational decoupling are routed in an energy transmission chain.

The DE 10 2012 110 967 A1 describes a line routing system for receiving and guiding supply lines between two movable connection points, and with a winding device for winding up the supply line around an axis of rotation. The winding device is preferably in the form of an energy supply belt which is divided into segments which can be pivoted parallel to the axis of rotation.

From the DE 20 2016 105 840 U1 a lifting device for an elongate, flexible body is known, such as a roller shutter curtain or a power-transmitting drive chain. The flexible body is connected to a supply line that is routed through a rotary union. In one embodiment, the rotary feedthrough has a stationary connection side, a shaft that can rotate about an axis of rotation, and a rotatable connection side. The rotary feedthrough forms a helical course with first and second helical layers, in which the supply line is wound in a first direction of rotation and in a second, opposite direction of rotation.

From the DE 20 2015 100 472 U1 a circular chain for receiving and guiding power lines is known, which has a body in the shape of a circular arc, which is composed of a large number of chain links which are connected to one another via a hinge joint connection. In one embodiment, the body in the form of a circular arc has a first strand wound in the direction of rotation and a second strand wound in the opposite direction, with the first and second strands being connected to one another via a deflection bend.

The DE 10 2012 002 093 A1 discloses a line routing system for supply lines of a machine tool. The supply lines can be rotated in relation to one another about a common axis of rotation over a range of angles of rotation. They are accommodated in guide strands which are helical along a main winding direction and form primary and secondary spiral segments, respectively. The primary helical segment extends along a first winding direction and the secondary helical segment extends along the second, opposite winding direction.

Technical task

Avoiding the twisting of the hose packs in the known multiple torch unit requires a complex and space-consuming construction, which counteracts high dynamics during the movement of the cutting torch and which, in particular, makes the processing of delicate contours more difficult.

The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a structurally simple multiple torch unit that requires little space, in which on the one hand torsion of the hose packages is reliably avoided and on the other hand the dynamics of the cutting torch movement and the processing of filigree contours are not significantly impaired.

Summary of the Invention

Starting with a multiple burner unit of the type mentioned at the beginning, the object is achieved according to the invention in that the hollow shaft wall is provided with at least one wall opening through which the supply lines of a hose package are fed to a first connection point of an energy chain surrounding the hollow shaft cable guide windings running in opposite directions, the energy chain having a ribbon-like cable guide which is composed of several layers wound helically around the axis of rotation and which, when in use, have a first winding section with the first connection point and a first layer winding direction and a second winding section with a second connection point and a second layer winding direction running in the opposite direction to the first winding direction, with the first winding section and the second winding section being connected to one another via a deflection bend, and with the supply lines being routed out of the energy chain at the second connection point, and with one of the connection points being non-rotatable with the hollow shaft and the other connection point is stationarily connected to the frame, and the hollow shaft is provided with several wall openings at different height positions, and that each wall opening is individually assigned an energy chain, and the number of wall openings is different Height positions and the number of energy chains corresponds to the number of hose packages, and that each hose package is assigned an energy chain individually.

In the burner unit according to the invention, the hose packages are introduced together into a hollow shaft that can be rotated about its longitudinal axis and from there passed through a passage in the wall onto at least one energy chain that runs around the hollow shaft. The axis of rotation runs in the xyz coordinate system in the (positive) z-direction. In order to avoid twisting of the hose packages when rotating around the axis of rotation, it is necessary for all supply lines of all hose packages to be accommodated in one energy chain or in several energy chains. Several energy chains make sense, for example, if the capacity of a single energy chain is not sufficient to accommodate all supply lines, or if it is desirable for other reasons to assign a separate energy chain to each hose package.

The supply lines include hoses for gaseous or liquid media as well as cables for the power supply and possibly data lines. These are summarized in the "hose packages".

The energy chain is deformable and has wire-guiding windings, which are each interconnected hollow chambers and into which the supply lines are individually inserted. In each energy chain there are two groups of helically wound chamber-like conduit windings which are arranged in pairs and have opposite directions of rotation. As a result, a rotational movement of the hollow shaft can be compensated for by a deformation of the energy chain connected to the hollow shaft, the deformation consisting in the fact that cable routing turns with one direction of rotation are converted into cable routing turns with the opposite direction of rotation. The energy chain surrounding the hollow shaft is therefore suitable for compensating for rotary movements of the burner unit about the axis of rotation through its own deformation and thereby removing it. This property of the energy chain is also referred to below as "self-deformation". As a result of this property, twisting of the hose packages and the supply lines is impossible.

The burner unit according to the invention is characterized in that the energy chain has a ribbon-like line routing, which is composed of several layers wound helically around the axis of rotation, which in use have a first winding section with the first connection point and a first layer winding direction and a second winding section with a second connection point and a second layer winding direction that runs in the opposite direction to the first winding direction, with the first winding section and the second winding section being connected to one another via a deflection bend, and with the supply lines being routed out of the energy chain at the second connection point, and with one of the connection points being connected in a rotationally fixed manner the hollow shaft and the other connection point is connected to the frame in a stationary manner.

Each of the two winding sections running in opposite directions comprises at least one layer of the strip-like line guide. The strip-like line routing is formed by a movable series of hollow chambers in which the supply lines are inserted.

The connection points each define the entry point for the supply lines into the energy chain, or the outlet point for the supply lines from the energy chain. The first and second connection points can be rotated relative to one another. When the burner assembly rotates about the axis of rotation, the angle of rotation also corresponds to the angle of rotation between the first and second connection point. The angle of rotation (and thus also the angle of twist) is compensated without rotation of the energy chain solely by the wandering/shifting of the deflection arc between the first winding section and the second winding section. The wandering/shifting of the deflection arc causes a transformation of layers of one winding direction into layers of the opposite (opposite) winding direction until the twisting angle is compensated. Such an energy chain is commercially available from IGUS GmbH.

The hollow shaft is provided with several wall openings at different height positions, with each wall opening being individually assigned an energy chain.

Here and in the following, the term “energy chain” also refers to one that, as explained above, is suitable for compensating for rotary movements of the burner unit about the axis of rotation by self-deformation.

The number of wall openings (i.e. passages through the hollow shaft wall) at different height positions and the number of energy chains correspond to the number of hose packages, with each hose package being individually assigned an energy chain.

The hose packages are preferably arranged in the hollow shaft in such a way that they follow the rotary movement of the hollow shaft.

The supply lines are inserted into the energy chain at the wall bushing or at the wall bushings conducted and otherwise have no firm contact with the hollow shaft wall. You can be connected to each other within the hollow shaft; for example by means of a cable tie, but otherwise freely rotatable with the hollow shaft, so that they can follow the rotary movement of the hollow shaft without hindrance. Since the energy chain transfers the rotary movement from the point where the wall is fed through, mutual twisting of the supply lines is ruled out.

At the second connection point, the supply lines are routed out of the energy chain. Therefore, the second connection point is the connection point that is permanently connected to the frame. This has the advantage that the supply lines are always routed out at the same point in relation to the frame. The second connection point is preferably also the connection point which is arranged after the first connection point in the positive z-direction (that is to say as a rule viewed from bottom to top).

The supply lines are introduced into the energy chain at the first connection point and run - albeit within the windings of the strip-like line routing - overall in the positive z-direction until they are led out of the energy chain again at the second connection point. The reverse configuration would also be possible, but would require a reversal of the direction of the supply lines in the negative z-direction and thus a greater length of the supply lines.

In a preferred embodiment, the multiple torch unit is equipped with three plasma cutting torches, three hose packages and three energy chains.

example

• 1 eine Ausführungsform des erfindungsgemäßen Mehrfach-Brenneraggregats mit drei Plasmabrennern in schematischer Darstellung,
• 2 die dreidimensionale, computererzeugte Darstellung des Brenneraggregats von 1 (jedoch ohne Plasmabrenner), und
• 3 eine Ausführungsform einer geeigneten Energiekette zum Einsatz im erfindungsgemäßen Brenneraggregat.

The invention is described in more detail below using exemplary embodiments and a drawing. It shows:

• 1 an embodiment of the multiple burner unit according to the invention with three plasma burners in a schematic representation,
• 2 the three-dimensional, computer-generated representation of the burner unit from 1 (but without plasma torch), and
• 3 an embodiment of a suitable energy chain for use in the burner unit according to the invention.

1 shows an embodiment of the multiple burner unit 1 according to the invention as a sketch. The burner unit 1 includes a height adjustment device, which is mounted via a boom 2 on the transverse carriage of a conventional portal-type serial movement unit of a plasma cutting machine.

A burner holder 3 is mounted on the boom 2 so that it can rotate eccentrically about an axis of rotation 4 . In addition, a hollow shaft 5 is rotatably mounted on the boom 2 (pivot bearing 16), which can be rotated about the axis of rotation 4 by means of a drive (not shown) and is used to carry out the rotary movements of the burner unit 1.

The torch holder 3 includes a setting on which three plasma torches 7, 8, 9 are mounted. The media supply lines 17 for the plasma torches 7, 8, 9 are each combined in a hose pack 7a, 8a, 9a. They are guided in a loose arc over the lower end of the hollow shaft 5 into the hollow shaft bore.

The alignment of all plasma torches 7, 8, 9 in relation to the surface of the workpiece 10 to be machined can be adjusted by a motor. The central plasma torch 8 is usually aligned in such a way that its longitudinal axis runs coaxially with the axis of rotation 4 (zero alignment); however, it can be tilted by a motor by +/- 10 degrees relative to the zero alignment.

The leading plasma torch 7 is mounted on a carriage 7b, which can be moved along an arc-shaped angle setting device, so that the plasma torch 7 can be pivoted by motor in the z-y plane of the coordinate system and an angle can be set between the axis of rotation 4 and the longitudinal axis of the plasma torch. In the same way, the trailing plasma torch 9 is mounted on a carriage 9b, which can be moved by motor along an arc-shaped angle setting device, so that an angle can be set between the axis of rotation 4 and the center axis of the trailing plasma torch 9. The possible tilting angles of the inclined burners 8, 9 are in the range from 0 to 55 degrees. In addition, the inclined burners 8, 9 can be moved laterally by a motor by a length of up to 45 mm.

In the exemplary embodiment, the hollow shaft 5 has an inner diameter of 75 mm, so that the three hose packages 7a, 8a, 9a can be accommodated in the hollow shaft bore without friction. At different height positions H1, H2, H3, bushings (openings) are provided in the wall of the hollow shaft, through which the supply lines 17 of a hose package are routed individually and into the band- and chamber-like line guide windings L1 to L6 (see Fig 3 ) of an energy chain 6a, 6b, 6c and fixed in place with cable ties. The height positions H1, H2, H3 are seen in the positive z-direction Area of the lower edge of the respective energy chain 6a, 6b, 6c and at the same time form the rotatable with the hollow shaft 5 first connection point for the respective energy chain.

Each hose package 7a, 8a, 9a is assigned its own separate energy chain 6a, 6b, 6c. The energy chains 6a, 6b, 6c run one above the other around the hollow shaft 5. They consist of base plates 11, 12 arranged on the face side (more clearly visible in 3 ) between which a band-like line guide 13 is arranged. The supply lines 17 are inserted individually into this strip-like line guide 13 . Each energy chain 6a, 6b, 6c is connected with its respective upper base plate 11 via a flange 14 to a frame 15 of the boom 15. The other - in the arrangement of 1 If this is the respective lower - base plate 12 surrounds the hollow shaft 5 and is firmly connected to it. The discharge of the supply lines 17 from the respective energy chain 6a; 6b; 6c thus takes place at the upper, second connection point, which is stationary connected to the frame 2 (which can be displaced in the xyz direction).

The engaging at the two ends of the hollow shaft 5 flanges 14 are each provided with pivot bearings 16 in which the hollow shaft 5 is rotatably mounted.

In the three-dimensional representation of the multiple burner unit 1 from 2 the same reference numbers are used to designate the same components of the burner unit 1 as in 1 .

Out of 3 It can be seen that the strip-like line guide 13 is composed of plastic members that are movably connected to one another and are each designed as a closable hollow chamber for accommodating a line. The plastic links together form a hollow winding band with several layers L1 to L6 wound helically around the axis of rotation. In the example shown, the layers L1 to L4 form a first winding section W1 and the remaining layers L5, L6 form a second winding section W2. The winding direction of the layers L1 to L4 of the first winding section W1 is in the opposite direction to the winding direction of the layers L5 and L6 of the second winding section W2, with the winding sections W1, W2 being connected to one another via a deflection bend U, which implements a transition from one winding direction to the other .

A first connection point, at which the supply lines 17 are introduced into the energy chain 13 , is located on the lower base plate 12 connected to the hollow shaft 5 . A second connection point is located on the upper base plate 11, at which the supply lines 17 are routed out of the energy chain 13 again. When the hollow shaft 5 rotates about the axis of rotation 4, the first and second connection points are rotated relative to one another. The angle of twist between the first and second connection point is compensated for without rotating the energy chain 13 in that the deflection arc U moves in one direction or the other between the winding sections W1, W2. The wandering/shifting of the deflection arc U causes a conversion of layers in one winding direction into layers in the opposite (opposite) winding direction until the twisting angle is compensated for or until one of the winding sections no longer has any convertible layers (the capacity of the energy chain would be exhausted). A twisting of the hose packs 7a, 8a, 9a is therefore structurally impossible. In the exemplary embodiment, the maximum twisting angle between the first and second connection point—that is, the torsional compensation capacity of the energy chain—is +/-540 angular degrees, that is, a total of 1080 degrees.

Reference List

1

burner unit

2

boom

3

burner mount

4

axis of rotation

5

hollow shaft

6a, 6b, 6c

energy chain

7, 8, 9

plasma torch

7a, 8a, 9a

hose pack

7b, 9b

trolley

10

workpiece

11:12

baseplates

13

wiring

14

flange

16

pivot bearing

17

cables

H1, H2, H3

height positions

L1 to L6

helical layers

W1 to W2

winding sections

Claims (4)

Multiple burner unit, with a frame (2), a plurality of cutting torches, a frame (2) mounted and rotatable about a rotary axis (4) burner holder (3) for the plurality of cutting torches (7; 8; 9) with means for adjusting ment of its working height and/or its orientation in relation to the surface of a workpiece (10) to be machined, and with a hollow shaft (5) having a longitudinal bore and a wall, the central axis of the bore of which runs coaxially to the axis of rotation (4), wherein each cutting torch (7; 8; 9) is connected to a plurality of supply lines (17) combined to form a common hose pack (7a; 8a; 9a), and the hose packs (7a; 8a; 9a) from the cutting torches (7; 8; 9) coming into the hollow shaft bore, characterized in that the hollow shaft wall is provided with at least one wall opening through which the supply lines of a hose package (7a; 8a; 9a) connect to a first connection point of a hollow shaft (5th ) surrounding energy chain (6a; 6b; 6c), which has cable routing windings (W1; W2) running in opposite directions, the energy chain (6a; 6b; 6c) having a band-like cable routing (13) consisting of several Axis of rotation of helically wound layers (L1-L6) which, in use, have a first winding section (W1) with the first connection point and a first layer winding direction and a second winding section (W2) with a second connection point and a second winding direction running in the opposite direction to the first form the layer winding direction, the first winding section (W1) and the second winding section (W2) being connected to one another via a deflection bend (U), and the supply lines (17) at the second connection point from the energy chain (6a; 6b; 6c) and wherein one of the connection points is non-rotatably connected to the hollow shaft (5) and the other connection point is stationarily connected to the frame (2), the hollow shaft (5) having a plurality of wall openings at different height positions (H1; H2; H3) and each wall opening is individually assigned an energy chain (6a; 6b; 6c), and the number of wall openings at different height positions (H1; H2; H3) and the number of energy chains (6a; 6b ; 6c) corresponds to the number of hose packages (7a; 8a; 9a), and that each hose package (7a; 8a; 9a) is individually assigned an energy chain. Multiple burner aggregate after claim 1 , characterized in that the second connection point is that connection point which is stationarily connected to the frame (2) and which is seen in the xyz coordinate system in the positive z-direction after the first connection point. Multiple burner unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that it is equipped with three plasma cutting torches (7; 8; 9), three hose packages (7a; 8a; 9a) and three energy chains (6a; 6b; 6c). Multiple burner unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the hose packages (7a; 7b; 7c) are arranged in the hollow shaft (5) in such a way that they follow the rotary movement of the hollow shaft.

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