DE202013008364U1 - Damper for movable furniture parts - Google Patents

Abstract

Damper (10) for movable furniture parts (3), comprising a damper housing (11), at least one fluid chamber (18) formed in the damper housing (11) and at least one piston (16) displaceably mounted in the fluid chamber (18), the piston ( 16) has an inner piston (19) and a sleeve (20) arranged on the inner piston (19), wherein a space (21) is formed between the inner piston (19) and the sleeve (20), in which a functional unit (22) is arranged is, characterized in that the sleeve (20) made of a metallic material, preferably steel, is formed.

Description

The present invention relates to a damper for movable furniture parts, comprising a damper housing, at least one piston formed in the damper housing fluid chamber and at least one slidably mounted in the fluid chamber piston, wherein the piston has an inner piston and a sleeve arranged on the inner piston, wherein between the inner piston and the sleeve is formed a space in which a functional unit is arranged.

Furthermore, the invention relates to a furniture hinge with a damper of the type to be described, wherein a movement of the furniture hinge is damped by the damper.

In the furniture fitting industry compact dampers have already been developed, whose components have tiny physical dimensions, but at the same time the damping power due to the high forces occurring must be correspondingly large. It is already known to arrange one or more linear dampers on an outer side of a hinge cup ( WO 2010/108203 A1 ), wherein the hinge cup - with the dampers arranged thereon - together in a standard cylindrical furniture bore (for example, of 35 mm diameter) can be arranged. The available space for such compact damper is so extremely limited, especially for a good damping performance or for a smooth damping movement of the movable furniture part sufficient damping stroke of the piston and a corresponding piston diameter are provided. In a plastic embodiment produced by an injection molding process, the components of a compact damper are in a size in which the required strength of the plastic components is no longer reliably given against the high fluid pressure.

Object of the present invention is to provide a damper of the type mentioned with a compact and robust design.

This is achieved by the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent subclaims.

According to the invention, it is thus provided that the sleeve is formed from a metallic material, preferably steel.

It is therefore envisaged that the sleeve is made of metal, preferably of steel. In one embodiment of the sleeve made of steel particularly thin wall thicknesses can be achieved while maintaining high strength. By such a thin-walled design of the sleeve is a space for receiving the functional unit available, which practically corresponds to the diameter of the inner piston. In a version made of steel, the components are dynamically loadable, which withstand a high fluid pressure and thus no leaks can occur as a result of stress pulses caused by the damping fluid.

By way of example, the functional unit may have an overload protection, by which at least one overload opening of the inner piston is apparent above a threshold value of a pressurization of the piston. Namely, if the compact damper is pressurized too high, the hydraulic damping fluid can no longer flow sufficiently past the piston or through the piston, resulting in so-called damper bounce. In such Ab abuse or overload situations, the overload protection can release an overload opening of the inner piston, whereby a rapid pressure reduction is possible.

Alternatively or additionally, the functional unit may have a compensating device for compensating for a change in volume due to the plunger dipping into the fluid chamber. The volume of liquid displaced by the piston can be compensated either by a deformable piece of material (for example sponge rubber) or alternatively by a compensating piston. The balance piston can be slidably mounted within the inner piston.

By way of example, the functional unit can also include a pressure sensor, by means of which the fluid pressure prevailing in the fluid chamber can be detected. This is particularly advantageous for test and research purposes at the factory.

Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained with reference to the embodiment shown in the figures. It shows or show:

1 a furniture with a furniture body in a perspective view, wherein a movable furniture part is pivotally mounted on furniture hinges relative to the furniture body,

2a . 2 B a furniture hinge with dampers mounted on the hinge cup in two different perspective views,

3a . 3b the hinge cup of the furniture hinge in a perspective view and in a perspective section,

4a - 4c various sectional views of the damper at the beginning of the damping stroke, at the end of the damping stroke and in the overload case,

5a - 5d the piston in different views,

6a . 6b schematic representations of a damper with a functional unit integrated in the piston in the form of a compensation device, through which the volume of the piston immersed in the fluid chamber can be compensated, and

7 a schematic representation of a damper with a functional unit integrated in the piston with a pressure sensor for detecting the fluid pressure.

1 shows a furniture 1 with a furniture body 2 in a perspective view, wherein a movable furniture part 3 in the form of a door or flap over furniture hinges 4 relative to the furniture body 2 is pivotally mounted. The furniture hinges 4 have one on the furniture body 2 to be attached hinge arm 5 and a hinged pot hinged thereto 6 on. On or in the hinge pot 6 are each damper (not recognizable here) 10 ( 2 B ), with the hinge pot 6 together with the damper (s) 10 within a cylindrical bore in the movable furniture part 3 is retractable. By at least one damper 10 is a closing and / or opening movement of the movable furniture part 3 damped.

2a and 2 B show the furniture hinge 4 in two different perspective views. For fastening the hinge cup 6 on the movable furniture part 3 is a mounting flange 7 intended. The hinge pot 6 is about at least one toggle 8th with the hinge arm 5 articulated. In or at the hinge pot 6 is an actuator 12 around a rotation axis 9 pivotally mounted, the articulated lever 8th towards the end of the closing movement of the furniture hinge 4 in the hinge pot 6 dips while the actuator 12 rotated. About a translation mechanism, this rotational movement of the actuating element 12 in a linear movement of a piston of the damper 10 implemented. In the illustrated embodiment, two mutually separate damper 10 each on an outer wall of the hinge cup 6 and below the mounting flange 7 arranged, with the hinge pot 6 - together with the dampers mounted on it 10 - Is retractable in a standard cylindrical furniture bore. In mounting position is then the hinge cup 6 with the dampers 10 arranged within an imaginary bore diameter of the cylindrical standard furniture bore.

3a shows the hinge pot 6 with the mounting flange 7 , wherein the actuating element 12 for loading the damper 10 inside the hinge cup 6 around a rotation axis 9 is pivotally mounted. The damper housing 11 is on an outer wall of the hinge cup 6 and at least in sections below the mounting flange 7 arranged. Via a manually operated switch 13 is the damper function of the damper 10 - if desired - deactivated.

3b shows the hinge pot 6 with the damper housing mounted thereon 11 in a perspective sectional view. Visible is a rotatably mounted stop member 14 , which with the actuating element 12 is motion coupled, so that during a movement of the actuating element 12 also the stopper part 14 concomitantly. The stop part 14 has a lever arm 15 on, which is on the piston 16 of the damper 10 slidably supported. The floor 17 the sleeve 20 is from the fluid chamber 18 is led out and forms a stop surface for the stop member 14 out. The lever arm 15 can be on the ground 17 of the piston 16 loose or even with the piston 16 be articulated. When the toggle lever 8th ( 2a ) of the furniture hinge 4 towards the end of the closing movement in the hinge cup 6 dips, so is the actuator 12 and the non-rotatably connected stop member 14 rotated, the lever arm 15 the stop part 14 the piston 16 in one in the damper housing 11 trained fluid chamber 18 presses. Due to the resistance of a hydraulic damping fluid is a linear movement of the piston 16 and thus the closing movement of the furniture hinge 4 damped.

4a shows the damper 10 with the damper housing 11 in a sectional view, with the piston 16 is in a starting position for the damping stroke. The movement of the movable furniture part 3 is in a rotational movement of the stop member 14 implemented, with the lever arm 15 the stop part 14 the ground 17 of the piston 16 contacted. The piston 16 has a hollow inner bulb 19 and a surrounding, cylindrical sleeve 20 on. Between the inner piston 19 and the sleeve 20 a room remains 21 in which a functional unit 22 is arranged. The space 21 in which the functional unit 22 is arranged, is enclosed on all sides by a wall, wherein the base of the wall by the inner piston 19 is formed and wherein the top surface and the lateral surface of the wall through the sleeve 20 is formed.

In the embodiment shown, the functional unit comprises 22 an overload protection, by which above a threshold value of a pressurization of the piston 16 at least one overload opening 25 ( 4b ) of the inner piston 19 apparently. The piston 16 is inside a fluid chamber 18 the damper housing 11 linearly displaceable stored. On a spring bearing 31 is a return spring 32 arranged through which the piston 16 can be restored to the standby position after completion of the damping stroke. The return spring 32 protrudes into the inner bulb 19 into it and relies on a bottom surface of the inner piston 19 from. At the beginning of the damping stroke is a switching ring 35 starting from the in 4a shown position in the in 4b shown shifted position, so that the damping stroke, the hydraulic damping fluid exclusively between one of the switching ring 35 and an inner wall of the fluid chamber 18 formed gap from the high pressure side to the low pressure side of the piston 16 flows.

4b shows the damper 10 with the piston 16 in a depressed position. When damping stroke is the free end of the lever 15 the rotatably mounted stop member 14 against the ground 17 the sleeve 20 pressed, the piston 16 in its entirety (ie the inner bulb 19 and the associated sleeve 20 ) in the fluid chamber 18 is pressed. That in the fluid chamber 18 located hydraulic damping fluid can in the direction of the arrow in a compensation chamber 30 stream. In this compensation chamber 30 is a deformable balancing body 33 arranged, which is used to balance the volume in the fluid chamber 18 retracting piston 16 is correspondingly deformable. Between the damper housing 11 and the piston 16 is a seal 34 for sealing the fluid chamber 18 arranged, with the seal 34 from the piston 16 is enforced. The bag-shaped compensating body 33 and the seal 34 are formed together in one piece. After completion of the damping stroke, the piston 16 over the return spring 32 back in the 4a reset standby position shown. When reset, the switching ring 35 starting from the in 4b shown position in the in 4a shown shifted position, wherein the damping fluid during Rückstellhub between the switching ring 35 and a flange 39 of the inner piston 19 can flow through it. The flow area for the damping fluid is increased in this way, so that the return of the piston 16 can be done faster and with less effort.

4c shows the overload case of the damper 10 ie when the pressurization on the piston 16 exceeds a predetermined threshold. The in the room 21 located functional unit 22 with the overload protection includes one of a spring 23 applied pressure part 24 , in normal operation an overload opening 25 of the inner piston 19 closes fluid-tight. If the permissible threshold value is exceeded, the pressure part becomes 24 against the force of the spring 23 pushed back so that the overload opening 25 of the inner piston 19 will release. The damping fluid displaced in the event of an overload can be generated by at least one channel which extends between an outer circumferential surface of the inner piston 19 and an inner wall of the sleeve 20 remains - along the arrow in the compensation chamber 30 overflow.

5a shows the piston 16 in an exploded view. The - preferably formed of steel - inner piston 19 is in mounting position completely within the cup-shaped sleeve 20 added. The functional unit 22 - Which in the embodiment shown, the overload protection with the spring 23 and the printing part 24 for closing the overload opening 25 includes - is also completely in the sleeve 20 added. The sleeve 20 has a floor 17 on, on which the stopper part 14 ( 4a - 4c ) slidably supported. To increase the abrasion resistance is at least that area of the soil 17 that with the stopper part 14 comes into contact, made of metal (preferably made of steel). It is preferably provided that the sleeve 20 in its entirety is made of metal, in particular steel. Visible is a - also metallic - bearing part 36 with recesses 38 , which by a longitudinal direction of the inner piston 19 limited slidably mounted switching ring 35 can be closed during the damping stroke, so that the damping fluid during the damping stroke exclusively between the switching ring 35 and the inner wall of the fluid chamber 18 can flow through it. When Rückstellhub, however, the recesses 38 of the bearing part 36 by a shift of the switching ring 35 released so that the damping fluid through the recesses 38 can flow through it, whereby the return stroke of the damper 10 the flow area for the damping fluid for easier recovery of the piston 16 is enlarged.

5b shows the piston 16 in the assembled state. 5c shows a section of the piston 16 , which shows that the inner bulb 19 has a non-circular cross-section, the sleeve 20 however, is cylindrical. Due to the non-circular design of the inner piston 19 remain channels 37 , by which in case of overload that of the overload opening 25 escaping damping fluid back towards the compensation chamber 30 can flow. The sleeve 20 has a constant material thickness over its entire length. 5d shows a sectional view of the piston 16 , where these (overload) channels 37 are clearly recognizable. The inner piston 19 and the sleeve 20 are relative to each other stored immovably, for example, welded together.

6a shows a schematic representation of a damper housing 11 in which a fluid chamber 18 for the displaceable mounting of a piston 16 is arranged. The piston 16 is opposite the damper housing 11 with a seal 41 sealed fluid-tight, for example with an O-ring. The piston 16 has an inner piston 19 and a sleeve associated therewith 20 on. Alternatively or in addition to the overload protection already described can in space 21 a functional unit 22 in the form of a compensation device to compensate for a change in volume due to the in the fluid chamber 18 plunging piston 16 be arranged. For this purpose, this compensating device can comprise a deformable piece of material (for example sponge rubber), which during the damping stroke - as in the indented end position of the piston 16 in 6b shown - by the in the fluid chamber 18 located hydraulic damping fluid is compressible. For this purpose, the end portion of the sleeve facing the high pressure region 20 at least one opening 40 to the passage of the damping fluid, so that the deformable piece of material depending on the position of the piston 16 relative to the damper housing 11 is compressed differently. Instead of the deformable piece of material may be in the room 21 Also, a spring-loaded balance piston be slidably disposed, through which the volume of the fluid chamber 18 is variable by inflow and outflow of damping fluid. By the geometric choice of the opening 40 In addition, the beginning, the course and the end of the damping stroke can be influenced.

Alternatively or additionally, the functional unit 22 - as in 7 schematically illustrated - a pressure sensor (for example, a piezoelectric pressure sensor) include, through which in the fluid chamber 18 occurring fluid pressure can be detected. The - preferably wireless - pressure sensor is particularly useful for testing and development purposes in the factory. By the pressure sensor, the respective fluid pressure values can be detected, stored and can be supplied via radio to an external computer. The pressure sensor can have a self-sufficient power supply (for example a microbattery).

QUOTES INCLUDE IN THE DESCRIPTION

This list of the documents listed by the applicant has been generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Cited patent literature

• WO 2010/108203 A1 [0003]

Claims (14)

Damper ( 10 ) for movable furniture parts ( 3 ), with a damper housing ( 11 ), at least one in the damper housing ( 11 ) formed fluid chamber ( 18 ) and at least one in the fluid chamber ( 18 ) displaceably mounted pistons ( 16 ), the piston ( 16 ) an inner piston ( 19 ) and one on the inner bulb ( 19 ) arranged sleeve ( 20 ), wherein between the inner piston ( 19 ) and the sleeve ( 20 ) a room ( 21 ) is formed, in which a functional unit ( 22 ), characterized in that the sleeve ( 20 ) is formed of a metallic material, preferably steel. Damper according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner piston ( 19 ) and the sleeve ( 20 ) are mounted immovable relative to each other. Damper according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the sleeve ( 20 ) is substantially cup-shaped. Damper according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the inner piston ( 19 ) within the sleeve ( 20 ) is completely absorbed. Damper according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the space ( 21 ), in which the functional unit ( 22 ), is surrounded on all sides by a wall, wherein the base of the wall by the inner piston ( 19 ) is formed and wherein the top surface and the lateral surface of the wall through the sleeve ( 20 ) is formed. Damper according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the functional unit ( 22 ) has an overload protection, by the above a threshold value of a pressurization of the piston ( 16 ) at least one overload opening of the inner piston ( 19 ) is apparent. Damper according to claim 6, characterized in that the overload protection is a spring ( 23 ) acted upon pressure part ( 24 ), which below a predetermined threshold value of a Druckbeauschlagung the at least one overload opening ( 25 ) of the inner piston ( 19 ) closes and above the predetermined threshold the overload opening ( 25 ) of the inner piston ( 19 ) against the force of the spring ( 23 ) releases. Damper according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the functional unit ( 22 ) a compensating device for compensating a change in volume due to the in the fluid chamber ( 18 ) plunging piston ( 16 ) having. Damper according to claim 8, characterized in that the compensation device for changing the volume of the fluid chamber, a deformable piece of material or in space ( 21 ) comprises displaceable balance piston. Damper according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one end portion of the sleeve ( 20 ) a, preferably closed, floor ( 17 ) having. Damper according to claim 10, characterized in that the floor ( 17 ) of the sleeve ( 20 ) from the fluid chamber ( 18 ) is led out and a stop surface for movably mounted stop member ( 14 ) trains. Furniture hinge with at least one damper according to one of claims 1 to 11 for damping a movement of the furniture hinge ( 4 ). Furniture hinge according to claim 12, characterized in that the furniture hinge ( 4 ) a hinge cup ( 6 ), which with a hinge arm ( 5 ) via at least one toggle lever ( 8th ), the damper ( 10 ) in or on the hinge cup ( 6 ) is stored. Furniture hinge according to claim 13, characterized in that by the articulated lever ( 8th ) on the hinge pot ( 6 ) movably mounted actuating element ( 12 ) is acted upon, wherein the actuating element ( 12 ) with a stop member ( 14 ) for applying the piston ( 16 ) is motion coupled.

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