DE29917339U1 - Distribution arrangement for the optional connection of pipes - Google Patents

Description

,; Dipl.-lng. A. Wasmeier

Dipl.-lng. H. Graf

Authorized before the European Patent Office + Trade Mark Office · Professional Representatives before the European Patent Office + Trade Mark Office

Patent Attorneys PO Box 10 08 26 * German Patent Office 93008 Regensburg D-93008 REGENSBURG and Trademark Office PO BOX 10 08 26 Zweibrückenstr. 12 D-93055 REGENSBURG
GREFLINGERSTRASSE 7 Telephone (0941)79 20 85 80297 Munich (0941)79 20 86 Fax (0941)79 5106 E-mail: wasmeier-graf@t-online.de

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R/g 19.188

Date
Date

24 September 1999 gr-ra

Applicant:

RST Robot System Technology GmbH Borsigstrasse 5 93092 Barbing

Title:

Distributor arrangement for optional connection of pipes

Accounts: HypoVereinsbank (bank code 750 200 73) 5 839 300

Postgiroamt Munich, (bank code 70J3 100 _# 80) 893 69-801

Place of jurisdiction Regensburg A19188.DOC 24.09.99 13:59

Distributor arrangement for optional connection of pipes

The innovation relates to a device according to the generic term of claim 1.

In many technical areas, but especially in the beverage industry and especially in breweries, there is a need to connect existing pipes for specific functions in different ways, for example in breweries a pipe leading to a tank with pipes that lead to other functional elements or functional units, for example brewhouse, filling machine, tank for cleaning and rinsing liquid, drain channel, etc.

Distributor arrangements with a so-called distributor panel are known for this purpose in the beverage industry. This essentially consists of several accessible connections, each of which is connected to a pipe on the back of the distributor panel. Using closures and connecting bends that can be attached to the connections, for example using screw rings, the desired connections between the pipes can then be made and the pipes that are not required can be closed. Handling these distributor devices is very labor-intensive simply because of the manual fastening of the closures and connecting bends to the connections. A particular disadvantage, however, is that incorrect connections and other faults, such as the lack of a closure or the inadequate connection of the connecting bends and closures, etc., cannot be ruled out. These faults can then have serious consequences, particularly if an unsuitable liquid, such as cleaning liquid, is accidentally introduced into a full tank.

The aim of the innovation is to demonstrate a distribution device that avoids these disadvantages and is characterized by simplified handling and high operational reliability.

To solve this problem, a device is designed according to claim 1.

The innovative device makes it possible to change the connections between different pipelines as required quickly and without a great deal of work, while maintaining a high level of operational reliability. Furthermore, the innovative device can also be manufactured inexpensively.

In the sense of the innovation, "distribution panel" is generally understood to mean a support or frame element, also a plate-shaped support or frame element, on which the connections are provided. Further developments of the innovation are the subject of the subclaims. The innovation is explained in more detail below using the figures of an exemplary embodiment. They show:

Fig. 1 in simplified representation and in front view the distribution panel of a

Pipe distribution device according to the innovation; Fig. 2 the pipe distribution device in side view and with the connections

coupled connecting arches or terminations. Fig. 3 is a representation similar to Figure 2, but with the connecting arches and terminations uncoupled from the connections;

Fig. 4 shows the rotatable support of the device in individual representation and in plan view; Fig. 5 shows a section through the distribution panel and the support in enlarged detail with the connecting arch connected to the connections or with

the connections separated by a connecting arch; Fig. 6 in positions a - c of the supports in three different positions.

The device, generally designated 1 in the figures, serves to connect pipelines for gaseous, in particular liquid, media in a desired manner. The device 1 is also suitable, for example, in breweries to

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For example, a pipe leading to a beer storage tank can be connected optionally to a pipe leading to a beer or bottle filling machine or to a pipe for a cleaning medium for the so-called CIP cleaning or to a water pipe, etc., whereby the unused pipes are closed. The device 1 essentially consists of a so-called distributor panel 2, which in the embodiment shown is provided on a device frame 3, but in practice can also be attached to existing devices or to the frame, rack, etc. of such devices.

Several connections 4 are provided on the front side 2' of the distribution panel 2, in such a way that the connections 4 are each at the same distance from a central axis M running perpendicular to the front side 2' or rear side 2" of the distribution panel 2. The connections 4 are also arranged in such a way that their axes define an equilateral polygon, ie in the embodiment shown, the connections 4 define the corner points of a square with their axes.

The connections 4 form on the front side 2' of the distributor panel 2 a coupling 5 which is open on this front side and has an internal conical or truncated cone-shaped connection or coupling surface 5' which surrounds the opening and which concentrically encloses the axis of the respective connection 4 and on which a ring seal made of an elastic material (not shown) is also provided which also concentrically encloses this axis. On the rear side 2", the connections 4 are each connected to a pipe. However, these are not shown for the sake of simplicity of illustration.

At the front 2' of the distribution panel 2, a support 6 is mounted so as to be rotatable about the central axis M, which in the embodiment shown is formed by a square plate 7, which lies with its surface side parallel to the front 2'. One end of a shaft 8 is attached to the plate 7, which is rotatably mounted in a bearing 9 in the distribution panel 2 and with its other end extends over the rear

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2". With the shaft 8, the carrier 6 is rotatable about the central axis M and at the same time can also be displaced in the direction of the central axis M by a predetermined stroke, namely from a coupled or docked state (Figure 2) into an uncoupled or undocked state (Figure 3), in which the distance of the plate 7 from the distribution panel is much greater than in the coupled state.

For axial displacement of the shaft 9 and thus of the carrier 6, an actuating device 10 is provided in the embodiment shown, which consists of four pneumatic cylinders 11 evenly distributed around the axis M and arranged radially to this axis, each of which is fastened with its cylinder housing to the rear side 2" and interacts with its piston rod with a toggle lever arrangement 12, namely in the area of the articulated connection 12'" between the two levers 12' and 12" forming the toggle lever arrangement, of which one lever 12' is articulated to the rear side 2" and the other lever 12" is articulated to a clamping ring 13 arranged on the shaft 8, which engages a collar 8' of the shaft 8 in a form-fitting manner, namely in such a way that the clamping ring is axially connected to the shaft 8 in terms of drive, but the shaft 80 can rotate relative to the clamping ring 13. The articulation points of each articulated lever arrangement 12 lie with their axes tangential to an imaginary circle around the central axis M. The arrangement is further such that when the common articulation point 12'" of the levers 12' and 12" of the toggle lever arrangement 12 has the greater distance from the central axis M, the carrier 6 is in the uncoupled state and the coupled state exists when the common articulation point 12'" has the smaller distance from the central axis M.

On the rear side 7" facing the distribution panel 2, in the same arrangement as the connections 4 on the distribution panel 2, there are provided counter or coupling pieces 14 which interact with the connections 4 or the corresponding couplings 5 and which are suitable for the couplings 5, which are arranged with their axes perpendicular to the surface sides of the carrier 6 and thus parallel to the central axis M and which have a

form a conical sealing surface 14' which, when the carrier 6 is coupled, lies tightly against a sealing surface 5'.

In the embodiment shown, a total of four rotational positions of the carrier 6 are possible, in each of which a coupling piece 14 is located directly opposite a coupling 5 or is tightly connected to a coupling 5 in the coupled state.

As shown in particular in Figure 5, two coupling pieces 14, which are provided on a common side of the square formed by the axes of the coupling pieces 14 or on a common side of the plate 7, are sealed on the front side 7' of the plate 7, so that these coupling pieces 14 form closures 15, with which two connections 4 are sealed in each case when coupled. The other two coupling pieces 14 are connected to one another on the front side 7' by a connecting arch 16.

The operation of the device 1 is thus such that, in order to connect a pipeline connected to a connection 4 with another pipeline also connected to a connection 4 and to close the remaining pipelines at the associated connections 4, the carrier 6 is rotated in the uncoupled state (Figure 3) about the central axis M in such a way that the coupling pieces 16 connected at both ends to the connecting bend 16 are axially opposite the connections 4 of the pipelines to be connected. The cylinders 11 are then actuated simultaneously so that the articulation points 12'' of the levers 12' and 12" of all the toggle lever arrangements 12 are moved radially inwards, whereby the shaft 6 is moved axially towards the rear of the device 1 by a predetermined stroke with the clamping ring 13, so that finally the coupled state for the carrier 6 (Figure 2) is achieved under the over-center effect of the toggle lever arrangement 12. In this coupled state, the common articulation point 12'" of each toggle lever arrangement 12 has a radial distance from the central axis M which is slightly smaller than the corresponding distance of the articulation axes at the free ends of the

Levers 12' and 12". The use of this actuating device 10 has the advantage that high sealing forces are achieved between the coupling pieces 5 and 14 in the docked state and, moreover, the double-acting cylinders 11 can be switched off by the over-center effect in the coupled state.

For uncoupling, the cylinders 11 are activated in the opposite direction, whereby the articulation points 13'" are moved radially away from the central axis M and the shaft 8 is displaced axially towards the front of the device via the clamping ring 13.

The carrier 6 can be rotated in a variety of ways. In the embodiment shown, the carrier 6 is rotated into the three positions actually used using an actuating device 17, which essentially consists of a toothed belt wheel 18 provided on the free end of the shaft 8 on the rear of the device 1, over which a toothed belt 19 is guided. The ends of the toothed belt 19 are each connected to the frame or stand 3 via a series connection or series arrangement of two actuating cylinders 20 and 21 or 22 and 23. As shown in positions a, b and c, three defined rotational positions for the carrier 6 can be achieved by appropriate, controlled actuation of the actuating cylinders 20 - 23, which in turn are preferably pneumatic cylinders.

The use of pneumatic cylinders for the actuating cylinders 11, 20 - 22 has the advantage that these cylinders ensure a reliable actuator or a reliable actuating device 10/17 even in environments in which there is a high risk of corrosion due to, for example, high humidity or splashed liquid. The entire device 1, including the functional elements of the actuating devices 10 and 17, can be made of a corrosion-resistant material, for example stainless steel.

The device 1 allows connections between different pipelines to be made and changed very quickly. Furthermore, it is also possible to control the system using actuating elements, such as electric buttons, etc., locally or remotely from a central control center or a central control station. Furthermore, the device according to the invention also ensures that the pipelines that are not required are reliably closed at the connections 4 and that only those pipelines are actually connected to one another for which such a connection is desired, i.e. the device according to the invention also makes a significant contribution to the operational reliability of an entire system.

The innovation was described above using an exemplary embodiment. It is understood that numerous changes and modifications are possible. It is of course possible to provide other actuating devices instead of the described actuating devices 10 and 17, although, as stated above, these actuating devices are particularly advantageous. Furthermore, the number of connections 4 on the distributor panel 2 and thus also the number of associated coupling pieces 14 on the carrier 6 can be different from four, for example only three connections 4 and associated coupling pieces 14 or more than four can be provided. Furthermore, it is also possible to design the carrier 6, for example, as a turnstile or in some other way.

List of reference symbols

2' 2"

5'

7' 7"

10 11 12 12', 12' 12'" 13 14 14' 15 16 17 18 19 20-23

contraption

Distribution panel

front

Back Frame or frame Connection Coupling piece Sealing surface Carrier Plate

Front Back Wave

camp

Actuating device Actuating cylinder Toggle lever arrangement Toggle lever Common pivot point Clamping ring Coupling piece Sealing surface End connecting bend Actuating device Toothed belt wheel Toothed belt Actuating cylinder

A19188.DOC

Claims (11)

1. Distributor arrangement for the selective connection of pipelines, with several connections ( 4 ) provided on a support element or distributor panel ( 2 ), each of which can be connected to a pipeline, as well as with closures ( 15 ) and at least one connecting bend ( 16 ) with which the connections ( 4 ) accessible on a front side ( 2 ') of the distributor panel ( 2 ) can be closed or connected to one another, characterized in that the connections ( 4 ) on the distributor panel ( 2 ) are arranged in at least one group in which the connections ( 4 ) each have the same axial distance from a central axis (M) and are distributed in a uniform first spacing grid around this central axis (M), and that a carrier ( 6 ) is provided on the distributor panel ( 2 ) so as to be rotatable about the central axis (M), which has at least one group of coupling pieces ( 14 ) which are arranged in the axial distance of the connections ( 4 ) from the central axis (M) and are arranged around the central axis (M) in a second spacing grid matching the first spacing grid, and that the coupling pieces ( 14 ) are movable in the direction of the central axis for docking and undocking, in such a way that in the docked state each connection ( 4 ) is occupied by one coupling piece ( 14 ) and in the undocked state the coupling pieces ( 14 ) are removed from the connections ( 4 ), and that at least one coupling piece ( 14 ) forms a closure ( 15 ) and at least two coupling pieces ( 14 ) are connected to one another via a connecting arch ( 16 ) provided on the carrier ( 6 ). 2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the carrier ( 6 ) is displaceable by a predetermined stroke in the central axis (M) for docking and undocking. 3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the connections ( 4 ) on the distribution panel ( 2 ) and the coupling pieces ( 14 ) on the carrier ( 6 ) are provided in the same grid. 4. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the connections ( 4 ) and the coupling pieces ( 14 ) each define with their axes the corner points of an equilateral polygon. 5. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that only one group of connections ( 4 ) and only one group of coupling pieces ( 14 ) is provided, and that the connections ( 4 ) and the coupling pieces ( 14 ) each have the same axial distance from the central axis (M). 6. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a first actuating device ( 10 ) for axially moving the carrier ( 6 ). 7. Device according to claim 6, characterized in that the first actuating device is formed by at least one actuator ( 14 ) which, via a toggle lever arrangement ( 12 ), effects the axial displacement of the carrier ( 6 ), preferably via an over-dead-center effect. 8. Device according to claim 7, characterized in that the first actuator is an actuating cylinder ( 11 ), preferably a double-acting cylinder. 9. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by a second actuating device ( 17 ) for rotating the carrier ( 6 ) in predetermined angular positions. 10. Device according to claim 9, characterized in that the second actuating device is formed by at least one actuator or actuating cylinder, preferably by several actuating cylinders ( 20 , 21 , 22 , 23 ), which act on the carrier ( 6 ) via a drive element, for example via a toothed belt ( 19 ). 11. Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuators are pneumatic cylinders.