EP0803653B1 - Pneumatic commandassembly - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a pneumatic actuation arrangement with a Number of pneumatic consumers, especially working cylinders, their Working rooms via pressure lines with electrically operated switching devices are connected, which in turn are connected to a common pressure source and via electrical signal lines with a common control unit are connected.

Arrangements of the type mentioned are nowadays, for example, in production plants, Transport and storage facilities and the like far widespread because it is small in size and relatively easy to install reliably provide large forces and, if necessary, also large adjustment paths and due to the elasticity of the working medium also quite a few Advantages compared to hydraulic or electric drives, for example to have. Although, for example, when comparing a hydraulic one directly actuated cylinder / piston arrangement with a corresponding pneumatic actuated arrangement the latter with regard to the required connecting lines offers the advantage for the working medium that the Volume derivation from the unpressurized workspace usually simply into Free can be done and not returned to a pump or the like must also result for such a pneumatic Working cylinder in usual actuation arrangements of the type mentioned Number of connections with regard to construction, housing, maintenance, etc. require relatively great effort and also represent potential sources of error.

Together with the necessary, nowadays practically exclusively electrically operated or at least electrically pilot-controlled switching elements result for example for a pneumatic working cylinder two pressure lines to connect the two work rooms with the associated one Switching device, a supply pressure line for connecting the switching device with the pressure source and at least one electrical signal line for Control of the switching element from a control unit. If - what often the case is - at least the two end positions of the working cylinder monitored or reported back to the controller are also additional still electrical signal lines between the corresponding sensors and the Control unit required. All these lines must be laid and on both sides to be connected to the appropriate connectors, which is a lot of additional components and installation effort required.

A pneumatic actuation arrangement according to the preamble of claim 1 is shown in WO 94/04831 A.

From the knowledge of this problem or its negative impact based on the use of such actuation arrangements are in the latter Corresponding arrangements have become known, in which the switching elements several, in the overall arrangement of adjacent pneumatic consumers so-called valve islands are summarized. On a common base plate are the necessary switching elements with a common one Supply air supply and a combined electrical control installed. The electrical control can either be via a multi-pin plug or else a bus system can be combined, the use of bus systems overall the lowest installation effort according to the current state of technology in actuation arrangements of the type mentioned results. The disadvantage remains a relatively high installation effort despite everything, since per pneumatic consumer, such as especially pneumatic Working cylinder, still two compressed air hoses (between each the work rooms and the valve terminal) and if necessary also two electrical ones Signal lines (between the position sensors and the valve terminal) Lay and connect directly on both sides or with plugs are provided.

The object of the present invention is a pneumatic actuation arrangement of the type mentioned to improve so that avoidance the disadvantages of the known arrangements of the installation and maintenance costs can be further reduced.

This task is in a pneumatic actuator assembly type mentioned solved in that the switching elements together with the Pressure lines to the work rooms to form a consumer unit are each arranged directly to the consumers and that the electrical Signal lines and the supply pressure lines of each consumer unit summarized in a combined line between the consumer unit on the one hand and one connected to the pressure source and the control unit Supply air / signal distributors, on the other hand, run. That is now immediate ensures that every single consumer, e.g. working cylinder, only via a single combination line with the other system in Connection stands or is to be connected, what with regard to the Laying this line or making connections and the like offers great advantages.

The arrangement of changeover valves together with the associated pressure lines the work area directly on pneumatic working cylinders is on already known - new and advantageous in the present context is the Formation of the consumer unit mentioned, which via a single combination line is connected to the assigned supply air / signal distributor.

A further embodiment of the invention according to FIG which the combination lines on both sides combination plug for common connection with the assigned pressure connections and electrical connections. The assembly and disassembly of the individual consumers or distributors is thus in of such a pneumatic actuation arrangement is considerably simplified, because, for example, before removing a defective working cylinder or the like only a single combination plug to be removed or removed needs.

According to another preferred development of the invention, the Supply air / signal distributor of several consumer units combined in blocks and provided with common supply and signal line connections. From the pressure source on the one hand or the control unit on the other only one line connection to one of these Supply air / signal distribution block, of which in turn only one only combined line from each of the distributors to the associated consumer runs. The result is an extremely simple overall arrangement with strong reduced assembly and maintenance effort, with sources of error, for example through individually reversed plug connections or the like are largely turned off.

The connection of the supply air / signal distribution blocks with each other or with Pressure source and control unit can be in a further embodiment of the invention also done via combination cables and combination plugs, which further simplification options of the overall arrangement.

With a pneumatic actuation arrangement, as in the beginning Function sensors already addressed to the consumer units, in particular Piston position sensors on working cylinders, arranged and above electrical signal lines connected to the control unit is in further preferred embodiment of the invention provided that the Signal lines of these sensors in the combination lines and, if necessary, via the combination plugs are guided. The connection of the configured as described So consumer units are still only one Combined line, so that here too the advantages of the invention described above come into full effect.

According to another preferred embodiment, the consumer units the invention bus nodes arranged for the signal lines, wherein the signal lines in between and the signal lines leading to the control unit as bus connections, preferably according to the known ASI standard could be. This measure also improves or simplifies assembly and Maintenance of the actuation arrangement according to the invention.

The invention is based on the in the drawing in part schematically illustrated versions explained in more detail. Fig. 1 shows an example of a pneumatic actuation arrangement with valve terminals according to the state of the art; Fig. 2 shows in a correspondingly schematic Representation of an example of an arrangement according to the present Invention; Fig. 3 shows a further arrangement in a more detailed oblique view according to the present invention; Fig. 4 in a schematic sectional view the connection of a supply air / signal distributor to a consumer unit a further actuating arrangement designed according to the invention; Fig. 5 shows a partial section along the line V-V in the concrete 3, FIG. 6 an enlarged view corresponding to FIG. 5 Section, only the removed combination plug is shown here, and Fig. 7 shows a detail similar to VII in Fig. 3 partially cut.

The pneumatic actuation arrangement designed according to the prior art 1 has four separate pneumatic consumers 1, which here as a cylinder for tasks that are no longer of interest are formed in a production plant or the like. The are working spaces lying on both sides of the piston, not shown via separate pressure lines 2 with also not shown here, electrically operated switching devices connected together in one only schematically indicated so-called valve island 3 are summarized. Furthermore, 1 function sensors 4 are arranged on the consumers, which here monitor the piston end positions inductively and via electrical ones, for example Signal lines 5 are also connected to the valve terminal 3.

Mostly in the vicinity of a related group of consumers 1 arranged valve islands 3 and the switching elements summarized there for consumers 1 are also not shown here via supply pressure lines with a common pressure source and via electrical signal lines in connection with a common control unit, which also the signals of the function sensors 4 are supplied. The electrical control can either be via a multi-pin plug or a Bus system can be summarized, which according to the current state of the art lowest installation effort with such pneumatic actuation arrangements results.

The disadvantage remains a relatively high installation effort, because per pneumatic consumer 1 still two pressure lines 2 (between each of the work rooms and the valve terminal 3) as well as two electrical ones Signal lines 5 (between the function sensors 4 and the valve terminal 3) install and connect either on both sides directly or with Plugs are to be provided.

In the functionally corresponding to the known arrangement according to FIG. 1 Arrangement according to the present invention as shown in Fig. 2 are now the switching elements 6 (which are arranged according to FIG. 1 in the valve terminal 3 ) together with the pressure lines to the work rooms (see items 2 and 7, 8 in Fig. 4) to form a consumer unit 9 each immediately arranged at the consumers 1. Furthermore, the electrical Signal lines 10 (see also sectional view of FIG. 4) and Supply pressure line 11 of each consumer unit 9 in a combination line 12 summarized, which is now the only connection between the consumer unit 9 on the one hand and in a manner not shown here the common pressure source and the common control unit Supply air / signal distributor 13, on the other hand, runs.

The combination lines 12 assign - as in particular also FIGS. 3 to 7 remove is - on both sides combination plug 14 for common connection with the associated pressure connections and electrical connections, but could if necessary also via separate plug connections or the like for these connections feature. The signal lines are also in these combination lines 12 5 of the function sensors 4 out.

As shown in Fig. 2 on the one hand and Fig. 3 and 7 on the other hand it is irrelevant whether a supply air / signal distributor 13 has several separate ones Has connections for several consumers 1, or whether (according to Fig. 3 or 7) individual supply air / signal distributors 13 are provided for each consumer 1 are then, for example, also block-like to supply air / signal distribution blocks 15 summarized and with common supply pressure and Signal line connections can be provided. It is essential that now each individual consumer 1 or each consumer unit 9 only about a single combination line 12 is connected to the other system or to be connected during assembly, what with regard to Laying the lines, making the connections and the like offers great advantages.

3 are three separate, again designed as a cylinder pneumatic consumer 1 or consumer units 9 each again via a single combination line 12, each with a supply air / signal distributor 13 connected. Combination plugs 14 are in turn on both ends of the combination line 12 mounted, which is a common connection of supply pressure and signal lines enable. The individual supply air / signal distributors 13 are one Supply air / signal distribution block 15 summarized, the of which in the Representation top three individual supply air / signal distributors 13 supplied Consumers are not shown.

The supply air / signal distributor block 15 according to FIG. 3 is on one side via a pressure line 16 and a compressed air treatment device 17 (oiler, Pressure regulator or the like) with the common pressure source, not shown connected. On the other hand, this supply air / signal distributor block 15 via a bus connection 18 with an electrical or electronic control unit 19 in connection, or is connected to this via a connector 20.

Furthermore, it can also be seen from FIG. 3 that these in turn act as piston end position sensors trained function sensors 4 also on the Signal lines 5 are connected to the consumer units 9. The Corresponding signals are from there via the combination plug 14 and the Combi lines 12 routed to the supply air / signal distributors 13 and from there Via the bus connection 18 to the control unit 19.

4 is a functionally the arrangements of FIGS. 2 and 3 completely corresponding individual consumer unit 9 in connection with the associated Supply air / signal distributor 13 shown in somewhat more detail in section. The Working spaces 7, 8 of the consumer 1 located on both sides of the piston 21 are located directly on the consumer 1 pressure lines 2 with the Switching element 6 in connection, which here as an electromagnetic Pilot valve 22 driven piston valve 23 is executed. On the side of the spool 24 opposite the pilot valve 22 is one Spring 25 arranged which the pressurization when the magnet is de-energized of the work space 7 ensures while with an electrically operated pilot valve 22 the slide 24 pneumatically against the force of the spring 25 in the other end position moves and the work area 8 with the supply pressure line 11 is connected. At 28 and 29, the vent connections are the designated two workrooms 7, 8, of which in the corresponding position of the Slider 24 of the respective work space can be vented directly outside can.

In a housing of the consumer unit 9 above the switching element 6 a circuit board 26 with electrical or electronic components 27 is indicated. This is on the one hand via the combination plug 14 with the or Signal line (s) 10 in the combination line 12 in connection and on the other with the signal line 5 to the function sensor shown here only individually 4 or in a manner not shown with the electromagnetic Pilot valve 22. In the case of formation of the electrical signal lines 10 as a bus connection is by means of this board 26 or those indicated thereon Components 27 also realized the respective bus node in which the bus signals received and sent or encoded and decoded.

On the side of the combination line opposite the consumer unit 9 12 is also a combination plug 14, which by means of a Seal 30 placed on the associated supply air / signal distributor 13 and is sealed. For a more detailed description of the relevant details to the following statements relating to FIGS. 5 to 7, which a at least functionally identical combination of supply air / signal distributor 13 and combination connector 14 in detail.

The combination plug 14 according to FIGS. 5 to 7 has a housing 31 Die-cast light metal or a suitable plastic or the like, which has a central screw 32 on a threaded bore 33 of the Supply air / signal distributor 13 can be fixed, the required Connections on the one hand for the compressed air and on the other hand for the signal lines or bus connections are established. The in the distributor 13 in compressed air delivered to a bore 34 (see pressure line 16 in FIG. 3) passes through an opening 35 into the housing 31 of the combination plug and from there inside the combination line 12. The jacket of the supply pressure line 11 of the Combined line 12 is plugged into an extension 36 on the housing 31 held a longitudinally slotted holding cone 37 and with a seal 38 sealed. Furthermore, between combination plug 14 and distributor 13 already mentioned seal 30 inserted, the screw 32 is squeezed.

The inside of the combination line 12 or the supply pressure line 11 extending signal line 10 is separately by means of a seal 39 at the outlet sealed from the compressed air area and not shown Way connected to two separate plug connections 40, which are in sockets 41 engage the distributor 13. These sockets 41 are also on contacted in a manner not shown with the wires 42 of the bus connection 18, which are designed, for example, according to the known ASI standard can. The cable of the bus connection 18 runs through (as in particular approximately 7 can be seen) all assembled into a supply air / signal distribution block 15 individual distributor 13 in a corresponding recess 43, the connection to the sockets 41 e.g. by simply cutting the respective cable side during assembly.

In Fig. 7 it can also be seen that the individual supply air / signal distributors 13 sealed against one another by means of seals 44 and by means of holding clips 45 pushed from below are clamped together. On in the front end of the entire block is an end piece 46 for Connection to the pressure line 16 or to complete the insertion of Bus connection 18 arranged. A corresponding end piece without pressure line connection can also be provided on the rear end in the illustration.

The connection of the individual supply air / signal distributors 13 to one another could also be done via screw connections or the like - also would- as indicated in Fig. 2 - a continuous housing for several individual Distributor possible. The combination plug 14 could deviate from the screws 32 also securely and tightly with the distributors using other suitable elements get connected. Also the design of the combination plug and distributor itself could be used constructively for different applications can be varied. Deviating from the version shown could furthermore also the pressure and signal connection of several supply air / signal distribution blocks 15 with each other or with a common control and pressure supply unit via appropriate combination cables and combination plugs.

Claims (6)

1. A pneumatic actuating arrangement comprising a plurality of pneumatic consumer devices (1), in particular working cylinders, the working chambers (7, 8) of which are connected via pressure lines (2) to electrically actuated switching members (6) for their part connected via supply pressure lines (11) to a common pressure source and via electric signal lines (10) to a common control unit (19), characterised in that the switching members (6) and the pressure lines (2) leading to the working chambers (7, 8) are arranged directly on the respective consumer devices (1) to form a consumer unit (9), and in that the electric signal lines (10) and the supply pressure line (11) of each consumer unit (9) are combined in a universal line (12) and extend between the consumer unit (9) at one end and a supply-air/signal distributor (13), connected to the pressure source and the control unit (19), at the other end.
2. An actuating arrangement according to claim 1, characterised in that the universal lines (12) have universal plugs (14) at both ends for joint connection to the associated pressure connections and electrical connections.
3. An actuating arrangement according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the supply-air/signal distributors (13) of a plurality of consumer units (9) are combined in a block-type manner and are provided with common supply pressure line and signal line connections.
4. An actuating arrangement according to claim 3, characterised in that the connection of the supply-air/ signal distributor blocks (15) to one another and to the pressure source and control unit (19) is also produced by means of universal lines (12) and universal plugs (14).
5. An actuating arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 4, wherein function sensors (4), in particular piston position sensors on working cylinders, are arranged on the consumer units (9) and are connected to the control unit (19) via electric signal lines (5), characterised in that the signal lines (5) of these sensors (4) are also guided in the universal lines (12) and, optionally, via the universal plugs (14).
6. An actuating arrangement according to one or more of claims 1 to 5, characterised in that bus nodes for the signal lines (10, 5) are arranged on the consumer units (9), and the signal lines arranged therebetween and leading to the control unit (19) are formed as bus connections, preferably according to ASI standards.

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