EP1346317B1 - Unidirectional counter - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a unidirectional counter comprising a driven worm gear (1) and a least one numerical display (3), driven by the rotation of the worm gear (1). The worm gear (1) is connected to a first system gear (8) by means of a first ratchet-pawl system (6, 7a, b). Said first ratchet-pawl system (6, 7a, b) comprises at least a first pair of pawls (7a, b) with two connected pawls (7a, b) working in tandem. Furthermore a reverse gear (10) may be driven by the worm gear (1), which is connected to a second system gear (14) by means of a second ratchet-pawl system (12, 13a, b). Said second ratchet-pawl system (12, 13a, b) comprises a second pair of pawls (13a, b) with two connected pawls (13a, b) working in tandem. According to the invention, an exact as possible totalisation and display of used energy units even on a change in direction may be achieved, whereby at least one pawl (7a, b, 13a, b) on each of the first and second ratchet-pawl systems (6, 7a, b; 12, 13a, b) are in the engaged position, pointing towards a ratchet tooth (6, 12), or are in direct contact with a ratchet tooth (6, 12).

Description

The invention is assigned to the field of meter technology. It relates to a unidirectional counter, which has a bidirectional direction of rotation drive with potential bidirectional rotation drive.

STATE OF THE ART

Unidirectional counters are designed to totalize and display the consumption of, for example, water, gas or electrical energy. Particularly advantageous is the use of such unidirectional counters in electricity meters and there especially in Ferraris counters. In the following, the present invention focuses on the use of unidirectional counters in Ferraris counters without excluding the use of these counters in other fields, such as the gas industry or the water industry.

In known Ferraris counters a rotor disk arrangement is driven due to an electrical mains voltage and an electrical consumption current, which then drives a counter. Such counters may include known number wheels or dials, or may have hands that rotate in front of fixed dials. Rotates the rotor disk assembly and thus the drive of the counter falsely opposite to the ordinary direction of rotation, so by conventional unidirectional counters between the rotor disk assembly and the display this wrong Direction of rotation transformed into the correct direction of rotation for this display.

For such a transformation of a bidirectional direction of rotation of a rotor disk arrangement in a unidirectional direction of rotation for a number wheel arrangement, for example, latch systems are used, as is known in the art US 4,352,979 are shown. In this document, a unidirectional counter is described in which a pawl assembly is rotated via a gear drive. Depending on the direction of rotation of the pawl arrangement, either a first or second, ratchet teeth exhibiting intermediate gear is driven, this first or second idler gear is then concerned about more gears for the correct, cumulative direction of rotation drive of the display. document US 5,609,074 shows a unidirectional counter for electricity meters.

A disadvantage of such an arrangement of the prior art, on the one hand, the number of different components are considered for the counter. In addition, this counter requires a two-sided mounting between a front wall and a parallel arranged rear wall of a housing assembly, since four rotating in the same or opposite direction components are arranged side by side on a single rotating axis, namely the drive gear, the latch assembly and the first or second ratchet teeth having intermediate. A one-sided axle assembly is unthinkable because of a correspondingly large static torque influence on this axis.

In addition, even without external drive, the counter will have a static torque even when the latch assembly is unscrewed from its unstable or stable balance. In clockwise positions, this means that a static torque without external drive always occurs as soon as the latch arrangement leaves the 12 o'clock or 6 o'clock position. This consequently unbalanced pawl arrangement can thus have a certain influence in a - mind you impermissible - periodically changing direction of rotation reversal take the switching speed, so that a noticeable incorrect display of consumption would be possible.

PRESENTATION OF THE INVENTION

It is therefore an object of the invention to further develop a unidirectional counter of the above-mentioned type, which is more accurate compared to the cited prior art, in particular with regard to a quasi-immediate detection of fraudulent manipulated direction of rotation reversal. The focus is on the correct further recording and correct totalizing of consumer goods. Moreover, it is an object of the invention to provide a balanced, free of static torque and thus more accurate counter with a smaller number of different components and with less installation effort. In addition to the known two-sided mounting between a front wall and arranged parallel to this front wall rear wall of a housing assembly, this counter is preferably only one side mountable, which means that it should be mounted either on the front wall or on the rear wall. Furthermore, the counter according to the invention should be comparatively more compact and be able to compensate for electromagnetically induced speed deviations of a driving rotor disk arrangement upon reversal of the direction of rotation.

The object of the invention is solved by the features of claim 1. Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are the subject of the dependent claims.

The essence of the invention is to be seen in the fact that two are connected via a worm wheel and an idler gear ratchet-pawl systems in a counter next to each other, wherein the two ratchet-pawls systems differ in that they are considered in isolation only in one direction of rotation - ie either clockwise or anticlockwise - spontaneously effective intervention.

In the interaction between a pair of pawls and the associated locking teeth of a ratchet-pawl system, the inventive counter allows a comparatively to the prior art much faster switching in fälschlicherweisem direction of rotation of a drive unit. Even impermissibly manipulated, periodic direction of rotation switching thus lead to a quasi-direct switching from the one engaged ratchet-pawl system to the other ratchet-pawl system, so that the counter display is uninterrupted further uninterrupted summarily driven.

The term "ratchet-pawls-system" is to be understood an arrangement in which the pawls either engage on a rotating in one direction component either on ratchet teeth of another rotating component or just because of the opposite direction of rotation just do not come to engage and run empty.

As worm wheel in the above sense, a link of the counter to a drive screw to understand how it is known, for example, sufficiently in conjunction with a rotor disk assembly in a Ferraris counter. The direct drive of the number wheels is accomplished by the so-called intermediate. It should be noted that this intermediate does not enjoy a character essential to the invention. It goes without saying that a person skilled in the field of counting technology will also be able to eliminate this intermediate wheel without any inventive step.

It is essential to the invention that in the case of both latching tooth latch systems, at least one catch in each case is in the engaged position in the direction of a latching tooth or in direct engagement with a latching tooth. The decisive advantage, which comes into play here, is to be seen in the quasi-spontaneous possibility of intervention of the at that time not engaged ratchet-pawl system when the Direction of rotation of the driving worm changes. In that ratchet-pawl system, which is at a time not in engagement, but idle, the pawls act in relation to each other in connection with the opposing ratchet teeth such as rockers, which push each other in engagement position to these ratchet teeth, so at least one of these two Latches are always in this engaged position.

It is particularly advantageous if the two pairs of pawls are arranged on the two system wheels in phase opposition to each other and thus rotate in opposite phases. This means that the first pair of pawls of the first system wheel is in the 12 o'clock position when the second pair of pawls of the second system wheel is currently in the 6 o'clock position. If then both system wheels - which are coupled to each other via the intermediate wheel - to rotate, the forces acting on this intermediate torque torques of the two system wheels compensate completely with the pawls. This balanced arrangement is thus free in any position of such torques, which are due solely to the arrangement itself and thus act statically at standstill of the counter, that is also static.

The counter according to the invention has the further advantage of a very compact arrangement, since the worm wheel and the first system wheel or the reversing gear and the second system gear are mounted coaxially with each other on an axis. As a result, even with a one-sided assembly of the axes only vanishingly small bending moments between these axes. Such assembly is also easy and inexpensive feasible.

Furthermore, in comparison to the cited prior art less different components used for the counter, which also has a cost effect.

It is particularly advantageous that by suitable adaptation of the tooth number ratio between the worm wheel and the reversing gear or between the idler wheel operatively connected to the system wheel and the display driving idler the speed differences are made possible with an identical consumption amount between the forward drive and the reverse drive of the counter. For example, should - for identical electrical consumption amount - for electromagnetic reasons rotate a rotor disk assembly during forward faster than manipulated reverse, so can be made about the aforementioned teeth ratio in the simplest way, a speed correction, so that, for example, a numerical roller display of the counter in the correct forward operation as fast as in incorrect reverse operation.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING

Fig. 1

eine abgewickelte Darstellung eines efindungsgemässen Zählwerks mit einer Zahlenrolle als Anzeige und antreibender Schnecke;

Fig. 2

eine Schnittdarstellung durch das Zählwerk entlang der Schnittlinie B-B' in der Fig. 1, und

Fig. 3a, b, c

weitere Schnittdarstellungen durch das Zählwerk entlang der Linie B-B' in der Fig. 1.

In the drawings, embodiments are shown schematically and simplified. The directions of rotation of the illustrated gears are indicated by arrows.
Show it:

Fig. 1

an unwound representation of an inventive counter with a number role as a display and driving screw;

Fig. 2

a sectional view through the counter along the section line BB 'in the Fig. 1 , and

Fig. 3a, b, c

further sectional views through the counter along the line BB 'in the Fig. 1 ,

WAYS FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION

Fig. 1 shows a unidirectional counter in a cut, unwound representation. Under developed representation is to be understood that all counter axes are drawn in a plane, although they actually not arranged in such a way. To make it clear, however, which gears of the counter mesh directly with each other, that is driving each other, two active connection arrows 22 and 23 are located.

At the in Fig. 1 the counter shown is a roller counter, wherein for the sake of simplicity, only a single number of roles 3 is shown as an indicator symbolic of a plurality of side by side coaxially arranged number of roles. The counter is basically suitable for totalizing and displaying when purchasing or supplying energy units in the electricity, gas or water industries. In the following, however, the focus is placed on the totalizing and displaying of electrical energy, and in particular illuminates the reference of such energy units. In no way should the invention be reduced to the embodiment shown and described, since any other use of the counter is conceivable without departing from the invention of the underlying core. Under this premise is also the way of representation by means of numbers roll; Without departing from the spirit of the invention, number discs or hands in front of a dial are also conceivable as display instead of number wheels.

The inventive counter is driven by a drive screw 20 which is connected coaxially with a known, not shown, rotor disk assembly. The Fig. 2 clarified in conjunction with Fig. 1 the arrangement of the drive screw 20 with the counter. This is in Fig. 2 a sectional view along the section line BB 'in Fig. 1 shown. The drive worm 20 drives a worm wheel 1 in a counterclockwise direction on a first spur gear toothing 2. This worm wheel 1 has a cylindrical projection 5 coaxially with the first spur gear toothing 2. The inside of the cylindrical projection 5 is provided with a number of ratchet teeth 6, while the outside of the cylinder shoulder 5 carries a further, second spur gear teeth 9 of the worm wheel 1.

About this second spur gear 9, a reversing gear 10 is rotated clockwise, wherein the drive via a spur gear 18 of the reversing gear 10 takes place. This spur gear toothing 18 is arranged on the outside of a cylindrical projection 11 of the reversing gear 10, wherein on the inside of this cylinder shoulder 11 locking teeth 12 are located. One of these locking teeth 12 is in engagement with a pawl 13 b, which is pivotally mounted on a system wheel 14. Another pawl 13a is also pivotally mounted to the system wheel 14 with both pawls 13a and 13b operatively connected to each other.

Characterized in that the one pawl 13b with a locking tooth 12 is engaged, the system wheel 14 also rotates in a clockwise direction. Via a spur gear toothing 16 on the system wheel 14, an intermediate wheel 4 is connected, which in turn directly drives a number roller 3. The idler 4 is driven in a counterclockwise direction and the number roller 3 in a clockwise direction.

As long as the worm wheel 1 rotates counterclockwise, the ratchet teeth 6 on the inside of the cylinder neck 5 on a pair of pawls 7a, 7b of another system 8 over, in such a way that these mutually operatively connected to each other pawls 7a, 7b respectively in conjunction with the Latching teeth 6 of the worm wheel 1 are alternately pivoted into engagement position to one of these locking teeth 6. The other system 8 is connected via a spur gear 15 arranged on it with the counter-clockwise rotating idler 4 and thus rotates in a clockwise direction.

The ratchet pawl system 6, 7a, 7b between the worm wheel 1 and the system wheel 8 is in the counterclockwise rotation of the worm wheel 1 in potential engaged position, so that when a reversal of the worm wheel 1 in the clockwise direction (not shown) an immediate Engage at least one pawl 7a, 7b can be done with a locking tooth 6. In this case, the worm wheel 1 and the system wheel 8 would rotate in a clockwise direction. As a result, that would Turn idler 4 counterclockwise again and turn number wheel 3 clockwise. At this time, then the reversing 10 rotates counterclockwise, so that the pawls 13a, 13b of the system wheel 8 are merely striped by the locking teeth 12 and alternately pivoted into the engaged position.

It is essential to the invention that only one of the two ratchet-pawl systems 6, 7a, 7b, 12, 13a, 13b is engaged while the other is permanently in a potential engaged position. This arrangement of two ratchet-pawl systems 6, 7a, 7b, 12, 13a, 13b in a counter allows a simple way with each change of rotation of the worm wheel 1 spontaneous switching, so that a high-precision totalizing and displaying energy consumption is provided.

In addition, the counter is constructed of a comparatively small number of different components compared to the prior art, which enables inexpensive production and assembly. Simplifying added that the entire counter is installed on only a single side of a housing wall for this counter, which makes the assembly easier and quick to do.

In synopsis of Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 a complete revolution of the worm wheel 1 in the correct direction of rotation is shown in the counterclockwise direction. Starting with Fig. 2 The first ratchet pawl system 6, 7a, 7b is located between the worm wheel 1 and the first system wheel 8 in the 6 o'clock position and the second ratchet pawl system 12, 13a, 13b between the reversing wheel 10 and the second system wheel 14 in 12 o'clock position. If now the worm wheel is rotated counterclockwise in the correct direction of rotation, then the first latching pawl system 6, 7a, 7b moves in the 9 o'clock position, while the second latching pawl system 12, 13a, 13b moves in the 3 o'clock position Position goes, like Fig. 3a brightens. It becomes clear that the one leading pawl 7a is pivoted into the engaged position by the adjacent, trailing pawl 7b as a result of a ratchet tooth 6 passing by, and immediately thereafter Leading pawl 7a in consequence of passing another locking tooth 6, the lagging pawl 7b would be pivoted into the engaged position, which is not shown here for simplicity.

The Fig. 3b and the Fig. 3c show almost self-explanatory, as the first latching teeth-pawl system 6, 7a, 7b on the 12 o'clock position in the 3 o'clock position, or as the second latching pawl system 12, 13a, 13b on the 6 Clock position is rotated to the 9 o'clock position. Particularly noteworthy is when looking at the sequence of representations in the Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 in that the first latching pawl system 6, 7a, 7b is arranged out of phase with respect to the second latching pawl system 12, 13a, 13b. This means that the two ratchet-pawl systems 6, 7a, 7b, 12, 13a, 13b in phase opposition to each other through all positions of a revolution. The decisive advantage here is that on the two ratchet-pawl systems 6, 7a, 7b, 12, 13a, 13b connecting idler no static, so acting solely on the geometric arrangement torque acts. Only this balanced arrangement with regard to static torques allows the spontaneous engagement of a latching ratchet system in the engaged position when the direction of rotation is reversed.

A further embodiment of the invention is characterized in that the rotational speed of the counter when changing from forward operation to reverse operation can be different in the simplest way when reversing the direction of rotation and remaining, constant consumption amount. In fact, experience teaches that rotor disk arrangements generally have a set, calibrated speed in one direction of rotation during correct operation; however, they can have a different speed when the direction of rotation is reversed and the amount of consumption remains constant than in the correct operating case.

According to the invention, this problem can be met very easily by adapting the number of teeth ratio of forward-running gears to backward-running gears accordingly, but this is not explicitly stated is shown. For this purpose, on the one hand, the setting of the number of teeth ratio between the spur gear 9 of the worm wheel 1 and thereby driven spur gear 18 of the reverse gear 10 from the ratio one to the ratio less than one, and on the other hand, the setting of the number of teeth ratio between the spur gear 15 of the first system wheel 8 and a spur gearing 16 of the second system gear 14 from the ratio one to the ratio less than one. If, on the other hand, a rotor disk arrangement rotates faster in the case of an incorrect direction of rotation than if it were correct, a corresponding adaptation of the tooth number ratios within the meaning of the invention is also conceivable, since one of the above-described ratios of teeth ratios can also be set to a ratio greater than one in a simple manner. Of course, it is also conceivable to increase the number of mutually operatively connected pawls per ratchet pawl system to three or more pawls, whereby the number of engagement possibilities is increased to the ratchet teeth. This results in a consistent manner within the meaning of the invention, a refinement of the intervention options in incorrect change of direction.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

worm

2

first spur gear toothing on 1

3

counting wheel

4

idler

5

Cylinder approach to 1

6

Ratchet teeth on 1

7a, b

Pair of latches on 8

8th

Systemrad

9

second spur gear toothing on 1

10

reversing

11

Cylinder approach to 10

12

Ratchet teeth on 10

13a, b

Pair of latches on 14

14

Systemrad

15

Spur gear toothing on 8

16

Spur gear toothing on 14

17

Inside of 5

18

Spur gear toothing on 10

20

drive worm

21

housing wall

22

operatively connected

23

operatively connected

Claims (13)

1. Unidirectional counting mechanism with a driven worm gear (1) and one or more numerical indicators (3) driven by the rotation of the worm gear (1), where the worm gear (1) is linked by a first ratchet-pawl system (6, 7a, b) to a first system gear (8), characterized in that

   - said first ratchet-pawl system (6, 7a, b) comprises one or more first pairs of pawls (7a, b) with two linked pawls (7a, b) working in tandem,

   - said worm gear (1) drives a reverse gear (10), which is linked by a second ratchet-pawl system (12, 13a, b) to a second system gear (14),

   - said second ratchet-pawl system (12, 13a, b) comprises one or more second pairs of pawls (13a, b) with two linked pawls (13a, b) working in tandem, and

   - one or more pawls (7a, b, 13a, b) of each of the first and second ratchet-pawl systems (6, 7a, b; 12, 13a, b) is in a meshing position in the direction of a ratchet tooth (6, 12) or meshes directly with a ratchet tooth (6, 12).
2. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to claim 1, characterized in that a number of ratchet teeth (6) are arranged on a first cylinder attachment (5) of the worm gear (1), and that the one or more first pairs of pawls (7a, b) are arranged on the first system gear (8).
3. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to claim 2, characterized in that a number of ratchet teeth (12) are arranged on a second cylinder attachment (11) of the reverse gear (10), and that the one or more second pairs of pawls (13a, b) are arranged on the second system gear (14).
4. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to claim 3, characterized in that the first system gear (8) and the second system gear (14) are connected by the intermediate gear (4), with the first pair of pawls (7a, b) arranged in opposite phase to the second pair of pawls (13a, b).
5. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 2 through 4, characterized in that the number of ratchet teeth (6) of the worm gear (1) is arranged on an inner side (17) of the first cylinder attachment (5).
6. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 3 through 5, characterized in that the number of ratchet teeth (12) of the reverse gear (10) is arranged on an inner side (19) of the second cylinder attachment (11).
7. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 1 through 6, characterized in that the worm gear (1) and the first system gear (8) are arranged coaxially.
8. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 1 through 7, characterized in that the reverse gear (10) and the second system gear (14) are arranged coaxially.
9. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 1 through 8, characterized in that the worm gear (1) and the reverse gear (10) are arranged in parallel.
10. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 1 through 9, characterized in that the tooth count ratio between the spur gearing (9) of the worm gear (1) and the driven spur gearing (18) of the reverse gear (10) equals 1.
11. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 1 through 9, characterized in that the tooth count ratio between the spur gearing (9) of the worm gear (1) and the driven spur gearing (18) of the reverse gear (10) is other than 1.
12. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 1 through 9, characterized in that the tooth count ratio between the spur gearing (15) of the first system gear (8) and the spur gearing (16) of the second system gear (14) equals 1.
13. Unidirectional counting mechanism according to one of the preceding claims 1 through 9, characterized in that the tooth count ratio between the spur gearing (15) of the first system gear (8) and the spur gearing (16) of the second system gear (14) is other than 1.

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