EP1707723B1 - Damping device for displaceable furniture parts - Google Patents

Abstract

The damper (1), for furniture doors and sliding drawers, has a housing (2) to accommodate a cylinder (3) with a sliding piston and piston rod (5). A gearing (6) is at the housing to adjust the cylinder and/or a limit stop (7) for the piston rod in relation to the housing, using a screw and a worm wheel (9).

Description

The present invention relates to a damping device for movable furniture parts with a housing and a cylinder arranged in the housing, in which a piston is slidably mounted with a piston rod, wherein the housing is mounted at least one gear, via which the cylinder and / or a stop is adjustable relative to the housing for the piston rod, wherein a part of the transmission is formed by an adjustable actuating element, wherein the transmission converts a rotational movement of the actuating element into a linear movement of the cylinder and / or a stop for the piston rod.

Such damping devices are already known and serve to reduce the impact sounds and mechanical stresses occurring during the swinging closing of movable furniture parts, such as doors or drawers. Known damping devices are based on mean values, i. tuned to middle weights of doors or drawers. To optimally adapt already mounted damping devices to the furniture or to be damped movable furniture parts, an individual adaptation is desirable.

Adjustable damping devices with a linear damper are for example in the EP 1 375 797 A1 , in the AT 54 29 U1 , in the DE 199 31 362 A1 as well as in the DE 201 11 355 U1 described.

In the AT 5429 U1 a damper device is described in which the position of a cylinder arranged in a housing, by means of a head screw mounted on the housing screw, the head of the rotational movement of the acting as an actuator screw in a linear motion of the cylinder, is changed. In the DE 201 11 455 U1 Damping devices are described in which the cylinder is pivoted or slid transversely through an actuator disposed at the head end or laterally on the housing.

Object of the present invention is to improve the flexibility and applicability of the generic damping device.

This is inventively achieved in that the actuating element - relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder - is rotatably mounted laterally on the housing and a, transmission is used that comprises at least two movably mounted parts.

Further advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the subclaims.

Due to the proposed gear, the damping device can be ideally adapted to the respective doors, flaps or drawers, since the cylinder is adjustable in relation to the housing, so that the point of impact of the movable furniture part is precisely adjustable. On the other hand, the characteristic curve or the damping characteristic of the damping device can thus be influenced in a targeted manner, since an adaptation to the different weights of the movable furniture parts and to the different forces of hinges or catching devices can take place.

An embodiment of the invention provides that a part of the transmission is formed by the actuating element and another part of the stop.

A preferred embodiment of the invention provides that the transmission has at least one worm. In this case, the configuration may be made such that the worm has at least one tooth or at least one preferably spiral thread. It can also be provided that the screw is designed to be more continuous. It is advantageously provided in this context that the stop is formed by the screw.

A preferred embodiment provides that the transmission is designed as a preferably self-locking worm gear. In order to move the worm in the axial direction of the housing, it may be favorable if the gear has at least one worm wheel. In this case, the configuration may be made such that the actuating element is formed by the worm wheel. The worm gear can be realized with different gear ratios. The embodiment with a worm gear has the advantage that in addition to a precise adjustment also a backlash or play-free adjustment is provided.

An advantageous embodiment of the invention provides that the stop is cup-shaped. The supported in the cup-shaped stop and / or anchored piston rod can thereby find a stable and slip-proof recording. It may be advantageous if the stop has a recess which is provided for receiving the piston rod, preferably for the free end thereof.

An embodiment of the invention provides that the stop has at least one, preferably annular design, limiting element which cooperates in an end position, preferably in the inner end position of the stop relative to the housing with a arranged or formed on the housing counter-stop and in a further position Can be disengaged from the counter-attack. This will be prevents the stop from being moved too far out of the housing and possibly out of engagement with the gear.

Advantageously, it is provided that the cylinder is formed in two parts, wherein the piston receiving the inner cylinder is surrounded by a slipped sleeve. The sleeve can be designed as a slider, which offers the movable furniture part a larger and thus secure contact surface as the cylinder itself. In order to influence the impact point of the movable furniture part on the damper, it may be advantageous that on the end face of the inner cylinder or the sleeve, an adjusting element is arranged in the form of a screw which is movably mounted in the axial direction of the housing.

A possible embodiment of the invention provides that a first projection is arranged or formed on the inner cylinder or on the sleeve, which in a position with a second projection arranged or formed on the housing in a position, preferably in the outer end position of the cylinder and / or the sleeve cooperates relative to the housing, and in a further position from the second projection can be brought out of engagement. This can not only prevent the cylinder from being moved too far out of the housing. Rather, the cylinder can be supported in the outer end position, so that upon actuation of the transmission, a further axial displacement of the cylinder is prevented and thereby the position of the piston or the piston rod can be varied relative to the cylinder. By moving the piston or the piston rod relative to the housing, the characteristic curve or the damping characteristic can be influenced so that an individual adjustment of the damping characteristic can be determined.

The damper itself can be carried out in the usual way as a fluid damper, which can be filled with a working fluid, such as oil or air. It may be advantageous to provide in addition to the fluid damping and a power storage, preferably a spring in the cylinder.

A possible embodiment of the invention, in which the damping device comprises a housing and a cylinder arranged in the housing, wherein in the cylinder a piston is slidably mounted with a piston rod, provides that at least one adjusting device is mounted on the housing, via which a stop for the Piston rod is movable relative to the housing.

A further possible variant of the invention in which the damping device has a housing and a cylinder arranged in the housing, wherein a piston with a piston rod is slidably mounted in the cylinder, provides that a first adjusting device is provided for adjusting the cylinder relative to the housing, and a separate second adjustment is arranged for adjusting a stop for the piston rod. It may be expedient if the first adjusting device is preferably formed by a worm gear, whereby the position of the cylinder is variable relative to the housing. It is advantageously provided that the second adjusting device is formed by a screw, by means of which the position of the piston rod relative to the cylinder is variable. In this context, it may be provided that the screw is preferably supported on an end face of the housing or the stop and that the screw outside the housing is actuated.

Finally, an exemplary embodiment of the invention provides that the housing has at least one, preferably two, mounting flange (s) which can be fastened for attachment to a furniture and / or a movable furniture part thereof.

• Fig. 1a, 1b eine Explosionsdarstellung sowie eine perspektivische Darstellung der Dämpfvorrichtung im zusammengebauten Zustand,
• Fig. 2a, 2b eine Draufsicht auf die Dämpfvorrichtung sowie einen Vertikalschnitt entlang der Achse A-A,
• Fig. 3a-3c verschiedene Vertikalschnitte der Dämpfvorrichtung mit unterschiedlicher Position der Schnecke,
• Fig. 4a-4c vergrößerte Detailansichten aus den Fig. 3a-3c,
• Fig. 5a-5d zwei verschiedene Ausführungsbeispiele mit vergrößerten Detailansichten, wobei die Kennlinie der Dämpfvorrichtung einstellbar ist,
• Fig. 6a, 6b eine Explosionsdarstellung des Ausführungsbeispiels aus Fig. 5c, 5d sowie die Dämpfvorrichtung im zusammengebauten Zustand,

Further details and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures with reference to the drawings. It shows or shows:

• Fig. 1a, 1b an exploded view and a perspective view of the damping device in the assembled state,
• Fig. 2a, 2b a top view of the damping device and a vertical section along the axis AA,
• Fig. 3a-3c different vertical sections of the damping device with different position of the screw,
• Fig. 4a-4c enlarged detail views from the Fig. 3a-3c .
• Fig. 5a-5d two different embodiments with enlarged detail views, wherein the characteristic of the damping device is adjustable,
• Fig. 6a, 6b an exploded view of the embodiment Fig. 5c, 5d and the damping device in the assembled state,

Fig. 1a shows an exploded view of an embodiment of the damping device 1 according to the invention, Fig. 1b shows the damping device 1 in the assembled state. The damping device 1 comprises a housing 2, in which a cylinder 3 is slidably mounted with the piston rod 5. For the movement of the cylinder 3, a gear 6 is provided, which is designed in the illustrated embodiment as a worm gear. The gear 6 comprises a displaceable in the axial direction of the housing 2 stop 7, which is formed by the screw 14. For axial displacement of the screw 14, the actuating element 9 is provided in the form of a worm wheel, which is preferably actuated by means of a screwdriver. The actuating element 9 is - relative to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 3 - laterally rotatably mounted on the housing 2. It is advantageously provided that the axis of rotation of the actuating element 9 extends transversely, preferably substantially at an angle of 90 °, to the longitudinal axis of the cylinder 3. This ensures that the actuating element 9 is accessible from the outside in a housing 2 with a circular, oval or polygonal cross-section on the lateral surface, with an easy accessibility of the actuating element 9 is enabled at a already mounted in or on a furniture damping device 1. It may be expedient if the angle between the axis 12 of the screw 14 and the axis 13 of the worm wheel 9 is preferably substantially 90 °. The worm 14 has on its upper side teeth 11 which are engageable with the worm wheel 9 in engagement. A rotational movement of the worm wheel 9 is converted into a linear movement of the worm 14. The piston rod 5 is always on the closed bottom of the cup-shaped screw 14, so that upon displacement of the screw 14 and a displacement of the cylinder 3 takes place relative to the housing 2. At the piston side facing away from the cylinder 3, a sleeve 8 can be pushed, which comes into contact with the damping to be damped furniture part during the damping process. Fig. 1b shows the assembled damping device 1, wherein by rotation of the worm wheel 9, a displacement of the cylinder 3 together with the sleeve 8 pushed thereon takes place relative to the housing 2.

Fig. 2a shows a plan view of the damping device 1. By rotation of the worm wheel 9, the non-apparent cylinder 3 together with the sleeve 8 can be adjusted relative to the housing 2. For attachment to a piece of furniture or to a movable furniture part 2 mounting flanges 10 are provided on both sides of the housing. FIG. 2 B shows a vertical section along the axis AA Fig. 2a , Evident is the housing 2, in which the screw 14 is adjustably mounted. The worm wheel 9 engages with its toothing in the teeth 11 of the screw 14, so that upon rotation of the worm wheel 9, an axial displacement of the worm 14 relative to the housing 2 takes place. The free end of the piston rod 5 is supported in a recess 15 of the screw 14, wherein the piston rod 5 is constantly supported on the bottom of the cup-shaped screw 14. With an axial displacement of the screw 14 thus the entire cylinder 3 is moved. On the piston rod 5, a piston 4 is formed, which is guided within the cylinder 3. On the cylinder 3, a sleeve 8 is pushed, which impinges on the furniture part to be damped. To limit the axial displaceability in the inner end position of the screw relative to the housing, a, preferably annular limiting element 16 is provided, which cooperates in the inner end position of the screw 14 with a housing 2 arranged on the counter-stop 16 '. In this embodiment, a change of the characteristic or the damping characteristic is not provided.

Fig. 3a-3c show different positions of the cylinder 3 with respect to the housing. 2 Fig. 3a shows the worm 14 in the rearmost position relative to the housing 2. In this position, the limiting element 16 and the counter-stop 16 'of the housing 2 abut each other. By rotation of the worm wheel 9, the screw 14 is gradually shifted to the right. Fig. 3b shows a mean position of the screw 14 and the cylinder 3 with respect to the housing 2, while Fig. 3c the outer end position of the screw 14 and the cylinder 3 relative to the housing 2 shows. In this position, the limiting element 16 and the counter-stop 16 'are spaced from each other.

Fig. 4a-4c show the enlarged detail views J, P, O from the Fig. 3a-3c , Fig. 4a shows the screw 14 and the cylinder 3 in the inner end position with respect to the housing 2, in which the limiting element 16 abuts against the counter-stop 16 '. The sleeve 8 has a latching projection 17 which rests permanently on a latching projection 17 'arranged on the screw 14. Fig. 4b shows the middle position of the screw 14 and the cylinder 3, wherein the limiting element 16 is spaced from the counter-stop 16 '. Fig. 4c shows the maximum displacement of the screw 14 and the cylinder 3, by the difference measure Δ _X.

Fig. 5a shows a further embodiment of the invention with two separate adjustment devices 18 and 19. The first adjustment 18 includes the already described worm gear with the screw 14 and the worm wheel 9. The first adjusting device 18 is provided for the adjustment of the cylinder 3 relative to the housing 2. In addition to the first adjusting device 9, a second adjusting device 19 is provided with which the piston rod 5 can be adjusted relative to the cylinder 3. As a result, the characteristic of the damping device 1 or its damping characteristic is influenced. The second adjusting device 19 has a screw 20 which is supported on the end face of the screw 14, wherein the screw 14 serves as a stop 7 for the piston rod 5. By the first adjusting device 18, an axial displacement of the screw 14 is blocked, upon actuation of the screw 20, consequently, the piston rod 5 and the piston 4 is displaced relative to the cylinder 4. By turning the screw 20 in a clockwise direction, the piston 4 is further pressed into the cylinder 3, so that a shorter Dämpfweg remains until the complete depression of the piston 4 in the cylinder 3. Upon rotation of the screw 20 in a counterclockwise direction, the piston 4 or the piston rod 5 is further moved out of the cylinder 3, so that a longer Dämpfweg of the piston 4 to the fully depressed position thereof is the result. Fig. 5b shows an enlarged view of the details Fig. 5a , The screw 14 has been moved with the aid of the first adjusting device 18 so far into the interior of the housing 2, so that the limiting element 16 of the screw 14 and the counter-stop 16 'of the housing 2 are spaced apart. The axial position of the screw 14 remains invariable, by operating the second adjusting device 19, the damping characteristic of the damping device 1 can be adjusted.

Fig. 5c and the enlarged detail view in Fig. 5d show an alternative embodiment to that in Fig. 5a respectively. Fig. 5b shown damping device 1, wherein the damping characteristic or the characteristic of the damping device 1 by the worm wheel 9 is adjustable. In order to prevent a further axial displacement of the cylinder 3, a first projection 21 is arranged or formed on the (inner) cylinder 3 or on its sleeve 8, preferably in the outer end position of the cylinder 3 or its sleeve 8 relative to the housing 2 cooperates, so that a further axial displacement of the cylinder 3 to the housing 2 is prevented. The piston rod 5 is supported again on the cup-shaped screw 14, wherein the screw 14 is displaceable by the worm wheel 9 in the axial direction of the housing 2. Since a further axial displacement is prevented by the cooperating projections 21, 22, upon actuation of the worm wheel 9, the piston rod 5 and the piston 4 can be more or less inserted into the cylinder 3. Depending on the position of the piston rod 5 and des Piston 4 with respect to the cylinder 3, the damping characteristics of the damping device 1 can be designed differently.

Fig. 6a shows an exploded view of the embodiment Fig. 5c respectively. Fig. 5d in which by adjusting the worm wheel 9, the characteristic of the damping device 1 is adjustable. The housing 2 has a projection 22 which cooperates with a projection 21 of the sleeve 8 to prevent further movement of the cylinder 3 with respect to the housing 2. The stopper 7 is formed by the cup-shaped screw 14, the teeth 11 are engageable with the worm wheel 9 in engagement. Fig. 6b shows the damping device 1 in the assembled state.

The present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown, but includes all variants and technical equivalents, which may fall within the scope of the following claims. Also, the location selected in the description, such as top, bottom, side, etc. to the respective Installation position or related to the immediately described and illustrated figure and are to be transferred to the new situation in a change in position mutatis mutandis. The cylinder itself may have diameter changes, grooves or combinations of both.

Claims (26)

1. A damping device (1) for movable furniture parts, comprising a housing (2) and a cylinder (3) arranged in the housing (2), wherein a piston (4) with a piston rod (5) is displaceable within the cylinder (3), wherein arranged on the housing (2) is at least one transmission (6) for adjusting the cylinder (3) and/or a stop (7) for the piston rod (5) relative to the housing (2), wherein a part of the transmission (6) is formed by an adjustable actuating element (9), wherein the transmission (6) converts a rotational movement of the actuating element (9) into a linear movement of the cylinder (3) and/or the stop (7) for the piston rod (5), characterized in that the actuating element (9) with respect to a longitudinal axis of said cylinder (3) - is laterally and pivotally arranged on the housing (2) and the transmission (6) comprises at least two parts being movably mounted.
2. The damping device according to claim 1, characterised in that the actuating element (9) can preferably be adjusted by a screwdriver.
3. The damping device according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the actuating element (9) has an axis of rotation (13) which runs crosswise to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder (3), preferably at an angle of essentially 90°.
4. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterised in that the actuating element (9) is in the form of an adjustment wheel which, when the wheel is turned, adjusts the position of the cylinder (3) and/or the stop (7) for the piston rod (5) relative to the housing (2).
5. The damping device according to claim 4, characterised in that the adjustment wheel (9) is arranged on an outer surface of the housing (2) and can at least sectionally be adjusted from the outside.
6. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 5, characterised in that the transmission (6) comprises at least one worm (14).
7. The damping device according to claim 6, characterised in that the worm (14) comprises at least one tooth (11) or at least one, preferably spiral-shaped, thread.
8. The damping device according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the worm (14) has multiple threads.
9. The damping device according to one of the claims 6 to 8, characterised in that the stop (7) is formed by the worm (14).
10. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the transmission (6) comprises at least one worm gear.
11. The damping device according to claim 11, characterised in that the actuating element (9) is formed by the worm gear.
12. The damping device according to claim 10 or 11, characterised in that the axis (13) of the worm gear (9) with respect to a longitudinal axis of the cylinder (3) runs crosswise, preferably essentially at an angle of 90°.
13. The damping device according to one of claims 10 to 12, characterised in that the angle between the axis (12) of the worm (14) and the axis (13) of the worm gear (9) is essentially 90°.
14. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the stop (7) is pot-shaped.
15. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 14, characterised in that the stop (7) comprises a, preferably annular-shaped, limiting element (16) which abuts in an end-position, preferably in the inner end-position of the stop (7) relative to the housing (2), a counterstop (16') arranged or formed on the housing (2) and in a further position can be disengaged from the counterstop (16').
16. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 15, characterised in that the stop (7) comprises a recess (15) which accepts the piston rod (5), preferably a free end thereof.
17. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 16, characterised in that the cylinder (3) is made in a two-piece construction, wherein the inner cylinder (3) - which contains the piston (4) - is surrounded by a pushed-on sleeve (8).
18. The damping device according to claim 17, characterised in that a first projection (21) is arranged or formed on the inner cylinder (3) or on the sleeve (8), said first projection (21) in one position abuts a second projection (22) arranged or formed on the housing (2), preferably in the outer end position of the cylinder (3) and/or the sleeve (8) with respect to the housing (2), and can be disengaged from the second protrusion (22) in a further position.
19. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 18, characterised in that the cylinder (3) can be filled with a fluid, preferably with oil or air.
20. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 19, characterised in that an energy-storing device, preferably a spring, is disposed in the cylinder (3).
21. A damping device for movable furniture parts comprising a housing and a cylinder arranged in the housing, wherein a piston with a piston rod is displaceable within the cylinder, according to one of the claims 1 to 20, characterised in that at least one adjustment device (18) is provided on the housing (2), by means of which a stop for the piston rod (5) can be moved in relation to the housing (2).
22. A damping device for movable furniture parts comprising a housing and a cylinder arranged in the housing, wherein a piston with a piston rod is displaceable within the cylinder, according to one of the claims 1 to 21, characterised in that a first adjustment device (18) is provided in order to adjust the cylinder (3) relative to the housing (2) and a separate second adjustment device (19) is provided for adjusting the stop (7) for the piston rod (5).
23. The damping device according to claim 22, characterised in that the first adjustment device (18) preferably comprises a worm gear so as to adjust the position of the cylinder (3) relative to the housing (2).
24. The damping device according to claim 22 or 23, characterised in that the second adjustment device (19) is formed by a screw (20) by which a position of the piston rod (5) relative to the cylinder (3) can be adjusted.
25. The damping device according to claim 24, characterised in that the screw (20) is preferably disposed on a front face of the housing (2) or a front face of the stop (7), wherein the screw (20) can be actuated from outside the housing (2).
26. The damping device according to one of the claims 1 to 25, characterised in that the housing (2) has at least one, preferably two, mounting flange(s) (10) for fastening the housing (2) to an item of furniture and/or to a movable furniture part thereof.

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