EP2309893A1

EP2309893A1 - Actuator for parts of pieces of furniture, comprising at least one disconnectable shape memory element

Info

Publication number: EP2309893A1
Application number: EP09772014A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Günther Zimmer; Martin Zimmer
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 2008-07-02
Filing date: 2009-07-02
Publication date: 2011-04-20
Also published as: US20110138801A1; JP2011526164A; DE102008030933A1; WO2010000244A1

Abstract

The invention relates to an actuator that moves a movable part of a piece of furniture relative to a stationary part of the piece of furniture into an open or a closed position by means of a driving device comprising a shape memory element. The driving device is attached to one part of the piece of furniture and rests against the other part of the piece of furniture via a coupling element. The driving device comprises a shortening shape memory element as a driving element, said shape memory element being arranged between the coupling element and a mounting point that is stationary relative to the driving device. The driving device of the actuator according to the invention has at least one shape memory element as a drive unit, each shape memory element being protected against excessive stress caused by malfunctions.

Description

Actuator for MöbelstückteiIe with at least one detachable shape memory element

Description:

The invention relates to an actuating device which sets a movable piece of furniture furniture in relation to a fixed piece of furniture by means of a drive device having a shape memory element in an opening or a closing direction in motion. The drive device is fixed to the one piece of furniture and is applied to the other furniture piece part via a coupling element. As a drive element, the drive device has a shortening shape memory element which is arranged between the coupling element and a bearing point which is stationary relative to the drive device.

From DE 10 2008 027 541 such an actuator, for example, for opening drawers or furniture doors is known. The present invention is based on the problem to develop an actuator for opening or closing of furniture parts whose drive device has at least one shape memory element as a drive, each driving shape memory element is protected from overloading by malfunction or incorrect operation.

The problem is solved with the features of claim 1. Between the shape memory element and the driven coupling element or the stationary bearing point a force and / or form-fitting switching clutch is arranged.

According to the present invention, within an actuator, there is proposed a drive device which can be driven by means of one or more e.g. bundled shape memory elements performs a force-generating linear movement. The linear movement is transmitted directly or by means of a gear to that piece of furniture which is movably mounted on the piece of furniture which carries the drive device. The one or more shape memory elements may be one or more times deflected over rollers or slides for this purpose.

The possibly used transmission of the drive device can e.g. a lever gear, a gear train, a rack gear or the like.

For the linear stroke, which counteracts the working stroke of the shape memory element, for example, a spring drive, a gravity drive or a second shape memory element is used. The stationary furniture parts of a piece of furniture are, for example, the body of a cabinet, the body of a desk or a door frame. The movable furniture pieces are drawers, sliding doors, hinged or swinging doors, flaps, exit doors or other moving parts that are swung out or removed from the stationary piece of furniture for a particular purpose.

The drive device is usually arranged on the stationary furniture piece part. However, it is also conceivable to fasten the drive device on the movable furniture piece part in order then to repel the stationary piece of furniture.

The linear motion shape memory elements, e.g. can be used to open drawers can be placed in the carcass next to, behind, above or below the drawer. In this case, its longitudinal direction may be oriented parallel, transversely or obliquely to the direction of drawer opening. It is also conceivable to move the shape memory elements along the body rear wall over a plurality of drawers vertically or diagonally to the body shape.

As a central drive element, the shape memory element is exposed to great loads when the stroke movement is slowed or stopped during its working stroke. In order to prevent overloading of the shape memory element, it is supported via a force-dependent opening coupling on the stationary piece of furniture or on the opening or closing mechanism of the movable furniture part.

This coupling can be a positive coupling in the form of a magnetic coupling. In this case, both parts to be coupled can be coupled via permanent magnetic or electromagnetic forces. It is also possible a form-fitting Use coupling in the form of a symmetrical or asymmetric Rastgesperres. Likewise, a clutch is conceivable that both positively and positively coupled and disengaged.

Further details of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and the following description of at least one schematically illustrated embodiment.

FIG. 1 shows a drive device with a pull wire drive acting via a bent lever with the drawer closed;

Figure 2 housing to Figure 1, enlarged;

Figure 3 thrust carriage to Figure 1, enlarged;

Figure 4 slide carriage to Figure 1, enlarged;

Figure 5 sliding latch to Figure 1, enlarged;

Figure 6 as Figure 1, but with pivoted lever;

Figure 7 as Figure 6, but with pivoted lever back;

FIG. 8 as in FIG. 1, but with the lever pushed open;

Figure 9 as Figure 8, but immediately after blocking the opening stroke of the drawer; Figure 10 magnetic coupling with rubber damping, opened;

Figure 11 magnetic coupling with pneumatic damping, opened;

Figure 12 as Figure 11, but closed;

Figure 13 detent coupling, closed; Figure 14 locking coupling, opened.

FIG. 1 shows an actuating device for electrically opening a drawer (21) of a lower cabinet (10), in which the drive device (230) has, for example, a special pull wire (91) as drive element. The puller wire (91) is made of a shape memory alloy, such as a nickel-titanium alloy. This alloy has, for example, a so-called intrinsic two-way effect, that is, the pull wire can remember two forms - one at high temperature and one at low temperature. The puller wire (91) can thus switch back and forth on its own due to a temperature change between a stretched cold mold and a shrunken warm mold. For heating, the pull wire (91) is briefly energized via its ends. The connecting wires are not shown here.

The single puller wire (91) here has a round cross-section and e.g. a diameter of 0.5 millimeters. The Zugdrahtquerschnitt may also have an oval, square, rectangular, elliptical, star or U-shaped and any other conceivable cross-sectional shape.

The housing (231) shown in FIGS. 1 to 9 has, for example, the shape of a parallelepipedic container with e.g. flat caseback (245) and four flat walls. In the housing (231), in the u.a. two slides (250, 260) are mounted on a sliding lever (270) and two tension springs (241, 249), a guide frame (232) with a recess (233) and a spring bearing block (246) is arranged on the housing bottom (245), cf. , Also Figure 2. The housing (231) is - closed during operation - with a lid which - mirror image of the housing bottom (245) - also has a guide frame (232) and a recess (233).

The longitudinally displaceable sliding carriage (250) arranged longitudinally displaceably in the guide frame (232) is shown in longitudinal section in FIG. The thrust carriage (250) consists essentially of an upper and a lower plate, which are connected to one another via an at least approximately U-shaped web (251), so that the thrust slide (250) has an opening oriented towards the sliding lever (270). The longitudinal side of the sliding carriage (250) forms a rack (252). The right end side of the sliding carriage (250) has a recess formed as a bearing (253). The sliding carriage (250) has a rear wall (254) having a blind hole (255). In the blind hole, for example, a permanent magnet (31) is glued.

In Figure 1 is located to the left of the slide carriage (250) of the comparatively constructed slide carriage (260), which is also guided in the guide frame (232). It also consists of two e.g. parallel plates, which are connected to each other via a u-shaped web (261). However, its opening is oriented in the direction of the body rear wall (12), cf. Figure 1. In the upper and lower plate of the slide carriage (260), cf. 4, there is in each case a 1-shaped slot slot (264), whose larger, straight center line section in the extension of the rolling line of the rack (252) of the sliding carriage (250). The angled in the opening direction (1) short portion of the slot (264) is at least so long that its left shear flank (265) has a several tenths of a millimeter long straight section.

The slide carriage (260) has as part of the web (261) a front wall (262) into which a blind bore (263) is machined. In the blind hole (263), for example, a magnet (32) or a magnetizable plate glued, clamped or fixed in a comparable manner. The cylindrical magnet (32), for example, whose center line is aligned parallel to the slide carriage travel direction, is aligned with the magnet (31) of the sliding carriage (250). The focal points of the magnetic poles lie on the magnetic center lines. The north pole of one magnet (31) faces the south pole of the other magnet (32). According to Figures 1, 6, 7, and 8, the carriage (250, 260) via the magnets (31, 32) are non-positively coupled with each other.

FIG. 5 shows, in a horizontal section, a sliding latch (266) mounted in the slotted guide (260) in the slotted slot (264) and guided together with a hinged latch (266)

Pull tab (92). The slide pawl (266) has a lateral, e.g. 100 angular degrees projecting Klinkenhebelarm (267), which carries at its free end a bearing point (248) for a tension spring (249). This end projects laterally out of the opening of the carriage (260). In the region of the kinking point, between the sliding pawl (266) and the pawl lever arm (267), there is a slot penetrated by a guide pin (269) into which a pull tab (92) fixing the pull wire (91) is inserted.

The pull tab (92) is supported on the guide pin (269). The guide pin (269) protrudes at the top and bottom out of the slide latch (266) so far that it is securely guided in the two slots (264) of the housing (231). At the front end of the sliding pawl (266) there is a control pin (268) which is parallel to the guide pin (269) and penetrates both the slot slots (264) and into the recesses (233) of the housing (231).

The sliding lever (270) has a substantially disc-shaped hub (272) and a sickle-shaped curved long arm (271), cf. FIG. 1. The hub (272) has a partial toothing (273) facing away from the arm (271), whose eg six teeth are at, for example, 180 degrees from the hub (272). protrude. In the center of the hub is the pivot pin (276) of the push-on lever (270). The arm (271) has a contact surface (277) which is curved with respect to the rear wall (22), the curvature corresponding, for example, to a cylinder jacket section, cf. Figure 1. This contact surface (277) contacted - when sliding the drawer (21) - first, for example, the drawer rear wall (22) with the first contact line (278). Thus, the Aufschiebhebel (270) acts on the drawer (21) at the start of movement with a shortened example to half the lever arm. Just before the extending drawer (21) from the slip lever (270) dissolves, it touches the slide lever (270) with the last contact line (279). The sliding lever (270) then acts with its maximum lever arm.

Should the contact surface (277) have a curvature transversely to the curvature shown in FIG. 1 - should the contact surface therefore be curved in a curved manner - the contact lines (278, 279) will become contact points.

To slide the drawer (21) with its rear wall (22) against the switch (8) - in the closing direction (2), see. Figure 9 - moves. The latter energizes the puller wire (91) via a downstream electrical or electronic circuit. Thus pulls the puller wire (91) which is fixedly supported on the body-side support frame (15) in a bearing (237), on the pull tab (92) on the sliding pawl (266), see. FIG. 1. At this point in time, the sliding pawl (266) is in its right-hand end position in the oblong slot (264) of the carriage carriage (260) seated on the right in the guide frame (232). The control pin (268) abuts against the trailing edge (265) of the slot gate (264). In this position it is held by the action of the tension spring (249). The shortening puller wire (91) pulls the combination of slide pawl (266), slide carriage (260) and slide carriage (250) to the left. In this case, the partial toothing (273) of the slide-in lever (270) mounted pivotably in the housing (23) in the bearing (275) rolls on the

Rack (252) of the sliding carriage (250) from. The sliding lever (270) pivots in a clockwise direction, cf. Figure 8, against the rear wall (22) and thus accelerates the drawer (21) in the opening direction (1).

Shortly before the sliding lever (270) reaches its end position shown in Figure 6, the control pin (268) abuts against the run-on slope (234) of the housing-side recess (233), see. Also figure 2. As a result, the control pin (268) is pushed by the thrust flank (265). The slide pawl (266) pivots clockwise about the guide pin (269), e.g. 13.5 degrees. The control pin (268) thus passes into that region of the slot gate (264), which is oriented parallel to the direction of displacement of the sliding carriage (250). Thus, the control pin (268) disconnects the composite of slide (260) and slide carriage (250) from the puller wire (91).

As a result, the sliding carriage (250) together with the slide carriage (260) is pulled to the right by the pulling action of the tension spring (241), with which the push-on lever (270) pivots back, cf. Figure 7. The sliding pawl (266) is not moved.

During the subsequent elongation phase of the puller wire (91), the tension spring (249) suspended on the pawl lever arm (267) causes the slide pawl (266) to shift to the right. As soon as the puller wire (91) has cooled, the control pin (268) again reaches the trailing edge (265) in order to move the Coupling shear carriage (250) to the puller wire (91), cf. FIG. 1

With a closing of the drawer (21), the actuating device is again in its initial position.

FIG. 8 shows the actuating device when the drawer (21) is opened. The just drilled pull wire (91) powerfully pulls the slide carriage (260) to the left. It is magnetically coupled to the slide carriage (250). The sliding lever (270) rolls on the rack (252). He is already swung out by about 30 degrees and slides - the drawer (21) in the opening direction (1) accelerating - along the drawer rear wall (21) along.

Now the drawer movement is abruptly decelerated. For example, the opening drawer (21) abuts an external object or is intentionally stopped by the operator. This leads to an above-average tensile stress in the puller wire (91), which tries to shorten further by the already existing heating. As soon as this tensile stress exceeds the clutch opening force, the clutch (30) opens, ie the magnets (31, 32) separate from one another. As a result, the slide carriage (260) continues to move to the left while tensioning the tension spring (249) further, while the slide carriage (250) driven by the tension spring (241) moves very fast to the right and pushes the slide lever (270 ) swings back abruptly, cf. 9 until it has reached its initial position shown in FIG. Thus, the drawer (21) can move almost unhindered in the closing direction (2). As soon as the pull wire (91) cools down, ie lengthens, it is pulled to the right by the tension spring (249) via the slide pawl (266). In this case, the control pin (268) takes along the guide carriage (260) via the slot gate (264). When the pull wire (91) is cool, the magnets (31) and (32) make contact. The clutch (30) closes again. Now you can do another drawer opening stroke.

Possibly. Prevents premature energizing of the puller wire (91), in which, for example, the end position of the guide carriage (260), as shown in FIGS. 1 and 7, is monitored by a sensor. The sensor, e.g. a mechanical limit switch, a non-contact magnetic / reed switch or a light barrier, detects the end position of the pawl lever arm (267) of the slide pawl (266). As soon as the sensor does not recognize the right-hand end position of the pawl lever arm (267), energization of the puller wire (91) is prevented.

FIG. 10 shows the uncoupled carriages (260) and (250) lying side by side. The magnet (32) of the slide carriage (260) here has a central blind hole (35), in which a rubber damper (36) is inserted and / or glued. The rubber damper (36) has the task to dampen the last tenths of a millimeter of Einkuppelhubs. As a result, the otherwise resulting clacking noise is reduced.

According to FIGS. 11 and 12, the last tenth millimeters of the engagement stroke are pneumatically braked. In this exemplary embodiment, the cylindrical magnet (131) is extended on the sliding carriage (250) relative to the magnet (31) of FIG. 10, and the magnet (32) of FIG. 10 is replaced by a thin magnetizable iron plate (132) on the guide carriage. Latter can of course also be made of a magnetic material. In addition, the blind hole (263) is extended so that the magnet (131) gets a dipping path several millimeters long for coupling. The blind bore (263) widens slightly funnel-shaped in the direction of the slide carriage (250).

When engaging this non-positive magnetic coupling (130), see. Also in FIG. 12, the magnet (131) dips into the blind hole (263) and displaces the trapped air from the narrowing bore (263). As a result, the engagement movement is - compared with a piston end cushioning - braked.

FIGS. 13 and 14 show a form-locking, asymmetrically acting detent coupling (330) with which the carriages (250) and (260) are coupled. The latching coupling (330) designed as a latching mechanism has a blocking device (331) integrally formed on the front wall (262) of the slide carriage (260). The blocking device (331) here consists, for example, of two elastic hooks which, when the locking coupling (330) is actuated, are inserted in a, e.g. funnel-shaped narrowing bore (337) of the rear wall (254) of the sliding carriage (250) engage. The rear wall (254) with the bore (337) forms the locking piece (336) of the detent coupling (330).

The hooks of the obturator (331) have a latching flank (333) and a blocking flank (332). When the detent coupling (330) is engaged, the blocking flank (332), which includes a 45 ° angle with the locking direction (339), abuts a 45 ° bevel of the bore (337). The latching edge (333) encloses an angle of 15 degrees with the blocking direction (339). This small angle should keep the Einkuppelwiderstand low, while the 45 ° angle of the locking edge (332) should allow a large holding force.

The couplings (30), (130) and (330) are arranged in the embodiments between the puller wire (91) and the push carriage (250). Of course, the couplings (30, 130, 330) can also be positioned between the puller wire (91) and the body side bearing (237). It is also conceivable that the couplings (30, 130, 330) are integrated into the puller wire (91), provided they have their own guide system and a spring element for the closing movement.

To open the drawer (21), the switch (8) actuated by a closing movement can also be replaced by an actuating element which is arranged somewhere on the body (11), the drawer (21) or at another suitable location. A wireless actuator is conceivable.

List of reference numbers:

1 opening direction

2 closing direction 8 switches, electrical

10 base cabinet

11 carcass, base cabinet body, furniture piece

12 rear wall, carcass rear wall 15 supporting frame

21 drawer, furniture part

22 rear wall, drawer rear wall

30 magnetic coupling

31 magnet, sliding carriage side

32 magnet, magnetizable plate, pull wire side

35 Blind hole in (32) 36 rubber damper, elastomer body

91 pull wire, shape memory element

92 pull tab

130 magnetic coupling

131 magnet, sliding carriage side

132 Plate made of soft iron, pull wire side

230 drive device

231 housing with cover

232 guide frame

233 deepening 234 starting slope

235 Breakthrough for (271)

236 Breakthrough for (91)

237 depository for (91)

238 depository for (249)

239 depository for (241)

241 coil tension spring

245 caseback

246 spring bearing block

248 depository at (267)

249 tension spring

250 push carriages

251 bridge, U-shaped

252 rack

253 depository

254 back wall of (250)

255 recess, blind hole

260 slide carriage

261 bridge, U-shaped

262 front wall

263 recess, blind hole

264 long hole scenery

265 flank of (264)

266 sliding latch

267 latch lever arm

268 control pins

269 guide pins 270 Sliding lever, coupling element 271 Arm, curved 272 Hub 273 Tei1verzahnung 275 pivot bearing 276 Schwenkbo1zen 277 contact surface 278 first contact line 279 last contact line

330 Locking coupling, locking mechanism 331 Locking device, hook 332 Locking edge 333 Latching edge 334 Clearance 336 Locking piece 337 Bore 339 Locking direction

Claims

claims:

An actuating device which sets a movable furniture piece part (21) in motion in an opening or a closing direction relative to a stationary piece of furniture part (11) by means of a drive device (230) having at least one shape memory element (91),

- Wherein the drive device (230) is fixed to a piece of furniture (11, 21) and on the other piece of furniture (21, 11) via a coupling element (270) rests and

- wherein the drive device (230) as drive element has a shortening shape memory element (91) which is arranged between the coupling element (270) and a relative to the drive device stationary bearing point (237), characterized

- That between the shape memory element (91) and the coupling element to be driven (270) or the fixed bearing point (237) a force and / or form-locking switching coupling (30, 130, 330) is arranged.

2. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape memory element (91) for driving force generation shortens when heated and reversibly extended on cooling again.

3. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the respective shape memory element (91) is heated by energizing.

4. An actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the shape memory element (91) consists of a wire or a bundle of wires, wherein the single shape memory element (91) may have any cross-sectional shape.

5. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling element (270) with the shape memory niselement (91) via a composite of a sliding carriage (250) and a slide carriage (260) is connected, wherein between the carriage (250, 260 ) A magnetic coupling (30, 130) or a detent coupling (330) is arranged.

6. Actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling (30, 130) is a magnetic coupling having a first (31, 131) and a second coupling element (32, 132), wherein at least one coupling element (31, 131; 32, 132) is a permanent magnet or an electromagnet.

7. Actuating device according to claim 6, characterized in that the engagement movement of the magnetic coupling (30, 130) by means of a gumxnielastischen (36) or pneumatic damping (236, 131) is braked.

8. Actuator according to claim 5, characterized in that the latching coupling (330) is a locking mechanism of a catcher (331) and a locking piece (336) with a limited holding force.

9. Actuating device according to claim 8, characterized in that the catcher (331) is at least one double-sided hook whose locking edge (339) oriented locking edge (332) occupies a relation to the locking direction (339) greater angle than its Einrastflanke (333 ).

10. Actuating device according to claim 1, characterized in that the furniture part (11, 21) fixed drive device (230) on the other piece of furniture (21, 11) via the coupling element (270) only temporarily applied.