Classifications

• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
  • E02F9/20—Drives; Control devices
  • E02F9/22—Hydraulic or pneumatic drives
  • E02F9/2264—Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives
  • E02F9/2275—Hoses and supports therefor and protection therefor
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
  • E02F9/20—Drives; Control devices
  • E02F9/22—Hydraulic or pneumatic drives
  • E02F9/2264—Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives
  • E02F9/2267—Valves or distributors
• • E—FIXED CONSTRUCTIONS
  • E02—HYDRAULIC ENGINEERING; FOUNDATIONS; SOIL SHIFTING
  • E02F—DREDGING; SOIL-SHIFTING
  • E02F9/00—Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00
  • E02F9/20—Drives; Control devices
  • E02F9/22—Hydraulic or pneumatic drives
  • E02F9/2264—Arrangements or adaptations of elements for hydraulic drives
  • E02F9/2271—Actuators and supports therefor and protection therefor
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16K—VALVES; TAPS; COCKS; ACTUATING-FLOATS; DEVICES FOR VENTING OR AERATING
  • F16K27/00—Construction of housing; Use of materials therefor
  • F16K27/12—Covers for housings

Definitions

• the present invention relates generally to a device for sealing of an electric drive for an hydraulic valve according to the preamble of claim 1 .
• tractor for instance can be used in combination with several different tools/functions suited for different types of work. These tools/functions are connected, when they are to be used, to the hydraulic system of the tractor which is used for driving the tool/function.
• valve This connection of the hydraulic systems of the tool/function and the tractor is today designed such that the necessary hydraulic hoses of the hydraulic system of the tractor are placed with their connecting ends collected in a so called valve.
• This valve is usually placed on a suitable location on the tractor's exterior, where it is easily accessible for connecting and disconnecting, respectively.
• On front loaders the valve is usually placed on the right-hand side, close to the foundation of the loader.
• the valve comprises a control unit that regulates the flow in the respective hydraulic hose.
• This control unit is either manually operated by means of a wire connected to a suitable operating device, such as for instance a joystick, placed in the cabin of the machine.
• the control unit is electrically operated by means of an actuator, such as for instance a proportional solenoid valve, and a thereto associated electronic unit comprising printed circuit boards for controlling the actuator.
• the electrically controlled valves comprise a number of electric cables with associated connectors for connecting the operating device and the electronic unit and the power to the respective actuator. Further, costly connectors of high quality are required for the connections due to the placement of the valve on the front loaders' exterior which makes it exposed to moist, dirt and mechanical wear which can result in that the parts are damaged and the function being compromised.
• the object of the present invention is to provide a device for assembly and sealing of an electric drive used for an hydraulic valve which meet the above desires and reduces the problems described above. This is met by a device according to the independent claim.
• the device according to the invention comprises:
• the device according to the invention is characterized in that the sealing device comprise a lower part attached to the actuator and which sealingly abuts the actuator's periphery, and an upper part separated from the lower part, for housing the connection cables connection with the actuator and sealingly connects to the lower part.
• the device has a number of advantages as the connections between the connection cables and the actuator are significantly facilitated in that the sealing against intrusion of moist and dirt is moved to the connection cables inlet through the sealing device instead of as before required a sealed connection against the actuator.
• the simplified sealing also result in a cheaper device, partly due to the inherent components but also due to the facilitated assembly which reduces assembly time of the device.
• Another advantage of the device is that the previously used necessary and costly connections can be replaced by simpler and less costly connections, such as for instance pin sockets, due to their protected placement in the sealing device. These sockets provide a more reliable and persistent connection partly due to the longer life time of the pin sockets themselves, but also thanks to the protected placement in the sealing device.
• Another advantage of the device is that it is flexible in that it is adjustable to the current number of actuators, and in that these can be accommodated in one and the same sealing device.
• One embodiment of the device comprises four actuators integrated into one actuator unit and that the lower part is attached to the actuator device and is designed to follow and abut the periphery of the actuator device, and that the upper part is configured to cover all the connection cables connections with the respective actuator and be sealingly attached to the lower part.
• This embodiment of the invention is used in several applications as many machines have two separate functions that are controlled hydraulically and each comprises one hose for supplying pressurized hydraulic oil and one for returning hydraulic oil to the hydraulic system of the machine.
• the sealing device has an attachment device for the electronic box comprising printed circuit boards with software for controlling the actuators.
• This embodiment is very advantageous as the length of the connection cables that extends between the electronic box and the control unit is minimized. This is very advantageous especially if the device comprises several control units.
• Another advantage is that the assembly of the different parts is facilitated as the electronic device is connected to the sealing device instead of requiring a separate suspension device and separate assembly.
• connection cables extend from the electronic box and through the sealing device in connection to the respective actuator.
• This embodiment provides a simple and reliable solution for a sealed inlet of the connection cables through the sealing device.
• the device attached on the connection cable is preferably made from en elastic material, such as a suitable plastic material or rubber, and is placed so that the sections with larger cross- sections than the opening in the sealing device are placed on each side of the opening and thereby abut the sealing device's inner and outer side respectively and thereby seal the cable inlet.
• the openings are provided in the lower part of the sealing device and placed so that they are placed on the underside of the sealing device when the device is in an assembly position.
• connection cable outlets are protected from the electronic box by a coil cover.
• the coil cover has the advantage that it protects the cable outlets from weather and wind and reduces the risk that mechanical wear such as strokes and shocks will affect the device's function negatively.
• one of the surfaces of the lower or upper part of the sealing device that abuts each other provided with a seal which is placed such that it encloses all actuators.
• the lower part of the sealing device is attached to the actuator, or actuator unit, by means of screw fastening devices and is positioned in a preferred position with the aid of spacers.
• This embodiment offers a reliable and exact attachment of the sealing device.
• the upper part of the sealing is connected to the lower part with aid of snap-fit fastening or screw fastening devices.
• This connection of the upper and the lower part respectively makes it simple to open and close the sealing device during an inspection, or at a possible damage that needs to be repaired.
• FIG. 1 shows ⁇ first embodiment of the device schematically
• FIG. 2 shows some of the parts that are included in the device in figure 1 ;
• FIG. 3 shows an exploded view of the parts in figure 2.
• FIG 1 is shown an electrically remote controlled valve 10 for four hydraulic hoses, and in figure 2 and 3 some of the parts of the device according to the invention in more detail.
• the valve is provided with a not shown attachment device that during use is placed on the right side of a front loader.
• the valve is designed as a lump-shaped unit to which the respective end of the four in- respective outgoing hydraulic hoses are connected.
• the valve is used to connect the hydraulic system of the front loader with a replaceable function/tool that is connected to the front loader depending on the type of work to be performed.
• the hydraulic system of the front loader is connected to the valve through the hoses 1 1 and the function/tool is plugged to the valve with the hoses 12 as illustrated schematically in figure 1 .
• the hoses 12 are connected to the valve with the aid of suitable connectors provided in the ends of the respective hoses.
• the valve comprises an actuator 1 3 for controlling the flow in the respective hydraulic hose.
• the valve 10 is electrically controlled and the actuators 13 are in this case proportional solenoid valves for controlling the flow in each hose.
• Other alternative solutions for controlling the flow are also possible.
• the actuators 13 are placed by the valve in connection to the hose in which they are supposed to control the flow.
• the four actuators 13 are provided essentially in a row and housed in an actuator unit 15.
• a sealing device 2O At the upper end of the actuators 13 is placed a sealing device 2O.
• the sealing device 20 houses all the actuators' upper ends. Thanks to this a more compact device is achieved which is advantageous since you do not want large protruding parts that can be damaged or become exposed to unnecessary strain by weather or wind or by usage in an exposed environment.
• Another advantage of the sealing device enclosing a part of the actuator is that the heat from this helps drive out moist or condensation that still has been created inside. Thanks to choosing a thermoplastic construction material, preferably a reinforced glass fibre armed polyamide for the sealing device 20, which has a high moist absorption capability, moist can be driven out through the sealing device 20.
• the sealing device 20 is two-folded and has a lower part 21 and an upper part 22 that is separate from the lower part.
• the lower part has an opening 23 for each actuator 13.
• the openings 23 have the same shape as the outer contour of the actuator unit 15.
• An alternative embodiment of the lower part 21 comprises a larger opening 23 in which all actuators are housed.
• the lower part 21 is placed so that the openings 23 with accompanying seals, not shown, abut the periphery of the actuator with its end ending in the opening 23 in the sealing 20.
• These sealings preferably consist of material that advantageously can be molded together, and be integrated with the surrounding thermoplastic construction material, e.g. a thermoplastic elastomer such as thermoplastic polyurethane (TPE), which is a tight and elastic material.
• TPE thermoplastic polyurethane
• the upper part 22 is adapted to function as a sealing cover when it is placed on the lower part 21 . Between the abutting surfaces of lower 21 and upper part 22 respectively, some kind of sealing is placed, for instance a seal or similar, to prevent the intrusion of water and dirt into the sealing 20.
• the upper 22 and lower part 21 respectively is in this embodiment held in place in the preferred position together with the actuator with the aid of screws 24a that extend through holes 25 in the upper part 22 and corresponding holes 26 in the lower part 21 and further down in the actuator device's outer structure that surrounds the actuators.
• the upper 22 and lower part 21 of the actuator can be interconnected in a pre-assembly step by using screws 24b that are shorter than 24a and that do not extend down into the actuator or the actuator device's outer structure. This facilitates the assembly of the device. In another embodiment it is also possible by the aid of mirror welding to connect the upper part 22 with the lower part 21 .
• the sealing device 20 is provided with mounts 30 for suspension of an electronic device 31 that has mounting devices 34 designed to be hooked onto the mounts 30.
• Part of the elastic sealing in the opening 23 has a rib shape and is mounted in the mounts 30 to make the entire suspension elastic and better prepared to handle vibrations.
• a formation 35 of the upper part 22 can house a part of the mounting device 34 for the suspension.
• an opening in the electronic box can be made which is provided with a membrane, made of for instance Gore-Tex® to be able to let out moist in only one direction out from the electronic box.
• the electronic unit 31 comprises for instance printed circuit boards for controlling the actuators and from the electronic unit 31 connection cables 32 extend to the respective actuators 1 3.
• the connection cables 32 are connected to the actuators 13 on the upper end of the actuators 13, this is not shown in the attached drawings, and must therefore be guided into the sealing device 20. This is done though openings 27 in the lower part 21 of the seal 20. This position of the openings minimizes their exposure to weather and wind during use.
• each set of the connection cables is provided with a device 28 attached thereon with a larger cross-section area than the connection cable set.
• Somewhere along the device 28 placed on the connection cables is a groove 29 with a reduced cross-section.
• the groove's 29 width is adjusted to so that the groove 29 can be placed in the opening 27 in the lower part 21 of the sealing device and with aid of the increasing cross-section areas of the respective sides of the groove 29 which abut the area around the opening 27 of the sealing device 20 and thereby held sealingly in place in the opening 27.
• This device 28 attached on the cables is preferably manufactured of an elastic material that provides good sealing properties for the cable inlet.
• the shape and size of the openings 27 and the shape and size of the device 28 attached on the connection cables are adjusted in dependence of the size and form of the connection cables that extend between the electronic box 31 and the actuators 1 3 so that a desired sealing and restraint is achieved.
• connection cables' 32 opposite ends i.e. the ends that are connected in the electronic box 31
• connections are provided with connections, not shown, for reliable connection to the electronic box and the printed circuit board that are housed therein.
• the coil housing 33 is placed so that it covers and protects the connection cables' 32 connections placed on of the mainly vertical sides of the electronic box 31 and designed so that possible splashing water or dirt from above does not come into contact with the connections.
• the coil housing 33 is attached to the electronic box 31 and has a size which mainly corresponds to the side surface of the electronic box 31 to which it is attached.
• both the sealing device 20, the electronic box 31 and the coil housing are designed with rounded corners to prevent anything from hooking onto any of the parts.
• the sealing device can comprise more than two parts as long as these parts form a sealing unit that protects the actuators' cable connections in a reliable way.
• the device can be designed in various sizes and forms without departing from the principle of this invention. Further, attachments of the sealing device and electronic box to the valve and component have different designs depending on which properties are inquired for in the specific application where the device is used.

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• Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• General Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
• Mining & Mineral Resources (AREA)
• Civil Engineering (AREA)
• Structural Engineering (AREA)
• Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
• Valve Housings (AREA)
• Casings For Electric Apparatus (AREA)

Applications Claiming Priority (2)

Publications (2)

Family

ID=43011329

Family Applications (1)

Country Status (4)

Citations (6)

Family Cites Families (4)

• 2009
  • 2009-04-24 SE SE0900553A patent/SE534040C2/sv unknown
• 2010
  • 2010-04-23 WO PCT/SE2010/000108 patent/WO2010123429A1/en active Application Filing
  • 2010-04-23 CN CN201080017493.XA patent/CN102405366B/zh active Active
  • 2010-04-23 EP EP10767376.6A patent/EP2422122A4/de not_active Withdrawn

Patent Citations (6)

Non-Patent Citations (1)

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