EP3482119A1

EP3482119A1 - Coupling device

Info

Publication number: EP3482119A1
Application number: EP17732305.2A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Hakan Bolat
Original assignee: Eisele Pneumatics GmbH and Co KG
Current assignee: Eisele Pneumatics GmbH and Co KG
Priority date: 2016-07-09
Filing date: 2017-06-22
Publication date: 2019-05-15
Also published as: WO2018010828A1; CA3030199A1; US11480282B2; US20190203866A1; DE102016008398A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling device having two releasably interconnected coupling parts (1, 3) which are movably arranged relative to one another in at least one direction of rotation, characterized in that each coupling part (1, 3) has a plurality of fluid channels (x1-x3, y1-y3,) which are separated in groups from each other and open into respectively assignable connecting spaces (39, 41, 43). Said connecting spaces are located at adjacent end sides (15, 17) of the coupling parts (1, 3) and are separated from one another within a coupling part (1, 3).

Description

coupling device

The invention relates to a coupling device, with two releasably interconnected coupling parts, which are arranged movable in at least one direction of rotation relative to each other. Coupling devices of this type are used, for example, for connecting two hose lines or for connecting a hose line to a fixed line connection. Due to the rotatability of the coupling parts, a bending or torsional load of the line sections which possibly occurs when the one line section is rotated is reduced or avoided. In the line sections different media can be performed, such as liquids or gases, such as compressed air in pneumatic applications.

Coupling devices of this type are state of the art. For example, document DE 20 2009 005 674 U1 shows a device of this type for the pivotable connection of two line sections. In this solution, a coupling part is formed in the manner of an angle piece, on which the other coupling part is rotatably arranged such that the fluid passage of a coupling part to the fluid passage in the other coupling part runs at right angles. This device is for connecting a provided by hose connector connected tubing and a pipe.

Based on this prior art, the invention has the object to provide a coupling device of the type mentioned, which makes it possible to interconnect groups of line sections, which are connected to connection points of respective fluid channels of the coupling parts which are relative to each other are rotatable. According to the invention this object is achieved by a coupling device having the features of claim 1 in its entirety.

According to the characterizing part of claim 1, a significant feature of the invention is that each coupling part has a plurality of fluid channels, the groups separated from each other in each assignable connection spaces open, which are located on the adjacent end faces of the coupling parts and are separated from each other within a coupling part. As a result, a multi-rotary connector is available, which can exercise the function of a plurality of the prior art rotary connector as a structural unit. By groupwise separation of the fluid channels groups of lines that carry different media can be rotatably connected to each other. In advantageous embodiments, the connection spaces into which the respective fluid channels open, on at least one coupling part, preferably on both coupling parts, in concentric ring channel arrangement in a common plane lying or in axial and radial stepped arrangement on each assignable coupling part frontally be provided , When lying in a common plane connecting spaces consisting of two coupling parts coupling body in longitudinal direction especially short. The stepped arrangement of the connection spaces allows a particularly slim design of the device.

The respective group of fluid channels may consist of one or two or more channels, wherein on each coupling part, the same number of channels for a group is used, which open at predetermined locations in the respective assignable connection space, the congruent with the opposite connection space the other coupling part is arranged such that its channels belonging to a group come into aligned fluid connection with the other channels of this group of the one coupling part. Alternatively, a different number of fluid channels may be provided for a respective group in the coupling parts, so that the channels of one coupling part continue in the other coupling part in a different number of channels. In this way, the coupling device can perform the function of a rotary distributor.

In the coupling parts, the fluid channels can be formed by mutually parallel or oblique bores with the same or different diameters from the respective coupling part and at their end facing away from the respective connection space each have a connection point for attaching a fluid line, such as a pneumatic line. With particular advantage, a rotary bearing, in particular in the form of a roller bearing, such as a ball bearing, may be arranged between the one coupling part and a fixing part for the rotatable arrangement of the one coupling part relative to the other coupling part, with the other coupling part in the coupling position relative to the other Can be set coupling part for making the coupling connection. As a fixing part a union nut can be provided to form a screw connection between the coupling parts.

Advantageously, the arrangement can be made such that the individual connection spaces in the respective coupling part in the axial and / or radial direction by means of a sealing system with a plurality of sealing rings relative to the environment and against each other are sealed. Preferably, this sealing rings are provided in the form of O-rings. In a stepped arrangement of the connecting spaces, these can be formed at least partially by an axial gap between the facing end faces of the two coupling parts, wherein at the same axial length of the gap, the volume of each in the stepped arrangement each outer connection space is greater than the volume of the in the Grading subsequent connection space.

Furthermore, in the case of a stepped arrangement of the connecting spaces, the arrangement may advantageously be such that the area along the longitudinal axes of the two coupling parts is kept free of channels and a guide pin of one coupling part engages in a sealing manner in a guide receptacle of the other coupling part, wherein preferably between guide pin and guide receiving a spacer and / or a thrust bearing of predeterminable axial length is used. As a result, the fixed by means of the fixing part in the coupling position coupling parts for the relative rotational movement are guided very safe, especially when both a second pivot bearing position and a precise axial positioning of the coupling parts are formed by a thrust bearing. In embodiments in which a different number of guide channels of the same design is present in the coupling parts, Fluid throttling can be achieved when the number of channels in a group at the coupling point decreases.

The invention with reference to embodiments shown in the drawings will be explained in detail. Show it:

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view in perspective exploded view of an embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention;

2 and 3 are perspective oblique views of the plug-like or can-like coupling part of the embodiment;

Fig. 4 is an end view of the male coupling part;

5 shows a longitudinal section of the embodiment according to the section line V-V of Fig. 4.

6 is an end view of the can-like coupling part of the exemplary embodiment according to the section line VII-VII; a longitudinal section of the embodiment according to the section line VII-VII of Fig. 6; Fig. 8 is an exploded perspective view of an oblique view of a second embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention; 9 is a side view of the second embodiment of the

Coupling device; an end view of the can-like coupling part of the second embodiment; an end view of the male coupling part of the two-th embodiment; a longitudinal section of the second embodiment according to the section line Xll-Xll of Fig. 1 1; an angular section of the second embodiment according to the section line Xlll-Xlll of Fig. 1 1; a longitudinal section of the second embodiment according to the section line XIV-XIV of Fig. 1 1; a longitudinal section of the second embodiment according to the section line XV-XV of Fig. 1 1; and a perspective oblique view of the separately shown male coupling part of the second embodiment.

Figs. 1 to 7 show a first embodiment of the coupling device according to the invention. This has a first, male coupling part 1, which is shown separately in Fig. 2, and a can-like second coupling part 3, which is shown separately in Fig. 3. Both coupling parts 1, 3 have the shape of metallic round body, wherein the can-like coupling part 3 is formed in one piece, while the plug-like coupling Part 1, as most clearly in FIG. 1 can be removed, is constructed in several parts. At the outer ends 5 and 7, which in the assembled coupling position of the coupling parts 1, 3, as shown in Fig. 5 and 7, are outboard, both coupling parts 1, 3 connection points for fluid lines (not shown). At the male coupling part 1, the connection points with 9 and the can-like coupling part 3 with 1 1 are numbered. In the connection points 9 and 1 1 seated line connectors are numbered only in Figs. 1 to 3 with 13. In the coupling position shown in Fig. 5 and 7 are the coupling parts 1 and 3 with their extending in a radial plane end faces 1 5 and 1 7 to each other, wherein the can-like coupling part 3 with a on the front side 1 7 axially projecting peripheral edge 1 9 the in diameter tapered end portion 21 of the male coupling part 1 overlaps. To fix the coupling parts 1, 3 in this mutual rotation enabling system, the male coupling part 1 has a fixing part in the form of a union nut 23 which is screwed to an external thread 25 of the can-like coupling part 3. In the end region opposite the threaded section, the union nut 23 has an inner annular groove 27, to which a bearing seat 29 for a ball bearing 31 adjoins inwards. By sitting in the annular groove 27 circlip in the form of an inner-Seeger ring 33 which bears against the outer ring of the ball bearing 31, this is fixed axially immovable in the bearing seat 29. Since the seated on a cylindrical end portion 35 on the coupling part 1 ball bearing 31 with its inner ring is supported on a radially projecting annular collar 37, the coupling parts 1, 3 by means of the union nut 23 in the coupling position securable.

For groups to be connected to the coupling parts 1 and 3 (not shown) pipe sections fluid channels are formed in the coupling parts 1 and 3 through holes in the coupling parts 1 and 3 of the connection points 9 and 1 to the in Fig. 5 and 7 with 1 5 and 1 7 designated end faces. In the male coupling part 1, the fluid channels are each designated by one of a respective group number one to three preceded by x and dosenartigen Kupplungstei l 3 preceded by a group number y. At the coupling parts 1, 3 for each of the three groups provided in the present example fluid channels each have a connecting space formed, of which provided for the group x1, y1 connecting space with 39, provided for the group x2, y2 with 41 and the for Group x3, y3 provided with 43 is designated. The connecting spaces 39, 41, 43 are formed by depressions in the end faces 1 5, 1 7. As can be seen most clearly from FIGS. 2 and 3, the recess for the radially innermost, coaxial connection space 39 is formed by a circular cylinder, while the recesses for the connection areas 41 and 43 located radially further outward are formed by concentric Ring grooves are formed, between which the non-recessed areas of the end faces 1 5, 1 7 concentric annular ribs 40, 42 and 44 form, s. Fig. 2 and 3. At the end faces 1 5, 1 7, the connecting spaces 39, 41, 43 sealed by O-rings 45 against each other. To seal against the environment, another O-ring 47 is provided, which seals between the

End portion 21 of the male coupling part 1 and the overarching peripheral edge 21 of the can-like coupling part 3 forms.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 1 to 7, in each case the same number of fluid channels, in the example shown nine fluid channels, are provided for each group in the coupling parts 1 and 3. As shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the channels x1, y1 extend coaxially in both coupling parts 1 and 3. In the plug-type coupling part 1, the channels x3 are also axially parallel, while the channels x2, starting from the connection points 9, are divergent with respect to one another, because As the comparison of FIGS. 4 and 6 shows, the connection points 1 1 for the fluid channels y2 on a larger radius are located as the connection point 9 in the first coupling part for the channels x2 of the same group. In the can-like coupling part 3, as shown in FIGS. 5 and 7, the fluid channels y1, y2 and y3 extend parallel to the axis for all groups 1 to 3.

If a different number of channels is provided in the coupling parts 1, 3, the device may form a line rotary distributor, or it may, with the same type of channels, by a reduced number of channels in one of the coupling parts 1, 3, a fluid Throttling can be achieved. The latter can also be achieved by different channel cross sections in the coupling parts 1, 3.

In the example shown, a lock nut 49 is provided on a threaded portion of the coupling part 3 for fixing the can-like coupling part 3 to a structure. The fixing of one or the other coupling part 1, 3 could also take place by means of end-formed threaded bores 53 and retaining screws (not shown).

FIGS. 8 to 16 show a second exemplary embodiment in which the number of fluid channels in the coupling parts 1, 3 is different, wherein the plug-type coupling part 1 contains eight fluid channels and the can-like coupling part 3 contains six fluid channels. As a further difference from the first embodiment, the wall parts that form the facing end faces 15 and 1 7 of the coupling parts 1 and 3, not in a radial plane, but are, as most clearly from the

12 and 13 can be seen, stepped in the axial direction and radial direction, wherein the first coupling part 1 in the central region surrounding the longitudinal axis 55 is channel-free and ends in a stage forming the smallest diameter guide pin 57. This extends at the coupling position in a guide receptacle 58 in the coupling part 3 into it and forms a part-spherical bearing surface 59 for forming a Axialla- gers, which has a plain bearing 61 which is received in a central bearing seat 63 in the second coupling part 3, which is otherwise stepped on its end face in the gradation of the first coupling part 1 complementary manner. As can also be seen most clearly from Fig. 12, are for the line groups x1 to x3 and y1 to y3 connecting spaces as annular spaces between the coupling parts 1 and 3 gebi LEN, wherein, as in the first embodiment from the inside radially outward for the group xl, yl the connection space 39, for the group x3, y3 the connection space 41 and for the group x2, y2 the connection space 43 are formed. In the channel-free design of the central part of the first coupling part 1, the guide channels x1 to x3 and y1 to y3 are guided in such a way as shown in FIGS. 12 to 15 can be removed. As shown in FIG. 11, eight connection points 9 on the plug-type coupling part 1, on the can-side coupling part 5, as shown in FIG. 10, only six connection parts 11 are present. More precisely, the four fluid channels x3 of the first coupling part 1 continue in only two fluid channels y2 in the other coupling part 3.

The thrust bearing formed between guide pin 57 with its bearing surface 59 and the sliding bearing 61 on the second coupling part 3 not only forms a second bearing point in addition to the ball bearing 31, which forms the single pivot bearing in the first embodiment, but also serves as a spacer for the axial positioning the coupling parts 1, 3 in the coupling position in which the coupling parts 1, 3 in a corresponding manner as in the first embodiment by means of the union nut 23 can be fixed. In a corresponding manner, as in the first embodiment, the connecting spaces 39, 41 and 43 are sealed by means of O-rings 45 and 47 with each other and to the environment, wherein the innermost O-ring 45, the seal between the guide pin 57 of the coupling part 1 and the guide receptacle 58 of the second coupling part 3 forms. While in the first embodiment game of Fig. 1 to 7, the fluid channels in both coupling parts 1, 3 have the same cross-section, in the present second embodiment, the fluid channels have different cross-sections. As can be seen most clearly in FIGS. 11, 13 and 14, in the coupling part 1, the fluid channels of group x1 have the smallest diameter, the fluid channels of group x3 have a larger diameter and the fluid channels of group x2 have the largest diameter. In the second coupling part 3, the fluid channels of the group y1 have the largest diameter and the fluid channels of the group y3 have the smallest diameter. In the different position of the connection points 9 in the coupling part 1, as shown in FIG. 1 1, and the connection points 1 1 in the second coupling part 3, as shown in FIG. 10, run in the first coupling part 1 two guide channels x1 closely adjacent parallel to Axis 55, s. 14. Two channels x2 extend obliquely to the axis 55 and four channels x3 also run obliquely to the axis 55. In the second coupling part, in which two channels are omitted from the channel group three, so that only two channels y3 are present, they extend to Axis 55 slightly slanted, s. Fig. 13, while the two fluid channels y1 extend axially parallel. The pair of fluid channels y2 extends, starting from the connection points 1 1, to the axis 55 obliquely and slightly diverging to the connection space 43.

Claims

claims

Coupling device, with two detachably interconnected coupling parts (1, 3), which are arranged movable in at least one direction of rotation relative to each other, characterized in that each coupling part (1, 3) has a plurality of fluid channels (x1-x3, y1-y3), the groups separated from each other into each assignable connection spaces (39, 41, 43) open, which at the adjacent end faces (15, 17) of the coupling parts (1, 3) are located and within a coupling part (1, 3) separated from each other are.

Coupling device according to claim 1, characterized in that the connecting spaces (39, 41, 43) on at least one coupling part (1, 3), preferably on both coupling parts (1, 3), lying in concentric annular channel arrangement in a common plane or in axially and radially stepped arrangement on the respectively engageable coupling part (1, 3) are provided frontally.

Coupling device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the respective group of fluid channels consists of one (x1, y1) or two (x1, x2, y1, y2) or more channels (x1-x3, y1-y3).

Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that on each coupling part (1, 3) the same number of channels is used for a group, which open at predetermined locations in the respectively assignable connection space (39, 41, -43), the is arranged so congruent to the opposite connection space (39, 41, 43) of the other coupling part (1, 3) that its a group (x1, x2, x3) associated Ka come in aligned fluid communication with the other channels of this group (y1, y2, y3) of a coupling part (1, 3).

Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid channels (x1 -x3, y1 -y3) of parallel or oblique holes with the same or different diameters in the respective coupling part (1, 3) are formed and at their respective Connection space (39, 41, 43) facing away from a connecting part (9, 1 1) each have for attaching a fluid line, such as a pneumatic line.

Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the rotatable arrangement of the one coupling part (1, 3) relative to the other coupling part (1, 3) a pivot bearing, in particular in the form of a rolling bearing, such as a Kugella gers (31), between a coupling part (1) and a fixing part (23) is arranged, with which the other coupling part (3) can be set in the coupling position relative to the other coupling part (1) for producing the coupling connection.

Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the individual connection spaces (39, 41, 43) in the respective coupling part (1, 3) in the axial and / or radial direction by means of a sealing system with a plurality of sealing rings (45, 47) relative to the environment and sealed against each other.

Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a stepped arrangement of the connecting spaces (39, 41, 43) these at least partially by an axial gap between the facing Stirnsei- (1 5, 1 7) of the two coupling parts (1, 3) are formed and that at the same axial length of the intermediate space, the volume of the interconnected in the stepped arrangement each connecting space (41, 43) is greater than the volume of the in the Staging subsequent connection space (39, 41).

Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in a stepped arrangement of the connecting spaces (39, 41, 43) of the region along the longitudinal axis (55), in which a coupling part (1) is kept free of channels and a guide pin (57) this Coupling part (1) in a sealing engagement in a guide receptacle (58) of the other coupling part (3) engages and that preferably between guide pin (57) and guide receptacle (58) is a spacer and / or a thrust bearing (61) predetermined axial length is used.

Coupling device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that by a different number of channels (x1-x3, y1 -y3) of the same type in the two coupling parts (1, 3), a fluid throttling can be achieved.