EP3812345A1 - Media distributor for rotary machine and method - Google Patents

Abstract

The present invention provides a device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine (100) with a rotary distributor (120; 120u, 120o; 220) with a non-rotatable first assembly (125; 225) and a second assembly (130) that is rotatable about a machine axis of rotation ; 230), with one or more supply lines (150a-f; 251, 252) for at least one fluid medium and with a coupling element (285) via which the first assembly can be coupled to an upright system part (101), the The coupling element (285) is designed in such a way that it automatically uncouples the first assembly (125; 225) from the stationary system part (101) when a torque limit value or a force limit value is exceeded.

Description

Field of the invention

The present invention relates to a device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine, a rotary machine with such a media distributor, and a method for mechanically decoupling a rotating system part of a rotary machine from a stationary system part of the rotary machine.

State of the art

A large number of rotary machines are known from the prior art, in which a large number of processing stations are arranged on the circumference of a rotating machine, for example in the form of a carousel, which carry out the same or different processing steps on objects carried in rotation, such as containers or preforms .

With such rotary machines it is generally necessary to transport liquid or gaseous, i.e. fluid media, from a stationary part of the system to the respective processing stations. The transfer to the rotating system part takes place, as is known in the prior art, via so-called media or rotary distributors.

For example, it is known from the prior art to fill containers such as bottles and cans in beverage filling systems by means of a filling machine designed as a rotary machine, in which a large number of filling organs are arranged on the circumference of a filler carousel, which are used to introduce a filling product into the respective container to be filled are provided. The containers to be filled are held below the respective filling element during the filling process and accordingly rotate together with the filling elements on the filler carousel.

In order to transfer the filling product from a stationary part of the system to the rotating part of the system, i.e. the filler carousel, and also to transfer operating media such as pretensioning gas or pneumatic or hydraulic media to the filler carousel, it is known to provide a rotary distributor.

Such a rotary distributor generally comprises a distributor shaft and a distributor housing or a distributor head. Either the distributor shaft or the distributor head is designed to be stationary, i.e. upright, while, conversely, the distributor head or the distributor shaft is designed to be rotatable. The stationary part of the rotary distributor is connected via pipelines to suitable supply devices for the required media. Inside the rotary distributor there are suitably designed channels, for example as media tracks, which can be arranged in the form of a recessed groove in the stationary and / or rotating part, and, if necessary, valves are provided through which the media fed to corresponding outputs of the rotatable part of the Rotary distributor are forwarded. The outputs of the rotating part of the rotary distributor are in turn connected to the processing stations via corresponding lines, it being possible for additional ring channels to be provided in order to reduce the number of connecting lines required.

From the disclosure document DE 10 2014 109 082 A1 The applicant knows, for example, a rotary distributor whose distributor head is designed to be rotatable, while the associated distributor shaft is designed to be stationary, that is to say non-rotatable. The reverse is from the Offenlegungsschrift DE 10 2015 118671 A1 the applicant known a rotary distributor which has a distributor housing which is firmly connected to the stationary part of the system, while the distributor shaft is connected to the filler carousel, that is to say the rotating part of the system.

In addition to the rotary fillers mentioned, other rotary machines, for example sterilization machines, blow molding machines, direct printing machines and the like, also use rotary distributors in order to distribute the media required in each case to the corresponding processing stations.

During the operation of a rotary distributor, there is increasing wear and tear on the moving components. As a result, damage to the bearings or seals can occur, which leads to the rotatable part of the rotary distributor becoming entangled with the standing part of the rotary distributor or connecting via friction. This problem can also be caused by rust occurring on opposing parts of the rotary distributor or by thermal expansion, e.g. B. occur during a cleaning-in-place (CIP) process of the rotary machine. As a result, the rotating part of the rotary distributor transmits a high torque to the stationary part of the rotary distributor and thereby to the stationary system parts connected to it, in particular the above-mentioned pipelines for media supply. This can cause considerable damage to the stationary part of the system.

To avoid such damage, for example, it is from the DE 10 2017 115 915 A1 known to the applicant to connect the stationary part of the rotary distributor with the stationary part of the system, in particular the rotary machine, via a device for monitoring the rotary distributor, in particular in the form of a torque support. For example, the stationary part of the rotary distributor is connected to a stationary system or hall component via a force sensor. As a result, the torque of the rotary distributor is dissipated during operation. If there is a change in the force value while the system is running, this is recognized and suitable actions, e.g. shutting down the rotary machine as an emergency stop, can be initiated.

If an emergency stop is initiated, it takes a while, depending on the size of the rotary machine or the moved mass, until the rotary machine comes to a standstill. A filling machine can turn up to 180 ° further. Since the stationary part of the media distributor is connected to the stationary part of the system during this further rotation, components of the stationary part of the system can be permanently deformed or even destroyed in the event of an emergency stop. For example, the supply lines connected to the stationary part of the rotary distributor can be wound up by the rotation, which also reduces the installation positions of adjacent components, e.g. B. a valve node, changed and adjacent components can be damaged.

It is therefore the object of the present invention to provide a device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine and a filling machine with such a media distributor which avoid the disadvantages described above. In particular, the damage that occurs in the event of an emergency stop of the system should be minimized or completely avoided. Ultimately, this is intended to increase the service life of the system.

Description of the invention

The above-mentioned objects are achieved by a device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine, in particular a filling machine, with a rotary distributor with a non-rotatable first assembly and a second assembly that is rotatable about a machine axis of rotation, the first assembly having one or more connections for having at least one fluid medium, with one or more supply lines for the at least one fluid medium, which are connected to the connection or connections, and with at least one coupling element, in particular in the form of a torque support, via which the first assembly is connected to a stationary system part, in particular the rotary machine, can be coupled is, wherein the coupling element is designed such that the coupling element automatically uncouples the first assembly from the stationary part of the system when a torque limit value or a force limit value is exceeded.

If several supply lines are provided for different media, each supply line can be connected to one or more connections. For example, precisely one feed line, which is connected to one or more connections of the first assembly, can be provided for each medium. Here and in the following, an assembly refers to a sub-unit of the rotary distributor.

Here and in the following, fluid media are to be understood as meaning media that are liquid or gaseous. Examples of liquid media are filling products such as beverages and liquid sterilization or cleaning agents. Examples of gaseous media are purging gases, tension gases, and control or compressed air.

Rotary machines and filling machines are generally known in the prior art, so that a detailed description is dispensed with here. In particular, the design as a rotary machine in the form of a filler carousel with a large number of filling elements as described in the above-mentioned laid-open specifications is known. The device for distributing the fluid media can be designed as part of the rotary machine or separately from it. In general, the rotatable second subassembly is arranged on the rotating system part of the rotary machine and connected to it.

The machine axis of rotation is determined by the axis of rotation of the rotary machine. According to the invention, it coincides with the axis of rotation of the rotatable second assembly, since the rotary machine and the second assembly of the rotary distributor rotate synchronously. It should be noted, however, that the rotary distributor, in particular together with part of the rotary machine, can be designed to be height-adjustable. Thus, the first assembly, which is not designed to be rotatable, can also be designed to be movable, i.e. adjustable in height, along the machine axis of rotation. Alternatively, the rotary distributor, and in particular the first assembly, can, however, be designed to be fixed or stationary, i.e. also not movable along the machine axis of rotation.

The one or more supply lines establish fluid connections for the medium or the media between a supply unit for the media, for example the valve node mentioned below and / or the respective storage devices, and the first assembly of the rotary distributor. The feed lines can include a plurality of segments that are used as rigid or flexible pipe connections can be formed. The segments can be connected to one another by threaded, flange or welded connections.

According to the invention, the device has at least one coupling element via which the first assembly can be coupled to a stationary part of the system. The stationary part of the system can be a stationary part of the rotary machine. Alternatively or in addition, the stationary system part can comprise a stationary system part formed separately from the rotary machine, for example a hall component or other stationary components of the system. In particular, the above-mentioned supply lines for the at least one fluid medium, which are connected to the connection or connections of the non-rotatable first assembly, can be part of this stationary part of the system. More than one coupling element, as described below, can also be provided, it being possible for the coupling elements to be coupled to different fixed system parts.

The at least one coupling element can in particular be designed as a torque support. Torque arms for deriving a torque from rotating components to stationary components are generally known in the prior art, so that a detailed description is dispensed with here. For example, the one in the DE 10 2017 115 915 A1 in connection with the Figure 2 The development described in sections [0050] to [0053] can be used as the basis for the formation of the at least one coupling element.

In contrast to the mentioned development, the at least one coupling element according to the present invention is designed in such a way that - depending on the design of the coupling element - when a torque limit value or a force limit value is exceeded, it automatically uncouples the first assembly from the stationary system part. In other words, the coupling element has features which automatically release the coupling element when a limit value for the torque transmitted via the coupling element or the force transmitted via the coupling element is exceeded. As a result, the mechanical connection via the coupling element between the first assembly and the stationary part of the system is automatically canceled. This also means that after the coupling element is released, no more torque or force can be transmitted to the stationary part of the system via the coupling element. On the other hand, however, it cannot be ruled out that, after the coupling element is released, there are still further mechanical connections between the first assembly and the designated stationary system part or other stationary system parts. These can also be formed by coupling elements of this type or by other mechanical connecting means. In particular, exist between the terminals of the first Assembly and the supply lines for the at least one fluid medium mechanical connections, which are described in more detail below.

By automatically releasing the at least one coupling element, however, the torque or force transmission via the coupling element itself to the stationary part of the system is interrupted, so that the above-described damage due to the torque or force transmission cannot occur. If there are several coupling elements, the respective limit values for the torques or forces can be selected in such a way that the coupling elements are released essentially at the same time. In particular, with the same design of the coupling elements, identical limit values can be used. The limit values for the torque or the force can be selected in such a way that they are greater than the nominal torque or the nominal force when the rotary machine is in operation. This ensures that the at least one coupling element only decouples the first assembly from the stationary system part when a malfunction occurs, such as the above-described blocking of the rotatable second assembly with the stationary first assembly of the rotary distributor. As described further below, the limit values can depend on an operating mode of the rotary machine.

All coupling elements, via which the first assembly is mechanically connected to one or more stationary system parts, are preferably designed to be automatically detachable, as described above. In particular, no non-releasable torque supports are used according to the present development. This ensures that the stationary assembly of the media distributor is automatically disconnected from the stationary part of the system when required, i.e. when a torque limit value or a force limit value is exceeded.

According to a development, the coupling element can have a safety coupling. The safety clutch is designed in such a way that, as described above, it is automatically triggered when a limit value for the torque or the force is exceeded. Safety couplings are known in principle, so that a detailed description is dispensed with here. The safety coupling according to the present development is designed in such a way that it is designed for tensile loads. In other words, the safety clutch disengages or disengages when a tensile force on an element of the safety clutch which mediates the mechanical coupling exceeds a limit value. In general, the safety clutch can have a mechanical switching element, for example a bolt or cam, which automatically activates the mechanical when the limit value for the torque or the force is exceeded Coupling dissolves, for example by pulling or pushing the bolt or the cam out of a locked position. In addition, a monitoring sensor, for example a button, a light barrier, or the like, can be provided which monitors the position of the mechanical switching element. In particular, the monitoring sensor can be arranged and designed in such a way that it can detect the triggering of the mechanical switching element.

The safety coupling can in particular be designed as an axial safety coupling. Axial safety couplings can be used to protect against overload during linear movements. In the present invention, the safety coupling limits a linear movement of the coupling element, which arises in particular due to the design of the coupling element as a torque support from a rotating movement of the first assembly when it is interlocked with the rotating second assembly. For example, the safety coupling can be designed with an axial bolt with a radial taper, into which a switching element, for example a cam or a ring, is pressed via a, preferably adjustable, restoring force. For this purpose, for example, a spring dimensioned according to the limit value for the force can be provided. If the force limit value is exceeded due to the tensile stress in the axial direction, the bolt executes an axial stroke and moves the switching element radially outward. This interrupts the axial power transmission.

As an alternative to the above-described design of the safety clutch with a mechanical switching element, the safety clutch can also be designed with a magnetic and / or electrical switching element, for example a switchable electromagnet.

The coupling element can furthermore have at least one sensor, in particular a torque sensor or a force sensor, which measures the torque acting on the coupling element or the force acting on the coupling element. Depending on the measured torque or the measured force, the switching element, in particular a magnetic and / or electrical switching element, can uncouple the safety clutch. The switching element acts like a switch which, when the limit value for the torque or the force is exceeded, interrupts the transmission of force via the element of the safety coupling which mediates the mechanical coupling, for example the aforementioned axial bolt. The power transmission can then be restored either manually or automatically if the cause of the limit value being exceeded, for example through maintenance or replacement of the rotary distributor. The safety coupling can also be equipped with joint heads on both sides in order to enable an angle adjustment with respect to the first assembly.

The safety clutch can also have an, in particular integrated, limit switch which, in the event of an overload, emits a signal that can be used to switch off the rotary machine, for example by means of an emergency stop. For this purpose, the rotary machine can have a correspondingly designed control and / or regulating unit which processes the emitted signal accordingly. The limit switch can be provided separately from the aforementioned sensor, or it can be integrated into it or the aforementioned switching element. The limit switch can be provided, for example, in the form of the above-mentioned monitoring sensor. For example, the limit switch or the monitoring sensor can emit an emergency stop signal to a control and / or regulating unit of the rotary machine when the limit value for the torque or the force is exceeded. For this purpose, the limit switch or the monitoring sensor and / or the switching element can be connected to the control and / or regulating unit for signal transmission via cables or wirelessly. If a connection via cables is provided, the cables can preferably be laid in the direction of rotation of the rotary machine and / or with an additional cable length. The cables can preferably be located in the part of the safety coupling that is connected to the stationary part of the system. This means that the cable does not experience any movement even when it is disengaged. This prevents the cables from being wound up with possible damage when the rotary machine continues to rotate as described above in the event of an emergency stop.

According to a development, at least one supply line of the one or more supply lines can have a swivel joint, the axis of rotation of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the machine. Since the machine axis of rotation in rotary machines is generally aligned vertically, ie perpendicular to the contact surface of the machine, the designated swivel joint is generally a horizontal swivel joint. By providing the swivel joint, a part of the associated supply line connected to the first assembly can be rotated in the case of the first and second assembly of the rotary distributor being blocked with respect to the part of the supply line connected to an upright system part, for example a valve node. This avoids mechanical damage to the feed line due to the repeated rotation of the rotary machine in the event of an emergency stop.

Swivel joints for pipe joints, i.e., pipe swivel joints, are well known in the art. The swivel joints can for example be designed with a radial seal and a ball bearing. Alternatively or in addition, an axial seal and / or a slide bearing can be provided. An inner part of the swivel joint, which is connected, for example, to a first pipe segment, is rotatably mounted within an outer part of the swivel joint, which in turn can be connected, for example, to a second pipe segment. The bores of the inner and outer parts of the swivel joint can lie on one axis or they can form an angle, in particular a right angle, to one another. Correspondingly, the connected segments can form a line or form an angle to one another. The same also applies if a bore in the swivel joint is connected directly to an axial connection of the first assembly of the rotary distributor.

According to the present development, the axis of rotation of the swivel joint coincides with the axis of rotation of the machine. Here and in the following it is assumed that only one pipe segment is rotatable with respect to the swivel joint, while the other pipe segment is firmly connected to the swivel joint. The present development can, however, also be extended to swivel joints in which both segments are connected in a rotatable manner. In this case, at least one of the two axes of rotation coincides with the machine axis of rotation. This includes deviations in the scope of the manufacturing and installation tolerance, both with regard to a lateral displacement and an angular inclination. The feed line can also have more than one swivel joint, the axis of rotation of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the machine.

According to a special development, each supply line of the one or more supply lines can have a swivel joint, the axis of rotation of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the machine. In this case, corresponding angular segments of the supply lines can be provided, which make it possible to arrange the swivel joints in axial directions along the machine axis of rotation. Since, according to this development, all of the supply lines for the at least one fluid medium that are connected to the connections of the first assembly have a swivel joint whose axis of rotation coincides with the axis of rotation of the machine, the supply lines are decoupled from rotation about the axis of rotation from these swivel joints. In other words, these swivel joints enable the first assembly to rotate relative to the stationary system part.

In the above-described case that the rotation of the rotatable second assembly exerts a torque or a force on the stationary first assembly due to a defect or due to wear, which exceeds a certain limit value, and as a consequence thereof the at least one coupling element triggers, the first assembly can thus rotate around the machine axis of rotation together with the uncoupled part of the coupling element and the supply lines up to the respective above-mentioned swivel joints. In this way, the rotary machine can continue to rotate due to the overrun in the event of an emergency stop without any significant force acting on the stationary part of the system, in particular the rest of the supply lines and their connection to a valve node. This avoids mechanical damage to the supply lines and changes to the installation positions of adjacent system components.

When the coupling element is disengaged, the first assembly of the rotary distributor, which is in normal operation, can rotate with the rotary machine until it comes to a standstill. Further connections and supply elements of the rotary distributor, for example electrical cables and / or flexible hoses for supplying gaseous or liquid media, can be designed with an additional length that is sufficient to allow the first assembly to rotate up to a predetermined caster angle, for example 180 °, without tearing off the cables or hoses. Furthermore, the supply lines can have further swivel joints which enable the supply lines to expand in length due to temperature fluctuations, for example due to the supply of a hot supply medium, such as a CIP medium. For example, if required, two swivel joints can be provided on a supply line which have parallel axes of rotation arranged offset to one another.

The provision of at least two swivel joints with offset axes of rotation means that the part of the supply line located between these two swivel joints, also referred to below as the middle segment, has the function of a steering rod. For this purpose, at least one of the two swivel joints can be designed in such a way that, as described above, the bores of the inner and outer parts of the swivel joint form an angle, in particular a right angle, to one another. As an alternative or in addition, the segments of the supply line adjoining the swivel joint can form an angle to one another. As a result, the longitudinal expansions of the pipelines can be decoupled from a supply unit, for example a valve node, and the rotary distributor due to temperature fluctuations by shifting or tilting this handlebar.

In particular, a segment of the supply line between the two swivel joints can be S-shaped or U-shaped or comprise an S-shaped sub-segment and / or a U-shaped sub-segment. The S-shaped or U-shaped part of the feed line acts as a Steering rod that enables a relative displacement of the parts of the supply line that connect to the swivel joints that limit the segment, or of the subsequent rotary distributor.

The design of feed lines with more than one swivel joint, at least one of these swivel joints having an axis of rotation that coincides with the machine axis of rotation, allows mechanical decoupling of the stationary parts of the feed line from the first assembly with regard to rotations about the machine axis of rotation and with regard to thermal expansions of the Feed lines.

According to a further development, as already mentioned above, the first assembly can comprise a distributor shaft of the rotary distributor and the second assembly can comprise a distributor head of the rotary distributor, so that the distributor head is designed to be rotatable with respect to the distributor shaft. The design of the distributor shaft and distributor head can in particular as in the laid-open specification DE 10 2014 109 082 A1 described. According to this development, the one or more feed lines for the at least one fluid medium are thus connected to the distributor shaft, while a plurality of outlet openings for discharging the fluid media are provided in the distributor head, which in turn feed the media to the individual processing stations. As is known per se, one or more ring channels can be provided as part of the rotating system part, which are connected to the corresponding outlet openings in the distributor head.

According to an alternative further development, as also mentioned above, the first assembly can comprise a distributor head of the rotary distributor and the second assembly can comprise a distributor shaft of the rotary distributor, so that the distributor shaft is designed to be rotatable with respect to the distributor head. The design of the distributor shaft and distributor head can in particular as in the laid-open specification DE 10 2015 118 671 A1 described. According to this development, the one or more supply lines for the at least one fluid medium are thus connected to the distributor head, while the media are passed on to a large number of outlet openings via corresponding ring channels between the distributor head and distributor shaft and corresponding ring channels and axial channels in the distributor shaft, for example can be provided in a distributor plate, takes place. Corresponding media lines are provided from the outlet openings to the processing stations or to intermediate ring channels.

The present invention also provides a rotary machine for treating containers, with an upright system part and an upright system part rotatable system part on which at least one treatment station for treating a container is arranged, the rotary machine further comprising a device according to one of the developments described above, and wherein the first assembly is arranged on the stationary system part and the second assembly is arranged on the rotatable system part .

The rotary machine can be a filling machine for filling containers, for example bottles or cans, a labeling machine, a direct printing machine for printing the containers, a blow molding machine for blow molding the containers from preforms, a closer for closing the containers, a rinser, an injector , a sterilizer or the like. The rotary machine accordingly has at least one treatment station for treating the containers. The treatment stations can revolve with the rotary machine, such as filling valves for filling the containers or blow molds, or they can be arranged in a stationary manner on the circumference of the rotary machine, such as transfer stations for the labels or printing stations.

In a filling machine designed as a rotary machine, the at least one treatment station is designed for filling the container with at least one filling product, the at least one fluid medium comprising the filling product. In particular, the filling machine can be designed in the form of a filler carousel, in which a large number of filling members are arranged on the circumference of the filler carousel. The stationary part of the system includes the part of the filling machine that does not rotate and stands, for example, on a mounting surface. The rotatable system part includes in particular the filler carousel with the revolving filling elements and container receptacles. The containers can be bottles, cans or the like. The filling product can in particular be a drink.

According to this development, the first assembly is arranged on the stationary part of the system and, in particular, is mechanically connected to it via the coupling element described above. Thus, the first assembly (in normal operation) is also designed to be non-rotatable. In contrast, the second assembly is arranged on the rotatable system part and, in particular, is mechanically connected to it. The second assembly is thus also designed to be rotatable and rotates together with the rotatable system part. According to this development, the at least one fluid medium comprises the filling product, so that at least one feed line can be provided for the filling product in accordance with the developments described above.

According to one development, the rotary machine can furthermore comprise a valve node for providing the at least one fluid medium, the one or more supply lines connecting the valve node to the rotary distributor. Valve nodes are generally known in the prior art and are used to implement a wide range of media controls in a small space in a clear form. The valves can be controlled, for example, via a pneumatic drive. Supply lines for the fluid media to corresponding storage units, for example storage tanks, are generally provided from the fixed valve node. According to this development, the valve node is designed as part of the rotary machine. Alternatively, however, the valve node can also be provided for the joint supply of media to other system parts, for example a blow molding machine. In this case, feed lines according to the developments described above can be provided to each of the supplied system parts with a rotary distributor.

The at least one fluid medium can be a filling product such as a beverage. Further fluid media can be or comprise a flushing gas, a tensioning gas, a sterilizing agent, a cleaning agent or control / compressed air. In particular, at least one feed line according to the developments described above can be provided for each fluid medium.

The rotary machine can also include a further device according to one of the developments described above, one of the two devices being arranged above a plane on which the containers rotate, and the other of the two devices being arranged below the plane. Correspondingly, the supply lines for the two devices can be routed to the respective rotary distributor from above or from below in relation to the above-mentioned level and the installation surface of the rotary machine. This facilitates the arrangement of the above-mentioned swivel joints on the machine axis of rotation, since a smaller number of supply lines is now provided per rotary distributor. Finally, several rotary distributors according to the developments described above can also be arranged one above the other along the machine's axis of rotation, with the corresponding coupling elements and swivel joints providing an automatic decoupling of the fixed system parts of the rotary machine from a rotation of the respective first assemblies due to a blockage with the rotating part of the rotary machine becomes.

The above-mentioned objects are also achieved by a method for mechanically decoupling a rotating system part of a rotary machine, in particular a filling machine, from a stationary system part of the rotary machine, wherein a rotary distributor with a non-rotatable first subassembly and a second subassembly which is rotatable about a machine axis of rotation of the rotary machine is provided for supplying media to the rotary machine, the first subassembly having one or more connections for at least one fluid medium, one or more supply lines being provided for the at least one fluid medium which are connected to the connection or connections, the method comprising coupling the first assembly to the stationary system part via a mechanical coupling element, and the mechanical coupling element when a limit value for a torque or a force that occurs during operation of the Rotary machine acts on the mechanical coupling element, is automatically released.

The same developments and variants of the rotary distributor, the supply lines and the rotary machine that were described above in connection with the device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine can also be used in the method for mechanical decoupling of the rotating system part of the rotary machine. In particular, the first assembly can be coupled to the stationary part of the system via one of the coupling elements described above. For example, as described above, the mechanical coupling element can have a mechanical switching element which releases the mechanical coupling when the limit value is exceeded. Alternatively, a torque or a force can be determined continuously or at regular time intervals by means of a sensor of the coupling element, in particular a torque or force sensor, which during operation of the rotary machine is transferred from the rotating second assembly by means of friction via the first assembly of the rotary distributor to the Coupling element is transmitted and therefore acts on the coupling element. An effective torque can be determined directly from a measured force based on the lever length of the coupling element. By comparing the measured torque or the measured force with a limit value, for example by means of a correspondingly designed switch or a correspondingly designed switching element of the coupling element, exceeding the limit value and thus increased friction or a defect can be detected. A corresponding control element, which can be integrated in the switching element, then supplies a suitable signal in order to automatically release the coupling element as described above. As an alternative to this development with a sensor, as described above, the coupling element can also be automatically released by mechanical means such as a spring-supported switching element.

According to a further development, a switch of the coupling element can release one of the above-described safety couplings of the coupling element when the limit value is exceeded.

For this purpose, the switch can comprise an electrical comparison element for comparing the measured torque or the measured force with a predetermined limit value. Alternatively, the switch can carry out this comparison via an electronic component. In particular, the switch can be designed as part of a control and / or regulating unit of the coupling element or the rotary machine. Such a control and / or regulating unit can in particular be designed as a programmable logic control unit with a memory unit in which various limit values for the measured torque or the measured force are stored as a function of an operating mode of the rotary machine. For example, the limit value can depend on a rotational speed of the rotary machine. Furthermore, the limit value when starting up and / or shutting down the rotary machine can be different from that during normal operation. The limit values can be specified in such a way that they are always higher than the respective nominal torque or the respective nominal force of the respective operating mode of the rotary machine. This ensures that the rotary machine does not come to an emergency stop due to the usual fluctuations in normal operation. At the same time, the limit values can be selected in such a way that no damage or deformations occur to the system during normal operation of the rotary machine.

As already mentioned, if the limit value is exceeded, an emergency stop of the rotary machine can also be initiated automatically in addition to releasing the coupling element. For this purpose, the limit switch described above can be provided which, when the mechanical switching element is triggered, transmits a corresponding signal to a control and / or regulating unit of the rotary machine. Alternatively, the aforementioned monitoring sensor or the control and / or regulating unit of the coupling element can transmit such a signal to the control and / or regulating unit of the rotary machine.

Because the coupling element has been released, the continued rotation of the rotary machine, which occurs in the event of an emergency stop, does not lead to the known damage to stationary system parts until it finally comes to a standstill. In particular, the above-described swivel joints prevent the supply lines from being wound up. In addition, there is no longer any damage to neighboring components in the event of an emergency stop, which would in particular affect their set-up positions. In addition, the method according to the invention increases the operational and occupational safety of the system.

• Figur 1 zeigt schematisch eine Füllmaschine mit einem Füllerkarussell.
• Figur 2 zeigt schematisch eine dreidimensionale Ansicht einer Vorrichtung zum Verteilen fluider Medien für eine Rundläufermaschine, wie die in Figur 1 gezeigte Füllmaschine.
• Figuren 3a und 3b zeigen zwei Seitenansichten einer Vorrichtung zum Verteilen fluider Medien für eine Rundläufermaschine gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung.
• Figuren 4a und 4b zeigen die Sicherheitskupplung des Kupplungselements gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung in eingekoppelter und ausgekoppelter Stellung.

Further features and exemplary embodiments as well as advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the drawings. It should be understood that the embodiments do not exhaust the scope of the present invention. It goes without saying Furthermore, that some or all of the features described below can also be combined with one another in other ways.

• Figure 1 shows schematically a filling machine with a filler carousel.
• Figure 2 shows schematically a three-dimensional view of a device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine, such as that in FIG Figure 1 shown filling machine.
• Figures 3a and 3b show two side views of a device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine according to the present invention.
• Figures 4a and 4b show the safety coupling of the coupling element according to the present invention in the coupled and uncoupled position.

In the figures described below, the same reference symbols denote the same elements. For the sake of clarity, the same elements are only described when they appear for the first time. It goes without saying, however, that the variants and embodiments of an element described with reference to one of the figures can also be applied to the corresponding elements in the other figures.

Figure 1 shows schematically a filling machine with a filler carousel, as it is known per se in the prior art. The filling machine 100, which is designed as a rotary machine, has a rotating system part 102, by means of which a plurality of containers, for example bottles, are moved to a delivery point on a pitch circle between a pick-up point at which the containers are picked up by a feed conveyor (not shown), where the containers are transferred to a discharge conveyor (not shown). The containers can be transported by a large number of transport devices, for example gripping elements for neck handling or turntables or the like, which are arranged at regular intervals along the circumference of the carousel. Furthermore, a filling machine generally has a multiplicity of filling elements 110 assigned to the respective transport devices for filling the containers during transport along the pitch circle. The rotating system part 102 and the rotatable assemblies of the rotary distributors described below rotate about the machine axis of rotation D of the filling machine.

The entire rotating part of the filling machine is referred to here and in the following as the rotating system part. In contrast to this, the non-rotating parts of the filling machine and their peripherals are referred to here and in the following as the stationary system part. Some components of this stationary part of the system are in the Figure 1 explicitly identified with the reference number 101. By way of example, the positioning elements with which the filler carousel stands on the contact surface are designated. Furthermore, the stationary part of the system generally comprises a frame and stationary drive components for the rotary machine. However, the supply lines 150e and 150f for the fluid media, as well as components in the periphery of the filling machine 100, such as a product tank 190 and a valve node 170, must also be included in the standing system part in the sense of the present disclosure.

The following in connection with the Figures 3a-b and 4a-b The coupling element described can in principle be coupled to any suitable element of the stationary part of the system. However, the mechanical coupling preferably takes place with an element of the stationary system part 101 in the vicinity of the respective rotary distributor. For example, a coupling element for the rotary distributor 120o arranged above the circumferential plane of the container can be coupled to the supply line 150e, while a coupling element for the rotary distributor 120u arranged below the circumferential plane can be coupled to the frame of the filling machine.

The Figure 1 shows an example of a feed line 150e for the filling product with which the containers in the filling machine are filled. The supply line 150e connects the upper rotary distributor 120o with the product tank 190. The product tank 190 is used to store the filling product and is connected to the valve node 170 via a product line 195. If necessary, further filling product can be fed to the product tank 190 via the product line 195. If necessary, excess filling product can flow back from the product tank 190 to the valve node 170 via a return line 196. Furthermore, in the Figure 1 A return line 150f for a CIP cleaning medium is shown by way of example, with which the filling elements can be cleaned if necessary, in that the CIP cleaning medium is supplied to the filling machine via the product tank 190 and the supply line 150e. The return line 150f connects corresponding lines and valves of the valve node 170 with the lower rotary distributor 120u and serves as a relief line during the operation of the filling machine. Finally, in the Figure 1 an example of a control and / or regulating unit 180 of the filling machine, by means of which, for example, the rotation of the filler carousel and the supply of media can be controlled.

It goes without saying that a large number of further elements known in the prior art can be provided as part of the filling machine and the periphery of the filling machine.

In the Figure 2 a three-dimensional view of a device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine with a rotary distributor, as can be used in the present invention, is shown schematically. For the sake of clarity, the Figure 2 Parts, especially the rotary machine itself, are omitted.

Without loss of generality is in the Figure 2 a rotary distributor 120 is shown, whose first, non-rotatable assembly 125 is designed as a distributor shaft, while the second, rotatable assembly 130 is designed as a distributor head. The first assembly 125 would thus be connected to a stationary system part (not shown) of the rotary machine, while the second assembly 130, for example via media lines (not shown) that connect the plurality of outlet openings 132 and 145 of the distributor head with the processing stations (not shown) , would be connected to the rotating system part of the rotary machine. The one in the Figure 2 Rotary distributor 120 shown as an example, the media supply / media discharge takes place from below via the supply lines / discharge lines 150a-d, so that this further development of the rotary distributor is used in particular as a lower rotary distributor 120u in FIG Figure 1 suitable is. It goes without saying, however, that a rotary distributor for use as an upper rotary distributor 120o in the Figure 1 can be designed.

The machine axis of rotation D, around which both the rotating system part of the rotary machine and the rotatable second assembly 130 rotate, is in FIG Figure 2 represented by a dashed line. The machine axis of rotation D is generally perpendicular to a mounting surface of the rotary machine.

The rotary distributor 120 shown is intended for use in a filling machine. The filling product is supplied via an axial connection 140d in the lower end face of the first assembly 125 via the supply line 150d and then passed through the corresponding inner channels of the rotary distributor 120 via the outlet openings 132 of the distributor head 130 to the filling elements of the filling machine.

In addition, feed lines 150a-c for further fluid media, for example a CIP cleaning liquid, but also compressed gases, control air or sterilization agents, are connected to the rotary distributor via laterally arranged connections 140a-c of the first assembly 125. Finally, the shows in the Figure 2 illustrated, non-limiting development of the rotary distributor 120 has a plurality of lateral connections 145 in the rotatable, second assembly 130, via which the further fluid media can be forwarded to the treatment stations and / or ring distributors of the rotary machine.

The one in the Figure 2 Feed lines 150a-d shown by way of example can be flange-mounted, for example, to a valve node (not shown) for providing the fluid media. Of the four feed lines 150a-d shown here by way of example, the feed line 150b for the CIP cleaning agent and the feed line 150d for the filling product are each designed with two swivel joints 160 and 165, as described above, around a kind of steering rod from the segment between the swivel joints to form the supply lines. Both for the CIP cleaning agent and for the filling product, depending on the operating state of the filling machine, sometimes considerable temperature fluctuations can occur. For example, the temperature of the CIP cleaning agent can be up to 80 ° C. In contrast to this, the filling product can be filled into the container in a cooled manner, for example at 4 ° C. In both cases, the temperature of the respective medium in the respective operating phase deviates significantly from the ambient temperature, so that the respective supply lines are positioned along the lines indicated by arrows in Figure 2 Extend the indicated thrust direction by several millimeters to centimeters.

In order to absorb the stresses occurring as a result of this expansion, the supply lines 150b and 150d are designed with two horizontal swivel joints 160 and 165, i.e. swivel joints with vertically oriented axes of rotation, the axes of which are oriented parallel to the machine axis of rotation D. For the first swivel joint 160 of the supply line 150b, the axis of rotation L is shown by way of example by a dashed line. The segments of the supply line 150b that adjoin the rotary joint 160 are therefore rotatable about this axis of rotation L. In combination with the second, downstream pivoting joint 160 of the supply line 150b, a middle segment of the supply line is implemented between the two rotating joints, which has the function of a steering rod, according to the illustrated development.

In other words, due to the offset arrangement of the axes of rotation of the two lying swivel joints, the middle segment between the two swivel joints can be tilted or pivoted relative to the rest of the feed line. A thermal expansion of the in the Figure 2 The long part of the supply line 150b shown in the direction of the arrow thus rotates the middle segment with respect to the two swivel joints 160 and thereby decouples the longitudinal extension of the long part of the supply line from the connection 140b and the rotary distributor 120.

The special development of the supply line 150b has an S-shaped central segment between the two lying swivel joints 160. In addition, the further segments of the supply line connected to the two swivel joints are oriented in the same direction. The However, special further development is not absolutely necessary for the functionality of the handlebar, but can also be achieved with a U-shaped middle segment or more complex shapes.

As with reference to the feed line 150d for the filling product in FIG Figure 2 demonstrated, the alignment of the subsequent segments of the feed line in the same direction is also not mandatory. Rather, one end of the S-shaped central segment of the supply line 150d is connected to the long part of the supply line via a horizontal swivel joint 160, while its other end is connected directly to the axial connection 140d of the first assembly 125 via a horizontal swivel joint 165 . Since the axes of rotation of the two swivel joints 160 and 165 are offset from one another here too, the middle segment takes on the function of a handlebar. In other words, a longitudinal extension of the long part of the supply line 150d for the filling product in the pushing direction indicated by the arrow tilts the middle segment by simultaneous rotation of both swivel joints 160 and 165 and thereby absorbs the resulting shear stress.

The further development shown here with two supply lines with exactly two lying swivel joints is not restrictive, but merely illustrative. The swivel joints, which limit the middle segment of the respective feed line functioning as a steering rod, can also be oriented in a different direction, for example as swivel joints with horizontal axes of rotation, as long as their axes of rotation are arranged parallel to one another and offset from one another. By providing further swivel joints, the handlebar function can be integrated into a large number of arrangements of rotary distributors and valve nodes. In particular, the handlebar function can also be used with the following in connection with the Figures 3a and 3b described developments of supply lines are combined with at least one swivel joint, the axis of rotation of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the machine. This swivel joint, as in the Figure 2 shown for the supply line 150d, be one of the swivel joints delimiting the middle segment.

The described developments lead to a decoupling of the rotary distributor and valve node and a low power transmission via the rotatability of the two swivel joints. As a result, damage to the rotary distributor and the valve manifold can be avoided. The structure is also simplified, since an exact positioning of the valve node with respect to the rotary distributor is less important. Furthermore, the pipelines expand more evenly. Finally, the developments shown are particularly compact with only two swivel joints, which leads to shorter construction times.

The Figures 3a and 3b show two side views of a device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine according to the present invention. The illustrations serve to demonstrate the present invention. It goes without saying that, in particular, the exact position of the swivel joints of the supply lines along the machine axis of rotation and the specific coupling of the coupling element to the stationary part of the system are only shown as an example, without being restrictive. In particular, further swivel joints can be provided. The coupling element can also be connected to another element of the stationary part of the system, including an element of the hall. It is only essential that, as described above, the rotary distributor is automatically uncoupled from the stationary part of the system when a limit value for the torque or the force is exceeded.

In the Figures 3a and 3b are shown rotated by 90 ° views of the upper part of a filling machine. A supply line 252 for the filling product and a further supply line 251 for a further fluid medium, for example for an admixture product to the filling product, a pretensioning gas or a cleaning medium, are shown here by way of example. It goes without saying, however, that only one feed line or more than two feed lines can also be provided. Furthermore, the supply lines and the media they supply can be adapted to the respective rotary machine. As mentioned above, the fluid media can also be gaseous media. Furthermore, the Figures 3a and 3b a rotary distributor 220 arranged above the plane of circulation for the containers. It goes without saying that a correspondingly adapted configuration is also possible for a rotary distributor arranged below the plane of rotation.

In the in the Figures 3a and 3b The rotary distributor 220 has a first subassembly 225 which is designed as a distributor head and which is not rotatable and which is connected to the supply lines 251 and 252 via corresponding connections. Correspondingly, the distributor shaft 230 is designed to be rotatable as a second assembly, media lines 247 being shown by way of example, which are connected to corresponding outlet openings 245 in the distributor shaft in order to guide the fluid media to the treatment stations. It goes without saying that, as described above, it is also possible to interchange the roles of the distributor shaft and distributor head with regard to the rotatable design.

In the Figure 3a a bracket also denotes the part of the system shown in normal operation of the filling machine. In addition to the supply lines 251 and 252 shown, this also includes the coupling element 285 designated by a bracket. The latter is exemplarily designed in the form of a torque support, with a cross member 286 being provided which is firmly connected to the supply line 252. It goes without saying that the traverse 286 can alternatively be connected to another element of the stationary part of the system.

It should be noted that in the Figure 3b The non-limiting development shown, the cross member 286 is connected to the part 252b of the supply line 252, which is arranged upstream - with respect to the supply of the medium - of the swivel joint 256 described below. As described below, this part does not rotate with the rotating system part 102 of the filling machine 100 even if the first and second subassemblies of the rotary distributor 220 are blocked. In this way, it is possible to prevent the first assembly 225 of the rotary distributor 220 from rotating at the same time as a torque transmitted to the supply line 252 via the torque support 285 during normal operation of the filling machine. According to a special development, the first assembly of the rotary distributor can thus be coupled via the coupling element to an element of the stationary part of the system which is designed such that it does not rotate with the first and second assemblies of the rotary distributor 220 even when the first and second assemblies of the rotary distributor 220 are blocked. In other words, the first assembly of the rotary distributor can be coupled to a part of the stationary part of the system that is stationary even when the limit value is exceeded.

On the cross member 286 of the torque arm, a schematically illustrated safety coupling 287 is arranged, which as in the Figures 4a and 4b shown in more detail, the non-rotatable first assembly 225 of the rotary distributor 220 is coupled to the traverse 286 and thus to the stationary system part 101. In the present description, the non-rotatable design of the first assembly 225 relates to the normal operation of the rotary distributor 220. The previously described automatic decoupling of this assembly from the stationary system part 101 by the coupling element 285 also enables the first assembly 225 to rotate with the rotary machine to a certain extent. However, since this is made possible by the special design of the coupling element 285 and the supply lines 251 and 252, a non-rotatable assembly 225 will continue to be used here and in the following.

When the filler carousel rotates about the machine axis of rotation D, the rotatable assembly 230 of the rotary distributor 220 is automatically taken along. Because of the friction that is always present, a limited torque is transmitted in normal operation to the non-rotatable assembly 225 of the rotary distributor 220, which acts on the safety clutch. As described in more detail below, a sensor of the coupling element 285 can be used to measure a force or a torque that acts on the safety coupling and is diverted through the traverse 286. If a predetermined limit value for the torque or the force is exceeded, the safety clutch is automatically triggered, whereby the mechanical coupling between the first assembly 225 of the rotary distributor 220 and the stationary system part 101 is canceled. Alternatively, as described above, a mechanical switching element can be provided which automatically triggers the safety clutch when the limit value is exceeded. The first assembly 225, and thus the entire rotary distributor 220, can in this case rotate with respect to the stationary system part 101 without a torque or force being exerted via the cross member 286. In this way, as described above, damage to the stationary part of the system in the event of a defect such as a blockage of the distributor shaft and distributor head can be avoided.

Furthermore, the Figures 3a and 3b for each supply line 251 and 252 a swivel joint 255 or 256, the axis of rotation of which coincides with the axis of rotation D of the machine. Due to these swivel joints, the part of the respective feed line connected to the rotary distributor 220 can therefore be rotated about the machine axis of rotation D, the part 251b or 252b of the respective feed line arranged upstream of the respective swivel joint 255 and 256 being fixed. The swivel joints 255 and 256 lying on the machine axis of rotation D thus decouple a rotation of the first assembly 225 of the rotary distributor 220 from the rest of the supply lines 251 and 252 and in particular from the one in FIG Figure 1 In this way, as described above, the supply lines are prevented from being wound up in the event of a malfunction, which would also damage the peripheral components such as the product tank 190 and the valve node 170. Since the supply line 252 for the filling product is connected to an axial connection of the distributor head 225, the swivel joint 256 can be arranged directly on the distributor head. Alternatively, the swivel joint 256 can be arranged further above along the machine axis of rotation D.

As in the side view of the Figure 3a It can be seen that a U-shaped profile is provided for the part 251a of the supply line 251 downstream of the rotary joint 255 in order to enable the rotary joint 255 to be arranged on the machine axis of rotation D. With such U-profiles or more complex profiles, swivel joints for more than two feed lines can also be arranged on the machine axis of rotation. Finally, those related to the Figure 2 described developments with functioning as a handlebar segments of the supply lines are combined with the rotatable coupling of the supply lines to the rotary distributor. In this way, thermal expansion of the supply lines can also be at least partially compensated for.

The Figures 4a and 4b show the safety coupling of the coupling element according to the present invention in the coupled and uncoupled position. In the figures, a view of the rotary distributor 220 with the supply lines 251 and 252 is shown schematically from below, a direction of rotation of the filler carousel about the machine axis of rotation D being indicated. The traverse 286, via which the safety coupling 287 is mechanically connected to the non-rotatable assembly of the rotary distributor 220, is indicated by dashed lines in the figures.

In the non-limiting development shown here, the safety coupling 287 has joint heads 281 on both sides, via which it is connected on the one hand to the non-rotatable assembly of the rotary distributor 220 and on the other hand to the cross member 286 of the torque arm. Furthermore, in the non-limiting further training the Figures 4a and 4b a sensor 288 is shown schematically, by means of which the force acting on the safety coupling 287 is measured in the form of a tensile stress. If the lever length is known, a torque can also be calculated directly from this, which torque is derived from the stationary system part 101 via the coupling element.

If the measured force or the specific torque exceeds a predetermined limit value, which is generally higher than the nominal force or the nominal torque in normal operation of the filling machine, the safety clutch 287 releases as in FIG Figure 4b displayed automatically. This can also be done in a purely mechanical way without the sensor 288. A combination is also conceivable in which the limit value for the sensor is selected to be lower than the limit value at which the mechanical triggering takes place. In the further development shown, the sensor 288 comprises a switch or is integrated in a switch which releases the safety clutch when the limit value is exceeded. This can be done in different ways, for example by retracting a switching element such as a cam, by canceling an electromagnetic coupling of a switchable electromagnet, or by other switchable elements known in the prior art.

Is the safety coupling 287 as in the Figure 4b Released as shown, the force or torque transmission between rotary distributor 220 and stationary system part 101 via the torque support is canceled. If, as described above, rotary joints of the supply lines are provided on the machine axis of rotation D, the rotary distributor and thus the filler carousel are decoupled from the stationary system part 101 with regard to rotations. This can result in damage to the supply lines and the components in the periphery of the filling machine due to the further rotation of the filler carousel due to inertia an emergency stop can be avoided. The emergency stop can be initiated by transmitting a signal from the switch or sensor 288 to the control and / or regulating unit 180 of the filling machine of the Figure 1 initiated automatically.

The further developments described make it possible to automatically decouple the non-rotatable assembly of a rotary distributor from a stationary system part, in particular from stationary supply lines, if necessary. As a result, the supply lines can be prevented from winding up due to the further rotation of the rotary arm in the event of an emergency stop and the associated damage and changes in position on neighboring components. In addition, work and operational safety increases.

Claims (15)

Device for distributing fluid media for a rotary machine (100), in particular a filling machine (100), comprising: a rotary distributor (120; 120u, 120o; 220) with a first assembly (125; 225) which is not rotatable and a second assembly (130; 230) which is rotatable about a machine axis of rotation, wherein the first assembly has one or more connections (140a-d) for at least one fluid medium, one or more supply lines (150a-f; 251, 252) for the at least one fluid medium, which are connected to the connection or connections, and at least one coupling element (285), in particular in the form of a torque support, via which the first assembly can be coupled to a stationary system part (101), in particular the rotary machine (100), characterized in that the coupling element (285) is designed such that it automatically uncouples the first assembly (125; 225) from the stationary system part (101) when a torque limit value or a force limit value is exceeded. Device according to claim 1, wherein the coupling element (285) has a safety coupling (287). Device according to Claim 1 or 2, the coupling element (285) having a sensor (288), in particular a torque sensor or a force sensor. Device according to one of Claims 1 to 3, wherein at least one of the one or more supply lines (251, 252) has a swivel joint (255, 256), the axis of rotation of which coincides with the axis of rotation of the machine. Apparatus according to claim 4, wherein each of the one or more supply lines (251, 252) has a swivel joint (255, 256) whose axis of rotation coincides with the axis of rotation of the machine. Device according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first assembly (125) comprises a distributor shaft of the rotary distributor (120) and the second assembly (130) comprises a distributor head of the rotary distributor (120), so that the distributor head is designed to be rotatable with respect to the distributor shaft. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the first assembly (225) comprises a distributor head of the rotary distributor (220) and the second assembly (230) comprises a distributor shaft of the rotary distributor (220), so that the distributor shaft is designed to be rotatable with respect to the distributor head. Rotary machine (100) for treating containers, comprising an upright system part (101) and a system part (102) which is rotatable with respect to the upright system part and at which at least one treatment station (110) for treating a container is arranged, and furthermore a device according to one of the The preceding claims comprising, wherein the first assembly (225) is arranged on the stationary part of the system and the second assembly (230) is arranged on the rotatable part of the system. Rotary machine according to claim 8, wherein the at least one treatment station (110) is designed to fill the container with a filling product, and wherein the at least one fluid medium comprises the filling product. Rotary machine according to Claim 8 or 9, the first assembly (225) being connected to the stationary system part (101) via the coupling element (285). Rotary machine according to one of Claims 8 to 10, further comprising a valve node (170) for providing the at least one fluid medium, wherein the one or more supply lines (150e, 150f) connect the valve node to the rotary distributor (120u, 120o). Rotary machine according to one of Claims 8 to 11, further comprising a further device according to one of Claims 1 to 7, wherein one of the two devices is arranged above a plane on which the containers revolve, and the other of the two devices is arranged below the plane. Method for mechanically decoupling a rotating system part (102) of a rotary machine (100), in particular a filling machine, from a stationary system part (101) of the rotary machine, wherein a rotary distributor (120; 120u, 120o; 220) with a non-rotatable first assembly ( 125; 225) and one around a machine axis of rotation of Rotatable second assembly (130; 230) is provided for the media supply of the rotary machine, the first assembly having one or more connections (140a-d) for at least one fluid medium, and one or more supply lines (150a-f) for the at least a fluid medium are provided which are connected to the connection or connections, comprising:
Coupling the first assembly (225) to the stationary system part (101) via a mechanical coupling element (285); characterized in that the mechanical coupling element (285) is automatically released when a limit value for a torque or a force which acts on the coupling element (285) during operation of the rotary machine is exceeded. The method according to claim 13, further comprising determining the torque or the force by means of a sensor (288) of the coupling element (285), a switch (288) of the coupling element releasing a safety coupling (287) of the coupling element when the limit value is exceeded. Method according to Claim 13 or 14, the limit value being dependent on an operating mode of the rotary machine (100).

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