FR3047093A1 - SHEATH MANAGEMENT OF A TESTING OR FILLING SYSTEM - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a management of the test or filling adapter sleeves allowing flexibility and increased security, finding an application particularly to the testing and filling of fluids on automobile chains or in other sectors such as energy.

Description

Duct management of a test or filling system

The present invention relates to an equipment and method for managing test or filling adapter sheaths for, for example, transferring one or more fluids to automobile production lines. It finds particular application for machines for filling several fluids in several points of a vehicle (brake fluid, engine coolant, air conditioning fluid ...). Each fill or test point is connected by an adapter to a sheath that is connected to a fluid filling machine. Said ducts can be easily intermingled and thus create difficulties, or even risks for the operator handling them. The equipment according to the invention is particularly advantageous in the testing or filling of such circuits, for example on an automobile assembly line, or in the energy sector for filling heat pumps, electric radiators with fluid or gas cylinders.

In automobile chains, filling machines are used to test or fill the various circuits of the vehicles being assembled. Specific adapters connect fluidically to fluidic circuits via temporary connections, automatic or manual, integrating hydraulic and pneumatic elements so as to ensure a fluid connection between the filling machine and the fluid circuits to be filled or tested. The operator uses adapters when passing each vehicle. Adapters must be rugged, lightweight, ergonomic as well as the jacket that connects them to the filling machine and protect the hydraulic, pneumatic and / or electrical circuits that make it up.

Currently, the sheaths are a set of hoses, cables, pipes, conduits ... generally put together in an articulated envelope to maintain and protect them mechanically. Each sheath is held at various fixed points, for example on a guide rail allowing movement in a single axis. In many applications, the operator needs greater freedom of movement and this movement in a single axis is insufficient. The sheath is left with more play to be freer but consequently it generally hangs on the ground, causing both wear and safety risks for the operator himself or a person passing through the area (fall, sprain...). This is all the more dangerous when this floor duct is linked to a moving assembly that follows the automobile production line and can therefore hit and unbalance a person in the work area.

The starting point of the sheath or ducts is generally located at the top and side of the machine. When the assembly is in the rest position, the duct loops may overflow the filling station template and catch in an obstacle during the displacement of the filling system.

Alternatively, the sheath is a bundle of fluid conduits and electrical cables held together but not placed in a common envelope. To simplify the description of the invention, we will describe later a configuration with a sheath knowing that it also covers the variant with a beam.

Said sheath is linked to the filling machine by a system of fluid connectors more or less fast to disconnect. This sheath is usually taken up by tensor systems to avoid rubbing on the ground, or anti-tearing systems that detect a too strong tension of the sheath between the vehicle and the fluid filling machine. These systems take up space around the filling machine and generally require operator intervention to store the ducts. In addition, permanent fixed point connections of current stress systems tend to cause premature wear of the cladding with adverse effects on the ducts they contain.

The present invention therefore aims to overcome the aforementioned drawbacks, by proposing a boxed or body-mounted equipment for storing the sheaths on the lateral face of the filling system and a duct tensioning method, compact, which can integrate a system for controlling the movement of the casing. 'equipment. According to the invention, the sheath is resumed in tension so as not to touch the ground, avoiding wear and risks, without undergoing permanent constraints. The sheath is then free of any accessory such as flange or tensioner which allows a quick disassembly when an adapter must be changed.

Thus, according to a first aspect, the subject of the invention is duct management equipment in a test and fluid filling system connected to at least one duct. The equipment comprises a guide mounted on a mobile carriage translating between the ends (A, B) of a rail, the end position (A) being the rest position of the sheath and the position of end (B) being the working position of the sheath. Said guide is especially intended to retain the sheath on the mobile carriage and to allow the circulation of the sheath.

According to some embodiments, the equipment further comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any technically possible combination: the mobile carriage is moved by a translation means, in particular a rodless jack. - The equipment includes a translation control unit.

Sensors are arranged on the equipment so as to detect a voltage exerted on the sheath. - The fluid filling system comprises a filling or test adapter connected to the free end of said sheath and a support for hanging the adapter when not in use and at least one presence sensor of the adapter is arranged on the support. - The guide includes rotating elements adapted to slide the sheath. - The fluid filling system is movable in a direction parallel to a conveyor carrying fluid circuits to be filled. The equipment is attached to a side face of the filling system and is enclosed in a housing defining a magazine. The invention also relates, in a second aspect, to a fluid filling or test system comprising duct management equipment as defined above. The invention also provides, in a third aspect, a duct management method using duct management equipment as described above comprising the following steps: - In rest position:. The movable carriage 5 is positioned opposite the adapter 4, substantially at the end A of the rail 6 so as to tension the sheath 2 and prevent it from touching the ground. - In deployed position:. The adapter 4 is unhooked from the support 8,. The movable carriage 5 is moved towards the end B of the rail 6 releasing the tension on the sheath. . The adapter 4 is fixed on a fluid circuit 91 to be filled.

According to some embodiments, the method further comprises one or more of the following characteristics, taken individually or in any possible technical combination: - When the sensors detect an abnormal voltage on the sheath, a displacement or a stop is realized by either of the movable carriage and the conveyor and the filling unit for removing or releasing said tension on the sheath. - When the sensors detect an abnormal voltage on the sheath, a change in the displacement of the fluid filling system contributes to the removal of the voltage on the sheath. - The mobile carriage, the filling system and the conveyor are synchronized to avoid abnormal tensions on the duct in the deployed position. - When the adapter is detected by the presence sensor on the support, the duct management equipment (s) switches to the rest position and when the adapter is unhooked from the support, the duct management equipment switches to deployed position. The equipment according to the invention is composed of several subassemblies combining several functionalities (the variants combine one or more functionalities in addition to the first): a duct management device, placed on a lateral face of a control system; filling, said filling system comprising a frame closed by a housing and containing the ducts and / or the management equipment ducts.

A movable carriage, provided with a guide system or guide, navigates on a rail allowing a translational movement to store the length of sheath so that it does not drag on the ground, equipped with sensors of start and end of race,

The mobile carriage does not permanently constrain the sheath because there is no fixed connection on the guiding element and can be equipped with a system allowing rapid disassembly, - A system to prevent tearing of the sheath. the duct when the filling or test cycle is in progress: this device detects a voltage level of the duct. If the effort is too great, the movements of the mobile carriage for storing, the entire filling system and the conveyor moving the element to be filled are stopped unitarily or in combination. This safety function is important because a rupture of sheaths potentially involves a rupture of the hoses that it contains and a spill of fluid on the ground or in the air causing danger and / or pollution (depending on the nature of the fluid or fluids escaping of their leads), - A method of synchronization of the filling system with the production line. This system makes it possible to adjust the speed of one relative to the other. It is often called "faster / slower", The set of sensors is connected to a control system and an HMI (human-machine interface) to report defects by alerts, with the ability to store them in memory. The invention therefore makes it possible to integrate functionalities for managing the tension of the sheath and the anti-tearing in addition to the storage. The equipment is all the more advantageous as it can also handle multiple ducts, while respecting the constraints of compact production machines. The invention also makes it possible to eliminate the tensioning systems and also the fixed connections between the sheath and the guiding systems which are sources of loss of time in the event of disassembly of the sheath. The invention incorporates a guide system without fixed connection with a quick disassembly system.

The characteristics and advantages of the invention will appear on reading the description which follows, given solely by way of example, and not by way of limitation, with reference to the following appended figures:

Figure 1 is a schematic representation of a single-sheath filling system according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, the sheath management equipment is in the rest position.

FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the single-sheath filling system shown in FIG. 1, the sheath management equipment of which is connected to a vehicle.

Figure 3 is an example of implementation of the duct management equipment according to the invention with two ducts connected to the center of the filling machine and in the rest position.

FIG. 4 is an example of implementation of the real-time duct management equipment according to FIG. 3 with the ducts in position connected to the vehicle.

Figure 5 is a schematic view of an example of guidance in a guide carriage or body in multi-duct version according to the invention.

FIGS. 6 a, b, and c are diagrammatic representations and views from above of an exemplary embodiment of an anti-pullout system associated with the sheath management system according to the invention.

Figure 7 is another example of implementation of a multi-duct filling system equipped with several individually controlled duct management equipment according to the invention.

Hereinafter, a detailed description of several examples of embodiments of the invention with reference to the drawings. The examples of implementations of the invention given in the present description relate to the automotive sector but are in no way limitative since such an invention can be applied to all sectors requiring testing or filling of fluids, particularly in the sector. energy for filling heat pumps, or fluid radiators.

Figure 1 shows, in an automotive assembly line, a filling system 100 at rest. A sheath 2 is connected to a filling machine 3 and an adapter 4 hanging on the reel 8. The sheath 2 passes through a duct management equipment 1 composed of at least one guide element or guide 51 on a mobile carriage 5. Said carriage 5 moves on a rail 6 in horizontal translation, said rail being preferably located on a lower side of the filling machine 3. When the system 100 is at rest, the movable carriage 5 is positioned opposite the connection of the sheath 2 and the machine 3 and opposite the repository 8 as shown in Figure 1 to maximize the storage of sheath. The carriage 5 is at the end A of the rail 6. Thus in the rest position, the sheath 2 is extended and does not touch the ground. The mobile carriage 5 is in a folded position on the end of the rail 6. Position sensors 61 and 62 are positioned on either side of the rail 6 to detect the stopping position of the mobile carriage 5 at the end of the rail 6.

Advantageously, the drive of the carriage 5 is made from a rodless cylinder which can also serve as a translation rail 6. In this case, the rail and the drive means would be indissociable. The rodless cylinder makes it possible to keep small dimensions on the side of the filling machine 3. It is also possible to use other means of driving the truck including rack systems, hydraulic systems, timing belts associated with a motor ...

Figure 2 shows the filling system 100 of Figure 1 during a cycle with the equipment 1 and the sheath 2 in the deployed position or working position. The adapter 4 is connected to a fluid circuit 91 of a vehicle 9. The movable carriage 5 has been moved from the rest position to a working position, that is to say from the end A to the end B of the rail 6. The sensor 62 on the rail 6 can detect the position of the carriage 5 at the end of travel or a position substantially at the end of the rail 6. The translation of the carriage 5 allows to relax the sheath 2 to give the slack the operator to connect the adapter 4 to the circuit 91. A portion of the sheath 2 which was above the rail 6 flows through the guide 51 of the carriage 5 and is found under the rail 6.

In this example, the equipment 1 according to the invention has two positions, the rest position of the side A and the working position of the side B. The movable carriage 5 passing from the rest position to the working position on request of the operator or preferably during the stall of the adapter 4. A presence sensor 81 disposed on the support 8 detects the presence or absence of the adapter 4 and allows to start the positioning of the carriage 5 on the rail 6 in depending on the position of the adapter.

Figure 3 shows, in an automobile assembly line a filling system 100 multi sleeves at rest with sheaths 2 and 2 'in the folded position which does not touch the ground. The ducts 2 and 2 'are connected in the center of the filling machine or the tank 3. The mobile part 5 is in the rest position on the sensor 61. The system is adaptable for use with several ducts: the invention allows a magazine 31 on a single geometric plane avoiding that the sheaths get entangled.

Regarding the operating operation, initially, the entire filling system 100 is positioned relative to the vehicle where the filling operations will be performed. At this time, the moving part 5 translates to the sensor 62 end of stroke or working position. The operator then has an additional duct length for the different adapters 4 and 4 'to connect them to the circuits 91 and 91' of the vehicle 9 as shown in FIG. 4. Once the adapters 4 and 4 'are connected, sheaths 2 and 2 'remain in place and do not touch the ground. The filling system 100 advances at the same speed as the vehicle 9 on the assembly line which ensures that the sheaths 2 and 2 'do not touch the ground.

In another embodiment of the invention, as illustrated in FIG. 4, as a function of the position of the car with respect to the filling system 100, the carriage 5 moves on its rail 6 to maintain a sufficient voltage not to leave sheath 2 on the floor. The mobile carriage 5 can move and position itself along the entire length between the sensors 61 and 62 of the rail 6 and follow the movement of the car 9 to the fair. At the end of filling, the operator disconnects the adapters 4 and 4 'of the vehicle 9 and puts them back in the repository 8 which is equipped with sensors 81 and 81' of presence. When the last of the adapters 4 and 4 'is on hook, the moving part 5 returns to the collapsed position at the sensor 61 and stores the sheaths 2 and 2' so that they do not become troublesome once the operation is completed on the vehicle. The order of sheaths 2 and 2 'must also be chosen skilfully by the skilled person to avoid entanglements and thus facilitate the ergonomics of the filling system 100.

FIG. 5 shows, in more detail, the guiding system 51 of the sheaths 2 on the mobile carriage 5. In this exemplary implementation of the invention, the mobile carriage 5 comprises three guiding systems 51 for three sheaths 2 , 2 'and 2 ". Here, a pair of wheels 52 can guide a sheath 2 without excessive friction. A helical spring system (not shown) may be integrated with the wheels 52 to allow the sheath 2 to rise more easily when moving from the deployed position to the idle position. Other simpler and more static systems may also be used, including dual funnel systems connected by their narrow portions to surfaces having a low friction index.

In this example illustrated in FIG. 5 according to the invention, sensors 10 and 11 make it possible to manage the synchronization of the filling system 100 with respect to the vehicle 9. These two sensors 10 and 11 allow the function of "faster / less quickly" . This function makes it possible to adjust at least one of the movement speeds of the equipment 1, the filling system 100 and the conveyor 90 of vehicles in order to synchronize them relative to each other. These sensors 10 and 11 are triggered by a switch 54 positioned on the mobile carriage 5. Voluntarily a degree of freedom is left to the moving carriage 5 for monitoring the tension of the sheaths 2, 2 'and 2 ".

All operations on an assembly line do not always take place ideally once the connection is made between the adapter 4 and the vehicle 9. The filling system 100 may be late compared to the vehicle. At this time, the sheath 2 is stretched slightly and the switch 54 of the movable carriage 5 comes into contact with the sensor 10 located on the B side of the rail 6. The control-command of the machine momentarily accelerates the filling system 100 until In time, there is no more contact with the sensor 10. Conversely, if a fault appears at a time on the assembly line, the conveyor stops for a few moments. The information is not always transmitted to all machines in the assembly line. The filling system 100 continues to advance and a desynchronization may occur. The position of the sheath 2, guided by the movable carriage 5, is detected by the sensor 10 on which the switch 54 of the movable carriage 5 comes into contact. The filling system 100 is thus in advance and the mobile carriage 5, because of the tension of the sheath 2, moves slightly and comes into contact with the sensor 11. Said sensor 11 is placed opposite the sensor 10 by relative to the contactor 54 preferably symmetrically off voltage on the sheath 2. At this time, the control control of the filling system 100 strongly slows down or stops for a few moments the displacement of the filling system 100. When the conveyor resumes normal operation or returns to a suitable position relative to the filling system 100, the sheath 2 expands, the switch 54 of the movable carriage 5 no longer touches the sensor 11 and the filling system 100 resumes normal operation.

But in some cases, stopping the conveyor 90 may take longer. The movable carriage 5 guiding the sheath 2 is thus first in contact with the sensor 11 and therefore slows down the translational movement of the system 100. With the stop of the conveyor 90 and the same reduced speed of the filling system 100, the tension of the sheath 2 increases and the mobile carriage 5 can then be in contact with a sensor 13. This causes the complete stop of the filling system 100. This information can also be sent to the conveyor 90 if exchanges exist between the system filling 100 and the conveyor 90. Indeed, it is imperative to avoid any deterioration or tearing of the sheath. The opposite can also occur: the system 100 is strongly late, see stopped and the conveyor 90 continues to advance. When the contactor 54 of the mobile carriage 5 guiding the sheath 2 comes into contact with the sensor 10, the control-command of the filling system 100 momentarily accelerates the movement of the filling system 100. If there is a fault on the motorization of the displacement of the filling system 100, the filling system 100 does not accelerate. The tension of the sheath 2 increases and the mobile carriage 5 thus comes into contact with a sensor 12. This information is automatically sent to the conveyor 90 as an emergency stop and causes the complete shutdown of this part of the production line. As in the previous case, it is imperative to avoid an accident. Thus, the two sensors 12 and 13 allow an "anti-tearing" function. According to ISO 13849, sensors 12 and 13 are chosen with a high level of reliability because they intervene in a safety chain.

The mobile carriage 5 comprising the guides 51 is advantageously provided with a rapid disassembly system of its housing 53 and the guides 51 can also be disassembled quickly to allow the quick change of the sheaths 2. In a refined version, it is not it is not necessary to put a protective casing 53 and only the guides 51 allow the ducts 2 to be held in the carriage 5.

According to the invention, the travel of the movable carriage 5 on the rail 6 allowing the translation is dimensioned to store the length of sheath necessary so that it does not touch the ground. The device can be horizontal or vertical, but the horizontal position often saves space and limits the height of the filling system 100.

When the filling or testing operation is completed, the operator disconnects the adapter 4 of the circuit 91 of the vehicle 9 and puts it back in its repository 8 which is equipped with a presence sensor 81. As soon as it is detected, the mobile carriage 5 returns to the "rest position" at the end A of the rail 6 at the level of the sensor 61 and stores the sheath 2 so that it is not troublesome once the operation is complete. on the vehicle 9.

Figures 6a, 6b and 6c show the implementation of another embodiment of a system for achieving the fastest / fastest associated with the duct management system I. When the carriage 5 passes into the working position, the carriage 5 is stopped by a damping mechanism 7, for example of the gas cylinder type. This mechanism 7 hooks the carriage 5 by a magnet 71 at the end of its rod 72. This mechanism 7 has a known degree of freedom of crushing and extension which makes it possible to measure the fluctuation of the point of attachment 73. the sheath 2 on the carriage 5, the damping mechanism 7 is in the neutral position, that is to say that the point of attachment 73 is substantially in the middle of the zone Z crushing and extension of the damper as shown in Figure 6a.

This zone Z makes it possible to detect the forces exerted on the sheath 2 by measuring the variations of the position of the point of attachment 73, between the neutral position and the extreme positions of crushing (FIG. 6b) and extension FIG. . Several means can be used to measure these positional variations. It is possible to use a displacement measuring sensor (not shown) of the rod 72 which has the advantage of measuring a multitude of intermediate positions of the point of attachment 73. In a variant, it is possible to use, in particular, sensors detecting the position of the carriage 5. For this, two sensors 10 and II are positioned on either side of the switch 54 of the carriage 5 in the neutral position. These sensors 10 and 11 serve to detect non-critical voltages exerted on the sheath. Two other sensors 12 and 13 may be positioned outside the sensors 11 and 10, defining the two critical positions of the so-called anti-tearing sheath (FIGS. 6b and 6c).

In many configurations of automotive assembly lines, the filling systems 100 are movable to track the cars 9 on their conveyor 90. The equipment 1 allows to take into account the events on the conveyor 90. When the equipment 1 detects by the sensors 10 and 11, a non-critical voltage on the sheath 2 the control command can accelerate or slow down the system 100 or the conveyor 90. - if the damping mechanism 7 crashes, the system 100 accelerates or the conveyor 90 slows down. - If the damping mechanism 7 extends, the system 100 slows or the conveyor accelerates.

In the case of a dangerous voltage, detected by the sensors 12 and 13 anti-tearing, the system 100 and the conveyor 90 are stopped.

After correction of the position of the system 100, the damping mechanism 7 returns the carriage 5 to its neutral working position and the switch 54 is then positioned between the sensors 11 and 10.

During the transition from the rest position to the working position of the carriage 5 on the rail 6, the sensors 13 and 11 are inhibited as long as the contactor 54 is placed in the neutral position. They are then reactivated to allow the detection of the tension of the sheath.

This anti-tear detection and faster / less can be a combination of the above technologies. For example, it is possible to use only the sensors 11 and 10 coupled to the detection of the extreme positions of the rod 72 of the mechanism 7 or conversely of the sensors 13 and 12 for the anti-pullout and a measuring sensor of stroke rod 72 to operate more finely faster / slower.

Figure 7 shows another example of implementation of the invention on a filling system 100 multi ducts. In this example, the system 100 integrates three equipment 1 duct management 2. This configuration, although more expensive, independently manages each duct 2, 2 'and 2 ". Whatever the positions of the circuits 91 to be filled on the vehicle 9, the voltage of the sheaths 2, 2 'and 2 "is monitored and adapted so that they do not drag on the ground or exert too much tension on the connectors of the In this embodiment of the invention, the rails 6, 6 'and 6 "are arranged under the filling machine 3.

Claims (13)

1. Equipment (1) for managing at least one sheath (2) in a system (100) for testing and / or filling fluid connected to said at least one sheath (2), the equipment (1) being characterized in that it comprises a guide (51) mounted on a movable carriage (5) translating between the ends (A, B) of a rail (6), the end position A being the position resting of the sheath (2) and the working position of the sheath (2) being beyond the position A towards the end position B and in that the said guide (51) is specially intended to retain the sheath (2) on the mobile carriage (5) and to allow the circulation of the sheath (2). 2. Equipment (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the movable carriage (5) is moved by a translation means, in particular a rodless cylinder, and in that it comprises a translation control unit. 3. Equipment (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that sensors (10, 11, 12, 13) are arranged on the equipment 1 so as to detect a tension exerted on the sheath (2 ). 4. Equipment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the fluid filling system (100) comprises a filling or test adapter (4) connected to the free end of said sheath (2). and a support (8) for hanging the adapter (4) when not in use, at least one sensor (81) for the presence of the adapter (4) being arranged on the support (8). 5. Equipment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the guide (51) comprises rotary elements (52) adapted to slide the sheath (2). 6. Equipment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the system (100) for fluid filling is movable in a direction parallel to a conveyor (90) carrying circuits (91) fluidic fill. 7. Equipment (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the equipment (1) is fixed on a side face of the system (100) and is enclosed in a housing defining a magazine (31). 8. System (100) for testing and / or filling fluids, characterized in that it comprises an equipment (1) for managing at least one sheath according to one of claims 1 to 7. 9. Method of management of at least one sheath using a duct management equipment (1) as described in claims 1 to 7, characterized in that: in the rest position: the movable carriage (5) is positioned opposite the adapter (4), substantially at the end (A) of the rail (6) so as to tension the at least one sheath (2) and to prevent it does not touch the ground; and - in the deployed position:. the adapter (4) is unhooked from the support (8),. the movable carriage (5) is moved towards the end B of the rail (6) releasing the tension on the sheath, and. the adapter (4) is fixed on a fluid circuit (91) to be filled. 10. Method according to claim 9, characterized in that, when the sensors (10, 11, 12, 13) detect an abnormal voltage on the sheath (2), a displacement or a stop, one or the other the movable carriage (5) and the conveyor (90) and the filling unit (100) is designed to remove or release said tension on the sheath (2). 11. Method according to claim 10, characterized in that, when the sensors (10, 11, 12, 13) detect an abnormal voltage on the sheath (2), a change in the displacement of the fluid filling system (100) participates removing the tension on the sheath (2). 12. Method according to claim 11, characterized in that the movable carriage (5), the filling system (100) and the conveyor (90) are synchronized to avoid abnormal tensions on the sheath (2) in the deployed position. 13. Method according to one of claims 9 to 12, characterized in that, when the adapter (4) is detected by the sensor (81) presence on the support (8), the equipment (1) management of ducts passes to the rest position and, when the adapter (4) is unhooked from the support (8), the equipment (1) duct management goes into the deployed position.