JPH0246334A - Gas spring device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To minimize the fitting space by disposing separate change-over valves in a bottom member or in a bearing member and constructing such that an annular chamber is communicated with a piston side house or a rod side house when these separate change-over valves are released. CONSTITUTION:When both change-over valves 6, 9 are in the closed state, stretching force and shrinkage force are balanced so that a gas spring device is in the stop state. When the valve 9 is released, a piston side chamber A and a rod side chamber B are communicated, and the pressure difference is generated between the side chamber A, B so that the gas spring is stretched. In this case, when the large outer force such as to push a rod body 2 into a cylinder body 1 acts, the gas spring shrinks. When the valve 6 is released even when the valve 9 is closed, an annular chamber C is selectively communicated with the side chamber A or the side chamber B so as to enable the stretch and shrinkage of the gas spring. As the respective valves 6, 9 are independently disposed, they can be operated separately.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Field of Industrial Application] The present invention relates to a gas spring device that is most suitable for use in gas dampers and the like.

[Conventional technology]

A gas spring device as a gas damper is sometimes used in the reclining mechanism for the backrest of a chair or the lifting mechanism for the seat of the chair. structures have been conventionally provided.

That is, the rod body 2 is inserted into the cylinder body 1 consisting of the inner tube 10 and the outer tube 11 so as to be freely protrusive and retractable, but when the rod body 2 is protruded from the inside of the cylinder body 1, it is in a so-called extended state. When the rod body 2 is inserted into the cylinder body 1, it is said to be in a so-called contracted state.

The inner cylinder 1 is attached to the tip of the rod body 2 (right end in the figure).
A piston 3 is slidably housed in the inner cylinder 10 and is connected to the inner cylinder 10 to define a piston side chamber A and a rod side chamber B.

On the other hand, one end (the left end in the figure) of the cylinder body 1 is closed by a bearing member 4, and the rod body 2 is inserted through the shaft core of the bearing member 4 in a sliding state.

The other end (the right end in the figure) of the cylinder body 1 is closed by a bottom member 5, and the bottom member 5 has an opening/closing valve 6, which is connected to the inner cylinder 10. Outer cylinder 11
An annular chamber C, which is an annular gap formed between the piston side chamber A, can be selectively communicated with the piston side chamber A.

That is, the bottom member 5 has a bypass path consisting of a vertical hole 5α and a horizontal hole 5h, which allows communication between the piston side chamber A and the annular chamber C, and also allows communication between the piston side chamber A and the annular chamber C. It is assumed that communication between the two chambers A and C is selected by the selected operation of the on-off valve 6 disposed in the road.

Incidentally, in the illustrated example, the rod side chamber B also communicates with the annular chamber C.

The communication between the two chambers B and C is different from the above-mentioned case between the two chambers A and C, and is always in communication, and is opened through a partition member 7 disposed adjacent to the bearing member 4. It is assumed that the communication is carried out through a communication hole 7a.

The opening/closing valve 6 includes a tip valve portion 6α and an intermediate flow portion 6h.
and a rear sliding portion 6C. Normally, the tip valve portion 6α closes the mouth end of the bypass path due to the internal pressure in the piston side chamber A, but due to the action of an external force P, the tip valve portion 6α closes the mouth end of the bypass passage. Sliding part 6C
When it comes to be pushed into the bottom member 5, the tip valve part 6α separates from the mouth end, and the intermediate flow part 6b
Communication between the piston side chamber A and the annular chamber C is allowed through the outer periphery of the piston and the lateral hole 5b.

Therefore, when the on-off valve 6 is opened, the piston side chamber A and the rod side chamber B are communicated via the annular chamber C, and therefore, the internal pressure in the piston side chamber A causes the piston 3 to move into the inner cylinder 10. The rod body 2 slides over the cylinder body l.
The gas spring device will be extended from the inside out.

If a large external force that pushes the rond body 2 into the cylinder body 1 is applied when the opening/closing valve 6 is opened, the gas spring device will be contracted.

Furthermore, the gas spring device, which can be freely expanded and contracted by opening the on-off valve 6, prevents the rod body 2 from protruding and retracting from the cylinder body 1 at the position where the piston 3 is in the inner cylinder 1 (jO) when the on-off valve 6 is closed. It will be stopped and its expansion and contraction will be stopped.

Therefore, the gas spring device described above can be used as a reclining mechanism for the backrest of a chair and a lifting mechanism for the seat of the chair, as well as for the person who uses the chair and the person who manages the chair. It is also possible to control the gas spring device using different systems, such as.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in a gas spring device formed in the above-described structure, even if it is set to perform expansion and contraction control using two different systems, there is a risk that this will not be possible.

That is, in the gas spring device having the above structure,
The operating rod 8, which is connected to the opening/closing valve 6, slides within the bottom member 5 by swinging the operating lever R, etc., so that the opening/closing valve 6 can be controlled.

When there are two control systems for the opening/closing valve 6, two traction members W1. W
2 is locked, and an operating force Fl, F2 is applied to each traction member Wl, W2 from an operating handle, etc. (not shown).
are set to work respectively.

Therefore, even if the conventional gas spring device described above is implemented as a reclining mechanism for the back of a chair, in order to control the opening/closing valve 6 using two different systems, that is, to control the expansion and contraction of the gas spring device, it is necessary to
Not only the operating lever R but also the two traction members Wl and W2
In addition, it is necessary to pivot the operating bar R and hold and lock the traction members Wl and W2, etc., and large installations require securing space, which makes it difficult to realize them. There is a risk that this will become virtually impossible.

Therefore, this invention was devised in view of the above-mentioned circumstances, and provides a gas spring device that does not require a large space to be installed on the equipment, and that can easily realize the setting. The purpose is to provide new information.

[Means to solve the problem]

In order to achieve the above object, the configuration of the gas spring device according to the present invention is such that the cylinder body is composed of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, and an annular chamber is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder. A piston side chamber and a rod side chamber are formed in the inner cylinder, which are partitioned by a piston housed in the inner cylinder, and the piston has an opening/closing valve that communicates the piston side chamber and the rod side chamber when the piston is opened. is arranged, and
Top=p Another opening/closing valve is disposed within the bottom member that closes the base end of the cylinder body or within the bearing member that closes the skewed end of the cylinder body, and when the other opening/closing valve is opened, the annular chamber is closed. is characterized in that it is formed so as to communicate with the piston side chamber or the rod side chamber.

[Effect]

Therefore, when both the on-off valve disposed on the piston and another on-off valve disposed elsewhere are in the closed state, a pressure difference occurs between the piston side chamber and the rod side chamber within the cylinder body. Therefore, the gas spring device is not extended and, to this extent, the gas spring device is also not retracted.

On the other hand, when the on-off valve disposed on the piston is opened, the piston-side chamber and the rod-side chamber, which are partitioned by the piston, communicate with each other, creating a pressure difference between the two chambers, and the gas The spring is stretched.

At this time, when a large external force that pushes the rod body into the cylinder body is applied, the spring is contracted.

Furthermore, even when the on-off valve disposed on the piston is closed, if another on-off valve disposed inside the bearing member or the bottom member is opened, the inner cylinder constituting the cylinder body will open. The annular chamber formed between the outer cylinder and the piston side chamber is selectively communicated with the piston side chamber or the rod side chamber. Therefore, a pressure difference is generated between the piston side chamber and the rod side chamber, and the expansion of the gas spring and contraction is possible.

Since the on-off valve disposed on the piston and the other on-off valves are each arranged independently, it is possible to separate the operating systems, and it is no longer possible to use one on-off valve as in the conventional example. There is no disadvantage of placing the control system under two operating systems, and therefore unnecessary installation of the control system does not cause problems such as occupying space.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on the illustrated embodiments.

The gas spring device according to the present invention, for example, as shown in Figure 1, constitutes a reclining mechanism that swings the backrest Sl of the seat S in the direction shown at the center opening. placed below.

The gas spring device is in a state where it can be expanded and contracted by, for example, operating one operating lever R1 provided on the armrest S3 of the seat S or another operating bar R2 provided on the leg S4 of the seat S. It is formed to be.

As shown in FIG. 2, the gas spring device includes a cylinder body 1, a rod body 2, and a piston 3, and two on-off valves 6 and 9.

The cylinder body 1 is made up of an inner cylinder 10 and an outer cylinder 11, and an annular chamber C consisting of an annular gap is formed between the inner cylinder 10 and the outer cylinder 11.

The base end (right end in the figure) of the cylinder body 1 is connected to the bottom member 5.
However, a bypass path L1 consisting of a vertical hole 5α and a horizontal hole 5b is opened in the bottom member 5 to prevent communication between the piston side chamber A and the annular chamber C, which will be described later. At the same time, an on-off valve 6 is provided in the bypass path Ll.
It has.

Here, to explain the on-off valve 6 in detail, the on-off valve 6 is formed in a so-called poppet type, and includes a tip valve part 60, an intermediate flow part 61, and a rear sliding part 6.
2 and an operating rod 8, so as to form the bypass path L1 in the axial center of the bottom member 5,
A case 63 is provided.

The case 63 has an annular groove 63α on its outer periphery, and a communication hole 63h passing through its wall thickness to communicate the inner circumference of the case 63 with the annular groove 63α.

Note that a horizontal hole 5h forming the bypass path L1 faces the annular groove 63α.

The tip valve portion 60 allows the inner circumference of the retainer 64 to adjoin its outer circumference, and when the outer circumference of the tip valve portion 60 comes into sliding contact with the inner circumference of the retainer 64, the opening/closing valve 6 is closed. It is said that

When the outer periphery of the intermediate flow section 61 comes to face the inner periphery of the retainer 64, the bypass path L1 is opened.

Furthermore, in the on-off valve 6, when the rear sliding portion 62 faces the communication hole 63h of the case 63,
Of course, the on-off valve 6 may be in a closed state.

Inside the inner cylinder 10 constituting the cylinder body 1 is a piston 3.
A piston side chamber A and a rod side chamber B are separated by.

The piston side chamber A and the rod side chamber B are communicated with each other when the opening/closing valve 9 disposed on the piston 3 is opened.

That is, the piston 3 is formed with a bypass path L2 consisting of a vertical hole 30 bored in the axial center of the piston 3 and an oblique hole 31 connected to the vertical hole 30. It is assumed that the above-mentioned on-off valve 9 is disposed in L2.

The vertical hole 30 communicates with the piston side chamber A, and the oblique hole 31 communicates with the rod side chamber B.

Here, to explain the on-off valve 9 in detail, the on-off valve 9 is also formed in a so-called poppet type like the on-off valve 6, and has a tip valve part 90, an intermediate flow part 91, and a rear sliding part. 92 and an operating rod 93.

Note that the rear sliding portion 92 and the operating rod 93 are housed in the rond body 2 that is connected to the piston 3.

The tip valve portion 90 has an outer periphery in sliding contact with the inner periphery of the retainer 94, and has a washer 95, which improves the slidability of the retainer 94.

When the inner circumference of the retainer 94 is in sliding contact with the outer circumference of the distal end portion 90, the opening/closing valve 9 is closed.

Furthermore, when the outer periphery of the intermediate flow section 91 comes to oppose the inner periphery of the retainer 94, the bypass L2 is opened.

Note that this on-off valve 9 may also be closed when the outer periphery of the rear sliding portion 92 comes to oppose the inner periphery of the retainer 94.

Further, the rear sliding portion 92 is connected to the operating rod 9 adjacent thereto.
3 and may be formed integrally.

The protruding and retracting ends (left end in the figure) of the inner tube 10 and the outer tube 11 constituting the cylinder body 1 are closed by a bearing member 4.

A seal 12 is interposed inside the inner peripheral end of the bearing member 4.

Further, a partition member 7 is provided adjacent to the inner end of the bearing member 4, and the partition member 7 prevents the seal 12 from falling off and brings the end of the inner cylinder 10 into contact with the partition member 7.

The rod side chamber B and the annular chamber C communicate with each other through a communication hole 7α formed in the partition wall member 7.

Since the gas spring device according to this embodiment is formed as described above, when both the on-off valves 6 and 9 are in the closed state, a force trying to push the piston 3 out from the piston side chamber A is generated. That is, since the extension force and the force pushing the piston 3 inward from the rod side chamber B, ie, the contraction force, are balanced, the gas spring is in a stopped state in which it does not expand or contract.

On the other hand, for example, when one on-off valve 6 is opened,
The piston side chamber A and the annular chamber C communicate with each other via the bypass path L1, and the annular chamber C communicates with the rod side chamber B via the communication hole 7α.

That is, the piston side chamber A and the rod side chamber B are communicated through one on-off valve 6.

Therefore, a pressure difference is created between the piston side chamber A and the rod side chamber B, that is, the piston side chamber A is on the high pressure side,
The piston 3 slides in the inner cylinder 10 in the direction of ejection and ejection, and the gas spring device is expanded.

In the above case, if an external force such as pushing the rod body 2 into the cylinder body 1 and a pushing force greater than the above-mentioned extension force is applied, the rod body 2 will be pushed into the cylinder body 1.
When pushed in, the gas spring device will be deflated.

That is, in the spring device, when the on-off valve 6 is placed in the open state, it becomes expandable and retractable, and when the on-off valve 6 is placed in the closed state, the expansion and contraction are stopped.

The above-mentioned selection of the telescopically enabled state and the telescopically stopped state is also made possible by the opening and closing operations of other on-off valves 9 instead of the above-mentioned one on-off valve 6.

However, when the other on-off valve 9 is opened, the bypass path L2 provided in the piston 3 is opened, and the piston side chamber A and the rod side chamber B are connected via the opened bypass path L2.
will be directly communicated with.

Also, according to this embodiment, one opening/closing valve 6 is controlled by operation on the bottom member 5 side,
The other opening/closing valves 9 are controlled by the operation of the rod body 2, which is convenient when, for example, the gas spring device is controlled to expand or contract from opposite directions.

Fig. 3 shows a gas spring device according to another embodiment of the present invention, and unlike the embodiment shown in Fig. 2 described above, the gas spring device according to this embodiment has an opening in the cylinder body l. It has a singularity in that the opening and closing valves 9 and 20 are controlled from the so-called same direction side of the end side and the rod body 2 side. There is no difference from the embodiment shown in the figure.

Therefore, the same parts of the configuration will be given the same reference numerals and the explanation thereof will be omitted, but below,
I will briefly explain the differences.

First, the base end of the outer cylinder 11 is a bottom part 13, and each part has a bracket mounting part 14.

A base member 15 is disposed inside the bottom portion 13, and the base end side of the inner cylinder 10 is locked to the base member 15.

Further, the base member 15 has a central through hole 15α and a peripheral through hole 15b, and each of the through holes 15α, 15
The piston side chamber A and the annular chamber C are communicated with each other at b.

Next, in this gas spring device, in addition to the one on-off valve 9, there is another on-off valve 2o. It is located in 4.

That is, the opening/closing valve 20 is formed in a so-called poppet type, and is housed in a vertical hole 4a bored through the thickness of the bearing member 4, and opens and closes the vertical hole 4α. The poppet 21 and the poppet 21 are moved forward (
a rotary cam 23 which is interposed in the rod body 1 and causes the poppet 21 to retreat by overcoming the urging force of the spring 22 when the rod body 1 rotates; It has an operation ring 24 that rotates the rotary cam 23 when turning.

The rear end of the front=a mis-spring 2 is locked by a perforated stopper 25 press-fitted inside the opening end of the vertical hole 4α.

The proximal end side of the vertical hole 4α opens into the rod side chamber B, but the distal end side thereof opens onto the rotary cam 23 side.

The rotary cam 23 side and the annular chamber C communicate with each other via a communication hole 4b that is separately drilled in the bearing member 4.

Therefore, the opening/closing valve 20 provided in the bearing member 4 allows communication between the annular chamber C and the rod side chamber B when it is opened, and therefore connects the rod side chamber B to the piston side chamber A via the annular chamber C. It is formed so as to communicate with each other.

The opening/closing valve 20 is configured so that by rotating the operating ring 24, the rotary cam 23 is rotated, and the poppet 21 is moved forward and backward within the vertical hole 4α.

In this embodiment, an on-off valve 9 is also provided inside the piston 3.
However, in the opening/closing valve 9, the sliding part 92 is formed to be elongated, the operation rod 93 in the above-mentioned embodiment is omitted, and the tip valve part 90 is provided with a washer 95. The arrangement of is omitted.

Although the gas spring device according to this embodiment operates in the same manner as in the above-mentioned embodiment, the expansion and contraction control operations are performed in the same direction, and each operation is concentrated. , for example, the mounting has advantages that may be advantageous in cases where space is considerably limited.

〔Effect of the invention〕

As described above, according to the present invention, it is possible to perform expansion and contraction control operations from two different systems, and in that case,
Since one on-off valve is not operated by two systems, each system can be easily separated, and therefore,
A large installation on the equipment has the advantage of requiring less space.

Therefore, for example, when the gas spring device according to the present invention is used for a reclining mechanism in the back of a chair or a lifting mechanism in the seat of a chair, it is possible to There is an advantage in that the control levers, etc. for operation can be concentrated or distributed, and can be selected freely.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

Figure 1 is a schematic diagram showing a state in which the gas spring device according to the present invention is used in a reclining mechanism in the back of a chair, Figure 2 is a front view showing an embodiment thereof in cross section,
Figure 3 is a front view showing another embodiment in cross section, and Figure 4 is a front view showing a conventional example in cross section. [Explanation of the attached numbers] 1... Cylinder body, 2... Rod body, 3... Piston, 4... Bearing member, 5... Bottom member,
6,9.20... Opening/closing valve, A... Piston side chamber, B... Rod side chamber, C... Annular chamber.

Claims (1)

[Claims] The cylinder body consists of an inner cylinder and an outer cylinder, and an annular chamber is formed between the inner cylinder and the outer cylinder, and the inner cylinder is partitioned by a piston housed in the inner cylinder. A piston side chamber and a rod side chamber are formed, the piston is provided with an opening/closing valve that communicates the piston side chamber and the rod side chamber when the piston is opened, and a bottom member that closes the base end of the cylinder body. Another opening/closing valve is disposed inside the bearing member that closes the protruding and retracting end of the cylinder body, and the annular chamber is formed to communicate with the piston side chamber or the rod side chamber when the other opening/closing valve is opened. A gas spring device characterized by: