JPH0341128Y2 - - Google Patents

Description

[Detailed description of the invention] Industrial application field The present invention uses a large number of manifold blocks equipped with solenoid valves that individually control each actuator, such as a robot equipped with a large number of actuators operated by fluid pressure. This relates to a valve unit that is assembled into one piece.

Problems to be solved by conventional techniques and ideas Conventionally, such a valve unit has a supply passage and a discharge passage penetrating between both sides, an inlet/outlet for connecting an actuator on the back side, and the above-mentioned valve unit on the top side. A plurality of manifold blocks each having a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape each having an opening communicating with the supply passage and the discharge passage, and an opening communicating with the inlet/outlet of the rear surface, respectively, are joined so that the supply passage and the discharge passage are aligned with each other, and both sides thereof are connected. By arranging and tightening side blocks in which ports of the supply passage and discharge passage are formed, the manifold blocks are connected together, and the wiring cables of the solenoid valves respectively attached to the upper surfaces of the manifold blocks are connected. is connected to the terminal of the terminal board attached to the front end surface of each manifold block through the inside of each manifold block, and the cable bundle inserted through the insertion hole of the projecting wall protruding from the front end surface of the manifold block of the side block. Each cable is connected to each terminal, and a cover having a U-shaped cross section is installed between the protruding walls of the both side blocks to isolate the space in front of the terminal plate of each manifold block from the outside, A supply pipe and a discharge pipe connected to a pressure supply source of working fluid are respectively connected to each port of the side block, and connecting pipes are respectively connected to the inlet and outlet of each manifold block to be piped to each actuator. Since the supply and discharge passages of each manifold block are combined into one, the supply and discharge passages of each manifold block can be activated by simply connecting the piping between each port on the side block and the working fluid pressure source. The number of piping can be reduced because each solenoid valve can be connected to its own pressure source, and each solenoid valve normally requires several wiring cables to be routed from the control device to each solenoid. Otherwise, you would have to run several wiring cables between each solenoid valve and the control device.
Since each solenoid valve is gathered in one place, the common cable that is wired from the control device can be branched and connected within the cover for the wiring cables common to each solenoid, which reduces the number of wiring cables. This has the advantage of simplifying piping and wiring.

By the way, in order to prevent water and dust from entering the inside of the cover attached to protect the terminal board and wiring cables of each manifold block, conventionally, the wiring cable bundle and the wiring cable bundle inserted through the insertion hole of the side block were A rubber sealing member is used to close the gap with the insertion hole, and a sealing member made of a thin synthetic rubber plate is glued around the upper and lower edges of each manifold block and the protruding walls of the side blocks that contact the inner surface of the cover. However, if there is a dimensional error between each manifold block, the adjacent seals of the sealing members affixed to each manifold block may be damaged when they are joined. A step is created between the faces, which creates a gap between some of the sealing faces and the inner surface of the cover, resulting in an incomplete seal, and also creates gaps in the supply and discharge passages of each manifold block that are joined to each other. The openings are completely sealed by fitting and sandwiching O-rings into seal grooves formed around the supply and discharge passage openings on the sides of each manifold block. Because they are not flat, there are gaps between the sides of the manifold blocks that allow water and dust to enter. It had the disadvantage of penetrating inside.

Means for Solving the Problems In the present invention, as a means for solving the above problems, a seal groove is provided around the outer periphery of the front end of each manifold block, and a seal groove is provided in the outer periphery of the manifold block. An annular sealing member made of an elastic material having a sealing surface protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface is fitted, and the adjacent sealing surfaces are brought into elastic contact with each other by elastic deformation of the sealing member, and the seals on both upper and lower edges are fitted. The surfaces are brought into elastic contact with the inner surface of the cover, and mounting step portions are formed along both end edges of the cover on the mutually opposing inner sides of the projecting walls of both side blocks, and the step portions are attached to the inner surface of the cover. A sealing member made of an elastic material that makes elastic contact is attached.

Functions and Effects The valve unit of the present invention has the above structure, and the seal member fitted in the seal groove of each manifold block is elastically deformed between it and the cover, and its elastic restoring force causes the seal surfaces on both the upper and lower edges of the cover to deform. Since the seals are brought into elastic contact with the inner surface, even if there is a dimensional error between the manifold blocks and a step is created between the adjacent seal surfaces of each seal member in the free state, each seal surface can be securely attached to the inner surface of the cover. In addition to completely sealing the space between each manifold block and the cover, the adjacent seal surfaces of the seal members fixed to each manifold block are brought into elastic contact with each other, so that the The gap between the sides is sealed at the front of the front end face of each manifold block, which prevents water and dust from entering the cover from the gap between the cover and each manifold block or between the sides of adjacent manifold blocks. It has the effect of reliably preventing intrusion, and since the seal member of each manifold block is attached by fitting into the seal groove, the seal member is installed so that it does not easily come off. At the same time, there is no need for a special member for attaching the seal member, reducing the number of parts, and there is also an effect that the work of attaching the seal member can be carried out easily and quickly.

Embodiment Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described based on the accompanying drawings.

First, the overall configuration will be explained with reference to FIG. The manifold block is a rectangular parallelepiped manifold block having openings 4 and 5 communicating with the inlet and outlet ports 2 and 3, respectively, and openings 6 and 7 communicating with the supply channel and the discharge channel, respectively, on the upper surface thereof. , a side block which connects three manifold blocks 1 with their respective supply passages and discharge passages aligned with each other, and has ports 8 and 10 formed on both sides thereof to communicate with the supply passages and discharge passages of the manifold blocks 1, respectively. 11 are arranged respectively, and through bolts 12, which pass through these,
12, each manifold block 1 and both side blocks 11 are integrally connected, and the upper surface of each manifold block 1 has a
A solenoid valve 14 has ports on its lower surface that align with the openings 4 to 7, respectively, and a solenoid connecting terminal protrudes from the lower surface. At the front end of each manifold block 1, a terminal plate 21 with a terminal 20 attached to the front is fixed with a mounting screw 22, and the lead wire of the connector 16 is attached to each terminal 20. 23 passes through the wiring hole 19 and the insertion hole 24 of the terminal board 21 and is connected by an upper screw 25. On the other hand, a projecting wall 26 protrudes forward from the front end of the manifold block 1 of both side blocks 11, 11. A through hole 27 is provided in each of the manifold block 1, and a bundle of wiring cables connected to a control device (not shown) is passed through the through hole 27 of one of the projecting walls 26 to the front of the manifold block 1, and each wiring cable is are connected to the respective terminals 20 of each terminal board 21 by screws 28 on the lower side, and the insertion holes 2 of the projecting wall 26 on the side through which the bundle of wiring cables are inserted.
A sealing member tightly fitted around the bundle of distribution cables is fitted to 7 to seal the space between the insertion hole 27 and the bundle of distribution cables, and
A cover made of synthetic rubber is tightly fitted and sealed in the insertion hole 27 on the other side, and a cover 30 having a U-shaped cross section is placed between the projecting walls 26 of the block 11 on both sides. The upper and lower end edges of the manifold block 1 are fitted into the fitting steps 31 formed on each protruding wall 26, and the upper and lower tip edges are fitted into the fitting steps 32 formed on the upper and lower edges of the front end of each manifold block 1, respectively. The front part of each manifold block 1 is closed off from the outside, and the supply pipe and discharge pipe connected to a pressure source of working fluid (not shown) are connected to each side block 11 by tightening screws 33. Connect to ports 8 and 10 and connect to the other side block 1.
Each port 8, 10 of the manifold block 1 is closed with a blind plug, and piping is connected between the inlet/outlet 2, 3 on the back of each manifold block 1 and each actuator. As shown in FIG. 4a, a sealing groove 35 having a trapezoidal cross section is formed in an annular shape on both sides of the front end of the manifold block 1 and in the upper and lower fitting steps 32, 32.
A sealing member 37 made of synthetic rubber and having a circular cross section and a rectangular loop whose outer periphery serves as a sealing surface 36 is attached to this seal 35. Before assembling each manifold block 1 together, Then, it is fitted into each seal groove 35 by expanding against elasticity, and in this state, the seal surface 36 on each side of the seal member 37 is
They protrude outward from both side surfaces and upper and lower fitting steps 32 of the manifold block 1, respectively. on the other hand,
Similar to the seal groove 35, a seal groove 38 having a trapezoidal cross section is continuously formed on the fitting step 31 of the projecting wall 26 of both side blocks 11 and on the side surface adjacent to the manifold block 1. A synthetic rubber seal member 40 having a circular cross section and a loop shape along the seal groove 38 is attached, and this seal member 40 is also attached to each seal before connecting the side block 11 to the manifold block 1. The sealing member 40 is fitted into the groove 38, and in this state, the sealing surfaces 41 on the outer periphery of each side of the sealing member 40 protrude outward from the side surfaces that are joined to the fitting step 31 and the manifold block 1, respectively.

In this way, each manifold block 1 to which the seal member 37 is attached and the seal member 40
When the side blocks 11 to which the manifold blocks 1 are attached are connected in the manner described above, as shown in FIG. The respective seal surfaces 36, 36 are elastically in close contact with each other, and the adjacent side portions of the seal member 37 of the manifold block 1 adjacent to the side block 11 and the seal member 40 of the side block 11 are similarly elastic with each other. The sealing surfaces 36 and 41 are elastically brought into close contact with each other due to the deformation, so that the joints between the manifold blocks 1 and the side blocks 11 are sealed at the front part of each manifold block 1, and furthermore, the joints between the manifold blocks 1 and the side blocks 11 are sealed at the front part of each manifold block 1. When the cover 30 is installed between the protruding walls 26, 26 of the face block 11 as described above, the upper and lower sides of the sealing member 36 of each manifold block 1 are closed, respectively, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. When pressed by the cover 30, elastic deformation occurs, and due to the elastic restoring force, each sealing surface 41 comes into elastic contact with the inner surface of the cover 30, and the upper, lower, and front sides of the sealing portion 40 of the side block 11 are also in contact with the cover. 30 and is elastically deformed, and due to the elastic restoring force, the sealing surfaces 41 on each side elastically come into close contact with the inner surface of the cover 30. As a result, the cover 30 and each manifold block 1 and side block 11
A seal is formed between the fitting step portions 31 and 32.

In this embodiment, since each side of the sealing member 36 attached to each manifold block 1 can undergo large elastic deformation, there is a dimensional error between the manifold blocks 1, and it is difficult to integrate them. Even if there is a difference in level between the upper and lower seal surfaces 36 of the seal members 37 attached to each manifold block 1 when the seal members 37 are connected to the cover 30, the elastic deformation of each side causes the seal surfaces 41 to close to the cover 30. Since it is firmly attached to the inner surface, water and dust are reliably prevented from entering the cover 30 from the fitting portion, and the joints between the manifold blocks 1 and the side blocks 11 are tightly connected to each manifold block. Since the front part of the cover 30 is sealed, external water and dust are reliably prevented from entering the inside of the cover 30 through the gaps between the manifold blocks 1 and the joints with the side blocks 11.

In this embodiment, the cross-sectional shapes of the seal grooves 35 of each manifold block 1 and the seal grooves 38 of the side blocks 11 are trapezoidal as shown in a of FIG. As shown, the seal members 37, 40 may have a triangular cross section, a square cross section, or a semicircular cross section.
As shown in FIG. 5, a to h, various cross-sectional shapes can be selected and used.Furthermore, as the seal member 37 attached to each manifold block 1, as shown in this embodiment, a seal member 37 can be used. It is also possible to use commercially available O-rings that are shaped into a circle rather than a square shape.

In addition, as shown in FIG. 6, in the center of both upper and lower edges of the front end of each manifold block 1,
Corresponding engagement protrusions 43 are formed with a gap substantially equal to the wall thickness of the cover 30 between the fitting step portion 32, and as shown in FIG. By fitting the leading edges of the fitting portions of the cover 30 into the gaps with the step portions 32, the cover 30 is prevented from being pushed up and down by the elasticity of the seal member 37, and the fitting of the cover 30 is prevented. There is an advantage that the sealing member 37 is sufficiently crushed because the inner surfaces of the mating portions reliably abut on the respective fitting step portions 32. Further, as shown in FIGS. 8 and 9, the leading edge of the surface of each engaging protrusion 43 that corresponds to the fitting step 32 is chamfered, or the corresponding surface is moved toward the back to form the fitting step. When tilted so that the corresponding interval with the part 32 gradually becomes smaller, each engaging protrusion 43 and the fitting stepped part 32
When fitting the distal edge of the fitting part of the cover 30 between the parts, the fitting part can be fitted by simply pushing the cover 30 from the side without having to press the fitting part against the elasticity of the sealing member 37. , there is an advantage that the cover 30 can be easily attached.

[Brief explanation of drawings]

Fig. 1 is an exploded perspective view showing the entire configuration of an embodiment of the present invention, Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view of a part thereof, and Fig. 3 is a cross-sectional view of a part thereof.
4 is a sectional view of a seal groove 35 and a modification thereof, FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a modification of the seal member 37, and FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a modification of the seal member 37. Partial perspective view of manifold block 1, No. 7
The figure is a cross-sectional view, and FIGS. 8 and 9 are engagement protrusions 4.
FIG. 3 is a sectional view showing a modification example of No. 3; 1: Manifold block, 2, 3: Inlet/outlet,
4, 5, 6, 7: Opening, 8, 10: Port, 1
1: Side block, 14: Solenoid valve, 2
0: Terminal, 21: Terminal board, 22: Mounting screw, 26: Projection wall, 27: Insertion hole, 30: Cover,
36: Seal surface, 37: Manifold block 1
40: Seal member of side block 11.

Claims (1)

[Scope of utility model registration request] A supply channel and a discharge channel are provided between both sides, an inlet and an outlet for connecting the actuator are formed on the back surface, and an opening that communicates with the supply channel and the discharge channel, respectively, and an opening that communicates with the inlet and outlet of the back surface, respectively, on the upper surface. A plurality of manifold blocks each forming a substantially rectangular parallelepiped are connected with the supply passage and the discharge passage aligned with each other, and side blocks having respective ports of the supply passage and the discharge passage are arranged on both sides of the manifold blocks. The manifold blocks are joined together by tightening, and the wiring cables of the solenoid valves respectively attached to the top surface of each manifold block are passed through the inside of each manifold block to the terminal plate attached to the front end surface of each manifold block. At the same time as connecting to the terminal, each cable of the cable bundle inserted through the insertion hole of the protruding wall protruding from the front end face of the manifold block of the side block is connected to each terminal, respectively, and the cables are connected to the respective terminals, and the cables are inserted between the protruding walls of the both side blocks. In the valve unit, the space in front of the terminal plate of each manifold block is isolated from the outside by attaching a cover having a U-shaped cross section to the valve unit, and a seal groove is provided around the outer periphery of the front end of each of the manifold blocks. An annular sealing member made of an elastic material having a sealing surface protruding outward from the outer peripheral surface of the manifold block is fitted on the outer periphery of the manifold block, and the adjacent sealing surfaces are brought into elastic contact by elastic deformation of the sealing member. At the same time, the sealing surfaces of the upper and lower edges are respectively brought into elastic contact with the inner surface of the cover, and mounting steps are formed along both end edges of the cover on the mutually opposing inner sides of the protruding walls of the both side blocks. A valve unit characterized in that a sealing member made of an elastic material is attached to the stepped portion and comes into elastic contact with the inner surface of the cover.