WO2008093376A1

WO2008093376A1 - Double function oleodynamic actuator

Info

Publication number: WO2008093376A1
Application number: PCT/IT2007/000793
Authority: WO
Inventors: Marino Rocco
Original assignee: Levantagri S.R.L.
Priority date: 2007-01-29
Filing date: 2007-11-09
Publication date: 2008-08-07
Also published as: EP2114814A1; ITBA20070008A1; IT1383934B

Abstract

Oleodynamic actuation device comprising a hydraulic cylinder (H) equipped with a piston (Hl) and liner of the cylinder (H2) and characterised in that said piston (Hl) generates an oleodynamic pressure that acts upon a first actuation member, whereas said liner of the cylinder (H2), directly or through a hub and a relative pin, moves in two supports (N) by an amount equivalent to the height of a slot (S) and acts upon a second mechanical, oleodynamic, pneumatic, electric or electronic actuation member both close by and remotely. The device can advantageously be used to actuate a locking system of containers attached to a suitable lift truck and to a suitable container tipper.

Description

Title: Double function oleodynamic actuator

DESCRIPTION

The object of the present finding is a dual function oleodynamic actuation device for mechanical, hydraulic, pneumatic, electric or electronic applications. In particular, the device can be used for a locking system of industrial containers, during the tipping step of the containers themselves. Said locking system, as known, firmly clasps the container both on the top part of one of its sides and at the feet so as to allow its content to fall by gravity.

In the state of the art different locking systems for industrial containers are known for emptying their content elsewhere. Industrial containers, also known as bins, are used to contain products of all types, both in solid state, and in liquid state, which must be moved inside or outside of a building. The containers are mainly made from plastic material, although there are some containers in use that are made from wood or metallic materials. In order to move the container a lift track is used, which is an operative vehicle equipped with wheels, actuated by electric, diesel or gas motors, and characterised by two frontal projections, parallel to one another and made from metal, known as forks, which allow goods to be picked up and moved inside warehouses or for loading and unloading industrial containers and pallets. After moving, an industrial container needs to be emptied of its content and for this operation a tipper is used. The tipper is a system that allows the container to be rotated from the position parallel to the plane of the floor in order to empty its content by means of gravity. Tippers can be systems mounted on board the lift truck or outside of it. Widely used tipping systems of containers mounted on board the lift truck are systems with a pressure arm, which locks the bin on the two opposite sides of the container parallel to the ground. The locking device of the bin allows its content to be emptied by means of a rotary movement of the container on one of its sides. This device has the disadvantage of being bulky during use and of creating drawbacks in rooms with a standard roof or lower when, in rest position, the pressure arm is in a position perpendicular to the ground. Another disadvantage is due to the fact that, during the tipping step of the container, the device comes into contact with the content deteriorating it. Moreover, in the case of food products, the direct contact with the product is not in accordance with health and hygiene standards. More compact locking devices do exist. Also in these cases, however, known systems have the disadvantage of mechanical and/or oleodynamic complexity that makes them not very reliable and, consequently, subject to frequent maintenance and/or repair. The purpose of the finding, subject of the present invention is to provide an oleodynamic actuation device that is versatile and suitable for any type of application and that also allows the actuation design of a locking system for industrial containers to be simplified.

The finding, subject of the present invention solves the aforementioned technical problems since it concerns an actuation device characterised by a dual function oleodynamic cylinder, according to claim 1. Said device is suitable for various applications, including the actuation of a locking system for industrial containers, according to what is described in claim 2. These and other advantages shall become clearer through the detailed description of the invention that will refer specifically to tables 1/2 and 2/2 in which an absolutely non-limiting preferred example embodiment of the present finding is represented. In particular:

• fig. 1 represents the diagram of the actuation device with dual function oleodynamic cylinder, according to the invention; • fig. 2 shows two schematic views of the locking system of containers that uses the oleodynamic cylinder of fig. 1 ;

• fig. 3 represents the scheme of the locking system and container unit. With reference to fig. 1, the oleodynamic actuation device according to the invention comprises a hydraulic cylinder (H) characterised by a dual function. Indeed, the first oleodynamic function is due to the motion of the piston (Hl) that generates an oleodynamic pressure acting upon an actuation member. The second actuation function is carried out by the liner of the cylinder (H2), which directly or through a hub and a relative pin moves in two supports (N) by an amount equivalent to the height of a slot (S). By applying a hauling device on said liner or on said pin a mechanical action is obtained or else another oleodynamic, pneumatic, electric or electronic member is actuated, both close by and remotely.

A practical application, absolutely not intended to be limiting, of the device according to the present finding is a locking system for containers.

With reference to Fig. 2, said locking system comprises a plate (I) to which a pair of profiles (C) of suitable section (rectangular, square, circular, etc.) is fixedly connected; inside said pair of profiles slides a second pair of profiles (B) joined together to form a bridge structure (A). Said group slides from top to bottom and vice-versa when it is moved by said oleodynamic cylinder (H). In order to move containers of different heights, it is possible to adjust the bridge structure described earlier by means of jacks, for example into positions (Al) or (A2) of Fig. 2. The position must be adjusted before using the locking system. The locking system comprises two different locking devices of the container. Firstly, it comprises at least one pressure pad (G) or at least one pair of pressure pads (G), like in the embodiment being presented here, which lock the container on the top edge of the face adjacent to the plate of the lift truck. Said pressure pads oscillate around a rotation axis (A) and are equipped with a layer of scratch resistant rubber; moreover, they spontaneously take up the horizontal locking position, thanks to the help of a counterweight, preferably circular. Said counterweight, by the effect of gravity, ensures that the presser is in the horizontal locking position. On the other hand, when there is a pile of containers the pressers go into inoperative vertical position at the slightest contact on the right portion.

The oleodynamic cylinder (H) according to the present finding, as stated, has a dual function: the piston (Hl) actuates the pressure pads, which clasp the container on the top edge, whereas the liner of the cylinder (H2), with its hub and the relative pin, moves in two supports (N) by an amount equivalent to the height of the slot (S). This second function actuates the second of the locking devices. Indeed, two angle bars (Q) that each haul a metallic cable (M) or a chain, along a transmission pulley (O), are welded to the liner of the cylinder (H). Said metallic cables or chains, at the opposite ends, are each connected to a lever (Fl) that locks the inside of the foot of the container. Indeed, said lever rotates around an axis and when an end is pulled by the cable (M), the other end comes out from the bulk of the forks and pressure locks the inner surface of a pair of feet of the bin. Said levers (Fl) are equipped at one end with a safety spur (F), which prevents any possible sliding of the container in the case in which the pressure is not sufficient to press the bin inside the base. The lever (Fl) moves inside a space (E) that also acts to guide and centre at the entry of the forks between the feet of the bin. The lever is supported by a spring (L) that always keeps the cable taut to ensure that the lever goes back into rest position. In rest state, the piston of the cylinder is in the top position and the liner of the cylinder is in the bottom position so that the lever with spur goes back where it belongs and is not a hindrance for the insertion of the forks between the feet of the bin. The operating principle of the finding consists of different steps: the lift truck, fitted with the finding subject of the invention, slots its forks into the bin and lifts it to the desired height, then, with the actuation of a single-control lever, both the vertical cylinder that actuates the pressers and a horizontal cylinder for the rotation of the entire tipper are powered up in sequence. Suitable valves provide for the locking of the bin and then for the rotation of the plate with the relative bin. The return operations follow in reverse.

The advantages of the device subject of the finding are clear: the actuation design is basic, greatly improving reliability; the entire system needs less manoeuvring space with an improvement of the loads distributed and of the position of the barycentre; moreover, during the tipping step, the container has its open top facing upwards and the content is not in contact with metallic parts.

Claims

1) Oleodynamic actuation device comprising a hydraulic cylinder (H) equipped with a piston (Hl) and with a liner (H2) of the cylinder and characterised in that said piston (Hl) generates an oleodynamic pressure that acts upon a first actuation member, whereas said liner of the cylinder (H2), directly or through a hub and a relative pin, moves in two supports (N) by an amount equivalent to the height of a slot (S) and acts upon a second mechanical, oleodynamic, pneumatic, electric or electronic actuation member both close by and remotely.

2) Locking system for a container tipper, integrated in or at least able to be coupled with a lift truck, comprising a plate (I) to which a pair of profiles (C) of suitable section is fixedly connected, inside of which a second pair of profiles

(B) runs joined together to form a bridge structure (A), also comprising first and second mechanical locking means of the container and characterised in that it is moved by an actuation device according to claim 1. 3) Locking system according to claim 2, wherein, by means of jacks, it is possible to adjust said bridge structure into different positions.

4) Locking system according to claim 2 or 3, wherein said first mechanical locking means of the container consist of at least one single pressure pad (G) or at least one pair of pressure pads (G), which lock the container on the top edge of the face adjacent to the plate of the lift truck.

5) System according to claim 4, wherein said pressure pads (G) oscillate around a rotation axis (A) and are equipped with a layer of scratch resistant rubber.

6) System according to claim 4 or 5, wherein said pressure pads (G) spontaneously take up the horizontal locking position, thanks to the help of a counterweight, preferably circular. 7) System according to one of the previous claims, wherein said second mechanical locking means consist of a pair of levers

(Fl) that pressure lock the inner surface of the feet of the container.

8) System according to claim 7, wherein said pair of levers (Fl) is moved by said liner (H2) of the cylinder (H) by means of two angle bars (Q), welded to the liner of the cylinder, which each haul a metallic cable (M) or chain, along a transmission pulley (O), each of said metallic cables or chains being connected, at the opposite ends, to one of the levers (Fl). 9) System according to claim 7 or 8, wherein at least one of said levers (Fl) is equipped at one end with a spur (F). 10) System according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein said pair of levers (Fl) moves in a space (E) that also acts to guide and centre at the entry of the forks between the feet of the bin. 11) System according to one of claims 7 to 10, wherein each lever (Fl) is supported by a spring (L) that always keeps the cable (M) taut so as to ensure that the lever goes back into rest position.