Actuator arm drive

Abstract

Actuator arm drive (100) for driving a movable furniture part (101) of a piece of furniture (200) with at least one arrangement consisting of a compression spring (2) and at least one guide device (3) for guiding the compression spring (2), wherein the at least one guide device (3) has a diameter that is variable at least in certain areas in order to compensate for radial play between the compression spring (2) and the guide device (3), taking into account the change in the diameter of the compression spring (2) when the compression spring (2) is subjected to a load, wherein the at least one guide device (3) is arranged at least in certain areas inside the compression spring (2), and wherein a stabilizing device (4) is arranged inside the at least one guide device (3).

Description

The present invention relates to a spring guide for guiding a compression spring with the features of the preamble of claim 1. Spring guides for guiding compression springs are known from the prior art, including guide devices to prevent buckling movements of the compression springs during compression. Guide devices arranged inside the compression spring, for example in the form of rods located in an interior space formed by the compression spring, are also known. Furthermore, it is known to design guide devices in the form of sleeves enclosing the compression springs. A disadvantage of spring guides known from the prior art, using guide devices as described above, is that such guide devices must be designed for the smallest inner diameter or the largest outer diameter of the compression spring. When the compression spring is loaded, its inner or outer diameter increases, resulting in radial play between the spring and the guide device. This allows the compression spring to flex slightly when compressed until it contacts the guide. This contact causes a very disruptive noise during use of such a spring guide and increased wear on the guide. The object of the present invention is therefore to provide a spring guide improved compared to the prior art, as well as an actuating arm drive with at least one such spring guide and a piece of furniture with at least one such actuating arm drive. This problem is solved by a spring guide with the features of claim 1, an actuator arm drive with the features of claim 10, and a piece of furniture with the features of claim 12. Advantageous embodiments of the invention are defined in the dependent claims. / 21 It is therefore intended that at least one guide device has a diameter that is variable at least in certain areas, in order to allow radial play between the compression spring and the guide device, taking into account the To compensate for changes in the diameter of the compression spring when the compression spring is under load. This ensures that the guide device maintains a tight fit against the compression spring along its entire length and in all spring positions, regardless of the spring's load. Consequently, the guide device supports the spring in all positions, preventing it from buckling. This counteracts the significant noise and increased wear on the guide device that is common in prior art spring guides. In other words, the guide device always rests against the compression spring without any play, thus preventing buckling and the associated massively disruptive noise. This also allows the efficiency of the spring guidance to be optimized, since an essentially linear compression and / or expansion movement of the compression spring, i.e. a compression or expansion movement of the compression spring free from buckling, can be implemented. The pre-tensioned, tight fit of the guide device also compensates for manufacturing-related tolerances in the diameter of the compression spring. Furthermore, a positioning arm drive is provided for driving a movable furniture part of a piece of furniture with at least one such spring guide. It is also intended to be a piece of furniture with at least one such actuator arm drive and a movable part of the furniture mounted on this arm. / 21 It may be preferable for the guide device to be designed as a sleeve. This allows for material-saving and therefore cost-effective manufacturing of the guide device compared to, for example, one designed as a rod. Guide device. It is particularly advantageous that the guide device, designed as a sleeve, is slotted in the axial direction and pre-tensioned in the radial direction. Such a design of the guide device makes it possible to provide a guide device with variable diameter using simple means. To achieve such a preload, it can be provided that an outer diameter of a guide device in a non-preloaded position is larger than the smallest inner diameter of a compression spring by between 0.01mm and 0.3mm, preferably between 0.05mm and 0.1mm. It can be advantageous for at least one guide device to be arranged at least partially inside the compression spring. Compared to an external guide device, this has the advantage of requiring less material and space, since the guide device is smaller in diameter and located inside the compression spring. However, it may also be provided that at least one guide device encloses the compression spring, at least partially. Furthermore, it can be advantageous to arrange a stabilizing device within at least one guide device or within the compression spring. This provides additional stabilization to the compression spring and prevents buckling of the compression spring even more reliably. The guide device may be made of a thermoplastic, preferably polyoxymethylene. Using this material allows for simple and cost-effective manufacturing of the guide device. Furthermore, due to the good sliding properties of this material, a / 21 Reduced wear on the guide device and noise generation when the compression spring is under load. In principle, all suitable materials are conceivable, such as various metals or other plastics. Further details and advantages of the present invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the description of the figures and the exemplary embodiments illustrated in the drawings. These show: Fig. 1 a piece of furniture according to the invention in a perspective side view, Fig. 2 a perspective side view of an actuator according to the invention with the housing cover removed, Fig. 3 Fig. 4a an exploded view of an energy storage device, a perspective view of a guide device according to the invention, Fig. 4b a front view of a guide device according to the invention, Fig. 5a a schematic sectional view of a spring guide according to the invention in a first position, Fig. 5b a schematic sectional view of a spring guide according to the invention in a second position, Fig. 5c a schematic sectional view of a spring guide according to the invention in a third position, Fig. 6a various views of a schematic representation of a spring guide according to the invention in a first position, Fig. 6b various views of a schematic representation of a spring guide according to the invention in a second position, Fig.6c different views of a schematic representation of a spring guide according to the invention in a third position. / 21 Fig. 7a different views of a schematic representation of a further embodiment of an invention Spring guidance in the first position, Fig. 7b shows various views of a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a spring guide according to the invention in a second position, and Fig. 7c shows different views of a schematic representation of a further embodiment of a spring guide according to the invention in a third position. Figure 1 shows a perspective view of a piece of furniture 200 with an actuating arm drive 100 mounted inside the furniture 200 and a movable furniture part 101 driven by the actuating arm, which, as shown, is designed as a folding flap. In contrast to the illustration, the furniture part 101 could also be designed, for example, as a swing-up flap. An actuating arm 102 and a fitting 103 are also visible. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of an actuator 100 with its housing cover removed. To connect the actuator 100 to the furniture part 101 to be moved, the actuator 100 has a mounting point 105 for an actuator 102. To apply force to the actuator 102, the actuator 100 further includes a force storage device 104 in the form of a spring assembly, which, as shown, acts on the actuator 102 via a transmission mechanism comprising several levers. The energy storage device 104 is shown in exploded view in Figure 3. It has two base parts 6, 7 that are movable relative to each other, wherein, in the embodiment shown, the second base part 7 is pivotably mounted on the housing and the first base part 6 interacts directly with the transmission mechanism. The springs 2 of the energy storage device 104 are arranged parallel to each other with respect to their longitudinal axes. The illustration essentially corresponds to the intended mounting position of the actuating arm drive 100 in the furniture 200, wherein the springs 2 (or their longitudinal axes) are arranged essentially horizontally or lying down. The energy storage device 104 has guide devices 3 according to the invention arranged inside / 21 of the springs 2 for guiding the springs 2. Guide rods 5 are provided to guide the two base parts 6, 7 to each other. Figure 4a shows a perspective view of a guide device 3 according to the invention, and Figure 4b shows a front view of a guide device 3 according to the invention. It can be seen that the guide device 3 is designed as a sleeve. However, other suitable embodiments are also conceivable. It is also evident that the guide device 3 has a slot 8 along its entire length in the axial direction. This slot 8 serves to allow changes in the diameter of the guide device 3. The guide device 3 is preloaded in a radial direction. To achieve this preload, the outer diameter of the guide device 3 is minimally larger than the smallest inner diameter of the compression spring 2. Preferably, the outer diameter of a guide device in a non-preloaded position is between 0.01 mm and 0.3 mm, more preferably between 0.05 mm and 0.1 mm, larger than the smallest inner diameter of a compression spring. The function of the spring guide 1 according to the invention will now be explained with reference to Figures 5a to 5c. In Figure 5a, the spring 2 is in a state of maximum load. The inner diameter of the spring 2 is at its maximum in this state. It can be seen that the guide device, due to its preload, assumes a larger diameter and thus again bears full contact with the compression spring 2. In Figure 5b, the spring 2 is under load, causing its inner diameter to increase. Due to the preload of the guide device 3, it expands radially, thus increasing its outer diameter. As a result, the guide device 3 remains in full contact with the compression spring 2, adequately guiding it and preventing buckling. It is also evident that the slot 8 has widened to compensate for the change in the diameter of the guide device. / 21 In Figure 5c, the compression spring 2 is in an unloaded position, i.e., it is not compressed. The spring guide 3 is pre-tensioned and its full outer diameter is engaged. The circumference is fully engaged with the compression spring 2. The diameter of the guide device 3 changes continuously, which is why the guide device is in full contact with the compression spring 2 in every state and at every time. This ensures that the compression spring 2 is adequately guided and supported against buckling at all times and in every state. Figures 6a to 6c show, for a better understanding of the invention, a spring guide according to the invention in different positions in two views, as well as the position of a movable furniture part corresponding to the position of the spring guide. In Figure 6a, the movable furniture part 101 is in a closed position. In this closed position, the spring 2 is maximally compressed and therefore has a maximum diameter and a minimum length. Due to its pre-tensioned design, the guide device 3 has expanded and rests firmly against the compression spring 2. The slot 8 is at its largest in this position of the spring guide. Figure 6b shows the spring guide during an opening or closing process of the movable furniture part 101. It is evident that the spring 2 is compressed. Therefore, in this position, the spring 2 has a larger diameter and a shorter length than in an uncompressed position. Due to its pre-tensioned design, the guide device 3 has expanded and rests firmly against the compression spring 2. The slot 8 is larger in this position of the spring guide than in an uncompressed position of the spring 2. In Figure 6c, the movable furniture part 101 is in an open position. In this open position, the spring 2 is not compressed and therefore has a minimum diameter and a maximum length. Due to its pre-tensioned design, the guide device 3 rests firmly against the compression spring 2. The slot 8 is at its smallest in this position of the spring guide. / 21 Figures 7a to 7c show a further embodiment of a spring guide according to the invention in various positions in two views, as well as the position of a movable furniture part corresponding to the position of the Leading the way. Figures 7a to 7c largely correspond to Figures 6a to 6c. However, in the embodiment shown in Figures 7a to 7c, a stabilizing device 4 is provided. The stabilizing device 4 is arranged inside the guide device 3. It is evident that in Figure 6c, the guide device 3 rests against the stabilizing device 4 when the spring 2 is uncompressed – i.e., when the spring 2 has a minimum diameter. When the spring 2 is compressed (Figures 6b and 6a), the guide device 3 expands in accordance with the change in the diameter of the spring 2 and rests firmly against it. In this process, the guide device 3 lifts away from the stabilizing device 4. / 21 Reference symbol list: 1 Spring guide 2 Compression spring 3 Guide device 4 Stabilizing device 5 Guide rods 6 First base part 7 Second base part 8 Slot 100 Actuating arm drive 101 Furniture part 102 Actuating arm 103 Fitting 104 Energy storage 105 Mounting point 200 Furniture Innsbruck, March 19, 2019

Claims

1. Claims 1. Spring guide (1) for guiding a compression spring, comprising a compression spring (2) and at least one guide device (3) for guiding the compression spring (2), characterized in that the at least one guide device (3) has a diameter that is variable at least in certain areas in order to compensate for radial play between the compression spring (2) and the guide device (3), taking into account the change in the diameter of the compression spring (2) when the compression spring (2) is subjected to a load.

2. Spring guide according to claim 1, characterized in that the guide device (3) is designed as a sleeve.

3. Spring guide according to claim 2, characterized in that the sleeve is slotted in the axial direction.

4. Spring guide according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the guide device (3) has a preload in the radial direction.

5. Spring guide according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that an outer diameter of a guide device (3) in a non-preloaded position is larger than a smallest inner diameter of a compression spring (2) by between 0.01 mm and 0.3 mm, preferably between 0.05 mm and 0.1 mm.

6. Spring guide according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one guide device (3) is arranged at least partially inside the compression spring (2).

7. Spring guide according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the at least one guide device (3) at least partially encloses the compression spring (2). 11 / 21 82474 24 / eh 8. Spring guide according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that a stabilizing device (4) is arranged within the at least one guide device (3) or within the compression spring (2).

9. Spring guide according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the guide device (3) is made of a thermoplastic, preferably polyoxymethylene.

10. Actuator (100) for driving a movable furniture part (101) of a piece of furniture (200) with at least one spring guide (1), according to one of claims 1 to 9.

11. Actuating arm drive (100) according to claim 10, characterized in that three spring guides (1) are provided.

12. Furniture (200) with at least one actuating arm drive (100) according to claim 10 and a furniture part (101) movably mounted on this arm.