Fluid-operated linear actuators

Abstract

The present invention proposes a fluid-operated linear actuator, which has a driver housing and a driving element that can move relative to the driver housing when a driving movement is implemented. The driving fluid provides the driving force necessary for the generation of the driving movement, and the driving fluid can be supplied and discharged through a housing channel of the driver housing. The housing channel opens out at the housing side of the driver housing in lateral recessed openings. The L-shaped mounting connection component mounted at the driver housing in the use position has a connection leg assigned to the back of the housing, and the connection leg is provided with two axial connection openings. The axial connection opening is connected to the lateral connection opening via the connection component channel of the mounting connection component. Therefore, there is the possibility that the axial connection opening is used to supply and discharge the driving fluid.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a fluid-operated linear actuator, comprising an actuator housing and a drive member, wherein the drive member can be driven by fluid force to perform a linear drive movement relative to the actuator housing along the longitudinal direction of the housing, wherein the drive member has a drive unit, and the drive unit has a drive piston, which separates two drive chambers that are successive to each other along the longitudinal direction of the housing in the actuator housing, and the drive chambers are respectively connected to one of two housing channels, and the housing channels respectively open at respective lateral connecting openings at the housing side faces oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the housing and can be used to supply and lead out a drive fluid that generates the linear drive movement. Background Art

[0002] This type of linear drive known from EP 1 574 283 B1 has an elongated drive housing and a drive member that can be displaced relative to the drive housing, wherein the drive member has a slider body, by means of which the drive member can be guided linearly displaceably at the outer side of the drive housing. The driving force for generating the linear drive movement of the drive member can be generated by a drive fluid, by means of which two drive chambers of the drive housing can be loaded in a coordinated manner, and the drive chambers are separated from each other in a fluid-tight manner by a drive piston of a drive unit of the drive member. Each of the two drive chambers is connected to one of two housing channels that penetrate the drive housing, and the housing channels are respectively connected to the outside of the housing side of the drive housing with lateral connection openings. A fluid hose suitable for supplying and leading the drive fluid can be connected to the lateral connection opening.

[0003] DE 197 20 100 C2 also describes a linear drive having lateral connection openings arranged on the housing side of the drive housing. JP-H10-339308 A also discloses such a fluid-actuated linear drive.

[0004] In most applications, the connection openings arranged laterally on the drive housing of a fluid-operated linear drive are very suitable for connecting the fluid lines. However, sometimes there are local conditions in which it would be more advantageous for the user to have the possibility of connecting the fluid lines on the rear side of the drive housing, which is oriented at right angles to the housing side. For this case, EP 0 868 965 A2 discloses a fluid-operated linear drive, in which the housing channels connected to the two drive chambers lead out via axial connection openings on the rear side of the drive housing, which is directed in the longitudinal direction of the housing. However, providing two different types of fluid-operated linear drives for different connection possibilities is associated with considerable costs. Summary of the invention

[0005] The invention is based on the object of providing cost-effective measures which offer users of fluid-actuated linear drives variable possibilities for the connection measures required for supplying and removing the drive fluid.

[0006] In order to achieve this object, in a fluid-operated linear drive, in combination with the features mentioned at the outset, it is provided that the linear drive has an L-shaped add-on coupling component that is independent of the drive housing, the add-on coupling component having a coupling leg and a connecting leg that protrudes transversely from the coupling leg, and the add-on coupling component is externally attached to the drive housing in the use position in such a way that the connecting leg extends along the housing side surface in the housing longitudinal direction, and the connecting leg extends along the housing rear side of the drive housing that is oriented transversely to the housing side surface in a housing transverse direction orthogonal to the housing longitudinal direction, wherein the add-on coupling component is penetrated by two separate connecting component channels, which on the one hand each open with a connecting opening at a leg surface of the connecting leg facing the interior of the drive housing in such a way that the connecting component channel is connected to one of the two lateral connecting openings in each case, and on the other hand each open with a respective axial connecting opening that can be used to supply and remove a drive fluid that generates a linear drive movement at a leg surface of the connecting leg that faces away from the exterior of the drive housing.

[0007] According to the standard, the linear drive according to the invention has two lateral connection openings arranged on the housing side faces of its drive housing oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction of the housing, each of which is connected via a housing channel inside the drive housing to one of two drive chambers, which are separated from each other by drive pistons of a drive unit of the drive element. If local conditions are required, the user of the linear drive has the possibility of directly using the two lateral connection openings for connecting fluid lines through which the drive fluid necessary for the generation of the linear drive movement of the drive element can be supplied and discharged. However, the linear drive according to the invention also provides an alternative possibility, namely that the connection measures necessary for the supply and discharge of the drive fluid are carried out on the back side of the drive housing in an axial direction coinciding with the longitudinal direction of the housing. This possibility is provided by an additional coupling part of the linear drive which is present in addition to the drive housing and which, in the position of use, is externally attached or can be attached to the drive housing in such a way that the coupling opening formed therein reaches into the region of the rear housing of the drive housing and is oriented there in the longitudinal direction of the housing, so that it forms an easily accessible axial coupling opening on the rear side of the drive housing for axial coupling measures. Even with the assembled additional coupling part, the linear drive has compact dimensions, since the additional coupling part has an L-shaped outer shape and is arranged in such a way that a first L-shaped leg, referred to as the coupling leg, extends along the housing side of the drive housing and a second L-shaped leg, referred to as the coupling leg, extends along the rear housing side. On the leg surface of the connecting leg facing the interior of the drive housing, there are two connecting openings through the coupling part channels of the additional coupling part, which are respectively connected to one of the two lateral coupling openings in order to establish a fluid connection with the two drive chambers. In addition, each coupling part channel opens out with one of the two axial coupling openings mentioned above on the leg surface of the connecting leg facing away from the exterior of the drive housing. Thus, a linear drive designed in principle for a lateral fluid connection can be converted into a linear drive for a dorsal, axial fluid connection by adding a separate additional connection part. This conversion possibility should not be forced upon the end user of the linear drive, but can already be used during the manufacture of the linear drive ex works by delivering the linear drive for lateral fluid connection measures without the additional connection part and the linear drive for axial fluid connection measures with the additional connection part mounted in the use position.

[0008] Advantageous developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

[0009] The L-shaped additional coupling part has a transition section arranged between the coupling leg and the connecting leg. In this transition section, the two coupling part channels are preferably arranged one above the other at a distance in the housing height direction of the drive housing. The housing height direction runs orthogonally to the housing longitudinal direction and to a transverse direction orthogonal to the housing longitudinal direction. The housing longitudinal direction is the direction in which the back of the housing points and which in particular relates to the normal direction of the back of the housing. The housing transverse direction is the direction in which the side of the housing points and which in particular relates to the normal direction of the side of the housing. Due to the arrangement of the two coupling part channels one above the other in the transition section, the linear drive can be realized with very compact length and transverse dimensions.

[0010] Preferably, each connecting component channel has a connecting channel section constructed in the connecting leg and a connecting channel section constructed in the connecting leg. Each connecting channel section is suitably connected to the connecting channel section assigned to it via an arched or curved transition channel section, which extends around the rear corner area of ​​the drive housing in the added connecting component, and the rear corner area is located between the back of the housing and the side of the housing in the transition area. Each lateral connecting opening and each axial connecting opening are preferably equipped with a fixed interface that can be used directly or indirectly to connect a fluid circuit. The fixed interface is, for example, an internal thread. For direct connection, a fluid circuit, such as a pipeline, can be directly placed at the fixed interface. For indirect connection, a line connector, such as a plug-in screw-on portion, is added to the fixed interface, and the fluid circuit can be detachably connected to the line connector by means of a plug-in connection.

[0011] The retrofit coupling part is expediently fixed to the drive housing in its use position by fixing means, which can be fixing means independent of the retrofit coupling part or can also be fixing means implemented at least partially integrally with the retrofit coupling part, for example as an insertion nozzle. The fixing means is particularly designed so that the retrofit coupling part is releasably fixed to the drive housing in its use position. This makes it possible to convert a linear drive equipped with a retrofit coupling part for axial fluid coupling measures into a design for lateral fluid coupling measures by simply removing the retrofit coupling part.

[0012] Preferably, the fixing means are only assigned to the connecting leg when adding the connecting part, and no fixing means are assigned to the connecting leg. In this way, the fixing measures can be uniformly implemented with good access from the longitudinal side of the drive housing.

[0013] A fixing device is considered particularly advantageous, which includes two through-holes in the connecting leg, which are configured at a distance from each other in the longitudinal direction of the housing, and to which a threaded hole of the fixing device, which is configured in the driver housing at the housing side, is respectively assigned. In addition, the fixing device contains two fixing screw fasteners acting on the connecting leg, which are each passed through one of the through-holes and screwed into one of the threaded holes, so that the connecting leg is clamped to the housing side of the driver housing in the transverse direction of the housing.

[0014] Expediently, each of the two fixing screws is assigned to one of the two mutually opposite leg end sections of the connecting leg.

[0015] Furthermore, it is advantageous if each fixing screw and accordingly also the associated through-hole is arranged adjacent to one of the two connecting openings of the coupling element channel.

[0016] In order to ensure a fluid transfer between the add-on connection part and the drive housing that is sealed to the surroundings, it is advantageous if, in the region of each lateral connection opening, a sealing ring is arranged and in particular clamped between the housing side and the inner leg surface of the connection leg, which surrounds the associated connection opening. The use of cost-effective O-rings is particularly advantageous here.

[0017] The connecting leg of the additional connection part has two leg end sections that are opposite to each other in the longitudinal direction of the housing. In each of the two leg end sections, one of the two connection openings is expediently configured. Preferably, a leg web section of the connecting leg extends between the two leg end sections, which has a smaller height in the housing height direction orthogonal to the longitudinal direction of the housing and to the transverse direction of the housing than the two leg end sections. This shaping is caused in particular by the fact that the additional connection part has a recess between the two leg end sections, so that the connecting leg has a U-shaped structure when viewed in the transverse direction of the housing. Associated with this is a particularly low material consumption for realizing the additional connection part.

[0018] The two axial connection openings of the connection legs are expediently arranged next to each other in the housing transverse direction in the region of the rear side of the drive housing. With respect to the housing height direction explained further above, the two axial connection openings are expediently located at the same height.

[0019] The retrofitted connection part is constructed in one piece in a particularly cost-effective structural form. In particular, in the one-piece embodiment, generative manufacturing by means of so-called 3D printing methods is recommended. The use of the so-called CLIP technology has proven to be particularly suitable here, where "CLIP" stands for "Continuous Liquid Interface Production". In contrast to the layer-structured generative methods that can also be used in principle (such as so-called laser sintering), objects can be produced without visible layers by means of the CLIP technology. In addition, here, by using a liquid starting material, complex connection part channels can also be integrated without problems, because no difficult-to-remove powders, as are usually used in laser sintering, are deposited therein.

[0020] In a preferred alternative embodiment, the additional connecting part is designed in multiple parts. In this case, the additional connecting part has a curved rear connecting part end body with two axial connecting openings and a rear connecting opening of two connecting openings, and a front connecting part end body with a front connecting opening with two connecting openings. The two connecting part end bodies are produced separately from one another, wherein they can preferably be components produced derivatively in the manner already described.

[0021] In a feasible design, the two coupling part end bodies are telescopically inserted directly into each other in the area of ​​the connecting legs. By selecting a suitable insertion depth, the length of the connecting legs can be matched to the structural length of the drive housing and in particular to the spacing between the lateral connecting openings of the drive housing. In an alternative and equally advantageous structural method, the two coupling part end bodies are not directly inserted into each other, but are connected to each other by a tubular body arranged therebetween, which is inserted into the two coupling part end bodies with end sections opposite to each other. The tubular body can be cost-effectively cut to the desired length from a tubular material that exists as a metric piece (meterware), wherein the tubular body can be constructed as a plastic tube or can also be constructed as a metal tube. In order to manufacture linear drives of different structural lengths, the same type of front and rear coupling part end bodies can be cost-effectively used, and the front and rear coupling part end bodies only need to be combined with tubular bodies of different structural lengths that can be easily manufactured.

[0022] In a simple and compact design, the drive member comprises only a single drive unit. The drive unit comprises a drive piston and, expediently, a piston rod connected to the drive piston. The piston rod protruding from the drive housing measures the drive movement.

[0023] If high drive forces should be generated with compact dimensions, a design of a linear drive with two drive units arranged side by side in the transverse direction of the housing is recommended. In this case, one of the two drive units forms a first drive unit, which separates two drive chambers from each other, which are connected to one of the two housing channels in the manner further described above, and which each open out at the side of the housing with a respective lateral connection opening. The second drive unit also separates two drive chambers that follow one another in the longitudinal direction of the housing, which are in fluid connection with one of the drive chambers assigned to the first drive unit via a respective transverse channel of the drive housing for fluid supply. In this way, synchronous fluid loading of the two drive units in the same direction is always achieved during the controlled supply and removal of the drive fluid.

[0024] The two drive units are expediently fixedly connected to one another outside the drive housing via a yoke of the drive member, so that a movement unit is present.

[0025] The yoke is preferably a component of a slide body of the linear drive which is supported externally on the drive housing in a linearly displaceable manner by means of a linear guide. The slide body has at least one fastening interface to which an external component, such as a machine component, which is moved by means of a linear drive movement can be fastened. If the drive element has only a single drive unit, the linear drive can also be equipped with a slide body which can be guided in a linearly displaceable manner. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0026] Subsequently, the present invention will be described in more detail with reference to the attached drawings. In the drawings:

[0027] Figure 1 An isometric rear view showing a preferred embodiment of a fluid-actuated linear drive according to the invention with an attached coupling part mounted in the position of use,

[0028] Figure 2 The diagram shows the state where the additional coupling part has not yet been assembled in the use position. Figure 1 Isometric front view of a linear drive,

[0029] Figure 3 The linear drive is based on Figure 5 A longitudinal section of the section plane III-III of FIG. 1 , wherein the partial illustration framed by the dashed line shows the state of the drive housing when the additional connecting component is not assembled,

[0030] Figure 4 The linear drive is based on Figure 5Another longitudinal section of the section plane IV-IV,

[0031] Figure 5 The linear drive is based on Figure 3 and 4 The cross section of the cutting plane VV,

[0032] Figure 6 An isometric detail illustration showing a multi-part retrofit connection component,

[0033] Figure 7 Show Figure 6 The additional connection parts before assembling its components,

[0034] Figure 8 A further embodiment of a multi-part retrofit connection part is shown, and

[0035] Fig. 9 Show Figure 8 The additional connection component is provided before assembling one of the multiple components. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0036] The fluid-actuated linear drive, which is designated as a whole by reference numeral 1 , is preferably designed for actuation by means of compressed air as drive fluid, but is also suitable for actuation by means of other gaseous or even liquid drive fluids.

[0037] The linear drive 1 has a drive housing 2, preferably with a longitudinal shape, with a longitudinal axis 3, a transverse axis 4 at right angles to the longitudinal axis, and a vertical axis 5 at right angles to the two axes 3, 4 mentioned above. The axis directions of the three axes mentioned above are referred to as housing longitudinal direction 3 in the case of the longitudinal axis 3, as housing transverse direction 4 in the case of the transverse axis 4, and as housing height direction 5 in the case of the vertical axis 5, using the same reference numerals.

[0038] Preferably, the driver housing 2 is designed in the form of a plate or block.

[0039] The driver housing 2 has a housing back side 6 oriented in the housing longitudinal direction 3 and a housing front side 7 axially opposite thereto. Furthermore, the driver housing 2 has a housing top side 8 oriented in the housing height direction 5 and a housing bottom side 9 opposite thereto. And finally, the driver housing 2 has two first and second lateral longitudinal sides 12, 13 oriented in the housing transverse direction 4 and opposite one another.

[0040] In the region of the housing rear side 6, the driver housing 2 has a housing rear side 14. The housing rear side 14 is oriented in the housing longitudinal direction 3, wherein the housing longitudinal direction 3 preferably represents the normal direction of the housing rear side 14. On the housing front side 7, the driver housing 2 has a housing front face 15 which is preferably oriented identically to the housing rear side 14.

[0041] Furthermore, the driver housing 2 has a housing side face 16 which extends around the driver housing 2 between the housing rear face 14 and the housing front face 15. Accordingly, the housing side face 16 is assembled from a plurality of side sections which transition into one another, wherein a first side section 16a is formed on the first lateral longitudinal side 12, a second side section 16b is formed on the housing bottom side 9, a third side section 16c is formed on the second lateral longitudinal side 13, and a fourth side section 16d is formed on the housing top side 8.

[0042] Preferably, the drive housing 2 has an at least substantially rectangular outer contour in a cross section at right angles to the longitudinal axis 3 .

[0043] Furthermore, the linear drive 1 has a drive member 17 which can be linearly displaced back and forth relative to the drive housing 2 in the housing longitudinal direction 3. The drive member 17 can be driven by a drive fluid to perform a linear drive movement 18 indicated by a double arrow in the housing longitudinal direction 3. The drive movement 18 can be implemented in particular as a linear back and forth movement.

[0044] The drive member 17 has two drive units 21, which are also referred to below for better differentiation as first drive unit 21a and second drive unit 21b. The two drive units 21 are located in a common drive plane 22 that is at right angles to the vertical axis 5. The drive units are spaced apart from one another in the transverse direction 4 of the housing, wherein the first drive unit 21a on the first lateral longitudinal side 12 and the second drive unit 21b on the second lateral longitudinal side 13 are adjacent.

[0045] The drive unit 21 extends partly inside the drive housing 2 and partly outside the drive housing 2. Exemplarily, the drive units each protrude from the drive housing 2 at the housing front face 15. The drive units are fixedly connected to each other outside the drive housing 2, so that they can only move in unison. For the connection, a yoke 23 of the drive member 17 is provided, which is arranged axially in front of the housing front face 15.

[0046] Each drive unit 21 extends in a respective housing chamber 24 which is constructed in the interior of the drive housing 2 and which is preferably of cylindrical design. In the following, the housing chamber 24 assigned to the first drive unit 21a is also referred to as the first housing chamber 24a, and the housing chamber 24 assigned to the second drive unit 21b is also referred to as the second housing chamber 24b.

[0047] Each housing chamber 24 is closed in a fluid-tight manner in the region of the housing rear side 6 by a rear closure cover 25 and in a fluid-tight manner in the region of the housing front side 7 by a front closure cover 26 of the drive housing 2 .

[0048] The driver housing 2 preferably has a rigid housing base 27, on which the housing rear side 14, the housing front side 15 and the housing side faces 16 are directly formed and into which closure covers 25, 26 are inserted from the housing rear side 6 and from the housing front side 7 while delimiting the two housing chambers 24. The closure covers 25, 26 can alternatively also be placed externally on the housing base 27.

[0049] Each drive unit 21, 21a, 21b has a drive piston 28 arranged in the associated housing chamber 24, 24a, 24b. The drive piston 28 is slidably displaceable against the wall of the associated housing chamber 24 in a sealed manner and divides the associated housing chamber 24, 24a, 24b into a rear drive chamber 32 facing the housing rear face 14 and a front drive chamber 33 facing the housing front face 15. Each rear drive chamber 32 is closed at its back side by one of the rear closure covers 25, and each front drive chamber 33 is closed at its front side by one of the front closure covers 26.

[0050] Each drive unit 21 preferably has a piston rod 29 attached to the associated drive piston 28, which extends through the respectively associated front drive chamber 33 and (sealed and slidably displaceable) through the front closure cap 26 connected thereto, and has an outer end section 34 opposite the drive piston 28, by means of which it is fixed to the yoke 23. In this way, the two drive units 21 can only be moved linearly synchronously at all times.

[0051] The yoke 23 is expediently a component of a slide body 35 of the drive member 17, which is externally mounted on the drive housing 2 in a linearly displaceable manner by means of a linear guide 36 extending in the housing longitudinal direction 3. The linear guide 36 is expediently arranged on the housing top 8. The slide body 35 preferably has an L-shaped outer shape with two L-shaped legs, one leg of which is formed by the yoke 23 and the other leg is formed by a plate-shaped slide body section 37, which extends in a plane at right angles to the vertical axis 5 over the housing top 8 and cooperates with the linear guide 36.

[0052] Preferably, at least one fastening interface 38 is formed on the slide body 37 , to which an external component, for example a machine part, which is moved by means of the linear drive 1 can be fastened.

[0053] In an exemplary embodiment not illustrated, the slide body 37 is omitted and only the yoke 23 is present for the kinematic coupling of the two drive units 21 , 21 a , 21 b . In this case, at least one fastening interface 38 is located on the yoke 23 .

[0054] In an exemplary embodiment, which is likewise not described, the linear drive 1 has only one single drive unit 21, the design of which corresponds with the associated boundary conditions to the design of the first drive unit 21a of the described exemplary embodiment. Insofar as the subsequent description relates to the first drive unit 21a and measures assigned thereto, this embodiment applies accordingly to the linear drive having only one single drive unit 21.

[0055] Each of the two drive chambers 32, 33 assigned to the first drive unit 21a is in fluid connection with one of the two housing channels 42, 43, which penetrate the drive housing 2 and are particularly formed in the housing base 27. For better distinction, the housing channel 42 connected to the rear drive chamber 32 is also referred to as the rear housing channel 42, and the housing channel 43 connected to the front drive chamber 33 is also referred to as the front housing channel 43.

[0056] Each of the two housing channels 42, 43 opens out at the housing side 16 of the drive housing 2 with a respective lateral connection opening 44, 45, wherein, hereinafter, the lateral connection opening 44 belonging to the rear housing channel 42 is also referred to as the rear lateral connection opening, and the lateral connection opening 45 belonging to the front housing channel 43 is also referred to as the front lateral connection opening 45.

[0057] Preferably, the lateral connection openings 44, 45 are located at the first side section 16a. The lateral connection openings are arranged spaced apart from one another in the housing longitudinal direction 3. Expediently, the rear lateral connection opening 44 is adjacent to the housing back side 6 and the front connection opening 45 is adjacent to the housing front side 7. The two lateral connection openings 44, 45 are located in particular in a common opening plane 46, which runs at right angles to the vertical axis 5 and expediently coincides with the drive plane 22.

[0058] The lateral connecting openings 44 , 45 can be used to supply the respectively associated drive chamber 32 , 33 with drive fluid in a controlled manner, so that a linear drive movement 18 is generated.

[0059] By way of example, when the drive chambers 32, 33 assigned to the first drive unit 21, 21a are fluidically controlled, the drive chambers 32, 33 assigned to the second drive unit 21, 21b are fluidically controlled simultaneously. This is ensured by constructing two transverse channels 47 in the drive housing 2 and in particular in its housing base 27, wherein one transverse channel continuously connects the two rear drive chambers 32 to one another in a fluid manner and the other transverse channel continuously connects the two front drive chambers 33 to one another in a fluid manner. Preferably, the transverse channels 47 are connected to the assigned drive chambers 32, 33 through one of the closure covers 25, 26, respectively. The corresponding connecting channel sections are arranged at Figure 3 and 5 It can be seen at 49 that the connecting channel section is Figure 3 is above the plane of the figure.

[0060] If the linear drive 1 comprises only the first drive unit 21 a as the only drive unit 21 , the transverse channel 47 is omitted.

[0061] The linear drive 1 has as a further component an additional coupling part 48 which is independent of the drive housing 2 and also of the drive element 17. The additional coupling part 48 can assume a use position in which it is attached to the drive housing 2 and fixed thereto. Figure 1 , 4 and 5 and in Figure 3 Alternatively, the attachment connection part 48 can also occupy a preparation position not attached to the drive housing 2 and correspondingly separated from the drive housing 2, the preparation position being Figure 2 Unless otherwise stated, the further description relates to the position of use of the additional coupling element 48 mounted on the drive housing 2.

[0062] If you can Figure 1 , 4, 6 and 8, the attachment coupling part 48 preferably has an L-shaped profile. The attachment coupling part has two, namely first and second L-shaped legs 52, 53, which are oriented at an angle and in particular at right angles to each other, and are also referred to as connecting legs 52 and coupling legs 53 below.

[0063] In the use position with the connection part 48 attached, the connection leg 53 is opposite the housing rear side 14 in the housing longitudinal direction 3, while the connection leg 52 is opposite the housing side face 16 and in particular the first side face section 16a of the housing side face in the housing transverse direction 4. The connection leg 52 extends along the first side face section 16a of the housing side face 16 in the housing longitudinal direction 3, while the connection leg 53 extends along the housing rear side 14 in the housing transverse direction 4.

[0064] The connecting leg 52 has an inner leg surface 54 facing the drive housing 2 and with which it abuts against the first side section 16a of the housing side 16 in the use position with the coupling part 48 attached. The connecting leg 53 itself has an inner leg surface 56 which faces the housing rear side 14 and in the use position with the coupling part 48 attached, it abuts against the housing rear side 14 in an expedient manner.

[0065] The drive housing 2 has a rear corner region 58 between the first side section 16a and the housing rear side 14 . The assembled retrofit connection part 48 extends around this rear corner region 58 .

[0066] The attachment connection part 48 is penetrated by two first and second connection part channels 62, 63 which are designed separately from each other. Each connection part channel 62, 63 connects one of the two connection openings 64, 65 arranged on the inner leg surface 54 of the connection leg 52 to one of the two axial connection openings 66, 67 which are designed on one of the outer leg surfaces 57 of the connection leg 53 facing away from the inner leg surface 56.

[0067] That is to say, the lateral connection openings 44 , 45 formed on the driver housing 2 are oriented in the housing transverse direction 4 , whereas the axial connection openings 66 , 67 formed on the attachment connection part 48 are oriented in the housing longitudinal direction 3 and are therefore oriented axially.

[0068] Of the two connection openings 64, 65, the rear connection opening 64 of the two connection openings 64, 65 is positioned such that in the use position with the coupling part 48 attached, it is aligned with the rear lateral connection opening 44, whereby the associated first connection part channel 62 is in fluid connection with the rear drive chamber 32. Furthermore, the front connection opening 65 of the two connection openings 64, 65 is positioned on the connection leg 62 such that in the use position with the coupling part 48 attached, it is aligned with the front lateral connection opening 45, whereby the second connection part channel 63 is in fluid connection with the front drive chamber 33.

[0069] Of the two axial coupling openings 66 , 67 , the first axial coupling opening 66 belongs to the first coupling part channel 62 and the second axial coupling opening 67 belongs to the second coupling part channel 63 .

[0070] When the retrofit connection part 48 is mounted in the operating position, the two axial connection openings 66, 67 can be used to supply and discharge the drive fluid required for the actuation of the drive member 17. Since the axial connection openings 66, 67 are arranged in front of the housing rear side 14 in the housing longitudinal direction 3 and are also oriented in the housing longitudinal direction 3, the necessary connection measures can be easily implemented in the axial direction of the drive housing 2 in the region of the housing rear side 6.

[0071] Alternatively, the linear drive 1 can also be used in a state in which the attached coupling part 48 is removed to the ready position. In this case, the necessary coupling measures for supplying and removing the drive fluid take place at the two lateral coupling openings 44, 45, which are oriented in the transverse direction 4 of the housing. Figure 3 This is described in the lower part of the figure.

[0072] Suitably, each lateral connection opening 44, 45 and each axial connection opening 66, 67 is equipped with a fixed interface 68, which is configured to be able to directly or indirectly connect a fluid line 72 that can be used to supply and / or lead out a driving fluid and is only schematically shown in the accompanying drawings. Exemplarily, the fixed interface 68 is implemented as an internal thread. The correspondingly constructed fluid line 72 can be directly screwed into the relevant fixed interface 68 when necessary. For the indirect fixation illustrated in the accompanying drawings, a line connector 73 represented only by dotted lines can be fixed at the desired fixed interface 68, and the fluid line 72 can be releasably fixed at the line connector. The line connector 73 is particularly designed as a releasable plug connection for the fluid line 72.

[0073] In the case of the assembled retrofit connection part 48, a sealing ring 74 is expediently provided in the region of each lateral connection opening 44, 45, which is clamped between the inner leg surface 54 of the connection leg 52 and the first side section 16a of the drive housing 2 and surrounds the lateral connection openings 44, 45 and the aligned pairs of connection openings 64, 65. Instead of being a separate sealing ring 74, the sealing ring 74 can also be configured as a suitable sealing contour on the connection leg 52.

[0074] In order to fix the use position of the additional coupling part 48, the linear drive 1 expediently has a suitable fixing means 75. The fixing means 75 is expediently designed for releasably fixing the additional coupling part 48, which applies to the described embodiment. Thus, the user of the linear drive 1 has the possibility at any time to bring the additional coupling part 48 optionally into the use position or into the preparation position. Of course, there is the alternative possibility that the fixing means 75 is designed for non-releasably fixing the use position of the additional coupling part 48, for example by means of an embodiment as a latching connection means that acts as a fixed lock.

[0075] The fixing means 75 are expediently assigned only to the connecting legs 52 arranged at the housing side 16. This is the case in the illustrated embodiment. Thus, the fixing measures can be conveniently implemented only in the region of the first side section 16a, which facilitates handling.

[0076] The fixing means 75 comprises, by way of example, two blind-hole-like threaded holes 76 which are formed in the driver housing 2 and open toward the first side section 16a, which are spaced apart from one another in the housing longitudinal direction 3 and which are expediently also located in the opening plane 46. Furthermore, the fixing means 75 comprises two through-holes 77 which penetrate the connecting leg 52 in the housing transverse direction, whose spacing relative to one another corresponds to the spacing between the two threaded holes 76 and which are arranged in such a way that, when the retrofit connection part 48 is placed on the driver housing 2 to assume the use position, the through-holes are aligned with one of the threaded holes 76 in each case. Finally, the fixing means 75 also comprises two fixing screw fasteners 78 which extend from the outer leg surface 55 of the connecting leg 52 facing away from the inner leg surface 54 through one of the through-holes 77 in each case and are screwed into the associated threaded hole 76. Each fixing screw 78 is supported with its screw head on the outer leg surface 55 facing away from the drive housing 2 and clamps the connecting leg 52 in the housing transverse direction 4 to the first side section 16a of the housing side 16. The screw head is expediently sunk into the connecting leg 52.

[0077] Each coupling part channel 62, 63 expediently has a coupling channel section 81 which starts from one of the two axial coupling openings 66, 67 and is formed in the coupling leg 53. Furthermore, each coupling part channel 62, 63 has a connecting channel section 82 which starts from one of the lateral coupling openings 44, 45 and is formed in the connecting leg 52. Furthermore, each coupling part channel 62, 63 expediently has an arcuate or curved transition channel section 83 which connects the coupling channel section 81 to the connecting channel section 82. The transition channel section 83 is assigned to the rear corner region 58 of the drive housing 2 and extends around the rear corner region 58 in the attachment coupling part 48.

[0078] The transition channel section 83 is formed in a transition section 84 of the attached coupling part 48, which is arranged between the coupling leg 53 and the connecting leg 52. In the transition section 84, the two coupling part channels 62, 63 are arranged spaced apart from one another in the housing height direction 5.

[0079] The connecting leg 52 has a rear leg end section 85 adjacent to the coupling leg 53 and a front leg end section 86 spaced apart therefrom and pointing toward the housing front side 7. Expediently, the rear connecting opening 64 and one of the through-holes 77, which are expediently used for fixing, are formed in the rear leg end section 85, while the front connecting opening 65 and expediently also the second through-hole 77, which is expediently used for fixing, are located in the front leg end section 86. Between the two leg end sections 85, 86 extends a leg web section 87, the structural height of which, measured in the housing height direction 5, is preferably smaller than the structural height of the two leg end sections 85, 86.

[0080] The leg web section 87 is arranged in particular such that it, together with the two leg end sections 85, 86, delimits a recess 88 which is open downward toward the housing underside 9. Thus, the connecting leg 52, viewed in the housing transverse direction 4, has a U-shaped design with a downwardly directed U-shaped opening, which in particular minimizes the consumption of material.

[0081] The first coupling part channel 62 ends in the rear leg end section 85 . Only the second coupling part channel 63 passes through the leg web section 87 and extends further into the front leg end section 86 .

[0082] The two axial connection openings 66, 67 of the additional connection part 48 are preferably located in the same opening plane 46 as the lateral connection openings 44, 45 in the use position of the additional connection part 48. The two axial connection openings 66, 67 are especially formed next to each other in the housing transverse direction 4 in the connection leg 53 and are expediently located at the same height with respect to the housing height direction 5.

[0083] Although the retrofit connection part 48 can in principle be made of metal, a design made of plastic is recommended due to lower production costs and lower weight. The various embodiments of the retrofit connection part 48 illustrated in the figures are realized as a plastic part.

[0084] According to Figures 1 to 5 In the design described in the embodiment, the connecting member 48 is installed in one piece. Figures 6 to 9 An alternative multi-part design of the retrofitted connecting element 48 is described.

[0085] Common to the multi-part design is that it has a rear coupling part end body 91 which is associated with the housing rear side 6 in the use position and a separate front coupling part end body 92 which is associated with the housing front side 7 .

[0086] The rear coupling part end body 91 delimits the transition section 84 and has an L-shaped curved shape with a first leg arm 91a and a second leg arm 91b oriented at right angles thereto. The first leg arm 91a represents the coupling leg 53, while the second leg arm 91b forms the rear leg end section 85 of the connecting leg 52. Accordingly, the rear coupling part end body 91 has both two axial coupling openings 66, 67 and a rear connecting opening 64. One of the optional through-holes 77 is expediently also formed in the rear coupling part end body 91.

[0087] The front coupling part end body 92 has a front connection opening 65 and is preferably provided with a second through-hole of the optional through-holes 77 described above.

[0088] exist Figures 6 to 9 In both embodiments, there is a plug connection between the rear coupling component end body 91 and the front coupling component end body 92. The plug connection is Figure 6 and 7 In the embodiment of the invention, there is a direct plug connection and Figure 8 and 9 In the exemplary embodiment, this is an indirect plug connection.

[0089] according to Figure 6 and 7The direct plug-in connection is caused by the fact that the attachment connection part 48 (except for the optional sealing means 93) is constructed in two parts and comprises only the two connection part end bodies 91, 92, which are inserted into each other telescopically in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 94 of the connection leg 52. The second leg arm 91b has a channel-shaped recess 95 open to the front connection part end body 92, into which the front connection part end body 92 is sunken with a rod-shaped projection 96. The desired spacing for the two connection openings 64, 65 can be set very easily by the fact that the two connection part end bodies 91, 92 are inserted into each other to a corresponding extent. For sealing, the rod-shaped projection 96 can be provided, for example, with the already mentioned sealing means 93, which reaches into the channel-shaped recess 95 in the plugged-together state.

[0090] Figure 6 and 7 The additional coupling component 48 is also suitable for use in combination with linear drives 1 of different lengths due to the telescopic nature of the two coupling component end bodies 91 , 92 .

[0091] according to Figure 8 and 9 The additional connection part 48 is constructed in three parts in addition to the optional sealing means 93. In addition to the rear and front connection part end bodies 91, 92, the additional connection part also has an additional tubular body 97 arranged therebetween. The two connection part end bodies 91, 92 each have a channel-shaped recess 98 at the end sides facing each other in the axial direction of the longitudinal axis 94 of the connecting leg 52, into which the tubular body 97 is inserted with one of its two mutually opposite end sections 99.

[0092] exist Figure 8 and 9 In the embodiment of FIG. 5 , the spacing of the connecting openings 64 , 65 from one another can be adjusted very easily by using a tubular body 97 with a correspondingly matched length.

[0093] The aforementioned sealing means 93 is expediently formed by an O-ring and is arranged in the channel-shaped recess 98 in such a way that it surrounds the respectively inserted end section 99 in a sealing manner.

[0094] In both multi-part embodiments, the components inserted into one another can be contoured in a circular or non-circular manner. Figure 6 and 7 In the embodiment of , there is an elliptical cross-sectional profile. Here, for example, a rectangular cross-sectional profile is also conceivable. Figure 8 and 9In an exemplary embodiment, the components inserted into one another are provided with a circular cross-sectional contour.

[0095] Since in the two described embodiments the two coupling element end bodies 91, 92 are fixed independently of one another on the drive housing 2 in the use position with the coupling element 48 attached, no fixed connection needs to be formed between the components inserted into one another. Nevertheless, the components inserted into one another can also be fixedly connected to one another, for example by pressing them into one another or bonding them to one another.

[0096] The manufacturing method of the additional connection part 48 is basically arbitrary. Injection molding is particularly conceivable in a multi-part design. However, manufacturing by means of a generative manufacturing method is considered to be particularly advantageous, which is the case in all the exemplary embodiments described.

[0097] Production by means of 3D printing methods has proven to be particularly advantageous, in particular when using the so-called "CLIP" technology, where "CLIP" stands for "Continuous Liquid Interface Production". In this method, a liquid resin is used as the starting material, the photopolymerization of which is controlled by means of a coordinated reaction of UV light and oxygen. A 3D printing method that can also be used advantageously is the so-called "DLS" technology, where "DLS" stands for "Digital Light Synthesis". This is a further development of the "CLIP" technology, which is particularly distinguished by the fact that the compound can still be changed by heat after 3D printing.

[0098] Of course, other generative manufacturing methods can also be used, such as laser sintering methods, for example.

[0099] exist Figures 6 to 9 In the multi-piece attachment connection part 48, the individual components can be manufactured derivatively and then plugged together, wherein a subsequent tempering step causes the components inserted into each other to be baked firmly together. This type of production offers the advantage that an additional sealing device 93 can be omitted.

Claims

1. A fluid-operated linear drive comprising a drive housing (2) and a drive member (17), wherein the drive member can be driven by fluid force to perform a linear drive movement (18) relative to the drive housing (2) along the longitudinal direction (3) of the housing, wherein: The drive member (17) comprises a drive unit (21), the drive unit comprising a drive piston (28), the drive piston separating two drive chambers (32, 33) which are arranged one behind the other in the longitudinal direction (3) of the housing in the drive housing (2), the drive chambers being connected to one of two housing channels (42, 43) respectively, the housing channels opening out with respective lateral connection openings (44, 45) at housing sides (16) of the drive housing (2) which are oriented transversely to the longitudinal direction (3) of the housing and can be used to supply and remove a drive fluid which generates the linear drive movement (18), characterized in that the linear drive (1) comprises an L-shaped attachment connection part (48) which is independent of the drive housing (2), the attachment connection part comprising a connection leg (53) and a connecting leg (52) which protrudes transversely from the connection leg, and the attachment connection part is externally attached to the drive housing (2) in the use position so that the connecting leg (52) extends along the longitudinal direction (3) of the housing. The housing side surface (16) extends, and the connecting leg (53) extends along the housing transverse direction (4) orthogonal to the housing longitudinal direction along the housing back side (14) of the drive housing (2) oriented transversely to the housing side surface (16), wherein the additional connecting part (48) is penetrated by two separate connecting part channels (62, 63), and the connecting part channels are respectively connected on the one hand with connecting openings (64, 65) on the inner leg surface (54) of the connecting leg (52) facing the drive housing (2). The coupling component (48) is connected to one of the two lateral coupling openings (44, 45) and the coupling component channel ...

2. The linear actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that The drive housing (2) has a housing height direction (5) that is orthogonal to the housing longitudinal direction (3) and the housing transverse direction (4), and the added connecting component (48) has a transition section (84) arranged between the connecting leg (53) and the connecting leg (52), wherein the two connecting component channels (62, 63) extend in the transition section (84) along the housing height direction (5) and are spaced apart from each other.

3. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Each connecting component channel (62, 63) has a connecting channel section (81) formed in the connecting leg (53) and a connecting channel section (82) formed in the connecting leg (52), wherein each connecting channel section (81) is connected to the associated connecting channel section (82) via an arched or curved transition channel section (83) which extends in the attachment connecting component (48) around a rear corner region (58) of the drive housing (2) located in the transition region between the housing rear side (14) and the housing side face (16).

4. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: Each lateral connection opening (44, 45) and each axial connection opening (66, 67) is equipped with a fastening interface (68) which can be used directly or indirectly for connecting a fluid line (72), the fastening interface being expediently an internal thread.

5. The linear actuator according to claim 1, characterized in that The retrofit connection part (48) is fixed to the drive housing (2) by means of fixing means (75) in the use position.

6. The linear actuator according to claim 5, characterized in that The fastening means, with respect to the retrofit connection part (48), is assigned exclusively to the connecting leg (52).

7. The linear actuator according to claim 5 or 6, characterized in that: The fixing device (75) comprises two through holes (77) in the connecting leg (52) which are constructed at a distance from each other along the longitudinal direction (3) of the housing, and the through holes are respectively assigned to a threaded hole (76) of the fixing device (75) which is constructed in the drive housing (2) at the housing side (16), wherein the fixing device (75) also includes two fixing threaded fasteners (78) acting on the connecting leg (52), the fixing threaded fasteners respectively passing through one of the through holes (77) and being screwed into one of the threaded holes (76), so that the connecting leg (52) is clamped to the housing side (16).

8. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: In the region of each lateral connecting opening (44, 45), a sealing ring (74) is arranged between the housing side (16) and the inner leg surface (54) of the connecting leg (52), which surrounds the associated connecting opening (64, 65).

9. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The connecting leg (52) of the added connecting component (48) has two leg end sections (85, 86) opposite to each other along the longitudinal direction (3) of the shell, one of the two connecting openings (64, 65) is respectively constructed in the leg end sections, and a leg web section (87) extends between the leg end sections, and the height of the leg web section measured along the shell height direction (5) orthogonal to the shell longitudinal direction (3) and the shell transverse direction (4) is smaller than the height of the two leg end sections (85, 86).

10. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The two axial connection openings (66, 67) of the connection leg (53) are arranged next to each other in the housing transverse direction (4) and are preferably arranged at the same height in a housing height direction (5) orthogonal to the housing longitudinal direction (3) and the housing transverse direction (4).

11. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The retrofit connection part (48) is designed in one piece.

12. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The added connecting part (48) is constructed in multiple parts, wherein the added connecting part has a bent rear connecting part end body (91) having a rear connecting opening (64) with two axial connecting openings (66, 67) and two connecting openings (64, 65), and a front connecting part end body (92) having a front connecting opening (65) with the two connecting openings (64, 65), the rear connecting part end body and the front connecting part end body being telescopically insertable into each other in the region of the connecting leg (52).

13. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The added connecting component (48) is constructed in multiple parts, wherein the added connecting component comprises a bent rear connecting component end body (91) having a rear connecting opening (64) with two axial connecting openings (66, 67) and two connecting openings (64, 65), a front connecting component end body (92) having a front connecting opening (65) of the two connecting openings (64, 65), and a tubular body (97) arranged therebetween, wherein the tubular body (97) is inserted into the two connecting component end bodies (91, 92) with end sections (99) facing each other.

14. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The drive unit (21) is a first drive unit (21a) of the drive link (17) having a drive piston (28), wherein the drive link (17) further comprises a second drive unit (21b) arranged next to the first drive unit (21a), the second drive unit having a drive piston (28), which in the drive housing (2) also separates two drive chambers (32, 33) which are successive to each other in the longitudinal direction of the housing, wherein the drive chambers (32, 33) which are separated from each other by the drive piston (28) of the second drive unit (21b) are respectively and continuously fluidically connected in the drive housing (2) via respective transverse channels (47) to one of the two drive chambers (32, 33) which are separated from each other by the drive piston (28) of the first drive unit (21a).

15. The linear actuator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The drive member (17) has a slide body (35) which is supported externally on the drive housing (2) in a linearly displaceable manner via a linear guide (36) of a linear drive (1) and on which at least one fastening interface (38) is formed.

16. The linear actuator according to claim 5, characterized in that The retrofit connection part (48) is detachably fastened to the drive housing (2) by means of fastening means (75) in the use position.

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