Device for filling a system not resistant to vacuum by vacuum pressure filling

Abstract

This invention relates to an apparatus for filling components of a non-vacuum-resistant system with a running material. The object of this invention is to provide an apparatus by which a non-vacuum-resistant system can be filled and sealed without air by means of vacuum pressure. This object is achieved by the apparatus having a vacuum chamber (1) for accommodating at least one component (3) to be filled, wherein a rotating device (4) is arranged in the lower region of the cavity of the vacuum chamber (1) to support and move at least one receiving unit (5) for the component (3) to be filled, wherein the at least one receiving unit (5) is assembled from at least two separate segments (51; 52) which, in their assembled position, form a common free structural space (53) in their cavity, the inner contour of which corresponds to the outer contour of the component (3) to be filled. Furthermore, in the section (52) of the receiving unit (5) located above the outer contour of the component (3) to be filled, another free structure space (54) is constructed. In the inner cavity of the vacuum chamber (1), a threading tool (7) for the closing element (8) of the component (3) to be filled and a filling unit (6) are provided above the receiving unit (5). The sections of the threading tool (7) and the filling unit (6) that are to be connected with the component (3) to be filled can move into the other free structure space (54) of the receiving unit (5) above the outer contour of the component (3) to be filled.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to an apparatus for filling components of a non-vacuum-resistant system with operating material using vacuum pressure filling and subsequently sealing them. Background Technology

[0002] For many technological applications, liquids or gases must be supplied as operating materials to equipment systems. To achieve air-free filling of these systems, vacuum-assisted pressure filling is increasingly being implemented. This involves first evacuating the system to be filled by using a vacuum pump to remove the gas contained within it. Thus, air-free operation is achieved before filling with the appropriate filling medium.

[0003] A typical application of vacuum pressure filling is in the automotive industry. Here, the necessary running materials are filled into vehicles on the manufacturer's assembly line. These running materials are fed from the filling equipment through connecting pipes and filling adapters into the circuits and containers to be filled in the vehicle. This application is illustrated by, for example, DE 197 00 436C2, DE 10 2007 029 020 A1, and DE10 2014.

[0004] 011 611B4 is known and will not cause problems caused by the principle, because the circuit to be filled and the container of the car are constructed to be vacuum resistant.

[0005] However, if vacuum pressure filling is used to fill systems that are not vacuum-resistant, the system will collapse under vacuum loading. A typical example of this is ultrasound probes used in medical technology applications. These components are primarily filled using a through-sweep, which does not result in an airless filling. To date, there are no commercially available alternative methods for filling such components without air. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The purpose of this invention is to provide an apparatus that can also fill and seal non-vacuum resistant systems by means of vacuum pressure.

[0007] This objective is achieved by the device having a vacuum chamber for accommodating at least one component to be filled. A rotating mechanism is arranged in the lower region within the vacuum chamber to support and move at least one receiving unit for the component to be filled. The at least one receiving unit is assembled from at least two separate segments that, in their assembled position, construct a common free structural space within their cavity, the inner contour of which corresponds to the outer contour of the component to be filled. Another free structural space is constructed in the segment of the receiving unit located above the outer contour of the component to be filled. Within the vacuum chamber, above the receiving unit, a threading tool for a closing element of the component to be filled and a filling unit are disposed. The sections of the threading tool and the filling unit that are to interact with the component to be filled are respectively movable to the additional free structural space of the receiving unit above the outer contour of the component to be filled.

[0008] Other advantageous design options are the subject of the dependent claims, the technical features of which are described in detail in one embodiment.

[0009] Therefore, the basic solution lies in placing the non-vacuum-resistant component or the entire non-vacuum-resistant system within a vacuum chamber with structurally integrated filling and sealing techniques, and moving it to the optimal position for the corresponding methodological steps using specialized operating techniques. Here, the vacuum chamber has only a single opening, thus enabling a fundamentally different process flow compared to the conventional method of filling non-vacuum-resistant systems using a through-purge gas.

[0010] Non-vacuum-resistant components can also be evacuated by using a vacuum chamber in which the component or system to be filled is located during evacuation and filling. This is achieved by also evacuating the vacuum chamber during evacuation. Therefore, the pressure in the component or system to be filled remains the same as the pressure around it. This prevents collapse of the component or system to be filled and allows for subsequent air-free filling of the operating material.

[0011] When applying the solution according to the invention, manual operation of the component to be filled or the system to be filled is not required to adapt it to the filling tool. All necessary translational and rotational feed movements are achieved by structurally integrating the components into the vacuum chamber. Here, for functionality, it is important that all seals between the actuator arranged outside the vacuum chamber and the filling and operating techniques arranged inside the vacuum chamber are implemented in a vacuum-sealed manner.

[0012] Therefore, an apparatus is provided that enables the airless filling and sealing of systems that, until now, could not be filled without air because the system lacked the required vacuum strength, by using a vacuum pressure method. Thus, this technical solution can be applied to many applications. Attached Figure Description

[0013] An embodiment will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. Wherein:

[0014] Figure 1 The structure of the device is shown in a schematic diagram.

[0015] Figure 2 The components to be filled and the housing units are shown.

[0016] Figure 3 A rotating device with a drive is shown.

[0017] Figure 4 The filling unit is shown as a separate component.

[0018] Figure 5 The function and connection of the filling unit and the receiving unit are shown.

[0019] Figure 6 The threading tool is shown as a separate component.

[0020] Figure 7 The functional connection between the threaded tool and the receiving unit is shown.

[0021] Figure 8 A specific design scheme for the enclosed element is shown. Detailed Implementation

[0022] The accompanying drawings illustrate an apparatus designed for filling and subsequently sealing components of a non-vacuum-resistant system with operating material using vacuum pressure filling. As a related embodiment, an application of an ultrasound probe in the medical field is described.

[0023] according to Figure 1 The device includes a vacuum chamber 1, the inner cavity of which can be accessed through a sealing device 2. At least one component to be filled is arranged within the inner cavity; in a specific embodiment, this is an ultrasonic probe 3, the basic structure of which is... Figure 2 As can be seen in the text.

[0024] Within the vacuum chamber 1, a rotating device 4 is arranged in the lower region for supporting and moving at least one housing unit 5 for the ultrasonic probe 3. The basic structure of this rotating device 4 can be seen from... Figure 3As can be seen from the diagram, the rotating device 4 has a shaft 41 with a centering pin and a tensioner for accommodating the unit 5. The drive of the rotating device 4 is designed as a rotary drive 42 with a toothed belt pulley 43 and is arranged outside the vacuum chamber 1. The rotating device 4 is supported in the housing of the vacuum chamber 1 by a flange 44 of a rotary joint having a support device and a vacuum seal, originating from its drive 42.

[0025] Locking elements are designed on the upper side of the rotating device 4 and on the lower side of the section 51 of the receiving unit 5 supported on the rotating device 4 in the assembled position. These locking elements can be designed, for example, according to... Figure 3 The rotating device 4 is designed with two sword-shaped pins 45, and according to Figure 2 A cylindrical opening 55 is constructed on the section 51 of the receiving unit 5. These locking elements are functionally connected, for example, in… Figure 5 and Figure 7 As can be seen in the text.

[0026] The basic structure of the housing unit 5 consists of Figure 2 Therefore, the receiving unit 5 is assembled from at least two separate segments 51 and 52. These segments 51 and 52 form a common free structural space 53 within the cavity in their assembled positions. The inner contour of this free structural space 53 coincides with the outer contour of the ultrasound probe 3 to be filled. Furthermore, another free structural space 54 is constructed in segment 52 of the receiving unit 5 above the outer contour of the ultrasound probe 3 to be filled.

[0027] Inside the vacuum chamber 1, above the receiving unit 5, there is a filling unit 6 and a threading tool 7 for the sealing element 8 of the ultrasonic probe 3. The sections of the threading tool 7 and the filling unit 6 that are to be connected to the ultrasonic probe 3 can move into another free structural space 54 above the outer contour of the ultrasonic probe 3 to be filled in the receiving unit 5.

[0028] The basic structure of filling unit 6 consists of Figure 4 Therefore, the filling unit 6 is configured as a filling sleeve 61 having an end-side seal for the filling connector of the ultrasonic probe 3. The filling sleeve 61 is supported in the housing of the vacuum chamber 1 by the housing 62, the sealing piston 63, and the flange 64. The filling sleeve 61 is functionally connected to the ultrasonic probe 3, which is disposed in the receiving unit 5 and is to be filled. Figure 5 As shown in the image.

[0029] from Figure 6The basic structure of the threading tool 7 can be seen in the diagram. Therefore, the threading tool 7 has a driver 71, a coupling 72, a shaft 73, and a screwdriver head 74. The driver 71 for the threading tool 7 is arranged outside the vacuum chamber 1. From the driver 71, the threading tool 7 is supported within the housing of the vacuum chamber 1 by a housing 75, a piston 76, and a flange 77 with a vacuum-sealed rotary joint. The threading tool 7 may also have a mechanical clamping element (not shown), which allows for the positioning and fixing of the sealing element 8 for the ultrasonic probe 3 to be filled.

[0030] The sealing element 8 for the ultrasonic probe 3 to be filled is preferably provided with a threaded profile. Figure 8 A variation is shown in which the closing element 8 is designed, for example, as a special screw with a guide pin and an end-side seal.

[0031] If such a device for filling a non-vacuum-resistant ultrasonic probe 3 in the medical field with operating material by means of vacuum pressure filling is to be used, the following functional flow will occur:

[0032] The ultrasonic probe 3 is inserted into the receiving unit 5 outside the vacuum chamber 1, and is fixed in position here by assembling sections 51 and 52. Then, the sealing element 8 is inserted into the threaded tool 7 inside the vacuum chamber 1. Next, the receiving unit 5 equipped with the ultrasonic probe 3 is placed into the vacuum chamber 1, positioned on the rotating device 4, and clamped by the shaft 41 with a centering pin and a tensioner. Subsequently, the vacuum chamber 1 is sealed by means of the sealing device 2.

[0033] The work steps described so far have been performed manually by workers, while the following work steps are performed automatically:

[0034] The receiving unit 5 is pushed to the filling position within the vacuum chamber 1 (in Figure 1 (Left side). Then, the filling tip of the filling sleeve 61 is fed. Then, the entire system in the vacuum chamber 1 is evacuated. Then, the filling operation is performed. Then, the filling sleeve 61 is reset. Then, suction begins. Then, the receiving unit 5 is pushed to the screw position (in the left side). Figure 1 (Right side). Then, the threaded tool 7 is fed in. Then, the sealing element 8 is screwed into the filling connector of the ultrasonic probe 3. After that, the threaded tool 7 is reset. At the same time, the vacuum chamber 1 is vented. Then, the receiving unit 5 is moved to the initial position.

[0035] After this automated work step, the worker manually performs the following work steps again:

[0036] The sealing device 2 of vacuum chamber 1 is opened. The receiving unit 5 is removed from vacuum chamber 1. The now-filled ultrasonic probe 3 is removed from receiving unit 5.

[0037] Therefore, the ultrasonic probe 3, which has been unable to be filled without air until now due to its lack of vacuum strength, can be advantageously filled and sealed without air using a vacuum pressure method.

[0038] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures

[0039] 1 Vacuum chamber

[0040] 2. Enclosure device

[0041] 3 Ultrasonic probes

[0042] 4 Rotating device

[0043] 41 Shaft with centering pin and tensioner

[0044] 42 Rotary Drive

[0045] 43-tooth belt pulley

[0046] 44 Flanges of rotary joints with support devices and vacuum seals

[0047] 45 sword-shaped pin

[0048] 5-unit housing

[0049] 51 sections

[0050] 52 sections

[0051] 53 Free Structure Space

[0052] 54 Free Structure Space

[0053] 55. Blank space

[0054] 6 fill units

[0055] 61 Filler Sleeve

[0056] 62 housing

[0057] 63 Sealed Piston

[0058] 64 flange

[0059] 7 Threading Tools

[0060] 71 drives

[0061] 72 coupling

[0062] 73 axis

[0063] 74 screwdriver bit

[0064] 75 housing

[0065] 76 Piston

[0066] 77 Flanges with vacuum-sealed rotary joints

[0067] 8 Enclosed Elements

Claims

1. An apparatus for filling components of a non-vacuum-resistant system with operating material by means of vacuum pressure filling and subsequently sealing them, characterized in that, The device has a vacuum chamber (1) for accommodating at least one component (3) to be filled, wherein a rotating device (4) is arranged in the lower region of the cavity of the vacuum chamber (1) for supporting and moving at least one receiving unit (5) for the component (3) to be filled, wherein the at least one receiving unit (5) is assembled from at least two separate segments (51; 52), which, in their assembled position, construct a common free structural space (53) in their cavities, the inner contour of which coincides with the outer contour of the component (3) to be filled, and wherein In the section (52) of the receiving unit (5), an additional free structure space (54) is constructed above the outer contour of the component (3) to be filled. In the inner cavity of the vacuum chamber (1), a threading tool (7) for the closing element (8) of the component (3) to be filled and a filling unit (6) are arranged above the receiving unit (5). The sections of the threading tool (7) and the filling unit (6) that are to be connected with the component (3) to be filled are respectively movable into the additional free structure space (54) of the receiving unit (5) above the outer contour of the component (3) to be filled.

2. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating device (4) has a shaft (41) with a centering pin and a tensioner for accommodating the unit (5), wherein the drive (42) for the rotating device (4) is designed as a rotary drive (42) with a toothed pulley (43) and is arranged outside the vacuum chamber (1), and wherein the rotating device (4) is supported in the housing of the vacuum chamber (1) from its drive (42) by a flange (44) of a rotary joint having a support device and a vacuum seal.

3. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, Locking elements are designed on the upper side of the rotating device (4) and on the lower side of the section (51) of the receiving unit (5) supported on the rotating device (4) in the assembled position.

4. The apparatus according to claim 3, characterized in that, The locking element is constructed as two sword-shaped pins (45) on the rotating device (4) and as two cylindrical open portions (55) on the section (51) of the receiving unit (5).

5. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The filling unit (6) is constructed with a filling sleeve (61) having an end-side seal for the filling joint of the component (3) to be filled, and is supported in the housing of the vacuum chamber (1) via a housing (62), a sealing piston (63) and a flange (64).

6. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The threading tool (7) has a driver (71), a coupling (72), a shaft (73), and a screwdriver head (74), wherein the driver (71) for the threading tool (7) is arranged outside the vacuum chamber (1), and wherein the threading tool (7) is supported in the housing of the vacuum chamber (1) from its driver (71) by a housing (75), a piston (76), and a flange (77) of a rotary joint with a vacuum seal.

7. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The threading tool (7) has a mechanical clamping element for fixing the position of the closing element (8) for the component (3) to be filled.

8. The apparatus according to claim 1, characterized in that, The closing element (8) of the component (3) to be filled is designed as a special screw with a guide pin and an end seal.

Images