Device for checking correct connection of hydraulic lines

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for checking the correct connection of hydraulic lines, in particular for hydraulic applications, where the connection is achieved by a pair of male (20) and female (10) quick release joints connected together. The device is characterized in that it comprises, on the female connector (10), at least one coil or solenoid winding (2) having an inductance (L), and in that it further comprises at least one electronic control unit (5), and an inductor for supplying a current to the winding (2) and for detecting a change in an inductance value (L) with respect to a change in the position of the winding (2) of the male connector (20) relative to the female connector (10).

Description

Field of the Invention

[0001] The present invention relates to a device for checking the correct connection of hydraulic pipelines, especially for hydraulic applications, where the connection is achieved through a pair of connected quick-release joints.

[0002] In particular, the device for checking the correct connection of hydraulic pipelines according to the present invention allows verifying the correct connection between a male joint provided on a hydraulic pipeline of a utility and a female joint provided on a hydraulic system of a machine, and emits a signal when the connection is successful and when it fails. Background Art

[0003] In the background art, it is known to connect hydraulic pipelines for hydraulic applications through quick-release joints.

[0004] This is especially the case for the connection of a hydraulic pipeline of a utility to a hydraulic system of a machine, to which the utility must be operatively connected. In this type of connection, the hydraulic pipeline on the user side is usually equipped with male joints, while the machine side is usually equipped with female joints, which may be inserted in a hydraulic block or plate in the case of a multi-connection system allowing the simultaneous connection of multiple hydraulic pipelines.

[0005] Currently, the control of a correct hydraulic / oil pressure connection is entirely mechanical and completely depends on the subjective sensitivity of the operator, who visually inspects the connection and tests it, evaluating whether the two joints (male joint and female joint) are firmly coupled.

[0006] However, this situation has its drawbacks:

[0007] - The inspection carried out by the operator involves discretion and errors: the operator may not be aware that the connection is incorrect, as in the case where an incorrect coupling cannot be visually verified;

[0008] - An accidental disconnection due to a failure to detect an incorrect connection may cause more or less serious harm to the machine and even to nearby operators.

[0009] Users have a negative view of these drawbacks, as they do not receive assistance in verifying the correct connection. Summary of the Invention

[0010] In view of the above situation, the task of the present invention is to provide a device for checking the correct connection of hydraulic pipelines, which can solve the drawbacks not solved by the background art.

[0011] An example of a device for detecting the correct connection of hydraulic pipelines is provided in US2011133759 A1, which describes an analog coupling control system.

[0012] In this task, the object of the present invention is to provide a device that allows checking the correct connection between a male connector provided on a hydraulic pipeline of a public facility and a female connector provided on a hydraulic system of a machine.

[0013] Furthermore, the object of the present invention is to provide a device for checking the correct connection of connectors present on a hydraulic pipeline, which device allows:

[0014] - electronically checking the correct and successful connection of the hydraulic pipeline and confirming this successful connection to the operator with an appropriate signal;

[0015] - emitting a signal to indicate a possible accidental disconnection, for example due to mechanical component failure, hydraulic overpressure or incorrect engagement between moving parts;

[0016] - providing an inspection, such as a cab HMI control panel, on which the user can view all correctly connected pipelines as well as all disconnected or incorrectly connected pipelines;

[0017] - processing and receiving statistics (number of connections) regarding the use of the hydraulic connections for possible predictive maintenance or commercial purposes.

[0018] The device for checking the correct connection of a hydraulic pipeline according to claim 1 achieves the above task and the mentioned objects and other objects that will become clearer hereinafter.

[0019] Other features of the device for checking the correct connection of a hydraulic pipeline according to the present invention are listed in the dependent claims, which also form part of the present specification. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0020] Further features and advantages will become more apparent from the description of a preferred but non-exclusive embodiment of the device for checking the correct connection of a hydraulic pipeline according to the present invention, which is shown by way of non-limiting example only with the aid of the drawings, in which:

[0021] Figure 1 Schematic view of a male (right) and female (left) quick-release connector assembled to the hydraulic pipeline to be connected, in a decoupled state; components of the electromagnetic inductance system of the control device according to the present invention are schematically drawn on the female connector;

[0022] Figure 2 Electrical diagram of the device for checking the correct connection of a hydraulic pipeline according to the present invention;

[0023] Figure 3 Graph showing the signals detected by the control device according to the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0024] Specifically referring to the attached drawings, the control device 1 for checking the correct connection of the hydraulic pipeline is associated with the male connector 20 provided on the hydraulic pipeline of a public facility (not shown), and is associated with the female connector 10 usually provided on the hydraulic system of a machine (not shown). The female connector 10 can be a single-connector or multi-connector hydraulic block or a fixed multi-connector plate.

[0025] The working principle of the control device 1 according to the present invention is based on the magnetic induction generated by the interaction between the metal material forming the male connector 20 and the electromagnetic induction system assembled to the female connector 10. The electromagnetic induction system advantageously includes at least one coil or solenoid winding 2 having an inductance L.

[0026] The control device 1 according to the present invention further includes at least one electronic control unit 5, and the electromagnetic induction system is connected to the electronic control unit 5.

[0027] Advantageously, the coil 2 includes a copper winding preferably associated with the female connector 10. The coil or solenoid 2 is configured to receive a current from the electronic control unit 5 and generate a magnetic field B. The magnetic field B changes with the change of the inductance L value of the winding, and the inductance L value remains constant when the current i flowing through the solenoid changes.

[0028] It is noted that the male connector 20 is made of a ferromagnetic material, and the inductance L of the solenoid 2 will change with the change of the axial position of the male connector 20 relative to the solenoid 2 surrounding the female connector 10.

[0029] Since the value of the inductance L is proportional to the amount of ferromagnetic material present in the magnetic field generated by the current i flowing through the solenoid 2, when the position of the male connector 20 changes along the direction X consistent with the axial coupling direction of the two connectors 10, 20, the inductance L will change, and different values of the inductance L can be associated with different axial positions of the male connector 20 relative to the female connector 10. Different inductance values L are advantageously detected by the same electronic control unit 5 of the device.

[0030] Therefore, the control device 1 according to the present invention not only allows detecting whether the male connector 20 is inserted into the female connector 10, but also allows associating a specific inductance value L with each precise axial position (along the axis X) of the male connector 20 relative to the female connector 10; associating the position of the male connector 20 correctly connected to the female connector 10 (inserted therein) with a specific target inductance value Lc of the solenoid 2, which corresponds to the position of the male connector 20 in the successfully connected state CC, and by storing this value in the storage unit of the control unit, the control unit 5 will be able to detect the successfully connected state CC between the connectors 10, 20 of the hydraulic pipeline when it detects such an inductance value Lc.

[0031] All inductance values other than the target value Lc will correspond to an incorrect connection state NC, and the control unit 5 can thus signal an incorrect connection with an acoustic signal and / or via a visual indicator 7 (e.g., by turning on the red LED light of the visual indicator 7).

[0032] If the control unit 5 detects an inductance value L = Lc corresponding to the target value for signaling a successful connection state CC, this state can advantageously be signaled again with an acoustic signal and / or via a visual indicator 7 (e.g., by turning one of the LED lights of the visual indicator 7 green).

[0033] Thus, the control device 1 according to the invention allows the detection of voluntary or accidental states of NC disconnection.

[0034] Thus, the confirmation of successful connection is associated with the analysis of the response signal from the solenoid 2 read by the microcontroller of the electronic control unit 5.

[0035] Specific reference Figure 2 , which shows the circuit diagram of the device according to the invention, where the variable inductance value L is read as the voltage value stored by the RLC circuit over a given period of time.

[0036] Such a value is digitized in 2 n bits by the ADC (analog-to-digital converter) system integrated in the microcontroller.

[0037] Thus, advantageously, the range of the signal is defined according to the maximum value (in the state NC where the connector is not connected) to the minimum value (in the state CC where the connector is successfully connected).

[0038] In this set of values, the target value Lc is advantageously identified as the percentage limit corresponding to the minimum value for the correct connection CC of the male connector in the female connector.

[0039] In Figure 3 the graph shows this situation.

[0040] During the connection step, such values must be maintained for a certain number of checks performed by the microcontroller before the correct connection is determined.

[0041] During the correct connection, the microcontroller of the control unit 5 activates peripheral devices for identifying the connection state, such as advantageously a wireless module 6 (Bluetooth, wifi, LoRa), an optical signal 7, a signal on the HMI, etc.

[0042] Advantageously, the electronic control unit 5 further includes at least one Bluetooth, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy) or WiFi communication electronic component, at least one DC / DC converter board, and electronics for the RLC circuit.

[0043] The electronic control unit 5 is advantageously electrically connected to the machine's line (12V or 24V DC) and is configured to output a signal on an RLC circuit and process the response of the circuit based on the inductance value of the winding.

[0044] Thus, it has been illustrated how the control device for checking the correct connection of a hydraulic line according to the present invention achieves the intended tasks and purposes.

[0045] In particular, it has been illustrated how the control device according to the present invention allows checking the correct connection of a hydraulic line equipped with a quick-release coupling by electronically checking the correct connection of the hydraulic line and confirming a successful connection to the operator with an appropriate signal.

[0046] Furthermore, it has been illustrated how the control device according to the present invention allows signaling a possible accidental disconnection, for example due to a malfunction of a mechanical component, hydraulic overpressure, or incorrect engagement between moving parts.

[0047] In addition, the device can process and receive statistics regarding the use (number of connections) of the hydraulic connection for possible predictive maintenance or commercial purposes.

[0048] The present invention has been described by way of non-limiting illustrative examples according to preferred embodiments. However, it should be understood that variations and / or modifications can be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the relevant scope of protection as defined in the appended claims.

Claims

1. A control device (1) for checking the correct connection of a hydraulic line, wherein said connection is achieved by a quick-release male connector (20) and a female connector (10), characterized in that, the control device (1) comprises at least one female connector (10) and at least one male connector (20) adapted to be inserted into said female connector (10), said male connector being at least partially made of a ferromagnetic material, and said female connector (10) comprises at least one coil or solenoid winding (2) having an inductance (L), the device (1) further comprises at least one electronic control unit (5), said electronic control unit (5) being adapted to supply current to said winding (2) and to detect a change in the inductance value (L) when the position of said male connector (20) changes relative to said winding (2) of said female connector (10), wherein said electronic control unit (5) comprises a storage unit in which a target inductance value (Lc) corresponding to the position of said male connector (20) in a successfully connected state (CC) is pre-stored, and wherein said electronic control unit (5) is adapted to compare the detected inductance value (L) with said target inductance value (Lc) corresponding to the position of said male connector (20) in a successfully connected state (CC), and when the detected inductance value (L) is equal to said target inductance value (Lc), to emit a successful connection signal.

2. The control device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, said target value (Lc) is identified as a percentage limit of the minimum value corresponding to the correctly connected joint state (CC).

3. The control device (1) according to the preceding claim, characterized in that, given the axial coupling direction X of said male connector (20) and said female connector (10), the value of said inductance (L) varies with the change of the position of said male connector (20) along the direction X.

4. The control device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, said electronic control unit (5) is configured to emit a signal corresponding to the successfully connected state (CC) and a different signal corresponding to the disconnected state (NC).

5. The control device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, the control device (1) further comprises a visual indicator (7), preferably comprising an LED lamp, said visual indicator (7) being configured to emit a visual signal when receiving a signal corresponding to the successfully connected state (CC) issued by said control unit, and to emit a different visual signal when receiving a signal corresponding to the not-connected state (NC).

6. The control device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The electronic control unit (5) includes an RLC circuit, a microcontroller, and an analog-to-digital converter (ADC) integrated in the microcontroller. The inductance value (L) of the winding can vary as a function of the position of the male connector (20) relative to the winding (2) assembled to the female connector (10). The inductance value (L) is read as the voltage value stored by the RLC circuit over a given time period and discretized by the analog-to-digital converter (ADC) so as to define a signal range variable between a maximum value corresponding to the unconnected connector state (NC) and a minimum value corresponding to the correctly connected connector state (DC).

7. The control device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the electronic control unit (5) further includes at least one Bluetooth, BLE (Bluetooth Low Energy), or WiFi electronic communication element.

8. The control device (1) according to one or more of the preceding claims, characterized in that the microcontroller of the electronic control unit (5) is configured to repeatedly read the inductance value (L) returned by the circuit (RLC) and output a signal corresponding to the successful connection state (CC) only if the inductance values (L) read in multiple readings all match the target value (Lc).

Images