Device having at least one energy store

Abstract

The invention starts from a device (10) having at least one energy store (12). According to the invention, the device comprises at least one indicating element (14) which is mechanically connected to the energy store and which indicates at least one piece of information about the position of at least one region (16) of the energy store in at least one operating state.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a device having at least one energy store. BACKGROUND

[0002] A transparent cartridge is known. Through the cartridge a follower piston can be seen. Furthermore, cartridge level indication with electrical sensors is known. This technology requires electrical power. Furthermore, cartridge level indication is currently realized by using magnets. This technology requires a complex construction.

[0003] The problem of the invention is in particular to provide an indication means having a simple construction, which can be applied in a wide range of cases. This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1, while advantageous embodiments of the invention can be taken from the dependent claims. SUMMARY

[0004] The invention starts from a device having at least one energy store.

[0005] The invention proposes that the device comprises at least one indication element, which is mechanically connected to the energy store and indicates in at least one operating state at least one information about the position of at least one region of the energy store. Thereby, an indication having a simple construction can be realized, which can be applied in a wide range of cases.

[0006] Advantageously, the device comprises at least one receptacle, in which at least a part of the energy store is located, and at least a part of the indication element indicates in the operating state the at least one information, wherein the part is located outside the receptacle in the operating state. Thereby, a good visibility of the components can be achieved and the receptacle can be light-protected.

[0007] Furthermore, the invention proposes that at least a part of the receptacle is light-protected. Thereby, the receptacle can be made of a robust and cost-effective material. In particular, at least a part of the receptacle having a mass of more than 50% by weight of the total mass of the receptacle can be light-protected. In particular, the whole receptacle can be light-protected.

[0008] Advantageously, the energy store is a spring. Thereby, a simple construction can be realized. In particular, the energy store can be a coil spring.

[0009] Furthermore, the invention proposes that the indication element is fixed to the spring. Thereby, a simple indication mechanism of the indication element can be realized.

[0010] Furthermore, the present application proposes that the spring is a coil spring, which is at least partially composed of a wire, wherein the indicating element is fixed to a first section of the wire and to at least a second section of the wire, and between the first section and the second section is a third section of the wire, which comprises a surface that has no direct contact to the indicating element. Thereby, it is possible to achieve a movement of the indicating element during the operating procedure with a small amount of friction.

[0011] Advantageously, the third section is a part of the coil spring, which has a size between a quarter of a turn of the coil spring and three quarters of a turn of the coil spring. By this, it is possible to achieve a movement of the indicating element during the operating procedure with a very small amount of friction.

[0012] Furthermore, the present application proposes that the spring comprises a first end and a second end, and the second end exerts a force on the piston of the device in the operating state and is positioned opposite the first end, wherein the distance of the indicating element to the second end in the operating state is greater than three quarters of the length of the spring in the operating state. Thereby, it is possible to achieve a small length of the indicating element. In particular, a cost-effective construction of the indicating element can be achieved.

[0013] Advantageously, the spring is linear. The spring is linear if it obeys Hooke's law and has only one spring constant. By this, it is possible to easily deduce the length change of the entire spring from the length change of only one or a few turns of the spring.

[0014] Advantageously, the indicating element and the at least one fixing element are formed integrally, the at least one fixing element being part of the device and fixing the indicating element to the energy store. Thereby, a simple construction can be achieved.

[0015] Furthermore, the present application proposes that the indicating element is a pin. Thereby, a cost-effective and efficient design of the indicating element is achieved.

[0016] In particular, the device can comprise a fluid. In particular, the device can comprise a reservoir. In particular, the fluid can be at least partially located in the reservoir. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS

[0017] Further advantages can be seen in the following description of the figures. In the figures, examples of embodiments of the present application are shown. The figures, the description and the claims contain numerous features in combination. The skilled person will also advantageously consider the features individually and combine them to form useful further combinations.

[0018] Figure 1 a partial axial section of the device according to the present application in an operating state is shown,

[0019] Figure 2 a partial axial section of the device in a state in which the reservoir of the device is empty is shown, and

[0020] Figure 3 A partial axial section through the device is shown in a state without reservoir. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] Figure 1 A partial axial section of the device 10 according to the application in an operating state is shown. The device 10 comprises an energy store 12, which is a pressure spring. In the Figure 1 embodiment, the spring is a linear coil spring and consists of a wire. Furthermore, the device comprises an indicating element 14, which is fixed to the spring and is a pin.

[0022] The indicating element 14 indicates in the operating state information about the position of a region 16 of the energy store. The region 16 is a second end 34 of the spring, which is positioned opposite a first end 32 of the spring. The indicating element 14 is fixed to a first section 24 of the wire and to a second section 26 of the wire by means of a fixing element 40 of the device. The fixing element 40 has the shape of a pin. The indicating element 14 is fixed with one of its ends in the middle of the fixing element 40. One end of the fixing element is fixed to the first section and a second end of the fixing element is fixed to the second section. Each of the indicating element and the fixing element is one component. Alternatively, the indicating element and the fixing element are integrally formed. Between the first section and the second section is a third section 28 of the wire, which is a half turn of the coil spring. A surface 30 of the third section has no direct contact with the fixing part of the indicating element 14. The point of the fixing element for fixing the indicating element is at a first distance from the first end 32 in the operating state. In the operating state, the spring has a length 42. The length 42 can be calculated by multiplying the first distance by the length of the spring in a state in which the spring is maximally extended in the device, divided by the distance of the point of the fixing element from the first end 32 in a state in which the spring is maximally extended in the device. Figure 2 The position of the indicating element 14 is thus an indication of the position of the second end 34. The position of the second end 34 indicates the filling level of a fluid 46 of a fluid reservoir 44 of the device. The fluid can be grease. The reservoir is a cartridge. When the reservoir is full of fluid, the spring is maximally compressed. In this state, the longitudinal direction of the indicating element 14 and the longitudinal direction of the fixing element 40 are arranged perpendicular with respect to each other. When the spring starts to extend from this state, the indicating element and the fixing element are deformed until the device reaches the operating state at a certain point in time. Figure 1 Then, the longitudinal direction of the indicating element and the longitudinal direction of the fixing element are no longer perpendicular to each other, but are inclined with respect to each other.

[0023] The device 10 comprises a receptacle 18 in which the reservoir 12 is located. In the state in which the spring is extended the most in the device Figure 2 , only a small part of the indicating element 14 protrudes from the receptacle. In the operating state, another part 20 of the indicating element protrudes from the receptacle and is located outside the receptacle. The length of this part 20 indicates the position of the second end 34 in the operating state and visualizes the filling level.

[0024] The first end 32 is located opposite the second end 34 and abuts the end region of the receptacle. Furthermore, the second end 34 of the spring exerts a force on the piston 36 of the device 10 in the operating state and abuts the piston. The piston is located inside the reservoir in the operating state and exerts a force on the fluid 46. The indicating element 14 has a distance 38 from the second end 34 in the operating state which is greater than three quarters of the length 42 of the spring in the operating state. When the spring is extended, it presses the fluid out of the reservoir and out of the receptacle.

[0025] In the operating state, the receptacle is screwed to the pump (not shown) by means of the thread 48. The reservoir is screwed to the pump by its own thread.

[0026] A part 22 of the receptacle is lightproof. In fact, in the embodiment of Figure 1 , the entire receptacle is lightproof. The receptacle can be made of metal.

[0027] When the spring is extended the most Figure 2 , the reservoir is empty. In this case, the position of the indicating element can indicate that the reservoir must be filled or replaced.

[0028] Figure 3 A partial axial section through the device is shown in the state without reservoir.

[0029] In summary, the indication of the indicating element is simple and reliable for all kinds of reservoirs and cartridges with a follower mechanism for the cartridge level indication.

[0030] The indicating pin and the fixing element are made of bendable plastic, for example polyethylene terephthalate glycol.

[0031] The device can be used not only for measuring but also for monitoring the movement of the spring over a part of the spring length.

[0032] The invention can be used for reservoir caps of all shapes and sizes, as well as for other applications with different sizes and varying springs.

[0033] The reservoir can be assembled to the receptacle and can be detached from the receptacle without anything being destroyed. If the reservoir does not contain any fluid Figure 2If the fluid level (FL) in the reservoir (44) is below the minimum level (ML), then the reservoir (44) can be easily replaced with a new reservoir filled with fluid.

[0034] List of reference signs:

[0035] 10 device

[0036] 12 energy store

[0037] 14 indicating element

[0038] 16 region

[0039] 18 receptacle

[0040] 20 portion

[0041] 22 portion

[0042] 24 section

[0043] 26 section

[0044] 28 section

[0045] 30 surface

[0046] 32 end

[0047] 34 end

[0048] 36 piston

[0049] 38 distance

[0050] 40 securing element

[0051] 42 length

[0052] 44 reservoir

[0053] 46 fluid

[0054] 48 thread

Claims

1. A device (10) having at least one energy store (12), characterized by at least one indicating element (14) which is mechanically connected to the energy store and in at least one operating state indicates at least one information about the position of at least one region (16) of the energy store.

2. The device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the device (10) comprises at least one receptacle (18) in which at least a portion of the energy store (12) is located and in which at least a portion (20) of the indicating element (14) indicates the at least one information in the operating state, wherein the portion is located outside the receptacle in the operating state.

3. The device (10) according to claim 2, characterized in that at least a portion (22) of the receptacle (18) is lightproof.

4. The device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the energy store (12) is a spring.

5. The device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the indicating element (14) is fixed on the spring.

6. The device (10) according to claim 5, characterized in that the spring is a coil spring which is at least partially composed of a wire, wherein the indicating element (14) is fixed to a first section (24) of the wire and at least to a second section (26) of the wire, and between the first section and the second section is a third section (28) of the wire which comprises a surface (30) which has no direct contact with the fixed portion of the indicating element.

7. The device (10) according to at least one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the spring comprises a first end (32) and a second end (34), the second end exerts a force on a piston (36) of the device (10) in the operating state and is positioned opposite the first end, wherein the indicating element (14) has a distance (38) to the second end in the operating state which is greater than three quarters of the length (42) of the spring in the operating state.

8. The device (10) according to at least one of claims 4 to 7, characterized in that the spring is linear.

9. The device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the indicating element (14) and at least one fixing element (40) are formed integrally, the at least one fixing element (40) is part of the device (10) and fixes the indicating element to the energy store (12).

10. The device (10) according to at least one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the indicating element (14) is a pin.

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