Piston-cylinder unit and regulating device for a movable member

Abstract

This utility model relates to a piston cylinder unit and an adjustment device for a movable component. The piston cylinder unit is particularly used to generate and / or force support the adjustment movement of the movable component, and includes at least: a first piston cylinder unit and a second piston cylinder unit, each having an extendable piston rod, wherein the first and second piston cylinder units are arranged substantially parallel to each other and opposite to each other, such that their piston rods can extend in opposite directions; and a mechanical coupling element that connects the first and second piston cylinder units to each other to achieve a common translational movement, wherein the first and second piston cylinder units are fluidly separated from each other. The piston cylinder unit of this utility model achieves a large stroke with a compact overall structural length, but has a simpler structure, lower manufacturing cost, more reliable operation, and a more uniform force distribution.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a piston-cylinder unit, particularly for generating adjusting motion of a movable component with a large stroke within a compact overall structural length. This invention also relates to an adjusting device including such a piston-cylinder unit, and its use in a height-adjustable assembly. Background Technology

[0002] Especially in automobile manufacturing, there is often a need to achieve adjustable motion, which requires a particularly large adjustment path (stroke) from a very limited installation space. Traditional gas springs or piston cylinder units, which are typically used to balance the weight of valves or other movable objects, usually cannot meet this requirement because the predetermined structural space comes from the available hinge points, and the retraction length of a traditional gas spring is usually more than half of its maximum stroke.

[0003] To address this problem, existing technologies include, for example, telescopic gas springs. These consist of several coaxially arranged piston rods that extend one after another, thereby enabling a stroke exceeding the retractable length of the unit.

[0004] However, these telescopic systems have significant drawbacks. Due to their structure, which involves multiple piston rods that can slide inwards from each other, they exhibit considerable structural complexity and a large number of sealing points between stages. This not only increases the risk of leakage and reduces service life but also makes manufacturing complex and expensive.

[0005] Furthermore, due to the different area ratios of the piston rods, undesirable sudden or adverse force distributions can be seen in the force-displacement diagrams of these telescopic systems. Utility Model Content

[0006] Therefore, the purpose of this invention is to provide an improved piston cylinder unit that overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art. Specifically, the purpose of this invention is to provide a piston cylinder unit that achieves a large stroke with a compact overall structural length, while having a simpler structure, lower manufacturing cost, more reliable operation, and a more uniform force distribution.

[0007] According to this invention, this objective is achieved by a piston cylinder unit, which is particularly used to generate and / or force support the adjusting movement of a movable member, and includes at least: a first piston cylinder unit and a second piston cylinder unit, each having an extendable piston rod, wherein the first piston cylinder unit and the second piston cylinder unit are arranged substantially parallel to each other and opposite to each other, such that their piston rods can extend in opposite directions; and a mechanical coupling element that connects the first piston cylinder unit and the second piston cylinder unit to each other to achieve a common translational movement, wherein the first piston cylinder unit and the second piston cylinder unit are fluidly separated from each other.

[0008] In other words, it is preferable that the two piston cylinder units, configured as gas springs, are coupled to each other in a simple manner. By arranging the piston cylinder units in parallel, from the perspective of stroke / length, the total length of most of the components of a piston cylinder unit or multiple piston cylinder units that extend in one direction can be saved.

[0009] In this case, parallel arrangement means that the longitudinal axes of the piston cylinder units are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

[0010] The piston and cylinder units are fluidly separated from each other, and there is no fluid connection between their working spaces. Compared to telescopic systems, this purely mechanical structure using independent standard units significantly reduces complexity, thereby lowering manufacturing costs, and significantly improves operational safety through fewer sealing points.

[0011] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, a third piston cylinder unit is provided, arranged substantially parallel to the first and second piston cylinder units, wherein two of the piston cylinder units can extend in a first direction, and one of the piston cylinder units can extend in a second direction opposite to the first direction. This arrangement allows for flexible adjustment of force characteristics and can further improve the stability of the unit.

[0012] Preferably, two piston cylinder units arranged to extend in a first direction are arranged externally, such that a piston cylinder unit arranged to extend in a second direction is located at the center between the two external piston cylinder units.

[0013] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the ends of the piston rods protruding from the cylinders of the two rectifier piston cylinder units are connected by means of a bridge-shaped connecting element, on which a connector element is fixed.

[0014] The piston cylinder unit has, for example, two joint elements for preferred hinged connection with the component to be moved, and a structural unit located above the moving component.

[0015] The movable component can be, for example, a height-adjustable assembly for display and / or switching elements (monitors, dashboards, control consoles, etc.). In this case, a higher-level structural unit could be, for example, the body or the fairing of the cockpit fixed thereto.

[0016] This creates a defined, stable junction between the two rectifier piston cylinder units, and distributes the introduced force evenly between them. Therefore, lateral forces can be eliminated.

[0017] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical coupling element is constructed as an integral component, particularly a plastic injection-molded component. This makes it possible to manufacture the coupling element in a particularly economical and lightweight manner, while also allowing for a high degree of design freedom.

[0018] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the mechanical coupling element has a receiving point configured to receive the cylinder of the piston-cylinder unit in a shape- and / or force-locking manner. This greatly simplifies the assembly of the unit and reduces manufacturing time.

[0019] According to another preferred embodiment of the present invention, the maximum stroke of the piston-cylinder unit is greater than the total length of the piston-cylinder unit in its fully retracted state. Due to this structural space efficiency according to the present invention, the proposed piston-cylinder unit is particularly suitable for applications in confined spaces.

[0020] According to this invention, an adjustment device for a movable component is provided, comprising the aforementioned piston cylinder unit and an electric actuator for controlling the adjustment movement. The combination with the electric actuator allows for precise, automatic, and comfortable manipulation of the adjustment movement. For example, a known spindle drive can be provided as the electric actuator.

[0021] The piston cylinder unit according to this invention is specifically designed for use in height-adjustable assemblies for display and / or switching elements in motor vehicles. The unit's compact structure and long stroke are ideal for applications such as linear adjustment of large displays, dashboards, or control consoles within the cockpit.

[0022] Within the scope of this utility model, other applications of the piston cylinder unit according to this utility model are not excluded.

[0023] The present invention will now be described with the aid of embodiments. The drawings, description, and claims contain combinations of numerous features. Those skilled in the art will also readily consider these features individually and combine them into further reasonable combinations. Thus, single or multiple embodiments can be advantageously combined with each other. Attached Figure Description

[0024] In the attached image:

[0025] Figure 1 This is a plan view of an embodiment of the piston cylinder unit according to the present invention in its extended state;

[0026] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A side view of the piston cylinder unit; and

[0027] Figure 3 It is along Figure 2 A sectional view of line AA. Detailed Implementation

[0028] Figures 1 to 3 A preferred embodiment of the piston cylinder unit 10 according to the present invention is shown, which is configured to generate and / or force support the adjustment movement of the movable member.

[0029] If the movable component has high weight forces, force support units may be required for it. The weight forces can be largely compensated by the force support units, thus allowing for improvements or more comfortable adjustments to the component.

[0030] In this embodiment, the piston cylinder unit 10 includes three separate, independent piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40, which are preferably configured as standard gas springs. Each piston cylinder unit 20, 30, and 40 has a cylinder 22, 32, and 42, and a piston rod 24, 34, and 44 that can extend from the cylinder.

[0031] Piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40 each have a piston fixed to the end of piston rods 24, 34, and 44, which are slidably arranged in cylinders 22, 32, and 42, dividing the fluid-filled cylinders 22, 32, and 42 into two working spaces. Piston rods 24, 34, and 44 respectively pass through one of the working spaces and through guide and sealing assemblies that seal cylinders 22, 32, and 42 and are located at the cylinder ends.

[0032] The piston cylinder unit 10 has two connector elements 50 and 60, which are preferably used for hinged connection to the movable member and the structural unit arranged on the movable member. The movable member may be, for example, a height-adjustable assembly for display and / or switching elements (display, instrument panel, control console, etc.). In this case, a higher-level structural unit may be, for example, the body or the fairing of the cockpit fixed thereon.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown in the cross-sectional view along line AA, piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40 are arranged substantially parallel to each other. In this case, parallel arrangement means that the longitudinal axes of the cylinders of piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40 are arranged substantially parallel to each other.

[0034] In this configuration, the first piston cylinder unit 20 and the third piston cylinder unit 40 are oriented in the same direction, while the centrally located second piston cylinder unit 30 is oriented in the opposite direction. This means that the piston rods 24 and 44 of the piston cylinder units 20 and 40 extend along the first direction (in... Figure 3 (From center to left), while the piston rod 34 of the second centrally located piston cylinder unit 30 extends in the opposite second direction (in Figure 3 (From center to right).

[0035] The individual piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40 are connected to each other purely mechanically.

[0036] like Figure 3 As shown, a mechanical coupling element 70 may be provided for connection, which is preferably constructed as an integral component, particularly a plastic injection molded component.

[0037] The mechanical coupling element 70 has a suitable receiving point configured to receive the cylinders 22, 32, 42 or their ends of the piston cylinder units 20, 30, 40 in a shape and / or force-locking manner, wherein the piston rods 24, 34, 44 protrude from the end side of the mechanical coupling element 70 in each case.

[0038] By arranging the piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40 in parallel, from the perspective of stroke / length, the total length of most components of the piston cylinder unit or multiple piston cylinder units that are pushed out in one direction can be saved.

[0039] As described above, the piston rods 24 and 44 of the first piston cylinder unit 20 and the third piston cylinder unit 40 protrude from the cylinders 22 and 42 and are positioned in the same direction in the mechanical coupling element 70, connected by a bridge-shaped connecting element 80. The connector element 50 is fixed to the bridge-shaped connecting element 80, thereby creating a defined and stable connection point. In particular, this eliminates lateral forces.

[0040] Piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40 are completely fluidly independent. There is no exchange of working fluid (e.g., gas or oil) between individual units. Synchronization of their translational movements is achieved solely through a rigid mechanical connection via mechanical coupling element 70 and bridge-like connecting element 80. When the movable component is adjusted, piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40 can retract or extend simultaneously, resulting in a common linear adjusting movement of the entire piston cylinder unit 10.

[0041] It should be noted that the second piston cylinder unit 30 may have a different size than the other two piston cylinder units 20 and 40, and does not necessarily have the same structure as the other two piston cylinder units 20 and 40.

[0042] The piston cylinder unit 10 can be provided as part of an adjustment device, which, for example, has an electric actuator for controlling the adjustment movement. This can preferably be provided as an electric spindle drive, allowing for an electric adjustment device that functions as an active adjustment element. Thus, the electric actuator can control the movement and hold the piston cylinder unit 10 in any desired intermediate position, while the piston cylinder units 20, 30, 40 support the force required for the movement and compensate for the weight of the component to be moved. In this case, the piston cylinder unit 10 is a passive adjustment element.

[0043] In addition, appropriate damping measures can be provided to prevent the component from unexpectedly and suddenly dropping in the event of a fault and related force connection interruption, such as due to a failure of the connector component of the electric actuator.

[0044] Similarly, it can be imagined that piston cylinder units 20, 30, and 40 each have a locking function.

Claims

1. A piston cylinder unit, particularly for generating and / or force-supporting adjusting motion of a movable member, characterized in that, The piston cylinder unit (10) includes at least: The first piston cylinder unit (20) and the second piston cylinder unit (30) each have an extendable piston rod (24, 34). The first piston cylinder unit (20) and the second piston cylinder unit (30) are arranged substantially parallel to each other and opposite to each other, such that their piston rods (24, 34) can extend in opposite directions. A mechanical coupling element (70) connects the first piston cylinder unit (20) and the second piston cylinder unit (30) to each other to achieve a common translational motion. The first piston cylinder unit (20) and the second piston cylinder unit (30) are fluidly separated from each other.

2. The piston cylinder unit according to claim 1, characterized in that, A third piston cylinder unit (40) is provided, which is arranged substantially parallel to the first piston cylinder unit (20) and the second piston cylinder unit (30). Two piston cylinder units (20, 40) in the piston cylinder unit can extend in a first direction, and one piston cylinder unit (30) in the piston cylinder unit can extend in a second direction opposite to the first direction.

3. The piston cylinder unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The ends of the piston rods (24, 44) protruding from the cylinders (22, 42) of the two rectified piston cylinder units (20, 40) are connected by means of a bridge-shaped connecting element (80), on which a connector element (50) is fixed.

4. The piston cylinder unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The mechanical coupling element (70) is constructed as an integral component, particularly a plastic injection molded component.

5. The piston cylinder unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The mechanical coupling element (70) has a receiving point configured to receive the cylinders (22, 32, 42) of the piston cylinder unit (20, 30, 40) in a shape and / or force-locking manner.

6. The piston cylinder unit according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The maximum stroke of the piston-cylinder unit (10) is greater than the total length of the piston-cylinder unit in its fully retracted state.

7. An adjustment device for a movable component, characterized in that, It includes a piston cylinder unit (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 6 and an electric actuator for controlling and regulating motion.

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