Coupling device and coupling arrangement

Abstract

Coupling device (12), for detachably connecting an object (13) to be coupled with the coupling device (12), comprising: - a magnetic coupling element (16), in particular a coupling bolt, - a first coupling section (18) and - a second coupling section (20) arranged or arrangable spaced apart from the first coupling section (18), - wherein - the first coupling section (18) has an electromagnet (22) that can be switched on and off and whose polarity can be reversed for generating a first magnetic field and for generating a second magnetic field directed opposite to the first magnetic field, which has a coil with a first receiving space (23) arranged in the coil and extending in the axial direction of the coil for at least partially receiving the coupling element (16),- the second coupling section (20) has a coupling element receiving device (24) with a second receiving space (26) for at least partially receiving the coupling element (16), - the coupling element (16), the first receiving space (23) and the second receiving space (26) have a common central axis (28), - the coupling element (16) is movably arranged relative to the first receiving space (23) and to the second receiving space (26) along the common central axis (28), wherein the electromagnet (22) and the coupling element (16) are arranged such that the coupling element (16) is pushed towards the second receiving space (26) when the first magnetic field is generated, while it is pulled towards the first receiving space (23) when the second magnetic field is generated.

Description

The present invention relates to a coupling device according to claim 1 and a coupling arrangement according to claim 7. For example, US Patent 2015 / 0210130A1 discloses an openable coupling element for an elongated belt in the form of a tow rope. The coupling element comprises a body configured to engage firmly with one end of an elongated belt. An arm is pivotally connected to the body, such that the arm pivots between a locked position and a release position, with a tip section of the arm comprising a receiving section. The body includes a through-hole, the hole being coaxial with the receiving section when the arm is in the locked position. A shaft assembly is slidably arranged within the hole, the shaft assembly being biased toward engagement with the receiving section.A bracket is pivotally attached to the body and pivotably attached to the shaft assembly, whereby the rotation of the bracket forces a linear movement of the shaft assembly within the hole. Other publications dealing with locking devices or coupling devices or their peripherals are DE 10 2010 050 650 A1, DE 10 2010 061 246 A1, DE 20 2010 010 093 U1, DE 29 24 359 A1, US 2017 / 0 349 014 A1, DE 10 2011 085 338 A1 and DE 10 2014 224 808 A1. Coupling devices and coupling arrangements comprising them generally consist of a first coupling section, which is assigned to a load or a device to be connected to it, and a second coupling section, which is assigned to the other of the two objects mentioned above. As an example, let us consider the area of ​​motor vehicles, although coupling devices are also used in many different other areas, for example to fix an object in a desired position. For example, a car trailer coupling has a ball-shaped first coupling section, which is usually located on the car, while a trailer is assigned a corresponding second coupling section, which includes parts of the ball-shaped first coupling section. Trucks often use so-called jaw couplings, in which a bolt is inserted into a corresponding recess of a trailer's towing eye. All coupling devices known from the prior art require manual operation by qualified personnel. Particularly in the automotive sector, this often leads to inconveniences due to dirty and / or lubricant-covered parts of the coupling, necessitating not only manual operation but also protective and / or cleaning measures. Therefore, starting from the prior art described above, the object of the present invention is to provide a coupling device for detachably connecting an object to be coupled to the same, as well as a coupling arrangement which enables contactless operation and thus exhibits corresponding improvements compared to the prior art. The object of the invention is solved by a coupling device according to claim 1 and a coupling arrangement with the features of claim 7. The solution to the problem relating to a coupling device is therefore achieved by a coupling device, in particular a coupling device for detachably connecting an object to be coupled to the coupling device, comprising: - a magnetic coupling element, in particular a coupling bolt, - a first coupling section and - a second coupling section arranged or arrangable at a distance from the first coupling section, - wherein - the first coupling section has an electromagnet that can be switched on and off and whose polarity can be reversed for generating a first magnetic field and for generating a second magnetic field directed opposite to the first magnetic field, which has a coil with a first receiving space arranged in the coil and extending in the axial direction of the coil for at least partially receiving the coupling element,- the second coupling section has a coupling element receiving device with a second receiving space for at least partial reception of the coupling element, - the coupling element, the first receiving space and the second receiving space have a common central axis, - the coupling element is movably arranged relative to the first receiving space and to the second receiving space along the common central axis, wherein the electromagnet and the coupling element are arranged such that the coupling element is pushed towards the second receiving space when the first magnetic field is generated, while it is pulled towards the first receiving space when the second magnetic field is generated. This enables a contactless, reliable coupling of an object to be coupled with the coupling device, and thus also of, for example, a load attached to the coupling device or a pulling or moving device attached to the coupling device. In one possible embodiment, the first coupling section has a first elastic element arranged in the first receiving space or on an end face of the first receiving space. This element limits the possible path that the coupling element can travel into the first receiving space when the magnetic field is switched on or changed, and / or dampens an impact of the coupling element in the first receiving space. Alternatively or additionally, the second coupling section has a second elastic element arranged in the second receiving space or on a first end face of the second receiving space, which serves the same purposes. Optionally, the first coupling section has a first magnet, in particular a first permanent magnet, which is arranged on a first end face of the first receiving space or within the first receiving space. Alternatively or additionally, the second coupling section has a second magnet, in particular a second permanent magnet, which is arranged on a second end face of the second receiving space or within the second receiving space. Each magnet serves to securely hold the coupling element in its respective position (either an open position or a closed position), even and especially when the electromagnet is switched off. This design therefore ensures that the coupling element is securely held in position while minimizing the required electromagnet operating time.The electromagnetic magnet is usually only operated (powered up) for the coupling process (i.e. moving the coupling element from the coupling-open position to the coupling-closed position or vice versa). The coupling device may include a device for determining the position of the coupling element with respect to the first coupling section and / or the second coupling section, in particular an optical sensor or an inductance measuring device for measuring the inductance of the electromagnet, wherein, in the latter method, the extent to which the coupling element is located in the first receiving space is determined inductively. Since the first receiving space is arranged in the electromagnet, it can be determined from the inductance of the electromagnet whether the first receiving space is filled with air or partially or completely with the (magnetic) coupling element. The aspect of the problem relating to a coupling arrangement is solved by a coupling arrangement having the features of claim 7, i.e. by a coupling arrangement comprising: - a coupling device as described above, and - an object to be coupled to the coupling device. In one possible embodiment, the object to be coupled has a recess for the engagement of the coupling element. Optionally, the object to be coupled is designed as a rack and pinion. The object to be coupled or the coupling device optionally includes a position detection device for determining the position of the object to be coupled relative to the coupling device, in particular an optical sensor or a Hall sensor. This enables the position of the object to be coupled relative to the coupling device to be determined in a simple manner. The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying figure, using one possible embodiment as an example. The accompanying drawing, designated as Fig. 1, shows a sectional view of a coupling arrangement according to the invention, which also includes a coupling device according to the invention. A coupling arrangement 10 according to the invention has, as shown in Fig. 1, a coupling device 12 which is designed for detachable connection with an object 13 to be coupled (in the embodiment described here having a rack 14). The coupling device 12 has a coupling element in the form of a coupling bolt 16 for coupling itself to the object 13 to be coupled (comprising the rack 14). The coupling bolt 16 is made of a magnetic, preferably ferro- or ferrimagnetic, material. The coupling bolt 16 is movably arranged relative to the rack 14. Furthermore, the coupling device 12 comprises a first coupling section 18 and a second coupling section 20, the second coupling section 20 being arranged at a distance from the first coupling section 18. The first coupling section 18 has an electromagnet 22, which is designed in the form of a coil. The coil has a cylindrical interior, which is designed as a recess or is material-free and forms a first receiving space 23 for at least partially receiving the coupling bolt 16. The electromagnet 22 is connected to a power source via leads using suitable terminals (not shown) and can thus be energized to generate a magnetic field. The electromagnet 22 can be switched on and off by means of a switch. Furthermore, the polarity of the electromagnet 22 can be reversed, for example by a suitable switch, so that it is also suitable for generating a second magnetic field opposite to the first. The second coupling section 20 has a coupling element receiving device 24 with a second hollow cylindrical receiving chamber 26, which is designed for the partial reception of the coupling bolt 16. The coupling device 12 is arranged such that the coupling bolt 16, the first receiving chamber 23, and the second receiving chamber 26, both of which are hollow cylindrical, have a common central axis 28. The first receiving chamber 23 and the second receiving chamber 26 are spaced apart from each other, as already mentioned above. The first receiving chamber 23 and the second receiving chamber 26 define or delimit a receiving gap between them, which is provided for receiving parts of the object 13 to be coupled, more precisely, parts of the rack 14. The coupling bolt 16 is movably arranged relative to the first receiving chamber 23 and the second receiving chamber 26 along the common central axis 28. The electromagnet 22 and the coupling bolt 16 are further arranged such that, upon generation of the first magnetic field, the coupling bolt 16 is forced towards the second receiving chamber 26 due to its magnetic properties. Upon generation of the second magnetic field, which is produced, for example, by reversing the polarity of the current generating the magnetic field in the coil, the coupling bolt 16 is pulled by the magnetic field towards the first receiving chamber 23. As mentioned above, both the first receiving chamber 23 and the second receiving chamber 26 have a hollow cylindrical recess into which the cylindrically shaped coupling bolt 16 can engage. The first receiving chamber 23, located in the electromagnet 22, has a first elastic element 32 on its end face 30 facing away from the second coupling section 20, which closes off the first receiving chamber 23. This ensures, on the one hand, that the coupling bolt 16 cannot be pulled into the first receiving chamber 23 beyond the end face 30 of the first receiving chamber 23 facing away from the first coupling section 20. Furthermore, any impacts caused by the coupling bolt 16 are absorbed. Adjacent to the elastic element 30, a first magnet 34 is arranged on the same on the side facing away from the second coupling section. In the described embodiment, this magnet is designed as a permanent magnet. It serves to securely hold the coupling bolt 16 in a state at least partially located in the first receiving space 23, even when the electromagnet 18 is de-energized. Similarly, the second coupling section has a second elastic element 36, which, like the first elastic element 32, is approximately disc-shaped. In the present embodiment, this second elastic element 36 is received in the second receiving space 26. Alternatively, the second elastic element 36 can also be positioned on an end face 38 of the second coupling section 20 facing away from the first coupling section 18. A second magnet 40 is arranged on the end face 38 facing away from the first coupling section, which serves to securely hold the coupling bolt 16 when it is partially in the second receiving space 26. It should be mentioned here that both the first magnet 34 and the second magnet 40 can alternatively be designed as electromagnets. In the described embodiment, the first elastic element 32 and the second elastic element 36 are made of rubber or latex. Manufacturing them from a different elastic material, or designing the first elastic element 32 and / or the second elastic element 36 as a spring, in particular a helical compression spring or a disc spring, is also conceivable. The coupling device 12 includes a device for determining the position of the coupling bolt relative to the first coupling section 18 and the second coupling section 20. In the present embodiment, this device is a measuring instrument 42 for measuring the inductance of the coil of the electromagnet 22. By measuring the inductance, it can be determined without doubt whether the bolt engages in the first receiving space 23 and, if so, how far the coupling bolt extends into the first receiving space 23. Thus, taking into account the length of the coupling bolt 16 and the distance between the first coupling section 18 and the second coupling section 20, it can be determined whether the coupling bolt 16 is in a closed or a released position of the coupling. As an alternative to inductance measurement, an optical sensor or, for example, an ultrasonic sensor would also be conceivable.As mentioned above, the coupling arrangement 10 includes, in addition to the coupling device 12, an object 13 to be coupled to the coupling device 12. In the described embodiment, the object to be coupled has a rack 14, but can, for example, also consist exclusively of the rack 14. The rack 14 has a corresponding recess 44 for the engagement of the coupling bolt 16. To determine the position of the rack 14, the coupling device 12 has a position detection device 46 in the form of a Hall sensor, which, based on the teeth present on the rack 14, can determine the relative position of the rack 14 to the coupling device 12 and, in particular, the relative position of the recess 44 to the first receiving space 23 and the second receiving space 26.Alternatively, another device for position determination is conceivable, for example an optical sensor or another sensor operating on the basis of sound waves, light, magnetic or electric fields. This allows the object 13 to be coupled to have a different form than a rack, for example a rod shape with smooth surfaces or any other shape. It should be noted at this point that the coupling device 12 in the described embodiment is attached to an object 15 to be coupled with the object 13 to be coupled. Although the invention is described with reference to an embodiment with a fixed combination of features, it also includes other conceivable advantageous combinations of features, such as those specified, but not exhaustively, in the dependent claims. All features disclosed in the application documents are claimed as essential to the invention, insofar as they are novel, individually or in combination, compared to the prior art.

Claims

Coupling device (12), for detachably connecting an object (13) to be coupled with the coupling device (12), comprising: - a magnetic coupling element (16), in particular a coupling bolt, - a first coupling section (18) and - a second coupling section (20) arranged or arrangable spaced apart from the first coupling section (18), - wherein - the first coupling section (18) has an electromagnet (22) that can be switched on and off and whose polarity can be reversed for generating a first magnetic field and for generating a second magnetic field directed opposite to the first magnetic field, which has a coil with a first receiving space (23) arranged in the coil and extending in the axial direction of the coil for at least partially receiving the coupling element (16),- the second coupling section (20) has a coupling element receiving device (24) with a second receiving space (26) for at least partially receiving the coupling element (16), - the coupling element (16), the first receiving space (23) and the second receiving space (26) have a common central axis (28), - the coupling element (16) is movably arranged relative to the first receiving space (23) and to the second receiving space (26) along the common central axis (28), wherein the electromagnet (22) and the coupling element (16) are arranged such that the coupling element (16) is pushed towards the second receiving space (26) when the first magnetic field is generated, while it is pulled towards the first receiving space (23) when the second magnetic field is generated. Coupling device (12) according to claim 1, wherein the first coupling section (18) has a first elastic element (32) arranged in the first receiving space (23) or on an end face (30) of the first receiving space (23). Coupling device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second coupling section (20) has a second elastic element (36) arranged in the second receiving space (6) or on a first end face of the second receiving space (26). Coupling device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first coupling section (18) has a first magnet (34), in particular a first permanent magnet, which is arranged on a first end face (30) of the first receiving space (23) or in the first receiving space (23). Coupling device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second coupling section (20) has a second magnet (40), in particular a second permanent magnet, which is arranged on a second end face of the second receiving space (26) or in the second receiving space (26). Coupling device (12) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (12) comprises a device for determining the position of the coupling element (16) in relation to the first coupling section (18) and / or the second coupling section (20), in particular an optical sensor or an inductance measuring device for measuring the position of the coupling element (16). Coupling arrangement (10) comprising: - a coupling device (12) according to one of the preceding claims and - an object (13) to be coupled to the coupling device (12). Coupling arrangement (10) according to claim 7, wherein the object (13) to be coupled has a recess (44) for engagement of the coupling element (16). Coupling arrangement (10) according to claim 7 or 8, wherein the object (13) to be coupled is a rack (14) or has a rack (14). Coupling arrangement (10) according to one of claims 7 to 9, wherein the object to be coupled (13) or the coupling device (12) has a device for determining position (46) for determining the position of the object to be coupled in relation to the coupling device (12), in particular an optical sensor or a Hall sensor.

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