POWER GENERATOR FOR GENERATING LINEAR COMPRESSIVE FORCE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a power generator for generating a linear pressure force.

[0002] Pressing machines, as commonly used in plumbing and heating installations, provide a defined force over a defined stroke. This linear drive is typically used to actuate a pressing jaw. A cam drive converts the translational movement of an entry contour into a clamping motion. However, neither the direction of force application nor the available force meets the requirements of every application.

[0003] Force amplification without changing the direction of movement of the pressing tool is implemented, for example, in a press force intensifier, also called a press booster. For instance, the linear drive of the press force intensifier is used to directly drive a mandrel of a press-fit fitting, as described in DE 10 2013 101 109 A1.

[0004] Other linear power generators are known from WO 02 / 096250 A1 and DE 10 2011 115 955 A1, in which the driving force and the driven force run in the same direction.

[0005] Another application of high pressure force involves the processing of wall plates used for water pipes to supply taps or similar fixtures between a wall and a partition wall.

[0006] Wall plates serve to provide a future connection option for fittings, valves, pipes, or similar components. The wall plate is attached to the existing wall, and its inlet is connected to a supply line, such as a water pipe. The component to be supplied is connected to the outlet, which typically points at a right angle from the wall, similar to a fitting. This allows the medium, for example, water, to flow from the supply line into the wall plate and from the wall plate into the component. During the installation of water connections, wall plates with a long threaded pipe section serving as the outlet can also be used, which is shortened during installation. Shortening the pipe section can also be achieved by breaking off a portion of the pipe at predetermined breaking points, requiring a high pressure or...Traction force is necessary with a short adjustment range.

[0007] Therefore, the present invention is based on the technical problem of providing a high pressing force and using the known press machine with press jaws for this purpose.

[0008] The aforementioned technical problem is solved according to the invention by a force generator for generating a linear pressure force according to claim 1.

[0009] In particular, it is provided that the drive wedge can be moved essentially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the output wedge from a starting position to an end position, and that the output wedge and the drive wedge have contact surfaces that run obliquely to the direction of movement of the drive wedge and obliquely to the sliding direction of the drive wedge. When the drive wedge moves into the housing, the output wedge is displaced relatively out of the housing, resulting in a relative movement between the output wedge and the housing.

[0010] Alternatively or additionally, the drive wedge can be moved essentially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the housing from a starting position to an end position, and the housing and the drive wedge have contact surfaces that run obliquely to the direction of movement of the housing and obliquely to the sliding direction of the drive wedge. In this configuration, movement of the drive wedge into the housing displaces the housing relative to the output wedge, and a relative movement also occurs between the output wedge and the housing.

[0011] The angle α between the sliding direction of the drive wedge and the inclined contact surface can be less than 45°, in particular less than 20°, preferably less than 10°. An angle range of 2.5° to 10° is particularly preferred.

[0012] The term linear compressive force refers to the linear direction of the compressive force, while the compressive force profile over the pressing process can also be non-linear.

[0013] For attaching a pressing tool with known press jaw halves or with a hinged pull jaw, it is further advantageous that contact surfaces for press jaw halves are formed on the outside of the housing and on the outside of the drive wedge.

[0014] The wedge drive described above translates the force exerted by the press and the press jaw into a translational motion through the wedge shape, thus converting the gripping movement of the articulated jaw into a translational movement. The degree of force transmission is determined by the slope of the wedge's inclined plane, i.e., by setting a suitable angle α.

[0015] The force exerted by the press jaw, which presses the drive wedge into the housing, is deflected by 90° within the tool's housing, offering advantages in many applications. For example, this makes it easy to shear off a threaded section of a pipe or wall plate, as mentioned above. The force generator can also be used when inserting a press-fit fitting. This is because the described tool allows for the generation of a high pressing force over a short stroke.

[0016] Another embodiment of the described force generators consists of the contact surfaces having at least two sections with different angles between the sliding direction of the drive wedge and the inclined sections. This allows for the setting and achievement of different force magnitudes within a single stroke. By varying the angles along the contact surfaces, linear compressive forces of varying magnitudes are generated section by section.

[0017] The drive wedge can have different cross-sections such as rectangular or round, with the associated contact surface being essentially flat.

[0018] To minimize friction losses, low-friction material combinations can be selected or lubricants used in the design of the components. Examples of low-friction materials are bronze or silicon nitride ceramics. Lubrication can be achieved through the use of a sliding lacquer coating or solid lubricants. Friction can also be minimized in steel-on-steel combinations, for example, by using a bronze interlayer.

[0019] Another advantage of the described power generator is that, due to the interface of the power generator's mounting surfaces, the press jaw only needs to be attached and actuated later. This allows the compact power generator with wedge drive to be assembled without a press machine. The press machine is only used to trigger the power generator. This separate assembly and disassembly of the individual components makes for convenient operation.

[0020] The contact elements of the press jaw, preferably designed as ball heads, allow the pressing tool to be operated, i.e., positioned and actuated, from various angles. This enables force to be applied from different angular positions, allowing for pivoting between the press jaw and the force generator.

[0021] The system, consisting of the described power generator, a press jaw, and a press machine, utilizes two force transmissions. First, the press machine provides an initial force which is translated by the entry contour of the press jaw, also known as the cam drive, into the pivoting force of the press jaw halves. This pivoting force is then translated by the wedge drive of the power generator from the drive wedge to the pressing force of the output wedge required for the application.

[0022] Furthermore, springs can be provided so that the drive wedge and the driven wedge are returned to their initial positions after the tool is released. Due to the high self-locking of the system resulting from the static friction of the contact surfaces, it is advantageous if both wedges are reset individually.

[0023] The invention will now be explained using exemplary embodiments with reference to the drawing. The drawing shows... Fig. 1 a wall panel attached to a wall, Fig. 2 the wall panel made of Fig. 1 with an additional partition, Fig. 3 the wall panel made of Fig. 2 with a screwed-in tool for shortening the wall plate's outlet, Fig. 4 the wall plate made of Fig. 3 with the section cut off after shortening, Fig. 5 the wall panel made of Fig. 4 with shortened outlet, Fig. 6 the wall panel made of Fig. 5 with a mounted fitting, Fig. 7 the tool for shortening the drain of the wall plate made of Fig. 3 in an enlarged view, Fig. 8 the tool according to Fig. 7 in a first cross-section with a force generator according to the invention for generating a displacement force for pulling apart the first threaded rod and the second threaded rod, Fig. 9 the force generator according to Fig. 8 in a second cross-section in a starting position, Fig. 10 the power generator after Fig. 9 in an end position, Fig. 11 the power generator according to the Fig. 8 and 9 In a perspective side view with attached pressing tool, Fig. 12 shows a schematic representation of the tool with power generator and attached pressing jaw half according to Fig. 10 with the acting forces, Fig. 13 a schematic partial view of another power generator and Fig. 14 a schematic partial view of another power generator.

[0024] In the following description of the various embodiments according to the invention, components and elements with the same function and mode of operation are provided with the same reference numerals, even if the components and elements may differ in their dimensions or shape in the various embodiments.

[0025] The following will first be based on the Fig. 1 bis 7 A wall plate is described, the outlet of which is designed as a threaded pipe section. The length of the outlet is changed by breaking off a front part of the pipe section. A large compressive or tensile force with a small adjustment range is necessary for this breaking off, for which a force generator according to the invention can be used. Such a force generator is then in the Fig. 8 bis 12 depicted.

[0026] Fig. 1 Figure 1 shows a wall plate 2 for connecting a component requiring a water supply. The wall plate 2 has a mounting flange 4 for attachment to a wall 6 and connects an inlet 8 to an outlet 10 for connection to the component requiring a water supply. The inlet 8 is connected to a supply line 12 by means of a press fitting 14 and an O-ring 16 and is generally used for conveying water. Of course, any other fluid can also be conveyed using the wall plate.

[0027] The outlet 10 is designed as a pipe section with a thread 18, which is designed as an internal thread and which serves to screw in a threaded section with an external thread of the component to be supplied.

[0028] How Fig. 1 As shown, the process 10 has a circumferential recess 20 at two axial positions, serving as a predetermined breaking point. The predetermined breaking points 20 are formed by an internally formed groove 22 and an externally formed groove 24.

[0029] Fig. 2 shows the formation of a partition wall 26, which has been installed at a distance from the wall 6, with the drain 10 protruding through an opening 28.

[0030] Fig. 3 further shows a tool 30 for shortening the run 10 of a wall disc 2 according to the Fig. 1 and 2 The tool 30 has a first threaded rod 32 with a first threaded section 34 and a second threaded rod 36 with a second threaded section 38. Furthermore, the second threaded rod 36 has a bore 40 for receiving the first threaded rod 32, and the first threaded rod 32 and the second threaded rod 36 are axially displaceable relative to each other.

[0031] In a first position of the threaded rods 32 and 36 according to Fig. 3 The first threaded section 34 and the second threaded section 38 are adjacent and aligned with each other so that both threaded sections 34 and 38 can be screwed into the same thread 18 one after the other. In the first position, the two threaded sections 34 and 38 are abutting each other.

[0032] The threaded rods 32 and 36 are screwed into the thread 18 of the drain 10 to such an extent that the threaded section 34 is located proximal to the predetermined breaking point 20 and the threaded section 38 is located distal to the predetermined breaking point 20. The point of contact between the two threaded sections 34 and 38 is therefore located in the area of ​​the predetermined breaking point 20.

[0033] Starting from the first position, the first threaded rod 32 and the second threaded rod 36 are moved apart, as indicated by the two arrows. The second threaded rod 36 is pulled out relative to the first threaded rod 32 and brought into a second position, as shown in Fig. 4 As shown. By pulling apart the two threaded rods 32 and 36, the pipe section of the drain 10 is separated or torn off at a circumferential predetermined breaking point 20, so that a shortened drain 10a is created and the torn-off part 10b can be removed with the second threaded rod 26.

[0034] Fig. 4 Figure 1 shows the second position of the threaded rods 32 and 36, in which the first threaded section 34 and the second threaded section 38 are pulled apart and spaced apart from each other.

[0035] Fig. 5 The wall panel 2 is shown after the removal of the separated part 10b and the removal of the tool 30. The front end of the drain 10 protrudes only slightly from the opening 28, so the wall panel 2 has been adapted to the installation depth of the wall 26.

[0036] Fig. 6 Finally, the fully assembled and adapted wall plate 2 shows an attached component in the form of a tap 42, which is supplied with water from the supply line 12 via the inlet 8 and the outlet 10.

[0037] Fig. 7 Figure 30 shows the previously described tool 30 with the first threaded rod 32 and the second threaded rod 36 in cross-section. In addition to the previous illustration, a stop element 44 is provided, which is slidably attached to the outside of the second threaded rod 36. The stop element 44 can be positioned and fixed by means of a fastening screw (not shown). The stop element 44 allows the depth to be determined by which the first threaded rod 32 and the second threaded rod 36 are screwed into the thread 18 to ensure that one of the predetermined breaking points 20 is opened. Alternatively, the stop element 44 can be fixed by means of a detent function using a spring-loaded pressure piece and a corresponding recess for the engagement of the pressure piece.

[0038] In the Fig. 8 bis 10 is a tool 30 with the first threaded rod as the first pressure element 32, with the second threaded rod as the second pressure element 36 and the stop element 44.

[0039] Furthermore, a force generator 100 according to the invention for generating a linear pressure force is shown, comprising a housing 102, an output wedge 106 slidably arranged in the housing 102, and a drive wedge for transmitting an externally exerted pressing force into a linear movement of the output wedge relative to the housing 102, wherein the output wedge is connected to a first pressure element, wherein the housing 102 is connected to a second pressure element 36, and wherein a force exerted on the drive wedge 108 causes the first pressure element 32 to be displaced relative to the second pressure element 36.

[0040] Thus, the power generator 100 produces a displacement force to pull apart the first threaded rod 32 and the second threaded rod 36.

[0041] In the Fig. 8 A cross-section is shown in which the drive wedge 106 is moved perpendicular to the plane of the drawing when the pressing force is applied. Fig. 9 und 10 show a cross-section in a view perpendicular to the Fig. 8 as shown in the illustrated view. Thus, when a pressing force is applied, the drive wedge 106 moves from top to bottom and therefore essentially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the output wedge 106 from a starting position ( Fig. 9 ) into a final position ( Fig. 10 ) is movable.

[0042] The output wedge 106 and the drive wedge 108 have contact surfaces 110 and 112 that extend obliquely to the direction of movement of the output wedge 106 and obliquely to the sliding direction of the drive wedge 108. The angle α between the sliding direction of the drive wedge 108 and the obliquely extending contact surface 112 is less than 20°, preferably less than 10°.

[0043] For attaching a press jaw (see below) Fig. 11 The two sides of the drive wedge 108 have rounded contact surfaces 114 and 116. The housing 102 also consists of a cup-shaped part 102a and a cover 102b. Preferably, a preload spring (not shown) is also provided for returning the drive wedge 108 to its initial position.

[0044] The force exerted by the drive wedge 108 on the output wedge 106 causes the output wedge 106 to displace relative to the housing 102. This, in turn, leads to a relative movement between the first threaded rod 32, which is connected to the output wedge 106, and the second threaded rod 36, which is connected to the housing. Fig. 10 The two ends of the thread sections 34 and 38 are shown spaced apart.

[0045] In the application of tool 100 with a stationary wall plate 2 as described above, the housing 102 is removed from the wall plate 2 together with the second threaded rod 36, and the first threaded rod 32 remains stationary and connected to the wall plate 2, as described above. The force transmitted by the output wedge 106 thus causes the thread 18 of the drain 10 to shear off at the predetermined breaking point 20.

[0046] Fig. 11 Figure 1 shows the described power generator 100 in a perspective view with an attached press jaw 150, which has two press jaw halves 152 and 154. The press jaw halves 152 and 154 are attached to a bracket 160 by means of joints 156 and 158 and have attachment elements 162 and 164 at their front ends. The attachment elements 162 and 164 have a dome-shaped, round form that corresponds to the attachment surfaces 114 and 116 of the drive wedge 108. Due to their rounded shape, the press jaw halves 152 and 154 can be attached to the drive wedge 108 at different angles and then actuated.

[0047] The press jaw 150 is actuated by a press machine (not shown), which is known per se and can advance a piston hydraulically or electrically. Fig. 11 From right to left. At the end of the piston are two rollers that roll along the inner surfaces 166 and 168 of a so-called entry contour, thus pushing the press jaw halves 152 and 154 apart as the piston advances. This pushing apart causes the attachment elements 162 and 164 to be compressed, thereby exerting the pressing force on the drive wedge 108.

[0048] Fig. 12 Figure 1 schematically shows the forces exerted in the previously described arrangement. The piston (not shown) moves a distance dx1 from right to left and exerts a horizontally acting force F1 (see arrows), which causes the press jaw halves 152 and 154 to pivot. This pivoting movement creates a Fig. 11 The force F2, represented vertically by an arrow, is generated while the attachment element 162 moves a distance dx2. Here, dx2 is smaller than dx1 and the force F2 is greater than F1.

[0049] The inclined surfaces 110 and 112 transmit the movement of the drive wedge 108 to the output wedge 106, with the surfaces 110 and 112 sliding over one another. Depending on the predetermined angle α, the pressing force exerted on the drive wedge 108 is amplified and transmitted as force F3 to the output wedge 106, such that F3 is greater than F2. Furthermore, the magnitude of the displacement dx3 of the output wedge 106 is smaller than the magnitude of the adjustment dx2 of the drive wedge 108.

[0050] The described force generator 100 thus enables a force transmission via the drive wedge 108, starting from a smaller force, which is transmitted to the drive wedge 108 via a larger adjustment travel of a press jaw, into a smaller sliding travel with a larger sliding force. This force transmission is particularly advantageous in the described cutting of a section of a pipe, since this requires the application of a large force with only a short adjustment travel.

[0051] The in Fig. 12 The arrows shown are not to scale, but merely indicate the direction of movement and force application. Depending on the dimensions of the individual components, a transmission ratio for F1:F3 of 1:2 to 1:30 or more can be achieved.

[0052] Fig. 13 Figure 1 shows a schematic partial view of a further embodiment of a power generator 2, in which the drive wedge 108 – as described above – can be moved from a starting position to an end position essentially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the housing 102. In contrast to the previous embodiment, the housing 102 with the housing section 102a and the drive wedge 108 have contact surfaces 210 and 212 extending obliquely to the direction of movement of the housing 102 and obliquely to the sliding direction of the drive wedge 108.

[0053] Thus, the force F2, which causes the movement of the drive wedge 108 in Fig. 13 downwards causes, into a Fig. 13 horizontal force F3 - in Fig. 13 Acting to the right - converted and the housing section 102a is converted into Fig. 13 shifted to the right. The output wedge 106 is not shifted relative to the drive wedge 108 and relative to the lower part of the housing 102.

[0054] In Fig. 14 A further embodiment of the power generator 2 is shown, in which the contact surfaces 310 and 312 have at least two sections 310 with different angles α 1 and α 2 between the sliding direction of the drive wedge 108 and the inclined sections 310a, 312a and 312a, 312b.

[0055] In the illustrated embodiment, angle α1 is smaller than angle α2 and is less than 20°, while angle α2 is correspondingly larger and preferably lies in a range between 20° and 45°. However, angle α1 can also be chosen to be larger than angle α2.

Claims

1. Force generator for generating a linear compressive force, - comprising a housing (102), characterized - in that an output wedge (106) is provided which is arranged displaceably in the housing (102), - in that a drive wedge (108) for transmitting an externally applied pressing force into a linear movement of the output wedge (106) relative to the housing (102) is provided, - in that the output wedge (106) is connected to a first pressure element (32), - in that the housing (102) is connected to a second pressure element (36), and - in that a force exerted on the drive wedge (108) causes a displacement of the first pressure element (32) relative to the second pressure element (36).

2. Force generator according to claim 1, characterized - in that the drive wedge (108) is movable substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the output wedge (106) from an initial position into an end position, and - in that the output wedge (106) and the drive wedge (108) have contact surfaces (110, 112) extending obliquely to the direction of movement of the drive wedge (106) and obliquely to the sliding direction of the drive wedge (108).

3. Force generator according to claim 1 or 2, characterized - in that the drive wedge (108) is movable substantially perpendicular to the sliding direction of the housing (102) from an initial position into an end position, and - in that the housing (102) and the drive wedge (108) have contact surfaces (210, 212) extending obliquely to the direction of movement of the housing (102) and obliquely to the sliding direction of the drive wedge (108).

4. Force generator according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that an angle (α) between the sliding direction of the drive wedge (108) and the obliquely extending contact surface (112 or 212) is less than 45°, in particular less than 20°, preferably less than 10°.

5. Force generator according to any one of claims 1 to 4, <b>characterized in that the contact surfaces (310, 312) have at least two sections (310a, 312a; 312a, 312b) with different angles (α1, α2) between the sliding direction of the drive wedge (108) and the obliquely extending sections (310a, 312a; 312a, 312b).

6. Force generator according to any one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that engagement surfaces (114, 116; 214, 216) for press jaw halves are formed on the outer side of the housing (102) and on the outer side of the drive wedge (108).