Device for coupling an actuator to a movable object

Abstract

The invention relates to a device for coupling an actuator (1) to a movable object (2), comprising an actuator (1), with a male coupling part (I) which comprises a locking pin (4) and with a female coupling part (II) which comprises a locking receptacle (6) for the locking pin (4), the female coupling part (II) having an alignment aid (3) for the male coupling part (I) to compensate for offset tolerances. In order to provide advantageous coupling conditions, the male coupling part (I) comprises a drive pin (5) which is movable relative to and in parallel with the locking pin (4), and the actuator (1) is designed as a linear drive to move the drive pin (5) in the direction of the pin axis (10).

Description

[0001] Device for coupling an actuator to a movable object

[0002] Technical area

[0003] The invention relates to a device for coupling an actuator to a movable object, comprising an actuator, a male coupling part having a locking pin, and a female coupling part having a locking receptacle for the locking pin. To compensate for misalignment tolerances, the female coupling part has an alignment aid for the male coupling part. The device is a coupling device.

[0004] State of the art

[0005] US20140112699A1 discloses a coupling device comprising a male coupling part and a female coupling part. The male coupling part includes a locking pin that can be inserted into a locking receptacle of the female coupling part. By rotating the locking pin using an actuator, the two coupling parts can be locked together. The coupling device therefore has only a limited function.

[0006] Alignment aids for compensating misalignment tolerances when coupling two coupling parts, particularly when coupling media couplings, are known from AT523281A1. These alignment aids can also be used in the present invention.

[0007] The device according to the invention relates in particular to a multi-coupling mechanism, i.e., a coupling device that combines multiple functions and with which not only the object to be coupled, but also a drive mechanism for the movable object, can be coupled to a base or another object. In particular, an automatic connection of a drive to a moving object, for example, between a casting ladle and a ladle casting device in a steelworks, should be possible. It is currently known for operating personnel to manually connect a slide drive (usually a hydraulic cylinder) for the casting ladle to the slide cassette. More recent developments use sensor-controlled multi-axis robots for this purpose, which are relatively maintenance-intensive.

[0008] Description of the invention

[0009] The invention is therefore based on the object of providing a device for coupling an actuator to a movable object, which ensures a quick and secure connection between an actuator and a movable object without requiring a maintenance-intensive structure.

[0010] The invention solves the stated problem in that the male coupling part has a drive pin which is arranged displaceably relative to the locking pin and parallel to the latter, and in that the actuator is designed as a linear drive to displace the drive pin in the direction of the pin axis.

[0011] As a result of the measures according to the invention, even offset coupling parts can be quickly connected to one another by first bringing them together, whereby the locking pin of the male coupling part is guided by the alignment aid of the female coupling part, which is preferably arranged on the movable object, to the locking receptacle and locked there. In this way, a secure alignment of the coupling parts to one another in a locking position can be achieved. The actuator, designed as a simple linear drive, can then control the drive pin for displacement so that it can be connected to a movable object and thus brought into the drive position.The sensitive drive pin, which in this drive position acts as a connecting component between the actuator and the movable object, as well as the actuator itself, are not exposed to any risk of damage from movements of the movable object, as the latter is secured in the locked position by one coupling part and the other coupling part. In the drive position, the actuator can be used as an actuator for various devices to be operated on the movable object, so the device can be used not only to couple the movable object to a base, but also to control various components of the movable object.Because the actuator is used both to move the drive pin and to drive any components in the movable object, only a small number of drive components are required, resulting in a low-maintenance device overall. In principle, the two coupling parts can be brought together manually, although an easily automated joining process is possible if the male coupling part can be moved in the coupling direction using an actuating cylinder. In this case, the female coupling part can be assigned to the movable object, and the movable object can be moved using a lifting device. A casting ladle is particularly suitable as a movable object, with the actuator in the drive position being drive-connected to a slide on the casting ladle. In this way, the casting ladle can be controlled by the actuator to release its contents.

[0012] While it is conceivable for the locking pin and the drive pin to run parallel to one another, particularly robust and failure-resistant, as well as compact, design conditions are achieved if the drive pin is arranged coaxially within the locking pin and can be moved. This results in a telescopic extendability of the drive pin from the locking pin. At the same time, the robust locking pin protects the drive pin and, if applicable, the actuator when the two coupling components are brought together. To enable the drive pin to be guided through the locking receptacle, the head of the drive pin can have a smaller diameter than the locking receptacle. To enable the actuator to be connected to the movable object quickly and easily, it is proposed that the female coupling part have a drive pin receptacle for connecting the drive pin to the movable object.In the drive position, a force and / or form fit can exist between the drive pin holder and the drive pin. The drive pin holder is preferably assigned to a component of the movable object to be controlled.

[0013] To easily lock the locking pin with the locking receptacle or the drive pin with the drive pin receptacle, the drive pin and / or the locking pin can be designed to be rotatable. In this way, the male and female components are brought together via a translatory movement and the components are fixed in the locking position (between the locking receptacle and the locking pin) or in the drive position (between the drive pin receptacle and the drive pin) via a rotational movement, for example by screwing springs of the respective pins into receiving grooves of the respective receptacles and thereby locking the components against relative movement in the direction of the pin axis. The rotational movement can be accomplished by one or more rotary drives. The rotary drive can rotate the drive pin and the locking pin together. Alternatively or.In addition, the drive pin and the locking pin can be rotated independently of each other.

[0014] An equally simple locking mechanism is achieved if the locking receptacle and / or the drive pin receptacle are designed to rotate. Their rotation can also be achieved via rotary drives. Both the receptacles and the pins can also be designed to rotate in opposite directions to further accelerate the locking process.

[0015] Preferably, the locking mechanism comprising the locking receptacle and the locking pin can be designed in the manner of a bayonet lock in the locking position. Similarly, the connection comprising the drive pin receptacle and the drive pin can be designed in the manner of a bayonet lock in the drive position. In this way, the combination of the linear drive and the rotary drive can create a connection that is easy to engage and disengage.

[0016] To further simplify the alignment of particularly heavy coupling parts, the alignment aid can feature a locking jaw for the locking pin and the drive pin. This eliminates the need for precise movements when threading the locking pin into the locking receptacle, as the locking jaw creates a correspondingly large receiving area and acts as a guide to the actual locking receptacle, allowing the male coupling part to center itself automatically.

[0017] Especially when one of the two coupling parts, especially the male coupling part, is mounted on a oscillating bearing, this ensures gentle centering and alignment of the coupling parts relative to each other. The oscillating or spring-loaded mounting can be designed to allow for movement compensation transverse to the coupling direction or the direction of the pin axis. To further prevent excessive shock loads when joining the coupling parts, the oscillating mounting can alternatively or additionally be designed to allow for movement compensation in the coupling direction or the direction of the pin axis.

[0018] In order to enable not only alignment of the coupling parts with respect to one another transversely to the coupling direction, but also alignment in the coupling direction, while simultaneously protecting the drive pin from shock loads, it is proposed that the locking receptacle form a stop for the locking pin. In this way, the movement of the male coupling part in the coupling direction is restricted, so that the coupling parts can be brought together quickly without having to take the drive pin into consideration, since the locking pin will strike the stop of the locking receptacle anyway before the drive pin hits the movable object or the drive pin receptacle. At the same time, the stop aligns the locking pin and the locking receptacle with respect to one another in the coupling direction, which also results in faster locking.

[0019] In order to independently monitor the locking mechanism and the coupling for driving the actuator to an actuated element of the movable object, it is proposed that the drive pin protrude beyond the locking pin in the coupling direction. This spatially separates the components horizontally so that they do not overlap, thus allowing easy access for sensors for monitoring or maintenance work.

[0020] So that in addition to the actual actuation of an element of the movable object, the object can also be equipped with the necessary resources, a particularly preferred embodiment of the device according to the invention provides that both coupling parts are assigned media couplings, which are preferably arranged radially distributed around the pin axis. The media couplings can thus be spaced apart from the pin axis by the same amount in the radial direction on both coupling parts and can preferably be arranged circumferentially around the pin axis. The alignment of the coupling parts to one another therefore also aligns the media couplings so that they can be coupled to one another automatically. Media such as electricity, hydraulic fluid and / or cooling fluid can be provided via the media couplings.

[0021] Particularly robust and easy-to-automate coupling conditions are achieved when the male coupling part is mounted in a bearing block and when the bearing block can be displaced in the coupling direction via an actuating cylinder. The bearing block can be displaced via rollers. Furthermore, the housing of the bearing block provides protection for any sensitive components of the device, such as the actuator, as well as the oscillating bearing of the male coupling part.

[0022] Brief description of the invention

[0023] The drawing shows, for example, the subject matter of the invention schematically.

[0024] Fig. 1 shows a device according to the invention with a cast iron ladle as a movable object in a partially sectioned side view,

[0025] Fig. 2 shows a section of the device according to the invention from Fig. 1 in a released position and in an enlarged partially sectioned cross-section, Fig. 3 shows a section of the device according to the invention from Fig. 1 in the locking and drive position and in an enlarged partially sectioned cross-section,

[0026] Fig. 4 shows the female coupling part II from Fig. 3 in section along the line IV-IV and Fig. 5 shows a design variant of the device according to the invention with media couplings.

[0027] Ways to implement the invention

[0028] A device according to the invention for coupling an actuator 1 to a movable object 2, for example a cast iron ladle, comprises, as can be seen for example in Figs. 1 and 2, a first, male coupling part I and a second, female coupling part II with an alignment aid 3 for the male coupling part I to compensate for offset tolerances when coupling the two coupling parts I, II. The male coupling part I also has a locking pin 4 which can be connected to a locking receptacle 6 of the female coupling part II. According to the invention, the male coupling part I has a drive pin 5 which can be connected to an element of the movable object 2 to be actuated and which is arranged in or on the male coupling part I so as to be displaceable relative to the locking pin 4 and parallel to it.The drive pin 5 can be displaced in the direction of the pin axis 10 via the actuator 1 designed as a linear drive. In this way, the actuating mechanism, comprising the drive pin 5, is decoupled from the force-absorbing locking mechanism, comprising the locking pin 4 and the locking receptacle 6, and is therefore not exposed to any external forces, as these are dissipated by the locking mechanism. Since the actuator 1 is a simple linear drive and is used both to displace the drive pin 5 and to drive any components in the movable object 2, the drive is extremely simple in design and requires little maintenance. Using the alignment aid 3 leading to the locking receptacle 6, the locking pin 4 and the drive pin 5 can be aligned with the female coupling part II, resulting in a quick coupling.

[0029] Particularly secure protection of the drive is achieved when the drive pin 5 is arranged coaxially within the locking pin 4. The drive pin 5 is thus arranged telescopically within the locking pin 4, so that the locking pin 4 forms a protective outer shell for the drive pin 5. Advantageously, centering the locking pin 4 also results in centering of the drive pin 5, which further facilitates alignment during the coupling process.

[0030] In order to make the connection to the element to be actuated, for example to a slide 20, particularly simple, the female coupling part II can have a drive pin receptacle 7 for the drive pin 5 connected to the element to be actuated. In this way, the connection of the drive to the element to be actuated can also be automatic.

[0031] For mutual locking of locking pin 4 and locking receptacle 6 on the one hand and drive pin 5 and drive pin receptacle 7 on the other, the locking receptacle 6 and the drive pin receptacle 7 can have a receiving groove 8 for springs 9 of the locking or drive pin 4, 5 (Fig. 2). The springs 9 can preferably be screwed into the receiving grooves 8. For this purpose, the drive pin 5 and / or the locking pin 4 can be designed to be rotatable. Alternatively or additionally, the locking receptacle 6 and / or the drive pin receptacle 7 can be designed to be rotatable. The rotation can be effected via a rotary drive 12. Fig. 2 shows the device with the coupling parts 1, 11 released from one another.If the male coupling part I is now guided into the coupling part 2 until the locking pin 4 and the drive pin 5 are in their corresponding receptacles 6, 7, the springs 9 can be screwed into the receptacle grooves 8 by rotating the locking and drive pins 4, 5, so that a secured locking and drive position shown in Fig. 3 is achieved. In an alternative embodiment, the locking pin 4 and drive pin 5 can be rotated independently of one another, so that first the locking pin 4 inserted into the locking receptacle 6 is rotated, whereby a secure locking position can be achieved, only then is the drive pin 5 brought via the actuator 1 in the direction of the drive pin receptacle 7 and subsequently rotated, whereby the drive position in which an element of the movable object 2 to be actuated can be controlled is achieved. From Fig.4 shows the locking and drive positions, in which the springs 9 are screwed into the receiving grooves 8 in the manner of a bayonet lock.

[0032] In order to align the locking pin 5 with the locking receptacle 6 in the coupling direction R when the coupling parts I, II are brought together, the locking receptacle 6 can form a stop 23 for the locking pin 5. The male coupling part I is accordingly guided into the female coupling part II until the locking pin 5, preferably its springs 9, strike, after which it can be screwed into the locking position, since the stop 23 is of course aligned such that the receiving groove 8 of the locking receptacle 6 and the spring 9 of the locking pin 5 lie in the same plane in the stop 23.

[0033] For example, from Fig. 5, it can be seen that the alignment aid 3 can have a catch mouth 11 for the locking pin 4 and the drive pin 5. The drive pin 5 can protrude beyond the locking pin 4 in the coupling direction R.

[0034] From Fig. 5 it can further be seen that both coupling parts I, II can be assigned media couplings 13-16, which are preferably arranged radially distributed around the pin axis 10.

[0035] Figs. 2, 3, and 5 indicate that a coupling part I can be mounted in a swinging manner by a spring-loaded suspension 21. This spring-loaded suspension 21, together with the catch jaw 11, allows for greater deviations of the coupling parts I, II to be coupled. In this way, the object 2 with its associated coupling part II can be placed in close proximity to the other coupling part I, for example, with the aid of a crane 22. The male coupling part I, which is arranged, for example, in a bearing block 17 and is displaceable in the coupling direction R on rails 18, can be brought closer to the female coupling part II of the object 2 using the actuating cylinder 19. At the same time, if at least one additional media coupling 13-16 is provided, this can also be coupled, for example for coupling actuators, as well as media (e.g. cooling air, inert gas shielding) and electrical systems (e.g. early slag detection) in one movement.The coupling device has a compact size, is space-saving and can be integrated into existing systems.

[0036] Overall, the result is a robust, low-maintenance and easy-to-couple coupling device.

[0037] A manipulator drive, in particular the actuating cylinder 19, moves the coupling part I assigned to it toward the catch mouth 11 of the other coupling part II. The alignment aid 3, together with the spring-loaded bearing 21 of the other coupling part, compensates for axial deviations and inclination errors. The coupling is self-centering. The locking pin 4 is spring-loaded together with the drive pin 5 (in particular, spring-loaded in the bearing block). The movement in the coupling direction R stops when, for example, radially outwardly projecting springs 9 (projecting from the drive pin 4 and / or drive pin 5) come into contact with a stop 23 of the respective counterpart (e.g., a bayonet pin guide) of the other coupling part. At the same time, or with a predetermined short stroke, it is ensured that both pins, namely the locking and drive pins 4, 5, are in contact with their corresponding counterparts.Locking is then achieved with the rotary drive 12, for example, by simultaneously turning the locking and drive pins 4, 5 until the bayonet lock is closed. The bearing block 17 is now firmly connected to the object 2. Any media couplings are also connected. The drive pin 5 is connected to the slide 20, which can now be actuated with the actuator 1. Actuating forces are absorbed by the coupling in the area between the locking pin 4 and the locking receptacle 6. The entire coupling is coupled, and the slide 20 is ready for operation. Uncoupling occurs in the reverse order.

Claims

Patent claims 1. Device for coupling an actuating drive (1) to a movable object (2), comprising an actuating drive (1), a male coupling part (I) having a locking pin (4), and a female coupling part (II) having a locking receptacle (6) for the locking pin (4), wherein the female coupling part (II) has an alignment aid (3) for the male coupling part (I) to compensate for misalignment tolerances, characterized in that the male coupling part (I) has a drive pin (5) which is displaceable relative to and parallel with the locking pin (4), and that the actuating drive (1) is designed as a linear drive for displacing the drive pin (5) in the direction of the pin axis (10).

2. Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the drive pin (5) is arranged to be displaceable coaxially in the locking pin (4).

3. Device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the female coupling part (II) has a drive pin receptacle (7) for connecting the drive pin (5) to the movable object (2).

4. Device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the drive pin (5) and / or the locking pin (4) are rotatable.

5. Device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the locking receptacle (6) and / or the drive pin receptacle (7) are rotatable.

6. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking mechanism comprises the locking receptacle (6) and the The locking pin (4) is designed in a locking position similar to a bayonet fitting.

7. Device according to one of claims 3 to 6, characterized in that the connection comprising the drive pin receptacle (7) and the drive pin (5) is designed in a drive position in the manner of a bayonet fitting.

8. Device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the alignment aid (3) has a catch jaw (11 ) for the locking pin (4) and the drive pin (5).

9. Device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that one of the two coupling parts (I, II) is mounted in a flexible manner.

10. Device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the locking receptacle (6) forms a stop for the locking pin (4).

11. Device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the drive pin (5) projects in the coupling direction (R) beyond the locking pin (4).

12. Device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that media couplings (13-16) are assigned to both coupling parts (I, II), which are preferably arranged radially distributed around the pin axis (10).

13. Device according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the male coupling part (I) is mounted in a bearing block (17) and that the bearing block (17) can be displaced in the coupling direction (R) via an actuating cylinder (19).

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