Blocking device between two elements for industrial equipment

Abstract

A blocking device between two elements or members (10, 12) for industrial equipment items comprises one or more movable blocking element (s) (14) which develop (s) along a longitudinal axis (a-a). Each movable blocking element (14) has a tapered central portion (16) and two end portions (20, 22) with a uniform section, or with a greater and smaller cross-section in the region of the two ends of the tapered central portion (16), respectively. The end portions (20, 22) act as a guide for a movement of the movable blocking element (14) along the longitudinal axis (a-a) thereof. The tapered central portion (16) brings about, in a connection position of the movable blocking element (14), the connection of the elements or members (10, 12) which are generally recessed in a manner which complements the external surface of the movable blocking element (14).

Description

[0001] BLOCKING DEVICE FOR INDUSTRIAL EQUIPMENT

[0002] Field of the invention

[0003] The present invention relates to the field of connection systems and resultant blocking between elements of industrial equipment , for example , two machine elements . More speci fically, the invention is directed towards a blocking device between two elements of industrial equipment which may have any cross-section, for example , a cylindrical , conical or polygonal cross-section .

[0004] Technological background

[0005] The elements of the equipment items of machines are usually connected to each other by means of various blocking devices . Many applications require the respective blocking of two members in a rigid and extremely precise manner which is repeatable over time , even after di f ferent securing operations .

[0006] There are known an extremely large number of mounting devices of this type , which are often adapted speci fically to a particular type of equipment and tools . In some applications , for example , when two tubular elements are connected to each other, there are often used external blocking devices which are constructed with annular flanges which are bolted to each other . These systems are generally not very precise and very often particularly require securing .

[0007] There exist fixing systems which use a movable element in the form of spheres . These spheres act on conical or cylindrical surfaces . These systems have the advantage of construction simplicity and commercial availability of the spheres , but have the disadvantage that the surfaces involved in trans ferring the forces are very small and are subj ected to deformation because the loads are distributed in a point-like manner .

[0008] EP 0239556 Al describes a known device for connecting two machine elements , wherein a single divided blocking ring having a wedge-shaped cross-section is received in an annular channel in one of the elements to be connected and, by means of an external force which is applied to the end portion of the divided blocking ring, is suitable for being expanded or compressed during the engagement with the corresponding annular channel which is formed in the other element to be connected . The first element is moved axially towards the second element and towards a radial or conical mounting surface , thereby engaging and blocking the two elements with each other . This device has been found to be rather complex to construct .

[0009] Statement of invention

[0010] An obj ect of the invention is to provide a blocking device , between elements of industrial equipment , which is better and simpler with respect to the devices of the prior art . Another obj ect of the invention is to provide a blocking device with optimum precision and a substantial securing force . An obj ect of the invention is also to provide a simpli fied blocking device which may have reduced dimensional requirements in addition to being simple to secure and to release where necessary .

[0011] In order to achieve these obj ects and other obj ects , the invention relates to a securing device having the features indicated expressly in the appended claims .

[0012] According to a first aspect , the novel blocking device provides for one or more tapered movable elements which are preferably but in a non-limiting manner configured in the form of a pin, for example , in the manner of a truncated pyramid or even more preferably of f rustoconical form, which develop along a longitudinal axis , each one having two end portions with a uni form section, for example , cylindrical portions , which act as a guide for sliding of the movable element along a longitudinal axis thereof , while the tapered portion, for example , the conical portion which is between the two cylindrical end portions , ensures the connection along a conical / cylindrical generatrix .

[0013] According to a particular aspect , the blocking device provides more than one movable element of the above-indicated type . In a particular configuration, there are provided three movable elements which have the longitudinal axes thereof inclined in the planes of a tetrahedron, with opposite directions , so as to allow the insertion of three opposite pin members .

[0014] The two planes of the two fixing elements can be placed where applicable in contact i f the applications should require it , for example , i f it were to be useful to obtain a controlled deformation of the surface in order to have a greater stability with a greater pulling force . The potential deformation of the surface can be obtained by acting on the thicknesses of this surface and / or with radial notches or alternatively by interposing materials with a di f ferent modulus of elasticity .

[0015] The axial movement and blocking in position of the pin can be obtained by means of a thread which is formed in one or both cylindrical end portions and which is connected to a corresponding thread which is formed on one and / or the other of the two fixing elements or members . However, there may be used di f ferent systems which are also advantageous when the end portions are not cylindrical , for example , by applying a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure to the pin . I f a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure is used, but not only in this case , it is particularly advantageous to apply the pressure to the surfaces of the end portions , which are substantially transverse to the longitudinal axis of the pin and which act as thrust surfaces with a piston ef fect , while the lateral surfaces of the housings in the two elements to be secured act as cylinders . Additionally or alternatively to a force which is obtained by applying a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure , preferably to the surfaces of the ends of the pin which act as pistons , it is possible to use thrust members , for example , using electromechanical or electromagnetic systems where , for example , the electrical excitation of one solenoid brings about the movement of another one . There can also be used, still preferably, on the surfaces of the ends of the pin, that is to say, of the movable blocking element , di f ferent resilient thrust members , such as , for example , springs such as helical springs , disk springs and the like . By using resilient elements , such as springs , for example , helical springs or disk springs , there is the benefit of being able to apply a constant force , even only a onedirectional force , which is applied to the pin independently of the energy source for supplying the hydraulic or pneumatic pressure systems .

[0016] These blocking devices can be applied, individually, in series or in a matrix, to surfaces of work planes of machine tools in order to block the work plane of equipment items or directly the workpiece being processed .

[0017] The blocking device described has the substantial advantage of blocking the equipment items and / or workpieces being processed on machine tools with a small vertical spatial requirement . This is translated into a substantial reduction in the vibrations during processing, which are dependent on the vertical distance of the workpiece being processed with respect to the table of the machine tool . Furthermore , the reduced vertical spatial requirement of the blocking device allows the production of a greater available processing path with the result of being able to process workpieces with greater dimensions with respect to the systems of the prior art .

[0018] Another advantage of the blocking device is that , in order to block the equipment items or the mechanical workpieces being processed, it is necessary to apply a force which is substantially less with respect to conventional systems .

[0019] Another advantage is the one of being able to block the mechanical workpieces in a much faster manner with respect to the conventional systems , such as , for example , morse tapers and other known systems . In fact , the blocking device described brings about the blocking via a combination of forces which requires the advance of a few millimetres in order to bring about precise and secure blocking .

[0020] Another advantage is the one of being able to block in a precise manner in a predetermined position the particular member to be processed as a result of a force which can be the total of three forces which are in turn the total of resilient forces , in particular the tension forces of the pins and the torsional forces of the resilient thrust elements , such as the disk springs , or the hydraulic or pneumatic forces acting on the pin ( s ) . Yet another advantage is the one of being able to repeatedly block, in the order of micrometres , the workpieces and the equipment items involved in the blocking device described, for example , as a result of a small torsional moment of the pin which is brought about by the pin during the particular blocking and the securing abutment of the equipment item itsel f .

[0021] Brief description of the drawings

[0022] Additional features and advantages will be appreciated from the following detailed description of a preferred embodiment with reference to the appended drawings , which are given by way of non-limiting example and in which :

[0023] - Figure 1 is a schematic front view of a blocking device between two elements , incorporating features of the present invention;

[0024] - Figure 2 is a partially sectioned plan view of the blocking device ;

[0025] - Figure 3 is a cross-section taken along the line I I I- I I I of Figure 2 ;

[0026] - Figure 4 is a side view of the blocking device according to the arrow IV of Figure 2 ;

[0027] - Figure 5 is a side view of the blocking device according to the arrow V of Figure 2 ;

[0028] - Figure 6 is a cross-section taken along the line VI-VI of Figure 5 .

[0029] Detailed description

[0030] In the following embodiments , there are described features which allow the invention to be carried out . The features described can be combined with each other in various manners and are not necessarily limited to the precise embodiment to which the drawings and the relevant description refer . In other words , a person skilled in the art in the sector who reads the following description will know how to obtain the information items which are useful for knowing the way to carry out one or more of the features described by combining it with one or more of the other features described without the particular formulation of the description, the paragraphs , phrases or drawings constituting a limitation on the possibility of isolating one or more of the features described and illustrated in order to combine them with one or more of any of the other features described and illustrated . In greater detail , in the present description any combination of any two features expressly described must be understood to be expressly described even i f the features are individually taken from the speci fic context in which they can be beside or combined with other di f ferent features , taking into account the competences and knowledge of a person skilled in the art in the sector who understands the possibility of functionally combining the features without it being necessary to functionally apply other, di f ferent features . Unless otherwise speci fied, each and any element , member, means , system, component , obj ect described and illustrated in the present description must be understood to be individually described and autonomously modi fiable and able to be separated from and / or combined with each and any other element , member, means , system, component , obj ect described and illustrated . The materials , forms and functions described and illustrated do not limit the present invention but are only speci fied in order to enable a person skilled in the art to understand and carry out the invention according to preferred but non-limiting embodiments .

[0031] Now with reference to the Figures , the reference numerals 10 and 12 are used to designate two generic members to be blocked relative to each other by means of the solution of the present invention which allows a rigid and extremely precise and repeatable blocking over time to be obtained after various securing actions . The member 12 has a pin or shank 13 which interacts with at least one movable blocking element 14 . The movable blocking element 14 has a tapered central portion 16 . In particular, the tapered central portion 16 is configured with a lateral surface 18 of f rustoconical form . The ends of the tapered central portion 16 extend in order to form two respective cylindrical guide portions with a greater diameter 20 and a smaller diameter 22 , respectively, in the region of the greater base and smaller base of the central f rustoconical portion .

[0032] The two cylindrical guide portions 20 and 22 allow the axial sliding of the movable blocking element 14 along the longitudinal axis a-a thereof while the f rustoconical portion 18 allows the connection of the same element along a conical / cylindrical generatrix . The axis a-a is inclined in accordance with three angles a, p , y with respect to a right- handed Cartesian reference triplet which is coincident with the blocking axis (vertical in Figure 1 ) and with the x-y plane in the work plane , parallel with the plane which it is desirable to secure (hori zontal plane in Figure 1 ) .

[0033] Preferably, the axis a-a of the movable blocking element 14 has a predetermined inclination in the planes of a tetrahedron, with opposite directions , so as to allow the insertion of three opposite pin members . To this end, in Figure 2 only the longitudinal axes b-b, c-c of the other two movable blocking elements which can be used together with the movable blocking element 14 in order to form a triplet of blocking elements are indicated for the sake of clarity of illustration . Naturally, the invention is not limited exclusively to three movable blocking elements , it being able to be advantageous to provide only two or also one single blocking element for the two members to be blocked together . For example , it has been found that using a single movable blocking element 14 may be advantageous , for reasons of spatial requirement , in order to fix a slotter insert or other members in which there is little space for constructing the seats for more than one movable blocking element according to the present invention .

[0034] In the configuration illustrated in the Figures , the longitudinal axis a-a of the movable blocking element 14 , when measured in the plane passing through the axis a-a with respect to the hori zontal axis , which is parallel with the axis x of the Cartesian triplet , will be inclined by an angle d ( see Figure 6 ) which is equal to hal f of the angle of the truncated cone of the tapered central portion 16 so as to have , following a translational movement of the movable blocking element 14 along the longitudinal axis a-a thereof , a movement perpendicular to the hori zontal axis perpendicular to the axis x so as to block the pin 13 of the member 12 .

[0035] The surface of this pin 13 has one or more recesses 24 which are constructed in a "Boolean" manner, that is to say, in a negative manner with respect to the portions of f rustoconical lateral surface 18 which intersect with it in the blocking position which is illustrated in the Figures . These recesses will be equal in number to the pins used, that is to say, the movable blocking elements 14 , along the longitudinal axes thereof . The pin 13 is therefore recessed with lobes . During the blocking, the pin 13 is subj ected to a force which is directed towards the bottom ( in the Figures ) and to a torque with such a magnitude as to ensure correct repositioning . This torque is caused by the friction force of the lateral surface 18 of the movable blocking element 14 which comes into contact with the fixing pin 13 in the region of the respective recess 24 . The result of the blocking force of one or more blocking elements 14 is directed towards the bottom so as to bring the facing surfaces 26 , 28 of the two fixing members 10 , 12 into contact .

[0036] The axial movement along the longitudinal axis a-a and its blocking of the member in position can be brought about by means of a thread which is formed in the cylindrical portion 20 and / or the cylindrical portion 22 . Alternatively, the cylindrical portions 20 , 22 are externally smooth and the axial movement thereof is brought about by means of a hydraulic or pneumatic pressure which is applied to one or other of the end faces 30 , 32 of the cylindrical portions 20 , 22 , using the cylindrical surfaces as pistons and the wrapping surfaces which are complementary thereto and which are constructed in the members 10 , 12 as cylinders .

[0037] Additionally or alternatively to a force which is obtained from the pressure on the surfaces of these pistons , it is possible to use resilient elements , such as , for example , helical springs or disk springs . The force of the resilient elements can advantageously also be used to also obtain the benefit ( two-directional but also only one-directional ) of having a thrust force which is always present , independently of the energy source for supplying the stored energy in the form of hydraulic or pneumatic pressure .

[0038] Naturally, the principle of the invention remaining the same , the forms of embodiment and details of construction may be varied widely with respect to those described and illustrated, without thereby departing from the scope of the present invention .

Claims

Patent claims1. A blocking device between two elements or members (10, 12) for industrial equipment items, comprising one or more movable blocking element (s) (14) which develop (s) along a longitudinal axis (a-a) , each one having a tapered central portion (16) and two end portions (20, 22) with a uniform section, or with a greater and smaller cross-section in the region of the two ends of the tapered central portion (16) , respectively, the end portions (20, 22) acting as a guide for a movement of the movable blocking element (14) along the longitudinal axis (a-a) thereof, the tapered central portion (16) bringing about, in a connection position of the movable blocking element (14) , the connection of the elements or members (10, 12) which are generally recessed in a manner which complements the external surface of the movable blocking element (14) .

2. A blocking device according to claim 1, wherein the tapered central portion (16) has a f rustoconical form.

3. A blocking device according to claim 1 or claim 2, wherein the two end portions (20, 22) are cylindrical.

4. A blocking device according to claim 3, wherein the two end portions (20, 22) are threaded externally in order to produce, in connection with corresponding nuts which are constructed in one or the other of the two elements (10, 12) , a system for moving the movable blocking element (14) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (a-a) thereof.

5. A blocking device according to claim 2, wherein the longitudinal axis (a-a) of the movable blocking element (14) , when measured in the plane passing through the longitudinalaxis (a-a) with respect to a first horizontal axis, which is parallel with the connection plane of the elements (10, 12) to be blocked, is inclined by an angle which is equal to half of the angle of the truncated cone of the f rustoconical tapered central portion (16) so as to have, following a translational movement of the movable blocking element (14) along the longitudinal axis (a-a) thereof, a movement perpendicular to a second horizontal axis perpendicular to the first horizontal axis so as to block the two elements or members (10, 12 ) .

6. A blocking device according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising three movable blocking elements (14) having the respective longitudinal axes (a-a, b-b, c-c) which are located with a predetermined inclination in the planes of an ideal tetrahedron.

7. A blocking device according to claim 1, comprising a thrust system with hydraulic or pneumatic pressure, an electromechanical or electromagnetic thrust system or a thrust system with resilient means, acting on one and / or the other of the surfaces (30, 32) of the end portions, the surfaces (30, 32) being substantially transverse relative to the longitudinal axis (a-a) of the movable blocking element

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