cylinder device equipped with a position sensor

Abstract

Title: Cylinder device with position sensor Cylinder device with position sensor, of the type comprising a tubular body (1), a rod (2) moved axially under the action of a fluid and which emerges from one end (13) of the body (1), while the other end (14) is equipped with a fixing eyelet (51), the body (1) incorporating a position sensor device (4), comprising a drum on which is wound a cable (41) whose free end (42) is secured to the rod (2), and whose payout is measurable. The body (1) consists on the one hand of a tube (1) extended by a sleeve (3) welded to the tube (1), housing the sensor device (4), and on the other hand of a cover (5) carrying the eyelet (51), secured by screwing to the sleeve (3) by means of screws (50), the cover (5) being configured and the screws (50) being distributed to allow different positions of the cover (5) relative to the sleeve (3), and therefore several orientations of the eyelet (51).Figure for abstract: Fig. 1.

Description

Title of the invention: jack device equipped with a position sensor

[0001] The present invention relates to a jack device equipped with a position sensor.

[0002] In the field of machinery, in particular, but not limited to, viticulture and agriculture, hydraulic or even pneumatic energy is mainly used, through jacks, to set structures and tools in motion. For certain operations it is preferable, and even desirable, to be able to control the amplitude of the movements, and therefore the stroke of the different jacks used.

[0003] Position sensor devices known as reels are already known, intended to equip hydraulic cylinders. Such a device comprises a drum secured internally to the base of the cylinder body, on which is wound a cable whose free end is secured to the piston of the cylinder rod. When the rod moves, the cable rotates the drum while an electronic sensor converts the rotation into linear movement.

[0004] In practice, the sensor device must be integrated inside the body and secured therein. While it is possible to integrate the sensor device into the tube when the latter is of large diameter, this is not the case when the diameter is reduced. In this case, it is necessary to construct the cylinder body in two parts, namely a tube to which is secured at the end a base comprising the sensor device or covering the latter, secured to the tube. The base is secured to the tube by axial screwing, the end of the tube and the base being provided with suitable threads and tappings.

[0005] This solution, however, has a drawback. Indeed, the base externally carries the eyelet for fixing the body, and the screwing and tightening of the base onto the end of the tube influences the orientation of the axis of said eyelet, which may then be incompatible with the position of the fluid supply connections, and the passages of the rigid or flexible conduits connected thereto. In addition, partial unscrewing is possible with the consequence of a modification of the orientation of the eyelet and therefore of the body.

[0006] To overcome this drawback, some propose to fix the orientation of the eyepiece, by immobilizing the base on the body by means of radially screwed point screws, with however the drawback of a risk of unscrewing these screws, as well as play over time.

[0007] The present invention aims to propose a jack device with a sensor of position which makes it possible to remedy the various drawbacks mentioned above, while being of simple and inexpensive design.

[0008] The jack device with position sensor according to the invention is of the type comprising a tubular body provided radially with at least one fluid supply connection, a rod moved axially under the action of said fluid and which emerges from one end of said body, while the other end is equipped with a fixing eyelet, said body incorporating a position sensor device, comprising a drum secured directly or indirectly to said body, on which is wound a cable whose free end is secured to said rod, and whose payout is measurable, and it is characterized in that said body consists on the one hand of a tube extended, on the side opposite to that through which said rod emerges, of a sleeve welded to said tube, intended to house and immobilize said sensor device, and on the other hand of a cover which carries said eyelet, which closes said sleeve and which is secured to it by screwing,by means of screws whose screwing axes are parallel to that of said tube, said cover being configured and said screws being distributed so as to allow different positions of said cover relative to said sleeve, and therefore several orientations of said eyelet.

[0009] According to a particular embodiment of the jack device according to the invention, the sleeve is of square section, the cover is of square shape and is fixed to said sleeve by means of at least four screws, one at each corner.

[0010] This configuration allows two different orientations of the eyepiece.

[0011] According to another particular embodiment of the jack device according to the invention, the sleeve is of round section, and the cover is secured to it by more than four screws regularly spaced angularly.

[0012] Such a configuration allows more than two orientations of the eyepiece.

[0013] Of course, the sleeve and its cover can have other shapes, and the number of screws can also vary.

[0014] The advantages and characteristics of the jack device according to the invention will emerge more clearly from the description which follows and which refers to the attached drawing, which represents a non-limiting embodiment thereof.

[0015] In the attached drawing:

[0016] [Fig. 1] represents a schematic plan and exploded view of the jack device according to the invention.

[0017] [Fig.2]. represents a partial schematic view of the same jack device.

[0018] With reference to [Fig.l] we can see a jack device according to the invention, in this case a double-acting jack.

[0019] It comprises, in a manner known per se, a body 1 in the form of a tube delimiting a chamber 10, supplied with fluid by one or other of two tappings 11 and 12, a rod 2 arranged in the chamber 10, the end of which is internal to the body 1 and is provided with a piston 20, while its other end, external to the body 1, is provided with an eyelet 21. The tapping 11 is positioned near the end 13 of the body 1 through which the rod is extracted, while the tapping 12 is positioned near the other end 14.

[0020] According to the invention, the jack further comprises a sleeve 3, secured by a weld S to the body 1 in the extension thereof at its end 14. The sleeve 3, delimits a cavity 30 in which is arranged and fixed a position sensor device 4 of known type, comprising in a housing 40 a drum on which is wound a cable 41 whose free end 42 is fixed to the piston 20. The unwinding of the cable 41 makes it possible to measure the stroke of the rod 2.

[0021] The sleeve 3 is closed with a cover 5 by means of screws 50, which pass through the cover 5 and are screwed into the sleeve 3, along axes V parallel to the axis XX' of the jack.

[0022] The cover 5 has an eyelet 51, that of the attachment of the body 1.

[0023] With reference to [Fig.2], one can see a non-limiting embodiment of the cover 5. In this embodiment, the screws 50 are eight in number, and are regularly spaced angularly. It will be understood that the cover 5 can be positioned indifferently relative to the sleeve 3 which is not visible, and that consequently the orientation of the eyelet 51 can be varied relative to the tappings 11 and 12, as shown in broken lines.

Claims

Claims

1. Cylinder device with position sensor, of the type comprising a tubular body (1) provided radially with at least one fluid supply connection (11, 12), a rod (2) moved axially under the action of said fluid and which emerges from one end (13) of said body (1), while the other end (14) is equipped with a fixing eyelet (51), said body (1) incorporating a position sensor device (4), comprising a drum secured directly or indirectly to said body (1), on which is wound a cable (41) whose free end (42) is secured to said rod (2), and whose payout is measurable, characterized in that said body (1) consists on the one hand of a tube (1) extended, on the side opposite that (13) through which said rod (2) emerges, by a sleeve (3) welded to said tube (1), intended to house and immobilize said sensor device (4), and on the other hand a cover (5) which carries said eyelet (51),which closes said sleeve (3) and which is secured to it by screwing, by means of screws (50) whose screwing axes (V) are parallel to that (XX') of said tube (1), said cover (5) being configured and said screws (50) being distributed so as to allow different positions of said cover (5) relative to said sleeve (3), and therefore several orientations of said eyelet (51).,

2. Jack according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve (3) is of square section, the cover (5) is of square shape and is fixed to said sleeve (3) by means of at least four screws (50), one at each corner.

3. Jack according to claim 1, characterized in that the sleeve (3) is of round section, and the cover (5) is secured to it by more than four screws (50) regularly spaced angularly.

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