Mechanical position indicator and actuator of automation technology

Abstract

To provide a mechanical position indicator with a visibly well-defined actuation range, and an actuator of automation technology comprising such a mechanical position indicator.SOLUTION: A mechanical position indicator 100 for representing an actuation state of an actuator of automation technology includes an indicating element 110 for representing an actuation state, where the actuation state is represented by a linear position of the indicating element 110. The linear position of the indicating element has a first limit and an opposite second limit, and the first limit is fixed. The mechanical position indicator 100 has a slidable mask at least partially surrounding the indicating element 110 in a cross section, and the mask is set up to indicate a position of the second limit.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a mechanical position indicator for an actuator in automation technology and such an actuator.

Background Art

[0002] Actuators in automation technology are used, for example, to operate mechanical devices such as valves in process industry piping. By opening and closing such valves in the piping, the flow of the process medium is allowed or blocked. In this way, for example, chemical reactions or filling processes can be controlled.

[0003] For the operator of such a process industry plant, it is often important to be able to check the operating state of the mechanical device. For example, state-of-the-art actuators as shown in U.S. Patent No. 9,618,136 often involve mechanical position indicators. However, various types of mechanical devices require various types of actuators having various drive devices and gear devices. The mechanical position indicator must be adapted to each type of actuator. However, since the operating range of a specific actuator type also depends on the application connected thereto, the limits of the operating range are not visually clearly defined.

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] An object of the present invention is to provide a mechanical position indicator having a visually clearly defined operating range and an actuator in automation technology provided with such a mechanical position indicator.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] This problem is solved by the mechanical position indicator according to claim 1 and the actuator according to claim 14.

[0006] The mechanical position indicator of the present invention for indicating the operating state of an actuator of automation technology comprises a display element for indicating said operating state, said operating state being indicated by the linear position of said display element, said linear position of said display element having a first limit and a second limit, said first limit being fixed, said mechanical position indicator comprising a slidable mask that at least partially surrounds said display element in cross-section, said mask being set to indicate the position of said second limit.

[0007] In this way, the variation of said second limit that depends on the application or the actuator can be visually defined for said second limit with the help of said mask, so there is no risk of misinterpreting the operating state.

[0008] In one embodiment, in the mounted state of said mechanical position indicator, the second limit regarding the mounting orientation is the limit facing said actuator.

[0009] In one embodiment, said mask maintains its position by a fixing mechanism such as friction, or a screw mechanism or a latch mechanism, or the like.

[0010] In one embodiment, the spatial interval between both limits is at least 10 centimeters, preferably at least 20 centimeters, particularly at least 30 centimeters, and / or said spatial interval is at most 200 centimeters, preferably at most 150 centimeters, particularly at most 100 centimeters.

[0011] In this way, good visibility of said mechanical position indicator is supported.

[0012] In one embodiment, the diameter of the display element in cross-section is at least 2 centimeters, preferably at least 5 centimeters, particularly at least 10 centimeters, and / or the diameter is at most 70 centimeters, preferably at most 50 centimeters, particularly at most 30 centimeters.

[0013] In this way, good visibility of the mechanical position indicator is supported.

[0014] In one embodiment, the ratio of the distance between the upper limit and the lower limit of the linear position to the diameter of the display element is at least 2, preferably at least 3, particularly at least 5, and / or at most 20, preferably at most 15, particularly at most 10.

[0015] In this way, good visibility of the mechanical position indicator is supported.

[0016] In one embodiment, the mask is arranged outside the housing. In this way, the visual definition of the second limit can be easily and surely executed.

[0017] In one embodiment, the display element has a first color, the fixed background element has a second color, and the first color and the second color on the color wheel of their respective color circles have an angular distance of at least 60 degrees.

[0018] The color circle may be a color circle based on the chromaticity standard of RGB or CMY or HSV or HSL. In this way, it is ensured that the colors of the display element and the background element are sufficiently different with respect to human perception. For example, a combination of green and red is useful, while red and orange are not.

[0019] In one embodiment, the mechanical position indicator a display element for representing the operating state, an indicator gear device for driving the display element, the indicator gear device comprising an input part and an output part, and a motion transmission device that is mechanically connected to the display element and removably connected to the indicator gear device for transmitting the movement of the indicator gear device to the display element, and the indicator gear device comprises at least one planetary gear stage, and the gear ratio for driving the display element can be changed by replacing at least one of the at least one planetary gear stage or by replacing the gear device.

[0020] In this way, the mechanical position indicator can be easily adapted to different applications and / or different actuators.

[0021] It is advantageous for each of the at least one planetary gear stage to be modular so that it can be easily connected or disconnected to another planetary gear stage or the motion transmission device.

[0022] In one embodiment, the mechanical position indicator comprises at least two planetary gear stages connected by a coupling. In this way, by replacing at least one of the gear stages, the gear ratio can be adapted to different applications and / or different actuators.

[0023] In one embodiment, the motion transmission device further comprises a spindle and a spindle nut, the display element and the spindle nut are fixedly connected to each other, the indicator gear device is configured to rotate the spindle, and the display element is rotatably and fixedly attached.

[0024] The actuator of the present invention in automation technology An output part having an output shaft for operating a mechanical device such as a valve, An actuator gear device, A drive device, wherein the drive device is set to drive the output part, and the actuator gear device is set to transmit force or torque from the drive device toward the output shaft, An actuator housing structure, wherein the output shaft, the drive device, and the gear device are arranged inside the actuator housing structure, The actuator includes a mechanical position indicator of the present invention, and the actuator gear device is configured to drive the indicator gear device.

[0025] In one embodiment, the drive device is an electric drive device, a hydraulic drive device, or a pneumatic drive device, and the actuator includes an electronic circuit for operating the drive device.

[0026] Hereinafter, the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0027]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4a)

Figure 4b)

Figure 5a)

Figure 5b)

Figure 5c)

Figure 6

Mode for Carrying Out the Invention

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a perspective view of an actuator 1 of an exemplary present invention, and FIG. 2 shows a front view of the actuator. The actuator 1 includes a housing structure 40. Inside the housing structure 40, as also shown in FIG. 6, a drive device 30, an electronic circuit 50, an actuator gear device 10, and an output portion 20 are arranged. The drive device 30 is configured to transmit force or torque to a mechanical device such as a valve. The drive device can be an electric drive device, a pneumatic drive device, or a hydraulic drive device. The electronic circuit is configured to control the drive device. The actuator gear device transmits a driving force and respective driving torques to the output portion, and the mechanical device can be coupled to the output portion.

[0029] In order to provide information regarding the operating state of the mechanical device to an operator, the actuator includes a mechanical position indicator 100 that converts the operation of the mechanical device into a linear position 113 of a display element 110. The linear position 113 of the display element 110 is between a first limit 111 and a second limit 112 along the longitudinal axis 117 of the mechanical position indicator. For example, in an attached state with respect to the mounting orientation, the first limit is a limit offset from the actuator, and the second limit is a limit facing the actuator. Depending on the use of the actuator and each mechanical device to be controlled, one of the first limit and the second limit varies. The mounting orientation may be vertical as shown in this specification, or may be, for example, horizontal or in an oblique direction.

[0030] The actuator housing structure has a maximum expansion portion 41.

[0031] In the illustrated embodiment, the first limit and the second limit of the linear position of the display element protrude from the maximum expansion portion, and the spatial interval between the first limit and the second limit is at least 1 / 2 of the cube root of the actuator housing volume portion 42, and / or the spatial interval is at least 15 centimeters, preferably at least 20 centimeters, particularly at least 25 centimeters, and / or the spatial interval is at most 300 centimeters, preferably at most 250 centimeters, particularly at most 200 centimeters, and / or the spatial interval is at least half of the maximum diameter of the convex enclosure of the housing structure.

[0032] In this way, the mechanical position indicator can be seen well from a considerable distance, so that the operating position and each operating state can also be seen by observers farther away. Therefore, for example, the maintenance of management across the entire industrial plant is supported.

[0033] In one embodiment, the diameter 115 of the display element 110 in cross-section is at least 2 centimeters, preferably at least 5 centimeters, particularly at least 6 centimeters, and / or the diameter is at most 70 centimeters, preferably at most 50 centimeters, particularly at most 30 centimeters.

[0034] The minimum diameter of the mechanical position indicator is further helpful for maintaining the management of the entire industrial plant. The maximum diameter of the mechanical position indicator compensates for the manageability of the mechanical position indicator.

[0035] In one embodiment, the ratio of the distance between the first limit 111 and the second limit 112 to the diameter 115 of the display element 110 is at least 2, preferably at least 3, particularly at least 5, and / or at most 20, preferably at most 15, particularly at most 10.

[0036] In one embodiment, the display element 110 is housed within an optically transparent housing portion 151 of the housing 150, as shown in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0037] In one embodiment, the display element 110 has a first color, and a background element 116 partially covered by the display element depending on the operating state has a second color. The first color and the second color on the gradient color wheel of each gradient color circle have an angular distance of at least 50 degrees, particularly at least 60 degrees. The color circle may be a color circle based on an RGB or CMY or HSV or HSL chromaticity standard. In this way, it is ensured that the colors of the display element and the background element are sufficiently different with respect to human perception. For example, a combination of green and red is useful, but red and orange are not.

[0038] In one embodiment, the display element 110 in a horizontal cross-section provides the possibility of checking the operating state within an angular range of at least 180 degrees, preferably at least 270 degrees, particularly 360 degrees, as shown in FIGS. 1, 2 and 3.

[0039] Illustratively, this can be achieved by the display element following a cylindrical form, and the background element is surrounded by the display element. The display element covers the background element according to the operating state of the mechanical device.

[0040] According to the present invention as shown in the drawings, the mechanical position indicator includes a mask 140 for indicating the position of the second limit 112. The mask 140 is slidable along the axis of the mechanical position indicator and can be fixed by a mask fixing mechanism 141 such as a screw mechanism or a latch mechanism in the illustrated embodiment. Alternatively, the mask may maintain its position by friction. The second limit depends on the mechanical device to which the actuator is to be attached, depends on the selected actuator gear device 10 as shown in FIG. 6, and depends on the selected indicator gear device 120 as shown in FIG. 3. Using the slidable mask, the mechanical position indicator can be adapted to a specific application so that the varying limit of the linear position 113 is visually sufficiently clear.

[0041] FIG. 3 shows a longitudinal sectional view of a mechanical position indicator 100 as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2. The mechanical position indicator 100 includes an indicator gear device 120, the mask 140, and a fixing mechanism 160 for fixing the mechanical position indicator by the actuator 1. The indicator gear device includes an input portion 121 for receiving force or torque and an output portion for driving the display element 110. The motion transmission device 130 is configured to receive motion from the output portion, mechanically connect to the display element, and transmit the motion of the indicator gear device to the display element connected to the indicator gear device via the output portion 122. The motion transmission device includes a spindle 131 and a spindle nut 132. The display element 110 and the spindle nut are fixedly connected to each other. The indicator gear device 120 is configured to rotate the spindle, and the display element is rotatably and fixedly attached. In the illustrated embodiment, the mechanical position indicator 110 includes an optically transparent housing portion 151 of the housing 150 to protect the motion transmission device and the planetary gear device from damage and dirt. As shown in the drawings, the planetary gear device is disposed within the gear device housing portion 152.

[0042] Figure 4a) is a longitudinal sectional view of an exemplary embodiment of the indicator gear device 120, and Figure 4b) is a perspective view showing the modular planetary gear stage 123. In the illustrated embodiment, the indicator gear device comprises a set of three planetary gear stages each connected to a coupling 124. The number of planetary gear stages may be varied between 1 and 5. In particular, the number of planetary gear stages is at least two. With the aid of the at least one planetary gear stage, the transmission ratio between the actuator gear device of each actuator output part and the motion transmission device of each of the display elements 110 can be adjusted by replacing the entire indicator gear device connected to the motion transmission device 130 with a coupling 124, or by replacing one or more planetary gear stages. In this way, the mechanical position indicator can be adapted to a wide range of applications, similar to the actuator, such that one of the first limit 111 and the second limit 112, here the second limit 112, can be maintained at a specific axial spacing of the longitudinal axis 117. The modular embodiment of the planetary gear stage shown in Figure 4b) enhances the adaptability of the mechanical position indicator.

[0043] Figs. 5a) to 5c) show exemplary embodiments of the present invention of the fixing mechanism 160. The fixing mechanism is configured to fix the mechanical position indicator 110 to the hollow output shaft 20 of the actuator or the hollow output shaft of the actuator gear device 10. The fixing mechanism 160 includes a hollow connecting shaft 161 having a shaft wall 161.2 and a shaft axis 161.1. The hollow connecting shaft includes at least one passage 161.21 penetrating the shaft wall, at least one radially acting friction device 162 disposed in the corresponding passage, and an axially acting force transmission device 163 disposed inside the hollow connecting shaft configured to set a force on the friction device. Subsequently, a force is applied to the friction device by the force transmission device in a mounted state. The passage is advantageously, but not necessarily, oriented radially with respect to the output shaft axis or the shaft axis 161.1. At least the radial component of the orientation is larger than the tangential component.

[0044] In this way, a frictional grip is obtained between the actuator gear device output of each actuator output and the mechanical position indicator input portion 121. For example, by additionally rotatably fixing the housing 150 of the mechanical position indicator in the housing configuration, the movement of the drive device 30 can be transmitted to the display element 110. The rotatable fixing can be achieved, for example, by a bracket mechanism or a screwing mechanism.

[0045] As exemplarily shown in this embodiment, the force transmission device 163 includes a force transmission element 163.1, each of the at least one friction device 162 includes a force receiving element 162.1, and the angle between the tangent plane 164 passing through the contact point between the force transmission element and the force receiving element and the shaft axis is 45 degrees. The angle may be less than 80 degrees, exemplarily less than 70 degrees, particularly less than 60 degrees, and / or It may exceed 10 degrees, illustratively exceed 20 degrees, and particularly exceed 30 degrees. In this aspect, applying a force to the force receiving element 162.1 is well-converted into the movement of the force receiving element, and thus is well-converted into an enhancement of the frictional force between the fixing mechanism 160 and the output portion 20 of the actuator gear device 10.

[0046] The friction element is arranged to generate friction between the fixing mechanism 160 and the hollow actuator output portion 20 of each hollow actuator gear shaft via the friction portion 162.21 of the friction element, and the friction portion projects from the corresponding passage of the passage.

[0047] As illustratively shown in the embodiment of FIG. 5a), the force transmission element 163.1, the force receiving element 162.1, and the friction element 162.2 are spherical. In this way, a very simple and effective force guiding mechanism can be arranged. Alternatively, the force receiving element 162.1 and the friction element 162.2 may be a single element. Alternatively, instead of being spherical, the element may be elliptical. Alternatively, the element may be at least partially a cone (see FIG. 5c), or an ellipsoid, or a sphere (see FIG. 5c), or a polyhedron such as a tetrahedron or a pentahedron, particularly a regular polyhedron, or a wedge. The mechanism functions when a contact point or a contact line or a contact area with the tangent plane inclined with respect to the shaft axis 161.1 is arranged between the force transmission element and the force receiving element.

[0048] FIG. 6 is a schematic diagram showing the functional relationships of the various parts of the exemplary actuator 1 of the present invention. The actuator includes a drive device 30, an electronic circuit 50 for controlling the drive device, an actuator gear device 10, and an output unit 20 for operating a mechanical device such as a valve. The drive device is configured to apply a force or torque to the output unit. The actuator gear device is configured to transmit the force and each of the torques from the drive unit to the output unit. The mechanical position indicator of the present invention may be connected to the output unit 20 or to the actuator gear device 10 as shown herein.

[0049] The features of the embodiments are replaceable and / or combinable when there is no technical or logical contradiction or when they are described in other aspects.

[0050] A mechanical position indicator as shown may also be applied to a purely mechanical actuator operated, for example, by a handwheel.

Description of Reference Numerals

[0051] 1 Actuator 10 Actuator gear device 20 Output unit 30 Drive device 40 Actuator housing structure 41 Maximum expansion part 42 Actuator housing volume part 50 Electronic circuit 100 Mechanical position indicator 110 Display element 111 First limit 112 Second limit 113 Linear position 114 Spatial interval 115 Diameter 116 Background element 120 Indicator gear device 121 Input unit 122 Output unit 123 Planet gear stage 124 Coupling 130 Motion transmission device 131 Spindle 132 Spindle nut 140 Mask 141 Mask fixing mechanism 150 Housing 151 Transparent housing part 152 Gear device housing part 160 Fixing mechanism 161 Hollow connecting shaft 161.1 Shaft axis 161.2 Shaft wall 161.21 Shaft passage 161.3 Shaft stopper 162 Friction device 162.1 Force receiving element 162.2 Friction element 162.21 Friction part 163 Force transmission device 163.1 Force transmission element 164 Connecting flat

Claims

1. A mechanical position indicator (100) for indicating an operating state of an actuator of automation technology, comprising: a display element (110) for indicating said operating state, said actuation state being indicated by a linear position (113) of said display element, said linear position of said display element having a first limit (111) and an opposite second limit (112); the first limit is fixed; the mechanical position indicator comprises a slidable mask at least partially surrounding the display element in cross section, the mask configured to indicate a position of the second limit. Mechanical position indicator.

2. 2. The mechanical position indicator of claim 1, wherein in an attached state, a second limit for an attached orientation is a limit disposed facing the actuator.

3. 3. A mechanical position indicator as claimed in claim 1 or 2, wherein the mask (140) maintains its position by friction or a mask fixing mechanism (141) such as a screw or latch mechanism or the like.

4. the spatial distance (114) between the limits is at least 10 centimeters, preferably at least 20 centimeters, in particular at least 30 centimeters; and / or The spatial distance is at most 200 cm, preferably at most 150 cm, in particular at most 100 cm; A mechanical position indicator according to any one of the preceding claims.

5. the diameter (115) of said display element in cross section is at least 2 centimeters, preferably at least 5 centimeters, in particular at least 10 centimeters; and / or The diameter is at most 70 centimeters, preferably at most 50 centimeters, in particular at most 30 centimeters; A mechanical position indicator according to any one of the preceding claims.

6. The ratio of the distance between the first limit of the linear position and the second limit of the linear position to a diameter of the display element is: at least 2, preferably at least 3, in particular at least 5, and / or at most 20, preferably at most 15, in particular at most 10; A mechanical position indicator according to any one of the preceding claims.

7. A mechanical position indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display element (110) is contained within an optically transparent housing part (151) of a housing (150) of the mechanical position indicator.

8. The mechanical position indicator of claim 7, wherein the mask (140) is disposed outside the housing (150).

9. the display element (110) has a first color; the fixed background element (116) has a second color, and the first color and the second color on the color wheel of each color circle have an angular distance of at least 60 degrees; A mechanical position indicator according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. An indicator gear (120); a motion transmission device (130) mechanically connected to the display element for transmitting motion of the display gear device to the display element removably connected to the display gear device; A mechanical position indicator according to any preceding claim, further comprising:

11. A mechanical position indicator according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the display gearing comprises at least one planetary gear stage (123), and the gear ratio for driving the display element is changeable by replacing at least one of the at least one planetary gear stage or by replacing the gearing.

12. The mechanical position indicator of claim 11, further comprising at least two planetary gear stages (123) connected by a removable coupling.

13. The motion transmission device (130) further comprises a spindle (131) and a spindle nut (132); the indicator element (110) and the spindle nut (132) are fixedly connected to each other, the indicator gear arrangement (120) is configured to rotate the spindle, and the indicator element is rotatably and fixedly mounted; A mechanical position indicator according to claim 11 or 12.

14. An actuator (1) for automation technology, comprising: an output section (20) having an output shaft for actuating a mechanical device such as a valve; An actuator gear (10); a drive arrangement (30), the drive arrangement being configured to drive the output and the actuator gear arrangement being configured to transmit force or torque from the drive arrangement towards the output shaft; an actuator housing arrangement (40) in which the output shaft, the drive arrangement and the gear arrangement are disposed inside the actuator housing arrangement; An actuator comprising: The actuator comprises a mechanical position indicator (100) according to any one of claims 1 to 13, characterised in that the actuator gearing is arranged to drive the indicator gearing. Actuator.

15. the drive unit is an electric drive unit, a hydraulic drive unit or a pneumatic drive unit; The actuator comprises an electronic circuit (50) for operating the drive unit.

15. The actuator of claim 14.

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