Adapter and vehicle equipped with adapter

Abstract

To connect a fluid pressure unit corresponding to a double-acting cylinder to a single-acting cylinder.SOLUTION: An adapter 3 includes: a first adapter-joint 31 and a second adapter-joint 32 on one side; and a third adapter-joint 33 on the other side. Therein: the first adapter-joint 31 and the third adapter-joint 33 are connected by a first pipe 35; the second adapter-joint 32 is attached with a second pipe 36; the second pipe 36 is connected to the first pipe 35 and a first fluid pressure setting valve 361 capable of changing a set pressure is provided between the first and second pipes; and when a pressure at the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 exceeds a set first set pressure, the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 is opened to open a flow path of the second pipe 36, so as to allow a fluid to flow toward the second adapter-joint 32 to maintain the pressure not to exceed the first set pressure.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 4

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to an adapter used for a vehicle equipped with an actuator for raising and lowering a loading platform, such as a transport vehicle like a dump truck, a trailer (transport vehicle) with a dump cylinder attached to the loading platform, or a trailer (transport vehicle) attached to the tractor.

Background Art

[0002] In conventional vehicles, particularly vehicles equipped with a trailer towed by a tractor, a hydraulic cylinder is used for raising and lowering the loading platform. The trailers of Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 use a double-acting cylinder for raising and lowering the loading platform. Many trailers manufactured by Japanese manufacturers adopt a double-acting cylinder. On the other hand, particularly European trailers often adopt a single-acting cylinder such as a telescopic single-acting cylinder. Generally, a tractor equipped with a hydraulic unit (a device that sets a hydraulic pump, a drain, a joint, etc.) corresponding to a double-acting cylinder has been used in a natural combination connected to a trailer having a double-acting cylinder.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Patent Document 2

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There has been a demand to connect a tractor equipped with a fluid pressure unit (a device that sets a fluid pump, a drain, a joint, etc.) corresponding to a double-acting cylinder to a trailer having a single-acting cylinder. Of course, the hydraulic unit corresponding to the double-acting cylinder is equipped with two joints for sending and returning the fluid. On the other hand, the trailer with the actuator being a single-acting cylinder has only one connecting joint for fluid intake and discharge. It was impossible to connect the two.

[0005] An object of the present invention is to connect a hydraulic unit corresponding to a double-acting cylinder to a single-acting cylinder.

Means for Solving the Problem

[0006] In view of such problems, the present invention provides an adapter 3 having an adapter first joint 31 and an adapter second joint 32 on one side and an adapter third joint 33 on the other side. The adapter first joint 31 and the adapter third joint 33 are connected by a first pipe 35. The adapter second joint 32 has a second pipe 36 attached thereto. The second pipe 36 is connected to the first pipe 35 and has a first hydraulic pressure setting valve 361 with a variable set pressure in the middle. When the first hydraulic pressure setting valve 361 exceeds the set first set pressure, the first hydraulic pressure setting valve 361 opens to release the flow path of the second pipe 36, and fluid flows toward the adapter second joint 32 to maintain the first set pressure. The problem is solved by using the adapter 3 with such characteristics.

Effect of the Invention

[0007] The present invention can easily connect a hydraulic unit premised on the actuator being a double-acting cylinder to a single-acting cylinder.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0008]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0009] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different figures indicate parts having the same function, and duplicate descriptions in each figure are omitted as appropriate.

[0010] (Vehicle having a conventional double-acting cylinder) Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle 1 having a double-acting cylinder 4 of a conventional example. Figure 1(A) is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle 1 and the hydraulic unit 2. The tractor 11 has a hydraulic unit 2. The hydraulic unit 2 incorporates a fluid pump 22 (not shown), a motor 21 for driving the fluid pump 22, a switching valve 27, and the like.

[0011] Figure 1(B) is an explanatory diagram of connecting the double-acting cylinder 4(AC) to the hydraulic unit 2, and Figure 1(C) is an enlarged view of frame A attached to Figure 1(B). The hydraulic unit 2 has a unit first joint 231 and a unit second joint 241. The unit first joint 231 is a joint for connecting to the first flow path 41 that actuates the double-acting cylinder 4 which is the actuator AC, and is connected to the first flow path joint 411. The unit second joint 241 is a joint for connecting to the second flow path 42 that actuates the double-acting cylinder 4 which is the actuator AC, and is connected to the second flow path joint 421.

[0012] (Conventional fluid circuit) FIG. 2 is a hydraulic circuit diagram for driving the double-acting cylinder 4 (AC) of the conventional example. Although several joints (411, 421, 231, 241) are shown, they are shown in a state where the corresponding joints are not connected for the sake of explanation. In order for the double-acting cylinder 4 (AC) to function, each joint needs to be connected.

[0013] The fluid pump 22 is driven by the motor 21 and sends the high-pressure fluid pumped up from the drain 25 through the fluid feed pipe 23. One end of the fluid feed pipe 23 is connected to the fluid pump 22, and the other end is connected to the switching valve 27. One end of the drain pipe 24 is connected to the drain 25, and the other end is connected to the switching valve 27. The fluid feed pipe 23 and the drain pipe 24 are connected to the communication pipe 26 on the upstream side of the switching valve 27. The communication pipe 26 has a second hydraulic pressure setting valve 261 with variable set pressure in the middle. When the second hydraulic pressure setting valve 261 exceeds the set second set pressure, the second hydraulic pressure setting valve 261 opens and fluid flows from the fluid feed pipe 23 toward the drain pipe 24 to maintain the second set pressure.

[0014] The pressure gauge 28 is not necessarily required, but is used to adjust the second set pressure set by the second hydraulic pressure setting valve 261. The conventional actuator AC is a double-acting cylinder 4, has a first flow path 41 and a second flow path 42, and is provided with a first flow path joint 411 and a second flow path joint 421.

[0015] The switching valve 27 is inside the hydraulic unit 2 and is an electromagnetic valve that can be moved to the extension position, the neutral position, and the contraction position. Of the two ports facing the actuator AC side, port A is connected to the unit first joint 231, and port B is connected to the unit second joint 241. The positions of the unit first joint 231 and the unit second joint 241 are on the fluid pressure unit 2 side (Fig. 1(C)).

[0016] (Example 1) Fig. 3 is a conceptual diagram of the vehicle 1 having the single-acting cylinder 5 of Example 1. Fig. 3(A) is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle 1 and the fluid pressure unit 2. The vehicle 1 of the present invention is not limited to being separated into the tractor 11 and the trailer 12. For the sake of simplicity of explanation, this specification describes, as Example 1, a vehicle 1 in which the fluid pressure unit 2 is on the tractor 11 side and the single-acting cylinder 5 is provided as the actuator AC on the trailer 12 side. The single-acting cylinder 5 of Example 1 is exemplified by a telescopic single-acting cylinder. The single-acting cylinder 5 is not limited to a telescopic single-acting cylinder and may be any type. As shown in Fig. 3(A), the fluid pressure unit 2 is connected to a single-acting cylinder 5 (not shown) that raises and lowers the loading platform 121.

[0017] Fig. 3(B) is an explanatory diagram of connecting the single-acting cylinder 5 to the fluid pressure unit 2. Fig. 3(C) is an enlarged view of the frame B attached to Fig. 3(B). The actuator AC is a single-acting cylinder 5 and includes a connecting joint 511. The adapter 3 has the adapter third joint 33 connected to the connecting joint 511. The adapter first joint 31 is connected to the unit first joint 231, and the adapter second joint 32 is connected to the unit second joint 241.

[0018] (Structure of the adapter) Fig. 4 is a fluid pressure circuit diagram for driving the single-acting cylinder 5 of Example 1. The adapter 3 is provided with an adapter first joint 31 and an adapter second joint 32 on one side (the side of the fluid pressure unit 2), and an adapter third joint 33 on the other side (the side of the single-acting cylinder 5). The adapter first joint 31 and the adapter third joint 33 are connected by a first pipe 35, and the adapter second joint 32 has a second pipe 36 attached thereto. The second pipe 36 is connected to the first pipe 35 and has a first fluid pressure setting valve 361 with a variable set pressure in the middle. When the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 exceeds the set first set pressure, the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 opens to release the flow path of the second pipe 36, and fluid flows toward the adapter second joint 32 to maintain the first set pressure.

[0019] (Fluid pressure unit) The object of Example 1 is to operate the single-acting cylinder 5 using the fluid pressure unit 2 for the double-acting cylinder 4 of the conventional tractor 11. The fluid pressure unit 2 of Example 1 is the same as that provided in the conventional tractor 11 and is used as it is. Therefore, the details of the fluid pressure unit 2 are as described in the above section of (conventional fluid circuit) and will be omitted.

[0020] The fluid pressure unit 2 includes, as constituent members, a drain 25, a motor 21, a fluid pump 22, a second fluid pressure setting valve 261, a switching valve 27, a unit first joint 231, a unit second joint 241, and drain pipes 24, communication pipes 26, fluid feed pipes 23, etc. that connect these. Although it is named a unit, the fluid pressure unit 2 referred to in the present invention does not mean that these are housed in one case. The fluid pressure unit 2 referred to in the present invention means that it is one unit connected by a fluid pressure circuit, and a certain member may be installed separately from other members.

[0021] Figure 3 shows the fluid pressure unit 2 as if it were housed in one case, but this is simply for simplicity of explanation. Of course, it goes without saying that the constituent members of the fluid pressure unit 2 may be collectively arranged in one case.

[0022] (Detailed Structure of the Adapter) The connection between the fluid pressure unit 2 of the adapter 3 is as follows. The first adapter joint 31 is connected to the first unit joint 231, and the second adapter joint 32 is connected to the second unit joint 241. The first adapter joint 31 and the third adapter joint 33 are connected by the first pipe 35. And the second adapter joint 32 has the second pipe 36 attached thereto, and the second pipe 36 is connected to the first pipe 35 and has a first fluid pressure setting valve 361 with variable setting pressure in the middle. When the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 exceeds the set first setting pressure, the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 opens to release the flow path of the second pipe 36, and fluid flows toward the second adapter joint 32 to maintain the first setting pressure. In the figure, the setting pressure of the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 in the adapter 3 is set to 17 MPa, and the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 in the fluid pressure unit 2 is set to 25 MPa.

[0023] (Flow of Fluid in the Extended Position) FIG. 5 is a diagram for explaining the flow of fluid when the switching valve 27 is in the extended position. The fluid pressurized by the fluid pump 22 is sent out to the fluid feed pipe 23. The fluid pressure in the fluid feed pipe 23 is 25 MPa due to the action of the second fluid pressure setting valve 261, and passes through the A port of the switching valve 27, via the unit first joint 231, and is sent to the adapter 3. The adapter first joint 31 is connected to the unit first joint 231 and sends out the fluid sent at 25 MPa to the first pipe 35. Since the first pipe 35 is connected to the second pipe 36 and the set pressure of the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 is set to 17 MPa, the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 opens. A part of the fluid flows from the first pipe 35 toward the second pipe 36, so that the fluid pressure in the first pipe 35 drops to 17 MPa, which is the set pressure. The adapter third joint 33, which is the outlet of the first pipe 35, is connected to the connecting joint 511 of the single-acting cylinder 5, and by sending the fluid to the single-acting cylinder 5, the single-acting cylinder 5 extends.

[0024] In order to make the fluid pressure in the first pipe 35 17 MPa, the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 opens, and the fluid flowing out to the second pipe 36 reaches the adapter second joint 32. Since the adapter second joint 32 is connected to the unit second joint 241, the fluid is sent through the B port of the switching valve 27 to the drain 25.

[0025] (Flow of fluid in the retracted position) FIG. 6 is a diagram for explaining the flow of fluid when the switching valve 27 is in the retracted position. The fluid pressurized by the fluid pump 22 is sent out to the fluid feed pipe 23. The fluid pressure in the fluid feed pipe 23 is 25 MPa due to the action of the second fluid pressure setting valve 261, and it is sent through the B port of the switching valve 27 via the unit second joint 241 to the adapter 3. The unit second joint 241 is connected to the adapter second joint 32 and sent to the second pipe 36. However, the fluid flowing in from the adapter second joint 32 is blocked by the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 and cannot flow further inside the adapter 3. The blocked fluid raises the fluid pressure in the fluid feed pipe 23 of the fluid pressure unit 2 and exceeds the set pressure of the second fluid pressure setting valve 261, so the flow path towards the drain pipe 24 is opened and drained.

[0026] Since no fluid is sent from the switching valve 27 to the fluid inside the extended single-acting cylinder 5, due to the weight of the loading platform 121, it returns to the unit first joint 231 via the adapter first joint 31 through the adapter third joint 33. The fluid flowing out from the unit first joint 231 is guided to the drain pipe 24 through the A port of the switching valve 27 and returns to the drain 25.

[0027] (Effect of the first fluid pressure setting valve) When the actuator AC for raising and lowering the loading platform 121 is a double-acting cylinder 4, it may require a higher set pressure compared to the single-acting cylinder 5. When detaching the trailer 12 equipped with the double-acting cylinder 4 from the tractor 11 and attaching it to the trailer 12 equipped with the single-acting cylinder 5, the set pressure can be changed to 17 MPa by adjusting the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 in the fluid pressure unit 2. However, when trying to return to the original trailer 12 equipped with the double-acting cylinder 4, it was necessary to readjust the set pressure to 25 MPa by readjusting the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 again, which was time-consuming.

[0028] The first fluid pressure setting valve 361 in the adapter 3 eliminates the need to readjust the second fluid pressure setting valve 261. By using the first fluid pressure setting valve 361, there is no need to adjust the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 on the fluid pressure unit 2 side. Therefore, simply by removing the adapter 3 and reconnecting it to the double-acting cylinder 4 of the trailer 12 to be replaced, the setting can be restored to the original 25 MPa. When the tractor 11 frequently exchanges trailers 12 equipped with single-acting cylinders 5 and trailers 12 equipped with double-acting cylinders 4, the adapter 3 eliminates the need to adjust the setting pressure and significantly improves work efficiency.

[0029] Also, when there are multiple trailers 12 equipped with single-acting cylinders 5 with different setting pressures, it is more effective to prepare multiple adapters 3. The operator can prepare as many adapters 3 as the number of setting pressures of the multiple single-acting cylinders 5 and can change the setting pressure of the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 of each adapter 3. The operator only needs to select the adapter 3 adjusted to the setting pressure of the single-acting cylinder 5 of the trailer 12 to be connected and use it, eliminating the need to change the setting pressure at all.

[0030] As described above, the embodiments according to the present invention have been described in detail with reference to the drawings. However, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and design changes and the like within the scope not departing from the gist of the present invention are also included in the present invention. Also, unless there are particular contradictions or problems in the purpose and configuration of the above-described embodiments, it is possible to cross-use and combine their technologies with each other.

Explanation of Signs

[0031] AC Actuator 1 Vehicle 11 Tractor 12 Trailer 121 Loading Platform 2 Fluid Pressure Unit 21 Motor 22 Fluid Pump 23 Fluid Feed Pipe 231 Unit First Joint 24 Drain Pipe 241-unit second joint 25 Drain 26 Connecting pipe 261 Second fluid pressure setting valve 27 Changeover valve 28 Pressure gauge 3 Adapter (Example) 31 Adapter first joint 32 Adapter second joint 33 Adapter third joint 35 First pipe 36 Second pipe 361 First fluid pressure setting valve 4 Double-acting cylinder 41 First flow path 411 First flow path joint 42 Second flow path 421 Second flow path joint 5 Single-acting cylinder 511 Connecting joint

Claims

1. An adapter having an adapter first joint and an adapter second joint on one side and an adapter third joint on the other side, wherein the adapter first joint and the adapter third joint are connected by a first pipe, the adapter second joint has a second pipe attached thereto, the second pipe is connected to the first pipe and has a first fluid pressure setting valve with variable set pressure in the middle, when the first fluid pressure setting valve exceeds the set first set pressure, the first fluid pressure setting valve opens to release the flow path of the second pipe, and fluid flows toward the adapter second joint to maintain the first set pressure. The adapter is characterized by this.

2. The adapter of Claim 1 is attached to a vehicle, the vehicle includes a fluid pressure unit having a fluid pump and a drain, and an actuator AC, the fluid pressure unit includes a fluid feed pipe, a drain pipe, and a switching valve, one end of the fluid feed pipe is connected to the fluid pump and the other end is connected to the switching valve, one end of the drain pipe is connected to the drain and the other end is connected to the switching valve, the switching valve can at least switch the flow paths to the fluid feed pipe and the drain pipe, and has at least two ports directed toward the actuator, one of the two ports is connected to a unit first joint and the other is connected to a unit second joint, the fluid feed pipe and the drain pipe are connected to a communication pipe on the upstream side of the switching valve, the communication pipe has a second fluid pressure setting valve with variable set pressure in the middle, when the second fluid pressure setting valve exceeds the set second set pressure, the second fluid pressure setting valve opens to allow fluid to flow from the fluid feed pipe toward the drain pipe to maintain the second set pressure, the actuator AC is a single-acting cylinder and has a connecting joint, the adapter is characterized in that the adapter third joint is connected to the connecting joint, the adapter first joint is connected to the unit first joint, and the adapter second joint is connected to the unit second joint.

3. The vehicle of Claim 2 is a tractor and a trailer, wherein the tractor has a fluid pressure unit and the trailer has a single-acting cylinder. The vehicle is characterized by this.

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