Adapter and vehicle with adapter installed

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 those equipped with a trailer towed by a tractor, a hydraulic cylinder is used for raising and lowering the loading platform. The trailers in Patent Document 1 and Patent Document 2 use a double-acting cylinder for raising and lowering the loading platform. Many trailers made by Japanese manufacturers adopt a double-acting cylinder. On the other hand, particularly in Europe, many trailers 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 desire 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. Naturally, a fluid pressure unit designed for a double-acting cylinder has two joints to return the fluid. On the other hand, a trailer with a single-acting cylinder actuator only has one connecting joint for fluid intake and discharge. Connecting the two was impractical.

[0005] The present invention aims to connect a fluid pressure unit corresponding to a double-acting cylinder to a single-acting cylinder. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] In view of these challenges, the present invention provides an adapter first joint 31 and an adapter second joint 32 on one side. picture, The other side is equipped with an adapter third joint 33. 、 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 to it, which is connected to the first pipe 35 and has a first fluid pressure setting valve 361 with a variable set pressure. When the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 exceeds the set first set pressure, the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 opens, opening the flow path of the second pipe 36 and allowing fluid to flow toward the adapter second joint 32 to maintain the first set pressure. There is an adapter 3, which is attached to the vehicle 1, and the vehicle 1 is equipped with a fluid pressure unit 2 with a fluid pump 22 and a drain 25 and an actuator AC. The fluid pressure unit 2 comprises a fluid supply pipe 23, a drain pipe 24, and a switching valve 27. The fluid supply pipe 23 has one end connected to a fluid pump 22 and the other end connected to the switching valve 27. The drain pipe 24 has one end connected to a drain 25 and the other end connected to the switching valve 27. The switching valve 27 can switch the flow paths to at least the fluid supply pipe 23 and the drain pipe 24. It comprises at least two ports A and B directed toward actuator AC. One of the two ports A and B is connected to the unit's first joint 231, and the other is connected to the unit's second joint 241. The fluid supply pipe 23 and the drain pipe 24 are located in front of the switching valve 27. Vehicle 1 is characterized by being connected to a connecting pipe 26, which has a second fluid pressure setting valve 261 with a variable set pressure in the middle, and when the set second set pressure is exceeded the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 opens and fluid flows from the fluid supply pipe 23 to the drain pipe 25 to maintain the second set pressure, the actuator AC is a single-acting cylinder and is equipped with a connecting joint 511, the adapter 3 has an 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 This solved the problem. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] This invention makes it possible to easily connect a fluid pressure unit, which is assumed to be a double-acting cylinder actuator, to a single-acting cylinder. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0008] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a conceptual diagram of a conventional vehicle with a double-acting cylinder. Figure 1(A) is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle and the fluid pressure unit. Figure 1(B) is an explanatory diagram of connecting the double-acting cylinder to the fluid pressure unit. Figure 1(C) is an enlarged view of frame A attached to Figure 1(B). [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a fluid pressure circuit diagram for driving a conventional double-acting cylinder. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a conceptual diagram of a vehicle having a single-acting cylinder according to Example 1. Figure 3(A) is an explanatory diagram of the vehicle and the fluid pressure unit. Figure 3(B) is an explanatory diagram of connecting the single-acting cylinder to the fluid pressure unit. Figure 3(C) is an enlarged view of frame B attached to Figure 3(B). [Figure 4] Figure 4 is a fluid pressure circuit diagram for driving the single-acting cylinder of Example 1. [Figure 5] Figure 5 illustrates the fluid flow when the switching valve is in the extended position. [Figure 6] Figure 6 illustrates the fluid flow when the switching valve is in the reduced position. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0009] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. In the following description, the same reference numerals in different figures indicate parts with the same function, and redundant explanations in each figure will be omitted as appropriate.

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

[0011] Figure 1(B) is an explanatory diagram showing the connection of the double-acting cylinder 4(AC) to the fluid pressure unit 2, and Figure 1(C) is an enlarged view of frame A attached to Figure 1(B). The fluid pressure 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) Figure 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 purpose of explanation. In order to make the double-acting cylinder 4 (AC) 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. The drain pipe 24 has one end connected to the drain 25 and the other end 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 a 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, which has a first flow path 41 and a second flow path 42, and includes 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. Adapter 3 is equipped with an adapter first joint 31 and an adapter second joint 32 on one side (fluid pressure unit 2 side), and an adapter third joint 33 on the other side (single-acting cylinder 5 side). 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 to it. 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, it opens, opening the flow path of the second pipe 36 and allowing fluid to flow toward the adapter second joint 32, thereby maintaining the first set pressure.

[0019] (Fluid pressure unit) The objective of Example 1 is to use the fluid pressure unit 2 for the double-acting cylinder 4 of a conventional tractor 11 to move a single-acting cylinder 5. The fluid pressure unit 2 in Example 1 is the same as the one installed in a conventional tractor 11 and is used as is. Therefore, the details of the fluid pressure unit 2 are as described in the section on (conventional fluid circuits) above and will be omitted here.

[0020] The fluid pressure unit 2 consists of components such as 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, connecting pipes 26, and fluid supply pipes 23 that connect these components. Although it is called a unit, the fluid pressure unit 2 in this invention does not mean that these components are housed in a single case. Rather, the fluid pressure unit 2 in this invention means that it is a single unit connected by a fluid pressure circuit, and some components may be installed separately from other components.

[0021] Figure 3 shows the fluid pressure unit 2 housed in a single case, but this is simply for the sake of simplicity. Of course, it goes without saying that the components of the fluid pressure unit 2 could also be arranged together in a single case.

[0022] (Detailed structure of the adapter) The connection between adapter 3 and fluid pressure unit 2 is as follows: 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. The adapter first joint 31 and the adapter third joint 33 are connected by the first pipe 35. The adapter second joint 32 has the second pipe 36 attached to it, and the second pipe 36 is connected to the first pipe 35 and has a first fluid pressure setting valve 361 with a set pressure of adjustable values ​​in between. When the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 exceeds the set first set pressure, it opens, opening the flow path of the second pipe 36 and allowing fluid to flow toward the adapter second joint 32, thereby maintaining the first set pressure. In the diagram, the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 on adapter 3 is set to 17 MPa, and the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 on fluid pressure unit 2 is set to 25 MPa.

[0023] (Fluid flow in the extended position) Figure 5 illustrates the fluid flow when the switching valve 27 is in the extended position. The fluid pressurized by the fluid pump 22 is sent to the fluid supply pipe 23. The fluid pressure in the fluid supply pipe 23 is set to 25 MPa by the action of the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 and is sent to the adapter 3 via port A of the switching valve 27 and through the unit first joint 231. The adapter first joint 31 is connected to the unit first joint 231 and sends the fluid sent at 25 MPa to the first pipe 35. The first pipe 35 is connected to the second pipe 36 and the setting pressure of the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 is set to 17 MPa, so the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 opens. As some fluid flows from the first pipe 35 to the second pipe 36, the fluid pressure in the first pipe 35 drops to the set pressure of 17 MPa. 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 fluid to the single-acting cylinder 5, the single-acting cylinder 5 extends.

[0024] To set the fluid pressure in the first pipe 35 to 17 MPa, the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 is opened, and the fluid that flows into the second pipe 36 reaches the adapter second joint 32. Since the adapter second joint 32 and the unit second joint 241 are connected, the fluid is sent to the drain 25 through port B of the switching valve 27.

[0025] (Fluid flow in the reduced position) Figure 6 illustrates the fluid flow when the switching valve 27 is in the reduced position. The fluid pressurized by the fluid pump 22 is sent to the fluid supply pipe 23. The fluid pressure in the fluid supply pipe 23 is set to 25 MPa by the action of the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 and is sent to the adapter 3 via the B port of the switching valve 27 and the unit's second joint 241. The unit's second joint 241 is connected to the adapter's second joint 32 and is sent to the second pipe 36, but the fluid flowing in from the adapter's second joint 32 is blocked by the first fluid pressure setting valve 361 and cannot flow any further into the adapter 3. The blocked fluid increases the fluid pressure in the fluid supply pipe 23 of the fluid pressure unit 2, exceeding the set pressure of the second fluid pressure setting valve 261, so the flow path toward the drain pipe 24 is opened and the fluid is drained.

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

[0027] (Effect of the first fluid pressure setting valve) When the actuator AC that raises and lowers the cargo bed 121 is a double-acting cylinder 4, it may require a higher set pressure compared to a single-acting cylinder 5. When removing a trailer 12 equipped with a double-acting cylinder 4 from a tractor 11 and replacing it with a trailer 12 equipped with a 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 revert to the original trailer 12 with the double-acting cylinder 4, it was troublesome to have to adjust the second fluid pressure setting valve 261 again to readjust the setting pressure to 25 MPa.

[0028] The first fluid pressure setting valve 361 on 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, so simply removing adapter 3 and connecting it to the double-acting cylinder 4 of trailer 12 will return the setting to the original 25 MPa. When the tractor 11 frequently switches between 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 set pressure, significantly improving work efficiency.

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

[0030] While embodiments of the present invention have been described in detail above with reference to the drawings, the specific configuration is not limited to these embodiments, and any design changes, etc., that do not depart from the spirit of the present invention are also included. Furthermore, the aforementioned implementation methods can be combined by reusing each other's technologies, as long as there are no particular contradictions or problems in their purpose, structure, etc. [Explanation of symbols]

[0031] AC Actuator 1 vehicle 11 Tractor 12 Trailers 121 Cargo bed 2 Fluid pressure units 21 Motor 22 Fluid pumps 23 Fluid supply pipe 231 Unit 1 Joint 24 Drain pipe 241 Unit 2nd Joint 25 Drain 26 Communication pipe 261 Second fluid pressure setting valve 27 Switching valve 28 Pressure gauge 3. Adapter (Example) 31 Adapter 1st joint 32 Adapter 2nd Joint 33 Adapter 3rd joint 35 First tube 36 The second tube 361 First fluid pressure setting valve 4 Double-acting cylinders 41 First channel 411 First channel joint 42 Second channel 421 Second flow channel joint 5 Single-acting cylinder 511 Connecting joint

Claims

1. One side is equipped with a first adapter joint and a second adapter joint, and the other side is equipped with a third adapter joint. The adapter joint 1 and the adapter joint 3 are connected by the first pipe. The second adapter joint has the second tube attached to it. The second pipe is connected to the first pipe and has a first fluid pressure setting valve with a variable set pressure in the middle. The adapter maintains the first set pressure by opening the first fluid pressure setting valve when the pressure exceeds the set first set pressure, thereby opening the flow path of the second pipe and allowing fluid to flow toward the adapter second joint. The adapter is attached to the vehicle. The vehicle is equipped with a fluid pressure unit with a fluid pump and drain and an actuator, The fluid pressure unit comprises a fluid supply pipe, a drain pipe, and a switching valve. The fluid supply pipe has one end connected to the fluid pump and the other end connected to the switching valve. The drain pipe has one end connected to the drain and the other end connected to the switching valve. The switching valve is capable of switching the flow path at least to the fluid supply pipe and the drain pipe, and has at least two ports directed to the actuator, One of the two ports is connected to the first joint of the unit, and the other is connected to the second joint of the unit. The fluid supply pipe and the drain pipe are connected to a connecting pipe in front of the switching valve. The aforementioned connecting pipe has a second fluid pressure setting valve with a 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 and fluid flows from the fluid supply pipe to the drain pipe, thereby maintaining the second set pressure. The actuator is a single-acting cylinder and is equipped with a connecting joint. The vehicle is characterized in that the adapter has an adapter third joint connected to the connecting joint, an adapter first joint connected to a unit first joint, and an adapter second joint connected to a unit second joint.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 is a tractor and a trailer, wherein the tractor has the fluid pressure unit and the trailer has a single-acting cylinder.

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