System comprising a support element and a housing for accommodating a piston

Abstract

The invention relates to a system (1) comprising - a support element (2) and - at least one housing (3) in which or in each of which a piston can be movably accommodated, wherein the at least one housing (3) is connected to the support element (2) via a detachable connection. The invention also relates to a housing (3, 4, 5, 6), a support element (2) and an actuator (20) operated by a pressure medium.

Description

[0001] DESCRIPTION

[0002] System with support element and housing for receiving a piston

[0003] The present disclosure relates to a system comprising a support element and a housing for receiving a piston, a housing, a support element and an actuator.

[0004] Systems for pneumatic or hydraulic applications are known in which several housings, typically cylinders for pressure media, are arranged on a support element, with the housings designed to receive a piston. The piston and housing together form a pressure chamber within the housing, and the piston can be controlled by supplying or removing pressure media into or from this pressure chamber. The support element can, for example, be an actuator housing. The multiple housings are manufactured, for example, from metal using a casting process. Such systems are equipped with pistons as needed. This means that, depending on the application or the actuator into which such a system is installed, not all of the available housings are fitted with pistons. To allow for demand-based assembly, some housings are left empty, so that an actuator may have such a system with empty housings.While this simplifies the manufacturing process of the system, as only one such system with a fixed number of housings needs to be produced at a time, it also involves an unnecessarily high expenditure of materials, because the housings that are unused depending on the application requirements are not needed.

[0005] It is therefore the purpose of the present disclosure to solve at least one of the problems described above.

[0006] This problem is solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous further developments are the subject matter of the dependent claims described below and the accompanying drawings.

[0007] K07984DE / SfN According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a system is provided comprising a support element and at least one housing. A piston can be slidably received in each of the housings. The at least one housing is connected to the support element via a detachable connection.

[0008] If a piston is slidably provided within the at least one housing, the piston and the housing define a cavity such that the volume of the cavity can be adjusted between a minimum and a maximum volume according to the piston's displacement within the housing. By supplying or removing pressure medium into or out of the cavity, the piston can be displaced or a piston force can be generated. In this way, a mechanism can be actuated that is operatively connected to the piston via a transmission element, for example, a piston rod. Such a piston can have a transmission element, such as a piston rod, through which the piston displacement or the piston force can be transmitted to other elements or mechanisms. The transmission element preferably extends along the displacement direction of the piston.In particular, the transmission element has an axis that is oriented coaxially to a piston axis and / or to an axis of the respective housing.

[0009] The detachable connection between the support element and the at least one housing allows the housing to be detached from the support element and thus removed. This makes the system adaptable. If at least one housing is not required on the support element for a given application, the system can be adapted by removing or omitting that housing. In this case, the detachable connection, or a portion thereof, on the support element remains free or disconnected. The number of housings connected to the support element in such a system is therefore adjustable. If the system is later to be used for a different application requiring at least one additional housing, this additional housing can be reattached to the support element using the detachable connection.to be connected to the free part of the detachable connection.

[0010] The system can be intended for use in a vehicle, particularly a commercial vehicle.

[0011] The detachable connection can be designed as a plug connection, screw connection, and / or snap connection. This allows the at least one housing to be disconnected and reconnected to the support element without causing damage. In particular, the detachable connection can be designed so that the at least one housing is fixed in a fixed position and orientation relative to the support element. This allows the piston force or a reaction force resulting from piston displacement to be supported by the support element.

[0012] The detachable connection can be designed to adjust the position and / or orientation of the at least one housing relative to the support element. This means that, during the manufacture of the detachable connection, the position of the at least one housing can be adjusted parallel to a surface to which the at least one housing is attached by means of the detachable connection. For this purpose, the detachable connection can, for example, have several distributed engagement sections or engagement elements on the support element that allow such positioning. For example, the at least one housing can have a corresponding counter element that engages with such an engagement section or in such an engagement element, corresponding to the respective positioning on the support element. For example, such engagement sections orInterlocking elements may be designed as plug connectors, screw connectors or snap connectors, which are arranged accordingly on the surface of the support element.

[0013] Alternatively or additionally, stepless adjustment of the position parallel to the surface of the support element is also possible. This can be achieved, for example, by an engagement section or engagement element on the support element that allows stepless adjustment or arrangement of the at least one housing on the support element. Such an engagement section or engagement element can be designed as a rail into which a corresponding counter element of the at least one housing engages.

[0014] Alternatively or additionally, it can be provided that the releasable connection allows for the positioning of at least one housing relative to the support element. This can be achieved, for example, by a length-adjustable releasable connection, which is realized, for instance, by positioning the at least one housing using a threaded rod extending perpendicularly from the surface of the support element.

[0015] The support element can be designed so that at least one second housing, in which a piston can be slidably arranged, can be connected to the support element via a detachable connection or via a further detachable connection. The design and proportions of the at least one second housing can correspond to or differ from the at least one housing described above. In particular, it can be provided that the at least one second housing, or the combination of this housing with the piston guided therein, differs from the at least one housing described above in stroke and / or volume. In this way, different housings or housing-piston combinations can be attached to the support element, so that the system can be adapted to different applications requiring different housings or housing-piston combinations.

[0016] According to one embodiment, the system can comprise several such housings, so that the system can be adapted accordingly.

[0017] The detachable connection used to attach the at least one second housing to the support element can be the same as, or different from, the detachable connection used to attach the at least one housing described above to the support element. In particular, the at least one second housing can be attached to the support element by means of a plug connection, screw connection, and / or snap connection. Alternatively or additionally, the detachable connection for the at least one second housing can allow for adjustment of the at least one second housing in position and / or orientation relative to the support element. In this way, the system is also adjustable via the at least one second housing.

[0018] The support element can also be connected to at least one further housing in which a piston can be slidably arranged. The connection between the support element and this at least one further housing is either permanent or integral. Such a housing can be provided on the support element, for example, if this is required for the majority of applications, in particular all applications for which the system is intended. Such a housing can then be attached to the support element, for example, by welding, or manufactured during the production of the support element, for example, by a casting process. In this way, no detachable connection needs to be provided for this at least one further housing.

[0019] The detachable connection can include a connecting piece arranged between the at least one housing and the support element. The connecting piece can, in particular, serve to adjust the distance between the at least one housing and the support element. In this case, the at least one housing can be connected to the connecting piece within the detachable connection, and the connecting piece can, in turn, be connected to the support element within the detachable connection. Alternatively or additionally, the connecting piece can serve to absorb piston forces and / or reaction forces acting on the at least one housing from the piston displacement and, for example, transfer them to the support element via a larger contact area. This achieves improved force transmission into the support element.Alternatively, at least one housing can be directly connected to the support element via the detachable connection, making the system less complex.

[0020] The support element can be designed as an actuator housing. In this case, the system, more precisely the support element, is part of an actuator housing and not a separate component. The actuator housing can be designed, in particular, for a pressure-medium-operated actuator, in which at least one mechanism is provided that is actuated by the piston(s) provided in the housing on the support element.

[0021] Alternatively, the support element can be designed to be attached to or within an actuator housing intended for a pressure-medium-operated actuator, in which at least one mechanism is provided that is actuated by the piston(s) provided in the housing on the support element. Due to the separate design of the support element and the actuator housing, the system can be easily detached from the actuator housing and prepared for a different application, and, if necessary, attached to or within another actuator housing.

[0022] Such an actuator can, in particular, be a gear selector designed to select a gear and / or gate in a transmission via the mechanism. Alternatively, such an actuator can be a clutch actuator designed to actuate a clutch via the mechanism.

[0023] A system comprising at least one housing and one support element has been described above. Individual components of the system are highlighted below as further aspects of this disclosure. If features of these components have already been described above within the context of the system description, they are to be understood as at least further developments of the components described below. According to one aspect of this disclosure, a housing is provided for a system as described above. The housing is designed such that a piston can be slidably arranged within it. The housing and the piston define an internal cavity, wherein the piston can be subjected to a force or displaced by supplying and / or removing pressure medium into or out of this cavity.

[0024] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a support element for a system as described above is provided. The support element is configured to be detachably connected to at least one housing, such as the one described above, in which a piston can be slidably arranged. The support element can, in particular, be configured to be connected to an actuator housing as described above, or be configured as part of an actuator housing as described above.

[0025] According to one aspect of this disclosure, a pressure-medium-operated actuator is provided, comprising a mechanism and a system as described above. The mechanism and the system are operatively connected. This operative connection is established via a linkage, for example, via the transmission element described above, through which the piston force and / or piston displacement of one or more pistons in the housings of the system can be transmitted to the mechanism, enabling it to perform its function.

[0026] The actuator can, in particular, be a gear selector designed to select a gear and / or gate in a transmission via the mechanism. In this case, the housings can be designed as cylinders. Specifically, these can be configured as shift cylinders, selector cylinders, range cylinders, and / or split cylinders. Alternatively, the actuator can be a clutch actuator designed to actuate a clutch or mechanically couple an electric motor for a hybrid application via the mechanism.

[0027] The pressure medium can be gaseous or liquid. In particular, it can be compressed air or hydraulic fluid. In this way, a high piston force can be generated in a relatively small space, which can then act on the mechanism via the working connection.

[0028] In summary, possibilities have been described for adapting a system with multiple housings, in which pistons can be guided or slidably arranged, to different applications. Various aspects of this disclosure are explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0029] They show:

[0030] Fig. 1 shows a system according to the present disclosure, and

[0031] Fig. 2 shows an actuator according to the present disclosure.

[0032] A system 1 is shown with a support element 2, which is indicated here as an element extending horizontally in a first direction X. A first housing 3 is arranged below the support element 2. A piston is arranged and guided in the housing 3 so as to be displaceable parallel to the first direction X. The piston is not visible in the drawing; however, a transmission element 8 in the form of a piston rod, which is connected to the piston, extends to the right and is indicated by a horizontal line.

[0033] The housing 3 can be connected to the support element 2 via a detachable connection. More precisely, the detachable connection can be made on the underside of the support element 2 to the housing 3. The two double arrows between the support element 2 and the housing 3 indicate that the housing 3 can be positioned parallel to the surface or underside of the support element 2 (horizontal double arrow) and at a distance from the surface of the support element 2 in a second direction Y (vertical double arrow). The detachable connection between the housing 3 and the support element 2 is thus adjustable in the position and orientation of the housing 3 relative to the support element 2. Alternatively or additionally, a third option can be provided to adjust the position of the housing 3 in a third direction, perpendicular to the drawing plane and therefore perpendicular to the first direction X and perpendicular to the second direction Y.Alternatively or additionally, the detachable connection can be designed to allow the housing 3 to be aligned relative to the support element 2 by means of rotation. In this way, an alignment of the piston rod deviating from the horizontal orientation shown in the drawing is possible.

[0034] Below housing 3, further housings 4, 5, and 6 are shown, which are considered here as part of system 1 and can be connected to the support element 2 instead of or in addition to housing 3 via detachable connections that essentially correspond in design to the detachable connection of housing 3. Housings 4, 5, and 6 differ from housing 3 and from each other. For example, housing 4 has a greater extent in the first direction X than housing 3. Thus, a greater piston stroke can be achieved with housing 4 and the piston arranged within it. Housing 5 has a larger bore than housings 3 and 4, so that a piston with a larger piston area can be inserted into housing 5. Housing 6 represents a combination of housings 4 and 5, as it has an extent in the first direction X corresponding to housing 4 and a bore corresponding to housing 5.The system 1 shown thus has, at least in the embodiment shown, four different housings 3, 4, 5, 6 with pistons that can be arranged therein, which can be detachably connected to the carrier element 2 depending on the application.

[0035] Optionally, a further housing 10, shown as a dashed line in the drawing, is connected to the underside of the support element 2. This additional housing 10 can be permanently connected to the support element, for example, as a single piece. Such a housing 10 can be useful if the system 1 is designed for applications where such a housing 10 is always required.

[0036] The housings 4, 5, 6, 10 can each have a piston that is slidably mounted within the respective housing 4, 5, 6, 10. The individual pistons are not visible in the drawing; however, extending to the right from each housing 4, 5, 6, 10, indicated by a horizontal line, is a transmission element 8 in the form of a piston rod, which is connected to the piston.

[0037] The support element 2 can, for example, be designed as a casting, which allows for the creation of more complex geometries. The optional housing 10 can be formed as part of the support element 2 during its manufacture, particularly during the casting process.

[0038] The system 1 shown here, or the system disclosed generally, makes it possible to adapt such a system 1 to different applications. It is not necessary to keep housings for only a few applications where they are required, thus ultimately saving material.

[0039] System 1 can be intended for use in a vehicle, particularly a commercial vehicle.

[0040] Fig. 2 shows an actuator according to the present disclosure.

[0041] Shown is an actuator 20, which can be configured in particular as a pressure-medium-operated actuator. The actuator 20 has a mechanism 9 and a system 1, as shown, for example, in Fig. 1. The mechanism 9 is operatively connected to the system 1. The operative connection is established via a transmission element 8 of the system 1, which is operatively connected to the mechanism 9. The transmission element 8 can be one or more transmission elements, e.g., piston rods, which were mentioned, for example, above and in particular in the description of Fig. 1.

[0042] The actuator 20 can be intended for use in a vehicle, in particular in a commercial vehicle.

[0043] The mechanical connection allows a piston force or piston displacement to be applied to the

[0044] The actuator 20 is configured as a clutch actuator. In this case, the mechanism 9 can provide a mechanical connection to a vehicle's clutch. The clutch can be actuated by the mechanism 9 in response to the piston force or displacement applied to the mechanism 9. In another example, the actuator 20 is configured as a transmission divider. In this case, the mechanism 9 can provide a mechanical connection to an actuating element in a vehicle's transmission. The actuating element can be actuated by the mechanism 9 in response to the piston force or displacement applied to the mechanism 9 and, for example, perform a gear or gate selection movement.

[0045] REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0046] 1 system

[0047] 2 Support element 3 Housing

[0048] 4 cases

[0049] 5 cases

[0050] 6 cases

[0051] 8 Transmission element 9 Mechanism

[0052] 10 cases

[0053] 20 actuator

[0054] X first direction

[0055] Y second direction

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. System (1) having - a support element (2) and - at least one housing (3) in which or in which a piston can be slidably received, wherein the at least one housing (3) is connected to the support element (2) via a detachable connection.

2. System (1) according to claim 1, wherein the releasable connection is or has a plug connection, a screw connection or a snap connection.

3. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable connection is configured to adjust a position and / or orientation of the at least one housing (3) relative to the support element (2).

4. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the support element (2) is configured such that at least a second housing (4, 5, 6), in which a piston can be slidably arranged, can be connected to the support element (2) via the detachable connection or via a further detachable connection.

5. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one further housing (10) in which a piston can be slidably arranged is inseparably or integrally connected to the support element (2).

6. System (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the releasable connection comprises a connecting piece arranged between the at least one housing (3) and the support element (2), or wherein the at least one housing (3) is directly connected to the support element (2).

7. System (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the support element (2) is configured as an actuator housing, or wherein the support element (2) is configured to be attached in or to an actuator housing.

8. Housing (3, 4, 5, 6) for a system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein a piston can be slidably arranged in the housing (3, 4, 5, 6), and the housing (3, 4, 5, 6) is configured to be detachably connected to a support element (2) of the system (1).

9. Support element (2) for a system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the The support element (2) is designed to be detachably connected to at least one housing (3, 4, 5, 6) in which a piston can be slidably arranged.

10. Pressure-operated actuator (20) comprising a mechanism (9) and - a system (1 ) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, wherein the mechanism (9) is operatively connected to the system (1 ).

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