Rotary Coupling Interface With Hoseless Media Feed for Attachments

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing coupling devices for mobile working machines face challenges in ensuring reliable and efficient supply of pressurized fluid and other media to attachments, particularly when they provide rotational freedom, due to the need for hoses that complicate routing and are prone to deformation under operational loads.

Innovation Solution

A coupling device with a rotary feedthrough connected to the locking unit housing via a hoseless connection, using a multi-channel rotary union that compensates for movements between the housing and the mounting interface frame, ensuring fluid and media supply even during relative rotation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If hoses are used to supply pressure medium to the locking unit housing, then the coupling device can accommodate rotational movement, but the hose routing becomes complex and the hoses are prone to deformation under operational loads

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational freedomVSAvoidmedia supply reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts the pressure medium supply connection from the movable locking unit housing and relocates it to the stationary rotary section. The rotary feedthrough with its hoseless connection to the stationary mounting interface eliminates the need for flexible hoses, providing reliable media supply while maintaining rotational freedom.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The rotary feedthrough acts as an intermediary component between the stationary mounting interface and the movable locking unit housing. It enables hoseless connection and reliable pressure medium supply while accommodating the rotational movement through its design with stator and rotor components.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Adaptability or versatility

If hoses are used for pressure medium supply, then rotational movement is accommodated, but hose routing complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational freedomVSAvoidhose routing complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent removes the hoses from the system by extracting the pressure medium supply connection to the stationary rotary section and using a rotary feedthrough with hoseless connection, thereby eliminating routing complexity while maintaining rotational capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the flexible hose-based mechanical connection with a rotary feedthrough mechanism that uses rotational interfaces (stator and rotor) to accommodate movement without requiring flexible routing.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

3Ease of operation

If the locking unit housing is movable relative to the mounting interface frame, then the locking unit can be actuated, but ensuring media supply during movement becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvelocking unit actuationVSAvoidmedia supply during movement
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The rotary feedthrough serves as an intermediary that maintains reliable pressure medium supply to the movable locking unit housing during actuation. It connects the stationary mounting interface to the movable housing through rotational interfaces that accommodate movement while ensuring continuous media flow.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent extracts the pressure medium supply connection from the movable housing to the stationary rotary section, eliminating the reliability issues associated with supplying media to moving parts while maintaining the ease of actuation through the movable housing design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

The solution provides a robust and reliable media supply, reducing hose routing requirements and operational complexity while maintaining flexibility and reliability under heavy loads.

Implementation Method 1

a rotary feedthrough is arranged in the rotary section which is coupled to the pressure medium supply port of the housing without hoses for the supply of pressure medium

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectRotary feedthrough:

Implementation Method 2

at least one fluid-conducting pipe section is arranged between the rotary feedthrough and the housing of the locking unit in order to compensate for movements of the housing relative to the frame of the mounting interface

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCompensation for movements:

Data Source

PatentEP4328387B1Coupling device and mobile working machine
Publication Date: 2026.02.25 EMTEC ENG & MASCHINENTECHNIK GMBH
  • EP4328387B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4328387B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP4328387B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

A coupling device (40, 240, 440) for connecting an attachment (26) to a mobile working machine (10) has a mounting interface (60, 460) for mounting on a boom (22) of a mobile working machine (10), an attachment interface (62, 462) for the detachable reception of an attachment (26), which has a locking unit (80, 280, 480) for the attachment (26) that can be actuated by at least one fluidic actuator (82, 282, 482), and a rotary section (66, 466) arranged between the mounting interface (60, 460) and the attachment interface (62, 462) with a rotary drive (120) for generating a rotational movement between the mounting interface (60, 460) and the attachment interface (62, 462) about a rotary axis (46, 446).The locking unit (80, 280, 480) has a housing (170, 370, 570) with at least one pressure medium supply connection (180, 380, 202, 402, 602), which is slidably arranged on a frame (140, 340, 540) of the mounting interface (62, 462). The rotating section (66, 466) has a stator (122, 522) and a rotor (124, 524) rotatable relative to the stator (122, 522) about the axis of rotation (46, 446). The locking unit (80, 280, 480) is rotatable by the rotor (124, 524). A rotary feedthrough (146, 346, 546) is arranged in the rotary section (66, 466) and is connected without hoses to the pressure medium supply port (180, 380, 202, 402, 602) of the housing (170, 370, 570). A mobile work machine (10) is equipped with such a coupling device (40, 240, 440) for coupling an attachment (26).