FR2865246A1 - Hydraulic energy storing device, has hydraulic distributor connected with hydraulic accumulator and elastomer pipe modules to distribute energy to actuators, and electronic system to send signal to allow/cut distribution to actuators - Google Patents

Abstract

The device has a hydraulic distributor (16) connected with a hydraulic accumulator (11) and elastomer pipe modules (1) for distribution of energy to hydraulic actuators (17). An electronic system (23) receives a signal from a remote control (26) or a key (25) introduced into an electrical case. The system sends a signal for driving the hydraulic distributor to allow or cut energy distribution to the actuators.

Description

DESCRIPTION

  The present invention relates to a hydraulic energy accumulation technique that can be exploited for the operation of hydraulic actuators used for the motorization of opening, or even closure of access devices such as gates, gates, barriers, doors , parking protection hoops, retractable terminals, signs and others. The control of opening or closing of these access devices can be done remotely or in a more traditional manner. The motorization of the access devices is traditionally made from a network or accumulator power supply which has certain disadvantages: É With regard to the supply of electrical energy on the public network, major works in civil engineering (earthworks, installations, layouts and connections of electrical cables, asphalting and / or concreting) are to be envisaged, the importance of which will depend on the greater or less distance of the network connection zone, which necessarily generates high costs, delays and rather long intervention times. A fairly large and expensive electrical box is to consider. Note that in case of network failure, the device becomes inoperative unless adding an electric battery to overcome the network failure, but in this case, the costs of the system are aggravated.

  É Concerning the supply of electrical energy on accumulator (battery), it is necessary to provide a sufficiently dimensioned capacity, since the consumption of an electric motor is important from where a not insignificant bulk. In any case, such an accumulator has, under these conditions of use a very reduced autonomy (a few weeks) which requires frequent disassembly and replacement of these accumulators, for recharging, therefore frequent interventions for maintenance, that is to say say relatively significant constraints and costs.

  The devices according to the invention make it possible to remedy these drawbacks. Indeed, they comprise in the first place, the idea that all vehicles on wheels (automobiles or not) have a large mass, therefore a usable energy potential especially for the accumulation of hydraulic type energy simply by moving it rolling and crushing a kind of elastomer module containing a fluid in relation to an accumulator. This accumulated energy can be exploited for the operation of hydraulic type actuators and thus allow the motorization of the opening or closing access, or even signaling.

  This invention has the great advantages of avoiding all works in civil engineering, not to depend on electrical networks or electric accumulators that must be recharged periodically, allow unlimited autonomy and the use of free energy, to be able to install the device in any place, very quickly.

  Thus, one or more round pipes or other shape, made of elastomer, with the required flexibility and / or not inside a protection also made of elastomer, are fixed on the ground (road, parking, floor, passage. .

  etc.) É This or these pipes, with or without their protection, form a module with watertight connections, some in connection with a hydraulic supply tank (intake), the others in connection with an energy storage tank. hydraulic type (delivery) ... DTD: The connection between these modules, like pumps, and the tank, is made by sealed connections, rigid or flexible pipes and non-return valves, thus admitting only one direction of displacement of the fluid that is to say, reservoir to modules, the admission. In the same way, the connection between these elastomeric modules and the accumulator, is by sealed connections, rigid or flexible pipes and check valves allowing only one direction of displacement of the fluid, that is to say ie, modules to accumulator, or repression.

  According to a spacing and a length which are function of the application, one or more elastomer modules, can or can be arranged on the ground in dependence with the volume of energy that must accumulate and according to the one that it is necessary to restore for the proper functioning of one or more actuators of hydraulic type (cylinder, rotary motor, inflatable pocket ... etc.).

  É An elastomer module consists of one or more round pipes or other shape, deformable but quickly recovering their initial shape so that they have a pump function made possible by a reservoir containing a fluid located at a level above to allow filling by gravity, the fluid being discharged to a hydraulic energy accumulator under pressure.

  The pipe is plugged at both ends, only two connections, one inlet, the other discharge, are overmolded or attached to one of these ends. This or these pipes may or may be provided with a protective envelope that can allow its or their imprisonment, or their attachment to the ground but also form a kind of rolling ramp (soft slope). However, the pipe or pipes may or may be bare and have such a shape that allows it or their attachment to the ground without the need for an outer casing and meet the conditions of gentle ramp for the rolling of a vehicle. It should be noted that these pipes can have different dimensions depending on the application.

  The attachment of an elastomeric module, thanks to its flexibility, can be carried out on a flat floor 5, as deformed, by gluing or sealing or by screwing it to the ground.

  É When a vehicle rolls on a module, its mass is such that it crushes the pipe (s) by deforming it locally and thus displaces part of the liquid contained in the pipe (s) towards the accumulator. energy by generating a pressure that is greater than that contained in this accumulator; this is how the battery charges or stores energy. The wheel or wheels of the vehicle having released the module, the pipe or pipes resume or resume its original shape by creating a call fluid facilitated by a reservoir containing the fluid, located at a level higher than that of the module. In this way, the volume of liquid previously discharged to the accumulator is compensated by that admitted and released by the reservoir.

  É Depending on the energy capacity that we want to obtain, the volume, therefore the size of the accumulator, is more or less important. The level of pressure to be obtained in the accumulator is a function of the application and / or the driving power required in the actuation of an access device; in any case, this pressure level must be limited, in accordance with current safety standards, by means of a safety valve that makes it possible to limit this pressure. A purge valve must purge all the fluid contained in the entire accumulation system.

  The accumulator may be of the pocket type under pressure of gas inside a cylinder around which the fluid is introduced; or may be of the piston cylinder type on one side of which is imprisoned gas under pressure and the other is introduced the fluid. On the fluid side, it is provided with a sealed connection to allow a flexible or rigid connection with the modules, the safety valve and to the motorized device or devices.

  É The tank with a variable capacity depending on the use is designed in metallic or synthetic type material. In its lower part, it receives one or more sealed connections of intake connection by rigid or flexible connection with the module or modules fixed on the ground.

  If, therefore, there is a call in need of energy, the accumulator restores part of the stored energy (pressurized fluid) to one or more actuators (according to application) which has or have to develop the necessary power for the actuation in the opening or closing access.

  The user who wishes the opening or closing access, via a remote control or more traditional (key), sends a signal to the electronic control system, (in standby with an electric battery) integrated in the access assembly, which has the effect of controlling one or more hydraulic distributors thus allowing the passage of pressurized fluid to the actuator (s) (depending on the application) which can or can thus develop the necessary power.

  It should be noted that the distributor or distributors may or may be of the mono or bistable type and with three or five orifices (depending on the application). Upstream and downstream of this hydraulic distributor, it is necessary to implement in the circuit, an adjustable flow restrictor with anti-return thus controlling the speed of actuation of the access systems. É The tank, the safety valve, the accumulator, the non-return valves, the distributor (s) and the electronic control system can be fixed inside a box itself fixed on a wall or on a wall. appropriate support or the ground provided that in this case, its overall thickness is compatible for the passage of a wheeled vehicle (especially the generally low car); the purge valve will preferably be mounted on this cabinet. If the opening or closing command is made by means of a key to be inserted in a small contact-type casing, this casing can be fixed on the casing, on a wall or support or on the device. access.

  The accompanying drawings or diagrams illustrate the invention: FIG. 1 represents the cross-section of a round pipe or other shape protected by an outer envelope.

  Figure 2 shows the alternative cross-section of a round pipe or other molded or glued form in a form of protection.

  Figure 3 shows the longitudinal section of a pipe (or module) round or other shape provided with its two end plugs and two connections.

  Figure 4 shows the functional block diagram of the assembly of the invention.

  FIG. 5 represents the flow diagram of the operating principle of the subject of the invention, the applications of which can be various.

  With reference to these drawings, FIGS. 1 to 5, the device comprises one or more elastomeric pipe modules (1) provided or not with an elastomeric outer casing (2) or according to variant (3). At each end of the pipes (1) is a plug (4) of elastomer or metal or synthetic material is glued, overmoulded, force-fitted or vulcanized or fixed. One of these plugs (4) receives two sealed connections one (5) allows the admission of the fluid (7), the other (6) allows the discharge of the fluid (7). These connectors (5) and (6) are metal or synthetic materials, they are overmolded or fixed or force-fitted or glued on one of the plugs (4). This or these pipe modules (1) rest on the ground (9) which can be concrete, or bitumen or tarred or hard compacted in any case hard. They are fixed by screw (8) or sealing or gluing on the floor (9).

  One or more fluid intake pipes (14) and then one or more fluid discharge pipes (15) are connected respectively to the connections (5) and (6), these pipes (14) and (15) can be flexible or rigid therefore elastomer or metal or synthetic material.

  The pipes (14) are connected to the tank (12) thus allowing the admission of liquid or fluid (7) to the module or modules (1).

  The pipes (15) are connected to the accumulator (11) thus allowing the fluid (7) to be discharged towards this accumulator (11). The pipes (15) are also connected to the distributor (16) but the latter and / or not the actuator (17) necessarily have an obstruction since the motorized action (17) is supposed to be completed when one or more wheels ( 10) of vehicle come roll and then crush the module or modules (1).

  However, if the geographical position of the modules (1) were to be rather remote from the access devices (27), (28), (29), (30), (31) or other, or signaling (35) ) no disadvantage is noted here, in fact, the discharge of the liquid during the passage of one or more wheels (10) on the module or modules (1) at the precise moment when the engine (s) (17) are in action, is carried out with a hydraulic pressure greater than that stored in the accumulator (11), in addition a safety relief valve (21) allows to limit this pressure in accordance with safety standards. If therefore, in this case, the pressure of the accumulator (11) is lower than that which corresponds to the maximum permissible limit, a load and motor action will be carried out normally. Between each module (1) and the reservoir (12) is mounted a non-return valve (22) either on piping (14) or at the outlet of the module (1) or on the reservoir (12), so that it only one direction of movement of the fluid (7), that is to say reservoir (12) to module (1), is admitted. These non-return valves (22) may be commercially available as specially designed. Between each module (1) and the accumulator (11) is mounted a non-return valve (33) either on piping (15) or at the outlet of the module (1) in any case, located upstream of the safety valve ( 21) and the junction (34) (in the case of several modules (1)) so that only one direction of movement of the fluid (7) discharged, that is to say, module (1) to accumulator (11), ie the discharge. These check valves (33) may be commercially available as specially designed.

  A manually operated purge valve (20) allows for maintenance purposes, to reduce the pressure or even to escape all the fluid (7) contained in the system.

  One or more distributors (16) with three or five orifices, mono or bistable, (according to application), with electrical control, admit or not the energy requirement of the actuator or actuators (17), which have controlled movements thanks to limiters of flow rates (19).

  Thus, the user who wishes to open or even close an access (27) or (28) or (29) or (30) or (31) or other, via a remote control (26 ) or a key (25) that it introduces into the electrical box (24), sends a signal to the electronic system (23) which is battery powered; the latter sends an electrical impulse to the control of the distributor (16), which therefore admits the passage of the fluid (7) under pressure, by the return of energy stored in the accumulator (11) to the actuator (s) (17), and the motorization in the opening or closing access is effected; it should be noted that the exhaust fluid of the actuator (s) returns to the reservoir (12). When the access thus allows the passage of the vehicle, the latter advancing its wheel (s) (10) crush the module or modules (1) by deforming or locally deforming and therefore driving back part of the fluid (7) contained to the energy accumulator (11) by generating a higher pressure than that contained in this accumulator, it is thus that energy is stored.

  The wheel or wheels (10) having released the module or modules (1), or they return to their original shape by creating a liquid call (7) contained in the reservoir (12) which is at a higher level. Thus, the volume of liquid (7) previously discharged to the accumulator (11) is compensated by that admitted by the reservoir (12).

  The reservoir (12), the safety valve (21), the accumulator (11), the non-return valves (22) and (33), the distributor (16), the flow restrictors (19), the system electronics (23) and in some cases of application, the actuator (17) and the purge valve (20) can be contained and fixed in a box (32) which can be fixed on a wall, on an appropriate support or else on the ground.

  These devices, according to the invention, are particularly intended for the motorization of hydraulic type actuators allowing in particular the opening or closing of access devices, or the signaling control. Of course, the invention is not limited to the embodiments described, from new variants, it can be extended to other applications without departing from the scope of the invention.

Claims (10)

  1 - Device for accumulation and return of hydraulic energy that can be operated for the operation of hydraulic type actuators and thus the motor opening or closing of access devices or signaling control characterized in that it comprises: One or more elastomeric pipe modules (1) provided or not with an elastomeric outer protection in the form of a ramp (2) or according to variant (3), all fixed or glued or sealed on the ground (9).   A reservoir (12) filled with a fluid (7) connected by rigid and flexible connections and pipes with the module or modules (1).   A hydraulic accumulator (11) of compressed gas pocket type or piston type, connected by connections and rigid or flexible sealed pipes with the module or modules (1).   A hydraulic distributor type 5/2 or 3/2 and single or bistable (16) in connection with connections and pipes sealed and rigid or flexible with the accumulator (11) and the module or modules (1) thus allowing the distribution of energy to one or more actuators (17).   An electronic device (23) powered by a battery, which, from a signal given by remote control (26) or key (25) to be introduced into electrical box (24), controls the distributor (16) for admission or cut-off energy.   2 - Device according to claim 1, characterized in that the module (1) forming a perfectly sealed whole consists of one or more pipes with plugs (4) at each end, round or other shape, filled with fluid (7) , deformable but quickly recovering their initial shape so that they have a pump function.   3 - Device according to claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the reservoir (12), filled with fluid (7) is located at a level higher than that of the module or modules (1) thereby, by gravity, d ensure the necessary liquid supply (7) to the module or modules (1).   4 - Device according to claims 1, 2 and 3 characterized in that at the outlet of the module or modules (1), are located firstly on circuits (14) of non-return valves (22) thus admitting that a single direction of movement of the fluid (7), namely reservoir (12) to modules (1) is the admission, on the other hand on circuits (15), check valves (33) and admitting that only one direction of movement of the fluid (7), namely, modules (1) to accumulator (11) is the discharge.   - Device according to claims 1, 2, 3, and 4 characterized in that when a vehicle rolls on one or more modules (1), its mass is such that the wheel or wheels (10) crush the pipe or pipes in the or deforming them locally and consequently forcing a part of the liquid (7) contained, towards the energy accumulator (11), generating a pressure which is greater than that contained in this accumulator (11) thus making a storage or charge energy.   6 - Device according to claims 1 to 5 characterized in that in accordance with the 10 safety rules in force, a safety valve (21) is inserted into the circuit (15) thus providing a limit in the pressure of the set of installation.   7 - Device according to claims 1 to 5 characterized in that from a signal given by remote control (26) or key (25) corresponding to a need for energy for the motorization of one or more actuators (17). ), the accumulator (11) via the distributor (16), will restore a portion of the stored energy (fluid (7) under pressure).   8 - Device according to claims 1 and 7 characterized in that are implanted upstream and downstream of the distributor '(16) two adjustable flow restrictors (19) with integrated anti-return thus to control the speed of actuation of the or actuators (17).   9 - Device according to claims 1 to 8, characterized in that for maintenance purposes, a purge valve (20) is implanted in connection with the entire circuit for this way to release the entire installation of any pressure, even drain.   - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sizing of the entire installation is a function of the application and knows no lower or upper limit.   11 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the whole set of accumulation and return of hydraulic energy and the electronic control system with its battery, can be contained in a box (32) to attach to the floor, wall or stand.   12 - Device according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the entire system allows motorization opening or closing access devices such as retractable terminals (27), barriers (28), door (29), gate (30), parking arch (31) or other or signaling control (35).