WO2012045320A1

WO2012045320A1 - Energy saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder), in particular for use in the body shell construction in motor vehicle industry

Info

Publication number: WO2012045320A1
Application number: PCT/EP2010/006083
Authority: WO
Inventors: Josef-Gerhard Tünkers
Original assignee: Tünkers Maschinenbau Gmbh
Priority date: 2010-10-06
Filing date: 2010-10-06
Publication date: 2012-04-12
Also published as: DE112010005923A5; DE112010005923B4

Abstract

The invention relates to an energy saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder), in particular for use in bodyshell construction in the motor vehicle industry. A working cylinder of said type can advantageously be used for so-called locating pin cylinders which serve for the positioning and alignment of sheet metal components during bodyshell construction in the motor vehicle industry.

Description

Energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder), in particular for use in the bodywork of the automotive industry

description

genus

The invention relates to an energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder), in particular for use in the bodywork of the automotive industry.

State of the art

Devices of the previously known type are also referred to in the jargon as "pin-pull cylinders." Interchangeable tool parts, for example conically tapering mandrels or the like, can be arranged on the free end emerging from the housing. The tensile and shear forces exerted on the respective cylinder mandrel are limited by the force that can be applied by the respective pressure-effective area on the piston and by the fluid pressure. The fluid pressure, in particular pneumatic pressure, is limited and can not be changed at the individual workstations in the bodywork of the automotive industry usually. The construction dimensions of the piston-cylinder units, which drive the push rod in the prior art directly, are also limited by design. In the case of pressure drop, moreover, there is the possibility that the push rods move back unintentionally, so that the parts to be centered and / or positioned can shift or fall against each other before they are connected permanently, for example by spot welding, clinching or gluing.

A device of this type is previously known from DE 20 2007 017 274.5, which is based on the applicant. This device has a centering mandrel, which is connected via a toggle joint assembly with the piston rod.

task

The invention has for its object to provide an energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder), in particular for use in the bodywork of the automotive industry. Furthermore, the invention has for its object to provide an inventive use (application) of such a working cylinder.

Solution regarding the working cylinder

This object is achieved by the reproduced in claim 1 features.

Some advantages

In the invention, the piston is acted upon by the same fluid pressure during extension of the piston rod, wherein, however, the amount of fluid in the cylinder annulus is forced back into the system, for example in the opposite cylinder chamber, so that only replaces the respective volume of the piston rod by a corresponding amount of fluid needs to be. The result is energy saving for fluid production, in particular for the production of compressed air, which is available for example in production lines of the body shop of the automotive industry everywhere. As a result, even when flowing out a much smaller amount of fluid into the environment. Advantageously, the piston and thus the piston rod can be locked in the respective position by a valve, so that even in case of power failure of the piston and so that the piston rod can not move unintentionally, for example, when putting a load such as a body. Therefore, such cylinders can be used with advantage in so-called Stiftziehzylindern as they go into the bodywork of the automotive industry for positioning and alignment of sheet-metal components for use.

Further inventive embodiments

Further inventive embodiments are described in claims 2 to 6.

Claim 2 describes an energy-saving cylinder, in which a controlled check valve is associated with a so-called shuttle valve having two shut-off positions, which are alternately effective during retraction and extension of the piston and the piston rod.

In the embodiment according to claim 3, the controlled check valve and the shuttle valve are arranged in the bottom of the working cylinder, so that there is a compact design.

This floor can be designed as a bottom cover - claim 4 -, in which also suitable channels or lines and the control lines for the controlled check valve are arranged so that there are no external lines that could be damaged.

The controlled check valve and the shuttle valve with the associated channels and lines can be arranged in a removable and to be connected to the cylinder by pressure medium pressure lid - Claim 5.

Advantageously, according to claim 6, a channel can be arranged in a housing wall. This channel leads to the cylinder annulus and simultaneously connects via other lines or channels the cylinder annulus with the controlled check valve and this also the feed cylinder space, depending on the position of the valves.

Solution of the task concerning the use

This object is achieved by the reproduced in claim 7 features.

The working cylinder according to the invention can be used with advantage in so-called pin cylinder devices, as already described above. In this case, considerable forces can be expended, in particular when retracting the piston rod and thus the centering mandrel, depending on how suitable the sheet-shaped components are arranged with their openings or holes through which engages the centering mandrel with the piston rod to position and center these components.

Claim 8 describes an advantageous embodiment of the use.

In the drawing, the invention - partly schematically - illustrated in one embodiment. Show it:

Fig. 1 is an energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder) in

Application to a so-called Stiftziehzylindervorrichtung, as used in particular in the bodywork of the automotive industry, in the extended position of the piston rod, and

Fig. 2 shows the device of FIG. 1 in a retracted state.

The reference numeral 1 denotes a housing in which a cylinder 2 is arranged, in which a by fluid pressure, for. B. by compressed air, in the direction X or Y, that is longitudinally displaceable and sealed by a sealing member 3 guided piston 4, is arranged. The piston 4 is functionally or materially integrally connected to a piston rod 5, which may be connected to the piston 4 by screw or the like. If necessary, the piston rod 5 can also be designed in several parts (not shown), for example consisting of nested or screwed individual parts.

The piston rod 5 carries at its outer end portion a centering pin 6, which is connected to the piston rod 5 by screw or the like functionally or materially in one piece, connected. The centering pin 6 can be arranged interchangeable.

Reference numeral 7 denotes a sealing element which seals the piston rod 5 against the housing 1 in a fluid-tight manner.

The piston 4 divides the cylinder 2 into a feed cylinder space 8 and a return stroke or cylinder annulus 9.

Both at the feed cylinder chamber 8 and at the cylinder annulus 9, a channel or a conduit 10 and 11 are each connected, which serve the Fluidzu- or - discharge. As a fluid, a hydraulic or pneumatic medium in the bodywork of the automotive industry preferably compressed air, come into consideration, since compressed air in the automotive industry is available everywhere. With 12 is a controlled check valve and 13 denotes a shuttle valve. The shuttle valve 13 has two different shut-off positions, which it can optionally assume.

By the reference numerals 14 and 15 channels or lines are referred to, which serve to supply or discharge of the fluid.

The check valve 12 is connected to the conduit 14. At the same time, the valve 12 is fluid-conductively connected via a control line 16 to the channel or line 15 and via a channel or line 17 to the shuttle valve 13. The line 14 is also connected via a channel or a line 18 to the shuttle valve 13.

As can be seen, the two valves 12 and 13 with the various lines, such. B. 11, 16, 17 and 18 are arranged in a bottom part 19 of the housing 1. This bottom part 19 can also be designed as a removable and pressure-tight seal with the housing 1, in particular with the cylinder 2, connected bottom cover (not shown). Furthermore, it is possible to arrange the valves 12 and 13 with the associated lines in a replaceable, cartridge-shaped body of the bottom part 19, which is connected fluid-tight manner with the bottom part 19 and in particular with the cylinder 2 fluid-tight. For this purpose, suitable sealing elements can be provided in order to seal the relevant parts, fluid-tight, in particular compressed air-tight. As can be seen, the apparent from the drawing device is compact, since the various channels and lines are arranged with the valves 12 and 13 in the outer contour lines of the housing 1 and thus do not increase the dimensions thereof.

The operation of the apparent from the drawing embodiment is the following:

Suppose the piston rod 5 is to be moved in the direction Y, ie extended. Fluid is then supplied under pressure, for example compressed air, via the line, wherein the fluid pressure propagates via the controlled check valve 12 and the channel 11 into the feed cylinder space 8 and acts on the piston 4.

At the same time, the fluid pressure via the line 14, the line 18, the line 20 and the line 10 propagates into the cylinder annulus 9, so that the piston 4 is moved with the differential pressure in the direction Y, whereby the piston rod 5 also in the Y direction moved out of the housing 1. Both cylinder chambers 8 and 9 are thus subjected to the same fluid pressure during the extension stroke of the piston rod 5. The controlled check valve 12 blocks accidental movement of the piston rod 5 in the X direction, ie in the return stroke.

During the stroke movement in the direction Y, ie when the piston rod 5 is extended, the amount of fluid in the cylinder annular space 9 is displaced via the line 10 into the system, for example into the feed cylinder space 8, so that this fluid quantity is not lost when the piston rod 5 is extended. When the piston rod 5 is extended, only the volume of fluid determined by the piston rod volume 5 needs to be supplemented, whereby a corresponding energy saving takes place.

When retracting the piston rod 5, so when moving the piston 4 in the direction X, 15 fluid, for example compressed air, is supplied under pressure via the line. The fluid pressure controls the shuttle valve 13 in accordance with and via the control line 16, the controlled check valve 12 in the open position, so that the located in the feed cylinder chamber 8 amount of fluid can escape via line 11.

While the check valve 12 and the shuttle valve 13 are controlled by the fluid pressure in the illustrated embodiment, it is also possible to form these valves as remotely controlled valves. The features described in the summary, in the patent claims and in the description and apparent from the drawing features, both individually and in any combination for the realization of the invention may be essential.

reference numeral

casing

cylinder

sealing element

piston

piston rod

centering

sealing element

Feed cylinder chamber

Return stroke or cylinder ring space

Channel, line check valve

shuttle valve

Line control line, channel Conduction floor section, floor cover pipe, channel movement direction

bibliography

Prospectus of Tünkers Maschinenbau GmbH, Ratingen, "Clamping technology for professional series production"

Prospectus of Tünkers Maschinenbau GmbH, Ratingen, "Production Program"

Prospectus of Tünkers Maschinenbau GmbH, Ratingen, "Clamping Systems, Handling, Forming Technology"

DE 333 903 C

DE 19 41 785 A1

DE 195 12 429 A1

DE 196 16 441 C1

DE 198 24 579 C1

DE 199 30 990 C1

DE 102 60 138 A1

DE 10 2004 027 849 A1

DE 10 2004 034 280 A1

DE 10 2004 063 463 B3

DE 10 2006 041 707

DE 20 2007 017 274.5

DE 297 00 887 U1

Claims

claims

1. Energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder), in particular for use in the bodywork of the automotive industry, with one in a cylinder (2) by fluid pressure longitudinally displaceable and sealingly guided piston (4) on one side (piston ring side 9) a from the cylinder (2) sealingly led out piston rod (5) is associated with the device parts for locking or centering or pushing or for moving or positioning or other tools drives, wherein the working cylinder (2) channels (14, 15, 10, 11), which upon extension (Y) of the piston rod (5) the cylinder chambers (8, 9) located on both sides of the piston (4) to the fluid supply with the interposition of at least one valve (12), such that the piston (4 ) is acted upon during the extension stroke (Y) on both the piston ring side (9) and on the opposite piston side (8) with the same fluid pressure, wherein the on the cylinder ring space side (9) located fluid quantity during extension of the piston rod (5) in the fluid system (10), for example in the opposite feed cylinder space (8) with the interposition of at least one controlled check valve (12), wherein the piston (4) with the piston rod (5) and the optionally associated workpiece or the like is locked in the respectively extended position by an associated valve against displacement.

Energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder) according to claim 1, characterized in that the controlled non-return valve (12) is associated with a shuttle valve (13), on the one hand via a line or a channel (15) to the fluid supply to the extension (Y) the piston rod (5) and on the other hand via a line or a channel to the fluid supply channel for retraction of the piston rod (5) and via a control line to the controlled check valve (12) is connected.

Energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the controlled non-return valve (12) and the shuttle valve (13) in the bottom (19) of the working cylinder (2) are arranged.

Energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder) according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the controlled non-return valve (12) and the shuttle valve (13) in a bottom cover formed as a cylinder part (19) with channels (11, 17, 18) and the control line (16) are arranged.

5. Energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder) according to claim 4, characterized in that the controlled non-return valve (12) and the shuttle valve (13) are arranged in the removable bottom cover designed as a cylinder part (19) with the cylinder (2 ) is connected fluid-tight.

6. Energy-saving piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder) according to claim 2 or one of the subsequent claims, characterized in that a to the shuttle valve (13) on the one hand and on the piston ring-side cylinder chamber (9) on the other hand connected channel (10) arranged in the housing wall is.

7. Use of a piston-cylinder unit (working cylinder unit) according to claim 1 or one of the subsequent claims for driving a device for positioning or centering of components, in particular for use in the bodywork of the automotive industry.

8. Use according to claim 7, characterized in that with the piston rod (5) a centering pin (6) is connected.