COUPLING INTENDED FOR AN AIR MOTOR

Abstract

The invention relates to a coupling (110) for connecting a compressed air source to an air motor, comprising a housing (116) with a housing channel leading to a compressed air connection (118) and a piston (124) axially adjustable in the housing channel (122) and force-loaded by a spring element (126) having a piston channel (132) which, when the coupling is connected to the air motor, merges into a connecting channel (138) present in a pin element (140) of the air motor. The piston can be adjusted in the direction of the compressed air connection by means of the pin element against the force applied by the spring element. The spring element (126) runs between the compressed air connection (118) and the compressed air connection side area of the piston (124). Radial openings (34, 36, 134, 136), through which compressed air flows, extend from the compressed air connection side area of the piston channel (132). At least one exhaust air channel (160, 162) connected to the air motor extends in the wall of the housing (116) and passes through the wall in the end face of the housing.

Claims

1. Coupling (10, 110) for connecting a compressed air source to an air motor, comprising a housing (16, 116) with a housing channel leading to a compressed air connection (18, 118), a piston (24, 124) axially adjustable in the housing channel (22, 122) and force-loaded by a spring element (26, 126), having an axially extending piston channel (30, 132) which, when the coupling is connected to the air motor, merges into a connecting channel (41, 138) present in a pin element (40, 140) of the air motor, wherein the piston is adjustable in the direction of the compressed air connection by means of the pin element against the application of force by the spring element, wherein, in the absence of interaction between the pin element and the piston, the piston is in a first position due to the application of force by the spring element in which the housing channel is shut off with respect to the piston channel by means of a first seal (38, 142) extending between the piston and the housing channel, and, with the coupling connected to the air motor, in a second position of the piston there is a compressed air connection between the housing channel, the piston channel and the connecting channel, characterized, in that the spring element (26, 126) runs between the compressed air connection (18, 118) and the compressed air connection side area of the piston (24, 124), in that radially extending openings (34, 36, 134, 136), through which the compressed air flows in the second position of the piston, extend from the compressed air connection side area of the piston channel (30, 132), and in that at least one exhaust air channel (42, 44, 160, 162) connected to the compressed air motor runs in the wall of the housing (16, 116) and passes through the wall in its compressed air connection side area, in particular the end face of the housing.

2. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, in that the piston (24, 124) has a first section (126) extending on the compressed air motor side and a second section (128) extending on the compressed air connection side, in that the first section has a cylinder geometry on the outside and the piston channel (132) runs inside it, in that the second section has a larger cross section compared to the first section and is spaced apart from the inner surface of the housing channel (122), in that the spring element (126) is supported on the one hand on the compressed air connection side and on the other hand on the first section, in that a first seal (142) extends in the second section or in the transition region between the first and second sections, in that the housing channel has a contact surface (152), in that the first seal engages with the contact surface in the absence of interaction between the pin element (140) and the piston, and in that the piston channel has, in its compressed air connection side area, radially extending openings (134, 136) which run with respect to the contact surface in such a way that, when the seal is not engaged with the contact surface, there is a connection between the housing channel and the piston channel, and when the seal is engaged with the contact surface, the connection is blocked.

3. Coupling according to claim 2, characterized, that the contact surface (152) has a cone shape.

4. Coupling according to claim 2, characterized, in that the first section (126) merges into the second section (128) via a groove (144) in which the first seal (142) runs.

5. Coupling according to claim 2, characterized, in that the second section (128) has a T-shape in longitudinal section with a transverse leg (148), wherein the spring element, such as a helical spring, is preferably supported, on the one hand, on the compressed air connection side face (146) of the transverse leg and, on the other hand, on the inner surface of the compressed air connection (118) connected to the housing (116).

6. Coupling according to claim 2, characterized, in that the housing channel (122) has in its inner side a circumferential second seal (156) running parallel to the first seal (142), via which the pin element (140) can be sealed with respect to the housing channel (122), wherein the distance between the contact region of the first seal on the contact surface (152) and the second seal is defined in such a way that, when the first seal bears against the contact surface, the impact surface (154) runs between the piston (124) and the pin element between the contact surface and the second seal.

7. Coupling according to claim 2, characterized, in that at least one exhaust air connection (160, 162), such as a channel or bore, which starts from the air motor, runs in the wall of the housing (116) and passes through the compressed air connection side area of the wall, in particular its end face (120).

8. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, in that the housing (16, 116) is connected to a first hose element (164) into which the at least one exhaust air connection (160, 162) opens.

9. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, in that the compressed air connection (18, 118) starts from the end region of the housing (16, 116) remote from the compressed air motor connection, which connection is designed in such a way that a second hose element (166) can be connected to it, which second hose element (166) is surrounded in regions by the first hose element (164).

10. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, in that the first hose element (164) is formed or connected to a device to be connected to a muffler.

11. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, in that the first hose element (164) has a length of at least 200 cm, preferably of at least 300 cm.

12. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, in that the first hose element (164) opens into a housing in which or on which at least one muffler through which the exhaust air passes is provided.

13. Coupling according to claim 1, characterized, in that the coupling (10, 110) is a variably positionable coupling.

14. Coupling according to claim 12, characterized, in that the second hose element (166) is passed through the housing and sealed with respect thereto.

Description

[0023] Further details, advantages and features of the invention result not only from the claims, from the features to be taken from these—individually and/or in combination—but also from the following description of preferred embodiment examples.

[0024] Showing:

[0025] FIG. 1 a first embodiment of a quick coupling screwed onto an air motor,

[0026] FIG. 2 the quick coupling according to FIG. 1,

[0027] FIG. 3 a second embodiment of a variably positionable coupling connected to an air motor, and

[0028] FIG. 4 the coupling according to FIG. 3 with spaced air motor.

[0029] With the aid of the figures, the teaching according to the invention will be described, which relates to couplings for connecting an air source to an air motor or an air motor with a coupling.

[0030] In a first embodiment according to FIGS. 1 and 2, a coupling 10, which may be referred to as a quick coupling, is connected to a section 12 of an air motor via a coupling nut 14, as can be self-explanatorily seen in FIG. 1. The coupling 10 includes a housing 16 having a journal-shaped connection 18 connectable thereto for a connecting element generally referred to as a hose, which leads to a source of compressed air to supply compressed air to the air motor. The connection 18 extends centrally from the front region 20 of the housing 16, which may also be referred to as the distal region with respect to the air motor.

[0031] The connection 18 opens into an inner space 22 of the housing 16, to be designated as a housing channel, in which a piston 24 is adjustable in the longitudinal axis direction of the housing 16, which is force-loaded in the direction of the proximal region of the housing 16, i.e. the region of the connection with the air motor, by means of a spring, such as a helical spring 26.

[0032] The piston 24 extends with a section on the pressure connection side at a distance from the inner wall 28 of the inner space 22, so that there is an annular space 30 in which the compressed air is present or through which the compressed air can flow. The adjoining section of the piston 24, which runs on the air motor connection side, is guided axially in the housing 16, as is likewise self-explanatory from the Figs.

[0033] The piston 24 has a central recess, such as a bore 32, in its region 30 near the air motor, which can also be described as a piston channel, from which radially extending openings 34, 36 extend, which pass peripherally through the piston 24, as is likewise self-explanatory from the diagrammatic representation.

[0034] The piston 24 is sealed from the inner wall 28 by at least one circumferential seal 38, which either blocks (FIG. 2) or releases (FIG. 1) a connection between the openings 34, 36 and the annular space 30, depending on the position of the piston 24. The latter is the case when the coupling 10 is connected to the air motor 12 by means of the coupling nut 14 and the piston 24 is displaced in the direction of the distal region, i.e. the end region 20, of the housing 16 against the spring force and compressed air acting on it. This is made possible by the fact that a pressure element, such as a pin element or pin 40, originates from the air motor 12 and extends in or through the connection 15 of the air motor 12, onto which the coupling nut 14 is screwed, in such a way that, when the coupling 10 is connected to the air motor 12, the pressure element or pin 40 interacts with the motor side end region 33 of the piston 24 in such a way that the latter is displaced in the direction of the distal region of the housing 16, i.e. the spring 26 is compressed accordingly, as can be seen from FIG. 1. In this second position, the openings 34, 36 are connected to the annular space 30 so that compressed air can flow through the openings 34, 36 and 41, the bore 32 in the piston 24 and an in this merging axially extending recess like a bore in the pressure element 40 and is connected to the air motor for actuating it. The bore 41 can also be referred to as a connecting channel.

[0035] Instead of the pin 40, another design solution may be provided to adjust the piston 24 when the quick coupling 10 is connected to the air motor. In this respect, pressure element or pin 40 is to be understood as a synonym for corresponding possible solutions.

[0036] If the coupling 10 is disassembled, i.e. moved to the right in the diagrammatic representation of FIG. 1, the force acting on the piston 24 causes it to be displaced in the housing 16 in such a way that the openings 34, 36 are located between the proximal region of the housing 16 and the seal 38, in the so-called first position, so that the connection to the annular space 30 is interrupted and thus compressed air can no longer flow through the bore 32 in the direction of the air motor 12.

[0037] It is further apparent from the diagrammatic representations that within the housing 16, and specifically in the embodiment example, two channels or bores 42, 44 are provided extending in the longitudinal direction of the housing 16, which are connected to or merge with exhaust bores 46, 48 of the air motor 12 when the coupling 10 is connected thereto. The channels 42, 44 pass through the end face region of the housing 16 so that when the peripheral wall 50 of the housing 16 is surrounded by a hose, the exhaust air can then be discharged. In this case, the corresponding hose initially coaxially surrounds the hose connected to the compressed air source and extending from the journal section 18. The hose carrying the exhaust air can be connected to a muffler to reduce the noise level.

[0038] The coupling 10 is preferably made of stainless material such as steel, so that hygiene requirements can also be met in this respect.

[0039] Another seal is located between the coupling nut 14 and the housing 16 of the coupling 10. Also, a seal extends between the pressure element 40 and the inner wall 28 of the housing 16.

[0040] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a particularly noteworthy embodiment of a coupling 110 which can be used in particular for an air motor in the food industry, without this being intended to restrict the teachings of the invention. Independently of this, the coupling 110—like the coupling 10—is not location-bound, so that a connection to air motors can be made without any problems, which are operated by hand, for example. In this case—as in the embodiment example of FIGS. 1 and 2—the coupling is directly connected to an air motor or a section 112 of the air motor.

[0041] To connect the section 112, a coupling nut 114 is provided to receive the section 112 and extend from the coupling 100, as illustrated in the diagrammatic representations.

[0042] A compressed air connection 118 can be connected to the housing 116 of the coupling 110, which in particular passes through the end face 120 of the housing 116 and can be screwed into it. In this region, the housing 116 is formed such that an inner space, to be referred to as the housing channel 122, is formed through which compressed air can flow through the coupling 110 to the air motor in a proximate manner via the connection 118.

[0043] Within the housing channel 122 and adjustable in the axial direction is a piston 124, which is force-loaded towards the proximal region of the coupling 110 by means of a spring element 126, preferably in the form of a helical spring, i.e. in the direction of the region in which the air motor or the section 112 is connected to the coupling 110. The opposite end region 120 may be referred to as the distal region of the coupling 110.

[0044] The piston 124 comprises a first section 126 of cylindrical geometry and a second section 128 having a T-geometry in longitudinal section. In the first section 126 runs a central bore, to be referred to as piston channel 130, which in its bottom region merges into radially extending openings 134, 136, which pass through the piston wall to allow, depending on the position of the piston 124, either compressed air to flow through the connection 118, the housing channel 122 and the piston channel 130 to a connecting channel 138 extending in the section 112 for actuating the air motor, which channel extends within a hollow pin—also called pin element 140—or to shut off the compressed air (FIG. 4) when the coupling 110 is disconnected from the air motor. To this end, a first seal 142 is provided extending in the transition region between the first section 126 and the second section 128 of the piston 124, namely in a groove 144.

[0045] Here, the first seal 122 engages with the proximal outer surface 146 of the transverse leg 148 of the second section 128 of the piston 124. The opposite distal outer surface 150 of the transverse leg 146 is supported by one end of the spring 126. The opposite end is supported on the inside of the compressed air connection 118, which can be screwed into the housing 116.

[0046] The first seal 142 is associated with a contact surface 152 in the inner wall of the housing 116 of the coupling 110, against which the first seal 142 engages when the flow of compressed air is to be shut off, i.e., when the air motor is disconnected from the coupling 110. In this case, the spring 126 acts on the piston 124 in such a way that the piston 124 is displaced in the direction of the air motor connection side area to such an extent that the first seal 142 is in sealing contact with the contact surface 152. Since the radially extending openings 134, 136 of the piston 124 are located between the proximal region of the housing 116, i.e. the end face extending on the air motor side, and the contact surface 142 when the first seal 142 is in contact with the contact surface 152, compressed air cannot flow via the openings 134, 136.

[0047] If, in accordance with FIG. 3, the coupling 110 is connected to the section 112 of the compressed air motor, the journal 140 acts with its end face on the facing end face of the first section 126 of the piston 124 with the result that, when the piston 124 is moved axially—by turning the coupling nut 114—in the direction of the compressed air connection 118, the force caused by the spring 126 is overcome and thus the first seal 142 is spaced from the contact surface 152. At the same time, the radially extending openings 134, 136 enter the region of the housing channel 122 in which the contact surface 142, which has a cone geometry, extends with the result that compressed air can flow through the housing channel 130 and the openings 134, 136 into the connecting channel 138 and thus to the air motor. The connecting channel 138 extends in the pin 140, which can also be referred to as a sleeve. The impact surface between the pin 140 and the first portion 126 of the piston 124 is indicated by reference number 154 in FIG. 3.

[0048] A second seal 156 is recessed in the inner wall of the housing 116, via which the housing 116 is sealed from the journal 140, until the first seal 142 sealingly engages the contact surface 152. Accordingly, the distance between the second seal 156 and the contact surface 152 is matched with respect to the length of the piston 124 and thus the impact surface 154 with respect to the distance between the first seal 142 and the impact surface 154.

[0049] A third seal 57 seals the section 122 from the housing 116, preferably recessed in the housing wall.

[0050] As in the embodiment example in FIGS. 1 and 2, exhaust air channels 160, 162 extend inside the housing wall, through which air recirculated from the air motor can flow. The exhaust air is directed away from a hose element 164 that surrounds the housing 116. A hose 166 connected to the compressed air connection 118 extends within the corresponding hose 164.

[0051] Thus, couplings 10, 110 are available to provide a compressed air supply and an exhaust air supply. The noise level when using the air motor is reduced at the same time, especially when the exhaust air is led away via a hose, e.g. 3 meters long, and then passes through a muffler.

[0052] To reduce noise, it is provided in particular that the first hose element 164, i.e. the hose via which the exhaust air is led away, opens into a housing which is made in particular of plastic. The supply air hose 166 carrying the compressed air is passed through the center of the housing in particular and sealed with an O-ring. The exhaust air coming out of the exhaust hose can escape through mufflers mounted in or on the housing.

[0053] The invention relates to a coupling 10, 110 for connecting a compressed air source to an air motor, comprising a housing 16, 116 with a housing channel leading to a compressed air connection 18, 118, a piston 24, 124 axially adjustable in the housing channel 22, 122 and force-loaded by a spring element 26, 126, having an axially extending piston channel 30, 132 which, when the coupling is connected to the air motor, merges into a connecting channel 41, 138 present in a pin element 40, 140 of the air motor, wherein the piston is adjustable in the direction of the compressed air connection by means of the pin element against the application of force by the spring element, wherein in the absence of interaction between the pin element and the piston, the piston is in a first position due to the application of force by the spring element, in which the housing channel is shut off with respect to the piston channel by means of a first seal 38, 142 extending between the piston and the housing channel, and, with the coupling connected to the air motor, in a second position of the piston there is a compressed air connection between the housing channel, the piston channel and the connecting channel, wherein the coupling is characterized in that the spring element 26, 126 extends between the compressed air connection 18, 118 and the compressed air connection side area of the piston 24, 124, in that radially extending openings 34, 36, 134, 136, via which the compressed air flows in the second position of the piston, extend from the compressed air connection side area of the piston channel 30, 132, and in that at least one exhaust air channel 42, 44, 160, 162, which is connected to the compressed air motor, extends in the wall of the housing 16, 116 and passes through the wall in its compressed air connection side area, in particular the end face of the housing.

[0054] In particular, the invention relates to a coupling 10, 110 for connecting a compressed air source to an air motor, comprising a housing 16, 116 with a housing channel leading to a compressed air connection 18, 118, a piston 24, 124, axially adjustable in the housing channel 22, 122 and force-loaded by a spring element 26, 126 having an axially extending piston channel 30, 132 which, when the coupling is connected to the air motor, merges into a connecting channel 41, 138 present in a pin element 40, 140 of the air motor, wherein the piston is adjustable in the direction of the compressed air connection by means of the pin element against the application of force by the spring element, wherein, in the absence of interaction between the pin element and the piston, the piston is in a first position as a result of the application of force by the spring element, in which first position the housing channel is shut off with respect to the piston channel by means of a first seal 38, 142 extending between the piston and the housing channel, and, with the coupling connected to the compressed air motor, in a second position of the piston there is a compressed air connection between the housing channel, the piston channel and the connecting channel, wherein the coupling is characterized in that the piston 24, 124 has a first section 126 running on the compressed air motor side and a second section 128 running on the compressed air connection side, in that the first section has a cylinder geometry on the outside and the piston channel 132 runs inside it, in that the second section has a larger cross section compared to the first section and runs at a distance from the inner surface of the housing channel 122, in that the spring element 126 is supported on the one hand on the compressed air connection side, in particular on the compressed air connection 118, and on the other hand on the first section in that a first seal 142 runs in the second section or in the transition region between the first and second sections, in that the housing channel has an contact surface 152, in that the first seal engages the contact surface in the absence of interaction between the pin element 140 and the piston and in that the piston channel has, in its compressed air connection side area, radially extending openings 134, 136 which extend with respect to the contact surface in such a way that, when the seal is not engaged with the contact surface, there is a connection between the housing channel and the piston channel, and when the seal is engaged with the contact surface, the connection is blocked.

[0055] In particular, the invention provides that the contact surface 152 has a cone shape.

[0056] It is further provided that the first section 126 transitions into the second section 128 via a groove 144 in which the first seal 142 extends.

[0057] Also, the invention is characterized in that the second section 128 has a T-shape in longitudinal section with a transverse leg 148, wherein the spring element, such as a helical spring, is preferably supported on the one hand on compressed air connection side face 146 of the transverse leg and on the other hand on inner surface of the compressed air connection 118 connected to the housing 116.

[0058] Preferably, it is provided that the housing channel 122 has in its inner side a circumferential second seal 156 running parallel to the first seal 142, via which the pin element 140 can be sealed with respect to the housing channel 122, wherein the distance between the contact region of the first seal on the contact surface 152 and the second seal is defined in such a way that, when the first seal bears against the contact surface, the impact surface 154 runs between the piston 124 and the pin element between the contact surface and the second seal.

[0059] The invention is also characterized in that at least one exhaust air connection 160, 162, such as a channel or bore, extending from the air motor extends in the wall of the housing 116 and passes through the compressed air connection side area of the wall, in particular its end face 120.

[0060] The invention is further characterized in that the housing 16, 116 is connected to a first hose element 164 into which the at least one exhaust connection opens.

[0061] In particular, the invention is characterized in that from the end region of the housing 16, 116 remote from the compressed air motor connection originates the compressed air connection 18, 118, which is designed in such a way that a second hose element 166 can be connected thereto, which is surrounded in regions by the first hose element 164.

[0062] Also characteristic of the invention is that the first hose element 164 is formed or connected to a device to be connected to a muffler.

[0063] More preferably, the first hose element 164 has a length of at least 200 cm, preferably of at least 300 cm.

[0064] In particular, the first hose element 164 opens into a housing preferably made of plastic. In this, the exhaust air exits the first hose element 164 and then passes through mufflers mounted on or in the housing. This results in a considerable reduction in noise.

[0065] Furthermore, the hose 166 supplying the compressed air is passed through the housing and sealed with respect thereto via, for example, an O-ring. Thus, coaxial routing of the compressed air hose 166 and the exhaust air hose 164 is possible in a simple manner.

[0066] In particular, the invention provides that the coupling 10, 110 is not stationary, but rather connectable to an air motor at a desired location.

[0067] Also, the invention features an air motor with a coupling characterized by at least some of the features previously described.