3-POINT TORQUE SUPPORT

Abstract

A torque support for a transport device for fuels of a biomass heating system, including: a base plate having three legs and three sides; and a torque support, wherein the torque support is a 3-point torque support that comprises three fastening points for connecting the base plate to a support structure.

Claims

1. A rotary valve for a transport device for fuels of a biomass heating system, comprising: a base plate having three legs and three sides; and a torque support, wherein the torque support is a 3-point torque support that comprises three fastening points for connecting the base plate to a support structure, wherein the base plate has an axle opening configured to pass a driven axle through, wherein the base plate comprises a plurality of fastening holes configured for fastening a drive, and wherein each of the legs comprises a receiving hole configured to receive a fastening element for fastening on an output side to a support structure of the transport device.

2. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the base plate is approximately triangular in shape; and wherein ends of the triangular in shape base plate are formed by the ends of the legs.

3. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein centers of the receiving holes form corners of an equilateral or isosceles triangle.

4. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein an insulating bush for sound damping is provided in a receiving hole.

5. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein in each receiving hole a respective insulation bushing is provided for sound damping.

6. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the base plate in a top view is approximately an isosceles or isosceles triangle.

7. The rotary valve according to claim 1, the base plate has three axes of symmetry representing bisectors of the sides, and three axes of symmetry intersecting a center of the torque support.

8. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the center of the axle opening is provided in the center of the torque support and/or the center of the base plate.

9. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of mounting holes are provided at the same distance from the center of the torque support.

10. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein the sides are provided in a waisted manner configuration.

11. The rotary valve according to claim 1, wherein each of the legs has an offset, wherein a first plane of the base plate with the receiving holes differs from a second plane of the base plate with the fastening holes for fastening a drive.

12. The rotary valve according to claim 4, wherein the insulation bushes are made of plastic or rubber.

13. (canceled)

14. (canceled)

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0043] The torque support according to the invention is explained in more detail below in exemplary embodiments and individual aspects with reference to the figures of the drawing:

[0044] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional oblique view of a torque support;

[0045] FIG. 2 is a top view of the torque support of FIG. 1;

[0046] FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the torque support of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2;

[0047] FIG. 4 shows an exploded drawing of a rotary valve with a torque support of FIGS. 1 to 3; and

[0048] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a room discharge device with a torque support of FIGS. 1 to 3.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0049] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present disclosure and two applications thereof will be disclosed merely by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, the embodiment and the terms used herein are not intended to limit the present disclosure to this particular embodiment, and it should be understood that the embodiment includes various changes, equivalents, and/or alternatives according to the embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0050] If more general terms are used in the description for the features or elements illustrated in the figures, it is intended that not only the special feature or element is disclosed in the figures for the person skilled in the art, but also the more general technical teaching.

[0051] With reference to the description of the figures the same reference signs may be used in each figure to refer to similar or technically corresponding elements. Furthermore, for the sake of clarity, more elements or features can be represented by reference numerals in individual detail or detail views than in the overview views. It can be assumed here that these elements or features are also correspondingly disclosed in the other figures, even if they are not explicitly listed there.

[0052] It should be understood that a singular form of a noun corresponding to an object may include one or more of the things, unless the context in question clearly indicates otherwise.

[0053] For example, a term “configured to” (or “set up”) used in the present disclosure may be replaced with “suitable for,” “adapted to,” “made to,” “capable of,” or “designed to,” as technically possible. Alternatively, in a particular situation, an expression “device configured to” or “set up to” may mean that the device can operate in conjunction with another device or component, or perform a corresponding function.

3-Point Torque Support

[0054] FIG. 1 shows a three-dimensional oblique view of an example of a torque support 1 according to the invention. FIG. 2 is a top view of the torque support 1 of FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view of the torque support 1 of FIG. 1 and FIG. 2. The same reference numerals designate correspondingly identical parts/features in FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0055] Referring to FIGS. 1 to 3, the torque support 1 has a base plate 8 with an axle opening 7. The base plate 8 in turn has three legs 1a, 1b, 1c, which are arranged around the axle opening 7. The ends of the three legs 1a, 1b, 1c each point outward from the center M of the torque support 1. These ends are thus also the distal ends of the base plate 8. These ends may be provided rounded. However, this property does not change the fact that the base plate 8 can be designated as triangular in plan view, even if it has no hard corners or a waist (see later). Furthermore, the base plate has the three sides 6 of the base plate 8.

[0056] The base plate 8 may be made of a metal, preferably a torsionally rigid hard metal. Thereby, the base plate 8 can be cut and metal formed for the production, for example, by the laser cutting method. Alternatively, however, the base plate 8 may also be made of a plastic.

[0057] The axle opening 7 serves for the passage of a drive axle 15 (cf. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5) or drive shaft of an accessory of a biomass heating system, for example the drive shaft of a screw conveyor for biogenic fuel or the drive shaft of a rotary valve through the torque support 1. Optionally, the axle opening 7 may be provided for a rotatable mounting of the drive axle.

[0058] The base plate 8 has holes 5 or bores 5 for rigid connection to a drive 13 (shown in FIG. 4 and FIG. 5). The holes 5 can be arranged on a circular line around the axle opening 7 at regular intervals. Alternatively, however, the holes 5 can also be arranged differently depending on the requirements of the drive to be fastened (and, for example, according to the position of its fastening holes or screw holes).

[0059] In the plan view of FIG. 2, the base plate 8 can now be referred to as a roughly triangular or triangular plate 8. In this case, the base plate 8 (with the exception of the holes 5) has three axes of symmetry, which are both the central perpendicular and the lateral bisectors. These three axes of symmetry with respect to the outer contour of the base plate 8 extend through the center M and in each case through the center of the respective leg 1a, 1b, 1c.

[0060] The three legs 1a, 1b, 1c extend in the distal direction and taper with the distance to the center M of the torque support 1.

[0061] Furthermore, the base plate 8 has the three sides 6, which are formed (optionally) as lateral waists 6 in order to save material. The three waists 6 are thus provided on the outer sides 6 of the base plate 8 of the torque support 1.

[0062] The axle opening 7 may be provided at the center M of the torque support. In this case, the axle opening 7 is a (preferably circular) hole, the center M of which can be the center or the geometric center of gravity of the torque support 1.

[0063] Furthermore, the torque support 1 has three fastening points 2 for connection to a support structure of a device, for example to a housing of a transport device for fuels of a biomass heating system. These three fastening/attachment points 2 are respectively provided at the distal ends of the legs 1a, 1b, 1c. A 3-point torque support 1 is thus provided.

[0064] The three fastening points 2 of the three legs 1a, 1b, 1c (and thus the legs 1a, 1b, 1c) each have in detail a receiving hole 3a (shown in FIGS. 4 and 5) for an insulating bushing 3.

[0065] The insulating bushing 3 can consist of a plastic (for example POM, PPs, PVC, PP, PE, PPs-el, PE-el, PVDF or rubber), which can preferably have sound-absorbing properties. The three insulating bushings 3 are each bush-shaped and have in their center an opening for (preferably form-fitting) receiving a fastening element 4, for example a screw 4 (cf. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5).

[0066] The respective center of the three receiving holes 3a form the three corners of a triangle D (see the dash-dot line of FIG. 2), which is preferably formed on the same side. The center of gravity of this triangle D may in turn be the center M of the torque support 1.

[0067] Furthermore, the three legs 1a, 1b, 1c are each designed to be bent by means of a (preferably double) bent or angularly arranged plate section 9. Thus, a crank 9 is provided which enables the insulating bushings 3 to rest centrally on the legs 1a, 1b, 1c of the base plate 8 (see in particular the left side of FIG. 3 for the shape of the crank 9). In other words, the base plate 8 with its legs 1a, 1b, 1c has a bridge-shaped cross section (cf. FIG. 3), with the legs 1a, 1b, 1c resting on the output side or on the side of the output. This also ensures that the insulating bushes 3 alone rest on the output side, inter alia in order to reduce the sound transmission through the torque support 1.

[0068] The receiving holes 3 of the base plate 8 do not lie in the same (cross-sectional) plane as the axle opening 7, which further improves the sound damping and also the assembly.

[0069] It can also be seen from FIG. 3 that the torque support 1 with its receiving holes 3 can be set up such that the receiving holes 3 can be pushed over the insulating bushes 3.

[0070] For example, the insulating bushings 3 can already be mounted in advance on the output-side housing 11, wherein then receiving holes 3 are pushed onto the insulating bushings 3, and wherein then the fixing can take place by means of the further fastening elements, for example bolts or screws (cf. also FIG. 5, wherein the insulating bushings 3 are preassembled on the output side, and then the torque support 1 with its receiving holes 3 is pushed onto the insulating bushings 3).

[0071] The three insulating bushes 3 can alternatively or additionally have a stop, so that they can be inserted into the receiving hole 3a until the stop of the insulating bush 3 rests on the base plate. Then, as a result, the torque support 1 with the insulating bushes can be screwed to the output-side housing.

Rotary Valve with Torque Support

[0072] FIG. 4 shows an exploded view of a rotary valve with a torque support 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0073] The torque support 1 is provided between the drive 13 and a housing 11 of a rotary valve 10.

[0074] On the drive side, the drive 13, for example an electric motor, is provided with a transmission 14/gear 14 with a receptacle for a drive axle 15 or drive shaft 15 of the rotary valve 10.

[0075] On the output side, the housing 11, a cellular wheel 12 with two chambers, a mechanism 16 for a worm drive (not shown) and a fuel supply port 17 are provided.

[0076] The torque support 1 serves for the stable fixing/mounting of the drive 13 and the transmission 14, which together provide a transmission motor.

[0077] In the assembled state, the axle 15 is provided guided through the torque support 1.

[0078] The transmission 14 is connected or screwed to the torque support 1 by means of fastening elements 5a, for example screws 5a.

[0079] A counterpart to the torque support 1 is provided on the housing 11, to which counterpart the insulating bushings 3 are attached. The torque support 1 can be pushed with its receiving holes 3a onto the insulating bushes 3, and then the torque support 1 can be screwed to the housing 11.

[0080] As a result or in the assembled state, the torque support 1 is attached to the housing 11 by means of three fastening points 2, the three fastening points 2 having the same distance from the center M of the axle opening 7 and being arranged in a triangularly symmetrical manner.

[0081] In addition, the insulating bushings 3 are located in the (solid) sound transmission path between the housing 11 and the motor 13.

Room Discharge Device with Torque Support

[0082] FIG. 5 is an exploded view of a room discharge device 20 with a torque support 1 of FIGS. 1 to 3. Thus, it is clarified that the present torque support can be used for various types of transport devices for biomass heating devices. The same reference numerals as in FIG. 4 denote the same or similar parts/features.

[0083] The space discharge device 20 has a conveying channel 21 for a fuel, in which (not shown) a conveying screw is provided for conveying the fuel, the conveying screw being driven via the axle 15. The fuel is conveyed in FIG. 5, for example, from the right side through the delivery channel 21 to the left and then down through the outlet 23. The conveying channel 21 is part of a support structure of the space discharge device 20.

[0084] In FIG. 5, too, the torque support 1 connects the drive side to the output side. On the output side, a counterpart, in the present case a suspension 22 with a bearing for the axle 15, to the torque support 1 is provided, to which the insulating bushes 3 are attached. Incidentally, counter nuts for the screw connection are shown to the right of the insulating bushes.

[0085] Here too, the torque support 1 can be pushed onto the insulating bushes 3. The insulating bushings 3 are thus advantageously located in the (solid-state) sound transmission path between the fuel delivery channel 21 and the motor 13.

[0086] As a result, or in the assembled state, the torque support 1 is attached to the conveying channel 11 by means of three fastening points 2, the three fastening points 2 having the same distance from the center M of the axle opening 7, and being arranged triangularly symmetrically.

Advantages

[0087] The purpose of the torque support 1 is first of all to absorb the differential torque of the drive and output and to introduce it into the support structure (for example, housing or frame). In this case, not only the torque in the axis of the drive axle/drive shaft is to be absorbed in the present case, but also laterally acting torques (or also bending torques) which can result in particular during the transport of piece goods by means of a screw or sluice. In this case, for example, pellets can wedge laterally in the conveying channel 21, as a result of which transverse and bending forces can be produced on the torque support via the axle 15, which forces can also be reinforced again by the lever action of the axle 15 (depending on the further axle bearings). Thus, distortions can occur in different directions.

[0088] However, the suspension of the torque support 1 at three points 2 mechanically ensures that a high stability of the torque support 1 also exists with respect to such twists. The three fastening points 2 ensure that forces in all relevant directions can be absorbed by the torque support 1.

[0089] In the case of the conventional torque support of AT 13 782 U1 with only two fastening points, lateral forces which lie transversely to the connecting line of the fastening points can be absorbed only inadequately, for example as a result of tests. Thus, the present torque support 1 is a support fixed or resting on three fastening points 2, wherein conventional torque supports for accessories or transport devices in biomass heating systems, in contrast thereto, are 2 or 1-point supports (i.e. with two or one fastening point).

[0090] If, however, four or more fastening points were now provided for further increasing the stability, the attenuation of the noises or of the sound by the torque support deteriorates, since more fastening points mean more contact surface, more material for the sound conduction and thus a lower sound resistance between the drive side and the output side.

[0091] In this respect, it has been found in the present case that three fastening points are the ideal compromise between mechanical stability (also in transverse directions to the axle 15 or under bending stress) and the sound-damping properties of the torque support 1.

[0092] In addition, the position of the fastening points 2 or of the centers of the receiving holes 3 at the corners of an equilateral triangle contributes to increasing the mechanical stability, as is apparent to the person skilled in the art from mechanical/physical considerations when considering the triangular geometry disclosed herein. The position of the fastening points 2 also contributes to a simple mounting on the counterpart, since the points 2 must necessarily lie in one plane, and, for example, manufacturing tolerances can be compensated or handled more easily than, for example, in the case of a torque support with four more fastening points.

[0093] Furthermore, the base plate is also more stable in the approximately triangular shape or the symmetrical shape as an equilateral triangle and easy to handle in assembly.

[0094] Furthermore, (preferably) the noise generation or noise emission of a transport device of a biomass heating system is to be further reduced. The three insulating bushings 3, which represent a barrier in the sound conduction path between the drive 13 and the output side, serve for this purpose.

[0095] Here, a synergy between the three fastening points 2 and the three insulating bushes 3 occurs: If more than three insulating bushings 3 were provided, their common sound resistance would decrease, which would impair the damping effect of the torque support 1.

[0096] Furthermore, a spacing of the holes 5 for the drive to the receiving holes 3a in the thickness direction is also provided by means of the offset 9. This also improves the damping effect of the torque support 1 due to the angular configuration of the resulting sound conduction paths in the base plate 8 and, for example, the resulting interference between the sound conduction threads.

[0097] The crank 9 also serves for simple assembly of the torque support.

[0098] In the present case, it has thus been recognized that the torque support 1 plays an important role in the transmission of the sound or noises in the device.

[0099] In this respect, the above-described design of the torque support 1 with the insulating bushings 3 serves to reduce or even interrupt the transmission of sound or noise, in particular from the drive 13 to the housing 11, while at the same time providing an approximately optimal mechanical stability, in particular for the above applications (cf. FIG. 4 and FIG. 5).

[0100] In addition, it has been recognized in the present case that the disturbing noise emissions can also arise from the torque support itself and the fastening of a conventional torque support itself.

[0101] In this case, a noise can be generated by twisting a base plate (provided, for example, as a double angle) of the prior art under stress, a metal-on-metal noise being generated between the fastening elements (metal bolts or screws) and the base plate of a torque support, since these work on one another under stress.

[0102] The use of the insulating bushing 3 according to the invention prevents this rubbing of metal on metal, whereby a disturbing metal-on-metal noise can be avoided.

[0103] In addition, the present torque support is quite simple to produce and requires comparatively little material. With this, it is cost-saving.

[0104] The insulating bushings 3 can be produced in large numbers, for example, by injection molding or by deep-drawing.

[0105] In summary, a 3-point torque support (three-point bearing) with optional integrated noise-absorbing fastenings/attachments (the insulation bushings 3) is disclosed. Due to its geometry, the present torque support is particularly stable with a simple construction. Noise generation by the torque support itself or its contact points with other metal parts is advantageously avoided.

Other Embodiments

[0106] The invention admits other design principles in addition to the embodiments and aspects explained. Thus, individual features of the various embodiments and aspects can also be combined with each other as desired, as long as this is apparent to the person skilled in the art as being executable.

[0107] Although the torque support 1 with its legs is shown approximately symmetrically (except for the fastening holes 5, which are arranged in each case depending on the drive to be fastened), the torque support 7 can also be provided asymmetrically as long as it has three fastening points 2.

[0108] Although the torque support 1 with its base plate 8 is described in plan view in the form of an equilateral triangle (and the corresponding symmetry thereof), the torque support 1 can also be provided with other symmetries (for example an equilateral and not equilateral triangle, or a right-angled triangle).

[0109] Although the three legs 1a, 1b, 1c are provided identically in the embodiment, they may differ from one another in shape and structure.

[0110] The axle opening/axle orifice 7 may also be provided offset from the center of the torque support 1. In this case, in particular, the center M of the hole of the axle opening 7 can be provided offset or displaced with respect to the geometric center of the torque support 1.

[0111] Although the symmetry of the fastening points 2 is formed as an equilateral triangle, another triangle can also be selected as the basic shape, for example an equilateral (and not equilateral) triangle or a right-angled triangle (depending on the mechanical requirements of the specific application, which dictate the forces acting on the torque support 7).

[0112] Although the axle opening 7 serves for the rotatable mounting of a drive axle for an accessory of a biomass heating system, the axle opening 7 can also accommodate other axes relating to other applications. With this, the torque support 1 can also be used differently as long as a torque of an axle is to be supported.

[0113] A plain bearing, for example made of plastic, may optionally be provided in the axle opening 7.

[0114] The support structure can be any structure that allows a drive to be fastened via a torque support.

[0115] Depending on the application, the insulating bushes 3 may also be omitted. In this way, the torque support 1 can also be fastened without an insulating bushing 3.

[0116] Fuels other than wood chips or pellets can be used as fuels for the biomass heating system.

[0117] The embodiment(s) disclosed herein are provided for description and understanding of the disclosed technical facts and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure. Therefore, this should be construed to mean that the scope of the present disclosure includes any modification or other various embodiments based on the technical spirit of the present disclosure.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0118] 1 torque support
1a, 1b, 1c legs
2 mounting points of the torque support
3 Insulation bushing
3a receiving hole for the plastic bushing
4 fastening element/metal bolt/screw
5 mounting holes for the drive
5a mounting elements/mounting bolts/mounting screws for the drive
6 pages/waists
7 axle opening
8 base plate
9 crank
10 Rotary valve
11 housing of the rotary valve
12 cellular wheel
13 drive
14 transmission
15 shaft/axle/axis
16 mechanism for worm drive (not shown)
17 fuel supply port/opening
20 room discharge device
21 fuel delivery channel
22 torque support suspension
23 outlet for the fuel