Hydraulic Control Block and Hydraulic Spindle Comprising said Control Block

Abstract

The disclosure relates to a hydraulic control block for controlling a pressure medium supply of a hydraulic cylinder of a hydraulic spindle. The hydraulic control block includes a generic hydraulic switching structure electively configurable in each of a plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures, each of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures having a respective hydraulic cylinder with a number of piston areas which differs from a number of piston areas in the respective hydraulic cylinders of each of the other of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures.

Claims

1. A hydraulic control block for controlling a pressure medium supply of a hydraulic cylinder of a hydraulic spindle, comprising: a generic hydraulic switching structure electively configurable in each of a plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures, each of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures having a respective hydraulic cylinder with a number of piston areas which differs from a number of piston areas in the respective hydraulic cylinders of each of the other of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures.

2. The control block as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a releasably arrangeable closure means configured to electively close at least a portion of a flow path configured in the control block, thereby electively configuring the generic hydraulic switching structure in one of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures.

3. The control block as claimed in claim 2, wherein the closure means is releasably arrangeable from outside the control block.

4. The control block as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a first and a second supply interface, wherein the first supply interface is configured to be electively fluidically connected to at least one of a high-pressure side of a hydraulic machine of the spindle and a low-pressure side of the hydraulic machine, and the second supply interface is configured to be electively fluidically connected to at least one of the high-pressure side and the low-pressure side of the hydraulic machine.

5. The control block as claimed in claim 4, further comprising: a first working flow path configured to be electively fluidically connected to the first supply interface; and a second working flow path configured to be electively fluidically connected to the second supply interface.

6. The control block as claimed in claim 5, further comprising: a third working flow path configured to be electively fluidically connected to the first supply interface in parallel with the first working flow path.

7. The control block as claimed in claim 6, further comprising: a recirculating flow path, configured to electively connect the second working flow path fluidically to the third working flow path.

8. The control block as claimed in claim 6, wherein: at least one first working port is branched off from the first working flow path; at least one second working port is branched off from the second working flow path; and at least one third working port is branched off from the third working flow path.

9. The control block as claimed in claim 8, wherein the at least one first working port, the at least one second working port, and the at least one third working port are at least one of: configured to be respectively electively fluidically connected to the piston areas of a respective one of the respective hydraulic cylinders; and configured to be respectively electively closed.

10. The control block as claimed in claim 9, further comprising: a valve in the third working flow path configured to electively close and open said third working flow path.

11. The control block as claimed in claim 10, further comprising: a connecting flow path, via which the first working flow path is electively fluidically connected to the third working flow path in a portion of the third working flow path between the valve and the third working port.

12. The control block as claimed in claim 11, further comprising: a first receptacle for a closure means in the first working flow path; and a second receptacle for the closure means in the connecting flow path, wherein the closure means is arranged electively in only one of the first and second receptacles.

13. The control block as claimed in claim 12, wherein in a first configured one of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures: the at least one third working port is closed; the closure means is arranged in the first receptacle in the first working flow path; and the receptacle in the connecting flow path is free.

14. The control block as claimed in claim 13, wherein in a second configured one of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures: the receptacle in the first working flow path is free; and the closure means is arranged in the second receptacle.

15. A hydraulic spindle comprising: a control block including a generic hydraulic switching structure electively configurable in each of a plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures, each of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures having a respective hydraulic cylinder with a number of piston areas which differs from a number of piston areas in the respective hydraulic cylinders of each of the other of the plurality of specific hydraulic switching structures; a hydraulic machine connected to the control bloc; and a first of the respective hydraulic cylinders connected to the control block, wherein, the generic circuit structure is electively configured to a number of piston areas of the first of the respective hydraulic cylinder.

Description

[0053] The drawings show:

[0054] FIG. 1 a hydraulic spindle with a hydraulic control block with generic hydraulic switching structure and two configurable, specific switching structures,

[0055] FIG. 2 the hydraulic control block according to FIG. 1 in a perspective, partially transparent view,

[0056] FIG. 3 the hydraulic control block according to FIGS. 1 and 2 in a partially transparent side view, and

[0057] FIG. 4 the hydraulic control block according to the previous figures in cross-section.

[0058] According to FIG. 1, a hydraulic spindle 1 has a hydraulic control block 2, as well as a hydraulic machine connected thereto and a hydraulic cylinder 6, or 8, supplied with pressure medium by said hydraulic machine and optionally connected to the control block 2. The control block 2 has a generic hydraulic switching structure.

[0059] The term “generic” is to be understood in this document to mean that several specific switching structures, in the exemplary embodiment shown these two, A and E, can be optionally configured from the generic switching structure, wherein, as already mentioned above, the switching structure A can be designated B when a synchronising cylinder is connected.

[0060] In other words, the control block 2 contains all the necessary fixed and switchable hydraulic means, in particular components and pressure medium channels, to be able to configure a plurality of specific switching structures.

[0061] A particular switching structure A, E is assigned here to a specific hydraulic cylinder 6 or 8. For example, the hydraulic cylinder 6 has two working ports and the optionally shown hydraulic cylinder 8 has three working ports. Each working port is fluidically connected here to a specific piston area or a specific working chamber of the particular hydraulic cylinder 6,8. Two different hydraulic cylinder types (synchronising/differential) can be connected here in the switching structure A (B).

[0062] In detail, the control block 2 has a first supply interface 10 from which a first working flow path 12 originates, and a second supply interface 14, from which a second working flow path 16 originates. The supply interfaces 10, 14 are designed as supply ports. Alternatively, they can be designed as orifices in the control block 2 or the like.

[0063] Fluidically connected to them, in each case, is a high-pressure side and low-pressure side of the hydraulic machine 4. Depending on the direction of rotation of the hydraulic machine 4, which is designed with a constant delivery volume, the first supply port 10 can be fluidically connected to the high-pressure side and the second supply port 14 to the low-pressure side, or vice versa. For further consideration it is assumed that the former is the case.

[0064] The first working flow path 12 has a branch 18 at which a third working flow path 20 branches off. A valve 22, which is designed as a 2/2-way switching valve, is arranged in this path.

[0065] Starting from the branch 18, the first working flow path 12 extends further, wherein a filter 24 is arranged therein. Two series-connected safety valves 26 are arranged in the first working flow path 12 and downstream of the filter 24, via which the first working flow path 12, downstream of the filter 24, and can be used to shut off the first working flow path 12 in redundancy. They are also simply designed as 2/2-way switching valves.

[0066] In continuation of the first working flow path 12, this has a branch 28. Two first working ports 30A and 30E branch off from this to a different side each of the control block.

[0067] A shut-off valve 32 is arranged in the second working flow path 16, via which valve the second working flow path 16 can be shut off. Starting from the second supply port 14, via the shut-off valve 32, the second working flow path 16 continues up to a branch 34. Two second working ports 36A, 36E branch off from it, each to a different side of the control block 2.

[0068] The third working flow path 20 is continued beyond the valve 22, to a branch 38, from which only a third working port 40E branches off to the side of the control block 2 where the ports 30E and 36E associated with the specific circuit or configuration E are already provided.

[0069] As already mentioned, optionally and depending on the configuration of the hydraulic cylinder 6 with two piston areas or the hydraulic cylinder 8 with three piston areas, pressure medium can be supplied via the control block 2.

[0070] For this purpose, a connecting flow path 42 is provided, via which the first working flow path 12 is fluidically connectable to third working flow path 20 downstream of valve 22. A receptacle 44E is provided in the connecting flow path 42. A receptacle 44A of the same design in the exemplary embodiment is provided in the first working flow path 12 in a portion between the branch 18 and an inlet of the connecting flow path 42.

[0071] A closure means 46 in the form of a screw, in particular M18×1.5 (in this case according to DIN906), can be inserted into the corresponding receptacle 44E, 44A. Due to the identical design of the receptacles 44E, 44A with M18 thread in the exemplary embodiment, exactly one closure means 46 can be inserted into the corresponding receptacle 44E, 44A, depending on the desired configuration E, A.

[0072] In the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1, the closure means 46 is inserted into the receptacle 44A, thus configuring the circuit structure A to supply hydraulic cylinders having two working chambers or piston areas at the working ports 30A, 36A. Then, the working ports of the circuit structure E 30E, 36E and 40E of the configurable circuit structure E are closed. Accordingly, the hydraulic cylinder 8 is shown with the aforementioned ports optional (dashed outline).

[0073] Thus, in the selected configuration A, the pressure medium can no longer flow directly via the first working flow path 12 towards the first working port 30A, but rather must flow via a portion of the third working flow path 20, the valve 22 and the connecting flow path 42 which is unblocked in this configuration A. Accordingly, the valve 22 has the function of either supplying or blocking pressure medium to/from the annular chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 6 supplied by the first working port 30A.

[0074] In order to accommodate differential volumes resulting from different piston area sizes of the hydraulic cylinders 6, 8, the hydraulic control block 2 has an accumulator flow path 48 which can be fluidically connected to the corresponding working flow path 12, 16 via pressure relief valves 50 preset to a pressure value. A gas-loaded hydraulic accumulator 52 is connected to the accumulator flow path 48.

[0075] In the case of configuration A, all working ports 30E, 36E and 40E used to supply pressure medium to the hydraulic cylinder 8 in configuration E are shut off. The same is true for the third working flow path 20 and its blind bore shown on the left in FIG. 1.

[0076] Once the circuit structure E is configured, the hydraulic cylinder 8 having three working chambers or piston areas can be supplied with pressure medium. Then, the closure means 46 is released and removed from the receptacle 44A and inserted into the receptacle 44E. In addition, the working ports 30A and 36A are closed and the working ports 30E, 36E and 40E are open, wherein the third working flow path 20 is still closed on the part of the blind bore provided in the exemplary embodiment.

[0077] The outlets or working ports 30A, 30E, 36A, 36E, 40E can be formed in the control block 2 and can each be designed as an individual pressure medium channel. An extension of the control block 2 to a number of outlets or working ports exceeding this can increase a variability of the control block, in particular to meet market requirements.

[0078] In circuit structure E, pressure medium can then flow via the first working flow path 12 via the branch 18 and the filter 24 directly to the first working port 30E and thus into the left annular chamber of the tandem cylinder 8. Since in configuration E the connecting flow path 42 is obstructed by the closure means 46, the position of the valve 22 now decides whether or not the annular chamber connected to the third working port 40E is supplied with pressure medium.

[0079] If it is supplied, the identically acting annular chambers of the working ports 30E and 40E are thus provided with pressure medium, which corresponds to a surface summation and thus a power stroke of the hydraulic cylinder 8.

[0080] In the case of the power stroke, the hydraulic pump delivers pressure medium from the working chamber of the hydraulic cylinder 8, connected to the second working port 36E, into its working chambers connected to the first working port 30E and third working port 40E. The recirculation valve 54 is closed for this purpose.

[0081] In a rapid traverse of the hydraulic cylinder 8, on the other hand, the working ports 36E and 40E are fluidically connected and short-circuited via the recirculation valve 54. The hydraulic pump then delivers pressure medium from the working chamber connected to the second working port 36E to the working chamber connected to the first working port 30E. The very small piston area of the piston limiting this leads to the high travel speed. Filling or suction into the working chamber connected to the third working port 40E is thus carried out, bypassing the hydraulic pump 4, solely via the recirculation volume flow via the recirculation valve 54. The three annular surfaces of the hydraulic cylinder 8 are matched here to each other in such a way that, apart from volumes due in particular to leakage, no differential volume has to be taken up by the hydraulic accumulator 52.

[0082] In the configuration or circuit structure A with differential cylinder 6, pressure medium can flow between the working flow paths 12 and 16 via the recirculation valve 54. In this case, the differential volume must always be delivered to the accumulator 52 when the differential cylinder 6 is retracted. The recirculation valve 54 makes it possible to extend the differential cylinder 6 at the same speed as it is retracted with a low travel force.

[0083] FIGS. 2 and 3 show the hydraulic control block in perspective and in lateral semi-transparent view, wherein the receptacles 44A and 44E are indicated. They are arranged inside the control block 2 and are accessible from the outside via receiving bores. The closure means 46, an M18 screw, can also be inserted and removed via these holes. On the side of the control block 2, distributed over several sides, are hole patterns with connection holes for the valves mentioned in the description of FIG. 1.

[0084] According to FIG. 4, the receptacles 44A and 44E are visible in a cross-section of the control block.

[0085] Disclosed is a hydraulic control block having a generic hydraulic circuit structure for a selection of possible hydraulic cylinders and for controlling the pressure medium supply to the hydraulic cylinder, which is prepared so that, by rearranging one of the means, it is possible to change from one specific circuit structure to another specific circuit structure.

[0086] Also disclosed is a hydraulic or servo-hydraulic spindle comprising such a control block.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0087] 1 hydraulic spindle [0088] 2 hydraulic control block [0089] 4 hydraulic machine [0090] 6;8 hydraulic cylinder [0091] 10 first supply port [0092] 12 first working flow path [0093] 14 second supply port [0094] 16 second working flow path [0095] 18 branch [0096] 20 third working flow path [0097] 22 valve [0098] 24 filter [0099] 26 safety valve [0100] 28 branch [0101] 30A; 30E first working port [0102] 32 shut-off valve [0103] 34 branch [0104] 36A; 36E second working port [0105] 38 branch [0106] 40E third working port [0107] 42 connecting flow path [0108] 44A, 44E receptacle [0109] 46 closure means [0110] 48 accumulator flow path [0111] 50 pressure relief valve [0112] 52 hydraulic accumulator [0113] 54 recirculation valve [0114] n number of piston areas