Pneumatic Actuating Element, Exhaust Air System, Housing Having an Exhaust Air System, Pneumatic Actuator

Abstract

A pneumatic actuating element, an exhaust air system, a housing, and a pneumatic actuator, are provided, which are designed to provide a possibility to collect exhaust air that is discharged when the pneumatic actuating element is ventilated, which exhaust air typically includes contaminations, and to release the exhaust air in an area that is not visible during operation, in order to prevent irritation due to a contaminated housing on the one hand and, on the other hand, to protect components that might come into contact with the contaminated exhaust air.

Claims

1-12. (canceled)

13. An apparatus, comprising: a pneumatic actuating element which is configured to influence a required working pressure starting from a pressure of a compressed air supply that is connectable to the pneumatic actuating element, wherein the pneumatic actuating element is configured to be connected to an exhaust air line in order to emit exhaust air, that is discharged from the pneumatic actuating element to reduce the working pressure, to the exhaust air line.

14. The apparatus as claimed in claim 13, wherein the pneumatic actuating element is configured as a: magnetic valve, diaphragm valve, piston valve, slide valve, relay valve, or as an actuating element for a pneumatic gearbox actuator.

15. An exhaust air system, comprising: at least one exhaust air line, which is configured to be connected to a pneumatic actuating element in order to receive exhaust air that is discharged from the pneumatic actuating element in order to reduce a working pressure.

16. The exhaust air system as claimed in claim 15, wherein at least one of: at least two exhaust air lines are merged into one line, the at least one exhaust air line has flexible or rigid portions, or the exhaust air system is configured to be provided in a pneumatic gearbox actuator.

17. The exhaust air system as claimed in claim 15, wherein the exhaust air system has an outlet which is configured to discharge the received exhaust air into a vent device or to atmosphere, or the exhaust air system is configured to be connected to said outlet.

18. The exhaust air system as claimed in claim 17, wherein the outlet of the exhaust air system is configured as a port which is designed to conduct the received exhaust air further via a line, and the line is configured to conduct the received exhaust air outside a housing in which the exhaust air system receives the exhaust air.

19. A housing configured to receive a pneumatic operating element, wherein the housing is further configured to receive at least one pneumatic actuating element and an exhaust air system, wherein the at least one pneumatic actuating element is configured to influence a required working pressure starting from a pressure of a compressed air supply that is connectable to the pneumatic actuating element, and is configured to be connected to an exhaust air line of the exhaust air system in order to emit exhaust air, that is discharged from the pneumatic actuating element to reduce the working pressure, to the exhaust air line.

20. The housing as claimed in claim 19, wherein the housing contains the at least one pneumatic actuating element and the exhaust air system, wherein at least one of: the pneumatic actuating element and the exhaust air system are fluidically connected together, the housing has an outlet which is fluidically connected to the exhaust air system and is configured to discharge the exhaust air to a purge device or to atmosphere, or the housing has a port for connection to the compressed air supply, wherein the at least one pneumatic actuating element is connected to the port.

21. The housing as claimed in claim 20, wherein at least one of: the outlet is arranged on the housing so as not to be visible when the housing is installed and/or when the housing is in use, the outlet is arranged and configured to discharge the exhaust air in a non-visible region, or the housing is a pneumatic gearbox actuator housing.

22. The housing as claimed in claim 20, wherein the outlet of the housing is configured as a port which is designed to conduct the received exhaust air further via a line, wherein the further line is configured to conduct the received exhaust air outside the housing in which the exhaust air system receives the exhaust air.

23. A pneumatic actuator, comprising: at least one pneumatic actuating element which is configured to influence a required working pressure starting from a pressure of a compressed air supply that is connectable to the pneumatic actuating element, wherein the pneumatic actuating element is connected to an exhaust air line of an exhaust air system in order to emit exhaust air, that is discharged from the actuating element to reduce the working pressure, to the exhaust air line; a housing; at least one pneumatic operating element which is configured to be loaded with the working pressure by the pneumatic actuating element and vented again, wherein the at least one pneumatic actuating element, the exhaust air system, or the at least one pneumatic operating element, is arranged inside the housing.

24. The pneumatic actuator as claimed in claim 23, wherein the at least one pneumatic operating element is configured to operate selection elements of a gearbox.

25. The pneumatic actuator as claimed in claim 24, wherein the gearbox is a selector sleeve gearbox.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0046] FIG. 1 is a general view of a housing of a pneumatic actuator with general paths of supply lines to the pneumatic actuating elements according to the prior art; and

[0047] FIG. 2 is an extension according to the invention of the arrangement from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0048] FIG. 1 shows a general view of a housing 3 of a pneumatic actuator with the general paths of supply lines 4 to pneumatic actuating elements 5 according to the prior art.

[0049] A compressed air supply is shown in the form of an optional compressed air accumulator 1 which is fluidically in contact with the housing 3 by means of a pressure line 2 which branches into supply lines 4 inside the housing 3. The supply lines 4 are fluidically connected to pneumatic actuating elements 5, which are configured for example as magnetic valves.

[0050] The actuating elements 5 are designed to set a working pressure from the pressure introduced from the compressed air accumulator 1 via the pressure line 2 and the supply lines 4, in order then to feed the pneumatic pressure chambers (not shown) from the actuating elements 5, so as for example to move an operating element (not shown) of an actuator, in particular a gearbox actuator.

[0051] The actuating elements 5 discharge exhaust air from the pneumatic pressure chambers into the interior of the housing 3, in this embodiment via separate outlets 7, in order to further reduce the pressure in the pressure chambers. Because of contamination with particles, water or oil, which may be contained in the exhaust air from the actuating elements 5, elements such as electronic circuit boards inside the housing 3 are at risk.

[0052] FIG. 2 therefore shows a refinement according to the invention of the embodiment in FIG. 1.

[0053] In the configuration shown, exhaust air lines 6 adjoin the actuating elements 5 on the right. Each exhaust air line 6 is connected to a separate actuating element 5. The exhaust air lines 6 are configured to receive the exhaust air from the actuating elements 5. For this, the exhaust air lines 6 are fluidically connected to the actuating elements 5.

[0054] The exhaust air lines 6 finally merge inside the housing 3 and open into a common outlet 7, which is here configured as an outlet line and discharges the exhaust air from the actuator elements 5 to atmosphere AT.

[0055] Thus it may be ensured that the exhaust air is not discharged into the housing 3, so that elements such as electronic circuit boards inside the housing 3 are not endangered by the contaminated exhaust air.

[0056] The exhaust air lines 6 and the outlet 7 here form an exhaust air system which is configured to discharge the exhaust air from the housing 3.

[0057] The outlet 7 is placed on the housing 3 such that the discharged exhaust air, or the region into which the exhaust air is discharged, and/or the outlet 7, are not themselves visible from the outside to a user. This ensures that no soiling occurs in a visible region on the housing 3. This may thereby avoid an erroneous assumption of an unsealed housing 3.

[0058] The invention is not restricted to the embodiment described herein. Further embodiments according to the invention may be achieved by the omission of individual elements or by the replacement of individual elements with elements of similar function.

[0059] For example, instead of the individual exhaust air lines 6, a separate volume distinct from the housing 3 may be provided, into which the actuating elements 5 vent and from which finally venting takes place at the outlet 7.

[0060] The outlet 7 may furthermore, as described above, be provided directly on the housing or be configured as a port, wherein this port is designed to be connected to a line in order to conduct the exhaust air in targeted fashion to a desired location and discharge it there. The desired location may here be provided at a site, for example on a truck, which is not visible in normal operation (i.e. when the housing is installed). This is advantageous above all if it is not possible to arrange the housing 3 with a non-visible outlet 7 on the housing 3.

[0061] Furthermore, the outlet 7 may have a silencer (not shown) which is configured to acoustically deaden a discharge of exhaust air.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0062] 1 Compressed air accumulator
2 Compressed air line

3 Housing

[0063] 4 Supply line
5 Actuating elements
6 Exhaust air line

7 Outlet

AT Atmosphere