Connector plate, hydraulic machine having a connector plate, and hydrostatic unit having a hydraulic machine and a hydraulic attachment part

Abstract

A connector plate, for mechanically and hydraulically connecting a hydraulic machine with a hydraulic attachment part, includes a plurality of hydrostatic connector recesses. Each recess has a first side that includes a first orifice opening to the hydraulic attachment part, and a second side with a second orifice opening to the hydraulic machine. The plurality of orifices are arranged so as to open in a substantially axially parallel manner with respect to a drive shaft of the hydraulic machine. A hydraulic machine includes such a connector plate, and a hydrostatic unit includes such a hydraulic machine and a hydraulic attachment part.

Claims

1. A hydraulic machine, comprising: a housing; a drive shaft; and a connector plate, including: a plurality of hydrostatic connector recesses that penetrate through the connector plate, and that each include: a first orifice on an attachment part side of the connector plate; and a second orifice on a hydraulic machine side of the connector plate; wherein the first and second orifices of the plurality of hydrostatic connector recesses are arranged so as to open in a substantially axially parallel manner with respect to the drive shaft of the hydraulic machine; a first plurality of fastening mechanisms configured to connect the connector plate to a hydraulic attachment part in block-like manner; and a second plurality of fastening mechanisms configured to connect the connector plate to the housing of the hydraulic machine in a block-like configuration, wherein each of two of the plurality of hydrostatic connector recesses is assigned to a respective working connector of the hydraulic machine, and a third of the plurality of hydrostatic connector recesses is assigned to a leakage connector of the hydraulic machine.

2. The hydraulic machine of claim 1, wherein the hydraulic machine is a hydrostatic axial piston machine.

3. The hydraulic machine of claim 2, wherein the connector plate is configured to connect the hydraulic attachment part to the hydrostatic axial piston machine with a swash plate configuration.

4. The hydraulic machine of claim 1, wherein the first plurality of fastening mechanisms and the second plurality of fastening mechanisms are spaced away from the first and second orifices of the plurality of hydrostatic connector recesses.

5. The hydraulic machine of claim 1, wherein each of the first plurality of fastening mechanisms and each of the second plurality of fastening mechanisms respectively includes a bore.

6. The hydraulic machine of claim 5, wherein at least a portion of each bore includes an internal thread or is without a thread.

7. The hydraulic machine of claim 1, wherein connections of the block-like configuration are hose-free.

8. The hydraulic machine of claim 1 wherein at least one of: the first orifices are arranged in a first pattern that is approximately the same as a hole pattern of the hydraulic attachment part; and the second orifices are arranged in a second pattern that approximately the same as a hole pattern of the hydraulic machine.

9. The hydraulic machine of claim 1, further comprising: a bearing seat for the drive shaft of the hydraulic machine.

10. The hydraulic machine of claim 1, further comprising: a cylinder barrel fixedly connected to the drive shaft so as to rotate with the drive shaft, the cylinder barrel including: a plurality of cylinder bores distributed about the drive shaft; and a plurality of working pistons, each working piston displaceably guided in a respective cylinder bore so as to define a respective hydrostatic working space; wherein rotation of the drive shaft alternatingly causes two of the hydrostatic working spaces to pass into pressure medium connection with a corresponding two of the plurality of hydrostatic connector recesses of the connector plate.

11. The hydraulic machine of claim 10, further comprising: a control plate positioned between the cylinder barrel and the connector plate, the control plate including a plurality of through recesses arranged in a pattern that is the same as a hole pattern of the second orifices of the connector plate.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) In each case one exemplary embodiment of a connector plate according to the disclosure, a hydraulic machine according to the disclosure and a hydrostatic unit according to the disclosure is shown in the drawings. The disclosure will now be described using the figures of said drawings, in which:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a hydrostatic unit in accordance with one exemplary embodiment in a perspective view,

(3) FIG. 2 shows the hydraulic unit according to FIG. 1 with a dismantled connector plate and axial piston machine,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the hydrostatic unit according to FIGS. 1 and 2 with a dismantled axial piston machine,

(5) FIG. 4 shows the connector plate according to FIGS. 1 and 3 in a perspective view, approximately from the direction of the axial piston machine,

(6) FIG. 5 shows the connector plate according to FIG. 4 in cross section,

(7) FIG. 6 shows the connector plate of the preceding figures in a plan view, approximately from the direction of the attachment part, and

(8) FIG. 7 shows the axial piston machine according to the preceding figures with a mounted connector plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) FIG. 1 shows a hydrostatic unit 1 having an electric drive unit 2, a hydraulic machine 4 which is configured in a swash plate design as an axial piston machine, a connector plate 6, an attachment part 8 which is configured as a control valve block, a hydraulic accumulator 10 and a hydraulic cylinder 12.

(10) The hydrostatic unit 1 can also be called an “autonomous axle”, since, in addition to the linearly acting hydraulic cylinder 12, it also has the necessary components for driving it and supplying it with pressure medium, namely the drive unit 2, the hydraulic machine 4 and the control valve block 8.

(11) It can be seen clearly here that the connector plate 6 is arranged in a sandwich-like manner between the hydraulic machine 4 and the control valve block 8 (attachment part). Here, the mechanical and fluidic connection of the connector plate 6 both to the hydraulic machine 4 and to the control valve block 8 is in each case of block-like configuration, that is to say without the necessity of hoses or pipes. In this way, the hydraulic machine 4, the connector plate 6 and the control valve block 8 as one module form a compact, comparatively rigid construction which is simple in terms of apparatus technology. Here, the respective connection of the hydraulic machine 4 to the connector plate 6 and of the control valve block 8 to the connector plate 6 can be called “of block-like configuration”.

(12) In the exemplary embodiment which is shown, the arrangement of the drive unit 2, the hydraulic machine 4, the connector plate 6 and the control valve block 8 is “in line”, in principle parallel to the drive axis (not shown) of the hydraulic machine 4.

(13) FIG. 2 shows the hydrostatic unit 1 in a view in the direction of the arrow in accordance with FIG. 1, that is to say approximately from the view of the drive unit 2 or the hydraulic machine 4, the drive unit 2, the hydraulic machine 4 and the connector plate 6 being dismantled. The view of a connector face 14 of the valve control block 8 is therefore revealed. Here, the connector face 14 is of substantially planar configuration and has a connector hole pattern 16 with two working connectors A, B and a leakage connector L.

(14) In order to seal the connector plate against the attachment part, in each case one groove, in particular a rectangular groove, is provided in each case radially outside the connectors A, B, L of the attachment part, in each case around the full circumference of the latter. A seal ring with a round cross section (O-ring) or a rectangular cross section (R-ring) can be arranged, in particular is arranged, in said groove.

(15) As an alternative, the grooves which were mentioned above are arranged on that side or face of the connector plate which points toward the attachment part.

(16) As an alternative, hybrid forms are possible, in which at least one groove, in particular with a seal ring, is arranged on the side of the attachment part and at least one groove, in particular with a seal ring, is arranged on the side of the connector plate.

(17) Furthermore, the connector face 14 has a fastening hole pattern 18 with four blind bores 20 which are provided in a rectangular arrangement and, in relation to a center point between the working connectors A, B, are situated away from them, radially outside them. A rectangle which can be defined by the blind bores 20 has axes of symmetry 22 and 24, the two working connectors A, B being arranged on the axis of symmetry 24, and the leakage connector L being arranged on the axis of symmetry 22. Here, a center point of the leakage connector L lies approximately on an imaginary connecting line of two blind bores 20 of one longitudinal side of the rectangle.

(18) FIG. 3 shows the hydrostatic unit 1 in accordance with FIG. 2 with a mounted connector plate 6. In relation to FIG. 2, it can be seen clearly that first fastening screws 26 which penetrate the connector plate 6 are provided in congruence with the blind bores 20 in accordance with FIG. 2. Said first fastening screws 26 engage through threadless through bores (not shown) of the connector plate 6 and are screwed into the blind bores 20 in accordance with FIG. 2 which have an internal thread. In this way, the connector plate 6 is mechanically and fluidically connected to the control valve block 8 in a compact and rigid manner. The first fastening screws 26 with the through recesses which are concealed by them in FIG. 3 therefore represent first fastening means 28 which belong to the connector plate 6 and serve for the block-like (that is to say, hose-free or pipe-free) connection of the control valve block 8 to the connector plate 6.

(19) Furthermore, thread run-outs of fastening screws 30 which penetrate through bores 32 of the connector plate 6 can be seen in FIG. 3. Accordingly, the respective screw head is situated on the side which faces away from the observer, that is to say facing the connector face 14 of the control valve block 8. Here, the through recesses 32 are likewise of threadless configuration. The fastening screws 30 together with the through bores represent second fastening means 34, via which a housing 72 of the hydraulic machine 4 in accordance with FIG. 1 can be attached to the connector plate 6.

(20) The second fastening means 34 therefore make the block-like connection in a mechanical and hydraulic way of the hydraulic machine 4 to the connector plate 6 possible, which connection likewise proves to be rigid and compact.

(21) Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that the connector plate 6 is penetrated by connector recesses A′, B′ which have kidney-shaped orifices 38, 40 on one side 36 of the connector plate 6, which side 36 points toward the hydraulic machine. Here, the orifices 38, 40 have approximately the shape of correspondingly kidney-shaped through recesses of a control plate (cf. 104, FIG. 7) of the hydraulic machine 4. Here, the orifices 38, 40 run approximately on a pitch circle, on which center points of the working connectors A, B of the control valve block 8 in accordance with FIG. 2 are also arranged.

(22) Furthermore, FIG. 3 shows that the connector plate 6 has a bearing seat 42 for a drive shaft (cf. 82, FIG. 7) of the hydraulic machine 4, which bearing seat 42 is arranged centrally in relation to the connector recesses A′, B′ and the fastening means 28, 34.

(23) Approximately in the region of dead centers between the orifices 38, 40 of the connector recesses A, B′, in each case one substantially droplet-shaped leakage duct 44, 46 is configured on both sides of the bearing seat 42, which leakage duct 44, 46 is in pressure medium connection with the bearing seat 42. Here, the leakage ducts 44, 46 are configured as recessed pressure pockets in the material. Here, a leakage bore 48 leads as a through bore out of the leakage duct 46, which leakage bore 48 is in pressure medium connection with the leakage connector L in accordance with FIG. 2 of the control valve block 8. Here, the two leakage ducts 44, 46 are connected fluidically via an annular and groove-shaped leakage duct 50 which extends concentrically, radially outside the connector recesses A′, B′.

(24) FIG. 4 shows the connector plate 6 in accordance with the preceding figures in a perspective view, as results from FIG. 1 but tilted toward the observer to a somewhat greater extent. It can be seen as additional information, in particular, that the view, for example, through the hydraulic machine-side orifice 38 through the hydrostatic connector recess A′ as far as the orifice on the other side which is situated on the connector plate 6 on the attachment part-side is free. It is accordingly shown that the connector recesses A′, B′ have kidney-shaped orifices 38, 40 on the hydraulic machine side and circular orifices toward the control valve block 8. The latter are approximately congruent with the working connectors A, B in accordance with FIG. 2 of the control valve block 8.

(25) Furthermore, an edge-side, secondary leakage connector L′ can be seen on a longitudinal side 52 which is adjacent with respect to the leakage duct 46. Said secondary leakage connector L′ branches off from the leakage through bore 48 approximately at a right angle laterally toward the outside to the longitudinal side 52, out of which it opens. A cross section which is defined by the plane of symmetry A-A in accordance with FIG. 4 gives an insight into the geometric configuration of said secondary leakage connector L′ and the connector plate 6. Here, the plane of symmetry is defined by the axis of symmetry 22 in accordance with FIG. 3 in a direction perpendicularly with respect to the side 36.

(26) In addition, a seal groove 56 which encompasses the orifices 38, 40 and the leakage ducts 44, 46 in a circular manner and radially on the outside can be seen clearly in FIG. 4. Here, in the assembled state, a seal ring is inserted, for example an O-ring (90, cf. FIG. 7), via which seal ring a housing of the hydraulic machine 4 is shut off in a fluidtight manner against the connector plate 6. The abovementioned through bores 29 of the first fastening means 28 can be gathered as further information from FIG. 4, through which through bores 29 the first fastening screws 26 penetrate, in order to fasten the connector plate 6 to the control valve block 8 by means of the blind bores 20 with an internal thread which are provided there.

(27) FIG. 5 shows the section A-A in accordance with FIG. 4. Here, the connector plate 6 extends with a vertical axis 58 parallel to the driveshaft of the hydraulic machine, and has a lower height than width or length. In relation to FIGS. 3 and 4, the bearing seat 42 extends as a pocket-shaped recess with a rounded bottom in a rotationally symmetrical manner about the vertical axis 58. Toward its open side, the bearing seat 42 is widened radially in a stepped manner via radial shoulders 60, 62 and 64. Here, the shoulder represents an axial support for an anti-friction bearing (cf. 88, FIG. 7) of the drive shaft 82, and an inner circumferential face of the bearing seat 42, which cylindrical inner circumferential face extends between the shoulders 62 and 64, represents a radial support for the anti-friction bearing of the drive shaft 82 of the hydraulic machine 4.

(28) In the section A-A, the leakage ducts 44, 46 and the circumferential leakage duct 50 which opens laterally into them can be seen clearly. In accordance with the right-hand side of FIG. 5, the leakage through recess 48 can be seen, which penetrates the connector plate 6, starting from the bottom of the leakage duct 46 as far as a leakage orifice L on the side 68. Approximately halfway up in relation to the vertical axis 58, the secondary leakage connector L′ branches off from the leakage through recess 48 radially to the outside, towards the longitudinal side 52 of the connector plate 6 (cf. FIG. 4).

(29) Furthermore, FIG. 5 shows that the leakage duct 46 extends radially to the inside to the shoulder 64 and drops downward in a base-shaped manner (that is to say in the direction of the bearing seat 42) on the other side of the leakage through bore 48. In this way, the bearing seat 42 is also connected fluidically to the leakage connectors L, L′.

(30) The secondary leakage connector L′ is connected to the leakage through bore 48 via a throttle point 66 of tapered cross section. One side 68 of the connector plate 6, which side is directed toward the attachment part 8, is of planar configuration.

(31) FIG. 6 shows the connector plate 6 in accordance with the preceding figures in a view as afforded from the attachment part 8 (control valve block). The through bores 29, 32 of the first and second fastening means can be seen again, as can the connector recesses A′, B′ and the leakage through recess 48 or the leakage connector L. The secondary leakage connector L′ is indicated on the right-hand side in FIG. 6.

(32) It can be seen as additional information in FIG. 6 that the second through bores 32 are configured in each case as a stepped bore and in each case have a step 70 which is recessed in comparison with the side 68.

(33) In the mounted state of the connector plate 6, a screw head of the second fastening screws 30 (cf. FIG. 3) dips into said step 70.

(34) The screw head (not shown here) terminates flush with the side 68 of the connector plate 6, or the step 70 is configured so as to be so deep that the screw head is even recessed below the side 68, that is to say does not protrude beyond said side 68.

(35) As a result, the connector plate 6 can be mounted or is mounted with its side 68 in a planar manner on the connector face 14 in accordance with FIG. 3 of the attachment part 8.

(36) Therefore, both the second fastening screws 30, the second through bores 32 and the steps 70 belong to the second fastening means 34.

(37) FIG. 7 shows the hydraulic machine 4 including the connector plate 6. The hydraulic machine 4 is configured as an axial piston machine of swash plate design. It has a substantially pot-shaped housing 72 with a housing bottom 74 and a housing opening 76. The housing opening 76 is closed by the connector plate 6. A housing flange 78 is configured on the housing bottom 74 radially on the outside, which housing flange 78 has a plurality of through bores 80, via which the hydraulic machine 4 can be connected to the electric drive unit 2 in accordance with FIG. 1. Here, the connection preferably takes place via anti-fatigue screws.

(38) The hydraulic machine 4 has a drive shaft 82 with a splined shaft stub 84 which can be coupled to the electric drive unit 2. The drive shaft 82 is mounted rotatably via anti-friction bearings 86, 88 firstly on the housing bottom 74 and secondly on the bearing seat 42 of the connector plate 6. Here, the connector plate 6 is connected in a block-like manner to the housing 72. Here, the connection takes place via the second fastening means 34 of the connector plate 6, that is to say via the second through bores 32 in accordance with FIG. 6, into which, in accordance with FIG. 3, the second fastening screws 30 are inserted and are screwed into threaded bores (not shown) of the housing 72. Said screw connection is not shown in FIG. 7. An O-ring 90 is inserted into the seal groove 56 in order to seal the interior space of the housing 72 on the connector plate 6.

(39) The hydraulic machine 4 has a cylinder barrel 92 which is connected fixedly to the drive shaft 82 so as to rotate with it and in which cylinder bores 96 are made in a circumferentially distributed manner parallel to a longitudinal axis 94 of the drive shaft 82. Working pistons 98 are guided axially displaceably in said cylinder bores 96, feet of the working pistons 98 being supported in a sliding manner on a swash plate 100 via pads. A working stroke of the working pistons 98 is thus produced in a known way upon rotation of the drive shaft 82.

(40) The cylinder bores 96 have end-side orifices 102 toward the connector plate 6. A control plate 104 with kidney-shaped through recesses A″, B″ is arranged between an end side of the cylinder barrel and the connector plate 6. Here, the orifices of the latter which point toward the connector plate 6 have the same kidney-shaped form as the orifices 38, 40 of the connector plate 6 (cf., for example, FIG. 4). Upon rotation of the drive shaft 82, the orifices 102 of the working spaces therefore sweep over the orifices of the through recesses A″, B″ of the control plate 104, as a result of which the connector recesses A′, B′ pass into alternating pressure medium connection with the working spaces 96.

(41) A closure plate is disclosed having two parallel connector sides, in each case for a hydraulic machine and an attachment part. Here, the connector plate has fastening means for the mechanical and fluidic connection to at least the attachment part, which fastening means are configured in such a way that the attachment part can be connected in a block-like manner. Furthermore, a hydraulic machine having the connector plate is disclosed, said connector plate being connected in a block-like manner to a housing of the hydraulic machine. A hydrostatic unit at least comprising a hydraulic machine and an attachment part is also disclosed, the two components being connected in a block-like manner via the connector plate, in line or in alignment with the driveshaft of the hydraulic machine.

LIST OF DESIGNATIONS

(42) 1 Hydrostatic unit 2 Drive unit 4 Hydraulic machine 6 Connector plate 8 Control valve block 10 Hydraulic accumulator 12 Hydraulic cylinder 14 Connector face, attachment part 16 Connector hole pattern, attachment part 18 Fastening hole pattern, attachment part 20 Blind bore 22, 24 Axis of symmetry 26 First fastening screw 28 First fastening means 29 First through bore 30 Second fastening screw 32 Second through recess 34 Second fastening means 36 Side 38, 39, 40 Hydraulic machine-side orifice 42 Bearing seat 44, 46 Leakage duct 48 Through bore, leakage duct 50 Leakage duct 52 Longitudinal side 54 Plane of symmetry 56 Seal groove 60, 62, 64 Shoulder 66 Throttle point 68 Side 70 Step 72 Housing 74 Housing bottom 76 Housing opening 78 Flange 80 Through bore 82 Drive shaft 84 Shaft stub 86, 88 Anti-friction bearing 90 O-ring 92 Cylinder barrel 94 Longitudinal axis 96 Cylinder bore 97 Working space 98 Working piston 100 Swash plate 102 Orifice 104 Control plate A, B Working connector L, L′ Leakage connector A′, B′ Hydrostatic connector recess A″, B″ Through recess