Reservoir for a hydraulic system

Abstract

A reservoir for a hydraulic system has a housing with an interior space and a fluid outlet, a hydraulic driving device coupled to a shaft extending in the housing to introduce a torque, and a separating device in the housing, for dividing the interior space into two separate sections. The fluid outlet is fluidically connected to a first section. The separating device extends along the shaft in the housing and sets the size ratio of the two separate sections by pivoting at least one first surface, coupled to the shaft, of the separating device about an axis defined by the shaft. The separating device is coupled to the hydraulic driving device such that the at least one first surface exerts a pressure on a fluid in the first section which is dependent on a surface area of the first surface and the torque.

Claims

1. A reservoir for a hydraulic system, the reservoir comprising: a housing with an interior space and a fluid outlet; a hydraulic driving device coupled to a shaft extending in the housing to introduce a torque; and a separating device, arranged in the housing to divide the interior space into a first section and a second section that is separate from the first section, wherein the fluid outlet is fluidically connected to the first section; wherein the separating device comprises at least one first surface which is movable relative to the housing and a second surface which is immobile relative to the housing; wherein the separating device extends along the shaft in the housing; wherein the separating device is configured to change a size ratio of the first and second sections by pivoting the at least one first surface, coupled to the shaft, of the separating device about an axis defined by a longitudinal axis of the shaft and relative to the second surface; and wherein the separating device is coupled to the hydraulic driving device such that the at least one first surface exerts a pressure on a fluid in the first section which is dependent on a surface area of the first surface and the torque.

2. The reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the interior space is cylindrical.

3. The reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the first surface extends radially outwards from the shaft to an inner wall of the interior space.

4. The reservoir according to claim 1, the separating device further comprising the second surface extending radially with respect to the shaft from an inner wall of the interior space.

5. The reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic driving device has a piston mounted movably in a cylinder and coupled mechanically to an input shaft, the piston being subjected to a hydraulic pressure via a high-pressure inlet in the cylinder.

6. The reservoir according to claim 5, wherein the piston is connected to a rack having a first tooth system, wherein the input shaft comprises a second tooth system, and wherein the first tooth system engages in the second tooth system.

7. The reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the housing has an aperture which is fluidically connected to the second section.

8. The reservoir according to claim 1, wherein the hydraulic driving device and the first surface are configured to set a pressure ratio, between a pressure at the hydraulic driving device and the fluid outlet, in a range between 1:25 and 1:120.

9. A hydraulic system comprising at least one reservoir according to claim 1.

10. The hydraulic system according to claim 9, wherein the hydraulic system comprises a pump having an inlet and an outlet, wherein the inlet is coupled to the fluid outlet of the reservoir and wherein the outlet is coupled to the hydraulic driving device.

11. A vehicle comprising a hydraulic system according to claim 9.

12. The vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle is an aircraft.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further features, advantages and possible uses of the presented subject matter will be found in the following description of the embodiment examples and the figures. Here, all the features described and/or depicted, in themselves and in any desired combination, form the subject matter of the disclosure, even when considered independently of their combination in the individual claims or the dependency references thereof. In the figures, the same reference signs furthermore stand for identical or similar objects.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a reservoir according to an embodiment of the invention.

(3) FIG. 2 shows schematically a hydraulic system having a reservoir of this kind.

(4) FIG. 3 shows an aircraft into which a hydraulic system of this kind is integrated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(5) The following detailed description is merely illustrative in nature and is not intended to limit the embodiments of the subject matter or the application and uses of such embodiments. As used herein, the word exemplary means serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any implementation described herein as exemplary is not necessarily to be construed as preferred or advantageous over other implementations. Furthermore, there is no intention to be bound by any expressed or implied theory presented in the preceding technical field, background, brief summary or the following detailed description.

(6) FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a hydraulic reservoir 2 according to an embodiment of the invention. The reservoir 2 has a housing 4, which is of cylindrical design by way of example. For this purpose, the housing 4 has a lateral surface 6, which is supplemented by a bottom 8 and a top 10. The housing 4 forms an interior space 12, through which a shaft 14 extends. This shaft is arranged along a central axis 16, extends substantially completely through the entire interior space 12 and projects outwards from the top 10.

(7) The shaft 14 is preferably sealed off in the top 10, e.g. by means of a radial shaft sealing ring (not shown) or a similar device. The shaft 14 is rotatably mounted in the housing 4 and connected to a first surface 18. By way of example, this is of rectangular design and extends from the bottom 8 to the top 10 in the interior space 12. Because it is attached to the shaft 14, it follows the movement of the latter. At a radially outer end 20 of the first surface 18 there is a first sliding seal 22, which seals off the first surface 18 with respect to an inner wall 24.

(8) A second surface 26, which is likewise of rectangular design by way of example, is illustrated on an opposite side of the shaft 14 in this illustration. The second surface 26 is connected rigidly to the inner wall 24 and extends radially to the shaft 14. On an edge 28 of the second surface 26 facing the shaft 14 there is a second sliding seal 30, which can be of similar construction to the first sliding seal 22 and seals off the shaft 14 with respect to the second surface 26. The shaft 14, the first surface 18 and the second surface 26 form a separating device 32, which divides the interior space 12 into a first section I and a second section II.

(9) With this construction, the first surface 18 can thus be pivoted around the central axis 16 by rotation of the shaft 14, enlarging the first section I and reducing the second section II or vice versa.

(10) Arranged in the first section I is a fluid outlet 34, which is fluidically connected to the first section I. A fluid inlet 36, which is likewise fluidically connected to the first section I, is furthermore provided. Fluid can be taken from the first section I via the fluid outlet 34 by a hydraulic pump or the like, and fluid can be introduced back into the first section I from the fluid inlet 36.

(11) In addition, a hydraulic driving device 38 is provided and has a cylinder 40, in which a piston 42 is movably mounted. At a first end 44, the cylinder 40 has a high-pressure inlet 46, which can be coupled to a high-pressure line of a hydraulic system. The piston 42 is thereby subjected to a high pressure of the hydraulic system and experiences a force directed away from the first end 44.

(12) A rack 48, which is provided with a first tooth system 50, is arranged on a side of the piston 42 facing away from the first end 44. The hydraulic driving device 38 furthermore has an input shaft 52, which is provided with a second tooth system 54. The input shaft 52 is mounted rotatably in the hydraulic driving device 38 in such a way that the first tooth system 50 and the second tooth system 54 engage in one another. Thus, if the piston 42 is subjected to a pressure, a torque is introduced into the input shaft 52 via the tooth systems 50 and 54.

(13) The input shaft 52 is connected to the shaft 14 via a coupling 56. Consequently, the torque introduced into the input shaft 52 is transmitted into the shaft 14 via the coupling 56. If there is a hydraulic fluid in the first section I, pressurization of the hydraulic fluid is consequently achieved by means of the first surface 18, with the result that said fluid is available at the fluid outlet 34 at a certain excess pressure. This excess pressure is determined by the size of the surface of the piston 42, an effective diameter of the second tooth system 54, a size of the first surface 18 and the radial extent thereof from the central axis 16 and by the pressure applied at the high-pressure inlet 46. With a given pressure level of a hydraulic system, it is thus possible to achieve a desired low pressure level at the fluid outlet 34 by adapting the piston 42, the input shaft 52 and the first surface 18.

(14) When fluid is removed from the first section I, the first surface 18 can furthermore follow the falling fluid volume in the first section I or, as the fluid volume in section I increases, can give way to inflowing fluid from the fluid inlet 36. The possible pivoting movement of the first surface 18 is determined by the length of the first tooth system 50.

(15) It is possible, in particular, for there to be air in section II, and this is likewise subject to a variable volume of the second section II. To compensate for this variable volume, an aperture 58 is provided, which is fluidically connected to the second section II and, by way of example, is arranged in the top 10. As a result, air can escape from the second section II or enter via said section without problems.

(16) FIG. 2 shows, by way of example, a schematic hydraulic system 60, which is equipped with hydraulic lines 62, a pump 64, a consuming unit 66 and a hydraulic reservoir 2. Here, by way of example, the high-pressure inlet 46 is coupled to one of the lines 62, with the result that a pressure brought about by the pump 64 leads to generation of pressure at the fluid outlet 34.

(17) Finally, FIG. 3 shows an aircraft 68 fitted with a hydraulic system 60 of this kind. The pump 64 could be arranged in or on an engine 70, for example.

(18) For the sake of completeness, it should be noted that having does not exclude any other elements or steps and a or an does not exclude a multiplicity. It should furthermore be noted that features which have been described with reference to one of the above embodiment examples can also be used in combination with other features of other embodiment examples described above. Reference signs in the claims should not be regarded as restrictive.

(19) While at least one exemplary embodiment has been presented in the foregoing detailed description, it should be appreciated that a vast number of variations exist. It should also be appreciated that the exemplary embodiment or embodiments described herein are not intended to limit the scope, applicability, or configuration of the claimed subject matter in any way. Rather, the foregoing detailed description will provide those skilled in the art with a convenient road map for implementing the described embodiment or embodiments. It should be understood that various changes can be made in the function and arrangement of elements without departing from the scope defined by the claims, which includes known equivalents and foreseeable equivalents at the time of filing this patent application.