Filter Arrangement, Connection Interface Element and Filter Interface Unit

Abstract

A filter arrangement with filter element for purifying a dielectric of a machine for electrical discharge machining has a dielectric inlet with a connector for connecting a dielectric feed connection element of the machine for electrical discharge machining. The filter arrangement has an adapter form fit element that connects detachably to an adapter form fit element of the machine for electrical discharge machining. In a closed position of the adapter form fit elements, the dielectric inlet of the filter arrangement is fluid-tightly connected to the dielectric feed connection element. The adapter form fit elements permit the closed position only in a defined angle position, thereby determining a position of an identification element of the filter arrangement relative to the adapter form fit element of the machine for electrical discharge machining and of a corresponding reading device at the machine for electrical discharge machining relative to the an identification element.

Claims

1. A filter arrangement for a machine for electrical discharge machining, the filter arrangement comprising: at least one hollow cylindrical filter element configured to purify a dielectric of the machine for electrical discharge machining; at least one dielectric inlet arranged centrally at an end face of the filter arrangement, the at least one dielectric inlet comprising at least one axial rotation-symmetrical connector configured to connect a dielectric feed connection element of the machine for electrical discharge machining; at least one identification element comprising filter-specific data, wherein the at least one identification element is fastened captively to the end face of the filter arrangement and arranged at a radial distance from the at least one dielectric inlet; at least one adapter form fit element captively fastened to the end face of the filter arrangement at a radial distance from the at least one dielectric inlet; wherein, for connecting the filter arrangement to the machine for electrical discharge machining, the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement is configured to connect detachably to an adapter form fit element of the machine for electrical discharge machining; wherein, in a closed position of the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement and of the adapter form fit element of the machine for electrical discharge machining, the at least one axial dielectric inlet of the filter arrangement is configured to fluid-tightly connect to the dielectric feed connection element of the machine for electrical discharge machining; wherein the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement is configured to permit said closed position only in a defined angle position and to determine thereby a position of the at least one identification element relative to the adapter form fit element of the machine for electrical discharge machining.

2. The filter arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one identification element comprises at least one memory element configured to store the filter-specific data.

3. The filter arrangement according to claim 2, wherein the at least one identification element comprises at least one transponder configured to receive and relay the filter-specific data.

4. The filter arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one identification element comprises at least one memory element configured to store the filter-specific data and at least one transponder configured to receive and relay the filter-specific data.

5. The filter arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one axial rotation-symmetrical connector of the dielectric inlet is an axial hose connection extension.

6. The filter arrangement according to claim 1, further comprising a connection interface element arranged centrally at the end face of the filter arrangement, wherein the at least one identification element, the at least one dielectric inlet, and the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement are correlated with the connection interface element.

7. The filter arrangement according to claim 6, further comprising an end disk configured to cover a first end face of the at least one hollow cylindrical filter element, wherein the end disk is arranged at the end face of the filter arrangement, wherein the connection interface element is configured to be fastened captively to the end disk by at least one connection element.

8. The filter arrangement according to claim 7, wherein the at least one connection element is a snap connection element or a clip connection element.

9. The filter arrangement according to claim 1, wherein the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement comprises an end face facing away from the filter arrangement, wherein said end face of the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement is arranged axially displaced relative to the end face of the filter arrangement or relative to a surface of an end disk configured to cover an end face of the at least one hollow cylindrical filter element, wherein said surface is facing away from the filter arrangement.

10. The filter arrangement according to claim 9, wherein the end face of the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement comprises at least one axial positioning geometry.

11. The filter arrangement according to claim 10, wherein the at least one axial positioning geometry is an axial geometric elevation arranged at the end face of the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement and extending away from the at least one hollow cylindrical filter element.

12. The filter arrangement according to claim 11, wherein the axial geometric elevation is selected from the group consisting of a letter, a mathematical character, and a geometric shape.

13. A connection interface element for a machine for electrical discharge machining, the connection interface element comprising: at least one dielectric feed connection element configured to connect a dielectric feed element of the machine for electrical discharge machining to a connector of a filter arrangement, configured to purify a dielectric of the machine for electrical discharge machining, wherein the at least one dielectric feed connection element is arranged centrally at the connection interface element; at least one reading device configured to read contactless data of at least one identification element of the filter arrangement, wherein the at least one reading device is arranged at a radial distance from the at least one dielectric feed connection element; at least one adapter form fit element arranged at a radial distance from the at least one dielectric feed connection element; wherein the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element is configured to enable a connection of the machine for electrical discharge machining to the filter arrangement and is configured as a counterpart to at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement; wherein the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element is configured to detachably connect to the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement; wherein, in a closed position of the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element and of the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement, the at least one dielectric feed connection element is configured to connect fluid-tightly to an axial dielectric inlet of the filter arrangement; wherein the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element is configured to permit said closed position only in a defined angle position and to determine thereby a position of the at least one reading device relative to the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement.

14. A filter interface unit for a machine for electrical discharge machining, comprising: a filter arrangement comprising: at least one hollow cylindrical filter element configured to purify a dielectric of the machine for electrical discharge machining; at least one dielectric inlet arranged centrally at an end face of the filter arrangement, the at least one dielectric inlet comprising at least one axial rotation-symmetrical connector; at least one identification element comprising filter-specific data, wherein the at least one identification element is fastened captively to the end face of the filter arrangement and arranged at a radial distance from the at least one dielectric inlet; at least one adapter form fit element captively fastened to the end face of the filter arrangement at a radial distance from the at least one dielectric inlet; a connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining, comprising: at least one centrally arranged dielectric feed connection element configured to connect a dielectric feed element of the machine for electrical discharge machining to the at least one axial rotation-symmetrical connector of the filter arrangement; at least one reading device configured to read contactless the filter-specific data of the at least one identification element of the filter arrangement, wherein the at least one reading device is arranged at a radial distance from the at least one centrally arranged dielectric feed connection element; at least one adapter form fit element arranged at a radial distance from the at least one centrally arranged dielectric feed connection element, wherein the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining is configured as a counterpart to the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement; wherein, for connecting the filter arrangement to the machine for electrical discharge machining, the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement is configured to connect detachably to the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining; wherein, in a closed position of the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement and of the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining, the at least one axial dielectric inlet of the filter arrangement is configured to fluid-tightly connect to the at least one centrally arranged dielectric feed connection element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining; wherein the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement and the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining are configured to permit said closed position only in a defined angle position and to determine thereby a position of the at least one identification element relative to the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining and to determine thereby a position of the at least one reading device relative to the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement.

15. The filter interface unit according to claim 14, wherein the filter arrangement further comprises a connection interface element arranged centrally at the end face of the filter arrangement, wherein the at least one identification element, the at least one dielectric inlet, and the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement are correlated with the connection interface element of the filter arrangement, wherein the connection interface element of the filter arrangement and the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining are configured to engage each other in a locking engagement by an axial displacement along a defined displacement path, wherein said locking engagement is possible only when the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement and the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining engage each other.

16. The filter interface unit according to claim 14, wherein, in the defined angle position, the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement and the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining determine a position of the at least one identification element relative to the at least one reading device.

17. The filter interface unit according to claim 14, wherein the at least one centrally arranged dielectric feed connection element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining is a hose connection element.

18. The filter interface unit according to claim 14, wherein the at least one adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement comprises an axial positioning geometry configured to interact with an axial positioning geometry, configured as a cutout, of the at least one adapter form fit element of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining such that, in said closed position, the axial positioning geometry of the filter arrangement passes through the axial positioning geometry of the connection interface element for the machine for electrical discharge machining and can be felt from an exterior of the filter arrangement.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0050] As has already explained above, there are various possibilities to embody and further develop the teachings of the present invention in an advantageous manner. In this context, on the one hand, reference is being had to the dependent claims; on the other hand, further embodiments, features, and advantages of the present invention will be explained in more detail in the following inter alia with the aid of an embodiment illustrated in FIGS. 1 through 6.

[0051] FIG. 1 shows in schematic illustration an embodiment of a filter interface unit according to the present invention with an embodiment of a filter arrangement according to the present invention.

[0052] FIG. 2 shows in isometric side view (=left half of FIG. 2) as well as in schematic longitudinal section (=right half of FIG. 2) the filter interface unit of FIG. 1.

[0053] FIG. 3 shows in perspective illustration a top view of the filter arrangement of FIG. 1.

[0054] FIG. 4 shows in perspective illustration a side view of the filter interface unit of FIG. 1.

[0055] FIG. 5 shows in schematic longitudinal section illustration the filter interface unit of FIG. 1, wherein the adapter form fit elements are arranged in an open position, i.e., are not engaging each other.

[0056] FIG. 6 shows in an angled section illustration the filter interface unit of FIG. 1, wherein the adapter form fit elements are arranged in a closed position, i.e., are engaging each other.

[0057] Same or similar embodiments, elements or features are provided in FIGS. 1 to 6 with identical reference characters.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0058] In the embodiment of the present invention illustrated with the aid of FIGS. 1 to 6, a filter interface unit 300 with a filter arrangement 100 as well as with a connection interface element 240 of the machine for electrical discharge machining is illustrated.

[0059] The filter arrangement 100 comprises a hollow cylindrical liquid filter element 80 embodied for purifying a dielectric of a machine for electrical discharge machining and comprising a dielectric inlet 20 centrally arranged at an end face 10 of the filter arrangement 100. The dielectric inlet 20 is correlated with a connection interface element 50 of the filter arrangement 100.

[0060] For connecting the filter arrangement 100 to the machine for electrical discharge machining, the dielectric inlet 20 has an axial rotation-symmetrical connector 22. As illustrated in FIG. 1, the axial rotation-symmetrical connector 22 can be, for example, a hose connector or a hose quick coupling. This hose connector or this hose quick coupling can be configured in a way as is known in the prior art, for example, for garden hoses.

[0061] Thus, the axial rotation-symmetrical connector 22 can comprise a collar which is engaged by a locking element. The axial rotation-symmetrical connector 22 can be embodied, for example, as an annular extension at which a hose coupling can engage. As an alternative to a standard hose connector, the axial rotation-symmetrical connector 22 can be axially clamped. Instead of a hose connector 22, the filter arrangement 100 then has an axial seal. In this context, a flange or a pipe is arranged at the machine for electrical discharge machining that projects into the filter arrangement 100 and is then axially clamped.

[0062] The connection interface element 240 of the machine for electrical discharge machining comprises a dielectric feed connection element 210 connected to a dielectric feed element, for example, a hose. This dielectric feed connection element 210 is embodied as a counterpart 210 to the axial rotation-symmetrical connector 22 of the filter arrangement 100. The dielectric feed connection element 210 is thus advantageously a hose connector element or a hose quick coupling element as is known from the prior art, for example, for garden hoses. The hose can thus be adapted by means of a quick coupling 22, 210 to the liquid filter element. The hose can comprise, for example, a diameter of 13 inches or 19 millimeter (mm).

[0063] The connection interface element 240 of the machine for electrical discharge machining can thus be a conventional hose connection adapter wherein, externally about the hose connection adapter, a surface, for example, of plastic material, is arranged and on this surface an RFID reader and an adapter form fit element are arranged.

[0064] The filter element 80 illustrated in FIG. 1 is relatively large. For example, the filter element 80 can have a diameter of approximately 340 mm and a height of approximately 300 mm. The filter arrangement 100 is a so-called stand alone filter which requires no pressure container at the device. In this context, a fluid-permeable support body 90 that is arranged axially outwardly about the filter element 80 absorbs the complete differential pressure. The support body 90 can be, for example, an outer jacket 90 provided with fluid passage openings, for example, a perforated sheet metal or a plastic housing comprising cutout holes.

[0065] At the end faces of the filter arrangement, a respective end disk 60 is arranged. These end disks 60 support the support body 90 and ensure a pressure stability of the filter arrangement 100.

[0066] The dielectric flows via the fluid connector 20, 22, 210 into the filter arrangement 100 and flows through the filter bellows 80 from the interior to the exterior. With increasing load state, i.e., with increasing amount of collected steel particles in the filter bellows 80, the differential pressure of the filter arrangement 100 increases. The differential pressure is absorbed by the outer jacket 90. At a defined differential pressure, for example, at 3.0 bar, the filter arrangement 100 is completely exchanged. The filter bellows 80 is not exchangeable. The complete filter arrangement 100, which, for example, is surrounded by a plastic housing, is removed from the machine for electrical discharge machining and disposed of.

[0067] At an end face 10 of the filter arrangement 100, an identification element 30, for example, a R[adio] F[requency] ID[entification] chip and/or a R[adio] F[requency] ID[entification] transponder is arranged fixedly at the filter. The identification element 30 stores filter-specific data which it obtains, for example, from a measuring element, for example, a pressure sensor. The filter arrangement illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 can thus be, for example, an E[lectrical] D[ischarge] M[achining] filter with a R[adio] F[requency] ID[entification] chip and a pressure sensor that can be read out contactless.

[0068] The identification element 30 is arranged at a radial distance from the dielectric inlet 20.

[0069] The identification element 30 assigns a unique ID[entification] to the filter element 80. Thus, the identification element 30 stores, for example, information in regard to how the filter element 80 is to be operated, how inflow at the filter element 80 is to be provided, and/or up to which differential pressure inflow to the filter element 80 is possible. The information stored by the identification element 30 can contain, for example, information for the machine for electrical discharge machining and/or for the end user. The identification element 30 is located in a receiving element 32, namely in an axial elevation, of the connection interface element 50 of the filter arrangement 100. The identification element 30 can be designed, for example, in a disk shape and can have a diameter, for example, of approximately 16 mm to 20 mm.

[0070] For reading out the identification element 30, the connection interface element 240 of the machine for electrical discharge machining comprises at least one reading device 230 that is embodied for contactless reading or reading out the data of the identification element 30 of the filter arrangement 100, for example, a R[adio] F[requency] ID[entification] reader. In this context, a precise positioning of the reading device 230 in relation to the identification element 30 is a prerequisite for the identification element 30 to be recognized or read out by the reading device 230. The reading device 230 is connected to the machine for electrical discharge machining.

[0071] In order to determine the position of the identification element 30 relative to the reading device 230, the connection interface element 50 of the filter arrangement 100 and the connection interface element 240 of the machine for electrical discharge machining each have an adapter form fit element 40 and 220, respectively. These adapter form fit elements 40 and 220 are detachably connectable to each other and are embodied as counterparts relative to each other. The adapter form fit elements 40 and 220 are arranged eccentrically at the connection interface element 50, respectively, 240 and enable thus the closure of the connection interface elements 50 and 240 only in one defined angle position.

[0072] The filter arrangement 100 illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 6 comprises thus a fluid connector 20, 22, 210 that is embodied like a garden hose connector. This fluid connector 20, 22, 210 is embodied essentially with rotational symmetry, can thus be connected in an arbitrary angle position.

[0073] Adapter form fit elements 40 and 220, arranged eccentrically to the fluid connector 20, 22, 210, are provided at the connection interface elements 50 and 240, respectively. These adapter form fit elements 40 and 220 can have, for example, a raised structure at the filter side and a recessed structure at the machine side, respectively.

[0074] Upon connection of the connection interface elements 50 and 240, the reading device 230 is positioned with the fluid connector 210 precisely above the identification element 30 by means of the adapter form fit elements 40 and 220. In this context, the adapter form fit elements 40 and 220 are embodied such that the fluid connector 20, 22, 210 can be connected only when the two form fit elements 40 and 220 are engaging each other.

[0075] FIGS. 5 and 6 show schematically the features of the fluid connector with the dielectric inlet 20, the connector 22 of the filter arrangement 100, and the dielectric feed connection element 210 of the machine for electrical discharge machining. In FIG. 5, a first position is illustrated in which the positioning geometry of the adapter form fit elements are not yet engaging each other. In this position, the fluid connector 20, 22, 210 is not yet in engagement and the reading device 230 is not arranged above the identification element 30.

[0076] FIG. 6 shows a second position, namely the position of use or final position of the filter arrangement 100. In this position of use, the adapter form fit elements 40, 220 engage each other with form fit and the fluid connector 20, 22, 200 closes; fluid connector and coupling are thus in engagement and seal-tight.

LIST OF REFERENCE CHARACTERS

[0077] 10 end face of the filter arrangement 100 [0078] 20 dielectric inlet, in particular fluid connector [0079] 22 axial rotation-symmetrical connector of the dielectric inlet 20, in particular hose connector or hose quick coupling [0080] 30 identification element, in particular memory element and/or transponder, for example, R[adio] F[requency] ID[entification] transponder or Q[uick] R[esponse] C[ode] [0081] 32 receiving element, configured for receiving the identification element 30, in particular axial elevation, of the connection interface element 50 of the filter arrangement 100 (compare FIG. 5) [0082] 40 adapter form fit element of the filter arrangement 100 [0083] 42 positioning geometry of the adapter form fit element 40 of the filter arrangement 100, in particular axial geometric elevation, for example, at least one letter and/or at least one mathematical character and/or at least one geometric shape, for example, a star or a triangle, for example, raised positioning geometry [0084] 50 connection interface element of the filter arrangement 100, in particular filter-associated adapter [0085] 60 end disk [0086] 80 hollow cylindrical filter element, in particular liquid filter element, of the filter arrangement 100, for example, filter bellows [0087] 90 fluid-permeable support body or outer jacket of the filter arrangement 100, in particular perforated sheet or support grid, arranged about the filter arrangement 100 [0088] 100 filter arrangement (compare FIGS. 2 and 3) [0089] 210 dielectric feed connection element, in particular connector, for example, fluid adapter, for example, fluid connector or fluid coupling [0090] 220 adapter form fit element of the machine for electrical discharge machining [0091] 222 positioning geometry of the adapter form fit element 220 of the machine for electrical discharge machining, in particular cutout positioning geometry [0092] 230 reading device, in particular R[adio] F[requency] ID[entification] reading device or R[adio] F[requency] ID[entification] reader, for example, read and/or write head for the R[adio] F[requency] ID[entification] transponder 30 [0093] 232 connection cable of the reading device 230 for connecting the reading device 230 to the machine for electrical discharge machining, in particular to at least one control element of the machine for electrical discharge machining [0094] 240 connection interface element of the machine for electrical discharge machining, in particular machine-associated adapter [0095] 300 filter interface unit for a machine for electrical discharge machining