Method for operating a hydraulically operated hand-held device and hydraulically operated hand-held device
10688646 ยท 2020-06-23
Assignee
Inventors
Cpc classification
B21J15/20
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
International classification
B25F5/00
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
B25B27/02
PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
Abstract
A method for operating a hydraulically operated hand-held device is provided. The hand-held device includes a hydraulic pump, a moving part, a fixed part and a return valve with an associated valve seat. The moving part can be displaced into a working position by a build-up of hydraulic pressure produced by filling a hydraulic chamber with hydraulic medium from a storage chamber using the hydraulic pump. The moving part can be automatically moved back from the working position into an end position by opening the return valve, if a predetermined working pressure is reached. The hydraulic pressure acting upon the return valve for triggering a movement of the moving part into the end position is increased independently of reaching the predefined working pressure.
Claims
1. A method comprising: providing a hand-held device comprising a hydraulic pump, a moving part, a fixed part and a return valve, comprising a valve seat, a valve piston configured to seat within the valve seat or be displaced from the valve seat upon being acted upon by hydraulic medium, and a valve chamber between the valve piston and the valve seat, wherein the valve piston includes a partial piston surface and a total piston surface which is greater than the partial piston surface, wherein the partial piston surface is configured to seat within the valve seat in a closure state of the return valve and the valve piston and thereby the partial piston surface is configured to be displaced from the valve seat in an open state of the return valve; displacing the moving part into a working position by filling a hydraulic chamber of the hand-held device with hydraulic medium from a storage chamber to build-up hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber using the hydraulic pump, wherein the moving part is configured to be automatically moved from the working position into an end position by displacing the valve piston and thereby the partial piston surface from the valve seat to the open state by the hydraulic medium acting on the partial piston surface of the valve piston when a predefined working pressure is reached to open a return opening for the hydraulic medium to flow back into the storage chamber; and displacing the valve piston from the valve seat prior to reaching the predefined working pressure by filling the valve chamber with hydraulic medium at a selected hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber which is less than the predefined working pressure and thereby opening the return opening for the hydraulic medium to flow back into the storage chamber, wherein the hydraulic medium flowing back into the storage chamber acts upon the total piston surface of the valve piston thereby holding the return valve in the open state.
2. The method according to claim 1, wherein displacing the valve piston from the valve seat occurs automatically and the selected hydraulic pressure is predefined.
3. The method according to claim 2, further comprising setting the pressure at a pressure which is less than the predefined working pressure prior to use of the hand-held device.
4. The method according to claim 1, wherein displacing the valve piston from the valve seat is carried out by moving a pressure-increasing piston.
5. The method according to claim 4, wherein during movement of the pressure-increasing piston, the pressure-increasing piston is moved into a hydraulic medium cylinder.
6. The method according to claim 5, wherein the hydraulic medium cylinder is continuously connected to a return line of the hydraulic chamber.
7. The method according to claim 5, wherein the hydraulic medium cylinder is only hydraulically in communication with a return line of the hydraulic chamber when the return valve is in the open state.
8. The method according to claim 4, further comprising driving the hydraulic pump to displace the moving part into the working position by using a drive; and moving the pressure-increasing piston by a drive which is a separate drive from the drive of the hydraulic pump.
9. The method according to claim 4, further comprising moving the pressure-increasing piston under action of a control magnet.
10. A hydraulically operated hand-held device comprising: a device housing having a fixed part; a hydraulic chamber within the device housing; a storage chamber within the device housing; a hydraulic pump operatively connected to the storage chamber and the hydraulic chamber; a moving part attached to the device housing and movable relative to the fixed part of the device housing, wherein the moving part is configured to be moved into a working position by an increase in hydraulic pressure by filling the hydraulic chamber with hydraulic medium from the storage chamber using the hydraulic pump; a return valve within the device housing, the return valve comprising a valve seat, the return valve configured to be opened to an open state upon application of a predefined working pressure applied to the return valve and further configured to be opened to the open state upon application of a selected hydraulic pressure which is less than the predefined working pressure applied to the return valve, wherein the moving part is configured to be automatically moved from the working position into an end position by opening the return valve when the predefined working pressure is reached; a pressure sensor within the device housing and configured to measure pressure values of hydraulic fluid during movement of the moving part into the working position, wherein the moving part is configured to be returned to the end position upon measurement of a pressure value measured by the pressure sensor by movement of the return valve to the open state; an adjusting device configured to set a value of the selected hydraulic pressure and comprising at least one of an adjusting wheel, an adjusting slider, a multiplicity of buttons, wherein each button is assigned a predefined working pressure, and a keypad and a display wherein on which the selected hydraulic pressure is configured to be shown; and evaluation/control electronics configured to evaluate pressure values measured by the pressure sensor during movement of the moving part into the working position and to compare the evaluated pressure value with the value of the selected hydraulic pressure.
11. The hand-held device according to claim 10, wherein the pressure sensor is configured to continuously measure pressure values of the hydraulic fluid during movement of the moving part into the working position at predetermined time intervals.
12. The hand-held device according to claim 11, wherein the time intervals are in a range between 1 and 200 milliseconds.
13. The hand-held device according to claim 10, further comprising a non-mechanical interface which is configured to set the predefined working pressure.
14. The hand-held device according to claim 13, wherein the non-mechanical interface is one of a radio interface with the hand-held device and an optical interface with the hand-held device.
15. The hand-held device according to claim 13, wherein the non-mechanical interface is a radio interface and an optical interface with the hand-held device.
16. A method comprising: providing a hand-held device comprising a hydraulic pump, a moving part, a fixed part and a return valve comprising a valve seat and a valve piston configured to seat within the valve seat or be displaced from the valve seat upon being acted upon by hydraulic medium; displacing the moving part into a working position by filling a hydraulic chamber of the hand-held device with hydraulic medium from a storage chamber to build-up hydraulic pressure in the hydraulic chamber using the hydraulic pump, wherein the moving part is configured to be moved from the working position into an end position by displacing the valve piston from the valve seat by the hydraulic medium acting on the valve piston when a predefined working pressure is, reached to open a return opening for the hydraulic medium to flow back into the storage chamber; actuating one of a switch or a button by a hand of a user; discontinuing the actuation of the one of the switch or button by the user, thereby opening of the return valve to allow movement of the moving part to the end position; and detecting contact with a workpiece by the moving part, wherein the movement of the moving part to the end position is only affected if contact with the workpiece has been detected.
17. A hydraulically operated hand-held device comprising: a device housing having a fixed part; a hydraulic chamber within the device housing; a storage chamber selectively in communication with the hydraulic chamber; a hydraulic pump operatively connected to the storage chamber and the hydraulic chamber; a moving part attached to the device housing and movable relative to the fixed part of the device housing, wherein the moving part is configured to be moved into a working position by an increase in hydraulic pressure by filling the hydraulic chamber with hydraulic medium from the storage chamber using the hydraulic pump, and the moving part is configured to be automatically moved from the working position into an end position when a predefined working pressure is reached; a return valve within the device housing, the return valve comprising a valve seat, a valve piston configured to seat within the valve seat or be displaced from the valve seat upon being acted upon by hydraulic medium, and a valve chamber between the valve piston and the valve seat, wherein the valve piston includes a partial piston surface and a total piston surface which is greater than the partial piston surface, wherein the partial piston surface is configured to seat within the valve seat in a closure state of the return valve and the partial piston surface is configured to be displaced from the valve seat in an open state of the return valve, the return valve configured to be opened to an open state upon application of the predefined working pressure applied to the return valve and further configured to be opened to the open state upon application of a selected hydraulic pressure which is less than the predefined working pressure applied to the return valve; and a pressure-increasing piston within the device housing, the pressure-increasing piston being movable relative to the device housing within a chamber in fluid communication with the valve chamber, wherein the pressure-increasing piston is configured to be moved within the chamber to increase hydraulic pressure acting on the return valve, wherein the hydraulic pressure acting on the return valve by the pressure-increasing piston can be increased independently of reaching the predefined working pressure to a pressure value which opens the return valve.
18. The hand-held device according to claim 17, wherein during movement of the pressure-increasing piston, the pressure-increasing piston is movable in a hydraulic medium cylinder.
19. The hand-held device according to claim 18, wherein the hydraulic medium cylinder is continuously hydraulically in communication with a return line of the hydraulic chamber.
20. The hand-held device according to claim 18, wherein the hydraulic medium cylinder is only hydraulically in communication with a return line of the hydraulic chamber when the return valve is in the open state.
21. The hand-held device according to claim 17, further comprising driving the hydraulic pump to displace the moving part into the working position by using a drive; and moving the pressure-increasing piston by a drive separate from a drive of the hydraulic pump.
22. The hand-held device according to claim 21, further comprising a control magnet configured to move the pressure-increasing piston relative to the device housing.
23. The hand-held device according to claim 22, further comprising a check valve in communication with the storage chamber and the return valve.
Description
(1) The invention is explained hereinafter with reference to the appended drawings which merely show one exemplary embodiment. In the drawings:
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(11) Shown and described initially with reference to
(12) The moving part 4 is movable relative to a fixed part 5 formed by the device housing or for example the cylinder in which the hydraulic cylinder moves. The moving part 4 is now for example the tool holder shown in
(13) In particular, the components hydraulic medium storage chamber 3, return valve 8, adjusting device 27 and optionally others are accommodated in a device body K not shown in further detail here.
(14) The hydraulic chamber 6 comprises the chamber into which the hydraulic medium is pumped. This begins on the pressure side of the hydraulic pump. As shown for example in
(15) As can be seen in particular from
(16) The electric motor 2 for operating the hydraulic pump and therefore for moving the moving part 4 in the direction of the working position is activated via a switch 9 preferably configured as a manually actuatable button. The power supply as well as further preferably a switch/control electronics is accomplished via a device-side rechargeable battery not shown or an electrical line.
(17) In the valve closure position the return valve 8 is pressed into the valve seat by means of a pressure spring 10. The valve seat preferably consists in detail of a screw-in part 12 which is screwed into the housing of the hand-held device 1 via a thread 11.
(18) A flow hole 13 is provided in the valve seat, optionally in the screw-in part 12. This is in fluidic communication with the return line 7.
(19) As a result of the narrow cross-section of the flow hole 13 in the valve seat in cooperation with the pretension applied by the pressure spring 10, the return valve 8 only opens when a specific triggering pressure is exceeded. This is the initially mentioned predefined working pressure. This triggering pressure can for example be 600 or 700 bar.
(20) After the return valve 8 has opened, the pressure of the hydraulic medium is no longer applied to the area corresponding to the cross-sectional area of the flow hole 13, a partial piston surface, given for example by a valve needle 14, but to the entire area (subsurface 17) facing the hydraulic chamber of the return valve piston 15 of the return valve 8 having the valve needle 14. The open return valve 8 is therefore already held in the open position by a very low pressure in the return line 7, for example a pressure of 2 to 5 bar.
(21) The valve needle 14 need not be formed in an ideally tapering manner. Preferably it is formed to be conical in any case.
(22) This pressure is preferably produced during the return of the moving part 4 by a spring 16 which acts on the moving part 4 and which loads the moving part 4 into the end position.
(23) In the drain flow direction after the flow hole 13 the pressure is again significantly lower. For example, the pressure in particular at the beginning of the return of the moving part is only or less than the pressure upstream of the flow hole 13 or the valve seat, in practice for example approximately half. This pressure difference however substantially equalizes thereafter and is usually only comparatively low soon after the beginning of the return of the moving part.
(24) After opening of the return valve 8, the chamber 26 adjoining the flow hole 13 as far as the subsurface 17 of the return valve piston 15 is included in the hydraulic chamber 6. The hydraulic medium then flows via a drain opening 18 into the storage chamber 3. The chamber 26 is also designated hereinbefore and hereinafter as valve chamber.
(25) An axial hole 19 passing through the subsurface 17 and preferably rebound-protected, allows a backflow of hydraulic medium from the hydraulic medium storage chamber into the valve chamber 26 in the closure state of the return valve 8 according to
(26) Without any further measure, in particular without any external intervention, for example by the user, the hydraulic or triggering pressure which raises the valve needle 14 from the valve seat corresponds to the said predefined working pressure at the moving part 4.
(27) However, a possibility has been provided for moving the return valve 8 into its open position without the hydraulic pressure required to raise the return valve 8 being present at the moving part 4. Accordingly, work, for example, pressings with the hand-held device 1 is possible which requires lower working pressures at the moving part 4 compared with the triggering pressure for the return valve 8.
(28) For this purpose, preferably a further line 20 filled with hydraulic fluid is provided which is assigned to the hydraulic chamber adjoining the flow hole 13 in the downflow direction. This line 20 is continued in a hydraulic medium cylinder 21 in which the pressure-increasing piston 22 already mentioned is preferably linearly displaceable. The line 20 could also be configured to be shorter as shown or omitted.
(29) By means of an electrically controllable adjusting magnet 23, a linear movement of the pressure-increasing piston 22 in the hydraulic medium cylinder 21 or in the line 20 can be achieved. The movement of the pressure-increasing piston 22 brought about by activation of the adjusting magnet 23 is preferably accomplished contrary to the force of a return spring 24 acting on the pressure-increasing piston 22.
(30) Via the holes 25 provided for example in the screw-in part 12, preferably aligned in the direction of displacement of the return valve 8, the line 20 hydraulically forms a part of the valve chamber 26.
(31) In the installed state the screw-in part 12 does not abut directly against the facing housing wall so that hydraulic medium moved by the pressure-increasing piston 22 can readily flow from the line 20 via the holes 25 into the part of the chamber 26 located downstream of the valve seat in the drain direction of the hydraulic medium.
(32) The hand-held device 1 preferably has an adjusting device 27 by means of which the maximum working pressure present at the moving part 4 can be preset by the user. In the exemplary embodiment shown here, a multiplicity of buttons 28 (
(33) Thus, for example, a working pressure of 200 bar or 300 bar resulting in a triggering of the return valve can be preselected.
(34) An evaluation/control electronics evaluates pressure measured values of a pressure sensor 29 in the course of the movement of the moving part 4 in the direction of the working position and compares this with the desired pressure value predefined via a button 28, the adjusting wheel 28a, or the adjusting slider 28b.
(35) On reaching the desired pressure value, a corresponding signal is generated which results in an activation of the adjusting magnet 23.
(36) The pressure-increasing piston 22 moves as a result of the activation of the adjusting magnet 23 against the force of the preferably provided return spring 24 abruptly into the advance position according to the diagrams in
(37) The valve needle 14 is thereafter raised from the valve seat so that the hydraulic medium can return from the hydraulic chamber 6 back into the hydraulic medium storage chamber 3, wherein the return valve 8 is in this case held in the raised position until the moving part 4 reaches the end position according to
(38) The pressure increase at the return valve 8 due to the pressure-increasing piston 22 acts in an initial manner. With raising of the return valve 8 and accompanying connection of the chamber 26 to the drain opening 18 with simultaneous opening of the flow hole 13, the pressure prevailing due to the return of the moving part 4 acts on the return valve 8.
(39) The electrical action of the adjusting magnet 23 can initially take place in a pulsed manner so that after the complete initial stroke of the pressure-increasing piston 22, this is located almost immediately in the advanced position according to
(40) As a result of an, as it were, premature cancellation of the action of the adjusting magnet 23 which has taken place before the complete return movement of the moving part, the pressure-increasing piston 22 can accordingly move back prematurely into its initial position. The associated increase in the valve chamber 26 can ensure a pressure drop such that a desired closure of the return valve 8 is achieved by this means.
(41) With a return movement of the pressure-increasing piston 22, preferably at the same time a flow path from the hydraulic medium storage chamber 3 into the valve chamber 26 opens in order to supply the valve chamber 26 with the required hydraulic medium which enables the said backward movement of the pressure-increasing piston 22. As soon as the return valve 8 is closed again, no more hydraulic medium can flow into the chamber 26 via the valve seat. This flow path can be given by a check valve 30 arranged in the return valve piston 15 and/or a connecting path from the hydraulic medium storage chamber 3 to the line 20. Also with a return movement of the pressure-increasing piston 22 a (further) drain path for hydraulic medium into the hydraulic medium storage chamber 3 initially via a line section 31 which is released by the back-moving pressure-increasing piston 22, can be [provided]. Further however additionally or alternatively via a receptacle 32 for a piston shaft of the pressure-increasing piston 22. Via this and the preferably adjoining expanded space 33 in which an actuating piston 34 of the pressure-increasing piston 22 is located, hydraulic medium can drain directly into the hydraulic medium storage chamber 3.
(42) In the actuated state, see
(43) The forwards movement of the moving part 4 into the working position is preferably only retained for as long as the user actuates the switch 9. In one embodiment with release of the switch 9 (even before completion of a working process) a signal is generated which results in a triggering of the adjusting magnet 23 and therefore via the pressure-increasing piston 22 results in a pressure increase in the chamber 26. Accordingly, with release of the switch 9 the return valve 8 is displaced into the open position which results in an automatic return of the moving part 4 into the end position.
(44) The pressure-increasing piston 22 can be arranged transversely directed to the return valve 8. The longitudinal axes of pressure-increasing piston 22 and return valve 8 intersect outside the respective extension regions. This assists a desired compact design.
(45) In addition, it can be provided as shown in the exemplary embodiment that the adjusting magnet 23 or the relevant structural section is flushed by hydraulic medium by projecting into the hydraulic medium storage chamber 3.
(46) The preceding explanations are used to explain the inventions covered total by the application which in each case independently further develop the prior art at least by the following feature combinations, namely:
(47) A method characterized in that the hydraulic pressure acting on the return valve 8 is increased to trigger a movement of the moving part 4 into the end position independently of reaching the predefined working pressure.
(48) A method characterized in that the return valve 8 is opened automatically at a modified working pressure compared with the predefined working pressure.
(49) A method characterized in that the modified working pressure can be set.
(50) A method characterized in that the increase in the hydraulic pressure is accomplished for a short time.
(51) A method characterized in that the increase in the hydraulic pressure is accomplished by supplying hydraulic medium into a given chamber 26 downstream of the valve seat with a view to a drain direction of the hydraulic medium.
(52) A method characterized in that the increase in the hydraulic pressure is accomplished by a movement of a pressure-increasing piston 22.
(53) A method characterized in that the pressure-increasing piston 22 is moved into a hydraulic medium cylinder 21.
(54) A method characterized in that the hydraulic medium cylinder 21 is continuously connected to a return line 7 of the hydraulic medium.
(55) A method characterized in that the hydraulic medium cylinder 21 is only hydraulically in communication with the return line 7 of the hydraulic medium when the return valve is open.
(56) A method characterized in that the pressure-increasing piston 22 is moved via a separate drive from a drive of the hydraulic pump.
(57) A method characterized in that the pressure-increasing piston 22 is moved by means of an adjusting magnet 23.
(58) A method characterized in that a return of the moving part 4 is accomplished depending on a pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 29 by subsequent automatic opening of the return valve 8 and that the working pressure at which the opening of the return valve 8 is triggered is adjustable.
(59) A method characterized in that when the actuation of a switch or button by the user is cancelled, an opening of the return valve and a return of the moving part 4 is triggered at the same time.
(60) A method characterized in that the return of the moving part 4 is only triggered when a first workpiece contact has been determined previously on the device side.
(61) A hand-held device characterized in that the hydraulic pressure acting on the return valve 8 can be increased independently of reaching the predefined working pressure to a pressure value which brings about an opening of the return valve 8.
(62) A hand-held device, characterized in that a movable pressure-increasing piston 22 is provided to increase the pressure.
(63) A hand-held device characterized in that the pressure-increasing piston 22 is movable in a hydraulic cylinder 21 which is continuously hydraulically in communication with a return line 7 of the hydraulic medium.
(64) A hand-held device characterized in that the pressure-increasing piston 22 is movable by means of a drive separate from a drive of the hydraulic pump.
(65) A hand-held device characterized in that the pressure-increasing piston 22 is movable by means of an adjusting magnet 23.
(66) A hand-held device characterized in that the hydraulic volume which can be used to increase the pressure value on the return valve 8 is in communication with the hydraulic storage chamber 3 via a check valve 30.
(67) A hand-held device characterized in that a return of the moving part 4 can be accomplished depending on a pressure value measured by the pressure sensor 29 by a triggerable opening of the return valve 8 and that the working pressure at which the opening of the return valve 8 can be selected to differ from the predefined working pressure.
(68) A hand-held device characterized in that an adjusting device 27 is provided for different selected working pressures.
(69) A hand-held device characterized in that a return of the moving part 4 can be triggered by cancelling the actuation.
REFERENCE LIST
(70) 1 Hand-held device 2 Electric motor 3 Hydraulic medium storage chamber 4 Moving part 5 Fixed part 6 Hydraulic chamber 7 Return line 8 Return valve 9 Switch 10 Pressure spring 11 Thread 12 Screw-in part 13 Through hole 14 Valve needle 15 Return valve piston 16 Spring 17 Subsurface 18 Drain opening 19 Axial bore 20 Line 21 Hydraulic medium cylinder 22 Pressure-increasing piston 23 Adjusting magnet 24 Return spring 25 Hole 26 Chamber 27 Adjusting device 28 Button 29 Pressure sensor 30 Check valve 31 Line section 32 Receptacle 33 Chamber 34 Actuating piston 35 Free space K Device body