SPRING DEVICE AND SECURING DEVICE FOR SECURING A MACHINE ELEMENT, AND USE THEREOF

Abstract

The present disclosure concerns a spring device with a piston and a housing into which the piston can be introduced in a movement direction. A cavity is formed between the piston and the housing, in which cavity a compressible solid body spring is arranged that consists of a solid body that can be compressed by the piston. At least one surface of the piston that faces the solid body spring is conical or concave. The disclosure furthermore concerns a securing device comprising such a spring device and the use thereof, in particular for a container closing plug.

Claims

1.-18. (canceled)

19. A spring device comprising: a piston, a housing configured to movably receive the piston, the piston and the housing defining a cavity therebetween, and a compressible solid body spring disposed in the cavity consisting of a solid body that is configured to be compressed by the piston, wherein the piston includes a conical or concave surface facing the solid body spring, the surface corresponding to a corresponding convex form of the solid body, wherein a movement of the piston reducing the cavity leads to a spreading of the piston.

20. The spring device of claim 19 wherein the solid body spring fills the cavity between the piston and the housing substantially completely or completely at least under an operating load.

21. The spring device of claim 19 wherein the solid body spring comprises a plastic or an elastomeric material.

22. The spring device of claim 19 wherein the solid body spring has a bulk modulus in the range from 100 MPa to 100,000 MPa.

23. The spring device of claim 19 wherein the solid body spring is one of assembled from at least two coated segments each with a different bulk modulus and formed from at least two segments which are arranged contacting each other in different action directions, each of the at least two segments disposed in a separate one of several cavities of the housing.

24. The spring device of claim 19 wherein one or both of the piston and the solid body spring has a circular cross-section.

25. The spring device of claim 19 wherein one or both of the piston and the solid body spring has an annular cross-section.

26. The spring device of claim 25 wherein one or both of the piston and the solid body spring is arranged concentrically about a cylindrical passage hole configured to receive a screw.

27. The spring device of claim 19 wherein one or both of: the piston lies or is brought to rest on an inside of the housing, and wherein the piston together with the housing forms an inner delimitation or inner casing surface of the cavity, which cavity is at least compressible by the piston.

28. The spring device of claim 19 wherein one or more of: all surfaces of the piston facing the solid body spring element are conical or concave, corresponding to a corresponding convex form of the solid body spring lying against the piston; wherein corners formed between the housing and the piston are greater than 90; and wherein the cavity is surrounded by concave or flat surface portions which transform into each other constantly or with an angle which is greater than 90.

29. The spring device of claim 19 wherein one or both of: the housing includes two end faces with the piston arranged on the two end faces; and wherein the piston has a pressure face for receiving and transmitting the forces to be transmitted to the solid body spring.

30. The spring device of claim 19 wherein the piston in an unloaded state overlaps the housing on at least one side of the housing and protrudes therefrom.

31. The spring device of claim 19 wherein one or both of the solid body spring has at least one conically convex end and the solid body spring is cylindrical and conically convex on opposite sides.

32. The spring device of claim 19 wherein the housing includes a shoulder and wherein the solid body spring is configured to rest or may be brought to rest against the shoulder.

33. The spring device of claim 32 wherein the spring device is configured for a volume translation, by way of one or both of the shoulder provided in the housing and by way of several segments of the solid body spring which are arranged unaligned with but acting on each other.

34. The spring device of claim 19 wherein the modulus of elasticity of one or both of the housing and the piston is at least three times greater than the bulk modulus of the solid body spring.

35. The spring device of claim 19 wherein the solid body spring lies on the facing surface of the piston and contacts the piston.

36. A securing device for securing a machine element comprising the spring device of claim 19.

37. A sealing system comprising a sealing lense and the spring device of claim 19.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE FIGURES

[0038] FIG. 1 shows, in a sectional depiction, a first exemplary embodiment of a securing device with a spring device according to the invention.

[0039] FIGS. 2, 3 show the securing device in FIG. 1 in a side view in the movement direction of the piston, and in a perspective view.

[0040] FIG. 4 shows, in a sectional depiction, a second exemplary embodiment of a securing device with a spring device according to the invention.

[0041] FIG. 5 shows the securing device from FIG. 4 in a perspective view.

[0042] FIG. 6 shows a third exemplary embodiment in a sectional view.

[0043] FIG. 7 shows a third exemplary embodiment in a sectional view.

[0044] FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C show, in several views, also in detail, a specific application according to exemplary embodiments.

EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION

[0045] In the various figures, the same parts always carry the same reference signs and therefore usually are only mentioned or described once.

[0046] FIGS. 1 to 3 show a first exemplary embodiment of a securing device 10 according to the invention for securing a machine element, with a spring device 1. The securing device 10 is formed as a spring-damped retaining bolt, via which a movable, in particular oscillatable machine part can be mounted.

[0047] The securing device 10 has a substantially cylindrical form and has an external thread 7, via which the securing device 10 may be attached to a first machine part. A multi-edged profile 8, formed for example as a hexagon on which a tool can be placed, is provided on a first end face of the securing device 10. On the opposite end face, the securing device 10 has a pressure face 9 on which a second machine part may be mounted. Alternatively, the second machine part may be connected to the piston 3, in particular by substance-bonding. The housing 2 and piston 3 may also be formed differently in relation to their connection, in particular may also be an integral part of machine parts to be damped against each other.

[0048] The spring device 1 has a housing 2 which is made of one piece in the first exemplary embodiment and forms a base body of the securing device 10. A cylindrical piston 3 is mounted inside the housing 2 so as to be movable in a movement direction B which runs parallel to a longitudinal axis A of the spring device 1. To this extent, the piston 3 has a circular cross-section. Both the housing 2 and piston 3 are made of metal, in particular steel. In the region between the piston 3 and the inner contour of the housing 2 lies a cavity which is completely filled with a solid body spring element 4. The solid body spring element 4 is compressible, so the solid body spring element 4 constitutes a compression spring.

[0049] The solid body spring element 4 is made of polymer thermoplastic. Preferably, polyethylene is used for this. The solid body spring element 4 is configured cylindrical with circular cross-section. The solid body spring element 4 is formed as a one-piece, full material, solid body spring element 4 which has no inclusions, recesses or pores. In a derivative, the solid body spring element 4 may be segmented such that it comprises several segments with different bulk moduli, whereby a spring device 1 with a progressive spring curve may be obtained.

[0050] In order to reduce or prevent undesirable removal or extrusion of material from the solid body spring element 4 on repeated insertion and retraction of the piston 3, it is advantageous if a surface 5 of the piston 3 facing the solid body spring element 4 is configured conical or concave. On a cavity-reducing movement, the quasi-static pressure prevailing in the solid body spring element 4 causes a force component C and D which leads to spreading of the piston, and hence reduces a gap between the piston 3 and housing 2 or leads to the piston 3 resting on the housing inner face.

[0051] The inner surface 6 of the housing lying opposite the surface 5 of the piston 3 described above may, for reasons of symmetry and the associated advantages relating to installation, also be formed correspondingly to the surface 5.

[0052] FIGS. 4 and 5 show a second exemplary embodiment of a securing device 10, by means of which a vibration-damping mounting of machine parts may be achieved. The securing device 10 has a spring device 1 with a housing 2 constructed as a ring. The housing 2 has a cylindrical outer wall 11 and a cylindrical inner wall 13, which are connected together via an annular base 12. The outer wall 11 and inner wall 13 are arranged concentrically about a longitudinal axis A. Thus the housing 2 is a multipiece housing 2. In the region of the longitudinal axis A, the housing 2 has a passage hole 15 in which a screw 16 may be introduced.

[0053] Furthermore, the spring device 1 has an annular piston 3 which, together with the housing 2, delimits an annular cavity, and which is mounted in the housing 2 so as to be movable in a movement direction B parallel to the longitudinal axis A. Piston 3 and housing 2 are made of metal, for example steel. The annular cavity is completely filled with a compressible, annular, solid body spring element 4. The solid body spring element 4 is made of polymer, preferably polyethylene.

[0054] In order to reduce or prevent undesirable removal or extrusion of material from the solid body spring element 4 on repeated insertion and retraction of the piston 3, it is advantageous if a surface 5 of the piston 3 and/or of the base 12 facing the solid body spring element 4 is configured conical or concave. On a cavity-reducing movement, the quasi-static pressure prevailing in the solid body spring element 4 causes a force component which leads to spreading of the piston 3, and hence reduces the gap between the piston 3 and housing 2 or leads to the piston 3 and 12 resting on the housing inner face.

[0055] A cover plate 14 is attached to the side of the annular piston 3 lying opposite the solid body spring element 4. The cover plate 14 has a recess for passage of the screw 16 which is arranged aligned with the passage hole 15 of the housing 2. A second machine part may be connected to the housing 2. For this, an external thread may be provided on the outside of the housing 2, in particular on the outer wall 11.

[0056] The cover plate 14 is arranged such that, in an unloaded state of the spring device 1, it has a distance from the housing 2. Under heavy load on the spring device 1, the cover plate 14 hits against an end face 17 of the housing 2, whereby excessive loading of the solid body spring element 4 can be prevented.

[0057] The securing devices 10 described above for securing machine elements each have a spring device 1 with a piston 3 and housing 2, into which the piston 3 may be introduced in a movement direction B. A cavity is formed between the piston 3 and the housing 2, and contains a compressible solid body spring element 4 consisting of a solid body which can be compressed by the piston 3.

[0058] According to a derivative of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the piston 3 is connected to the outer wall 11, and the base 12 is connected to the inner wall 13, so that the housing is formed by the base 12 and inner wall 13.

[0059] A further derivative provides that the piston 3 is connected to the inner wall 13, and the base 12 is connected to the outer wall 11. Thus the housing comprises the base 12 and the outer wall 11.

[0060] According to a further derivative, the element designated with reference sign 12 is movable in relation to the inner wall 13 and outer wall 11, so that this forms a piston in the sense of the invention. In such an embodiment, the element designated with reference sign 3 fulfils the function of the base. The housing is thus formed by the elements 11, 12 and 3.

[0061] At present, applications for the present invention are covered with cup springs, ondular washers and other forms of metallic spiral springs. In comparison, for the same force and deformation data, the present invention requires less installation space.

[0062] In contrast to fluid-filled spring elements, the spring device according to the invention requires no further sealing elements.

[0063] FIG. 6 shows a spring device 1 with a housing having two cavities 2a, 2b, in each of which a segment 4a, 4b of a two-piece solid body spring element 4 is arranged. An end face 4.1 of the one segment 4a acts on a lateral casing surface 4.2 of the other segment 4b. A piston 3 acts on each of the segments, either actively (directly) or passively (indirectly). In this way a function as a volume translator can be fulfilled. The solid body spring element 4 is configured multipiece, wherein the individual segments 4a, 4b are arranged unaligned with but at least approximately orthogonally to each other. By means of a stopper or closure plug 18, the position of a piston and hence the spring travel can be adjusted or the pretension force set in the installed state.

[0064] FIG. 7 shows a spring device 1 with a housing with a step or shoulder 2.1. The solid body spring element 4 has a geometrically corresponding step or shoulder 4.3, either by the arrangement in compression in the housing or by a predefined geometry. In this way, a function as a volume translator can be fulfilled.

[0065] FIGS. 8A, 8B, 8C show, in several views, also in detail, a specific application of a spring device 1 in a high-pressure container arrangement in connection with a sealing lense 20. The housing 2 is bolted to the machine element to be sealed. In this type of integration, extreme forces, which may occur on varying compression of the container closure plug 18a, can be converted into forces which are controllable in relation to the sealing and connection elements 20. FIG. 8B shows in detail the circled area of FIG. 8A, and FIG. 8C shows in detail the circled area of FIG. 8B.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0066] 1 Spring device

[0067] 2 Housing

[0068] 2a First cavity of housing

[0069] 2b Second cavity of housing

[0070] 2.1 Shoulder or step

[0071] 3 Piston

[0072] 4 Solid body spring element

[0073] 4a First segment of solid body spring element

[0074] 4b Second segment of solid body spring element

[0075] 4.1 End face of solid body spring element

[0076] 4.2 Lateral casing surface of solid body spring element

[0077] 4.3 Shoulder or step

[0078] 5 Piston surface

[0079] 6 Housing surface

[0080] 7 External thread

[0081] 8 Multi-edged profile

[0082] 9 Pressure face

[0083] 10 Securing device

[0084] 11 Outer wall

[0085] 12 Base

[0086] 13 Inner wall

[0087] 14 Cover plate

[0088] 15 Passage hole

[0089] 16 Screw

[0090] 17 End face of housing

[0091] 18, 18a Stopper or container closure plug

[0092] 20 Sealing lense

[0093] A Longitudinal axis

[0094] B Movement direction of piston

[0095] C Force component

[0096] D Force component