FILLING ADAPTER COMPRISING AN INTERFACE FOR COUPLING A HANDLE

Abstract

A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. An interface is configured for coupling a gripping element designed as a separate assembly on the filling adapter in the region of the adapter head, wherein the interface has mechanical and electrical connecting elements which are disposed in a common plane and can be coupled to mechanical and electrical connecting elements of the gripping element which are congruent therewith.

Claims

1. A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the initial filling of containers with operating substances on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles, wherein the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic lines, wherein an interface is configured for coupling of a gripping element designed as a separate assembly on the filling adapter in the region of the adapter head, wherein the interface has mechanical and electrical connecting elements which are disposed in a common plane and can be coupled to mechanical and electrical connecting elements of the gripping element which are congruent therewith.

2. The filling adapter according to claim 1, wherein the gripping element can be moved on the interface, such that weight balancing can take place between the adapter and the hose pack.

3. The filling adapter according to claim 1, wherein a control unit is structurally integrated in the gripping element.

Description

DRAWINGS

[0013] The drawings described herein are for illustrative purposes only of selected embodiments and not all possible implementations, and are not intended to limit the scope of the present disclosure.

[0014] FIG. 1 shows an adapter head with interfaces for mechanical and electrical coupling;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a gripping element with an integrated control unit;

[0016] FIG. 3 shows the adapter head according to FIG. 1 with a gripping element according to FIG. 2 coupled to it.

[0017] Corresponding reference numerals indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views of the drawings.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0018] Example embodiments will now be described more fully with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] In one proposed embodiment, the gripping element can be moved on the interface. This facilitates advantageous weight balancing between the adapter and the hose pack.

[0020] In another embodiment, a control unit is integrated in the gripping element.

[0021] The main advantage of the filling adapter design according to the disclosure is that the relative position of the gripping element and the main body of the filling adapter can be modified such that a largely optimal handling for the worker is achieved while observing the respective specific options for space and access to the container to be filled. Depending on the respective conditions of use, various gripping elements can be coupled to the filling adapterparticularly at different angular positions. The standardized interface also enables rapid change, such that one basic design of the filling adapter can be easily modified for different operating conditions. In addition to technical advantages, this also has considerable ergonomic benefits.

[0022] Furthermore, the embodiment of a filling adapter according to the disclosure has a reduced overall length, which results in other advantages, such as a shorter distance between the center of gravity of the adapter and the control unit when a worker handles the adapter.

[0023] An embodiment according to the disclosure is explained below with reference to the figure. Wherein:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows an adapter head with interfaces for mechanical and electrical coupling;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows a gripping element with an integrated control unit;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the adapter head according to FIG. 1 with a gripping element according to FIG. 2 coupled to it.

[0027] The filling adapter shown in the drawing is particularly designed for the initial filling of containers with various operating substances on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles. Such filling adapters are equipped in a generally known way with a hose pack as well as electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. It should be noted that the drawing does not show a complete filling adapter; only the components that are essential for understanding the disclosure.

[0028] It is apparent from FIG. 1 that an interface 2 with mechanical (2a) and electrical (2b) connecting elements is configured in the area of the adapter head 1 on the filling adapter. The connecting elements 2a and 2b are arranged in a common plane and can be coupled with mechanical and electrical connecting elements of a separate gripping element 3 that are congruent therewith.

[0029] FIG. 2 shows a respective gripping element 3, in which preferably a control unit 4 (as shown here) is integrated.

[0030] FIG. 3 shows the adapter head 1 of the filling adapter not shown in detail with the gripping element 3 coupled to it. The mechanical and electrical operative connection of these two assemblies 1 and 3 is achieved by the connecting elements configured on the interface 2 of the adapter head 1 and the congruent connecting elements of the gripping element 3.

[0031] In the embodiment shown in FIG. 3, the gripping element 3 is disposed at an angle of 90 on the outer contour of the adapter head 1. Other angles are possible depending on the detailed spatial conditions on the assembly line, the spatial layout of the containers to be filled in the vehicle and other conditions of use, so that largely optimal handling by the worker can be achieved.

[0032] Furthermore, the gripping element 3 can be moved along the interface 2. The weight can largely be balanced between the filling adapter and the hose pack due to the respective relative position. This also improves handling for the worker.

[0033] The foregoing description of the embodiments has been provided for purposes of illustration and description. It is not intended to be exhaustive or to limit the disclosure. Individual elements or features of a particular embodiment are generally not limited to that particular embodiment, but, where applicable, are interchangeable and can be used in a selected embodiment, even if not specifically shown or described. The same may also be varied in many ways. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the disclosure, and all such modifications are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure.