Pneumatic actuating arrangement

(42) Date of commencement of the patent: 15.12.1998 (45) Date of issue: 25. 8.1999 (51) Int.CI.⁶ : G05D 16/00

<td>(56) Documents:</td><td>(73) Patent owner:</td>

<td>EP 688957A1 US 5079997A US 4656904A EP 683256A1</td><td>HYGRAMA AG CH-6343 ROTKRE0Z (CH). (72) Inventor: FRESH HERBERT VIENNA (AT).</td>

CQ (54) PNEUMATIC ACTUATOR ASSEMBLY (57) In a multi-consumer pneumatic actuator assembly (1), the working spaces (7, 8) are connected via pressure lines (2) to electrically operated switching devices (6), which in turn are connected via supply pressure lines (11) to a common pressure source and via electrical signal lines (10) to a common control unit (19) and the switching elements (6) together with the pressure lines (2) to the working spaces (7,8) under formation a consumer unit (9) are each arranged directly on the consumers (1), is to simplify especially the assembly or the preparation of the necessary connections provided that the electrical signal lines (10) and the supply pressure line (11) of each consumer unit (9) in a combined line (12) summarized between the consumer unit (9) on the one hand and one with the pressure source and the control unit (19) connected supply air / signal distributor (13) on the other hand run.

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AT 405 464

DVR 0078018

AT 405 464 B

The invention relates to a pneumatic actuating arrangement with a number of pneumatic consumers, especially working cylinders, whose working spaces are connected via pressure lines with electrically operated switching devices, which in turn are connected via supply pressure lines to a common pressure source and via electrical signal lines to a common control unit and wherein the switching means together with the pressure lines to the workrooms together with the consumers themselves each form consumer units.

Arrangements of the type mentioned are widely used today, for example, in production facilities, transport and storage facilities and the like, as they provide reliable coarse forces and, if necessary, large adjustment paths with small dimensions and relatively simple installation and due to the elasticity of the working medium also quite a few advantages over, for example, hydraulic or electric drives. For example, although in a direct comparison of a hydraulically actuated cylinder / piston assembly with a corresponding pneumatically actuated assembly, the latter provides the immediate advantage in terms of the required working fluid supply lines, that the volumetric discharge from the pressure-free working space can usually be made simply to the outside and does not have to be returned to a pump or the like, results nevertheless also for such a pneumatic working cylinder in usual actuating arrangements of the kind mentioned a number of connections, with regard to construction, accommodation, Hartung etc. relatively large effort and pose potential sources of error. This also applies to the pneumatic arrangement described in US Pat. No. 4,656,904 with two working cylinders mounted on a common base for actuating cutting blades. The working cylinder associated with each solenoid valves that control the separately supplied pressure medium via separately supplied signal lines, wherein the switching means together with the pressure lines to the working spaces are contracted to form a consumer unit.

Along with the required, Nowadays, almost exclusively electrically operated or at least electrically pilot-controlled switching organs arise, for example, for a pneumatic cylinder two pressure lines for connecting the two working spaces with the associated switching device, a supply pressure line for connection of the changeover element with the pressure source and at least one electrical signal line for controlling the changeover from a control unit. For example, EP 0 688 957 A1 discloses a pneumatic actuating arrangement in which a plurality of actuators, each comprising a pneumatic drive, an associated valve and a module regulator, are connected via supply pressure lines to a common pressure source and via electrical signal lines to a common control unit. For this purpose, an electropneumatic bus line is provided, which consists of at least one pneumatic control pressure line and an electrical control signal line. However, here from the common bus to the individual actuators (Verbraucherereinehiten) leading electrical signal lines and supply pressure lines are independently and separately performed and also connected in a completely conventional manner to the respective lines of the bus. If - what is often the case at least the two end positions of the working cylinder is monitored or must be reported back to the controller, electrical signal cables between the corresponding sensors and the control unit are also required in addition. All these lines must be laid and connected on both sides with the appropriate connections, which requires a lot of additional components and installation effort.

From the knowledge of this problem or their negative effect on the use of such actuation arrangements are starting recently known arrangements in which the switching of several, in the overall arrangement of adjacent pneumatic consumers are combined to form so-called valve islands. On a common base plate while the necessary switching devices are mounted with a common supply air supply and a combined electrical control. The electrical control can be summarized either via a multipole connector or a bus system, the use of bus systems overall results in the current state of the art least installation effort in actuation arrangements of the type mentioned. The disadvantage remains despite all relatively high assembly costs, as per pneumatic consumer, such as in particular pneumatic cylinder, still two compressed air hoses (between each of the work spaces and the valve terminal) and, if necessary, two electrical signal lines (between the position sensors and the valve terminal) lay and connect directly on both sides are to be provided with plugs.

Object of the present invention is to improve a pneumatic actuator assembly of the type mentioned so that while avoiding the disadvantages of the known arrangements of installation and maintenance costs can be further reduced.

KT 405 464 Β

This object is achieved in a pneumatic actuator assembly of the type mentioned above in that the electrical signal lines and the supply pressure lines of each consumer unit combined in a combined line between the consumer unit on the one hand and connected to the pressure source and the control unit supply air / signal distributor on the other hand. This is now achieved directly that each individual consumer unit, so for example working cylinder including changeover organs and pressure lines to the work spaces, only more than a single combined line with the other system in connection or what is to be done with regard to the laying of this line or the preparation of the compounds and the like offers great advantages.

Particularly preferred is a further embodiment of the invention, according to which the combined lines have on both sides combi plug for common connection with the associated Dru ckanschlüssen and electrical connections. This assembly and disassembly of individual consumers or Distributor in such a pneumatic actuator assembly significantly simplified because, for example, before removing a defective cylinder or the like, only a single combi plug solved b2w. needs to be taken off.

According to another preferred embodiment of the invention, the supply air / signal distributor of several consumer units are combined in blocks and provided with common supply and signal line connections. From the pressure source on the one hand or The control unit on the other hand is thus only a single line connection to such a supply air / signal distribution block, from which in turn runs only a single combined line from each of the distributors to the associated consumer. This results in a very simple overall arrangement with greatly reduced installation and maintenance costs, with error sources, for example, by individual swapped connectors or the like are largely eliminated.

The connection of the supply air / signal distribution blocks with each other or with pressure source and control unit can also be done in a further embodiment of the invention via combined lines and combi plug, which offers further simplification possibilities of the overall arrangement.

In a pneumatic actuator assembly, in which, as already mentioned at the consumer units function sensors, especially working cylinders piston position sensors, arranged and connected via electrical signal lines to the control unit is provided in a further preferred embodiment of the invention that the signal lines of these sensors in the combined lines and possibly the top of the combination plug are performed. The connection of the consumer units designed as described is thus still done only via a single combined line, so that here too the advantages of the invention described above fully come into play.

At the consumer units bus node for the signal lines are arranged according to another preferred embodiment of the invention, wherein the intermediate and leading to the control unit signal lines as bus connections, preferably according to the known ASI standard, may be formed. This measure also improves or simplifies installation and maintenance of the actuating arrangement according to the invention.

The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to the partially schematically illustrated in the drawings. FIG. 1 shows an example of a pneumatic actuator assembly with valve islands according to the prior art; FIG. 2 shows a schematic representation of an example of an arrangement according to the present invention; FIG. 3 in a more detailed perspective view of another arrangement according to the present invention; FIG. 4 in a schematic sectional representation of the connection of a supply air / signal distributor with a consumer unit of another inventively designed actuator assembly; FIG. 5 a partial section along the line VV in the concrete embodiment of FIG. 3, Fig. 6 a Fig. 5 corresponding, enlarged section, in which case only the removed combination plug is shown, and FIG. 7 shows a detail similar to VII in FIG. 3 partially cut.

The trained according to the prior art pneumatic actuator assembly of FIG. 1 has four separate pneumatic consumers 1, which are designed here as a working cylinder for no further interesting tasks, for example in a production plant or the like. The lying on both sides of the piston, not shown work spaces are each connected via separate pressure lines 2 with also not shown here, electrically operated switching organs, which are combined together in a so-called only schematically indicated valve island 3. Furthermore, 1 function sensors 4 are arranged on the consumers, which here, for example, inductively monitor the piston end positions and are also connected via electrical signal lines 5 to the valve terminal 3.

The usually arranged in the vicinity of a group of consumers 1 associated valve islands 3 and the summarized there switching institutions for consumers 1 are also not shown here on supply pressure lines with a common pressure source and

5 405 464 Β via electrical signal lines to a common control unit in connection with which the signals of the function sensors 4 are supplied. The electrical control can be summarized either via a multipole plug or a bus system, which results in the current state of the art least installation effort in such pneumatic actuation arrangements.

Disadvantage remains despite all relatively high assembly costs, as per pneumatic consumer 1 still two pressure lines 2 (between each of the work spaces and the valve terminal 3) and two electrical signal lines 5 (between the function sensors 4 and the valve terminal 3) to move and each either directly connect on both sides or be provided with plugs.

In the function of the known arrangement of FIG. 1 corresponding arrangement according to the present invention as shown in FIG. 2 now shown are the switching elements 6 (which according to FIG. 1 are arranged in the valve island 3) together with the pressure lines to the work spaces (see the positions 2 and 7, 8 in FIG. 4) arranged to form a consumer unit 9 each directly to the consumers 1. Furthermore, the electrical signal lines 10 (see also sectional view of FIG. 4) and the supply pressure line 11 of each consumer unit 9 combined in a combined line 12, which now runs as a single connection between the consumer unit 9 on the one hand and a manner not shown here again with the common pressure source and the common control unit supply air / signal distributor 13 on the other ,

The combined lines 12 have - as well as Figs. 3 to 7 can be seen - on both sides combi plug 14 for common connection with the associated pressure connections and electrical

Connections on, but could, if necessary, via separate connectors od. The like. Have for these connections. In these combined lines 12 and the signal lines 5 of the function sensors 4 are further performed.

As shown in FIG. 2 one hand or FIG. 3 7 and 7, it is irrelevant whether a supply / signal distributor 13 has a plurality of separate connections for a plurality of consumers 1, or whether (as shown in FIG. 3 or. 7) each supply air / signal distributor 13 are provided for each consumer 1, which then, for example, also block-like supply air / signal distribution blocks 15 combined and can be provided with common supply pressure and signal line connections. It is essential that now every single consumer 1 or each consumer unit 9 only communicates with the other system via a single combined line 12 or to associate with the assembly, which offers great advantages in terms of laying the lines, making the connections and the like.

According to FIG. 3 are three separate, in turn designed as a working cylinder pneumatic consumers 1 and Consumer units 9 each again connected via a single combined line 12, each with a supply air / signal distributor 13. On both ends of the combined line 12 in turn combi plug 14 are mounted, which allow a common connection of supply pressure and signal lines. The individual supply air / signal distributor 13 are combined to form a supply air / signal distribution block 15, the consumers supplied by the three individual supply air / signal distributors 13 shown in the illustration above being not shown.

The supply air / signal distribution block 15 of FIG. 3 is on the one side via a pressure line 16 and a

Compressed air treatment device 17 (oiler, pressure regulator or the like) connected to the common pressure source, not shown. On the other hand, this supply air / signal distribution block 15 is connected via a bus connection 18 to an electrical or electronic control unit 19 in connection, or is connected thereto via a plug 20.

Furthermore, it can still be seen from FIG. 3 that the turn-th function as piston-end position sensors th th function sensors 4 are also on the signal lines 5 with the consumer units 9 in combination. The corresponding signals are passed from there via the combination plug 14 and the combined lines 12 to the supply air / signal distributors 13 and supplied from there via the bus connection 18 of the control unit 19.

In Fig. 4 is a functional arrangement according to FIG. 2 or. 3 completely corresponding individual so consumer unit 9 and connection together with associated supply air / signal distributor 13 shown in somewhat more detail in section. The located on both sides of the piston 21 working chambers 7, 8 of the consumer 1 are connected via directly to the consumer 1 arranged pressure lines 2 with the switching device 6 in connection, which is designed here as a driven via an electromagnetic pilot valve 22 spool valve 23. At the opposite side of the pilot valve 22 side of the slider 24, a spring 25 is arranged, which ensures the pressurization of the working chamber 7 when energized solenoid, while electrically operated pilot valve 22, the slider 24 moves pneumatically against the force of the spring 25 in the other end position and the Working space 8 is connected to the supply pressure line 11. With 28 or 29 are the vent ports of the two working chambers 7, 8 denotes, β, βε (

AT 405 464 Β of which, in the corresponding position of the slide 24, the respective working space can be vented directly into the open air.

In a housing of the consumer unit 9 above the changeover 6 is a board 26 with electrical or indicated electronic components 27. This is on the one hand on the combi plug 14 with the or the signal line (s) 10 in the combined line 12 in conjunction and on the other hand with the signal line 5 to the function sensor 4 only shown here individually or in a manner not shown with the electromagnetic pilot valve 22nd In the case of the formation of the electrical signal lines 10 as a bus connection is by means of this board 26 and the implied components 27 and the respective bus node realized in which received the bus signals and sent or encoded and decoded.

On the opposite side of the consumer unit 9 of the combined line 12, a combination plug 14 is also arranged, which is placed and sealed by means of a seal 30 on the associated supply air / signal distributor 13. For a more detailed description of the relevant details, reference is made to the following statements to Figs. 5 to 7, which represent an at least functionally identical combination of supply air / signal distributor 13 and combi plug 14 in detail.

The combination plug 14 according to FIGS. 5 to 7, a housing 31 made of die-cast light metal or a suitable plastic or the like, which can be fixed via a central screw 32 to a threaded bore 33 of the supply air / Signai distributor 13, wherein the required connections on the one hand for the compressed air and on the other hand for the signal lines Bus connections are made. The supplied in the manifold 13 in a bore 34 compressed air (see pressure line 16 in FIG. 3) passes through an opening 35 in the housing 31 of the combination plug and from there into the interior of the combined line 12th The jacket of the supply pressure line 11 of the combined line 12 is inserted in a projection 36 on the housing 31, held by a longitudinally slotted retaining cone 37 and sealed with a seal 38. Furthermore, the already mentioned seal 30 is inserted between combination plug 14 and manifold 13, which is compressed when screw 32 is screwed.

The inside of the combined line 12 and the supply pressure line 11 extending signal line 10 is sealed separately by means of a seal 39 at the outlet from the compressed air region and connected in a manner not shown with two separate plug-in terminals 40 which engage in sockets 41 of the manifold 13. These sockets 41 are contacted also in a manner not shown with the wires 42 of the bus 18, which may be performed, for example, according to the known ASI standard. The cable of the bus connection 18 passes through (as in particular from FIG. 7 It can be seen) all to a supply air / signal distribution block 15 assembled individual manifold 13 in a corresponding recess 43, wherein the connection to the sockets 41, for example can be done by simply cutting the respective cable side during assembly.

In Fig. 7 In addition, it can be seen that the individual supply air / signal distributor 13 are sealed against each other by means of seals 44 and clamped together by means of retaining clips 45 pushed from below. At the foremost end in the representation of the entire block is an end piece 46 for connection to the pressure line 16 or arranged for completed insertion of the bus connection 18. A corresponding end piece without pressure line connection can also be provided on the rear end in the illustration.

The connection of the individual supply air / signal distributor 13 with each other could also be done via screw or the like - would also be-as in FIG. 2 indicated - a continuous housing for several individual distributors possible. Unlike the screws 32, the combination plugs 14 could also be securely and tightly connected to the distributors by means of other suitable elements. The design of the combination plug and distributor itself could be varied in design terms for different applications. Deviating from the illustrated embodiment could also further the pressure and signal connection of several supply air / signal distribution blocks 15 with each other or with a common control and pressure supply unit via corresponding combined lines and combination plug.