Patent Application
20170336002
The present disclosure relates to an adapter capable of mounting a cylinder for a fluid powered linear actuator to a fluid channel.
An adapter is used to mount a cylinder used for a linear actuator on a relative to a fluid channel, which may allow the cylinder and fluid channel to rotate up to 360-degrees relative to each other. Cylinder inlets can often be difficult to design because of requirements that minimize size and weight leading to material reduction. The highest stress is often concentrated on cylinder designs at the inlet. This is especially the case with single acting cylinders with the inlet located on the rod side of the cylinder, or a pull cylinder, which is often preferred for hole making applications. High pressure cylinders where sealing methods must be more robust, also cause complications because maintaining the seal combined with joint integrity is even more challenging. Because of this high stress area created at the cylinder inlet, and thus deformation causing expansion and contraction, it can be difficult to find a permanent attachment for the cylinder housing that will be strong and not loosen over time, while maintaining a good inlet seal. Threaded applications tend to loosen and work themselves loose, and any internal locking mechanisms that are used internal to the cylinder design in the pressurized area, like pressed pins or snap rings, either increase stress problems or make assembly overly complicated and cost prohibitive.
An adaptor and an assembly including a cylinder and the adaptor are provided. The adaptor is used to mount the cylinder to a fluid channel. The adaptor is formed of a unitary wall including a first portion adapted to mount to the fluid channel, a second portion adapted to be engaged with a tool extending from the first portion, and a third portion extending from the second portion and seated within an inlet passageway of the cylinder. The third portion includes locking features for locking the adaptor to the cylinder, and a sealing feature for sealing the adaptor to the cylinder. The sealing feature is distal to the second portion such that when a torque is applied to the adaptor, the sealing feature does not cause the adaptor to shear. The cylinder and fluid channel may be capable of being swiveled relative to each other around the adaptor, such swiveling may be between 0 degree and 360 degrees, may be 360 degrees, and may be more than 360 degrees. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the fluid channel may be fixed in position relative to the adapter.
This Summary is provided merely for purposes of summarizing some example embodiments so as to provide a basic understanding of some aspects of the disclosure. Accordingly, it will be appreciated that the above described example embodiments are merely examples and should not be construed to narrow the scope or spirit of the disclosure in any way. Other embodiments, aspects, and advantages of various disclosed embodiments will become apparent from the following detailed description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawings which illustrate, by way of example, the principles of the described embodiments.
The organization and manner of the structure and operation of the disclosed embodiments, together with further objects and advantages thereof, may best be understood by reference to the following description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, which are not necessarily drawn to scale, wherein like reference numerals identify like elements in which:
While the disclosure may be susceptible to embodiment in different forms, there is shown in the drawings, and herein will be described in detail, a specific embodiment with the understanding that the present disclosure is to be considered an exemplification of the principles of the disclosure, and is not intended to limit the disclosure to that as illustrated and described herein. Therefore, unless otherwise noted, features disclosed herein may be combined together to form additional combinations that were not otherwise shown for purposes of brevity. It will be further appreciated that in some embodiments, one or more elements illustrated by way of example in a drawing(s) may be eliminated and/or substituted with alternative elements within the scope of the disclosure.
An adapter 20 is provided and is used to mount a fluid channel 22 to a cylinder 24 used for a linear actuator (not shown). The cylinder 24 and fluid channel 22 of some embodiments may be capable of being swiveled relative to each other around the adaptor 20. The extent of swiveling permitted in such embodiments may vary depending on embodiment, with any with any upper maximum degree of rotation being between 0 and 360 degrees, and may be up to 360 degrees, and in some embodiments, more than 360 degrees of swiveling may be permitted. Alternatively, in some embodiments, the fluid channel 22 may be fixed in position relative to the adapter 20. fluid channel 22 receives a fluid medium under pressure from a source 26. The adapter 20 is designed such that its size and weight are minimized. The fluid medium can be hydraulic fluid, pneumatic fluid or other fluids.
The adapter 20 is formed of a unitary wall 28 and may be formed of metal. The wall 28 includes a first or proximal end 30, a fluid channel mounting portion 32 extending from the first end 30, a tool engaging portion 34 extending from the fluid channel mounting portion 32, a cylinder engaging portion 36 extending from the tool engaging portion 34 to a second or distal end 38 of the wall 28. A centerline 29 of the wall 28 is defined between the ends 30, 38. The fluid channel mounting portion 32 engages with the fluid channel 22 as described herein. The cylinder engaging portion 36 engages with the cylinder 24 as described herein.
As shown, the fluid channel mounting portion 32 includes a wall portion 40 which is cylindrical and defines a first diameter. As shown, a snap-ring recess 42 is provided in the wall portion 40 proximate to, but spaced from, the first end 28 of the wall 28. The snap-ring recess 42 may extend around the entire perimeter of the wall portion 40 or may extend around a portion of the perimeter of the wall portion 40. A first recess 44 is provided in the wall portion 40 proximate to, but spaced from, the snap-ring recess 42 and forms a first reduced diameter wall section 44a of the wall portion 40. The first recess 44 extends around the entire perimeter of the wall portion 40. The first reduced diameter wall section 44a defines a diameter which is less than the diameter of the wall portion 40. A second recess 46 is provided in the wall portion 40 proximate to, but spaced from, the first recess 44 and forms a second reduced diameter wall section 46a of the wall portion 40. The second recess 46 extends around the entire perimeter of the wall portion 40. The second reduced diameter wall section 46a defines a diameter which is less than the diameter of the wall portion 40, and greater than the first reduced diameter wall section 44a, however, the diameter of the second reduced diameter wall section 46a may be the same as the diameter of the first reduced diameter wall section 44a. A third recess 48 is provided in the wall portion 40 proximate to, but spaced from, the second recess 46 and forms a third reduced diameter wall section 48a of the wall portion 40. The third recess 48 extends around the entire perimeter of the wall portion 40. The third reduced diameter wall section 48a defines a diameter which is less than the diameter of the wall portion 40, and may be the same as the diameter of the first reduced diameter wall section 44a. While a particular fluid channel mounting portion 32 is shown and described, it is to be understood that other structures for mounting the fluid channel 22 are within the scope of the present disclosure.
The tool engaging portion 34 is formed of a wall having arcuate wall portions 50 interposed with flat wall portions 52. The flat wall portions 52 are opposed. The arcuate wall portions 50 define a diameter which is greater than the diameter of the wall portion 40 of the fluid channel mounting portion 32. A tool (not shown) can engage the flat wall portions 52 to rotate the adapter 20 relative to the cylinder 24. Other tool engaging structures can be provided.
The cylinder engaging portion 36 includes a first wall 54 which is cylindrical and defines a first diameter which extends from the tool engaging portion 34, a second wall 56 which is conical and extends from the first wall 54, a third wall 70 which is cylindrical and extends from the second wall 56 has a diameter which is less than the first wall 54, a fourth wall 72 which is conical and extends from the third wall 70, and a fifth wall 74 which is cylindrical and extends from the fourth wall 72 and has a diameter which is less than the third wall 70. The fourth wall 72 ends at the second end 38 of the wall 28. A recess 76 is provided in the fifth wall 74 proximate to, but spaced from, the second end 38 and forms a reduced diameter wall section 76a of the fifth wall 74. The recess 76 extends around the entire perimeter of the fifth wall 74. The reduced diameter wall section 76a defines a diameter which is less than the diameter of the fifth wall 74. The conical fourth wall 72 is angled relative to the third and fifth walls 70, 74 at a 60-degree angle. The angle at which the conical fourth wall 72 is angled relative to the third and fifth walls 70, 74 is greater than the angle at which the conical second wall 56 is angled relative to the third and fifth walls 70, 74. The second conical wall 56 may be eliminated such that the third wall 70 extends directly from the first wall 54.
The first wall 54 includes locking features as described herein to lock the adapter 20 to the cylinder 24. The fourth wall 72 forms a seat as described herein with the cylinder 24. The fifth wall 74 has a sealing feature as described herein to seal the adapter 20 to the cylinder 24. The sealing feature is spaced distally from the locking feature and from the tool engaging portion 34, such that when a torque is applied to the tool engaging portion 34, the sealing feature does not cause the adapter 20 to shear.
In an embodiment as shown in
In an embodiment as shown in
A compression seal 88 seats within the first recess 44; an elastomeric compression seal 90 seats within the third recess 48; and an elastomeric compression seal 92 seats within the recess 76 of the fifth wall 74. Each compression seal 88, 90 has an outer diameter that is greater than the wall portion 40 such that the compression seals 88, 90 extend outwardly from the wall portion 40 in an uncompressed condition. The compression seal 92 has an outer diameter that is greater than the fifth wall 74 such that the compression seal 92 extends outwardly from the fifth wall 74 in an uncompressed condition. Each compression seal 88, 90, 92 may be formed of an elastomeric O-ring or other suitable compressible bladder and the like.
The adaptor 20 includes a passageway 81 having a first part 82 and a second part 84. The first part 82 has a first end 82a which is within the second reduced diameter wall section 46a of the fluid channel mounting portion 32 and spaced from the first end 30 of the adaptor 20, and which extends through the tool engaging portion 34 and through the cylinder engaging portion 36, and terminates at a second end 82b which is at the second end 38 of the adaptor 20. The first part 82 extends along the centerline 29 of the adapter 20. The second part 84 is provided through the second reduced diameter wall section 46a and is in fluid communication with the first part 82 proximate to its first end 82a.
The fluid channel 22 has a body 86, which may be formed of metal, having first and second ends 88, 90. The body 86 may be cylindrical. A passageway 94 extends axially through a part of the body 86. The passageway 94 has a first end 94a at the first end 88 of the body 86 and a second end 94b which is proximate to, but spaced from, the second end 90 of the body 86. A through bore 98 is provided through the body 86, is transverse to the passageway 94 and is formed by a wall. The through bore 98 is in fluid communication with the second end 94b of the passageway 94. The wall forming the through bore 98 is cylindrical and defines a diameter which is slightly larger than the outer diameter of the wall portion 40 of the adapter 20.
The fluid channel mounting portion 32 of the adapter 20 seats through the through bore 98, with the snap-ring recess 42 extending outwardly from a first side of the body 86 and the tool engaging portion 34 and cylinder engaging portion 36 extending from an opposite second side of the body 86. A snap-ring 102, see
The cylinder 24 includes a body 104, which may be formed of metal, having an inlet passageway 106 into which the adapter 20 is seated as described herein. The inlet passageway 106 is in fluid communication with an axial passageway 108 in which the actuating components within the cylinder 24 are mounted. The cylinder 24 may take a variety of forms. For example, the cylinder 24 may be a single acting cylinder, having the inlet passageway 106 located on a rod side of the body 104, or a pull cylinder which is often preferred for hole making applications. The cylinder 24 is used to actuate a tool (not shown), such as a crimper, a punch, etc.
As best shown in
The body 104 includes a fastener receiving passageway 118 which is angled relative to the inlet passageway 106 and is in communication with the inlet passageway 106. The fastener receiving passageway 118 may be transverse to or parallel to the axial passageway 108 of the cylinder 24. The fastener receiving passageway 118 may be tangential or off-center relative to the cylinder 24.
The adapter 20 is mounted into the inlet passageway 106 by threading the first wall 54 of the adapter 20 into the first wall section 110 of the cylinder 24 by using a tool, such as a wrench, to engage the flat wall portions 52 of the tool engaging portion 34, until the fourth wall 72 of the adapter 20 engages with the third wall section 114. This engagement of the fourth wall 72 and the third wall section 114 forms a seat to prevent the further insertion of the adapter 20 into the cylinder 24. The threaded engagement of the first wall 54 and first wall section 110 and the abutting engagement of the fourth wall 72 and the third wall section 114 form a joint between the adapter 20 and the cylinder 24. The fourth wall section 116 of the cylinder 24 is sized to be slightly larger than the fifth wall 74 of the adapter 20. When the adaptor 20 is seated in the inlet passageway 106 of the cylinder 24, the fifth wall 74 is proximate to the fourth wall section 116 and the compression seal 92 forms a fluid tight seal between the adapter 20 and the cylinder 24. The sealing compression seal 92 is distal to the joint and the seat formed between the adapter 20 and the cylinder 24.
Torque is applied to the adapter 20 by rotation of the adapter 20 using the tool on the flat wall portions 52. This torque translates to the seat formed by the engagement of the fourth wall 72 and the third wall section 114 through the threads 60, 117. Since the compression seal 92 is distal and separate from the torqued portion of the joint between the adapter 20 and the cylinder 24, this allows for high torqueing and a greater shear area because the larger diameter first wall 54 of the adapter 20 which has the threads 60 is not grooved for a compression seal for sealing the adaptor 20 to the cylinder 24. In addition, the design allows the compression seal 92 to be made very small, therefore minimizing force on the adapter 20 due to the internal pressure of the fluid medium within the cylinder 24.
After the adapter 20 is seated within the cylinder 24, the fastener 64, such as a set screw, is seated within the fastener receiving passageway 118 and the end 64a of the fastener 64 engages within the groove 62,
In use, the cylinder 24 receives a fluid medium, such as hydraulic oil, from the source 26, through the fluid channel 22 and the adapter 20. The fluid medium flows through the fluid channel passageway 94, through the fluid channel through bore 98, into the second recess 46 of the adapter 20, through the second part 84 of the passageway 81, through the first part 82 of the passageway 81, into the inlet passageway 106 of the cylinder 24, and then into the axial passageway 108 of the cylinder 24 to actuate the mechanisms within the cylinder 24. The fluid medium is pumped from the source under high pressure either by a motor or by hand.
Because of the design of the adapter 20, the high stress which is concentrated on cylinder 22 at the inlet passageway 106 does not affect the adapter 20. The adapter 20 includes multiple contingent locking mechanisms, combined with a seal configuration that maintains robustness and strength in the joint between the adapter 20 and the cylinder 22. The diameters of the adapter 20 accommodate expected shear strengths due to external and internal loads and installation torque, while maintaining a large enough fluid path through the center to supply fluid medium to the cylinder 24.
As shown in
An alternate embodiment of the adaptor 20 and cylinder 24 are shown in
While particular embodiments are illustrated in and described with respect to the drawings, it is envisioned that those skilled in the art may devise various modifications without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims. It will therefore be appreciated that the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims is not limited to the specific embodiments illustrated in and discussed with respect to the drawings and that modifications and other embodiments are intended to be included within the scope of the disclosure and appended drawings. Moreover, although the foregoing descriptions and the associated drawings describe example embodiments in the context of certain example combinations of elements and/or functions, it should be appreciated that different combinations of elements and/or functions may be provided by alternative embodiments without departing from the scope of the disclosure and the appended claims.
