This application claims priority under 35 U.S.C. § 119 to patent application no. DE 10 2023 207 507.5, filed on Aug. 4, 2023 in Germany, the disclosure of which is incorporated herein by reference in its entirety.
The present disclosure relates to the centering and positioning of two housing parts, preferably centering and positioning the two single housing parts of an axial piston machine with a swashplate design.
In axial piston machines with a swashplate design, the cylinder drum, which rotates with the drive shaft, is arranged in an at least two-part housing. A first housing part is often pot-like, while a second housing part is cover-like. The drive shaft is mounted in the first housing part on the one hand and in the second housing part on the other hand. If the two work connections of the axial piston machines are formed in the cover-like housing part, this housing part is also called the connection plate.
DE 10 2015 212 731 A1 shows an axial piston machine in which the pot-like housing part is composed of a tubular wall section and a flange, resulting in a three-part housing. The tubular wall section is fastened to the connection plate referred to as the housing cover. A circumferential abutment surface is formed on the wall section and on the housing cover; these abutment surfaces must be pressed against one another in a sealing manner.
DE 10 2018 205 884 A1 discloses the widely used two-part housing design mentioned above with a pot-like and a cover-like housing part.
As the circumferential cylinder drum accommodated in the pot-like housing part is clamped against a stationary distribution plate, which is supported on the cover-like housing part, a high degree of dimensional accuracy is required when positioning the two housing parts in relation to one another.
For this purpose, DE 10 2018 205 884 A1 discloses a circumferential circular cylindrical centering collar or alignment collar on the cover-like housing part, which is inserted precisely into a circular cylindrical inner circumferential section of the pot-like housing part. This ensures that the two housing parts are concentric with one another. The correct rotational position of the two housing parts relative to one another is achieved by two centering pins, each of which are inserted into two pin bores. The two pin bores of the cover-like housing part are arranged outside the circular cylindrical centering collar or alignment collar and opposite each other in relation to the drive shaft of the axial piston machine, while the two pin bores of the pot-like housing part are arranged outside the circular cylindrical inner circumferential section at the corresponding positions.
However, it has been shown that such centering of the two housing parts relative to one another can lead to stresses.
The object of the present disclosure is to provide straightforward centering and positioning of two housing parts of an axial piston machine relative to one another, in which stresses are avoided.
This object is achieved with the feature combination set forth below.
The hydrostatic axial piston machine according to the disclosure has a housing in which a drive shaft and a cylinder drum coupled thereto in a rotationally fixed manner are rotatably mounted about an axis of rotation. The housing is at least in two parts and has a pot-like housing part with a first abutment and a cover-like housing part with a second abutment. The pot-like housing part (for its part) can also be a multi-part, resulting in a more than two-part housing. The two abutments are clamped together in a sealing manner, e.g., with a flat seal in between. According to the disclosure, a first fitting pin (center pin, alignment pin) is provided, which is inserted precisely in a first fitting recess of the first abutment on the one hand and in a second fitting recess of the second abutment on the other hand, in each case precisely in a radial direction and in a circumferential direction of the axis of rotation. A second fitting pin (center pin, alignment pin) is provided on a side diametrically opposite the axis of rotation, which is inserted precisely in a third fitting recess of the first abutment in the radial direction and in the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation on the one hand, and is inserted in a fourth fitting recess of the second abutment on the other hand. The second fitting recess has a widening in the radial direction relative to the axis of rotation, whereby the second fitting recess is a slotted hole and/or a fitting groove. In the circumferential direction, on the other hand, the second fitting recess has no widening, but is dimensioned as precisely as the first fitting recess and preferably also as the third and fourth fitting recess of the second fitting pin.
In the case of circular cylindrical fitting pins and circular cylindrical fitting recesses, the term “precise” refers to the full extent of the term.
The circular cylindrical centering collar or alignment collar of the cover-like housing part and the precisely fitting edge of the main opening of the pot-like housing part according to the prior art can thus be omitted. This makes it possible to enlarge the main housing opening and deviate from the circular shape of the main housing opening of the pot-like housing compared to the prior art. This results in cost savings in the manufacture and easier assembly of the swivel cradle including the extension spring under the swivel cradle.
In other words: In the prior art, the individual pin bore penetrates a flange section of the cover-like housing part. The pin bores in both housing parts can therefore be (re) drilled, reamed and pinned after assembly using the two cylindrical pins. The tolerance position of the two pin bores in the respective housing parts can lead to stress during assembly, and the housing parts must be positioned in relation to each other (fixture) during assembly. It is precisely this procedure that the disclosure (cylindrical pin and slotted hole or fitting groove in one of the housing parts) is intended to avoid, such that both housing parts can be manufactured independently of one another, while still avoiding any stress on the two cylindrical pins.
Preferably, the radial widening of the fourth fitting recess is only so small that a tolerance-related stress of the two housing parts in the radial direction of the rotational axis is avoided. As a result, the radial widening may not be visible to the naked eye.
Thus, in one exemplary embodiment, the radial expansion of the fourth fitting recess may only be a maximum of 7% greater than the expansion of the fourth fitting recess in the circumferential direction.
Preferably, all four fitting recesses are each configured as a blind hole.
If the two work connections of the axial piston machine are also formed in the cover-like housing part, and if the second abutment of the cover-like housing part is arranged circumferential and in one plane, this housing part is also called a connection plate.
If the two abutments (of the two housing parts) lie in a respective plane and are completely circumferential, and if a flat seal is arranged between the two abutments, then this can have two through-recesses through which the fitting pins extend. The through-hole recess for the first fitting pin then preferably (also) comprises a radial widening relative to the axis of rotation, whereby the through-recess is (also) a slotted hole. Thus, the distance tolerance of the two fitting pins does not cause any deformation of the flat seal, although it is still precisely aligned. Furthermore, incorrect assembly of the flat seal to the two housing parts is thus prevented. This applies in particular if the radial widening of the fourth fitting recess and the radial widening of the through-recess of the flat seal are sized such that they are visible to the installer.
The two housing parts can be fastened to one another in a manner known per se by way of a plurality of screws (e.g., four). Then, the pot-like housing part preferably has blind threaded holes for the screws. This results in a closed outer surface of the cast pot-like housing part in this area.
A distribution plate with two kidney-shaped control openings can be clamped against the cover-like housing part in a manner known per se, one of which functions as a high-pressure kidney and the other a low-pressure kidney during operation of the axial piston machine. If the drive shaft is mounted in the cover-like housing part by way of a rolling bearing (e.g., tapered roller bearing), the stationary distribution plate preferably has a central recess with an inner edge, by way of which the distribution plate is centered and positioned on a stationary outer ring of the rolling bearing.
It is known from DE 10 2018 205 884 A1 that milled radial grooves are provided in an abutment area of the cover-like housing part against which the distribution plate is clamped, which connect the circumferential area of the distribution plate and thus the interior of the axial piston machine with the outer ring of the rolling bearing.
According to the disclosure, at least one (e.g., two) trough-shaped cast radial recess extending in the radial direction is provided in the abutment area of the cover-like housing part against which the distribution plate is clamped. This recess is further formed by the distribution plate into a radial channel section connecting the outer circumferential area of the distribution plate and thus an interior of the housing with the outer ring of the rolling bearing. Milling to form the radial recess is thus omitted.
A control opening (in particular a control bore or a control slot) may be provided in the distribution plate-when viewed in the circumferential direction of the cylinder drum just before the low-pressure kidney-which is fluidically connected to the cast radial recess. This fluidical connection is realized, for example, via a control groove that is formed in the side of the distribution plate that abuts the abutment area of the cover-like housing part. This results in a relief flow path from the cylinder pressurized with high pressure via its mouth or opening provided in the cylinder drum through the control opening of the distribution plate along the control groove and via the radial channel section to the interior of the housing. This relief flow path is known per se from the prior art. This relief flow path is advantageous when the axial piston machine is operating as a pump with a small or minimum swing angle to compensate only for leakage of a circuit with a hydraulic consumer that is under load.
According to the disclosure, it is particularly preferred in this case if a radial outer end section of a groove base of the cast radial recess (in the area of the outer circumferential region or the outer edge of the distribution plate) is inclined or has a slope. This slope may also be referred to as a conductive surface or a conductive ramp for the pressure means. As a result, the pressure means flowing over this relief flow path may be guided away from the flat seal to prevent it from wearing out.
In one embodiment of the slope, it extends at its radial inner (end) section to below the outer edge of the distribution plate. When considering the desired control flow direction of the pressure means from radially inwards to radially outwards, the slope thus already starts radially inside the outer edge of the distribution plate.
The slope may also begin (only) after the outer edge or outside the outer edge of the distribution plate. This may be advantageous, as a cross-sectional constriction of the relief flow path could otherwise take place below the outer edge of the distribution plate.
Preferably, a cast space is formed (viewed along the axis of rotation) axially adjacent to the rolling bearing on a side of the rolling bearing opposite to the distribution plate in the cover-like housing part. An end section of the drive shaft extends into this space. At least one (e.g., two) trough-shaped cast axial recess is formed in an inner case section of the cover-like housing part to which the outer ring of the rolling bearing abuts. The axial recess extends the in axial direction (about parallel to the axis of rotation) and is further formed by the outer ring of the rolling bearing into an axial channel section connecting the first-mentioned radial channel section to the cast space. This means that the outer ring of the rolling bearing does not impede the pressure equalization between the interior of the housing and the cast space.
An additional relief flow path can then also result from the cylinder pressurized with high pressure via its mouth or opening provided in the cylinder drum through the control opening along the control groove and then via the axial channel section to the cast space.
An alignment pin is preferably provided to fix the rotation position of the distribution plate, in particular in cooperation with the inner housing of the distribution plate held on the outer ring of the rolling bearing, which is inserted into an alignment recess of the cover-like housing part on the one hand and into an alignment recess of the distribution plate on the other hand.
In the case of the cast radial recess, the alignment recess of the cover-like housing part may be arranged in the radial outer end of the cast radial recess.
In DE 10 2018 205 884 A1, burrs may form when drilling the alignment recess that must be laboriously removed because the alignment recess intersects a circular circumferential groove. According to the disclosure, it is preferable, however, if the transverse dimensions (in the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation) of the recess in the area of the alignment pin are radially enlarged inwardly compared to the transverse dimensions, such that the alignment pin is surrounded by the radial recess over its entire circumference. With this further development, fewer burrs are created, which can be removed even more easily.
In order to avoid a mechanical weakening of the cover-like housing part, it is preferred if the alignment recess of the cover-like housing part is arranged outside of the radial recess.
The alignment recess can be arranged between two arms of the cast radial recess. Or, the alignment recess is arranged adjacent to the cast radial recess.
The two work connections of the axial piston machine are typically formed on the cover-like housing part.
According to a first preferred further development of the cover-like housing part, a flattened section and/or recess is formed on the outer side of the cover-like housing part between the two work connections, which is set back along the axis of rotation. This serves to save materials.
Preferably, the flattened section and/or recess extend transversely to the axis of rotation up to the edge of the cover-like housing part and up to the work connections. In this way, the cover-like housing part has the required stiffness, wherein in particular the maximum deflection of the cover-like housing part under load is small, so that the flat seal seals properly.
According to a second preferred further development of the cover-like housing part, a pre-compression volume is integrated in the cover-like housing part between the two work connections. The pre-compression volume is configured as a substantially circular cylindrical blind hole, the central axis of which crosses the axis of rotation perpendicularly, wherein the two work connections face perpendicularly away from the central axis. The blind hole may be cast, in which case it is drilled by machining. The open side of the blind hole is sealed with a separate closing screw (with sealing ring) in a fluid-tight manner. A channel (preferably a straight bore) is provided within the cover-like housing part, which connects the pre-compression volume to the distribution plate. A small bore is provided in the distribution plate in the circumferential direction between the two kidney-shaped control openings, such that a cylinder of the cylinder drum is fluidically connected to the pre-compression volume when it is positioned or moved between the kidney-shaped control openings.
Two embodiment examples of the present disclosure will be described in the following on the basis of the accompanying figures.
Referring back to
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the two fitting pins 31, 32 are circular cylindrical and can therefore also be referred to as cylindrical pins. The first and third and fourth fitting recesses 21, 23, 24 are also circular cylindrical and a precise fit. The second fitting recess 22, on the other hand, has a radial widening relative to the axis of rotation 7, while it has no widening around the axis of rotation 7 in the circumferential direction. The second fitting recess 22 is therefore a slotted hole and/or a fitting groove. However, as the widening is so small that the radial extension is less than 107% of the extension in the circumferential direction, the widening is hardly visible in the illustration of
Looking at
With reference to
In the distribution plate 12 in the circumferential direction of the cylinder drum 5 just before the low-pressure kidney, a control opening 12a, which is configured as the control bore, is provided and explained in more detail with reference to
When viewed along the axis of rotation 7, axially adjacent to the rolling bearing 18, a cast space 48 is formed in the cover-like housing part 16, into which an end section of the drive shaft 6 extends. The space 48 is connected to the interior of the housing by two channels opposite to one another relative to the axis of rotation 7 so that a pressure equalization can take place here. The outer ring of the rolling bearing 18 therefore does not impede the pressure equalization with the space 48.
For this pressure equalization, two trough-shaped cast recesses 44 are provided in the abutment area 39 for the distribution plate 12, which extend in a radial direction. These recesses 44 are each further formed by the distribution plate 12 into a radial channel section connecting the outer circumferential area of the distribution plate 12 and thus an interior of the housing with the outer ring of the rolling bearing 18.
Two trough-shaped cast axial recesses 38 are formed in the inner case section 38 of the cover-line housing part 16, against which the outer ring of the rolling bearing 18 abuts, only one of which can be seen in
In the exemplary embodiment shown, the alignment recess 35 for the alignment pin 34 is arranged in one of the two first-mentioned trough-shaped recesses 44. In this case, the relevant trough-shaped recess 44 is widened radially on the outside in the area of the alignment pin 34 in a circumferential direction relative to the radially inner transverse dimensions such that the alignment pin 34 is surrounded by the trough-shaped recess 44 over its entire circumference.
The second through-recess 42 of the flat seal 50 through which the second fitting pin 32 extends is in the form of a slotted hole, and corresponds to the form of the slotted hole of the second fitting recess 22. This ensures that the first fitting pin 31, even if it is in one of its extreme positions due to tolerances or manufacturing inaccuracies, does not impair the correct position and thus the function of the flat seal 50.
A breakthrough 52 of the flat seal 50 seals a fluid channel from the high-pressure connection A to the adjustment device 2 on the pot-shaped housing part 14.
The flat seal 50 thus has two functions: sealing the housing and sealing the channel (control oil bore) to report the high pressure.
An outer flattened section 54 of the cover-like housing part 16 is formed between the two work connections A, B, which is set back along the axis of rotation 7. This serves to save materials.
The flattened section 54 extends transversely to the axis of rotation 7 up to the edge of the cover-like housing part 16 and up to the work connections A, B. In this way, the cover-like housing part 16 has the required stiffness, wherein in particular the maximum deflection of the housing part 16 under load is small, such that the flat seal 50 (see
Within the cover-like housing part 116, a (not visible) channel in the form of a straight bore is provided, which connects the pre-compression volume 118 to the distribution plate 12. A small bore is provided in the distribution plate 12 in the circumferential direction between the two kidney-shaped control openings, such that a cylinder of the cylinder drum 5 is fluidically connected to the pre-compression volume 118 via its cylinder opening 10 (see
The alignment recess 35 for the alignment pin 34 (shown in
The alignment recess 35 for the alignment pin 34 (shown in
In both cover-like housing parts 216; 316 of
With both cover-like housing parts 216; 316 of
In the distribution plate 12 in the circumferential direction of the cylinder drum 5 just before the low-pressure kidney, the control bore 12a shown in
In accordance with the disclosure, the radial cast groove or recess 444 is largely comparable to the radial cast recess 344 of
If space is available, the start of the slope 445 may alternatively be arranged outside of the outer edge 12c of the distribution plate 12 in order to reduce the cross-section of the cast groove only after the outer edge 12c of the distribution plate 12 in order to thereby avoid constriction of the relief flow path. As the start of the slope 445 outside the outer edge 12c is already in the interior of the housing, the constriction has less negative influence in this regard than when the slope 445 already starts within the outer edge 12c. In the case of a compact design of the interior of the housing, it is possible that the slope 445 must then be steeper.
The depressurized pressure means (control oil) may not now come into direct contact with the flat seal 450, which would place it under adverse stress. There are also dirt particles or metal particles (due to cavitation erosion) in the depressurized pressure medium (control oil), which are therefore also not thrown directly onto the flat gasket 450. This prevents the flat seal 450 from leaking. This reduces risk to people and the environment.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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10 2023 207 507.5 | Aug 2023 | DE | national |