Patent Application
20130156496
The invention relates to a coupling for connecting a driving device to an expander head, which is used to expand pipes and hoses and which is actuated by means of an expanding mandrel driven by the driving device. The invention further relates to the coupling parts of a coupling of this type. The invention also relates to an expander head comprising a coupling part and to a driving device comprising a coupling part of a coupling of this type.
Expander heads, driving devices and couplings of the aforementioned type are conventionally part of an expander device, by means of which pipes and hoses are expanded. For this purpose, an expanding mandrel is moved in a translational manner in the direction of an axis, by means of the driving device, resulting in the expanding mandrel acting on the expander head. The expander head conventionally comprises expanding jaws, the outer faces of which press against and expand the inner circumference of the pipe or hose which is to be expanded. For this purpose, the contact force of the expanding jaws is conventionally brought about by the expanding mandrel, which acts on control faces of the expanding jaws during the axial movement of said mandrel, in such a way that the actuation force which is produced by the driving device is transferred via the axial movement of the expanding mandrel into a movement of the expander jaws in the radial direction.
As a result of the coupling of the expander device, the expander head and the driving device are held releasably against one another.
It is necessary in practice for the expander head to be releasable from the driving device in this manner, since the expander device is used to expand pipes and hoses of different materials, having different expansion properties and different diameters. For this purpose, whole arsenals of expander heads are conventionally provided on building sites or in manufacturing operations. It is thus necessary to change the expander heads frequently in practice.
One option for fixing the expander head to the driving device of the expander device is known from DE 10 2007 007 294 B3. In this case, the expander head and the driving device are interconnected by means of a screw coupling. For this purpose, the expander head comprises an internal thread, which can be screwed onto an external thread of the driving device for fixing to the driving device. Nowadays, screw couplings of this type are widespread in expander devices.
In an embodiment, the present invention provides a coupling for connecting a driving device to an expander head configured to expand pipes and hoses and to be actuated via an expanding mandrel driven by the driving device. The coupling includes a first coupling part associated with the driving device and a second coupling part associated with the expander head. The first coupling part includes a through-hole that acts as a passage for the expanding mandrel and radially outwardly projecting circumferential portions disposed at a circumference, a rear face of the circumferential portions including at least one contact face. When connected, the coupling parts are disposed along an axis along which the expanding mandrel is movable for the actuation of the expander head. The second coupling part includes at least one counter-portion configured to act on a respective one of the at least one contact face of the circumferential portions.
The present invention will be described in even greater detail below based on the exemplary figures. The invention is not limited to the exemplary embodiments. All features described and/or illustrated herein can be used alone or combined in different combinations in embodiments of the invention. The features and advantages of various embodiments of the present invention will become apparent by reading the following detailed description with reference to the attached drawings which illustrate the following:
It has been found that assembling an expander head comprising a screw thread is relatively complex and time-consuming, since the expander head has to be positioned exactly on the driving device so as to achieve proper mutual engagement of the threads. Also, the expander head is only mounted correctly on the driving device once the expander head has been screwed onto the driving device in a plurality of rotations relative to the driving device. The frequent changes of expander heads, which are conventionally carried out during practical use of expander devices of this type, therefore lead to a relatively high overall idle time with heads of this type comprising a screw thread. Also, constantly screwing the expander head onto the driving device, which in each case involves carrying out multiple rotations of the expander head relative to the driving device, is relatively strenuous and tedious in the long run.
The invention, in an embodiment, provides an option which makes it possible to change the expander heads more rapidly and less strenuously. In accordance with an embodiment of the invention, it is also possible to use the expander heads comprising screw threads which have been commercially available thus far.
A coupling part according to an embodiment of the invention for a coupling for connecting a driving device to an expander head, which is used to expand pipes and hoses and which is actuated by means of an expanding mandrel driven by the driving device, is a first coupling part, which is or can be associated with the driving device and can be connected to a second coupling part, which is or can be associated with the expander head, the coupling parts, when assembled with one another, being arranged along an axis, in particular a shared axis, along which the expanding mandrel can be moved so as to actuate the expander head. For this purpose, the coupling part or first coupling part according to an embodiment of the invention comprises a through-hole, which extends in the direction of the axis and is used as a passage for the expanding mandrel.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the coupling part or first coupling part is provided on the circumference thereof with radially outwardly projecting circumferential portions, the rear face of which comprises at least one contact face for engaging with the second coupling part from behind.
As a result of this measure, a coupling for connecting a driving device to an expander head can be provided, by means of which the expander head can be exchanged for a different expander head rapidly and non-strenuously. In this way, fixing the expander head to the driving device by screwing, in a time-consuming and strenuous manner, is avoided.
Providing the radially outwardly projecting circumferential portions makes it possible to fix an expander head to the driving device in a simple manner by way of a positive fit, and this is achieved by engaging with the second coupling part from behind. For this purpose, the circumferential portions comprise, on the respective rear face thereof, the at least one contact face against which the second coupling part is supported so as to produce a positive fit connection which acts in the axial direction. In the context of the invention, the rear face should be understood to mean the face remote from the free end of the coupling part, whereas, in the context of the invention, the front face should be understood to mean the face of the first coupling part which faces the second coupling part.
It is conceivable for the circumferential portions to be formed in the manner of engagement hooks. The circumferential portions may also be sectors or segments, in particular circle sectors or circle segments.
The circumferential portions can be produced in a simple manner if the coupling part or first coupling part is formed by a hollow cylindrical base body, on the outer circumference of which the radially outwardly projecting circumferential portions are arranged, in particular integrally formed.
Preferably, the radial ends of the circumferential portions should lie on an outer circumference of which the contour substantially corresponds to the circumferential contour of the first coupling part. This measure also makes it possible to provide the coupling part or first coupling part by a simple method of production. This also results in a robust coupling part or first coupling part being formed, which is suitable for transferring relatively large axial forces.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, at least three circumferential portions are provided, and are distributed equidistantly on the circumference of the coupling part or first coupling part. As a result, by means of the coupling part or first coupling part, a coupling can be provided which also transfers very large actuation forces of the driving device in the axial direction, without a local material overload occurring.
In accordance with a preferred embodiment of the invention, a stop is provided, by means of which a coupling movement and/or uncoupling movement of the first coupling part relative to the second coupling part is delimited. As a result, handling is particularly facilitated for the user of the expander device when fixing the expander head to the driving device, since the at least one stop terminates a coupling movement when the second coupling part is brought into impact against the contact faces of the circumferential portions of the first coupling part.
In addition or as an alternative, handling is also facilitated when disassembling the expander head, since the stop terminates the decoupling movement when the second coupling part is brought out of contact with the contact faces of the circumferential portions of the first coupling part by moving relative to the first coupling part.
The stop may for example be formed in a particularly simple manner by a pin element, which is arranged at the end or start of a circumferential portion, as seen from the circumferential side, for example, and the longitudinal axis of which extends in the axial direction.
If the coupling movement is completed, for example by a rotational movement of the two coupling parts relative to one another, it can be provided, by means of a single stop, that during a movement counter to the coupling movement the two coupling parts are positioned decoupled from one another when one of the two coupling parts strikes against the stop.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the circumferential portions are immovable relative to the first coupling part. For this purpose, the circumferential portions may be arranged immovably on a base body of the first coupling part, in particular formed integrally on the base body. As a result of the immovable circumferential portions, the circumferential portions remain permanently in an engagement position with respect to the second coupling part, in which the contact face of the circumferential portion is permanently aligned in the predetermined position for engaging with the second coupling part from behind. The first coupling part can be produced relatively simply as a result of the immovable circumferential portions thereof, since no mechanism has to be provided for moving the circumferential portions relative to the first coupling part.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the circumferential portions are held movably on the first coupling part, and can be moved out of an engagement position with respect to the second coupling part. As a result, the two coupling parts can be disassembled from one another in a simple manner, since for this purpose the circumferential portions merely have to be moved out of the engagement position, and the positive connection which is formed between the two coupling parts by the circumferential portions is thus released, in particular in the axial direction.
It is conceivable for the circumferential portions to be movable out of the engagement position with respect to the second coupling part, in that the circumferential portions are slid out of the engagement position, for example formed so as to be displaceable in the radial direction. It is also conceivable for the circumferential portions to be pivotable out of the engagement position.
The engagement position is preferably the position in which the circumferential portions project radially outwards, in such a way that the contact face, for engaging with the second coupling part from behind, of the rear face of the respective circumferential portions is fully released.
It is possible for the circumferential portions to be movable out of the engagement position with respect to the second coupling part against the restoring force of at least one spring element. As a result, it can be ensured that the circumferential portions are moved back into the engagement position automatically by the restoring force of the spring element when the actuation force for moving the circumferential portions out of the engagement position is removed.
Preferably, the circumferential portions should be held in the engagement position against the biasing force of the spring element. As a result, part of the force of the spring element is used as a biasing force, so as to hold the circumferential portions in the engagement position. As a result, any micro-movements of the circumferential portions, and resulting rattling noises, can be effectively prevented.
It is possible for the circumferential portions to be movable out of the engagement position with respect to the second coupling part with restricted guidance. As a result, a high degree of reliability is ensured when the two coupling parts are coupled to and uncoupled from one another, since the circumferential portions are guided in a predetermined movement path when they are moved out of the engagement position with respect to the second coupling part.
For example, in this way the circumferential portions can be moved with restricted guidance towards the axis against the restoring force of the spring element.
One possible embodiment of circumferential portions having restricted guidance involves the circumferential portions being connected to at least one actuation element, in particular a push button, via at least one, preferably two guide elements, in particular guide pins, the guide elements being guided on a guide face, in particular slots, formed on the first coupling part.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, pressing elements may be provided, which press the second coupling part against the contact face of the circumferential portions when the coupling parts are assembled with one another. As a result, disruptive relative micro-movements of the coupling parts, for example as a result of play of the coupling parts due to tolerances, can be effectively prevented, in that contact of the second coupling part with the contact face of the circumferential portions of the first coupling part is provided permanently by means of the pressing elements.
The pressing elements may be formed so as to be movable against the force of a spring element. As a result, the contact force of a pressing element is substantially produced by the force of the spring element.
Preferably, the pressing elements are formed by a plurality of balls, which are arranged distributed over the circumference of the first coupling part and which are held in recesses on the circumference of the first coupling part. As a result, the pressing elements are provided by a simple method of production.
It is possible for the second coupling part to comprise recesses, for example in the manner of depressions, in which the pressing elements, in particular balls, engage when the two coupling parts are moved correspondingly relative to one another into the necessary position for this purpose.
Preferably, the pressing elements act on the second coupling part in the radial direction by means of a contact force, for example the force of a spring element. As a result, the two coupling parts are held relative to one another in the radial direction, substantially without any freedom of movement, in such a way that the resulting disruptive micro-movements of the coupling parts relative to one another are prevented in spite of the relative play between the coupling parts due to tolerances.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the circumferential portions comprise a thread, in particular an external thread, for screwing to the second coupling part, in such a way that the first coupling part can be brought into a screwed connection relative to the second coupling part by rotating about the axis. As a result, expander heads, of which the coupling part is provided with a thread and is used for screwing on the expander head, can also be coupled to the coupling part or first coupling part.
The first coupling part according to an embodiment of the invention is thus formed so as to make it possible to couple a second coupling part in two ways. On the one hand, a second coupling part which acts on the contact faces of the radially outwardly projecting circumferential portions can be coupled to the coupling part according to an embodiment of the invention. On the other hand, a second coupling part which engages in the thread, in particular external thread, can be coupled to the coupling part according to an embodiment of the invention.
The thread of the respective circumferential portions preferably extends with the same radial spacing in each case.
The thread of the respective circumferential portion preferably lies on a shared outer circumference, which is concentric with the axis, in particular central axis, along which the expanding mandrel can be moved so as to actuate the expander head. The thread is thus formed on the first coupling part concentrically with respect to the axis.
In accordance with a further embodiment of the invention, a coupling part for a coupling for connecting a driving device to an expander head, which is used to expand pipes and hoses and which is actuated by means of an expanding mandrel driven by the driving device, is a second coupling part which is or can be associated with the expander head and can be connected to a first coupling part of the above-disclosed type, which is or can be associated with the driving device, the coupling parts, when assembled with one another, being arranged along an axis along which the expanding mandrel can be moved so as to actuate the expander head.
According to an embodiment of the invention, the second coupling part comprises at least one, preferably a plurality of counter-portions, which engage from behind with radially outwardly projecting circumferential portions of the first coupling part and act on the respective contact face of the circumferential portions when the coupling parts are assembled with one another.
As a result of this measure, a coupling part is proposed which can be fixed, as a second coupling part, to a first coupling part of the above-disclosed type, and for this purpose makes use of the radially outwardly projecting outer circumferential portions of the first coupling part so as to form a positive connection. Thus, by way of the second coupling part according to an embodiment of the invention, it is possible to fix an expander head to a driving device of an expander device, together with the first coupling part, rapidly, without great use of force and with simple handling, in that the two coupling parts are interconnected without a screw connection.
It is possible for the counter-portions to be dimensioned circumferentially in such a way that when the coupling parts move axially relative to one another, the circumferential portions of the first coupling part and the counter-portions of the second coupling part engage in one another. As a result, it is possible to bring the two coupling parts together in a simple manner by axially displacing the coupling parts relative to one another, in such a way that after the coupling parts have engaged in one another, by rotating the second coupling part relative to the second coupling part an axially acting positive fit can be achieved, in which the counter-portions of the second coupling part act on the contact surfaces of the circumferential portions of the first coupling part.
Preferably, the counter-portions should correspond circumferentially to the respective gap between mutually adjacent circumferential portions of the first coupling part. In that the counter-portions substantially correspond in each case to the gap between mutually adjacent circumferential portions of the first coupling part, the largest possible overlap of the respective circumferential portion and the associated counter-portion is achieved for the counter-portions, arranged distributed over the circumference on the second coupling part, and the circumferential portions, on the first coupling part, and an axially acting positive fit connection for transferring large forces is thus produced.
Preferably, at least three counter-portions, which are distributed equidistantly around the circumference of the second coupling part, should be provided for this purpose.
In accordance with one embodiment of the invention, it is provided that the counter-portions form a circumferential rim, which extends in the radial direction, of the second coupling part. The second coupling part, along with the counter-portions thereof, can thus be produced in a technically simple manner, since in the course of the production thereof, for example by machining, the counter-portions merely have to be carved out from the rim of the second coupling part. The empty spaces which are to be formed between the counter-portions, which interrupt the rim in each case, may also be formed in this manner, for example.
In accordance with an alternative embodiment of the invention, it may be provided that the counter-portions form a circumferentially continuous rim, which extends in the radial direction, of the second coupling part. The counter-portions thus form a rim without interruptions or portion-free empty spaces. An embodiment of this type is possible in particular if the first coupling part comprises movable circumferential portions. As a result, the second coupling part is fixed to the first coupling part, with an axially acting positive fit connection, simply in that the two coupling parts are moved relative to one another in the axial direction, and the movable circumferential portions of the first coupling part are thus moved out of the engagement position thereof. Only after the two coupling parts have been brought together is an axially acting positive fit connection produced, in that the circumferential portions of the first coupling part are subsequently moved back into the engagement position with respect to the circumferential rim of the second coupling part.
In this embodiment of the invention, it is possible for the rim, formed by the counter-portions, of the second coupling part, to comprise an entry ramp on the inner circumference thereof, against which the movable circumferential portions of the first coupling part can be brought into the engagement position by sliding along in the axial direction when the coupling parts are joined. This makes it much easier to produce the engagement between the counter-portions of the second coupling part and the circumferential portions of the first coupling part, since the movable circumferential portions are automatically moved out of the engagement position by the entry ramp when the two coupling parts are jointed together axially. After passing the entry ramp, the movable circumferential portions subsequently move back into the engagement position automatically, for example under the force of at least one spring element, in such a way that the axially acting positive fit connection between the two coupling parts is produced.
In accordance with a further embodiment, the invention provides a coupling for connecting a driving device to an expander head, which is used to expand pipes and hoses and which is actuated by means of an expanding mandrel driven by the driving device, the coupling comprising a first coupling part of the above-disclosed type and a second coupling part of the above-disclosed type.
The invention, in an embodiment, also comprises a coupling for connecting a driving device to an expander head, which is used to expand pipes and hoses and which is actuated by means of an expanding mandrel driven by the driving device, comprising a first coupling part of the above-disclosed type and a second coupling part which has a thread corresponding to the thread of the first coupling part, in such a way that the second coupling part and the first coupling part can be interconnected by screwing.
In this context, it is preferred to associate the first coupling part with the driving device and the second coupling part with the expander head.
The invention further provides, in an embodiment, a driving device for an expander device for expanding pipes and hoses, comprising a coupling part of the above-disclosed type, in particular a first coupling part of the above-disclosed type.
In accordance with a development of the driving device, an adjustment device can be provided, by means of which the coupling part, in particular the first coupling part, can be moved in the axial direction relative to the expanding mandrel of the driving device in relation to the initial position thereof. By way of the adjustment device, the axial alignment of the coupling part can thus be adjusted relative to the expanding mandrel in relation to the initial position thereof, in such a way that the degree of expansion which can thus be achieved with an expander head fixed to the driving device can be altered, with fine tuning, by way of the adjustment device. In this context, the initial position may be the position of the expanding mandrel when retracted, in which the expanding mandrel does not act on the expander head.
An embodiment comprising an adjustment device is possible in particular for application purposes where copper pipes are being expanded.
By way of the adjustment device, there is the possibility of fine-tuning the desired degree of expansion and thus counteracting any tolerances. The resulting clearance between the expanded pipe and the introduced non-expanded pipe can thus be adjusted in a targeted manner, for example so as to produce an exact clearance for a soldering gap.
The invention further comprises, in an embodiment, an expander head for an expander device for expanding pipes and hoses, comprising a coupling part of the above-disclosed type, in particular a second coupling part of the above-disclosed type.
The invention further comprises, in an embodiment, an expander device for expanding pipes and hoses, comprising one of the above-disclosed couplings.
In
For fixing the expander head 6 to the driving device 1, the driving device 1 comprises a coupling part, which is referred to in the following as the first coupling part 20a. The expander head 6 comprises a coupling part which can be connected to the first coupling part 20a and which is referred to in the following as the second coupling part 60a.
In accordance with the embodiment of the driving device 1 according to
The second coupling part 60a of the embodiment of the expander head 6a according to
The first coupling part 20a and the second coupling part 60a, when assembled with one another, that is to say when the expander head 6 is mounted on the driving device 1, are arranged along an axis A along which the expanding mandrel 5 can be moved so as to actuate the expander head 6.
The axis A is preferably the central longitudinal axis of the expanding mandrel 5. Of course, it may also be provided that the axis A is an axis at a distance from and substantially parallel to the central longitudinal axis of the expanding mandrel 5.
The driving device 1 can be actuated manually, as can be seen from
As an alternative to the manually actuated driving device 1, it is of course also possible to use a driving device which is actuated by an electric motor, pneumatically, and/or hydraulically so as to actuate an expander head, of the same type as the expander head 6 according to
In addition,
As can be seen in particular from
The radial dimensions of the base body 31a are smaller than those of the housing 4, which is attached to the base body 31a in the axial direction, of the driving device 1, in such a way that a circumferential shoulder 40 is formed as a stop between the base body 31a and the housing 4 in the axial direction, and is used as a stop for the second coupling part 60a of the expander head 6 during joining in the axial direction.
As can be seen in particular from
As can be seen from
The radially outwardly projecting circumferential portions 22a, 23a and 24a each comprise a contact face 27 on the rear face 26 thereof, which the second coupling part 60a can counteract and engage with from behind, in such a way that, as a result of the second coupling part 60a being engaged with from behind, a positive fit connection in the axial direction is achieved between the two coupling parts 20a and 60a.
In this context, the rear face 26 or contact face 27 of the circumferential portions 22a, 23a and 24a is the side which is remote from the expander head 5 and preferably faces the housing 4, in particular the shoulder 40. The front face 25 of each circumferential portion 22a, 23a, 24a transitions into the end face of the base body 31a, as can be seen in particular from
As can be seen in particular from
As a result of the outer circumference 29 of the base body 31a also being substantially round, in particular circular, a respective gap 37, 38 and 39 is formed circumferentially between every two adjacent circumferential portions 22a and 23a, 23a and 24a, 24a and 22a, and said gaps are preferably positioned equidistantly as a result of the equidistant distribution of the circumferential portions 22a, 23a and 24a around the circumference 28 or 29.
As can be seen in particular from
In this context, the counter-portions 60, 63, 64 of the second coupling part 60a are circumferentially dimensioned in such a way that, when the coupling parts 60a and 22a move axially relative to one another, the circumferential portions 22a, 23a and 24a of the first coupling part 20a and the counter-portions 62, 63, 64 of the second coupling part 60a engage in one another. In this context, the counter-portions 62, 63, 64 are preferably dimensioned circumferentially in a manner substantially corresponding to the gaps 37, 38 and 39 of the first coupling part 20a.
As can be seen from
In that the gaps 37, 38 and 39 substantially correspond circumferentially to the dimensions of the counter-portions 62, 63, 64, and the gaps between the counter-portions 62, 63 and 64 correspond to the dimensions of the circumferential portions 22a, 23a and 24a of the first coupling part 20a, on the one hand it is made possible for the coupling parts 60a, 20a to engage in one another when the coupling parts 60a, 20a move axially, and on the other hand, when the coupling parts 60a, 20a rotate through a predetermined angle relative to one another, an overlap between the circumferential portions 22a, 23a and 24a and the counter-portions 62, 63, 64 with the largest possible contact face is achieved, in such a way that an axially acting positive fit connection is formed, which can transfer particularly large axial forces. By way of the connection, a connection in the radial direction is further produced, in such a way that when the second coupling part 60a is assembled on the first coupling part 20a the expander head 6 is fixed to the driving device 1 in a positive fit.
The second coupling part 60a preferably comprises a hollow cylindrical base body 67, which is arranged concentric with the axis A and which is preferably in the form of a sleeve or a similar hollow body.
In this context, the counter-portions 62, 63, 64 form a rim 65a, which extends in the radial direction, of the base body 67. The rim 65a is preferably circumferential and interrupted by the gaps between the counter-portions 62, 63 and 64.
A stop 30 is provided so as to ensure that, after the second coupling part 60a is brought together axially with the first coupling part 20a, the two coupling parts 60a, 20a are only rotated far enough with respect to one another that the counter-portions 62, 63, 64 of the second coupling part 60a counteract the contact faces 27 of the circumferential portions 22a, 23a and 24a of the first coupling part 20a with the largest possible overlap, and thus produce the positive fit connection in the axial direction.
The stop 30 is preferably associated with the first coupling part 20a, as can be seen from
The stop 30 preferably also delimits the decoupling movement of the two coupling parts 20a, 60a out of the positive fit connection. For this purpose, the stop 30 is preferably in the form of a pin element, and the longitudinal axis thereof is arranged in the direction of the axis A on the circumference 29 of the base body 31a. The stop 30 is thus positioned circumferentially close to one of the circumferential portions 22a, 23a or 24a, in such a way that the two coupling parts 20a and 60a are coupled with one another when the stop 30 is reached if the rotational movement of the two coupling parts 20a and 60a relative to one another is carried out in one direction. Further, when the stop 30 is reached by rotating the coupling parts 20a and 60a relative to one another in the opposite direction, the decoupled state is reached as regards the axially acting positive fit connection.
As can be seen in particular from
As can be seen in particular from
Components or functional portions of the expander head 6′ and the coupling parts 20, 60b according to
As can be seen in particular from
As can be seen in particular from
The actuation elements 34 may for example be arranged, as seen in the direction of the axis A, outside the engagement region of the second coupling part 60b, which is delimited from the driving device or the housing thereof by for example a circumferentially outwardly projecting projection 41.
As can further be seen from
Just like the circumferential portions 22a, 23a, 24a of the first coupling part 20a according to
A radially extending rim 65b is formed on the base body 67 of the second coupling part 60b, at the end as seen in the axial direction, and is circumferential, preferably continuously circumferential. For coupling the expander head 6′ according to
As can further be seen from
The construction of the expander head 6′ can further be seen from
The expanding jaws 7 each comprise, on the inner circumferential side, a control face 10, which enters an operative connection with the outer circumferential face of the expanding mandrel 5 when the driving device 1 is actuated so as to produce the expansion of the expanding jaws 7 in the radial direction. The expanding jaws 7 are further enclosed at the guide flanges thereof by an extension spring 8, the expanding jaws 7 being held on the base body 67 by means of guide pins 11.
While the invention has been illustrated and described in detail in the drawings and foregoing description, such illustration and description are to be considered illustrative or exemplary and not restrictive. It will be understood that changes and modifications may be made by those of ordinary skill within the scope of the following claims. In particular, the present invention covers further embodiments with any combination of features from different embodiments described above and below.
The terms used in the claims should be construed to have the broadest reasonable interpretation consistent with the foregoing description. For example, the use of the article “a” or “the” in introducing an element should not be interpreted as being exclusive of a plurality of elements. Likewise, the recitation of “or” should be interpreted as being inclusive, such that the recitation of “A or B” is not exclusive of “A and B.” Further, the recitation of “at least one of A, B and C” should be interpreted as one or more of a group of elements consisting of A, B and C, and should not be interpreted as requiring at least one of each of the listed elements A, B and C, regardless of whether A, B and C are related as categories or otherwise.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 2010 035 221.7 | Aug 2010 | DE | national |
| 10 2010 035 222.5 | Aug 2010 | DE | national |
This application is a U.S. National Phase application under 35 U.S.C. §371 of International Application No. PCT/DE2011/075199, filed on Aug. 23, 2011, and claims benefit to German Patent Application Nos. DE 10 2010 035 221.7, filed Aug. 24, 2010 and DE 10 2010 035 222.5, filed on Aug. 24, 2010. The International Application was published in German on Mar. 29, 2012 as WO 2012/037935 under PCT Article 21(2).
| Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind | 371c Date |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/DE11/75199 | 8/23/2011 | WO | 00 | 2/22/2013 |
