Double-force type pressure cylinder structure

Information

  • Patent Grant
  • 6409482
  • Patent Number
    6,409,482
  • Date Filed
    Wednesday, September 13, 2000
    24 years ago
  • Date Issued
    Tuesday, June 25, 2002
    22 years ago
  • Inventors
  • Examiners
    • Koczo; Michael
    • Rodriguez; William
    Agents
    • Rosenberg, Klein & Lee
Abstract
A double-force type pressure cylinder structure includes a gas cylinder secured on a pressurizing cylinder base, and a top cap secured on the gas cylinder. The pressurizing cylinder base has a liquid inlet port forming a first check valve, a liquid outlet port forming a second check valve, and a pressurizing cylinder chamber for receiving a piston rod. The gas cylinder includes a piston, a spring biased between the piston and an end face of the pressurizing cylinder base so that the piston is pushed upward by the spring. The circuit of the compressed air is controlled by air holes in conjunction with the spring so that the piston and the piston rod are reciprocally moved quickly for compressing the hydraulic oil at a high speed, thereby forming a thrust with a high pressure.
Description




BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION




1. Field of the Invention




The present invention relates to a pressure cylinder structure, and more particularly to a double-force type pressure cylinder structure.




2. Description of the Related Art




A conventional clamping device, such as a vice, is used for clamping a workpiece to be worked by a working machine such as a milling machine. However, the vice is operated manually so that the clamping and holding effect provided by the vice on the workpiece is not sufficient and efficient, thereby greatly affecting the working efficiency of the working machine.




SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION




In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a double-force type pressure cylinder structure comprising:




a pressurizing cylinder base defining a radial through hole having a first side threadedly provided with a liquid inlet port having a distal end for receiving a first ball, thereby forming a first check valve, and having a second side threadedly provided with a liquid outlet port having a distal end for receiving a second ball, thereby forming a second check valve, the pressure cylinder base having a central portion defining a pressurizing cylinder chamber for receiving a piston rod, the pressurizing cylinder chamber having a top defining a screw hole for receiving a sealing bushing, a support bushing screwed into the screw hole for securing the sealing bushing and for supporting the piston rod which is sealed by the sealing bushing;




a gas cylinder secured on the pressurizing cylinder base and containing a piston therein, the piston having a bottom defining an inner annular hole for receiving a flange disk, the flange disk having a central portion screwed on one end of the piston rod, a spring having a first end secured on the flange disk and a second end secured on an end face of the pressurizing cylinder base so that the piston is pushed upward by the spring, a main air drain hole longitudinally defined in a wall of the gas cylinder and extending into a bottom of the gas cylinder, a direction change air drain hole longitudinally defined in the wall of the gas cylinder and extending into a mediate portion of the gas cylinder; and




a top cap secured on the gas cylinder by bolts and having a central portion defining a through stepped hole, the stepped hole provided with an inner flange, the inner flange having a bottom for receiving a lower piston base and a top for receiving an upper piston base which is screwed by bolts, the upper piston base defining an inner cylinder chamber, the lower piston base having an upper portion defining a concave annular hole for receiving an upper valve plug and a lower valve plug, and having a lower portion for receiving a spline which defines a plurality of radially arranged slots, an O-ring mounted on a distal end of the spline, a direction change piston slidably mounted in the inner cylinder chamber of the upper piston base and having an axle extending into the upper valve plug and abutting an end face of the spline, a threaded post extending through a block ring, through the spline and screwed into the axle of the direction change piston so that the spline is integrally coupled with the direction change piston while the block ring closes the slots of the spline.




Further benefits and advantages of the present invention will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed description with appropriate reference to the accompanying drawings.











BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS





FIG. 1

is an exploded view of a double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with the present invention;





FIG. 2

is a partially perspective cross-sectional assembly view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 3

is a cross-sectional assembly view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 1

;





FIG. 4

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 2

;





FIG. 5

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 3

;





FIG. 6

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 4

;





FIG. 7

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 5

;





FIG. 8

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 7

;





FIG. 9

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 8

;





FIG. 10

is an exploded view of a double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with another embodiment of the present invention;





FIG. 11

is a cross-sectional assembly view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 10

;





FIG. 12

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 11

;





FIG. 13

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in

FIG. 12

; and





FIG. 14

is an operational view of the double-force type pressure cylinder structure as shown in FIG.


13


.











DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION




Referring to the drawings and initially to

FIGS. 1-3

, a double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with the present invention comprises a pressurizing cylinder base


10


, a gas cylinder


20


, and a top cap


30


.




The pressurizing cylinder base


10


defines a radial through hole


11


having a first side threadedly provided with a liquid inlet port


12


having a distal end for receiving a first ball


13


, thereby forming a first check valve, and having a second side threadedly provided with a liquid outlet port


14


having a distal end for receiving a second ball


15


, thereby forming a second check valve. The pressure cylinder base


10


has a central portion defining a pressurizing cylinder chamber


16


for receiving a piston rod


23


. The pressurizing cylinder chamber


16


has a top defining a screw hole


17


for receiving a sealing bushing


18


. A support bushing


19


is screwed into the screw hole


17


for securing the sealing bushing


18


and for supporting the piston rod


23


which is sealed by the sealing bushing


18


.




The gas cylinder


20


is secured on the pressurizing cylinder base


10


and contains a piston


21


therein. The piston


21


has a bottom defining an inner annular hole


211


for receiving a flange disk


22


. The flange disk


22


has a central portion screwed on one end of the piston rod


23


. A spring


24


has a first end secured on the flange disk


22


and a second end secured on an end face of the pressurizing cylinder base


10


so that the piston


21


is pushed upward by the spring


24


. A main air drain hole


25


is longitudinally defined in the wall of the gas cylinder


20


and extends into the bottom of the gas cylinder


20


. A direction change air drain hole


26


is longitudinally defined in the wall of the gas cylinder


20


and extends into a mediate portion of the gas cylinder


20


.




The top cap


30


is secured on the gas cylinder


20


by bolts


31


and has a central portion defining a through stepped hole


32


. The stepped hole


32


is provided with an inner flange


33


having a bottom for receiving a lower piston base


34


and a top for receiving an upper piston base


35


which is screwed by bolts


36


. The upper piston base


35


defines an inner cylinder chamber


351


. The lower piston base


34


has an upper portion defining a concave annular hole


343


for receiving an upper valve plug


37


and a lower valve plug


38


and has a lower portion for receiving a spline


391


which defines a plurality of radially arranged slots


3911


. An O-ring


392


is mounted on a distal end of the spline


391


. A direction change piston


393


is slidably mounted in the inner cylinder chamber


351


of the upper piston base


35


and has an axle extending into the upper valve plug


37


and abutting an end face of the spline


391


. A threaded post


394


extends through a block ring


395


, through the spline


391


and screwed into the axle of the direction change piston


393


so that the spline


391


is integrally coupled with the direction change piston


393


while the block ring


395


closes the slots


3911


of the spline


391


.




The upper piston base


35


defines a first air hole A


1


extending therethrough and has a top threadedly secured with an air inlet port


40


connected to the first air hole Al of the upper piston base


35


. The inner flange


33


defines a second air hole A


2


which has a first side connected to the first air hole A


1


and a second side connected to a first radial hole A


3


defined in the lower piston base


34


. The first radial hole A


3


has a distal end connected to a second radial hole A


4


defined in the upper valve plug


37


. The second radial hole A


4


is connected between the upper valve plug


37


and the lower valve plug


38


. An air vent hole A


5


is defined in the lower valve plug


38


and is connected to an air guide hole A


6


defined in the lower piston base


34


. The air guide hole A


6


is connected to a inside of the gas cylinder


20


.




The top cap


30


defines a first air hole B


1


connected to the main air drain hole


25


of the gas cylinder


20


and connected to an annular groove


341


defined in the lower piston base


34


. A second air hole B


2


is defined in the lower piston base


34


and is connected to the annular groove


341


. An air drain hole B


3


is defined in the upper piston base


35


and is connected to the second air hole B


2


. The lower piston base


34


defines an air supply hole B


4


connected to the annular groove


341


and connected to the slots


3911


of the spline


39


. The upper piston base


35


defines an air hole D connected to the air drain hole B


3


of the upper piston base


35


and connected to the inner cylinder chamber


351


.




The top cap


30


defines a first air hole Cl connected to the direction change air drain hole


25


of the gas cylinder


20


and connected to an annular groove


352


defined in the upper piston base


35


. A second air hole C


2


defined in the upper piston base


35


is connected between the annular groove


352


of the upper piston base


35


and the inner cylinder chamber


351


of the upper piston base


35


.




In operation, referring to

FIGS. 2 and 3

, the compressed air supplied through the air inlet port


40


is introduced through the air holes A


1


and A


2


, the radial air holes A


3


and A


4


, the air vent hole A


5


, and the air guide hole A


6


into the gas cylinder


20


, thereby gradually increasing pressure on the piston


21


so as to push the piston


21


downward as shown in

FIGS. 4 and 5

. The air is then introduced through the main air drain hole


25


, the air holes B


1


and B


2


, and is drained to the ambient environment through the air drain hole B


3


so that the piston


21


can be quickly moved downward. At the same time, the piston rod


23


is moved downward to compress the air in the pressurizing cylinder chamber


16


, thereby forcing the hydraulic oil to flow toward the liquid outlet port


14


to be supplied into the oil cylinder of a double-force type vice (not shown).




Referring to

FIGS. 6 and 7

, when the piston


21


is moved to a position lower the level of the direction change air drain hole


26


, the compressed air is introduced through the direction change air drain hole


26


, the air holes C


1


and C


2


, and into the inner cylinder chamber


351


of the upper piston base


35


to push the direction change piston


393


downward while the air in the front space of the direction change piston


393


is introduced through the air hole D and the air drain hole B


3


and into the environment. When the direction change piston


393


is moved downward, the O-ring


392


on the spline


391


is moved to press the inner wall of the lower valve plug


38


, thereby blocking the air hole A


5


so that the pressure exerted on the piston


21


is decreased so that the piston


21


is moved upward by the thrust of the spring


24


.




Referring to

FIGS. 8 and 9

, the spline


391


is moved downward when the direction change piston


393


is moved downward so that the slots


3911


are connected to the gas cylinder


20


. When the piston


21


is moved upward, the air is introduced through the slots


3911


, the air supply hole B


4


, the air hole B


2


, and into the environment through the air drain hole B


3


so that the piston


21


can be moved upward quickly. The piston rod


23


is moved upward with the piston


21


, thereby generating a vacuum suction on the pressurizing cylinder chamber


16


whereby the ball


15


is drawn to block the liquid outlet port


14


while the ball


13


is drawn to open the liquid inlet port


12


so that the hydraulic oil can be filled into the pressurizing cylinder chamber


16


. The piston


21


is then moved to press the block ring


395


to block the slots


3911


while the direction change piston


393


is moved upward. As shown in

FIG. 3

, the O-ring


392


on the spline


391


is moved upward to detach from the inner wall of the lower valve plug


38


, thereby opening the air hole A


5


so that the air can be introduced through the air inlet port


40


into the gas cylinder


20


to move the piston


21


downward, thereby simultaneously moving the piston rod


23


to compress the air contained in the pressurizing cylinder chamber


16


. The above-mentioned steps can be repeated again and again.




Referring to

FIGS. 10 and 11

, according to another embodiment of the present invention, the top cap


30


and the upper piston base


35


are integrally coupled with each other to form a top cover


60


which defines an air hole A


10


connected to the first radial hole A


3


of the lower piston base


34


so that the air can be introduced into the gas cylinder


20


fluently.




The direction change piston


393


defines a through stepped hole


3931


for receiving an extension rod


3912


of the spline


391


therein. A buffer spring


54


is mounted on the extension rod


3912


of the spline


391


and positioned in the bottom of the stepped hole


3931


of the direction change piston


393


. An O-ring


51


is mounted on the extension rod


3912


. A washer


52


is mounted in the top of the stepped hole


3931


of the direction change piston


393


. A screw


53


extends through the washer


52


and is screwed into the top end of the extension rod


3912


of the spline


391


so that a buffer space is defined between the direction change piston


393


and the spline


391


whereby the spline


391


is not moved with the piston


21


simultaneously. The extension rod


3912


of the spline


391


has a bottom provided with a catch flange


3914


abutting the buffer spring


54


. The catch flange


3914


has a bottom defining an annular groove


3915


for securing an O-ring


392


therein.




Referring to

FIG. 11

, when the piston


21


is moved to a position lower the level of the direction change air drain hole


26


, the compressed air is introduced into the inner cylinder chamber


351


of the upper piston base


35


to push the direction change piston


393


downward.




As shown in

FIG. 12

, when the direction change piston


393


is moved downward, the buffer spring


54


is compressed while the block ring


395


is pushed by the compressed air to maintain the spline


391


at a stationary state.




As shown in

FIG. 13

, when the buffer spring


54


is compressed to its limit, the force on the direction change piston


393


plus the elastic force of the buffer spring


54


is greater than the thrust on the block ring


395


.




As shown in

FIG. 14

, the O-ring


392


on the spline


391


is moved to press the inner wall of the lower valve plug


38


, thereby blocking the air hole A


5


so that the air cannot be introduced into the gas cylinder


20


whereby the air in the gas cylinder


20


is drained through the air drain hole B


3


so that the piston


21


can be moved upward.




Accordingly, the piston is moved reciprocally so that the piston rod continuously compress that air into the oil cylinder of a double-force type vice, thereby successively supplying pressure so as to enhance the holding strength of the vice. In addition, the single air inlet port supplies the air into the gas cylinder while the spring exerts a restoring force so that the piston can be moved quickly, thereby enhancing the working efficiency of double-force type pressure cylinder structure.




It should be clear to those skilled in the art that further embodiments may be made without departing from the scope of the present invention.



Claims
  • 1. A double-force type pressure cylinder-structure comprising:a pressurizing cylinder base (10) defining a radial through hole (11) having a first side threadedly provided with a liquid inlet port (12) having a distal end for receiving a first ball (13), thereby forming a first check valve, and having a second side threadedly provided with a liquid outlet port (14) having a distal end for receiving a second ball (15), thereby forming a second check valve, said pressure cylinder base (10) having a central portion defining a pressurizing cylinder chamber (16) for receiving a piston rod (23), said pressurizing cylinder chamber (16) having a top defining a screw hole (17) for receiving a sealing bushing (18), a support bushing (19) screwed into said screw hole (17) for securing said sealing bushing (18) and for supporting said piston rod (23) which is sealed by said sealing bushing (18); a gas cylinder (20) secured on said pressurizing cylinder base (10) and containing a piston (21) therein, said piston (21) having a bottom defining an inner annular hole (211) for receiving a flange disk (22), said flange disk (22) having a central portion screwed on one end of said piston rod (23), a spring (24) having a first end secured on said flange disk (22) and a second end secured on an end face of said pressurizing cylinder base (10) so that said piston (21) is pushed upward by said spring (24), a main air drain hole (25) longitudinally defined in a wall of said gas cylinder (20) and extending into a bottom of said gas cylinder (20), a direction change air drain hole (26) longitudinally defined in said wall of said gas cylinder (20) and extending into a mediate portion of said gas cylinder (20); and a top cap (30) secured on said gas cylinder (20) by bolts (31) and having a central portion defining a through stepped hole (32), said stepped hole (32) provided with an inner flange (33), said inner flange (33) having a bottom for receiving a lower piston base (34) and a top for receiving an upper piston base (35) which is screwed by bolts (36), said upper piston base (35) defining an inner cylinder chamber (351), said lower piston base (34) having an upper portion defining a concave annular hole (343) for receiving an upper valve plug (37) and a lower valve plug (38), and having a lower portion for receiving a spline (391) which defines a plurality of radially arranged slots (3911), an O-ring (392) mounted on a distal end of said spline (391), a direction change piston (393) slidably mounted in said inner cylinder chamber (351) of said upper piston base (35) and having an axle extending into said upper valve plug (37) and abutting an end face of said spline (391), a threaded post (394) extending through a block ring (395), through said spline (391) and screwed into said axle of said direction change piston (393) so that said spline (391) is integrally coupled with said direction change piston (393) while said block ring (395) closes said slots (3911) of said spline (391).
  • 2. The double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said upper piston base (35) defines a first air hole (A1) extending therethrough and has a top threadedly secured with an air inlet port (40) connected to said first air hole (A1) of said upper piston base (35), said inner flange (33) defining a second air hole (A2), said second air hole (A2) having a first side connected to said first air hole (A1) and a second side connected to a first radial hole (A3) defined in said lower piston base (34), said first radial hole (A3) having a distal end connected to a second radial hole (A4) defined in said upper valve plug (37), said second radial hole (A4) connected between said upper valve plug (37) and said lower valve plug (38), an air vent hole (A5) defined in said lower valve plug (38) and connected to an air guide hole (A6) defined in said lower piston base (34), and said air guide hole (A6) connected to a inside of said gas cylinder (20).
  • 3. The double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said top cap (30) defines a first air hole (B1) connected to said main air drain hole (25) of said gas cylinder (20) and connected to an annular groove (341) defined in said lower piston base (34), a second air hole (B2) defined in said lower piston base (34) and connected to said annular groove (341), an air drain hole (B3) defined in said upper piston base (35) and connected to said second air hole (B2).
  • 4. The double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said top cap (30) defines a first air hole (C1) connected to said direction change air drain hole (25) of said gas cylinder (20) and connected to an annular groove (352) defined in said upper piston base (35), a second air hole (C2) defined in said upper piston base (35) and connected between said annular groove (352) of said upper piston base (35) and said inner cylinder chamber (351) of said upper piston base (35).
  • 5. The double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein said lower piston base (34) defines an air supply hole (B4) connected to said annular groove (341) and connected to said slots (3911) of said spline (39).
  • 6. The double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with claim 3, wherein said upper piston base (35) defines an air hole (D) connected to said air drain hole (B3) of said upper piston base (35) and connected to said inner cylinder chamber (351).
  • 7. The double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with claim 1, wherein said direction change piston (393) defines a through stepped hole (3931) for receiving an extension rod (3912) of said spline (391) therein, a buffer spring (54) mounted on said extension rod (3912) of said spline (391) and positioned in a bottom of said stepped hole (3931) of said direction change piston (393), an O-ring (51) mounted on said extension rod (3912), a washer (52) mounted in a top of said stepped hole (3931) of said direction change piston (393), and a screw (53) extending through said washer (52) and screwed into a top end of said extension rod (3912) of said spline (391) so that a buffer space is defined between said direction change piston (393) and said spline (391).
  • 8. The double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with claim 7, wherein said extension rod (3912) of said spline (391) has a bottom provided with a catch flange (3914) abutting said buffer spring (54), said catch flange (3914) having a bottom defining an annular groove (3915) for securing an O-ring (392) therein.
  • 9. The double-force type pressure cylinder structure in accordance with claim 2, wherein said top cap (30) and said upper piston base (35) are integrally coupled with each other to form a top cover (60) which defines an air hole (A10) connected to said first radial hole (A3) of said lower piston base (34).
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Number Name Date Kind
4029442 Schlosser Jun 1977 A
4042311 Yonezawa Aug 1977 A
4104008 Hoffmann et al. Aug 1978 A
4189285 Pauliukonis Feb 1980 A
5213586 Welker May 1993 A
5328339 Jong Jul 1994 A
5380428 Solomon Jan 1995 A