Patent Application
20140263917
1. Technical Field
The present disclosure relates to vacuum-holding technologies, and particularly to a small-sized and portable vacuum-holding device.
2. Description of Related Art
Vacuum-holding devices include a nozzle and a vacuum source, such as a bulky unportable air compressor. The nozzle communicates with the vacuum source using a pipe and thus can hold objects utilizing a negative pressure generated by the air compressor. Due to employment of the air compressor, the air holding devices are typically bulky and, a working distance of the vacuum-holding devices is limited to a length of the pipe, around the air compressor.
Therefore, it is desirable to provide a vacuum-holding device that can overcome the above-mentioned problems.
Many aspects of the present disclosure can be better understood with reference to the following drawings. The components in the drawings are not necessarily drawn to scale, the emphasis instead being placed upon clearly illustrating the principles of the present disclosure.
The disclosure is illustrated by way of example and not by way of limitation in the figures of the accompanying drawings in which like references indicate similar elements. It should be noted that references to “an” or “one” embodiment in this disclosure are not necessarily to the same embodiment, and such references mean “at least one.” The references “a plurality of” and “a number of” mean “at least two.”
Embodiments of the present disclosure will be described with reference to the drawings.
In this embodiment, the vacuum body 110 has a rectangular tube configuration and includes a first section 111 and a second section 112 perpendicularly connecting the first section 111.
A configuration of the vacuum body 110 is not limited to this embodiment but can take other suitable forms, for example, in other embodiments, the vacuum body 110 can be a circular tube configuration. A connection manner between the first section 111 and the second section 112 is not limited to this embodiment, for example, in some embodiments, the first section 111 and the second section 112 can be collinearly connected with each other.
The first section 111 includes a first end surface 101 spaced from and facing away from the second section 112. The first section 111 defines a straight first air channel 113, two first guiding holes 1110, and two first threaded holes 132 in the first end surface 101. Depth directions of the first air channel 113, the first guiding holes 1110, and the first threaded holes 132 are substantially perpendicular to the first end surface 101. The first air channel 113 is deeper than the first guiding hole 1110 and the first guiding hole 1110 is deeper than the first threaded hole 132. The first air channel 113 has a circular-hole configuration and is generally positioned at a central portion of the first end surface 101. The first guiding holes 1110 and the first threaded holes 132 are alternatively equidistantly arranged, surrounding the first air channel 113.
The first section 111 also defines two first retaining grooves 151 in the first end surface 101. Each first retaining groove 151 is substantially circular and is coaxial with one of the first guiding holes 1110 with a larger diameter than a diameter of the first guiding holes 1110.
Configurations of the first air channel 113, the first guiding holes 1110, and the first threaded holes 132 are not limited to this embodiment but can take other suitable forms in other embodiments. For example, the first air channel 113 may be rectangular hole, and more than two first guiding holes 1110 and first threaded holes 132 may be employed and arranged as desired.
The second section 112 has a second end surface 102 spaced from and facing away from the first section 111. The second section 112 defines a second air channel 114 and a second retaining groove 161. Depth directions of the second air channel 114 and the second retaining groove 161 are substantially perpendicular to the second end surface 102. The second retaining groove 161 is shallower than the second air channel 114. The second air channel 114 has a circular-hole configuration and is generally located at a central portion of the second surface 102. The first channel 113 and the second air channel 114 communicate with each other. The second retaining groove 161 is annular and surrounds the second air channel 114.
Configurations of the second air channel 114 and the second retaining groove 161 are not limited to this embodiment but can take other suitable forms in other embodiments, for example, the second air channel 114 may be a rectangular hole.
The vacuum generating device 120 includes a piston rod 121, an operation board 122, a piston head 123, a piston ring 124, a guiding device 130, an actuating device 150, and a buffer ring 160.
The piston rod 121 is circular and has a diameter slightly smaller than a diameter of the first air channel 113. The piston rod 121 has a first threaded end 121a and defines a second threaded hole 1211 in an end surface thereof opposite to the first threaded end 121a.
In other embodiments, the piston rod 121 can take other suitable configurations, such as a rectangular rod, for example.
The operation board 122 is substantially circular and defines a third threaded hole 1221, two fourth threaded holes 1222, and two second guiding holes 1223 extending therethrough, corresponding to the first air channel 113, the first guiding holes 1110, and the first threaded holes 132 in shape, size, and position. That is, the third threaded hole 1221 is generally positioned at a central portion of the operation board 122, and the fourth threaded holes 1222 and the second guiding holes 1223 are alternatively and equidistantly arranged, surrounding the third threaded hole 1221.
However, configurations of the third threaded hole 1221, the fourth threaded holes 1222, and the second guiding holes 1223 are not limited to this embodiment but can be changed depending on changes of the first air channel 113, the first guiding holes 1110, and the first threaded holes 132.
The piston head 123 includes a cylindrical section 125 and a threaded section 126 coaxially extending from one end of the cylindrical section 125. A diameter of the cylindrical section 125 is smaller than the diameter of the piston rod 121 but is larger than a diameter of the threaded section 126. The threaded section 126 is configured for engaging with the second threaded hole 1211.
The piston ring 124 has an inner diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the cylindrical section 125, an outer diameter slightly larger than the diameter of the first air channel 113 and is made of resilient material.
The guiding device 130 includes two auxiliary piston rods 131 and two guiding rods 133.
Each auxiliary piston rod 131 has a diameter slightly smaller than a diameter of the first guiding hole 1110. Each auxiliary piston rod 131 includes a second threaded end 131b. The second threaded end 131b is configured for engaged with the third threaded holes 1222.
Each guiding rod 133 includes a third threaded end 133d and a limiting head 1331 formed at an end opposite to the third threaded end 133d. A diameter of the second guiding hole 1223 is larger than a diameter of the guiding rod 133 but is smaller than a diameter of the limiting head 1331. The third threaded end 133d is configured for engaging with the first threaded hole 132.
The actuation device 150 includes two coil springs.
In assembly, the first threaded end 121a is threadedly engaged with the third threaded hole 1221, the threaded section is threadedly engaged with the second threaded hole 1211, and the piston ring 124 is interferingly sleeved on the cylindrical section 125.
The second threaded ends 131b are threadedly engaged with the fourth threaded holes 1222 and the coil springs of the actuation device 150 are slidably sleeved on the auxiliary rod 131.
The piston ring 124 along with the piston head 123 is interferingly inserted into the first air channel 113 to make an air-tight seal between the piston ring 124 and the first section 111. The auxiliary rods 131 are inserted into the first guiding holes 1110 and an end of each coil spring of the actuation device 150 is retained in one of the first retaining grooves 151.
The third threaded ends 133d are slightly inserted through the second guiding holes 1222 and are threadedly engaged with the first threaded holes 132.
The buffer ring 160 is made of resilient material and is retained within the second retaining groove 161.
In operation, the operation board 122 can be operated to push towards the first section 111, guided by cooperation between the auxiliary rods 131 and the first guiding holes 1110 and by cooperation between the guiding rods 133 and the second guiding holes 1222. During the push operation, air is pushed out from the first air channel 112 and the second air channel 114 and the coil spring of the actuation device 150 is compressed. After the push operation, the vacuum-holding device 100 is movable such that the second end surface 102 contacts an object. Then, the operation board 122 is released, the piston ring 124 along with the piston head 123 is quickly pulled out of the first air channel 113, driven by the coil springs of the actuation device 150. As such, a negative pressure is generated due to the movement of the piston ring 124.
Configuration of the vacuum generating device 120 is not limited to this embodiment but can be changed according to need and depending on changes to the nozzle body 110.
It will be understood that the above particular embodiments are shown and described by way of illustration only. The principles and the features of the present disclosure may be employed in various and numerous embodiments thereof without departing from the scope of the disclosure. The above-described embodiments illustrate the possible scope of the disclosure but do not restrict the scope of the disclosure.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| 102109185 | Mar 2013 | TW | national |
