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CN-113819109-B - Connecting device and connecting assembly

CN113819109BCN 113819109 BCN113819109 BCN 113819109BCN-113819109-B

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a connection device (D) comprising a shaft (17) movable in a translational manner, a piston (19) integral with the shaft (17), a bushing (35) extending around the shaft (17) and movable between a rear position and a front position, and locking members housed in the bushing, each locking member being movable relative to the bushing between a locking configuration and a release configuration. The shaft is movable between a disconnected position in which the shaft does not block movement of the locking member to its release configuration and the bushing is in the forward position, and a connected position in which the shaft blocks movement of the locking member to its release configuration and the bushing is in the rearward position, and an intermediate position in which the shaft blocks movement of the locking member to its release configuration and the bushing is in the forward position. The present disclosure also relates to a connection assembly comprising the connection device.

Inventors

  • Alan Christopher Tibelgian
  • Philip Jean
  • Gerald Bertoli

Assignees

  • 史陶比尔法万举

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20210617
Priority Date
20200619

Claims (15)

  1. 1. A connection device (D) between two plates, one plate being a fixed plate (a) and the other plate being a movable plate (B), each of the two plates supporting at least one circuit connection element (5, 11) of hydraulic, pneumatic and/or electric type, the circuit connection element (5, 11) being intended to be paired with a connection element (5, 11) of the same type on the other plate, the connection device being provided on one of the two plates and comprising: -a cylinder (15), said cylinder (15) extending along a central axis (X15) and comprising a main cavity (21), -A shaft (17), said shaft (17) being movable in translation within said cylinder (15) along said central axis (X15) of said cylinder, -A piston (19), said piston (19) being integral with said shaft (17), said piston (19) being movable within said main chamber of said cylinder and dividing said main chamber into a front chamber (21A) and a rear chamber (21B), Characterized in that the connecting device further comprises: -a bushing (35), which bushing (35) extends around the shaft (17), which bushing is movable along the central axis (X15) in relation to the cylinder (15) between a rear position and a front position, A locking member housed in the bushing (35), each locking member being movable relative to the bushing between a locking configuration in which it is spaced from the central axis (X15) and a release configuration in which it is closer to the central axis (X15) than in the locking configuration, The shaft (17) is movable along the central axis (X15) between a disconnected position and a connected position by an intermediate position: in the disconnected position, the shaft (17) does not block the movement of the locking member in its released configuration, and the bushing (35) is in the front position, In the connected position, the shaft (17) blocks the movement of the locking member in its released configuration, and the bushing (35) is in a rear position, -In an intermediate position between the disconnected position and the connected position, the shaft (17) resists movement of the locking member into its released configuration, and the bushing (35) is in the forward position.
  2. 2. The connecting device (D) according to claim 1, wherein the connecting device (D) comprises means (39) for elastically returning the bushing (35) to the front position.
  3. 3. The connecting device (D) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the cylinder (15) has a mechanical stop (152A), the mechanical stop (152A) limiting the forward displacement of the bushing (35) in the forward position of the shaft (17).
  4. 4. The connection device (D) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the locking member is a locking ball (37), and wherein the bushing (35) comprises a radial recess (350), the radial recess (350) being capable of guiding the locking ball (37) between a locking configuration of the locking member and a release configuration of the locking member.
  5. 5. The connection device (D) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the shaft (17) comprises a guiding ramp (176A), the guiding ramp (176A) being for guiding the locking member between its release configuration and its locking configuration.
  6. 6. The connection device (D) according to claim 5, wherein the guide ramp (176A) has a distal bearing diameter (D1), the distal bearing diameter (D1) being configured to carry the locking member in its locking configuration, and wherein the shaft (17) comprises a groove (176) juxtaposed on a rear portion of the guide ramp (176A) and having an adjacent bearing diameter (D2), the adjacent bearing diameter (D2) allowing movement of the locking member into the release configuration.
  7. 7. The connecting device (D) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the connecting device (D) comprises locking means for locking the shaft (17) in the cylinder (15) along the central axis (X15) of the shaft (17) in the connecting position.
  8. 8. The connection device (D) according to claim 7, wherein the locking device comprises at least one locking ball (25), the at least one locking ball (25) being radially movable in a recess (156A) of the cylinder (15) between a protruding position in which the locking ball (25) is able to penetrate into a groove (170) of the shaft (17) and block an axial displacement of the shaft (17) relative to the cylinder (15), and a retracted position in which the locking ball (25) does not penetrate into the groove (170) of the shaft (17).
  9. 9. The connection device (D) according to claim 8, wherein the locking device further comprises a locking ring (27), the locking ring (27) being movable in an auxiliary chamber (23) of the cylinder (15) along the central axis (X15) between a locking position in which a frustoconical surface (272) of the locking ring (27) retains the locking balls (25) protruding into the grooves (170) of the shaft (17), and a release position in which the locking balls (25) are in their retracted position and received in the grooves (270) of the locking ring (27).
  10. 10. The connection device (D) according to claim 9, wherein the frustoconical surface (272) of the locking ring (27) defines a taper that flares towards the groove (270) of the locking ring.
  11. 11. The connection device (D) according to claim 9, wherein the connection device comprises a resilient member (29) for urging the locking ring (27) towards its locking position.
  12. 12. The connection device (D) according to claim 8, wherein the connection device comprises a protection ring (31) surrounding the shaft (17), the protection ring (31) being movable along the central axis (X15) in an inner channel (156B) in which the shaft (17) moves, and the protection ring (31) being driven by the shaft (17) during movement of the protection ring (31) from the intermediate position to a connection position of the protection ring (31) between a protection position in which the protection ring (31) faces the recess (156A) of the cylinder (15) to hold the locking ball (25) in the retracted position, and a withdrawal position in which the protection ring (31) no longer holds the locking ball (25) in the retracted position.
  13. 13. The connection device (D) according to claim 9, wherein the locking ring (27) and the auxiliary chamber (23) of the cylinder (15) define a chamber (23A), the chamber (23A) being connected to a conduit (22) allowing the chamber (23A) to be supplied with pressurized fluid.
  14. 14. The connection device (D) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, wherein the connection device comprises a first conduit (24) connected to the front chamber (21A) and a second conduit (26) connected to the rear chamber (21B), the first and second conduits allowing to supply the front and rear chambers, respectively, with pressurized fluid.
  15. 15. A connection assembly (E) of a movable plate (B) and a fixed plate (a), the connection assembly (E) comprising: a movable plate (B) supporting at least a first circuit connection element (11), -A fixed plate (a) supporting at least one connection element (5) complementary to the first circuit connection element (11) of the movable plate (B), At least one centering member (3, 13), said at least one centering member (3, 13) being configured to position said movable plate (B) and said fixed plate (A) with respect to each other, Characterized in that one of the fixed plate (a) and the movable plate (B) comprises a connecting device (D) according to any one of claims 1 or 2, the other of the fixed plate (a) and the movable plate (B) comprising a locking cylinder (70) defining a mouth (S70), the mouth (S70) being capable of axially retaining the locking member of the connecting device (D) in its locking configuration in the locking cylinder (70).

Description

Connecting device and connecting assembly Technical Field The present invention relates to a connection device between two plates, and a connection assembly comprising such a device. Background It is known in the field of the steel and foundry industry to feed continuous casting machines, such as rolling mill tundish, from a set of mobile transfer ladles filled with molten metal to be discharged in a working position. The movement of the transfer ladle between the work station, the waiting station and the holding station is performed in a severe environment (exceeding 200 ℃) and it is impossible to perform any manual operation, and thus an automated operation to manipulate the transfer ladle and perform an external connection operation is involved. In fact, each ladle has means to be supplied with different fluids or energy, except for the actuation system for opening the transfer ladle. Thus, each ladle is equipped with a multiple connection plate, called "fixed plate", designed to be coupled to another complementary multiple connection plate, called "movable plate". The movable plate is connected to a pneumatic supply network, a hydraulic supply network, an electric supply network or other "upstream" supply network. Each ladle for the tundish then benefits from a fluid source and an energy source via such temporary and removable connections. At the waiting station, the robot unit of the ladle (and its fixed plate) on the movable plate side ensures the handling of the access and coupling of the multiple connection plates. In particular, the robot is responsible for partially performing the operations of centring and gathering the two plates. One step consists in bringing the two plates closer together under the action of the robot, in particular by engaging the central axis of the movable plate in the fixed plate to lock the movable plate in place. Finally, the final step consists in taking over the robot and ensuring the final approach of the plates and their locking at a controlled speed and under a controlled force, according to the threshold of the axial approach of the two plates, the shaft mechanism located in the centre of the plates. This step is performed by the connection means, which are the object of the present invention, and not by the robot. Thus, after the shaft is engaged in the fixed plate, with the aid of the robot, it is necessary to lock the position of the shaft in the plate and to initiate the accumulation of the plate by means of a piston integral with the shaft, so as to ensure the coupling of the multiple connection plates. WO 2013/074 047a2 describes, for example, a manual locking device, the operating steps of which are not described in detail. EP 0247956 describes a locking mechanism for assembling the connection elements of the support element. A locking mechanism is incorporated into the movable member to receive and lock the tubular shaft of the stationary support member. After the latch has been snapped onto the shaft by manual action, the two support elements are urged together by pneumatic or hydraulic assistance of the piston. However, the latch solution requires a specific spring means and can be activated even if the support elements are still closed together, which is dangerous for installation. Furthermore, the position of the support element is not locked. EP 2226140 describes a device for controlling the opening and closing of a control valve for casting liquid metal, which device comprises means for coupling an external drive cylinder to a valve housing and a system for locking a shaft to the valve. The locking and coupling of the drive cylinder to the valve is performed simultaneously by the control unit at a housing unit integral with the valve and at a housing hydraulically remote. When unlocked, the control unit decouples the coupling device and also hydraulically unlocks the cylinder. In order to open or close the valve, the control unit has to manage several pipes, which is disadvantageous and adds to the sealing means of the circuit and the chamber in an expensive way. Furthermore, the safety of the locking is related to the connection and pressure maintenance in the hydraulic chamber, which is not entirely satisfactory. In contrast to a stable, so-called tamper-proof mechanical position, which remains in place despite potential leakage, the elements of EP 2226140 are subjected to different pressure factors, which do not guarantee their function over time and lead to a risk of failure. Disclosure of Invention The present invention aims to overcome these drawbacks by proposing a new connection device for multiple connection plates, which improves the state of the art in the connection field of the steel industry. For this purpose, the invention relates to a connection device between two plates, one of which is a fixed plate and the other is a movable plate, each of the two plates supporting at least one circuit connection element of hydraulic, pneumatic or/a