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EP-4542070-B1 - COUPLING DEVICE FOR A CELLULAR WHEEL SLUICE AND CELLULAR WHEEL SLUICE

EP4542070B1EP 4542070 B1EP4542070 B1EP 4542070B1EP-4542070-B1

Inventors

  • OBERGFELL, DIETMAR
  • Weiler, Robin
  • ZINSER, BRUNO
  • SCHORER, MATTHIAS
  • LANGENBERGER, Max

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240925

Claims (9)

  1. Coupling device for a cellular wheel sluice (1), the coupling device comprising a. a drive element (18; 18a; 18b) which can be driven in rotation about an axis of rotation (22), b. a cellular wheel shaft (10; 10a; 10b) which can be coupled to the drive element (18; 18a; 18b), characterised by c. a separate coupling element (21; 21a; 21b) for coupling the drive element (18; 18a; 18b) to the cellular wheel shaft (10; 10a; 10b) in a manner independent of the rotational position, the coupling element (21; 21a; 21b) i. being arranged on the drive element (18a; 18b) or on the cellular wheel shaft (10) so as to be displaceable in a guided manner, axially with respect to the axis of rotation (22), between a coupling position, in which the drive element (18; 18a; 18b) and the cellular wheel shaft (10; 10a; 10b) are interconnected in a torque-transmitting manner with respect to the axis of rotation (22), and a decoupling position, in which the drive element (18; 18a; 18b) and the cellular wheel shaft (10; 10a; 10b) are decoupled in terms of torque transmission, ii. being arranged so as to be axially biased with respect to the axis of rotation (22) by means of a spring element (25) on the drive element (18a; 18b) or on the cellular wheel shaft (10), iii. having a coupling portion by means of which the coupling element (21; 21a; 21b) is coupled to the cellular wheel shaft (10a; 10b) or to the drive element (18) in the coupling position with respect to the axis of rotation (22) in a torque-proof manner.
  2. Coupling device according to claim 1, characterised in that the drive element (18a; 18b) or the cellular wheel shaft (10) has a guide portion which has a non-circular guide contour (34; 34a; 34b), corresponding to a displacement contour (35; 35b) of the coupling element (21; 21a; 21b), in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (22).
  3. Coupling device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the drive element (18a; 18b) or the cellular wheel shaft (10) has an axial recess (33; 33a; 33b), in which the coupling element (21; 21a; 21b) can be fully arranged in the decoupling position.
  4. Coupling device according to claims 2 and 3, characterised in that the axial recess (33; 33a; 33b) has the guide contour (34; 34a; 34b) at least in portions, in particular in full.
  5. Coupling device according to either claim 3 or claim 4, characterised in that the coupling element (21; 21a; 21b) protrudes axially at the axial recess (33; 33a; 33b) as a result of the spring force exerted by the spring element (25).
  6. Coupling device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised in that the coupling portion has a non-circular coupling contour (28; 28a; 28b), corresponding to a coupling counter contour (29; 29a; 29b) of the cellular wheel shaft (10a; 10b) or of the drive element (18), in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation (22).
  7. Coupling device according to any of the preceding claims, characterised by a retaining element (24) by means of which the coupling element (21; 21a; 21b) is held on the drive element (18a; 18b) or on the cellular wheel shaft (10).
  8. Coupling device according to claim 7, characterised in that the retaining element (24) is configured as a screw, in particular as a fitting screw.
  9. Cellular wheel sluice comprising a. a housing (2), b. an interior (3) formed in the housing (2), c. an inlet (5) leading into the interior (3), d. an outlet (6) leading out of the interior (3), e. covers (7, 8) closing off end faces of the interior (3), f. a cellular wheel (9) arranged in the interior (3) and having a cellular wheel shaft (10; 10a; 10b), the cellular wheel (9) being rotatably mounted in the covers (7, 8), g. a rotary drive device, associated with a cover (7), for the cellular wheel (9), the rotary drive device having a drive element (18; 18a; 18b), h. a coupling device according to any of the preceding claims.

Description

The invention relates to a coupling device for a rotary valve and to a rotary valve with such a coupling device. DE 20 2006 002 550 U1 Disclosure reveals a rotary valve with a torque-activated plug-in coupling that allows axial insertion of a plug pin into a corresponding receptacle for torque transmission around a rotational axis of the rotary valve. Axial insertion is possible when the non-circular contours of the plug pin and receptacle correspond. The torque-activated plug-in coupling is position-dependent, so that, as a rule, the rotary valve must be rotated around the axis of rotation before it can be coupled by an axial movement. A corresponding torque-activated plug-in coupling is also available from EP 1 820 987 A2 known. DE 40 38 245 A1 discloses a coupling for a separable drive connection between a drive shaft and a rotary valve shaft of a rotary valve. DE 10 2011 107 145 A1 reveals a switchable coupling device for a pump. GB 2 529 663 A and US 4,810,126 Each reveals a spring-loaded coupling device. The invention is based on the objective of improving, and in particular simplifying, the coupling of the cell wheel and the housing, so that the coupling can be carried out independently of the rotational position of the cell wheel. This problem is solved by a coupling device having the features specified in claim 1 and by a rotary valve having the features specified in claim 9. According to the invention, a rotation-position-independent coupling of a rotary valve shaft with a rotatable drive element is enabled by a separate coupling element. The coupling element is axially displaceable with respect to an axis of rotation of the drive element. The coupling element is axially displaceable between a coupling position and a disengaging position. In the coupling position, the drive element and the rotary valve shaft are connected to each other with respect to the axis of rotation in a torque-transmitting manner. In the disengaging position, the drive element and the rotary valve shaft are disengaged with respect to torque transmission. In the disengaging position, no torque transmission takes place between the drive element and the rotary valve shaft. The rotary valve shaft has, in particular, a longitudinal axis which is arranged, in particular, coaxially to the axis of rotation of the drive element. The drive element is designed in a sleeve-like form. The coupling element is axially pre-tensioned to the drive element or the rotary valve shaft by means of a spring element. The spring element exerts a spring force on the coupling element, which acts along the axis of rotation. The spring element pushes the coupling element from the drive element to the rotary valve shaft or vice versa. The spring element is, in particular, a compression spring, especially a helical compression spring. The drive element and the rotary valve shaft are components that can be coupled and uncoupled using the coupling device. It is essential that the coupling element is attached to one component, The coupling element is particularly detachable, fixed, and a spring force is exerted on it by means of the spring element, which displaces the coupling element towards the other component. For the design of the coupling device and especially its function, it is irrelevant whether the coupling element is attached to one or the other component. In particular, the coupling device, specifically the drive element, the rotary shaft, and the coupling element, is rotationally symmetrical with respect to the axis of rotation. In the coupling position, torque transmission is possible in a plane perpendicular to the axis of rotation, both clockwise and counterclockwise. It is essential that the coupling element can be axially guided and displaceable on one of the components to be coupled, i.e., on the drive element or on the rotary shaft, and that it can also be coupled to the other component, i.e., the rotary shaft or the drive element, in a rotationally secure manner in the circumferential direction. The coupling element has a coupling section by means of which the coupling element is connected to the rotary shaft or the drive element in the coupling position in a rotationally secure manner with respect to the axis of rotation. Rotationally secure means that a torque with respect to the axis of rotation can be transmitted from the drive element to the rotary shaft via the coupling element. In particular, the coupling element corresponds in the area of the coupling section with the element to be coupled, i.e., with the rotary shaft or the drive element. The coupling section can be designed in such a way that there is clearance in the circumferential direction between the coupling element and the cell wheel shaft or the drive element. If the rotary shaft and the drive element are aligned with respect to their rotational position such that the coupling section is arranged correspondingly to the rotary shaft or the drive element, coupling occurs