Filling adapter (maintenance check)

• US 10,118,815 B2
• Filed: 03/18/2015
• Issued: 11/06/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 03/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Dürr Somac GmbH (Durr AG)
• Original Assignee: Dürr Somac GmbH (Durr AG)
• Inventors: Achatz, Thomas, Selbmann, Eric, Wieland, Frank, Grimm, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Arnett, Nicolas A
• Application Number:
  US15/129,993
• Publication Number:
  US 20170217754A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,329 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/005 Spouts
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/22 Arrangements of indicators or registers indicating or recording in fluid meters G01F15/06
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/32 Arrangements of safety or warning devices; Means for preventing unauthorised delivery of liquid
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/42 Filling nozzles
• CPC Class Codes: B67D 7/425 including components powered by electricity or light
• CPC Class Codes: G08B 21/18 Status alarms G08B21/02 takes precedence

Abstract

A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, in particular for the filling of containers on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles where the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines. An electronic assembly (ID chip) for a maintenance check is integrated in the adapter head of the filling adapter, which assembly detects the number of use cycles of the filling adapter and compares said number with parameters which can be set in advance in such a way that when said parameters are approached, at least one prior warning is triggered, and when said parameters are reached, an associated controller is informed about the maintenance which is now due.

Claims

1. A filling adapter for a container to be filled with media, for the initial filling of containers with operating substances on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles, wherein the filling adapter is equipped with a hose pack, electrical, pneumatic and hydraulic lines, wherein

an electronic assembly is integrated in the adapter head of the filling adapter for maintenance check, which detects the number of use cycles of the filling adapter and compares said number with parameters which can be set in advance in such a way that when said parameters are approached, at least one prior warning is triggered, and when said parameters are reached, an associated controller is informed about the maintenance which is now due.

2. The filling adapter according to claim 1, wherein

the prior warning is transmitted directly to the worker at the filling station and/or to a control center.

3. The filling adapter according to claim 1, wherein

the adapter head is configured with an electronic interface via which a special software provides information about performed maintenance operations and can switch the electronic assembly to a new initial state for recording the number of utilization cycles of the filling adapter for maintenance monitoring.

4. The filling adapter according to claim 1, wherein the electronic assembly is configured to transmit the first indication that the filling adapter will soon have to undergo maintenance to a worker at a filling station on one of the assembly lines.

5. The filling adapter according to claim 1, wherein the electronic assembly is configured to transmit the first indication that the filling adapter will soon have to undergo maintenance to a control center for one or more of the assembly lines.

6. The filling adapter according to claim 1, further comprising:

an electronic interface electrically connecting the electronic assembly to the controller, the electronic interface programmed with software that provides information about performed maintenance operations and can switch the electronic assembly to a new initial state for recording the number of use cycles of the filling adapter.

7. A filling adapter for the initial filling of containers with operating substances on assembly lines for the production of motor vehicles, the filling adapter comprising:

a hose pack having at least one of electrical, pneumatic, and hydraulic lines;

an adapter head connected in fluid communication with the hose pack and configured to mate with filling ports on the containers;

an electronic assembly integrated in the adapter head that is programmed to perform maintenance checks on the filling adapter by detecting the number of use cycles of the filling adapter and comparing the number of use cycles with at least one pre-set parameter; and

a controller arranged in electronic communication with the electronic assembly,

wherein the electronic assembly is programmed to trigger at least one prior warning by transmitting a first indication that the filling adapter will soon have to undergo maintenance in response to the number of use cycles approaching the at least one pre-set parameter,

wherein the electronic assembly is programmed to transmit a second indication that maintenance of the filling adapter is now due to the controller in response to the number of use cycles reaching the at least one pre-set parameter.