Arrangement using fluid technology and valve arrangement and actuator for the same

• US 20040011194A1
• Filed: 04/07/2003
• Published: 01/22/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 10/10/2000
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
• Original Assignee: Festo AG & Co.
• Inventors: Ziegele, Achim, Aichele, Alexander, Lederer, Thomas
• Application Number:
  US10/398,619
• Publication Number:
  US 20040011194A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 92/5R
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 13/0867 Data bus systems
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 21/08 Servomotor systems incorporating electrically operated control means F15B21/02, F15B21/065 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F15B 9/09 with electrical control means

Abstract

A fluid power arrangement and valve arrangement (12) with an actuator (10) for it. The actuator (10) is able to be operate by means of the valve arrangement (12) via at least one first and first second fluid line (13 and 14) using fluid power, at least one electrical component (37, 38 and 46), adapted for connection with a control module (39 and 61), being arranged on the actuator (10). In this case there is a provision such that the valve arrangement (12) and the actuator (10) are connected together by way of two electrical connections (28 and 29) included in the fluid lines (13 and 14), by way of which fluid lines the valve arrangement (12) supplies the actuator (10) with electrical energy and furthermore the actuator (10) and the valve arrangement (12) are provided respectively with signal producing and/or signal detecting means (41 and 44) for establishing an signal connection (SV) between the at least one electrical component (37,38 and 39) and the control module (39 and 61) by way of and the second electrical connection (28 and 29).

Claims

1. A fluid power arrangement comprising at least one fluid power actuator (10), which may be operated by means of a valve arrangement (12) via at least one first and one second fluid line (13 and 14) using fluid power, at least one electrical component (37, 38 and 46) being provided on the actuator (10) for connection with a control module (39 and 61), characterized in that the valve arrangement (12) and the actuator (10) are connected together by way of a first and a second electrical connection (28 and 29), by way of which electrical connection the valve arrangement (12) supplies the actuator (10) with electrical energy by the provision of a voltage (UV), the first electrical connection (28) being by way of the first fluid line (13) and the second electrical connection (29) being by way of the second fluid line (14) or by way of a joint ground potential (MP) between the actuator (10) and the valve arrangement (12) and the actuator (10) and the valve arrangement (12) are respectively provided with signal producing and/or signal detecting means (41 and 44) for establishing a signal connection (SV) between the at least one electrical component (37, 38 and 46) and the control module (39 and 61) by way of the first and the second electrical connection (28 and 29).

2. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in claim 1, characterized in that at least one electrical component is a sensor (37 and 38) responsive to at least one operational state of the actuator (10).

3. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in claim 1 or in claim 2, characterized in that the signal producing and/or signal detecting means (41) of the actuator (10) as communication module comprise a modulator for modulating the voltage (UV) with monitoring signals and in that signal producing and/or signal detecting means (44) associated with the valve arrangement (12) comprise a demodulator for getting the monitoring signal from the voltage (UV).

4. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at least one electrical component is an electrical drive member and/or a display element (46).

5. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal producing and/or signal detecting means (44) associated with the valve arrangement (12) comprise, as communication means, a modulator for the supply of control signals by modulation of the voltage (UV) and in that the signal producing and/or signal detecting means (41) of the actuator (10) comprise a demodulator for de modulation of the control signals from the voltage (UV).

6. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal producing and/or signal detecting means (44) associated with the valve arrangement (12) constitute a component of the valve arrangement (12).

7. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the signal producing and/or signal detecting means (41 and 44) associated with the valve arrangement (12) comprise a bus interface for communication between the valve arrangement (12) and the control module (39 and 61).

8. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator (10) and/or the valve arrangement (12) include connection means (15, 16, 17 and 18) adapted for the connection of the first and/or second fluid line (13 and 14) and more particularly designed in the form of plug connection means, in the case of which connection means both a fluid power and also an electrical connection (28 and 29) is produced preferably using a single manipulation.

9. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claim, characterized in that the valve arrangement (12) includes at least one valve (19) and in that the first and/or the second fluid line (13 and 14) are directly connected with the at least one valve (19) and/or the ducts (20 and 21), leading to the valve (19), of the valve arrangement (12).

10. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in claim 9, characterized in that the signal producing and/or signal detecting means (41 and 44) associated with the valve arrangement (12) are provided on the valve or valves (19).

11. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve arrangement (12) includes a single valve or a multiple valve arrangement.

12. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or the second fluid line (13 and 14) are designed in the form of flexible hose lines.

13. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve arrangement is preferably made up of modules (11a and 11b) constituting a valve cluster (60).

14. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the control module (39) constitutes a component of the valve arrangement (12).

15. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or second fluid line (13 and 14) are arranged in a pair on a common side of the actuator (10).

16. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the at least one electrical component (37, 38 and 39) communicates by a wireless connection with the signal producing and/or signal detecting means (41 and 44) of the actuator (10).

17. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve arrangement (12) and the actuator (10) transmit data along the signal connection (SV) serially and more particularly with the aid of a field bus protocol or some other digital signal sequence.

18. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the first and/or the second fluid line (13 and 14) respectively comprise only one single electrical conductor (28 and 29).

19. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for signal production the signal producing means (41 and 44) set a different, preferably impressed current flow on the signal connection (SV).

20. The fluid power arrangement as set forth in claim 19, characterized in that the signal producing means (41 and 44) comprises a triac and/or a transistor and/or a resistor with a predetermined current flow conducting potential.

21. An actuator for a fluid power arrangement, which by means of a valve arrangement (12) by way of at least one first and one second fluid line (13 and 14) is able to be operated by fluid power, on which at least one electrical component (37, 38 and 46), provided for connection with a control module (39 and 61), is arranged, characterized in that the actuator (10) comprises connection means (17 and 18) for a first and a second electrical connection (28 and 29), by way of which said actuator (10) may be supplied with electrical energy by the provision of a voltage (UV), the first electrical connection (28) being included in the first fluid line (13) and the second electrical connection (29 being included in the second fluid line (14) or by way of a ground potential (MP), and in that the actuator (10) comprises signal producing and/or signal detecting means (41) for establishing a signal connection (SV) between the at least one electrical component (37, 38 and 41) and the control module (39 and 61) by way of the first and the second electrical connection (28 and 29).

22. A valve arrangement for a fluid power arrangement comprising at least one fluid power actuator (10) which by means of the valve arrangement (12) is able to be operated by way of at least one first and one second fluid line (13 and 14) using fluid power and on which at least one electrical component (37, 38 and 46) is arranged, said component being provided for connection with a control module (39 and 61), characterized in that the valve arrangement (12) includes connection means (15 and 16) for a first and a second electrical connection (28 and 29) with the actuator (10), by way of which the valve arrangement (12) may supply the actuator (10) with electrical energy by the provision of a voltage (UV), the first electrical connection (28) being included in the first fluid line (13) and the second electrical connection (29 being included in the second fluid line (14) or being by way of a common ground potential (MP) between the actuator (10) and the valve arrangement (12) and in that the valve arrangement (12) has signal producing and/or signal detecting means (44) for the establishment of a signal connection (SV) between the at least one electrical component (37, 38 and 46) and the control module (39 and 61) by way of and the second electrical connection (28 and 29).