Work holders – With fluid means – Vacuum-type holding means
Reexamination Certificate
2002-03-14
2004-12-07
Wilson, Lee D. (Department: 3723)
Work holders
With fluid means
Vacuum-type holding means
Reexamination Certificate
active
06827344
ABSTRACT:
The invention relates to a vacuum holding device with a vacuum chamber and valve for permanent holding to surfaces substantially impermeable to gas.
Vacuum holding devices such as suction-cup fastenings are inherently known. Conventional suction-cup fastenings have a suction cup which is made of an elastic plastic material and should ensure an airtight seal between the suction cone and a smooth, gas-impermeable contact surface, e.g. a bathroom tile. The vacuum required for the adhesive action in the suction chamber is produced by pressing the plate-shaped suction surface onto the contact surface whereby air escapes from the suction chamber and a vacuum is produced by means of the restoring force of the elastic material. If necessary, surface adhesion forces are also involved in the adhesive action.
Also known are suction-cup fastenings which allow easy removal of the suction-cup fastening from the contact surface, where by means of a seal to be opened, the vacuum in the suction chamber is raised by equalising with the ambient pressure. For this purpose U.S. Pat. No. 5,511,752 proposes a cap mounted displaceably on a suction cup wherein the sliding or lifting of the cap brings about the opening of the suction chamber to the outside and an inflow of ambient air. The vacuum responsible for the suction action is removed, which releases the suction cap.
U.S. Pat. No. 5,553,837 also discloses a vacuum holding device for workpieces which has vacuum chambers and airtight-closing seals to the bearing surfaces in order to hold workpieces tightly on surfaces by application of vacuum by means of a connection to a vacuum pump or to release them again by reestablishing normal pressure.
DE 40 13 747 or WO 97/11282 disclose how the suction action of a suction cup is produced by means of a hand pump connected securely to the suction cup or is re-established again in the event of pressure loss.
The afore-mentioned embodiments either do not allow any permanent holding on especially rough surfaces or they have such complex structures that they cannot be manufactured easily and at low cost.
The object of the invention is to overcome known disadvantages from the prior art and provide an alternative to adhesive or plug fastening which is of similar permanent strength, can also be removed easily and without damage to the surfaces and does not have the disadvantage of conventional suction cups, of adhering only to very smooth surfaces and not permanently.
The object is solved according to the invention by a vacuum holding device
1
, which has:
a vacuum chamber
5
which is open to a contact surface
14
,
a seal
15
which closes the vacuum chamber gas-tight from the outside towards the contact surface
14
,
an opening as the end of a connection between the vacuum chamber and the external environment
7
,
a valve
9
which ensures gas-tight closure and opening of the connection between the vacuum chamber
5
and the external environment
7
and
means for producing a detachable, substantially gastight coupling between the outwardly directed opening and a device for generating vacuum
13
.
Preferred embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.
The vacuum holding device is preferably made of plastic, e.g., of an impact-resistant plastic such as ABS and is also designed as preferably round or oval in relation to the contact surface.
The connection between the vacuum chamber and the external environment is preferably constructed in the form of a dome having a conical recess at the upper end in the form of an outwardly opening conical, spherical or hemispherical bearing surface to accommodate the valve.
The valve is also constructed as conical, spherical or hemispherical according to the bearing surface of the dome in order to ensure reliable seating. The valve tapers towards the vacuum chamber. It acts as a suction/sealing valve. The valve is preferably held, if necessary under pre-tensioning, in the bearing surface using an elastic means such as an elastic strip or rod or a spring which can be part an integral part of the valve.
The dome is preferably constructed so that it forms a stop for the end of the elastic means, e.g. the valve can be constructed so that it initially tapers spherically, hemispherically or conically downwards and extends further downwards in a strip or rod fashion. At the end of the strip or rod is a support which can be constructed in the form of one or several, preferably two spaced pins or a wedge.
The valve consists of a rubber-elastic material, at least in the regions in contact with the bearing surface, so that the valve is reversibly deformable at least in the upper spherical, hemispherical or conical region, e.g. under the action of forces such as can be exerted with the fingers.
The seal which closes the vacuum chamber gastight towards the outside against the contact surface is preferably a flat seal made of an elastic material, if necessary provided on one side and/or on both sides with compensating ribs. The elastic material preferably exhibits an optimised hardness and elasticity in relation to the contact surface.
The apparatus for producing the vacuum is preferably a manual, i.e., hand-actuated, piston suction pipe which has openings at the beginning and at the end of the suction path. The piston suction pipe has a piston pull rod with built-in tension holding device and also a suction piston which is preferably made of elastic material such as rubber and is sealed against the suction pipe, for example, using sealing lips. In order that the piston suction pipe can also be used in the vertical position, the lower opening of the suction pipe can be also be connected at an angle to the detachable coupling. If necessary, the piston suction pipe can also have, centrally at the lower opening, a retaining device for the valve, perhaps a dome, which prevents the valve from being lifted out of the receiving surface by the suction action of the piston suction pipe. The device for producing the vacuum and the vacuum holding device are constructed in two parts.
According to a preferred embodiment, the vacuum holding device is positioned on the contact surface and the piston suction pipe with a seal located at the lower opening is placed on the coupling surface under a slight supporting pressure. By withdrawing the piston pull rod from the suction pipe, the valve is slightly raised from the pre-stressing and the atmosphere still present is largely extracted from the vacuum chamber. At the instant when the suction piston passes the upper opening, which is preferably formed by the pipe itself still open at the top in the cross-section, the conical/spherical valve is pressed against its bearing surface by the pre-stressing and the pressure difference now built up, and closes the vacuum chamber airtight against the external pressure. When passing the upper opening, it is important that a large quantity of ambient air enters the suction piston at once so that the valve of the vacuum holding device closes as quickly as possible as a result of the sudden change in pressure. The correct handling of the piston suction pipe can be monitored by a loudly perceivable “plop” when the piston pull rod is withdrawn from the suction pipe.
The vacuum holding device can easily be removed from the bearing surface by opening the valve. The valve is opened by deforming or moving it by lateral pressure e.g. with the finger, wherein a connection is established with the external environment and pressure equalisation is brought about between the ambient pressure and the vacuum chamber.
All substantially air-impermeable base materials such as ceramic, earthenware, plastic-coated woods, glass or metal surfaces are suitable for applying the vacuum holding device. In particular, even for rough structures no holes or other insertion of screws or nails which damage the holding surfaces is required for a permanent hold. The vacuum holding device according to the invention allows a reversible and disturbance-free attachment.
According to a further embodiment of the invention, at its upper side facing away from the
Muserlian Lucas and Mercanti
Wilson Lee D.
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