U.S. patent application number 10/143807 was filed with the patent office on 2002-12-12 for transportation pack for spiral springs of throttle bodies and method for the at least partially automated removal of spiral springs from a rod of a transportation pack.
Invention is credited to Meyer, Dieter, Schoop, Jurgen.
Application Number | 20020185400 10/143807 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 7684795 |
Filed Date | 2002-12-12 |
United States Patent
Application |
20020185400 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Meyer, Dieter ; et
al. |
December 12, 2002 |
Transportation pack for spiral springs of throttle bodies and
method for the at least partially automated removal of spiral
springs from a rod of a transportation pack
Abstract
A transportation pack for spiral springs of throttle bodies, in
particular for motor vehicles, having a housing with a bottom and a
cover. The spiral springs have an outer end and an inner end, and
is intended to protect the spiral springs in a particularly
reliable manner against contaminants and in addition to be
reusable. For this purpose, at least the bottom and the cover of
the housing are manufactured from stable and cleanable material.
The spiral springs can be fitted in each case by their inner end in
a cut-out of a rod, it being the case that the spiral springs, when
fitted, radially surround the rod. In this case, the spiral springs
are to be arranged in the housing by way of the rod.
Inventors: |
Meyer, Dieter; (Rotenburg,
DE) ; Schoop, Jurgen; (Nentershausen, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Kevin R. Spivak
Morrison & Foerster LLP
Suite 5500
2000 Pennsylvania Avenue, N.W.
Washington
DC
20006-1888
US
|
Family ID: |
7684795 |
Appl. No.: |
10/143807 |
Filed: |
May 14, 2002 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
206/445 ;
206/303 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y02W 30/80 20150501;
B65D 85/68 20130101; B65D 85/08 20130101; B65D 2585/6882 20130101;
B65B 69/00 20130101; Y02W 30/807 20150501 |
Class at
Publication: |
206/445 ;
206/303 |
International
Class: |
B65D 085/02 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
May 15, 2001 |
DE |
10123507.0 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A transportation pack for spiral springs of throttle bodies,
comprising: a housing having a bottom and a cover, the spiral
springs having an outer end and an inner end such that at least the
bottom and the cover include stable and cleanable material, the
spiral springs configured to be fitted by an inner end in a cut-out
of a rod, the spiral springs, when fitted, radially surround the
rod and the spiral springs are arranged in the housing by way of
the rod.
2. The transportation pack for spiral springs as claimed in claim
1, wherein the rod has a number of radial holes, and, to secure the
spiral springs on the rod, a first spike is passed through a main
axis of the rod perpendicularly with respect to the main axis of
the rod, above the spiral springs, and a second spike is passed
through the main axis of the rod perpendicularly with respect to
the main axis of the rod, below the spiral springs.
3. The transportation pack for spiral springs as claimed in claim
1, wherein the material of the housing together with the bottom and
the cover has a smooth surface and is predominantly plastic.
4. The transportation pack for spiral springs as claimed in claim
1, wherein at least the cover of the housing has a receptacle for
the rod.
5. A method for the at least partially automated removal of spiral
springs from a rod of a transportation pack, comprising: fitting
the spiral springs by an inner end in a cutout of a rod;
successively displacing the spiral springs on the rod by a
displacing unit into an access position; and accessing, using a
first, at least partially automated gripper, the spiral spring to
be removed in each case, in the access position.
6. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein the transportation
pack and the spiral springs are fitted successively by a second, at
least partially automated gripper into the cut-out of the rod in a
fitting position, the displacing unit being moved downward by a
fixed distance after each fitting of a spiral spring has taken
place.
7. The method as claimed in claim 5, wherein a plunger displaces
the spiral springs on the rod, at least partially grasps the rod
and is displaceable approximately parallel to the rod.
Description
CLAIM FOR PRIORITY
[0001] This application claims priority to German Application No.
10123507.0 which was filed in the German language on May 15,
2001.
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a transportation pack for spiral
springs of throttle bodies, and in particular, for motor vehicles,
and to a method for the at least partially automated removal of
spiral springs from a rod of a transportation pack.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] Throttle bodies are conventionally used for controlling the
quantity of fresh gas of a motor vehicle. Throttle bodies typically
comprise a housing having a flow duct and a throttle member
arranged in the flow duct. The throttle member assumes a specific
position in the flow duct for the passage of a specific quantity of
fresh gas. For this purpose, the throttle member can be activated
mechanically or electronically.
[0004] In the case of a mechanical activation of the throttle
member, the throttle member is conventionally acted upon by the
motor vehicle gas pedal, by means of a number of springs. Spiral
springs are used in this connection. Also when the throttle member
is activated electronically, a spring system comprising spiral
springs is conventionally provided for acting upon the throttle
member, in order to ensure a well-defined position of the throttle
member should the electronics fail.
[0005] After their production, spiral springs of this type have to
be transported from the production site to the installation site at
which the spiral springs are inserted into the respective throttle
bodies. In this connection, the spiral springs are to be
transported as cleanly as possible from the production site to the
installation site. Also, the spiral springs are to be transported
in an ordered manner in order to ensure the installation of a
particularly large number of spiral springs into the respective
throttle bodies in a particularly short amount of time. At the same
time, the transportation pack is to be reusable, for economic
reasons.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The invention discloses a transportation pack for spiral
springs of throttle bodies, which pack protects the spiral springs
reliably from impurities, reliably ensures an ordered
transportation of the spiral springs and can also be reused.
Furthermore, a method for the at least partially automated removal
of spiral springs from a rod of a transportation pack is
disclosed.
[0007] In an embodiment of the transportation pack, at least the
bottom and the cover of the housing include stable and cleanable
material, it being possible for the spiral springs to be fitted in
each case by their inner end in a cut-out of a rod, it being the
case that the spiral springs, when fitted, radially surround the
rod and the spiral springs are to be arranged in the housing by way
of the rod.
[0008] In another embodiment of the invention, a transportation
pack for spiral springs of throttle bodies, which pack particularly
reliably protects the spiral springs from impurities and reliably
ensures an ordered transportation of the spiral springs is to be
manufactured from particularly stable material in order to reliably
avoid damage to and contamination of the spiral springs by the
transportation pack being damaged. In order to ensure reuse of the
respective transportation pack, the transportation pack also
includes cleanable material, since impurities may penetrate into
the transportation pack during the fitting and/or removal of the
spiral springs into or out of the transportation pack. For reuse,
cleaning of the respective transportation pack may therefore be
required. In order to enable an ordered fitting and removal of the
spiral springs into or out of the respective transportation pack
and in order to ensure an ordered transportation of the spiral
springs, the spiral springs are to be arranged in an ordered manner
in the housing. A rod having a cut-out on which the spiral springs
are to be fitted by their respective inner end is appropriate for
this purpose. In this case, the spiral springs, when fitted,
radially surround the rod.
[0009] In an advantageous manner, in order to secure the spiral
springs on the rod, it is to be possible for a first spike to be
passed through the main axis of the rod perpendicularly with
respect to the main axis of the rod, above the spiral springs, and
for a second spike to be passed through the main axis of the rod
perpendicularly with respect to the main axis of the rod, below the
spiral springs. By means of a spike, the spiral springs are
reliably protected in a particularly simple manner from falling off
the rod. In this connection, the rod has a number of radial holes
at certain distances for spikes, with the result that even if the
respective rod is only partially equipped with spiral springs, a
securing of the spiral springs on the rod is reliably ensured.
[0010] The material for the housing together with the bottom and
the cover preferably has a smooth surface and is predominantly
plastic. Plastic can be processed in a particularly simple manner
and can be adapted to different shapes. In addition, plastic can be
produced in a transparent form, with the result that it can be seen
just from an external view of the respective transport pack whether
the latter is empty or filled.
[0011] In an advantageous manner, at least the cover of the housing
has a receptacle for the rod. A receptacle for the rod either in
the cover or in the bottom of the housing has proven sufficient in
order to reliably fix the rod in the housing.
[0012] In another embodiment of the invention, in order to equip
the rod, the spiral springs are fitted by their inner end in a
cut-out of the rod, then the spiral springs are displaced
successively on the rod by means of a displacing unit into an
access position and a first, at least partially automated gripper
gains access to the spiral spring to be removed in each case, in
the access position. The ordered displacement of the spiral springs
on the rod by means of the displacing unit enables the spiral
springs to be successively brought into an access position. In this
access position, an at least partially automated gripper can then
gain access to the spiral spring to be removed in each case and can
place it into the production process for a throttle body. By this
means, an at least partially automated installation of the spiral
springs into a throttle body, which is conventionally provided for
a motor vehicle, is possible.
[0013] In one aspect of the invention, during the equipping of the
rod of the transportation pack, the spiral springs are fitted
successively by means of a second, at least partially automated
gripper into the cut-out of the rod in a fitting position, the
displacing unit being moved downward by a fixed distance after each
fitting of a spiral spring has taken place. In the at least
partially automated method, not only is the partially automated
removal of the spiral springs from the rod reliably ensured by the
rod of the transportation pack, but also equipping of the rod with
spiral springs is possible. This enables production costs to be
saved to a considerable extent during the equipping and emptying of
the rod of the transportation pack.
[0014] In still another embodiment of the invention, a displacing
unit advantageously comprises a retaining device for the rod and a
plunger which can be driven by an electric motor, the plunger
displaces the spiral springs on the rod, at least partially
grasping the rod and being displaceable approximately parallel to
the rod. In order to remove the spiral springs from the rod of the
transportation pack, the rod together with the spiral springs is to
be fixable at a specific location. For this purpose, the displacing
unit has a retaining device. If a plunger or similar device presses
from below against the spiral springs, the spiral springs, since
they are merely fitted in the rod but are not connected rigidly to
the latter, can be displaced along the rod into an access
position.
[0015] The advantages achieved by the invention enable the
transportation pack to reliably ensure a particularly clean
transportation of the spiral springs from the production site to
the site for installing them in the respective throttle bodies. In
this case, the transportation pack can be reused, since it is
manufactured from stable and cleanable material. In addition, the
rod of the transportation pack of the spiral springs enables an at
least partially automated fitting and removal of the spiral springs
on or from the rod of the transportation pack.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] Exemplary embodiments will be explained in greater detail
with reference to the drawing, in which:
[0017] FIG. 1 shows an exemplary filled transportation pack for
spiral springs.
[0018] FIG. 2 shows an exemplary empty transportation pack for
spiral springs.
[0019] FIG. 3 shows a first device for securing the spiral springs
on the rod of the transportation pack according to FIG. 1.
[0020] FIG. 4 show a second device for securing the spiral springs
on the rod of the transportation pack according to FIG. 1.
[0021] FIG. 5 shows the fitting of a spiral spring into the rod of
the transportation pack according to FIG. 1.
[0022] FIG. 6 shows a device for removing spiral springs from a rod
of a transportation pack according to FIG. 1.
[0023] Parts which correspond to one another are provided with the
same reference numbers in all of the figures.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0024] Throttle bodies are conventionally provided for supplying an
air-air or fuel-air mixture to a consumer (not illustrated), for
example an injection device of a motor vehicle (likewise not
illustrated), it being possible for the quantity of fresh gas to be
supplied to the consumer to be controlled by means of the throttle
body. For this purpose, the throttle housing conventionally has a
flow opening in which a throttle member is arranged. The throttle
member can be activated mechanically or electronically. Spiral
springs are frequently used in order to activate the throttle
member.
[0025] Spiral springs of this type have to be transported from
their production site to their respective site for installing them
into the throttle body. For this purpose, a transportation pack 10
according to FIG. 1 is provided.
[0026] The transportation pack 10 according to FIG. 1 is provided
for spiral springs 12 of throttle bodies, in particular of motor
vehicles. The transportation pack 10 comprises a housing 14, which
comprises a bottom 16 and a cover 18. The bottom 16 and the cover
18 of the housing 14 include stable and cleanable material 20 which
is designed, in the preferred embodiment, as plastic. Plastic can
be adapted in a particularly simple manner to different shapes and
in addition is dimensionally stable, even over particularly long
periods of time. In addition, plastic can be cleaned in a
particularly simple manner.
[0027] The transportation pack 10 has an approximately rectangular
shape. The spiral springs 12 are arranged lengthways in the
transportation pack 10. At the narrow sides 22 of the
transportation pack 10, the transportation pack 10 has a respective
receptacle 26 for a rod 28 on which the spiral springs 12 are
arranged.
[0028] In contrast to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 shows a transportation pack
which is not filled with spiral springs 12.
[0029] The spiral springs 12 are secured at the lower end 32 of the
rod 28 by a first spike 30. FIG. 3 shows this schematically. At the
upper end 34 of the rod 28, the spiral springs 12 are secured by a
second spike 36, which is shown in FIG. 4. For this purpose, both
the first spike 30 and the second spike 36 are passed through the
main axis 38 perpendicularly with respect to the main axis 38 of
the rod 28. For this, the rod 28 has a number of radial holes 40,
one of which is to be seen in each case in FIGS. 3 and 4. The holes
are arranged at fixed distances along the rod and therefore enable
the spiral springs 12 to be secured on the rod 28 by a first spike
30 and a second spike 36, even if the rod 28 is only partially
equipped with spiral springs 12.
[0030] FIG. 5 shows the manner in which the spiral springs 12 are
fitted into the rod 28. In the plan view according to FIG. 5, a
spiral spring 28 is to be seen. This spiral spring 28 has an outer
end 50 and an inner end 52. The inner end 52 of the spiral spring
12 is fitted in a cutout 54 of the rod 28. By the cut-out 54, a
number of spiral springs 12 can be arranged in an ordered manner on
the rod 28 one above another along the main axis 38 of the rod 28.
When fitted, the spiral springs 12 radially surround the rod
28.
[0031] FIG. 6 shows a device 58 for the at least partially
automated removal of spiral springs 12 from the rod 28 of the
transportation pack 10 and is suitable for the method for the at
least partially automated removal of spiral springs 12 from a rod
28 of a transportation pack 10. In order to remove the spiral
springs 12 from the rod 28 of the transportation pack 10, the rod
28 of the transportation pack 10 is arranged on a retaining device
62 by a pin 60, which grips from below into the rod 28. A plunger
64 of a displacing unit 66 is then arranged beneath the lowest
spiral spring 12 of the spiral springs 12 stacked on the rod 28.
The plunger 64 of the displacing unit 66 at least partially grasps
the rod 28. The plunger 64 is connected to an electric motor 70 via
a linkage 68. The linkage 68 and the electric motor 70 also belong
to the displacing unit 66. By the displacing unit 66, the spiral
springs 12 can be displaced along the main axis 38 of the rod 28.
For this purpose, both the first spike 30 and the second spike 36
have been removed from the rod 28. The displacing unit 66 then
displaces the spiral springs 12 successively into an access
position 72. In this access position 72, a gripper 76, which is
connected to an electric motor 74, gains access to the spiral
spring 12 which is situated in each case in the access position 72.
The gripper 76 then conveys the spiral spring 12, which is removed
from the rod 28, to its installation site. This is, in particular,
a throttle body which is conventionally provided for a motor
vehicle.
[0032] The gripper 76 can also help arrange the spiral springs 12
on the rod 28. In this case, the gripper places a respective spiral
spring 12 onto the rod 28 in such a manner that the spiral spring
12 engages by its inner end 52 in the cut-out 26 of the rod. In
this case, the access position 72 corresponds to an insertion
position 78.
[0033] The transportation pack 10 for spiral springs 12 includes
stable and cleanable material 20 which is designed, in the
preferred embodiment, as plastic. This enables the transportation
pack 10 to be cleaned in a particularly simple manner and--since it
includes stable material--also to be reused. The spiral springs 12
are to be arranged in the transportation pack 10 by a rod 28.
Hence, it is not possible for the spiral springs to strike against
one another in an unordered manner during the transportation and to
thereby suffer defects. In addition, the rod 28 of the
transportation pack 10 permits an at least partially automated
fitting and removal of the spiral springs 12 onto or from the rod
28.
* * * * *