JPH0799165B2 - Cylinder brake device - Google Patents

Description

Description: TECHNICAL FIELD The present invention relates to a brake device for stopping at a predetermined position a moving body that moves in association with the movement of a piston in a rodless cylinder.

BACKGROUND ART Some rodless cylinders, in which a moving body is moved along a cylinder body by movement of a piston inside the cylinder body, are equipped with a braking device for braking and stopping the moving body at a predetermined position.

A known example of this type of cylinder brake device is the structure disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 63-176804. In this device, a brake rod is rotatably supported on the outside of the cylinder body so as to extend parallel to the direction of piston movement. One end of the cylinder body is provided with a means for rotating the brake rod. An eccentric cam is rotatably supported on the moving body with its outer surface in contact with a needle bearing or the like. The eccentric cam has a cam hole through which the brake rod is inserted so as to slide only in the axial direction.

When the brake rod is rotated by the brake rod swinging means, the eccentric cam is rotated eccentrically, which creates a wedge effect between the eccentric cam and the needle bearing, etc., and the force acting in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction presses the cam hole of the eccentric cam against the brake rod, braking and stopping the moving body at a predetermined position.

However, in this conventional device, it is necessary to provide a support mechanism on the outside of the cylinder body to rotatably support both ends of the brake rod, which makes the structure complicated and the entire device large.

In addition, the rotation of the brake rod rotates the eccentric cam to apply the brake. Therefore, the torsional rigidity of the brake rod restricts the stroke of the moving body. Furthermore, as the moving position of the moving body changes, the amount of torsion of the brake rod changes, causing variations in the braking force.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION An object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder brake device that can be made compact as a whole by simplifying the structure.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a cylinder brake device that can ensure a large movement stroke of a moving body and can always stop the moving body with a constant braking force regardless of changes in the moving position of the moving body.

Disclosure of the Invention The cylinder brake device of the present invention includes a piston movably disposed within a cylinder body, a movable member disposed outside the cylinder body and connected to the piston to move with the piston, a brake rail disposed on the outer surface of the cylinder body extending parallel to the direction of movement of the piston, a brake member opposed to the brake rail so as to be engageable with and disengageable from the brake rail, and movable between a braking position where it engages with the brake rail and a non-braking position where it disengages from the brake rail to brake and release the brake of the movable member, and an operating device that operates the brake member to the braking position and the non-braking position.

When the brake member is actuated by the actuating device from the non-braking position to the braking position while the moving member is moved to a predetermined position by the movement of the piston, the brake member engages with the brake rail, firmly braking and stopping the moving member in the predetermined position. Therefore, there is no restriction on the movement stroke of the moving device, and a large movement stroke of the moving member can be ensured. Furthermore, the moving member can be stopped with a constant braking force regardless of changes in the moving position of the moving member.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is a partially cutaway front view showing a first embodiment of a rodless cylinder embodying the present invention.

FIG. 2 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line A-A in FIG.

FIG. 3 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line B--B in FIG.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged cross-sectional view taken along line CC in FIG.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged cross-sectional view showing the braking force generation action.

FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a brake shoe according to a second embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 7 is a partially broken side cross-sectional view showing the brake shoe of FIG. 6 in use.

FIG. 8 is a partially cutaway front sectional view showing the brake shoe of FIG. 6 in use.

FIG. 9 is a perspective view showing another example of the brake shoe in the second embodiment.

FIG. 10 is a front view showing a rodless cylinder according to a third embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 11 is a partially cutaway plan view of FIG.

FIG. 12 is a front sectional view showing a rodless cylinder according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 13 is a partially cutaway front view showing the rolling roller of the rodless cylinder shown in FIG.

FIG. 14 is a partially cutaway front view showing the contact roller of the rodless cylinder shown in FIG.

BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION The following is a first embodiment of a rodless cylinder embodying the present invention.
The embodiment will be described in detail with reference to FIGS.

As shown in Figures 1 and 2, a piston 2 is movably accommodated inside a cylindrical cylinder body 1. A moving table 3 is fixed to the outer edge of the piston 2.
The table 3 is moved along the cylinder body 1 as the piston 2 moves. End plates 4 are attached to both ends of the table 3 in the moving direction. A support block 5 is fixed to the underside of the moving table 3 and extends adjacent to and parallel to one outer surface of the cylinder body 1.

The dovetail grooves 6 are formed on both side surfaces of the cylinder body 1 and extend parallel to the direction of movement of the piston 2.
is movably housed in one of the dovetail grooves 6 facing the support block 5, with a portion of it protruding from the dovetail groove 6 to the outside of the cylinder body 1. The brake rail 8 is made of iron and is disposed on the outer surface of the cylinder body 1 corresponding to one of the dovetail grooves 6. The inner surface of the brake rail 8 is formed with a recess 9 that can engage with the protruding portion of the female thread 7.

The plurality of screws 10 are threaded from the outer surface of the brake rail 8 to the female thread body 7
The brake rail 8 is joined and fixed to the outer surface of the cylinder body 1 by tightening these screws 10. As shown in Figure 2, a gap S is provided between the recess 9 of the brake rail 8 and the protruding portion of the female threaded body 7. When the screws 10 are tightened, the brake rail 8 can be adjusted up and down within the range of the gap S, and the brake rail 8 can be centered and fixed in place so that it extends parallel to the direction of movement of the piston 2.

As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, each pair of rolling rollers 1
1 and 4, two contact rollers 14 are supported by roller holders 15 at both ends of the support block 5 so as to be rotatable about a vertical axis. These contact rollers 14 come into contact with the outer surface of the brake rail 8 and roll, thereby restricting lateral movement of the table 3.

2, a guide shoe 31 is fitted to the left underside of the table 3. The lower surface of the shoe 31 is slidably guided along a protrusion formed integrally with the upper surface of the cylinder body 1.

As shown in Figs. 1 and 2, the brake lever 16 and its operating device 17 are mounted on the table 3 and the support block 5 as follows:
A pair of the table 3 is provided symmetrically on both sides of the center position in the moving direction of the table 3 .

Now, to explain one of the configurations, the cylinder chamber 18
is formed in the table 3 and extends parallel to the direction of movement of the piston 2. The brake lever 16 is supported at its shaft 19 by a bearing sleeve 20 on the inner surface of the support block 5 so as to be rotatable about a horizontal axis, and its upper end projects into the cylinder chamber 18. A recess 21 is formed on the inner surface of the brake lever 16, and on both the upper and lower surfaces thereof, there are formed arc-shaped braking surfaces 22 which project in opposing directions so as to be able to engage with and disengage from the brake rail 8.
The braking surface 22 is copper plated to minimize wear even when it comes into contact with the iron brake rail 8.

1 and 5, the braking surfaces 22 are pressed against the upper and lower surfaces of the brake rail 8, applying a braking force to the table 3. When the brake lever 16 is rotated to the non-braking position shown by the chain line in the same figures, the braking surfaces 22 are released from the upper and lower surfaces of the brake rail 8, and the braking force on the table 3 is released.

The braking piston 23 is movably accommodated at the side end of the cylinder chamber 18. An engaging body 24 is fixed to the end face of the piston 23 by a screw 25. The engaging body 24 is a brake lever.
The brake lever 16 is laterally engaged with the piston 23. A spring 26 is interposed between the piston 23 and the end plate 4. The spring 26 urges the piston 23 toward the center, so that the brake lever 16 is normally rotated to the braking position shown by the solid lines in Figs.

The release piston 27 is movably housed in the center of the cylinder chamber 18. An engagement body 28 is fixed to one end face of the release piston 27 by a screw 29. The engagement body 28 engages with the brake lever 16 from the side. When a fluid such as air is supplied to the central space 30 of the cylinder chamber 18 from a supply port (not shown), the release piston 27 moves outward against the biasing force of the spring 26, and the brake lever 16
is rotated to the non-braking position shown by the chain lines in FIGS.

Next, the operation of the cylinder brake device configured as above will be described.

Normally, as shown by the solid lines in Figs. 1 and 5, the brake lever is biased by the biasing force of the spring 26 via the braking piston 23.
16 is held in the braking position. And the brake lever
The brake surfaces 22 of the brake rail 8 are pressed against the upper and lower surfaces of the brake rail 8, and the table 3 is braked and held in the stopped position. In this state, the central space of the cylinder chamber 18 is
When a fluid such as air is supplied to the release piston 27, the release piston 27 moves outward against the biasing force of the spring 26.
The brake lever 16 is rotated to the non-braking position shown by the chain line in the figure, and the braking surface 22 is released from both the upper and lower surfaces of the brake rail 8, and the braking force on the table 3 is released.

Thereafter, when the piston 2 in the cylinder body 1 is moved, the table 3 is moved along the cylinder body 1 .
Then, when the table 3 is moved to the predetermined position,
When the supply of fluid such as air to the central space 30 of the cylinder chamber 18 is stopped, the braking piston 24 is moved by the biasing force of the spring 26.
The brake lever 16 is rotated from the non-braking position to the braking position via the brake lever 23, and the braking surface 22 is pressed against the upper and lower surfaces of the brake rail 8, and the table 3 is stopped at a predetermined position.

As shown in FIG. 5, the rotation center of the brake lever 16 is C
1, the axis representing the contact direction of the engaging body 24 against the brake lever 16 is l, the distance between the rotation center C1 and the axis l is L, the radius center of the arc-shaped braking surface 22 is C2, the distance in the braking state between the radius center C2 and the rotation center C1 in the longitudinal direction of the brake rail 8 is ε, the load of the spring 26 is f1, and the force of the brake lever 16 against the brake rail 8 via only one of the braking surfaces 22 is
If the contact pressure is f2, the contact pressure f2 is expressed by the following equation (1).

f2=1/2·f1·L/ε (1) If the coefficient of friction between the braking surface 22 and the brake rail 8 is μ, the braking force f3 by a single brake lever 16 is expressed by the following equation (2).

f = 2 f2 μ = f1 μ L/ε (2) As is clear from equation (2), when the distance ε is much smaller than the distance L, the braking force f3 becomes much larger than the spring load f1. In the brake device of this embodiment, the brake rail 8 is fixed to the outer surface of the cylinder body 1 as described above. Therefore, unlike the conventional configuration,
There is no need to provide a support mechanism for rotatably supporting both ends of the long brake rod, and the structure can be simplified and the overall device can be made smaller.

In the brake device of this embodiment, the brake lever 16 supported on the table 3 is rotated between a braking position and a non-braking position by an operating device 17, and is engaged with and disengaged from the brake rail 8. Therefore, unlike conventional brake devices, the movement stroke of the table 3 is limited by the torsional rigidity of the brake rod, and the table 3 is not easily disengaged.
Therefore, the movement stroke of the table 3 can be secured to be large, and the table 3 can be braked to a predetermined position with a constant braking force.

Furthermore, in the brake device of this embodiment, the brake lever 16 is not directly connected to the braking piston 23 and the release piston 27, but is in a state of contact engagement via the engagement bodies 24, 28. Therefore, when the brake lever 16 is rotated from the non-braking position to the braking position to stop the table 3, the impact generated by the braking is transmitted to the brake lever 16.
The force is not transmitted to the cylinder body 1 side via the

Next, a second embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, a pair of upper and lower copper followers 32 as shown in Figure 6 are attached to the brake rail pressure contact points of the brake lever 16. These followers 32 are composed of a thick base portion 33 and angled side pressure contact portions 34 formed on the opposing surfaces of both base portions 33. A horizontally elongated mounting hole 35 is formed in the base portion 33.

7 and 8, the brake lever 16 is provided with a pair of upper and lower locking projections 36.
The opposing surfaces of these serve as braking surfaces 37.
The follower 32 is attached to the brake lever 16 by fitting the engaging projection 36 into the mounting hole 35 .

In the above configuration, when the brake lever 16 is in the braking position, the braking surface 37 presses the inner edge of the mounting hole 35 of the follower 32 toward the iron brake rail 8. This force causes deformation of the rail-side portions of both follower bodies 32. Therefore, the end faces of both pressure contact portions 34 are pressed against the brake rail 8, thereby braking and holding the table 3 in the stopped position.

Also, when the brake lever 16 is rotated to the non-braking position,
The pressure contact of the follower 32 with the rail 8 is released, so that the brake on the table 3 is released and the table 3 starts to move.

As mentioned above, in this embodiment, the brake lever
16 does not come into direct contact with the brake rail 8. Therefore, when braking, the curved cam surface of the brake lever 16
Instead of the brake rail 37, the flat surfaced follower 32 is pressed against the brake rail 8. Therefore, the brake rail 8 is less damaged.
This allows the material strength of the brake rail 8 and the driven body 32 to be reduced, thereby reducing the cost of each part.

In addition, the brake lever 16 does not come into direct contact with the brake rail 8. Therefore, when braking, the brake lever 16
Therefore, even if this cylinder is used for a long period of time, there is little need to replace the brake lever 16 due to damage or loss, and it is sufficient to replace the inexpensive follower 32.

In addition, by forming the follower 32 and the brake rail 8 from different materials, friction between them is reduced and thus suppressed.

9 shows another example of this embodiment. In this example, the driven body 32 is made of iron, but a copper plate C is attached to the entire pressure contact portion 34 except for the edge portions on both sides. In this configuration, too, the brake rail 8 and the pressure contact portion 34 of the driven body 32 are made of different materials, thereby preventing wear between them.

In this configuration, the pressure-welding portion 34 may be copper-plated or thermally sprayed with copper.

Next, a third embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, as shown in FIG. 10, the cylinder device is provided so as to be separable into a moving mechanism 35 for moving the moving table 3 and a braking mechanism 36 for braking the table 3.

The attachment piece 37 protruding from the end plate 4 of the braking mechanism 36 has an insertion hole.
38 is formed. Also, an attachment recess 39 corresponding to the attachment piece 37 is formed at the end of the table 3. A through hole 40 and a screw hole 41 are formed on the left and right of the recess 39 at the end of the movement mechanism 35.

As shown in FIG. 11, when the mounting piece 37 of the braking mechanism 36 is fitted tightly into the mounting recess 39 of the moving mechanism 35, the clearance hole
The brake mechanism 36 is adapted to move the moving mechanism 40, the insertion hole 38, and the screw hole 41 so that they are aligned with each other. Then, by threading a screw 42 from the blind hole 40 through the insertion hole 38 into the screw hole 41, the brake mechanism 36 is adapted to move the moving mechanism 40, the insertion hole 38, and the screw hole 41.
It is attached to the 35 in a non-detachable manner.

With the above configuration, when a failure occurs in the brake system, maintenance management is simplified, such as by removing the braking mechanism 36 from the moving mechanism 35 and repairing it.

Furthermore, since the load on the table 3 is received by the piston 2, the load is not applied to the brake system, thereby improving the durability of the brake system.

Next, a fourth embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS.

In this embodiment, the table 3 is formed wide, and the rail mechanism is constructed symmetrically as shown in FIG.
That is, a female-threaded body 42 is housed in the dovetail groove 41 on the opposite side to the dovetail groove 6. A guide rail 43 is disposed corresponding to the dovetail groove 41. A plurality of screws 44 are used to secure the guide rail 43 to the dovetail groove 41.
are fixed to the outer surface of the cylinder body 1. The vertical and horizontal movements of the table 3 are restricted by rolling rollers 45 and 46 shown in Fig. 13 and a contact roller 47 shown in Fig. 14. Note that the guide shoe 31 is omitted in this configuration.

In this way, the guide rail 43 is provided symmetrically to the brake rail 8, and the load acting on the table 3 is supported by both rails 8 and 43, resulting in a robust structure. Therefore, it can withstand high loads and high rigidity.

Furthermore, omitting the guide shoe 31 provides more space.

It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the configuration of the above-described embodiment, and it is possible to embody the present invention by arbitrarily changing the configuration of each part, for example, by appropriately changing the configuration of the brake lever 16 or the operating device 17, as long as it does not deviate from the spirit of the present invention.

Claims (12)

[Claims] [Claim 1] (Re-amended) A brake device for a rodless cylinder having a piston (2) inside a cylinder body (1) that is slidable by the action of a fluid, comprising: a moving body (3) disposed outside the cylinder body (1) and connected to the piston (2) to move together with the piston (2); a brake rail (8) extending along the moving direction of the piston (2) and having a pair of braking surfaces formed on upper and lower portions respectively and a mounting side surface facing the cylinder body (1), the brake rail (8) being fixed on the cylinder body (1) so that the mounting side surface contacts the outer surface of the cylinder body (1) over the entire length of the rail; a brake means (16, etc.) provided on the moving body (3) and having a pair of braking portions (22) that are capable of contacting each of the braking surfaces on either side of the brake rail (8) in a line contact state along the width direction of the brake rail (8), the brake means (16, etc.) being switchable between a braking position where the braking portions (22) are pressed against the brake rail (8) and a non-braking position where they are released from pressure contact with the brake rail (8); and
and an actuation means (17) for switching the brake means (16) between a braking position and a non-braking position. Claim 2 (Amended) The braking portion of the braking means comprises:
2. The rodless cylinder brake device according to claim 1, wherein the braking surface (22) is an arc-shaped surface projecting toward the brake rail (8). [Claim 3] (Amended) The braking means comprises a brake lever (16) that can be switched between the braking position and the non-braking position, and is interposed between the brake lever (16) and the brake rail (8), and the brake lever (1)
6) and a pair of driven bodies (32) that are brought into or released from pressure contact with said brake rail (8) in response to the operation of said brake rail (8). Claim 4 (Amended) The actuating means is a spring (26)
The brake means (16) is acted upon by the action of the spring (26).
A first piston (23) that always holds the brake lever (22) in a braking position.
and a second piston (27) that switches the braking means (16, etc.) from a braking position to a non-braking position by fluid pressure that resists the action of the spring (26). [Claim 5] (After amendment) A rodless cylinder brake device as described in any one of claims 1 to 3, further comprising a pair of rollers (11, 12) that are rotatably engaged with the upper and lower surfaces of the brake rail (8) and that regulate the up and down movement of the front-to-rear moving body (3). [Claim 6] (After amendment) A rodless cylinder brake device as described in claim 5, further comprising a roller (14) that rollably engages with the side of the brake rail (8) and restricts horizontal movement of the movable body (3). 7. (After amendment) A brake device for a rodless cylinder according to claim 1, wherein the brake means (16, etc.) provided on the moving body (3) is separable from the moving body (3). Claim 8 (after amendment) Claims 1 to 3 further comprising a guide rail (43) provided on the outer surface of the cylinder body (1) on the opposite side to the brake rail (8).
10. The rodless cylinder brake device according to claim 9, wherein the brake [Claim 9] (After amendment) A brake device for a rodless cylinder as described in claim 8, further comprising a pair of rollers (45, 46) that are rotatably engaged with the upper and lower surfaces of the guide rail (43) and that regulate the up and down movement of the movable body (3). [Claim 10] (After amendment) A rodless cylinder brake device as described in Claim 9, further comprising a roller (47) that rollably engages with the side of the guide rail (43) and restricts horizontal movement of the movable body (3). [Claim 11] (Additional) A rodless cylinder brake device as described in Claim 3, wherein at least the contact portion of the follower (32) with the brake rail (8) is made of a material softer than the material constituting the brake rail (8). [Claim 12] (Addition) The brake lever (16)
4. The rodless cylinder brake device according to claim 3, further comprising a protrusion (36) having an arcuate surface (37) protruding toward the brake rail (8) in order to press each of the follower bodies (32) against the brake rail (8).