US 11,873,209 B2
Filling adapter for filling vehicles at assembly lines in the automotive industry
Karlheinz Schmidt, Schneeberg (DE)
Assigned to DÜRR SOMAC GmbH, Stollberg (DE)
Appl. No. 17/770,268
Filed by DÜRR SOMAC GMBH, Stollberg (DE)
PCT Filed Sep. 24, 2020, PCT No. PCT/DE2020/000218
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Apr. 19, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/078314, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 29, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 10 2019 007 352.5 (DE), filed on Oct. 21, 2019.
Prior Publication US 2022/0388833 A1, Dec. 8, 2022
Int. Cl. B67D 7/42 (2010.01); B60H 1/00 (2006.01); B67D 7/02 (2010.01)
CPC B67D 7/42 (2013.01) [B60H 1/00585 (2013.01); B67D 7/0288 (2013.01)] 1 Claim
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A filling adapter configured engage a filling port of a circuit or container to be filled in a filling operation on an assembly line for an automobile, wherein the filling adapter extends along a central longitudinal axis and comprises:
a pneumatically or mechanically actuated clamping piston movable along the central longitudinal axis;
a clamping element; and
a seal carrier comprising a container seal positioned above the clamping element and within the clamping piston;
wherein the clamping element comprises a generally annular body having a constant cross-section and extending around the central longitudinal axis for an angle of about 280 degrees from a first cross-sectional end face to a second cross-sectional end face;
wherein the cross-section comprises a base surface extending laterally between a lower end of an outer side surface and a lower end of an inner side surface, the outer side surface extending upwardly from the base surface at a right angle, the inner side surface extending upwardly from the base surface at a right angle, a first actuating surface extending at a first oblique angle from an upper end of the outer side surface upwardly and inwardly toward the central longitudinal axis, a second actuating surface extending at a second oblique angle from an upper end of the inner side surface upwardly and outwardly away the central longitudinal axis, and a top surface opposite the base surface and extending laterally between an upper end of the first actuating surface and an upper end of the second actuating surface;
wherein the outer side surface of the clamping element comprises a first diameter;
wherein the clamping piston comprises an outer cylindrical surface comprising an outer diameter, an inner cylindrical surface and an inner conical lead surface extending from the inner cylindrical surface to a lower end of the clamping piston;
wherein the first diameter is less than the outer diameter and greater than the inner diameter;
wherein the filling adapter is configured such that downward movement of the clamping piston along the central longitudinal axis causes upward movement of the filling port to sealingly engage the filling port in the filling adapter;
wherein the movement of the clamping piston downward along the central longitudinal axis causes the lead surface of the clamping piston to engage the first actuating surface of the clamping element causing the clamping element to compress radially inwardly toward the longitudinal central axis causing the inner side surface to engage a first outer surface of the filling port and simultaneously causes the second actuating surface of the clamping element to engage a second conical outer surface of the filling port causing movement of the filling port upward along the central longitudinal axis and compressive engagement with the container seal; and
wherein continued downward movement of the clamping piston along the central longitudinal axis causes the inner cylindrical surface of the clamping piston to engage the outer side surface of the clamping element.