Patent Publication Number: US-5896802-A

Title: Rotating apparatus for a diesel motor

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This invention relates generally to a rotating device which sets motor parameters for a diesel motor and more particularly to a rotating device acting on a flywheel of the motor. 
     BACKGROUND ART 
     For the setting of motor parameters, i.e., for assembly and during repairs, of relatively large diesel motors, it is known to use a rotating device. They are driven electrically and include step-down gearing and a rotation process carried out by means of a worm or tooth-wheel drive. 
     The present invention provides a rotating device for a diesel motor that consists of a structural unit that is unaffected by vibration and can be connected in a simple fashion as a functional unit to the cylinder housing. 
     DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION 
     In one aspect of the present invention, a rotating device for setting motor parameters of a diesel motor by acting upon a flywheel of the motor is provided. The rotating device has plurality of pneumatic cylinders each having a piston facing the flywheel. A plurality of spaced teeth are connected to the flywheel of said motor. A control unit has a manual controller and a plurality of control valves connected to the pneumatic cylinders. The pneumatic cylinders are stepwise actuatable in response to sequential actuation of the control valves. The pistons are selectively engageable and disengagable with the teeth and rotate the flywheel in response to stepwise actuation of the pneumatic cylinders. 
     The advantages primarily achieved by the invention are mainly in the fact that teeth are cast onto the motor flywheel, meshing with adjusting elements of pneumatic cylinders, whereby the adjusting elements are provided with pistons having punch like heads in the shape of a frustum of a cone. The cylinders are connected to a control unit, which controls the pneumatic cylinders sequentially in such a way that the flywheel can be turned to the right or to the left (clockwise or counter-clockwise). An initial adjustment is made by way of a manual switch, which makes the first setting of each pneumatic cylinder. 
     The pneumatic cylinders as well as the control unit and the manual control unit are constructed in a manner so as to provide a unit that is relatively flat compact design that requires a minimal amount of space. The structural unit is mounted on the cylinder crank housing. The structural unit is non-sensitive to vibrations. 
     The pneumatic cylinders are sequentially linearly displaced (positioned, adjusted) such that a rotation of the flywheel is effected. Limit switches are provided so that the cylinders can be exactly sequentially engaged and disengaged from mating with the teeth. These limit switches pass on the particular end position of the pneumatic cylinder to the control unit which then effects corresponding controlling of the pneumatic cylinders via the valves. Thus, an exact adjustment position of the pneumatic cylinders is achieved in an advantageous manner and the cylinders are engaged in the toothing sequentially to effect a rotation of the flywheel. 
     At the beginning of the start-up process, if a piston hits the toothing at its end face (side), the starting cylinder is changed by a limit switch. Subsequently, the adjacent neighboring pneumatic cylinder is actuated to initiate rotation of the flywheel. 
     The pneumatic cylinders are controlled such that all three pneumatic cylinders are needed to determine the direction of rotation. The sequential order of engagement dictates the direction of rotation. Thus, rotation of the flywheel to the left or right can be achieved. 
    
    
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     FIG. 1, is a diagrammatic sole figure of an embodiment of the present invention, showing a functional schematic of a rotary device with pneumatic cylinders and a control device. 
    
    
     BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION 
     The rotating device 1 comprises a unit P of pneumatic cylinders A, B and C, whose pistons 11 are guided in bore holes 2 of a cast block 3. A control unit 4 as well as a manual control unit 5 with switches 6 and 7 is connected with the pneumatic cylinders A, B and C via wiring. These are controllable and for rotating a flywheel in engagement with a teeth 8 joined to the flywheel by casting. A manual control switch 7 serves for switching on and off in the positions I and II. Furthermore, switch 6 serves for initiating the left and right (counter-clockwise and clockwise) rotation. This switch 6 can be set in the position L for counter-clockwise rotation and R for clockwise rotation in addition to a zero position which stops the rotation. 
     The truncated cone-shaped punch like heads 12 of pistons 11 of the pneumatic cylinders A, B and C are forced in sequentially and individually between teeth spaces 8a of the teeth 8. This causes the flywheel to rotate. This rotation is achieved in accordance with the principle of an inclined plane. In order to effect a turning, the division of the teeth 8 is different from the distances of the heads 12 of the pneumatic cylinders A, B and C. With an engagement of the head 12 of the pneumatic cylinder A, the head 12 of the pneumatic cylinder A pushes against a tooth face surface of the teeth 8 and rotates the gear and thus the flywheel accordingly. 
     The pneumatic rotating device 1, also called a turning device quasi corresponds to for example, a step motor that consists of three pneumatic cylinders A, B and C facing both sides. The pistons 11 are connected with the cylinders via couplings 10. The truncated cone-shaped heads 12 are located on the front ends of the pistons 11, respectively. The heads 12 are oriented towards the toothing 8, i.e., the bevelled surfaces of the heads seen in the protection are oriented towards the bevelled surfaces of the teeth 8. 
     A controlling of the rotation is carried out via end or limit switches 13, 14. The limit switches electrically or pneumatically actuates a 4/2-way valve 15 upon reaching the particular end limit position, thus triggering the displacement procedure (shifting operation) for the next pneumatic cylinder. 
     Furthermore, the end limit position switches 16 are provided on the front faces of the heads 12 so that when the head 12 hits a tooth 8 on the front surface (end plane of the tooth) the limit position switch is switched on. This causes actuation of the next pneumatic cylinder. 
     The counter-clockwise or clockwise direction of rotation is predetermined by the actuating switch 6. A corresponding responsive actuation of the three pneumatic cylinders A, B and C is under the control of the control unit 4 and carried out by way of the valves 15. The direction of rotation in the counter-clockwise direction is carried out via the sequence of actuation first via the pneumatic cylinder A, then via B and then by C. The direction of rotation in the clockwise direction is first carried out in the sequence via the actuation of the pneumatic cylinder C, then via B and then by A. The speed of the rotation of the flywheel is predetermined and established by the throttling valve 17. Stopping of the procedure causing rotation of the flywheel is carried out by way of manual actuation of the switch 7 and the resulting responsive actuation of the 4/2 way valve. 
     Other aspects, objects and advantages of this invention can be obtained from a study of the drawings, the disclosure and the appended claims.