Patent Description:
Springs are mechanical elements capable of absorbing large quantities of energy without reaching critical stresses. For this purpose, springs are geometrically shaped so as to allow the occurrence of great displacements while maintaining the deformations within the elastic range. Among the various applications in which springs are used, mention can be made of the following: impact attenuation, vibration reduction or augmentation, energy storage and application of forces that are proportional to position.

In the various applications cited above it is possible to use multiple springs simultaneously. The typical configurations are those of springs arranged in series and springs arranged in parallel.

Springs arranged in series are subjected to the same force, while the overall elongation is given by the sum of the individual elongations of the individual springs.

Springs arranged in parallel are instead subjected to the same elongation, while the force applied is equal to the sum of the individual forces.

Various types of systems for the management of twin-spring modules, i.e. mechanical modules characterized by the presence of two or more springs arranged in series, are currently in use.

Typical examples of known systems for the management of twin-spring modules, as well as the most widespread ones and the ones that find greatest application at the industrial level, are systems characterized by a sliding disk which is coupled to the two springs arranged in series and a stem that is adapted to slide, during the compression of the two springs, within a longitudinal guide.

<CIT> discloses a twin-spring module with a coupling system comprising a sliding disk.

However, these systems are not free from drawbacks, which include the fact that the movement of the sliding disk along the longitudinal guide generates a high friction force, making this movement complex and laborious.

Another drawback of these systems for the management of twin-spring modules of the known type resides in that they can be affected by structural problems caused by the lack of alignment of the two springs arranged in series.

A further drawback of these systems for the management of twin-spring modules of the known type resides in that the insertion of the stem within the longitudinal guide can cause locking problems, placing at risk the mechanical strength and the containment of said longitudinal guide.

The aim of the present invention is to overcome the limitations of the background art described above, by providing a coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules that allows to keep the two springs arranged in series mutually aligned.

Within this aim, an object of the present invention is to conceive a coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules that allows a movement of a sliding disk along a longitudinal guide with minimal friction force.

Another object of the present invention is to devise a coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules that allows minimal flexibility between the ends of the two springs arranged on the two ends of the sliding disk.

A further object of the present invention is to conceive a coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules that allows to reduce the structural problems of systems of the known type.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules that is highly reliable, relatively simple to provide and at competitive costs if compared with the prior art.

This aim, as well as these and other objects which will become better apparent hereinafter, are achieved by a coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules, as defined in claim <NUM>.

Further characteristics and advantages of the invention will become better apparent from the description of a preferred but not exclusive embodiment of the coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules according to the invention, illustrated by way of non-limiting example in the accompanying drawings, wherein:.

With reference to the figures, the coupling system particularly for twin-spring assemblies according to the invention, designated generally by the reference numeral <NUM>, comprises substantially a preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>, a longitudinal guide <NUM> which is coaxial with respect to the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>, a sliding disk <NUM>, a first spring <NUM> and a second spring <NUM> which are fixed to the ends of the sliding disk <NUM>, a compression disk <NUM> arranged within the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>, and a stem <NUM>, which is fixed to the compression disk <NUM> and passes through a hole <NUM> that is present in the distal wall <NUM>.

The preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM> is the element that constitutes the load-bearing structure of the coupling system <NUM>. In one embodiment of the invention, the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM> is made of metallic material, such as for example steel or aluminum.

A proximal wall <NUM> and a distal wall <NUM> are fixed to the ends of the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM> and both are preferably made of metallic material, such as for example steel or aluminum. In one embodiment of the invention, these ends have a flat and circular shape, with such a diameter that their outer edge corresponds to the edge of the ends of the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>.

The proximal wall <NUM> comprises fixing means <NUM> adapted to fix the proximal wall <NUM> to an end of the first spring <NUM>. The proximal wall <NUM>, furthermore, is coupled to one end of the longitudinal guide <NUM>. In addition to the functions of the structural type, the proximal wall <NUM> also has the task of stopping the motion of the two springs <NUM>, <NUM> arranged in series, constituting the mechanical stroke limiting abutment of the coupling system <NUM>.

The distal wall <NUM> comprises a hole <NUM> adapted for the passage of a stem <NUM>. The distal wall <NUM> further comprises locking means <NUM> configured for locking the coupling system <NUM> to the supports that are present on the machine for which it is intended, such as for example a pneumatically actuated actuator. The locking means <NUM> comprised in the coupling system <NUM> can be constituted for example by screws, bolts or nuts arranged on the outer surface of the distal wall <NUM>.

The longitudinal guide <NUM> comprises a first end <NUM> which is fixed to the proximal wall <NUM> of the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>. In one embodiment of the invention, the longitudinal guide has a hollow cylindrical shape and is conveniently arranged along the longitudinal axis of the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>. The longitudinal guide <NUM> allows the sliding of the movement means <NUM> comprised within the sliding disk <NUM>.

The sliding disk <NUM> comprises at least one pin <NUM> which is adapted to fix a first end 18a of the sliding disk <NUM> to one end of the first spring <NUM>. The sliding disk <NUM> further comprises a sliding assembly which comprises at least two movement means <NUM>.

The movement means <NUM> are configured to allow the movement of the sliding disk <NUM> along the longitudinal guide <NUM>. The movement means <NUM> are conveniently coupled to the sliding disk <NUM>. In one embodiment of the invention, the movement means <NUM> allow a movement of the sliding disk <NUM> along the longitudinal guide <NUM> with minimal friction force.

The movement means <NUM> comprise a frame <NUM> which is conveniently coupled to the sliding disk <NUM> by way of at least two pivots <NUM> and at least one screw <NUM>. The frame <NUM> accommodates a roller <NUM> which is conveniently fixed to the frame <NUM> by means of a longitudinal bar <NUM>. The roller <NUM> is adapted to rotate about the longitudinal bar <NUM>.

The sliding disk <NUM> comprises at least one pin <NUM> which is adapted to fix a second end 18b of the sliding disk <NUM> to one end of the second spring <NUM>.

The pins <NUM> couple the ends of the two springs <NUM>, <NUM> arranged in series to the two ends of the sliding disk <NUM>. This coupling allows to reduce to a minimum the flexibility of the ends of the two springs in case of motion thereof (compression and/or decompression).

In one embodiment of the invention, the pins <NUM> allow to maintain an alignment between the first spring <NUM> and the second spring <NUM> comprised within the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>.

The first spring <NUM> comprises an end coupled to the proximal wall <NUM> and an end coupled to a first end 18a of the sliding disk <NUM>. In one embodiment of the invention, the first spring <NUM> is preferably a helical compression and traction spring.

The second spring <NUM> comprises an end coupled to the compression disk <NUM> and an end coupled to a second end 18b of the sliding disk <NUM>. In one embodiment of the invention, the second spring <NUM> is preferably a helical compression and traction spring.

The compression disk <NUM>, preferably made of metallic material, such as for example steel or aluminum, is arranged within the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>, at right angles to the longitudinal axis of the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM> proper. In one embodiment of the invention, the compression disk <NUM> has a flat and circular shape, with such a diameter that its outer edge corresponds to the internal surface of the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM>.

The compression disk <NUM> is arranged proximate to the distal wall <NUM> and has furthermore a hole <NUM> for the fixing of the stem <NUM>.

The stem <NUM> is a stem of the simple type and is constituted by a bar preferably made of metallic material, such as for example steel or aluminum. The stem <NUM> is coaxial to the preferably cylindrical hollow body <NUM> and is perpendicular to the compression disk <NUM>.

One end of the stem <NUM> is inserted in the hole <NUM> of the compression disk <NUM>. The stem <NUM> furthermore passes through the hole <NUM> that is present in the distal wall <NUM>.

Operation of the coupling system <NUM> particularly for twin-spring modules according to the present invention, for example in the case in which the latter is used in a pneumatically actuated actuator, is as follows.

As a consequence of the thrust received from the stem <NUM>, the compression disk <NUM>, coupled to the stem <NUM>, is actuated toward the proximal wall <NUM>. The linear motion generated by the compression disk <NUM> is thus transmitted to the second spring <NUM>, the latter being coupled to the compression disk <NUM> by way of fixing means <NUM>.

The second spring <NUM> then begins to be compressed and transmits the linear motion to the first spring <NUM> by means of the sliding disk <NUM>, the latter being coupled to the ends of both springs by means of the pins <NUM>.

The sliding disk <NUM> slides along the longitudinal guide <NUM> toward the proximal wall <NUM> by way of the movement means <NUM>, such as for example rollers, and the first spring <NUM> begins to be compressed due to the thrust that it has received.

The movement of the sliding disk <NUM> stops when the sliding disk <NUM> is proximate to the proximal wall <NUM> and accordingly the compression disk <NUM> is proximate to the second end <NUM> of the longitudinal guide <NUM>.

The inactive state or initial state of the coupling system <NUM> is reached as a consequence of the decompression of the two springs <NUM>, <NUM> arranged in series.

The first spring <NUM> begins to decompress and transmits the linear motion to the second spring <NUM> by way of the sliding disk <NUM>.

The sliding disk <NUM> slides along the longitudinal guide <NUM> toward the distal wall <NUM> by way of the movement means <NUM>, such as for example rollers, and the second spring <NUM> begins to decompress.

The linear motion generated by the second spring <NUM> is thus transmitted to the stem <NUM> by way of the compression disk <NUM> coupled to the second spring <NUM>.

The sliding disk <NUM> and the compression disk <NUM> thus return to their initial positions and the two springs <NUM>, <NUM> arranged in series are in inactive conditions.

In practice it has been found that the invention achieves fully the intended aim and objects. In particular, it has been shown that the coupling system particularly for twin-spring assemblies thus conceived allows to overcome the quality limitations of the prior art, since it allows to maintain the two springs arranged in series mutually aligned.

Another advantage of the coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules according to the invention resides in that it allows a movement of a sliding disk along a longitudinal guide with minimal friction force.

A further advantage of the coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules according to the invention resides in that it allows minimal flexibility between the two ends of the two springs arranged on the two ends of the sliding disk.

Another advantage of the coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules according to the invention resides in that it allows to reduce the structural problems of systems of the known type.

Although the coupling system particularly for twin-spring modules according to the invention has been conceived in particular to "guide" the movement of two springs arranged in series, it can in any case be used, more generally, in combination with pneumatically actuated actuators.

All the details may further be replaced with other technically equivalent elements.

In practice, the materials used, so long as they are compatible with the specific use, as well as the contingent shapes and dimensions, may be any according to requirements and to the state of the art.

To conclude, the scope of the protection of the claims must not be limited by the illustrations or preferred embodiments shown in the description by way of example, but rather the claims must comprise all the characteristics of patentable novelty that reside in the present invention, including all the characteristics that would be treated as equivalents by the person skilled in the art.

Claim 1:
A coupling system (<NUM>) particularly for twin-spring modules, comprising a hollow body (<NUM>) configured to accommodate a first spring (<NUM>) and a second spring (<NUM>), said hollow body (<NUM>) comprising a sliding disk (<NUM>) arranged between said first spring (<NUM>) and said second spring (<NUM>), a compression disk (<NUM>) arranged proximate to a distal wall (<NUM>) of said hollow body (<NUM>) and a longitudinal guide (<NUM>) that is coaxial to said hollow body (<NUM>), said sliding disk (<NUM>) being configured to maintain an alignment between said first spring (<NUM>) and said second spring (<NUM>) and to allow a movement of said sliding disk (<NUM>) along said longitudinal guide (<NUM>), said sliding disk (<NUM>) sliding along said longitudinal guide (<NUM>) by way of a sliding assembly which comprises at least two movement means (<NUM>), characterized in that each movement means (<NUM>) comprises a a frame (<NUM>) which is coupled to the sliding disk (<NUM>) by way of at least two pivots (<NUM>) and at least one screw (<NUM>), wherein the frame (<NUM>) accommodates a roller (<NUM>) which is fixed to the frame (<NUM>) by means of a longitudinal bar (<NUM>), wherein the roller (<NUM>) is adapted to rotate about the longitudinal bar (<NUM>).