Distributor Device

1. Field of the Invention

This invention relates to a distributor device for the selective connection of one or a plurality of incoming lines with an outgoing line as well as an outgoing line with one or a plurality of outgoing lines.

2. Description of Prior Art

Distributor devices of the above mentioned type are known and described, for example, in German Letters Patent DE-PS 35 45 681. In this case, the distributor device has a plurality of incoming lines as well as a corresponding number of outgoing lines, so that a relative rotation of the bodies with respect to each other by 360.degree. or more is only possible if the lines consist of elastically deformable materials and are sufficiently long. A further disadvantage of the known device is that the number of different medium-conducting lines is relatively small.

Furthermore, a device for the selective connection of lines for flowable media is described in German Patent Publication DE 35 09 764 A1 and is embodied as a linear slider, the parts of which perform linear back-and-forth movements, even when two linear sliders placed in a common housing are cooperating.

Based on the above state of the art, it is one object of this invention to provides distributor device in accordance with the species, without a need for unreasonable constructive efforts, in such a way that a plurality of connections between medium sources and users is accomplished in the smallest possible space.

The above object is achieved in accordance with one preferred embodiment invention by at least two spatially separated control elements which are connectable to the lines. Each control element is connected to a stationary body and is connectable with the incoming or outgoing lines as well as to a body which is rotatable with respect to it. Each control element can assume several working positions and is connectable to the outgoing or incoming lines, the line of which conducts a medium if it is in a working position with respect to any one of the lines of the stationary body.

It is noted that in every case that is invention has been reduced practice the bodies which can be connected to a plurality of lines, these being the bodies which can be connected with medium sources, are stationary, while the lines which can be connected to the users can be removably connected with the rotatable bodies.

Further practical and advantageous embodiments of the invention ensue from the dependent claims.

In a particularly practical embodiment of this invention the rotatable bodies are driven by at least one servomotor. If this relates to a distributor device, the rotatable body of which is formed of circular disks, it is advantageous if the radial exteriors of the bodies are formed as toothed wheels which cooperate with a toothed wheel of the servomotor. With this simplest embodiment of the invention, there is also the opportunity of the motor meshing with the toothed gear of the one rotatable body, while this body meshes with the other rotatable body. In either case it is possible for the rotatable bodies to rotate in opposite directions.

The distributor device may also comprise a plurality of control elements, for example three, four, etc. In this preferred embodiment the rotatable bodies can be connected with each other with toothed gears which can be adjusted between an active working position, cooperating with the rotatable bodies, and an inactive working position, where they do no cooperate with the rotatable bodies.

If it is intended to use the distributor device of this invention in an installation with a plurality of medium sources and users, it is practical if the servomotor as well as all toothed gears cooperating with a adjustment device can be connected to a central control device The control device can be a computer installation in which the type of connection and duration can be controlled.

In a particularly practical embodiment of this invention, the stationary body has a plurality of circular holes with outwardly extending connecting sleeves, to which the lines can be connected and which have the same distance from the axis of rotation of the rotatable body. The respective body has a single circular hole with a sleeve adjoining it which, in the working position of the rotatable body, is aligned with one of the holes of the stationary body. In this particular embodiment these steps can also be taken in such a way that the hole of the stationary body and/or the holes of the rotatable body are surrounded by sealing elements.

An exemplary embodiment of this invention is schematically illustrated in the drawings and will be explained in detail, wherein:

FIG. 1 is an axial cross sectional view of a distributor device connected to a user;

FIG. 2 is a top view of the distributor device, in a direction of the arrow II of FIG. 1; and

FIG. 3 is a top view of the distributor device in the direction of the arrow III of FIG. 1.

The distributor device shown in FIG. 1 comprises two mirror-symmetrical control elements 60 and 62, each of which comprises a stationary body 10 and 110 and a rotatable body 14 and 114.

The control element 62 shown in FIG. 1 is connected to a medium source, not shown in detail, and to a user 50. The medium is supplied to the control element 62 via the line 127, which is connected to a sleeve 111 by means of a clamp 128. The stationary body 110 has a plurality of connecting sleeves 111, as shown in FIG. 2. The rotatable body 114 has a single hole 116 into which a sleeve 115 is inserted, which is connected with the line 122 by means of a clamp 123.

A line 140 follows the line 122 and is connected via a rotating flange 144 in a medium-conducting manner with the line 146. The rotatable body 114 can be rotated around a vertical axis 102 in the direction of the arrow 142. The rotatable body 114 is seated in a bearing body 130. The rotatable body 114 has on its radial exterior a toothed gear 119 which meshes with the toothed gear 20 of a motor 3. If the rotatable body 114 is rotated about its axis 102, the connecting line 140 also rotates in the rotating flange 144, by means of which a rotatable connection between the line 140 and the lines 146 is accomplished.

As already mentioned, the left control element 60 shown in FIG. 1 is mirror-symmetrical to the control element 62, so that it has a plurality of connecting sleeves 11 which can be connected with outlet lines 27 by means of clamps 28. The radial exterior of the rotatable body 14 has an outer toothed gear 19. The rotatable body 14 has a single bore 16, in which a sleeve 15 is positioned and surrounded by a seal ring 18. The seal ring 118 has the same function as the seal ring 118. The sleeve 15 is removably connected with the incoming line 22 by means of a clamp 23. The incoming line 22 is connected with the line 44 which, in turn, can be rotatably connected with the line 46 via the rotating flange 44. The rotatable body 14 or 114 can cooperate with a servomotor which can displace it in a timed manner in the direction of the arrow 52 or 152. When the motor 3 is switched on, the left rotatable body shown in FIG. 1 rotates in the direction of the arrow 42, while the right rotatable body 114 rotates in the direction of the arrow 142. In both cases, it is important that the rotating flange 44 or 144 has an axis of rotation which is identical with the axis of rotation 2 or 102 or extends parallel with it. Thus the line 40 or 140 is not mechanically stressed This probably simplest embodiment of this invention can be expanded in such a way that for example a plurality of control elements 60 and 62 are connected with each other. In such embodiment the control elements can be driven by a common motor 3, where the rotational movement from one rotatable body to the next can take place via toothed gears, which can take up active or inactive working positions. It thus possible to separate a defined control element from the motor 3. A plurality of medium-conducting connections can thus be provided without the necessity of making the distributor device perceptively larger.

FIG. 2 shows one preferred embodiment in which the connecting sleeves 11 or 111 are evenly distributed around the axis of rotation 2 or 102.

FIG. 3 shows one preferred embodiment in which the rotatable body 14 or 114 has only a single sleeve 15 or 115, which is adapted to the dimensions of the sleeve 11 or 111.