ROMANUT GIORGIO (IT)
ROMANUT GIORGIO (IT)
US4270695A | 1981-06-02 | |||
US3799244A | 1974-03-26 | |||
US20070296223A1 | 2007-12-27 | |||
US4133572A | 1979-01-09 | |||
US4516308A | 1985-05-14 |
CLAIMS
1. Multifunctional apparatus comprising a plurality of electric and/or mechanical devices (15, 16, 18) and a drive member (12), mechanically associated with said devices (15, 16, 18) in order to activate them selectively, characterized in that it also comprises clutch means (23, 25) able to cooperate with said drive member (12) and with each of said devices (15, 16, 18) so as to selectively connect said drive member (12) with each of said devices (15, 16, 18).
2. Multifunctional apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that said clutch means (23, 25) are of the electromagnetic or mechanical type. 3. Multifunctional apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises at least a first rotary member (14) associated with said drive member (12) and a plurality of second rotary members (22, 24) each associated with a corresponding device (15, 16, 18).
4. Multifunctional apparatus as in claim 3, characterized in that it also comprises motion transmission means (26) which connects said first rotary member (14) to said plurality of second rotary members (22, 24) in order to transmit the motion of said first rotary member (14) to said plurality of second rotary members (22, 24).
5. Multifunctional apparatus as in claim 3, characterized in that said clutch means (23, 25) are associated with said plurality of second rotary members (22, 24).
6. Multifunctional apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that it also comprises a containing frame (1 1) in which said drive member (12), said devices (15, 16, 18) and said clutch means (23, 25) are disposed.
7. Multifunctional apparatus as in claim 6, characterized in that it also comprises an electric generator (13) associated with said drive member (12) and also disposed in said containing frame (11).
8. Multifunctional apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that one of said devices (15, 16, 18) is a pump for fluids (18).
9. Multifunctional apparatus as in any claim hereinbefore, characterized in that one of said devices (15, 16, 18) is a compressor (16).
10. Multifunctional apparatus as in claim 1, characterized in that one of said devices (15, 16, 18) is a device for welding (15). |
"MULTIFUNCTIONAL APPARATUS"
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention concerns a multifunctional apparatus that comprises a plurality of devices, electric and/or mechanical, heterogeneous and associated with each other, such as for example a pump, a compressor, a welder or an oil- dynamic unit, and is able to selectively perform the function for which each of said devices is intended. The apparatus is able to be used wherever the use of such devices is required, such as for example in building sites, in agricultural applications, in workshops, in the field of mobile technical assistance, civil defense or other similar applications.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Multifunctional apparatuses are known, comprising a plurality of electric and/or mechanical devices, such as for example a hydraulic pump and a compressor, associated with each other and commanded mechanically by a single motor, and able to selectively perform the function for which each of said devices is intended.
One disadvantage of known apparatuses is that said devices are associated with each other in such a way as to cause a considerable bulk. Consequently, the apparatuses are difficult to transport and complex to use.
Another disadvantage of known multifunctional apparatuses is that the mechanical transmission between the drive member and the devices is direct, and therefore the motion determined by the rotation of the drive shaft is transmitted directly to the devices that make up each apparatus. This direct coupling does not allow to use the drive force generated by the motor in the best way, since during the start-up step of the motor, problems of supercharging may occur in the devices connected, with consequent risk of damage, or anomalous, unwanted behavior thereof. To solve these problems, the devices are provided with discharge mechanisms or valves, calibrated to a determinate pressure or power, by means of which, when the motor is started, it is possible to reduce the power of the devices. These mechanisms or valves can be activated by the user of the apparatus, by means of complex and inconvenient procedures.
Purpose of the present invention is to achieve a multifunctional apparatus that
has limited bulk, that is easy to use, and that allows to use the drive force generated by the motor in the best possible way, in order to prevent problems of supercharging to the devices that make up the apparatus.
The Applicant has devised, tested and embodied the present invention to overcome the shortcomings of the state of the art and to obtain these and other purposes and advantages.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The present invention is set forth and characterized in the independent claim, while the dependent claims describe other characteristics of the invention or variants to the main inventive idea.
In accordance with the above purpose, a multifunctional apparatus according to the present invention comprises a plurality of electric and/or mechanical devices, and a drive member associated mechanically with said devices so as to selectively activate them. According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the multifunctional apparatus also comprises clutch means able to cooperate with the drive member and with said devices so as to selectively connect the drive member with each of said devices.
In a first form of embodiment the clutch means comprises friction clutches of the electromagnetic type.
In a second form of embodiment the clutch means comprises friction clutches of the mechanical type.
In this way, the use of clutch means allows to exploit in the best possible way the drive force generated by the motor, since the devices are activated and/or de- activated with the motor functioning at the correct number of revs, thus preventing problems of supercharging to the devices connected and therefore preventing the consequent problems deriving from burns or anomalous unwanted behavior of the devices. Furthermore, the possibility of selectively activating/deactivating the devices that make up the apparatus by means of the clutch means allows to reduce the problems deriving from mechanical wear of the devices themselves, since, in the inactive condition, they are disconnected from the drive member.
According to a characteristic feature of the present invention, the
multifunctional apparatus comprises a first rotary member, such as a pulley, associated with the drive member, and a plurality of second rotary members, each associated with a corresponding device.
Advantageously the apparatus comprises motion transmission means that connects the first rotary member to said plurality of second rotary members, in order to transmit the motion of the first rotary member to the plurality of second rotary members.
According to another characteristic feature of the present invention, the clutch means is associated with said plurality of second rotary means. According to another characteristic feature of the present invention, the multifunctional apparatus comprises a containing frame in which the drive member, the devices and the clutch means are all disposed, associated with each other in such a manner as to determine minimum bulk. Therefore the multifunctional apparatus is very compact, easy to transport and easy to use. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
These and other characteristics of the present invention will become apparent from the following description of a preferential form of embodiment, given as a non-restrictive example with reference to the attached drawings wherein:
- fig. 1 is a schematic view from above of a multifunctional apparatus according to the present invention; and
- fig. 2 is a schematic front view of the apparatus in fig. 1.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF A PREFERENTIAL FORM OF
EMBODIMENT
With reference to fig. 1, a multifunctional apparatus 10 according to the present invention, able to be used in building sites, agricultural applications, workshops, in the field of mobile technical assistance, civil defense or other similar applications, comprises a frame 11, substantially shaped like a parallelepiped, made of metal, advantageously having a length of about 750 mm, a width of about 550 mm and a height of about 600 mm. The frame 11 also comprises a covering element 1 1a able to protect the devices which, as described hereafter, are disposed in the frame 11.
Inside the frame 1 1 a combustion engine 12 of a known type is disposed, with a power comprised between about 2.5 kW and about 12 kW; the drive shaft
thereof is connected to an electric generator 13, of a known type, located on a support plane 28 disposed on the base of the frame 11, and able to be activated following the rotation of the drive shaft.
A drive pulley 14 is keyed to the end of the drive shaft of the combustion engine 12, which protrudes from the electric generator 13 and is able to rotate concordantly with the rotation of the drive shaft.
The electric generator 13 is connected to a welder 15, to which it is able to supply the electric energy necessary to make it function. Advantageously, the welder 15 is disposed above the electric generator 13. The electric generator 13 is also able to supply the electric energy necessary to feed the auxiliary apparatuses able to be disposed outside the frame 11. The electric energy can be taken from two feed sockets 29 of a known type, with which the electric generator 13 is provided.
The multifunctional apparatus 10 also comprises, adjacent to the electric generator 13, a compressor 16 of a known type. The compressor 16 is connected to a pipe 17, able to allow the compressed air generated by the compressor 16 to pass, so as to transfer the compressed air outside the frame 1 1. In particular, the end of the pipe 17 opposite the end connected to the compressor 16 is disposed in correspondence with a lateral surface of the frame 11. Therefore, machines or tools that need compressed air in order to function are able to be connected to this end. The multifunctional apparatus 10 also comprises a tank 17a for the compressed air, associated with the pipe 17.
According to a variant, the frame 11, made of tubular elements, can function as a tank for the compressed air. The multifunctional apparatus 10 also comprises a hydraulic pump 18, of a known type, advantageously located on a supporting plane 19 disposed above the compressor 16 and associated with the frame 11. The hydraulic pump 18 is connected to an intake pipe 20 and to a delivery pipe 21 , respectively to take in water and to deliver it at high pressure. Both ends of said pipes 20, 21 opposite the ends connected to the hydraulic pump 18 are disposed in correspondence with the lateral surface of the frame 11 in which there is also said end of the pipe 17. Therefore, devices or tools able to convey the high pressure water to allow it to be used, such as for example a hydraulic lance, are able to be connected to the
end of the delivery pipe 21.
The multifunctional apparatus 10 also comprises a first driven pulley 22, connected to the axis of rotation of the compressor 16, to which a first clutch disk
23 is connected, of the electromagnetic type, able to be commanded by electric control devices of a known type and not shown in the drawings. In the same way, a second driven pulley 24 is connected to the axis of rotation of the hydraulic pump 18, and is associated with a second clutch disk 25, also of the electromagnetic type and able to be commanded by electric control devices of a known type and not shown in the drawings. The first driven pulley 22 and the second driven pulley 24 are connected to the drive pulley 14 by means of a belt
26 able to transmit to them the rotary motion of the drive pulley 14.
The multifunctional apparatus 10 also comprises two cooling fans 27, able to allow to cool the air inside the frame 11.
The multifunctional apparatus 10 thus constituted has an overall weight comprised between about 100 Kg and about 120 Kg.
The multifunctional apparatus 10 according to the present invention as described heretofore functions as follows.
The activation of the combustion engine 12 activates the electric generator 13 which, following the activation by the user of the apparatus 10 of an electric selector of a known type, supplies the electric energy necessary to feed the welder 15. Simultaneously, the rotary motion of the drive pulley 14 is transmitted to the first and second driven pulley 22, 24.
Initially the first and the second driven pulley 22, 24 are in an idle condition, and therefore their rotary motion is not transmitted to the compressor 16 and the hydraulic pump 18 to which they are respectively connected. Subsequently, the user of the apparatus 10, according to the function that he wants the apparatus 10 to perform, engages one of the electromagnetic clutches 23, 25 by means of the electric control devices so that the motion of the first driven pulley 22 or the second driven pulley 24 is transferred respectively to the compressor 16 or the hydraulic pump 18, activating one or the other of the apparatuses. Each of these will then perform its function until the user decides to disengage the corresponding clutch, so as to interrupt the mechanical transmission.
It is clear that modifications and/or additions of parts may be made to the
multifunctional apparatus as described heretofore, without departing from the field and scope of the present invention.
For example, it comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the multifunctional apparatus comprises another clutch element, having the same characteristics as, or in any case similar characteristics to, the clutches 23, 25, able to be engaged so as to activate the welder 15.
It also comes within the field of the present invention to provide that the multifunctional apparatus 10 comprises an oil-dynamic unit, of a known type, instead of the hydraulic pump 18 or the welder 15, to which, for example, demolishers, perforators, cutting tools or more generally every tool fed oil- dynamically and usually employed in building sites are able to be connected.
It is also clear that, although the present invention has been described with reference to some specific examples, a person of skill in the art shall certainly be able to achieve many other equivalent forms of multifunctional apparatus, having the characteristics as set forth in the claims and hence all coming within the field of protection defined thereby.
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