EP1656857B1 - Filling system for bodies having air core - Google Patents

Filling system for bodies having air core Download PDF

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Publication number
EP1656857B1
EP1656857B1 EP20040450210 EP04450210A EP1656857B1 EP 1656857 B1 EP1656857 B1 EP 1656857B1 EP 20040450210 EP20040450210 EP 20040450210 EP 04450210 A EP04450210 A EP 04450210A EP 1656857 B1 EP1656857 B1 EP 1656857B1
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EP
European Patent Office
Prior art keywords
air
core
filling system
line
core filling
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EP20040450210
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German (de)
French (fr)
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EP1656857A1 (en
Inventor
Kurt Schuster
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Individual
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Individual
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Priority to ES04450210T priority Critical patent/ES2293200T3/en
Application filed by Individual filed Critical Individual
Priority to DE200450005332 priority patent/DE502004005332D1/en
Priority to PT04450210T priority patent/PT1656857E/en
Priority to AT04450210T priority patent/ATE376374T1/en
Priority to EP20040450210 priority patent/EP1656857B1/en
Priority to US11/667,674 priority patent/US7726330B2/en
Priority to JP2007540449A priority patent/JP4773455B2/en
Priority to CNB2005800389358A priority patent/CN100563513C/en
Priority to PCT/AT2005/000395 priority patent/WO2006053351A1/en
Publication of EP1656857A1 publication Critical patent/EP1656857A1/en
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Publication of EP1656857B1 publication Critical patent/EP1656857B1/en
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    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
    • A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type
    • A47C27/083—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type with pressure control, e.g. with pressure sensors
    • A—HUMAN NECESSITIES
    • A47—FURNITURE; DOMESTIC ARTICLES OR APPLIANCES; COFFEE MILLS; SPICE MILLS; SUCTION CLEANERS IN GENERAL
    • A47C—CHAIRS; SOFAS; BEDS
    • A47C27/00—Spring, stuffed or fluid mattresses or cushions specially adapted for chairs, beds or sofas
    • A47C27/08—Fluid mattresses or cushions
    • A47C27/081—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type
    • A47C27/082—Fluid mattresses or cushions of pneumatic type with non-manual inflation, e.g. with electric pumps
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/3584—Inflatable article [e.g., tire filling chuck and/or stem]
    • Y10T137/36—With pressure-responsive pressure-control means
    • Y—GENERAL TAGGING OF NEW TECHNOLOGICAL DEVELOPMENTS; GENERAL TAGGING OF CROSS-SECTIONAL TECHNOLOGIES SPANNING OVER SEVERAL SECTIONS OF THE IPC; TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC CROSS-REFERENCE ART COLLECTIONS [XRACs] AND DIGESTS
    • Y10—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER USPC
    • Y10T—TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION
    • Y10T137/00—Fluid handling
    • Y10T137/3584—Inflatable article [e.g., tire filling chuck and/or stem]
    • Y10T137/36—With pressure-responsive pressure-control means
    • Y10T137/3631—Diaphragm, bellows or expansible tube

Definitions

  • the present invention relates to a Gutkernphilllsystem for furniture, especially mattresses and seating, but also car seats and camping furniture, according to the preamble of claim 1.
  • water beds have several disadvantages. Physically weak people have difficulty changing their lying position. This is due to the fact that the water in the mattress must be moved under the body at a position change at the same time. For babies such mattresses are therefore even dangerous. Other disadvantages are the comparatively complicated handling and the very large weight. Particularly problematic has been found that water is a good heat transfer medium.
  • the water filling which usually has a maximum of room temperature, must be constantly heated at least to a temperature of about 25 ° C to 28 ° C in order not to deprive the body in an unpleasant and especially harmful to health temperature. However, such temperatures are absolutely harmful to people with venous disease.
  • a disadvantage of seating or mattresses with air core is that they are not completely gas-tight. Gas diffusion, in particular under pressure during use, results in a pressure loss in the air core, which requires periodic refilling. Older systems have to manually or by means of electric motor driven filling systems in order to keep the once chosen degree of hardness substantially indefinitely constant.
  • the pressure from the air reservoir equalizes the pressure in the air core of the mattress again to a value which is set on the pressure regulating valve.
  • the pump bodies suck ambient air via another valve by returning them to their initial position.
  • Another disadvantage is that the reservoir must always be under pressure to keep the air core of the mattress at the set value. However, if, for some reason, for example by dust in the check valve to the reservoir, to a pressure reduction in the reservoir, maintaining the set pressure value is impossible. On the other hand, the built-up pressure of the compressed air can be reduced only via the air core. As a result, in the reservoir at more intense Use can easily build a pressure of 100 mbar and more, whereby the connections and valves are exposed to a high load.
  • Another disadvantage is the enormously long distances from the air inlet to the reservoir and on to the pressure regulating valve, which creates large gas diffusion surfaces. Also increases the risk of leakage due to the numerous connection points. Another disadvantage is that a desired pressure reduction in the air core is possible only by diffusion loss, which is why it takes a very long time until the pressure in the air core has adjusted to the lower level.
  • the FR 2 087 457 A shows a device for the distribution of gases in medical devices.
  • the device also has the disadvantages described above.
  • the present invention is therefore based on the object of avoiding these disadvantages by providing a pumping and control system which operates without a reservoir and has the same pressure in the entire air core filling system under no load as in the air core.
  • the air supply system according to the invention should have a much smaller design with significantly reduced interconnections and also in comparison to the system of EP 0 620 716 B1 have fewer joints, thereby reducing the risk of unwanted pressure reduction.
  • the figure shows the basic structure of the invention.
  • the entire device has with the enclosing - not shown here - a housing size, which makes it possible to install the housing, for example in the region of the head or foot of a mattress.
  • the essential core of the invention is the pumping system, which is shown here by way of example as a two-chamber bellows, and the control system in operative connection with the pumping system. It goes without saying, however, that the same invention is also made possible by alternative technical embodiments, in which a chamber receiving the displacement air from the air core and the outside air sucked in are in direct operative connection and are simultaneously and almost completely emptied via the return device. Therefore, the present invention also covers such technical embodiments.
  • the air from the air core via the first line 1 into the first chamber 2 of the Zweischblasebalgs 3, whereby the bellows 3 expands and presses with its outer surface 4 against a return spring 5.
  • the volume of the centrally arranged second chamber 6 is also forcibly increased, as a result of which a negative pressure is created which leads to an intake of ambient air via the second line 7.
  • This second line 7 is connected via a check valve 8 with the third line 9 designed as a connecting line to the outside air and via a further check valve 10 with the first line 1.
  • the third line 9 is an air filter 11, which reliably prevents the entry of even the smallest dust particles, which could affect the functioning of the check valves.
  • the return spring 5 has a compressive force which is about 1 mbar to 5 mbar, preferably about 2 mbar to 4 mbar above the normal pressure of the air core.
  • a flow restrictor 12 to allow a slow pressure build-up in the air core up to that value which is predetermined by the pressure regulating valve 13.
  • Exceeding air escapes at the pressure regulating valve 13 via the air outlet opening 18.
  • the pressure regulating valve 13 is designed as a conventional diaphragm valve, wherein the pressure diaphragm 14 should have the largest possible area, since the accuracy of the pressure setting is directly related to the membrane surface. Experiments have shown that the desired accuracy leads to satisfactory results for membrane diameters of about 30 mm to 50 mm.
  • an overpressure valve 15 connected to the first line 1 opens immediately and can be set to a limiting pressure of about 60 mbar or 70 mbar, for example. This can prevent any damage caused by excessive pressure.
  • the originally selected normal pressure of the air core was chosen too high.
  • the normal pressure of the preferably unloaded air core can be reduced to any, lower value in a short time.
  • the valves 8, 10, 15 and 16 are preferably designed as diaphragm valves whose membrane surface diameter is in the range of about 0.5 cm to 2 cm, preferably about 1 cm, wherein the membrane thickness has a thickness of about 0.2 mm to 0, 4 mm, preferably about 0.25 mm.
  • the particular advantages of the air core filling system according to the invention are firstly that the automatic air replenishment is independent of the respective load point of the air core, since any load leads to a suction of fresh air, which brings a significant improvement in reliability over known devices, especially in air cores.
  • Another advantage is the considerably reduced construction and the first possible, very short connecting lines. It is also advantageous that no memory with precompressed air is required for refilling the air core. The risk to the components and their joints by a possible build-up of excessive pressure in the air storage chamber is reliably avoided because the subject air storage chamber, from which the refilling of the air core is done with fresh air, maximum atmospheric pressure.

Landscapes

  • Mattresses And Other Support Structures For Chairs And Beds (AREA)
  • Infusion, Injection, And Reservoir Apparatuses (AREA)
  • Invalid Beds And Related Equipment (AREA)
  • Filling Of Jars Or Cans And Processes For Cleaning And Sealing Jars (AREA)
  • Catching Or Destruction (AREA)
  • Separation By Low-Temperature Treatments (AREA)

Abstract

The system has an air pump system (3) with two separate chambers (2, 6), and a control system (17), where chambers exhibit a common boundary surface. The chamber (2) is directly connected to an air core over a line (1) and the chamber (6) is connected to the core over a line (7) by a pressure adjusting valve (13). The chamber (6) is connected to ambient air over a third line (9), where an air filter (11) is provided in the line (9).

Description

Die vorliegende Erfindung betrifft ein Luftkernfüllsystem für Möbel, insbesondere Matratzen und Sitzmöbel, aber auch Autositze und Campingmöbel, gemäß dem Oberbegriff von Patentanspruch 1.The present invention relates to a Luftkernfüllsystem for furniture, especially mattresses and seating, but also car seats and camping furniture, according to the preamble of claim 1.

Sitz- oder Liegemöbel mit luftgefülltem Kern sind seit langem bekannt. Sie gelten als logische Weiterentwicklung des Wasserbettes, welches ursprünglich bevorzugt in Spitälern Anwendung fand. Durch die Wasserfüllung der Matratze konnte eine gleichmäßigere Druckverteilung über die gesamte Auflagefläche bewirkt werden, um dem gefürchteten Wundliegen vorzubeugen.Seating or reclining furniture with air-filled core have long been known. They are regarded as a logical development of the waterbed, which was originally preferred in hospitals. By filling the mattress with water, it was possible to achieve a more even distribution of pressure over the entire support surface in order to prevent the dreaded bed sores.

Allerdings weisen Wasserbetten mehrere Nachteile auf. Körperlich schwache Personen haben Mühe, ihre Liegeposition zu verändern. Dies rührt daher, dass bei einer Positionsänderung gleichzeitig auch das Wasser in der Matratze unter dem Körper bewegt werden muss. Für Säuglinge sind solche Matratzen deshalb sogar gefährlich. Weitere Nachteile sind die vergleichsweise umständliche Handhabung und das sehr große Gewicht. Als besonders problematisch hat sich herausgestellt, dass Wasser ein guter Wärmeträger ist. Die Wasserfüllung, welche normalerweise maximal Raumtemperatur hat, muss ständig zumindest auf eine Temperatur von etwa 25°C bis 28°C aufgeheizt werden, um dem Körper nicht in unangenehmer und vor allem gesundheitsschädigender Weise Temperatur zu entziehen. Solche Temperaturen sind jedoch für Personen mit Venenleiden absolut schädlich. Da Luft ein schlechter Wärmeträger ist, können Temperierungseinrichtungen bei Matratzen mit einem Luftkern entfallen, ohne die bekannten Vorteile der Wasserbetten aufgeben zu müssen. Auch alle anderen aufgezeigten Nachteile eines Wasserbettes lassen sich durch Verwendung einer Matratze mit Luftkern vermeiden. Zusätzlich erfolgt hier eine optimalere Anpassung der Auflage an die Körperform des Benützers, da es nicht zu einer seitlichen Wasserverdrängung wie beim Wasserbett kommt, sondern die verdrängte Luftmenge zu einer gleichmäßigen Erhöhung des Luftdruckes über das gesamte Volumen führt.However, water beds have several disadvantages. Physically weak people have difficulty changing their lying position. This is due to the fact that the water in the mattress must be moved under the body at a position change at the same time. For babies such mattresses are therefore even dangerous. Other disadvantages are the comparatively complicated handling and the very large weight. Particularly problematic has been found that water is a good heat transfer medium. The water filling, which usually has a maximum of room temperature, must be constantly heated at least to a temperature of about 25 ° C to 28 ° C in order not to deprive the body in an unpleasant and especially harmful to health temperature. However, such temperatures are absolutely harmful to people with venous disease. Since air is a bad heat carrier, temperature control can be omitted in mattresses with an air core, without having to give up the known advantages of water beds. All other disadvantages of a waterbed can be avoided by using a mattress with air core. In addition, here is a more optimal adaptation of the support to the body shape of the user, as it does not come to a lateral displacement of water as the waterbed, but the displaced air flow leads to a uniform increase in the air pressure over the entire volume.

Nachteilig bei Sitzmöbeln oder Matratzen mit Luftkern ist jedoch, dass diese nicht absolut gasdicht sind. Durch Gasdiffusion, insbesondere bei Druckbelastung bei ihrer Benützung kommt es zu einem Druckverlust im Luftkern, welcher eine periodische Nachfüllung erfordert. Ältere Systeme weisen hierzu manuell oder mittels elektromotor angetriebene füllsysteme auf um den einmal gewählten härtegrad im wesentlichen zeitlich unbegrenzt konstant halten zu können.A disadvantage of seating or mattresses with air core, however, is that they are not completely gas-tight. Gas diffusion, in particular under pressure during use, results in a pressure loss in the air core, which requires periodic refilling. Older systems have to manually or by means of electric motor driven filling systems in order to keep the once chosen degree of hardness substantially indefinitely constant.

Aus der US 4 306 322 ist ein Luftkernfüllsystem bekannt mit einer ausklappbaren integrierten Pumpe, welche über ein Rückschlagventil direkt mit dem Luftkern verbunden ist. Zum Nachfüllen des Luftkerns wird die Pumpe ausgeklappt und manuell komprimiert. Dabei kann es verhältnismäßig leicht vorkommen, dass der Luftkern überfüllt wird und zu hart ist, sodass wiederum Luft über ein weiteres Ventil abgelassen werden muss. Diese umständliche Bedienung wurde daher bald durch Systeme ersetzt, bei denen über ein Stellventil die Luft nur bis zu einem voreingestellten Druck eingefüllt werden kann.From the US 4,306,322 is an air core filling known with a fold-out integrated pump, which is connected via a check valve directly to the air core. To refill the air core, the pump is unfolded and compressed manually. It may be relatively easy that the air core is overfilled and too hard, so in turn air must be drained through another valve. This cumbersome operation was therefore soon replaced by systems in which the air can be filled via a control valve only up to a preset pressure.

Um auch eine kontinuierliche Erhaltung des gewünschten Druckes im Luftkern zu ermöglichen wurden zudem automatische Nachfüllsysteme entwickelt. So beschreibt beispielsweise die EP 0 620 716 B1 eine Obermatratze mit integriertem Luftsystem, bei welchem um einen Luftkern ein umlaufender Schaumstoffrahmen vorhanden ist, in welchem ein Luftspeicher- und Zufuhrsystem integriert ist. Dieses besteht aus einer Luftpumpe, einem Luftreservoir und einem Druckregulierventil. Bei Belastung des Schaumstoffrahmens - der Benützer setzt sich auf die Matratze - entsteht ein Druck auf die im Schaumstoffrahmen integrierten Pumpenkörper, welcher die Luft aus diesen Pumpenkörpern in ein Luftreservoir befördert. Dort wird die aus den Pumpenkörpern kommende Luft komprimiert und gespeichert. Zwischen den Pumpenkörpern und dem Reservoir ist ein Rückschlagventil in die Verbindungsleitung eingebaut. Sobald die Matratze entlastet wird, gleicht der Druck aus dem Luftreservoir den Druck im Luftkern der Matratze wieder aus bis zu einem Wert, welcher am Druckregulierventil eingestellt ist. Sobald die Randzone entlastet wird, saugen die Pumpenkörper durch Rückstellung in ihre Ausgangslage Umgebungsluft über ein weiteres Ventil an.In order to enable continuous maintenance of the desired pressure in the air core, automatic refill systems have also been developed. For example, describes the EP 0 620 716 B1 an upper mattress with integrated air system, in which there is an encircling foam frame around an air core, in which an air storage and supply system is integrated. This consists of an air pump, an air reservoir and a pressure regulating valve. When the foam frame is loaded - the user sits down on the mattress - a pressure is exerted on the foam body integrated in the pump body, which conveys the air from these pump bodies into an air reservoir. There, the air coming from the pump bodies is compressed and stored. Between the pump bodies and the reservoir, a check valve is installed in the connecting line. Once the mattress is unloaded, the pressure from the air reservoir equalizes the pressure in the air core of the mattress again to a value which is set on the pressure regulating valve. As soon as the boundary zone is relieved, the pump bodies suck ambient air via another valve by returning them to their initial position.

Dieses System weist jedoch eine Reihe von Nachteilen auf. Die Luft aus den Pumpenkörpern wird nur dann in das Reservoir gepresst, wenn der Druck auf die Randzone durch Setzen auf dieselbe ausreichend hoch ist, anders gesagt, wenn sich der Benutzer voll auf die Randzone setzt. Normalerweise erfolgt das Niedersetzen jedoch so, dass die Randzone nur vom Schenkel nicht jedoch vom Gesäß belastet wird. Die Folge ist eine unzureichende Komprimierung der Pumpenkörper.However, this system has a number of disadvantages. The air from the pump bodies is only pressed into the reservoir when the pressure on the edge zone is sufficiently high by being placed on it, in other words when the user sits fully on the edge zone. Normally, however, the lowering is done so that the edge zone is loaded only by the thigh but not from the buttocks. The result is insufficient compression of the pump body.

Ein weiterer Nachteil besteht darin, dass das Reservoir immer unter Druck stehen muss, um den Luftkern der Matratze auf dem eingestellten Wert halten zu können. Kommt es jedoch aus irgend einer Ursache, beispielsweise durch Staubeintrag in das Rückschlagventil zum Reservoir, zu einem Druckabbau im Reservoir, so wird die Aufrechterhaltung des eingestellten Druckwertes unmöglich. Andererseits kann der aufgebaute Druck der komprimierten Luft nur über den Luftkern abgebaut werden. Dies hat zur Folge, dass sich im Reservoir bei intensiver Benützung leicht ein Druck von 100 mbar und mehr aufbauen kann, wodurch die Anschlüsse und Ventile einer hohen Belastung ausgesetzt werden. Weiters nachteilig sind die enorm langen Wege vom Lufteintritt zum Reservoir und weiter zum Druckregulierventil, wodurch große Gasdiffusionsflächen entstehen. Auch steigt die Gefahr von Undichtigkeit aufgrund der zahlreichen Anschlussstellen. Ebenfalls nachteilig ist, dass eine gewollte Druckreduzierung im Luftkern nur durch Diffusionsverlust möglich ist, weshalb es sehr lange dauert, bis sich der Druck im Luftkern auf dem niedrigeren Niveau eingestellt hat.Another disadvantage is that the reservoir must always be under pressure to keep the air core of the mattress at the set value. However, if, for some reason, for example by dust in the check valve to the reservoir, to a pressure reduction in the reservoir, maintaining the set pressure value is impossible. On the other hand, the built-up pressure of the compressed air can be reduced only via the air core. As a result, in the reservoir at more intense Use can easily build a pressure of 100 mbar and more, whereby the connections and valves are exposed to a high load. Another disadvantage is the enormously long distances from the air inlet to the reservoir and on to the pressure regulating valve, which creates large gas diffusion surfaces. Also increases the risk of leakage due to the numerous connection points. Another disadvantage is that a desired pressure reduction in the air core is possible only by diffusion loss, which is why it takes a very long time until the pressure in the air core has adjusted to the lower level.

Die FR 2 087 457 A zeigt eine Vorrichtung zur Verteilung von Gasen in medizinischen Geräten. Auch die Vorrichtung weist die oben beschriebenen Nachteile auf.The FR 2 087 457 A shows a device for the distribution of gases in medical devices. The device also has the disadvantages described above.

Die vorliegende Erfindung stellt sich daher die Aufgabe, diese Nachteile zu vermeiden, indem ein Pump- und Steuerungssystem geschaffen wird, welches ohne Reservoir arbeitet und im gesamten Luftkernfüllsystem bei Nichtbelastung denselben Druck wie im Luftkern aufweist.The present invention is therefore based on the object of avoiding these disadvantages by providing a pumping and control system which operates without a reservoir and has the same pressure in the entire air core filling system under no load as in the air core.

Diese Aufgabe wird gelöst durch die im Hauptanspruch beschriebenen technischen Merkmale. Weiters soll das erfindungsgemäße Luftversorgungssystem eine wesentlich kleinere Bauweise mit erheblich reduzierten Verbindungsleitungen haben und auch eine im Vergleich zum System der EP 0 620 716 B1 geringere Anzahl von Verbindungsstellen besitzen, um dadurch die Gefährdung durch ungewollten Druckabbau zu reduzieren.This object is achieved by the technical features described in the main claim. Furthermore, the air supply system according to the invention should have a much smaller design with significantly reduced interconnections and also in comparison to the system of EP 0 620 716 B1 have fewer joints, thereby reducing the risk of unwanted pressure reduction.

Die Erfindung wird im folgenden anhand der Figur näher erläutert.The invention will be explained in more detail below with reference to FIG.

Darin zeigt die Figur den prinzipiellen Aufbau der Erfindung. Die gesamte Vorrichtung weist mit dem sie umschließenden - hier nicht dargestellten - Gehäuse eine Baugröße auf, die es ermöglicht, das Gehäuse beispielsweise im Bereich des Kopf- oder Fußendes einer Matratze einzubauen. Der wesentliche Kern der Erfindung ist das Pumpsystem, welches hier beispielhaft als Zweikammerblasebalg dargestellt ist, und das mit dem Pumpsystem in Wirkverbindung stehende Steuerungssystem. Es versteht sich jedoch von selbst, dass dieselbe Erfindung auch von alternativen technischen Ausführungen ermöglicht wird, bei welcher eine die Verdrängungsluft aus dem Luftkern und eine die angesaugte Außenluft aufnehmende Kammer in unmittelbarer Wirkverbindung stehen und über die Rückstelleinrichtung gleichzeitig und nahezu vollständig entleert werden. Mit der vorliegenden Erfindung werden daher auch solche technischen Ausgestaltungen erfasst.Therein, the figure shows the basic structure of the invention. The entire device has with the enclosing - not shown here - a housing size, which makes it possible to install the housing, for example in the region of the head or foot of a mattress. The essential core of the invention is the pumping system, which is shown here by way of example as a two-chamber bellows, and the control system in operative connection with the pumping system. It goes without saying, however, that the same invention is also made possible by alternative technical embodiments, in which a chamber receiving the displacement air from the air core and the outside air sucked in are in direct operative connection and are simultaneously and almost completely emptied via the return device. Therefore, the present invention also covers such technical embodiments.

Sobald der Benutzer den Luftkern belastet, wird die Luft aus dem nicht dargestellten Luftkern über die erste Leitung 1 in die erste Kammer 2 des Zweikammerblasebalgs 3 gedrückt, wodurch sich der Blasebalg 3 dehnt und mit seiner Außenfläche 4 gegen eine Rückstellfeder 5 drückt. Durch die Dehnung der umlaufenden ersten Kammer 2 wird zwangsweise auch der Rauminhalt der zentral angeordneten zweiten Kammer 6 vergrößert, wodurch hier ein Unterdruck entsteht, der zu einer Ansaugung von Umgebungsluft über die zweite Leitung 7 führt. Diese zweite Leitung 7 ist über ein Rückschlagventil 8 mit der als Verbindungsleitung ausgebildeten dritten Leitung 9 zur Außenluft und über ein weiteres Rückschlagventil 10 mit der ersten Leitung 1 verbunden. In der dritten Leitung 9 befindet sich ein Luftfilter 11, der den Eintrag selbst kleinster Staubpartikel zuverlässig verhindert, welche die Funktionsfähigkeit der Rückschlagventile beeinträchtigen könnten.As soon as the user loads the air core, the air from the air core, not shown, via the first line 1 into the first chamber 2 of the Zweikammerblasebalgs 3, whereby the bellows 3 expands and presses with its outer surface 4 against a return spring 5. As a result of the expansion of the circulating first chamber 2, the volume of the centrally arranged second chamber 6 is also forcibly increased, as a result of which a negative pressure is created which leads to an intake of ambient air via the second line 7. This second line 7 is connected via a check valve 8 with the third line 9 designed as a connecting line to the outside air and via a further check valve 10 with the first line 1. In the third line 9 is an air filter 11, which reliably prevents the entry of even the smallest dust particles, which could affect the functioning of the check valves.

Sobald der Benutzer den Luftkern entlastet, reduziert sich schlagartig der Druck im Luftkern und gleichzeitig auch in der ersten Kammer 2, wodurch die Rückstellfeder 5 in der Lage ist, den Blasebalg 3 durch Druck auf seine Außenfläche 4 wieder nahezu vollständig zusammen zu drücken. Die Rückstellfeder 5 weist eine Druckkraft auf, welche etwa 1 mbar bis 5 mbar, bevorzugt etwa 2 mbar bis 4 mbar über dem Normaldruck des Luftkerns liegt. Bei diesem Vorgang wird sowohl die Luft aus der ersten Kammer 2 in den Luftkern zurückgedrängt als auch jene Luft aus der zweiten Kammer 6, welche über das Rückschlagventil 10 in die erste Leitung 1 gepresst wird, wodurch der Luftverlust im Luftkern nach jeder Entlastung des Luftkernfüllsystems wieder ausgeglichen werden kann. Vor dem Rückschlagventil 10 befindet sich eine Strömungsdrossel 12, um einen langsamen Druckaufbau im Luftkern bis zu jenem Wert zu ermöglichen, welcher durch das Druckregulierventil 13 vorgegeben ist. Darüber hinausgehende Luft entweicht beim Druckregulierventil 13 über die Luftauslassöffnung 18. Durch diese Konstruktion herrscht im gesamten System der voreingestellte Normaldruck des Luftkerns.Once the user relieves the air core, abruptly reduces the pressure in the air core and at the same time in the first chamber 2, whereby the return spring 5 is able to almost completely press the bellows 3 by pressure on its outer surface 4 again. The return spring 5 has a compressive force which is about 1 mbar to 5 mbar, preferably about 2 mbar to 4 mbar above the normal pressure of the air core. In this process, both the air from the first chamber 2 is forced back into the air core and the air from the second chamber 6, which is pressed via the check valve 10 in the first line 1, whereby the air loss in the air core after each discharge of Luftkernfüllsystems again can be compensated. In front of the check valve 10 is a flow restrictor 12 to allow a slow pressure build-up in the air core up to that value which is predetermined by the pressure regulating valve 13. Exceeding air escapes at the pressure regulating valve 13 via the air outlet opening 18. By this construction prevails in the entire system of the preset normal pressure of the air core.

Das Druckregulierventil 13 ist als herkömmliches Membranventil ausgebildet, wobei die Druckmembrane 14 eine möglichst große Fläche aufweisen soll, da die Genauigkeit der Druckeinstellung in unmittelbarem Zusammenhang mit der Membranfläche steht. In Versuchen konnte festgestellt werden, dass die gewünschte Genauigkeit bei Membrandurchmessern von etwa 30 mm bis 50 mm zu befriedigenden Ergebnissen führt.The pressure regulating valve 13 is designed as a conventional diaphragm valve, wherein the pressure diaphragm 14 should have the largest possible area, since the accuracy of the pressure setting is directly related to the membrane surface. Experiments have shown that the desired accuracy leads to satisfactory results for membrane diameters of about 30 mm to 50 mm.

Kommt es zu einem unerwünschten Überdruck im System, beispielsweise durch starke Erwärmung des Luftkerns, so öffnet sich sofort ein mit der ersten Leitung 1 verbundenes Überdruckventil 15, das beispielsweise auf einen Grenzdruck von etwa 60 mbar oder 70 mbar eingestellt werden kann. Damit kann eventuellen Schäden durch zu hohen Druck vorgebeugt werden.If there is an undesirable overpressure in the system, for example due to severe heating of the air core, an overpressure valve 15 connected to the first line 1 opens immediately and can be set to a limiting pressure of about 60 mbar or 70 mbar, for example. This can prevent any damage caused by excessive pressure.

Es kann jedoch auch vorkommen, dass der ursprünglich gewählte Normaldruck des Luftkerns zu hoch gewählt wurde. Durch das mit der Hand zu betätigende Regulatorventil 16 kann in kurzer Zeit der Normaldruck des bevorzugt unbelasteten Luftkerns auf jeden beliebigen, niedrigeren Wert reduziert werden.However, it may also happen that the originally selected normal pressure of the air core was chosen too high. By manually operated regulator valve 16, the normal pressure of the preferably unloaded air core can be reduced to any, lower value in a short time.

Die Ventile 8, 10, 15 und 16 sind bevorzugt als Membranventile ausgeführt, deren Membranflächendurchmesser im Bereich von etwa 0,5 cm bis 2 cm, bevorzugt bei etwa 1 cm liegt, wobei die Membrandicke eine Stärke von etwa 0,2 mm bis 0,4 mm, bevorzugt etwa 0,25 mm hat.The valves 8, 10, 15 and 16 are preferably designed as diaphragm valves whose membrane surface diameter is in the range of about 0.5 cm to 2 cm, preferably about 1 cm, wherein the membrane thickness has a thickness of about 0.2 mm to 0, 4 mm, preferably about 0.25 mm.

Die besonderen Vorteile des erfindungsgemäßen Luftkernfüllsystems liegen zum einen darin, dass die automatische Luftnachspeisung unabhängig ist von der jeweiligen Belastungsstelle des Luftkerns, da jegliche Belastung zu einer Ansaugung von Frischluft führt, was insbesondere bei Luftkernen eine erhebliche Verbesserung der Zuverlässigkeit gegenüber bekannten Vorrichtungen mit sich bringt.The particular advantages of the air core filling system according to the invention are firstly that the automatic air replenishment is independent of the respective load point of the air core, since any load leads to a suction of fresh air, which brings a significant improvement in reliability over known devices, especially in air cores.

Ein weiterer Vorteil ist die erheblich reduzierte Bauweise und die erst dadurch ermöglichten, sehr kurzen Verbindungsleitungen. Weiters vorteilhaft ist, dass kein Speicher mit vorkomprimierter Luft zum Nachfüllen des Luftkerns erforderlich ist. Auch die Gefährdung der Bauteile und ihrer Verbindungsstellen durch einen eventuellen Aufbau von zu hohem Druck in der Luftvorratskammer wird zuverlässig vermieden, da die gegenständliche Luftvorratskammer, aus der die Nachspeisung des Luftkerns mit Frischluft erfolgt, maximal Atmosphärendruck aufweist.Another advantage is the considerably reduced construction and the first possible, very short connecting lines. It is also advantageous that no memory with precompressed air is required for refilling the air core. The risk to the components and their joints by a possible build-up of excessive pressure in the air storage chamber is reliably avoided because the subject air storage chamber, from which the refilling of the air core is done with fresh air, maximum atmospheric pressure.

Als besonders vorteilhaft hat es sich erwiesen, das Luftpumpensystem 3 als Zweikammerblasebalg auszuführen, da hier im Gegensatz zu einem Pumpzylinder zu Beginn des Druckaufbaues das Losbrechmoment auf Null reduziert ist.To be particularly advantageous, it has proven to perform the air pump system 3 as a two-chamber bellows, since here in contrast to a pump cylinder at the beginning of the pressure build-up, the breakaway torque is reduced to zero.

Claims (10)

  1. Air-core filling system for a bed or a chair having an integrated air core, where the air-core filling system is configured as an air-core filling system integrated in the bed or chair, which reacts to the application of load and automatically replenishes the air volume in the air core so as to keep up a preselected variable pressure, characterized in that the air-core filling system comprises an air pump system (3) with at least two separate chambers (2, 6) and a control system (17) with a pressure control valve (13), where the first chamber (2) is directly connected to the air core via a first line (1), and a second chamber (6) via the pressure control valve (13) is connected via a second line (7) to the air core on the one hand and via a third line (9) to the ambient air on the other hand.
  2. Air-core filling system according to claim 1, characterized in that the air pump system (3) with at least two chambers (2, 6) is built in the manner of a two-chamber bellows, with the chambers (2, 6) having a common boundary surface (4), which is acted on by a restoring device, for instance a spring (5), so as to drain the chambers (2, 6) almost completely when the load is removed from the air core.
  3. Air-core filling system according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the first chamber (2) is designed as a surrounding chamber around the centrally placed second chamber (6).
  4. Air-core filling system according to claim 1, 2 or 3, characterized in that the first line (1) and the second line (7) are mutually connected via a check valve (10).
  5. Air-core filling system according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the second line (7) is connected via a check valve (8) to the third line (9), which in turn connects to the ambient air and has an integrated air filter (11).
  6. Air-core filling system according to any of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the first line (1) is connected to a pressure relief valve (15).
  7. Air-core filling system according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the first line (1) is provided with a regulating valve (16).
  8. Air-core filling system according to any of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the second line (7) is provided with a flow throttle (12).
  9. Air-core filling system according to any of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the pressure control valve (13) is designed as a diaphragm valve, with the pressure diaphragm (14) having a diameter of 15 mm to 70 mm, and preferably of 30 mm to 50 mm.
  10. Air-core filling system according to any of claims 4 to 9, characterized in that the valves (8, 10, 15, 16) are diaphragm valves, with diaphragm surface diameters lying in the range of 0.5 cm to 2 cm, and preferably at about 1.0 cm, and diaphragm thickness being between 0.2 mm and 0.4 mm, and preferably at about 0.25 mm.
EP20040450210 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 Filling system for bodies having air core Active EP1656857B1 (en)

Priority Applications (9)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
DE200450005332 DE502004005332D1 (en) 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 Air-core filling
PT04450210T PT1656857E (en) 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 Filling system for bodies having air core
AT04450210T ATE376374T1 (en) 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 AIR CORE FILLING SYSTEM
EP20040450210 EP1656857B1 (en) 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 Filling system for bodies having air core
ES04450210T ES2293200T3 (en) 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 AIR NUCLEUS FILLING SYSTEM.
JP2007540449A JP4773455B2 (en) 2004-11-16 2005-10-06 Air cell air filling system
US11/667,674 US7726330B2 (en) 2004-11-16 2005-10-06 Air core filling system
CNB2005800389358A CN100563513C (en) 2004-11-16 2005-10-06 Air core filling system
PCT/AT2005/000395 WO2006053351A1 (en) 2004-11-16 2005-10-06 Air core filling system

Applications Claiming Priority (1)

Application Number Priority Date Filing Date Title
EP20040450210 EP1656857B1 (en) 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 Filling system for bodies having air core

Publications (2)

Publication Number Publication Date
EP1656857A1 EP1656857A1 (en) 2006-05-17
EP1656857B1 true EP1656857B1 (en) 2007-10-24

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EP20040450210 Active EP1656857B1 (en) 2004-11-16 2004-11-16 Filling system for bodies having air core

Country Status (9)

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US (1) US7726330B2 (en)
EP (1) EP1656857B1 (en)
JP (1) JP4773455B2 (en)
CN (1) CN100563513C (en)
AT (1) ATE376374T1 (en)
DE (1) DE502004005332D1 (en)
ES (1) ES2293200T3 (en)
PT (1) PT1656857E (en)
WO (1) WO2006053351A1 (en)

Families Citing this family (9)

* Cited by examiner, † Cited by third party
Publication number Priority date Publication date Assignee Title
ES2293200T3 (en) * 2004-11-16 2008-03-16 Kurt Schuster AIR NUCLEUS FILLING SYSTEM.
CN200968325Y (en) * 2006-10-13 2007-10-31 王正宗 Electric air charging and releasing apparatus capable of heat sinking and pressure relieving
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US11285764B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2022-03-29 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Control valve for an air maintenance tire
US10807422B2 (en) 2016-12-22 2020-10-20 The Goodyear Tire & Rubber Company Inlet control valve for an air maintenance tire
CN107496117B (en) * 2017-08-31 2023-05-02 任鹏宇 Feedback type secondary pressure self-adjustment bedsore monitoring and preventing intelligent equipment

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Publication number Publication date
US7726330B2 (en) 2010-06-01
DE502004005332D1 (en) 2007-12-06
CN100563513C (en) 2009-12-02
JP4773455B2 (en) 2011-09-14
ES2293200T3 (en) 2008-03-16
EP1656857A1 (en) 2006-05-17
WO2006053351A1 (en) 2006-05-26
CN101056558A (en) 2007-10-17
ATE376374T1 (en) 2007-11-15
PT1656857E (en) 2008-02-07
JP2008520259A (en) 2008-06-19
US20080011356A1 (en) 2008-01-17

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