Tool arrangement and method for accommodating an optical tool in a park position

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11685000-B2
Application number	US-201916507786-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 10, 2019
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	Jun 27, 2023
Grant date	Jun 27, 2023

Abstract

A tool arrangement is provided for accommodating portions of an optical tool in a park position, having an optical tool and having a housing with an opening suitable for accommodating portions of the optical tool in a housing interior, with a housing discharge connected to the housing in a fluid-conducting manner, and with a sealing sleeve arranged at the opening of the housing, wherein the sealing sleeve has a fluid-carrying line for adapting a variable fill volume of the sealing sleeve. In addition, a method is provided for accommodating portions of an optical tool in a park position.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A tool arrangement to accommodate portions-of an optical tool in a park position, the arrangement comprising:
an optical tool;
a housing having a housing interior that accommodates only a portion of the optical tool therein to be placed in a park position for storing and cleaning, the portion of the optical tool extending into the housing interior through an opening of the housing;
a housing discharge connected to the housing in a fluid-conducting manner; and
a sealing sleeve arranged at the opening of the housing, the sealing sleeve being inflatable and having a fluid-carrying line for adapting a variable fill volume of the sealing sleeve so as to seal and unseal the opening of the housing.

2. The tool arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the sealing sleeve is made of a flexible material, wherein a space between an edge of the opening of the housing and art outer surface of the optical tool provided at the opening is sealed by adapting the variable fill volume of the sealing sleeve so as to inflate the sealing sleeve, and wherein the space is unsealed by adapting the variable fill volume of the sealing sleeve so as to deflate the sealing sleeve.

3. The tool arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the opening of the housing is round and the sealing sleeve is arranged along a circumference of the round opening of the housing.

4. The tool arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a fluid for maintaining a degree of cleanliness in the housing interior is introduced into the housing interior from a fluid supply of the optical tool and/or through a housing supply line.

5. The tool arrangement according to claim 1 , further comprising a power meter, which is arranged in the housing to monitor a function of the optical tool, and wherein a deviation of an actual value of the optical tool from a target value is measured by the power meter.

6. The tool arrangement according to claim 5 , wherein the power meter has a control unit for performing evaluations and for obtaining instructions for use of the optical tool.

7. A method for accommodating portions of an optical tool in a park position, the method comprising:
placing only a portion of an optical tool in a housing interior of a housing through an opening of the housing so that the portion of the optical tool is placed in a park position for storing and cleaning;
filling an inflatable variable-volume sealing sleeve located at an edge of the opening of the housing until a space between an outer surface of the optical tool located in the opening and the edge of the opening of the housing is sealed in a fluid-tight manner; and
introducing a purge gas into the housing interior through a supply line located in the optical tool and/or the housing until a target concentration of the purge gas in the housing interior is achieved or a time interval has passed in order to clean the portion of the optical tool.

8. The method according to claim 7 , wherein a pressure in the housing interior is checked at intervals by a power meter or by a housing sensor and is set by a supply of the purge gas.

9. The method according to claim 7 , wherein, upon a reactivation of the optical tool from the park position into an active position, the purge gas present in the housing interior is removed through a housing discharge that is connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the housing, wherein a fill volume of the variable-volume sealing sleeve is reduced upon the reactivation of the optical tool from the park position into the active position.

10. The method according to claim 7 , wherein a power measurement of the optical tool is performed by a power meter before a reactivation of the optical tool.

11. The tool arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein the portion of the optical tool is not always maintained in the housing.

12. The method according to claim 7 , wherein the portion of the optical tool is not always maintained in the housing.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Richter Stefan
• Marx Sebastian
• Hirschfeldt Mike

Classifications

• G01N2021/151

  Gas blown · CPC title

• B23K26/032

  using optical means · CPC title

• B23K26/142 Primary

  for the removal of by-products · CPC title

• G01N21/15

  Preventing contamination of the components of the optical system or obstruction of the light path · CPC title

• B25F5/02

  Construction of casings, bodies or handles {(B25F5/006, B25F5/008 take precedence)} · CPC title