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

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2020016693-A1
Application number	US-201916507786-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jul 10, 2019
Priority date	Jul 10, 2018
Publication date	Jan 16, 2020
Grant date	—

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 with an opening adapted to accommodate portions of the optical tool in a housing interior; a housing discharge connected to the housing in a fluid-conducting manner; and a sealing sleeve arranged at an opening of the housing, the sealing sleeve having a fluid-carrying line for adapting a variable fill volume of the sealing sleeve.

2 . The tool arrangement according to claim 1 , wherein a space between an edge of the opening of the housing and the partially accommodated optical tool is sealed by the sealing sleeve, and wherein the sealing sleeve is made of a flexible material.

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 , wherein the tool arrangement has 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 a portion of an optical tool in a housing interior through an opening of a housing; filling a variable-volume sealing sleeve located at an edge of the opening of the housing until a space between the tool partially located in the opening and the edge of the opening of the housing is filled 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.

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 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 the fill volume of the variable-volume sealing sleeve is reduced upon the reactivation of the optical tool from the park position into an 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.

Assignees

• Volkswagen Ag

Inventors

• Richter Stefan
• Marx Sebastian
• Hirschfeldt Mike

Classifications

• B23K26/702

  Auxiliary equipment · CPC title

• B23K26/38 Primary

  by boring or cutting · CPC title

• B23K26/70

  Auxiliary operations or equipment · CPC title

• B23K26/142 Primary

  for the removal of by-products · CPC title

• B23K26/032

  using optical means · CPC title