DE102005043969B4 - Valve device for controlling a fluid flow - Google Patents

Abstract

Valve device (1) for controlling a fluid flow, in particular a volume flow of a gaseous fluid, with a guide element (7) in which a valve armature (8) with a valve closing element for adjusting the fluid flow between an inflow side (2) and an outflow side (3) A valve seat (5) is guided so that it can move axially, the valve armature (8) being interposed by means of an electromagnetic actuating device (5) with an inner pole element (9, 9A, 9B) arranged at least partially inside the solenoid (6) Two end positions can be moved, and a first end position of the valve armature (8) is defined by a stop face (15) of the inner pole element (9, 9A, 9B) facing the valve armature (8) and the inner pole element (9, 9A, 9B) for support the valve armature (8) is formed in its first end position with a support region (10) which interacts with a housing-fixed region (11), dadurc h characterized in that at least one damping area (16) absorbing kinetic energy of the valve armature (8) is formed between the stop face (15) and the area (11) fixed to the housing.

Description

State of the art

The invention relates to a device for controlling a fluid flow, in particular a volume flow of a gaseous fluid according to the closer defined in the preamble of claim 1. Art.

From the DE 100 46 939 B4 A plunger anchor system for an electropneumatic pressure transducer is already known. The pressure transducer comprises at least partially in a sheath, in particular an iron sheath, a plunger armature, a core, such as an iron core or a magnetic core, at least a first recess in the plunger armature and an air gap between the sheath and the plunger armature and the core, by relative movement between the plunger armature and the core, during which the core in the first recess in the plunger armature partially in or out of the same is movable, is adjustable. The core is movable relative to the plunger armature for adjusting the air gap. Via a threaded sleeve, the core is movable relative to the diver anchor, wherein between the shell and the threaded sleeve, a spacer and a first damping member are provided in the first recess.

From the DE 82 32 134 U1 A solenoid valve is already known in the application of a metering valve for ventilators. This solenoid valve is characterized in that an anchor sleeve made of ferrite and in a recess of a housing-fixed magnetic core two successively arranged spring elements and a piston-shaped transmission member are provided, which form a damping device that allows a progressive motion damping of the plunger, thereby not only the switching noise considerably be reduced, but also a vibration-free exact switching is achievable.

From the DE 103 04 143 A1 For example, a valve device for controlling a fluid is known, which has a valve housing and an electromagnetic actuation unit for actuating a valve anchor. The valve armature is guided axially displaceably in a guide sleeve and provided for controlling a fluid flow between an inflow side and an outflow side. For this purpose, the valve armature is formed with a cooperating with a valve seat valve closure member which is movable for transferring the valve device between a closed and an open state in the guide sleeve axially against a stop member against the force of a return spring.

Such injection valves or injection valves, which are used in gaseous media, are derived in terms of their structure and function substantially from the commonly used for liquid media injectors, wherein it is difficult to meet the special requirements in controlling gaseous flow rates to valves be put.

A gas combustion engine or a fuel cell are generally supplied much larger amounts of fluid than an internal combustion engine operated with liquid fuel. Why valve devices for controlling gaseous fluids with larger cross sections and larger anchor strokes are to be provided.

Due to the large compared to injectors for liquid media cross sections so-called current-controlled output stages are used to actuate valve devices for gaseous media, the valve devices are operated by the control with current-controlled output stages with very short opening times.

However, this disadvantageously causes the valve armature to hit the stop limit element having such a stroke limiting surface, which disadvantageously leads to plastic deformation of the stroke limiting surface and / or flaking off of a wear protection layer or a layer for setting a magnetic residual air gap in the area between the valve armature and leads the stop element. These signs of wear cause during operation of the valve device and lead to an undesirable change in the functional values.

For this reason, in practice it has been transferred to coat the contact surfaces of the end face of the valve armature and / or the stop element with acting as a damping element elastomers.

Such valve devices have disadvantages in terms of poor adjustability of hardness, high valve-to-valve variance, small-quantity linearity, temperature performance, and higher magnetic force demand for actuating the valve device due to the material properties of the elastomers over elastomeric damping elements.

The present invention is therefore an object of the invention to provide a valve device for controlling a fluid flow, in particular a volume flow of a gaseous fluid available, which has a long service life and with the exact control is feasible.

Advantages of the invention

The inventive device for controlling a fluid flow, in particular a volume flow of a gaseous fluid is formed with a guide element in which a valve armature with a valve closing member for adjusting the fluid flow between an inflow side and a downstream side against a valve seat body is axially movable. The valve armature is displaceable between two end positions by means of a magnetic pole arranged at least partially within the coil, a first end position of the valve armature being defined by a stop end surface of the inner pole element associated with the valve armature and the inner pole element supporting the valve armature in its end first end position is formed with a cooperating with a housing fixed area support area.

According to the invention, at least one kinetic energy of the valve armature absorbing damping region is formed between the stop end face and the housing-fixed area. Thus, the valve device is designed in a structurally simple manner with an adjustable braking mechanism for the magnet armature, by means of which wear or plastic deformation both in the region of the valve armature and in the region of the first end position of the valve anchor defining stop on the inner pole element reducible or completely avoidable are.

The inventive design of the valve device offers in addition to a simply adjustable counterforce for the valve anchor the ability to significantly reduce operating noise in the region of the valve device compared to conventionally designed valve devices.

In addition, due to the reduced or completely eliminated wear in the region between the mutually facing and in the first end position of the valve armature adjacent end faces of the valve armature and the Innenpolelementes a consistent over the life of the valve device functionality of the valve device is achieved, which is particularly advantageous for the control an internal combustion engine is.

A further advantage, which results from the configuration of the valve device according to the invention, is that a significant reduction in the impact force of the valve anchor is achieved in comparison to conventional valve devices. This also leads to a reduction in the impact load of the other components of the valve device, so that complex measures, which reduce the vibrations caused by the impact of the valve armature on the inner pole element in the region of the entire valve device, are not required.

In addition, the valve device according to the invention compared to conventional valve devices with a slimmer magnetic circuit executable because the valve armature is cushioned against the fixed stop of the preferably tubular Innenpolelements.

Further advantages and advantageous embodiments of the article according to the invention are the description, the drawings and the claims removed.

drawing

Three embodiments of an inventively designed valve device are shown schematically simplified in the drawing and are explained in more detail in the following description. Show it:

1 a longitudinal section through a valve device according to the invention;

2 an enlarged detail of the Innenpolelements according to 1 ;

3 a 2 corresponding representation of a second embodiment of the inner pole member; and

4 a 1 corresponding representation of another embodiment of an inventively designed valve device.

Description of the embodiments

1 shows a partial longitudinal section of a valve device 1 which is designed for use in a fuel cell or in a gas combustion engine of a motor vehicle and for controlling a fluid flow, ie a volume flow of a gaseous fluid, from an inlet side 2 to a downstream side 3 is provided. The valve device according to the invention can be used for example as a low-resistance gas inlet valve in commercial vehicles, such as trucks or buses.

The valve device 1 includes a multi-part housing 4 in which an electromagnetic actuator 5 with a magnetic coil 6 is arranged, which in turn a presently produced by deep drawing or other forming technique guide sleeve or a guide element 7 made of non-magnetic material.

In the guide element 7 is a soft magnetic valve anchor 8th axially displaceably mounted, which is connected to a valve closure member, not shown, which is provided for cooperation with a valve seat.

On the inflow side closes to the valve anchor 8th a coaxial in the guide sleeve 7 arranged, tubular inner pole formed element 9 on which an inner pole of the electromagnetic actuator 5 forms. The inner pole element 9 lies with a valve anchor 8th opposite end face 10 that has a support region of the inner pole element 9 represents, on a an axial fixed stop forming or a housing fixed area performing stop sleeve 11 which is fixed to the guide element 7 connected is.

The valve anchor 8th and the inner pole member 9 each have a central bore, which serves to supply the gaseous fluid to be injected into the combustion chamber of the internal combustion engine and in the one on the valve armature 8th acting, concentric to this return spring 13 is arranged. The return spring 13 is downstream at the in the 1 illustrated embodiment of the valve device 1 at one on the valve anchor 8th trained support shoulder 14 and on the inflow side of an adjusting sleeve 12 supported.

The adjusting sleeve 12 is with its downstream end in the central bore of the inner pole element 9 arranged and with a first Innenpolelementteil 9A of the two-part inner pole element 9 firmly connected via a press connection. This compound, which can also be designed as a variable threaded connection, serves to determine the axial length of the combination of adjusting sleeve 12 and inner pole element 9 ,

In the non-activated closed state of the valve device 1 the valve seat is sealed by the valve closure member, with the valve anchor 8th firmly connected valve closing member by the force of the return spring 13 is held in the closed position. The adjusting sleeve 12 and the inner pole member 9 Be over the stop sleeve 11 held in a predefined axial position.

To open the valve device 1 becomes the magnetic coil 6 the electromagnetic actuator 5 energized, causing the magnetic valve anchor 8th lifted with the valve closing member of the valve seat and in the direction of the inflow side 2 the valve device 1 is moved. As soon as the valve anchor 8th on the in the valve anchor 8th facing end face 15 a second Innenpolelementteils 9B is hit by the movement of the valve anchor 8th generated momentum in the second Innenpolelementteil 9B initiated.

The second inner pole element part 9B , whose outer diameter D2 is smaller than the outer diameter D1 of the first Innenpolelementteils 9A is, is in the guide element 7 axially displaceably guided and supported by a between the second inner pole element part 9B and the first inner pole member part 9A provided damping range 16 in the axial direction on the stop sleeve 11 from. In addition, the first inner pole member part 9A in the guide sleeve 7 pressed in and thus not designed to be displaceable in the axial direction.

The damping range 16 is at the in 1 illustrated embodiment of the valve device 1 designed as an elastic elastomer ring when opening the valve device 1 by the impact of the valve anchor 8th on the face 15 the second Innenpolelementteils 9B occurring pulse absorbs or attenuates at least to such a proportion that a wear in the region of the inner pole element 9 facing end face of the valve anchor 8th as well as the face 15 of the inner pole element 9 is avoided and a valve noise when opening the valve device 1 is low.

By the arrangement of the damping area 16 between the two inner pole element parts 9A and 9B of the inner pole element 9 is an adjustable deceleration of the valve anchor 8th before, without plastic deformation or wear on the contact surfaces of the valve anchor 8th and the inner pole member 9 occur during a valve opening operation, since the impulse upon impact of the valve armature 8th on the inner pole element 9 at a valve opening to the damping area 16 forwarded and the pulse energy there due to the axial movement of the second Innenpolelementteils 9B and the concomitant deformation of the damping region 16 is reduced.

Depending on the dimensions of the valve device 1 and the desired injection or blow-in dynamics can via a corresponding choice of the elasticity of the damping region 16 the opposing force applied by this are set individually, so that there is a stable damping function and valve function over the entire life of the valve for each valve device.

In addition, it is possible to make the opening process such that the damping provided according to the invention via the damping region 16 no impact on functionality, such as: As the injection or Einblaswinkel and the dynamic volume adjustment, the valve device 1 Has.

Depending on the elastomer hardness or for the production of the damping region 16 selected elastomer type is the caused by the pulse movement of the valve anchor 8th in the direction of the inflow side 2 a certain counterforce of the damping range 16 contrary, due to the valve anchor 8th and the second inner pole member part 9B after reaching the maximum deflection of the valve anchor 8th again in the direction of the outflow area 3 or the valve seat of the valve device to move until a stable equilibrium position is established, in which the elastomeric ring 16 is in a certain state of deformation as a function of the resultant total force component acting on it.

2 shows that in 1 shown in more detail two-part executed inner pole 9 and between the two Innenpolelementteilen 9A and 9B arranged damping area 16 the latter mentioned in the 1 and 2 illustrated first embodiment of the valve device is designed as an elastomeric ring.

In 3 is a second embodiment of an inner pole member 9 an inventively designed valve device 1 shown at the attenuation area 16 is formed as a corrugated metal spring, which is the two Innenpolelementteile 9A and 9B resiliently interconnected.

This means that the metal spring of the in 3 illustrated second embodiment is basically the same functionality as the elastomer ring of in 1 and 2 shown first embodiment of the valve device 1 namely an opening operation of the valve device 1 occurring momentum between the movable in the guide sleeve 7 arranged second inner pole element part 9B and in the guide sleeve 7 pressed first inner pole element part 9A absorb by reversible deformation such that plastic deformation and wear in the region of the mutually facing end faces of the valve armature 8th and the inner pole member 9 be avoided in a simple manner, taking into account the movement of the valve anchor 8th counteracting counterforce of the metal spring 16 of the second embodiment of the valve device 1 by appropriate design of the force of the metal spring, which is variable, for example, by changing the tendency of the spring, in a simple manner to the respective present application is adaptable.

The adjustment of the spring force of the damping region of the inner pole element or the dynamic quantity adjustment of the valve device 1 according to 1 or according to 3 takes place in a simple manner by means of a adapted to the particular application case dynamic and static mass flow adjustment in a conventional manner.

In a non-illustrated further advantageous embodiment of the valve device, it is provided that the damping region of the hollow cylindrical inner pole member has a plurality of distributed over the circumference and the axial length of the Innenpolelements arranged recesses in the cylinder wall, which the Innenpolelement with the for the damping of the through Impact of the valve armature on the Innenpolelement generated pulse or the impact energy forms required elasticity and avoids the valve function of the valve function impairing wear in a simple manner.

Of course, it is at the discretion of a person skilled in the art to carry out the damping region in another suitable manner and also to design the inner pole element with a plurality of damping regions, which may be made of a combination of different embodiments, e.g. H. a combination of an elastomeric ring and / or a metal spring and / or recesses are formed in the cylinder wall of the inner pole element.

In 4 is a further embodiment of an inventively designed valve device 1 illustrated in which the inner pole element 9 deviating from the above-described embodiments is made in one piece. The damping range 16 is in the axial extension of the valve device 1 between the face 10 of the inner pole element 9 and one of the inner pole member 9 facing end face of the stop sleeve 11 intended. Basically, the damping range 16 at the in 4 illustrated embodiment, the same functionality as the attenuation ranges of the above examples according to 1 to 3 on, which is why with respect to the functionality of the damping range 16 Reference is made to the above description.

The damping range 16 the valve device 1 according to 3 is in the present case designed as a sleeve-like elastomer ring and can of course also in dependence of the particular application case as an in 3 illustrated metal spring or be designed in any other suitable design.

Claims (6)

Valve device ( 1 ) for controlling a fluid flow, in particular a volume flow of a gaseous fluid, with a guide element ( 7 ), in which a valve anchor ( 8th ) with a valve closing member for adjusting the fluid flow between an inflow side ( 2 ) and a downstream side ( 3 ) relative to a valve seat ( 5 ) is guided axially movable, wherein the valve armature ( 8th ) by means of a magnetic coil ( 6 ) and at least partially within the solenoid coil ( 6 ) arranged inner pole element ( 9 . 9A . 9B ) carried out electromagnetic actuator ( 5 ) is displaceable between two end positions, and wherein a first end position of the valve armature ( 8th ) by a the valve anchor ( 8th ) facing stop face ( 15 ) of the inner pole element ( 9 . 9A . 9B ) and the inner pole element ( 9 . 9A . 9B ) for supporting the valve anchor ( 8th ) in its first end position with a housing-fixed area ( 11 ) cooperating support area ( 10 ) is formed, characterized in that between the stop face ( 15 ) and the housing-fixed area ( 11 ) at least one kinetic energy of the valve armature ( 8th ) absorbing damping area ( 16 ) educated. Valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner pole element ( 9 ) is made in one piece and the damping range ( 16 ) forming damping element between the support area ( 10 ) and the housing-fixed area ( 11 ) is arranged, which is carried out reversibly deformable. Valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that the inner pole element ( 9 . 9A . 9B ) is made in two parts, wherein a first inner pole element part ( 9A ) the support area ( 10 ) and on the guide element ( 7 ) is supported while the second inner pole element part ( 9B ) relative to the guide element ( 7 ) and the first inner pole element part ( 9A ) is displaceable, and wherein between the first inner pole element part ( 9A ) and the second inner pole element part ( 9B ) the damping range ( 16 ) forming damping element is arranged, which is formed reversibly deformable. Valve device according to claim 3, characterized in that the damping element ( 16 ) is formed of an elastomer. Valve device according to claim 3, characterized in that the damping element ( 16 ) is formed as a metal spring. Valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that the damping region of the hollow cylindrical inner pole part is formed by a plurality of circumferentially and the axial length of the damping region distributed recesses arranged in the cylinder wall of the Innenpolteils.

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