DE102013020312B4 - valve assembly - Google Patents

Abstract

Valve arrangement, with a valve housing (2), with a valve member (3) which can be pivoted in a pivot plane (7) about a pivot center (6) while performing a switching movement (8) with respect to the valve housing (2), and with a valve member (3 ) actuator (26) cooperating in terms of drive to generate the switching movement (8), the valve member (3) having at least one closing body (4) which, at a distance from the pivot center (6), can be rotated on a supporting structure ( 14) of the valve member (3) and is formed by a roller (4a) which is mounted on the support structure (14) such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation (15) at right angles to the pivot plane (7) and whose outer peripheral surface ( 48a) forms a closing surface (48), wherein the closing body (4) as part of the switching movement (8) optionally in a first switching position closing a first controllable valve channel (24a) or in at least at least one further switch position releasing the first controllable valve channel (24a) can be positioned, wherein in the first switch position it rests sealingly with its closing surface (48) on a first valve seat (52a) surrounding a channel opening (47) of the first controllable valve channel (24a), this channel opening (47) opening out on a support surface (56) formed on the valve housing (2) and facing the closing surface (48) and the first valve seat support surface (52a) being intersected by the pivoting plane (7) and pointing towards the pivoting center (6). , such that the closing body (4) rolls on the first valve seat (52a) and the support surface (56) when the valve member (3) is moved into the first switching position and out of the first switching position, the rotatably mounted closing body (4) on the valve housing (2) in addition to the first controllable valve channel (24a) at least one further controllable valve channel (24b, 24c) is assigned, which has an in de r pivot plane (7) lying further valve seat (52b, 52c) framed channel opening (47), which is arranged in the direction of movement of the switching movement (8) at a distance from the channel opening (47) of the first controllable valve channel (24a) and in the first switching position of the valve member (3) is open, the channel opening (47) of the at least one further controllable valve channel (24b, 24c) in a further switching position of the valve member (3) deviating from the first switching position by the further valve seat (52b , 52c) sealingly abutting closing surface (48) of the closing body (4) is closed, characterized in that at least the further controllable valve channel (24b, 24c) is a second further controllable valve channel (24c) which is outside the support surface (56) on a Wall surface (58) of the valve housing (2) opens out, which delimits a valve chamber (5), in which at least the section of the valve member having the closing body (4). of (3), the channel opening (47) of the second further controllable valve channel (24c) being oriented in such a way that its central longitudinal axis (53) is at least essentially at right angles to a axis between the pivot center (6) of the valve member (3) and the linear axis connecting line (46) extending along the axis of rotation (15) of the roller (4a) when the valve member (3) assumes a switching position closing the second further controllable valve channel (24c).

Description

The invention relates to a valve arrangement, with a valve member that can be pivoted about a pivot center in a pivot plane with respect to the valve housing in a pivot plane, and with an actuator that interacts drivingly with the valve member to generate the switch-over movement, the valve member having at least one closing body which is spaced apart rotatable to the pivot center on a supporting structure of the valve member that participates in the switching movement and is formed by a roller mounted on the supporting structure such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation at right angles to the pivot plane, the outer peripheral surface of which is oriented radially with respect to the axis of rotation and forms a closing surface, the closing body being part of the switching movement can be optionally positioned in a first switch position closing a first controllable valve channel or in at least one further switch position releasing the first controllable valve channel, wob when in the first switching position it rests sealingly with its closing surface on a first valve seat framing a channel opening of the first controllable valve channel, with this channel opening opening out on a support surface formed on the valve housing and facing the closing surface, and with the first valve seat being intersected by the pivot plane and towards the pivot center in such a way that the closing body rolls on the first valve seat and the support surface when the valve member is moved into the first switching position and out of the first switching position, with the rotatably mounted closing body on the valve housing being assigned at least one further controllable valve channel in addition to the first controllable valve channel which has a channel opening framed by a further valve seat lying in the pivoting plane, which channel opening is arranged at a distance from the channel opening of the first controllable valve channel in the direction of movement of the switching movement and which in the first n switching position of the valve member is open, the channel opening of the at least one further controllable valve channel being closed in a further switching position of the valve member deviating from the first switching position by the closing surface of the closing body sealingly resting on the further valve seat assigned to it.

One from the U.S. 3,538,953 A Known valve arrangement of this type has a pivotable valve member about a pivot center with a rotatable closing body designed as a roller, which rolls when pivoting the valve member on an arcuately curved support surface to which two controllable valve channels open. Depending on the pivoting position of the valve member, the closing body can close the channel opening of either one or the other controllable valve channel.

From the U.S. 5,779,223 A a valve arrangement is known which has a pivotable valve member with a support arm and a roller-shaped closing body rotatably mounted on the support arm. A spring is integrated into the support arm, which gives the closing body an elastic resilience when it comes into contact with a support surface, to which a controllable valve channel opens.

the US 870 377 A describes a valve arrangement with a rotatable valve member, which has a plurality of support arms projecting away from the center of rotation, on each of which a roller-shaped closing body is rotatably mounted. When the valve member rotates, the closing bodies roll on a cylindrical support surface, alternately opening or closing channel openings formed in the support surface.

One from the DE 10233316 A1 known valve arrangement contains a valve member which is pivotably mounted with respect to a valve housing for performing a switching movement and has a spherical closing body which is arranged on a support structure used for pivot mounting and on which a piezoelectric actuator acts. The spherical closing body is located between two mutually facing channel openings of two valve members, each framed by a valve seat, and can be positioned in two different switching positions by actuating the actuator accordingly, in which it closes the associated channel opening by resting against a valve seat. In order to tightly close a channel opening against a fluid pressure that is associated with it, the actuator must exert a relatively high actuating force on the valve member. This requires a large-volume actuator, resulting in the large dimensions of the valve arrangement and relatively high manufacturing costs.

From the DE19720849C2 a valve arrangement is known in which a valve member is also pivotably mounted on a housing in order to rest selectively on one of two opposing valve seats and to close an associated valve channel.

From the article "Experimental characterization of the hysteretic and rate-dependent electromechanical behavior of dieletric electro-active polymer actuators" A. York, J. Dunn and S. Seelecke, published in "Smart Materials and Structures", 2010, pages 1 to 9 , the structure of dielectric electroactive polymer actuators is described, which is discussed in Ver equal to piezoelectric actuators, they have the advantage that they can generate higher travel distances with the same size. Its functional principle is based on the application of an actuating voltage to pairs of electrodes flanking an elastomer layer, which results in electrostatic forces that compress the respective elastomer layer and cause an actuator stroke associated with transverse expansion perpendicular to the direction of action of the electrostatic forces.

The invention is based on the object of creating a valve arrangement which, with compact dimensions, enables high closing forces to be generated.

To solve this problem, in connection with the features mentioned at the beginning, it is provided that at least one further controllable valve channel is a second further controllable valve channel, which opens out outside the support surface on a wall surface of the valve housing, which delimits a valve chamber, in which at least the valve chamber having the closing body section of the valve member, with the channel opening of the second further controllable valve channel being oriented in such a way that its central longitudinal axis is oriented at least substantially at right angles to a linear axis connecting line extending between the pivot center of the valve member and the axis of rotation of the roller when the valve member is a den second further controllable valve channel occluding switching position.

In such a valve arrangement, the closing body of the valve member rolls or rolls during the transition between the first switching position and a further switching position deviating from the first switching position on the first valve seat assigned to the first controllable valve channel and at the same time performs a rotary movement relative to the supporting structure of the valve carrying it valve member off. The rolling contact between the closing surface of the roller-shaped closing body and the first valve seat makes it possible to press the closing body against the first valve seat with a high force and still bring about the switching movement using a relatively small actuating force. The closing force acting in the first switching position between the closing body and the first valve seat is oriented in the pivoting plane of the valve member transversely to the direction of movement of the switching movement and can be implemented without the involvement of the actuator by supporting the supporting structure on the housing side in the area of the pivoting center, so that the actuator can be closing force to be applied is not or only slightly stressed and can therefore be dimensioned relatively small, which has an advantageous effect on the size and the manufacturing costs. The pivotability of the valve member also offers the possibility of influencing the torque to be introduced into the valve member to generate the switching movement by appropriately selecting the point of application of the actuator. In order to generate complex valve functions, the valve member can also be equipped with a plurality of closing bodies, each serving to control at least one controllable valve channel, which are designed in the form of a roller rotatably mounted with respect to the supporting structure. The duct opening of the first controllable valve duct opens out at a support surface which faces the peripheral closing surface of the closing body and is arranged stationary with respect to the valve housing. When the pivoting movement is carried out, the closing body can roll on the support surface and in this way be moved between different switching positions. In addition to the first controllable valve channel, the rotatably mounted closing body is assigned at least one further controllable valve channel, which also has a channel opening framed by a valve seat lying in the pivot plane, which is arranged at a distance from the channel opening of the first controllable valve channel in the direction of movement of the switching movement . If the closing body closes the channel opening of the first controllable valve channel in the first switching position of the valve member by resting with its closing surface on the first valve seat, each further channel opening is uncovered and the associated further controllable valve channel is therefore not closed. In this case, the valve member can also be positioned in at least one other switching position in which it shuts off the channel opening of a further controllable valve channel with the closing body, but at the same time opens the channel opening of the first controllable valve channel. The number of channel openings that can be controlled in this way by the closing body is in principle arbitrary. At least one further controllable valve channel, which is referred to as the second further controllable valve channel, does not open out to the support surface on which the closing body rolls during the switching movement.

Advantageous developments of the invention emerge from the dependent claims.

The channel opening of the first controllable valve channel, which is framed by the first valve seat, is preferably arranged in such a way that its central longitudinal axis coincides with the pivot center of the valve member. In this way, in the first switching position of the valve member, the closing body is ideally supported with respect to the valve housing, which does not generate any torque, so that the actuator acting on the valve member is relieved in this respect.

A particularly simple way of realizing the pivot mounting of the support structure consists in defining the pivot center by a pivot axis which is at right angles to the pivot plane and is stationary with respect to the valve housing. Deviating from this, however, the pivot center can also be generated by a complex lever structure.

In a preferred embodiment of the valve arrangement, the rotatable closing body is rotatable, but mounted in a stationary manner on the support structure. In this way, the closing body follows the pivoting movement of the supporting structure directly and, during the switching movement, moves along an arcuate, in particular arcuate, trajectory. The radial distance between the axis of rotation of the roller forming the closing body and the center of pivoting of the valve member expediently always remains constant.

The support surface is preferably curved concavely on the side facing the closing body.

The valve arrangement can, for example, have the functionality of a 2/2-way valve, with the first controllable valve channel opening into a valve chamber that also communicates with at least one other valve channel that cannot be controlled by the valve member. The valve member can optionally assume one of two switching positions in order to either connect the first controllable valve channel to the further valve channel or to separate it in this respect.

It is possible to provide at least one first further controllable valve channel, which, like the first controllable valve channel, opens out to the support surface, namely at a point arranged in the switching direction of the valve member at a distance from the channel opening of the first controllable valve channel, so that the valve member can be in several switch positions can be positioned, in which it alternately closes or releases the controllable valve channels opening out on the support surface.

The closing surface of the closing body formed by a roller is expediently made from a material that has sealing properties, in particular from an elastomeric material. In particular, the roller can have a rigid roller body, which is completely or partially encased on the outer circumference with a sealing material that defines the closing surface.

In order to apply the desired closing force between the closing body and at least the first valve seat, there can also be at least one dynamic system component, in particular in the form of spring means. In this context, an expedient embodiment provides that the closing body is not only mounted on the support structure such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation at right angles to the pivot axis, but also has at least one degree of translational freedom that enables it to perform a relative compensating movement with respect to the support structure in the pivot plane. In particular, spring means acting between the support structure and the closing body cause the closing body to be prestressed with respect to the support structure, so that the closing body is actively pressed against the first valve seat by the spring means in the first switching position. If the channel opening framed by the first valve seat opens out to a support surface on which the closing body rolls with its closing surface during the switchover movement, the spring means can cause the closing body to press against the support surface and anyone there, with a high pressing force, regardless of the current pivoting position of the valve member existing valve seat is pressed.

The closing body is preferably mounted in a linearly displaceable manner on the supporting structure. This bearing is designed in particular in such a way that the compensating movement is a linear movement in a radial direction with respect to the pivot center.

Even if the closing body is prestressed by spring means, a support surface facing the closing body and provided with at least one channel opening can be a concavely curved surface. However, since the closing body is able to perform a relative compensating movement with respect to the supporting structure, the radius of curvature of the support surface can deviate from a distance dimension that results from the distance between the pivot center of the valve member and the axis of rotation of the closing body on the one hand and the radius of the roller on the other composed. There is also the possibility of providing a flat support surface, in particular a support surface which runs in a plane at right angles to the pivot plane and which, in the first switching position of the valve member, is aligned in particular at right angles to an axis which aligns the pivot center with the axis of rotation of the closing body defining role. In both cases, during the switching movement of the valve member, the roller-shaped closing body performs a rotational movement about its longitudinal axis relative to the support structure, with this rotary movement being superimposed by a translatory compensating movement which the roller-shaped closing body performs relative to the support structure in order to avoid contact with the support surface during the pivoting movement of the support structure not to lose.

The channel opening framed by at least one further valve seat is preferably arranged in such a way that its central longitudinal axis meets the axis of rotation of the closing body when the latter assumes a switching position sealingly resting against the relevant further valve seat. In this way, an optimal seal is guaranteed.

At least two channel openings can also be placed such that they open out to a support surface fixed to the housing such that they are both shut off at the same time in one and the same switching position of the valve member.

On the one hand, the actuator is supported on the valve housing and, on the other hand, it expediently acts on the support structure of the valve member. Depending on the design, the actuator can press or pull on the supporting structure.

A realization of the support structure in the form of a two-armed lever structure is considered to be particularly advantageous, with a first lever arm carrying the closing body and a second lever arm forming a drive arm on which the actuator acts. By choosing appropriate length ratios of the two lever arms, the actuation force of the actuator acting on the closing body can be specified as required.

The actuator can also be placed in such a way that it acts on that lever arm of the supporting structure which carries the closing body.

In principle, the actuator can be of any type. It could be a magnetic actuator or a piezo actuator, for example. However, implementation as a so-called electroactive polymer actuator is considered to be particularly advantageous. Such a design has the advantage that operation with high dynamics is possible. In addition, with a corresponding layer structure, significantly higher adjustment paths can be realized than with piezo stack actuators. An electroactive polymer actuator also has the advantage that it can be controlled proportionally.

The electroactive polymer actuator is preferably a dielectric electroactive polymer actuator. Compared to ionic polymer actuators, in which the actuator material undergoes a change in shape due to an electrochemical reaction, electroactive polymer actuators have the advantage that they can quickly reach very high levels of strain and are hardly limited in their deformation behavior. In addition, their electrical control is easier to implement.

A construction of the polymer actuator as a dielectric elastomer actuator is considered to be particularly advantageous. Such polymer actuators expediently contain at least one layer of elastomeric material, which is coated on both sides with a likewise elastic electrode, it being possible to apply an actuating voltage causing activation of the polymer actuator to the electrode layers present in this way. There is the advantageous possibility of varying the working stroke of the polymer actuator by varying the actuating voltage and accordingly influencing the pivoting angle of the valve member.

The polymer actuator is expediently implemented with a multi-layer structure, which has several, quasi-stacked layers of elastomeric material, each of which is separated from one another by an electrode layer. In this way, it is possible to achieve a high energy density or very high actuation forces while still having compact dimensions. The layer thickness of the individual layers of elastomeric material can be reduced without any problems in such a multi-layer structure in order to achieve a comparably large working capacity with lower operating voltages. A higher force for the switchover movement of the valve member can be made available by a plurality of elastomer material layers stacked on top of one another in connection with the associated electrode layers placed between adjacent elastomer material layers, whereby the dynamics of the valve arrangement can be further increased.

With a corresponding number and distribution of valve channels that can be controlled by means of the valve member, the invention also offers the possibility of controlling and operating flowing fluids in chamber systems, for example in fluid-actuated cylinders, in an energy-efficient manner. For example, two chambers of a double-acting, fluid-actuated working cylinder can each be connected to one of two controllable valve channels, which are further controllable valve channels that can be alternately connected to the first controllable valve channel, which is closed in the first switching position. Here the channel openings of the two further controllable valve channels can be arranged in such a way that they are open in the first switching position of the valve member and can communicate with one another. This results in a fluidic short circuit between the two other controllable valve channels, which results in a pressure equalization between the connected chambers of the fluid-actuated working cylinder, so that a rapid pressure build-up with low fluid consumption is then possible.

The support structure of the valve member can also be realized in the form of a two-armed lever structure, so that there is a quasi double rocker. Each lever arm carries a closing body designed as a rotatable roller, which is assigned its own control valve channels. A particularly advantageous structure in this context results from mirroring the valve structure described above.

• 1 eine Seitenansicht einer bevorzugten Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemäßen Ventilanordnung,
• 2 einen horizontalen Längsschnitt durch die Ventilanordnung gemäß Schnittebene II-II aus 1 und 3,
• 3 einen vertikalen Längsschnitt durch die Ventilanordnung gemäß Schnittebene III-III aus 2,
• 4 den in 3 strichpunktiert umrahmten Ausschnitt IV in einer vergrößerten Darstellung,
• 5 die Ventilanordnung der 1 bis 4 in einer Schnittdarstellung entsprechend 3, wobei das Ventilglied bei Einnahme einer anderen Schaltstellung gezeigt ist,
• 6 den in 5 strichpunktiert umrahmten Ausschnitt VI in einer vergrößerten Darstellung,
• 7 ein anderes Ausführungsbeispiel der erfindungsgemäßen Ventilanordnung in einer den 3 und 5 entsprechenden Schnittdarstellung,
• 8 den in 7 strichpunktiert umrahmten Ausschnitt VIII in einer vergrößerten Darstellung, und
• 9 einen dem in 4 strichpunktiert umrahmten Ausschnitt IX entsprechenden Ausschnitt eines erneuten weiteren Ausführungsbeispiels der erfindungsgemäßen Vorrichtung, bei dem der rollenförmige Schließkörper an der Tragstruktur nicht nur drehbar, sondern auch translatorisch bewegbar gelagert ist.

The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the attached drawing. In this show:

• 1 a side view of a preferred embodiment of the valve assembly according to the invention,
• 2 a horizontal longitudinal section through the valve assembly according to section plane II-II 1 and 3 ,
• 3 a vertical longitudinal section through the valve assembly according to section plane III-III 2 ,
• 4 the in 3 dot-dash framed section IV in an enlarged view,
• 5 the valve assembly 1 until 4 in a sectional view accordingly 3 , wherein the valve member is shown assuming a different switching position,
• 6 the in 5 dot-dash framed section VI in an enlarged view,
• 7 another embodiment of the valve assembly according to the invention in a den 3 and 5 corresponding sectional view,
• 8th the in 7 dot-dashed framed section VIII in an enlarged representation, and
• 9 one dem in 4 dash-dotted framed section IX corresponding section of another further embodiment of the device according to the invention, in which the roller-shaped closing body is not only rotatably mounted on the support structure, but also movable translationally.

The valve arrangement, designated in its entirety by the reference number 1, has a preferably multi-part valve housing 2 and a valve member 3 pivotably mounted on the valve housing 2. The valve member 3 contains at least one closing body 4, with at least the section having the closing body 4 being in one of the valve housing 2 delimited valve chamber 5 is accommodated. The entire valve member 3 is expediently located inside this valve chamber 5, which applies to the exemplary embodiment.

The valve member 3 can be pivoted about a pivot center 6 in a pivot plane 7 . Because the pivoting movement causes the switching state of the valve arrangement 1 to switch, it is also referred to below as the switching movement 8 . In the drawing, the switching movement 8 is illustrated by a curved double arrow.

The pivot center 6 is expediently defined by a pivot axis 12 at right angles to the pivot plane 7 and indicated in broken lines in the drawing. Accordingly, the pivot center 6 preferably retains its spatial position unchanged during the switching movement 8 .

For example, the pivot axis 12 results from a bearing pin 13 anchored in the valve housing 2, which extends transversely through the valve member 3 and with respect to which the valve member 3 can be pivoted.

The valve member 3 has a multi-part structure, being composed in particular of the already mentioned closing body 4 and a supporting structure 14 carrying the closing body 4 . The support structure 14 is preferably a rigid structure. The pivot mounting of the valve member 3 takes place on the support structure 14 at a distance from the closing body 4. In this way, the closing body 4 also makes the switchover movement 8.

A special feature of the closing body 4 is that it is formed by a roller 4a mounted on the support structure 14 so that it can rotate freely. The closing body 4 can therefore be rotated relative to the support structure 14 . The axis of rotation 15 of the closing body 4 formed by the roller 4a runs at right angles to the pivot plane 7 and is aligned parallel to the pivot axis 12 in the exemplary embodiment.

When the closing body 4 is mentioned below, this automatically also means the roller 4a forming the closing body 4. The terms "closing body" and "roller" are therefore to be understood as synonyms in the following.

The axis of rotation 15 preferably results from a further bearing bolt 16 which penetrates the supporting structure 14 at a distance from the bearing bolt 13 and which also penetrates the roller 4a, the latter being rotatable on the further bearing bolt 16.

In an exemplary embodiment that is not shown, the further bearing pin 16 is an integral part of the roller 4a and is held in the support structure 14 in a rotatable manner. There is also the possibility of forming the bearing pin 13 defining the pivot axis 12 in one piece with the supporting structure 14 .

The axis of rotation 15 of the closing body 4 is arranged at a distance from the pivot center 6 or from the pivot axis 12 defining the pivot center 6, which is referred to as the axis distance A in the following. As part of the switchover movement 8, the valve member 3 can be positioned in different pivot positions, referred to as switching positions, with the center distance A in all exemplary embodiments with the exception of in 9 illustrated embodiment is constant regardless of the pivot position.

In the embodiment of 9 the center distance A is variable. This is due to the fact that the closing body 4, unlike the embodiments of 1 until 8th , In which it is fixed in place apart from its ability to rotate on the support structure 14, in the embodiment of FIG 9 is also mounted in the pivot plane 7 relative to the support structure 14 so that it can move in a translatory manner. This possible relative translational movement is referred to below as the compensating movement 17 and is 9 indicated by a double arrow. The compensating movement 17 is preferably a linear movement that is only possible in a radial direction with respect to the pivot center 6 .

In order to enable the compensating movement 17, in the embodiment of the 9 the further bearing pin 16 serving for the rotary mounting of the closing body 4 is mounted in a linearly displaceable manner in a guide groove arrangement 18 formed in the supporting structure 14 and extending radially with respect to the pivot plane 7 .

If the closing body 4 is mounted on the support structure 14 with a variable center distance A, the valve member 3 expediently also has spring means 22 which constantly act on or prestress the closing body 4 relative to the support structure 14 in the sense of an increase in the center distance A. These spring means 22 are in the embodiment of 9 effective between the further bearing pin 16 and the supporting structure 14 . Stop means 23 formed on the support structure 14, which are formed in particular by a front boundary surface of the guide groove arrangement 18, ensure that the variable center distance A cannot exceed a maximum distance and that the closing body 4 is held captive on the support structure 14.

A plurality of controllable valve channels 24 passing through the wall of the valve housing 2 open into the valve chamber 5 . At least one of these controllable valve ducts 24 and preferably several of these controllable valve ducts 24 can be controlled by the valve member 3 such that, depending on the pivoting position of the valve member 3, they are either closed in a fluid-tight manner by the closing body 4 or are opened to allow fluid to pass through. In the exemplary embodiments, this control option applies to all valve channels 24 opening into the valve chamber 5, which are therefore also referred to as controllable valve channels 24.

In a modified exemplary embodiment, there is at least one valve channel 25 which cannot be controlled by the valve member 3 and which in 3 is indicated by dot-dash lines and which opens into the valve chamber 5 away from the closing body 4 in such a way that it is in fluid communication with the valve chamber 5 regardless of the switching position of the valve member 3 . With such a configuration, the non-controllable valve channel 25 is in fluid communication with each currently non-closed controllable valve channel 24, so that fluid can pass between the relevant controllable valve channel 24 and the non-controllable valve channel 25 through the valve chamber 5. Such a configuration is particularly useful for realizing a valve arrangement with a 2/2 valve function or with a 3/2 valve function or a fluid distributor which, depending on the switching position of the valve member 3, fluidly connects a non-controllable valve channel 25 with different controllable valve channels 25 connects.

In order to generate the switching movement 8, the valve arrangement 1 is equipped with an actuator 26 which, in terms of drive, interacts with the valve member 3 and in particular with its supporting structure 14. The actuator 26 is able to cause a torque resulting in the switching movement 8 on the valve member 3 . The actuator 26 is expediently also arranged inside the valve housing 2 , it being possible for it to be accommodated either in the valve chamber 5 or in a drive chamber 27 which is separated from the valve chamber 5 and is in particular sealed with respect to the valve chamber 5 .

An electroactive polymer actuator 26a is preferably used as the actuator 26 . It is preferably a dielectric elastomer actuator, which applies to the exemplary embodiment.

The electroactive polymer actuator 26a contains a plurality of elastomer material layers, not shown in more detail in the drawing, which are stacked on top of one another in the axial direction of a vertical axis 28 with an elastic electrode layer each being interposed. The electrode layers flanking the same elastomeric material layer on opposite sides are connected to different electrical conductor elements 32a, 32b, which lead to an electromechanical interface device 33 accessible on the outside of the valve housing 2 and to which a different potential can be applied. The potential difference results in an electrostatic field penetrating the elastomer layer arranged in between, which causes the electrode layers to be pulled towards one another, with the elastomer layer in between being compressed in the direction of the vertical axis 28 . The height of the actuator 26 is reduced in this way. Deactivating the polymer actuator 26a causes the height of the polymer actuator 26a to increase again. The actuator deformation associated with this is referred to below as the drive movement 34 and is illustrated in the drawing by a double arrow.

Appropriate electrical control of the actuator 26 can be achieved in that the valve member from a 1 until 4 and 9 apparent first switch position occupies. In the exemplary embodiment, this first switching position is an intermediate position between two end positions. However, the valve structure can also be designed in such a way that the first switching position is an end position and/or basic position of the pivoting movement of the valve member 4 .

The actuator 26 extends between a force application point 35 formed on the support structure 14 and a bearing base 36 arranged on the valve housing 2. In the embodiment as a polymer actuator 26a, the support structure 14 lies with its force application point 35 on a first end face 37 oriented in the axial direction of the vertical axis 28 of the actuator 26 while the opposite second end surface 37b of the actuator 26 is supported on the bearing base 36. In the case of a polymer actuator 26a having a multi-layer structure, the force introduction point 35 can rest directly on the uppermost actuator layer or alternatively can also be non-positively connected to the actuator 26 via a rigid or elastic intermediate element.

A spring device 38 that is independent of the actuator 26 is also expediently present, which acts between the valve housing 2 and the supporting structure 14 and which constantly introduces a torque into the supporting structure 14 by spring loading of the supporting structure 14, which is responsible for the supporting structure 14 their force application point 35 is constantly pressed against the actuator 26. In this way, constant interaction between the support structure 14 and the actuator 26 is ensured.

When the actuator 26 is activated, the latter contracts in its height direction, with the support structure 14 being tracked and pivoted without delay while the switching movement 8 is carried out due to the spring loading of the spring device 38 . In the exemplary embodiments, the closing body 4 moves upwards. A deactivation of the actuator 26 has the result that the actuator 26 expands again by overcoming the spring force of the spring device 38 and the support structure 14 is pivoted in the opposite direction.

Expediently, the spring device 38 is assigned a prestressing device 42 which, in the exemplary embodiment, is realized in the form of an adjusting screw anchored in the valve housing 2 and acting on the spring device 38 . With it, the spring preload of the spring device 38 can be adjusted very easily from the outside.

A positioning device 43 is expediently integrated into the bearing base 36, which makes it possible to adjust the position of the actuator 26 in the axial direction of the vertical axis 28 relative to the valve housing 2. In this way, there is in particular the possibility of setting the basic position of the valve member 3 assumed in the deactivated state of the actuator 26 with respect to the valve housing 2 .

The support structure 14 is expediently implemented as a two-armed lever structure 14a, which applies to all exemplary embodiments. Here, the support structure 14 has a first lever arm 44 that projects away from the pivot center 6 and carries the rotatable closing body 4 at a distance from the pivot center 6, and also has a second lever arm that also projects in the pivot plane 7, but in a different direction than the first lever arm 44 from the pivot center 6 45, which cooperates with the actuator 26 and can therefore also be referred to as a drive arm. In the exemplary embodiment, the second lever arm 45 has the force introduction point 35 .

The axis distance A, which is defined by the first lever arm 44, is preferably greater than a force introduction distance K, which is measured between the pivot center 6 and the force introduction point 35, specifically in a direction in the extension of a linear axis connecting line 46, which extends between the axis of rotation 15 and the swing center 6 extends and which is indicated in the drawing by dot-dash lines.

With the help of the two-armed lever structure 14a, the stroke of the actuator 26 can be translated in a desired ratio according to the law of the lever to the pivoting stroke to be exerted by the closing body 4.

In an exemplary embodiment that is not shown, the actuator 26 acts on that section of the support structure 14 that extends between the pivot center 6 and the closing body 4 .

In order to shut off one of the controllable valve channels 24 and interrupt its connection to the valve chamber 5 , the channel opening 47 of the relevant controllable valve channel 24 facing the valve chamber 5 is covered in a fluid-tight manner by a closing surface 48 arranged on the closing body 4 . A switching position in which the valve member 3 with its closing body 4 closes the channel opening 47 of at least one controllable valve channel 24 is referred to as the closed position. Depending on how many controllable valve channels 24 are present, the valve member 3 can be positioned in a plurality of switching positions, each of which defines a closed position.

The channel opening 47 of each controllable valve channel 24 , which opens to the valve chamber 5 , is framed by a valve seat 52 facing the closing body 4 . The valve seat 52 does not necessarily have to be structured in a raised manner, but this is expediently so, it being preferably structured in the form of a collar. However, in the exemplary embodiments, the elevation of the valve seats 52 is so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye in the illustrations.

The valve seat 52 of each controllable valve channel 24 is intersected by the pivot plane 7 . The same applies to the associated channel opening 47. Each channel opening 47 has a central longitudinal axis 53, which is expediently also a central longitudinal axis 53 of the associated valve seat 52. Each central longitudinal axis 53 is preferably surrounded concentrically by the associated valve seat 52 .

The channel openings 47 of the controllable valve channels 24 are aligned in such a way that their central longitudinal axes 53 run parallel to the pivoting plane 7 and, in particular, coincide with the pivoting plane 7 .

In connection with the aforementioned alignment of the channel openings 47 and valve seats 52 of the controllable valve channels 24, the fact that the closing surface 48 of the closing body 4 is formed by the outer peripheral surface 48a of the roller 4a, which is oriented radially with respect to the axis of rotation 15 of the closing body 4, is important. This outer peripheral surface 48a is expediently designed in accordance with the lateral surface of a circular cylinder. The closing surface 48 preferably extends around the axis of rotation 15 and is a self-contained annular surface. However, an embodiment is also possible in which only a partial circumference of the outer circumferential surface 48a measured in the circumferential direction of the axis of rotation 15 acts as a closing surface 48 . Ultimately it is important that in each closed position of the valve member 3 a section of the closing surface 48 is able to bear against the associated valve seat 52 in order to close a duct opening 47 with a seal.

The roller 4a forming the closing body 4 preferably has a multi-component structure. By way of example, it contains a rigid roller body 54 which is rotatably mounted on the support structure 14 and which carries a sealing material layer 55 on its peripheral outer circumference which defines the closing surface 48 . This sealing material layer 55 consists in particular of an elastomeric material and is therefore at least slightly flexible, which ensures optimal sealing contact with the valve seats 52. The sealing material layer 55 is preferably applied to the roller body 54 by injection molding.

The closing surface 48 on the closing body 4 is arranged in such a way that its surface normals also run parallel to the pivot plane 7 or coincide with it.

One of the controllable valve channels 24 of the valve arrangement 1, which can also be the only controllable valve channel 24 of the valve arrangement 1 and which is also referred to below as the first controllable valve channel 24a, is designed in such a way that the valve channel assigned to it, hereinafter also valve seat 52, referred to as the first valve seat 52a, points in the direction of the pivot center 6 of the valve member 3. The same applies to the channel opening 47 of this first controllable valve channel 24a. As part of the switching movement 8, the valve member 3 in a 3 , 4 and 9 visible first switching position are positioned in which the closing body 4 rests with its closing surface 48 on the first valve seat 52a and the first controllable valve channel 24a closes. Starting from this first switching position, the valve member can be pivoted by a switching movement 8 in such a way that the closing body 4 moves away from the first valve seat 52a and assumes a further switching position in which the first controllable valve channel 24a is released. Such a further switching position is in the 5 and 6 visible and also in 7 and 8th illustrated by the further embodiment.

When the valve member 3 is pivoted into the first switching position or is pivoted from the first switching position into another switching position, the closing body 4 rolls with its closing surface 48 on the first valve seat 52a. In this way, on the one hand, the closing surface 48 is protected and, unlike in the case of pure displacement, it is not confronted with an abrasion problem. In addition, the possibility of the roller 4a rolling on the first valve seat 52a has the effect that the valve member 3 can be switched over with a small actuating force, although the closing body 4 is pressed against the first valve seat 52a with a high force.

It is particularly advantageous in this context if the channel opening 47 of the first controllable valve channel 24a framed by the first valve seat 52a is arranged such that its central longitudinal axis 53 coincides with the pivot center 6 of the valve member 3 . In the first switching position of the valve member 3, the central longitudinal axis 53 of the channel opening 47 of the first controllable valve channel 24a and the straight axis connecting line 46 preferably run coaxially to one another. In this way, the closing force with which the closing body 4 is pressed against the first valve seat 52a does not exert any torque on the valve member 3, so that switching is possible with a low actuator force.

At least the channel opening 47 of the first controllable valve channel 24a expediently opens out at a support surface 56 formed on the valve housing 2 and facing the closing surface 48 of the closing body 4 . A normal plane standing at right angles to the support surface 56, which is also oriented at right angles to the axis of rotation 15 of the closing body 4, runs parallel to the pivot plane 7 or coincides with it. The valve member 3 rests with the closing surface 48 of its closing body 4 on the support surface 56 and rolls off the support surface 56 during the switching movement 8 .

In all embodiments with the exception of the embodiment of FIG 9 the support surface 56 is arcuately concavely curved. Its radius of curvature expediently corresponds to the sum of the center distance A and the radius of the rotatably mounted roller 4a. Thus, the contact area between the support surface 56 and the closing surface 48 rolling thereon follows a circular arc 57 running in the pivoting plane 7, which arc is indicated in the drawing by dot-dash lines.

Also in the embodiment of 9 a rolling contact between the closing body 4 and the support surface 56 is ensured during the switching movement 8, although the support surface 56 is an uncurved surface here, which is aligned in particular at right angles to the central longitudinal axis 53 of the channel opening 47 of the first controllable valve channel 24a. The reason for the constant rolling contact here, too, is the additional translational mounting of the closing body 4 on the supporting structure 14. If the valve member 3 is pivoted, the closing body 4 follows the pivoting movement and also performs a superimposed translational compensating movement 17, so that the closing surface 48 of the Closing body 4 is constantly in contact with the support surface 56.

It was already mentioned above that the valve arrangement 1 can have a plurality of valve channels 24 that can be controlled by the valve member 3, which applies to all exemplary embodiments. In this context, there is the advantageous possibility of designing one or more controllable valve channels 24 in such a way that its or their channel opening(s) 47 also open out to the support surface 56 and can also be rolled over by the closing body 4 when switching over the valve member 3 . By way of example, this applies to the embodiment of 7 and 8th and two first further controllable valve channels 24b present there, whose channel openings 47 are each framed by a first further valve seat 52b, which is arranged in the region of the support surface 56. The first further valve seats 52b are arranged at a distance from the first valve seat 52a in the direction of the switching movement 8, for example on both sides of this first valve seat 52a.

According to 7 and 8th the valve member 3, starting from the first switch position closing the first controllable valve channel 24a, can be pivoted in opposite directions in order to be positioned in one of two further switch positions, one of which in 7 and 8th is evident. In each of these further switching positions, the first controllable valve channel 24a is released and instead one of the two first further controllable valve channels 24b is closed.

the 7 and 8th also make it clear that the support surface 56 does not have to have a constant curvature. In particular, a second surface section can be located on one side or on both sides of a first surface section 56a of the support surface 56 that is located in the region of the first valve seat 52a and that follows the circular arc 57 56b of the support surface 56, which is more curved and whose curvature corresponds in particular to the curvature of the closing surface 48 of the closing body 4. In this way it can also be ensured that the valve member 3 assumes a stable switching position when it has been pivoted so far that its closing body 4 comes to rest on the second surface section 56b of the support surface 56 .

Each channel opening 47 framed by a first further valve seat 52b is expediently oriented such that its central longitudinal axis 53 intersects the axis of rotation 15 of the closing body 4 when the closing body 4 is in the corresponding closed position.

At least one controllable valve channel 24 can also be assigned to the closing body 4, which is referred to below as the second further controllable valve channel 24c for better differentiation and which does not open out to the support surface 56, which can be referred to as the rolling surface. Such a channel design is given in all illustrated embodiments.

Every second further controllable valve channel 24c opens out by means of a channel opening 47 to a wall surface 58 of the valve housing 2 delimiting the valve chamber 5 and is framed there by a second further valve seat 52c. The associated channel openings 47 are oriented in particular such that their respective central longitudinal axis 53 is oriented at least essentially at right angles to the axis connecting line 46 when the valve member 3 assumes a switching position closing the associated second further controllable valve channel 24c.

The in the 1 until 6 and 9 The illustrated valve arrangements make it clear that the valve arrangement 1 does not necessarily have to have first further controllable valve ducts 24b opening out to the support surface 56, but that, for example, as far as controllable valve ducts 24 are concerned, only one first controllable valve duct 24a and at least one second further controllable valve duct 24c can be present.

It preferably applies to all configurations of the valve arrangement 1 that the closing body 4 formed by a roller 4a rolls with its peripheral closing surface 48 during the switching movement 8 on a support surface 56, which can have a curved or also a straight course and to which at least one controllable valve channel 24, 24a, 24b opens out, which is released or closed by the closing surface 48 rolling over it, depending on the switching position of the valve member 3.

Claims (13)

Valve arrangement, with a valve housing (2), with a valve member (3) which can be pivoted in a pivot plane (7) about a pivot center (6) while performing a switching movement (8) with respect to the valve housing (2), and with a valve member (3 ) actuator (26) cooperating in terms of drive to generate the switching movement (8), the valve member (3) having at least one closing body (4) which, at a distance from the pivot center (6), can be rotated on a supporting structure ( 14) of the valve member (3) and is formed by a roller (4a) which is mounted on the support structure (14) such that it can rotate about an axis of rotation (15) at right angles to the pivot plane (7) and whose outer peripheral surface ( 48a) forms a closing surface (48), with the closing body (4) optionally being in a first switching position closing a first controllable valve channel (24a) within the scope of the switching movement (8) or in at least at least one further switch position releasing the first controllable valve channel (24a) can be positioned, wherein in the first switch position it rests sealingly with its closing surface (48) on a first valve seat (52a) surrounding a channel opening (47) of the first controllable valve channel (24a), this channel opening (47) opening out on a support surface (56) formed on the valve housing (2) and facing the closing surface (48) and the first valve seat support surface (52a) being intersected by the pivoting plane (7) and pointing towards the pivoting center (6). , such that the closing body (4) rolls on the first valve seat (52a) and the support surface (56) when the valve member (3) is moved into the first switching position and out of the first switching position, the rotatably mounted closing body (4) on the valve housing (2) in addition to the first controllable valve channel (24a) at least one further controllable valve channel (24b, 24c) is assigned, which has an in de r pivot plane (7) lying further valve seat (52b, 52c) framed channel opening (47), which is arranged in the direction of movement of the switching movement (8) at a distance from the channel opening (47) of the first controllable valve channel (24a) and in the first switching position of the valve member (3) is open, the channel opening (47) of the at least one further controllable valve channel (24b, 24c) in a further switching position of the valve member (3) deviating from the first switching position by the further valve seat (52b , 52c) sealingly abutting closing surface (48) of the closing body (4) is closed, characterized in that at least the further controllable valve channel (24b, 24c) is a second further controllable valve channel (24c) which is outside of the Abstützflä surface (56) on a wall surface (58) of the valve housing (2) which delimits a valve chamber (5) in which at least the section of the valve member (3) which has the closing body (4) is accommodated, the channel opening (47) of the second further controllable valve channel (24c) is oriented in such a way that its central longitudinal axis (53) is at least essentially perpendicular to a linear axis extending between the pivot center (6) of the valve member (3) and the axis of rotation (15) of the roller (4a). Axle connecting line (46) is oriented when the valve member (3) assumes a switching position closing the second further controllable valve channel (24c). valve arrangement claim 1 , characterized in that the channel opening (47) of the first controllable valve channel (24a) framed by the first valve seat (52a) is arranged in such a way that its central longitudinal axis (53) coincides with the pivoting center (6) of the valve member (3). valve arrangement claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the pivot center (6) of the valve member (3) is defined by a pivot axis (12) which is perpendicular to the pivot plane (7) and stationary with respect to the valve housing (2). Valve arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the rotatable closing body (4) is rotatably but stationarily mounted on the supporting structure (14) so that it directly participates in the pivoting movement of the supporting structure (14) and the axis of rotation (15) of the closing body (4) during the switching movement (8) of the valve member (3) moves along an arcuate trajectory, which expediently describes an arc of a circle. valve arrangement claim 4 , characterized in that the support surface (56) is concavely curved in an arc, its radius of curvature expediently being the sum of the distance (A) between the pivoting center (6) of the valve member (3) and the axis of rotation (15) of the closing body (4 ) and on the other hand corresponds to the radius of the roller (4a). valve arrangement claim 5 , characterized in that on the support surface (56), in addition to the channel opening (47) of the first controllable valve channel (24a), the channel opening (47) of at least one further controllable valve channel (24b) also opens out, which in the switching direction of the valve member (3rd ) is arranged at a distance from the channel mouth (47) of the first controllable valve channel (24a). Valve arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 3 , characterized in that the rotatable closing body (4) on the supporting structure (14) is additionally movably mounted in the pivoting plane (7) in this regard, so that it can perform a compensating movement (17) in relation to the supporting structure (14) in the pivoting plane (7). , spring means (22) being present, which constantly prestress the closing body (4) relative to the supporting structure (14), in particular in such a way that the closing body (4) is pressed against the first valve seat (52a) in the first switching position. valve arrangement claim 7 , characterized in that the closing body (4) is movably mounted on the support structure (14) of the valve member (3) that the compensating movement (17) is a linear movement in relation to the pivot center (6) radial direction. valve arrangement claim 7 or 8th , characterized in that the channel opening (47) of the first controllable valve channel (24a) opens out to the supporting surface (56) facing the closing surface (48) of the closing body (4), on which the closing body (4) rolls during the switching movement (8). , wherein this support surface (56) expediently runs in a plane perpendicular to the pivot plane (7). Valve arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 9 , characterized in that the channel opening (47) framed by the further valve seat (52b) of at least one first further controllable valve channel (24b) is arranged in such a way that its central longitudinal axis (53) meets the axis of rotation (15) of the closing body (4). , when the closing body (4) assumes a switching position which is in sealing contact with the associated further valve seat (52b). Valve arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 10 , characterized in that the actuator (26) acts on the supporting structure (14) on the part of the valve member (3). Valve arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 11 , characterized in that the supporting structure (14) is a two-armed lever structure (14a), wherein it has a first lever arm (44) carrying the closing body (4) and a second lever arm (45) cooperating with the actuator (26). Valve arrangement according to one of Claims 1 until 12 , characterized in that the actuator (26) is an electroactive polymer actuator (26a), in particular a dielectric elastomer actuator.

Images