DE102023105772A1 - Fluid valve for analyzer with mechanism for unloading valve blocks - Google Patents

Abstract

Fluid valve (100) for an analysis device (10) for analyzing a fluid sample, the fluid valve (100) having a first valve block (102) with at least one first fluid-carrying structure (106), a second valve block (186) with at least one second fluid-carrying structure (108), the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) being preloadable against one another at contact surfaces (110, 112) which can be brought into fluid-tight contact with one another and a relief device (114) having a tilting mechanism (116) operable to effect relief at the contacting surfaces (110, 112) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186).

Description

TECHNICAL BACKGROUND

The present invention relates to fluid valves for an analysis device, an analysis device and a method for operating a fluid valve.

In an HPLC, a liquid (mobile phase) is typically measured at a very precisely controlled flow rate (e.g. in the range of microliters to milliliters per minute) and at a high pressure (typically 20 to 1000 bar and beyond, currently up to 2000 bar). , in which the compressibility of the liquid can be felt, is moved through a so-called stationary phase (e.g. in a chromatographic column) in order to separate individual fractions of a sample liquid introduced into the mobile phase. After passing through the stationary phase, the separated fractions of the fluidic sample are detected in a detector. Such an HPLC system is known for example from EP 0,309,596 B1 of the same applicant, Agilent Technologies, Inc.

In order to transfer a fluid sample from an injection path into a separation path, an injector valve designed as a fluid valve can be switched. In order to set different fluidic coupling states, in the fluid valve a stator can remain stationary as the first valve block and a rotor can be rotated relative to the stator as the second valve block. In order to create a fluid-tight connection between opposite contact surfaces of the two valve blocks, the contact surfaces can be prestressed against one another. When servicing or replacing a valve block, such a fluid valve is susceptible to damage to the valve blocks.

WO 2022/024028 A1 discloses a valve in a high performance chromatography system for separating components of a sample liquid introduced into a mobile phase. The valve has a first valve element and a second valve element, with a first effective surface of the first valve element being connected to a second effective surface of the second valve element by a relative movement of the first valve element with respect to the second valve element, and a flow path being established or prevented. The second valve element has an elastic area in order to compensate for an axial angle between the first valve element and the second valve element, so that the first effective surface and the second effective surface can be aligned parallel to one another. This allows the compensation of an axial angle between the first and the second valve element, that is, for example, between a rotor and a stator.

EPIPHANY

It is an object of the invention to provide a user-friendly and damage-resistant fluid valve, in particular for an analyzer. The object is solved by means of the independent claims. Further embodiments are shown in the dependent claims.

According to an exemplary embodiment of a first aspect of the present invention, a fluid valve for an analysis device for analyzing a fluidic sample is created, the fluid valve having a first valve block with at least one first fluid-conducting structure, a second valve block with at least one second fluid-conducting structure, the first valve block and the second valve block being preloadable towards one another at contact surfaces which can be brought into fluid-tight contact with one another, and having relief means with a tilting mechanism which is operable to bring about relief at the contact surfaces between the first valve block and the second valve block.

According to an exemplary embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, a fluid valve for an analysis device for analyzing a fluidic sample is provided, the fluid valve having a first valve block configured as a stator with at least one first fluid-conducting structure, a second valve block with at least one second fluid-conducting structure, the first valve block and the second valve block can be preloaded against one another at contact surfaces that can be brought into contact with one another in a fluid-tight manner, and has a relief device that is accessible on the stator side and that can be actuated by a user from a stator side in order to relieve the pressure on the contact surfaces between the first valve block and the second valve block cause.

According to an exemplary embodiment of a third aspect of the invention, a fluid valve for an analysis device for analyzing a fluidic sample is provided, the fluid valve having a first valve block with at least one first fluid-conducting structure, a second valve block with at least one second fluid-conducting structure, the first valve block and the second valve block can be prestressed against one another on contact surfaces that can be brought into fluid-tight contact with one another, and a relief device with force transmission bodies sliding off one another with inclined planes, which can be actuated in order to relieve the stress on the contact surfaces between to effect the first valve block and the second valve block.

According to a further exemplary embodiment, an analysis device for analyzing a fluid sample is provided, the analysis device having a fluid valve with the features described above.

According to another exemplary embodiment, a method for operating a fluid valve having the features described above is provided in an analysis device for analyzing a fluid sample, the method preloading the first valve block and the second valve block against one another by bringing the contact surfaces into fluid-tight contact, below a guiding the fluidic sample between the at least one first fluid-conducting structure and the at least one second fluid-conducting structure, and subsequently actuating the relief device to cause relief at the contact surfaces between the first valve block and the second valve block.

The first aspect, the second aspect and the third aspect can each be implemented independently of one another. However, it is also possible to combine the first aspect and/or the second aspect and/or the third aspect.

In the context of the present application, the term “fluid” is understood to mean, in particular, a liquid and/or a gas, optionally having solid particles.

In the context of the present application, the term “fluidic sample” is understood to mean in particular a medium, more particularly a liquid, which contains the material to be analyzed (e.g. a biological sample), such as a protein solution, a pharmaceutical sample, etc

In the context of the present application, the term “analysis device” can refer in particular to a device that is able and configured to examine a fluidic sample, in particular to separate it, further in particular to separate it into different fractions. For example, such a sample separation can take place by means of chromatography or electrophoresis. Preferably, the analysis device can be a liquid chromatography sample separation device.

In the context of the present application, the term “fluid valve” means in particular a valve that selectively controls a flow of a fluid. Controlling fluid flow may include selectively allowing or prohibiting fluid flow along a fluidic path. Controlling fluid flow may also include defining one of a plurality of fluid paths that are currently permitted or prohibited. For example, the fluid valve can be designed as a shear valve. The fluid valve can be a rotor valve or a longitudinally switchable valve, for example.

In the context of the present application, the term “valve block” is understood to mean, in particular, a valve body or an arrangement of a plurality of interacting valve bodies, which can be moved in a defined manner relative to another valve block. The valve blocks can be rotated in opposite directions if the fluid valve is designed as a rotor valve. In the case of a rotor valve, one of the valve blocks can be designed as a stator that remains stationary and the other as a rotatable rotor. One or more ports can be provided on a valve block designed as a stator, to which other fluid components can be fluidly connected. One or more connecting channels can be connected to a valve block designed as a rotor, which can be fluidically coupled to ports of the stator in different valve positions or fluidically decoupled from the ports. Alternatively, the valve blocks can be longitudinally displaceable relative to one another in order to permit or prevent different fluidic coupling paths.

In the context of the present application, the term “fluid-carrying structure” is understood to mean, in particular, a defined or delimited cavity in an associated valve block, which is designed to carry a fluid through. Such a fluid-carrying structure can in particular be a fluid channel or a fluid line, which can be formed in a respective valve block. For example, a fluid-carrying structure can be formed as a through hole in a valve block, for example as a port for fluidly connecting a stator to another fluid component. It is also possible to form a fluid-conducting structure as a groove in a contact surface of a valve block (for example a rotor), for example in order to fluidly couple ports of a stator to one another.

In the context of the present application, the term “contact surfaces that can be preloaded against one another” means in particular mutually facing coupling surfaces of two valve blocks (for example a stator and a rotor) on which fluid-carrying structures to be fluidly coupled to one another are exposed. In order to bring about a fluid-tight connection of such fluid-carrying structures of different valve blocks, the two valve blocks can be clamped to the coupling surfaces by means of a prestressing device (For example, a mechanical spring, such as a plate spring assembly) are pressed together and are thereby biased against each other. Fluid can then flow from a fluid-carrying structure of one of the valve blocks through the preloaded contact surfaces to a fluid-carrying structure of the other valve block without leakage or excessive leakage occurring.

In the context of the present application, the term “relief device” is understood to mean, in particular, a mechanism for selectively relieving pressure on valve blocks that adjoin one another at their contact surfaces and are prestressed. By actuating or activating such a relief device, a contact pressure of the valve blocks against one another can be selectively reduced, for example temporarily, or eliminated entirely (for example, in order to service or replace a valve body).

In the context of the present application, the term “tipping mechanism” is understood to mean, in particular, a mechanical system that can be actuated in such a way that a tipping body is subjected to a defined tipping movement. This tilting movement can trigger the activation of a relief between the contact surfaces of the valve blocks. For example, a tilting of the tilting body by actuating the relief device designed with a tilting mechanism can exert a force that reduces the preload between the valve blocks on a preload device that provides the preload between the valve blocks. It is also possible for the tilting mechanism to act alternatively or additionally on one or both valve blocks in order to reduce or eliminate the prestressing force between the valve blocks.

In the context of the present application, the term “relief device accessible on the stator side” is understood to mean, in particular, a relief device that can be actuated by a user from a valve block designed as a stator. In other words, a user can face the valve block designed as a stator when the user actuates the relief device as intended. In an assembled state of a valve block designed as a stator with a further valve block designed as a rotor, the user can face the stator and face away from the rotor or a main body accommodating the rotor. This can also apply in particular when the fluid valve is installed as a whole in an installation situation. Then the accessible outside or front side of the fluid valve can be formed by the stator. An actuating device for actuating the relief device, for example by means of a user-actuated tool, can be arranged on the fluid valve in such a way that it is anatomically accessible to the user when looking at the stator from the user. This can be accomplished, for example, by constructing the actuating device for actuating the relief device in and/or on the stator or in and/or on a stator-side end section of a lateral surface of the main body accommodating the rotor. In the latter alternative, the stator-side accessibility can be facilitated in that the actuating device is formed by means of an oblique access hole facing the user in the stator-side section of the lateral surface of the main body.

In the context of the present application, the term “force-transmitting bodies with inclined planes sliding one on top of the other” means in particular an arrangement of at least two bodies which are arranged in a force-transmitting manner relative to one another and are or can be brought into direct physical contact with one another. Each of these force-transmitting bodies can be designed with one or preferably a plurality of sloping surfaces which form sloping planes adjoining one another. If one of the force-transmitting bodies is moved, for example, in a longitudinal direction, it can slide along another force-transmitting body in a force-transmitting manner. The power transmission between the inclined planes of the power transmission body can also lead to a lateral displacement of a power transmission body, which can bring about relief in a coupling area between two valve blocks. For example, as a result of the force transmission described by means of the inclined planes sliding one on top of the other, a prestressing device can be completely or partially relieved, or the prestressing device can be pushed away from a valve block. This can cause unloading between the valve blocks.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the first aspect of the invention, a fluid valve with two valve blocks that are prestressed in a fluid-tight manner relative to one another during operation is equipped with a relief device that has a tilting mechanism that can be actuated to relieve the prestressed valve blocks. A user need only operate the toggle mechanism to reduce or eliminate the biasing of the two valve blocks. The valve blocks can then be handled without damage, for example for replacement or maintenance. Since the preload can be lowered or switched off completely during replacement or maintenance, pressing an edge of a valve block into a con, which is promoted by a preload force contact surface of the other valve block can be reliably avoided during handling. A tilting mechanism can be actuated by a user in an intuitive and simple manner in order to trigger relaxation in a defined and therefore precise manner. Special knowledge or skills of a user are dispensable. In particular, a plane-parallel assembly of valve blocks is made possible by means of a relief device equipped with a tilting mechanism, and sensitive parts can be guided out of a danger area.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the second aspect of the invention, a fluid valve with two valve blocks that are preloaded in a fluid-tight manner relative to one another during operation, one of which is designed as a stator, is equipped with a relief device that is accessible on the stator side. Said relief device can thus advantageously be actuated by a user from the side of the stator in order to bring about a relief between the valve blocks previously preloaded against one another. If the valve blocks are assembled together and the fluid valve is attached to a place of use (in particular in an analysis device), the stator together with the relief device is provided on a side facing the user. This allows the user to easily fluidly couple the stator to one or more other fluidic components that can be fluidically connected to the stator. If, for this reason, the stator faces the user, the load-relieving device together with an associated actuating device can also be arranged in a particularly advantageous manner in such a way that it is accessible to a user from the stator side for actuation. Thus, a user can handle the stator intuitively, easily and error-proof not only to form fluid couplings, but also selectively lower or cancel a contact pressure prestress between the stator and another valve block (in particular a rotor) cooperating therewith. This simplifies maintenance and replacement of the valve blocks, which are subject to particularly high wear during operation. This applies in particular when the fluid valve is exposed to high fluid pressures of several 100 bar and more during operation (for example in an analysis device designed as an HPLC).

According to an exemplary embodiment of the third aspect of the invention, a fluid valve with two valve blocks that are preloaded in a fluid-tight manner relative to one another during operation is equipped with a relief device that is equipped with force transmission bodies that slide off one another during operation. The force-transmitting bodies have inclined planes which slide onto one another to relieve the valve blocks when actuated by means of an actuating device. A user only needs to exert a force on one of the force-transmitting bodies by actuating the relief device. This automatically leads to a force transmission between the force-transmitting bodies as a result of planar inclined surfaces sliding against one another. As a result, a pretensioning force between the valve blocks of the fluid valve can be reduced in a simple, intuitive and error-proof manner as required and in a targeted manner. This can be done, for example, by the force transmission bodies reducing a preload of a preload device, forcing a preload device away from at least one of the valve blocks, or forcing at least one of the valve blocks away from the preload device.

Additional configurations of the fluid valves, the analysis device and the method are described below.

According to one embodiment, the tilting mechanism can have a rocker arm, which has an actuating end that tilts the rocker arm and a pressure area (in particular a pressure line or at least one pressure point) that acts on a prestressing device (designed to prestress the first valve block and the second valve block against one another) when the rocker arm is tilted ) having. Consequently, when the rocker arm is tilted, the relief at the contact surfaces between the first valve block and the second valve block can be effected by means of the pressure portion. For example, the rocker arm can be actuated at its edge by means of an actuating device (e.g. formed as a screw) by a user inserting a tool into an access opening of the fluid valve to actuate the actuating device. If the rocker arm is rigid, the described actuation causes the rocker arm to tilt, which in turn leads to a defined transmission of force from a pressure area of the rocker arm to the prestressing device (for example via a force transmission body or directly). This mechanism can make use of a leverage effect of the rocker arm in an advantageous manner, which allows operation with little force. If the rocker arm is actuated at the edge, it can act on the prestressing device in a defined manner, for example in order to press it away from the valve blocks in a relieving manner. The rocker arm can also be stored in one position, for example on a housing. Furthermore, the rocker arm can be designed as a closed rocker arm ring with a central opening in order, for example, to pass a drive shaft of a rotor through the rocker arm.

According to one embodiment, the rocker arm can be formed by means of its Druckbe Reichs to transmit an axial or at least substantially axial force based on an axis of rotation of the second valve block designed as a rotor to the prestressing device. For this purpose, the pressure area of the rocker arm can preferably be designed as a pressure line or at least one pressure point, which preferably acts on the prestressing device along the rotor axis. This brings about a targeted transmission of force to the pretensioning device. The rocker arm is preferably shaped in such a way that the tilting in the pressure area or on the pressure line or on at least one pressure point exerts a completely axial force or at least an approximately axial force on the prestressing device. This prevents large radial force components and therefore avoids an undesired mutual tilting of the valve blocks or the occurrence of undesirably high bearing forces. Advantageously, the rocker arm can be designed as a disc with an edge area or tip area, with its edge or tip being able to form the pressure line or the pressure point. The disk can be coupled to the actuating device at the edge.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the fluid valve can have an insertion opening in the first valve block and/or in a main body accommodating the second valve block for inserting an actuating tool for actuating, in particular for rotary actuating, an actuating device of the relief device, in order to thereby relieve the relief on the contact surfaces between the first valve block and to effect the second valve block. It is particularly preferred if the insertion opening is accessible on the front side of the valve or on the stator side and the actuating device arranged therein can be actuated by a user using the actuating tool from a front side of the valve or on the stator side in order to bring about relief on the contact surfaces between the first valve block and the second valve block. A user can then trigger a relief between the valve blocks by inserting the actuating tool into the insertion opening in the direction of the stator and acting on the actuating device by actuating (for example turning) the actuating tool. The actuating device can then in turn actuate a tilting mechanism of the relief device or a force-transmitting body with at least one inclined plane, in order to relieve the pressure on the valve blocks at their mutually adjoining contact surfaces.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the insertion opening can extend from one side of the stator, in particular obliquely, into a side surface of the main body accommodating the second valve block, or extend, in particular perpendicularly, into the first valve block. Like for example in 2 as can be seen, the insertion opening can extend obliquely from the stator side into a side surface section of a main body accommodating a rotor, which side surface section preferably adjoins the stator. Preferably, the outside of the insertion opening is adjacent to the stator. The slope of the insertion opening is preferably oriented in such a way that the actuating tool inserted into the insertion opening also faces a user who is facing a front or end face of the stator. In an alternative configuration, for example in 7 As shown, the insertion opening extends directly into the stator, preferably into a front or end face of the stator. The front or end face of the stator preferably faces a user when the fluid valve is installed and is therefore also easily and intuitively accessible for actuation by a user using an actuation tool.

According to one exemplary embodiment, a stop for the actuating device can be formed at the insertion opening, against which the actuating device strikes when relief of the valve body is deactivated. By providing a stop on, preferably in an inner surface of the insertion opening, against which the actuating device of the relief device, embodied, for example, as an actuating screw, strikes when the pretensioning device exerts a pretension on the valve blocks in a defined manner that pretensions the contact surfaces of the valve blocks against one another, allows a precise definition of a Target preload according to the position of the stop. For example, a user can unscrew the actuating device for exerting the pretension between the valve blocks until it hits the stop by means of an actuating tool.

According to one embodiment, the relief device (in particular an actuating device of the relief device) can be actuated in such a way that one of the force transmission bodies is moved radially, in particular displaced, and as a result, by means of the inclined planes sliding against one another, said force transmission body moves another of the force transmission bodies axially, whereby the other force transmission body acts in a relieving manner on a prestressing device that mutually prestresses the first valve block and the second valve block. In this way, it is possible for a user to exert an axial force using an actuating tool, which can be accomplished in a simple manner through an end face of the stator. Such an axial actuation force can be achieved by means of an inclined plane of a force transmission body pers are converted into a radial longitudinal force and are converted into an axial displacement force of the other power transmission body by sliding off inclined planes of the power transmission body and another power transmission body. As a result, an influence of the other force transmission body on a pretensioning device can be modified in such a way that the pretensioning device exerts no or only a reduced pretensioning force on the valve blocks.

According to one exemplary embodiment, each of the force-transmitting bodies can have a plurality of inclined planes angled toward one another, by means of which the force-transmitting bodies are interlocked with one another. For example, the force transmission bodies can have a jagged structure with inclined plane sections on an active surface to another force transmission body. Such an embodiment is in 7 shown.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the relief device can have an actuating device that can be actuated to activate or deactivate the relief, for example an actuating screw that can be turned. Such an actuating device can be arranged, for example, in an end region of an insertion opening for feeding in an actuating tool for actuating the actuating device. An external thread of the actuation screw can interact with an internal thread of a housing section in the insertion opening. A user only needs to actuate the actuating device with the actuating tool in order to set the relief or a pretension. Alternatively, a user can also actuate the actuating device manually. In a further alternative, the actuating device can be actuated automatically, for example by a control device of an analysis device.

According to an exemplary embodiment, a prestressing device for prestressing the first valve block and the second valve block against one another and the force transmission bodies can be stacked with the inclined planes in the axial direction. Thus, a pretensioning device and the power transmission body can form a compact sandwich structure (see 7 ).

A prestressing device can, for example, act directly or indirectly on the second valve block (preferably a rotor), via the contact surface of which a force can then be transmitted to the contact surface of the first valve block (preferably a stator). The prestressing device can be designed, for example, as a mechanical spring, preferably as a set of disk springs. Alternatively, the prestressing device can also generate a magnetic prestress between the valve blocks. A preloading force of the preloading device that is transmitted to the valve blocks can be reduced or eliminated for relieving. This can be accomplished, for example, by partially or completely relieving the prestressing device by means of the relieving device. Alternatively, this can be achieved, for example, by forcing the prestressing device away from the valve blocks, so that the prestressing device can transmit no or only a reduced prestressing force to the valve blocks.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the first valve block can be designed as a stator and the second valve block can be designed as a rotor. On the stator, ports that are or can be coupled to other fluid components, and optionally at least one groove that carries fluid during operation in a stator contact surface, can be formed as fluid-carrying structures. At least one fluid-carrying groove can be formed in a rotor contact surface on the rotor, which groove can be fluidically coupled to the fluid-carrying structures of the stator depending on a rotational state of the rotor or can be fluidically decoupled from them. In particular, a valve block designed as a rotor can be composed of a plurality of components, part of which rotates during operation and another part remains static during operation. The stator can be stationary during operation.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the fluid valve can have a prestressing device, in particular a spring device, for the mutual prestressing of the first valve block and the second valve block, with the relief device being designed to act on the prestressing device when it is actuated in such a way that a prestressing force for the mutual prestressing of the first valve block and the second valve block can be selectively switched on or off. For this purpose, the relief device can be designed to force the pretensioning device away from the first valve block and from the second valve block when it is actuated to switch off the pretensioning force, in particular by compressing the pretensioning device away from the valve blocks. In this way, a prestressing force between the contact surfaces of the first valve block and the second valve block can be reduced to zero. A corresponding embodiment is in 2 shown. As an alternative to relieving the valve blocks by pushing a prestressing device away from the valve blocks, it is also possible to completely or partially relieve the prestressing device by means of the relieving device, as a result of which a prestressing force exerted by the prestressing device on the valve blocks can be reduced or even eliminated.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the fluid valve can have an adjustment device for adjusting a pretensioning force generated by means of a pretensioning device between the first valve block and the second valve block. For example, such an adjustment device can allow the size of the pretensioning force between the valve blocks to be adjusted to a desired value at the factory or by the user. The magnitude of the prestressing force can then be set sufficiently large, for example depending on a specific application, that a fluid-tight fluid transfer between the valve blocks is ensured at the fluid pressures that occur. At the same time, the size of the prestressing force can be set sufficiently small that wear on the valve blocks due to high prestressing forces and consequently high mechanical loads, in particular when switching the fluid valve, can be kept sufficiently low.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the adjustment device has an insertion space for inserting a pre-compression tool for pre-compressing the pre-tensioning device in order to define the pre-tensioning force. For example, such a pre-compression tool can be a compression tube that is inserted into the insertion space up to a predefinable depth, with the selected insertion depth predetermining the magnitude of the prestressing force.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the setting device has a fixing device for fixing the pretensioning device to a defined pretensioning force. Such a locking device can be, for example, a nut with an external thread, which can be screwed into the second valve block up to a predetermined desired depth. The target depth can then influence the prestressing force with which the prestressing device and consequently the valve blocks are acted upon. The screw-in depth of the threaded nut can correspond to the preload force defined by the precompression tool. In this way, the pre-compression tool and the locking device can work together.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the fluid valve has a first bearing for supporting the second valve block in an axially displaceable and radially centering manner. This can be designed as a ball bearing, for example, which centers the rotor in the radial direction relative to a stator. This ball bearing can be moved over a certain range in the axial direction.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the fluid valve has an axially non-displaceable second bearing for absorbing forces from a prestressing device for prestressing the first valve block and the second valve block against one another. Clearly, the second bearing can absorb disk spring forces. In the axial direction, the second bearing can be attached at a fixed position.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the fluid valve has a housing part for accommodating at least part of a rear side and at least part of a lateral surface of a main body accommodating the second valve block. Said housing part can advantageously be placed on the back of the main body and fulfill a number of functions at the same time. Said housing part can advantageously be made of plastic and thus be manufactured with little effort and weight, preferably be a single injection-molded part. In particular, the housing part can implement a function or any combination of two or more of the following functions:

According to one exemplary embodiment, the housing part can have an anti-twist device for the fluid valve when it is driven in rotation by a drive device. Thus, the housing part can provide an anti-twist device for the entire fluid valve in its installed state.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the housing part can have an anti-twist device for an adjustment device for adjusting a pretensioning force generated by means of a pretensioning device between the first valve block and the second valve block. As described above, such an adjustment device can be designed as a threaded nut that can be screwed in according to a desired preload up to a specific position relative to the preload device. In order to prevent the target prestress from changing undesirably over time, an anti-twist device on the housing part can, for example, engage knurling or ribbing on the adjustment device.

According to one embodiment, the housing part can have a transponder holder. Thus, the housing part can have a recess into which a transponder can be inserted or is inserted. For example, such a transponder can be an RFID tag or another contactless transponder. Such a transponder can be used to ensure traceability of the fluid valve, which can provide useful information in the event of an error, for example. It is also possible for such a transponder to be read (and/or written to) automatically when the fluid valve is installed in an analysis device or the like, for example in order to identify the fluid valve.

According to one embodiment, the housing part can have a loss protection for a drive shaft of a second valve block designed as a rotor. Such a drive shaft can be driven by a drive device, for example an electric motor. This allows the rotor to rotate relative to a stator to switch the fluid valve. The drive shaft can be reliably held on the fluid valve by means of a corresponding shape feature of the housing part.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the method can include, after the actuation of the relief device, an exchange or maintenance of the first valve block and/or the second valve block, and, after the exchange or maintenance, a renewed actuation of the relief device in order to achieve mutual prestressing at the contact surfaces between to effect the first valve block and the second valve block. The relief device of the fluid valve can thus simplify the process of replacing or servicing a respective valve block, support it and make it more error-resistant. By reducing the contact pressure of the rotor against the stator by actuating the relief device before dismantling the fluid valve - in particular by unscrewing the stator from a main body accommodating the rotor - maintenance or replacement of a rotor component and/or the stator can be carried out without prestressing or be carried out at least with reduced preload. After the component has been reassembled, the preload between rotor and stator can be increased again by actuating the load-relieving device again. Undesirable wedging of the rotor and stator in the dismantled state can thereby be reliably avoided and a plane-parallel assembly of the contact surfaces of the rotor and stator can be ensured. This increases the service life and reduces the risk of damage to the rotor or stator. An undesired pressing of an edge of the stator against a surface of the rotor or vice versa can be avoided in this way.

According to one embodiment, the analysis device can be designed as a sample separation device and have an analytical pump for driving a mobile phase and the fluidic sample introduced into the mobile phase by means of the fluid valve and a sample separation device for separating the fluidic sample introduced into the mobile phase. In the context of the present application, the term “mobile phase” means in particular a fluid, further in particular a liquid, which can be used, for example, as a carrier medium for transporting the fluidic sample, in particular between an analytical pump and a sample separation device. However, mobile phase can also be used in an analytical pump to influence the fluidic sample. For example, the mobile phase can be a solvent (e.g. organic and/or inorganic) or a solvent composition (e.g. water and ethanol). In the context of the present application, the term "analytical pump" can in particular mean a device for conveying a fluid (in particular a liquid and/or a (in particular fluidic) sample) under pressure (in particular under high pressure, more particularly under a pressure of at least 1000 bar ) are understood. In particular, an analytical pump can be a piston pump that is designed to deliver the fluid by reciprocating at least one piston. For example, such an analytical pump can be a high-pressure chromatography pump. In the context of this application, the term “sample separation device” means in particular a component that can be used in a sample separation device and, alone or in cooperation with other components, separates a (particularly fluidic) sample into different components as part of the operation of the sample separation device. In particular, such a sample separation device can be a chromatography separation column or a component for an electrophoresis separation. A chromatography separation column, for example, can have a container filled with a stationary phase, with the stationary phase being able to adsorb different components of the (especially fluidic) sample when the (especially fluidic) sample flows through between an inlet and an outlet (i.e. between two fluid connection points). . In addition, the stationary phase can be designed to desorb or separate the adsorbed components fractionally, in particular depending on a liquid flowing through the sample separation device in the form of a solvent composition. The analysis device can advantageously be designed as a chromatographic sample separation device, in particular for liquid chromatography or as an HPLC.

For example, the analysis device can be designed as a chromatographic sample separation device, in particular for liquid chromatography or as an HPLC. Due to the described configuration of the fluid valve, the high pressures during operation of an HPLC can be applied without the risk of a significant leakage.

The sample separation device can be a microfluidic measuring device, a life science device, a liquid chromatography device, a gas chromatography device, an HPLC (High Performance Liquid Chromatography), a UHPLC system or an SFC (supercritical liquid chromatography) device. However, many other applications are possible.

According to one exemplary embodiment, the sample separation device can be designed as a chromatographic separation device, in particular as a chromatography separation column. In the case of a chromatographic separation, the chromatographic separation column can be provided with an adsorption medium. The fluidic sample can be stopped at this and only subsequently be detached again in fractions when a specific solvent composition is present, with which the separation of the sample into its fractions is accomplished.

An analytical pump for conveying fluid can, for example, be set up to convey the fluid or the mobile phase through the system at a high pressure, for example a few 100 bar up to 1000 bar and more.

The sample separation device can have a sample injector for introducing the sample into the fluidic separation path. Such a sample injector can have an injection needle that can be coupled to a seat in a corresponding fluid path, with the needle being able to be moved out of this seat in order to take up a sample, with the sample being in a fluid path after reinserting the needle into the seat, which, for For example, by switching a fluid valve, it can be switched into the separation path of the system, which leads to the introduction of the sample into the fluidic separation path. In another embodiment of the invention, a sample injector can be used with a needle that operates without a seat.

The sample separation device may include a fraction collector for collecting the separated components. Such a fraction collector can lead the different components of the separated sample into different liquid containers, for example. However, the analyzed sample can also be fed to an outflow container.

The sample separation device can preferably have a detector for detecting the separated components. Such a detector can generate a signal which can be observed and/or recorded and which is indicative of the presence and quantity of the sample components in the fluid flowing through the system.

character list

• 1 zeigt ein HPLC-System als Analysegerät mit einem Fluidventil gemäß einem exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• 2 bis 6 zeigen unterschiedliche Ansichten eines Fluidventils eines Analysegerätes gemäß einem exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.
• 7 zeigt ein Fluidventil eines Analysegerätes gemäß einem anderen exemplarischen Ausführungsbeispiel der Erfindung.

Other objects and many of the attendant advantages of embodiments of the present invention will be readily appreciated and become better understood by reference to the following more detailed description of embodiments taken in connection with the accompanying drawings. Features that are essentially or functionally the same or similar are provided with the same reference numbers.

• 1 shows an HPLC system as an analysis device with a fluid valve according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• 2 until 6 show different views of a fluid valve of an analysis device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention.
• 7 12 shows a fluid valve of an analyzer according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention.

The representation in the drawing is schematic.

Before exemplary embodiments are described with reference to the figures, some basic considerations should be summarized, on the basis of which exemplary embodiments of the invention were derived.

A stator component (also referred to as a stator) and a rotor seal (also referred to as a rotor component or rotor) of a fluid valve are subjected to high stress during operation and are therefore replaced or serviced from time to time (e.g. once a year). In order to be able to withstand high fluid pressures (e.g. at least 1000 bar) in a fluid-tight manner, the said valve blocks (i.e. stator and rotor) are pressed against one another with a mechanical preload during operation by means of a preload device (in particular a disk spring assembly). If a valve block is to be replaced or serviced, the pretensioning device conventionally presses the rotor outwards after the stator has been unscrewed. When assembling the new parts, this can lead to damage to the stator and/or the rotor if, for example, an edge of one of the valve blocks abuts against a contact surface of the other valve block under the applied preload. Traditional approaches to reducing the risk of damage are complicated and difficult to use.

Exemplary embodiments of the invention provide solutions that allow a plane-parallel and thus damage-free mounting and Enable disassembly of a stator-rotor fluid valve, wherein for disassembling and/or assembling the stator-rotor fluid valve, the preload between the stator and the rotor can be reduced in a targeted manner by means of a relief device. Sensitive parts can be taken out of a hazardous area for handling. The application of force to the stator-rotor assembly can be specifically avoided during handling.

According to an exemplary embodiment of a first aspect of the invention, a relief device for a fluid valve for the selective relief of mutually prestressable valve blocks is realized by means of a tilting mechanism. By preferably tilting the tilting mechanism at the edge, an axial force can be exerted on a prestressing device, with the advantageous use of a lever effect, at a position central to the axis, as a result of which this is pushed away from the valve blocks. This relieves the pressure on the valve blocks, which can therefore be handled (for example replaced or serviced) without or with reduced preload and thus without the risk of damage. Thus, even a user without any special skills can replace or maintain wearing components of the fluid valve without risk of damage. For example, such a fluid valve can be equipped with a relief screw that actuates the tilting mechanism to break a rotor-stator connection.

For example, a set of disc springs can be pushed away from the rotor by means of the relief device, as a result of which the rotor is relieved in relation to the stator. In the resulting force-free state, the stator can now be removed from the rotor, for example by unscrewing connecting screws. After the stator and/or the rotor has been cleaned, serviced and/or at least partially replaced, the stator can be reassembled on the rotor while it is still in a force-free state, for example by unscrewing connecting screws. After that, the disk spring assembly can be influenced by repeated actuation of the relief device in such a way that the preload between the stator and the rotor is built up again.

According to an exemplary embodiment of a second aspect of the invention, a fluid valve relief device for selectively relieving mutually biasable valve blocks, one of which is a stator (and the other preferably a rotor), is actuated on the stator side. In other words, the relief device for relieving the valve blocks can be actuated by a user with a view towards or access to the stator. This allows the user to not only gain access to stator ports in an uncomplicated manner, but also to reduce or eliminate the bias between the stator and the rotor as required from the same position. The influence on the preload can thus be achieved from a side easily accessible to the user. The measures described allow the relief device to be actuated from the stator side without the entire fluid valve having to be dismantled from an installation situation in an analysis device.

According to an exemplary embodiment of a third aspect of the invention, a relief device for a fluid valve for the selective relief of mutually pretensionable valve blocks is brought about by means of force transmission bodies sliding on one another on inclined planes. When actuated by means of an actuating device, said inclined planes slide off one another in a force-diverting manner and thereby trigger a reduction in the prestressing force acting between the valve blocks. In this way, the preload force between the valve blocks can be lowered in an uncomplicated manner, without delicate processes and without damage.

In particular, according to exemplary embodiments of the invention, a relief screw for a rotary valve can be provided. A relief mechanism (preferably on the front) with regard to the axial application of force between the rotor and the stator of the rotary valve can advantageously be used here. This allows, for example, the stator to be replaced without force and thus without risk of damage. A tilting mechanism for axially relieving the load between the rotor and the stator can be used particularly advantageously for temporarily switching off the prestress between the stator and the rotor. Exemplary embodiments thus provide a mechanical device that can be used to interchange the rotor and stator parts of a fluid valve when installed. Advantageously, a plane-parallel assembly of a highly sensitive rotor-stator interface can be ensured here, without the need for special devices or tools. This can reliably prevent the fluid valve from being damaged during maintenance or installation. Furthermore, a parallel alignment of the contact surfaces of the stator and the rotor can be ensured. This has a positive effect on the service life of the fluid valve. The construction described ensures that the surfaces of the rotor-stator assembly can be assembled without damage and in a plane parallel alignment.

Advantageously, according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, an adjusting screw operable from the easily accessible side of the valve can be used to linearly move the disk spring assembly and the rotor shaft with the rotor seal in a straight line and axially away from the stator.

1 shows the basic structure of an HPLC system as an example of an analysis device 10 designed as a sample separation device according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention, as it can be used for liquid chromatography, for example. An analytical pump 20 supplied with solvents from a supply 25 drives a mobile phase through a sample separation device 30 (such as a chromatographic column) containing a stationary phase. The feed device 25 comprises a first fluid component source 113 for providing a first fluid or a first solvent component A (for example water) and a second fluid component source 111 for providing a different second fluid or a second solvent component B (for example an organic solvent). An optional degasser 27 can degas the solvents provided by the first fluid component source 113 and by the second fluid component source 111 before they are fed to the analytical pump 20 .

A sample application unit, which can also be referred to as an injector 40, is arranged between the analytical pump 20 and the sample separation device 30 in order to pump a sample liquid or a fluid sample from a sample container 137 first into a sample receiving volume 133 in an injector path 123 (shown only schematically). record, and subsequently introduced by switching a designed as an injection valve fluid valve 100 of the injector 40 in a fluidic separation path 115 between analytical pump 20 and sample separation device 30. The fluidic sample can be taken up from the sample container 137, in particular by moving a sample needle 117 out of a sample seat 119 and into the sample container 137, using a syringe pump 121 as a dosing device, fluidic sample out of the sample container 137 through the sample needle 117 into the sample intake volume 133 is sucked in, and the sample needle 117 is then moved back into the needle seat 115.

The stationary phase of the sample separation device 30 is intended to separate components of the sample. A detector 50, which may include a flow cell, detects separated components of the sample. A fractionation device or fractionator 60 may be provided to dispense separated components of the sample into designated containers. Liquids that are no longer required can be discharged into a drain container or into a waste line (not shown).

While a liquid path between the analytical pump 20 and the sample separation device 30 is typically under high pressure, the sample liquid is first introduced under normal pressure into an area separate from this liquid path, namely the sample loop or the sample receiving volume 133 of the sample application unit or the injector 40. Thereafter, the sample liquid is introduced into the high-pressure separation path 115 . A sample loop as a sample receiving volume 133 (also referred to as a sample loop) can be understood to mean a section of a fluid line which is designed to receive or temporarily store a predetermined quantity of fluidic sample. Preferably, before the sample liquid in the sample receiving volume 133, which is initially under normal pressure, is connected to the high-pressure separating path 115, the contents of the sample receiving volume 133 are brought to and even above the system pressure of the analysis device 10 designed as an HPLC by means of the syringe pump 121. The system pressure is the high pressure in the separation path 115. A control device 70 controls the individual components 20, 25, 30, 40, 50, 60, 100, etc. of the analysis device 10.

1 12 shows two supply lines 171, 173, each of which is fluidically coupled to a respective one of the two solvent containers referred to as fluid component sources 113, 111 for providing a respective one of the fluids or solvent components A and B. The respective fluid or the respective solvent component A or B is conveyed through the respective feed line 171 or 173, through the degasser 27 to a proportioning valve 87 as a proportioning device, at which the fluid or solvent components A or B from the feed lines 171, 173 be united with each other. The fluid packets flow from the supply lines 171, 173 to the proportioning valve 87 and are later mixed to form a homogeneous solvent composition. The latter is then fed to the analytical pump 20 .

A detail 125 in 1 shows the structure of the fluid valve 100 in cross section. During operation of the analysis device 10 and in particular of the injector 40, the fluid valve 100 is activated by the control device 70 for injecting a fluid sample from the sample receiving volume 133 into a mobile phase in the separation path 115 between the analytical Pump 20 and the sample separator 30 of the analyzer 10 switched. This switching of the fluid valve 100 is effected by causing a relative movement between a first valve block 102 (which may be a stationary stator in relation to a laboratory system) and a second valve block 186 (which may be a rotatable rotor in relation to the laboratory system) of the fluid valve 100 The first valve block 102 can be provided with a plurality of ports and optionally with one or more groove-shaped connection structures. Said ports are in 1 shown as fluid-carrying structures 106 . The second valve block 186 can be equipped with preferably a plurality of groove-shaped connection structures in order to thereby selectively fluidly couple each of the ports of the first valve block 102 depending on a respective relative orientation between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 by means of the at least one connection structure of the second valve block 186 or to decouple. Said grooves are in 1 shown as fluid-carrying structures 108 . A respective groove-shaped connection structure of the second valve block 186 can clearly connect two (or more) of the ports of the first valve block 102 to one another in certain switching states of the fluid valve 100 . In certain switching states of the fluid valve 100, ports of the first valve block 102 can be fluidically decoupled from one another. In this way, the individual components of the analysis device 10 can be brought into an adjustable fluidic coupling state or decoupling state with one another depending on a respective switching state of the fluid valve 100 .

During operation of the analysis device 10, the fluid valve 100 can be exposed to extremely high pressures, since in particular the analytical pump 20 delivers fluid through the fluid valve 100 at a pressure of, for example, 1000 bar or more. In order to achieve a fluid-tight connection between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186, a prestressing device 130 shown in detail 125 in the form of a plate spring assembly can apply mechanical prestress to the second valve component 186 designed as a rotor. As a result, the second valve component 186 is pressed against the first valve component 102 in a sealing manner during operation of the analysis device 10 . To put it more precisely, the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 are prestressed against one another at contact surfaces 110, 112 which can be brought into contact with one another in a fluid-tight manner. The fluid-carrying structures 106, 108 open out at the contact surfaces 110, 112, which are also brought into fluid connection with one another there.

Due to the high mechanical stress that acts on the valve blocks 102, 186 during operation of the fluid valve 100 or the analysis device 10, the valve blocks 102, 186 require maintenance or replacement from time to time. In order to enable the valve blocks 102, 186 to be handled for maintenance or replacement without the risk of damage to the contact surfaces 110, 112, the fluid valve 100 has an in 1 relief device 114 shown schematically provided. The relief device 114 is operable to cause relief at the contact surfaces 110, 112 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186. The actuation of the relief device 114 can (e.g. using an actuation tool 136, cf 2 ) by a user or automated (for example by the control device 70). If the relief device 114 is actuated, the prestressing device 130 can be influenced so that no contact pressure force or no prestressing force is generated between the valve blocks 102, 186. The valve blocks 102, 186 can thereby be selectively brought into a force-free state. The valve blocks 102, 186 can now be handled (for example maintenance or exchange) without the risk of damage. After the end of the manipulation, the relief device 114 can be actuated again in order to activate the prestressing device 130 again to apply a prestressing force between the valve blocks 102, 186. The fluid-conveying operation of the fluid valve 100 or of the analysis device 10 can now be continued.

In the following, referring to 2 until 7 specific exemplary embodiments of a fluid valve 100 and its relief device 114 are described. For example, these exemplary embodiments can be implemented in the analysis device 10 according to FIG 1 come into use.

2 until 6 show different views of a fluid valve 100 of an analysis device 10 according to an exemplary embodiment of the invention. 2 shows a side view of the fluid valve 100 in an operating state in which an actuating device 162 acts on a tilting mechanism 116 of a relief device 114 in a manner that relieves the valve block. 3 shows a stator-side spatial view of the fluid valve 100. 4 shows a rotor-side spatial view of the fluid valve 100. 5 shows a side view of the fluid valve 100 in an operating state in which the actuating device 162 does not tilt the tilting mechanism 116 of the relief device 114, so that the valve blocks 102, 186 are pressed against one another by means of a prestressing device 130 with a mechanical prestressing force. 6 shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid valve 100, which is a through a variety of Figure 1 shows drive shaft 160 extending axially therethrough for rotor driving.

The illustrated fluid valve 100 is suitable, for example, for use in an analysis device 10 for analyzing a fluid sample, but can also be used in other ways. The fluid valve 100 has a first valve block 102 embodied as a stator with first fluid-conducting structures 106 in the form of ports which extend to a contact surface 110 of the first valve block 102 and are exposed there. Furthermore, the fluid valve 100 comprises a second valve block 186 embodied as a rotor with second fluid-conducting structures 108 in the form of grooves which extend to a contact surface 112 of the second valve block 186 and are exposed there. Depending on a rotational state of the second valve block 186 relative to the first valve block 102, defined fluidic coupling states or fluidic decoupling states can be formed between the fluid-carrying structures 106, 108. The second valve block 186 is accommodated on or in a main body 104 which can be connected, for example screwed, to the first valve block 102 .

If fluid (e.g. a mobile phase and/or a fluidic sample) is transported between the valve blocks 102, 186, the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 are brought into fluid-tight contact with one another and are therefore prestressed against one another at the contact surfaces 110, 112. This is accomplished by means of a prestressing device 130, which in the exemplary embodiment shown is in the form of a set of disk springs. Clearly, the pretensioning device 130 generates a mechanical pretensioning force acting in the axial direction, which presses the second valve block 186 against the first valve block 102 in a fluid-tight manner.

A relief device 114 is provided on the fluid valve 100 in order to mechanically relieve the valve blocks 102, 186 temporarily on their contact surfaces 110, 112 (for example for damage-free maintenance or for damage-free replacement of the valve blocks 102 and/or 186). The relief device 114 is advantageously equipped with a tilting mechanism 116 . By actuating an actuating device 162 of the relief device 114, the tilting mechanism 116 can be tilted, as a result of which relief is effected on the contact surfaces 110, 112 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186. The operation of the tilting mechanism 116 is described in more detail below.

The temporary relief between the valve blocks 102, 186 by actuating the tilting mechanism 116 is advantageously triggered by the relief device 114, which is accessible from the front of the valve, from the front or from the stator. The stator-side accessibility of the relief device 114 from a stator side 118 or from the stator-side viewing angle according to the left-hand side of FIG 3 from—in contrast to the rotor-side viewing angle from a rotor side 170 facing the main body 104 according to the right-hand side of FIG 4 - makes it easier for a user to operate the relief device 114 even when the fluid valve 100 is installed in an appliance. For actuation, a user does not need to remove the entire fluid valve 100 from an installation situation, nor access the rotor side 170 that is inaccessible or difficult to access. Instead, it is possible for a user to actuate the relief device 114 from the same position from which the user also handles a fluidic coupling with the first fluid-conducting structures 106 in the form of the stator ports. Thus, in the embodiment according to 2 until 6 the relief device 114 can be actuated by a user from the stator side 118 in order to bring about relief at the contact surfaces 110, 112 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186. In other words, the relief device 114 is accessible on the stator side and can be actuated by a user from the stator side 118, which is also easily accessible with regard to fluid coupling management.

As best in 2 , 5 and 6 As can be seen, the rocker mechanism 116 includes an annular rocker arm 126 . The rocker arm 126 has a (according to 2 and 5 left-hand side) annular disc section 172 and an integrally formed (according to 2 and 5 right side) annular tip portion 174 on. The disk section 172 of the rocker arm 126 has a tiltable actuating end 128 at the edge, which can be subjected to a tilting force by an actuating device 162 designed as an actuating screw. As a result, a pressure region 132 embodied as a pressure line or at least one pressure point at the end of the tip section 174 facing away from the stator comes into operative connection with a force transmission body 176. As best shown in 6 As can be seen, the force transmission body 176 can also be designed as a ring structure, which acts in a radially widened section on the prestressing device 130 designed, for example, as a set of disk springs. When the disc section 172 is tilted, the entire rocker arm 126 is tilted. The pressure area 132 then acts on the prestressing device 130 via the force transmission body 176. The rocker arm 126 described is advantageously designed to apply an essentially axial force by means of the pressure area 132 (according to 2 in the horizontal direction) to be transferred to the prestressing device 130 . 2 12 shows the rocker arm 126 in a tilted state, which is set by pressing the actuating device 162 on the edge of the rocker arm 126 and by pushing the biasing device 130 away from the valve blocks 102, 186 (ie according to 2 to the right) the valve blocks 102, 186 mutually relieved. On the other hand shows 5 rocker arm 126 in an untilted condition set by moving actuator 162 back to a stop 138 . According to 5 the prestressing force generated by the prestressing device 130 is transmitted to the pressure-loaded valve blocks 102, 186 without this being inhibited or prevented by the relief device 114.

Again referring to 2 , 5 and 6 In the case of the fluid valve 100, an insertion opening 134 is provided in the main body 104 accommodating the second valve block 186—which is designed as a rotor. The first valve block 102 may be mounted to the main body 104, for example by means of connecting bolts. As shown, the insertion opening 134 is used for inserting an operating tool 136 for rotating the operating device 162 of the relief device 114. At an operating end of the operating tool 136, an output (e.g. a hexalobular output, a hexagonal output, etc.) is formed which can engage in a torque-transmitting manner in a corresponding drive (for example a hexalobular socket, a hexagonal drive, etc.) in an end face of the actuating device 162 embodied as an actuating screw. The insertion opening 134 can have an internal thread corresponding to an external thread of the actuating screw. The actuating device 162 can therefore be screwed into the insertion opening 134 or screwed out of the insertion opening 134 by means of the actuating tool 136 . 2 shows the actuating device 162 in a state that has been rotated deep into the insertion opening 134, in which tilting of the rocker arm 126 is consequently triggered and the valve blocks 102, 186 are therefore relieved. 5 shows the actuating device 162 in a state in which it has been unscrewed up to a stop 138 in the insertion opening 134, in which the rocker arm 126 is consequently not tilted and the valve blocks 102, 186 are therefore prestressed against one another by means of the prestressing device 130.

The insertion opening 134 advantageously extends obliquely from the stator side 118 into a side face of the main body 104 adjoining the stator, so that the end of the actuating tool 136 protruding from the insertion opening 134 faces a user on the stator side 118 . This leads to a high level of operating comfort and ergonomic operability of the actuating device 162. The stop 138 formed on the insertion opening 134 for the actuating device 162 is configured in such a way that the actuating device 162 strikes the stop 138 when the valve blocks 102, 186 are relieved is, ie when the valve blocks 102, 186 are biased by the biasing device 130 against each other. Is based on the operating status according to 5 the actuating screw is screwed deeper into the insertion opening 134, the relief is activated. Is based on the operating status according to 2 If the actuating screw is turned out of the insertion opening 134 up to the stop 138, a defined preload between the valve blocks 102, 186 is activated. Thus, in the exemplary embodiment shown, the relief device 114 has an actuating device 162 in the form of an actuating screw that can be actuated in rotation to activate or deactivate the relief. Due to the coupling of prestressing device 130, embodied as a mechanical spring device, to tilting mechanism 116, actuation of actuating device 162 can be used to act on prestressing device 130 in such a way that a prestressing force for mutually prestressing first valve block 102 and second valve block 186 can be selectively switched on or off . When the tilting mechanism 116 is actuated to switch off the preloading force, the tilting mechanism 116 forces the preloading device 130 away from the first valve block 102 and from the second valve block 186 by the preloading device 130 passing through the rocker arm 126 and the force-transmitting body 176 (according to 2 to the right) is further compressed. When the actuating device 162 is actuated to switch on the preloading force, the preloading device 130 is pushed towards the first valve block 102 and towards the second valve block 186 in that the preloading device 130 is no longer prevented from acting on the valve blocks 102, 186 by the rocker arm 126 and the force transmission body 176 becomes. In particular, urging the biasing device 130 away from the valve blocks 102, 186 by the activated unloading device 114 can reduce a biasing force between the contacting surfaces 110, 112 of the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 to zero. It is therefore possible to relieve the valve blocks 102, 186 completely.

best in 6 An adjustment device 140 can be seen for adjusting a pretensioning force generated by means of a pretensioning device 130 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186. Said adjustment device 140 has a rear insertion space 142 for insertion (see arrows in 6 ) of a pre-compression tool, not shown (e.g. a tube) for pre-compressing the pre-tensioning device 130 to define the pre-tensioning force. The strength of the spring force can be clearly set using the pre-compression tool. Furthermore, the setting device 140 has a fixing device 144 for fixing the pretensioning device 130 to a defined pretensioning force. In the exemplary embodiment shown, the locking device 144 is designed as a threaded screw which can be screwed in the axial direction to such an extent that a desired prestressing force is set.

A first bearing 146 for axially displaceable and radially centering mounting of the second valve block 186 is arranged in the front area of the rotor and therefore faces the stator. In addition, in the rear area of the rotor, i.e. facing away from the stator, an axially non-displaceable second bearing 148 is provided for absorbing forces from the pretensioning device 130. The second bearing 140 is also a ball bearing.

best in 4 A housing part 150 clipped onto the main body 104 can be seen to house part of a rear side and part of a lateral surface of the main body 104 enclosing the rotor. The housing part 150 shown can be produced as an injection molded part from plastic and combines a large number of useful functions.

The housing part 150 has an anti-twist device 152 for the entire fluid valve 100 when the drive shaft 160 is driven in rotation by a drive device (not shown). If the fluid valve 100 is installed in an analysis device 10, for example, the anti-twist device 152 prevents the fluid valve 100 as a whole from being rotated relative to an installation situation.

In addition, the housing part 150 has an anti-rotation device 154 to prevent the adjustment device 140 described above from rotating for adjusting the pretensioning force generated by the pretensioning device 130 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 . Numeral 178 in 4 shows a knurling or ribbing on a rear side of the adjusting device 140 designed as a threaded nut.

In addition, the housing part 150 contains a transponder receptacle 156 for receiving a transponder, for example an RFID transponder. Such a transponder is used, for example, to identify or track the fluid valve 100.

In addition, the housing part 150 contains a loss protection 158 to protect the drive shaft 160 of the second valve block 186 designed as a rotor. The drive shaft 160 can be rotated by means of a drive device (for example an electric motor) that is not shown if the rotor is to rotate to switch the fluid valve 100. The loss protection 158 of the housing part 150 holds the drive shaft 160 on the fluid valve 100.

As already explained, the fluid valve 100 shown can be used in an analysis device 10 (e.g. an HPLC) for analyzing a fluid sample, for example as an injection valve of an injector 40. During operation of the analysis device 10, the pretensioning device 130 can be used to pretension the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 against each other by bringing the contact surfaces 110, 112 into fluid-tight contact in order to form a fluid-tight connection. A fluidic sample to be separated or a mobile phase can then be transferred between the first fluid-carrying structures 106 and the second fluid-carrying structures 108 in a defined manner. Due to the high mechanical stress on the fluid valve during operation, it may become necessary to service or replace the first valve block 102 and/or the second valve block 186 after a certain period of operation. In order to be able to service or replace the valve blocks 102, 186 without the risk of damage, the relief device 114 is activated beforehand in order to bring about relief at the contact surfaces 110, 112 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186. After the relief device 114 has been actuated, the first valve block 102 and/or the second valve block 186 can be replaced or serviced without risk. After replacement or maintenance, the relief device 114 can be actuated again in order to bring about mutual prestressing at the contact surfaces 110, 112 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 again. Now the operation of the analyzer 10 can be resumed.

The relief between the valve blocks 102, 186 that can be brought about by means of the relief device 114 is summarized again below: The actuating device 162 designed as a screw presses on the rocker arm 126 designed as a ring, which can act as a lever about a pivot point 180. The ring also has a pivot point 182 on the abutting surface to the force transfer body 176 which results in a force in the axial direction. That power acts against the prestressing device 130 designed as a spring assembly. In normal operation, the spring force presses the second valve block 186, designed as a rotor, against the first valve block 102, designed as a stator. However, if the actuating device 162 presses against the annular rocker arm 126, the prestressing device 130 is 2 pushed away to the right, whereby the valve blocks 102, 186 are mutually relieved. The movement of the tilting mechanism 114 is triggered by the actuating device 162 designed as an adjusting screw pressing on the tilting lever 126 designed as a force transmission ring, which as a result is forced to carry out a tilting movement. One side of the force transfer ring may be supported or journalled on a housing of the second valve block 186 by an edge 184 opposite the point of application of the actuator 162 . Clearly, the edge 184 forms a bearing in a lying position. The pressure area 132 formed here as a further edge presses the rotor assembly away from the valve stator. The force is applied centrally so that no lateral forces are exerted on the rotor shaft during the process. This means that the force of the prestressing device 130 designed as a disk spring assembly no longer acts on the stator. The latter can therefore be changed very easily and without risk of damage (due to non-parallel stator assembly). The stroke that the rotor assembly performs is about half the stroke that the actuating screw is turned. This means that only half of the disk spring force acts on the actuating screw. Therefore, the operating screw can be operated with an appropriate torque.

The actuating device 162 designed as an actuating screw also has the stop 138 against which it is screwed with sufficient torque when turning to the left if the relief function is not required.

The described arrangement of the fluid valve 100 allows for reliable and repeatable replacement of valve stators (see reference numeral 102) and rotor seals (see reference numeral 186) without removing or disassembling the entire fluid valve 100. The design of this fluid valve 100 is further characterized in that the mechanical part is protected against the ingress of liquids by a seal 188 (e.g. in the form of an O-ring) and a radial ball bearing (see reference number 146). The proximity to the rotor-stator contact surfaces 110, 112 ensures precise concentricity. A generously dimensioned axial bearing (see reference number 148) can absorb high overloads. A further seal 194 (embodied, for example, as an O-ring) is attached to a wobble compensator 192 of the rotor and serves as self-centering for tolerance compensation. A stator-side major surface 198 of wobble compensator 192 may be planar, whereas a rotor-shaft-side major surface 199 of wobble compensator 192 may be spherical.

The housing part 150, which is designed as a plastic part and has several integrated functions, protects the assembly from behind. The functions of the housing part 150 designed as a plastic part are in detail:

• - Transponderaufnahme 156: platzsparende und geschützte Aufnahme eines Transponders
• - Verdrehsicherung 154: Drehschutz für die als Federvorspannmutter ausgebildete Einstelleinrichtung 140
• - Verlierschutz 158: Verlustsicherungsvorrichtung für die Rotor- oder Antriebswelle 160. Bekannte Ventile verwenden zu diesem Zweck einen zusätzlichen Clip, bei dem dargestellten Ausführungsbeispiel ist auch der Verlierschutz 158 in das Gehäuseteil 150 integriert.
• - Verriegelungsfunktion 190, die das Fluidventil 100 nach hinten schließt.

-Anti-rotation device 152: Known valves use a metal pin for this, which has to be pressed into the valve housing. For this purpose, the anti-twist device 152 uses a lug on the plastic part and is supported in the metal housing by means of a second lug.

• - Transponder recording 156: space-saving and protected recording of a transponder
• - Anti-rotation device 154: Anti-rotation device for the adjustment device 140 designed as a spring preload nut
• Protection against loss 158: Loss protection device for the rotor or drive shaft 160. Known valves use an additional clip for this purpose.
• - Locking function 190, which closes the fluid valve 100 backwards.

7 10 shows a fluid valve 100 of an analysis device 10 according to another exemplary embodiment of the invention. 7 shows a cross-sectional view of the fluid valve 100.

The fluid valve 100 according to 7 differs from the fluid valve 100 according to 2 until 6 in particular by the fact that according to 7 relief between valve blocks 102, 186 is brought about by sloping inclined planes 124 of force transmission bodies 120, 122 instead of by a tilting mechanism 114.

This in 7 The fluid valve 100 shown is also suitable for an analyzer 10 for analyzing a fluid sample, such as an HPLC. The fluid valve 100 shown has a first valve block 102 designed as a stator with first fluid-carrying structures 106 and a second valve block 186 designed as a rotor and arranged in a main body 104 with second fluid-carrying structures 108, as shown in FIG 2 until 6 . The second valve block 186 can be driven in rotation by means of a drive device (not shown), the drive device direction on the drive shaft 160 can exert a torque. The first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 can be prestressed against one another by means of a prestressing device 130 designed as a set of disk springs on contact surfaces 110, 112 that can be brought into contact with one another in a fluid-tight manner in order to form a high-pressure-resistant and fluid-tight connection.

The fluid valve according to 7 has a relief device 114 accessible on the valve front, front or stator side, which can be actuated by a user from a stator side 118 in order to bring about relief at the contact surfaces 110, 112 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186. According to 7 an insertion opening 134 is formed in the first valve block 102 designed as a stator, more precisely as a horizontal bore in its end face. An actuating tool 136 can engage in the insertion opening 134 and rotary actuate an actuating device 162 designed as an actuating screw. According to 7 By turning the actuating tool 136 and a resulting turning of the fastening screw, a contact pressure between the stator and the rotor can be set or a relief between the stator and the rotor can be set.

Said relief device 114 is equipped with force-transmitting bodies 120, 122 with inclined planes 124, which slide over one another. The relief device 114 according to 7 is operable to effect relief at the contacting surfaces 110, 112 between the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186. As shown, each of the force-transmitting bodies 120, 122 has a plurality of inclined planes 124 which are angled relative to one another, by means of which the force-transmitting bodies 120, 122 are interlocked with one another. The relief device 114 shown can be actuated in such a way that one of the force transmission bodies 120 is thereby radially displaced (ie according to 7 along a vertical direction). As a result, said force-transmission body 120 moves another one of the force-transmission bodies 122 in the axial direction by means of the inclined planes 124 sliding against one another, as a result of which the other force-transmission body 122 acts in a relieving manner on the prestressing device 130 that mutually prestresses the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186. The biasing device 130 for mutual biasing of the first valve block 102 and the second valve block 186 and the force transmission body 120, 122 with the inclined planes 124 are according to 7 arranged in the axial direction as a compact stack.

If the actuating tool 136 acts on the actuating device 162, one or more coupling bodies 181 can thereby be moved in the axial direction. As shown, such a coupling body 181 can also have one or more inclined planes 124 . The illustrated coupling body 181 with inclined planes 124 acts on the force transmission body 120 by means of the cooperating inclined planes 124 . Thus, upon actuation of the actuating device 162, the coupling body 181 displaces the force-transmitting body 120 in FIG 7 vertical direction. This movement of the power transmission body 120 is transmitted by means of cooperating inclined planes 124 to the power transmission body 122, which consequently has a movement in accordance with 7 performed in the horizontal direction. Depending on its direction of movement, the force transmission body 122 has a compressing effect on the prestressing device 130 or allows a certain expansion of the prestressing device 130. The force transmission body 122 therefore also influences the magnitude of the prestressing of the valve blocks 102, 186. In particular, the actuating device 162 designed as an actuating screw can be loosened in order to relieve the valve blocks 102, 186.

It should be noted that the term "comprising" does not exclude other elements and that the "a" does not exclude a plural. Elements that are described in connection with different exemplary embodiments can also be combined. The numerical values of pressure, temperature and time in the diagrams are also shown as exemplary sample values. It should also be noted that any reference signs in the claims should not be construed as limiting the scope of the claims.

QUOTES INCLUDED IN DESCRIPTION

This list of documents cited by the applicant was generated automatically and is included solely for the better information of the reader. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA assumes no liability for any errors or omissions.

Patent Literature Cited

• EP 0309596 B1 [0002]
• WO 2022024028 A1 [0004]

Claims (20)

Fluid valve (100) for an analyzer (10) for analyzing a fluidic sample, the fluid valve (100) comprising: a first valve block (102) with at least one first fluid-conducting structure (106); a second valve block (186) with at least one second fluid-conducting structure (108), wherein the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) can be prestressed against one another at contact surfaces (110, 112) that can be brought into contact with one another in a fluid-tight manner; and an unloading device (114) having a tilting mechanism (116) operable to unload at the contacting surfaces (110, 112) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186). Fluid valve (100) for an analyzer (10) for analyzing a fluidic sample, the fluid valve (100) comprising: a first valve block (102) designed as a stator and having at least one first fluid-conducting structure (106); a second valve block (186) with at least one second fluid-conducting structure (108), wherein the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) can be prestressed against one another at contact surfaces (110, 112) that can be brought into contact with one another in a fluid-tight manner; and a stator-side accessible relief device (114) operable by a user from a stator side (118) to effect relief at the contact surfaces (110, 112) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186). Fluid valve (100) for an analyzer (10) for analyzing a fluidic sample, the fluid valve (100) comprising: a first valve block (102) with at least one first fluid-conducting structure (106); a second valve block (186) with at least one second fluid-conducting structure (108), wherein the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) can be prestressed against one another at contact surfaces (110, 112) that can be brought into contact with one another in a fluid-tight manner; and a relief device (114) with force transmission bodies (120, 122) sliding on one another with inclined planes (124), which can be actuated in order to relieve the pressure on the contact surfaces (110, 112) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) to effect. Fluid valve (100) according to claim 1 or 2 , wherein the load-relieving device (114) is designed with force-transmitting bodies (120, 122) with inclined planes (124) that slide off one another. Fluid valve (100) according to claim 1 or 3 , wherein the first valve block (102) is designed as a stator, and wherein the relief device (114) is accessible on the stator side and can be actuated by a user from a stator side (118). Fluid valve (100) according to claim 2 or 3 , wherein the relief device (114) is formed with a tilting mechanism (116). Fluid valve (100) according to claim 1 or 6 , wherein the tilting mechanism (116) has a rocker arm (126) which has an actuating end (128) tilting the rocker arm (126) and, when the rocker arm (126) is tilted, a biasing device (130) which is used for biasing the first valve block ( 102) and the second valve block (186), has an acting pressure region (132), in particular a pressure line or at least one pressure point, so that when the rocker arm (126) tilts, the relief between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block ( 186). ) transferred to. Fluid valve (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 7 , having an insertion opening (134) in the first valve block (102) and/or in a main body (104) accommodating the second valve block (186) for inserting an actuating tool (136) for actuating, in particular for rotary actuating, an actuating device (162) of the unloading means (114) to thereby effect unloading at the contacting surfaces (110, 112) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186). Fluid valve (100) according to claim 8 , wherein the insertion opening (134) extends from a stator side (118), in particular obliquely, into a side surface of the main body (104) or, in particular perpendicularly, into the first valve block (102). Fluid valve (100) according to claim 8 or 9 , A stop (138) for the actuating device (162) being formed at the insertion opening (134), against which the actuating device (162) strikes when the relief is deactivated. Fluid valve (100) according to claim 3 or 4 , The relief device (114) can be actuated in such a way that one of the force-transmitting bodies (120) is moved radially, in particular shifted, and consequently by means of the sliding off inclined planes (124) on one another, said force transmission body (120) moves another of the force transmission bodies (122) axially, as a result of which the other force transmission body (122) relieves the load on a prestressing device (130) that mutually prestresses the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186). acts. Fluid valve (100) according to any one of claims 3 , 4 or 11 , wherein a biasing device (130) for mutual biasing of the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) and the force transmission bodies (120, 122) are stacked with the inclined planes (124) in the axial direction. Fluid valve (100) according to any one of claims 3 , 4 , 11 or 12 , Each of the force transmission bodies (120, 122) having a plurality of mutually angled inclined planes (124) by means of which the force transmission bodies (120, 122) are interlocked with one another. Fluid valve (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 13 , having at least one of the following features: wherein the relief device (114) has an actuating device (162) that can be actuated to activate or deactivate the relief, for example an actuating screw that can be actuated by rotation; wherein the first valve block (102) is designed as a stator and the second valve block (186) is designed as a rotor; having a prestressing device (130), in particular a spring device, for mutually prestressing the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186), wherein the relief device (114) is designed to act on the prestressing device (130) when actuated such that a Preloading force for mutually preloading the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) can be selectively switched on or off, in particular the relief device (114) being designed so that when the preloading force is actuated, the preloading device (130) is released from the first valve block (102 ) and urging away from the second valve block (186), more specifically by compressing the biasing means (130); wherein the relief device (114) is operable to reduce a biasing force between the contacting surfaces (110, 112) of the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) to zero; having an adjustment device (140) for adjusting a pretensioning force generated by means of a pretensioning device (130) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186), with the adjustment device (140) in particular having an insertion space (142) for inserting a precompression tool for precompression the pretensioning device (130) for defining the pretensioning force and/or in particular the adjusting device (140) has a fixing device (144) for fixing the pretensioning device (130) to a defined pretensioning force; comprising a bearing (146) for axially displaceable and radially centering bearings of the second valve block (186); comprising an axially non-displaceable bearing (148) for receiving forces from a prestressing device (130) for prestressing the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) against one another. Fluid valve (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 14 , Having a housing part (150) for housing at least part of a rear side and at least part of a lateral surface of a main body (104) accommodating the second valve block (186). Fluid valve (100) according to claim 15 Having at least one of the following features: wherein the housing part (150) is an injection molded part; wherein the housing part (150) has an anti-twist device (152) of the fluid valve (100) when it is driven in rotation by a drive device; wherein the housing part (150) has an anti-twist device (154) of an adjustment device (140) for adjusting a pretensioning force generated by means of a pretensioning device (130) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186); the housing part (150) having a transponder receptacle (156), the housing part (150) having a loss protection (158) for a drive shaft (160) of a second valve block (186) designed as a rotor. Analysis device (10) for analyzing a fluidic sample, wherein the analysis device (10) has a fluid valve (100) according to any one of Claims 1 until 16 having. Analysis device (10) according to Claim 17 , having at least one of the following features: having an analytical pump (20) for driving a mobile phase and the fluidic sample introduced into the mobile phase by means of the fluid valve (100) and a sample separating device (30) for separating the fluidic sample introduced into the mobile phase Sample; the analyzer (10) is configured to analyze at least one physical, chemical and/or biological parameter of the fluidic sample; the analysis device (10) is configured as a sample separation device for separating the fluidic sample; the analysis device (10) is a chromatography device, in particular a liquid chromatography device, a gas chromatography device, an SFC (supercritical liquid chromatography) device or an HPLC (high performance liquid chromatography) device; the analysis device (10) is configured as a microfluidic device; the analysis device (10) is configured as a nanofluidic device; the sample separation device (30) is designed as a chromatographic separation device, in particular as a chromatography separation column; the analytical pump (20) is configured to propel the mobile phase and the fluidic sample under high pressure; the analytical pump (20) is configured to propel the mobile phase and the fluidic sample at a pressure of at least 500 bar, in particular at least 1000 bar, more in particular at least 1500 bar; the analyzer (10) has an injector (40) for injecting the fluidic sample into the mobile phase via the fluidic valve (100); the analysis device (10) has a detector (50) for detecting the analyzed, in particular separated, fluidic sample; the analysis device (10) has a fractionator (60) for fractionating separated fractions of the fluidic sample. Method for operating a fluid valve (100) according to one of Claims 1 until 16 in an analyzer (10) for analyzing a fluidic sample, the method comprising: biasing the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186) towards one another by bringing the contact surfaces (110, 112) into fluid-tight contact; subsequently guiding the fluidic sample between the at least one first fluid-conducting structure (106) and the at least one second fluid-conducting structure (108); and subsequently actuating the relief means (114) to cause relief at the contacting surfaces (110, 112) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186). procedure according to claim 19 , the method comprising: after actuating the relief device (114), replacing or servicing the first valve block (102) and/or the second valve block (186); and after the replacement or servicing, actuating the relief means (114) again to cause mutual biasing at the contacting surfaces (110, 112) between the first valve block (102) and the second valve block (186).

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