DE19840703C2 - valve unit - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a valve unit according to the preamble of Claim 1.

A generic valve unit can be found in the Rexroth Mecman Pneumatics product catalog "Addendum to Catalog know-how in pneumatics "No. 885890 250 pages 6.315f, 6.96. The package-like over ##. opposite connection surfaces of 3/2-way solenoid valves lined up each have a perpendicular to the pad Pressure medium channel section (P). Corresponding to each other Pressure medium channel sections (P) of adjacent valves form through the Line up a pressure medium channel (P) common to all valves Supply pressure supply. The pressure medium channel (P) is at one end by means of a Closing element closed; at the other end is the pressure medium channel (P) a push-in fitting for a pressure medium line as a closing element. Of Each valve of the valve unit has a working connection (A) at the corresponding one Working lines can be connected to fluidically operated units. The Valve unit is in a simple manner on a so-called top hat rail (DIN rail EN 50022) can be mounted via snap connectors and is therefore particularly suitable for a control cabinet installation. To mount the valve unit, the first is desired number of individual valves on the connection surfaces arranged dovetail connectors. After that is the entire valve unit by means of a snap connection on the face DIN rail can be attached. The mechanical connection to the fluid-tight Connection and for attachment to a support element is thus made. The electrical connection of the individual electromagnets of each valve takes place via  Plug elements on prepared contact lugs on the electromagnet are attachable.

Another valve unit is known from German patent DE 44 13 657 C1. The The valve unit consists here of individual over opposite connection surfaces valves that can be lined up with a base plate, the pressure medium channel sections (R, P, S), a main valve, and pilot valves controlling the main valve contains. To achieve a compact arrangement, the base plate forms that Housing of the main valve and contains a slide holder with associated Valve spool. The base plate is in a central part and two at the other opposite end faces are divided by adjoining end pieces, each both a front cover for the slide holder and a leg form, which limits an installation space for pilot valves. The individual valves are via longitudinally running through holes in the valve unit Tie rods held together. This alone is a pressure-medium-tight Connection of the pressure medium channel sections guaranteed. The electrical connection here, too, the valves take place at the end faces of the valves Connection contacts for which a separate electrical connection part is required.

In the valve units described above, the electrical connection is made to a higher-level control system by means of plug-on contacts Plug elements. The electrical connection comes between the control system and each valve to be controlled in the sense of individual wiring and thus increases the number of individual parts to be assembled, in particular the lines. It is also necessary to make the electrical connection after the mechanical To connect the individual valves in a separate assembly step, which increases the overall assembly effort.

In addition to this star-shaped wiring of the valves, DE 41 43 274 A1 describes one electrical connection looped through from valve to valve. Here are the lines run from valve to valve, with signal conductors branching off to the valve become. With this wiring concept, both parallel wiring of the Individual valves and a data bus connection can be implemented. The same here applied plug-socket principle, however, complicates the assembly of the individual Valves to a valve unit significantly.

The object of the present invention is a compact valve unit to create, in which the individual parts to be assembled for an electrical connection are minimal and the assembly and disassembly effort is low.

The task is based on a valve unit according to the preamble of Patent claim 1 in connection with its characteristic features solved. Advantageous developments of the invention are specified in the subclaims.

The invention includes the technical teaching that one from valve to valve looped through electrical connection via electrical contact elements to the opposite connection surfaces of adjacent valves can be produced, the electrical contact elements of at least one pad essentially Movable perpendicular to the connecting surface and can be pressed together by pressing means are.

It is also possible to have the electrical contact elements on both parallel ones Execute pads movable perpendicular to these. To ensure one reliable contacting of the electrical looped through from valve to valve Connection, however, is sufficient, at least the contact elements of one To make the end surface movable.

The solution according to the invention is based on the known plug-socket principle for electrical connection of the valves in valve units. The electrical Contacting between the individual valves takes place only through the installation of corresponding contact elements. The contact elements are exactly like pneumatic channel sections integrated within the connection surface and thus neither visible from the outside nor accessible from the outside, so that the valve unit overall a compact shape is given. The number of parallel to each other running contact elements can according to the control concept of Valves can be designed flexibly. This is how the valves are controlled by a data bus as well as a parallel wiring with the invention Contacting principle realizable. The invention simplifies assembly or Disassembly process of the valves in that with the pressure medium Connection of the pressure medium channel sections (R, P, S) via the two connection surfaces  the valves are also automatically connected. For this is an no additional assembly step required. Since the solution according to the invention without a plug-socket principle at the electrical connection points adjacent Valves, it is possible to easily remove a single valve from the composite Valve unit - for example in the event of a repair - to be removed without the entire The valve unit is to be dismantled.

According to a preferred embodiment, the pressing means can be used as Rubber elements can be designed between the pad and that Contact element-like contact element are arranged such that each Contact element is resiliently movable. The rubber element is preferably an O- Ring trained. The O-ring is vertical in a groove-shaped recess Embedded pad so that at least one ring section protrudes and resiliently comes into contact with the contact element. It is also conceivable to rod-shaped or other shaped rubber element at this point use. This embodiment represents a particularly simple and inexpensive solution.

According to a further preferred embodiment it is provided that the Pressure means as contact pins which can be moved via at least one clamping lever are equipped. The contact pins are retracted and in the relaxed state extended position positioned. Advantageously, the Clamping lever of a first valve through assembly with the second neighboring one Valve are actuated automatically. Alternatively, the tension lever can also be operated manually from the valve body.

For the valve internal electrical connection of the contact elements Connection surface to the contact elements of the other connection surface of the valve can also use metal stamped and bent parts in addition to conventional wiring or metallic conductor tracks can be provided. In the latter case, the Conductor tracks advantageously by plating in two-component Spray technology can be produced.

Further measures improving the invention are described below with the description of preferred embodiments of the invention using the Figures shown in more detail. It shows:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a fully assembled valve unit,

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of a single valve,

Fig. 3 is a partial section through a valve in the region of a contact element, wherein a rubber element is provided as a pressing means and

Fig. 4 shows a partial section through a valve in the region of the contact elements, a clamping lever mechanism being provided as the pressing means.

A valve unit according to Fig. 1 consists of a plurality of lined-up pilot-operated valves 1 a to 1 d that are attached to a support member 2 in the form of a top hat rail. At the end of the first valve 1 a and the last valve 1 d, a closing element 3 or 4 is arranged. The closing elements 3 and 4 close the pressure medium channels R, P, S formed by corresponding pressure medium channel sections, which are provided for venting and venting the valves 1 a to 1 d. For this purpose, the closure element 4 has corresponding pressure medium connections R, P, S, to which pressure medium lines can be connected. Pressure medium connections for working lines A, B are located on the face side of the valves 1 a to 1 d. Furthermore, the end element 4 is equipped with a socket 5 for the electrical connection of the valves 1 a to 1 d with a higher-level control. Instead of separate end elements 3 and / or 4 , their function can also be integrated directly into the end valves 1 a or 1 d. To fasten the valves 1 a to 1 d and the end elements 3 and 4 on the carrier element 2 , clamping means 7 (not shown here in detail) which can be operated (not shown here in detail) are provided on the respective lower end faces 6 . With the clamping means a manual clamping and pulling or a loosening and lifting of any valve 1 or a closing element 3 or 4 is brought about to or from the carrier element 2 . In addition to the detachable connection of each valve 1 to the carrier element 2 , a positive connection of adjacent valves 1 a, 1 b; 1 b, 1 c; 1 c, 1 d achieved.

For this purpose, each valve 1 according to FIG. 2 has at its two connection surfaces 8 a and 8 b a dovetail connection 10 , 10 'which widens conically from an upper side surface 9 to the lower side surface 6 and which enables a positive connection of several valves to form a valve unit. The valve 1 has two pilot valves 13 a and 13 b that can be detachably connected to the valve body 12 via a pin connection 11 and 11 ′. Furthermore, an area with electrical contact elements 14 is provided opposite each of the two connection surfaces 8 a and 8 b, via which an electrical connection looped through from valve to valve can be realized.

The electrical connection looped through from valve 1 a to valve 1 b is, as is apparent from the exemplary embodiment according to FIG. 3, contact elements 14 a or 14 b arranged on both sides of valve 1 a or 1 b on the opposite connection surfaces 8 a or 8 b manufactured. The contact elements 14 a and 14 b are connected to one another via a bridge 15 . Depending on the circuit, a line 16 can branch off from the bridge 15 for signal transmission to the electromagnets of the valve 1 a. The bridges 15 , which transmit signals that are not intended for the valve 1 a or 1 b, have no branch. The contact element 14 a is fixed, ie it comes to rest on the connection surface 8 a. In contrast, the other contact element 14 b is resiliently movable substantially perpendicular to the connection surface 8 b. For this purpose, a rubber element 17 is arranged as a pressing means between the connection surface 8 b and the movable contact element 14 b. When the valve 1 a is lined up with the valve 1 b, a reliable electrical connection can thus be established between the adjacent valves 1 a and 1 b.

Another possibility for establishing a reliable electrical connection to adjacent valves 1 a and 1 b of a valve unit is indicated in FIG. 4. Here, also on the terminal surface 8 a is a fixed contact element 14a and on the opposite terminal surface 8 b a movable contact member 14 b is provided. The electrical contacting of adjacent valves 1 a and 1 b is made by pushing them together, for example in a dovetail connection. Thus, the contact is made automatically in such a way that a pivotally mounted pressure lever 18 of the valve 1 a moves freely in an opening of the valve 1 b until shortly before reaching the end position, in order to then by a projection 19 against the resilient contact element 14 b press and this in turn to press the fixed contact element 14 a of the subsequent valve 1 b, so that a secure electrical connection is made.

The embodiment of the invention is not limited to the above specified preferred embodiments. Rather is a number of Variants conceivable, which of the solution shown also in principle makes use of different types.  

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Valve

2

support element

3

terminating element

4

terminating element

5

Rifle

6

Face, bottom

7

terminal operation

8th

pad

9

Side face, top

10

dovetail joint

11

pin connection

12

valve body

13

pilot valve

14

contact elements

15

bridge

16

management

17

rubber element

18

pressing lever

19

head Start

20

sealing element

Claims (8)

1. Valve unit, consisting of a plurality of electromagnetic valves which can be arranged in series via opposite connection surfaces and which, for the pressure medium supply, have at least one working connection (A, B) arranged on a lateral end surface of each valve, at least one pressure medium channel section (R, P, S) arranged essentially perpendicular to the connection surface. Have mutually corresponding pressure medium duct sections (R, P, S) of adjacent valves being connected in a pressure medium-locking manner by the connection to a pressure medium duct (R, P, S) common to all valves, which is or are closed pressure-tight at the ends by a closing element , wherein for electrical connection of the valves to a higher-level control an electrical connection looped through from valve to valve is provided, characterized in that the looped electrical connection via electrical contact elements ( 14 ) to the opp overlying connection surfaces ( 8 a, 8 b) of adjacent valves ( 1 a, 1 b; 1 b, 1 c; 1 c, 1 is produced) d, wherein the electrical contact elements (14) at least one connection surface b (8 b) substantially perpendicular to the terminal surface (8 aneinanderpreßbar are movable), and by pressing means. 2. Valve unit according to claim 1, characterized in that the pressing means are designed as a rubber element ( 17 ), which are arranged between the connecting surface ( 8 b) and each contact lug-like contact element ( 14 b) such that each contact element ( 14 b) is resilient is movable. 3. Valve unit according to claim 2, characterized in that the rubber element ( 17 ) is designed as an O-ring which is vertically embedded in a groove-shaped recess of the connection surface ( 8 b) such that at least one ring section protrudes and on the contact element ( 16 b) comes resiliently to the system. 4. A valve unit according to claim 1, characterized in that are that the pressing means are designed as at least one pressure lever (18) movable contact elements (14) such that the contact elements (14) retracted in the relaxed state and extended in the tensioned state positioned. 5. Valve unit according to claim 4, characterized in that the pressure lever ( 18 ) of a first valve ( 1 a) can be actuated by the assembly of a second adjacent valve ( 16 ). 6. Valve unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the valve-internal electrical connection from the contact elements ( 14 a) of one connection surface ( 8 a) to the contact elements ( 14 b) of the other connection surface ( 8 b) of the valve ( 1 ) metallic stamped and bent parts are provided. 7. Valve unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that for the internal electrical connection of the contact elements 14 a) of the one contact surface ( 8 a) to the contact elements ( 14 b) of the other connection surface ( 8 b) of the valve ( 1 ) metallic conductor tracks are provided. 8. Valve unit according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a sealing element ( 20 ) is arranged for corrosion protection of the contact elements ( 14 ) at the outlet area from the connection surface ( 8 a, 8 b).