DE202023102035U1 - rotary valve - Google Patents

Abstract

Rotary valve (1), comprising a valve housing (2) with a valve chamber (3) in which a valve core (4) is accommodated, the valve core (4) being rotatably mounted in the valve chamber (3), the valve core (4) is provided with a drive shaft (5) which protrudes through an opening (6) made in the valve housing (2), characterized in that the drive shaft (5) is locked in the opening (6) of the valve housing (2).

Description

The invention relates to a rotary valve, comprising a valve housing with a valve chamber in which a valve core is accommodated, the valve core being rotatably mounted in the valve chamber, the valve core being provided with a drive shaft which protrudes through an opening made in the valve housing.

Such rotary valves are often used in cooling circuits to control the flow of coolant.

A plurality of fluid openings are introduced into the valve housing, through which a cooling fluid can flow in and out. A channel structure is introduced into the valve core, which controls the flow of coolant. Depending on the design and number of fluid openings and the channel structure, different cooling circuits can be applied, the volume flow can be regulated, or the direction of flow can be modified.

The configuration as a rotary valve is advantageous because the coolant flow is adjusted by rotating the valve core, with the corresponding actuator for rotating the valve core having a simple design and being easy to control. Accordingly, rotary valves and the associated actuators can be produced inexpensively. In addition, rotary valves require little space.

Rotary valves are particularly advantageous with regard to use in temperature control circuits in the field of electromobility. In order to achieve a long range for electric vehicles, it is necessary, for example, to control the temperature of electrical components. The components of electric vehicles to be tempered are in particular accumulators, but also the power electronics or plug connections of fast charging devices. An accumulator has the best possible capacity only in a very small temperature range. It is therefore necessary to heat up accumulators in electric vehicles when the ambient temperatures are low and to cool them when the outside temperatures are high or when there is a high load decrease.

To this end, it is known to provide a temperature control circuit through which a temperature control medium flows. Depending on the requirement, the tempering medium can either be heated in a heating device or cooled in a cooling device. The flow of tempering media can be controlled by rotary valves.

The object of the invention is to provide a rotary valve which can be produced inexpensively.

This object is solved with the features of claim 1. The dependent claims refer to advantageous configurations.

The rotary valve according to the invention comprises a valve housing with a valve chamber in which a valve core is accommodated, the valve core being rotatably mounted in the valve chamber, the valve core being provided with a drive shaft which protrudes through an opening made in the valve housing, the drive shaft in the opening of the valve housing is locked.

According to the invention, the valve core is rotatably mounted in the valve chamber, but is prevented by the locking mechanism from moving in the axial direction relative to the valve housing. This enables a simplified assembly of the valve core and it is possible to design the valve housing in a simplified manner as well. In this respect, the drive shaft is locked axially in the opening of the valve housing.

The valve core is preferably held captively in the valve housing by the locking mechanism.

The valve housing can have an assembly opening through which the valve core can be inserted into the valve housing. The opening can be made in a first end face of the valve housing and the assembly opening can be made in a second end face of the valve housing. The first end face and the second end face can lie opposite one another. For assembly, the valve core is inserted into the valve chamber via the assembly opening and after assembly in the correct position, the valve core is locked in the opening of the valve housing.

Because the valve core is locked in the opening of the valve housing after it has been inserted, a separate cover for closing the assembly opening can be omitted. In other words, the valve chamber of the rotary valve can remain accessible via the assembly opening after assembly is complete. Locking the valve core in the hole prevents the valve core from falling out of the mounting hole.

A first form-fit geometry can be introduced into the boundary wall of the opening, which engages in a second form-fit geometry which is introduced into the drive shaft. As a result, the valve core is locked in the opening via a form-fitting connection. Positive connections are easy to manufacture bar and can be solved reversibly. According to an advantageous embodiment, the first form-fitting geometry and the second form-fitting geometry are designed as a bayonet lock.

The valve core can be rotationally rotatable between a mounting position and a working area, the working area encompassing an angular range and the valve core being rotatable over the angular range within the working area. In this configuration, for assembly, the valve core is brought into such an angular position relative to the valve housing that the first form-fitting geometry and the second form-fitting geometry are aligned, which corresponds to the assembly position. In this position, the valve core can be installed in the correct position in the valve chamber. As soon as the valve core is rotated and the working range is reached, the valve core is locked in the valve housing and the valve core can no longer move in the axial direction relative to the valve housing. The working range includes an angular range in which the valve core can be rotated relative to the valve housing in order to enable different valve positions.

To design the first form-fitting geometry, a partially circumferential, radially inward-projecting projection can be formed from the opening of the valve housing, the projection being interrupted in two opposite areas. In this configuration, the second positive-locking geometry introduced into the drive shaft has webs that protrude radially outwards, the webs being configured congruently with the interruptions in the first positive-locking geometry. For assembly, the valve core is rotated relative to the valve housing in such a way that the interruptions and the webs overlap and the valve core can be pushed into the valve housing. The valve core is then rotated so that the webs cover the projections and the valve core reaches the working area and is locked in the valve housing. Alternatively, it is also conceivable that the second form-fitting geometry is designed in the form of radially outwardly projecting pins.

The form-fitting geometries can be flat. Alternatively, the form-fitting geometries can also be stepped or L-shaped. In this context, it is particularly conceivable that the first form-fitting geometry is equipped with an end stop or with a stepped geometry to form an automatic locking mechanism.

A locking element can block the valve core after assembly in the working area. As a result, after assembly, the valve core can only cover the angular range specified by the working area by rotation, but can no longer automatically reach the assembly position. This can prevent the valve core from accidentally reaching the mounting position and moving in the axial direction relative to the valve housing.

The locking element is preferably placed on the outside of the valve housing. More preferably, the locking element engages in a form-fitting manner in the opening and is held captively on the valve housing after assembly. This can be done, for example, by a snap connection. For assembly, the valve core is inserted into the valve housing and, after reaching the assembly position, rotated into the working area for locking, and then the locking element is placed on the valve housing such that the valve core is blocked in the working area after assembly.

The locking element is preferably formed from a support body. This enables additional elements to be attached to the rotary valve, with the support body being held captively on the valve housing via the locking element.

According to an advantageous embodiment, the supporting body accommodates an actuator, the actuator being in non-rotatable engagement with the drive shaft. The actuator can be, for example, a gear, a hydraulic actuator, a pneumatic actuator or an electric actuator, in particular a stepping motor. Because the locking element is firmly connected to the valve housing, the supporting body with the actuator is also firmly connected to the valve housing, resulting in a preassembled unit made up of rotary valve, supporting body and actuator.

The valve housing, the valve core together with the drive shaft and/or the supporting body together with the locking element are preferably made of plastic. In particular, polyoxymethylenes (POM), polyphenylene sulphides (PPS) or polyamides (PA) come into consideration as the plastic. The plastics can be provided with additives, for example fiber reinforcement based on glass fibers.

The rotary valve is particularly suitable for integration into a tube arrangement of a temperature control device. In this case, the pipe arrangement can be designed as a blow-moulded part, with the rotary valve being accommodated in the interior of the pipe arrangement. This enables a particularly compact configuration of the tube arrangement. As a result of the integration, the rotary valve can also be designed in a simple manner be, for example, the wall of the tube assembly can partially rest against the valve housing and thereby mechanically support the valve housing.

• 1 ein Rotationsventil in der Explosionsdarstellung;
• 2 das Ventilgehäuse des Rotationsventils;
• 3 der Ventilkern des Rotationsventils;
• 4 das Rotationsventil im Schnitt;
• 5 das Rotationsventil mit Tragkörper in der Explosionsdarstellung;
• 6 das Rotationsventil mit Tragkörper und Aktor.

Some configurations of the rotary valve according to the invention are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures. The figures show, each schematically:

• 1 an exploded view of a rotary valve;
• 2 the valve body of the rotary valve;
• 3 the valve core of the rotary valve;
• 4 the rotary valve in section;
• 5 the rotary valve with supporting body in the exploded view;
• 6 the rotary valve with support body and actuator.

1 shows a rotary valve 1, which forms part of a temperature control circuit of a device to be air-conditioned. In the present case, the rotary valve 1 is part of a temperature control circuit of an electric vehicle and is accordingly used in electromobile applications.

The rotary valve 1 is an integral part of a pipe arrangement for the temperature control circuit. The pipe arrangement is designed as a blow-moulded part and the rotary valve 1 forms a functional element which is molded into the interior of the pipe arrangement. For this purpose, the rotary valve 1 is arranged in a preform and the pipe arrangement is formed from the preform in the blow molding process. In this embodiment, the wall of the pipe arrangement forms an enclosure for the rotary valve 1.

The rotary valve 1 is integrated into a temperature control circuit and directs volume flows of the medium carried in the temperature control circuit to the electrical energy stores and electric motors as well as to the power electronics. The temperature control medium flows of the temperature control circuit can be controlled by the rotary valve 1 . In particular, it is conceivable to modify the volume flow of the temperature control medium, for example to increase and decrease it. Furthermore, by turning a valve core 4, different fluid openings 19 can be connected in a flow-conducting manner and the direction of flow of the temperature control medium can thus be changed or other components of the temperature control circuit can be controlled. In this respect, the rotary valve 1 according to the invention also forms a directional valve through which various components of the device to be temperature-controlled can be supplied individually and specifically with temperature-control medium and, if necessary, can also be separated from the temperature-control medium flow.

Depending on the ambient temperatures and the power requirement, for example, a flow of temperature control medium can initially be routed exclusively to the electrical energy stores and can cool or heat the electrical energy stores there, depending on the ambient temperatures. In the case of high performance requirements, a flow of coolant can be directed to the power electronics and also to the electric motors in order to cool these components. The coolant flow is modified via rotary valve 1.

1 shows an exploded view of a rotary valve 1 with a valve housing 2 made of plastic, with a valve chamber 3 being formed in the valve housing 2 . A valve core 4 , also made of plastic, is accommodated in the valve chamber 3 and is rotatably mounted therein. A plurality of fluid openings 19 are introduced into the side wall of the valve housing 2 and interact with a channel structure introduced into the valve core 4 . The valve core 4 is provided with a drive shaft 5 which protrudes through an opening 6 made in the valve housing 2 .

The valve core 4 is provided with a sealing element 20 . In the present case, the sealing element 20 is in the form of an O-ring and is fixed in a groove 21 introduced into the valve core 4 . The sealing element 20 can consist of an elastomeric material or of a thermoplastic elastomer. The sealing element 20 creates a seal between the valve core 4 and the valve housing 2. In alternative configurations, the sealing element 20 can also be formed directly on the side of the valve core 4 associated with the valve housing 2, with the valve core 4 being designed as a two-component molded part.

The opening 6 of the valve housing 2 has a boundary wall 10 (see FIG 2 ), in which a first form-fitting geometry 11 is introduced, which engages in a second form-fitting geometry 12, which is introduced into the drive shaft 5 of the valve core 4.

The first form-fitting geometry 11 and the second form-fitting geometry 12 form a bayonet lock. The valve core 4 is rotatable between a mounting position 13 ( 2 ) and a work area 14 ( 2 ) rotatable, wherein the working area 14 comprises an angular range. The angular range of the working area 14 is selected such that the valve core 4 can be rotated within the working area 14 over an angular range of at least 90°. The form-fitting geometries 11, 12 are designed in such a way that the valve core 4 is locked in the working area 14 and the valve core 4 is held captive in the valve housing 2.

The valve housing 2 has an assembly opening 7 through which the valve core 4 can be inserted into the valve housing 2 . To assemble the valve core 4, it is inserted into the valve housing 2 via the assembly opening 7 in such a way that the positive-locking geometries 11, 12 are aligned with one another in the assembly position 13. In the assembly position 13, the valve core 4 can be inserted completely into the valve housing 2. To lock the valve core 4 in the valve housing 2, the valve core 4 is twisted. The valve core 4 leaves the assembly position 13 and reaches the working area 14. The valve core 4 is locked in the working area 14 in such a way that the valve core 4 is blocked relative to the valve housing 2 in the axial direction. In this way, the valve core 4 can only be moved rotationally in the valve housing 2 in the working area 14 .

2 shows the valve housing 2 in detail in the area of the opening 6. It can be seen that the first form-fitting geometry 11 has a circumferential and inwardly projecting projection which is interrupted at two opposite points. In 3 shows the valve core 4 in the area of the drive shaft 5 in detail. There it can again be seen that the form-fitting geometry 12 formed from the drive shaft 5 has two radially outwardly facing web-shaped projections opposite one another, which are formed congruently with the gaps in the projections of the first form-fitting geometry 11 . In this respect, the valve core 4 can then be fully inserted into the valve housing 2 when the projections of the second form-fitting geometry 12 are aligned with the gaps in the projections of the first form-fitting geometry 11 . This corresponds to assembly position 13. By turning the valve core 4 into the working area 14, the projections of the second form-fitting geometry 12 overlap the projections of the first form-fitting geometry 11 and the valve core 4 is arrested in the valve housing 2 and prevented from moving axially with respect to the valve housing 2.

4 shows the rotary valve 1 according to FIG 1 on average. In this figure it can be seen in particular that the opening 6 is made in a first end face 8 of the valve housing 2 and the assembly opening 7 is made in a second end face 9 of the essentially cylindrical valve housing 2 .

5 shows the rotary valve 1 according to FIG 1 in the exploded view with a support body 17 placed on the valve housing 2. The support body 17 is provided with a locking element 15 which is placed on the valve housing 2 and blocks the valve core 4 in the working area 14 after assembly. The locking element 15 is held positively on the valve housing 2 by means of a snap connection. The locking element 15 is designed in such a way that it engages in the first form-fitting geometry 11 and the second form-fitting geometry 12 in such a way that the valve core cannot move from the working area 14 into the assembly position 13 . For this purpose, the locking element 15 is equipped with projections, which engage in the first form-fitting geometry 15 and cover the interruptions, so that the projections introduced into the valve core 4 are prevented from reaching the area of the interruptions.

6 shows the rotary valve 1 with an actuator 18 placed on the support body 17. The actuator 18 is non-rotatably engaged with the drive shaft 5. In the present configuration, the actuator 18 is designed as a stepper motor and is firmly connected to the supporting body 17 by means of a screw connection. The rotary valve 1 forms a preassembled unit with the actuator 18 connected to the rotary valve 1 via the supporting body 17 .

Claims (15)

Rotary valve (1), comprising a valve housing (2) with a valve chamber (3) in which a valve core (4) is accommodated, the valve core (4) being rotatably mounted in the valve chamber (3), the valve core (4) is provided with a drive shaft (5) which protrudes through an opening (6) made in the valve housing (2), characterized in that the drive shaft (5) is locked in the opening (6) of the valve housing (2). rotary valve after claim 1 , characterized in that the valve core (4) is captively held in the valve housing (2). rotary valve after claim 1 or 2 , characterized in that the valve housing (2) has an assembly opening (7) through which the valve core (4) can be inserted into the valve housing (2). rotary valve after claim 3 , characterized in that the opening (6) in a first end face (8) of the valve housing (2) and the assembly opening (7) in a second end face (9) of the valve housing (2) are introduced. Rotary valve according to one of Claims 1 until 4 , characterized in that in a boundary wall (10) of the opening (6) a first form-fitting geometry (11) is introduced, which engages in a second form-fitting geometry (12) which is introduced into the drive shaft (5). rotary valve after claim 5 , characterized in that the first form-fitting geometry (11) and the second form-fitting geometry (12) form a bayonet lock. Rotary valve according to one of Claims 1 until 6 , characterized in that the valve core (4) can be rotated between a mounting position (13) and a working area (14), the working area (14) comprising an angular range. rotary valve after claim 7 , characterized in that a locking element (15) blocks the valve core (4) after assembly in the working area (14). rotary valve after claim 8 , characterized in that the locking element (15) is placed on the outside of the valve housing (2). rotary valve after claim 8 or 9 , characterized in that the locking element (15) is held in a form-fitting manner on the valve housing (2). Rotary valve according to one of Claims 8 until 10 , characterized in that the locking element (15) is formed from a supporting body (17). rotary valve after claim 11 , characterized in that the support body (17) accommodates an actuator (18), wherein the actuator (18) rotatably with the drive shaft (5) is engaged. Rotary valve according to one of Claims 1 until 12 , characterized in that the valve housing (2), the valve core (4), the drive shaft (5) and / or the supporting body (17) with the locking element (15) are made of plastic. Tubular arrangement of a temperature control device, comprising at least one rotary valve (1) according to one of Claims 1 until 13 . pipe arrangement Claim 14 , characterized in that the pipe arrangement is designed as a blow molded part, wherein the rotary valve (1) is accommodated inside the pipe arrangement.

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