EP1065387A1 - Assembly device for at least two fluid power control elements - Google Patents

Abstract

The assembly unit for connecting at least two control components using a pressure fluid such as compressed air to actuate valves consists of an interface (1) to which the control components are fixed, inner channels (31) carrying the pressure fluid between inlets and outlets, and at least two faces (121, 122) set at an angle of 30 - 60 degrees to one another, each designed to receive one of the control components.

Description

The present invention relates to a device for assembling at least two control elements per fluid under pressure and composed of an interface on which are fixed said control elements, which are essentially pneumatic.

The technical sector of the invention is the field of realization of control boxes cylinders actuating valves intended for industries food and health.

Such a control box comprises various elements such as electrical terminal blocks, detectors, electronic control modules control and regulation, as well as all types pressure fluid control elements such as solenoid valves or solenoid valves which, in authorizing or not the passage of a control fluid which is preferably compressed air, allow whether or not to activate the opening and / or closing of the valve concerned. These control boxes are mounted usually directly on top of it for, on the one hand, simplify the assembly of the entire valve and decrease the lengths of the control lines and, on the other hand, control, thanks to any cams and sensors, the position of the moving parts of the valve, part of which, such as the rod end cylinder can thus protrude inside the housing.

In cases known to date, when we must house at least two control elements outside the actual block on which they are fixed, such as solenoid valves, or we increase their size (in height or in diameter), which is annoying because it increases the overall dimensions of the valve, either we decrease that of the solenoid valves to the detriment then their cross-section for the passage of the control fluid, which penalizes the speed of closing command or valve opening.

The space available in these boxes, shaped generally cylindrical, to be in continuity with the shape of the valve body, is indeed limited due to of the many elements that must be housed there: also when we want to use at least two elements to date control such as two solenoid valves which are mounted on a common interface block which allows circulation of control fluid it's impossible without therefore increase the size of the case or decrease that of solenoid valves, to place these with their block interface, because the assembly thus constituted represents an element of general rectangular shape occupying a relatively large volume.

The problem is to be able to carry out such valve actuator control boxes, intended for particular to the food industry and sanitary, where we can stay at least two if not at least three or more elements of controls such as solenoid valves, solenoid valves or any logic elements powered by pressurized fluid (as essentially tires and which will be referred to herein description under the general name of elements of command "or more specifically by the term "solenoid valve") in a small footprint and inside a volume of curved exterior shape, such than a cylinder of revolution, and this without altering the cylinder control fluid flow performance valve.

A solution to the problem posed is a device assembly of at least two control elements for fluid under pressure and composed of an interface, on which are fixed said control elements and comprising the fluid circulation pipes, which is preferably gas and even compressed air. These pipes connect in particular at least the supply and outlet ports for these elements of controls that operate the opening and closing of minus one valve in a product transport circuit food.

According to the invention, said interface comprises at at least two faces forming an angle between them between 30 to 60 ° and in a particular mode of about 45 °, and able to receive each at least one of said control elements; at least one of said faces of said interface being suitable even to receive at least two control elements. In fact these faces are located in radial planes, perpendicular to tangents to the curve of the shape outside of the case in which we want to house the block interface: if this curve is a circle, and the case is therefore a cylinder of revolution, these faces are located in diametrical planes. The other faces which connect them of course follow on one side this form of which they thus constitute cords and the other side that of its central part, giving the view of said block or interface, in a plane perpendicular to said faces, a general shape triangular.

The result is a new device for assembling at least two control elements on an interface block which makes it possible to respond to the problem posed: in fact, by fixing at least two control elements on two distinct faces of the interface, and which form between them an angle corresponding in fact to the curvature of the outer shape of the housing in which we want to accommodate them, we can arrange said control elements as close as possible to this outer shape, thus occupying the smallest possible footprint; thus the rest of the interior space of said housing is freed up to dispose of the other elements which constitute it, without having to reduce the size of the control elements, in order to ensure for example for solenoid valves an optimum flow rate such as 3, 66 X 10 ^-3 Nm ³ / sec for compressed air, and without increasing the size of the case.

Thus with three control elements such as solenoid valves assembled according to the invention and ensuring at least the above flow rate, it is thus possible to limit the dimensions of said housing to a diameter and a height of 130 mm, while the housings, existing at today and comprising at least three solenoid valves of the same flow, have heights of the order of 230 mm for a diameter of 180 mm, which further increases the price. To stay within dimensions of 130 mm, both for height and for diameter, some manufacturers use solenoid valves with a lower flow rate, such as 1.5 or 1.66x10 ^-3 Nm ³ / sec, which impairs performance valves and is incompatible with the speed requirements of modern manufacturing processes in the food and health industries.

• la figure 1 est une vue en perspective d'un bloc interface permettant de réaliser un dispositif d'assemblage suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 2 est une vue de dessus d'un boítier de contrôle comportant divers éléments permettant le contrôle des vérins actionnant une vanne, dont en particulier le dispositif d'assemblage suivant l'invention ;
• la figure 3 est une vue latérale et extérieure d'une face du bloc interface de la figure 1 et apte à recevoir deux électrovannes ;
• la figure 4 est une vue de dessous du même bloc interface représenté sur les figures 1 et 3 ;
• la figure 5 est une vue en coupe suivant V, V' dudit bloc interface représenté sur la figure 3 ;
• la figure 6 est une vue en coupe suivant VI, VI' de la figure 3 du même bloc interface.
• la figure 7 est une vue en perspective d'un boítier suivant la figure 2 et sans capot.

We could cite other advantages of the present invention, but those mentioned above already show enough to prove the novelty and the interest. The description and the attached drawings represent an exemplary embodiment of the invention for which a device for three solenoid valves has been shown but this has no limiting character: other embodiments are possible within the scope and scope of this invention, in particular by changing the shapes of the faces not carrying the control elements, by replacing the solenoid valves represented by one or more other control elements, by increasing the number of these control elements, such as two elements order per side or, on the contrary, by reducing their number with only one per side:

• Figure 1 is a perspective view of an interface block for producing an assembly device according to the invention;
• Figure 2 is a top view of a control box comprising various elements for controlling the actuators actuating a valve, including in particular the assembly device according to the invention;
• Figure 3 is a side and exterior view of a face of the interface block of Figure 1 and adapted to receive two solenoid valves;
• Figure 4 is a bottom view of the same interface block shown in Figures 1 and 3;
• Figure 5 is a sectional view along V, V 'of said interface block shown in Figure 3;
• Figure 6 is a sectional view along VI, VI 'of Figure 3 of the same interface block.
• Figure 7 is a perspective view of a housing according to Figure 2 and without cover.

• une embase plate 19 habituellement circulaire, comportant tout moyen de fixation direct sur le dessus du vérin opérateur de la vanne, les connexions pneumatiques liées aux électrovannes 2, le presse étoupe ou le connecteur lié au raccordement des fonctions électriques ou électroniques intégrées à la vanne et sur laquelle sont fixés les éléments constitutifs dudit boítier 17 ;
• un capot de fermeture habituellement cylindrique fixé de façon solide et étanche à l'embase 19 et réalisant la protection des éléments constitutifs du boítier de contrôle commande 17, qui est représenté en vue de dessus sur la figure 2 et en perspective sur la figure 7 mais sans son capot supérieur.

The invention is particularly suitable for the common forms of control boxes 17 which include:

• a flat base 19 usually circular, comprising any means of direct fixing on the top of the valve actuator, the pneumatic connections linked to the solenoid valves 2, the cable gland or the connector linked to the connection of the electrical or electronic functions integrated into the valve and on which are fixed the components of said housing 17;
• a usually cylindrical closure cover fixed in a solid and leaktight manner to the base 19 and providing protection for the constituent elements of the control box 17, which is shown in plan view in FIG. 2 and in perspective in FIG. 7 but without its top cover.

• non seulement lesdits éléments de commande 2 tels que des électrovannes ou électro-distributeurs, ou cellules logiques (incluant tout interrupteur d'arrêt d'urgence ou d'autre nature, des détecteurs de position essentiellement pneumatiques...), avec leur bloc interface 1,
• mais également des borniers électriques des éléments électroniques tels que détecteurs, modules de contrôle commande et de régulation, le câblage électrique, tout en libérant des orifices de sortie de tige 183.

Thanks to the device of the present invention, the external shape of said housing which is therefore here represented by a cylinder can be exactly the same diameter as that of the head of the body of the operating cylinder of said valve 19. The internal volume determined by this external shape can receive in fact without the need to stack them in height, the different constituent elements 2, 18 of the housing such as:

• not only said control elements 2 such as solenoid valves or solenoid valves, or logic cells (including any emergency stop switch or of other nature, essentially pneumatic position detectors ...), with their interface block 1,
• but also electrical terminal blocks of electronic elements such as detectors, command and control modules, electrical wiring, while freeing rod exit orifices 183.

The assembly device according to the invention and according to the representation of the attached figures for three solenoid valves 2, is composed of an interface 1, on which said solenoid valves are fixed and comprising the lines 3, 4, 7 for circulation of fluid (which is preferably compressed air) and connecting the supply and outlet ports of these to control the opening and closing of the valve 19; this being mounted on a circuit pipeline for the transport of food products.

According to Figure 3 one of said faces 12 ₂ of the interface 1 is capable of receiving two solenoid valves 2, while the other face 12 ₁ receives only one and has a notch 15 to allow the passage of a movable rod 183.

Said interface block 1 has three holes 9 between its upper face 13 and its lower face 14 to allow its attachment to the base or base 19 of the housing 17.

The two separate faces 12 receiving the said solenoid valves 2 are planar and form between them a angle α predetermined so that the distal ends solenoid valves 2 fixed on said interface block 1 fit into the curved shape of the housing 17 and its base 19. This angle a can therefore be between 5 and 175 ° depending on the respective size of said electrodes 2 of the interface block 1 and of the housing 17, or in fact preferably between 30 and 60 ° and such that shown in the attached embodiment of 45 ° approximately, the control elements or solenoid valves 2 being arranged head to tail on either side of the block interface 1.

The shape of the surface 16, which connects, on the side of their edge diverging, said faces 12 supporting the control elements 2 can be of any shape, such as a flat or curved or faceted face for also adapt as best as possible to the shape of the housing 17 while allowing the drilling of all lines 3, 4, 7 as well as fixing 9.

The upper face 13 and the lower face 14 of the interface 1 are mutually parallel and perpendicular to the faces 12 for fixing the control elements 2; said faces 12 can join, forming the angle a, along an edge perpendicular to said lower and upper faces, or be connected by another face 20, preferably perpendicular to one of the faces 12. Said control elements 2 being also fixed perpendicular both to these faces 12 and to the upper 13 and lower 14 faces by means of holes 10 ₁ and 10 ₂ made on said convergent / divergent faces 12.

• un réseau de canalisations 3 unique d'échappement du fluide relie les orifices de sortie des éléments de commande tels que les électrovannes vers un seul orifice 5 d'échappement situé sur la base inférieure 14 de l'interface 1 comme représenté sur la figure 5 ;
• un seul réseau de canalisation 7 d'alimentation relie tous les orifices d'alimentation en air comprimé desdits éléments de commande tels que des électrovannes 2 depuis un orifice unique 8 d'alimentation situé également sur la face inférieure 14 du bloc interface 1 ;
• par contre, chaque élément de commande tel qu'une électrovanne 2 est associée à un circuit de canalisation 4 propre à chaque élément de commande et qui débouche sur un orifice 6 correspondant situé également sur la face inférieure 4 du bloc interface 1 (voir figure 6).

As regards the pipes 3, 4, 7 for circulation of the fluid, such as compressed air, in the interface block 1, their passage sections are capable of ensuring an air flow of at least 3.33 X 10 ^-3 Nm ³ / sec for each solenoid valve 2 with an operating pressure of 6 bars, at a temperature between -40 and 130 ° C and in a very humid atmosphere:

• a network of single fluid exhaust pipes 3 connects the outlet orifices of the control elements such as the solenoid valves to a single exhaust port 5 situated on the lower base 14 of the interface 1 as shown in FIG. 5;
• a single supply pipe network 7 connects all the compressed air supply ports of said control elements such as solenoid valves 2 from a single supply port 8 also located on the underside 14 of the interface block 1;
• on the other hand, each control element such as a solenoid valve 2 is associated with a pipe circuit 4 specific to each control element and which opens onto a corresponding orifice 6 also located on the lower face 4 of the interface block 1 (see FIG. 6 ).

• côté éléments de commande 2, tels que des électrovannes, sur les faces 12₁ et 12₂ qui les reçoivent par les joints spécifiques plats de chaque élément de commande tel qu'électrovanne 2 ;
• sur l'embase 19 du boítier 17 par une série de joints toriques logés dans des lamages préparés pour cela autour des orifices 5, 6₁, 6₂ et 8, de l'interface 1 ou par un joint plat spécifique à liséré.

The pneumatic seals of the orifices of the pipes 3, 4, 7 for circulation of fluid, and which are essential safety criteria, are provided by seals specific to the function associated for each orifice:

• side control elements 2, such as solenoid valves, on the faces 12 ₁ and 12 ₂ which receive them by the specific flat seals of each control element such as solenoid valve 2;
• on the base 19 of the housing 17 by a series of O-rings housed in counterbores prepared for this around the orifices 5, 6 ₁ , 6 ₂ and 8, of the interface 1 or by a specific flat joint with edging.

All the openings of lines 3, 4, 7 of circulation of fluid such as air or compressed gas, connecting the feed and outlet ports of said control elements 2 are therefore all located on the face lower 14 of said interface 1 but they could be arranged on one or more side faces.

This pneumatic interface 1 can be also fully integrated into the base 19 of the housing 1 and consisting of a single piece produced by example by molding.

The drilling of all of the fluid circulation pipes in the interface block 1 is carried out from each face of said block; thus those adjacent to the faces 12 receiving the control elements, such as the solenoid valves 2, are preferably perpendicular to the latter so as to make holes 11 ₁ for junction between certain internal conduits, and whose external orifices 11 ₂ are then filled in (see Figures 5 and 6).

Said interface block 1 can be produced in all metallic materials, such as in particular aluminum or plastic and according to all known achievement.

Another advantage of the present invention is that the assembly device can adapt to any type of control elements such as solenoid valves, and that the housing 17 which contains them can adapt to any existing valve which then simply needs to be changed only the case without modifying these.

Of course, the invention is not limited to the example that we just described and we can bring to this one many modifications without leaving the part of the invention.

Claims (9)

Assembly device of at least two control elements (2) for pressurized fluid composed of an interface (1) on which are fixed said control elements and comprising the pipes (3, 4, 7) for circulation of the connecting fluid at least the supply and outlet ports of these control elements, characterized in that said interface (1) has at least two faces (12) forming between them an angle a between 30 and 60 ° and suitable to each receive at least one of said elements of command (2). Device according to claim 1, characterized in that said control elements (2) are solenoid valves that control the opening and closure of at least one valve of a transport circuit of food product. Device according to any one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that at least one said faces (12) of the interface (1) is suitable for receive at least two control elements (2). Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the angle a is around 45 °. Device according to any one of Claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the fluid circulating in the interface (1) and supplying the control elements (2), is compressed air. Device according to claim 5, characterized in that the passage sections of the pipes (3, 4, 7) for circulation of the fluid in the interface (1) are capable of ensuring an air flow of at least 3.33 X 10 ^-3 Nm ³ / sec for each control element (2). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that said interface (1) has a single pipeline network single for the supply (7) of said elements of control (2) and another single pipeline network (3) for the escape of said fluid. Device according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that all orifices of the pipes (3, 4, 7) for circulation of fluid connecting the supply and outlet ports said control elements (2) are located on the face lower (14) of said interface (1), said face lower (14) being perpendicular to the faces (12) receiving the control elements (2). Device according to any one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the assembly orifices of the circulation pipes (3, 4, 7) fluid has specific seals for the function provided by each of said orifices.

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