EP1182358B1 - Configuration unit - Google Patents

Description

Field of the Invention

The present invention relates to a valve unit consisting of a plurality of multi-way valves which are connected to a common pressure medium distributor, at least one opening for internal channels on a mounting surface of the pressure medium distributor corresponding to an opening on a mounting surface of the multi-way valve in order to establish a pressure medium connection between the pressure medium distributor and each To create a multi-way valve. In particular, the present invention relates to a configuration solution for such pressure medium distributors.

Description of the prior art

A valve unit according to the preamble of claim 1 is known from the catalog "Knowhow in Pneumatics" (No. 0001000601, from September 1, 1998, page 5, point 42ff). The valve unit shown comprises a pressure medium distributor with a mounting surface. The mounting surface corresponds to corresponding mounting surfaces of adjacent multi-way valves in order to connect openings of both components that are operatively connected to one another for supply pressure supply and ventilation. For this reason, the pressure medium distributor comprises a central feed channel and two ventilation channels arranged adjacent to the central feed channel, which are assigned to the main valve part of the multi-way valve. In addition, two smaller channels run next to the two ventilation channels to ensure a supply pressure supply and ventilation of the pilot valves of each multi-way valve. Arranged within the pressure medium distributor transverse connecting channels between the channels described above and the mounting surface serve to connect to the multi-way valve.

The channels running along the pressure medium distributor have connections arranged on each end face side of the pressure medium distributor in order to be able to connect external pressure medium lines to the pressure medium distributor. Such a valve unit usually has up to seven supply and ventilation connections with maximum connection flexibility. For example, there are: two supply connections for two valve functions integrated within the main valve part, two supply connections for two pilot valves for the reciprocation of a valve spool integrated within the main valve, two ventilation connections for the said pilot valves and a common ventilation connection for the main valve. This high number of connections requires a large number of external pressure medium lines which are to be connected to the pressure medium distributor.

EP 0 846 872 A1 discloses a generic valve unit in which the disadvantage of many external pressure medium lines is partially solved by the valve unit being equipped with an additional configuration unit which is arranged on the mounting surface of the pressure medium distributor directly adjacent to the multi-way valves. With this configuration unit, however, it is only possible to obtain the control pressure required for the pilot valves of the multi-way valves either from the outside, via connections X3 and X4 arranged on the configuration unit, or from the inside, via a central feed pressure channel.

It is the object of the present invention to further improve a valve unit of the type mentioned above in such a way that the number of outer pressure medium lines is further minimized and at the same time maximum flexibility in the configuration of the pressure medium distributor is possible.

Summary of the invention

This object is achieved on the basis of a valve unit of the type described above by the characterizing features of claim 1, in that the configuration unit creates a changeable cross connection between the pressure medium channels of the pressure medium distributor serving as feed channels and ventilation channels for the main valve or the pilot valve of the multi-way valve, at least one feed connection is arranged on the configuration unit to ensure a flexible supply of the multi-way valves with different pressures or vacuum.

Advantageously, therefore, only a few pressure medium lines are required, since the bypass channels within the configuration unit contribute to a reduction in the number of outer pressure medium lines exposed. Furthermore, the configuration unit enables a high degree of flexibility, so that different pressures or vacuum within the valve unit according to the user's request can be used. The valve unit is easy to configure. The configuration can also be carried out by the user after the valve unit has been installed.

The connection between the pressure medium channels of the pressure medium distributor can be changed by sealing means for the defined closing of internal bypass channels in the configuration unit. According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the sealing means can be designed in the manner of a washer, which is placed on the circular openings between the pressure medium distributor and the configuration unit. It is also possible for this purpose to use stoppers or other suitable means for closing the internal bypass channels of the configuration unit.

The pressure medium ducts of the pressure medium distributor are usually provided as feed ducts and ventilation ducts for the main valve or the pilot valve of the multi-way valve. It is possible to configure the configuration unit such that at least two different pressures are available within the pressure medium distributor for connecting the multi-way valve. With different pressures within the valve unit, it is possible for a pressure medium cylinder connected to it to generate a higher mechanical force in its working direction, whereas a lower force is generated in the mostly load-free opposite direction, which contributes to the saving of compressed air.

According to the invention, at least one feed connection is arranged directly on the configuration unit in order to enable a pressure medium supply from here. As an alternative to this, it is also possible to provide a feed connection in a conventional manner on the pressure medium distributor.

An elastic seal is preferably arranged between the mounting surface of the pressure medium distributor and the mounting surface of the multi-way valves and the configuration unit. The configuration unit can be made from extruded aluminum, plastic or other suitable material.

Fig. 1

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Ventileinheit mit Konfigurationseinheit gemäß der vorliegenden Erfindung,

Fig. 2

einen Querschnitt durch die Ventileinheit gemäß Figur 1,

Fig. 3

eine perspektivische Ansicht der Ventileinheit gemäß Figur 1 von unten,

Fig. 4

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Ventileinheit mit einer speziellen Konfiguration gemäß einer ersten Ausführungsform,

Fig. 5

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Ventileinheit mit einer spezifischen Konfiguration gemäß einer zweiten Ausführungsform und

Fig. 6

eine perspektivische Ansicht einer Ventileinheit mft einer spezifischen Konfiguration gemäß einer weiteren Ausführungsform.

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

Fig. 1

2 shows a perspective view of a valve unit with a configuration unit according to the present invention,

Fig. 2

2 shows a cross section through the valve unit according to FIG. 1,

Fig. 3

2 shows a perspective view of the valve unit according to FIG. 1 from below,

Fig. 4

2 shows a perspective view of a valve unit with a special configuration according to a first embodiment,

Fig. 5

a perspective view of a valve unit with a specific configuration according to a second embodiment and

Fig. 6

a perspective view of a valve unit mft a specific configuration according to another embodiment.

Description of the preferred embodiments

The valve unit according to FIG. 1 comprises a plurality of multi-way valves 1 which are connected to a common pressure medium distributor 2. On a mounting surface 3 of the pressure medium distributor 2, a plurality of circular openings (not shown) are arranged, which are arranged opposite to corresponding openings on the side of the multi-way valve 1, in order to enable a pressure medium connection between the pressure medium distributor 2 and the multi-way valve 1. Furthermore, the valve unit comprises a configuration unit 4 with internal bypass channels. The configuration unit 4 is also arranged on the mounting surface 3 of the pressure medium distributor 2, adjacent to the multi-way valves 1, in order to create a changeable cross-connection between the pressure medium channels arranged within the pressure medium distributor 2.

According to FIG. 2, a total of seven pressure medium channels 5 to 9 run along the pressure medium distributor 2. A common ventilation channel 5 is arranged in the middle of the pressure medium distributor 2. Two separate feed channels 6a and 6b are arranged on both sides of the ventilation channel 5. Two working connections 7a and 7b create a connection of the multi-way valve 1 to a pressure medium drive unit, not shown further here, for example a pressure medium cylinder. A pilot valve feed channel 8a or 8b is arranged on each side of the pressure medium distributor 2. Correspondingly, a pilot valve ventilation channel 9a and 9b runs parallel to the pilot valve feed channels 8a and 8b. All these channels 5 to 9 are connected to the multi-way valve 1 via corresponding transverse channels. The multi-way valve 1 has a 5/2 valve function in this embodiment. For this purpose, two electrically controllable pilot valves 10a and 10b are mounted on the main valve part of the multi-way valve 1 in order to move the internal valve slide 11 in the desired direction. The pilot valves 10a and 10b are connected to associated pilot valve feed channels 8a and 8b and pilot valve ventilation channels 9a and 9b. Depending on the position of the valve spool 11, compressed air can flow from the feed channel 6a or 6b to the working connections 7a or 7b or in the other direction from the working connections 7a or 7b to the common ventilation duct 5 through the main valve part of the multi-way valve 1.

According to FIG. 3, the working connections 7a and 7b for the assigned multi-way valves 1 are arranged in two rows on the underside of the pressure medium distributor 2. Furthermore, two feed connections 12a and 12b for the feed channels 6a and 6b and a ventilation connection 13 for the common ventilation channel 5 are provided on the underside of the pressure medium distributor 2. In addition, two further pilot valve feed / ventilation connections 14a and 14b are provided for the pilot valve feed channels 8a and 8b and the pilot valve ventilation channels 9a and 9b.

A configuration of the pressure medium distributor 2 as shown in FIG. 4 is possible by means of the configuration unit 4. The opening 15 connected to the feed channel 6a is closed here. The feed channels 6a and 6b are thus separated from one another. This makes it possible to provide a different pressure in both feed channels 6a and 6b. The feed channel 6b is supplied from the feed connection 16 on the configuration unit 4 via the opening 19a. The Feed channel 6a is supplied by the feed connection 12b on the underside of the pressure medium distributor 2. All ventilation channels 9a, 9b of the pressure medium distributor 2 are short-circuited by the configuration unit 4 via corresponding openings 17a to 17c. The remaining pilot valve feed channels 8a and 8b are also short-circuited and are supplied with pressure medium via the openings 18a and 18b, which are connected to the feed channel 6b next to the opening 19.

According to the configuration according to FIG. 5, the pressure in both feed channels 6a and 6b is the same because the openings 15 and 19a are short-circuited by the configuration unit 4. In order to achieve a maximum flow rate, both feed channels 6a and 6b are supplied with pressure medium via the connections 12a and 12b on the pressure medium distributor 2. In order to avoid a pressure drop at the pilot valves 10a and 10b, they are supplied separately via the pilot valve feed channels 8a and 8b with a normal pressure which is introduced via the pilot valve feed connection 20a into the configuration unit 4 or the pilot valve feed connection 14a at the pressure medium distributor 2. For this purpose, the openings 17b and 19b are closed. The exhaust air from the pilot valves 10a and 10b can be discharged via the pilot valve vent connection 14b of the pressure medium distributor 2 or the pilot valve vent connection 20 of the configuration unit 4.

In the configuration shown in Figure 6, the opening 15 of the feed channel 5a is closed. The two feed channels 6a and 6b are thus separated from one another by the configuration unit 4. A different pressure can thus be provided in both feed channels 6a and 6b, for example below 3.5 bar and above 7.5 bar. The feed channel 6a is supplied via the feed connection 12b of the pressure medium distributor 2 or via the feed connection 16 of the configuration unit 4. The openings 17b and 19b are also closed, so that the pilot valves 10a and 10b can be supplied via the pilot valve feed connection 14a on the pressure medium distributor 2.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMBERS

1

Multi-way valve (main valve and pilot valve

2

Fluid manifold

3

mounting surface

4

configuration unit

5

vent channel

6

feeding channel

7

working port

8th

Pilot valve supply duct

9

Pilot valve vent channel

10

pilot valve

11

valve slide

12

feed connection

13

exhaust port

14

Pilotventilspeise- / vent connection

15

opening

16

feed connection

17

Opening (pilot valve)

18

Opening (pilot valve)

19

opening

20

Pilotventilspeise- / vent connection

Claims (8)

1. A valve unit, having a plurality of multiport valves (1) in communication with a common pressure medium manifold (2), wherein openings for internal channels (5, 6a, 6b, 8a, 9a, 9b) corresponding directly with said multiport valves (1) are arranged on a mounting surface (3) in order to establish a pressure medium connection between said pressure medium manifold (2) and said multiport valves (1), wherein a configuration unit (4) having internal bypass channels for feeding pilot valves is provided, which is arranged on said mounting surface (3) of said pressure medium manifold (2) adjacent to said multiport valves (1),
   characterized in that said configuration unit (4) establishes a modifiable transverse connection between said pressure medium channels (5, 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) of said pressure medium manifold (2), which serve as feeding channels and venting channels for said main valve or said pilot valve of said multiport valve (1), wherein at least one feeding port (16, 20) is arranged on said configuration unit (4) in order to ensure the flexible supply of said multiport valves (1) with different pressures, even with a vacuum.
2. The valve unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   the connection between said pressure medium channels (5, 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) of said pressure medium manifold (2) is modifiable by means of separate sealing means to close certain internal bypass channels of said configuration unit (4).
3. The valve unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   said sealing means is in the manner of a washer or a stopper and is arranged in the area of openings (15, 17a, 17b, 17c, 18a, 18b, 19a, 19b) between said pressure medium manifold (2) and said configuration unit (4).
4. The valve unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   said pressure medium channels (5, 6a, 6b, 8a, 8b, 9a, 9b) of said pressure medium manifold (2) are provided as feeding channels (6a, 6b; 8a, 8b) and as venting channels (5; 9a, 9b) for said main valve portion and said pilot valve (10) of said multiport valve (1).
5. The valve unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   by means of said configuration unit (4) a different pressure in said feeding channels (6a, 6b) of said pressure medium manifold (2) can be provided to the coupled multiport valves (1).
6. The valve unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   at least one feeding port (12, 14) is arranged on said pressure medium manifold (2) to supply pressurized air to said multiport valves (1).
7. The valve unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   said configuration unit (4) is of aluminium or plastic material.
8. The valve unit according to claim 1,
   characterized in that
   a resilient seal is arranged between the corresponding mounting surfaces of said pressure medium manifold (2) on the one hand and said multiport valves (1) and said configuration unit (4) on the other hand.