EP1630403A1 - Adjustable two way valve arrangement for internal combustion engine - Google Patents

Abstract

The valve (1) has a housing in which three passage openings of an outlet or inlet channel are arranged. A valve plate is provided at two of the passage openings of the outlet or inlet channel. A control opening is provided at a valve unit (10), which is movable over a control unit. The control opening is arranged at the two passage openings, where the fluid mass flow is independently or dependently adjustable by the passage openings.

Description

The invention relates to a controllable two-way valve device for an internal combustion engine having a housing in which a first and a second inlet or outlet channel, a third outlet or inlet channel and at least one valve member are arranged, wherein the at least one valve member via an actuating unit is movable such that a fluidic connection can be selectively produced between the first or the second inlet or outlet channel and the third outlet or inlet channel.

Such two-way valve devices are known, for example, as combined exhaust gas recirculation and bypass valve devices in which two valve members are translationally actuated via a continuously variable actuator to reduce the pollutant emissions of an internal combustion engine by the exhaust gas is passed through the bypass channel in the warm-up phase and after Heating a catalyst, the exhaust gas is supplied via the exhaust gas cooler of the internal combustion engine.

Accordingly, DE 100 25 877 describes an exhaust gas recirculation system having a valve device which has an exhaust gas inlet and two exhaust gas outlets, one of the exhaust gas outlets leading to a cooler and the other exhaust gas outlet being fluidically connected to a bypass channel bypassing the cooler. In a housing, a valve seat is disposed between the exhaust gas inlet and the two exhaust gas outlets, which are each controlled by a plate-shaped valve member. The valve members are arranged on a valve rod, which is translationally movable via an actuating unit, wherein the first valve member is mounted on a first valve rod and the second, closer to the actuator valve member disposed on a first valve rod surrounding the second tubular valve rod is fixed. The actuator is like this executed that in the control unit two springs are arranged, via which the two valve plates are biased pressed onto their valve seats. The inner and outer valve rod are each arranged to be displaceable relative to each other, so that the pneumatic or electromotive actuator is designed so that only one of the valve rods and thus only one of the two valve members is lifted from the corresponding valve seat depending on the direction of movement.

Furthermore, DE 198 12 702 A1 describes a valve arrangement for controlling a recirculated exhaust gas flow, wherein it is arranged behind a bypass duct and an exhaust gas cooler, so that this valve arrangement has two inlets and one outlet. The two respectively corresponding with a valve seat, arranged on the valve stem valve members are pressed via two arranged in the channel coil springs in each case on the valve seat. Both valve members each have a bore in the center through which at least partially extends the common valve rod. On the valve rod, two frets are formed, via which the valve members can be actuated individually in the opening direction against the spring force via the collar upon actuation of the valve stem, wherein the respective other valve member to slide on the valve stem, as it is pressed by the spring force on the valve seat becomes.

Also known are two-way valve devices in different applications where these are usually controlled electromagnetically. Here, for example, corresponding bores are arranged in the movable armature of the solenoid valves, which correspond to trained in the housing Einbeziehungsweise outlets. These valves are usually designed so that exactly two or three different positions of the armature can be controlled to connect the different paths to each other. These are usually not continuously adjustable and are not suitable, for example, for regulated exhaust gas recirculation via a cooler or a bypass, since the movable armature in the current would be sensitive to dirt and sufficient flow cross sections are not guaranteed in such valves.

Furthermore, DE 101 01 412 A1 discloses an exhaust gas recirculation device in the form of a rotary slide valve for an internal combustion engine. In this Rotary valve, a disc-shaped switching element is rotatably rotated via an actuating unit. The switching element has control openings which correspond to passage openings in a valve plate, these passage openings each forming an end of individual channels leading to the air intake duct system. However, such a valve is not usable as a two-way valve device, since the outlet channels can not be opened or closed individually, but only together and simultaneously, so that each outlet channel an identical mass flow is provided.

In the known embodiments of two-way valve device, the disadvantages that a high cost and a high number of components exist. The actuators are very expensive to perform in two running valve rods. Furthermore, there is a high sensitivity to dirt in designs with arranged in the channel springs and on the valve stem sliding valve members, since soot deposits can form on the valve stem, whereby proper function is no longer guaranteed. The manufacturing and assembly costs due to the large number of components is also very high.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a controllable two-way valve device in which two mass flows are continuously controlled independently, the number of components and thus the assembly and manufacturing costs, and the size of the entire two-way valve device can be reduced should. For this purpose, only a single valve member should be necessary if possible. This is to cost and weight advantages can be achieved. An applicability in the field of exhaust gas recirculation should be maintained, so that a high dirt resistance must be present.

This object is achieved in that the controllable two-way valve device is designed as a rotary valve having a valve plate on which at least a first passage opening of the first inlet or outlet channel is formed, and formed a second passage opening of the second inlet or outlet channel is, wherein the passage openings correspond with at least one control opening, which is formed on the valve member, which via the adjusting unit is at least indirectly rotationally movable, wherein the at least one control opening is arranged in such a way to the two passage openings that fluid mass flows through the passage openings are optionally independent or dependent on each other controllable. Such an embodiment makes it possible to ensure continuous controllability with only a single valve member. The construction of the two-way valve device is extremely simple and space-saving. Thus, cost and weight advantages can be achieved.

In a preferred embodiment, the at least one control opening of the valve member, which is designed substantially as a valve plate, extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range which is substantially equal to the angular range which is spanned by the center axes of the valve plate extending central axes of the two passage openings , In such an embodiment, it is both possible to completely block the flow to or from the third outlet or inlet channel and to close the two passage openings individually, wherein at the same time a mass flow change through the respective other inlet or outlet channel is controllable. In addition, it is possible to change both mass flows thus the mass flow through the first inlet or outlet channel and the second inlet or outlet channel depending on each other, the total mass flow remains constant. In an embodiment in the exhaust gas area with cooler or bypass duct, it would thus be possible to drive at a constant mass flow different temperatures. At the same time a mass flow change is possible at the same temperature.

In an alternative embodiment, the control opening of the at least one valve disk extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range which is substantially equal to the angular range, which is spanned by a connection of the two facing away outer edges of the passage openings with the center of the valve plate. In such an embodiment, it is again possible both to close both channels and to control one of the channels in the mass flow continuously, while the other is closed. Furthermore, a temperature control is possible depending on the temperature-changing mass flow, since at constant opening of one of the two first and second inlet and outlet channels simultaneously the other remains controllable.

In a preferred embodiment, the valve disk has a first control opening, which extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range which is substantially equal to the angular range which is spanned by the center axes of the valve plates extending central axes of the two passage openings, a second control port, each extending in the circumferential direction over an angular range, which is substantially equal to the angular range, which is spanned by a compound of the two facing away from each other outer edges of the passage openings with the center of the valve plate and between the two control openings substantially equal, closed surfaces. In such an embodiment, all the advantages described above are realized by means of a single valve member. Both a complete closure of the passages is possible as well as a mass flow change at a constant temperature. Furthermore, a mass flow control in response to a temperature control is possible and a temperature control at constant mass flow.

In a preferred embodiment, the passage openings extend in the circumferential direction over an angular range of 45 °, the angle range between the center axes of the passage openings through the center of the valve plate in the circumferential direction 50 °, the first control surface of the valve disk extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range of 50 ° , The second control opening of the valve disk over an angular range of 95 ° and the two closed surfaces of the valve disk extend in the circumferential direction in each case over an angular range of 107.5 °. With such an embodiment, despite the implementation of the above-described functions sufficiently large mass flows can be realized, with a small construction and good strength can be achieved.

Preferably, valve seats are formed at the passage openings, which are designed as scraping edges facing the valve disk, and surround the respective ends of the first and the second inlet or outlet channel. Such scraping edges as valve seats have the advantage that, for example, when used in the field of exhaust gas recirculation despite the temperatures occurring and any soot particles present, these contaminants are sheared off by the scraping edges and the relative rotation of valve disk and valve plate relative to each other, so that the valve is insensitive to dirt.

Preferably, the controllable two-way valve device is arranged in an exhaust gas recirculation line, wherein the first inlet or outlet channel is fluidly connected to an exhaust gas cooler, the second inlet or outlet channel is fluidly connected to a bypass channel bypassing the exhaust gas cooler and the third outlet or inlet channel is connected to an air intake duct system or an exhaust manifold. Accordingly, the arrangement of the valve device takes place in the exhaust stream either before or after the exhaust gas cooler and the bypass line. Due to the large number of options for regulating such a two-way valve is particularly suitable to be used in this area.

There is thus provided a two-way valve device which combines with only one valve member a variety of control functions in itself, is dirt-resistant and has a long service life with a small size.

• Figur 1 zeigt eine Seitenansicht einer erfindungsgemäßen regelbaren Zwei-Wege-Ventilvorrichtung in geschnittener Darstellung.
• Figur 2 zeigt schematisch unterschiedliche Stellungen eines Ventiltellers einer erfindungsgemäßen Zwei-Wege-Ventilvorrichtung zu einer Ventilplatte in Draufsicht.

An embodiment is shown in the figures and will be described below.

• Figure 1 shows a side view of an adjustable two-way valve device according to the invention in a sectional view.
• Figure 2 shows schematically different positions of a valve disc of a two-way valve device according to the invention to a valve plate in plan view.

The two-way valve device 1 shown in Figure 1 is designed as a rotary valve and has a multi-part housing 2, in which three channels 3, 4, 5 are arranged. The first channel 3 can be arranged, for example behind an exhaust gas cooler and thus serve as an inlet channel for the rotary valve 1. The second channel 4 can surround with a the exhaust gas cooler Bypass channel be connected and also serve as an inlet channel. The channel 5 would in this case be connected to a leading to an air intake duct exhaust channel. However, it is also conceivable as an alternative to use the third channel 5 as an inlet channel and to connect this with an exhaust manifold. The two channels 3, 4 then serving as outlet channel would accordingly form the connections to an exhaust gas cooler and a bypass channel bypassing the exhaust gas cooler. The respective ends of the channels 3 and 4 are formed by a valve plate 6, which has to the channels 3, 4 corresponding passage openings 7, 8, which can be square, round, elliptical, etc. executed. At the side facing the third channel 5, the passage openings 7, 8 are each surrounded by narrow webs, which serve as valve seats or scraping edges 9.

With these valve seats 9 corresponds to a valve member 10, which is designed as a valve plate. This valve disk 10 is rotatably moved by a driver 11 which is rotatably connected to the valve disk 10 and also at least rotationally fixed to a rotational axis 12, upon rotation of the axis of rotation. The movement is transmitted via the axis of rotation 12, a coupling member 13, which establishes a connection between the axis of rotation 12 and a shaft 14 and the shaft 14, which is part of an actuating unit 15, which is preferably operated by an electric motor. In order to ensure a sufficient pressure of the valve disk 10 on the valve seats 9, a spring 16 is arranged in the housing 2, via which an axial force is transmitted to the axis of rotation 12. The valve member or the valve disk 10 has one or more control openings 17, 18, via which a fluidic connection of one or both of the inlet channels 3, 4 to the outlet channel 5 can be produced. The mass flow can be changed by rotation of the valve disk 10 on the valve plate 6 according to the thereby opened cross-section.

A preferred example of an embodiment of a valve plate 6 to a valve plate 10 is shown in Figure 2, wherein Figure 2 a shows a plan view of the valve plate 6 and Figure 2b shows a plan view of the valve disk 10. In the figures c to f are different by way of example Rotary positions of the valve member 10 to the valve plate 6 for ease of description of the functions shown. The Passage openings 7, 8 which are made round in the present embodiment, each having a center M of the valve plate reaching center axes. An angle range α is formed by these center axes.

Furthermore, an angular range β is enclosed by the mutually remote outer edges of these passage openings 7, 8. In the present embodiment, the passage openings 7, 8 are arranged to each other such that the closed angle range between the two passage openings is about 5 °, while extending through the center M of the valve plate 6 extensions of the outer edges of the two passage openings 7 and 8 each have an angle of 45 ° include. Accordingly, the angle range α is about 50 ° and the angular range β 95 °.

In Figure b, the corresponding corresponding control openings 17, 18 of the valve disk are shown. The first control opening 17 in turn extends over the angular range α of 50 °, the second control opening 18 in turn extends over the angular range β of 95 °. Between the control openings 17, 18 are each closed surfaces 19, 20 each extending over an angular range γ of about 107.5 °.

The interaction of the control openings 17, 18 with the passage openings 7, 8 is illustrated by the figures c to f.

In Figure c can be seen a position in which the larger control port 18 is located above the two passage openings 7, 8 of the valve plate 6. It is clear that one of the two openings 7 or 8 is closed with slight rotation in one of the two directions, while the other remains fully open. Now, if an exhaust gas cooler is connected to the passage opening 7 and to the passage opening 8, this means that upon rotation of the valve disk 10, the mass flow to be enforced becomes smaller due to the narrowing of the overall cross section, while at the same time the temperature decreases or increases depending on the closing cross section. Accordingly, there are two possible temperatures to be set for each mass flow to be set.

FIG. D shows a position in which, for example, no exhaust gas recirculation is desired, and thus both passage openings 7, 8 are closed by one of the surfaces 19, 20.

It can now be seen in FIG. 8 that the smaller control opening 17 has been rotated into the area of the passage openings 7, 8. In such a position, the total flow-through cross-section and thus the total mass flow during rotation of the valve disk 10 does not change, however, is again when connecting the passages 7 and 8 to a cooler or a bypass channel, here at a constant mass flow, a continuous temperature control possible, since the a passage opening 7 is closed or opened to the same extent as the other is opened or closed.

In the figure f can be seen that by appropriate position of the valve disk 10 to the valve plate 6, a pure mass flow control at a constant temperature is possible, the exhaust gas flows only through the radiator or only via the bypass channel, in which only one of the two passage openings. 7 8, while the other is covered by the surfaces 19 or 20.

It is clear that by means of such an embodiment almost any desired exhaust gas recirculation flow can be adjusted in terms of temperature and mass, for which purpose only an actuating unit and a valve member must be used. Thus, a small, inexpensive unit can be used both for controlling the exhaust gas mass flow and for temperature control.

It should be clear that the structure of the rotary valve with respect to the arrangement and design of the control unit or the incoming and outgoing channels can be modified without departing from the scope of the main claim. Also changes in the arrangement of the openings of the valve plate or the valve disc to each other are conceivable, with a sufficient mass and possibly temperature control must be maintained.

Claims (7)

Controllable two-way valve device for an internal combustion engine having a housing, in which a first and a second inlet or outlet channel, a third outlet or inlet channel and at least one valve member are arranged, wherein the at least one valve member is movable via an actuating unit such a fluidic connection can be produced selectively between the first or the second inlet or outlet channel and the third outlet or inlet channel, characterized in that the controllable two-way valve device (1) is designed as a rotary slide valve which has a valve plate (6). has, on which at least one first passage opening (7) of the first inlet or outlet channel (3) is formed, and a second passage opening (8) of the second inlet or outlet channel (4) is formed, wherein the passage openings (7, 8) with at least one control opening (17, 18) correspond, which is formed on the valve member (10) which over the Actuating unit (15) is at least indirectly rotationally movable, wherein the at least one control opening (17) is arranged to the two passage openings (7, 8) that fluid mass flows through the passage openings (7, 8) are selectively independent or dependent on each other controllable. Controllable two-way valve device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one control opening (17) of the valve member (10), which is designed substantially as a valve plate, extending in the circumferential direction over an angular range α, the substantially is equal to the angle range α, which is spanned by the center axis M of the valve plate (6) extending central axes of the two passage openings (7, 8). Controllable two-way valve device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one control opening (18) of the valve disc (10) extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range β, which is substantially equal to the angular range β, by a Connection of the two facing away from each other outer edges of the passage openings (7, 8) with the center M of the valve plate (6) is clamped. Controllable two-way valve device for an internal combustion engine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve disc (10) has a first control opening (17) which extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range α, which is substantially equal to the angular range α , which is spanned by the center axis M of the valve plate (6) extending central axes of the two passage openings (7, 8), a second control opening (18) extending in the circumferential direction over an angular range β, which is substantially equal to the angular range β, which is defined by a connection of the two mutually wegweisenden outer edges of the passage openings (7, 8) with the center M of the valve plate (6), and between the two control openings (17, 18) substantially equal, closed surfaces (19 , 20). Controllable two-way valve device for an internal combustion engine according to claim 4, characterized in that the passage openings (7, 8) of the valve plate (6) extend in the circumferential direction over an angular range of 45 °, the angular range α between the center axes of the passage openings (7 , 8) through the center M of the valve plate (6) in the circumferential direction 50 °, the first control opening (17) of the valve disc (10) extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range of 50 °, the second control port (18) of the valve disc (10 ) extends in the circumferential direction over an angular range β of 95 °, and the two closed surfaces (19,20) of the valve disk (10) extend in the circumferential direction in each case over an angular range γ of 107.5 °. Controllable two-way valve device for an internal combustion engine according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that at the passage openings (7, 8) valve seats (9) are formed, which are designed as valve disc (10) facing scraping edges, and the respective ends surrounded by the first and second inlet or outlet channel (3, 4). Controllable two-way valve device for an internal combustion engine according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the controllable two-way valve device (1) is arranged in an exhaust gas recirculation line, wherein the first inlet or outlet channel (3) fluidly connected to an exhaust gas cooler is, the second inlet or outlet channel (4) is fluidly connected to a bypass channel surrounding the exhaust gas cooler, and the third output or inlet channel (5) is connected to an air intake duct system or an exhaust manifold.

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