EP1991791B1 - Valve bank comprising a safety valve - Google Patents

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve bank (6) which comprises a plurality of electrically actuatuable control valves which are connected simultaneously to at least one common cable duct (1) and a common vent duct (3, 5). The at least one supply channel (32, 33) supplies the common cable duct (1) with pressure means required for operating the valve bank (6). An additional safety valve (15) enables the channel connection between the at least one supply channel (32, 33) and the common cabel duct (1) to be selectively released or blocked. When the connection is blocked, the safety valve adopts an aeration position and the common cable duct (1) is vented towards the atmosphere.

Description

The invention relates to a valve battery, with a plurality of electrically actuated control valves, which are each connected to at least one common supply channel and at least one common vent channel and can control the connection of these channels, each with at least one connectable to a consumer individual working channel, with at least one feed channel for feeding pressure medium intended for the at least one common supply channel, and with a safety valve interposed between the at least one feed channel and the at least one common supply channel for selectively enabling or shutting off the channel connection.

One from the EP 1 041 325 B1 known valve battery of this type includes a plurality of control modules each equipped with a control module, which are combined to form a module assembly. By means of a common supply channel passing through the module arrangement, all the control valves can be supplied with pressure medium at the same time. The venting of the control valves is done via one or two, the module assembly also passing common venting channels. The common supply channel is preceded by a usable as a safety valve shut-off valve, which is able to shut off the common supply channel of a pressure medium leading in the feed channel, if a Disorder occurs. The valve battery is then decoupled from the print media network. However, if the shut-off process is performed with the valve manifold still under full supply pressure, the pressure medium sealed off in the valve manifold can continue to be the cause of undesirable switching functions of the control valves.

It is the object of the present invention to provide a valve battery with improved safety function in the event of its shutdown.

To solve this problem, the valve battery is designed so that the safety valve can be switched to a venting position, in which it vents the at least one common supply channel and at the same time shuts off the feed channel.

In this way, the shut-off time in the at least one common supply channel of the valve battery located pressure medium is not simply trapped, but vented to the atmosphere with shut-off feed channel. The valve battery is therefore depressurized on the supply side, so that even with subsequently occurring switching operations of the control valves in the connected consumers no unwanted functions are triggered. In addition, there is no risk to perform maintenance activities on the valve battery and replace, for example, a defective control valve. The safety valve can be structurally easily configured so that it automatically switches to the venting position, for example, if a power failure and / or a failure of the supply pressure occurs.

Advantageous developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims.

In order to make the valve battery ready for operation as quickly as possible after venting, it can be equipped with at least two feed ducts, which are simultaneously connected in parallel with the common supply duct of the valve manifold in the passage position of the safety valve. The pressure medium can then flow into the valve battery at high flow.

The venting of the at least one common supply channel can for example take place exclusively via at least one of the existing at least one common venting channel of the valve battery. In this way, an additional venting channel in the valve battery is unnecessary. If the valve manifold, which is often the case with valve manifolds, contains two common venting channels for the control valves, the safety valve can be designed such that both common venting channels of the valve manifold are used to vent the at least one common supply channel.

It is also possible, in addition to the at least one common venting channel of the valve battery, to provide at least one independent additional venting channel, via which the at least one common supply channel can be vented. Here then there is the possibility to influence by appropriate design of the safety valve, the venting process to the effect that this takes place exclusively on the independent additional venting channel or - which could be described as quick venting - parallel over the at least one common venting channel of the valve battery and the this independent additional venting duct. By the latter measure, a very high ventilation cross-section can be provided.

The safety valve is expediently designed to be electrically activated. It can receive its electrical operating signals individually or via an optionally present in the valve battery standard electrical Verkettungseinrichtung. Preferably, the safety valve is designed so that it is held in the electrically deactivated state by spring means in the venting position. In order to maintain the passage position, the safety valve is electrically activated and deflected its valve member against the spring force. If the power fails during operation or, in the case of a pilot-operated variant, the pilot pressure, the safety valve is reliably switched back to the harmless venting position reliably by the spring preload.

In an advantageously designed safety valve, the vent flow passes through a cavity formed in the valve slide of the safety valve. This allows a particularly advantageous channel interconnection.

The safety valve can be installed or installed at any suitable point on the valve manifold. In any case, it is on board the valve manifold, so that compact dimensions without external safety components are necessary.

In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the safety valve is part of an independent safety module, which is combined together with at least one control valve containing control modules to form a module assembly. Here is the security module in the series incorporated by control modules, for example as a termination module or as an intermediate module. The latter allows at virtually any point an intermediate feed of the required for the operation of the valve battery pressure medium.

Preferably, the valve battery includes a modular fluid distributor with individual fluid distribution modules, which are equipped to form the control modules with the control valves and the formation of the safety module with a safety valve and which are modularly attached to each other. The fluid distribution modules preferably each contain two individual working channels connected to the respective associated control valve for controlling a consumer. The fluid distribution module of the safety valve is expediently also penetrated by two individual fluid channels, at least one of which forms a feed channel for the common supply channel. In accordance with the above-described embodiments, the second fluid channel can be used as a further feed channel connected in parallel or as an additional venting channel. If it is not needed, it can be closed by a stopper if necessary.

Figur 1

eine bevorzugte Ausführungsform der erfindungsgemä- ßen Ventilbatterie in perspektivischer Darstellung und bei entferntem Abschlusselement des Fluidver- teilers der Ventilbatterie,

Figur 2

einen Schnitt durch die Ventilbatterie aus Figur 1 gemäß Schnittlinie II-II im Bereich des Sicher- heitsventils,

Figur 3

das bei der Anordnung der Figuren 1 und 2 einge- setzte Sicherheitsventil im Längsschnitt in einer Einzeldarstellung bei Einnahme der Entlüftungsstel- lung,

Figur 4

das Sicherheitsventil aus Figur 3 in der im Normal- betrieb üblicherweise eingenommenen Durchlassstel- lung,

Figur 5

in einer der Figur 3 entsprechenden Darstellungs- weise ein modifiziertes Sicherheitsventil bei Ein- nahme der Entlüftungsstellung, und

Figur 6

das Sicherheitsventil aus Figur 5 in der Durchlass- stellung.

The invention will be explained in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In this show:

FIG. 1

1 shows a preferred embodiment of the valve battery according to the invention in a perspective view and with the terminating element of the fluid distributor of the valve battery removed;

FIG. 2

a section through the valve battery FIG. 1 according to section II-II in the area of the safety valve,

FIG. 3

that in the arrangement of FIGS. 1 and 2 used safety valve in longitudinal section in a single representation when taking the venting position,

FIG. 4

the safety valve off FIG. 3 in the normally used in normal operation Durchlassstellung,

FIG. 5

in one of the FIG. 3 correspondingly, a modified safety valve when the ventilation position is taken, and

FIG. 6

the safety valve off FIG. 5 in the transmission position.

The designated in its entirety by reference numeral 6 valve battery preferred structure includes a extending in the direction of a longitudinal axis 7 fluid manifold 8, which is fitted to a mounting surface 12 with a plurality of electrically actuated control valves 13. The control valves 13 are arranged successively in a direction indicated by a double arrow Aufreihungsrichtung 14, which coincides with the longitudinal axis 7. Also located on the mounting surface 12, incorporated in the series of control valves 13, a safety valve 15. The latter includes the embodiment of the series of control valves 13 at one end.

The fluid distributor 8 is penetrated in its longitudinal direction by at least one common for all control valves 13 supply channel 1. Parallel to this common supply channel 1 extend in the fluid manifold 8, a first and second common vent channel 3, 5, each like the common supply channel 1 multiple times to the mounting surface 12, so that each control valve 13 communicates with each of the common supply channels 1 and venting channels 3, 5.

In addition, the common supply channel 1 and the two common venting channels 3, 5 open at a loading place 16 of the mounting surface 12, on which the safety valve 15, for example, by a screw, is detachably mounted. Thus, both the common supply channel 1 and the first and second common vent channel 3, 5 communicate with each control valve 13 and also with the safety valve 15.

Each control valve 13 further communicates with two specifically associated with him individual working channels 17, 18 which pass through the fluid manifold 8 transversely to the longitudinal axis 7 and each end at the attachment surface 12 to the associated control valve 13 and the other end along the outside at the fluid manifold 8 to a connection surface 22 , At the connection surface 22, the working channels 17, 18 are connected to fluid lines, not shown, which lead to consumers to be driven, for example, actuated by fluid force drives.

In normal operation of the valve battery 6 is in the common supply channel 1 under a supply pressure pressure medium, in particular compressed air available. This comes from a connected to the valve battery 6 pressure source P. The control valves 13 are electrically actuated and can each be spent in different switching positions in which they each connected individual working channels 17, 18 each optionally with the common supply channel 1 or one of the two common venting channels 3, 5 in conjunction. In general, this is a so-called 5/2-switching function.

The operating signals required for the electrical actuation of the control valves 13 - these are to be understood as both control signals and actuation energy - arrive via an electrical linking device 23 extending in the line-up direction 14 to electrical connections of the control valves 13 which are not shown in more detail. which can be arranged on board the valve battery 6 and / or externally.

The control valves 13 are expediently pilot operated valves, each with an electrically actuated pilot valve device, such as a solenoid valve device. Each pilot valve device may be composed of one or two electrically operable pilot valves.

The two common venting channels 3, 5 open out of the mounting surface 12 to the outer surface of the fluid manifold 8 and are connected via their outlets with the atmosphere in connection. This can be done directly or with the interposition of silencers, or by a controlled derivative to another point in the atmosphere.

The fluid loading of the common supply channel 1 is controllable by the safety valve 15 located on board the valve battery 6.

Specifically, the safety valve 15 includes an outlet port connected to the common supply passage 1 24. Furthermore, it has two vent ports 25, 26, the first (25) with the common vent passage 3 and the second (26) are in constant communication with the common vent passage 5.

In addition, the safety valve 15 has two more valve ports 27, 28 which are each connected to an individual first or second fluid distribution channel 2, 4. The latter expire expediently also to the connection surface 22 of the fluid distributor 8, where it can be equipped with connection means, not shown, which allow the connection of a leading away fluid line.

In all exemplary embodiments, the one, first fluid distribution channel 2 forms a feed channel 32 permanently connected to the pressure source P during operation.

The second fluid distribution channel 4 is in the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4 also a feed channel 33, which is also connected in parallel with the other feed channel 32 and constantly with the pressure source P. In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 In contrast, the second fluid distribution channel 4 acts as an additional venting channel 34 provided in addition to the common venting channels 3, 5. Its opening provided on the connection surface 22 communicates directly or with the interposition of an attached silencer with the immediate atmosphere or with one to one during operation of the valve manifold 6 other location of the atmosphere leading exhaust duct.

In all embodiments, the common supply channel 1 is exclusively via the at least one feed channel 32, 33 with the for the operation of the valve battery 6 need pressure medium supplied. An otherwise, not controllable by the safety valve 15 pressure medium feed into the common supply channel 1 is not provided. A standard by the fluid distributor 8 existing, not shown feed opening for the common supply channel 1, for example by means of a plug, closed. However, it can be used when the valve battery 6 is to be operated without a safety valve 15 or without the use of the functionality of the existing safety valve 15.

All embodiments of the valve battery 6 have in common that with the help of the safety valve 15, the connection between the at least one feed channel 32, 33 and connected to the safety valve 15 common supply channel 1 can be selectively enabled or shut off.

When released channel connection, the safety valve 15 takes an example of the FIGS. 4 and 6 apparent passage position. According to FIG. 4 Here are both existing feed channels 32, 33 simultaneously connected to the common supply channel 1. According to FIG. 6 there is a flow connection between the common supply channel 1 and the single feed channel 32.

At the Figures 3 and 5 each outgoing shut-off channel connection, the common supply channel 1 is shut off fluid-tight from the respective associated feed channel 32 and 33 respectively. At the same time, however, it is vented to the atmosphere due to a venting position assumed by the safety valve 15. In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4 This is done by an unlocked connection between the common supply channel 1 and the first common vent passage 3. In the embodiment of the Figures 5 and 6 the common supply channel 1 is vented simultaneously via both the second common vent channel 5 and the additional vent passage 34.

Regardless of the type of vent consequently the common supply channel 1 in the venting position of the safety valve 15 is depressurized and the entire valve battery 6 is depressurized. Therefore, even if a switching operation of a control valve 13 should be caused by an electronic control or due to manual operation, this can no longer cause damaging movements of a connected consumer. The decrease in the pressure prevailing in the interior of the valve battery to atmospheric pressure also allows a safe removal of the control valves 13 for repair or replacement purposes.

In the embodiment of the FIGS. 2 to 4 the second common venting channel 5 is not used for the venting process controlled by the safety valve 15. The safety valve 15 is here designed so that the second vent port 26 remains shut off irrespective of the position of the valve spool 35 of the safety valve 15.

However, it would certainly be conceivable to design the safety valve 15 such that both common ventilation channels 3, 5 are used in the venting position for venting the common supply channel 1.

Incidentally, it would also be possible, deviating from the in FIG. 5 shown variant both both common venting channels 3, 5 and the additional venting channel 34 at the same time to vent the common supply channel 1, or only the existing additional vent passage 34, wherein in the latter case both common venting channels 3, 5 would not participate in the venting function of the safety valve 15.

It would also be a design possible in which the additional vent passage 34 does not communicate with an individual fluid distribution channel 4, but leads directly to an uncovered outer surface of the valve housing 36 of the safety valve 15 to from there, bypassing the fluid manifold 8, a vent to enable the atmosphere.

The safety valve 15 is expediently designed to be electrically activated regardless of its further configuration. It has an electrical interface 37 for feeding the operating signals required for its operation. These can be fed individually or via the existing electrical interlinking device 23, the latter comparable to the electrical control of the control valves 13th

The safety valve 15 in the embodiments is in each case a pilot-operated multi-way valve. It contains an electrically actuated pilot valve 38, for example a solenoid valve whose activation state is responsible for the current operating state of the safety valve 15.

The safety valve 15 includes a previously mentioned, preferably piston-like valve slide 35 which is switchable in its longitudinal direction between two positions which form the venting position in one case and the passage position in the other case.

The valve spool 35 has at one end an axially oriented actuating surface 42 which delimits a pilot chamber 43, which communicates with a pilot passage 44 indicated by dots. The pilot channel 44 is fed with a pressurized medium under a pilot pressure, which is supplied in the embodiments of a running in the fluid manifold 8 pilot feed passage 45. The pilot feed channel 45 may be fed either independently of or from the common supply channel 1 with pressure medium. Alternatively, it would also be possible to connect the pilot passage 44 in the interior of the safety valve 15 with the outlet port 24.

In the course of the pilot channel 44, the pilot valve 38 is turned on. It is capable of selectively enabling or shutting off passage through pilot duct 44. In the closed state, it also ensures a venting of the pilot chamber 43.

With an open pilot passage 44 is in the pilot chamber 43 of the pilot pressure, which acts on the actuating surface 42 and exerts an indicated by an arrow force 46 on the valve spool 35, so that the latter in the off FIGS. 4 and 6 resulting passage position is switched.

The force 46 is in the passage position constantly in order to overcome an oppositely effective restoring force 47 of a spring device 48, the valve spool 35 constantly in the direction of Figures 3 and 5 biasing outgoing venting position. The spring device 48 is supported on the one hand on the valve spool 35 and on the other directly or indirectly on the valve housing 36 of the safety valve 15 from. To achieve compact dimensions, the spring device 48 immersed in an axial recess of the valve spool 35.

Instead of the present in the embodiments mechanical spring means 48 and other biasing means could be present to cause the restoring force 47. It would be conceivable, for example, a pneumatic spring. Regardless of its embodiment, the spring device 48 has the advantage that it switches the valve slide 35 into the venting position when the pilot chamber 43 is depressurized, be it due to a system-induced pressure drop or due to a power failure.

The valve spool 35 extends in a slide housing 52 formed on the valve housing 36, which is divided axially into a plurality of sections by a sealing device 53. The sealing device 53 encloses the valve spool 35 coaxially and is preferably arranged valve housing fixed. It may in particular contain a plurality of axially spaced-apart annular seals which, depending on the axial position of the valve spool 35, may come into sealing contact with different portions of its peripheral outer periphery. The various aforementioned portions are in communication with the above-mentioned terminals 24-28.

In order to achieve the desired switching function, the valve spool 35 is repeatedly stepped in the axial direction at its generally cylindrical outer circumference. This results in axially successive sections of larger and smaller diameter. Depending on the position of the valve spool 35 and the resulting or non-existent sealing contact with the sealing device 53 are thus individual the terminals 24, 28 connected in the above-mentioned sense or separated from each other.

In the embodiment of Figures 5 and 6 the valve spool 35 flows around only on the outer circumference. In order to obtain in the venting position the simultaneous connection of the common supply channel 1 with both the second common venting channel 5 and the additional venting channel 34, the valve spool 35 has on the outer circumference a relatively long constriction 54 which extends in the venting position over all connections 24 , 26 and 28 extends.

In the embodiment of FIGS. 2 to 4 the valve slide 36 has a special feature insofar as it has a cavity 55 through which the pressure medium is discharged in the venting position.

The cavity 55 opens at two axially spaced locations via at least one and preferably a plurality of transfer openings 56, 57 to the outer periphery of the valve spool 35. In the venting position, the transfer ports 56, 57 are placed so that one (56) communicates with the outlet port 24 and the other (57) communicate with the first vent port 25. In this way, the vent flow through the sealed valve port 27 can be passed without affecting it.

It should be mentioned at this point that the outlet port 24 is expediently flanked axially on the one hand by the one further valve port 27 and on the other hand axially by the other further valve port 28. On these two other valve ports 27, 28 then follows axially outward in one case, the first vent port 25 and in the other case, the second vent port 26th

The security concept according to the invention can also be realized with a non-modular fluid distributor 8. However, it is particularly advantageous in conjunction with a modular fluid distributor 8, as is the case with the exemplary embodiments.

Here, the fluid distributor 8 is subdivided into a plurality of fluid distribution modules 58, 59 connected to one another in the line-up direction 14. In this case, first fluid distribution modules 58 are equipped with the control valves 13 and include, among other things, the individual working channels 17, 18. A second fluid distribution module 59 carries the safety valve 15 and has the two fluid distribution channels 2, 4. Due to the modular design of the common supply channel 1 and common venting channels 3, 5 divided into channel length sections of the individual fluid distribution modules 58, 59, which complement each other.

The first fluid distribution modules 58 together with the control valve or valves 13 seated thereon each comprise a control module 62. In the exemplary embodiment, each of these control modules 62 contains a first fluid distribution module 58 and two control valves 13 arranged next to one another. The safety valve 15 represents together with it Second fluid distribution module 59, a security module 63rd

In the embodiment shown, the security module 63 sits at one end of the module assembly. However, it can be readily incorporated into the series of control modules 62 such that it is axially on both sides of at least flanking a control module 62. Since the pressure medium feed into the valve battery 6 via the security module 63 takes place, thus an end feed but also an additional or alternatively an intermediate feed of pressure medium into the valve battery 6 can be realized. The security module 63 may form a termination module or an intermediate module of the module assembly.

If the safety valve 15 and the control valves 13 have compatible pneumatic interfaces, which allow an attachment to the same trained mounting surfaces of the fluid manifold 8, it is possible to use any existing fluid distribution module alternatively for the realization of a control module 62 or for the realization of a security module 63.

Instead of the described embodiments with mechanical or pneumatic spring return, the safety valve 15 could also be designed as a pulse valve, in which both switch positions are each predetermined by an electrically actuated pilot valve. An advantage of this design is that to maintain the passage position no permanent activation or energization of the associated pilot valve 38 is necessary. The given switching position, however, remains unchanged in the event of a power failure.

Claims (17)

1. Valve bank, with a multiplicity of electrically actuable control valves (13), each connected simultaneously to at least one common supply passage (1) and at least one common vent passage (3, 5), and able to control the connection of these passages (1, 3, 5) to respectively at least one individual operating passage (17, 18) which may be connected to a load, with at least one feed passage (32, 33) for the supply of pressure medium intended for the common supply passage or passages (1), and with a safety valve (15) connected between one or more feed passages (32, 33) and one or more common supply passages (1) for the alternate opening or closing of the passage connection, characterised in that the safety valve (15) may be switched to a venting position venting one or more common supply passages (1) while simultaneously closing one or more feed passages (32, 33).
2. Valve bank according to claim 1, characterised in that it has connected to the safety valve at least two feed passages (32, 33) which are closed in the venting position of the safety valve (15) and, in a through passage position of the safety valve (15), are connected simultaneously to the common supply passage (1).
3. Valve bank according to claim 1 or 2, characterised in that the safety valve (15), in its venting position, connects one or more common supply passages (1) with at least one common vent passage (3, 5) communicating with the atmosphere.
4. Valve bank according to claim 3 characterised in that, in the venting position, a single common vent passage (3) is connected to one or more common supply passages (1).
5. Valve bank according to any of claims 1 to 4, characterised in that the safety valve (15) in its venting position connects one or more common supply passages (1) with an additional vent passage (34) independent of the one or more common vent passages (3, 5).
6. Valve bank according to claim 5 characterised in that, in the venting position of the safety valve (15), the common supply passage is connected both to one or more common vent passages (5) and also to the additional vent passage (34).
7. Valve bank according to any of claims 1 to 6, characterised in that the safety valve (15) may be actuated electrically.
8. Valve bank according to claim 7, characterised in that the safety valve (15) is a valve piloted by at least one electrically actuable pilot valve (38).
9. Valve bank according to claim 7 or 8, characterised in that the safety valve is constantly biased towards the venting position by pressurising means in particular in the form of a spring device (48).
10. Valve bank according to any of claims 1 to 9, characterised in that the safety valve (15) contains a valve spool (35) which may be positioned alternately in the venting position or in a through passage position connecting the common supply passage (1) with at least one feed passage (32, 33).
11. Valve bank according to claim 10, characterised in that the valve spool (35) has a hollow space (55) through which the pressure medium can flow away in the venting position.
12. Valve bank according to any of claims 1 to 11, characterised in that the safety valve (15) is an integral part of an independent safety module (63) of the valve bank (6).
13. Valve bank according to claim 12, characterised in that the control valves (13) are integral parts of control modules (62) placed side by side in a direction of lining-up (14), wherein the safety module (63) is incorporated in the row of control modules (62).
14. Valve bank according to claim 12, characterised in that the safety module (63) is designed as a terminating module at the end of the row of control modules (62) or as an intermediate module inserted in the row of control modules (62).
15. Valve bank according to claim 13 or 14, characterised in that the safety module (63) has a fluid distributor module (59) equipped with the safety valve (15) and connected in series with further fluid distributor modules (58) carrying the control valves (13), wherein the common supply and vent passages (1, 3, 5) pass through all fluid distributor modules (58, 59), and one or more feed passage(s) (32, 33) run(s) in the fluid distributor module (59) of the safety valve (15), opening out at an outer surface (22) not covered by an adjacent fluid distributor module.
16. Valve bank according to claim 15, characterised in that each of the fluid distributor modules (58) assigned to the control valves (13) passes through at least two individual operating passages (17, 18).
17. Valve bank according to claim 15 or 16, characterised in that the fluid distributor module (59) of the safety valve (15) is passed through by two individual fluid passages (2, 4), at least one of which forms a feed passage (32, 33) for the common supply passage (1).

Images