EP2229514A2

EP2229514A2 - Spring for valve arrangement and valve arrangement with a spring of said kind

Info

Publication number: EP2229514A2
Application number: EP08856821A
Authority: EP
Inventors: Heinrich Reutter
Original assignee: Heinrich Reutter & Co KG GmbH
Current assignee: Heinrich Reutter & Co KG GmbH
Priority date: 2007-12-05
Filing date: 2008-11-28
Publication date: 2010-09-22
Also published as: DE202007017507U1; WO2009071240A3; WO2009071240A2

Abstract

The invention relates to a spring (10, 110, 20) for valve arrangements in closures of openings of pressure-regulated or pressurized containers, particularly motor vehicle radiators, or in pressure lines, wherein the design comprises a leaf spring, which for example is embossed or eroded from a spring steel strip, that preferably comprises a spring region that can be fixed in a stationary way or that can be supported and at least two spring tabs that are connected thereto.

Description

Title: Spring for valve assembly and valve assembly with such a spring

description

The present invention relates to a spring for valve assemblies in closures of openings pressure-controlled or pressurized container, in particular motor vehicle radiator, or in pressure lines, according to the preamble of claim 1.

From EP 1 264 087 B1, for example, it is known for a closure cover for openings on containers, in particular on motor vehicle radiators, to use cylindrical or helically wound helical springs for the individual reciprocating valve bodies of the valve arrangement. Such coil springs have a relatively large axial design and relatively large tolerance and hysteresis.

Object of the present invention is to provide a spring for valve assemblies of the type mentioned, which takes less space in their use in valve assemblies of the type mentioned and has a more accurate hysteresis.

To solve this problem, the features specified in claim 1 are provided in a spring for valve assemblies of the type mentioned.

The design of such springs as leaf springs results in less material and advantageously less space required. In addition, smaller ones result

Manufacturing tolerances and smaller tolerances and better hysteresis behavior in pressure regulation. Furthermore is significantly reduced in the production of the rejects and the price is greatly reduced. Such a leaf spring can be used both for pressure relief valves and vacuum valves. In addition to full-surface or strip-shaped leaf springs, preference is given to those whose fixed, fixed spring area is provided with spring tongues.

Advantageous embodiments will become apparent from the features of one or more of claims 2 to 6, according to which the spring tongues may be directed in different ways depending on the application.

According to the features of one or more of claims 7 to 9, the spring tongues may be arranged wholly or partially either in a plane with the fixable spring region or in this axially spaced after one or both sides.

According to a preferred embodiment of the present invention, the features of claim 10 are provided. This is achieved in a particularly advantageous manner that the leaf spring can be used simultaneously on two valve bodies, for example on a pressure relief valve body and on a vacuum valve body. Thus, a further reduction in the design and a further price reduction is achieved. In this case, the features of claim 11 or those of claim 12 may be provided, depending on whether the valve body with respect to the fixable spring region radially inwardly and / or radially engage externally.

In a further embodiment, the features of claim 13 are provided.

The present invention further relates to a valve arrangement of a closure of openings of pressure-controlled or pressurized container, in particular motor vehicle radiator, in which the back and herbewegbare valve body is equipped with such a leaf spring is according to the features of claim 14th

Advantageous embodiments of this result from the features of one or more of claims 15 to 21.

The present invention further relates to a closure cap for openings pressure-controlled or pressurized container, in particular

Motor vehicle radiator according to the features of claim 22, with a valve arrangement according to claim 14 and optionally one of the following, which is equipped with a leaf spring according to claim 1 and optionally one of the following.

Further details of the invention will be apparent from the following description in which the invention with reference to the embodiments illustrated in the drawings and described in more detail. Show it:

Figure IA to IDin in plan view a leaf spring with a plurality of unit

Figures 2A to 2C each in plan view and side view a BIa

Figures 3A and 3B each in longitudinal section a valve assembly with

Figures 4A to 4E respectively in longitudinal section a valve assembly ge

The leaf springs 10 and 20 shown in Figures 1 and 2 are used in valve assemblies as they are used in closures of openings pressure-controlled or pressurized container, such as automotive radiator. The leaf springs 10 and 20 are punched or eroded from a spring steel strip, for example, wherein the spring steel strip is made for example of a stainless steel. It is understood that other spring-hard material can be used. A leaf spring 10 may be formed in a manner not shown simplest way from a disc with or without a central aperture or a strip with or without a central aperture. In this case, either the outer edge or the center of the leaf spring in the valve assembly is held stationary or clamped.

For a determinable characteristic spring characteristic, the leaf springs 10A to 10D are provided in different embodiments of the tongues 11. The

Spring properties are dependent on the thickness of the leaf springs 10 and on the length and width of the individual spring tongues 11.

The leaf spring 10A according to FIG IA has the shape of a disc whose outer circumference determines the clamped or held fixed spring portion 13A and the so distributed over its surface evenly distributed six pear-shaped recesses 12A, which converge in the middle, is provided that six radially result inwardly directed spring tongues IIA, the free ends 14A are resiliently movable and thus from the plane of the disc of the leaf spring 10A are deflected. At the free ends 14A of the spring tongues IIA can act in an unillustrated manner an axially reciprocable valve body.

The leaf spring 1OB according to FIG. 1B has a similar disk-like basic shape with elongate recesses 12B and spring tongues IIB, but in addition to the inner recesses 12B for forming spring tongues IIB, radial recesses 15B are incorporated from the outer circumference. Also, the peripheral area interrupted here is provided as a fixedly held spring portion 13B, while a reciprocating valve body at the free ends 14B of the spring tongues IIB can attack. In this embodiment, distributed uniformly over the circumference arranged a total of eight spring tongues IIB.

The leaf spring IOC according to FIG. 1C is provided in continuation of the leaf spring 1OB according to FIG. 1B with deeper radial incisions 15C introduced from the outer circumference of the disc, which make the spring tongues HC U-shaped in plan view. Only six spring tongues HC are provided here. The inner recesses 12C are similar to those of the leaf spring 1OB approximately trapezoidal, whereby also here the broken outer edge is considered to be held stationary spring portion 13C, while the free ends 14C of the radially inwardly directed spring tongues HC can rest on the valve body, not shown.

Figure ID shows a leaf spring 10D, which is formed as a combination of the leaf springs 1OB and IOC in plan view is approximately star-shaped, with eight spring tongues HD are provided, which are either directed radially inward or directed radially outward, depending on whether In that regard, the reciprocating valve body is then in contact with either the outer peripheral side free ends or the inner peripheral side free ends of the flexible tongues HD.

In all the aforementioned embodiments of the leaf springs 10A to 10D is in the application or in the installed state and in the idle state, a bias of the spring tongues HA to HD against the stationarily held spring portion 13A to 13D provided. In all leaf springs 10A to 1OD, the spring tongues HA to HD are in the same plane as the fixedly held spring portions 13A to 13D. It is understood that it is also possible to bend the spring tongues IIA to HD relative to the spring portions 13A to 13D from the plane in question, to crimp or the like to form.

In the figures 2A, 2B and 2C leaf springs 2OA, 2OB and 2OC are shown, each having two types of a plurality of spring tongues 21 and 22 in a structural unit, which can be assigned to different valve bodies, such as a pressure relief valve body and a vacuum valve body. The leaf spring 2OA of Figure 2A, which is designed disc-shaped, has an outer peripheral side circular ring 24A, which serves as a fixed held spring area. Of this circular ring 24A integrally radially projecting six spring tongues 21 and two spring tongues 22 are provided here. The six spring tongues 21 are divided into pairs of three mutually opposite and mutually equal distance having spring tongues 21A, while the two diametrically opposed spring tongues 22A are each arranged between the two pairs of three spring tongues 21A. The two spring tongues 22A are radially longer than the mutually equal length spring tongues 21A. In other words, the free ends 26A of the two diametrically opposite spring tongues 22A have a smaller distance than the free ends 23A of the opposite pairs of three spring tongues 21, which are slightly wider than the spring tongues 22A. As can be seen from the side view, the spring tongues 21A and 22A lie in the same plane as the stationarily held spring area 24A or circular ring. In this way, the pairs of three shorter spring tongues 21A may be associated with a different valve body than the two opposing two longer spring tongues 22A. The leaf spring 2OB likewise has a circular ring 24B designed as a stationary spring area, three equally spaced spring tongues 21B are directed radially inwardly from the inner circumference thereof, their free ends 23B terminating at a certain distance from each other. FIG. 2B also shows that six spring tongues 22B, which are distributed uniformly over the outer circumference, are provided, which are integral with the circular ring 24B at their one end and run parallel to the outer circumference of the circular ring 24B over a certain angle and at their free ends 26B Distance from the molded end of the adjacent spring tongue 22A ends. It is understood that the spring tongues 22B can extend over the entire angled area to the adjacent spring tongue 22B.

As can be seen from the side view in Figure 2B, this leaf spring is 2OB with their spring tongues 21B and 22B in the initial state in a plane. In the installed state, the peripheral spring tongues 22B may be biased by stationary pins 25 of a component 28 of the valve assembly shown in phantom.

The leaf spring 2OC according to Figure 2C is formed in plan view similar to the leaf spring 2OB of Figure 2B, wherein the circumferential spring tongues 22C each completely fill the space between adjacent spring tongues 22C. Different from the aforementioned embodiment, in the leaf spring 2OC according to the side view, both the spring tongues 21C and the spring tongues 22C are formed out of the plane of the spring portion 24C held stationary. The spring tongues 21C on one side and the spring tongues 22C on the other side are bent out of said plane. In this way, the travel can be increased. In the illustrated embodiment, the spring tongues 21C and 22C at their free ends bent parallel to the plane of the spring portion 24C extending out.

Figures 3A and 3B show a valve assembly 30 of a closure cover 31 for automotive radiator. Of the Versehl-ussdeckel 31, a cover inner part 32 is shown in Figures 3A and 3B, which is sealed via an O-ring 33 against a Kühlerstutzenwandung, not shown. Within the cover inner part 32, which is provided to the inside with an annular valve seat 34, a first valve body 36 is arranged, which is part of a pressure relief valve and which is provided on its underside with a ring seal 37 which rests on the valve seat 34 in the rest position. Within and below the first valve body 36, a second valve body 38 is arranged, which is part of a vacuum valve and which is supported by a conventional coil spring 39 provided with an opening 41 bottom 42 of the inner lid part 32. This coil spring 39 pushes the second valve body 38 with its annular sealing seat 43 against the annular seal 37 of the first valve body 36 and that within the annular valve seat 34 of the inner lid part 32 for the first valve body 36th

In both embodiments, the first valve body 36 is pressed by means of a leaf spring 10 against the valve seat 34 on the inner lid part 32.

According to Figure 3A is provided as a leaf spring 10, a full-surface leaf spring washer which is circumferentially supported in a groove 44 of the inner cover part 32 and presses in a biased manner centrally against the first valve body 36. It is understood that the leaf spring disc 10 may instead be formed as a leaf spring strip or leaf spring cross. In the embodiment of Figure 3B, a leaf spring 10 is provided according to one of the embodiments of Figures IA to ID, wherein the stationary spring portion 24 is held stationary against a lid inside the part 32 axially held spring plate 45 and the spring tongues 11 in a biased manner on a ring edge 46 of the first Valve body 36 are arranged to press a sleeve approach 47. The support of the spring tongues 11 on the annular edge 46 of the first valve body 36 is designed such that does not change during the lift of the first valve body or plate 36 from its valve seat 34, the resilient length of the spring tongues 11, so that no additional force change.

FIGS. 4A to 4E show further applications of the leaf springs 10 or 110 and / or 20 in a valve arrangement 130 which, like the valve arrangement 30 according to FIGS. 3A and 3B, has a first valve body 136 of a pressure relief valve and a second valve body 138 of a vacuum valve. In this case, unlike the valve arrangement 30, the first valve body 136 has a central opening 151 in the valve arrangement 130, through which a main part 152 of the second valve body 138 connected to the lower seat 153 having the sealing seat 143 protrudes.

In the embodiments of FIGS. 4A and 4C, a mushroom-shaped head 154 of the main part 152 is located within a sleeve extension 147 and that of FIG. 4B within an outer edge 148 of the first valve body 136. In contrast, in the exemplary embodiments of FIGS. 4D and 4E, the mushroom-shaped head 154 of FIG Main portion 152 of the second valve body 138, the outer edge 148 of the no valve socket having the first valve body 136th

According to the embodiments of Figures 4A and 4B, two separate leaf springs 10 and 110 are provided, of which the leaf springs 10 the first valve body 136 and the leaf springs 20, the second valve body 138 acted upon. The leaf spring 110, which acts on the pressure relief valve body, is held with its spring portion 13 held stationary on a stationary part of the inner cover part 132, while the free ends 14 of the spring tongues 11 rest on a ring edge 146 of the sleeve projection 147 and the first valve body 136 with its ring seal 137 on the valve seat 134 of the inner lid part 132 press. The spring tongues 11 are secured against rotation by fixing pins 150. For example, here the leaf spring 10 is formed according to one of the embodiments of FIGS IA to ID.

The leaf spring 110, which here has a ring-shaped spring area held 113 and thereof projecting inside edge two diametrically opposite spring tongues 122, lies with its spring portion 113 on an annular edge of the outer edge 148 of the first valve body 136, while the two spring tongues 122 the sleeve extension 147 of the first Penetrate valve body 136 in axial recesses 149 and bias the mushroom-shaped head 154 on the underside of the shoulder 155.

In contrast, in the embodiment of Figure 4B, the leaf spring 10 is provided with a central opening 157, the edge of which forms the spring portion 13 held stationary and the spring tongues 11 protrude radially outwardly from this central spring portion 13 radially outward, the free ends 14 on an annular edge portion of Outer edge 148 of the first valve body 136 rested biased.

The leaf spring 110 has an annular spring portion 113 held stationary, which rests on an inner shoulder of the outer edge 148 of the first valve body 136 held stationary and its spring tongues 122 under the Shoulder 155 of the head 154 of the second valve body 138 biased grip.

In the exemplary embodiment illustrated in FIG. 4C, a leaf spring 20 according to FIG. 2A is used in the valve arrangement 130, so that the leaf spring 20 is assigned to both the first valve body 136 and the second valve body 138. It can be seen that the common annular spring portion 24 rests against a stationary component of the inner cover part 132, while the spring tongues 21 rest on an outer shoulder 156 of the sleeve projection 147 of the first valve body 136 biased. The spring tongues 22, however, penetrate radial recesses 149 of the first valve body 136 and engage under the shoulder 155 of the mushroom-shaped head 154 of the second valve body 138. _

In the embodiment of Figure 4D is compared to Figure 2C slightly modified leaf spring 20 is used, wherein the annular spring portion 24 rests on the annular edge of the outer edge 148 of the first valve body 136, while the peripheral spring tongues 21 are formed towards a stationary member of the inner cover part 132 and the spring tongues 22 in this embodiment, unshaped, so in the plane of the spring portion 24 extending under the shoulders 155 of the mushroom-shaped head 154 of the second valve body 138 engage.

In the embodiment of Figure 4E, the leaf spring 20 is similar to the embodiment of Figure 4D formed, but there are the spring tongues 21 in the opposite direction and with respect to the annular edge 146 of the first valve body 136 radially outwardly formed. The fixedly held spring portion 24 rests on the annular edge 148 of the first valve body 136, while the peripheral edge-side spring tongues 21 biased at an annular edge 146 of a fixedly connected to the stationary inner cover part 132 component issue. The right half section of Figure 4E shows the further deformation of the spring tongues 21 with the valve body 136 lifted. As in the previous embodiment, the spring tongues 22 are under the shoulder 155 of the mushroom-shaped head 154 at.

Although the use of the leaf springs according to the invention in valve arrangements for container closures is described above, it is understood that such leaf springs can also be used in valve arrangements of pressure lines.

Claims

claims

1. spring (10, 110, 20) for valve assemblies in closures of openings pressure-controlled or pressurized container, in particular motor vehicle radiator, or in pressure lines, characterized by the formation of a spring steel strip, for example, punched or eroded leaf spring (10, 110, 20), the preferably a fixed or durable fixable spring portion (13, 113, 24) and at least two associated spring tongues (11, 111, 21, 22).

2. Spring according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring tongues (11, 111, 22) are directed radially.

3. Spring according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring tongues (11) from the fixable spring portion (13) are directed radially outward.

4. Spring according to claim 2, characterized in that the spring tongues (11, 111, 22) from the fixable spring portion (13, 113, 24) are directed radially inwardly.

5. Spring according to claim 1, characterized in that the spring tongues (21) are directed circumferentially with respect to the fixable spring portion (24).

6. Spring according to claim 5, characterized in that the fixable spring portion (24) is annular and the spring tongues (21) on the outer peripheral side of the fixable spring portion (24) extend in sections.

7. Spring according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the radial and / or outer peripheral side spring tongues (11, 111, 21, 22) in a plane with the fixable spring portion (13, 113, 24) lie.

8. Spring according to at least one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the radial and / or outer peripheral side spring tongues (11, 111, 21, 22) relative to the plane of the fixable spring portion (13, 113, 24) bent in the axial direction, bent or the like are formed.

9. Spring according to claim 8, characterized in that the radial and outer peripheral side spring tongue (11, 111, 21, 22) are bent in opposite directions in the axial direction, bent or the like.

10. Spring according to at least one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the fixable spring region (13, 24) with spring tongues (11, 21, 22) is connected, which are in opposite directions deflectable.

11. Spring according to claim 10, characterized in that all spring tongues (11, 21, 22) from the fixable spring portion (13, 24) are directed radially outwards or inwards and have different radial length.

12. Spring according to claim 10, characterized in that the one spring tongues (11, 21) radially to the other and the other spring tongues (22) circumferentially of the fixable spring portion (13, 24) are arranged.

13. Spring according to at least one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the leaf spring (10, 20) is formed by a closing as a circle approximately meandering curved strip-shaped contour.

14. Valve arrangement (30) of a closure of openings pressure-controlled or pressurized container, in particular motor vehicle radiator, with a reciprocable first valve body (36) which is pressed by a first spring against a sealing seat (34), characterized by the use of a spring (10, 20) according to claim 1 and optionally at least one of the following claims.

15. Valve arrangement according to claim 14, characterized in that the fixable spring region (13) of the leaf spring (10) is located on a stationary spring plate

(45) and supports the free ends (14) of the spring tongues (11) biased on a ring edge (46) of the first valve disc (36), preferably such that during the lift of the first valve body (36), the resilient length of the spring tongues (11 ) is not changed.

16. Valve arrangement (130), with a preferably in a central opening (151) of the pressure relief valve body formed as a first valve body (136) arranged reciprocating vacuum valve body (138) whose sealing seat (143) surrounding the central opening (151) on a Sealing surface (137) of the pressure relief valve body (136) rests under the action of a second spring, according to claim 14, characterized in that the first and the second spring by a first leaf spring (10) with first spring tongues (21) or by a second leaf spring ( 110) with second spring tongues (122) integral leaf spring (20) according to claim 1 optionally at least one of claims 2 to 8 are formed.

17. Valve arrangement according to claim 16, characterized in that the first leaf spring (10) on the outer peripheral side or on the inner peripheral side with its spring region (13) held fixed in place and internally or on the outer peripheral side with its radially inwardly or outwardly pointing spring tongues (11) against an inner or outer annular edge (147, 148) of the first valve body (136) and that the second leaf spring (110) at an axial distance with its outer fixable spring region ( 113) rests on a shoulder of the first valve body (136) and rests with its radially inwardly directed spring tongues (122) on the underside of a shoulder (155) of the second valve body (138).

18. Valve arrangement (130), with a preferably in a central opening (151) of the formed as a pressure relief valve body first valve body (36) arranged reciprocating vacuum valve body (138) whose sealing seat (143) surrounding the central opening (151) on a Sealing surface (137) of the pressure relief valve body (136) rests under the action of a second spring, according to claim 14, characterized in that the first and the second spring by first spring tongues (22) and second spring tongues (23) of a one-piece leaf spring (20) Claims 1 and 10 and optionally claim 11 or 12 are formed.

19. Valve arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the fixable spring region (24) of the leaf spring (20) rests against a stationary component (132) and the radially shorter spring tongues (21) on a central annular edge (147) of the first valve body (36 ) rested biased and the radially longer spring tongues (22) the central ring edge (147) penetrating under a shoulder (155) of the second valve body (38) abut.

20. Valve arrangement according to claim 18, characterized in that the fixable spring region (24) is located on a ring edge (148) of the first valve body and that the peripheral spring tongues (21) biased against an annular edge (146) of a stationary member (132) and the radially inwardly directed spring tongues (22) under a shoulder (155) of the second Abut valve body (138).

21. Valve arrangement according to claim 20, characterized in that the peripheral spring tongues (21) are biased in or against the direction of lifting of the first valve body (136).

22. Cover for openings pressure-controlled or pressurized container, in particular motor vehicle container, with a valve assembly (30, 130) according to claim 14 and optionally according to one of claims 15 and following, with a spring (10, 110, 20) according to claim 1 and optionally one of the following claims 2 to 13 is equipped.