EP3129626B1 - Valve comprising a stud for supporting a cable raceway - Google Patents

Description

The invention relates to a valve, in particular a valve intended to be implemented in the automotive field. The invention relates more particularly to an exhaust gas recirculation valve, or EGR valve, standing for “Exhaust Gas Recirculation”.

In the automotive field, it is known to implement valves, in particular EGR valves, electrically actuated, that is to say whose opening or closing is carried out by implementing an electric motor. Such valves are for example described in applications FR-A-2 914 975 Where FR-A-2 947 027 , on behalf of the Claimant and in the request US-A-5704585 on behalf of Siemens and Honda. These documents describe examples of “EGR” recirculation valves intended to adapt the quantity of exhaust gas reintroduced to the intake of an internal combustion engine, to reduce polluting emissions, in particular emissions of nitrogen oxides, NOx.

In addition, it is known to send information relating to the degree of opening or closing of the valve, from the valve to an electronic control unit (UEC), which manages, among other things, the recirculation of the exhaust gases.

It is therefore necessary to supply an electrical supply to the valve from a battery of the motor vehicle. Electrical cables are thus brought to the vicinity of an electrical supply and/or electrical return socket of the EGR valve, in an electrical conduit. Such an electrical trunking is a tubular cable pass, protecting the electrical cables in the engine environment.

Such an electric chute is usually fixed to the EGR valve by means of a bracket made of sheet metal fixed to the EGR valve on the one hand, and to the electric chute, on the other hand.

However, such fixing of the chute on the valve is not optimal. In particular, the sheet metal bracket which must support the weight of the trunking and the cables tends to deform. In addition, this attachment of the chute to the EGR valve appears complex.

The object of the invention is to propose an EGR valve, and more generally, a valve, in particular for a motor vehicle, which does not have the aforementioned drawbacks. In particular, the invention aims to provide an electrically powered valve allowing easy attachment of an electrical trunking.

To this end, the invention proposes an electrically actuated valve, in particular a valve for a motor vehicle, in particular an exhaust gas recirculation valve, comprising a valve body forming a duct passing through the valve body, and a shutter of the duct, electrically actuated, the valve body further forming a stud adapted to support an electrical chute receiving at least one supply cable from the valve.

Such a valve directly supports the electric chute. It is no longer necessary to put implements a separate piece like the sheet metal bracket used in the prior art. In addition, the stud being made in one piece with the valve body, has increased mechanical strength compared to the sheet metal bracket and ensures that the electrical trunking is held in position in the vicinity of the valve.

• le plot présente un trou fileté de vissage de la goulotte électrique ;
• le plot présente une section en croix ou en étoile ;
• le corps de vanne forme une languette supportant le plot ;
• le corps de vanne forme un relief, de section de préférence trapézoïdale, sur la languette, la petite base de la section trapézoïdale étant dirigée vers le plot, le cas échéant ;
• le corps de vanne est réalisé par moulage, notamment par moulage sous pression ;
• le plot a une hauteur égale à au moins deux fois le diamètre du trou fileté, de préférence au moins égale à deux fois le diamètre du plot ;
• le corps de vanne forme un logement de réception d'un moteur d'actionnement de la vanne et/ou un logement de réception d'une came pour transformer le mouvement de rotation d'un moteur d'actionnement en mouvement de translation d'une soupape d'obturation du conduit ; et
• la vanne comporte cinq broches d'alimentation électrique et de retour d'information vers une unité électronique de commande de la vanne.

According to preferred embodiments, the valve may have one or more of the following characteristics, taken alone or in combination:

• the stud has a threaded hole for screwing the electrical trunking;
• the stud has a cross or star section;
• the valve body forms a tab supporting the stud;
• the valve body forms a relief, preferably of trapezoidal section, on the tongue, the small base of the trapezoidal section being directed towards the stud, if applicable;
• the valve body is made by molding, in particular by die-casting;
• the stud has a height equal to at least twice the diameter of the threaded hole, preferably at least equal to twice the diameter of the stud;
• the valve body forms a housing for receiving a motor for actuating the valve and/or a housing for receiving a cam to transform the rotational movement of an actuating motor into the translational movement of a duct shut-off valve; and
• the valve has five pins for power supply and feedback to an electronic valve control unit.

The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a valve as described above in all its combinations, and an electric chute, the electric chute being supported by the stud.

• la figure 1 représente partiellement, en perspective, un exemple de vanne EGR ; et
• la figure 2 représente schématiquement en perspective, un détail de la figure 1.

The invention will be better understood in the light of the description which follows, description made with reference to the appended drawings, among which:

• the figure 1 partially represents, in perspective, an example of an EGR valve; and
• the picture 2 schematically represents in perspective, a detail of the figure 1 .

As illustrated in the figures, an electrically controlled EGR valve 10 for a motor vehicle comprises a valve body 12 forming a conduit passing through the valve body 12 and an electrically actuated conduit shutter. By crossing the valve body 12, it is understood that the conduit has two separate outlets on the valve body.

The shutter can be of any type imaginable for an automobile valve. It may for example be a butterfly rotating in a duct, the rotation of which is controlled by the rotation of an electric motor. It can also be, according to another example, a valve whose translation relative to a valve seat, on which the valve rests to close the valve, is controlled by an electric motor via a movement transformation device, as for example described in the application FR-A-2 947 027 on behalf of the plaintiff.

The valve body here forms a housing for receiving the actuating motor of the valve (not visible) and a housing for receiving a cam to transform the rotational movement of the actuating motor into a translational movement of a valve blockage of the duct.

The electric motor may be a DC motor. The valve can then comprise five electrical pins: two pins for controlling the electric motor, two pins for supplying a sensor making it possible to detect the degree of opening of the valve, and a pin for feedback of the degree of opening of the valve to an electronic control unit. The degree of opening of the valve can be determined in a manner known per se by those skilled in the art, for example by an angular position sensor of a valve for closing the conduit or a sensor (for example all or nothing) position of the valve relative to the valve seat. Other means of determining the degree of opening of the valve are known and within the reach of those skilled in the art.

However, here, the valve body 12 also forms a stud 14. In other words, the stud 14 is integral with the valve body 12, that is to say it is made by molding , at the same time as the valve body 12. The stud 14 is adapted to support and hold in position an electric trunking receiving electric cables, in particular the electric cable(s) required to supply the valve. By supplying the valve, we understand here both the electrical supply of the valve, the supply of a sensor in the valve making it possible to determine the degree of opening of the valve and the possible feedback of information on the degree of opening or closing of the valve to an electronic control unit of a motor vehicle.

Such an equipped chute can weigh several hundred grams, traditionally about 700-800 g. It is therefore understood that such a stud 14 integral with the valve body 12 has better support over time compared to the previous solution of the bracket made of sheet metal.

As illustrated, stud 14 preferably includes a threaded hole 16 to allow the chute to be screwed onto stud 14 and thus maintain the chute position relative to valve 10.

To ensure the mechanical strength of stud 14, the latter preferably has a height equal to at least twice the diameter of the threaded hole, preferably a height at least equal to twice the diameter of the stud.

In addition, stud 14 preferably has a cross-section or a star-shaped cross-section. In other words, the section of stud 14 may be annular with ribs 18, 20 extending along the height of the stud. These ribs allow a reinforcement of the stud 14, in particular vis-à-vis the screwing of the chute, while limiting the weight of the stud 14. The ribs 18, 20 can have any desired shape. The shape of these ribs can also be chosen to facilitate demolding of the valve body 12, when the latter is, as is preferred, produced by molding, in particular by gravity molding or under pressure. Thus, the two ribs 18 may have a square cross-section (that is to say with right angles at the tops of the ribs), while the ribs 20 may have a rounded section, for example in the shape of a half-disk. In this case, the two half-shells of the mold can join at the level of the ribs 18.

To ensure the stability of the stud 14, it may come from a tab 22 formed by the valve body 12. This tab thus supports the stud 14. To ensure the mechanical strength of this tab 22, it may be provided with a reinforcement relief 24, for example trapezium. In the case of a trapezoid relief, it is interesting that the small base of the trapezoid is oriented towards the stud 14 (while the large base is oriented towards the mass part of the valve body 12) this in order to ensure that a sufficient quantity of material is projected into the stud 14, within the framework of a molding under pressure. Such molding under pressure offers an appreciable saving in time compared to gravity molding. For example, it is possible to produce a valve body as shown in aluminum alloy in a few tens of milliseconds by die-casting, for example in 30 ms.

Of course, the present invention is not limited to the above description. Many variant embodiments are accessible to those skilled in the art, within the scope of the invention defined by the attached set of claims.

Claims (9)

1. Electrically actuated valve (10), notably a valve for a motor vehicle, particularly an exhaust gas recirculation valve, comprising a valve body (12) forming a conduit passing through the valve body (12) and a shutter blocking off the conduit and actuated electrically, the valve body (12) further comprising a stud (14) designed to support an electric raceway accepting at least one power supply cable for powering the valve (10), characterized in that the stud (14) has a cross section in the shape of a cross or of a star.
2. Valve according to Claim 1, wherein the stud (14) has a threaded hole (16) for screw-fastening the electric raceway.
3. Valve according to one of Claims 1 to 2, wherein the valve body (12) forms a tab (22) supporting the stud (14) .
4. Valve according to Claim 3, wherein the valve body forms a relief (24), of preferably trapezoidal cross section, on the tab (22), the small base of the trapezoidal cross section facing towards the stud (14), where applicable.
5. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve body (12) is produced by casting, notably by pressure die casting.
6. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the stud (14) has a height equal to at least twice the diameter of the threaded hole (16), preferably at least equal to twice the diameter of the stud (14).
7. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein the valve body (12) forms a housing to accommodate a motor for actuating the valve (10) and/or a housing to accommodate a cam for converting the rotational movement of an actuating motor into a translational movement of a valve shutter for blocking off the conduit.
8. Valve according to any one of the preceding claims, comprising five pins for supplying electrical power and returning information to an electronic control unit controlling the valve (10).
9. Assembly comprising a valve according to any one of the preceding claims and an electric raceway, the electric raceway being supported by the stud (14).

Images