GB2257472A

GB2257472A - Manifold plate for valve

Info

Publication number: GB2257472A
Application number: GB9212475A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Helmut Goettling; Rudolf Moeller; Gerhard Scharnowski
Original assignee: Mannesmann AG
Current assignee: Vodafone GmbH
Priority date: 1991-06-17
Filing date: 1992-06-12
Publication date: 1993-01-13
Anticipated expiration: 2012-06-12
Also published as: SE9201725L; SE9201725D0; DE4120300C2; ITMI921259A1; DE4120300A1; FR2677731A1; GB9212475D0; GB2257472B; IT1255064B; ITMI921259A0

Description

2237472 1 1 CONNECTION PLATE/CONTINUOUS VALVE MODULE This invention

relates to connection plates of the type which carry at least one continuous valve, in particular, but not exclusively, it relates to such connection plates as employed with pneumatic media.

In a known connection plate arrangement, the valves are mounted individually on a base plate. The valves themselves have only connection bores. The connections for air supply and operating lines are located in the base plate. With this arrangement a compact construction is produced, which allows exchange of complete individual valves without dismantlement of adjacent valves. In order to allow interchangeability of valves of different configurations, the connection hole patterns are internationally standardised, i. e. the arrangement of the valve bores, which have to match the bores in the connection plate, is everywhere uniform. This is the case for distributing valves in DIN 24340 Form A and ISO 4401 (for pneumatics DIN ISO 5599) and for pressure valves, flow control valves and non-return valves in DIN 24340 Form D and E and ISO 2624 (for pneumatics DIN 24345).

There are a number of different types of connection plates, known respectively as individual connection plates, interlinking plates and battery plates. Individual connection plates are designed to receive one valve, and have all the necessary connections of the media guidance channels at the back or at the side. Interlinking plates are individual plates which are designed so that they can be screwed together to form interlinked systems. They are used in various embodiments for hydraulics and pneumatics. Battery plates, so-called collective connection plates, are made of one piece for receiving a plurality of valves which can be mounted in a very narrow space. Such collective connection plates are used generally only in pneumatic operations.

It is known to arrange such connection plates, socalled ISO base plates, side-by-side and to connect them in sealed manner. In such an arrangement, the media guidance 2 channels, i.e. operating lines, pressure lines and vent lines, are looped through from connection plate to connection plate. The operating line is passed out at each connection plate for the relevant valve. The media guidance channels are each directed in the region of a valve through a single elongated oval connecting channel which terminates at the junction plane of connection plate and valve. As a result of this use of a connection plate with fixed connecting channels, the connections which can be made with the individual valves carried thereon cannot be varied. No modification of the predetermined association of connecting channels of the connection plate with the bores of the valve is possible once the connection plate has been produced. Thus, for instance, subsequent attachment of a 2/2 -distributing valve instead of a 3/3distributing valve or vice versa is not possible.

In accordance with the invention, a module comprises a connection plate and continuous valve, the connection plate being connectable to the connection plate(s) of other such modules when the module is arranged side by side therewith to form an assembly, the connection plate including a plurality of parallel media guidance channels and connection channels between the media guidance channels and the valve bores. wherein at least one recess is provided in the valve housing which extends across the media guidance channels, the recess(es) opening into a connection plane between the connection plate and the valve and being connected to one or more valve bores and to the media guidance channels via the connection channel(s) associated with the valve bore(s), and wherein the connection channels are sealable with plugs.

This provides a connection plate with valve which can be set or adapted to a plurality of different functions and is not limited rigidly to a single function.

Any desired switching means can be set by provision of connecting channels with plugs and connecting channels without plugs corresponding to the number of paths and the t 1 1 3 number of switching positions of the continuous valve or corresponding to the media circuit.

A particular advantage of the arrangement is that the way in which the connection plate is connected to the valve outlets can be varied. For instance, different distributing valves can be carried on a given connection plate. This means that the modular assembly of connection plate and valve is more versatile to use and insert. Furthermore, a saving is made in terms of assembly time if new functions have to be introduced into a switching circuit.

In a preferred embodiment, beneficial housing of the sealing means is achieved by provision of depressions for the plugs, which may have sealing rings, the depressions opening into the connection plane coaxially with the connecting channels or the recesses.

An improvement in flow, i.e. an enlargement of the throughflow crosssection and hence an increase in throughflow, is produced by use of plugs which are oval or circular.

Furthermore, advantageously, the connecting channels of the connection plate are arranged relative the slotshaped recess in the valve housing such that the width of the recesses in the valve housing is smaller than the width of the plugs.

According to further preferred advantageous features, separation of individual connection plates in the region of the media guidance channels is achieved by sealing off selected media guidance channels between adjoining connection plates by means of an axially-acting sealing element.

In this case it is expedient for a sealing element to consist of a metal plate which is surrounded on its periphery by an 0-ring-like seal, the 0ring seal being gripped between two connection plates.

Alternatively the sealing element may consist of a ring collar which surrounds the outer peripheral region of 4 a metal plate, the metal plate with ring collar being gripped between two adjacent connection plates.

Two adjoining connection plates may be sealed by an 0ring seal gripped therebetween.

Connection of individual connection plates is relatively difficult due to the media guidance channels. In one advantageous arrangement, adjacent connection plates are connected together by means of interlocking profiled notches and profiled projections and by means of screws running obliquely from top to bottom.

An embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the drawings and will be described in greater detail below.

Fig. 1 shows a vertical partial section A - A in Fig. 2 through a connection plate/continuous valve module in accordance with the invention, Fig. 2 shows a section through a modular assembly consisting of two connection plates each with one continuous valve along a section line B B in Fig. 1, Fig. 3 shows a cross-section along C - C section line in Fig. 2 through two adjoining connection plates, Fig. 4 shows a section through three adjoining connection plates in the region of a media guidance channel along a section line D - D in Fig. 1, Fig. 5 shows a partial enlargement of a detail 'W' in Fig. 4 and Fig. 6 shows a partial enlargement of a detail 'W' in Fig. 4.

The modular assembly shown in Figs. 1 and 2 has two connection plates la and lb, each with a continuous valve 2a and 2b which are operated pneumatically. Both the connection plates la, 1b and the continuous valves 2a, 2b may also be used individually. The multiple side-by-side arrangement serves as an example of embodiment here. Media guidance channels 3 for operating lines, pressure lines and vent lines run through the connection plate la. Each of t_ S the media guidance channels 3 is provided with a connecting channel 4 which opens out on a connection plane 5. A valve housing 6 is sealingly but detachably connected to the connection plane 5 by means of sealing elements 7. Valve bores 8 in the valve housing 6 are widened in the region of the connection plane 5 to form recesses 9, the intersecting path of which to the media guidance channels 3 is visible in Fig. 2. The recesses 9 are either oval or in the shape of elongated slots as shown. The connecting channels 4 are located at the intersections. The connecting channels 4 can be sealed by means of plugs 10 and sealing rings 11. Selected connecting channels 4 can either be blocked or left open. Thus predetermined functions which can be selected for a short time can be set by means of connecting channels 4 with plugs 10 or those connecting channels 4 without plugs 10 according to the continuous valves 2a, 2b used.

The position of the plugs 10 is deterrained upon assembly. Larger depressions 12 for the plugs 10 opening into the connection plane 5 are provided.

As is shown in Fig. 2, the plugs 10 with sealing rings 11 may each be oval or round. In order to obtain the maximum possible flow cross-section, the width of the recesses 9 in the valve housing 6 is matched to the width of the plug 10 with sealing ring 11. The valve housing 6 locks the plug 10 and secures it.

As is shown in Figs. 4 to 6, influencing of the functions may also be carried out within the connection plates la, 1b, 1c. For selected media guidance channels 3, axially acting sealing elements 13 are inserted between adjacent connection plates la, 1b, which elements 13 act as partitions. Thus, see Fig. 4, sealing element 13, or alternatively a different sealing element 13a, is inserted between the connection plates la and lb. The sealing elements 13, 13a seal individual media guidance channels 3 off from the adjoining connection plates la and 1b. Sealing element 13 consists of a metal plate 14 (rubber- 6 metal part), as shown in Fig. 6, is surrounded on its periphery by an 0- ring-like seal 15. The 0-ring-like seal 15 is gripped between the connection plates la and lb. To this end, one connection plate, see Fig. 5, or both connection plates, see Fig. 6, are provided with one turned groove 16 each.

Fig. 5 shows the alternative sealing element 13a which consists of a ring collar 17 which is likewise inserted in an (identical) turned groove 16 and surrounds a metal plate 14. However, in this case the ring collar 17 surrounds an outer peripheral region 18 of the plate 14. Said peripheral region 18 is likewise gripped between the connection plates la, lb in order to seal the metal plate 14. When the media guidance channel extends from one connection plate lc to the next lb, an 0-ring seal 23 seals off the media guidance channel 3 from the atmosphere (Fig. 4).

Adjacent connection plates la, lb, lc have interlocking profiled notches 19 and profiled projections 20, and are connected together by means of screws 21 running- obliquely from top to bottom (Fig. 3). In this case, the screw heads 22 are advantageously sunk in.

An example of a selected function, i.e. selective connection of the valve bores 8 to individual media guidance channels 3 is as follows: two distributing valves 2/2, designated (24) and (28), may be connected together to form a 3/2 distributing valve, which is illustrated by the open connections 25 and by closed, i.e. cross-hatched, connections 26.

-1 1 9 7

Claims

1. A module comprising a connection plate and a continuous valve, the connection plate being connectable to the connection plate(s) of other such modules when the module is arranged side by side therewith to form an assembly, the connection plate including a plurality of parallel media guidance channels and connection channels between the media guidance channels and the valve bores, wherein at least one recess is provided in the valve housing which extends across the media guidance channels, the recess(es) opening into a connection plane between the connection plate and the valve and being connected to one or more valve bores and to the media guidance channels via the connection channel(s) associated with the valve bore(s), and wherein the connection channels are sealable with plugs.

2. A module as claimed in Claim 1 wherein depressions are provided for the plugs which open into the connection plane and are coaxial with the connecting channels or the recess(es).

3. A module according to Claims 1 and 2 wherein the plugs are provided with sealing ring and are oval or circular.

4. A module according to any preceding Claim wherein the width of the recess(es) in the valve housing is less than the width of the plugs.

1

5. A module as claimed in any preceding Claim wherein selected media guidance channels can be sealed off from the media guidance channels of another such module assembled therewith by means of an axially-acting sealing element.

8

6. A module as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the or each sealing element comprises a metal plate with an 0-ring seal around its Periphery, the 0-ring seal being gripped between the connection plate and that of another such module assembled therewith.

7. A module as claimed in Claim 5 wherein the sealing element comprises a metal plate with a ring collar which surrounds the peripheral region of the plate, the plate and ring collar being gripped between the connection plate and that of another such module assembled therewith.

8. A module as claimed in any preceding Claim including an 0-ring seal which is sealingly gripped between the connection plate and that of another such module assembled therewith.

9. A module as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the connection plate has at least one profiled notch and at least one profiled projection and is connected to the connection plate of another such module by interlocking of the notch/projection on one with the projection/notch on the other, the two plates being secured together by means of a screw running obliquely thereto.

10. A module substantially as hereinbefore described and illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

1 i: