GB2261934A

GB2261934A - A thermostatically controlled valve

Info

Publication number: GB2261934A
Application number: GB9224044A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Roland Saur; Jurgen Kunze; Barbu Frunzetti
Original assignee: Behr Thomson Dehnstoffregler GmbH and Co
Current assignee: Behr Thomson Dehnstoffregler GmbH and Co
Priority date: 1991-11-29
Filing date: 1992-11-17
Publication date: 1993-06-02
Anticipated expiration: 2012-11-17
Also published as: GB2261934B; GB9224044D0; IT1256106B; ITMI922600A0; ITMI922600A1; FR2684424B1; FR2684424A1; DE4139328A1

Abstract

A thermostatically controlled valve 1 for the cooling system of an I. C. engine has a housing defining three fluid flow connections 3, 4, 8 for a fluid medium to be distributed or mixed, whereby two connection cross-sectional areas 3, 4 are controlled by an annular sliding valve closure member 14. The member 14 is operated by an extending thermostat element 22 which on the one hand is supported against a restoring spring 23 and on the other hand is supported by way of a piston-rod 27 against an abutment 28 in a housing cover 12. The connection 8 accommodates an abutment 24 for the restoring spring 23 and is adapted to be inserted and sealed in an uptake opening 5 of a housing 2. A cover connection 11 is disposed on the end of the valve housing opposite to and aligned with the connection 8 and the housing cover 12 extends into the cover connection 11. <IMAGE>

Description

i.) i _)4 -1 -GC An annular slidincr valve therr,.iostat The invention

concerns an annular sliding valve thermostat insert for a distribution or mixing valve which has three fluid flow connections for a f luid medium to be distributed or m ixed,,;hereby two connection cross- sectional areas are controlled by an annular sliding valve and the latter is operated by an extending element which is connected to the annular sliding valve and which on the one hand is supporited against a restoring spring and on the other hand is supported by way of a piston-rod against an abutme,nt in a housing cover.

Such an annular sliding valve thermostat insert has been made known in 1-he European patent EP-B 0235 472.

As a disadvantage of this known design a conplet-e housing with three separate connections or fastenirg branches must be produced and the restoring spring for extending element is supported on 1--he cover Of the valve housing, which requires a fairly costly assenbly procedure. This complete mixing valve moreover results in a relatively great overall he-;ch.'L-- when installed on an engine as, due to 'he fastening branches, it is set on the engine block Or on a connecting branch.

With these disadvantages in mind, the purpose of the present invent-ion is to create an annular sliding valve iding valve thermostat insert thermostat valve or annular sl- which enables a simple assembly procedure with the fewest possible number of components and less overall height.

According to the present invention there is provided an annular sliding valve thermostat insert for a distribution or mixing valve which has three fluid flow connections for a fluid medium to be distributed or mixed, whereby two connection cross-sectional areas are controlled by an annular sliding valve and the latter is operated by an extending element which is connected to the annular sliding valve and which on the one hand is supported against a restoring spring and on the other hand is supported by way 2 of a piston-rod against an abutment in a housing cover, wherein the annular sliding valve thermostat insert is formed as an integral component of the valve housing with two pipe connections, a cover connection and a connection branch, within which an abutment for the restoring spring is disposed and which is adapted to be inserted and sealed in an uptake opening for the third connection of the valve housing, and in which the cover branch is disposed on the end opposite to and aligned with the connection branch and the housing cover extends into said cover branch.

Therefore the annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with the invention is formed as an integral component, which on the one hand has both pipe connections and on the other hand has a connection branch, with which the integral component in a valve housing, in a corresponding uptake opening of the engine block for example, can be inserted into a fuel-burning engine. This assembly procedure produces an enormous reduction in overall height in relation to State of the Art technology, as the extending element with its heat-sensitive head projects into the pipe connection of the engine block and is no longer located above the level of the seal of the engine block - as is the case in S11--ate of the Art technology. Moreover the overall height of the annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with the invention is also still further reduced as the annular sliding valve with its circular front sealing surface is directly in contact with and sealed by the housing cover. Finally the arrangement of the abutment for the restoring springs of the extending element within the connection branch produces a simple but effective support of the extending element, together with the abovementioned reduction in overall height.

Preferably, the connection branch has an outer cylindrical area and an outer flat flange area, which is connected to the corresponding flange area of the housing connection and the cylindrical area may be sealed in relation to the uptake opening by means of a ring. The flat 3 flange area may be sealed by means of a flat seal. The cover may be formed from synthetic material with an abutment formed on it for the piston-rod of the extending element and may fit into a corresponding opening of the cover branch and is sealed in the latter and is held in the latter by means of a securing element.

Preferably, the inside of the cover is formed as a sealing surface and a surface of contact for the end face of the annular sliding valve, and the sealing and contact surface may be formed as a sealing ring inserted in an annular groove in the cover. The inner side of the cover preferably has a guide rim formed on it.

Preferably, the annular sliding valve is formed as a deep-drawn metal plate element with a circular end sealing surface, an outer cylindrical sealing surface and a centrally positioned ring flange for the uptake of the extending element, and the ring flange may function as an abutment for the restoring spring. Alternatively, the annular sliding valve is formed as a can-shaped injection noulding in synthetic material or as a metal die casting, with a circular end sealing surface, an outer cylindrical Eace and a base section with openings and an sealing surf uptake opening for the extending element, in which case reinforcing webs are formed on the cylindrical wall section of the inside of the annular sliding valve and/or on the base section of said annular sliding valve.

Preferably, an air-vent valve is disposed in the cylindrical wall in the area of the circular end sealing surface of the annular sliding valve. The air-vent- valve is preferably integrated into a reinforcing web, whereby a section of the web is formed as a ball-bearing which is covered by a cap cover. The annular sliding valve may be sealed by means oiff a sealing ring which is taken up by the integral component and the ring seal may be formed as a radial seal with a synthetic material lip, the metal housing of which is fitted into a shoulder of the integral component.

4 In a preferred embodiment, the support for the piston-rod of the extending element is movable and is f ormed by a second extending element, which is accommodated by the cover and the piston-rod of which passes within the valve housing thereby forming the movable support, in which case an intermediate element may be disposed between the two piston-rods of the two extending elements, said intermediate element having a boxshaped added element into which the piston-rod of the first extending element slides, such that a cavity is produced.

The cover may be manufactured from synthetic material and has a recess f or the second extending element and its restoring spring which is supported by a cap cover which forms the spring abutment and closes the recess. The second extending element may be electrically heated by means of a PTC capsule with an electrical current flowing through it.

In a further embodiment, the first pipe connection is formed as a quarter bend, at the end of which a further pipe connection is disposed, which runs parallel to the first pipe connection and is adapted to be inserted together with the latter into the valve housing. An air-vent valve may be disposed in the upper cylindrical wall section, and may be integrated into a web and f orm a ball-bearing for the uptake of a valve-ball.

Embodiments of the invention are represented in the diagrams and are described in greater detail below with reference to the drawings in which:

Fig. I shows an annular sliding valve thermostat insert with an extending element Fig. 2 an annular sliding valve thermostat insert with a second extending element in the housing cover Fig. 3 an annular sliding valve in synthetic material with an integrated air-vent valve, and Fig. 3a, 3b details of the integrated air-vent valve.

Fig. 1 shows an annular sliding valve thermostat insert which is formed as an integral component of a distribution or mixing valve and is inserted into a housing connection 2 with a pipe connection 5. The integral component 1 has a connection branch 8, with which the said integral component is inserted into the housing block 2 and which is connected by attachment means, a flange 9 for example which is not shown in greater detail, and which is sealed by means of a flat gasket 10. The integral component has two further pipe connections 3 and 4 which are connected to the cooling agent of a fuel-burning engine by means of flexible pipes. Finally the integral component I has another cover branch 11 on the end of the said component opposite the connecting branch and is aligned with the latter. A cover 12 fits into this cover branch, sealing the component 1, said cover being held by means of a securing element, a lockwasher or circlip 13 for example. The component 1 and its cover 12 can be produced in synthetic material or metal die casting.

An annular sliding valve 14 with an annular valve closure element is disposed inside the component, said annular sliding valve having a peripheral sealing surface 15 and a circular sealing and contact surface 16 at one end and a centrally disposed circular flange IS at the opposite end which is connected to the cylindrical side 15 and has openings 19 for the passage of fluid. The annular sliding valve 14 slides in a cylindrical opening 20 of the component 1 and is sealed in relation to said component by means of a radial seal 21. Radially arranged around the cylindrical surface 15 of the annular sliding valve 14 is an annular chamber 6, which is connected to the pipe connection 4. Below this annular chamber 6 there is a further annular chamber 7 which has approximately the same diameter and which is connected with the pipe connection 3. An extending element 22, in the form of a temperature responsive working element, is taken up in the circular f lange IS of the annular sliding valve 14, the edge 221 of said extending element fitting and being supported against the ring flange 18. Clearances 25 are provided on the lower part of the connecting branch 8, in which is set an abutment 24 for a 6 restoring spring 23 one end of which is supported against 4- the other this abutment 24 and end of which is supported against the outer surface of the ring flange 18 thereby being supported against the circular edge 221 of the extending element 22. The latter with its heat-sensitive head 22,111 is directed into a cylindrical neck 26 of the abutment 24. The extending element 22, which contains a wax mixture, has a piston-rod 27 which is supported against the cover 12 or an abutment 28 formed on this cover 12. There is also a guide rim 281 for fine adjustment of throughput, when the annular sliding valve opens in particular, formed on the cover 12. Inserted in the side 15 of the upper part of the annular sliding valve 14 there is an air-vent valve 29 of the kind made known in patent DE-GM 89 15 063 for example.

The function of this annular sliding valve is well-known and is therefore only briefly described hereafter. The cooling agent comes from the engine into the entrance pipe and thereby comes into contact with the heatsensitive head 221 of the extending element 22. When the engine is cold, that is the cooling agent is cold, the piston-rod 27 of the extending element 22 is in its pulled-back position corresponding to that shown in fig. 1, that is the cooling agent flows through the pipe connection 3 into the short-circuit pipe thereby by-passing the cooler and coming directly in front of the cooling agent pump. The annular sliding valve 14 closes the ring chamber 6 in the position shown, as its end sealing surface 16 lies against and seals against the cover 12 o.r the seal 17 provided there, thereby stopping the cooling agent from reaching the pipe connection 4 which leads to the cooler of the fuel-burning engine.

If the cooling agent now becomes warmed, the wax mixture within the extending element causes the piston-rod 27 to move forwards, whereby the annular sliding valve 14 moves downwards in the direction of the intake pipe 5. This progressively produces an area of passage between the end surface 16 of the annular sliding valve 14 and the inner 7 surface of the cover 22, such that the cooling agent comes f rom the entrance pipe 5 through the opening 19 of the annular sliding valve 14 into the annular chamber 6 and into the outlet pipe 4 thereby reaching the cooler. Simultaneously the cross-section of the annular chamber 7 is reduced by the cylindrical surface 15 of the annular sliding valve 14 until finally in the -fully forward position of the pis.'Con-rod 27 the whole circular section of the annular chamber 7 is cut of f by the annular sliding valve 14 such that all of the cooling agent flows into pipe connection 4 and from there to the cooler.

Fig. 2 shows a further embodiment and favourable development of the invention in which the annular sliding valve thermostat insert, again formed as an integral component 30, has a second extending element 32 in its cover 33. z.-lipar,"t- from the differences described below, the design of this integral component 30 is the same as that in accordance with fig. 1. The first extending element 31 is as in fig. 1 disposed within the integral component 30 and operates the annular sliding valve. With its piston-rod 33 it is supported directly in line with a piston-rod 34 of a second extending element 32 which is taken up in the cover element 38. Between 1Che two piston-rods 33 and 34 there is an intermediate element 35 which is pushed against the piston-rod 34 by means of a pressure spring 37 that lies on a plate 36. The piston-rod 33 is taken up by a box-shaped element 351 added to the intermediate element, sliding into said box-shaped element such that the piston-rod 33 can occupy a cavity x when for example the piston-rod 33 is withdrawn because of a contraction of the wax mixture. This cavity and its functioning is made known in a former patent registration by the present. applicant DE-A 32 26 104. The second extending element 32, which is here taken up in a cover 3 8 which is a constituent part of the integral annular sliding valve thermostat insert 30, has also in principle been made known. This cover 38 has an uptake branch 39 with an uptake opening 40, in which the extending element 32 is 8 taken up and held by means of a restoring spring 41 which is supported by means of a cap cover 42. This extending element 32 can function in relation to the ambient temperature, to which end mainly ribs 43 improving heat transmission are formed on the uptake branch 39. This extending element 32 can alternatively be heated by a separate heat source such as a PTC (positive temperature coefficient) capsule 44 which is pressed onto the surface of the extending. element 32 by means of a spring 45 and is connected in a well-known way, which is therefore not shown, to electrical conducting elements.

Unlike the integral component shown in fig. 1, an annular groove 46 is provided on the cylindrical outer surface 47, said annular groove carrying a ring 47 aimed at sealing in relation to the housing connection 21. A further difference in relation to the embodiment of the design shown in fig. 1 is that the outlet pipe 31 is formed as a quarter bend which ends in a further connection pipe 48 which is also set in the housing 2 which has a corresponding uptake opening 211 for the short- circuit pipe to the engine. The connection pipe 48 is sealed in a similar way to the first branch pipe section 70. In a similar way to the first branch pipe section 70, the pipe connection 48 is sealed by means of a ring 49. This embodiment of the annular sliding valve thermostat insert as an integral component is further enhanced in that if the short-circuit pipe fails, the coolant flow that comes from the engine is fed directly into the engine block 2.

Fig. 3 shows an enlarged representation of an annular sliding valve which is produced as an injection moulding 50 in synthetic material. while the annular sliding valve 14 shown in figs. 1 and 2 is shown as a deep-drawn metal plate element. The annular sliding valve 50 in synthetic material has a cylindrical wall 52 and a circular end 51 and a base 53 with openings 54, and has a centrally placed-opening 56 for the uptake of the extending element, said opening being shown hatched. The hollow cylindrical wall 52 is provided 9 with radially and axially extending webs 57 for the purpose or reinforcement, said webs being formed on the wall 52. In a favourable embodiment of the invention, a ventilation valve 58 is integrated into the upper part of a web 57, that is in the area of the end face 51.

Details of this integrated ventilation valve 58 are shown in fig. 3a and 3b. The web 57 is peripherally widened in its upper section to form a ball-bearing 62 for the uptake of a valve-ball 59. This ball-bearing 62 is bordered in a peripheral direction by two sides 63, 64 and a lower surface 65 and is open in the direction of the end face 51, such that this uptake bearing 62 formed as a ball- bearing can have a mould easily removed from it. The wall 57 of the annular sliding valve 50 has an air- vent opening 60 in the lower part of the ball-bearing 62 and on the inner side of the ball-bearing 62 there is a further air-vent opening 61 which is covered by a cap cover 66 and is of the same height as and aligned with tChe outer air-ven"L-- opening 60. The cover cap 66 is provided with an angled plate 67 such that a further air-vent opening is provided and the ball-bearing is enclosed to an extent whereby the ball 59 is contained. The d-Lameter of the ball 59 and t-he diameters of the air-vent he ball 59 can close openings 60 and 61 are such that either of the two said air-vent openings. The cap cover 66, which can be manufactured in metal or synthetic material, is secured by securing means on the web 57 which are not shown.

Claims

1. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert for a distribution or mixing valve which has three f luid flow connections for a fluid medium to be distributed or mixed, whereby two connection cross-sectional areas are controlled by an annular sliding valve and the latter is operated by an extending element which is connected to the annular sliding valve and which on the one hand is supported against a restoring spring and on the other hand is supported by way of a pis'Con-rod against an abutment in a housing cover, wherein the annular sliding valve thermostat insert is formed as an integral component of the valve housing with two pipe connections, a cover connection and a connection branch, within which an abutment for the restoring spring is disposed and which is adapted to be inserted and sealed in an uptake opening for the third connection of the valve housing, and in which the cover branch is disposed on the end opposite to and aligned with the connection branch and thd housing cover extends into said cover branch.

2. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 1, wherein the connection branch has an outer cylindrical area and an outer flat flange area, which is connected to the corresponding flange area of the housing connection.

3. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 2, wherein the cylindrical area is sealed in relation to the uptake opening by means of a ring.

4. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 2, wherein the flat flange area is sealed by means of a flat seal.

5. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with any of claims i to 4, wherein the cover is f ormed f rom synthetic material with an abutment f ormed on it for the piston-rod of the extending element.

6. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 5, wherein the cover fits into a corresponding opening of the cover branch and is sealed in the latter and is held in the latter by means of a securing element.

7. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inside of Ithe cover is formed as a sealing surface and a surface of contact for the end face of the annular sliding valve.

8. A n annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 7, wherein the sealing and contact surface is formed as a sealing ring inserted in an annular groove in the cover.

9. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 7 or 8, wherein the inner side of the cover has a guide rim formed on it.

10. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert ii n accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the annular sliding valve is formed as a deep-drawn metal plate element with a circular end sealing surface, an outer cylindrical sealing surface and a centrally positioned ring flange for the uptake of the extending element.

11. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 10, wherein the ring flange functions as an abutment for the restoring spring.

12. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the 12 annular sliding valve is formed as a can-shaped injection moulding in synthetic material or as a metal die casting, with a circular end sealing surface, an outer cylindrical sealing surface and a base section with openings and an uptake opening for the extending element.

13. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 12, wherein reinforcing webs are formed on the cylindrical wall section of the inside of the annular sliding valve and/or on the base section of said annular sliding valve.

14. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with any of claims 1 to 13, wherein an air-vent valve is disposed in the cylindrical wall in the area of the circular end sealing surface of the annular sliding valve.

15. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with both of claims 13 and 14, wherein the air-vent valve is integrated into a reinforcing web, whereby a section of the web is formed as a ball-bearing which is covered by a cap cover.

16. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert Ii n accordance with any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the annular sliding valve is sealed by means of a sealing ring which is taken up by it-he integral component.

17. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 16, wherein the ring seal is formed as 4 a radial seal with a synthetic material lip, the metal housing of which is fitted into a shoulder of the integral component.

18. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 17, wherein the support for the piston-rod of the extending element is 13 movable and is formed by a second extending element, which is accommodated by the cover and the piston-rod of which passes within the valve housing thereby forming the movable support.

19. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 18, wherein an intermediate element is disposed between the two pistonrods of the two extending elements, said intermediate element having a box-shaped added element into which the piston-rod of the first extending element slides, such that a cavity is produced.

20. An annular sliding valve thermostat inser t in accordance with claim 18 or 19. wherein the cover is m anuf actured f rom synthetic material and has a recess f or t L.he second extending element and its restoring spring which is supported by a cap cover which forms the spring abutment and closes the recess.

21. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with any of claims 18 to 20, wherein the second extending element is electrically heated by means of a PTC capsule with an electrical current flowing through it.

22. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the f irst pipe connection is formed as a quarter bend, at the end of which a f urther pipe connection is disposed, which runs parallel to the first pipe connection and is adapted to be inserted together with the latter into the valve housing.

23. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein an air-vent valve is disposed in the upper cylindrical wall section.

24. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert in accordance with claim 13 or 23, wherein the air-vent valve is integrated into a web and f orms a ball-bearing f or the uptake of a valve-ball.

25. An annular sliding valve thermostat insert for a distribution or mixing valve, substantially as described herein with reference to and as illustrated in the accompanying drawings.

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