WO2009089835A1

WO2009089835A1 - Valve, particularly switching valve

Info

Publication number: WO2009089835A1
Application number: PCT/DK2009/000011
Authority: WO
Inventors: Ole Mortensen; Michael Birkelund
Original assignee: Danfoss A/S
Priority date: 2008-01-17
Filing date: 2009-01-16
Publication date: 2009-07-23
Also published as: DE102008004789A1

Abstract

The invention relates to a valve (1) having a valve housing (2) in which a valve seat (5) and an inlet (3) and an outlet (4) are disposed. The valve element (6) is thereby disposed in a cover (9) of the valve housing, and fastened with a support plate (10) on the side thereof facing the valve seat (5). In order to prevent the loss of individual components of the valve when removing the cover, the support plate is mounted in the cover.

Description

Valve, in particular switching valve

The invention relates to a valve, in particular a switching valve, which has a valve housing with a valve seat, an inlet and an outlet, wherein at least one valve element is arranged in a cover of the valve housing and on a valve seat facing side of the valve member, a support plate is arranged.

With the aid of such valves, the flow rate is e.g. controlled by liquid between inlet and outlet. The valve seat is usually integrated in the housing. The other elements of the valve, such as e.g. the valve element, which can be brought into contact with the valve seat, are usually accommodated in the cover of the valve housing. By removing the lid, therefore, a free access to the valve seat is possible. Impurities and the like can be easily removed.

In the assembled state, the support plate, which is usually pressed by the cover against the valve housing, ensures a defined position of the components of the valve in the lid. Now, if the lid is removed, for example unscrewed, the support plate from the lid dissolves, so that the other components, in particular the valve element, which is often loaded by means of a spring in the direction of the valve seat, from the lid. Inadvertent removal of the cover while individual parts can be lost.

The assembly of the valve is also made more difficult because the individual components together with the cover do not form a unit.

The invention is based on the object to prevent the loss of individual components of the valve when removing the lid. According to the invention this object is achieved in a valve of the type mentioned above in that the support plate is fixed in the lid.

The position of the support plate with respect to the cover is thus maintained even when the cover is removed from the valve housing. The support plate can be clamped in the lid, for example. Optionally, fingers of the support plate can interact with corresponding projections or a circumferential edge of the cover. By an elastic deformation of the support plate, its size can then be reduced so that their fingers can be moved freely past the corresponding projections, so that a problem-free removal of the support plate is possible. The support plate may for example be circular and should at least partially cover the valve element. In this case, the support plate by no means must be solid, but may have a number of openings through which a fluid can flow.

Preferably, the support plate is frictionally secured in the lid. Only by frictional forces generated between the support plate and the lid, the support plate is then securely held in the lid, so that the remaining components of the valve remain in their positions. It has been found that can be dispensed with a production technically complicated form fit between the support plate and the lid.

It is particularly preferred that the support plate has support fingers on its outer circumference, which are arranged at an angle α between 75 ° and 105 °, preferably between 80 ° and 95 °, to the adjacent surface of the support plate. The support fingers thus provide for an enlarged bearing surface on the lid, which has, for example for receiving the support plate, a cylindrical recess, on the inner circumference of which the support fingers can be supported. By the contact pressure of the support fingers Frictional forces are then generated which prevent unwanted movement of the support plate out of the lid. In this case, the support fingers on a certain spring action, whereby an overload of the support plate is prevented. This spring effect is influenced by the size of the supporting fingers, in particular their width and length. By appropriate training of the support fingers thus the desired holding forces can be adjusted.

Preferably, the support plate has a first stable state and a second stable state, wherein the support plate in the first stable state has a substantially planar surface and in the second stable state has a substantially curved surface. Thus, the support plate can change its shape between two stable states, wherein, for example, a slight pressure or tension in the center of the support plate is required for a transition from one state to the other state. Initial state of the support plate, in which it is frictionally held in the lid, is the second stable state in which it has a curved surface. The curvature runs in the direction of the open side of the lid, ie in the direction of the valve seat. As a result, at the same time move the ends of the support fingers, which also project in the direction of the free side of the lid, radially outward, so that they rest with relatively high pressure in the lid. By applying pressure to the center of the backing plate, it is deformed to assume its first stable state. Then the surface of the support plate is essentially flat, whereby at the same time the ends of the support fingers are moved radially inwards. The angle between the support fingers and their respective adjacent areas of the surface remains almost constant. The forces exerted by the support fingers on the lid, thereby significantly reduced, and it is also possible that the support fingers do not touch the lid. As a result, an easy removal of the support plate and thus also the other components of the valve from the lid is possible. Advantageously, the support plate has three to seven, in particular five support fingers, which are arranged at a uniform distance from each other on the outer circumference. Due to the number of support fingers, the holding force that holds the support plate on the lid can be influenced. A larger number of support fingers usually leads to higher frictional forces and at the same time to a more homogeneous distribution of force. However, with a higher number of support fingers also increases the production cost and thus the cost. It has been found that, in particular with five support fingers sufficient frictional forces can be generated, with a uniform application of force occurs. This is particularly favored by the fact that the support fingers have the same distance from each other.

Preferably, the fingers are deformed at their ends radially outward. The frictional forces exerted by the support fingers on the lid, then increase significantly when the support plate is pushed so far into the lid, that the ends of the support fingers abut the circumference of the cylindrical recess. The deformed ends can also serve as an indicator, as far as the support plate is already pushed into the lid. The significant increase in frictional forces would probably prevent further insertion of the support plate anyway. But it is also conceivable that the deformed ends serve as stops which abut the edge of the lid and indicate so that the support plate is pushed far enough into the lid. The position of the support plate in the lid is thus clearly defined.

Preferably, the support plate has an opening through which the valve seat protrudes. The support plate thus does not prevent the installation of the valve element on the valve seat. Nevertheless, the valve element may be formed larger than the opening in the support plate, so that the valve element also at Removal of the lid is held by the support plate and can not be lost.

Advantageously, a membrane is arranged between the support plate and the valve element, which is held by the support plate in the lid. A membrane serves, for example, to separate the space behind the valve element from the outlet. In this case, restoring forces can also be exerted on the valve element by a membrane, so that the membrane defines a rest position of the valve element. If now the membrane is held in the lid by the support plate, no further holding devices for the membrane are required. This results in a particularly simple and inexpensive construction.

Preferably, the valve element has a valve plate and a plunger, wherein the plunger is in contact with a drive and the valve plate rests against the membrane. The valve element is thus designed in two parts. These two parts can be positively connected with each other. It is often easier to machine two separate components separately and then join them together to make a one-piece component. Nevertheless, by assembling the valve element from a valve plate and a plunger, the manufacture is simplified.

Preferably, the drive is held with a closure piece in the lid. This closure piece can be screwed into the lid, for example by means of a thread pairing. It is arranged on the side facing away from the valve seat of the lid. By using different closure pieces, the valve can then be easily provided with different drives. It is conceivable, for example, a magnetic drive or a pneumatic drive. But other drives are possible. Preferably, of the membrane, the valve element, the closure piece and the drive, a space bounded in the lid, which is connected via a channel in the plunger to the outlet. This channel in the plunger is closed by the voltage applied to the plunger drive. The space can be used as a pressure chamber, which has a higher pressure than is available in the region of the outlet. This ensures that the valve element rests in the rest position on the valve seat, so the valve is closed.

Preferably, a sealing element is arranged between the cover and the housing, which is held by the ends of the support fingers. The sealing element, such as an O-ring, so can not be lost when removing the lid also, since the sealing element is held by the support plate on the lid. The assembly of the lid on the valve housing is simplified, since the sealing element is fixed with respect to the lid. The sealing element itself then ensures a good seal between the cover and the valve housing, so that no fluid can escape.

The invention will be described below with reference to a preferred embodiment in conjunction with the drawings. Herein show:

1 is a switching valve in a sectional view,

2 shows a detail of the valve with the support plate in the clamped position,

3 shows a detail of the valve with the support plate in the released position,

4 shows a detail of the valve with the support plate removed in its second stable state, Fig. 5 shows a detail of the valve with the removed support plate in its first stable state and

Fig. 6 to 8 different views of the support plate.

In Fig. 1, a valve 1 is shown, which is designed as a switching valve. The valve 1 has a valve housing 2 with an inlet 3 and an outlet 4. Between the inlet 3 and the outlet 4, a valve seat 5 is arranged, which is formed integrally with the valve housing 1. With the valve seat 5, a valve element 6 cooperates, which has a valve plate 7 and a plunger 8. By means of the valve element 6, the flow of a fluid from the inlet 3 to the outlet 4 can be controlled.

The valve element 6 is accommodated in a cover 9 of the valve 1, which is inserted into the valve housing 2. On the valve seat 5 facing side of the valve member 6, a support plate 10 is arranged, which is frictionally held in a cylindrical recess 11 in the lid 9. The support plate 10 is supported on an inner peripheral surface 12 of the recess 11. Upon removal of the cover 9 from the valve housing 2, the support plate 10 is held due to the frictional forces between the support plate 10 and the peripheral surface 12 in the cover 9 and prevents so that, for example, the valve element 6 can be lost.

The support plate 10 also holds a diaphragm 13 in the cover 9, the diaphragm 13 being disposed between the valve element 6 and the support plate 10. The membrane 13 can be firmly connected to the valve element, for example, be clamped between the plunger 8 and the valve plate 7. In this embodiment, the plunger 8 and the valve plate 7 are positively connected with each other. The plunger 8 can be actuated by a drive 14, which is held in the cover 9 by means of a closure piece 15. The closure piece 15 is screwed into the lid 9. Between the lid 9 and the closure piece 15, a sealing element 16 is provided. The sealing element prevents losses from a space 17, which is formed within the lid 9 by the valve element 6, the diaphragm 13 and the drive 14 with the closure piece 15. The space 17 serves as a pressure chamber, in which a higher pressure prevails than at the outlet 4, so that the valve element 6 is pressed against the valve seat 5, thus preventing a flow from the inlet 3 to the outlet 4 when the drive 14 is not actuated. A channel 18 in the plunger 8 connects the space 17 with the outlet 4, the channel 18, however, is normally closed by the drive 14.

In this embodiment, the lid 9 is fixed by means of screws 19 on the valve housing 2. But other training is possible. The cover 9 may for example also be screwed into the valve housing 2.

By the support plate 10, the function of the valve element 6, in particular the contact of the valve element 6 on the valve seat 5, not hindered, since the valve seat 5 protrudes through the corresponding opening in the support plate 10. However, the support plate 10 still further openings to allow the flow from the inlet 3 to the outlet 4 with the valve 1 open. However, this is not apparent from the illustration in FIG. 1.

Between the valve housing 2 and the cover 9, a sealing element 20 is arranged to prevent a pressure loss between the cover 9 and the valve housing 2. The sealing element 20 is also held by the support plate 10. In this embodiment, the drive 14 of the valve 1 is designed as a magnetic drive, wherein the individual drive elements are housed in a tubular housing 21 which is fastened in the closure piece 15. The drive 14 in this case has a first compression spring 22 and a second compression spring 23, which act on the plunger 8 and thus the valve element 6 via a plastic plate 24 in the closing direction. Such drives are known in principle, so that will not be discussed further. In principle, other embodiments of the drive 14 are conceivable, wherein optionally a correspondingly adapted closure piece 15 is to be used. By replacing the closure piece 15, the valve 1 can thus be adapted to different drives 14 in a simple manner.

FIG. 2 now shows an enlarged section of the valve 1 according to FIG. 1, wherein in particular the support plate 10 can be seen more clearly. In this illustration, the lid 9 is removed from the valve housing 2. The support plate 10 is in its second stable state in which it has a substantially curved surface, which is clearly visible. On its outer circumference, the support plate 10 supporting fingers 25 which are deformed at their ends radially outward. An angle α between the support fingers and the adjacent surface of the support plate 10 is about 86 ° in this example. The support fingers 25 are pressed under tension against the inner peripheral surface 12 of the lid 9 and thus hold the support plate 10 fixed in the lid 9. By the deformed ends 26 of the support fingers 25 while the sealing element 20 is also held on the cover 9. In addition to the central opening 27, through which the valve seat 5 can be guided, the support plate 10 has further openings 28, which are required for the passage of the fluid. The support plate 10 is thus formed quasi as a support ring.

By a pressure in the middle of the support plate 10, the support plate 10 from its second stable state, which is shown in Fig. 2, in their ers- th stable state deformed, in which it has a substantially flat surface. This condition is shown in FIG.

Since the angle α between the surface of the support plate 10 and the support fingers 25 remains almost constant, the outer ends of the support fingers 25 move radially inwardly. As a result, they lose their contact with the peripheral surface 12, so that no more holding forces on the support plate 10 act. The support plate 10 can then be easily removed. Also, the sealing element 20 is released.

In Fig. 4, the cover 9 of the valve 1 is now shown, wherein the support plate 10 is already removed from the lid 9. The support plate 10 is already in its second stable state. Good to see are the openings 28 for the passage of a fluid.

In Fig. 5, the removed support plate 10 assumes its first stable state in which it has a substantially planar surface. It can be seen that after removal of the support plate 10, further components of the valve 1 can be easily removed from the cover 9. This is done by the cylindrical recess 11, which after removing the

Support plate 10 is large enough to pass, for example, the valve element 6 and the diaphragm 13, but also parts of the drive 14, which can be easily solved from the lid 9. By simply removing the support plate 10, which is made possible by a slight pressure on the support plate 10, so the other components of the valve can be reached. An exchange of these components is therefore possible in a simple manner, with an unwanted loss when removing the lid 9 is reliably prevented by the support plate 10.

6 to 8 different views of the support plate 10 are shown, wherein in all views the support plate 10 is its second stable State in which it has a substantially curved surface.

Fig. 6 shows a sectional view of the support plate 10, wherein the section line in Fig. 7 is marked. In this embodiment, the support plate 10 on five support fingers 25 which are deformed at their ends 26 radially outward. In this case, the support plate 10 is formed as a support ring which surrounds the central opening 27, through which the valve seat can be guided. Furthermore, the support plate 10 has ten openings 28 for the passage of the fluid, wherein the edges of these openings 28 have been optimized in terms of flow. As a result, unevenness in the surface of the support plate 10 is generated, but the overall impression of the surface of the support plate 10, so whether it is flat or curved, do not change anything. What is meant by these descriptions is rather the basic course of the surface of the support plate 10.

Due to the support plate according to the invention, which is switchable between two stable states by simple pressure, resulting in the inventive design of the support plate differences in their radial extent, it is easily possible to hold different components captive in a lid of a valve , At the same time easy access to these components is possible by the support plate is removed. Due to the formation of support fingers on the outer circumference of the support plate on the one hand, the potential contact surface is increased and thus increases the friction, on the other hand, the effect of the radial length change amplified. But it is necessary that the support fingers extend at a relatively steep angle or perpendicular to the surface of the support plate.

Claims

claims

1. Valve, in particular switching valve, which has a valve housing with a valve seat, an inlet and an outlet, wherein at least one valve element is arranged in a cover of the valve housing and on a valve seat facing side of the valve member, a support plate is arranged, characterized in that the support plate (10) in the lid (9) is fixed.

2. Valve according to claim 1, characterized in that the support plate (10) in the cover (9) is frictionally secured.

3. Valve according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the support plate (10) on its outer circumference supporting fingers (25) which at an angle (α) between 75 ° and 105 °, preferably between 80 ° and 95 °, to adjacent surface of the support plate (10) are arranged.

4. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the support plate (10) has a first stable state and a second stable state, wherein the support plate (10) in the first stable state has a substantially planar surface and in the second stable Condition has a substantially curved surface.

5. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that the support plate (10) has three to seven, in particular five support fingers (25), which are arranged at a uniform distance from each other on the outer periphery.

6. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the support fingers (25) at their ends (26) are deformed radially outwards.

7. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that the support plate (10) has an opening (27) through which the valve seat (5) protrudes.

8. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that between the support plate (10) and the valve element (6) has a

Membrane (13) is arranged, which is held by the support plate (10) in the lid (9).

9. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the valve element (6) has a valve plate (7) and a plunger (8), wherein the plunger (8) with a drive (14) is in contact and the Valve plate (7) against the membrane (13).

10. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the drive (14) with a closure piece (15) in the lid (9) is held.

11. Valve according to claim 10, characterized in that of the membrane (13), the valve element (6), the closure piece (15) and the drive (14) a space (17) in the lid (9) is bounded, the over a channel (18) in the plunger (8) is connected to the outlet (4).

12. Valve according to one of claims 1 to 11, characterized marked, that between the cover (9) and the valve housing (2) a sealing element (20) is arranged, which is held by the ends (26) of the support fingers (25).