Valve mechanism for proportional valve, proportional valve, and fuel cell gas supply system

Abstract

The present invention provides a valve mechanism for a proportional valve, a proportional valve, and a fuel cell gas supply system. The valve mechanism for a proportional valve includes: a valve seat having a nozzle; a valve cover mounted on the valve seat and defining a space connected to the nozzle; and a valve core passing through a through hole on the valve cover and capable of moving between a first position and a second position, wherein a sealing contact is formed between the valve core and the wall of the through hole; wherein the valve core has a central channel formed inside, the central channel is connected to the space at one end facing the valve seat, and the valve core also has an adjustment window connected to the central channel, when the valve core is in the first position, the adjustment window is closed by the valve cover, and when the valve core is in the second position, the valve cover allows the adjustment window to be at least partially opened. According to the present invention, the flow rate of the fluid supplied by the valve mechanism can be changed linearly or nonlinearly relative to the current applied to the electrical-mechanical conversion element for driving the valve mechanism to meet different flow requirements.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve mechanism of a proportional valve for controlling fluid flow, a proportional valve including such a valve mechanism, and a fuel cell gas supply system including such a proportional valve. Background Art

[0002] A proportional valve can continuously and proportionally control the flow, pressure, and / or direction of a fluid according to an input electrical signal, and its output flow and pressure are not affected by load changes. A proportional valve generally includes a valve mechanism and an electrical-mechanical conversion element for driving the valve mechanism. Depending on the different working modes of the electrical-mechanical conversion element, proportional valves include electromagnetic proportional valves that use proportional solenoids as electrical-mechanical conversion elements, electric proportional valves that use DC servo motors as electrical-mechanical conversion elements, and electro-hydraulic proportional valves that use a torque motor and a nozzle baffle as a pilot control stage. Proportional valves are widely used because they can be controlled remotely, can proportionally adjust the fluid flow, and have a simple structure. For example, in a fuel cell gas supply system, a proportional valve is used to control the amount of gas, such as hydrogen, supplied to the fuel cell.

[0003] Figure 1 The valve mechanism of a proportional valve for a fuel cell gas supply system is shown schematically in a simplified diagram, wherein the valve mechanism is in the closed state. Figure 2 The valve mechanism of a proportional valve for a fuel cell gas supply system is shown in a schematic diagram, wherein the valve mechanism is in an open state. Figure 1 and 2 As shown, the valve mechanism 1 includes a valve seat 3 having a nozzle 5, and a valve core 7 that can move relative to the valve seat 3. The valve core 7 is connected to an electro-mechanical conversion element (not shown). When a current is applied to the electro-mechanical conversion element, the electro-mechanical conversion element can drive the valve core 7 to move different distances h relative to the valve seat 3 according to the magnitude of the applied current, so that the valve mechanism 1 opens to different degrees, thereby allowing different amounts of fluid to flow in. Figure 2 As shown by the arrow in the middle, the nozzle 5 passes through the valve seat 3. When the electrical-mechanical conversion element is de-energized, the valve core 7 returns to its original position under the action of the return spring. Figure 1 The valve mechanism 1 is closed by moving the valve member to the position shown. The flow rate of the fluid supplied through this conventional valve mechanism varies substantially linearly with respect to the current applied to the electro-mechanical conversion element. Therefore, it cannot meet the requirements of applications where the flow rate of the fluid supplied through the valve mechanism varies substantially nonlinearly with respect to the current applied to the electro-mechanical conversion element. Furthermore, the adjustment range of this valve mechanism is determined by the effective travel distance of the valve core, and its maximum travel distance h is . maxIt is limited to one quarter of the diameter D of the nozzle 5. This will result in the valve mechanism opening degree being very sensitive to the valve mechanism movement distance, the valve mechanism being less accurate, and different valve mechanisms being likely to exhibit larger flow deviations.

[0004] Therefore, it is necessary to improve the valve mechanism of the existing proportional valve for controlling fluid flow. Summary of the Invention

[0005] The present invention aims to overcome at least one of the above-mentioned defects in the prior art and to provide an improved valve mechanism of a proportional valve for controlling fluid flow.

[0006] According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a valve mechanism for a proportional valve, comprising:

[0007] a valve seat having a nozzle;

[0008] a valve cover mounted on the valve seat and defining a space communicating with the nozzle; and

[0009] a valve core passing through the through hole in the valve cover and capable of moving between a first position and a second position, wherein the valve core forms a sealing contact with a wall of the through hole;

[0010] In which, the valve core has a central channel formed inside, and the central channel is connected to the space at one end facing the valve seat. The valve core also has an adjustment window connected to the central channel. When the valve core is in the first position, the adjustment window is closed by the valve cover. When the valve core is in the second position, the valve cover allows the adjustment window to be at least partially opened.

[0011] According to another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a proportional valve, comprising:

[0012] A valve mechanism as described above; and

[0013] An electromechanical conversion element is connected to the valve mechanism and is used to drive the valve mechanism.

[0014] According to yet another aspect of the present invention, a fuel cell gas supply system is provided, characterized in that the fuel cell gas supply system includes the valve mechanism or the proportional valve as described above.

[0015] According to the valve mechanism for a proportional valve of the present invention, by designing the shape of the adjustment window arranged on the side wall of the central channel of the valve core, the flow rate of the fluid supplied by the valve mechanism can be changed linearly or nonlinearly relative to the current applied to the electrical-mechanical conversion element to meet different flow requirements. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0016] Figure 1 A schematic diagram simply illustrates a valve mechanism of a proportional valve for a fuel cell gas supply system, wherein the valve mechanism is in a closed state;

[0017] Figure 2 A schematic diagram simply illustrates a valve mechanism of a proportional valve for a fuel cell gas supply system, wherein the valve mechanism is in an open state;

[0018] Figure 3 The valve mechanism of the proportional valve according to the present invention is simply shown in a schematic diagram, wherein the valve mechanism is in a closed state;

[0019] Figure 4 A schematic diagram simply shows a valve mechanism of a proportional valve according to the present invention, wherein the valve mechanism is in an open state; and

[0020] Figure 5 The valve core of the proportional valve according to the invention is shown schematically in a side view. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0021] The preferred embodiments of the present invention are described in detail below with reference to examples. It should be understood by those skilled in the art that these exemplary embodiments are not intended to limit the present invention in any way.

[0022] As described above, a proportional valve typically includes a valve mechanism and an electro-mechanical conversion element connected to the valve mechanism and used to drive the valve mechanism. Since the present invention does not involve improvements to the electro-mechanical conversion element, the electro-mechanical conversion element is not shown in the simplified drawings, and the description of the electro-mechanical conversion element will also be omitted in the present invention.

[0023] Figure 3 The valve mechanism of the proportional valve according to the present invention is shown schematically in a simplified diagram, wherein the valve mechanism is in a closed state. Figure 4 The valve mechanism of the proportional valve according to the present invention is simply shown in a schematic diagram, wherein the valve mechanism is in an open state. The valve mechanism 10 of the proportional valve according to the present invention includes a valve seat 15 having a nozzle 13, a valve cover 19 mounted on the valve seat 15 and defining a space 17 communicating with the nozzle 13 on the valve seat 15, and a valve core 23 movably arranged through a through hole 21 in the valve cover 19. The valve core 23 forms a sealing contact with the wall of the through hole 21, but the valve core 23 is allowed to move in the up and down directions relative to the valve cover 19 in the figure, that is, the valve core 23 can be in a first position at the lowermost end (such as Figure 3 The valve core 23 moves between a second position at the uppermost end and a second position at the uppermost end.

[0024] The valve core 23 is internally formed with a central channel 25 that is open at the end facing the valve seat 15 and closed at the opposite end. Of course, the end of the central channel 25 facing the valve seat 15 can also be closed, and an opening leading to the space 17 is formed on the side wall near the end. The valve core 23 also includes an adjustment window 27 formed on the side wall of the central channel 25 and communicating with the central channel 25. The position of the adjustment window 27 is selected so that when the valve core 23 moves downward to the first position, the adjustment window 27 is completely closed by the wall of the through hole 21 (such as Figure 3 When the valve core 23 moves upward, the regulating window 27 can be moved to at least partially break away from the wall of the through hole 21 to at least partially open the regulating window 27 (as shown). Figure 4 As shown), the valve mechanism 10 is opened.

[0025] The end 29 of the valve core 23 toward the valve seat 15 may have an enlarged dimension so that when the valve mechanism 10 is in Figure 3 In the closed position shown, the valve core 23 is located on the valve seat 15. The adjustment window 27 can be designed in various shapes, such as rectangular, triangular, circular, elliptical, fan-shaped, or T-shaped, or any combination of these shapes. There can be one or more adjustment windows 27 provided on the sidewall of the central passage 25 of the valve core 23. When multiple adjustment windows 27 are provided, they can be arranged at the same height or at different heights on the valve core 23 to further achieve different flow control characteristics.

[0026] The following reference Figure 3 and 4 The operation process of the proportional valve according to the present invention is described. When current is applied to the electromechanical conversion element connected to the valve mechanism 10 and used to drive the valve mechanism 10, the electromechanical conversion element causes the valve core 23 to rise relative to the valve cover 19, so that the adjustment window 27 is moved upward and at least partially separated from the wall of the through hole 21, thereby at least partially exposing the adjustment window 27, thereby opening the valve mechanism 10. Figure 4 At this time, the fluid is as Figure 4 As shown by the arrow in the middle, the fluid flows through the adjustment window 27, the central channel 25, the space 17, and the nozzle 13, thereby enabling the fluid to be supplied. When the current supplied to the electro-mechanical conversion element is cut off, the valve core 23 moves downward to the position under the action of the return spring, for example. Figure 3 As shown in the position, the adjustment window 27 moves downward to a position closed by the wall of the through hole 21, as shown in the Figure 3 as shown to cut off the fluid supply.

[0027] According to the present invention, since the adjustment window 27 arranged on the side wall of the central channel 25 of the valve core 23 can be various shapes such as rectangular, triangular, circular, elliptical, fan-shaped or T-shaped, or any combination of these shapes, the flow rate of the fluid supplied through the valve mechanism can be achieved by designing the shape of the adjustment window 27 to change linearly or nonlinearly relative to the current applied to the electrical-mechanical conversion element to meet different flow requirements.

[0028] Figure 5 The valve core of the proportional valve according to the present invention is schematically shown in a side view. Figure 5 As shown, the adjustment window 27 is rectangular, and preferably an elongated rectangular shape, with its length being much greater than its width. This reduces the sensitivity of the valve mechanism's opening degree to its travel distance, improves the valve mechanism's accuracy, and reduces flow rate deviations between different valve mechanisms. It should be understood that other shapes of adjustment window 27 may also be preferably designed as an elongated shape with a length greater than width.

[0029] Although the present invention has been described in detail in conjunction with preferred embodiments thereof, it should be understood that such detailed description is intended only to explain the present invention and is not intended to limit the present invention. For example, although the valve mechanism has been described in conjunction with a proportional valve for a fuel cell gas supply system, the valve mechanism of the present invention is also applicable to a proportional valve for supplying, for example, liquids. The scope of the present invention is determined by the technical solutions defined in the claims.

Claims

1. A valve mechanism (10) for a proportional valve, comprising: a valve seat (15) having a nozzle (13); a valve cover (19) mounted on the valve seat (15) and defining a space (17) communicating with the nozzle (13); and a valve core (23) passing through the through hole (21) on the valve cover (19) and capable of moving between a first position and a second position, wherein the valve core (23) forms a sealing contact with a wall of the through hole (21); The valve core (23) is internally formed with a central channel (25), and the central channel (25) is connected to the space (17) at one end facing the valve seat (15). The valve core (23) also has an adjustment window (27) connected to the central channel (25). When the valve core (23) is in the first position, the adjustment window (27) is closed by the valve cover (19). When the valve core (23) is in the second position, the valve cover (19) allows the adjustment window (27) to be at least partially opened. The flow rate of the fluid supplied by the valve mechanism is changed linearly or nonlinearly by designing the shape of the regulating window (27).

2. The valve mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The central passage (25) is open toward the end of the valve seat (15).

3. The valve mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The end (29) of the valve core (23) facing the valve seat (15) has an increased dimension.

4. The valve mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The regulating window (27) is designed to be rectangular, triangular, circular, elliptical, fan-shaped, T-shaped or any combination of these shapes.

5. The valve mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The adjustment window (27) is one or more.

6. The valve mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that There are a plurality of adjustment windows (27), and the plurality of adjustment windows (27) are arranged at the same height or different heights on the valve core (23).

7. The valve mechanism (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that The regulating window (27) is elongated in shape.

8. A proportional valve comprising: The valve mechanism (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7; as well as An electromechanical conversion element connected to the valve mechanism (10) and used to drive the valve mechanism (10).

9. A fuel cell gas supply system, characterized in that: The fuel cell gas supply system comprises the valve mechanism (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7 or the proportional valve according to claim 8.

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