Valve arrangement with refrigerant valve and valve block

Abstract

In order to provide a valve device having a valve housing and a valve block, in which sealing problems caused by mounting can be reduced, it is proposed that a valve device (100) having a refrigerant valve (10) and a valve block (11), wherein the refrigerant valve (10) has a valve housing (12) and a valve needle (14) guided in an inner space (13) of the valve housing (12), wherein the valve housing (12) has a connection section (15), wherein the connection section (15) is accommodated in a receptacle (16) of the valve block (11), wherein the valve housing (12) is held in the receptacle (16) by a lock nut (17), wherein it is further provided that the connection section (15) has a shoulder (18), wherein the lock nut (17) directly or indirectly rests on or is supported on the shoulder (18).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device having a refrigerant valve and a valve block, wherein the refrigerant valve has a valve housing and a valve needle guided in the internal space of the valve housing, wherein the valve housing has a connecting section, wherein the connecting section is received in a receiving portion of the valve block, and wherein the valve housing is held in the receiving portion by a lock nut. Background Technology

[0002] Modern motor vehicles, especially battery electric or hybrid vehicles, require a large number of refrigerant valves with complex thermal management systems. Due to the large number of valves, the goal is to design them as cost-effectively as possible. A refrigerant valve consists of a valve body and a valve needle guided within the internal space of the valve body. The valve needle moves linearly within the internal space via a thread that connects to the rotor of the electric motor. The more the valve needle moves axially upward or downward within the internal space of the valve body, the greater the volumetric flow through the valve.

[0003] Refrigerant valves are mostly installed within valve blocks and must be fixed and held in place within these blocks. Here, the refrigerant valve is installed via threads on the valve body, which are screwed into the valve block. During the screwing of the valve body into the valve block, relative movement may occur between the valve body, the valve block, and the seals arranged between them, which could negatively impact the function of the seals.

[0004] A valve with a valve body is known from EP 3 394 454 B1, wherein the valve body can be inserted into a valve block. The valve body has an external thread, and a screw-in body is designed in the form of a hollow screw with an external hexagonal head and has an external thread, through which the screw-in body can be screwed into the valve block.

[0005] DE 10 2013 227 062 A1 discloses a valve device having a valve housing with a channel having a valve element movable relative to the valve housing, wherein a pressure chamber is constructed in the channel, the end of the pressure chamber on the valve element side being defined by the movable valve element, wherein the pressure chamber is divided into two parts by an element that reduces the flow cross-section.

[0006] DE 10 2007 055 460 A1 relates to a valve block having an interface for inputting a working medium and at least one valve in fluid communication with the interface, the valve being used to load a consumable device that can be connected to the valve block in a controlled manner with the working medium, wherein the valve block has a connection means for connecting to the consumable device, through which a mechanical connection and a pneumatic connection can be established simultaneously between the valve block and the consumable device. Summary of the Invention

[0007] The technical problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide a valve device having a valve body and a valve block, in which sealing problems caused by installation can be reduced.

[0008] To address the technical problem of this invention, a valve device having a refrigerant valve and a valve block is proposed, wherein the refrigerant valve has a valve body and a valve needle guided in the internal space of the valve body, wherein the valve body has a connecting section, wherein the connecting section is accommodated in a receiving portion of the valve block, wherein the valve body is secured in the receiving portion by a locking nut, and wherein the connecting section is further specified to have a shoulder, wherein the locking nut directly or indirectly abuts against or is supported on the shoulder.

[0009] The valve needle is preferably guided linearly along the axial direction within the internal space of the valve housing. If the valve needle moves axially within the internal space, the refrigerant volume flow can be regulated.

[0010] Locking nuts can also be called hollow screws, and are preferably placed on the outside to surround the connection section in the entire circumference.

[0011] The receiving portion in the valve block can be designed as a hole, a blind hole, or a similar structure.

[0012] The connecting section is preferably constructed as an integral part of the valve body material.

[0013] According to the present invention, the locking nut directly or indirectly abuts against or supports the shoulder of the connecting section. The locking nut, through direct or indirect contact with the shoulder, presses the valve body into the receiving portion of the valve block, thereby locking the refrigerant valve within the valve block. Since this locking is achieved through the locking nut, no relative movement occurs between the refrigerant valve and the valve block during assembly. If a seal is provided between the refrigerant valve and the valve block, its sealing effect will not be negatively affected by the installation.

[0014] The lock nut rests directly or indirectly against the shoulder. In the case of direct contact, the lock nut rests against or is supported on the upper side of the shoulder through direct physical contact between its bottom side and the upper side of the shoulder.

[0015] In principle, an intermediate element, such as the shoulder of an isolation tank, can be placed between the lock nut and the shoulder. The lock nut indirectly rests against or supports the shoulder. In the case of indirect rest or support, the force chain is transmitted through the lock nut and the intermediate element to the shoulder of the valve body connection section.

[0016] Preferably, the receiving part has an internal thread and the locking nut has an external thread, wherein the internal thread of the receiving part engages with the external thread of the locking nut.

[0017] In this configuration, the lock nut is screwed into the internal thread of the receiving part via its external thread. This achieves a reliable connection between the refrigerant valve and the valve block.

[0018] In principle, it is also possible to consider a connecting section having external threads and a locking nut having internal threads, wherein the external threads of the connecting section engage with the internal threads of the locking nut. Particularly preferably, it is specified that the external threads of the connecting section and the internal threads of the locking nut form right-hand threads, and the external threads of the locking nut and the internal threads of the receiving portion form left-hand threads, or vice versa.

[0019] Preferably, the refrigerant valve has an electric motor and an isolation tank, wherein the rotor of the electric motor is arranged in the isolation tank, and the isolation tank is arranged in the stator of the electric motor. The isolation tank is preferably connected to the valve body, particularly by welding or bonding. Laser welding can be used as the welding technique.

[0020] The electric motor is used here to move the valve needle within the internal space of the valve housing, particularly in a linear fashion. For this purpose, the rotor shaft can be threaded to the valve needle. An isolation tank seals the refrigerant valve outwards relative to the stator of the electric motor.

[0021] Preferably, the shoulder of the connecting section is arranged in the lower region of the connecting section and / or in the region away from the motor, and / or the shoulder is arranged around the connecting section.

[0022] The optimized arrangement of the connecting sections prevents them from tilting when inserted into the valve block receiving portion. Furthermore, the shoulder can directly rest against the bottom side of the receiving portion, thereby simplifying the geometry of both the connecting sections and the receiving portion.

[0023] Furthermore, it is advantageously specified that the isolation tank has a shoulder in the lower region and / or the region away from the motor, wherein the shoulder of the isolation tank abuts or is supported on the shoulder of the connecting section, and wherein the locking nut abuts or is supported on the shoulder of the isolation tank.

[0024] In this configuration, the shoulder of the isolation tank forms an intermediate element, which is positioned between the bottom side of the locking nut or locking nut and the shoulder of the connecting section, particularly the upper side of the shoulder of the connecting section. The locking nut presses against the shoulder of the isolation tank, which in turn presses against the shoulder of the connecting section, thereby pressing the connecting section into the receiving portion of the valve block and reliably securing it there.

[0025] In this embodiment, welding or bonding between the isolation tank and the valve body is not necessarily required. The connection between the isolation tank and the valve body is achieved by the preload of the lock nut.

[0026] Furthermore, it is advantageous to specify that a seal is preferably arranged on the bottom side of the connecting section between the valve body and the housing, especially the bottom of the housing.

[0027] The seal seals the valve outwards. The seal may include one or more sealing elements. The one or more sealing elements may include or be designed as sealing rings.

[0028] The lock nut presses the valve body into the receiving part and applies a preload. Because there is no relative movement between the refrigerant valve, valve block, and seals during assembly of the refrigerant valve and valve block, the sealing surfaces are protected and sealing performance is improved.

[0029] Furthermore, it is advantageously specified that the connecting section has at least one coolant inlet channel extending between the bottom side of the connecting section and the internal space.

[0030] Therefore, the refrigerant valve is essentially axially oriented with the flow directed from its bottom side. This specifically means that the refrigerant input to the refrigerant valve through the valve block enters one or more refrigerant inlet channels via the bottom side of the connecting section, and subsequently enters the internal space of the valve housing, the bottom side of which corresponds to the end of the connecting section opposite to the motor. The volumetric flow through the refrigerant valve is adjusted according to the position of the valve needle. The refrigerant flowing out of the refrigerant valve can be discharged into the valve block through an axial outlet.

[0031] The valve block may have an inflow passage and an outflow passage, wherein the inflow passage is connected to one or more refrigerant inlet passages of the connecting section, and wherein the outflow passage is in fluid communication with the outlet of the refrigerant valve.

[0032] Preferably, the valve housing includes a molded part, wherein the molded part is further preferably disposed in a recess on the bottom side of the connecting section, wherein the molded part particularly preferably has or constitutes at least one inlet opening for the at least one coolant inlet passage.

[0033] Therefore, the molded part is considered part of the valve housing, but preferably formed as a separate element arranged within the valve housing, particularly in the recess of the press-fit section. The molded part has at least one inlet opening for the at least one coolant inlet channel of the connecting section. This means that coolant introduced into the refrigerant valve through the inflow channel of the valve block flows into the coolant inlet channel of the valve housing through the inlet opening of the molded part, and enters the internal space of the valve housing through the coolant inlet channel.

[0034] Preferably, the at least one coolant inlet channel is constructed within the molded part.

[0035] Therefore, a complete coolant inlet passage, including the inlet opening in the molded part, can be located within the molded part. Since the coolant input to the internal space of the refrigerant valve is provided by the molded part, the geometry of the valve housing can be designed to be simpler.

[0036] Alternatively, at least one coolant inlet channel, including an inlet opening if necessary, is constructed between the outer wall of the molded part and the inner wall of the recess in the connecting section. Thus, coolant flows between the outer wall of the molded part and the inner wall of the recess in the connecting section into the internal space of the valve housing.

[0037] Furthermore, it can be advantageously specified that the molded part forms a sealing seat.

[0038] In addition, the valve needle can have a control profile.

[0039] With the refrigerant valve closed, the valve needle seals the internal space outward through the sealing seat, preventing refrigerant from flowing out of the refrigerant valve. With the refrigerant valve open, the refrigerant flows through the internal space, passes beside the valve needle, flows out from the outlet of the valve housing, and preferably passes through the opening in the molded part. Attached Figure Description

[0040] The invention will now be described in more detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the drawings:

[0041] Figure 1 A first embodiment of a valve device having a refrigerant valve and a valve block is shown.

[0042] Figure 2 A second design of a valve assembly with a refrigerant valve and a valve block is shown.

[0043] Figure 3 The molded part is shown, and

[0044] Figure 4 A third embodiment of a valve device having a refrigerant valve and a valve block is shown.

[0045] In the accompanying drawings, identical or corresponding parts are identified by the same reference numerals. Detailed Implementation

[0046] Figure 1 A valve assembly 100 is shown, comprising a refrigerant valve 10 and a valve block 11. The refrigerant valve 10 has a valve housing 12 and a valve needle 14 guided within an internal space 13 of the valve housing 12. A connecting section 15 of the valve housing 12 is received in a receiving portion 16 of the valve block 11. To hold and lock the connecting section 15 of the valve housing 12 in the receiving portion 16, the valve housing is held by a lock nut 17. The connecting section 15 has a shoulder 18, wherein, in the illustrated embodiment, the lock nut 17 directly abuts against or is supported on the shoulder 18.

[0047] The receiving portion 16 of the valve block 11 has an internal thread 19, and the locking nut 17 has an external thread 20. The locking nut 17, screwed into the receiving portion, presses the valve body 12 into the receiving portion of the valve block 11 through the shoulder 18 of the connecting section 15.

[0048] The refrigerant valve 10 also includes a motor 21 and an isolation tank 22. The rotor 23 of the motor 21 is arranged in the isolation tank 22, and the isolation tank 22 is arranged in the stator 24 of the motor 21. The isolation tank 22 is connected to the valve body 12, for example, by welding or bonding.

[0049] A seal 27 is provided at the bottom side 25 of the connecting section 15, which seals the refrigerant valve 10 outwards. The bottom side corresponds to the end side 26 of the connecting section 15 away from the motor 21. A shoulder 18 of the connecting section 15 is provided here in the region 28 of the connecting section 15 away from the motor 21.

[0050] A refrigerant inlet channel 29 is provided within the connecting section 15, extending between the bottom side 25 of the connecting section 15 and the internal space 13 of the valve housing 12. Refrigerant can be introduced into the internal space 13 of the valve housing 12 through the inflow channel 30 of the valve block 11 and the refrigerant inlet channel 29. The refrigerant volume flow regulated by the valve needle 14 can flow out through the outlet 31 and the outflow channel 32 of the valve block 11. In principle, the opposite flow direction is also possible. The refrigerant valve 10 can also operate bidirectionally.

[0051] Figure 2 A variation of the valve device 100 is shown. Figure 2 In the implementation method, in Figure 3 The molded part 33 shown is arranged in a recess 34 in the bottom side 25 of the connecting section 15. The molded part 33 here has an inlet opening 35 for the coolant inlet channel 29 and the coolant inlet channel 29 itself.

[0052] Figure 4 Another variation of the valve device 100 is shown. The molded part 33, arranged in the recess 34 on the bottom side 25 of the connecting section 15, is here configured as a sealing seat 36 and includes an inlet opening 35 for the coolant inlet passage 29 for the valve housing 12. The coolant inlet passage 29 here extends within the valve housing 12. The valve needle 14 is guided within the internal space 13 of the valve housing 12. Figure 4 In this embodiment, the function of the valve needle 14—guiding and sealing—is achieved in two different components: in the wall of the internal space 13 and in the sealing seat 36. The sealing seat 36 is sealed relative to the surrounding environment by a seal 27. Figure 1 and Figure 2In a different implementation, the locking nut 17 indirectly abuts against the shoulder 18 of the connecting section 15. A shoulder 37 of the isolation tank 22 is arranged between the locking nut 17 and the shoulder 18 of the connecting section 15. In this embodiment, it is not necessary to weld or bond the isolation tank 22 to the valve body 12.

[0053] List of reference numerals

[0054] 100 Valve Device

[0055] 10 Refrigerant valve

[0056] 11 Valve Block

[0057] 12 valve housing

[0058] 13 Interior Space

[0059] 14 Valve needle

[0060] 15 Connecting Sections

[0061] 16. Reception area

[0062] 17 Locking nut

[0063] 18 shoulder

[0064] 19 Internal Thread

[0065] 20 External Thread

[0066] 21 Electric motor

[0067] 22 Isolation Tanks

[0068] 23 Rotors

[0069] 24 stators

[0070] 25 Bottom side

[0071] 26 End face

[0072] 27. Seals

[0073] 28 areas

[0074] 29 Coolant Inlet Channel

[0075] 30 Inflow Channel

[0076] 31 Exports

[0077] 32 Outflow Channel

[0078] 33 Molded parts

[0079] 34 Notch

[0080] 35. Entrance opening

[0081] 36 Sealing seat

[0082] 37 shoulder

Claims

1. A valve device (100) comprising a refrigerant valve (10) and a valve block (11), wherein, The refrigerant valve (10) has a valve housing (12) and a valve needle (14) guided in the internal space (13) of the valve housing (12), wherein the valve housing (12) has a connecting section (15), wherein the connecting section (15) is received in the receiving portion (16) of the valve block (11), wherein the valve housing (12) is secured in the receiving portion (16) by a locking nut (17), characterized in that the connecting section (15) has a shoulder (18), wherein the locking nut (17) directly or indirectly abuts against or is supported on the shoulder (18).

2. The valve device (100) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The receiving portion (16) has an internal thread (19), and the locking nut (17) has an external thread (20), wherein the internal thread (19) of the receiving portion (16) engages with the external thread (20) of the locking nut (17).

3. The valve device (100) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The refrigerant valve (10) has an electric motor (21) and an isolation tank (22), wherein the rotor (23) of the electric motor (21) is arranged in the isolation tank (22), wherein the isolation tank (22) is arranged in the stator (24) of the electric motor (21), wherein the isolation tank (22) is preferably connected to the valve body (12), especially by welding or bonding.

4. The valve device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The shoulder (18) of the connecting section (15) is arranged in the lower region (28) of the connecting section (15) and / or in the region (28) away from the motor (21), and / or the shoulder (18) is arranged around the connecting section (15).

5. The valve device (100) according to claim 3 or 4, characterized in that, The isolation tank (22) has a shoulder (37) in the lower region and / or the region away from the motor (21), wherein the shoulder (37) of the isolation tank (22) abuts or is supported on the shoulder (18) of the connecting section (15), and wherein the locking nut (17) abuts or is supported on the shoulder (37) of the isolation tank (22).

6. The valve device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, A seal (27) is preferably provided at the bottom side (25) of the connecting section (15) between the valve body (12) and the receiving portion (16), especially the bottom of the receiving portion.

7. The valve device (100) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The connecting section (15) has at least one coolant inlet channel (29) extending between the bottom side (25) of the connecting section (15) and the interior space (13).

8. The valve device (100) according to claim 7, characterized in that, The valve housing (12) includes a molded part (33), wherein the molded part (33) is preferably disposed in a recess (34) in the bottom side (25) of the connecting section (15), wherein the molded part (33) further preferably has or forms at least one inlet opening (35) for the at least one coolant inlet channel (29).

9. The valve device (100) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The at least one coolant inlet channel (29) is constructed in the molded part (33).

10. The valve device (100) according to claim 8 or 9, characterized in that, The molded part (33) forms a sealing seat (36).

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