Fluidic system and process

Abstract

Fluidic system (10, 20), comprising: - a fluid line arrangement (28) for conducting a pressure fluid, - a valve arrangement (1) with a valve unit (15) which is fluidically connected to the fluid line arrangement (28), - at least two acoustic signal generators, each acoustic signal generator being designed to generate a respective acoustic test signal which differs from the acoustic test signal of the respective other acoustic signal generator, - a sound transducer (4) which is designed to detect the respective acoustic test signal and to provide an electrical sound signal on the basis of the detected respective acoustic test signal, - an evaluation unit (5) which is designed to provide evaluation information on the basis of the electrical sound signal, which indicates an operating state of the valve arrangement (1), - a sound module (23) comprising at least one acoustic signal generator (26) and / or the sound transducer (4), - wherein the sound module (23) is designed as an add-on module (29) and is attached to a fluid inlet and / or fluid outlet of the valve arrangement (1).

Description

The invention relates to a fluidic system, comprising: a fluid line arrangement for conducting a pressurized fluid, a valve arrangement having a valve unit which is fluidically connected to the fluid line arrangement, at least two acoustic signal generators, wherein each acoustic signal generator is designed to generate a respective acoustic test signal which differs from the acoustic test signal of the respective other acoustic signal generator, a sound transducer which is designed to record a vibration of the pressurized fluid and to provide an electrical sound signal on the basis of the recorded vibration, and an evaluation unit which is designed to provide evaluation information which indicates an operating state of the valve arrangement on the basis of the electrical sound signal.DE 10 2017 100 956 A1 describes a diagnostic system for controlling the functionality of an actuator. An optical microphone measures an acoustic operating signal specific to the actuator by means of electromagnetic radiation influenced by the acoustic operating signal specific to the actuator. The optical microphone generates an electrical measurement signal. The electrical measurement signal is received and stored, processed and / or forwarded by an electronic diagnostic device.EP 2 697 572 B1 describes a fire protection flap device. An electric / acoustic transducer and a microphone are provided in the interior of a pipe section. These are placed on opposite sides of a flap and are interfaced to a control circuit. In order to perform a functional diagnosis, a control signal for closing the flap is generated by the control circuit. The control circuit then activates the electro / acoustic transducer, which generates a sound signal in the pipe section. The sound level is measured via the microphone and processed by the control circuit. The closed position of the flap attenuates the sound level at the location of the microphone. If the damping is less than a stored limit value when the flap is closed, it is to be assumed that the flap closes insufficiently.U.S. Pat. No. 4,821,769 discloses a method and apparatus for monitoring the operation of a valve, in which a signal, for example an electrical alternating current signal, is transmitted through a fluid path defined by the valve. The blockage of the fluid path is indicated by monitoring signal propagation. The system is very insensitive to electrical noise and variations in the conductivity of the liquid. The system is also suitable for monitoring the operation of valves having a plurality of ports.An object of the invention is to improve the monitoring and / or control of the fluidic system.The object is achieved by the fluidic system according to claim 1. The fluidic system comprises a sound module comprising at least one acoustic signal generator and / or the sound transducer, wherein the sound module is designed as an add-on module and is attached to a fluid inlet and / or fluid outlet of the valve arrangement or wherein the sound module is designed as an intermediate module and is inserted between two fluid line sections of the fluid line arrangement. The sound transducer is designed to record the respective acoustic test signal and to provide an electrical sound signal on the basis of the recorded oscillations.Conventional approaches for determining an operating state of a valve arrangement on the basis of a pressurized fluid oscillation assume that a pressurized fluid flow is present which brings about the pressurized fluid oscillation. If no pressurized fluid flow is present at a given time, then in the conventional approaches no pressurized fluid oscillation is present, on the basis of which the operating state could be determined.According to the present invention, the fluidic system comprises the acoustic signal generator for outputting the acoustic test signal. The acoustic test signal provides the pressurized fluid oscillation required for determining the operating state. Expediently, by providing the acoustic test signal, it is possible to ascertain the operating state independently of the current operation of the fluidic system-i.e., in particular independently of whether a pressurized fluid flow is currently present.Consequently, the fluidic system can be better monitored and thus expediently also better controlled.Advantageous refinements are the subject matter of the dependent claims.The invention further relates to a method for determining an operating state of a valve arrangement, wherein the method is carried out with the fluidic system described here, comprising the steps of: outputting an acoustic test signal into a fluid line arrangement which is fluidically connected to the valve arrangement, detecting the acoustic test signal, providing an electrical sound signal on the basis of the acoustic test signal and providing, on the basis of the electrical sound signal, evaluation information which indicates the operating state of the valve arrangement.With reference to the figures, exemplary embodiments are discussed below. This shows FIG. 1 shows a schematic illustration of a fluidic system according to a first embodiment, FIG. 2 shows a schematic illustration of a fluidic system according to a second embodiment, FIG. 3A is a schematic front view of a valve arrangement, FIG. 3B is a schematic top view of the valve arrangement, FIG. 4A is a schematic front view of the valve arrangement with add-on modules, FIG. 4B is a top view of the valve arrangement with the add-on modules, FIG. 5 shows a schematic illustration of an intermediate module.FIG. 1 shows a fluidic system 10 according to a first embodiment. The fluidic system 10 comprises a fluid line arrangement 28 for conducting a pressure fluid. The fluidic system 10 further comprises a valve arrangement 1 with a valve unit 15 which is fluidically connected to the fluid line arrangement 28. The fluidic system 10 further comprises an acoustic signal generator 26 configured to output an acoustic test signal into the fluid line arrangement 28. Expediently, the pressure fluid present in the fluid line arrangement 28 is set into oscillation by the acoustic test signal. The fluidic system 10 further comprises a sound transducer 4 configured to detect the acoustic test signal. For example, the sound transducer 4 is designed to record the acoustic test signal in the pressurized fluid, i.e. to record a vibration of the pressurized fluid caused by the acoustic test signal. The sound transducer 4 is designed to provide an electrical sound signal on the basis of the detected acoustic test signal. The fluidic system 10 further comprises an evaluation unit 5, which is configured to provide evaluation information on the basis of the electrical sound signal, which evaluation information indicates an operating state of the valve arrangement 1.Further exemplary details are to be explained below.The fluidic system 10 is, for example, a pneumatic system. The pressurized fluid is, for example, compressed air. The fluidic system 10 is designed in particular for use in industrial automation, factory automation and / or process automation.The acoustic signal generator 26 expediently comprises a loudspeaker for outputting the acoustic test signal. The acoustic signal generator 26 is in particular an active unit and can also be referred to as an active acoustic signal generator 26. The acoustic signal generator 26 has, for example, an electrical connection via which electrical energy can be supplied to the acoustic signal generator 26, with which the acoustic signal generator 26 generates the acoustic test signal. The acoustic signal generator 26 can expediently be electrically controlled. According to one possible embodiment, the acoustic signal generator 26 is electrically controlled by the evaluation unit 5.The acoustic signal generator 26 is expediently a unit which is present separately for generating the acoustic test signal. This means in particular that the acoustic signal generator 26 does not provide a function beyond the generation of the acoustic test signal (and optionally the detection of the acoustic test signal). In particular, the acoustic signal generator 26 is functionally independent of the valve function of the valve arrangement 1 and / or independent of the actuator function of the fluidic actuator 3 explained below. the acoustic signal generator 26 is therefore in particular not an actuator associated with the valve function of the valve arrangement 1, that is to say in particular not a valve member of the valve arrangement 1 and / or not a drive of the valve member of the valve arrangement 1.By way of example, the acoustic signal generator 26 comprises a piezoelectric actuator, an inductive actuator, an electromagnetic actuator and / or an electrodynamic actuator for generating the acoustic test signal.The acoustic signal generator 26 preferably comprises a drive body, for example a membrane, which the acoustic signal generator 26 oscillates, for example according to an electrical drive signal, in order to generate the acoustic test signal.According to a preferred embodiment, the acoustic signal generator 26 is designed to introduce the acoustic test signal into the pressurized fluid, preferably directly. For example, the drive body is directly in contact with the pressurized fluid. The drive body is arranged in particular in the fluid line arrangement 28 and is there expediently in direct contact with the pressure fluid.The acoustic test signal is a sound signal, for example an infrasonic signal, a listening sound signal and / or an ultrasonic signal. The frequency or frequencies of the acoustic test signal are thus in the frequency range of the infrasonic, audible sound and / or ultrasound. The acoustic test signal propagates expediently in the pressurized fluid, for example in compressed air.The acoustic signal generator 26 is expediently designed to output a single pulse or a plurality of pulses as the acoustic test signal. The acoustic test signal preferably has a predetermined pulse pattern and / or frequency pattern.According to one possible configuration, the acoustic signal generator 26 can additionally be operated as a sound transducer in order to record the acoustic test signal and provide the electrical sound signal on the basis of the recorded acoustic test signal. Expediently, the same drive body, in particular the same diaphragm, is used for detecting the acoustic test signal as for outputting the acoustic test signal.The sound transducer 4 expediently comprises a microphone, for example a capacitor microphone, a piezo microphone and / or a MEMS microphone (for example a thin-film microphone) in order to record the acoustic test signal and to provide the electrical sound signal on the basis of the recorded acoustic test signal. Instead of or in addition to the microphone, the sound transducer can also comprise a pressure sensor in order to detect the acoustic test signal.According to one possible embodiment, the sound transducer 4 can additionally be operated as an acoustic signal generator in order to generate the acoustic test signal.The evaluation unit 5 is expediently designed to check whether and / or to what extent the detected acoustic test signal is contained in the electrical sound signal, and to provide the evaluation information on the basis of this check. For this purpose, the evaluation unit 5 analyzes the spectrum of the electrical sound signal, for example.By way of example, the operating state indicated with the evaluation information comprises a position of a valve member of the valve unit 15. Furthermore, the selection information can also indicate an intermediate position of the valve member.The evaluation unit 5 is expediently designed to determine the position of the valve member on the basis of the electrical sound signal and to provide evaluation information indicating the determined position. For example, the evaluation unit 5 is configured to determine that the valve member is in a closed position and to provide evaluation information indicating the closed position in response to the acoustic test signal not being contained in the electrical sound signal or being contained in the electrical sound signal with an amplitude below a predetermined threshold value.Furthermore, the evaluation unit 5 is configured, for example, to determine, in response to the acoustic test signal being contained in the electrical sound signal and having, for example, an amplitude above a predetermined threshold value, that the valve member is in an open position and to provide evaluation information indicating the open position.Expediently, the position of the valve member influences how strongly the acoustic test signal is attenuated on its path from the acoustic signal generator 26 to the sound transducer 4 or whether the acoustic test signal can be transmitted to the sound transducer 4 at all. Consequently, the position of the valve member can be deduced from the detected acoustic test signal. Expediently, the test signal has to pass through a line section which can be blocked by the valve member on its path from the acoustic signal generator 26 to the acoustic transducer 4.Furthermore, the operating state expediently comprises a fault state and / or a pressurized fluid flow provided by the valve unit 15.For example, the evaluation unit 5 is designed to calculate a flow rate of the pressurized fluid on the basis of the test signal contained in the electrical sound signal and to provide evaluation information indicating the calculated pressurized fluid flow rate.Advantageously, the evaluation unit 5 is further configured to determine a fault state of the valve arrangement 1 on the basis of the test signal contained in the electrical sound signal and to provide evaluation information indicating the fault state. The evaluation unit 5 preferably takes into account a desired position of the valve member when determining the fault state. For example, the evaluation unit 5 compares the nominal position of the valve member with an actual position of the valve member, which results from the electrical sound signal, and determines that the fault state is present in the event of a deviation of the actual position from the nominal position.The fluid line assembly 28 illustratively includes a first fluid line 28A and a second fluid line 28C. The valve unit 15 is connected between the first fluid line 28A and the second fluid line 28C, for example. The pressurized fluid guided in the fluid line arrangement 28 expediently has to pass through the valve unit 15 on the path from the second fluid line 28C to the first fluid line 28A.The acoustic signal generator 26 is expediently designed to output the acoustic test signal into the second fluid line 28C. Furthermore, the sound transducer 4 is expediently designed to record the acoustic test signal in the first fluid line 28A. The acoustic test signal is expediently transmitted from the second fluid line 28C into the first fluid line 28B via the pressure fluid. The transmission depends in particular on the position of the valve member of the valve unit 15. If the valve member is in an open position, the acoustic test signal is expediently transmitted better than if the valve member is in a closed position.The fluidic system 10 illustratively includes a pressurized fluid source 32 and / or a pressure chamber assembly. The pressure chamber arrangement is part of an actuator 3, for example. According to one possible embodiment, the actuator 3 is part of the fluidic system 10.The second fluid line 28C is illustratively a supply line configured to supply the pressurized fluid from the pressurized fluid source 32 to the valve assembly.The first fluid line 28A is, exempatically, a working line configured to supply the pressurized fluid from the valve unit 15 to the pressure chamber assembly.The fluidic system 20 according to the second embodiment shown in FIG. 2 will be discussed in more detail below. The second embodiment expediently constitutes a development or implementation of the first embodiment, with the result that the explanations relating to the first embodiment expediently also apply to the second embodiment.The valve arrangement 1 preferably has at least one working outlet 2 at which the valve arrangement 1 provides the pressurized fluid for the fluidic actuator 3. By way of example, the valve arrangement 1 comprises a first working output 2A and a second working output 2B.The fluidic actuator 3 preferably comprises a first pressure chamber 22A and a second pressure chamber 22B. The first pressure chamber 22A is, for example, fluidically connected to the first working outlet 2A via the first fluid line 28A. By way of example, the first pressure chamber 22A is fluidically connected to the first working outlet 2A via a hose section of the first fluid line 28A. The second pressure chamber 22B is, for example, fluidically connected to the second working outlet 2B via a third fluid line 28B. By way of example, the second pressure chamber 22B is fluidically connected to the second working outlet 2B via a hose section of the third fluid line 28B.According to an alternative embodiment, the fluidic actuator 3 is of single-action design and expediently comprises only one pressure chamber. In the alternative embodiment, expediently only one fluid line to the fluidic actuator 3 is present, that is to say for example only the first fluid line 28A.The valve arrangement 1 comprises the valve unit 15 and expediently a connection section 17.The valve unit 15 expediently comprises at least one exhaust air channel 7, for example a first exhaust air channel 7A and a second exhaust air channel 7B. The valve unit 15 further comprises at least one working channel 16, for example a first working channel 16A and a second working channel 16B. Expediently, the valve unit 15 further comprises a supply channel 6.The first working channel 16A is, for example, fluidically connected to the first working outlet 2A by means of a fluid line section of the first fluid line 28A running through the connection section 17. The second working channel 16B is, for example, fluidically connected to the second working outlet 2B by means of a fluid line section of the third fluid line 28B running through the connection section 17.The supply channel 6 is expediently fluidically connected to the pressure fluid source 32 via the second fluid line 28C. The second fluid line 28C comprises, by way of example, a fluid line section running through the connection section 17, which line section opens out at a supply inlet 33 at the connection section 17. The second fluid conduit 28C further includes a tube portion extending from the supply inlet 33 to the pressurized fluid source 32.According to an alternative embodiment, the valve arrangement 1 comprises more or less than two exhaust air ducts and / or more or less than two working ducts and / or more or less than two working outlets.The fluidic system 20 expediently comprises a superordinate controller (not shown in the figures), which is designed to provide a control command for actuating the fluidic actuator 3. The superordinate controller is, for example, a programmable logic controller, PLC. The valve arrangement 1 receives the control command and provides the pressurized fluid at a working output 2 on the basis of the control command, in order to thus effect the control of the fluidic actuator 3 according to the control command.Expediently, the valve arrangement 1 is designed to set the working outlet 2 selectively into a venting state or into a venting state. In the aeration state, the working outlet 2 is fluidically connected to the supply channel 6. In the venting state, the working outlet 2 is fluidically connected to an exhaust air duct 7. The exhaust air channel 7 is connected to a pressurized fluid drain, for example, the atmosphere. According to an optional embodiment (not shown in the figures), the working outlet can furthermore be placed in a blocking state in which the working outlet is closed.The valve unit 15 comprises the valve member 9, which can be displaced into different positions, in particular two different positions, in order to adjust the supply of the pressure fluid at the working outlet 2. The positions of the valve member 9 can also be referred to as switching positions. The valve member 9 is exemplarily designed as a piston slide.The valve arrangement 1 is exemplarily designed to fluidically actuate the valve member 9 in order to put it into a predefined position. The fluidic actuation takes place via a pilot section 11, which exemplarily comprises a solenoid valve. A valve assembly pressure chamber 12 may be pressurized via pilot portion 11 to cause valve member 9 to move to a predetermined position. By way of example, the valve arrangement pressure chamber 12 is optionally ventilated or vented via the pilot control section 11, that is to say optionally connected fluidically to the supply duct 6 or to the atmosphere (or an exhaust duct), by way of example. The pilot section 11 is expediently actuated with an electrical control signal, via which the position of the valve member 9 is predefined.The valve arrangement 1 is exemplarily embodied to be single acting: the force required to move the valve member 9 in a first direction of movement towards a first position is exemplarily provided by a spring element 14. The force required to move the valve member 9 in a second direction of movement towards a second position (counter to the force provided by the spring element 14) is provided by the fluidic action of the valve arrangement pressure chamber 12.As an alternative to this construction, the valve arrangement 1 can also be designed to be double-acting; that is to say that two valve arrangement pressure chambers are present and the forces required for moving the valve member 9 in both movement directions are provided by fluidic loading.The valve unit 15 is exemplarily designed as a valve module. The valve unit 15 is in particular disc-shaped and can also be referred to as disc module. The connection section 17 is exemplarily designed as a connection plate. The valve unit 15 is arranged on the connection section 17, for example on the largest surface of the connection section 17.Expediently, the valve unit 15 comprises the above-explained valve member 9, the pilot portion 11 and, if present, the spring element 14. The valve unit 15 comprises a housing in which one, several or all of the mentioned components 9, 11, 14 are arranged.The connection section 17 has a plurality of working exits 2, which are exemplarily arranged on the front side of the connection section 17. Expediently, each valve unit 15 is assigned one or two respective working outputs 2. Each valve unit 15 is designed to adjust the supply of the pressurized fluid at the working outlet or outlets 2 assigned to it. Conveniently, each valve unit 15 comprises a respective valve member 9 and a respective pilot portion 11.The valve unit 15 shown in FIG. 2 is exemplarily designed as a 5 / 2-way valve. The valve member can be moved into two different positions.In the first position (not shown in FIG. 2 ), the first working channel 16A is fluidically connected to the supply channel 6. The first working outlet 2A is aerated. The second working channel 16B is fluidically connected to the second exhaust air channel 7B. The second working output 2B is vented.In the second position (shown in FIG. 2 ), the first working channel 16A is fluidically connected to the first exhaust air channel 7A. The first working outlet 2A is vented. The second working channel 16B is fluidically connected to the supply channel 6. The second working outlet 2B is aerated.The valve arrangement 1 expediently comprises a control unit 25 which is arranged by way of example on the connection section 17. The control unit 25 is designed to actuate a valve unit 15, in particular a pilot control section 11, in order to set the associated valve member 9 into a predefined position. If a plurality of valve units 15 are present, the control unit 25 is in particular designed to actuate a plurality of or all of the valve units 15. The control unit 25 is expediently communicatively connected to the above-mentioned superordinate controller and receives from the latter the control command according to which the control unit 25 actuates one or more valve units 15.The fluidic actuator 3 is exemplarily designed as a fluidic drive, in particular as a fluidic linear drive. Expediently, the fluidic actuator 3 is a fluid cylinder, in particular a pneumatic cylinder.The fluidic actuator 3 has an actuator member 18 which can be set in motion by fluidic actuation of the actuator 3. The actuator member 18 comprises, by way of example, a piston 19 and optionally a piston rod 21.The fluidic actuator 3 comprises the at least one pressure chamber 22, which can be supplied with the pressure fluid via a working outlet 2 in order to set the actuator member 18 in motion. By way of example, the fluidic actuator 3 is a double-acting actuator, with the result that two pressure chambers are present, namely the first pressure chamber 22A and the second pressure chamber 22B.The actuator member 18 can be moved into two different positions by way of example: a first position (not shown in FIG. 1 ) in which the volume of the first pressure chamber 22A is at a maximum, and a second position (shown in FIG. 1 ) in which the volume of the second pressure chamber 22B is at a maximum. In the first position, the piston rod 21 is extended and in the second position, the piston rod 21 is retracted.By way of example, the actuator element 18 is moved into the first position by venting the first working outlet 2A and venting the second working outlet 2B, and into the second position by venting the first working outlet 2A and venting the second working outlet 2B. By way of example, the first position of the actuator member 18 is thus brought about by the first position of the valve member 9 and the second position of the actuator member 18 is brought about by the second position of the valve member 9.The fluidic system 20 comprises one or more sound transducers 4. Each sound transducer 4 is designed to detect acoustic oscillations of the pressure fluid, in particular alternating sound pressures of the fluid, and to convert them into the electrical sound signal. The sound signal is an electrical signal, for example an analog voltage signal. The electrical sound signal maps the detected alternating sound pressures as signal values over time. The sound transducer or transducers 4 in particular record the acoustic test signal and convert the acoustic test signal into the sound signal. Expediently, one, several or all sound transducers 4 are in direct contact with the pressure fluid. The sound transducer or transducers 4 are expediently microphones, for example electret microphones.By way of example, a respective sound transducer 4 is present for each working output 2 of each valve unit 15. As shown in FIG. 2, a first sound transducer 4A and a second sound transducer 4B are present by way of example for a valve unit 15. Alternatively, more or fewer sound transducers can be provided for one, more or all valve units 15.Expediently, in each of the first fluid line 28A and the third fluid line 28B there is a sound transducer 4A, 4B, in particular a microphone. Acoustic signal generator 26 is also located in second fluid line 28C. The two acoustic transducers 4A, 4B each receive the acoustic test signal output by acoustic signal generator 26 into second fluid line 28C as a function of the position of valve member 9. If the fluidic connection from the second fluid line 28C to the first fluid line 28A and / or the third fluid line 28B is closed on account of the position of the valve member 9, the acoustic test signal is shielded. By using the acoustic signal generator 26, it is expediently possible to determine the operating state, in particular to determine the position of the valve member 9, even in a non-pressurized state of the fluid line arrangement 28.According to one possible embodiment, the fluidic system comprises only one sound transducer, in particular only one microphone, in order to detect the operating state, in particular the valve member position. If two sound transducers, in particular two microphones, are present, the second sound transducer expediently serves to recognize an intermediate position of the valve member 9.There are various possibilities for providing the sound transducer or transducers 4 in the fluidic system 10. The various possibilities will be explained in detail below with reference to various exemplary configurations. The various configurations can be used alternatively to one another or in combination with one another. In the following explanation, reference is primarily made to a sound transducer 4. The following explanations expediently apply to further sound transducers, in particular to all sound transducers present in the fluidic system 20. In particular, the explanations apply to the first sound transducer 4A and the second sound transducer 4B.According to one configuration, at least one sound transducer 4 is arranged in or on a fluidic connection of the fluidic system 20. For example, a sound transducer 4 is arranged on or in a working channel 16, a fluid line 28A, 28B, 28C, the supply channel 6 or an exhaust air channel 7.According to a preferred embodiment (shown in FIG. 2 ), the sound transducer 4 is arranged on or in a fluid line 28A, 28B to a pressure chamber 22 of the actuator 3. Preferably, a sound transducer 4A, 4B is arranged on or in both fluid lines 28A, 28B to the two pressure chambers 22A, 22B.The first sound transducer 4A serves for detecting the acoustic test signal in the first fluid line 28A and the second sound transducer 4B serves for detecting the acoustic test signal in the third fluid line 28B.The sound transducer 4-here, for example, the two sound transducers 4A and 4B-are arranged in particular in the valve arrangement 1, preferably in the connection section 17. The sound transducers 4A, 4B are preferably integrated in the connection section 17 embodied as a connection plate. The sound transducers 4A, 4B are preferably arranged in or on the fluid line sections of the fluid lines 28A, 28B arranged in the connection section 17. Expediently, the connection section 17 comprises one or two sound transducers 4 for each valve unit 15.According to a further possible configuration (not shown in the figures), a sound transducer is arranged in a pressure chamber of the fluidic actuator. For example, a first sound transducer is arranged in the first pressure chamber and a second sound transducer is arranged in the second pressure chamber.According to a possible embodiment, the acoustic signal generator 26 is arranged in or on a fluidic connection of the fluidic system 20. For example, the acoustic signal generator 26 is arranged on or in the supply channel 6, a working channel 16, a fluid line 28A, 28B, 28C, or an exhaust air channel 7.The acoustic signal generator 26 is arranged in particular in the valve arrangement 1, preferably in the connection section 17. The acoustic signal generator 26 is preferably integrated in the connection section 17 designed as a connection plate. The acoustic signal generator 26 is preferably arranged in or on the fluid line section of the second fluid line 28C arranged in the connection section 17.According to a further possible configuration (not shown in the figures), the acoustic signal generator is arranged in a pressure chamber of the fluidic actuator.According to a preferred embodiment, the acoustic signal generator 26 is arranged in the second fluid line 28C-i.e. the fluid line to the pressure fluid source 32-and the acoustic test signal provided by the acoustic signal generator 26 serves to determine the operating state, in particular the valve member position, of a plurality of valve units 15, which are supplied together with the pressure fluid via the second fluid line 28C. In particular, for the operating state determination, in particular the valve member position determination, a plurality of or all valve units 15 of the valve arrangement 1, the acoustic test signal from only one acoustic signal generator 26 is used. Expediently, only one acoustic signal generator 26 is present for the valve arrangement 1.The evaluation unit 5 is preferably part of the control unit 25 and / or part of the above-mentioned superordinate control. Alternatively or additionally, the evaluation unit 5 can also be provided as an additional, in particular independent, device.The evaluation unit 5 is communicatively connected to the sound transducer arrangement and receives one or more electrical sound signals provided by the sound transducer arrangement. The evaluation unit 5 is designed to provide the evaluation information on the basis of one or more sound signals. Advantageously, the evaluation unit 5 is furthermore communicatively connected to the acoustic signal generator 26 and is in particular configured to electrically control the acoustic signal generator 26 in order to bring about the output of the acoustic test signal.The evaluation unit 5 is in particular configured to provide the evaluation information on the basis of the signal profile, the amplitude and / or the spectrum of the sound signal. The evaluation unit 5 is expediently designed to determine whether a specific signal characteristic of the acoustic test signal is present in the sound signal, and to provide the evaluation information item on the basis of this determination. For the provision of the evaluation information, the evaluation unit 5 can also take into account a control command and / or a control signal from the higher-order controller and / or the control unit 25 in addition to the sound signal. Advantageously, the evaluation unit 5 takes into account two sound signals for the provision of the evaluation information, which are provided by two separate sound transducers, for example the sound transducers 4A, 4B. The evaluation unit 5 is preferably designed to carry out a difference signal evaluation on the basis of sound signals from two separate sound transducers, for example by forming the difference between the two sound signals, and to provide the evaluation information on the basis of the difference signal evaluation.According to a preferred embodiment, the valve arrangement 1 comprises the connection section 17 and a plurality of valve units 15 arranged next to one another on the connection section 17, wherein the sound transducer 4 and / or the acoustic signal generator 26 is arranged in or on the connection section 17.FIGS. 3A to 4B show an exemplary embodiment in which the valve arrangement 1 comprises a plurality of valve units 15. The valve units 15 are exemplarily disk-shaped and may be referred to as disk modules. The valve units 15 are arranged next to one another in the x direction. The valve units 15 are each arranged in a row with their largest surface area by way of example. The valve units 15 are arranged on the connection section 17, for example on the largest surface of the connection section 17.The valve units 15 are respectively formed in correspondence with each other. By way of example, a plurality of or all of the valve units 15 can be configured as explained above. Each valve unit 15 has, by way of example, its own valve member 9, its own pilot section 11 and one or two working channels.According to a further possible embodiment, which is to be explained below with reference to FIGS. 4A, 4B and 5, the fluidic system comprises a sound module 23, which comprises the acoustic signal generator 26 and / or the sound transducer 4. The sound module 23 is expediently provided in addition to the valve arrangement 1 and / or in addition to the fluid line arrangement 28 and can be attached or removed as required to the valve arrangement 1 and / or the fluid line arrangement 28. The sound module 23 represents, for example, a retrofit solution. The sound module 23 can be designed as an add-on module 29, as shown by way of example in FIGS. 4A and 4B, or as an intermediate module 31, as shown in FIG. 5.First of all, the configuration shown in FIGS. 4A and 4B. Here, the sound module 23 is designed as an add-on module 29 and is attached to a fluid inlet and / or fluid outlet of the valve arrangement 1.By way of example, three attachment modules 29 are present-a first attachment module 29A, a second attachment module 29B and a third attachment module 29C. More or fewer than three mounting modules 29 can expediently also be present. The first attachment module 29A and the second attachment module 29B each comprise one or more sound transducers and can each also be referred to as a sound transducer attachment module. The third attachment module 29C includes the acoustic signal generator and may also be referred to as a signal generator attachment module.The attachment modules 29A, 29B are arranged, in particular fastened, at working exits 2 of the valve arrangement 1, by way of example at working exits 2 of the connection section 17. By way of example, the add-on modules 29A, 29B are fluidically connected between a respective working outlet 2 and a respective pressure chamber 22 of the fluidic actuator 3.The add-on module 29C is arranged at the supply inlet 33 of the valve arrangement, in particular of the connection section 17. The supply inlet 33 is fluidically connected to the supply channel 6. The attachment module 29C is fluidically connected between the supply inlet 33 and the pressurized fluid source 32.The sound transducer add-on modules 29A, 29B each have one or more add-on module outputs 24, to which a hose section for fluidic connection to the fluidic actuator can be connected. The acoustic transducer attachment modules 29A, 29B each provide, by way of example, a section of a fluid line to a respective pressure chamber 22. Preferably, the sound transducer attachment modules 29A, 29B are each connected between two (or more) working outputs 2 and two (or more) pressure chambers 22. Each acoustic transducer attachment module 29A, 29B may include one or more acoustic transducers. Each sound transducer attachment module 29A, 29B expediently has a housing in which one or more sound transducers are arranged.The attachment module 29C has an attachment module inlet 39 to which a hose section can be connected for fluidic connection to the pressurized fluid source 32. The attachment module 29C illustratively provides a portion of the fluid conduit 28C to the pressurized fluid source 32. The attachment module 29C expediently has a housing in which the acoustic signal generator 26 is arranged.Now regarding the embodiment shown in FIG. 5. Here, the sound module 23 is designed as an intermediate module 31. The intermediate module 31 serves to be inserted between at least two fluid line sections, for example between at least two hose sections, of the fluid line arrangement 28.The intermediate module 31 is expediently inserted between the hose sections of the fluid line arrangement 28. The intermediate module 31 is expediently arranged at a distance from the connection section 17, which is in particular embodied as a connection plate.The intermediate module 31 comprises, by way of example, an intermediate module housing 37 in which the acoustic signal generator 26, the first sound transducer 4A and the second sound transducer 4B are arranged. Furthermore, the intermediate module 31 comprises three module fluid lines-namely a first module fluid line 34A, a second module fluid line 34B, and a third module fluid line 34C-which run parallel to one another through the intermediate module housing 37. The first sound transducer 4A is arranged in or on the first module fluid line 34A, the second sound transducer 4A is arranged in or on the second module fluid line 34B, and the acoustic signal generator 26 is arranged in or on the third module fluid line 34C. As an alternative to the embodiment shown, the intermediate module 31 can also be configured only with one sound transducer. In this case, it is also expedient for only two module fluid lines to be present.The intermediate module 31 comprises a plurality of fluid line connections which are arranged in particular on the outside of the housing and which are designed in particular as hose connections and are fluidically connected to the module fluid lines 34A, 34B, 34C. Thus, the first module fluid line 34A opens out at a first fluid line connection 35A and a second fluid line connection 36A of the intermediate module 31. The second module fluid line 34B opens out at a third fluid line connection 35B and a fourth fluid line connection 36B of the intermediate module 31. The third module fluid line 34C opens out at a fifth fluid line connection 35C and a sixth fluid line connection 36C of the intermediate module 31.Expediently, the first fluid line connection 35A is fluidically connected to the first working outlet 2A via a hose section and the second fluid line connection 36A is fluidically connected to the first pressure chamber 22A via a further hose section. Furthermore, the third fluid line connection 35B is fluidically connected to the second working outlet 2B via a further hose section, and the fourth fluid line connection 36B is fluidically connected to the second pressure chamber 22B via a further hose section. Furthermore, the fifth fluid line connection 35C is fluidically connected to the supply inlet 33 via a further hose section, and the sixth fluid line connection 36C is fluidically connected to the pressurized fluid source 32 via a further hose section.The intermediate module 31 further comprises a communication unit 38 communicatively connected to the sound transducers 4A, 4B and the acoustic signal generator 26.According to a further embodiment, the fluidic system comprises at least two acoustic signal generators. Each acoustic signal generator is expediently designed to generate a respective acoustic test signal which differs from the acoustic test signal of the respective other acoustic signal generator. Consequently, the test signals of different signal generators differ from one another. Expediently, there is a clear association between a respective acoustic signal generator and the acoustic test signal output by this acoustic signal generator. The evaluation unit 5 preferably recognizes on the basis of the acoustic test signal from which acoustic signal generator the acoustic test signal was output, and expediently provides the evaluation information taking this recognition into account.According to a further embodiment, the sound transducer 4 is designed to output the acoustic test signal. Alternatively or additionally, the acoustic signal generator 26 is designed to record the acoustic test signal and to provide the electrical sound signal on the basis of the recorded acoustic test signal. Expediently, the sound transducer 4 and / or the signal generator 26 can each be used selectively for outputting the test signal or for detecting the test signal. For example, in a first operating mode of the fluidic system, the signal generator 26 is used to output the acoustic test signal and the sound transducer 4 is used to record the acoustic test signal. Furthermore, in a second operating mode of the fluidic system, the sound transducer 4 is used to output the acoustic test signal and the acoustic signal generator 26 is used to record the acoustic test signal. The sound transducer 4 and the acoustic signal generator 26 can expediently each be selectively operated for the output of the test signal or for the detection of the test signal. According to one possible embodiment, the acoustic signal generator 26 and the sound transducer 4 are of identical construction.According to a further embodiment, the evaluation unit 5 is provided by an external server, in particular a cloud server.

Claims

Fluidic system (10, 20) comprising: - a fluid line arrangement (28) for conducting a pressurized fluid, - a valve arrangement (1) having a valve unit (15) which is fluidically connected to the fluid line arrangement (28), - at least two acoustic signal generators, wherein each acoustic signal generator is configured to generate a respective acoustic test signal which differs from the acoustic test signal of the respective other acoustic signal generator, - a sound transducer (4) which is configured to record the respective acoustic test signal and to provide an electrical sound signal on the basis of the recorded respective acoustic test signal, - an evaluation unit (5) which is configured to provide evaluation information on the basis of the electrical sound signal which indicates an operating state of the valve arrangement (1), - a sound module (23) which comprises at least one acoustic signal generator (26) and / or the sound transducer (4), wherein the sound module (23) is designed as an add-on module (29) and is attached to a fluid inlet and / or fluid outlet of the valve arrangement (1).Fluidic system (10, 20) comprising: - a fluid line arrangement (28) for conducting a pressurized fluid, - a valve arrangement (1) having a valve unit (15) which is fluidically connected to the fluid line arrangement (28), - at least two acoustic signal generators, wherein each acoustic signal generator is configured to generate a respective acoustic test signal which differs from the acoustic test signal of the respective other acoustic signal generator, - a sound transducer (4) which is configured to record the respective acoustic test signal and to provide an electrical sound signal on the basis of the recorded respective acoustic test signal, - an evaluation unit (5) which is configured to provide evaluation information on the basis of the electrical sound signal which indicates an operating state of the valve arrangement (1), - a sound module (23) which comprises at least one acoustic signal generator (26) and / or the sound transducer (4), wherein the acoustic module is designed as an intermediate module (31) and is inserted between two fluid line sections of the fluid line arrangement (28).Fluidic system (10, 20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the operating state comprises a position of a valve member (9) of the valve unit (15).Fluidic system (10, 20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the operating state comprises a fault state and / or a pressurized fluid flow provided by the valve unit (1).Fluidic system (10, 20) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the acoustic signal generator (26) comprises a loudspeaker for outputting the acoustic test signal.Fluidic system (10, 20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the fluid line arrangement (28) comprises a first fluid line (28A) and a second fluid line (28C), the valve unit (15) is connected between the first fluid line (28A) and the second fluid line (28C), the acoustic signal generator (26) is configured to output the acoustic test signal into the second fluid line (28C) and / or the acoustic transducer (4) is configured to detect the acoustic test signal in the first fluid line (28A).The fluidic system (10, 20) according to claim 6, wherein the second fluid line (28C) is a supply line configured to supply the pressurized fluid from a pressurized fluid source (32) to the valve unit (15).The fluidic system (10, 20) according to claim 6 or 7, wherein the first fluid line (28A) is a working line configured to supply the pressurized fluid from the valve unit (15) to a pressure chamber assembly (22).Fluidic system (20) according to any preceding claim, wherein the valve arrangement (1) has a connection section (17) and a plurality of valve units (15) arranged next to one another on the connection section (17), wherein the sound transducer (4) and / or the acoustic signal generator (26) is arranged in or on the connection section (17).Fluidic system according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the sound transducer (4) is further configured to output the acoustic test signal and / or the acoustic signal generator is further configured to detect the acoustic test signal and provide the electrical sound signal on the basis of the detected acoustic test signal.Method for determining an operating state of a valve arrangement (1), wherein the method is carried out with a fluidic system (10) according to one of claims 1 to 9, comprising the steps of: - outputting an acoustic test signal into a fluid line arrangement (28) which is fluidically connected to the valve arrangement (1), - detecting the acoustic test signal, - providing an electrical sound signal on the basis of the detected acoustic test signal, - providing, on the basis of the electrical sound signal, an evaluation information item which indicates the operating state of the valve arrangement (1).

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