Device for venting a hydraulic system

Abstract

Device for venting (10) fluids (31) in hydraulic systems, comprising a check valve (20) at the highest point of the fluid circuit (30), comprising a semipermeable membrane (40), wherein a ball of the check valve is designed as a float (21), a fluid separation chamber (50) adjoins the check valve (20) in the fluid flow direction, and the outlet of the fluid separation chamber (50) has the semipermeable membrane (40), which is designed to be gas-permeable in the outflow direction (41) at the end of the fluid separation chamber (50), wherein the semipermeable membrane (40) is fluid-impermeable in the outflow direction (41), wherein the semipermeable membrane (40) is gas-impermeable and fluid-impermeable in the inflow direction (42), characterized in that the fluid separation chamber (50) is designed such that the remaining fluid can be removed.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a device for venting a hydraulic system according to claim 1.

[0002] A device for venting a hydraulic system enables the separation of gas from a fluid in a hydraulic system and subsequent targeted gas release to the environment.

[0003] Vents for hydraulic systems that feature a membrane are known from the prior art. Such a membrane is designed to be gas-permeable in the outflow direction but fluid-impermeable. In the inflow direction, the membrane is both gas-impermeable and fluid-impermeable. Such a membrane is disclosed, for example, in DE 10 2015 014 496 A1.

[0004] Furthermore, venting systems that include a check valve are known. In DE 198 50 910 A1, gas can pass through the check valve's ball, while fluid, due to its viscosity, presses the ball into the valve seat.

[0005] Another venting system comprising a check valve is known from WO 2008 / 118 086 A1. Gas can escape through the check valve, creating a vacuum. This vacuum causes a separation of gas and fluid. DE 20 2011 104 284 U1 discloses a device for venting fluids in hydraulic systems. The device has a check valve at the highest point of the fluid circuit. The ball of the check valve is designed as a float and is connected in the direction of fluid flow to a fluid separation chamber whose outlet has a semipermeable membrane. Finally, DE 10 2019 123 531 A1 discloses the subject matter of the preamble of claim 1.

[0006] An object of the invention is to provide improved venting of the fluid of a hydraulic system.

[0007] The object of the invention is achieved by the device according to claim 1. A check valve, the ball of which is designed as a float, a fluid separation chamber, and a semi-permeable membrane for venting a hydraulic system are provided.

[0008] One advantage of the described device is that the separation of fluid and gas is more reliable. The interlinking of different separation mechanisms enables almost complete separation of fluid and gas.

[0009] The device is designed to connect a fluid separation chamber to the check valve. Due to the separation mechanisms upstream of the semipermeable membrane, the semipermeable membrane at the labyrinth outlet is primarily exposed to gas, thereby reducing the demands placed on the semipermeable membrane.

[0010] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to a figure. It shows Fig. 1 a schematic representation of the device for venting a hydraulic system.

[0011] Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematic representation of a device 10 for venting a hydraulic system. This device consists of a check valve 20, a fluid separation chamber 50, and a semipermeable membrane 40.

[0012] The venting device 10 is located at the highest point of the fluid circuit 30. The highest point is defined as the point in the fluid circuit 30 that is farthest from the earth's surface. For this reason, the gas collects at this point.

[0013] A fluid 31 is located in the fluid circuit 30. The fluid 31 is subjected to a defined normal pressure in the fluid circuit 30.

[0014] Gas which enters the fluid 31, for example due to cavitation, is separated from the fluid 31 by the venting device 10 and, after separation, is removed from the hydraulic system.

[0015] If gas is present in the fluid 31, the pressure drops, causing the ball of the check valve 20, which is designed as a float 21, to sink into the fluid flow. The sinking of the float 21 causes a flow perpendicular to the flow in the fluid circuit 30.

[0016] The check valve 20, comprising the float 21 and a spring 22, is designed such that the fluid flow generated by the lowered float 21 can flow through the check valve 20.

[0017] The fluid then flows past the check valve 20 into a fluid separation chamber 50. This chamber is designed as a labyrinth 51. Labyrinth walls are arranged such that the fluid 31 flows in a meandering stream through the labyrinth 51. When the fluid 31 encounters one of the labyrinth walls, the fluid 31 separates the gas trapped within the fluid 31.

[0018] A semipermeable membrane 40 is arranged at the end of the labyrinth 51. The semipermeable membrane 40 is gas-permeable and fluid-impermeable in the outflow direction 41. In the inflow direction 42, the semipermeable membrane 40 is both gas-impermeable and fluid-impermeable. The gas that was separated from the fluid 31 in the labyrinth 51 escapes through the semipermeable membrane 40.

[0019] The fluid 31, which is separated from the gas, collects in the labyrinth 51. The labyrinth 51 is designed to be emptied, for example with a removable reservoir (not shown).

[0020] The spring rate of spring 22 in check valve 20 is adjusted such that, at a defined normal pressure in fluid circuit 30, float 22 is pressed into the valve seat of check valve 20. Check valve 20 seals fluid circuit 30 in this setting.

[0021] In summary, the invention proposes an advanced device for venting hydraulic systems. A fluid separation chamber is connected to a check valve, whose float-shaped valve ball causes a flow through the check valve. The chamber is sealed at its end by a semipermeable membrane.

[0022] The person skilled in the art will suitably modify or combine the embodiments described above without deviating from the essence of the invention.

Claims

[1] Device for venting (10) fluids (31) in hydraulic systems, comprising a check valve (20) at the highest point of the fluid circuit (30), comprising a semipermeable membrane (40), wherein a ball of the check valve is designed as a float (21), a fluid separation chamber (50) adjoins the check valve (20) in the fluid flow direction, and the outlet of the fluid separation chamber (50) has the semipermeable membrane (40), which is designed to be gas-permeable in the outflow direction (41) at the end of the fluid separation chamber (50), wherein the semipermeable membrane (40) is fluid-impermeable in the outflow direction (41), wherein the semipermeable membrane (40) is designed to be gas-impermeable and fluid-impermeable in the inflow direction (42), characterized by that the fluid separation chamber (50) is designed such that the remaining fluid can be removed. [2] Device according to claim 1, characterized byin that the check valve (20) comprises a spring (22), wherein the spring force of the spring (22) is adjusted such that the pressure in the hydraulic system presses the float (21) into the valve seat of the check valve (20), so that the check valve (20) seals the hydraulic system. [3] Device according to claim 2, characterized by that the spring (22) is adjusted such that the float (21) sinks when the pressure in the fluid (31) decreases, thereby creating a flow perpendicular to the fluid circuit flow direction. [4] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the check valve (20) is designed such that the fluid (31) flows through the check valve (20) into the fluid separation chamber (50). [5] Device according to one of the preceding claims, characterized bythat the fluid separation chamber (50) is designed as a labyrinth (51) so that fluid (31) flows through the labyrinth (51) in a meandering streamline. [6] Vehicle comprising a device for venting (10) a hydraulic system according to one of the preceding claims.

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