Fluid device

Abstract

Fluid device, with a valve chamber (13) formed in a device housing (4) and extending along a device main axis (5), in which a valve member (34) is arranged, which can be switched between a closed position and an open position by controlled fluid application while executing a switching movement (35) oriented in the axial direction of the device's main axis (5) relative to the device housing (4), wherein the valve chamber (13) has on a front side (16) an inlet chamber section (14) communicating with an inlet channel (2) provided for feeding a fluidic pressure medium and on an axially opposite rear side (17) an outlet chamber section (15) communicating with an outlet channel (3) provided for discharging a fluidic pressure medium, wherein the inlet chamber section (14) of the valve chamber (13) is delimited at its rear side facing the outlet chamber section (15) by a partition wall (42) in which an axial through-opening (46) is formed, opening into the inlet chamber section (14) and framed by a valve seat (47), which is assigned a closure section (52) of the valve member (34), which has an annular closure surface (56) axially facing the valve seat (47), which in the closed position of the valve member (34) lies sealingly against the valve seat (47) while closing the through opening (46) and is lifted off the valve seat (47) in the open position of the valve member (34), wherein an axially extending flow channel (61) is formed in the valve member (34), which, on the one hand, opens into the outlet chamber section (15) at a boundary section (45) of the valve member (34) delimiting the outlet chamber section (15) of the valve chamber (23) with at least one rear channel opening (64), so that it communicates with the outlet channel (3) regardless of the position of the valve member (34), and which, on the other hand, opens out axially adjacent to the annular closure surface (56) of the closure section (52) on an outer surface of the valve member (34) with at least one front channel opening (66), which is separated from the inlet chamber section (14) in a fluid-tight manner in the closed position of the valve member (34) and which is fluidically connected to the inlet chamber section (14) in the open position of the valve member (34) in order to direct a fluid flow from the inlet chamber section (14) into the outlet chamber section (15) through the flow channel (61). make possible, characterized by that the axial through-opening (46) is framed by the valve seat (47) on its front side facing the inlet chamber section (14), wherein the axial through-opening (46) is penetrated by the closure section (52) which projects through the axial through-opening (46) into the inlet chamber section (14) and has the annular closure surface (56) within the inlet chamber section (14).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fluid device, comprising a valve chamber formed in a device housing and extending along a device main axis, in which a valve member is arranged which can be switched between a closed position and an open position by controlled fluid application while executing a switching movement oriented in the axial direction of the device main axis relative to the device housing, wherein the valve chamber has, on a front side, an inlet chamber section communicating with an inlet channel provided for feeding in a fluidic pressure medium, and, on an axially opposite rear side, an outlet chamber section communicating with an outlet channel provided for discharging a fluidic pressure medium, wherein the inlet chamber section of the valve chamber is delimited by a partition wall on its rear side facing the outlet chamber section,in which an axial through-opening is formed, which opens into the inlet chamber section and is framed by a valve seat, to which a closure section of the valve member is assigned, which closure section has an annular closure surface axially facing the valve seat, which in the closed position of the valve member lies sealingly against the valve seat, closing the through-opening, and is lifted off the valve seat in the open position of the valve member, wherein an axially extending flow channel is formed in the valve member, which on the one hand opens into the outlet chamber section at a boundary section of the valve member delimiting the outlet chamber section of the valve chamber with at least one rear channel opening,so that it communicates with the outlet channel independently of the position of the valve member and which, on the other hand, opens axially adjacent to the annular closure surface of the closure section on an outer surface of the valve member with at least one front channel opening, which is fluid-tightly separated from the inlet chamber section in the closed position of the valve member and which is fluidically connected to the inlet chamber section in the open position of the valve member in order to enable a fluid flow through the flow channel from the inlet chamber section into the outlet chamber section.

[0002] A fluid device of this type, known from US 4,549,854 A, is designed as an ejector device suitable for vacuum generation. It has a valve member arranged in a device housing and positionable selectively in an open or closed position by controlled fluid application. The valve member is located in a valve chamber into which a fluidic pressure medium in the form of compressed air can be fed at a front side via an inlet channel into an inlet chamber section. When the valve member is in the open position, this fluid pressure medium passes through the valve member into an outlet chamber section of the valve chamber, into which an outlet channel leading to the atmosphere opens. The outlet channel defines the drive nozzle of a vacuum suction nozzle device, so that compressed air flowing through it can generate a negative pressure at a suction channel communicating with the drive nozzle.The valve element has a closure section that borders the outlet chamber section and is provided with a seal on its front side. When the valve element is in the closed position, it rests against a valve seat surrounding the mouth of the outlet channel and is lifted off this valve seat when the valve element is in the open position. This allows the compressed air passing through the valve element to flow into the outlet channel when the valve element is in the open position, while it is prevented from flowing out of the outlet chamber section when the valve element is in the closed position. A changeover valve is responsible for the fluidic control of the valve element. This valve can be pressurised with control pressure either in the open or closed position. If the control pressure fails when the valve element is in the closed position due to a fault, the closed position can no longer be reliably guaranteed, which could lead to malfunctions.

[0003] US 2010 / 0009 223 A1 discloses a fuel cell system comprising: a plurality of fuel cells, each comprising an anode and a cathode, wherein the plurality of fuel cells are arranged adjacent to each other to form a fuel cell stack, and the fuel cell stack comprises conduits for anode supply gas, anode exhaust gas, and cathode supply gas, cathode exhaust gas; and an end plate at one end of the stack; wherein the end plate comprises a first fluid channel connected to the anode supply gas conduit and a second fluid channel connected to the anode exhaust gas conduit.

[0004] US 2014 / 0 045 083 A1 discloses a recirculation device for a fuel cell, comprising a body comprising at least a first passage for receiving exhaust gases and at least a second passage for receiving fuel and at least a third passage for receiving a mixture of the exhaust gases and the fuel and a longitudinal axis extending from the second passage to the third passage.The device may further comprise a nozzle having an internal cavity for directing fuel to an orifice located at the smallest cross-sectional area of ​​the internal cavity, and a piston slidably disposed within the body and having a first end configured to receive the fuel and a second end configured to supply the fuel to the cavity of the nozzle, the piston being operable along the longitudinal axis of the body by the exhaust gas controlling the flow of fuel through the orifice.

[0005] DE 10 2016 203 171 B3 discloses a suction holding device comprising a suction holder containing a housing and a control body movable relative to the housing. The housing defines a working chamber having a working opening that can be covered by an object to be held. A suction channel extends through the control body, to which a vacuum source is connected. The control body can be positioned such that the suction channel either communicates with the working chamber when the control body is in a suction position or is separated from the working chamber when the control body is in a shut-off position. The control body is movable while assuming and maintaining the shut-off position, so that the volume of the working chamber increases and the vacuum therein increases.

[0006] From SU 1 081 369 A1 a vertical ejector is known, consisting of a mixing chamber, a diffuser, a branch pipe for supplying an active medium, an active nozzle, a cylindrical chamber arranged coaxially thereto and a rod arranged axially displaceably therein with a locking and shut-off element at the lower end which blocks the active nozzle, wherein in order to increase the efficiency the piston is arranged axially displaceably on the rod and the rod is provided with interconnected axial and radial channels and an additional shut-off element at its upper end which blocks the branch pipe for the supply of the active medium.

[0007] EP 2 078 890 A1 discloses a valve unit comprising a valve member with a drive piston and a closure body. The closure body is seated on a control shaft projecting from the drive piston, the control shaft passing through a passage arranged between an inlet and an outlet. The fluid supplied via the inlet acts on the valve member in the closing direction.

[0008] CN 217 652 980 U discloses a reversible aerodynamic pump that efficiently uses compressed air as energy. For this purpose, it has a switchable circulation channel and a pumping device with a compressed air inlet. The main body structure of the pumping device includes a main body section and a plug-in section. The main body section includes an air inlet valve, a mounting base, a guide channel, a commutator, a safety valve, and a silencer, and the plug-in section includes a guide channel and a safety float. The plug-in section is inserted into the container and secured to the container via the mounting base. The pumping device is opened and closed by controlling the air inlet valve, and the circulation channel is switched via the inverter. Since the container does not have an electric drive, it can be used in environments with explosion-proof requirements.Compressed air is used as a drive so that the container can create a vacuum or positive pressure to suck or expel objects such as fine and light solid particles, powders and liquids into or out of the container.

[0009] The invention is based on the object of creating a fluid device which, with a compact design, ensures reliable control of the flow of a fluid pressure medium.

[0010] This object is achieved with the features of claim 1. It is provided that the axial through-opening is framed by the valve seat on its front side facing the inlet chamber section, wherein the axial through-opening is penetrated by the closure section, which projects through the axial through-opening into the inlet chamber section and has the annular closure surface within the inlet chamber section.

[0011] The fluid device according to the invention enables the control of a fluid flow, in particular a compressed air flow, between an inlet chamber section connected to an inlet channel and an outlet chamber section of the valve chamber connected to an outlet channel. The pressure medium whose flow is to be controlled can be fed via the inlet channel into the inlet chamber section, which is delimited at the rear by a partition wall fixed to the housing and penetrated by a through-opening through which the valve member projects with a closure section arranged on its front side. The closure section has an axially oriented annular closure surface which, in the closed position of the valve member, rests against a valve seat of the partition wall surrounding the through-opening and, in the open position of the valve member, is lifted off this valve seat.A flow channel passing through the valve member opens at a boundary section of the valve member that delimits the outlet chamber section, such that it is fluidically connected to the outlet chamber section regardless of the position of the valve member (hereinafter also referred to as the switching position). At least one front channel opening of the flow channel is positioned in the region of the closure section such that it is located behind the annular closure surface, i.e., on the side of the closure surface facing the outlet chamber section. In this way, the at least one front channel opening is fluid-tightly sealed off from the inlet chamber section when the valve member is in the closed position.In the open position of the valve member, however, in which the closure surface is spaced from the valve member, an open fluid connection exists between the inlet chamber section and the at least one front channel opening, allowing the supplied pressure medium to flow through the flow channel of the valve member from the inlet chamber section into the outlet chamber section and ultimately exit the valve chamber through the outlet channel. The valve member is constantly subjected to axial rearward pressure from the pressure medium located in the inlet chamber section and is thus fluidically preloaded towards the closed position, so that in order to specify or change the switching position, it is sufficient to apply a more or less high fluidic drive pressure to the valve member in the opposite direction.In the event of an unwanted loss of drive pressure, the controlled fluid pressure medium can hold the valve element in a secure closed position. The fluid device can be realized in a slim design because the inlet and outlet of the controlled pressure medium can be located in the same axial direction as the main axis of the device, making it an inline fluid device.

[0012] Advantageous further developments of the invention emerge from the subclaims.

[0013] The fluid device opens up a wide range of possible applications. For universal use, a valve device with a 2 / 2-way valve function is recommended. For the controlled fluid supply to the valve element, an electrically actuated pilot valve can also be provided, which offers the advantageous option of operating the valve device as an amplifier or "booster." A further advantageous configuration of the fluid device is an ejector device that can be used to generate a vacuum. In this case, in addition to the features already described, the fluid device has a vacuum suction nozzle device that includes a drive nozzle formed by the outlet channel, a collecting nozzle in a suction area opposite the drive nozzle in the axial direction of the device's main axis and opening into the atmosphere, and a suction channel connected to the suction area.In the open position, the fluidic pressure medium, in particular compressed air, fed into the inlet chamber section can pass through the flow channel of the valve member and then through the drive nozzle formed by the outlet channel. A negative pressure is generated in the suction area located between the drive nozzle and the collecting nozzle, which creates a suction effect in a connected suction channel and draws in ambient air, which is then expelled through the collecting nozzle to the atmosphere together with the fluidic pressure medium. For example, a suction gripper can be connected to the suction channel, enabling the handling of objects using negative pressure.

[0014] The flow channel of the valve member can open at its front side with just a single or with multiple front channel openings to an outer surface of the valve member. It is advantageous if each front channel opening is formed radially outward on the closure section of the valve member. Pressure medium located in the inlet chamber section can therefore flow axially past the front region of the closure section when the valve member is in the open position and then enter the flow channel radially inward through the at least one front channel opening. The flow channel preferably opens to the outside of the valve member with multiple, and in particular with three or four, front channel openings distributed in the circumferential direction of the closure section.

[0015] Each front channel opening is arranged on the closure section in such a way that, in the open position of the valve member, it is positioned at least partially in front of the axial through-opening of the partition wall within the inlet chamber section of the valve chamber. At least part of the opening cross-section of each channel opening thus lies within the inlet chamber section in the open position of the valve member. A configuration is possible in which at least one, and preferably each front channel opening, lies with its full opening cross-section within the inlet chamber section in the open position of the valve member.However, a design is preferred in which the mouth cross-section of each front channel mouth is arranged only partially within the inlet chamber section and otherwise within the axial through-opening of the partition wall, wherein a radial distance existing between each channel mouth and the inner circumferential surface of the through-opening expediently promotes an inflow of the pressure medium despite the existing axial overlap between the respective channel mouth and the partition wall.

[0016] The inlet channel is preferably formed in the device housing such that it opens into the inlet chamber section of the valve chamber with an inner inlet channel opening in a region opposite the axial through-opening of the partition in the axial direction of the device's main axis. The inlet channel opening and the axial through-opening of the partition are preferably arranged coaxially to one another. An outer inlet channel opening of the inlet channel, opposite the inner inlet channel opening, is preferably arranged on an outer surface of the device housing in a coaxial alignment with the inner inlet channel opening. It can, in particular, be designed such that a fluid line, for example a pressure medium hose, carrying the fluidic pressure medium can be connected.

[0017] To create the annular closure surface, it is advantageous if the closure section has a rubber-elastic sealing ring located in the inlet chamber section, regardless of the switching position of the valve member. The sealing ring has an annular axial end face facing the valve seat, which forms the closure surface. For ease of differentiation, this sealing ring is also referred to as a closure sealing ring. The valve member expediently has an elongated, rigid base body extending in the axial direction of the device's main axis, with the closure sealing ring expediently being fixed in a radially outwardly open annular groove on an axial extension of the base body of the valve member that projects into the inlet chamber section. The closure surface is formed by the annular section of the sealing ring that projects radially beyond the base body.

[0018] The outlet channel is preferably designed such that it opens into the outlet chamber section of the valve chamber via an inner outlet channel opening in a region opposite the boundary section of the valve member in the axial direction of the device's main axis. The inner outlet channel opening is preferably arranged coaxially with the aforementioned inner inlet channel opening. The flow channel of the valve member preferably also extends coaxially with the inlet channel opening and the outlet channel opening.

[0019] The limiting section of the valve member is preferably a rear end section of the valve member axially opposite the closure section. The rear channel opening of the flow channel is expediently formed on the axial end face of the limiting section axially facing away from the partition wall. It is advantageous if this rear channel opening of the flow channel is aligned coaxially with the aforementioned inner outlet channel opening, so that a pressure medium exiting the rear of the flow channel can enter the outlet channel in a straight line and thus with optimal flow.

[0020] The limiting section of the valve member expediently has a rubber-elastic sealing ring, referred to as a limiting sealing ring for easier differentiation, which, with a sealing effect, slides against the inner circumferential surface of a peripheral valve chamber wall fixed to the device housing and radially delimits the valve chamber. This effectively prevents pressure medium located in the inlet chamber section from flowing around the outside of the valve member into areas of the valve chamber located between the inlet chamber section and the outlet chamber section. If the valve member has a rigid base body, it is expedient for the limiting sealing ring to be fixed in an annular groove of this rigid base body that is open radially outward.

[0021] By controlled fluid application to the valve element, it is possible to influence which of the two possible switching positions, either the open position or the closed position, the valve element assumes. For this control, which can also be referred to as pilot control, the valve element has an annular drive surface on its radial outer circumference facing the rear of the valve chamber, which can be acted upon in a controlled manner by a drive fluid, also referred to as pilot fluid. The annular drive surface is located in an intermediate section of the valve element, which extends on the side of the partition wall between the closure section and the limiting section axially opposite the inlet chamber section.The drive surface follows the switching movement of the valve member and acts as a movable axial boundary wall of an annular space surrounding the valve member, which is referred to as the annular drive chamber and which communicates with a fluid channel referred to as the drive channel, which is formed in the device housing. A drive fluid can be optionally supplied or discharged through the drive channel in order to apply drive pressure to the drive surface or to relieve it of pressure. When the drive pressure is applied, the valve member moves into the open position and remains there as long as the drive pressure is applied. As soon as the drive pressure is removed by venting the drive chamber, the valve member can be moved into the closed position by the operating pressure of the fluid pressure medium present in the inlet chamber section and held there until the drive chamber is pressurized again.

[0022] Preferably, an electrically actuated pilot valve with a 3 / 2-way valve function is connected to the drive channel. This pilot valve is expediently designed as a component of the fluid device.

[0023] On the rear side axially opposite the partition wall, the annular drive chamber is conveniently separated from the outlet chamber section of the valve chamber in a fluid-tight manner by the optional rubber-elastic limiting sealing ring. This makes it easy to prevent mutual pressure influences between the drive chamber and the outlet chamber section.

[0024] Preferably, the annular drive surface is formed at least partially on a rubber-elastic sealing ring of the intermediate section of the valve member, referred to as a drive sealing ring for ease of differentiation. The drive sealing ring follows the switching movement of the valve member, being able to slide along the inner circumferential surface of a peripheral valve chamber wall fixed to the device housing, which radially defines the valve chamber on the outside, against which it rests in a sealing manner.

[0025] The valve member preferably has a rigid base body as mentioned above. In this context, it is expedient for the drive sealing ring to be fixed in a radially outwardly open annular groove of the rigid base body. The drive sealing ring is expediently received with the majority of its radial thickness in the associated annular groove, so that it can be supported on a groove flank of the annular groove to transmit a drive force when it is acted upon by the drive fluid at its annular end face facing the rear of the valve chamber, which functions as the drive surface.

[0026] Preferably, the intermediate section of the valve member has a rubber-elastic sealing ring, referred to as a reset sealing ring, in the longitudinal section located between the partition wall and the drive sealing ring. This sealing ring bears slidably against the inner circumferential surface of a peripheral valve chamber wall fixed to the device housing, which radially defines the valve chamber on the outside. Together with this peripheral valve chamber wall and the partition wall, the reset sealing ring defines a section of the valve chamber referred to as the reset chamber section. This section adjoins the partition wall at the rear and, in the open position of the valve member, is fluidly connected to the inlet chamber section via the through-opening of the partition wall.Such a design has the effect that, in the open position of the valve member, the fluid pressure medium fed in via the inlet channel is also present in the return chamber section and acts on the annular end face of the return sealing ring facing the partition wall, referred to as the return surface, whereby the closing process is supported and accelerated when the annular drive chamber is vented.

[0027] For cost-effective production, it is advantageous if the valve chamber is delimited radially on the outside by a peripheral valve chamber wall formed by a sleeve arrangement that is separate from the device housing and inserted into the device housing. This sleeve arrangement also has the partition wall. A statically sealing sealing arrangement is expediently placed between the sleeve arrangement and the valve chamber and is preferably fixed to the sleeve arrangement. The sleeve arrangement enables cost-effective realization of complex geometric structures of the valve chamber and can be manufactured, for example, by injection molding. A simply contoured receiving recess can be formed in the device housing, into which the sleeve arrangement can be axially inserted during assembly. The sleeve arrangement can have only a single sleeve or, preferably, several sleeve elements arranged coaxially one behind the other.When designed as an ejector device, a sleeve element can in particular form the drive nozzle.

[0028] In a fluid device designed as an ejector device, the sleeve arrangement can be combined simply and cost-effectively with a suction nozzle cartridge that at least partially defines the vacuum suction nozzle device and can be inserted into the device housing.

[0029] The partition wall is preferably designed in the shape of an annular disk. In this case, a simple and short wall opening can define the axial through-opening. Such a partition wall design can be particularly advantageously implemented as an integral component of a sleeve assembly, for example, manufactured by injection molding.

[0030] The invention is explained in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings, which show: Fig. 1 a preferred design of the fluid device according to the invention in a longitudinal section with the valve member positioned in a closed position, wherein a section framed by a dashed line is shown separately and again enlarged, and Fig. 2 the same fluid device as in Fig. 1 again in a longitudinal section, wherein the valve member is shown in an open position and wherein a section framed by a dot-dashed line is also illustrated separately and enlarged.

[0031] The drawing shows a fluid device 1 designed to control the flow of a fluid pressure medium between an inlet channel 2 and an outlet channel 3. The fluid pressure medium is, in particular, compressed air.

[0032] The fluid device 1 has a block-shaped device housing 4, for example, in which the inlet channel 2 and the outlet channel 3 are each at least partially formed. Preferably, the two aforementioned channels 2, 3 are located coaxially with an axial distance from one another on a main device axis 5 of the device housing 4, indicated by a dash-dotted line. For simplicity, the axial direction of the main device axis 5 is also referred to below as the main device direction 5a.

[0033] During operation of the fluid device 1, the inlet channel 2 is connected to a pressure source P providing the fluidic pressure medium. Connection means 8 assigned to the inlet channel 2 allow, by way of example, the connection of a schematically indicated fluid line 6 leading to the pressure source P. The inlet channel 2 opens with an outer inlet channel opening 2a to an outer surface 12 of the device housing 4.

[0034] During operation of the fluid device 1, the outlet channel 3 is connected to a pressure sink R, in particular to the atmosphere. This can be achieved by directly connecting the outlet channel 3 to an outer outlet channel opening 3a, or preferably through a silencer 7 (only indicated here), which can be fixed in the region of the outer outlet channel opening 3a to the connecting means 9 associated with the outlet channel 3. Alternatively, the outflowing pressure medium can also be channeled to the pressure sink R via a fluid line.

[0035] The connecting means 8, 9 are, for example, an internal thread or a plug-in connection device inserted into the respective channel 2, 3.

[0036] A valve chamber 13 extending in the main device direction 5a is formed inside the device housing 4. The valve chamber 13 has an inlet chamber section 14 and an outlet chamber section 15 spaced apart from it in the main device direction 5a. The inlet chamber section 14 is associated with a front side 16, and the outlet chamber section 15 is associated with a rear side 17 of the valve chamber 13.

[0037] The inlet chamber section 14 is in constant fluid communication with the inlet channel 2. For example, the inlet channel 2 opens into the front of the inlet chamber section 14 with an inner inlet channel opening 2b spaced from the outer inlet channel opening 2a in a coaxial arrangement with respect to the main axis 5 of the device.

[0038] The outlet channel 3 opens into the outlet chamber section 15 at the rear with an inner outlet channel opening 3b which is preferably also coaxial with the main axis 5 of the device.

[0039] The drawing illustrates a fluid device 1 designed as an ejector device 1a, which is a preferred embodiment of the fluid device 1. In this embodiment, a vacuum suction nozzle device 18 is arranged in the device housing 2 in the axial extension of the valve chamber 13, which is penetrated by a longitudinal section of the outlet channel 3, so that the inner outlet channel opening 3b can be a component of the vacuum suction nozzle device 18.

[0040] The vacuum suction nozzle device 18 has a drive nozzle 22, which is formed by a longitudinal section of the outlet channel 3 adjoining the outlet chamber section 15 and which, with an expanding channel cross-section, opens into a suction area 23, which is adjoined by a collecting nozzle 24 of the vacuum suction nozzle device 18, formed by a further longitudinal section of the outlet channel 3. The collecting nozzle opens into an outer end section 25 of the outlet channel 3, which ends with the outer outlet channel opening 3a, which opens onto the outer surface 12 of the device housing 4. The vacuum suction nozzle device 18 also includes a suction channel 26, expediently formed in the device housing 4, which on the one hand communicates with the suction area 23 and on the other hand has a suction connection 27, which, for example, also opens onto the outer surface 12.

[0041] A pressure medium flowing during operation of the ejector device 1a according to a dotted flow line 30 between the outer inlet channel opening 2a and the outer outlet channel opening 3a creates a suction effect 31 in the suction area 23 according to the jet nozzle principle, which results in a negative pressure V in the suction channel 26. This negative pressure V can be used, for example, to operate a suction gripper 29 connected to the suction channel 26, with which objects can be grasped and held using negative pressure for the purpose of handling them.

[0042] Preferably, the vacuum suction nozzle device 18 contains an assembly referred to as a suction nozzle cartridge 28, which defines the drive nozzle, the suction area, and the collecting nozzle 24 and which is inserted and, in particular, plugged into a receiving recess 32 formed in the device housing 4. The suction channel 26 opens into the receiving recess 32 adjacent to the suction area 23.

[0043] The outlet chamber section 15 is expediently axially delimited by an end wall 33 having the inner outlet channel opening 3b and fixed relative to the device housing 4. In the ejector device 1a, this end wall 33 is penetrated by the drive nozzle 22.

[0044] If only in the Fig. In the other embodiment indicated by dashed lines in Figure 1, the fluid device is designed as a valve device 1b that does not have a vacuum suction nozzle device 18. In this case, the outlet channel 3 can be formed entirely within the device housing 4, with the end wall 33 being a component of the device housing 4. However, even in a configuration as a valve device 1b, the end wall 33 defining the inner outlet channel opening 3b can be arranged as a separate component within the device housing 4.

[0045] A valve member 34 of the fluid device 1, preferably having a longitudinal shape, is accommodated in the valve chamber 13. The valve member 34 can execute a switching movement 35 oriented in the device main direction 5a, linearly reciprocating and indicated by a double arrow relative to the device housing 4. Within the scope of this switching movement 35, it can be positioned in different axial switching positions, wherein on the one hand it is a Fig. 1 visible closed position and on the other hand a Fig. 2. In the open position, the valve member 34 is axially closer to the inlet channel 2 than in the closed position. During the opening switching movement 35, the valve member 34 moves toward the inlet channel 2, and during the closing switching movement 35, it moves toward the outlet channel 3.

[0046] The switching movement 35 is induced by a controlled fluid application to the valve member 34 using a pressurized fluid, referred to as the drive fluid for ease of differentiation. The valve member 34 has, in the region of its radial outer circumference, an annular drive surface 36 coaxial with the device's main axis 5 and facing the rear side 17 of the valve chamber 13. The drive surface 36 can be acted upon by the drive fluid to exert a drive force directed toward the front side 16, by which the valve member 34 can be displaced into the open position and held there.By removing the fluid pressure from the drive fluid, the drive force can be removed, which leads, for example, to the valve member 34 being displaced into the closed position by the operating pressure of the fluidic pressure medium fed in via the inlet channel 2, which pressure constantly acts on it in the area of ​​the inlet chamber section 14 in the direction of the rear side 17, and being held there until the drive pressure is applied again.

[0047] For the controlled application of the drive fluid, an annular drive chamber 37 is formed between the device housing 4 and the radial outer circumference of the valve member 34, which encloses the valve member 34 and is delimited at its front by the drive surface 36. The drive chamber 37 communicates with a drive channel 38 formed in the device housing 4, which is expediently in fluid connection with an electrically actuated pilot valve 39. Via the pilot valve 39, the drive chamber 37 can either be pressurized with drive fluid at the drive pressure originating from the pressure source P or vented to the atmosphere. For this purpose, the pilot valve 39 can connect the drive channel 38 alternatively to a drive fluid source PA or to the atmosphere R, depending on the switching position.

[0048] The pilot valve 39, which is only indicated schematically in the drawing, is expediently a component of the fluid device 1. In this case, it is combined in particular with the device housing 4 to form an assembly.

[0049] The valve chamber 13 is divided in its longitudinal direction by a partition wall 42 into a front valve chamber section 43 assigned to the front side 16 and a rear valve chamber section 44 assigned to the rear side 17. The front valve chamber section 43 forms or contains the inlet chamber section 14. The axial end section of the rear valve chamber section 44 assigned to the rear side 17 forms the outlet chamber section 15. Towards the front side 16, the outlet chamber section 15 is delimited by a rear end section of the valve member 34, which is referred to as the delimiting section 45 due to its delimiting function.

[0050] The partition wall 42 is penetrated by an axial through-opening 46, which opens into the inlet chamber section 14 on the one hand and is open toward the rear valve chamber section 44 on the other. It is framed on its front side facing the inlet chamber section 14 by an axially oriented annular valve seat 47, which is formed on the partition wall 42 and is preferably aligned coaxially with the main housing axis 5. Preferably, the valve seat 47 protrudes collar-like with respect to the partition wall 42 toward the inlet chamber section 14.

[0051] The through opening 46, which preferably has a circular cross-section, is enclosed radially on the outside by an inner circumferential surface 48, which is expediently circular-cylindrical in shape and formed by the partition wall 42.

[0052] Apart from a closure section 52 formed on its front side, the valve member 34 expediently extends exclusively into the rear valve chamber section 44. The closure section 52 extends as an extension with a front end face 53 freely ending from the rear valve chamber section 44 through the axial through-opening 46 and projects with the front end face 53 forward into the inlet chamber section 14. Sufficient radial play is present between the closure section 52 and the inner circumferential surface 48 of the through-opening 46 to enable the switching movement 35 of the valve member 34 as a relative movement to the partition wall 42.

[0053] The valve member 34 preferably has an intermediate section 54 extending between the closure section 52 and the limiting section 45. The outer diameter of the closure section 52 is smaller than the outer diameter of the intermediate section 54. Therefore, the closure section 52, which is preferably designed in the manner of a tappet, adjoins the intermediate section 54 as an annular step. The intermediate section 54 has on its front side an annular end surface which frames the closure section 52 and faces axially towards the partition wall 42 and which is referred to as an annular stop surface 55 due to the function it fulfills in the exemplary embodiment.

[0054] The closure section 52 has an annular closure surface 56 arranged within the inlet chamber section 14 independently of the switching position of the valve member 34, which faces the partition wall 42 and is axially opposite the valve seat 47. Preferably, the closure surface 56 is formed by one of the two axial end faces of a rubber-elastic sealing ring 57 of the closure section 52, which is also referred to below as the closure sealing ring 57 for ease of differentiation.

[0055] In the closed position of the valve member 34, the sealing ring 57 rests with its sealing surface 56 against the valve seat 47, so that the inlet chamber section 14 is tightly separated from the area of ​​the valve chamber 13 adjoining the valve seat 47 towards the rear side 17. In other words, the axial through-opening 46 is then closed. This closed position is in the Fig. 1 illustrated.

[0056] In comparison, the annular closure surface 56 in the Fig. 2, the valve member 34 is lifted or removed from the valve seat 47 toward the front side 16. This opens up a fluid connection between the inlet chamber section 14 and the axial through-opening 46. Conveniently, the inlet chamber section 14 also communicates through the through-opening 46 with a portion of the rear valve chamber section 44 formed between the partition wall 42 and the intermediate section 54, which is referred to as the reset chamber section 58 due to a function fulfilled in the exemplary embodiment.

[0057] The open position of the valve member 34 is expediently predetermined mechanically in that the valve member 34 rests with the annular stop surface 55 on the rear side of the partition wall 42 facing away from the valve seat 47.

[0058] An axially extending flow channel 61 is formed in the valve member 34. This flow channel 61 has a rear end portion 62 extending into the limiting portion 45 and a front end portion 63 extending into the closure portion 52.

[0059] With its rear end section 62, the flow channel 61 opens into the outlet chamber section 15 via a rear channel opening 64. This is a permanently open connection, so that the flow channel 61 communicates with the outlet chamber section 15 regardless of the switching position of the valve member 34.

[0060] The rear channel opening 64 is preferably located on the axial end face 65 of the boundary section 45 facing away from the partition wall 42. The rear channel opening 64 is preferably arranged coaxially to the inner outlet channel opening 3b, so that it is opposite the latter in the main device direction 5a.

[0061] During the switching movement 35, the axial distance between the axial end face 65 and the inner outlet channel opening 3b or the end wall 33 changes. Consequently, the axial length of the outlet chamber section 15 changes depending on the switching position of the valve member 34.

[0062] The rear end section 62 of the flow channel 61 could also branch off, so that the flow channel 61 opens into the outlet chamber section 15 with several rear channel openings 64.

[0063] At its front end section 63, the flow channel 61 branches within the valve member 34 and opens with several front channel openings 66 on the outer surface 67 of the closure section 52, which is oriented radially with respect to the device's main axis 5. All front channel openings 66 are positioned axially behind the annular closure surface 56, i.e., on the side of the annular closure surface 56 facing the limiting section 45. This ensures that the front channel openings 66 are fluid-tightly separated from the inlet chamber section 14 in the closed position of the valve member 34 by the closure surface 56 resting against the valve seat 47.

[0064] On the other hand, the front channel openings 66 are designed and arranged such that at least one and preferably each front channel opening 66 is fluidically connected to the inlet chamber section 14 in the open position of the valve member 34, so that pressure medium located in the inlet chamber section 14 can flow through the front channel openings 66 into the flow channel 61 in order to pass through the flow channel 61 into the outlet chamber section 15.

[0065] This basic principle of the arrangement and design of the front channel openings 66 applies regardless of the number of these front channel openings 66. For example, the flow channel 61 can have only a single front channel opening 66. However, the plurality of front channel openings 66 enables particularly high flow rates.

[0066] If the radial distance between the inner circumferential surface 48 of the through-opening 46 and the peripheral outer surface 67 of the closure section 52 is sufficiently large, it is irrelevant whether or not the front channel openings 66 are located entirely or partially within the inlet chamber section 14 when the valve member 34 is in the open position. However, to achieve high flow rates in the open position, it is advantageous if the at least one front channel opening 66 is arranged radially outward in the region of the outer surface 67 of the closure section 52 such that, when the valve member 34 is in the open position, it is positioned at least partially within the inlet chamber section 14, i.e., at least part of the opening cross-section is positioned in front of the partition wall 42 and the valve seat 47 formed thereon, towards the front side 16. Such a concept is implemented in the illustrated embodiment.

[0067] By way of example, the front channel openings 66 are designed and arranged in such a way that they each lie with only a part of their opening cross-section within the inlet chamber section 14 and with the remaining part of the opening cross-section within the axial through-opening 46. This is clearly Fig. 2. Due to the fact that the closure section 52 is preferably contoured in a circular-cylindrical manner in the region of the front channel openings 66, a large opening cross-section is nevertheless available for the fluidic pressure medium to be able to enter the flow channel 61 according to the flow arrow 68.

[0068] The valve member 34 is expediently constructed in several parts, with individual sealing rings preferably being used to fulfill various sealing functions.

[0069] According to the illustrated embodiment, the valve member 34 expediently has a rigid base body 72, which is preferably made of a plastic material or a light metal. Formed on the base body 72 are both the rear axial end face 65 of the limiting section 45 and the front end face 53 of the closure section 52. The flow channel 61 extends exclusively within the rigid base body 72.

[0070] The rigid base body 72 has a main base body section 73 received in the rear valve chamber section 44 and a base body extension 74 of smaller diameter relative thereto, which projects axially toward the front side 16. The base body extension 74 belongs to the closure section 22. A radially outwardly open annular groove 75 is formed peripherally in the base body extension 74. This annular groove 75 is also referred to below as the first annular groove 75 for ease of differentiation and in which the closure sealing ring 57 is seated and held. With an annular outer section, the closure sealing ring 57 projects radially beyond the base body extension 74, with the closure surface 56 formed thereon being pressed against the valve seat 47 when the valve member 34 is in the closed position.

[0071] The annular stop surface 55 is expediently formed by the axial end face of the main body section 73 facing the partition wall 42.

[0072] The annular drive surface 36 is expediently formed at least partially, and in particular entirely, on a rubber-elastic sealing ring of the intermediate section 54, referred to as the drive sealing ring 76. For example, this drive sealing ring 76 is seated in an annular groove 77 formed in the main body section 73 and open radially outward, which will also be referred to below as the second annular groove 77 for ease of differentiation.

[0073] The valve chamber 13 is defined radially outwardly by a peripheral valve chamber wall 78 extending around the device's main axis 5, which is stationary relative to the device housing 4. This peripheral valve chamber wall 78 has, at least in the region of the rear valve chamber section 44, an inner circumferential surface 82 that is designed similarly to the inner surface of a hollow cylinder, but which may well be stepped several times in the device's main direction 5a. The drive sealing ring 76 bears slidably against this inner circumferential surface 82, forming a seal, and thus fluid-tightly seals off the drive chamber 37 defined by the drive surface 36 from the areas of the valve chamber 13 located in front of the drive sealing ring 76.

[0074] To prevent interactions between the pressure fluids located in the drive chamber 37 and the outlet chamber section 15, these two regions are expediently separated from each other in a fluid-tight manner, regardless of the switching position of the valve member 34. This is preferably achieved by the limiting section 45 having a rubber-elastic sealing ring, referred to as a limiting sealing ring 83 for easier differentiation, which participates in the switching movement 35 and, in doing so, slides against the inner circumferential surface 82 of the peripheral valve chamber wall 78, providing a seal.

[0075] For example, the limiting sealing ring 83 is held in an annular groove, designated as the third annular groove 84 for better differentiation, which is formed radially outward in the component of the main body section 73 belonging to the limiting section 45.

[0076] Thus, the annular drive chamber 37 is always fluid-tightly closed at the rear by the limiting sealing ring 84 cooperating with the peripheral valve chamber wall 78, regardless of the switching position of the valve member 34.

[0077] To prevent fluidic interaction between the return chamber section 58 and the drive chamber 37, the intermediate section 54 of the valve member 34 is expediently equipped with a rubber-elastic sealing ring, referred to as a return sealing ring 85 for ease of identification, in the area between the partition wall 42 and the drive sealing ring 76. The return sealing ring 85, like the other described sealing rings 57, 76, 83, is statically sealed to the base body 72 and is slidably mounted against the inner circumferential surface 82 of the peripheral valve chamber wall 78 with a sealing effect. The return sealing ring 85 is expediently held in an annular groove 86 formed peripherally in the base body main section 73, which is also referred to as the fourth annular groove 86 for ease of identification.

[0078] The axial end face of the return sealing ring 85 facing the return chamber section 58 forms a return surface 87 acted upon by the fluidic pressure medium located in the return chamber section 58. When the drive chamber 37 is vented in the open position of the valve member 34, the valve member 34 is displaced into the closed position by a pressure force resulting from the operating pressure of the fluidic pressure medium to be controlled present in the inlet chamber section 14, also referred to as the inlet pressure. The inlet pressure acts not only on the front end face 53 of the closure section 52, but also on the return surface 87, so that the pressurized surface is larger than the oppositely oriented surface of the valve member 34 exposed to the outlet pressure prevailing in the outlet chamber section 15.This results in a resulting switching force into the closed position without the need for additional active fluid supply by the pilot valve 39. The fluidic control measures can therefore be implemented with very little effort. Once positioned in the closed position, the valve member 34 in the illustrated embodiment is reliably held in place by the inlet pressure acting on the front face 53, since the outlet chamber section 15 is depressurized due to its connection to the atmosphere.

[0079] Clearly, in the illustrated embodiment, a single-acting fluidic control via the pilot valve 39 is sufficient to actuate the valve member 34. However, it is understood that a double-acting control is also readily possible. In this case, an annular space 88 located between the drive sealing ring 76 and the return sealing ring 35 can be used as an additional drive space, which is connected to a pilot valve 39 via an optional additional drive channel 79. In this case, the drive sealing ring 76 can be subjected to a fluidic drive force from both sides.

[0080] Valve device 1b can be used to implement a 2 / 2 valve function. Such a valve function is also used, for example, in ejector device 1a.

[0081] The peripheral valve chamber wall 78 can be formed directly by the device housing 4. However, it is preferably not formed directly by the device housing 4, but rather by a sleeve assembly 89 inserted into the receiving recess 32. Such a design is implemented in the illustrated embodiment. The sleeve assembly 89 is inserted, for example, through the inlet channel 2 into the receiving recess 32 and is axially immovably fixed therein by a retaining ring 92. The sleeve assembly 89 expediently also contains the partition wall 42, which in all embodiments is expediently designed in the shape of an annular disk.

[0082] In the illustrated embodiment, the sleeve assembly 89 includes two separate first and second sleeve elements 93, 94, positioned coaxially one after the other in the receiving recess 32. The partition wall 42 is integrated into the first sleeve element 93. The drive sealing ring 76 and the return sealing ring 85 cooperate with it. The second sleeve element 94 encloses the limiting section 45 and cooperates with the limiting sealing ring 83. Preferably, the end wall 33 is an integral component of the second sleeve element 94. Accordingly, in the illustrated ejector device 1a, the drive nozzle 22 is a component of the second sleeve element 94.

[0083] The sleeve arrangement 89 is sealed as required with respect to the device housing 4 surrounding it by means of an annular sealing arrangement 95 which surrounds it radially on the outside.

Claims

[1] Fluid device, with a valve chamber (13) formed in a device housing (4) and extending along a device main axis (5), in which a valve member (34) is arranged, which can be switched between a closed position and an open position by controlled fluid application while executing a switching movement (35) oriented in the axial direction of the device's main axis (5) relative to the device housing (4), wherein the valve chamber (13) has on a front side (16) an inlet chamber section (14) communicating with an inlet channel (2) provided for feeding a fluidic pressure medium and on an axially opposite rear side (17) an outlet chamber section (15) communicating with an outlet channel (3) provided for discharging a fluidic pressure medium, wherein the inlet chamber section (14) of the valve chamber (13) is delimited at its rear side facing the outlet chamber section (15) by a partition wall (42) in which an axial through-opening (46) is formed, opening into the inlet chamber section (14) and framed by a valve seat (47), which is assigned a closure section (52) of the valve member (34), which has an annular closure surface (56) axially facing the valve seat (47), which in the closed position of the valve member (34) lies sealingly against the valve seat (47) while closing the through opening (46) and is lifted off the valve seat (47) in the open position of the valve member (34), wherein an axially extending flow channel (61) is formed in the valve member (34), which, on the one hand, opens into the outlet chamber section (15) at a boundary section (45) of the valve member (34) delimiting the outlet chamber section (15) of the valve chamber (23) with at least one rear channel opening (64), so that it communicates with the outlet channel (3) regardless of the position of the valve member (34), and which, on the other hand, opens out axially adjacent to the annular closure surface (56) of the closure section (52) on an outer surface of the valve member (34) with at least one front channel opening (66), which is separated from the inlet chamber section (14) in a fluid-tight manner in the closed position of the valve member (34) and which is fluidically connected to the inlet chamber section (14) in the open position of the valve member (34) in order to direct a fluid flow from the inlet chamber section (14) into the outlet chamber section (15) through the flow channel (61). make possible, characterized by , that the axial through-opening (46) is framed by the valve seat (47) on its front side facing the inlet chamber section (14), wherein the axial through-opening (46) is penetrated by the closure section (52) which projects through the axial through-opening (46) into the inlet chamber section (14) and has the annular closure surface (56) within the inlet chamber section (14). [2] Fluid device according to claim 1, characterized by that it is designed as a valve device (1b) suitable for controlling a fluid flow, expediently having a 2 / 2-way valve function. [3] Fluid device according to claim 1, characterized bythat it is designed as an ejector device (1a) suitable for vacuum generation, wherein it has a vacuum suction nozzle device (18) which has a drive nozzle (33) formed by the outlet channel (3), a collecting nozzle (24) which is opposite the drive nozzle (22) in a suction area (23) in the axial direction of the main axis (5) of the device and opens out into the atmosphere (R), and a suction channel (26) connected to the suction area (23), wherein a suction gripper (29) can be or is expediently connected to the suction channel (26). [4] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized by that the at least one front channel opening (66) is formed radially outwardly on the closure section (52) of the valve member (34). [5] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized bythat the at least one front channel opening (66) is arranged on the closure section (52) in such a way that, in the open position of the valve member (34), it is positioned at least partially and expediently only partially in front of the axial through-opening (46) of the partition wall (42) within the inlet chamber section (14) of the valve chamber (13). [6] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized by that the inlet channel (2) opens into the inlet chamber section (14) of the valve chamber (34) with an inner inlet channel opening (2b) in an area opposite the axial through-opening (46) of the partition wall (42) in the axial direction of the main axis (5) of the device. [7] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 6, characterized bythat the annular closure surface (56) of the closure section (52) is formed on a rubber-elastic closure sealing ring (57) of the closure section (52) of the valve member (34), which is expediently fixed in a radially outwardly open annular groove (75) of an axial base body extension (74) of a rigid base body (72) of the valve member (34). [8] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the outlet channel (4) opens into the outlet chamber section (15) of the valve chamber (13) with an inner outlet channel opening (3b) in a region opposite the limiting section (45) of the valve member (34) in the axial direction of the main axis (5) of the device. [9] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat the limiting section (45) is a rear end section of the valve member (34), wherein the rear channel opening (64) of the flow channel (61) is formed on an axial end face (65) of the limiting section (45) facing away from the partition wall (42). [10] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized by that the limiting section (45) of the valve member (34) has a rubber-elastic limiting sealing ring (83) which, while sealing, slides against the inner circumferential surface (82) of a peripheral valve chamber wall (78) fixed to the device housing and which radially outwardly limits the valve chamber (13) and which is expediently fixed in a radially outwardly open annular groove (84) of a rigid base body (72) of the valve member (34). [11] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized bythat the valve member (34) has, on an intermediate section (54) extending on the side of the partition wall (42) axially opposite the inlet chamber section (14) between the closure section (52) and the limiting section (45), in the region of its radial outer circumference, an annular drive surface (36) facing the rear side (17) of the valve chamber (13), which delimits an annular drive space (37) surrounding the valve member (34) and which communicates with a drive channel (38) formed in the device housing (4) for the controlled application of fluid. [12] Fluid device according to claim 11 in conjunction with claim 10, characterized by that the annular drive chamber (37) is separated fluid-tight from the outlet chamber section (15) of the valve chamber (13) at the rear by the rubber-elastic limiting sealing ring (83) of the limiting section (45). [13] Fluid device according to claim 11 or 12, characterized bythat the annular drive surface (36) is formed at least partially on a rubber-elastic drive sealing ring (76) of the intermediate section (54) of the valve member (34), which sealingly bears slidably against the inner circumferential surface (82) of a peripheral valve chamber wall (78) fixed to the device housing and radially outwardly delimiting the valve chamber (13). [14] Fluid device according to claim 13, characterized byin that the intermediate section (54) of the valve member (34) has, in the region lying between the partition wall (42) and the drive sealing ring (76), a rubber-elastic return sealing ring (85) which bears in a sliding manner against the inner circumferential surface (82) of a peripheral valve chamber wall (78) fixed to the device housing and which radially delimits the valve chamber (13) on the outside, and which, in the open position of the valve member (34), with an annular return surface (87), delimits a return chamber section (58) of the valve chamber (13) which communicates through the through-opening (46) of the partition wall (42) with the inlet chamber section (14) of the valve chamber (13). [15] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 14, characterized bythat the valve chamber (13) is delimited radially on the outside by a peripheral valve chamber wall (78) which is formed by a sleeve arrangement (89) inserted into the device housing (4) and simultaneously also forming the partition wall (42). [16] Fluid device according to one of claims 1 to 15, characterized by that the partition wall (42) is formed in the shape of an annular disc.

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