Ball valve of a refrigerant valve device for an air conditioning system

Abstract

Ball valve (1) of a refrigerant valve device (34) for an air conditioning system, comprising ➢ a ball valve housing (2) comprising two housing parts (2a, 2b), each of which has an L-shaped cross-sectional geometry, is rotationally symmetrical to one another, and which are connected to one another at their ends by means of fastening elements (7) to form a ball valve housing (2) with a rectangular cross-sectional geometry, having two opposite housing side walls (3a, 3b), a bottom wall (4a), an upper housing wall (4b) opposite the bottom wall (4a), and two opposite open sides (5), wherein the ball valve housing (2) has a fluid inlet (17) formed in the bottom wall (4a) and two fluid outlets (9a; 9b) formed in the opposite housing side walls (3a, 3b), ➢ a ball arrangement which contains a flow control ball (6) as well as sealing seats (18) and inner sealing elements (19) and is held together by the ball valve housing (2), wherein a flow channel (24) with a bottom opening (30) directed towards the fluid inlet (17) and with a lateral opening (25) runs through the flow control ball (6), and wherein the flow control ball (6) is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the bottom wall (4a) and thereby the position of the lateral opening (25) of the flow control ball (6) with respect to the fluid outlets (9a; 9b) is adjustable, and wherein the two spaced-apart housing side walls (3a, 3b) are curved and aligned on their outer sides (8a, 8b) in the manner of two opposite segments of a downwardly tapering truncated cone, and wherein on the curved outer sides (8a, 8b) of the two housing side walls (3a, 3b) each have a sealing ring (10a;10b) is mounted, which extends around the opening of the fluid outlet (9a; 9b) in the corresponding housing side wall (3a; 3b);

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a ball valve of a refrigerant valve device for an air conditioning system, in particular a motor vehicle air conditioning system. The refrigerant valve device comprises at least one ball valve and can be operated in a refrigerant system using the refrigerant R134a (1,1,1,2-tetrafluoroethane) or R1234yf (2,3,3,3-tetrafluoropropene). The inlet of a ball valve designed as a 3 / 2-way valve is located at the bottom, and the fluid outlets are placed on two opposite sides. The fluid outlets must be sealed off from each other and from the inlet. The operating pressure difference is typically in the range of 5 to 30 bar.

[0002] The ball valve described here is intended for use in a cartridge valve as a valve device. The principle of the cartridge valve is that several valves of the refrigerant system are arranged in a valve block, with the largest part of the refrigerant system also being located within this block. The assembly and disassembly of the valves in the valve block should be quick and easy to make these systems easy to maintain. This concept requires a seal between the valve block and the valve or a valve housing. External O-rings are usually provided for the seal, but these can pose problems during assembly and transport of the valve device. The cartridge concept was originally developed for needle valves, which can only be operated as two-way valves.A 3 / 2-way ball valve can direct the refrigerant flow in multiple directions, and with a possible expansion joint, the refrigerant flow at an outlet could even be regulated. This means that such a 3 / 2-way ball valve could potentially even replace two needle valves in a system. Cartridge ball valves are already known from the state of the art, both for 3 / 2-way and two-way operation.

[0003] WO 99 / 61824 A1 describes a device with a ball valve, comprising a valve body with aligned through-channels that terminate at opposite ends with flanges for installation in a flow line. A frustoconical cavity is formed between the flow channels on a central axis perpendicular thereto in such a way that it can accommodate an insert assembly comprising a cartridge made of two semicircular half-shells connected by connecting elements and held in the valve body by a valve bonnet. The insert assembly contains a valve ball and opposing seat rings within the cartridge formed from the separable half-shells. The mating half-shells are connected to one another on both sides of the valve ball, forming a frustoconical shape corresponding to the cavity.A cylindrical spring seal is attached to each of the seat rings in a length with a reduced diameter of the seat ring. The spring seals are compressed between shoulder areas of the seat rings and facing annular recesses in the cartridge, pressing the seat rings into dynamic sealing contact with the valve ball. The spring seals also provide a static seal at the interfaces between the seat rings and the cartridge. Connectors on the mating surfaces of the valve bonnet and insert assembly allow the insert assembly and valve bonnet to be completely removed from the valve body, providing easy access for repair or replacement of components within the cartridge. Each half-shell contains an opening for the connection between the through channels.The valve ball has engagement surfaces and upper and lower journals for rotation in bushings on an axis perpendicular to the longitudinal direction of the passageways. It also has a bore through the valve ball that has the same diameter as the passageways and aligns with the orifices when the valve ball is rotated 90 degrees from a closed to a fully open position. Annular seals, mounted on the curved half-shell surfaces of the frustoconical cartridge around the orifices, are designed to prevent fluid from escaping from the passageways through the cartridge-valve body interface.

[0004] A similarly constructed valve, which comprises a valve body and a valve assembly arranged in the valve body, is also known from US 2008 / 0 099 712 A1, the aim of which is to enable on-site maintenance without having to remove the entire valve from a piping system. The valve assembly comprises a main cartridge and an upper cartridge, the main cartridge being composed of two cartridge halves, and a ball valve arrangement comprising the ball valve and a shaft being arranged between the cartridge halves. The ball valve has an opening to allow fluid to flow through the ball valve when the ball valve is in an open position. The ball valve can also be rotated into a closed position, in which no fluid can flow through the opening, by rotating the shaft connected to the ball valve, and thus the ball valve itself, by a quarter turn or 90 degrees.The shaft may be molded integrally with the ball valve or molded separately and attached to the ball valve. A seal is located on either side of the ball valve. The seals are configured to at least substantially conform to a radius of curvature of the ball valve so that the ball valve can rotate smoothly between the seals, while the seals are intended to ensure a fluid-tight seal against the ball valve. The seals are each annular in shape so that they do not restrict, or at least do not significantly restrict, fluid flow through the opening when the ball valve is in an open position. The cartridge halves can each be configured to accommodate one of the seals.Each cartridge half has an inner surface containing an annular recess with a profile complementary to the received seal, allowing the seal to fit into the annular recess. The cartridge halves each have a curved outer surface containing an annular recess for receiving an O-ring. The O-rings in the annular recesses also play a role in positioning and securing the main cartridge within the valve body. Furthermore, an O-ring is mounted in an annular recess on the underside of the upper cartridge. This O-ring provides a fluid-tight seal between the main cartridge and the upper cartridge.

[0005] What these valves have in common is that a valve ball is completely enclosed by a cartridge housing consisting of at least two parts and having a conical or cylindrical outer surface. A first cartridge housing and a second cartridge housing are locked together and enclose the ball. An O-ring is placed on the outer curved surfaces of the first and second cartridge housing as a seal. This means that both valves correspond to a concept that uses a two-part housing and external seals on the two outlets. The main goal of such valves is that the valve can be replaced and / or removed from a system without having to dismantle the entire system.

[0006] DE 79 02 845 U1 discloses a ball valve with a valve body having at least one flow channel running between orifices, into which channel a rotatable ball plug with a flow bore is inserted, which bears against at least one seal and on which a switching spindle connected to a switching handle outside the valve body engages for its rotation. The valve body is inserted into the cavity of a rigid valve housing, removable through a housing window, with its orifices externally sealing each other. The valve housing, in turn, has flow openings with pipe connection options at the location of the orifices of the valve body. The valve housing has a window in the region of the extended axis of the switching spindle, and the valve body can be pushed into the window in the direction of this axis, closing it off, or pulled out of it in the direction of this axis.The valve body and the cavity of the valve housing can essentially have a circular cylindrical or conical shape, wherein the valve body is rotatable in the cavity of the valve housing at least through a central angle limited by the condition that the mutual sealing of the orifices of the valve body must not come into contact with the flow openings of the valve housing. The valve body can rest in the cavity of the housing against the inner wall of the housing, with sealants interposed between the orifices and between the orifices and the window. The outer surface of the valve body contains endless grooves that serve to accommodate the sealants. The sealants can be arranged between complementary steps arranged on the one hand on the inner wall of the valve housing and on the other hand on the outer wall of the valve body.On the outer surface of the valve body, between the orifices or flow openings, there are seals. These seals can be in the form of an O-ring, which seals the two ends of the flow channel against each other. The O-ring is inserted into an elliptical groove located in an inclined plane along the outer surface of the valve body. Like the two- or multi-part cartridge housings mentioned above, the valve body enclosing the ball plug forms a conically shaped housing. Unlike the cartridge housings, however, this housing is formed in one piece. The sealing of the two ends of the flow channel, i.e. the inlets, on the one-piece valve body housing with the O-ring located in an inclined plane, i.e. diagonally, does work, but this requires that the valve body housing completely encloses the ball plug.

[0007] All of the above-mentioned prior art objects relate to valve bodies or tap bodies, each containing a ball and used in the manner of a valve cartridge. The fact that in the presented solutions, a housing of the valve body or tap body must completely enclose the ball causes several disadvantages, listed below: - a high material requirement for the housing, - a lot of waste material during production, - high manufacturing and material costs, - a complex housing construction for use within a cartridge concept, - a high weight of the valve due to the material used for the complete housing.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide a valve which uses the cartridge concept but requires less material, is therefore also lighter and can also be manufactured more cost-effectively.

[0009] The object is achieved by a ball valve of a refrigerant valve device for an air conditioning system, wherein the ball valve has at least the features of patent claim 1. Further developments are specified in the dependent patent claims.

[0010] A ball valve according to the invention comprises a ball valve housing made up of two housing parts, each having an L-shaped cross-sectional geometry. These two L-shaped housing parts are aligned rotationally symmetrically to one another and connected to one another at their ends by means of fastening elements to form a ball valve housing with a rectangular cross-sectional geometry, with two opposite housing side walls, a bottom wall, an upper housing wall opposite the bottom wall, and two opposite open sides. According to the invention, the ball valve housing is thus designed as an open housing and has a fluid inlet formed in the bottom wall and two fluid outlets formed in the opposite housing side walls. The two housing parts are preferably clamped together by means of screws.

[0011] Furthermore, the ball valve according to the invention comprises a ball assembly containing a flow control ball as well as sealing seats and sealing elements, such as O-rings, and is held together as a "ball assembly" by the ball valve housing. With this ball assembly consisting of O-rings, sealing seats, and the flow control ball between the two housing side walls, the interior of the ball valve according to the invention is thus similar to the interior of previously known 3 / 2-way cartridge valves.

[0012] A flow channel runs through the flow control ball, with a bottom opening directed towards the fluid inlet and a side opening. The flow control ball is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the bottom wall, whereby the position of the side opening of the flow control ball relative to the fluid outlets is adjustable. This means that the ball valve is designed as a 3 / 2-way ball valve, which can guide the fluid flow, for example a refrigerant flow, in different directions by aligning the side opening of the flow control ball towards the various fluid outlets. The flow channel is preferably rectangular. According to an advantageous embodiment, the side opening of the flow control ball can comprise differently shaped sections, for example a round section that transitions into a gap section on one side.This makes it possible to control a fluid flow at each of the two fluid outlets, i.e. in one direction.

[0013] According to the invention, the two opposing housing side walls are curved and aligned on their outer sides in the manner of two opposing segments of a downwardly tapering truncated cone. A sealing ring is mounted on each of the curved outer sides of the two housing side walls, which extends around the opening of the fluid outlet in the corresponding housing side wall.

[0014] In the context of this invention, the ball valve housing is referred to as "conical" due to the curved shape and orientation of the outer sides of the opposing housing side walls, even though the ball valve housing does not have a completely conical shape running over the entire circumference, but rather a housing that is open on two opposite sides. The ball valve housing is conical in the region of the outer sides of its housing side walls, since these outer sides are curved and aligned like oppositely oriented outer surfaces of opposing segments of a downwardly tapering cone or truncated cone. The cone angle of the ball valve housing, which tapers conically in the region of its curved outer sides and corresponds to half the cone angle of a truncated cone with corresponding, opposing truncated cone segments, is preferably around 7°, i.e. 7° ± 0.5°.

[0015] On the curved outer sides of the housing side walls, an annular receiving recess for each of the sealing rings is preferably formed. Advantageously, on the curved outer sides of the housing side walls, the respective receiving recess for the corresponding lateral sealing ring is formed such that the receiving recess is aligned perpendicular to the surface of the curved outer side in every direction. This means, among other things, that in every cross-sectional view in which the receiving recess appears U-shaped, each U-leg runs perpendicular to the surface of the outer side of the ball valve housing or perpendicular to a tangent of the curvature of the outer side of the housing side wall of the ball valve housing that rests on the U-leg. This alignment of the receiving recess ensures that the lateral sealing ring neither gets lost nor slips out of the receiving recess.

[0016] Typically, the ball valve further comprises a shaft for driving the flow control ball, wherein this shaft is passed through a through-opening in the center of the upper housing wall and is connected to the flow control ball or is operatively connected to the flow control ball. The shaft can be formed integrally with the flow control ball or formed separately and attached to the flow control ball. An operative connection between the shaft and the flow control ball can be realized in that the shaft has, at its end facing the flow control ball, an engagement element protruding in the axial direction of the shaft, which engages in a corresponding recess in the flow control ball.

[0017] Furthermore, the ball valve may comprise a valve upper part which is mounted on the upper wall of the ball valve housing and has a central region with a sealed passage through which the shaft is passed.

[0018] Preferably, the sealing seats and sealing elements of the ball assembly held inside the ball valve housing are positioned on the inner sides of the housing side walls around the openings of the fluid outlets. According to an advantageous embodiment of the invention, said sealing elements are O-rings, with a complementary profile with an annular recess being formed on the inner sides of the housing side walls.

[0019] A key feature of the invention is that, as previously mentioned, the two L-shaped housing parts do not form a full housing. Compared to previously known cartridge valves, this reduces the amount of material required and, associated with it, the weight and space required, but it also allows for the use of other manufacturing processes without complex machining. For example, the L-shaped housing parts can be produced by extrusion, which enables mass production, but casting and powder metallurgy or sintering processes are also possible, allowing the product to be manufactured much more cost-effectively and competitively than cartridge valves with a full housing. The precise positioning of the two housing parts to be connected is achieved by placing pins or by positioning axes in an assembly tool.

[0020] In addition, the ball valve according to the invention benefits from the advantages of the known cartridge concept, since the ball valve does not need to be completely enclosed. The ball assembly also finds sufficient support in the open cartridge housing, the ball valve housing. If the ball valve is used as a valve cartridge in a valve block or valve block, and the cartridge housing fits precisely into a distribution pocket of the valve block during assembly, the valve cartridge functions as a conventional valve, i.e., a valve with predominantly closed housing walls on all sides.

[0021] The invention therefore also relates to a refrigerant valve device comprising at least one ball valve with the above-mentioned inventive features, a drive device for driving the ball valve, and a valve block. The valve block, in turn, comprises at least one downwardly tapered, frustoconical distributor pocket, which is formed between two opposite flow line ends adjacent to the distributor pocket on a central axis perpendicular thereto in such a way that the distributor pocket can accommodate the two-part ball valve housing of the ball valve. In addition, the valve block has a further flow line, from which a branch leads to a bottom region of the distributor pocket.According to the invention, the two-part ball valve housing is accommodated in the distributor pocket in such a way that a fluid outlet is aligned with one of the flow line ends and that the branch of the flow line is aligned with the fluid inlet and the bottom opening of the through-channel of the flow control ball.

[0022] The aforementioned conical shape of the ball valve housing with a cone angle of approximately 7° ensures that the sealing ring is not damaged during assembly and insertion of the ball valve into the valve block. The ball valve is fully functional once inserted into the valve block.

[0023] A refrigerant flow from the bottom inlet can be directed in two outlet directions, and there is the option of controlling the refrigerant flow in one direction. The seal between the two fluid outlets is also ensured in the distribution pocket.

[0024] Further details, features, and advantages of embodiments of the invention will become apparent from the following description of exemplary embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings. They show: Fig. 1A: a perspective view of a ball valve, Fig. 1B: an exploded view of the ball valve, Fig. 1C: a perspective view of a first L-shaped housing part, Fig. 2: a partial section of a housing side wall, Fig. 3: a sectional view of the ball valve with a valve drive device, Fig. 4A: a schematic representation of a first phase of the installation of a ball valve into the refrigerant valve device, Fig. 4B: a schematic representation of a second phase of the installation of the ball valve into the refrigerant valve assembly and Fig. 5: a partial sectional view of a refrigerant valve device with built-in ball valve.

[0025] In the Fig. 1A shows an assembled ball valve 1 of a refrigerant valve device for an air conditioning system. The ball valve 1 comprises a two-part open ball valve housing 2, more precisely a ball valve housing 2, which consists of two housing parts, a first housing part 2a and a second housing part 2b, each having an L-shaped sectional geometry and are aligned and connected to one another in such a rotationally symmetrical manner that a rectangular sectional geometry results for the ball valve housing 2, in which two housing walls 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b are opposite one another, which do not belong to the same housing part 2a; 2b, but rather to different housing parts 2a, 2b. Due to the distance between the respective opposing housing walls 3a, 3b; 4a, 4b, two opposite sides 5 of the ball valve housing 2 remain open, wherein Fig. 1A only one open side 5 is visible. The two L-shaped housing parts 2a and 2b are clamped together to hold a valve ball assembly, hereinafter also called valve ball packing, inside the ball valve housing 2, which, in addition to the flow control ball 6, comprises sealing seats and sealing elements, such as O-rings, placed on the inside of the housing side walls 3a and 3b, which are in the Fig. 1A, however, are not visible. For this purpose, the two L-shaped housing parts 2a are aligned rotationally symmetrically to one another and are connected at their ends by means of fastening elements 7, in the example shown by means of screws. The ends of the two L-shaped housing parts 2a, 2b connected to one another by means of the fastening elements 7 lie diagonally opposite one another in the ball valve housing 2 and are thus located on different sides of the flow control ball 6. Two spaced-apart housing walls 3a, 3b are curved on their outer sides 8a, 8b in the manner of opposite segments of a truncated cone that tapers downwards and are aligned with one another. These housing walls 3a, 3b are also referred to as housing side walls 3a, 3b in the context of the present invention.

[0026] The cone angle of these housing side walls 3a, 3b, which are aligned in the manner of opposing truncated cone segments, would correspond to half the cone angle of a truncated cone containing corresponding opposing truncated cone segments, and is preferably approximately 7°. The two other spaced-apart housing walls 4a, 4b of the ball valve housing 2, a bottom wall 4a and an upper housing wall 4b, are connected to the end facing the other housing part 2b; 2a at the end of the inside of the housing side wall 3b; 3a of the other housing part 2b; 2a by means of the fastening elements 7. A fluid inlet of the ball valve 1, designed as a 3 / 2-way valve, is formed in the bottom wall 4a, which in the illustration of the Fig. 1A is covered by the flow control ball 6. In contrast, two fluid outlets are formed in the two opposite housing side walls 3a; 3b, wherein in Fig. 1 only one fluid outlet 9a is visible in one of the housing side walls, the housing side wall 3a.

[0027] A sealing ring is placed on each of the conical, i.e., on the outer sides 8a, 8b of the two housing side walls 3a, which are curved and aligned in the manner of opposite segments of a downwardly tapering truncated cone. Fig. 1 shows, such a sealing ring 10a runs around the opening of the fluid outlet 9a.

[0028] A valve upper part 11 is attached to the upper housing wall 4b of the ball valve housing 2. This valve upper part completely covers the upper housing wall 4b with a cylindrical sealing area 12 and projects above this cylindrical sealing area 12 on all sides with a plate-shaped area 13. A passage 14 is located in the center of the plate-shaped area 13, through which a shaft 15 for driving the flow control ball 6 passes.

[0029] The Fig. 1B shows the parts of the ball valve 1 in an exploded view.

[0030] The first housing part 2a is shown without the separately illustrated sealing ring 10a, whereby an annular receiving recess 16a for the sealing ring 10a can be seen on the curved outer side 8a of the housing side wall 3a provided by the first housing part 2a. In addition, the inner side of the bottom wall 4a with the centrally positioned fluid inlet 17 formed therein is also visible. The second housing part 2b is shown, looking towards its inner side, separate from the flow control ball 6, whereby a valve seat or sealing seat 18 and an inner sealing element 19 on the inner side of the housing side wall 3b of the second housing part 2b are visible as further parts of the valve ball packing, which run around the opening of the fluid outlet 9b on the housing side wall 3b of the second housing part 2b, concentrically to the opening of the fluid outlet 9b.When assembled, the sealing seat 18 rests against the flow control ball 6 within the ball valve housing 2.

[0031] For the precise positioning of the two housing parts 2a and 2b during the assembly process, positioning means 20, for example one or more pins, are placed in addition to the fastening elements 7, as shown in Fig. 1B in the end region of the inside of the housing side wall 3b, which forms one L-shaped leg of the housing part 2b. Corresponding fastening elements 7 and positioning means 20 are also located on the side of the upper housing wall 4b facing the valve upper part 11, which forms the other L-shaped leg of the second housing part 2b. These fastening elements 7 and positioning means 20, placed on the upper housing wall 4b, serve to fasten the valve upper part 11 to the upper housing wall 4b. A through-opening 21 for the passage of the shaft 15 for driving the flow control ball 6 is formed centrally in the upper housing wall 4b.At its end facing the flow control ball 6, the shaft 15 has an engagement element 22 protruding in the axial direction of the shaft 15. When assembled, the engagement element 22 engages in a corresponding recess 23 of the flow control ball 6 to establish an operative connection between the shaft 15 and the flow control ball 6 such that a torque exerted on the shaft 15 can be transmitted to the flow control ball 6. The corresponding recess 23 is visible as a slot in the flow control ball 6.

[0032] A flow channel 24 extends through the flow control ball 6 with a bottom opening directed towards the fluid inlet 17 in the bottom wall 4a of the first housing part 2a, which Fig. 1B is not visible, and a lateral opening 25 positioned at a right angle thereto. The flow control ball 6 is rotatable about an axis running perpendicular to the bottom wall 4a through the fluid inlet 17, such that the lateral opening 25 of the flow control ball 6 can be directed either towards the fluid outlet 9a of the housing side wall 3a of the first housing part 2a or towards the fluid outlet 9b of the housing side wall 3b of the second housing part 2b or into a closed position.

[0033] The lateral opening 25 of the flow control ball 6 comprises a round section 26, which on one side merges into a gap section 27, which runs along the circumference of the flow control ball 6 in the direction of rotation of the shaft 15. Due to the design shown, the ball valve, designed as a 3 / 2-way valve, can, on the one hand, guide the refrigerant flow in at least two different directions, namely to the fluid outlet 9a in the housing side wall 3a of the first housing part 2a or to the fluid outlet 9b in the housing side wall 3b of the second housing part 2b. On the other hand, due to the lateral opening 25 of the flow control ball 6 being widened by the gap section 27, the refrigerant flow can be regulated at each of the two fluid outlets 9a and 9b, i.e., in one direction each.

[0034] The Fig. Figure 1C shows a perspective view of the first L-shaped housing part 2a, with the bottom wall 4a and the housing side wall 3a as L-legs, looking towards the inner walls. The fluid inlet 17 is formed in the bottom wall 4a, while the fluid outlet 9a runs centrally through the housing side wall 3a. A sealing seat 18 with an associated inner sealing element 19 for the flow control ball 6 is located in the housing side wall 3a. Corresponding sealing seats 18 and sealing elements 19 are also located on the second housing part on the second housing side wall. To achieve a sufficient seal under the permissible operating forces, the sealing seats 18 must fit this flow control ball 6 very precisely.

[0035] The Fig. 2 shows a partial section of a housing side wall, for example the housing side wall 3a, wherein the fluid outlet 9a and in particular the cross sections of the receiving recess 16a and the sealing ring 10a placed therein are visible on the curved outer surface of the housing side wall 3a. The receiving recess 16a for the sealing ring 10a, designed as an O-ring, is designed such that it is oriented perpendicular to the curved outer surface of the housing side wall 3a in every direction. This means that in the receiving recess 16a, which appears U-shaped in cross-section, at every point of the receiving recess 16a, both U-legs run perpendicular to the surface of the outer side of the housing side wall 3a or perpendicular to a tangent of a curvature of the surface of the outer side of the housing side wall 3a, which tangent lies on the respective U-leg.This alignment of the recess ensures that the lateral sealing ring 10a or O-ring can neither be lost nor slip out of the receiving recess 16a. Everything that is in . Fig. 2 for the housing side wall 3a of the first housing part 2a, the sealing ring 10a and the receiving recess 16a, also applies in a corresponding manner to the housing side wall of the second housing part and the sealing ring placed there in a receiving recess.

[0036] The Fig. Figure 3 contains a sectional view of the ball valve 1 along a sectional plane, which shows, among other things, the housing parts 2a, 2b of the assembled ball valve housing 2, represented by the two differently oriented hatchings, the flow control ball 6, the valve upper part 11 with the passage 14 for the shaft 15 and the shaft 15 itself. In addition, the Fig. 3 is a sectional view of a valve drive device 28, which is mounted on the valve upper part 11, wherein in an end region of the shaft 15, which is located above the valve upper part 11, an operative connection is formed between the valve drive device 28 and the shaft 15. The shaft 15 is guided through the valve upper part 11 along the passage 14, which is sealed by several sealing elements 29, continues through the passage opening 21 in the upper housing wall 4b of the ball valve housing 2 and finally engages with its axially projecting engagement element 22 in the corresponding recess 23 of the flow control ball 6 in order to establish an operative connection with the flow control ball 6. As the sectional view of the Fig. 3 shows, the flow channel 24 within the flow control ball 6 is rectangular or L-shaped, so that the lateral opening 25 of the flow control ball 6 is oriented at a right angle to the bottom opening 30. While the bottom opening 30 is thus directed towards the fluid inlet 17 in every rotational position of the flow control ball 6, the position of the lateral opening 25 of the flow control ball 6 with respect to the fluid outlets 9a and 9b can be changed by rotating the shaft 15. In the position shown, the lateral opening 25 of the flow control ball 6 is directed towards the fluid inlet 9a of the first housing part 2a. By rotating the flow control ball 6 by 180°, the lateral opening 25 can be aligned towards the fluid outlet 9b of the second housing part 2b, thus changing the direction of the fluid flow.By rotating the flow control ball 6, for example, the flow of a chemical refrigerant in a motor vehicle air conditioning system can be controlled.

[0037] Shown inside the ball valve housing 2 is the valve ball assembly or valve ball packing held by the two housing parts 2a, 2b, which, in addition to the flow control ball 6, comprises sealing seats 18 and internal sealing elements 19 in the form of O-rings placed on the inside of the housing side walls 3a and 3b. The two sealing seats 18 are placed on the two opposite sides of the flow control ball 6 such that they bear against the flow control ball 6. The internal sealing elements 19 are in the form of O-rings, with a complementary profile with an annular recess for receiving one of the sealing elements 19 being formed on the inside of the housing side walls 3a, 3b.

[0038] On the conical, i.e., on the - like opposite segments of a downwardly tapering truncated cone - curved and aligned outer sides 8a, 8b of the two housing side walls 3a, 3b, a sealing ring 10a; 10b is placed in a corresponding receiving recess 16a; 16b. As the sectional view in Fig. 3 shows, a sealing ring 10a runs around the opening of the fluid outlet 9a and another sealing ring 10b runs around the opening of the opposite fluid outlet 9b.

[0039] In the figures Fig. 4A and Fig. Figure 4B schematically illustrates the assembly, i.e., the installation of a ball valve 1 as a cartridge in a valve block 31 of a refrigerant valve device. A downwardly tapered, frustoconical distribution pocket 32 is formed within the valve block 31 between opposing flow line ends 33a, 33b on a central axis perpendicular thereto in such a way that it can accommodate the two-part ball valve housing 2 of the ball valve 1. The ball valve 1 benefits from the advantages of the cartridge concept in that the valve ball arrangement does not have to be completely enclosed, but can be held in an open-design ball valve housing 2. When the ball valve 1 is inserted into the distribution pocket 32 of the valve block 31, the ball valve 1 functions as a conventional valve, since the open ball valve housing 2 fits completely into the distribution pocket 32 during assembly, as shown in Figures Fig. 4A and Fig. 4B can be seen. The opposing housing side walls 3a and 3b of the ball valve housing 2 are designed on their outer sides in the manner of segments of a downwardly tapering truncated cone, i.e. conically, which ensures that the sealing rings 10a and 10b placed on the outer sides are not damaged during assembly or installation of the ball valve 1 in the valve block 31. The cone angle is preferably about 7°. Because the receiving recesses 16a, 16b for the sealing rings 10a, 10b, each designed as an O-ring, are designed such that they face the curved outer surface of the housing side wall 3a; 3b, in which the corresponding receiving recess 16a; 16b are aligned vertically in every direction, it is ensured that the lateral sealing rings 10a, 10b can neither be lost nor slip out of the receiving recesses 16a, 16b during assembly.

[0040] Finally, the Fig.5 shows a partial sectional view of a refrigerant valve device 34, which comprises a ball valve 1, a valve block 31, and a valve drive device 28. The ball valve 1 is fully inserted into the frustoconical distributor pocket 32 of the valve block 31, which is arranged between two opposing flow line ends 33a and 33b adjacent to the distributor pocket 32, wherein the flow line ends 33a and 33b have the same diameter as the fluid outlets 9a and 9b of the ball valve 1. Due to the complete reception of the ball valve 1 in the at least one frustoconical distributor pocket 32, the fluid outlets 9a and 9b are aligned with the respectively adjacent flow line end 33a; 33b. Below the distributor pocket 32, a further flow line 35 is arranged in the valve block 31 parallel to the flow line ends 33a and 33b, from which a branch 36 leads to a bottom region of the distributor pocket 32.This branch 36 has the same diameter as the fluid inlet 17 in the bottom wall 4a of the ball valve 1. Due to the complete inclusion of the ball valve 1 in the distribution pocket 32, the branch 36 of the flow line 35 is aligned with the fluid inlet 17 and the bottom opening 30 of the flow channel 24 of the flow control ball 6. When the ball valve 1, designed as a 3 / 2-way valve, is installed in the valve block 31 of the refrigerant valve device 34, it is fully functional. Due to the rectangular shape of the flow channel 24, a refrigerant flow flowing in from the fluid inlet 17 of the bottom wall 4a can be directed in the two opposite directions of the various fluid outlets 9a and 9b by rotating the shaft 15, which is operatively connected to the flow control ball 6. In addition, it is possible to regulate the refrigerant flow in one direction.The seal between the two fluid outlets 9a and 9b is ensured by means of sealing rings 10a and 10b, which are placed around the openings of the fluid outlets 9a and 9b on the curved outer sides 8a, 8b of the housing side walls 3a, 3b, also in the distributor pocket 32. List of reference symbols 1 ball valve 2 ball valve housings 2a first housing part of the ball valve housing 2b second housing part of the ball valve housing 3a Housing wall of the ball valve housing, conical housing side wall 3b Housing wall of the ball valve housing, conical housing side wall 4a Housing wall of the ball valve housing, bottom wall 4b Housing wall of the ball valve housing, upper housing wall 5 open side of the ball valve body 6 Flow control ball 7 Fastening element 8a curved outer side of the housing side wall 3a 8b curved outer side of the housing side wall 3b 9a Fluid outlet 9b Fluid outlet 10a Sealing ring on the curved outer side of the housing side wall 3a 10b Sealing ring on the curved outer side of the housing side wall 3b 11 Valve head 12 Sealing area of the valve upper part 11 13 plate-shaped area of the valve upper part 11 14 Implementation 15 Shaft for driving the flow control ball 6 16a annular recess in housing side wall 3a 16b annular recess in housing side wall 3b 17 Fluid inlet 18 Seal seat 19 inner sealing element 20 positioning aids 21 Opening in the upper housing wall 4b for the passage of the shaft 15 22 axially protruding engagement element of the shaft 15 23 corresponding recess in the flow control ball 6 24 Flow channel of the flow control ball 6 25 side opening of the flow control ball 6 26 round section of the side opening 25 27 Gap section of the side opening 25 28 Valve drive device 29 Sealing elements for sealing the feedthrough 14 30 Bottom opening of the flow control ball 6 31 Valve block 32 truncated cone-shaped distribution pockets 33a Flow line end in valve block 31 33b Flow line end in valve block 31 34 Refrigerant valve assembly 35 Flow line 36 branch

Claims

[1] Ball valve (1) of a refrigerant valve device (34) for an air conditioning system, comprising ➢ a ball valve housing (2) comprising two housing parts (2a, 2b), each of which has an L-shaped cross-sectional geometry, is rotationally symmetrical to one another, and which are connected to one another at their ends by means of fastening elements (7) to form a ball valve housing (2) with a rectangular cross-sectional geometry, having two opposite housing side walls (3a, 3b), a bottom wall (4a), an upper housing wall (4b) opposite the bottom wall (4a), and two opposite open sides (5), wherein the ball valve housing (2) has a fluid inlet (17) formed in the bottom wall (4a) and two fluid outlets (9a; 9b) formed in the opposite housing side walls (3a, 3b), ➢ a ball arrangement which contains a flow control ball (6) as well as sealing seats (18) and inner sealing elements (19) and is held together by the ball valve housing (2), wherein a flow channel (24) with a bottom opening (30) directed towards the fluid inlet (17) and with a lateral opening (25) runs through the flow control ball (6), and wherein the flow control ball (6) is rotatable about an axis perpendicular to the bottom wall (4a) and thereby the position of the lateral opening (25) of the flow control ball (6) with respect to the fluid outlets (9a; 9b) is adjustable, and wherein the two spaced-apart housing side walls (3a, 3b) are curved and aligned on their outer sides (8a, 8b) in the manner of two opposite segments of a downwardly tapering truncated cone, and wherein on the curved outer sides (8a, 8b) of the two housing side walls (3a, 3b) each have a sealing ring (10a;10b) is mounted, which extends around the opening of the fluid outlet (9a; 9b) in the corresponding housing side wall (3a; 3b); [2] Ball valve (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that on the curved outer sides (8a, 8b) of the housing side walls (3a, 3b) of the ball valve housing (2) an annular receiving recess (16a; 16b) for the respective sealing ring (10a; 10b) is formed. [3] Ball valve (1) according to claim 2, characterized by that on the curved outer sides (8a, 8b) of the housing side walls (3a, 3b) the respective receiving recess (16a; 16b) for the corresponding lateral sealing ring (10a; 10b) is formed such that the receiving recess (16a; 16b) is aligned perpendicularly to the surface of the curved outer side (8a, 8b) in every direction. [4] Ball valve (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized bythat the cone angle of the ball valve housing (2), which tapers conically in the area of its curved outer sides (8a, 8b), is approximately 7°, i.e. 7° ± 0.5°. [5] Ball valve (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, further comprising a shaft (15) for driving the flow control ball (6), wherein the shaft (15) is passed through a through opening (21) in the center of the upper housing wall (4b) and is connected to the flow control ball (6) or is in operative connection with the flow control ball (6). [6] Ball valve (1) according to claim 5, further comprising a valve upper part (11) which is fastened to the upper housing wall (4b) of the ball valve housing (2) and has a central region with a sealed passage (14) through which the shaft (15) is passed. [7] Ball valve (1) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized bythat the operative connection between the shaft (15) and the flow control ball (6) is realized in that the shaft (15) has, at its end directed towards the flow control ball (6), an engagement element (22) projecting in the axial direction of the shaft (15), which engages in a corresponding recess (23) of the flow control ball (6). [8] Ball valve (1) according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized by that the sealing seats (18) and inner sealing elements (19) of the ball arrangement held inside the ball valve housing (2) are placed on the inner sides of the housing side walls (3a, 3b) around the openings of the fluid outlets (9a, 9b). [9] Ball valve (1) according to claim 8, characterized by that the inner sealing elements (19) are O-rings and a complementary profile with an annular recess is formed on the inner sides of the housing side walls (3a, 3b). [10] Refrigerant valve device (34), comprising > at least one ball valve (1) according to one of claims 1 to 9, > a valve drive device (28) for driving the ball valve (1), > a valve block (31) with at least one downwardly tapering frustoconical distributor pocket (32), which is formed between two opposite flow line ends (33a, 33b) adjacent to the distributor pocket (32) on a central axis perpendicular thereto in such a way that the distributor pocket (32) can accommodate the two-part ball valve housing (2) of the ball valve (1), and with a flow line (35), from which a branch (36) leads to a bottom region of the distributor pocket (32), wherein the two-part ball valve housing (2) is accommodated in the distributor pocket (32) in such a way that a fluid outlet (9a; 9b) is aligned with one of the flow line ends (33a, 33b) and that the branch of the flow line (35) is aligned with the fluid inlet (17) and the bottom opening (30) of the flow channel (24) of the flow control ball (6).

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