Valve for an application system for a liquid medium, valve circuit with the same, and application system with the same

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to a valve for an application system for a liquid medium, comprising: a valve needle, a valve seat with an opening for the flow of the medium, the valve needle having a first position in which the valve needle releases the opening and a second position in which the valve needle closes the opening, and at least one Bowden cable configured to move the valve needle from the first to the second position to close the valve, and / or to move the valve needle from the second position to the first position to open the valve. The present disclosure further relates to a valve circuit and an application system with at least one such valve.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve for an application system for a liquid medium, a valve circuit with such a valve and an application system with such a valve and / or such a valve circuit, and in particular a valve whose valve needle can be opened and / or closed by means of a Bowden cable. Technical background

[0002] Application systems are used in numerous industrial applications, for example in the automotive, construction, energy, and semiconductor industries, as well as in industrial assembly. Application systems serve to apply media, especially viscous and / or liquid media, to or into components. Examples of liquid media include adhesives, foams (especially polyurethane foams), battery foams, and insulating foams, as well as paints and cleaning fluids. In the automotive sector, application systems are used, for example, to apply battery foams and / or adhesives to the batteries of electric vehicles, and / or to apply adhesives to body parts and / or vehicle windows, such as windshields.

[0003] An application system comprises a dosing device, also called a dispenser, and an application device, also called an applicator. The dosing device and the application device can be combined into a single unit. The dosing device is used for dosing, for example, by controlling the flow of the medium. The dosing device receives the medium from a source, such as a storage container, in particular a drum. The application device is used to apply the medium to or into a component. Application systems include valves that control the flow of the media. The valves have a state in which they allow the flow of material (open valve) and a state in which they prevent the flow of material (closed valve). The valves can be used, in particular, in the dosing device and the application device.

[0004] Valves can be designed, for example, as needle valves. Ordinary (needle) valves are actuated, i.e., switched, by compressed air. Such valves are therefore also referred to as pneumatic or pneumatically actuated valves.

[0005] Pneumatic valves consist of a piston, a valve needle connected to the piston, and a valve seat with an opening for the flow of the medium. In the closed position, the valve needle is seated in the valve seat, thus sealing the opening and preventing the flow of the medium through it (closed state of the valve). To open the valve, compressed air is applied to the piston, causing it to move and lift the valve needle out of the valve seat. This releases the opening and allows the medium to flow through it (open state of the valve).

[0006] Pneumatically actuated valves have the disadvantage that compressed air must be supplied to operate them. This is complex and costly. Summary of the invention

[0007] It is an object of the present invention to provide an improved valve for application systems. In particular, it is an object to provide a valve that does not require compressed air for its actuation. It is also an object of the present invention to provide a valve that enables simplified installation. Furthermore, it is an object to provide a valve that exhibits reduced energy consumption and energy loss during operation. Finally, it is an object to provide a valve circuit and application system incorporating such a valve.

[0008] These and other problems arising for a person skilled in the art from the present disclosure are solved by the subject matter of the independent claims. Advantageous embodiments are the subject matter of the dependent claims.

[0009] The core of the present disclosure is to replace the pneumatic actuation of the valve with a mechanical actuation, in particular by means of a Bowden cable. A Bowden cable, also known as a cable pull, is a movable element for transmitting mechanical motion as well as compressive and / or tensile forces. The Bowden cable comprises a cable (also referred to as a "pull cable"), in particular a wire rope, and a flexible, pressure-resistant sheath (also referred to as a "cable sheath"). The Bowden cable can be actuated electromagnetically, for example by means of an electromagnet, in particular a solenoid. Bowden cables are used, for example, for brakes and gearshifts in bicycles and for throttle grips in motorcycles.

[0010] The use of a Bowden cable has the advantage that no pneumatic system is required. Therefore, no compressed air is needed to actuate the valve. This reduces energy consumption and loss during valve and application system operation. Bowden cables also facilitate easier valve installation, even in hard-to-reach locations. This is because Bowden cables can be routed to any point, including those difficult to access. The Bowden cable control can be located at a central, easily accessible point. Furthermore, using Bowden cables saves space compared to a pneumatic system.

[0011] Furthermore, the valve, which is driven by a Bowden cable, can be designed to be smaller than a comparable pneumatic valve, since a piston in the valve, which converts the pressure into movement, can be dispensed with.

[0012] According to one aspect of the present disclosure, a valve for an application system for a liquid medium is specified, comprising a first position in which a flow of the medium is enabled, and a second position in which a flow of the medium is prevented, and at least one Bowden cable arranged to move the valve into the first position and / or to move the valve into the second position.

[0013] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a valve for an application system for a liquid medium is specified, comprising: a valve closure element, in particular a valve needle, a valve seat with an opening for the flow of the medium, wherein the valve closure element, in particular the valve needle, has a first position in which the valve closure element, in particular the valve needle, releases the opening, and a second position in which the valve closure element, in particular the valve needle, closes the opening, and at least one Bowden cable which is arranged to move the valve closure element, in particular the valve needle, to the second position, in particular from the first position, in order to close the valve, and / or to move the valve closure element, in particular the valve needle, to the first position, in particular from the second position, in order to open the valve.

[0014] In the first position, the valve needle allows the medium to flow through the opening, and the valve is open. This corresponds to the valve being open. In the second position, the valve needle prevents the medium from flowing through the opening, and the valve is closed. This corresponds to the valve being closed. Moving the valve needle from the second position to the first position opens the valve. Moving the valve needle (or the valve closure element) from the first position to the second position closes the valve. Actuating the valve means switching the valve, which includes both opening and closing the valve.

[0015] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a valve circuit for an application system for a liquid medium with at least one valve is specified, comprising at least one switching arrangement for each of the at least one valve, configured to move the Bowden cable of the at least one valve to open and / or close the valve. The valve circuit can also be referred to as a valve switching mechanism. The valve circuit according to the aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure forms a circuit capable of centrally switching multiple valves.

[0016] According to a further aspect of the present disclosure, a valve circuit for an application system for a liquid medium is specified, comprising: a shaft, at least one valve according to one of the preceding claims, at least one switching arrangement accordingly for each of the at least one valve, wherein a cable of the Bowden cable is connected to the switching arrangement, at least one electromagnetic coupling device accordingly for each of the at least one switching arrangement, which is configured to couple the corresponding switching arrangement to the shaft, wherein the at least one switching arrangement is configured to convert the rotating motion of the shaft into a motion of the cable of the Bowden cable, which opens and / or closes the corresponding valve.

[0017] According to another aspect of the present disclosure, an application system is specified comprising at least one valve according to aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure and / or at least one valve circuit according to aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0018] Aspects and embodiments of the present disclosure may include one or more of the following optional features: The Bowden cable can consist of a rope and a housing. Movement of the Bowden cable can move the valve needle to the first position and / or to the second position. The Bowden cable, specifically the rope, can be configured to open the valve by moving the valve needle to the first position. The Bowden cable, specifically the rope, can be configured to close the valve by moving the valve needle to the second position.

[0019] The valve and / or valve circuit may have at least one return spring.

[0020] The return spring can be configured to close the valve, particularly automatically, by moving the valve needle to the second position, and / or to open the valve by moving the valve needle to the first position. The return spring can be configured to close the valve and / or open the valve as soon as a force, particularly a tensile force, exerted on the valve needle by the Bowden cable and / or transmitted directly or indirectly from the cable to the valve needle, is no longer present.

[0021] For example, the Bowden cable can be configured to open the valve, while the return spring can be configured to close the valve. Alternatively, the Bowden cable can be configured to close the valve, while the return spring can be configured to open the valve.

[0022] The valve and / or valve assembly may include at least one electromagnet, in particular a solenoid. The electromagnet may be configured to move the Bowden cable by means of a magnetic force. The electromagnet may be configured to move the Bowden cable to open and / or close the valve.

[0023] According to embodiments, the valve can have a first Bowden cable for opening the valve and a second Bowden cable for closing the valve. Movement of the first Bowden cable moves the valve needle to the first position. Movement of the second Bowden cable moves the valve needle to the second position.

[0024] For example, a first electromagnet can move the cable of a first Bowden cable to open the valve, and a second electromagnet can move the cable of a second Bowden cable to open the valve.

[0025] The valve circuit and / or the application system may include a control unit configured to control at least one valve and / or to control the valve circuit. The control unit may, in particular, be configured to control the at least one coupling device of the valve circuit. The control unit may control the at least one coupling device to couple the switching arrangement with the shaft, in particular by energizing the coupling device, and may control the coupling device to uncouple the switching arrangement from the shaft, in particular by terminating the energization of the coupling device.

[0026] The at least one switching device can be individually and / or independently coupled to and uncoupled from the shaft. This makes it possible to actuate the valves individually, in particular to open or close them.

[0027] The shaft of the valve circuit can be rotatable. The valve circuit can include a drive unit for rotating the shaft. The valve circuit can have one, in particular exactly one, switching arrangement per valve of the valve circuit and / or per valve of the application system. The valve circuit can have one, in particular exactly one, coupling device per switching arrangement.

[0028] At least one switching arrangement can be mounted on the shaft; in particular, the switching arrangement can be plugged onto the shaft.

[0029] The coupling device can be configured to couple the corresponding switching arrangement to the shaft, particularly when the coupling device is energized. For example, the coupling device can couple the switching arrangement to the shaft by means of a frictional and / or positive locking connection. The coupling device can be configured to couple the switching arrangement to the rotating shaft. The coupling device can be configured to uncouple the switching arrangement from the shaft, particularly when the coupling device is no longer energized. In particular, this can terminate the frictional or positive locking connection with the shaft.

[0030] The coupling of the switching assembly with the rotating shaft can cause movement, in particular rotational movement, of the switching assembly. The switching assembly can convert the rotational movement of the shaft into a linear movement. The movement of the switching assembly and / or the linear movement can cause movement of the at least one Bowden cable of the corresponding valve, in particular movement of the Bowden cable itself. The movement of the cable can close the valve. The switching assembly can be designed as a cam and / or a gate.

[0031] For example, the valve can be opened by moving the rope, and a corresponding return spring can close the valve. To open the valve, the control unit can energize the coupling device, and to close the valve, the control unit can cut off the energization to the coupling device.

[0032] The valve needle can be moved from the first to the second position, and / or the valve needle can be moved from the second position to the first position.

[0033] The valve can be configured to control the flow of a material. The medium can be a fluid. The medium can be a liquid. The medium can be a viscous medium. The medium can be one of the following: an adhesive, a foam, especially polyurethane foam, battery foam, insulating foam, a paint, a cleaning fluid. The medium can also be a gas.

[0034] In the second position of the valve needle, the tip of the valve needle can touch the valve seat and / or close the valve seat opening. In the second position of the valve needle, the tip of the valve needle can be spaced away from both the valve seat and the opening.

[0035] The valve can be designed to be self-closing.

[0036] The application system may include a metering device and / or an application device. The application system and / or the metering device and / or the application device may include at least one valve according to any of the aspects or embodiments described herein. The valve may be arranged on or in a housing of the application device and / or the metering device.

[0037] The valve closure element, in particular the valve needle, or an associated element of the valve, may comprise or consist of a metal, in particular a ferromagnetic metal.

[0038] In the present revelation, the term “medium” is used synonymously with the term “material”.

[0039] Driving the Bowden cable means moving the cable of the Bowden cable.

[0040] "Electrifying" an element means that an electric current flows through it. If the element is not energized, this can be equivalent to the element being switched off. Brief description of the character

[0041] Embodiments of the present disclosure are described in detail below with reference to a figure, which shows: Fig. 1 a valve circuit in a schematic view according to embodiments of the present disclosure. Detailed description

[0042] Corresponding elements and sizes are always provided with the same reference symbols in the figure.

[0043] Unless otherwise noted, the same reference numerals are used for identical and equivalent elements in the following text. Redundant descriptions of recurring features are avoided. The various embodiments and features of the figure described below are expressly combinable and should not be understood as complete embodiments.

[0044] Fig. Figure 1 shows a valve circuit in a schematic view according to embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0045] The valve assembly 10 comprises a shaft 12 and a motor 14, in particular an electric motor. The shaft 12 is rotatable. The shaft 12 is rotated by the motor 14. The shaft 12 can rotate continuously.

[0046] Valve circuit 10 is part of an application system (not shown). In addition to the valve circuit, the application system includes several valves (not shown) for a liquid medium. The valves are configured to control the flow of the medium. For example, the application system includes three valves.

[0047] The valves are actuated by a Bowden cable, i.e., opened and / or closed. Specifically, the valves are opened by means of the Bowden cable. Each valve is actuated by at least one Bowden cable.

[0048] In Fig. 1 shows three Bowden cables 16a-c for the three valves.

[0049] For each of the three valves, the valve circuit 10 comprises a switching arrangement. In total, the valve circuit 10 therefore comprises three switching arrangements 18a-c. Each of the Bowden cables 16a-c is connected to a corresponding switching arrangement 18a-c. In particular, a cable (not shown) of the Bowden cable 16a-c can be connected to the corresponding switching arrangement 18a-c.

[0050] Each of the switching arrangements 18a-c is configured to convert the rotary motion of the shaft 12 into a motion of the corresponding Bowden cable 16a-c, in particular the rope, to open or close the corresponding valve. This motion of the rope exerts a force on the valve, in particular on a valve needle of the valve, whereby a motion of the valve needle in turn opens or closes the valve. For example, the switching arrangements 18a-c can be configured to open the corresponding valve.

[0051] The switching arrangements 18a-c can each be configured as a cam and / or a cam and / or can be mounted on the shaft. The cam can convert the rotary motion of the shaft 12 into a longitudinal motion. This longitudinal motion can move the cable of the corresponding Bowden cable 16a-c, thereby opening the valve, for example.

[0052] Furthermore, the valve circuit 10 includes several electromagnetic coupling devices 20a-c for each of the switching devices 18a-c. The coupling devices 20a-c are configured to couple the corresponding switching device 18a-c to the shaft, for example, by means of a frictional connection. Through the coupling, the switching device 18a-c rotates together with the rotating shaft 12. Thus, by coupling the switching device 18a-c to the shaft, the cable of the corresponding Bowden cable 16a-c is moved, thereby opening the corresponding valve. The coupling devices 20a-c can be designed, for example, as an electromagnet and / or as a magnetic coupling. The coupling of the switching devices 18a-c by the corresponding coupling device 20a-c occurs when the coupling device 20a-c is energized.

[0053] Each of the switching devices 18a-c can be coupled to the shaft 12 individually and / or independently of the other switching devices 18a-c. This makes it possible to actuate the valves individually, i.e., to open and close them individually. This is made possible by the fact that each of the switching devices 18a-c has its own coupling device 20a-c.

[0054] The valves can be closed, for example, by corresponding return springs (not shown), which move the valve needles in the opposite direction to when the valves open. The return spring closes the valve as soon as the corresponding coupling device 20a-c is no longer energized, thereby releasing (decoupling) the coupling of the corresponding switching arrangement 18a-c with the shaft, and the corresponding switching arrangement 18a-c no longer exerts a tensile force on the valve needle.

Claims

[1] Valve for an application system for a liquid medium, comprising: - a valve needle, - a valve seat with an opening for the flow of the medium, wherein the valve needle has a first position in which the valve needle releases the opening and a second position in which the valve needle closes the opening, and - at least one Bowden cable designed to move the valve needle from the first to the second position to close the valve, and / or to move the valve needle from the second position to the first position to open the valve. [2] Valve according to claim 1, wherein: the Bowden cable is arranged to open the valve, the valve further comprising a return spring to close the valve, or the Bowden cable is set up to close the valve, the valve further comprising a return spring to open the valve. [3] Valve according to one of claims 1 or 2, further comprising at least one solenoid valve arranged to move a Bowden cable to open and / or close the valve. [4] Valve circuit (10) for an application system for a liquid medium, comprising: - a wave (12), - at least one valve according to one of the preceding claims, - at least one switching arrangement (18a-c) corresponding for each of the at least one valve, wherein a cable of the Bowden cable (16a-c) is connected to the switching arrangement (18a-c), - at least one electromagnetic coupling device (20a-c) corresponding for each of the at least one switching arrangement (18a-c) which is configured to couple the corresponding switching arrangement (18a-c) with the shaft (12), wherein the at least one switching arrangement (18a-c) is configured to convert the rotating motion of the shaft into a motion of the Bowden cable (16a-c) which opens or closes the corresponding valve. [5] Application system comprising at least one valve and / or at least one valve circuit (10) according to any of the preceding claims.

Images