High-pressure valve assembly

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-pressure valve arrangement (1) comprising a valve block (2), wherein a needle valve (6) is arranged in the valve block (2) and the needle valve (6) is displaceable in the axial direction (A) via an actuator, such that a supply channel (3) and a discharge channel (4) in the valve block (2) are fluidly connected to each other in an open position via a valve seat (7) of the needle valve (6) and are separated from each other in a closed position of the needle valve (6), wherein a sleeve-shaped receptacle (9) for a valve stem (10) of the needle valve (6) is located at an axial end of the actuator, characterized in that the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9) has three balls (12) extending radially around it, which engage section by section in a radially circumferential groove (13) of the valve stem (10) and are mounted in a radially circumferential inner running surface (14) of the valve block (2) or actuator.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a high-pressure valve arrangement comprising a valve block with a needle valve according to the features in the preamble of claim 1.

[0002] High-pressure valves are known from the prior art. These valves have a valve block. A needle valve is located within the valve block. An inlet and outlet, or a supply channel and a discharge channel within the valve block, are fluid-conductingly connected by the open needle valve. When the needle valve is in a closed position, the inlet and outlet are separated.

[0003] Such high-pressure valve arrangements are particularly well-known in high-pressure technology, where corresponding working pressures of more than 300 bar are transmitted through the lines. Especially in high-pressure gas applications, working pressures of up to 1550 bar can be present within the line. Opening and closing the needle valve then separates the inlet from the outlet.

[0004] Such high operating pressures occur, for example, in hydrogen refueling stations.

[0005] The needle valve is axially displaceable and assumes a corresponding open, closed, or blocked position. For this purpose, the needle valve is attached to an actuator. The actuator receives the needle valve with a positive-locking seat and, in particular, secures it with a pin connection, so that axial movement of the actuator moves the needle valve into the corresponding open or closed position.

[0006] The object of the present invention is to demonstrate a way to fix a needle valve to an actuator in a high-pressure gas application, while at the same time providing a service-oriented option for disassembly or replacement.

[0007] The aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention with the features in claim 1.

[0008] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0009] The high-pressure valve assembly comprises a valve block, within which a needle valve is arranged. The needle valve is actuated by an actuator. The actuator is located outside the valve block and flanged to the valve block by means of an intermediate piece or adapter. The actuator itself can be pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, or manual. A pneumatic actuator is particularly preferred. The actuator allows the needle valve to be axially displaced such that a corresponding valve seat in the valve block is closed when the needle valve is in a closed position. The intermediate piece is designed as a sleeve-shaped extension, providing an inner running surface in which a spindle shaft of the actuator can move.

[0010] The valve block incorporates a supply channel and a discharge channel, also called inlet and outlet. These are connected to each other via the valve seat of the needle valve, allowing fluid to flow. When the needle valve is in the open position, fluid can be directed from the inlet to the outlet. This fluid can be liquid or gaseous.

[0011] The actuator thus moves in an axial direction. The axial direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the needle valve.

[0012] At the end of the actuator, a sleeve-shaped receptacle is formed in the spindle shaft or as an extension of the spindle shaft. A valve stem of the needle valve is inserted into or received in this sleeve-shaped receptacle, at least partially. Preferably, the sleeve-shaped receptacle is radially encompassed by the intermediate piece, at least along its entire length.

[0013] According to the invention, three balls are arranged radially around the sleeve-shaped receptacle, extending through bores. The balls are arranged such that they engage section by section in a radially circumferential groove in the valve stem of the needle valve. A radially circumferential inner running surface is also arranged in the valve block. The radially outer side of each ball then bears against this inner running surface. This creates a positive-locking connection between the valve stem and the spindle shaft, and thus with the actuator. The balls extend through a respective opening or hole in the sleeve-shaped receptacle. The inner running surface is formed on the intermediate piece or adapter. When the actuator is inserted into the valve block, the intermediate piece is at least section by section inserted into the valve block.

[0014] Furthermore, the balls engage section by section in the circumferential groove of the valve stem. In addition, the balls are supported or secured against an inner running surface of the valve block or the intermediate piece.

[0015] The inner running surface of the intermediate piece is at least as high in the axial direction as the axial travel of the actuator. Thus, when the actuator is moved axially, the balls run along the inner running surface of the intermediate piece according to the principle of a ball bearing, while positively engaging the valve stem. The force of the axial movement is then transmitted via the respective hole or the seat of the ball in the sleeve-shaped receptacle of the actuator. Because the balls engage, at least partially, in the radially circumferential groove of the valve stem, the valve is also guided, and the axial movement is transmitted.

[0016] Because the bearing operates on the principle of a ball bearing, only negligible starting forces need to be overcome at the beginning of each opening or closing movement. At the same time, the actuator drive is centered or self-centering in the radial direction by the at least three balls rotating around it.

[0017] If the needle valve needs to be replaced due to maintenance or wear, a service position can be assumed. This can be achieved, for example, by having the actuator complete its axial movement into the service position. First, the valve block is separated from the intermediate piece, after the actuator has been moved into the opening position. After moving it into the closed position and not fully loosening the clamping screw, the intermediate piece is lifted in its seat. The radius of the inner running surface increases. This allows the balls to be displaced radially outwards. Once this service position is assumed and the balls are displaced radially outwards, the needle valve can be removed from the sleeve-shaped receptacle, as the balls no longer engage in the radially circumferential groove of the needle valve.The needle valve can then be pulled out of the sleeve-shaped receptacle in the spindle shaft in the axial direction.

[0018] To prevent the balls from radially penetrating or falling into the sleeve-shaped receptacle when the needle valve is removed, the bores or holes through which the balls pass through the sleeve-shaped receptacle are conical, tapering to a point radially inward. Thus, when assembling the actuator, the balls are inserted into the conical bores from the radial outside, after which the actuator's sleeve-shaped receptacle is inserted into a corresponding running surface.

[0019] This inner running surface can be located directly within the valve block. Alternatively, it can be located within a running sleeve or outer sleeve of the actuator (a so-called intermediate piece). In particular, the sleeve-shaped receptacle of the actuator is additionally guided by an inner surface. This inner surface can be a guide surface within the valve block. However, it can also be formed within a sleeve-shaped guide section of the actuator. The guide is designed to allow axial movement and radial guidance. This ensures that, in the closed position, the leading edge of the needle valve engages the valve seat and seals it fluid-tight, thus fluidically separating the supply and discharge channels.

[0020] Further advantages, features, and aspects of the present invention are the subject of the following description. Preferred embodiments are illustrated in schematic figures. These serve to facilitate understanding of the invention.

[0021] In the figures, identical and similar components are represented by the same reference numerals, even if a repeated description or illustration is omitted for the sake of simplicity. The aforementioned and subsequently listed embodiments can be combined individually with one another as desired without departing from the scope of the invention. The figures show: Fig. 1 a high-pressure valve arrangement according to the state of the art, Fig. 2 the solution according to the invention in perspective view, Fig. 3 an analogous design variant of Fig. 2 in longitudinal section, Fig. 4 the high-pressure valve assembly in the open position, Fig. 5a - c an advantage according to the invention in a service position, Fig. 6 a cross-sectional view of Fig. 3.

[0022] Fig. Figure 1 shows a high-pressure valve arrangement 1 according to the prior art. This arrangement includes a valve block 2. The valve block 2 has a supply channel 3 and a discharge channel 4, which are in fluid-conducting contact with each other or can be connected via a channel system 5 within the valve block 2. Furthermore, a needle valve 6 is arranged, which is shown in a closed position within a valve seat 7. The needle valve 6 thus closes the channel system 5 by means of positive contact with a valve tip in the valve seat 7, so that the supply channel 3 and discharge channel 4 are fluid-conductingly separated from each other. The valve block 2 is preferably made of a steel material. An actuator is flanged to the valve block 2. The actuator is axially movable. The actuator has a sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 in its spindle shaft 8.An upper end of the valve stem 10 of the needle valve 6 is inserted section by section into the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 and held therein. A positive-locking connection is established by a pin 11, for example a spring pin, so that the needle valve 6 is fixed together with the actuator. An axial movement of the actuator in the axial direction thus also causes the needle valve 6 to move. Indicated upwards in the image plane, the needle valve 6 can be moved into an open position.

[0023] The problem here is that the necessary tool for disassembling the connection of pin 11 is available. In particular, the actuator must be completely disassembled to drive out pin 11, especially if it is fitted into the actuator with an interference fit. Furthermore, it has been found that tilting about the axis of the pin connection, and thus angled insertion of the needle valve 6 into the seat of the valve block 2, is possible.

[0024] Fig. Figure 2 shows the solution according to the invention in a perspective view. No pin 11 is arranged here. Three balls 12 are arranged radially around the circumference of the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9. The balls 12 engage in a partially circumferential groove 13 on the valve stem 10. The balls 12 pass through a respective bore in the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9. Furthermore, the balls 12 run on an inner running surface 14, shown here on a sleeve-shaped guide end of the intermediate piece 15. The sleeve-shaped section 9 of the spindle stem 16, which can also be called the spindle drive, is further guided in the radial direction R in the sleeve-shaped guide end 15 of the intermediate piece, but is displaceable in the axial direction A. The needle valve 6 is thus in the valve seat 7 in Fig. Figure 2 shows the valve in the closed position. A lower end of the valve stem, relative to the plane of the image, is preferably guided in a sealing arrangement 20. This seals the channel system 5, so that the supply channel 3 and / or discharge channel 4 each have an operating pressure, but are sealed off from the environment. The sealing arrangement 20 thus allows movement in the axial direction A, while simultaneously guiding the needle valve 6 or a lower part of the stem of the needle valve 6 also in the radial direction R.

[0025] Fig. Figure 3 shows an analogous design variant of Fig. 2 in longitudinal section. The actuator is shown as a pneumatic actuator and can perform the movement in axial direction A. For this purpose, the spindle shaft 16 can be moved in axial direction A. The needle valve 6, or rather the tip of the needle valve 6, is thus lifted from the valve seat 7, and the supply channel 3 and the discharge channel 4 are connected to each other by fluid. This position is shown in Fig. 4 shown.

[0026] The balls 12 are guided in axial direction A on the inner running surface 14. The axial movement A of the actuator between the open and closed positions is thus guided. For this purpose, the inner running surface 14 has a height 17 that corresponds at least to the stroke of the actuator to assume the open and closed positions in axial direction A.

[0027] Furthermore, for example, in the Fig. The open position shown in Figure 4 is enabled by additional seals 18 of the spindle shaft 16 in the actuator housing or intermediate piece to seal the drive air in pneumatically driven actuators.

[0028] Fig. Figures 5a to c now show an advantage of the invention in a service position. Here, the actuator is detached from the valve block, or the clamping screw is loosened. The actuator is raised upwards in the axial direction A, or the valve block 2 of the actuator can now pull the spindle shaft further into the intermediate piece in the axial direction A, as shown here. The balls 12 thus leave the inner running surface 14 in the sleeve-shaped extension and come into contact with a service inner running surface 19 or a displacement surface. The service inner running surface 19 has a larger radius or diameter than the inner running surface 14 of the sleeve-shaped guide end. This makes it possible for the balls 12 to be moved outwards in the radial direction R, which in Fig. 5b is shown. Consequently, there is no longer any engagement in the circumferential groove 13 and the locking mechanism between the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 of the spindle shaft 16 and the needle valve 6 is released. As a result, the needle valve 6 can be, as shown in Fig. 5c shows that the actuator, in particular the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9, is pulled out in axial direction A.

[0029] Fig. Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of Fig. 3. Here it can be seen that three balls 12 are arranged radially around the perimeter. At least three balls 12 are arranged. These three balls 12 can thus not only hold the needle valve 6 in a positive fit radially around the perimeter, but also center it. The circumferential groove 13 is shown with a dashed line. The balls 12 thus bear radially against the outer surface of the inner running surface 14 and engage at least partially in the circumferential groove 13. Furthermore, there are corresponding bores 21 in the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 of the spindle shaft 16. These bores 21 are, as indicated, conical in design. Thus, for example, the service position according to Fig. 5c is taken and the needle valve 6 is completely withdrawn from the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9, so the conical bores 21 prevent the balls 12 from falling radially inwards into the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 and thus from falling out of the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9.

[0030] If the balls 12, due to the conical bores 21, reach a position as shown in Fig. 6 shown, should slide back or roll, so when a new needle valve 6 is inserted in the opposite direction, as shown in Fig. 5c, the respective ball 12 is pressed outwards so that it is pressed against the service inner running surface 19. When the spindle shaft 16 is moved, it moves in the opposite direction, i.e. from Fig. 5c about Fig. 5b after Fig. 5a, to the inner running surface 14, shown in Fig. 4, the form-fitting recess 9 is again engaged. For this purpose, a conical transition is also formed between the service inner running surface 19 and the inner running surface 14.

[0031] The diameter of the radius inner running surface X is 0.9 times the nominal diameter of the valve inner diameter V. All common valve inner diameters V from 1 / 4 to 1 1 / 2 inches can be used (1 / 4; 3 / 8; 9 / 16; 3 / 4; 1; 1 1 / 2). The valve inner diameters V are linked to the pipe end dimensions, in particular to the dimensions of the inlet and outlet connections. The ball diameters D can preferably be 2 mm to 8 mm, more preferably 3 mm to 7 mm, most preferably 5 mm to 6 mm, and most preferably 4 mm. All of this is described in Fig. 7 is shown and applies to the entire revelation. Reference symbol: 1 High-pressure valve assembly 2 Valve block 3 Feed channel 4 Drainage channel 5-channel system 6 needle valve 7 valve seat 8 distance 9 sleeve-shaped receptacles 10 Valve stem 11 Tension pin 12 balls 13 Nut 14 Inner running surface 15 sleeve-shaped guide end from the intermediate piece 16 Spindle shaft 17 height to 14 18 Seal 19 Service area / passage area 20 Sealing arrangement 21 conical bore A Axial direction D ball diameter R Radial direction V Valve inner surface X radius inner tread

Claims

High-pressure valve arrangement (1) comprising a valve block (2), wherein a needle valve (6) is arranged in the valve block (2) and the needle valve (6) is displaceable in the axial direction (A) via an actuator, such that a supply channel (3) and a discharge channel (4) in the valve block (2) are fluidly connected to each other in an open position via a valve seat (7) of the needle valve (6) and are separated from each other in a closed position of the needle valve (6), wherein a sleeve-shaped receptacle (9) for a valve stem (10) of the needle valve (6) is formed at an axial end of the actuator in a spindle shaft (16), which is mounted in an intermediate piece (15), characterized in that three balls (12) are arranged radially circumferentially through the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9).which engage section by section in a radially circumferential groove (13) of the valve stem (10) and are mounted in a radially circumferential inner running surface (14) of the valve block (2) or the intermediate piece (15) of the actuator. High pressure valve arrangement (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the balls (12) are each mounted in a bore (21) passing through the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9). High pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the bore (21) is conical, wherein the cone shape increases radially outwards. High-pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radially circumferential inner running surface (14) of the valve block (2) has a height (17) which corresponds to the axial displacement path of the needle valve (6) from the closed position to an open position. High-pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the axial direction (A) a radially increasing deflection surface (19) adjoins the cylindrical running surface. High pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9) is guided radially on the outside in a front area. High pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rear end face of the valve stem (10) rests in the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9). High-pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator is pneumatically operated. High pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an upper part of the actuator is designed as a shaft, wherein the intermediate piece (15) is comprised of at least one seal (18) which, in the case of pneumatic actuators, seals the drive air from the environment.

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