ELECTROMAGNETIC FOLDING ARMATURE VALVE DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to an electromagnetic folding armature valve device according to the preamble of the main claim. Such devices are generally known from the prior art and comprise, as an electromagnetically movable assembly, armature means which are movable relative to a stationary arrangement comprising a core (core means) and a cooperating energizable coil (coil means). This movement is a pivoting or folding movement and is enabled by a usually lateral articulation or mounting of the typically flat armature means.

[0002] This pivoting or folding movement then exposes or closes a valve seat, so that in this way the valve functionality is realized by the controlled closable valve seat.

[0003] Such electromagnetically operated hinged armature valve devices are usually characterized by fast switching times, since usually only small masses have to be moved with a small pivoting or folding stroke and with a flat armature hinged at one end.

[0004] However, with generic and generally known hinged armature valve devices, the adjustment or (fine) setting of the armature stroke (i.e., the folding or swivel stroke) is not without its problems and is often achieved by additional mechanical means or assemblies such as adjustment or adjustment screws, which then have to be adjusted or adjusted for the respective stroke during assembly of each valve in each individual case. This technology, which is complex and therefore in need of improvement, particularly in view of large-scale production, also leads to the problem of increased sealing effort with a seal of the armature chamber (which may be changed by the adjustment), because a swivel or folding stroke, which can be adjusted by additional mechanical means, influences the pressure conditions in the armature chamber (i.e.the space in the (valve) housing supplied with a pressurised fluid to be switched by means of the valve device), which must be sealed from the environment to ensure proper valve functionality.

[0005] EP 1 860 314 A2 describes a gas supply device allowing rapid and precise metering of gas, in particular fuel, in particular liquefied petroleum gas, to the internal combustion engine, comprising at least one solenoid valve controlled to supply gas to a corresponding cylinder of the engine; wherein the solenoid valve comprises a gas distributor and at least one outlet channel for the fuel gas, wherein a corresponding closure carried by an armature is activated by a corresponding electromagnet to connect the inlet distributor to an outlet channel;wherein the armature is in the form of a spatial lever that rotates about an edge located between an outer surface and an inclined portion of the armature and contacts a flat surface of the flat spring, and an elastic element that acts on the armature with a predetermined elastic force sufficient to normally maintain this shutter in a closed position closing the outlet hole if no power is supplied to the electromagnet;

[0006] FR 1 531 234 A describes an electrohydraulic servo valve. This comprises a pressure control chamber into which a fluid enters from a source under pressure, a nozzle through which the fluid exits the control chamber, a control element that reduces and varies the flow of the fluid flowing through the nozzle, a single-ended electromagnet combined with the control element that actuates the element to exert a throttling effect on the flow rate not achieved by the nozzle under the action of an electrical input signal transmitted to the electromagnet, and an element that exerts a thrust on this control element by increasing the throttling effect. This thrust force is inversely proportional to the throttling effect and complements the magnetic force of the electromagnet to reduce the intensity of the input signals.

[0007] WO 2008 / 068578 A2 describes a system for supplying gaseous fuel to an internal combustion engine, comprising: a fuel tank; a fluidic connecting means along which the fuel flows and which is fluidically arranged between the tank and a cylinder of the engine; and an electro-injector which is fluidically arranged in series with the fluidic connecting means and which is arranged between the tank and the cylinder and is selectively activated to deactivate or activate the flow of fuel to the cylinder; the electro-injector is arranged with respect to the fluidic connecting means exclusively by connecting at least one inlet or outlet of the electro-injector to at least one tube defined by the fluidic connecting means.

[0008] US 5,762,097 A describes a modular valve for fluids, comprising a valve housing with a plurality of fluid connections, a spring-loaded rocker switch insertable into the valve housing, and an electromagnetic valve actuator. A generally magnetically non-conductive plate with locally limited magnetically conductive areas is inserted between the valve housing and the electromagnetic valve actuator, through which the electromagnetic valve actuator acts on one of two legs of the rocker switch, while the other leg cannot be magnetically acted upon.

[0009] WO 2006 / 122975 A1 discloses a solenoid valve assembly for a fuel gas supply device of an engine, comprising at least one solenoid valve that can be controlled to direct fuel gas to the engine, the solenoid valve having at least one outlet opening for the fuel gas. An armature carries a closure that can be actuated by an electromagnet to control the outlet opening. The armature is formed by an elongated plate, and an elastic element acts on the plate with a force to normally maintain the closure in a closed position of the solenoid valve.

[0010] DE 33 46 290 A1 discloses an electromagnet unit with a magnetic core, a coil body, a first valve seat formed in a flange of the coil body, and a valve unit with a movable yoke arranged within a valve chamber and having one end pivotable. When current flows through the coil, the movable yoke is attracted to the core and pressed against the first valve seat to establish a connection between a fluid channel and the valve chamber.

[0011] These problems have so far led to the consequence that cost-effective large-scale or mass production of electromagnetically actuated hinged armature valve devices (with corresponding tolerances or variations) has only been possible to a very limited extent and, accordingly, this valve technology has not been able to exploit its full potential to date due to cost reasons.

[0012] The object of the present invention is therefore to improve an electromagnetic folding armature valve device according to the preamble of the main claim with regard to its manufacturing and operating properties, thereby enabling simpler and thus more cost-effective manufacture under large-scale production conditions, which in particular also simplifies tolerance compensation or adjustability of the pivoting or folding stroke for the armature means.

[0013] This object is achieved by the electromagnetic hinged-armature valve device having the features of the main claim. Advantageous developments of the invention are described in the subclaims. Additional protection within the scope of the present invention is claimed for the use of such an electromagnetic hinged-armature valve device for implementing a control valve, particularly for fluid control applications in the field of automotive technology.

[0014] In an advantageous manner according to the invention, the present invention uses the coil carrier assembly and the valve seat assembly in such a way that, for the production of the hinged armature valve device according to the invention, they are not only connectable to one another (wherein, according to the further development, this is done in a non-detachable and / or pressure-tight manner with respect to the fluid to be switched), but both assemblies are also adjustable relative to one another before this connection and thus the pivoting or folding stroke of the armature means determined or influenced by these assemblies can be influenced in a simple and elegant manner in terms of production technology.

[0015] Such fine adjustment or adjustment of the working air gap between the core means and the armature means advantageously allows the fundamental advantage of hinged armature valves to be realized, namely fast switching times combined with high accuracy in continuous operation. This makes the valve device according to the invention particularly suitable for use as a control valve, but this does not limit the range of applications of the technology according to the invention.

[0016] According to the invention, it is particularly unnecessary to use additional (mechanical) assemblies or units for stroke adjustment or stroke setting. Rather, this is achieved within the scope of the invention through the inventive adjustment or adjustment option of the coil assembly and the valve seat assembly, which are further preferably displaceable relative to one another for this purpose in an armature movement direction and / or a longitudinal direction through the valve device, such as determined by an axial extension of the stationary core means. For this purpose, the units further preferably have suitable sections designed for such displaceable interaction, such as sleeve sections designed for intermeshing or sliding interaction.

[0017] If, as further preferred and provided within the scope of advantageous developments of the invention, at least one of these assemblies, more preferably both assemblies, is made of a weldable polymer material, the present invention enables the permanent and more preferably pressure-tight connection of both assemblies after suitable adjustment and thus after (fine) setting of the intended pivoting or folding stroke by simply welding or selectively fusing the polymer material. This not only ensures cost-effective manufacture of the device using correspondingly inexpensive materials, but also allows them to be connected simply and elegantly, permanently and pressure-tightly with the desired precision, for example, using an otherwise known laser welding process or the like.

[0018] In an additional further development and advantage, the assemblies of the coil carrier assembly and the valve seat assembly, which interact according to the invention and are adjustable relative to one another before (permanent) connection, make it possible to realize a suitable pivot or folding bearing for the armature means, wherein the folding armature, which is flat or (at least in sections) planar in a further development, can particularly preferably be pivotally guided at one end in a bearing section formed by these two assemblies. In a further development, a corresponding bearing projection (provided, for example, with a curved engagement surface) can then be designed in a structurally simple and low-wear manner on at least one of these assemblies. Spring means would then, for example, in cooperation with the other assembly, be able to realize a folding or pivot bearing in a structurally simple and operationally reliable manner.

[0019] From a structural point of view, it is furthermore preferred to design a magnetic flux-conducting housing section of the (valve) housing according to the invention to surround the coil carrier assembly at least in sections, wherein this magnetic flux-conducting housing section can in particular also be implemented in the form of a bracket or in the manner of a yoke bracket. Particularly in this development of the previously described exemplary embodiments, it is then advantageous to position a (free) end of such a magnetic flux-conducting housing section relative to the armature means, in particular their folding oradjacent to the pivot bearing, so that a magnetic flux input, generated in response to energization of the stationary coil means, can take place via a (working) air gap formed in this bearing area into the hinged armature (armature means); the further magnetic flux circuit would be able to be closed via the core means (forming a stop for the armature means) and a connection (rearward with respect to the armature means) of the core means to the magnetic flux-conducting housing section. In turn, such a magnetic configuration makes it possible to manufacture and assemble the hinged armature valve device according to the invention in a manner suitable for large-scale production while minimizing the components and assemblies and the dimensional tolerances. This is then achieved in particular by using material-deforming manufacturing processes, such as preferred pressing orStems are to be provided between the magnetic flux-conducting housing section and the core means, such as preferably at the (axial) end region of the core means opposite the armature means.

[0020] Within the scope of the present invention, the valve seat assembly (preferably made from a polymeric or similar injection-moldable material) directly and more preferably integrally implements the valve seat designed for sealing or exposing interaction with the armature means. In particular to ensure a reliable sealing effect, it is further developed and advantageous to assign the armature means a sealing section made from a polymeric or elastomeric material, which sealing section can more preferably be arranged on or on the (at least one) flat side of the armature means and more preferably extending through an opening in the armature means. This not only enables simple and preferably automatable manufacture, but also enables reliable geometric assignment to the outlet or nozzle section of the valve seat, without, for example, the magnetic orThe flux conducting properties of the anchoring agents are significantly impaired.

[0021] In a preferred development of the invention, the valve seat assembly (made of a polymeric or injection-moldable material) is designed to additionally form the second valve inlet or outlet, which, together with the first valve inlet or outlet formed by the valve seat, determines both the fluid inlet and outlet as well as the fluid flow within the valve. In this respect, the valve seat assembly according to the invention, in addition to its role in interaction with the coil carrier assembly, has an additional key function, namely with regard to the connections of the valve relating to the fluid to be switched. It is also particularly preferred to realize this assembly in one piece, so that this success-critical assembly can be realized cost-effectively and efficiently using a single injection molding process.

[0022] By virtue of the present invention, in particular by virtue of the adjustable and sealing interaction between the coil support assembly and the valve seat assembly, the associated region of the armature chamber is already sealed with respect to the fluid to be switched. Further developing the invention, the complete sealing of the armature chamber is achieved merely by sealing the core means against the coil support assembly enclosing it, which is achieved in a structurally simple and manufacturing-technically advantageous manner by providing an annular seal or similar circumferential sealing means in an annular shoulder between the core means and the coil support assembly.Advantageously, the overall sealing effort of the hinged armature valve device realized according to the invention is thus minimized, which not only reduces the manufacturing effort but also reduces the risk of leaks, leakage losses or similar effects, especially after a long operating and downtime period.

[0023] In particular, the advantageous embodiments of the invention described above enable the simple realization of a normally closed (NC) valve, in such a way that, in accordance with the invention, the intended closed zero position is defined by the provision of spring means, such as a compression spring which prestresses the armature means against the valve seat and is supported for this purpose by the core means.

[0024] Alternative designs of the valve seat and / or spring means to be used, in particular the provision of a possible (axial) breakthrough through the core means, enable a variation of this valve topology, deviating from the NC-2 / 2 topology into an NO-2 / 2 topology (i.e. a normally open (NO) topology with two inlets and outlets and two switching positions), alternatively also a 3 / 2 topology with three inlets / outlets, with an additional (ventilation) connection.

[0025] As a result, the present invention allows the cost-effective, compact and easily adjustable and thus series-suitable production of electromagnetic hinged armature valve devices, so that the present invention creates the conditions for making this valve principle accessible to numerous fields of application that could not previously be developed for cost reasons.

[0026] Further advantages, features and details of the invention will become apparent from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the figures; these show in Fig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through the electromagnetic armature valve device according to a first embodiment of the present invention.

[0027] A coil carrier assembly 10 produced by injection molding from a plastic material carries, in an otherwise known manner, an externally contactable and energizable winding 12 in order to pivot, following the principle of a hinged armature valve device, a hinged armature 14 which is flat and elongated on both sides around a pivot or hinged joint 15 in the direction of a stationary core 16 enclosed by the coil carrier 10.

[0028] By the action of a compression spring 20 accommodated in a front-side armature-side recess 18 of the core 16, the hinged armature 14 is prestressed against a valve seat 22, which is formed in a nozzle-like manner from a valve seat assembly 24 realized by injection molding from a plastic material and is open externally to a valve outlet 26. This valve outlet is arranged eccentrically and axially parallel to a valve inlet 28 in the illustrated embodiment, which is likewise formed in one piece from the valve seat assembly 24 and, together with the outlet 26, forms a 2 / 2-way valve actuated by switching positions of the hinged armature 14 (i.e. two valve switching positions, two inlets and outlets), whereby by the action of the compression spring 20 and its prestressing of the armature 14 on the valve seat 22, an NC functionality in the de-energized state of the coil 12 in the Fig. 1 shown closed position.

[0029] Specifically, as this longitudinal sectional view illustrates, a sealing body 30 seals the valve seat 22 in the shown (de-energized) closed position, wherein the sealing seat 30, realized from a polymer sealing material, is formed on a lower valve seat-side flat side 32 of the armature and extends through an opening 34 in the armature 14 to improve adhesion, durability and assembly.

[0030] In the Fig. 1right-hand area and to realize the bearing 15, the armature 14 is pressed by the action of a compression spring 36, which encloses a projection 38 of the valve seat assembly and is supported by this, against a joint projection 40, which extends from the coil carrier assembly 10. In this way, between the sections 38 and 40 together with the intermediate spring 36, a bearing with play, at the same time low-wear, precise and mechanically simple is made possible, which also, between the armature 14 and a housing-like arrangement of the Fig. 1 surrounding, magnetically conductive yoke bracket 42, enables a minimized parasitic air gap 44 to a free end of the yoke bracket 42.

[0031] The yoke bracket 42, in turn, is connected to the core section 16 - both mechanically strong and magnetically flux-conducting - by caulking or rolling in the area of ​​the front end 46 opposite the armature 14.

[0032] The longitudinal section of the Fig. 1 additionally illustrates how an O-ring seal 48, which engages in a shell-side annular groove 50 of the core unit 16, seals this core means 16 against the coil carrier assembly 10 (more precisely: against its hollow cylindrical inner wall).

[0033] Since, in particular at the partially sleeve-like, parallel transition areas 52 and 54, the coil carrier assembly 10 is connected to the valve seat assembly 24 (by a laser welding process that is particularly advantageous here) in a non-detachable and equally pressure-tight manner, a pressure-tight valve interior or armature chamber 56 is determined by means of these two assemblies (and including the core unit 16), in which fluid entering through the inlet 28 is either held (pressure-tight), this corresponds to the valve switching state of the Fig. 1, or can exit through the outlet 26 following the valve seat 22 when, when the coil means 12 is energized, the hinged armature 14 is attracted (against the restoring force of the compression spring 20), strikes the associated end face of the core unit 16 and thus exposes the valve seat 22 in a fluid-conducting manner by releasing the sealing body 30 from the valve seat 22.

[0034] It is clear that the small folding or pivoting stroke of the armature 14 - typical for folding armature valves - is determined on the one hand by an axial relative position (relative to a longitudinal or symmetry axis 60) between the core means 16 and the coil carrier assembly 10 - here an annular shoulder 62 on the core means 16 determines this axial position - and on the other hand by an axial relative position between the coil carrier assembly 10 and the valve seat assembly 24: These engage with one another at positions 52 and 54 in an axially displaceable manner (and thus adjustable before welding) in the form of coaxial, sleeve-like surfaces and thus enable the (maximum) armature pivoting or folding stroke to be adjusted in a simple and potentially large-scale production manner. To be more precise, this adjustment takes place during assembly in that after the core unit 16 orthe anchor unit 14 and a merging of the assemblies 10 and 24, the (axial) distance between which is finely adjusted, before then, in this adjusted relative position, both assemblies 10, 24 are welded together, in particular in the areas 52, 54 and thus in the area of ​​the free legs or open ends of the yoke bracket 42, to form the permanent and pressure-tight connection between the assemblies 10 and 24 (without a mechanical connection to the bracket 42 being necessary).

[0035] This means that the working air gap formed (between armature 14 and core 16) can be adjusted not only with high precision, but also automatically and thus potentially suitable for large-scale production, so that this embodiment of the invention - and numerous other variations and modifications of the merely exemplary in Fig. 1shown valve type are conceivable - fast switching times are combined with high accuracy in continuous operation and low dispersion (therefore high quality) in production. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0036] 10 Coil carrier assembly 12 Winding 14 Hinged armature 15 Swivel and hinged joint / bearing 16 Core 18 Recess 20 Compression spring 22 Valve seat 24 Valve seat assembly 26 Valve outlet 28 Valve inlet 30 Sealing body 32 Flat side 34 Opening 36 Compression spring 38 Projection 40 Joint projection 42 Yoke bracket 44 Air gap 46 End 48 Seal 50 Annular groove 52 Transition area 54 Transition area 56 Valve interior or armature chamber 60 Longitudinal or symmetry axis 62 Annular shoulder

Claims

1. An electromagnetic hinged armature valve device, comprising armature means (14) formed for interaction with a stationary valve seat (22) and hinged in a housing of the valve device such that they can be pivoted and / or folded relative to stationary core means (16) and to coil means (12) at least partially surrounding the stationary core means (16), the armature means (14) being formed to close or open the valve seat in response to an energization of the coil means, characterized in that a coil carrier assembly (10) carrying a winding of the coil means and surrounding the core means and a valve seat assembly (24) forming the valve seat are formed such that both are adjustable against one another for a mounting of the valve seat device, and are then preferably connectable in a non-detachable manner, and, in a connected or assembled state, limit and / or define a pivoting stroke or folding stroke of the armature means, which can be influenced and / or is influenced by the adjustment, the armature means forming at least one flat side.

2. The valve device according to claim 1, characterized in that the coil carrier assembly and / or the valve seat assembly is realized of polymeric material, and the inseparable connection is established by pressure-tight deforming and / or welding of the polymeric material.

3. The valve device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the coil carrier assembly and / or the valve seat assembly form a pivoting or folding bearing (15) for the armature means and preferably the armature means are held movably at one end between the coil carrier assembly and the valve seat assembly for realizing the pivoting or folding bearing.

4. The valve device according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that a magnetic flux-conducting housing section (42), in particular magnetic yoke bracket, of the housing is formed adjacent to the pivoting or folding bearing in such a manner that a magnetic flux generated by the energized coil means can be introduced into a bearing-side end portion of the armature means, in particular at the front face.

5. The valve device according to claim 4, characterized in that the magnetic flux-conducting housing section (42) is connected to the core means in a magnetic flux-conducting manner at a front or end face (46) opposing the armature means (16) in an axial (60) or extension direction of the core means (16), more preferably by a material-deformation procedure.

6. The valve device according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that the armature means have a polymeric sealing section (30) and / or a sealing section (30) made of elastomer material for interacting with the valve seat realized by the valve seat assembly.

7. The valve device according to claim 6, characterized in that the sealing section is formed on and / or at the at least one flat side of the armature means and / or extends with its polymeric or elastomer material through an opening (34) in the armature means.

8. The valve device according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the valve seat assembly forms a valve seat which is designed as a nozzle and is assigned to a first valve inlet or outlet (26), as well as a second valve inlet or outlet (28) which is preferably arranged adjacent to the first and, more preferably, formed in one piece therewith.

9. The valve device according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the core unit which forms a stop for the flat side of the armature means is held in the coil carrier assembly (10) by means of the sealing means, in particular a circumferential ring seal (48).

10. The valve device according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the armature means are preloaded relative to the valve seat by means of spring means (20), in particular a compression spring engaging at or into the core means.