Seat valve, valve components of a seat valve, and method for producing valve components of a seat valve

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a seat valve, in particular a plate valve, and a method for producing valve components for such a seat valve. State of the art

[0002] From the prior art, as shown, for example, in WO 2004 / 065790 A1 or JP 2010 112405A, so-called plate valves or so-called ring plate valves are known, which can be used in piston compressors. Such plate valves typically have a valve seat, a valve catcher, and at least one sealing element arranged between the valve seat and the valve catcher. The sealing element is movably arranged in the valve seat to open and close passage channels.

[0003] When the valve plate's passageways close, the closing element comes into contact with the valve seat, so that the closing forces acting on the sealing element are absorbed or diverted by the valve seat. In view of the associated mechanical loads, the valve seat must be designed to be particularly stable. For this purpose, the valve seats in question are usually milled from solid material. The passageways are therefore formed by milling in a plate-shaped blank. On the one hand, this is associated with high manufacturing costs. In addition, the passageways created by milling, which can be groove-shaped, for example, have a relatively large extension in the longitudinal axial direction of the valve seat - i.e. along the valve seat height - which results in a relatively high pressure loss in the fluid flowing through.

[0004] Document GB1025713A discloses a plate valve with a flexible, elastic sealing element made of a lightweight, fibrous material. This lightweight sealing element prevents the impacts that would occur with a steel sealing element, so that no high mechanical stresses occur on the valve seat during operation of the plate valve. Document US2016 / 0223117A1 discloses the production of a component using additive manufacturing. US 1081803 A shows a seat valve according to the preamble of claim 1. Description of the invention

[0005] Against this background, the present invention is based on the object of providing a seat valve that can be manufactured with minimal effort and simultaneously exhibits improved operating characteristics. With regard to the seat valve, this object is achieved by the subject matter of claim 1. A method according to the invention for producing valve components is specified in claim 13. Advantageous embodiments are specified in the dependent claims and are discussed below.

[0006] A seat valve according to the invention is, in particular, a plate valve or an annular plate valve. Such a seat valve or plate valve is designed particularly for use in a piston compressor.

[0007] A seat valve according to the invention comprises a valve seat, a catcher arranged at a distance from the valve seat, and at least one sealing element movably arranged between the valve seat and the catcher for opening and closing at least one passage channel formed in the valve seat. At least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat, catcher, or sealing element is produced, at least in part, by additive manufacturing. The valve seat, the catcher, and the sealing element are therefore valve components, with at least one of these valve components being produced, at least in part, by additive manufacturing.At least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat or catcher has a plurality of passage channel delimiting sections and a plurality of web sections, wherein the passage channel delimiting sections form valve seat passage channels and / or catcher passage channels, wherein the passage channel delimiting sections and the web sections each extend at an angle α to one another, wherein at least one of the passage channel delimiting sections is dimensioned to be shorter in the direction of the longitudinal axis of the respective valve component than the web sections of the respective valve component in the direction of the longitudinal axis.

[0008] According to the invention, all passage channel delimiting sections of the valve seat and / or the catcher are dimensioned shorter in the longitudinal axial direction than the web sections of the respective valve component. This reduces the length of the valve seat passage channels or the length of the catcher passage channels and therefore reduces the flow resistance and / or the dead space volume. Furthermore, the valve component can be manufactured with less material, so that it is lighter and can therefore be manufactured more cost-effectively and preferably also more quickly using additive manufacturing. Advantageously, all passage channel delimiting sections of the valve seat are designed to be at least a quarter shorter in the longitudinal axial direction than the web sections of the valve seat.

[0009] According to the invention, the web sections extend radially with respect to the longitudinal axis, with a plurality of passage channel delimiting sections arranged at a distance from one another in this radial direction and connected to the web sections, with the length of the passage channel delimiting sections decreasing toward the longitudinal axis in the longitudinal axial direction. Such a valve component has a particularly low flow resistance and requires a reduced amount of material for production.

[0010] According to the invention, the passage channel limiting section closest to the longitudinal axis has a length of at most half of the web section in the longitudinal axial direction.

[0011] Such a valve component, in turn, has a particularly low flow resistance and requires a reduced amount of material for production.

[0012] Advantageously, the web sections of the valve seat form part of a support structure, wherein the web sections extend from a central section of the valve seat outwards to an edge section and are connected thereto, wherein the edge section forms an outer circumference of the valve seat and is preferably part of the support structure, so that the passage channel delimiting sections are held by the support structure, wherein the support structure together with the passage channel delimiting sections are designed in one piece. This subdivision of the valve seat into a support structure and a plurality of passage channel delimiting sections, which are held by the support structure, has the advantage that the design of the passage channel delimiting sections, e.g.The radial width and / or the longitudinal height can be optimally reduced such that the passage channel delimiting sections are not damaged by the acting forces or can withstand them, and can therefore be designed relatively thin. The forces acting on the passage channel delimiting sections are dissipated via the support structure. Preferably, the outer circumference completely encloses the valve seat by extending circumferentially to the longitudinal axis at an angle of 360°.

[0013] It may prove advantageous to arrange at least four, five, or six web sections at a distance from one another in the circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis, preferably at equal distances from one another, so that the passage channel delimiting sections are supported or held by the web sections at connection points that are regularly spaced from one another in the circumferential direction. Advantageously, seven, eight, nine, or ten web sections are arranged at a distance from one another, preferably at equal distances from one another, in order to form a greater number of connection points for the passage channel delimiting sections. This configuration has the advantage that the passage channel delimiting sections can be made thinner radially relative to the longitudinal axis, since a greater number of connection points are available for force dissipation.

[0014] By using additive manufacturing – also known as generative manufacturing – complex geometric structures can be created with minimal effort. For example, a component with sufficiently high mechanical stability can be produced using only a minimal amount of material. This ensures a high level of overall operational reliability. For example, by selecting a suitable component geometry, the required mechanical stability can be achieved with a low overall height. In particular, the use of additive manufacturing makes it possible to reduce the overall height of the valve seat – i.e., in its longitudinal axial extent – ​​without compromising stability.

[0015] A reduced overall height of the valve seat results in less dead space when used in reciprocating compressors. This can improve the operating efficiency of the respective reciprocating compressor.

[0016] Finally, the use of additive manufacturing can facilitate a shortening of the passageways in the longitudinal axial direction of the valve seat with only minimal effort. On the one hand, a shortening of the length of the passageways in the longitudinal axial direction results from a reduced overall height of the respective valve component - as mentioned above. On the other hand, the use of additive manufacturing processes can be used to form individual passageways or passageway delimitation sections whose longitudinal axial extent may be shorter than the overall height of the respective valve component, whereby the overall height of the valve components is preferably determined by the overall height of the support structure or the web sections in the longitudinal direction. Overall, this reduces flow resistance and results in improved operating characteristics for the seat valve. In addition, less material is required for production.Finally, the use of additive manufacturing makes it possible to increase the number of passages without additional effort and, in particular, to reduce the width of the valve seat passages or the width of the catcher passages radially to the longitudinal axis, which further reduces the flow resistance.

[0017] According to the invention, a damping element is also arranged between the sealing element and the catcher. Such a damping element can dampen or absorb movements of the sealing element toward the catcher and decelerate them in a way that protects the material. Such a damping element can also be produced through additive manufacturing.

[0018] Preferably, at least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element, or damping element is produced entirely by additive manufacturing. In addition, the respective component can be subjected to post-processing. It is also possible for only one section of the respective valve component to be produced by additive manufacturing and another section by an alternative manufacturing process. The two differently produced component sections can, for example, be joined together. This results in great design and manufacturing flexibility. For example, only complex geometric structures can be produced by additive manufacturing, while simple structures can be produced by alternative manufacturing processes, such as other primary shaping, forming, or machining processes.

[0019] In a further advantageous embodiment, at least one of the valve components configured as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element, or damping element is mechanically machined. Machining and / or cutting, for example, is suitable for such machining. For example, the respective valve component can be produced at least partially or entirely by additive manufacturing and subsequently subjected to machining post-processing, thereby advantageously combining the advantages of additive manufacturing and machining.

[0020] More preferably, the valve seat and the catcher can be produced using the same manufacturing process, or in sections using the same manufacturing process. This allows manufacturing costs to be further reduced. In contrast, the sealing element and / or the damping element can be produced using a manufacturing process that differs from the manufacturing process for the valve seat and / or the catcher.

[0021] The sealing element can be made from a metal or a plastic material. Both an additive manufacturing process and a subdividing manufacturing process, such as punching, can be used to produce the sealing element. If the sealing element is designed as a punched part, production can be accomplished at low cost. In principle, punching can be used for the sealing element because the sealing element is only slightly thick or high. In contrast, when additive manufacturing is used to produce the sealing element, complex geometric structures can also be provided. This applies regardless of whether the sealing element is made from a plastic or metal material.For example, through the use of additive manufacturing, the sealing element can be provided with shaped elements in the thickness or height direction, which engage in the passage channels of the valve seat in a closed position and thus ensure improved sealing.

[0022] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element or damping element is produced at least in sections by manufacturing from a powdery, granular, plastic and / or liquid state, whereby a high degree of manufacturing flexibility can be ensured.

[0023] In a further advantageous embodiment, the respective valve components can be made, in particular, of metallic materials and / or plastic. In particular, the valve seat and catcher can be made of a metallic material or of a plastic material. The sealing element can also be made of a metallic material or of a plastic material. Finally, any damping element provided can also be made of a metallic material or of a plastic material.

[0024] It is also possible to produce the respective valve component from a fiber-reinforced material. The reinforcing fibers can be incorporated into the respective component through additive manufacturing. This can significantly increase strength, particularly with plastic materials.

[0025] According to a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element, or damping element is produced at least in sections by selective laser melting, selective laser sintering (SLS), or electron beam melting. This allows components with high specific densities to be produced, thus ensuring high overall stability.

[0026] It is also possible to produce the respective valve component by selective heat sintering (SHS), binder jetting, fused deposition modeling (FDM), stereolithography and / or 3D screen printing.

[0027] According to an advantageous embodiment, at least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element or damping element can be produced by a combination of the above-mentioned manufacturing methods, thereby further increasing manufacturing flexibility.

[0028] It may further be advantageous if at least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat or catcher has a plurality of passage channel delimiting sections running in the circumferential direction and a plurality of web sections which each run at an angle of greater than 0°, for example at 90° or, for example, transversely at 45°, wherein one of the passage channel delimiting sections is dimensioned and / or positioned differently in the longitudinal axial direction of the respective valve component than one of the web sections.

[0029] The dimensioning and positioning of the web sections can thus be selected independently of the dimensioning and positioning of the passage channel delimiting sections. The web sections, on the one hand, and the passage channel delimiting sections, on the other, can thus be dimensioned and positioned in the longitudinal axial direction specifically with regard to their respective functionality.

[0030] Advantageously, the web sections can extend at an angle, for example, at 90° or 45°, to the outer circumference of the respective valve component. The web sections can preferably intersect the passage channel delimiting sections in a plan view of the respective valve component—i.e., viewed in the vertical direction or in the longitudinal axial direction of the valve component.

[0031] Particularly advantageously, the web sections can be arranged or extend in a radial direction. The web sections can extend, preferably in a straight line, between a central section of the respective valve component and an edge section forming the outer circumference. In this way, the web sections and the passage channel delimiting sections can advantageously complement one another. A continuously straight web section is capable of withstanding particularly large applied forces. For this purpose, the straight web section can also have a relatively small diameter, which reduces flow resistance.

[0032] The web sections can be formed integrally with the passage channel delimiting sections, particularly preferably merging into one another. The web sections can support the passage channel delimiting sections or form a supporting structure for the passage channel delimiting sections. This makes it possible to design the web sections primarily with regard to sufficient mechanical strength and the passage channel delimiting sections primarily with regard to further subdividing the flow cross-section of the respective valve component.

[0033] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the valve components configured as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element, or damping element can be plate-shaped. Plate-shaped valve components can advantageously be arranged one above the other, thus ensuring an overall compact design, particularly for forming a so-called plate valve.

[0034] More preferably, at least one of the valve components configured as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element, or damping element, which is preferably plate-shaped, can have a circular, oval, or elliptical outer circumference. Likewise, the outer circumference of the respective valve component can be polygonal, for example, rectangular and / or square. Thus, it is fundamentally possible for the length dimension transverse to the longitudinal axial direction and thus transverse to the component height and the width dimension transverse to the longitudinal axial direction and thus transverse to the component height to correspond to one another or to differ from one another.

[0035] For example, a valve component with an elliptical outer circumference has a greater length than its width in plan view, while a circular outer circumference has an identical length and width in plan view. Outer circumference shapes with a greater length than its width transverse to the longitudinal axial direction allow for larger flow cross-sections, which can reduce flow resistance, particularly at the top dead center of a piston compressor.

[0036] Preferably, all valve components of the seat valve, in particular the valve seat, the catcher, the sealing element, and optionally also a provided damping element, are geometrically coordinated with one another or have a correspondingly configured outer peripheral shape. The outer peripheral shape of the respective valve component can be formed by an edge section. The edge section can be a circumferential section whose shape corresponds to internal passage channel delimitation sections or which has a different shape than internal passage channel delimitation sections.

[0037] In a further preferred embodiment, the passage channel delimiting sections can be circular, oval, or elliptical. Likewise, it is possible for the passage channel delimiting sections to form a polygonal, in particular rectangular or square, shape in the circumferential direction. The shape of the passage channel delimiting sections is advantageously adapted to the shape of the outer circumference or the edge section of the respective valve component or configured accordingly.

[0038] In a particularly advantageous manner, the passage channel limiting sections of a valve component run concentrically to one another and / or have a constant distance from one another in the circumferential direction.

[0039] In a further advantageous manner, support surfaces for the support of the sealing element or a damping element, if provided, can be formed on the passage channel delimiting sections. The support surfaces can thus be designed to interact with a sealing element or a damping element. By placing a sealing element against a support surface, a sealing closure of a passage channel can thus be achieved. According to the invention, the web sections are free of support surfaces. The web sections therefore do not have to be designed for direct contact with a sealing element or damping element. The web sections can therefore primarily have a high degree of toughness, whereas particularly high hardness is not required.

[0040] According to the invention, it is advantageous if one of the web sections, on a side facing the sealing element or the damping element, is set back from one of the passage channel delimiting sections in the longitudinal axial direction of the respective valve component. The respective sealing element or damping element thus contacts the bearing surfaces of the passage channel delimiting sections and does not come into contact with the web sections.

[0041] Further preferably, at least one of the web sections can protrude in the longitudinal axial direction of the respective valve component relative to one of the passage channel delimiting sections on a side facing away from the sealing element or the damping element. In this way, the respective web section can particularly advantageously provide a supporting or carrying function for the respective passage channel delimiting section.

[0042] Further preferably, at least one of the web sections in the longitudinal axial direction of the respective valve component can have a larger dimension than one of the passage channel delimiting sections. For example, the web sections of the valve seat can have a larger dimension in the longitudinal axial direction of the valve seat than the passage channel delimiting sections of the valve seat. The larger dimensioning of the web sections in the longitudinal axial direction thus makes it possible to achieve a mechanically stable construction, whereas the passage channel delimiting sections have a smaller dimension in the longitudinal axial direction and thus generate only a relatively low flow loss for the fluid flowing through.

[0043] According to a further embodiment, the different passage channel delimiting sections can be dimensioned differently in the longitudinal axial direction. For example, inner passage channel delimiting sections can have a smaller extension in the longitudinal axial direction than outer passage channel delimiting sections. In particular, the extension of the passage channel delimiting sections can increase gradually in the longitudinal axial direction from an inner passage channel delimiting section to a more outer passage channel delimiting section. The innermost passage channel delimiting section can thus have the shortest extension in the longitudinal axial direction, and the outermost passage channel delimiting section can thus have the greatest extension in the longitudinal axial direction.The outermost passage channel boundary section may in particular be an edge section.

[0044] More preferably, the at least one passage channel of the valve seat can be formed between two adjacent passage channel delimiting sections. The passage channel can have a fluidically adapted shape in the longitudinal axial direction of the valve seat. The shape of the passage channel can thus be selected with regard to fluidically favorable properties, in particular with regard to low flow resistance or to promote a laminar or turbulence-free flow.

[0045] Accordingly, the catcher can also have a passage channel formed between two adjacent passage channel delimiting sections and having a fluid-mechanically adapted shape in the longitudinal axial direction of the catcher. The fluid-mechanically adapted shape of the passage channel in the catcher can also be selected with regard to favorable fluid-mechanical properties.

[0046] According to a further advantageous embodiment, at least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat or catcher can have a plurality of passage channels arranged concentrically to one another. The at least one passage channel or the plurality of passage channels can advantageously be designed in a groove-like manner.

[0047] Advantageously, the respective valve component, which can be designed as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element, or damping element, can be provided with between 3 and 20, preferably between 5 and 10, radially concentrically arranged passageways or corresponding passageway delimiting sections. A higher number of passageways per valve component can further reduce flow resistance.

[0048] In a further preferred manner, at least one passage channel can be interrupted in sections in the circumferential direction by at least one web section. A section-by-section interruption here means an interruption that does not extend along the entire longitudinal axial extent of the passage channel. Thus, the sections of a passage channel distributed in the circumferential direction remain in fluid communication with one another - even when the sealing element or the respective damping element rests against a support surface of the respective valve component. This allows, on the one hand, a high degree of stability to be achieved without significantly impairing the flow properties of the respective passage channel.

[0049] In a further preferred manner, the passages of the respective valve component can have a width of 2 to 10 mm, 3 to 10 mm, preferably 4 to 8 mm, and particularly preferably 6 to 7 mm or 2 to 3 mm in the radial direction. The width of the respective passage can be at least 3 to 4 mm and at most 8 to 10 mm. Preferably, all passages of the respective valve component have such width dimensions. Particularly preferably, all passages have the same width dimensions.

[0050] In a further preferred manner, the at least one passage channel of the catcher can guide a flowing fluid in the direction of a longitudinal axis running through the center of the catcher. For this purpose, the at least one passage channel of the catcher can be inclined or curved in longitudinal section relative to the longitudinal axis of the catcher. Inclination or curvature can refer to the central longitudinal section of the passage channel. Such a configuration can specifically influence the flow behavior of the flowing fluid after leaving the seat valve. The flow behavior inside or outside a piston compressor can be improved in this way.

[0051] More preferably, at least one passage channel can be defined by surfaces of adjacent passage channel delimiting sections, which have a shape profile that changes at least partially in the longitudinal axial direction of the respective valve component. Such a changing shape profile of surfaces can advantageously influence the fluid mechanical properties. The surfaces can have curvatures in the longitudinal axial direction, be inclined relative to the longitudinal axial direction of the valve component, or be designed as free-form surfaces overall. Such shape profiles can be selected as a result of fluid mechanical modeling and can be formed in the respective valve component with minimal effort through the use of additive manufacturing.

[0052] In a further preferred embodiment, at least one of the passage channel delimiting sections can have a cross-sectional shape that tapers in the longitudinal axial direction of the respective valve component in an orientation facing away from the sealing element or the damping element. Such a configuration is conceivable for both the valve seat and the catcher. In such a configuration, the valve seat can assume the function of a nozzle and the catcher can fulfill the function of a diffuser. This is due in particular to the fact that a corresponding taper of the passage channel delimiting sections in the longitudinal axial direction also results in an enlargement or widening of the passage channels in an orientation facing away from the sealing element or damping element.

[0053] According to a further embodiment of the seat valve according to the invention, at least one of the web sections can have a shape profile that changes in the longitudinal axial direction of the respective valve component. It is also possible for the respective web section to have a fluidically adapted shape. Since the passage channels can be interrupted in sections by a web section, a fluidically adapted shape of the web sections can ensure a further reduction in flow resistance. Likewise, a flow-enhancing shape of the web sections in a part of the web sections that protrudes beyond the passage channel delimiting sections can contribute to improving the properties of the seat valve.

[0054] According to a further embodiment, at least one of the web sections can have a shape that changes in its longitudinal direction - for example, in a radial direction of the respective valve component. The web section can have a shape that tapers and / or widens in sections in its longitudinal direction. For example, such a web section can initially taper starting from a central section of the respective valve component and then widen again before transitioning into an edge section of the valve component. This results in a material-saving design while simultaneously maintaining good mechanical properties. In particular, this makes it possible to avoid undesirable stress peaks during operation of the valve component.

[0055] According to a further preferred embodiment, a plurality of the web sections, in particular more than two web sections, can extend from a central section of the respective valve component to an edge section defining the outer circumference of the respective valve component. A central section is understood here to be a material section of the valve component that delimits a through-bore via which the valve components can be screwed together. Preferably, two oppositely arranged web sections can extend along a continuous line. The oppositely arranged web sections can be connected to one another by a central section. The respective valve component, in particular the valve seat or catcher, can preferably be designed to be mirror-symmetrical.

[0056] Further preferably, at least one of the valve components configured as a valve seat or catcher can have rounded end surfaces or rounded edges on a side facing away from the closing element or damping element, thereby further reducing the risk of turbulence in the flowing fluid. Such rounded end surfaces are particularly advantageously configured on the passage channel boundary sections and / or the web sections.

[0057] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a seat valve, which is preferably a plate valve, with a valve seat, a catcher arranged at a distance from the valve seat, at least one sealing element movably arranged between the valve seat and the catcher for opening and closing at least one passage channel formed in the valve seat, and at least one damping element arranged between the sealing element and the catcher for damping movements of the sealing element in the direction of the catcher. At least one of the valve components designed as a valve seat, catcher, sealing element or damping element is produced at least in sections by additive manufacturing. The valve seat, the catcher, the sealing element and also the damping element are therefore valve components and according to the present aspect of the invention, at least one of these valve components is produced at least in sections by additive manufacturing.

[0058] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a valve component, preferably for a seat valve as described above, which is preferably a plate valve. The valve component according to the invention is advantageously a valve seat or a catcher. The valve component can also be a sealing element or a damping element. The valve component according to the invention has a passage channel that is delimited by at least one wall section. According to the invention, the wall section is produced by additive manufacturing. In this way, wall sections with complex geometric shapes can be produced, thus ensuring favorable flow properties and, at the same time, a high degree of stability.Such a wall section can be designed, for example, as a passage channel delimiting section as described above or as a web section as described above.

[0059] A further aspect of the present invention relates to a piston compressor with at least one seat valve described above and / or with a valve component described above.

[0060] The above statements regarding the possible configurations or different aspects of a seat valve according to the invention also apply accordingly to the valve component according to the invention as well as to a piston compressor according to the invention.

[0061] According to the invention, the method for producing valve components of a seat valve according to one of claims 1-12, wherein the valve components comprise at least one valve seat and / or a catcher, is carried out in that a support structure comprising a plurality of web sections is produced by additive manufacturing, in that a plurality of passage channel delimiting sections connected to the web sections are also produced by additive manufacturing, wherein the passage channel delimiting sections are arranged in such a way that valve seat passage channels and / or catcher passage channels are formed between the passage channel delimiting sections, and in that all passage channel delimiting sections are dimensioned shorter in the direction of the longitudinal axis than the web sections of the respective valve component, and wherein the web sections of the respective valve component are formed free of support surfaces for the sealing element or the damping element,by the web sections of the respective valve component being set back in the direction of the longitudinal axis relative to the passage channel delimitation sections.

[0062] Advantageously, in the direction of the longitudinal axis, the passage channel limiting sections of the valve seat are formed to be at least a quarter shorter than the web sections of the valve seat in the longitudinal axial direction.

[0063] According to the invention, the web sections are formed to extend radially with respect to the longitudinal axis, wherein a plurality of passage channel delimiting sections are arranged at a distance from one another in the radial direction to the longitudinal axis and are connected to the web sections, and wherein the passage channel delimiting sections are formed with a length decreasing towards the longitudinal axis in the longitudinal axial direction.

[0064] According to the invention, the passage channel limiting section closest to the longitudinal axis is formed in the longitudinal axial direction with a length of at most half the length of the web section in the longitudinal direction.

[0065] The present invention is explained in more detail below using advantageous embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings: Short description of the drawings

[0066] The drawings used to explain the embodiments show: Fig. 1 a perspective view of a seat valve according to the invention from an inflow side; Fig. 2 a perspective view of the seat valve from Fig. 1 from an opposite outflow side; Fig. 3 a sectional view of the seat valve from Fig. 1 along a section plane AA; Fig. 4 a sectional view of the seat valve of Fig. 1along a sectional plane BB; Fig. 5 a perspective view of a valve seat from an outer inflow side; Fig. 6 a perspective view of a valve seat from an inner outflow side; Fig. 7 a perspective view of a catcher from an inner inflow side; Fig. 8 a perspective sectional view of the catcher from Fig. 7 along a section plane CC; Fig. 9 a perspective view of the catcher of Fig. 7 from an external outflow side; Fig. 10 a perspective view of the catcher from Fig. 7 in assembled position with a closing element and a damping element; Fig. 11 a plan view of a further embodiment of a valve seat not according to the invention; Fig. 12 a plan view of a further embodiment of a valve seat not according to the invention.

[0067] In principle, identical parts in the drawings are provided with the same reference symbols. Ways to implement the invention

[0068] The Fig. 1 and 2 show perspective views of a seat valve 10 according to the invention and the Figs. 3 and 4 show sectional views of the seat valve 10 along different planes. Fig. 3 a sectional view of the seat valve 10 of Fig. 1 along plane AA and Fig. 4 shows a sectional view of the seat valve of Fig. 1 along plane BB. The seat valve 10 has a longitudinal axis L which runs in a longitudinal axial direction or in a height direction of the seat valve 10.

[0069] Like the Fig. 1 to 4can be removed, the seat valve 10 has a valve seat 12, a catcher 14 arranged at a distance from the valve seat 12, and a sealing element 16 arranged between the valve seat 12 and the catcher 14. The sealing element 16 can be moved between the valve seat 12 and the catcher 14 to open and close a passage 18 formed in the valve seat 12. In particular, the sealing element 16 can be moved away from the valve seat 12 to open a passage 18 and can be moved towards the valve seat 12 or come into contact with it to close a passage 18. The opening and closing movements of the sealing element 16 take place in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L.

[0070] As can be seen in particular from the sectional views in the Figs. 3 and 4As can be seen, a damping element 20 can also be provided between the sealing element 16 and the catcher 14. The damping element 20 can dampen an opening movement of the sealing element 16 and thereby reduce wear. It is also possible for the sealing element 16 itself to have damping properties, thus eliminating the need for a separate damping element.

[0071] Like the Fig. 1 to 4As can be seen further, the valve components of the seat valve 10 can be screwed together via a screw connection 22. For example, a threaded bolt 24 can be screwed into the catcher 14 and, on the other hand, protrude through the damping element 20, the sealing element 16 and the valve seat 12. The threaded bolt 24 thus extends in particular in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L. On the side of the valve seat 12, a fastening nut 26 can in turn be screwed onto the threaded bolt 24. The required distance between the valve seat 12 and the catcher 14 can be maintained by using spacer elements.

[0072] According to the invention, at least one of the valve components embodied as a valve seat 12, catcher 14, or sealing element 16 is produced at least partially by additive manufacturing. In particular, the respective valve component can also be produced entirely by additive manufacturing. If a damping element 20 is also provided, this can also be produced by additive manufacturing.

[0073] By using additive manufacturing, particularly selective laser melting or selective laser sintering, complex geometric structures can be created with minimal effort. The respective valve components can thus be designed with both favorable fluid mechanics properties and stability requirements in mind. In addition to selective laser melting or selective laser sintering, other additive or generative manufacturing processes can also be used to produce the valve components in question. These include, for example, selective heat sintering, binder jetting, electron beam melting, fused deposition modeling, stereolithography, and / or 3D screen printing.

[0074] The use of additive manufacturing processes can also be advantageously combined with mechanical manufacturing processes, particularly machining processes. This allows both additive manufacturing and machining to be performed in a single workpiece setup. This allows valve components to be produced with particularly high precision.

[0075] The sealing element 16 can be prestressed in an orientation facing the valve seat 12. Spring elements (not shown in detail here) can be provided for this purpose. Such spring elements can be arranged in particular in recesses 28 of the catcher 14, such as, for example, the Fig. 3 can be seen.

[0076] The Figs. 5 and 6 show perspective views of the valve seat 12. Fig. 5 the valve seat 12 from an external inflow side 30 and in Fig. 6from an internal outflow side 32. The inflow side 30 is therefore an external side, which is located outside in the assembled state of the seat valve 10. The outflow side 32 is an internal side, which is located inside the valve in the assembled state of the seat valve 10.

[0077] The Figs. 5 and 6 It can be seen that the valve seat 12 is equipped with a plurality of passage channels 18. In particular, five passage channels 18 can be provided. The passage channels 18 can be arranged concentrically to one another and distributed in a radial direction of the valve seat 12. The radial direction extends transversely to a longitudinal axial direction along a longitudinal axis L or L1 of the valve seat 12. The longitudinal axis L1 of the valve seat 12 coincides with the longitudinal axis L of the assembled seat valve 10.

[0078] In the embodiment according to the Figs. 5 and 6A total of five passages 18 are provided, arranged concentrically with one another. However, it is also conceivable to provide a different number of passages, for example more than five, in particular up to ten, or more than ten passages 18 distributed radially and spaced apart from one another.

[0079] The Figs. 5 and 6 It can also be seen that the passage channels 18 are each delimited by adjacently arranged passage channel delimiting sections 36. The passage channel delimiting sections 36 extend in particular in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis L1. According to the Figs. 5 and 6 the passage channel delimiting sections 36 can in particular run circularly, so that the passage channels 18 also run circularly around the longitudinal axis L1.

[0080] It can, as in Fig. 5shown, it may also prove advantageous to provide additional partial web sections 38a which do not extend in the radial direction along the entire width between the edge section 42 and the central section 40, but only over a partial width. Fig. 5 shows, by way of example, only a single partial web section 38a. Preferably, such partial web sections 38a are arranged at regular intervals in the circumferential direction. Advantageously, the partial web sections 38a are connected to the edge section 42 and extend from it in the radial direction or in a direction transverse to the radial direction. Such partial web sections 38a can also be arranged in the catcher 14.

[0081] The valve seat 12 can further have a plurality of web sections 38. The web sections can intersect the passage channel delimiting sections 36 at an angle α and thus form a support or carrying structure 39 for the passage channel delimiting sections 36. Starting from a central section 40 of the valve seat, the web sections 38 can extend radially outward relative to the longitudinal axis L1 to an edge section 42. The edge section 42 can form an outer periphery of the valve seat 12 and preferably extends 360° in the circumferential direction relative to the longitudinal axis L1. The web sections 38 and the passage channel delimiting sections 36 intersect, as shown, at an angle α of 90°. However, the web sections 38 could also cross transversely with respect to the passage channel delimiting sections 36 and thus at an angle α in the range of, for example, 30° and 150° (not according to the invention), as for example in the Figures 11 and 12 shown.

[0082] Advantageously, the central section 40, the web sections 38 and the edge section 42 together form a stable support or carrying structure 39 for the passage channel delimiting sections 36.

[0083] The web sections 38 can in particular be designed as spokes or spoke-shaped. The web sections 38 can interrupt the passage channels 18 in sections in a circumferential direction. A passage channel 18 can thus have a plurality of channel sections arranged in the circumferential direction, which are subdivided by the web sections 38. Because the passage channels 18 are only subdivided in sections by the web sections 38, fluid communication can exist between the individual channel sections even when the respective passage channel 18 is closed by the sealing element 16. For this purpose, the web sections 38 can be set back from the passage channel delimiting sections 36 in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L1 on an outflow side facing the sealing element 16.Thus, the passage channel boundary sections 36 form support surfaces for the sealing element, whereas the web sections 38 are free of such support surfaces. The sealing element 16 cannot therefore come into direct contact with the web sections 38.

[0084] The Fig. 5It can further be seen that the web sections 38 protrude in the longitudinal axial direction relative to the passage channel delimiting sections 36 on an inflow side of the valve seat 12 facing away from the sealing element 16. On the inflow side 30 of the valve seat 12, the web sections 38 therefore extend further in a longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L1 than the passage channel delimiting sections 36. The web sections 38 thus form a particularly advantageous support function or a support structure 39 for the passage channel delimiting sections 36. The support structure 39 advantageously comprises all web sections 38 as well as the central section 40 and the edge section 42.

[0085] The web sections 38 can have a greater overall extension in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L1 than the passage channel delimiting sections 36. This means that the passage channel delimiting sections 36 are dimensioned shorter in the direction of the longitudinal axis L1 than the web sections 38 in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L1. Furthermore, the passage channel delimiting sections 36, as in particular in Figure 4shown, can be dimensioned differently in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L1. Passage channel delimiting sections 36 arranged further inward, i.e. passage channel delimiting sections 36 located closer to the central section 40 or the longitudinal axis L1, can be shorter in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L1 than passage channel delimiting sections 36 arranged further outward, i.e. passage channel delimiting sections 36 located closer to the edge section 42. The longitudinal axial dimensioning of the passage channel delimiting sections 36 can also increase gradually, starting from the central section 40 to the edge section 42. Advantageously, the passage channel delimiting sections 36 of the valve seat 12 are at least a quarter shorter in the longitudinal axial direction than the web sections 38 of the valve seat 12 in the longitudinal axial direction.

[0086] Advantageously, the passage channel limiting section 36 closest to the longitudinal axis L has a length in the longitudinal axial direction of at most half of the web section 38 in the longitudinal axial direction.

[0087] Like the Figs. 5 and 6 as well as the sectional view in Fig. 4 As can be seen, the passage channels 18 have a fluidically adapted shape. For this purpose, the surfaces of the passage channel delimiting sections, which delimit the respective passage channels 18, can have a shape profile that changes in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L1. The respective surfaces can, for example, be curved in the longitudinal axial direction or be designed as free-form surfaces.

[0088] In Fig. 4It can be seen that the cross-sectional shape of a passage channel delimiting section 36 tapers towards the inflow side 30 or in an orientation facing away from the sealing element 16. In addition, the surfaces or end edges facing the inflow side 30 can be rounded, so that there is only a low risk of turbulence for inflowing fluid. A corresponding fluid-mechanically adapted shape can also be provided for the web sections 38. The web sections 38 also define the passage channels 18 at least in sections. In addition, fluid is also guided past the web sections 38 outside the passage channels 18, namely in a region of the web sections 38 that protrudes on the inflow side 30 of the valve seat 12 relative to the passage channel delimiting sections 36.The surface sections of the web sections 38 projecting relative to the passage channel delimiting sections 36 can thus also be rounded or curved or designed as free-form surfaces.

[0089] The shaping described above is particularly advantageously facilitated or simplified by additive manufacturing. Furthermore, the number of required or desired passages can be increased without significant additional manufacturing effort, particularly without increasing processing times – for example, due to additional time-consuming machining processes.

[0090] The Figs. 7, 8 and 9 show perspective views of a catcher 14, where the Fig. 8 a sectional view along the plane CC in Fig. 7 shows. In the Fig. 7the inner inflow side 44 is shown, which in the assembled state of the seat valve 10 faces the sealing element 16 or the damping element 20. The side of the catcher 14 opposite the inflow side 44, as in Fig. 9 shown is an outflow side 46 which is located externally in the assembled state of the seat valve 10.

[0091] The catcher 14 has a plurality of passage channels 48, in particular five passage channels 48 arranged concentrically to one another. A different number of passage channels 48 can also be provided in the catcher 14, for example more than five, in particular up to ten or more than ten passage channels.

[0092] The passage channels 48 are arranged distributed radially relative to one another. All web sections 54 can extend radially either perpendicularly or at an angle to the longitudinal axial direction of the longitudinal axis L2 of the catcher 14. In the assembled state of the seat valve 10, the longitudinal axis L2 coincides with the longitudinal axis L or with the longitudinal axis L1 of the valve seat 12. The web sections 54 form a support structure 55, which advantageously comprises all web sections 54 as well as the central section 56 and the edge section 58.

[0093] The passageways 48 can be delimited by adjacently arranged passageway delimiting sections 52. The passageway delimiting sections 52 can accordingly extend in a circumferential direction around the longitudinal axis L2. In particular, the passageway delimiting sections 52 can form a circular shape.

[0094] The catcher 14 can further comprise a plurality of web sections 54, which extend at an angle α to the circumferential direction, in particular in the radial direction. The web sections 54 can extend from a central section 56 to an edge section 58 in the radial direction and, in doing so, cross the passage channel delimiting sections 52. The web sections 54 extend at an angle α with respect to the passage channel delimiting sections 52, in the example shown at 90°. As a result, the web sections 54, preferably together with the central section 56 and the edge section 58, can in turn form a support structure for the passage channel delimiting sections 52.

[0095] Support surfaces 60 for the damping element 20 can be formed on the passage channel delimiting sections 52. If no damping element is provided, the support surfaces 16 can be designed to support the sealing element 16. The receptacles 28 for the defect elements can advantageously be formed in the region of a web section 54, so that a sufficiently stable support structure is provided for the spring elements (not shown here). The web sections 54 can be free of support surfaces for the damping element 20 or the sealing element 16. For this purpose, the web sections 54 on the inflow side 44 can be set back from the passage channel delimiting sections 52 in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L2.

[0096] The passage channels 48 can also be fluidically adapted in the case of the catcher 14. For this purpose, the surfaces of the passage channel boundary sections 52, which define the passage channels 48, can have a shape profile that changes in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L2, for example, curvatures, inclinations, and / or geometries designed as free-form surfaces. Corresponding surface shapes can also be provided on the web sections 54.

[0097] In a particularly preferred manner, the passage channels 48 can guide a fluid flowing through in the direction of the longitudinal axis L2. For this purpose, a cross section of a passage channel, as shown in Fig. 4 or 8 can be inclined and / or curved relative to the longitudinal axis L2 of the catcher 14. Such an inclination or curvature—as seen in the longitudinal section of the respective passage channel 48—can cause such a supply in the direction of the longitudinal axis L2.

[0098] Preferably, the passage channel limiting sections 52 are dimensioned shorter in the direction of the longitudinal axis L2 than the web sections 54 in the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L1, in particular by, as in Figure 9 shown, the web sections 54 protrude in the longitudinal axial direction beyond the passage channel delimiting sections 52.

[0099] The Fig. 10shows a view of the sealing element 16 with the damping element 20 located underneath and the catcher 14 arranged beneath the damping element 20. The sealing element 16 is held by a spring portion 17, and the damping element 20 is held by a spring portion 21. It can be seen that the sealing element 16 is provided with openings 62 running in the circumferential direction. A fluid flowing out of the valve seat 12 can be guided through these openings 62. For this purpose, the damping element 20 can also be equipped with openings 64 that are essentially aligned with the openings 62 of the sealing element. The openings 62 and 64 are also essentially aligned with the passage channels 48 of the catcher 14.

[0100] The Fig. 1 to 10relate to an embodiment of a seat valve with a circular outer circumference or with passage channel limiting sections 36 and 52, which run circularly around a longitudinal axis L of the seat valve 10 or around longitudinal axes L1 or L2 of the respective valve component.

[0101] It is also conceivable for the seat valve 10 to have an oval, elliptical, or even a rectangular outer peripheral shape. The passage channel delimiting sections can be adapted to such outer peripheral shapes or correspond to the respective outer peripheral shape. In the case of oval or elliptical outer peripheral shapes, the seat valve 10 can therefore have a length and a width dimension transverse to the longitudinal axial direction along the longitudinal axis L, wherein the length dimension is greater than the respective width dimension. The area through which a fluid can flow through the passage channels 18 can be increased in this way. Such a seat valve can have a lower flow resistance when used in a piston compressor for top dead center.

[0102] The Figures 11 and 12show two further embodiments of a valve seat 12 with a support structure comprising a central section 40, an edge section 42 and web sections 38. The support structure carries passage channel delimiting sections 36, between each of which a passage channel 18 is located. Figures 11 and 12 Only in the lower field are the passage channel limiting sections 36 shown, whereby of course the remaining empty fields also have such passage channel limiting sections 36 and associated passage channels 18. In Figure 12In the upper right field, another variant for the arrangement of passage channel delimiting sections 36 is shown by way of example, which forms a passage channel 18, wherein preferably the entire area of ​​the upper right field could have passage channel delimiting sections 36. A catcher 14 could also be designed in this way. The valve seat 12 and / or catcher 14 according to the invention advantageously comprises a support structure and a plurality of passage channel delimiting sections 36. This division into support structure and passage channel delimiting sections 36 allows the passage channel delimiting sections 36 to be arranged in a variety of shapes with respect to the support structure, so that the Figures 11 and 12 illustrated embodiments represent only examples from a multitude of possible embodiments.

[0103] The use of additive manufacturing for at least one of the valve components of the seat valve 10 can result in advantages with regard to fluid mechanics without significantly increasing the manufacturing effort. At the same time, sufficient mechanical stability of the respective valve components can be ensured. Furthermore, the use of additive manufacturing enables material savings, as machining of the respective component can be avoided or reduced to a lesser extent.

[0104] A method for producing valve components of the seat valve 10, wherein the valve components comprise at least one valve seat 12 and / or a catcher 14, is carried out in such a way that a support structure 39, 55 comprising a plurality of web sections 38, 54 is produced by additive manufacturing, in that a plurality of passage channel delimiting sections 36, 52 connected to the web sections 38, 54 are also produced by additive manufacturing, wherein the passage channel delimiting sections 36, 52 are arranged in such a way that valve seat passage channels 18 and / or catcher passage channels 48 are formed between the passage channel delimiting sections 36, 52.

Claims

1. Poppet valve (10), in particular plate valve, with a longitudinal axis (L), with a valve seat (12) having a plurality of valve seat passage channels (18), with a catcher (14) arranged at a distance from the valve seat (12) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), and with a sealing element (16) arranged movably between the valve seat (12) and the catcher (14) for opening and closing the valve seat passage channels (18), and with a damping element (20) disposed between the sealing element (16) and the catcher (14), at least one of the valve components formed as a valve seat (12) or a catcher (14) having a plurality of passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) and a plurality of web portions (38, 54), the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) forming valve seat passage channels (18) and / or catcher passage channels (48), wherein the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) and the web portions (38, 54) each extend mutually at an angle (α), wherein all the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) are dimensioned shorter in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) of the respective valve component than the web portions (38, 54) of the respective valve component, wherein the web portions (38, 54) of the respective valve component are free of support surfaces for the sealing element (16) or the damping element (20), wherein the web portions (38, 54) of the respective valve component, on a side facing the sealing element (16) or the damping element (20), are recessed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) with respect to one of the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52), wherein the web portions (38) extend radially with respect to the longitudinal axis (L), wherein a plurality of passage channel limiting sections (36) are arranged spaced apart from each other in the radial direction and connected to the web portion (38), characterized in that at least one of the valve components formed as a valve seat (12) or catcher (14) is produced at least in sections by additive manufacturing, that in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), the length of the passage channel limiting sections (36) decreases towards the longitudinal axis (L), and that in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), the passage channel limiting section (36) closest to the longitudinal axis (L) has a length of no more than half the web portion (38).

2. Poppet valve (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the sealing element (16) consists of a metal material.

3. Poppet valve (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), the passage channel limiting sections (36) of the valve seat (12) are at least one quarter shorter than the web portions (38) of the valve seat (12).

4. Poppet valve (10) according to one of the claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the web portions (38) of the valve seat (12) form part of a support structure (39), in that the web portions (38) extend outwardly from a central section (40) of the valve seat (12) to an edge section (42) and are connected thereto, in that the edge section (42) forms an outer circumference of the valve seat (12) and is part of the support structure (39), in that the passage channel limiting sections (36) are held by the support structure (39), and in that the support structure (39) is integrally formed together with the passage channel limiting sections (36).

5. Poppet valve (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that all the passage channel limiting sections (36) are dimensioned shorter in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) than the support structure (39).

6. Poppet valve (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that each web portion (38,54) is rectilinear along its entire length.

7. Poppet valve (10) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve seat (12) has a central section (40) as well as an edge section (42) and / or that the catcher (14) has a central section (56) as well as an edge section (58), and that the web portions (38, 54) extend in a spoke-like manner between the central section (40, 56) and the edge section (42, 58).

8. Poppet valve (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that support surfaces for supporting the sealing element (16) or a damping element (20) are formed on the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52).

9. Poppet valve (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that each of the web portions (38, 54) projects on a side facing away from the sealing element (16) or a damping element (20) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) of the respective valve component with respect to one of the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) of the respective valve component.

10. Poppet valve (10) according to claim 1 to 9, characterized in that at least one of the web portions (38, 54) on a side facing the sealing element (16) or a damping element (20) is recessed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) of the respective valve component with respect to one of the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) of the respective valve component.

11. Poppet valve (10) according to at least one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that all web portions (38, 54) of the respective valve component have a larger dimension in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) than the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) of the respective valve component.

12. Poppet valve (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 11, characterized in that at least six web portions (38, 54) are arranged mutually spaced in the circumferential direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (L).

13. Method for manufacturing valve components of a poppet valve (10) according to one of claims 1 to 12, in particular a plate valve, wherein the valve components comprise at least one valve seat (12) and / or a catcher (14), by generating by additive manufacturing a support structure (39, 55) comprising a plurality of web portions (38, 54), by also creating by additive manufacturing a plurality of passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) connected to the web portions (38, 54), wherein the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) are arranged such that valve seat passage channels (18) and / or catcher passage channels (48) are formed between the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52), and wherein all the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52) are dimensioned shorter in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) than the web portions (38, 54) of the respective valve component, and wherein the web portions (38, 54) of the respective valve component are free of support surfaces for the sealing element (16) or the damping element (20), wherein the web portions (38, 54) of the respective valve component are recessed in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L) with respect to the passage channel limiting sections (36, 52), wherein the web portions (38) are formed to extend radially with respect to the longitudinal axis (L), wherein a plurality of passage channel limiting sections (36) are arranged spaced apart from each other in the radial direction with respect to the longitudinal axis (L) and connected to the web portion (38), and wherein in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), the length of the passage channel limiting sections (36) is formed to decrease towards the longitudinal axis (L), and wherein in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L), the passage channel limiting section (36) closest to the longitudinal axis (L) is formed to have a length of no more than half the web portion (38) in the direction of the longitudinal axis (L).