VALVE SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a valve device for a vehicle, in particular a level control valve for an air suspension device of a truck.

[0002] Air suspension systems for trucks typically feature a device for adjusting the level of the vehicle body relative to the chassis or road surface. A distinction is made between three types of leveling systems: mechanical, electrical, and pneumatic.

[0003] Commercially available level control valves for electronic air suspension only offer the option of adjusting the level manually using a lever integrated into the device or using external buttons pneumatically connected to the device. A device that combines both functions is currently unknown. Such a device would be advantageous, for example, for refrigerated vehicles, where operation should be possible both from the outside and from within the refrigerated body.

[0004] CN 103 253 102 B discloses a valve device that can be moved into "lifting", "lowering" and "traveling" positions manually or by an electrical operating mechanism.

[0005] DE 10 2014 108 557 A1 discloses an air suspension system for raising and lowering a vehicle body of air-sprung vehicles with level control. The air suspension system comprises a manual actuation element for manually raising and lowering the vehicle body, bypassing a level control valve unit. Furthermore, the air suspension system can be controlled via a pneumatic signal dependent on a driving condition, and the air suspension system can be controlled via an electrical signal dependent on the driving condition, in order to initiate a displacement of the manual actuation element to a "drive" position without manual intervention.

[0006] EP 2 263 893 A1 discloses a switching valve unit for inflating and deflating air spring bellows for raising and lowering a vehicle body. The switching valve unit can be actuated by manually actuating an actuating device.

[0007] There is therefore a need for a valve device that can be operated in a variety of ways.

[0008] The object of the invention is to provide such a valve device.

[0009] This object is achieved by a valve device according to claim 1.

[0010] The dependent claims contain advantageous developments and improvements of the invention according to the following description of these measures.

[0011] The invention relates to a valve device, in particular for a vehicle, comprising: a housing with a first valve, wherein the housing comprises a compressed air inlet, a compressed air outlet, and a vent outlet, and the valve comprises a piston and a return spring. According to the solution according to the invention, the valve device for actuating the valve comprises a mechanical control with a manual operating element, an electrical control, and a pneumatic control.

[0012] In an advantageous embodiment, the mechanical control comprises a button and a plunger or a lever, a shaft, a cam disc and a plunger.

[0013] In a further advantageous embodiment, the electrical control comprises a solenoid valve for controlling a compressed air supply for the valve.

[0014] In a further advantageous embodiment, the pneumatic control comprises a compressed air line and an external pneumatic control device with a compressed air valve.

[0015] The valve device comprises a second valve, wherein the valve device for actuating the second valve comprises a mechanical control with a manual control element, an electrical control, and a pneumatic control. The valves are, for example, 2 / 2-way, 3 / 2-way, or 4 / 2-way valves.

[0016] In a particularly advantageous embodiment, the electrical control and pneumatic control of the second valve are structurally identical to the first valve, and the mechanical control comprises a lever, a shaft, a cam, and a tappet for each of the valves. The first valve is configured, in particular, as a vent valve, and the second valve as a vent valve.

[0017] The second valve is internally connected to the first valve via two pneumatic connections in such a way that when the first valve is actuated, compressed air is passed from the compressed air inlet through the first and second valve to the compressed air outlet and when

[0018] When the second valve is actuated, compressed air is passed from the compressed air outlet through the second and first valve to the vent outlet.

[0019] The valve device according to the invention can advantageously be used for a vehicle, in particular a truck, as well as trailer vehicles with an air suspension device.

[0020] Advantageous embodiments of the invention are illustrated in the drawings and are explained in more detail below with reference to the figures.

[0021] They show: Fig. 1 a valve device according to the invention; Fig. 2 a preferred embodiment of the valve device of the Fig. 1in a cross section; Fig. 3 the embodiment of the valve device of the Fig. 2 after manual operation; Fig. 4 a preferred embodiment of the valve device of the Fig. 1 with an electrical control in a cross section; and Fig. 5 a preferred embodiment of the valve device of the Fig. 1 with a pneumatic control in a cross-section.

[0022] The present description illustrates the principles of the inventive disclosure. It is thus understood that those skilled in the art will be able to devise various arrangements that, although not explicitly described herein, embody the principles of the inventive disclosure and are also intended to be protected within their scope.

[0023] Fig. 1schematically shows a valve device 10 with a housing 12 in which a first valve 14 and a second valve 15 are arranged, and which has a compressed air inlet 1 for a compressed air supply, a compressed air outlet 2 and a vent outlet 3. The first valve 14 is in particular a vent valve and has a port connected to the compressed air inlet 1 and a port connected to the vent outlet 3. The second valve 15 is in particular a vent valve and has two ports connected via two pneumatic connections 6, 7 within the valve device 10 to two ports of the valve 14, and two ports connected to the compressed air outlet 2.The pneumatic connections 6, 7 and the connections of the valves 14, 15 are designed in particular such that when the valve 14 is actuated, compressed air is passed from the compressed air inlet 1 through the valves 14, 15 to the compressed air outlet 2 and when the valve 15 is actuated, compressed air is passed from the compressed air outlet 2 through the valves 14, 15 to the vent outlet 3.

[0024] The two valves 14, 15 are 4 / 2 valves in this embodiment and each have a piston 18 or 19, in the Fig. 1 shown only schematically, each with a return spring 20 or 21, and a valve housing 16 or 17, in which the piston 18, 19 moves. The valve 15 can, for example, also be designed as a 3 / 2-way valve with only one connection for the compressed air outlet 2.

[0025] Valve devices of this type are commonly used in air suspension systems on trucks and are well known. When valve 14 is actuated, thereby displacing its piston 18, pressure for air suspension is built up via ports 1 and 2. When valve 15 is actuated, thereby displacing its piston 19, the pressure is released via ports 2 and 3. If neither of the valves 14, 15 is actuated, the pressure is maintained at the compressed air outlet 2.

[0026] To actuate the piston, each of the valves 14, 15 according to the invention has an electrical control 22 or 23, a pneumatic control 24 or 25, and a mechanical control 26, 27 for controlling a compressed air supply and venting. The electrical control 22 of the valve 14 has a solenoid valve 30 with a magnet 28 for the valve 14. The pneumatic control 24 has a pneumatic valve 32, which can be actuated via a pneumatic line 34. The mechanical control 26, 27 has a manual, integrated operating element, for example with a lever or two buttons.

[0027] The valve 15 has an electrical control 23 with a solenoid valve 31 having a magnet 29. The pneumatic control 25 has a pneumatic valve 33 that can be actuated via a pneumatic line 35. The pneumatic line 34 is connected to the pneumatic connection 4, and the pneumatic line 35 is connected to the pneumatic connection 5. By actuating the valves 14 and 15, a vehicle body, for example, can be raised or lowered.

[0028] In the embodiment of the Fig. 1 The valve 14 has a mechanical control 26 with a button 36 and a plunger 38, and the valve 15 has a mechanical control 27 with a button 37 and a plunger 39. When the button 36 is actuated, the piston 14 is pressed downward via the plunger 38 in a known manner, and when the button 37 is actuated, the piston 15 is pressed downward via the plunger 39.

[0029] In the Fig. 2 A preferred embodiment of the valve device 10 is shown in cross-section. The two valves 14, 15 are arranged in the housing 12 of the valve device 10, wherein the valve housings of the valves 14, 15 are essentially formed by the housing 12. The pistons 18 and 19 are each displaced by a tappet 46 and 47, respectively, through the mechanical control 26. In this embodiment, the mechanical control 26 has a lever 40 with a shaft 41, a cam disc 42, and a torsion spring 44. The cam disc 42 is attached to the shaft 41, and upon actuation of the lever 40, either the tappet 46 or the tappet 47 is pressed downward by the cam disc 42. In this case, a rotary movement of the lever 42 is converted into a translational movement by the cam disc 42. The torsion spring 44 exerts a force in the direction of the basic position of the lever 40.

[0030] The cam disc 42 has a surface with a gradient such that when the lever 40 is actuated counterclockwise, the plunger 46 and thus the piston 18 are pressed downwards. When the lever 40 is actuated clockwise, the plunger 47 and thus the piston 19 are pressed downwards. Actuating the lever 40 counterclockwise causes a venting process, and actuating the lever 40 clockwise causes a venting process. If the lever 40 is in the home position, the set pressure is maintained.

[0031] In one embodiment, the Fig. 3 the lever 26 is turned counterclockwise, by in the Fig. 3 indicated by an arrow 50. The cam disc 42 thereby pushes the plunger 46 and thus the piston 18 downward. The plunger 47 remains unloaded, so that in this embodiment, a ventilation process is effected by the actuation of the lever 26.

[0032] The other reference symbols of the Figures 2 and 3 correspond to those of the Fig. 1 The electrical controls 22, 23 and the pneumatic controls 24, 25 are in Fig. 2 and Fig. 3 not shown for reasons of clarity.

[0033] An embodiment of an electrical control 22 for the valve 14 of the valve device 10 is shown schematically in the Fig. 4 The electrical control 22 has an electrical control line 50, through which a magnet 52 can be activated and energized. When the magnet 52 is energized, a valve 54 is opened, whereby compressed air is drawn from a compressed air reservoir in the Fig. 4not shown, is supplied to the valve 14 via a supply line 56, so that the piston 18 is displaced. The supply line 56 is connected to the valve 14 in such a way that upon activation of the magnet 52, compressed air is supplied via the valve 54 into a cavity 58 above the piston 14, so that the piston 14 is displaced. The electrical control 23 is identical in construction to the electrical control 22, but in the Fig. 4 not shown.

[0034] In the Fig. 5An exemplary embodiment of a pneumatic control 24 for the valve 14 is shown schematically. The pneumatic control 24 has an external, pneumatic operating device 60 with a button 62, through which, when the button 62 is operated, compressed air from a compressed air reservoir can be supplied to the valve 14 via a compressed air valve 64 and a supply line 66. The supply line 66 is integrated in this exemplary embodiment with one end into a central guide 68 of the piston 14, so that when the button 62 is actuated, a central cavity 70 is pressurized via the piston 14, whereby the piston 14 is displaced. The pneumatic control 25 is identical in construction to the pneumatic control 22, but in the Fig. 5 not shown.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the valve control for the valve 15, in particular the electrical control and the pneumatic control, is designed identically to the valve 14. The Figures 1 to 5 The valves shown are 4 / 2 valves, but the proposed valve control can also be used for many other valves, such as 2 / 2, 3 / 2 or 5 / 2 valves.

[0036] The valve control described enables the construction of a valve with a triple-actuated piston. While the mechanical control directly actuates a piston, the electrical and pneumatic control can be operated remotely. For the electrical and pneumatic control, two chambers are available for each valve, sealed from each other and the environment. This eliminates any interference between the controls. To actuate the piston of a valve, a request from one control option is sufficient. If multiple control options attempt to actuate the same piston simultaneously, this has no further effect, and the control command continues to be executed. List of reference symbols (part of the description)

[0037] 1 Compressed air inlet 2 Compressed air outlet 3 Exhaust outlet 4, 5 Pneumatic connections 6, 7 Pneumatic connections 10 Valve assembly 12 Housing 14, 15 Valves 16, 17 Valve housing 18, 19 Piston 20, 21 Return springs 22, 23 Electrical controls 24, 25 Pneumatic controls 26, 27 Mechanical controls 28, 29 Solenoids 30, 31 Solenoid valves 32, 33 Pneumatic valves 34, 35 Pneumatic lines 36, 37 Buttons 38, 39 Plunger 40 Lever 41 Shaft 42 Cam disc 44 Torsion spring 46, 47 Plunger 50 Control line 52 Solenoid 54Valve 56Supply line 58Cavity 60Pneumatic control unit 62Button 64Compressed air valve 66Supply line 68Central guide 70Cavity

Claims

1. Valve device (10), in particular for a vehicle, comprising: a housing (12) having a first valve (14), wherein the housing comprises a compressed air inlet (1), a compressed air outlet (2) and a venting outlet (3), and the valve (12) comprises a piston (18) and a return spring (20), wherein for actuating the valve (14), the valve device (10) comprises a mechanical control means (26) having a manual operating element (40, 41, 42, 44, 46), an electrical control means (22) and a pneumatic control means (24), comprising a second valve (15), wherein the valve device for actuating the second valve comprises a mechanical control means (27) having a manual operating element (40, 41, 42, 44, 47), an electrical control means (23) and a pneumatic control means (25), wherein the first valve (14) is designed as a ventilation valve and the second valve (15) is designed as a venting valve, characterized in that the second valve (15) is internally connected to the first valve (14) via two pneumatic connections (6, 7), such that when the first valve (14) is actuated, compressed air is passed from the compressed air inlet (1) through the first and second valves (14, 15) to the compressed air outlet connection (2), and when the second valve (15) is actuated, compressed air is passed from the compressed air outlet connection (2) through the second and the first valve (14, 15) to the venting outlet (3).

2. Valve device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical control means (26) comprises a button (36) and a tappet (38) or a lever (40), a shaft (41), a cam disc (42), a torsion spring (44) and a tappet (46).

3. Valve device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the electrical control means (22) comprises a solenoid valve (52, 54) for controlling a compressed air supply for the valve (14).

4. Valve device (10) according to claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the pneumatic control means (24) comprises a compressed air line (66, 68) and an external pneumatic operating device (60) having a compressed air valve (64).

5. Valve device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the valves (14, 15) are 2 / 2, 3 / 2 or 4 / 2 valves.

6. Valve device (10) according to any of the preceding claims, wherein the electrical control means (23) and the pneumatic control means (25) of the second valve (15) are designed to be structurally identical to the first valve (14), and the mechanical control means (26, 27) of the valve device (10) comprises a lever (40), a shaft (41), a cam disc (42), a torsion spring (44), and a tappet for each of the valves (14, 15).

7. Vehicle, in particular a heavy goods vehicle or a trailer vehicle, comprising a valve device (10) according to any of claims 1 to 6.