GAS CARRYING DEVICE WITH A SAFETY DEVICE

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a gas-carrying device with a safety device for interrupting a gas flow in the gas-carrying device, comprising an inertial body, a plunger and a housing, wherein the housing has a housing base, wherein the inertial body is in a rest state on a rest position of the housing base, such that the plunger rests on the inertial body, and wherein the inertial body moves from the rest position in an activation state when an acceleration acting on the inertial body exceeds a predefinable limit value, such that the plunger moves towards the housing base and the safety device interrupts the gas flow.

[0002] Various devices or valves are known in the prior art that interrupt the flow of a fluid, e.g., a liquid or a gas, in exceptional situations. These often employ inertial bodies that are in a state of unstable equilibrium under normal conditions and interrupt the flow of the fluid when a force or acceleration above a predefinable limit is applied to them.

[0003] EP 2 096 340 B1 discloses a fluid-flow valve with a safety device. The safety device comprises an inertial element, an energy storage device, a motion mechanism, and a closing unit. Under normal conditions, the inertial element prevents the energy storage device from transferring energy to the motion mechanism and thus interrupting the fluid flow via the closing unit. If the valve tilts, for example in an accident, the inertial element follows the movement and allows the energy storage device to transfer the stored energy to the motion mechanism. The valve also has a reset mechanism by which an operator can return the closing unit to the open position.

[0004] A safety device is disclosed in WO 2020 / 030405 A1, in which a piston rests on the inertial body when at rest. If the inertial body moves as a result of an acceleration exceeding a limit value, the piston lowers and an axle resting on the piston can rotate. The movement of the axle affects the actual valve and interrupts the flow of gas through it.

[0005] A valve that closes automatically during an earthquake is disclosed in JP H09-210 230 A. In this valve, an inertial body rests on a piston. A similar valve that closes in response to vibrations is disclosed in JP H11-13 915 A.

[0006] DE 34 10 411 A1 discloses an acceleration sensor with a rolling element located in a receiving element. The receiving element is provided with ribs.

[0007] From JP H11 255095 A a brake fluid pressure regulating valve is known with which the brake fluid pressure supplied to a wheel cylinder can be adjusted.

[0008] The object underlying the invention is to propose a gas-carrying device with a safety device in which the movement of the inertial body after a strong acceleration is optimized.

[0009] The invention solves the problem by providing the housing base with at least one guide structure, and by guiding the inertial body to a deflection point of the housing base in the activation state. The guide structure is essentially designed in the form of a section of a cylinder's shell, with a longitudinal axis of the cylinder being offset from a vertical axis perpendicular to the housing base, the rest point being symmetrical about the vertical axis, and the housing base being designed to rise adjacent to the rest point. The guide structure has a shallower slope than sections laterally adjacent to the guide structure. If, in the activation state, the inertial body leaves the rest point as a result of the applied force, it is guided to a deflection point by the guide structure.In this configuration, the point of deflection is located in a region of the housing base surrounding the resting point. The geometry of the guide structure is determined by a cylindrical shape and defined by a section of the lateral surface. Its longitudinal axis, relative to the resting point, is offset from a vertical axis of the resting point. This vertical axis is perpendicular to the housing base. Therefore, the cylinder does not extend radially from this central region of the housing base. Because the housing base slopes upwards adjacent to the resting point, and the guide structure has a shallower slope than the sections laterally adjacent to the guide structure, the resting point is essentially a valley in which the inertial body rests. The resting point is surrounded by the rising structure of the housing base.This ensures, firstly, that the inertial body does not move from its resting position under any force, but only when a limit value is exceeded. Secondly, this geometry enables a simple and generally reliable resetting of the safety device, as the inertial body returns to its resting state due to gravity. In its activated state, the inertial body thus moves upwards from its resting position, always against the force of gravity. The area adjacent to—and especially surrounding—the resting position is not homogeneous, but rather contains sections with varying gradients. The guide structure differs from the other sections, and at least from the sections laterally adjacent to the guide structure, by having a shallower gradient.

[0010] The inclination of the longitudinal axis of the circular cylindrical cylinder is chosen in such a way that the overall slope of the area adjoining the rest point increases, but this slope is less than that of the neighboring areas.

[0011] One embodiment involves the housing base having a limited number of deflection points. In this embodiment, the housing base, on which the inertial body is located, has a rest point and a limited (or discrete) number of deflection points. In one embodiment, four deflection points are present.

[0012] According to a configuration that complements the preceding design, each deflection point is assigned a guide structure. In this configuration, the inertial body is guided to a specific deflection point by several guide structures in the activation state.

[0013] One embodiment involves the resting point being located essentially in the center of the housing base. In another embodiment, the path from the resting point to each of the deflection points is the same length.

[0014] According to the invention, the resting point is essentially symmetrical about a vertical axis. This vertical axis is perpendicular to the base of the housing. Insofar as the forces acting – e.g., in an accident or an earthquake – can originate from different directions, the symmetry allows the inertial body to react independently of the direction of the acting force.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the resting point is essentially conical. The cone is arranged such that the inertial body lies within the cone in its resting state, and the angle of inclination is the same in all directions. The limit value, beyond which the inertial body is deflected, can be set by adjusting the design of the inertial body and the dimensions of the cone.

[0016] In one embodiment, at least two diametrically opposed deflection points are present, with each deflection point being assigned a guide structure with the aforementioned cylindrical shape. The longitudinal axes of the cylinders are oriented such that there is an offset from the diagonal between the deflection points.

[0017] One embodiment involves a housing base with a multi-cornered surface, and the deflection points being located near these corners. In one particular embodiment, the base is rectangular. Each corner of the base is associated with a deflection point. If the resting point is located in the center of the base, the corners encompass the areas furthest from the base. Thus, in this embodiment, the guide structure directs the inertial body to one of these corners.

[0018] One embodiment of the gas-carrying device provides that the device is designed as a gas pressure regulator. A pressure regulator serves to reduce a high pressure applied at one side to a lower outlet pressure.

[0019] In detail, there are numerous possibilities for designing and further developing the gas-carrying device. Reference is made, on the one hand, to the claims subordinate to the independent claim, and on the other hand, to the following description of exemplary embodiments in conjunction with the drawing. The drawing shows: Fig. 1 a schematic representation of a gas-carrying device with a safety device, Fig. 2 an excerpt of a design of a safety device according to the state of the art, Fig. 3 a spatial representation of the housing base of a safety device according to the invention, Fig. 4 a view of the floor of the Fig. 3 , Fig. 5 a cut through the floor and Fig. 6 A cropped spatial representation of the case base.

[0020] The Fig. 1 Figure 1 schematically shows a gas-carrying device 1 with a gas inlet 100 and a gas outlet 101. This device is, for example, a pressure regulator that reduces the gas pressure at the inlet 100. The device 1 is used, for example, in a caravan or motorhome. In the event that the valve 1 is open while driving, for example to operate a heater, and a car accident occurs, the safety device 2 is present. The safety device 2 reacts to acceleration, such as that occurring in an accident, and closes the device 1 so that no more gas can flow through it.

[0021] The one in Fig. 2 The illustrated embodiment of the safety device 2 is described in WO 2020 / 030405 A1. Shown here is the rest or normal state in which the safety device 2 does not block the gas flow.

[0022] An inertial body 3, here in the form of a sphere, is located in a housing 5. A piston 4 rests on the inertial body 3. A spring 6 and a reaction mechanism 7 act on the piston 4. The reaction mechanism 7 is connected to an axle (not shown here). The piston 4 prevents the reaction mechanism 7 from rotating counterclockwise (shown here). Thus, the force of the spring 6 acts upwards from below, and the reaction mechanism 7 acts downwards on the piston 4 from above. The force ratios are such that the force of the reaction mechanism 7 is greater than that of the spring 6. However, this cannot have an effect in the rest state (shown here) because the inertial body 3 is located below the piston 4 and therefore blocks its downward movement. For this reason, the piston 4 is also guided within the housing 5.

[0023] The inertial body 3 is located on the housing base 50 at a rest point 51. The rest point 51 is situated below the piston 4. If an acceleration exceeding a limit value adjustable by the components used acts on the inertial body 3, the inertial body 3 moves away from the rest point 51. This removes the obstruction to the piston 4's movement towards the housing base 50 and into the housing 5, allowing the reaction mechanism 7 to rotate. Consequently, the gas flow in the device, as described in the Fig. 1 is shown, is interrupted.

[0024] The Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 each allows a view into a lower part of a housing of a safety device 2 according to the invention. Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 Each figure shows parts of the lower section, with a cylinder drawn that defines the shape of the guide structure 53. The four figures are discussed together.

[0025] The base of the housing 50 is a quadrilateral. In each of the four corners there is a deflection point 52. In the middle is the resting point 51, which has a conical shape.

[0026] The inertial body (not shown here) moves, in its activated state (i.e., when a corresponding force is applied), from its rest point 51 to one of the four displacement points 52. During this movement, the inertial body is guided by the four guide structures 53 adjacent to the rest point 51. The inertial body 3 moves upwards from the rest point 51, which is located at the lowest point in the base 50 of the housing.

[0027] Between the four guide structures 53 are adjacent sections 54. The guide structures 53 and the adjacent sections 54 have in common that they are all positively rising. The difference between the guide structures 53 and the adjacent sections 54 is that the guide structures 53 have a shallower slope, so that after leaving the rest point 51, the inertial body tends to roll into the guide structures 53 and then follows them until it reaches the deflection points 52.

[0028] The shape of the deflection points 52 is each defined by a section of the surface of a circular cylinder. In the Fig. 5 and Fig. 6 A cylinder is shown that intersects the conical shape of the base. The longitudinal axis 60 of the circular cylinder passes by the vertical axis 55, and therefore does not intersect it. The vertical axis 55 is perpendicular to the center of the rest point 51, which is also the lowest point of the housing base 50. In the Fig. 6 The longitudinal axis lies 60 behind the vertical axis 55.

[0029] In the Fig. 5 It becomes clear that the guide structure 53 initially rises laterally with a first slope determined by the conical shape of the base, and then continues to rise outwards with a second, smaller slope determined by the inclined cylindrical surface. It is particularly evident how the depicted cylinder causes the conical shape of the base to buckle, thus guiding the inertial body towards the point of deflection 52. In the illustrated embodiment, the geometry of the guide structure 53 is determined by the circular cylinder. Bezugszeichenliste

[0030] 1 Gas-carrying device 2 Safety device 3 inertial bodies 4 Rubber stamp 5 Housing 6 Feather 7 Reaction mechanism 50 Case bottom 51 Resting place 52 Deflection point 53 Guiding structure 54 adjacent section 55 Vertical axis60 Longitudinal axis of the cylinder 100 Gas inlet 101 Gas outlet

Claims

1. A gas-conducting device (1) comprising a safety device (2) for interrupting a gas flow in the gas-conducting device (1), having an inertia body (3), a plunger (4), and a housing (5), the housing (5) including a housing bottom (50), wherein, in a resting state, the inertia body (3) is located on a resting place (51) of the housing bottom (50), so that the plunger (4) rests on the inertia body (3), and wherein the inertia body (3) moves out of the resting place (51) in an activation state in the case of an acceleration above a predefinable limit value acting on the inertia body (3), so that the plunger (4) moves toward the housing bottom (50) and the safety device (2) interrupts the gas flow, the housing bottom (50) including at least one guiding structure (53), the guiding structure (53) guiding the inertia body (3) in the activation state to a deflection point (52) of the housing bottom (50), the guiding structure (53) being designed in the shape of a section of a jacket of a cylinder, and wherein a longitudinal axis (60) of the cylinder is offset in relation to a vertical axis (55), which is perpendicular to the housing bottom (50), the resting place (51) being configured to be symmetrical about the vertical axis (55), characterized in that the housing bottom (50) has an ascending design adjacent to the resting place (51), and a slope of the guiding structure (53) is less than that of sections (54) laterally neighboring the guiding structure (53).

2. The device (1) according to claim 1, wherein the housing bottom (50) has a limited number of deflection points (52), and wherein each deflection point (52) has a guiding structure (53) assigned to it.

3. The device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the resting place (51) is located centrally in the housing bottom (50).

4. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 3, wherein the resting place (51) is designed to be cone-shaped.

5. The device (1) according to any of claims 2 to 4, wherein the housing bottom (50) has a base area having a plurality of corners, and wherein the deflection points (52) are located in the vicinity of the corners.

6. The device (1) according to any of claims 1 to 5, wherein the device (1) is configured as a gas pressure regulator.