Air spring valve, air spring having such an air spring valve, and motor vehicle

Abstract

The present invention relates to an electromagnetic air spring valve (1), having an electrically actuatable actuation device (10) with a coil (11), and having an armature (12) which can be moved along a longitudinal axis (L), wherein the armature (12) is coupled to a valve element (20) which can interact sealingly with a valve seat (40) in an air channel (5) to close the air channel (5), wherein between the valve element (20) and the valve seat (40) an elastic sealing element (60) is held to close the air channel (5) in a form- and / or force-fitting manner. The present invention further relates to an air spring (2) and to a motor vehicle having an air spring (2) of this type.

Description

[0001] Air spring valve, air spring with such an air spring valve and motor vehicle

[0002] The present invention relates to an air spring valve, in particular for the controlled supply of compressed air into an air duct between two air chambers, having the features of claim 1. Furthermore, the invention also relates to an air spring having the features of claim 13 and a motor vehicle having such an air spring having the features of claim 14.

[0003] Air spring valves are known in various designs from the prior art. Among other things, air spring valves are used in air springs for vehicles with pneumatic suspension. The spring rate of the air spring is determined by the air chamber volume. The air chamber volume is divided into a first pressure chamber, also called the spring chamber, and a second pressure chamber, also called the additional chamber. The two chambers can be separated by the air spring valve. This reduces the total air spring chamber volume. The spring rate increases with a smaller air volume.

[0004] Air spring valves have proven their worth in the past, but even the smallest leaks can be noticeable during operation, which can negatively impact the spring rate. Therefore, air spring valves often have a complex design, especially in terms of manufacturing.

[0005] This is where the present invention comes in. The present invention is therefore dedicated to the task of proposing an air suspension valve that is advantageously improved over the prior art. The air suspension valve should be cost-effective to manufacture and, at the same time, seal the air channel as effectively as possible when the air suspension valve is closed.

[0006] These objects are achieved by an air spring valve having the features of patent claim 1, an air spring having the features of patent claim 13 and a motor vehicle having the features of patent claim 14.

[0007] Further advantageous developments of the air spring valve are specified in the subclaims.

[0008] The electromagnetic air suspension valve according to the invention with the features of patent claim 1 has an electrically actuated actuating device with a coil and an armature movable along a longitudinal axis. The armature of the electromagnetic air suspension valve is coupled to a valve element, which can cooperate sealingly with a valve seat in an air channel to close the air channel. When the air suspension valve is closed, the valve seat and the valve element cooperate, thereby closing the air channel. When the air suspension valve is open, the air channel is open. According to the invention, an elastic sealing element is also arranged, which is held in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner between the valve element and the valve seat in order to close the air channel along the longitudinal axis.

[0009] The present invention is based on the idea of ​​arranging an elastic sealing element that, when the air spring valve is closed, is positioned between the valve seat and the valve element, and that forms a sealing contact with both the valve seat and the valve element. The sealing element is a separate component that can be flowed around on its entire side. Accordingly, when the air spring valve is closed, the sealing element seals a first gap between the valve element and the sealing element, and a second gap between the sealing element and the valve seat. The sealing element can compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies and wear.

[0010] It should be noted at this point that the elastic sealing element can, in particular, be arranged loosely. It is preferably held in position solely by a positive and / or non-positive connection. Consequently, the elastic sealing element is not arranged in a fixed manner by a material connection, in particular by vulcanization, thereby simplifying the manufacture of a proposed air filter valve and enabling cost savings in production. In the simplest case, the elastic sealing element can be a sealing ring, which is preferably designed in the shape of a torus and has a square cross-section.

[0011] A further development of the present invention provides that the valve seat and the valve element each have a sealing collar, and that the elastic sealing element for closing the air channel is arranged between the two sealing collars. The respective sealing collar is preferably designed as an annular projection with a V-shaped cross-section. When the air spring valve is closed, the two sealing collars lie on opposite sides of the sealing element in a sealing manner. According to a preferred development of the invention, the two sealing collars are directed towards one another. The two sealing collars therefore protrude freely from the valve seat and the valve element in the longitudinal axis. Furthermore, it has also proven advantageous if the two sealing collars are arranged in alignment with one another.In particular, the two sealing collars are arranged at corresponding, equal diameters with respect to the longitudinal axis, thereby maintaining pressure balance in the sealing element. However, it should be noted at this point that in an alternative embodiment, the sealing collars can be designed with different diameters to achieve an offset in the pressure balance of the sealing element.

[0012] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the sealing element is held to the valve seat and / or the valve element by a cap. In particular, it is preferred if the sealing element is held to the valve element and / or the valve seat in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner by a caulked cap. The cap allows for cost-effective and simple attachment of the sealing element, thereby enabling cost savings in the manufacture of the proposed air filter valve.

[0013] Furthermore, an advantageous embodiment of the present invention provides that the elastic sealing element has two sealing surfaces which are formed on opposite sides along the longitudinal axis. In particular, it is preferred if the elastic sealing element is an approximately cuboid-shaped sealing ring. According to an advantageous development of the present invention, the valve element is cup-shaped or concave in the direction of the valve seat. In an advantageous embodiment, the valve element can furthermore have a valve element tappet coupled to the armature, which has a valve element base at its end facing away from the armature, from which a circumferential valve element collar projects towards the valve seat to form the cup-shaped or concave configuration. The cup-shaped or concave configuration forms a receiving area on the side facing away from the armature.

[0014] Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the valve element has a circumferential collar on which the sealing collar is arranged. The circumferential collar preferably protrudes from the valve element collar in the manner of a flange, with the sealing element more preferably being attached to the valve element, or more precisely, to the valve element collar of the valve element.

[0015] A further development of the present invention provides that the valve element and / or the armature has or has a through-bore along the entire length along the longitudinal axis. The through-bore enables communication between a valve chamber and a pressure compensation chamber, which is preferably formed on the side of the armature facing away from the valve element. The through-bore serves to ensure almost completely pressure-balanced operation of the air suspension valve, whereby even small forces are sufficient to open or close the air suspension valve. Accordingly, the electrically actuated actuating device can be designed smaller. Furthermore, it has proven advantageous if the air suspension valve has a spring device by means of which the valve element is held in an open position when the air suspension valve is de-energized.The spring device advantageously presses the valve element against the armature, whereby the armature is moved into its initial position by means of the valve element when the air spring valve is de-energized.

[0016] According to a further advantageous embodiment of the present invention, the valve element is formed from a plastic. It is particularly preferred if the valve element is manufactured as an injection-molded part. As already mentioned, the elastic sealing element can compensate for manufacturing inaccuracies.

[0017] The armature and the valve element can be loosely connected to each other. In other words, the valve element can be loosely seated against the armature, resulting in a particularly simple design for the proposed air spring valve.

[0018] A second aspect of the present invention relates to an air spring, in particular of a motor vehicle, having a first air chamber and a second air chamber connected by the air duct, and having a previously described air spring valve. The air spring may comprise a bellows, in particular a rolling bellows.

[0019] Furthermore, a third, final aspect of the present invention relates to a motor vehicle with a previously described air spring. An embodiment of the present invention is described in detail below with reference to the accompanying figures. They show:

[0020] Figure 1 is a sectional view of an air spring valve with a valve element that can be actuated by an actuating device, a valve seat and a sealing element arranged between the valve element and the valve seat,

[0021] Figure 2 is an enlarged detailed view of the valve element with the sealing element.

[0022] Identical or functionally equivalent parts or features are identified by the same reference numerals in the following detailed description of the figures. Furthermore, not all identical or functionally equivalent parts or features are provided with a reference numeral in the figures.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a first exemplary embodiment of an air spring valve 1. An air spring valve 1 can be used to control or regulate a pressure in an air spring 2, which is only indicated schematically, in particular of a motor vehicle (not shown), for example to adjust a vehicle height.

[0024] The air spring 2 comprises a first air chamber P1 and a second air chamber P2. The first air chamber P1 and the second air chamber P2 are fluidically connected to one another via an air channel 5, wherein the air channel 5 is guided through the air spring valve 1. The air spring valve 1, described in detail below, can close and open the air channel 5. In the open state of the air spring valve 1, compressed air can flow through the air channel 5, and in the closed state of the air spring valve 1, no fluid communication can take place between the first air chamber P1 and the second air chamber P2. The air channel 5 is closed in this state.

[0025] The air spring valve 1 comprises an electrically actuated actuating device 10 with a coil 11, an armature 12 movable along a longitudinal axis L, and a spring device 18.

[0026] When the electrically actuated actuating device 10 is actuated, the coil 11 is energized and the armature 12 is moved in a known manner along the longitudinal axis L against a spring force of the spring device 18 into the position shown in Fig. 1. In the unactuated state, the coil 11 is de-energized and the armature 12 is moved back to a starting position (not shown) by the spring force.

[0027] In addition, the air spring valve 1 comprises a valve element 20 which is coupled to the movable armature 12, and a valve seat 40. The valve element 20 and the valve seat 40 can interact in a valve chamber 44 and the valve element 20 can close the air channel 5 with the valve seat 40.

[0028] In the exemplary embodiment shown, when the electrically actuated actuating device 10 is actuated, the valve element is moved by the armature 12 such that the air channel 5 is closed. In the unactuated state, i.e., when the coil 11 is de-energized, the air spring valve 1 is open. Such an air spring valve 1 is referred to as "normally open" or "NO." It should already be noted at this point that the air spring valve 1 can also be designed such that, when the coil 11 is de-energized, the air spring valve 1 is closed by the spring force of the spring device 18. Such an air spring valve 1 is referred to as "normally closed" or "NC."

[0029] The valve element 20 is movably mounted in an actuator housing 14 along the longitudinal axis L and, in a preferred embodiment, can be made of a plastic, in particular by an injection molding process.

[0030] The valve element 20 comprises a valve element tappet 26, a valve element base and a valve element collar 32.

[0031] The valve element 20 is not connected to the armature 12, but the valve element tappet 26 of the valve element 20 rests loosely against the armature 12 on the side of the armature 12 facing the valve element. The valve element tappet 26 has, at its end facing away from the armature 12, the valve element base 30, from which a circumferential valve element collar 32 protrudes or projects, extending along the longitudinal axis in the direction of the valve seat 40. The valve element 20 is therefore cup-shaped or concave and has a receiving area in which the spring device 18 can be received.

[0032] According to the exemplary embodiment illustrated in the accompanying figures, a sealing element 60 is arranged on the valve element 20, which is fastened to the valve element 20 in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner. The valve element 20 and the sealing element 60 protrude into the valve chamber 44, with the air channel 5 being guided through the valve chamber 44.

[0033] As can be seen in detail in Figure 2, the valve element 20 comprises a circumferential collar 22 which protrudes from the valve element collar 32 in the manner of a flange. The circumferential collar 22 is arranged in the longitudinal axis L between a free end 33 of the valve element collar 32 and the valve element base 30, wherein the circumferential collar 22 is preferably arranged adjacent to the free end 33 of the valve element collar 32 in such a way that the sealing element 60 can be placed or plugged onto the valve element 20 onto a receiving section 34 between the collar 22 and the free end 33.

[0034] In addition, the valve element 20 has a sealing collar 25 that protrudes from the valve element 20 along the longitudinal axis L. The sealing collar 25 is designed as a projection with a V-shaped cross-section, preferably coaxial with the longitudinal axis. According to the illustrated embodiment, the sealing collar 25 can be arranged on the side of the collar 22 facing the valve seat 40.

[0035] The sealing element 65 is designed as a sealing ring, preferably made of rubber. The sealing element 60 can preferably be cuboid-shaped in cross-section and further preferably has two sealing surfaces 61, 62 opposite one another along the longitudinal axis L.

[0036] The sealing element 60 is a separate component that is arranged on a valve element 20 in such a way that it can theoretically be flowed around. The sealing element 60 rests on the outside of the receiving section 34 on the valve element collar 32 and rests against the sealing collar 25 along the longitudinal axis L.

[0037] As can be seen from the enlarged view according to Figure 2, the sealing element 60 is held on the valve element 20 by a preferably sleeve-shaped cap 65, wherein the cap 65 preferably fastens the sealing element 60 to the valve element 20 in a form-fitting manner. The cap 65 can be caulked, whereby the sealing element 60 can be fastened to the valve element 20 in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner.

[0038] The cap 65 encompasses the collar 22 and the sealing element 65 in certain areas.

[0039] The valve chamber 44 can be partially formed by a valve housing 41, wherein more preferably the valve seat 40 and / or a bearing pin 42 can be formed on the valve housing 41. The valve housing 41 can be connected to the actuator housing 14 by suitable means and, together with the actuator housing 14, enclose the valve chamber 44.

[0040] The bearing pin 42 serves to support the spring device 18 and the spring device 18 can be arranged between the bearing pin 42 and the receptacle of the valve element 20 or its valve element base 30.

[0041] The valve chamber 44 is pneumatically connected to a pressure equalization chamber 16, which is arranged on the side of the armature 12 facing away from the valve chamber in the actuator housing 14. For the pneumatic connection, both the valve element 20 and the armature 12 have a through-bore 15, 35. The through-bore 15 penetrates the armature 12, and the through-bore 35 completely penetrates the valve element 20 along the longitudinal axis L.

[0042] As can be seen in particular from the enlarged view according to Figure 4, the valve seat comprises a sealing collar 45. The sealing collar 45 is designed as a projection with a V-shaped cross-section, preferably coaxial with the longitudinal axis L. The sealing collar 45 corresponds to the sealing collar 25 of the valve element 20, wherein even more preferably the sealing collar 45 and the sealing collar 25 are arranged on the same diameter with respect to the longitudinal axis L.

[0043] The sealing collar 45 is preferably arranged in the valve chamber 44 on the side opposite the armature 12 and further preferably projects in the direction of the sealing collar 25 of the valve element 20.

[0044] In the closed state of the air spring valve 1, the sealing element 60 is clamped between the valve seat 40 and the valve element 20 and thus lies sealingly against the valve seat 40 as well as the valve element 20.

[0045] More precisely, in the closed state of the air spring valve, the sealing element 60 is clamped between the two sealing collars 25, 45.

[0046] The two sealing collars 25, 45 preferably have the same diameter relative to the longitudinal axis L. In Figure 2, this diameter is indicated by the reference symbol D. By having the same diameter, pressure equalization can be achieved between the two sealing collars 25, 45. However, it may be advantageous to apply an offset to the pressure equalization. This can be achieved by using different diameters. on which the sealing collars 25, 45 are arranged.

[0047] List of reference symbols

[0048] 1 air spring valve

[0049] 2 air springs

[0050] 5 Air duct

[0051] 10 Actuating device

[0052] 11 coil

[0053] 12 anchors

[0054] 14 Actuator housing

[0055] 15 through hole

[0056] 16 Pressure equalization chamber

[0057] 18 Spring device

[0058] 19 Sealing device

[0059] 20 valve element

[0060] 22 fret

[0061] 25 sealing collars

[0062] 26 Valve element tappet

[0063] 30 Valve element base

[0064] 32 valve element collar

[0065] 35 through hole

[0066] 40 valve seat

[0067] 41 Valve housing

[0068] 42 bearing bolts

[0069] 44 Valve chamber

[0070] 45 Sealing collar

[0071] 60 sealing element

[0072] 61 sealing surfaces

[0073] 62 sealing surfaces

[0074] 62 cap

[0075] L Longitudinal axis

[0076] PI air chambers P2 air chambers

Claims

Patent claims 1. Electromagnetic air spring valve (1) comprising — an electrically actuated actuating device (10) with a coil (11) and an armature (12) movable along a longitudinal axis (L), — wherein the armature (12) is coupled to a valve element (20) which can cooperate sealingly with a valve seat (40) in an air duct (5) to close the air duct (5), characterized in that an elastic sealing element (60) for closing the air duct (5) is arranged between the valve element (20) and the valve seat (40) in a form-fitting and / or force-fitting manner.

2. Air spring valve (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve seat (40) and the valve element (20) each have a sealing collar (25, 45) and that the elastic sealing element (60) for closing the air channel is arranged between the two sealing collars (25, 45).

3. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic sealing element (60) is held by a preferably caulked cap (65) on at least one of the two sealing collars (25, 45).

4. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic sealing element (60) has two sealing surfaces (61, 62) which are arranged on opposite sides in the longitudinal axis (L).

5. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the elastic sealing element (60) is designed as a sealing ring, in particular as a square ring.

6. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve element (20) is cup-shaped or concave in the direction of the valve seat (40).

7. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve element (20) has a circumferential collar (22) with the sealing collar (25), and that the sealing element (60) is plugged onto the valve element (20).

8. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve element (20) has a valve element tappet (26) coupled to the armature (12), which has a valve element base (30) at its end facing away from the armature (12), from which a circumferential valve element collar (32) extends in the direction of the valve seat (40). protrudes .

9. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve element (20) has a through-bore (35) along its entire length along the longitudinal axis and / or that the armature (12) has a through-bore (15) along its entire length.

10. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a spring device (18) is provided, by which the valve element (20) is held in a position in which the valve seat (40) is open when the air spring valve (1) is de-energized.

11. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the valve element (20) is formed from plastic and is in particular designed as an injection-molded part.

12. Air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the armature (12) and the valve element (20) are loosely connected to one another.

13. Air spring (2) with a first air chamber (P1) and a second air chamber (P2) connected by an air duct (5) and an air spring valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims.

14. Motor vehicle with an air spring (2) according to claim 13.

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