Fluidic component, specifically an electromechanical expansion valve

Abstract

Title: Fluidic Function Component, in particular an electromechanical pressure regulator The invention relates to a fluidic function component (1), in particular an electromechanical pressure regulator, comprising: a fluidic device (2), forming in particular an electromechanical actuator, comprising a nozzle (3) provided with a fluid circulation regulation zone (5) which includes at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, a fluidic connection block (10) comprising a fluid inlet cavity (11) in communication with the inlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone (5) and a fluid outlet cavity (12) in communication with the outlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone, a protective element (20) provided with at least one filtering region (21) configured to filter particles present in the fluid,This filtering region is located at the fluid inlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone (5) of the fluidic device (2). Figure for the abbreviation: Fig. 2,

Description

Title of the invention: Component with a fluidic function, in particular an electromechanical pressure regulator

[0001] The present invention relates to a component with a fluidic function, in particular an electromechanical regulator or a shut-off valve, in particular of the type comprising a directly integrated protection member for filtering (or filter).

[0002] For the integration of certain components with a fluidic function such as electromechanical expansion valves of the ExV type (“ExV” for “Electrical Expansion Valve” in English), fluid connection blocks obtained by machining are used. The block(s) machined to obtain channels for the circulation of fluid may be polluted by metal particles, in particular aluminum, which remain attached to the block(s) after the machining operations. These metal particles can then be introduced into the fluid which will be used in the fluid connection block(s). It is important to filter these particles to remove them from the circulating fluid so that these particles are not transported by the fluid, which could damage components of the circuit in which the fluid is used.

[0003] The invention aims in particular at such an aim.

[0004] The invention thus relates to a component with a fluidic function, in particular an electromechanical regulator, comprising: - a fluidic device, forming in particular an electromechanical actuator, comprising a nozzle provided with a fluid circulation regulation zone which comprises at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, the fluidic device further comprising in particular a valve movable in this regulation zone so as to selectively allow, in a closed position, the circulation of fluid to be blocked between the inlet and the outlet of this regulation zone, and, in an open position, to allow fluid to pass between this fluid inlet and this fluid outlet, - a fluid connection block comprising a fluid inlet cavity in communication with the inlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone and a fluid outlet cavity in communication with the outlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone, - a protective member provided with at least one filtering region configured to filter particles present in the fluid, this filtering region being placed at the fluid inlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone of the fluidic device, in particular directly on this fluid inlet.

[0005] The invention is advantageous because the protective member is placed just at the entrance of fluid from the tip. This protective device is relatively small in size while allowing good filtration of the fluid passing through. Mounting this protective device on the tip, which serves as a regulation zone, is also easy because it simply needs to be inserted onto the tip. The protective device can be adapted to stop metal particles, or even plastic particles if the block is made of plastic.

[0006] Preferably, the protective member is configured to be able to be threaded onto the tip of the fluidic device, from a free end of this tip.

[0007] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid outlet cavity is formed in the extension of the housing in the fluid connection block which is used to receive the tip of the fluid device. In particular, the fluid inlet and outlet cavities on the fluid connection block are obtained by machining.

[0008] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid inlet and outlet cavities are perpendicular to each other.

[0009] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid connection block has a parallelepiped shape, in particular a block shape.

[0010] According to one aspect of the invention, the tip of the fluidic device is connected to a motor part of the fluidic device.

[0011] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic device, for example an actuator, comprises an electrical connector configured to allow the electrical connection of the fluidic device to a power supply and to a control unit of the fluidic device.

[0012] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic device comprises a housing which contains the various electromechanical components and on which the end piece which forms the fluid circulation regulation zone is mounted.

[0013] According to one aspect of the invention, the components internal to the actuator are not described in more detail because they are well known in the state of the art.

[0014] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid circulation regulation zone is formed in a tip of the fluidic device.

[0015] According to one aspect of the invention, this tip forms a nose of the fluidic device.

[0016] The tip is configured to be placed in a housing of the fluid connection block.

[0017] According to one aspect of the invention, a seal, in particular an O-ring seal, is inserted between this end piece and the housing of the fluid connection block.

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, the end piece comprises at least one orifice forming the fluid inlet, in particular a plurality of orifices.

[0019] According to one aspect of the invention, the orifices are arranged around a longitudinal axis of the end piece.

[0020] According to one aspect of the invention, the valve moves parallel to this longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

[0021] According to one aspect of the invention, the nozzle comprises a cylindrical wall extending along the longitudinal axis and the orifice(s) forming the fluid inlet of the regulation zone are formed on this cylindrical wall.

[0022] According to one aspect of the invention, the orifices forming the fluid inlet are for example two, three, four or more in number, and are for example circular.

[0023] According to one aspect of the invention, the tip comprises an openwork end with a fluid passage which forms the fluid outlet from the regulation zone.

[0024] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid passage forming the fluid outlet is adjacent to a seat on which the valve rests in the closed position.

[0025] Thus the fluid enters the regulation zone in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle, and leaves the regulation zone of the nozzle via the fluid outlet in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the nozzle.

[0026] In other words, in the regulation zone, the fluid undergoes a turn substantially at a right angle.

[0027] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid inlet cavity of the connection block is in the form of an annular cavity locally surrounding the end piece of the fluidic device so that the fluid inlet of the regulation zone communicates with this annular cavity of the connection block.

[0028] According to one aspect of the invention, the protective member for filtering is placed in this annular cavity, around the tip, in particular with contact, so as to filter the particles present in the fluid before entering the tip through the orifice(s).

[0029] According to one aspect of the invention, the filtering region extends around the entire perimeter of the protective member.

[0030] As a variant, the protective member comprises an alternation of filtering regions and solid portions facing the cylindrical wall of the tip of the fluidic device.

[0031] According to one aspect of the invention, the protective member is in the form of a ring, in particular with a circular circumference, which surrounds the cylindrical wall on which the fluid inlet orifice(s) are formed in the regulation zone of the fluidic device.

[0032] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid may be liquid, gaseous or an oil.

[0033] For example, the ring may have a length between 3 and 8 mm, being for example 5.5 mm. The outer diameter of the ring may be between 7 and 15 mm, being for example 9.5 mm.

[0034] According to one aspect of the invention, the filtering region is formed by a mesh, in particular of the metallic type. The mesh may, as a variant, be made of plastic. The mesh is, for example, 70 microns maximum (size of an individual mesh).

[0035] According to one aspect of the invention, the filtration ring is expandable to adapt to the diameter of the tip of the fluidic device.

[0036] According to one aspect of the invention, the protective member may have a certain flexibility to match the shape of the tip of the fluidic device.

[0037] Alternatively, the protective member is rigid.

[0038] In the assembly process, the protective member is first placed on the end piece and then the sealing gasket.

[0039] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluidic function component is used in a heat pump, in particular one installed on board a motor vehicle.

[0040] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid is used in an air conditioning system and is for example a refrigerant fluid, in particular of the R134a and R1234yf type.

[0041] According to one aspect of the invention, the fluid connection block is made of metal, for example aluminum, being obtained in particular by machining to form channels for the circulation of fluid.

[0042] The invention also relates to a method for assembling a component with a fluidic function as described above, comprising the step of threading the protective member onto the end piece of the fluidic device, from a free end of this end piece, before assembling the fluidic device with the fluidic connection block. Before assembling the fluidic device with the fluidic connection block, a seal, in particular of the toric type (or O-ring in English), may be interposed.

[0043] Other characteristics, details and advantages of the invention will emerge more clearly on reading the description which follows on the one hand, and several exemplary embodiments given for informational and non-limiting purposes with reference to the appended schematic drawings on the other hand, in which:

[0044] [Fig.l] [Fig.l] illustrates, in perspective, a component with a fluidic function according to an exemplary implementation of the invention;

[0045] [Fig.2] [Fig.2] illustrates, schematically and partially, in section, the component with fluidic function of [Fig.l];

[0046] [Fig.3] [Fig.3] illustrates, schematically and partially, according to another section, the fluidic function component of [Fig.l].

[0047] The features, variations and different embodiments of the invention may be combined with each other, in various combinations, in the provided that they are not incompatible or mutually exclusive. In particular, variants of the invention may be imagined comprising only a selection of characteristics described below in isolation from the other characteristics described, if this selection of characteristics is sufficient to confer a technical advantage and / or to differentiate the invention from the prior art.

[0048] [Fig.l] shows a fluidic function component 1, here an electromechanical expansion valve (also called “EXV” for “Electrical Expansion Valve” in English).

[0049] The regulator 1 comprises a fluidic device 2, here forming an electromechanical actuator, comprising a nozzle 3 provided with a zone 5 for regulating the circulation of fluid which comprises fluid inlets 6 and a fluid outlet 12.

[0050] The fluidic device 2 further comprises a movable valve, not shown, in this regulation zone 5 so as to selectively allow, in a closed position, the circulation of fluid to be blocked between the inlet 6 and the outlet 7 of this regulation zone 5, and, in an open position, to allow fluid to pass between this inlet 6 and this fluid outlet 7.

[0051] The regulator 1 further comprises a fluid connection block 10 comprising a fluid inlet cavity 11 in communication with the inlets 6 of the fluid circulation regulation zone 5 and a fluid outlet cavity 12, of axis X, in communication with the outlet 7 of the fluid circulation regulation zone 5.

[0052] The regulator 1 also comprises a protection member 20 with a filtering region 21 configured to filter particles present in the fluid, this filtering region 21 being placed at the fluid inlets 6 of the fluid circulation regulation zone 5 of the fluidic device 2.

[0053] The protective member 20 is configured to be able to be threaded onto the end piece 3 of the fluidic device 2, from a free end of this end piece 3.

[0054] The fluid outlet cavity 12 is formed in the extension of the housing 14 in the fluid connection block 10 which is used to receive the end piece 3 of the fluid device 2.

[0055] The fluid inlet cavities 11 and outlet cavities 12 are perpendicular to each other.

[0056] The electromechanical regulator 1 is configured to be integrated into a bore and makes it possible to define an upstream chamber and a downstream chamber formed by the fluid outlet cavity 12.

[0057] The upstream chamber communicates with a fluid supply conduit formed by the fluid inlet cavity 11.

[0058] The electromechanical regulator 1 comprises supply orifices 24 in communication with the upstream chamber.

[0059] When the electromechanical regulator 1 opens, it allows the fluid to pass from the upstream chamber to the downstream chamber 12.

[0060] The protective member 20 protects the opening mechanism (movement of the valve) of the electromechanical regulator 1.

[0061] The protective member 20 is of sufficiently small dimensions so as not to hinder the proper integration of the electromechanical regulator I in its housing.

[0062] The fluid connection block 10 has a parallelepiped shape, in particular a block shape.

[0063] The end piece 3 of the fluidic device 2 is connected to a motor part 17 of the fluidic device 2.

[0064] The fluidic device 2, here an actuator, comprises an electrical connector 18 configured to allow the electrical connection of the fluidic device 2 to an electrical power supply and to a control unit of the fluidic device 2.

[0065] The fluidic device 2 comprises a housing 20 which contains the various electromechanical components and on which the end piece 3 is mounted which forms the fluid circulation regulation zone 5.

[0066] The components internal to the actuator 2 are not described in more detail because they are well known in the state of the art.

[0067] The tip 3 forms a nose of the fluidic device 2, and is configured to be placed in the housing 14 of the fluidic connection block 10.

[0068] O-ring seals 22 are inserted between this end piece 3 and the housing 14 of the fluid connection block 10.

[0069] The end piece 3 has orifices 24 forming the fluid inlets 6.

[0070] The orifices 24 are arranged around the longitudinal axis X of the end piece 3.

[0071] The valve moves parallel to this longitudinal axis X of the nozzle 3.

[0072] The end piece 3 comprises a cylindrical wall 25 extending along the longitudinal axis X and the orifices 24 forming the fluid inlets of the regulation zone 5 are formed on this cylindrical wall 25.

[0073] The orifices 24 forming the fluid inlet are for example two, three, four or more in number, and are for example circular.

[0074] The end piece 3 has an openwork end 28 with a fluid passage which forms the fluid outlet 7 of the regulation zone 5.

[0075] The fluid passage forming the fluid outlet 7 is adjacent to a seat 29 on which the valve rests in the closed position.

[0076] Thus the fluid enters the regulation zone 5 in a direction generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis X of the end piece 3, and leaves the regulation zone 5 of the end piece 3 via the fluid outlet 7 in a direction generally parallel to the longitudinal axis X of the end piece 3.

[0077] In other words, in the regulation zone 5, the fluid undergoes a turn substantially at a right angle. These flow directions are represented by arrows in [Fig.3]

[0078] The fluid inlet cavity 11 of the connection block is in the form of an annular cavity locally surrounding the end piece 3 of the fluidic device 2 so that the fluid inlets 6 of the regulation zone 5 communicate with this annular cavity 11 of the connection block 10.

[0079] The protective member 20 for filtering is placed in this annular cavity 11, on the end piece 3, so as to filter the particles present in the fluid just before entering the end piece 3 through the orifices 24. The contact of the protective member 20 with the end piece 3 makes it possible to limit the size of the protective member 20 (or filter 20) and to not require modification of the housing of the end piece 3.

[0080] The filtering region 21 extends around the entire perimeter of the protection member 20.

[0081] Alternatively, the protection member 20 may comprise an alternation of regions of filtering and solid portions opposite the cylindrical wall of the nozzle 3 of the fluidic device 2.

[0082] The protective member 20 is in the form of an elastic or non-elastic ring, with a circular circumference, which surrounds the cylindrical wall 25 on which the fluid inlet orifices 24 are formed in the regulation zone 5 of the fluidic device 2.

[0083] The fluid may be liquid, gaseous or an oil.

[0084] As can be seen in [Fig.2], the filtering region 21 is formed by a mesh, metallic type. The mesh can, alternatively, be plastic.

[0085] The filtration ring 20 is expandable to adapt to the diameter of the tip 3 of the fluidic device 2.

[0086] The protective member 20 may have a certain flexibility to match the shape of the tip 3 of the fluidic device 2.

[0087] Alternatively, the protective member 20 is rigid.

[0088] In the assembly process, the protective member 20 and the sealing gaskets 22 are first placed on the end piece 3, before assembling the fluidic device 2 with the fluidic connection block 10.

[0089] The fluidic function component 1 is used in a heat pump, in particular one installed on board a motor vehicle.

[0090] The fluid is used in an air conditioning system and is for example a refrigerant fluid, in particular of type R 134a and R1234yf.

[0091] The fluid connection block 10 is made of metal, for example aluminum, being obtained in particular by machining to form channels for the circulation of fluid.

Claims

Claims

1. A fluidic function component (1), in particular an electromechanical pressure reducer or a shut-off valve, comprising: - a fluidic device (2), in particular forming an electromechanical actuator, comprising a nozzle (3) provided with a fluid circulation regulation zone (5) which comprises at least one fluid inlet and at least one fluid outlet, the fluidic device (2) further comprising in particular a valve movable in this regulation zone (5) so as to selectively allow, in a closed position, the circulation of fluid to be blocked between the inlet and the outlet of this regulation zone (5), and, in an open position, to allow fluid to pass between this fluid inlet and this fluid outlet,- a fluid connection block (10) comprising a fluid inlet cavity (11) in communication with the inlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone (5) and a fluid outlet cavity (12) in communication with the outlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone (5), - a protection member (20) provided with at least one filtering region (21) configured to filter particles present in the fluid, this filtering region being placed at the fluid inlet of the fluid circulation regulation zone (5) of the fluidic device (2).,

2. Fluidic function component (1) according to the preceding claim, in which the protective member (20) is configured to be able to be slipped onto the end piece (3) of the fluidic device (2), from a free end of this end piece (3).

3. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the tip (3) is configured to be placed in a housing (14) of the fluidic connection block (10).

4. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the end piece (3) comprises at least one orifice (24) forming the fluid inlet, in particular a plurality of orifices, and the orifices are arranged around a longitudinal axis (X) of the end piece (3).

5. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims preceding, in which the tip (3) has an openwork end (28) with a fluid passage which forms the fluid outlet from the regulation zone.

6. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the fluid inlet cavity (11) of the connection block is in the form of an annular cavity locally surrounding the end piece 3 of the fluidic device so that the fluid inlet of the regulation zone communicates with this annular cavity (11) of the connection block.

7. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the protection member (20) for filtering is placed in this annular cavity (11), around the tip (3), so as to filter the particles present in the fluid before entering the tip (3) through one or more orifices (24).

8. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the filtering region (21) extends around the entire periphery of the protective member (20).

9. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the protection member (20) is in the form of a ring, in particular of circular circumference and in particular expandable, which surrounds a cylindrical wall on which one or more fluid inlet orifices are formed in the regulation zone of the fluidic device.

10. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the filtering region (21) is formed by a mesh, in particular of the metallic type. The mesh may, alternatively, be made of plastic.

11. Fluidic function component (1) according to one of the preceding claims, in which the fluidic function component (1) is used in a heat pump, in particular on board a motor vehicle.

12. Method for assembling a fluidic function component according to one of the preceding claims, comprising the step of threading the protective member (20) onto the end piece (3) of the fluidic device, from a free end of this end piece (3), before assembling the fluidic device with the fluidic connection block (10).

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