Valve device and fluid system with tiltable guide element - Patents.com

Abstract

The present invention relates to a valve device (10) for a fluid system (1). The valve device (10) comprises a valve unit (20) with a valve seat (21) and a valve body (22), the valve body (22) being in contact with the valve seat (21) in a closed state (II) of the valve unit (20) for closing a valve opening (23) and being spaced from the valve seat (21) in an open state (I) for opening the valve opening (23) to a fluid flow (200) in the fluid system (1), and a guide unit (30) comprising a guide element (31) connected to the valve body (22) and movable along a movement axis (30.1) for moving the valve unit (20) from the closed state (II) to the open state (I) and a counter guide element (32) for guiding the guide element (31) along the movement axis (30.1). Furthermore, the present invention relates to a fluid system (1).

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a valve device for a fluid system and to a fluid system. [Background technology]

[0002] The prior art knows valve devices in which the valve ball is pressed against the valve seat, so that the valve can be moved from the open to the closed position. However, tolerance-related coaxialities always arise in this case, which are usually compensated for by a radial clearance in the guide of the valve needle. However, large radial clearances, particularly in connection with magnetic drives, impose high demands on the drive, for example larger magnetic coils and / or higher current consumption. Moreover, the radial clearance between the valve ball and the valve seat can lead to increased wear and acoustic emissions. Summary of the Invention

[0003] According to a first aspect of the invention, a valve device for a fluid system is considered. The fluid system comprises a valve unit with a valve seat and a valve body, which in a closed state of the valve unit for closing a valve opening is in contact with the valve seat and which in an open state for opening the valve opening to a fluid flow in the fluid system is spaced from the valve seat. The valve device further comprises a guide unit, which comprises a guide element which is connected to the valve body and which is movable along a movement axis for moving the valve unit from the closed state to the open state. The guide unit further comprises a counter guide element for guiding the guide element along the movement axis. The guide unit comprises a tilting means by which the guide element can be tilted towards the movement axis, i.e. preferably obliquely oriented, for contact between the valve seat and the valve body, in particular in the closed state.

[0004] This at least partially overcomes the disadvantages known from the prior art, in particular the valve arrangement according to the invention provides improved guidance of the valve element when opening and / or closing the valve units of the valve arrangement.

[0005] The fluid stream may be a gas or a liquid. Preferably, the fluid stream comprises hydrogen.

[0006] In particular, the valve unit is arranged between a valve inlet for the inflow of the fluid flow and a valve outlet for the outflow of the fluid flow. The valve opening is in particular part of the valve unit. In this case, the valve opening may have a cross section through which the fluid flow can flow in the open state of the valve unit. In the closed state, the valve body can be pressed against the valve seat. Preferably, the valve opening is completely closed in the closed state. However, it is conceivable that leakage flows can flow through the valve opening even in the closed state.

[0007] The valve seat is designed to be movable, in particular together with the guide element. The valve seat may be designed to be stationary. Its axis of movement may include the central axis of the guide unit, along which the guide element and / or the valve body move when the valve unit is passed from the closed state to the open state and / or vice versa. The axis of movement may form the central axis of the guide element and / or the valve body.

[0008] The guide unit may in particular comprise a linear guide. For example, the guide element may be supported for sliding movement in the valve body. It may be considered that a gap is formed between the guide element and the counter guide element. When the guide element is tilted, the guide element may extend at least partially into said gap. In particular, the tilting of the guide element may be understood to mean that the guide element and / or the valve body have an angle to the axis of movement, i.e. that it can preferably be oriented obliquely to the axis of movement for the tilting movement. In this case, the guide element can preferably rotate on the axis of movement around a center of rotation, i.e. in particular around a point of rotation or an instantaneous center.

[0009] The tilting means can define a centre of rotation. Furthermore, the tilting means can be integrated in the guide element or in the counter-guide element. The tilting means can come into contact with the guide element or the counter-guide element, in particular permanently or temporarily, during the tilting. Preferably, the guide means and the counter-guide means have a gap from one another. This gap can have its narrowest cross section in the area of ​​the tilting means.

[0010] Preferably, the guide element and the counterguide element can form a cardan joint by means of a tilting means. The tilting can be effected in particular when the valve unit is passed from the open state to the closed state or vice versa. The tilting can compensate for the coaxiality of the valve body and / or the movement axis relative to the valve seat, which occurs in particular due to tolerances. By means of the tilting means, the clearance between the guide means and the counterguide means can be reduced or even omitted. This can simplify the state change between the open state and the closed state. For example, the requirements on the drive unit can be limited. Furthermore, the guidance made possible by the guide unit can be improved, which can result in less wear and / or less noise emissions.

[0011] It is furthermore conceivable in the valve device according to the invention that the valve seat has an at least partially or completely conical resting surface for the valve body, the valve body having an at least partially or completely rounded contact surface, the contact surface resting on the resting surface in the closed state of the valve unit. In particular, when the valve unit passes from the open state to the closed state, the contact surface can slide along the resting surface in order to close the valve opening, so that the guide element can tilt relative to the counting guide element and / or relative to the movement axis. In the closed state, the resting surface and the contact surface can come into rolling contact with each other in order to seal the valve opening. In particular, the contact surface can be at least partially spherically shaped. In this case, the contact surface can include one or more spherical zones, spherical sectors and / or races. However, it is equally conceivable that the valve body is shaped as a completely spherical ball. The resting surface can be shaped, for example, in the form of a truncated cone. The valve opening is preferably located in the center of the conical design. In particular, the resting surface can extend conically around the valve opening. The rounded contact surface allows the valve body to rest on the support surface, particularly completely, while rotating, even in the case of an inclined position due to tilting.

[0012] Furthermore, it may be provided in an advantageous embodiment that the counter-guide element has a cylindrical inner space in which the guide element is movably arranged. The inner space may be hollow and / or may be circumferentially surrounded by the counter-guide element. The counter-guide element may be advantageously tubular in shape. The guide element may have an at least partially cylindrical shape so that it is guided in the counter-guide element. This allows the guide element to be guided linearly in the counter-guide element. In this case, guidance in different spatial directions may be ensured during tilting.

[0013] It is furthermore conceivable that in the valve device according to the invention, a magnetic drive unit is provided for displacing the guide element, in particular in this case the guide element being designed as a magnet armature. The drive unit can then generate a magnetic drive force for displacing the guide element and the valve body. For displacing the magnet armature, the magnetic drive unit can, for example, comprise an electric coil. In the case of a magnetic drive unit, there is the advantage that the gaps in the guide unit are kept small in order to reduce the current consumption of the coil and / or the drive unit. However, as an alternative, other drives, such as, for example, electric motors, are also conceivable for displacing the guide element.

[0014] It may be provided that the valve body is prestressed to the closed state by a prestressing unit, which is designed for bringing the valve unit to the closed state when no current flows through the drive unit. The prestressing unit may, for example, comprise a spring, in particular in the form of a compression spring. Preferably, the valve body is movable against the fluid flow and against the prestressing unit in order to bring the valve unit to the open state. This allows the valve unit to protect itself. In particular, if the drive unit is faulty, for example due to a technical defect, the prestressing unit can further ensure that the fluid does not flow through the valve device in an uncontrolled manner. The safety of the fluid system can thus be improved.

[0015] It may furthermore be provided in an advantageous embodiment that the tilting means surrounds the guide element in the form of a ring, which may be part of the guide element or of the counter guide element, and by forming the tilting means in the form of a ring around the guide element, deviations in different spatial directions between the valve seat and / or the valve opening and the valve body, which arise due to tolerances, can be compensated.

[0016] It is furthermore conceivable in the valve device according to the invention that the tilting means is formed by a rolling element on the guide element or on the counter-guide element, in particular in this case the rolling element being designed in the form of a raceway, which may be formed, for example, by the shape of the guide element or on the counter-guide element.

[0017] For example, the outer contour of the guide element or of the counterguide element can define a rolling portion, which allows the guide element to roll on the counterguide element when the guide element is tilted towards the counterguide element and / or towards the movement axis, thereby making a defined tilting movement possible.

[0018] It is further conceivable within the scope of the invention that the rolling part is arranged between the two ends of the guide element, preferably in the middle, in which case the guide element in particular has conical guide surfaces between the two ends and the rolling part, which can come into contact with the counterguide element when the guide element is tilted towards the counterguide element and / or towards the movement axis. The guide surfaces can thus form in particular mutually opposed cones. The conical design allows for a larger clearance between the guide element and the counterguide element in the direction of the ends and thus a larger space for tilting the guide element. The conical design of the guide surfaces can allow for tolerance compensation in different spatial directions.

[0019] Furthermore, it may be advantageously provided that the guide surfaces each extend tangentially to the rolling parts. Due to the tangential extension of the guide surfaces, they can preferably abut on the counter-guide element at least on one side during the maximum tilting angle of the guide element. This makes it possible to further ensure linear guidance of the guide element and to keep the gap between the guide element and the counter-guide element small. For example, the magnetic force required to move the guide element can depend on the central dimension of the gap.

[0020] According to another aspect of the present invention, a fluid system is provided, the fluid system including a fluid tank for storing a fluid, a utilization device for utilizing said fluid, and a valve device according to the present invention disposed between said fluid tank and said utilization device.

[0021] The fluid system according to the invention therefore naturally provides the same advantages as those already explained in detail in connection with the valve arrangement according to the invention. The fluid system may be designed, for example, for arrangement in a vehicle. For example, the utilization device may include a fuel cell system, in particular for driving a vehicle. The utilization device may also in particular be called a consumer device. The fluid, in particular a fluid under high pressure, may be stored or may be stored in a fluid tank. By means of the valve arrangement, the fluid flow of the fluid from the fluid tank to the utilization device may be influenced, in particular may be adjustable. It is conceivable that the fluid system has a control unit for controlling a drive unit of the valve arrangement.

[0022] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are evident from the following description, which describes an embodiment of the invention with reference to the drawings, in which the features of the claims and the description may each be important for the invention individually on their own or in any combination. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0023] [Figure 1] 1 shows a first embodiment of a fluid system according to the invention, comprising a valve device according to the invention; [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a plan view of a valve unit of the valve device. [Diagram 3] FIG. 4 is a plan view of a valve body of the valve unit. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 shows a tilting means of the valve device. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0024] In the following description of several embodiments of the present invention, the same reference numerals are used for the same technical components in different embodiments.

[0025] 1 shows a fluid system 1 according to the invention in a first embodiment. In this case, the fluid system 1 comprises a fluid tank 2 for storing a fluid and a utilization device 3 for utilizing the fluid. The fluid may preferably be hydrogen. The utilization device 3 may comprise, for example, a fuel cell system. Furthermore, a valve device 10 according to the invention is arranged between the fluid tank 2 and the utilization device 3 for influencing a fluid flow 200 of the fluid from the fluid tank 2 to the utilization device 3.

[0026] The valve arrangement 10 comprises a valve unit 20 with a valve seat 21, as shown in Fig. 2, and a valve body 22 which is in contact with the valve seat 21 in a closed position II of the valve unit 20 for closing a valve opening 23. In an open position I for opening the valve opening 23 to a fluid flow 200 in the fluid system 1, the valve body 22 is arranged at a distance from the valve seat 21. To transfer the valve unit 20 from the open position I to the closed position II and vice versa, the valve body 22 can be moved along a movement axis 30.1. For this purpose, the valve arrangement 10 preferably comprises a guide unit 30 forming a linear guide.

[0027] The guide unit 30 comprises a guide element 31, which is connected to the valve body 22 and can move together with the valve body 22 when the valve unit 20 passes from the open state I to the closed state II and vice versa. Furthermore, the guide unit 30 comprises a counter-guide element 32 for guiding the guide element 31 along the movement axis 30.1. The counter-guide element 32 is preferably fixedly fixed. For guiding the guide element 31, the counter-guide element 32 comprises a cylindrical inner space 35, in which the guide element 31 is movably arranged.

[0028] In order to drive the guide element 31 together with the valve body 22, the valve device 10 further comprises a magnetic drive unit 40 for moving the guide element 31. In this case, the guide element 31 is at least partially formed as a magnet armature 41. Furthermore, a gap 36 is formed between the guide element 31 and the counter-guide element 32 in order to allow a relative movement between the guide element 31 and the counter-guide element 32 by the magnetic drive unit 40. In this case, the valve body 22 is prestressed by a prestressing unit 42 into the closed state II. In order to increase fault safety, the prestressing unit 42 is formed in such a way that it brings the valve unit 20 into the closed state II if no current flows through the drive unit 40.

[0029] As shown in Fig. 2, the valve seat 21 has an at least partially conical seating surface 24 for the valve body 22. Furthermore, the valve body 22 comprises an at least partially rounded contact surface 25. In the closed position II, i.e. in the closed position II of the valve unit 20, the contact surface 25 lies on the seating surface 24. The contact surface 25 and / or the seating surface 24 may preferably comprise hardened steel. In this case, the contact surface 25 may have a lateral, for example flat-running cutout 25.1, as shown in the cut-away plan view of the valve body 22 in Fig. 3, which advantageously allows the fluid to flow past the valve body 22 in the open position I of the valve unit 20 without requiring a large valve stroke.

[0030] In order to compensate for the coaxiality caused by the tolerances between the valve seat 21, the valve opening 23, the axis of movement 30.1 and / or the valve body 22, the guide unit 30 comprises a tilting means 33, as shown in Fig. 4, by means of which the guide element 31 can be tilted towards the counter guide element 32 and / or towards the axis of movement 30.1 for contact between the valve seat 21 and the valve body 22. The rounded, preferably spherical, configuration of the contact surface 25 allows the valve body 22 to come into oblique contact with the seating surface 24, in which case the circumferentially extending sealing portion of the valve opening 23 is not or only only slightly disturbed by the contact between the seating surface 24 and the contact surface 25.

[0031] Furthermore, the tilting means 33 is formed by a rolling part 33.1 which is provided on the guide element 31 and surrounds it in the form of a ring. The rolling part 33.1 is formed in the form of a raceway. The rolling part 33.1 is arranged between the two ends of the guide element 31. Between each of the ends and the rolling part 33.1, the guide element 31 has conical guide surfaces 34 which can abut against the counter-guide element 32 when the guide element 31 is tilted towards the counter-guide element 32 and / or towards the axis of movement 30.1. The guide surfaces 34 each extend tangentially to the rolling part 33.1, so that when the guide element 31 is tilted, the guide surfaces 34 abut against the counter-guide element 32.

[0032] In the embodiment shown, the tilting means 33 are provided on the guide element 31. However, it is also conceivable that the tilting means 33 are arranged on the counter-guide element 32, so that the guide element 31 has a linear extension. [Explanation of symbols]

[0033] 1 Fluid Systems 2 Fluid Tanks 3 Equipment used 10 Valve gear 20 Valve unit 21 Valve seat 22 Valve body 23 Valve opening 24 Placement surface 25 Contact surface 30 Guide unit 30.1 Axis of movement 31 Guide Elements 32 Counter guide element 33 Tilt means 33.1 Rolling parts 34 Guide surface 40 Drive unit 41 Magnet armature 42 Prestressed Unit 200 Fluid Flow I Open valve state II. Closed valve state

Claims

1. A valve device (10) for a fluid system (1), comprising: a valve unit (20) including a valve seat (21) and a valve body (22), the valve body (22) being in contact with the valve seat (21) in a closed state (II) of the valve unit (20) for closing a valve opening (23) and being spaced from the valve seat (21) in an open state (I) for opening the valve opening (23) to a fluid flow (200) in the fluid system (1); a guide unit (30) including a guide element (31) connected to the valve body (22) and movable along a movement axis (30.1) for moving the valve unit (20) from the closed state (II) to the open state (I), and a counter guide element (32) for guiding the guide element (31) along the movement axis (30.1); having the guide unit (30) has tilting means (33) by means of which the guide element (31) can be tilted towards the movement axis (30.1) for contact between the valve seat (21) and the valve body (22), A valve device (10).

2. 2. The valve device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the valve seat (21) has an at least partially conical support surface (24) for the valve body (22), and the valve body (22) has an at least partially rounded contact surface (25), which contact surface (25) rests on said support surface (24) in the closed valve state (II) of the valve unit (20).

3. 3. The valve device (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the counter-guide element (32) has a cylindrical internal space (35) in which the guide element (31) is movably arranged.

4. 4. The valve device (10) according to claim 1, further comprising a magnetic drive unit (40) for moving the guide element (31), the guide element (31) being formed as a magnet armature (41).

5. 5. The valve device (10) according to claim 4, characterized in that the valve body (22) is prestressed to the closed state (II) by a prestressing unit (42), the prestressing unit (42) being designed to bring the valve unit (20) to the closed state (II) when no current flows through the drive unit (40).

6. 6. The valve device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the tilting means (33) surrounds the guide element (31) in the form of a ring.

7. 7. The valve device (10) according to claim 1, wherein the tilting means (33) is formed by a rolling part (33.1) provided on the guide element (31), the rolling part (33.1) being formed in the shape of a raceway.

8. 8. The valve device (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that the rolling part (33.1) is arranged between two ends of the guide element (31), the guide element (31) having conical guide surfaces (34) between each of the two ends and the rolling part (33.1), which guide surfaces can abut against the counter-guide element (32) when the guide element (31) is tilted.

9. 9. The valve device (10) according to claim 8, characterized in that the guide surfaces (34) each extend tangentially to the rolling portion (33.1).

10. A fluid tank (2) for storing a fluid; A utilization device (3) for utilizing the fluid; A valve device (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, which is arranged between the fluid tank (2) and the utilization device (3); A fluid system (1) comprising:

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