Always open valve

Abstract

The described component, among other things, is a valve (1) comprising a plunger (2), a valve inlet, and a valve outlet. The valve has a valve seat (3) having an inner seal edge and an outer seal edge. The valve seat is configured to allow flow between the valve inlet and the valve outlet through the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge, respectively, when the valve is in the open position. The flow through the inner seal edge flows through the inner passage. The valve further comprises a pin (4) extending through the valve seat. The pin connects a seal (6) to the plunger.

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] This disclosure relates to valves, and more particularly to valves operated in a normally open configuration. [Background technology]

[0002] In many applications, a valve that is normally open, meaning it only closes when activated, is required. For example, different safety shapes rely on the valve remaining open even when it cannot be activated.

[0003] Furthermore, International Publication No. 2016 / 167699 describes a valve in which the required air gap within the valve may be reduced. [Overview of the project] [Problems that the invention aims to solve]

[0004] There is a certain demand for improved valve operability. Therefore, there is a need for an improved valve.

[0005] The objective of this invention is to provide an improved valve. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present and / or other objectives are achieved, at least in part, by valves as described in the attached claims.

[0007] As acknowledged by the inventors, a normally open valve may be advantageous in many applications. At the same time, the valve should be robust and efficient.

[0008] According to one embodiment, a valve is provided comprising a plunger, a valve inlet, and a valve outlet. The valve has a valve seat having an inner seal edge and an outer seal edge that form a seal region such that a fluid passing through the seal region passes through both the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge. The valve seat is configured to allow flow between the valve inlet and the valve outlet through the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge, respectively, when the valve is in the open position. The valve further comprises a pin extending through the valve seat, the pin connecting a seal at one end of the pin to a plunger at the other end of the pin. When the plunger is actuated, the valve is configured to move the seal to a seal position that presses against the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge to close the valve. Thus, the actuating of the plunger may allow the seal to actuate on the opposite side of the valve seat when viewed from the side where the plunger is located, and may allow other configurations of the valve, so the seal must be on the valve seat side facing the plunger. In particular, the valve may be operable to function as a normally open valve.

[0009] According to one embodiment, the valve is configured such that when the plunger is not acting, the seal is in a stationary position away from the inner and outer seal edges. This ensures that the valve is normally open when not acting.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the pin is provided directly on the upper end of the plunger. This may provide an efficient connection between the plunger and the pin. The pin may also be hollow to allow an increase in air to flow along the pin toward the plunger. According to another embodiment, the pin may be sealed toward the plunger to prevent air from flowing along the pin toward the plunger.

[0011] According to one embodiment, the pin may include an upper end section that extends laterally in a direction transverse to the longitudinal extension of the pin extending into the inner passage. Thereby, the seal may be attached to the pin in a secure and robust manner by holding the seal stationary relative to the upper part.

[0012] According to one embodiment, the inner seal edge may be rounded, particularly circular. The outer seal edge may also be rounded, particularly circular. Thereby, an efficient valve may be implemented.

[0013] According to one embodiment, the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge are disposed on the same plane. Thereby, the seal may be flat.

[0014] According to one embodiment, at least two supply channels are provided. Thereby, symmetric and efficient supply may be provided.

[0015] According to one embodiment, the valve is a solenoid valve. Thereby, a valve with a quick response time and quick opening and closing may be realized.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0016] The present invention will be described in more detail by way of non-limiting examples and with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0017] [Figure 1] Cross-sectional view of the valve. [Figure 2] Cross-sectional perspective view of the valve seat. [Figure 3] Cross-sectional view of the valve in the open position. [Figure 4] Cross-sectional view of the valve in the open position. [Figure 5] Cross-sectional view of the valve in the closed position. [Figure 6] Cross-sectional view of the valve in the closed position.

Modes for Carrying Out the Invention

[0018] In the following description, the valve in which the valve seat exists may be an electromechanical valve (solenoid valve) as exemplified below. However, the principles described in this specification are not limited to such valves and may be used for any type of valve. Further, only the parts of the valve related to the valve seat are described in detail, including sealing the valve when it is open / closed. Therefore, some parts that normally exist in a complete valve are omitted in the following description.

[0019] In FIG. 1, an exemplary valve 1, particularly the parts of the valve seat arrangement, are shown in an axial cross-sectional view. Valve 1 includes a plunger 2. According to one embodiment, when the valve is a solenoid valve and the plunger is actuated, such as by supplying current to the coil, the plunger is lifted. When the valve is not actuated, the plunger may return by a spring force or the like. The valve also includes a valve seat 3. The valve seat 3 may be of a general type described in WO 2016 / 167699. The valve seat 3 typically has a circular cross-section in a plane perpendicular to the movement of the plunger 2. The valve seat includes a seal area, which is the area facing the seal of the valve. To allow the fluid passing through the seal area to pass through both the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge, the seal area is formed (limited) by the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge. The seal area is located on the valve seat side opposite to the side where the plunger is arranged. Valve 1 may typically have additional parts and housing, such as parts used to control the plunger, etc. However, for reasons of clarity, such parts are not shown in FIG. 1.

[0020] The valve seat described in International Publication No. 2016 / 167699 is designed to allow the flow of the working medium between the inlet and outlet when the valve is in the open position. The flow path in the open position passes through both the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge, respectively. Therefore, the flow passing through the valve exits (or enters) the valve's sealing area from two different directions, via the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge. This provides an increased total perimeter of the sealing area compared to existing valve seats having a sealing area of ​​a single perimeter length. The increased perimeter is an advantage because it can reduce the stroke length required for the plunger operating the valve. However, the valve seat is difficult to operate in the normally open configuration of the valve.

[0021] In a normally open valve configuration, to enjoy the advantages of the valve seat properties described above, the pin may be positioned to extend through the valve seat 3. Thus, according to the embodiment of Figure 1, the plunger 2 is connected to the pin 4. The pin 4 may be configured to pass through the center of the valve seat 3. According to one embodiment, the pin 4 is provided directly on the plunger 2. For example, the pin may be located at the upper end of the plunger 2. The pin 4 is allowed to pass through the valve seat. In particular, the pin may be located in the inner passage of the valve seat. The pin 4 may then act on the opposite side of the valve seat 3 compared to the normally closed valve. In other words, one end of the pin is located on the plunger side, and the other end of the pin is located on the opposite side of the valve seat where the sealing area is located. In another embodiment, not shown, the pin is connected to the plunger via at least one intermediate member. Furthermore, the seal 6 is connected to the pin 4. The seal 6 is located at the other end of the pin, different from the end on which the plunger 2 is provided. Based on some embodiments as shown in Figure 1, the seal 6 is directly attached to the pin 4. However, the seal 6 may also be attached to the pin via some other components.

[0022] When plunger 2 is operated (activated), seal 6 closes the gap in the sealing area between the inner and outer sealing edges of the valve seat 3. Therefore, when plunger 2 is activated, the plunger moves pin 4 toward the sealing area, thereby moving seal 6 attached to pin 4 to a position that seals the sealing area, and thereby closing valve 1.

[0023] The seal 6 may be circular and may be formed from an elastic material or a material having good sealing performance, such as different types of polyurethane, HNBR, FKM, or PUR. Therefore, when the plunger 2 is not actuated, the seal 6 is in a resting position, positioned away from the inner and outer sealing edges. Also, when the plunger 2 is actuated, the seal 6 is configured to be in a sealing position, pressing against the inner and outer sealing edges.

[0024] In some embodiments, the pin 4 is provided with an upper section 5 at the sealing end of the pin 4, which extends laterally in the longitudinal direction of the pin's extension running through the center of the valve seat 3. The seal 6 may then be attached to the upper section 5. The upper section 5 may be circular and may extend beyond the width of the seal 6 to efficiently press the seal 6 against the sealing area when the plunger 2 is actuated. The upper section 5 may be formed as a separate component attached to the pin 4, or as an internal component of the pin 4. The pin 4 may have different shapes. In one embodiment, the pin 4 is provided with a seal 9 at the upper end of the end facing the plunger 2 to prevent air from flowing through the pin 4 toward the plunger 2 when the valve is open. In another embodiment, the pin 4 may be formed as a pipe through which air flows toward the plunger 2 when the valve is in the open position. The pin 4 may typically have a circular cross-section, but in some embodiments, the pin may have another cross-section, such as elliptical or rectangular.

[0025] In one embodiment, the valve may be a solenoid valve. The valve may use air as the working medium. In other embodiments, the working medium may be water, oil, or a similar substance.

[0026] Figure 2 shows a perspective cross-sectional view of an exemplary valve seat 3 that can be used. Arrows indicate the fluid flow when the valve is open. In Figure 2, there is a flow from at least one pressurized inlet 11. In the open position, the flow path passes through the sealing region that is in contact with the outlet 12 via the inner sealing edge 13 and the outer sealing edge 14, respectively. Thus, the flow passing through the valve exits (or enters) the sealing region of the valve as two distinct flows through the inner and outer sealing edges, with the outer sealing edge being located radially outward of the inner sealing edge. This provides an increased total perimeter of the sealing region compared to existing valve seats having a sealing region of a single perimeter. The increased perimeter is an advantage because it can reduce the stroke length required for the plunger 2 that operates the valve.

[0027] In one embodiment, the sealing region is formed in the upper region of the recess 15 formed in the valve seat 3. Preferably, the inner sealing edge 13 is rounded, and in particular circular. The outer sealing region 14 may also be rounded, and in particular circular, in some embodiments. The inner and outer sealing edges may be arranged on the same plane, although this is not required. When the inner and outer edges that demarcate the sealing region are arranged on the same plane, the seal used to seal the sealing region may be flat.

[0028] Accordingly, as indicated by the arrows in Figure 2, the flow may exit the seal area beyond two different seal edges 13 and seal edge 14. One flow passes through a first outflow passage, which leads the flow from the valve inlet 11 to the orifice, which is here a vertical inner passage 16. The inner passage 16 is typically located in the center of the valve seat 3. In some embodiments, at least two or more supply channels 17 are provided to extend between the valve inlet 11 and the orifice in the seal area. For example, four supply channels 17 may be provided. The flow entering the seal area flows to the outlet 12 in a direct flow toward the outlet 12 beyond the outer seal 14, through the inner passage 16 via the inner seal 13, and through at least one outer passage 18 to the valve outlet 12. In some embodiments, some air may exit the valve along the pin 4. As described above, the pin may be hollow to allow air to exit through the pin 4. If it is undesirable for air to exit along pin 4, pin 4 may be sealed to prevent air from exiting upward in Figure 2 via the inner passage 16 along pin 4.

[0029] As described above, the valve seat 3 described above may have an inlet (outlet) perimeter that may form an inner passage 16 and an inner seal edge 13. By allowing the working medium (air in this example) to flow towards the outlet 12 through the outlet region of the seal surface of the valve seat having both an inner perimeter and an outer perimeter (inner seal edge and outer seal edge), it is possible to increase the total perimeter of the outlet region of the seal surface facing the valve seal 6. Such an arrangement with an increased perimeter of the outlet region in contact with the seal 6 operated via the plunger 2 improves the operation of the valve.

[0030] Therefore, based on the embodiments described herein, the perimeter of the area in the outflow section, which is a sealing area and is sealed by the seal of the valve, here the seal 6, connected to the plunger 2, is increased. The seal area delimited by the outer seal edge and the inner seal edge may be, for example, ring-shaped as in the example described above and shown in FIG. 2, but other shapes are possible as long as both the inner perimeter and the outer perimeter of the seal area exist. The perimeters may be on the same plane or on different planes. This depends on the form of the seal provided to seal the inflow section of the valve from the outflow section of the valve. In this example, the seal is generally flat, and the perimeters, i.e., the seal edge 13 and the seal edge 14 in this example, are then arranged on the same plane. Therefore, the contact area between the seal 6 and the seal edges 13, 14 may be flat but is not necessary.

[0031] Therefore, the distance between the seal edges 13 and 14 and the seal 6 may be shorter compared to existing valves. A sufficient cross-section may also be achieved with a shorter distance.

[0032] Example of 4 mm with inner diameter (d1) = 8.05 mm and outer diameter (d2) = 9 mm.

[0033] [Numeral 1] Cross-section: A orifice = ((r1 2 × π) - (r2 2 × π)) => 12.72 mm 2 Example of 10% margin: A lift = A orifice × 1.1 => 13.992 mm 2 Cylindrical flow in the air gap: A lift = ((d1 × π) + (d2 × π)) × L => L = A lift / ((d1 × π) + (d2 × π)) = 0.2614 mm A orifice = Orifice area (mm 2 ) A lift= Cross-sectional area in radial lifting (mm 2 ) L = Actual lifting height (mm)

[0034] The larger the radius of the inner and outer seal edges, the lower the lift height that can be achieved, and the less force / power is required to move the valve. The same applies to the operating stroke of the plunger spring, which may be reduced, and a reduction in the operating stroke may also reduce the spring force in the operating state.

[0035] Figure 3 shows a first cross-sectional view of valve 1 from the side when valve 1 is in a passive state. Since valve 1 is normally open, when the valve is in a passive state (plunger is not driven), the valve is open. In the open state, the fluid, which in this example is air, flows through valve 1 from the pressurized side as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 3. Therefore, pressurized air enters the valve from the valve inlet and passes through the inlet channel 17 and beyond the seal region. In the seal region, the airflow may flow beyond both the inner seal end 13 and the outer seal end 14. The airflow beyond the outer seal edge is directed directly to the valve outlet 12, and the airflow beyond the inner seal edge flows to the outlet 12 via the inner passage 16, as better shown in Figure 4.

[0036] Figure 4 is similar to Figure 3 but rotated 90 degrees to show a second cross-sectional view of valve 1 from the side when the valve is in a passive state. Here, an outer passage 18 is shown connecting the inner passage 16 to the outlet 12. According to one embodiment, at least two outer passages 18 are provided.

[0037] Figure 5 shows a first cross-sectional view of valve 1 from the side when valve 1 is in operation. Since valve 1 is normally open, when the valve is in operation (plunger is driven), the valve is in the closed state. Therefore, plunger 2 is operated, thereby acting pin 4 to move seal 6 to close the sealing area formed by the inner seal edge 13 and the outer seal edge 14, respectively. In the closed state, the fluid, which in this example is air, is prevented from flowing through valve 1 from the pressurized side, as illustrated by the arrows in Figure 5.

[0038] As is clear, there is no pressure difference in the seal 6, as the pressure in the closed state is the same at the outlet 12, as is the case in the inner channel 16. This is further illustrated in Figure 6. Figure 6 is similar to Figure 5 but rotated 90 degrees to show a second cross-sectional view from the side of valve 1 when the valve is in operation, i.e., closed. Here, the outer passage 18 connecting the inner passage 16 to the outlet 12 is shown. The air pressure in the outer passage is also the same as the air pressure at the outlet, which is general atmospheric pressure.

[0039] An efficient implementation of a valve is provided that allows the valve to be operated in a normally open configuration while the valve seat has a configuration that allows the flow of the valve seat to pass through the sealed section of the valve through both the inner and outer sealing edges, thereby reducing the valve lift height. Accordingly, the valve described herein may have a shorter stroke compared to existing types of valves that operate as normally open valves, resulting in improved response time. Furthermore, there will be less kinetic force, which can reduce wear and extend the valve's lifespan.

[0040] Features of different embodiments may be combined, and it should be understood that no feature of an embodiment is essential unless expressly stated otherwise. Therefore, those skilled in the art may select features and dimensions that are deemed advantageous for a particular implementation. The valve and valve seat described above are solenoid valves, generally cylindrical in shape, having a cylindrical valve seat, and designed to use air as the working medium. However, the principles as shown herein are applicable to other types of valves having other common shapes, and to valves using different types of working media, such as liquid working media. The shapes of the inner and outer seal edges may be different, such as elliptical or rectangular.

Claims

1. Valve (1), Plunger (2) and, Valve inlet (11) and Valve outlet (12) and A valve seat (3) comprising an inner seal edge (13) and an outer seal edge (14) that form the seal region such that the fluid passing through the seal region passes through both the inner seal edge and the outer seal edge, The valve seat (3) is configured to allow flow between the valve inlet (11) and the valve outlet (12) via the inner seal edge (13) and the outer seal edge (14), respectively, when the valve is in the open position, and the valve is configured to allow flow between the valve inlet (11) and the valve outlet (12) via the inner seal edge (13) and the outer seal edge (14), respectively, The present invention further comprises a pin (4) which extends through the valve seat and connects a seal (6) at one end of the pin to the plunger (2) at the other end of the pin, A valve configured such that when the plunger (2) is actuated, the valve moves the seal (6) to a sealed position that closes the valve by pressing it against the inner seal edge (13) and the outer seal edge (14).

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein when the plunger (2) is not operating, the seal (6) is in a stationary position, separated from the inner seal edge (13) and the outer seal edge (14).

3. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 2, wherein the pin (4) is provided directly on the upper end of the plunger (2).

4. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the pin (4) is provided with an upper end section (5) that extends laterally in the direction of the longitudinal extension of the pin (4).

5. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the inner seal edge (13) is rounded.

6. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 5, wherein the outer seal edge (14) is rounded.

7. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the inner seal edge (13) and the outer seal edge (14) are arranged on the same plane.

8. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 7, comprising at least two supply channels (17).

9. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the pin (4) is hollow.

10. The valve according to any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the pin (4) is provided with a seal (9).

11. The valve is a solenoid valve, as described in any one of claims 1 to 10.

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