Interface, actuating drive, and automated actuator

Abstract

The invention relates to an interface (1) between an actuating drive (100) for actuating an industrial fitting (200), such as a valve, and the industrial fitting for securing the actuating drive to the fitting, wherein the interface is formed by means of an actuating drive flange (110) and a fitting flange (210) and encloses an inner volume (2) in the region of the interface, the actuating drive flange and the fitting flange are contacted via a respective end surface (111, 211) of an end face, and the interface has a sealing device (3) which is designed to prevent a highly volatile gas, such as hydrogen, from passing through the interface from the inner volume into the surroundings of the interface and vice versa.

Description

[0001] Interface, actuator and automated actuator

[0002] The invention relates to an interface between an actuator and a valve, an actuator and an automated actuator.

[0003] Automation actuators, such as those shown in DE102204048366A1, are designed to actuate fittings such as valves in pipelines. Typically, actuators and fittings are connected via flanges, creating an interface between the actuator and the industrial valve. Such interfaces can be a weak point in the presence of volatile gases such as hydrogen, as these gases can enter an internal volume through the interface or escape from the internal volume into the surrounding area of ​​the actuator.

[0004] The object of the invention is therefore to prevent the hazard of actuators and fittings and / or the environments of actuators from volatile gases.

[0005] The problem is solved by an interface according to independent claim 1, by an actuator according to independent claim 8, and by an automated actuator according to independent claim 9.

[0006] An interface according to the invention between an actuator, in particular an actuator according to the industrial standard DIN EN 22153, for example dated 2021-07, for actuating an industrial valve, such as a valve, and the industrial valve for mounting the actuator on the industrial valve, is formed by means of an actuator flange and a valve flange and encloses an internal volume in the area of ​​the interface, wherein the actuator flange and the valve flange are contacted via an end face each, wherein the interface has a sealing device which is designed to reduce the passage of a volatile gas such as hydrogen through the interface from the internal volume into the environment of the interface and vice versa.

[0007] In one embodiment, the actuator and the industrial valve are each individually leak-proof.

[0008] The fact that the actuator and the industrial valve are each individually sealed means that the interior of the actuator and the interior of the industrial valve are inaccessible when the actuator and the industrial valve are in an unmounted state.

[0009] For example, an actuating element of the actuator, such as an output shaft, seals tightly against a housing of the actuator.

[0010] In one embodiment, the sealing device has at least one sealing element, wherein the sealing element comprises a soft metal such as copper or a non-ferrous metal, or aluminum or indium, or a plastic or paper, wherein the at least one sealing element completely surrounds a valve flange shaft and is arranged between the actuator flange and the valve flange and is pressed through the actuator flange and the valve flange.

[0011] In this way, the passage of a volatile gas such as hydrogen through the interface can be prevented or significantly reduced.

[0012] In one embodiment, the actuator flange and / or the valve flange has at least one groove on the end faces encompassing a valve flange axis, in which at least one groove each of the at least one sealing element is arranged.

[0013] In one embodiment, at least one of the at least one sealing element is pressed into the associated groove by means of a projection of the actuator flange or fitting flange.

[0014] In this way, the sealing effect can be further improved.

[0015] In one embodiment, the interface has a sealing element carrier which is arranged between the valve flange and the actuator flange, wherein the sealing element carrier is made of a metallic material such as steel, aluminum or copper, wherein at least one of the at least one sealing element is arranged in each groove of the sealing element carrier.

[0016] In one embodiment, the contact pressure of the compression is at least 10 megapascals.

[0017] An actuator according to the invention for automation technology for actuating an industrial valve, such as a valve in a pipeline, comprises: a drive, such as an electric motor or a pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrohydraulic actuating device; an electronic operating circuit for operating the drive; a gearbox; an output; wherein the drive is configured to drive the output, wherein the gearbox is configured to transmit a force or torque from the drive to the output, wherein the actuator has a housing arrangement in which the drive, the electronic operating circuit, the gearbox, and the output are arranged, wherein the output has an actuator flange according to an interface according to the invention.

[0018] An automated actuator according to the invention comprises: an actuator according to the invention of the

[0019] Automation technology for actuating an industrial fitting such as a valve in a pipeline; an industrial fitting such as a valve in a pipeline comprising a fitting flange according to an interface according to the invention.

[0020] The invention is described below using exemplary embodiments.

[0021] Fig. 1 shows a sketch of an exemplary automated actuator;

[0022] Fig. 2 shows a sketch of an interface between an actuator of automation technology and an industrial valve of the actuator shown in Fig. 1;

[0023] Fig. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of such an interface according to the invention;

[0024] Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of such an interface according to the invention;

[0025] Fig. 5 shows an exemplary schematic sketch of an actuator for automation technology.

[0026] Figure 1 shows an automated actuator 300 comprising an actuator 100 configured to actuate an industrial valve 200. The industrial valve can, for example, have a valve 220, as shown here, which is configured to allow or prevent the flow of media through a pipeline 400. The actuator is connected to the industrial valve 200 via an interface 1. As shown in Figure 2, the interface is typically formed by a pairing of an actuator flange 110 and a valve flange 210, which are contacted via end faces 111 and 211. For illustrative purposes only, a spatial distance is shown between the end faces 111 and 211 in Figure 2. An actuating element 151, such as an output shaft for actuating the industrial valve, runs along an actuator flange axis 112 through an internal volume 2 or .Interior space 2, which is enclosed by the interface. With interfaces as known in the prior art, tightness against volatile gases such as hydrogen is not guaranteed.

[0027] The actuator and the industrial valve are each, in particular, individually sealed or tightly closed off from their surroundings. In an automated actuator 300 according to the invention, three mutually sealed spaces are thus created: an interior space 162 of the actuator, an interior space 2 or interior volume 2 in the area of ​​the interface 1, and an interior space of the industrial valve (not shown).

[0028] Fig. 3 shows an exemplary embodiment of such an interface 1 according to the invention, wherein a sealing device 3 is provided according to the invention, which is designed to prevent the passage of volatile gases.

[0029] The sealing device 3 can comprise at least one sealing element 3.1 as shown here, wherein the sealing element comprises a soft metal such as copper or a non-ferrous metal, or aluminum or indium, or a plastic or paper, wherein the at least one sealing element 3.1 completely encircles each actuator flange shaft 112 and is arranged between the actuator flange 110 and the valve flange 210 and is pressed through the actuator flange and the valve flange. By selecting at least one of the listed materials, a good seal against volatile gases, e.g., hydrogen or helium, can be achieved. In particular, a contact pressure of at least 10 megapascals can be used for this purpose. The complete encirclement ensures that there are no gaps in the seal that would allow the passage of volatile gases or vapors.Rotational symmetry of the sealing element, groove, or projection is not necessarily required; however, in practice this can be advantageous, for example, with regard to manufacturing and production.

[0030] As shown here, the actuator flange 110 and / or the valve flange 210 can have at least one groove 3.2 encompassing the inner volume on the respective end face, in which at least one of the at least one sealing element 3.1 is arranged in at least one groove 3.2.

[0031] As shown here, at least one of the at least one sealing element 3.1 can be pressed into the corresponding groove by means of a projection 3.3 of the actuator flange or fitting flange. In this way, the contact pressure of at least 10 megapascals can be easily established, since the force can be concentrated locally in the area of ​​the at least one sealing ring. The number of sealing rings 3.1, as well as the number of grooves and corresponding projections, can be freely selected by a person skilled in the art. The embodiment shown here is not to be interpreted as limiting.

[0032] Fig. 4 shows an exemplary embodiment of such an interface 1 according to the invention, wherein a sealing element carrier 4 with at least one, for example two as shown here, sealing elements 3.1 is arranged and pressed between the actuator flange 110 and the valve flange 210. The same applies to Fig. 4 as to Fig. 3; features of the embodiments shown in Figs. 3 and 4 can be combined. The sealing elements can be arranged in grooves 4.1 provided for this purpose, as shown here. Fig. 5 shows a schematic diagram of an exemplary actuator for automation technology 100.This comprises a drive 120, such as an electric motor or a pneumatic, hydraulic, or electrohydraulic actuating device; an electronic operating circuit 130 for operating the drive; a gearbox 140; an output 150; an actuating element 151, such as an output shaft or an output spindle, wherein the drive 120 is configured to drive the output 150 or the actuating element 151, wherein the gearbox is configured to transmit a force or torque from the drive to the output or the actuating element, wherein the actuator 100 has a housing arrangement 160 with at least one housing 161, wherein in the housing arrangement the drive, the electronic operating circuit, the gearbox, and the output are arranged in an interior 162 of the housing arrangement 160 or of the housing 161.

[0033] The actuating element protruding from the housing arrangement seals the housing 161 tightly from its surroundings.

[0034] / Reference citation list Reference citation! list

[0035] 1 interface

[0036] 2 internal volumes

[0037] 3 Sealing device

[0038] 3.1 Sealing element

[0039] 3.2 Nut

[0040] 3.3 lead

[0041] 4 sealing element carriers

[0042] 4.1 Nut

[0043] 100 actuators

[0044] 110 actuator flange

[0045] 111 Front surface

[0046] 112 Actuator flange shaft

[0047] 120 drive

[0048] 130 electronic operating circuit

[0049] 140 gearbox

[0050] 150 downforce

[0051] 151 Actuating element

[0052] 160 Housing arrangement

[0053] 161 cases

[0054] 162 Interior

[0055] 200 fittings

[0056] 210 fitting flange

[0057] 211 Front surface

[0058] 220 valve

[0059] 300 automated actuator

[0060] 400 pipeline

[0061] / Claims

Claims

Claims 1. Interface (1) between an actuator (100) for actuating an industrial valve (200) and the industrial valve for mounting the actuator on the industrial valve, wherein the interface is provided by means of an actuator! lanschs (110) and a valve flange (210) and includes an internal volume (2) in the area of ​​the interface, wherein the actuator flange and the valve flange are contacted via an end face (111, 211) of an end face, wherein the interface has a sealing device (3) which is designed to reduce the passage of a volatile gas such as hydrogen through the interface from the internal volume into an environment of the interface and vice versa.

2. Interface according to claim 1, wherein the actuator and the industrial valve are each tightly sealed off from an environment.

3. Interface according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the sealing device (3) comprises at least one sealing element (3.1), wherein the sealing element comprises a soft metal such as copper or a non-ferrous metal, or aluminium or indium, or a plastic or paper, wherein the at least one sealing element (3.1) completely surrounds an actuator flange shaft (112) and is arranged between the actuator flange (110) and the valve flange (210) and is pressed through the actuator flange and the valve flange .

4. Interface according to claim 3, wherein the actuator flange (110) and / or the valve flange (210) has at least one groove (3.2) encompassing the inner volume on the end faces, in which at least one of the at least one sealing element is arranged in at least one groove (3.2).

5. Interface according to claim 4, wherein at least one of the at least one sealing element (3.1) is pressed into the associated groove by means of a projection (3.3) of the actuator flange or fitting flange.

6. Interface according to one of claims 3 to 5, wherein the interface (1) has a sealing element carrier (4) which is arranged between the valve flange (110) and the actuator flange (210), wherein the sealing element carrier (4) is made of a metallic material such as steel, aluminum or copper, wherein at least one of the at least one sealing element is in a groove (4.1) of the sealing element carrier. is arranged.

7. Interface according to one of claims 3 to 6, wherein the contact pressure of the crimping is at least 10 megapascals.

8. Actuator (100) of automation technology, in particular an actuator according to the industrial standard DIN EN 22153, for example dated 2021-07, for actuating an industrial valve (200), for example comprising a valve in a pipeline, comprising: an actuator (120) such as an electric motor or a pneumatic, hydraulic or electrohydraulic actuating device; an electronic operating circuit (130) for operating the actuator; a gearbox (140); an output (150);wherein the drive (120) is configured to drive the output (150), wherein the transmission is configured to transmit a force or torque from the drive to the output, wherein the actuator (100) has a housing arrangement (160) in which the drive, the electronic operating circuit, the transmission and the output are arranged, wherein the output (150) has an actuator flange (110) according to an interface according to any one of claims 1 to 1; 6 has .

9. Automated actuator (300) comprising: an actuator (100) of automation technology for actuating an industrial valve (200) such as a valve in a pipeline, comprising an actuator flange; an industrial valve such as a valve in a pipeline comprising a valve flange, wherein the actuator and the industrial valve are connected by means of an interface according to any one of claims 1 to 7. / Summary

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