Pressure control valve having an integrated non-return function

Abstract

A pressure control valve (1) having an axially displaceable seat valve piston (121) which has a cross-sectional area transition region (125) that forms a non-return arrangement. The invention also relates to a valve block and to a shock absorber.

Description

[0001] Pressure control valve with integrated check valve function

[0002] AREA OF INVENTION

[0003] The present invention relates to a pressure regulating valve with check valve function, a valve block, and a shock absorber.

[0004] BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0005] Valves for pressure control in hydraulic shock absorbers exist in various designs. Besides directly controlled proportional valves, known, among others, from EP 3 591 273, pressure control valves in poppet valve design are also used, particularly as pilot-operated pressure control valves, as known, for example, from WO 2009 157 841 Al or DE 198 22 448 Al.

[0006] In such pressure control valves, the working fluid or hydraulic oil flow to be regulated is guided through a poppet valve, which, in a pilot-operated pressure control valve, forms the main stage valve of a main stage, and is throttled there to a greater or lesser extent. The poppet valve is actuated directly by an electromagnetic actuator in a direct-acting pressure control valve, or, in a pilot-operated pressure control valve, by a second valve stage, the so-called pilot stage with a pilot valve. The pilot valve controls the pressure in a pilot chamber, that is, on at least one side of the main stage valve, and is thus able to generate fluid-dynamic or hydraulic forces in the main stage, which then actuate the main stage valve. The pilot valve itself is controlled by an electromagnetic actuator.One advantage of this multi-stage design is that high actuation forces can be generated in the main stage using relatively small, simple electromagnetic actuators. The valves are also comparatively robust against hydraulic disturbances and have a very compact design.

[0007] An important parameter when tuning a shock absorber is, for example, the opening pressure of the pressure control valve or the main stage valve. This determines the maximum damping force and thus the damper's spread. The range of the adjustable opening pressure is determined by the design of the pilot stage. In the case of pilot stage valves with a seat design, as in the documents cited above, the opening pressure can be adjusted via the force balance between the magnetic force and, if applicable, a spring force of the actuator and the pressure of the working fluid. To achieve different opening pressure ranges, the seat diameter of the pilot valve, and thus the force resulting from the fluid pressure, is varied.

[0008] Another important characteristic of pilot-operated pressure control valves in shock absorbers is their dynamic operating behavior. The pressure control valve must be able to react quickly enough to pressure and flow rate peaks and dips, or to rapid changes in flow rate, without exhibiting unstable behavior that could lead to vibrations, for example.

[0009] A poppet valve typically has only one (design-related possible) flow direction, which is also referred to as the design-related or working flow direction. In this direction, hydraulic oil flows through the valve's sealing seat or along a valve axis, from the front to the back of the sealing seat, onto the (e.g., closed, flat) front of a poppet piston. This causes the poppet piston to lift from the sealing seat and open the valve, allowing a flow of hydraulic oil in the working flow direction. A reverse flow, or hydraulic oil flow in the opposite direction to the working flow direction, is not possible due to the design.Accordingly, it is known to connect a check valve in parallel to the pressure-regulating seat valve to allow backflow with a low pressure drop, which leads to a correspondingly increased assembly and component effort. In this context, it is also known to construct valves in a cartridge design, in which a (prefabricated) cartridge or valve cartridge houses the valve mechanism and the cartridge is then inserted into a mounting bore, for example, in a valve housing.

[0010] SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0011] The object of the invention is to provide a reverse-flow pressure regulating valve with low manufacturing and assembly costs. It is further an object of the present invention to provide a corresponding valve block and a corresponding shock absorber.

[0012] The problem is solved by a device with the features of the independent claims. Preferred embodiments and further developments are specified in the dependent claims. The pressure control valve according to the invention comprises a pressure control arrangement that includes a poppet valve or is designed as a poppet valve. The pressure control arrangement is designed for pressure control in one working flow direction. The poppet valve of the pressure control arrangement is generally controllable via a poppet valve actuator located on the rear side or on the rear side of the poppet valve.

[0013] The pressure regulating arrangement or poppet valve comprises (as a movable valve element) a piston spool or poppet piston that is axially displaceable along a central or valve axis of the pressure regulating valve and a corresponding valve seat or sealing seat element that is fixedly arranged in the pressure regulating valve or pressure regulating arrangement. Preferably, the poppet piston and / or the sealing seat element each have a central axis and / or are arranged concentrically to the valve axis and / or are rotationally symmetrical and / or formed in one piece.

[0014] Furthermore, according to the invention, the poppet valve piston has a cross-sectional area transition on its outer surface, wherein the cross-sectional area transition (during operation or intended use) forms a check valve, i.e., provides a check valve function for the pressure regulating valve. Generally, according to the invention, the (outer) cross-sectional area or the area of ​​the cross-sectional surface at the cross-sectional area transition increases towards a rear end or towards the rear end of the poppet valve piston.

[0015] The cross-sectional area transition is accordingly a fluid-dynamically (hereinafter referred to as hydraulically) relevant cross-sectional area transition on the (radial) outer surface of the poppet valve piston and / or is designed or arranged in the pressure control valve such that the poppet valve opens (for example, at a predetermined pressure on the radial outer surface of the poppet valve piston) and accordingly releases a backflow (through the pressure control valve), that is, a flow in the return direction, which is opposite to the working flow direction. In other words, the cross-sectional area transition according to the invention provides a (hydraulically relevant) contact surface for the pressure or the working medium (hereinafter referred to as hydraulic oil) when flowing backwards through the pressure control valve, that is, in the return direction, over which the poppet valve piston (also possibly...)The pressure control valve can be moved (contrary to the reverse actuation of the seat valve, for example by a return spring) and thus opened. This creates a backflow-capable pressure control valve which (compared to known, non-backflow-capable pressure control valves) has no additional components and does not require separate check valves. The pressure control arrangement according to the invention thus controls the flow in both the working flow direction and the return flow direction and functionally corresponds to a pressure control seat valve with a check valve connected in parallel.

[0016] The sealing seat element preferably has a rear sealing seat, i.e., one facing the rear of the pressure regulating valve, which corresponds to a front control edge of the poppet piston, i.e., one facing the front of the pressure regulating valve. The poppet piston thus moves into the sealing seat towards the front and closes the poppet valve by moving towards the front of the pressure regulating valve. Conversely, the poppet valve opens by moving the poppet piston towards the rear of the pressure regulating valve. The sealing seat element or the sealing seat is located completely or partially on the front of the control edge and / or the poppet piston. The sealing seat and / or the control edge are generally arranged concentrically to the valve axis and / or rotationally symmetrical.The control edge of the poppet valve piston thus simultaneously forms the control edge for the pressure regulating arrangement and for the check valve arrangement, or for the flow path of the hydraulic oil in the working flow direction and in the return flow direction. In the simplest case, the control edge forms a front end of the poppet valve piston and / or a front circumferential rim.

[0017] Furthermore, the poppet valve piston preferably has an axial guide section, and the pressure regulating arrangement has a corresponding axial guide section, for guiding or supporting the poppet valve piston for its movement along the valve axis. The guide section of the poppet valve piston is generally an axially extended, radially outer region of the poppet valve piston, which preferably extends to the rear end of the poppet valve piston and / or has a constant cross-sectional area and / or the maximum cross-sectional area of ​​the (entire) poppet valve piston. In the simplest case, the guide section of the poppet valve piston is a cylindrical and / or rotationally symmetrical region, which preferably has a circular cross-sectional area and / or a constant diameter at every point along the axis.

[0018] The guide section of the pressure regulating arrangement is a corresponding, typically axially extended, radially inner region of the pressure regulating arrangement, which has a constant cross-section. In the simplest case, the guide section of the pressure regulating arrangement is a cylindrical and / or rotationally symmetrical region, which preferably has a circular cross-section and / or a constant diameter at every point along the axis. The guide sections preferably create a seal or suppress leakage of the working medium in the axial direction between the guide sections of the poppet valve piston and the pressure regulating arrangement and / or from a front side of the guide section of the pressure regulating arrangement to a rear side thereof. The cross-section or inner diameter of the guide section of the pressure regulating arrangement is accordingly (with regard to shape and / or size) essentially identical to the cross-sectional area or diameter of the guide section of the pressure regulating arrangement.the outer diameter of the guide section of the poppet valve piston or identical to it plus a clearance. With respect to the diameter, the clearance is preferably in the range between 0.003 and 0.1 mm and is, for example, 0.003, 0.005, 0.01, 0.02, 0.03, 0.05, 0.08 or 0.1 mm, where each of the aforementioned values ​​can also represent an upper or lower limit of the specified range.

[0019] The outer diameter of the guide section of the poppet valve piston and / or the inner diameter of the guide section of the pressure regulating arrangement is preferably in the range between 3 and 50 mm and is, for example, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, 45, or 50 mm, each of which can also represent an upper or lower limit of the specified range. The diameter of the poppet valve piston at the control edge is preferably between 0.5 and 5 mm smaller than the outer diameter of the guide section of the poppet valve piston, such that the difference is, for example, 0.5, 0.8, 1.0, 1.5, 2, 3, 4, or 5 mm, each of which can also represent an upper or lower limit of the specified range.The diameter of the poppet valve piston at the control edge is preferably in the range of 2 to 45 mm and is, for example, 2, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, or 45 mm, where each of the aforementioned values ​​can also represent an upper or lower limit of the stated range. The axial length of the guide section of the pressure regulating arrangement and / or the poppet valve piston is preferably in the range of 3 to 30 mm and is, for example, 3, 5, 8, 10, 15, 20, or 30 mm, where each of the aforementioned values ​​can also represent an upper or lower limit of the stated range.

[0020] Preferably, the poppet valve piston has a control edge cross-sectional area with a smaller area than a guide section cross-sectional area to form the cross-sectional area transition or the check valve arrangement. The control edge cross-sectional area is the (hydraulically relevant) cross-sectional area of ​​the poppet valve piston at the control edge (perpendicular to the valve axis), and the guide section cross-sectional area is the (hydraulically relevant) cross-sectional area of ​​the poppet valve piston at the guide section of the poppet valve piston, which is generally also the cross-sectional area relevant for guiding or supporting the poppet valve piston. Accordingly, the poppet valve piston has a change in cross-sectional area or the cross-sectional area transition according to the invention on its (radial) outer surface in a predetermined axial transition region between the control edge and the guide section.In the simplest case, the poppet valve piston has a smaller (hydraulically relevant) cross-sectional area at the front end of the poppet valve piston and / or at the control edge than at a rear end of the poppet valve piston and / or at the guide section.

[0021] The transition between the control edge cross-sectional area and the guide section cross-sectional area can be located in an axially extended region, such that the transition region has a predetermined axial length (greater than zero) on the poppet valve piston. In a preferred embodiment, the poppet valve piston has a radial shoulder or step on its radial outer side as the cross-sectional area transition, or as the transition between the control edge cross-sectional area and the guide section cross-sectional area. This shoulder is preferably circumferential and / or continuous and / or forms a perpendicular and / or planar or continuously planar surface facing the front of the poppet valve piston or the control edge, the surface normal of which runs in the direction of the valve axis. The axial length of the transition region is correspondingly zero.

[0022] Preferably, the poppet valve piston has an axially extended, radially outward control edge section immediately behind the control edge, i.e., extending from the control edge, the cross-sectional area of ​​which is constant along the entire control edge section. The control edge section preferably forms a front section of the poppet valve piston, extending frontally to the control edge and / or to the front end of the poppet valve piston and / or rearward to the transition region or to the radial shoulder. Similarly, the guide section of the poppet valve piston preferably forms a rear section of the poppet valve piston, extending frontally to the transition region or to the radial shoulder and / or rearward to the rear end of the poppet valve piston.Particularly preferably, the seat valve piston consists of the front control edge section and a rear guide section with an intermediate transition area or an intermediate radial shoulder, wherein in the latter case the control edge section and guide section are axially (directly) adjacent to each other.

[0023] Preferably, the poppet valve piston is rotationally symmetrical and / or has a circular cross-sectional area (at every point along the valve axis). Accordingly, the cross-sectional area transition is a change in (outer) diameter and / or the poppet valve piston has a smaller (hydraulically relevant) diameter at the control edge than at the guide section and / or the control edge section and guide section are cylindrical areas with different and preferably constant diameters. Particularly preferably, the control edge section and guide section are directly adjacent to each other, and the intermediate cross-sectional area transition is a circumferential, front-facing, and / or circular or annular radial shoulder.In the simplest case, the poppet valve piston consists of a control edge section and a guide section, which are preferably cylindrical, with an intermediate radial shoulder. The sealing seat of the sealing element accordingly has a smaller diameter than the guide section of the pressure regulating assembly.

[0024] Preferably, the rear sealing seat of the sealing element is a circular sealing seat and / or a conical seat, which is particularly preferably designed as an internal cone, i.e., as a cone whose diameter decreases away from the seat valve piston or towards the front. The sealing seat is thus conical and / or has a circular and / or rotationally symmetrical conical surface that preferably widens towards the rear.

[0025] Preferably, the control edge of the poppet valve piston is a circumferential, radially outer control edge, which is correspondingly circular and preferably flat, and serves to open and close the poppet valve. The control edge is thus a circumferential, radially directed edge, preferably with a right angle (90°) in cross-section.

[0026] Furthermore, the poppet valve piston typically has a closed, flat, perpendicular, planar and / or circular or annular front or axial end or surface, which is preferably radially bounded by the control edge and / or forms a surface facing the front, preferably the front end of the poppet valve piston. In the simplest case, the axial front of the poppet valve piston is thus designed as a completely or at least partially closed flat surface.

[0027] The seat valve piston is preferably cup-shaped and / or open at the rear, particularly preferably completely open.

[0028] Preferably, the pressure regulating arrangement or the poppet valve has a return spring that forces the poppet piston (towards the front) into the sealing seat of the sealing element and is part of, or forms the, rear poppet valve actuation mechanism. The return spring is located on the back of the poppet piston and acts as a return spring for both the pressure regulating arrangement and the check valve. Accordingly, without flow or pressure differentials, the pressure regulating arrangement or the poppet valve is generally closed.

[0029] The preload force of the return spring in a rest position, i.e., when the pressure regulating valve or poppet valve is closed or when the poppet valve piston is engaged with the sealing seat element, is preferably in the range between 0 and 10 N, particularly between 1 and 5 N or between 2 and 3 N, and is, for example, 0.0, 0.2, 0.5, 1, 2, 3, 5, 7, or 10 N, where each of the aforementioned values ​​can also represent an upper or lower limit of the specified range. The spring rate of the return spring is preferably in the range between 0.5 and 50 N / mm, particularly between 1 and 20 N / mm or between 2 and 10 N / mm, and is, for example, 0.5, 1, 2, 5, 10, 15, 20, 30, 40, or 50 N / mm, where each of the aforementioned values ​​can also represent an upper or lower limit of the specified range.This allows, for example, the stability behavior and / or the opening pressure to be adjusted in the return direction and in the working flow direction, such that flow through the pressure control valve in both directions is achieved with low hydraulic resistance.

[0030] In an alternative, preferred embodiment, the pressure regulating valve has no return spring. This results in advantageous flow characteristics in both flow directions (operating flow direction and return flow direction).

[0031] Preferably, the opening pressure of the check valve, i.e., the opening pressure of the pressure regulating valve in the return direction, is in the range between 0 and 5 bar, particularly between 0.2 and 2 bar or between 0.5 and 1 bar, and is preferably 0.0, 0.1, 0.2, 0.5, 1.0, 2, 3, or 5 bar, where each of the aforementioned values ​​can also represent an upper or lower limit of the specified range. The system pressure during return flow is, for example, 10 bar, while the system pressure during flow in the working direction (working flow direction) can be up to 200 bar.

[0032] In a preferred embodiment, the pressure regulating arrangement comprises a one-piece or multi-piece pressure regulating arrangement housing (11a). Preferably, the guide section of the pressure regulating arrangement (or a corresponding component) is fixedly arranged within the pressure regulating arrangement housing and / or is part of the pressure regulating arrangement housing or formed integrally with the pressure regulating arrangement housing, so that the poppet valve piston is guided directly or indirectly through the pressure regulating arrangement housing. Preferably, the sealing seat element is part of the pressure regulating arrangement housing, so that the pressure regulating arrangement housing and the sealing seat element form a single, one-piece component.

[0033] Preferably, the pressure regulating arrangement or the pressure regulating arrangement housing has an axial fluid chamber located at the front (relative to) the sealing seat and a radial fluid chamber located at the rear (relative to) the sealing seat, i.e., radially outside the poppet valve piston. The axial fluid chamber at the front forms a fluid chamber or pressure chamber on the front of the sealing seat, enclosing the valve axis and preferably cylindrical and / or rotationally symmetrical. The axial and radial fluid chambers at the front are then hydraulically connected or separated by opening or closing the poppet valve. The aforementioned design-related or operating flow direction of the poppet valve runs from the axial fluid chamber at the front to the radial fluid chamber at the rear.The return flow direction runs accordingly from the rear radial fluid chamber to the front axial fluid chamber. The cross-sectional area transition, the transition region, or the radial shoulder of the poppet valve piston is then located at least partially, or preferably completely, in the rear radial fluid chamber.

[0034] In the simplest case, the pressure regulating arrangement housing is formed by a (usually multi-part) valve body. Preferably, the valve body has two or more fluid connections and / or fluid channels on the outside, which hydraulically connect the fluid chambers (124, 144) to the external fluid connections.

[0035] In a preferred embodiment, the pressure regulating arrangement is designed as a cartridge or valve cartridge. The pressure regulating arrangement or cartridge comprises a cartridge housing or cartridge sleeve, which forms the pressure regulating arrangement housing and / or houses the poppet valve piston and the sealing seat element, such that the cartridge sleeve or the volume enclosed by the cartridge sleeve completely or at least partially surrounds the pressure regulating arrangement and / or the poppet valve and / or the check valve assembly.

[0036] The cartridge or cartridge case is designed for insertion into a predetermined mounting recess, hereinafter referred to as the installation bore, for example, in a valve housing or a valve block housing. In the simplest case, the cartridge or cartridge case contains exactly one poppet valve piston and exactly one sealing seat element, as well as, optionally, a return spring. Preferably, the cartridge case forms a common housing or enclosure for the poppet valve piston and the sealing seat element, which simplifies the installation and sealing of the pressure regulating valve or cartridge case in the installation bore, since only a single component needs to be mounted and / or sealed.

[0037] Preferably, the pressure regulating assembly housing and / or the cartridge sleeve and / or the seat valve piston and / or the sealing seat element are each designed as a multi-part or one-piece component. In the former case, the respective component is assembled from several one-piece components which (when the pressure regulating valve is used as intended) are firmly connected to one another, preferably inseparably and / or not separable without damage.

[0038] Preferably, the pressure regulating arrangement housing and / or the cartridge case and / or the seat valve piston and / or the sealing seat element each have a central axis that simultaneously forms the valve axis of the pressure regulating valve, i.e., the respective central axes coincide with each other and / or with the valve axis.

[0039] Accordingly, the pressure regulating assembly housing and / or the cartridge case and / or the seat valve piston and / or the sealing seat element are arranged concentrically to the valve axis.

[0040] Preferably, the seat valve piston and / or the sealing seat element are each rotationally symmetrical about the valve axis. Preferably, the cartridge case has n-fold rotational symmetry, with n > 2 and integer, where n is preferably 2, 3, 4, 5, or 6.

[0041] In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge case has on its inside, i.e. within the space enclosed by the cartridge case, the front axial fluid space and the rear radial fluid space.

[0042] As mentioned above, the cartridge or cartridge case is designed and intended for insertion into, for example, a cylindrical cavity or a mounting bore of a valve housing or valve block. It is preferably provided that, by inserting the valve cartridge or cartridge case into the predetermined mounting bore, two outer (i.e., located on the outside of the cartridge case), preferably axially separated fluid chambers are created within the mounting bore: a front, axial chamber and a rear, radial chamber, so that the outer chambers are hydraulically separated from each other when the cartridge case is inserted (at least on the outside, i.e., when the pressure regulating seat valve and check valve are closed).

[0043] Preferably, the cartridge case has a circumferential sealing element on its outer surface for separating or forming the two outer chambers in the predetermined installation bore, preferably in the form of (exactly) one circumferential O-ring or sealing ring, or a plurality of circumferential O-rings or sealing rings, for example, two or three sealing rings, which are, for example, axially spaced apart. Furthermore, the cartridge case preferably has external fastening means, particularly preferably a thread and / or screw or threaded holes, for fastening the cartridge case in the installation bore.

[0044] In a preferred embodiment, the cartridge case has (exactly) one axial fluid opening on the front side for hydraulically connecting the (internal) axial fluid space on the front side of the cartridge case to the axial external space on the front side. Preferably, the axial fluid opening on the front side extends across the entire axial front side of the cartridge case, meaning the cartridge case is completely open on the front side. Furthermore, the cartridge case preferably has exactly one or a plurality of radial fluid openings for hydraulically connecting the (internal) radial fluid space on the back side of the cartridge case to the radial external space on the back side, wherein the radial fluid openings are preferably arranged in a radial wall of the cartridge case. The radial fluid openings themselves, i.e., the recesses in the radial wall of the cartridge case, are part of the (internal) radial fluid space on the back side of the cartridge case.Preferably, the circumferential sealing agent is arranged axially on the outside of the cartridge case between the front axial fluid opening and the plurality of radial fluid openings.

[0045] The fluid openings, or all of them, are preferably (simple, especially circular) through-holes or bores in the cartridge case that hydraulically connect an inner side of the cartridge case to an outer side. The cartridge case is a component that, in the simplest case, has a continuous, completely closed, and / or fluid-tight surface between or outside these predetermined fluid openings—at least on its radial outer side or wall. The cartridge case preferably has no fluid connections.

[0046] The radial fluid openings are preferably distributed evenly around the valve axis and / or arranged at the same axial height. The pressure regulating valve preferably comprises a valve body, preferably a single piece, with a mounting recess or bore into which a cartridge or cartridge sleeve is inserted, the bore preferably being a cylindrical cavity. Preferably, several (external) fluid connections are provided on the valve body. Preferably, the valve body also includes several fluid channels, which particularly preferably connect the mounting recess to the fluid connections hydraulically, in particular the front axial external space to a first fluid connection and the rear radial external space to a second fluid connection.

[0047] It is also conceivable to arrange a multitude of pressure regulating valves in a common valve block and, if necessary, to hydraulically connect or interconnect them. A valve block according to the invention preferably comprises a one-piece or multi-piece valve block housing with a multitude of mounting recesses or installation bores, into each of which a cartridge or a pressure regulating valve with a pressure regulating arrangement designed as a cartridge is inserted, wherein the installation bores preferably each form a cylindrical cavity and / or are identical in design. Preferably, several (external) fluid connections are provided (exclusively) on the valve block housing. Preferably, several fluid channels are further provided in the valve block housing, which particularly preferably hydraulically connect the mounting recesses with the fluid connections and / or the mounting recesses with each other.

[0048] In a preferred embodiment, the valve block comprises (exactly) two pressure regulating valves and / or (exactly) two cartridges, i.e., pressure regulating valves with a pressure regulating arrangement designed as a cartridge, whose rear radial fluid chambers or rear radial external chambers are hydraulically connected to each other directly or via a fluid channel, and / or whose front axial fluid chambers or front axial external chambers are hydraulically separated from each other and each is hydraulically connected directly or via a fluid channel to a fluid port. Preferably, the valve block has exactly two fluid ports.

[0049] In a preferred embodiment, the pressure control valve is designed as a pilot-operated pressure control valve. In the pilot-operated pressure control valve, the cartridge, pressure control assembly, or poppet valve then forms a main stage or main stage valve, and / or the pressure control assembly housing or cartridge case forms a main stage valve housing, and / or the poppet valve piston forms a main stage valve piston, and / or the sealing seat forms a main stage sealing seat, and / or the return spring forms a main stage return spring. The pilot-operated pressure control valve further comprises a pilot stage with a pilot valve, which is arranged on the rear side of the main stage valve piston, and an actuator for actuating the pilot valve. The pilot stage and actuator together form the rear-side poppet valve actuation, which actuates the pressure control assembly or the main stage valve.

[0050] Preferably, the actuator is a linear actuator, in particular a stepper motor that generates linear motion via a gearbox or transmission, or a linear magnetic actuator with a magnetic armature moving in a straight line, generally along the valve axis. The pilot valve preferably has a ball valve element as a movable valve element, which preferably corresponds to and interacts with a conical seat, which is particularly preferably designed as an internal cone. Actuation of the pilot stage valve by the actuator then preferably occurs only by a push or by contact with the ball valve element of an actuating element of the actuator.

[0051] Preferably, the front axial end face or surface of the poppet valve piston or main stage valve piston, preferably on the valve axis, has a main stage throttle or piston orifice (within the otherwise closed front axial surface of the pressure-regulating poppet valve piston or main stage valve piston) that separates the front axial fluid chamber of the cartridge case or main stage valve housing from a pilot chamber or hydraulically connects it to one. The pilot chamber is generally a rear axial fluid chamber that comprises a rear interior space of the preferably cup-shaped main stage valve piston.

[0052] By providing different cross-sectional areas at the control edge and guide section, or by an intermediate cross-sectional area transition in the rear fluid chamber, the principle of pressure balance is abandoned. Compared to the poppet valve piston or the main stage valve piston of a known (pilot-operated) pressure control valve, which does not have different cross-sectional areas on the valve piston and therefore operates according to the principle of pressure balance, a higher pressure differential (in the working flow direction) between the front axial fluid chamber and the pilot chamber is now required to open the main stage valve piston. However, by providing a high throttling effect or a small diameter for the main stage throttle, this pressure differential can still be achieved or maintained even at low flow rates (e.g., less than 1 l / min) towards the rear radial fluid chamber.This leads to several advantages for the overall function of the pressure control valve. The operating pressure, that is, the pressure in the upstream, axial fluid chamber, results from the pressure level in the pilot chamber, the pressure drop in the pilot stage or pilot stage valve, and the pressure drop in the main stage throttle. Compared to the known, pressure-balanced design of the pressure control valve, the pressure level in the pilot chamber is consequently lower due to the need for a higher pressure drop at the main stage throttle. The pilot valve therefore has to supply less pressure, which means the actuator has to exert less force, or the pilot valve's sealing seat diameter can be made larger. The lower the required actuator force, the more compact or smaller the actuator for controlling the pilot valve can be.Such larger pilot valve seat diameters result in less pressure level fluctuation due to component tolerances, thus allowing for greater component tolerances. Lower pressure in the pilot chamber also reduces leakage between the rear, radial fluid chamber and the pilot chamber (compared to the known pressure-balanced design of the main stage valve). This further leads to improved temperature stability of the pressure control valve, and / or the guide section of the poppet valve piston or the main stage valve piston, and thus the entire piston, can be made shorter and therefore more compact. Extending the pressure control valve to include backflow capability thus also offers numerous advantages for the actual pressure control functionality.

[0053] A further advantage of the invention compared to the prior art is that the design (compared to the known pressure-balanced design of the pressure control valve or the main stage valve) does not require an additional component to enable both the pressure control functionality in the working flow direction and the reverse flow capability.

[0054] The external dimensions of the valve geometry can be completely retained compared to the pressure-balanced version without a check valve. This offers advantages regarding the use of this valve variant within the product family (assembly processes, packaging, plant operation). However, it is also possible to make the pressure control valve significantly more compact.

[0055] The present invention further comprises a shock absorber with one, two, or more of the pressure regulating valves described above, or with a valve block as described above. In the simplest case, the shock absorber comprises a pressure cylinder in which an axially movable piston divides the volume of the pressure cylinder into two pressure chambers. In an advantageous embodiment, the shock absorber comprises (exactly) one pressure regulating valve as described above, wherein the two fluid ports of the pressure regulating valve are hydraulically connected to the two pressure chambers of the shock absorber. This allows pressure regulation or active pressure control in at least one direction of movement of the shock absorber (rebound or compression stage) without requiring a separate check valve.

[0056] In a further advantageous embodiment, the shock absorber comprises exactly one valve block as described above with (exactly) two pressure regulating valves, wherein (the) two fluid connections of the valve block are hydraulically connected to the two pressure chambers of the shock absorber. This allows pressure regulation or active pressure control in both directions of movement of the shock absorber (rebound and compression) without requiring separate check valves.

[0057] BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0058] The invention is described below with reference to the accompanying drawings. The drawings are merely schematic representations and the invention is not limited to the specific embodiments shown.

[0059] Figure 1A shows a pressure control arrangement for a pressure control valve,

[0060] Figure 1B shows the pressure control arrangement in a pressure control valve,

[0061] Figure IC shows the pressure control arrangement as a cartridge,

[0062] Figure 2 shows a cartridge for a pilot-operated pressure regulating valve,

[0063] Figure 3 shows a pilot-operated pressure control valve,

[0064] Figure 4 shows a valve block, and

[0065] Figure 5 shows a shock absorber. FIGURE DESCRIPTION

[0066] Figure 1A shows a longitudinal section of a pressure regulating arrangement 10 for a pressure regulating valve 1. The pressure regulating arrangement 10 is designed as a poppet valve 12 and has a poppet piston 121 that is axially displaceable along a valve axis 1a and has a front control edge 121a. Furthermore, the pressure regulating arrangement 10 has a sealing seat 122 formed in a sealing seat element 13. The poppet piston 121 also has a guide section 121c that corresponds to a guide section 112 in a pressure regulating arrangement housing 11a. The sealing seat 122 also corresponds to the control edge 121a, thereby controlling the hydraulic connection between a rear radial fluid chamber 124 and a front fluid chamber 144. The poppet piston 121 has a completely closed front axial end face 121b.Furthermore, the pressure regulating arrangement 10 has a return spring 123 which is supported on a rear component (not shown in Figure 1a) and forces the seat valve piston 121 into the sealing seat 122. The pressure regulating arrangement housing 11a also has radial fluid openings 117, which are designed as through-holes whose longitudinal axis is perpendicular to the valve axis 1a.

[0067] The pressure control arrangement 10 further features a cross-sectional surface transition 125, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a radial shoulder and is arranged in the rear radial fluid chamber 124.

[0068] Accordingly, the pressure regulating arrangement 10 regulates the flow in the working flow direction, which runs upwards in Figure 1, and the backflow, so that the pressure regulating arrangement 10 can be flowed through backwards.

[0069] In Figure 1B, the pressure regulating arrangement 10 is arranged directly in a valve housing 50, which forms the pressure regulating arrangement housing 11a, creating a (complete) pressure regulating valve 1. The valve housing 50 also has fluid channels 53 that hydraulically connect the fluid chambers 124, 144 with external fluid connections 52.

[0070] In Figure IC, the pressure regulating arrangement 10 is designed as a cartridge, in which a cartridge sleeve 11 forms the pressure regulating arrangement housing 11a. The cartridge is designed for insertion into a mounting bore 51 and has a circumferential sealant or an O-ring 115. Figure 2 shows a cartridge 10 for a pilot-operated pressure regulating valve 1 together with a pilot stage 20 comprising a pilot valve and an actuator 30. The actuator 30 controls the pilot stage 20, which together form a rear-facing pressure regulating seat valve control for the pressure regulating arrangement 12. The pressure regulating arrangement 10 forms the main stage or main stage valve of the pilot-operated pressure regulating valve 1 and has a main stage throttle 126 located in the front axial end face.Surface 121b of the poppet valve piston 121 is arranged and, in the illustrated embodiment, projects beyond the front end of the pressure-regulating poppet valve piston 121 into the front axial fluid chamber 144. A pilot chamber 127 for the pilot-operated pressure regulating valve 1 is thus formed on the rear side of the main stage throttle 126.

[0071] Figure 3 shows a pilot-operated pressure control valve 1 comprising a cartridge 10 arranged in a mounting bore or recess 51 of a valve housing 50. The pilot stage 20 and the actuator 30 are also partially or completely inserted into the valve housing 50. The insertion of the cartridge 10 into the mounting bore 51 creates two fluid chambers external to the cartridge sleeve 11 due to the circumferential sealing material or O-ring 115 of the cartridge 10: a front, axial chamber 54 and a rear, radial chamber 55. The valve housing 50 also has fluid channels 53 that hydraulically connect the mounting bore 51 and the two chambers 54 and 55 to external fluid connections 52.

[0072] In a variant of the embodiment shown in Figure 3, which is not shown, the pressure control valve 1 is not pilot-operated but directly controlled, so that an actuator 30 directly controls the seat valve piston 121.

[0073] Figure 4 shows a valve block 2 with a valve block housing 50 having two mounting bores 51, each containing a cartridge 10. The valve block housing 50 further comprises a plurality of fluid channels 53, which connect the mounting bores 51, or the fluid chambers 124, 144, or external chambers 54, 55, to external fluid connections 52 and also to each other. In the illustrated embodiment, the rear, radial fluid chambers 124 and external chambers 55 are hydraulically connected to each other via a fluid channel 53, and the front, axial fluid chambers 144 and external chambers 54 are hydraulically separated from each other and hydraulically connected to each of them via a fluid channel 53 to a fluid connection 52. The valve block thus has exactly two fluid connections.In an embodiment not shown, the pressure control arrangements are not pilot-operated but directly controlled, so that each actuator 30 directly actuates the respective poppet valve piston 121. Figure 5 shows a shock absorber 60 with a pressure cylinder 61 in which an axially movable piston 62 divides the volume of the pressure cylinder 61 into two pressure chambers 63. In the illustrated embodiment, the shock absorber 60 alternatively comprises a pressure control valve 1 with two fluid connections 52, each of which is connected to a pressure chamber 63 of the pressure cylinder 61 of the shock absorber 60. This enables pressure regulation or active pressure control in at least one direction of movement (rebound or compression) without requiring an additional check valve.In another alternative, the shock absorber 60 comprises a valve block 2, such as the one shown in Figure 4, which is designed with two fluid connections 52. Each of these two fluid connections 52 is connected to one of the two pressure chambers 63 of the pressure cylinder 61 of the shock absorber 60. This enables pressure regulation or active pressure control in both directions of movement (rebound and compression) without the need for additional check valves.

[0074] REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0075] 1 pressure regulating valve la valve shaft

[0076] 2 Valve block

[0077] 10 cartridges, pressure control assembly

[0078] 11 cartridge cases

[0079] I la pressure control arrangement housing

[0080] 112 Leadership Section

[0081] 115 Sealant, O-ring

[0082] 116 Front axial fluid opening

[0083] 117 radial fluid openings

[0084] 12 seat valve, main stage valve

[0085] 121 Seat valve pistons, main stepped valve pistons

[0086] 121a Steering edge,

[0087] 121b front axial surface

[0088] 121c Guide Section

[0089] 121d Control edge section

[0090] 122 Sealing seat, main stage sealing seat

[0091] 123 Return spring, main stage return spring

[0092] 124 rear radial fluid chamber

[0093] 125 Cross-sectional area transition, shoulder

[0094] 126 Main stage choke

[0095] 127 Pilot chamber, rear axial fluid chamber

[0096] 13 Sealing seat element

[0097] 144 front axial fluid space

[0098] 20 pilot stage

[0099] 30 actuator

[0100] 50 V valve housing, valve block housing 51 mounting recess, installation bore

[0101] 52 Fluid connection

[0102] 53 Fluid channel, fluid chamber

[0103] 54 Front axial outer space 55 Rear radial outer space

[0104] 60 shock absorbers

[0105] 61 pressure cylinders

[0106] 62 Pistons 63 Pressure chamber

Claims

PATENT CLAIMS 1. Pressure regulating valve (1) with a pressure regulating arrangement (10) comprising a seat valve piston (121) axially displaceable along a valve axis (1a) and a sealing seat element (13), wherein the seat valve piston has a cross-sectional surface transition (125) forming a check valve arrangement.

2. Pressure regulating valve (1) according to claim 1, - wherein the sealing seat element (13) has a rear sealing seat (122) and the seat valve piston (121) has a corresponding front control edge (121a) and wherein the control edge preferably forms a front end of the seat valve piston, and - wherein the seat valve piston (121) has a guide section (121c) and the pressure regulating arrangement (10) has a corresponding guide section (112) and wherein the guide section of the seat valve piston preferably extends to a rear end of the seat valve piston, further characterized in that - that the seat valve piston (121) has a smaller cross-sectional area at a front end and / or at the control edge (121a) than at the rear end, and / or - that the cross-sectional area transition (125) between the control edge and the guide section of the seat valve piston is present, and / or - that a control edge cross-sectional area of ​​the seat valve piston has a smaller area than a guide section cross-sectional area of ​​the seat valve piston, and / or - that the seat valve piston has a smaller diameter at the control edge than at the guide section, and / or - that the cross-sectional surface transition is designed as a radial, preferably circumferential and / or circular shoulder (125).

3. Pressure regulating valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the sealing seat (122) is a conical seat, preferably designed as an internal cone, and / or - the control edge (121a) of the seat valve piston (121) is circular and flat, and / or - the seat valve piston has an axially extended, cylindrical and / or rotationally symmetrical control edge section (121d) on the rear side of the control edge, which preferably has a constant cross-sectional area and / or a constant diameter and / or a circular cross-section at every point, and / or - the seat valve piston consists of the control edge section (121d) and the guide section (121c) with an intermediate radial shoulder (125), and / or - the seat valve piston has a closed, circular and / or annular front or axial surface (121b), which is preferably radially bounded by the control edge (121a), and / or - the seat valve piston is cup-shaped, and / or - the pressure regulating arrangement (10) has a return spring (123) that forces the seat valve piston into the sealing seat (122) of the sealing seat element (13), or the pressure regulating valve does not have a return spring, and / or - an opening pressure in the range between 0 and 5 bar and preferably 0.2, 0.5 or 1.0 bar, and / or - the seat valve piston and / or the sealing seat element is designed in multiple parts or as a single piece, and / or - the pressure regulating arrangement and / or the seat valve piston and / or the sealing seat element each have a central axis which preferably also forms the valve axis (1a), and / or - the pressure regulating arrangement and / or the poppet valve piston and / or the sealing seat element are arranged concentrically to the valve axis, and / or - the seat valve piston and / or the sealing seat element are designed to be rotationally symmetrical.

4. Pressure regulating valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein - the pressure regulating arrangement (10) has a pressure regulating arrangement housing (11a), and / or - the pressure regulating arrangement housing is designed in multiple parts or as a single piece, and / or - the pressure regulating assembly housing includes the guide section (112) of the pressure regulating assembly, and / or - the pressure regulating assembly housing and the sealing seat element are designed as a single, one-piece component, and / or - the pressure regulating arrangement housing has a central axis which preferably also forms the valve axis (1a), and / or - the pressure regulating assembly housing is arranged concentrically to the valve axis, and / or - the pressure regulating arrangement and / or the pressure regulating arrangement housing has a front axial fluid space (144) and a rear radial fluid space (124), 5. Pressure regulating valve (1) according to claim 4, wherein the pressure regulating arrangement housing (11a) is formed by a valve housing (50) which - has two, three or more fluid ports (52), and / or - has several fluid channels (53) which preferably connect the fluid spaces (124, 144) to the fluid connections.

6. Pressure regulating valve (1) according to claim 4, wherein - the pressure regulating arrangement (10) is designed as a cartridge (10) and the pressure regulating arrangement housing (11a) is formed by a cartridge sleeve (11) which houses the seat valve piston (121) and the sealing seat element (13), and / or - the cartridge case has n-fold rotational symmetry about the valve axis with n > 2 and integer, where n is preferably 2, 3, 4, 5 or 6, and / or - the cartridge case has on the outside a circumferential sealing means (115), preferably an O-ring and / or fastening means (115a), particularly preferably a thread, and / or - the cartridge case has a front axial fluid opening (116) and a plurality of radial fluid openings (117), wherein the circumferential sealing medium is preferably arranged axially on the outside of the cartridge case between the front axial fluid opening and the plurality of radial fluid openings.

7. Pressure regulating valve (1) according to one of the preceding claims, - wherein the pressure regulating valve is designed as a pilot-operated pressure regulating valve, and / or - wherein the pressure regulating arrangement (10) and / or the cartridge (10) forms a main stage or the main stage valve, the pressure regulating arrangement housing (11a) and / or the cartridge case (11) forms a main stage valve housing and / or the seat valve piston (121) forms a preferably pot-shaped main stage valve piston, and / or - wherein the pressure regulating valve has a pilot stage (20) with a pilot valve and an actuator (30) for controlling the pilot valve, and / or - wherein the front axial surface (121b) of the main stage valve piston has a main stage throttle (126) that separates the front axial fluid space (144) from a pilot space (127) which preferably comprises an interior of the main stage valve piston.

8. Pressure regulating valve (1) according to claim 6 or 7, comprising a valve housing (50) with a mounting recess (51) into which the cartridge (10) is inserted, wherein preferably - the valve body has two, three or more fluid ports (52) provided, and / or - several fluid channels (53) are provided in the valve housing, which particularly preferably connect the mounting recess with the fluid connections.

9. Valve block (2) comprising a plurality of pressure regulating valves (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 8 and / or a valve block housing (50) with a plurality of mounting recesses (51) into each of which a cartridge (10) is inserted, wherein preferably several fluid connections (52) are provided on the valve block housing and / or - several fluid channels (53) are provided in the valve block housing, which particularly preferably connect the mounting recesses with the fluid connections and / or with each other.

10. Valve block (2) according to claim 9 comprising two pressure regulating valves (1) and / or two cartridges (10) whose rear radial fluid spaces (124) are connected to each other and / or whose front axial fluid spaces (144) are separated from each other and connected to a fluid port (52), wherein the valve block preferably has exactly two fluid ports (52).

11. Shock absorber (60) comprising one, two or more pressure regulating valves (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8 or a valve block (2) according to claim 9 or 10, further comprising two pressure chambers (63) which are each connected to a fluid connection (52), wherein preferably each of the fluid connections connected to the pressure chambers is connected to a front axial fluid space (54).

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