High-pressure valve arrangement

Abstract

The invention relates to a high-pressure valve arrangement, having a valve block (2), wherein a needle valve (6) is arranged in the valve block (2) and the needle valve (6) can be moved in the axial direction by means of an actuator (23) in such a way that a supply channel (3) and a discharge channel (4) in the valve block (2) are fluidically connected to one another in an open position by means of a valve seat (7) of the needle valve (6), and are separated from one another in a blocking position of the needle valve (6), wherein a sleeve-shaped receiving means for a valve shaft of the needle valve (6) is provided at an axial end of the actuator (23), wherein three balls (12) are engagingly and radially arranged around the sleeve-shaped receiving means, wherein said balls engage in a radially circumferential groove of the valve shaft at least in sections and they are mounted in a radially circumferential inner running surface of the intermediate piece (22) or actuator (23)

Description

[0001] 14.11.2025 XO / anh

[0002] Our reference number: SK318WO

[0003] MAXIMATOR GmbH

[0004] Lange Strasse 6, D-99734 Nordhausen

[0005] High-pressure valve arrangement

[0006] The present invention relates to a high-pressure valve arrangement comprising a valve block with a needle valve according to the features in the preamble of claim 1.

[0007] High-pressure valves are known from the prior art. These valves have a valve block. A needle valve is located within the valve block. An inlet and outlet, or a supply channel and a discharge channel within the valve block, are fluid-conductingly connected by the open needle valve. When the needle valve is in a closed position, the inlet and outlet are separated.

[0008] Such high-pressure valve arrangements are particularly well-known in high-pressure technology, where corresponding working pressures of more than 300 bar are transmitted through the lines. Especially in high-pressure gas applications, working pressures of up to 1550 bar can be present within the line. Opening and closing the needle valve then separates the inlet from the outlet.

[0009] Such high operating pressures occur, for example, in hydrogen refueling stations.

[0010] The needle valve is axially displaceable and assumes a corresponding open, closed, or blocked position. For this purpose, the needle valve is attached to an actuator. The actuator receives the needle valve with a positive-locking seat and, in particular, secures it with a pin connection, so that axial movement of the actuator moves the needle valve into the corresponding open or closed position.

[0011] The object of the present invention is to demonstrate a way to fix a needle valve to an actuator in a high-pressure gas application, while at the same time providing a service-oriented option for disassembly or replacement.

[0012] The aforementioned problem is solved according to the invention with the features in claim 1.

[0013] Advantageous embodiments of the present invention are described in the dependent claims.

[0014] The high-pressure valve assembly comprises a valve block, within which a needle valve is arranged. The needle valve is actuated by an actuator. The actuator is located outside the valve block and flanged to the valve block by means of an adapter. The actuator itself can be pneumatic, electric, hydraulic, or manual. A pneumatic actuator is particularly preferred. The actuator allows the needle valve to be axially displaced such that a corresponding valve seat in the valve block is closed when the needle valve is in a closed position. The adapter is designed as a sleeve-shaped extension, providing an internal running surface in which a spindle shaft of the actuator can move. The valve block includes a supply channel and a discharge channel, also referred to as inlet and outlet.These are connected to each other via the valve seat of the needle valve, allowing fluid to pass through. When the needle valve is in the open position, fluid can flow from the inlet to the outlet. This fluid can be a liquid or a gaseous fluid.

[0015] The actuator thus moves in an axial direction. The axial direction corresponds to the longitudinal direction of the needle valve.

[0016] At the end of the actuator, a sleeve-shaped receptacle is formed in the spindle shaft or as an extension of the spindle shaft. A valve stem of the needle valve is inserted into or received in this sleeve-shaped receptacle, at least partially. Preferably, the sleeve-shaped receptacle is radially encompassed by the intermediate piece, at least along its entire length.

[0017] According to the invention, the sleeve-shaped receptacle has radially circumferential bores. These bores extend radially through the sleeve-shaped receptacle. Three balls are arranged radially circumferentially within these bores. The balls thus extend through the sleeve-shaped receptacle. The balls are arranged such that they engage section by section in a radially circumferential groove in the valve stem of the needle valve. Furthermore, a radially circumferential inner running surface is arranged in the valve block or in the sleeve-shaped extension of the intermediate piece. The radially outer side of each ball then bears against this inner running surface. This results in a positive-locking connection between the valve stem and the spindle shaft, and thus with the actuator. The balls extend through a respective opening or hole in the sleeve-shaped receptacle. The inner running surface is preferably formed on or in the intermediate piece or adapter.The intermediate piece is then inserted into the valve block, at least partially, when the actuator is inserted into the valve block.

[0018] Furthermore, the balls engage section by section in the circumferential groove of the valve stem. In addition, the balls are supported and secured against an inner running surface of the valve block or the intermediate piece. The inner running surface of the intermediate piece is at least as high in the axial direction as the axial travel of the actuator. Thus, when the actuator is moved axially, the balls run along the inner running surface of the intermediate piece according to the principle of a ball bearing, but hold the valve stem in a positive-locking manner. The force of the axial movement is then transmitted via the respective hole or seat of the ball in the sleeve-shaped receptacle of the actuator. Because the balls engage at least section by section in the radially circumferential groove of the valve stem, the valve is also guided and the axial movement is transmitted.

[0019] Because the bearing operates on the principle of a ball bearing, only negligible starting forces need to be overcome at the beginning of each opening or closing movement. At the same time, the actuator drive is centered or self-centering in the radial direction by the at least three balls rotating radially around it.

[0020] If the needle valve needs to be replaced due to maintenance or wear, a service position can be assumed. This can be achieved, for example, by having the actuator complete its axial movement into the service position. First, the valve block is separated from the intermediate piece, after the actuator has been moved into the opening position. After moving it into the closed position and not fully loosening the clamping screw, the intermediate piece is lifted in its seat. The radius of the inner running surface increases. This allows the balls to be displaced radially outwards. Once this service position is assumed and the balls are displaced radially outwards, the needle valve can be removed from the sleeve-shaped receptacle, as the balls no longer engage in the radially circumferential groove of the needle valve.The needle valve can then be pulled out of the sleeve-shaped receptacle in the spindle shaft in the axial direction.

[0021] To prevent the balls from penetrating radially inwards into the sleeve-shaped receptacle or falling into it when the needle valve is removed, the bores or holes through which the balls pass through the sleeve-shaped receptacle are conically shaped, tapering to a point radially inwards. Thus, when assembling the actuator, the balls are inserted into the conical bores from the radial outside, after which the actuator's sleeve-shaped receptacle is inserted into a corresponding running surface.

[0022] This inner running surface can be located directly within the valve block. Alternatively, it can be located within a running sleeve or outer sleeve of the actuator (a so-called intermediate piece). In particular, the sleeve-shaped receptacle of the actuator is additionally guided by an inner surface. This inner surface can be a guide surface within the valve block. However, it can also be formed within a sleeve-shaped guide section of the actuator. The guide is designed to allow axial movement and radial guidance. This ensures that, in the closed position, the leading edge of the needle valve engages the valve seat and seals it fluid-tight, thus fluidically separating the supply and discharge channels.

[0023] Further advantages, features, and aspects of the present invention are the subject of the following description. Preferred embodiments are illustrated in schematic figures. These serve to facilitate understanding of the invention.

[0024] In the figures, identical and similar components are represented by the same reference numerals, even if a repeated description or illustration is omitted for the sake of simplicity. The aforementioned and subsequently listed embodiments can be combined individually with one another as desired without departing from the scope of the invention. The figures show:

[0025] Figure 1 shows a high-pressure valve arrangement according to the prior art,

[0026] Figure 2 shows the solution according to the invention in perspective view,

[0027] Figure 3 shows an analogous design variant of Figure 2 in longitudinal section.

[0028] Figure 4 shows the high-pressure valve arrangement in the open position, Figures 5a-c show an advantage of the invention in a service position,

[0029] Figure 6 is a cross-sectional view of Figure 3.

[0030] Figure 7 shows a cross-sectional view with geometric dimensions.

[0031] Figure 1 shows a high-pressure valve arrangement 1 according to the prior art. A valve block 2 is formed in this arrangement. The valve block 2 has a supply channel 3 and a discharge channel 4, which are in fluid-conducting contact with each other or can be connected via a channel system 5 within the valve block 2. Furthermore, a needle valve 6 is arranged, which is shown in a closed position in a valve seat 7. The needle valve 6 thus closes the channel system 5 by means of positive contact with a valve tip in the valve seat 7, so that the supply channel 3 and discharge channel 4 are fluid-conductingly separated from each other. The valve block 2 is preferably made of a steel material. An actuator 23 is flanged to the valve block 2. The actuator 23 is movable in the axial direction A. The actuator 23 has a sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 in the spindle shaft 16.An upper end of the valve stem 10 of the needle valve 6 is inserted section by section in axial direction A into the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 and held therein. A positive-locking connection is established by a pin 11, for example a spring pin, so that the needle valve 6 is fixed together with the actuator. An axial movement of the actuator 23 in axial direction A thus also results in the needle valve 6 moving. In the image plane, the needle valve 6 can be moved into an open position.

[0032] The problem here is that the necessary tool for disassembling the connection of pin 11 is available. In particular, the actuator 23 must be completely disassembled to drive out pin 11, especially if it is fitted into the actuator 23 with an interference fit. Furthermore, it has been found that tilting about the axis of the pin connection, and thus angled insertion of the needle valve 6 into the seat of the valve block 2, is possible.

[0033] Figure 2 shows the solution according to the invention in a perspective view. No pin is arranged. Three balls 12 are arranged radially around the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9. The balls 12 engage in a partially circumferential groove 13 on the valve stem 10. The balls 12 pass through a respective bore in the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9. Furthermore, the balls 12 run on an inner running surface 14, shown here on a sleeve-shaped guide end 15 of the intermediate piece 22. The sleeve-shaped section 9 of the spindle stem 16, which can also be called the spindle drive, is guided radially R in the sleeve-shaped guide end 15 of the intermediate piece 22, but is displaceable axially A. The needle valve 6 is thus shown in the closed position in the valve seat 7 in Figure 2. A lower end of the valve stem 6, as referred to the image plane, is preferably guided in a sealing arrangement 20.This seals the channel system 5, ensuring that the supply channel 3 and / or discharge channel 4 maintain their respective operating pressures, while remaining sealed off from the environment. The sealing arrangement 20 thus allows movement in the axial direction A, and simultaneously guides the needle valve 6, or a lower part of the stem of the needle valve 6, in the radial direction R.

[0034] Figure 3 shows an analogous embodiment of Figure 2 in longitudinal section. The actuator 23 is shown as a pneumatic actuator 23 and can perform the movement in the axial direction A. For this purpose, the spindle shaft 16 can be moved in the axial direction A. The needle valve 6, or rather the tip of the needle valve 6, is thus lifted from the valve seat 7, and the supply channel 3 and the discharge channel 4 are connected to each other in a fluid-conducting manner. This position is shown in Figure 4.

[0035] The balls 12 are guided in axial direction A on the inner running surface 14. The axial movement A of the actuator 23 between the open and closed positions is thus guided. For this purpose, the inner running surface 14 has a height 17 that corresponds at least to the stroke of the actuator 23 for assuming the open and closed positions in axial direction A.

[0036] Furthermore, in the open position shown, for example, in Figure 4, additional seals 18 of the spindle shaft 16 in the actuator housing or intermediate piece 22 can enable a seal of the drive air in pneumatically driven actuators 23. Figures 5a to c now show an advantage of the invention in a service position. Here, the actuator 23 is detached from the valve block or the clamping screw is loosened. The actuator 23 is raised upwards in the axial direction A, or the valve block 2 of the actuator 23 can now pull the spindle shaft further into the intermediate piece in the axial direction A, as shown here. The balls 12 thus leave the inner running surface 14 in the sleeve-shaped extension and come into contact with a service inner running surface 19 or a diverting surface. The service inner running surface 19 has a larger radius or diameter than the inner running surface 14 of the sleeve-shaped guide end.It is therefore possible for the balls 12 to be moved outwards in the radial direction R, as shown in Figure 5b. Consequently, there is no longer any engagement in the circumferential groove 13 and the locking mechanism between the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 of the spindle shaft 16 and the needle valve 6 is released. As a result, the needle valve 6 can be pulled out of the actuator 23, in particular the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9, in the axial direction A, as shown in Figure 5c.

[0037] Figure 6 shows a cross-sectional view of Figure 3. It can be seen that three balls 12 are arranged radially around the valve. At least three balls 12 are arranged. These three balls 12 can thus not only hold the needle valve 6 in a positive fit but also center it. The circumferential groove 13 is shown with a dashed line. The balls 12 therefore bear radially against the outer surface of the inner running surface 14 and engage at least partially in the circumferential groove 13. Furthermore, corresponding bores 21 are present in the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 of the spindle shaft 16. These bores 21 are, as indicated, conical in shape.For example, if the service position according to Figure 5c is assumed and the needle valve 6 is completely withdrawn from the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9, the conical bores 21 prevent the balls 12 from falling radially inwards into the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9 and thus from falling out of the sleeve-shaped receptacle 9.

[0038] If the balls 12 were to slip or roll back to a position shown in Figure 6 due to the conical bores 21, then when a new needle valve 6 is inserted in the opposite direction, as shown in Figure 5c, the respective ball 12 is pushed outwards so that it is pressed against the service inner running surface 19. When the spindle shaft 16 is moved again in the opposite direction, i.e., from Figure 5c via Figure 5b to Figure 5a, to the inner running surface 14, as shown in Figure 4, the positive-locking receptacle 9 is engaged. For this purpose, a conical transition is also formed between the service inner running surface 19 and the inner running surface 14.

[0039] The diameter of the radius inner running surface X is 0.9 times the nominal diameter of the valve inner diameter V. All common valve inner diameters from - 1 inch (1 / 4; 3 / 8; 9 / 16; %; 1; 1 >2) can be used. The valve inner diameters V are linked to the pipe end dimensions, in particular to the dimensions of the inlet and outlet connections. The ball diameters D can preferably be 2 mm to 8 mm, more preferably 3 mm to 7 mm, most preferably 5 mm to 6 mm, and most preferably 4 mm. All of this is illustrated in Figure 7 and applies to the entire disclosure. Reference:

[0040] 1 - High-pressure valve arrangement

[0041] 2 - Valve block

[0042] 3 - Feed channel

[0043] 4 - Drainage channel

[0044] 5-channel system

[0045] 6 - Needle valve

[0046] 7 - Valve seat

[0047] 8 - distance

[0048] 9 - sleeve-shaped receptacle

[0049] 10 - Valve stem

[0050] 11 - Tension pin

[0051] 12 - Ball

[0052] 13 - Nut

[0053] 14 - Inner running surface

[0054] 15 - sleeve-shaped guide end of the intermediate piece 16 - spindle shaft

[0055] 17 - Height to 14

[0056] 18 - Seal

[0057] 19 - Service area / passage area

[0058] 20 - Sealing arrangement

[0059] 21 - conical bore

[0060] 22 - Intermediate piece

[0061] 23 - Actuator

[0062] A - Axial direction

[0063] D - ball diameter

[0064] R - Radial direction

[0065] V - Valve inner surface

[0066] X - Radius inner tread

Claims

Patent claims 1. High-pressure valve arrangement (1) comprising a valve block (2), wherein a needle valve (6) is arranged in the valve block (2) and the needle valve (6) is displaceable in the axial direction (A) via an actuator (23), such that a supply channel (3) and a discharge channel (4) in the valve block (2) are fluidly connected to each other in an open position via a valve seat (7) of the needle valve (6) and are separated from each other in a closed position of the needle valve (6), wherein a sleeve-shaped receptacle (9) for a valve stem (10) of the needle valve (6) is formed at an axial end of the actuator (23) in a spindle shaft (16), which is mounted in an intermediate piece (22), characterized in that three balls (12) are arranged radially circumferentially through the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9),which engage section by section in a radially circumferential groove (13) of the valve stem (10) and are mounted in a radially circumferential inner running surface (14) of the intermediate piece (22) of the actuator (23).

2. High-pressure valve arrangement (1 ) according to claim 1 , characterized in that the balls (12) are each mounted in a bore (21 ) passing through the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9).

3. High-pressure valve arrangement (1 ) according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized in that the bore (21 ) is conical, wherein the cone shape increases radially outwards.

4. High-pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the radially circumferential inner running surface (14) of the valve block (2) has a height (17) which corresponds to the axial displacement path of the needle valve (6) from the closed position to an open position.

5. High-pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that in the axial direction (A) the A cylindrical running surface is followed by a radially increasing deflection surface (19).

6. High-pressure valve arrangement (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9) is guided radially on the outside in a front area.

7. High-pressure valve arrangement (1 ) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a rear end face of the valve stem (10) rests in the sleeve-shaped receptacle (9).

8. High-pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the actuator (23) is pneumatically operated.

9. High-pressure valve arrangement (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that an upper part of the actuator (23) is designed as a shaft, wherein the intermediate piece (22) is comprised of at least one seal (18) which, in the case of pneumatic actuators (23), seals the drive air from the environment.

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