U.S. patent application number 09/909750 was filed with the patent office on 2001-11-15 for fluid control element.
Invention is credited to Dettmann, Heinrich.
Application Number | 20010039968 09/909750 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 8067116 |
Filed Date | 2001-11-15 |
United States Patent
Application |
20010039968 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Dettmann, Heinrich |
November 15, 2001 |
Fluid control element
Abstract
A fluid control element comprises a housing in which two control
chambers are formed, which are isolated from each other and
comprise a working port each as well as two pressure ports. Two of
these ports are provided with a sealing seat each. The fluid
control element further comprises a switching element movably
mounted in said housing and comprising a sealing part in each
control chamber. The sealing part cooperates with the sealing seats
such that these are opened or closed. The fluid control element
further comprises an actuating member for the switching element,
the actuating member being able to bring the switching element into
three positions.
Inventors: |
Dettmann, Heinrich;
(Niedernhall, DE) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIXON PEABODY, LLP
8180 GREENSBORO DRIVE
SUITE 800
MCLEAN
VA
22102
US
|
Family ID: |
8067116 |
Appl. No.: |
09/909750 |
Filed: |
July 23, 2001 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
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Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
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09909750 |
Jul 23, 2001 |
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09461384 |
Dec 15, 1999 |
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Current U.S.
Class: |
137/596.17 |
Current CPC
Class: |
Y10T 137/87217 20150401;
Y10T 137/86847 20150401; F15B 2211/30575 20130101; Y10T 137/87772
20150401; F15B 13/0405 20130101; F16K 31/0682 20130101; F15B
2211/327 20130101; F15B 13/044 20130101; F15B 11/006 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
137/596.17 |
International
Class: |
F16K 011/044 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Dec 15, 1998 |
DE |
298 22 959.5 |
Claims
1. A fluid control element, comprising a housing in which two
control chambers are formed, which are isolated from each other and
comprise a working port each as well as two pressure ports, two of
said ports being provided with a sealing seat each, a switching
element movably mounted in said housing and comprising a sealing
part in each control chamber, said sealing part cooperating with
said sealing seats such that these are opened or closed and
comprising an actuating member for said switching element, said
actuating member being able to bring said switching element into
three positions, said sealing seats of at least one of said control
chambers being disposed opposite each other on the one and the
other side of said control chamber and wherein said sealing part
arranged in said one of said control chambers is in contact with
either the one or the other of said sealing seats.
2. The control element of claim 1, wherein said sealing parts
arranged in said two control chambers extend in a common plane and
in a resting position one of said sealing parts is in contact with
said sealing seat disposed on the one side of said corresponding
control chamber whilst the other of said sealing parts is in
contact with the other of said sealing seats arranged at the other
side of the other of said control chambers.
3. The control element of claim 1, wherein said sealing parts
arranged in said two control chambers extend in different planes
and in a resting position one of said sealing parts is in contact
with said sealing seat disposed on one side of said corresponding
control chamber whilst the other of said sealing parts is in
contact with the other of said sealing seats arranged at the other
side of the other of said control chambers.
4. A fluid control element, comprising a housing in which two
control chambers are formed, which are isolated from each other and
comprise a working port each as well as two pressure ports, two of
said ports being provided with a sealing seat each, a switching
element movably mounted in said housing and comprising a sealing
part in each control chamber, said sealing part cooperating with
said sealing seats such that these are opened or closed and
comprising an actuating member for said switching element, said
actuating member being able to bring said switching element into
three positions, wherein sealing seats of one of said control
chambers being arranged mutually staggered on the one and on the
other side of said control chamber and wherein said sealing part
arranged in said control chamber is configured with two tongues
arranged side by side, each of which being assigned to one of said
sealing seats and configured so as to be elastically resilient.
5. The control element of claim 4, wherein in both control chambers
said sealing seats of one control chamber are arranged mutually
staggered on the one and on the other side of the corresponding of
said control chambers.
6. The control element of claim 5, wherein said tongues of said
sealing part of said switching element, which tongues are arranged
in said two control chambers, extend in the same place.
7. The control element of claim 5, wherein said two tongues
arranged in one of said control chambers are each arranged so as to
be mutually staggered.
8. The control element of claim 6, wherein said sealing seats in
said two control chambers are arranged such that in resting
position said tongues of said sealing parts are in contact with all
of said sealing seats in said two control chambers.
9. The control element of claim 6, wherein said sealing seats in
said two control chambers are arranged such that in resting
position said tongues of said sealing parts are in contact with all
of said sealing seats of a sole of said control chambers and with
no sealing seat of the other of said control chambers.
Description
[0001] The invention relates to a fluid control element.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0002] U.S. Pat. No. 4,765,370 shows a fluid control element
comprising a housing in which two control chambers are formed,
which are each isolated from each other and comprise a working port
each as well as two pressure ports, two of the ports being provided
with a sealing seat each. The fluid control element further
comprises a switching element movably mounted in the housing and
comprising a sealing part in each control chamber, the sealing part
cooperating with the sealing seats such that these are opened or
closed, and still further comprises an actuating member for the
switching element. This fluid control element represents a 4/2-way
valve for actuating hydraulic actuator cylinders, for example. When
actuating, for example, a double-acting hydraulic cylinder, the
working port of the one control chamber is connected to a working
port of the hydraulic cylinder and the working port of the other
control chamber is connected to the other working chamber of the
hydraulic cylinder. In a first position of the switching element,
the resting position, the one working chamber of the hydraulic
cylinder is pressurized so that a movement occurs in a first
direction, whilst in an activated position of the switching element
into which the switching element is moved by an electric magnet,
the other working chamber of the hydraulic piston is pressurized so
that a movement occurs in the opposite direction.
[0003] It is often required, however, in addition to a movement of
the hydraulic piston in a first and a second direction that the
hydraulic piston, for example, is maintained fixed in a position or
is freely movable. For this purpose 4/3-way valves are needed as
described with reference to FIG. 13. Illustrated schematically in
FIG. 13 is a hydraulic piston 1 disposed between two working
chambers 2, 3. The working chamber 2 is connected to a working port
A of a 4/3-way control element illustrated schematically and
identified by reference numeral 10, and the working chamber 3 is
connected to a working port B. Furthermore, two pressure ports P, R
are provided, port P providing a pressurized fluid and port R
forming a return flow conduit.
[0004] The control element shown as example 1 permits three
operating conditions. In the left-hand switching position the
hydraulic piston 1 is biased so as to move to the right. In the
middle switching position the hydraulic piston 1 is blocked. In the
left-hand switching position the hydraulic piston 1 is biased so as
to move to the left.
[0005] The examples 2 and 3 likewise make possible three switching
positions, the left-hand and the right-hand switching positions in
each case corresponding to the right-hand and left-hand switching
positions of the first example. The middle switching position in
example 2 results in the hydraulic piston 1 being freely movable
and the middle switching position of example 3 results in the
hydraulic piston 1 being blocked by the pressure furnished by the
pressure port P.
[0006] Hitherto, achieving such switching functions necessitated
the use of piloted slide valves.
[0007] The object of the invention consists in providing a simple,
direct-acting control element having a 4/3 operational mode to thus
reduce the expense in terms of technical equipment in actuating a
cylinder and to permit a more direct and faster operation of
actuator cylinders and actuators, respectively.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0008] To achieve this object, a fluid control element is provided
which comprises a housing in which two control chambers are formed,
which are isolated from each other and comprise a working port each
as well as two pressure ports. Two of these ports are provided with
a sealing seat each. The fluid control element further comprises a
switching element movably mounted in the housing and comprising a
sealing part in each control chamber. The sealing part cooperates
with the sealing seats such that these are opened or closed. The
fluid control element further comprises an actuating member for the
switching element, the actuating member being able to bring the
switching element into three positions. In this way the desired
three switching positions are achievable with a control element
having two control chambers without additional slide valves being
necessary. Such an actuating member with which the switching
element is may be brought into three positions is, for example, a
solenoid drive having a polarized drive element, the permanent
magnet of which in the non-energized condition of its solenoid
holds the switching element in a middle position, which also
represents the resting position, and in the energized condition
shifts the switching element into the one or the other direction
depending on the direction of current flow.
[0009] In accordance with one preferred embodiment of the invention
it is provided for that the sealing seats of one control chamber
are disposed opposite each other on the one and the other side of
the control chamber and that the sealing part arranged in this
control chamber is configured with two opposing tongues disposed
between the sealing seats and configured so as to be elastically
resilient, and in the resting position are spaced away from each
other such that they may simultaneously close the two sealing
seats. In this embodiment all ports in the middle or resting
position are closed. By moving the switching element, starting from
the resting position, into the one or the other direction the
desired ports may be selectively opened.
[0010] As an alternative it may be provided for that the sealing
seats of one control chamber are disposed opposite each other on
the one and the other side of the control chamber and the sealing
part arranged in this control chamber is in contact with either the
one or the other sealing seat. In this embodiment one sealing seat
of each control chamber is closed in the resting position. As soon
as the switching element is actuated in any direction, one of the
sealing parts is lifted from the corresponding sealing seat and
pressed against the opposite sealing seat whilst the other sealing
part remains in contact at the corresponding sealing seat with no
change in the switching condition in this control chamber.
Depending on how the various ports are put in circuit, a variety of
different switching conditions results.
[0011] In this alternative the sealing parts arranged in the two
control chambers extend in the same plane or in different planes.
In the resting position one of the sealing parts is then in contact
with the sealing seat disposed on one side of the corresponding
control chamber whilst the other sealing part is in contact with
the other sealing seat arranged at the other side of the other
control chamber. When the sealing parts are arranged in the same
plane, the actuating travel needed for making the changeover is
achieved by differing the spacing of the sealing seats away from
the plane of the sealing parts in the resting position, whereas
when the sealing parts are arranged in different planes the
necessary actuating travel is achieved by different spacings
assumed by the sealing seat from the sealing parts being in the
resting position.
[0012] In accordance with a further embodiment it may be provided
for that the sealing seats of one control chamber are arranged
mutually staggered on the one and on the other side of the control
chamber, and that the sealing part arranged in this control chamber
is configured with two tongues arranged side by side, each of which
being assigned to one of the sealing seats and configured so as to
be springy and elastic. The effect of this configuration is
basically the same as that described above having the two tongues
opposite each other, except that here a larger number of switching
conditions is possible. If required, in one of the control chambers
the configuration as described above including opposite sealing
seats and opposite tongues may be provided, whilst in the other
control chamber the configuration having staggered sealing seats
and tongues lying side by side may be employed.
[0013] It is preferably provided for, however, that in both control
chambers the sealing seats of one control chamber are arranged
mutually staggered on the one and the other side of the
corresponding control chamber, a maximum number of switching
conditions being possible in this case.
[0014] In this embodiment it may be either provided for that the
tongues of the sealing parts of the switching element arranged in
the two control chambers extend in the same plane. Technically the
same effect is achievable by providing the two tongues, arranged in
one chamber, so as to be mutually staggered. In cooperation with a
suitable arrangement of the sealing seats relative to the
arrangement of the tongues in the resting position, a variety of
conditions is possible, i.e. the sealing seats in the two control
chambers either being arranged such that in the resting position
the tongues of the sealing parts are in contact with all sealing
seats in the two control chambers, or as an alternative the sealing
seats in the two control chambers are arranged such that in the
resting position the tongues of the sealing parts are in contact
with all sealing seats of a sole control chamber and with no
sealing seat of the other control chamber. Finally, it is possible
that the sealing seats are arranged in the two control chambers
such that in the resting position the tongues of the sealing parts
are each in contact with one sealing seat in each control chamber.
Depending on the configuration selected in each case a wealth of
different switching conditions is achieved with which any desired
mode of actuating an actuator, for example a hydraulic actuating
cylinder, is achievable.
[0015] Advantageous aspects of the invention read from the
sub-claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0016] The invention will now be described with reference to
various embodiments illustrated in the attached drawings in
which
[0017] FIG. 1 is a schematic illustration of part of a housing of a
control element in accordance with the invention, comprising the
control chamber and the sealing part arranged therein,
[0018] FIG. 2 is a schematic section view of a control element in
accordance with the invention;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-section through the two control
chambers of a control element according to a first embodiment of
the invention;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a broken view in perspective of a sealing part
employed in the control element as shown in FIG. 3;
[0021] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a switching element as
may be used in a control element in accordance with a second
embodiment of the invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 shows in a schematic cross-section through the
control chamber a control element according to the second
embodiment of the invention;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a view, corresponding to that as shown in FIG. 6,
of a control element in accordance with one variant of the second
embodiment of the invention;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a schematic cross-section through the control
chamber of a control element in accordance with a third embodiment
of the invention;
[0025] FIG. 9 is a schematic plan view of a switching element as
may be used in a control element according to FIG. 8;
[0026] FIG. 10 illustrates various designs of the control element
in accordance with the third embodiment;
[0027] FIG. 11 illustrates various designs of a variant of the
third embodiment;
[0028] FIG. 12 is a schematic view of an actuating member as may be
used with the control elements in accordance with the invention;
and
[0029] FIG. 13 is a schematic illustration of an actuator including
various control elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0030] Referring now to FIGS. 1 and 2, the configuration of the
control elements in accordance with the invention will now be
described in general. The control element 10 comprises a housing 12
in which two control chambers 20, 30 are configured so as to lie
side by side and isolated from each other (only one of the chambers
can be seen in FIG. 1). Opening into each control chamber is a
working port and two pressure ports, the working port being
identified by A and B, respectively, and the pressure ports by P
and R, respectively. Two of the ports in each control chamber 20
and 30, respectively, are provided with a sealing seat 21, 22 and
31, 32, respectively. Cooperating with the sealing seats 21, 22 and
31, 32 is a switching element identified in general by the
reference numeral 14. The switching element 14 is movable from a
resting position into a first and a second position by acting on an
actuator protuberance 15. In all, three positions of the switching
element 14 are thus possible. For actuating the switching element
14 an actuating member 16 is provided (see also FIG. 12)
configured, for example, as a solenoid drive having a polarized
drive element, the permanent magnet of which in the non-energized
condition of a solenoid causes a middle position of the actuator
protuberance 15 and in the energized condition shifts the actuating
arm in the direction of either arrow 1 or arrow 2, depending on the
direction of the current.
[0031] Referring now to FIG. 12 there are illustrated the two
positions 1 and 2 of a magnet 17 applied to the actuator
protuberance 15. The solenoid of the actuating member is identified
by the reference numeral 18 and the switchable voltage source is
identified in FIG. 12 by the reference numeral 19.
[0032] The basic configuration of the switching element 14
consisting of a core 11 and an elastomer 13 surrounding the latter,
as well as the mounting arrangement of the switching element in the
housing 12 is known in principle from U.S. Pat. No. 5,711,346
incorporated herein by reference.
[0033] Referring now to FIGS. 3 and 4 there is illustrated a
control element as will now be described in accordance with a first
embodiment of the invention. The switching element 14 protrudes
into each control chamber 20, 30 with a sealing part 24 and 34,
respectively. The two sealing parts 24, 34 are fixedly connected to
the actuator protuberance 15 and are moved simultaneously with the
actuator protuberance. At the end freely protruding into the
corresponding control chamber each sealing part 24, 34 is provided
with two tongues 26, 28 and 36, 38, respectively. The two tongues
26, 28 and 36, 38, respectively, are configured so as to be
elastically resilient and opposite each other. As evident from FIG.
4 one of the tongues may be configured by a crank of the
corresponding sealing part whilst the opposite tongue is formed by
an additional part cranked mirror inverted and connected to the
sealing part, for example, by spot welding. Of course, provided
around each of the tongues 26, 28 and 36, 38, respectively, is the
elastomer layer 13 known as such.
[0034] The sealing seats 21, 22 and 31, 32, respectively, which are
arranged in the control chambers 20, 30 are configured so as to lie
opposite each other (see FIG. 3). Although this is not necessarily
the case, the ports assigned to the sealing seats 21, 22 and 31,
32, respectively, have the same middle axis, i.e. the corresponding
sealing seats are disposed coaxially to each other. Opening into
each control chamber on one side of the sealing seats is the
remaining port. In the configuration as shown in FIG. 3 the ports
are put in circuit such that the sealing seats are assigned to the
two pressure ports P, R whilst the working port A and B,
respectively, opens into the side.
[0035] The spacing of the two sealing seats 21, 22 and 31, 32
assigned to each other is selected such that in the resting
position, i.e. with the actuator protuberance 15 not actuated, the
two tongues 26, 28 and 36, 38, respectively, close the
corresponding sealing seats. This is evident from FIG. 3. In this
position all fluid ports are closed. When, starting from this
position, the actuating protuberance is acted upon, the sealing
parts 24, 34 are moved either upwards, resulting in the port R of
the control chamber 20 and the port P of the control chamber 30
being connected to the working ports A, B, or downwards, resulting
in the pressure ports R of the control chamber 20 and P of control
chamber 30 being connected to the working ports A, B. It is in this
way that a 4/3-way control element is produced.
[0036] By differently putting the various ports of the illustrated
control element in circuit, other switching conditions are
possible, as will readily be appreciated.
[0037] Referring now to FIGS. 5 and 6 there is described a second
embodiment of the control element in accordance with the invention.
The switching element 14 comprises two sealing parts 24, 34
arranged side by side and in the same plane (see more particularly
FIG. 6). The sealing seats 21, 22 and 32, 32, respectively, which
are arranged in the control chambers 20, 30 protrude into the
control chambers differingly far. As evident from FIG. 6 the
sealing seat 21 arranged on the upper side of the control chamber
20 protrudes so far into the control chamber that it is in contact
with the sealing part 24 located in the starting position. In a
similar way the sealing seat 32 arranged on the underside of the
control chamber 30 protrudes so far into the control chamber that
it is in contact with the sealing part 24 located in the resting
position. The sealing seat 22 arranged on the underside of the
control chamber 20 as well as the sealing seat 32 arranged on the
underside of the control chamber 30 are arranged spaced away from
the sealing part 24 and 34, respectively, located in the resting
position.
[0038] Referring now to the resting position of the sealing parts
24, 34 as shown in FIG. 6 the switching element can be made to
assume two positions. In a first position in which the two sealing
parts 24, 34 are biased so as to move upwards there is no further
change in the position of the sealing part 24 since it is already
in contact with the sealing seat 21 and is elastically deformed,
whereas the sealing part 34 is lifted from the sealing seat 32 and
pressed against the sealing seat 31. In this position the pressure
port P is thus connected to the working port B of the control
chamber 30 whilst as regards the control chamber 20 no change in
the switching condition occurs. When, however, the sealing parts
24, 34 are biased so as to move downwards out of the resting
position there is no change in the switching condition as regards
the control chamber 30 whilst the sealing part 24 is lifted from
the sealing seat 21 and pressed against the sealing seat 22. Now,
the pressure port identified P' in this case is connected to the
working port A of the control chamber 20.
[0039] Referring now to FIG. 7 there is illustrated a variant of
the second embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6. The difference in
this case being that, now, the sealing seats 21, 31 arranged on the
upper side of the control chambers 20, 30 as well as the sealing
seats 22, 32 arranged on the underside of the chambers are each
located at the same level. Furthermore the sealing parts 24, 34 are
no longer arranged in the same plane, but mutually staggered.
[0040] The effect is similar to that as explained for the second
embodiment. When starting from the resting position as shown in
FIG. 7 the sealing parts 24, 34 are biased so as to move upwards
there is no change in the switching condition as regards control
chamber 20 whilst the sealing part 34 in the control chamber 30 is
lifted from the sealing seat 32 and pressed against the sealing
seat 31, whereas when the sealing parts 24, 34 are biased so as to
move downwards there is no change in the switching condition as
regards control chamber 30 whilst the sealing part 24 of the
control chamber 20 is lifted from the sealing seat 21 and pressed
against the sealing seat 22.
[0041] Both in the second embodiment as shown in FIGS. 5 and 6 and
in the variant of the second embodiment as evident from FIG. 7,
different switching conditions may be achieved by suitable swapping
of putting the ports in circuit.
[0042] Referring now to FIGS. 8 and 9 there is described a third
embodiment of a control element in accordance with the invention.
In this embodiment the sealing seats arranged in the control
chambers 20, 30 are no longer configured coaxially opposite each
other, but mutually staggered as evident from FIG. 8. In this
arrangement the sealing seats 21, 31 arranged on the upper side of
the control chambers 20, 30 protrude into the control chambers up
to the same level and also the sealing seats 22, 32 arranged on the
underside of the control chambers 20, 30 are each located at the
same level.
[0043] The sealing part of the switching element 14 protruding into
the control chamber 20 and 30, respectively, consists for each
control chamber of two parallel tongues arranged side by side.
Thus, two tongues 26, 28 protrude into the control chamber 20 and
two tongues 36, 38 protrude into the control chamber 30. All
tongues 26, 28, 36, 38 extend in the same plane in the resting
position. As evident from FIG. 8 the spacing of the level defined
by the sealing seats 21, 31 from the level defined by the sealing
seats 22, 32 is dimensioned such that all tongues are in contact
with their assigned sealing seats in the resting position of the
switching element 14, closing them off. In the resting position as
shown in FIG. 8 all ports are thus blocked.
[0044] When starting from the resting position as shown in FIG. 8
the tongues 26, 28, 36, 38 are biased so as to move upwards, there
is no change in the condition as regards the tongues 26, 36 since
these tongues react merely elastically and continue to remain in
contact with the corresponding sealing seats, whereas the tongues
28, 38 are lifted from their assigned sealing seats 22, 32 and the
working port A of chamber 20 is connected to the pressure port R,
whilst the working port B of control chamber 30 is connected to the
pressure port P.
[0045] Referring now to FIG. 10, in the illustrations a) to e)
there are shown various control elements in accordance with a third
embodiment each achieving a different switching condition by a
change in the spacing of the sealing seats from the corresponding
tongues in the resting position and by a different putting in
circuit of the various ports. The resulting switching conditions
are evident from the illustrations and the likewise indicated
switching symbols so that there is no need to detail them.
[0046] Referring now to FIG. 11, in the illustrations a) to e)
there are shown various control elements in accordance with a
variant of the third embodiment on the basis of the gist as known
from FIG. 7 showing that the tongues of the switching element are
mutually staggered. In this arrangement and in conjunction with
differingly putting the ports in circuit and with different
spacings between the sealing seats and the tongues in the resting
position, the same switching conditions are achievable as already
shown in the illustrations a) to e) as evident from FIG. 10.
* * * * *