Seat valve having rotating closure member for variable pressure control

[0002] The present invention relates to a seat valve for the control of pneumatic or hydraulic pressure between at least two pressure fluid channels.

[0003] German patent application No. 40 30 571 discloses an electromagnetic seat valve, closed in its de-energized condition, for the control of hydraulic pressure, which includes a magnetic armature to which a valve closure member is attached, and a spring that urges a valve closure member against a valve seat by a defined preload. The valve seat is mounted in the valve housing. Further, a magnetic core is accommodated in a thin-walled valve sleeve and a valve coil is secured to the valve sleeve. The winding of the valve coil is configured so that the magnetic armature performs exclusively a translatory movement so that the valve closure member is either opened or closed stroke-responsively as a function of the electromagnetic energization of the valve coil. This produces a binary switching behavior with relatively quick stroke movements. However, a variable adjustment of the rate of fluid flow is not permitted thereby.

[0004] An object of the present invention is to improve a seat valve of the type mentioned hereinabove by simple and functionally reliable means to such effect that in addition to the actual translatory movement of the valve closure member the rate of fluid flow can be adjusted variably with minimum possible electric energy demand.

[0005] According to the present invention, this object is achieved for a seat valve of the generic type by producing a rotary movement of the magnetic armature and transmitting the rotary movement to the valve closure member for a variable control of a pressure fluid passage.

[0006] Further features, advantages and possible applications of the present invention can be seen in the following in the description of two embodiments.

[0007] In the drawings,

[0008] FIG. 1 is an expedient construction of the basic elements of the object of the present invention.

[0009] FIG. 2 is a top view of a rotating field winding and a magnetic armature for use in the present invention.

[0010] The FIG. 1 embodiment shows an enlarged partial view of a normally closed seat valve for the control of pneumatic or hydraulic pressure. The seat valve has a substantially spherical valve closure member 5 which, in the initial position shown in the drawing, moves into sealing abutment on a generally plate-shaped valve seat 7. Succeeding the valve closure member 5 is a tapering transition area to a tappet 2, and the tappet 2 is sealed within a sleeve 2′ so that leakage is prevented. The wall of sleeve 2′ has an opening 3′ which (as shown) is covered by the stem of tappet 2 in a pressure-fluid tight manner. On the stem portion of the tappet 2 remote from the opening 3′, there is a control channel 1, acting as a control groove, which can be moved to overlap opening 3′ by rotation of the tappet 2. Opening 3′ is connected to a pressure fluid channel 8′ by way of an annular chamber in a valve housing 6. A pressure fluid channel 8 connected downstream of the valve closure member 5 in the drawing is isolated from the pressure fluid channel 8′ due to the closed position of the valve closure member 5 and due to the stem portion of tappet 2 which closes the opening 3′. FIG. 1 relates exclusively to the basic construction elements in the area of the valve closure member 5, without discussing possible details of the design. Thus, FIG. 1 can be considered as a block diagram of the present invention. Although the valve portion adjacent to tappet 2 is not shown, basically, one has to expect a seat valve design as disclosed in German patent application No. 40 30 571, wherein adjoining the tappet 2 is a magnetic armature 4 in a closed valve housing 6 which is encompassed by a valve coil that generates the magnetic armature stroke.

[0011] Further details of the design of the magnetic armature 4 and the coil winding according to the present invention can be taken from the FIG. 2 embodiment hereinbelow. FIG. 2 shows a top view of the magnetic armature 4 which generally has a star-like configuration in its cross-sectional profile. Armature 4 is movable both translatorily and rotatorily inside the valve housing 6. The sleeve-shaped valve housing 6 which is shaded in the area of the magnetic armature 4 accommodates on its outside wall a rotating field winding 3 which, depending upon the electric energization and, thus, variation of the rotating field, rotates the magnetic armature 4 by a defined angle. This also causes the control groove (control channel 1) on the tappet 2 to more or less move to overlap with the opening 3′ so that the pressure fluid passage between the two pressure fluid channels 8, 8′ can be varied when the valve closure member 5 is open. The mode of operation may be identical with the operating principle of a reluctance motor, wherein upon generation of a rotating field in the rotating field winding 3 the magnetic armature 4 and, thus, the tappet 2 rotates with selectively adjustable rotating speeds. This permits varying at will the pressure fluid flow rate and, thus, the time interval during which the opening 3′ and the channel 1 overlap each other. A reversal in the direction of rotation of the magnetic armature 4 is equally possible in a corresponding actuating process so that the armature may temporarily turn the tappet 2 to and fro in order to alternately overlap the opening 3′. The valve coil which is required for the stroke movement of the magnetic armature 4 can be structurally combined with the rotating field winding 3. The valve coil then includes two independently actuatable winding parts, one part being intended for closing and opening the valve, and the other part determining the rotating angle orientation of the magnetic armature 4.

[0012] The advantage of the object of the present invention is that both the effect of the rotating field and the translation of the magnetic armature are possible separately from each other as well as in superposition. This implies that the tappet 2 can rotate in the closed and the open condition, in order to pre-adjust a large or a small controlling cross-section between the opening 3′ and the channel 1 as needed, or to vary the controlling cross-section alternatively during the stroke of the magnetic armature. The flow rate is thus controllable or adjustable in analog operation. Pressure variations of the fluid do not cause impairment of the necessary adjustment forces at the magnetic armature. The object of the present invention ensures an energetically favorable opening and closing of the valve with a correspondingly small air slot of the magnetic armature.

[0013] 1 control channel

[0014] 2 tappet

[0015] 2′ sleeve

[0016] 3 rotating field winding

[0017] 3′ opening

[0018] 4 magnetic armature

[0019] 5 valve closure member

[0020] 6 valve housing

[0021] 7 valve seat

[0022] 8,8′ pressure fluid channels