VALVE DEVICE FOR A MOTOR VEHICLE

Abstract

A valve device for a motor vehicle, comprising a housing, a flow channel located in the housing, a flap arranged in the flow channel for closing the flow channel, the flap having regions in which a pin penetrating the flap is fastened and the pin is rotatably mounted in the housing, and a valve seat, which is arranged in the flow channel and which is in contact with the flap when the latter is in the closed position. The seal is arranged in the flow channel, the side of the seal facing the flap having a wall thickness which is greater than the rest of the cross-sectional surface, the area being opposite the flap in the closed state.

Claims

1. A valve device for a motor vehicle, with a housing; a flow channel located in the housing; a flap arranged in the flow channel for selectively closing the flow channel, the flap having an open position and a closed position; a pin extending through the flap such that the flap is mounted to the pin, the pin being rotatably mounted in the housing; a valve seat located in the flow channel, the flap being in contact with the valve seat when the flap is in the closed position; and a seal having a cross-sectional area which includes a region of greater wall thickness in relation to the remaining cross-sectional area; wherein the seal is arranged in the flow channel such that flap is in contact with the region of greater wall thickness when the flap is in the closed position.

2. The valve device of claim 1, wherein the region of greater wall thickness extends over a pivot angle range of the flap from 8° to −8°.

3. The valve device of claim 1, wherein the region of greater wall thickness extends over a pivot angle range of the flap from 5° to −5°,.

4. The valve device of claim 1, wherein the region of greater wall thickness extends over a pivot angle range of the flap from 2° to −2°.

5. The valve device of claim 1, wherein the region of greater wall thickness further comprising a plate, the flap being in contact with the plate when the flap is in the closed position.

6. The valve device of claim 1, the region of greater wall thickness further comprising a curvature, wherein the curvature is exposed to the flap.

7. The valve device of claim 1, further comprising: a receiver formed as part of the flow channel such that the receiver is part of the valve seat; a plurality of legs formed as part of the seal; wherein the seal is located in the flow channel such that one of the legs is in contact with the receiver, and another of the legs is in contact with the flap when the flap is in the closed position.

8. The valve device of claim 7, wherein the cross-sectional area of the seal is one selected from the group consisting of a U-shaped cross-section and a V-shaped cross-section.

9. The valve device of claim 8, further comprising: an apex being part of the cross-sectional area of the seal; wherein the apex of the cross-sectional area is in contact with the flap when the flap is in the closed position, and the ends of each of the plurality of legs are in contact with the receiver.

10. The valve device of claim 7, the seal further comprising a reinforcing profile.

11. The valve device of claim 10, the reinforcing profile further comprising a cross-sectional area which corresponds to the cross-sectional area of the seal.

12. The valve device of claim 11, wherein the reinforcing profile is disposed between two of the plurality of legs.

13. The valve device of claim 10, wherein the reinforcing profile operates as a spring.

14. The valve device of claim 7, wherein the seal is located in the receiver of the flow channel.

15. The valve device of claim 14, wherein the receiver is a radially peripheral groove.

16. The valve device of claim 14, further comprising: a shoulder formed as part of the receiver; and a clamp ring at least partially disposed in the flow channel; wherein the seal is in contact with the shoulder, and the clamp ring fixes the seal in this position.

17. The valve device of the claim 1, wherein the seal is made from a material selected from the group consisting of an elastomer and PTFE.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0022] The present invention will become more fully understood from the detailed description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

[0023] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a valve device having a flap and a seal, according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0024] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a portion of a first embodiment of a valve device having a flap and a seal, according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0025] FIG. 3 is a sectional view of a portion of a second embodiment of a valve device having a flap and a seal, according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0026] FIG. 4 is a sectional view of a portion of a third embodiment of a valve device having a flap and a seal, according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0027] FIG. 5 is a sectional view of a portion of a fourth embodiment of a valve device having a flap and a seal, according to embodiments of the present invention;

[0028] FIG. 6 is a sectional view of a portion of a fifth embodiment of a valve device having a flap and a seal, according to embodiments of the present invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0029] The following description of the preferred embodiment(s) is merely exemplary in nature and is in no way intended to limit the invention, its application, or uses.

[0030] FIG. 1 shows a throttle flap connector as a valve device, with a housing 1, a flow channel 2 which is situated in the housing and in which a disc-like flap 3 is arranged. The flap 3 is fixedly connected to a pin 4, and the pin 4 is mounted rotatably in the housing 1. The pin 4 is driven by an electric motor 5 via a gear mechanism 6.

[0031] The cylindrical region in which the flap 3 seals the flow channel 2 is the valve seat 7. The flow direction in the flow channel 2 is identified with an arrow. FIG. 2 shows the flap 3 in the closed position in the flow channel 2. For this, the flap 3 lies on a seal 8. The seal 8 lies on a shoulder of the flow channel 2 formed as a receiver 9, and is fixed in this position by a clamp ring 10. The seal 8 has a U-shaped cross-section, wherein the apex 11 and a leg 12 of the seal 8 lie on the shoulder 9, and a leg 13 is in contact with the flap 3. The leg 13 facing the flap 3 has a greater wall thickness than the other leg 12 and the apex 11. The region of greater wall thickness 14 is configured as a curvature facing the flap 3, in order to allow a precise seal of the flow channel 2 by the flap 3.

[0032] The seal in FIG. 3, compared with the seal in FIG. 2, has a cross-section area rotated through 90° with a radially inner apex 11. In the closed position, the flap 3 lies against this apex 11, wherein the apex 11 has a greater wall thickness than the legs 12, 13.

[0033] FIGS. 4 and 5 show seals 8 in the orientation according to FIGS. 2 and 3, wherein the seals 8 differ in that they each have a reinforcing profile 15 to support the form stability. The reinforcing profile 15 is arranged on the respective inside of the legs 12, 13. It is however also conceivable to arrange the reinforcing profile 15 completely inside the seal 8 so that it is not visible.

[0034] The seal 8 in FIG. 6 differs in structure from the seal 8 in FIG. 2 in that the region of greater wall thickness 14 is formed not as a curvature but as a plate 16. Such an embodiment is also possible with the seals 8 of FIGS. 3-5.

[0035] The description of the invention is merely exemplary in nature and, thus, variations that do not depart from the gist of the invention are intended to be within the scope of the invention. Such variations are not to be regarded as a departure from the spirit and scope of the invention