VALVE DEVICE FOR SHUTTING OFF OR CONTROLLING A FLOW OF A FLUID

Abstract

A thermostat valve for shutting off and/or controlling a flow of a fluid includes a housing device with a valve passage opening which, in a throughflow direction, has at least one approximately cylindrical passage section and one passage sealing section. The passage sealing section has a larger diameter than the passage section. A closure element for closing off the valve passage opening has at least one approximately cylindrical closure section, which can be arranged in the region of the cylindrical passage section, and one closure sealing section, wherein the closure sealing section has a larger diameter than the cylindrical passage section. An annular gap with an approximately constant opening cross-section is provided between the passage section and the closure section. The annular gap is formed such that, when the valve apparatus is opened, the opening cross-section is constant over a predetermined valve stroke of the closure element.

Claims

1. A valve apparatus for shutting off and/or controlling a throughflow of a fluid, comprising a housing device with a valve passage opening which, in a throughflow direction, has at least one approximately cylindrical passage section and one passage sealing section, wherein the passage sealing section has a larger diameter than the passage section, and a closure element for closing off the valve passage opening, said closure element having at least one approximately cylindrical closure section, which can be arranged in the region of the cylindrical passage section, and one closure sealing section, which can be arranged in the region of the passage sealing section, wherein the closure sealing section has a larger diameter than the cylindrical passage section, and wherein an annular gap with an approximately constant opening cross-section is provided between the passage section and the closure section, wherein the annular gap is formed in such a way that, when the valve apparatus is opened, the opening cross-section is constant over a predetermined valve stroke of the closure element

2. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the annular gap opens up approximately 2% of the opening cross-section.

3. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the predetermined working stroke over which the opening cross-section is constant amounts to approximately 1 mm

4. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein a sensor device for detecting an opening state of the valve apparatus is provided.

5. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 4, wherein the sensor device has a mechanical or a programmable Hall sensor and a magnet, wherein the magnet is arranged perpendicularly on a wall, facing in the direction counter to the throughflow direction, of the closure section of the closure element, and the Hall sensor is arranged approximately orthogonally to the magnetic field lines of the magnet.

6. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 5, wherein the Hall sensor is designed in such a way that a closed opening state is detected when the working stroke amounts to approximately 0.4 mm to 0.6 mm, preferably approximately 0.5 mm, and that an open opening state is detected when the working stroke amounts to greater than 0.6 mm to approximately 0.8 mm, preferably approximately greater than 0.75 mm.

7. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the passage sealing section, in the throughflow direction, is of approximately conically widening or concave form, wherein the closure sealing section is formed in a manner corresponding to the passage closure section.

8. The valve apparatus as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve apparatus is a thermostat valve.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0051] The present invention is described in more detail in the following on the basis of an exemplary embodiment and corresponding characteristic curves as shown in the figures. The figures show:

[0052] FIG. 1 is a schematic partial view of a valve apparatus according to the invention,

[0053] FIG. 2 is a schematic view of the arrangement of a sensor device of the valve apparatus,

[0054] FIGS. 3 and 4 are diagrams representing switch points of the valve apparatus.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0055] The following describes a valve apparatus 1 according to the invention, in particular a thermostat valve, for shutting off or controlling a throughflow of a fluid (FIGS. 1 and 2).

[0056] The thermostat valve 1 is a component part of a cooling circuit of a motor vehicle. It is configured such that an internal combustion engine reaches its optimum operating temperature as quickly as possible and subsequently maintains it under all operating conditions.

[0057] The valve apparatus 1 comprises a housing device 2 and a closure element 3.

[0058] The housing device 2 is configured as a rotationally symmetric body and limits a valve passage opening 5 extending in a throughflow direction 4.

[0059] In the throughflow direction 4, the valve passage opening 5 has a roughly cylindrical passage section 6 and a passage sealing section 7.

[0060] The passage sealing section 7 has a larger diameter than the passage section 6 and is designed in order to widen conically in the throughflow direction 4, i.e. the passage sealing section 7 is designed to be conical in cross-section.

[0061] The valve apparatus 1 is thus a passage valve, wherein a fluid inlet 8 and a fluid outlet 9 are parallel to the throughflow direction 4 and the direction of flow, respectively.

[0062] The closure element 3 for closing the valve passage opening forms a shut-off body of the valve apparatus. The closure element 3 comprises an approximately cylindrical closure section 10, which can be disposed in the area of the cylindrical passage section 6, and a closure sealing section 11, which can be disposed in the area of the passage sealing section 7.

[0063] The closure section 10 is cylindrical in shape corresponding to the passage section 6. The closure section 10 has at least one cylindrical section with a length of at least 1 mm in the throughflow direction 4.

[0064] The closure sealing section 11 is configured in order to approximately correspond to the shape of the passage sealing section 7. It thus has a larger diameter than the closure section 10 and is designed in order to flare conically in the throughflow direction 4. This means that the closure sealing section 11 is approximately conical in cross-section. Alternatively, a convex shape in cross-section can also be provided here.

[0065] In order to seal the valve apparatus 1, the closure sealing section 11 of the closure element 3 comprises a radially circumferential recess 12 for receiving a sealing element 13. The sealing element 13 can be an O-ring seal, for example.

[0066] Alternatively, the sealing element can also be arranged accordingly in the passage section 7.

[0067] An annular gap 14 with an approximately constant opening cross-section 15 is provided between the passage section 6 and the closure section 10. The annular gap 14 is configured such that the opening cross-section is constant when the valve apparatus is opened over a predetermined valve stroke of the closure element 3.

[0068] Furthermore, the valve apparatus according to the invention comprises a sensor device 16 (FIG. 2). The sensor device 16 has a mechanical or programmable Hall sensor 17 and a magnet 18.

[0069] The magnet 18 is disposed on a wall 19 of the closure section 10 of the closure element 3, which is transverse to the throughflow direction 4 and faces opposite the throughflow direction 4. This wall 19 forms a valve plate. Accordingly, the valve apparatus according to the present invention can be considered a poppet valve.

[0070] The Hall sensor 17 is disposed approximately orthogonally to the magnet 18 on a housing wall 20 of the housing device 2 that limits the valve passage opening 5.

[0071] A distance between the Hall sensor 17 and the magnet 18 is approximately 4 mm +/−0.4 mm (FIG. 2).

[0072] In a state of “valve closed,” an actual voltage of approximately 0.5 V is provided (FIG. 2). In a state of “valve open,” an actual voltage of approximately 4.5 V is provided.

[0073] Furthermore, in FIG. 2, the magnet 18 is shown, wherein the north pole is disposed at the top and the south pole is disposed at the bottom, wherein the north pole and the south pole represent the two different poles of a permanent magnet. The magnetic field proceeds from the north pole and runs to the south pole as shown via the field lines. Inside the magnet, the field lines then close again.

[0074] The diagrams in FIGS. 3 and 4 show the switch points of a closed opening position (switch point closed) and an open opening position (switch point open).

[0075] In the diagram in FIG. 3, the valve stroke of the closure element 3 is indicated on the x-coordinate. The corresponding y-coordinate indicates the opening cross-section as a percentage.

[0076] A mechanical stopper is provided for a valve stroke of −0.3 mm (represented by the vertical line at −0.3 mm). The vertical dashed lines at 0.5 mm of the working stroke describes a nominal switching point CLOSED. The vertical dashed lines at 0.75 mm of the working stroke describes a nominal switch point OPEN.

[0077] The horizontal portion of the graph in FIG. 3 shows the constant opening cross-section.

[0078] The rectangles in FIG. 4 represent a tolerance of +/−0.2 mm.

[0079] The Hall sensor 17 is configured in order to detect a closed opening state when the working stroke is approximately 1 mm, 0.9 mm, 0.8 mm, 0.7 mm, or 0.6 mm to 0.4 mm, or to 0.3 mm, or to 0.2 mm, or to 0.1 mm, or to 0 mm, and preferably approximately 0.5 mm. Furthermore, the Hall sensor 17 is configured in order to detect an open opening state when the working stroke is approximately greater than 0.5 mm, 0.6 mm, or 0.7 mm, to approximately 0.8 mm, or to 0.9 mm, or to 1 mm, or to 1.1 mm, or to 1.2 mm, or to 1.3 mm, or to 1.4 mm, or to 1.5 mm, and preferably approximately greater than 0.75 mm.

[0080] In the context of the disclosure of the present invention, the opening cross-section defines a maximum flow rate (opening cross-section 100%) that can pass through the passage opening 5 in the throughflow direction 4. This means that, with an opening cross-section of 100%, a maximum flow rate in the throughflow direction 4 passes through the passage opening 5 of the valve apparatus 1.

[0081] At a stroke of −0.3 mm, a mechanical stopper of the valve apparatus 1 is provided, which is achieved when the sealing element 13 is completely compressed against the passage sealing section 7 of the housing device 2 by the closure sealing section 11 of the closure element 3.

[0082] At a valve stroke of 0 mm, the sealing element 13 contacts the closure sealing section 11 unpressurized.

[0083] In the diagram in FIG. 4, the x-coordinate again denotes the valve stroke. The switching voltage Us for sensing the corresponding switch points of the Hall sensor is indicated on the y-coordinate.

[0084] According to the characteristic curves shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, a valve apparatus according to the invention is considered to be closed when opening up to a valve stroke of 0.75 mm.

[0085] When closing, the switch point of the closed opening position is reached at a valve stroke of 0.5 mm.

[0086] In the range of a valve stroke of 0 mm—or in a home position in which the valve sealing section 11 precisely contacts the sealing element 13, or along with the sealing element 13 the passage sealing section—up to a valve stroke of 1 mm, the cylindrical area having a height of approximately 1 mm is provided between the passage section 6 of the valve passage opening 5 and the closure section 10 of the closure element. A annular gap with an approximately 2% opening cross-section is then opened up.

[0087] Only in case of larger strokes does the cross-section of the valve passage opening or the opening cross-section increase proportionally to the valve stroke. This can be seen in FIG. 3 at a stroke of 1 mm, because the cross-section marked on the y-coordinate increases proportionally over the valve stroke.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

[0088] 1 Valve apparatus

[0089] 2 Housing device

[0090] 3 Closure element

[0091] 4 Throughflow direction

[0092] 5 Valve passage opening

[0093] 6 Passage section

[0094] 7 Passage sealing section

[0095] 8 Fluid inlet

[0096] 9 Fluid outlet

[0097] 10 Closure section

[0098] 11 Closure sealing section

[0099] 12 Recess

[0100] 13 Sealing element

[0101] 14 Annular gap

[0102] 15 Opening cross-section

[0103] 16 Sensor device

[0104] 17 Hall sensor

[0105] 18 Magnet

[0106] 19 Wall

[0107] 20 Housing wall