Valve Arrangement For A Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A valve arrangement for a motor vehicle has a valve plunger fixedly connected to a closure member, a valve housing, a valve seat, an electric motor configured to move the valve plunger, and a worm gear has an outer thread and an inner thread. The valve plunger has, at least in a sub-region, an outer thread and the valve arrangement has a threaded sleeve with an inner thread or a spindle nut with an inner thread, or the valve plunger is fixedly connected to a component having an inner thread and the valve arrangement has an outer thread. The valve plunger is connected to a first gearwheel, and the valve arrangement has at least one second gearwheel. The second gearwheel is arranged such that it can transmit a rotational movement directly, or via an intermediate gearing, to the first gearwheel.

Claims

1-17. (canceled)

18. A valve arrangement (100) for a motor vehicle, comprising: a valve plunger (110), a closure member (120) to which the valve plunger (110) is fixedly connected; a valve housing (130); a valve seat (140); an electric motor (150) configured to move the valve plunger (110); a worm gear with an outer thread (160) and an inner thread (170); a first gearwheel coupled to the valve plunger (110); a second gearwheel (190), the second gearwheel (190) being arranged and configured to transmit a rotational movement directly, or via an intermediate gearing, to the first gearwheel (180); and a sleeve, wherein: in the worm gear: the inner thread (170) is formed as a part of the sleeve on an inner surface of the sleeve, and the valve plunger has, at least in a sub-region thereof, the outer thread (160), or the inner thread (170) is formed as a spindle nut arranged in the sleeve and having the inner thread (170), and the valve plunger has, at least in a sub-region thereof, the outer thread (160), or the inner thread (170) is formed on the first gearwheel (180), and the first gearwheel is fixedly connected to the valve plunger (110), and the outer thread (160) is formed on the valve arrangement (100).

19. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, further comprising: a magnetic field sensor (210); and a magnet (220) arranged connected to the valve plunger (110) such that a setting of the valve is detectable by the magnetic field sensor (210).

20. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the valve plunger (110) comprises the outer thread (160).

21. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the outer thread (160) is attached to the valve plunger (110) via a separate second sleeve.

22. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 19, wherein the outer thread (160) or the inner thread (170) is attached to the valve plunger (110) by injection molding.

23. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 22, wherein the first gearwheel (180) and the outer thread (160) are injection molded as a single piece, or the first gearwheel (180) and the inner thread (170) are injection molded as a single piece.

24. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 23, wherein the first gearwheel (180) and the inner thread (170) are produced in a joint injection molding that also connects the magnet (220) to the valve plunger (110) by encapsulating the magnet (220).

25. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, further comprising a mechanical restoring element (310), or a spring, connected to the valve plunger (110) and a valve housing (130) so as to apply a first torque to the valve plunger (110) such that the valve plunger (110) is rotated back into a closed valve setting, unless a second torque, greater than the first torque, acts on the first gearwheel (180).

26. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the valve plunger (110) is guided in one or more plain bearings (410).

27. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, further comprising an additional sleeve (510) arranged on the valve housing (130) around the valve plunger (110) such that an annular gap, which is at least a factor of 10 smaller than the diameter of the plunger (110), is between the valve plunger (110) and the inner wall of the sleeve (510), and the sleeve (510) bears with its outer wall against the housing (130).

28. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, further comprising at least one ring-like seal (610) arranged around the valve plunger (110) such that the at least one ring-like seal (610) bears sealingly against the valve housing (130) and the valve plunger (110).

29. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 28, wherein the at least one ring-like seal (610) is made of an elastomer material.

30. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 29, further comprising an element composed of PTFE (620) arranged between the at least one ring-like seal (610) and the valve plunger (110).

31. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, wherein the first gearwheel (180) has a stop (185), and a further stop (135) is arranged on the housing (130), said further stop being arranged in a manner corresponding to the stop (185) on the gearwheel (180) and limiting a rotational movement of the first gearwheel (180).

32. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, which is configured such that it withstands the temperatures in use as an exhaust-gas recirculation valve arrangement (100).

33. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, further comprising at least one additional gearwheel (710) configured to impart the rotational movement between the first gearwheel (180) and the second gearwheel (190), and wherein the first gearwheel (180) and the second gearwheel (190) are not in contact.

34. The valve arrangement (100) as claimed in claim 18, wherein at least one gearwheel (180, 190, 710) is enlarged in extent along the axis of rotation such that sufficient engagement or overlap of the gearwheels (180, 190) is ensured over the entire stroke of the valve plunger (110).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0037] The invention will be discussed in more detail below on the basis of the figures of the drawings, wherein identical or similar elements are provided with the same reference signs. In the figures:

[0038] FIG. 1 shows a side view of a valve arrangement for a motor vehicle, having a valve plunger which is fixedly connected to a closure member, having a valve housing, having a valve seat, and having an electric motor by way of which the valve plunger is able to be moved;

[0039] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a valve arrangement for a motor vehicle, having a plurality of plain bearings;

[0040] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of a valve arrangement for a motor vehicle; which has, in addition to a first gearwheel and a second gearwheel, a third gearwheel; and

[0041] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of a valve arrangement for a motor vehicle, in which the valve plunger is fixedly connected to a component having an inner thread and the valve arrangement has an outer thread.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PRESENTLY PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0042] For the sake of clarity, possible teeth of gearwheels which are designed in the form of toothed wheels are not indicated to some extent.

[0043] FIG. 1 shows, in a sectional drawing, a side view of an embodiment of a valve arrangement 100 according to an embodiment of the invention for a motor vehicle. A valve plunger 110 is fixedly connected to a closure member 120. The closure member 120 comes into contact with a valve seat 140 such that the contact region is leak-tight. The valve arrangement has a valve housing 130. A first gearwheel 180 is connected to the valve plunger 110. A second gearwheel 190 is connected to an electric motor 150, and is arranged such that it transmits a rotational movement directly to the first gearwheel 180. The valve plunger 110 has, in a sub-region, an outer thread 160 which runs in a threaded sleeve or spindle nut 170. The outer thread 160 and the threaded sleeve or spindle nut 170 together form a worm gear. A rotational movement of the valve plunger about its longitudinal axis thus simultaneously leads to a linear movement along its longitudinal axis. A mechanical restoring element 310 or a spring is connected to the valve plunger 110 and the valve housing 130 such that the valve plunger 110 is rotated back into the starting position if a greater torque does not act on the first gearwheel 180. The starting position is the closed setting of the valve arrangement/valve. A magnet 220 is connected to the valve plunger 110 such that a magnetic field sensor 210 detects the setting of the valve plunger. The valve plunger 110 is guided by a plain bearing 410. An additional sleeve 510 is arranged on the valve housing 130 around the valve plunger 110 such that just an annular gap, which is at least a factor of 10 smaller than the diameter of the plunger 110, is present between the valve plunger 110 and the inner wall of the sleeve 510, and the sleeve 510 bears with its outer wall against the housing 130. A ring-like (i.e., annular) seal 610 is situated around the valve plunger 110 such that it bears sealingly against the valve housing 130 and the valve plunger 110. The first gearwheel 180 has a stop 185, and a further stop 135 is arranged on the housing 130, the further stop being arranged in a manner corresponding to the stop 185 on the gearwheel 180 and limiting a rotational movement of the first gearwheel 180. The first gearwheel 180 is enlarged in extent in the longitudinal direction, that is to say along the axis of rotation, such that sufficient engagement or overlap of the gearwheels 180, 190 is ensured over the entire stroke of the valve plunger 110.

[0044] The fixing of a restoring element 310 or a spring at the valve housing is not shown for reasons of clarity.

[0045] FIG. 2 shows, in a sectional drawing, a side view of an exemplary embodiment of a valve arrangement 100 according to the invention for a motor vehicle. The valve arrangement shown in FIG. 2 differs from the valve arrangement shown in FIG. 1 in that, here, the second gearwheel 190 is enlarged in extent in the longitudinal direction, that is to say along the axis of rotation, such that sufficient engagement or overlap of the gearwheels 180, 190 is ensured over the entire stroke of the valve plunger 110.

[0046] FIG. 3 shows, in a perspective view, an exemplary embodiment of a valve arrangement 110 according to the invention. The valve arrangement shown in FIG. 3 differs from the valve arrangements shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 in that, here, the rotational movement between the first gearwheel 180 and the second gearwheel 190 is imparted by an additional gearwheel 710. The first gearwheel 180 and the second gearwheel 190 are not in contact in this case.

[0047] FIG. 4 shows, in a perspective view, an exemplary embodiment of a valve arrangement 100 according to the invention, in which the valve plunger 110 is fixedly connected to a component having an inner thread 170 and the valve arrangement 100 has an outer thread 160. A valve plunger 110 is fixedly connected to a closure member 120 at one end of the plunger and to a first gearwheel 180. The gearwheel 180 has an inner thread 170. An outer thread 160 surrounds the plunger 110 but is not connected thereto. In other words: the plunger 110 projects through the outer thread 160 and can rotate about its longitudinal axis in relation to the outer thread or move through the outer thread along its longitudinal axis. The inner thread 170 runs on the outer thread 160, which is fixedly connected to the housing 130. When the motor 150 transmits a rotational movement to the second gearwheel 190, which engages with the first gearwheel 180, the first gearwheel 180 is also set in rotation. The inner thread 170 and the outer thread 160 together form a worm gear, with the result that a rotational movement of the first gearwheel 180 also leads to a linear movement of the first gearwheel 180 along its axis of rotation. Since the first gearwheel 180 is fixedly connected to the valve plunger 110, the plunger 110 also undergoes a rotational movement about the axis of rotation of the gearwheel, which is thus also the axis of rotation of the plunger, and simultaneously a linear movement along this axis of rotation.

[0048] Thus, while there have been shown and described and pointed out fundamental novel features of the invention as applied to a preferred embodiment thereof, it will be understood that various omissions and substitutions and changes in the form and details of the devices illustrated, and in their operation, may be made by those skilled in the art without departing from the spirit of the invention. For example, it is expressly intended that all combinations of those elements and/or method steps which perform substantially the same function in substantially the same way to achieve the same results are within the scope of the invention. Moreover, it should be recognized that structures and/or elements and/or method steps shown and/or described in connection with any disclosed form or embodiment of the invention may be incorporated in any other disclosed or described or suggested form or embodiment as a general matter of design choice. It is the intention, therefore, to be limited only as indicated by the scope of the claims appended hereto.