Pneumatic multi-valve device and production method

Abstract

A pneumatic multi-valve device includes a housing (21) having a plurality of electromagnetic valve actuators (1), each having coil elements (2) arranged stationary in the housing (21), a core (4) arranged in the housing (21), and armature elements (24). The cores (4) each have a venting bore (5) connected to a venting collection channel (14) on the side of the cores (4) facing away from the connection housing side (23). The venting collection channel is connected to a venting opening (28) of the housing (21), which venting opening is arranged on a housing side different from the housing back side (25). The venting collection channel (14) is formed by a plurality of venting channel elements (13), which are connected to each other.

Claims

1. A pneumatic multi-valve device, (valve block), comprising a housing (21), which has a plurality of electromagnetic valve actuators (1), each having coil elements (2) arranged in the housing (21) in a stationary manner, a core (4) arranged in the housing (21), and armature elements (24), which can be displaced along a displacement axis (V) in the housing (21) relative to the core (4) and to a pneumatic connection (12) of the housing (21) as a response to energization of the coil elements (2), wherein the displacement axes (V) of the armature elements (24) of the valve actuators (1) are oriented parallel and the pneumatic connections (12) associated with the armature elements (24) are arranged adjacent to each other on a connection housing side (23), which is spaced apart from a housing back side (25) facing away therefrom along the displacement axes (V), wherein the cores (4) each have a venting bore (5), which is connected in an air-conducting manner to a venting collection channel (14) on the side of the cores (4) facing away from the connection housing side (23), which venting collection channel is connected in an air-conducting manner to a venting opening (28) of the housing (21), which venting opening is arranged on a housing side different from the housing back side (25), the housing side being the connection housing side (23) having the pneumatic connections (12), wherein the venting collection channel (14) has a longitudinal axis and is formed by a plurality of venting channel elements (13) connected to each other and distributed along the longitudinal axis of the venting collection channel (14), wherein the plurality of venting channel elements (13) are connected to each other in an air-conducting manner.

2. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (21) has a monolithic housing body (22) which is formed by overmolding the venting channel elements (13), together with the coil elements (2), with plastic.

3. The multi-valve device according to claim 2, wherein a venting channel, which extends parallel to the displacement axes (V) and which connects the venting collection channel (14) to the venting opening (28), which is formed by a venting channel end of the venting channel (19), is embodied in the housing body (22).

4. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein the venting channel elements (13) are mechanically connected to each other, in a positive manner, and/or wherein the venting channel elements (13) are mechanically connected to the cores (4).

5. The multi-valve device according to claim 4, wherein the venting channel elements (13) are mechanically connected to each other in a positive manner by inserting into each other and/or interlocking with each other, and/or wherein the venting channel elements (13) are mechanically connected to the cores (4) by means of inserting or attaching into or onto the cores (4), respectively.

6. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein one of the venting channel elements (13) is embodied as branching element, which has a connection channel section (20) for connection to one of the cores (4), at least one connection channel section (17) for linking to another one of the venting channel elements (13) leading to another one of the cores (4), as well as a deflection channel section for the air-conducting connection to the venting opening (28).

7. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein at least some of the venting channel elements (13) permeate a joint electrical connection plate (8) for electrically contacting the plurality of coil elements (2), axially in extension of the displacement axes (V).

8. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein the armature elements (24) are each guided directly in one of the coil carriers (3), which are embodied as plastic part, of the associated coil elements (2) in a longitudinally displaceable manner, without interpositioning an armature guide tube.

9. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein the venting bores (5), which are centrically arranged in the cores (4), run axially in a straight line and/or are parallel among each other and/or wherein a respective working chamber (33), which can be vented via the associated venting bore (5), is bounded by each armature element (24) and the associated core (4).

10. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein that the venting bores (5) are connected to the pneumatic connection (12) and/or a working line (37) via a respective connection channel (36), which leads into the respective working chamber (33).

11. The multi-valve device according to claim 10, wherein the respective connection channel (36) comprises at least one bore in the respective armature elements (24) and/or is embodied on the outer circumference of the armature elements (24).

12. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein a venting valve seat (32), which is associated with the corresponding venting bore (5), is in each case associated with the armature elements (24) for closing the respective venting bore (5), by energizing the coil elements (2).

13. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, further comprising that a working valve seat (30), which is in each case associated with the armature elements (24) in the area of the pneumatic connection (12), for opening and closing an air-conducting connection between a pressure supply line and a working line.

14. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein the housing (21) is connected via the pneumatic connections (12) to a distributor plate (26) having working valve seats (30) for interacting with the armature elements (24), at least one pressure supply line, and at least one working line.

15. The multi-valve device according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of venting channel elements (13) are each embodied as a plastic injection molded part.

16. A method for producing a multi-valve device (27) comprising a housing (21), which has a plurality of electromagnetic valve actuators (1), each having coil elements (2) arranged in the housing (21) in a stationary manner, a core (4) arranged in the housing (21), and armature elements (24), which can be displaced along a displacement axis (V) in the housing (21) relative to the core (4) and to a pneumatic connection (12) of the housing (21) as a response to energization of the coil elements (2), wherein the displacement axes (V) of the armature elements (24) of the valve actuators (1) are oriented parallel and the pneumatic connections (12) associated with the armature elements (24) are arranged adjacent to each other on a connection housing side (23), which is spaced apart from a housing back side (25) facing away therefrom along the displacement axes (V), wherein each core (4) has a venting bore (5), which is connected in an air-conducting manner to a venting collection channel (14) on the side of the core (4) facing away from the connection housing side (23), which venting collection channel is connected in an air-conducting manner to a venting opening (28) of the housing (21), which venting opening is arranged on a housing side different from the housing back side (25), the housing side being the connection housing side (23) having the pneumatic connections (12), wherein the venting collection channel (14) has a longitudinal axis and is formed by a plurality of venting channel elements (13) connected to each other along the longitudinal axis of the venting collection channel (14), wherein the plurality of venting channel elements (13) are connected to each other in an air-conducting manner, comprising: providing the plurality of coil elements (2) each comprising the core (4) arranged therein and the venting bore (5), connecting each of the venting bores (5) of the cores (4) in an air-conducting manner to a venting channel element (13), and connecting the venting channel elements in an air-conducting manner to define the venting collection channel (14) prior to or after the connection of the venting channel element (13) to the venting bores (5) in an air-conducting manner.

17. The method according to claim 16, further comprising, to embody the venting collection channel (14), inserting the venting channel elements (13) into each other and/or interlocking the venting channel elements (13) with each other, and/or mechanically connecting the venting channel elements (13) to the cores (4), by inserting or attaching into the cores (4).

18. The method according to claim 16, further comprising overmolding the venting channel elements (13) together with the coil elements (2), to embody a monolithic housing body (22).

19. The method of claim 16, wherein the venting channel element (13) is a plastic injection molded part.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages, features and details of the invention follow from the following description of preferred exemplary embodiments as well as by means of the Figures.

(2) FIG. 1a to FIG. 1h show different manufacturing stages for producing a multi-valve device shown in section in FIG. 1h,

(3) FIG. 2a to FIG. 2d show an alternative exemplary embodiment of a multi-valve arrangement embodied according to the concept of the invention, in different, partially sectional views, and

(4) FIG. 3a to FIG. 3d show an exemplary embodiment of a multi-valve arrangement according to FIGS. 1a to 1h in different, partially sectional views.

(5) The same elements and elements with the same function are identified with the same reference numerals in the Figures.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(6) FIGS. 1a to 1f show different assembly steps and components for producing a multi-valve device according to the invention, which is illustrated in FIG. 1g in a perspective view and which, in turn, is illustrated in a sectional view in FIG. 1h.

(7) FIG. 1a shows a preassembled, electromagnetic valve actuator 1, of which a plurality—here for example three pieces—is provided in the finished multi-valve device (valve block) illustrated in FIGS. 1g and 1h. The electromagnetic valve actuator 1 comprises energizable coil elements 2 (electrical winding), which is arranged on a coil carrier 3, which is embodied as plastic injection molded part. A core 4 for the electromagnetic interaction with non-illustrated armature elements is located in a central passage opening (central bore) of the coil carrier 3. A central venting bore 5 is provided in the core 4. The coil elements 3 are clasped by a magnetically conducting yoke 6 for closing the magnetic circuit. Electrical contact elements 7 for energizing or electrically contacting, respectively, the coil elements 2 can be seen. A pneumatic connection 12 for pneumatically contacting the valve actuator 1 is shown in FIG. 1a on the bottom in the drawing plane.

(8) A plurality of such valve actuators, here for example three, is provided in the context of the production method. A connection plate 8 for electrically contacting the contacts 7 of a plurality of valve actuators 1 is shown in FIG. 1b. The connection plate 8 consists of conducting areas 9 as well as flanging sections 10 for fixing a plurality of, here three, valve actuators 1. The connection plate 8 comprises electrical connection elements 11, here in the form of a contact bushing.

(9) FIG. 1c shows the next assembly or production step, respectively. It can be seen that the plurality of valve actuators 1 is arranged on the connection plate 8, which extends perpendicular to the displacement axes of the armature elements, which will be explained later. A plurality of venting channel elements 13, which are each embodied as plastic injection molded part, is shown in FIG. 1d, which are combined to form a venting collection channel 14 shown in FIG. 1e, in the present case by inserting into each other. For this purpose, at least one of the venting channel elements, here the central venting channel element in the drawing, which is embodied as distributor element, has end-sided connecting sleeve sections 15, for accommodating an insertion section 16 each of another one of the venting channel elements 13. The venting channel elements are connected in an air-conducting manner to the venting channel element 14 via this insertion connection. In the context of the method, it is possible to embody this intermediate assembly step for creating the venting channel element to be upstream, and to then provide the finished or pre-assembled venting channel 14, respectively. According to FIG. 1f, said venting channel is connected to the venting bores 5 of the cores, here by insertion into an insertion opening of each core on the front side. It can be seen that the exemplary central venting channel element 13 here according to FIG. 1f is embodied as distributor element and has two connection channel sections 17 for connection to the adjacent venting channel elements, as well as a discharge channel section 18 for connection to a connection channel section 20, which is oriented towards a housing venting channel 19 (see FIG. 1g) as well as downwards in the drawing, for linking to the associated core. The venting channel sections to the left and right of this distributor element are embodied in an essentially L-shaped manner and only have one connection channel section as well as one connection channel section.

(10) The pre-assembly arrangement according to FIG. 1f is overmolded with plastic injection molding material to produce the housing 21 shown in FIG. 1g, which in the present case consists of a monolithic housing body 22, which is produced by means of the overmolding process and in which the functional units are embodied and from which electrical connection elements 11 protrude laterally. As can be seen from the sectional view according to FIG. 1h, the housing 21 or the housing body, respectively, comprises a connection housing side 23, from which the pneumatic connections 12 of the individual valve actuators 1 protrude, and a back side 25, which is spaced apart therefrom via displacement axes of armature elements 24 and at which the plastic injection molding material or the housing body, respectively, covers the venting channel elements 13 at least for the most part. A distributor plate for pneumatically contacting the pneumatic connections 12 is fixed or arranged, respectively, on the housing 21 on the connection housing side 23.

(11) The detailed setup of the multi-valve device 27 according to FIG. 1h will be described below by means of FIGS. 3a to 3d, wherein, to avoid repetitions, reference is also made to the preceding Figure description, which applies in this regard.

(12) The multi-valve device 27, which is embodied as three-way valve arrangement here, is shown in FIGS. 3a and 3b in different perspective views.

(13) The monolithic housing body 22 can be seen, which forms the housing 21, which has the housing back side 25 and, located opposite thereto or facing away therefrom, respectively, the connection housing side 23 with its connections 12. The venting channel 19, which is produced by means of the mentioned overmolding process and which extends parallel to the displacement axes of the armature elements, which will be described later, and which leads to a venting opening 28 on the connection housing side 23, can be seen in FIGS. 3a and 3b.

(14) The inner setup of the multi-valve arrangement 27 becomes clear from FIGS. 3c and 3d. First of all, the plurality of valve actuators 1, which are arranged adjacent to each other, can be seen, each comprising armature elements 24, which can be displaced axially along a respective displacement axis V and which interact with each other via a preferably elastomeric sealing element 29, which is on the bottom in the drawing plane and is held on the armature elements 24, in the area of the respective pneumatic connection 12 with a respective valve seat 30 (see FIG. 1h), the distributor plate 26 (see also FIG. 1h) in an area outside of the housing 21.

(15) On the opposite side along the displacement axis V or facing away from the sealing element 29, respectively, the armature elements each support a further elastomeric sealing element 31 for interacting with a respective venting valve seat 32 on the core 4. By attaching the upper sealing element in the drawing plane to the venting valve seat 32, the venting bore 5 can be closed in the core 4. In the case of armature elements, which are displaced away from the venting valve seat 32, a working area 33 formed axially between the armature elements 24 and the core is connected in an air-conducting manner via the venting bore 5 to the venting collection channel 14, which, in turn, is formed by the venting channel elements 13.

(16) They are inserted in corresponding depressions 34 in the cores 4 and are connected among each other in an air-conducting manner and mechanically in a respective connection area 35 by means of insertion.

(17) Connection channels 36, which extend along the respective displacement axis V and which are embodied at a slight incline here in an exemplary manner, are embodied in the armature elements as passage openings or bores, respectively, which connect the respective pneumatic connection 12, more precisely a working line 37, which is provided at that location, to the working area 33 in an air-conducting manner.

(18) A return spring 38, against the spring force of which the armature elements 14 can be displaced in response to energization, i.e. upwards in the drawing plane here, pushes the armature elements 24 downwards in the drawing plane against the (lower valve seat), which is not illustrated in FIG. 13, which serves to close a compressed air line (supply line), which is suggested via the arrow 39. If the coil elements 2 are not energized, the return spring 38 pushes the armature elements 24 against the lower valve seat, so that the air-conducting connection between the supply line and the working line is interrupted. The working line is simultaneously vented via the connection channels 36, the working area 13, and the venting bore 5. As a response to energization of the coil elements, the armature elements 24 are displaced away from the lower valve seat against the venting valve seat 32, whereby the venting is interrupted or the venting bore 5 is closed, respectively.

(19) It can be seen from an overall view of FIGS. 3c and 3d that the monolithic housing body 22 encloses the venting valve elements 13 and furthermore also extends into areas between the valve actuators 1. The venting channel 19, to which the venting collection channel 14 is connected, is embodied in the housing body 22. The venting opening 28 is located on the connection housing side 23.

(20) The multi-valve arrangement 27 according to FIGS. 2a to 2d has basically functionally the same setup, wherein only exclusively two valve actuators are arranged adjacent to each other here instead of three valve actuators. To avoid repetitions, reference is made to the preceding Figure description with regard to the predominant commonalities.

REFERENCE NUMERALS

(21) 1 electromagnetic valve actuator

(22) 2 coil element

(23) 3 coil carrier

(24) 4 cores

(25) 5 venting bores

(26) 6 yokes

(27) 7 electrical contacts

(28) 8 connection plate

(29) 9 conducting areas

(30) 10 flanging sections

(31) 11 electrical connection elements

(32) 12 pneumatic connections

(33) 13 venting channel elements

(34) 14 venting collection channel

(35) 15 connecting sleeve sections

(36) 16 insertion sections

(37) 17 connection channel sections

(38) 18 discharge channel section

(39) 19 venting channel

(40) 20 connection channel section

(41) 21 housing

(42) 22 housing body

(43) 23 connection housing side

(44) 24 armature elements

(45) 25 housing back side

(46) 26 pneumatic distributor plate

(47) 27 multi-valve device

(48) 28 venting opening

(49) 29 sealing element

(50) 30 (working) valve seat

(51) 31 sealing element

(52) 32 venting valve seat

(53) 33 working area (working chamber)

(54) 34 depressions in the cores

(55) 35 connection area

(56) 36 connection channels

(57) 37 working line

(58) 38 return spring

(59) 39 arrow (symbolized by the pneumatic supply line)

(60) V displacement axis