Valve for Variable Throttling of a Hydraulic Flow with a Fatigue-Resistant Mechanical Means for Reducing Possible Valve Oscillations

Abstract

A valve for variable throttling of a hydraulic flow includes a tappet and a guide element in which the tappet is guided for movement in a stroke direction. The valve also includes at least one fatigue-resistant, mechanical member that locally reduces a radial play of the tappet so as to reduce possible valve oscillations.

Claims

1. A valve for variable throttling of a hydraulic flow, comprising: a tappet; a guide element in which the tappet is guided for movement in a stroke direction; and at least one fatigue-resistant, mechanical member that locally reduces a radial play of the tappet so as to reduce possible valve oscillations.

2. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical member applies a transverse force to the tappet during a stroke movement.

3. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical member is metal.

4. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical member is a spring.

5. The valve according to claim 4, wherein the spring is a flexible spring.

6. The valve according to claim 5, wherein the flexible spring is orientated in the stroke direction or transversely to the stroke direction.

7. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical member is at least two mechanical members that are arranged so as to be distributed along a periphery around the tappet.

8. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the at least one mechanical member is integrated at least in the guide element or is formed integrally therewith.

9. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is a sleeve.

10. The valve according to claim 1, wherein the guide element is a resilient sleeve on which a pretensioning element is supported, and wherein the pretensioning element pretensions the tappet in the stroke direction.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0027] The solution set out here and the technical environment thereof are explained in greater detail below with reference to the Figures. It should be noted that the disclosure is not intended to be limited by the embodiments shown. In particular, unless otherwise explicitly illustrated, it is also possible to extract part-aspects of the content explained in the Figures and to combine them with other components and/or knowledge from other Figures and/or from the present description. In the schematic drawings:

[0028] FIG. 1: is a side view of a valve proposed here and illustrated in cross-section,

[0029] FIG. 2: is a perspective view of the guide element of the valve of FIG. 1,

[0030] FIG. 3: is a perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the guide element from FIG. 2,

[0031] FIG. 4: is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the guide element from FIG. 2,

[0032] FIG. 5: is a plan view of a possible mutual arrangement of the tappet, guide element and mechanical means,

[0033] FIG. 6: is a plan view of another possible mutual arrangement of the tappet, guide element and mechanical means,

[0034] FIG. 7: is a plan view of another possible mutual arrangement of the tappet, guide element and mechanical means,

[0035] FIG. 8: is a perspective view of the embodiment of the guide element from FIG. 7,

[0036] FIG. 9 shows the sequence of an exemplary method for common production of a guide element and a mechanical means for a valve described here,

[0037] FIG. 10: is a perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the guide element from FIG. 2;

[0038] FIG. 11: shows the sequence of another exemplary method for common production of a guide element and a mechanical means for a valve described here,

[0039] FIG. 12: is a side view of another valve proposed here and illustrated in cross-section,

[0040] FIG. 13: is a side view of another valve proposed here and illustrated in cross-section, and

[0041] FIG. 14: is a side view of another valve proposed here and illustrated in cross-section.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0042] FIG. 1 is a schematic side view of a valve 1 proposed in this instance and illustrated in cross-section. The valve 1 is configured for variable throttling of a hydraulic flow. It comprises a tappet 2 and a guide element 3, in which the tappet 2 is guided for movement in a stroke direction 4. The valve 1 has at least one fatigue-resistant, mechanical (pretensioning) means 5 which locally reduces a radial play 6 of the tappet 2 in order to reduce possible valve oscillations. To this end, the mechanical (pretensioning) means 5 is configured to apply a transverse force to the tappet 2 during a stroke movement of the tappet 2.

[0043] The mechanical (pretensioning) means 5 is in this instance by way of example a flexible spring. Furthermore, the mechanical means 5 is in this instance integrated by way of example into the guide element 3 and formed integrally therewith (cf. in this regard also the illustration according to FIG. 2). In addition, the guide element 3 is in this instance, for example, a sleeve which is further configured by way of example as a resilient sleeve on which a pretensioning element 7 which pretensions the tappet 2 in the stroke direction 4 is supported.

[0044] At the end of the tappet 2 opposite the pretensioning element 7, there is arranged a valve closure member 9 which can be moved by means of the tappet 2 toward a valve seat 10 and away from it again. As a result of a stroke movement of the valve closure member 9 away from the valve seat 10, there is released a flow path which connects the two valve openings 11 to each other.

[0045] FIG. 2 is a schematic, perspective view of the guide element 3 of the valve 1 from FIG. 1. The line of section relating to the sectioned illustration illustrated in FIG. 1 is illustrated and marked with arrows in FIG. 2.

[0046] FIGS. 1 and 2 show in this context a possible embodiment of the valve 2. The sleeve 3 has the functions of firstly pretensioning the helical spring 7 to a specific length so that a desired opening pressure is achieved and, secondly, guiding the valve tappet 2. As a result of tolerances and the capacity for assembly, a minimum gap 6 should be provided between the sleeve 3 and the tappet 2.

[0047] From the sleeve 3, in order to form the mechanical (pretensioning) means 5 at one or more locations, there is formed a contour which (locally) further limits the radial freedom of movement between the tappet 2 and sleeve 3. The mechanical (pretensioning) means 5 is in this instance shown by way of example as a type of flexible spring. To this end, the contour moves the tappet 2 at one or more locations and consequently ensures selective redirection and/or tilting. The radial play 6 can consequently be freely reduced (locally) up to 0 m [zero micrometers], whereby a radial oscillation can be considerably reduced. Furthermore, axial oscillations can also be reduced by the present friction at the contact locations.

[0048] FIG. 3 is a schematic, perspective view of an alternative embodiment of the guide element from FIG. 2. For example, the flexible spring is constructed in a peripheral direction. Any positions are possible. This represents an example that and how the flexible spring can be orientated transversely relative to the stroke direction 4.

[0049] FIG. 4 is a schematic, perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the guide element from FIG. 2. The illustration according to FIG. 4 represents an example that and how the flexible spring can be orientated in the travel direction 4. Furthermore, in FIG. 4, shape changes of the contour are additionally indicated and can contribute to a reduction of material tensions under loading.

[0050] FIG. 5 is a schematic plan view of a possible mutual arrangement of the tappet 2, guide element 3 and mechanical means 5.

[0051] FIG. 6 is a schematic plan view of another possible mutual arrangement of the tappet 2, guide element 3 and mechanical means 5. In this context, FIG. 6 illustrates an example that and how at least two (in this instance, four) mechanical (pretensioning) means 5 may be provided and are arranged so as to be distributed along a periphery around the tappet 2.

[0052] In this context, FIGS. 5 and 6, image 3 are plan views of other flexible springs. The number of flexible springs can be freely selected.

[0053] FIG. 7 is a schematic plan view of another possible mutual arrangement of the tappet 2, guide element 3 and mechanical means 5.

[0054] FIG. 8 is a schematic, perspective view of the embodiment of the guide element 3 from FIG. 7.

[0055] In the additional exemplary embodiment shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the flexible spring 5 is additionally curved in terms of the width. In other words, this can also be described in such a manner that a flexible spring 5 which is orientated in the stroke direction 4 (cf. FIG. 1) may have at least in a (longitudinal) portion, in particular in an upper portion, a curvature in a radial direction and/or in a peripheral direction. Furthermore, any shapes are conceivable.

[0056] The spring retention member 3 from FIGS. 7 and 8 may, for example, be produced from a metal sheet by means of punching out and shaping. This is explained in greater detail below with reference to FIG. 9.

[0057] FIG. 9 schematically shows the sequence of an exemplary method for common production of a guide element 3 and a mechanical means 5 for a valve 1 described in this instance. The method is used for the common production of a guide element 3 and at least one mechanical pretensioning means 5 for a valve 1 described in this instance. In this context, the method steps a), b) and c) and the exemplary sequence thereof are illustrated using the blocks 110, 120 and 130.

[0058] In block 110, according to step a) a metal sheet 8 is provided. In block 120, according to step b) the metal sheet 8 is punched. In block 130, according to step c) the metal sheet 8 is shaped.

[0059] In this context, a possible cost-effective production principle is illustrated as an example. From a flat metal sheet 8, the contour is punched free around the flexible spring 5, in the same manner as the schematically illustrated base segments 12. In the next step, the flexible spring 5 obtains the desired contour by means of stamping. In the final shaping process, the component is shaped to form the sleeve 3 and the base segments 12 are angled.

[0060] Alternatively, the base member 3 may first be produced as a deep-drawn component with subsequent punching out (of the flexible spring 5).

[0061] As another alternative, the flexible spring 5 may also be produced in place of punching out only by means of shaping the resilient sleeve 3. One possible result of such a production method is illustrated by way of example in FIG. 10.

[0062] FIG. 10 is a schematic, perspective view of another alternative embodiment of the guide element 3 from FIG. 2.

[0063] FIG. 11 schematically illustrates the sequence of another exemplary method for common production of a guide element 3 and a mechanical means 5 for a valve 1 described in this instance.

[0064] In FIG. 11, the flexible spring 5 is produced in such a manner that the bent metal sheet 8 is not connected at the ends and consequently a specific resilient action is present over the periphery of the metal sheet 8 (which is bent relative to the sleeve 3).

[0065] FIG. 12 is a schematic side view of another valve 1 proposed here and illustrated in cross-section. FIG. 12 shows that the engagement of the flexible spring 5 in the valve does not have to be present initially (that is to say, already with a closed valve).

[0066] FIG. 13 is a schematic side view of another valve 1 proposed here and illustrated in cross-section. In FIG. 13, the engagement location of the flexible spring 5 is not indicated at the largest diameter of the tappet 2, but instead at any other location. In this instance, the flexible spring 5 may be shaped from the resilient sleeve 3 (as illustrated in FIG. 13), or by means of an additional component (as illustrated in FIG. 14).

[0067] FIG. 14 is a schematic side view of another valve 1 proposed here and illustrated in cross-section. In FIG. 14, the flexible spring 5 is formed by means of a component which is additional to the resilient sleeve 3 (but in particular releasably connected to the resilient sleeve 3).