Abstract
A valve element includes an actuator with an SMA wire and a return spring, and a base plate from which the actuator extends. The actuator includes at least a first fastening element attached to the base plate, and a second fastening element attached to the first fastening element via the return spring. The SMA wire is arranged between base plate and the second fastening element. The actuator further includes a first sealing element arranged on a side of the actuator facing away from the base plate on a head side on the second fastening element. A related lift element, lift element arrangement, distributor element, adjusting device, adjusting device arrangement, seat, vehicle, and antenna are also disclosed.
Claims
1. A valve element comprising: an actuator with an SMA wire and a return spring; and a base plate from which the actuator extends, wherein the actuator includes at least a first fastening element attached to the base plate, and a second fastening element attached to the first fastening element via the return spring, wherein the SMA wire is arranged between the base plate and the second fastening element, wherein the actuator further includes a first sealing element arranged on a side of the actuator facing away from the base plate on a head side on the second fastening element.
2. The valve element according to claim 1, wherein the actuator includes a first actuator with the first sealing element and the valve element further includes a second actuator with a second sealing element.
3. A distributor element with a valve element according to claim 2, further including a housing an opening for inserting the valve element including at least a first housing connection and a second housing connection, wherein at least one second housing connection can be closed with the first sealing element.
4. The distributor element according to claim 3, wherein the housing further includes a third housing connection, wherein the second housing connection includes a first connecting element and a second connecting element (96, 97), which are especially fluidically connected to one another permanently, wherein the third housing connection has a connecting element, wherein the second connecting element of the first housing connection and the connecting element of the third housing connection are aligned parallel to one another.
5. A lift element comprising: a body defining an opening and a first connection; and a flexible element tightly closing the opening of the body, wherein the flexible element is movable between a lowered position and a lift position by changing a volume of a fluid in the body connected to the flexible element, and wherein the connection includes a valve.
6. The lift element according to claim 5, wherein the fluid is air.
7. The lift element according to claim 5, wherein the flexible element is one of a membrane or a membrane with a bellows.
8. The lift element according to claim 5, wherein the valve is housed in the body.
9. The lift element according to claim 5, wherein the valve is one of a 3/2-way valve or a 3/3-way valve.
10. The lift element according to claim 5, wherein the body further defines an outlet, wherein the valve is configured so as to close the connection and the outlet at least one of alternately and simultaneously.
11. The lift element according to claim 5, wherein the valve an actuator with an SMA wire, a return spring and a first sealing element, wherein the valve includes a valve element according to claim 1.
12. The lift element according to claim 5, further including a bistable folding mechanism fixing the flexible element in place in the lowered position and in the lift position.
13. A lift element arrangement including at least two lift elements according to claim 5, wherein the lift elements are respectively connectable to the first connection with a supply line are connectable to a pump, and the valve of each lift element can be separately controlled.
14. The lift element arrangement according to claim 13, wherein the lift elements are arranged on a carrier, wherein the carrier is one single piece and has recesses.
15. The lift element arrangement according to claim 14, wherein the carrier includes at least one of the supply lines electrical connections.
16. An adjusting device including a lift element according to claim 5, and further including one of an adjuster and a spring element pressing against the flexible element of the lift element or a first lift element with a flexible element on whose side facing away from the body an adjuster is arranged, wherein the adjuster is simultaneously arranged on a flexible element of a second lift element oppositely disposed.
17. An adjusting arrangement including several adjusting devices according to claim 16.
18. A vehicle seat including a lift element arrangement according to claim 13.
19. A motor vehicle including a lift element according to claim 5.
20. An antenna including an adjusting arrangement according to claim 17.
Description
SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0028] The disclosure will now be explained in more detail with reference to the attached drawings.
[0029] FIG. 1 shows a view of a cross section through a lift element;
[0030] FIG. 2a shows a lift element with folding mechanism in the lowered position;
[0031] FIG. 2b shows a view of a lift element with folding mechanism in the lift position;
[0032] FIG. 3a shows a view of a lift element in lowered position;
[0033] FIG. 3b shows an exploded view;
[0034] FIG. 3c shows a view of a lift element in lift position;
[0035] FIG. 3d shows an exploded view;
[0036] FIG. 4a shows a schematic representation of a lift element with 3/2-way valve in lift position;
[0037] FIG. 4b shows a schematic representation of a lift element with 3/2-way valve in lowered position;
[0038] FIG. 5a shows a top view of a foil carrier with lift elements;
[0039] FIG. 5b shows a side view of a foil carrier with lift elements;
[0040] FIG. 6a shows a view with lift elements, arranged with a tree-shaped supply line;
[0041] FIG. 6b shows a view with lift elements, arranged with a ring supply line;
[0042] FIG. 7a shows a detailed view of a valve with the lift element in lift position;
[0043] FIG. 7b shows a valve with the lift element in lowered position;
[0044] FIG. 8a shows a perspective view of a lift element;
[0045] FIG. 8b shows a view of the lift element body of the hub element from FIG. 8a with valve;
[0046] FIG. 8c shows a side view of the lift element from FIG. 8a;
[0047] FIG. 8d shows a section along D-D;
[0048] FIG. 9a shows a view of a first embodiment of a valve insert for a 3/3-way valve;
[0049] FIG. 9b shows a view of a first embodiment of a valve insert for a 3/2-way valve;
[0050] FIG. 9c shows a view of second embodiment of a valve insert for a 3/3-way valve;
[0051] FIG. 9d shows a side view of the embodiment from FIG. 9c;
[0052] FIG. 9e shows a view of a third embodiment of a valve insert for a 3/3-way valves;
[0053] FIG. 10a shows a side view of an adjusting device;
[0054] FIG. 10b shows a front view of an adjusting device;
[0055] FIG. 11a shows a top view of an adjusting arrangement with antagonistically arranged lift elements in middle position;
[0056] FIG. 11b shows a side view of the adjusting arrangement; and
[0057] FIG. 11c shows a top view of the adjusting arrangement in deflected position;
[0058] FIG. 11d shows the adjusting arrangement with closed housing;
[0059] FIG. 12a shows a sectional view of a distributor element;
[0060] FIG. 12b shows an exploded view of a distributor element;
[0061] FIG. 13a shows a view of an adjustable vehicle surface with two lift elements; and
[0062] FIG. 13b shows a schematic vehicle with various adjustable elements.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0063] FIG. 1 shows a lift element 2 with a body 4. The body 4 has a cylindrical design and closed bottom. On a side opposite the bottom, a flexible element 10 has been arranged, held on the body 4 with a locking element 11. Laterally on the body, a first connection 8 comprising a valve 16 (not shown) is arranged. A pump can be connected to the lift element 2 via the first connection 8 in order to adjust a pressure in the lift element 2.
[0064] FIG. 2a, b shows an embodiment of the lift element 2 with a folding mechanism 20. Here, FIG. 2a shows the lift element 2 in lowered position 12 and FIG. 2b the lift element 2 in lift position 14. The body 4 of the lift element 2 comprises a first connection 8 and an outlet 18 executed as second connection. In the lowered position 12, the folding mechanism 20 is bent downwards; in the lift position 14, the folding mechanism 20 is bent upwards, so that the flexible element 10 remains in the lift position 14 even if there is a slight loss of internal pressure in the lift element 2.
[0065] FIG. 3a-d shows another embodiment of the lift element 2. FIG. 3a shows a perspective view of the lift element in lowered position 12. FIG. 3b shows an exploded view belonging to FIG. 3a. Here, the body 4 is closed at the bottom with a bottom 5 and at the top with the flexible element 10. The first connection 8 is arranged on the side of the body 4. The body 4 includes a 3/2-way valve with a valve element 17. An SMA element can be provided to activate the valve element 17. The valve element 17 is used in the body 4 with a first sealing element 78 and a second sealing element 80 in extension of the first connection 8. The folding mechanism 20 comprises here a bistable element whose flap is tilted downwards in the lowered state. FIG. 3c shows the lift element 2 in the lift position 14. FIG. 3d shows the associated exploded view, in which the bistable element is seen in the second position that fixes the lift position 14 in place. In doing so, the flap is tilted upwards.
[0066] FIG. 4a now shows a lift element 4 with an open 3/2-way valve to allow compressed air to flow in. The valve 16 comprises an actuator 72 with a first sealing element 78 and a second sealing element 80. Furthermore, the valve 16 comprises a return spring 76. In the execution shown, the return spring 76 has been designed in such a way that the valve 16 is moved back to the position in which the first connection is normally closed. The first sealing element 78 oriented towards the first inlet 8 remains open, whereas the second sealing element 80 oriented towards the outlet 18 tightly closes the outlet 18. Hence, when the pump is connected, the pressure in the lift element 2 increases and the flexible element 10 is pressed upwards.
[0067] FIG. 4b shows the lift element 2 from FIG. 4a, but with a valve position in which the valve 16 tightly closes the first connection 8 and releases the outlet 18. The pressure in the lift element 2 is reduced here, so that the lift element 2 is moved to the lowered position.
[0068] FIGS. 5a and b show a top view of a lift element arrangement 40 and a side view. The lift element arrangement 40 comprises numerous lift elements 2 arranged on a foil as carrier 44. The carrier 44 can have openings 48. The carrier 44 has a connection device 32. Furthermore, the carrier 44 comprises supply lines 42 (not shown) to supply the individual lift elements 2 with compressed air. The supply lines 42 are connected to the first connection 8. In addition, the carrier 44 houses electrical connections 46 through which the lift elements 2 can be controlled. Electrical lines can also be housed in the carrier 44. The supply lines 42 can be executed as a tree-like branched structure, especially as shown in FIG. 6a, or as ring line, as shown in FIG. 6b. The lift element arrangement 40, which can be easily laid on the carrier 44, is especially suitable for use in vehicle seats or in the vehicle body to adapt car body parts to aerodynamic conditions.
[0069] FIGS. 7a and b show a detailed view of a lift element 2 that schematically represents a valve 16. The valve 16 is housed in the body 4 and arranged in such a way that it can tightly close the first connection 8 with the first sealing element 78 or the second connection 19 with the second sealing element 80 of the outlet 18. The valve comprises an actuator 72 with a return spring 76 on which the first and second sealing element 78, 80 are arranged. The return spring 76 is executed as leaf spring with two legs. By means of a wire 74 from a shape memory alloy (i.e. an SMA wire), the first sealing element 78 or the second sealing element 8 can be moved to the sealing position. FIG. 7a shows the closing position of the first connection 8, in which the SMA wire is not energized. In FIG. 7b, the SMA wire has been shortened by the electric current. This opens the first connection 8 and tightly closes the outlet 18 or second connection 19.
[0070] FIG. 8a shows a perspective view of a lift element 2. The lift element 2 has a body 4 and a flexible element 10. The flexible element 10 is designed as a bellows.
[0071] The body 4 has a first connection 8 and an outlet 18 designed as second connection 19. The valve 16 is housed in an opening arranged between the two connections 8, 19. The structure of the body 4 is shown in the top view of FIG. 8b or as section along D-D according to FIG. 8c in FIG. 8d. Here, the first connection 8 and opposite it the second connection 19 can be seen. In between, the valve 16 is shown with its valve insert also in FIG. 9a. The valve 16 is designed here as 3/3-way valve with two actuators 72, 72. Every one of the actuators 72, 72 is connected to a common base plate 70, which is provided with a circumferential seal for sealing off against the body 4. Every one of the actuators 72, 72 has a leaf spring 76, 76 mounted on the base plate 70 with a first fastening element 82.
[0072] A second fastening element 84 has been arranged on the opposite side of the leaf spring 76, 76. A crimp connector 75 is located on the base plate 70. The second fastening element can be provided with another crimp connector 75 (not shown here). Between the crimp connector 75 on the base plate 70 and the crimp connector 75 on the second fastening element 84, there is in each case an SMA element 74. Alternately, the second fastening element has in each case a protrusion (as shown) with a U-shaped area around which the SMA element 74, 74 is guided. The SMA element 74, 74 is in each case arranged on the side of the connection 8, 19 assigned to it that faces away. Moreover, a first sealing element 78, 78 is arranged on the leaf spring 76, 76, which is in each case suited for closing the first or second connection 8, 19, respectively.
[0073] FIG. 9 shows various valve inserts as valve element 17 for a valve 16 that can be used in the body 4 or lift element 2 according to FIG. 8. Here, FIG. 9a shows the valve insert for the 3/3-way valve described above. FIG. 9b shows a valve insert for a 3/2-way valve that has only one actuator 72. On this one actuator 72, a first sealing element 78 and a second sealing element 80 are arranged on opposite sides. The SMA element 74 is arranged on the side of the second sealing element 80.
[0074] FIGS. 9c and 9d show an alternative embodiment of the valve insert from FIG. 9a. In this arrangement, the SMA elements 74, 74 are not arranged on the side opposite the first sealing element 78, 78, but are housed on a side arranged for this at an angle, especially right angle to it. The second fastening element 84 is designed accordingly different. The advantage of this embodiment is that the valve has a lower overall height.
[0075] FIG. 9e shows a third embodiment of the valve insert from FIG. 9a. In this arrangement, the sealing elements are not arranged on two sides opposite one another, but on the head side of the base plate 70 opposite one another. The main extension direction in the valve inserts shown in FIGS. 9a-d is the direction going from the first to the second fastening element along the leaf spring.
[0076] FIG. 10a, b shows an adjusting device 50, which comprises two lift elements 2 that have in each case one body 4 and one flexible element 10. Each flexible element 10 has a bellows design here. On the bottom 5, the body 4 has in each case a first connection 8, on which a valve 16 has been arranged in each case that can tightly close the first connection 8 and is therefore suitable for regulating the pressure in the lift element 2. An adjuster 52 is arranged between the flexible elements opposite one another. Here, the adjusting device is housed in a housing 54 or at least a partial housing, as shown in FIG. 10b, and can optionally have a guiding device 56 (not shown) for the adjuster 52.
[0077] FIG. 11a-d shows an adjusting arrangement 60 with six adjusting devices 50 arranged in two layers. Every one of the adjusting devices 50 comprises two lift elements 2 that face one another with the flexible elements 10. An adjuster 52 has been arranged between the flexible elements 10 opposite one another. The adjusting arrangements 50 are arranged in parallel in a housing 62, wherein the body 4 of each lifting device 2 points in each case to a housing wall. The housing 62 has a common pressure connection 64. Furthermore, the housing 62 has guiding rails 66, in which an adjuster 52 can be displaced lengthwise in each case. In FIG. 11a, all adjusters are in a middle position; in FIG. 11c, the adjuster of the first adjusting device 50 is shown to be fully displaced to the left, whereas the adjuster of the second and third adjusting device 50 is displaced to the right. FIG. 11d shows the adjusting arrangement 60 in a closed housing 62. The adjusters 52 can be displaced in the guiding rails 66, which serve as guiding device.
[0078] FIGS. 12a and b show an embodiment of a distributor element 90, which comprises a housing 92 having a cuboid design. The housing 92 has an opening 93 in which a valve element 17 can be used as valve insert. Here, the valve element 17 is a valve element 17 shown in FIG. 9e.
[0079] The valve element 17 has a base plate 70 with a circumferential seal. The seal of the base plate 70 tightly seals the opening 93 of the housing 92.
[0080] The housing 92 has a first housing connection 94, a second housing connection 95 and a third housing connection 98. The first housing connection 94 is executed as a through hole that can be tightly closed with a first sealing element 78. The second housing connection 95 is provided with a first connecting element 96 and a second connecting element 97, which extend perpendicularly to each other. The first connecting element 96 and the second connecting element 97 are constantly fluidically connected to one another. On the side facing away from the connecting elements 96, 97, the second housing connection 95 can be closed with the second sealing element 80 on the inner side of the housing 92.
[0081] A connecting element 99 is also arranged on the third housing connection 98. This connecting element 99 extends perpendicularly from the housing wall of the housing 92. In doing so, the second connecting element 97 and the connecting element 99 of the third housing connection 98 are arranged parallel to one another in the same direction. The first connecting element 96 of the second housing connection is arranged perpendicularly to the two others and extends away from the base plate 70.
[0082] FIG. 13a shows a surface element 110 of a vehicle 130 that can be adjusted with the lift elements 2. The lift elements 2 especially form a lift element arrangement 40. As shown in FIG. 5a, b, a carrier can be provided for such a lift element arrangement 40. The quantity of lift elements depends especially on the size of the surface element 110.
[0083] FIG. 13b shows a schematic view of a vehicle 130. This vehicle comprises a first car body part 112 and a second car body part 114 that can be arranged with a lift element, a lift element arrangement or an adjusting arrangement. It can be a car body part 112 in the upper area of the vehicle or also a car body part 114 in the floor area of the vehicle. Furthermore, the vehicle includes a seat 100 with an armrest 102. The armrest 102 can be adjusted (as shown) with at least one lift element, especially a lift element arrangement. Furthermore, a dashboard area 120 is shown, which can be adjusted with a lift element arrangement. The surface elements shown in FIG. 13b are merely exemplary.
LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS
[0084]
TABLE-US-00001 2, 2 Lift element 4 Body 6 Opening 8 First connection 10 Flexible element 11 Locking element 12 Lowered position 14 Lift position 16 Valve 17 Valve element 18 Outlet 19 Second connection 20 Folding mechanism 30 Pump 32 Connection device 40 Lift element arrangement 42 Supply line 44 Carrier 46 Electrical connections 48 Opening 50 Adjusting device 52 Adjuster 54 Housing 56 Guiding device 60 Adjusting arrangement 62 Housing 64 Pressure connection 66 Guiding rail 70 Base plate 72, 72 Actuator 74, 74 SMA wire 75 Crimp connector 76, 76 Return spring 78 First sealing element 80 Second sealing element 82 First fastening element 84 Second fastening element 90 Distributor element 92 Housing 93 Opening 94 First housing connection 95 Second housing connection 96 First connecting element 97 Second connecting element 98 Third housing connection 99 Connecting element 100 Seat 102 Armrest 110 Surface element 112 Car body part 114 Car body part 120 Dashboard area 130 Vehicle 200 Antenna
