Valve component for regulating or controlling a fluid pressure

Abstract

A valve component is provided with a unit for regulating or controlling a fluid pressure and is further provided with an expansion chamber. The unit has a valve housing with a first housing part and a second housing part, between which a switching element is arranged. The first housing part has an inlet and an outlet for a fluid. The switching element is arranged between the inlet and the outlet for regulating, releasing or shutting of a flow of the fluid. The switching element separates two chambers in the valve housing from each other. In open switching position of the switching element, the inlet and the outlet are connected by one of the chambers, and at least one first venting bore opens from the other one of the chambers into the expansion chamber.

Claims

1. A valve component comprising: at least one expansion chamber; a unit configured to regulate or control a fluid pressure, the unit comprising: a valve housing comprising a first housing part having a valve seat, and a second housing part; the first housing part comprising an inlet and an outlet for a fluid; a switching element arranged between the first housing part and the second housing part between the inlet and the outlet and configured to regulate, release or shut off a flow of the fluid, wherein the switching element is a profiled film of a fluorine and carbon comprising polymer material, a central portion of the profiled film forming a closure region of the profiled film which, when in a closed position, the closure region of the profiled film closes directly against the valve seat of the first housing part to close off the outlet, wherein the profiled film has a corrugated bending region surrounding the closure region, the corrugated bending region configured to bend during movement of the closure region of the profiled film from the closed position to an open position, wherein, when in the open position, the profiled film is spaced away from the valve seat, wherein the switching element separates a first chamber and a second chamber in the valve housing from each other; wherein, in an open switching position of the switching element, the inlet and the outlet are connected to each other by the first chamber of the valve housing and wherein at least one first venting bore of the valve housing opens from the second chamber of the valve housing into the at least one expansion chamber.

2. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein the at least one expansion chamber is arranged at the second housing part.

3. The valve component according to claim 2, wherein the valve housing comprises a cover arranged on an outer side second housing part, wherein the outer side of the second housing part and the cover cooperate to together fully enclose the expansion chamber between the second housing part and the cover, wherein the at least one first venting bore has an opening at an inner side of a wall of the first housing part, the at least one first venting bore extending through the wall of the second housing part to open into the expansion chamber.

4. The valve component according to claim 2, wherein the at least one first venting bore extends from the second chamber through the second housing part into the at least one expansion chamber.

5. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein the unit comprises at least one second venting bore that extends from the at least one expansion chamber, through a wall of the valve housing and opens to an exterior environment at an exterior of the valve component.

6. The valve component according to claim 5, wherein the valve housing comprises a cover, wherein the at least one second venting bore extends in the second housing part and/or in the cover.

7. A valve component comprising: at least one expansion chamber; a unit configured to regulate or control a fluid pressure, the unit comprising: a valve housing comprising a first housing part and a second housing part; the first housing part comprising an inlet and an outlet for a fluid: a switching element arranged between the first housing part and the second housing part between the inlet and the outlet and configured to regulate, release or shut off a flow of the fluid, wherein the switching element separates a first chamber and a second chamber in the valve housing from each other; wherein, in an open switching position of the switching element, the inlet and the outlet are connected to each other by the first chamber of the valve housing and wherein at least one first venting bore of the valve housing opens from the second chamber of the valve housing into the at least one expansion chamber; wherein the at least one expansion chamber is arranged in the first housing part.

8. The valve component according to claim 7, wherein the valve housing comprises a groove and the groove forms the at least one expansion chamber, wherein the groove is arranged coaxially to a circumference of the switching element.

9. The valve component according to claim 7, wherein the at least one first venting bore extends from the second housing part to the first housing part.

10. The valve component according to claim 7, wherein the unit comprises at least one second venting bore that extends between the at least one expansion chamber and an outer region of the unit, wherein the at least one second venting bore extends in the first housing part.

11. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein the second housing part and the first housing part are connected by a locking connection.

12. The valve component according to claim 1, wherein the polymer material is a fluorine and carbon comprising thermoplastic polymer material.

13. The valve component according to claim 12, wherein the thermoplastic polymer material is PTFE.

14. The valve component according to claim 7, wherein the first and second housing parts each comprise one of said at least one expansion chamber.

15. The valve component according to claim 1, configured for pressure regulation of an internal combustion engine.

16. The valve component according to claim 1, configured for pressure regulation of a crankcase of an internal combustion engine.

17. A cylinder head cover of an internal combustion engine, comprising a valve component according to claim 1 configured to regulate pressure of a crankcase of an internal combustion engine.

18. The valve component according to claim 7, wherein wherein the switching element is a profiled film of a fluorine and carbon comprising polymer material, a central portion of the profiled film forming a closure region of the profiled film which, when in a closed position, the closure region of the profiled film closes directly against a valve seat of the first housing part to close off the outlet.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) Further advantages result from the following drawing description. In the drawings, embodiments of the invention are illustrated. The drawings, the description, and the claims contain numerous features in combination. A person of skill in the art will expediently consider the features also individually and combine them to meaningful additional combinations.

(2) FIG. 1 shows a valve component with an areal switching element according to an embodiment of the invention in a section illustration.

(3) FIG. 2 shows a valve component with an areal switching element according to a further embodiment of the invention in a section illustration.

DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

(4) In the Figures, same or same-type components are identified with same reference characters. The Figures show only examples and are not to be understood as limiting.

(5) FIG. 1 shows a section illustration of a first embodiment of a valve component 100 according to the invention. This embodiment is beneficial when housing parts 14, 16 of the valve component 100 are connected to each other by laser welding. The valve component 100 comprises a unit 10 for regulating or controlling a fluid pressure as well as at least one expansion chamber 42. The unit 10 comprises a valve housing 12 which comprises a first housing part 14 and a second housing part 16. The first housing part 14 comprises an inlet 22, which is embodied like a socket in an exemplary fashion, and an outlet 24, which is embodied like a socket in an exemplary fashion, for a fluid. Between the two housing parts 14, 16, an areal switching element 50 is arranged which is serving for regulating, releasing or shutting off a flow of the fluid between the inlet 22 and the outlet 24. The switching element 50 separates the two chambers 36, 38 in the housing 12 from each other, wherein, in open switching position of the switching element 50, the inlet 20 and the outlet 24 are connectable through the bottom chamber 36.

(6) The areal switching element 50 is in particular configured as a profiled film element and can be moved without switching plunger provided at the closure region 54. The switching element 50 comprises a flat clamping region 60 with which it is clamped between the rims of the first and second housing parts 14, 16. Centrally, a closure region 54 is provided which is arranged in a depression 52, pointing in the direction of the outlet channel toward the outlet 24 of the fluid. Substantially radially outside of the clamping region 60 of the switching element 50, a weld groove 48 is arranged in the first housing part 14.

(7) Between the first chamber 36 and the second chamber 38, there is a pressure difference, wherein the second chamber 38 is in communication (not illustrated) with the surroundings, i.e., the atmospheric pressure. The switching element 50 can be moved with pressure differences of 1 mbar to 250 mbar, preferably of 1 mbar to 100 mbar, and serves for releasing or shutting off a flow of the fluid between the inlet 22 and the outlet 24. The inlet 22 of the unit 10 in the situation of use is in fluidic communication, for example, with the crankcase of an internal combustion engine while the outlet 24 is in fluidic communication with the intake manifold. The switching element 50 comprises a plate-shaped flat body with a corrugated bending region 56 surrounding the central closure region 54. When switching the switching element 50, the bending region 56 moves the closure region 54 relative to a valve seat 30 in axial direction L toward the valve seat 30 or away from the valve seat 30 by a low-expansion, in particular expansion-free, bending movement. The switching element 50 comprises for this purpose at least in the bending region 56 a thickness of at most 0.5 mm, preferably of at most 0.3 mm, particularly preferred of at most 0.2 mm. The diameter of the switching element 50 in this context is between 40 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 50 mm and 80 mm.

(8) The bending region 56 extends in radial direction in a corrugated shape about the closure region 54 wherein a depression on a flat side corresponds to a projection at the other flat side of the switching element 50. The closure region 54 closes off the valve seat 30 fluid-tightly when it is resting against the valve seat 30. A spring element 34 is provided which is supported at the valve housing 12 and exerts a force on the closure region 54 of the switching element 50 and in this way compensates the atmospheric pressure in the upper second chamber 38. The spring element 34 in this context is supported by a ring 32 at the closure region 54.

(9) The switching element 50 is preferably formed of fluorine and carbon comprising polymer film, for example PTFE. A beneficial diameter 64 of the switching element 50 is between 40 mm and 100 mm, preferably between 50 mm and 80 mm.

(10) In the open state, as illustrated, the spring element 34 supported at the bottom housing part 14 of the housing 12 pushes the closure region 54 of the switching element 50 against the bottom side of the second housing part 16. In the closed position of the switching element 50, the spring element 34 is in a lower position in the Figure so that the switching element 50 with its closure region 54 is seated seal-tightly on the valve seat 30.

(11) At least one first venting bore 40 extends from the upper chamber 38 into the expansion chamber 42 wherein the venting bore 40 is arranged in the second housing part 16, for example, in the housing cover. The expansion chamber 42 is arranged at the second housing part 16. The expansion chamber 42 can be comprised of several hollow spaces or formed by one hollow space. Optionally, the expansion chamber 42 can be filled with material in order to further improve possibly its acoustic effect.

(12) In the illustrated embodiment, the second housing part 16 and a cover 20 provided at the second housing part 16 enclose the expansion chamber 42. For the aforementioned diameters of the switching element 50, a beneficial volume of the expansion chamber 40 amounts to between 10 ml and 100 ml. The cover 20 can be welded or glued to the second housing part 16 or can be connected by means of a screw connection, locking connection or the like.

(13) The first venting bore 40 extends from the second chamber 38 through the second housing part 16 into the expansion chamber 42 at the second housing part 16. In the expansion chamber 42 at least one second venting bore 44 is arranged which is extending between the expansion chamber 42 and an outer region of the unit 10. The second venting bore 44 extends in the second housing part 16. Alternatively or additionally, a second venting bore 44 can be provided in the cover 20.

(14) FIG. 2 shows a section illustration of an alternative embodiment of a valve component 100 according to the invention in which the at least one expansion chamber 42 is arranged in the first housing part 14. This embodiment is beneficial when housing parts 14, 16 are connected to each other, for example, by means of hot plate welding. The basic configuration of the valve component 100 matches substantially that of the embodiment in FIG. 1, in particular with regard to switching element 50, chambers 36, 38, inlet 22, outlet 24, housing parts 14, 16 of the housing 12, so that for avoiding unnecessary repetitions reference is being had to the figure description of FIG. 1.

(15) The expansion chamber 42 in the embodiment of FIG. 2 is formed in a groove 48 in the housing 12 wherein the groove 48 is preferably arranged coaxially to the circumference of the switching element 50. The groove 48 is in particular a weld groove which receives material when welding the two housing parts 14, 16 together. In order to be able to receive the expansion chamber 42, the weld groove 48 is of a correspondingly larger embodiment.

(16) At least one first venting bore 40 extends from the second housing part 16 to the first housing part 14, wherein air from the second chamber 38 can be guided into the groove 48 provided with the expansion chamber 42. The at least one second venting bore 40 extends in the first housing part 14 and penetrates the outer circumference of the weld groove 48.

(17) Optionally, the embodiments of FIGS. 1 and 2 can also be present in combination.

(18) While specific embodiments of the invention have been shown and described in detail to illustrate the inventive principles, it will be understood that the invention may be embodied otherwise without departing from such principles.