Electromagnetic actuator of a valve device

Abstract

An electromagnetic actuator of a valve device, in particular in a common rail system of a motor vehicle, comprising an armature for actuating a valve element located in a duct, said armature being arranged in a housing and being movable axially along a longitudinal axis of the actuator when an excitation coil is energized, further comprising a pole core, characterized in that the electromagnetic actuator is designed as an electromagnetic adhesive system that comprises a plate-type armature which entirely covers planar end faces of the pole core that extend orthogonally to the longitudinal axis.

Claims

1. An electromagnetic actuator of a valve device comprising: a plate-shaped armature which is arranged in a housing and which can move axially along a longitudinal axis of the actuator when an exciting coil is receiving current for activating a valve element, and with a one-piece cup-shaped pole core located inside the housing, wherein the valve element is guided in the pole core, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is configured such that when the exciting coil is receiving current, a magnetic flux is generated and runs from a wall of the housing via the plate-shaped armature and an air gap to the pole core and results in a magnetic force that draws pulls the plate-shaped armature and reduces the air gap, wherein the plate-shaped armature extends completely over open front surfaces of the cup-shaped pole core, the open front surfaces being arranged in a planar manner and orthogonal to the longitudinal axis, wherein the plate-shaped armature is connected to an axial stem, the axial stem being arranged inside the cup-shaped pole core and guided in a guide sleeve along the longitudinal axis, wherein the axial stem widens out in a direction of the plate-shaped armature in a shape of a cup with a circumferential outer wall and an annular flange projecting outward on a distal end, wherein the plate-shaped armature is fixed on the circumferential outer wall of the axial stem and/or on the flange, and wherein a bottom wall of a wall section of the axial stem forms a stop surface or contact surface for the valve element.

2. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein the axial stem is guided centrally along the longitudinal axis and in the guide sleeve.

3. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 2, wherein the guide sleeve has compensation openings.

4. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 2, wherein the axial stem has a first section that is located within the guide sleeve and a second section that projects beyond the guide sleeve, wherein the second section has a small diameter than the first section.

5. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 4, wherein the plate-shaped armature has through bores.

6. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein the pole core is shaped like a cup and has an annular flange that is seated on the housing.

7. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein the air gap is up to 0.8 mm when the exciting coil is not receiving current and the air gap is up to 0.2 mm when the exciting coil is receiving current.

8. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein the housing comprises a housing cover which is joined by flanging to a circumferential housing wall of the housing.

9. The electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1, wherein the electromagnetic actuator is screwed onto a cylinder head housing of a high-pressure pump of a motor vehicle.

10. The use of an electromagnetic actuator according to claim 1 in a common rail system as the switching valve in a fuel line between a high-pressure pump and a low-pressure pump.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) The electromagnetic actuator according to the present disclosure is explained by way of example using several figures in conjunction with the activation of the valve element on the cylinder head of a high-pressure pump in a common rail system. In the figures:

(2) FIG. 1 shows a basic flowchart of a fuel circuit in a common rail system of a motor vehicle with an electromagnetic valve device according to the present disclosure which is built in between a low-pressure pump and a high-pressure pump,

(3) FIG. 2 shows a sectional view of the electromagnetic valve arrangement of FIG. 1 with an electromagnetic actuator according to the disclosure and how it is fastened in the area of a valve element onto the cylinder head of an engine block, namely in the currentless state,

(4) FIG. 3 shows the electromagnetic actuator represented in FIG. 2 in an enlarged view in an individualized view,

(5) FIG. 4 shows a view similar to the one in FIG. 2 in which, however, the electromagnetic actuator receives current,

(6) FIG. 5 shows the electromagnetic actuator according to the FIGS. 2 to 4 in a perspective view looking from below into the housing and with the plate shaped armature arranged in it, and

(7) FIG. 6 shows a perspective view of the electromagnetic of FIG. 5 looking obliquely from the rear onto the housing with a housing cover and with the pole core extending out of the housing cover.

(8) In the following figures the same reference numerals designate the same parts with the same meaning unless otherwise indicated.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

(9) The fuel circuit system schematically shown in FIG. 1 such as it is used, for example, in diesel motor vehicles comprises a high-pressure storage, called a common rail 102 in the following. This common rail 102 supplies injection nozzles, so-called injectors 104 like those built into an engine block 106 of a motor vehicle. FIG. 1 shows four such injectors 104, wherein even more or less such injectors 104 can be supplied by the common rail 102. A pressure sensor 110 is connected to the common rail 102 which sensor communicates with a control system which is not shown and which measures and monitors the pressure in the common rail 102. In addition, this common rail 102 communicates on its output side with an overpressure valve 112 in order to be able to let off any overpressure present in the common rail 102 in case of a disturbance.

(10) The common rail 102 communicates at its inlet side with a tank 120 for the fuel. The tank 120 is connected to this end by a supply line 122 to a low-pressure pump 124. This low pressure pump 124 communicates via another supply line 128 with a valve device 130 which is connected on the output side via a line 132 to a high-pressure pump 134. This high-pressure pump 134 is connected via a line 140 to the input of the common rail 102. The common rail 102 communicates on its output side with a discharge line 150 which returns non-used fuel to the line 128 between the low-pressure pump 124 and the valve device 130. Excess fuel can be conducted from the supply line 150 via another line 152 back to the tank 120 via a valve 124a located in the low-pressure pump 124.

(11) The amount of fuel which the high-pressure pump 134 supplies to the common rail 102 is controlled by the valve device 130. The valve device 130 is explained in detail in conjunction with the FIGS. 2 to 6 shown in the following. This concerns a so-called normally open valve which is open in the currentless state of an exciting coil of the electromagnetic actuator and therefore releases the fuel from the low-pressure pump 124 to the high-pressure pump 134.

(12) The assembly situation of the valve device 130 of FIG. 1 is shown in FIG. 2. The cylinder head housing 200 of the high-pressure pump 134 is shown in section and partially comprises the lines 128, 132 as well as 150 explained in conjunction with FIG. 1. A valve seat 210 is provided in the cylinder head housing 200 which seat can be closed by a valve element 220 in order to open or close the fuel supply in the line 128 which comes from the low-pressure pump in the runoff direction in the line 132 to the high-pressure pump. FIG. 2 shows the open state in which the fuel can flow from the line 128 to the line 132. The valve element 220 is lifted off here from the valve seat 210 so that the latter is freed. The fuel flow is marked in FIG. 2 by the flow arrows.

(13) As FIG. 2 shows, the valve element 220 is in a position raised from the valve seat 210 which is conditioned by the fact that a contact surface 42 of an electromagnetic actuator 10 presses against the valve element 220 and holds it down if this contact surface 42 does not press against the valve element 220, the valve element 220 is pressed upward by a spring device 230 in the view of FIG. 2 so that the valve element 220 can close the valve seat 210. This is explained in more detail below. The electromagnetic actuator 10 is set on the cylinder housing 200 fitting it in such a manner that the cited activation of the valve element 220 can be brought about.

(14) As can also be clearly seen in particular in the enlarged view of the electromagnetic actuator 10 in FIG. 3, the electromagnetic actuator 10 comprises a tubular housing 12 which is set with an outwardly projecting flange projection 12a onto the cylinder head housing 200. In order to hold this housing 12 on the cylinder head housing 200, an annular flange 16 with fastening openings 16, in particular with screw holes, is set in an inverted position over the housing wall 12 in order to be able to fasten the electrical actuator 10 on the cylinder head housing 200. The housing 12 is closed by an annular housing cover 13 on its opposite side. The housing 12 is arranged in a rotationally symmetrical manner around a longitudinal axis X of the electromagnetic actuator 10, wherein this longitudinal axis X is ideally aligned with the central axis of the previously cited valve element 220.

(15) A cup-shaped pole core 20 consisting of magnetically conductive material, in particular of automatic steel is located inside the housing 12 in a rotationally symmetrical manner around the longitudinal axis X. The cup-shaped pole core comprises an annular wall 20a running around the longitudinal axis X which wall is open in the direction of the cylinder head housing 200 and has planar front surfaces 23 arranged orthogonally to the longitudinal axis X. On the opposite side this pole core 20 projects with its circumferential wall 20a out of the housing cover 30. The circumferential wall 20a is closed there by a cover-side wall 20b of the pole core. In addition, the pole core 20 comprises a flange 24 in its upper area which flange moves away in an annular manner from the longitudinal axis X, is seated directly below the housing cover 13 and is seated on a shoulder 12a of the circumferential wall of the housing 12. An exciting coil 30 is arranged between the circumferential wall of the housing 12 and the circumferential wall 20a of the pole core 20. This exciting coil 30 is advantageously molded by plastic and held in the cited intermediate space between housing 12 and pole core 20. As FIG. 3 in particular shows especially well, a suitable seal in the form of sealing rings 80 is placed between the housing 12 and the pole core.

(16) An axial stem 40 is arranged inside the cup-shaped pole core 20 centrally to the central axis X, which stem is preferably formed from hard metal, in particular the metal 100Cr6. Other metals are also possible, in particular also plastic which can preferably be reinforced with glass fibers or the like. In addition, this axial stem 40 can be magnetically conductive but does not have to be. The axial stem 40 is guided in a guide sleeve 70 which also preferably consists of hardened steel or high-performance plastic. The axial stem 40 projects at the top as well as at the bottom out of this guide sleeve 70. The section 40a of the axial stem 40 projecting at the top out of the guide sleeve 70 has a slightly smaller diameter than the section 40b of the axial stem 40 which is seated inside the guide sleeve 70. A spring device 76, in the present case a spring, is placed around the section 40a, which spring is supported on the one hand on the inside of the cover-side wall 20b of the pole core 20 and on the other hand on the projecting flange of a spring plate 60. The spring plate 60 is firmly connected to the axial stem 90 so that the spring device 46 presses the axial stem 40 downward so that the spring plate 60 strikes against the guide sleeve 70. Since the guide sleeve 70 has a fixed connection with the pol core 20, a further downward moving out of the axial stem 40 is not possible.

(17) This axial stem 40 widens out like a cup in its bottom section 40e of the axial stem 40 projecting out of the guide sleeve 70. To this end the axial stem 40 comprises a section 40e which runs orthogonally to the longitudinal axis X and forms the bottom of this cup-shaped, widened-out area as well as comprises a wall 40f which is again circumferentially parallel to the longitudinal axis X and terminates at its lowest end by an outwardly projecting and annularly formed section 40g.

(18) An annular armature plate 50 is fixed, for example by welding or pressing, on this lower section 40f of the axial stem 40. This annular and plate-shaped armature 50 comprises a plurality of through bores 52 and extends orthogonally to the longitudinal axis X and close to the circumferential wall of the housing 12. The plate-shaped armature 50 consists of a magnetic material in order to make possible an optimal magnetic flux. As can be seen in FIG. 2 and FIG. 3, a flange-like section. 12b of the housing 12, which section extends inward in an annular manner, extends above the plate-shaped armature 50 in the direction of the longitudinal axis X. The plate-shaped armature 50 also extends over this section 12a of the housing 12. The plate-shaped armature 50 is fastened in such a manner to the axial stem 40 that in the resting state of this electromagnetic actuator 10, that is, with a currentless exciting coil 30, a maximum distance D of, for example, approximately 0.8 mm is adjusted between the top of the plate-shaped armature 50 and the planar front side 22 of the circumferential wall 20a of the pole core 20. The lower surface of the section 12b of the housing 12 is advantageously precisely aligned with the planar front surface 22.

(19) The bottom wall of the wall section 40e of the axial stem 40 forms a stop surface 42 or contact surface for the valve element 220 of FIG. 2. In the currentless state of the electromagnetic actuator 10 this contact surface 40 tube is positioned in such a manner that the valve element 220 is pressed into its open position, as FIG. 2 shows. A fuel flow from the line 122 the line 132 and therefore from the low-pressure pump to the high-pressure pump is ensured as a result.

(20) The electromagnetic actuator 10 is dimensioned in such a manner as regards its dimensions that when the exciting coil 30 is receiving current, a magnetic flux is generated which runs from the wall of the housing 12 via the plate-shaped armature 50 and the air gap P to the pole core. The magnetic force resulting from this draws the plate-shaped armature 50 upward, as a result of which the air gap D is reduced. At this time the magnetic force overcomes the spring force exerted by the spring device 56 so that the axial stem 40 and the plate-shaped armature 50 can actually be moved upward. In order to avoid that the cited air gap D becomes zero, that is, the armature 50 strikes against the planar front surface 22 of the pole core 20 and is magnetically firmly adhered there, the axial length of the guide sleeve 70 and the section 40e of the stem are coordinated in such a manner with one another that the distance between the section 40e of the axial stem 40 to the lower wall of the guide sleeve 70 is smaller than the above-cited maximally possible gap D. The distance between the section 40e of the axial stem 40 and the lower wall of the guide sleeve 70 can be, for example, 0.6 mm so that when the exciting coil is receiving current, the section. 40e of the axial stem 40 strikes the guide sleeve 70 and a minimum gap D of approximately 0.2 mm remains between the plate-shaped armature 50 and the planar front surface 22 of the pole core 20.

(21) The state of the electromagnetic actuator 10 when the exciting coil 30 is receiving current is shown in FIG. 4. It can be clearly recognized there that the section 40e of the axial stem 40 strikes against the bottom of the guide sleeve 70 and that a minimum gap d remains between the lower, planar front surface 22 of the pole core 20 and the plate-shaped armature 50. At the same time the valve element 220 follows the upward movement of the axial stem 40 and the associated upward movement of the contact surface 42 on account of the spring device 230 pressing the valve element 220 upward. As a consequence, the valve element 220 closes the valve seat 210. Therefore, no more fuel can flow from the line 128 to the line 132. As a consequence, the fuel can be compressed in the line 150.

(22) It should be noted here that the opening and closing of the valve seat 210 takes place with a frequency in the range of about 100 Hz. It is therefore necessary that a sufficiently good guidance is ensured with little friction and resistance in the electromagnetic actuator 10. To this end the plate-shaped armature 50 comprises the already-cited passage bores 52 which serve for pressure compensation. The guide sleeve 70 also comprises passage bores 72 which serve for pressure compensation. Finally, the axial stem 40 also comprises a circumferential, tapering area 40d in its section 40b inside the guide sleeve 70 in order to minimize the friction between the guide sleeve 70 and the axial stem 40.

(23) FIG. 5 and FIG. 6 show perspective views from the oblique front and the oblique rear onto the magnetic actuator 10. FIG. 5 shows in an especially clear manner the plate-shaped armature 50 constructed in the shape of an annulus with the plurality of passage openings 52. The front, circumferential flange 40g of the axial stem 40 can also be well recognized. In addition, the annular fastening flange 14 with its fastening openings 16 pushed onto the housing 12 can be well recognized.

(24) The pole core 20 extending out of the housing cover 13 of the housing 12 can be recognized in FIG. 6.

(25) A significant advantage of the actuator 10 of the present disclosure is the fact that the lift of the armature 50 can be adjusted by the assembly process. Here, the armature 50 pressed onto the preferably hardened axial stem 40 is inserted into the guide sleeve 70. A defined axial play can be adjusted during the assembly by a fork-shaped distancing piece between the guide sleeve 70 and the spring plate 60. Two end stops result during the assembly, one on the front side on the axial stem 40 and the guide sleeve 70 and between the spring plate 60 and the guide sleeve 70.

LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS

(26) 10 electromagnetic actuator 12 housing 12a flange projection of the housing 12b annular section 13 housing cover 14 flange 16 bore 20 pole core 20a annular wall 20b cover-side wall 22 planar front surfaces 24 flange 30 exciting coil 40 axial stem 40a section of the axial stem 40b section of the axial stem 40c section of the axial stem 40d section of the axial stem 40e section of the axial stem 40f section of the axial stem 40g section of the axial stem 42 contact surface 50 armature plate 52 through bores 56 spring device 60 spring plate 70 sleeve 72 pressure compensation bores 80 sealing rings 100 fuel circuit system. 102 common rail, high-pressure line 104 injectors 106 engine block 110 pressure sensor 112 super pressure valve 120 tank 122 line 124 low-pressure pump with bypass 124a valve 128 line 130 valve device 132 line 134 high-pressure pump 140 supply line for 102 150 discharge line for 102 152 line 200 valve element, cylinder head housing 210 valve seat 220 valve body 230 spring device 232 contact surface X central axis D air gap large d air gap small