Abstract
Compressor for generating compressed air for a commercial vehicle, having a housing with a piston chamber in a crankcase and a dead space which is configured at least in the cylinder head. The compressor has a valve device with a valve element which has an actuating section and a shut-off body for separating the dead space from the piston chamber, wherein the shut-off body can be lifted up from a valve seat in the direction of the piston chamber in order to open the valve device. The valve element is configured in one piece with the actuating section.
Claims
1. A compressor for generating compressed air for a utility vehicle, comprising: a housing with a piston space in a crankcase and with a dead space which is formed at least partially in a cylinder head of the compressor; and a valve device with a valve element which has an actuating section and a shut-off body for separating the dead space from the piston space, wherein, in order to open the valve device, the shut-off body is liftable off, in a direction of the piston space, from a valve seat formed on a valve plate, wherein the valve element is formed in one piece with the actuating section, and the valve plate is configured such that the valve element with the actuating section is leadable through said valve plate in a direction of the cylinder head until the shut-off body is arranged on the valve seat and the actuating section is arranged in the cylinder head; in a region between the valve plate and the cylinder head, a holding plate is arranged which has a holding plate recess with a cross section which corresponds at least to a cross section of the valve element in a region between the shut-off body and the actuating section, and which is formed so as to be laterally open such that the valve element, as it is led in a direction of the cylinder head, is received by the holding plate recess by being introduced laterally, such that the valve element then, in the region between shut-off body and actuating section, extends through the holding plate.
2. The compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve element is mounted in a valve space of the cylinder head so as to be movable along an axis of the valve element, and the valve space is delimited on a side averted from the piston space by the cylinder head.
3. The compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the valve element is mounted in a valve space of the cylinder head so as to be movable along an axis of the valve element, and the valve space is delimited on a side averted from the piston space by the holding plate.
4. The compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein on the valve element, a valve closing device is arranged by which, in order to close the valve device, the shut-off body is movable to the valve seat counter to the direction to the piston space, and the valve closing device is supported on the holding plate or on the valve plate.
5. The compressor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the valve closing device is, on a side situated opposite the holding plate and/or the valve plate, supported on the valve element.
6. The compressor as claimed in claim 5, wherein the valve closing device is a spring which has a conical design, and a smallest diameter of the spring is smaller than a diameter of a section of the valve element against which the spring is supported and over which the spring is leadable during an installation process.
7. The compressor as claimed in claim 4, wherein the valve closing device is a spring which has a conical design, and a smallest diameter of the spring is smaller than a diameter of a section of the valve element against which the spring is supported and over which the spring is leadable during an installation process.
8. The compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the shut-off body is liftable off from the valve seat in a direction of the piston space by direct application of pneumatic, electromagnetic or mechanical energy to the actuating section of the valve element.
9. The compressor as claimed in claim 1, wherein the compressor has at least one further valve device with at least one further valve element and/or has at least one further piston space.
10. The compressor as claimed in claim 9, wherein the compressor includes at least one further piston space and the piston space and the at least one further piston space are connected to one another via at least one dead space when the valve device and the at least one further valve device are open.
11. A method for relieving a load of a compressor used for generating compressed air for a utility vehicle, wherein the compressor comprises: a housing with a piston space in a crankcase and with a dead space which is formed at least partially in a cylinder head, and a valve device with a valve element which has an actuating section and a shut-off body for separating the dead space from the piston space, wherein, in order to open the valve device, the shut-off body is liftable off, in a direction of the piston space, from a valve seat formed on a valve plate, wherein the valve element is formed in one piece with the actuating section, and the valve plate is configured such that the valve element with the actuating section is leadable through said valve plate in a direction of the cylinder head until the shut-off body is arranged on the valve seat and the actuating section is arranged in the cylinder head; and in a region between the valve plate and the cylinder head, a holding plate is arranged which has a holding plate recess with a cross section which corresponds at least to a cross section of the valve element in a region between the shut-off body and the actuating section, and which is formed so as to be laterally open such that the valve element, as it is led in a direction of the cylinder head, is received by the holding plate recess by being introduced laterally, such that the valve element then, in the region between shut-off body and actuating section, extends through the holding plate; the method comprising the acts of: directly applying pneumatic, electromagnetic or mechanical energy to the actuating section of the valve element; and opening the valve device, via the direct application, in order to relieve the compressor of load.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(1) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through an exemplary compressor according to the invention.
(2) FIG. 2A and FIG. 2B show in each case a three-dimensional view of two exemplary holding plates according to the invention.
(3) FIGS. 3A to 3D show a sequence of an exemplary installation process according to the invention of a valve element on valve plate and holding plate.
(4) FIGS. 4A to 4C show a sequence of an exemplary installation process according to the invention of a spring on the valve element.
(5) FIG. 4D shows an illustration of the exemplary spring according to the invention from FIGS. 4A to 4C.
(6) FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary valve device according to the invention with different spring and securing device on the valve element.
(7) FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary valve device according to the invention, which is actuated by means of electromagnetic energy.
(8) FIG. 7 shows a sectional view through a further exemplary compressor according to the invention.
(9) FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a detail of a further exemplary compressor according to the invention.
(10) FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a detail of a further exemplary compressor according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
(11) FIG. 1 shows a sectional view through an exemplary compressor 10 according to the invention. Said compressor has a housing 11 with a piston space 16 in a crankcase 15, in which there is arranged a piston 30 which is movable in the piston space 16 and which is driven by a crankshaft (not illustrated) via a connecting rod 34. The housing 11 furthermore has a valve plate 12, a holding plate 13 formed as an intermediate plate, and a cylinder head 14. A dead space 18 extends in the holding plate 13, in the valve plate 12 and in the cylinder head 14.
(12) The compressor 10 furthermore has a valve device 20 with a valve element 21, which extends through the holding plate 13 and which is formed in one piece with a shut-off body 22 and with an actuating section 23. The actuating section 23 is in this case formed so as to mount the valve element 21 in the cylinder head in axially movable fashion. The valve device furthermore has a valve seat 24 which is formed in a recess 26, connected to the piston space 16, of the valve plate 12. In the illustration shown, the piston 30 of the compressor 10 is situated exactly at the top dead center in the piston space 16, at which said piston almost bears against the valve plate 12.
(13) The valve element 21 is mounted, so as to be movable along the axis A of the valve element 21, in a valve space 17 formed in the cylinder head 14. The valve space 17 is in this case delimited, on the side averted from the piston space 16, by the cylinder head 14, without having an installation opening or the like. On this side, the valve space 17 of the exemplary embodiment has a feed opening 19 for compressed air. The actuating section 23 of the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 1 has the form of a pneumatic piston, and is designed to impart a sealing action with respect to the wall of the valve space 17. For the actuation of the valve device 20, compressed air is fed to the valve space 17 through the feed opening 19. By means of the pneumatic energy, the valve element 21 is directly actuated and is moved along its axis A, counter to the restoring force of the spring 27 which is supported on the holding plate 13, in the direction of the piston space 16, whereby the shut-off body 22 lifts off from the valve seat 24. In this way, for the purposes of relieving the compressor of load, a connection between the dead space 18 and the piston space 16 can be opened up, through which connection the air can flow from the piston space 16 into the dead space 18.
(14) FIG. 2A shows a three-dimensional view of an exemplary holding plate 13 according to the invention. The holding plate has a holding plate opening 13a through which the dead space 18 extends in the installed state in the compressor 10 of the embodiment of FIG. 1. Furthermore, the holding plate opening 13a is designed such that, during the installation process, the valve element 21 together with actuating section 23 can be led through the holding plate 13. Furthermore, the holding plate opening 13a is designed such that, in the region around the valve element 21 situated in the operating position after the installation process (indicated in this case by the axis A), there is a sufficient support area available for the spring 27. In the exemplary embodiment, this is achieved in that, during the installation process, the valve element 21 with the actuating section 23 is led in an inclined manner through the region of the holding plate opening 13a with large opening cross section. In the subsequent operating position, which in FIG. 1 is vertical, the valve element 21 extends through the holding plate in a region in which said holding plate has a small diameter. Said section with small diameter is, in the operating position, situated in a recess 13b at the edge of the holding plate opening 13a, such that the spring 27 lies on the holding plate 13 in a large region around the valve element 21.
(15) FIG. 2B shows a three-dimensional view of a further exemplary holding plate 13 according to the invention. The holding plate 13 has only a small extent in relation to the holding plate 13 from FIG. 2A, and is arranged in a recess between the valve plate 12 and the cylinder head 14. The holding plate 13 is designed so as not to have a holding plate opening 13a through which the valve element 21 would be led during the installation process. The holding plate 13 has a holding plate recess 13b which is designed such that a sufficient support area for the spring 27 is present in the region around the valve element 21 situated in the operating position after the installation process (likewise indicated here by the axis A). In the exemplary embodiment, this is achieved in that, during the installation process, the valve element 21 is led with the actuating section 23 in an inclined manner past the holding plate 13. In the subsequent operating position, the valve element 21 extends through the holding plate recess 13b. A spring 27 arranged by way of example around the valve element 21 thus lies on the holding plate 13 in a large region around the valve element 21.
(16) FIGS. 3A to 3D show a sequence of an exemplary installation process of an exemplary valve element 21 according to the invention on the valve plate 12 and on the holding plate 13, which is formed in the manner of an intermediate plate. The actuating section 23 of the valve element 21 is protected by an installation cap 25 during this installation process. During the installation process, the valve element 21 is led, with the actuating section 23 first and in an inclined manner relative to the subsequent operating position, through the recess 26 in the valve plate 12 to the holding plate opening 13a (FIG. 3A). Subsequently, the upper region of the valve element is led through the valve plate 12 and through the holding plate opening 13a (FIG. 3B) until the actuating section 23, or that section of the valve element 21 which has a larger diameter than that region of the valve element 21 which extends through the holding plate 13 in the operating position, has passed through the holding plate opening 13a and the shut-off body 22 is situated in the recess 26 in the valve plate 12. Aside from the actuating region 23 itself, the valve element 21 may also have other regions of enlarged diameter, depending on the nature of the actuation and mounting of the valve element 21. The valve element 21 is subsequently placed into its operating position, in which the shut-off body 22 bears against the valve seat 24.
(17) In FIG. 3C, the valve element 21 is situated in the operating position, in which it extends in the valve plate 12 and in the holding plate 13 and the shut-off element 22 bears against the valve seat 24. In FIG. 3D, the valve element is situated in the same position as in FIG. 3C, but here, the spring 27 is already mounted between a shoulder 21a on the valve element 21 and the holding plate 13. As can be clearly seen, in the case of the valve element 21, the installation cap 25 that protects the actuating section 23 during the installation process has been removed from the fastening section 23.
(18) FIGS. 4A to 4C show a sequence of an exemplary installation process of a spring 27 on the valve element 21 in its operating position. The installation cap 25, which is already arranged on the actuating section 23 during the leadthrough, illustrated in FIGS. 3A to 3C, of the valve element 21 through the valve plate 12 and the holding plate 13, bears at its lower end against the shoulder 21a on the valve element 21 and, in said region, has at least the same outer diameter as the shoulder 21a. In the upper region, the installation cap 25 has a conical section, on which, in the illustration in FIG. 4A, the spring 27 which is likewise of conical form is seated.
(19) As shown in FIG. 4A, an installation tool 40 can be fitted onto the installation cap 25, by means of which installation tool the spring is pushed onto the installation cap 25 by means of axial pressure. In particular, the diameter of the windings of the spring 27, which is originally smaller than the outer diameter of the shoulder 21a, is expanded as the spring is pushed onto the installation cap 25.
(20) FIG. 4B illustrates the completion of the installation situation, in which the spring 27 has already been pushed over the installation cap 25 and the shoulder 21a of the valve element 21 with the aid of the installation tool 40. As is also shown in FIG. 4C, the upper windings of the spring 27, after crossing the installation cap 25, reassume their original relatively small diameter, and can thus be supported on the shoulder 21a on the valve element 21. The lower windings of the spring 27 are supported on the holding plate 13, such that, owing to longitudinal compression of the spring between the shoulder 21a and the holding plate 13, an axial force F acts on the valve element 21. In this way, the shoulder 21a is acted on in a direction away from the holding plate 13, and the shut-off body 22 is held on the valve seat 24.
(21) FIG. 4D shows an illustration of the exemplary spring 27 according to the invention from FIGS. 4A to 4C. It can be clearly seen that the spring is of conical form. The upper windings, which after the installation process are supported on the shoulder 21a, consequently have a smaller diameter than the lower windings, which after the installation process are supported on the holding plate 13. Since the recess 13b at the edge of the holding plate opening 13a is open only in a region required for the lateral insertion of the valve element 21 (FIGS. 2A and 2B), the spring 27 can, in the exemplary embodiment, be supported on an adequately large area of the holding plate 13.
(22) FIG. 5 shows a further exemplary valve device 20 according to the invention with a spring 28 of cylindrical form and with a securing disk 29 which is fastened to the valve element 21. The valve device 20 shown in FIG. 5 differs from the valve device 20 shown in the preceding figures substantially by the fact that, on the valve element 21, instead of the shoulder 21a, there is formed a groove 29a for receiving a securing disk. In this exemplary embodiment, after the valve element 21 has been led through the holding plate opening 13a or into the holding plate recess 13b, a cylindrical spring 29, the inner diameter of which is larger than the outer diameter of the actuating section 23 of the valve element 21, is led over the valve element 21, and said spring is supported on the valve element 21 by means of the securing disc 29 inserted into the groove 29a.
(23) FIG. 6 shows a further exemplary valve device 20 according to the invention, which is actuatable by means of electromagnetic energy. Here, the valve element 21 has an actuating section 23 with magnetically conductive action device, which is mounted in the region of an electromagnet 35 arranged on the cylinder head 24 and which is movable in the direction of the axis A of the valve element 21 by application of electromagnetic energy. In the embodiment illustrated, the valve device 20 is opened by exertion of load on the actuating section 23 of the valve element 21, and is closed, in the absence of electromagnetic energy, by the restoring force of the spring 27. The valve element 21 from FIG. 6 has not only the actuating section 23 but also a bearing section 21b, by means of which the valve element 21 is mounted in the valve space 17 in the cylinder head 14.
(24) FIG. 7 shows a sectional view through a further exemplary compressor 10 according to the invention. The compressor 10 shown in FIG. 7 differs from the compressor 10 shown in FIG. 1 by the fact that the valve plate 12 is of planar design, such that the dead space 18 does not extend into the valve plate 12. This embodiment of the compressor 10 has a so-called supercooling plate as intermediate plate, which also serves as holding plate 13. The dead space 18 is in this embodiment formed in the holding plate 13 and in the cylinder head 14. The design of the holding plate opening 13a with holding plate recess 13b corresponds, in the exemplary embodiment shown in FIG. 7, substantially to the design of the holding plate opening 13a with holding plate recess 13b from FIG. 2A.
(25) FIG. 8 shows a sectional view of a detail of a further exemplary compressor 10 according to the invention. The holding plate 13 of this compressor 10 has a U shape and is arranged in apertures in a planar valve plate 12. Analogously to the embodiments of FIGS. 1 to 7, the valve element 21 is led, in an inclined manner in relation to the subsequent functional position (illustrated in FIG. 8), through the valve plate 12 and the holding plate opening 13a of the holding plate 13, and is then tilted into the illustrated functional position, wherein the valve element 21 passes into the holding plate recess 13b. After the insertion of the valve element 21 into the valve plate 12, the spring 27 is installed on the valve element 21 as shown in FIGS. 4A to 4C. Subsequently, the cylinder head 14 is installed on the compressor, wherein the actuating section 23 of the valve element 21 is led into an actuating element 32. The actuating element 32 is mounted in the valve space 17 of the cylinder head 12 and is designed such that the actuating section 23 of the valve element can be received and mounted in centered fashion therein. Here, the actuating element 32 may lie loosely on the actuating section 23 (as illustrated in FIG. 8) and transmit mechanical energy to the valve element 21 by means of positively locking action with the valve end or the shoulder 21a on the valve element 21 as action device. It is likewise possible for the valve element to be inserted with screw action into a thread formed in the actuating element 31, wherein a corresponding external thread as action device is then provided on the actuating section 23 of the valve element 21. By applying compressed air to the valve space 17, the actuating element 32 is accelerated in the direction of the piston space 16, whereby the actuating section 23 of the valve element 21 has mechanical energy applied thereto. In this way, the valve element 21 is actuated, and is lifted off from the valve seat 24 owing to the shut-off body 22. In the embodiment shown, an increase of the actuating force is possible owing to the enlarged surface of the actuating element 32.
(26) FIG. 9 shows a sectional view of a detail of a further exemplary compressor 10 according to the invention. The compressor 10 from FIG. 9 differs from the compressor 10 from FIG. 8 merely in that no holding plate 13 is provided therein. In this exemplary embodiment, the spring 27 is supported directly on the valve plate 12.
(27) All of the embodiments illustrated have in common the fact that the cylinder head 14 is installed on the valve element or on the holding plate 13 or the valve plate 12 after the installation of the springs 27, 28. Here, the valve element 21 is led along its axis A with the actuating section 23, and possibly with a bearing section 21b, into the valve space 17 formed in the cylinder head 14. Since the valve device 20 is installed already before the cylinder head 14 is mounted, there is no need for an installation opening on the cylinder head 14 via which the valve device 20 is accessible from the outside. The valve space 17 can thus be formed so as to be delimited by the cylinder head on the side averted from the piston space 16, that is to say on the outer side of the cylinder head 14.
LIST OF REFERENCE DESIGNATIONS
(28) 10 Compressor 11 Housing 12 Valve plate 13 Holding plate 13a Holding plate opening 13b Recess at the edge of the holding plate opening 14 Cylinder head 15 Crankcase 16 Piston space 17 Valve space 18 Dead space 19 Feed opening 20 Valve device 21 Valve element 21a Shoulder on the valve element 21b Bearing section 22 Shut-off body 23 Actuating section 24 Valve seat 25 Installation cap 26 Recess in the valve plate 27 Spring 28 Spring 29 Securing disk 29a Groove on the valve element 30 Piston 32 Actuating element 34 Connecting rod 35 Electromagnet 40 Installation tool
(29) The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.
