DEVICE AND METHOD FOR SETTING A PRESSURE IN A SYSTEM

Abstract

The present invention relates to a device for adjusting a pressure in a system. The device comprises at least one movable adjustment unit having at least one opening and a fluid passage. The fluid passage comprises a main opening having a flow area for discharging a main stream of fluid to be conducted through the fluid passage, and a by-pass opening having a flow area for discharging a secondary stream of the fluid to be conducted through the fluid passage into an outside environment of the device. The adjustment unit is configured to, in a working position, at least partially overlap the by-pass opening and thereby reduce the flow area of the by-pass opening

Claims

1. A device for adjusting a pressure in a system, wherein the device comprises: at least one adjustment unit having at least one opening, a fluid passage, wherein the fluid passage comprises an inlet, a by-pass opening for discharging a secondary stream of a fluid flowing through the fluid passage to an outside environment of the device, and a main opening, and wherein the adjustment unit is configured to, in a working position, overlap the by-pass opening with the at least one opening and thereby reduce the flow area of the by-pass opening with the at least one opening.

2. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening is configured as a plurality of boreholes having different diameters.

3. The device according to claim 1, wherein the at least one opening of the adjustment unit is configured to gradually taper.

4. (canceled)

5. The device according to claim 1, wherein the adjustment unit reduces the flow area of the by-pass opening in different working positions using different overlapping areas, respectively.

6. The device according to claim 1 any one of the preceding claims, wherein the adjustment unit comprises at least one indentation which interacts with a latching element in a working position of the adjustment unit to secure the adjustment unit in a desired rotational position.

7. The device according to claim 1, wherein a pressure sensor for detecting a pressure in the main stream and an actuator for moving the adjustment unit depending on measured values determined by the pressure sensor are provided.

8. The device according to claim 1, wherein the device comprises at least one sealing unit which seals a region between the adjustment unit and a region of the secondary fluid passage forming or surrounding the by-pass opening substantially impermeably.

9. A method of using the device according to claim 1 including adjusting a pressure of a fluid provided by at least one pump.

10. A method of using the device according to claim 1, including setting a plurality of working pressures of a pressure sequence on a disk repair tool.

11. A method for adjusting a pressure in a system, wherein the method comprises the steps of: providing a fluid pressurized with an input pressure, positioning an adjustment unit of a device according to claim 1 at an operating position in which the adjustment unit overlaps the by-pass opening and reduces the flow area of the by-pass opening

12. The method according to claim 11, wherein the step of positioning the adjustment unit to overlap the by-pass opening is automatically executed using an actuator depending on a working pressure in a main stream of the device detected by a pressure sensor.

13. A system, comprising: at least one pump for providing a fluid having an input pressure, a device according to claim 1 configured to reduce the pressure at a main opening to at least a predetermined working pressure, wherein the device comprises an inlet for connecting said at least one pump.

14. The system according to claim 13, wherein the system comprises a repair tool, and wherein the repair tool is configured to be pressurized by said at least one pump with a working pressure which is adjustable by said device.

Description

DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0056] FIG. 1 a possible embodiment of the device according to the invention,

[0057] FIG. 2 a side view of the adjustment unit according to the invention,

[0058] FIG. 3 a perspective view of the adjustment unit,

[0059] FIG. 4 a further possible arrangement of the adjustment unit according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0060] FIG. 1 shows a device 100 for adjusting a pressure in a system.

[0061] The device 100 comprises a fluid passage 101 with an inlet 103, a main opening 105 and a by-pass opening 107.

[0062] The device 100 further comprises an adjustment unit 109 having at least a first opening 111 and a second opening 113. The adjustment unit 109 further comprises at least a first passage 111a and a second passage 113a.

[0063] A secondary fluid passage 102 with a by-pass opening 107 is provided at the fluid passage 101 for adjusting a working pressure of a fluid being discharged the fluid passage 101 from the main opening 105 or being in contact with the main opening 105.

[0064] Through the by-pass opening 107, in the case of a high inlet pressure, a fluid stream 101a, which flows with an inlet pressure into the fluid passage 101 via the inlet 103, is divided into a secondary stream 102a and a main stream 101b. Thus, the flow characteristics of the main stream 101b, in particular its working pressure, may be influenced by adjusting the secondary stream 102a.

[0065] Alternatively, in the case of a low-pressure, a fluid stream 101a flowing through the fluid passage 101 is supplemented with a secondary stream 102a through the by-pass opening 107 in order to reduce the low-pressure, i.e. to shift it towards a higher value.

[0066] To adjust the secondary stream 102a, the adjustment unit 109 according to the present invention is provided. For example, since the first opening 111 has a smaller diameter than the second opening 113, the first opening 111, when positioned to overlap with the by-pass opening 107, causes a small secondary stream 102a, or a secondary stream 102a that is smaller, or has a smaller volumetric flow, than a secondary stream 102a produced when the by-pass opening 107 is overlapped by the second opening 113.

[0067] By branching off the secondary stream 102a from the fluid stream 101a flowing into the fluid passage 101, variances, such as pressure peaks in which a particularly large amount of fluid flows through the fluid passage 101, are automatically intercepted or buffered. Accordingly, after the secondary stream 102a has been branched off, the main stream 101b shows a particularly uniform pressure curve or a low variance, in particular a variance that is smaller than the variance of the fluid stream 101a flowing into the fluid passage 101 through the inlet 103.

[0068] Depending on the desired working pressure and/or the applied inlet pressure, it is possible to switch at least between the first opening 111 and the second opening 113 by moving the adjustment unit 109 or rotating it about an axis 110. Accordingly, in order to set a low working pressure, for example, the second opening 113 can be selected with a large diameter for overlapping the by-pass opening 107. Alternatively, in order to set a high working pressure, the first opening 113 with a small diameter can be selected for overlapping the by-pass opening 107.

[0069] The adjustment unit 109 can be moved automatically by means of an optional actuator to switch between the openings 111 and 113. For this purpose, the actuator 115 can be controlled or set depending on measurements of a working pressure or an inlet pressure determined by using an optional pressure sensor or the like.

[0070] A sealing unit 119 is provided between the adjustment unit 109 and the secondary fluid passage 102, which can be provided to prevent leakage of a fluid when flowing through one of the openings 111 or 113 of the adjustment unit 109. This can ensure that an impermeable connection is provided between a base member 100a and the adjustment unit 109 after the adjustment unit 109 has been adjusted.

[0071] FIG. 2 shows a side view of the adjustment unit 109. Indentations 400 are provided on an outer circumference 109a. In the predetermined working positions, in which openings 111, 113 are arranged above the by-pass opening 107, a latching element 401 (see FIG. 1) can engage in an indentation 400 and thereby permanently secure the position of the adjustment unit 109 relative to the by-pass opening 107. This allows the position of the adjustment unit 109 to be set and then secured in an optimal manner.

[0072] FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the adjustment unit 109. Several openings 111, 113 with different diameters are provided on the upper side. The graduations of the diameters can be selected, for example, so that a pressure difference in the fluid passage 101a or at the main opening 105 has a value of 1/10 bar. The following diameters are merely non-limiting examples: 0.130, 0.140, 0.150, 0.160, 0.170, 0.180, 0.190, 0.200, 0.210 mm.

[0073] FIG. 4 shows a further arrangement of the adjustment unit 109 with an eccentric guide passage 501 and a clamping element 503 which engages in the guide passage 501. By moving the adjustment unit 109 along the clamping element 503, which is positionally secured with respect to the base element 100a, the adjustment unit 109 moves along a trajectory predetermined by a shape of the guide opening 501, which is characteristic of an eccentric, for example. The predetermined trajectory may be selected such that the adjustment unit 109 overlaps a by-pass opening 107 according to a predetermined characteristic. In particular, the trajectory may be selected to be linear or rotational. Once the appropriate degree of overlap of the by-pass opening 107 has been set, the clamping element 503 can secure the adjustment unit 107 relative to the base element 100a via a screw.

[0074] The pressure applied to the main opening 105 is adjusted by means of the overlapped or covered flow area of the by-pass opening 107, so that a predetermined working pressure is established at the main opening 105.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0075] 100 device

[0076] 100a base element

[0077] 101 fluid passage

[0078] 101a fluid stream

[0079] 101b main stream

[0080] 102 secondary fluid passage

[0081] 102a secondary stream

[0082] 103 inlet

[0083] 105 main opening

[0084] 107 by-pass opening

[0085] 109 adjustment unit

[0086] 109a outer circumference

[0087] 110 axis

[0088] 111 first opening

[0089] 111a first passage

[0090] 113 second opening

[0091] 113a second passage

[0092] 119 sealing unit

[0093] 400 indentation

[0094] 401 latching element

[0095] 501 guide passage

[0096] 503 clamping element