Device for Holding a Directly Controlled Valve in a Valve Housing, in a Channel Plate or in a Transmission Housing

Abstract

A device for fixing a directly controlled valve (1) acting as an actuator in a valve housing (2), in a duct plate, or in a transmission housing, the device being fixed to the valve housing (2), the duct plate, or the transmission housing by fixing elements (7), the device including a fixing plate (3) having a spring-loaded length (L). The spring-loaded length (L) is adjustable independently of a distance of the fixing elements (7) from a central axis (4) of the actuator.

Claims

1-5. (canceled)

6. A device for fixing a directly controlled valve (1) acting as an actuator in a valve housing (2), in a duct plate, or in a transmission housing, the device being fixed to the valve housing (2), the duct plate, or the transmission housing by fixing elements (7), the device comprising: a fixing plate (3) having a spring-loaded length (L), the spring-loaded length (L) being adjustable independently of a distance of the fixing elements (7) from a central axis (4) of the actuator.

7. The device of claim 6, wherein the fixing plate (3) is bent into a U-shape such that the fixing plate (3) comprises a first leg (5) and a second leg (6), wherein the first leg (5) is shorter than the second leg (6), wherein the fixing plate (3) is fixed to the valve housing (2), on the duct plate, or on the transmission housing by fixing the first leg (5) on the valve housing (2), on the duct plate, or on the transmission housing with the fixing elements (7) in a mounted state of the fixing plate (3), the fixing elements (7) being bolts, wherein the second leg (6) comprises two fingers (9) arranged in parallel to one another, wherein, with the exception of free ends of the fingers (9), the second leg (6) extends spaced apart from the valve housing (2), from the duct plate, or from the transmission housing and from the actuator (1) in the mounted state of the fixing plate (3), wherein the free ends of the fingers (9) are bent in the direction of the actuator (1) and introduce a clamping force onto the actuator (1) in the mounted state of the fixing plate (3), and wherein the spring-loaded length (L) is determined by a length of the second leg (6) defined between an apex (10) of the fixing plate (3) and the free end of the fingers (9).

8. The device of claim 7, wherein bolt holes (8) of the fixing plate (3) for fixing the first leg (5) of the fixing plate (3) on the valve housing (2), on the duct plate, or on the transmission housing are arranged such that a minimum bolt spacing is defined between the central axis (4) of the actuator and the bolts (7).

9. The device of claim 6, wherein the fixing plate (3) is formed as a one-piece sheet-metal component.

10. The device of claim 6, wherein the device is utilized in hydraulic control units (11) for fixing multiple actuators (1) in the valve housing (2) or in the duct plate, the fixing plate (3) being one of a plurality of fixing plates of a common fixing plate assembly (12), wherein a bolt hole (8) for fixing the common fixing plate assembly (12) to the valve housing (2) or to the duct plate is provided between first legs (5) of adjacent fixing plates (3) of the plurality of fixing plates (3).

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] The invention is explained in greater detail in the following, by way of example, with reference to the attached figures. Identical reference numbers mark identical components. In the figures, the following is shown:

[0014] FIG. 1 shows a section view of a directly controlled valve, which acts as an actuator and is fixed with the aid of a device according to the invention in a valve housing;

[0015] FIG. 2 shows a perspective view of a hydraulic control unit in which multiple directly controlled valves acting as actuators are fixed in a valve housing by a common fixing plate assembly, the common fixing plate assembly having multiple individual fixing plates designed according to the invention; and

[0016] FIG. 3 shows a top view of a common fixing plate assembly for fixing multiple actuators in a valve housing of a hydraulic control unit, the common fixing plate assembly having multiple fixing plates designed according to the invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0017] Reference will now be made to embodiments of the invention, one or more examples of which are shown in the drawings. Each embodiment is provided by way of explanation of the invention, and not as a limitation of the invention. For example, features illustrated or described as part of one embodiment can be combined with another embodiment to yield still another embodiment. It is intended that the present invention include these and other modifications and variations to the embodiments described herein.

[0018] According to the invention and with reference to attached figures, a device is provided for fixing or holding a directly controlled valve 1, which acts as an actuator, in a valve housing 2. The fixing device is a fixing plate 3, where a spring-loaded length L of the fixing plate 3 is adjustable independently of a distance of fixing elements 7 of the fixing plate 3 from a central axis 4 of the actuator 1.

[0019] In the example shown in FIG. 1, the fixing plate 3 is bent essentially in a U-shape and has a first leg 5 and a second leg 6, wherein the first leg 5 is shorter than the second leg 6. In the mounted state, the first leg 5 is fixed on the valve housing 2 via bolts 7 acting as the fixing elements. The first leg 5 has bolt holes 8 for receiving the bolts 7. Due to the bolted connection, the fixing plate 3 is depressed onto the face of the valve housing 2, whereby a clamping force is introduced by the fixing plate 3 onto the actuator 1.

[0020] The second leg 6 has two fingers 9 as shown in FIG. 2, which are arranged in parallel to one another. As shown in FIG. 1, with the exception of free ends of the fingers 9, the second leg 6 extends spaced apart from the valve housing 2 and from the actuator 1 in the mounted state. In the mounted state, the free ends of the fingers 9, which are bent in the direction of the actuator 1, introduce a clamping force onto the actuator 1, which is indicated in FIG. 1 by the arrow F. The spring-loaded length L of the fixing plate 3 is defined by a length of the second leg 6 between an apex 10 of the fixing plate 3 and the free ends of the fingers 9.

[0021] The fixing plate 3 according to the invention is utilized in hydraulic control units 11 for fixing multiple actuators 1 in a valve housing 2. In this case, a common fixing plate assembly 12 including multiple fixing plates 3 is formed as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3. A bolt hole 8 for bolting the common fixing plate assembly 12 to the valve housing 2 is provided within the first legs 5 between pairs of adjacent fixing plates 3, as illustrated in FIGS. 2 and 3. The common fixing plate assembly 12 is formed as one piece.

[0022] The bolt holes 8 for fixing the first leg 5 of the fixing plate 3 on the valve housing 2 are arranged such that the bolted connection of the fixing plate 3 to the valve housing 2 takes place with a minimal bolt spacing between the central axis 4 of the actuator 1 and the bolts 7, as illustrated with reference to FIG. 1.

[0023] Due to the design according to the invention, different clamping forces F are implementable or, given the same clamping force, different stresses acting on the fingers 9 are implementable by varying the spring-loaded length L, namely the length of the second leg 6 between the apex 10 of the fixing plate 3 and the free ends of the fingers 9. For instance, the spring loaded length L may be varied by structurally displacing or moving the apex 10 of the fixing plate 3 perpendicularly to the central axis of the actuator, without changing the position of the actuator 1 or of the bolt holes 8. This is illustrated with reference to FIG. 3. When the fixing plates 3 are configured such that the apexes 10 are further away from the central axis of the actuator than is shown in FIG. 1, the clamping forces acting on the particular actuator 1 are increased. Accordingly, when the fixing plates 3 are configured such that the apexes 10 are further away from the central axis of the actuator than is shown in FIG. 1, with the same clamping forces acting on the particular actuator 1, the stresses acting on the fingers 9 are reducible. Modifications and variations can be made to the embodiments illustrated or described herein without departing from the scope and spirit of the invention as set forth in the appended claims.

REFERENCE NUMBERS

[0024] 1 actuator, valve

[0025] 2 valve housing

[0026] 3 fixing plate

[0027] 4 central axis of actuator

[0028] 5 first leg

[0029] 6 second leg

[0030] 7 bolt

[0031] 8 bolt hole

[0032] 9 finger

[0033] 10 apex

[0034] 11 hydraulic control unit

[0035] 12 common fixing plate assembly

[0036] F clamping force

[0037] L spring-loaded length