ELECTROMAGNET

Abstract

An electromagnet which is penetrated by a longitudinal axis includes: an armature space and an armature which is arranged longitudinally movably in the armature space, the armature having a penetration opening, and the armature supporting at least one closure element which is mounted movably in the penetration opening, the closure element being configured to open or to close the nozzle, the closure element comprising a guiding element, which guides the closure element in the penetration opening, and a sealing element which is supported by the guiding element, wherein the sealing element is held in a non-positive and/or positively locking or floating manner on the guiding element.

Claims

1. An electromagnet which is penetrated by a longitudinal axis (A), comprising: an armature space; an armature which is arranged longitudinally movably in the armature space, the armature having a penetration opening, at least one closure element, and at least one nozzle, wherein the armature supports the at least one closure element which is mounted movably in the penetration opening, wherein the at least one closure element is configured to open or to close the at least one nozzle, wherein the at least one closure element comprises: a guiding element configured to guide the at least one closure element in the penetration opening, and a sealing element which is supported by the guiding element, and is held in a non-positive and/or positively locking or floating manner on the guiding element.

2. The electromagnet according to claim 1, wherein the at least one closure element further comprises a supporting spring, wherein the supporting spring is provided in the penetration opening, the sealing element being supported by the supporting spring.

3. The electromagnet according to claim 2, wherein an end winding of the supporting spring which bears against the sealing element is added and/or ground down.

4. The electromagnet according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element is configured from a thermoplastic material or as a metal injection moulding (MIM) part.

5. The electromagnet according to claim 1, wherein on an outer circumferential side of the sealing element, the sealing element has a supporting step which is supported against an inner circumferential-side supporting step of the guiding element.

6. The electromagnet according to claim 5, wherein the supporting step of the sealing element is arranged in a tenth or half, facing the at least one nozzle, of a longitudinal extent of the sealing element.

7. The electromagnet according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element has a hollow cylindrical portion in which the sealing element is arranged.

8. The electromagnet according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element is configured as a hollow sleeve and/or has guiding ribs which run longitudinally on an outer circumferential side of the guiding element.

9. The electromagnet according to claim 8, wherein on the outer circumferential side, the guiding element has at least one conical surface or curved surface.

10. The electromagnet according to claim 1, wherein the guiding element has a bounding collar which bears against the sealing element on an outer circumferential side of the guiding element.

11. The electromagnet according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element is formed from a vulcanization-free material or from an elastic plastic.

12. The electromagnet according to claim 1, wherein the sealing element is formed from an elastomer.

13. The electromagnet according to claim 12, wherein the sealing element is formed from a fluoro-rubber (FKM) material.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0065] Further features, details and advantages of the invention result from the wording of the claims and the following description of exemplary embodiments on the basis of the drawings, in which:

[0066] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an electromagnet.

[0067] FIG. 2 shows a side view of a closure element from FIG. 1.

[0068] FIG. 3 shows a plan view of the closure element from FIG. 1.

[0069] FIG. 4 shows a perspective view of the closure element from FIG. 1.

[0070] FIG. 5 shows a longitudinal sectional view of an armature from FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0071] In the figures, elements which are identical or correspond to one another are denoted in each case by the same reference signs and are therefore not described again, unless expedient. Features which have already been described are not described again in order to avoid repetitions, and can be applied to all elements with reference signs which are identical or correspond to one another, unless explicitly ruled out. The disclosures contained in the entire description can be transferred mutatis mutandis to identical parts with identical reference signs or identical component designations. The positional specifications selected in the description such as, for example, top, bottom, side, etc. also relate to the figure which is directly described and shown, and can be transferred mutatis mutandis to the new position in the case of a positional change. Furthermore, individual features or combinations of features from the different exemplary embodiments which are shown and described can also represent solutions which are independent per se, inventive, or in accordance with the invention.

[0072] A radial direction R extends starting from a longitudinal axis A or central longitudinal axis. A circumferential direction U extends around the central longitudinal axis A, and a transverse centre plane Q is arranged in such a way that its normal vector lies on the central longitudinal axis A. In addition, a longitudinal direction L extends along the longitudinal axis A.

[0073] FIG. 1 shows a longitudinal sectional view of the electromagnet 1. The electromagnet 1 which is shown here can also be called a solenoid valve, and is penetrated by the longitudinal axis A. The electromagnet 1 comprises a magnet housing 12 in a known way, which magnet housing 12 accommodates a coil body 11 which supports a coil winding 10. In addition, the electromagnet 1 comprises a magnetic core 15 which is supported by the magnet housing 12. The electromagnet 1 has a connector part 130 at the end which lies opposite the magnetic core 15. Merely for reasons of illustration, the electromagnet 1 is inserted via the connector part 130 into a connector housing 7 or cartridge which does not have to be a constituent part of the electromagnet 1. Customers typically already have connector housings 7 of this type, which have merely corresponding receiving geometries for the electromagnet 1 such as, for example, an insert recess 134 for inserting the electromagnet 1. In addition, the electromagnet 1 comprises a pole tube 132 which is held at one end and a gap between the coil body 11 and the magnetic core 15, and at the other end supports the connector part 130 in a positively locking and/or non-positive manner. The electromagnet 1 is sealed with respect to the connector housing 7 via two sealing rings 136.

[0074] An armature space 2 of the electromagnet 1 is delimited on the circumferential side by the pole tube 132 and axially at one end by the magnetic core 15 and axially at the other end by the connector part 130. The connector part 130 configures an armature space bottom 20. An armature 3 is arranged longitudinally movably in the armature space 2. The armature 3 is preloaded into the shown position by a restoring spring 13 into a first closed position; the coil winding 10 is deenergized. In the energized state of the coil winding 10, the armature 3 is adjusted in a known way within the armature space 2, with the result that it is pulled upwards in the plane of the drawing in the direction of the magnetic core 15, this taking place counter to the spring force of the restoring spring 13. As a result, an air gap 21 is decreased or is closed. This position can be a second closed position. After deenergization of the coil winding 10, the armature 3 is reset into the shown position by way of the restoring spring 13 and/or a supporting spring 33.

[0075] The armature 3 is of rotationally symmetrical configuration with regard to the longitudinal axis A, is an armature, through which flow passes in the interior, and avoids being flowed around by virtue of the fact that its armature shell surface is a closed armature shell surface, for example a cylindrical armature shell surface. The armature 3 has a continuous penetration opening 30 which runs in the longitudinal direction L and is configured with a single step. The single step results from the fact that the penetration opening 30 has only a first portion with a greater diameter and a second portion 34 with a smaller diameter. The penetration opening 30 has end-side opening regions at both ends.

[0076] A closure element 4 is arranged in each case in the two axial end regions 32 of the penetration opening 30. The two closure elements 4 are mounted in a floating manner in the penetration opening 30. In addition, the supporting spring 33, against which the two closure elements 4 are supported, is received in the penetration opening 30. At one end, the armature 3 comprises a lid 116 which is pressed onto the armature 3. In the connected state (here, in the pressed state), the lid 116 engages over an outer circumferential-side recess 150 or an outer circumferential groove of the armature 3 with configuration of an intermediate space. The lid does not bear against the recess 150. That end surface 152 of the armature which bears against the lid 116 merges directly into the recess 150. The lid 116 closes the penetration opening 30 and has a reach-through 124, as shown in FIG. 5, in particular. The lid 116 configures an inner circumferential-side supporting flange 36, against which the closure element 4 is preloaded by supporting spring 33. For the other closure element 4, the armature 3 configures an inner circumferential-side supporting flange 35, against which the closure element 4 is preloaded by supporting spring 33. The supporting flange 35 of the armature 3 is formed by way of the single step.

[0077] The connector part 130 has a working connector 70 and a pressure connector 75, and the magnetic core 15 has a venting connector 73. All of these connectors 73 and 75 adjoin the armature space 2, in each case one nozzle 71, 74 being arranged on the armature space side at the orifice region on the venting connector 73 and on the pressure connector 75. The nozzles 71, 74 configure the orifice region of the respective connector line 73, 75 and in each case one sealing seat. Each nozzle 71, 74 is assigned a closure element 4 which opens or closes the respective nozzle 71, 74 in a manner which is dependent on the armature position. The connector housing 7 has a feed line for the working connector 70 and a feed line 75a for the pressure connector. It can be seen in combination with FIG. 3 that a cross-sectional area Q3, through which flow can pass, of the armature 3 is greater than a cross-sectional area Q71, Q74, through which flow can pass, of the nozzles 71, 74. The cross-sectional areas Q71, Q74, through which flow can pass, are configured in each case in the flow region 44.

[0078] The nozzle 74 is formed by a projecting nozzle ring 14, which results in a circumferential shoulder 16 on the end side of the magnetic core 15. This shoulder 16 interacts with an annular portion 138 in the opposite region of the armature 3, as a result of which the magnetic properties (force-current characteristic curves, etc.) of the electro-magnet 1 can be set in a known way. The annular portion 138 configures the portion 34 with a smaller diameter of the penetration opening 30, but does not have to do so. The nozzle 74 can dip into this portion 34.

[0079] The armature 3 and one of the two closure elements 4 (representing the two closure elements 4) are now to be described in detail with regard to FIGS. 2 to 5. The closure elements 4 are of identical configuration, but do not have to be.

[0080] The closure element 4 comprises or is formed from two parts, namely a sealing element 40 and a guiding element 41. The sealing element 40 is a separate component from the guiding element 41 and is produced separately from the latter. The sealing element 40 is pressed into the guiding element and is held there, although other possibilities are also conceivable within the context of non-positive and/or positively locking or floating holding. The sealing element 40 is of rotationally symmetrical configuration with regard to the longitudinal axis A, and at one end comprises a sealing surface 106 which serves for contact with the respective nozzle 71, 74, and at the other end comprises a supporting surface 118 which serves for support against the supporting spring 33. The sealing element 40 comprises a first cylindrical portion 140 and a second cylindrical portion 142 with a smaller diameter in comparison with the former. The cylindrical portions 140, 142 adjoin one another directly. The abrupt diameter change between the cylindrical portions 140, 142 configures a supporting step 102.

[0081] The guiding element 41 is configured as a hollow sleeve 110 which has a first hollow-cylindrical portion 120 and a second hollow-cylindrical portion 121 with a smaller diameter in comparison with the former. The abrupt diameter change 128 between the hollow-cylindrical portions 120, 121 configures a supporting step 104. The first hollow-cylindrical portion 120 configures an end region, facing the transverse centre plane Q of the armature 3, of the guiding element 41. The second hollow-cylindrical portion 121 defines an annular bounding collar 122, coaxially with respect to the longitudinal axis A. The two hollow-cylindrical portions 120, 121 each have a cylindrical surface on the inner circumferential side. The sealing element 40 is held via one or both of these cylindrical surfaces, for which reason the one or two contact surfaces 108 are correspondingly configured. The supporting spring 33 engages into the hollow-cylindrical portion 120. The engagement lengths can be denoted by a longitudinal spacing L3. L3 can correspond to half the entire longitudinal extent of the guiding element 41. In the region of the supporting spring 33, on the inner circumferential side, the hollow-cylindrical portion 120 has a guiding surface 114, against which the supporting spring 33 can bear. The corresponding cylindrical surface can configure the guiding surface 114.

[0082] In the case of the sealing element 40, a first longitudinal spacing L1 can be plotted between the sealing surface 106 and the supporting step 102 of the sealing element 40. In the case of the sealing element 40, a second longitudinal spacing L2 can be plotted between the supporting step 102 of the sealing element 40 and the supporting surface 118. The first longitudinal spacing L1 is preferably less than or considerably less than the second longitudinal spacing L2. The following can apply: L1+L2=L3. This can serve for reliable guidance of the spring 33 and the sealing element 40. It can additionally be seen that the supporting step 102 of the sealing element 40 is arranged in that third of the longitudinal extent of the sealing element 40 which faces the corresponding nozzle 71, 74. The supporting steps 102 and 104 bear against one another.

[0083] On the outer circumferential side, the guiding element 41 has a plurality of equidistant and longitudinally running guiding ribs 43. A flow region 44 for the medium which flows into or out of the penetration opening 30 is provided in each case between two adjacent guiding ribs 43. The guiding ribs 43 bear in the penetration opening 30 against the armature 3, and guide the closure element 4 therein. The guiding ribs 43 do not extend over the entire length of the guiding element 41, but merely over the entire length of the hollow-cylindrical portion 120 and over half the length of the hollow-cylindrical portion 121. The guiding ribs 43 protrude beyond the abrupt diameter change 128 of the hollow sleeve 110 in the longitudinal direction L. The guiding ribs 43 each have an end-side bearing surface 45 which can come into contact with the corresponding supporting flange 36, 36. The end-side bearing surfaces 45 are arranged radially adjacently with respect to the hollow-cylindrical portion 121. On the outer circumferential side, the guiding element 41 has a plurality of conical surfaces 112 which each extend between two adjacent guiding ribs 43. These conical surfaces 112 optimize and follow the abrupt diameter change 128 of the guiding element 41.

[0084] The two-sided end windings of the supporting spring 33 are added and ground down. The sealing elements 40 are supported via their supporting surface 118 directly on the supporting spring 33.

[0085] The lid 116 configures an outer circumferential-side annular supporting flange 126, against which the restoring spring 13 can be supported. At the other end, the restoring spring 13 is supported against the poll tube 132. For the tolerance compensation function during assembly, a variable connecting length V is configured between the armature 3 and the lid 116.

[0086] In the illustrated position of the armature 3, the lower (in the plane of the drawing) closure element 4 presses with its sealing element 40 onto the edge of the nozzle 71 at the pressure connector 75. Here, the nozzle 71 of the pressure connector 75 is provided in the armature space bottom 20, the armature space bottom 20 being part of the connector part 130 here.

[0087] In the position shown here of the electromagnet 1 (typically, a 3/2-way valve), a media flow direction 72 is realised in such a way that the venting connector 73 is open and there is thus a connection between the working connector 70 and the venting connector 73. It is possible as a result that the working connector 70 is vented via the venting connector 73. This position can be a first closed position; the pressure connector is closed. If the coil winding 10 is energized, the armature 3 moves and a second closed position can be reached. In this position, the venting connector 73 is closed via the corresponding closure element 4, and a connection between the working connector and the pressure connector 75 is established.

[0088] The armature 3 is mounted longitudinally movably (along the double arrow 31) in the armature space 2. The lower end of the penetration opening 30 is oriented in the direction of the (lower) nozzle 71 of the pressure connector 75, whereas the upper end of the penetration opening 30 is arranged in the region of the (upper) nozzle 74 of the venting connector 73. As a result of the penetration opening 30, the armature 3 counteracts the medium situated in the armature space 2 with a low resistance on account of its increasing (energized) or decreasing (deenergized) movement (double arrow 31), since the medium in the interior of the armature 3 can flow into and out of the penetration opening 30. Although this flow movement is impaired slightly by way of the closure elements 4 which are arranged in the penetration opening 30, it is not prevented. There is a communicating connection between the remaining armature space 2 and the interior of the armature 3, in the penetration opening 30, even in the case of closure elements 4 being inserted. This possibility results from the specific configuration of the closure element 4 which becomes clear in FIGS. 2 to 5, in particular. The closure element 4 has at least two different functions or else two different part regions. The guiding element 41 serves to guide and to allow medium through, whereas the sealing element 40 serves for the sealing function in the case of the closed position of the armature 3 with regard to the respective nozzle 71, 74.

[0089] In particular, FIG. 5 shows a supporting spring interior space 144 of the supporting spring 33. It is delimited on the end side by the respective supporting surfaces 118 and on the outer circumferential side by the windings 146 of the supporting spring 33. The supporting spring interior space 144 can be connected fluidically to a surrounding area of the supporting spring 33, namely via the winding intermediate space or the spring clearance 148. The spring clearance 148 is smaller than that circumferential area of the supporting spring interior space 144 which is covered by the windings 146.

[0090] The invention is not restricted to one of the above-described embodiments, but rather can be modified in a wide variety of ways. All of the features and advantages which are apparent from the claims, the description and the drawing, including structural details, spatial arrangements and method steps, can be essential to the invention both per se and in a very wide variety of combinations.

[0091] All combinations of at least two of the features disclosed in the description, the claims and/or the figures fall within the scope of the invention.

[0092] In order to avoid repetitions, features which are disclosed in accordance with the apparatus are also considered to be disclosed and capable of being claimed in accordance with the method. Features which are disclosed in accordance with the method are likewise to be considered to be disclosed and capable of being claimed in accordance with the apparatus.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0093]

TABLE-US-00001 1 Electromagnet 2 Armature space 3 Armature 4 Closure element 7 Connector housing 10 Coil winding 11 Coil body 12 Magnet housing 13 Restoring spring 14 Nozzle ring 15 Magnetic core 16 Shoulder 20 Armature space bottom 21 Air gap 30 Penetration opening 31 Double arrow 32 End region 33 Supporting spring 34 Portion 35 Supporting flange 36 Supporting flange 40 Sealing element 41 Guiding element 43 Guiding rib 44 Flow region 45 Contact surface 70 Working connector 70a Feed line 71 Nozzle 72 Media flow direction 73 Venting connector 74 Nozzle 75 Pressure connector 75a Feed line 102 Supporting step 104 Supporting step 106 Sealing surface 108 Contact surface 110 Hollow sleeve 112 Conical surface 114 Guiding surface 116 Lid 118 Supporting surface 120 Hollow-cylindrical portion 121 Hollow-cylindrical portion 122 Bounding collar 124 Reach-through 126 Supporting flange 128 Abrupt diameter change 130 Connector part 132 Pole tube 134 Insert recess 136 Sealing ring 138 Annular portion 140 First cylindrical portion 142 Second cylindrical portion 144 Supporting spring interior space 146 Winding 148 Spring clearance 150 Recess 152 End surface A Longitudinal axis L Longitudinal direction L1 First longitudinal spacing L2 Second longitudinal spacing L3 Third longitudinal spacing R Radial direction Q Transverse centre plane Q3, Q71, Q74 Cross-sectional area U Circumferential direction V Connecting length