Abstract
A valve island for a hydraulic assembly and a hydraulic assembly featuring a valve island. The valve island and the hydraulic assembly are used with a dialysis machine. The valve island has a main part in which at least one fluid flow duct is formed. The main part is produced by additive manufacturing or injection molding. The hydraulic assembly includes a support on which at least one valve island is arranged directly or indirectly.
Claims
1. A valve island for a hydraulic assembly for an extracorporeal blood treatment machine with a base body in/on which at least one fluid flow passage comprising a tube is formed/integrally arranged, wherein the base body is manufactured by additive manufacturing or injection molding, and wherein a valve portion is arranged at at least one axial end of the at least one fluid flow passage.
2. The valve island according to claim 1, wherein the valve portion is integrally formed with the base body.
3. The valve island according to claim 1, wherein the valve portion is rotatably arranged on the base body in steps.
4. The valve island according to claim 1, wherein at least one coupling receptacle is formed integrally with the base body, via which a hydraulic component is connectable fluidically and positively to the at least one fluid flow passage.
5. The valve island according to claim 1, wherein at least one spout is formed integrally with the base body, via which a fluidic line can be fluidically connected to the at least one fluid flow passage.
6. The valve island according to claim 1, wherein at least one fluidic and/or mechanical connecting portion is formed integrally with the base body, via which a component is connectable fluidically and/or mechanically.
7. The valve island according to claim 1, wherein at least one connecting portion is formed on the base body, via which the valve island is connectable to a connecting portion of the carrier or a mounting adapter matched thereto.
8. The valve island according to claim 4, wherein the hydraulic component is a valve that is fluidically and positively connected to the at least one fluid flow passage via the coupling receptacle.
9. The valve island according to claim 8, wherein the valve comprises a coupling portion inserted into the coupling receptacle and secured therein via a mounting element.
10. The valve island according to claim 8, wherein a mixing element for mixing fluids is integrated in a fluid flow passage of the valve or a second valve.
11. The valve island according to claim 8, wherein a mixing element is integrated in a valve seat of the valve.
12. The valve island according to claim 4, wherein the hydraulic component is a mixing element that is fluidically and positively connected to a fluid flow passage or the at least one fluid flow passage via the coupling receptacle or a coupling receptacle.
13. The valve island according to claim 12, wherein the mixing element comprises a coupling portion inserted into the coupling receptacle and secured therein via a mounting element.
14. A hydraulic assembly for an extracorporeal blood treatment machine with a carrier on which at least one valve island according to claim 1 is arranged indirectly or directly.
15. The hydraulic assembly according to claim 14, wherein the carrier includes a surface on which the at least one valve island is or are disposed.
16. The hydraulic assembly according to claim 14, wherein the at least one valve island is mountable or dismountable from a common side.
17. The hydraulic assembly according to claim 14, wherein the carrier has at least one adapted connecting portion connected to a connecting portion of the base body.
18. The hydraulic assembly according to claim 14, further comprising a mounting adapter, wherein the mounting adapter has at least one adapted connecting portion connected to the connecting portion of the base body and at least one secondary connecting portion connected to the carrier.
19. A dialysis machine comprising a hydraulic assembly according to claim 14.
Description
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWING FIGURES
[0065] The objects, aspects and advantages of the present invention stated above are further illustrated by the following detailed description of the accompanying drawing.
[0066] FIG. 1 is a schematic representation of one side of a valve island according to a first configuration example of the present disclosure;
[0067] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the other side of the valve island according to the first configuration example of the present disclosure;
[0068] FIG. 3 is a schematic view of several embodiments a) to e) of a snap-in valve connectable to the valve island, comprising a coupling portion arranged axially with respect to a coil element;
[0069] FIG. 4 is a schematic view of several variations a) to e) of the snap-in valve connectable to the valve island, which has a coupling portion angled at 90° to the coil element;
[0070] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the individual parts of a configuration of the valve island according to the first configuration example with the snap-in valve, a mounting clip, an expansion clip and a connecting portion of the carrier;
[0071] FIG. 6 is a magnified representation of a coupling receptacle of the valve island with a mounting clip according to the first configuration example;
[0072] FIG. 7 is a schematic representation of a front side of a valve island according to a second configuration example of the present disclosure;
[0073] FIG. 8 is a schematic representation of a mounting side of a valve island according to the second configuration example of the present disclosure;
[0074] FIG. 9 is a schematic representation of the individual parts of a configuration of the valve island according to the second configuration example with snap-in valves, an expansion clip, a mounting adapter and a connecting portion of the carrier;
[0075] FIG. 10 is a schematic representation of a front view of an overall configuration of the second configuration example of the valve island;
[0076] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of a hydraulic assembly with balance chambers and the valve island according to the second configuration example; and
[0077] FIG. 12 is a schematic representation of the valve island according to the first configuration example mounted on a mounting angle attached to an insertion sheet.
[0078] FIG. 13 is a schematic representation of the individual parts of a configuration of a sub-assembly with a mixing element.
[0079] FIG. 14 is a schematic representation of the individual parts of a further configuration of a sub-assembly with a modification of the mixing element.
[0080] FIG. 15 is a schematic representation of a further modification of a mixing element.
[0081] FIG. 16 is a cross-sectional view of the further modification of the mixing element, which is connected in one piece to a coupling portion.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
[0082] Configuration examples of the present disclosure are described below based on the accompanying figures.
[0083] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a longitudinal side of a valve island 1 (perspective view) according to a first configuration example of the present disclosure.
[0084] The valve island 1 has a base body 2. The base body 2 is manufactured using additive manufacturing or injection molding. The base body 2 comprises (has) a fluid flow passage 3 which is integral/formed in one piece with the base body 2 (internal, rigid) and thus fulfills a self-supporting function of the valve island 1. The base body 2 furthermore has a plurality of spouts or connection nozzles 4 integral/formed in one piece with the base body 2, which are connected to the fluid flow passage 3, preferably in a T-shaped (fluidically connected) manner, and are provided and configured for the connection of external hydraulic lines or tubes. The spouts 4 are preferably molded onto the base body 2 and point radially outward from the fluid flow passage 3.
[0085] In/on the fluid flow passage 3, a respective axial valve seat (not shown) is preferably provided or formed within the two axial ends/end portions of the fluid flow passage 3 or at the two axial ends/end portions of the fluid flow passage 3. Each valve seat is opened and/or closed by a movable valve element (valve piston), which is driven by a coil element (electric valve coil) 5 arranged at the base body 2 or fluid flow passage 3, respectively. The coil elements 5 of the two valves arranged axially at the ends are located axially outside at the axial ends/end portions of the fluid flow passage 3. The coil elements 5 are held on the base body 2 rotatably in 45° degree steps or alternatively in steps smaller than 45° about their axis, i.e. about the longitudinal axis of the fluid flow passage 3.
[0086] The base body 2 also has a hollow cylindrical coupling receptacle (port) 6 at/in the area of the valve seat, which is suitable for fluidic and form-fitting (mechanical) connection with other hydraulic components. The coupling receptacle 6 is preferably molded onto the base body 2 and points radially (preferably in a T-shape) outward from the fluid flow passage 3. The hollow-cylindrical coupling receptacle 6 has depressions 7 on the inner circumference at preferably equal circumferential distances, which are suitable and provided for receiving an element of another hydraulic component adapted thereto. The base body 2 also has (through) bores 8 which extend completely through the base body 2 laterally next to the fluid flow passage 3 and through which fixing means such as screws, rivets or bands (not shown) are insertable.
[0087] In other words, the valve island according to the disclosure consists of the base body 2, which comprises both the fluid flow passage 3 and a (block-like) portion with the bores 8 formed therein in one piece of material. The fluid flow passage 3 has two axially spaced ends/end portions to which the aforementioned solenoid valves are preferably mounted so as to be rotatable about the longitudinal axis of the passage. Each valve has an electrically activatable valve coil, via which a respective movable valve body is movable for opening and closing the valve, so as to fluidly connect and/or fluidly disconnect the fluid flow passage 3 with a branch line. The valve seat, which is openable and closable by the valve body, is formed either directly on the front side of the fluid flow passage 3 or integrally in the solenoid valve. As an alternative to the rotatability of the valve-internal valve/solenoid coil described above, this (or its receiving housing) can also be formed integrally with the base body 2.
[0088] FIG. 2 is a schematic representation of the other side of the valve island 1 with respect to FIG. 1, according to the first configuration example of the present disclosure. On this other side of the base body 2, three fluidic connecting portions 9 are formed which are suitable for the connection/coupling of, for example, sensors or display instruments. The connecting portions 9 are shown in the form of connection nozzles, which are preferably oriented in a T-shape with respect to the fluid flow passage 3. The base body 2 further comprises plug windows 10, which are suitable and provided for receiving/passing wiring or the electrical load line for the valve coils and which are placed adjacent to the fluid flow passage 3.
[0089] The other side of the valve island 1 shown in FIG. 2 shows a connecting portion or mounting flange 11 in the area of the aforementioned block-like portion of the base body 2, wherein the connecting portion/mounting flange 11 is formed in one piece of material on the base body 2. The connecting portion 11 is suitable and provided for (mechanically) connecting the valve island 1 to a connecting portion (mounting flange) of a hydraulic assembly or a mounting adapter matched thereto. The connecting portion 11 preferably consists of a connecting base plate 12, which is oriented in the longitudinal direction of the valve island 1 parallel to the fluid flow passage 3 of the base body 2. At the longitudinal ends of the connecting base plate 12 spaced along the fluid flow passage 3, two male connection elements 13 (positioning bases/hanging pins) are formed, which are suitable and provided for insertion or hanging in respective female connection receptacles (tabs/bores), for example of the hydraulic assembly. A web of the male connection element 13 protrudes from the connecting base plate 12 to terminate in a head element having a multiple of the diameter of the web. The head element spans a plane parallel to the plane of the connecting base plate 10—i.e. it is plate-shaped—and thus forms an undercut corresponding to the hook.
[0090] FIGS. 3 and 4 show a snap-in valve 14 in various configurations, which is provided for installation at the coupling receptacle (port) 6. The snap-in valve 14 is preferably a solenoid valve as an example of a hydraulic component. The snap-in valve 14 is suitable and provided to be inserted into the coupling receptacle 6 of the valve island 1 via a coupling portion 15 of the snap-in valve 14, in order to be connected to the fluid flow passage 3 of the base body 2, in a radially tight and form-fitting manner. The snap-in valve 14 has a valve seat 16 which can be opened and closed via a movable valve body in order to open and/or close the internal fluid flow passage of the snap-in valve 14. The snap-in valve 14 further comprises, as in the valve island 1 according to Fig.1 and 2, an electrical coil element 17.
[0091] The coupling portion 15 of the snap-in valve 14 in FIGS. 3 and 4 tapers in a frustoconical shape from a bottom portion to a flattened tip portion. In an axial (longitudinal) direction of the coupling portion 15, the coupling portion 15 has radial recesses extending radially inward to an outer circumference of the fluid flow passage of the coupling portion 15. At the circumference of the tip portion, an O-ring 18 is arranged as a sealing element, which is suitable and provided to form the connection of a fluid flow passage formed to the valve island 1 in a radially sealing manner.
[0092] The various configurations of the snap-in valve 14 include one or a plurality of spouts 19 connected to the internal fluid flow passage of the snap-in valve 14 and provided for connection of external hydraulic lines or tubes. Further, in addition to the one or more spouts 19, some of the configurations of the snap-in valve 14 may include a connecting portion 20 suitable and provided for connection/coupling of, for example, sensors or indicating instruments.
[0093] The configurations a) to e) in FIG. 3 of the snap-in valve 14 have a coupling portion 15 that is formed axially to the coil element 17. The configurations of the snap-in valve 14 in FIG. 4 a) to e) differ from those in FIG. 3 essentially in that a coupling portion 15 is formed here at an angle of 90° to the coil element 17.
[0094] FIG. 5 is a schematic representation of the individual parts of a configuration of the valve island 1 according to the first configuration example (in an exploded view) with the snap-in valve 14, a mounting clip 22 as mounting/axial securing element, a valve locking element 23 and a connecting portion/holding plate 24 of the carrier/valve-island holder as mounting interface.
[0095] A bottom portion of the coupling portion 15 of the snap-in valve 14 (corresponding to an end disk axially bounding the coupling portion 15) has a circular front surface facing the coupling portion 15 in the axial direction, and in the center of which the fluid flow passage of the snap-in valve 14 is arranged with a diameter smaller than that of the circular front surface. Two projections 21 are arranged on the circular front surface, which project in the axial direction from the circular front surface toward the coupling portion 15 and also extend in the radial direction, as shown in FIG. 5, respectively above and below the fluid flow passage of the snap-in valve 14 in the upward and downward directions. In the connected state (snap-in valve 14 is inserted into port 6), the projections 21 on the coupling portion 15 engage in the respective depression 7 of the coupling receptacle/port 6. This prevents the snap-in valve 14 from rotating axially in relation to the valve island 1.
[0096] The connecting portion 24 of the carrier has two female connection receptacles 25, which are arranged at a distance one above the other as shown in FIG. 5, are designed in the form of keyholes and are suitable and provided for fastening the respective two male connection elements 13 of the valve island 1 to the connecting portion 24 of the carrier, for example by hooking them into the female connection receptacles 25.
[0097] The valve locking element 23 is conical and suitable for locking the valve island 1 to the connecting portion 24 of the carrier. In order to lock the valve island 1, the valve locking element 23 is inserted/pressed through a U-shaped section of the connecting base plate 12 of the valve island 1 (see FIG. 2), which protrudes laterally from the longitudinal extension of the connecting base plate 12 (see FIG. 5), and through a bore 26 provided for this purpose on the carrier, and is locked/anchored by radial expansion effect.
[0098] FIG. 6 shows an enlarged view of a coupling receptacle 6 of the valve island 1 with a mounting clip 22 according to the first configuration example. The mounting clip 22 has a base portion from the upper and lower ends of which one leg each extends at a 90° angle, which together with the base portion form a U-shape and are parallel. The legs of the mounting clip 22 are inserted into locking openings of the coupling receptacle 6 from the radial direction for mounting the snap-in valve 14, and partially embrace the fluid flow passage of the coupling portion 15 inserted therein in the radial recesses. The coupling portion 15 is secured in the axial direction by the spring force of the legs of the mounting clip 22.
[0099] FIGS. 7 and 8 show a schematic representation of a front side and an mounting side of the valve island 1 according to a second configuration example of the present disclosure.
[0100] The valve island 1 of the second configuration example differs from the valve island 1 of the first configuration example by the base body 27, on which a further (second), independent fluid flow passage is formed, which is preferably connected in one piece of material to the base body 27 axially parallel to the first fluid flow passage on the same or an opposite side of the base body. In other words, the base body 27 serves, among other things, as a middle or connecting part between the parallel-spaced fluid flow passages.
[0101] The two fluid flow passages according to FIGS. 7 and 8 are each formed substantially identically to the fluid flow passage 3 according to the first configuration example. That is, each of the two fluid flow passages of the second configuration example has two coil elements 5 with valve seat placed on the front side, a coupling receptacle/port 6 for, e.g. a further (plug-in) valve, a number (preferably four) of spouts 4 for separate lines and other hydraulic components, and a number (preferably three) of fluidic connecting portions 9, all of which are formed integrally with the two fluid flow passages. The respective coupling receptacles 6 are arranged laterally of the base body 27 in such a way that they face in opposite directions and are thus each accessible from laterally outside the base body 27 without interfering with each other. Three of the number of spouts 4 are arranged on one (front) side and one of the number of spouts 4 is arranged laterally (parallel to the respective coupling receptacle 6) of the base body 27. The number of fluidic connecting portions 9 are all arranged on the mounting side, i.e. on the longitudinal side of the respective fluid flow channels facing away from the spouts 4. The base body 27 has a number, preferably four bores 8 and a number, preferably two plug windows 10. The front side of the base body 27 is provided with a data matrix code 28 and a marking for the type label 29. The base body 27 has a female connection receptacle 30 similar to that described in the first configuration example, but which is formed in a rotated keyhole shape and is suitable and provided to be hooked into a male connection element 13 arranged on an additional mounting adapter 31 (see FIG. 9) for attachment to the mounting adapter 31, wherein the mounting adapter 31 is in turn provided for connection to a holder/holding plate/carrier 32.
[0102] FIG. 9 shows a schematic representation of the individual parts of a configuration of the valve island 1 of the second configuration example with two snap-in valves 14 connected (optionally) to the coupling receptacles 6, the valve locking element (expansion clip/pin) 23, the mounting adapter 31 and the carrier or, respectively, the connecting portion 32 of the carrier as mounting interface.
[0103] In this case, the mounting adapter 31 serves as a spacer to create a distance between the valve island 1 and the connecting portion 32 of the carrier. This is necessary due to the special design of the mounting side (the side facing the carrier) of the valve island 1, on which the fluidic connecting portions 9 are arranged in the second configuration example. Likewise, the distance is required for one of the two stretch valves connected to the coupling receptacle 6, in which the spool body 17 of the snap-in valve is angled 90° to the coupling portion 15 of the snap-in valve in the direction towards the carrier.
[0104] On a side facing the valve island, the mounting adapter 31 has at least one of the male connection elements (hooks) 13 described above, unlike the valve island 1 of the first configuration example, in which the connecting base plate 12 of the base body 2 has the male connection elements 13. The side of the mounting adapter 31 facing the carrier further has a number of (preferably three) bores suitable for mounting on the carrier, on which congruently correspondingly similar bores are provided.
[0105] FIG. 10 shows a schematic representation of a front view of an overall configuration of the valve island 1 of the second configuration example. In this illustration, the valve island 1 is mounted on the carrier via the mounting adapter 31 (not shown in this Fig.) and locked via the expanding mandrel 23 (see FIG. 5). Two snap-in valves 14 are connected/inserted to the coupling receptacles 6 of the base body 27 and fastened/axially fixed via a mounting clip/splint 22. A sensor 33 is optionally inserted in the fluidic connecting portions 20 of the snap-in valve 14 and one of the fluidic connecting portions of the base body 27.
[0106] FIG. 11 is a schematic representation of an example of a hydraulic assembly 34 in a dialysis machine with balance chambers 35 and the valve island 1 according to the second configuration example.
[0107] An assembly tower (housing portion of the dialysis machine) 36 preferably has a mounting plate 37 that serves as a mounting surface or mounting plane/carrier for the valve island 1 and possibly also for the balance chambers 35. The mounting plate 37 is provided in a U-shaped frame of the assembly tower 36. The space defined/surrounded by the assembly tower 36 is divided by the mounting plate 37 into a front and a rear space section. The valve island 1 is mounted to the mounting plate 37 in an area, according to FIG. 11, below the balance chambers 35.
[0108] The balance chambers 35 are mounted on a plate-like sub-assembly 38, which is mounted in a planar manner in the mounting plate 37 to form a common plane with the mounting plate 37.
[0109] FIG. 12 shows a schematic representation of the valve island 1 according to the first configuration example, which is mounted on a mounting angle 39, which in turn is attached to an insertion sheet 40. Due to the mounting via the mounting angle 39, the valve island 1 is oriented at an angle of 90° with respect to the insertion sheet 40. The insertion sheet 40 is suitable and provided for insertion or sliding into the hydraulic assembly, for example the assembly tower preferably of a dialysis machine.
[0110] FIG. 13 shows a schematic representation of the individual parts of a configuration of a sub-assembly with a mixing element 41 integrated in a fluid flow passage of a check valve 42. The check valve 42 with the integrated mixing element 41 is suitable and provided to be inserted into a coupling receptacle 6′ of the sub-assembly or into the coupling receptacle 6 of the valve island 1 (see e.g. FIG. 1) via a coupling portion 15′ of the check valve 42 in order to be radially tightly and form-fittingly connected to a fluid flow passage of a conductivity measuring sensor 43 or the valve island 1. As already shown in FIG. 6, the connection is suitable for being axially fastened via a mounting clip 22′ as a mounting element.
[0111] FIG. 14 shows a schematic representation of the individual parts of a further configuration of a sub-assembly with a mixing element 44, which is integrated into the valve seat 16′ of a snap-in valve 14′. The snap-in valve 14′ with the integrated mixing element 44 is suitable and provided to be inserted into a coupling receptacle 6′ of the sub-assembly or into the coupling receptacle 6 of the valve island 1 (see e.g. FIG. 1) via a coupling portion 15″ of the snap-in valve 14′ in order to be connected with a fluid flow passage of a conductivity measuring sensor 43 or the valve island 1 in a radially tight and form-fitting manner. The check valve 42 (here without mixing element) is suitable and provided to be inserted into a coupling receptacle 6″ of the snap-in valve 14′ via the coupling portion 15′ of the check valve 42 in order to be connected to the snap-in valve 14′ in a radially tight and form-fitting manner. FIG. 14 thus shows the following connection arrangement: check valve 42, snap-in valve 14′ with integrated mixing element 41′ and conductivity measuring sensor 43.
[0112] FIG. 15 shows a schematic representation of a further variation of a mixing element as a mixing element 45. A plurality of flow passages 46 are arranged parallel to each other and parallel to a central axis A of the mixing element 45 within the fully cylindrical mixing element 41″. Eight flow passages with a circular cross-section 47 are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the outer circumference of the mixing element 45 at uniform intervals in the circumferential direction. Four flow passages with a hexagonal cross-section 48 are arranged in the immediate vicinity of the center axis A in the circumferential direction at uniform intervals.
[0113] FIG. 16 shows a cross-sectional view along a plane A-A of the center axis A of the mixing element 45, which is integrally connected to a coupling portion 15′″ by injection molding or additive manufacturing. The mixing element 41″ can be overmolded with the coupling portion 15′″ as a pre-molded part.
